With 2016 coming to a close I thought I'd close out the year with one final blog topic for 2016. And this topic focus on a character development cliche that I find irritating, only when it's misused. Villains with tragic backstories.
In every work of fiction, when a villain has a tragic backstory you'd also have this arc where they'd get magically redeemed following said tragic backstory. Most of the time the redemption comes out of the blue and the protagonist just up and forgets the horrible atrocities the villain committed just because the villain has it hard. I think Linkara said it best; there is a difference between having a sympathetic backstory and actually being sympathetic. I'm going to use two examples.
Malcolm Merlyn. This guy is the textbook example of incorporating sympathy through tragic backstory in a poor way. Ok we see the reasons why Malcolm did what he did but lets be honest here. Do you really think his wife would approve Malcolm's actions? Hell no! Then you have the fact that the guy brainwashed his daughter and turned her into an assassin. Then you top it off that he never gave up on his villain ways and yet the series would try to paint him in a sympathetic light. The problem with that is he has never done anything to warrant sympathy in the first place.
Another example is Astronima from Power Rangers In Space. At first she was the big bad but the series provided her gradual development and showcase that she's more than just Rita Jr. Then when her backstory starts getting established then that was when Astronima started coming out of her shell. Then the moment when her redemption arc starts it actually mattered because there was a gradual building process. And that moment when she became a Power Ranger in Lost Galaxy, that was a Holy Shit moment for me but in a good way. See the difference between this and Malcolm?
If you're going to use a tragic backstory as a way to establish a redemption arc for the villain then please don't rush it. Plant some seeds. Also have the villain earn his/her redemption.
And to those reading, may you have a Happy New Year!!
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Remembering Carrie Fisher/Princess Leia And The Impact She Made
There are really no words to describe how I felt when I found out about the news yesterday. When it really sunk in I just had to take a moment because out of all the celebrity deaths this one hit me the most.
Anyone who followed my Tribute Thread about Princess Leia would know how much of an impact that character has made to me. This character came at around the time when you don't really have that many strong female characters. Most of them were just one dimensional damsel in distress characters. But Princess Leia was more than that. She was the spark that caused Luke to go on his Hero's Journey. In fact she was what brought the Star Wars trio together. This lady led a freaking rebellion and won!
What I liked about Princes Leia was the message she brings. You can be beautiful and feminine and still be a strong person. She carried her own weight just as much as Han and Luke did.
Princess Leia inspired me on how female characters should be handled. They can be more than just sex bots, damsel in distress, or one note love interest. She was one of the most complex heroines I've ever seen.
Then you have Carrie Fisher herself. Who has went through so much and the way she has rebounded just makes her life inspiring to behold. This was a woman who spent her final years enjoying life. I think Harrison Ford said it best, she was one of a kind.
Anyone who followed my Tribute Thread about Princess Leia would know how much of an impact that character has made to me. This character came at around the time when you don't really have that many strong female characters. Most of them were just one dimensional damsel in distress characters. But Princess Leia was more than that. She was the spark that caused Luke to go on his Hero's Journey. In fact she was what brought the Star Wars trio together. This lady led a freaking rebellion and won!
What I liked about Princes Leia was the message she brings. You can be beautiful and feminine and still be a strong person. She carried her own weight just as much as Han and Luke did.
Princess Leia inspired me on how female characters should be handled. They can be more than just sex bots, damsel in distress, or one note love interest. She was one of the most complex heroines I've ever seen.
Then you have Carrie Fisher herself. Who has went through so much and the way she has rebounded just makes her life inspiring to behold. This was a woman who spent her final years enjoying life. I think Harrison Ford said it best, she was one of a kind.
Best Movie of 2016
It goes without question really. Deadpool was that hidden gem behind such a disappointing year for superhero movies. It helped that all the participants involved had treated the character with heart and respect that it deserved and the movie honestly felt like a Deadpool comic come to life.
I also liked the love story involving Wade and Vanessa. Vanessa managed to put a refreshing approach to the superhero girlfriend concept as she was likable and has a feisty demeanor to her. Her relationship with Wade was surprisingly sweet and never felt forced.
Deadpool was not only the best superhero film of the year I'd even say it's the best X-Men movie of the year.
Worst Movie of 2016
It goes without question that 2016 hasn't been a rather solid year as far as movies go. Some movies have been ok, others have had a hidden gem, then there are those that flat out suck.
Normally I'd do a top 5 list but my movie going experience this year was rather limited so I'm just going to narrow it down to one movie this year. So my worst movie of 2016 has got to be....
It has to take a special kind of superhero movie to be considered worse than Dawn of Justice. And those two movies, for me, was in a very close race but in the end The Killing Joke edges it out.
With Dawn of Justice I at least expected it to be a disappointment and the worst thing the movie had to offer was Eisenberg's Lex Luthor. But there were a few positives that kept it from being No.1.
With The Killing Joke...The fact that DC had to adapt a comic book that even Alan Moore wasn't too thrilled on should have been a sign right there. And that the movie was nothing more than some hack wanting to produce animated fan fiction involving his favorite ship that nobody wanted. And the tragedy of that whole mess was that it had the talent involved that could make The Killing Joke surprisingly enjoyable but instead it was a movie that took a colossal shit on both Batman and Batgirl. Its no wonder that WB had to bring Adam West out of retirement and do that 60's Batman homage to save face. And I consider that an improvement over The Killing Joke, regardless what the cynical fanbase may say. Because it was Adam West and Bert Ward reuniting as Batman & Robin.
The Killing Joke was bad business all around. And the tragedy of this is that this abomination makes me look forward to Season 3 of Young Justice. Because no matter how ridiculous YJ would get I can say that, at least it isn't as bad as The Killing Joke.
Normally I'd do a top 5 list but my movie going experience this year was rather limited so I'm just going to narrow it down to one movie this year. So my worst movie of 2016 has got to be....
It has to take a special kind of superhero movie to be considered worse than Dawn of Justice. And those two movies, for me, was in a very close race but in the end The Killing Joke edges it out.
With Dawn of Justice I at least expected it to be a disappointment and the worst thing the movie had to offer was Eisenberg's Lex Luthor. But there were a few positives that kept it from being No.1.
With The Killing Joke...The fact that DC had to adapt a comic book that even Alan Moore wasn't too thrilled on should have been a sign right there. And that the movie was nothing more than some hack wanting to produce animated fan fiction involving his favorite ship that nobody wanted. And the tragedy of that whole mess was that it had the talent involved that could make The Killing Joke surprisingly enjoyable but instead it was a movie that took a colossal shit on both Batman and Batgirl. Its no wonder that WB had to bring Adam West out of retirement and do that 60's Batman homage to save face. And I consider that an improvement over The Killing Joke, regardless what the cynical fanbase may say. Because it was Adam West and Bert Ward reuniting as Batman & Robin.
The Killing Joke was bad business all around. And the tragedy of this is that this abomination makes me look forward to Season 3 of Young Justice. Because no matter how ridiculous YJ would get I can say that, at least it isn't as bad as The Killing Joke.
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Why I Don't Care About Live Action Superhero Adaptations Anymore
I'll give the superhero genre this. It's at a good place right now. I still remember the dark period when us superhero fans would have to anticipate a superhero movie once every few years. Even when movies like X-Men and Spider-Man were over like gangbusters the superhero genre was still this underground thing that only caters to a special group of people. Then The Dark Knight Trilogy showed us that a superhero movie can be artistic. When The Avengers showed that superhero films can sell then that is when the genre hit mainstream status. And now we are having superhero films every year.
There is a downside to that however. Eventually it's going to reach a point that fatigue is going to set in. And the movies are just going to become formulaic with it's by the numbers plots that isn't making any effort in trying to be different. You can accurately guess how the movie is going to go down without even looking at the movie. It's that predictable. And it's not just from superhero movies but in tv shows too. Arrow is a former shell of what was once a good show and Flash is handicapped by standard CW cliche nonsense. Yet Flash is still better than Arrow but that isn't saying much.
Superhero movies is the equivalent of eating the same favorite food everyday. Eventually you'll get tired of it because you already know how it's going to taste. And eventually you'll just rather try a different kind of food to suit your needs. And that is where I am right now with live action superhero adaptations. Sure I'd be interested if there was a superhero product that tries to be a little different but as of now I'm taking a sabbatical from the superhero genre.
There is a downside to that however. Eventually it's going to reach a point that fatigue is going to set in. And the movies are just going to become formulaic with it's by the numbers plots that isn't making any effort in trying to be different. You can accurately guess how the movie is going to go down without even looking at the movie. It's that predictable. And it's not just from superhero movies but in tv shows too. Arrow is a former shell of what was once a good show and Flash is handicapped by standard CW cliche nonsense. Yet Flash is still better than Arrow but that isn't saying much.
Superhero movies is the equivalent of eating the same favorite food everyday. Eventually you'll get tired of it because you already know how it's going to taste. And eventually you'll just rather try a different kind of food to suit your needs. And that is where I am right now with live action superhero adaptations. Sure I'd be interested if there was a superhero product that tries to be a little different but as of now I'm taking a sabbatical from the superhero genre.
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Why X-23 Should Replace Logan In The X-Films
It's without question that Laura will appear in the upcoming Wolverine movie called Logan. But what does this mean for future installments? There has been alot of speculation as to who should be recast as Logan but as far as I'm concerned I personally feel that the film character should retire with Hugh Jackman and Laura takes over. And here's why.
Fox Is Taking A Risk:
With all this talk about diversity and more movies starring superheroines. If Fox have Laura become the new Wolverine then they're not only willing to take a risk they're saying to the audience we are willing to have a female heroine star in our X-Movies,in the event we get a new Wolverine movie featuring Laura. Which makes Fox appear not so hesitant in having a female led superhero film when compared to Diz Marv.
Fresher Storylines:
Ask yourself this. Do you want another rehash of the Wolverine/Sabertooth feud and a Wolverine/Jean/Scott love triangle? Or to you want a fresh story involving a young girl whose story is less about her regaining her memories but more about trying to find herself in a world that hates mutants. IDK about most of you but Laura's arc could open up alot of interesting possibilities.
It Gives Logan Some Closure:
What better closure than passing his legacy to Laura?
Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Anticipate The Wolverine: Old Man Logan
Well, its that time. Jackverine's last movie. To say his quality in movies is a rollercoaster would be an understatement but I cant deny that he's a guilty pleasure of mine. I liked this version better than comic Wolverine, and I've followed the character from the first X-Movie to now. I feel old after typing that.
So with Jackman's final Wolverine movie coming up I'm going to list the top 5 reasons why we should anticipate the movie. Why top 5? Because I can.
5. It's Rated R
Wolverine finally gets a chance to take off the kid gloves and do what he does best. If they could somehow incorporate Sabertooth in the mix then we are gonna have a very bloody yet entertaining fight on our hands.
4. Hugh Jackman Giving A Damn
Say what you will about the film portrayal of Wolverine but if there is anything I respect about Hugh Jackman its that he not only says he enjoys playing the character but he has a blast while doing so. He doesn't phone it in nor is in it for the paycheck. Looking at you Jennifer Lawrence. Now that he's in an R-Rated Wolverine film I bet he'd be feeling like a kid in a video game store.
3. Patrick Stewart's Last Hurrah
To those who have enjoyed the OG Professor X then you'll be pleased to know that he's in this movie. And, much like Jackman, this could be his last run as Xavier. If that is the case then I hope his send off is a good yet emotional one.
2. It's Not A Superhero Movie
Despite the title, don't expect this to be your typical superhero fare. At best it's a Mad Max esque modern western post-apocalyptic flick. That involves one character reaching an end of his era while another character's journey has just started. Speaking of...
1. X-23!!!!
After all this time it's finally happening! I've wanted her to be in an X-Movie since her character showed up in Evo and now I get the chance! I like that this version of Laura has a sweet balance of adorable yet can mess you up when she cuts loose. And I hope that this is the character that the franchise use, going forward. Let Wolverine retire with Jackman.
Monday, October 17, 2016
Mind Control And How It Should Be Incorporated In A Story
In my experience, I've seen enough of this kind of concept. Some done well and others I tend to question. Then there are some that are just downright icky, especially when a protagonist does it.
I look at how mind control should be handled in the same manner how writing a rape scene should be handled. By all accounts, it should be handled with as much tact as possible. You can't just put mind control in just for the lulz because there has to be a reason to do that.
I think the best example in using mind control properly would be Bucky Barns in The Winter Soldier. Especially, as of Civil War, we are shown the damaging after effects it caused and how straight it was presented. Same could be said about Jessica Jones when the mind control narrative is used as an on the nose analogy of sexual assault.
When I'd use mind control I'd have to ask myself how it would benefit the person incorporating such an act? What exactly could be their endgame in all of this?
The example I could make would be Jafar from the movie Aladdin. Clearly, his intent was using mind control as a means to grant him a sweet position of power. That was his personal benefit and that was his endgame. Him wanting to use it to make Jasmine fall in love with him was just a bonus. Even if that did paint him as close as Disney would have got on an animated version of Killgrave. Disney animated movies can be icky sometimes.
Despite that at least there was a motivation behind the mind control. It wasn't done, just because.
The tree things one must use when introducing a mind control concept: Proper Timing, Motivation. and Tact. Lack any of these then don't be surprised if the concept collapse.
I look at how mind control should be handled in the same manner how writing a rape scene should be handled. By all accounts, it should be handled with as much tact as possible. You can't just put mind control in just for the lulz because there has to be a reason to do that.
I think the best example in using mind control properly would be Bucky Barns in The Winter Soldier. Especially, as of Civil War, we are shown the damaging after effects it caused and how straight it was presented. Same could be said about Jessica Jones when the mind control narrative is used as an on the nose analogy of sexual assault.
When I'd use mind control I'd have to ask myself how it would benefit the person incorporating such an act? What exactly could be their endgame in all of this?
