Big night for Steve tonight. I just got home from seeing Iron Man, Smallville was huge, and…well, that’s about it. But those two things alone are enough to make tonight a HUGE night and a great one. Let’s talk Iron Man.

You can go to just about any website this weekend and find at least one or two reviews of Marvel’s latest motion picture offering. Ain’t It Cool alone has five reviews from regular contributers and a plethora of reviews from readers of the site. So, the question is, “What can you add Steve?” “What can you say that hasn’t already been said?”

Three words, “OH MY LANTA!!!!” I think that about sums it up. GOOD NIGHT EVERYBODY!

Seriously though, Iron Man is quite possibly the best offering from Marvel since Spider-Man 2.

For me, judging a super hero movie comes down to two big things:

1. Is it true to the source material?

2. Is it fun without making fun of it’s content? In other words, is it too campy?

First, you could take the origin story that is Iron Man the movie and use it to replace the original origin story from the comics with it, and you would still have a long lasting character and long running comic book that wouldn’t look much different from what we have had for nearly forty years of Iron Man in the comics. Pretty true to the source material I would say.

Secondly, Iron Man is fun. There are some awesome moments throughout the movie. Not just the action scenes, mind you, the whole idea of watching Stark create the armor is great and it breeds some funny stuff. But, it never goes to the point of MAKING FUN of what Iron Man is and who the character has been. It’s no Batman Begins in terms of “darkness” or seriousness, but it’s not supposed to be. It’s a totally different character and a totally different universe. Unlike Bruce Wayne who merely plays the role of a billionaire playboy, Tony Stark IS a billionaire playboy. He takes the true hero’s journey in this film, and therein lies the drama. However, the drama isn’t so heavy that you miss out on the fun of a full fledged super hero movie.

As far as all the other elements of a movie go, Iron Man comes up all A’s. Everyone turns in great performances, Jon Favreau directed this movie in expert fashion, and the special effects are so good, that you don’t even notice them. It’s hard to tell when you’re looking at a digital effect and a practical effect. That’s a great thing.

Iron Man suffers from one weakness. It’s so good that there are fifty million outstanding reviews out there. If you read them all, you may go in expecting the CITIZEN KANE of super hero movies. This is not Donner’s Superman. But it’s close. I look forward to a second one not in hopes that things will get better, but because the first one is that good. So, go in expecting to have fun and watch a good movie and you won’t be disappointed at all.

If you want spoilers, or my thoughts on more specific moments of the movie (Read: My reaction to the scene after the credits.) then check out Geek Out Loud early next week. Make sure you go to geekoutpodcast.com to listen and subscribe.

In closing, go see this movie, and stay through the credits. Then come back here and leave a comment or two.

I’ve always been intrigued with the whole Marvel vs. DC phenomenon.  I used to fall on the Marvel side of the debate.  In recent years though, (I say recent years, but I guess I mean in the past ten years) I’ve come to really appreciate the depth of DC’s characters and stories they have tackled in the past and even recently.

Comic-wise, I really feel like DC has set the bar as of late and Marvel has just tried to keep up.  When it comes to media outside of comics, in the past 15 years I feel like Marvel has really trumped DC.  Even with projects like Batman the Animated series right on through to Justice League Unlimited, Marvel seemed to always have more of their characters out there.  The X-Men, Spider-Man, Hulk, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, and even the Silver Surfer have all had animated series in the past two decades.  Then came the movies.  If you start with Blade and work your way up to now, Marvel has clearly had the upper hand in drawing awareness to their product through the medium of film.  Even if some of their projects have been misses more than hits.  The characters are out there.  Which is more than what can be said for DC’s properties.

Marvel has led the way as of late in media outside of comics.   That may be about to change though.  We very well could be on the edge of a new frontier.

DC’s latest forray into the direct-to-dvd animation market is Justice League: The New Frontier,  and what a forray it was.  

Because I’m not familiar with the Graphic Novel by Darwyn Cooke, the story is completely new to me, in any format.  It completely works.

