'ABNORMAL' comic series creeping your way!

"This story is about taking a new approach on the famous, and not so famous, monsters that we've heard about in myths. A secret FBI division is assigned to handle these "Abnormals." If you think you know the true story behind their legends be prepared to be surprised! Do you love chills? Thrills? Are you aching for a series that plays like classic creature features? Then, 'Abnormal' by Martinez/Butler is for you!"

My Batman Day Purchases

If there's one thing that I'm almost as passionate about as horror, it's Batman. As a lot of you know, I grew up a fan of the character and still am in present day. And while I'll admit that Batman having his own day is a bit over the top, it's also really cool for the nerds out there, like me.

DAYS OF FUTURE PAST keeps hope alive for mutants and fans alike

MILD SPOILERS THROUGHOUT 

RATED- PG-13
RUN TIME- 131 Mins
WRITER(S)- Simon Kinberg, Jane Goldman, and Mathew Vaughn 
STARRING- Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and Hugh Jackman
DIRECTOR- Bryan Singer



Synopsis taken from IMDb
The X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.




The "X-Men" films were always second to me, right after The Dark Knight trilogy. In fact, I really thought that "X-Men: First Class" was better than "The Avengers". While I'm not a fan of the Wolverine solo movies, I've liked all of the other "X-Men" films, even the third one. It's kinda sorta a tie for me between "First Class" and "X2" as the best installments, but there for a while, the series hit a rocky road for fans who had plenty to complain about. With the unsteadiness of a lot of people not liking the third movie, and then to be followed by an even less liked solo Wolverine movie, moviegoers and comic fans alike began to believe that the series had peaked. Then "First Class" landed, and it changed things up. It rebooted the franchise in a way, by introducing a new cast of old characters, and telling the origins of Erik Lehnsherr and Charles Xavier.

TUESDAY TOY REVIEW: Hot Toys' "The Dark Knight Rises" Bane

Easily one of the most realistic action figures to date that Hot Toys has done, Bane makes an incredible eye piece. And in my opinion, is a landmark figure. I mean, there's people who didn't even like the movie or the character of Bane and yet they bought this figure. That tells ya a little something about the quality produced on this piece. It's one of the few action figures that to the naked eye, looks like a real person. If you have a proper background or setting that doesn't showcase that it's a collectible, and not a real person, it's hard to tell the difference.

Tell me that this doesn't look completely life-like.

He's a very simple and basic figure. He comes on a muscle body, to beef him up compared to other figures. While the overall build and frame of the figure looks nice, the muscle bodies limit articulation/movement. So while he may look fantastic, there's certain key poses (like his boss pose) that just aren't gonna happen. But, there's plenty of other things that you can do for a pose that would set this figure off right. He also comes with five sets of interchangeable hands, a broken Batman cowl, a really sweet base/stand, and a movie accurate coat.

So you see, it's not an action figure that comes with a surplus of accessories. It's nothing fancy, but it looks incredible! The Tom Hardy likeness is ever present in the eyes and what you see of the face. But, it's the small details that make this figure pop. Such as the scaring on the sides of his head and the intricate detail in the mask. There's even some scarring on the eyebrow if you look close enough. Right out of the box this bad mofo is good to go. It's the rare case of that perfect figure that just sets some people in disbelief.

I've said this before about some of Hot Toys' other products, but I think that he's so well made due to the lack of accessories. When you have a $200 price tag on something that doesn't come with a lot of extras, they gotta make the money worth it. So the realism and overall quality of this piece beats tons of figures that I can think of that came with an abundance of accessories.

There's also scaring down his back, but most of all, what I like best is how his body is painted along with his head. Most companies stick a head on a default body and that's that. Well Hot Toys painted the entire body and head with the same skin coloring and texture to make the overall appearance seem seamless, and it's a wonderful job. One of my complaints about the figure are that I wish he came with the microphone headset from the football scene. Posing him talking into that would have been an amazing idea. I've seen some people make custom headsets, but it doesn't fit my level of quality, so I'll stick to no headset than a crappy forged one.

Aside from that, the figure looks best with the coat on because without it you can see joints and that prevents it from looking as realistic as possible. So I don't think I'll be taking his coat off again outside of taking these pics. Without the coat, the figure doesn't look as good.

Everything from the vest down to his military pants looks amazing. He even has two wrist cuffs, so all five sets of hands that he comes with are compatible to fit the cuffs. One's meant for a closed fist and the other wrist band is for open hands, allowing you to make any pose you want to work and not look forced.

"The Dark Knight Rises" may just be my favorite installment in the franchise, but even if you hate the movie, you just simply can't deny the quality Hot Toys brings when they're on their game. I'm a proud owner of this figure. It's one of the ones I'll never part with.

He's been long sold out, but if you can find one for a lucky price I suggest you grab it. This is one for the ages. I got mine off of Sideshow Collectibles, like I usually do. As far as I've heard he was a limited edition figure with a limited production run. I can easily see this action figure going for a fortune in years to come.

