Tonight sees the return of Gotham to FOX, moved to Thursday nights this season. What shall we do?
Actually, just what will Gotham do?
I fell behind on Gotham review quite a while back and do need to go back and at least do season reviews for the show. I do want to take time to ruminate on where the series has gone. I was onboard for the show with the first season.
Many were uninterested, or choose to take a very conservative view of comic and Batman lore (You can portray character one way, the history can unfold only one way. The "one" way is "my" way.). But the show has played with conventions and origins, creating their own take.
The first season did have it's issues, characters misused or out of place, etc. But by the end of the season the world was gelling quite well. The weird and freaky underbelly of Gotham City was emerging. The second and third season built from there, getting weirder and freakier.
And this has been great. Some shows struggle to a stop over 3 or 4 seasons, needing to go suddenly weird and wild to stay alive. Gotham, by it's nature, only gets weirder and crazier. Cults. Secret Societies. Resurrected Madmen. Flamboyant Foes. Ridiculous Capers.
The show, since it's start has become more and more a comic book world. It's the point even dead characters return gets a shrug. And to me that is all to the shows advantage.
So let's recap a little just where the show was last year, and where we head this season.
It is always a treat when you get to look forward to more science fiction on TV. And recent years has felt like it's given us a little boom in the genre with shows like Dark Matter, Killjoys, The Expanse, DC and Marvel shows, Rick and Morty, Dirk Gently, West World, Star Wars: Rebels, Orphan Black, and so on.
It continues with year with more, and in the Trek exploration vein to boot. How can I not be happy with that? Star Trek: Discovery and Orville.
What else is there to say to this but...
Oh, wait. Am I supposed to pick one and hate the other? Or, just hate both of them and demand they be cancelled now? Or, just ask why isn't Firefly being brought back?
I think I'll just sit and see if I enjoy what's a tap. Okay?
Right now we've had a series of new trailers for major scifi and superhero films emerge. And we have Star Wars latest trilogy starting tonight. I haven't touched enough on this, or taken advantage of the online traffic. It is exciting to see these all coming out. But let's not rush, most of these films are months out.
October means horror. Granted so does December and any other month. But we do expect the entertainment industry to put up a bit extra effort.
So why are there Christmas themed horror movies popping up? Damn it, Commercialism!
Today we have A Christmas Horror Story, Krampus, The Hallow, Blood Sucking Bastards, and Crimson Peak.
A Christmas Horror Story
This one has a least a cameo of sorts from William Shatner. Bonus!
But we also get Santa and...zombie elves? I am still with this. And the Krampus, of course. It's becoming pretty ubiquitous. To an extent it feels like a movie made by people that are fans of a lot of the older silly Christmas horror, like Santa Slay, Two Front Teeth, and Elves.
This also have a real feeling like the fake trailers that pop up. But I am seeing some plenty Canadian actors that I enjoy, so I'd like to be hopeful about this being...something.
And I would enjoy watching this...in a month or so.
Krampus
Sure. Adam Scott and the Krampus. ...I will be so much more into this stuff come November. Thanksgiving rarely gives us any good horror movies. So I'll be ready to start bypassing that holiday. I just don't need the Christmas music right now. (Yet parts of the local superstore thinks constant Christmas music is awesome right now...
Krampus. The Krampus is drawn to the house and then all Hell breaks loose.
Neither of these movies is on par with Rare Exports. Just sayin'.
But back to the more season appropriate fare.
The Hallow
The fairies and changelings are coming. When you enter their domain, they return the favor. Seems they want to play with some of the lore of fairies, before they became all wings and wishes.
It's hard to tell her is the fairies will work, or if it will rely to much on jump scares, but a British "You shouldn't have left your big city" story may proves to be a fun excursion.
Blood Sucking Bastards
At the start of the trailer I was leery, but as it goes on it does show some more amusing promise. Still, I'd go first for Netherbeast Incorporated any day. Of course in this one we are supposed to hate on the vampires, and I am guessing we are going to get a Boiler Room vibe to start.
And this trailer gets extra points for pointing out how stupid it is to think you could stake a vampire with a pencil.
And now the main feature...
Crimson Peak
Oh, lord. Ghosts. Gothic. Del Toro. Tom Hiddleston. Will we survive such an experience?
