Comics, Movies, Video Games, and More

"Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

~Ephesians 5:16

Friday, April 27, 2012

Godzilla vs. Megaguirus Review


There's the black sheep of every era. In Showa, it was Revenge, (or if we're not going to count that, Raids Again) in Heisei it was Vs. SpaceGodzilla, and in Millennium it's this film. After the amazing and underrated GODZILLA 2000, Megauirus came along. While the previous film is better in every way, Godzilla vs. Megaguirus gets more hate than it deserves, it's a fun little entry in the G franchise.

The official description from Sony TriStar:
Five years after Godzilla terrorized the city of Osaka, Japanese scientists have developed a sure-fire way to finally destroy Japan's monster nemesis. They have created the world's first man-made black hole, which will trap Godzilla for eternity! But during a testing of this new Dimension Tide, an insect caught in the hole mutates, producing gargantuan eggs that give birth to a new menace : giant dragonfly monsters called Meganula . Meganula queen, the 50-meter Megaguirus , is also on a hunt for Godzilla, needing to steal his energy to survive. From the sky down to the depths of a city'sunderground sewer tunnels, Megaguirus, Godzilla, and humankind battle for supremacy. Who will prevail in this high-tech, three-way battle of terror and destruction?
Godzilla vs. Megaguirus feels like a different Godzilla film. The way its filmed, the destruction, even the crazy story felt different. After an impressive opening with a flashback to the 54 film, (they literally put the 2000 G suit in place of the original one, it's amazing) the film goes on to more crazy territory, stuff you'd see in the Showa era. (The plan to defeat Godzilla? With a black hole. Crazy, but at the same time amazing.) The film uses similar camera angles seen in 2000, Godzilla looks like he's actually a giant monster that dwarfs buildings. Megaguirus makes a cool opponent, though sadly she is way too underused. One of the universally accepted problems of this film is the cast. Nothing great, but there are a few standouts.

What's interesting about this film is that the lead cast member is a woman, the first time ever in a G film. (That would be repeated in Against Mechagodzilla and Tokyo SOS.) Her backstory on why she hates Godzilla is explained well. By far the best character in the whole thing. The rest of the characters leave much to be desired. The other focus is on amateur inventor Hajime Kudo. The most annoying character in the whole thing, he actually (well it looked that way) tried to attack Kiriko after being told off. Yeah his character wasn't written too well. Other performances, such as Yuriko Hoshi (who would later appear four years later in Final Wars) are pretty good. There's this higher-up guy Masatoh Eve (who plays the Xilien leader in Final Wars) who plays kinda sorta a human antagonist. (Very loose term of the word.) The little plot twist with him made sense and was unexpected. Really, the cast isn't all that bad. A lot of the Showa films put them to shame, but they aren't the worst.


Ah, Godzilla. It's the same suit from the previous film, with little modifications. I'll say it again, the suit is fantastic. Godzilla actually looks like a giant fearsome monster that could plow through the Empire State Building. One of the few problems with the Showa era is that sometimes G didn't look like a 'giant' monster. In these two films, he's never looked more imposing. He is however lacking the character of the previous film. He appears to be a bit on the mindless side before the fight begins. The new monster this time around is Megaguirus, the queen of the Meganulon. A pretty impressive look, she makes a fine addition to the franchise. Her sadistic way of fighting was a blast to watch.

The soundtrack is pretty different than the one we're used to. It's solid, not many standout themes but it's good. The best one by far was Godzilla's new theme. It's simple, yet has a menacing feel. It's like, "Oh heck, he's here." The 50's-like Meganulon theme was good and set the mood for when they were there. Sadly, some of the special effects here are some of the worst in any G film. When the missiles were hitting G in the water, the explosions looked like something out of an old Playstation game. However, the biggest offense is Megaguirus. It was a dramatic appearance, but it's partially ruined by the fact that you can see the wires in the background. And then when she's flying while destroying a building, you can still see the wires. The final battle in the film was pretty fun, Megaguirus makes a surprisingly deadly opponent for the King of Monsters. There was another great scene when the the Meganulon all swarmed Godzilla. (Remind you of something? Inspired by the swarm scene in Gamera: Advent of Legion perhaps?) One of the low-points of the film is the writing, It's by no means bad, but there was one scene that was really laughable. In the scene where the couple separately get eaten alive, they have this dialogue sequence that sounded like something you would hear in a high school skit. You would have to hear it to believe it. Speaking of that, both scenes of the Meganulon attacking the couple separately was pretty intense and one of the more violent scenes in all Godzilla. Good stuff.

Overall, Godzilla vs. Megaguirus is no great film by any stretch of imagination. But it's not that bad either, it's not one of the worst Godzilla films ever made. It's more entertaining than the majority of the Heisei series. (Yes, I even liked it more than Godzilla vs. Biollante.) While the cast isn't the best, they're fun enough to keep the viewer invested. The story is unique, Godzilla looks great, Megaguirus is a cool monster, and the final battle is great. Godzilla vs. Megaguirus isn't a cinematic masterpiece, but it's a darn fun film.

7/10.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Weekly Comic Reviews

First off, I must apologize for the lateness of these reviews. Now that I'm becoming a writer for Unleash the Fanboy, getting these reviews up between Wednesday and Friday is tough. I will attempt to do better in the future. But for now, check out reviews for Avengers vs. X-Men #2, Justice League #8, and Amazing Spider-Man #685.

Avengers vs. X-Men #2.

