The Church of Jedi-Yup It’s a real thing. Really.

I know what you’re all probably thinking looking at that title. A Church? Of Jedi? Well go ahead and sign me up! Does it come with light sabers? Well, before you rush off to buy the robe and start learning the ways of the force, take a step back, and read this article first. 

So we all know that George Lucas’ famous film franchise, Star Wars, has given rise to several other organizations and enterprises. It has also continued to live on through both the renown of the films and the extended universe novels. However, perhaps very few people expected one of the more controversial groups to come out of the Star Wars franchise: the Jedi Church. Though I suppose it should be mentioned that the Jedi Church itself claims to have existed, without a name, before the Star Wars movies were even an.  Today the Jedi Church sits moderately well. They are legally recognized as a religion in several countries. In fact, the Jedi are the second largest religion in  in New Zealand right now. 


This week, I’m going to give a pretty brief summary about the Jedi Church, for any and all who are interested. I’m also going to give my two cents about one of the more prominent arguments against the Jedi Church, the one where people don’t think it should be a religion because it “comes from a fictional movie franchise.” (I think that’s a silly argument, and if you read on, you’ll get to find out why.)

But let’s talk first about the Jedi in a little more detail. The Jedi Church is an international organization. It currently has members in New Zealand (as a matter of fact, the Jedi Church is the second largest religion in New Zealand), the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. They  believe in an “all powerful force that binds the universe together.” The force exists in all people and all things, unifying everyone and everything. They recognize two sides of the force, the light side and the dark side. There is no central deity in the Jedi Church, as a matter of fact, the website for the main organization (which you can reach here, if you felt so inclined.) acknowledges that the idea of a singular deity that can act on its own is something that must be considered by individual Jedi. Some Jedi might consider the force itself to be a deity, as it is pervasive and essentially the energy of life itself.

While there are clearly several similarities between the Jedi Church ideology and that of the Jedi Council in the Star Wars movies, the Church denies the fact that they came from the movies. On the contrary, they claim to have existed long before the Star Wars movies were even written, and the movies just brought attention to and provided a name for the organization that already existed. As a matter of fact, most religions argue that they are older than their so-called founder. For example, Joseph Smith stated that the Book of Mormon had existed long before he got it out of the mountain and translated it. The Jedi Church acknowledges that the Star Wars movies, from which their Church gets its name, are fictitious. However, the ideology they follow, and the force itself, have existed long before the movies, and will continue to exist long after.

Disregarding the Jedi as a real religion, simply because they may have taken their ideas from a popular movie series, is, in my opinion, rather silly. The source of a religion is ultimately irrelevant. The sincerity of the believers is much more important. While there are some people who claim to be Jedi simply to spite any other major religious group, they do not represent the majority of the followers of the Jedi faith. For the most part, Jedi truly believe in the force, and the balance between the light side and the dark side.  A science fiction movie as a source of religion is no less valid than a religion started by a single person spreading their views and beliefs. Most of the founders of some of the more prominent religions have been considered to be crazy, or misguided, or even outright liars. That doesn’t make the religions they ‘started’ any less valid. Jedi, then, should be held to the same standards. The members are sincere in their belief. Therefore, their beliefs should be respected.

So, if the Jedi Church sounds interesting to you, you should definitely head over to their website and check them out. Just remember, choosing your religion is a very thoughtful and difficult process. As much as you may want to be a Jedi, please, analyze your reasons for doing so. Normally I don’t get preachy on this blog, but, I feel the need to make this little blanket warning. A religion is not something you pick to be ‘lolzy’ or to make some sort of statement against something you dislike. If you’re going to become a member of a religion, you should do so because you truly believe in their ideology. So please, don’t actually become a Jedi until you have thought deeply about it, and decided that it’s really what you want. It is a real religion. It should be treated as such. 


Well, that’s enough preachiness out of me to last for awhile. Sorry about that. I’d love to hear some feedback from you about what you think about the Jedi faith. Particularly all you Star Wars fans out there! 


Until next time, then.


Angel out!

And That’s Shakespeare: Episode 9 – Henry IV Part Two

Just…just enjoy the epic.

<3, Junior Varsity

What’s Next for Marvel Day Three: The New Guys

In my part three of what has become a four part series, MaristPlayBoy continues to speculate on what Marvel Films is likely to do next. Today, he looks at some of the solo series that could come out in the next few years and how they could tie in to the Avengers.
Day One: Supporting Characters from Already Existing Franchises
Day Two: What Marvel Can’t Do

Predicting what properties Marvel Films hopes to establish next is a shot in the dark at best. There are many, MANY different directions in which Marvel can go to add new and interesting characters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel Comics have existed since 1939; that means there are over 70 years of comic continuity that can be explored as they see fit, as well as the incredible multitude of characters that come along with it.

That being said, these characters can rather easily be divided into two different types: the headliners that can star in their own movie and hold their own, and the supporting characters that either need to exist in a team book or as an aid to another, already existing character. Both groups have incredibly valuable roles to play in forming a cohesive universe, but today’s article is going to focus on those solo stars who I believe deserve their own movie series and an invite to the Avengers team (I’ll look at potential team ideas on Sunday).

Just like Day One, I’m going to look at these characters using three criteria: Who they are, How they fit, and how likely Marvel will actually make a movie starring this character. I’ll also be adding a fourth category that has equal importance to the long run picture at Marvel: who else these characters bring in. Marvel will need to start franchises that open the door for more Avengers characters so that variety can exist and audiences will never get bored. Day One was a perfect example of just how many characters tie in to each other. Marvel has strength in its supporting cast of characters, and I’ve always appreciated how much the lesser-known characters are able to impress and find cult followings, so don’t underestimate how important bringing in others can be towards getting a movie green lit.

