Avengers: Age of Ultron (As spoiler free as I can make it)

     I saw this movie today. Yesterday morning my son and I watched this: https://youtu.be/AHPn5d7wRtk because obviously he is way too young to see the actual movie.

     Before I talk about the actual plot, let me just say Joss Whedon, I love you.  I have been a fan for a long time now.  Dollhouse, Firefly, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., you are the man. I understand you must move on from the MCU and I am going to miss you. I look forward to your next project. Thank you for the fun ride.

     It's actually sort of hard to review this movie because I don't want to spoil anything.  I will digress one more time to discuss the twins Pietro and Wanda Maximoff.  Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch. I think their superhero names are alluded to with visual clues more than once although I don't think they are ever actually said.  I like the rebooted storyline for them, but they will always be Magneto's children to me.  Scarlet Witch has always been my favorite Avenger.  I will admit her "Hex power" is the ultimate deus ex machina, but it is an awesome power.  I don't like later in comics where she becomes an actual witch like character.  Ever since the first Iron Man movie I have been waiting for her to be onscreen.  Her character was excellently portrayed.  For those of you not familiar with Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, they originally started off as villains of the X-Men where they were working with Magneto. It was revealed he is their father. The two then join the Avengers, then they find out their father is the true villain, and eventually join the X-Men.  Scarlet Witch though, she was just too cool when I was a kid.  I wanted to be her.  She was not as straight forward as Wonder Woman, who I also liked. She had some baggage.  Also, her and Vision have some interesting adventures in the comics.  It was hard not to giggle when she first sees him. I wonder if Elizabeth Olsen was aware of this and tried to convey it on screen.

     Second diversion, while I was watching this movie I had a few side thoughts.  I again realized why I like comic books and superheroes so much.  We all have our strengths, but we all have our secrets, or in other cases our weaknesses.  In particular I thought about Reggie Lewis.  There are of course, several other examples.  Stephen Hawking comes to mind as well. He is awe-inspiringly smart, but suffers from ALS.  Some of us have suffered losses so great that they are like millstones around our necks to us, but we keep moving. It is extremely hard to see Captain America on screen and not think of soldiers affected with PTSD or other afflictions.  Maybe we don't have green giants impervious to pain in us, but maybe we live with guilt over ways we have brought pain to others in the past.  The comic books touch upon this, but these new movies really bring it home to me. Superheros are just like us. They are people who have been through the fire, or carry secrets, but still do good.

     Disclaimer: I am not terribly familiar with the Ultron storyline or Ultimates storyline. I am going to try to keep this as focused just on the movie as I can. I have read Avengers and Nick Fury Man from S.H.I.E.L.D comics as well as watch Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  If I stray too far off course, please forgive me, and if I don't come close enough please also forgive me.

     Let me not keep you guys in suspense, I loved this movie.  I have read mixed reviews of this movie and went in with a negative outlook.  I have read reviews that rated this movie from okish to skip this movie.  I loved the banter, the action, the storyline, the costumes, the everything.  What I thought was lacking was the fact that there is a few cut scenes and you can tell where the scenes where cut.  It is almost distracting. There should have been more background given as to what happened then just "Avenger disappears, then is somewhere weird doing a strange thing, HEY look now he is back!"  There are some scenes that are definitely rushed and/or oddly edited.  It is not very distracting, but it is noticeable.  All in all though, the main plot progresses in a timely pace.  There are some surprises which is always nice.  There are some cameos of characters from other movies, but then oddly some probably key side characters are missing. Again, not distracting, just noticeable.

       Tony Stark wants to use technology to help improve the world around him.  Sometimes our actions however noble they seem can be quite detrimental.  Tony Stark inadvertently creates Ultron who quickly goes from a global peacekeeping system to "KILL ALL HUMANS". This is a familiar trope, but always entertaining.  There are shades of a division, an internal war almost, between the team, but they manage to fight together against Ultron.

     Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D has shown us that Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker who we saw in the mid credits scene of Captain America: The Winter Soldier has been experimenting on people.  Oddly two people volunteered, and survived his experiments. They are Russian twins Wanda and Pietro Maximoff.  As Maria Hill states "He is fast and she is weird."  They work with Ultron to defeat the superhero team.

     I am not sure what direction the MCU is headed in, but we see the Mind Stone, one of the Infinity Stones.  We saw the the Space Stone in Captain America and the first Avengers movie. The Reality Stone was featured in Thor:The Dark World. The Power Stone was seen in Guardians of the Galaxy.  We have not seen the Time Stone, or the Soul Stone yet..............or possibly have we? Are these a McGuffin or essential plot point?

     One more note, there are an insane amount of in jokes. If you are a comic reader, or watched the other movies, or the TV show, you will be rewarded for your efforts.  Some references were over the head, under the feet for me, but some I got.

     In a very fast paced movie filled with satisfying action sequences and witty fast paced banter as both sides seek to reach their goals.  The movie is incredible.  I can see why some won't like it, but I loved it and will watch it again as soon as it hits Netflix.  I deliberately left a lot of the plot out of this review because sometimes the internet is too spoilery.  I can tell you there are a few things you will be disappointed if I come right out and say.  I will not address the deaths that I heard about myself before seeing this movie because only one is sort of on screen, but I have frankly seen worse injuries in action movies. If you like comic books, witty banter, action movies, Guardians of the Galaxy or the X-men, I highly suggest this movie.  There are scenes of violence, as well as mild language so use caution with allowing young children to see this movie. 10 out of 10 stars.

   

Classic Movie Review: Witness for the Prosecution (1957) (No NaBloPoMo writing prompts on the weekends)

     I was born several decades too late.  It is not ok how upset I get about this fact sometimes.  Modern times confuse and astound me. I am like Seven of Nine trying to adapt to life on Voyager.

    This movie is one of my favorites for several reasons. First of all, I adore Agatha Christie, and the movie is based on one of her plays. A common mistake people make is that her mysteries are always predictable. Her books are not formulaic. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd  has the unreliable narrator, and then we have The Murder on the Orient Express where they all did it for example. The butler never did it, except for one mystery, but he wasn't really the butler.  Billy Wilder, one of the best directors of the twentieth century is at the helm for this courtroom drama.  The cast includes Tyrone Power, in his last full length movie, Marlene Dietrich, who does a fantastic call back to the sultry singer of her early movies, Norma Varden, who was delightful as Lady Beekman in the Marilyn Monroe comedy "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes",  and the husband and wife team of Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester. Ruta Lee, who is still alive, and Ian Wolfe play small but pivotal roles in the movie.

     I know many people feel that black and white movies are not as edgy as modern movies, but Billy Wilder was actually quite modern for the time. Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester's delightful verbal sparring make this movie work. The effort needs to put in by the viewer. They do not give away the secret to the punchline. You must listen to the between the lines dialog.  The same for the meaning behind Tyrone Power's real agenda. If you don't pay attention, you miss most of the story. For me, I like how Charles Laughton behaves in court. Really watch his acting.

     There is a delightful twist on a twist on a twist that ends the movie.  It really is a delightful courtroom drama and a terrific who-done-it.  I suggest this movie to anyone looking for something different. If you enjoy it, which I am sure you will, look for other Billy Wilder movies. You won't be disappointed.

The Hunt For Gollum Review. Another great fan film.

     Offical Website for the movie.

     The cast list: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1323925/

     You can watch the movie here: The Hunt for Gollum on YouTube

     This fan film serves as an unofficial prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I think it very nicely bridges The Hobbit to the Lord of the Rings, more so for those not familiar to the story. As someone who read the books as a teenager, this is a loving tribute to Tolkien.

     I do have to note that Adrian Webster who plays Aragorn bears an uncanny resemblance to Viggo Mortensen. His acting style is very similar to how Mortensen portrays Strider the Rider as well.

