WHEN YOUR FAVORITE TV STARS TOOK A WALK ON THE DARK (KNIGHT) SIDE

Have you seen any of the DC Comics animated films? Well you should because they are pretty awesome. I might be slightly biased but I think the Batman ones are the best. For a long time, Batman live action films were sub par. If you wanted to watch a quality Batman film, you turned to the animated world.

I found this fan art . . . I mean I made it!

Lucky for us the quality of the live action Batman films went up. Even better, the quality of the animated films never went away. Some are better than others but for the most part, each film delivers. I'm willing to bet a lot of you haven't seen the animated films which is a real shame. They tell very rich, compelling stories and, unlike the live action films, they can go a bit crazier with the stunts and action sequences. Most of the recent animated DC films have featured great casts from your favorite TV shows. Don't believe me? I'll prove it:

BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD

This is one of the best Batman animated films. It's based on the Batman: Under the Hood comic book series written by Judd Winick (also the screenwriter for this film). Batman's former partner, Jason Todd, comes back from the dead (as one does) and tries to one up the vigilante game by controlling the crime in the city instead of fighting it.  

JENSEN ACKLES (SUPERNATURAL) AS JASON TODD/RED HOOD

That's right, ladies. Your beloved Dean Winchester is the voice of Red Hood. He gives a great performance playing up the bad ass Red Hood persona but adds a lot of vulnerability to the Jason Todd side. 

NEIL PATRICK HARRIS (HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER) AS NIGHTWING

Harris is a big comic book fan. You ever see his family's Halloween pictures? They're adorable. And here he plays partner to the legend - wait for it - dary Batman. Fun fact, it's not the first time he's played a superhero. He was Peter Parker/Spider-Man on the short lived MTV animated Spider-Man series and Barry Allen/the Flash on Justice League: the New Frontier.

JASON ISAACS (HARRY POTTER) AS RA'S AL GHUL

Lucius Malfoy himself plays the Demon's Head. He doesn't have a big part in the film but he is vital to the story. It's Ra's that brings Jason Todd back to life. I'm hoping they'll bring him back in a later film so he can be a proper adversary to Batman, but it was great casting. 

 BATMAN: YEAR ONE

A very faithful adaptation to Frank Miller's classic Batman story. For many years, this was considered to be the definitive Batman origin story. Elements of the story are even included in Batman Begins. Unlike most adaptations of Batman, this one is very low tech. Batman has very few gadgets and true to the "Year One" moniker, Batman makes many mistakes. Out of all the Batman animated films, this one has my favorite cast (despite the lack of Kevin Conroy). 

BRYAN CRANSTON (BREAKING BAD) AS JIM GORDON

This is arguably the best casting in any of the animated DC Comics films. Cranston is a master of comedy, drama, and being a bad ass in general. Gordon needs to have all of those qualities. Year One is, at its core, more of a Jim Gordon story than a Batman story. A strong actor was needed to anchor the film and they don't get much better than billion-time Emmy winning Bryan Cranston. If you haven't seen this movie, I just gave you the only reason you need. Now look at that picture and tell me we shouldn't get a motion going for Cranston to be cast in a live action film. It's not like he doesn't have an in with Ben Affleck. They co-starred in Argo together . . . Let's make it happen!

BEN MCKENZIE (GOTHAM) AS BRUCE WAYNE/BATMAN

Before he was Gordon, he was Batman. He is the only actor to play both parts. Lucky for him, he's a talented enough actor that he could play both parts and make them feel distinct. When I heard he was cast in Gotham I laughed knowing that he already had experience in the Batman universe. His Batman is angry, untested, and vulnerable. And in case you're wondering, yes, McKenzie did have a good Bat-voice. I'd love to see him come back in a future film either as Gordon or Batman.

ELIZA DUSHKU (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER) AS SELINA KYLE/CATWOMAN

Like I said, this film had a perfect cast. The best part about the cast is that Cranston and McKenzie could easily have played their characters in a live action film and Eliza Dushku is no different. She was great as Selina Kyle in Batman: Year One and the Catwoman short that was on the DVD/Blu-Ray. I was lucky enough to meet Dushku at New York Comic Con a few years ago and told her she was perfect for Catwoman and should play her in live action. She smiled and agreed. Hopefully one day we'll get to see her in live action. For now, I'll settle for her doing another Catwoman animated appearance. 

THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS:

The other Frank Miller Batman story. It was Bruce Timm's pet project. And it was great. It had a stellar cast and wonderful animation. It was split into two parts but it was necessary to make it as faithful to the book as it was. True there aren't a lot of surprises in it, given how faithful it is, but it still looks and feels amazing. The Dark Knight Returns is arguably the most famous Batman comic to date inspiring the original Tim Burton Batman film, the Nolan Trilogy, and even Batman's appearance and attitude in the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

PETER WELLER (ROBOCOP) AS BRUCE WAYNE/BATMAN

That's right. Robocop is Batman. As far as Bat-casting goes, it doesn't get much better than that. It may seem like "stunt casting" but luckily Weller gives a wonderful performance. He channels Miller's Batman perfectly. I doubt we'll see Weller come back as Batman but one can always hope. Heck, he'd make a great live action older Bruce Wayne for a Batman Beyond film . . . Now there's an idea . . . 

ARIEL WINTER (MODERN FAMILY) AS CARRIE KELLY/ROBIN

The geeky Dunphy daughter from Modern Family is Robin in the Dark Knight Returns movie. That's awesome. I like to think that Phil Dunphy would be very proud of that. Winter gives a great performance as Batman's newest protege. She's Batman's biggest fan and becomes his most loyal follower. Winter gives us a Robin that is new and different, not to mention fun. That's what Robin needs to be. 

BATMAN: ASSAULT ON ARKHAM

This film is unique in that it takes place in the same universe as the Batman: Arkham Asylum games. This film is more about the Suicide Squad than about Batman but they kick a lot of ass in the movie so it ends up being worth it. Also, Kevin Conroy plays Batman in it so that's a welcome addition as always. 

MATTHEW GRAY GUBLER (CRIMINAL MINDS) AS EDWARD NYGMA/THE RIDDLER

Perfect casting. You ever see Criminal Minds? Gubler's character, Dr. Spencer Reed, is a genius FBI profiler. One wrong step and he could easily have been a villain. He channels that villain energy into his portrayal as the Riddler. It's another case where he would be perfect as a live action version but the voice will do for now. He's not necessarily the primary antagonist but he makes you want to see more of him. That's a great character right there! Fun fact - Gubler had a role in another DC animated movie. He played Jimmy Olsen in All Star Superman. He was great :) 

GIANCARLO ESPOSITO (BREAKING BAD) AS BLACK SPIDER

I'll be honest here - I don't know much about this character. I don't think I've ever even read a comic book with him in it. But I'm a huge Breaking Bad fan and whenever Giancarlo Esposito is involved, especially as a villain, you know we're in for a treat. The downside is that he's part of a team here so he doesn't get much of a chance to shine. Hopefully the great Andrea Romano (voice director for the animated DC movies) will find a better role for him in the future. 

SON OF BATMAN
Based on the Grant Morrison story Batman and Son. This film introduces Batman's son Damian. This character originally was created to be killed off in the aforementioned storyline but Morrison and the fans grew to like the character. Damian is now the current Robin in the comic books. I didn't care for him at first but he's grown on me as a worthy sidekick to Batman. This film served as a great introduction to the DC Animated Universe. I definitely hope to see more of Damian and maybe even an intro into the live action films.

GIANCARLO ESPOSITO (BREAKING BAD) AS RA'S AL GHUL

Ok so I just mentioned him in the last segment, but he's worth mentioning again. Why? Well have you seen Breaking Bad?? Gus was one of the best villains in TV history due in no small part to Esposito's performance. Casting him as one of Batman's greatest adversaries? Priceless. As it was in Batman: Under the Red Hood, Ra's is underused in this film. It's a shame really because Esposito as either Black Spider or Ra's is great casting. I would definitely like to see him in more of these animated films playing a bigger role. Like I said, he's been underused. I'd like to see him show off his acting chops. Maybe he can play Ra's again and meet up with Cranston as Jim Gordon? That would be sweet!

DAVID MCCALLUM (NCIS) AS ALFRED PENNYWORTH

Another case of perfect casting. Ducky from NCIS as Alfred. That's just awesome. He has just the right amount of sarcasm and affection to make him a great Alfred. Again, it's another casting situation where he would make a great live action cast member. He'll definitely be playing the character again in the upcoming Batman vs Robin. I hope it's not the last time. 

