Comic Book ReCap

Ultimate X-Men vol. 1-4
As stated earlier, I'ma try to go through all 100 issues of the now over Ultimate X-Men and I figure I would give ya my recaps and opinions. But I'll have to play some quick catch-up
Issues 1-6: The Tomorrow People
Pretty predictable start to a new concept, we see the X-Men as they have to take on Magneto and his Brotherhood. In the Ultimate Universe, the X-Men consist of Marvel Girl, Cyclops, Storm, Beast, Colossus and Iceman. Added to the mix in issue two is Wolverine but that's only because Magneto sent him in as an assassin at the end of issue one, with the task of infiltrating and killing. Thankfully he changes his mind after bangin' Marvel Girl and coming to think the Xavier probably has the right idea in this fight (funny how that's the order of things, huh?). After a quick switching of teams and them coming back to the X-Men, Cyclops must lead the team to the White House where Magneto has taken the president hostage and is going to kill him on national tv. But we all kinda know how it ends. Except in this one, Magneto is killed by Xavier.
Overall, great set-up. For the first story in an X-Men world, you sorta have to have Magneto be the baddie but for making things all new, Mark Millar did his job. Cool new take and a promising start.
Issues 7-12: Return to Weapon X
Can we guess where this is going? The X-Men are attacked by Weapon X and taken captive. Weapon X consists of Sabretooth, Juggernaut, Rogue and Nightcrawler, which makes for an interesting team. Weapon X is using the X-Men to lure back in Wolverine who is more than happy to make a visit.
This one was pretty weak in terms of a new take. Other than the team having two well known good-guys on it, the story was the same kinda stuff we get over in the regular book. Well written and well drawn, just nothing very new. However, this is where black Nick Fury made his first appearance so we do have that and in their experiments, Weapon X managed to turn Beast furry and blue so he's now "full circle".
Issues 13-20: World Tour
Issues 13 and 14 are the Gambit issues and I've already said my part for it so we move on to World Tour where Xavier takes the students on a world tour, promoting his new book about homo-superior and coexistence among everyone. But the tour is cut short when Xavier gets a call from ex-wife Moira Mactaggert, telling him their son Davis is missing.
I really enjoyed this story. Millar did a great job of turning a classic Claremont story (The Prometheus Saga) into something new and yet completely familiar. Charles' son takes over the bodies of others, while feeding off of them, leaving dead bodies everywhere when he needs a new one (which is what Prometheus did). We are introduced to both Davis and Moira but we also get the first appearance of Ultimate Psylock, who is a Brit, mutant detective trying to help. Turns out she is his last victim as she reveals to be him most of the back-half. As he destroys everything around him, Psylock is able to get enough control to tell Xavier to kill her so that he dies too. Colossus, having left the X-Men and doubting his worth for most of the story, is happy to listen and crushes them both with a car. and in the mist of all this, Xavier reveals that he didn't actually kill Magneto, only made him forget who he was. Cool take on a cool story. Millar seems to have a good knack for remaking the X-Men
Issues 21-25: Hellfire and Brimstone
This one kinda surprised me, but I'm not sure if it's for the good or bad. Marvel Girl (having spent time in an asylum before joining the team) begins to have her visions of an ancient, Egyptian Phoenix God again. As this is all going on, Beast, having broken up with Storm (cuz they were dating) has been talking to a nice mutant girl online. Only we know that it's Blob of the Brotherhood and he's only posing to try and infiltrate them again (it's actually a weird plot-thread). Much to Blob's surprise, Beast reveals that Magneto is still alive, and they go after him, wanting their leader back. And this is all interlaced with Jean having her "nightmares". However, as the X-Men go to a fancy dinner with the schools benefactors, the Hellfire Club, they find out it's much worse. Turns out the Hellfire Club worships the Phoenix Force and are using Jean as the vessel to bring it back. As the fire fills the room, and it appears the Phoenix has taken her over, she turns and kills all the Hellfire members (because they are trying to kill her friends, so why wouldn't she). Somehow, Xavier calms her down by convincing her the Phoenix isn't real and that she's just losing control of her powers. We know otherwise, but it gets the job done. It goes from bad to worse, though, as after this, the sky fills with metal objects spelling "Thank You Charles". Magneto is back.
I think I like this story. I liked that he downplayed the "big" story of the Phoenix and just moved on. I'm pretty sure it does come back done the line, but it didn't stay to long to start. I am however getting a little tired of Andy Kubert's art. It's not horrible but he looks more and more rushed each issue and they probably should have used more fill-in artists.

