Quicksilver... The Weird Movie Situation - #Marvel #Comics #Movies

Quicksilver in both the Marvel and Fox worlds... Yeah I know... 

 Ok, so I have to say that when I was a kid, one of my favorite characters in the comics was Quicksilver... Well I am gonna say that he was probably in my top 5, I mean that guy can really run! 

With that said, through out the years, I have found that I have enjoyed every iterations of him both in written form as well as in TV form, but when it came to the movie form for this character, Marvel and Fox did something that just pissed me off! 

Now hey, I get it, when it comes to the seeming feud between Marvel and Fox, they do seem to be acting like a bunch of toddlers when one takes their, 'binki' away... I mean it is not like instead of this ridiculous feud they have going on, they could just work together! I mean it's cool, you guys want to destroy iconic franchises like, 'Fantasic Four' for your idiotic feud, I get it... But the whole Quicksilver thing... I mean come on, really?  

This feud between Marvel & Fox... yeah I know... They are going to destroy some amazing franchises if they keep up with it!

Now what I mean by this is the fact Quicksilver appears in both Fox's MCU, and Marvel's MCU, both as different actors, etc... Way to destroy a character guys! 

What I mean by this is that in X-Men: Days Of Future Past (2014) Quicksilver is played by: Evan Peters (The Lazarus Effect), and in Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015) Quicksilver is played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Godzilla), both apparently having appeared in the same movie, Kick-Ass (2010) and Marvel ends up killing Taylor-Johnson's version of the character! 

All I am saying is that if these two production companies could kiss and make up, they could make a mutual MCU that would literally be epic! 

For more information on these roles, please check out these clips from Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015) and X-Men: Days Of Future Past (2014):

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Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (2014) - Movie Review

The end of the world may have occurred... But it doesn't mean that Men & Apes will be happy with each other!

When Mark Wahlberg's remake of the original Charlton Heston (Soylent Green) first came out... I have to say that I was fairly unimpressed with the way the movie ended up working out... I mean I was fairly certain about what they had intended to do with it... But... Just seriously unimpressed!

But when James Franco (Spider-Man) released, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2012)... Forget about it! This movie was impressive for a bunch of reasons that I will go in to in a later post... But as for: Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (2014)...


Written by: Mark Bomback (Total Recall), Rick Jaffa (The Relic), Amanda Silver (The Hand That Rocked The Cradle) & Directed by: Matt Reeves (Let Me In). Starring: Andy Serkis (The Prestige), Jason Clarke (Lawless), Gary Oldman (Bram Stokers: Dracula) & Keri Russell (The Americans).

The movie poster for: Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (2014)!

"Apes not kill apes."

- Koba (A quote from: Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes)

This movie tells the story of how a decade after a pandemic has destroyed most of mankind, the survivors of both mankind and Apes are living in their own separate colonies in peace (because they mostly don't know how close they actually are to each other...)

Ape may not kill Ape, but Ape may soon kill man...

But when the humans start working on powering up their colony, they decide to use an old hydro-electric power plant that happens to be in Ape territory... And when the two races discover each other, it will take the best males of both species to come together and work things out, before they end up in a genocidal war that will wipe out the last hope of intelligence on the planet!

In the end... This movie is just awesome, and if you are in to these types of films, then check this one out... It is well worth it!

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Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014) - Movie Review

Official Score = 4 Devils

So far I have to say that I am pretty impressed with what Marvel has been doing in it's continuous creation of mega-box office smash hits from the comics that helped bring Marvel in to the world of popularity!

Let's take, The Avengers (2012), besides the fact that this movie is the culmination of a lot of the truly fantastic Marvel Super Hero franchises that have come out in the new millennium, (including: Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor & Captain America,) this movie has helped catapult these stars and their respective independent movie series in to the stratosphere!

And you know what? Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014) is another ultra successful notch in Marvel's prolific collection of mega hits!

The movie poster for: Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014).

Written by: Nicole Perlman (Thor), James Gunn (Dawn Of The Dead) & Directed by: James Gunn. Starring: Chris Pratt (Jurassic World), Zoe Saldana (Star Trek), Dave Bautista (Riddick), Vin Diesel (The Last Witch Hunter), Bradley Cooper (American Sniper), Michael Rooker (Slither), Karen Gillan (Doctor Who), Glenn Close (Mars Attacks!).

"Well he don't know talkin' good like me and you, so his vocabulistics is limited to "I" and "am" and "Groot," exclusively in that order."

