Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review

It has been a long time since I was truly excited for the release of a new Star Wars film, but as I sit here writing, my mind still flashes back to the mere hours ago that I sat down and was exposed to what the brilliant mind of J.J. Abrams did with George Lucas's sci-fi superbaby.

The last Star Wars film to be released was back in 2005, so it has been a long while since any adventures happened in a galaxy far, far away. But this movie was worth the wait, it was the most compelling two hours I've sat through in a long while.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens cast was utterly fantastic. Aside from bringing back Harrison Ford as Han Solo (a role which he slipped back into like a glove) and Carrie Fisher (proving that even a thirty-two year gap does not diminish one's ability as an actress), Peter Mayhew stepped back into the role of Chewbacca (and did an amazing job as usual with it), and C-3PO (played once again by the talented Anthony Daniels), there were also new faces to the cast of Star Wars and what a job they did.

Daisy Ridley, a new face to the acting world plays the role of Rey, a fierce and independent young woman who finds herself drawn into the ongoing conflict between the Resistance (the new face of the Rebellion) and the First Order (the "next generation" Empire). She does an outstanding job, she is powerful, has a strong camera presence and her stunt-work is absolutely epic. It's clear her character is going to play a major role in the future Star Wars and I for one cannot wait to see what happens to her character.

John Boyega is Finn, a First Order Stormtrooper who reforms and joins the Resistance and is drawn into the overarching conflict that makes up The Force Awakens plot. He proves to be a capable fighter and soldier who is trying to rediscover his purpose in the universe after being on the wrong side of a war for a long time.

Oscar Isaac is Poe Dameron, self-described as "the greatest pilot in the Resistance" who certainly tries to live up to his legend. Isaac plays the character as determined, hard-headed, willing to go the extra distance for his friends and not willing to back down from any challenge. A fine and welcome edition to many legions of brave men and women who have fought for the Rebellion/Resistance in the name of freedom.

Adam Driver steps up as Kylo Ren, a new and sinister Sith in the galaxy. He is a clear disciple of the Sith and a fierce follower of the legacy of Darth Vader, determined to finish Vader's mission to wipe out any traces of the Jedi from the galaxy. Driver plays the character as moody but also emotional, prone to fits of anger that include taking his lightsaber and destroying whatever the heck is in his way in the process. Whatever Ren's overall role in the new Star Wars mytho's J.J. Abrams is crafting, I for one can't wait to see where he ends up along the way.

Overall, the film itself was wonderful. It's taken thirty-two years for the story of Luke, Leia, Han and the Rebellion to be continued on the big screen but it was utterly worth the wait. When Star Wars Episode 8 makes it to the movie theatres in 2017, it will be awesome, unbelievably awesome.

This film gets high marks for script, casting, special effects and once again proving that adventure is out there in the galaxy, all we have to do is reach out and grasp it. 

Jack Kirby: A Reflection on the King of Comics

When many people are asked today who was the man who helped make Marvel Comics great, the answer that will be given the majority of the time is Stan Lee. And while its true that Stan did his part to make Marvel Comics great, a lot of the real credit should be going to Jack Kirby, the artistic and creative genius behind many of the fine characters that are part of the Marvel Comics line.

I write these words today, because today is Jack Kirby's 98th birthday. He passed from this world back in 1994, but he left behind a heck of a legacy. A legacy not only of characters and stories, but of artistic accomplishment, taking his self-taught methods and applying them to create panels and pages and covers of some of the most beautiful, splashy and brilliant artwork in the comics industry.

Jack drew from the world around him when creating Marvel's many fine heroes and villains. He drew from life experiences of growing up in Manhattan's Lower East Side. A prime example of this influence is the character of Ben Grimm, rocky super-strong Thing of the Fantastic Four. In fact many fans of Kirby's work often cite Ben as Jack in superhero form. Both grew up in rougher parts of New York (Ben grew up on the fictional Yancy Street, located on the Lower East Side). Both are of the Jewish faith, both are tough as nails and quick to defend friends, but both men have their soft sides as well.

