Absorbing Man: What does he mean?

In the season 2 premier of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., we were introduce to a villain who was called Absorbing Man. He has the power to absorb any element and change his body's molecules to become that element. He seems to work for the highest bidder and might even have a connection to Hydra.

The most significant part of the appearance of Absorbing Man is not him or his power, but rather the fact that he is a recognizable villain from the Marvel universe. With his addition and the announcement of Mockingbird, the live action television branch of Marvel Studios is getting a major boost. With the success of the first season, it appears that the studios has decided that there is a valid place for this show and others like it. We will have to wait and see if the universe becomes any smaller with any possible cameos in any of the studio's upcoming major motion pictures.

Once Upon a Time Returns

Do you want to build a snowman?

ABC's Once Upon a Time returned September 28th with a blast of cold air. Disney has decided to capitalize on their amazing success of Frozen. This season adds a story line that includes these new characters to the adventures of our fairly tale heroes. The Arendale characters seem to be picking up where the movie left off.

Unlike so many of the other characters in Storybrooke, Elsa and Anna have not been re-envisioned, but seem to step right out of the movie into this new world. Most of your fairy tale characters up to this point have left some air of mystery of who they are and how they are different from their original story. Snow White is not just a young lady who cleans the dwarfs' house, but is rather an amazing self-sufficient woman of adventure. In Once Upon a Time, it is discovered that Grumpy is mad, not because of his sad choice in names, but because he was not allowed to be with his true love. The Beast is not a large furry creature, but an evil dark one who continues to make bad decisions.

With the success of Frozen and the attachment to the characters, I am not surprised that they chose to keep these characters very near to the original. By keeping them very recognizable they can possibly attract new viewers who loved the movie, but have not yet discovered the town of Storybrooke.  Hopefully, as the Frozen story unfolds we will see some of the twists and turns that Once Upon A Time is great at. Even I will have to admit it was fun watching Marshmallow run down the streets of this little Maine town.

The Boxtrolls

What happens when a group of cave dwelling small trolls find an orphan boy and raise him as their
own?

The movie The Boxtrolls tells the story of a little boy named Eggs who was raised by a group of trash collecting trolls who do their best to stay out of sight. The villain of the story is Archibald Snatcher, voiced by Mr. Ben Kingsley. When Snatcher decides that all the Boxtrolls need to be exterminated, only Eggs can go to the humans and save his family.

The most interesting part of this movie is the mix of stop animation with 3-D cinematography. How well they can make this work is left to be seen. This is another film from the same people who brought us Coraline and ParaNorman. Each of their movies have a dark tone with social undertones and The Boxtrolls appears to be no different.

With plenty of humor and warm fuzzies, this movie looks like it will be fun. The reviews have been a little mixed and we will have to wait and see how the public receives this movie. My hope is that the British humor will translate well on the American screens and these little guys will have a good run at the box office.

Gotham: A Pre-Batman Story

I watched the premier of Gotham on Fox last night. In many ways, I was impressed with this show. Some people have raised  the question "How can you do a Batman show without the bat?" Here are just a few of my reasons why I believe this show can work.

1. The City - Gotham is a city that almost everyone knows. This is Batman's town and where crime runs rampant. The city is a character in the story of Batman. It is not just a place. Gotham's personality is something that fans will want to explore. 
2. The Villains - Some of the most iconic villains in the super hero universe come from the Batman story line. Where did they get their start? How did they change from villains to super villains? If Gotham handles these stories with care, fans will love a chance to revisit these characters.
3. Jim Gordan - With a chance to have a show that centers around the one police detective brave enough to stand up to an entirely corrupt force, this is a story fans want to see. How does he keep his soul when everyone wants to buy it? What role will he play in the early development of Bruce Wayne?

I have high hopes for this show. As long as the writers will keep in mind the spirit of the history of these famous characters, I will not mind a few changes in their origins. I am hoping for a fresh take on a very famous city and good treatment of its most infamous characters.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Return

With only a few more days util the return of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I am curious about what to expect from this season.

***Mild Spoilers Alert****

I am not including anything that ABC has not released in one of their many teaser trailers. But, if you don't want to know anything about the new season, then stop now and do not read on.