- Rocket Raccoon (A quote from: Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014))

Now this awesome tale, tells the story of how an intergalactic thief, (and the only human traveling in outer space), Peter Quill (Chris Pratt steals a rare precious orb for a privateer who intends to sell it... The only thing is that, 'Ronan: The Accuser' (Lee Pace), who also happens to be working for a secret benefactor, (who has a dark desire to acquire it,) also is trying to get it as well!

During this time, Peter ends up being imprisoned with, 'Rocket Raccoon' (Bradley Cooper), Groot (Vin Diesel), (Both of whom had helped get Peter arrested on Nova Prime,) Gamora (Zoe Saldana) & Drax: The Destroyer (Dave Bautista)...  Initially they escape with the intention of selling the orb.

The Guardians Of The Galaxy... Their first mission... Escape from prison!

But when they find out what the orb is, and with the impending danger to the Nova Empire, they make themselves 'The Guardians Of The Galaxy', and decide to deliver the orb to the heart of the Nova Empire, and stop Ronan: The Accuser before he can deliver it to his master!

Now I will be honest and say that when I first heard of this movie I had not held out much hope for it... Don't get me wrong, I knew it would be good, I just didn't know how good! I mean everything about this movie was so well done, that I can totally see why this became one of the highest grossing movies of 2014!

Iron Man And Captain America: Heroes United (2014) - Movie Review

Official Score = 1 1/2 Devils 

At this point, who hasn't heard of, 'The Avengers'... I mean, 'Iron Man', 'Captain America', 'Hulk', 'Thor' and the rest at this point seem to be the hot ticket in movies these days! And the actors and actresses that play  them have become some of the most famous actors and actresses on the planet! But there is one side to the world of, 'The Avengers', that generally tends to be over looked, but is a shame that it is... That being the animated side!

The truth is, is I could give you a lot of great reasons why the animated version is so great... The reason why they are so great is the fact that how it is all put together, the voice over work, as well as the technical side in bringing the characters to life, as well as the story line is in my opinion is pretty close to being as good as the live action movies (that is if you are like me and are a fan of animation...)

The problem is, is that where as most of these types of animated movies are generally pretty fun... Iron Man And Captain America: Heroes United (2014)... Sadly is not one oft he better of the series...

Definitely not one of the better of the series...

Starring: Adrian Pasdar (Heroes), Roger Craig Smith (Sonic Boom), Fred Tatasciore (Ultimate Spider-Man), David Kaye (X-Men: Evolution), Clancy Brown (Highlander) & Liam O'Brien (Star Wars Rebels).

Now the truth is, is this story is pretty fun... You see in this story, Hydra leader, 'Red Skull' (Liam O'Brien) has hatched a plan along with his Hydra henchmen and, 'Task Master' (Clancy Brown) to kidnap Captain America (Roger Craig Smith) and to steal technology from Iron Man/Tony Stark (Adrian Pasdar), in an effort to build a race of super soldiers that are only loyal to Red Skull!

Captain America & Iron Man in an adventure all their own!

But after Captain America is kidnapped, it will be up to Iron Man (with some help from the, 'Hulk' (Fred Tatasciore)), to not just rescue Captain America, but to get the three of them working to stop Hydra and the Red Skull as well as Task Master before the bad guys can take over the world!

No... The story is not the problem... Is it the talent? No of course not!

You see just about everyone in this movie has been doing these roles for years, and brought the same level of brilliance to this movie that they have brought to the, 'Avengers' cartoons that they have been playing for years!

No what it is... It is the animation... I don't know why they decided to change the animation for the, 'Heroes United' series, but it sucks and is horribly distracting!

In the end though, if you can get past the bad animation... Well this movie is pretty well worth it then... Other wise, this movie may not be for you!

Airplane Vs. Volcano (2014) - Movie Review

Official Score = 2 1/2 Devils

Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures)... I gotta say that I am a huge fan of his work! More so  then his mainstream work (I am a fan of his time as, 'Superman') I have to say that I have become a huge fan of his work in the B Movie world! I mean one for one, rather it be Futuresport (1998) or even Post Impact (2004), this guys B Movie work just rocks!

And one movie of his that I saw recently, that is the absolute definition of a true, 'Awesome B Movie', that was just a total blast, that followed along the ever popular cheesy 'Vs' concept was the movie, Airplane Vs. Volcano (2014)!

A modern B movie that just rocks!