4 stars out of 5

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER brings the heat

RATED- PG-13
RUN TIME- 136 Mins
WRITER(S)- Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, and Ed Brubaker
STARRING- Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, and Scarlett Johansson
DIRECTOR- Anthony and Joe Russo



Synopsis taken from IMDb
Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and battles a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier.

I've never been a Captain America fan. Something about the character just never drew me in. I'd honestly consider him one of my least favorite heros in comic books, but that doesn't mean a good movie can't be made about him! After being rather critical towards the first film back in 2011, I'm glad to see that they stepped it up a notch for the sequel. Not only did I really enjoy this one, but I actully liked Captain America (Chris Evans) as a character.

The action/fight scenes are borderline incredible. The movements and speed shows you that the prep time for these sequences had to be strenuous, but it paid off in the end. It was great to see ex UFC Welterweight champion, Georges St-Pierre on the big screen as a villain. In real life I would not want to tango with that guy, but if I was Captain America, I probably would try for the hell of it (laugh).

The acting isn't anything memorable, but it's not really a performance based film. Most comic book films aren't. No one's getting nominated by the Academy or Oscars for what they've done in this film, although it is damn entertaining and thrilling. It's good to see that they still have a bold and healthy cast, full of big names. I actually think Chris Evans did a really good job this time around. If I were to give anyone credit for good acting, it'd be him. He really surprised me and brings a new feel to the character that shows how comfortable he's become in the role.

The plot was very deep and symbolic for what's really going on today in the world. It touches up on terrorism, our security, and how our freedom is at stake. It actually goes a lot further into politics than I expected, but it's done in a way that doesn't bore you because they put the icing of cool stunts and funny dialogue on top of it. Sugar coating it, if you will. I've recently been critisizing newer comic movies for being too light hearted and child-based. This flick keeps its appeal to children, but reaches deep into the guts of adults too by making us face a realistic situation that may not be far from what's to come in the future.

Scarlett Johansson is back as the sexy and devious Black Widow, and  Samuel L. Jackson  still plays Nick Fury. One can only assume that after workinig so much together that they've all become really close off the screen. The fact that none of them have been replaced yet is a blessing, and I hope that it continues until all the innevitable reboots happen. There's also the introduction of a new character into the franchise, Falcon, played by Anthony Mackie. I really liked the addition of him and the character. It gives the story more life and dimension having more colorful characters emerge into the story.

The villian, the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) is what really makes the movie's overall quality step up a notch. He's a force to be reckoned with and proves to be a damn near impossible foe for Captain. Once he gets on screen, something serious always happens. However, I found the twist about his character to be completely predictable and lacked any thought. I've never read the comics, so I'm assuming they're keeping it correct, I just think it could have been done in a less obvious way.

That goes for the entire film and characters too. There's some things that are downright easy to predict and very common. Such things take away from the overall story, because it's hard to get over watching a movie that you've never seen before, yet you've predicted it. And there's a lot of (near) deaths that didn't bother me in the least. I knew that everyone would be safe and that they'd make people appear to die, but we all know by now they never do pass away. And because of that fact, the thrill gets taken from the picture.

When no one ever dies despite how great the danger is, it really does invoke the yawn factor and is very disappointing. But hell, it's still a lot better than I and a lot of other expected. It's one of the best Marvel films easily, but it's not at the top of the pack.

Whatever you do, make sure you sit through the credits!

MAN OF STEEL from the perspective of a non-Superman fan

RATED- PG-13
RUN TIME- 143 Mins
WRITER(S)- David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan
STARRING- Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, and Michael Shannon
DIRECTOR- Zack Snyder



Synopsis taken from IMDb
A young itinerant worker is forced to confront his secret extrastellar origin when Earth is invaded by members of his own race.




Having never been a very big Superman fan growing up, it's easy to say that when I heard there was going to be a new film, that I wasn't impressed. Zack Snyder is a hit-or-miss director as far as I'm concerned. Some of his movies are great like "300", and others tend to disappoint, such as "Sucker Punch". So, I knew that just his name on the project wouldn't pull me in and make me eager to see it.

 However, things slowly changed when I found out that Christopher Nolan was involved, and writing the story. I knew then, that there was going to be some merit, so I started to look into it. Then I saw the trailers for the film, and my opinion towards the movie was officially changed.

Now, as far as I can tell, those who dislike this motion picture are all really big Superman fans. I can see that a lot was changed about the character and the story, and apparently that got all the Super-fans' panties all up in a bunch. Truth is, I loved the movie. And if anything, it's made me become somewhat of a fan of Superman. Again, I wasn't a fan growing up, so all the changes made for this film didn't bother me in the least bit.

I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Most of the people I know who've seen it liked it a lot, but they're none fans of Superman. Infact, despite how they aren't fans of the character, they all seemed to say that the film is "amazing". But, those who are fans of the character and read the comics, seem to have a bad taste left in their mouth after watching it. I can understand, but in my personal opinion, it's just logic that they'd update the character and story to make it realistic in today's time. And now more than ever we have the technical ability and technology to go far with this character and do something that couldn't be achieved until now.