THOMAS GIBSON (CRIMINAL MINDS) AS SLADE WILSON/DEATHSTROKE

Yepp.  Freaking Hotch from Criminal Minds is Deathstroke. If you ever watch that show, you'll agree with me that Hotch is the Batman of that group. He's focused, determined, and a total bad ass. I always wanted Gibson to play Batman in an animated movie. In fact, I met Andrea Romano a few years ago at New York Comic Con and said, "We need more Matthew Gray Gubler as Jimmy Olsen. And Thomas Gibson for Batman!" She replied, "Oh he's great isn't he? And Gibson is on my list!" I shook her hand and left with a big smile. While I didn't exactly get my wish, we got the next best thing. If Gibson couldn't be the Dark Knight then Deathstroke is also good in my book. He's a great character. In the film, he's Ra's Al Ghul's right hand man, until Damian becomes Ghul's chosen heir. Deathstroke doesn't take too kindly to this and kills Ra's. Damian teams up with Batman to get his revenge on Deathstroke. It's a cool story and Gibson is great as the master assassin. However, I'm still holding out hope that we'll see him play Batman someday . . . 

On another day, I'll discuss the other DC animated movies and the brilliant casting they have. For now, I hope I've convinced you to look into the Batman animated movies. More often than not, they have wonderful casts and the films are very exciting and fun to watch. Check them out and let me know what you think! 

Till Next Time!

JJ - The Comic Junkie! 

5 SUGGESTIONS FOR THE GHOSTBUSTERS REBOOT

We’ve all heard the news. After more than 25 years of teasing, wishing, hoping, etc we are finally getting a new Ghostbusters film. However, this film will not feature the original cast or even the original director. This will be a complete reboot featuring four female comedians and a director known for helming highly successful female led comedies. . . . That’s an interesting idea to say the least. You might think that it’s something strange and it don’t look good, but it’s happening.

Now the song is stuck in your head

Believe me when I say that no one is more excited/nervous for this than me. I’ve been a huge Ghostbusters fan my entire life. I must have worn out 3 or 4 copies of the VHS before switching to the DVDs and BluRays when those came out. Yes I’m one of those people that buy the “Special Editions” and “Anniversary” sets. I don’t care, it’s fun for me to collect these things. Ghostbusters is my favorite film of all time. I think, in many ways, it’s the perfect movie. It has horror, comedy, action, drama (well a little), and great characters played by great actors. I know there is some animosity toward it (mostly from Bill Murray) but I also love Ghostbusters 2. I thought Vigo was an awesome villain and I’ve secretly always wanted to find a way to bring the Statue of Liberty to life.

I'm this close to it I swear! 

So how do I feel about a female led, rebooted Ghostbusters film? Well, I’m not gonna lie, I have mixed feelings. First of all, I have no problem with an all female cast, especially the one we got, because they’re all hilarious and awesome. The fact that it's  reboot is also ok wiith me. I don’t mind that idea. I’m pretty sure it was always going to be a reboot anyway considering Bill Murray’s reluctance to it and Harold Ramis’s tragic passing. However, a new Ghostbusters film is going to be tricky no matter if it’s Ghostbusters 3 or Ghostbusters: Reborn (not the official title). Ghostbusters was a pretty unique concept back in the day. The idea that normal dudes would discover ghosts and then figure out a way to catch them was different. Then of course, the main characters were played by three up and coming actors known for their work on Saturday Night Live and Second City. The movie had risk written all over it, but the filmmakers and actors all knew they had something special on their hands. It ended up being this fantastic film that has stood the test of time. It’s an inspiration to a lot of filmmakers and comedians working today. Like I said, the movie is just about perfect. 

Legends! 

If Sony and Paul Feig are serious about rebooting Ghostbusters, I have a few requests. I’ve seen a lot of sequels, remakes, reboots, and what-have-yous over the years to know what makes one successful and what makes one not so successful. Here are my 5 SUGGESTIONS FOR THE GHOSTBUSTERS REBOOT:

DON'T OVERLOAD THE FILM WITH REFERENCES AND CALLBACKS: 

Call back jokes, similar set pieces, and a same basic plot structure are what kills remakes and sequels. It’s probably part of the reason that Ghostbusters 2 wasn’t as successful because the film basically starts with the Ghostbusters having to “get back in business.” Granted, it worked for the movie but I’m willing to bet that a film that started off with the guys still being Ghostbusters is what audiences wanted back then. It’s what we were all expecting for a third film (at least I was). For the reboot to be successful it’s best not to recycle the first one’s jokes, ghosts, and plot structure. Granted, since it is a reboot the most likely scenario is the women are gonna discover ghosts and then find a way to catch them like in the original. That’s ok, but the buck should stop there. And yes, I’m including Slimer here. Have you seen the new Star Wars trailer? There’s a new droid in that film that looks a bit like R2 D2 but isn’t. 

