Songbook Xtended: Holy Diver

Dio - Holy Diver (1983) [Original Post]

Infinite Wars: Deathstroke vs Robin

DEATHSTROKE versus ROBIN

Apokolips... Now (DC/Marvel)
Where: Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans #1 When: 1982 Why: Chris Claremont How: Walt Simonson

The Story So Far...
Nightmares plague the young heroes of the X-Men and Teen Titans. The memory of fallen comrade Phoenix haunts the mind and heart of those who loved her, while a universe away, her flaming visage inspires terror.

Across the gulf of space: Darkseid contemplates the means to penetrate and harness the supreme power of The Source Wall. His plan: to send his agents to collect the residual psychic energies left on Earth by the cosmic Phoenix entity.

Flanked by an army of Para-Demon soldiers, Deathstroke accepts Darkseid's mission to lead a quest to accrue cosmic energy. First he must acquire a specific scientific device from STAR Labs in Gotham City. A burglary that inevitably brings him into conflict with his nemesis - the Teen Titan: Robin!

Full Article: https://secretearths.blogspot.com/2018/11/deathstroke-versus-robin.html

Songbook Xtended: No More Mosquitoes

Four Tet - No More Mosquitoes (2001) [Original Post]

Infinite Wars: Black Lanterns vs Mera & Tempest

AQUAMAN, DOLPHIN & TULA versus MERA & TEMPEST

Blackest Night (DC)
Where: Blackest Night #2 When: October 2009
Why: Geoff Johns How: Ivan Reis

The Story So Far...
In the forbidden zone of Space Sector 666: the landing sight of the defeated Anti-Monitor has given rise to a mysterious black battery. This was the dawning of a War of Light prophesized by the Guardians of Oa!

The first sacrifice was William Hand: the death-obsessed villain known as Black Hand who willingly becomes the avatar of the coming Black Lantern Corps! Across the galaxy - the dead will join him as undead ranks consuming the living to charge their black battery!

Every hero who discovers this cosmic conspiracy risks being claimed! On the beach of Amnesty Bay, the new King of Atlantis follows Mera to seek the remains of his former mentor and king. Garth aims to strengthen his rule by returning Aquaman's remains to the tombs of Atlantis, but will soon find the dweller of the deep now walks the earth as an undead Black Lantern!

Full Article: https://secretearths.blogspot.com/2018/11/aquaman-dolphin-tula-versus-mera-tempest.html

Infinite Wars: Solomon Grundy vs Bizarro

SOLOMON GRUNDY versus BIZARRO

Christened On A Tuesday (DC)
Where: Solomon Grundy #2 When: June 2009
Why: Scott Kolins How: Scott Kolins

The Story So Far...
19th century Gotham City was home to an evil soul called Cyrus Gold. With blood on his hands, he was cursed upon death to forever rise again from his unmarked grave in Slaughter Swamp! Now he terrorizes the modern world as Solomon Grundy!

Caught in an endless cycle of death and resurrection, the shambling monster is forever drawn to new acts of evil as an unstoppable undead creature - until now?...

A mysterious force has given Cyrus Gold seven days to end his curse, but dark forces conspire to prolong the agony of Solomon Grundy! Waylaid by The Demon Etrigan, a murderous Cyrus Gold was restored only to meet another grim end in a scrapyard. Now Solomon Grundy is loose in Gotham and fate would have it that a LexCorp transport carrying Bizarro now lies in his path!

Full Article: https://secretearths.blogspot.com/2018/10/solomon-grundy-versus-bizarro.html

Songbook Xtended: I Can't Put My Finger On It

Ween - I Can't Put My Finger On It (1994) [Original Post]

Infinite Wars: Venom vs Ghost Rider

VENOM versus GHOST RIDER

Spirits of Venom Part 4 of 4: Last Rites (Marvel)
Where: Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance #6 When: January 1993 Why: Howard Mackie How: Adam Kubert

The Story So Far...
Supernatural forces conspire in the night as New York City plays host to a bizarre gathering of occult entities! While Spider-man scrambles to protect Hobgoblin from the evil Demogoblin and Doppelganger -- the progeny of Deathwatch prepares for his resurrection below, drawing Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze, and Venom!

The forces of darkness threaten to consume the heroes when they converge in the underground of Manhattan's sewers. Against overwhelming odds, the heroes prevail over endless hordes of Deathspawn, but when Venom's hatred for Spider-man gets the better of him, Ghost Rider steps into the line of fire!

Full Article: https://secretearths.blogspot.com/2018/10/venom-versus-ghost-rider.html

Songbook Xtended: There's Only Me

Rob Dougan - There's Only Me (2002) [Original Post]

Letterboxd: Need For Speed

I could've happily gone through life never actually seeing Need for Speed, but anecdotal reference led me to believe there might be more beneath the hood than an extra-bland version of Fast & Furious. It turned out it wasn't quite as dull as marketing had led me to believe -- but it wasn't the second-coming of gritty motor cinema, either.

The films strongest talking point seems to be its practical stunts, which differentiate from the increasing absurdity of computer-assisted gimmicks in the Fast & Furious franchise.

Though technically proficient, these feats of driving are rendered largely underwhelming by a devastating lack of cinematic vision or style. A quick glimpse of Bullit in the first reel can only reflect poorly on a movie that lacks its spirit, grit, and conviction.

Need for Speed is a standard story of a mechanic/street racer whose rivalry with a high-flying contemporary takes him down a cliched road of failure, return, and some form of redemption. It's light on, taking minor detours for character moments, but otherwise servicing a rudimentary story that doesn't really kick in until the last act.

Ordinarily I wouldn't necessarily criticize a film of this type for sticking to a tried and true formula, but much of the movie feels as if it's merely doing enough to make the big finish credible. Instead of meandering to the final event through a series of set pieces, the movie may've been stronger if everything were consolidated into a single concept.

