Living In The Movies

I love movies almost as much as I love books.  They are another source of imaginative entertainment which can transport me to another reallity and permit me to become caught up in the world they are displaying.  Throughout the different genres movies exist in, there are numerous variances of stories.  I thought I would share some of my favorite movies and maybe a quote or two from each one.  So sit back, grab some popcorn, and maybe grab one of the movies mentioned.  You may just like them yourself.

1. Star Wars: A New Hope - This should come as no surprise.  I don't remember my age when I first saw this movie but I do remember afterwards going outside and pretending I was Luke Skywalker.  I would jump across the ditches outside my childhood home as if I was swinging across the chasm in the Death Star.  I would hop in one of my step-father's broken down trucks and pretend it was a X-Wing fighter.  If I was playing as Han Solo then it would be more appropriately be the Millenium Falcon.  Star Wars piqued my interests in fantasy, mythologies, science fiction (although Star Wars really is not true Sci-Fi), and so much more.  As an adult, it really has influenced my viewing of the world, humanity, and my faith.  There are life lessons contained in this one movie and the saga as a whole.  However, no matter how many Star Wars movies there are or are to come, A New Hope will always be my first.

Favorite Character Exchange:

Han Solo (to Obi-Wan Kenobi): Damn fool, I knew you were going to say that.

Obi-Wan: Who's the more foolish? The fool, or the fool who follows him?

2. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - In my opinion, the second installment of the cinematic adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings books was The Two Towers.  It raised the stakes for each character by separating the fellowship across different areas of Middle Earth, and made the desperation felt by each character palpable not only to the characters but to the people watching from our side of the fourth wall.  The Battle of Helms Deep remains one of my favorite fantasy epic battles depicted on the silver screen.  The dynamics between Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli are like watching a trio of unlikely ffriends forged from the heat of battle and forever bonded in iron.  They could have just the movie center around those three and I would have enjoyed it with their banter, their bonding, and ultimately them standing side-by-side-by-side.  Then enters Rohan and the music of the Horse Riders just swept me away as the wind which blew across Edoras as Eowyn steps outside filled with grief and worry.  One of my favorite scenes is Gandalf the newly White Wizard exorcising the hold Saruman and Wormtongue had over the Rohan King Theoden.  Another favorite character is Theoden's niece, the Shield Maiden Eowyn who would show herself as a warrior woman in The Return of the King.  

Favorite Part:

Theoden: [upon being exorcised] Gandalf...

Gandalf: Breathe the free air again, my friend. 

Theoden: [stands up from the throne] Dark have been my dreams of late. [looks at his hands]

Gandalf: Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword.

3. Black Hawk Down - I almost selected Saving Private Ryan, but Black Hawk Down resonates with me more perhaps because it depicts the modern Army (at the time of its release) at a time when I was serving.  Therefore, it seems more relateable.  That's not to say I don't like World War II movies because I do, and WWII is one of my favorite wars to study.  It is just for whatever reason BHD hit a lot of right chords at the right time in my life.  Not to mention the story was real.  Saving Private Ryan took place in a real war but the intent was not to depict a real life mission.  The cast and crew making the movie did an excellent job in depicting the realism of warfare and the realism of soldiers on the ground. From small details to how a soldier should actually hold their rifle when in combat to the major details like femoral artery bleeds and the toll combat takes on our soldiers.  

Favorite Quote:

"Hoot": When I go home people'll ask me, "Hey Hoot, why do you do it man?  What, you some kinda war junkie?"  You know what I'll say?  I won't say a [omit] word.  Why?  They won't understand.  They won't understand why we do it.  They won't understand that it's about the men next to you, and that's it.  That's all it is.

4. Forrest Gump - I love this movie!  There is just something simplistic about watching the history of America unfold around this simple man's life.  It is like getting to watch life unfold from someone's perspective who should not be around all these historical events, but for whatever reason seemlessly stumbles across our most tragic and triumphant moments.  It is a tale of the shift in America from the innocence lost after World War II and the rapidly changing culture of our nation as seen by a simple person, an outsider to it all who continues living his life amongst this whole cultural revolution.  It really is a story about us, and no matter what is going on around us we still have a life to live.  Forrest Gump experiences love, loss, heartbreak, loss again, love again, and loss again while the Earth continues to spin, and America grows older.  That is life folks, and so is this movie. 

Humorous Exchange:

Forrest Gump: Lieutenant DDan, what you doing here?

Lieutenant Dan: I'm here to try out my sea legs.

Forrest Gump: But you ain't got no legs, Lieutenant Dan.

Lieutenant Dan: [mildly irritated, but understanding] Yes... yes, I know that.  You wrote me a letter, you idiot!