Many people were unimpressed with Superman: Doomsday.  While I appreciated it for what it was, I understand the criticisms of the movie.

New Frontier, even though it’s not trying to make up for Superman:Doomsday, totally makes up for it. 

The story, if you’re unfamiliar as I was, takes place in the late fifties on the tail end of the Korean War.  All of our heroes are on individual journey’s, and Hal Jordan and J’onn J’onnz take center stage.  Both are on the edge of new frontiers in their own lives.   Hal, is jsut getting out of the war and becoming a test pilot.   J’onn has just been accidentally transported to Earth from Mars and is trying to fit in.  Batman is in Gotham City doing his detective thing.  Wonder Woman is championing the cause of women around the globe, even if her tactics are somewhat questionable.  Superman is fighting for truth, justice, and the American Way.   

All the while, a threat known as The Center is rising from dormancy to destroy humanity and begin the evolutionary process again.   In the end, our heroes have to band together to stop this threat and protect a human race that is no longer sure how it feels about it’s super human protectors.   It is a story full of intrigue, great characterization, and all out action.

So how does this movie rack up?

Well, let’s start with the animation.   The first thing you notice when watching this movie is that the character designs are like nothing that have come out of Bruce Timm’s camp since he started doing Batman: The Animates Series all those years ago.  The designs are closer to Darwyn Cooke’s work in the actual graphic novel and it really works well.  The designs of the characters take us out of the established Timm/Diniverse and plant us solidly in the world in which this story is being told.  They feel classic and fresh at the same time.  It’s as if we’re seeing old friends in a totally new light.

The animation itself is interesting because on one hand, it’s typical 2-D animation that we expect today.  It’s got great a fantastic quality to it.  But there are moments when something is done to make it seem like the animation of the late 50’s and early 60’s.  You know what I mean.  Where the characters aren’t really animated at all.  Maybe a cape is blowing or a character is moving through space but no part of his body is moving.  This isn’t a complaint mind you.  This is pointing out one of the things that totally make this movie work.  It helps to constantly remind us what the feel of this movie is supposed to be.

There are a couple of subtle moments that work incredibly well as well.  At one point J’onn is watching TV to get an understanding of the culture.  Finally, at the end of a movie, he takes on the form of a human.  As he walks to his apartment window, his whole form is black and white, and slowly he colors himself in.  Another moment is the confrontation that Superman has with Wonder Woman, she is kneeling on a table throughout most of the conversation, but when she steps  off of the table, we see that Amazonian princess actually stands a bit taller than Superman.  It’s just neat.

So the animation is great.  What about the voice work?

Let’s see…David Boreanaz as Hal Jordan?  Well, Boreanaz brings to the table the tone of voice that sounds young, but not too young.  It’s strong, but it’s not overbearing.  It fits the character of Hal Jordan. 

Neil Patrick Harris as the Flash:  I never even heard NPH when The Flash was talking.  I only heard the Flash.  NPH was a fantastic choice for this character.

Lucy Lawless as Wonder Woman:  It really took this long to figure this one out?  Wonderful.

Miguel Ferrer as J’onn J’onnz (The Martian Manhunter): Ferrer did a great job of being at one time John Jones and another J’onn J’onnz.  In his martian form, J’onn’s voice has a distinctly etheral and foreign tone to it.  Ferrer did a good job.

In one of the more controversial choices, Jeremy Sisto as Batman:  I had absolutely no problem with Sisto’s portrayal of Batman.  He brings something new to the character that fits with the persona that Batman is trying to have. 

Then there’s Kyle McLachlin as Superman:  I don’t know where McLachlin has been when it come time to put a voice to Superman, but why didn’t they get him for Superman: Doomsday?  Throughout the years, there have been some great voice work for animated versions of Superman, and I don’t want to take away anything that anyone has ever done.   Bud Collier set the standard back in the forties and Tim Daly did a wonderful job of giving power and at the same time humility to the voice of Superman.  Kyle McLachlin just sounded like Superman.  Period.  His voice was perfect for this movie, and probably any other animated incarnation of Superman we’ll see for a while. 

