Greetings, Fanboys and Fangirls! This is Sam Lascio, bringing you the latest rumors surrounding the 2016 film Suicide Squad! We have several casting/character rumors to discuss, so let's jump right into it, shall we?
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Killer Croc
His name may be a mouthful, but Akinnuoye-Agbaje is rumored to make an appearance in the film as none other than Waylon Jones, aka Killer Croc! Akinnuoye-Agbaje portrayed Kurse in the Marvel film Thor: The Dark World, so fans should expect a very powerful enemy in Croc if this rumor holds true. I imagine we'll see the character in a prison cell, whether it's Blackgate or Arkham Asylum (or Belle Reve?), while Amanda Waller seeks out the Joker. Although there's always the chance that the Suicide Squad will be sent against another team of supervillains that includes Killer Croc. How do you think Killer Croc will appear in the film?
Raymond Olubowale as Amanda Waller Agent/King Shark
This character is probably far less familiar to the average Joe than even Killer Croc. Before the New 52, King Shark was born Nanaue in Hawaii. His father was a Shark God, known as the "King of the Sharks." The character has been a member of the Suicide Squad, and in the New 52 continuity is one of the original members. This could mean that we see some of the members die and get replaced during the course of the film. This might go without saying, but just in case, King Shark has faced off against Aquaman in the past, so this MIGHT nod to rumors that Amanda Waller is in possession of Arthur's trident. It should be noted that the rumors are saying that Olubowale will play one of Amanda Waller's agents (most likely of A.R.G.U.S.) and only do the motion capture for King Shark. Another actor could be providing the voice. Do you think we'll see King Shark join the Suicide Squad? Or will he be in a prison cell like Killer Croc? Let us know!
Karen Fukuhara as Plastique
Okay, I'll come right out and say it. This one is probably the least likely of the rumors to have come out surrounding the movie. Granted, all of these rumors could be totally bogus, but I don't know that the studio would waste time on such a minor character, especially when the rumor says her role will be very small. Plus, a lot of what I'm reporting has come from Umberto Gonzalez (@elmayimbe), so take what I say with a grain of salt. But she was seen recently with Enchantress actress Cara Delevingne and co-producer Andy Horwitz via Delevingne's Instagram, so this at least confirms that we'll see Fukuhara in the film in some capacity. DC fans will remember the character of Plastique, aka Bette Sans Souci, appearing in an episode of CW's The Flash played by Kelly Frye.
Scott Eastwood as Steve Trevor
The son of actor-director Clint Eastwood is rumored to be playing Colonel Steve Trevor in Suicide Squad. Some of you might be asking who Steve Trevor is. Well, his character has taken up far more prominence in the New 52, where he acts as a liaison between the Justice League and, well, the rest of the world, as well as heading A.R.G.U.S. with Amanda Waller. Although it isn't explicitly stated that Warner Bros is going with the New 52 as inspiration for the DCCU, I'd be shocked if we don't see Steve Trevor along side Amanda Waller in Suicide Squad, as well as pining for Wonder Woman. Yeah, in case you didn't know, Steve is in love with Diana. I guess we'll have to wait and see if that will play out in the DCCU.
It seems like new rumors about the movie are coming out every other day, and we already know that Jared Leto has arrived in Toronto for filming. As more rumors come out or become confirmed/denied, you can count on us to keep you informed! Do your theories about the film differ from mine? Do you agree? We'd love to hear from you in the comments section! Thanks for reading, everybody. My name is Sam Lascio, and I am a Fanboy!
Posted by
Eddie Siqueira
- Saturday, April 4, 2015
I don't usually read sci-fi books with any hope of discovering a great piece of literature. Even though I flirt with the genre, I've had many letdowns (with a few exceptions) in terms of fluidity, linguistic interest, and literary credibility. Ender's Game was no exception, but the story was so bizarre that maybe it was a good thing I was reading at a high school level.
I happened upon this novel at a bookstore 1 year after the movie was released. Apart from starring Harrison Ford, who is lucky enough to share his birthday with me, the movie didn't catch enough of my interest to watch it. The book, however, was mentioned to me a few times as one of the best in the category, so that in itself was enough to get me going. I warn you of a few possible spoilers as you read on.