5. Back to the Future, Part I - Sing it with me, folks:

Take me away

I don't mind

You better promise me

I'll be back in time

Gotta get back in time

Here is a movie that took a science fiction premise, crossed it with nostalgia for the good old days, and crafted a story that has stood the test of time.  There should be a global initiative to ensure this movie never gets the reboot/remake treatment ever.  As in punishable by castration, decapitation, and limb separation, body parts burned on a pyre, and ashes scattered across Hollywood as a reminder to leave this movie trilogy alone.  The first movie was absolutely perfect.  If Forrest Gump was a movie about America told through the eyes of a person living through it, Back to the Future, Part I, was a movie about you and I being able to actually travel back in time and see life for what it was.  The contrast and interactions between the 1980's Reagan-era Marty McFly and his 1950's parents as teenagers was an excellent of really highlighting the differences between the youth of the 80's and the youth of the 50's, but also showing honestly how much each generation is truly alike.  The only thing that truly changes is the technology and how we use it, but why we use it is relatively the same.  It is a family show, and a show about true friendship as Marty tries to save Doc Brown's life, but also must save the future of his family.  Not to mention the overall message that just because you were born into a certain situation does not mean you are necessarily stuck in it.  You may not have a time machine to alter the past, but you do have the ability to alter your present.  It just hits all the right "feel good" spots without being too serious but not too cheesy.  Seriously, one of the best films no matter how you approach it.  Period!

Best Exchange Highlighting Cultural Differences:

Marty McFly: Whoa.  Wait a minute, Doc.  Are you trying to tell me that my mother has got the hots for me?

Dr. Emmett Brown: Precisely.

Marty McFly: Whoa.  This is heavy.

Dr. Emmett Brown: There's that word again.  "Heavy."  Why are things so heavy in the future?  Is there a problem with the Earth's gravitational pull?

Those there are only five movies listed, I enjoy so many more that I will share in another post.  In the meantime, what are your favorites and why?  Let me know, please.  

Until next time...

2015 In Review

I really do not know why I write these end of year reviews on myself.  Personal ego?  I think so.  

I like to think it is to help me think about the past year; what I learned, the mistakes I made, etc.  I would definitely like to think that perhaps my own struggles, successes, etc., would help others but I think I kid myself on that.  Well, since it is my blog why not review my year in 2015?

If I had to give a title to my 2015 it would probably be "Exodus".  For those unaware, exodus basically means "going out", or a mass evacuation.  This doesn't mean I made a mass evacuation this past year because honestly that sounds like a bad medical issue.  What I mean is there were a lot of situations, thoughts, ideas, and long-held beliefs that I had to get out of, or evacuate from myself.  

For example, my on-again, off-again relationship with God was something I had to get out of.  Either I was to believe in God and follow Him, or cast Him off entirely and just do what I was going to do regardless.  There was a time this year where I simply gave God up and was ready to walk away.  

Honestly, I don't know what made me repent specifically from that direction.  I just remember waking up one morning and realizing I was angry.  I was upset.  I was not happy with my situation in life, and I could not continue being a husband, father, and man feeling this way.  Realizing that, I knew some changes needed to be made within myself.  One of the first things I did was reached out to someone who had angered me last year and apologized to him for my anger towards him.  Honestly, I don't think he realized he had made me upset.  He had just used some words that probably did not need to be said, but we all make mistakes.  I found once I apologized to him and received his apology, some of the anger dissipated.

I then focused on changing the things I was unhappy with.  I decided that in order for change to occur, I had to be that change.  That is a tall order especially for someone like me who was beginning to get way too settled within myself.  However, I have come to believe that if you want change to occur, you must change yourself, become that change, and through your changed actions you will inspire others around you to change.  Funny thing is, those around you who are changing because of you may not realize it.  They're just following your lead.  So far it's working.

I also knew at some point I had to reconcile with God, and that meant separating myself from thoughts and/or people that were keeping me from that reconciliation.  I also knew that meant spending time with God in prayer.  It is hard for me to find a convenient time in a house with a two-year-old toddler and a wife who is stressful and tired from work and the aforementioned toddler, but I had three hours during the work week alone in my car.  I started turning off the radio or iTunes Player, and instead started talking to God.  In the mornings I start my day off praying as I am driving.  I know some ministers would frown at that but right now it is the only time I have in peaceful solitude to talk with God.  I am working on praying to Him though when I am stationary in my house.  Driving and praying can almost be as dangerous as texting and driving...  Especially when someone cuts you off in traffic mid-prayer.

I have worked extensively to let go of political banter.  Every now and then I find myself jumping down the rabbit hole but I don't go as deeply into political entanglements as much as I used to.  I honestly believe too many of God's people are becoming snared in the worldly system of politics.  Though I have tried to present some reasons why they should not be, I find myself ill equipped to fully engage in that discussion with them.  In the meantime, I focus on myself before I start focusing on others.

Thanks to some sage advice from a friend, I have started to unfollow people this past year on Facebook so I don't see their posts.  Some political banter is okay but the constant barrage I see from some of my friends just gets to me.  People need to chill, and that's something I have learned this past year.

2015 finally saw me leaving Kansas as a work place behind after two years there.  Thanks to the same sage friend mentioned above, I transferred to a job in my old hometown of Bristow, OK.  I may never live there again but it has been great working there.  I enjoy the drive too as once more it gives me time with God.  

2015 also saw me leave college again.  Yeah I know but hear me out.  It started getting stressful, and when this new job came up I saw no need for it.  I honestly started college again with the intent of abandoning the Occupational Therapy field because I was so busy complaining about my work situation that I forgot why I was in the field in the first place.  I forgot that I was in OT to help others.  Once I started focusing on that again, the pursuit of another degree with all the stress of balancing it amongst all my other duties and responsibilities seem fruitless.  This doesn't mean I have completely abandoned completing my degree.  I may modify what I am pursuing when I am ready again.  It just means I have other stuff going on. 

