Rick L. Phillips's Blog

Guess what movie I just watched

 

I miss the old USA

 

Disney's The Black Hole

At present I am rewatching the Disney movie The Black Hole. An all star cast and the quality production values that Disney is known for. However, this was made in  1979 and only because of the success of Star Wars was why movies like this were getting made again. In 1969 sci-fi movies were made because of the moon landing. The cast, the script, which is kind of like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in space and

Life with Archie #80

Well today a search that I have had for so many years then I can count came to an end. Thanks to my friend Keith Hammond I now once again have Life with Archie #80. I loved this story that I first read when I was about 7 years old. The story isn't exactly as I remembered it but as I know Archie comics did this story twice I may have mixed them up a little. First off the new character Angel looks better on the cover then he did in the actual story. He is getting all the attention of the girls. and even beats Moose in a fight after he flirts' with Midge. When Dilton tells Archie that he noticed something that could get Angel defeated. Archie fights him and it comes to a draw. The next time I saw this story Angel's secret to his defeat was that he had a low threshold for pain. So see that Dilton could see that Angel had a tell sign on what punch he was going to use was a much better weakness. By the end of the story in this issue Archie won his respect and I was hoping he would become a new character that would be in the books for a long time to come. However with the retelling of the story in a book that I can't recall, this was his only appearance. When I informed Keith that I was looking for it he said he thought he could have it in a week or two. Two weeks later and it's now mine again. Thanks Keith.

Justice League Karaoke Night

Karaoke night at Justice League headquarters and Batman sings Goin' Down. Who knew Batman was a Monkees fan?

The Stranger in the Shadows Giveaway Kindle Contest

I know its bee a long while since I posted on my blog. However, I want to do it more often and I am starting with this contest for my latest book The Stranger in the Shadows. Just go to this link https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/c3bf80a076b937e5 and follow the directions by following my author page on Amazon and you will be entered to win. Only two will win, but if this is a success I may do more of these contest.

Better in a Book Night Aug. 4th 2017

I got some Dinky the Elf and Door Into Murder books to sell at Better in a Book Night at the Florence Freedom in Florence, Ky. on August 4th. Get them or any of my books from the Project: Hero series. https://allevents.in/…/better-in-a-book-ni…/2029908663903140

Spider-Man: Homecoming Review

I went to see the new movie Spider-Man: Homecoming today and here is what my opinion is of the movie. There will be spoilers so if you haven’t seen it yet, don’t read any farther.
First, let’s start with the good things about it. The main thing is Michael Keaton. This man has range. He plays his multi-layered character very well. He plays the concerned boss to the loving and caring husband and father to the evil crime boss very well. He needs an Oscar nomination for his part in the movie.
Tom Holland plays his part well and shows why he was chosen to take over the role. While I wish they would have stuck with one of the others and tried to put their previous movies into the Marvel Cinema Universe, I can live with Mr. Holland in the role.
Using the old sixties cartoon theme as the movie theme is great. It should have been done in the other films. This is the one thing they did better than the Sam Raimi films.
Normally I don’t like it when they double up on the villains, However, this is done well in this movie, mainly because the Shocker is not in that many scenes. He is in the scene where he is needed and that is it. They even hint at the Scorpion as a future villain.
The others from the Avengers films are in it too and Captain America is used to comical effect.  As a matter of fact, there is almost more comedy in this movie then there is action. I laughed through most of the film.
Now the reason for the photo above. I love that they paid tribute to the Lee/Ditko story of Spider-Man working up the courage to push himself out from under debris when the Vulture traps him with it.
Now the parts I didn’t like. First is there are a couple of spots where a cuss word of two is used. Not many. Just a couple, but if you’re like me and don’t like cussing I think you should be warned. Another thing is when a character playfully gives Peter the finger. For me that is out of place for a movie like this.
Now comes what seems to be turning into a long debate for comic book fans, changing characters races for racial diversity. I have nothing against African-American, Asian or Hindu characters in my comics or films. However, please create new characters if you want them. Liz Allen is now half African-America and the Vulture is her dad!!! Flash Thompson is now Hindu, almost as smart as Peter, a part time party DJ and not a tall, white, muscle bound, Captain of the football team athlete who bullies Peter. He just calls him names in front of the other students.
With the character that Zendaya plays in the movie they kind of did a new character while they changed the race of a character. That’s confusing if you haven’t seen the movie yet, so you’ll have to see it to find out what I mean.
Over all it’s a good movie, but the ones directed by Sam Raimi, at least the first 2, were better. Comparing this to DC’s Wonder Woman I would have to say that, I can’t believe I’m saying it, Wonder Woman is better.  Still I’m glad I saw it and I can’t wait to see more of the Marvel movies in the near future.I give is 4 out of 5 stars. Barely but it does get 4 stars.

The Door Into Murder Now on Kindle

The latest in the Joshua Adams mystery series is now available. The Door Into Murder is now on Kindle and in print. You can get it at the link below or to the right side. If you are in the area on May 6th 2017 I will be a Comic Book World in Florence, Ky to promote my books.

Personal Appearance on Free Comic Book Day 2017 May 6th at Comic Book World

Here is the sign for free comic book day May 6th at Comic Book World.