​I have to be honest. I was never a fan of the Man of Steel growing up as a child. My favorite superheroes were Batman and Spider-Man. To me, Superman was a boring character and not that interesting. I thought he was too powerful and couldn’t lose. I remember back in 1998 on Kids WB, there was a contest between Batman and Superman entitled “Who Kicks More Booty?” I’m not kidding. Anyway, kids could call a number and select either Batman or Superman. Batman won in a landslide. But in 2001, I was in a Hollywood Video store and looking for something new to watch. I was surprised that there was a movie made about Superman. So out of curiosity, I decided to give it a chance. Boy, did my views change pretty quickly.
          Right away, I remember being hooked into this film. How could you not pay attention to John Williams’s classic score of this movie? This is easily in my top ten lists of classical movie scores. It motivates me every single time that I listen to it. Then we get introduced to the Man of Steel’s home planet of Krypton. Believe it or not, this was also my introduction to Marlon Brando. I hadn’t seen The Godfather yet (I was 12 and just getting into movies, don’t be mad at me reader). I believe that he was very effective as Jor-El. Even though his role is very small, he leaves a powerful impact.
          After Krypton, we also see Kal-El’s life as a teenager in Smallville, as the Kent’s adopt him and name him Clark. There is a line in this part of the film that his adoptive father Jonathan tells Clark that is very significant. He tells Clark that he is here for a reason. This spoke to me as I was trying to figure out what my purpose in life was. In some ways, I’m still trying to figure that out.
          We then get to see Clark discover his origins, and see him settle in life at Metropolis. This brings me to the best part of this movie, and that is Christopher Reeve as Superman/Clark Kent. Even though there have been many incarnations since he donned the cape, to me he is Superman. He embodies not only the Man of Steel, but Clark Kent as well. Yes, some have argued that it’s a silly disguise because he only uses his glasses, but it is the personality as well that separates the two. I still get teary eyed knowing that he suffered such a fatal tragedy in his life. But he made me believe a man could fly.
          The supporting cast turned out to be pretty good as well. Re watching this movie, I thought Margot Kidder was very effective as Lois Lane. She wasn’t as much of a damsel in distress as I remembered her though. With the exception of Superman’s first scene in which he has to save her, she was a pretty strong character. The women’s movement of the 1970s probably influenced this decision to make her a strong independent character, which helped the movie.
          Gene Hackman I thought did a great job as Lex Luthor, or as he put it, the “greatest criminal mind of all time.” He played the character really calm, despite his motivations being really out there. Even though there have been many other depictions of this character, I found this interpretation to be very underrated.
          As I was thinking more and more about this movie, I came to a conclusion about this film. Before viewing this, I had seen many other movies and viewed them as pure entertainment. But this was the first time I actually took a movie seriously. I was able to appreciate the time and effort that it takes to make a movie. It took it’s time to tell its story, and I found the pacing to be quite effective. Because of this film, I was able to appreciate movies as not just a way of entertainment, but as an art form.
          If you’re a fan of Superhero movies, you should thank this movie for being made. Because had this not been released when it was, I don’t think we would have the success of movies like The Avengers or the upcoming Justice League movie. I say give this movie another watch because this is one that I would recommend for any fan of cinema. 