Guess it depends how good it actually is. With a living haunted house, living people who seem to entombed in their past, it seems the mood is set for a Mid-October horror treat.
The pace and a style look wonderful in this film. While we seem to have a good deal of CGI on display, Del Toro is a deft director and creative force. In a cheaper and more rushed movie I would worry about jump scares and excessive nonsense.
I just am trusting for now that Del Toro is not going to have instead dropped a trick in our candy bags.
Okay. Let's close out this look at our heroic tales with some DC Comics? We will stick with live action. Haven't even had a chance yet to watch Batman Versus Robin. But I do have some worries about taking this angle for doing the "Court of the Owls" storyline. ...We can get into that another time.
Still, it is fun to keep up on the DC series on now. Sadly, I am a little behind on viewing and reviewing. I do want to get caught up this week on Gotham and Flash, in some manner, so let's see where they are? (Also I'd like to do something for Constantine, to Remember/Hope For The Best For It.) And I want to get into iZombie, to get a sense of it. And Arrow's current season to.
I better hurry up in my homework, as we have additional shows making their way soon to TV, as we'll see.
And cue the triumphant hero music. For it is time to get back into the hero groove. And it's a time for that. The Empire of old needs some Rebellion. The Machines need to be Terminated. It's time for Max to get Mad again. And...Daredevil, Ant-Man, Fantastic Four, and the Rest.
Plus we should get into DC's Live Action Universe.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Suppose it's time to admit something horrible. I found the first teaser that was released for this movie to be a little meh. It was a series of shots that went by quickly with no sense of what anything meant. There were sights I knew, like updated Stormtroopers and X-Wings. And the Millennium Falcon did a quick pass. It was nice, particularly as the Williams music kicked in. But it was blur of "What?" I still didn't know what to expect.
And now we get this one. Let's be honest it is a rush of more images of things we don't really understand. But it's longer shots and more reveals of how this universe looks, is being filmed, and how the characters may actual connect to one another. And that makes me happy. I feel like I'm starting to figure out the movie.
It's the time of year when we need some childlike fun, and some merry songs to tide us through blustery cold days.
Time for some fun from LEGO's take on the heroes of the DC Universe.Time for the five armies to meet. Time for Snoopy to...do whatever he does, And it's time for some song and dance with a musical witch. And, Galavant, again.
LEGO Justice League Vs Bizarro League
Ah. Another LEGO film. I have so far found the DC animated LEGO films to be quite fun. I like their take on the pantheon of heroes. The humor,animation, and characters feel like they all work together. (Honestly, the Marvel ones haven't worked as well for me. They just feel too goofy.)
But this time out we get a turn with Bizarro. And Bizarro has decided to create some friends. So that means, after so many, years, we get a look at Bizarro's take on the Justice League again.
I don't think I've seen any of them since the days of the Super Friends. I guess they've brought them back in some forms at times.
Though the logic of the Bizarro's is tricky. Do everything opposite. It's hard not to do without being very silly. They've turned more to be more tragic to me in recent years. Bizarro ends up being a strange confused unwanted outsider.
But that's why it's more fun to use the concept with LEGO, where everything can be tongue in cheek!
But I don't think we've had a Bizarro World for awhile. It's supposed to be a square duplication of Earth. Sometimes it seemed it had some variety of people. But often it was a lot of Superman duplicates (Hence why you often Bizarro with a "No. 1" medallion around his neck. He's the original and worst.)
But then you had the team.
Ah.
So we get a tale of them being created from LEGO, and how they end up helping the Justice League against Darkseid. We get to see the value of a Bizarro.
It sounds like fun.
And how can I now resist adding the DC Nation short with Bizarro?
These days it seems we have one source for our new Star Trek needs. J.J. Abrams. (And now I guess we're relying on his conspiracy minded minion, who will be directing.)
But is that true?
Welcome to the world of fan films. And fan films are a vast world, with serious efforts to tell tales of beloved characters and worlds and films that are just for laughs, or love of the franchise.
In that gulf of fan films are many very amateur efforts. Labor of loves that end up put up on places like YouTube for everyone to enjoy. But there are also films that are a serious and skilled effort. These have a lot of blood, sweat, and tears invested in them. They also get cash (and need it) and professionals.
