SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for JOKER.
“The mirror is my best friend because when I cry it never laughs.”
-Charlie Chaplin
Mirrors become an essential element in the visual storytelling of JOKER. Working as a clown for hire, Arthur (Joaquin Phoenix) repeatedly stares at himself while applying the makeup for the job. Yet, as the opening scene shows, each time he returns to the mirror, a sad and lonely face stares back. Even before the title character fully becomes the famous Batman villain, Arthur is presented as a man searching for help from others but is ultimately left alone to face his own fate. A tired and gaunt face stares back at Arthur, who struggles with his own identity and the dark thoughts that fill his head. It’s not until he assumes a new identity that he’s comfortable in his own battered and bruised skin. Batman lore has always explored the idea that the Dark Knight wouldn’t exist in a world without the Joker, and vice versa. Yet, writer and director Todd Phillips explores their connection in fascinating ways by taking a new approach to the source material and not just saying that they need each other to survive, but that their stories share several dark parallels.
The Internal Darkness Projected Outward
How JOKER physically manifests mental illness is the most grueling element of the film. Despite talk of its violence, it’s Joaquin Phoenix’s physical performance that causes audiences to squirm in their seats. His gaunt frame becomes a pallet for bruises as the world around him lashes out because of their misunderstanding of his illness. What’s even more excruciating is how the character’s internal madness escapes forth in uncontrollable pain as he tries to stifle his manic laughter. Laughter becomes a coping mechanism when he’s in situations that make him uncomfortable, but it also rears its head at random moments. It becomes Arthur’s worst fear because it’s the one element of his psychosis that he can’t hide from or subdue – he has to face it and learn to accept it.
In the comics, Bruce Wayne eventually turns his greatest fear into his biggest strength. Bruce dons the symbol of the bat because it represents what he was most afraid of as a child. His internal darkness and fear of being alone in a cave are brought forth in his black bat costume. This external release for both characters in order to feel alive is at the center of this version of their origin story. Arthur’s transformation into Joker mirrors the transformation in the comics of Bruce Wayne wearing the cape and cowl. He embraces the laughter by dressing as the one character that consistently causes himself pain and gets him beat up on the street. You have two men, each with multiple personalities that change based on whether they embrace and wear their fear on their sleeve. By accepting what they once saw as their one true weakness, they both head confidently into the night, unafraid of Gotham’s judgment.
We’re Born Alone, We Live Alone, We Die Alone
“For my whole life, I didn’t know I really existed. But I do, and people are starting to notice.” Many have been quick to call out JOKER for speaking to the “angry boy” culture that grew up posting anonymously online and is fueled by Mountain Dew and self-loathing. But lines like the one above aren’t meant to incite fervor in these incels looking to lash out at society who rejected them – it’s meant to mirror the duality of Bruce Wayne and Batman. Bruce Wayne is the billionaire who hides himself away in his large mansion, whose only real friend is the childhood butler who raised him. Even as an adult running Wayne Enterprises, he has always felt alone and never understood by anyone but his childhood guardian. Arthur and the Joker are presented in a similar light in this new origin story. Living and taking care of his mother occupy Arthur’s time when not performing as a clown for hire. Like Alfred, she is the only person he can confide in, even though their relationship often brings out feelings of resentment and mistrust.
Bruce and Arthur are, essentially, both figures of isolation. Despite the fact that one might have more resources than the other, they both seem destined to die alone. They’ve accepted this, and in turn, learn to reject any notion of love. The irony, of course, is that when they go out into the world as their alter-ego that they attract the attention of the media and legions of fans. Adults and kids watch on TV and read in the papers of these figures and become fascinated by them. While both characters have followers and people that look up to them, these fans are essentially both idolizing a masked vigilante operating outside of the establishment. Yet, as is tradition with the male archetype, these legions of fans can not match the acceptance of that between a father and a son. You can have all the praise in the world, but hearing it from your father will mean more. A central plot point in JOKER is Arthur’s search for his father’s identity. It’s this denial of a father-figure in both Bruce Wayne’s and Arthur’s life that is another new parallel in this version of the story.
A Mirror Reflects What You See, and a Black Mirror Shows the Dark Side of It
In a pivotal scene in the middle of the film, Arthur comes face to face with a young Bruce Wayne. He captures the attention of young Bruce through a circus act that involves a red nose and a magic trick. And while the two might be separated by the iron gate of Wayne Manor, they see each other. In fact, Arthur reaches out and touches Bruce’s face and makes him smile. He uses his fingers to create the same forced smile that Arthur did to himself as he looked in the mirror with tears in his eyes at the start of the film. It’s the first time that the hero and the villain of this universe see each other, and in turn, see where they came from and what they will soon become.
This isn’t a gate separating them – it represents the mirror that connects these two lives. In this universe, Batman and Joker aren’t divided into separate sides of the same coin. They are shown to be one, connected by the same fate. This connection is further emphasized if you take into consideration that the Joker’s actions by the end of the film lead to the death of Bruce’s parents. In JOKER, Arthur may have chosen to become the title character – much like Bruce Wayne will eventually choose to become Batman – but despite their personal choices, they will always be linked by a dark parallel destiny and will forever see their nemesis when they look in the mirror.
The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has been hitting all the right notes as of late with a string of successful audience pleasing films. Super heroes WONDER WOMAN, AQUAMAN and now SHAZAM! have been box office hits and received positive reviews from critics.
Now comes the villains.