Well, I’ve taken enough time with that intro. Let’s get started:

(Actually, quick side note before we get started. Namor is awesome and definitely deserves his own movie. Given his role in the Marvel universe, I actually think such an event would be likely…if his fate wasn’t so unclear right now. See, Namor is a standalone character, but he also has a rather close association with the Fantastic Four. Marvel Films doesn’t own the rights to the Fantastic Four or the characters within that universe–the only reason the bad guys from the Avengers were the Chitauri and not the Skrulls–but whether Namor is considered a part of that package or not is incredibly complicated and will probably involve some lawyer business I can’t even begin to understand. Needless to say, he’d be on this list if I knew the movie was a possibility, but I don’t, so he’s not. Moving on)

Moon Knight


Who he is: Marc Spector is a trained heavyweight boxer, U.S. Marine, and professional mercenary who gets recruited to work for an African mercenary named Raoul Bushman in Egypt. While on the job, they come across an archeological dig that has uncovered a temple to the Egyptian moon good Khonshu, which Bushman believes contains a whole bunch of loot. He kills one of the members of the dig in cold blood, and Spector tries to take down Bushman…but fails. Left within an inch of his life, Khonshu decides to save Spector’s life and give him mystical powers that enhance his combat skills to superhuman levels depending on the lunar cycle, but in return, Spector must act as the god’s servant on earth. Spector gets revenge on Bushman, invests his mercenary money in the stock market, becomes rich, and fights crime with his insane fighting skills and gadgets, unlike that other superhero with a similar move set.

How he fits: Unsurprisingly, getting brought back to life by a moon god and having mystical powers running through your system doesn’t necessarily create the most stable human being of all time. Spector is almost completely nuts, developing multiple personalities (including those of heroes with whom he’s worked, like Iron Man). Combine that with the mysterious nature of his powers and you have a guy that NO ONE wants to trust…but also someone that you definitely want on your side when shit gets real. Watching other characters bounce off of him would be very fun to watch, and his mysterious nature is exactly the kind of thing that an Avengers 2 movie can bounce off of.

Who joins him: Nobody sadly. Of all the characters I plan on listing in this column, Moon Knight is by far the most likely to show up from another team movie (getting to that) instead of actually having his own film. He tends to work with upper tier characters only when he is needed, but in his solo series, he rarely has to call on anyone else. He prefers to work alone. Almost like that other character with a similar skill set I mentioned earlier.

Likelihood: Only in my dreams, most likely (though, to be fair, all of this seemed only possible in my dreams before it happened, so who knows). Moon Knight isn’t a very recognizable character despite his last ongoing selling pretty well and getting great reviews before getting cancelled, and it’s hard to deny that he is, in fact, a lot like Batman in his combat style and nature. There’s no way Moon Knight would get a movie while a successful Batman series like Christopher Nolan’s is fresh in people’s heads, and even then, he’d most likely have to be introduced in a team movie first. But IF he’s introduced in a team book and IF crowds seem to enjoy the character, there’s a chance he could have a prequel movie explaining his origins, or a trilogy that would likely end in his demise. Either way, it’s a long shot, at least in the short term.

Black Panther


Who he is: A long time ago, a very powerful meteorite landed near a small African nation called that gave them great wealth and allowed them to become an incredibly technologically advanced society. To protect themselves from those that would try to steal this valuable resource from them, the king of that time chose to hide his kingdom from the rest of the world. Many generations later, T’Challa, the next heir to the throne, sees his father killed and his uncle seize the throne. T’Challa undergoes several trials to prove his worth (he even takes out the Fantastic Four), and eventually earns the title of Black Panther as King of Wakanda.

How he fits: Besides the obvious pull that would come from having a powerful, independent minority superhero, Black Panther is simply one of the most badass heroes Marvel has to offer. In combat, the mystical herbs he is allowed to consume as the Black Panther gives him superhuman strength, reflexes, and agility, as well as an incredibly acute sense of smell (seriously, the guy can track just about anything while also keeping a catalog in his mind of over 10,000 unique scents). He also has access to a ton of mystical amulets and artifacts collected by his village over time, which gives him a ton of extra magical power when needed. And on top of all that, the guy is one of the eight smartest men in the world, making him one of the most inventive and resourceful men in the Marvel universe. Did I mention he’s also fiercely loyal and a perfect candidate for the Avengers? Just saying.

Who joins him: There are some side characters I don’t know much about (I haven’t read the series myself), but the most intriguing addition the Black Panther can bring to the Avengers continuity is the White Tiger. The White Tiger is the first hispanic superhero in the Marvel universe, using three Jade Tiger Amulets to turn into a superhuman fighter. He is led astray by a villain named Erik Killmonger (how can you NOT trust a name like that?) into impersonating the Black Panther, which obviously doesn’t end well. The two fight, realize who the truly bad guy is, and everything works out for the best. It’d be a fun movie to watch, it’d add another minority character to the Avengers, and it would further cement the importance of mystical artifacts in the Marvel Universe as a legitimate form of battle.

Likelihood: Very likely. In fact, I’d be rather shocked if a Black Panther movie wasn’t released in the next five years. The property has a lot of great ideas behind it, and the character is just fun to watch. Who doesn’t want to see an African King with mystical artifacts taking down bad guys? And that’s before one factors in the whole minority issue. Seems like a slam dunk to me.

Ant-Man


Who he is: The brilliant scientist known as Hank Pym discovers some strange subatomic molecules and creates a formula he believes will allow him to shrink down to the size of an ant while still maintaining his full strength. At first, he just uses his powers for scientific study and the protection of his projects, but when the father of his assistant and love interest Janet van Dyne is murdered, Pym takes on the identity of Ant-Man to avenge her father’s death. Over time, Pym also discovers other uses of his genetic alteration; he is able to grow to nearly 100 feet tall, making him effectively a giant. Depending on which skill he is using (big or small), he assumes a different identity, however, which leads to…

How he fits:  Hank Pym is nuts. The man has an inferiority complex that dwarfs just about everyone alive. He changes his superhero name to Giant Man when he starts working for the Avengers because he feels inadequate next to Iron Man and Captain America. That kind of mentality is bound to affect team chemistry, and the effects of these interactions drives the guy towards even more mental issues. As he loses his mind, he ends up hitting Janet, now his wife, and proceeds in a downward spiral losing just about everything he holds dear. His extraordinary intellect, ability to shift sizes, and his bio-energy projection when shrunk down makes him a necessity on the Avengers, but his personality makes him a constant liability. He’s an absolutely perfect fit.

