In light of the 75th anniversary of the first
appearance of Batman today, I would like
to dedicate this post to the five things I have learned from the most formative
cartoon and superhero during my childhood, Batman the Animated Series.
Yeah, eff' Looney Tunes man, this was my jam.
1.BTAS introduced me to the Film Noir and the Art
Deco movement. The style of show resembled
a noir detective film in the early episodes and featured beautiful, time
consuming hand painted backgrounds and title cards.
2.BTAS made me aware of strong story-telling and
the concept of using no dialogue in scenes, such as the famous opening sequence
which depicted Batman chasing after two criminals on the rooftops of Gotham
City.
3.BTAS introduced strong female characters of all
races, ages, and sizes such as Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Renee Montoya, Harley Quinn,
Batgirl, Dr. Leslie Thompkins, and Talia al Ghul. Some were pulled from the comic books, others
(Harley Quinn and Renee Montoya) created for the show were later added to the
comic books.
Renee "BAMF" Montoya
4.BTAS pioneered the use of well-known film actors
to voice the villains. David Warner,
Richard Glover, Richard Mill, Roddy McDowall, Michael York, Ed Asner all
provided their voices for various villains.
5.BTAS taught me to fear the Joker. Joker was still hilarious but also
dangerously psychotic. Despite being a
children’s cartoon, the show taught new generations the true potential of the Clown
Prince of Crime and also proved that the man who played Luke Skywalker could
also create the definitive version of comic’s greatest villain of all
time. Amen, Mark Hamill.
I'm a fan of Heath Ledger's portrayal too but come on, look at him! And in a cartoon, too!
Have you guys rushed out to see the new Amazing Spider-Man
sequel? If not, no big. I didn’t even see the Amazing Spider-Man
reboot in the first place and I still consider myself a fan of the Spider-Man
franchise.
Spider-Man 2 is second only to The Dark Knight in my book. Currently
the Avengers and first Iron Man movie are tied, followed by X-Men 2, Blade 2,
and the first Hellboy.
I’m not really rushing out to see Amazing Spider-Man 2,
after reading these headlines;
I admit that I don’t read the Spiderman comics and never
have, but even I have a passing familiarity with the Spider-man supporting cast
and the wide gallery of animal themed rogues that rival DC’s Batman or the
Flash.
With the opening of the current sequel in theatres, Target
had the remaining DVD volumes available of the best adaptation of Spider-Man in
my, albeit, limited in scope, opinion, The Spectacular Spider-Man animated
series that premiered from 2008-2009. In
2008, I was 26 years old and had moved back in with parents. I fucking recorded each episode of this
amazingly well-written cartoon and enjoyed the hell out of it. FINALLY someone who could balance multiple
villains, multiple love interests, AND still focus on drama of the high school
experience that Peter went through every day as a teenager. Baby, this was master class in classic heroic
story arcs and no did better. Not even
Batman, the Animated Series. (Because the BTAS had an episodic story structure
rather than a serial, sustained season-long story arc like Spectacular).
Visually, the series animation took some getting used to...that chin GG!
So yeah, on that point, I loves me some Spider-Man.
I didn’t initially want to see the rebooted Spider-Man
because I actually did not fall in love with 500 Days of Summer. I fell in love with JGL, because I mean, who
wouldn’t? But I thought that movie was a
lil’ too twee for my liking and I did not approve of the same director helming
the Spider-Man reboot. I still don’t.
He's basically the male version of the "Manic Pixie Girl" stereotype, so slight and vulnerable.
He's the male Natalie Portman is what I'm saying.
I loved the first two Spider-Man movies. I liked the portrayal of teenage Peter Parker
and though Kristen Dunst made the best possible Mary Jane ever.
Now we have Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy which I
wasn’t super-excited about but I get it.
She’s Spider-Man’s first love and is featured prominently in the
animated series I’m so dorky about.
But now I’m done with the teenage years. I want Spidey to move on, specifically past
college and onto a young adult in his 20’s.
I know Spider-Man is best known as a teenage character but that’s been
done and done well. Now I want an adult
Spider-Man. One that goes toe to toe
with J Jonah Jameson at the newspaper, or………….at least has a full time job. A Spider-Man that can hook up with Black Cat
and not be having the teenage girlfriend drama ALL THE TIME. He doesn’t have to be Bruce Wayne, he doesn’t
have to be super wealthy or a playboy, I’m just ready to see him reach
adulthood. You know? Something different, something fresh.
Something “Spectacular” maybe?
This is Black Cat. I was too afraid to do a Google Image Search at work...that's how seksi her costume is
PS – Yes Sony Studios, I would be happy to write or direct
the next Spidey movie for you. You know
how to find me.
This...this is how you find me...with that light....you know the Spider-man light.?
Smells like Teen Spirit.....and uhh ninjas....and tur...tles???
Ever wonder why, my dear readers, I will sometimes greet you as "my ninjas"? This is because I have a deep affection for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, as most adults my age do. (Yes we're Adults now!) The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or TMNT for short, were four brothers that worked as a team. This use of "Ninja" became a term of endearment at my work, since I work so closely together with my co-workers. We have each others' back. We are a TEAM!