                                       Official Description 
• As The Opening Shot Is Fired, The Avengers Storm The Beach Of Utopia, And The Phoenix Draws Ever Nearer To Earth! • But Which Side Will Wolverine Fight On? • And What Choice Will Hope Make That Will Change The Direction And Scope Of The Conflict Dramatically?

                                          THE GOOD

This comic was pretty darn exciting. It's basically what fans of both teams have dreamed about for a long time. Sure these teams have battled before, but nothing of this magnitude. Who doesn't want to see some satisfying, brutal action between Cyclops and Cap with some great writing to compliment it? The match-ups and fights are exciting. However, my personal favorite scene was when Spidey and Wolverine 'slipped' the battle to get Hope. It's moments like that when we know that Marvel doesn't forget the history with these characters.

                                            THE BAD

Well everything seems to be happening a bit too quickly. The war between the two teams just felt a bit pushed. Also, Cyclops seems extremely clouded in judgement. He just doesn't seem to be thinking clearly really at all. Spidey's dialogue is also much to be desired. Also, the dialogue sequence between Iron Man and Emma Frost bothered me a bit, it felt kinda strange.

                                                ART

Fantastic, John Romita Jr. continues to impress. His style with the characters make the battles come alive. Great cover also.

                                           OVERALL

This is definitely one of the most exciting comics I've read in awhile. Even though it's non-stop fighting, it still manages to continue the story with some interesting developments. Now all we need is for Cyclops is to start acting like Cyclops.

9/10.

Justice League #8

                                                   Official Description
In the five years that the Justice League has been a team, Green Arrow has never once been a member. And he intends to rectify that right here, right now! One member against his candidacy: Aquaman! Plus, in “The Curse of Shazam” part 2, Billy arrives in his new foster home just as an ancient evil is uncovered halfway across the world.

                                         THE GOOD

Did you see the way Superman was drawn and portrayed? He actually looks like a Superman, not a Super-teen. It's also nice to see him getting some GOOD dialogue for once. The action is fun, and I take back everything I've said about Cyborg in the past, he's a fantastic addition to the team. And you know, Steven Trevor isn't that bad anymore, I'm beginning to enjoy reading his character. The backup Shazam story is so far a great modern retelling of the origin of Earth's Mightiest Mortal.

                                            THE BAD

Nothing happened! It was practically filler! It was unimportant. It started out good, but ran into joke territory. Green Arrow *attempting* to join the the team on three occasions in the issue became a running gag. A lot of the dialogue is a joke. Geoff Johns is really beginning to remind me of Bendis. The writing is plain juvenile sometimes. Oh, and Billy Batson is a complete jerk! Why did they decide to make him an emo kid?

                                                ART

If there's any comic you should buy for the art, it's this. Carlos D'Anda takes over for art duties on this one, and honestly he's just as good as Jim Lee. There's an amazing splash page with the League battling Martian Manhunter. This is some of the best art currently in comics.

                                           OVERALL

A rather disappointing issue. In fact, this is the worst one yet. Green Arrow and his dialogue are a complete joke. A lot of the writing here is below sub-par, even Batman isn't sometimes written correctly, he comes off as TOO arrogant in this issue. To be completely fair, the comic did have its few merits. Some of the banter between the League was admittedly funny, and the action is fun.This comic isn't an awful one, but not great.

6/10.

Amazing Spider-Man #684

                                      Official Description
• Spider-Man’s Globetrotting Adventure Against The Sinister Six Moves To The Middle East For A Face Off Against…The Sandman! • In The Past, Spidey’s Fought Sandman On Beaches, In Quarries, But Never Like This – How Can Web-Head Hope To Defeat Sandman When He’s Controlling The Sahara Desert?! • Special Guest Stars: Black Widow And Silver Sable.

                                           THE GOOD

The story continues to be exciting and intriguing. Doc Ock continues to be a great main villain, his well-done but short dialogue with Spidey was very good. In fact, Dan Slott is at his finest here. Spidey is actually acting like how he used to. The writing here is great and often humorous. (Here's the best quote of the entire issue. After seeing Silver Sable's invisible jet, Spidey quips "An invisible jet? Sounds like something out of a comic book." Brilliant? Yes.) Also, I just want to say how awesome the new Spidey costume (technically armor) is. It's great and I hope it doesn't go away anytime soon. Also, the strange team up of Spidey, Black Widow, and Silver Sable works fabulously, it's something we haven't seen before. And I have to mention this, the way Spidey defeats Sandman is incredibly intelligent, I applaud Slott once again.

                                             THE BAD

Well I don't think all the nations of the world agreeing with Ock is a wise move. After all these years of these super villains pretending to be good, are they really going to buy that? I think not. The Sandman seems to be clouded in judgement, he only seems to be 'bad' because Slott wants him to be.

                                                  ART 

Humberto Ramos really surprised me here. He seems to be laying off the extremely cartoony art he normally applies. His style of art here really gives this book its own look. It makes the new Spidey suit look fantastic. However, the cover really bothers me. It's not bad for the most part, except Spidey. Why is he in his regular costume when in this arc he's using the new arnor? And what's up with those strange eyes on the mask? Sorry, but it looks really weird.

                                            OVERALL

Another great addition to the Ends of the Earth story. Slott is using great dialogue, and the issue is just plain fun. This is by far the best Spidey story in awhile.

