GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY REVIEW(SPOILERS)

You're welcome.

So, I saw Guardians of the Galaxy and I have this to say: I actually thanked Gunn for creating the movie as I left the theater. Guardians could be the quintessential throwback space movie.

I mean, you got a hero listening to old tunes on a Walkman, and then he goes on to make references to classic movies(I admit, that "Footloose Legend" thing was quite funny). And then there's the atmosphere of a space opera movie with a bunch of misfits(sounds like that one movie I know).

Anyway, I was overly surprised to see Thanos and Howard the Duck in the movie. I know, I'm ready to see Howard in the movie, but yo, Gunn really made one last joke by the end with Howard in it.

I'll just start talking about Groot. Man, Groot. How can I start? He's this innocent character in the group and then just goes all hero by the end. And then you realize he's played by Vin Diesel and then MIND = BLOWN. You''ll really believe Groot is not played by Vin just cause Vin rally played the role too damn well.

And then with Rocket. Bradley Cooper really works as the badass raccoon. He just goes all crazy as Rocket. All the scenes with him are absolutely LOL-worthy.

Star-Lord. His character was given quite enough backstory on how he got on Xandar on the first place. Was quite hilarious on some scenes, but knowing it's Chris Pratt, I expected he'd be quite hilarious.

Gamora. Zoe Saldana ain't no stranger to playing assassins, having played one in Colombiana and other movies. But hey, she also did good, and her character development from being a ruthless assassin to being a ruthless assassin with a heart is amazing.

Drax. I never saw Batista in other movies yet, but his acting is quite good. The character was badass on some fight scenes and all fight scenes.

Generally, the movie is a fun is a fun adventure movie. You could laugh with some scenes in the movie and then be thrilled in the next one. Gunn really had balance in the movie having it not too serious and not too comedic. Overall, a good flick with your Guardians of the Galaxy.

 
P.S. Baby Groot dancing to Jackson 5 is so f'kin cute.

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST REVIEW(SPOILERS)

So, we've come to this moment, Singer's back.

Yes, Bryan Singer's back at directing the X-Men franchise, and it looks like he is doing it right again.

So, here is my review of DOFP.

I love how they really made the future dark(figuratively, and literally). And even though the scenes from the future are only few, they really showed how the future Sentinels are cold-hearted and violent. I mean, they just pulled the shit out of Colossus until he's cut into half, stabbed Storm, sliced parts of of Sunspot and Iceman, and stabbed Blink. Three times.

And back in the 70s, they actually had nostalgia sending down our spines.

We're not that old, by the way.

And also, Quicksilver's scenes were actually good(People behind the Flash TV show, take notes.). Although the costume was actually pretty bad.

Actually, I'm glad that Singer erased the continuity of Origins and X3(And probably, including X1 and X2), which means, Cyclops and Jean Grey is back. Thank you, Singer. Thank you.

Although there are some plotholes that would make the first continuity(the Sentinel-ful timeline) confusing, with Mystique being imprisoned and experimented after killing Bolivar Trask(who, appeared in the third movie), and Bolivar Trask, instead of being played by Bill Duke, he is played by Peter Dinklage(CONTINUITY ERROR, I TELL YOU!), it's still one hell of a movie.

X-Men: Days of Future Past, Now Showing.

 

GODZILLA REVIEW(Sorta Having Spoilers)

Title: Godzilla
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Sally Hawkins, Juliette Binoche, David Strathairn, Victor Rasuk, and Carson Bolde
PG-13


The king is back. THE KING. IS. BACK.

Just in time for Godzilla's 60th birthday, Legendary Pictures has made yet another Kaiju movie and a new Godzilla movie.

So, let's start it, here's my review:

Gareth Edwards has probably made the best Americanized Godzilla movie yet. One that Emmerich can't even beat. Edwards just put so much subtle references to Godzilla's origins. Like the line "In 1954, we awakened something." and the caption of the newscast at the end of the movie.

"King of the Monsters."

Bryan Cranston's performance, albeit being in a minor role, was a good performance. Although we don't actually set our standards low for his performance, Aaron's performance, and the king's performance(which is Godzilla, by the way).

And speaking of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, his performance was also satisfying and fantastic, so fantastic that you'd probably forget that he was Kick-Ass a few movies back. And his chemistry with Elizabeth Olsen was also "kilig-worthy", or romantic, which means everybody will feel awkward when Age of Ultron comes out next year.

And of course, Godzilla isn't the only kaiju to come and destroy, San Francisco, parts of Hawaii and other places, he brought Cockroach-zilla(MUTO) with him too.

Speaking of MUTO, the fights with Godzilla vs. MUTO was outstanding, so much better than fights in Pacific Rim. And also, the king's atomic breath was so cool, the 13-year-old in me was screaming and shouting!