This may sound pretentious, but I really felt the sting of obsolescence in the behavioral traits of most of the antagonistic characters. The bullying and some of the language in the beginning seemed very retro and remained so throughout the book. I really felt as though I were reading a text from the '70s and imagined a world of CRT screens and L.A.S.E.R. guns—although fortunately that did not turn out to be the case. The novel made a good comeback once some technology (quite advanced for 1985 when it was first published) found its way into the story and made it all easier to relate to—setting aside the painfully dusty term "Buggers" to describe the alien enemy force (called "Formics" in the movie).
It's no easy task to transcend the filters of time—to write a classic that shall be enjoyed for generations—but Ender's Game did it. There are references to items such as your everyday tablet (referred to only as "desk"), an intranet system with e-mail and chat, touchscreen technology, and even a highly developed video game AI that puts our generation of PS4s and X-Box Ones to shame. Since my copy is the final revision from 1991, there could have been some updates by the author since the first run.
This is all very secondary, of course. The story's protagonist is Ender Wiggin, a child prodigy in a not-too-distant future where the world finds itself in a dystopian society, suffering waves of attacks from the insect-like aliens, who function as a hive. Children are trained to be the best, the smartest, the quickest, and the bravest in this society, and Ender, an unlikely candidate, is chosen based on his behavior dealing with bullying at school.
A lot of psychology is involved in the introspection of each character, such as Ender and his two siblings who have flashes of brilliance and maturity in resolving intrapersonal issues. There is a prodigious growth and self-taught intelligence in the children, as opposed to the more strict and condescending attitude of the adults, who are mostly military in nature. This, however, is lost in the movie, where narration is gone and only the stern, determined attitude of the kids is portrayed, which can easily be interpreted as arrogant.
I have a theory that any story ever told is either a love story or a social experiment, and Ender's Game is the latter. A 12-year-old child is sent to the finest military academy to potentially become a commander to lead armies and fight the Buggers (wince). He does so, but what is interesting is the sheer openness in emotions and feelings that are contemplated. This isn't a book where it's just action and backstabbing. It's all about being human throughout the most analytical of situations.
In fact—major spoiler—the only way Ender defeats the Formics in the end is thinking that he is controlling an army in a simulation, when in truth it was the real thing all along. The instructors at the academy staged a "final test" so that Ender would not have any resentments at any point (which brings about my theory of Call of Duty and Battlefield never having been the subject of any censor or true restriction). If it's all a game, it's no harm, but in truth, it's a deadly training tool that could turn lethal when need be. This particular detail was well documented in the movie as it stayed true to the book.
The true merit of the story lies in the aftermath, which was respected in the movie as well. Ender discovers that a Formic queen has been communicating with him through his dreams, and she is the last survivor of an entire species. The whole time, the Formics simply couldn't communicate, hence the war. Ender was the first to establish proper contact, and he promises that he will take the queen to a world where they may flourish again—a debt that he must pay for destroying their world.
I have to say this is one of the more bizarre books I've read. Many things about it were oddball, but somehow, that made it really good. The story doesn't seem go anywhere for a while as it all takes place in academies and military schools, but it gets the message across. As for the movie, the loss of the narration has a heavy toll on the pace, but it's a good companion for the book. I understand perfectly if someone puts the film down if they haven't read the book; the richness of the written words is lost in adaptation, as there is nothing remarkable in the film. However, I found nothing wrong on behalf of the actors or director (aside from perhaps some haste in the pacing of the story).
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 April 3rd until April 17th, brackets I–P of the tournament will be open for voting. In this round, we have newcomers Rebecca Black squaring off with Chloe Schneider. Check out their spotlighted profiles below and vote. Voting for this and the other brackets on the right side of the board ends on April 17th, 2015!
ROUND 1 (BRACKET P)
Rebecca Black
[Singer, Vlogger]
The girl that was super excited for it being Friday has made her way to the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament. At a very young age, this girl took the Internet by storm with her hit single "Friday." At the age of 17 she's still going strong and has no signs of slowing down. Will Rebecca Black be the youngest Internet Goddess?
