Wonder Woman - What the DC movie universe should be.

As per usual i am not going to go in to plot details but it is a movie worth seeing and it is in my mind how DC should make their movies. I do feel sorry for whom ever had to write the script for Justice League trying to do Wonder Woman justice in that movie. Done wrong and and the backlash will be savage. 

Anyway the movie does a good job of blending Wonder Womans often changed and rewritten backstory and give it a solid feel. It is not a perfect movie.. what even that means. But it has solid humor and a fairly well-crafted story. Supporting roles are properly supporting and the villain actually have a believable motivation. Even if it is a bit stock. 

Visually the movie is stunning and it does a really good job of telling a story through light and set dressing. Same goes for sound design. The movie sounds great. It does pander to the 3D for the sake of 3D but nothing really important would be lost if one was to view it in 2D. Mostly it is a bunch of stuff flying towards the viewer. I lay this solidly at the feet of WB and not the crew who made the movie. 

As for the actors. Gal Gadot and Chris Pine bring that timing and chemistry that have been lacking in all the other modern DC movies. You believe them and the journey they take. As for Etta Candy played by Lucy Davis, she brings just the right light and snarky observation needed to ground the start of the movies second act. Would have liked to see a bit more of her tho. 

Now it is worth mentioning that this movie have very little connective tissue to the rest of the DC universe, but that was to be expected seeing as it is set during WW1. And since this is not Marvel... No end credit scene for you. 

In short. Go see it. It is worth it even if you dislike the rest of the DC offerings. Just remember to not base your decision of watching Justice league on this movie as there is no connection between the production teams. That one will be a Snyder picture. 

Until next time

Stay safe, be kind and play fair. 

Bye

The house of El. Supergirl episode 1-9 in review

So the not-superman show that is made by partially the same people that are doing the not-batman show have just come back from its mid-season break and I feel this is a great time to talk a bit about how Superman´s  cousin fair this time around.

Now do note that there will be  spoilers … So if you have not seen the show you have been warned.

The show start us off with a Kara Zor-El hiding her powers trying to fit in, working as the assistant to Cat Grant, as self-made media mogul and “queen of the media”. We quickly get the sory of how Kara was chosen to look over the baby cousin Kal El on earth she is blasted in to the phantom zone and well… arrives a bit late. She is placed with the Danvers family and spends most of her time as a regular person.. as far as one can with near godlike powers. Soon hi-jinx ensues as Kara´s sister is in mortal danger and she have her call to action. She is introduced to a transplanted Jimmy Olsen who we later learn is there on Superman´s behalf to keep an eye on her. We also meet Winn Schott Jr The office tech expert and “nice guy”. We get a really funny montage of her making her costume and then the show sort of goes in to a trifecta of clumsy hi-jinx, workplace comedy and monster of the week. We are also introduced to Alex Danvers, Kara´s sister and secret agent for the government’s alien protection/observation/neutralization unit DEO. A lot of weird things happens and we get the feeling that not everything is as it appears. Now as if the plot was not complex as it is we meet Mex Lord´s. A inventor and xenophobe without a moral compass. The first half of the season was slow and a bit unsure of itself.

Ok last chance… now we go in to real spoilers…

The show wrapped up with some really big hitters… We got introduced to T.O Morrow and Red Tornado in his pre-hero role of angry android and we get a big slew of backstory and super people punching each other in the form of Astra In-Ze the sister to Kara´s mother Alura. A Kryptonian eco-terrorist. And as if this was not enough the show finally revealed that the head of the DEO is no other than the Martian Manhunter. This had been hinted at for a few episodes but it is really going to be interesting to see what one of DC´s real powerhouses as far as well.. power… will do one the current story arc plays out. (for those unaware of the Martian Manhunters powers they include.. Telepathy, flight, shapeshifting, density shifting, super strength and  rapid healing. But he ls pyrophobic.) Now if episode 9 is anything to go by we will soon see another classic Supergirl enemy/allied  Powergirl. A sometimes clone of Supergirl that in the comics and other media tend to be under some kind of brainwashing. This time around she will most likely be. It is that or Bizzaro Supergirl  (Bizzaro is another sometimes clone of superman that looks like a zombie and speaks in opposites as happy meaning angry or sad and friend meaning enemy  and so on… ) or maybe a fuzion of both the characters. It is also going to be interesting to see how Winn will develop seeing how he is the son of DC´s Toyman a very twisted tech genius. It does explain though how Winn is not just a tech expert but almost supernaturally good with tech. I´d love to see him throw down against Felicity. =)

For me this show does share some traits with Marvels Agents of shield that its first season so far is all over the place and have some pacing problems but it does have much more interesting characters 

Taking the Suicide squad to the task.

So in this day and age news move with a speed that would have the Flash lagging behind. Since I do not run a daily blog it sometimes feel like I am the last on the puck so to speak. That is why most of my postings are fluff or opinions. But it also leaves me somewhat frustrated once in a while.