Watch Joaquin Phoenix as the JOKER in this first look at the film coming to theaters October 4
The Joker has been one of the most iconic villains in comic book lore.
Whether by way of award-winning films like “The Dark Knight,” Emmy-winning animated programs like “Batman: The Animated Series,” video game appearances such as the record-breaking “Batman: Arkham Asylum,” or the countless comics stacking comic book shelves and digital libraries, the Joker stands unquestionably as the most recognizable and popular comic book villain in pop culture history. Unpredictable, violent and incredibly dangerous, he is chaos personified and has taken on everyone from his archenemy Batman to even the Man of Steel.
But Gotham remains his primary home and Batman his biggest adversary, and no hero is perhaps better suited as in many ways, the Joker is the polar opposite of the Dark Knight. Both were created by a great tragedy, but Batman has since vowed to do whatever it takes to prevent similar incidents, the Joker revels in creating chaos and destroying lives, believing that life’s a big joke and psychotically demonstrating that in a moment, it can all change. Not much is known about his past, but his acts during the present are what define the Joker as one of the greatest threats to our heroes and the people they’ve sworn to protect. He’s killed a Robin, crippled Batgirl, and tortured and murdered countless people throughout the DC Universe—all just for a laugh.
Warner Bros. Pictures’ Joker stars Oscar nominee Joaquin Phoenix in the title role, alongside Oscar winner Robert De Niro, and is directed, produced and co-written by Oscar nominee Todd Phillips.
Joker centers around the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone story not seen before on the big screen. Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck (Phoenix), a man disregarded by society, is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.
The film also stars Zazie Beetz (Deadpool 2), Frances Conroy (TV’s American Horror Story, Hulu’s Castle Rock), Marc Maron (TV’s Maron, GLOW), Bill Camp (Red Sparrow, Molly’s Game), Glenn Fleshler (TV’s Billions, Barry), Shea Whigham (First Man, Kong: Skull Island), Brett Cullen (42, Netflix’s Narcos), Douglas Hodge (Red Sparrow, TV’s Penny Dreadful) and Josh Pais (upcoming Motherless Brooklyn, Going in Style).
Phillips (The Hangover trilogy) directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with writer Scott Silver (The Fighter), based on characters from DC. The film is produced by Phillips and Bradley Cooper under their Joint Effort banner, and Emma Tillinger Koskoff. It is executive produced by Michael E. Uslan, Walter Hamada, Aaron L. Gilbert, Joseph Garner, Richard Baratta, and Bruce Berman.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC announced today that four Batman titles will be released on 4K UHD to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the DC Super Hero created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. The films include 1989’s Batman and 1992’s Batman Returns, directed by Tim Burton, and 1995’s Batman Forever and 1997’s Batman & Robin, directed by Joel Schumacher. The four films, which earned more than $1.2 billion in global box office, have been remastered in 4K UHD for the first time.
The films will be available as 4K UHD singles on June 4 and will also be available as a four-film collection on September 17. The 4K UHD singles and the four-film collection available in September will also include remastered Blu-ray discs of the films.
Ultra HD* showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before.
The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray discs of Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin will feature a Dolby Atmos® soundtrack remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead. To experience Dolby Atmos at home, a Dolby Atmos enabled AV receiver and additional speakers are required, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar. Dolby Atmos soundtracks are also fully backward compatible with traditional audio configurations and legacy home entertainment equipment.
Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin will be available on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack for $41.99 SRP and feature an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the feature film in 4K with HDR and digitally remastered Blu-ray disc of the films. Fans can also own Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever andBatman & Robin in 4K Ultra HD via purchase from select digital retailers beginning on June 4. The singles and the four-film collection will include collectible packaging with new art designed in stunning glossy retro colors reminiscent of the 1980’s and 1990’s era when the films were originally released in theaters. The 4K UHD, Blu-ray and Digital versions of the film will collectively include more than 17 hours of previously released extras, including full-length commentaries by director Tim Burton on Batman and Batman Returns and director Joel Schumacher on Batman Forever and Batman & Robin.
Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin will also be available on Movies Anywhere. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can access all their eligible movies by connecting their Movies Anywhere account with their participating digital retailer accounts.
1989’s Batman was directed by Tim Burton and stars Jack Nicolson as The Joker and Michael Keaton as the Caped Crusader. Produced by Jon Peters and Peter Guber from a screenplay by Sam Hamm and Warren Skaren, the film also stars Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale. The film won an Academy Award for Best Art Direction
1992’s Batman Returns was also directed by Burton and stars Keaton again as The Dark Knight. Produced Denise Di Novi and Burton, the screenplay is by Daniel Waters from a story by Waters and Sam Hamm. The film also stars Danny DeVito as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin, Michelle Pfeiffer and Selina Kyle/Catwoman and Christopher Walken as Max Shreck.
1995’s Batman Forever was directed by Joel Schumacher and stars Val Kilmer as Batman.
Produced by Tim Burton and Peter McGregor-Scott, the screenplay is by Lee Batchler, Janet Scott-Batchler and Akiva Goldsman from a story by Batchler and Batchler-Scott. The film also stars Tommy Lee Jones as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, Jim Carrey and Edward Nygma/The Riddler, Nicole Kidman as Dr. Chase Meridian, and Chris O’Donnell as Dick Grayson/Robin.
1997’s Batman & Robin saw Joel Schumacher return as director and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Dr. Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze and George Clooney as Batman. The film was produced by Tim Burton McGregor-Scott and written by Akiva Goldsman and also stars Chris O’Donnell as Dick Grayson/Robin, Uma Thurman as Dr. Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy, and Alicia Silverstone as Barbara Wilson/Batgirl.