Air Bud: Robot Dogs in Space Playing Space Soccer

That’s what this film needs. Maybe a teeny, tiny Slimer cameo but for the most part let’s see some new ghosts. Fun fact - Slimer was based on John Belushi, Dan Akroyd’s friend and original team member during his first draft of the script. Little personal touches like that made Slimer unique. Creative touches like that will help make the movie special and new. 

KEEP THE THEME SONG:

Ok so this might seem contradictory to what I just said but let’s face it, the biggest star of Ghostbusters is this freaking song. Even if you have never seen the movie, you have heard this song. It’s played at Halloween parties and sometimes still pops up on the radio (if you’re listening to the right station). A new song will probably be written, most likely by Pitbull (he wrote the song for Men In Black 3 instead of Will Smith for some reason). But here’s the thing, the original "Ghostbusters" song is catchy. It’s iconic. Fun fact – the phrase "Who ya gonna call" are not said by a single person in the entire first film. Don’t believe me? Watch it and then tell me I’m right. That phrase is only famous and synonymous with Ghostbusters because of the song. The song can and should come back. I’m willing to bet the first trailer we get for the film will include it. 

LET THE CAST DO THEIR THING:

Ghostbusters works, above everything else, because the cast was amazing and perfect. They were already friends and had a great rapport with each other. It clearly shows in the film. They are each unique, honest, irreplaceable human beings. We might see other actors LIKE Bill Murray but there’s only one Bill Murray. 

He's great in everything

Most of his dialogue is improvised, and they let him get away with it because he’s hilarious and a genius. For this new film to be successful or at least have any chance of being as funny as the first film, the cast will need room to stretch their legs. You’ve hired four very funny women, Sony; let them be funny. Ghostbusters is remembered more for being a comedy than a horror and there’s good reason for that. Having said that . . . 

LET IT BE SCARY: 

Yes, the Ghostbusters films are comedies first and foremost, but let’s not forget that there are some genuinely scary moments in both films. During my 1000th view of the first film I realized how scary it can be. Remember when Dana is dragged into her kitchen and held down by the arms that popped out of her chair? 

Ghostbusters fan art by James Cameron

Imagine that happening to you in real life. That’s pretty fucking terrifying. It’s sold because Sigourney Weaver is a terrific actress and she nailed it. And think about this, have you ever told someone a scary story and they just laughed? Ghostbusters is kind of like that. In the moment, it’s scary but you can laugh about it later. Remember the library scene? The guys run in terror from the ghost but then laugh about it. “That was your whole plan? Get her? It was scientific.” Akroyd has said in interviews that comedy can come out of horror and that’s why he wanted to make the film a horror/comedy. He was right and it was done very well in Ghostbusters. It’s ok to have a few genuine scary moments because we know that the comedy is gonna calm us all back down so we can sleep at night. 

DON'T FEEL OBLIGATED TO SET UP A FRANCHISE:

The “Sony Hack” from a couple months ago showed us that everyone from Jennifer Lawrence to Channing Tatum wants in on the Ghostbusters franchise. That’s all well and good but if superhero movies have taught us anything it’s that making a movie and holding things back for the sequel or trilogy is very damaging. Look at the Amazing Spider-Man films. I know they were trying to tell a good story and wanted to build it into a “shared universe” but that only works when the individual films tell their own stories. The best example of a successful trilogy is definitely the Dark Knight trilogy. Nolan didn’t hold back in any of those films. He made those films with the sole focus being one film at a time. The first Ghostbusters was made thinking that there will never be a sequel (probably because nobody was thinking about it back then). The main reason that there was a sequel was to capitalize on the highly successful Real Ghostbusters cartoon. That’s another thing that probably hurt Ghostbusters 2 in hindsight. Whatever, I still like it. The point is, let’s just make this film and see where it goes. There’s no need to set up a sequel or a franchise. Ghostbusters Academy, Ghostbusters: Back in Time, Ghostbusters/21 Jump Street, and Ghostbusters v Men in Black will have to wait (I made all those up by the way, because I’m a genius). Sony, learn from your Spidey mistakes. Make this film the best film it can be and then the sequel will come. Otherwise you’ll be renting the rights to Ghostbusters out to Marvel. 

Are you a god?