Today I am going to talk about a pair of news items that are not really new anymore.

First up we have the casting of the next movie in the DC cinematic universe that started with Man of steel and will be followed by the Batman/Superman movie. Coming up is the movie based on Taskforce X, better known as the suicide squad. If you have kept tabs on CW´s Arrow you will be familiar with some of the name. It is the clandestine government black-ops unit that use convicts with special skills to do that what ordinary forces cannot.

In most incarnations of the task force the people who “volunteer” is told that each mission take some time of the sentence (and seeing as a lot of them serve several life sentences… ) but they are also fitted with a micro explosive attached to their spine at the base of the neck. Should one of the operatives get out of line… tick, tick, boom. The Suicide squad is usually a good way in the comics to retire minor or less popular villains should the need arise. Mortality rates are very high, hence the nickname. But you usually find some high profile names rotating in and out of the squad such as Deadshot and Harley Quinn. So who are in the squad this time around.?

Let us kick it of at the top with

Amanda Waller: It is unclear exactly what role Waller will play (or who will play her) but she is the typical tough as nails director. The kind that would stare the Joker in to submission and call Batman a pansy richboy.  There are in essence two versions of her. The classic and in my mind best version is a middle-aged heavyset woman. Built like a brick in a suite she is both a harsh taskmaster but also one to have a motherly side to the nutcases she “care” for. The other is a “vitalized” version of her, 30-ish and a much more fit and active player who are not afraid to get hands on when the situation need it. This version is seen in the Arrow show and DC´s new 52 universe reboot. Rumors have it that WB is looking for a slightly older woman to play the role but nothing is confirmed as of yet. But there cannot be a Taskforce X without Amanda Waller.

The Joker (played by Jared Leto): The clownprince of crime should not need much of a introduction and is this films odd man out seeing as he is not a Taskforce X regular due to being… Well.. Fucking nuts … More so then most other psychopaths in TF:X. What role he will have in the movie… I´d guess he will be “the brain” and make the plans, seeing as he is a brilliant strategist and highly intelligent. As for Jared Leto, I had not seen him in much I could remember so I had to turn to google and I have to say he has the looks for a younger more energetic Joker. Perhaps along the lines of Bruce TImms Joker from Batman TAS and Justice League TAS(voiced brilliantly by Mark Hamill). I am very intrigued to see how he will tackle the role.

Harley Quinn (played by Margot Robbie): The Jokers constant shadow/lover/partner/enemy who originated in the Batmna Animated series by Bruce Timm.  Harley Quinnsel was an Arkham Asylum psychiatrist who tried to do a Clarice Starling but was played and pushed over the edge by the manipulative and charismatic Joker. Once she snapped she fully embraced the insanity. At first glance Harley Quinn look like nothing more than eye candy for the Joker, but is a competent psychiatrist and well versed in psychoanalysis. She is also a fairly competent fighter. The actor playing her is Margot Robbie and just like the Joker this girl as a blank for me. But having seen her in a few YouTube clips I think she can nail the seductive and dominant but also bat shit crazy Harley Quinn. Perhaps not my top pick but I think it will work out well.

Boomerang (played by Jai Courtney(: Better known as Captain Boomerang this Flash villain and all-round unpleasant fellow is an assassin for hire that uses different trick-boomerangs… Yes… He is also Australian… Who would have thought?  He is also a reoccurring TF:X member even if his main association is the villain group “ the rogues” from the Flash comics and the CW TV series. A fairly competent fighter with a good eye for angles and thinking three steps ahead. In the comics there have been two or three different villains carrying the name of Boomerang and it is a bit unclear what version this will be based on. He is going to be played by Jai Courtney and form what I have seen from him he will be a good fit in the looks department and while Boomerang tends to be the somewhat surly and even a bit whiney in the comics I have no doubt that Jai can pull that off if they go that way. I personally hope they make him a bit more towards the angry and suspicious side of things.

Deadshot (Played by Will Smith): Probably the biggest casting WTF for me. Deadshot is a TF:X mainstay that have been in most of the versions I have come across. The world’s deadliest assassin and rumored to never miss a target (unless it is wearing bright spandex and has its own comic book title) Deadshot is a broken man, suicidal and homicidal he is often portrayed as having very little care for the life of others, this goes double for his team. But he live by a strict code of conduct that stipulates that every job should be completed. He is usually portrayed as a fairly smart and competent leader. A above average strategist and a master of ballistic weapons…. All of them… But especially a pair of wrist mounted guns linked to a HUD. He is played by Will Smith, whom I have a hard time seeing as the gruff and downright unlikeable Deadshot. He did show a little bit of that in among other Hancock… I have my doubts about this but he is at least a seasoned actor. Perhaps a bit to seasoned as I fear they will tweak the character to fit Will rather than the other way around.

