Matt Amerling's Blog, page 2

Movie Review of "Guardians of the Galaxy"

The Marvel Films juggernaut does it again. Producing some of the best comic book adaptation movies today, Marvel and Disney know how to make action-packed, emotional, funny films that most audiences enjoy. Their 2012 megahit  The Avengers  pretty much cemented their status and they could make pretty much any film they wanted to make. So when it was announced they would be adapting the 2008 comic  Guardians of the Galaxy  (rebooted from the 1969 classic title), most fans and critics asked, "What? Who?" Unless you were a diehard fan, you didn't really know who this group was or their place in the Marvel universe. Well, I too didn't know much about the Guardians and, fortunately, you don't need to know anything about the group in order to enjoy this film.
Tying the film to The Avengers, we get a better look of the villain featured in the post-credits scene of The Avengers -- Thanos. Even though I don't know about the Guardians, I've known a long time about Thanos. Basically, he's the big big bad of the Marvel universe ... and in one of the greatest major comic events of the early 1990s, Thanos obtains the Infinity Gauntlet. In this film, Thanos (Josh Brolin) has assigned Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace) of obtaining one of the Infinity Stones (which make up the Infinity Gauntlet) so that he may have the ultimate weapon in the universe.  
Intergalactic thief Peter Quill a.k.a. Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) finds out that destructive things come in small packages!Enter the ragtag group of outlaw misfits: the thief Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), the assassin -- and adoptive daughter of Thanos -- Gamora (Zoe Saldana), the brutal warrior Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), and the duo of unruly bounty hunters Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Groot (Vin Diesel). This group forges an unlikely bond as they reluctantly team up to re-capture the stone and save the galaxy.

The film has a lot of action but also plenty of humor (coming mostly from Cooper's Rocket and Bautista's Drax), with the number of casualties to a minimum; I think the last Marvel film to have a "hinted-at" body count was The Avengers. Marvel does this to keep the kids packing the theaters, but also as not to offend anyone. Also, the soundtrack to Guardians -- as heard through Quill's mix tape -- rocks with a lot of classic pop rock songs. While some may be put off by this addition of safe classic hit songs, they are used in the best way. My only grudge with the film is near the end when the Guardians all finally confront Ronan. Star-Lord's confrontation in particular is what I found unrealistic, but it doesn't take away from the overall quality of the film.

Director James Gunn, who, to me, wrote and directed one of the best contemporary realistic superhero movies --  Super , proves with this film that he can also take the lead on big-budget productions. I'm not sure I liked this film more than  X-Men: Days of Future Past , but it was highly entertaining and definitely beat out  The Amazing Spider-Man 2 ! Chris Pratt does a great job of carrying the film, and even though I think she's a bit of an overrated actress, Zoe Saldana is wonderful in this! She's the right mix of kick-ass and vulnerability ... but that doesn't make her some pretentiously tough caricature nor a wilting flower that needs to be saved (even though she is saved at one point in the film)! Sisters Nebula (Karen Gillan) and Gamora (Saldana) get a chance to work out their sibling rivalry.
For a role that is completely CGI, Bradley Cooper does wonders with Rocket -- a genius albeit rude raccoon who doesn't exactly know he's a raccoon. There were plenty of one-liners of his with which I uncontrollably laughed out loud. Former wrestler Bautista also has decent comedic timing besides his expectant physical presence. All together, this group of misfits makes for a team more likeable than the Avengers, making this a fun film to watch.

Sure, Guardians of the Galaxy fits into the popcorn summer blockbuster fare, but, fortunately, it's not annoying, mind-numbing bile ... like most of the blockbusters have come to be the past two years. If you're looking for a fun, action-packed film -- whether taking your kids or not -- then this is definitely the one to see!

8 Great TV Shows You Probably Aren't Watching

I did a list like this last year where I highlighted some of the either lesser known, underrated and/or misjudged TV shows which I thought were pretty darn good compared to all of the usual waste on television nowadays. So I'm here again to point you in the direction of some TV shows which have premiered within the last year that you most likely are not watching. These shows -- whether from a different country or premiering on streaming channels like Netflix -- are some of the best around! First, let me warn you, there are  NO  reality TV shows on this list! That's because reality TV is uncreative and uninspiring. Please note that these shows (some of which are still on the air) are currently available either to watch on Hulu, Netflix, OnDemand/cable, or on DVD, and they are listed in alphabetical order. If you have watched -- or are watching -- any of these shows, good for you. Here are some more recommendations you may like. I should say that whereas my previous July 2013 list mostly had dramas on it (and I stand by those dramas: Arrow ; The Booth at the End ; Endgame ; House of Cards ; Misfits; Once Upon a Time ; Orange is the New Black ; Sherlock ; and Supernatural -- see the list here ), this list just so happens to have a majority of comedy on it; it was a good season for new comedies. So, let's get to it:

About a Boy THE PLOT: Based on Nick Hornby's ( High Fidelity , Fever Pitch , A Long Way Down ) novel of the same name, the show centers on one-hit wonder songwriter Will Freeman (David Walton) who never has to work thanks to the royalty checks he receives after writing one famous Christmas song. He lives the life of a somewhat selfish man-child, doing what he wants whenever he wants and dating many women. This all changes when his new next-door neighbors Fiona (Minnie Driver) and Marcus (Benjamin Stockham) move in. What starts off as Will using Marcus to attain women transforms into Will actually liking the 11-year-old and teaching him the "guy stuff" his overprotective mom can't teach.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: Unlike most predictable comedy where one sees Will and Fiona getting romantically involved, Hornby's story does not go that route. The two know they are wrong for each other and have no romantic feelings for one another, but their common link is Marcus, played with a funny-but-endearing awkwardness by Stockham. However, this show is not for kids as sexual content is mentioned throughout the show. I have to admit that I read the book a long time ago and saw the 2002 movie adaptation with Hugh Grant, but didn't care much for either. However, this is a comedy that is endearing and full of heart without overloading on happy or coming off as corny.


Believe THE PLOT: This urban fantasy drama has too many twists and turns to give a drawn-out plot summary so I'll simply say the show is about a young girl named Bo Adams (Johnny Sequoyah) who has telekinetic powers (think a very young Jean Grey from Marvel Comics' X-Men) -- and maybe more -- who is being hunted by a wealthy businessman (Kyle MacLachlan). Her only hope are a small group of the businessman's former employees (Delroy Lindo, Jamie Chung, Katie McClellan) and former death row inmate William Tate (Jake McLaughlin), who help her evade an institution which is hellbent on using her powers for evil and greedy purposes.
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: First off, the young actress who portrays Bo, Johnny Sequoyah, has a presence that leaves you constantly cheering for and liking this character! The show is produced by J.J. Abrams ( Alias ) and was created (and produced) by Alfonso Cuaron ( Gravity ), giving it some heavy creative cred! The show has a basic helping-someone story-of-the-week, but there is also the overall arc of what Bo can do and why she is so important to the evil corporation headed by MacLachlan. The best thing about this show isn't so much the "window dressing" of the powers, or the action, or the drama; it's the overall display of helping people and the kindness which is born from it. I started watching this show at the same time that ABC's Resurrection premiered, and whereas I lost interest with Resurrection, this has kept me coming back for more!

Deadbeat THE PLOT: Kevin Pacalioglu (Tyler Labine) is a honest-to-a-fault slob who is going nowhere -- a deadbeat, if you will. But he has one thing going for him that not many do. He can see and talk to ghosts. With hardly no ambition, Kevin takes on cases to help fulfill a dead person's unfinished business so said dead person can pass on "into the light," and soon figures out -- with the help of his drug dealer (Brandon T. Jackson) -- that he can make some money while doing so. The only thing standing in his way is the greedy Camomile White (Cat Deeley), a famous psychic who is simply a fraud. 
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: This may sound serious but it is one of the best new comedies to premiere this season. Labine is used to playing lovable ne'er-do-wells and he has mastered it for this show. Plus, the added romantic interest of Labine's Kevin with Camomile's assistant Sue (Lucy DeVito) is a welcome addition. Fans of the Showtime 2003 cult favorite series Dead Like Me will love this show!

Derek THE PLOT: Ricky Gervais (BBC's The Office ) plays Derek, a somewhat “slow” 50-year-old volunteer at a small old-folks’ nursing home. Derek is a kind, forgiving, gentle, easygoing man who sees the good in everyone and lives his life being as positive as possible. Now, this may sound like a goody-goody show, but, with Gervais’ trademark writing on it, the show is realistic, charming and poignant – all without the viewer rolling their eyes in annoyance or disbelief. Derek sees the good in everyone, from his one-time crush, Hannah (Kerry Godliman) – the head caretaker of the home – to the nursing home curmudgeon maintenance man Dougie (Karl Pilkington). 
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: I had my doubts upon watching this show, but was taken completely by surprise at how great it is! The characters are all loveable -- even Kev (David Earl) -- and the acting is amazing. I am actually in awe about how convincing Gervais is as Derek. What I enjoy most about this dramedy (drama-comedy) series is that it has more emotionally honest heart than any show I've seen in the past decade! The first season finale is one of the finest episodes of television! The series is shot in the same style as Gervais' Office -- told through interspersed interviews with the camera. The entire first season is already available on Netflix and the entire second season is set to premiere on May 30. 

The Goldbergs THE PLOT: Adam Goldberg (Sean Giambrone) is a geeky 11-year-old youngest child living in "1980-something" with his family: his father Murray (Jeff Garlin); his overprotective, overbearing (s)mother, Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey); his older sister Erica (Hayley Orrantia); his big brother, the desperate know-it-all Barry (Troy Gentile); and his grandfather, Pops (George Segal). The show follows Adam as he tries to brave the pitfalls of living with his loud family and making it through junior high -- overcoming obstacles such as girls, gym class, and getting through each day with as little humiliation as possible.
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: Before the series premiered, I had heard comparisons to the classic late 1980s/early 1990s coming-of-age classic The Wonder Years  (which took place from 1968 to 1973). I knew Goldbergs could not come close to that show and thought it awfully pretentious of anyone to compare it to such an all-around great TV show. Nevertheless, I tried it and it didn't grab me. But, at the behest of my wife, I tried it again, and, myself being a child of the 1980s, I found myself loving the 1980s references and all-around feel; I also feel a sympatico with Adam (I was the dorky little movie fanatic too!). The fads. The styles. The music. The pop culture. The movies (watch the episode about the video store and you can definitely relate!). It's all in there. While the show is no Wonder Years, it does have an older Adam narrator, played by pop culture geek icon and comedian Patton Oswalt, and the stories are appropriate for a younger audience -- something all too rare nowadays, even on primetime channels and broadcasts. Also, I love that at the end of the show the creator -- the real Adam Goldberg -- shows actual video footage he took in the 1980s, often showing the real characters shown in the night's episode.

Silicon Valley THE PLOT: Created by Office Space writer, Beavis and Butt-Head creator Mike Judge, this show focuses on Richard Hendriks (Thomas Middleditch), a computer program developer who, while working on his music-matching website called Pied Piper, creates a lossless compression algorithm that could revolutionize the Internet. Joining him in starting his new company are Erlich Bachman (T.J. Miller), owner of a business "incubator"; Canadian LeVeyan Satanist Bertram Gilfoyle (Martin Starr), Pakistani programmer Dinesh Chugtai (Kumail Nanjiani), and business strategist Donald "Jared" Dunn (Zach Woods).
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: Taking the internet start-up craze which has sprout up in the real-life Silicon Valley, California, this show takes the idea of the nerds from CBS's The Big Bang Theory  -- only placing them without the censoring limitations of being on a primetime channel. Judge's workplace humor and the offbeat storylines, including a spaced-out billionaire venture capitalist (Christopher Evan Welch), make this show fun and leave you with a feel that this show could go anywhere.

Surviving Jack THE PLOT: Dr. Jack Dunlevy (Christopher Meloni) is a no-nonsense ex-military man who becomes a full-time parent when his wife (Rachael Harris) decides to go to law school, and he uses his unorthodox methods to raise his teenage kids, Frankie (Connor Buckley) and Rachel (Claudia Lee).
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: Whereas The Goldbergs covers the 1980s nostalgia angle, FOX's Surviving Jack covers the 1990s, of which I can also relate since I was in high school in the early 90s -- just like the teenage protagonist in this show. The 90s music really takes me back! And I have to admit that the wonderful Christopher Meloni's character seems like a caricature of my own father. This show is based on the book I Suck at Girls by Justin Halpern, who also wrote and created Sh*t My Dad Says , which gives you an idea of the kind of humor you're in store for.