Dracula: (Spanish Language Version)
          Dracula, the Spanish version, is directed by George Melford, and stars Carlos Villarias, Lupita Tovar, Pablo Alvarez, and Eduardo Arozamenza. Based on the novel by Bram Stoker, the film tells the story of Dracula as he tries to move from his castle in Transylvania to England so he can spread his undead curse and find some new blood.
          I am a fan of horror movies. I have been into them since 2001 when I watched AFI’s 100 years, 100 thrills list. I started with the classics, and moved on to the current ones. The reason I bring this up is because Dracula was one of the top ones featured throughout the broadcast. The American version is well known, and who could forget Bela Lugosi’s portrayal of the character? But would you know there is another version that was released the same year?
          Yes, there was a Spanish language version of Dracula released the same year as the American version. While the Lugosi version shot during the day, the Spanish version was filmed at night. This gave the filmmakers an advantage because they could figure out better camera angles and use better lighting. Some critics even say this version is better than the original. But is it really than the one starring Lugosi? Well, in some ways, yes.
          The acting is excellent. Carlos Villarias does a frightening performance as Dracula. He doesn’t speak very often, but he says a lot of emotion with his facial expressions. He is not trying to be a carbon copy of Lugosi, but he makes the character his own.
          The rest of the cast does well in their respective roles as well. Lupita Tovar does well as Eva, the girl that Dracula has her eye on his next victim. Pablo Alvarez Rubio as Renfield gives a chilling performance as his character is driven to madness. Eduardo Arozamenzais is fantastic as Dr. Van Helsing. He is the one who wants to take down Dracula and stop him from finding new victims.
          The look of this film is very dark and mysterious too. There is a lot of usage of fog in the outside to try and give it a creepy atmosphere. It works because in these scenes, you get that scary that Dracula is out there watching and waiting for his next victim. You as a viewer don’t know when he is going to strike. There are a lot of close ups in this version, which to me makes it a little more personal too.
          Something else that stuck out to me was the fact that there wasn’t any background music either. It is a plus because the way background music is used in horror films now is just to show off a cheap jump scare. By not having any background music, it makes the film seem scarier than what it already is.
          I also like how this film is longer than the Lugosi version. It gives the film more time to tell the story. Usually whenever a horror film is long, it can sometimes be dragged out and there are little to no scares. But this one works because you are really invested in the characters as to what is going to happen to them.
          Overall, I would say that Dracula the Spanish version is worth watching if you are interested in checking out a new take on an old classic. For my overall rating, I’m going to give this version a 5/5. This is Mr. Birdwell saying, “Keep Reading and Watching.”
​

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.

          “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” is not directed by James Cameron, but is instead directed by Jonathan Mostow. The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes, and Kristanna Loken. And in this film, John Connor is living off the grid so no can find him. However, Skynet sends a terminator back in time to kill him while the future John Connor sends back a Terminator to protect him in order to survive a possible future nuclear attack.

          It’s amazing how a film series like The Terminator has been so influential over the course of thirty years. With phrases like “I’ll be back” and “Hasta la vista baby, they have had a major impact on pop culture. As a kid, I remember seeing Terminator references on shows like “Rugrats” and “Full House”. So when a sequel to a film series like this comes out years later, this is an event.

          The first pro about this movie is of course the man himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is the character of the Terminator I could never see anybody doing this role. He brings a lot of charm and wit to this iconic role. As a Terminator, he can be really funny. His soul mission is to protect John Connor at all costs.

          The action scenes are also a blast too. The best scene is when the Terminator is hanging on a crane as his villain; the T-X is driving a truck. He’s holding on and surviving a ton of explosions. Watch it with a sound system and you will not be disappointed as a viewer.

          I also enjoyed some of the comedic moments this film has to offer. They come off as a bit awkward, but it relieves the tension like when Arnold is wearing some rose colored sunglasses. It’s stupid, but does give the film a chance to slow down a bit.

          However, there are some aspects of this film that do not work. For one, Nick Stahl as John Connor came off as very monotone in his performance. He brings no emotion to the role, and I felt like I was watching Hayden Christensen in the “Star Wars” prequels. Claire Danes as Katherine Brewster came off as weak and annoying. But Kristenna Loken as the T-X 1000 was the weakest aspect of this movie. She didn’t feel like a real threat and it seemed the only reason she was cast was purely for sex appeal.

          I know a common complaint about this movie was the fact it relied on the same story instead of taking place in the future during the war. I’ll admit I wish that this movie did take a different approach instead of relying on the same story too. But I can’t really condemn the film because it makes up for it with elements like the comedic moments and the excellent action scenes. Overall, I was entertained.

          Despite not being as good as the first two “Terminator” films, I would say “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” is still worth checking out. It’s great to see Arnold back in the role, and the action scenes are worth watching. I just wish that the plot and some of the acting was more fleshed out. It’s still entertaining and overall a good time. For my final rating, I’m going to give “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” a 3.5/5.

          Check back next time as I will be reviewing “Terminator: Salvation”. This is Mr. Birdwell saying, “Keep Reading and Watching.”