The example I could make would be Jafar from the movie Aladdin. Clearly, his intent was using mind control as a means to grant him a sweet position of power. That was his personal benefit and that was his endgame. Him wanting to use it to make Jasmine fall in love with him was just a bonus. Even if that did paint him as close as Disney would have got on an animated version of Killgrave. Disney animated movies can be icky sometimes.
Despite that at least there was a motivation behind the mind control. It wasn't done, just because.
The tree things one must use when introducing a mind control concept: Proper Timing, Motivation. and Tact. Lack any of these then don't be surprised if the concept collapse.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Why Story Structure In A Superhero Movie Is Important
You know why the first two Reeves Superman films, the first two Raimi Spider-Man, and currently the Dark Knight Trilogy stood the test of time in superhero movies? It's because they have story structure.
Sure the Reeve Superman films held some of the most impressive special effects of that time but the special effects wasn't the be all and end all of those movies. It was Clark Kent's journey into becoming a superhero. You could say it was about the adventures of a simple farm boy, who had these extraordinary abilities, ended up discovering that he's from the planet krypton. So he embarks on a journey to not only become a superhero but be accepted by the people of the planet he considers his new home. From the first movie it was about his humble beginnings then by the second movie his heroic journey came to an end. All that happened afterward was just filler. Eventhough the third was fine filler.
There is a reason why Deadpool was so successful. It was more than just an R-Rated super movie with a foul mouth, fourth wall breaking, merc. It was a movie that had two basic storytelling elements that surprisingly worked well together. It was a romantic comedy between Deadpool and Vanessa then became a revenge movie with Deadpool wanting to kill Francis. It did it's job by making you care about Deadpool's journey while making you laugh in the process. Did I forget to mention that it knows how to use comedy properly?
With story structure, you care about the hero or heroine's journey and want to root for them to succeed. Cause that is how a properly built story structure works. It adds sympathy and suspense. Without it you're just looking at a mindless smash up with special effects and explosions. Yet with little heart put in it.
While I'm happy that we get to see the superhero genre become a huge success, that success came with a price. Quality storytelling to go with the mindblowing special effects.
Sure the Reeve Superman films held some of the most impressive special effects of that time but the special effects wasn't the be all and end all of those movies. It was Clark Kent's journey into becoming a superhero. You could say it was about the adventures of a simple farm boy, who had these extraordinary abilities, ended up discovering that he's from the planet krypton. So he embarks on a journey to not only become a superhero but be accepted by the people of the planet he considers his new home. From the first movie it was about his humble beginnings then by the second movie his heroic journey came to an end. All that happened afterward was just filler. Eventhough the third was fine filler.
There is a reason why Deadpool was so successful. It was more than just an R-Rated super movie with a foul mouth, fourth wall breaking, merc. It was a movie that had two basic storytelling elements that surprisingly worked well together. It was a romantic comedy between Deadpool and Vanessa then became a revenge movie with Deadpool wanting to kill Francis. It did it's job by making you care about Deadpool's journey while making you laugh in the process. Did I forget to mention that it knows how to use comedy properly?
With story structure, you care about the hero or heroine's journey and want to root for them to succeed. Cause that is how a properly built story structure works. It adds sympathy and suspense. Without it you're just looking at a mindless smash up with special effects and explosions. Yet with little heart put in it.
While I'm happy that we get to see the superhero genre become a huge success, that success came with a price. Quality storytelling to go with the mindblowing special effects.
The Best and Worst of Summer Movies 2016
It was a rather meh Summer for me in terms of movies. There were some hits but very few misses. And today I'm going to list the top five good and bad summer movies of 2016. Why Top 5? Because I can.
Worst Summer Movies
5. Superman Dawn of Justice
If any of you had read my review of the movie then you'd find this movie as my DC equivalent of Thor: The Dark World. And this is coming from someone that didn't find Man of Steel to be as bad as people have been making it out to be. Not spectacular but not a stinker neither. Dawn of Justice was just a mess.
4. X-Men: Apocalypse
What happened Fox? You was on such a high. Then you had to blow your load and instead of just having Magneto as the main villain you had to blow your load early and showcase Apocalypse and the worst version of the Horsemen imaginable. If you guys want to see a better version of Apoc then watch him in the 90's Animated X-Men series and Evolution.
3. Ghostbusters
The most forgettable movie of the summer. And that's the tragic part.
2. Ben-Hur
Poor man's Gladiator that will never live up to the original movie. That is all.
1. The Killing Joke
Batman TAS made me respect Bruce Timm in defining not just Batman but the DCU as a whole. The Killing Joke went around and killed any respect I had for him. To hell with Superman killing Zod. At least that made sense. I'll never defend Timm's messed up fan fic. I also find it ironic that this came around the same time Alan Moor announces retirement from comics. Huh.
Best Summer Movies of 2016
5. Sausage Party
This movie came around a time when we really need a movie that is as weird and fucked up as this. Because this is the kind of movie that would make it's viewer just sid back and enjoy the odd sideshow.
4. Civil War
Not as good as Winter Soldier but a hell of alot better than Age of Ultron. Honestly this is my Avengers 2.
3. Star Trek Beyond
Like First Class this was a better movie than I expected it would be. It helped that it was never a complete rehash of an old Trek movie and it actually establishes it's own story and mythos.
2. Don't Breathe
We need more horror movies like this. I wouldn't go as far as to call the movie creative but it's one of the few horror films that made me smile from ear to ear.
1. Deadpool
I don't care if this isn't a summer movie. It's my list and this is taking the No.1 spot. It's not only the best superhero movie I've seen this year it's also the most romantic movie I've seen this year.
Worst Summer Movies
5. Superman Dawn of Justice
If any of you had read my review of the movie then you'd find this movie as my DC equivalent of Thor: The Dark World. And this is coming from someone that didn't find Man of Steel to be as bad as people have been making it out to be. Not spectacular but not a stinker neither. Dawn of Justice was just a mess.
4. X-Men: Apocalypse
What happened Fox? You was on such a high. Then you had to blow your load and instead of just having Magneto as the main villain you had to blow your load early and showcase Apocalypse and the worst version of the Horsemen imaginable. If you guys want to see a better version of Apoc then watch him in the 90's Animated X-Men series and Evolution.
3. Ghostbusters
The most forgettable movie of the summer. And that's the tragic part.
2. Ben-Hur
Poor man's Gladiator that will never live up to the original movie. That is all.
1. The Killing Joke
Batman TAS made me respect Bruce Timm in defining not just Batman but the DCU as a whole. The Killing Joke went around and killed any respect I had for him. To hell with Superman killing Zod. At least that made sense. I'll never defend Timm's messed up fan fic. I also find it ironic that this came around the same time Alan Moor announces retirement from comics. Huh.
Best Summer Movies of 2016
5. Sausage Party
This movie came around a time when we really need a movie that is as weird and fucked up as this. Because this is the kind of movie that would make it's viewer just sid back and enjoy the odd sideshow.
4. Civil War
Not as good as Winter Soldier but a hell of alot better than Age of Ultron. Honestly this is my Avengers 2.
3. Star Trek Beyond
Like First Class this was a better movie than I expected it would be. It helped that it was never a complete rehash of an old Trek movie and it actually establishes it's own story and mythos.
2. Don't Breathe
We need more horror movies like this. I wouldn't go as far as to call the movie creative but it's one of the few horror films that made me smile from ear to ear.
1. Deadpool
I don't care if this isn't a summer movie. It's my list and this is taking the No.1 spot. It's not only the best superhero movie I've seen this year it's also the most romantic movie I've seen this year.
The Final Movie Review
Hoooo boy. What do you get when you have a movie with nobody to root for? A movie that leaves you pretty empty inside that's what. Especially with a movie that has a group of sociopaths vs a group of assholes. Watching this movie, to me, was like watching the first VHS movie. The characters were so unlikable that you just find yourself watching it with a blank emotion.
Granted there was one decent character who was likable enough that I was rooting for him to live but even with that character I find myself asking why would he be friends with the most unlikable characters imaginable? Let alone hang out with them. No wonder he decides to just say "fuck it" and distance himself because I'd want to also.
And I get it. The movie is one of those movies that ask a question; "What would you do in this situation?" Well, speaking as someone who was a victim of bullying, I can say with confidence that I never once entertained the idea of shooting up a school nor torture a bully beyond recognition. Because that is what a sociopath is. And if anyone sympathizes with the torturers then I'd have to question their mental stability.
Come to think of it I do find a movie like The Final offensive towards victims of bullying. Especially since the movie implies that the only option is to become a torturing sociopath. Why not just fight the system or sue the school? Honestly, a movie where the victims in question fight the corrupt school system and try to change it for the better would have been a better movie. Instead, we get a movie with hardly anybody to root for and an ending that is hardly a downer ending. More like a Nothing to be frank. Especially with the characters being so one dimensional. The bullies are over the top personifications of that archetype while the victims are so sociopathic that I find it pretty hard to sympathize from their POV. Especially since the majority of them were fucked up to begin with. The only normal character was the one who actually acted like a regular human being. That one sociopath said it best. I wished the whole cast were well-rounded as the Only Sane Man character. Maybe this movie would have been decent.
Overall I'd give this movie an F. Don't waste your time with this one. If you want a better version of this then watch Chronicle instead. At least there Andrew started out as a normal yet troubled teen before he ventured into a tragic antagonist. And you can actually buy his gradual turn towards sociopathy. On grounds that it wasn't rushed as hell. Also his animal of a father pushed him to it.
In short. Max gets bullied characters. I still cross my fingers on Bulk and Skull keeping their lovable characteristics intact.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
The Scion Universe
This is a continuation of the original topic here.
After examining the three works I decided to form the three of them into a shared universe, which is called the Scion Universe. The Scion Universe takes place in our earth but completely altered. For one everything is true. And the question is how much the world is affected because of this?
The intent for the scion universe is not to deconstruct but to add some new element to the superhero genre.
After examining the three works I decided to form the three of them into a shared universe, which is called the Scion Universe. The Scion Universe takes place in our earth but completely altered. For one everything is true. And the question is how much the world is affected because of this?
The intent for the scion universe is not to deconstruct but to add some new element to the superhero genre.
Thursday, September 1, 2016
The New Trinity: Crimson Avenger, Noble Demons, and Redinaito No Barādo
Sup! Today I want to discuss the three writing projects I'm looking at doing. Crimson Avenger, Noble Demons, and The Ballad of The Lady Knight. The primary genre for each of them are of the superhero genre but each series has a distinct style.
Crimson Avenger: Is a coming of age superhero series that chronicles the adventures of local superhero Crimson Avenger. Amelia North grew up in a family of superheroes and her sisters are famous superheroes in their own right. But when you live in a world where everyone has a super power but you then Amelia must work ten times as hard to keep up with the rest. Cause Amelia wants to make it as a superhero despite her lack of super powers. Lets just hope that the world doesn't break her in the process.
Noble Demons: Chronicles the life of a man named Owen who wants to become a supervillain. The road to becoming a top ranked super villain is a dangerous and competitive road. How far is Owen; The Unknown Villain willing to go to achieve his goal?
The Ballad of The Lady Knight: Leia Pryde, a freshman at Toryama Academy who was called to become a Magi Knight. Champion of the Mundane, who protects innocents from The Forces of Darkness. And this isn't some novice either. Leia has been the Lady Knight ever since high school, which is quite the accomplishment since a Lady Knight have a short life expectancy. She assumed that she's the only one. But when a new Magi Knight is called it is up to her to guide the new knight and prepare her for the dark forces she'll encounter.
Crimson Avenger is an homage of the superhero genre that takes just about every single superhero concept and twist them while paying tribute to them. Noble Demons change the focus on other characters who aren't superheroes to showcase what the superhero world is like in their perspective. While Lady Knight focus on the urban fantasy aspect of the superhero genre.
Despite the differences each of the projects have one thing in-common. Provide a new perspective of the genre it's based on.
If anyone is curious about the rating. Crimson Avenger is the more "youth friendly" of the bunch as Lady Knight and Noble Demons are more adult oriented. But the more Amelia starts to mature the rating matures along with her. Not mincing words but, superheroes have sex in my works.
P.S: To those wondering about A Heroes Journey I'm afraid to inform you that I'm looking at shutting that project down. It's not that I didn't like it it's just I don't know where to go with the series and I wrote myself in a box with that. But don't worry, you'll see Damon again in some form. I'm already using Leia in The Lady Knight. Will Damon make an appearance? Who knows.
Crimson Avenger: Is a coming of age superhero series that chronicles the adventures of local superhero Crimson Avenger. Amelia North grew up in a family of superheroes and her sisters are famous superheroes in their own right. But when you live in a world where everyone has a super power but you then Amelia must work ten times as hard to keep up with the rest. Cause Amelia wants to make it as a superhero despite her lack of super powers. Lets just hope that the world doesn't break her in the process.
Noble Demons: Chronicles the life of a man named Owen who wants to become a supervillain. The road to becoming a top ranked super villain is a dangerous and competitive road. How far is Owen; The Unknown Villain willing to go to achieve his goal?
The Ballad of The Lady Knight: Leia Pryde, a freshman at Toryama Academy who was called to become a Magi Knight. Champion of the Mundane, who protects innocents from The Forces of Darkness. And this isn't some novice either. Leia has been the Lady Knight ever since high school, which is quite the accomplishment since a Lady Knight have a short life expectancy. She assumed that she's the only one. But when a new Magi Knight is called it is up to her to guide the new knight and prepare her for the dark forces she'll encounter.
Crimson Avenger is an homage of the superhero genre that takes just about every single superhero concept and twist them while paying tribute to them. Noble Demons change the focus on other characters who aren't superheroes to showcase what the superhero world is like in their perspective. While Lady Knight focus on the urban fantasy aspect of the superhero genre.
Despite the differences each of the projects have one thing in-common. Provide a new perspective of the genre it's based on.