“Toyland, Toyland…”I know, Christmas was seven weeks ago, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t have some fun at the multiplex with some of our favorite playtime pals. The studios have been raiding the toy chest in search of film franchises for decades, from Raggedy Ann and Andy (originally a cartoon short from the Fleischers) to the cult favorite CLUE in the 1980s (trivia question staple: it had three endings). Now with longtime movie series based on GI JOE and TRANSFORMERS, toys have become as much a source material as comic books and TV shows (which were the initial “springboards” in the 80s for Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake, and countless others). But could these product-spawned flicks actually be witty and (gasp) satirical, even entertaining to adults? Pixar certainly tested the waters with their first hit feature back in 1995 TOY STORY (which included kid superstars like Mr. Potato Head and Barbie alongside original characters). Jump ahead 20 years and some great comedy talents garnered big laughs from lil’ plastic building blocks. It was a surprise smash, so after two spin-offs, we’re finally getting a true sequel with THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART (just be careful where you step…yeooowch).
Yes, it’s five years later and all seems to be going great for Emmet Brickowski (voice of Chris Pratt) and pals in Bricksburg. But then the destructive Duplo invaders from the Systar (?) System arrive. Despite the efforts of Lucy Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) and her ex, Batman (Will Arnett) the town is transformed into the dusty dirty “heck-scape” of Apocalyseburg. Emmitt’s still his cheery ole’ self until another Systar denizen named Captain Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz) cruises in to scoop up Lucy, Batman, Unikitty, Benny, and Metalbeard in her spaceship and whisks them away to meet her boss, Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi (Tiffany Haddish). Luckily Emmett is able to turn his dream cottage into his own star cruiser and blasts off to infinity and…no, wrong toy. When his star trek proves too deadly, Brick is rescued by a true galactic good guy, Rex Dangervest, the coolest cat in the cosmos (trained raptors fly his ship). The two team up to stop the destruction of the universe (the “our-mom-ageddon” which would banish them to the limbo region of “Stor-age”) which will be triggered by the swiftly approaching marriage of the Queen and Batman. But are the residents of Systar “un-evil”? And will Lucy finally come to terms with her “sparkly” former life? Most puzzling of all, why is the Dark Knight finally ready to “settle down”? Gosh, what’ll happen to Alfred?
The good news is that the intricate colorful designs and character work are still there, despite the changing of directors, from the team of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (who still contributed this script with a story assist from Matthew Fogel) to Mike (TROLLS) Mitchell. Because of the returning writing duo, there are still a lot of funny throwaway bits of dialogue (especially the subtitling of the raptors) along with some very sly pop culture gags (“Marvel’s not returning our calls”). And Emmett is still a wide-eyed (big dots really) cheerfull oblivious goof. So why does the film feel…off? For one thing, the Lego world seems a lot smaller. The first adventure involved a near-endless gathering of pop icons from Star Wars to the classic Universal monsters (guessing the licensing contracts took up several file cabinets if they’re still a “thing”). But now, aside from a roll call of time-traveling devices, we’re limited to the Warner home team (though that still includes the DC heroes, the Wizard of Oz, and a Tolkien spellcaster). Perhaps this is because the real world intrudes into the main story too too much. Yes, last time we got a Will Ferrell finale, while this time his home pops up throughout and stops the story flow in its tracks. Luckily another SNL vet cameos as Will’s wife, and earns a few decent laughs, but do we need to see toys lost and gathering dust in multiple sequences? The stakes are raised by other planet’s threats, but it’s not as interesting a “hero’s journey” as in the original. Emmett and Lucy from that get plenty of screen time in this sequel, while their buddies Unikitty and Benny have little to do, as does Batman (maybe because of his solo spin-off) who is easily manipulated, though as a result of one of the film’s best musical numbers, “Gotham Guys” (much better than the “Awesome” wannabee “Catchy Song”). The rampaging Duplos who speak like toddlers is amusing, but most of the new characters barely register, aside from the Queen. Haddish brings a lot of energy to her which matches her ever-changing red, orange, and magenta form (within seconds she’s a horse, a flower, and crazy chart). Rex is a lot of fun, but his “big reveal” doesn’t really go anywhere. Though just over 100 minutes, this film feels well over 2 hours as the jumbled third act finally grinds the story to a cluttered messy halt. Though this contains many of the first flick’s winking wit, families may find that THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART just feels “played out”.
Two of the most iconic DC Super Heroes in pop-culture history are coming back to the big screen this November as each celebrates a milestone cinematic anniversary with special presentations by Fathom Events, Warner Bros. and DC.
Richard Donner’s legendary 1978 “Superman” will play on Sunday, November 25, and Tuesday, November 27, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time). The revolutionary Batman animated adventure“Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” returns to movie theaters for only one night on Monday, November 12, playing at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local times). Tickets for both of these special presentations – which will play in more than 500 movie theaters nationwide – are available now and can be purchased online at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the landmark film and the 80th anniversary of the beloved DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster, Fathom Events will present “Superman” in its original theatrical version, as audiences saw it upon its initial release in December 1978. A box-office sensation, “Superman” broke industry records and went on to gross more than $300 million worldwide, leading to three direct sequels – and helping introduce the world to the enormous possibility of comic-book film adaptations.