Chloe Schneider
[Comedian, Actress]
Better known for her work on Daily You YouTube Channel, Chloe is a newcomer to the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament. With over 2 million subscribers on her channel and an awesome acting resume, Chloe brings some tough competition to the tournament. Every Friday, Chloe will share her version of fairy tales with you! Will Chloe advance to take on her partner in crime Amanda Chronicles?
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 April 3rd until April 17th, brackets I–P of the tournament will be open for voting. In this round, we have newcomers Natalie Tran squaring off with Amanda Chronicles. Check out their spotlighted profiles below and vote. Voting for this and the other brackets on the right side of the board ends on April 17th, 2015!
ROUND 1 (BRACKET O)
Natalie Tran
[Vlogger, Comedian]
This beauty hails from Australia and brings a comedic flare from down under to YouTube. With 1.6 million subscribers and hundreds of videos with thousands of views on her community channel, Natalie entertains the Internet masses on the regular. It's no surprise that this Australian beauty has found her way to the Internet Goddess Tournament.
Amanda Chronicles
[Vlogger, Comedian]
Yet another newcomer to the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament, this young beauty brings even more comedy to the world of YouTube. This up and comer has over 32,000 subscribers, which is 3,200 times better than yours truly. Keep an eye on this bright and hilarious talent as she takes on some tough competition in this round of the tournament.
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 April 3rd until April 17th, brackets I–P of the tournament will be open for voting. In this round, we have the returning iJustine squaring off with Brittany Furlan. Check out their spotlighted profiles below and vote. Voting for this and the other brackets on the right side of the board ends on April 17th, 2015!
ROUND 1 (BRACKET N)
iJustine
[Vlogger, Actress]
On May 29, 2007, live on Justin.tv, a new Internet queen was born. Justine took to the airwaves in a nonprofit stream that followed her everyday life known as iJustine. Since then, she has had five YouTube channels with more than 2,500 videos. She has made the transition over the years from the Internet to television and had guest roles on shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Criminal Minds, and Vampire Diaries. Still going strong on YouTube today, she has more than 1.5 million subscribers and still pumps out fresh new content even as she dabbles in Hollywood. She was one of the first broadcasters to hit the airwaves on Justin.tv and for that, we welcome Justine to the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament!
Brittany Furlan
[Comedian, Vine Artist]
Brittany debuted with the popular app Vine. Since then, the queen of pranking has skyrocketed to becoming one of the most popular Vine stars of all time and many even dub her the Queen of Vine. She compiles her collection of Vines on YouTube as well as fresh new content as well that exceeds the Vine limits. Due to her pranks and hilarious torturing of strangers, Brittany has earned herself a lifetime ban at Target. She is one of the few Viners that yours truly can watch for hours, so it is no surprise she landed herself a spot in the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament.
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 April 3rd until April 17th, brackets I–P of the tournament will be open for voting. In this round, we have the returning Melonie Mac squaring off with newcomer Brittani Louise Taylor. Check out their spotlighted profiles below and vote. Voting for this and the other brackets on the right side of the board ends on April 17th, 2015!
ROUND 1 (BRACKET M)
Melonie Mac
[Gamer, Vlogger]
Who doesn't love the adorable Melonie Mac? This cutie partnered up with YouTube and showed us that gaming isn't just for the overweight nerds hanging in the basement talking their raids and zerg rushes. (Wow, I just said that!) She helps make gaming cool again and reviews several nerdy things we geeks have come to love. You can catch her playing League of Legends in the YouTube world live as well as in archive sessions!! The Mac Attack has definitely earned herself a return spot on the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament.
Brittani Louise Taylor
[Singer, Comedian]
Welcome to the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament, Brittani Louise Taylor. Another newcomer to this year's tournament, Brittani is a talented young singer and comedian. Raking in over 1.2 million subscribers with hundreds of videos with a million hits a piece. Brittani brings her touch of comedy to singing as well as mesmerizing the masses who cruise through the world of YouTube.
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!
Greetings, Fanboys and Fangirls! This is Sam Lascio, reporting on April 2nd because there is no way in hell I could believe any story that came out yesterday until it was verified. Darn April Fool's Day.
It seems Ryan Reynolds had a little April Fool's Day fun of his own, when the actor took to his Twitter account to say:
A PG-13 #deadpool will still have 4th wall breaking, a shit-ton of action and at least 3 chimichangas. Zero need to panic. I promise.