Okay, I'm actually 13 years old, but it didn't stop me from screaming and shouting!

And lastly, the opening credits actually made me think of a Godzilla TV series, good job Gareth!

Generally, this movie will beat the expectations of people who think this will be the next Godzilla(1998)

9.3/10

Godzilla. Now Showing.

Movies you should and shouldn't watch before watching the new Godzilla movie.

Okay, a new Godzilla movie is out, and the Americans are at it again. So, here's my what-to-watch list before you head to the theaters and watch it.

Godzilla or Gojira(1954)

US Title: Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

If you head to the theaters to watch the new Godzilla movie without seeing the source material, you must feel bad about yourself.

The first movie of all three series(Showa, Heisei, and the Millenium series), this movie tackles about nuclear paranoia while mixing it with the American monster genre.

A strong story and message, the acting and VFX may be dated but it will always be timeless, even 60 years later today.








Godzilla or The Return of Godzilla(1984)

US Title: Godzilla 1985






Merely a few years after Godzilla's disappearance in the movies, the "King of the Monsters" returns in the movie that starts the second series.

Although the American version is tweaked with scenes adding Canadian actor Raymond Burr reprising his role from the first movie as Steve Martin(the '54 version was also tweaked for the American audiences), it's still pretty much the same.

This revamp takes what made the first Godzilla movie fearsome and awesome both and gave it a necessary update for the next generation of monster movie aficionados.




Godzilla 2000: Millennium(1999)

The last movie to have a North American run until the Legendary Pictures remake and the first movie in the Millenium series, this movie also ignores the previous continuity except for the 1954 classic and is also considered as a sequel to the original movie.

And in this movie, Godzilla still proves that he is the king by fighting an alien and defeating it. There's no more that need be said, just watch it.












Destroy All Monsters(1968)

The ninth entry in the first series of the franchise and the twentieth kaiju movie made by Toho, this was supposed to be the last movie in the Godzilla franchise, giving it a bigger budget.

Set in the late 20th century, this movie has all the kaijus made by Toho at the time. And of course, Godzilla proves that he is the one and only king again by fighting all the kaijus, which means... WE. ARE. FUCKED. UP.


REALLY.










Godzilla: Final Wars
 

The 28th movie in the franchise, the 6th movie in terms of the Millennium era and the last Godzilla film to be actually made by Toho, Godzilla is more of an homage than an actual Godzilla movie.

Celebrating the king's 50th birthday, Director Ryuhei Kitamura picked the beast and the worst(and by worst, I mean the '98 Godzilla by Tristar) for the king to battle. I mean, what else is a good way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Godzilla?










King Kong vs. Godzilla

The third movie of the franchise, this movie pits Godzilla against the 8th wonder of the world, King Kong.

Instead of stop-motion that was used in the original Kong movie, they used Godzilla's ground rules, which included suit-mation.

Who'd win in this battle, the 8th wonder of the world or the king of the monsters? You decide.











YOU SHOULDN'T WATCH THIS MOVIE, PROMISE.

Godzilla(1998)

When I say don't watch this movie. Don't. Watch. This. Movie.

Even Roland Emmerich can't save this movie from impending disaster. The only film disaster Emmerich made, this movie was supposed to be the first one in a trilogy of American Godzilla movies. Oh, the horror.

This movie trades the mutated Godzillasaurus with a mutated lizard just to join the Jurassic Park bandwagon. I mean, this movie just has everything from Jurassic Park, just labeled as Godzilla.






So don't watch this. Ever. Never ever.

 

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 REVIEW (SPOILERS)

This review is full of spoilers. Tread back if you don't want to be spoiled. Seriously.




So, first things first, Marc Webb trades the "grounded in reality" style of storytelling from the first movie to the "Marvel-ized" style of storytelling in the second one.

Which means, the movie now has the feel of a comic book. Not that the first one wasn't, it was, too.

Anyways, Sony ups the ante by adding more villains to set the standard for future Spider-Man installments(or superhero movies, in general). And since the main character is a teenager, the presence of teen drama is also required. And the teen drama in the movie was pulled off wonderfully and the balance was done great.


By the way, Jamie Foxx's performance as Electro was great. I never thought he could pull off a nerd quite greatly. So great that I actually felt bad for him and that his thoughts corrupted him and turned him evil. "Max Dillon. He was a fan." That's what I said when he was defeated. I mean, I feel parts of me in his portrayal. Although I was bothered on how he learned to channel Dr. Manhattan in the movie.

While, Dane Dehaan's portrayal of Green Goblin, trust me, was better than James Franco's performance. Dehaan did better in one movie what Franco did in three, which is good, because it means Dehaan is a good actor and I hope he will appear in more movies.

