A Little Bit of Everything

Wow, so I’ve fallen behind.  There has been a lot of big stuff this week.  SDCC is going on right now!  Obviously Paul and I aren’t there, but I’ve been following twitter pretty closely.  Today’s tidbit that left me kind of sad was that Wally West will not be part of the new Flash series.

There have been a TON of released previews of the upcoming relaunch pages and I have to say that despite my relaunch reservations, there is some really beautiful art.  Adam Hughes cover of Batgirl #2 is simply stunning.  I did a bit of a double take today though when looking at the Green Arrow pages, I’m really confused about the direction that series is taking.  It’s moving to a place that is just so far from the things that I love about Green Arrow, but I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll be pleasantly surprised.  Ollie looks a lot younger and the costume changes seem very tech heavy, not as bad as the new Deadshot design though.  I know I’ve talked about that before, but what can I say, I’m still flabbergasted.

 

Flashpoint has been so much fun.  I know in the midst of the relaunch it’s easy to forget about, but I’m really enjoying it.  The Amazon/Atlantean war is boring, I’m not going to lie, but the Batman story is fantastic!  Who knew that Gotham could get creepier?  The Frankenstein story has completely piqued my interest about the new series.  My indifference has given way to excitement because lets face it, Jeff Lemire is great.

The Amazing Spiderman trailer was released this week.  I know it’s an origin story that we’re all really familiar with, at least in tone, but I still want to see this movie.  Yes, I think Andrew Garfield is a little too pretty to be Peter Parker, but come on, it’s Hollywood and he’s an excellent actor.

The Bane photo…remember the first Bane photo that had great shadows and the promise of something amazing?  Well, seeing the mask full on was a bit of a disappointment.  There is a teaser trailer for The Dark Knight Rises out, but if you’ve seen the first two films, you’ve basically seen the teaser trailer.



The rumor mill is raging and as soon as announcements are confirmed I promise we will be discussing them.  Before I end this post though, I’m curious to know what everyone thinks about the end of The War of the Green Lanterns.  Sinestro back with the corps, how do you think that’s going to go?

Powers Casting

First of all, if you're not reading Powers by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming, you should be.  It is a super fun series about a couple of detectives investigating crimes associated with superheroes.  Obviously there's more to it than that, but I won't ruin it for you.

Recently it was optioned by FX and we've been waiting not so patiently for the casting announcements about who is going to play Deena Pilgrim and Christian Walker and I'm honestly a bit baffled by the choices.

"Maggots, you're eating maggots Michael."

That's right folks, Jason Patric is Walker.  The age doesn't bother me so much, Walker is a character outside of time really, but the bulk of the character is concerning.  When Jason Patric bulks up he loses his chin.  I can't be the only one who has noticed this.  There were rumors floating around that Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights, Super 8) was a front runner and I was on board for that.  I'll say this for Jason Patric though, he is very pretty.

Deena Pilgrim, kick ass hero to women folk everywhere, is not being played by Katee Sackhoff and that is a crime in my humble opinion.  She is being played by Lucy Punch and if you're an anglophile like I am, you have probably seen her pop up in a variety of places.  I don't mind her as an actress, although she has a tendency to go overboard with the kooky expressions, but as Deena Pilgrim?  Can she carry off the ultra sarcastic, sexy character that we know and love?

First Look at Bane!

First, let me say how happy I am about the changes to Bane’s mask.  Conceptually, from what we can see in this picture they’ve upped the creepy factor and I’m really pleased that we’re able to see his eyes.  I don’t think the mask from the comic would have played very well on the big screen, but the dimensions of this design seem really interesting.  I can’t wait to see it from the front.

Hello Lois Lane!

 

First Anne Hathaway is cast as Catwoman and now Amy Adams is Lois Lane.  Someone in Hollywood really gets me.  I think this casting choice makes a lot of sense.  Amy Adams has already demonstrated that she can play tough characters and still maintain her femininity.  Let’s be honest she is just the right kind of sexy for Henry Cavill’s Superman. While I’ve always considered myself more of a Batman person, the Superman movie keeps becoming more and more appealing.

Wonder Woman Costume Revealed

Oh…my…goodness.  That’s certainly interesting.  I kept my mouth shut when they cast Adrianne Palicki as Diana, even though I have severe reservations, and I didn’t say a word when Elizabeth Hurley was cast as Veronica Kale which I violently disagree with, but now I’m done.  That costume looks plastic.  They didn’t have to go super camp!  Diana is such a strong character and worthy of so much more. 

Meet the Kents

 
It’s official boys and girls, Diane Lane and Kevin Costner are Ma and Pa Kent.  I have such mixed emotions about this.  My first thought is, aren’t they too young?  This isn’t Smallville.  But then I realize that a lot of time has passed since Bull Durham and Streets of Fire.  Poor Michael Parѐ.  But I digress. 