Honestly, I think 2015 for me has been an exodus out of my own selfishness.  I stopped complaining about work, stopped complaining about life, and just started doing whatever it was I needed to do.  If I disagree with the President (and honestly who doesn't), instead of griping about him I just started praying for him.  I accept what I can change and what I can't change and politics is something I cannot change.  If I thought my marriage was sucking, instead of complaining about it I just started doing something to see if I can improve it by doing whatever needed to be done.  That has been the biggest change for me in my life is to not complain but rather truly do something to change it.  It goes back to me being the change.

Thought I have been a father now for 12.5 years, I finally figured out this past year that there is no room for selfishness when it comes to being a parent.  You have to think outside of yourself constantly in order to provide and be there for your kids.  I like to think I was never a bad father because I wasn't, but there were always a little bit of hereditary self-centeredness I needed to deal with once and for all.  I think I have accomplished that this year and will continue to do so in 2016.

2015 was a strange year, but also a much improved year.  I don't make resolutions because I believe change should be a daily quest, and not something held off when the number on the year changes.  Looking ahead; however, I would hope 2016 sees me growing more with everything I need to grow in.  That means some battles lie ahead but I go in alert and ready.

Until next time...

The Comic Book Guru Reviews the Movies of 2015 (The Ones I Watched Anyway)

So another year has come and gone and I, the self-professed thus true apparent Comic Book Guru presents a review of the best movies, the stinkers, those missed but on the radar, and then a quick expectation of 2016 movies. To be honest, I did not see too many movies so my list of stinkers is rather short.  Other than one, the other two movies I listed as "stinkers" were ones I have no intention of seeing.

So without furrther adieu, let us get to it:

My Fave Picks:

7. Furious 7 - This movie does not fail in what it sought to accomplish, and the untimely death of Paul Walker added some weight to this movie.  Honestly, the Fast movies have taken on a life of their own in which if you can shut your brain off, mindless entertainment can be had as long as the cast and crew keep having fun.

6. Spectre - Bond.  James Bond.  Another solid entry in the Daniel Craig 007 series although not as good as "Skyfall".  I think "Skyfall" raised the stakes so much there really was no way to top it. "Spectre" has its moments but fails to capitalize on the acting of Christoph Waltz.  

5. MIssion: Impossible - Rogue Nation - Tom Cruise continues to impress me with the M:I movies.  I really thought the series was dead after Mission: Impossible II, but the next three installments have rejuvenated it and continues to improve.  The stunts are outrageous as one would expect from the M:I movies.  The plot of the IMF being dismantled added some high risk to the movie, but honestly Ghost Protocol had already done that.

4. Avengers: Age of Ultron - Was this as good as the first Avengers?  No.  Is it still another solid piece in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?  Definitely.  I enjoyed this movie even though there were moments that just felt flat, rushed, and maybe too unfocused on the movie's sole plot versus too focused on setting up Phase III of the MCU.  Ultron was not as terrifying nor really a large threat to the Avengers like I thought he would be, but it still was good enough to progress the MCU and wrap up Phase II.  Plus, Elizabeth Olsen as the Scarlett Witch was a pleasant surprise, but Paul Bettany as the Vision absolutely stole the movie.  With the other movies I saw; however, I could not place AOU in my top 3.

3. Jurassic World - A franchise rejuvenated!  After the "bleh" moments of Jurassic Park II and III, I was skepitcal of "Jurassic World".  However, when I saw it finally I was definitely impressed.  The story was good, it harkened back to the first JP movie, and there were just some great moments in the film.  Probably would be one of the greatest movies I have seen this year if I had not given the top 2 spots to one movie that is there because of my devotion to the MCU, and because of the movie that deserves to be in the top spot.

2. Ant-Man - I have to admit, it was weird to have this movie as the closing piece of MCU's Phase II.  However, its lightheartedness and just plain fun was needed after the seriousness of Age of Ultron.  Everything just clicked about this movie when it should not have.  It was almost the same magic that 2014's "Guardians of the Galaxy" had when it exceeded all expectations.  Paul Rudd playing a superhero was as unlikely as Scott Lang redeeming himself in the movie, and yet Rudd comes off as humorous, charming, and heroic.  Add the charisma between him and the actress playing his daughter and it makes this movie a good family piece.

And now the number one pick from the self-professed thus true apparent Comic Book Guru....

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Was there any doubt?  Maybe if Episode VII had went the way of the prequels.  However, it did not.  Disney and J.J. Abrams called up the spirit of the original trilogies and invited it to inhabit the set, crew, and cast members and out came the magic that The Force Awakens ended up being.  I cannot stop gushing about this film.  I have seen it twice and I will see it a third; maybe a fourth and fifth.  Everything about this movie just worked.  The new actors chosen could actually act and convey emotions, the humor was not forced, and Harrison Ford as Han Solo and his companion Chewbacca stole the movie.  All the excitement I felt when watching the Original Trilogy for the first time was there for The Force Awakens.  I highly recommend this movie.  If the prequels turned you away, let The Force Awakens invite you back to that story that started a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

Stinkers:

1. Terminator: Genisys - I hesitated putting this movie as a stinker because I actually enjoyed it.  However, compared to the other movies above, I just could not place it in the same league.  I thought Genisys was better than "Rise of the Machines" and "Salvation".  I think the movie audience is just tired of the Terminator franchise.  I read the studios are still pursuing a sequel and TV series.  Maybe if moviegoers would stop listening to critics and go watch the movies, then they might see the new universe established by Genysis is pretty good.