Christopher Reeve stars as Superman and Clark Kent, leading an incomparable cast that includes Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Gene Hackman as villainous Lex Luthor, Marlon Brando and Susannah York as Superman’s parents Jor-El and Lara; Ned Beatty and Valerie Perrine as Luthor’s sidekicks Otis and Miss Tessmacher; Jackie Cooper as Perry White; Glenn Ford and Phyllis Thaxter as George and Martha Kent; and Jeff East as teenaged Clark Kent. “Superman” was written by Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman and Robert Benton from a story by Mario Puzo.
Accompanying “Superman” will be a cinematic rarity: Max Fleischer’s animated Superman short “Mechanical Monsters,” presented in movie theaters for the first time since its original release in 1941. The 10-minute, Technicolor cartoon is one of 17 animated shorts produced in the 1940s that were based on DC’s legendary hero.
Since its first appearance in 1993, “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” has become a favorite of fans and critics alike. “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” will thrill fans 25 years after its initial release with its tale of the Dark Knight and his mission to clear his own name after vicious mob bosses are found murdered – with all fingers pointing toward Batman as the criminal.
Told in a bold, memorable animated style, “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” stars the voices of Kevin Conroyas Batman, Stacy Keach as Phantasm, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred, Dana Delaney as Andrea Beaumont, and Mark Hamill as The Joker. “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” – directed by Eric Radomski and Bruce W. Timm from a screenplay by Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Martin Pasko and Michael Reaves – will be presented with the hilarious 2010 Looney Tunes animated short “Rabid Rider,” starring Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.
“There are no bigger Super Heroes in the world than Batman and Superman, and these incredible cinematic adventures are true movie milestones,” said Tom Lucas, Fathom Events VP of Studio Relations. “Fathom Events is honored to be working with Warner Bros. and DC to return them to the silver screen for their anniversaries, and we can’t wait to share the excitement of these movies with fans of all ages.”
JUSTICE LEAGUE will be available on Blu-ray next Tuesday, March 13th
Ok, I get it, the jury is in, the Justice League bombed at the box office and most critics were less than kind. I don’t care, I saw it three times (not as often as Wonder Woman) in theaters. I love it anyway. Even though I had my own problems with this latest DC Universe movie.
My problems, in brief: First, the missing and deleted scenes. Youtube was loaded with many and various previews for Justice League leading up to its release, all of which had scenes and lines of dialog that didn’t make it into the final cut. I sincerely hope the blu ray will present an extended or director’s cut of Justice League. And of course the blu ray release has been delayed.
Second the threat is too generic, Steppenwolf never does seem like much of a villain and the “ParaDemons” are too much like the Alien Army in the first Avengers movie, cannon fodder for the heroes with no personality. And the Macguffin the villain is after is way too much like the power box, again, in the first Avengers movie. Making three magic boxes instead of one, that makes it different? Right……
And to me the most egregious mark against the Justice League, J. K Simmons. Not the actor, he is one of the best actors working now and has an Oscar to prove it. My problem is, why hire J. K Simmons and give him nothing to do? Commissioner Gordon is used to working with The Batman, would he not have something to say to, I don’t know, Wonder Woman or Cyborg other than “How many of you are there? “ How about “Are you people crazy?” or “Why in the hell are you doing this?”
Oh well, to my simple mind these are minor problems. There is much I love in Justice League starting with:
10. Ezra Miller as Barry Allen “The Flash” Miller is a little guy but has a huge talent. Don’t believe me? Check out a movie called We Need To Talk About Kevin, a movie more relevant than ever in the wake of yet another school shooting. With a face that looks like it was designed by an artist Miller’s take on the Flash is wonderful. His comment that Barry Allen “needs friends” is heartbreaking. In fact Justice League more than hints at the notion that all these characters “need friends” most of all Batman and Cyborg. Miller brings humor to a movie that needs it, he makes an impossible character believable and likeable, all the actors do quite frankly. Which brings me to:
9. Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry “The Aquaman” I saw Conan the Barbarian in a theater and have it on dvd. Momoa really didn’t make much of an impression in that project. He must have been working on his craft because he is flat out wonderful in Justice League. Steals every scene he’s in and, for a man who can live and breathe under water is the voice of reason and sanity and common sense in a comic book universe. How many comic book super heroes are there that not only drink whisky straight out of the bottle but litter the landscape with their empties? Aquaman does. And I love his “truth to tell” rant due to his sitting on Wonder Woman’s lasso. Aquaman was never one of my favorite DC heroes, I now look forward to his stand alone movie. Justice League is worth seeing for Momoa alone.
8. The first battle scene. I love the idea of all the Justice League members being dependant on Batman’s various vehicles and gizmos. The fight in the tunnels under Gotham Harbor is complex and involves a lot of movement; it could have easily degenerated into confusion and chaos, much like the (rightfully) disliked Batman vs Superman Dawn of Justice final battle. We never lose track of anyone’s location and who is doing what to whom. This battle can stand alongside any of the action set pieces in the Marvel Universe.