If anyone is curious about the rating. Crimson Avenger is the more "youth friendly" of the bunch as Lady Knight and Noble Demons are more adult oriented. But the more Amelia starts to mature the rating matures along with her. Not mincing words but, superheroes have sex in my works.
P.S: To those wondering about A Heroes Journey I'm afraid to inform you that I'm looking at shutting that project down. It's not that I didn't like it it's just I don't know where to go with the series and I wrote myself in a box with that. But don't worry, you'll see Damon again in some form. I'm already using Leia in The Lady Knight. Will Damon make an appearance? Who knows.
Monday, August 29, 2016
Manga Review: Uchi No Musume Ni Te O Dasu Na
There are two words that come to mind when I look at this series; hidden depths. First impression wise I just figure this manga as a quirky little piece that combines two things that I like: superheroes and cheesecake. But just like Last Action Hero, there is more to this manga than meets the eye.
It is a surprisingly heartwarming tale about a mother and a daughter trying to make it as superheroes and the manga does a good job in letting you feel for the two characters.
It also plays a nifty little commentary on the hentai genre. The manga looks, walks, and acts like something you'd see straight out of a hentai but it is a complete satire of the genre that not only plays it straight but also points out the common cliches in hentai. For instance, there is a character that actually uses fanservice as a weapon. That is how self-aware this manga is. But it's not all smut for the sake of smut as it manages to have some world building and a variety of characters with their own unique personalities.
The manga isn't without flaws. There are some parts of the manga that made me uncomfortable; underage fanservice, nothing explicit but still I do not want to see close up shots of a little girl's ass. And when Athena, the mother and one of the main characters, was brainwashed and turned into a sex slave. I've seen Jessica Jones and every cult documentary and I find mind control more creepy than tantalizing. And just about every male character, sans one, is a jerkass horndog. It made me question if there is any decent male character in the series?
Overall I give the manga a solid B+. If I had to think of another word to describe the series then it would be, inspiring. This manga is one of those adult mangas that would have made a good series if you take away the hentai elements and just make it a heartwarming story about a mother/daughter superhero duo saving the world together. And the manga gets points for having a female big bad. More points for making me wonder where will they go next?
I just wouldn't go into this manga expecting it to resemble One Punch Man. It really is not. But it's good on its own.
Friday, August 26, 2016
Why Princess Leia Is One of My Favorite Star Wars Characters And Why She Should Be Respected
Princess Leia to me has got to be not just one of the best characters in Star Wars canon but also one of the most well-written female characters. To explain why I'm going to go back during the original trilogy.
Imagine Princess Leia having to be forced to grow up pretty quickly. Especially with the Empire hunting her and placing the responsibility of the Rebel Alliance on her shoulders. Luke Skywalker at least had the privilege of having a decent childhood but, taking the insanity of the Empire into consideration, you have to wonder if Leia had the chance to live a life a regular little girl in that universe would live?
Then let's look at the first movie. In an impressive showcase of her genre savvy she not only sends the droids to Tatooine to deliver Obi-Wan a distress signal but take note of how calm and collected she was when she did that. Just think if she didn't set everything in motion by sending the droids to Tatooine then the events of the trilogy might not happen and Luke might not achieve his destiny. So either intentional or unintentional Leia was quite the magnificent bastard.
There is also the things she had to endure while under Vader's custody. Being tortured and watching her home planet get blown up and probably more tortures. Yet she still kept her strong resolve. Vader could have forced her to watch The Ridiculous 6 and she still wouldn't crack. And that is just the tip of the trauma induced iceberg.
She had to watch Han Solo be frozen and deal with the failure of not rescuing him. And lets get into Return of The Jedi. Oh boy Return of The Jedi.
Yeah seeing Princess Leia in the infamous slave bikini brought many fond memories but look at it in a Fridge Horror perspective in her POV. Being constantly molested by Jabba and being forced to endure God knows what degrading acts that Jabba put her through before Luke arrived. There have been stories both in novelization and in fanfic that expand on the horrors Leia endured when being enslaved by Jabba. In one of the stories from Legends: Jabba gave Leia to Boba Fett for a night as a reward for good work. The only reason she wasn't brutally raped is because Boba is disgusted by taking someone against their will. Had it been almost any other of Jabba's minions and she wouldn't have been so lucky. Not to mention the sheer horror of being at the mercy of the bounty hunter who took away the man you love and gave him to Jabba in the first place.
But she bid her time and built up all that inner rage until she finally manage to get her revenge on Jabba. It was glorious. Did that experience darkened her? No. She still kept her resolve to help her friends overthrow the galactic empire. Anyone in her position would have went rogue right then and there. Yet there is something inspiring about Leia still maintaining her humanity after all the shit that she went through.
Princess Leia is also the deconstruction of the Damsel Princess Syndrome that you'd usually see in other works of fiction. Because Princess Leia refuses to be a victim. Princess Leia is a survivor.
Imagine Princess Leia having to be forced to grow up pretty quickly. Especially with the Empire hunting her and placing the responsibility of the Rebel Alliance on her shoulders. Luke Skywalker at least had the privilege of having a decent childhood but, taking the insanity of the Empire into consideration, you have to wonder if Leia had the chance to live a life a regular little girl in that universe would live?
Then let's look at the first movie. In an impressive showcase of her genre savvy she not only sends the droids to Tatooine to deliver Obi-Wan a distress signal but take note of how calm and collected she was when she did that. Just think if she didn't set everything in motion by sending the droids to Tatooine then the events of the trilogy might not happen and Luke might not achieve his destiny. So either intentional or unintentional Leia was quite the magnificent bastard.
There is also the things she had to endure while under Vader's custody. Being tortured and watching her home planet get blown up and probably more tortures. Yet she still kept her strong resolve. Vader could have forced her to watch The Ridiculous 6 and she still wouldn't crack. And that is just the tip of the trauma induced iceberg.
She had to watch Han Solo be frozen and deal with the failure of not rescuing him. And lets get into Return of The Jedi. Oh boy Return of The Jedi.
Yeah seeing Princess Leia in the infamous slave bikini brought many fond memories but look at it in a Fridge Horror perspective in her POV. Being constantly molested by Jabba and being forced to endure God knows what degrading acts that Jabba put her through before Luke arrived. There have been stories both in novelization and in fanfic that expand on the horrors Leia endured when being enslaved by Jabba. In one of the stories from Legends: Jabba gave Leia to Boba Fett for a night as a reward for good work. The only reason she wasn't brutally raped is because Boba is disgusted by taking someone against their will. Had it been almost any other of Jabba's minions and she wouldn't have been so lucky. Not to mention the sheer horror of being at the mercy of the bounty hunter who took away the man you love and gave him to Jabba in the first place.
But she bid her time and built up all that inner rage until she finally manage to get her revenge on Jabba. It was glorious. Did that experience darkened her? No. She still kept her resolve to help her friends overthrow the galactic empire. Anyone in her position would have went rogue right then and there. Yet there is something inspiring about Leia still maintaining her humanity after all the shit that she went through.
Princess Leia is also the deconstruction of the Damsel Princess Syndrome that you'd usually see in other works of fiction. Because Princess Leia refuses to be a victim. Princess Leia is a survivor.
Thor: Ragnarok And When To Use Humor Properly
Apparently, there has been a divide in Thor: Ragnarok. You have one side that are loyal to the movie no matter what but you have the other side that would rather avoid it because the Thor films appear to be the black sheep of the MCU. I mean think about it? The majority of the other MCU films have been a critical darling but when anyone ask about the Thor films the one positive aspect would be that Loki is the only well-written villain character there is.
It's safe to say that Thor: Ragnarok has more to prove than the other MCU movies. Thor: The Dark World didn't quite provide a good impression and I don't blame anyone for being cautious to this movie. Especially after reading reports relating to it. Lets just say I'm not looking forward to Odin's fate.
Another pause for concern is that it's adding The Hulk. Remember the complaints surrounding Dawn of Justice on how WB is adding a lot of characters in the movie instead of the character that should have mattered the most? Also remember when there were complaints on Batman being included in the movie at all instead of doing another Superman movie because WB doesn't have faith in Superman doing well on his own? So apparently Marvel decides to use The Hulk because he could put butts in seats and because Marvel is afraid of a potential Dark World situation. But I think the problem with Dark World was it's improper use of humor.
For example. Thor's mother died but the movie wasted no time in being comical again. Same when Loki allegedly "died". The movie's humor was the equivalent of someone dangling keys in front of you.
I know the first movie had a lot of flack but I'd still defend it as a decent movie because, for one thing, the first movie manages to balance humor and drama pretty well. Especially the interactions involving the Warriors Three & Sif. The early dialogue between Thor and Sif I find pretty funny. But the humor worked because it fit the characters. Especially with this scene.
That worked because it was perfectly within Thor's character and Jane reacted, in the same manner, how any normal person would. If that scene were mimicked today Jane would smash a drink with Thor because.....Just because. Also, Jane was the straight man. She had her adorkable moments but still the straight man.
The more I look at the Thor movies the more I feel they're like this stand up comedian who keeps telling bad jokes. He's unaware that they're bad but he keeps telling them anyway because he's desperate to get a laugh. Oh he will. But more in a comically sad kind of way. With me, it's just plain sad how Thor is reduced to this when the franchise could have been so much better.
It's safe to say that Thor: Ragnarok has more to prove than the other MCU movies. Thor: The Dark World didn't quite provide a good impression and I don't blame anyone for being cautious to this movie. Especially after reading reports relating to it. Lets just say I'm not looking forward to Odin's fate.
Another pause for concern is that it's adding The Hulk. Remember the complaints surrounding Dawn of Justice on how WB is adding a lot of characters in the movie instead of the character that should have mattered the most? Also remember when there were complaints on Batman being included in the movie at all instead of doing another Superman movie because WB doesn't have faith in Superman doing well on his own? So apparently Marvel decides to use The Hulk because he could put butts in seats and because Marvel is afraid of a potential Dark World situation. But I think the problem with Dark World was it's improper use of humor.
For example. Thor's mother died but the movie wasted no time in being comical again. Same when Loki allegedly "died". The movie's humor was the equivalent of someone dangling keys in front of you.
I know the first movie had a lot of flack but I'd still defend it as a decent movie because, for one thing, the first movie manages to balance humor and drama pretty well. Especially the interactions involving the Warriors Three & Sif. The early dialogue between Thor and Sif I find pretty funny. But the humor worked because it fit the characters. Especially with this scene.
That worked because it was perfectly within Thor's character and Jane reacted, in the same manner, how any normal person would. If that scene were mimicked today Jane would smash a drink with Thor because.....Just because. Also, Jane was the straight man. She had her adorkable moments but still the straight man.
The more I look at the Thor movies the more I feel they're like this stand up comedian who keeps telling bad jokes. He's unaware that they're bad but he keeps telling them anyway because he's desperate to get a laugh. Oh he will. But more in a comically sad kind of way. With me, it's just plain sad how Thor is reduced to this when the franchise could have been so much better.
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Superman: American Alien
Written by Max Landis, the dude from Chronicle and soon to be Power Rangers reboot.
Now this comic, this comic's more like it! Don't let the image poster fool you because there is more to the story than what the pic presents. This is actually the one story that depicts a modern comic variation of Superman that actually worked.
This comic showcases Superman in his most flawed but actually bothers to do what the New 52 failed to do. Make him likable. Max Landis not only manages to make Superman relevant but he also manages to have him actually enjoy being Superman. And that he actually thinks while fighting, remember that he's not just about punching things. He can be pretty smart too.
I love how he pretended to be Bruce Wayne, which was a direct shout out to old Superman stories where he did pose as Bruce. Oh yeah. Spoilers.
The cameos of the other DC characters were top notch too. Especially one from Mr,Myxykplk. It was only for a panel but the fact that Max introduced him at all was a surprise and a pretty solid cameo.
And he's not above having a sense of humor. The way that he trolled Lex was enough to make Aizen applaud that epic trolling. Trust me, Lex deserved it.
But the final issue. OMG the final issue!!! I was smiling from ear to ear. I'm not going to spoil it but lets just say Max not only gets Superman but also a certain underrated DC character whom has never gotten the respect he deserves.
Overall the comic gets an A+. Superman: American Alien is up there with All-Star Superman and it's the modern Superman that we deserve.
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Holy Throwback, Batman!!!
I just couldn't watch the whole teaser. That microwave death trap had me rolling in laughter. And it's a good kind of laughter. And I get it.
I guess DC needs a movie that is an apology for giving us a Bruce Timm wet dream that we don't want. And not just any movie. A movie that puts Batman back to his roots. I suppose Adam West would be that. Hell, if there is anybody that could make Batman likable again it would be Adam West. And it's nice to finally see a DC Animated movie that featured Batman & The Real Robin teaming up again.
But is it too late? Has the damage already been done? Is Adam West's Batman the Batman that we deserve?
Saturday, August 6, 2016
The Killing Joke(The Lucid Version)
After I've calmed down a bit I've taken another examination of the animated adaptation of The Killing Joke. I still believe in what I've said about the film earlier. It was a blatant Batman/Batgirl fan fic. It looked and was written as something you could see on Fan Fiction.Net and I find it rather surprising that this was made by the same guy who but DC Animated Films and Batman on the map. Yes, long before Nolan gave Batman a much-needed resurgence on the big screen, it was Bruce Timm that made the fans like Batman again. In fact when people think of Batman there are two people come to mind: Keaton and Conroy's Batman. I also would say Mark Hamil's Joker provided the character more layers than the comics would ever provide.
I'd love to know what was going through Bruce Timm's head when he was oking the....questionable decisions that resulted in this fallout. Cause from what I've looked in the interviews it sounded that he was fully aware of the stir it would cause.