Rick Flagg (played by Tom Hardy): A fairly unknown name outside of comic’s geeks. Flagg is the no nonsense leader of Taskforce X and Amanda’s representative once the team leaves the “nest” so to speak. A fanatical patriot Flagg is the sort of man that think that the ends always justifies the means.  He does not have much personality or motivation beyond that most of the time. He will be played by Tom Hardy who we last time saw as Bane in the third Nolan Batman movie… .. . The less we say about that one the better. While I hated the take on Bane he did I have no problem seeing him playing a stern and no bullshit military man that put his mission before his “men”.

Enchantress (played by Cara Delevigne): The only person with real superpowers in this lineup as she is a spell-caster and wilder of magic. I know very little about this character beyond that she have at times flip-flop between hero and villain due to her magic corrupting her from time to time. No clue if they will stick with the magic angle or explain it some other way. The same goes for the actor playing her. A utter unknown but she at least has the look.

There is also a rumor that Lex Luthor will be involved and played by Jesse Eisenberg. I think that will be good.

Now this lineup to me sounds pretty solid apart from two things, both tied to the same problem. Both the character of the Joker and Will Smith as an actor feel a lot to me like “poster names” to pull in the “normal” person on the street who will be unfamiliar with who both the characters and the actors are. But I hope I am wrong and that they both fill a purpose beyond the obvious name recognition.

Now I am not dissing this movie and I was one of the people who did not outright hate Man of Steel, I think it was an interesting take on the mythos that had some small but important flaws… And the solution to Zod was not one of them. But the thing is that DC have not had a good solid run with their movies and the choice to split the movie and TV universe is understandable but sad as this is one of the things I really like with Marvel´s cinematic universe, it is all connected more or less. Dc not doing this is something I think will come back and bite them in the arse later. Also beyond the stuff that CW is doing their live action TV stuff have been less than a smash hit for me. Time will tell I guess but no matter what there has never been a time like now to be a comic´s geek.

So leaving that I just like to give my reaction to the rumour that Occulus acquired hand reading sensor tech in development.

My reactions is… .. . SQUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII….

More on this as it develops. Literally =P

That was that... Cheers =)

So much to see, so little time.

Way to much TV....

I was at first intending to cover the super-hero/comics related TV shows coming out this fall/winter but to be honest there are simply too many. I do unfortunately not master in super-hero TV adaptations. But that will not stop me from bringing the subject up every now and then. It is of course a very pleasant problem to have but at the same time my inner content junkie feels like it would be good to get it out there. I did bring up Gotham and I will give a similar once over on Constantine and Flash.

Beyond them we do have the return of Agents of SHIELD and Arrow. Arrow is setting up for ehat I think to be the best season ever but that is mostly due to the inclusion of Ra's al Ghul. Primarily a Batman villain he is a master assassin and would be conqueror that aims to rid the world form sin, one head at a time. He is also immortal thanks to something called the Lazarus pit, a mysterious well that grants the person who steps in to it rejuvenation and healing. To the modern audience he is mostly known for having been played by Liam Neeson in the Nolan-verse Batman movies. His combination of sharp wits and extreme combat proves will make for a very interesting adversary to Oliver.

While Arrow in my mind will start with a solid gold platter, AoS have a tough fight ahead of them. The series was slow as come heck at the start and it was not until the tail end of the season that things really kicked off. Now this was of course natural seeing as it tied to closely in to Captain America 2 but that does not excuse the pacing and at times ham-fisted plot. So with the very good season finish and a very interesting setup for this one AoS will still have to work hard to regain the interest of the TV audience. Especially with DC´s strong lineup and a truckload of good non-superhero shows starting or continuing.

Elsewise things are slow right now. I am trying to get on phase with the DC and Marvel comics universes but it is going slow and with marvel in essence having reduced their heroes to a long string of events catching up is even worse. With DC I simply decided to pick up week one of NEW52 and work forward so it is a tad bit better. But I am simply not gripped by them as I used to be. Perhaps it is my degrading mind slowly consumed by age or they are just not as good as I remember… But then again when I was young I really liked Knight Rider… .. . So I am not sure how much value that opinion holds. Also my master thesis is eating up a lot of time that used to be spent on stuff like this. But while my geek-cred is weakening I am not really worried yet and while my free time shrinks I still intend to keep this blog up and I am looking in to being able to do VLogs and similar media content. This mostly as a safety valve to give myself a way to be creative that does not interfere with my studies.  My first entry in to that will most likely be next LootCrate unboxing… Yeah... unlike the other 5000 people doing it but it is a good place to work out the wrinkles and give me a chance to try some other funny stuff.

So that was pretty much my thoughts about that, sorry but nothing more interesting today. I will miss out on this week´s Dr Who episode review but I will do some restructuring with those, chif difference will be that they will not be delayed by a week but rather be a review of the current episode. So.. More spoiler warnings I guess. So look for a bunch of Dr Who realted stuff early next week.

Also i´d like to put a small puff for my friend and fellow blog producer Anton over at http://antontycker.blogspot.se/ who is dipping his toes in to writing in English and I really think you should stop by and give him some encouragement and he will give you some gaming insights and general nerd stuff