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  Nick Paramonte 2:35 am on 05/02/2010 Permalink | Reply  

  Smallville “Sacrifice” Review 

  
  I wasn’t looking forward to another Chloe centric, (since Allsion Mack is the lead character of the season) to avoid more brain tramua, I watched the clips from the subplots after it aired. But still, there were so much retcons and inconsistences.

  First I’ll start with Faora. Last season when Lois was poccessed by Zod’s second future wife, writer of “Bloodline”, Carol Dries established that the just as ruthless character (who exists in the comics, even though she’s really a secondary Ursa) couldn’t procreate, but here she get’s pregnant with the tryant’s child, is used for more plot convience to add to the drama of the clone becoming the evil SOB we know the real one currently still in The Phantom Zone to be.

  Before he kills her for “betraying their people”, (after Fay decides to work with Checkmate to bring down Zod, when she found out the truth though that plot device book Clark had in Season 7, where he went back in time) goes into this speech about loyality, despite the fact that he cheated on her by screwing with Mercy in “Escape”, (which contradicts the fact there was nothing in the early episodes to hint at neither shipper is very glaring) doesn’t have any chips to use, other then to manipulate the younger sister, Vala over to his side at the end.

  Justin Hartley’s first writing gig didn’t work on any level, accept for Clark and Oliver being on the same page which I liked. Even though I still have suspection since this entire year, TPTB will repeat themselves by having him and Dumb Blonde backstap Kal-El, really out of their inflating egos.

  Stuart comes back to get revenge on Ms. Graves for shooting him in “Pandora”, acts alone by following her with a tracking device that maraciously was implanted during her time between taking over Luthorcorp and when she joined the government agency. Aside from his ridiculous Bond-Villain look, this thing is complete BS because Mercy wouldn’t even be alive right now if that were the case. Plus Cassidy Freeman’s character having to “die” and be revived to destroy the device was just overall stupid.

  Waller getting thrown into the car was similar to what happened to Lionel, cortency of Lex Luthor’s temporary superpowers from “Vessel” and “Zod”, which technically should’ve killed them both.

  The producers deliver another scene of Clark being left in the snow to witness others but himself take to the skies was more moon shining.

  Rating: 5

  Next Week is something to exactly give a damn about. The return of Annette O’Toole and Michael McKean to the show.

  The two possible downsides are that her evolvement in the government means the last living adopted parent of Clark Kent bites the dust because of his actions, makes him even more dark and brooding. Or writers, Anne Cofell Sauders & Jordan Hawley have Ma Kent act like this so Stalktower can look like a saint again.

   

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  Nick Paramonte 9:58 pm on 05/01/2010 Permalink | Reply  

  A Nightmare on Elm Street Review 

  
  I take these remakes produced by Micheal Bay and company as popcorn flicks, nothing more, and no less.

  The teenagers in this film were more believable then the stereotypes in Friday The 13th. Sure, Kyle Gallner looks like sometimes he’s going to breakdown into tears, but this kid has an acting future, unlike the other past and present actors that appeared on Smallville.

  Robert Englund is and always shall be the one true Freddy Krugger, but Jackie Earl Haley did well for what was given to him. He definitely got the creepy pedophile part of the character down.

  Rooney Mara as the heroine, Nancy was okay but really had little to no semblance of the inner strength that Heather Langenkamp brought to the role in the 1984 original.

  When they go in-between the real and dream world aka The Micronaps was an interesting concept because I thought after the first kill it would’ve been much better if it was the return of a shared collective insanity. But it that wasn’t the case.

  Unfortunately it relies entirely on the Jump Scare technic. Writers, Wesley Strick & Eric Heisserer’s decision to try to make you doubt whether or not he truly was a sickf##k (which he ultimately was) or the little nobody that was wrongfully accused (prier to the movie’s release) was entirely pointless.