Jack Kirby was always a consummate professional, and his thoughts on professionalism are well known. This quote sums up that professionalism very nicely: "I've never done anything half-heartedly; its a disservice to me and the audience if I do it half-heartedly."

In the end, much of what Marvel Comics is today is owed to Jack Kirby and his work. Half the superhero movies that are being produced by Hollywood are because of Jack working tirelessly to create these many fine characters and infuse them with life. So to whoever reads this, the next time you pick up a Marvel comic or watch a Marvel movie and you see Jack Kirby's name attached to the "created by" text, remember the man, the myth, the legend, that is Jack Kirby, the King of Comics.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

There comes a time in many superheroes careers when they face a threat that isn't from another dimension or planet, isn't out to conquer the Earth or make it a part of some vast interstellar empire. Sometimes, the threat comes directly from home, and its born of the misguided dreams of those close to the heroes, and culminates in something terrible that could end all human life in a stroke.

That is what happens when the Avengers return to the big screen with Joss Whedon at the helm and face the sentient machine intelligence known as Ultron, who will stop at nothing to pacify humankind in pursuit of his warped goals.

The main cast of the film has the Avengers returning in full force, but each changed in subtle ways. For Captain America (Chris Evans) the change comes from having faced down his best friend Bucky in The Winter Soldier and having helped topple S.H.I.E.L.D. in order to save the world from a secret HYDRA threat. For Iron Man (Tony Stark), there's the whole rediscovered purpose in his mission as a hero and billionaire/inventor from Iron Man 3. As for the rest of the team, well they are shown as dealing with their own various problems. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) is dealing with finding his place on the team, as Hulk and also dealing with the romantic advances of Natasha Romanov. Natasha (Scarlett Johansson) is her usual epic self, and also as stated before, is in something of a flirtatious relationship with Bruce Banner, while Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) is up to his usual tricks, cracking wise, being a master of the bow and proving that you don't need superpowers to be an effective crime fighter.

New-comers to the Marvel Cinematic Universe are legion, so I'm going to focus on the one's that play a central role in the film. The first are Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and her brother Pietro (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), known to all comics fans as the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. They start out on the wrong side of the conflict in the movie, angry at the Avengers for bringing more destruction to their tiny (and fictional) European homeland of Sokovia, when dealing with a minor threat at the start of the film. Along the way they realize that they are in fact in the wrong in choosing sides in the conflict and defect to the Avengers, proving themselves in battle and worthy of the trust of Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

James Spader steps up the camera in a big way, providing both the voice and motion capture for Ultron, the sentient machine that has a major God-complex and seeks to pacify Earth by destroying humankind. Ultron (Spader) makes use of Biblical scripture in his villainous monologues, citing Scripture in order to justify his mission to help humanity by destroying it. Spader does an amazing job bringing the character to life, in ways that previous media (all cartoons by the way) could never have done. Even though the villain appears for just this one movie, he leaves a major mark that will affect not only the Avengers, but the entire MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) itself.

The final major new-comer to the MCU is Paul Bettany, known as the voice of Tony Stark's AI "butler" J.A.R.V.I.S., now stepping into the role as the Avenger Vision, also sentient machine created by Ultron in the comics to be the next step in AI life. Bettany doesn't appear until the film is nearly done but he is so utterly amazing in the role that it doesn't matter that his screen time comprises the very last bit of the story, it is worth it. Vision's powers are shown throughout the final parts of the film, including the ever classic ability to phase through objects and it looks so cool and real. Just goes to show what Hollywood movie magic is capable of.

Joss Whedon does an amazing job once again of taking Marvel Comics premier super-team and putting them up against impossible odds. The cast was superb, with all the newcomers doing a spectacular job. Special effects once again blew me away as always and the different locales used to advance the story, from Europe to Africa to America, just utterly astounding.

