popBS

While we’re on the subject of comic book themed movies…

04 December 2008 By popBS 0 In Pop Culture, comic books, movies

Newsarama has put out their list of the ten best comic book themed movies. You can read it here. I have quite a few problems with it.

At the top of the list should unquestionably be “Dark Knight.” The writing, performances, it just had everything. It made “Batman Begins,” which should also be on the list, look plodding.

Number two should be “Sin City,” which didn’t even make their list. An amazing, almost frame by frame adaptation, which should be a goal for any comic book movie. Remember my principle: people want the original story.

I agree with their assessments of “Iron Man,” “Spider Man 2,” “X2,” and the Tim Burton “Batman,” and I would keep “Superman” on the list, even though I hate all the Superman movies, because of the historical significance.

On my list, I would add “Hellboy” and “Ghost World” for sure and possibly “American Splendor,” if it would count. “Road to Perdition” might even make my list.

The sad thing is that it should be a harder list to make. Flops like “Fantastic Four,” “The Shadow,” “The Phantom,” “The Punisher,” both “Hulk” movies and the other X-Men movies should be no brainers. A movie on “The Shadow” alone has limitless potential. Hollywood always blows it, taking the cash they do make, while leaving lots on the table.

X marks the spot?

02 December 2008 By popBS 0 In Pop Culture, comic books, movies

So, the first batch of pics from the upcoming “Wolverine” movie have just hit the net. My first response was “There’s a Wolverine movie?” Well, that wasn’t quite my reaction, but close.

My actual reaction is “I don’t care,” which, I think is the case with most people.

Think about it like this. There is still tremendous buzz for upcoming comic book films like “Batman 3,” “Iron Man 2,” “The Avengers,” “Captain America,” “Shazam,” and “Justice League of America;” none of which are actually in production, but, in some instances are years down the pike. But there has been very, very little talk about the current crop of “X” movies, which actually are in production, including “Wolverine” and “Magneto.”

I feel there are two reasons for this.

1) Marvel so completely botched the X-Men series. The first one was kind of crappy, the second one was better (at the time it even seemed good) and the third stunk. They buried the franchise in the last one. However, I’d say it was mishandled from the beginning. When it comes to comic book movies, the studios refuse to stick to the original story, which is where they always go wrong. When they go right is when they get as close as possible (”Spider-Man,” “Batman Begins/ Dark Knight,” “Iron Man,” and “Sin City.)

From the beginning, they went with a completely different X story. One of the most beloved and biggest selling storylines of all time is the Phoenix saga. They didnt really even get close to it and look how things turned out.

2) “Wolverine” and “Magneto” both deal with the characters’ origins, which both take place in WW II. Movie studios, listen to this:

PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THEIR FAVORITE HEROES IN ACTION, NOT EXPOSITION.

People like to see Wolverine fight, they don’t care why he has become what he has become. They want action and they want it as close to what they know as possible.

Granted, X-history is convoluted and involved, but when you distill it down to its simplest form, it works.

Maybe Marvel will remember this when they reboot the dead franchise in ten years.

I get mail…

20 November 2008 By popBS 0 In Pop Culture

Another peek into my inbox of junk mail. You know, I’ve had the same theory for many years. I’m waiting for “Ringo Starr: Secret Agent.”

NEW BOOK, THE LENNON PROPHECY, ASKS THE QUESTION -

DID JOHN LENNON SELL HIS SOUL TO THE DEVIL?

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 18,2008 - Did John Lennon sell his soul to the devil in

exchange for his worldly musical success with The Beatles and beyond? That’s the

theory set forth by Joseph Niezgoda in his soon-to-be released book The Lennon

Prophecy, A New Examination of the Death Clues of the Beatles.

The Lennon Prophecy ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.TheLennonProphecy.com)

offers a new interpretation of the hidden messages and symbols that have ornamented

Beatles mythology for years and offers the view that Lennon joined historical figures

such as Mississippi “Crossroads” blues guitarist Robert Johnson, Dr. Johann Faust, Pope

Sylvester II among others who entered into a pact with the devil to exchange their souls

for earthly successes. Niezgoda dissects and examines the Beatles’ and Lennon’s

recordings and album artwork and follows a fascinating and unique trail of sorcery,

mysticism, numerology, backward masking, anagrams and literary and theological

writings to explain his conclusions.

The Lennon Prophecy puts forth the theory that a 20-year-old Lennon, so disillusioned

with a life of sadness and disappointment where he was abandoned by his father and

stricken with the death of his mother, entered into a deal with the devil to achieve fame

and fortune. Niezgoda alleges that a 20-year pact began in December of 1960, shortly

before a night when Beatlemania first struck audiences on December 27, 1960, when the

Fab Four played at Town Hall Ballroom in Litherland, England. During that

performance, as Niezgoda writes, “The Beatles evoked a response noticeably different

from anything in their past.” From there, The Beatles inexplicably and immediately shot

to global fame at a level never seen before or since. The 20-year pact came to its tragic

conclusion on December 8, 1980, when Mark David Chapman, who testified he was

possessed by demons, fulfilled the end of the contract by murdering Lennon outside of

his apartment at The Dakota in New York City.