I am a Costner fan, I will proudly admit to watching Waterworld, and I like Diane Lane.  She has a tough chick quality that I’ve always found endearing…which is another reason for my mixed emotions about the casting choice.  But Kevin and Diane have moved on to playing parental types and I’m alright with that.  It’s going to be a younger, prettier, and possibly grittier Superman.  Bring it on.

X-Men: First Class Trailer!

Everybody loves X-Men in one way or another.  We’ve enjoyed all the movies except the third one which was a classic case of a story getting so big there wasn’t any substance.   Wolverine was silly, but fun and so I kept my expectations low for First Class assuming it would be the same.  After the seeing the trailer though, my expectations are higher and I’m looking forward to the 60’s mod take on X-Men.  Hopefully, I won’t be disappointed.

Captain America Trailer!

Okay, so here is where I show my ignorance of the Marvel world.  I’m a DC girl, I think that’s pretty clear, but it doesn’t change the fact that I have high hopes for the current reign of Marvel films that are ultimately leading up to The Avengers.  I think Thor looks fun and Kenneth is a great director (leaving out the musical travesty that shall not be named).  I don’t know a lot about Captain America, but from the trailer and the pictures that I’ve seen, it’s going to hold it’s own, and Chris Evans deserves a better chance in the superhero world.  The Human Torch is dead, long live Captain America.

A More Rugged Superman

Say it loud and proud my friends, Zack Snyder is a casting genius.  Henry Cavill, the adorable Brit who deserves way more acclaim than he’s currently been getting, is the new Superman.  It’s snoopy dance central in the Zappone house today!

Catwoman and Bane!

For quite awhile now we have been waiting rather impatiently to find out exactly who Tom Hardy will be playing in the new Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises, but the waiting is finally over!   Rumors were flying around about Killer Croc and Dr. Hugo Strange, but no, Bane it is.  And as a special bonus, it was also announced that Anne Hathaway has been cast as Selina Kyle aka Catwoman.   

My main complaint with Batman films in the past has been that I don’t see the need to consistently have more than one main villain.  It’s worked in the Christopher Nolan movies but Batman Returns set this trend that is never-ending.  Of course, then there is the age old argument that says that Selena Kyle isn’t a villain, she’s a grey area.   So that’s puts us back to one villain, but wait, don’t forget Two-Face and Scarecrow.  If we can believe Aaron Eckhart, he says that Two-Face won’t be making an appearance, so that leaves Scarecrow and honestly I’ll be sad if Cillian Murphy isn’t in the new one…so yeah, two villains it is, and no complaining from the panel.

I can’t wait to see the new Catwoman costume!  It’s going to be tough to beat Michelle Pfeiffer’s, but it certainly couldn’t be worse than Halle Barry’s.  As for Bane, I’ve always been lukewarm towards the character, but if anyone can give me a new appreciation for him, it will be Tom Hardy.

Andrew Garfield Spiderman Pic

If you’ve been online at all today, you’ve probably already seen this, but I’m posting it anyway.  I’m loving this costume, especially the gloves!  More grit and less whining = a perfect Peter Parker.   

 

Ponyboy Cast in the Spiderman Reboot

Like any child of the ‘80s I have a soft spot for C. Thomas Howell, but the casting for the new Spiderman film just keeps getting weirder and weirder.  Honestly the only person I can stand up and say “Abso-friggin-lutely!” to is Martin Sheen, everyone else has me scratching my head.  But it’s a good and curious head scratch. 

Back to the addition of C. Thomas Howell though, he will be playing a character named “Ray” and I’m thinking his screen time will be limited.  There’s a lot of story to pack into the Peter Parker origin story as we all well know, but good for you C. Thomas!  Welcome to this new world of reboots.  Maybe the release of Spiderman will coincide with the remake of Red Dawn, wouldn’t that be ever so special? 

Thor Trailer!

Kenneth Branagh takes on comics!  Marvel has me hooked on this one, I can’t wait to see this movie.

Karl Urban as Judge Dredd

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I hate to admit that I’ve seen the Stallone Judge Dredd more than once, but I have and I acknowledge the ridiculousness of it.  I don’t think it’s possible to have a Judge Dredd film that doesn’t lean to the ridiculous, but I am so excited to see Karl Urban try…and in that helmet no less! 

Tuesday is Green Lantern Trailer Day!

There’s even a quick shot of Tomar-Re.  Yay! 

New Green Lantern Footage!

Snoopy dance!  Snoopy dance!  Snoopy dance!

Green Lantern: The Animated Series

This had me doing the snoopy dance when I read about it.  Imagine all the characters they could use and stories they could do?  I was picturing all my faves: Arisia, Salaak, Natu, Tomar-Tu but then I read it more closely and it’s going to be an extension of the film.  Why does Hal Jordan get all the play?  Don’t get me wrong, I like Hal Jordan, but the Green Lantern world is HUGE and the possibilities are endless for an animated series.  Fingers crossed Geoff Johns agrees with me and they hurry up and introduce the rest of the Corps.  Like Paul says, no reason Hal can’t be Parallax for awhile.