Now as the oldest sibling, Leonardo aka the Blue One, is the leader of the team. He's not the strongest, that's Raphael. He's not the smartest, that's Donatello. He is definitely not the funny one, that's Michelangelo but he is the boss. He's a little serious, a little bossy but he leads because he loves his family and his brothers. As a kid, I GOT Leo. As the oldest sibling myself, I understood his struggle to lead, especially whenever he doubted himself or became frustrated that he was held more accountable than anyone else. Growing up, my parents told me it was my job to protect my two younger sisters whenever my parents couldn't be there. I got in trouble if my sisters got in trouble, because I knew better and failed to keep them in line. Yep, I was Leo just without the sweet swords, ninja training, and turtle DNA.
I went to see the last TMNT animated movie at the movie theater by myself. I actively watch every episode of the current TMNT animated tv series on Nickelodeon. So yeah, I gonna judge the hell out of the new trailer for Michael Bay's live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot.
My verdict? This looks a whole lot like the Christopher Nolan's Batman Trilogy. Like shot for shot. Let's break it down, shall we? Please be advised, none of these images are mine but that's kinda obvious.....right?
So first up in the trailer we see overhead shots of a big city, I assume it's New York but really it could be Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, anywhere. This is followed by a shot of a terrorist shooting a gun, dressed in black, then followed by a helicopter hovering over the city. Fair enough, this is the same setup for any action movie trailer or drama these days. Then we see a large radio tower get destroyed. Large scale destruction appears in most action movie trailers but consistently appears in the Nolan Bat-verse.
Gotham City Bridge....Bane prefers blasting bridges to burning them
During these shots we hear a white male's voice-over describe the decline of honor, justice and heroes. Again no real surprise here, it's been done before.
In the Dark Knight trailer it's Michael Caine.
In TMNT it's William Fichtner, apparently he plays Shredder AND he was also in the Dark Knight.
Next up in the TMNT trailer we see armed criminals being ambushed in a subway station. Literally being thrown against the walls. We do not get a glimpse of the attackers. Seem familiar? That would because the first scene in which Batman fights in Batman Begins takes place in a shipping container yard. He too, ambushes armed criminals while remaining unseen.
Okay well eventually he is seen.
I guess the Turtles get seen by April O'Neil too. On her digital camera, in the dark., while my camera can't even take a decent concert photo.
We see more city destruction in the trailer, the masses panicking, cop cars forming a blockade and then Leonardo leaps from a building donning ninja weapons and gear. Ninja weapons....hmm.......
Oh right,....
Yep, got it.
Then comes my favorite part, the turtles can be seen sliding down a snow-covered mountain, because their shells are like natural sleds, baby!
He did not clear that obstacle...at all...
THIS too appears in Batman Begins, when Bruce Wayne slides down a snow-covered mountain to save Liam Neeson's character.
Okay nerds, I know this scene occurs earlier that the mountain scene but I needed to show a lil context, so slow your roll, okay?
He (Bruce) had to literally slow his Master's roll (off a mountain)
I'm not saying the comparisons between the TMNT reboot and the Nolan Batverse is unfavorable, far from it. I realize this is just the very first trailer but I feel as though I have already seen a movie like this, Batman Begins, and I do not believe TMNT can top it at this point. This trailer just gives rise to too many questions. Where is Master Splinter? Who is the bad guy, the antagonist? The Foot Clan, the Kraang, Shredder? What does Raph or Donnie look like? What does Leonardo sound like? Is Casey Jones going to show up? What the hell happened to Mikey's face?
I mean, LOOK AT IT!!!!
I feel like the current animated series is totally hitting it out of the park, providing an updated version of the Turtles that includes all of the above elements,(Master Splinter, the Kraang, etc.) and yet wisely skip any Vanilla Ice references and "Cowabunga, dude!" What purpose would the live version hope to accomplish? A watered down version of Batman Begins? At this point, I'm not buying what Michael Bay is selling and I even buy the TMNT Lego sets, people! I guess, I'll just have to stay tuned.
What are your thoughts, my ninjas? Which turtle was/is your favorite? Are you excited for the reboot? I wanna know!
I feel the need to show my nerd side today. I am a closeted Batman nerd and have been
since 1992, when Batman Returns showed in theaters. Batman is my Star Wars,
Danny Elfman is my John Williams, Tim Burton my George Lucas.
I was too young to watch any of the original trilogy of Star
Wars in the theaters. I came of age when
the second Batman film was showing and later when Batman: The Animated Series
became my Bible, my jam, my life as a 12 year old.
So I have a near-all-encompassing lexicon of the Batman
movies which has bleed into the comics, and cartoons. I have yet to tackle all the video games but
own and have played Arkham Asylum, Arkham City and Arkham Origins.
I pick apart any comic book movie like a Southern Belle mama
does her beauty pageant offspring. I get
a nerd boner that lasts long and stays hard.
BUT I usually hide it.
I don’t wear Batman t-shirts but I have pretty sweet Batman
watch that my 10 year old twin sisters gave me for Christmas this year. I don’t have Batman plastered all over my
walls but I have almost every DVD box set made.
My sweet effin' watch.
So now I want to bring up the latest Batman movie, 2012’s “The
Dark Knight Rises”. Don’t tell me you
haven’t watched it, ‘cause you probably did, with your boyfriend, because it’s
actually cool and hip and all to openly love Batman, now.
Ok…ahem…HERE BE SPOILERS………………...............................................................................