9/10.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Godzilla vs. Gigan Review


1972 and 1973 were two declining years for Godzilla. (It technically started with Revenge, but that one's stock footage was used in a dream.) This film started to go back to basics after the strange Godzilla vs. Hedorah. With director Jun Fukuda at the helm, you know we're in for light-toned adventure. Godzilla vs. Gigan is famous for a few different things, really great things. The only thing holding thing it back is its use of stock footage.

Official description from Sony TriStar:
Imagine the fun at the new, high-tech, Tokyo amusement park with its gargantuan make-believe monsters and mechanized rides. But this pastoral playground is nothing more than a staging ground for destruction as a strange group of orange-uniformed "men" unleash a force of devastation the likes of which has never been known. They call their insatiable monster robot Gigan , built specifically to destroy Godzilla. But there's more. To assist Gigan , they enlist the help of King Ghidorah , the infamous three-headed flying hydra. The forces Godzilla to recruit his former foe, the stegosaurus-like Anguirus, in what turns out to be the most radical monster tag-team match-up of all time.

With Jun Fukuda, you know exactly what to expect. All his Godzilla films have a very similar tone and atmosphere. Once again, alien invaders are used. What separates them from the other aliens in the previopus films is that their real forms are cockroaches. (They literally use real life cockroaches, no props there folks.) The characters are truly defined in their traits. The usual main character, a tough-willed female (who is a black belt in karate) an always worried girl, and what fans define as a 'hippie.' (Sunglasses, a goatee, and bananas, don't forget the bananas.) What this film is known best for (besides the debut of the always-awesome Gigan) is the long drawn out fight at the end. It goes on for about half an hour. It's great stuff, but the stock footage really does ruin it sometimes. I think it'd be best if I start talking about the very interesting cast.

Hiroshi Ishikawa portrays our main character, the manga artist Gengo. He's a fun character to watch on screen when there's no monsters around. Though one scene did bother me with him. When he and Tomoko were running up the stairs of the Godzilla tower, he trips amd says "I'm finished." Now that was strange, he was part of this grand plan, then he trips and says he's through? If the purpose was to make the viewer laugh, it succeeded. Then there's his (I presume) girlfriend Tomoko. A lovely fun character for sure. (A black belt in karate no less.) Who can't help but smirk at the scene where she walks in, beats three of the Nebulans up, and forces them to leave the house? Good stuff. Then there's Machicko and her 'hippie' friend. First off, Tomoko Umeda as Machiko gives a very likable and realistic performance. The only real problem is there's really no character development for her. She seems to know a few things, but the film doesn't explain her or her hippie friend much. Then there's the bananas, it was kinda interesting, if not a bit strange. (And then Gengo threw the banana before he had finished it.) Zan Fujita plays the main villain this time around, Chairman Fumio Shudo. He never left an impression on me the first couple times I saw the film, but now I see what a great antagonist he is. What separates him from the other alien leaders is how young he is. I personally think he was the best character in the whole thing, an underrated perforamce. (He's right up there next the Controller of Planet X and the Commander of the Aliens of the Thid Planet from the Black Hole.) And as usual, the monsters stole show, some with mixed results surprisingly.

The Godzilla suit is looking really outdated here. It looked great in DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, but in this film it looks extremely outdated. (It's hard to make out the eyes. I know it's night, but still.) King Ghidorah isn't looking much better. The wings barely flap at all, it had lost its menacing look after being used so many times. Gigan is the new monster this time around. It's no surprise that's he my favorite of them all. With an amazingly unique design and great personality, Gigan makes a fine addition to this franchise. (A giant cyborg chicken-looking thing from outer space with the personality of a serial killer? TOHO really knew how to make them.) The only thing missing is his laser beam, which was showed on the posters for the film. (It's beyond me on why it wasn't used.) But yeah, Gigan is a fantastic monster. (Some great shots of him with the fire from the burning buildings.)

The score is fantastic, done by Akira Ifukube, featuring-wait a second, then you remember one thing: this movie just has stock music. But it's Ifukube's best themes, it fits every single scene in the film well. Then at the same time it doesn't have an original soundtrack. But again at the same time, no other themes would fit the scenes like these do. The main thing about this film is the drawn-out fight at the end. There are wisley put human scenes in-between the fight so it doesn't lose its momentum. As for the actual fight, it's really fun. Sadly, the stock footage ruins it sometimes. Sometimes they work, (the stock footage in Monster Zero from Rodan) but not here. Day switches to night instantly, and the Godzilla suits switch from 64 to this one! Great scenes, such as Anguirus's famous attack on Ghidorah from DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, are used. It's almost a crime. What we do get in this fight is the use of blood, something the Godzilla films had barely used before. It's brutal, but man it's awesome. Of course, some scenes in the film actually re-used, it gets kinda annoying seeing Godzilla throw Ghidorah down three times in a roll. Now, the most infamous thing about this film is the 'monster dubbing.' Basically, in two scenes, the monsters are given voices. On Monster Island, it goes out like this...

"Hey Angilas!" 
"What do ya want?"
"Something funny's going on, you'd better check!"
"Oh yeah."
"Hurry up!"


Then in the water...
"Hey Angilas come on, there's a lot of trouble ahead! We gotta hurry!"
"Okay."

Yeah it's kinda silly, but so awesome. How can one not smile at these scenes? Never gets old.

