Let's See What I Can Do

After 5 plus years I finally remembered the login info for this blog. I attempted to start writing a semi regular blog back in 2011 and it is now 2017. Wow. Talk about a hiatus. When I first started this blog I was focused on reviewing Smallville and any other TV show, movie, or book I had an interest in. If I can I'd like to get that back on track. I've recently started rewatching Smallville again from the beginning and I'm currently up to episode 3 of season 1, Hothead, which I had reviewed on here previously. Hopefully now I can try and get back to it.

The superhero movie, TV, and even comic book landscape has changed drastically since I last blogged on here though. We now live in a time with multiple superhero TV shows and countless films. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has blown up in recent years with films every year. The last time I blogged on here in early 2012 we were still waiting for the Avengers. Now we're waiting for Avengers 3 & 4. Not to mention Marvel's various TV shows such as Daredevil or the upcoming Punisher.

As for DC? Green Lantern did not work out for them, Man of Steel did. While the critical reception was mixed it launched us into the DCEU and I can now say I have seen a great Wonder Woman movie (maybe I'll review that). Justice League of course releases this November so I'm definitely looking forward to that!

We also now have the DC CW shows. Starting with Arrow in 2012 the CW brought back DC to their network in a big way. Along with The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, and now Black Lightning, they have given fans things we could never have imagined in the days of Smallville. DC also has separate shows such as FOX's Gotham and the upcoming Titans and Krypton. It's a great time to be a comic fan. Gotham actually is turning out to be Batman's Smallville. It's to bad we can't get Superman to show up.

Hopefully I can get things up and running on here again.

The Dark Knight Rises Trailer

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/07/18/the-dark-knight-rises-trailer-video/

Green Lantern Review

In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night

DC Entertainment's try at Iron Man success and fails with critics and audiences but its actually one of the better superhero movies there is.

I have now seen Martin Campbell's Green Lantern twice and I love it more each time. Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan and Blake Lively as Carol Ferris make the whole movie enjoyable. Not the most sophisticated superhero film but its definitely one of the funnest. The movie gets a lot of things right, but there are a few things that aren't very good.
The first thing that I didn't like was the length of the movie. Like another of my favorite superhero movies (FF: Rise of the Silver Surfer) it suffers because of the small amount of time it has to tell it's story. We are never given Sinestro's motivations for instance, and we don't get to see how Hector, Hal and Carol know each other so well.
For the most part though, its a fun adventure that leaves great possibilities for a sequel. I loved Reynold's performance as Hal/GL, he was spot on and brought a lot of charisma to the role. The finished effects looked great On Hal and Sinestro but Kilowog and Tomar-Re could have used more time. Reynolds completely sells Hal's insecurities and fears. Something I was pleasantly surprised by was Blake Lively as Carol. Not only is she stunningly beautiful but she is also the most likable comic book girlfriend yet. She topped Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts and Natalie Portman's Jane Foster. Blake was looking super sexy in this movie and her chemistry with Ryan was great.
The action sequences are awesome, I loved the training scene on Oa and Hal's final battle with Parallex had me hooked until the end. Hector was kind of a weak villain after Loki in Thor and Sebastian Shaw in X-Men: FC but he serves his purpose. I feel that the setup at the end with Sinestro will make the second film amazing I also loved the joke about superheroes secret identities and pretty much any scene between Blake and Ryan.
Definitely undeserving of the 26% Rotten Tomatoes score and the fanboy hatred, Green Lantern is a fun comic book film that isn't amazing like The Dark Knight or X-Men: FC, but it is a good one that rises above overrated ones like Spider-Man, X2, and Tim Burton's Batman.