Did this surprise anyone? Eh, not really. It's disappointing, but totally doable. Ryan Reynolds even released an interview on the YouTube channel JoBlo Movie Trailers he had with Mario Lopez on the TV show Extra to discuss the rating.
What do you think of the video? Did you love it? Were you thoroughly unimpressed? Sound off your opinions in the comments section! Thanks for reading, everyone. My name is Sam Lascio, and I am a Fanboy!
Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! APRIL FOOLS! The Dace Man would never give up control of his podcast. Check out episode 93 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Dace, Gibby, Frank Ward, Nicholas Andrew, and Patty McTitties!
::SPORTS NEWS::
NHL rankings
Curling!
Spring training is coming!
Plus more
::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::
All outta order
::FRANK'S CORNER::
Futurama Facts Urban Dictionary
::ON CAPITAL HILL WITH NICK ANDREW::
The most educational segment of the show
::CELEB NEWS::
Dace returned and had to avoid April Fools jokes
All that 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.
Down the burrow we go, into the deepest, darkest recesses.
The heat is insufferable, the darkness stifling, but the inane sense to survive pushes the struggle on. It is dark, dirty and gritty, mirroring the tone and sensibility of the book itself.
The Wytches den holds a magic all unto itself. It is ancient and protected, but the peace it was afforded by the local townsfolk is about to be shattered. The newest family in town won't go away into the dark quietly. The Rooks family have plans, and Charlie and Sailor will fight to hold the family together.
There is some great contextual back story in issue #5 of Wytches. Writer Scott Snyder is playing for time a little, as we finally approach the grand finale of this arc in the series. However, in doing so we get more development in the father-daughter relationship of Charlie and Sailor. This furthers our understanding of the motivations of both characters to be free from the Wytches. There is a great feeling of desperation in their actions, as each is compelled to be more heroic than the back story has shown them to be in previous situations.
In this way Snyder provides readers more of a reason to like his characters and to root for their success. We see the main characters as more human, an important contrast from the Wytches and their pawns; Charlie's fragility hits particularly close to home, projecting a hint of Snyder's own paternal fears into the story.
The eerie entry to the burrow...
A feeling of suspense lingers throughout this issue. As we have now seen the Wytches, more or less, in all their hideous glory, the real surprise is surely to be coming next issue. What we now want is to see how the main characters act when pitted against them fully, but this will have to wait, as we are once again left with a cliffhanger ending. Despite this and while this issue wasn't up to the same level as previous ones, it fulfills its purpose by setting up the last issue in the arc and bridging the climax with the rest of the preceding issues.
The pacing is now coming across very deliberate and well planned. I suspect that Snyder and Jock had this laid out conceptually from the beginning and now execute it in a very professional manner. Jock's art has all the hallmarks of an artist well in control and using his experience to the utmost, delivering some stellar work.
Down, down down it goes...
The partnership with Matt Hollingsworth is so fruitful and dynamic that this book continues to stand out from the crowd. This aligns with other publications currently coming out of IMAGE, as the publisher nurtures various series that are breaking new ground and producing a radically different type of comic in the mainstream.
As we finally get to the last issue of Wytches, what do you think has been the best part so far? Do you think this issue was up to the same standard as those preceding it? What do you hope for the outcome next issue? Let us know below or hit us with a comment on Facebook and Twitter, tell us what you love or hate about this issue and the rest and then make sure to come back in May for issue #6, the finale of this arc.
One of the biggest shows on television right now is Game of Thrones and to commemorate its return with season five's episode "The Wars to Come," Fanboys Anonymous is partnering up with TV Store Online once again for a special contest.
All you have to do is show your support for Fanboys Anonymous by subscribing to our social media accounts and sharing/retweeting this link or the links on those accounts to enter multiple times and potentially earn yourself a free House Targaryen Fire & Blood hoodie!