Avengers: Age of Ultron gets high marks for bringing Earth's Mightiest Heroes up to bat again and driving it all the way to home with a script that left me begging for me, an awesome cast, special effects galore (but that didn't take away from the story) and a soundtrack that was in one word: super. Highly recommend this movie to anyone and everyone who loves superheroes and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Constantine Episode 6 Review

For anyone who has ever seen The Exorcist, or read any sort of books (including the Bible), its a dangerous thing when a person's body is paid a visit by a malevolent spirit or demon. However in the case of tonight's episode, the possessions in question come from a source closer to home. John and Chas journey to Birmingham, Alabama, to look into a case of children going absolute mad and then murdering their parents.

A topic like this is one that's very messy, kids and parents and the issue of possible trouble in the home-life. John pulls out lots of magical tricks in order to understand the why of the matter.

We see a lot more of John's softer side, since the victims of the evil in the episode are kids and families. The character has always had a rough edge, but when it comes to the issue of innocent people and forces from beyond, Constantine shines out like a beacon of hope for those in need.

There was also a very lovely Easter Egg from the DC world that stood out like a giant sore thumb tonight. Read on for more information.

Sword of Night 

 

The Sword of Night is a powerful magical blade, belonging to DC Comics character Nightmaster aka Jim Rook. Rook was a singer back in the real world, until he found himself transported to the land of Myrra, where he took up the Sword of Night in defense of the people of Myrra against all manner of wicked foes that would see to do them harm. The Sword not only warns the holder of imminent danger but also can force a person to speak the truth. 

A particular quote from the episode, of how Jasper Winters hideaway is a treasure trove of magical objects. So far in every episode of the show there have been countless references to DC Comics and its various magic using characters, some more obvious (like the Sword) others less so. The overall effect that has on viewers (and DC fans in particular) is that the world of Constantine plays home to a vast number of characters who use or have come into contact with magic. That means a lot more possibilities to bring in characters both good and bad for future episodes is present. 

Overall, an excellent episode tonight. Lots of heavy drama and dialogue, lots of great spooky vibes with more to come as the season progress's. Matt Ryan is fitting into the role of John Constantine like a pro and he has definitely been doing his homework on John's mannerism and behavior. High marks for tonight's episode, here's hoping that next week's is just as great.

Gotham Episode 10 Review

Once again, Gotham has proven that it is here to stay on TV, despite the rough start it had. With the introduction last week of Harvey Dent as the Assistant DA, and actively helping Gordon take the Wayne murders to the next level, things are getting intense.

Tonight's episode has the intense main plot, of Alfred assisting Gordon and Bullock in searching for Bruce and Selina, who are missing in Gotham after assassins attempted to murder them at Wayne Manor. The opening scene provided viewers with a very excellent look at Alfred's fighting skills (showing viewers that the Alfred of Gotham is more in line with the Earth One graphic novel then comics cannon).

We also get more development with Bruce and Selina's relationship, and Bruce gets a first hand look at what the mean streets of Gotham are really like, especially when you hang around Selina Kyle.

On the other side of the story, Carmine Falcone is not happy that his money was blown up, and he's taking it out on his underlings. Raising their tributes to him doesn't win him any friends either, giving Fish the in she needs to draw more into her plan to take over the city's crime.

One thing tonight's episode showed is just how deep Alfred and Bruce's bond is. Alfred is willing to rub shoulders with some Gotham's criminal scum, to get Bruce back home safe and sound.

As for Oswald, we see tonight, that for all his swagger and vile behavior, there is one man he is afraid of, and that is Don Carmine Falcone. And he has good reason to be afraid, because he knows that if he crosses Falcone, then he will end up dead, and not just presumed dead.

