Man of Steel 2: Batman vs Justin Timberlake's Riddler?

     After my post this morning about the future of the Batman film series, I came across an interesting article over at SciFi Now.  Justin Timberlake said in an interview with Fresh 102.7's Jim & Kim show, when asked about playing Robin with Ben Affleck's Batman-

“Not a chance in hell. I ain’t playing Robin. I have no aspiration to ever be a superhero in a movie.

“Now, a villain! I’ll tell you the villain I want to play more than anything because I grew up loving Batman, funnily enough, is The Riddler. The Riddler is my favorite villain."

He's got the style for it.

(I made these simple mock-ups to show the sleek and sophisticated look)  

 

     Which is great because the Riddler if handled properly could easily be a Lex Luthor level villain.  While I named a bunch of slightly older gentlemen to play Edward "Riddler" Nigma, I would actually consider Timberlake in the role a decent choice.  He even had this to say about the Riddler as a character-

“The Riddler was like a sociopath. He was proper crazy. So if I’m gonna play crazy, I’m wanna play proper crazy.” 

 

     Well, hopefully he doesn't mean either Frank Gorshin or Jim Carrey's Riddler crazy, but more along the lines of a Heath Ledger Joker or Matthew Goode's Ozymandias (from Watchmen).  Deadly intelligence and the desire to prove it through life or death games.


Source [ SciFi Now ]

The Future of Batman: Nolan's Dark Knight and Why Ben Affleck Could be Good

About Affleck:

     With the casting of Ben Affleck as the next Batman, I expected a ton of backlash, but Twitter is positively inundated with absurd amounts of it.  No seriously, you want to waste a day of Bat-Affleck jokes?  There's more than enough there.

     In all seriousness, this could be a decent move by the studios.  Affleck has been good in things like Argo, The Town, and Good Will Hunting.  Everyone seems to be focused on the crappy Daredevil movie as a reference, but none of the recent good films.

     But  we have to remember all the hate when Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker.  Good lord, there were so many Brokeback (BrokeBat) Mountain jokes.  And yes, I admit I too was against Ledger in the beginning, so now I'm much more open about the casting.  How about when Michael "Mr. Mom" Keaton was cast in Tim Burton's Batman?  It felt absolutely ludicrous to cast him, but it not only worked, but it worked well.  The criticism will be harsh for some time, but give it time.

He's already sort of played Superman as well.

     Affleck has been a phenomenal director and that may be to the Batman Vs. Superman film's advantage.  In fact, my apologies to Zach Snyder, but I believe Affleck is a far superior director, but it may be a great thing- to add temperance to the Snyder stylization, which he might need.  A directorial grounding of sorts, to keep the film leveled.


The Future of Batman:

     (From a draft from Aug. 14th, 2012)  My thoughts on the future of the Dark Knight series is quite simple.  Christopher Nolan has already laid the groundwork for it throughout his trilogy, and it culminated with a worthy successor to the cowl.  Mind you John "Robin" Blake would be better suited to being a Batman Beyond type character.  They'd have to focus on the detective part of being the Batman.  That is one thing I believe Nolan's trilogy truly lacked.  True crime solving.
     This would open the door for Bale to return as a mentor to the newcomer.  Teach him and train him.  When Blake gets in a bind it would also be a relief- if someone found Blake out as being the Bat, Bale's Bruce Wayne could take up the mantle to take the heat off.  He could then be in 2 places at once.
     Blake would also have the opportunity to have a bunch of the kids from the orphanage be his eyes and ears on the street.

     As for the villain?  Set up a new trilogy in the Nolan-verse with the Riddler as the main antagonist.  This wouldn't be the silly, wacky-zany goon of old.  Mr. Edward Nigma would be an intelligent games master, not some fool obsessed with proving his intellectual superiority.
     For the Riddler, he'd would have to be handled like he is in the Arkham video games- he'd leave riddles and traps strewn about Gotham City, but never, I repeat NEVER, be there himself.  He'd be too smart for that.  We need someone that is not only capable of beating Batman, but capable of getting away with it in plain site.  So while The Riddler wouldn't be out and about, while Nigma could be seeded throughout the series, hiding in plain sight.  And the kicker- he'd outwit the Bat.  He would win.  In at least the first two films- possibly even in the third.

     During the Riddler's scheming, he'd send in others to do the dirty work.  Maybe hiring small crime bosses like the Penguin and Black Mask to create warring factions around Batman to keep him busy and distracted while keeping his grand plans going.  A man of Nigma's caliber would be controlling the chess board for the whole game.  Competent and effective.  Make him a bit older, show that he's been doing this for years.  He's looking for a challenge- and Batman is it.  The so-called "Dark Knight Detective."