Commercials Can Still Be Funny

I actually was shown this as an ad before another video on youtube and it was awesome.

NB of the Week

The Thanos Imperative #5 (of 6)
The Big New York Comic Con was this weekend and I came across this little blurb. A fan asked Marvel how come they were even considering taking the cosmic characters off of the table to which they replied:
"When you see how Thanos Imperative ends, it would be impossible to have [Nova and Guardians of the Galaxy] going on. When this ends, you'll see who's left standing. We've advertised this as the end of the Marvel Cosmic Universe as you know it, and that's the truth."
As timing has it, the second to last issue of this mini was then released four days later and once again it knocked my socks off. As I have said before, the Cancerverse is trying to take over everything but they can't do it unless they can take out the Avatar of Death, Thanos, who has joined forces with the heroes trying to stop them.
Everything is laid out on the table here. Nova goes into the Cancerverse to join the last battle against the Revengers, Thanos makes his move and reveals his big plans (that mother-flarker!) and everything looks bleak for the good-guys. I am simultaneously saddened that this is all coming to an end while excited to see what is going to happen and who makes it out. This book has been one of the best books out there for it's whole duration and I think it may be one of, if not the best story of the year. If you can read everything from Annihilation on, amazing. Do it. If you want to start with Thanos Imperative, go right ahead. Things are always better when taken with the whole picture, but I don't see how you can read this book and not be impressed at how bad-ass they make these "c-list" characters. This is grade-a writing and you would be stupid to miss it.

-And as a great runner-up, Mark Millar's new Superior. Imagine Tom Hanks in Big, only with multiple sclerosis and then super-powers when he grows. And a space monkey. Awesome book and it will probably be another movie just like Kick-Ass and Nemesis.

Clif-Notes: The Human Centipede - First Sequence

When I first heard of The Human Centipede, I was elated. Sadly. How could this movie disappoint me? What's that you say? You don't know what The Human Centipede is? Well, it would be my pleasure to catch you up to speed.

Two American girls are traveling through Europe when they get a flat tire and get stuck in the middle of nowhere. As they leave to find help, they come across a house. Oh, but it's not just any house. This is the house of a mad German surgen who has plans to make a human centipede: Three people joined anus to mouth, sharing one digestive track.

Of course I was excited! How could a sick man like me not be excited for this?! But then I watched it and I cried a little bit. This may be one of the worst movies I have seen in a while. Nothing happened! Half way through the movie is when he finally starts hooking them together and you really see nothing. The story is still pretty messed up but it was crap. The front cover has a blurb from Eli Roth saying "I honestly got sick, and that's the highest compliment I can give a horror film." and it just makes me hate him AND think he's a weak little girl.

Sadly, this is the first of three movies based on this and I can only hope that they beef up the next ones and actually make me sick while watching it.

The Only Good Gambit is Now a Dead Gambit

Anyone who knows me and the X-Men knows that I hate Gambit. I actually think he's a pretty cool character but he's never use for anything worth a damn except for "I love Rogue but she can't touch me" and it's complete crap.

However, a few weeks ago my friend Derek got the trade for Ultimate X-Men where they bring in Ultimate Cable which (hope it's not a spoiler) turns out to be a future Wolverine. Pretty cool story and take and in talking to him about it, it made me want to go back and reread my run of Ultimate X-Men. Come issue 13, enter Ultimate Gambit. A street performer who uses his charging powers to woo the women. Howver, after a little girl watches her parents murder and is on the run from the guy who did it, he becomes her protector. While sleeping in an abondonded subway car, Gambit wakes to find her missing.

Needless to say, he's not to happy with it and the street urchin goes hunting, making sure anyone who tries to stop him pays. Finally coming up on the villianous Hammerhead, he takes care of business the only way he knows how.