The back story they give Clark (Henry Cavill) both as a young boy and adult is what I think I liked the most about the film. It seems that for once, someone finally thought out the realistic side of things, and asked the question of what if Superman were real? How would things change, and how would he survive? This is a much better approach than having everyone welcome him into open arms with big ol' smiles on their faces. And for once, the fact that he's an alien actually takes a part in the story!

Russell Crowe does a really good job at playing Jor-El, Superman's father. I'm glad to see that his appearance in the film isn't short lived like I had expected. However, doing films like this, it's easy to see that Crowe isn't the actor he once was. But doing "Man of Steel" is the least of his worries, and is the best film that I've seen Crowe in in a while. Besides, Christopher Nolan has the ability to bring an all-star cast to his films, and it's what makes them better. His movies don't win MTV's best kiss awards, they win Oscars and other prestigious awards.

I also really like the flashbacks of Clark with his mother (Diane Lane) and father (Kevin Costner). It goes in-depth on how raising an alien child takes it's toll, and how even Clark can be a total prick when going through puberty (laugh). But I find the parts with his parents to be the heart of the film, and Costner and Lane do amazing jobs at playing the down to earth farmers.

One thing that always bothered me about the character of Superman was that no one ever seemed to care that he was an alien, and that he answered the question of are we alone in the universe. Well, this movie touches up on all these basics that everyone else seemed to disregard in past films. For once there's consequences for Clark to be Superman!

The overall story and the reactions from the people in the story is extremely well done and about as realistic as possible. After watching this flick, it's hard to imagine that if Superman were in fact real, that he'd be any different from this. The character and overall premise is a lot more grounded, yet has a huge scope.

Lois Lane, Clarks love interest, is played perfectly by the lovely Amy Adams. Adams has made quite a name for herself lately that would leave anyone impressed. She's done "American Hustle" and "The Fighter". She's getting to the point now in her career where she's being added to all-star casts for award winning movies. That's never a bad thing. And she does a great job at portraying a new take on Lois Lane, and makes for great on-screen chemistry with Henry Cavill. I like their relationship, and I usually hate the love stories in comic book films. This one however, wasn't overbearing and a total cheesefest.

The lead villain, Genral Zod (Michael Shannon) does a good job at keeping the suspense up and lingering. And he actually has character growth, which is a really nice touch. Because although you still side against him, there's some sympathy there that allows you to not just dismiss him as another super villain, but actually care somewhat for his character.

But I find that "Man of Steel" doesn't really become a comic book movie until Zod shows up towards the middle of the film. Up until that point, it's all very sincere and real. Then the fight scenes and battles remind you that it's a fantasy movie, and not just a movie about an alien learning to live among humans. While I enjoy the action scenes, it seems to take away from the story. But, if it didn't have long and drawn out fight scenes, it wouldn't be a comic book movie.

I do enjoy the fights, it just takes you out of how grounded it all was prior and reminds you that this isn't, nor could it ever be realistic. I like how although totally unbelievable, the action scenes are well developed, and are unlike anything you've seen before. Hell, a lot of the fight takes place in the air! It's easy to see  that now they're able to make Superman have fights that are true to who he is and what he can do. Even if an abundance of cgi is needed to pull it off...

Despite what critics and comic fans alike think, I liked the movies ending. I like that he killed Zod. I understand that that's not common behavior for Superman, but if you think about it he didn't have much of a choice. It's not like he kills Zod and it means nothing, he knows it's a big deal and it tears him apart to do it as you see his breakdown after. With everything done up with such realism, and the circumstances in which the film takes place, and taking into consideration that it's a completely modified story to fit in with today's times, and I think the ending was very fitting. It puts the new face on the character that the filmmakers wanted, and that's what's important.

Remember, this is a whole new Superman. This is the film that shows you how Clark becomes the Superman everyone knows him to be. And I'm happy with this origin story. I find it very impressive. If it can make this non-Superman fan into a fan, then they did their job as far as I'm concerned.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013)

RATED- PG-13
RUN TIME- 112 Mins
WRITER(S)- Christopher Yost, Christopher Markus, and Stephen McFeely
STARRING- Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, and Tom Hiddleston 
DIRECTOR- Alan Taylor 



Synopsis taken from IMDb
When Jane Foster is possessed by a great power, Thor must protect her from a new threat of old times: The Dark Elves.




Right before the first "Thor" film landed in 2011, I ran to my local comic shop and grabbed a stack of Thor comics. 13 to be exact. I've never read about Thor, nor had any interest in doing so, but I wanted to do my homework and get ready for the film. Although I wasn't impressed with the comics, the film was entertaining for me, and I liked it more than some of Marvel's other productions. So yeah, the movie kinda made me a fan of the character, but I'm by no means claiming to be enthralled by it.