Farewell Letter to a Sitcom: A Fan’s Perspective

                             Dear “Two and a Half Men”,

          I’m writing to you because I would like to say farewell to you as a show. It’s not that I haven’t enjoyed watching you, but I feel that it is time to move on and focus on other things in my life. The more I’ve been thinking about it, I have been trying to figure out how I got into your show.

          I’ll admit for the first several years, I didn’t watch you. Actually, I think the reason I started watching was because of the Charlie Sheen fiasco. It was so crazy and absurd that it peaked my interest. Because the show was so new to me, it was filling a void in my life that I didn’t know about. Now that I have matured as a viewer, I have noticed several flaws. I will however keep it to a minimum though.

          I didn’t like how the characters of Alan and Jake turned out. Alan was much funnier when he was neurotic instead of being a cheapskate. The whole forgetting of his wallet got old after the 50th time. In real life, no one would put up with that shit. Also, the character of Jake was a real missed opportunity. He could have easily been the reasonable one instead of a stupid pothead. In a show that consists full of grownups, Jake could have been the character that acted like one, and actually be on track to a better life.

          When Charlie Sheen was fired from your show, it should have ended right there. He was your star. Hell, he was the reason the show got made. And it continued for some reason. I mean Ashton Kutcher really? I’m sure he is a nice guy in real life, but he just tried way too hard. In fact, his time on the show just felt forced and awkward. There was nothing to his character at all.

          I have to say the bright spot in all of this was Berta. Aside from Charlie, she was the best character on the show. She was fresh, consistent, and just straight up funny. Berta was the reason I watched the Kutcher years.

          Now that series finale. I have to say it was a giant slap in the face. Besides the self-aware jokes, the episode was a disappointment. By not having Charlie Sheen in it ruined the whole thing. It didn’t ruin just the season, but the series just seems like a waste in hindsight.

          I get it, “Two and a Half Men” isn’t supposed to be an epic drama or a show that is life changing. But the show’s main goal was to make people laugh. And for a while, it did make me laugh. But now, I see your show for what it truly is- juvenile humor disguised as “entertainment”. Farewell “Two and a Half Men”. As of this writing, I will never watch you again.

                                                          Sincerely,

                                                          Mr. Birdwell

Batman Begins Review

          “Batman Begins” is a 2005 action/superhero film. The movie is directed by Christopher Nolan and stars Christian Bale, Liam Nesson, Michael Caine, Cillian Murphy, Gary Oldman, Katie Holmes, Ken Watanabe, Tom Wilkinson, and Morgan Freeman. In it, the film focuses on Bruce Wayne’s beginnings, from his parents’ death, his training, and his eventual becoming of Batman himself. His goal is help the city of Gotham from the crime and corruption that has taken over.

          I’ve been a fan of Batman for as long as I can remember. My introduction to the character was the animated series that aired in the 1990’s. I consider Batman to be part of not only my childhood, but part of my life. As I got older, I was introduced to Batman in film, ranging from animated ones to the live action ones. And yes, that even includes the Joel Schumacher ones ha. But in the live action ones, I always felt that there was something missing. Like there was an element or two that could make them perfect. Well to paraphrase the late Roger Ebert, “Batman Begins is the fifth live action take on the character. It is the first to get it right.”

          The first is the Bat himself. Christian Bale’s take on both Bruce Wayne and Batman is excellent. In my opinion, he balances both characters equally. He’s slick and charming as Bruce Wayne and both dark and brooding at Batman. I know he gets a lot of criticism for his Batman voice, but the scene where he interrogates that detective in the alley; I still remember jumping in my seat a little bit.

                   I could go on and on about the supporting cast all day for this movie, but there are two performances of the supporting cast that stand out to me. That is Michael Caine and Gary Oldman. I enjoyed Michael Caine’s portrayal of Alfred. His relationship with Bruce really feels like a father/son relationship, and more than a boss coworker relationship. You can genuinely tell that Alfred cares about Bruce, and doesn’t want to see him get hurt. Gary Oldman is superb as Detective Jim Gordon. The relationship between him and Batman is one of the best parts of the mythology, and here it is perfected. Oldman nails the character as a cop who is trying to do the right thing in a corrupt city.