For Gordon, the episode ends, with him being given an ultimatum in order to cover up the murder of Dick Lovecraft, either he gets sacked from the force, or he gets demoted to being a security officer at Arkham Asylum. Gordon being Gordon, he takes the Arkham job. It'll be interesting to see how he fairs at the Asylum.

I've said it once, and I'll say it again, Gotham keeps showing that it is earning its place on the Monday night lineup, and that it is also taking the Batman mythos, the characters and world, and despite minor alterations, making it a force to be reckoned with.

Despite my constant praising for this show, there have been times when it seemed slow. But now, with the introduction of more characters that will help keep the stories intense and exciting, I'm ready for whatever this shows throws at viewers, and I'll be excited every time. High marks for tonight's episode, very high marks indeed.

Constantine Episode 5 Review

One thing I noted in my review of the first episode of Constantine, was the large amount of Easter Egg's that reference other magical members of the DC Comics Universe. Tonight's episode proved no exception, as John and his band travel to New Orleans to deal with another spot of magical bother. This time, they have help, from New Orleans police detective Jim Corrigan (played by BBC actor Emmet J. Scanlan)

A quick background on Jim Corrigan before getting into my thoughts on tonight's episode. Fans of DC Comics will know the name right off, because Corrigan plays a very large role in the magical DC community. For those who don't know him, Corrigan plays host to the Spectre, the spiritual incarnation of God's vengeance. The Spectre has been around in comics since the grand old days of the Golden Age (1940's-early 1950's) and was one of the founding members of the first superhero team ever created, the Justice Society of America. In later years, the Spectre would be seen in comics dealing out vengeance to criminals and often taking a hand in the affairs of the DC Universe when the cosmic scales were being tipped towards chaos and destruction.

As for the plot of tonight's episode, well the long and short of it is that strange and violent murders are happening around New Orleans, being doled out by spirits that have been summoned from beyond the grave. And since Constantine is now in vodou (this is the proper spelling) country, its only natural that he would run afoul of Pap Midnite again.

This episode focused less on developing John's character on the small screen, and more on introducing Corrigan into the show-verse (and even hinting at his future as the Spectre). But audiences do get a treat, to watch Constantine and Midnite team their respective magics together in order to stop the madness that is being inflicted on the city.

Overall, tonight's episode was highly enjoyable, mainly due to the fact that John had to work alongside a man he doesn't exactly hold in highest regard, and because we viewers/fans got a hinting at the possibility of more DC characters with magical background being brought to life, even on the small screen.

It is my fervent hope that Constantine will keep delivering its usual brand of chaos and drama wrapped up in magic and adventure, because this show is quickly becoming one of my new favorites, and I hope to heaven it doesn't disappoint down the road.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Episode 8 Review

One thing that the new season of Agent's of S.H.I.E.L.D. is showing is that many of the adventures undertaken by the S.S.R. during the last day of the WWII, and the various histories tied to those adventures play a much larger role in the development of Coulson and the team standing off against HYDRA in the new game for the world. Tonight, is such an episode.

Further background is given on Daniel Whitehall (formerly Werner Reinhardt) was released by Alexander Pierce, and was de-aged thanks to renewed experimentation on the Obelisk, thus accounting for his younger appearance in the present.

Last episode, viewers learned that the mysterious writing's that kept popping up in the last few episodes are in fact a map to a hidden city (the Inhuman capital of Attilan), and that the blue corpse recovered in 1945 by Peggy Carter is in fact a member of the Kree race. This provided evidence that this season viewers will see to some extent, the introduction of the Inhumans, mutant's whose genetic makeup was altered by the Kree.

Tonight's episode certainly jumped the plot ahead by bringing new information to light with regards to what the Obelisks true purpose is, as well as how important the discovery of the city by either S.H.I.E.L.D. or HYDRA could be in terms of the balance of world order.

Let it be known, that this episode was one of immense value in terms of pure story, and I hope that this season will continue to introduce more elements of the Marvel Universe in a way that is appealing to both viewers and comic fans.