Who joins him: The obvious answer for this one is Janet, aka The Wasp, who is also able to shrink to microscopic size, but has wings that Hank attached to her that allow her to fly while in this form. She also has bio-energy projection and the ability to telepathically communicate with other insects, which can prove helpful. Their relationship is a big selling point here, as two Avengers members who end up together but in a consistently rocky relationship is going to cause tension. Especially if she starts hitting it off with one of the other members of the team.

Likelihood: Marvel’s been trying to make an Ant-Man movie since the Avengers project started (they even referenced him in Thor), but for various reasons, it hasn’t worked out yet. Reports say they’re closer than ever before, but that can mean just about anything. Assuming they can eventually get a script they like, we’ll definitely see an Ant-Man movie in the near future.

Doctor Strange


Who he is: If it isn’t already clear, not all superheroes are created equal. I mean, let’s be clear, Captain America is awesome, but there’s definitely a ceiling to his power that people like Iron Man can just blow past. Doctor Strange, however, can blow past them all, seen by many as equal in power to the cosmic entities, which in the Marvel universe are actual beings whose existence is necessary for the world’s survival. Yeah, he’s that powerful. An incredibly disciplined and devoted sorcerer, Doctor Strange is the Sorcerer Supreme, a master magician capable of just about anything as long as he has his artifacts with him. Combined with his incredible intellect, increased life span, and capable martial arts skills, and Doctor Strange is capable of a level of power that is nearly unmatched.

How he fits: This is probably self-explanatory, but any time you get the chance to add an incredibly powerful sorcerer to your roster, you should take it. Doctor Strange may have odd customs and habits, but if he joined the Avengers, his power alone would significantly increase the team’s chances for success. Whether he would want to help the Avengers or not is where the intriguing conflict comes in, as his need to protect his house and the artifacts inside it all but assures that he won’t want to leave, and there’s no real reason for him to care about most of their problems given his self sufficiency. That struggle to get him to cooperate makes him an interesting fit.

Who joins him: Any sorcerer or mystical superhero can be brought in with a connection to Doctor Strange, but the most intriguing combination involves Brother Voodoo. The Haitian sorcerer has the ability to manipulate smoke and fire, and he can use his magic to give himself superhuman strength. As his name implies, he also has voodoo powers, able to possess his enemies to take them out. In 2009, Brother Voodoo actually replaced Doctor Strange as Sorcerer Supreme, and the dynamic these two characters share competing against each other for supremacy would be incredibly fun to watch (magic battles for the win).

Likelihood: It looks like there’s a solid chance on this one. As the Ant-Man movie has shown, a lot of things can happen in pre-production, but there are rumors that this one’s still going through. Let’s hope the magical side of Marvel gets a chance to shine soon.

Shang-Chi


I’m not actually going to go into a full breakdown for Shang-Chi because he is probably best suited for a team appearance before he’d ever get his own movie (same group as Moon Knight, and YES, I’ll be explaining it very soon). I just felt a need to bring him up very quickly because he is awesome and has a decent chance of having a movie of his own at some point. Shang-Chi is a martial arts expert that is so good at his craft that he can stand up to the likes of Spider-Man and the Thing without superhuman powers. He’s just that good of a fighter.

There are two reasons I bring him up. First, there have been rumors of a Shang-Chi movie for some time now, though they’ve never amounted to much. Second, Marvel’s recently done a deal with a Chinese company that has opened the door for a movie like this to be made much more easily. Honestly, the only way a Shang-Chi movie would work is if it was filmed by people who truly knew what they were doing, and the Chinese film market makes movies like this better than most American companies do. Now that the doors are open, the chance is there, though again, I see other movies coming up first.

Iron Fist


And while I’m at it, I might as well throw up the final name on this list as well…

Luke Cage


Who they are: Daniel Rand has a very Bruce Wayne-esque beginning. His father, his mother, his father’s business partner that secretly has a crush on her, and Daniel are all traveling to the mystical city of K’un L’un when a sudden, but inevitable betrayal occurs. Both his father and mother die, and Daniel is left to be trained by the Thunderer, a martial arts expert from the mystical city. From him, Daniel learns the art of focusing his chi to greatly enhance his strength, reflexes, durability, sense experiences, and agility. He can even focus so much chi into his fist that it literally becomes unbreakable and punches as if his fist was made of iron (hence, Iron Fist).

Luke Cage, on the other hand, grew up on the streets of Harlem as a thug involved in street gangs. He soon realizes that what he’s doing is wrong and tries to get out, but his best friend Stryker manages to rise up the ranks instead, eventually pissing off some higher ups. Stryker’s girlfriend leaves him for the more stable Luke, and, as Stryker’s world is crumbling, he sees Luke as someone he can blame for all his misfortunes. Stryker frames Luke for heroin possession, sending him to jail. While in jail, he’s recruited for experimentation, and he emerges from prison with superhuman strength and stamina, bulletproof skin, and incredible durability.

How they fit and who they bring: Both of these guys deserve their own movie, but I grouped them together for a very particular reason. The two of them found Heroes for Hire Inc., a service in which people can recruit whatever superhuman they may need for a job…for a price. This creates a massive opportunity to introduce a whole bunch of fun characters into the Marvel movie universe like Spider-Woman and the Falcon, as well as Shang-Chi and Moon Knight from this list. There are a ton of characters that can join from this property (just look at that side bar. Just…whoa), and for that alone, as well as the dynamic that superhero mercenaries bring to the cinematic universe, starting these two franchises would be worth it. Each could stand on its own for a movie, then the two combine into a Heroes for Hire movie that would be the long-standing series. Everyone wins, especially Marvel’s pockets.

Likelihood: I’d be shocked if this didn’t happen at some point. A Luke Cage movie is all but a done deal at this point, given the amount of fan clamoring for it. Iron Fist is a slightly tougher sell, but Marvel has built up enough trust that I think a change of pace would still be embraced. Clearly, the Heroes for Hire movie needs to happen, but it will go much more smoothly if Luke Cage and Iron Fist can have successful introductions first, and I believe Marvel can get the job done.

Like my picks for future Marvel movies? Think I missed some big ones. Let me know in the comments below, or at @RedShirtCrew on Twitter. And don’t forget to come back on Sunday when I talk about the potential team movies that can tie into the Marvel movie universe. Until then, this is MaristPlayBoy signing out.

