Recent viewings

Although I haven't really been listening to much music as of late (hence the lack of "Tuesday's Tunes" posts), I can share some quick bits about what I've been watching:

MOVIES
 
Hobbit 3D: It was a fun movie, but I'm reserving giving this any rating until all three parts are released. A nice bit of fantasy to escape into, especially if you're secretly wanting to live in a luxurious Hobbit hole or go on an adventure!

Ted: I might not have been in the right mood to watch this one, but I thought it was kind overhyped and awkward. I love a fart joke as much as the next guy, but I was only lukewarm to this one.

Crazy, Stupid, Love: I enjoy a good rom-com now and then, but this one had some depth and substance to it. Sure this one's from two years ago, but I'm glad I was finally able to watch it.

Moonrise Kingdom: I really enjoyed this one, and this was T's first Wes Anderson movie. Luckily, it was probably the most accessible too, and she enjoyed it as well!


TV

Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes: I'm really bummed they cancelled this one after only two seasons, but man, they crammed it full of Marvel's C and D-list characters, I was in geek heaven. I would never think that I would see an animated version of the Guardians of the Galaxy, but then again, they ARE going to get their own movie at some point in 2014.

Shark Tank: I can't get enough of it, multiple friends have been recommending it to me for awhile, and I finally got hooked after I caught an episode last week while I was staying at the hotel.

Community: Two episodes in from it's return...and its very "meh" but I will stick with this one out of loyalty...and the fact that its coming to a close.

He's not a Bad Guy

I was extremely pleased by Disney's Wreck-It Ralph, a wonderfully tender and introspective animated tale. Here are my highlights:

• Top-notch voice casting
• Good balance for an "all-age movie", something Pixar's recent movie "Brave" didn't have
• As an older viewer, a healthy dose of nostalgic video game characters: everything from Pac-Man to Street Fighter 2
• For an animated movie, it hits on the more mature themes of identity and self-image
• *sniff*...What? No, I'm not crying during a cartoon...I just have something in my eyes... *sniff* It's so touching, pass the tissues...

I definitely recommend it if you can catch in the theater, or once it comes out on DVD.

I love New England in the Fall

I was fortunate enough to have Columbus Day off this past weekend and the timing of the long weekend was perfect as I really needed sometime to recharge the 'ol batteries. While a relaxing weekend, the Mrs. and I were able to partake in the great New England Fall tradition of apple picking. Besides getting a huge bagful of apples from Bolton Spring Farm, we were recommended this tasty treat:

Pulled pork over a cider donut! This photo stirred quite a reaction when I initially posted it on Facebook :) While a bit sweet for my tastes, it was a clever pairing and also prompted me to buy a half dozen cider donuts for the ride.

I also have to plug the movie Looper which I saw Monday at the Somerville Theater. I was blown away with their prices: $6 for any movie before 6PM! I am definitely catching more movies here in the future.

Anyhow, I'm terrible at movie reviews, but I have to say it is one of my favorites of the year. Dealing with a plot that includes time travel can often be headache-inducing, however the way Looper handles the plot device is both clever and tongue-in-cheek, encouraging viewers to not think about it too much and just enjoy the ride. On top of a great story, the movie is also beautifully shot and I think you get some great performances from the entire cast, both major and minor characters. Bottom line: Looper is a smart sci-fi film that is definitely worth checking out.

Lastly, it's almost time for Halloween, and I stumbled upon these lovelies:

If any old school Transformers is willing to shell out $60 for these hoodies, then you too can play out your Optimus Prime or Grimlock fantasies this Halloween.

Suggested Reading: Atomic Robo

Atomic Robo and the Fightin' Scientists of Tesladyne (Vol. 1)
Written by Brian Clevinger
Art by Scott Wegener

"In 1923, Nikola Tesla's career is in its twilight... until he unveils a robot with automatic intelligence - ATOMIC ROBO! After decades of dealing with all manner of weirdness, Atomic Robo and the so-called Action Scientists of Tesladyne become the go-to defense force against the unexplained! See ROBO take on Nazis, giant ants, clockwork mummies, walking pyramids, Mars, cyborgs, and his nemesis, Baron von Helsingard, in his first trade paperback graphic novel."

One word  sums up this book: FUNTASTIC! Ok, that's not a real word...but it should be.

