TV on the Internet: Marvel's Iron Fist (Part 2)

After not hating the Pilot and not hating Episode 2-7, will the Streak continue?

Iron Fist is the most polarizing Show so far made by Marvel.  How does it turn out?

The Show goes on the road as Danny, Colleen and a reluctant Claire take the fight to The Hand.  Episode 8 has the big fight that the Internet pines over.

On top of that, the issue within Rand puts the siblings at odds.  Will their secrets be the end of their relationship?

Will the secret that Colleen has been keeping be a deal-breaker?  Will it be too much for even her?

Will this mystery man be the help that Danny needs or a liability?  Can they stop The Hand?

Even if he can stop The Hand, can Danny save himself from his internal issues?

To find out, watch the remaining Episodes of the Show.

 It still doesn't disappoint.  For those of you waiting to see me turn on the Show, it isn't happening.  I stuck with the Show and made it through it relatively-quickly.  I wasn't hanging on every Plot Point and I didn't 'binge watch.'  I just watched it on a regular basis over about a 2 week period.  To put it into context, I could have stopped watching it for awhile to finish watching Luke Cage.  Instead, I watched this Show to completion and THEN started trying to finish that Show.  I won't tell you that Iron Fist is a revolutionary, must-see Netflix Show.  It has good Action, a good Story and good Acting all around.  At worst, it indulges in some cliches.  It doesn't break the mold in any major way.  In spite of that, I like the Show.  While I've got you, can we just deal with the fact that Finn Jones is 'Danny Rand?'  Is it really better to pick this guy just because of his Race?  I'm just saying...

For me, the final stretch didn't disappoint.  The worst thing I can say is that it leaves alot open for future Shows.

TV on the Internet: Marvel's Iron Fist (Part 1)

After covering the Pilot at the height of Internet outrage, I might as well get to covering the rest of the Show itself.

Will the rest of the Show not suck for me?  To find out, read on...

To recap, Danny Rand returns to NYC after 15 years thought to be dead.  Nobody believes him or his tale of Kun Lun, a magical Land.

He has an important, but cryptic mission: destroy The Hand.

No, not that glowing one.

He has to balance a return to his old life, his mission and new people in his life like Colleen Wing.

As he learns new truths about his past, secrets about those around him and what he has to do, will Danny Rand be able to become the Iron Fist?

To find out, watch the (first half of the) show.

Why does everyone hate this?  Iron Fist is not a perfect Show.  It isn't even my favorite Netflix Marvel Show.  Like all of them, they don't rush the Story.  Depending on your point-of-view, that is either an irredeemable aspect or just how these things work.  In this Show's case, you obviously will either love or hate the Story.  Despite all the complaints, it hooked me enough to want to see it through.  Even in this half, they have some good twists and turns.  You get alot more of those in the rest of the Series- naturally.  People are mixed on the Character of Danny Rand, but I liked him.  You just have to realize that the naivety of the Character is something that is eventually overcome.  He's a mix of innocent, idealistic and goal-driven.  As his layers fall apart, he becomes the Character he needs to be.  You just have to stick with it.  All in all, I liked the first half of this Show and stuck with it to the end.  Yes, a Critic liked Iron Fist- alert the media.

While it is not the best Marvel Netflix Show, it isn't terrible.  Am I just watching a different Show?

New Flix: Teen Titans- The Judas Contract (2017)

Remember back in 2006 or so when DC promised to make this famous Tale as a Film?  Well, it finally happened...

The Teen Titans are going after Brother Blood, now branded as a slightly-less-evil David Misgavich.

To note, this is not following the Comics, but rather recent stuff like Son of Batman and Justice League vs. Teen Titans.  THIS is the real DCCU.

Brother Blood is an evil Industrialist/Super-Human who leads a Cult and has an evil, evil plan.

He works with someone who should be dead.

This is arguably a SPOILER, but who doesn't know who the other Villain in this Tale is by now?

In the midsts of all this fighting, Dick and Starfire move in together.  Can their romance last?

What part does the dark, secret past of Terra play in all this?

Will Deadpool...I mean, Deathstroke win?  Can the Titans survive betrayal and dark magic?

To find out, watch the Film- out now on VOD and on DVD/Blu-Ray on the 18th.

It is about time, DC!  This one is good- no doubt about it.  What they do here nicely is build up to this Film if you saw all of the previous ones.  The Story from Son of Batman comes into play here nicely, while the group dynamic built up in Justice League vs. Teen Titans is key here.  At worst, they cheat a little by not introducing Terra in THAT Film.  I nitpick when stuff is good- c'est la vie.  The Animation is good, the Story is good, the Voice-Acting is good and the whole thing looks polished.  I don't have much to complain about.  The one thing that I could have done without in the original Story is handled...better here, but not perfectly.  I get that it is supposed to be weird...but I'd be happier without it.  In any event, fans of the Comic will be happy (even with the changes).  When it is available, go see it.  It isn't like you have anything better to do...

A good updating of the classic Tale with few bits to complain about.  It was worth the wait.

Poor Bastards of Cinema: Embrace of the Vampire (2013)

It really doesn't pay to be a random guy in a Horror Movie- ever!

In Embrace of the Vampire (the Remake), our Heroine is away at College.  She ends up getting drunk at a Fencing Team Hazing- since that is a thing.

She walks back with a Teammate (leading to Fan Service bit) as this guy watches.

This Janitor...I think makes a leering comment, but otherwise does nothing.

Naturally, that leads to him being attacked by a mysterious being.

He doesn't get a quick death either.  This is vicious.

...and brutal.  He dies...eventually.