This time around, the hammer toting God (Chris Hemsworth), is back in a fierce and gritty sequel that takes things to a whole new height of epic proportions. This maintained a childish tone so kids can like it, but it's really dark and not what most people expected. I really like that this didn't get off track by trying to appeal to children. This is a film that keeps it's balls while staying likable to younger crowds.

Despite all the cgi and the unnecessary one-liners, this actually turned out to be a damn good sequel. And Loki (Tom Hiddleston) was actually my favorite part! For such an unlikable scumbag, I'm getting used to his antics and starting to see some appeal in the character. I also think that this time around, some effort was really spent on making you see a new side of him that makes him likable.

Once Thor's love interest, Jane (Natalie Portman) becomes possessed by the Aether, a weapon that is used by the dark elves to destroy the universe, things become complicated. Trying to find answers as well as save the woman he loves, Thor must call on his deceptive little brother to help him. Seeing Thor and Loki work together really makes you wish they weren't enemies, because they're a damn good team.

Asgard, home of Thor and his father Odin, is attacked savagely by the Dark Elves, and they make their point loud and clear, sending a message to all of Asgard. We get a little peak of what's to come as there's some scattered action battles, but nothing like the ending in which things get real thrilling. As a matter of fact the very end, right before the credits is probably my favorite scene in the movie. I expected it, but I didn't. Hard to explain, but I'm glad it ended like it did.

One thing that I find disappointing about comic films is that certain people are safe. There's always a looming danger, yet everyone always makes it out alive and kicking. Just like how in kids movies there's always a death that lasts about two and a half seconds before it's revealed that by some magical way they've survived and aren't going to die. I find that to be a  real bummer about films like this, and it's what is truly stopping them from reaching their potential greatness. And when someone is killed it's small characters that aren't really needed anyway. They're just kept around for comedic entertainment and have outlived their purpose for the story.

And I'm over the love story part of all these types of movies. I understand having love interests, but it's just too much! It seems every superhero has their head half up some girls ass and the other half is trying to save the world. I just wish that every superhero movie didn't have to end with a cheesy hug and kiss. I think that although there's still some creativity left in  comic book movie films, it's still becoming a bit repetitive. And I hope someone can come along and change that, before that light burns out for good.

Somebody needs to think of something new to start doing in these comic movies that makes them not so easy to predict. Ones that do, like The Dark Knight Trilogy, stand out higher above the rest.

"Thor: The Dark World" is a fun and tense ride, but don't expect to much from it. Or instead of being surprised, you'll be left hanging. For what it is, a movie about a God fighting evil elves, it's pretty good. After a second viewing, I think I'd place it above the first film.

3 out of 5 stars

THE WOLVERINE (2013)

RATED- R
RUN TIME- 126 Mins
WRITER(S)- Mark Bomback and Scott Frank
STARRING- Hugh Jackman, Will Yun Lee, and Tao Okamoto
DIRECTOR- James Mangold



Synopsis taken from IMDb
When Wolverine is summoned to Japan by an old acquaintance, he is embroiled in a conflict that forces him to confront his own demons.




I figured that since I've never reviewed an X-Men film before that I should start this review off with a quick summary of my feelings towards the mutant movies. First of all, the character Wolverine is my second favorite comic book character, right after Batman. So, having grown up a fan of comics, it's always a pleasure to see Wolverine on screen. Especially when you have Hugh Jackman knocking the role out of the ballpark every time. However, I've said this to friends before, and I'll say it now: Wolverine is very much like Hannibal Lecter, but not in the way you're assuming.

They're alike because when they're mixed in with a good cast supported by a good story, they shine and are everyone's favorite. They're the character you come out of the movies talking about. However, take the mystery away from the characters by giving them their own films, and it's a different story. It's very much the case of less being more! Without any mystery, very little is left to be desired about the characters. I understand the need to give them their own backstory, because they're such iconic characters but, I'd rather see no back story than a boring and uneventful one.

Much is the case with such films as 2001's "Hannibal", 2007's "Hannibal Rising", and 2009's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine". Now what do all of these films have in common? They suck! Just ask the popular consensus, not that what's popular ever meant a damn to me.

My point is, having Wolverine in a second solo film only sent off my spidey senses, and I totally skipped it in theaters. After the prior films disappointment, I wasn't holding my breath. Hell yes I was excited that the clawed savage was back on the silver screen, and hell no was I happy about it being another solo film. He by himself isn't enough to carry a movie, such was proved by the previous movie. Wolverine is at his best when he's a part of something bigger, like the X-Men.

All of that being said, this flick didn't turn out to be so bad, but it doesn't disprove anything that I've said, and I still stand by that. I'm just not overall impressed. Not to mention that towards the end it became completely predictable! Call me a Batman fanboy, but The Dark Knight Trilogy really ruined things for me. Watching this is like watching a Saturday morning cartoon. No comic book-based movies are the same to me anymore. I see the children's appeal in them, and at 26-years-old, I'm not a child. So the attention and action figures this film got is wasted on me, personally.

