19. V For Vendetta (2006)
While watching this film made me realize Natalie Portman’s limitations as an actress, her lack of subtlety as Eve is more than complemented by some fantastically camp performances from Hugo Weaving and John Hurt.
Highlight? John Hurt’s Adam Susan Sutler.
Disappointments? Natalie Portman’s English accent.
20. Daredevil (2003)
I think it’s safe to say that this was unfairly panned when it hit theaters. Yes, it is absolutely littered with some shoddy effects and cheesy moments, but at the same time it felt so much less like it was desperately trying to please than the film it was being compared to, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man. Did Matt Murdock deserve better? Definitely, but it was by no means horrific.
The Highlights? The Daredevil/Elektra/Bullseye rooftop battle.
The Disappointments? Colin Farrell.
21. Watchmen (2009)
They called it unfilmable, and they were wrong. Although Zack Snyder takes major liberties with the ending and in so doing cuts out one of the graphic novel’s more interesting metatextual subplots - as well as another one I was quite fond of, featuring a news vendor and comic book reader - the finished film is surprisingly effective as a look back into Cold War existentialism. Aided by a phenomenal soundtrack (although some called it cliched) and one of the best title sequences I’ve ever seen, the film makes up for a slight lack of heart with extraordinary visuals and a bevvy of excellent performances.
The Highlights? Vietnam and the prison break-in.
The Disappointments? Carla Gugino as Silk Spectre I.
Gender-bent Justice League by Yasmin Liang.
This is pretty tight, and I’m particularly fond of Plastic Woman, Wonder Man and Martian Manhuntress. But it has to be asked, what do you call a gender-swapped Vixen? Fox?
… I would very much like to see this scene acted out.
But in the meantime, apparently this storyline - Wonder Woman: The Twelve Labors - is being collected for the first time! (Pre-order)
1. Batgirl (by Bryan Q. Miller)
2. Secret Six (by Gail Simone)
3. She-Hulk (by Dan Slott)
4. Planetary (by Warren Ellis)
Just thought I’d note those down. I do love to wallow in misery.
“I went into Static Shock with a lot of high hopes. Among them was showing that Static wasn’t simply an A-list character, but one of the most powerful in the DCnU. I really wanted this series to be fun and exciting and to bring the same degree of creativity to it that I put into Xombi balanced with making Virgil’s personal life at least as engaging as his superhero life. I also saw Static Shock as an excellent gateway through which to pull the rest of the Milestone characters into the DCnU.
I quickly learned that none of these plans were going to see fruition. I wound up being shunted to the sidelines as the writer while Scott McDaniel’s “high concept” criminal syndicate made up of Power Rangers and a big monosyllabic thug took center stage and Harvey [Richards, editor]‘s ideas of the 2 Sharon’s and slicing off Static’s arm were implemented as desperate means of trying to draw attention to the book.
I tried my best to keep it from being a total turd, but as I said, I was completely sidelined. My main contributions were the Pale Man character, Guillotina, naming the school after Dwayne McDuffie, and including Hardware, along with random lines of dialogue. I decided it was unethical to stick with a title that a) I thought was garbage b) that people were buying because of my involvement, due to Xombi, when really I had nothing to do with it c) because I wasn’t being utilized on the title.
Frankly, Static deserved a lot better.”
- John Rozum, writer of Static Shock (2011-2012) #1-4
If that isn’t an eye opener…
(via Bleeding Cool)
Wonder Woman is not Superman. She’s not Batman, The Flash or Martian Manhunter either. So, for all the fuss that this cover to Wonder Woman #8 is creating, I couldn’t be happier about the current direction her title is going in.
Brian Azzarello has taken this opportunity to redefine - not the character, but rather, how she is perceived, and run with it. For all the stick she gets, Diana is an Amazon warrior who rivals Superman in strength, could tear Batman to pieces, and is more concerned with the outcome of the battle than who perishes in it.
I’m glad that DC has finally stopped trying to obscure what makes this character different. She can be brutal and she can use a gun, and based on the sales of the current Wonder Woman volume, the people are loving it.
I’ve always wanted a world map in my house, and this sure looks like an interesting way to do it.
(Source: chrisfabian)
No more Bertinelli makes me sad. Let’s hope her ‘replacement’, Helena Wayne, isn’t the type to give such answers as “Daddy, I would never!”
(Source: cleromancy)
Lucasfilm gets controversial and releases some actually half-decent promotional art.
Let it be known that I believe this Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 3D one sheet to be the best Star Wars theatrical poster or DVD/Blu-ray cover art released in the past 15 years.
(Although that really should be a podracer and not a Naboo fighter).
The rumors have been circling the net for a few weeks now, but I thought I would just acknowledge the fact that the original line-up of the Sugababes are apparently working on new material together.
For those not familiar, the original line-up released their first single ‘Overload’ and debut album ‘One Touch’ in 2000 when they were in their mid-teens. Ginger member Siobhan Donaghy fled a few months later amid rumors of bullying (and apparently through a toilet window in Tokyo - no joke). She was replaced by current Dancing On Ice star Heidi Range. Lead singer Mutya Buena left in 2005, to be replaced by Amelle Berrabah, and Keisha Buchanan was ousted in 2009 due to alleged rifts with Berrabah. She was replaced by Jade Ewen, and all of their music since has been pretty awful (thanks, Jay-Z!).
Now the original three are back together, despite clearly never getting along before as well as the fact that their replacements are still releasing music.
I’m not sure I can shower them with as much praise as the bloggers (and, er, NME) have been doing, in part because - despite how good their only album together was - I find it hard to believe that the reunion is organic. Nor do I understand why so many are assured that it will produce musical genius. Three teenage girls who couldn’t stand each other? Yes, I’m sure the album was as refreshing as it was because they were musical prodigies and not because they were surrounded by talented producers.
I fully expect the new album to sound like Donaghy with two backing singers, and rightfully so. For all of their claims to ‘realness’ and studio participation, neither Buchanan nor Buena have provided us with a solo track of equal merit to any of the songs on their debut album. Siobhan’s given us plenty (listen to her sophomore effort, ‘Ghosts’, if you haven’t).
I’m only still watching because (a) I love me a good chart battle, and (b) how they go about naming themselves while “Sugababes” is still in use should be entertaining.