          What makes the movie stand out is the sense of realism that you get while watching it. The locations make you feel like you’re watching a real place, and not it just being shot on a sound stage. Like every city, there is both good and evil in it. But every city needs a symbol of hope. A symbol is something that gives people a sense of optimism knowing that everything is going to be ok.

          I also love the theme to this movie. Hans Zimmer did a great job with this score. Every superhero movie needs to have that one score that makes it stand out. For “Batman Begins”, this one is an exception. It doesn’t feel generic, and to me it is up there with some classic iconic themes.

          If I did have an issue with this movie, it was just one. It was a con that eventually became a pro. I didn’t like how some of the action scenes were filmed. Everything just felt like it was shot up close, and felt nauseating at times. Now here is how it became a pro. “Batman Begins” helped me appreciate the widescreen format for DVD’s. When I rented this movie in 2005, there was only the full screen. After viewing it, I could never look at the full screen format the same way. Thank you “Batman Begins” for helping me appreciate that.

          I see “Batman Begins” as both a blessing to superhero movies, but at the same time a downside to movies in general. It started what I like to call, the “reboot” genre. It seems now every franchise that gets a reboot, has to be dark, and realistic. For some it does work, while others it comes off as painfully awkward. But I guess that is Hollywood for you. Trying to copy something that only worked once.

          Overall, I think “Batman Begins” is not only one of the best “Batman” movies, but also one of the best superhero movies. The acting is great, the music is excellent, and is quite vastly underrated when you look at the other Batman films Christopher Nolan has directed. Being this the 10th anniversary of when this film was released, give this one a watch. For my overall rating, I am going to give “Batman Begins” a 4.5/5. This is Mr. Birdwell saying, “Keep Reading and Watching.”

The Lost World: Jurassic Park Review

          “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” is a 1997 film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Jeff Goldblum, Julianne Moore, Vince Vaughn, Arliss Howard, Pete Postlethwaite, and Richard Attenborough. In this film, John Hammond seeks to redeem himself by recruiting Ian Malcolm and others to Isla Sorna, aka “Site B” to study the dinosaurs on the island. Meanwhile, there is another group from Ingen who has more sinister ideas.

          In order to explain my thoughts on this movie, there is something that I need to address. Up until now, I have never seen this movie. I’ve seen the first “Jurassic Park” many times and love it. And yes, I have sat through “Jurassic Park III”, (more on that later). But this is the one movie in which most people are split on. There are those who love it, while others just hate it. So going in, I went in with an open mind.

          So what did I think of “The Lost World?” Well, I actually enjoyed it. I mean, it’s not as good as the first one, but it is still entertaining in some ways. I like how this movie has a different feel to it. This one is a bit darker, and there are more action scenes. I have to give Spielberg credit for going this route. Though if it had the same feel as the first one, people would complain that it wasn’t different.

          The cast is actually pretty good. It’s great to see Jeff Goldblum back as Ian Malcolm. He is that character, and I like how at times he is seen as the voice of reason trying to remind the new people about what has happened back on Isla Nublar, like the chaos may happen again.

          The supporting cast is good too. Julianne Moore as Malcolm’s girlfriend Sara was a good character. I liked how she knew what she was doing and wasn’t just a damsel waiting to be saved by Ian Malcolm. It was nice to see their relationship evolve. Another big surprise to me was seeing Vince Vaughn. When I saw his name on IMDB, I was thinking holy crap. He is going to be like the comic relief. But no, I really liked his character and I wish Vaughn would go back to doing drama instead of stupid comedies.

          Watching this film, I was really surprised at how the effects still hold up to this day in 2015. Much like the first one, it is mind-blowing. It still looks real, and has that feel where it wasn’t shot on just some sound stage. Plus, the dinosaurs still look so life like, and never once did I feel I was looking at something fake. In today’s world, the use of CGI is so heavily used and it is nice to see a movie that still holds up.

          But with the pros come the cons. First, I really wasn’t interested in the main villains of this one. They just seemed like clichés in my opinion, and their motivations didn’t work for me. Nedry from the first one is the ultimate villain of the series because yes he is evil but he has a certain humor/charm about him. Also, the infamous San Diego sequence, while entertaining, feels like it was from another film. The effects are good, but it just looks out of place when you look at the movie as a whole.

