What makes a good hero is a good villain. And sometimes that is true. But the definition of a good villain in my book is a competent villain. Not a villain who loses to said hero day in and day out because a hero winning nonstop with little to no difficulty is just boring IMO.
I want to clarify there is a biiig difference between a competent villain and a villain sue. For instance. Villain sues.
The only way they're in such a high position is because the heroes are written as incompetent idiots. I don't care what the haters think of these guys but IMO there was potential from these two. I think they could have made good villains in the hands of the right writer. But when you have a writer that is so in-love with these villains you'd see the way the writer expresses his love for them. I honestly believe Malcolm could have been a good villain and I'm not so blind with my hatred towards him to see he could have been a good villain. Same with The Light but by God were there alot of misfires. ALOT.
They're the definition of competent villains. And the definition of a complex villain but at the end of the day is still a villain. Mainly because these two have a goal and is more than willing to do amoral things to make sure their goal is achieved but what brings the complexity of the two out is they have some human characteristics as-well. They're also not afraid of having losses but they learn from their losses. Even Doctor Doom loose on occasion but he takes his loss and improves on them.
A competent villain can be done but be careful by not mistaking competency to villain sue.
It has been a busy year for me. With my RL stuff and getting a couple of web series I'm working on up and running. I'm saving up for a vacation trip thats going to happen next month. Where am I going you ask?
Cant wait! Also by next year I'm looking at getting into medical school. So my internet activity might be limited.
With that being said, I'm pretty much retiring from chat forums. Only my forum and MZP TV being a couple of exceptions. As I'd sometimes post writing topics at MZP and I still have my forum to operate and check up on from time to time. This isn't a temporary thing either. This is permanent.
Part of it is I have lost interest in forums as my focus has been on other projects. Me working on my web series and outside RL stuff. The other part is I'm just so uninterested in the drama that follows in the forums. Especially when it comes to Marvel/DC.
Just to make it clear I'm not on either side. In fact I'm one of the small few that likes both sides, when they produce good stuff. Cause regardless of what people say this isn't a sports competition. Its a bunch of fanboys complaining on the internet and gradually losing whatever dignity they have in the process. I more or less search TV tropes or read internet articles or surf streaming sites and binge watch a few episodes.
There comes a time when one feels they have to move on and I just need to move on from internet forums. And I feel there are things more important than arguing over the quality of the DCEU or MCU day in and day out. I'd give my thoughts on a movie or tv show then I'd be done with it. I'd rag on a movie every now and then but I'd know when to separate joking about a movie I don't like and obsessively hate on it.
Now to the other things. I've been devoting most of my time on developing a couple of web series. One is City of Adventures and another is A Heroes Journey. Awhile back I've hit a wall with City of Adventures but I'm starting to find enough inspiration to get back in the swing of things with that series. Its going to result in a bit of a revamp though. I'm liking where A Heroes Journey is going.
I'm also looking at doing a few blog topics. Doing a horror movie marathon next month. Looking forward to that one.
So that is my status and expect a horror movie review come next month.
Just like how vampires were the next big horror craze it would seem that zombies have been following suit as of late.
With shows like Walking Dead
And Z-Nation
And a plethora of zombie apocalypse movies that Hollyood is milking for all its worth.
There is no question as to why the zombie genre has been popular. With its metaphor of the human race fighting something that is going to be inevitable for them. Death. Its relentless and no matter what it will come for you.
Yet regardless of the metaphor I feel that zombies are about as terrifying as a flock of bunny rabbits. And if there is anything that Z-Films and TV Shows has taught me its that humans are more nightmarish than zombies.
Take The Walking Dead. The whole series is pretty much about mankind's battle against their own inner humanity. If they lose the battle then they become something worse than zombies. Even Romero movies ask the question who is the real monsters? Zombies or Humans?
The tv series Game of Thrones even used the prospect of a Zombie Apocalypse in The White Walkers.
But just like how zombies in The Walking Dead are taking a backseat to mankind's fight against human morality the White Walkers take a backseat in favor of politicking and backstabbing.
The zombie movies in particular have reached a point of self parody. Shaun of The Dead showcased just how easily the zombie apocalypse could be stopped. And it wasn't too long ago that even zombies couldn't escape the Twilight treatment.
Just like vampires the zombies went from terrifying death metaphors to undead beings we like to fuck. Case en point.
The dude even went as far as to fondle her breast. So basically the movie is telling us that we shouldn't take zombies seriously and feel up the hottest zombie you see. For a Zomedy I admire this level of honesty.
What made the Night of The Living Dead movie work was that it was in a small setting, like a small town. It wasn't something that was globally spread. Cause lets be real the military would wipe out zombies in a matter of minutes. Unless we are talking about Super Unkillable Magical Zombies.
There is no denying that The Breakfast Club is one of those timeless movies that even teenagers of today relate to because of its subject matter. To this day you find teen movies that have tried to mimic its style. But at the end of the day there can be only one Breakfast Club.
From its musical score, to its subject matter, and to its characters it has the ingredients to make a memorable movie. Right now I'm going to talk about one character in particular that some folks tend to look upon fondly. John Bender.
He's the usual teen movie archetype that you'd see commonly in teen movies. The Bad Boy. A troubled but handsome teen that comes from a broken home and is seen as the social pariah in high school. Then develops a more gentle side to him and we all know where this cliche goes. This isn't that kind of Bad Boy.
If it weren't for his interactions with Karl the school janitor I'd tell you the guy has zero redeeming qualities. Come to think of it maybe he doesn't.
Ever since detention began he never stops being an asshole. Say what you will about Andy but you have to give the guy props in being the only one to not only stand up to him but even put him in his place in a scuffle.
Eventhough Andy got detention for bullying a kid, an act that is looked upon unfavorably in this day and age, at least he deeply regretted the act.
John Bender on the other hand came in an asshole and came out an asshole. Lets not even get into his treatment towards Claire.
You have to ask yourself. Why is she attracted to him? Its not like she has to set her standards low. She could have gotten a guy better than Bender. When the movie was kinda teasing Brian and Claire a part of me kinda wanted those two together since Brian is a better choice than Bender. It would be a miracle if Claire and Bender last a day as a couple. And lets not forget that he never apologized for the crap he put her through. And even if they do last as a couple can you say abusive relationship?
He freaking made her cry. John Bender's the kind of guy you just want to see someone rough him up a few times. Hell I knew a guy like that in high school. I didn't think he was cool, I wanted to keep my distance from him. Years later when I was in college I encountered him again, he actually looked less of the creep I remembered and even went as far as to apologize for what an ass he was. I was like"Dude all thats in the past"
It got me to thinking maybe this topic was John Hughes intention. Sure the dude came from a broken home.
I think Linkara said it best. Its not always just the backstory that makes a character sympathetic. Its the characters actions. And judging from Bender's actions not only is he uncharming but he has the least redeeming qualities of the Breakfast Club crew. Lets not forget if it wasn't for him we wouldn't even go as far as to root for the principle in the movie. Also underneath that Bad Boy act the guy is really a wuss.
