Friday, May 10, 2013

Nerds, Assemble: My Avengers 2/ Marvel phase 2 wish list

As you may have guessed, I am a bit of a Marvel fan.  Watching Iron Man 3 multiple times opening weekend gives me proper Fanboy credentials.  I am very excited for phase 2 movies in the pipeline and hopefully will get some of the characters that are more prominent in the graphic novels.

Marvel's The Avengers is amazing.  My favorite recap is offered on Cracked.com - here - and basically gives away the whole movie.  So, spoilers...

I have read Joss Whedon rumors like everyone else.  He hinted at a brother and sister duo, he also hinted he would be finished with the script in the next couple months. I hope he reads my little wish list before he finalizes the script.  He could at least hint to the existence of the other heros, a little nod to let me know that they are alive in his heart as well.

So here goes, my wish list for Avengers 2 and possibly the Phase 2 movies in the pipeline: 

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Iron Man 3 Review - spoiler free

I watched Iron Man 3, twice.  That's right, twice.  I wanted to make sure I captured all the Iron Man goodness and really got a grasp of what to write about.  I wanted to make this as spoiler free as possible.  I am also writing a spoiler laden piece for NerdKo so if you want something juicy with tons of bits of info - check it out.

First let me start by saying this was not a stand alone movie.  This movie is a puzzle piece in the Marvel universe.  If you have seen Marvel's The Avengers, then you should be well and ready to see Iron Man 3.   Stark references the incidents in New York as we hoped he would.  His reaction is what matters.  Shane Black shares some interesting emotions from Stark as he is dealing with the aftermath of NY and the Avengers initiative.

Pepper steps up a little bit and has a stronger role in this film.  I feel this isn't a spoiler as she has slowly gained more screen time and more importance as Tony's main squeeze.  This is the first Marvel Movie that I know of to pass the Bechdel Test.  To pass the Bechdel Test, a movie must:

1. Have at least two [named] women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man
It passes - yay! 

I am sad to say that Marvel's Avengers don't pass the test.  There are too few named female characters and the only two that were named were not alone to have any conversations.  

But I digress.  Iron Man 3 explores some of Tony's fears and his strengths outside the suit.  The attack on his home is no secret because it is featured heavily in the advertisements for the film.  Without access to his private workshop (lovingly named Stark R&D) he uses the MacGyver skills he displayed at the birth of Iron Man.  

As a lover of the comics, I was happy to see some of the themes from the graphic novels woven in to the story.  Granted they integrate some things very differently than in the source material. Saying anything else will give it away, but know that Ben Kingsley gave a smashing performance.  

I highly recommend the film and all others in the series.  It is best enjoyed not as a stand alone, but watched with Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and Marvel's the Avengers preceding it.  If you've seen it and want to talk about it, feel free to leave a comment below.  

Filakia

Hidden Gem

I found a little gem on Netflix one day.  The movie: Gamers: Dorkness Rising

The movie is everything you would expect from an independent team of writers and directors.  It has all the snark and seriousness of gamers at a table.  Although I am not a table top RPG player myself (gasp) I know what it is like to play Risk with my friends and family.  I KNOW the type of table talk that comes out.  When you get around to 3 am, the snark starts to fly.

I highly recommend you check it out.  The snark about charisma alone is worth the watch.

Filakia

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Check out NerdKO

I am so excited to announce that I am blogging for a site called NerdKO!

My first piece for the site is a neat take on how to Train your Whovian: getting your friends involved in Doctor Who.  This really speaks to me as I have created so many Whovians in the past 3 years that I don't know what to do with all of them.  

You should check it out and keep your eyes peeled for more posts about my works with the NerdKO crew.  Follow them on twitter @NerdKo 

Filakia!