Since the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and the finale of last season, the agency and the attitude toward it have changed greatly. S.H.I.E.L.D, is no longer a trusted secret government agency with all the answers to the world's darkest secrets. S.H.I.E.L.D. is now a fractured and broken group of people not sure who they can trust and what their purpose is now. Agent Coulson is now the director and he is trying to root out any remaining HYDRA agents and undo the damage they have done to the organization. The villains are getting stronger, but so are the heroes. It has been announced that Mockingbird will be joining this season. How big her role is going to be will have to play out.

This season looks to have a lot of promise. I am hoping for a quicker start than last season and a strong story arc about the rebuilding of the agency. Who can they trust? How much damage did HYDRA do? Who will be the next major third party threat?

Star Wars VII: Will We Have to Say Goodbye?

Are We Going to Say Goodbye to a Classic Character?

First, let me say that the studio (as always) is doing a great job at keeping its secrets. I have found blogs and rumor sites but most of them are just guessing at what they think will happen. We know that J.J. Abrams is directing Episode VII and he wants to dedicate this film to a proper treatment of our heroes.

But... will one of them die?

My guess would have to be... yes.

In both Episode VI and I, we said goodbye to a major character. This helps to drive the development of heroes and moves the story arc forward. You feel the pain and see the struggle while Luke watches as Old Ben is struck down by Lord Vader. In Episode I, you can feel the sense of loss as Anakin does not get to train under Qui-gon Jinn. Death is an important part of the Star Wars stories.

So who will not make it to Episode VIII?

I believe of the three major characters the most likely candidate is Han Solo. Since the end of Episode V, Harrison Ford has been rumored to feel that Han Solo needs to sacrifice himself for the cause. My guess is that he will finally get his wish. Leia is another possibility. I think it would be more likely to lose both Han and Leia in this Episode before we would lose just Leia.

I believe the least likely to get killed in Episode VII is Luke Skywalker. Since both I and IV started with the death of a Jedi mentor, I believe Abrams will try to avoid this pattern. I believe that Mark Hamill has the most to give to the new trilogy. He can keep it consistent and believable. I think that the character of Luke creates the best bridge of the old and new cast.

Marvel Movies: Best of all time?

I heard someone say that the Marvel Movies are the best movies of all time. Can this be true? With only 2 Movies (The Avenges and Iron Man 3) in the top 10, is it even appropriate to entertain this thought?

Marvel, as a part of Buena Vista, had the top two grossing films as part of the Disney Family. The Buena Vista Studios is ranked 2nd to only 20th Century Fox. With Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain America: The Winter Soldier making more money than Disney's own Maleficent and Frozen, there is no denying that Marvel is a force in which to be reckoned. But are they the best of all time?

I would agree that Marvel has been the best studio ever to put together an entire universe and make different movies appear to be happening within one cinematic adventure. This studio has also been one of the best studios to ever create a long range plan along with keeping it fresh and dominating. But again...best ever? I agree that the marvel movies are some of the most anticipated movies of all time with a lot of hype and build up surrounding their releases, but does that qualify them as the best of all time?

I think only time will tell where Marvel Studios land in history. There is absolutely no denying that they have influence over the present and future of the entire movie industry. The studio is powerful and it makes their parent company very happy. We will have to see the kind of records Avengers 2 can amass before we finish this debate.

Ken Jennings vs Brad Rutter

Who is the most famous Jeopardy player in history?

Ken Jennings is the contestant who had the longest consecutive run on the Game show Jeopardy! He won 74 Jeopardy! games in 2004. The rules for Jeopardy! changed in 2003. Before 2003, you played for 5 consecutive games and then to qualified for the Tournament of Champions. Ken was just the type of player that the producers had hoped for since they decided to change the rules. Ken Jennings became a household name and everyone was trying to predict when his streak would end.

Brad Rutter is the contestant who won the most money ever playing the game. Brad appeared on Jeopardy! in 2000 before the rule change and after winning his 5 consecutive games, he qualified for the Tournament of Champions. He went on to win the tournament and received $100,000. He later won the million Dollar Masters Tournament and the Ultimate Tournament of Champions. He also pitted his talents against a computer in the IBM Challenge where he placed 3rd overall. Brad has never lost to a human competitor. With all of his endeavors he accumulated $4,555,102 in winnings.

