This book (All My Friends Are Superheroes by Andrew Kauffman) starts off interesting enough. There are superheroes everywhere with different powers. Some are Perfectionists, some are Hypnotists, some can breathe underwater, some are simply always nervous. Some powers seem useful, some not. There are no supervillains per se.
However, one hero makes the girl he has a crush on believe her husband is invisible (by hypnotising). Oh, and he used to date her after he hypnotised her to essentially rape her for 3 months. But somehow he is still not a villain. And the book tries to play this off as "well, the Perfectionist had the best sex of her life with Hypno which is what he hypnotised her to believe, so it is okay." But no-one steps up to challenge this demented Deus-Ex character just to advance the plot more.
Overall, though (if you ignore this bit of writing stupidity), the book is humorous with its unique view of superhero powers. It is also short. But they are big things to overlook, so ultimately a big thumbs down.
1 out of 5 super waffles.
Showing posts with label Superhero. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Superhero. Show all posts
Tuesday, 28 May 2019
Tuesday, 12 March 2019
NETFLIX REVIEW: UMBRELLA ACADEMY
The Umbrella Academy is a show based on the comics (graphic novels) by Dark Horse Comics. In it, it follows a young superhero team who has grown up. It attempts to be both a satire of the superhero genre and also a bit of a love letter.
The premise of the show is that a young superhero team is trained by a Professor X-type figure. The superheroes all have powers because they were effectively immaculate conceptions all on the same date. As they grow up, they go their separate ways, reuniting when there mentor dies. Each of these heroes is not a well-adjusted adult, each suffering some trauma from the distant mentor they had.
While the premise may be intriguing, it ends up feeling quite generic. There are a ton of stories about realistic superheroes and how they struggle to adjust to life (with Watchmen being the best example). The fact that this is effectively based on the X-Men doesn't help, as recent X-Men storylines have also explored things Professor X being manipulative and a bad mentor, the effects of child-soldiers, etc.
The final nail in the coffin is the music. You can almost tell that this was made near Guardians of the Galaxy and its success, as pop music is shoved into nearly every scene. It is loud and obnoxious, and kept taking me out of any investment in the already quite generic characters.
Overall, this is the definition of Netflix binge-watching. It is predictable and brainless, with the acting being okay. Unfortunately, the premise is too generic and the constant music blasting over the scenes actually takes me out of the actual story they are trying to build.
1.5 out of 5 covering waffles.
The premise of the show is that a young superhero team is trained by a Professor X-type figure. The superheroes all have powers because they were effectively immaculate conceptions all on the same date. As they grow up, they go their separate ways, reuniting when there mentor dies. Each of these heroes is not a well-adjusted adult, each suffering some trauma from the distant mentor they had.
While the premise may be intriguing, it ends up feeling quite generic. There are a ton of stories about realistic superheroes and how they struggle to adjust to life (with Watchmen being the best example). The fact that this is effectively based on the X-Men doesn't help, as recent X-Men storylines have also explored things Professor X being manipulative and a bad mentor, the effects of child-soldiers, etc.
The final nail in the coffin is the music. You can almost tell that this was made near Guardians of the Galaxy and its success, as pop music is shoved into nearly every scene. It is loud and obnoxious, and kept taking me out of any investment in the already quite generic characters.
Overall, this is the definition of Netflix binge-watching. It is predictable and brainless, with the acting being okay. Unfortunately, the premise is too generic and the constant music blasting over the scenes actually takes me out of the actual story they are trying to build.
1.5 out of 5 covering waffles.
Thursday, 27 April 2017
MOVIE REVIEW: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (2017)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is the sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy. Based in the Marvel cinematic universe, it picks up where Guardians of the Galaxy left off in following the adventures of Starlord and company through the Galaxy.
This time around, the plot centers around how the Guardians are going to stay together when half the galaxy has a bounty of there head. They don't help matters when they make some new enemies. They get a break when they meet Starlord's dad.
This time around Guardians feels like a very chilled ride. For approximately two and a half hours, we follow along with them as they interact with old and new characters and their various adventures. Although it is pretty obvious who the big bad will end up being, it takes its time getting there and never feels like it needs to get somewhere.
And that is what makes it so great. It never feels like it needs to rush or shove in some action to keep people interested. It is definitely more a character piece, despite being a blockbuster super-hero movie. The opening is also great, looking like it will be a bait-and-switch and then not being.
The only criticism is that it falls into the trap of trying have too much humor in some stages. One or two jokes less in the movie would've gone along way. It feels like the writers saw how much people liked the Guardians humour, so they tried to force humour where it doesn't belong. While Guardians felt a very natural, here it feels a bit forced.