Overall, Godzilla vs. Gigan is fun little film. It has a fun cast and great monsters. (Minus the Godzilla and Ghidorah suits.) The pacing isn't that bad, the story is fun enough to keep the viewer invested with a great final fight. Unfortunately, it can't get the rating it was supposed to achieve cause of the overuse of stock footage. Either way, Godzilla vs. Gigan is a fun entry in the Godzilla franchise.

7.5/10.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Was Venom Done Right?


The Ultimate Spider-Man show is up to its fourth episode outing. A very strong start, a mediocre middle, and here we have this. I have been anticipating this one for a long time, it’s the debut of my favorite Marvel villain Venom. Ol’ Venom has had two incarnations in the cartoons so far, in The Animated Series, and in Spectacular Spider-Man. The difference here is that he’s appearing very early on, that has never been done before. It took 10 episodes in The Animated Series, and in Spectacular he was saved for the season finale. Not here, here he’s being established early on, and it may just be the best incarnation to date.

The origin here is drastically different from any other Venom origin to date. Doctor Octopus manages to get ahold of Spider-Man’s DNA and creates a symbiote, amplified with all the evil from the DNA. A great scene is when Norman walks in, and the whole place is trashed. Osborn asks “What happened?!” Then Doc Ock simply replies “The specimen escaped.” Now that was some great, simple writing there. I was afraid for a moment that Venom would be Doc Ock’s lapdog in the show, thankfully that’s not the case.

The symbiote is taking a bunch of cues from its Ultimate comics counterpart. Unlike in the 616 universe, this one uses itself as a weapon, like what Carnage does. It always did make more sense that way. Another interesting thing is that there’s no set host (Yet.) It kept latching itself from person to person (Very clever to have it latch onto Flash Thomson first, nice work Marvel). The horrific look is there, and the hate for Spidey is well established. The best moment that I’m sure had us Venom fans geeking out was when it latched itself onto Spidey, followed by the ever classic “I’m Venom!!!!!” (Interesting that it’s I’m, not we’re.) Here we get what looks to be the definitive design for the show. It looks a bit like the Spectacular Spider-Man design, but tweaked to perfection. It has four tentacles coming out out of his back, really gives off the horrific look that we want to see. And  the voice, perfection right there.

So was Venom done right in Spider-Man’s latest TV outing? I’d say so. As a huge fan of the 90′s incarnation, I approve. The design, the voice, it’s all there. With some more appearances in the show, this may just be the best Venom incarnation yet.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Godzilla vs. Hedorah Review


Ah, Godzilla vs. Hedorah. Where to begin, where to begin indeed. Released in the states as Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster, (who could forget that title?) this film is by far the most 'interesting' Godzilla film. I don't remember what I first thought about it when I first saw it many years ago, but I probably had thought around the same thing I do now. Strange, strange is the term best used for this weird film. It's a love it or hate it film, it really has divided the fan-base. It's one of my least favorite Godzila films, but that doesn't mean it's unmemorable.

Official description from Sony TriStar:
We humans are destroying our environment - and now there is a price to pay. From the sewage and sludge pumped into the sea, life degenerates, then mutates, creating a mega-monster, Hedorah . A radically ugly creature, this mammoth of muck swims, walks and flies, pausing only to inhale noxious smokestack fumes. He emits poisonous gasm crushes armies and annihilates cities while thriving on the toxins of our ecosystem. Cannons and missiles can't harm him, but his nefarious stench summons the attention of Godzilla, whose own refuge is threatened. Now, the monster of waste...is about to get wasted.

This film has a rather funny/infamous history. This would be the first 'official' Godzilla film since DESTROY ALL MONSTERS. (I say official, since technically in All Monsters Attack big G didn't appear.) This film was directed by Yosimitsu Banno, who had big plans for this franchise. He had a message to tell with this film. To sum it up: DON'T POLLUTE. (Here comes the owl.) A lot of the G films have their messages, but this one proudly displays it throughout. Banno had a unique vision for this film. The soundtrack gives this film a goofy atmosphere, you know you're in for something different right when you see the TOHO logo with G's goofy theme from the film playing over it. At the same time, this is one of the most horrific G films, complete with melting heads and plenty of skeletons throughout. Then there's these really weird cartoon sequences that don't belong in a Godzilla film. (Hedorah looks like Snuffleupagus in those.) There's a reason why TOHO didn't let Banno do his planned sequel. (In that one, G would have battled a Star fish.) One of the reasons I'm sure is the cast.

The two main characters would be Dr. Yano and his son Ken. First off, it should be said that Akira Yamauchi as the doctor gives a solid performance as the 'man who wants to help.' His relationship with all his family members felt fluid and real. Now Ken I thought was a strange one. His fixation on Godzilla usually would be a normal thing, just the way film goes about it makes you think he has some sort of crazy connection with the lizard. He also appears to be a little too smart for his age. His performance felt a little robotic with little to no emotion. Then there's Yukio Keuchi and his (I presume) girlfriend Miki Fujiyama. Yukio was definitely the worst with absolutely zero character development. What exactly is his relationship with Dr. Yano? That was never fully explained. His 'friend' Miki was one of the better characters in the film. (Admittedly the song she sang had a lovely ring to it.) However, there are some characters here doing things that don't make much sense, that will be addressed in two paragraphs. First, the always-awesome monsters.