So let's delve into Trekdom and see a couple of the amazing, exciting, and very Trekkie works going on.
Adventure! Who doesn't want it? Okay, not everyone. But we all do, right? So let's quest for a feast. Let's best a good book. And let's see if anyone can hit the right note.
Feast. Librarians. Galavant.
Disney's Feast
Okay this is just too cute. I wonder what the whole short will be? But if it's just a stray that finds a home and has a love affair with food...It'll still be cute.
Why can't I hug animation?!
The Librarians
So, finally, after 10 years we are getting a series.
This time it's time to come for some Rock & Roll. It's time for the mask to go on. It's time for a break from all the work and no play. It's time for some ghost fog pirates. And it's time for us to get just get out of the water already! And then do it again!
And, while your at it, stay out of the sewers.
And did someone say Star Wars? No? Tough! You're getting it.
Old ideas have long been drudged back up to use. Sometimes it's a creative choice. Sometimes it's a return to a classic. Sometimes it just boggles the mind. Let's see where Paddington the Bear, Mad Max, Moses, a woeful space station crew, the Equalizer, and...others fall on the scale.
Paddington
Oh, Paddington. There is a slight cuteness to this trailer. But then we actually get to Paddington. He feels like so many modern takes on older kiddie characters...Just off.
Now I did actually go back to the old Paddington Bear cartoons to try and remind myself what he was like decades back. I am not as enamored of those shows now as I was as a kid. But it is hard not to see the differences.
This may well click with little kids. Ear wax. Flooding a bathroom and surfing out. But it does feel sad that most all studios have given up on the idea that kids can enjoy with stories that aren't wildly wilder stories of popular characters. (Did you see what they did to Postman Pat?)
I think the thing that was really most off putting about the trailer was that all the added wackiness makes iconic Paddington so much more like every other character put out for kids. He's been made more generic.
But, this may just be a horrible ad. Maybe better will follow.
Horror on TV...Okay I have to be honest. I had others shows to talk about, but I was delayed in releasing this post...
So, hey, let's look at a not that new new show, Spooked? (Okay, and also something special afterwards.)
Spooked
Spooked seems like a fun online comedy show. It seems to have some familiar and unfamiliar faces tied to it. Together they look like they create a humorous collection. Their group, PIT, chases down paranormal phenomenon to study and help people. ...You know, like most paranormal shows on cable these days...Except it's actually trying to be funny.
The series seems like an excellent option for this October. It should be something to scare you and then make you laugh, at night on your own, or with your friends around.
Check it out.
And here's episode 1, for your perusal.
Episode 1
Currently their are 4 episodes and some bonus video available from Spooked via Geek and Sundry.
Time for some horror, right? Good. Plenty of horror movies are coming out, in the US and around the world. From Blood Glaciers to Camp Dread to Goal of the Dead to My Fair Zombie. 6 horror trailers to sate you for the day.
...I got to be honest. Maybe it's some of these movie trailers, or maybe it's me. But rewatching and looking at some of them, you can see why you'll likely never fear about some of them again. ...It is me, isn't it. Grump. Grump.
Time for some heroes on the old TV. Will the Arrow hit the mark? Will the 1960's Batman drain my back account?
Arrow - Season 3
Some have laughed at the show. Others have grown to actually love the show. Arrow is one of those shows that is on an interesting path. They want to tell the tale of Oliver Queen in their own way. A man on a mission who grows into the role of a hero over many dangers, obstacles, and enemies.
It also has a love of making use of a rather unbelievable past. Queen spent quite some time of that island alone. But not. We've gotten the story of a far more bizarre truth of what has honed Queen, and what is coming from that past to haunt him again.
It's not for everyone. But for fans it can be fun. And this year they begin expanding the boundaries with the start of The Flash. Metahumans are now on the table for Arrow to face.
And, it looks like we'll be seeing Ra's al Ghul emerge. And Ray Palmer! (There's even a rumor that Ted Kord could be involved.)
It's interesting to see a second area where DC Comics is allowing the DC Universe's characters to start flourishing. Maybe if the Supergirl and Teen Titans shows make it to air they will be allowed to connect? It will be interesting if, when the Dawn of Justice is done, they plan on connecting the movies to the shows. We'll just have to see.