He mentioned that he wanted to make Batgirl a more empowering character. There are ways to do that. For starters make The Killing Joke based on her POV. And if you really want to go there, The Joker's POV. Make Barbara sympathetic by giving her motivations that we can get behind. Make her make us understand why she became Batgirl. Showcase The Joker as this sick, psychotic, asshole. Take The Joker into Henry:Portrait of A Serial Killer levels of fucked up if you want to earn that R-Rating. The movie should make you not only hate The Joker but root for Barbara's survival. And I couldn't stress this enough. No Batsex.
People complained how MOS ruined Superman. Pfft. The way I look at it, this movie did more damage to Batman than what All Star Batman & Robin did. If Bruce Timm's career isn't ruined by this then the next time he wants to do Batman/Batgirl fan fiction then at least bother providing a convincing story.
Overall I give the movie an F +. If you really want to see Bruce Timm handle Batman right then do yourselves a favor and go locate then watch Mask of The Phantasm instead. That movie will make you appreciate what he did for the character.
I'd love to know what was going through Bruce Timm's head when he was oking the....questionable decisions that resulted in this fallout. Cause from what I've looked in the interviews it sounded that he was fully aware of the stir it would cause.
He mentioned that he wanted to make Batgirl a more empowering character. There are ways to do that. For starters make The Killing Joke based on her POV. And if you really want to go there, The Joker's POV. Make Barbara sympathetic by giving her motivations that we can get behind. Make her make us understand why she became Batgirl. Showcase The Joker as this sick, psychotic, asshole. Take The Joker into Henry:Portrait of A Serial Killer levels of fucked up if you want to earn that R-Rating. The movie should make you not only hate The Joker but root for Barbara's survival. And I couldn't stress this enough. No Batsex.
People complained how MOS ruined Superman. Pfft. The way I look at it, this movie did more damage to Batman than what All Star Batman & Robin did. If Bruce Timm's career isn't ruined by this then the next time he wants to do Batman/Batgirl fan fiction then at least bother providing a convincing story.
Overall I give the movie an F +. If you really want to see Bruce Timm handle Batman right then do yourselves a favor and go locate then watch Mask of The Phantasm instead. That movie will make you appreciate what he did for the character.
The Price of The Popularity of Superhero Movies
I remember a time when we'd be lucky to even have a superhero movie. The idea of having one superhero movie and another the year after was unheard of.. The only superhero void we had at the time were in animated products like the Timmverse, X-Men: The Animated Series, Spider-Man: The Animated series, etc. If you'd ask me in the late 90's if superhero films were going to boom as it has been I'd say you're crazy. But boy has it ever.
Superhero films today have become so popular that even Japan has jumped on the bandwagon with One Punch Man and My Hero Academy. Yet, as the old saying goes, fame comes with a price.
You'd think with superhero movies being as popular as they are it should make the superhero fandom happy about it. Yet scaringly enough it just ends up dividing the fanbase even more. Granted the Marvel and DC fandom has always had a rivalry but there was a sense of unification back when superhero films were so scarce. But its now the equivalent of an ugly family squabble. And you're like that little kid who just want the fighting to stop.
I remember someone, not mentioning names, got so fed up with the ordeal that it ruined their enjoyment for anything superhero related. Then you have others who wished superhero films didn't become as popular as it has.
Personally speaking, despite my own personal grievances, I like that the superhero movies are where it's at. Yet I feel it could be more than what it is. I wouldn't mind a director taking a superhero movie into a fresh direction. Like how Deadpool is doing. We are even seeing original superhero material from All Superheroes Must Die and I'd hope that more original superhero material gets put out. The superhero genre shouldn't just be about capes and costumes or superpowers. It should be about taking your imagination and shape it into something greater than you've expected. It doesn't have to copy the Marvel/DC formula. That's the kind of freedom a filmmaker's creative imagination should have.
And on a fan perspective. If you like the movie, that's fine, if you hate it, that's fine. While someone doesn't share the same view it's not worth getting riled up cause at the end of the day, it is just a franchise. And you should continue to show appreciation to the franchise that you love, regardless of whomever says different.
Superhero films today have become so popular that even Japan has jumped on the bandwagon with One Punch Man and My Hero Academy. Yet, as the old saying goes, fame comes with a price.
You'd think with superhero movies being as popular as they are it should make the superhero fandom happy about it. Yet scaringly enough it just ends up dividing the fanbase even more. Granted the Marvel and DC fandom has always had a rivalry but there was a sense of unification back when superhero films were so scarce. But its now the equivalent of an ugly family squabble. And you're like that little kid who just want the fighting to stop.
I remember someone, not mentioning names, got so fed up with the ordeal that it ruined their enjoyment for anything superhero related. Then you have others who wished superhero films didn't become as popular as it has.
Personally speaking, despite my own personal grievances, I like that the superhero movies are where it's at. Yet I feel it could be more than what it is. I wouldn't mind a director taking a superhero movie into a fresh direction. Like how Deadpool is doing. We are even seeing original superhero material from All Superheroes Must Die and I'd hope that more original superhero material gets put out. The superhero genre shouldn't just be about capes and costumes or superpowers. It should be about taking your imagination and shape it into something greater than you've expected. It doesn't have to copy the Marvel/DC formula. That's the kind of freedom a filmmaker's creative imagination should have.
And on a fan perspective. If you like the movie, that's fine, if you hate it, that's fine. While someone doesn't share the same view it's not worth getting riled up cause at the end of the day, it is just a franchise. And you should continue to show appreciation to the franchise that you love, regardless of whomever says different.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Star Trek Beyond: A Return To Form For The New Trek Films
I think the best way to describe the New Trek Films is the Star Trek movie franchise going through a midlife crisis. They tried to recapture their youth in Into The Darkness but it's like seeing an old man trying to be young and hip to a younger crowd. It's embarrassing to watch. Star Trek Beyond is the film series taking a metaphorical self-examination and sets itself to get its life back on track. And boy did it ever did!
I actually have a good time with this movie. Everything about this movie was enjoyable. From the fight scenes to the story and to the characters. When a movie didn't have one character that took me out of the movie or pissed me off then the film did something right.
I thought this movie played up the character interactions pretty well. Since it is directed by the same guy who did the Furious Films, who seriously should direct more movies, expect some good characterization with witty dialogue.
The MCU should take notes from this film when it comes to using humor in a serious situation. I never once ask myself if the joke was necessary nor did the humor irritated me. The characters involved played the witty parts pretty well and in a less embarrassing manner. I thought Bones and Spock had the best chemistry.
Lets talk about new characters. Jayla was a fun character. To properly describe her she's Gamora done right. She's a badass female character who can carry her own and doesn't have to play the damsel in distress card. And there was a believable ship tease with Scotty. Which I can honestly get behind more than say.....Natasha/Bruce Banner. Sigh. And they didn't do a forced romantic hook up either. It was a gradual build that could lead to something serious in the next film. But it never devalued Jayla in any way.
Oh and the movie was written by Simon Pegg. Talk about the man of many talents!
I thought the film's villain was a huge improvement but I was a little disappointed that he didn't survive to the point that he could pop up in the next movie. Then again, with Trek's rich history, it's one of the few franchises that doesn't need a recurring villain.
I also like James T. Kirk in this. This movie made the new version of Kirk more humanized rather than trying to have him imitate the original Kirk. After two films this one managed to make Kirk likable. Good job.
I should warn those considering seeing this. The tribute to Leonard Nimoy could tug the heart strings.
Overall I give Star Trek Beyond an A. This was a good booster after the mess that was The Killing Joke and it renewed my faith in Science Fiction movies. It harkened back to the Star Trek themes that we love while including some new elements in it. If this is the new direction it's going to take then continue following that path.
Thursday, July 28, 2016
My Stance On Recurring Villains
After so many years of watching anime, movies, tv shows, and studying other forms of medium I've come to realize this. I think the term recurring villain is a little played out. I know there is an old saying: "His or her villain defines every great hero." It is the villains that help the hero grow and sometimes vice versa, but I just hate how the term recurring villain has been abused.
A hero defeats the villain in an epic battle; a bad guy is either killed or imprisoned. Then ends up being freed or brought back in some ill-conceived manner. The antagonist ends up fighting the hero again, rinse and repeat. Which makes the hero look not only incompetent but erases their previous achievements in defeating the villain.
However, in some works of fiction, a hero ends up fighting a new Big Bad. If there is one thing I liked from Buffy, it is that no matter who her previous villain is there is always a bigger fish.
One exception I'd make is a grand scheme villain. The kind of villain where a hero has to overcome a lot to defeat. Palpatine, DCAU Darkseid, and Hydra from the MCU. Especially since they have that whole cut off one head then more will follow thing going but just picture how sweet it would be when they're defeated for good.
Villains are good when they're needed for a hero to overcome an arc but once they've fulfilled their purpose then pull the plug. To avoid redundancy.
As someone who enjoys a well-written antagonist, a person should take steps to make sure the antagonist doesn't overstay his welcome.
A hero defeats the villain in an epic battle; a bad guy is either killed or imprisoned. Then ends up being freed or brought back in some ill-conceived manner. The antagonist ends up fighting the hero again, rinse and repeat. Which makes the hero look not only incompetent but erases their previous achievements in defeating the villain.
However, in some works of fiction, a hero ends up fighting a new Big Bad. If there is one thing I liked from Buffy, it is that no matter who her previous villain is there is always a bigger fish.
One exception I'd make is a grand scheme villain. The kind of villain where a hero has to overcome a lot to defeat. Palpatine, DCAU Darkseid, and Hydra from the MCU. Especially since they have that whole cut off one head then more will follow thing going but just picture how sweet it would be when they're defeated for good.
Villains are good when they're needed for a hero to overcome an arc but once they've fulfilled their purpose then pull the plug. To avoid redundancy.
As someone who enjoys a well-written antagonist, a person should take steps to make sure the antagonist doesn't overstay his welcome.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Major Writing Pet Peeves
Original Fiction
Damsels In Distress: Either its an action heroine or a non-action heroine doesn't matter, it is still a tired cliche that does a complete disservice to a female character. If all a character is to get rescued 24/7 then there are two options: improve the character or put the character on a bus.
Stuffed In A Fridge: Killing a character, either male or female, just to rile a protagonist is just lazy writing. Especially then the target in question is nothing more than a plot device to spur some kind of roaring rampage of revenge.
Invincible Characters: A character that casually wins any outcome without having to work for it. When done so often you just have to ask yourself; "Why bother?"
Shock Valued Deaths: Death is inevitable and, unfortunately, unexpected but find a reason to do it other than just to spark an emotion out of a reader
Meaningless Rape Scene: Ok to address the elephant in the room, if you do have to use a rape scene then please treat it with as much respect as possible. Do not, by any means, treat it as cheap fanservice or completely ignore it later on. It is violating and nightmarish and should be treated as such.
Designated Heroes: Unless if the characters around them are aware that the hero is an ass/bitch but the hero's too delusional to see that. But don't make said, jerk hero a jerk sue. Make them be called out on it.
Love Triangles: Utterly despise them. Nothing good comes out of any participants involve.
Fan Fiction
Character Bashing: I get it. Some people need to vent, I write my share of vent fics too. However if there is a character whom I despise then I'd try to make the character better than said character was in canon.
Damsels In Distress: Either its an action heroine or a non-action heroine doesn't matter, it is still a tired cliche that does a complete disservice to a female character. If all a character is to get rescued 24/7 then there are two options: improve the character or put the character on a bus.
Stuffed In A Fridge: Killing a character, either male or female, just to rile a protagonist is just lazy writing. Especially then the target in question is nothing more than a plot device to spur some kind of roaring rampage of revenge.
Invincible Characters: A character that casually wins any outcome without having to work for it. When done so often you just have to ask yourself; "Why bother?"
Shock Valued Deaths: Death is inevitable and, unfortunately, unexpected but find a reason to do it other than just to spark an emotion out of a reader
Meaningless Rape Scene: Ok to address the elephant in the room, if you do have to use a rape scene then please treat it with as much respect as possible. Do not, by any means, treat it as cheap fanservice or completely ignore it later on. It is violating and nightmarish and should be treated as such.
Designated Heroes: Unless if the characters around them are aware that the hero is an ass/bitch but the hero's too delusional to see that. But don't make said, jerk hero a jerk sue. Make them be called out on it.
Love Triangles: Utterly despise them. Nothing good comes out of any participants involve.
Fan Fiction
Character Bashing: I get it. Some people need to vent, I write my share of vent fics too. However if there is a character whom I despise then I'd try to make the character better than said character was in canon.
Monday, July 25, 2016
The Killing Joke: A Animated Fan Fic By One of The Once Great Animated Writers(Rant)
Disclaimer: Before I get on a rant I just want to point out that if there is anyone out there who love the film then power to ya,there is something about the movie that you like. Hell, I commend you for it. But I'm not one of them. So respect that.
I'm not what you'd call a fan of The Killing Joke but I appreciate the impact that it made in comic culture. Especially as it was the comic that made Batman stories evolve to what it is right now. The comic is the epitome of love it or hate it.
So when I heard that it was going to be made in animated format, I was intrigued. Sure I didn't want to instantly buy the animated movie but, when hearing about the participants involved, I was curious as to where they were going to go with it. And boy did it go somewhere. Right in the toilet along with the rest of the fecal matter.
In the beginning, I had nothing but apathy when I heard about the controversy surrounding the movie. Because I had a rather meh reaction. Cause after what I went through with Dawn of Justice I figure, it couldn't be worse. And I was hoping that perhaps the film could be surprisingly good despite the controversy and end up like Ghostbusters where it didn't deserve the controversy behind the film. Yet it manage to achieve my expectations. It manage to be a movie that was worse than Dawn of Justice. At least with Dawn of Justice I can point out a couple of things that I liked in that. Wonder Woman and the Superman vs Batman fight. And I would at least acknowledge that Dawn of Justice was made by people who had no idea what they were doing and produced a cluttered mess. But I'd take that over people who knew that they were baking a cake made out of fecal matter because they were curious how a shit cake would look.
