I wonder if it works the other way around…?

Found this article by Cooper Hood at screenrant.com.  The headline pretty much says it all:

Chris Hemsworth Claims it is “Illegal” for MCU actors to take DC Roles

Now, Mr. Hemsworth, it should be noted, said this in a panel at a comic book convention and, perhaps, he was being quite tongue in cheek about the statement.  I mean, “illegal”?  Like… he can be arrested for appearing in a DC universe movie?

I certainly don’t think so, though I could see the powers that be at Disney/Marvel frowning very heavily at the idea that someone as well known for a role as prominent as he plays in the MCU suddenly appearing in an equally big role in a DC movie.  I mean, should he appear in civilian attire as a small character in a DC universe film I guess it might be ok, but what if he should appear in the role of, say, a Booster Gold?

Image result for booster gold images

Granted, the character isn’t as big as a Batman or Superman or Wonder Woman, but he’s big enough and the character, as presented in the comics, does have the look of Mr. Hemsworth.  There are other possibilities, too.  How about the Phantom Stranger…?

Image result for phantom stranger

What if they decide to make a Green Arrow movie that, like the Flash in the movie universe, isn’t tied into the TV show?  Mr. Hemsworth could certainly look the part…

Image result for green arrow neal adams images

Anyway…random speculation on my part.

Still, who could one see Robert Downey Jr. play if he were to appear in the DC movies…?

Could he make an interesting Blue Beetle to Chris Hemsworth’s Booster Gold…?

Image result for blue beetle images

I don’t know…it might just work…

Image result for blue beetle and booster gold images

Jeff Bezos…soon to be world’s richest man?

Found this article by Jackie Wattles for CNN.com:

Jeff Bezos Is $5 Billion Away From Being World’s Richest Person

Jeff Bezos, for those who have been living under a rock or in some very deep cave for the past couple of decades, is the founder and owner of Amazon.com.  Over the weekend it was announced he was buying Whole Foods, making his empire even larger.

I’ve followed Amazon.com for quite a while and I think its success beautifully displays the old cliche/adage of “build a better mousetrap”.

What started as a website devoted to selling books online has grown into a website that sells you almost everything you need.  It also sports a robust tech division, complete with tablets and echo machines.

I love amazon.com.  I very much love the ability to get almost any book (of late, usually digitally) and music I want instantaneously.  I’ve ordered other things through amazon, including home goods and even foods.

I have a very personal reason to love amazon, as well.  If it wasn’t for the company, I’d probably never have written all the novels I have.

As far back as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a writer.  But it was difficult to get anything published.  While I sent out hundreds of submissions and got varying levels of interest, there was no point where I was able to take the proverbial “next step”.

Years later I managed to work for an independent comic book company but this started as an artist job, inking specifically, before I was able to do what I really wanted to do, which was write.

With amazon, I was able to finally get my novels out there and for that alone, I can’t feel negative about them.

So, yes, I have a very personal stake in amazon and its continuing success.

On the other hand…

I’m uncomfortable with the idea of this one company, as good as it is at what it does, becoming as large as it is.

Capitalism works best, in my opinion, when there is direct competition between companies and with each passing year and with each purchase amazon makes, it feels like no company is coming close to them.  My fear, therefore, is that soon too much of the economy and our individual purchases will pass through them alone and, once that happens, we’ll have to take whatever they give us… good or bad.

Perhaps I shouldn’t worry as much.

Perhaps.

 

Joel Schumacher and Batman and Robin…

It’s been 20 years since the 1997 release of Batman and Robin, the fourth film of the original Batman series which followed Batman, Batman Returns, and Batman Forever.

The first two films, directed by Tim Burton, featured Michael Keaton in the titular role and such luminaries as Jack Nicholson as the Joker, Danny DeVito as The Penguin, and Michelle Pfieffer as Catwoman.

After Tim Burton and Michael Keaton stepped away from the franchise director Joel Schumacher stepped in for two Batman films, the second being the much reviled Batman and Robin.  Before he did that one, however, he directed Batman Forever, which had Val Kilmer in the titular role.

I must admit, I can’t quite understand why certain people so venomously hate Batman and Robin yet give this film a pass.  To me, both films were pretty similar in tone and execution.

But don’t take my word for it.  Here’s the trailer for Batman Forever:

And here’s the trailer for Batman and Robin:

Seriously, do you see much of a difference in the trailers?  It’s not like Joel Schumacher took a radical turn and did something completely different from his first Batman film with his second.  And what he was doing was clearly a big budget version of the now beloved Batman TV show which featured the recently passed Adam West.

Note the word “now” in the last sentence above.