2. Fifty Shades of Grey - I have not seen this movie.  However, I am just going to say there should be no reason this movie exists.  It basically serves as pornography with an excuse.  50 Shades is basically to women what Showgirls was to men but bottom line both movies are trash.

3. Fantastic Four - Another movie I will never, ever see.  FOX has failed this franchise, and the only hope FF has is that FOX just allow the rights to slip back to Marvel for inclusion with the MCU.  

4. Movie Trailers - The main gripe I have for the movies of 2015 is too much of the movies were revealed in the trailers, or the trailer was completely misleading.  The trailer for Terminator revealing John Connor is a terminator ruined that movie's twist, and the trailer for Age of Ultron misled the general feel of the movie.  Trailers are showing way too much and I think mainly because perhaps moviegoers' patience are growing thin as well as their attention spans.  However, studios need to remember that the trailers should only tease and never reveal plot twists, secrets, or even the story themselves.  Take a page from Disney and Abrams with how they handled The Force Awakens trailers. Perfection!

Want To See:

1. The Martian - Matt Damon has been impressive in his movies, and this looks really good.

2. Mad Max - Yeah... I know...  I should have seen this movie by now.

3. The Revenant - I am a fan of DiCaprio, and this movie just looks ruggedly awesome.

4. The Hateful Eight - I am not a fan of Quentin Tarantino's mouth and what comes out of it, but I am a fan of his movies. 

5. Creed - I am a sucker for Rocky movies, and this spin-off looked promising from the trailers. 

6. Straight Outta Compton - I may be from Oklahoma, but this Okie wants to see this movie. 

2016 Expectations:

1. Captain America: Civil War - This is at the top of my list of movies to see.  I think the Russo Brothers will help steer the MCU towards a more serious tone and create some high stake risks with this one.  The MCU has been too sterile for awhile.  It needs to get dirty.

2. Deadpool - This is going to be the most straight up comic book adaptation of a superhero we have ever seen.  As such, I won't be taking my kids to see it.  However, you can bet I will watch it and enjoy it.  The trailers have been awesome, and Ryan Reynold's enthusiasm and passion for this movie has been rubbing off on all of us fans.

3. X-Men: Apocalypse - I've been waiting to see Apocalypse on the silver screen since the X-Men premiered in theaters way back when.  

4. Suicide Squad - Here is another movie that I think will be a darkhorse but will succeed more than expected.  Like Deadpool, it could possibly be another pure comic book adaptation ever put together on screen.

5. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - I am still skeptical of this movie especially given the trailer has revealed way too much.  Lex Luthor in this movie has failed to impress with how he is being portrayed.  However, it doesn't mean I don't want this movie to succeed because I do.  I still feel like WB and DC are rushing this to catch up to Marvel.  Time will tell....

6. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - With Disney buying Lucasfilms a few years ago, making anthology movies based on the Star Wars universe was inevitable.  I am curious to see how this will work.

7. The Jungle Book - Based on the trailers I have seen this movie looks like it will be good. 

8. Warcraft - I played the game on the PC, and the trailers have looked amazing. I hope this works out.

9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Out of the Shadows - Yeah, the first one was cheesy but I still enjoyed it.  This one looks cheesy too but I will still watch it.  Three words: Bebop and Rocksteady!

10. Assassin's Creed - I hope this movie breaks the cycle of bad movie adaptations of video games.  I have been a fan of this series since it first came out.  Michael Fassbender as the assassin spells gold. 

11. Doctor Strange - I had been hoping Benedict Cumberbatch would have been selected as the Sorcerer Supreme, so when he was I hopped on board the anticipation train for this movie.  I can't wait to see how magic will be introduced into the MCU since they explained away Asgard as alien beings. 

Okay, so there are my reviews and picks for the future.  Agree?  Disagree?  Sound off.  What were your favorite movies of 2015?  Your stinkers?  What are you looking forward to in 2016?

The Youth of the Nation

Lately on Facebook I have seen this meme floating around:

I understand the message that it is trying to convey.  I just do not understand the judgement behind it.

There are a few things wrong with the above generalization of today's youth.  First of all, I have yet to encounter an eighteen year old who is crying their eyes out instead of storming the beaches in Normandy or jumping onto the fields ahead.  For one thing, there are no soldiers storming the beaches currently.  Most of them are somewhere in the moutains of Afghanistan and I can ensure you those eighteen year olds are not crying.

The only problem I have with today's youth is they are more technologically dependent than my generation was at that age with the advent of portable hand-held devices such as Smart phones, laptops, iPads, etc.  However, even when I was eighteen, there were plenty of middle-aged and elder adults saying the same thing about my generation being more into video games than playing outside.  That was not true either.  While I did enjoy video games at that age such as Super Mario Brothers 3 on the Super Nintendo, there were plenty of times I found myself outside walking the streets of Bristow trying to find anything to do.

The other problem I have with the above generalization is if this is the case of current eighteen year olds, than what are we as their elders doing about it?  Besides making judgemental and rude memes like the one above?  Because from where I am sitting, if the only thing we are doing is comparing this culture to our culture of yesterday, than we are no better than those griping elders who did the same about us.