Unlike "X-Men Origins: Wolverine", this one actually brought something worthy to the table, and attempted to be creative and not ruin the character. I like the concept of the film, the fact that Logan is tired of living his life as an indestructible mutant, and lives like a hermit. He takes on the hobo look for a short bit, but that is all changed when an old friend of his from Japan wants to offer him the chance to rid himself of his healing ability. The same ability that Logan sees himself as cursed for having. Once he declines the offer, things go from bad to worse...

There's some non-stop action towards the end of the feature. Once Wolverine faces off against Silver Samurai is when I started to lose my interest. Although the fight scenes are pretty to the eye, they really did nothing for me. I think we've seen better fight scenes with Logan in previous films. Nothing particularly stands out to me about this flick. It's nothing memorable.

We've seen better, and we've seen worse. The thing that really killed it for me was the plot twist at the end. Completely uneventful. It just proved how these solo films are mere shells of the "X-Men" films.

I definitely don't hate this movie, and it's better than I expected. But, it's nothing more than cheap thrills to me. When going through the "X-Men" series I'm likely to skip over both Wolverine films. It's something I'd catch on the FX channel when there's nothing else on TV.

On the other hand, I cannot wait until Days of Future Past hits theaters May 23rd. If it's as good as it looks, this could be the best one yet. As it stands now, I think that First Class and X2 are the best in the series. So although "The Wolverine" wasn't very enjoyable for me, I remain positive towards the future of the series.

2.5 out of 5 stars

KICK-ASS 2 is a solid sequel

RATED- R

RUN TIME- 103 MINS

WRITER(S)- JEFF WADLOW, MARK MILLAR, AND JOHN ROMITA Jr.

STARRING- AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON, CHLOE GRACE MORETZ, AND CHRISTOPHER MINTZ-PLASSE

DIRECTOR- JEFF WADLOW

Synopsis taken from IMDb

The costumed high-school hero Kick-Ass joins with a group of normal citizens who have been inspired to fight crime in costume. Meanwhile, the Red Mist plots an act of revenge that will affect  everyone Kick-Ass knows.

I liked the first film a lot more than I ever expected to, so I was ready going into this one. I haven't heard much about it, I stay away from spoilers as often as I can. I've only read two reviews on it I believe, both of which were positive. 

I like how it starts, Dave Lizewski/Kick-Ass (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) no longer fighting crime, but others around the city have picked up where he left off. He's inspired a group of vigilantes that call themselves superheros, just like he once did. Even though you can see where this storyline will inevitably end up, it's still enjoyable. Dave meets up with his former pal Mindy Macready/Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz), and she gets him back into training and fighting crime. Dave starts taking everything a bit more seriously, and is proud to be partners with Mindy.

There's a lot of growing, both physically and mentally, from Dave and Mindy. All of which is fantastic.

After Mindy decides to give up fighting crime, Kick-Ass joins forces with a team of masked superhero's headed by Colonel Stars and Stripes (Jim Carey). Carey gives a very good performance for this film, and is one of the most memorable things about this sequel. As a team they conquer the streets and shut down criminals left and right. Donald Faison is in this flick as well, and he plays Dr. Gravity. Another memorable and funny character. 

Chris D'Amico/The Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) is hellbent on revenge and takes things to a new extreme, which doesn't limit his new name, which he gives himself when he decides to become the worlds first super-villain. He now goes by The Mother F'er, in short, and even though Plasse seems to be the same damn character in every movie he's in, he still pulls off the annoying character. All the while I was just waiting for Kick-Ass to beat the hell out of him. In the name of his deceased father, The Mother F'er hires a team of ex-cons and street criminals to join his army in alliance to kill Kick-Ass and destroy the city.

Like the first film, I really adore how they are able to balance such humor and ridiculousness with serious vibes. It gets very dark and gritty really quickly, and there's a lot of death. But it never loses it's quirkiness. And while this film kept me happy, nothing changes that it doesn't have that magic that the first one had. I believe this is as close as you can get to capturing that lightning in a bottle again.

The acting is over-the-top, but exactly what it needs to be for this type of film. The story isn't as strong, although all of the stakes are upped. Without the origin story the original film had, this one almost falls flat aside from the action. However, the story between Dave and Mindy is well done, and adds a great depth to the story, stopping the story from becoming weak and too much action. There's also good character story and development with Dave and his father, which I liked a lot. They do the same with Mindy, showing her home life and how she interacts with her new dad, Detective Marcus Williams (Morris Chestnut) after her real father's passing.

The climax of the film is touching and well written. Full of despair, hope, and strength, as well as blood and violence. We're left wondering if there's going to be a third film. My sources have told me that a 3rd installment probably will happen, this just leaves me guessing what it will be about? Hopefully they won't do a third and fall into the trilogy curse. We'd rather have just two good movies than to have two good movies and one bad one. Hopefully they aren't reaching too far in order to make a third happen.

