RANDOMNESS

I don't know why I never thought about a match up like this but when I saw it in the pages of Original Sin #4 I was suddenly awestruck! How badass is this?!

SILVER TONGUED SILVER SCREEN: RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

"The first ape to lead was named Caesar. The first word spoken was "No.""

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES comes out this Friday. A perfect opportunity to rewatch a few classic films and catch up on a film that I missed. I love franchises. I love to binge watch franchises too (made all the more satisfying when done in preparation for the imminent theatrical release of the latest chapter in the franchise). My favorite franchises being the Godzilla series, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (The Avengers films), Predator, Alien, Star Wars, Star Trek, Middle Earth (Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit), Halloween, Gamera, and so on. One franchise I felt a little disillusioned with however was The Planet Of The Apes...

I remember 13 years ago heading out to the theaters to see the big budget remake of The Planet of the Apes starring Mark Wahlberg and directed by a favorite director named Tim Burton. I was excited for the film. The trailers made the movie look awesome! And it would be the first opportunity in my lifetime to see a Planet of the Apes film in a theater. By the end of the film much was left to be desired. There was something missing, a soul and a heart maybe. Much of the Hollywood blockbusters at that time seemed to suffer from the same problem. And the big films I had looked forward to, Godzilla (1998), Halloween H20, Terminator 3, all seemed to disappoint me so very much. Tim Burton's Planet Of The Apes was another disappointment added to the list.

The film soured my tastes for the franchise for quite a while. When I was younger, in single digits, I saw the 1933 King Kong, a film I fell in love with instantly, a love affair which has lasted the rest of my life. That film solidified in me a fascination and love for apes and gorillas. A few years later, still in single digits, I was introduced to a film titled ESCAPE FROM THE PLANET OF THE APES. I liked it but I felt sad at the end. Cornelius and Zira and an infant gorilla are brutally murdered and then it ends! What the hell, man?! You make me love these characters and then you kill them?! That was my introduction to the series and the epic beginning to the rise of Caesar.

Fast-forward to my 18th year of life and the release of the 6th Planet of the Apes film, Tim Burton's. Fast-forward ten more years to the release of The Rise of the Planet of the Apes. I still hadn't recovered from the last one and let this movie pass on without thought. Boy was I wrong. Reviews came in and the people loved it! So yesterday, for the first time, I sat down and finally watched it.

If you are familiar with the series you'll no doubt know that the first ape to rise up and start the revolution was named Caesar. Escape from the Planet of the Apes, the Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, and the Battle for the Planet of the Apes chronicle his rise and the changing of the planet. It all hinges on time travel. Evolved apes from the future travel back in time to our era, give birth to an evolved ape that grows up to lead the revolution. This ape's name is Caesar. The time line skews into a tangent. Caesar learns of the history of his future world from recordings made by his parents. He tries to change the "what would be" into a better world, a better future.

Now if you know anything about time travel then you know that the first timeline had to occur in a different way, along a different path. A prime timeline if you will, one unaffected by time-travel. Like the new Star Trek plotting along a different course due to time travelers changing the timeline, there was originally a timeline quite different from this new one. RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES explores the original timeline and does it magnificently!

The acting is superb, especially by Andy Serkis, the actor portraying Caesar. The special effects are astonishing in recreating real life apes. You feel for the apes and especially for Caesar. The acting gives the film something lacking in the previous film, a heart and soul. The plot of the film shines equally as bright as the acting. The film sets up the Icarus space flight. It sets up the evolution of the apes and the catalyst in which ultimately results in the global downfall of mankind and rise of the apes. It focuses primarily on the character creation of Caesar and his leading of the other apes. The fantasy/science fiction aspect of the original is virtually gone, replaced with something far more believable and with far greater gravitas. But yet it doesn't disregard the previous films allowing ample room for the others to exist in this continuum.

The movie, simply put, is incredible. It is the best possible origin story for the franchise. Even if you don't like the previous films you'll like this one. Even if you haven't seen any other Planet of the Ape film this one is the perfect starting point. I can't praise this movie enough! Storytelling at it's best! I cannot wait to see DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES! Reviews are already in and they are positive.

Overall Ranking: 7 out of 10
A must see!

HERO WORSHIP: HARLEY QUINN

 Hero/Villain: Harley Quinn

Ranking: 6 out of 10

Breakdown: Harleen Quinzel studied hard for many years to become a psychiatrist. She wanted to help people. Her drive and ambition led her to Arkham Asylum. If she could help but one of these tortured souls then all those years of school would have been worth it. Her patient: John Doe. Real name unknown. Alias - The Joker. He terrified her. Nothing she had seen or heard or learned in school could have prepared her for the twisted mind of the Joker. But she did not give up. Day after day she tried. Each glimmer of progress proved to be yet another lie, yet another joke. As the sessions continued she began to realize who was studying who. Slowly the Joker worked his way inside her head. His words, beliefs, philosophies, breaking down everything she thought about the world and about herself. Instead of fixing his mind he damaged hers, driving her insane. She became his biggest fan and number one accomplice, helping him break out, and going by the alias Harley Quinn.