Ok, so the animation worked, the voices worked, what about the characters themselves.  In two words, nailed it.   Everyone is who they should be.   There’s no tinkering with the characters to make them edgier, grittier, or even tone them down.  They are who they are.  One of my favorite moments is when Batman saves a little boy from being sacrificed by a cult that worships the Center.  When he unties the little boy, the boy is scared of Batman.  Later, we see Batman in the Batcave with Robin.  He explains to Superman, who asks him about why he has a sidekick, “I want to scare criminals, not children.”  WOW.  The other great line from Batman is to J’onn, “I have a $65,000 piece of meteor to use against the Kryptonian if I need it.  All I would need is a penny for a book of matches to take you down.” (Paraphrased)

Just before the final battle, Superman steps up and does what he does best.  He inspires.  His speech to the heroes and soldiers present at the big final showdown is a Superman speech and it works. 

Those are just two expamples, but from Hal Jordan to Barry Allen and everyone else, the characters are portrayed just right.

All in all, this is what a super hero movie should be.  Whether live action or straight to DVD animated, the key is the adherence to the source material.  If it worked on paper, it will work in this medium.    I give this movie a strong 5 out of 5.  Yes.  It’s that good.

I mentioned at the outset of this review the whole Marvel vs. DC thing.  I think Marvel should take a nod from what DC has done in it’s first two direct to DVD outings.  Adapt some of your most famous stories.  We’ve got cartoons, movies, and television shows to go over the origins of these characters.  Skip the origins and use this medium to pay homage to some of the great stories of the past.  I think that Marvel will find themselves back in the drivers seat when it comes to media outside of comics again if they do this. 

All in all, if you haven’t picked up New Frontier yet, do it.  The Justice League and Legion of Doom special features alone are worth the price of admission, couple that with two different commentaries and you’ve got yourself one heck of a DVD.  You can click the handy links below to go to Amazon and pick up a copy of the movie and the graphic novel for yourself if you haven’t already.

Here we are at the end of 2007, and it’s time for a look back. 

Before we look back though, I have to be honest and say that there are a few movies that I haven’t seen and some that I am looking forward to seeing before the year is over.

Top among those are I AM LEGEND starring Will Smith.  I would probably see this movie simply because Will Smith is in it.  As it stands though, it looks promising as far as the story goes (I’ve never read the graphic novel.).   Smith has come a loooong way since his “Take it from me, parents just don’t understand” days alongside Jazzy Jeff.  He has solidified himself as one of the better actors of our time.  Even though I still have friends who can’t get past the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, after his work in films like ALI and THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS, it cannot be denied that Will Smith is a wonderful actor.  So, I am looking forward to a movie that is going to push his acting by having him and him alone on screen for a large chunk of the film.

Also, I haven’t seen BEOWULF yet.  However, I still intend to.  I am intrigued by the motion capture animation style of the film, and I have been intrigued by the story of Beowulf since I first read it in my lit class in high school.

Then there’s ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS.  I sat GARFIELD out.  Mainly because of Odie.  I didn’t like the look of Odie as they presented him on the big screen and I wasn’t too keen on another live action cartoon.  Every trailer I’ve seen of ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS has made me laugh though, so I will probably spring a matinee fee to go see it.

Ultimately, 2007 was across the board a decent year for geeks on several levels.

In the world of books and literature, we were treated to HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS.  I actually didn’t read any of the Harry Potter books until this year. It all started when I was at my house one day just doing some cleaning and ABC Family was running the first three movies back to back to back in anticipation of their premiere of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (I think).  I was flipping channels and I saw some kids run through a wall to a train station on the other side and I thought, “That’s pretty neat.”  Before I knew it, I was sucked in to the story of Harry Potter via the first film.  I had seen PRISONER OF AZKABAN with a friend who just wanted someone to go watch it with her, so I wasn’t unfamiliar with the characters or anything, I just wasn’t into the whole Harry Potter phenomenon.   Now, though, I went out and bought each book as finished the previous one.  I was blown away by J.K. Rowlings ability to write teen angst without making me roll my eyes and think the kids were all too stupid to continue to invest in.  (Yes, I ended a sentence with a preposition…sue me.)  The problem was that I finished HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE months before DEATHLY HALLOWS was released.   So I got caught up in all the speculation and discussions about what would happen and who would die.  