All in all, "Kick-Ass 2" is a solid action film that'll invoke all emotions in you from sadness, to complete happiness and laughter. It's a blast, and if you liked the first motion picture, you're bound to like this one. I left the theater satisfied, and I guess as a movie buff, that's all I can ask for. I'm definitely glad this film happened. It kick's ass!

Help get The Fake Horse printed!

The Fake Horse is a dark, meaningful story from the mind of Toby Johansen, an independent artist and film maker. His labor of love is coming to a close as he's almost finished it. With only 41 pages left, Toby needs to raise the money required to make his dream book happen. If the quota isn't met by July 14th, he'll be starting a Kickstarter campaign soon after, to keep the ball rolling.

What is The Fake Horse you ask? In Toby's own words:

"It's called 'The Fake Horse', where in a post-apocalyptic 2018, where a man who wears a horse mask is bent on protecting a herd of horses from savage flesh-eaters left from the fallout, while trying to make a meaningful life in a world that's ended."

If you're a graphic novel/comics fan and a horror fan, than this is definitely your thing. Don't miss this!

LEARN MORE WITH THE LINKS BELOW:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-get-the-fake-horse-printed/

http://www.gorypumpkin.com/

And don't forget to LIKE it on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/TheFakeHorse

Twisted Tales of Madness and Murder (comic book)

"Detective Spurlock is a tormented cop with a heavy cocaine addiction and a penchant for prostitutes. Done something wrong? He is more than willing to look the other way-for a price. Under his rough exterior, Spurlock is a man who is haunted by his own demons. Demons that threaten to take him down and destroy his very existence. As he weaves his way through one horrifying crime scene after another, he leaves his own trail of destruction in his wake creating one twisted experience."


I've been away for a few days because I took a road trip to Ohio for Rock on the Range, the largest rock festival in the nation. Rest assured that I'm back and ready to go.

Today I'd like to turn you all on to a comic book that was presented to me. As you all know, I'm a sucker for comic books and horror. So...when you combine them I'm going to be all over it like flies on crap. When asked to read and review this comic I jumped on it.

The original idea of this series caught my attention, and after reading the first issue it had my full focus. This isn't a comic book for children, it's very mature and adult in it's contents. So don't go trying to get your kids a copy. There's nudity, drug use and foul language used. It's perfect for the adult horror and comic fan!

It was darker and more raw and gritty than I was expecting, which pleasantly surprised me. A lot of horror comics try to dull down the seriousness, but I've always been a sucker for the ones with balls. The ones that aren't afraid to tell a deep, twisted story. This comic delivers on the latter. I've only read the first issue but by the writing I can tell that this is one that is going to have layers and layers of story and character development.

The illustrations were fantastic as well. I like the black and white approach, always have. I feel it works best for serious comics because it gives them the bleak, emotionless feeling they need to sink in the sinister storytelling. Black and white was used for James O'Barr's The Crow, and look how fantastic that turned out. The lines are drawn clearly and you can tell this was a comic made of passion. I sincerely wouldn't be surprised if you see this become a movie over the next couple of years. 

I love the fact that there's so much gore in it as well. Even though it comes off as a detective story, at it's core it's a horror story with gross and grotesque images that'll keep you reading without blinking. I've been asked to read some comics before for people and never felt the need to give them coverage. This one deserves it though, because I truly believe it's something magical and a breath of fresh air from the common type of horror comics you come across now. It has a lot of dark humor in it that you'll find disturbingly funny as well.

If you want to get your hands on this comic because you like good, rich storytelling and you like horror comics, then click any and all of the links below. I don't know how you could regret it.


Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Twisted-Tales-Madness-Murder-ebook/dp/B00CLCJ2LS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367434500&sr=8-1&keywords=twisted+tales+of+madness+and+murder

Nook
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/twisted-tales-of-madness-and-murder-1-tadd-galusha/1115227567?ean=9781106926920

Itunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/twisted-tales-madness-murder/id641190580?mt=11

Iron Man 3 doesn't live up to its potential

"Prepare for heavy metal!"

RATED- PG-13
RUN TIME- 130 MINS
WRITER(S)- DREW PIERCE AND SHANE BLACK
STARRING- ROBERT DOWNEY JR., GWYNETH PALTROW AND DON CHEADLE
DIRECTOR- SHANE BLACK



Synopsis taken from IMDb
When Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.




First off, I'd like to mention that this movie actually has a lot of surprising elements. They advertising campaign did a great job with not letting a lot out to the public through the trailers. After seeing the movie I realized how much happened that wasn't even brought up in the trailer. However, the childish aspect of Marvel's movies really shows through in this film, bringing it down a peg.

The first Iron Man film was a damn near great film and the sequel was a bit lesser than what we expected. This film lets the ball slip a little more. Luckily this is the last Iron Man portrayal by Robert Downey Jr aside from Avengers 2. After that Downey is handing off the role to someone else who's younger. Last I heard, Disney and Marvel have an idea of who will be playing Iron Man, but their lips are sealed. The Iron Man series won't be rebooted, just a new actor like in the James Bond pictures.