The mythic De Leon race is what really seems to matter: an annual underground, invitational super-event hosted by a reclusive former-racer who streams results to petrolheads live online.

Micheal Keaton emerges as the movie's secret weapon, featured as the race host, The Monarch, in a role I don't remember being promoted prior to release! It's a surprising omission, particularly given the film suffers devastatingly from a severe lack of star-power!

The majority of the cast is an absolute charisma vacuum, which makes Keaton's commentary a surprisingly welcome burst of character, despite telling us what we can already see. One can't help but notice he hams it up in complete solitude, sequestered even after the race seemingly ends at his doorstep. A last minute addition, perhaps? His bombastic one-man Greek Choir seems at odds with the movie's under cooked approach, but may be a model for what the whole movie should've been like. The ethos of 'show, don't tell' doesn't help the rest of the film.

Feisty Brit Imogen Poots is the only other consistent bright spark, tagging along as the unlikely co-pilot in a cross-state race to evade police, and killer bounty hunters. This could've been a buzzkill role, but she elevates and humanizes Aaron Paul, who otherwise struggles to live up to the demands of being a leading man. His performance is earnest, but tough guy throat-talking plays silly at worst - boring at best. Slow motion running towards a burning car is unintentional comedy at its most painful. When Poots takes the emotional wheel, the film is better for it, building a one-sided romance on the strength of screen presence, and verve. Diverting from former flame Anita (Dakota Johnson), and her relationship with bad guy Dino (Dominic Cooper), is the right instinct, even though it seems to run contrary to earlier parts of the film.

A more charismatic group of supporting archetypes could've helped the movie and its lead tremendously. The ragtag group of mechanics and tech support are barely thumbnail sketches. Roman Rodriguez seems to carry the most natural gravitas of the ensemble, but also has the least to do. Rami Malek enters the foreground in one of the biggest human set pieces, strutting out of his desk job naked to rejoin the team. It feels like a second-hand movie moment, servicing a character who'll do very little else. If there was a screenplay dictating these fits and starts of character, it's very flabby. There are a couple of genuine laughs that hit, but not nearly enough.

Kid Cudi grapples with flat running gags as he attempts to give the group a sense of interplay. His role as eye-in-the-sky does feel like one of the more original concepts in the film, putting a callsign and face to the video game conceit of navigation. It's unfortunate that his improvised access to various aerial vehicles plays out off-screen, as its a more interesting predicament than our hero deliberately driving on the wrong side of the road. The forced charm offensive doesn't quite work, but it's tough to dislike the musician turned actor.

Occasionally homicidal law enforcement seems to be the only major allusion to the video game series that inspires the film, but I'm not sure much else does.

As practical stunts don't contribute much to the grittiness of the movie -- which includes an absurd Fast & Furious style escape via military chopper and cables -- perhaps a stronger, CG infused cinematic style would've been a better way to go. It could've enhanced the sense of speed and infused the action with greater enthusiasm. Even more interest in location vistas would've been an improvement. Any visual signature to distract from the flat, uninspired cinematography that so many digital films deliver.

When the cops and bounty hunters are unleashed, the movie really picks up a great deal. It's just a shame there weren't more of them! Even the final De Leon race only has six drivers - quickly whittled away! Building an entire movie around the high-concept race, with more vivid characters behind the wheel, might've been a better way to go. An abundance of cliches would at least be more engaging than a few long ones.

This isn't the extra-bland Fast & Furious clone I thought it would be, but it doesn't have a strong enough vision for itself to really deliver on what sets it apart, either. It's neither high-octane car movie, nor gritty low budget thrill ride. In the end, it needed a lot more than just speed - and maybe a little more of that, too.

Originally Posted: https://letterboxd.com/dialmformicker/film/need-for-speed/

Songbook Xtended: Jokerman

Bob Dylan - Jokerman (1984) [Original Post]

Infinite Wars: Venom vs Spider-man

VENOM versus SPIDER-MAN

The Boneyard Hop! (Marvel)
Where: Amazing Spider-man #347 When: May 1991
Why: David Michelinie How: Erik Larsen

The Story So Far...
When Spider-man's costume was damaged fighting the Secret Wars of Battleworld, he mistakenly chose the wrong repair machine, unleashing an alien symbiote that masqueraded as his new black costume!

Freeing himself from the parasite using its weakness to sound, Spider-man inadvertently created his greatest nemesis when the symbiote bonded with a Peter Parker-hating journalist: Eddie Brock! Sharing the symbiote's knowledge of Parker's secret identity, host and parasite combined to create a deadly Venom!

Using the symbiote's ability to alter his appearance and negate Spider-man's danger sense -- Venom succeeds in luring the web-slinger to the Moleed Labs cryogenic facility. With his mortal nemesis frozen and helpless, Venom transports him to a deserted island so the pair can have their final showdown!

Full Article: https://secretearths.blogspot.com/2018/10/venom-versus-spider-man.html

Letterboxd: Non-Stop

Taken felt like a much needed movement when it first pistol whipped cinemas in the '00s, but on its third iteration by 2014, it had become cliched. I'd well and truly stopped paying attention to anything remotely similar, and still have no recollection of Non-Stop being released the same year. Which may have been the perfect way to discover what is a very pleasant surprise package a year or two later!

Liam Neeson stars (of course) as US Air Marshal Bill Marks. He doesn't particularly enjoy flying, and regards his job with a workman-like attitude. The routines of air security have become familiar more than a decade after 9/11, but as he boards a flight from New York to London, he's about to discover the value of his position.

Non-Stop is a tense thrill ride that immediately begins poking at audience preconceptions as the various players among 150 passengers begin to appear. The movie plays with cultural and cinematic profiling that should keep viewers on their toes. If allowed, it's a movie that will surprise you, both as the mystery of on board threats begins to unfold, and the roles of various characters evolve.

