The Incredible Hulk DVD review

In the early 1980's my father and I used to excitingly gather around the television every Friday night. In great anticipation, we were ready for our weekly dose of "The Incredible Hulk" starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. When David Banner grew angered or outragged it triggered a startling metamorphisis into the Incredible Hulk!!! Lots of fun and good memories. Over 30 years later, my father and I gathered around the television the release night for the new Incredible Hulk 2008 DVD. This was a fun movie and a great DVD. It had some great extras explaining how Ed Norton even got to be involved in the acting facial expressions and motions of the CGI Hulk monster as well as his human character. Lots of fun cameos in the movie and more interlocking scenes connecting current and future Marvel Comics movies. They also played homage to the old TV show very respectfully as well as staying true to the comic. This is a reboot of sorts and is not a sequel to the Hulk 2003 psychotic thriller style movie. FYI. On the Woo Dig It scale, I have to give it a 9.0! Well done!!!

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"Superman: Man of Steel" - WB's Reinvention of Superman

08-26-08
From io9.com:

Now that Batman has taught Warner Brothers how to make a modern superhero movie, it's time for the the man of steel to step up and deliver the goods. Warners announced that it's pooling all its Bat-money into one big Superman tent-pole production. And yes, the movie will be a reboot, not a continuation of Bryan Singer's Super-meh film.
Passing on the idea of a multiple hero storyline like Superman/Batman or Justice League for now, the WB is focusing its efforts on just making a successful Superman movie.
Warner Bros. Pictures Group President Jeff Robinov told the Wall Street Journal that the Superman movie the WB is envisioning will be cut from the same dark and gritty cape as Dark Knight. He wants to explore the darker recesses of Superman's soul explaining that "We're going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it."
Warners is finally realizing that the lackluster Superman Returns was a huge disappointment. And recognizing the problem is just the first step: Studio execs told Variety they may start the script over from scratch with Superman: Man of Steel. But as of right now there are no writers attached to the script. Also director Bryan Singer (X-Men and X2) is still "attached" to the project but the execs are more than happy to let him loose if he doesn't follow the direction the studio wants the movie to go. If I was him I'd leave artistic differences behind (if there are any) and go with the gobs of money they want to invest in this project, especially if they're OK with a darker Superman.
Deepak Chopra agrees, and encourages everyone to update their superheroes. It's not enough that their gadgetry awe inspiring, they need to deal with issues that the people care about, in order to make the people care about them. Plus a lot of their powers need an upgrade, flying around and super strength just ain't cuttin' it anymore.

But just as we evolve, so must our superheroes, he said. “We need to create a new mythology for our superheroes,” Chopra tells MTV Splash, “because they’re not parochial anymore. They’re cross-cultural. We’re in dire need of mythologies that go to the next level of consciousness.”

What does Chopra mean exactly? "He [Batman] needs to go to Darfur, or Somalia. Superman needs to have more paranormal abilities – like precognition, telepathy, the ability to see past lifetimes.”

With more DC Comics films on the way, it looks like a boom in superhero movie madness over at WB, and it looks like they're attempting to deliver goods that actually appease fans and make money.

The studio is set to announce its plans for future DC movies in the next month. For now, though, it is focused on releasing four comic-book films in the next three years, including a third Batman film, a new film reintroducing Superman, and two movies focusing on other DC Comics characters. Movies featuring Green Lantern, Flash, Green Arrow, and Wonder Woman are all in active development.

Now if only Joss Whedon's Wonder Woman script can be rescued from development oblivion...

GI Joe 2008 Convention In Dallas, TX

08-15-08
Greetings! I'm behind in blogging the GI Joe 2008 convention in Frisco, TX (near Dallas), but here we go. Fun convention at a great hotel! New product teasers with great merchandise on the way to continue the 25 years plus of the Real American Hero! The big buzz HANDS DOWN was the presentation clip of a new GI Joe animation project called "GI Joe Resolute." It was a few minute short that was later showed at San Deigo Comic Con, and someone leaked a recording on YouTube. The clip features the characters of Duke, Roadblock (or Heavy Duty, not sure), Snake Eyes, and a ton of Cobra soldiers. It included a more real world take with bullets, muzzle flashes, and shell casings, instead of laser bolts like its 1980's counterpart. The Hasbro panel showed production art, explained details, and answered a lot of questions. Resolute definitely has more of a PG or PG -13 feel, with "little to no blood" but you still see swords swinging, blades twisting, and you can hear bones breaking, so the violence is more implied than showed. A++ on Resolute!


The convention had A LOT of cool custom contests as well as dioramas and interesting panel discussions. Hearing some of the back story on the production of the original 1980's GI Joe Real American Hero product line was interesting for collectors. Pictures of the con can be seen by clicking the link below. Enjoy!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28403997@N02/

New GI Joe Comic From IDW

08-14-08
With Devil's Due Publishing's run on the GI Joe comic book now over, IDW has the license now and are relaunching it in October with issue #0 and issue #1 in January. Unfortunately, 25 years of story continuity will be scrapped for a new relaunch on the property. However, on the upside, the original writer and "Grandfather of GI Joe," Larry Hama, is returning to write. In his interview posted on hisstank.com he explains that IDW is giving Hama alot of creative freedom and letting him do it "his way" this time. It will be interesting to see what Hama comes up with. Robert Atkins is the new artist and has posted some of his GI Joe artwork on deviantart.com. It is worth a look! Check it out!