I mean I know that Marvel doesn't own the rights to Ghostbusters but you never know . . . maybe someday they'll just start buying shit . . . 

Like I said, Ghostbusters is my favorite movie of all time. It’s the film that made me want to be an actor and writer. It was just meant to be a fun project for these guys to do together and it ended up being a classic. A new film won’t ruin the original films. At best, it will be a nice addition to the Ghostbusters mythology. At worst, we can all just roll our eyes and forget about it. Anyone who is on the fence about the new film, believe me, I get it. But think of it this way, it’s being made by people that genuinely want to do it right and not just to cash in on it. Over the next 17 months we’ll have a lot to talk about with news, photos, and trailers to discuss. I’m excited to see what this new film has to offer! BUSTIN MAKES ME FEEL GOOD!

Till Next Time!

JJ - The Comic Junkie!

4 REASONS TO BE EXCITED FOR THE NEW FANTASTIC FOUR MOVIE

I’m one of those weird people that actually liked the first Fantastic Four movie. I really liked the original Stan Lee / Jack Kirby comics (Galactus and the Silver Surfer are awesome). The first film was definitely based on those comics. Say what you will about how it turned out, but I thought the first film was good. The second one . . . Well . . . the Silver Surfer looked amazing.

So awesome!

As the years have passed, I still like it but I do see where it didn’t click with other people. It is pretty campy and doesn't really take itself seriously. Especially Doom. He was awful. I’ll never deny that. But I liked the characters and most of the cast was perfect in their roles. The Thing's prosthetic suit looked good and Michael Chiklis was great, Ioan Gruffudd was great as Reed Richards, and Chris Evans was hilarious as Johnny Storm. Jessica Alba was . . . beautiful. That's about it.

Who's idea was it to cast Alba as the INVISIBLE woman??

When it was announced that they were going to reboot the Fantastic Four, I wasn’t sure how I felt. It never bothered me that Michael B. Jordan was going to be Johnny Storm. I didn’t know much about the rest of the cast. At the time, the only cast member I had actually seen in anything was Kate Mara from American Horror Story. And I’m one of the two people in America that doesn’t actually like that show. When more information came out about the film, the less interested I became. I didn’t know much about the cast, but I didn’t like that they were all younger (despite me being a big fan of the Ultimate Fantastic Four). I didn’t care for an “angry blogger” Doom. What I was really shocked by was how little we actually knew about the movie. It was starting to get irritating. I'm a Fantastic Four fan and I wanted to know what they were gonna do with the movie damn it!

One thing you may not know about me is that I’m a sucker for a great teaser preview and the preview we got for the Fantastic Four is my new favorite preview (but to be fair, it changes like every week). It shows you just enough to get excited but leaves enough behind to leave you wanting more. Some trailers are really bad at this and show you “the whole movie.” Lots of movie studios are guilty of this nowadays and it’s very annoying. 

You know who you are!

It’s nice to see that there are some producers that prefer to hold back and let the trailer tease us and make us curious as to what the movie will be about. Regardless of whether or not you like the trailer,  or even the Fantastic Four for that matter, it does have people talking. You know what they say, “No such thing as bad publicity.” Which is actually not true. Like at all. 

Isn't that right you bag of shit? Just kidding you're cool (stay away from Indiana Jones!)

Anyway, this trailer got me super excited for the movie when I was previously disinterested. Here are the 4 REASONS TO BE EXCITED FOR THE NEW FANTASTIC FOUR MOVIE (see there are four reasons because it's the Fantastic Four! Haha! I'm so clever):

IT LOOKS NOTHING LIKE THE FIRST TWO FILMS:

Like I said, I’m a fan of the original film but I do get where people didn’t like it. So for anyone that didn’t like the first film and think that Fox could do better, look to this new film. It looks more like Interstellar than a superhero film which is actually fitting because the Fantastic Four have always been adventurers and scientists/inventors (at least Reed is) over being superheroes. Instead of them getting their powers and becoming heroes and celebrities, they get their powers and are afraid of what is happening to them. It's a very real reaction to waking up with crazy powers or being a rock monster. The first two films were very comedic, this film looks to taking the material a little more seriously. 