Familiar faces fill the supporting cast, with Julianne Moore holding an affable presence as the passenger seated next to Bill Marks (Neeson). Other recognizable faces include Scoot McNairy (Monsters), Linus Roache (Law & Order), Lupita Nyong'o (The Force Awakens), and Corey Stoll (Ant-Man). It would be a mistake to regard this as any kind of Agatha Christie style ensemble mystery, but depending on what you know, their presence may enhance the experience of questioning their characters.

The tension begins quickly when Marks receives a text message demanding the transfer of $150 million to a specific account or passengers will start dying every 20 minutes. He breaks protocol to consult the second air marshal, beginning an unraveling situation that makes everyone a suspect -- including Bill!

Routine developments ratchet up the paranoia, and although the final reveal may not be everything you'd hoped for, it fulfills the subtext of profiling used earlier in the film. It also comes with genuinely earned concern for the passengers, and an injection of action that goes to the edge of being over-the-top, but doesn't go too far.

Non-Stop is a well written film, anchored by a strong performance by Neeson, who's relieved of any attempt at a bad accent by a backstory benefitting from his origins in Northern Ireland. It's a detail that not only keeps Neeson's acting loose, but also enhances the paranoid subtext, playing upon that region's troubled history. Just one of the many effective examples of social and political subtext offered to a savvy audience.

Low expectations were rewarded as I found myself quickly sucked in to a movie that had quality in every facet. The blue-hued plane interior looks consistent and aesthetically pleasing throughout. It's the right balance of reality and quality filmmaking.

Despite every indication otherwise - this is much more than 'Taken on a plane'. Mystery and surprise is part of the appeal of that first watch, but Non-Stop holds up on repeat viewings as an above average thriller. It's a movie that will inevitably become a relic of its time, but a diamond in the rough of this era of mediocre action cinema. That there's been no sequel can be considered a blessing. A great done-in-one viewing with just enough originality to keep the genre aspects fresh.

Originally Posted: https://letterboxd.com/dialmformicker/film/non-stop-2014/

Letterboxd: The Horror of Frankenstein

The Horror of Frankenstein seemingly announces a return to macabre basics for the storied franchise, resurrecting a classic plot inspired by Universal Pictures' Frankenstein, and Mary Shelley's original literary Modern Prometheus. It should have been a fresh take for a new decade, but instead assembles used parts from previous efforts, creating a shambling retelling, lacking the passion or horror of Hammer's own 1957 production.

The Curse of Frankenstein had given a grim new face to the monster made famous by Universal Pictures in 1931. Christopher Lee was far less glamorous as the pallid sum of decayed corpse parts. His very appearance evoked horror -- a glaring contrast to the lacking creature of the 1970 retelling!

David Prowse is physically gifted as a 6'6" bodybuilder, and commits to the role with deliberate plodding, and a brain-damaged lack of expression. He has a curious charisma, but lacks tactile menace, or visual appeal as The Monster. He's unaided, wearing only the most basic makeup effects to distort the top of his head, suggesting a split cranium. A few symmetrically drawn-on pink scars do little to sell the concept of a patchwork body. Even wardrobe underwhelms, as he at first shuffles into the woods in "bandages" that look like tight, white, lopsided sports wear. This improves somewhat once a dark tunic is thrown over his metal neck-brace, enhancing his size and medieval facade.

Like so many Hammer sequels, Horror of Frankenstein is an endurance test for the audience. The majority is languid period drama, holding back the monster for the majority of the film. This wouldn't be so bad if the drama were more engaging, and the eventual reward more satisfying. The Monster just isn't worth the hour it takes.

To this point, the star of Hammer's Frankenstein franchise had been Peter Cushing. He was seen as recently as 1969 in Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed, and was particularly arresting as the driven mad scientist of the first film. With performance and natural character, he carried the first half of the original entry, emerging as its true monster. It's no surprise Cushing would be brought back for Frankenstein and The Monster From Hell - the final installment.

Ralph Bates repeats many of the same beats of murder and malice as Cushing, but is a much less dynamic Baron Frankenstein. He proves to be a villain through action, rather than unflinching conviction. Bates brings an unusual screen energy, playing the role with wry removal, and a distanced calculating that only dabbles in arrogance.

The peak of the movie is its third act, when the monster is unleashed, and various forces begin to converge on Frankenstein's castle, where the body count has steadily risen. The film sadly shies away from ratcheting up the tension of these disparate threats, playing them out one at a time, rather than all on top of each other. Even as the Monster escapes his dungeon cell and Frankenstein's control, the Baron keeps one step ahead of every threat.

Any hope for a big finish is utterly dashed when the Monster, tamed with an injection, meets his accidental demise in Frankenstein's lab. The death occurs right under the nose of ineffective law enforcement, but is only known to the Baron himself. This gives way to the laughable moment when Frankenstein's unwitting killer -- a small girl he'd frightened, but spared, initiating the manhunt -- declares he was actually a nice monster. Sentiments of pathos borrowed from better versions of the story, but unearned in this one!

The Horror of Frankenstein isn't completely without charm, but like so many remakes, you're better off just seeing the original. Colour and grit at least give the 1957 version a point of difference to Universal's classic black & white horror. Thirteen years on, little has changed in the Hammer approach, and nothing has improved.

Originally Posted: https://letterboxd.com/dialmformicker/film/the-horror-of-frankenstein/

Songbook Xtended: Strawberry Fields Forever

The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever (1967) [Original Post]

Letterboxd: Commando

Commando represents the moment the Austrian body-builder famous for Conan The Barbarian finally said it's time to start talking!

Schwarzenegger must've been emboldened by the success of The Terminator, where stilted line readings enhanced his android assassin, but somebody was clearly nervous, as Commando frequently plays like a concept album set to an incidental film.

