RandomNews
RandomReviews
| A Look Back #2... with Lac the Watcher |
 |
 |
 |
| RandomVerse - RandomReviews | |||
| Written by LactheWatcher_1 | |||
| Tuesday, 25 January 2011 00:00 | |||
Editor's Note: After 2+ months, we're continuing the "A Look Back..." review series here on www.randomfans.com, with fellow long-time RandomFan LactheWatcher again contributing! And again, if you want to help write reviews, let me know. (Also, the long overdue Zero Hour #5 review will be coming. So sorry it's so late.) ~spideymouse
"Hi I'm a Marvel, and I'm a DC #2"Personally, I've always loved researching things about comic books. When I was younger and first getting into comic book heroes, I used to go to my bookstores and read up about them. And THAT is how you sell a movie. You don't make people learn up on the subject, you leave it up to them to care about it. If they don't want to, fine, at least you brought them in to the theater and made a little profit out of it. I think that's why some people didn't enjoy Superman Returns. Its nostalgia factor seemed to alienate its viewers. People who had never shown interest in the Man of Steel before probably were lost with what exactly Bryan Singer was trying to do.RandomGuy's second video focuses on the Superman movie's desire to be something of a love letter toward the 70's films, and how Marvel's films just try to stand on their own and be open to all viewers, not just fans of the comics. As Superman tries to justify himself and the attitude DC is taking, Spider-Man just stands there nodding his head. I love Spider-Man's attitude toward Superman. It's, "Man, this is so pathetic..." Superman flips out with Bill O'Reilly-style rage, and this brings us to my first question regarding the video. I couldn't have been the only one wondering this...why did Superman say that X-Men had Bryan Singer for a director, since he did too? Had Singer not been attached yet? The video came out around mid-2007. I'm pretty sure Singer would have been done filming at that point. Did RandomGuy just not know? I apologize if I'm coming across as nitpicking, but am I the only one wondering about this? Anyway, Spider-Man explains Marvel tries to make their movies accessible to all people and doesn't make the audience work to enjoy a movie (Though as we all are perfectly aware, accessibility does not a good movie make...). In many aspects this was the first tie-in story to After Hours, our look into Superman's feeling of worthlessness. He's starting to notice a lack of interest in him from the viewing public. All he has to enjoy so far is the 1970s movies, the last time he felt like he really meant something to most of the world, instead of just his loyal comic readers. The jokes in this one are written more to be a chance to really express RandomGuy's great dialogue writing. His first in a long line of great comedic monologues that the series is well known for. One that deserves to be recognized with other great superman-yelling-a-the-top-of-his-lungs lines, including "JUST TELL ME THE TRUTH!!!" and the immortal "I AM A MAN!". Ending with a hilarious line of, "I just miss the Reagan years, that's all...". This was another indication of how much effort was put into these videos. RandomGuy was clearly putting 100% into these videos, and the writing was the biggest indicator of that. I'm reminded of independently written comics (which is essentially what these are, moving fan-made comic strips). Nobody asked for these videos, and certainly no one asked for them to be as good as they are. RandomGuy just wanted to do these videos, and it just so happens he writes them very well. It's amazing how a video about superheroes using action figures, that's not even stop motion, was able to conjure up so much emotion and true drama. Superman calls Marvel's movie directors, "Progressive ", and he is completely right. Look at who Sony got to direct the Spider-Man reboot, Marc Webb, whose claim to fame is (500) Days of Summer. Before that, literally, all he directed was music videos. Ok, I've been told (500) is a good movie, and I'm sure it is, but look at it this way, Sony said, "Hey Instead of someone who understands action and adventure, lets get that guy who directed that sleeper hit!!!" I believe in giving newcomers a chance, but this is definitely shameless on Sony's part. The video does show Marvel's, "Out with the old, in with the new" attitude. Though some of that's forgiven due to Marvel knowing how to bring in non-comic readers. Though in many aspects it also has seemed to be their downfall as well. Not only is the dialogue written well, the characters are written well also. Nowhere in the video do the attitudes of Superman, or Spider-Man, feel false. I never once thought to myself, "Oh they would never do that." Spider-Man is a child prodigy, and when your not a jerky, self-riotous child genius, passive aggression tends to be your forte. Superman is a seasoned old school boy scout, and when he feels threatened by the change of time or ideologies in a way he doesn't understand, he would get into a confused rage. In the end, Spidey tries to cheer him up by bringing in a kindred spirit, another product of the 70s, the Incredible Hulk. Hulk even comes out and says "Good Times..." and still somehow it doesn't come off as feeling like BS. It's also the first time I've ever seen Hulk use the phase, "Good Times..." So I will leave you with this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNNBjbJT6nI
|