Trophy Wife THE PLOT: Kate (Malin Akerman) is a young, attractive party girl who marries professional middle-aged lawyer Pete (Bradley Whitford). Little does she know that when she married him, she would be marrying into his family too -- including his two children, Hillary (Bailee Madison; different from the actress in the pilot trailer below) and Warren (Ryan Lee), their mother (and Pete's first ex-wife), the stuffy Dr. Diane Buckley (Marcia Gay Harden); and Bert (Albert Tsai), and his adopted mother (and Pete's second ex-wife), the artsy, free-spirited Jackie (Michaela Watkins). Together, they all form one of the most unlikely-yet-loving family to be seen.
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: ABC had already hit a comedy homerun regarding unlikely families with its mega-successful Modern Family . They decided to make another quirky comedy and -- I have to admit -- it works! Akerman's Kate is not some dumb blonde and genuinely cares for her husband's kids -- and even his exes! Watkins' Jackie is hysterical! And Harden's cold Diane is brilliantly portrayed. The kids are all funny too, but what makes this series so watchable is that it has a lovable zaniness to it that makes you care about these characters, taking everyday family issues and problems and putting its own spin on it. In fact, the show is a lot different now compared to the first couple of episodes shown in the trailer below. If there is any episode you should watch, it is the Christmas episode! I promise you've never seen one done like this -- in Hangover -type fashion (every grown-up is hilarious in it)!

Movie Review of "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"

After watching the first  Amazing Spider-Man , I believed (and mostly hoped) the sequel would be better. I didn't agree with the writers' and director Marc Webb's idea of making Peter Parker this artsy, skateboarder, almost-emo teenager who has good looks and is more of a loner outcast rather than a flat-out awkward geeky nerd; I write this off as the new films adapting the "Ultimate Spider-Man" comics, which were released in 2000 and re-imagined and the entire Spider-Man universe for a more younger, contemporary audience. But I liked the inclusion of Gwen Stacy -- especially since I like Emma Stone. When I heard the news that the sequel would have more of Spidey's villains in it -- namely Rhino, Electro and Harry Osborn/Green Goblin -- I became worried because the last time three villains were included in one film (Sam Raimi's 2007  Spider-Man 3 ), it flat-out sucked!
With much caution, I walked into the theater tonight and bought my ticket for Amazing Spider-Man 2, and was nowhere near as impressed by Marvel's other superhero films. People can say what they will about Disney and Marvel teaming up, but it beats the hell out of what Marvel and Sony put out! This film doesn't even stand close to other Marvel films such as  Iron Man ,  The Avengers ,  X-Men: First Class  (which I know is from the team of Marvel and 20th Century Fox), or  Captain America: Winter Soldier  (see Jay's review  here ), which I loved despite finding one slight hiccup in it.
Fortunately, putting in the three aforementioned villains is not what hindered the plot of this movie, but I did find the adaptation of Electro (Jamie Foxx) lacking -- from his cheesy autotuned voice to his Joel Schumacher Batman film-like origin (just take a pinch of Jim Carrey's obsession as Edward Nygma/Riddler and add a dash of Uma Thurman's origin as Poison Ivy and voila!). Even when Electro gains the ability to materialize out of air, the music (written by composer Hans Zimmer) sounds just like the music "Pruit Igoe & Prophesies" by Philip Glass used in the 2009 movie adaptation of  Watchmen  when Dr. Manhattan (also a blue energy man) is "born."
Oh, look! An outtake from Zack Snyder's 2009 movie adaptation of Alan Moore's classic comic, Watchmen, with the corporealization of Dr. Manhattan Oh, wait ...What does work for this film is that classic friendship-turned-sour relationship between Peter (Andrew Garfield) and Harry Osborn, played by the impressive Dane DeHaan, who -- let's face it -- was born to play a villain (he's got that look); check him out in  Chronicle ! One of my favorite scenes in this film is the short scene between Spidey and Osborn, who is asking Spider-Man for his blood. To me, this is one of the best written and acted scenes in the film and I wish it was just the slightest bit longer.
The other thing done right is the relationship between Peter and Gwen Stacy (Stone). Their chemistry is great (which might have something to do with the fact that they're dating in real life) and the film addresses the expected guilt of Peter's dating Gwen even though he promised her dying father (Denis Leary) he would stay away from her. However, there was one scene at the Oxford University New York office they shared which felt awkward and forced. The best thing the filmmakers did pull off was an inevitable plotline that any Spider-Man fan or reader will know. I don't want to give it away but I will say the way this scene was shot, acted and written was very well-done, and it left me wondering where the filmmakers will take the franchise from here. I also liked the addition of Osborn's assistant Felicia (Felicity Jones), who is most likely a reference to Felicia Hardy -- Black Cat in the comics.

My only quip about the very end is -- I have to admit -- on a personal note. The way Gwen's inspiration is conveyed to Peter takes a bit of a rip-off from the end of my book  The Midknight  between the protagonist Jesse and his girlfriend Vanessa (which I wrote in 2004, long before this film was written or shot). But, that's neither here nor there about the overall quality of this film. With this film, I stand by what I said about the first Amazing Spider-Man: it's a film that is entertaining, but not all that memorable -- which is a shame for a Spider-Man film! This film merely is. I loved director Marc Webb's  500 Days of Summer , but his adaptations of everyone's favorite web-slinger are nowhere near great superhero territory. However, I am excited by the spin-off of this film, which will focus on six of Spidey's notorious villains from his rogues gallery -- the Sinister Six. Even though I am not a big Marvel fan, I loved this super-villain team! So when I saw Rhino's exoskeleton, Doctor Octopus' arms, and Vulture's wings, it's safe to say I was definitely on-board with that film, which is the next one to be released. Overall, the film was good (better than the first) and will suffice anyone jonesing for a superhero film until the release of  X-Men: Days of Future Past  later this month, but I wouldn't rave about it.

"The Eyes are the Windows to the Soul"

The fresh, salty sea air fills my nostrils as I inhale a long deep breath, leaving a smile on my face. Even from seven miles away, I could still smell the ocean. The town hall I’m walking into looks like a private home rather than an official municipal building, and it serves a small town – approximately 600 residents. It’s been eighteen months since I started my job here and for the first time in my search for a career, I feel as if I’ve found one that fills me with a sense of purpose. Strolling through the “Employees Entrance” located at the rear of the building, I swipe my time-punch card, the digital numbers reading 8:23 a.m. The small, short hallway is dark and cold as I’m the first one to arrive and the weather outside has recently shifted with the fall season. At the end of the hall is a locked door with an office to the left and one to the right.“Morning, Eric,” I call out to the man in the left-hand office. He is a big man in height and girth, with a shaven bald head, a goatee and glasses. “Morning. How are you?” he asks through the tobacco chew wedged in his mouth between his cheek and teeth.“Good,” I answer. It’s the same old, same old.I turn to the right-hand office, the gold plaque on the door reading Town Clerk in black letters, take my keys out of my pocket and unlock the door. A flick of the light switch brings life to the slumber of my office. No voicemail light on my phone, I turn on my computer and walk out to the lobby to start a pot of coffee, which I’ve recently taken over with my Starbucks Blonde Veranda – a vast improvement compared to the sludge previously provided from some offsite generic coffee company.The smell of the coffee roasting begins my day and I notice three of the town's volunteers are holding a balance class for senior citizens in our town hall chambers. I walk down a short hall through the foyer and unlock the door for the chamber room so they can get in to immediately set up. When I return to my desk, I sit down and see the first image to catch my eye. Three faces with frozen smiles stare back at me. The largest face belongs to a woman with prematurely graying hair mixed in with auburn brown, making her hair seem more blond than gray, a big grin on her face and gleaming brown eyes. Beside each cheek of her face are two small, round faces – one seven-year-old with long brown curly hair, blue eyes, a slight spattering of freckles upon her cheeks and a smile betraying her desire for adventure and competition; the other a five-year-old replicate of her mother when she was her age, with short straight brown hair, and a dimpled smile not as wide as the other faces pictured, showing her introverted, creative nature. Behind them is the small blue-gray one-story house we moved in after transplanting from Maryland. After living in the busy, hostile urban areas of Maryland most of my life, I promised that if I had my chance, I would find a nice relatively quiet town and spend the rest of my life in peace. It is a warm, cozy home in a comforting, quiet neighborhood, located just ten minutes from my work."Could you help me set up the room, Matt?" a female voice asks.My thoughts are interrupted by one of our volunteers, Susan, who is heading the balance class. The coffee will have to wait. I follow her into the room and can see a small group of the elderly people entering the building. One of them, Mr. Williams, uses a walker. I look at him and can picture him as the once-tall muscular man he once was -- a veteran of the Navy -- now hunched over and suffering from the effects of Parkinson's disease. He is shaky but his wife is by his side to help him -- in sickness and in health. I greet them both with a warm hello, hoping my wife is as caring and patient if we are ever in that situation come our golden years. I walk up to the front of the room and begin connecting the laptop for a PowerPoint presentation -- but failing miserably. Then I hear a slight shuffle and peer up in time to look toward the back of the room and see Mr. Williams lose his footing and fall with full force toward the floor. Everything moves as if in some cheesy slow motion movie effect. I see his feet close together, as if they are bound. The fall is so quick and inevitable; the aging man's Parkinson's prevents him from raising his hands to break his fall. Susan, Mrs. Williams and the others let out cries and yelps as Mr. Williams' body meets the ground with a loud thud, his thin skin showing a ripple as it meets the hard floor. My body takes over from my brain and I'm over to him before I can think of what to do.Mrs. Williams is already trying to help her husband of 68 years up but her own frailty denies her. She tries a second time as I grab Mr. Williams' other arm, neither one of us noticing the bloody scrapes on his hand and elbows. Mr. Williams appears frail but when I first pull to lift him up, his strong frame makes him heavier than expected. This time, Mrs. Williams' strength kicks in and we carefully help him to a chair."Oh, George!" his wife says, almost as if nagging him.Mr. Williams looks up to me with bewildered blue eyes, the frightened look of a man unable to control his own self, almost unable to comprehend what had just happened. No words come out but merely a struggling, short, whispered moan as if he had just seen a ghost and were unable to speak."Are you alright, Mr. Williams?" I ask, looking at his hands and legs to make sure there were no cuts or broken bones. My eyes peruse his ears, the top of his balding head, his wrinkled forehead, noticing his skin as thin as crinkled paper. There is a big red patch of blood on the back of his right hand and a red blossom has spread on his white cotton dress shirt near his lower back. One of the volunteers is told to go get a first aid kit. Then, for the first time, I look into Mr. Williams' haunted blue eyes.Looking back into those eyes, I feel something so pure and so unreasonably dismayed that I want to shrink down inside myself. Witnessing that moment of vulnerability feels as if I were watching the world beat on a weak person, telling him he was feeble, useless and worthless, and leaving me unable to do anything. His eyes speak to me. They plead."I'm sorry," I hear them saying. "I didn't used to be this way."I can barely keep eye contact with him because his vulnerability is so honest and so disarming coming from an adult so much older than me. He should not be embarrassed or apologetic for anything. His stare quickly turns from embarrassment to gratitude, and I can no longer bear to look him in the eyes as tears sting the corners of my eyes. The unadulterated goodness and gratitude in his eyes troubles me and makes me abashedly cower as the few tears evaporate. I come to think of all the past years and recent days I was impatient and judgmental toward strangers who I deemed weaker than me and those I love because I was judged in the same way by peers most of my early life. His look cuts through me, making me ashamed of this aspect about myself. I know it was not the world that beat on people like Mr. Williams. It was my youthful self.Even though his gaze is coming from one much older than me, Mr. Williams' stare begins to transform into one which reminds me of a very small child showing a parent or guardian how much they are thankfully dependent on them, how grateful they are when helped and loved. My urge to look away turns from shame into the acknowledgement that we are all one -- our birth, our happiness, our sadness, our death. Despite all of the distractions of politics and religion, or the disguises of difference such as nationality, race, sexuality, wealth, and gender -- which we often foolishly use to separate us -- I truly know we are all one. I think of my children and how one's past can rub off on another's future. Then I think there is no better inheritance to this life than the happiness we leave for others.His wife thanks me repeatedly but all I can concentrate on are the pair of now-misty eyes directed at mine -- as if we had just shared some wondrous secret. I can see in his gaze the beauty of humanity when we help each other. His gaping, quivering mouth moves as if he wants to desperately say something -- a thank you or maybe a frightened reply -- but his Parkinson's has now disabled him from doing so, and no words come out, just muted breath.I gently touch his shoulder and say, "It's OK."The corners of his mouth lift as far as he can move them to show an infirmed smile. I am able to look him in the eyes again and see the tears well along the corners of his eyes for a fleeting moment before they retract.This is the first time in a job that I have felt as if I'm making a difference in any way. I feel part of a community. I feel I am giving to something bigger than myself. My wife and parents would love for me to eventually become town manager and that may be in the cards for me sometime in the future. But as I part Mr. Williams and his stare remains with me, I know I'm where I need to be right now.

My Top 10 Best Revenge Films

Looking for something to watch? How about a little vengeance? Here are my picks for the best 10 revenge films (in alphabetical order):

The Crow  (1994)Directed by Alex ProyasStarring Brandon Lee, Ernie Hudson and Michael Wincott

"Little things used to mean so much to Shelly. I used to think they were kind of trivial. Believe me, nothing is trivial."