GameRx: HyperBlade

“I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out.”

       – Rodney Dangerfield

Tronicus also seems to be an apt name.

Sitting at my desk writing this review, it’s hard to figure out where to start describing this game. Made by Whizbang! Software Productions in 1996, HyperBlade fills a space in the under-appreciated niche genre of sci-fi sports games. It really defies explanation, but if I had to describe it in terms of today’s games, I’d call it some sort of bizarre combination of Gears of War, ice hockey, and Tony Hawk Pro Skater.


The best part? It’s so old that it’s available here for free in a non-torrent format. You don’t have an excuse this time, readers!

If you’ve enjoyed games like Monday Night Combat  and Blood Bowl, you should definitely hit the download above and give this game a look. It’s small, fun, easy to learn, and is packed with plenty of high-speed action, and runs on almost any PC or Windows emulator. I got this little gem to play on my Win95 Toughbook, a behemoth of a laptop with absolutely minimal specs, where it still worked like a charm. Trust me on this one; if it works on that thing, you should be able to handle it. The only foreseeable complication is that the game might just be too old to run on your fancy-pants computer. If this is the case, just do a simple follow-up on Google to figure out what you need to do.

Shot of the starting toss-up with an added texture pack

The game is two teams with five players each — two fielders, two backups, and a goalie. Each player wears a suit of armor, featuring a sleek sword as an extension of the arm, and each is allowed literally any enhancements they can afford including steroids, bionic legs and everything in between. Every arena is a elliptical hemisphere, kind of like a half-pipe with the ends pinched in. Each pinched end has a 6x6ft goal guarded by the goalie, as to be expected. Hurdles, ramps, weapon stations, mines, switches, and suchnot are scattered through the rest of the arena. The ball is called the “rok” and is put into play at the center of the arena, all four fielders poised for the toss-up. The ball is launched randomly along either length of the midcourt line, and play begins. There are no fouls, and the game will not stop for injuries or fatalities.  Fans cheer for their teams as they beat the snot out of each other in a game of gladiatorial hockey. The crowd eats up the teams’ showboating as they exchange taunts and blows airborn. Casualties are not only expected, but relished; with modern medicine, most fatal injuries can be cured (or at least physically compensated). After a score, the teams have another toss-up. Subs can be made at any time as long as the player can physically make it off the court. If not, then the character remains out of play critically wounded. If a player is killed by decapitation, the head can be used for an additional point in that round. The game lasts for three periods either three or five minutes in length, and the team with the most points by this time is the winner.

While the game of HyperBlade is pretty straightforward in of itself, the game really excels in the fluff. You know, the silly bits that are there to build a world for the story rather than gameplay. Of course, each player has a different bio that goes into considerable detail on the dynamics of each team, rivalries, and a feel for the league history and drama. Arenas also have stat-cards that show layouts of all the obstacles, as well as things like when it was built, it’s legal capacity (and the much larger…”practical” capacity), method of riot control, and notable facts about the history of the building itself. Even the ads between each period manage to really set the tone of the world these matches take place in. Yermo Yams (now introducing a new strawberry variety) are advertised freqently, as are a questionably potable soft dink “Blam”; genetically modified sandwich-size chickens, designed with practicality in mind; and, my, personal favorite, a nuclear steakhouse: “well done in rare time”. These have absolutely nothing to do with gameplay, but really give the game a unique feel of being somewhere between Blade Runner and Idiocracy.

Very 90’s, no? It’s always a bit weird looking back.

HyperBlade is pretty old and operates in a true three dimensional environment, so the game does look rather chunky. In the original release of the game, there are no actual textures mapped to any model, but rather sheets of solid color for any given polygon. That said, each team’s armor has a distinctly different feel aesthetically, still managing to find many unique uniforms using only solid color polygons. The game pretty well optimized, so you shouldn’t have any complications on any OS or emulator you run it on. The teams are all distinctly different colors and shapes by uniform, so you shouldn’t have accidental turnovers. The simple combat controls work just fine, but the complex controls are tricky to figure out when you’re still learning the rest of the game. Overall, though, the game has intuitive and effective controls. The teams are certainly weighted a bit in favor of some — the Moscow T34’s are nigh unstoppable while the New York Glory is a bit of a joke — but that’s how it goes in any professional sport. I rather wish there were more teams and stadiums, but the game is naturally held back by the constraints of 1996 PC’s. 

So there you have it. HyperBlade is hockey with swords, cutting lasers, explosions, decapitation, and gratuitous violence, all with that extra dash of quirkiness that is good for any game. What more could you ask from a sports game? All things considered, though, I’m thoroughly surprised no one has done a reboot of this game. Give it some better models, some new locations and teams, and maybe a story-mode as well as a career mode, and you’d be set to go. Seems like it would be a fantastic indie project.

Hint hint.

Doc Watson is a writer and editor for The RedShirt Crew and founder of The GameRx Clinic. He has yet to meet anyone else who has played the game, which makes him a sad panda. Got a question, comment, or anything else you want to add? Post a comment below or send him a tweet @DocWatsonMD . 

Let’s Get Mad (Men)!

In her RSC debut, EmTrack2 takes a look at how Mad Men stands above the rest of television today.



There comes a point where you realize how spoiled you are if you watch Mad Men.


Truly, Mad Men ruined television for me. Why? Because it bothers me so much. I spend days at a time thinking about what happened on Mad Men a couple of nights earlier and what is to become of them next Sunday. I can’t sit and watch Supernatural and be so affected. Or Glee. Or any show for that matter. Even when I start watching shows like Boardwalk Empire that are considered to have a similar level of quality, hoping to find that passion and it always falls short for one reason or another. I mean not to take a whack at these shows, they have their moments and I can understand wholeheartedly why anyone would like them, but they are lacking at one thing or another and it is troublesome. (Don’t get me wrong, I still watch other shows. Downton Abbey is fantastic  and I fell in love with the BBC series Sherlock. But, even then, still lacking.)