Classic Batman
It's taken far too long for this show to get onto ANY media format, besides TV repeats. But it' finally come.
What else can you say? Flippin' heck, Boy Wonder.
Now I need a fiendish plan to earn the money to afford 3 seasons of a show on Blu Ray. Hoo! Hoo! How delightful, my malodorous motley meandering readers.
There want be a drought on heroics in the theaters anytime soon. And some of them won't even be sequels or remakes! Let's meet the sweet hero of Big Hero 6, the return of the Ghostbusters, the guardians of 80's movies, the little heroes of The Hobbit. and some heroes in a half shell.
It's been 14 years since the events of Revenge of the Sith. It's still 5 years until Luke will get to fly into history. Now we'll get to see how the Rebellion Against the Empire grew and expanded to become an actual problem for the Emperor. (Of note: The clones are gone, and replaced with volunteers who are zealously loyal to the dream of a Galactic Empire.)
The show has been put together by Executive Producer Dave Filoni, who brought us the previous series, Star Wars: Clone Wars. He's brought much of the team over. It also has Greg Weisman (Gargoyles, The Spectacular Spider-Man, The Batman, Young Justice) on board as another Executive Producer.
This creative team are updating the style for this show. The show reflects a lot of Ralph McQuarrie's original art for Star Wars. You can see it quickly in some of the main character designs. Chewbacca's look was taken into the character of Zeb, for one.
The trailers never stop coming, nor, thankfully, do the game stop coming. And we have a slough of sequels heading our way quite soon. Are we excited? Are we dreading them? Are we bored now?
Let's see how you handle an Alien, how the bricks fit for Batman, Batman's new old toys, a Tomb Raider...rises, and Nate Drake get smacked around for 10's of hours of game play.
Sometimes us olden folk like some nostalgia. It's a homesickness for the past.
It's like when I was away from home in my first year of college. I had some VHS tapes of shows I'd recorded, and at times, there was a strange sensation on a low day to see ads and channel call letters from home. For moments you're home. (And if you need a refresher course on VHS and VCR's, please look here.)
But we can't go home to the past. We can relive it. We can get stuck in it. We can drown in it.
So let's do a quick toe dip, okay?
One thing that sticks somewhere in the back of the mind are ads. Different places and times take on ads and promotions in their own unique ways. We don't do things like we used to, for the better and the worse. And what can I say, I am a little bit of a sucker for old fashion hype.
Something that we used to have that has long become defunct is ABC/CBS/NBC having MOVIE PREMIERES. ...I mean, between Pay Per View, Netflix, Cable TV, etc...Why do it? No one is clamoring for it. Once though, most people just had the Big 3 Channels, and PBS and some small time local channels. Even when Cable TV became a thing, it wasn't that common. Most people couldn't afford, or didn't bother with, cable.
Antennas, man! That's the future!
So let's look back at the day of the BIG WEEKLY MOVIE PREMIERE ON THE TV BOX!!!
And among those that really liked to get in with a big show was ABC.
Well if the rounds of superhero movies isn't enough, we seem to be in store for a whole range of TV series based around comic book heroes. (Okay, we often have various superhero series these days. But let's all pretend, like the media does.)
So let's see all the DC Comics and Marvel Comics offerings coming this year. (And maybe some movies. We are obliged.)
Let's start with The Flash (he always races to the front of line). He's a favorite of mine in comics. And I am always pleased when he gets some press or representation. (And maybe they'll finally finish a Flash video game. The one that almost came out before looked lovely.) And I do love a speedster.
Some people ask me, "Jack? What's this whole thing about?" And I tell them the truth. The hell if I know.
But sometimes you are on a sugar high. And you take some nerdiness. And you take some geekiness. And you grab some politics. And then you stuff some skepticism into it...and you crash.
When you make up you don't know what it is, but it's attached itself to your jugular, and you decide it's best not to fuss.
A curmudgeon and soft-heart. A pessimist and optimist. A loner and joiner. Even I get sick of me.
I'm...
A Neophyte Negotiator of all the Nonsense. An Ornate Opponent of…Oh, you know. A Lover of Levity and the Lectern. An Irreconcilably Irate Idyllist. The Eternal Enemy of Erratum. Just a Solitary Serrated Soul. I'm sorry, what was the question?
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