7. Henry Cavill as Kal El, Clark Kent, “Superman.” I will be the first to admit Cavill is not the most versatile actor in the business. Want real proof? Try The Man from Uncle Movie with Cavill as Napoleon Solo and Armie Hammer as Ilya Kuryakin, if you can make it all the way through. However, if there was ever an actor who looked exactly like a comic book character Cavill is it. I will be honest, I grew up with the George Reeves Superman television series and to me he will always be Clark Kent/Superman. I also very much enjoyed Christopher Reeves take on a classic character (except for that fourth movie!) Cavill looks exactly like the Superman of the 1960s DC Comics. And he brings his A game to the project and, as I told my sweetheart Radah Sheah, when we watched Superman Vs Batman Dawn of Justice (which she hated) “you can’t kill Supes, can’t be done!” And yet another issue I have with Justice League, when Superman finally (finally!) joins the fight against Steppenwolf and his cartoon minions we fully expect him to pound the living shit out of the Bad Guy and slam him back and forth on the concrete (much like what The Hulk did to Loki in the first Avengers movie) No, we see Supes get in a few licks and then run off to save “civilians!” Whatever!
6. Another visit to Paradise Island/ Themyscira/The Amazon Kingdom. I love the Amazons, LOVE the Amazons, adore them! I saw Wonder Woman 7 times last year, in theaters (that’s Seven times!) And not just for Gal Gadot. When I was 10 years old I became obsessed with the legend of the Amazons (yes obsessed is a good word, although it may not be strong enough!) I read of them in a children’s encyclopedia and checked out books, written at an adult level, from the library on Greek and Roman history and mythology for any information about the Amazons.
I even wrote my own stories about Amazons in my grade school classrooms, when I should have been paying attention to Geography and Arithmetic lessons. Other boys drew pictures of tanks and fighter planes; I scribbled out stories of women warriors defeating entire armies of men. The first time I saw Wonder Woman, during the entire opening on Paradise Island I wept, cried tears of absolute joy! I had forgotten all of my youthful enthusiasm for the Amazons.
There are other movies about the Amazons. Tarzan and The Amazons with Johnny Weissmueller, 1945, depicted a very cool Amazon kingdom in Tarzan’s territory. Ironically those Amazons defeated men armed with guns using bows and arrows, spears and swords, much like the Amazons of Wonder Woman. And during my time in the Navy when I ran the ship’s tv station on the USS AMERICA I broadcast a later day Italian peplum movie, War Goddess aka Amazons from 1973. Depicting the Amazons dealings with the Greeks and a disputed power struggle, it has its moments. Those Amazons apparently spent all their money on eye makeup. Those movies were ok, but Wonder Woman’s movie depicted the Amazon Empire exactly as I had pictured it at 10, 11 and 12 years of age. Except my Amazons had a bowling alley, equipped with pin ball machines, bumper pool tables and a soda fountain. My Amazons also got to use automatic weapons, grenade launchers, tanks and what have you. Hey, they were MY stories and I enjoyed that I could give them anything I thought they should have! So Wonder Woman is a very special movie to me and I was ecstatic that Justice League took us back to Themyscira and populated the Amazons with many of the same actors and athletes who portrayed the Amazons in Wonder Woman. I would love to see them have their own stand alone movie. A sweeping historical epic about their wars with the Greeks and Romans, and especially how they got mixed up with Hercules! It would be a perfectly logical reason to bring back Robin Wright as Antiope, one of the most awesome woman characters ever captured on film! I should add too, my Amazons always won, every engagement they kicked ass and took names. And they never even had any casualties (again, they were my stories, and no, none of the stories survived. Whenever recess was called I would throw my stories in the trash. I wrote them only for my own amusement and I was convinced that if any one, especially adults, found out about my obsession I would be put in an institution! I am NOT kidding!)
5. The second battle scene. In the DC and Marvel Universe there seems to be a great concern about collateral damage. And rightfully so, if super heroes and super villains really did exist and had epic battles in urban areas, the damage would be catastrophic. In Justice League the final showdown happens in what appears to be Chernobyl. Very few civilians present and the League members take great pains to get them out of harm’s way. And again, we never lose track of who is doing what, when, where and why. And the action, once it gets rolling, is truly awesome.
4. Ray Fisher Victor Stone “Cyborg” This is the one character I was not familiar with. I have not bought a comic book since about 1985. It finally dawned on me that I could no longer afford to buy and store huge amounts of paper collectibles. So Cyborg was a new character to me and Ray Fisher brings a lot to the project. I read at least one comment on the web that Cyborg is based on Robocop. Not really, Cyborg made his debut in 1980, Robocop the original movie, was released in 1987. If anything Robocop owes a debt to DC Comics and the character of Cyborg. What’s left of a man housed in a robotic body and finding himself stronger, faster and with many other powers not possessed by mundane people, like you and me. We get all that with Fisher, the pain of being different, an outcast, alone. And even better we have the incredible Joe Morton, star of John Sayles classic cult movie Brother From Another Planet as his suffering Father. Cyborg and all the other Justice League members are to have their own stand alone movies. I am looking forward to all of them.
3. Ben Affleck Bruce Wayne “The Batman” I have a co worker who refused to see Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice or Justice League because she cannot stand the idea of Ben Affleck playing Bruce Wayne/Batman. I could not possibly disagree more. Affleck makes a good Batman and an even better Bruce Wayne. I will readily admit I am a sentimental old fool when it comes to these characters. I saw all the faults of Batman Vs Superman and loved it anyway, mainly for the thrill of finally seeing Batman, Superman AND Wonder Woman in the same movie. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Marvel Universe and have seen most of their movies. But Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman were there first. There was no Marvel Comics publisher during that time frame of the late 1930s and 1940s. Captain America was published by an outfit called Timely. I treasure what is probably the best moment in Dawn of Justice “Is she with you?” “I thought she was with you!” And I love the moment when Diana literally pulls Batman’s ass out of the fire. Affleck is a fine Batman, there is an epic sadness to this Caped Crusader. Bruce Wayne in Justice League is about, literally, at the end of his rope. A reluctant leader.