  Kris played by Katie Cassidy (who got the majority of screentime in marketing and in the first hour of the movie) falls asleep at her boyfriend’s funeral after the opening scene for the perpuce of another jult, Rob and I both looked at each other in the theater with the exact same thought running through our heads which was, “Some girlfriend she is.”

  Other murders (other then the recognizable ones from the original films) were forgettable unlike some of the creative count in Jason Voorhees’ remake, which isn’t getting a sequel by the way.

  Rating: 6 1/2

   
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  Nick Paramonte 2:23 pm on 04/28/2010 Permalink | Reply  

  Zod Owns Green Arrow 

  

  The encounter that ends with the Z insignia burned onto Oliver’s chest that by the next episode, the wound will either change or completely disappear.

  Seriously, does Ollie really think he can take down the tyrant all by himself? He doesn’t even have a Kryptonite tipped arrow. You’d think he would go into Luthor Mansion with some kind of precaution. But on this show, GA is an A-Hole (and even in the comics), he hasn’t learned nothing from the stupid descisions made last year.

  I see where this episode is going. Ollie gets hurt and since we have another pointless shipper, Dumb Blondie will be whipping Clark 247 by saying “How could you let this happen?! You knew Zod had powers, how could you let this happen?!” blah, blah, blah.

  Anonymous is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
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    Anonymous 4:49 am on 05/06/2010 Permalink | Reply

    Were you pissed off much when you realised it was a kryptonite arrow? shouldnt underestimate green arrow

    LikeLike

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  Nick Paramonte 3:40 pm on 04/26/2010 Permalink | Reply  

  Batman Live 

  

  I had to open my big mouth when I said to Rob off air that it would be interesting to see The Dark Knight on Broadway, in the vain of that opening from the episode of Batman Beyond, “Out of the Past”. Observe:

  According to Heat Vision, it’s actually gonna happen.

  “Warner Bros. and DC Comics are in the early stages of developing a tour, tentatively titled “Batman Live” and starring the Caped Crusader, working with Nick Grace Management and Water Lane Prods., companies behind the popular “Walking With Dinosaurs” and “Mamma Mia!” touring shows.

  The show is neither a musical nor a Broadway-bound theatrical production but rather an elaborate arena production aimed at kids and families.”

  Even Kevin Conroy’s magnificent singing wouldn’t save this. I take back what my guilty thoughts come up with. Like Old Bruce’s opinion of this…
  
  “It’s Shwarbage.”

   
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  Nick Paramonte 5:20 pm on 04/25/2010 Permalink | Reply  

  The Losers Review 

  I’m not that knowlegeable about this particular DC team other then the brief cameo in New Frontier (the animated movie and the comic) and having seen the Vertigo title once or twice, this adaptation was just so ho-hum.

  Chris Evans saves it as Jensen, the comms and tech guy. Specificially the infiltration/escape scene, while singing and playing in the background, Journey‘s “Don’t Stop Believin'” were the best parts of the film that had me laughing my ass off.

  The moments where Evans is in soldier gear and the moment with the group doing the slowmo walking with the american flag waving behind his head, has me still optimistic to see him as Captain America. As long as he doesn’t wisecrack, all will be well. Aside from said song, the rest of music on the soundtrack were pretty good.

  I dug Jefferey Dean Morgan since Supernatural and Watchmen, he was okay in this. Just pulls off that deadly serious look without even trying.

  My gripe is that I just couldn’t buy an Africian-American like Zoe Saldana playing a middle eastern chick in the film, even though the character in the source material is arabic.

  Overall, the supporting cast had the potential but the big problem is that it fell into the trappings of the stereotypical action movie cliches, like one of the members being a traitor, the over the top James Bond weapon that could destroy the world, the hammy villain who spews out very few good one-liners, and lastly, the story ending on a cliffhanger which we talk about on the show, that never works.
  