They took one of the most iconic characters and managed to make him unlikable. Batman had flaws but some good writers would at least acknowledge that there is a good person who'd strive to fight in the name of justice while trying to hold onto his humanity. That was one of the things I felt the Nolan Batman films did well. Other than the shitty ending in The Dark Knight Rises. They turned Batman into an asshole who toyed with Batgirl's emotions just so his agenda could be fulfilled and he ended up having sex with her and have little to no hesitation or regret.
People may shit on Watchman but I honestly felt that it played a good homage to Alan Moore's comic and I felt that the movie version of the ending made sense. And I liked the animated version of For The Man Who Has Everything. Cause it was soo good that it didn't felt like an adaptation to me. It felt like a stand-alone Justice League Unlimited episode. But this animated movie felt like it was made by a guy who wanted his Batman/Batgirl wet dream to be produced in animated format rather than paying homage to Alan Moore's work. And it wouldn't surprise me if Bruce Timm was jerking off during that roof top sequence. And he pretty much turned Barbara into a sex symbol. Which I found more insulting than Whedon's portrayal of Ultron cause at least with Ultron I was more confused on if I were watching a Transformers movie than an Avengers movie.
As someone who have read the comic, the shooting scene was nightmarish and ugly as fuck. Meanwhile, the animated movie took its sweet time to provide a close up of Barbara's breast while panning down in a manner that anime shows would when they're doing a fanservice scene. Before Joker proceeds to do the unthinkable.
Then the movie closes out with the debut of Oracle but after all that I just gave zero fucks because the heroes in that movie were so unlikable. They could rival the characters in Arrow when it comes to unlikability.
So overall I give The Killing Joke a F++. Because this movie is so bad that it deserves two pluses.
Don't waste your time with this fan fic or the comic. Instead, I'd personally recommend Whatever Happened To The Man of Tomorrow if you want a comic written by Alan Moore. A good comic that caps of Silver Age Superman.
I'm not what you'd call a fan of The Killing Joke but I appreciate the impact that it made in comic culture. Especially as it was the comic that made Batman stories evolve to what it is right now. The comic is the epitome of love it or hate it.
So when I heard that it was going to be made in animated format, I was intrigued. Sure I didn't want to instantly buy the animated movie but, when hearing about the participants involved, I was curious as to where they were going to go with it. And boy did it go somewhere. Right in the toilet along with the rest of the fecal matter.
In the beginning, I had nothing but apathy when I heard about the controversy surrounding the movie. Because I had a rather meh reaction. Cause after what I went through with Dawn of Justice I figure, it couldn't be worse. And I was hoping that perhaps the film could be surprisingly good despite the controversy and end up like Ghostbusters where it didn't deserve the controversy behind the film. Yet it manage to achieve my expectations. It manage to be a movie that was worse than Dawn of Justice. At least with Dawn of Justice I can point out a couple of things that I liked in that. Wonder Woman and the Superman vs Batman fight. And I would at least acknowledge that Dawn of Justice was made by people who had no idea what they were doing and produced a cluttered mess. But I'd take that over people who knew that they were baking a cake made out of fecal matter because they were curious how a shit cake would look.
They took one of the most iconic characters and managed to make him unlikable. Batman had flaws but some good writers would at least acknowledge that there is a good person who'd strive to fight in the name of justice while trying to hold onto his humanity. That was one of the things I felt the Nolan Batman films did well. Other than the shitty ending in The Dark Knight Rises. They turned Batman into an asshole who toyed with Batgirl's emotions just so his agenda could be fulfilled and he ended up having sex with her and have little to no hesitation or regret.
People may shit on Watchman but I honestly felt that it played a good homage to Alan Moore's comic and I felt that the movie version of the ending made sense. And I liked the animated version of For The Man Who Has Everything. Cause it was soo good that it didn't felt like an adaptation to me. It felt like a stand-alone Justice League Unlimited episode. But this animated movie felt like it was made by a guy who wanted his Batman/Batgirl wet dream to be produced in animated format rather than paying homage to Alan Moore's work. And it wouldn't surprise me if Bruce Timm was jerking off during that roof top sequence. And he pretty much turned Barbara into a sex symbol. Which I found more insulting than Whedon's portrayal of Ultron cause at least with Ultron I was more confused on if I were watching a Transformers movie than an Avengers movie.
As someone who have read the comic, the shooting scene was nightmarish and ugly as fuck. Meanwhile, the animated movie took its sweet time to provide a close up of Barbara's breast while panning down in a manner that anime shows would when they're doing a fanservice scene. Before Joker proceeds to do the unthinkable.
Then the movie closes out with the debut of Oracle but after all that I just gave zero fucks because the heroes in that movie were so unlikable. They could rival the characters in Arrow when it comes to unlikability.
So overall I give The Killing Joke a F++. Because this movie is so bad that it deserves two pluses.
Don't waste your time with this fan fic or the comic. Instead, I'd personally recommend Whatever Happened To The Man of Tomorrow if you want a comic written by Alan Moore. A good comic that caps of Silver Age Superman.
Friday, July 8, 2016
Anime Review: Tsukiuta, The Animation
Pretty boys galore. What else can I say about this series? Especially since this is only one episode in.
This is one of those series that isn't subtle on what it is and who its catering to. And I admit I have a bit of a guilty pleasure involving animes with pretty boys. Especially ones in a Dude Looks Like A Lady territory. It wasn't boring and its a good time killer, even if the concept is a slice of life series.
Overall I give the anime a solid B+.
Probably wondering what drew me into a series like this? Not gonna lie, there is a small part of me that hopes a situation would end in a massive sex orgy. Don't judge me!
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
So Burned Part II
This is part 2 of my previous topic. This one depicts how I've been going to the movies alot less as of late and how I'm not completely into superhero films. To explain the former my reason is that there really isn't much I'm looking at seeing this year. Which is surprising when compared to last year. Lets say this, if I had to name drop Movie of This Year then Deadpool wins by a landslide. Cause Deadpool brought me something that I've wanted in a superhero film. Innovation, fresh storytelling, and the ability to take risk.
Now I know the upcoming Rogue One movie might be a contender but honestly I'm really not that into it. Prequels aren't my thing.
Also I feel a little burned out on superhero films because the majority of the mainstream superhero movies are just the same movie under a different title. I don't see anything that is fresh or even risk taking. Even with X-Men: Apocalypse it just felt like every other mainstream superhero movie. Deadpool was the only movie I felt was small in scale, thats probably what I liked best about it. The other problem is I don't see any attempts at taking a risk with the MCU, DCCU, and Fox Marvel. The only thing I'm looking forward to ATM is Star Wars: Episode VIII. Say what you will about The Force Awakens but to me at least the movie left things on a; "where will it go from here?" The superhero films otoh hardly gave me that feeling, yeah I'm somewhat curious about Infinity War but given how piss poor Thanos has been developed as of late I'd much rather see Loki and Hydra join forces as at least I'd get something close to a credible threat for the MCU.
I know there are more upcoming DCCU movies but none of them intrigues me ATM. I may go and see Wonder Woman but only to support the Amazon Princess's first ever live action movie. And I find the trailer itself neat.
So to those that are sticking with the superhero films, power to ya, I'm just going to take a sabbatical from them right now. The only live action superhero adaptations I'd invest in is their tv shows. I find myself looking forward to the next season of Marvel Netflix, Flash, and Supergirl. Especially with Superman showing up as far as the latter go.
Now I know the upcoming Rogue One movie might be a contender but honestly I'm really not that into it. Prequels aren't my thing.
Also I feel a little burned out on superhero films because the majority of the mainstream superhero movies are just the same movie under a different title. I don't see anything that is fresh or even risk taking. Even with X-Men: Apocalypse it just felt like every other mainstream superhero movie. Deadpool was the only movie I felt was small in scale, thats probably what I liked best about it. The other problem is I don't see any attempts at taking a risk with the MCU, DCCU, and Fox Marvel. The only thing I'm looking forward to ATM is Star Wars: Episode VIII. Say what you will about The Force Awakens but to me at least the movie left things on a; "where will it go from here?" The superhero films otoh hardly gave me that feeling, yeah I'm somewhat curious about Infinity War but given how piss poor Thanos has been developed as of late I'd much rather see Loki and Hydra join forces as at least I'd get something close to a credible threat for the MCU.
I know there are more upcoming DCCU movies but none of them intrigues me ATM. I may go and see Wonder Woman but only to support the Amazon Princess's first ever live action movie. And I find the trailer itself neat.
So to those that are sticking with the superhero films, power to ya, I'm just going to take a sabbatical from them right now. The only live action superhero adaptations I'd invest in is their tv shows. I find myself looking forward to the next season of Marvel Netflix, Flash, and Supergirl. Especially with Superman showing up as far as the latter go.
Monday, June 13, 2016
So Burned
To those who are wondering why my updates on A Heroes Journey and City
of Adventures are less than frequent is because I'm suffering a bit of a
creative burnout. That and I'm in the process of moving, as far as RL
go. So atm I'm taking the time to recharge my batteries and get my house
in order. Once I've achieve those I shall return with both A Heroes
Journey and City of Adventures. The former will be in a new chapter
titled: Oncoming Storm 2: Electric Boogaloo. As far as City of
Adventures go, I might retool it in a manner that gets the students in
the action while letting the readers become familiarized with each of
the students of Pendragon Academy.
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Why I Liked The Final Act of X-Men Apocalypse
The X-Films have a rather love/hate relationship among the fanbase. Then you have that small vocal minority that doesn't care one way or another; Apocalypse is probably the most critically divided superhero film since Man of Steel. Even my opinion of the movie is rather mixed, there are parts that I liked and there are parts that I don't like. However there is one part of the film I happen to enjoy. The Final Act.
Apocalypse isn't exactly my favorite live action villain adaptation but I acknowledge that there was potential within him and I give credit in Singer at least tried to do something with the character to make him look like a legitimate threat. And out of all the Marvel films, Apocalypse is the only villain I felt was as close to a global threat as you could have. And Singer showed just how much he's a threat, globally.
Yet what pleased me was the final battle. A battle that truly showcase everything was at stake, the X-Men were trying to save not just the world but their mentor Xavier; and I like how even Xavier isn't safe from such a villain like Apocalypse. There were moments the movie even made me feel concerned for his well being, especially during the mind battle. And honestly, I never once gave a damn about any of the Avengers because if there is anything the MCU has taught me its they're fine no matter what. Despite the fact that I know the X-Men will win I give the final battle kudos in getting me invested in the battle emotionally.
There wasn't as single joke said from either side and this was really what I should have wanted from Thor: Dark World. With both sides wanting to kill eachother with the hero side even more than willing to kill to protect someone they care about. Now imagine if someone made a lame joke when Xavier was fighting for his life during that mind battle against Apocalypse? It would take away any emotional investment I had because the people involved are treating it like some big joke. And they aren't fighting for the sake of fighting as there was a story behind the fight scenes.
And while I felt they blew their load with The Phoenix too soon I do appreciate that it was done in a manner that I actually gave a crap about the Jean Grey character. Being honest here I never cared about Jean Grey. Honestly I felt that she's one of the worst characters in the X-Men franchise. Especially with how she pretty much was the X-Men equivalent of Bella Swan during that whole love triangle with Cyclops and Wolverine. I mean Jean's entire character is which guy I'm going to screw or The Phoenix? That's it.
But in this one I felt Apocalypse had rescued her from the scrappy heap. The movie turned Jean Grey into a rather layered character with her own arc that doesn't revolve around which guy I want to fuck? And she was the one to defeat Apocalypse during the end. I hope to God that the next film continues to make Jean a strong character.
So while I wouldn't call Apocalypse my all time favorite superhero movie, that honor goes to Deadpool, it did manage to do something right where the MCU, sans Civil War, did wrong.
Apocalypse isn't exactly my favorite live action villain adaptation but I acknowledge that there was potential within him and I give credit in Singer at least tried to do something with the character to make him look like a legitimate threat. And out of all the Marvel films, Apocalypse is the only villain I felt was as close to a global threat as you could have. And Singer showed just how much he's a threat, globally.
Yet what pleased me was the final battle. A battle that truly showcase everything was at stake, the X-Men were trying to save not just the world but their mentor Xavier; and I like how even Xavier isn't safe from such a villain like Apocalypse. There were moments the movie even made me feel concerned for his well being, especially during the mind battle. And honestly, I never once gave a damn about any of the Avengers because if there is anything the MCU has taught me its they're fine no matter what. Despite the fact that I know the X-Men will win I give the final battle kudos in getting me invested in the battle emotionally.
There wasn't as single joke said from either side and this was really what I should have wanted from Thor: Dark World. With both sides wanting to kill eachother with the hero side even more than willing to kill to protect someone they care about. Now imagine if someone made a lame joke when Xavier was fighting for his life during that mind battle against Apocalypse? It would take away any emotional investment I had because the people involved are treating it like some big joke. And they aren't fighting for the sake of fighting as there was a story behind the fight scenes.
And while I felt they blew their load with The Phoenix too soon I do appreciate that it was done in a manner that I actually gave a crap about the Jean Grey character. Being honest here I never cared about Jean Grey. Honestly I felt that she's one of the worst characters in the X-Men franchise. Especially with how she pretty much was the X-Men equivalent of Bella Swan during that whole love triangle with Cyclops and Wolverine. I mean Jean's entire character is which guy I'm going to screw or The Phoenix? That's it.
But in this one I felt Apocalypse had rescued her from the scrappy heap. The movie turned Jean Grey into a rather layered character with her own arc that doesn't revolve around which guy I want to fuck? And she was the one to defeat Apocalypse during the end. I hope to God that the next film continues to make Jean a strong character.
So while I wouldn't call Apocalypse my all time favorite superhero movie, that honor goes to Deadpool, it did manage to do something right where the MCU, sans Civil War, did wrong.