 

Now, the movie has a whole lot of foreshadowing to Gwen's death, like in her graduation speech, among others. And to Gwen's actual death, Marc Webb is accurate in what Gwen wears, like the iconic green coat, which she wore when she died in TASM #121.

 

And Gwen's death scene in the movie was also accurate to how she died in the comic.

The visuals in the movie were brighter than the first movie, which is a big plus. Then there's the scoring, Hans Zimmer never fails to give us great scores. Then there's The Magnificent Six to assist Hans for the scenes with Electro in it. Actually has the electronic feel.


Generally, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is that kind of movie that could be seen over and over and over and over and over and over again and the viewer will still be amazed.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2, now showing.

R.I.P. Gwen Stacy
The Amazing Spider-Man - The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

SummerKon 2014 Directory.

Here are the list of the indies I've bought/read and reviewed in SummerKon(Partial):

My Wife Is Pregnant
Maktan 1521
Lagimbal
Caution: Drugs, Sex, Rock and Roll

SummerKon Experience here.

Caution: REVIEW

Okay, this is one of Rawwrr's long list of creations. And this also serves as a cautionary tale.

This centers around a man who sold his soul to the devil for fame, fortune, and everything in-between(sex and drugs and included in the package). I know, this sounds a bit too cliche, but this story has a twist.

Call it a Dr. Faustus, but with Dr. Faustus being a rockstar instead of a doctor.

And of course, you know what happened to Dr. Faustus, right?

Although this is a cautionary tales about drugs and all, it still holds a place in my heart, in the Supernatural narrative(Yes, my heart has sections like bookstores).

And honestly, if Rawwrr writes it, you'll never expect a dull moment. Panel by panel, the story just keeps on getting better and better. Trust me, I'm the Doctor.

Lagimbal Review

Okay, here's one the things I want to review, Lagimbal.

While reading this piece, Lagimbal gave that "what if Deadpool was Blade or vice versa" feel. Once or twice, Lagimbal breaks the fourth wall and comments about your comments on his name, like: "I know my name sucks, but it's not your fault!". And the creator, Rawwrr, just makes some of the craziest stories you don't know could be possible. Take Lagimbal saving the "Messiah" from aliens and zombies as an example.

And oh, his sidekick, Tang Namor(I chuckled a bit on that one), is one of the most badass sidekicks the world has ever known. He's like the Damian Wayne to Bruce Wayne/Batman.

Also, Rawwrr's art is badass, it's like you're reading a comic book with the art of a graffiti.

And if you've liked Rawwrr's Lagimbal, then you will also like his other works. Trust me, you will.

Maktan 1521 Review(UPDATED)

I've bought a lot of stuff last SummerKon, and Maktan 1521 was one of them.

So, Maktan 1521 is created by Tepai Pascual and is based on the events preceding the Battle of Mactan.

First of all, what got me interested me with this piece--besides the art--is the setting, since I live in Cebu, and Mactan is part of Cebu. I was supposed to buy it last C3, but--Why am I telling you this?

Anyways, the story is awesomely done and well-executed. Reading this just makes me feel like I'm reading 300, but with a format similar to a manga, and is not made by Frank Miller.

Luckily, before this will be distributed by Visprint, I got the chance to get a copy of it.

This graphic novel has the potential of becoming a movie, without the worries of being butchered and made into movie with the sole purpose of money.

Overall, this is a good read. 10/10, 5 stars, two thumbs up. From the art to the content.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATE:

Now that I have bought the Visprint version recently and have read the full story--the one I bought last SummerKon was about Volmue 1, which ends right after Chapter 5--I have to say this.

The story was amazing, the fact that putting Lapu-Lapu's son, Sawili, in the spotlight is just amazing. It doesn't just tell you a compelling story, it also tells you a part of history we should've known by now.

The colors were well-done, it just drives you to what the mood of the scene actually is.

And the battle scene? It's just too epic I can't tell you what made it cool! It will never be a waste of your P400, everything is just worth it, from the cover to the content.

So if you want a compelling "grapikong nobela" with a slice of history in it, Maktan 1521 is for you.

And still, my point of it becoming a movie still stands.

My SummerKon Experience.

Last April 12, 2014, something happened that connected the realm of Pinoy Indie Komiks and to the people who read it. It is an annual event called Komikon.

And this is all about my experiences that day.

I arrived on the event more or less 10 am. The first comic I bought was Lagimbal by Partick Rawwrr Enrique, since I bought it early, I get to pick whether I get a Lagimbal pin-up or a copy of Caution: Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll, I picked the latter one.