I do have another criticism. Gamora's acting sometimes comes across as a whiny sitcom teenager. This is a very small issue in a couple of scenes, but it stands out as the rest of the acting is really good.
At the end of the day, this was an awesome time. The small criticisms are just that- small. The action is awesome, the story is chilled and yet ramps up nicely. The new and old characters are well done, even adding some new wrinkles to old characters. Definitely worth checking out.
4 our of 4 Living Waffles
This time around, the plot centers around how the Guardians are going to stay together when half the galaxy has a bounty of there head. They don't help matters when they make some new enemies. They get a break when they meet Starlord's dad.
This time around Guardians feels like a very chilled ride. For approximately two and a half hours, we follow along with them as they interact with old and new characters and their various adventures. Although it is pretty obvious who the big bad will end up being, it takes its time getting there and never feels like it needs to get somewhere.
And that is what makes it so great. It never feels like it needs to rush or shove in some action to keep people interested. It is definitely more a character piece, despite being a blockbuster super-hero movie. The opening is also great, looking like it will be a bait-and-switch and then not being.
The only criticism is that it falls into the trap of trying have too much humor in some stages. One or two jokes less in the movie would've gone along way. It feels like the writers saw how much people liked the Guardians humour, so they tried to force humour where it doesn't belong. While Guardians felt a very natural, here it feels a bit forced.
I do have another criticism. Gamora's acting sometimes comes across as a whiny sitcom teenager. This is a very small issue in a couple of scenes, but it stands out as the rest of the acting is really good.
At the end of the day, this was an awesome time. The small criticisms are just that- small. The action is awesome, the story is chilled and yet ramps up nicely. The new and old characters are well done, even adding some new wrinkles to old characters. Definitely worth checking out.
4 our of 4 Living Waffles
Saturday, 27 September 2014
COMIC BOOK REVIEW: LEAVING MEGALOPOLIS (2014)
Leaving Megalopolis was released in 2014 and is a bit of a different take on superheroes. It is kind-of like an Escape From New York-style superhero tale showing how ordinary people are coping when their protectors turn on them. It follows the story of a group of ordinary people trying to escape a city (Megalopolis) that super-powered individuals have turned into their personal hunting grounds.
The premise of the story is that Megalopolis is protected by a bunch of superheroes. One day, a dimensional rift opens up and the superheroes all unite to battle some kind of eldritch horror. When they defeat this horror is when the real problems start as it drives the superheroes a bit insane. The heroes now have an insatiable desire to kill once every few hours or so, but also limiting them to the city limits.
Into this horror, the story follows Mina. Mina is a cop who is trying to find her way out of the city with a bunch of people who are drawn to her in the hopes that they lead them to safety. Mina and her group are trying to escape the city limits to escape the superheroes. In their travels, they meet different civilians and how they are trying to cope with the villains.
The art throughout Leaving Megalopolis is superb. It really captures the horror of the crazed heroes and the brutality they are inflicting on the population without being too over the top and gritty. The tone of the book is definitely more Marvel Zombies than horror, however. The design of the superheroes also fits in well with the story.
The story is very tightly woven and very good. You never get the feeling that characters are taking stupid actions just to progress the story, and you can understand all the characters points of view. Whether it is the pragmatic Mina or the people who make deals with the crazed heroes, the story never feels like it is forced. The ending leaves allot to be desired as it doesn't really resolve too much, but as a first-issue an adequate job of setting things up. The one thing that it doesn't set up well are the different characters personalities. Outside of Mina, most of the supporting cast feel like interchangeable cannon fodder for the heroes.
Overall, Leaving Megalopolis is a story I would definitely recommend. The story is good, the characters are compelling and the art backs the story and tone of the comic without being too over the top. Although it has a few shortcomings, for the most part it a very good first-issue.
4 out of 5 granite-laden waffles.
The premise of the story is that Megalopolis is protected by a bunch of superheroes. One day, a dimensional rift opens up and the superheroes all unite to battle some kind of eldritch horror. When they defeat this horror is when the real problems start as it drives the superheroes a bit insane. The heroes now have an insatiable desire to kill once every few hours or so, but also limiting them to the city limits.
Into this horror, the story follows Mina. Mina is a cop who is trying to find her way out of the city with a bunch of people who are drawn to her in the hopes that they lead them to safety. Mina and her group are trying to escape the city limits to escape the superheroes. In their travels, they meet different civilians and how they are trying to cope with the villains.