Composer James Horner seemingly scrambles to fill run time, mixing genres in a madcap flurry of Caribbean steel drums, Asian flutes, and classic eighties neo-noir sax. The soundtrack rarely lets up.
Each musical style takes turns stomping on a conventional score, occasionally double-teaming a puny bass line, or snapping the neck of something that may or may not have been orchestral. The unusual soundtrack succeeds in relieving pressure from simple scenes that won't otherwise be rescued by snappy dialogue. Occasionally, it gets a little too nutty for its own good, pulling focus in a flurry of horns and percussion. Think sax man Bill Pullman in Lost Highway.

I've found myself revisiting much of the Schwarzenegger oeuvre over the last couple of years, and I've started to see past the inflections of beloved impersonation, to notice his performance has evolved far less than I'd imagined.

In the case of Commando, it becomes increasingly clear pieces of this script will follow Arnold throughout the rest of his career. The one-liners aren't as sharp or frequent as they'll eventually become, but the catchphrases are all here, from "I'll be back" to liberal utterings of "DO IT". Scenes of mall rage and the recruitment of a hapless female cohort will be reprised to greater effect in movies like The Running Man, True Lies, and Jingle All The Way.

The story of a South American dictator's effort to blackmail uber-soldier John Matrix is almost irrelevant. Familiar face Alyssa Milano (Who's The Boss?) survives a barrage of cackling, creating enough of a father-daughter dynamic in opening scenes to keep things rolling with the sub-plot of her kidnapping. The first act twist is merely a means to beginning Arnold's rampage of crazed revenge, urban destruction, and inflicted Stockholm syndrome.

Rae Dawn Chong is surprisingly convincing as Cindy, a petite off duty stewardess with a junior pilot's license. Her flip from fear to affection for the troubled one-man army (Matrix) is a little abrupt, but her arc to becoming a rocket launching badass in-the-making lends fun to the mayhem. David Patrick Kelly (The Warriors) is a uniquely effective foil as the sleazy merc' who sexually harasses Cindy all the way to the parking garage. His comeuppance initiates the action and brings our heroes together.

Australian Vernon Wells is much less convincing as the ex-army buddy gone mercenary, and John Matrix' ultimate arch-rival. The tough talk falls short of wide-eyed menace, mincing ineffectively in a chainmail tank top he must've borrowed from Mad Max 2. The inadequacies of the character may very well be by design, signalling a countdown to his inevitable death. It all gets a little Home Alone when he's reduced to chasing an escaped Jenny (Milano). His final fight delivers more bite than the silly talk might have led you to expect.

For fans of eighties explosions and Arnold's less sci-fi fare - Commando will hold a special place in the canon. Otherwise, it's a mostly middling effort, playing catch-up with Rambo, and destined to be outmoded by future refinements of the Schwarzenegger formula. Franchise fans may have fun imagining it somehow fits into the backstory of Predator.

Originally Posted: https://letterboxd.com/dialmformicker/film/commando/

Letterboxd: Dracula: Prince of Darkness

I always approach Hammer Horror with the best of intentions, but I'm not sure Hammer Horror does the same for me. Watching Dracula: Prince of Darkness some fifty years on- it's pleasing to see the classic vampire mythos played straight, but difficult to bridge the advances of pace and production in the half-century of filmmaking since.

The late Christopher Lee remains as grand a draw as ever, but his characterization is uneven in this second outing, oscillating between the commanding icon of Dracula you might imagine in your mind, and a devastatingly camp parody.

Though widely disputed; Lee credited a poor script with his decision to play the role completely without speaking. Whether by design of penny pinching producers, or the creative vision of actor or writer, its a decision that elevates a performance at its very best when minimal and still. Of course, don't be fooled by trivia: Dracula is not silent throughout the movie!

The titular Prince of Darkness lowers himself when shooing a rival vampire from fresh meat. He uses the kind of vamping hiss that must've inspired Sho'nuff. When the villain finally meets his demise, he does so with flailing slapstick and over the top yelps. An undignified end to the arch-villain, redeemed only by the strength of its concept.

The Dracula sequel, set ten years after Christopher Lee's first outing, deserves to be seen in its full context, but could best be captured by a montage of its conceptually driven horror. Its greatest point of difference to earlier visions is the vivid colour of its picture and imagination.

The occult constraints of invitation and sunlight are familiar tropes to the vampire genre, but the power of running water is one of the less common tricks that lend some surprise to the tried and true formula found throughout. Indeed, much of Prince of Darkness and its basic structure will be familiar to anyone aware of the classics, or the many dozens of imitators that have paid homage. Personal thresholds will determine whether you buy in to one of the better examples of the power of the holy cross - mythology later films freqeuntly subvert, or discard.

The first forty-or-so minutes of recap and foreboding is the greatest barrier to entry. A tale of hapless travelers is most tedious, but those who endure will be rewarded with Dracula's resurrection scene. When lurching minion Klove clobbers beloved Australian actor Charles "Bud" Tingwell - the movie really begins! Simple transitions, and generous helpings of "kensington gore", work wonders in turning an open coffin filled with ash into a memorable movie moment!

The supporting cast lacks the inherent presence of a Peter Cushing, but Andrew Keir attacks the expository role of Father Sandor with conviction. Barbara Shelley brings an energetic menace to the film's second vampiric threat. Their roles aren't big enough to elevate an otherwise middle of the road picture, but compensate for a dull heroic lead, and give context to the threat of Dracula himself.

Dracula: Prince of Darkness sits early enough in the vampire canon to warrant at least one viewing, but its place in film history is challenged by the breadth of its weakest moments. It's a legend sustained by still shots of Dracula's bloodshot red eyes, and Christopher Lee's looming, rather than the full ninety minutes of human struggle.

Originally Posted: https://letterboxd.com/dialmformicker/film/dracula-prince-of-darkness/

Songbook Xtended: Epona

Enya - Epona (1987) [Original Post]

Letterboxd: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Up to this point I've made very little effort to see Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. I've been a fan of Superman and Batman on the page (and screen) for most of my conscious life, but it was clear from previews this wasn't going to be for me. What I failed to grasp was how totally and utterly terrible the experience would be.

