Beyond the Screen: July 2019

Saturday, July 20, 2019

The Lion King 2019

With the original having been made just twenty five years ago and considered one of the greatest films of all time, The Lion King 2019 has a lot to live up too. While it is still an animated film, going from 1994's traditional animation to today's computer generated imagery, it is done in such a way that it almost resembles live action. The design of not only the animal characters but also the landscape and environment make it very photo realistic. Having pretty much the same story beat to beat, there are moments wherein the dialogue and character's actions actually change certain plot holes that the first film overlooked like showing Nala leaving Pride Rock to look for help or Scar letting Zazu look for help rather than knocking him out and never pointing that out. With an entirely new cast, all except James Earl Jones as Mufasa, everyone involved gives powerful performances just as powerful and memorable as done before. While the photo realistic style is impressive, it does hinder the film since while the animals are able to talk they are unable to emote as much and don't have a lot of facial expressions. A lot of the time a character may be angry or sad but the face doesn't really show it compared to the voice work. This is very evident with John Oliver's Zazu as his beak stays the same no matter how he is supposed to feel. However, what they lack in their facial expressions they make up for it with their eyes and body language. Another aspect that is hindered because of the more realistic style is that the film reuses the Elton John songs but the characters still move around the same way and the environment doesn't become colorful or expressive. While some may find it hard to tell certain lion characters apart because of their color change or enjoy the many real looking designs such as Pumbaa being a warthog, director Jon Favreau should be given some praise for attempting it to resemble what they all actually look like. While it may never reach the peak of the original, The Lion King 2019 is still a bold experiment for its attempt at creating a photo realistic landscape and the love for the first is obviously felt. Over all: 94%

2019 top list so far:
1. Avengers: Endgame

2. Toy Story 4

3. Shazam!

4. Spider-Man: Far From Home

5. Rocketman

6. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

7. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum

8. Godzilla: King of the Monsters

9. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

10. Us

11. Aladdin 2019

12. Pokemon Detective Pikachu

13. Captain Marvel

14. The Lion King 2019

15. Yesterday

16. Pet Sematary 2019

17. The Upside

18. Dark Phoenix

19. Cold Pursuit

20. Glass

Thursday, July 11, 2019

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #3

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #3 starts out by showing us the changed origins for Batman. Instead of being gunned down, Bruce's parents were run over by Joe Chill in a large truck containing the mutagen that changed the pet turtles and in his disbelief fell down a manhole into the sewer where they were found by Splinter. After what the Mirage Raphael told him, Bruce goes to his old home where after finding Alfred regains his old memories. All the while, the five Turtles rescue April, who also regains her memory, but the Mirage Raphael is captured. With April's memory restored, she remembers that the best help they can get is from the original Shredder, Oroku Saki. The change in origins for both Batman and the Turtles is very well done and is still in keeping with how tragic it is. While the artwork by Freddie Williams II continues to be really good, one thing that gets noticed is that the lighting can sometimes be too dark and there are times when certain characters have really odd facial expressions. The drama is exceptional, with Bruce and Alfred's reunion one of the best moments from all three crossovers. Thus far, this third crossover continues to excel just as well as the first two did, though one problem is that with such high stakes the fact that it's only Batman and no other DC hero giving any aid kind of disappointing. Over all: 100%
Top list so far for 2nd set of comics:
1. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #3
2. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #1
3. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #2
4. Deadpool Kills Deadpool
5. Wonder Woman: Rebirth (2016) #1
6. The Tick: Free Comic Book Day 2018
7. Free Comic Book Day 2018: James Bond 007-VARGR
8. Free Comic Book Day 2018 Invader Zim: Floopsy Bloops Shmoopsy
9. The Legend of Wonder Woman (2015-2016) #1
10. Free Comic Book Day: The Legend of Korra & Nintendo ARMS 2018
11. Ant-Man (2015) Vol. 1 #1: Second-Chance Man Part 1
12. Batman/The Flash: The Button
13. The Adventures of Superman Vol. 1 #500
14. The Unworthy Thor (2016-2017) #1
15. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #5
16. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #6
17. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #4
18. Thor: God of Thunder Vol. 1 #1
19. Wonder Woman Free Comic Book Day 2017 Special Edition (2017-) issue #1
20. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #2
21. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1
22. Incredible Hulk (1999-2007) #92: Planet Hulk Part One
23. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #3
24. Wonder Woman (2006-2011) #1
25. The Astonishing Ant-Man (2015-2016) #1
26. Star Wars: Rogue One Adaptation #1
27. Tate's Not At Comic Con Local Indy Anthology #8

