Six Days Later

I guess proper blogging etiquette be damned. For those who don't keep regular tabs on most everything awesomely nerdy around the globe, this comes across as normal. For that remaining percentage, I would assume withdrawal symptoms take effect from lack of social networking and constantly existing within "the buzz". I'm different. Separating myself from that certain type of blogging allows me to take in more at one time rather than constantly trying to figure out multiple ways to say similar points. 


Other than that, at least from my limited perspective, the summer movie fest has certainly dimmed. Total Recall hits theatres next Friday, but apart from that, we're done with blockbusters. The 2012 summer season began with Marvel's The Avengers and damn well ended with The Dark Knight Rises with various other films to fill the gap. Some were good (Snow White and the Huntsman), some were comically satisfying (Madagascar 3, Brave), and some were flat out disappointing to at least bookworms (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter). I'm definitely leaving out several films mainly because I haven't seen them due to limited release (Moonrise Kingdom, Safety Not Guaranteed), but I can rest assured knowing when they release on DVD/Blu-ray that my green will be hitting the scene on those indie flicks. 


For you gamers out there, T-minus less than two months for Borderlands 2 and the f*cking awesome Ultimate Loot Chest edition I thoughtfully pre-ordered for myself. 18 September will be magnificent! 


Now, I'm very tired and will retire. 


Anxious for more? Engage yourself in item #67- pick up the graphic novel adaptation of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Thought the movie was good? Ha, guess again. 


Jonesy signing off. 

The Knight Rises

Let me begin this review by clearly stating this: 

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!

Now, shall we? 

Christopher Nolan definitely saved the best of his directing skills for last. This honestly goes without saying, but you have to give the man credit. The Dark Knight Rises along with Marvel's The Avengers lead the charge to include comic book movies for the Academy Awards. While most critics will thoroughly dissect the film trying to find every possible downside, it's their job to act as these pretentious douchebags in search of a quick buck. Other reviewers, such as the chaps over at IGN, understand the interior of comic book films and deliver a much detailed version of the review fans don't need, but deserve. 

I've been a loyal follower of Bob Kane's brainchild since I first heard Kevin Conroy's voice during the run of the animated Batman. No Batman film has passed through time without my knowing. And then......Christopher Nolan comes along and forever changes the way fans look at the Caped Crusader. While it's a disappointment to know Nolan's Batman won't be showing up in the Justice League of America movie, fans can rest assured knowing the Bats finally had a damn good run on the silver screen. 

Focus on this film was clearly centered around suspense. Those who dug a little deeper than most already knew the basic outline of events to transpire. Those who went further found leaked footage of certain fight scenes. Those who paid close attention at Bat School pretty much figured Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character was that wonder boy of sorts and Marion Cotillard's femme fatale was an old love interest of the Dark Knight. My jaw dropped when these were revealed on-screen. In one of those rare "Ho-ly shit" moments, Nolan delivered more than I expected. I pride myself on figuring out early the correlation between John Blake and Tim Drake. Moving back on point, the suspense leading up to Bats vs Bane led me to the confirmation of my one wish: Bane breaks the Bat. And.........hell yes. I, for one, was shocked at the level of enthusiasm my theatre shared at this moment: none. This was the rising action of the entire film and people were understandably shocked, but come on. This scene deserves an uproar of applause. This leads into my next point: Bane.

Die-hard fans of Heath Ledger's Joker (me) might find Tom Hardy's villainous portrayal of Bane rough around the edges at first, but I found myself getting used to the non-luchador, Venom-enhanced, South American master criminal. Bane's voice was particularly interesting as a study on villains. He spoke in what I call the traditional British villain accent. Refined, proper, intelligent, and sinister. Hearing this voice meant that you knew beyond a reasonable doubt this guy was a harbinger of "I'm f*cked". While Hardy wasn't Ledger-level performance, I abso-bloody-lutely loved his acting and Nolan's idea for a realistic Bane. Even if that idea failed, it would've still been better than the last on-screen Bane we saw. Talk about laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame. 

Christian Bale has never once made me doubt his clout for Batman. His last ride soared past his performance in The Dark Knight. Here's a man, eight years after taking the fall for Harvey Dent's death, looking for nothing except a way out from his internal torment. Now equipped with a cane and grey streaks, Bruce Wayne falls into hermitage while Gotham finally enjoys peace-time. However, you can't spell Gotham with the B-A-T-M-A-N. Bale really injected the rise and fall feel for the character across the span of three films. When the Batman does fall, Bale uses that idea to re-invigorate the sense of purpose into a fallen icon. As always, Bale meshes with his supporting cast perfectly. With Alfred, we see this father-son relation at the breaking point. Michael Caine could not have been more convincing especially at the end. Alfred's wish to see Bruce married and with children provided Caine with the perfect level of emotion to give the relationship meaning. This is a man who's seen the birth, upbringing, rise, and fall of an orphaned boy. Nolan made this bond akin to a father worrying about losing a son on a battlefield. 

Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman shine in their respective roles again as Commissioner Gordon and Lucius Fox even though screen-time for the characters was a little lax in the beginning. I found it interesting to see Gordon bed-ridden while recovering from his injuries. Had he been younger, there might've been the escape attempt to jump back into the fray. One supporting role that surprised me was Matthew Modine as deputy commissioner Peter Foley. The last film I saw with this guy in it was Memphis Belle, so needless to say, I didn't recognize him. His mirror opposite of Gordon was refreshing to see after the Dent and Gordon team-up where both were on the same side until the Two-Face bit. 

Now, of all the supporting roles, I've saved my favorite for last: Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle. Move over, Michelle Pfeiffer. You and Halle Berry can keep on walking. Of course, Hathaway's not the carbon copy of the comic book Catwoman, but damn does she convince me otherwise. She's smart, sexy, agile, and not afraid to lay to the hurt on apple-stealing thugs. I had my doubts months ago. Thanks to her performance and Nolan's directing/writing ability, I forgot the meaning of 'doubt' once I saw her in the Catwoman persona. It was nice not to hear the name 'Catwoman', but rather 'cat burglar' instead. Some things just need not be said to make a point. 

I won't go hellishly deep into the plot because that would be terrible manners. What I will say is this film racks up to my top tier in the "Get the f*ck off the couch and see this damn movie right now" rating. Nolan's departure from the Batman legacy may be over, but will never go forgotten. His contributions to a well-established lore now shine in the kingdom of Nerd-dom forever. A series seven years in the making has successfully ended in a fashion thoroughly pleasing to any fan of the Bats. 

"It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me"

Remember that when thinking what DO you do with a BA in English. There's always #3- inject Batman into any Sherlock Holmes story and conduct a battle of the detectives. 

Jonesy signing off

A New Feel

That last title was just too damn long to remember. "The Late Duck" sounds more catchy and makes sense in three ways: I'm usually always late with reviews, late with catching up on pop culture, and most often posting late into the evening. I will, however, continue with the whole "What DO you do with a BA in English" just for continuity's sake. 


So, what's new in the world? Honestly.....more than I can list right now. SDCC launched into full swing and, regrettably, I'm stuck in north Texas. Marvel stepped up to bat with sequels and some change. Plans for the Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, hell, even Ant Man have been shined on a tad more. Of course, the Mandarin has been slotted for Stark's baddy this time around, but what of Cap? Dun, dun, duuuuunnnnnnn......the Winter Soldier. There was just no way in hell Bucky was offed in The First Avenger. He's found by Soviets and bada-bing: Winter Soldier. Makes sense, I want to see it, how about you?


This caught me pleasantly off-guard: Deadpool gets the video game treatment. Hells to the hell yes! I've watched the trailer multiple times now and can't find a damn wrong thing about it. I mean, come on! The Merc with a Mouth at your fingertips! As if MvC 3 wasn't enough. There has to be a life-bar special move. 

Enjoy!

And if that's not enough to scratch your Deadpool itch, Nolan North voices the lovable pyschotic Weapon XI. I, for one, is happy. 

Alright, kiddies, daddy's bedtime approaches. Stay tuned for more info on everything you know and love, but don't have enough time to stay on top. Might just find my review of Asus' Nexus 7 which is a might bit impressive from what I've seen. Quad-core processor running on Android 4.1 Jellybean, 16GB hard drive with 1GB memory all on a brightly lit 7" LCD screen. Pretty lightning fast with internet browsing. $246 at your local Sam's Club. Pick yours up today so you can find out what else you can do with a BA in English such as #288- Write a poem about Deadpool and recite at your next open mic. 

Until next time, late ducks. 

Jonesy signing off. 

The Inevitable Review

How many times in the past few weeks have I been promising a review on Brave? Far too many. Fortunately, my days of sleeping in bloody late have drawn to a minimum. As much as it pleases me to introduce with no more ado my review on Disney and Pixar's Brave. 


I've seen every Pixar film since Toy Story back in the day and every subsequent release with the exception of Cars II because we all know what's the damn point? First bit to catch my attention was the brilliant short La Luna. Now, we've all seen the little shorts before most Pixar films, but this was everything clever, smart, heartfelt, and genuinely inspiring. Who would've thought? Moon sweepers. Abso-bloody-lutely genius. 


On the whole of Brave as another Pixar installment, I have to say there wasn't anything groundbreaking. The traditional Disney feel of adventure, excitement, heroism, family, and friends split the arrow right down the middle. I found myself laughing, taking the film seriously, and wanting that good old fashion Disney ending of happily ever after. 


Without spoiling the film (moving into the plot now), Brave focuses on a rebellious young princess named Merida who wants nothing more than to be free of her overbearing mother. Preferring the adventurous lifestyle involving nothing more than her trusty bow and arrow, Merida goes about a rather brash action which leads into the perilous conundrum that reshapes her entire mindset about family and fate. 