In the most recent tournament, The Battle of the Decades in 2014, once again had both Jennings and Rutter in the finals. The competition was close, but in the end, Rutter came back and won, but only because Jennings got the final Jeopardy! question wrong. He secured his undefeated streak and won the tournament. So, who is the most famous Jeopardy! player ever? Jennings or Rutter? Streak verses winnings? You have to decide for yourself.

It is Hard to Know What to Write Today

Our thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones.  

Our prayers are for our country. 

Our hopes are for peace.

Our mission is to not forget.

The Maze Runner

"Get out. Or die trying"

This is the newest in the line of post apocalyptic novels to be made into a big Hollywood blockbuster. The Maze Runner made it to #1 on the New York Times best seller list in 2009. Like the others in this genre, this story pits the protagonists against a situation with almost no hope of survival or escape. Can the group survive in the Glades long enough to find a way out of the maze? They only have a small time frame to explore the maze each day and it changes. At night, the grievers come out and no one has survived a night in the maze.

The thing that looks most interesting is that The Maze Runner really seems to have a game aspect to the challenge. To survive you must run and find a way out. This movie reminds me a little of Logan's Run (1976) or The Running Man (1987). The other aspect of this movie that has my attention is their society and survival in the Glades. They have organized themselves into a society in order to produce food and survive until they can find a way out. The antagonism between staying and surviving verses running and escaping could play well in this story.

I am expecting high action sequences and big special effects. The critics are not giving this movie a lot of love, but we will have to see how the fans react. Is there room for one more series about teens trying to survive in a world that is out to kill them? I guess only time and the box office will tell.

No Iron Man 4. Really?

Robert Downey Jr. set the comic world spinning in a recent interview with Variety where he claimed "There isn't one in the pipe. No, there's no plan for a fourth Iron Man." We know that we will see Iron Man in both of the next Avengers movies, but is the stand alone movie over for him? Iron man is the one who started it all for this new adventure in superhero movie making. I doubt it. I can see a few reasons why I believe there is at least one more Iron Man in the works.

1. The movies make money. If there is anything that Hollywood loves, it is a cash cow. Sometimes they squeeze way more out of a franchise than they should.
2. In the interview, he did not say they were not doing a fourth but only that one was not in the pipe. Sometimes it is what is not said verses what is said.
3. After Iron Man 3 they need one more. Even though the story was okay, it was not the Iron Man we were expecting.
4. There is an opportunity to pair up Hulk and Iron Man. I know that this would not technically be a fourth Iron Man, but I believe the potential for a team up is possible.
5. He must face the Mandarin. Even though he faced a Mandarin style villain in the third movie, I do not believe we have seen him face Iron Man's arch foe. I hope that this is in the works because since the Iron Man movies started I have been hoping for an ultimate battle between the man in armor and the one who wields the rings.

I believe the only thing that keeps the studios from making at least one more Iron man movie is if Robert Downey Jr. says that he is done. My hope is that the studio would make at least one more stand alone Iron Man and make him face his arch-nemesis...a villain who could truly push our hero to the edge of destruction to bring out his best.

Name Change

I changed the address of my blog from "bangbangboompow" to match my blog name which is To Pop-Culture and Beyond. ("topopcultureandbeyond.blogspot.com")

I wanted to do this early. I fell like now I have found a rhythm to what I like to write about on my blogs. Please subscribe to topopcultureandbeyond.blogspot.com. Thanks!

Daredevil on Netflix

The red fearless one receives his on show.

Netflix has worked out a deal to release several Netflix Original Series with the characters in the Marvel universe. There are 4 shows in the works at this time. The first of the four is set to release May of 2015. The show is Daredevil. Charlie Cox is cast to play Matt Murdock a blind lawyer from Hell's Kitchen. He fights crime in the courtroom by day and at night is the guardian of his neighborhood. Even though Daredevil is blind, his other four senses are heighten to superhuman levels.

I am excited about the potential of a good Daredevil adaptation. Unlike many comic book fans, I did not hate the 2003 movie but I did believe it could have been better. I am hoping this series can capture the strength and vulnerability of this character. I am looking forward to the other three shows and then the potential of the Defenders team up.

What Made Guardians Good?

Now that most of the planet has seen this movie, I thought I would weigh in on what made this movie good, or even great. If you haven't seen the movie, this will not contain many spoilers. I will mainly talk about three items that I believe added to the movie experience.