  Rating: 6

   
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  Nick Paramonte 3:04 am on 04/25/2010 Permalink | Reply  

  Smallville "Charade" Review 

  
  At first I was under impressed, since Allison Mack’s character is such a bad influence on the future Man of Tomorrow (“Upgrade”, when he decided that spying on his one true love’s every move was Oookay.), she successed in breaking up a part of Lois & Clark’s romance, but this was a learning curve for Clark alone. The funniest Clois moment I’ve seen yet with their little “sneak preview” in the elevator, Oh My God.

  We’re introduced to a new editor of The Planet, Franklin Stern, who in the Superman comics is a friend of Perry White. Like Cat Grant’s brief appearance in “Crossfire”, at least they’re bringing in more of The Man of Steel’s bigger supporting cast (the Jimmy Olsen retcon not withstanding.) then the townsfolk the show started out with.

  Here, Stern fires Lois & Clark from the paper because they land on the front page after their undercover work goes wrong. Yeah, it’s convenient for the plot since the real Chief is coming back in episode 20, “Hostage” so he can rehire them. After Clark saves Lois from ex-D.A. Sack’s goon, he lefts off the ground (Flight!) to the top of the building to looking all Batman again.

  For the short amount of screentime Gil Bellows got, he sold me on his performance as Maxwell Lord. As for his mind reading effect, I wouldn’t have mind it so much if they hadn’t use it for Martian Manhunter in “Checkmate”.

  We’ll have to wait and see where his character goes since he’s reappearing in the last few episodes. Will he survive for Season 10 or is Stalktower going to steal Diana Prince’s thunder like she stole Barbara Gordon’s?

  The music stood out, specially with the film noir song at the beginning was very similar to the great Shirley Walker’s scores from Batman: The Animated Series and The Flash.

  Thought the ending was MORE STALLING. But with an open mind, I realized this has always been part of Superman mythos, where Lois was torn between her feelings for Kal-El and his mild mannered alter ego until Clark told her.

  Cared even beyond less about DB’s alliance with Mercy which is totally going to backfire next week. Projecting her problems on Ms. Graves was pathetic. Speaking of that, a huge plot hole in this, she’s walking around in public when in said episode, government agents where on every Metropolis street corner. Another continuity flub.

  Rating: 6 1/2

  Skipping “Sacrifice” for the Elm Street remake because, one Lois isn’t there, which brings an episode down in my book. And two it’s more glorifying Stalktower.

   
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  Nick Paramonte 3:04 am on 04/25/2010 Permalink | Reply  

  Smallville “Charade” Review 

  
  At first I was under impressed, since Allison Mack’s character is such a bad influence on the future Man of Tomorrow (“Upgrade”, when he decided that spying on his one true love’s every move was Oookay.), she successed in breaking up a part of Lois & Clark’s romance, but this was a learning curve for Clark alone. The funniest Clois moment I’ve seen yet with their little “sneak preview” in the elevator, Oh My God.

  We’re introduced to a new editor of The Planet, Franklin Stern, who in the Superman comics is a friend of Perry White. Like Cat Grant’s brief appearance in “Crossfire”, at least they’re bringing in more of The Man of Steel’s bigger supporting cast (the Jimmy Olsen retcon not withstanding.) then the townsfolk the show started out with.

  Here, Stern fires Lois & Clark from the paper because they land on the front page after their undercover work goes wrong. Yeah, it’s convenient for the plot since the real Chief is coming back in episode 20, “Hostage” so he can rehire them. After Clark saves Lois from ex-D.A. Sack’s goon, he lefts off the ground (Flight!) to the top of the building to looking all Batman again.

  For the short amount of screentime Gil Bellows got, he sold me on his performance as Maxwell Lord. As for his mind reading effect, I wouldn’t have mind it so much if they hadn’t use it for Martian Manhunter in “Checkmate”.

  We’ll have to wait and see where his character goes since he’s reappearing in the last few episodes. Will he survive for Season 10 or is Stalktower going to steal Diana Prince’s thunder like she stole Barbara Gordon’s?