The acting, as a whole, was decent. Film buffs will pick out quite a few notable voices like Craig Ferguson, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Kevin McKidd, Julie Walters, and Robbie Coltrane. John Ratzenberger has an appearance as Gordon, the guard. John's usually always been in Pixar's films like Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc, and so on. 


While Brave's merits definitely outweigh the cons, I would've been fine waiting for this on Blu Ray/DVD. As this comes as a public service and since I've been wanting to see the film, my rating still racks up to the third quarter "Think about it for a bit, then go see the movie". Make your educated decision and enjoy whichever route taken. 


Speaking of routes, why not take this one: #77- Read the Grimm Fairy Tales and ruin those childhood viewings of several memorable bedtime stories. 


Until next time, dasvidania, comrades. 


Yeah, yeah, it's not the proper Cyrillic. Boo-hoo. 

The Human Spider

Well, now, I feel sheepish. Here I've been with a review of The Amazing Spiderman since Tuesday and it's now the week's end that I finally get around. Promptness, obviously, remains my number one priority lesson to learn. How can I possibly make it up to the unknown fans? 


Review.


Right, then. What has Marc Webb taken from cinema's emergency ward and successfully rehabilitated? Hint: not Lindsay Lohan. If you guessed Spiderman, congratulations, you pay attention to worthy matters. As of 3 July, your friendly neighborhood Spiderman webcrawled/swung back into the hearts and minds of nerds the world over. 


Starring Andrew Garfield (The Social Network; The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus), Emma Stone (Superbad, Easy A, Zombieland), and Rhys Ifans (Pirate Radio, The Replacements, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 1), this ensemble cast with supporting roles from Martin Sheen and Sally Field (Uncle Ben and Aunt May, respectively) brought the webslinger's adventures back to life. 


In a new paragraph, let's go more into details on the actors, their characters, and the script. Andrew Garfield picks up Spidey's mantle five years after Tobey Macguire swung out of the costume. His acting gave that sense of believability with Peter Parker back in the high school nerd persona. He brings the perfect combination required for Parker and Spiderman that Macguire just didn't hit. Garfield brought comedy, severity, romance, and concern over his character's intentions. 


Emma Stone worked her magic yet again on the screen. As a natural blonde, she fit like a glove as Gwen Stacy. While seeing Bryce Dallas Howard as Gwen was positively gorgeous, Stone added into the closest adaptation of the comics we've seen so far. Her history of comic relief mixed with genuine concern and dedication to a role played well to draw in more of the audience into seeing her as Parker's real love interest. 


Rhys Ifans as Dr. Curt Connors a.k.a. "The Lizard" was phenomenal. Granted, Willem Dafoe made an excellent villain as Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, I really had the feel of Ifans as the man-with-good-intentions-gone-insane after his first brush with power. Hell, I even preferred Webb's Lizard iteration. Why? This added to the humanity of the villain. What good has a villain when you can't see what he/she was before or could be again? 


As far as the script goes with just the above three actors, I could not have been happier. "You found my weakness! It's small knives!" Hilarious, catchy, and exactly something Parker/Spiderman would pull off. One high and low: Stan Lee's cameo and no Bruce Campbell cameo. Hell yes to the first and damn it to the second. Just have to hail to both kings, you know? 


Without revealing too much, the general premise laid out more backstory than Raimi could imagine doing. A glimpse of Parker's parents, what his father was working on, and the importance he played with Connors and Oscorp. Webb can surely hash out more elaboration in the future installments which I'm guessing will become a trilogy or possibly more. Whether my predictions are aces or I'm just pissing in the wind, I'm on board the Spidey Express. 


I give The Amazing Spiderman a traditional score of 8/10, 4/5, and my personal JCRS score of "Get off the f*cking couch and see this movie!" This I will say as a negative: the film felt rushed. Production value, I understand, just the belief that more could have been included if more running time was given. Oh, and one more thing. That post-credits scene........w.......t........f? Norman Osborn? Otto Octavius? Quentin Beck? Possibly the first, not likely on the other two. But, damn. Wouldn't it be awesome to start seeing some of the original villains like Vulture or Mysterio? Maybe Scorpion or Rhino? Start sending those letters, boys and girls! 


Couple more things:


1) Saw the one, the only......Smash Mouth live in Flower Mound last night at Bakersfield Park. Once I start downloading the vids, I'll work some into future posts. And yes, they were f*cking legen-wait for it............................................................................................................-DARY!!!!!! 


2) The collector's edition for Assassin's Creed III is officially announced for North America retailing at around $100-120 which includes a nine inch statue of Connor, Revolutionary War flag, Assassin logo belt buckle, and additional DLC. Pre-order at your local Gamestop where it's always power to the players. 


3) Watch The Warriors now, please. It's just too good a movie to pass up your entire life. 


And, most importantly, that ever-important question of what DO you do with a BA in English? #279- Leave your summer semester research paper until the last minute because you're damn tired from having to wake up early every morning, rush to class, then read/write until dawn only to rinse/repeat. 


I have been watching Chuck, though, so I can't really complain. 


Jonesy signing off.