The art throughout Leaving Megalopolis is superb. It really captures the horror of the crazed heroes and the brutality they are inflicting on the population without being too over the top and gritty. The tone of the book is definitely more Marvel Zombies than horror, however. The design of the superheroes also fits in well with the story.
The story is very tightly woven and very good. You never get the feeling that characters are taking stupid actions just to progress the story, and you can understand all the characters points of view. Whether it is the pragmatic Mina or the people who make deals with the crazed heroes, the story never feels like it is forced. The ending leaves allot to be desired as it doesn't really resolve too much, but as a first-issue an adequate job of setting things up. The one thing that it doesn't set up well are the different characters personalities. Outside of Mina, most of the supporting cast feel like interchangeable cannon fodder for the heroes.
Overall, Leaving Megalopolis is a story I would definitely recommend. The story is good, the characters are compelling and the art backs the story and tone of the comic without being too over the top. Although it has a few shortcomings, for the most part it a very good first-issue.
4 out of 5 granite-laden waffles.
Thursday, 24 October 2013
Double-Punch: Kick Ass 2
This is a double-punch review of Kick Ass 2. This movie is the follow-up to the first Kick Ass movie. In Kick-Ass 2, the title hero Kick-Ass teams up with Hit Girl and finds a community of other superheroes, prompting a team to form. Red Mist, the son of the villain from the first Kick Ass, is also plotting revenge after Kick Ass and Hit Girl killed his father.
Questions are courtesy of http://faculty.mansfield.edu/wkeeth/Film%20Review%20Questions.pdf. The first double punch review of The World’s End can be found at http://superhyperwafflepunch.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/the-worlds-end-double-punch.html.
1. What interesting facts or ideas does the movie bring to mind? What other films have you seen which might bear on your understanding of this film? To what contemporary events does the film refer?
Waffler 1: A lot of these characters are outcast from society and how popular culture has defined them. This is shown well by how both the heroes and villains used communication to create conflict. I do think current events like school shootings and how internet bullying is affecting young adults.
Waffler 2: Kick-Ass 2 brings the idea of the consequences of trying to be a super-hero in terms of violence and loss in your private life. The Dark Knight or Spiderman 2 are two other films which deal with the same themes of power and responsibility which affected my understanding of the film. The contemporary events is the rise of social media and the loss of privacy, as well as the cops treating all costumes as villains (with respect to racism).
2. Do you remember a particular, concrete, or special object/image in one shot or throughout the film? What is its significance?
Waffler 1: The first image of Jim Carrey as Colonel Stripes. His appearance showed us what being a real hero is about.
Waffler 2: I remember the image of Hit Girl getting dumped in the forest. I think its significance was showing that she is not invulnerable despite all her skills.
3. What is the basic argument of the film’s plot? What themes (an abstraction or generalization about life, humanity, and human interactions) underlie the plot? What does the film show about the people and their values? What is the general set of assumptions upon which the film is based?
Waffler 1: I feel the theme of the movie is about overcoming doubt. That to be a true hero you must fully believe that you can do it, no matter the struggle. But be warned- there will always be an asshole to try and stop you.
Waffler 2: The film shows that good people will act good (and vice versa) to the limits of their abilities when pressed. It also shows that being a hero has consequences and is something that needs to be taken seriously.
4. Who seems to narrate the film or what point of view seems to be presented?
Waffler 1: The sequel seemed split between the three main character - Hit Girl, Kick-Ass and The MotherFucker, and about them finding their true calling even if it’s rather unusual.
Waffler 2: The point of view that seems to be presented is centred allot more around Hit Girl and her struggles growing up despite being able to wipe the floor with criminals. It also shows the point of view of Kick Ass as he finds a community of superheroes to belong to.
5. Who are the film’s main protagonists and antagonists? Why do they behave the way they do? What was the general theme of each character’s development?
Waffler 1: Each character had to overcome certain aspects of who they really were. For Kick-Ass it was about taking responsibility for making superheros mainstream. Hit Girl dealt with acceptance and how, even though she found ways to function within society, she is a real hero. For The MotherFucker it was about control of this life and turning super villains into a real threat when all the obstacles were out of his way.
Waffler 2: The films main protagonists are Kick Ass and Hit Girl. They behave the way they do because they want to feel special and it is how they have been brought up, respectively. The main antagonist is Red Mist and he wants revenge because his father died in the first film. The general theme is that being a hero or villain has consequences.