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #2

Picking up right where the first issue ended, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #2 starts with Batman and the IDW Turtles fighting the Mirage Raphael until he is able to tell his origin story and then how this whole thing began. In the Mirage universe, the IDW Krang arrives knowing that it's the original Turtle universe and captures the monochromatic heroes. Putting them in a machine that already has Batman on it, Krang plans to use them to fuse the multiple universes into one so as to conquer it. Raphael managed to escape but not before the Utrom was able to merge the DC and IDW Turtles' universe. All the while, the Laughing Man comes face to face with Krang who offers to give him anything for his help. The sight of Krang using the Anti-Monitor's corpse as a power suit is awesome to look at and his plan is epic. Freddie Williams II's artwork continues to be well done and the blending of both old Mirage and new IDW is perfect. While #2 expands on the story and the cause of this merged universe is huge, there was no reason to show us the usual Turtles origin story. The rest of the comic is well written and you really believe when someone like Batman doesn't believe what's actually happening. They never explain whether the Batman that got captured is either the same one from the crossovers or another version entirely due to his costume and design being way different. Over all: 100%
Top list so far for 2nd set of comics:
1. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #1
2. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #2
3. Deadpool Kills Deadpool
4. Wonder Woman: Rebirth (2016) #1
5. The Tick: Free Comic Book Day 2018
6. Free Comic Book Day 2018: James Bond 007-VARGR
7. Free Comic Book Day 2018 Invader Zim: Floopsy Bloops Shmoopsy
8. The Legend of Wonder Woman (2015-2016) #1
9. Free Comic Book Day: The Legend of Korra & Nintendo ARMS 2018
10. Ant-Man (2015) Vol. 1 #1: Second-Chance Man Part 1
11. Batman/The Flash: The Button
12. The Adventures of Superman Vol. 1 #500
13. The Unworthy Thor (2016-2017) #1
14. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #5
15. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #6
16. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #4
17. Thor: God of Thunder Vol. 1 #1
18. Wonder Woman Free Comic Book Day 2017 Special Edition (2017-) issue #1
19. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #2
20. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1
21. Incredible Hulk (1999-2007) #92: Planet Hulk Part One
22. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #3
23. Wonder Woman (2006-2011) #1
24. The Astonishing Ant-Man (2015-2016) #1
25. Star Wars: Rogue One Adaptation #1
26. Tate's Not At Comic Con Local Indy Anthology #8

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #1

The start of the third crossover between DC's Batman and IDW's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #1 begins with a huge surprise. Set in a universe wherein everything is an amalgamation of both the DC and Turtles universe, Bruce Wayne was taken in by the Turtles and Splinter after his parents were murdered and they fight a version of Shredder that resembles the Joker and his Smile Clan. During a fight to obtain a mystical artifact, Batman notices that the Laughing Man suddenly reminds him of the Joker and starts remembering another history. Back at their lair, Batman questions his past before he, the Turtles, and Splinter come face to face with one of the original Mirage Turtles. The issue ends with the revelation of Krang behind the merged universes while using the Anti-Monitor's corpse as a suit. This comic starts with some interesting questions and ends with even more surprising ones that make you exited for how they will be answered. James Tynion IV returns to write and the artwork is once again done by Freddie Williams II and both continue to do a fantastic job. The various combined and alternate versions of characters are all original and very unique in their design. My one complaint is that when we first see the Mirage Raphael, the artwork makes it seem as though he were giant rather than being clear it's from a certain angle. Over all: 100%
Top list so far for 2nd set of comics:
1. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #1
2. Deadpool Kills Deadpool
3. Wonder Woman: Rebirth (2016) #1
4. The Tick: Free Comic Book Day 2018
5. Free Comic Book Day 2018: James Bond 007-VARGR
6. Free Comic Book Day 2018 Invader Zim: Floopsy Bloops Shmoopsy
7. The Legend of Wonder Woman (2015-2016) #1
8. Free Comic Book Day: The Legend of Korra & Nintendo ARMS 2018
9. Ant-Man (2015) Vol. 1 #1: Second-Chance Man Part 1
10. Batman/The Flash: The Button
11. The Adventures of Superman Vol. 1 #500
12. The Unworthy Thor (2016-2017) #1
13. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #5
14. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #6
15. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #4
16. Thor: God of Thunder Vol. 1 #1
17. Wonder Woman Free Comic Book Day 2017 Special Edition (2017-) issue #1
18. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #2
19. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1
20. Incredible Hulk (1999-2007) #92: Planet Hulk Part One
21. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #3
22. Wonder Woman (2006-2011) #1
23. The Astonishing Ant-Man (2015-2016) #1
24. Star Wars: Rogue One Adaptation #1
25. Tate's Not At Comic Con Local Indy Anthology #8

Saturday, July 6, 2019

Spider-Man: Far From Home

The last entry in the Third Phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the one to followup the events of Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home sees the teenage superhero dealing with not only a world wherein half of people disappeared and then came back as well as seeing his mentor die, but also fighting elemental monsters all throughout his school trip in Europe with the help of Nick Fury and a possible new hero in Mysterio. Tom Holland plays Peter Parker for the fifth time, already portraying him for a record fourth time earlier in Endgame, while Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders return as Fury and Maria Hill, and Jake Gyllenhaal portrays the first live action appearance of Mysterio. Returning to direct from Homecoming, Jon Watts does an amazing job at portraying the first Spider-Man film set outside of the United States. Not only does everyone who come back from previous entries give great performances, but Gyllenhaal does such a fantastic job at making you believe the lies his character makes even when you know what Quentin Beck is really like in the comics and other media. The biggest praise that anyone could ever give this film is just how amazing and real Beck's illusions are and how through them, Spider-Man needs to learn how to hone his Spider-Sense. Holland's chemistry with Zendaya, playing his crush MJ, is really believable even if Peter's interest in her comes out of nowhere. While Mysterio is a really great villain whose plan to fake a catastrophe to be seen as the next big hero is well thought out, he and his team's backstory of being former employees of Tony Stark who felt like they were ripped off or wanted more is way too similar to both Vulture's backstory in Homecoming and each of Iron Man's enemies in his own films. It's also sad to note that this is the first MCU film to not have a cameo by Stan Lee as he died before he could film one. This being the end of Phase Three, the two post credit scenes foreshadow the possible stories and direction that Phase Four will go through. They're both very surprising, though the first one shown is the most shocking as it deals with the title hero's secret identity. All in all, Spider-Man: Far From Home is another solid entry in a franchise that keeps surprising us and getting better, even when the comedy occurs too often. Over all: 100%