     Casting the Riddler:  My first choice would be Andrew Scott (Moriarty from BBC's Sherlock).  I even made a post about it!  Although, there are plenty of others that would be well cast- like my 2nd choice Jason Isaacs, even the always wonderful Jon Hamm could be an amazing Nigma.  Sam Rockwell, Adrian Brody, Paul Bettany, or Bill Nighy.  There's a plethora of able actors, but an older English gentleman would be preferable.  Although I would stray from using anybody like Johnny Depp, Neil Patrick Harris, or Ed Norton.
     Hell, make Edward into Edwina and cast a lady.  Or cast a non white actor in the role like Don Cheadle or Idris Elba.

Reggie Fils-Amie Says "Meh" and Nintendo Repeating the Past.

     This post has been in a draft form for a while.  Quite a while, as in 3 years or so, and this new Reggie Fils-Amie (The President of Nintendo of America (NOA)) quote has sparked this draft's revision and completion: 

"It’s all about the games.  The competitive systems have announced their launch lineups. I’m allowed to say ‘Meh,’" Fils-Aime said.  "I look at our lineup of titles and I feel good about our lineup.  We’ve got Zelda.  We’ve got Mario.  We’ve got Donkey Kong.  In addition to great titles like Pikmin 3 and Wonderful 101, I feel very good about our lineup, and I feel very good about the value proposition we’re putting out there for the consumer."

     Nintendo has become redundant.  After 1,000 Pokemons, a plethora Mario games, and Zelda games that really haven't been anything new or inspired in years Nintendo is losing (lost already?) their hold has a gaming superpower.  Which is funny because the Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong creator Shigeru Miyamoto himself had this to say:

"From my perspective, with regard to the more powerful hardware systems, to me what still remains incredibly important is the developers maintaining a focus on creating unique games because if all that everyone does is uses the enhanced power to create more and more games that look and feel the same, then all that it becomes is a competition about the power of the hardware rather than the uniqueness of the experience. That, to me, is where developers should be devoting their effort."

     It's a good thing Nintendo is following that advice.  I hope anyone reading this gathered the huge amount of sarcasm I loaded that last sentence with.  We need new versions of things (or just plain new things).  I love the old games, but really, where's a new Earthbound?  A completely new take on Pokemon?  I have been complaining for years about needing a Zelda that actually features ZELDA in the lead role.  Shiek (Zelda in a suit, not her magic-ed into a boy) as the lead protagonist.  Even if it was in Windwaker style.  I, along with a bazillion other fans, would love that.  Make her not save Link, but have her own adventure.  Hell, even her as the pirate Tetra would be great.

Way to move backwards again Reggie.

     What Nintendo is doing is recycling what worked 25 years ago.  They're marketing to children, as seen with the new "2DS" system which has been said to be for 5-6 year olds.  Another step backwards in my mind.  Nintendo needs to take off the kiddie gloves and take chances.  Where's the risky games like Naughty Dog's The Last of Us for PS3?  Where's all the mature games for people that were fans of the original NES games, and now have their own children, but are STILL gamers looking for a true GAMING EXPERIENCE as the 2 above quotes say?

     I mean, we've grown as gamers and fans, so why hasn't Nintendo grown as a game-maker?  

     Sure, there's always a place in my heart for A Link to the Past and the Metroid series, but my wallet stopped funding it long ago.  Nostalgia can only do so much.  They need to stop looking back at the safe sales- stop regurgitating the same old crap.  I've quit buying Nintendo stuff because they have nothing of note now, nothing worthwhile.  Until they do something like the big two, X Box and Playstation, Nintendo has lost me as a supporter.

     ...but...  if they manage to create something new, something different and unique from all the repetitive garbage they're tossing out yearly, I'll gladly return to them.  If, as Fils-Amie says, “...for us it’s about games, about the fun, about the entertainment value, and not about the tech,” then they need to give us fans what we want- grown up games for the modern gamers, not a spiffed up version of something we've played a million times before.  

     Nintendo- you've got to stop hording your beloved properties like the toys of the five-year-olds you market to, and take chances with the series'.  Think outside the box, make something interesting, and take chances with third party developers.  I want to be excited about these franchises again.  Have Mario actually do his job and plumb a shit-clogged toilet- hey, at least it's something different!  Rock the damn boat on the way to Yoshi's Island- you never know, something wonderful could happen.

     Nintendo, something needs to change, and I think many gamers know what.

Thor: The Dark World New Poster: Loki = Vigo From Ghostbusters

     I thought I saw that new Thor: The Dark World Loki poster somewhere else before!  I had to do this, because it's all I could think of most of today.  Loki as the Vigo painting from Ghostbusters 2.

     Who wouldn't be enthralled by Tom Hiddleston's Loki?