6. Does the film have any significant political dimensions and leanings? What is the role of cultural, social, political, and economic history in interpreting the movie’s possible meanings? How are sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, and nationality addressed in the film?
Waffler 1: The movie used stereotypes about people race, religion or ethnicity to describe super villains in a humorous manner which I think didn't work. It was about he importance of knowing the difference between right and wrong and that being a hero is about the simple things like helping people.
Waffler 2: I think the main political leaning is when the cops decide to treat all costumed heroes as villains. This could have a dimension such as racism (i.e. treat all non-whites a certain way legally). Different nationalities and orientations are addressed by being ignored. There is a diverse range of characters, but their differences are ignored and it is based more on their actions The cultural impact is the struggle for people to feel significant and special in current society without a privledged birth, which is why Kick Ass puts his costume back on.
Questions are courtesy of http://faculty.mansfield.edu/wkeeth/Film%20Review%20Questions.pdf. The first double punch review of The World’s End can be found at http://superhyperwafflepunch.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/the-worlds-end-double-punch.html.
1. What interesting facts or ideas does the movie bring to mind? What other films have you seen which might bear on your understanding of this film? To what contemporary events does the film refer?
Waffler 1: A lot of these characters are outcast from society and how popular culture has defined them. This is shown well by how both the heroes and villains used communication to create conflict. I do think current events like school shootings and how internet bullying is affecting young adults.
Waffler 2: Kick-Ass 2 brings the idea of the consequences of trying to be a super-hero in terms of violence and loss in your private life. The Dark Knight or Spiderman 2 are two other films which deal with the same themes of power and responsibility which affected my understanding of the film. The contemporary events is the rise of social media and the loss of privacy, as well as the cops treating all costumes as villains (with respect to racism).
2. Do you remember a particular, concrete, or special object/image in one shot or throughout the film? What is its significance?
Waffler 1: The first image of Jim Carrey as Colonel Stripes. His appearance showed us what being a real hero is about.
Waffler 2: I remember the image of Hit Girl getting dumped in the forest. I think its significance was showing that she is not invulnerable despite all her skills.
3. What is the basic argument of the film’s plot? What themes (an abstraction or generalization about life, humanity, and human interactions) underlie the plot? What does the film show about the people and their values? What is the general set of assumptions upon which the film is based?
Waffler 1: I feel the theme of the movie is about overcoming doubt. That to be a true hero you must fully believe that you can do it, no matter the struggle. But be warned- there will always be an asshole to try and stop you.
Waffler 2: The film shows that good people will act good (and vice versa) to the limits of their abilities when pressed. It also shows that being a hero has consequences and is something that needs to be taken seriously.
4. Who seems to narrate the film or what point of view seems to be presented?
Waffler 1: The sequel seemed split between the three main character - Hit Girl, Kick-Ass and The MotherFucker, and about them finding their true calling even if it’s rather unusual.
Waffler 2: The point of view that seems to be presented is centred allot more around Hit Girl and her struggles growing up despite being able to wipe the floor with criminals. It also shows the point of view of Kick Ass as he finds a community of superheroes to belong to.
5. Who are the film’s main protagonists and antagonists? Why do they behave the way they do? What was the general theme of each character’s development?
Waffler 1: Each character had to overcome certain aspects of who they really were. For Kick-Ass it was about taking responsibility for making superheros mainstream. Hit Girl dealt with acceptance and how, even though she found ways to function within society, she is a real hero. For The MotherFucker it was about control of this life and turning super villains into a real threat when all the obstacles were out of his way.
Waffler 2: The films main protagonists are Kick Ass and Hit Girl. They behave the way they do because they want to feel special and it is how they have been brought up, respectively. The main antagonist is Red Mist and he wants revenge because his father died in the first film. The general theme is that being a hero or villain has consequences.
6. Does the film have any significant political dimensions and leanings? What is the role of cultural, social, political, and economic history in interpreting the movie’s possible meanings? How are sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, and nationality addressed in the film?
Waffler 1: The movie used stereotypes about people race, religion or ethnicity to describe super villains in a humorous manner which I think didn't work. It was about he importance of knowing the difference between right and wrong and that being a hero is about the simple things like helping people.
Waffler 2: I think the main political leaning is when the cops decide to treat all costumed heroes as villains. This could have a dimension such as racism (i.e. treat all non-whites a certain way legally). Different nationalities and orientations are addressed by being ignored. There is a diverse range of characters, but their differences are ignored and it is based more on their actions The cultural impact is the struggle for people to feel significant and special in current society without a privledged birth, which is why Kick Ass puts his costume back on.
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