Though people today in 2017 seem to have a great deal of affection for the light-hearted Batman presented in that 1960’s era TV show, the fact of the matter is that much of the reason for the hate for Batman and Robin is because it is too lighthearted and… goofy.  Sure, they spit venom at the notion of the Batman and Robin suit having “nipples” on it but really what they were against was the fact that this film -and the previous one he made- weren’t all that serious.

People forget but at that time there was a demand for a “darker” interpretation of Batman during those years.  Indeed, when Christopher Nolan started up his Batman trilogy a few years later we were given just that: a far more “serious” take on the character and his mythology.

Yet paradoxically it seems that by the time Mr. Nolan’s third and final Batman feature was released, audiences were now split.  They had their fill of the darker, more serious Batman and, perhaps because of this, there was a resurgence in nostalgia regarding the Adam West Batman.

Indeed, by the time Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was released, one of the biggest complaints against the film was that it was too “dark”.  While there were certainly those -me among them- who loved the film, those who hated it felt it was simply too grim in its tone.

Which makes one wonder… is it possible people may take a second look at Mr. Schumacher’s Batman films and give them another chance?

Regardless, on the anniversary of 20 years since the release of the much maligned Batman and Robin, Joel Shumacher looks back and issues a heart felt apology (the link below is to an article written by Lisa Respers France and found on CNN.com)…

Joel Schumacher apologizes for Batman and Robin

What’s most interesting, as a writer myself, in the article is this line from Mr. Shumacher:

“By the time ‘Batman Forever’ came around, rubber molding had become so much more advanced,” Schumacher explained. “So, I said ‘Let’s make it anatomical’ and gave photos of those Greek statues and those incredible anatomical drawings you see in medical books. He did the nipples and when I looked at them, I thought, that’s cool.”

I point this out in particular because this, in a nutshell, is what almost everyone who works in a creative field faces: The fact that it is almost impossible to judge how audiences will react to your ideas.

I’ve read plenty of articles, most especially from songwriters/bands that created a song they felt was a throwaway or was simply intended to fill out an album and didn’t feel that particular work was particularly good… yet were surprised by the way audiences reacted to it.

Hell, even my favorite musician of all time, David Bowie, didn’t feel the below song was worth releasing on his Diamond Dogs album and it wouldn’t be until at least a decade later that people finally heard the excellent alternate version of Candidate, which is one of my favorite David Bowie songs of all time:

Had it not been for “special editions” of his albums, I may never have heard this excellent song.

Then there are those works an author or artist may spend uncounted hours on and view as a source of pride…and audiences barely care about it or, worse, hate it.

Mr. Shumacher did what he thought would work.  It didn’t and he was lambasted for it.  Indeed, his career certainly suffered for it.

Did he deserve the scorn?

Who am I to say.

But I do wonder.  Now that a “lighter” version of Batman is in vogue, is it possible people might give these films a second chance?

Time will tell.

Interesting…and sad.

As many are no doubt aware, a man (I won’t dignify him by listing him by name) with a left-wing bent decided to shoot at the Republican members of Congress practicing for the annual Democratic vs. Republican baseball game.

It was a horrific act, and the fact that it appears this individual was targeting Republicans makes it all the more frightening.

Now most people view this act as what it was: The actions of a clearly disturbed individual.

Yet it didn’t stop some from demonizing the “left wing tone”, as if that was to blame for what happened yesterday.

I don’t want to get on a high horse here, but come on.

You have to have a really short term memory to forget the various things a certain now President of the United States said on the campaign trail…

While there certainly have been examples of nasty left wing statements in the recent past, I don’t recall any prominent left wing candidate or politician make a statement quite like this one.

On the plus side, there has been talk by others both on the left and right of the need to reach out across the aisle and work together.

In that respect I hope this lone maniac’s actions -vile as they were- may bring, in the long run, something more positive in our politics and our politicians.

That Alex Jones interview…

If it wasn’t for the internet, I’d never have heard of Alex Jones.

Other than clips presented on TV shows here and there, I’ve never heard a single one of his shows though based on the various articles out there it seems he’s another of those far right wing radio personalities who subscribes to some very out there, IMHO, conspiracy theories.

Including the “theory” that the tragedy of Sandy Hook, where a 20 year old mentally disturbed individual killed 20 children and six teachers, was somehow a hoax.

Let that thought sink in.

20 young children were killed and six teachers.

And Mr. Jones has stated he feels it was all a hoax perpetrated by actors and…

Ugh.

Anyway, Megyn Kelly, late of Fox News and now over at NBC, has an interview show and, of course, ratings to deliver.  Her first show featured her interviewing Vladimir Putin -a coup for sure.