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Anime Review: My Hero Academia
Or Boku no Hero Academia. Some parts of the review contains spoilers so a little heads up
The Plot:
The appearance of "quirks," newly discovered super powers, has been steadily increasing over the years, with 80 percent of humanity possessing various abilities from manipulation of elements to shapeshifting. This leaves the remainder of the world completely powerless, and Izuku Midoriya is one such individual.
Since he was a child, the ambitious middle schooler has wanted nothing more than to be a hero. Izuku's unfair fate leaves him admiring heroes and taking notes on them whenever he can. But it seems that his persistence has borne some fruit: Izuku meets the number one hero and his personal idol, All Might. All Might's quirk is a unique ability that can be inherited, and he has chosen Izuku to be his successor!
Enduring many months of grueling training, Izuku enrolls in UA High, a prestigious high school famous for its excellent hero training program, and this year's freshmen look especially promising. With his bizarre but talented classmates and the looming threat of a villainous organization, Izuku will soon learn what it really means to be a hero.
Characters:
Having gotten two episodes into the anime I find myself liking Izuku. Especially, in the beginning, he was the only one without super powers yet still wants to be a hero. Which give him the kind of underdog edge I happen to enjoy. He's like an anime version of Rocky to a degree. The unique hero of the anime is All-Might, basically a Captain Marvel(DC Comics) inspired character.
Is it just me or , as far as superhero series go, the central character of the show is usually one that has a Superman power set? One Punch Man, DBZ(Eventhough they get creative with it), and now this show. Huh.
My one gripe is that they had to give Izuku a super power. It would have been interesting to see him become a hero regardless of the fact that he doesn't have any powers.
Overall:
I give the series a B-. It has an intriguing concept but it starts off pretty slow, in its defense I'm only two episodes in and not every hero series can be like One Punch Man where it grabs you at the first episode. And it does have its share of padding problems as I believe it takes a few episodes till Izuku gets superpowers and is enrolled in the hero academy. I'd still recommend it, especially if you want to watch this and One Punch Man back to back.
The Plot:
The appearance of "quirks," newly discovered super powers, has been steadily increasing over the years, with 80 percent of humanity possessing various abilities from manipulation of elements to shapeshifting. This leaves the remainder of the world completely powerless, and Izuku Midoriya is one such individual.
Since he was a child, the ambitious middle schooler has wanted nothing more than to be a hero. Izuku's unfair fate leaves him admiring heroes and taking notes on them whenever he can. But it seems that his persistence has borne some fruit: Izuku meets the number one hero and his personal idol, All Might. All Might's quirk is a unique ability that can be inherited, and he has chosen Izuku to be his successor!
Enduring many months of grueling training, Izuku enrolls in UA High, a prestigious high school famous for its excellent hero training program, and this year's freshmen look especially promising. With his bizarre but talented classmates and the looming threat of a villainous organization, Izuku will soon learn what it really means to be a hero.
Characters:
Having gotten two episodes into the anime I find myself liking Izuku. Especially, in the beginning, he was the only one without super powers yet still wants to be a hero. Which give him the kind of underdog edge I happen to enjoy. He's like an anime version of Rocky to a degree. The unique hero of the anime is All-Might, basically a Captain Marvel(DC Comics) inspired character.
Is it just me or , as far as superhero series go, the central character of the show is usually one that has a Superman power set? One Punch Man, DBZ(Eventhough they get creative with it), and now this show. Huh.
My one gripe is that they had to give Izuku a super power. It would have been interesting to see him become a hero regardless of the fact that he doesn't have any powers.
Overall:
I give the series a B-. It has an intriguing concept but it starts off pretty slow, in its defense I'm only two episodes in and not every hero series can be like One Punch Man where it grabs you at the first episode. And it does have its share of padding problems as I believe it takes a few episodes till Izuku gets superpowers and is enrolled in the hero academy. I'd still recommend it, especially if you want to watch this and One Punch Man back to back.
Monday, May 23, 2016
The Ghostbusters Remake
Its going to be interesting to see what the fallout the remake will bring come the movie's release. You already have one half whom are against it are hoping that the movie bombs Fant4stic style, not because for gender reasons, because of the BS build up the remake has been getting while disregarding what it should have been in the first place. Making a good movie. Then you have another half who want the movie to succeed because"Haha you women hating haters" despite the fact that men and women hated the trailer for reasons that isn't: A; Sexist B; Racist.
The fact that Sony is looking at building a universe around the Ghostbusters franchise is a pretty bold claim given the not so kind buzz the film is getting at the moment and after the mess of Amazing Spider-Man 2 you'd think that they'd learn their lesson by now. Honestly the movie surprisingly made me look back at a movie that did progressive thinking much better. The Force Awakens. Its main character is a heroine and it has a diverse cast but its primary agenda is bringing quality back to the Star Wars franchise after the stink that was The Prequels. Its because of this fact I start to wonder maybe Disney should have bought the Ghostbusters franchise while it was at it.
So come release its going to be interesting to see which side was right? Personally I'm of the side that's going to sit back and enjoy the fireworks.
What I'd recommend to those interested in seeing the movie is watch the movie as it is. A movie. Judge it on its movie quality, form your own opinion regarding it. And for the love of God don't be like these sheep that buy into this political agenda nonsense.
http://www.themarysue.com/feig-on-geek-culture/
How much Sony is paying The Mary Sue site to kiss its ass I wonder?
The fact that Sony is looking at building a universe around the Ghostbusters franchise is a pretty bold claim given the not so kind buzz the film is getting at the moment and after the mess of Amazing Spider-Man 2 you'd think that they'd learn their lesson by now. Honestly the movie surprisingly made me look back at a movie that did progressive thinking much better. The Force Awakens. Its main character is a heroine and it has a diverse cast but its primary agenda is bringing quality back to the Star Wars franchise after the stink that was The Prequels. Its because of this fact I start to wonder maybe Disney should have bought the Ghostbusters franchise while it was at it.
So come release its going to be interesting to see which side was right? Personally I'm of the side that's going to sit back and enjoy the fireworks.
What I'd recommend to those interested in seeing the movie is watch the movie as it is. A movie. Judge it on its movie quality, form your own opinion regarding it. And for the love of God don't be like these sheep that buy into this political agenda nonsense.
http://www.themarysue.com/feig-on-geek-culture/
How much Sony is paying The Mary Sue site to kiss its ass I wonder?
Anime Review: Flying Witch
This anime is an anime that is outside of my usual anime comfort zone but I happen to find myself enjoying it alot. The anime is called Flying Witch.
The Plot:
Its basically a slice of life anime that showcases Kowata Makoto, a witch who moved in and lives with her relatives in a rural area in Japan. Nothing too earth shattering, plot wise, it just showcases Makoto balancing her life as a witch while living as a regular human. It reminds me of Charmed but minus the supernatural battles. I like the idea of witches living among humans without any degree of social prejudice that other similar concepts would force feed its audience. With Flying Witch its like Witches exist but nobody makes a big deal about it.
Animation:
Really fluid and not overly anime. In fact the series is beautiful to look at with the background shots of the town to the detailed designs of the characters that provides them their own unique look and even the soundtrack the series provides gels well.
Characters:
When a anime series has managed to provide characters that haven't irritated the hell out of me and I'm not talking intentional hate but more Scrappy Doo like hate then the series is going places. I also like that each character has his or her own unique voice that makes them stand out instead of having the same personality but with a different design. If I had to think of a character that I happen to like the most its Mokoto's older sister Akane. She has that laid back eccentric personality mixed with a wiser than you'd expect appeal that makes her a well rounded character. It also helps that she reminds me of a young anime version of Storm.
Overall:
This kind of anime may throw those who are used to more actionized anime off. But if you give it time you'd find yourself enjoying such a heartfelt series from start to finish. I'd even recommend it to those who enjoy Slice of Life anime's. I give Flying Witch an A.
I'd highly recommend viewing this.
The Plot:
Its basically a slice of life anime that showcases Kowata Makoto, a witch who moved in and lives with her relatives in a rural area in Japan. Nothing too earth shattering, plot wise, it just showcases Makoto balancing her life as a witch while living as a regular human. It reminds me of Charmed but minus the supernatural battles. I like the idea of witches living among humans without any degree of social prejudice that other similar concepts would force feed its audience. With Flying Witch its like Witches exist but nobody makes a big deal about it.
Animation:
Really fluid and not overly anime. In fact the series is beautiful to look at with the background shots of the town to the detailed designs of the characters that provides them their own unique look and even the soundtrack the series provides gels well.
Characters:
When a anime series has managed to provide characters that haven't irritated the hell out of me and I'm not talking intentional hate but more Scrappy Doo like hate then the series is going places. I also like that each character has his or her own unique voice that makes them stand out instead of having the same personality but with a different design. If I had to think of a character that I happen to like the most its Mokoto's older sister Akane. She has that laid back eccentric personality mixed with a wiser than you'd expect appeal that makes her a well rounded character. It also helps that she reminds me of a young anime version of Storm.
Overall:
This kind of anime may throw those who are used to more actionized anime off. But if you give it time you'd find yourself enjoying such a heartfelt series from start to finish. I'd even recommend it to those who enjoy Slice of Life anime's. I give Flying Witch an A.
I'd highly recommend viewing this.
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Preferred Writing Style
Every author has his or her writing style. Today I'm here to discuss my signature writing style that a reader has spotted in my stories. In the form of tropes.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FeministFantasy
*I wouldn't go as far as to call myself a feminist or anything like that but I do strongly believe in strong female characters. And would go above and beyond to try and eradicate the damsel in distress cliche because if its one cliche in fiction I despise its the damsel in distress. Especially when an action heroine(prefer that over action girl) fall victim just so the dude can look good in comparison. Looking at you Age of Ultron and Guardians of The Galaxy.
**Also, in my works, you'd usually see women in power. Either its a protagonist or a villain or both they a character always has some position in authority. Especially in my superhero stories because you don't see that kind of thing often.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WorldOfBadass
*Sometimes intentionally, other times unintentionally.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BadassGay
*I have gay, bi, even trans characters in my works and they're just as tough as any hetero character.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BlackAndGrayMorality
*Most of the time. Lets just say the heroes in my works fall under the Good Is Not Nice category. Some of them could even be a little shady but all in all they're genuinely decent individuals despite their flaws. And most of the villains in my works do have a human side when off the clock but every now and then there is some evil fucker that you just want to put down.
** To put it in perspective I believe in complex characters. Some heroes aren't always good, some even have selfish reasons to do good, that doesn't make even the flawed ones a bad person though. They just aren't as angelic as some of the other heroes.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CastFullOfPrettyBoys?from=Main.BlueBishonenGhetto
*Most of the time its unintentional.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WorldOfBuxom
*Oh yeah in CAU Legacy but in other works like A Heroes Journey and City of Adventures I tend to make the cup sizes more balanced. The main character, Leia, in A Heroes Journey for instance is petite in size.
Note: Not to Eiken levels as far as CAU Legacy go.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GuileHero
*I find myself liking these kind of heroes the best.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/article_history.php?article=Main.BabyGotback
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY84MRnxVzo
*Not just towards the woman either. <_>
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DudeLooksLikeALady?from=Main.CharacterGenderConfusion
*Every now and then there would be a male character or two that is this.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FeministFantasy
*I wouldn't go as far as to call myself a feminist or anything like that but I do strongly believe in strong female characters. And would go above and beyond to try and eradicate the damsel in distress cliche because if its one cliche in fiction I despise its the damsel in distress. Especially when an action heroine(prefer that over action girl) fall victim just so the dude can look good in comparison. Looking at you Age of Ultron and Guardians of The Galaxy.
**Also, in my works, you'd usually see women in power. Either its a protagonist or a villain or both they a character always has some position in authority. Especially in my superhero stories because you don't see that kind of thing often.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WorldOfBadass
*Sometimes intentionally, other times unintentionally.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BadassGay
*I have gay, bi, even trans characters in my works and they're just as tough as any hetero character.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BlackAndGrayMorality
*Most of the time. Lets just say the heroes in my works fall under the Good Is Not Nice category. Some of them could even be a little shady but all in all they're genuinely decent individuals despite their flaws. And most of the villains in my works do have a human side when off the clock but every now and then there is some evil fucker that you just want to put down.
** To put it in perspective I believe in complex characters. Some heroes aren't always good, some even have selfish reasons to do good, that doesn't make even the flawed ones a bad person though. They just aren't as angelic as some of the other heroes.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CastFullOfPrettyBoys?from=Main.BlueBishonenGhetto
*Most of the time its unintentional.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WorldOfBuxom
*Oh yeah in CAU Legacy but in other works like A Heroes Journey and City of Adventures I tend to make the cup sizes more balanced. The main character, Leia, in A Heroes Journey for instance is petite in size.
Note: Not to Eiken levels as far as CAU Legacy go.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GuileHero
*I find myself liking these kind of heroes the best.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/article_history.php?article=Main.BabyGotback
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY84MRnxVzo
*Not just towards the woman either. <_>
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DudeLooksLikeALady?from=Main.CharacterGenderConfusion
*Every now and then there would be a male character or two that is this.
Monday, May 2, 2016
Top 5 Favorite Fictional Couples
Feeling a little generous so its no special day or any reason as to why I've decided to do this list. Before I do I just want to go over the necessary requirements. The couples I put on the list are those that I get emotionally invested in, so if anyone feels I missed a couple its due to two things: short list or didn't invest me.
So lets get to it!
5.
If there were two people who deserve eachother its Spike and Drusilla. To hell with trying to force feed Buffy and Spike in the latter seasons cause I have seen what happened to Spike the moment him and Dru broke up for good. Heck what happened to both of them. As this vid say: "They complete eachother"
Before I get to no.1 I just want to rundown 3 honorable mentions
1.