Review: Harley Quinn first appeared on the Batman Animated Series of the early 1990's. An original character for the show that gained popularity fast. The character was adopted into the official DC comic universe soon there after and has continued making waves and growing in popularity. She started off as the Joker's sidekick but has since separated herself and grown into a character all her own and an indelible addition to Batman's rogue gallery.

Now I'm not the biggest DC fan but I do love the Batman side of  that universe. Batman is the best character DC has as far as I'm concerned and I'm drawn even more to his enemies. Bane, Ra's Al Ghul, Scarecrow, Killer Croc, Poison Ivy, Man-Bat, and of course the Joker. But there's just something about Harley.

Could it be that she's dressed like a tramp? Yes. Could it be her crazy, happily go lucky attitude that kinda reminds me of Jenny McCarthy? Yes. Could it have something to do with the way she can go total crazy psycho at the drop of a hat? Yes.

I've liked Harley since the cartoon. She was funny and not so crazy as the Joker but just enough to go along with him. She's definitely not as damaged as the Joker and occasionally has lucid moments adding a sub-layer to the character.

Lately she's been forced to work for a government program that attempts to rehabilitate criminals and sends them out on missions. This ragtag team of villains forced to be heroes is called THE SUICIDE SQUAD. When DC comics relaunched their entire line of books, Suicide Squad  was one of them and featured Harley as one of the lead characters. Now I didn't know much about her in the comics. Most of my knowledge came from the animated series (which is still awesome!). On a recommendation I jumped aboard the Suicide Squad and loved it for about two years.

The book was funny, action packed, and overall badass! Harley became not just some henchwoman sidekick but a total badass! I always liked the character but now she's kinda become a favorite. If you want a really good example of how awesome Harley Quinn is just read the first few volumes of the New 52's Suicide Squad.

Buy them here!
Suicide Squad Vol. 1
Suicide Squad Vol. 2
Suicide Squad Vol. 3
Suicide Squad Vol. 4

ON THE HORIZON: ANBERLIN ~ LOWBORN

When it rains it pours. Sometimes the rain beats you down to the point you can't take anymore. And sometimes the rain is the best thing you could ask for. Not only are we getting a new Rise Against album on July 15th but the following Tuesday, July 22, we are getting a new album from the incredibly awesome band Anberlin!

I've only been a fan of these guys for 6 years but already they have secured a place in my top 10 favorite bands. I was introduced to them with the album NEW SURRENDER, an album that resonated with me like few ever have. That one album has become an all time favorite album of mine. Their last album, VITAL, was easily their most badass heavy entry of them all.

I have been fortunate to have seen them in concert along with opening bands Foxy Shazam and Circa Survive. It was one helluva concert! Since their first album in 2003 they have had a steady output of music, averaging a new album every 2 years! That's mutha fuckin productivity! They even had a one year turn around in 2007 and 2008, CITIES and NEW SURRENDER, two of their best albums!

The news of a new album is fantastic but also sad. They have stated that this new album will be their last. I have all their albums and know them all well. It saddens me to think there will be no more. In two years not to have an Anberlin album... will suck.

Anyway, I hope this new album rocks and hope you guys like it too! Below are three tracks from the new album!
Anberlin - Atonement
Anberlin - Hearing Voices
Anberlin - Stranger Ways

It's kind of haunting in a way.

ON THE HORIZON: RISE AGAINST ~ THE BLACK MARKET

Some of my favorite news to hear is when one of my favorite bands is coming out with a new album. So I thought I'd share the great news with the rest of you!

It's been 3 years since Rise Against has released a new album. Last year they released a compilation of B-Sides and rarities, a collection titled LONG FORGOTTEN SONGS. 26 tracks of Rise Against awesomeness. I really enjoyed their last album ENDGAME and have long awaited their next release.

Sadly I missed their last concert tour. And it was a concert tour to end all concert tours. Rise Against was touring with another favorite band of mine, The Foo Fighters. I had an opportunity to go see them play together in Kansas City. To my everlasting regret... I missed it.

This time is gonna be different. No way in hell am I going to miss them in concert. They're on my bucket list of concert shows I have to see. If any of you have seen them already I am very jealous of you! Albums like Sufferer & the Witness, Appeal To Reason, and Siren Song Of The Counter-Culture represent to me some of the best, badass, rocking music I've heard in the last decade!

This new album has a lot to live up to. Check out one of the first singles on the album below.
Rise Against - I Don't Want To Be Here Anymore

Be on the lookout July 15th!

HERO WORSHIP: MORBIUS THE LIVING VAMPIRE

Hero: Michael Morbius

Ranking: 7 out of 10

Breakdown: Dr. Michael Morbius was a noble prize winning hematologist. All his life he had suffered from a rare blood disease that would eventually prove lethal. This disease shaped his young life, limiting the kind of roughhousing he could do as child. This disease was the reason he became a blood specialist. This disease ruled his life. Blood was his whole life.