I love the idea that he would much rather have Superman back or somehow goad Wonder Woman into taking the lead. It’s heartbreaking when he openly admits that Superman is a better man than him. In fact this Batman seems to think that Wonder Woman is a better man than him! Of course Supes is a better man than anybody, and everybody! I would put Affleck’s Bruce Wayne/Batman about midway between Michael Keaton and Val Kilmer (my personal favorite of all the contemporary actors who have played Batman.) Affleck has proved himself as an actor and he’s an even better director, The Town and Argo prove that beyond any doubt. I’m going way out on a limb here and say it for the whole world, Justice League is the best Batman movie since Dark Knight. You want to see a bad DC movie? Try sitting through Dark Knight Rises more than once.
2. Gal Gadot Diana Princess of Theymyscira “Wonder Woman” If you’ve read this gibbering nonsense this far here is a no brainer. Of course I adore Gal Gadot and Wonder Woman. Here is the best example I can think of for an actor to be inseparable from a comic book super hero character.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved Lynda Carter but her television show was to Wonder Woman what the 1960s Batman show (which I loved too, Adam West will always be the “real Batman”) was to the Caped Crusader. A goofy, pop art, more comic than book, take on this iconic character. Patty Jenkins and her crew gave us what is probably the greatest superhero movie that will ever be made.
I’ll say it again, I saw Wonder Woman seven times last year, bought the blu ray the day it went on sale, and could watch it every day the rest of my life. My co workers during the summer of last year, told me to shut up about Wonder Woman (and most of my co workers are women!) I also treasure the movie Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, which I also saw in a theater.
I love that Wonder Woman was created by a man, who truly believed women were superior to men. Marston’s my man, I have believed that for years, decades. Jenkins is on the record, Wonder Woman is only about 20% of what she had in mind! I would love to see how she originally envisioned this masterpiece.
I love that Gadot is, apparently, the real deal. She is an Israeli Army veteran and was a combat trainer, hand to hand and firearms., She downplays that and says it was no big deal. I doubt that, during my time in the US Navy we had class room training, one class involved “know your allies and your enemies” a rundown on various countries different military outfits. I distinctly recall being told the Israeli army is one of the toughest and most well trained in the world. I rest my case.
I had a co worker tell me that I kept going to see Wonder Woman because of Gal Gadot’s astonishing looks. No, if she were just another pretty face I would have seen it once, maybe twice. Part of what kept me going back is her incredible acting talent. The male super heroes, both Marvel and DC, when they go into combat mode, look very grim, determined, no nonsense. When Diana cuts loose and runs amok on the German Army she has this lovely smile, of utmost confidence and, could it be…..joy? Her smile, after she knocks aside her first bullet with those bracelets (one of my few problems with Wonder Woman, I would like to have an explanation of what those are and why they work the way they do. I also don’t think the Germans of WWI would be so quick to open up on one lone woman crossing No Man’s Land, some hesitation would be in order, but these are minor quibbles.)
When she comes busting through that window and lands in a roomful of heavily armed Germans her smile says it all “I’ve got this! You people are about to enter a world of pure, agonizing pain!” What she does after that is the best example of what I would call “running amok!” And she wears that smile of determination in Batman Vs Superman Dawn of Justice, repeatedly. Every time she gets knocked down by Doomsday she has that smile, gets back up and goes right back to knocking the shit of “a creature from another world.”
I could write page after page of how much I loved Wonder Woman’s movie, the humor, the valor, the team work, the pure joy of knocking the piss out of somebody who has it coming. And Gal Gadot brings all that to Justice League, and a whole lot more. The lady has talent and charisma and style to burn. I could watch her take a nap on the couch. Of course if she woke up and saw me she’d scream bloody murder and beat the shit out of me (I should be so lucky!)A good friend made a very rude comment when I showed him my Wonder Woman poster, which I shall not repeat on the internet. I told him the truth, such comments are sacrilegious, blasphemous, “I do not see this woman as a sex object, I worship her as a Goddess (I am only half joking!)
1. And finally; this is the Justice League movie. This IS the Justice League movie! Good Bad or Indifferent this is a movie aging comic book fan boys, and girls, like me have looked forward to for years. In the 1960s when I was reading comic book and monster magazines and science fiction books and magazines I never dreamed there would be a whole series of Marvel Comic movies,, or DC, that brought these wonderful characters to life. If someone had told me that in the future there would be movies as good as Spider Man Two or Dark Knight or The Avengers or Captain America: Winter Soldier or Wonder Woman, or a complete filming of The Lord of the Rings, I would have called them out for bull shit artists. And yet , here we are. As I said I am a sentimental old fool, at the end of Justice League I wept, again, at seeing Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Flash and Aquaman in the same shot, dust still in the air, with the American flag behind them.