Based on James O'Barr's 1989 comic book series of the same name, Brandon Lee stars as musician Eric Draven, who is murdered along with his fiancée Shelly (who is also raped) on October 30 (Devil's Night), the eve of their wedding day, by a group of thugs during a seemingly random home invasion. Because of his anger and sorrow, Eric is given a second chance by a crow (believed to carry souls from this life to the afterlife), being raised from the dead and given invulnerability and a chance to bring to justice all of the thugs who murdered him and Shelly. However, it's not just the fact that Draven is able to kill the guilty which makes this a decent revenge flick; it's the manner in which he does it.

I remember Draven as being the first somewhat superhero who killed his tormentors (the only person in comics who did that at that time was Marvel Comics' The Punisher), and the character became a major influence for a character I created in my writing. Unlike The Punisher, it was the first time a hero had such heavy, strong emotions conveyed to the public. This was captured not only in Lee's performance but also in the writing and production, which included rain and most scenes taking place at night. Also, the soundtrack kicks ass. Sadly, Lee was accidentally killed during the shooting of a scene in this film. However, he left one hell of a legacy in this film alone! This film has reached cult status and has earned its place among top pop culture revenge films.

Desperado (1995)Directed by Robert RodriguezStarring Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek and Joaquim de Almeida

"You know, it's easier to pull the trigger than play guitar. Easier to destroy than to create. They killed the woman I loved ... and ruined my life."

Not many audiences knew when this film was released that it was a sequel to writer/director Robert Rodriguez's 1992 debut film  El Mariachi . Antonio Banderas' "Mariachi" (taking over for the first film's actor Carlos Gallardo and paying homage to "The Man With No Name" series featuring Clint Eastwood) is looking for a man named Bucho, who is the top man responsible for changing his life and killing the woman he loved (Consuelo Gómez). Right from the beginning of the film, there is a major showdown and gunfight, thus cementing Banderas as a kick-ass action star! With a guitar case full of a cadre of weapons, Mariachi cuts a bloody path toward Bucho, while also having to deal with the destructive consequences of his road to vengeance. This is another film where the soundtrack (mostly provided by Los Lobos and Tito & Tarantula) really shines! This film would also establish writer/director Rodriguez as a bone fide talent in Hollywood (his El Mariachi only cost $7,225 to make and would go on to become an international success). The best part of the film are the finely edited sequences -- such as when Hayek's character is serenading to a sleeping Mariachi while killers are surrounding her residence.Before Rodriguez made spy movies for kids, he created this Latino character who had some actual street cred with his badass-yet-emotionally-deep story. At times, of course, the action is a bit unrealistic, but it's fun to watch -- taking a cue from Quentin Tarantino and old "Spaghetti Westerns" (a la  Sergio Leone ).

Kill Bill  (2003 & 2004)Directed by Quentin TarantinoStarring Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Darryl Hannah, Lucy Liu, Michael Madsen and Vivica A. Fox

"Revenge is never a straight line. It's a forest. And like a forest, it's easy to lose your way ... to get lost ... to forget where you came in."

I consider this to be director Quentin Tarantino's masterpiece. This revenge film, which Tarantino used to sample -- and pay homage to -- some of his most favorite film genres, is so epic that Tarantino had to split it into two parts. The first film is much more violent and action-packed, inspired by the classic Japanese Toei and chanbara films, Hong Kong ( Shaw Brothers ) martial arts films, the 1970s girls with guns films, and 1970s revenge films. Part One details protagonist The Bride's (Uma Thurman) awakening from a coma after being shot in the head by her former boss and boyfriend, Bill (David Carradine), who lead the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (Darryl Hannah, Lucy Liu, Michael Madsen and Vivica Fox), of which The Bride was once a member. Part Two is more cerebral and less action-oriented -- instead delving into the details of why The Bride was marked for assassination, and her training as an assassin, as well as having to confront the truth of why she chose to go legit and quit the Viper Squad; this film is inspired by Leone's "Spaghetti Western" and revenge films. Thurman's Bride (or, B******, for those who know) is one of the tough female characters in pop culture today and an awesome force to be reckoned with. I cannot speak enough about how great this set of films are! There was talk of a sequel but Tarantino recently announced that the project was shelved. There was also talk of one long "director's cut" of these two films, called The Whole Bloody Affair, and it was to be released on DVD in 2009, but that project was also shelved. Either way, it does not take away from the impact of this film's greatness.

Leon: The Professional  (1994)Directed by Luc BessonStarring Jean Reno, Natalie Portman and Gary Oldman

"I like these quiet little moments before the storm. It reminds me of Beethoven."

Writer/director Luc Besson had already made his mark with  The Big Blue  and La Femme Nikita, but it was this story of a professional hitman, Leon (Jean Reno), who takes in a preteen girl Matilda (Natalie Portman in her first role) whose family was killed by crooked DEA agents led by Norman Stansfield (Gary Oldman), who is perhaps one of the best villains in cinema. When Matilda finds out what Leon does for a living, she asks him to help her to learn to "clean" (assassinate) so she can have her revenge on the agents. Against his better judgment, Leon teaches her a little bit at a time. In the meantime, Leon is opened to a whole new world as Matilda teaches him to live and love (in a familial way) -- she connects him to the world. There is plenty of action, but the story also has more of an emotional depth than most revenge films. From first viewing of this film, you could tell Portman was going to be a star as she holds her own with superb veteran actors Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, and Danny Aiello. This is also one of the few revenge films with a touching ending. Can't recommend this one enough!

Man on Fire (2004)Directed by Tony ScottStarring Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Radha Mitchell, Marc Anthony, Christopher Walken, Giancarlo Giannini, and Mickey Rourke
"Forgiveness is between them and God. It's my job to arrange the meeting."
Based on the 1987 book by A.J. Quinnell, this adaptation stars Denzel Washington as protagonist John Creasy, an alcoholic former CIA agent and Marine officer who is now a bodyguard, hired to take care of nine-year-old Pita Ramos (Fanning) just until her father (Anthony) can renew their kidnap and ransom insurance. At first, Creasy hates the assignment and often drinks himself to sleep; however, over time, Pita grows on him and the two form an unlikely strong bond. When Pita is kidnapped and is pronounced dead, Creasy viciously attacks everyone involved in her abduction and murder. Out of all the revenge films on this list, I think this one has to be the best when it comes to methodology. And, of course, Washington is at his best.
Munich (2005)Directed by Steven SpielbergStarring Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Ciaran Hinds, Mathieu Kassovitz, Geoffrey Rush, Michael Lonsdale, Mathieu Amalric, and Ayelet Zurer
"We are supposed to be righteous. That's a beautiful thing. And we're losing it. If I lose that, that's everything. That's my soul."
Based on the book  Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team , this film is based on the true story of Operation "Wrath of God," which was Israel's "off the books" retaliation for the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre where five Israeli athletes and six coaches were killed by a Palestinian group called Black September. The film follows Avner (Bana) who is hired from Mossad (Israel's version of the CIA) to form a black ops group to kill top leaders and conspirators of the Munich plan. Spielberg uses his usual unique filming style and captures one of the best revenge films ever! There is plenty of tension as the group of ragtag operatives are somewhat making up their missions as they go along, but what is best about this particular revenge film is that it asks the kinds of questions that need to be asked. In one standout scene, Avner asks his handler (Rush), "Did we accomplish anything at all? Every man we killed has been replaced by worse," to which his handler replies, "Why cut my fingernails? They'll grow back." The other crucial scene is where one of Avner's teammates feels he is losing his soul over the revenge mission. On top of it all, John Williams' haunting score is phenomenal! It doesn't get much better than this!
Payback (1999)Starring Mel Gibson, Gregg Henry, Mario Bello, David Paymer, Lucy Liu, Kris Kristofferson, and James Coburn
"Not many people know what their life's worth is. I do. Seventy grand. That's what they took from me. And that's what I was going to get back."
I struggled of whether or not Mel Gibson's brilliant  Braveheart  should be on this list since his character William Wallace does start his rebellion due to him avenging the death of his wife; however, I decided Braveheart was not applicable to this list because even though there was one scene of revenge, it is not revenge that continues Wallace on his rebellion quest. There are plenty of Gibson films that focus on revenge and are great ( Ransom ,  The Patriot ,  Edge of Darkness ), but the one that take the cake is this gem from 1999. Based on Richard Stark's (real name Donald Westlake) brilliant novel  The Hunter  (and one of my favorite series of books), Gibson plays Porter (in the books, it's Parker) who is betrayed by his team of thieves, shot in the back and left for dead. When he awakens, Porter makes it his mission to get the money owed to him ($70,000) and get even with those who betrayed him.  
Revenge (1990)Directed by Tony ScottStarring Kevin Costner, Madeleine Stowe, Anthony Quinn, James Gammon, Miguel Ferrer, and John Leguizamo
"I killed a man who I hated today."
Aptly named (especially for this list!) is this 1990 revenge romance-suspense film (based on the novella by Jim Harrison) starring Kevin Costner as retired U.S. Naval aviator Michael "Jay" Cochran who wants a vacation and decides to visit his friend Tiburon "Tibby" Mendez (Quinn), a Mexican businessman who is actually a powerful crime boss. Upon arriving to Tibby's hacienda, Jay meets Tibby's young wife Miryea (Stowe) and the two soon fall in love. Unfortunately, Tibby finds out about this and is not too pleased. Events then unfold that send Jay in a downward spiral of revenge. I remember this as being one of the first movies I watched which was clearly about revenge and it captivated me. The direction of Tony Scott (who also did Man on Fire) is wonderful and the world lost a great director upon his death.
She-Devil (1989)Directed by Susan SeidelmanStarring Roseanne Barr, Meryl Streep, Ed Begley Jr., and Linda Hunt
"I've always found that justice serves those who serve themselves."
Hey, revenge can be funny too! And most people may think I'm crazy for loving this film. But I do. I think it's one of the best revenge films made! Also, before this film, I wasn't too crazy about Meryl Streep. But, after watching this film (based on the novel by Fay Weldon), I thought any actress (who's usually known for serious, dramatic roles) who can make a comedy -- and, in a sense, make fun of herself -- then she's got to be cool. In this film, housewife Ruth (Barr) has a loving family in her husband Bob (Begley Jr.) and their two children. But when Bob leaves Ruth for romance novelist Mary Fisher (Streep), Ruth chooses to get even. And get even, she does! Not just that but she also inadvertently makes a life for herself in the meantime. This film, while a comedy, does go to a few dark places as Ruth simply snaps and blows up her family home. Nevertheless, the film is funny and I have to admit that I never tire of watching it.
V for Vendetta (2005)Directed by James McTeigueStarring Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, and Roger Allam
"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."
Based on the revolutionary comic book series by legendary recluse writer Alan Moore, this film takes place in an alternate universe where Great Britain is the main power in the world and almost a fascist state (think of George Orwell's  1984 ). Evey (Portman) is nearly raped one night by the secret police after curfew, but is rescued by a man in a  Guy Fawkes  mask (which has since come to symbolize rebellion and revolution of the common man). The man, only known as "V," is somewhat of an anarchist upon first viewing, but it is soon revealed that the men -- including the Supreme Chancellor (Hurt), a bishop, a scientist, a police commissioner, and a news channel talking head (who is uncannily similar to a particular Fox News host who calls people "pinheads") -- who run Great Britain, have wronged "V," and he is out for revenge -- while also simultaneously rebelling against the fascist government. This is not just an entertaining movie but an important piece of writing regarding true freedom and how, oftentimes, the destruction of freedom does not come from an outside threat, but rather from within.

Sher-locked

The BBC's  Sherlock  recently ended its quick -- albeit eventful -- third season in early February, and I'm already going through withdrawal! What started as a contemporary retelling of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's literary invention -- the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes -- has become a massive hit, allowing for the reemergence of old fans as well as forging new fans when it comes to the "world's greatest detective." First, let it be known, that if you are into any kind of crime drama/procedural shows -- fiction or non-fiction -- then you should immediately rent the DVDs or stream this show! At first glance of a season of Sherlock, one may immediately notice a season is only made up of 3 episodes; however, each episode is an hour-and-a-half long! So they are pretty much a series of trilogy movies. This contemporary spin on Doyle's great creation and his greatest stories include: A Study in Scarlet (here, the episode: "A Study in Pink"); The Valley of Fear and The Adventure of the Dancing Men (here: "The Blind Banker"); The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans (here: "The Great Game"); A Scandal in Bohemia (here: "A Scandal in Belgravia"); The Hound of the Baskervilles (here: "The Hounds of Baskerville"); The Final Problem (here: "The Reichenbach Fall"); The Adventure of the Empty Hearse (here: "The Empty Hearse"); The Sign of the Four (here: "The Sign of Three"); and The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton (here: "His Last Vow").
The series stars Benedict Cumberbatch ( Star Trek Into Darkness , 12 Years a Slave ) as the titular Sherlock -- the contemporary version which still holds true to a lot of the classic Doyle character (although, with some discretions): rather than smoke a pipe, this Cumberbatch's Sherlock wears nicotine patches (yes, more than one at a time), he is able to make correct deductions from the quickest, smallest clues, and he has eidetic memory. He is described in the premiere as having Asperger Syndrome or being a psychopath, and he is highly anti-social. Sherlock describes himself as "a high-functioning sociopath." Cumberbatch can spew out run-on sentences and give a ton of answers before you can say, "Elementary, dear Watson." 