And I have to ask why can't he be this cool in the real x-books? This Gambit in two issues showed more character and heart then they ever gave him in the 20 years he's been around. My suggestion is that Marvel start taking their own ideas and change him. If only so I can like him.

NB of the Week

Ultimate Thor #1
Overall, this week didn't really have that one book that blew me away. A good group of good comics, but nothing amazing. Which made this week's NB not as NB-tastic as the others. But I suppose it's all relative.
Anyway, in the Ultimate Thor mini from Marvel, we get a history of the mysterious Thor figure that appeared out of nowhere. Originally, he was believed to be nothing more than a crazy dude who stole some technology from the lab he was a janitor for. We later came to find out that was all a ruse that his half-brother Loki played on the world. We now get some insight into that "crazy person" and how that all came to be set-up. As Thor is in a cell on England, psychiatrist Donald Blake is brought in to see if he can find the problem this "Thorlief Golmen" is having. The following dialogue is pretty awesome:
"It is not delusion or madness you'll find here, doctor, but purpose and destiny. Professor Braddock will have told you that I am Thorlief Golmen- -this is incorrect. I am Thor, God of Thunder... And I will be called the name my father gave me."
Thor in any universe is spelled with a "bad" and spelled with an "ass".

I Start a Feud with Adam

Zack Snyder has been grabbed as the new director of the new Superman movie and Adam does not think him fit for the helm. And I disagree with him.
As much as Snyder may bring a new "feel" to a Superman movie, I highly doubt that it will turn into just another Batman. First and foremost, David Goyer and Christopher Nolan on story will be amazing. These guys know their comics, not to mention that Goyer has history writing for DC (and writing with Geoff Johns over there) and Nolan is smart enough to know that a Batman movie will not work for a Superman movie. Almost any director aside (except Tim Burton), this movie should have a great story.
Throw in Snyder and I already have an NB for it. I may have a little different view because I have seen Snyder's Legend of the Guardians, but this man can direct a movie. 300. Watchmen. Sucker Punch. Dawn of the Dead. Whatever. This man has an amazing eye for movement and action and Superman may just be a perfect match. As much as I liked Superman Returns, they want something different. They want something that fits today's world and not that of 1978 and Snyder just may be the one to help do it.
And there's no way it could be a worse choice than Darren Aronofsky.

Clif-Notes: Case 39 & Let Me In

Case 39

Renee Zellweger sucks. Bradley Cooper wasn't in it long enough. The movie was shit.

Let Me In

I remember finishing watching the Swedish movie Let The Riught One In and thinking "what the hell was the point?". It looked great and had great acting. The atmosphere and mood was dark and grim and that was great. I just didn't really get the story. So when an American version was lit, I was a little skeptical. Then the trailers came out and I was intrigued. It looked like it had potential. Come 3:30 in the morning, when I finished watching it, my thought was "Oh. So that was the point."

This movie was pretty awesome. It was able to capture the same dark feel that the original produced and it was even able to explain things to me better. And I hate vampires. This movie moved beyond the cliched vampire story and into one of friendship and love, which was a pretty amazing feat in my mind. One of the best compliments I can give it, is that it makes me want to watch the original again, if only to see if I can pull the same outcome.

I would recommend seeing this one if the premise intrigues you (duh). It is very much a genre movie and I don't see it opening the eyes to movie-goers everywhere about how amazing these movies can be. But it was definitely worth watching.

