Category: Movies

The Renaissance of the Last Son of Krypton

On By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Comics, Movies, Television

Today’s blog post is a bit unusual, so I hope you’ll bear with me. Longtime followers of my wayward account know that I have enjoyed reading comics for most of my life. As a result, I’ve encountered a variety of characters over the years. Some characters hold significant importance to me, while others are favourites for different reasons, and I have a few that I just have a soft spot for.

I’ve previously stumbled my way through posts about Invincible, Saga, The Sandman, Hellboy, and One-Punch Man, but today, as you can tell from the title, I’m going to be talking about Superman, or at least, how I describe it, his recent renaissance.

Superman was co-created by writer Jerry Siegel, and artist Joe Shuster, having made his first appearance in Action Comics #1, in 1938. Over the last 87 years, Superman has become very much beloved the world over and has transitioned to every medium imaginable, as well as conquering the retail market, covering his name and face over all manner of items.

The thing is, I’m not here to detail what Superman means to me, because that can be another blog for another time. No, today I’m talking about his recent resurgence in the media and how the public understands and relates to him.

Before we continue, let’s be clear: Superman is a fictional character and not a real person. However, due to the various strategies that creators and actors have used to portray him, many people feel a personal connection to him. They understand and know him as if he were a friend, even though we don’t get to spend much time with him.

I also need to point out some strong talking points about him, that I feel many people have forgotten, or quite simply, just don’t realise. The character has three names; Superman, Kal-El, and Clark Kent, and although they are all the same person, they are different, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

To start with, he was born as Kal-El, a refugee from the now destroyed planet called Krypton. His backstory has been changed and altered over the last eight decades, but what has not changed was that he was an alien baby that landed on Earth. Kal-El is his Kryptonian name, his birth name.

When a storyline requires a cosmic perspective or involves Kal interacting with other Kryptonians, such as Zod, Kara Zor-El (Supergirl), or his parents, the name Kal-El is frequently used. Other characters in his inner circle can also refer to him by this name, as it is a trusted secret name that he shares with them.

So, going back to his arrival on Earth, he is discovered and adopted by an American couple, Martha and Jonathan Kent, who give him the name, Clark Kent. This is his human or Earth name, the name people call him as he interacts with the world, like with his family and friends, whether they are superheroes or not.

The final name is Superman. This is the name the public at large, as in the world calls him; coined famously by Lois Lane. This is his superhero name.

The small, but technical point is this; he responds to all three names, but there is a difference between Clark and Superman.

Clark is the person, no matter what clothes he is wearing, but Superman is something that Clark can do and be. Superman is the mask that Clark wears to the world, not the other way around. His loved ones (family and friends) call him Clark, whether he’s in costume or not. Clark is the person, while Superman is the disguise.

Sweet? Excellent, let’s move on. Going back to the recent Superman renaissance, we are very lucky to be living in this amazing period of Superman content. If there is some other project that I’ve missed, I’m sorry; especially to the ongoing comics featuring or starring Superman being published. I’ll try to keep this short because my introduction was far too long.

Image by Solihin Kentjana from Pixabay

Superman & Lois (2021-2024)

I think this live-action TV show was at first set in the Arrowverse world, then shifted to its own separate continuity. I was nervous about the show, from the point that I thought I needed to have watched all of the Arrowverse shows, especially Supergirl and The Flash, to understand the characters and past events, because I hadn’t been keeping up with them.

The irony was that there was no reason to feel nervous about understanding the show because the first episode explained it all, and from that point, I was on board. I feel that Clark and Lois are stronger characters, both physically and emotionally when they are together. I liked this iteration because it hammered home this point. This was because they took the time to explain that Clark loved Lois, but Lois fell in love with Clark and not Superman.

I would also like to establish that Tyler Hoechlin’s portrayal of Clark and Superman was awesome. Added into the mix having Clark and Lois as parents, brought a new side to their relationship, that you don’t see in live-action.

I loved this show for a lot of different reasons including the special effects, the twins, Smallville, the Department of Defence, Clark and Lois being parents, the supporting cast, but mainly, driving the distinction between Clark and Superman, with Clark walking around his house wearing his glasses; even though he doesn’t need to.