But Mad Men never does fall short. It has a passion to it, characters I hate and love, leaving me to remind myself that no matter how real these people seem, they’re not. There was no Don Draper in the sixties who left his Betty to later marry a Megan after a year of drunken unhappiness. There was no Peggy who came to us as a shy catholic girl still living in the fifties to a woman becoming the very man who frustrates her so. These people didn’t exist. But, by god, the feelings I have for them are so great and numerous that they might as well be real. 

I used to describe Mad Men as a show about “beautiful people doing terrible things.” I take it back. It’s much more than their looks and how they dress and how they act.  It’s about human beings being, wonderfully and tragically, human. They end up with the wrong people, lash out, hide their emotions very well or not at all, and, as a spectator, it’s heartbreaking. 

These people are all of us, in some way or another. And it scares the hell out of me because no other show has done this for me yet. It’s special, and it knows it, flaunting it’s brilliant writing and dreadfully complex characters in my face, batting it’s sultry eyelashes in my direction with it’s promises of beautiful and talented people that it always seems to fulfill.


Mad Men is the perfect temptress and I love every waking minute of it.

Battleship Review

Junior Varsity and special guests Nick and Craig tell you about recent release Battleship.

What’s Next for Marvel Day Two: What CAN’T Marvel Do

Now that I’ve taken a look at characters from already established franchises in the Marvel Universe that could join the Avengers soon, it’s time to predict which new franchises Marvel is likely to introduce in the near future. MaristPlayBoy is here to give his take on the best fits for the Marvel Movie Universe as it stands today.

If you missed it, click here to see which characters from the already established franchises I think have a good shot at becoming Avengers in the near future.

Since I am cannot just re-watch The Avengers over and over again, I, like any comic book fan who’s been following these movies, cannot help but try to predict what’s coming next from Marvel Studios. There are so many different directions Marvel can go into, and given the strength of the movies they’ve produced thus far, they are free to pursue whatever they want…providing, of course, that they have the rights.

Now, I could go at length explaining what Marvel can and cannot make given the deals they made with other producers before they were bought by Disney and had the freedom to make their own movies, but I don’t need to because MovieBob already beat me to it. Seriously, just click the link and watch the video. It will explain everything and be more interesting than anything I could have done to explain it.

While I am not going to explain why Marvel can’t make certain movies (watch the video already), I will say that I don’t think the losses are actually that big, at least not in terms of continuity. See, the franchises that were lost are largely independent of the Avengers. Franchises like Ghost Rider, the Punisher, and the much more prominent Spider-Man aren’t really affiliated with the Avengers. Neither are Daredevil and Elektra. They wouldn’t tie in to the continuity produced here anyway, with the possible exception of a nice cameo or two. And is a cameo worth the huge piles of money it would cost to get these characters back?

Not yet, at least. It’s much better for Marvel to let these franchises get run into the ground until they’re not profitable, buy them back on the cheap, wait for the bad vibes around these franchises to die down, and then have them resurface later. There are still plenty of titles to keep them busy until then, so they can play the waiting game, and given the quality of these movies, I think Marvel will emerge victorious on this one.

The only two franchises lost that seem to really be a shame are the Fantastic Four and the X-Men. The Fantastic Four on their own aren’t really big Avengers members, but they share many common enemies like the Skrulls that would have been fun to see. However, Marvel’s ingenuity helped them get away with that one by calling them the Chitauri, the Ultimate Universe version of the Skrulls, to which they had the license (yay loopholes).

The biggest loss, therefore, is that of the X-Men. Because Marvel Studios does not have the rights to the X-Men, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, typical Avengers members, have a lot of limitations on their use, meaning we likely won’t see them on the team in any substantial way. Also, the X-Men and the Avengers tend to fight a lot, and seeing such an epic battle scene would have been quite amazing, but sadly does not seem meant to be unless Marvel is willing to pony over A LOT of cash to make such a deal happen.

So will any of these characters find their way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Not in the near future, at any rate. Even IF Marvel could find a way to acquire these IPs back again, it will be quite some time before the stench of some of the awful, awful, AWFUL movies these franchises produced will wear off. And given Marvel’s been rather quiet about gathering any of these IPs (and it doesn’t seem to be Disney’s way to buy things from other major producers, though they’re going to do something with the giant piles of money The Avengers continues to bring in), I doubt we’ll see any of these crossing over with the Avengers in the near future.

But in the end, I think that’s ok, mostly because there are so many other awesome movie franchises that Marvel has yet to produce. What do I mean? Come back tomorrow to find out. In the meantime, comment below or follow us on Twitter at @RedShirtCrew and let me know what franchises are worth buying back from the major producers. Until then, this is MaristPlayBoy, signing out

And That’s Shakespeare: Episode 8 – Henry IV Part One

SEASON TWO IS HERE! WOO!

What’s Next for Marvel Day One: Supporting Characters

Yes, the Avengers was an incredible movie that literally rocked my world and fulfilled all of my childhood dreams, but with the exception of the eight more times I plan to see it, now seems like the best time to look into the future and examine what Marvel Studios will do next in the first of a two part series.

Given how overwhelmingly successful The Avengers just was for Marvel, I’m under the impression that the guys running things in the movie department really know what they’re doing with this project. That also means that they’re well aware that their ability to continue bringing in giant bags of money is directly dependent on what they do with phase two of their Marvel continuity plan. Phase one, bringing the Avengers to the big screen, was executed perfectly, but that success will not be replicated by simply doing the same thing over and over again. What keeps Avengers books interesting in the comic book world, and what will be necessary if the movies are to be successful, is their ability to mesh high profile heroes like Captain America and Iron Man with their B and C list counterparts, thus keeping an interesting variety in the characters.

Now, don’t take this to understand that I’m tired of these properties already. Far from it. I’m already eager for Iron Man 3, Thor 2, and Captain America 2, but I’m equally interested, perhaps even more so, with the new properties that are entering this cinematic universe and the new characters that will be brought forth from already established properties. How this phase of the process is handled will determine how long Marvel will reign supreme in the comic book movie world. If they can integrate lower level heroes and make audiences fall in love with them, their empire may last for decades. If not, we’ll look back on these days with the notion that the experiment was an overwhelming success that still had so much more potential to give.