Wonderfully fantastic guests were there. Leinil Yu was there, Arnold Arre was there and Macoy was there. Gerry Alanguilan was also there(If you're curious as to who Gerry is, he's that guy behind that smile).

Gerry Alanguilan released his latest big thing, Rodski Patotski: Ang Dalagang Baby. It's the first Alanguilan/Arre collab in while, one their known collabs was Darna Lives, which is a tribute to the comic book character of the same name.

I saw Jon Zamar, JP Palabon, and Doc Carlo Jose San Juan. Again.

I first met them in Cebu Comics Convention last year.

Now, let's got back to SummerKon. There's this one unforgettable stop I did. It was at the Kubori Kikiam booth. I was checking the books they sell then they asked me about my age. Afterwards, they suggested that I should come back with a fake mustache and lie about my age or go back when I turn 18. I chose the latter one.

So, as I visited JP's booth, I was amazed. I mean, he's the only guy who posts money as a display. Well, self-designed money, anyways.

Now, the next comic I bought was the Baby Days preview made by one of my friends, Mark Rosario. And then, I was walking back and forth to look for Mr. Leinil Yu, to have him sign my copy of Prelude to Infinity. And fortunately, he signed it during the afternoon.

A lot of people were there. Of course, a lot of people were there.

During the afternoon, I was staying at the Indie Tiangge. Specifically, Mark Rosario's booth. I did some "sales-talk" and improved their sales by five people.

In other news, during the kon, I was reading Where Bod Stars Go To Die. Unfortunately, they snapped a picture of me reading it. Will post it when Mark has posted it(DAMN YOU MARK!!!).

And actually, it was a good day. Will add more details soon.

My Wife Is Pregnant...

...review, don't take it seriously, guys. Come on!

So, I went to Summer Komikon yesterday and bought one of the few gems found at a small rom which had gathered the best indie comics you can find in the PHL. My Wife Is Pregnant.

This is a semi-autobiographical comic book which centers around Markus and Ligaya as they have a baby(hence the name). Inside, you can also find tips on how to become a hubby with a preggy wife.

Mark Rosario(the author of the comic book), based this comic on himself and his wife, Joy.

One of the things that makes it good is that Markus is a geeky husband who's never had a dad(as indicated in the comic), so all of us can relate. Yes, even if we have a dad. And yes, even if you're not married and is 13 years old and is living with his parents an is also a nerd, you can relate to this.

And by the way, I've had the luck of actually meeting him, and at one point, even helping him sell his comics, and in turn, he helped me in my journey of going to Leinil Yu and having him sign my Prelude to Infinity in Avengers #14. So I can say that he's a good person and a good "salesman". Just, never that poster that says "Keep Calm and Get Pregnant". Half of the ladies that went to SummerKon went away to the table because of the forcefield that was powered by the slogan.

If you have plans on buying MWIP, it's either you wait for the next Komikon or contact him through his fb page.

The comic is well-received by people who have bought the comic(myself included), so well-received that it's due for a sequel sometime in the future, and it's called Baby Days(or is it Baby Days Volume 1: Tales From The Crib?).

If you're curious as to what is the price of the comic, it's P70(and with additional charge if you want it shipped or if you buy it online).

UPDATE: My mom just read this a few days back and approves of this creation.

HOW TO...

Today, I'll give you a tutorial on how to:

Communicate with people:
Just don't.
Procrastinate:
Go online.

Write a story:
Read some books.

Be an introvert:
Just follow those rules and you'll be fine.

AND SO I SAID SOMETHING ABOUT...

...The Not So Late Night Show earlier in my Random Blog #1, I'll be putting up another blog just for that. And I'll be posting the link soon.

AND SOMETHING ABOUT THE BACKGROUND.

This background is not mine. It was actually "stolen" from tumblr user heyluchie. And the comic is called "Introversion" and just click right here to read it.

Now, I'm not sure if it's still stolen or whatever now that I acknowledged the creator. Nevermind.

SO, HERE IT GOES (Random Weekly Blog #1)

I only made this blog so that I can always talk about something. And since Sherlock might or might not be looking for a blogger, I'm flexing my blogging muscles and built this.

So, here's what's I'm scheduled to do this week

Monday - Get my card.
Tuesday - Do almost practically nothing.
Wednesday - Moping around.
Thursday - Almost nothing.
Friday - Preparing for the flight in the evening
Saturday - Go to SummerKon and probably film the next episode of The Not So Late Night Show

Yes, I do have a late night show, still not started. And we'll be flying to Manila this Friday and will return in an unknown date. We'll spend the entire Holy Week there.

And for this Saturday, will try to interview some people(artists, if possible). Not quite that much of a bummer.

RANDOM THOUGHT: I feel like I've been typing for an hour but writing stuff good only for 30 seconds to roughly a minute.