Game of Thrones House Targaryen Fire & Blood Adult Zip Up Hoodie Sweatshirt
Who doesn't love the Mother of Dragons? Daenerys Targaryen has proven to be a formidable foe with three dragons and an army of freed slaves by her side. If you want to show some love for your favorite house, do so in style with this awesome House Targaryen hoodie! Featuring the Targaryen sigil, this officially licensed Game of Thrones hoodie is sure to please almost any fan of the series. Let the world know that you’re on Khaleesi's side with this awesome GoT hoodie!
Black
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HOW TO WIN
Participants can earn the equivalent of one raffle ticket for each of the following tasks they complete.
There are no limits on how many chances to win that you can earn:
1) Share the Facebook contest image post
Want to win a free Game of Thrones hoodie? SHARE this post and follow us to enter our latest contest.For more...
Posted by Fanboys Anonymous on Thursday, April 2, 2015
3) Share this link throughout the geek community (post a comment below linking to the forum, message board, subreddit, or website's page that you shared it to show proof of this)
You must be following at least one of the following accounts — but you earn multiple chances to win by following each one of them.
Like the Fanboys Anonymous Facebook page
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The more points you earn, the more chances you have to win! The winner will be chosen in a random draw and contacted through their social media account.
DISCLAIMER: The prize(s) that may be awarded to the eligible winner are not transferable, redeemable for cash or exchangeable for any other prize. If the winner has not redeemed his or her prize in 7 days, a new winner will be chosen. No points will be awarded to contestants who unsubscribe and resubscribe to an account. Only one point is awarded per account subscription. No members of the Fanboys Anonymous team are eligible to win.
Thank you for supporting Fanboys Anonymous and TV Store Online!
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Wednesday, April 1, 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 installment of the animated films based on DC Comics franchises, entitled Batman vs. Robin.
Batman vs. Robin—directed by Jay Oliva; written by J.M. DeMatteis (written by), Bob Kane (characters), Grant Morrison (comic book), Scott Snyder (comic book); starring Jason O'Mara (Bruce Wayne / Batman), Stuart Allan (Damian Wayne / Robin), David McCallum (Alfred Pennyworth), Sean Maher (Dick Grayson / Nightwing), Grey Griffin (Samantha), Kevin Conroy (Thomas Wayne), Robin Atkin Downes (Grandmaster), Peter Onorati (Draco) and Weird Al Yankovic (Dollmaker).
WARNING - SPOILERS BELOW
CHARACTERS: A–
These short animated films are tough on character, as it's hard to get a full arc for everyone in such a small amount of time. Fans of the comics will love the spirit of the characters portrayed in this movie, though, as Bruce Wayne is represented extremely well and his supporting cast follow their roles to a T. You get glimpses into the difference between the lighthearted Nightwing and the much darker and troubled Robin. Alfred gets a few lines to show his attitude as well as his fatherly side. The Court of Owls is still a relatively new concept, but from my perspective, this showcases their creepy cult with the regal nature that it deserves.
ACTING: A
The voice acting in this film is among the best that DC has had. While I still think Kevin Conroy is the voice of Batman and that likely will never change, Jason O'Mara has really come into the part and is doing very well. Stuart Allan shouldn't be forgotten, either. Child actors that aren't annoying are hard to find and it isn't just a case where I believe him as Damian Wayne due to the sound of his voice, but I also think his delivery is much more mature than most kids would be able to pull off. David McCallum is as good of an Alfred as you can get and I would love to hear him return in future adaptations. While I prefer Neil Patrick Harris as Nightwing, Sean Maher is no slouch, either.
I'll admit, it was a bit odd hearing Weird Al Yankovic as the psychotic Dollmaker, but in a good way. I was always a fan of his music when I was a kid and the idea behind this tickled me in a stupid nostalgic way similar to how weird it was to see Robin Williams in his first serious film after getting used to the goofball.
VISUALS (FX, MAKEUP, COSTUMES, SETS): A+
This is the best looking animated film that DC has made to date. For that matter, it's the best animated thing DC has made period, including all of the television shows. The character models are not distorted in any way (whereas the Bruce Timm series had huge torsos on tiny stick legs and several different films have characters with swollen lips). On top of this, each suit looks functional instead of just like spandex.
MUSIC & SOUND: B+
The downside to the music for this is that it's not memorable and I wouldn't be going on the hunt to find the soundtrack anywhere. The upside is that it blends in so well with what you're seeing that you might not even notice it. The best movie scores are the ones that enhance the visuals but don't distract from it and you want to listen to them afterward. This accomplishes the former, but not the latter, so that's why it is docked some points from being an A+.