But who are these characters I speak of, and what movies could possibly be coming to expand on this already expansive universe? Well, this is where I get to put on my speculation hat and make some predictions of what will come next from Marvel Headquarters. If nothing else, Marvel’s success with these movies has given them a lot of trust from their audience, and they now have the freedom to pursue all or none of these ideas in time, but the comic book nerd in me is hoping that each of these will see the light of day at some point.

Today, I’m looking at the characters from already established franchises that I believe would make good fits in the movie universe, specifically as members of the Avengers. Each one of these characters would fulfill a very important role in the Marvel Universe: sustainability. Most of them are variations of the already existing main characters, which means their skill set would not be lost if, say, an actor got tired of playing the same part after a while. It also means that there can be a mix and match with the two parts shuffling in and out as necessary, keeping things new with new personalities and the chemistry issues that can bring while still enjoying similar battle styles. It’s a win for everybody, especially the fans. Let’s get started!

Red Hulk


Who he is: Remember 2008’s The Incredible Hulk? Well, there may be a good reason why Marvel kept the movie in continuity despite the relatively lower quality of the movie and changing the main actor (a wise choice, as Mark Ruffalo was incredible). Thunderbolt Ross, the guy who was in charge of overseeing Bruce Banner’s project and spent the rest of the movie trying to hunt the Hulk down becomes crazy trying to destroy the creature that is attacking his city and making a mockery of his armed forces. He exposes himself to gamma radiation and becomes the Red Hulk. In this form, he is able to maintain his intellect and remains a master of battle strategy, but his rage emits heat instead of making him stronger, and too much of it can weaken him severely.

How he’d fit in: If Marvel ever made an Incredible Hulk 2, he’d be the perfect villain. His daughter is Banner’s romantic interest, which makes his discovery that his daughter is literally sleeping with the enemy the perfect catalyst to convince him to go mad to try to stop the Hulk at any cost. Even if the Hulk seems to have learned how to keep his cool in most situations, a charging Red Hulk coming towards him would definitely be enough to bring out his angrier side. A giant Hulk v. Hulk battle would be fun to watch, and in the end, Banner’s ability to help General Ross control that deadly weakness of his would be enough to get him to join the Avengers. A more strategic Hulk would be a valuable asset on the battlefield.

Likelihood: Not that good, sadly. There seems to be a definitive peak on revenue brought in from Hulk movies; though the 2008 movie was far superior to its 2003 brethren, the final box office numbers were nearly identical. Yes, Red Hulk has been very popular in the comic book world, but that rarely leads to increased revenue on its own. Given the Hulk seemed to have good self-control over his anger issues in The Avengers, it’s hard to imagine any movie in which Thunderbolt is driven to these lengths that isn’t pretty contrived. Also, there might not be enough to distinguish the Red Hulk from Abomination, the villain from the last Hulk movie that also had a similar power set to the Hulk. If another Hulk movie is going to be made, I wouldn’t rule this out, but it may be a while before this becomes a true possibility.

War Machine


Who he is: You’ve already met War Machine if you watched Iron Man 2. James Rhodes is a lieutenant colonel in the Marines who also happens to be friends with Tony Stark. In the movie universe, Rhodes has to use Stark’s newest power suit to prevent Tony from self-destructing and damaging others while drunk in the Iron Man suit at a birthday party gone out of control. Rhodes kept the suit and put it in the hands of Justin Hammer, Stark’s rival who had a weapons deal with the United States, went mad with power, and trying to kill a whole bunch of people. Eventually, Rhodes was able to help Tony fight off all the attack drones and save the day, keeping the suit for himself in the aftermath.

How he’d fit in: Rhodes is essentially a more disciplined Iron Man. His military strategy and ability to follow orders makes him a far more easy to work with replacement should Tony Stark have to go out of the picture for a while. He’s a true professional while also being a complete badass in that power armor, which uses more traditional weaponry than Iron Man’s energy beams. Introducing him to S.H.I.E.L.D. could also create some interesting tension in their relationship, as Stark prides himself on being the best, and War Machine gives him a solid run for his money.

Likelihood: We are literally a big naming moment away from already seeing this happen. To what degree the character will be integrated has yet to be seen, but Rhodes seems like the most likely candidate to join Stark on the Avengers from the other characters in the Iron Man universe. Given Rhodes has already been confirmed for Iron Man 3 and is listed, at least on wikipedia, as War Machine, I get the feeling we’ll see very soon just how big a figure War Machine will be in the Marvel Movie Universe.

Valkyrie


Who she is: Valkyrie is the strongest of the Valkyrior, who are very similar to the Norse mythological warriors known as valkyrie. While not a god like Thor, she does age far more slowly and has superhuman strength and toughness. Her age has given her centuries of combat experience, making her one of the most notable strategic minds in addition to her incredible combat skills. Valkyrie also has a weird connection with death, able to sense when someone is about to die and able to take spirits back and forth between the realms of the living and the dead (this gives her a weird attraction to Deadpool, whose rights sadly are not with the Marvel movies studio; that scene alone would be worth putting her into cinematic form).

How she’d fit in: With no offense meant to Black Widow, there simply aren’t many female superheroes that can claim the power that Valkyrie does. Having a strong female character known for her prowess on the battlefield more than her beauty (though her beauty doesn’t hurt) can only be good for the Marvel universe. Also, she plays perfectly off of Thor’s character flaws of humility, as she is a formidable match for him, and I doubt Thor would take too kindly to being seriously challenged by a female warrior.

Likelihood: Moderate to high. She’s been on several Avengers teams in the past, and her abilities on the battlefield as a guardian of sorts make her exactly the kind of warrior S.H.I.E.L.D. would want for their Avenger initiative. Protecting a planet like Earth would come naturally for her, and I would not be surprised to see her leading a charge of Valkyrior into battle the next time a truly dangerous threat comes around.