Sherlock's business partner and longtime friend Dr. John Watson -- mostly portrayed as a comic foil to Sherlock -- is played with more seriousness by the wonderful Martin Freeman ( The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug , The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ). Freeman's Watson brings a very hard, skeptical aspect to the character while also representing the "everyman" (or, the viewer) in his experiences with Sherlock. Watson is an army doctor veteran of the war in Afghanistan, and is at first put off by Sherlock but quickly amazed by Sherlock's gift for deduction based on minimal clues. Inevitably, Watson meets a woman who is loving and quite extraordinary, Mary Morstan (brilliantly played by Freeman's real-life partner, Amanda Abbington); and, gratefully, to change things up a bit, Mary has secrets which make her a formidable equal to the dynamic duo. 

Speaking of equals, to update Sherlock's famous quasi-love interest -- "The Woman" a.k.a. the woman Sherlock comes close to loving in the only way Sherlock can romantically love -- the creators adapted Irene Adler (Lara Pulver) into a dominatrix who believes in power and trading secrets for money. She is the only person who can somewhat perplex Sherlock and her addition to the series in season/series 2 is essential! 

Finally, there is the king of all villains as far as I'm concerned: Moriarty! Andrew Scott as Sherlock's arch nemesis, the genius villain consulting criminal James Moriarty may very well be one of the best villains EVER ! As Moriarty says, "Ever fairy tale needs a good old-fashioned villain."  He and Sherlock's rivalry are what inspired the classic nemesis pairings such as Batman and the Joker, Peter Pan and Captain Hook, Doctor Who and The Master, and Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort! Scott takes Moriarty to all new levels that I didn’t think possible on television. He’s an evil whose presence is felt with every minute he’s on screen. When he angrily rumbles that he will "burn the heart" out of Sherlock (a great line, by the way), you believe him! To Moriarty, everyone is merely a pawn – their lives insignificant and expendable. He is a “consulting criminal” whose intellect matches Sherlock’s, and whose cunning and ruthlessness places him above no other. I was a bit disappointed with his and Sherlock's "end" in the season 2 finale. However, it has been teased he may be making a return, which caused me to nearly wet myself!
I have to admit that I've been very disheartened with the state of television lately. With all of the gossipy reality shows and mind-numbing reality competition shows filling the prime time slots, it's difficult to find a show that really stimulates your imagination and keeps you well entertained. Fortunately, four shows this winter saved me from complete television anaphylactic shock: The Walking Dead ,  Downton Abbey (Yes, DOWNTON Mother-F'n ABBEY!!!), Doctor Who (Yes, I KNOW I'm coming on-board late, but I'm all caught up and am a diehard fan!), and Sherlock! They were the only shows where I became excited to watch what the characters were in store for that particular week. Don't get me wrong. There are other shows on TV that I watch, but I don't get as much from them as I do the aforementioned four shows.
The greatest thing about one of the newest incarnations of Doyle's timeless character is placing him in the modern day and the brilliant writing and production by Steven Moffat (who took the reins as head writer and executive producer for Doctor Who) and Mark Gatiss (who plays Sherlock's brother Mycroft in the series, and has also contributed to Doctor Who). The writing the show churns out is some of the finest writing in television today. It's got it all: from drama to action to comedy to suspense to even a touch of romance (although, it doesn't come from Sherlock himself!). Each movie-length episode's story propels the arc of the show forward, never with a lull, and keeps me guessing in an age when I can predict what is going to happen on nearly 95% of the shows I watch. Sherlock is probably the only show on TV where I wonder how the writers are going to write solutions for the predicaments they place their heroes in; I also wonder what they're going to do next, where they'll take the characters. Here is just a sample of the cliffhanger-like writing in the series when Moriarty first comes face-to-face with Sherlock:
 
Even CBS' mild Elementary (another adaptation of Doyle's Holmes) doesn't even come close to the excellence of the BBC's version -- and it's a universe I feel needs respect. After all, this is the story that helped inspire famous fictional icons such as Batman, Dr. Greg House, Dr. Spencer Reid, and Shawn Spencer, as well as spawn many incarnations of the character by many talented actors. Now, the series will be entering its fourth season/series if the BBC decides to pick up the show again; despite the busy schedules of Cumberbatch and Freeman (who have recently shared billing in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug and The Hobbit: There and Back Again), as well as producers Moffat and Gatiss, the producers have written out stories for seasons four and five so that is a good sign the show will be picked up for another season.
Sherlock takes television and makes it smart again! It's no longer merely some mindless wasteland populated with attention-seeking wannabes, vapid, superficial money princesses, unfunny distracting swill, or sex-driven plots. If you're looking to watch television that actually requires your attention and thinking -- and is extremely entertaining -- then the BBC's Sherlock should be your top priority in your rental queue; this is not a show to put on "in the background" and hope to catch the gist of what is occurring (it's too involved for that and deserves anyone's full attention). My favorite episodes are season two's "A Scandal in Belgravia" (which introduces Irene Adler) and "The Final Problem" (a Moriarty-centric episode). But the entire series has great episodes! The only unfortunate aspect to Sherlock is the time between seasons/series. I'd love to think season 4 will premiere in January 2015, but that's probably wishful thinking. Nevertheless, the wait is more than worth it!

"It's Just a Ride": A Tribute to Bill Hicks

"I deal only in facts, that's why I'm a cocky bastard."
Today marks the sad 20-year anniversary of when the world lost a true visionary, a comedic legend and even I dare say a prophet. Stand-up comedian Bill Hicks was only 32-years-old when he passed away in 1994. I often say that Hicks is one of my most favorite people -- let alone comedians -- to have ever lived. To me, Hicks was not just a stand-up comedian. He was a philosopher, a social critic, a satirist, and someone who was not afraid to point out hypocrisy and tried to right many wrongs through his comedic observations.
Hicks was born on December 16, 1961, to Jim and Mary Hicks, the youngest of three siblings. He started doing stand-up comedy in Texas when he was only 16-years-old. He was inspired by comedians such as Woody Allen, Richard Pryor, Sam Kinison, and George Carlin, and soon learned that he got the most laughs when he did impressions of his family, and pointing out their eccentric ways. By 1987, Hicks had moved to New York City and had begun perfecting his routine, which came to fruition in 1990 when he released his first comedy album, Dangerous , and performed on HBO's One Night Stand. In 1993, he was asked by progressive heavy metal band Tool to open for them at the Lollapalooza music festival, and the band later featured a clip of Hicks' routine on their album AEnima (1997), which they dedicated to Hicks. On June 16, 1993, Hicks was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that had spread to his liver. His final performance was at Caroline's in New York on January 6, 1994. Hicks died at his parents' house in Little Rock, Arkansas, on February 26, 1994. (NOTE: For a more in-depth view into what Bill Hicks was -- and still is -- all about, check out the masterful 2009 documentary  American: The Bill Hicks Story .)
I discovered Bill Hicks soon after graduating high school, which, coincidentally, was soon after he died (1994). The number one thing I respected and admired about Hicks was how he didn't make the usual generic observations that comedians make. Ya know? Family bits (he did those in his youth), bits about everyday rude people, or the usual ongoing battle-of-the-sexes observations. Don't get me wrong. He would occasionally wade into those waters. However, his stuff deals more with political, religious, social, military, and moral issues. The only comic who had come before him who had dealt with such issues was Lenny Bruce (from the 1950s and 1960s) and George Carlin was just starting to touch on these subjects in the 1980s. Since Hicks, there have been comics such as Denis Leary, Lewis Black, Louis C.K., Patton Oswalt, Doug Stanhope, Joe Rogan and Lee Camp are just a few of the comics inspired by Hicks' style. But what is most legendary about how his ideas are still relevant today ... 20 years after his death. Even Hicks' routine about former President George H.W. Bush and the first Iraq War could be said about George W. Bush and his Iraq War. Ironic. Sadly, the same hypocrisy and injustice that Hicks addressed during his life still are present today -- in fact, some of these issues have become more prevalent since Hicks' time on stage. And the fact that one can listen to Hicks and still hear him make a valid point about these issues (i.e., religion, abortion, killing, the JFK assassination, politics, pointless television, war, drugs, sex, and music) ultimately proves his true talent for remaining socially important to our society.
Many of Hicks' topics were -- and still are -- hot-button issues; which is why some people do not like him, care for his comedy, or downright loathe him. I, on the other hand, enjoy the way Hicks' material can make me laugh and think. His delivery on criticisms and pointing out hypocrisy is my style of comedy. Oscar Wilde once said, "If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you." Even Hicks knew a good amount of people didn't care for his comedy. This is one of my favorite interviews with Hicks on that very subject. And it's a good introduction before showing his more controversial clips.

"When did thinking not become entertaining!?"

First off, people who have not been exposed to Hicks' comedy before should know that Hicks was not an atheist (he was raised Southern Baptist and spoke lovingly of Jesus and God, but used them in his humor to make a point and point out hypocrisy), nor was he some political-agenda-type who was rooting for a particular political party (he hated both sides of politics), and these examples will be proven in some of my favorite routines of his. I should say that Hicks was a proponent of certain drugs (particularly mushrooms, marijuana, and LSD); and while I don't agree with every view of his on this, I still find his views funny and profound -- especially when it comes to Hicks' drug experience opened his mind to God's implementation of universal love. Second, I do have to warn that these clips contain heavy cussing ... so if anyone's offended by that, boy, did you pick to read the wrong article!
On Religion:

Hicks was not an atheist but he did not shy away from the hypocrisy that he saw in most of Christian fundamentalism. As he said in one of his routines, "God is love and there is nothing but love, being all-encompassing, has no opposite. You are completely forgiven on all things, there's nothing you've ever done that has ever swayed God's pure and unconditional love for you."

On War & Politics:




Hicks grew to dislike politics because he saw all of the hypocrisy and lying coming from each administration. He noticed the U.S. arming countries and then returning years later to bomb said country all because that country had "become too dangerous." Hicks was a patriot in every way because he questioned its practices and held up the U.S. to a higher standard. So, when that standard was not met or the country did things he found despicable and underhanded and exposed them in his routine. It has been attributed to former President Thomas Jefferson that "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." Actually, that phrase was coined by then-New York City Mayor John Lindsay in 1969. However, the phrase does correlate with President Teddy Roosevelt's quote: "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." And that was what Bill Hicks was doing! He was pointing out wrongs that he felt needed to be pointed out.
On Pornography:      On Music:



Hicks was such a lover of music -- being a musician himself (he played the guitar and had a band MarbleHead Johnson, and then Lo-Fi Troubador) -- that he treated any mundane music, which so happened to be pop music of his day (MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice, New Kids on the Block, Debbie Gibson, Rick Astley, etc.) with no respect. His favorite musicians included Jimi Hendrix, KISS, Elvis Presley, B.B. King, The Beatles, and Bob Dylan. And musicians Hicks inspired ended up dedicating albums to him: Radiohead, Tool, Super Furry Animals, The Bluetones, Pitchshifter, and Rage Against the Machine.



On Drugs:






On the JFK Assassination:


After hearing Hicks' thoughts on President John F. Kennedy's assassination, some might try to label him as that blockheaded "c" word. But Hicks was just using common sense ... oh ... and science, like, I don't know ... physics! What's also impressive is that Hicks was trying to stir people out of their apathy. He wanted people to investigate, explore and question things that were/are passed for "gospel" and yet don't make any sense whatsoever.
On Media:




Hicks knew that most popular television entertainment as well as advertising was evil and an expressway to "dumbing down" the population. He often played out in his routine that any time people would start becoming suspicious of the goings-on in this country, some stupid entertainment like American Gladiators (I think today he would replace that with reality shows and competition shows like American Idol ) would become a convenient distraction. And for anyone who thinks this thinking comes just from Hicks and is invalid, then take a look at the box office family hit The LEGO Movie again! That entire movie has points with which Hicks would most likely find amusing and relatable.