I fell like this movie wasn't taken seriously at all and that hurts the series. It's as if they wanted to celebrate Iron Man's exit with a laid back and fun approach as appose to a epic finale like "The Dark Knight Rises". What once had a serious tone and vibe now is reduced to a lot of unnecessary humor and a bunch of new ways to put his suit on. I felt this movie has more of a childish tone to it than any of the other Marvel films as of late. Is this to do with Disney dipping their hands into the cash cow? One can only speculate.

I think they lost focus of what Iron Man originally was and chose to do over-the-top special effects and a lot of cheap jokes instead of good writing and a decent plot. I must admit that this film has a ton of cheese in it. Some of the stuff I laughed at wasn't meant to even be funny. I didn't find there to be any real threat in this movie, it wasn't very thrilling for me. The acting wasn't anything special and that includes Downey, his Tony Stark portrayal was lazy in this film.

I'm not trying to completely bash this movie, but there are quite a few things that I didn't like about it. Including the twist. They made everything one big sarcastic joke and that aggravates the hell out of me, but it's still a solid action movie and fun to watch. It's just pure entertainment. I felt Iron Man deserved a better exit than this. Not a terrible movie overall, but not even close to what it should have been.

THIS FILM GETS 2 1/2 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

Justice League: Doom (Video 2012)

***S  P  O  I  L  E  R  S***

"The end of justice"

 
RATED- PG-13
RUN TIME- 90 MINS
WRITER(S)- DWAYNE McDUFFIE AND MARK WAID
STARRING- KEVIN CONROY, TIM DALY AND SUSAN EISENBERG
DIRECTOR- LAUREN MONTGOMERY 



Synopsis taken from IMDb
Vandal Savage steals confidential files Batman has compiled on the members of the Justice League, and learns all their weaknesses.




STORY: I usually don't like The Justice League. Batman is no doubt my favorite superhero, but I'm not a fan of the rest of the gang. Superman is alright but I don't care for Wonderwoman and The Green Lantern too much. Martian Man Hunter is one that I'm not too familiar with due to me having no interest in him. So, I was apprehensive about watching this one. I like Batman solo with maybe the company of Robin rarely.

The head villain in this film is Vandal Savage, and he gets Mirror Master to sneak into Wayne manor's lower level (Batcave) and download something off of Batman's computer system. What did he download? All the files Batman had on all of his teammates. Unknowingly to them, Batman shows his true genius and has come up with ways to stop any and all Justice League members who may possibly use their powers for the worse of humanity. This isn't a means to kill them, just neutralize them should they ever need it. However, Vandal Savage adds in a way to kill them all on his own.

Vandal Savage hires Bane, Ma'alefa'ak, Cheetah, Mirror Master, Star Sapphire and Metallo to take out the Justice League. One villain to match each hero and use Batman's scheme against them. Things get pretty bad when the villains show up. Bane actually digs up Bruce Wayne's parents and buries Bruce alive with them. Things look bad for the Justice League as their worst fears are exploited and used against them.

Eventually the Justice League preservers and win the war against them. Even the villains learn that Vandal Savage is a monster when they learn he plans to destroy the world. When Batman comes clean about the plans used against them being his he leaves the team on his own accord. Stating that he'd do it all over again if he had to, because their power is too great to risk not having his plans to neutralize them. Batman becomes a loner, which he's best at. Only Superman truly agrees with him and understands him.

The Justice League takes a stand

ANIMATION: The animation in this film is perhaps a bit too much like anime for my liking. It is well done though. The voice-over's are on point and I really enjoyed how they made Bane have a Latin accent. They kept it pretty close to the comics. The overall look and design of the characters is well achieved.



ACTION: This movie is very dark for an animation film and there's a lot of fighting and over-the-top violence. It's definitely meant for a more mature audience, but can be enjoyed by any comic book nerd like myself.



OVERALL: This movie is fresh and original. It's gritty and enjoyable. It's all you can want and expect from an animated film. And it sure as hell beats a real Justice League movie. It sickens me that they're rebooting the Batman film series in 2017. Because they want a "Green Lantern friendly" Batman so they can go ahead with a Justice League movie. Hollywood can never just let a good thing go. I'm convinced that all other Batman films will pale in comparison to Nolan's epic trilogy.

Especially if they want a friendlier Batman...

THIS FILM GETS 3 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 & 2 (2012-2013)

*** S  P  O  I  L  E  R  S ***

"The last fight begins."

RATED- PG-13

RUN TIME- 76 MINS

WRITER(S)- BOB GOODMAN, BOB KANE AND FRANK MILLER

STARRING- PETER WELLER, ARIEL WINTER AND DAVID SHELBY

DIRECTOR- JAY OLIVIA

Synopsis taken from IMDb

Batman has not been seen for ten years. A new breed of criminal ravages Gotham City, forcing 55-year-old Bruce Wayne back into the cape and cowl. But, does he still have what it takes to fight crime in a new era?