When I finally got my hands on the seventh and final book in the series, I devoured it.   I was totally invested in Hermione’s and Ron’s relationship with each other.  I got choked up when Ron came back to the trio after leaving so angrily.  I nearly got mad when, during a break in chapters, I thought for a split second that Hagrid had died.  I was thrilled when Mrs.  Weasly finally broke loose and showed just how tough she was.  I absolutely cheered when Harry finally faced down his Lord Voldemort and defeated evil.  I was a kid again.   In fact, every single book took me to that place that I think everyone has inside of them.   That place of childhood wonder at the world around you.

In comics, things are a bit more complicated.

In DC comics, 52 ended and the Countdown begun, thus proving that you can’t make magic happen intentionally, and lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice.  What do I mean by that?  Well, DC pulled off something successful, innovative, and very well-received in the form of 52.   However, to immediately follow that up with a series that is released the same way as 52 without the apparent detail to timing and continuity shows that the DC higher ups saw a dollar figure more than another creative oppurtunity.  

DC also took a step toward a more Silver Age feel in their books.  This could be good…this could be bad.  So far, it’s been both.  It depends largely on who’s writing and what they’ve been given and green lit to write.  Hopefully, DC will answer continuity questions and settle into a long term status quo with their books in Final Crisis.  This whole year for DC has seemed very hit and miss in terms of quality.  Further, it seems that DC has no real sense of where it’s headed or why. 

That’s not to say there hasn’t been some good stuff realeased by DC.   There has been some stuff that I wish I was collecting and some stuff that I have bit the bullet and picked up whether my budget can handle the strain or not.  Truthfully, ‘08 has more potential for DC to get things on a great track more than Marvel.

In Marvel comics, 2007 saw Civil War end, The Hulk wage war, Captain America die, and Skrulls rear their ugly heads again.  While Civil War is an interesting concept, the end result left things so open ended and in disarray that many people are scratching their heads wondering if Marvel can get things back on track for themselves without God (as portrayed by Jack Kirby) wiping the slate clean and starting over. 

This is not to say that Civil War wasn’t compelling, interesting, or good, only that it may have been too much.  

Then there’s the death of Captain America.   This event has been handled pretty well by the Marvel Bullpen.  While Captain America will be back, (and most likely Steve Rogers as well one day) his death has been treated like the event it should be.

While I really enjoyed everything I got to read on the World War Hulk front, the story wasn’t the Earth-shattering event it promised to be in the months leading up to the Green Goliath’s return to Earth.  Sentinel continues to be a poor shadow of what Superman is in DC comics, and the question of how the Hulk will go back to being simply hounded by the military while Bruce Banner hides and finds a cure is yet to be seen.

Skrulls are back, and while I thought the first appearance of a Skrull in the Avengers title was supposed to signal an invasion of sorts, I haven’t seen or heard anything major happening yet.  

Marvel, through 2007, showed that (in their comics) they continue to tell great stories that start big and just kind of fizzle out at the end.   I think it’s time to go back to what works for them and get centered.   Quit messing around too much in your heroes lives and get back to some good old fashioned hero vs. villain action for a while. 

Both companies have gone the way of writing for the trades and killing us with crossovers.  Remember when you could collect one book and know what was going on with that character or team fairly consistently? 

There were a few straight to DVD releases this year that I picked up.

In January, Marvel continued it’s line of animated titles with THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN.  The DVD came out the week of my birthday, so I picked it up as a present to myself.   I should have grabbed an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen instead.   The movie just didn’t pop with me.  There was never the moment that made me say, “This is worth the price of admission.”  Ultimate Avengers had it, when Captain America goes in to fight the Hulk, I was on the edge of my seat thinking, “Holy monkey spit! They’re gonna fight!” Ultimate Avengers 2 didn’t really have that moment, but it was still more watchable, in my opinion, that THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN.  

