I'm still recovering from Batman Bat Overload. Some nerd site journalists are making positive noises about what they've seen so far. I'll stay in my wait and see mode.
I remember some time back when people were agog at the Batman the Brave and the Bold episode Mayhem of the Music Meister. I was still in my ignoring that it existed phase. Guest starring the voice of Neil Patrick Harris was one of the pluses people were using to sing (pun) its praises. I think that's what began to break down my wall of resistance to Batman the Brave and the Bold.
When I read that it was going away I finally decided to tune in. I watched one episode that guest starred Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor, which was parts fantastic and hilarious. Only recently did I start watching the series from the beginning. I started watching because Kevin Smith had Dedrich Bader on his Fatman on Batman podcast. I decided to give it a shot and I have not regretted it at all.
And only just now have I seen one of those wonderfully sublime and amazing and wonderful things. Do you love musicals? Do you love the Buffy episode Once More, With Feeling? Do you love Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog? Then there is nothing - nothing - that should stop you from watching just this one episode of Batman the Brave and the Bold, Mayhem of the Music Meister. It's not just a musical episode. It's so deliciously integrated into the mythos of the show.
The rest of Batman the Brave and the Bold is all pretty good. It draws from all of the main DC continuity - characters you didn't even see in previous iterations of Batman, Superman, JL and JLU. Some golden age, a lot of silver age characterizations and plots. It's a show that isn't always serious but treats the material with respect.
It looks alot like Batman TAS to me, which is appropriate since it was made by Bruce Timm. Its a pretty good portrayal of Wonder Woman especially within the confines of the character as written in the comics.
The film was rated pg13, originally it was rated R according to wiki before editing of some of the fight scenes. It does touch on some feminist themes. It is a little heavy handed.
"You tried to get me drunk, as if you could outdrink an Amazon, you pathetic lightweight."
That's one of my favorite titles. It's a shame that WB/DC decided to stick with titling things Batman/Superman because of "poor sales" of Wonder Woman.
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"freedom to differ is not limited to things that do not matter much. That would be a mere shadow of freedom. The test of its substance is the right to differ as to things that touch the heart of the existing order."
- Justice Robert Jackson, West Virginia State Board of Ed. v. Barnette
A couple of (direct to release, DC animated) movies. One kinda slipped by without much fanfare. Of course, now that the online super powered community I was once a part of is now scattered it's easier for that to happen. As an aside, I noticed that Young Justice is now available on DVD/BR in the stores. I was a little tempted to get a season or whatever of that instead of the Superman Unbound I was there to obtain. But I stayed true to my mission.
And ... omg, pea (if you're reading this), I made two trips to the Target on two different days! I just thought about it. My first trip was for the Flashpoint Paradox on Sunday. When I was reading reviews and opinions about that one I noticed that there was a DCAM (Detective Comics Animated Movie) that was released that I didn't realize had been released. I went back to the Target the next day to get that one!
ANYHOW. Superman Unbound was alright. Superman beat up on robots and Brainiac and stuff. Supergirl did some fighting and stuff as well. Lois Lane was awesome and didn't afraid of anything - she even double birded the Brainiac machine. There were a lot of, as my roommate would say, panels - scenes that were more about emoting than fighting the bad guys. Unlike him I like those kinds of things. A couple of scenes gave me some perspective on Kara that I never considered. I mean, she's a young woman and she hasn't always had super powers. Also, she wasn't raised by Ma and Pa Kent.
And the day before watching Unbound I saw the Flashpoint Paradox. I really needed the Unbound to, I don't know, cleanse my palate or something. It wasn't the story that bothered me. I like the ideas they tried to explore. Maybe I'm biased against what the Flashpoint represents and what came of it - the New 52. I didn't really like the design or the style used. I don't know how to describe it all. The transition from the Timm style to the animated movies was alright - the characters were a little angle-y, if that makes any sense? The characters in Flashpoint were even more angly-y-er. And on top of trying to assimilate that, this was a very, very violent story. I can't really believe that it was only rate PG-13. Honestly, I think it could have fairly been given an R rating. I think with not actually seeing where the blood is coming out is the only reason it didn't get that rating. I can handle violence in different mediums but for some reason Flashpoint Paradox still bothers me. I guess I didn't expect it and I suppose I don't necessarily care for it in this genre.
Though I do have to say: Because I have experience being around a lot of people who have pretended to have various levels of super human powers, I honestly believe the world would look a lot more like the world of the Paradox, or even Kingdom Come. By which, I'm saying imagine the disagreements different people have on a regular basis, and now add the ability to shoot laser beams from your eyes or being able to throw a car at somebody.
In my continuing effort to get you to watch the Brave and the Bold I have to tell you that the Metal Men appear in an episode later in the second season.
You won already. I put it in my queue a couple weeks ago, you animation pusher.
__________________
"freedom to differ is not limited to things that do not matter much. That would be a mere shadow of freedom. The test of its substance is the right to differ as to things that touch the heart of the existing order."
- Justice Robert Jackson, West Virginia State Board of Ed. v. Barnette
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That bottom face for Batgirl is the creepiest thing I've seen in a very long time. I bet she gives The Joker nightmares.
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"freedom to differ is not limited to things that do not matter much. That would be a mere shadow of freedom. The test of its substance is the right to differ as to things that touch the heart of the existing order."
- Justice Robert Jackson, West Virginia State Board of Ed. v. Barnette
__________________
"freedom to differ is not limited to things that do not matter much. That would be a mere shadow of freedom. The test of its substance is the right to differ as to things that touch the heart of the existing order."
- Justice Robert Jackson, West Virginia State Board of Ed. v. Barnette
If there is anything that truly hearkens back to the earliest issues of Batman, it's villains conveniently falling from great heights.
Also, "I hit him with a rock.
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It was a big rock."
__________________
"freedom to differ is not limited to things that do not matter much. That would be a mere shadow of freedom. The test of its substance is the right to differ as to things that touch the heart of the existing order."
- Justice Robert Jackson, West Virginia State Board of Ed. v. Barnette
That's Ben Affleck in the still-titled-as Superman vs Batman movie. I can see the influence of a couple of different bat-versions. There's a little bit of Arkham games in there, plus the glaring TDKR symbol on the chest. My critique is the same as it was for the Superman suit: That texturing.
That's Ben Affleck in the still-titled-as Superman vs Batman movie. I can see the influence of a couple of different bat-versions. There's a little bit of Arkham games in there, plus the glaring TDKR symbol on the chest. My critique is the same as it was for the Superman suit: That texturing.
The texture on the suit makes it look a little hokey. I can't help but wonder if they did it to try to avoid the spandex look.
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Allan Glenn. 1984-2005 RIP
Under no circumstances should Quentin Tarantino be allowed to befoul Star Trek.
I can understand the idealized muscle-bumps on the costume, but bulging veins? Really?
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"Her eyes in certain light were violet, and all her teeth were even. That's a rare, fair feature: even teeth. She smiled to excess, but she chewed with real distinction." - Eleanor of Aquitaine
I was taken aback at the announcement. Then after the over reaction from the rest of the internet, I purposely took a wait and see. I think Afleck is a good enough actor to pull it off. He's aware of his own history, especially his superhero oeuvre, but he's grown and learned since then. With any of Snyder's works I don't think I've had a problem with the actors, the acting or the choices of people he's made. I'm not worried about who is being cast as whom.