It's difficult to think of any arena where this film doesn't meet with failure. At times it barely functions as a narrative film, shuffling from one sequence to the next, clumsily delivering pieces of information for future reference. I wouldn't like to say too many negative things about wardrobe or extras in the film, but nobody is spared the wrath of an ever-present layer of computer-rendered muting, damning almost all facets to condemnation.

The visual hue is evident to announce this as a Zack Snyder film, but it still stuns me the same director who so lovingly adapted Frank Miller's 300 is responsible for this! Sprinkled references to The Dark Knight Returns recall Snyder's previous passions, but the source material is so completely failed, it raises questions about how much blame the director should be allocated. The sense of a compromised vision is here. It's just a question of whether or not Snyder should've been here at all, bending to interests that weren't his.

As Warner Bros play catch-up with Marvel's superhero universe, someone probably thought it would be clever to organically sew the seeds of a Justice League sequel into the plot of Dawn of Justice. If only that were something they actually did! Commerce enters the room every time Gal Gadot is on screen, serving a sub-plot that has nothing to do with the rest of this film! It culminates in an interlude of Quicktime trailers for future DC players who are so utterly tainted by the bad taste of this film - I don't even want to think about seeing more!

No one is more soiled by the whole experience than Superman and Batman themselves. They plod and grimace their way through a film, barely motivated or engaged, full of sound & fury signifying nothing. They enter the movie idiots, long before the war is settled with a very obtuse reference to the ubiquitous "Martha": mother of macguffins.

The biggest shock of the film comes in the final act, when the obligatory rampaging CG monstrosity manages to focus the film toward something more enjoyable. Which is to say, everything in the preceding acts was so utterly miserable. This vision of Doomsday, like every other DC Comics character featured in the film, is only vaguely reminiscent of the comic book original. They managed to make a fairly shallow character even less remarkable.

Wonder Woman doesn't quite steal the show, but comes damn near close, arriving in full costume to cut a car in half, and smack the beast around without the baggage now dragging the title heroes down. Its enough to qualify as one of the three positive things I counted, but the commercial for his spin-off -- a photo -- wasn't necessary.

What were the other two positives? Laurence Fishburne isn't the Perry White of comics fame, but he's always a pleasant presence, and had a nice enough Wizard of Oz joke about Clark Kent disappearing back to Kansas. The other was the music cue for Lex Luthor. Presumably from JunkieXL's contribution, it's deliciously over the top, and could've been very fun had it been in contrast to a more crisp villain. Instead, it trips and smashes its face, accompanying an excruciatingly lame attempt to update an all-time classic.

The rest of the film is miserable. Utterly miserable. I'm stunned just how bad it is. Top to bottom: no good. During the movie I noticed I had a thorn caught in the back of my trousers and accidentally pushed it into my finger tip. That wasn't the worst thing that happened to me! The only benefit to having seen it is that there is absolutely no reason I ever need to think about it again. Except, perhaps, in my nightmares. Not to be confused with a "Knightmare", which probably should've been excised all together. Yeesh!

Originally Posted: https://letterboxd.com/dialmformicker/film/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice/

Letterboxd: Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Find the local fat kid and go on an unannounced hike in the nearest area of nature. Local authorities, to say nothing of casual observers, probably won't find your adventure in kidnapping terribly exotic, or charming.

Taika Waititi's episode of life in country New Zealand is ready for export, but may be too mundane for anyone living, or familiar with, similar semi-rural areas.

The regional characters all ring true, risking becoming unremarkable, if not for the charismatic personalities of its performing cast, and the availability of tongues in cheeks. Rachel House goes particularly big as the bombastically concerned child welfare worker, who seems as interested in filling the farthest conceivable corners of her job listing, as she is actually doing good for children.

Waititi, like many of his countrymen, keeps an eye on the unimpressive, dwelling self-deprecatingly on coveted mod-cons usually taken for granted in American cinema. It can be stretched a little thin, as with the director's cameo as a junkfood obsessed priest, but it creates a consistent and authentic vibe to the picture.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople is predominantly a two-man show that could work on stage, with a little more writing, and the right cast.

Sam Neill keeps a stiff upper lip as the lovably cantankerous countryman ill at ease with his feelings, but full with emotion. Julian Dennison stands out as motormouthed Ricky Baker, a foster kid just trying to come to terms with a series of bad situations that are out of his control. It will be fascinating to see if Dennison keeps this screen energy into maturity, and how he will use it in the future. Both elicit genuine affection as they do an odd couple's dance toward friendship.

Survival and genuine action help keep the movie rolling, punctuating the chase with subdued comedy. Like other Waititi films, the laughs aren't as frequent as they could be. It wilfully stops short of being a great film, settling for good.

Originally Posted: https://letterboxd.com/dialmformicker/film/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople/

Letterboxd: John Wick

The memory of John Wick is simultaneously vague, yet vivid. Static, in hues of blue, existing successfully as a mascot-driven proof of concept, but lacking any lasting impression to go beyond the poster, or stills.

The franchise-starter thrives in a reasonably barren market, but can only masquerade as a cult favourite, underachieving in most of the categories that mint genuine, high-concept action classics.
Keanu Reeves anchors the film as its stoic, uber-capable protagonist, at last returning to the man-in-black action heroes he made famous at the turn of the millennium. The cache of The Matrix is self-evident, but fans will see strands of his Constantine, if so inclined, as he navigates the secret world of this movie's cartoon New York City.

Unlike earlier examples in Reeve's oeuvre, John Wick can only muster an impersonation of style.
A decade of bland, pseudo-realism in corporate blockbusters has clearly bludgeoned the audience if this is celebrated at all. Digital photography is clean and crisp, but there's no real vision behind the design or cinematography, relying on Instagram filters to elevate it above the high-contrast of contemporaries, like The Expendables.

