TV Show Review: Agent Carter

Around the House
Hey All, this has been an interesting week in my world.  I finally have gotten a new editor which has taken about a year and a half to find.  So that has really put my writing on hold.  Now I am back to pushing threw to get my stories completed for my editor to get a crack at.  He is actually spending time reading my past works so that he knows the content of the World of Illumination.  I am very excited to be working with him.  I have seen a jump in my profile pages already, new ones are coming out, so I will be updating all the links on this page in the next couple weeks.  I am so excited for the new changes that are coming.  I look forward to seeing a new world for my writing.

My Thoughts
I have given Marvel's Agent Carter on ABC 3 episodes before I have rendered judgement.  The show is a witty murder and government mystery.  It takes place after Captain America: the First Avenger when his sort of girl friend is trying to find her place in the new world order of the 40's and Stark is causing trouble.  The Show focus on the characters of Agent Carter and Jarvis, Howard Stark's butler.  I recommend this read to any major comic buff as it is a fresh take on the world we love and fleshes out the realms of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since Agent Carter has been featured on Marvel's Agents of Shield and in the Marvel Movies.  I recommend jumping into this limited series that is working to enhance the Marvel Universe.

Rating: 4/5

Movie Review: The Amazing Spiderman

Around the House
Vacation is good!  Family, Friends, and Dates have kept me busy.  More on that another day. 

My Thoughts
Oh where to start on this interesting little remake.  Number one I have a strong detest for remakes that do not do something new, different, or engaging for the audience.  I dislike when a remake is done so quickly that the watcher and freshly reference the previous movie (since it is on Stars or HBO or some movie channel).  I also consider a change in lead characters a remake with certain exceptions like the death of the original Dumbledor who will always be missed as the best actor to grace that role.  So back to the Topic at hand.  I was disappointed that Chris Evans was Johnny Storm and Captain America, but I do not think there is another actor that could have been that amazing of a Captain America.  Now we have 2 Spidermen.  My complaint about the original run of the series is that they kept killing off the villains.  Spiderman's villains don't die they always come back for more which makes it fun not knowing who could be the villain coming up to ruin his day.  It is always nice that they made the villains lovable in their own way by truly fleshing out the stories of who they were to the world.

Now The Amazing Spiderman blew me away.  I loved everything related to the Avengers and the new Spiderman fits in perfectly with them.  Even Emma Stone as a Blonde Gwen Stacey was perfect.  The story was engaging, heartfelt, and strongly written.  It definitely set the movies up to have an Avenger's feel by having one movie with the ability to build on another.  I can't wait to see the follow up.  It made me forget all the differences between the comics and the original movie run.  It was the perfect story to open the return of a long running series.  I recommend everyone run out and see this movie, throw out your "OLD" Spiderman movies, and buy the new one to add to your Marvel Collection.  I hate to say it, but Disney owning Marvel has done it right.

Rating: 5/5

Movie Review: The Avengers

Around the House
I hate playing catch up!

My Thoughts
As a long time fan of the Marvel Franchise, I have been impatiently waiting for this movie.  I have seen all the movies leading up to this movie including Iron Man 1 & 2, Hulk, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America: the First Avenger, and Thor.  They way Marvel has worked to weave all of these into individual stories as well as part of a larger story arch was amazingly well done.  I was worried about how this movie would play out since the actor for the Hulk has now changed three times, Hawkeye and Black Window are mortals, and the forming of a team can make for characters lost and a very hap hazard story line.  Instead we got an amazing movie with continued character growth, and a smooth story.  The best part of each of the movies and The Avengers movies is that you can watch each of the individually and not feel like you have been left behind.  The only sad part was I missed not seeing the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, and Vision.

Joss Whedon has a talent for crafting a story on an epic scale that still drives home the team atmosphere.  This movie could have easily been just Captain America, Thor, Iron Man movie, but each character was given love with fun romps and catchy lines that will live on.  Marvel would be smart if they tied down Joss Whedon to the entire Avengers related franchise.  It definitely reminded me of his work with Buffy and Angel where you get a team dynamic and not one character over shadows the other.  I really masterpiece of directing and writing.

Rating: 5/5

Movie Review: X-Men First Class

Around the House
Working on editing and reviewing submissions for the fall Anthology, so I am busier than I expected to be this summer.  Things are taking me way longer than I planned for and my editor has been on my butt about it.   I am very excited to see that Gilbert Press has their website up and running.  I really hope that authors are submitting great works so that my editor has something else to worry about.  Make sure you check out my page on there as well as the links posted.  Also, I am starting a new job in July which has me very excited.  I can't wait.  Otherwise, I am trying to get out to enjoy the weather some, though the rain in Chicago has made that a bit hard.

My Thoughts
Growing up as a die hard X-Men fan, I was very worried about this movie.  The trailers made it seem like they were going to be making a real mess of this movie.  I should have known better.  Marvel did an awesome job on it.  The back story was fleshed out in a way that allowed anyone watching the movie fall right in for the first time while keeping those who have enjoyed the rest of the stories enthralled.  I am wondering how they are going to handle the Havok item though.  Since having him a teen and Jean Grey a youth when Xavier is older makes me wonder how old they plan on portraying Scott.  Is he now going to be a younger brother?  Or is Xavier just going to age extremely quickly after his accident.  I am very curious to see how it all comes together.  I did especially enjoy the tie in to the first X-Men movie with the expanded story of Magneto.  It makes you wonder when and if they are going to have his kids popping up in the franchise, especially with the kick off of the Avengers movie.  I am rather excited to see.  The Internet is also spawning rumors of X4 and 5 along with turning the first class into a trilogy.  If they keep the stories going, I am down for the ride.  Also, I hear talks of New Mutants.  BRING IT ON!

Rating: 8 out of 10

Movie Review: Thor

Around the House
Wow, I can't believe how long editing this book is taking.  It is one of the slowest edits I have ever done.  I am excited to announce that Gilbert Press will have a new website coming soon, and they will be starting major acquisitions.  It is nice to see my publisher getting ready to make itself a presence in the market.  Otherwise, I am here dealing with finding a job since I didn't the one I wanted, and working to restore my social life.  All things are really starting to look up in my world and that makes me very happy.

My Thoughts
As a fan of Marvel Comics especially the X-Men, I have been very happy with the way they are handling the realism of their live action movies.  They have been able to take their franchises and cross them over without making them feel cartoony.  I was extremely worried about Thor though.  How where they going to handle the whole god element in a way that made sense with the other movies, not take away from the realism they are using, and holds true to the story of Thor.  I was extremely surprised that they not only pulled it off, but did an amazing job.  I am now even more excited to see how they bring us to the Avengers.  Marvel has done such an amazing job that I hope the new X-Men and Spiderman movies hold up to the Avengers franchise.

Rating: 8 out of 10