Blog Archives
A Stellar Soundtrack
Some days don’t require words. Sometimes, a sound can trigger such powerful emotions that the boundaries that surround us suddenly evaporate to become limitless.
This is one of those sounds:
While the trailer this music accompanies (Interstellar) is utterly fantastic in its intergalactic teasing prior to its November 7th release, the ever-building vibrations are inspirational enough on its own.
Hearing is believing.
21 Years in the Making
(“Jurassic World” by Mark Englert: IGN Online)
Ladies and gentlemen, not only is Jurassic World really happening, but it will once again feature the superstar of dinosaurs in the Velociraptor. Above is the first promotional poster for the fourth installment of the Jurassic Park franchise. Recalling when I saw the first movie 21 years ago, it’s surreal to think it’s a franchise. What’s more is that it seems like this is the right time to make a new film with great actors (Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard) and written with what appears to be a similar tone as the original from 1993. Enough time has passed that this new movie is not simply a sequel, but a story with a purpose and gravitas to stand on its own.
The saying is, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
I agree.
The excitement that’s included in these thousand words is unsustainable…much like the the expectations of controlling dinosaurs in the modern world.
While we will have to wait and see how this story unfolds in 2015, Spielberg and Co. just may have found a way to rejuvenate this story for the 21st century!
My Captain America
Sometimes, we need to go through a little transformation.
For some, there may just be a tiny thing wrong (through no fault of their own) that needs fixing by way of a major procedure. Without divulging too much information, somebody I love is getting open-heart surgery today (which is strange because this person has one of the best hearts I know!). It’s difficult to grasp this situation, but the best doctor is leading the surgery, so that’s somewhat calming.
Still, it’s surreal to contemplate.
This person’s favorite superhero is Captain America. For those who have seen the major motion picture Captain America: The First Avenger, one of the most memorable scenes is when Steve Rogers undergoes a major procedure that transforms him into the iconic, aforementioned American hero.
Here is that scene:
As it turns out, the person getting surgery today and Captain America have a few things in common, like the fact that they will both be stronger inside and out as a result of their transformation. However, while most everyone else knows Captain America from the movies, for me (after today), when I hear or see Captain America, I won’t think of Chris Evans.
Praying everything works out perfectly for my Captain America.
The Hope for Justice
“Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice”
Ladies and gentlemen, two years out from its release date, at least we can take comfort in the fact that the title is awesome.
It’s common knowledge that the Man of Steel sequel will take super leaps and bounds towards a Justice League movie. Add in the fact that there will be an epic battle between arguably the two biggest superheroes of all-time and the potential for this film is becoming increasingly limitless.
Still, there are a few questions that remain/should be asked:
- Will Ben Affleck succeed as the guardian of Gotham? After Christian Bale’s masterful performance (and throw Christopher Nolan’s vision and expertise into that mix as well), all things Batman will be scrutinized. Quite frankly, after The Dark Knight trilogy, it should be. Playing this character is tricky because if an actor cannot make an audience believe they really are a dedicated and skillful crime-fighting force in an adult bat costume, while also gallivanting as a billionaire playboy in modern day Gotham City, well, then that universe falls apart in a hurry (remember George Clooney and Val Kilmer?). As we watch his portrayal on the silver screen, we’ll find out quickly what truly motivated this controversial casting decision.
- Why not give Superman a second movie by himself to battle with Lex Luthor and a surprise villain, in which Wonder Woman and/or Batman could be teased at the end of the sequel? Man of Steel was a gritty, realistic (for a superhero movie) story of how an alien adapted to his adopted planet, adopted parents and adopted citizens with his evolving super powers. It was an origin story. Consequently, this warranted only one scene of vintage Clark Kent flirting with Lois Lane. Shouldn’t fans get a full movie of Superman battling an enemy/enemies on Earth as a newly declared human within Metropolis with Lois Lane close by? Trust me, Superman can carry a movie by himself. Just judging by the title, a little patience would have been nice…
- Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor? If he can duplicate his performance from The Social Network, he could shine as the digitally-deft villain from the Millennial generation. Like Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder and Terence Stamp, Gene Hackman is forever treasured as an icon in the Superman cinematic universe. Fans will and should compare the performances of the aforementioned actors and actress from the 1978 classic to today’s portrayals. Like the Ben Affleck casting, the Eisenberg choice will go either really well or really badly. Quick question, was Billy Zane considered for Lex Luthor? Actually, that not a quick question, that’s a very serious question.
- Will Wonder Woman get a worthy and well-deserved character introduction with a background story or will she be introduced as more of a super sidekick? This is a powerful moment for a female superhero to shine in the spotlight for multiple generations of women and girls to see and relate to. Are they crowding the Justice pool with too many characters too quickly? Does Wonder Woman deserve an origin story?
The expectations will be super (pun intended) around this time in 2016 for Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Will this movie do the modern superhero story and its beloved characters justice by soaring to new cinematic heights?
Either way, it seems fitting to put our hope in the man of steel.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 