To explain, the Vampire kills this guy.  Considering his goal is to get our Heroine and this guy was not going to get in the way, why kill again?

Oh right- body count.

The moral: there could be a Vampire around any corner, so don't cat-call.

Impossibly-Cool Cover Art: Terror Out of the Sky

Quick- put that Terror somewhere else!

All joking aside, this is another Killer Bee Film with hilariously-misleading Box Art.  VHS, baby!

To note: there are also not Giant Bees in this Film.

For this POV to make any sense, you'd have to be a Sunflower!

On the plus side, it does remind me of a famous Movie Ending...

Oh and one more bonus- just for you!

I decided to spruce this one up in Photoshop.  I spruced up the colors, added some shading and removed the Box's sticker.

Don't you wish that this one was the real one?

Misleading Bees- my God.

My Crazy Youth: That Time That The Ghostbusters Fought C(a)thulhu

While I was not allowed to watch this Show much as a kid, I can watch it now.  With the classic Show now Streaming on Netflix, I decided to pick one of the 3,000 Episodes (more like 100 or so) to cover.  Naturally, I picked...

The Necronomicon has come to NYC and is being shown at the Public Library.  When it is stolen, Ghostbusters are called in.

As a bonus, references!  Look that last one up, Internet- I did.

 ****

Naturally, a Cult has stolen it and plans to resurrect The Ancient One!

The Ghostbusters run across the Star Spawn and...run away.  Our Heroes!

To be fair, they are trained to fight Ghosts and not Elder creepies.

They find a lady who's an expert (and named after the Publisher of Lovecraft's Stories) and she helps them best a Shoggoth.

Ultimately, the secret to stopping Cathulhu comes from...an old Comic Book.  Why it is written in Cyrillic is anyone's guess.

The Cultists can't be stopped as they summon the creature...who is now red for some reason.

As they try to find a way to save the World, they ask a quotable question...

They manage to zap a Roller Coaster (as the creature rises at Coney Island) and lightning kills it.

I suppose that is better than the Aliens from Signs, but...not by alot.  The End.

Far more than a deep, dark evil.  This Episode is quite fun.  Early on, they set up the Story, but then make time to set up the Characters.  This is deep into the super-long 1st Season, so none of this is new.  The group all get nice little moments throughout this Episode.  With that out of the way, the Episode is chock full of references and Lore.  You get Star Spawns, a Shoggoth, some Cultists and the creature itself.  They sure have fun with the concept all around.  Having them randomly get forced to take the Subway to get to Coney Island though- what was the point?  I guess you could argue they had to balance out the legitimate scares (for kids) that they go for.  It just felt odd for me though.  It is a real fun Episode though and a good showcase for the Show as a whole.  Just because I'm a dick, here's the shot where they show the Necronomicon Story in the Newspaper.  For some reason, it is just random text about Instruments...

Damn fun stuff, even from a general non-fanboy.  The use of 'real' lore accentuates the feel of this Episode.

Impossibly-Cool Cover Art: The Bees (1978)

Are they scarier than Birds?

This 1978 Movie was made near the tail-end of the Disaster/Killer Animal trend of the time.  How did they sell it?

Well...

Neat Cover!

Too bad there aren't giant Bees (or tiny people) in this.

On the plus side, this random shot of our Leads did inspire a more accurate (and boring) VHS Box...

Who thought this was a good idea?!?

Quick Reviews: Resident Evil- The Final Chapter

After so many Films, do you really believe that this in 'The Final Chapter?'  Are they being honest where Jason and Freddy were not?  Let's see...

We begin with a brand new Retcon for why the T-Virus was made.  Joy.

As a bonus, Nepotism.  The Daughter of the Director and the Star is now this girl/The Red Queen!

Milla narrates one *final* time, now complete with clips from the Films.  They are still ignoring Resident Evil: Apocalypse though.

In yet ANOTHER Retcon, the whole Ending of the last Film was pointless, the old villain is now a good guy and a villain-turned-hero is now a villain again.

Oh and also has no Powers still AND most of the Cast is gone.  No Leon or Ada Wong here!

The World is now even worse than ever as Umbrella now has always wanted to destroy the World!

With their numbers, their zombie horde and their weapons, can they be stopped?

Will Wesker (now with own share of Retcons) win the day or will Alice save humanity?  To find out, watch the Film (coming soon to VOD).

Pick a Story!  The Resident Evil Game Series appears to be hitting peak quality again with something completely new.  In contrast, the Resident Evil Film Series comes to an end (we hope!) with a weird mess of a Story, brown Visuals and the usual silliness.  Milla still can't really act.  Bless her for trying at times here, but it is like getting blood from a stone.  She's not aided by the stilted Acting and Directing from pretty much everyone else in the Film.  I'm too nice to pick on her Daughter here, although she does at least seem to try.  The biggest problem is just the silly nature of the Retcons.  The Ending of the last Film doesn't matter.  Characters introduced in Part 4- gone.  Characters introduced in Part 5- gone.  There is not even a mention of Leon or Ada Wong that I noticed.  Everything that people associate as being bad about this Film- the Acting, Writing, Action Scenes- is still present and accounted for.  There is some genuinely-good CG here at times and some creativity is shown.  If someone were to tell me that they were just more re-used Characters from the Games, of course, I would not be surprised.  If this is the Final Chapter, it doesn't do anything to feel like a big climax.  They keep TELLING you that it is, but it isn't.  On the plus side, this weird T-Virus Dragon thing is cool (even if its Scene is just filler)....

After 5 of these things, was the bar that high?  Considering that, the Film has a few good moments that just get lost in all the nonsense.