The greatest disappointment of John Wick lies in its failure to utilize a strong supporting cast.
Its one-note attempt at style carries over to the creation of utterly forgettable friends and foes. Indeed, the movie plays almost like a well connected student film, puzzled together over a series of improvised weekends shared with famous friends paid in barbecue. It may not be worth watching if not for its cult of participating personalities.

Ian McShane stands out as a hotel owner savvy to the goings on of his clientele, who just happen to include criminals and assassins. The riff of clear conditions applies Highlander's church neutrality to creating some semblance of a character around McShane's natural charisma. Under different circumstances, he could function as the franchise centre, rendering Wick a recurring presence in his world, rather than vice versa.

Willem Dafoe is under utilized as a seasoned vet of the killing game. It's hard to remember if his allegiances are unclear, or if his character is just poorly realized. His presence invites the mind to wander to a better like-minded movie, where his wader-wearing gang leader was unforgettable in Streets of Fire.

Matrix alum Daniel Bernhardt had more to contribute. Pro-wrestler turned actor Kevin Nash at least brings a natural physicality to his cameo role. All of these characters would've been better had they received any of the creative attention the Continental Hotel received.

Gimmick is not a dirty word, and in the case of John Wick, it's really what's missing. The action is too lowkey, and the story too shallow, to allow a character as minimal as John Wick to carry an entire picture. Everything about the movie suggests this should be a world populated with colourful, memorable characters. The choice to deny that only makes it underwhelming.

Originally Posted: https://letterboxd.com/dialmformicker/film/john-wick/

Songbook Xtended: Sugar Water

Cibo Matto - Sugar Water (1996) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Another Day

Skip Raiders feat. Jada - Another Day (1999) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Brown Paper Bag

Roni Size/Reprazent - Brown Paper Bag (1997) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Are We Here

Orbital - Are We Here (1994) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Memories of Green

Vangelis - Memories of Green (1982) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: In A State

UNKLE feat. Graham Goudlman - In A State (2003) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Breathless

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Breathless (2004) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Suburban Jungle Sleeping Bag

Gerling - Suburban Jungle Sleeping Bag (1998) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Take On Me

A-Ha - Take On Me (1985) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Rise

Public Image Ltd - Rise (1986) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Slave to the Rhythm

Grace Jones - Slave to the Rhythm (1985) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Vogue

Madonna - Vogue (1990) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Like A Prayer

Madonna - Like a Prayer (1989) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Bulgarian

Travel - Bulgarian (Signum Remix) (1999) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: The Dream

Culture Club - The Dream (1984) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: You Can't Go Home Again

DJ Shadow - You Can't Go Home Again (2002) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Der Kommissar

Falco - Der Kommissar (1981) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Bonnie And Clyde

Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot - Bonnie And Clyde (1968) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: I'm Not The Man I Used To Be

Fine Young Cannibals - I'm Not The Man I Used To Be (1989) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Conquest of Spaces

Woodkid - Conquest of Spaces (2013) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Axolotl

The Veils - Axolotl (2016) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Toop Toop

Cassius - Toop Toop (2006) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Windswept

Johnny Jewel - Windswept (2017) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: The Spoils

Massive Attack feat. Hope Sandoval - The Spoils (2016) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Shadow

Chromatics - Shadow (2015) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Partyman

Prince - Partyman (1989) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Midnight in a Perfect World

DJ Shadow - Midnight in a Perfect World (1996) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: L’Aerogramme de Los Angeles

Woodkid & Louis Garrel - L’Aerogramme de Los Angeles (2018) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Superheroes

Daft Punk - Superheroes (2001) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Metaforce

Art of Noise - Metaforce (1999) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Ecuador

Sash! feat. Rodriguez - Ecuador (1997) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: First Twilight

Deep Forest - First Twilight (1992) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Once In A Lifetime

Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime (1981) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Take Me Out

Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out (2004) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Dias Cortas

Liaisons Dangereuses - Dias Cortas (1987) [Original Post]

Infinite Wars: Superman vs Orion

SUPERMAN versus ORION

Superman vs The New Gods! The Champion! (DC)
Where: Action Comics #586 When: March 1987
Why: John Byrne & Dick Giordano How: John Byrne

The Story So Far...
The will of the evil god Darkseid is far reaching! On Earth, his plans to undermine the public's trust lead to a federal outlawing of unsanctioned heroes and vigilantes. Which means Superman is stuck in the unassuming guise of Clark Kent when Omega Beams suddenly pursue him through the streets of Metropolis!

Despite his best efforts to evade them; the Omega Beams find their target - transporting the Daily Planet Reporter to the throne room of Darkseid! With The Phantom Stranger in witness, Darkseid feigns ignorance to the mortal's true identity - casting him into the wild of his dominion!

Stripped of his memory by the Fire Pits of Apokolips, Superman is manipulated to lead a revolt on behalf of the Lowlies who pulled him from the inferno. As quickly as he championed these Hunger Gods, the confused Man of Steel betrays them -- tricked to believe he is the son of Darkseid!

While Granny Goodness attempts to restore Superman's dulled powers with an intense and cruel training regiment -- the true son of Darkseid rushes to his aid! Orion and Lightray prepare for a fight, but it may be the man they're coming to rescue who works hardest to destroy them

Full Article: https://secretearths.blogspot.com/2018/03/superman-versus-orion.html

Infinite Wars: Captain Marvel vs Superman

CAPTAIN MARVEL versus SUPERMAN

Living Daylights (DC)
Where: Action Comics Annual #4 When: 1992
Why: Dan Vado How: Chris Wozniak

The Story So Far...
The darkness of rage and vengeance is threatening to eclipse a world besieged by Eclipso! The ancient demon of vengeance has been returned upon the mortal world, exploiting the darkness within the mortal soul to possess an ever growing army of eclipsed souls!