NB of the Week

Powers #6
Brian Michael Bendis' name first became know to me in 2000 when I was introduced to the then Image title Powers; a book about the cops and crime surrounding the super-powered people of the city and the effects of said people. Awesome stuff. Been awesome since the get-go and I still love this book. Two relaunches and 75 issues later, it's still holding steam.
We start this new story-line with Detective Walker (former and now again super-powered cop, though people don't know his powers are back) and his newest partner Enki Sunrise coming across a death scene involving what they think is a wolf-man, though it turns out he was just a furry (you should look it up if you are unaware of what it refers to. Much funny banter later, we close the book off with another murder of one of the Goldens (immortal super-beings who claim to be Gods. You can see why one being killed would set off alarms). At the crime scene and in the last page, we get the surprise introduction of the FBI agent taking over and it's none other than Walker's old and first partner Deena Pilgrim.
Ya see, Pilgrim was the star of the title for years with Walker, with many fights and rocky situations between the two. After a few murder suspicions and accusations gone wrong, Pilgrim found herself tangled up in a weird case where powers were being transferred like STD's, in which she was given some. Everything went to Hell and she ended up running off, coming and going a few times. Which is where the new partner Sunrise came in. To have her show up suddenly to a case Walker is working with an FBI badge was ridiculous! I'm super stoked to see where Bendis is going with this. It's a sweet book and y'all should read it.

-And as a side bonus, the new Green Arrow came out and the cover is amazing. This guys has made all 4 covers of Arrow worthy of framing.

Coolest Lady Ever

My friend Aaron showed me these videos (because I think he and his co-workers don't ever actually work and just look up stupid crap all day) and they are hilarious. This lady is awesome. And I'm not a bit fan of those dumb "remix" videos where they just put music on it but I really like this one and it keeps getting stuck in my head.
Watch the regular interview first and then the music one. Awesome stuff.

Clif-Notes: Legend of the Guardians

I want you guys to look at this poster that was released for this movie. Take a good look at it. Now tell me how that makes you want to see a movie based on a young-readers book about Owls trying to rule each others Kingdom. I don't think you can. And the reason for that is because it doesn't show that Zack Snyder made his animated directing debut with this movie.
Snyder has proven to me that he is one of the top film-makers in the industry with this movie. I was blown away by this one. In fact, though it was only last night that I watched it, I think it may be my favorite animated movie of the year. Toy Story 3 can suck it. This move was visually amazing (which was the only real thing it had going for it in the trailers, in my book) and very dark. I think this movie will end up scaring kids. Just the right amount of cute and campy with mean and edgy.
I read that Star Wars is a big influence on Snyder (who knows if it's true but I like how it sounds) and I can actually see it in parts. Part Star Wars and part Lord of the Rings. It even reminds me of Titan AE in that it's a more adult story and mood, hidden behind the animation and acceptance of a child's film. I fully recommend seeing this move. I didn't see it in 3D but I can only imagine how it would like in that and I will gladly go see it again to see it that way.

Clif-Notes: You Again

I really only have myself to blame. I didn't think this movie looked good but against my better judgment, I watched it last night. It was either that or WallStreet: Money Never Sleeps and I actually thought this one looked better than that one. But I will never know.
You Again tells the story of Marni (Kristen Bell), who finds out that after turning her life and self-image around from high school, he brother is now marrying the same girl (Joanna, played by Odette Yustman) who made her life hell during that period. Worse so, Joanna's only family and Aunt (Sigourney Weaver) had a bad, high-school fall-out with her best friend who also happens to be Marni's mother (Jamie Lee Curtis). And the chaos and bitterness and jealousy ensues...
Don't watch this movie. I guess there are gonna be some people who like this. I watched it with Heather at work and she didn't hate it but I almost lost my mind. I laughed twice. Once at the crazy Tim character and once at Betty White. That was it. I cringed more than anything. Bell and Yustman were hot at always, so I suppose it had that. Whatever. Skip this movie.

Two NB's in One Week: Ultimate Spidey and Thor

As I argued with myself over which one was the better moment this week, I decided that I was gonna name 'em both since the NB's that followed were for different reasons. We'll start with the smaller one...
Ultimate Spider-Man #14:
This issue gave me what was probably the best single moment of the week. As Aunt May and the rest of her household found out last issue, Spider-Man has been replaced by "The Chameleon". Maybe. There are actually two of them, a brother and a sister, and they have the same shape-shifting powers that the normal Chameleon has so I can only assume that's what Bendis is going for. But I digress. Iceman and Human Torch go after the impostor and after following him back to his hideout, his sister and the real Peter Parker, they get the jump on 'em. Ice Man grabs the girl, encasing her in a block of ice, but Johnny goes a tad more theatrical. Busting through the floor behind the Fake Pete, he begins to burn all of the oxygen out of the air, rendering FP unconscious.... It actually doesn't read as bad-assed as it was when I read it, but trust me, it's there. And now onto the bigger one...