Also having Superman racing off to save people not just in the United States, but in other countries as well, was important, at least to me, because I’ve always thought of Superman as a superhero for the world, not just protecting and serving one country.

It was a great show and that final episode made me cry since it reinforced how important Superman is to the public’s psyche, along with installing hope to a negative and cynical world.

My Adventures with Superman (2023-Current)

I’ve only seen the first season of this animated TV show, and I liked it, which surprised me. Set in it’s own continuity, this series sees Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen working at the Daily Planet as interns, with Lois Lane being the senior reporter.

It features the three characters becoming friends and dealing with villains from the Superman mythos. Additionally, Clark discovers more about himself and his abilities.

This series starts with Clark and Lois meeting for the first time and slowly developing feelings for each other. The animation is inspired by anime, which bleeds through and, at least to me, offers a new perspective on the classic story.

I also have to acknowledge that making Lois Lane half-Korean, has brought positive and negative attention to the show, and how its been handled.

I think this series is interesting, quirky, and charming, and I like it so much, I’m going to let UMC1 watch it. I’d have to think about UMC2 watching it though, but I think it’s off to a strong start as a modern retelling of Superman. The potential for My Adventures with Superman is huge.

Absolute Superman (2024-Current)

Multiverse stories have existed in comics for decades, because it gives creators freedom to have characters living different, but crazy lives, by not being part of the main continuity.

In the early 2000s, Marvel launched the Ultimate line of comics, which reimagined Spider-Man, the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and other characters in a different universe set in contemporary times. This new setting represented their version of the age of superheroes. The Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) are based on the Ultimates, which is the version of the Avengers from that alternate world.

DC Comics has done a similar idea by creating the Absolute line of comics. On this world, the superheroes are not as respected, or privileged as their counter-selves, since they are missing vital elements and advantages that go with their story.

The line started with Absolute Batman and Absolute Wonder Woman, with Absolute Flash, Absolute Green Lantern and Absolute Martian Manhunter making their first appearances soon. With this new publishing initiative, Superman is involved in the form of Absolute Superman.

Absolute Superman #1 was released in November 2024, by writer Jason Aaron, and artist, Rafa Sandoval, and features some radical differences between Absolute Superman and the main continuity Superman.

Firstly, Absolute Kal-El did not arrive on Earth as a baby, but as a teenager, so the majority of his life was on Krypton. His mother, Lara-El, is some type of mechanical engineer, while his father, Jor-El, is a mining engineer.

Krypton is ruled by a caste system, with the El’s being part of the Labour Guild, which Kal-El refers to as the People of Steel. Members of the Labour Guild also wear the “S” shield on their chests, to identify themselves as part of the Labour Guild, like caste groups too.

The Absolute Kal-El does not appear to be as strong as the main continuity Superman, because he needs to recharge his cells (which act like solar batteries) at night, in addition to wearing an AI suit called Sol, which guides and protects Kal-El. Sol can create a cape made of a Kryptonian rock named sunstone, which can materialise and dematerialise.

Because Absolute Kal-El’s heritage is connected with labourers and workers, he identifies with the workers from Earth, who are being used and exploited by large greedy corporations, who he is railing against, as well as saving people.

We have also been exposed to the backstory of what happened with the tragedy of Krypton, via environmental disasters. The creators seem to be tapping into the current trend of supporting the working classes, while fighting against the ruling and elite classes, but also discussing climate change.

People have come out to decry the title for numerous reasons, including presenting Superman as a supporter of woke ideology. However, other people are equally loving it. Whether the series is a success remains to be seen, though sales have been quite strong, because Superman remains a hero of the people.

I’ve read Absolute Superman #1-3, and from what I’ve seen, I want to continue this journey, because I find it fascinating. To me, the creators have hit their respected Absolute titles out of the park, especially Absolute Superman. The greatest compliment I can give them is that I want to read the next issue, I love it.