They just clicked. The chemistry and the way that they both have went through hell and back just to get that happy ending at the end. Normally I would have been pissed at that but they both have been written so well that I was actually pleased that they both have made it out ok.
What I liked best is that it isn't typical soap opraish BS like we get from Olicity or the MCU. I also noticed that they're relationship is a slight dig at romantic comedy and superhero couples in general. Yet end up being the best superhero movie couple in my eyes.
So lets get to it!
5.
As far as villain couples go this is my all time favorite. One of the reasons being is the level of respect the two give one another. And that is part of the attraction. It was more than just a "I want to fuck" its that both individuals are equals in every way and the moment they've noticed the moment they've agreed to get hitched. And what I find excellent about this is how well they're written. You can believe they're a couple and there are even moments I was rooting for them. Like when Oberon was trying to steal their child.
As villain couples they're refreshing. They never scheme against one another nor was in it for power.
4.
Eat it you homophobic haters!!!
3.
They're quirky, funny, and I like that the both of them got together back when they were really low profile villains then we see the two of them rise through the ranks of supervillainy together. And much like Xanatos and Fox its bound to a certain mutual respect. The Monarch saw potential in Dr.Girlfriend than just a simple arm candy while Dr.Girlfriend sees that The Monarch is destined for something greater than a low level mook.
2.
Going to use this video that best describes them.
If there were two people who deserve eachother its Spike and Drusilla. To hell with trying to force feed Buffy and Spike in the latter seasons cause I have seen what happened to Spike the moment him and Dru broke up for good. Heck what happened to both of them. As this vid say: "They complete eachother"
Before I get to no.1 I just want to rundown 3 honorable mentions
They were so cute together and I did got a little choked up when Adrian died in Rocky Balboa
They're the only incest couple that doesn't make me want to throw up.
Canon in my eyes dammit!!!!
1.
They just clicked. The chemistry and the way that they both have went through hell and back just to get that happy ending at the end. Normally I would have been pissed at that but they both have been written so well that I was actually pleased that they both have made it out ok.
What I liked best is that it isn't typical soap opraish BS like we get from Olicity or the MCU. I also noticed that they're relationship is a slight dig at romantic comedy and superhero couples in general. Yet end up being the best superhero movie couple in my eyes.
Saturday, April 30, 2016
How The Women of Flash & Arrow Are Treated Like Shit
Not sure where to go in terms of this topic and the reason being is what could possibly be said about this particular topic that haven't been said before? But after viewing this video
I feel I should put my two cents on as to how the women characters are treated in Flash and Arrow. And starting things off is the most polarizing character of them all, Laurel.
When first introduced there was an aspect of a good character in her. She was a competent DA whom also happened to be the closest Thea had to a big sister. But the moment Oliver entered the picture just bit by bit something inside her started crumbling. Given the recent events its actually scary how each season leading up to that point happens to be the complete destruction of Laurel as a character and eventually her whole life. She used to be a strong and confident woman but eventually end up as a token superhero girlfriend. With little to no intriguing character arc at all.
Since I've brought Thea up. There is a character that needs a hug. Between finding out that she has a monster for a father and a brother who pretty much haven't been much of a brother to her I tend to question why she's still around in Star City? And just like Laurel she doesn't have an interesting angle either. Ok yeah she has taken a level in badass but the writers never bothered to take that fact anywhere interesting. She's mainly nothing but a plot device for Oliver to rescue. Come to think of it all the characters are plot devices for a hero to save than an actual character.
Take Felicity. She used to be an intelligent person but now she's nothing more than a shadow of what she used to be. And that moment she became paralyzed? They could have taken that to an empowering location but instead they wasted it and her walking for some dumb Olicity drama.
Iris West used to be a no nonsense go getter, she helped teach Barry how to fight!!! But like the women of Arrow she's reduced to being nothing more than a token superhero girlfriend who needs saving.
And lets not even get into the whole women in refrigerators nonsense Arrow toss around. All for the main reason to get a rise out of the hero.
If there is anything I respect about Supergirl its that the women characters on there are actual characters. Alex for instance has always been that rock, that morality chain to Kara, who can also hold her own when the chips are down. She even saved Kara on some occasion.
So outside of the many reasons as to why I haven't watched Flash and Arrow the lack of respect the women characters are getting is one of them. I'm not saying they need to be a "Mary Sue" to be written well. All I want is for them to be written well.
I feel I should put my two cents on as to how the women characters are treated in Flash and Arrow. And starting things off is the most polarizing character of them all, Laurel.
When first introduced there was an aspect of a good character in her. She was a competent DA whom also happened to be the closest Thea had to a big sister. But the moment Oliver entered the picture just bit by bit something inside her started crumbling. Given the recent events its actually scary how each season leading up to that point happens to be the complete destruction of Laurel as a character and eventually her whole life. She used to be a strong and confident woman but eventually end up as a token superhero girlfriend. With little to no intriguing character arc at all.
Since I've brought Thea up. There is a character that needs a hug. Between finding out that she has a monster for a father and a brother who pretty much haven't been much of a brother to her I tend to question why she's still around in Star City? And just like Laurel she doesn't have an interesting angle either. Ok yeah she has taken a level in badass but the writers never bothered to take that fact anywhere interesting. She's mainly nothing but a plot device for Oliver to rescue. Come to think of it all the characters are plot devices for a hero to save than an actual character.
Take Felicity. She used to be an intelligent person but now she's nothing more than a shadow of what she used to be. And that moment she became paralyzed? They could have taken that to an empowering location but instead they wasted it and her walking for some dumb Olicity drama.
Iris West used to be a no nonsense go getter, she helped teach Barry how to fight!!! But like the women of Arrow she's reduced to being nothing more than a token superhero girlfriend who needs saving.
And lets not even get into the whole women in refrigerators nonsense Arrow toss around. All for the main reason to get a rise out of the hero.
If there is anything I respect about Supergirl its that the women characters on there are actual characters. Alex for instance has always been that rock, that morality chain to Kara, who can also hold her own when the chips are down. She even saved Kara on some occasion.
So outside of the many reasons as to why I haven't watched Flash and Arrow the lack of respect the women characters are getting is one of them. I'm not saying they need to be a "Mary Sue" to be written well. All I want is for them to be written well.
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Anime Review: One Punch Man
Either you're an anime or a superhero fan or just want to see something good I just have one thing to say.
GO!FUCKING!SEE IT!!!!!!
Thursday, April 21, 2016
How The Final Fight In The Force Awakens Should Have Went
Ok in my last topic I mentioned how Han's death have raised the stakes of the final act of the film. How the characters involved Finn and Rey vs Kylo were literally fighting to the death. Here's how I personally would have done it.
Ok both Finn and Rey are piiiiiiisssed at Kylo for killing Han and they're out for blood. Kylo meanwhile is in full on death seeker mode. The dude has killed his own father, in his mind he has nothing left to lose. So instead of the usual one on one battle why not change it up and have both Finn and Rey fight Kylo Ren. As noble as that may be they're facing one problem. You are dealing with a dude who has just killed his father and because of that fact something inside him broke. Now Kylo's fighting like a freaking beast.
You could have Rey fight Kylo straight up but why not change Finn's fighting style to that the dude fights dirty? Survival and revenge is on the line and given the opponent in question there's no time to take the noble route. He could even take note at the wound Kylo got from Chewie and would target it.
Thanks to experience and Sith powers Kylo's a freaking beast eventhough he isn't 100%. Despite the odds Finn and Rey are the underdogs. Kylo would be taunting the two on Han's death and despite as furious as they are they're still overwhelmed by Kylo but they're not going out like pussies either.
So Kylo force pushes Rey away then takes down Finn the same manner as the movie. Rey sees this and is mad. Kylo takes note and uses this against her. He keeps goading her in an attempt at two things: pushing her to the darkside and to kill him. As we'd gradually see.
She her lightsaber gets knocked away then Kylo uses the force to lift her off the ground and proceeds to Force Choke her. She sees Kylo's face, twisted in hate, and by doing so she feels a presence calming her. She examines Kylo then herself. Noticing she could be pushed in that direction. This myserious presence help her awake her potential and she fights out of the force choke by summoning her lightsaber and have it strike Kylo across the face.
The two fight but Rey's mind is at a more serene place now. The fight concludes just about the same as the movie's conclusion. Minus Kylo offering Rey to help train her of course. The way I see it Kylo would either make Rey want to kill him or he'd end up killing her. Kill or be killed.
In this scenario Rey would work for the win and you'd actually get a sense of danger and in return you don't nerf Kylo in the process. It also opens the possibility that Rey had an outside help from...you know who to help her win. Hey Ben Kanobi helped Luke in blowing up the Death Star after all. I figure with this scenario everyone comes out looking good.
Ok both Finn and Rey are piiiiiiisssed at Kylo for killing Han and they're out for blood. Kylo meanwhile is in full on death seeker mode. The dude has killed his own father, in his mind he has nothing left to lose. So instead of the usual one on one battle why not change it up and have both Finn and Rey fight Kylo Ren. As noble as that may be they're facing one problem. You are dealing with a dude who has just killed his father and because of that fact something inside him broke. Now Kylo's fighting like a freaking beast.
You could have Rey fight Kylo straight up but why not change Finn's fighting style to that the dude fights dirty? Survival and revenge is on the line and given the opponent in question there's no time to take the noble route. He could even take note at the wound Kylo got from Chewie and would target it.
Thanks to experience and Sith powers Kylo's a freaking beast eventhough he isn't 100%. Despite the odds Finn and Rey are the underdogs. Kylo would be taunting the two on Han's death and despite as furious as they are they're still overwhelmed by Kylo but they're not going out like pussies either.
So Kylo force pushes Rey away then takes down Finn the same manner as the movie. Rey sees this and is mad. Kylo takes note and uses this against her. He keeps goading her in an attempt at two things: pushing her to the darkside and to kill him. As we'd gradually see.
She her lightsaber gets knocked away then Kylo uses the force to lift her off the ground and proceeds to Force Choke her. She sees Kylo's face, twisted in hate, and by doing so she feels a presence calming her. She examines Kylo then herself. Noticing she could be pushed in that direction. This myserious presence help her awake her potential and she fights out of the force choke by summoning her lightsaber and have it strike Kylo across the face.
The two fight but Rey's mind is at a more serene place now. The fight concludes just about the same as the movie's conclusion. Minus Kylo offering Rey to help train her of course. The way I see it Kylo would either make Rey want to kill him or he'd end up killing her. Kill or be killed.
In this scenario Rey would work for the win and you'd actually get a sense of danger and in return you don't nerf Kylo in the process. It also opens the possibility that Rey had an outside help from...you know who to help her win. Hey Ben Kanobi helped Luke in blowing up the Death Star after all. I figure with this scenario everyone comes out looking good.
Why Han's Death Was More Impactful Than Superman's
Before I go there I just want to clear a couple of things. First off I'm not even going to bother with a spoiler warning because I'm sure, judging from the box office numbers, everyone and their own mother have seen The Force Awakens and Dawn of Justice. So if you're going to complain about spoilers then its your own fault for reading the title and the topic.
Secondly this isn't a DC bashing topic. Basically me providing my opinion of the topic and if you still like DOJ regardless of it then power to ya.
So, lets get to it.
Having seen both movies and taking a look at the deaths of two of the most iconic characters: Han Solo and Superman I find myself asking how much of an impact their deaths made? With me I'm judging on how well the death was handled and what it delivered on a storytelling perspective.
Lets take a look at Han. From the starting gate you could see how the situation with Ben/Kylo effected him. It not only made him a little distant to those he cared about but it also sort of lost that spark that he had in the original trilogies. It wasn't till Rey and Finn's arrival that returned that spark that he had lost. And the more time he spent with the two the more the old Han was starting to resurface. While at the same time Rey never knew her original family so due to the time she spent with Han there was a definite father/daughter bond with that. Rey found a surrogate father and Han managed to find a new family in Rey. When Han Solo met Leia you could still see some form of estrangement between the two but also a little hope that maybe things could work out.
As much flack I give Kylo I did like that meeting between him and Han. Yeah we all knew what was going to happen but the reunion was so moving that I honestly felt something in the guy. And when he killed Han, what I got from that was: shit got pretty real, pushed Kylo to the point of no return, it just got personal between the three characters.
Ok lets compare everything after Han's death to everything after the death of Frigga in Thor: Dark World. The stakes got pretty freaking high and both Rey, Finn, and even Chewie want Kylo to die. No joking around, no hur de hur, the participants involved wanted to fucking kill eachother. Sure we can debate on Rey winning the fight but I liked the emotional storytelling behind the fight. And that was what I felt was lacking in most fight scenes in films these days. Just fight fight fight but without any emotion behind it, without any sense of story. That was also where Age of Ultron failed. There was no emotional storytelling in the fight with Ultron. In this one its a fight to the death. With Finn and Rey its revenge for Kylo killing Han. With Kylo going borderline Death Seeker. And I believe that Han's death was what drove Rey to seek Luke out and to improve upon her training.
The only con I'd give this is that while Dawn of Justice at least had a funeral for Superman, Han didn't even get that kind of honor. Spock had one in Wrath of Kahn so it would have been nice for Han to get that kind of send off.
Now for Superman's Death. The more I look back at it the more I felt that it wasn't really needed. Personally my ideal ending would have been the Trinity fighting Bizarro, they kick his ass, then the Trinity search for more metas.
I wouldn't have minded Superman's Death if they actually built it up. Say around Part I of the Justice League film. Which is when I would have used Doomsday. Maybe even do it in a way that Darkseid was responsible for Doomsday's creation and sending him on earth was Darkseid's way of saying he's waging war on earth.