And there are other moments I love, Jeremy Irons joins a long list of great actors who have played Alfred, Bruce Wayne’s right hand man. His Alfred has several great moments. And Diane Lane is probably the best Ma Kent we will ever see. There is a video on Youtube of Chris Hemsworth, Thor in the Marvel Universe, at Comic Con. He was asked about the DC Universe series; he laughed and said something to the effect that “those guys are just trailing in our dust!” Don’t get me wrong, I like Hemsworth, and Thor. I thought Thor Ragnarok was a very fine piece of work, loved it. But that was a rude thing to say. There is room in the market place for Marvel and DC. Although if somebody ever makes a Thunder Agents movie I’ll know for sure we are really living in the end times (or Blue Beetle or Plastic Man for that matter!) So yes, I love the Marvel Universe and DC, I thought Justice League was fine. Could it have been better? Of course, any movie could, unless you’re talking about directors at the level of Kubrick or Hitchcock. Having said all that, at some point in the future, if it’s possible, I would love to see a Justice League meets the Avengers movie. Of course the threat would have to be colossal, the fate of the entire solar system? Galaxy? The Universe itself? All of life hangs in the balance? I would just imagine that Superman and Thor would have something to talk about. And I would love to hear a conversation between Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne, technical innovations and high finance? But what I would really treasure, the moment I dream of, I would love to see Diana, Princess of Theymyscira, Wonder Woman, sit down with Agent Romanov; The Black Widow and The Scarlet Witch and have a nice cup of espresso and a croissant and talk about how messed up it is to try and deal with male super heroes. I can hear it now “you think Tony Stark is a jerk! Let me tell you what Bruce Wayne did! What he said!” “Sister you have no idea!”
And how would this be for a slow motion team walk:
Superman, Batman, Iron Man, Captain America, Wonder Woman, Black Widow, Spiderman, Antman, Wasp, Black Panther, Flash, Aquaman, Hulk, Thor, Cyborg, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, The Vision, War Machine, Green Lantern, and what the hell, Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy, The X Men, Fantastic Four and everybody else in the Marvel and DC Universe, striding towards the camera with a “terrible resolve” to face down an implacable and unstoppable enemy. If I’m going to dream I may as well dream big!
I have friends, good friends, who don’t care for the super hero movies. To paraphrase a line of dialog from My Favorite Year “ I need my heroes, I need them bigger than life! As big as I can get them!” And I thank everyone who works on these movies, in the DC and Marvel Universe. And I am so happy for Stan Lee, the Marvel movies are something he dreamed of for years.
And so, yes I love the Justice League, for all this and so much more.
“Bruce Wayne is a rich man. He’s an aristocrat. Superman grew up as Clark Kent on a farm bailing hay, and he’s got a boss that shouts at him if he’s late to work. He’s actually more human.”
– Grant Morrison
This quote from comic book legend Grant Morrison is what’s at the heart of the problem at why so many of the recent DC films have not worked and why so few have. It’s not that these films were missing the comedy aspect like some critics and fans have expressed. I think it’s more complex than just adding a few clever one-liners. As Grant Morrison suggests, these men and women aren’t just heroes that save the world. Even though the Marvel formula has clearly worked for the studio, the answer to DC’s prayers isn’t that they need to resemble that formula. It’s more that these stories need to show their humanity. The heroes need to resemble us… or at least remind us that they are like us. That’s why we read comic books in the first place. It’s not for the splash panels comprised of superhero poses and cataclysmic fights – it’s because we want to be reminded that inside these all-powerful Greek Gods and Goddesses there lies a reflection of ourselves. Hearing Batman grumble, “Do you bleed?” in BATMAN v SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE isn’t going to do that. Nor is watching him brand criminals in a weird sadomasochistic way with the bat symbol. How we relate to the Caped Crusader is his loss. That’s something we have all felt. And it’s this feeling of loss and regret that fuels him in JUSTICE LEAGUE.
The death of Superman following the events of BvS: DAWN OF JUSTICE brings a dark cloud over the events and characters in JUSTICE LEAGUE. Hope is lost and there are feelings of shame and regret exhibited by the community as a whole. But a bigger cloud seems to be spreading as Batman faces off against an invasion of Parademons (aka- flying baddies from another dimension) throughout Gotham. In order to stop this new threat, he calls on the help of Wonder Woman and some new recruits, as you can expect. These Parademons are working alongside Steppenwolf, the new villain of the week who is on the hunt for three Mother Boxes – one guarded by the Amazonians, one by Atlantis, one by humans – that will grant him the ability to destroy Earth.
If the faceless, robotic-like henchmen, magical portal to another dimension, and a group of heroes from different backgrounds coming together all sounds familiar, then yes… you’ve seen a couple of comic-book films over the past couple of years. Despite the surface level familiarity with the proceedings, JUSTICE LEAGUE is mainly fun if solely to get to know some characters we haven’t seen previously on screen. Yes, I did say fun when describing a DC film.
The first half of the film serves as an introduction to these new faces while serving as a recruitment film. You would think with a few new recruits and a new villain to introduce that the film would feel very disjointed, but actually, the first half moves smoothly between each character-building sequence without feeling like it’s jumping from comic book panel to panel. What’s most important though is that these moments early on establish a universe where you care about the men and women behind the costumes.
Unlike some of the recent Marvel films where every character delivers sarcastic one-liners, each member of the League has their own defining characteristics. Since Batman and Wonder Woman have previously been established, more time is given to Cyborg, The Flash, and Aquaman. Cyborg serves as a nice departure because he’s presented more as a tragic monster than wannabe hero (like The Flash). Ray Fisher carefully portrays the Victor Stone/Cyborg character as a Frankenstein-like creation, confused about his place in life and angry with his creator for his mere existence. Flash, on the other hand, is all unbridled energy and quips. A backstory is not entirely fleshed out and works to an extent thanks to Ezra Miller’s commitment to the role, but his sophomoric dialogue fails to hit the comedic mark it’s desperately striving for. Aquaman (Jason Momoa) on the other hand, surprisingly, works even if he strays the furthest from his comic book roots. His cool whiskey-chugging, cocky swagger is a welcome departure from the rest of the motley crew, although it comes with one too many “Yeaahhh!” exclamations for my taste.