In her second (it is, right?) show, she’s going to feature an interview with Mr. Jones and the protests have begun to such a degree that at least one advertiser, J. P. Morgan, has decided to pull their monies from the episode…

J. P. Morgan Removes NBC Ads Over Megyn Kelly Interview With Alex Jones

It worries me that in this age of instant communication there are voices out -sometimes with wildly cynical and/or conspiratorial themes- that nonetheless manage to gain a certain fanbase.

I don’t know if interviewing Alex Jones in such a setting is a good thing.  Perhaps if he’s exposed for the crackpot he appears to be this could be a good thing but, on the other hand, to give him such a large platform might get others to glom onto him.

Such a weird world we live in.

All Beatles Songs Ranked…

Over at vulture.com, Bill Wyman offers his review of every single one of The Beatles songs.  Given that I love reading lists and I love the music of The Beatles, this was an intriguing list to go over.

If you’re interested in reading this as well, here’s the link to the article…

All 213 Beatles Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best

While I’m absolutely certain almost everyone who stumbles upon and reads this list will have issues with it (I certainly did), one must of course realize a) opinions are just that and are unique to almost everyone and b) this is obviously Mr. Wyman’s opinion of the worst to best songs.

Reading the list, its clear Mr. Wyman subscribes to the notion some have that Paul McCartney’s songs tend to be “fluffier” and more “pop” and “lighter” in message than John Lennon’s more “serious” and “artsy” works.

Nonetheless, he does offer plenty of negatives toward John Lennon, in particular noting that the quality of his songs tended to slide as he did into a haze of drugs.

Having read the list, I can’t help but think of what my top ten favorite Beatles songs are.  I’ll give it a shot here, but please note these songs are not listed in any particular order:

A Day In The Life – Presented at the tail end of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, this sober, at times eerie song nonetheless features a trippy middle.  Fascinating, fascinating song.

Hey Jude – While some may argue the song is overlong, I feel it merits its length.  A great piece of work.

Rain – Wonderful John Lennon song that reportedly was the first, in its tail end, to use backward masking.  Love the song and its message.

She Said, She Said – Another wonderful John Lennon song, its title inspired by a conversation John Lennon had with Peter Fonda at a party.  Love the guitar and drum work.

Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End medley – I suppose this is something of a cheat as these are fragments of songs put together to make a larger song at the end of the album Abbey Road yet when the Golden Slumbers part starts to the end of The End you’re into a great work.

In My Life – Another great John Lennon work, this one features great lyrics and is just a terrific song.

Helter Skelter – Perhaps one of the earliest examples of heavy metal music!  Paul McCartney goes crazy in a crazy, crazy song.  Love it!

Yesterday – Those who know Beatles lore know that Paul McCartney did this song pretty much single-handedly.  According to Mr. McCartney, he awoke one morning with this song in his head.  He figured it was an already published work yet went ahead and, with breakfast on his mind, created nonsense lyrics around the song (“Scrambled eggs” versus Yesterday!).  When he brought it to the other Beatles he realized it was a new song and, voila, a classic was created.

Here Comes The Sun – George Harrison, especially toward the end of The Beatles’ run, created some terrific songs.  This is probably his best.

While My Guitar Gently Sleeps – And this would be, IMHO, George Harrison’s second best, but not by much!  Terrific Eric Clapton guitar work on this song.

This list of 10 comprises songs which are currently on my mind and ignores SO MANY great songs –Get Back, Strawberry Fields Forever, Revolution, Let It Be, The Long And Winding Road, Back in the U.S.S.R., Nowhere Man, Lady Madonna, Help!, Tomorrow Never Knows, Eleanor Rigby, etc. etc. etc. that it seems almost silly to list just these.  (Note I just listed 11 songs that could just as easily be in The Beatles’ top ten!)

Now, on the opposite end of the spectrum…Which song would I consider The Beatles’ worst?

There are plenty of songs, especially in the early albums, which don’t turn me on.  Some are covers (though they did some absolutely smashing covers as well!) and some are original songs.

I don’t like Run For Your Life, though this is mostly because of the misogynistic message it offers.  I’m not particularly enamored of Only A Northern Song.  There are others here and there I could mention but if there’s one song I really don’t like its:

Revolution #9

An experiment in sonic…something or another… Revolution #9 is presented on the tail end of the otherwise damn fine “White Album” and I’ll listen to maybe a minute or so of it before tiring and hitting the “next” button.

Your mileage, as they say, may vary!

Adam West, R.I.P.

When news came yesterday shortly before noon that actor Adam West passed away, I wrote the following over on the comment section of i09.com:

The curse of growing old yourself is seeing all these people who have given you such joy themselves age and, in time, pass.

I liked Adam West and admired the work he did in his most famous role, that of Batman.  Someone over on YouTube posted their favorite scenes from the 1966 Batman movie…

As you can see and, provided you’ve lived under a rock these past fifty or so years and therefore never heard of or saw the Batman TV series or the movie it was based on, this version of Batman was very much tongue in cheek and often quite silly.