Logo Design: Bethany Sparrows

     A while back a friend of mine asked me to create a logo for a school team of soccer players he coaches.  This instance is for the ladies soccer team at Bethany College- they wanted to be called the Sparrows.  Well, I immediately asked if it was in reference to a well known Biblical quote, and while it was not at first, they took it to heart- and now that's what it means.

     After the first bunch of sketches, he was adamant that they wanted the first one specifically.

     So I worked on that a while and after numerous system crashes and various life problems bogging me down I ended up with this pile of crap. (An early Adobe Illustrator version)

 

     Well, I kept getting frustrated and stuck and completely unhappy with all my iterations so I called in the Ole BFF Nick Straight to help clean it up and this is what we finished with.  Ok- he cleaned up my crap and this is the end result.

     Much better than anything I could've done alone.  Yay teamwork!

She Dreams of Olbermann

     I sent a friend a Twitter link this morning about the amazing Keith Olbermann's return tonight to ESPN 2's SportsCenter and here is her reply.

     My dream is for Keith Olbermann to sing "Soft kitty, warm kitty" from Big Bang Theory.  As he has meltdowns on all of his shows eventually, this could happen.  I'm excited he's back, for however short of a time before his ego destroys him.

     Imagine Keith dead panning:

Soft kitty, I hate the republicans,
Warm kitty, the pitcher is fucking terrible (reference to obscure player from 1957),
Little ball of fur (war is bad),
Happy kitty - I, Keith, am happy occasionally,
Sleepy kitty, why he made that play call is unreasonable.
Purr (pounds on desk), Purr (screams at the camera and points), Purr!  

     Crumples paper, throws it on the floor.  

     (Note- I asked if I could post about the response on this blog because it's so great.  She is to remain nameless- "I'm fine with that if it is anonymous, unless Keith randomly sees and enjoys it.  Then I want him to bang on the desk and scream, "Purr purr purr!")

     In all honesty, this is now something I want to see as well.  If any readers happen across this blog post and knows a way to make it happen, well, let me know.

'Olbermann' premiering tonight (8/26) on ESPN2

Ben Affleck as the New Batman (Man of Steel 2)

     According to Entertainment Weekly Ben Affleck is confirmed to be playing Bruce Wayne/Batman for the next Man of Steel film.  Director Zack Snyder as well as actors(actresses) Henry Cavill, Laurence Fishburne, Amy Adams, and Diane Lane are all returning.

     My fears are not as terrible as I would've initially thought.  Sure I'm skeptical, but I'll give it a chance.  Affleck has been a much better actor in recent years, and does have the ability to pull it off.  Currently my only reservation is how they'll merge the Christopher Nolan Dark Knight universe in, but according to the press release: This will be “an entirely new incarnation of the character.”

“Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry’s Superman. He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne. I can’t wait to work with him.”- Zack Snyder

     This might actually work out well.  Affleck has been a bit more dark and gruff in movies lately.

     The currently untitled film is set to be released on July 17, 2015.  It seems odd that it already has a release date and the script isn't even finished.

     No word yet on Matt Damon becoming the Boy Wonder, Robin.  I'm sure that news'll be coming soon.

Source [ EW ]

Image Stolen and cropped down from US Magazine.

Imagine a John Lennon Clone... From a Tooth.

     I read about this on not just one other website, but a few.  Apparently Canadian Dentist-slash-Beatles-fan Michael Zuk spent something like $30,000 to buy one of Lennon's molars that had been removed- and now is working with US researchers at an unnamed laboratory at Penn State to see if they can clone him, or at least what can be done with the DNA.


I couldn't help but make this image- the lyrics are just too fitting.

"I am nervous and excited at the possibility that we will be able to fully sequence John Lennon's DNA, very soon I hope," Zuk said. "With researchers working on ways to clone mammoths, the same technology certainly could make human cloning a reality..."

     Assuming they can extract the necessary sequences, would this even matter?  It wouldn't quite be "bringing back one of Rock's greatest stars" as Zuk thinks.  A clone doesn't get all the influences that the original had, all the distinct circumstances that shaped him.  The potential clone's experiences and life building won't be the same.  Times change and with the ridiculous modern era of music we could end up with a monster like Justin Bieber.
     A Lennon clone could have all the inherent talent (latent familial traits, etc) but no focus or drive to create.  Seriously, wasn't part of Lennon's inspiration to break out of the "normal system?"
     And as Lennon was part of the Beatles, the clone won't get the tremendous influence of George Harrison and Paul McCartney (and I suppose Ringo Starr as well).  There would be all the potential, but none of the rest. 

     I mean, what if he wanted to be a painter instead?  This potential clone would be their own individual, and would make their own choices, with their own rights.  Sure, the body will be the same, but the mind and whatever else makes us, well... us, is individualized.

