MOVIE REVIEW: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America: The First Avenger

A Film Review by David Gordon

Time.

Time is one of the most wonderful concepts that, as man, we have and can use at our leisurely expense.  There is thought that things get better with time, like wine.  Or, responding to an email immediately after you have been fueled with any kind of emotion like telling your boss to kiss off after she tells you, you need to be more mature and remember that there is a time and a place to say things.  See, if you just wait till the next day, you won’t send that emotionally fueled email.  You will have time to reflect.  Time to save your job.

Wait, where was I?  Oh yes, time.  And time is exactly what I needed to write this review after watching Captain America: The First Avenger.  Because, if you were reading this, this Saturday afternoon, you probably would have been reading a gushing review calling this movie the best comic book movie of all time.  It hit on all the sweet spots of what makes a great superhero movie.  Comedy, action, suspense, romance, wait… I’m getting off track.  This is what I was trying to avoid using time…

Don’t get me wrong.  Cap does all that and then some.  It was indeed a good movie.  But, with a little reflection, I can see the faults the movie has.  Maybe faults are too harsh of a word, but things I’m definitely nit picking on.

COMIC REVIEW: Herc # 5 *****

Herc #5

“Oh my god.  I’m going to die with nerds.” 

And with one line, I giggled way too much and knew that Herc #5  was my favorite book of the week.  

Fear itself has actually turned into a fun little event series running through the Marvel Universe.  I always fear that universe spanning story lines will fall flat on its face, but when you have the right creators on books, they can take anything and spin it into a wonderfully woven tale of awesome sauce. 

FEATURE: Avengers Trailer leaked!

Holy moley, my inner dork was screaming out when I saw this trailer.  You'll have to forgive the quality but there is still enough there to see and pretty much increase hype by 1000.  We'll keep this link video posted as long as it is not pulled. 

EDIT:

Looks like the original link is dead.  Marvel, it would seem, wants to keep the lid on it still.  Which is a shame.  I say start the hype train now.

COMIC REVIEW: Quick Hit List Week June 15

Wonder Woman and the Furies #1

This was a really good book for what it is. Unlike the Legion of Doom, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning did a wonderful job of making this story feel like it was set in a different universe and set a mood/setting that I am eagerly awaiting in the second issue. I completely understood the story and the doom and gloom of Arthur’s and Diana’s subjects. Again, my only complaint is that because this is a limited series, they had to rush the story, but did a spot on job explaining everything and giving the story life.

(Side note: I did have to do a double take when I saw the title… For a moment I thought it said WW and the Furries and thought for sure this book was going somewhere very not mainstream)

Verdict: Liked It

Deadman and the Flying Graysons #1

I know J.T. Krul gets a lot of hate in the fan boy realm, but this particular part of the Flashpoint Universe was marvelous! It did a good job showing the different characterization between Dick Grayson (not quite Robin or Nightwing yet) and Boston Brand (Deadman). Boston thinks that Dick can be even a greater entertainer but is being held back by his parents. Dick disagrees and thinks he is as good as he is because of his parents love.

The story also shows that even circus folk, trying to make a living in this world war between the Amazons and the Atlanteans and being stuck in Europe, can be entertaining. To round out the cast of characters, the Freak Show consists of Dr. Fate, King Shark (is a shark), and Rag Doll couple. I can only imagine what the all out battle be like with the Amazons.

Verdict: Liked It

Sonic Universe #29

This is a cute and quirky book for kids. There is nothing original or mind blowing about the story, but it does enough to entertain. It reads a lot like a Saturday morning cartoon, and with all the other doom and gloom books I read, a nice distraction every now and then.

Verdict: Meh

Alpha Flight #1

This book is pretty damn good. Fred Van Lente and Greg Pak are right at the top of my favorite comic book writers. On some level, I think I share the same sense of humor because I’ve never once been disappointed by any of the books. Alpha Flight is picking up right where they left off on the other books they write together. The story is knee deep in the Fear Itself miniseries going on right now in Marvel, but these two do such a well job constructing and telling this story, it doesn’t feel like they are stuck with telling an EVENT story but telling a story they want to tell. I really love how they are setting it up for all of Canada. Go out and buy this book. It’s funny, action pack and it makes you think. It hits just right on all the parts of what makes a book GOOD.

Verdict: LOVED IT