With the comics industry focusing their attention on an increasingly older readership, titles like Atomic Robo remembers a key ingredient to reading comics: fun! Atomic Robo is fifty percent Indiana Jones and fifty percent Hellboy, which translates to a healthy amount of Nazis getting beaten up. The first volume in the series is a rollicking adventure and where Hellboy is steeped in myth and magic, Atomic Robo gives us a world a rich world of comic book science: brains in jars controlling giant robots, gigantic radioactive ants, and so much more.

After borrowing the first volume from the library, this became my first electronic comic purchase via the Comixology app on my iPad. Check out the gruff but lovable Atomic Robo on whatever medium you like to read your funny books!

Suggested Reading: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vol. 1: Change is Constant
Written by Kevin B. Eastman and Tom Waltz
Art by Dan Duncan

Amazon.com Summary:

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return to comics in their first IDW adventure! It''s a different world for the Turtles. The group is broken as Raphael wanders the streets of NYC in search of food and shelter. His brothers and Master Splinter are on the search, but so far all they can find is trouble - in the form of mutant alley cat Old Hob and his gang of criminals! The very core of the Turtles family is at stake as the new origin of TMNT is revealed! Join Tom Waltz, Dan Duncan, and TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman for the start of a wild ride!

Originally created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are firmly rooted in the popular superhero comics of it's time, most notably Frank Miller's run on Daredevil and the incredible popularity of Marv Woflman's run on the New Teen Titans.

However, like many of my peers, the original black-and-white comics were not my first exposure to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but rather the cartoon of the late 80's. Shortly after my introduction to the cartoon, I became obsessed with the action figures, and sure enough, my love for the Turtles led me to the kid-friendly Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures published by Archie Comics. I vaguely remember picking up my first issue on a trip to KB Toys (rest in peace, mall-staple of my childhood), and predates my interest in superhero comics by a couple of years.Needless to say, this franchise holds a special place in my geeky heart.

While the Turtles never really went away, they certainly waned in popularity after the initial cartoon launch and the kids of that era grew into teenagers themselves. More recently however, the Turtles are popping up in the news again thanks to a new cartoon from Nickelodeon later in 2012, a new toy line from Playmates who made the original action figures , and even a movie from Michael Bay that's been raising all sorts of controversy. And now, in addition to all of that excitement, TMNT has  alsoreturned as a new ongoing comic series and even enlists one of the original creators, Kevin Eastman, which lends quite a boost in the legitimacy of this series as a torchbearer to a new era for the Turtles.

So how does the new series hold up? Quite nicely if you ask me. While the artwork can be a bit shaky at times, the story itself is a nice blend of what's come before in Turtle lore for a good dose of nostalgia, and doesn't come off at all as stale.

The first four issues of the series have been collected as Volume 1, "Change Is Constant", which I would readily recommend to any fan open to a modern interpretation

Rating: 3.5/5.0

If you'd like to read more on the origin of the Turtles, check out this great history lesson from Comics Alliance!

Suggested Reading: Morning Glories

Morning Glories, Vol. 1: For a Better Future
Written by Nick Spencer
Art by Joe Eisma

Amazon.com summary:

"Morning Glory Academy is one of the most prestigious prep schools in the country... but something sinister and deadly lurks behind its walls. When six gifted, but troubled, students arrive, they find themselves trapped and fighting for their lives as the secrets of the academy reveal themselves!"

Discovering Morning Glories was like finally being able to scratch that itch I've had since Lost finished and went off-air a few years ago. With strong characterization, the story that unravels before you fills your mind with a million questions, and like any good mystery, every time you are a given an answer...you are left with a dozen new questions. I love the twist endings that seem to be in almost every issue/chapter, which readily invoke my favorite "What the?!?" moments in Lost. Needless to say, I readily consumed the first two collected volumes. Best of all? I passed along, said volumes to my wife, a casual comic reader who has enjoyed Y: The Last Man and Fables, and she finished them faster than I did and asked for more.

While I agree with the many reviews that Joe Eisma's art can make it difficult to distinguish one character from another, a problem only exacerbated by the large cast all dressed in matching school uniforms, it's not distracting enough from the stellar characters and story that just pull you in with the gravitational force of a black hole. I know that the lasting power of Morning Glories will ultimately depend on how Nick Spencer and the team end the series, but I'm more than willing to stay on for the ride to find out!

Rating: 4.0/5.0