Written & Directed by: James Kondelik (Age Of Tomorrow) & Jon Kondelik (Rise Of The Zombies). Starring: Dean Cain, Robin Givens (Boomerang), Tamara Goodwin (In The Cage), Matt Mercer (Madison County), Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (Sublime), Morgan West (Dead Souls) & Mike Jerome Putnam (7500).

This movie tells the story of how a once believed to be dormant volcano erupts, it ends up doing such a huge eruption that in the end it creates a whole new island in the Hawaiian Island chain... The problem with that though, is that a passenger jet ends up getting caught up in this maelstrom as the volcano continues to prepare for an eruption that is truly epic!

And to make matters worse, the pilot ended up putting the autopilot on in such a way that it can't easily be released, as well as the fact that the commander of an Army base on one of the nearby islands won't lift a finger to help them, as well as the fact that there is a German guy that is about go psychotic on board the passenger plane!

Things are tense on a passenger jet that is trapped in a ring of erupting volcanoes... But when a nearly psychotic passenger finally makes his intentions felt... Well things get interesting!

The good news is that there is a pilot by the name of, 'Rick Pierce' (Dean Cain), whom along with a genius, 'Landon Todd' (Matt Mercer) will not only fly the plane, but will be able to contact the Army base and start getting support from Specialist Tully (Morgan West)... And it will be up to these guys to get the passengers off of the plane safe and sound, before the volcano swallows the plane!

In the end... This movie is a, 'B' Movie... And where as if you are not a fan of this type of movie, you may like it... But probably not... But if you are a fan of this type of movie... Check it out, you might like it!

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) - Movie Review

Official Score = 4 Devils

Most people born before the 90s I imagine will remember Marvel not just for the movies that they have produced in the new millennium, but also for the amazing comics that they produced for decades! But at this point I suspect that more so then the comics that Marvel's movies are based on, these days people generally tend to associate Marvel with the action packed epic movies that are based on their comics!

A couple of examples of these are: X-Men (2000), a movie that was based on one of Marvel's most famous comic book series of the same name! Another examples being, The Avengers (2012) and all of it's individual movies that are based on the characters that make up the, 'Avengers'!

One such movie I just recently saw, and you know what? There is a movie that I just recently saw, that I found to be a breath of fresh air from it's sort of stale first entry... That movie being: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)!

An amazing action packed fun movie!

Joe Russo (Animal Practice). Starring: Chris Evans (Fantastic Four), Scarlett Johansson (Lucy), Sebastian Stan (Black Swan), Robert Redford (All The President's Men), Samuel L. Jackson (Django Unchained), Anthony Mackie (Reel Steel), Colbie Smulders (The Lego Movie) & Haley Atwell (The Sweeney).

Now this movie in my opinion is one of the few movies that I would say is not only better then the first movie, but is actually significantly better then the first one!

You see, in the first movie, it was essentially a small handful of men, with one suped up soldier going up against an entire army that is not only vastly superior physically, but is also vastly superior technological... Add in an element of fascism that the small squad is fighting against, and you get just about every bum Science Fiction movie to come out in the new millennium!

Captain America: The First Avenger... Kinda bland... Captain America: The Winter Soldier... Vastly superior!

As for the second one, well... There is some awesome special effects (to be expected from Marvel movies...) Some great talent (including seeing Scarlett Johansson reprising her role as, 'Black Widow' in this movie...) And the story... Dare I say it? AMAZING!

You see, this movie takes place after the, 'Battle Of New York' that took place in, The Avengers, during this time, Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), has gone to work for Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) at S.H.I.E.L.D...

Now trying to face a new world using his old fashion ideas is proving not to be particularly easy, as he is learning to not only fit in to S.H.I.E.L.D., he also has to learn to fit in to a world that no longer believes in the same rules and morals that he does...

A frustrated Steve Rogers/Captain America in the modern world, ends up going to a museum that has an exhibit dedicated to him and his crew of the 1940s, and the few relics from that era that are still around...

But things quickly change, when Nick Fury, whom after warning him not to trust anyone, ends up being mysteriously assassinated by some one that is connected to Captain America in a way that will effect him very deeply... During this time, S.H.I.E.L.D. is being taken over by Captain America's old enemies, Hydra!

Well now that Captain America is no longer trusting anyone, and being branded a traitor by S.H.I.E.L.D., it will be up to him, a friend of his, and Black Widow to stop Hydra, and the threat it is creating, before they can put their nefarious plans in to action and start thinning out the human race... And to do this, Captain America may end up facing against some one from his past that he never thought he would see again!

Captain America is about to have a battle that he won't ever forget!

