For me, “Sparks” was an easy sell. I’m someone who loves serials, and classic pulp heroes that used their fists and fell for dames while fighting crime. Though “Sparks” is obviously an indie production, it garners the spirit of classic pulp heroes through and through. From a murder mystery, hard boiled cops, masked heroes, and the like, “Sparks” is an entertaining throwback to pulp heroes that, while flawed, is still worth a watch. If only for the great cast. Directors Todd Burrows and Christopher Folino leave no stone unturned in their ode to classic forties comic books, even featuring characters that smoke like it’s going out of style.
Tag Archives: Action
Five Great “Team” Movies You Should Watch
Today the full length trailer for “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie premiered to much fan fare.
My initial reaction was: “Holy shit. That’s the Guardians of the Galaxy?!” Let me emphasize the “Holy Shit,” because when I was a kid growing up in the 90’s, this was the “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Don’t get me wrong, the comic was okay, but I rarely ever bought it or read it. But holy shit, when did this new cinematic adaptation become the Guardians?
When did Chris Pratt become such a bad ass? Why are raccoons suddenly so amazing?! That said, I loves me some movies about a motley crew of rough necks that learn to trust one another and to get ready for “Guardians of the Galaxy,” here are five great “team” movies you should watch as an appetizer. Or if you want to see “Guardians” now and need something to tide you over. Either way the movies on this list are great..
United they stand, Divided they fall.
RoboCop (2014)
Truthfully, how much further can Hollywood damage Robocop? I think the hoopla surrounding the Robocop remake was very over the top, if only because Hollywood neutered Robocop years ago. “Robocop” was about a man brutally shot to death whose corpse was resurrected in a metallic casing that allowed him to shoot rapists in the nuts. By the time “Robocop 3” ended, he was a mascot with a cartoon, appearing on lunch boxes, and a PG-13 television series. So truth be told, José Padilha‘s remake doesn’t damage the character any further. The best thing I can say about it is that it’s better than “Robocop 3.”
The PC Thug: Why I’m Holding Off on “Days of Future Past”
I know, I know, I’ve been wrong before. I smashed “21 Jump Street” upon its initial trailer, and ended up loving the movie, but my instincts are not wrong with the X-Men and their upcoming movie. I just know I’d be wise to sit back and wait a little while for it all to sink in. As a long time X-Men fan, I just know that the movies are not the best that the X-Men can be.
And Bryan Singer returning has been a horrible curse on the movie series. I completely forgot years ago how much he repressed everything exciting and fun about the X-Men, turning it in to a self serious parade of nepotism for Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman.
Gotham City Serials – Batman/Batman And Robin: The Complete 1940s Movie Serials Collection (DVD)
It’s a good time to be a Batman fan. With another movie coming up, a new prequel series, and the Adam West Batman show finally coming to DVD this year, Mill Creek is wise to release the forties theatrical serials for Batman fans daring enough to venture in to the sketchy movie serials of the 1940’s. Don’t go in to this string of movie serials expecting modern Batman, or even Adam West Batman. It’s a very low budget adaptation of the Bill Finger character that also is heavily steeped in racial stereotypes. If you can consider the context of the serials, you may just enjoy the two disc DVD from Mill Creek Entertainment.
Stan Lee’s Mighty 7 (2014)
Stan Lee is asked by Archie Comics to create a comic book for them. Just his luck, Stan Lee runs across a group of Marvel clones that happen to be aliens from another galaxy with their own sets of powers and abilities. Stan Lee narrates the tale of Stan Lee in which Lee plays Stan Lee who is looking for an idea for a comic. Just his luck Stan Lee comes across the idea for his new series when he decides to help a bunch of space cops and their prisoners escape US authorities. Though Stan Lee plays himself as the main character, he’s really there to lend exposition to a clunky story, and inspire awe on the audience for a bunch of half baked heroes and villains.
The Tick: The Entire Series (DVD)
The slapstick wild animation really worked in favor of the original animated series of “The Tick.” Mainly because the world based on the Tick and around the character was so beyond reality and surreal that we accepted anything about it. The Barry Sonnenfeld led live action series is not only unnecessary but comes off as so incredibly cheap and bargain basement in production quality. The budget is so low that there’s very little action and slapstick, and so much more eccentric individuals in wild suits bouncing comedic dialogue off of one another and nothing else.