The sound is top notch. The only time in the entire film that I consciously thought about the sound in a negative way was their choice of what it sounds to put a sandwich down on a plate. Maybe Bruce was eating something with a ton of mayonnaise or something, but I don't remember the last time that I ate a sandwich that made that much of a squish. Other than that, you can't ask for much more than the sound design of this film, particularly considering how everything has to come from scratch and there are no ambient noises to use.
TONE (ACTION, ROMANCE, COMEDY): B–
ACTION: Hard-hitting action that doesn't shy away from the blood and gives you an impression that each punch actually hurts instead of just shrugging it off is a big plus in my book. Every fight sequence is interesting to watch in different ways. There's also a proper balance so there isn't too much action to make the film devoid of plot, but also not so little so as to make us wish the superhero genre wasn't just a melodrama.
COMEDY: Unfortunately, there isn't much comedy in this. Granted, the source material is dark enough that there's not a lot to joke around about, but it would have been nice to pepper in a couple more jokes here and there. At least it's Dick Grayson who gets the majority of the chuckles, seeing as how he's always been the most comedic of the family.
ROMANCE: Bruce Wayne has two types of romantic endeavors: the few women he legitimately loves (Selina Kyle, Talia al Ghul, Vicki Vale in some adaptations) and the slew of models he beds. Samantha in this film is more of the latter and she's used more for an extra part of the plot than for any romantic side quests. While that's good for the film's pacing, it does mean that some points are docked for not having a legitimate love interest for any of the characters in a romantic sense. The true love story of the movie is between father and son, but there are still unresolved issues with that by the end.
FINAL GRADE: A
This was one of my favorite entries in the DC animated movie franchise. If you're a Batman fan, you would definitely be fond of this and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to you, particularly if you happen to be interested in more than just the mainstream live action movies. While fans of the comics may nitpick that this takes liberties with Scott Snyder's storyline and tweaks aspects of the Court of Owls, I'm not the type to have that bother me as much as others. Once you put that aside, this will be very enjoyable and a great thing to pop on when you're in the mood for some superhero action but don't want to invest three hours for something more intricate.
On episode 12 of the 4 Reel Movie Club podcast, Fanboys Anonymous members give their thoughts on all of the films in Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe series.
Host: Chris Dace
Panelists: Tony Mango, Sam Lascio and Eddie Siqueira
THIS MONTH'S SET OF MOVIES:
Iron Man
The Incredible Hulk
Iron Man 2
Thor
Captain America: The First Avenger
The Avengers
You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!
The Juggernaut is back. That great unstoppable force has been unleashed on the world once more; Cytorrak's call has been answered by one who is worthy.
What more can be done to stop this megalith? The X-Men have fought to contain or rid the world of such a destructive force numerous times. To them it must feel at least a little depressive. Given this, it must be a good time to sit down and talk about the situation. Wait, what? That is correct, writer Chris Yost has the audacity to get the X-Men around a campfire talking about their frustrations with this predicament. It makes for some great "out of left field" entertainment.
We continue to see the flavor of humor that has characterized Yost's time on Amazing X-Men. The witty banter between the heroes is great and constant. It is also nice to see the mending of the relationship between Colossus and Storm in this issue. This was a good setup in the first part of the story and to see it come full circle brings a sense of fulfillment. It is the dynamic between the X-Men that carries considerable weight in this series, with the focus on their relationship bringing out the best in the story.
For the climax there is a great twist by Yost. There is a Juggernaut, but it may not end up being who you expected, especially following from last issue. Without giving too much away, this issue gets a sense of completeness within the final few pages and a nice new carryover story for the next issue.
An idyllic setting for destruction
While the writing is complementary for the series, the art has steepened to meet the intention behind Amazing X-Men. The cover is quite eye-popping on this issue. Previous covers in this arc by Jorge Fornes and Rachelle Rosenberg have been fine but nothing spectacular. However, this issue's cover takes a simpler approach and ends up being very attention grabbing, which is a nice beginning to the end of this story.