Godzilla is looking good, with the suit from DESTROY ALL MONSTERS. The personality is here, complete with some new traits. (Chin rub taunt anyone?) His personality fits the heroic character he would have in the next four films. (It's amazing when you look back at the older films, seeing how his character progress until this one.) Hedorah, the infamous Smog Monster, makes his proud debut. First of all, the special effects team did an awesome job with the suit, it looks both fantastic and unique. (I gotta give it to TOHO for making these monster roars, Hedorah's sound/roar is pretty creepy and awesome.) There are some fantastic scenes with it, such as the one where he's inhaling smoke from a factory. (The symbolism in this film doesn't stop.) Really, Hedorah is a menace that I wouldn't mind seeing again. I'm pretty sure TOHO wanted nothing to do with the film after they dropped Banno, hence why the Smog Monster wasn't brought back until Final Wars. (After seeing this film, I'm very disappointed at how brief and weak he was made in that film.)

The soundtrack is a major criticism. While different, it isn't that great. I still cringe whenever I hear Godzilla's goofy theme. Not to say it's all bad, Hedorah's theme is appropriately creepy. The fights in this film are pretty good, especially the 'showdown at Mt. Fuji.' Hedorah's final form appearance was dramatic, with G and it about to duke it out. Quite investing moment there. There are some strange (been using that word a lot) things in the film that deserve a mention. First, an inconsistency. Hedorah is shown burying Godzilla. The scene cuts away to show the humans, then it goes back, showing the two monsters rolling down the mountain. G was in no position to escape, it just didn't make sense. Now, for the infamous dance at Mt Fuji. So Yukio had a 'great' idea. Since they're all going to die, why not party it out at Mt. Fuji? Not only didn't that make sense, it felt really unnatural and forced. Then the even stranger part is that Miki brings along Ken, who dances along with them! Of course, how can forget that Godzilla uses his flying ability in this film? That's right folks, G uses his atomic breath to fly through the air. It's kind of silly, (hence why it was never used again) but how can one not love it? (And does anyone else wonder what was up with those pales looking people watching the teens dance it out?)

Overall, Godzilla vs. Hedorah is......a strange movie. It really isn't that great, (there's a reason why Banno was booted right after his film. Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka of the 22 Godzilla films before this one literally said that Banno 'ruined the Godzilla franchise.') but that doesn't mean it isn't unmemorable. On the contrary, you won't be forgetting it anytime soon. Hedorah is a great kaiju with a unique design, with the fights being (mostly) dramatic, especially the showdown at Mt. Fuji. Godzilla vs. Hedorah is one of my least favorite Godzilla movies, but it's also one of the more memorable ones. (Those fish heads still creep me out to this day.)

7/10.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Weekly Comic Reviews

Greetings all, I'm back with the second edition of my weekly comic reviews. I'm beginning to really like this format, it makes the whole reviewing thing more fun and simple. This week however there is only one comic for review, Avengers Assemble #2, so it's a short weekly review this time. Let's get started.

                       Avengers Assemble #2


                                              Official Description
• Who Is The Zodiac? • The Blockbuster Team Behind Ultimate Spider-Man Bring You An In-Continuity Avengers Team For Movie And Comic Book Fans Alike!

                                                     THE GOOD

Fun. That's what this comic was, pure fun. Generic? Something that's been done a thousand times before? Of course, but it doesn't stop it from being a fun ride. The Zodiac was an interesting team to bring back. Inspired by their underwhelming performance in the recent Iron Man anime? Perhaps, but that doesn't matter. What does matter is the enjoyment you'll have while reading the issue. The writing is a lot stronger than the previous issue, a major improvement. (And this is Bendis, one of my least favorite writers in the industry.) For the first time in awhile, the Avengers are fun to read and their different types of dialogue is both humorous and great. The opening scene with the two Zodiac members was very dramatic and would make a perfect opening scene to a film.

                                                       THE BAD

Well I was under the impression that Hulk would be doing some serious smashing, but he wasn't shown fighting at all. Also, some of the writing is a bit obvious for new readers, namely the lengthy description for the Ultimate Nullifier. The Hulk's dialogue was a bit too 'rocky,' even more than usual. And him saying that he's not a 'team player' felt completely forced and unnatural, considering the history of all these characters.

                                                            ART

Mark Bagley is a fantastic artist, I'd even say he's better than John Romita Jr. Everyone looks great, the battles are colorful. It's good stuff the art. The cover is great, showcasing the Hulk who is ready to smash. (Who sadly never gets the chance to.)

                                                      OVERALL

A very fun and extremely enjoyable comic. It's what reading the Avengers should feel like, it's good stuff. A great read if you're in the mood to read something with the characters set out of current events.

8/10.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Weekly Comic Reviews

There's always a time for change. Sometimes it isn't it necessary, and sometimes it is....this is one of those times. Usually I do single comic reviews, but lately I've noticed that my comic reviews have been getting shorter. Getting discouraged, I quickly thought of a new way to review the comics....do a weekly review. See, here I could do short and to-the-point reviews of each issue I've been covering all in one post. It would make things simple and maybe even more fun. So here we are, I'm not quite sure if this format will remain the same, so we'll see. Of course, I'll be reviewing Godzilla comics separate if this format takes over. This week's issues for review include Avengers vs. X-Men #1, Amazing Spider-Man #683, and Detective Comics #8.

                                    Avengers vs. X-Men #1



                                                       Official description
• It’s No Longer Coming—It’s Here!• Does The Return Of The Phoenix To Earth Signal The Rebirth Of The Mutant Species? That’s What The X-Men Believe!• Unfortunately, The Avengers Are Convinced That Its Coming Will Mean The End Of All Life On Earth!• The Stage Is Set For The Ultimate Marvel Showdown In This Oversized First Issue!