Clues foretelling the death of Lennon are revealed in album covers such as Rubber Soul,

Yesterday and Today, A Collection of Beatles Oldies, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club

Band, Yellow Submarine, Magical Mystery Tour, Abbey Road as well as Lennon solo

albums Imagine and Walls and Bridges. Songs that also reveal the mysterious prediction

of death and connections to the devil include “Tomorrow Never Knows,” “I Am The

Walrus,” “Come Together,” “One After 909,” “Let It Be,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts

Club Band” and “Revolution No. 9,” which Niezgoda reveals is in itself a step-by-step

preview of the actual assassination. The video for the biggest hit off Lennon’s last album

“(Just Like) Starting Over” also reveals an intriguing clue that brings the literary world of

James Joyce into the myriad clues.

Lennon’s alleged anti-Christian behavior as well as his infamous declaration that the

Beatles were “Bigger than Jesus” are also presented as evidence of a possible pact.

Niezgoda also dispels the “Paul-is-Dead” mythology that theorized that the Beatles

inserted clues in their songs how Paul McCartney was killed in a car crash.

A lifelong Beatles fan, collector and scholar, Niezgoda has researched John Lennon and

the band for more than 25 years. He works in analog and digital music recording with an

extensive background in music theory. The Lennon Prophecy will be available for

purchase in December.

Hitting The Racks…

19 November 2008 By popBS 0 In Pop Culture

Here’s your weekly rundown of the new release goodness, courtesy of Grimey’s in Nashville

Tommy & The Whale - Shot For The Moon Esperanza Plantation)
Warren Pash - Plastic Rulers (Doubletrack Records)
Blue Eyed Blacks - Black Eyed Soul (Chicken Ranch)
Belle And Sebastian - The BBC Sessions (Matador)
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Sunday At Devil Dirt (Fontana International)
Femi Kuti - Day By Day (Downtown)
Kieran Hebden And Steve Reid (Four Tet) - NYC (Domino)
Dido - Safe Trip Home (Arista)
Sammy Hagar - Cosmic Universal Fashion (Loud & Proud/Roadrunner)
David Garza - Dream Delay (Cosmica)
Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke (Modular Intersection)
Momus - Joemus (American Patchwork)
Drumbo - City Of Refuge (Proper)
Senor Coconut - Around The World (Nacional)
Nimrod Workman - I Want To Go Where Things Are Beautiful (Drag City)
Activities Of Dust - A New Mind (Ad Luna)
Max Tundra - Parallax Error Beheads You (Domino)
Alaska In Winter - Holiday (Milan)
Morley - Seen (Wrasse)
Beyonce - I Am/Sasha Fierce (Beyonce)
Nickelback - Dark Horse (Roadrunner)

And I’ll be satisfied not to read in between the lines…

18 November 2008 By popBS 0 In Pop Culture

Billboard has a great review of the recent Van Morrison complete performance of “Astral Weeks” here.

I think it’s supposed to be released on DVD, which would be awesome.

I hear the nights are long the days are lonely…

17 November 2008 By popBS 0 In Pop Culture

If you missed the crappy 90 second edit of the new Bruce Springsteen song on Sunday night football last night, here it is:

Here’s a full acoustic version, played on the campaign trail while the Boss was stumping for Obama:

As expected, the new Springsteen album was officially announced today with a January 27 release date. Taking the title from the aforementioned song, It features 12 songs recorded with the E Street Band and two bonus cuts.

Read more about the release at Backstreets here and on Pitchfork here.

Two riders were approaching and the wind began to howl…

12 November 2008 By popBS 0 In Pop Culture

Entertainment Weekly has a nice spread on “Watchmen” in this month’s issue. You can read it here.

Make sure to click all the links, it’s a lot of good stuff.

She’s got eyes of the bluest skies, as if they thought of rain…

11 November 2008 By popBS 0 In Pop Culture

Rolling Stone has posted its review of Guns ‘n Roses’ long awaited album, “Chinese Democracy” here. I’m sure you’ll be able to read it in print in their next issue, if they have space for it between their many ads.

I’m not actually looking forward to the album, however, I think the whole story is pretty interesting. It could be symbolic of the downfall of the old ways of the music industry. If it’s successful, it could strengthen the case of alternative marketing strategies, like they’re using by exclusively selling the album at Best Buy. Or it could just be the story of a crazy millionaire with ugly hair plugs.

The dogs on main street howl ’cause they understand, if I could take one moment into my hands…

11 November 2008 By popBS 0 In Pop Culture

According to Backstreets.com, a new Bruce Springsteen song is set to debut on this week’s “Sunday Night Football.” “Workin’ on a Dream” was debuted a couple of weeks ago at an Obama campaign rally and is expected to be on Springsteen’s new album, rumored to be released in January. The tie-in here will be the Boss’ performance at the Super Bowl halftime show.

Whoo hoo!

Oh Spiro Agnew eat your heart out…

10 November 2008 By popBS 0 In Pop Culture, comic books, movies

The build to “The Avengers” movie continues. “The First Avenger: Captain America” has a director. Read about him here.

Being mostly a visual effects guy, Johnson does have some kind of pedigree, however, his directing experience kind of makes him an unknown. The released films to his credit, “The Rocketeer,” “Jumanji,” “October Sky,” and “Hidalgo,” really don’t give much hope. If they’re setting it in World War II for Cap to be thawed out in the Avengers movie, it could be a really cool flick.

One thing’s for sure, Marvel is doing an amazing job of cross promoting these films to build to something significant. If only DC could get themselves in gear and do something worthwhile with their incredible stable of characters not named “Bat.”