     This movie takes place before the events of the movies, and we see Gandalf and Aragorn discussing a particular piece of magical golden jewelry and a fallen hobbit who had it in is possession for some time.  Gandalf worries that Gollum may tell those who seek the ring about another hobbit who may have taken the ring from Gollum during a game of riddles some time ago. Aragorn agrees to search for Gollum. Along the way, he encounters friends and foes alike. Will his quest prevail, or will Sauron prevent him from achieving his goal?

     I know many took their children to see Peter Jackson's movies. Although there were many fight sequences not many of them were up close violence. There are a few scenes that may be a little violent for people who don't like violence or younger children.
   
     Besides Adrian Webster's striking resemblance to Viggo Mortensen, I really liked the make-up in this movie.  It was really well done. The orcs and elves look amazing.  

     For no other reason to see this movie, see it for the cinematography. This is a British movie and it was shot in North Wales, Epping Forest, and Hampstead Heath. I loved the scenery. What convinced me this was a fantasy story more than anything else was the surroundings.  Whoever scouted the locations, hats off to you. 

     All in all, this movie was great. I definitely suggest it. It is short, about 40 minutes. Whether you are familiar with the books or the movies, or both, you will enjoy this film.

     A blog reader suggested I watch this movie.  I love watching movies, whether they be fan films or studio releases. Please, if you have any suggestions/recommendations, let me know. You can reach me here on the blog by commenting, or here on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Google+.

Firefly Comics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7vS4z6ngQo

I really missed the boat on this show. I was pretty much a one fandom nerd while growing up. Well, a two fandom nerd. If it wasn't Doctor Who or Star Trek, I really didn't care. I did like Ewok comics and Batman reruns, but it was pretty one sided still.  I did not get actively excited for many things that did not have to do with Star Trek. I am very disappointed in myself now for this attitude because I missed out on some very cool shows, comics, movies, and books during this period.

I did not start watching Firefly until years after it was cancelled. A friend let me borrow the dvds of the show and movie. About two minutes into the first episode I was hooked.  I love anti-heros. Where would any genre be without them? Malcolm Reynolds is the ultimate anti-hero. He is a rogue space cowboy with a heart of tarnished silver. His patchwork crew fly threw hostile space evading both the law and cannibalistic rapists. The heart of the show is its B story, the Tam siblings and their run from the government. What secrets are trapped in the mind of River Tam? For that matter, what secrets does Shepherd Book hold? No man of God should be that knowledgeable about weapons.

Being a SAHM, most of my funds are nonexistent right now. I pretty much rely on the library and friends for entertainment. A friend let me borrow several Firefly comic books that helped whet my appetite.

I wanted to share some thoughts about the books and hopefully you all will enjoy them, too. If you read them, write a comment. Would love to hear what others thought.

Serenity:Those Left Behind

This very enjoyable story takes place after the television show, but before the movie. 

There are many cameos in this story. We see Badger who mentions Fanty and Mingo. We also see River Tam's pursuers The Hands of Blue  as well as Lawrence Dobson.  If you do not remember him by name, you will by sight. He might not recognize you though since he had his right eye shot out the last time we saw him. We also get our first look at The Operative.

The crew goes on one last mission before Inara and Book depart. Although I really enjoyed this story, I can't write too much about it without giving away the plot. This story bridges the show to the movie flawlessly.

Serenity:Better Days and Other Stories

This book was my favorite out of all three compilations.  

The book opens with Better Days.

Better days is a story that perfectly echoed the rhythm and dialog of the show. There were times when reading it that I wondered if this was perhaps and episode I had somehow missed. The artwork was easily the most realistic out of all the comic books. This is definitely a must read. The Serenity crew finally hits it big. Every character, even River discuss how they are going to spend their fortune.  We also learn which character is already living out their fantasy life.