                                                         THE GOOD

Wow, now this is what I'm talking about. First off, I just want to say that I like how there isn't much 'explaining' or 'building-up.' The first few pages has the Phoenix attacking some kind of place as it makes its way toward earth, but that's it. There isn't an over abundance of characters, (Fear Itself,) the story doesn't become too much, (Fear Itself once again) and it looks to keep the reader invested. (Another potshot at Fear Itself.) The character portrayals are all spot on, especially Cap's. The writing here is especially strong, there are some great dialogue sequences. The whole Cap and Cyclops scene had a great tension, and the brief scene with Cap and Wolverine was well written too. I like the simplicity of the story, the build-up to the final page is incredible, it will be hard waiting the two weeks to see what happens next.

                                                           THE BAD

I'm really tired of Spider-Man being a wisecracking fool used for comic relief. All his lines are awful, he looks to be in this event just show that 'Spider-Man is here.' Cyclops comes off as rather too impulsive, once again being clouded in judgement, c'mon man. And just like that they go to war? A bit TOO fast if you asked me. Also some of the writing felt off in the beginning, namely with Iron Man and Protector.

                                                               ART

John Romita Jr. really surprised me here, the art is fantastic. There are some really great splash pages with the Phoenix. There are some drawbacks however. Cap looks way too young in some panels, and Thor looks a bit off sometimes also. The main cover is fantastic, showcasing all the Avengers and X-Men about to square-off. Now that's a cover.

                                                           OVERALL

It looks like Marvel has finally got it right. The first issue of Avengers vs. X-Men is everything the reader wants as a start to an event of this magnitude. Intriguing plot, great characters, solid writing, and very good art makes the first issue of Avengers vs. X-Men a must-read. Of course, Fear Itself had a fantastic first issue too, and we know how that event ended up. Let's see if this event continues to meet expectations.

9/10.

                                            Amazing Spider-Man #683


                                                        Official description
• The Biggest Movie Stars Of The Summer Team Up As The Amazing Spider-Man And The Avengers Square Off Against Doc Ock And The Sinister Six!•The World May Be Ready To Buckle Under And Give In To Doctor Octopus’ Demands…But Spider-Man And His Fellow Avengers Sure Ain’t!

                                                               
                                                          THE GOOD

The event continues to impress. Spider-Man is finally given the respect he deserves, I love how he takes charge of the situation. The Avengers are here, but they don't take 'center attention,' it's still a Spidey vs. Doc Ock event. Slott's writing here is at its best, for the first time in awhile, I'm enjoying reading Spidey. He's not a comic-relief character as portrayed over at Avengers. The battle between the Avengers and Sinister Six is also great, there's a fantastic splash page with them about to attack the latter. There also some great concepts here. Thor using his hammer to absorb Electro? Pretty darn awesome if you ask me. Another jaw-dropping ending, should be interesting to see how they pull out of this one. Also, loving the new Spidey suit.

                                                            THE BAD

The writing is solid, except for the world leaders scene. Are people really that naive that they would believe Doctor Octopus? It's almost as bad as putting Norman Osborn in charge of the government, good thing that hasn't happened yet. Oh wait...

                                                               ART

Fantastic job by Stefano Caselli, one of the better artists for this series. Easily beating the Avengers art, everyone looks great, especially the new Spidey costume. The main cover is very dramatic, showcasing Spidey with Cap, Iron Man, Hawkeye, and Black Widow.

                                                           OVERALL

The second installment in the Ends of the Earth event is another solid one. Spidey is at his finest, with an awesome new costume to boot. The Avengers makes nice guest-stars without overtaking the issue. Doc Ock makes a fine main villain, even surprising and outsmarting Iron Man. The pacing and dramatic atmosphere makes this another blockbuster Spidey comic.

9/10.

                                                   Detective Comics #8


                                                         Official description
Bruce Wayne’s girlfriend, investigative journalist Charlotte Rivers, tries to protect a long-hidden secret even when her own life hangs in the balance. The Scarecrow is after knowledge only she possesses, and he’ll stop at nothing to get it from her. Can Batman uncover Charlotte’s secret past in time to save her future? With the clock ticking and a dose of newly designed fear gas in the air, Batman must first fight his own nightmare as all of Gotham City turns against him. Plus, don’t miss the start of a new backup story written by Tony S. Daniel and illustrated by Szymon Kudranski (PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE)!



                                                         THE GOOD

The story is simple but effective. It's cool to see Batman and how he does things, love those thought boxes, really brings out the 'detective' in the title. It was also nice to see Catwoman, guest stars are truly needed in this book right now. Scarecrow had a great design.

                                                           THE BAD

Filler. That's what this is, complete and utter filler. You could probably skip this issue and it wouldn't matter. To sum it up: Batman stops Scarecrow, who in turn isn't revealed to be the villain. Cliche and overused, but here it just feels so rushed. It should have been made into two parts. Scarecrow, a really interesting character in this issue, is finished off too fast. Also, some of the writing is really questionable. "Show's over. Anyone got a problem with that?" Yes, that was a quote from Batman. The majority of his dialogue was extremely off, Tony S. Daniel didn't seem to be quite on par here.

                                                               ART

The art is fantastic, Batman looks great, Scarecrow looks great, the backgrounds looks great, everything looks great. The cover is also fantastic.

