Showing posts with label Videos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Videos. Show all posts

02 February 2013

Video Thoughts: The Dark Knight Returns I & II

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/77/Dark_knight_returns.jpg/225px-Dark_knight_returns.jpgNot to be confused with Chris Nolan’s latest installment of Batman: The Dark Knight Rises this two part animated movie is tightly based on the four part limited series comic books by Frank Miller published in 1986. The comics where issued in what was called (not sure if they still are or not) “prestige format”. Thicker card paper, no ads between the pages and rich painted panels instead of printing ink. The exceptional artwork was done by Lynn Varley. You might remember Frank Miller from other projects of his such as Sin City and 300 (both made into movies). He also lead the post Crisis on Infinite Earths re-vamp of Batman with Batman: Year One and Batman: Year Two.

The story was a whole new concept for me. I’ve always preferred Batman to any of the other heroes in the comic book universes. But this series was something completely different for me. It takes place in a future where Bruce Wayne is nearing 60 and Batman has been retired for 10 years or more. Commissioner Gordon is retiring and medical science has progressed enough that doctors were able to fix Harvey Dent’s (a/k/a Two Face) face and finally let him out of Arkham Asylum. The Joker has been in a coma for more than a decade and all the heroes have quit doing their thing.

There is a history alluded to where some agreement was made between the world’s heroes and the governments. We aren’t really let in on that completely, but we know that Superman still is around and more or less working for the government.

The movies follow the book almost to the letter. One thing I miss is that in the books there is a narrative. A kind of Mike Hammer-ish first person telling of things. This really helps the reader to get into the head and http://www.geekzenith.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/dark_knight_returns.jpgthoughts of Batman. It is missing from the movie. I don’t know why they didn’t include it in the movie – it worked well in the Batman: Year One animated movie adaptation that was released a few years ago.

The artwork in the movies is spot on with the artwork in the books. They didn’t do any updating to the tech from the book either. There are a few scenes where you see people with giant boom boxes (you remember those, right?).

If you like Batman, or animated movies, or can just appreciate great art and great story telling, these videos should be on your “to watch” list.

And, let’s face it, anytime you get to see Batman kick the crap out of Superman, it is a good day!

09 October 2007

Is it real or memorex?

I was surfing this evening when I came across this video:



At first I was completely floored and super impressed with this kid. But then I started thinking, is this for real? And I started looking at the video again, but with more cynicism (I know, I know, those of you who know me can't believe I looked at it without cynicism the first time - hard to believe).

Personally? It think it is fake. You never really see the kid painting the actual picture. You see close ups of a hand painting, you see far away shots of the kid putting his fingers in the bowls, but you never actually have a shot where you see the kid applying paint to the actual painting. There are two shots where it looks kind of convincing. One is where the kid is getting paint on his fingers, and then putting them on some paper, but all you can see of the paper is the corner. No one can see what is on the rest of it. The other shot is at the end where it looks like he is putting the finishing touches on the painting, but then he picks the painting up and it is dry.

At the end, watch the end, when he picks up the painting, notice anything missing? Yeah, me too, his shirt is way too clean, and not one drop of paint can be seen on the table. RRRRIIIIIGGGHHHHTTT

31 July 2007

Monsters and 3 year olds

Sometimes, you just shouldn't ask a 3 year old what to do about a monster, if you don't think you can handle the answer...observe: