Posted by
Justin Hedvat
- Friday, February 20, 2015
As we patiently wait for the trailer to arrive for next year's hotly anticipated Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, director Zack Snyder has whetted our appetite by giving us the first official image of Jason Momoa as Aquaman, one of the founding members of DC Comics' Justice League. Snyder took to Twitter to post the image with the caption, "There is only one true King. #unitetheseven"
He's the Aquaman we deserve and the Aquaman we need right now.
The photo features a bearded, tattooed, and overall badass Aquaman brandishing a menacing trident—a huge divergence from the walking orange punch line that many of us have come to associate with the character. This ain't your granddaddy's Aquaman. Snyder's theatrical version looks like a cross between Momoa's Game of Thrones character Khal Drogo and the 1990s comic book version of Aquaman, which abandoned the orange-scaled scuba suit for armored shoulder pads that displayed his rippling chest—clearly a good costume choice, given the actor's massive build.
Though Momoa has previously claimed that he would not be blonde for the film, he does appear to have some blonde streaks in his hair, an obvious nod to the character's comic book origins. Snyder's Aquaman is covered in Polynesian-inspired tattoos and his arms and one shoulder are embossed in armor. The signature Aquaman logo can be seen on his waist, and though most of the color palette is muted, we can still detect notes of the iconic orange and green on his armor and pants.
Overlaying the photo is the tagline, "Unite the Seven," which could have various meanings: an attempt by Aquaman to unite the Seven Seas under one king, or perhaps the seven members of the Justice League that will be featured in DC's upcoming slate of films. Assuming it's the latter, this could be the start of an exciting ad campaign for Warner Bros. to introduce their new onscreen ensemble of characters.
The Holy Trinity
"The Seven" could also be a cool way to reference the Justice League without saying "Justice League," which sounds just a bit too corny for the more modern, gritty tone that DC's films seem to be going for. We've previously been treated to peeks at Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, and we're hoping that we'll soon see teases at Cyborg, Flash, and Green Lantern in the coming months.
Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisenger, Aquaman's first appearance was in 1941 in More Fun Comics #73. Aquaman will make his big screen debut in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice on March 25, 2016, followed by Justice League Part One on November 17, 2017, and will eventually star in his own solo self-titled adventure, Aquaman, on July 27, 2018.
So what do you think of Jason Momoa as Aquaman? Will he change the way much of the public thinks of the character? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
It seems as if more and more AAA-developed games are being released with patches straight out of the starting gate. Who can we blame? The developers for not doing a good enough job of polishing their game? The publishers for pushing for a release date before the product is ready? What about the consumers, who create artificial hype at impossible-to-reach levels?
One of the more infamous examples of this issue can be found in Assassin's Creed Unity. Upon release, the game was reported to have been plagued by game-breaking bugs, glitches, and frame-rate drops due to poor optimization on the PC version. And let us not forget about the "no face" bug...
There's a fetish for everything...
Regardless, it is obvious that this is an issue plaguing the industry. Why are our games shipping to us broken? The Press Start crew takes to the discussion lounge to chat about this increasingly frustrating situation.
What's your opinion on this topic? Let us know in the comments below!
Hey Hey Hey Dacetacular Nation!! The Dace Man Show is partnering up with Fanboys Anonymous and Mega Powers Radio as well as Say Yes, Think No to host a 24-hour video game marathon with all proceeds going directly to charity.
On February 15th 2014, The Dace Man Show was able to raise $900 for St. Jude Children Research Hospital. This year we're looking to do even better as we do battle again for 24 hours!
Check back regularly for updates and more information on the gaming blocks, prizes, and ways you can donate to Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania!
If you can't donate, you can still help out by spreading the word. Share us on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, or any other sources that you have so we can reach as many people as possible.
February 28th Kick off at Noon - Twisted Metal 2! Last year we started with it and we decided to keep it a tradition!
Noon - 4 Retro Games! - Nothing screams nerd like trying to play Super Mario Bros by blowing the cartridge! Join us as we play anything and everything that originated on a system from when we were kids. The original Sonic, The Original Mario Bros, hell Gibby may play Metroid.
4PM - 8PM SPORTS! - It's the most athletic we get during the winter time! Also, we promise not to let Gibby play the Bigs and lose 15-2 again....we know it was painful for us as well!
8PM SUPER SMASH BROS TOURNAMENT - It's time to crown a true champion and we actually have a trophy. We will have one or two (depending on the amount of entries) 8 man mayhem matches to determine seating on the tournament. From there, we will engage in one-on-one battles to determine the Super Smash Champion! To enter the tournament, please reach out to Chris Dace on Facebook or shoot an email to thedacemanshow@gmail.com with the subject SMASH BROS. TOURNAMENT
Immediately Following the Tournament - Singstar and Just Dance gotta get the blood pumping heading into the over night hours!
Twilight Limbo After Hours- Who honestly knows what's going to happen?
John Calls It - 9 AM To Finish - My nephew John—who will be wide awake and ready to go—will close us out on the 24 hour gameathon, picking games and playing while the rest of us try to stay awake.
The Prizes
For every $5 donated to the cause your name will be entered into a random drawing for awesome prizes brought to you by our sponsors!
$50 Amazon Gift Card
Guardians of The Galaxy Poster
Captain America: Winter Soldier Poster
2 Three Month Subscriptions to Loot Crate
2 Opening Day Tickets to The Philadelphia Phillies vs. The Boston Red Sox 3:05PM Game April 6th (Seats TBD)
Marvel Infinity Gauntlet Omnibus
8 Various Tee Turtle Shirts
Check back regularly to see what other awesome prizes we will be giving away.
It is common knowledge that death is the only real certainty we have in life. For this reason, many of us decide to lessen the burden on our family members and loved ones by buying life insurance to cover the our final costs and designing a will to divide whatever assets we may have.
Pick your heir wisely.
Apparently, aside from which insurance to buy and how to draft a legal document containing information on our final wishes, many of us are also haunted by another question: What will happen to my social media accounts when I die?
Part of me really wished this was a joke, but a quick search on Google made me realize this is what many 21st-century minds worry about.
Well worry no longer, my friends.
Facebook ;has announced a new setting that will allow users to choose between the options of having their accounts permanently deleted after death or of designating "Legacy Contacts."
The Legacy Contact is a person of your own choosing, a friend or family member, who will have control over the following aspects of your profile when you die:
Change your profile picture and cover photo.
Write a post that will appear at the top of your timeline (for example, to announce a memorial service or share a special message).
Accept friend requests from real-life friends and family who were not connected to you onFacebook before your passing.
According to Vanessa Callison-Burch, a Facebook product manager, these particular features "were among those most requested by Facebook users who gave the company feedback on its memorial-page policies."
On the other hand, the chosen person will not be able to:
View or download your messages.
Edit or delete posts you shared in the past.
Edit or delete posts others have shared on your timeline.
So no one will be able to delete any embarrassing pictures of you, but at least they will not be able to read any kinky messages you might have sent or received.
Leave a legacy, or delete your page?
Want to know how to setup your Legacy Contact now?
Step 1: Go on "Settings" on your Facebook account and click on "Security."
Step 2: Click on "Legacy Contact" and type the name of your choice in the "Choose a friend" box. Note that this page also gives you the option to delete your account instead.
What will you say to your friend in your last message?
Step 3: Review the message your chosen Legacy Contact will receive. This message can be revised so that it is more personal between you and your friend.
Step 4: Once you are satisfied, you can either hit "Send" to have your message sent immediately or choose the "Not Now" option to have the message sent in the future.
Step 5: If you want to allow your Legacy Contact to download posts, photos, videos and/or other content from your account, check the "Data Archive Permission" box.
Done!
When your time comes, Facebook will notify your chosen contact that he or she may now manage your account.
Until now, accounts could only be memorialized by Facebook; they could still be viewed but could not be accessed or edited by anyone else. Callison-Burch believes this new feature is a great step up when it comes to social media:
Our team at Facebook is grateful and humbled to be working on these improvements. We hope this work will help people experience loss with a greater sense of possibility, comfort, and support.
Legacy Contacts are currently only available in the United States, but Facebook looks forward to expand it to other countries.
Setting up a Legacy Contact is completely optional.
What do you think about this Legacy Contact business? Do you think you will use it? Let us know your opinion by leaving your comments below!
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Sunday, February 15, 2015
On a special podcast for Fanboys Anonymous, the panel prepares for the 40th anniversary of Saturday Night Live by doing their very own retrospective during the pre-show.
Hosted by Chris Dace, joined by Tony Mango and Randi Dace
Some topics we discuss:
Comparisons of different sets of cast members
SNL's effect on politics with their parodies
SNL movie spinoffs
Favorite moments, best skits, and more!
You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!
Guardians of the Galaxy #24 cover
by Valerio Schiti and Jason Keith
Part two of "The Black Vortex."
Threatened by the Slaughter Lords, cosmically enhanced evildoers under the influence of Mr. Knife, the Guardians of the Galaxy and All-New X-Men face a drastic decision: do they use the Black Vortex to protect themselves, defeat the bad guys, and save the universe, or do they struggle without its power?
Taking the distraction the Slaughter Lords provided and while the others were fending them off, Gamora took the decision into her own hands and submitted to the Black Vortex, emerging as a new level 2.0 badass assassin capable of taking on the current threat easily.
With the Slaughter Lords defeated, Magik teleports the group to a nearby moon of Spartax and to safety. Here the drama begins anew as all must decide what to do with the Black Vortex.
Writer Brian Michael Bendis warps a tale of intrigue, subterfuge, and surprises. We see the older Hank McCoy, aka Beast, make a fateful decision; the arrival of Nova adds one more to the fray; and the conspiracy of the Black Maw with Thane is undoubtedly a subplot with more weight to be uncovered in subsequent issues of this crossover.
Black Vortex enhanced Beast
Guardians of the Galaxy #24 moves the plot along at what feels like a deliberate pace. There isn't a huge amount of action, but there doesn't need to be. The crafting of "Black Vortex" is so far playing out well for readers; Bendis is pacing the story, building suspense with dramatic twists and turns. This issue does have a lot of dialogue to reveal the characters' motivations and drive some characterization. There is also a lot of panel work, and artists Valerio Schiti and Jason Keith are right at home with the sense of space and color arrangement that was set up in "The Black Vortex: Alpha."
Thane and Black Maw
Schiti provides some great art pieces, with a couple of double-page splash images and another whole-page splash. The grandiose feeling of space and the cosmic divine potential out there is driven home in the artwork. Keith's colors are great. The way the new designs of those who have been enhanced by the Black Vortex are depicted is attributed to the color as much as the art itself. In some more cases more so, as with Gamora. If this is the level of art for the series, then we are safe to say this will be an awesome experience to readers.
Mr Knife and the Brood emissary
Overall, the art makes up for some lack in the writing in this issue. Bendis does some okay work, but it isn't stellar. The conflict between Kitty Pryde and Peter Quill seems a little forced for the sake of creating tension, but the seeds planted from this part of the event may become the most fruitful part of the issue.
What did you like about this issue? Did this continue strongly from the first issue of this event in your opinion? What do you hope for the next part? Tell us below or head over to the Fanboys Anonymous Facebook or Twitter and leave a comment. Make sure you come back for the next installment of "The Black Vortex"with Legendary Star-Lord #9.
The Black Vortex - Alpha cover
by Ed McGuinnes and Justin Ponsor
The saga begins here!
It's one last hit out for the X-Men and Guardians of the Galaxy before Secret Wars envelopes the Marvel Universe. If our heroes aren't successful in staving off disaster from Mr. Knife and the Slaughter Lords, then there may not be a universe to left to fall into for the next major Marvel event.
"The Black Vortex" has been hyped up enough to have a certain amount of expectations as a large crossover event, and it is issue heavy. Consider the list on the back page of each issue of the event, which reveals a total of 13 issues. Given this, does the Alpha issue deliver on the hype?
Ultimately you will be the judge, but as far as the setup goes, this feels like it is missing some back story. The events immediately proceeding this issue have been built up in Sam Humphries's story from The Legendary Star-Lord series. While you certainly can jump straight into the event from this issue, the context is glossed over so quickly that it has to be compromised in some way. However, in the writer's defense, we get to see a good deal of action and he does have to incorporate two large teams of Marvel heroes and one made up of villains within the confines of this single issue.
A Celestial stands on Viscardi
Humphries delves into a story that is full of action and intrigue. Important plot points are carefully revealed early on, including the origin of the Black Vortex, a mirror-like object that unleashes the cosmic power within any individual who submits to it. It is great to see Humphries show solid character performances. Many of the characters of the All-New X-Men, Jean Grey School and Guardians of the Galaxy have strong individual personalities, so to see each have their unique voice come through is a triumph of coordination.
Failure breeds determination
The first part of this crossover event flows well through this issue. There is a deliberate pace that encompasses the various aspects. We have a slower, winding speed with Thane, Mr. Knife, and the Slaughter Lords at the beginning. As the issue ramps up, the X-Men are sped into place for a showdown with the Guardians of the Galaxy as the two teams must decide what to do with the Black Vortex. Meanwhile, the Slaughter Lords come to the fore again. The development of the story and manner in which it proceeds feels good; by the end of the issue, we are left hanging on the desperate actions of one of the Guardians, who is trying to resolve an unwinnable situation.
A lot of the pace and storytelling dynamics are also attributed to the art from Ed McGuinnes and Kris Anka. The pair have a division of pages, and at some points it seems to blur together. The artists have distinct styles, and the differences between them are a little jarring as they crossover in this issue. However, by the end it isn't a deal breaker. There is some wonderful art on show here. McGuinnes provides a great back story for the Black Vortex as an object of desire; there is a sense of him taking the establishing pages while Anka gets to finish off with the big action piece.
Anger at the Celestial will bring
about an unexpected consequence
A highlight was the three-quarter page panel that depicts the reuniting of the X-Men and the Guardians of the Galaxy. Here Anka and Humphries insert the comic relief that is necessary to bring the serious galaxy-worrying event back to a grounded state. The final page is also another notable piece of the art, with a full-page splash showing a refined Gamora. The colors here are gorgeous to behold, as they are throughout this issue.
As soon as the issue opens it is easily recognizable that Marte Gracia is on point, even without glancing at the credits on the preceding page. However, when joined with Marcelo Maiolo, this is a strong colorist team that brings depth and weight to the issue. The pages shimmer with a vibrancy and hue that is so often found in the pages of Marvel's stories set in space. The colors pop in a sublime way and make this a very attractive issue to read.
Gaze into the mirror of power
"The Black Vortex: Alpha"issue feels like a good start to this event. It is not a perfect issue but a solid one nonetheless. With the artistic team on board, it delivers for the extra length and higher cover price. I hope the series keeps at least to the standard set here or gets better.
What did you like about this issue? Do you feel the setup has hit the mark? How did you like the art and colors? Tell us below or head over to the Fanboys Anonymous Facebook or Twitter and leave a comment. Make sure you come back for the next installment of "The Black Vortex" with Guardians of the Galaxy #24.
Nightcrawler #11 cover
by Todd Nauck and Rachelle Rosenberg
Kids on the run!
Nightcrawler and Bloody Bess are racing to return Rico and Ziggy Karst, the captured students of the Jean Grey School, to safety. The Crimson Pirates are en route to deliver the students to the slave markets controlled by the despicable Voge.
What shapes up in this issue is a swashbuckling adventure that strikes at the heart of what Nightcrawler is all about as a character. There is action with a spattering of moralistic dilemmas that have to be overcome before we can see this story and series resolved.
As we have seen throughout this series, writer Chris Claremont has imprinted his own unique style that was so well established in previous runs on X-Men books. There are moments of forced dialogue and some cheesy one-liners, but all of this is typical of the writer. As such, it was good to see Claremont clarify early on the little lover's tangle played up in the previous issue. It is certainly evident that he considers the story from different angles, and so we have some carefully considered, if not convenient, explanations from the characters about their intentions, powers, or the general plot points that may pop out to readers.
There are some interesting aspects of art from Todd Nauck in this issue. The boarder art, with the auction figures and head shots were a nice distraction, although I am not sure what purpose it provided to enhancing the reading experience. At one point, I felt the encroaching art of the slave children heads was too close to the main interior art. It is an aesthetic decision from both the artist and the editorial team, and it is great to see something different being tried, but in an action-packed story such as this, it wasn't necessary.
A lovers tangle
Like Claremont, Nauck has continued to flavor the series with his own unique brand of art. His take on very recognizable X-Men characters has been bright and full of energy. It feels as though he has stayed true to his aims and purpose, seeking to introduce his take on some lesser known characters to a younger audience. This complements the encyclopedic knowledge that Claremont has in the X-Universe as we see some familiar characters, such as the Hounds and Warwolves, emerge in this issue.
Nightcrawler #11 and indeed the series itself wouldn't be what it is without the colors of the prolific Rachelle Rosenberg. There is a vibrancy and spark that is itself an attractive quality of this series. We get to see fight scenes in this issue jump to life as the color helps the reader fixate on the action. It feels like Rosenberg's colors are very complementary to the art style Nauck has brought to the fore. It is the uninterrupted run of the artistic team that has given endearment to Nightcrawler.
We are nearly at the end of the series; with one more issue Claremont, Nauck, and Rosenberg will wrap up Nightcrawler. It has so far been fun and played to the strengths of these artists. It will be slightly sad to see it go, but it will also feel fulfilled in a way.
The slave market of Voge
Nightcrawler was so spectacularly killed in X-Force #26 in 2010, that when he was brought back early in 2014 there was a certain amount of feeling and soul that returned to the X-Men of the Jean Grey School. Soon after, the death of Wolverine left its mark, but Nightcrawler continues to be a character of conscience, which is sorely needed among the X-Men. It will be interesting to see if any other solo X-Men books replace this one, but at least it was an enjoyable experience to read and with one more issue to go, I look forward to seeing how this story is wrapped up.
What do you think of Nightcrawler #11? Do you like where the story has taken us so far? How did you feel about the different boarder art in this issue? Tell us below or head over to the Fanboys Anonymous Facebook or Twitter and leave a comment. Make sure you come back next month for the final issue of this series.
There are twists and turns in this month's issue of Cyclops that lift the quality of the story to a more buccaneering level. It is great to see writer John Layman ramp up the action and set a course for collision as the characters fire broadsides at one another.
We are deep into this arc, so much so that there is only one more issue before the series intertwines into The Black Vortex event currently rampaging across the Marvel Universe space. Given the little time left until the remaining original X-Man from the past is joined with the rest of the other time-displaced members, will we see Cyclops emerge on the other side of the event? Only time (and some solicitations from Marvel) will tell.
Layman appears to be wrapping up the story in issue #10 only to blindside readers with a surprise twist at the end. The action is paced well, with some interspersed father-son bonding moments. By the time the issue concludes, you come out feeling hooked for the next issue. The good thing is that it is a fun ride to the end.
Much of this is to do with the pacing set out by Javier Garron's art. While I am still not the biggest fan of the art depiction, overcoming this is not difficult, as you let yourself be carried along in the story. I do like the action angles and shots that Garron selects to tell the story. There is a dynamism here that lends itself to the story.
Cyclops and Corsair run for the lives
As always Chris Sotomayor's colors are on point. They enhance the artwork to deliver feelings of space battle and pirate shenanigans that are dazzling and bright. Without Sotomayor, this book would not have held on for as long as it has. Couple this with the absolutely stunning cover art by Alexander Lozano, and it keeps me coming back to a book the hasn't lived up to expectations generally. I am slightly tempted to just take all the covers and start some sort of epic giant wall collage.
We are not alone here
As we move ever closer to The Black Vortex and Secret Wars I am intrigued to see what happens with this series. I like it, don't get me wrong; this issue is a stronger one than some of the other more recent issues, but ultimately I wouldn't miss it if it were to end. Like the Nighcrawler series, which is about to close, it has delivered on its mission statement. Without some more invigoration, it may be consigned to the soon-to-end Marvel Universe as an unmemorable space pirate jaunt.
What did you think of this weeks issue of Cyclops? Did you feel this is picking up as a series? What do you think of the covers? Tell us below or head over to the Fanboys Anonymous Facebook or Twitter and leave your mark there.
On episode 11 of the 4 Reel Movie Club podcast, Fanboys Anonymous members give their thoughts on four of the Oscar nominees for Best Picture (among other things) at the 87th Academy Awards in 2015.
Host: Chris Dace
Panelists: Tony Mango and Briana Gaitan.
THIS MONTH'S SET OF MOVIES:
The Imitation Game
The Theory of Everything
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Birdman
You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!
Posted by
The Dace Man
- Friday, February 13, 2015
Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out Episode 86 of The Dace Man Show with host Frank Ward! It's another Frank Take Over, and this time it's a complete Iowan Invasion! Join Frank Ward, Jefferson Brown, and Travis Sullivan as they take over The Dace Man Show in The Dace Man's hiatus!
What did the Iowan crew discuss this week on The Dace Man Show? Word from down on the corner is that they introduced some new segments. Also, the Iowan Crew discussed how great the state of Iowa really is as a jab at the usually dominant New Jersey crew.
With The Dace Man, Gibby, Nicholas Andrew, and Tricia all M.I.A. this week, anything goes. In one of the final shows of Frank broadcasting from his home state Iowa, the new team gives you a show to pay homage to the state of Iowa!
All that and more on this week The Dace Man Show!
As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a comfy seat in front of your computer—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!
Listen live to The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST on Mega Powers Radio.
Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out Episode 85 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Dace, Gibby, Nicholas Andrew, Frank Ward, and Patty McTitties!
::SPORTS NEWS::
NHL rankings
NFL SuperBowl!
Spring Training is coming!
Plus more
::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::
He stiffed arm us.
::FRANK'S CORNER::
Facts about Masturbation.
::ON CAPITAL HILL WITH NICK ANDREW::
Chris Christie and Vaccinations a hot topic issue!
::CELEB NEWS::
Dace brings you the hottest stories coming out of LA.
::Who Said It::
VS
Gibby Sings and more, only on The Dace Man Show.
As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a comfy seat in front of your computer—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!
Listen live to The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST on Mega Powers Radio.
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Thursday, February 12, 2015
Welcome to the latest edition of Making the Grade—a new review format segment here on Fanboys Anonymous where we break down the five major components of something and give it a score based on the standard report card lineup: A, B, C, D, and F for a total failure.
The next report card is for the latest film adaptation of the comic books from the mind of Mark Millar, entitled Kingsman: The Secret Service.
Kingsman: The Secret Service—directed by Matthew Vaughn; written by Jane Goldman (screenplay), Matthew Vaughn (screenplay), Mark Millar (comic book), Dave Gibbons (comic book); starring Taron Egerton (Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin), Colin Firth (Harry Hart / Galahad), Mark Strong (Merlin), Jonno Davies (Lee), Jack Davenport (Lancelot), Mark Hamill (Professor Arnold), Michael Caine (Arthur) and Samuel L. Jackson (Valentine).
WARNING - SPOILERS BELOW
CHARACTERS: B+
Our protagonist, Eggsy, is a fully fleshed out character in all of the ways that one could hope for. His journey makes sense and the conclusion is earned. Thankfully, he's also joined by several other colorful characters, which would seemingly be difficult, considering how so many of them are supposed to be stiff, emotionless drones. Colin Firth's Galahad is charming, Mark Strong proves that he doesn't always have to be the villain to be awesome, and Samuel L. Jackson is super fun to watch as the antagonist.
The only reason this film doesn't get an A+ or A– is because there are a good number of characters who really don't stand out from one another. Eggsy's friends are just his friends and nothing more, which also goes for the friends of his stepfather. Still, it isn't necessary for these characters to have any more traits than that, so it's forgivable.
ACTING: B
Is this a film with performances about which people will be talking for a lifetime? Of course not. However, even though it was a leap to think of Colin Firth as a badass or to trust that they would not overplay the trope of Sophie Cookson as "the badass chick who can fight just as well as the men," these and the other characters were pulled off successfully. My point is, given the material and the type of movie they were going for, they achieved their goal.
VISUALS (FX, MAKEUP, COSTUMES, SETS): B–
There are only two slight hiccups when it comes to visuals. First, the fight scenes can sometimes feel a little as though they sped them up, which would be disappointing if that were the case. Second, the opening title sequence was a tad cheesy, although that may have been intentional to establish the tone of the film, so I'm willing to give that a pass.
Makeup was on point, as were the costumes. This film makes me want to go out and buy a new suit and an umbrella. For the most part, the sets are great, although the prison cells did come off somewhat cheap. Then again, there are several nods to old James Bond films throughout the movie, so this could easily have been a clever way to save on the budget and reference how Dr. No and the older Sean Connery films were guilty of these cheap sets as well.
MUSIC & SOUND: A
Once again, Henry Jackman proves that he knows how to balance an original score that works with serious action but also peppers in songs that can make the soundtrack lighter and make sure the fun doesn't get lost in the tension. If you're fond of the Kick-Ass music, you'll feel the same about this. The final fight scene was particularly well done, and the music is a huge reason why. Of course, the credit is shared with Matthew Margeson for his contributions to this part of the film.
TONE (ACTION, ROMANCE, COMEDY): A
If you hear that this is a film from the makers of Kick-Ass, you should know what you're getting into, as it is essentially the same tone balance.
ACTION: The fight scenes were awesome, gritty, and had the right mix of realism and fantasy. After all, this is a comic book movie and not a documentary.
COMEDY: Originally, I disliked Samuel L. Jackson's character having a lisp, as it felt like a forced joke. While I still think that is pretty much the only joke that doesn't fully land, I was pleased to see them address it full-on with a joke about the Brits in the film speaking so funny instead. Otherwise, every other joke in the movie had me smiling, chuckling, or laughing out loud.
ROMANCE: Admittedly, I'm disappointed that there wasn't more of a romance between Roxy and Eggsy. It was hinted at but never really established, not even ending with some triumphant kiss or anything of the sort. Then again, it did play up a different aspect of the spy genre, with the Princess Tilde character fulfilling a much more over-the-top version of what the Bond girls frequently boiled down to, so that scores points in the romance category alone.
FINAL GRADE: A
If you're asking me how much I enjoyed this movie, it's an A+. I LOVED it. However, this report card system is meant to judge things based on all merits, with a perfect A+ score going to something that should win Best Picture at the Academy Awards and also be entertaining to watch. This never will do the former, but it is certainly the latter. So far this year, I've watched nearly every movie nominated for the top prize at the Oscars, yet this is easily, hands down, without a doubt my favorite movie I've seen since January 1st. To be honest, this is my favorite movie I've seen in months, and I watch a lot of movies from a variety of different genres. I highly recommend this movie to anybody who is fond of this type of film. For those who would be turned off from the rated-R elements, you might as well skip it, but if that's not a deal breaker, don't skip out on this.
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE?
Greetings, Fanboys and Fangirls! This is Sam Lascio talking about some updates we've heard about the Marvel/Sony Spider-Man deal.
One of the things that people wondered when they heard that Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures were going to start sharing Spider-Man was how the money was going to be split up. Was Marvel going to take some of the profit off of the solo Spider-Man films? Was Sony going to get a piece of the pie whenever Spider-Man appears in a team movie? Well, it's been announced that Sony will get all of the money that the solo films make, and Marvel will get all of the money from the team-up films.
This feels like Marvel has made off like a bandit. They didn't pay Sony to use Spider-Man, and now they get to use him in their films. Will this dramatically increase their profits? No, but that's fine, because they didn't spend any money to get Spidey, so ANY money they make is nothing but profit. On the other hand, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 may have made almost $710 million, but it didn't do what Sony was hoping it would do. For all the money they poured into it, and the hundreds of millions they poured into marketing the film, the actual profit from the film wasn't as it appears. Sony is really hurting right now, and even if Marvel Studios is stepping in to help them out with their solo movies, the mixed critical and fan reaction makes it difficult to simply pump out another movie. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 currently holds (as of 2/12/15) a 53 percent critic rating and a 67 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, so although technically most people liked it, this is clearly a departure from the first The Amazing Spider-Man film, which holds a 73 percent critic rating and a 77 percent audience rating. This is going to put a potential dent into the 2017 Spider-Man film for those movie-goers who hear the news of another reboot and say, "Yeah, but I didn't really like the last one." So, since Marvel Studios assumes no financial risk with a solo Spider-Man film, Sony has (potentially) a lot to lose if this new movie isn't great.
Now, onto the bigger topic at hand. The second update we received about the Marvel/Sony "partnership" is that Sony has simply pushed back the release date of the Sinister Six movie, and that writer/director Drew Goddard is still on the project.
So wait...does this mean that the Andrew Garfield Amazing Spider-Man continuity is still in play? Well, no. At least, I sincerely hope not. All this really means is that Sony believes in what they were doing for this film, so they want to continue moving forward. Does this mean we're going to see this Sinister Six?:
Most likely not. We already have news from Marvel and Sony that this will be a new Spider-Man, and therefore a new a continuity. This means that the chances of seeing Dane DeHaan's Green Goblin or Paul Giamatti's Rhino again are practically zero. What this tells me is that we're going to see a fresh take on the Sinister Six. Whether this movie will come before or after Spider-Man (2017) wasn't completely made clear, but I'd wager that we'll see this after the 2017 film. Some sites are reporting that the Venom movie and the female-led spin-off movie are also moving forward, but none of the sites I trust have mentioned them, so when more news is announced, I'll be sure to update you!
Could Spider-Man (2017) set-up this Sinister Six film? Which villains will make up this "new" Sinister Six team? Do you think it's a good idea or a bad idea that Sony won't see any profit from the Marvel Studios films that include Spider-Man? Let us know in the comments section! Thanks for reading, everyone! My name is Sam Lascio, and I am a Fanboy!
It is not uncommon nowadays to find a AAA game out there with a white (usually male) protagonist saving the day. Should this be a cause for concern? Is this even an issue at all? What we see as a norm in the video game industry could also be an underlying bias that has taken hold.
Enter Pause, a new segment on Press Start. Join Sam Tuchin as he walks you through different controversial topics circulating the video game industry. In this edition, Sam will discuss the representation of race and ethnicity in modern games (or lack thereof).
One of these things is not like the others...
Of course, many games require the use of a Caucasian character for lore-based or historical reasons. Aside from those exceptions, however, maybe the gaming industry should better represent the diversity of the world that we live in, let alone the audience that plays these games.
Whether or not you think this is an issue is unrelated, since it is apparent that this is an actuality. Check out the video below to see Sam's thoughts!
What are your thoughts on this topic? Also, what issue would you like to see Sam tackle in future iterations? Sound off in the comments below and let us know!
The Internet certainly has its set of stars that are world renowned. Of those stars, we've seen a rise of talented, witty, and beautiful women who have taken the Internet by storm. Join me, Chris "The Dace Man" Dace over the course of the next few weeks as we crown the 2015 Internet Goddess.
From February 8th till the 21st, brackets A–H of the tournament will be open for voting. In this round, we have two newcomers against each other, with Mamrie Hart squaring off with bubzbeauty. Check out their spotlighted profiles below and vote. Voting for this and the other brackets on the left side of the board ends on February 21st, 2015!
ROUND 1 (BRACKET H)
Mamrie Hart
[YouTube Personality, Comedian]
Yet another newcomer to the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament, Mamrie Hart was born in New Jersey and raised in North Carolina. Her fan-favorite and award-winning You Deserve a Drink launched her into fame. While she has been known to go on tour with fellow Internet Goddess competitors, Mamrie has made her fame and name on YouTube. As a newcomer it will be interesting to see how far Mamrie will go in the tournament.
Bubzbeauty
[YouTube Personality, Beautician]
Yet another newcomer to the Internet Goddess Tournament this year is bubzbeauty. This beautiful bundle of joy brings the Internet beauty tips while entertaining the masses. Hailing from Northern Ireland, bubzbeauty brings an international flair to this tournament in her debut year!
CAST YOUR VOTE BELOW
Don't forget to tweet @ your favorite and spread the word on her message boards, forums, fan pages and so forth to show your support and rally the troops!
Check back to find out the results of this poll as well as the other matches that we have coming your way.
Also, don't forget to come back to find out what else Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn) along with the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Until next time, for the few, the proud, and of course the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case, an Internet browser—and return to the Dace-Sphere soon. See ya next time, keyboard warriors!
The Internet certainly has its set of stars that are world renowned. Of those stars, we've seen a rise of talented, witty, and beautiful women who have taken the Internet by storm. Join me, Chris "The Dace Man" Dace over the course of the next few weeks as we crown the 2015 Internet Goddess.
From February 8th till the 21st, brackets A–H of the tournament will be open for voting. In this round, we have two former contestants from last year who didn't make it past Round 1 facing off against each other, with Taryn Southern versus Lauren Francesca. This time, one of them will definitely advance. Check out their spotlighted profiles below and vote. Voting for this and the other brackets on the left side of the board ends on February 21st, 2015!
ROUND 1 (BRACKET G)
Taryn Southern
[YouTube Personality, Singer, Comedian]
Our next contestant has many talents as well as some notable roles as she builds up her acting resume. However, Taryn Southern got her start via the likes of YouTube. She is both a singer-songwriter and producer of the YouTube hit "Hott4Hill." With the success of this video, Taryn was able to take off and grab many more roles on television as well as place in the top 50 of the third season of American Idol. Still actively landing roles on television as well as on the web, Taryn stays busy and has also the looks to make it past the first round in the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament!
Lauren Francesca
[YouTube Personality, Actress]
The Mother Monster herself Lady Gaga has been parodied by several actresses and, hell, even by Weird Al Yankovic. The ones that stick out on the Internet, however, have to be the several reoccurring parodies involving the lovely Lauren Francesca. Starring in several "Key of Awesome" videos, Lauren has won the hearts of many nerds and geeks and branched off into her own channel as well as Hollywood. Landing a role in the movie Muck and still producing several YouTube videos, Lauren is one Internet beauty to keep an eye on going forward. Lauren has returned to the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament and is looking to make it farther than the first round!
CAST YOUR VOTE BELOW
Don't forget to tweet @ your favorite and spread the word on her message boards, forums, fan pages and so forth to show your support and rally the troops!
Check back to find out the results of this poll as well as the other matches that we have coming your way.
Also, don't forget to come back to find out what else Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn) along with the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Until next time, for the few, the proud, and of course the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case, an Internet browser—and return to the Dace-Sphere soon. See ya next time, keyboard warriors!