What makes Bill Hicks so relevant in today's times is how insanely inept government and legislators have become -- or, should I say, continue to grow. Hicks said it best when he said this in an interview:


Not only do I miss Hicks today because he could have contributed so much to this world, but I also miss him because I would have LOVED to have heard what he had to say about Bush Jr. and his administration, the second Iraq War, 9/11, Osama bin Laden, President Barack Obama, drone strikes, government shutdown, Benghazi, gay marriage, welfare, food stamps, Mitt Romney, minimum wage, cable news channels (and their talking heads), gun control, school shootings, and all of the rest of our zaniness. He taught independent thought and universal love which often came out as these maddening rants but as he would often say: "I gotta share this with you because I love you and you feel that." 
Hicks believed in freedom above all else:

To say Bill Hicks was ahead of his time is an extreme understatement! Even if you strongly disagree with him or think him completely rude, Hicks still believed in his right to express his ideas and did so unabashedly. He is an inspiration to those who fight the seeming majority and are quite blissfully ignorant of what is going on behind the curtains of our government as well as in our society.
But here's what I love best of all about Bill Hicks ... and why he's one of my favorite people. He told insightful, philosophical truth while making it funny ... and he made no allusions about the impact of the injustice, lies, and manipulation he witnessed. He was courageous -- even in the face of those who were quick to dismiss him and make him think what he said didn't matter. Of course it mattered! It still matters today! Bill is Howard Beale (portrayed by Peter Finch) from the 1976 film Network ; he's "as mad as hell and ... not going to take it anymore!"  Hicks is that voice who tells you to point out something when you know it's wrong. He was courageous ... a rebel ... passionate ... a free-thinker ... a humanitarian (even though he sometimes raged against some of humanity's ways) ... and he infused -- and still infuses -- those who listen to him with those same qualities. He's the voice in our heads telling us that what we do matters and not to give in to someone or some issue simply because it's what another group -- whether political, religious, or social -- tells you to accept.
Like I said before, Hicks believed in freedom ... but freedom for everyone -- not just one country or a particular group of countries. And he didn't associate or equate freedom with symbols -- as referenced here:

There is a famous routine of his in which he deeply believed (and I believe it as well). And it has become a highly-shared video clip and meme over the internet -- especially in the past few years. When ending his Revelations show at the Dominion Theatre in London, England, in 1993, Hicks spoke about his understanding of life and how we could make it better:

Here is the written text:

There is a reason why this video is one of the most viewed and shared videos in today's society: people are tired of fighting; people are tired of bullshit; people are tired of politicians who don't give a shit about them; and there is a small population which is steadily growing that is tired of self-righteous indignation from others and having the self-righteous force their beliefs and rules on them just because they don't believe in what the self-righteous belief. Instead, people want inspiration; people want truth; people want love; people want to treat each other better and not be oppressed by what someone tells them they should fear. 
President Kennedy once said (doesn't matter what you thought of him as president or man; just truly listen to these words):

And that IS Bill Hicks' mission statement! He lived and breathed that statement! He believed that, deep down, we are all human and all are loved in God's eyes. 
Today, I raise a glass to not just one of the best stand-up comics who paved the way for many future comedians, but also to one of the best people who used his time here to make the world better and give us a better understanding into this life. Even though the world needs Bill Hicks now more than ever, he's still left us with much to ponder and appreciate through his recordings. Thank you, Mr. Hicks. 
In Memoriam: William Melvin "Bill" Hicks
1961-1994

Why the World Needs Comic Books

Comic books have been around since the late 1930s with most famous examples being the comic strips found in newspapers. In June 1938, publisher Detective Comics -- which would go on to be named National Comics and, now, DC Comics -- released its first issue of Action Comics for ten cents ($.10). And gracing that cover would be the superhero to end -- or rather lead -- all superheroes: Superman. 

Jewish creators writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster first envisioned Superman as a villain, bent on world domination; this was mostly because the character was inspired by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's Ubermensch concept. However, Siegel re-envisioned Superman as a hero and he was soon designed after pop icons of Siegel's and Shuster's day: actor  Douglas Fairbanks Sr.  inspired the look of Superman, while the look of Clark Kent (named after movie stars  Clark Gable  and  Kent Taylor ) was inspired by silent film actor  Harold Lloyd  and Shuster himself. As for Superman's story, that would take inspiration from a very biblical place. The story of a little baby being jettisoned away from his home land and sent to a strange place is no stranger to our history. Superman -- or Kal-El as is his birth name -- was placed by his parents in a small spaceship as a baby and rocketed to earth so that he may be saved the doomed fate of his birth planet Krypton. This closely resembles the origin of Moses -- that's right, the Ten Commandments Moses. Moses was born at a time when an Egyptian Pharaoh, out of fear that males might grow up to help the Children of Israel bring his defeat, ordered that all male babies be killed by being drowned in the Nile River. Moses' mother Jochebed hid her son but soon decided that in order to truly save his life, he would need to be somewhere else. So she placed Moses on a small boat/craft and floated him down the Nile River. Moses was found by the Pharaoh's daughter and raised as her son.

But it's not just biblical origins that touch comics. Greek mythology has paved the way for the superheroes we currently know and love.  Hercules  was inspiration for Superman, while Wonder Woman, born from  Hippolyta , received her powers as such: the beauty of  Aphrodite , strength from  Demeter , wisdom from  Athena , speed and flight from  Hermes , eyes of the hunter and unity with the beasts from  Artemis , and sisterhood with fire and the ability to discern the truth from  Hestia . 
Superman's journey was not to become king -- or god -- of the land, but rather to help mankind with his special superpowers that the earth's yellow sun gave him (yes, Superman is solar-powered). While there have been many iterations in different pop culture of why Superman was sent to earth, the one that sticks has been played out many times and is best captured by Superman's father Jor-El in this trailer (it seems as if the words could have been spoken from God to his son Jesus):
"Even though you've been raised as a human, you are not one of them. They can be a great people, Kal-El. They wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason, above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you, my only son."


After Superman's introduction to the world, fans everywhere craved more. Thus, Batman was born -- as a counterpart to Superman -- in May 1939. Unlike the superpowers of Superman, Batman is human and all of his powers are self-obtained through physical training and education, as well as the hundreds of special gadgets he owns. Batman, who is billionaire Bruce Wayne, was born out of the cold-blooded murder of Bruce's parents right in front of him when he was a little boy. His need for justice and vengeance made him become a crime-fighting vigilante. This may shock contemporary fans, but, in the early days of his comic, Batman was even prone to use a gun! This was soon written out because of Bruce's aversion to guns as a result of his parents' murder weapon being a gun (this would inspire other writers to create famous pop characters who do not use guns and hate the use of them, such as Buffy Summers and The Doctor). 
Soon after Batman's introduction, a new publisher named Timely Comics entered the fray, with its anti-hero Namor the Sub-Mariner and many others. Timely was soon renamed Marvel Comics, and when founder Martin Goodman hired his wife's cousin, Stan Lieber, in 1939 to be a general office assistant, little did Goodman know it, but he would be starting a new revolution in the comic business. Lieber would eventually come to be known as Stan Lee, who is responsible for the creation of every major Marvel character popular today: Spider-Man, Daredevil, Thor, The Hulk, the X-Men, Captain Marvel, Iron Man, Silver Surfer, and the Fantastic Four ... just to name a few.
I could go on and on about all of these characters' origins and how significant they are to the fans who read them, but, instead, I would like to delve into why these characters and their stories are so vital to our lives today and what we as a society can learn from them. What was first considered "kids stuff" has now developed an entirely new fan base -- with adults making up more of the readership. Why is that? Why are adults -- some of which are actors, singers, novel writers, comedians, philosophers, artists and even politicians -- reading these comics? I'm here to answer why comics are some of the most socially-relevant, important pieces of literature in today's society. 
This panel comes from the third volume of The Uncanny X-Men issue #1, in which Cyclops confronts The Avengers about how mutants (which the X-Men all are) are treated by regular humans.
When Stan Lee first created and published the X-Men (Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman and Marvel Girl a.k.a. Jean Grey) in 1963, he admits that he had in mind the true-life inequality at that time of minority races and creeds. Lee had the revolutionary idea of taking a large group of people and giving them something that made them different from other humans. They would each have a different ability which could be used for good or bad, but would make them stand apart from "normal" society. Dubbed mutants, these special people would ultimately have a gift; even though their ability often sets the mutants apart from "normal" humanity, it still makes them special and unique. What once started as a metaphor for the racial divide in this country has now expanded to represent anyone who is treated differently for who they are -- from the racial minorities to the bullied to the gay and lesbian community to different religions. Of course, all of these types of people are not different -- they're human. We all have the same types of feelings, we all bleed, we all love, and we all die. And comics like the X-Men help society -- especially kids from a young age -- to see that. From the moment we start reading comics -- whether young or old -- they can help us to be more open-minded and understanding of each other. The topic of the exchange between Cyclops and Captain America above could perfectly be representative of any contemporary hot topic, whether its prejudice against race, sexuality, religion, or simply for being seen as "goofy," "stupid," "dorky" or "weird." Cyclops, who has usually stood for good, is at a breaking point and he lays out all of his frustrations to The Avengers. However, the uniqueness of the mutants and of human differences is not to be hidden. It is to be shared with humanity. After all, it is often the rebels, the risk-takers, the ones who are "different" who make a lasting imprint upon this earth. 

Comics give its readers a visual peek into the best and worst of humanity -- even if characters are non-human. There are good guys and bad guys, but comics also address the "gray areas" -- those situations with which a person or an act isn't always what it seems. Anti-heroes such as Batman, Sub-Mariner (Namor), The Punisher, Catwoman, The Shadow, Spawn, Wolverine, John Constantine, Jesse "Preacher" Custer, Michonne, and "V" (from  V for Vendetta ) are characters who know that the world and its people are morally ambiguous and not every issue is simply black or white -- and they act accordingly. 
Since the introduction of the X-Men, other comic characters have helped the abused, bullied and abandoned feel like they had a place with which to turn when the real world was cruel. Comic book artist Dean Trippe needed a way to convey his feelings about being molested as a child. He ended up drawing the short comic called Something Terrible. In this autobiographical comic, Trippe shows with minimal dialogue how he was molested as a kid, and considered suicide, until he watched the 1989 Tim Burton movie adaptation of  Batman . Then, he decided to become a comic book artist and it was the many characters (featured in his epic drawing) who helped him escape his pain and open him to the possibilities of living a life undiminished by what was done to him. Trippe also wanted to prove that not all children who are sexually molested become offenders themselves.
To read the entire panel, click here!
Here is a bigger pic of the epic character panel:
How many comic characters can you pick out? Even other famous characters such as Doctor Who, the Ghostbusters, Robocop, Speed Racer, Obi-Wan Kenobi and others have been adapted into the comic book format.This comic proves that it's not simply the superpowers which give all of these heroes their importance and meaning; it's what they represent. Hope, loyalty, courage, doing what's right when everything goes wrong, being honest even if you can get you in trouble, and helping others. In a time when it's so easy to go the easy route and not care about others or do what's wrong to make more money or get out of trouble, these characters keep our morals in check. They remind us that doing the right thing is not always the most popular or easiest choice ... but it is what's right.At times when people are divided over partisan politics, hot button issues and one group of people thinking they're way is the right way, it is important now more than ever to look to these characters written with carefully mindful tolerance and understanding. Most of the comic page's famous characters take the time to actually see both sides of a story. Especially Superman. That is why I find him the most interesting and inspirational. The most given excuse or reason I get from people who don't care too much for Superman is that he has so many powers, he has it too easy. However, I would say they're wrong. There is a certain character -- who is a fan favorite of many -- who does fall into the category of "having it too easy": Wolverine. The guy hardly ages, has a metal skeleton, iron claws, and heals from anything. The guy has survived everything thrown at him. Superman at least has Kryptonite to kill him. Wolverine has nothing really -- except, maybe, decapitation. And while Wolverine is still somewhat human, because of his human genes, he can have a connection to people if he chooses. Superman, on the other hand, is a true alien. If he ever even slightly loses his powers the wrong way, he is blamed by a good majority of the human race. There is no one else like him -- until Supergirl and Superboy came along -- not even thousands of other mutants. Kal-El (Superman) knows that he can never have children with the woman he loves, and he can never truly fully be himself without the fear of losing control or putting those he cares about in danger. Mostly, what separates Superman from Wolverine is that whereas Wolverine has a "screw 'em" mentality to anyone who disagrees and often gives in to his anger, Superman -- who gets just as angry (when his eyes go red, watch out!) -- can think out a situation and do what is truly best depending on the situation; Superman also is responsible when it comes to having to bury his anger and temptations for revenge. And if there's anything I've learned, there is a time to fight (albeit rarely), but there are also times -- more often than fighting -- when it's better to walk away. It sounds like a lame, cowardly way of thinking, but it is anything but that.

This leads to the supposed uproar in comic news when DC Comics decided to take out the last part of Superman's motto. You know? He fights for "truth, justice and the American way?"