THE CAST:

 Like some of the best comic book films of the last 15 years, the cast is full of up and coming actors. Despite being annoyed with them when they were first announced, I've since done my homework. These actors have all gotten critical acclaim for their previous work. Michael B. Jordan gained acclaim in Fruitvale Station and Chronicle. Miles Tellar got recognized for Divergent and the Oscar nominated Whiplash. Kate Mara is an Emmy nominated actress for her part in House of Cards. Jamie Bell starred as the title character in the Oscar nominated Billy Elliott. And for Doom? None other than Koba himself Toby Kebbell. If you haven't seen Dawn of the Planet of the Apes then go fucking do that right now. But of course having a great cast doesn't exactly mean you're film will be a hit. However, it does help that these actors are all (dare I say it) fantastic in their own right. Fun fact - Michael B. Jordan was the voice of Cyborg in Justice League: the Flashpoint Paradox. He's very good in that movie too. If the X-Men series is any indication, then Fox knows how to cast great actors on their way to becoming movie stars. 

THE WRITER AND DIRECTOR GET IT:

Have you seen Chronicle? You should because that movie is fucking great. Josh Trank was the director of that film and is now directing the Fantastic Four. Chronicle was about three teenagers that get their powers in a strange event and the film deals with how they use and play with their powers, forming a brotherly bond. Of course everything turns to shit and they fight . . . Yadda yadda yadda. The film was well done, albeit a little cliche, but the fight scene at the end of the film was great. The characters seemed believable to me, despite the cliches. I think Trank's a great choice for the directing job. You wanna know what the previous director, Tim Story, did before his Fantastic Four film?

Yeah so let that sink in for a minute . . . 

The screenwriter for the film is Simon Kinberg. He was the producer and screenwriter for X-Men: Days of Future Past and serves as a writer and producer on Star Wars: Rebels. This dude has the best life! Now to be fair he is also credited with X-Men: the Last Stand and xXx: State of the Union but I think it's fair to say his recent work has been top notch. He's a genuine comic book fan and knows how to sell these characters to the mainstream audience while maintaining the spirit and fun of the comic book. Both Trank and Kinberg have stressed that this film is about a family going through a crazy event together. The family part of the story is what is most important to the Fantastic Four. After all, they're called Marvel's first FAMILY, not first SUPERHEROES for a reason. I think the Four are in good hands. 

IT'S TREADING NEW GROUND:

This is the trickiest thing with maintaining relevance with superhero movies. It’s important that they all look and feel different. This one is an origin story (which has been done to death) but there is the added twist of crossing dimensional barriers and exploring new worlds. It's something we haven't quite seen yet in a superhero film. Captain America: the Winter Soldier was a political thriller, The Dark Knight was an urban crime drama, and Guardians of the Galaxy was an outer space adventure. In the early 2000s, almost all the comic book films started with origin stories because that's what Hollywood thought they all had to be. Nowadays, the origin is done as quickly as possible so they can get to the action. This film needs to stand out from the rest. With two Marvel films coming out this summer, Fox will really need to sell this as a totally unique property unlike anything we've seen. Or at least as far as the superhero genre goes. 

I will admit that there is still a good chance that this trailer was just well put together and the film will end up being terrible. However, I think this trailer was worth the wait and the film could end up being really awesome. Now all you naysayers keep in mind that if the movie does flop that that is actually a bad thing (especially if you're a Fantastic Four fan). Would you rather have a quality Fantastic Four film even if it's with another studio or have it flop and the rights go back to Marvel where they will do NOTHING with it for a long time. Why do you think we haven't seen them do something with the Punisher or Ghost Rider? It's something to think about . . . 

Till next time!

JJ - The Comic Junkie!

10 GEEK OUT MOMENTS FROM THE X-MEN TRILOGY

The first X-Men movie means a lot to me. I've mentioned before how it was one of the first really big, important comic book movies. It helped show people that comic books weren't just entertainment for children. They could tell serious stories in an awesome way. X-Men has always been about racism. Chris Claremont, famous for X-Men stories like Days of Future Past, Wolverine, and the Dark Phoenix Saga, said that he would always tell X-Men stories as an allegory for racism because it was a topic that would never get old. Sadly, he's right. But we're not here to talk about racism (because I don't like it). We're here to talk about the awesomeness of the X-Men movies.

Why does X-Men mean a lot to me? I loved the cartoon growing up. The characters were all really exciting and interesting. My favorite character was Cyclops. He was the leader and didn't take crap from anybody.

Even the guy that could stab his face off!

Even though the third film disappointed me, I still maintain that it's only half bad. It's two movies that they tried to make into one film and that is what hurt it. Well, either way, the first three movies are crucial to the comic book movie industry. The first film showed us that comic book movies could be taken seriously, the second one expanded on that story, and the third one is a cautionary tale.