STORY: Frank Miller's The Dark Knight returns was the first serious Batman book I read. Up until that point I read the comics as a kid growing up, but nothing captivated me like this one. From the go I knew that I was in for a serious, no BS Batman story and that's perfectly alright with me. This isn't a "Green Lantern friendly batman" or a kiddie cartoon Batman. This is Dark Batman. The good stuff.

Excerpt from Batman: The Dark Knight Returns:

And all the other old farts, they grunt and nod and grumble at each other.Swapping old jokes they've swapped a thousand times. Even fat beet-red "Penguin" chirps out a curse or two before bursting into tears.

Then they get talking. And if you got half a brain, you listen. 

They talk about amazing adventures, sounding like a bunch of retired car mechanics the whole time.

They talk about a Man of Steel. An Amazon Princess.

But they never talk about the mean one. The cruel one. The one who couldn't fly or bend steel in his bare hands. The one who scared the crap out of everybody and laughed at all of the rest of us for being the envious cowards we were.

No, they never talked about him. Say his name and watch Dibny's face sag so bad his jaw hits the bar. 

Not a man among them wants to hear about Batman.

Was he quietly assassinated? Or did he just decide we weren't worth the grief?

The question hangs in the air for a moment or two, then Jones springs for a round for everybody and himself.

Commissioner James Gordon is retiring and 70-years-old. Harvey Dent undergoes surgery to fix his disfigured face and is declared sane, but mysteriously goes into hiding after being released. With Dent missing and "The Mutants" taking over the city, Bruce is forced to be Batman again. The reaction to his comeback is mixed.

Batman has to take Dent down after finding out that Dent is still insane and a psychotic criminal. He faces "The Mutants" and their leader as well. After nearly dying he takes on a new protege. 13-year-old Carrie Kelley. Batman faces the Mutant leader a 2nd time and evens the odds, defeating him in front of all the other "Mutants".

Bruce Wayne once again becomes the Batman

ACTION: The action in this movie is intense and even brutal at points. Bruce Wayne is angry and out to hurt the corrupt. I remember a part of the book where he breaks a criminals leg with a nasty kick. That part is in the movie but not as violent.



ANIMATION: The animation in this movie is well done. It compliments Frank Miller's work but is done in a much smoother fashion. The recent animated movies to come from DC and Marvel have actually been spot-on with the artists and animation.



OVERALL: This movie isn't exact to the book but it's damn close. This is a good animated film to watch for every Batman fan. It's got all the good stuff in it and is rich with a good story about overcoming the odds and standing up for what's right, and never giving up.

THIS FILM GETS 3 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

"Justice returns...Vengeance returns...Redemption comes to Gotham"

RATED- PG-13

RUN TIME- 76 MINS

WRITER(S)- BOB GOODMAN, FRANK MILLER

STARRING- PETER WELLER, ARIEL WINTER AND MICHAEL EMERSON

Synopsis taken from IMDb

The Batman has returned after a 10-year absence. The Gotham authorities want to arrest him. An old foe wants to put a stop to him.

STORY: After being in a catatonic state in Arkham Asylum since Batman's retirement, the Joker is brought back by Batman's comeback. He goes on a talk show to tell his story, to show the sympathetic side of himself. Only it's never that easy with the Joker. He always has a sick and twisted plan up his sleeve.

The Joker gases everyone in the studio to death and makes an escape. The Joker has a mind control substance in the lipstick he wears and uses it brainwash a congressman into making a nuclear strike on the soviets. Batman then chases the Joker through a fair as Joker shoots and murders at least a dozen people. Batman and Joker have a showdown which ends in Batman being shot and stabbed a few times. Batman snaps Joker's neck and ends the madness once and for all before barely escaping the authorities.

Batman, Gordon and Carrie gather the Sons of Batman; all of "The Mutants" that jumped ship and follow Batman. Together they re-establish peace and yet the greatest challenges awaits. Yindel, the new police commissioner orders Superman to take Batman out. Yindel believes Batman has become too powerful and must be stopped. Superman and Batman fight in a brutal and bone crushing brawl that ultimately leaves Batman victorious, but dead from a heart attack. Alfred dies from a stroke and Wayne Manor self-destructs.

In the end Batman faked his death and is now residing underground with Carrie and with the Sons of Batman, who he has sworn to teach all of his tricks and abilities to. So his work will live on even if it isn't him doing it.

Batman and Superman face off in a superfight.

ACTION: The action in this movie is crazy good. The fight between Batman and Superman is epic, even if it is an animated movie. The violence in this one is also stepped up a notch with the Joker being in it.

ANIMATION: Same as the first film. Done well and smooth and clean.

OVERALL: This story is just as good as a 2 part animated movie as it is a graphic novel. They're almost verbatim with slight differences. This is the story of a man who gives it all to lose it all. And in the end, continue his legacy.

THIS FILM GETS 3 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5