Superman's Death would have been awesome had it had the proper build but I didn't felt it did. For one neither Batman or Wonder Woman knew him enough to make it impactful. And if Suicide Squad is any indication the world still treats Superman as the bad guy. So from the mindset I'm seeing Earth still hates Superman despite the fact that he died? That just makes me dislike the people of Earth for being a bunch of ungrateful assholes. Kara from the Supergirl series gets better respect regardless of that Red K incident. And the whole finding the Justice League? Well we have seen scenarios that they could have done that with Superman being alive. Also it didn't help that Lex in Dawn of Justice was a bigger joke than Hackman's Luthor in the Reeves Superman films. It would be like Captain America being killed by Justin Hammer. At least with my suggestion Superman would have at least been killed by an instrument that Darkseid sent down. Plus the whole death just felt like a rush job. I think if it had some proper development it would have meant something. But unfortunately it didn't. If there was anything I've gotten from Superman's death its the feeling that I actually want Darkseid to destroy a planet filled with ungrateful assholes.
Secondly this isn't a DC bashing topic. Basically me providing my opinion of the topic and if you still like DOJ regardless of it then power to ya.
So, lets get to it.
Having seen both movies and taking a look at the deaths of two of the most iconic characters: Han Solo and Superman I find myself asking how much of an impact their deaths made? With me I'm judging on how well the death was handled and what it delivered on a storytelling perspective.
Lets take a look at Han. From the starting gate you could see how the situation with Ben/Kylo effected him. It not only made him a little distant to those he cared about but it also sort of lost that spark that he had in the original trilogies. It wasn't till Rey and Finn's arrival that returned that spark that he had lost. And the more time he spent with the two the more the old Han was starting to resurface. While at the same time Rey never knew her original family so due to the time she spent with Han there was a definite father/daughter bond with that. Rey found a surrogate father and Han managed to find a new family in Rey. When Han Solo met Leia you could still see some form of estrangement between the two but also a little hope that maybe things could work out.
As much flack I give Kylo I did like that meeting between him and Han. Yeah we all knew what was going to happen but the reunion was so moving that I honestly felt something in the guy. And when he killed Han, what I got from that was: shit got pretty real, pushed Kylo to the point of no return, it just got personal between the three characters.
Ok lets compare everything after Han's death to everything after the death of Frigga in Thor: Dark World. The stakes got pretty freaking high and both Rey, Finn, and even Chewie want Kylo to die. No joking around, no hur de hur, the participants involved wanted to fucking kill eachother. Sure we can debate on Rey winning the fight but I liked the emotional storytelling behind the fight. And that was what I felt was lacking in most fight scenes in films these days. Just fight fight fight but without any emotion behind it, without any sense of story. That was also where Age of Ultron failed. There was no emotional storytelling in the fight with Ultron. In this one its a fight to the death. With Finn and Rey its revenge for Kylo killing Han. With Kylo going borderline Death Seeker. And I believe that Han's death was what drove Rey to seek Luke out and to improve upon her training.
The only con I'd give this is that while Dawn of Justice at least had a funeral for Superman, Han didn't even get that kind of honor. Spock had one in Wrath of Kahn so it would have been nice for Han to get that kind of send off.
Now for Superman's Death. The more I look back at it the more I felt that it wasn't really needed. Personally my ideal ending would have been the Trinity fighting Bizarro, they kick his ass, then the Trinity search for more metas.
I wouldn't have minded Superman's Death if they actually built it up. Say around Part I of the Justice League film. Which is when I would have used Doomsday. Maybe even do it in a way that Darkseid was responsible for Doomsday's creation and sending him on earth was Darkseid's way of saying he's waging war on earth.
Superman's Death would have been awesome had it had the proper build but I didn't felt it did. For one neither Batman or Wonder Woman knew him enough to make it impactful. And if Suicide Squad is any indication the world still treats Superman as the bad guy. So from the mindset I'm seeing Earth still hates Superman despite the fact that he died? That just makes me dislike the people of Earth for being a bunch of ungrateful assholes. Kara from the Supergirl series gets better respect regardless of that Red K incident. And the whole finding the Justice League? Well we have seen scenarios that they could have done that with Superman being alive. Also it didn't help that Lex in Dawn of Justice was a bigger joke than Hackman's Luthor in the Reeves Superman films. It would be like Captain America being killed by Justin Hammer. At least with my suggestion Superman would have at least been killed by an instrument that Darkseid sent down. Plus the whole death just felt like a rush job. I think if it had some proper development it would have meant something. But unfortunately it didn't. If there was anything I've gotten from Superman's death its the feeling that I actually want Darkseid to destroy a planet filled with ungrateful assholes.
The Future of CAU Legacy
I've had a blast in writing CAU Legacy. I believe that because of this I wouldn't have created Age of Heroes or even my other superhero works. I find it interesting that, what started as a proposed Ultimate/Semi-Prequel Universe of CAU Prime has spawned into a universe of its own. Filled with diverse characters with diverse backstories and motivations. Yet unfortunately there comes a time when a person has to hang it up and I'm doing so with CAU Legacy.
I've had many great memories with that universe but right now its time for me to move on with other projects. Like City of Adventures or A Heroes Journey. I know that there are some unsolved plot points left unanswered and I will address them in a future topic down the road.
To those whom have followed and even participated in the universe I'm honored that you enjoyed it as much as I have. And if you want to write stories based on it then you have my blessing. Peace.
I've had many great memories with that universe but right now its time for me to move on with other projects. Like City of Adventures or A Heroes Journey. I know that there are some unsolved plot points left unanswered and I will address them in a future topic down the road.
To those whom have followed and even participated in the universe I'm honored that you enjoyed it as much as I have. And if you want to write stories based on it then you have my blessing. Peace.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Someday Writing Projects
I've written alot of stories and have ideas for others but other projects and RL prevents me from doing such. So here are some projects I may consider doing in the event I have the time to do so.
Slayers Inc: Picture a world where all things horror is true, just influenced some of the horror icons that we recognize today. Because of that fact people need a group of individuals capable of protecting innocent civilians from all that is horror. This is where the Slayers Inc come in. A group that consist of mainly people whom have survived the horror crisis and want to make sure nobody fall victim to the monsters who prey upon the innocent.
Its, in a way, SCP Foundation meets MIB meets The Boys(with horror monsters)
Monster Squad: Was originally intending to be a unofficial sequel to the movie. In which the characters in question are around college age. It has been several decades since the first movie and the kids, now young adults, are facing new supernatural threats that are more dangerous than what they've encountered in the past. So they must use their knowledge of the supernatural to fight off another supernatural crisis.
Normally I'm an original fiction type but I would do fan
Slayers Inc: Picture a world where all things horror is true, just influenced some of the horror icons that we recognize today. Because of that fact people need a group of individuals capable of protecting innocent civilians from all that is horror. This is where the Slayers Inc come in. A group that consist of mainly people whom have survived the horror crisis and want to make sure nobody fall victim to the monsters who prey upon the innocent.
Its, in a way, SCP Foundation meets MIB meets The Boys(with horror monsters)
Monster Squad: Was originally intending to be a unofficial sequel to the movie. In which the characters in question are around college age. It has been several decades since the first movie and the kids, now young adults, are facing new supernatural threats that are more dangerous than what they've encountered in the past. So they must use their knowledge of the supernatural to fight off another supernatural crisis.
Normally I'm an original fiction type but I would do fan
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Anime Review: Myriad Colors Phantom World
Since my Assassination Classroom review went well I thought I'd discuss a recent anime series that I have discovered called Myriad Colors Phantom World. It is an anime adapted from the light novel, I personally haven't read the light novel so I'm just going to talk about the anime atm.
Plot:
A mysterious incident 10 years prior changed how humans perceive the world, allowing them to see creatures long thought imaginary. These formerly mythical beings, called Phantoms, come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The incident also imbued certain people with special abilities. Haruhiko Ichijo possesses a special ability allowing him to seal Phantoms by drawing them in a sketchbook. Along with his classmate Mai Kawakami, Haruhiko is a member of the Hosea Academy Neural Error Corrections Club, where students accept jobs handling Phantoms in exchange for useful household goods. Unfortunately for them, Team E (consisting only of Haruhiko and Mai) have the worst performance record out of all teams. In an effort to change this, Haruhiko and Mai set out to find more members to join their team.
Basically its a gotta catch em all kind of situation. Personally I see it as an high school anime version of Ghostbusters. My first impression after reading 13 episodes of it is....it was ok.
The animation looked good but too bad the story that went with it left little to be desired. There was world building potential but the anime felt too rushed. Like it was suffering from a case of ADD. It would develop some backstory to the characters but not enough to get you emotionally attached to them. There were also some episodes I felt could have had potential for a future character arc but was quickly dropped. For instance in one episode the main cast discovered that one of the classmates is a Phantom but ended up befriending her in the end. It would have been interesting to see her as a recurring character but she was never heard from again the next episode.
Every episode felt like one filler after another, least until the final two episodes. Which, to me, was an ass puller. They introduce the big bad without any build. Up until then the series honestly lacked a serious antagonist for the main cast.
Also I never honestly got a sense of danger from any of the main cast. Cause most of the other phantoms they come across don't appear dangerous to begin with so you never get a sense that they're fighting for their lives. I also never got the underdog appeal either. The plot synopsis says they are but they hardly scream social outcast. Just about the whole school likes them. Even their headmaster. It wasn't like Class E's situation in Assassination Classroom.
Characters:
One word to describe the characters, forgettable. The only character that stood out to me was Koito and Mai. The former because I like her Black Canary powers and her backstory was interesting and Mai because she's a badass and she's hot.
Haruhiko's basically Tenchi but take away anything that made Tenchi interesting and make him as dull as wood. His whole character from time to time is reacting to things or providing exposition. Like when the other characters are fighting he reacts like he's providing color commentary. The only time I found myself remotely interested in him was during an episode where he was de-aged to a kid.
He basically represents everything I hate concerning main characters in harem animes. In that he makes me wished the girls were the main characters but heaven forbid we'd have a harem anime where the cast are entirely female. The only harem animes that worked were Negima and Tenchi. Helps that the characters were diverse, character wise.
Ruru. A pixie like Phantom who operates as the groups comedy sidekick. Thats all she is. She provides NOTHING but comic relief. Even Xander Harris of Buffy actually provides some use.
Overall: I wouldn't recommend this. While the potential for world building is there it provides nothing new to the table and I was left with nothing but unanswered questions instead of world building. It also lacked an emotional punch that would make me intrigued on the characters struggles because I felt that, with the exception of the final two episodes, there was hardly any obstacles the characters faced. Sure there were villain of the week but its like the villains of the MCU sans Loki and Hydra. Good guys trumps them and look no worse for wear after.
The animation was pretty good though.
So overall I'd give it a D
Plot:
A mysterious incident 10 years prior changed how humans perceive the world, allowing them to see creatures long thought imaginary. These formerly mythical beings, called Phantoms, come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The incident also imbued certain people with special abilities. Haruhiko Ichijo possesses a special ability allowing him to seal Phantoms by drawing them in a sketchbook. Along with his classmate Mai Kawakami, Haruhiko is a member of the Hosea Academy Neural Error Corrections Club, where students accept jobs handling Phantoms in exchange for useful household goods. Unfortunately for them, Team E (consisting only of Haruhiko and Mai) have the worst performance record out of all teams. In an effort to change this, Haruhiko and Mai set out to find more members to join their team.
Basically its a gotta catch em all kind of situation. Personally I see it as an high school anime version of Ghostbusters. My first impression after reading 13 episodes of it is....it was ok.
The animation looked good but too bad the story that went with it left little to be desired. There was world building potential but the anime felt too rushed. Like it was suffering from a case of ADD. It would develop some backstory to the characters but not enough to get you emotionally attached to them. There were also some episodes I felt could have had potential for a future character arc but was quickly dropped. For instance in one episode the main cast discovered that one of the classmates is a Phantom but ended up befriending her in the end. It would have been interesting to see her as a recurring character but she was never heard from again the next episode.
Every episode felt like one filler after another, least until the final two episodes. Which, to me, was an ass puller. They introduce the big bad without any build. Up until then the series honestly lacked a serious antagonist for the main cast.
Also I never honestly got a sense of danger from any of the main cast. Cause most of the other phantoms they come across don't appear dangerous to begin with so you never get a sense that they're fighting for their lives. I also never got the underdog appeal either. The plot synopsis says they are but they hardly scream social outcast. Just about the whole school likes them. Even their headmaster. It wasn't like Class E's situation in Assassination Classroom.
Characters:
One word to describe the characters, forgettable. The only character that stood out to me was Koito and Mai. The former because I like her Black Canary powers and her backstory was interesting and Mai because she's a badass and she's hot.
Haruhiko's basically Tenchi but take away anything that made Tenchi interesting and make him as dull as wood. His whole character from time to time is reacting to things or providing exposition. Like when the other characters are fighting he reacts like he's providing color commentary. The only time I found myself remotely interested in him was during an episode where he was de-aged to a kid.
He basically represents everything I hate concerning main characters in harem animes. In that he makes me wished the girls were the main characters but heaven forbid we'd have a harem anime where the cast are entirely female. The only harem animes that worked were Negima and Tenchi. Helps that the characters were diverse, character wise.
Ruru. A pixie like Phantom who operates as the groups comedy sidekick. Thats all she is. She provides NOTHING but comic relief. Even Xander Harris of Buffy actually provides some use.
Overall: I wouldn't recommend this. While the potential for world building is there it provides nothing new to the table and I was left with nothing but unanswered questions instead of world building. It also lacked an emotional punch that would make me intrigued on the characters struggles because I felt that, with the exception of the final two episodes, there was hardly any obstacles the characters faced. Sure there were villain of the week but its like the villains of the MCU sans Loki and Hydra. Good guys trumps them and look no worse for wear after.
The animation was pretty good though.
So overall I'd give it a D
Sunday, April 17, 2016
In the spirit of civil war and competition
Faora: "Don't you look adorable"
"You aliens just never learn do you?"
"Back off and phone home, E.T"
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"A good death is its own reward"
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