          Overall, “The Lost World” is not as good as the first one, but I like it in its own right. There are some good moments, entertaining characters, and good special effects. For my final rating, I am going to give “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” a 3.5/5. Earlier, I mentioned my thoughts on “Jurassic Park 3”. To sum it up, the less said about that movie, the better. This is Mr. Birdwell saying, “Keep Reading and Watching.”

Avengers: Age of Ultron Review

          What’s going on fellow readers? This is Mr. Birdwell here. It’s hard to believe that the summer movie season in underway. Let’s look at one that has a lot of people talking about. That’s right. Today’s review will be on the mega hit, “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

          Directed by Joss Whedon, the film stars Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, and the voice of James Spader. In the film, the team is together once again to battle Ultron, a mechanical artificial intelligence that is bent on destroying the world.

          Phase two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe got off to a bit of a rocky start. “Iron Man 3” was a huge letdown and was a terrible way to end that trilogy. “Thor: The Dark World” was an average sequel to an average movie. Then 2014 came along and everything changed. “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” was not only a huge improvement over the first one, it was a comic book movie and a political thriller rolled into one. “Guardians of the Galaxy” was a welcome addition to the MCU. It was a fun action movie that didn’t take itself seriously and just a fun time overall.

          As an action movie, “Age of Ultron” does not disappoint.  The movie begins with an action scene, and it is great to see the team fighting together as one unit. Best action scene in my opinion belongs to Hulk vs the Hulk Buster however. You as a viewer really care for these characters, because they have been developed for so long, and all of their personalities just seem to mesh well together.

          One of the funniest scenes in the movie is the party scene. Usually, I find these kind of scenes to slow down an action movie, but it is nice to see them talking and joking with each other. It is like visiting old friends from school you haven’t seen in a long time. While y’all may have different paths in life, you can still come together and act like nothing has ever changed.

          There are some additions to this movie series. The first is Ultron, voiced by James Spader. His creation felt rushed, but when he finally becomes Ultron, he was more of a sarcastic villain and a little funny at times. Here’s a random thought. Every time I saw Ultron, I was thinking of Alex Trebek from Jeopardy. Both are condescending, so it does make some sense.

          The second additions to the franchise were Quick Silver, and Scarlet Witch. They are known as the Miracle Children, not Mutants as in the X-Men franchise. Aaron Taylor Johnson does a fine job as Quick Silver, I just thought the version used in “X-Men: Days of Future Past” was more interesting. Elizabeth Olsen did an excellent job as Scarlet Witch. To me, she was more memorable as a character because the performance was captivating. Mary Kate and Ashley, take accurate notes on how to act from your sister. She can teach you a few things.

          There were times in the movie when things felt a little rushed. Joss Whedon has admitted that the original cut of this movie was over three hours long. I guess the studio wanted to trim it down so that theaters could have more showings in a certain day. Haven’t the editors forgotten that this is a Marvel movie? Regardless of the length of the movie, it is still going to make money. I guess some things will never change.

          Overall, I would still recommend seeing “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Sure, there may be some pacing issues, but the characters and the action scenes certainly make up for it. For my final rating, I am going to give “Avengers: Age of Ultron” a 4/5. Let me know what you thought of the movie in the comments. This is Mr. Birdwell saying, “Keep Reading and Watching.”

          P.S., you’re probably thinking that all I am doing with these reviews are just superhero movies. Don’t worry. The difference in genres will be more diverse as this blog goes on trust me.

The Avengers Review

          What’s going on fellow readers? This is Mr. Birdwell back again. Thanks for turning into this latest entry of reviews. Today’s review will be focused on one of the biggest box office returns of all time. This week’s review will be on 2012’s biggest smash “The Avengers.”

          Directed by Joss Whedon, this film stars Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, and Tom Hiddleston. In this movie, Norse God of Mischief Loki and his alien army want to enslave humanity. But it is up to Earth’s mightiest team known as the Avengers, to work together and save the universe.

          If you have read my about section, you’ll notice that I try to focus on movies and shows that got a bad rap when they first came out. Now you’re probably thinking to yourself, “Mr. Birdwell, what are you doing? “The Avengers” was received greatly. You’re contradicting yourself and just want an excuse to talk about this movie.” Well, to be quite honest, before this review, I had only seen “The Avengers” once, and that is when it was in the theaters. And I didn’t remember too much of it. Some people I had spoken with thought it was mediocre and not as great. But what did I think of it?