I have seen it asked, "How does a 'B-list' comic become such a major motion picture?". I agree that many people had never even heard of the Guardians of the Galaxy before the studio announced they were making the movie. I have watched a lot of cartoons and read several comics and  I only knew a little bit about who they are. If no one knows who they are, how did the movie do so well? It is the power of Marvel. Marvel has proven themselves to movie goers since Iron Man. Not every movie is great, but every movie is well-made and has a story.

Three things I liked about Guardians of the Galaxy:

1. The Team - I believe that this team is very likable and approachable. Every one of these characters has their flaws. They also have great strength, and even more strength as a team.
2. The Fun - This movie brings back the joy of comic book movies. It does not take itself too serious and has only moments of inward contemplation and self-loathing. There is some stuff to do and we are going to get it done.
3. The Music - The mix of songs from the 70's and 80's on Quill's Walkman was an amazing way to incorporate an awesome soundtrack into the movie. The very name (Awesome Mix Vol. 1) of the tape says it all.

If you have not seen Guardians yet, I would suggest catching it while it is still on the big screen. It is a great movie, with great characters, and a fun team to root for as they battle impossible odds.

Joan Rivers

Joan Alexandra Rosenberg (Joan Rivers)
June 8, 1933 - September 4, 2014

We will miss Joan Rivers and all she brought to pop-culture. Some people will remember her early comedy. Still others will remember her for her red carpet and her fashion work. She was a highly successful business woman and a risk taker. Whether you knew her for her fashion or her comedy, she will be missed.

For me, Joan Rivers is most memorable from the Celebrity Apprentice, Season 2. In that show, she showed not only her sense of humor but also her cunning business mind. Her record was one to one as the project manager going into the final episode.  Even though Joan did not raise the most money on the final task, she was still able to edge out Annie Duke by taking 3 out of 5 factors. Joan's added tag ending to Clint Black's jingle for Chicken of the Sea was just hilarious. She was a lot of fun to watch and part of the reason that season of the Apprentice was successful.

We will miss you Joan the red carpet will never be the same without you.

Teacher: Educator or Jail Warden

Before you get mislead by my title, this is NOT about how bad kids are and how much trouble our schools are in. If that is your opinion, I am sure you can find a post about exactly that. This post is about teachers and how much they deserve our thanks.

Merriam-Webster defines a teacher as a person or thing that teaches something. This is such a simple definition for such a hard job. Teachers are so very important and so very under appreciated for what they do, not only in the classroom, but behind the scenes.

When I was young, I looked at my teachers as the people that kept me from getting to do those things that I really enjoyed. They were my guards, the ones who took away my fun by giving me homework and assignments. I was a kid and I thought my job was to have fun, but my teachers knew there had to be more to my development than just playing.

Even though at the time I would not admit it, I loved to learn. It started with a great set of parents who inspired me, but it continued with amazing teachers who challenged me. Some of my best teachers were also my hardest. The teachers who expected a lot from their students and every year seemed to get that out of them.

I want to say THANK YOU to all teachers for what they do. You are not jail wardens. You do not just keep us from the fun things we want to do. Teachers...you inspire the world and shape lives. You, along with parents, create our next leaders and world-changers. Do not lose heart! Teach because you do make a difference.

Just For a Laugh

Wow... still love the Far Side

What is Labor Day?

As a kid, I can remember a great picnic that I attended at a local state park. We had a softball game, a covered-dish lunch, and some time to swim in the river. It was a fun experience, but what was the holiday all about? I only new school had just started, but we were getting a Monday off for a holiday. Yeah!

So...what is Labor Day?

Labor Day is a celebration of the American worker or laborer. Before it was a national holiday it was recognized as a local and state-wide holiday. New York was the first state to make it official in 1887. After several states joined the movement, Congress made the first Monday of September an official US holiday in 1894.

Why do we celebrate?
The founders of this holiday believed that America had become a strong and prosperous nation and it was only right to celebrate the ones who had made it great. They wanted to celebrate the American worker.

So, as you celebrate this Labor Day, remember this is your holiday. Today, we celebrate you and how hard you work to make this nation great. Let's party because we are the laborers that Labor Day is celebrating.

(For more information visit - History of Labor Day)