Smallville Season 10, Episodes 20: Prophecy

PROPHECY

This was a strange choice for the penultimate episode of a ten season series. I loved certain aspects of the episode while some I thought were strange. I would have preferred if we didn't have to go through this 'Lois getting Clark's powers' episode. I hated when it happened with Lana and while this wasn't as bad it was still annoying. Lois shows why she is incompetent as a hero in this episode, only an idiot would have fallen for Toyman's idiotic plan. Why?! Why did Lois stupidly allow him to control her to save Clark?! If he can control her than he can either do it anyway or just send her to do it (which is what he does!). Oh Lois.... Otherwise this was an okay episode, but not for the penultimate one. I loved the League of Doom! Captain Cold, Solomon Grundy, Dark Archer, Black Manta! this episode hinted at a larger villain population that I wish could be explored further. Stargirl's appearance, while unnecessary was a welcome one for me because of my love of the character and Britt Irvin's portrayal. Spinoff please CW! My favorite aspect of the episode was Kara and Oliver's story. The bow of Orion was a neat idea taken from the best of Jack Kirby mythology, but I wanted it explored in more depth. I still loved the scenes though. Justin Hartley and Laura Vandervoort had great chemistry. Plus the beautiful Laura is always a welcome sight! Good episode overall, just bad timing.

P

Smallville Season 10, Episodes 19: Dominion

DOMINION

Kneel before Zod indeed! This episode marked the return of Callum Blue as Zod of Krypton and a welcome return it was! So Slade is released from the Phantom Zone and Clark attempts to find out how. Oliver tags along much to Clark's dismay and they are reunited with none other than Zod. I applaud Smallville for doing what I hoped would happen ever since clone Zod's appearance in season 9. The Zod that Clark and Oliver encounter is both Zods (clone and the phantom from season 5) in one. Which means he has twice the hate for Kal-El! Callum Blue does an amazing job of portraying this new and improved Zod (who was apparently sent to the Phantom Zone by the Kandorians). His manipulation of Oliver is chillingly good but Clark and Ollie have other plans. The reveal at the end was obvious but well played. I loved the 300-esque battle between Clark and Ollie and the whole barbaric look of the Zone. Needless to say Clark and Ollie escape thanks to Lois' outside intervention. Great episode that wrapped up Zod's story quite nicely.

Smallville Season 10, Episodes 18: Booster

I haven't posted a review in a while mostly because I've been lazy. Smallville ended its record 10 year run last Friday with an emotional finale that ended with Clark becoming the Man of Steel. I enjoyed it and even shed a few tears, but more about that later in my Finale review. For now here are my thoughts on the Geoff Johns penned episode Booster as well as Dominion and the much debated Prophecy.

BOOSTER

Booster was one of my favorite episodes mostly because for a DC fanboy like me seeing Booster Gold and Blue Beetle on screen was amazing. Eric Marstoff was spot on as the self-loving Michael Jon Carter who came from the future to try and take Superman's place as the hero of Metropolis. The episode also featured some entertaining moments with Jaimie Reyes (Blue Beetle) who struggled with his social awkwardness as well as the Blue Beetle scarab. I absolutely loved the Clark phone booth moment! Moments like that make me love Smallville even more. Booster's attempts to get an interview with Lois were funny and I loved his Booster girls. Cat Grant was also a welcome presence and her jealousy of Lois boiled to the surface again. The ending talk between Clark and Booster was nice and it was great to see Booster become Jaimie's mentor and Role model.

Smallville Season 10, Episode 17: Kent

Finally Smallville is back from its super long hiatus! While I haven't gotten back to my season 1 rewatch yet (because of a show called Dexter) I have decided to begin my season 10 reviews as they air. With only six episodes left Smallville delves into the alternate universe with Ultraman/Clark Luthor transporting himself to earth 1.

KENT

Its so nice to get back into the swing of things and this episode delivers a great insight into Clark's relationship with his father Jonathan Kent. The last time we saw Jonathan was in Clark's in-between-death-and-life vision during Lazarus. This time however it isn't the same Jonathan Kent that we know and love. This Jonathan has been screwed over by life and the meteor shower in particular. The scenes between this bitter Jonathan and Clark (who is sent to earth 2 by Clark Luthor) are the best parts of the episode. Clark looks at this man with longing for the father he lost while earth 2 Jonathan sees the man responsible for part of his misery (the other being Oliver Queen). There scenes remind us of how important Jonathan was in Clark's life and how much we (and Clark) miss him. The rest of the episode deals with Lois, Tess and Dr. Hamilton's attempts to send Clark Luthor home and get real Clark back. The stuff with CL and Tess was interesting. I've often wondered since the season started whether Tess had feelings for Clark or not and this confirmed that she did.

Final Thoughts: Loved this episode but I am looking forward to next weeks Booster even more!