          I have to say that re watching it, I thoroughly enjoyed “The Avengers”. The casting is excellent in this movie as well. I could go on all day about each member, but I want to give two shout outs. The first is Tom Hiddleston as Loki. As a villain, he is as menacing yet likeable as a character. I could not imagine anyone else playing him. The second shout out is to Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/Hulk. This is the third time this character has been in a movie, and the third time sure is the charm. He brings a sense of awkwardness to the role, and it is perfect. When I was watching him, I was not seeing an actor playing Bruce Banner. I saw Bruce Banner as if he was ripped from the pages. The Hulk’s design has never looked better too.

          The action scenes were really great too. Never once did I suspect that it was CGI. I don’t recall being bored during these scenes. It was like literally watching a comic book come to life. Also, the way it is written, you really care about these characters. They all mesh well so together and just seeing them together is a nerd’s dream. I know a complaint that I had heard was the fact that the Avengers spend way too much time arguing with each other. Well, think about this reader. You have all these superheroes, each with different strengths and weaknesses. Of course there would be some conflict. Each hero has their own way of solving the problem.

          If there were any complaints that I had to come up with, there were few and far between. I guess the one issue I had was the fact that the beginning felt a little slow. I understand you need time to build up, but there had five movies leading up to this. Anyone who hasn’t been living under a rock has been prepared for this event. This just isn’t a movie anymore. This is an event.

          Overall, I still would say “The Avengers” is an excellent movie. It was great to revisit it, and for those who love movies in general, this is one definitely checking out. For my overall rating, I am going to give “The Avengers” a 4.5/5. Let me know what you think in the comments below. Also, what is a movie that you enjoyed after a second viewing? This is Mr. Birdwell saying, “Keep Reading and Watching.”

Hulk Review

          Hello fellow readers. This is Mr. Birdwell once again. I’m going to be continuing with my stretch of superhero films. Today, we are going to be looking at one that has been one of the most mixed ones in the last 15 years. That’s right. Today’s review will be about “Hulk”.

          “Hulk” is a 2003 film directed by Ang Lee and it stars Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliot, Josh Lucas, and Nick Nolte. The film focuses on Bruce Banner, a genetics researcher, who is exposed to gamma radiation. He survives, but turns into a raging green monster whenever he becomes angry. Bruce is pursued by his estranged father, and also the U.S. Army, who see him as a threat to national security.

          The idea of duality is something that has been focused on in comic books and comic book related sources such as movies and TV shows. With duality, all the hero has to do is put on a costume and they become more than just a regular person. Criminals fear them, while authorities see them are just grown adults in a goofy looking suit. Outside of the costume, they seem like a normal person. The Hulk is unique because he doesn’t wear a costume or a mask. His costume is his own inner self. The conflict is within him.

          Now let’s go onto the positives about this movie. Eric Bana is easily one of the most underrated actors of the last 15 years. I thought he did well as Bruce Banner. To me, he captured the psychological elements of the character and he was very believable in the role. Jennifer Connelly did good as Betty Ross as well. She did great showing her emotions as she is trying to get Bruce the help he needs. Then there is Sam Elliot as General Ross. Do I really need to say more? It is Sam Freaking Elliot. His presence can make the crappiest of movies awesome.

          I liked what Ang Lee was trying to go for with this movie. He did a good job directing. Also, I found it unique that he used a comic book style panel to tell the story. It literally looked like I was watching a real life comic book, and Mr. Lee was actually turning the pages for the audience.

          However, there were some issues I had with the film. In every movie, there is a villain to counteract with the hero. Well, in this movie, there is no actual villain from the comics per say. There are just bad clichés. I didn’t care for Josh Lucas’s character. He was just a cardboard cutout of the corrupt sleazy money grubbing asshole that is in it for himself. I remember screaming inside hell yeah whenever the Hulk tossed him like a rag doll. And then you have Nick Nolte. What to say about Nick Nolte in this movie? Didn’t think too much of him in the movie, even though he is the reason sort of why Bruce is the way he is in the movie.