Here is the truth of it: if eighteen year olds are too busy crying about hurt feelings than that means they have parents who taught them how to cry over spilt milk, or at the very least set the example by complaining about everything in life under the blue moon.  Guess what? Those parents come from my generation, and they also come from your generation. In fact, if you are between the age of 31-42, you are of that generation who has taught today's youth to whine and cry and how to not handle their hurt.

So while you make cute memes go ahead and make one of yourself.

By the way, we really have no idea how the eighteen year olds of 1944 acted like before they stormed the beaches of Normandy.  I can ensure you many of them were drafted and did so involuntarily.  However, once in the trenches they handled their business and got home.  People of my generation, the so-called "Generation X and Y" youth, did the same thing in Afghanistan and Iraq.

I believe each generation of youth deals with the same ridicule from their older peers.  With that ridicule they learn to ridicule youth when they grow up.  What a thing that would happen if instead of ridiculing our youth, we would instead take them under our wings and assist them where their parents have failed.  Or perhaps their parents need a helping hand to help their child.

“Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22:6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

We can either teach our youth some valuable lessons they can then pass on to the youth of their future, or we can teach them to ridicule the youth of their time just as they were ridicule in their youth.  The decision is up to you.  The decision is up to me.

Until next time...

The Comic Guru Reviews Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Non-Spoiler Review)

A little background history, I absolutely love Star Wars.  As a child growing up in the 1980's, I remember watching the 1977 original sometime in my sixth or seventh year.  I instantly became enamored by it and I would spend many of days outside pretending I was Luke Skywalker swinging across the Death Star chasm with the princess holding onto me.  This was before I realized the princess would be my sister.  I would eventually be able to watch all the original trilogy films and the stories stuck with me since then.  I remember asking my mother why I was not born in 1977 so I could have the same age as the Star Wars saga.

In 1999, my dream of viewing a Star Wars movie came true when Lucasfilm released Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace.  I was so excited to see it that I paid little attention to story plots, characterizations, and acting.  All that mattered to me was Star Wars was back in theaters.  Soon after I started noticing something was wrong with the prequels.  The inconsistencies in the story from what was already told in the original trilogy, the portrayal of the most ruthless villain in the galaxy Darth Vader being portrayed as a creepy, selfish, crybaby with mother issues, and so many other inconsistencies that it was taking away from my enjoyment.  I could go on and on with criticizing the prequels but I think it has been done enough.  Bottom line, by the time Revenge of the Sith had come and gone, I too had departed the Star Wars train.

That is not to say I completely rejected it.  I still loved the original movies, but it would take me a few years before I could watch prequels again with a different point of view that helped me to appreciate it more.  When it was announced Disney had purchased Lucasfilms and they were pursuing making another Star Wars saga film, I expected the worst.  I refused to be disappointed again.  Thanfully, after watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens twice now, and planning on watching it some more, I can honestly say I am not disappointed.

As many critics have already pointed out the metaphor, the title "The Force Awakens" is not just a title for the movie but also a title for the franchise as a whole.  Whereas the prequel trilogy put the franchise on life support, this new addition revitalizes it.  It calls upon the original spirit that made the Original Trilogy so great and spins a new tale that has captured this writer's imagination once more.

There are some critics who are pointing out this movie basically rips off Episode IV: A New Hope, and while there are some familiar plot points, it is of this writer's opinion that it was necessary.  After the disappointment of the prequels and the lack of trust pointed towards George Lucas, Disney and J.J. Abrams had to do a lot to separate this new addition from the prequels, rebuild the trust with the old guard fans (like myself), and prove that Star Wars was able to tell new stories.  There were similarities, but I also knew why it had to be done.  The spirit of the original had to be captured.  I can only hope that Episode VIII will now go in a different direction by being creatively original.  Not saying Episode VII was not original, but I can understand why the same map had to be used.

With that being said, overall the movie was awesome and a breath of fresh air.  The new guard selected to carry this franchise into the future were spectacular.  They could actually act and show the excitement, the fear, and all the emotions that Star Wars should conjure up.  The humor was natural and not forced like in the prequels.  The writing did not feel wooden or forced, and without Lucas on set it was evident the actors onscreen were relaxed in their roles and enjoying the experience of making this movie.

Abrams' return to using basic props versus full reliance on CGI was proof that some of the old school methods work.  Obviously CGI had to be used but the whole movie did not ride on it like the prequels did.  Everything about the movie seemed real including the aliens.  When Poe Dameron walks around his X-Wing it was apparent he was actually walking around a X-Wing.

The movie did not rely on lightsabers to awe and impress like the prequels did.  Instead, the movie actually followed a plot that made sense and was enjoyable.  Sure there was suspension of belief issues with the movie, but with Star Wars that is a given.  After all, Star Wars is not science fiction but rather a space opera or fantasy epic that takes place in space.  Scientific analysis need not apply to this movie.

The return of Han Solo, Chewbacca, Leia Organa, and many other original cast helped bridge that gap between fans of the original trilogy and new fans this film will bring.  Plus, it did help to use them to push this new generation of cast forward as the beneficiaries of this franchise.  The story did not necessarily hang around the shoulders of the older cast, but neither could the story progress without them there.

All in all, I would rate this entry into the Star Wars saga as my third favorite film in the saga after The Empire Strikes Back and A New Hope. It was fun, it gave me the goosebumps I was hoping for, and I left the theater excited.  My children could not stop talking about it and even my wife enjoyed it.  She had been jaded after the prequels.  I did not walk away feeling like I had been cheated like the prequels did or disappointed.