Beta Ray Bill


Who he is: Beta Ray Bill is a Korbinite, an alien species from a far away galaxy that has been rendered nearly extinct, that crash lands on Earth. In the comics, Bill fights and defeats Thor’s alter ego. While Thor is unconscious, Bill finds and is able to wield Mjolnir, deemed worthy by the hammer itself. After discovering what had happened, Thor challenges Bill to a battle for the hammer, which drains both fighters but eventually finds Bill the winner (he emerges from being knocked out slightly before Thor does). Thor is dismayed at first, but Bill is so filled with respect for everyone’s favorite Asgardian that he lets Thor keep Mjolnir. For his strength and virtue, Odin grants Bill his own hammer called Stormbreaker, which has the same powers as Mjolnir, and Thor and Bill become true brothers-in-arms.

How he’d fit in: Again, Thor is a hero whose flaw comes from his lack of humility, and giving him a challenge like this where he’d have to accept that there are many out there with power that can surpass even his own, provides exactly the kind of foil needed to have the character grow. Beta Ray Bill is definitely a fun character in his own right, whose incredible combat abilities would make him very fun to watch.

Likelihood: Depends on what you’re looking for. Every other character on this list has spent time with the Avengers and is a good fit for that team, but Beta Ray Bill has never done that, and given his character, I don’t see any reason he would. He could, however, assist the Avengers against a certain bad guy that may have been revealed at the end of The Avengers as a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy (more on that tomorrow). If a Guardians of the Galaxy movie is announced, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Beta Ray Bill as a member at some point, and since Marvel has shown that nothing is too comic-y to be put to film, Bill’s quirky characteristics don’t rule him out.

Falcon

Who he is: Falcon is widely recognized as mainstream comics’ first African-American superhero. Though his early days were largely defined by his status as outsider because of his race, the character has largely grown past that due in large part to his friendship with Captain America, who helped train him in martial arts and turn him into an incredibly capable fighter in addition to the empathic link he shares with birds. He’s able to command birds to his will to some extent (it changes depending on the writer), tap into their memories to determine what they’ve seen (though their lack of concept of time means events can be out of order), and see through their eyes to spy on enemies or find someone who is missing.

How he’d fit in: I hate to play the diversity card, but having a strong minority character can only be a good thing for Marvel marketing. Outside of that, such spying abilities would make him a perfect addition to any espionage mission the Avengers would need to pull, and his fighting skills ensure that he’ll be a valuable asset when battles roll around. Also, and this may be just me, but I feel as if the Cap needs a friend to get him through the harsh transition into the modern world, and the two characters bounce off each other really well.

Likelihood: Low to mid, probably. One should never rule out a strong minority character with the interesting skill set that Falcon has, but he’s probably not the biggest priority from Captain America continuity. I could see Falcon showing up in Captain America 3, if such a movie is ever made, before I would believe he’d make an appearance in Captain America 2. Especially since there’s a really obvious choice that comic fans everywhere are clamoring for…

Winter Soldier


Who he is: Remember Bucky Barnes, Captain America’s best friend from the first movie? Were you heartbroken when he fell to his death in that mission gone wrong? Well, have no fear! Being frozen isn’t the death it used to be, at least not in the comic universe. It turns out that the Soviets discovered Bucky’s frozen body and all but brainwashes him, taking advantage of his amnesia to turn him into one of the most effective assassin’s the Russians had ever seen, the Winter Soldier. Heck, he even has a brief romance with the Black Widow (and we know movie audiences are just looking for reasons to put Scarlett Johansson in a tight leather outfit again).

How he’d fit in: In my perfect world, Captain America 2 is essentially the Winter Soldier’s story. Cap is mourning over the loss of everything he loved when a deadly assassin starts reaping havoc on important S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives. Captain America is called in and starts hearing rumors that this assassin is, in fact, his best friend Bucky brought back from almost certain death. With mixed feelings, the Cap now has to go off and fight his best friend, hoping to restore his memory and bring him back into the fold. The climatic scene where Captain America reminds him of the soldier he used to be and Bucky breaks down with guilt would be incredibly powerful if done properly, and the two would be reunited after all these years. Marvel can take all my money if they pull that movie off properly.

Likelihood: I have to think this is where they’re going with this. They never did show Bucky’s body, and honestly, I’m not sure where else Captain America’s story would likely go without this kind of blast from the past. It’s the most fun storyline I can come up with, the deep emotions behind it would make it one of the most memorable of the marvel cinematic universe if done right. With the exception of the inevitable Avengers 2, the idea of having a Captain America movie with the Winter Solider is by far the most exciting possibility in my mind, and I really hope the heads of the Marvel movie studios agree.

Now it’s time to let me know who you think would make a good addition to the Avengers roster from the Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America universes. Sound off in the comments below, or follow us on twitter at @RedShirtCrew. And don’t forget to come back tomorrow when I look at which new Marvel movie franchises are likely to see the light of day. Until then, this is MaristPlayBoy, signing out.

Avengers Mega-Post

When a movie breaks the record for largest opening weekend and causes one of the biggest nerdgasms of the last twenty-five years, you just know that a Mega-Post is the only way to truly delve into this phenomenon. Click the link to see some of our perspectives on one of the biggest and most ambitious movie releases in history.

[WittySciFiPun]:

I have to admit, my expectations for The Avengers weren’t that high. Not that I thought it was going to suck, but I didn’t think it would be much more than just an “okay” superhero flick. As while I enjoyed the first Iron Man, its sequel didn’t do much for me, nor did Captain America or Thor. So I had my doubts that a film containing all of these superheroes (plus others) could work that well. Boy, was I wrong. I would go so far in calling The Avengers my favorite Marvel movie adaptation of all time.

For me, what set the movie apart was its humor. Sure, other superhero movies have the occasional visual gag or witty one-liner here and there, but The Avengers has comedy fused into its spine. It flows throughout the film, bouncing alongside drama but never becoming overbearing. In addition, the chemistry between all of the main characters is fantastic, whether they are fighting against each other or working together. The different personalities of the Avengers team mixed perfectly, to my great surprise. The Dark Knight Rises will have to do something quite special in order to take The Avengers’ place as my favorite movie of the summer, if not the year.

Finally, I would advise watching The Avengers with a large audience. Not that it doesn’t stand up on its own (because it does, no doubt in my mind), but at times the movie just feeds energy into the audience, and at the packed showing that I went to, that energy was repaid in full. Cheering, laughing, gasping, almost always in unison- the reactions of my fellow moviegoers made the experience all the more exceptional. I’m pretty sure that watching The Avengers in theaters on opening weekend will be something that sticks with me for a long time.