Thor #615:
After the whole Straczynski crap that went down, Thor started losing some steam. Kieron Gillen Took over the reigns and it wasn't that he was bad on it, because he wasn't. It was much better than I thought it would be. It just wasn't the level it was before. This issue we get the new creative team of Matt Fraction and Pasqual Ferry. Ferry has done art on Ultimate FF, Adam Strange and Action Comics over the years while Fraction has been writing Uncanny X-Men and Invincible Iron Man lately. His Iron Man has been great while his Uncanny run has been very much less than impressive so I was a bit hesitant. And I take that back with this issue. Fraction already seems to have a great grasp on Thor and Asgard. His first arc begins with a man trying to warm Volstagg of a coming doom. As Asgard now resides on Midgard (or Earth as we call it), that puts two of the nine worlds that Asgardians believe in on the same world, leaving one space empty. And as cosmic balance goes, that spot will be filled by something and that something looks like it's going to be a lot of trouble.
Great start to a new run on the book. Definitely gives me hope that Thor will move back to the top of my favorites list. If any of you read comics still, I would say to try it. However, I will now just tell you to go over to Hastings and read it there. It's cheaper.

Sucker Punch

Ever since I saw an extended trailer at Con, I have been super stoked for this movie and it's not even out until March. I don't even know how many times I have watched this trailer, but I will watch it a lot more and wanted to share it with everyone. So watch and Enjoy and Be excited for March to come.
(Not sure why it says 3D cuz I didn't think it was. Either was, the trailer is not.)

Triple Clif-Notes: Devil - Easy A - The Town

Got three of the four movies that came out today watched so here are the reviews. I know I ramble on but so what? It's my blog. I do what I want.

Devil
In my opinion, this movie looked like it could be pretty good. I sadly think that the only reason people are crapping on it is because they put Shyamalan's name across the top. However, he only came up with the story. He didn't write or direct it, so ya can't really blame him for anything.
Devil tells the story of five people on an elevator, when shit starts going wrong and they all turn on each other. One of them appears to be the Devil, having some fun before he takes them to Hell. The movie definitely had some bad moments of acting and of dialogue, but it turned out pretty decent. Nothing spectacular to make it a "must see", but a good flick. If you're interested, I would say see it, but it's one that you could wait for.

Easy A
I was very surprised by this movie. Easy A stars Emma Stone (House Bunny, Zombieland) and is about her character dealing with all the talk that begins swirling in her high school after she pretends to have sex with her gay buddy to make people like him. Word spreads, more people need her help and she is suddenly the school floozy.
This movie was really funny. And I have no problem admitting it. It turned out to be one of those movies like House Bunny where it seems like only one kind of audience should really like it but it's a much more universal story than I thought it would be. It's been a while since I laughed this much at a movie and I recommend watching it. Great stuff.

The Town
The Town stars Ben Affleck as a robber who, after falling for a hostage he and his gang take, has to juggle the life he has with the life he wants.
This movie pretty much just blew me away. I thought this movie looked like it could be real good and it far exceeded that. To tell you how much I liked it, I even thought Affleck was great in it. Everyone was great in it. There was not one person in this movie that I thought did anything less than great. Affleck should actually stop acting in any movie he doesn't write or direct because those seem to be the only ones he's good in. This is only the third movie he (co)wrote behind Good Will Hunting and Gone Baby Gone and his second time directing, with Gone Baby Gone being his first. I never saw Good Will Hunting but I loved Gone and from the sound of things, Good was great too. Not too shabby of company to be with. I have a feeling that it won't be, but don't be surprised if this movie gets talk for the Oscars. And if you liked Jeremy Renner in The Hurl Locker, you're love him in this one. I think he may have been my favorite part but that's a hard choice to make. He at least had my favorite scene (which involves a shoot-out but it's toward the end so I won't tell ya any more. Go see this one. I know it's not going to be every one's favorite, but this is one I would say is worth going out and paying the money to see.