          As far of the design of the Hulk, it wasn’t overly as bad as I thought it was going to be. Keep in mind; it had been over a decade since I had last seen this movie. He was really effective when he was in an action scene. Now some might want me to address the infamous mutant dog fighting scene that the Hulk has to deal with halfway through the movie. Well, to me it wasn’t good or bad. The sequence is just very forgettable in my opinion. It added nothing to the story.

          Overall, despite its flaws, I would say “Hulk” is still an ok movie. I was entertained by it and the pros did outweigh the cons. It’s not as bad as most people say, and I think it deserves a second look. For my rating, I am going to give “Hulk” a 3/5. Thank you guys so much for reading this review. If you have seen “Hulk”, let me know what you thought in the comments below. This is Mr. Birdwell saying, “Keep reading and watching.” (Yes I decided to shorten my end quote. Something I have been thinking about).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0RQOT14lck&index=92&list=LLLYscwzuqlcBHnImVAsWdzw

Watchmen Review

          Hello readers. Mr. Birdwell back again. Sorry it has been a while since I have posted a review. But since summer season is almost here, I’d figure why start off with a superhero movie. Today’s review will be about one of the most underrated in the genre. That movie is none other than “Watchmen.”

          Based on the 1986 graphic novel, and directed by Zack Snyder, “Watchmen” takes place in an alternate 1985 New York City. The film stars Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson, Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Carla Cugino, and Matthew Goode. In the movie, America has won the war in Vietnam, and Richard Nixon is still President. When a former superhero is murdered, a group of former colleagues investigate an apparent conspiracy and uncover something much worse than anticipated.

          I’ve been a fan of superhero movies for as long as I can remember. I’ve seen good ones, and plenty of bad ones. But lately, these kinds of movies have been taking a turn for the better. A lot of them have been taking the realistic approach. By being realistic, I mean it doesn’t feel like a live action cartoon. The heroes in general are put into real life situations. I think that is why people are starting to take them more seriously.

          Where to start with a movie like this? The first is the casting. Usually in an ensemble cast like “Watchmen”, there is always at least one weak link. I couldn’t find a single weak link in the entire movie. Most reviewers talk about Rorschach as the best of the bunch, but to me, my favorites are Nite Owl II and The Comedian. I like The Comedian because he is somewhat of an antihero, but you can’t help but be enthralled in Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s performance. Patrick Wilson does a good job as Nite Owl II. I saw him as the straight man of the group. He was the one who tried to stay optimistic and not go over the edge in being a superhero.

          The way this film is shot is done really well. It is not too bright, but not too dark. But director Zack Snyder sure knows how to visualize a good movie. The action scenes were in slow motion, but it works because you’re so enthralled in what is going on.

          One absolute plus is the soundtrack. In my last review, I said that a soundtrack can make or break a movie. Well, this one makes it. Never in my life would I think I would hear the song “Unforgettable” used for a fight scene. Other songs used are Bob Dylan’s “The Times They are a Changing”, K.C. and the Sunshine Band’s “I’m Your Boogie Man”, Simon & Garfunkel’s “Sound of Silence”, and Jimi Hendrix’s “The Watchtower”. If you love music from that era, this movie is for you.

          There were some minor things that did bother me though. I thought in some scenes, the violence and graphicness went a little bit too far. Look for a scene that takes place in a prison kitchen. You will know what I am talking about. Also, I wished that the ending wasn’t changed from the original source material. Maybe it was a budget issue or something. But still, it felt a little weird not seeing the original ending.

          So something else that needs to be addressed about this movie. I think it has gotten a lot of unnecessary hate. I think the reason is because “Watchmen” was the first big comic book movie to come out after “The Dark Knight”. Audiences were probably expecting another movie much like “The Dark Knight”. That took comic book movies to another level, and I guess audiences weren’t ready for a “Watchmen” type superhero movie.

          Overall, I would still say “Watchmen” is an excellent movie. It is one that needs more attention. It does a great job of telling a story, while being a great visual experience. I’m going to give “Watchmen” a 4/5. If you have seen “Watchmen”, let me know what you thought. This is Mr. Birdwell saying, “Keep reading and watching. You’ll never know when you’ll find something remarkable.”