  The music stood out, specially with the film noir song at the beginning was very similar to the great Shirley Walker’s scores from Batman: The Animated Series and The Flash.

  Thought the ending was MORE STALLING. But with an open mind, I realized this has always been part of Superman mythos, where Lois was torn between her feelings for Kal-El and his mild mannered alter ego until Clark told her.

  Cared even beyond less about DB’s alliance with Mercy which is totally going to backfire next week. Projecting her problems on Ms. Graves was pathetic. Speaking of that, a huge plot hole in this, she’s walking around in public when in said episode, government agents where on every Metropolis street corner. Another continuity flub.

  Rating: 6 1/2

  Skipping “Sacrifice” for the Elm Street remake because, one Lois isn’t there, which brings an episode down in my book. And two it’s more glorifying Stalktower.

   
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  Nick Paramonte 2:45 am on 04/25/2010 Permalink | Reply  

  New Ninja Turtle Design? 

  
  Latino Review recieved this prosthetic head of Michelangelo is rumored to be from the new TMNT film.

  “The basic idea, as I understand it, is to do an all live action shoot, with actors and stuntmen in full Turtle suits,” explained Peter Laird, co-creator of the original comic series, to MTV News.

  To add expressiveness to the Turtles’ faces which would be difficult if not impossible to get with animatronics and/or puppetry, there would be ‘face replacement,’ with CGI Turtle faces superimposed on the live action performers’ heads.”
  
  I’ll give the design credit for looking like the actual reptile instead of a muppet. I really wish they’d go back to practical effects, you don’t have take the cheap way. The reason why the effects in the first Iron Man worked so well is that it was real hands-on suits and minimal CG. The other way around just doesn’t work. But then again, it would be more expessive, but still it would be payoff in fold.

  Now, I’m all for another one, but not another sugarcoated version. I’d much prefer to see a Grindhouse style movie of the orignial dark comic, where they killed The Shredder. But like the recent announcement of the Batman musical, this could just end up being another piece of kid trash.

   
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  Nick Paramonte 11:23 pm on 04/24/2010 Permalink | Reply  

  The Kent Family Dinner 

  From next week’s episode after another self indulgent Stalktower centric, the return of crucial characters in Lois & Clark’s lives.

  

  I think they overdid the age factor on Martha Kent, especially that huge streak in her hair cause it’s only been four years since she left the show in the Season 6 finale, “Phantom”.

  My favorite look of Mr. White is the whites at the temples like the modern comics as opposed to the all white hair like Frank Lengella in Superman Returns (Singer’s Homage) or the George Reeves series.
   
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  Nick Paramonte 12:37 am on 04/22/2010 Permalink | Reply  

  New DC Animated Show 

  

  With the announcement of an Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon on Disney XD coming in the fall, Cartoon Network & Warners Animation plan to produce another series about the other teenage superhero team. 

  “In Young Justice, being a teenager means proving yourself over and over – to peers, parents, teachers, mentors and, ultimately, to yourself. But what if you’re not just a normal teenager? What if you’re a teenage super hero? Are you ready to join the ranks of the great heroes and prove you’re worthy of the Justice League?

  That’s exactly what the members of Young Justice – Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian and Artemis – will (find) out, whether they have what it takes to be a proven hero.”
  

  About the lineup it’s obviously Tim Drake, Conner Kent, and Bart Allen. Considering Wally West has been used twice in Teen Titans & Justice League Unlimited. I don’t believe the producers want to go for a third. But from what it looks like, a young Arthur Curry (instead of Garth) and Artemis are the leaders of the group. The art design seems like a mix between Next Avengers and Teen Titans.

  One the executives, Greg Weisen, the dude behind Gargoyles and The Spectacular Spider-Man is evolved. Speaking of about that series, it was canceled after Disney bought out Marvel.