Cautionary tale times two . . .

This list is meant to celebrate my favorite moments from the original X-Men films. On a later date, I'll share my favorites from the other films. For now, this list is devoted to X-Men, X2, and X-Men: the Last Stand. Here are the TOP 10 MOMENTS FROM THE X-MEN TRILOGY:

WOLVERINE vs DEATHSTRYKE in X2: X-MEN UNITED:

Right off the bat, I'm gonna warn you all that the majority of this list is filled up with Wolverine vs Someone (because they're awesome moments). I give this one special mention due to the fact that Wolverine says what the audience is thinking. He snikts his claws, ready for a fight and then this unassuming woman releases her secret weapon - she has ten claws that extend out of her fingers. Logan's reaction, "Holy shit." The fight that follows is really great and one of the best parts of the movie. Logan is looking for the secrets to his past and instead finds that Stryker has continued his experiments on mutants. Logan wants his revenge on Stryker but he has to go through his assistant first. It's a great fight scene and Logan wins in a very "the hero doesn't always get his way" way. It sort of sells the whole idea that mutants vs mutants isn't the way to go. Stryker is no better than Magneto.

ANGEL TAKES FLIGHT in X-MEN: THE LAST STAND:

Say what you will about X-Men: the Last Stand but it does have some great moments. One of the best moments is when Warren Worthington III decides that living in his father's shadow isn't the way he wants to live. Ben Foster is a great actor and he plays this scene very well. He shows us that he's scared but then turns that into confidence in a moment's notice. Like I said, X-Men: the Last Stand is trying to be two movies but fails at being both. The movie about the Cure is actually really well done. This scene perfectly says everything we need to know about the Cure. It's being forced on the mutants. They're told not to accept who they are and be like everyone else. Warren realizes this at the last minute and defies his father in the only way he knows how - by flying away. It's a great moment considering earlier in the film he was willing to cut off his wings just so his father wouldn't hate him. It's a great lesson to teach our next generation - be who you want to be, not who your parents want you to be.

MAGNETO STANDS UP FOR CHARLES in X-MEN: THE LAST STAND:

What the heck am I talking about? I'm talking about this quote, "Charles Xavier did more for mutants than you will ever know. My single greatest regret is that he had to die for our dream to live." Magneto says that to Pyro after Xavier has died. This one line speaks volumes of the respect that Erik maintained for Charles despite the fact that they were enemies for many years. They started off as friends and, deep down, they always considered themselves friends. Both men had a lot of respect for each other. It was a bromance before we even knew what a bromance was. Real friendships never die and Erik and Charles are a good example of that. They may not have agreed on how mutants should exist with humans, but they both understood the other's point of view. That's realistic storytelling.

WOLVERINE vs SABRETOOTH in X-MEN:

Between this and the Mystique fight in X-Men film, Wolverine had his work cut out for him. Clearly, he was willing to do more than the the other X-Men. He could cross a line that they were, so far, unwilling to cross. His fights with the Brotherhood and any "evil" mutants can be a little more brutal. Wolverine doesn't hold back. I remember watching this as a kid and thinking how awesome it was that Wolverine could be WOLVERINE. He could actually use his claws as weapons, instead of just a cool visual. Also, isn't that part where where he flips around one of Lady Liberty's crown points awesome? I don't know if they're called crown points or not, but it's irrelevant. It's an awesome moment and Wolverine kicks some serious ass in this scene.

MAGENTO ESCAPES PRISON in X2: X-MEN UNITED:

It's probably not a good thing that the main villain from the first film escapes from a maximum security prison but this scene is so true to character. That little smile that Magneto has when he senses the extra Iron in Mr. Laurio's blood is so great. He knows that Mystique has finally come through for him and he's more than ready to bust out. Plus, given that moment earlier where Laurio and Stryker beat him up, it's nice to see Magneto get a little revenge. He may not be the good guy, but he is one of the best characters in just about any comic book movie.

WOLVERINE POPS HIS CLAWS FOR THE FIRST TIME in X-MEN:
Wolverine popped his clawed like every two seconds on X-Men: the Animated Series. It was a little annoying. However, I won't lie when I say that I had high hopes for what it would look like in live action. Damn, they delivered. They got the freakin' "snikt" sound right. Plus, the special effects still hold up. That may not mean much but if you watch X-Men Origins: Wolverine the CGI is terrible. Which is weird because that movie came out 9 years later. Logan is threatened by some random punk that looks like Steve Austin (pretty sure it was him). Logan unleashes his claws and then slices the bartender's gun in half. He growls and leaves. It's Wolverine folks. No doubt about it! And it was an awesome moment.