It’s when these characters come together and interact with one another where their guards begin to lower and we see their human side, bruises and all (quite literally, as seen in one tender scene between Batman and Wonder Woman). While many of these moments might be seen as Joss Whedon flexing his emotional and comedic chops (he took over directing duties after Zack Snyder left the project to deal with a family tragedy), I can’t help but wonder if some can be credited to Snyder as well. What becomes the true test for the gang and is also where the film really comes alive is when a new character enters the story at the beginning of the third act. It’s an expected surprise but is executed in a way that feels warranted while creating an exciting shake-up to the story just when it needed it.
Of course, like every one of these DC films, it all comes to an end with a CGI spectacle that is disastrously ugly and hard to watch. Between the color scheme and the effects, the finale is downright laughable. Yet, it is a perfunctory way to end a plot that wasn’t really the main focus of the story in the first place – a plot that many will complain is paper-thin instead of acknowledging that it’s a backdrop that lets the heroes of the story shine.
MAN OF STEEL and WONDER WOMAN – the two most successful films in the DC universe – work because of their simple and relatable theme. Both center around outsiders struggling to belong. Again, a human dilemma that we’ve all felt, but one that can also be used to describe the problems the DC film universe has faced finding its way. JUSTICE LEAGUE can now be added to that short list of successes (though minor in comparison to this year’s WONDER WOMAN). It’s a film that gives me hope that these heroes are discovering who they are and carving out their own identity on the big screen.
Overall rating: 3 out of 5
JUSTICE LEAGUE is now playing in theaters everywhere
Toy Fair is an annual trade show where hundreds of toy companies get together to showcase their latest innovations for buyers and press. The following is a photo recap from the Mezco booth. To see the rest of our coverage, click HERE.
About 2 ½ years ago Mezco unveiled the One:12 Collective at Comic Con and the line has been rapidly growing ever since. Drawing from comics, film, and pop culture, these 6” scale figures are about the same size as the ones you will find from Hasbro at your local Toys R Us. However, these figures feature real fabric clothing, multiple heads/accessories, extreme articulation, and incredible detail. Basically they take the best qualities from high-end brands such as Hot Toys but shrink them down to half the size for a third of the price. Some of their licenses on display included DC Comics, Marvel, GHOSTBUSTERS, Popeye, EVIL DEAD, and STAR TREK.
In addition to quickly cornering the 6” scale figure market for adult collectors, Mezco also happens to be one of the leading companies for horror movie merch. They were responsible for the HELLRAISER Lament Configuration Rubiks cube that went viral last fall. Some of the highlights of their latest horror offerings include 15” Chucky & Tiffany figures, a scaled replica of ANNABELLE, an amazing Sam from TRICK R TREAT, and two adorable DAWN OF THE DEAD dolls.
You can find pics of their horror items and One:12 Collective figures below…
Toy Fair is an annual trade show where hundreds of toy companies get together to showcase their latest innovations for buyers and press. The following is a photo recap from the Kotobukiya booth. To see the rest of our coverage, click HERE.
While the Kotobukiya booth was not that big, they featured this killer Star-Lord / Baby Groot statue from GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2, which was hands-down my favorite reveal of Toy Fair. It is part of their popular 1/6th scale ArtFX line just like the Deadpool also on display. While the 9” scale Gallery Edition PVC statue from Diamond Select Toys (that you can see HERE) featured a great action pose, this statue perfectly captures the essence of Guardians with one simple addition; a Sony walkman. This piece is a ton of fun and Baby Groot getting in on the action just adds to that. This is one that will absolutely go into my collection as soon as it is released.
In addition to this must have item, other highlights from Kotobukiya include an impressive 1/6th scale Jason Voorhees coming this June, and Green Lantern joining the rest of the Justice League 1/6th scale Art FX statues. Check them out below…
Toy Fair is an annual trade show where hundreds of toy companies get together to showcase their latest innovations for buyers and press. The following is a photo recap from the Diamond Select booth. To see the rest of our coverage, click HERE.
I walked around the Diamond Select Toys area for about a minute before I was informed that it was a closed booth and I needed an appointment for a walkthrough. While their schedule was packed, they were gracious enough to squeeze me in for a quick photo tour. Next year I will plan ahead to schedule a video interview because there was certainly a lot to on display, such as the Spider above from SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING.
Being a Marvel collector, their DOCTOR STRANGE statue will definitely have a home on my shelves whenever it is officially released this Fall. The Captain America and Iron Man statues are both equally amazing but I do get the impression their bases may look a little weird when separated. Speaking of connected bases, I really wish the Gallery Edition statues of the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY shared this feature. The Rocket / Gamora and Drax / Baby Groot statues could possibly work together but Star Lord breaks up the pack. Regardless, all three are absolutely incredible pieces and at under $50 each, they are an absolute steal. In fact, all the Gallery Edition statues are pretty amazing; I just wish they were in a slightly larger scale to match the rest of my collection.
DST seems to be going all in on A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS with dozens of items on display. The Collector Editions of Jack & Sally in coffin packaging look pretty fantastic, as do the other figure displays such as Halloweentown Jack.
I am not sure how much I can say about the figures that I was instructed not to photograph but let’s just say the PULP FICTION line is just getting started and will soon be joined by some other Tarantino films. As for everything else I am allowed to share, check out the pics below…
