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Captain America may lead the way for Marvel movies filmed in 3-D

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Now Brolin believes the movie will be solid, as an “absurdist Western” and he goes on to spin its improvement as a result of edits, re-edits, and delays. He also seemingly dismisses the fan bases worries because of all of this. Obviously, I still am not sold. Could be a serious dud here instead of a solid little hit loved by all fan boys and girls.

Probably put this up there on a shelf with Watchmen as a film full of potential, that Hollywood didn’t “get”, and could not creatively translate into something enjoyable and true-to-spirit in terms of source content onto the big screen.

I mean if Brolin, the man playing the title character, has to point out Hex as being a bit “absurd” then it may really be in trouble. And, oh yeah, if you are doing a movie based on a comic, never use the word “campy.” Ever. Fans will shutter and think if Joel Shumacher.

His argument, no matter how thoughtful, is sort of like someone saying, well, painting is not art or important because the commenter doesn’t value it enough to immerse themselves within that world to appreciate the artistic nuances of the norms of that form. And yes,  I think there are nuances of gaming that qualify it as art, through the experience of gaming. Sometimes I think that is the greatest threat to any art form. It takes more than just liking or disliking through certain self definitions  high or low art for it to be truly appreciated. To a degree it takes the knowledge of the participant and study to truly appreciate a piece of artistic expression.

In the case of Ebert’s opinion on gaming, I tend to take more stock in his commenters. And I do hesitate to make a full defense of gaming as art or an art form, because art can be so elusive to define and each piece, or game, need be judged on its own merits. And I think that, as one commenter suggests, is Ebert’s problem. He never really solidly adheres to a definition of art to define his argument. He bases a large part of it on subjective tastes. Which honestly, isn’t that how a lot of us define art any way, as it affects us through the prism of our experience. (And I know that opens a whole can of worms about the artist versus the audience, but hey).

Video games can never be art

AMC sets ‘Mad Men,’ ‘Rubicon’ premiere dates — The Live Feed | THR.

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The TMC film festival only increases my desire to live somewhere on the West Coast. I would so love to attend this (and get to see Bride of Frankenstein on the big screen? geekgasm).

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You know, I will see this no matter how good or bad. It’s how I roll for the MM. Though honestly, I didn’t know Mighty was a subversive take on Superman in comic book form originally (though the 80s short lived reboot was superb).

The answer, of course is yes, yes, and yes. By episode’s end of “Eleventh Hour”  I was cheering this new, somewhat young, somewhat still disoriented bow-tie wearing Doctor on as he saved the world from a crisis triggered by the escape of a multi-dimensional inmate through the crack in the plaster of a wall of a rather brash young girl. The Scottish reference was priceless in terms of  the former Doctor, when the new Doctor first met Amelia Pond (grown up Amy). The set up as a simple plaster crack actually being one in the fiberic of the universe and the montage of the Doctor eating were two other great introductory elements to this 11th Doctor. It is playful, but also takes something so every day and makes it something fascinating and threatening.

And Amy, as a new companion is perhaps the most firey and overtly sexual of the rebooted Doctor Who’s companions. This is immediately set up when the Doctor meets a grown up Amy, dressed as a kissing telegram deliverer in her short-short skirt police uniform. From there she treats the Doctor in a sometimes obstinant, sometimes playful manner. One wonders too how much of the themes of the innocent child that Zero remarks is still in Amy, and the Doctor’s tardiness (first 12 and then two in revisiting her) will play in the culmination of the new season, along with the fissures in the fabric of time and space.

Over-all, without going into rehashing the whole episode, it fits well within the spectrum of what we’ve seen done with the doctor over the past few years. Amy Pond, played by Karen Gillan, seems an interesting sidekick  full of potential. Matt Smith’s Doctor comes across as a soft mix between the brashness of David Tennant’s Doctor, and I will agree with some critics, as Tom Baker’s fourth Doctor with his love of jelly babies instead of fish sticks and custard. That’s saying a lot, especially since the two Doctors are the most recognizable for American viewers.

Over-all, and though I was very sad to see David Tennant go, I must say I do look forward to this newest incarnation of my favorite time lord.

Kick Ass is officially showing at a theater near you. Reviewers’ hype for this film, along with blogs, is positive it would seem. Of course I take all reviews with a grain of salt until I see something myself and am able to throw in my own two cents. Hopefully, I’ll get to see the movie myself this evening, with all the other fan boys and girls.

Looking ahead we only have 21 days until Iron Man 2 hits theaters. I may pee my spandex pants in anticipation for this one. Hero Complex, the LA Times’ entertainment/comics blog is dropping behind-the-scene tidbits of the film along with a countdown clock on a regular basis. I’m enjoying what I am reading there about Iron Man 2.

It is particularly intriguing to read director John Favreau’s approach for the second  installment of what is to be at least a trilogy of Iron Man films when confronted with the fact Marvel hopes to do an Avenger’s film with the title character between films 2 and 3. For one it means a long delay before the third film, and two it means Favreau will have to deal with any potential impact on the character in what is the most ambitious ensemble movie I can think of.  (And Marvel studios still has Thor and Captain America to debut before Iron Man as well) So, no cliffhangers for IM2. Favreau describes how he still tried to craft a couple of potential story points to propel his piece of the Marvel franchise forward when it returns.

On the Avengers’ front perhaps the most interesting news is the tentative commitment from Joss Whedon to direct the mega-summer blockbuster. The news is a gamble on a gamble. The man has done well continuing his Buffy The Vampire work in comics in recent years, along with the Doctor Horrible musical and comics in general, but lost ground with the big networks who dropped Firefly after season one and Doll House after season 2. He’s also been dismissive in the past when asked about directing The Avengers. Dicey.

On the plus side though, he has a huge fan base, shows genuine talent when left alone and given a chance (Buffy and Horrible). Serenity, the film ending to Firefly, was fantastic too. And really, I met Whedon at a convention. He’s a generally nice and pretty enthusiastic guy. So here is hoping The Avengers can truly assemble in a mind blowing, exceeds all expectations fashion.

The only recent potential bad news in terms of comic books to film news is Jonah Hex. It seems Warner Bros. is having a hell of a time delivering even a trailer on this film about a bedeviled and scarred gunslinger based on the DC Comics/Vertigo character. The cast looks solid enough with Josh Brolin as Hex. Of course the studio took a chance (in my opinion) with Jimmy Hayward, a Pixar animator turned director. And maybe that is where the trouble is. Or maybe it’s Warner Bros., who I personally feel are dubious at best when it comes to their comic book properties (they own DC).

As Marvel produces a monsoon of mostly successes, now backed by Disney as well, Waner Bros. gave us a mediocre Superman remake, a collapsed rumor of a Justice League film, and a promise of Green Lantern we can only hope is good. Oh, they also empaled Superman in the 80s and Batman in the 90s, only having resurrected the latter franchise with one hell of a director, actor, and script (it’s glowing star so full of promise). Oh, they also gave us Shaq as Steel. How could we forget?

Anyway, what seems to be going on with Hex, according to Mtv’s Splash Page, is recent reshoots after primary filming is complete, an addition of 12 pages to the script, and delays-delays-delays with that trailer for a film due out in June. Plus the studio is bringing in “special” advisors, supposedly.

Sigh.

This does not sound good at all in terms of the quality of the actual film. And it’s heartbreaking too, because honestly, DC Comics and Vertigo have always been a favorite of mine. But you got to respect quality, so Kick Ass.

Iron Man 2