There is plenty of character development in this story. It is a superbly crafted story. 

The next story is The Other Half.

This story is a fast paced action filled story. There is character development for River Tam. We learn how and why she became a full fledged member of the crew. River and Kaylee are my two favorite characters in Firefly so I may be partial to the story.

The third story is Downtime

I greatly enjoyed this story. This is the second story where the dialog seems lifted from the television show. There is more River Tam character development and she informs Book that she knows a secret of his.

This story shows literal downtime for the Serenity crew. They are between jobs and the ship is planetside.  If it were a show if would have been considered "filler" but it had a good pace and was very enjoyable.

The book ends with Float Out.

I often say being a nerd is it's own reward. I will definitely repeat that many times when discussing nerd things. This story is by the great Patton Oswalt. Patton Oswalt, I love you. No seriously. I love your humor, your standup. I love seeing you guest star on shows I love. I love that you are unabashedly a short nerd from a small town. If you think you are from a small town, let me tell you one day about Cumberland, RI. I read your book, I loved that, too. In a totally non-creepy way I would love to have go out for a beer or two and just chill for a few hours. We all have our heroes and Patton Oswalt is one of mine.

This story is about Wash. It is told mostly in flashbacks to what he did before being a pilot on Serenity.  It ends with a cameo from Zoe. It was a fun, enjoyable story crafted by someone who obviously was excited to write it. 

Ten stars. 

Serenity:The Shepherd's Tale

This story opens on Haven and begins where Shepherd Book's life ends. The story is told backwards, through a series of flashbacks. The story takes us to a time before the events of the show. If you wondered how Shepherd Book found religion in a bowl of chicken soup, the answer will surprise you. Did the peaceful man have a role in the war that shaped Mal? Can we ever be 100% certain what a person's motives are?

It is a story as refreshing as the glass of water the main character speaks poetically of in flashback including Kaylee.

 Normally I do not enjoy origin stories.  Sometimes mysterious characters are better that way. We don't have to unturn every stone. Prequels and backstories are almost obnoxiously popular right now. Patton Oswalt has a joke about the Star Wars prequels that ends with that he doesn't care where the things he loves comes from, he just loves the things he loves. This backstory, however; feels like a love letter from Joss Whedon to all of us.

Just a bit of criticism, not every character has to be abused. This trope is almost predictable now. Frankly, I thought the story could have stopped two pages before it did and be just as entertaining.

Serenity:Leaves on the Wind

To start with, there were these. I always get nervous reading bagged and boarded comics that are not my own.I feel like my hands are going to burn holes through the paper and the spines will spontaneously crack with every page turn.

This series takes place after Serenity: The Motion Picture.

Quick question, what was possibly the most unexpected death of a beloved character in a sci-fi movie based off a tv show? If you answered the surprise impalement of Wash after uttering "I am a leaf on the wind, watch me soar.", you are probably right. (I would say Spock, but we all knew what we were in for when he volunteered to go into a radiation filled room. This death was really out of nowhere.)
This series explores the aftermath of Wash's death on his family. We also see Zoe imprisoned unjustly. Will the Serenity crew go after her?

This series also explores what happened to the rest of the crew. We see Jayne has left Firefly to freelance. Inara and Mal's relationship has changed slightly since we last saw them. There is a new member of the space family as well.

We don't only see what happened to the heroes. My favorite villain returns. It was extremely satisfying to see Kaylee be assertive toward someone who was outlandishly creepy toward her in the past.  Will this be the last time we see them?  I am not sure what category The Operative falls into, but we also see how the events of Serenity affected him.

I have often wondered if there are other Browncoats. Besides us fans of course.  If there are other Browncoats, what would they be like? What about River Tam? Was she the only girl experimented on? What if Simon had not saved his little sister, what would she have become?

This was an extremely good series. The only not so positive thoughts I had was that the conversation style was not quite the same as the show/movie. It was definitely well written, it just lacked some of the magic.