In the end, rather or not you liked the first one, this movie is a total blast, and as Marvel gets more and more involved in the process of making movies, they are making these movies better and better, and this one is a great example, so check it out, I think you guys might really like it... I did!

Lucy (2014) - Movie Review

Official Score = 1 1/2 Devils

Being a fan of movies since I was very young, I have seen all sorts and kinds of movies... Some truly amazing movies that are so good that they are memorable years, if not even decades after their initial release, movies that are just plain, 'AWESOME', and movies that go from being just, 'So-So' to just plain, 'AWEFUL'!

But one type of movie that I have found to be pretty rare, is a movie that is  set up to be very good, but in the end just fell short!

Unfortunately the most recent one that I have seen is: Lucy (2014):

Not great, but not bad...

Written & Directed by: Luc Besson (The Fifth Element). Starring: Scarlett Johansson (The Avengers), Min-sik Choi (Oldboy), Amr Waked (Syriana) & Morgan Freeman (Se7en).

Could I say that it was the cast and crew? No... Of course not! I mean the pairing between Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman & Luc Besson to name a few, you would think would make it an awesome movie (The truth is, is it did help...)

Morgan Freeman & Scarlett Johansson in, 'Lucy'!

The special effects... As always with these types of movies, it was pretty spectacular!

Is it the story? Well... The truth is, is the concept was truly awesome! The problem that I had with it though, is the fact that there was no real content there... What I mean by this, is there was almost no element that makes a great story in this movie! No love interest, no adversary that you fear may actually win, and the fact is, is there was only really one twist in that movie... A good one, but not enough... In the end the primary element of the story that makes it worth it's weight, is the role that Scarlett Johansson played as the lead in the movie!

Lucy as she is arriving in, 'Paris'!

In the end, this is not the best movie in the world, but it is also not the worst either...

The Continued Relevance Of Dead Superstars

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Presley hits are still being released decades after his death![/caption]

Sadly some of musics greatest most historically memorable musicians, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, most of the Beatles... Etc, etc... Have passed away...

It is one of those unfortunate situations in the music scene today... Don't get me wrong, there are still many great musicians out there, but in the case of who I am talking about are those people who were sort of trailblazers that made their specific genres what they are today!

These are the people with whom most musicians may have grown up listening to, but some of them were the inspiration behind a lot of the modern musicians that are around today!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="463"] The BEatles playing live are just one example of the trailblazers that are still relevant today, decades after they stopped making music together![/caption]

There is also another side to these guys that I thought that you guys might find to be rather interesting... The fact that sometimes decades after they stopped being able to produce music, not only are these people having regular posthumous albums being made in their names, but some of them are starting to have a high number of awards and #1 hits posthumously!

A great example of this is, Elvis Presley!

Between 1977 & 1981 10 singles from the King Of Rock were released as #1 hits... Graceland has become one of the most well visited homes in the United States (just behind, 'The White House'.) And after the King passed on, he was inducted in to four different music hall of fames, including: the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame (Which he was inducted in to in 1986), the Country Music Hall Of Fame (which he was inducted in to in 1998), the Gospel Music Hall Of Fame (2001) & even the Rockabilly Hall Of Fame in 2007!

Another great example is, The Beatles... Don't get me wrong, I know that they are not all dead, but most of them are, and they have been broken up since the 1970s... But that didn't end it for these guys... You see, after the break up all four of them would continue to make music as solo artists, but not only that but they each one of them would collaborate at one time or another.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"] The Beatles & their family reuniting after the death of John Lennon in 1980.[/caption]

As a matter of fact, after John Lennon died in 1980, the remaining Beatles along with Linda McCartney would come together to make a tribute album in honor of their fallen friend!

And the most latest that I discovered is, 'Michael Jackson'... It looks like the King Of Pop will be back entertaining audiences one last time in his second posthumous album called, 'Xscape' which was recently release on May 2nd 2014!

For more information on these guys, and the music they made, please enjoy these songs that were arranged for posthumously albums: Elvis Presley, The Beatles & Michael Jackson!

http://youtu.be/Aa3ZGXRBS-Y

http://youtu.be/_0O0BkKdMx0

http://youtu.be/zqdxYJ3uXuQ

 

5 Great Video Game Series That Got Their Starts A Generation Ago

That's right folks, with all of the modern games that are coming out at such a rapid rate, that we some times forget where some of these staple franchises have come from, and so I thought that I would remind some of us out there where these modern games got their start:

At number 5: Castlevania.