Well, DC Comics decided to take out the "American Way" portion. A particular group of people hated DC's decision and thought Superman would turn into a "communist," a "socialist," or simply a "traitor." But ... if those critics had read the issue in which Superman renounces his U.S. citizenship, maybe they would have understood his reasoning for doing so:

In Action Comics #900, Superman renounces his U.S. citizenship.Superman, sick of the way Iranian leaders are treating their people, flies to Iran and stands -- without fighting or talking -- between soldiers and protestors for 24 hours straight. Because of Superman's association with America, the Iranians look at it as unwanted American involvement and see his act as an "act of war" from the President of the United States. Superman decided to disassociate himself from America because he was the one who made the call to intervene against Iran -- not America. Superman also realizes that his mission of doing what is right is not simply an "American way," it's a humane way. He serves all the innocent people, all of humanity ... no matter what nationality. This is proven in the final panels:


Sure. It's a bold piece of writing and -- what some might say -- seemingly unrealistic. But it proves that Superman believes in every human life, not just ones who are born in America.
Fortunately, it's not just Superman who's breaking barriers. Marvel Comics' X-Men further stepped into the 21st century and addressed a hot topic social issue by introducing the first openly gay character in comics -- Northstar -- and his boyfriend Ken, and having them married on the cover of Astonishing X-Men issue #51.
At DC Comics, Batwoman was revealed to be a lesbian -- even though DC Comics has come under some flak because the company had decided to not follow through with Batwoman/Kate Kane's marriage to Gotham City detective Maggie Sawyer.

Nevertheless, DC also revealed in its Earth 2 that the Green Lantern Alan Scott is gay.

While some may not like or enjoy these storylines, it is a true testament that the comic writers are writing for a broad range of different people in today's culture. However, this concept in comics is neither so contemporary or so strange. When DC Comics' Green Lantern and Green Arrow teamed up in the 1970's, there was a controversial cover that tackled drug addiction. It was when Green Arrow found out that his sidekick, Roy Harper a.k.a. Speedy, was shooting up heroin:

There are other times when some events are so monumental that the comic industry cannot help but address it. When World War II (WWII) broke out and finally touched America on December 7, 1941, both DC Comics and Marvel Comics were there to help keep up morale for the troops overseas who had dreams of fighting and defeating Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler themselves, as well as helping soldiers believe what everyone already believed -- that the soldiers themselves were the heroes.



Another tragic real-world event -- something no mighty superhero could prevent -- would impel superheroes and their creators to step up and help in any way to alleviate a worldwide heartache.
Marvel's universe was especially affected due in large part that nearly all of its superheroes reside in New York City (whereas DC's characters are in fictional representations like Gotham City, Metropolis, etc.).





In 2004, DC Comics shook up the Justice League of America (JLA) with a morality crisis in its seven-issue run of the "Identity Crisis" storyline. In the story, Sue Debny, the wife of the Elongated Man, is killed.

SPOILER ALERT: When the JLA discovers it is villain Dr. Light who killed her and previously raped her, they vote on erasing the memories of Light and other villains who have discovered the secret identities of Superman, Batman and the rest of the JLA. The only person who disagrees with the mind-wipe is Batman. In the end, it is discovered that Atom's (Ray Palmer's) estranged wife Jean Loring killed Sue -- however, by accident -- and the mind-wipe of Light was uncalled for and unjustified. END SPOILER: The story showcases how far heroes are sometimes willing to go to protect loved ones from danger ... but at what cost? The heroes cross a line that becomes a big question of whether it should be crossed in the first place or not. Sure, Dr. Light is a despicable villain, but should his mind be entirely wiped clean? Most of the JLA seem to think so, but their decision will haunt them from this point on -- and it causes a rift with Batman, whom will go on to monitor them all in future issues.
Some of the stories featured in comic books became some of the most metaphorically deep storylines which would eventually go on to be used in contemporary TV series and films. One such story was the "This Man ... This Monster" story featured in Fantastic Four #51.

 In the story, Ben Grimm -- The Thing -- is transformed into a normal human again while someone else poses as Thing to try and kill Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic). The sub-plot is that Grimm gets to feel normal again and propose to his longtime girlfriend, Alicia Masters. However, Grimm gets to her door and is about to knock when he is abruptly transformed back (after the imposter Thing sacrifices himself to save Richards) to Thing, making him back out of the proposal. The story is intriguing and heartbreaking all at once. It teaches of humanity and selflessness. It's these kinds of storylines (such as Grimm's not feeling "good-looking" or normal enough) that appeal to readers everywhere.
As previously mentioned, Superman's origin involves being an orphan, immigrant, and feeling alienated, which caused many readers from other countries -- as well as orphans and those who feel alone -- to relate to the superpowered alien. Those who were not born in America but dream of becoming citizens often hold Superman in high esteem (one such admirer is KISS frontman  Gene Simmons , who was born in Israel and emigrated to New York City when he was 8-years-old).

In Spider-Man's origin, Peter Parker -- after having received his superpowers -- purposely ignores a thief fleeing the scene of a crime. Later, that same thief shoots and kills Peter's father figure, Uncle Ben. Amid his guilt of inadvertently causing his uncle's death, Peter learns the hard way that there is a responsibility that comes with not only having powers but also with being a good person.


"At school, even in kindergarten, [adults] teach [children] to behave in the world. [Adults] teach [children] not to fight with others, to work things out, to respect others, to clean up our mess, not to hurt other creatures, to share and not be greedy. Then why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do? You are deciding what kind of world we will grow up in. Parents should be able to comfort their children by saying 'everything's going to be alright,' 'we're doing the best we can,' and 'it's not the end of the world.' But I don't think you can say that to us anymore. Are we even on your list of priorities? My father always says, 'You are what you do, not what you say.'" This quote was taken from then-12-year-old  Severn Cullis-Suzuki  when she spoke to the United Nations Earth Summit in 1992. Superheroes in comics teach and provide those same lessons. But in an age when wars are waged for the wrong reason and/or under false pretenses, people are insulted and/or harassed for their beliefs, personal freedoms are taken away with the signing of an act, and the less fortunate and less wealthy are treated with suspicion, disrespect and inhumanity, one has to wonder where all of the morals, kindness, respect, tolerance and compassion that is pounded into our heads as children by not only those around us (parents, relatives, friends, teachers, etc.) but also the heroes of literature, television, movies, and music, are today. Someone was so gracious and compassionate to the less fortunate that he once said, "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. ... It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." That was Jesus (Mark 10:21-25). And not only did he preach -- and live -- that way, but he also healed the sick, hung out with sinners and miscreants, and invited the poor to dine with him.
We are raised to have compassion, understanding, patience, kindness, respect, courage, and critical thinking when we are young; and, yet, when we grow up, and if we still cling to these concepts, we are blasted by those who are in opposition when we show these traits, with words such as "naive," "misinformed," "communist," "socialist," "confused," "wrong," "pinhead," "hippie," "fanatic," "freeloader," "idiot," "lazy," "stupid," and "unpatriotic" -- just to name a few. Unfortunately, these vocal name-calling opponents are the ones who are abundantly heard, thanks to "news" and social media graciously being a platform for such talking heads. When it comes to these such people, luckily, comics also can also teach us how to deal with them too. In the first panel below, Superman's enemy, Lex Luthor, may speak with an extreme hatred but his thinking is not far from those who spout hatred and separation on TV, radio, social media and in books. Here is a sample of Lex Luthor's hatred for Superman, with whom Lex hates because Superman is an alien:



Lex Luthor (who, in the DC Comic universe, even becomes President of the United States) may be a bit extreme of a metaphor, but it nonetheless is appropriate for the obsession with certain groups and types of people in this world -- on any issue from any side of the spectrum -- who think the world should think and live the way they do. But, those people, like Luthor, miss the point. Others may say that these talking heads are simply "putting on an act." But if they are feeding into that act and putting out negativity for profit, then they are no better and no different than the people who really feel those negative feelings and think those thoughts. In the end, comics and its denizens teach us an important lesson in trying to change people through intimidation, name-calling and bullying. Here is one such example as evidenced in the 2013 Superman film  Man of Steel :

It's not just Superman we can learn from. In the pages of Spider-Man comes the famous quote: "With great power comes great responsibility." In Gotham City, as easy as it would be for Batman/Bruce Wayne to kill the Joker so he could save a countless amount of lives in a future that didn't have Joker, Batman refuses to do so because it goes against his morality of not killing people. In the 1987 graphic novel  Watchmen  -- written by the recluse comic book genius  Alan Moore  and the only graphic novel/comic to be featured on Time magazine's "All-Time 100 Greatest Novels" list -- the central characters are all former superheroes who are either retired or working for the U.S. government. Each of their lives are by no means perfect and each has their own personal struggle to overcome against the backdrop of one of their own -- now a government mercenary -- being murdered and trying to solve why he was murdered and who is responsible.
SPOILER ALERT: When the heroes find out it is one of their own -- Ozymandias -- who is responsible for the murder, and that he is unleashing a giant squid in Manhattan (in the movie version, he plans on detonating multiple nuclear bombs in major cities) to unite the world in peace, Nite Owl, Dr. Manhattan, and Silk Spectre all agree to stay silent of Ozymandias' guilt and plan so that the world would unite with -- and support -- the U.S. (which was previously in danger of war with Russia). The only hero not willing to compromise is Rorschach (think of a mix between Batman and The Punisher), who is less utilitarian and believes that the sacrificing of one life for the safety of millions is not justified; every life counts. Rorschach plans on exposing Ozymandias' scheme and thus putting the new world peace in peril. When confronted with his imminent death at the hands of Dr. Manhattan, Rorschach rhetorically asks, "What's one more body amongst foundations?"

Comics provide just as much philosophy, imagination, metaphor, relatability, and entertainment as regular literary novels. But what's more is that comics not only have great stories and great writing -- they also have some of the best artwork seen. From older comics ...
This one is a personal favorite -- and a great issue ("Who is Scorpio?") -- from 1968: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., drawn and written by Jim Steranko, who drew some revolutionary images and layouts for the comic industry in the late '60s.


... to the inbetween ones ...

Frank Miller's 1986 cover to his introduction to the darker Batman in The Dark Knight Returns.
... to the newer ones.
Alex Ross  (who paints the most realistic versions of comic book characters) submitted this masterpiece for Uncanny X-Men #500 in September 2008.
The beauty of comics today is that no matter what you as a reader are into, there's a comic for it. Do you like superheroes? Of course they're there. Like super-heroines? They're there.

My youngest daughter is named after Supergirl's (and the contemporary Starbuck's from  Battlestar Galactica ) birth name: Kara.
Do you like comics that are not about superpowers? They're there! 

Do you want comics based on classic novels? They're there!

Do you want comics either based on or adapted into your favorite TV shows? They're there!

There's every kind you could think of. Even though they may not be mainstream, it's out there and just needs a bit of searching to find.
And if there's ever any reason whatsoever that our world needs superheroes, it's because they provide a contemporary mythology for our times and our country, as well as providing imagination, hope, and inspiring people of all ages with courage and compassion.
Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, San Francisco transformed into Gotham City for a day to make 5-year-old Miles Scott's dream come true. Scott, who has leukemia, donned the Batman costume -- calling himself Batkid -- and set off throughout the city to save lives and fight bad guys.


The late Karl Nawskon often wore his Superman shirt when going through chemotherapy treatments.

These window washers dress up as superheroes when going out to wash the windows of patients at a children's hospital.

"You will give the people of Earth an ideal to strive towards. They will race behind you; they will stumble, they will fall. But, in time, they will join you in the sun. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders."

In the end, comics have grown to paramount heights since their introduction in the late 1930s. They're not just "funny pages" or "kids stuff" anymore. Comics are an artistic -- in every sense of the word -- way to convey a society's national conscience while also holding up moral questions that should be asked in any day and age. They make us feel, learn and have a better understanding for those who are different from us. And in a world where one-sided thinking seems to rule -- or, at least, dominate -- our social and mass media, leaving millions to be bombarded with such narrow views, that's a welcome sight for anyone hoping to live in a better, more understanding, symbiotic world.

My Top Ten Favorite Love Stories on Film

(500) Days of Summer Directed by Marc WebbStarring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend, Chloe Grace Moretz, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Clark Gregg
At the beginning of this 2009 indie hit, the narrator warns the audience this movie "is not a love story," but, rather, "a story of boy meets girl." Nevertheless, love is featured prominently, focusing on the origins and expectations of love. Tom (Gordon-Levitt), a greeting card writer, has been bombarded his entire life by love via pop culture and has thus built high expectations of love. This all is evidenced when Tom falls in love with the new girl (pun intended) at his work, Summer (Deschanel). Even though Summer admits up front that she does not believe in love, Tom just chalks it up to thinking she hasn't met the right guy yet.
This film is probably more of a coming-of-age story rather than a romantic comedy; there certainly are plenty of comedic moments but the ideas represented here are dramatic and, at times, heartbreaking. I think the best thing about this movie is that it shows how most of us, at least one time in our lives, hold a romantic interest -- and love -- up on a pedestal; we fall in love with the idea of falling in love -- or fall in love with a certain person because of how they make us feel. We often forget that the object of our affection is just a person -- just like us. While we might hold them in high esteem, they still make mistakes, are uncertain, and fallible -- and, sometimes, they don't adore us in the same way we do with them. I liked how screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber utilize different techniques -- from a slideshow and narration to a musical dance number -- to tell their tale of being (sometimes) cruelly educated in the workings of love.