The new Juggervnaut marches onward
The art by Fornes has grown on me over the whole arc. It is especially tight on this issue. Fornes's style now comes across more confidently, and the inking is cleaner. The choice of angle and shot is more direct, flowing well with the beats in the story. As with other X-Men titles, Rachelle Rosenberg's colors are dramatic and fitting. The opening pages showcase the talent she brings to the title.
Rockslide takes on the Juggernaut
With the pending final issue not far away for this series, due to "Secret Wars," it will be sad to see the title go. There have been some great moments so far; let's hope we get to see a few more before that all happens.
The Amazing X-Men must decide how to defeat the new Juggernaut
With that, we wrap up what has been a tantalizing story in Amazing X-Men, but we would like to hear what you thought about this issue and arc. Make sure you leave a comment below or on our Facebook orTwitter and come back next time for the next stage of X-Men mayhem. That's right; it ain't over just yet. In the next issue it's Colossus versus The Unstoppable Juggernaut!
We move into Nightcrawler #12 seamlessly from the previous issue without missing a beat in the story.
Nightcrawler, Bloody Bess, Rico, and Ziggy must make good on their intentions to free the slave children, defeat the Warwolves, and put down Voges's operation once and for all.
As it is the finale, writer Chris Claremont is wrapping up the last loose ends of the series, and it is satisfying to see so much resolved in this issue. Many of the ambiguous plot points discussed in our earlier reviews are either closed off or at least given some sort of explanation. There appears to have been careful consideration to planning the stories and executing them in a manner befitting a regularly delivered serial comic.
As always, the scripting comes from a classic Claremont approach. Aside from the silliness of the situation the main characters find themselves in, there is heart in the story. There always has been, and that is probably one thing that kept me coming back: the feel-good factor. It is an uncomplicated story that is fun and upbeat. It is easy to lose yourself for a few minutes in this issue and series without any real regret. It helps that the art also reflects this feeling so well.
Whether for right or wrong, however, I suppose I had held out for a little more. Maybe I thought the comic would become something it was never going to be. The book was fine, but it was always a safe bet; moreover, it was aimed at a younger audience and certainly delivered to them what was a fun adventure story with plenty of central A-list X-men and also allowed some minor ones to shine. Still, I felt the hangover from Nightcrawler's return under Jason Aaron in Amazing X-Men and wanted the same type of story from that arc. It never arrived, but hey, at least this was better than some other recent solo X-Men series, such as Cyclops.
Todd Nauck's art has been of consistently high quality throughout the series. It finishes with a final flurry in this issue. Together with Claremont, both men have given specific voices to the characters they played with for 12 issues. It is the consistency of the creative team that had been such a positive aspect of Nightcrawler. Add in colorist Rachelle Rosenberg, and it is clear why the books could have had a nice wide appeal.
The final 'hurrah' for Nightcrawler
The series has had some awkward moments (both purposely and otherwise), some "oh really?" moments, and points of action as well as poignancy, such as the "Death of Wolverine" tie-in. There was a lot happening throughout the past 12 issues. This issue, however, does well to encapsulate the spirit of the series—a focus on Nightcrawler and especially his role at the Jean Grey School for the next generation of mutants. At the end of the run, it feels as though this focus has been achieved, and now the time has come to move on. With the arrival of "Secret Wars" in May, now is the time to wrap things up.
All good things must come to an end. Tell us, dear comic fans, what did you think about this issue? What were your thoughts about the whole series? Did Claremont, Nauck, and Rosenberg tell a convincing story with Nightcrawler? What was your favorite issue or artwork from the series? Tell us below or head over to the Fanboys Anonymous Facebook or Twitter and leave a comment.
It's been rumored for a long time now, but last week Fox finally confirmed that The X-Files will be returning for a 6-episode new season! Even though we know nothing about this other than that production will start this summer, it's still big news.
Sure, the series may have lost its way a bit in the later seasons, and The X-Files: I Want to Believe wasn't exactly the sequel film most fans were hoping for, there is still a lot of potential here. The fact that series creator Chris Carter and stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are all returning is really all I need to know to be on board. That being said, here are five things I'll be hoping for in the new season.
1. An appearance from Doggett and Reyes
The forgotten agents.