 BEAST in X-MEN: THE LAST STAND:
Yes this is a major cheat because it's not a moment, but an actor. Well, it's my list and I can do whatever I want with it! Beast is one of my favorite X-characters. I just thought the image of this blue monster that was actually an intellectual AND a good guy was really cool. When Kelsey Grammar was announced, I was ecstatic. Grammar was perfect in the role. I've already discussed this at length before but it's worth noting that despite the third X-Men film being not so great, Grammar makes it worth watching for me. He perfectly captures what makes Hank McCoy such a compelling character. From his first moment hanging from the ceiling, reading a book, to the fight at the end of the film, Grammar nailed it. It's just a shame that he didn't get more screen time in X-Men: Days of Future Past.

WOLVERINE VS STRYKER'S GOONS in X2: X-MEN UNITED:
Here it is! The moment we were all waiting for. Wolverine could finally pop his claws and kick some major ass. Yeah he got a couple moments in the first film but not like this. This was Wolverine. He's not toned down for a children's program or held back due to a small budget. He can let loose all his berserker rage on Stryker's men. Jackman totally nailed this scene. It's a lot of screaming, running, and stabbing. But that's what Wolverine would look like when he lets go of his inhibitions. He's gonna be an unstoppable killing machine, protecting as many of the children as possible. He's the best there is, and here he proved it.

NIGHTCRAWLER IN THE WHITE HOUSE in X2: X-MEN UNITED:
You saw this movie right? What a hell of an opening scene? Right off the bat, we knew we were in for a bigger, better movie than the first X-Men film. Of course the real Nightcrawler would never attack anyone, let alone the President of the United States, like this but it doesn't stop it from being an awesome action scene. From the special effects, to the stunts, to the perfect sounding sound effect of Nightcrawler's "Bamf!" this scene was perfect. This scene, coupled with Alan Cumming's performance, showed us that we were in for a real treat with Nightcrawler. His teleporting looked great and they kept the tail! I mean that may not seem like a big deal but details like that require like 30 meetings with the studio. No joke . . . It's a bit ridiculous. But at the end of the day we got a kick ass Nightcrawler in a great film, so it all worked out.

"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" in X-MEN:
When each of the characters got their moment to shine in the first film, I was super excited. Cyclops had his eye lasers, Storm could control the weather, Jean could lift stuff with her mind, and Wolverine had his claws. But what about Professor X? Truth be told, he was my least favorite character in the cartoon and comics. Then Patrick Stewart brought him to life and he made Xavier a bad ass. The first time Wolverine is walking, lost through the X-Men's secret base, he hears a voice calling out to him. "Where are you going?" the voice asks. Logan hides, thinking he's being followed. He makes his way upstairs and finds the source of the voice - a bald teacher in a wheelchair. Probably not at all what he was expecting. Xavier is the most powerful mutant in the X-Men universe, but he only uses his power for good. However, I think sometimes he likes to have a little fun. James McAvoy as Xavier in X-Men: First Class shows us that he isn't above using his power to pick up women. Many years later, he still likes to use his power to mess with people. He's not being malicious toward Logan, but he is playing with him just a little. It's a great scene and showcases Xavier's power in a really creative way. I loved this scene when I was a kid. I knew exactly what was going on and I loved it! Fifteen years later and this scene is still my favorite in the original X-Men movies.

HONORABLE MENTION:

WOLVERINE GIVES THE MIDDLE FINGER WITH HIS CLAW in X-MEN:
As I've said, the first X-Men film helped show audiences that comic book movies could be taken seriously. But that doesn't mean there couldn't be some fun moments in the films too! This little bit in the film never failed to get a laugh out of the audience. I still laugh at it to this day.


These are my favorite moments in the original X-Men films. I still hold these movies in high regard and I'm very much looking forward to the future of the franchise with X-Men: Apocalypse, Gambit, and yes even Deadpool. 

You'll probably win me over you smug bastard!

X-Men: Days of Future Past gave us the biggest, most epic X-film to date. I'm definitely looking forward to more films that help capture the spirit and fun of the X-Men comic books. And if that TV show gets picked up, then maybe we'll get to see awesome X-adventures on a weekly basis! 

Till neXt time!

JJ - The Comic Junkie