Casablanca Directed by Michael CurtizStarring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre

Yes, it's at the top of most critics' lists. And there's good reason. Casablanca -- made during the beginning of World War II, based on the American play Everybody Comes to Rick's -- not only addresses the real-life Nazi threat at the time, but highlights one of the greatest love stories conveyed to celluloid. American expatriate and brooding nightclub and gambling den owner Rick Blaine (Bogart) runs the best bar in Casablanca, Morocco, while also providing doctored visas to immigrants desperate to escape the newly Nazi-occupied Europe. When a small-time crook Ugarte (Lorre) tells Rick he has obtained "letters of transit" which allow the bearer to travel freely around Nazi-controlled Europe and to neutral Portugal, Rick becomes interested but not willing to pay the price. Rick is a hard-boiled man, who strictly stays out of other people's affairs, not getting emotional and only choosing money over sentimentality when it comes to giving favors. Then, one day, Rick's one true love Ilsa (Bergman) enters the bar with her fiancé Victor Laszlo (Henreid), a renowned fugitive Czech Resistence leader who needs the "letters of transit" to escape to America to continue his work.

Rick's predicament presented in the film presents a moral question that some in love will have to question: would you be truly be willing to sacrifice for the person you love? I thought Rick's "big picture" thinking is very profound and makes this not your run-of-the-mill romance film. Aristotle's "big picture" teaching is best used in the film regarding Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman; especially when Bogart tells Bergman that, "The problems of two people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world." The audience is meant to feel it's something of a tragedy that the Bogart and Bergman characters' love has to take a backseat to the larger picture, but those characters know that what the Bergman character (and Victor Lazlo) is doing is far more important than a relationship; we aren't meant to have any doubt that the claims of the larger picture should trump their personal concerns. The core of the film's central love theme is that truly loving a person is doing what's best for them -- even at your own expense. Blaine knows that helping Laszlo get to America is not only what's best for the world, but also what's best for Ilsa -- even if it breaks Blaine's heart.

 
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Directed by Nicholas Stoller
Starring Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, and Bill Hader

From the more rom-com (romantic comedy) genre comes this 2008 hit which was written by lead actor Jason Segel, loosely based on his real-life break-up with Freaks and Geeks co-star Linda Cardellini. Segel puts his comedy and musical talent to great use as Peter Bretter, a TV show composer and struggling musical composer who is dumped by his girlfriend, the star of said TV show, Sarah Marshall (Bell). To get her out of his head, he takes an exotic vacation to Hawaii ... only to coincidentally (truly) run into Marshall and her new boyfriend -- rock star Aldous Snow (Brand) -- at the same hotel where he is staying. Fortunately, for Peter, he meets the hotel concierge, Rachel (Kunis), and starts to change his ways as well as his views on his life.

There are plenty of rom-coms that I could admit to enjoying -- even though I'm not the biggest fan of the genre -- but this one struck a chord with me, first, because it's written from a man's point-of-view after being dumped (something with which I can definitely relate); and, second, the crude-yet-heartwarming humor in the story. I finally found a guy of my generation's take on romance and heartbreak, which made it very relatable. One of the techniques I especially thought was cool was how Segel's character would break into these memory flashes of the times he had with Sarah; the cinematic-style flashbacks are the same way most people drudge up their memories (a technique most recently used in Spike Jonze's brilliant Her ). Well, I do, anyways. The way that Peter inadvertently transforms himself upon meeting Rachel. One of the things I liked most about the film is how Peter is confronted by Sarah about how he never wanted to do anything, making Peter recognize that he's not completely innocent -- and Sarah is not completely evil or wrong -- when it comes to their break-up.


 High FidelityDirected by Stephen FrearsStarring John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Jack Black, Todd Louiso, Lisa Bonet, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joan Cusack, and Tim Robbins
OK. Definitely not as good as the Nick Hornby book with which the movie is based. But not many adaptations are as good. Nevertheless, this film is a rom-com (romantic comedy) from the man's viewpoint, and there are plenty of pop culture references thrown in (especially in the book), as well as a cameo from The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen. What more could you need? The story centers around music store owner Rob (Cusack) who runs an independent CD/record shop and spends most of the day making "Top 5" lists with his co-workers Barry (Black) and Dick (Louiso). At the beginning of the film, we witness the break-up between Rob and his longtime girlfriend Laura (Hjejle). In the midst of his moping malaise, Rob decides to re-visit his top 5 breakups, and ask his former girlfriends what went wrong in the relationship so he can get a better understanding of why things didn't work out with Laura.

Reading this book was probably one of the quickest reads I've ever had. The story's abundance of pop culture references (films, books, TV) and Hornby's musings on relationships between men and women are so relatable to me. In the film, most of these musings and references are still adapted, but seeing the characters come to life is a fan's delight. The best thing about this film is that it shows what sometimes happens after the rom-com ending. This shows a couple in the middle of their relationship when it seems like it has nowhere else to go. But, don't worry. It's not as gloomy as it seems. Laughter ensues -- and a damn great soundtrack! "Hey, I'm not the smartest guy in the world, but I'm certainly not the dumbest. I mean, I've read books like The Unbearable Lightness of Being and Love in the Time of Cholera , and I think I've understood them. They're about girls, right? Just kidding." Marty Directed by Delbert MannStarring Ernest Borgnine, Betsy Blair, Esther Minciotti, Joe Mantell, Frank Sutton, and Karen Steele

This 1955 Academy Award winner for Best Picture still resonates today. Marty Piletti (played by one of my favorite actors, Ernest Borgnine) is a nice guy who does everything right. He's a loyal, reliable friend; a loving, helpful son; and a shy, awkward "gentle giant." His mom (Minciotti) pushes Marty to meet a nice woman so he can get married, settle down and have some kids; but after a bad blind date, he is feeling dejected ... until he is paid by another guy to take home the guy's date, Clara -- a woman (Blair) considered homely. The two hit it off and spark up a cute, loving romance. However, things go a bit awry for Marty when his friends and family -- due to their own selfish reasons -- start not liking or approving of Clara or his relationship with her.

The thing I liked most about this film when I first watched it when I was 14-years-old was the fact that Marty didn't look like the usual leading man found in most romance movies. He is the epitome of a nice guy and the one time he meets a woman whom he loves, his family and friends don't approve of her, and not because she is a bad person or negative influence ... but rather only because of their insecurities and doubts. In the end, Marty does what any self-respecting man would do, and I've always admired the character and the movie for that. Plus, the chemistry between Borgnine and Blair feels so real, honest, and endearing.


   Music From Another Room Directed by Charlie PetersStarring Jude Law, Gretchen Mol, Brenda Blethyn, Jennifer Tilly, Jon Tenney, and Martha Plimpton
This underrated 1998 romantic dramedy (drama-comedy) was probably the least noticed film of that year ... which is a shame seeing how it's a great love story. In the film, Danny (Law) has loved Anna (Mol) all her life -- seeing how he witnessed and helped deliver her when she was born. After living abroad for 25 years, he returns to the town where Anna and her family live. He reacquaints himself with them and his love for Anna flourishes even more -- even though Anna is too busy to fall in love and doesn't quite believe in it. She believes in practicality and responsibility .. which is why she is engaged to Eric (Tenney). 
There's just something about this film that draws the viewer in. The characters are a bit dysfunctional (some more so than others!) and the romance between Law and Mol is not that one-dimensional. This is not your typical "boy-meets-girl, boy-gets-girl, boy-does-something-to-piss-off-girl, boy-and-girl-make-up" film. The film follows variances of love represented through Anna's family, but it is the overall story that leaves the viewer with just a good, warm feeling. Once Directed by John CarneyStarring Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Set in Dublin, Ireland, Once is the tale of a guy (Hansard) who's a vacuum repairman at his father's shop by day and a guitarist/busker by afternoons and evenings, trying his best to support his widowed father and get over a break-up with his long-time girlfriend. One night, while performing one of his outstanding, passionate songs ("Say It To Me Now"), he's tipped by and meets a Czech girl (Irglova), who's amazed by his song and becomes somewhat of a fan. The next day, when bringing the guy her vacuum to repair, we learn that the girl is somewhat of a musician herself - she was trained by her father to be a damn good pianist. Shortly after, the two stop by a music shop where the girl plays piano for him and he soon is taking out one of his original songs for them to both sing. What follows is a simplistic-yet-magical scene set to a beautifully haunting song, "Falling Slowly," where these characters bond. Without mincing words, this song is absolutely beautiful and brilliant! And it's a good precursor of what to expect from this film. With many critics describing this movie as a musical, or as director Carney described it: a "video album," it's easy to agree because the film's music is featured so prominently and is played to help form and mold the characters. At times, Once feels a bit like an epic music video, but with much more feeling and story. Each time a song comes on, you feel more drawn to these characters, their lives and the connection they have. If you don't like the music, then there's something seriously wrong with your taste and you should probably start reevaluating what you consider to be good, real music.

Some of my favorite moments from the film are, of course, the musical scenes. Scenes which particularly stand out is when Hansard composes and sings "Lies" while watching old home movie footage of him and his girlfriend, and when first singing "Falling Slowly" with Irglova. The film does not end the way most would think -- especially if you are thinking of a "Hollywood ending" -- but it's a sweet ending, nonetheless. I've had a relationship like the one featured in the film. I won't disclose any more of the film or the several scenes I loved as I'm afraid that may take away from the visceral, feel-good emotions they invoke. All I will say is that Once is one of the best, innovative films I've seen in a long time. It's emotionally honest, the music is better than anything you'll hear on mainstream contemporary radio, and it'll leave you feeling both inspired and rejuvenated. This is not merely a film to see; it's a film to experience! There're so many emotions and memories that surface after viewing this film and that's the sign of a great movie!



Ruby Sparks Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie FarisStarring Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Chris Messina, Annette Bening, Elliott Gould, and Antonio Banderas

A really refreshing, original story from writer/co-star Zoe Kazan (who is the granddaughter of famous director While the premise of the film seems like any man's "dream come true," turns into a serious study of what really matters in a relationship.What starts off as somewhat of a romantic comedy-type of film soon turns into a serious study about the horrors that can become of having control over someone you truly love ... and of how free will is a beautiful thing. If a person could have someone fall in love with them who they were crazy about, then it would get boring pretty quickly. That's why someone tends to fall in love with someone who challenges them -- in a good way. This also explains why a guy/girl will not date someone who will do anything for them and/or always agree with them. A great film all around!

Say Anything ...Directed by Cameron CroweStarring John Cusack, Ione Skye, John Mahoney, Lili Taylor, Amy Brooks, and Loren Dean

This film is most likely to be one of the greatest love stories of my generation! Writer/director Cameron Crowe's directorial debut (he had a previous writing credit for Fast Times at Ridgemont High, which was based on his book he had researched) features the loveable everyman Lloyd Dobler (Cusack), whom everyone loves; and it's easy to see why from Cusack's likeable acting -- he's that guy in school that everyone (no matter what clique they were in) liked just because they thought he was cool and easygoing. Dobler decides on high school graduation day to go against the advice of his friends and ask "brainy-yet-beautiful" Diane Court (Skye) out on a date. After an awkwardly funny phone call, Diane agrees to go out with Lloyd to a graduation party, where she gets to mingle with her classmates for the first time and has fun. Skye's Diane character had pretty much every guy who's watched this film fall in love with her. And you can't help but root for Lloyd as his love for Diane grows but faces the obstacle of her overprotective father (Mahoney), who has some legal troubles.

I will proudly admit that upon watching this film for the first time, I fell in love with Ione Skye's character. Crowe is very talented when it comes to writing a man and woman's relationship with his own distinct style (see Singles, Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous, Vanilla Sky, Elizabethtown and We Bought a Zoo), and his humor of various relationships within an ensemble cast always shine (i.e,, when Lloyd is dumped by Diane and goes to his guy friends for advice and sympathy). Plus, the soundtrack kicks ass (Aerosmith, Living Colour, Cheap Trick, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Depeche Mode, Fishbone, The Replacements, Soundgarden, and Peter Gabriel)! One of my most favorite scenes has to be the graduation party and the next morning, as well as the aforementioned scene when Lloyd hangs out with the guys. Still one of the best romance movies ever!
Twice Upon a YesterdayDirected by Maria RipollStarring Douglas Henshall, Lena Headey, Penelope Cruz, Mark Strong, and Elizabeth McGovern

Before she was the cold, bitchy Cersei Lannister on HBO's Game of Thrones, Lena Headey co-starred in this gem from 1998, which was given a small release, originally named The Man with Rain in His Shoes, and very underrated. Scottish actor Douglas Henshall starts as struggling actor Victor Bukowski, who is dumped by his long-time girlfriend Sylvia (Headey) for being unfaithful. One night, in a drunken stupor, Victor meets two garbagemen who give him the chance to relive the previous day over again. He does not have the affair and makes himself to be a better boyfriend to Sylvia. Unfortunately, Sylvia is drawn to another man (Strong) and Victor has to abruptly move on with his life. He meets struggling writer Louise (Cruz) and starts to improve his life.

