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

X-Men: Evolution: Season 1 - Episode 5. 'Speed And Spyke' (2000) - TV Episode Review

[caption id="attachment_330" align="alignright" width="220"] Official Score = 2 1/2 Devils[/caption]

The one thing so far that I have to say that I really don't understand about, 'X-Men: Evolution' is the fact that characters like, 'Jean Grey', 'Cyclops' and, 'Nightcrawler' are considered to be High Schoolers, but, 'Wolverine' & 'Storm' are adults? I mean they are all supposed to be roughly about the same age in just about any other form of media that has to do with the 'X-Men'...

Regardless though, this series so far is pretty good, and Season 1 - Episode 5: 'Speed And Spyke' (2000) is good example of this!

Written by: Bob Forward (The Super Mario Bros. Supershow), Rick Ungar (Mutant X) & Directed by: Gary Graham (Kung Fu Panda). Starring: Kirby Morrow (InuYasha), Scott McNeil (Conan The Adventurer), Venus Terzo (Da Vinci's Inquest), Maggie Blue O'Hara (CardCopters), Christopher Judge (Stargate: SG1), Neil Denis (RoboCop: Alpha Command), Christopher Gray (Fear), Brad Swaile (Mobile Suite Gundam 00), Kirsten Alter (Juno), David Kaye (Up), Richard Ian Cox (RV), Noel Fisher (Battle Los Angeles) & Colleen Wheeler (The Tall Man).

Now this episode is an interesting one... Not particularly good, not particularly bad... But if season 1 has been about Proffessor Xavier (David Kaye) & Magneto (Christopher Judge) recruiting for their perspective sides in the upcoming battles... Then one thing that should stand out real nicely is the fact that this episode has to do with both sides recruiting their newest members!
In the case of Professor Xavier and the, 'X-Men' their next team member is, 'Spyke'...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320"] Spyke (Neil Denis) & his arch-nemesis being recruited on to different sides of right and wrong![/caption]

Now Spyke (Neil Denis) is the nephew of Storm (Kirsten Alter), and has been trying to recruit Spyke to join the Xavier Institute for awhile... So much so that ultimately she will bring in Jean Grey (Venus Terzo) & Cyclops (Kirby Morrow) to try and talk him in to it!

What finally gets him to sign up, is when after being blamed for breaking in to lockers at his school, (something that his enemy, 'Quick Silver' (Richard Ian Cox) had been doing, and had taken off when the cops showed up, leaving Spyke as the fall guy.)

Well Quick Silver isn't exactly one to work with a team himself, but Magneto really wants him on his team and works with his minion, 'Mystique' (Colleen Wheeler) to help bring Spyke and Quick Silver together for a final confrontation (believing that Quick Silver can have this final confrontation, that he could potentially end up being happy with becoming a member of Magneto and his group...)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Quick Silver maybe down, but he surely isn't out![/caption]

In the end, this episode was just plan old fun... I mean plot wholes aside, I just have to say that this episode was just fun... Not edge of your seat fun, but if your looking for something fun to watch on a lazy afternoon, this one is worth it!

http://youtu.be/tOFRJhXsFMk

X-Men: Evolution: Season 1 - Episode 3: 'Rogue Recruit' (2000) - TV Episode Review

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

You know there is this perception with a lot of people that if you watch Cartoons, yet you are an adult, that there is something wrong with you... Yet if you watch certain animated movies like, Persepolis (2007), that everything is A-Ok... Why is that?

Well I can't really say for certain but my suspicion is the fact that if you watch cartoons that you are in some way childish and immature... But if you watch animated movies like, Persepolis that you are cultured and sophisticated... I suppose that could be true if you derive the same type of enjoyment with cartoons as an adult that you did as a kid... But being a fan of animation in both the cartoon and animated form, but no longer (and not since I was a kid), wanting to be Batman anymore, I gotta say that it seems like some one who would say that watching cartoons as an adult being childish and immature, while watching animated movies like, Persepolis, is a little bit of a double standard!

I mean I think that it is great to watch old X-Men cartoons, in some respects it is almost like seeing the comics coming to life!

And that is just one of the reasons that I found X-Men: Evolution: Episode 3: 'Rogue Recruit' so interesting!

Written by: Simon Furman (Transformers: Beginnings) & Directed by: Steven E. Gordon (Terminator Salvation). Starring: Kirby Morrow (Fringe), Scott McNeil (Eve Of Destruction), Venus Terzo (Adventures Of Sonic The Hedgehog), Maggie Blue O'Hara (Living With The Dead), Christopher Gray (RoboCop: Alpha Commando), Christopher Judge (Stargate SG1), Meghan Black (Edgemont) Brad Swaile (Dragon Ball Z) Kirsten Alter (RV), David Kaye (Up) & Colleen Wheeler (Cabin In The Lake).