With the situation growing more desperate as Earth's greatest defenders fall under Eclipso's control, what's left of the Justice League of America must work with Professor Emil Hamilton and Lex Luthor to devise a means of combatting Eclipso's plague-like influence!

Desperate to buy the heroes the time they need to enact a technological trap - Superman volunteers himself in exchange for the souls Eclipso has hoarded in a small fishing village. As he becomes a vessel for Eclipso himself, even Superman is unaware of the League's ace in the hole: The Power of Shazam!

Full Article: https://secretearths.blogspot.com/2018/03/captain-marvel-versus-superman.html

Songbook Xtended: Sun Kids

The Sleepy Jackson - Sun Kids (2003) [Original Post]

Infinite Wars: Jessica Jones vs Scorpion

JESSICA JONES versus SCORPION

The Secret Origin of Jessica Jones 2 of 2 (Marvel)
Where: Alias #23 When: August 2003
Why: Brian Michael Bendis How: Michael Gaydos

The Story So Far...
Jessica Campbell was an ordinary kid until her life was turned upside down by a car accident on the way home from a family trip to Disney World.

The collision with a military convoy carrying hazardous chemicals killed her family, and left Jessica in a coma for six months. She awakens to a world in chaos as Galactus and his herald touch down in Manhattan.

If that wasn't bad enough: Jessica is soon adopted, and returned to a life of high school bullying and flashbacks to her family's death. The only upside is that she can now fly and break trees with a firm shove! With great power comes great possibility and fate is about to deliver Jessica to her first heroic moment!

Full Article: https://secretearths.blogspot.com/2018/03/jessica-jones-versus-scorpion.html

Infinite Wars: Bronze Tiger & Vixen vs Stalnoivolk

BRONZE TIGER & VIXEN versus STALNOIVOLK

The Phoenix Gambit: Part Four Black Queen's Mate (DC)
Where: Suicide Squad #43 When: July 1990 Why: John Ostrander & Kim Yale How: Geof Isherwood

The Story So Far...
The Suicide Squad have been dissolved, and Amanda Waller imprisoned, but political unrest in the Eastern European nation of Vlatava has forced the powers that be to reactivate their expendable black-ops force!

Now operating as a fully autonomous outfit under Waller's command; a team, partially reassembled by The Batman, infiltrates Vlatava under the guise of going freelance to a global market!

Russian General Kaligari agrees to hire Waller under strict conditions, working to expedite hardline aggressions against the deranged Count Vertigo, and his Vlatavian resistance. In truth, the Squad work against the Russians, aiming to bring in one of their toughest agents -- the man wanted in connection to an assassination in Gotham City: Ivan Illyich Gort - Stalnoivolk!

Full Article: https://secretearths.blogspot.com/2018/03/bronze-tiger-vixen-versus-stalnoivolk.html

Songbook Xtended: I Against I

Massive Attack feat. Mos Def - I Against I (2002) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Ace of Spades

Motörhead - Ace of Spades (1980) [Original Post]

Infinite Wars: Wolverine vs Black Panther

WOLVERINE versus BLACK PANTHER

Chapter 4: Third Contest: Siege in the City of the Dead! (Marvel)
Where: Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions #3 When: August 1982 Why: Mark Gruenwald, Steven Grant & Bill Mantlo How: John Romita Jr

The Story So Far...
Across the universe there exists immortal entities whose existence determines cosmic reality. The Grandmaster is one such being: an Elder of the Universe whose taste for games inspires a Contest of Champions!

Snatching the world's heroes from a temporarily frozen Earth; The Grandmaster drafts a team of twelve to represent him in a contest of life and death! His team will race to find segments of a golden artifact scattered to the four corners of the Earth!

The Grandmaster's ultimate prize is the restoration of his immortal brother: The Collector! Killed by the man-god Korvac; The Collector's demise is beyond even the vast cosmic might of a fellow Elder. Thus, The Grandmaster's contest pits him against the ultimate opponent - Death herself!

Full Article: https://secretearths.blogspot.com/2018/02/wolverine-versus-black-panther.html

Infinite Wars: Black Panther vs Klaw

BLACK PANTHER versus ULYSSES KLAW
The Way It Began..! (Marvel)
Where: Fantastic Four #53 When: August 1966
Why: Stan Lee How: Jack Kirby

The Story So Far...
Wakanda celebrates the invited arrival of the Fantastic Four, but as they do, a sinister presence from the African nation's past plots against their young ruler!

Massive rampaging jungle beasts attack the unsuspecting kingdom! Animal simulations created from pure sound energy! They are weapons of revenge created by the master of sound: Ulysses Klaw!

Klaw attack Wakanda ten years earlier, killing King T'Chaka in an attempt to claim the country's deposit of rare vibranium metal! Young Prince T'Challa thwarted the attack, and must once again go on the hunt to stop the brutal arch-nemesis whose hand he once destroyed! While the Fantastic Four battle Klaw's sonic monsters -- Black Panther confronts his father's killer!

Full Article: https://secretearths.blogspot.com/2018/02/black-panther-versus-ulysses-klaw.html

Songbook Xtended: Summer of Love

Lonyo - Summer of Love (2000) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Green Mind

Dink - Green Mind (1994) [Original Post]

Infinite Wars: Black Panther vs Thing

BLACK PANTHER versus THING

The Black Panther! (Marvel)
Where: Fantastic Four #52 When: July 1966
Why: Stan Lee How: Jack Kirby

The Story So Far...
When the royal leader of an African nation gifts the Fantastic Four a hi-tech flying vehicle, they're invited to participate in a great Wakandan hunt. Little do they realize - it's the Fantastic Four who will be the prey!

Upon arrival they discover a nation built with the wonders of super-science and riches beyond belief! This is the remarkable kingdom of The Black Panther!