I'm getting what may be my most controversial point out of the way first. Let me be clear: I would like to see these characters again, but by no means should they overshadow Mulder and Scully. Like it or not, these characters were a huge part of the series in the last 2 seasons, and I thought the actors did a good job considering the state the series was in by season 8. With David Duchovny basically gone, I had a lot of sympathy for Robert Patrick in particular. I liked John Doggett, but I can understand why a lot of fans weren't crazy about him: he wasn't Mulder. Because I liked his character, I was disappointed that he and Reyes weren't even mentioned in I Want to Believe. Hopefully we can check in with the two of them just to know they're okay after they stuck their necks out to help free Mulder in the series finale, and then after that we'll stay solely with Mulder and Scully.
2. Mark Snow's Musical Score
I'm a sucker for musical scores, and The X-Files always had a great one. Mark Snow's theme was iconic, and he did a lot of excellent work throughout the series. Hopefully Fox springs for a full orchestra to bring that music to life, especially since the orchestral score was one of my favorite things in I Want to Believe. I would also be excited to hear how the score differs in the series now compared to the way it sounded 20 years (!) ago. The possibilities are endless.
3. A Revamped Mythology
I know the truth is out there, but things started getting a bit too out there.
Speaking of endless possibilities, the show's mythology is another area that could really shine in this new season. I love the series to death, but even I have to admit that one of its biggest flaws is how convoluted the mythology became in the last few seasons. Back in 2002 the series ended with the news that the final alien colonization would happen on December 22, 2012. Yes, in this universe the Mayans were right! Obviously we're a few years past that date, so this is where things could get interesting. The new episodes could pick up in 2012 and depict events leading up to the final colonization, or the show could resume in 2015 either after the colonization occurred or in a world in which the colonization didn't happen. These are just a few ideas, but I'm personally hoping that whatever happens, the show picks up in real time, 13 years after the series finale and 7 years after I Want to Believe.
3. "Monster of the Week" Episodes
Still one of the most unsettling episodes.
The new mythology will hopefully be great, but for me, where The X-Files really excelled was with its standalone episodes. So many other sci-fi shows have since used the format of an overarching plot with standalone episodes scattered throughout that it's easy to forget how unique it was at the time. Considering how much the world has changed since the series originally ended, there could be some excellent "Monster of the Week" ideas that wouldn't have worked during the original run. If Chris Carter and his writers choose to focus on the mythology, it would be difficult to also have many Monster of the Week episodes in a 6-episode run, but I'm really hoping for a nice balance between the two.
5. A Fitting Story for These Characters
I want to believe that this story will be handled well.
Let's be realistic. Mulder and Scully will have aged significantly since the original series finale. This could (and should) affect how the characters go about doing things. With how much the Internet and technology have grown since 2002, I'd love to see elements of the story showing how Mulder and Scully are adjusting to or have adjusted to these changes. I Want to Believe ended in such a way that Mulder and Scully could feasibly end up working for (or at least with) the FBI again, so things would definitely be different for them from an FBI perspective. Again, the possibilities are endless, but since this could be the last X-Files content we ever get to see, I'm just hoping that the story suits the characters and leaves them in a good place. I do not want a cliffhanger for that very reason. It would be much more satisfying for the ending to feel like an ending to this new story with the possibility for more stories to be told in the future.
So there you have it. Those are some of the things I'd like to see from these new episodes. What do you guys think? Are you excited that The X-Files is coming back, or are you dreading it? What would you like to see in these six episodes? Let us know in the comments!
Microsoft has been hinting at a new live action trailer for Halo 5: Guardians for the last week or so, and tonight that trailer finally premiered during the season finale of The Walking Dead. The trailer showed the new Spartan Locke confronting a badly injured Master Chief in the midst of some sort of widespread destruction and accusing him of failing as humanity's savior. Locke pointed his pistol at Master Chief and claimed he would have to step up and save humanity from Chief. Then the hashtag #HuntTheTruth appeared, followed by this image:
That's right. Halo 5: Guardians will be released on October 27! Many fans - myself included - expected the game to follow the typical Halo trend with a November release, so this is a bit of a surprise. Are you excited for Halo 5? What do you think the "truth" in that hashtag will be? Let us know in the comments!