This movie is definitely appropriate for all ages.  There are minor blood scenes as Abrams does show some reality of war that the previous Star Wars held back on.  However, it is not "Saving Private Ryan" blood but just a few showings here or there.  There may be one scary moment from Kylo Ren but nothing a child should not be able to handle.

I highly recommend this movie, and might I say, "May the Force be with you..."

The Road Goes On

A month ago I was presented with the opportunity to return to my hometown of Bristow, OK, to work in a skilled nursing facility.  With the declining caseload at the facility I was working at in Kansas, and the chance to work among people I had gone to school with, I decided to take the position.  It has given me the opportunity to revisit some places I grew up around.


A few weeks ago, after working a short day on a Saturday, I decided to drive five miles outside of town on West Highway 16 and then two miles down what I use to term "Harlinsville Cemetery Road"; others called it "Alexander's Corner" due to the well-known family that lived at the corner of the turnoff.  I drove past my old childhood house; the place I had been raised from the age of 3 or 4 until I was 15 going on 16.


The place had changed, and the backwoods I used to tromp around in were nearly gone.  I noticed "No Trespassing" signs posted around my old home and around the creek bed that was located approximately 100 feet off the side of the road.  I used to spend hours sitting on that creek bed; escaping the chaos of my home, thinking, dreaming.  It was my silent place.


The lot next to my old home was empty except for the junk cars abandoned amidst the overgrown brush and weeds.  Many days were spent there with caring neighbors and their children.  Behind the place I had grown up there now exists a trailer park where once only trees and shrubs and wild grass grew.


When I lived there the road was once known as "Route 2", but now it has an official street number of which I still have not learned.


It reminds me of how much we truly do change from childhood to adulthood.  The years pass, mistakes are made, lessons are learned, love is forged, love is lost, and as Kevin Arnold in "The Wonder Years" said, "And young boys, full of confusion... full of fear... full of love and courage... grow up stealthily in their sleep."


Seeing the place I grew up change as much as it had reflects my own change.  It reflects that the past is the past, and we cannot go back to it.  We must move forward, changing with the times, evolving and adapting, and while we can look back and remember, we can never go back and live there.


However, one thing that never has changed in the seven miles outside of the small town of Bristow are the roads.  They still go forward the same.  That reminds me that the journey that I am on, and you are on, heads in the same direction: forward.


The road goes on...


And so must we all...

Life

I have no right to complain about life.  It is hard sometimes; I can’t deny that.  Yet I am still living, and I am blessed with a wife and three beautiful children.

Through my many failures I can at least look upon what I am blessed with and feel successful.

I picture at times what my life would be like if I had never married my first wife.  True, I would have saved myself the headaches that came from the divorce; saved myself the heartache of it.  Yet I would not have the two beautiful children who were born from that union.  I think about what my life would be like if I had stayed in the military to retire, or stayed on the road travelling from state to state.  Yet I would never have met my second wife who has given me a beautiful son.

I have held these children in my arms, and at those times, those moments, my life felt right.  I felt like I had done something right in this world.  I look upon my daughter who is 12 now and I still remember holding her for the first time in my arms.  I remember holding her close to me hours before I left for Iraq, burning the image and sensation in my mind of what that little baby felt like because when I would come home, that baby would be gone.

I remember the day my first son was born and it seemed as if all the stars aligned that day.  I have watched him grown, and I hope I have guided him well up to this point.  Where my daughter is the intellectual, my oldest son is the comedian.  He makes me laugh at the corniest of jokes, and his wit is sharper than mine ever was.  I missed a lot watching him grow because of my time in the military.

I missed my daughter’s first steps, her first words; and I would miss the same with my older son. 

Then my third child was born, and I have been here for his first words, his first steps.  I wrestle with him on the floor because he is a hulking wild child who likes to use his mother as a jungle gym.  He drives me crazy, my oldest daughter sets me on edge with how much she is growing into a beautiful woman, and my older son strengthens my resolve to ensure he becomes a better man than me.

My life is a crazy rollercoaster of children and yet I would not have it any other way.  Their lives are more precious to me than my own.  I would trade them for nothing.  It saddens me to hear how others would trade their unborn baby’s lives to erase a “mistake”.  Life is no mistake.

Some women will go through life wanting a baby only to find out they never will be able to.  My wife was told she never would bear children, and yet through our union a child was born.  My wife knows and understands the value and the gift of birthing a child.

Some women will bear their child inside their wombs only to wake up one day to find the child within no longer awake. 

As crazy as my life is with all the responsibilities children place upon me, I could never imagine my life without them.  I could never imagine them one day not waking up from their sleep.  Could anyone else do the same?

A friend of mine suffers right now.  I cannot imagine the pain and hurt she is going through.  What I can do is imagine how I would feel; and as I do tears stream down my face as I type this. 

My older children are at their mom’s, and my youngest is fast asleep in his crib.  Yet I want to drive down to where my older children are and hug them tight to me.  I want to pick up my hulking toddler from his crib and hold him in my arms.  Because somewhere, right now tonight a friend of mine holds her two older children while mourning the death of her third before he even had a chance to see the light of day.

Hold your children tight tonight if you have any.