Black Panther hopes to test his fighting prowess and advanced technology against the cosmically powered might of the Fantastic Four. A gambit that begins by separating the group, leaving Thing to unwittingly stumbled into a trap that will leave him vulnerable to unarmed combat!

Full Article: https://secretearths.blogspot.com/2018/02/black-panther-versus-thing.html

Infinite Wars: Hawkman & Captain Comet vs Sinestro

HAWKMAN & CAPTAIN COMET versus SINESTRO

Endgame... Plus Two (DC)
Where: Secret Society of Super-Villains #5 When: January-February 1977 Why: Bob Rozakis How: Rich Buckler & Vince Colletta

The Story So Far...
A battle between The Secret Society of Super-Villains and their evil New God masters has left the city battleground coated with rubble. Buried beneath the mess is Captain Comet -- returned hero of the 1950s whose confusion brought him in league with The Society!

Emerging from the urban wreckage, Captain Comet discovers another space hero trapped underneath -- The Green Lantern! No longer mistaking him for a foe, Captain Comet accompanies Hal Jordan to the Justice League Satellite HQ.

There, Superman and the JLA verify the incredible story of Captain Comet's uncanny return! The old hero isn't the only one to have left the ranks of Manhunter's Secret Society of Super-Villains, though!

A satellite alarm signals the disgruntled attack of Sinestro on The Society's Sinister Citadel in San Francisco! With GL on monitor duty; Hawkman recruits Captain Comet to stop Sinestro's earthquake revenge!

Full Article: https://secretearths.blogspot.com/2018/01/hawkman-captain-comet-versus-sinestro.html

Songbook Xtended: Heatwave

The Blue Nile - Heatwave (1984) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Star Guitar

The Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar (2002) [Original Post]

Infinite Wars: Deadshot vs Enchantress

DEADSHOT versus ENCHANTRESS

Hitting The Fan (DC)
Where: Suicide Squad #6 When: October 1987
Why: John Ostrander How: Luke McDonnell

The Story So Far...
When the Soviet Union proposes a trade with the United States for a controversial novelist's freedom; The Suicide Squad are called upon in secret to extract the prisoner right from under their noses!

It was a politically charged mission to Moscow none of them wanted to take, but the ingenious plan of new recruit Oswald Cobblepot, (aka; The Penguin), makes the trip behind enemy lines seem possible! There's just one catch: Nobody thought to ask Zoya Trigorin if she wanted to be rescued!

A hostile prisoner throws the mission into disarray -- much to the delight of Enchantress! With the Soviet Army closing in fast, Colonel Rick Flag has no choice but to order Deadshot to bring the wild witch down when she goes rogue!

Full Article: https://secretearths.blogspot.com/2018/01/deadshot-versus-enchantress.html

Songbook Xtended: Hunting

Deep Forest - Hunting (1992) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Live It Up

Mental As Anything - Live It Up (1985) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: An Englishman in New York

Godley & Crème - An Englishman in New York (1979) [Original Post]

Sognbook Xtended: I Know What Boys Like

The Waitresses - I Know What Boys Like (1980) [Original Post]

Infinite Wars: Captain Marvel vs Thing

CAPTAIN MARVEL versus THING

Betrayal! (Marvel)
Where: Captain Marvel #26 When: May 1973
Why: Mike Friedrich & Jim Starlin How: Jim Starlin

The Story So Far...
Rick Jones' girlfriend betrayed his love when she fingered him for a murder rap he didn't commit! When Captain Marvel goes looking for answers, he discovers poor Lou-Ann Savannah is a reluctant pawn in a cosmic conspiracy!

The Mad Titan Thanos plans intergalactic conquest starting with the planet Earth, and his scheme is being carried out by Skrull minions: Skragg and Kl'rt!

With the truth exposed: Captain Marvel is on the warpath -- but he's still reeling from the mind-games inflicted in a previous fight with the Skrulls! Super-Skrull has lured The Thing into a trap that paralyzes his vocal chords -- meaning the hero cannot object when Captain Marvel mistakes him for his shape-changing enemies!

Full Article: http://secretearths.blogspot.com/2018/01/captain-marvel-versus-thing.html

Songbook Xtended: in The Space Capsule

Queen - In The Space Capsule (The Love Theme) (1980) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Chupacabras

Mezko - Speak European (1998) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Slug

Passengers - Slug (1995) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Belfast Wasted

Orbital - Belfast Wasted (1995) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Little Light of Love

Eric Serra - Little Light of Love (1997) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Everybody Knows

Leonard Cohen - Everybody Knows (1988) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: We Are Alive

Paul Van Dyk - We Are Alive (2000) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Clubbed to Death

Rob Dougan - Clubbed to Death (1995) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Peach Plum Pear

Joanna Newsom - Peach, Plum, Pear (2004) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Angel

Massive Attack - Angel (1998) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: You've Changed

Sia - You've Changed (2009) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Downtown Train

Tom Waits - Downtown Train (1985) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Hello Earth

Kate Bush - Hello Earth (1985) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Oblivion

Grimes - Oblivion (2012) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Masked Ball

Jocelyn Pook - Masked Ball (Long Version) (1999) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Strangers in the Night

Bert Kaempfert - Strangers in the Night (1966) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Victory

Puff Daddy feat. Notorious BIG & Busta Rhymes - Victory (1998) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Red Letter Day

Pet Shop Boys - Red Letter Day (1997) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: We Don't What We're Told

Peter Gabriel - We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37) (1986) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: It's Alright

Pet Shop Boys - It's Alright (1989) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give It Anymore

Pet Shop Boys - I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give It Anymore (1999) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Miracles

Pet Shop Boys - Miracles (2003) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: The Holy Egoism of Genius

Art of Noise - The Holy Egoism of Genius (1999) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Only An Expert

Laurie Anderson - Only An Expert (2010) [Original Post]