For more information on this game please check out these scenes from, 'Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow 2' (2014), and 'Castlevania' (1986):

http://youtu.be/ENSDrPpFp-Y

http://youtu.be/pJk-zhp8aA0

At number 4: Contra.

For more information on this game please check out these scenes from, 'Hard Corps Uprising' (2011), and 'Contra' (1987):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzQKF9LUQ90

http://youtu.be/ZDOrp_TMGfA

At number 3: Mega Man.

For more information on this game please check out these scenes from, 'Mega Man 10' (2010), and 'Mega Man' (1987):

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnGfx0dfi7g&w=420&h=315]

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaS1c-16frU&w=560&h=315]

At number 2: Sonic The Hedgehog.

For more information on this game please check out these scenes from, 'Sonic Boom' (2014), and 'Sonic The Hedgehog' (1991):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAhNkZWvZJ4

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3ny0Pr09S8&w=420&h=315]

At number 1: Street Fighter.

For more information on this game please check out these scenes from, 'Street Fighter X Tekken' (2012), and 'Street Fighter' (1987):

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_dM7SWLBTQ&w=420&h=315]

http://youtu.be/KLQ1aCOSQos

Mega Shark Vs. Mecha Shark (2014) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_322" align="alignright" width="258"] Official Score = 1 1/2 Devils[/caption]

You know I get it.. B movies are supposed to be, 'Bad' movies right? I will admit that, that it is true in some cases... But there is a whole sub-culture of fans out there (myself included) that absolutely love these so called, 'Bad' Movies...

No, as a matter of fact, I would go so far as to say that there have been a ton of cult classics that have been unfairly labeled as, 'bad' movies, and thus has made this whole sub-genre of films, rather they be exploitation movies, cult classics or other forms of, 'B' movies great!

The problem is, is that Mega Shark Vs. Mecha Shark (2014) is one of those few exception for even a B movie fan like myself to completely enjoy!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="264"] All I am going to say is... meh...[/caption]

Don't get me wrong, this movie which was written by: Jose Prendes (Corpses Are Forever), H. Perry Horton (2-Headed Shark) & Directed by: Emile Edwin Smith (The Grove). Starring: Christopher Judge (Stargate SG1), Elisabeth Rohm (Angel), Matt Lagan (2010: Moby Dick), Hannah Levien (Children Of Sorrow), Paul Anderson (The Forgotten) & Deborah Gibson (Welcome To The Dollhouse), has an awesome mix of truly cheesy acting and higher level B Movie talent...

This movie, which I believe is the 3rd in the series, had some surprisingly amazing special effects... And you know what? Even the story was pretty fun!
This story told of how a new Megaladon ends up making it's way out of the Mediterranean, and is attacking ships and planes and what not as it makes it's way to Sidney Australia to mate... (Even though there appears to be no females that are awake... You never know... maybe the next movie eh?)

Well to stop this new threat, the United States has sent, 'Jack Turner' (Christopher Judge) & Rosie Gray (Elisabeth Rohm), a husband and wife, along with a fleet of ships, as well as a secret weapon that they believe will be the saving grace... You got it folks... That saving grace is giant sub that has been designed to look and act mostly like another, 'Megaladon'!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] 'Mecha Shark' saving a 747 from, 'Mega Shark'![/caption]

And it will be up to Jack Turner, Rosie Gray, and the onboard AI, 'Nero' (Paul Anderson) to stop this new threat before he can cause some real damage... Because lets be honest here, in the battle between Mega Shark & Mecha Shark... If Mecha Shark looses... Well mankind could be in for some real trouble!

Now you heard me mention above the fact that this movie is one of those B Movies that just isn't great... Well again it is not bad, (I mean there are some truly awesome parts that I haven't even mentioned yet...) Never the less the main problem that this movie suffers from is bad writting...

What I mean by this is that this movie does tend to suffer from inappropriate moments of overly done drama... None of the characters you particularly strongly root for one way or the other, and the story is not better emphasized...

The only other negative thing that I would say is that Christopher Judge, who at least in Stargate SG1, was a very action oriented person, but wasn't in this, and that was weak, also I found the fact that his character seemed to be inspired by Ed Harris's portrayal of, 'Bud Brigman' from, The Abyss (1989)  to be a poorly done representation...

In the end, I am going to say this... Unless you are a B Movie fan, you probably won't like this movie... And I hate to say it, but even then you may still not like it...

http://youtu.be/MwQ6HIQV0YQ