Fantastic 4: A Comic Book Guru Rant

FOX has a record of releasing great films only to be soured by the multiple failures they have had in pleasing their overall fan base.  For every success FOX Studios has had with Star Wars (pre-Disney) and The Simpsons, there are failures including Firefly, Terra Nova, Almost Human, Fantastic Four (2005), its sequel, and now the reboot Fantastic 4 (2015).  However, for all the failures FOX has had, perhaps this time it is not the fault of the studio itself; though some blame still needs to be laid at FOX’s feet.

I, the self-proclaimed and thus true apparent Comic Book Guru, have not seen the rebooted film Fantastic 4; I have no plans to either.  Honestly, the Fantastic Four as a comic book series has never appealed to me as a reader.  I do like them in a supporting capacity in mainstream storylines like “The Onslaught Saga”, “The Civil War”, and such story arcs which cross over multiple titles.

Although I have not read many of the comic books, I still see the appeal in them and I still want to see a good movie adaptation of the Fantastic Four.  After all, the FF was the genesis of the Marvel Comics Universe.  It was the first title Stan Lee and Jack Kirby put to paper all those years ago, and from that genesis came Spider-man, the Hulk, the Avengers, and so forth and so on. 

So when the 2005 adaptation of the FF came out, I went to see it.  I might never have read the comics, but I was still familiar with the characters.  I was sadly disappointed in the treatment the 2005 movie gave the FF, particularly the revamping of Doctor Doom.  When the sequel came out, I thought it was a step in the right direction but poor execution of the plot and the representation of Galactus casted a long shadow of disappointment.  After Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer failed to impress, any further releases under the FF banner went silent.

That was until the rise of Marvel Studios and their Cinematic Universe (MCU), and merger with Disney that FOX Studios hopped on board to reboot the Fantastic Four.  Why?  Because any further delay in producing the movie based on the property would cause said property to revert back to Marvel Comics, and thus the characters could be used for the MCU. 

It is this fear of property reversion to their source of origin that caused Sony Studios to reboot Spider-man so quickly after the last Sam Raimi/Tobey Maguire film, and furthermore for FOX to produce more X-Men films.  There is a shelf life on these properties when sold to the studios.  Sony has learned from their mistakes and reached out to Disney/Marvel Studios, brokered a deal, and now Spider-man will appear in the MCU under the banners of both Disney and Marvel, and Sony.

FOX Studios; however, is stubborn.  If they had not pushed for this reboot then they would have lost the rights, and we the fans would see Reed Richards discussing quantum physics with Tony Stark and Bruce Banner.

However, like I said in the introduction of this blog, the complete blame cannot lie with FOX Studios.  Barely a week prior to the release of the reboot Fantastic 4 (already released as I type this), the lead actor Miles Teller, aka Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic states the film may be poorly received by the critics.  The lead actor is telling reporters that the film, before it is released to the public, MAY BE poorly received!  That is a bad sign. 

Yet he was right; the film has received poor ratings from critics.  However, many true filmgoers like me really do not pay attention to critics.  After all, most critics are looking for the next Gone With the Wind, or some great social agenda piece of film.  They are blinded by that and thus do not care that The Avengers (2012) made over a billion dollars during its theatrical run.  So even with the Fantastic Four reboot receiving negative reviews from the critics, maybe this could have been another indication that the critics do not have a clue as to what moviegoers are watching.

Then the Director Josh Trank speaks up to blame the studios (FOX) and states the version he had envisioned a year ago was basically trashed by the studios in order to rush this film.  Not so fast Trank.  Maybe FOX are a bunch of idiotic douchebags; see X-Men Origins: Wolverine as proof.  However, under the FOX banner lies the successful X-Men film franchise (except for the above mentioned Wolverine film and X-Men: Last Stand) and the firm directing hand of Bryan Singer.  Under the same studio, Bryan Singer has had his way whenever he has been directly involved in the X-Men franchise and led the franchise to success.  So Director Josh Trank, what is your excuse now?

The truth is no matter how “douchebaggery” a studio may be, it is still the responsibility of the directors, the writers, and the producers to deliver and execute a film that represents in high quality the property they were hired to produce.  The actors need to do the same.  I was watching The Avengers last night (6 AUG 2015) on FX, and during the commercial breaks the FF (2015) actors were discussing the film.  They seemed completely lost, and lacked all sense of enthusiasm for this film.  The actress portraying Sue Storm, aka Invisible Girl had the “deer looking in the headlights” expression while discussing the film.

I suspect this film will bomb the box office.  FOX has already mentioned they are planning a sequel, but I hope they seriously reconsider it and just let their hold on this property lapse.  I would wager FOX will never strike a deal with Disney/Marvel with the FF because then that would have to open the door concerning the X-Men properties.  So please FOX, just let the property go back to Marvel.

To Josh Trank and Miles Teller, if you have that much lack of faith in your work, then leave Hollywood; or at the very least never touch a superhero property again.  Else you will face the ever boisterous, but pretty much harmless wrath of the self-proclaimed thus truth apparent Comic Book Guru!!!

The Comic Book Guru Reviews: Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Before anyone else says it, yes I know I am late on this review.  I have been meaning to write this review since I watched the movie opening night.  Actually, I got to watch the movie the night before its actual premiere at a special screening at the local theater.  Anyway, I apologize for the tardiness of this review but life has been busy.  Without further delay:

WARNING: SPOILERS (but by now everyone should have seen this film)!!!