                                                           OVERALL

A sub-par issue of Detective Comics. The last one wasn't that great, scoring a 5/10. While this one is better, it's not by much. The story is alright, but felt extremely rushed with apparently no ramifications for future issues. Scarecrow was a wasted villain opportunity, and I'm tired of the back-up stories. The actual issue becomes too short with them. Detective Comics is lacking the punch the first arc had, it better actually get a little exciting, otherwise in a few issues, this series will go on my drop-list.

6/10.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Terror of Mechagodzilla Review


Terror of Mechagodzilla is a special Godzilla film for a few reasons. One, it is the final film of the Showa era. Two, it features the reurn of the original Mechagodzilla. Three, it features the first (and sadly last) appearance of Titanosaurus. Four, it is the return of Akira Ifukube on music duties. And finally five, it features the return of Ishiro Honda, the director of the original Gojira, and many films after it. There was a energy crisis at the time, TOHO had shut down the Godzilla franchise right after this film. The big G returned in The Return of Godzilla in 1984, which started the Heisei era. This would also be the last time we see Godzilla as a full-fledged defender of Japan, who actually gets along with the humans. Terror of Mechagodzilla is a farewell the way things were, it truly is a great film.

Official description from Classic Media:

When aliens from the third planet of the black hole attempt to take over Earth with a little help from their friends Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus, they find themselves pitted against Godzilla, who squares off against them in defense of the planet. This film, which is 15th in the Godzilla series, features some of the most memorable fight scenes in the franchise.

You can tell by this film how different Honda's style is to Fukuda's. Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla had an upbeat, jazzy tone. This film retains the deep, almost depressing mood of Honda's previous films, much like Gojira. This being a direct sequel to the previous entry, some plot devices were reused. The Aliens of the Third Planet from the Black Hole are back, (no ape form, but some pretty cool 70's spandex) there are three monsters, (none on G's side this time around sadly,) and the leaders of the Aliens from both films are pretty darn similar. Whereas the previous film had fun fights scattered throughout the film, this film only has one. (Not counting the brief skirmish between G and Titanosaurus in the middle.) However, the final fight is just utterly fantastic. It's of the best battles in Godzilla history. This would also mark the final time the battles would be this crazy, punches/tackling and all. (Until Final Wars brought back this style.) The monsters were what stole the show, but like usual, the next paragraph will be on the cast.

What's interesting about this film is that instead of developing the cast with pointless scenes, (ahem, the Heisei era) it uses the characters to move the story along. There's no house scene with the main character drinking coffee relaxing, the characters are always talking about the plot. I personally like that, it keeps the film from getting dull or boring. Of course, tbecause of this, the characters aren't developed enough to say that there were any award-winning performances. However, unlike the sub-par acting of the previous entry, this one does have some really solid performances. The main character is Akira Ichinose, a marine biologist. He's pretty much just there to move thst story along, another character with no acting emotion like the previous entry's main character. Any type of emotion emitted is forced. However, the sub-plot with Katsura and Dr. Mafune make up for the heroes' lackluster performances. Tomoko Ai as Katsura gives a convincing performance, probably the best in the film. Her tale is both tragic and interesting. Dr. Mafune is an interesting character, aside from his backstory. Apparently after being kicked out for his work in the science community, he wants to destroy all humams? Sorry, I don't buy that. Too unrealistic. Still, his character was well played. The new leader or the Aliens is Mugal, portrayed by Goro Mutsumi. (The same actor who played the other leader in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla!) He's pretty much exactly the same as the previous leader. A very good main villain for the human characters, it's just that he's exactly the same as the previous leader, it might as well been the same character brought back to life.

The new monster is Titanosaurus. Heh, this film is called Terror of Mechagodzilla, but it's Titanosaurus who steals the show. In a world where Gigan, Megalon, and King Caesar appeared, Titanosaurus's simple design was welcome. The suit is fantastic, and the monster is full of character. A proud part of the G universe, it's sad that he was a never a big hit with the fans, truly underrated. (Pretty awesome roar too.) Mechagodzilla makes his proud return here, but doesn't look as good in terms of strength. When G came in close, it could hardly fight back. It's like it lost its melee capabilities. Still a cool robot to watch, the 70's at its finest. Of course, one cannot forget the King of Monsters himself, Godzilla. The suit is the same from the last film, still looking fantastic. I love the fighting character in him, how he has heart and NEVER gives up or retreats. (Ahem, Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla.) It is both ironic and funny how Godzilla and the humans 'team up' in the final battle, when twenty-one years ago he was their worst nightmare. Ah, I miss those days when he and the humans had a mutual respect.

Akira Ifukube returns for music duties. He truly is one of the greatest composers ever. The dramatic opening theme, Titanosaurus's theme, they're all great. Truly dramatic, couldn't have asked for better music in this film. Also, the effects in this film are fantastic. Like in the last film, the explosions are truly spectacular. The assault that turned Tokyo into a barren wasteland probably ranks as the greatest city-destroying scene ever captured in a G film. As I said earlier, the final fight is truly epic, very well choreographed. The blows are felt, and you are just in-tuned, thinking how the heck G will pull through this, there's a sense that he might not actually win. Really, the final fight in itself makes the film worth watching, I miss those crazy punch/kick/headlock/wrestling battles, good stuff.