And yet, what made it work was something the Zucker Brothers and Abraham did nearly a decade later with such films as Airplane!: The silliest crap works best when at least one person in the middle of it takes the material dead seriously.

This, effectively, was Adam West’s Bruce Wayne/Batman.  In the middle of madness he was acting with a dead seriousness.

And it was ingenious!

As I wrote above, there is a curse to getting older and, part of that curse, is seeing people who you may or may not know personally but who you love for whatever reason also grow older.  In some cases, you witness their passing and it really, really sucks.

Last year I was shocked and very saddened when David Bowie passed away.  The realization there would be no more “new” David Bowie music, though one can hope some music hidden away in his vaults might see the light of day, is a startling thing, just as the thought of never seeing or hearing another Adam West bit hits me.

Time affect us all.  Even the stars.

Rest in Peace, Mr. West.

You brought me plenty of joy over my lifetime and tonight, just for the heck of it, I might sit down and watch a few Bat-episodes on my Bat-TV.

So, about yesterday’s hearings…

I wrote about them before they started and now, a day later and for what it’s worth, I’ll reflect on them:

James Comey’s appearance didn’t really do all that much to alter my already dismal opinion of Donald Trump.  Sadly, I’ve experienced people like him before and someone far more clever than I noted that Trump’s modus operandi is to first try to charm people to his side and if that doesn’t work they bully and if that doesn’t work, they sue.

The whole point is this: Trump is in this for Trump and in his primary field, real estate, this has served him well but when dealing with the country, it simply doesn’t work.

So far we know Trump clearly has some kind of cozy relationship with Russia/Vladmir Putin and, I strongly suspect, knew full well Putin and his people were doing their best to screw with Hilary Clinton’s campaign.  Further, Trump’s associates have had contact with the Russians and some have kept those meetings secret, which is now coming back to bite them.

Having said all that, Mr. Comey deserves, IMHO, a certain amount of derision as well.  While I can sympathize with his discomfort and caution at dealing with Trump, I still feel he stuck his foot in it with regard to Clinton’s campaign and, further, feel he had a larger hand than most in bringing the nation to this point.  His idiotic letter on the eve of the actual election, then retraction, hurt Clinton’s campaign more than just about anything Trump did to that point.

Thing is, we are where we are.  One can gnash one’s teeth and wish this had happened or that had happened but, again, we are where we are.

Hopefully we’ll muddle through this mess and people in the right places will ensure the skies will clear up after a fashion.

In the meantime, I’ll do whatever I can, which is what everyone else can do: Vote.

Educate yourselves.  Try to understand the issues and which side of the fence you feel most comfortable on.  Once you understand this, further educate yourself on the various candidates for office and who you feel will work for your best interests.

Don’t get stuck using one news source.  Try to become rounded.

Read, watch, and analyze.  Try to do so with as cool and clear a head as you can.

Maybe getting a Donald Trump president is a blessing in disguise.  Maybe people round these parts and in the world will realize the seriousness of following their political systems and recognizing their place within it.

Maybe.

Regarding The Mummy (2017)…

Early word regarding the release today of the Tom Cruise starring The Mummy is decidedly negative.  The film at this moment rates a low 20% positive among critics over at Rottentomatoes and, frankly, with each new trailer released, I’m finding myself less and less interested in seeing it… though I will grant you I was kinda “iffy” about catching it in first run/theatrical in the first place.

I’ll be curious to see, in the wake of the big success of Wonder Woman’s premiere last week, if this film manages to knock it off its #1 perch.  My guess is it won’t.

The bigger question is: Will this film wind up being a flop?

Assuming this is the case (and, even if it is not), Tom Cruise already has a trailer for his next film, American Made.  Here it is:

Now I don’t know about you, but this looks far more interesting, IMHO, than The Mummy.  Looks to be along the lines of a Wolf of Wall Street-type film, ie the darker side of our Nation and capitalism.

Will I catch this movie in theaters?  I don’t know.  As interesting as this looks, I’m not that into watching these types of dark comedies.  On the other hand, if the reviews are good…

Difficult to avoid politics today, 6/8/17

For those within and outside the U.S. and who are fascinated by this stuff, today ex-FBI Director James Comey testifies at Capitol Hill.

From the looks of things, Mr. Comey, hardly a snow-white figure on his own (whether he likes it or not, his impact in Trump’s Presidential victory is statistically notable, as per Nate Silver at fivethirtyeight.com), gets to talk about what he obviously felt was an attempt by President Trump to influence him on his investigation of the Russian attempts to tamper the election…as well as the various odd things his aids did with the very same Russians prior and after the election itself.

It should be interesting…if it weren’t so sad.