Gray Anderson:

I have two opinions concerning the movie.  First and foremost, it was great to watch: I loved the banter among the characters (Joss Whedon did much of the writing, so I’m not surprised here…see Firefly for another wonderful example of this sort of work), and it says something about his ability to work with the characters and actors to achieve an end result that many of the best moments in the film involved the characters shouting at one another and generally not getting along well.  The action sequences were also quite good.

With that said, I really did not like how Loki was handled, while Nick Fury managed to be generally unlikable.  In Thor, Loki was scheming and switching sides every five minutes…but there was something about him that managed not to be terribly menacing or brazenly evil (at least by Hollywood standards).  Moreover, there was a solid argument to be had that of the two brothers, he was the competent ruler of the two: He might not have been the ruler that Asgard wanted, but in the long run his reign was more likely to be good for Asgard than the Thor of most of that film, and definitely likely to leave Asgard in a safer, more secure position.  This time around, Loki was just plain mad…and it was in many ways the sort of ‘sadistic bastard’ mad found in Heath Ledger’s Joker mixed with dictatorial megalomania.  Compared to his portrayal in Thor, Loki has devolved substantially.

Nick Fury also didn’t come across well, either.  As always, Samuel L. Jackson plays a wonderful badass…but there were also times when he was just an ass.  I’m not going to weigh the presentation of the character for comic book accuracy, but there’s a point in the movie when the main characters find out some of the stuff Fury was working on…and let’s just say that his lack of disclosure does not go over well.  At all.  At best, he’s a high-handed manipulator…but as even the characters determine, Fury is untrustworthy and duplicitous at times.  While this is understandable (and in some cases, yes, it is necessary), it also makes him at best something of an anti-hero…and unlike most anti-heroes, Fury lacks the likability of many of them.

Junior Varsity:

What I really admired about what the Avengers did was that the bad guy wasn’t all bad, and the good guy wasn’t all good. Let me explain:

Tom Hiddleston did a wonderful job capturing Loki in all his sneering evil. But there were some moments of the movie that we could see he was being pressured. When he talks to Thor on the mountain, that whole conversation was very brotherly, and we could see that Thor still wanted Loki to come back from the “dark side”. Then in his underground lair, the scene with the alien…thingy…Loki stood up to the alien, momentarily. Finally the moment with Thor on Stark tower, when Thor almost persuaded Loki to come to the “light side”. Sure, Loki might’ve been faking just to get his opportunity to stab Thor, but I thought it was a nice moment of doubt, which in my opinion, made him more than  just a cheap 2D villain.

Similar to this was the portrayal of SHIELD, Nick Fury in particular. In the comic book world, as in real life, one is always dealing with a certain amount of moral ambiguity. Samuel L. Jackson also did a great job, from the beginning. He stood up to Loki in the SHIELD facility, trying to save the Cube. Then all the business about SHIELD making weapons with the Cube technology, and Phase 2 showed a darker side. This also was echoed in the moment when Agent Hill mentioned that the collectible cards had been in Coulson’s locker. Then again at the end when the Board decided to launch the Nuke, and Fury did everything he could to stop it – against orders. So Nick Fury in my mind was also very interesting as a character.

Not that the main superheroes weren’t. I’m just giving these two as good examples.

So that might be a different perspective than just AVENGERS AVENGERS OMG YAY. It was very sophisticated, and I admire Joss Whedon above all, for bringing it to us.

Angel in the Mirror:

Okay, so, let me preface this review by saying that I don’t actually know anything about the Marvel Universe. I only know what I’ve seen in the recent Marvel movies. That being said, I’m always a little wary of superhero movies, because I’m afraid that if I don’t know the universe I’ll be lost. Far too often an adaptation seems to rely on people being familiar with the series and having read/watched the source material before getting to the theaters. The later Harry Potter movies definitely suffered from this problem. Some of the X-men movies also had that problem (not including First Class, which was a reboot of the universe entirely). 

I was a little worried walking into The Avengers. Even though I had seen all the previous movies, I still knew practically nothing about the Avengers themselves, or any enemies they might face. I’m happy to say, however, that the film stood up to the example set by the previous movies. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, and I wasn’t ever lost or confused. Might it be a little confusing for those who haven’t seen the other movies? It’s possible. But, it’s easy enough to get the gist of what’s going on and not get too cluttered in who’s who and what’s happening. 

If you’re worried about seeing this movie because you’re not the biggest Marvel fan, or not the biggest superhero person, and you don’t know the stories, don’t be. It’s an easy movie to follow, at least, for someone who doesn’t know anything about Marvel. My friends who know the universe seemed just as satisfied with the movie as I was, but, I’ll let them have the final say on the adaptability of it. It’s a good movie that combines action, adventure, a little bit of drama, a lot of comedy….basically everything you could want in a movie. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun movie for a night out. 

Metaphysical Physicist:

To me, this movie provided a good balance of story, humor, and action.  Unlike other recent movies like say, the most recent Transformers, it was not endless battle scenes.  It seemed to me to have a nearly perfect balance of action, characterization, and humor.  The battle was what you’d expect from marvel, superheroes having minor disagreements that wreck small forests, or carving a path through a horde of enemies.  The characterization doesn’t do much on an individual level, but you do see the avengers growing closer as a team.  They go from rocky beginnings eating shwarma together at the end.  Still, to me the best aspect of the movie is the humor.  Of course personalities like Tony Stark (Ironman) the self-proclaimed “billionaire/philanthropist/playboy” will clash with those like Steve Rogers (Capt. America) the literal poster boy for following orders.  And when they do it’s hilarious to watch.  And just to make things more interesting, let’s throw in Bruce Banner (aka The Hulk), a guy with “legendary anger management issue.”  It’s the small moments of comedy that come from these personalities that make this movie truly exception, whether it be Thor reminded everyone that Loki is adopted, Ironman taking over a PA system to blast rock music as he shows up to save the day or the hulk commenting on what a “Puny God” Loki is.  Much as he did with Firefly Joss Whedon seemlessly merge humor and drama for a top notch movie.