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320"] Rogue is about to learn the truth about where she really should be![/caption]

Now this is one I am talking about! What I mean by that, is this is the episode features the entrance of another classic X-Man, 'Rogue' (Meghan Black) in to the mix!

You see, Rogue is a down south girl from Mississippi where she is just about to come in to, 'contact' with her soon to be burgeoning mutant, 'Super Power'... That being when she touches some one she ends up draining some of their life force!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] And that boy touches Rogue, she definitely will leave a mark that he will never forget, and neither will she![/caption]

Well when she comes in to contact with the School jock and puts him in to a comma, her mutant power signals Cerbero (Sort of a mutant super computer.)  Because of this, Professor Xavier (David Kaye) and the other side end up sending representatives down to try and persuade her to join with them... The only problem is that since Mystique (Colleen Wheeler), tends to be more persuasive in these matters, it looks like Rogue will end up being left to her own devices for the time being!

Now the truth is, is that I do like this episode... even if it is not canonically accurate! (Ultimately in the comics Rogue ends up meeting up with the X-Men years later after doing many evil deeds (including sucking all of the powers out of a super hero!)

But never the less, it a fun episode and more then well worth the time!

http://youtu.be/7Z7chBBJx1o

X-Men: Evolution: Season 1 - Episode 1: 'Strategy X' (Air Date: November 4th, 2000)

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

Like most kids that were born in the last 50 years or so, one of the things that I liked to do, (and still do to some extent) is to read comics! As a matter of fact, reading comics, collecting probably is where my interests in the animated cartoons and the movies comes from!

With that in mind, one of my favorite teams from the Marvel Universe is the, 'X-Men'... The truth is, is they are an awesome collection of people from all walks of life that have come together to represent a very awesome cross section of the world community... Just slightly different!

With that in mind, one of my favorite cartoons when I was a kid was, 'X-Men: The Animated Series', this cartoon gave an amazing live action (not in person) but more of an action sided graphic representation of the comics themselves!

Unfortunately though, there has been a ton of great cartoons that have come out since then that were based on, 'The X-Men' that I hadn't taken the time to see... But that is until recently with, X-Men: Evolution (2000 - 2003)!

And you know what? I haven't seen to many episodes yet of this series, but so far the ones that I have seen, I have really enjoyed, unfortunately with the exception first episode entitled: Strategy X!

Written by: Avi Arand (Iron Man), Bob Forward (The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!) & Rick Ungar (Spider-Man). Directed by: Frank Paur (Batman: Mask Of the Phantasm). Starring: Vincent Gale (Firewall), Christopher Judge (Stargate SG 1), Scott McNeil (Cedar Cove), Kirby Morrow (Escape From Planet Earth), Brad Swaile (Black Lagoon), Venus Terzo (It). Kirsten Alter (Chaos), David Kaye (Up), Noel Fisher (Final Destination 2) & Colleen Wheeler (The Tall Man).

In the whole, this TV series tells of how Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters goes from being a small center where people with mutant powers can go to and be accepted, and safe from the rest of the world to the big school that it will later become with a large X-Men team!

but this episodes tells of how the small center for mutant kind and the even smaller 'X-Men' team (at the beginning of this episode it only comprises, Professor Xavier, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm and Wolverine...)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320"] Cyclops (Kirby Morrow), Jean Grey (Venus Terzo), Spyke (Neil Denis), Shadowcat (Maggie Blue O'Hara)... An Early 'X-Men' team with Toad Tolansky (Noel Fisher).[/caption]

Anyway, during this time, the team is in school and all, but they are also awaiting their latest addition, 'Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner' (Swaile) to arrive from Germany... Of course that is not the only other perspective member of Xavier's growing family!  You see during a High School football game Toad Tolensky (Noel Fisher) is caught by some football players stealing some wallets...

During this time Cyclops decides to help out and gets rid of the guys, but unfortunately they knock his shades off and he ends up taking out half the School... Later on though, Professor Xavier has Toad brought in when it is discovered that Toad has special frog like abilities...

When he comes in though, this is after Nightcrawler has settled in, and after being chased up and down the halls by Nightcrawler for a little bit, he decides to take off... In the end though we come to discover that besides Professor Xavier and his team looking for fresh faced kids with mutant abilities, but Magneto (Christopher Judge) and Mystique (Colleen Wheeler) who is dressed up to look like, 'The Principal' of the school, are also recruiting for their eventual Army!

In the end this episode does a good job at getting the ball rolling, but other then that, it is not very amusing...

http://youtu.be/7Z7chBBJx1o