Overall, Terror of Mechagodzilla is one of the finest Godzilla films out there. It serves as a farewell to the way things were. Ishiro Honda, by far the best of the Godzilla directors, returns to direct his final Godzilla film. It features the music of the always-awesome Akira Ifukube, and the debut of an awesome monster in the form of Titanosaurus. The final battle is great, and there's a lot of emotion regarding the Katsura subplot. The ending is nice, (albeit the brief scene where the Fake Godzilla suit is used,) it really gives off a sad, yet happy ending to the Showa era. Terror of Mechagodzilla is a Godzilla film that I will keep coming back to, it's one of the ones I'd definitely recommend to non-fans.

8/10.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Ultimate Spider-Man Premiere Review/Editorial


Spider-Man is one of the greatest superheroes ever created. He ranks in popularity along with Superman and Batman. There have been quite a few shows with the Wall-Crawler, dating back to the 60's. It wasn't until 1994 when he got what is known as his greatest TV outing ever. The famous Animated Series is still being watched today. I remember years ago when they use to air the marathons on Saturday mornings, good times. I grew up watching the show, it's one of the prime factors of why I'm a fan of the character. It put story ahead of the action. Then on March 8th, 2008, the now-canceled Spectacular Spider-Man aired. I gotta be honest, I think the show is a little overrated, and this is coming from a longtime fan of the character. It had some good stories, but the overall tone was just too kiddish for my taste, and the animation was awful. A lot of fans were sad when it was canceled, I personally was ready for a new show. The thing about this show is that it's being produced by Marvel from the ground up. It would be set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. (So cameos by the Avengers? YES.) I remember being really excited when the first teaser was released, it looked to bring back everything the 90's show had. Then slowly more clips were released, the tone had changed. It looked to be a comedy. My expectations dwindled a bit, I really didn't know what to fully expect. After watching the premiere, I can safely that this is one of the most enjoyable shows currently on television.

You know how this show is constantly being compared to Batman: the Brave and the Bold? There are some similarities, but it IS different. (AKA, better.) There's just something about this show that makes it extremely fun and enjoyable. I technically shouldn't like some of the goofiness, such as Spidey going on a motorcycle and not knowing how to stop it, but a lot of it is genuinely funny. I also like how Spidey is portrayed, surprisingly. His dialogue in Spectacular I felt was never that great, here the writing is pretty strong and, well, funny. I also like how Spidey's powers are used, there are some really clever occurrences. (The scene in the school where he wisely used a table comes to mind.) I also like how his intelligence is used in combat, specifically in a scene with the Wizard using 'air hostages.' Really, I'm liking the way Spidey is being portrayed. And with a great voice (Drake Bell) to match, this TV show version of Spidey is right up there next to the 90's one. (Not quite up to that standard, but not a bad runner-up.)

This show is in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What is the extent of that you ask? Well, how about Nick Fury AND Agent Coulson? That's right, it's pretty awesome and pretty funny at the same time. This Nick Fury matches his movie counterpart perfectly. (Just missing Sam Jackson's voice.) Agent Couslon looks to be a humorous part of the cast thanks to the funny plot twist at the end. People may not like some of the new versions of the characters. For example, this version of Aunt May is a hipster (I probably should find a better term) who does yoga AND beats Peter at video games. It's a different change of pace than the frail senior citizen we're used to. Norman Osborn and Harry Osborn remain pretty much the same as past incarnations, not a fan of either's design, too generic looking. Doc Ock's new design looks interesting from the few glimpses we get. Mary Jane wants to work for J. Jonah Jameson, now that's interesting.

I must say that the beginning of the first episode was perfect. JJJ (with J. K. Simmons as his voice, excellent choice) saying how Spider-Man's a menace and the latter narrating was just a perfect start. This show is definitely different, and I mean different. Whenever a new, major character appears, the screen turns to him with Spidey narrating who he is. And sometimes in fight, there's thhat 'TWAK!" and 'POW" words when Spidey punches or kicks someone. (Another similarity to the Brave and the Bold.) However, this is not a team-up show, this is still a Spidey-centric show. There's a story, but the show is all over the place. There really isn't a set 'arc' yet, but that's to be expected since it's just starting. One of the fun things about this show is the inclusion of other heroes. Here we have Iron Fist, Luk-I mean Power Man, White Tiger, and Nova. First of all, I just want to say that I can't stand when they turn a character younger to 'relate' to the audience or whatever logic they have. With that said, they were better than what I expected. I especially liked Luk-I mean Power Man. (I love how they made fun of the whole 'Luke Cage Power Man' thing.) I look forward to seeing more of these characters in the show. I love the in-jokes only Spidey fans can get. I laughed hard at the part where he said, "This is the part where I write my friendly neighborhood note, do you have a pen I can borrow?" (Then there's a jab at Amazing, saying how being Ultimate is better. Only comic fans would get that one. Also, the animation is top notch. Unlike the strange animation of Spectacular, this one is more traditional and akin to the 90's show. Spidey looks great, the animation is just top notch.

Overall, some may dislike this new series, some may even hate it. I on the hand had a blast watching it. (Remember, this is coming from a HUGE fan of the character, and of the 90's show.) Sometimes the tone could get a little TOO goofy for my tastes, but it's just so darn fun and enjoyable. Spidey has never been more of a great, humorous focus. This is a different kind of Spider-Man show, one that doesn't take itself too seriously. I really technically shouldn't like when something's like that, but there's something about this show that keeps me invested. It's Spider-Man, it's funny, it's superhero action with top notch animation. It is a good day to be a Spider-Man fan.

8/10.