Throughout his studies eventually he came across a cure. An enzyme contained within the blood of vampire bats proved immune to the disease. He cultured the vampire bat blood distilling it into a vaccine. His partner and friend urged him to do further tests but after 30 years of battling this disease his patience was at it's end. He injected himself and the vaccine worked! But there were unforeseen side effects. His body transformed. His skin became sensitive to light. His thirst became insatiable. And his canine teeth grew longer.

Instead of dying of blood he now needed blood to survive. Morbius became a vampire in every definition of the word. Except he was alive not undead. A vampire borne of science not mysticism. He became MORBIUS THE LIVING VAMPIRE!

The Review: Morbius 1st appeared in October 1971 in Amazing Spider-Man #101. He was introduced as a villain but presented more as a tortured human being in search of cure who would go to great lengths to achieve his goal. He became a popular character quickly, guest starring in many other books, typically facing off against Spider-Man and agonizing over the monster he had become. Soon Morbius starred in his own book called VAMPIRE TALES, an oversized magazine for adult readers. Morbius became the new anti-hero of Marvel.

He appeared off and on again with Spider-Man and other heroes until returning in the early 1990's alongside Ghost Rider, Blade, and Dr. Strange as a cosmically selected member of the Midnight Sons, heroes of the supernatural. It was here that I was introduced to him and it was here that I quickly grew to becoming a lifelong fan. His 1990's comic book rocks! It represents the height of his popularity and the era in which he shined the most.

Sadly, it wasn't to last. Lesser writers have taken him to inferior places. Lesser artists have reduced his terrifying persona to a laughable image. He had a brief moment where I thought he'd come back but again it was short lived. Marvel Zombies 3 and Marvel Zombies 4 are the last books in which Morbius retained a little of what made him so great. Thank you Fred Van Lente. Rick Remender and Joe Keatinge... you guys suck at writing Morbius.

The best stories for Morbius are:

Vampire Tales Vol. 1-3
Adventures Into Fear #20-31
Doctor Strange: The Vampiric Verses
Rise Of The Midnight Sons
Morbius The Living Vampire #1-31
Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage
The Midnight Massacre
Siege Of Darkness
Marvel Zombies 3
Marvel Zombies 4

Stick to the 1970's stuff and 1990's stuff for the cream of the crop.

Stuff to stay away from, these stories blow:
Franken-Castle by Rick Remender
Legion of Monsters by Dennis Hopeless
Morbius: The Living Vampire: The Man Called Morbius (Marvel Now) by Joe Keatinge

Once again, a great character during the 1970's and 1990's. Not so much nowadays. Still worth it.

SILVER TONGUED SILVER SCREEN: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2

I know I'm a little late with this one but I have to put this one out there, simply because it was the first movie of the summer season and the first movie I went to this summer. 2 years ago the Spider-Man movie franchise was rebooted, a legitimate from the ground up reboot throwing out the previous films altogether. It was the first major franchise to do such a thing (I can argue any others you'd like to throw at me). I thought it was a good move. I like the actors, the script, and direction. I'll go as far as to say that the Amazing Spider-Man is my favorite of the spidey films.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 unfortunately falls short of it's predecessor. The previous film retread the origin story a bit but it moved fairly quickly through the rehashed material. This film enters into familiar territory barely a decade old (now I realize that some of the audience members may not have been born when the first film came out but the movie is PG-13. Those kids shouldn't even be in the theater). I'm okay with the retread on old material but don't stay there. Move on, please. But it doesn't.

It feels like a mish-mash of the 3 original Spidey films along with thematic choices and acting choices derived straight out of the Joel Schumacher Batman films (Jamie Foxx's character is almost exactly like Jim Carrey's Riddler, at least at first). I don't know about you but modeling my choices off of Batman Forever or Batman and Robin is not something I'd do willingly.

Emma Stone delivers another great performance. Andrew Garfield and the actor playing Harry Osborn fall into some acting choices that vaguely resemble Kirsten Stewart and Robert Pattinson's Twilight romance (that acting style may accurately capture today's youth but to me it just looks like bad acting). There are few lines of dialog that are witty though. The interplay between Peter and Harry when they first meet in the movie is well done and well written. Paul Giamatti as the Rhino is a total one off joke.

And that goes into where the movie fails for me but maybe succeeds for others. While being rated PG-13 the film feels quite juvenile, moreso than any of the other spidey films. Almost like they intentionally injected judicial amounts of Adam West camp directly to its veins. Again, not a choice I'd make nor one I care to see. But for younger audience members (anyone below age 13 should not be here) it probably works for. Keep Spidey kid friendly is the approach then I guess but yet there are still dark moments in the film.

All in all I think it ties Spider-Man 3 for worst film in the franchise. It portrays a more juvenile kid friendly Spidey yet remains inconsistent at that too. But if you saw the trailers and followed the movie hype the film delivers exactly what it promises. What you saw from the previews and screenshots is exactly what you get. No surprises and no let downs unless you were let down to begin with.

Overall Ranking: 5 out of 10