As far as Super Heroes in any type of feature, that was the first one of the year, so things got off to not so hot a start in ‘07 for our super powered friends.  In my mind, I had to wonder, “Would things get better?”

I wasn’t able to pick up SUPERMAN: DOOMSDAY last Tuesday on it’s release day.  I had to choose earlier in the month between picking up that and one other title at the same time, or picking up Smallville Season 6.  I went the Smallville route. 

Luckily, my good friend and future contributor to the Geek Out Loud podcast, Big B stepped in with a copy he purchased and we had a viewing at The Fortress of Solitude South (My house) the Thursday after release day.

My thoughts?  Weeellllll…..I’ve watched it three times now.  Once with commentary.  Bruce Timm and the gang didn’t fully sell me on it.  I liked it, but I didn’t love it.  I didn’t like it too much, but I didn’t absolutely hate it.  I thought it was great…but not that great.  I thought it was bad…but not THAT bad.  “Why so schizo?” you ask?  Let’s begin with a recap of the film.  Spoilers abound, so if you haven’t seen the movie yet, you may not want to read on til you do.

The movie opens with a monologue about who Superman is to Lex Luthor.  Lex refers to him (and not for the last time) as a god among men who, rather than rule, has chosen to serve and protect…to save humanity. 

Clark is dealt with pretty quickly after our initial introduction to Perry White and Lois Lane.  Apparently, Clark is going to be the Planet’s foreign correspondent in Afghanistan.  I read someone complaining about this country as a choice to place a foreign correspondent, but the truth is it makes sense and could end up contributing to the timelessness of the movie.   News companies still have foreign correspondents there even if the big news is Iraq.  Why?  Because no matter if we forget or not, there are still things going down in Afghanistan.  It’s still a dangerous place, but not so dangerous that someone like Clark couldn’t make it there as his first assignment as a foreign correspondent.  Ultimately, this is just a way to keep from having to answer the question of Clark hiding his identity throughout the events that follow in the movie.

Lex is drilling deep into the Earth to harness radiation to be used as a power source.  Of course, he’s not doing it himself, I should say that Lexcorp is funding the drilling.  The workers unearth an ancient spacecraft that houses Doomsday in suspended animation.  As the workers disturb the ship, it opens, or is punctured, and Doomsday wakes up and begins his killing ways.

He plows a path of destruction that leads him to Metropolis.  

While all of this is going down, Superman and Lois are enjoying some time together in the Fortress of Solitude - North (Superman’s home…not mine.)  While there, they have their first fight.  They have been dating for six months, and Superman won’t reveal his secret identity to Lois.  She’s pretty much got it figured out though.  Just as they are making up, Superman’s robot alerts him to the trouble brewing in Metropolis and a Superman rushes headlong in to a battle to his death.  Well, to steal a line from THE PRINCESS BRIDE “he’s just mostly dead.”

In the days that follow the funeral, Lois goes to see Martha Kent, she reveals that she knew that Clark and Superman were one and the same and has come to Martha to share her grief with the only other person on Earth who loved Superman in as personal a way as Lois did.

Suddenly, emo Toy Man appears with a giant spider and a bus load of children in danger.  Lois jumps in to help the kids, but before she can save the last little girl, Toy Man catches her and snaps.  He uses his giant toy spider to rip the bus to pieces and throw it over the side of a building. 

At Superman’s grave, a fist smashes through the ground.  Superman returns (so to speak) to save the day.  But it’s not REALLY Superman, it’s a clone developed by Lex Luthor, who has stolen the body of Superman and used his DNA to begin building an army of Supermen that will be subservient to him.

This pseudo-Superman sees himself as Metropolis’ protector, but he lacks the moral center of the real Superman.  He’s not evil.  He’s not Bizarro.  He’s just edgy, dark, and misguided.  After seeing a report that Toy Man escaped from jail and killed a little girl, Superman kills Toy Man.  He is now wanted and the National Guard is called in to take him down.