This tale proves that sometimes things are meant to be ... no matter what you do; things happen for a reason. I don't want to give too much away about this charming movie with a slight magical twist. But it's definitely earned its place on this list because neither character is "the bad one" -- the film has more respect for its characters than assigning such a narrow stereotype. A great film and great story; it should've gained more recognition among the film community.

My Most Anticipated Movies of 2014

It's that time of year again! Because the dawn of a new year in film is upon us, I figured I'd share the films with which I'm most excited to see in 2014! (Please note that all release dates of the films could change). Here they are in alphabetical order:


Captain America: The Winter Soldier Directed by Anthony & Joe RussoStarring Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, and Robert Redford

I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of the Captain America comic. That's why I was pleasantly surprised when the 2011 film turned out to be so good. When I saw the first trailer for this highly-anticapted sequel, I have to admit to getting goosebumps. I really hope the story follows what is teased in the trailer -- particularly when Cap says, "I thought the punishment usually came after the crime," and, "This isn't freedom (pointing to the war machines and weapons), this is fear." For once, I'd love to see a major blockbuster address concepts such as this without going all "AMERICA! F*^% YEAH!!!" When it comes to comic book film adaptations, I think only Guardians of the Galaxy will give Cap a run for his money this year. Plus, with the inclusion of heroes Black Widow (Johansson) and Falcon (Mackie), and villain Winter Soldier (Stan) (which, if you know anything about comics and who the soldier is, then you knew right after watching the first film that he was destined to come back!), this film is shaping up to be epic. To be released: April 4, 2014.

Edge of Tomorrow Directed by Doug LimanStarring Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Kick Gurry, Charlotte Riley, and Lara Pulver

Originally based on the Hiroshi Sakurazaka 2009 novel All You Need is Kill , Edge of Tomorrow finds Tom Cruise throwing his hat in the sci-fi genre once again. The film's premise follows Lt. Col. Bill Cage (Cruise), somewhat of a bumbling desk soldier, who is dropped into battle against the ruthless, hard-to-kill Mimics -- an alien race that seems hellbent on taking over the earth. Within of his "suicide mission," Cage is killed. But he soon finds himself awakening to just hours earlier, before the battle. Cage is stuck in a time loop where he has time to get to know the enemies' techniques and become a better soldier. Along the way, he meets Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), a special forces soldier who Cage discovers is also stuck in a time loop, making her somewhat of a war hero. Directed by Doug Liman (Go, The Bourne Identity) and with a gaggle of supreme screenwriters -- including Steve Kloves (the Harry Potter films), Christopher McQuarrie ( The Usual Suspects ), Tim Kring (NBC's Heroes ), and Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci ( Mission: Impossible III , Transformers, Star Trek ), this film promises to have plenty of fast-paced action and, hopefully, some good writing! To be released: June 6, 2014.


The Equalizer Directed by Antoine FuquaStarring Denzel Washington, Chloe Grace Moretz, Haley Bennett, Melissa Leo, and Bill Pullman


Anyone who was a kid/teen/young adult in the mid-1980s might remember the 1985 TV show The Equalizer (starring Edward Woodward) about a retired CIA agent turned private investigator named Robert McCall who is available for hire if there is a problem one doesn't know how to solve. Screenwriter Richard Wenk ( Vamp , 16 Blocks , The Mechanic , The Expendables 2 ) is writing the adaptation and with director Antoine Fuqua ( Training Day ) teaming back up with star Denzel Washington as McCall, I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with it. Plus, the ultra-talented Chloe Grace Moretz's involvement helps the film's star power. To be released: September 26, 2014.

Gone Girl Directed by David FincherStarring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Fugit, Tyler Perry, and Kim Dickens

Ben Affleck has been on a roll lately. After a brief hiatus from Hollywood -- taking time to spend on his family -- he came back a stronger presence when he directed the movie adaptation of the Dennis Lehane novel Gone Baby Gone , then moving on to direct (and star in) The Town and last year's hit Argo , as well as improving his acting by taking roles in State of Play ,  The Company Men , and will next be seen as Bruce Wayne/Batman in the highly anticipated Batman vs. Superman. Now he's starring in director-who-can-do-no-wrong David Fincher's movie adaptation of the Gillian Flynn novel Gone Girl . Affleck will star as former journalist Nick Dunne, whose wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) goes missing shortly after they move from New York to Missouri. Was it Nick who was behind his wife going missing, or did she have a hand in her own fate? Both are deceptive and take the audience on a deceptive ride. To be released: October 3, 2014.


[image error] Guardians of the Galaxy Directed by James GunnStarring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Lee Pace, Benecio Del Toro, John C. Reilly, and Glenn Close

This has been the big buzz release for 2014! Marvel's movie adaptation of a comic book series which hasn't seen much following. However, now, because of its ties to the broad Marvel cinematic universe -- and a dream cast -- the film. The team is basically formed by Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) to be more proactive in protecting the galaxy from major threats, as opposed to reacting to crises as they happen. There promises to be plenty of action and I can't wait to see what director James Gunn ( Slither , Super ) does with it. To be released: August 1, 2014.

The Hobbit: There and Back Again Directed by Peter JacksonStarring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Luke Evans, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, and Benedict Cumberbatch


After the impressive second installment of Jackson's Hobbit trilogy ( The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug ), I'm ready for Smaug's razing of Lake-town! I have to admit that I was a little worrisome and skeptical of this extended trilogy when An Unexpected Journey was released. However, after Desolation, I'm all on-board! To be released: December 17, 2014.

Interstellar Directed by Christopher NolanStarring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Wes Bentley, Michael Caine, Casey Affleck, Topher Grace, Ellen Burstyn, and John Lithgow

Christopher Nolan's next venture pits him back in sci-fi with this film about a newly-discovered space wormhole which a group of explorers and scientists travel through in order to transcend previous limitations on human space travel. The plot still remains somewhat nondescript but its buzz has got moviegoers excited seeing how Nolan is one of the new formidable filmmakers today. Plus, add a splendid cast, as well as writing by Nolan and his brother Jonathan Nolan, and you've certainly gotten my attention. To be released: November 7, 2014.
 The Interview Directed by Evan Goldberg & Seth RogenStarring Seth Rogen, James Franco, Lizzy Caplan, and Randall Park

After having a so-so hit with their apocalypse-themed This is the End , BFF writing team Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen have teamed up to pen their own version of a CIA comedy thriller (think Argo meets Confessions of a Dangerous Mind meets Spies Like Us ). In this movie, Rogen and buddy James Franco have teamed up once again to portray television talk show host Dave Skylark (Franco) and his producer Aaron Rapoport (Rogen), who get an interview with the dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong-un . Upon hearing the news of the interview, the CIA asks Skylark and Rapoport to assassinate Kim. Comedy ensues. To be released: October 10, 2014.
 Into the Woods Directed by Rob MarshallStarring Johnny Depp, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, James Corden, Emily Blunt, Christine Baranski, and Meryl Streep

Columbia Pictures first tried to have a movie made of this Broadway musical back in the early 1990s. Alas, despite dream casting (of some of the most well-known actors of that time), the production stalled and it was dropped. Flashforward 23 years later and Disney has picked it up, with the film's production being solidified when Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp both signed on. Director Rob Marshall ( Chicago , Memoirs of a Geisha , Nine ) was nabbed to adapt this musical which focuses on famous characters from Grimms' Fairy Tales (i.e., Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack (of the Beanstalk), Red Riding Hood, etc.), and is about a baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) who are cursed by a witch (Streep) to be childless. In order to break the curse, they must embark into the woods to collect special objects so they can break the spell and start a family. To be released: December 25, 2014.

Maleficent Directed by Robert StrombergStarring Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Juno Temple, and Imelda Staunton

I'm not the biggest Angelina Jolie fan, but I'm excited to see this one. Maleficent comes in a close second to the Evil Queen Stepmother (Snow White) as the most evil Disney villain, and to have Jolie play her is brilliant casting! I also really love the idea of Elle Fanning as Princess Aurora. I only hope that the writers don't make Maleficent too much of a sympathetic character seeing how her past will be explored in this film. To be released: May 30, 2014.
 Million Dollar Arm Directed by Craig GillespieStarring Jon Hamm, Lake Bell, Bill Paxton, Alan Arkin, Madhur Mittal, Suraj Sharma, and Bar Paly

In the tradition of inspirational sports movies like Invincible , Disney is releasing this biographical film about sports agent J.B. Bernstein (Jon Hamm), who takes an unconventional approach to recruiting for the major leagues by traveling to India and recruiting cricket players (Madhur Mittal, Suraj Sharma) to play baseball back in the States. I like sports films ... especially ones that push the unconventional. So this one is right up my alley! To be released: May 16, 2014.

The Monuments Men Directed by George ClooneyStarring George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Bob Balaban, Jean Dujardin, Hugh Bonneville, and Cate Blanchett

Based on the true story of specially-trained and -recruited art appraisers who were sent to Germany during World War II to save, restore and ship back priceless works of art that were seized by Adolph Hitler and his Nazi army -- as written in Robert M. Edsel's The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History . The film brings back director Clooney and his writing partner Grant Heslov, along with a brilliant cast, to tell these soldiers' tales. For those who don't think art is important, it's movies like this that make me recall the famous quote by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during World War II. When he was asked that the arts funding be cut in order to spend more money on the war effort, Churchill shot back, "Then what are we fighting for?" To be released: February 7, 2014.

Neighbors Directed by Nicholas StollerStarring Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne, Dave Franco, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jake Johnson, and Lisa Kudrow

I think what makes this film seem so funny is the fact that Seth Rogen is a married guy with a baby and married to Rose Byrne! But, if you're into frat humor, this will seem hilarious. There's not much to pick up about the story from watching the trailer other than it's the two parents who play pranks on the college frat guys, soon engaging in an epic prank war. My only guess is that the parents are hoping to get the frat guys evicted so they don't have to see or tolerate their debaucherous ways anymore. Either way, count me in! To be released: May 9, 2014.

Non-Stop Directed by Jaume Collet-SerraStarring Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Michelle Dockery, Bar Paly, Anson Mount, and Lupita Nyong'o

With Liam Neeson starring, there are already many comparisons to Taken . Call it what you will. I don't care 'cause it's got Neeson in it! This time, Neeson portrays U.S. federal air marshal Bill Marks, who is on an international flight from New York to London and receives threatening text messages stating a passenger will be killed every 20 minutes unless $150 million is transferred to a special account. Marks tries to figure out who is behind the operation until it is discovered that the account is under his name and people think he is the hijacker. To be released: February 28, 2014.

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For Directed by Robert Rodriguez & Frank MillerStarring Jessica Alba, Josh Brolin, Rosario Dawson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Eva Green, Jaime King, Ray Liotta, Mickey Rourke, and Bruce Willis

Originally slated for release in 2013, this follow-up to the hit 2005 film Sin City was pushed back to 2014 because of production issues and not wanting to release the film at the same time as director Robert Rodriguez's other sequel due out -- Machete Kills . This film and its stories are based on comic book writer Frank Miller's stories "A Dame to Kill For," "Just Another Saturday Night," and two new, original stories -- "The Long Bad Night" and an untitled story. To be released: August 22, 2014.  

[image error] Welcome to Yesterday Directed by Dean IsraeliteStarring Sam Lerner, Ginny Gardner, Jonny Weston, Allen Evangelista, and Sofia Black-D'Elia

Probably one of my cheesiest picks, I know! BUT I actually like the whole "found footage" effect in films like this (see Cloverfield and Chronicle ). And I'm definitely a sucker for time travel movies. So this kinda gets me excited. I might wait for DVD, but it still should probably be entertaining. To be released: February 28, 2014.

X-Men: Days of Future Past Directed by Bryan SingerStarring Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Ellen Page, Peter Dinklage, Halle Berry, Evan Peters, and Shawn Ashmore

X-Men: First Class was probably the best Marvel film (well, until The Avengers came along). It definitely surpassed any of the previous X-Men films. And I was excited at the direction with which director Matthew Vaughn was taking it. That's why I was ever-so-slightly disheartened when I found out that Vaughn was not going to direct the sequel, but, rather original X-Men director Bryan Singer would. I wasn't too crazy about Singer's take on the mutants; in fact, I felt it was too "quiet." It was cool to see the characters on screen in such a fashion, yet the story wasn't too impressive. X-Men 2 was a much better film. Nevertheless, after watching the trailer, my faith is restored. Especially when I found out the filmmakers are lifting the Days of Future Past storyline from the comics. Great story! Can't wait to see it! To be released: May 23, 2014.