There is a lot to be said about the Joss Whedon directed, second installment of The Avengers story (11^th-installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe [MCU] canon) Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).  There were high expectations for this film after the smashing (pun intended) success of The Avengers (2012).  There was a lot riding on this installment to continue the story of the MCU, wrap up Phase II of the MCU (although technically Ant-Man was the Phase II wrap-up), and then transition the MCU into Phase III.  The question becomes did it deliver?

As with every MCU movie to date, I thoroughly enjoyed Avengers: Age of Ultron.  I had fun watching it and thought it was a fun-thrilled ride the way it was meant to be.  Joss Whedon has long been known as the master of witty dialogue as evidenced on his past works like Buffy: the Vampire Slayer and Angel.  AOU did not disappoint in that regard.  Also not disappointing were the action sequences and the pace of the film.   

From start to finish, AOU started fast and did not slow down until the closing scene.

Joss Whedon focused more on character development and progression with this entry after not having a real chance to do so in the first film.  Most notable of Whedon’s focus was on Hawkeye; perhaps in response to the somewhat moronic, negative criticism placed upon Whedon for making Hawkeye a mindless drone in the first film.  Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye also got a chance to quip some of his sarcastic wit that Hawkeye is known for in the comic books.  His interactions with Aaron-Taylor Johnson’s Quicksilver showcased the dark humor of Hawkeye.

I have read criticism of this entry being another Tony Stark-centric film; particularly with Stark being the inventor of Ultron instead of Hank Pym, aka Ant-Man like in the comic books.  However, this is not the case.  First of all, while Tony Stark and Bruce Banner tinkered with the idea of an Ultron program, the complete creation of Ultron really goes to Thanos indirectly through the Infinity Stone placed in Loki’s staff from the first movie.  Second, while the comic book purist in me would have enjoyed having Hank Pym be the “father” of Ultron as depicted in the comic books, there really was no room in the MCU to properly introduce Hank Pym.  With the events of The Avengers (2012) and Iron Man 3 (2013), and with Tony Stark living in paranoia/fear about not being able to protect the world AND his friends, it was fitting for Tony Stark to be the “creator” of Ultron.  I can write a whole other blog about this particular subject so I will save further discussion just for that.

I will not even discuss the idiocy concerning the criticisms levied against Whedon for the supposedly weakening of the Black Widow character in this movie.  Some people need to get a life and stop analyzing movies for hidden socio-political motives.

Age of Ultron was another fun and action-filled entry into the MCU.  It delivered on the points it needed to, and it set the ball in motion for Phase III which will take place after Ant-Man (2015). 

However, as good as Age of Ultron was to watch there was something that seemed missing from it.  As I write this I still cannot place my finger on it.  To this day, whenever I watch the first Avengers movie, I still get goosebumps when the Avengers assemble on the busted streets of New York City after Hulk arrives.  Age of Ultron really did not deliver that sensation. 

I felt Disney and Marvel made the trailer (the “No Strings Attached” teaser) darker in tone than what the movie actually was.  I really expected a darker movie based on that teaser.  When it did not happen, it took me awhile to get back into the atmosphere of the movie to enjoy it.  There were moments where I thought James Spader’s portrayal of Ultron was creepy, but then Ultron would mutter a comedic line and take me out of the moment.

I also thought Ultron did not seem menacing enough.  I really expected Ultron to be shown destroying an entire city and killing everyone in it like in the comic book storyline Avengers: Ultron Unlimited.  Most of the destruction caused by Ultron happened off camera it seems as the Avengers were reading the incident reports from the comfort of Avengers Tower.  I really hoped for Thor to even utter the line, “Ultron! We would have words with thee,” (from the previously mentioned comic book story) after his team was beaten to within an inch of their lives.  Again, sadly, that did not happen.

Joss Whedon is known for killing his characters in his films and TV shows.  Usually, they are very poignant and devastating.  However, in the Age of Ultron, Quicksilver’s death did not feel that way at all.  It felt like Whedon was merely checking off his list of what needs to happen in a Whedon movie.  Maybe I am being harsh because I did like Johnson’s portrayal of Quicksilver.  However, after seeing the Quicksilver from FOX’s X-Men: Days of Future Past move fast enough to divert every bullet fired at Professor X, Magneto, and Wolverine; watching MCU’s Quicksilver die from multiple bullet shots just seemed nonsensical.  In other words, a needless sacrifice.  Perhaps Disney and Marvel did not want to hassle with the split copyright of the character?  Who can say?

Finally, and this is nitpicky of me but the comic book story OCD I have compels me, I felt disappointed that there was never an explanation as to why Tony Stark was even still Iron Man after the events of Iron Man 3.  While Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson make mention of Bucky Barnes, there was really no transition from where Captain America was telling Falcon at the end of Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014) they were going after Bucky to seeing Captain America driving through the snow-covered forests on his motorcycle. 

Overall, I say that while Age of Ultron lacked the same awe of the first Avengers movie, it still stands as a great movie to watch.  I think it did exactly what it needed to do to transition to Phase III (Ant-Man serves as the official wrap of Phase II), and we get another look at Thanos and the bigger picture concerning the Infinity Stones.

There were a few curse words (of which Captain America admonishes Iron Man for using them), but this movie is still kid-friendly. 

What did you think?  Agree?  Disagree?  Let me know.

Also, let me know what movies from Phase III you are looking forward to. 

 

Until next time…