     Here's Mr. Zuk's site for the curious: http://www.johnlennontooth.com/

Source [ PR Web ]

The Last Guardian News: Fumito Ueda Comments: Still in Progress

     Over a decade after Ico and almost as long after Shadow of the Colossus, we fans are still wondering about any news of the much anticipated, yet nearly cancelled (rumored) title- The Last Guardian.  We want to be fully immersed in this beautiful and tragic world again.  So what's going on?

     On the good side, we know it's currently being worked on, in quite possibly the slowest development ever:

"It's under earnest development," Ueda said. "However, SCE Japan Studio, who's working on The Last Guardian, also has titles like Puppeteer and Knack, and those are only the ones currently announced. Those are taking priority right now."

     Which, considering what Team Ico at SCE's Japan Studio is capable of is a good sign, but on the down side no one wants this to turn out like Aliens: Colonial marines or Duke Nukem Forever which suffered greatly from production hell.  It's just super disheartening to know it's been so long that it may not be able to live up to it's own hype.
     And if I recall correctly, Scott Rohde (Sony Senior VP of Product Dev.) said that the game will ship "when it is absolutely ready" with no deadlines listed way back at 2012's E3.  So while it's continuing on the path to release, it has no end in sight.  Or at least a stated release date.

     The only things that would keep me going here is giving the graphics a massive overhaul, this has to look far better than the videos we saw years ago.  Put it on PS4, make this as beautiful and amazing as the new console will allow.  Push the envelope and make the game like 100 hours long.  It doesn't have to be fully open world, but at least vastly explorable.  Wonder, mystery, intrigue.  These are the experiences we want to feel in the game.

     In a Polygon article, Ueda mentions The Last of Us as a great way of working with companion characters like Ellie and:

"We don't want to lose out to them, and we're working on The Last Guardian so it works in similar ways." 

     So- we know it is still on the way, we know Ueda is still involved, we know Sony has control of it, and now we know that they are reworking the boy and beast's companion system.  The team needs to make this a grand slam, not just a home run.  Make this happen.  And maybe make it happen on the PS Vita while they're at it.

Source [ Polygon ]

Duke Nukem Forever... Forever Immature

     This shouldn't really surprise anyone, that after playing through Gearbox's tremendously delayed (12 years or so) Duke Nukem Forever, that The Duke is just as crass, self obsessed, and over the top as I recalled from long ago as a teen in the mid 1990's.  Honestly, there's an endless stream of film referencing one-liners, mostly naked ladies, and impossible weapons (the shrink ray is exceptionally fun- allowing you to shrink enemies down and boot stomp them).  This is a game my 13 year old self would've loved.

     Duke's machismo is more than enough to assert his testosterone laden muscles over the alien invaders, so much so that he doesn't even have a health bar- it's an EGO bar!  He has plenty of methods of slaying the invading aliens through the campaign- FPS, turrets, driving in a remote control car and an over sized monster truck, and even smaller games to distract you from the main game like slot machines, air hockey, and a whack-a-mole knock off.  I would like to note that the controls are absolutely horrendous on the mini games and somehow, even worse, in the swimming sections.  They get to be very frustrating and detract from what the game was actually somewhat good at- the stupid humor and just plain shooting things into a bloody pulp.  Just fixing the controls would've boosted this game's playability a considerable amount.

     Really, the only parts that are worth it are the FPS and the ludicrous humor.  As immature as it is, I admit I laughed out loud more than I should have.  I mean there's an Achievement/Trophy called Turd Burglar, for picking up a turd from a toilet.  And, yes, I did laugh out loud about it.  Finding all the Easter Eggs that are classic Gearbox nods to other games and movies were actually one of the highlights for me- the Portal companion barrel and the shrink ray's gun design is awfully reminiscent of the one used by Chell.  These are wonderful additions, but they cannot support the whole game.  Yes, there was a bunch of fun in this beer guzzling, steroid using, stripper ogling man, but when it comes down to it the crappy game mechanics and poor story don't keep it going to the end of the game.  Just a small amount of more depth could've gone a long way.

     In fact, after playing this, I wonder how much of Alien: Colonial Marines was stripped straight from this game.  I can see the blatant theft from their own games- weapons, melee attack, and all the alien eggs and bursters.  Really, Duke Nukem Forever could've been a wonderful way to update and satirize FPS games, but it ended up being a joke in itself.  Perhaps they'll make use of the IP and create something more worthwhile.  Probably not though...

     ...because...

     ...luckily for us all, Gearbox put all their time into the Borderlands series, and rightly so.  Despite the flaws, the Borderlands games are far superior.  (Why didn't they just re-skin the Borderlands stuff into Aliens: Colonial Marines?  It would've probably been much, MUCH better if they had.)