It should be mentioned at this point that the robot from the Fortress took the real Superman’s body from Lex and brought him to the Fortress to revive him and help him regain his strength.  As I said, Superman wasn’t dead, he was mostly dead.

The fake Superman nearly kills Lex, and dismantles the army sent to take him in.   It is now that the real Superman shows up to stop him.  A fight ensues and the fake Superman dies in the arms of the real Superman, and hope lives anew in Metropolis.

If you notice, I spent more time on the events surrounding the fake Superman than I did those surrounding Doomsday…that’s because the movie did too.  Therein lies my first problem with the movie…..The Doomsday fight wasn’t long enough.  I know that the creators didn’t want a fight that dragged on and on, but at least give us a fight that lasts longer than a few minutes.   The fight in the comics went on for three or four issues.   It has to be epic.  It has to feel more deadly than it did.  One little shot of blood spattering on Lois’ face and Superman coughing up blood doesn’t do it.   The fight is brutal.  It is cool to watch, it just seems abbreviated.  I feel like there could be more.  But I like what we got.

In fact, both of the major fights in the movie are very cool.   When Superman is fighting Doomsday, the animators do a great job toward the end of showing Superman stumble when he throws a punch because he’s so weak.  During the Doomsday fight, there is some great punching and throwing.  DOOMSDAY POWER BOMBS SUPERMAN!  There is an homage to Superman 2 when Superman and Non fight under the street and it causes the whole place to shake.   That happens here too.

When Superman fights fake Superman, there is a cool moment when fake Superman gets thrown into a building.  Instead of crashing into it, he stops himself and lands gently on the building’s side, but then with force enough to crack the wall, he pushes himself off and lunges at Superman. 

Cool, cool fights.

James Marsters was a perfect choice for the voice of Lex Luthor.  The design of Lex Luthor was great.  I prefer it to the design of Lex in Superman: The Animated Series.  He looks like a classic villian.  He is positively evil, make no mistake.  He finds cures to diseases and has his scientist figure out a way to stretch the cures into treatments so that people pay for them their entire lives and Lexcorp reaps the profit again and again.

The only thing I didn’t like about Lex was the wierd way he dealt with Superman’s death.  Not the clone, but the fact that he used his clone as a punching bag to let out his feelings about Superman dying.  It seemed…well…it was just wierd.

Many people have very positive things to say about the music for this movie.  My favorite musical moment is when Superman has grabbed Doomsday and flown with him into space only to push him back into Earth so as to finally end his rampage.   The music is awesome at this moment and fits perfectly into what is happening and what is coming. 

I didn’t like the theme though.  Well, I liked it, but it seemed like something that belonged in a Star Trek movie…not a movie where Superman is going to give his life in an epic battle and risk it in another.  It carried too much a feel of discovery and not enough of adventure.  So it didn’t hit just the right emotional note with me when Superman comes back and the theme is playing in the background.

Here’s the problem…it’s not John Williams.  Let’s face it, no one will ever be able to write a Superman theme that compares and it is Williams’ theme to which every theme written will be compared. 

If for no other reason than two great fights and a cameo by Kevin Smith, (which, by the way, to completely understand you need to watch this. The language is quite coarse, so if you are esily offended don’t click this link. this movie is worth watching.  The question is, “Is it worth buying?” I’m going with  a definite yes.  If you want to watch some cool Superman fight scenes, you can pop this in a watch anytime. 

Also, there is a great documentary on the original storyline in the comics.  It’s not a featurette, it’s a full fledged documentary featuring the writers who worked together to write the death and return story.  It is a wonderful insight into not only breaking a story, but the passion that these people have for the characters they write.  It’s worth the price of admission so to speak.

While the movie isn’t what I would have hoped, or even what I would have tried to do with the subject matter, it is a good Superman movie.  Check it out, and don’t forget to throw your two cents worth in by commenting or E-mailing me.

Also, don’t forget we’re a few days away from the launch of Geek Out Loud, the official podcast of Geek Out Online.