Main covers for Absolute Superman #1-6. Credit: DC Comics

Superman (2025)

11th July 2025 is the release date for Superman, though I don’t know if that’s worldwide, or just for the United States. For New Zealand, I have no idea.

Written and directed by James Gunn, Superman is the first film in the new DCU (DC Universe), and armed with a budget of at least US$200 million, there is a lot of pressure for the film to resonate with audiences.

Some of the film’s cast includes David Corenswet (Clark Kent / Superman), Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor), Edi Gathegi (Michael Holt / Mister Terrific), Anthony Carrigan (Rex Mason / Metamorpho), Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner / Green Lantern), Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), Skyler Gisondo (Jimmy Olsen), Sara Sampaio (Eve Teschmacher), María Gabriela de Faría (Angela Spica / The Engineer), and Wendell Pierce as Perry White.

When the teaser trailer was released, social media was flooded with people’s reactions and comments about the trailer, mainly gushing about how good it looks, and that they can’t wait to see it. They were comparing it to Henry Cavill’s Superman, and trashing Cavill and Zack Snyder’s DC films.

Fast forward one month to a TV spot advertising the film, the social media backlash over David Corenswet flying was surprising. They were comparing it to Cavill’s Superman, and praising Cavill and Zack Snyder’s DC films. Sadly, some fans are never happy.

I’m looking forward to this film, especially if it’s good enough to take UMC1 and UMC2 to see it. I’ll watch it first, then make that decision, unless it somehow becomes age-appropriate for children aged at least 7 years old. My father took me to the cinema to see Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, so I want to do this for my boys.

I’m looking forward to seeing the movie, so I’ll write one of my famous previews/reviews in July. I’m especially excited about Krypto making his live-action movie debut; so I have high hopes for the film. When the trailer dropped, I mentioned how Krypto resembled a larger version of my dog, Indy. The moment when Krypto saved Clark hit me hard, but in a good way. When Clark started whistling, I couldn’t help but cry.

For the actual movie, I will probably cry watching Krypto run and fly around, being a good boy. Nothing, and I mean nothing, better happen to Krypto. Don’t do it, James; don’t do it.

What are your thoughts about Superman & Lois, and My Adventures with Superman? Have you read Absolute Superman, or going to watch Superman? As always, please let me know.

That’s another blog for another week. Thanks again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Please don’t forget to walk your dog, read a banned book, say no to kryptonite, visit the Gulf of Mexico, and I’ll see you next week because we’re going back to 1956!

BTW, New Zealanders are regarded as generous and polite people, but we have nothing on Canada. So imagine what it would feel like to piss off the entire population of the politest nation on Earth? Damn, grab the popcorn, because angry Canadians were not on my 2025 bingo card.

The Hellboy: The Crooked Man Comparison

On By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Comics, Movies

Welcome back to New Zealand’s 5th least favourite website! A case could be made for the 4th or the 6th; though it depends on a certain point of view. Thanks, Obi-Wan.

I realise not every person on the planet gives a damn about elections, least of all elections in another country. Because of that amazing observation, and to take my little mind off it, I’ve decided to create an original blog post. Something similar, but different. Like Pepsi and Pepsi Max, Rugby Union and Rugby League, Salt and Vinegar chips and Sour Cream…wait. That last example is completely wrong.

I’ve stumbled through previews and reviews before, but I have never compared mediums when it comes to an adaption. Whether this is a smart idea or not, I’ll let my Chief Consultant of Bad Ideas be the judge of that.

As loyal and attentive readers know, I’m a fan of the Right Hand of Doom, otherwise known as Big Red, Anung Un Rama, and of course, Hellboy. I’ve been wasting money reading and collecting Hellboy comics for decades. Remember, I’m a geek, so it’s in the name. I even have a Right Hand of Doom money bank. It has no coins in it, but it still looks cool.

This means I have also seen Hellboy’s three live-action movies, along with the two lesser-known animated films. Like I said before, I’m a geek.

I’ve just seen Hellboy: The Crooked Man at my local cinema. Now I know it’s had a limited release around the world, and especially across New Zealand. It’s so limited that my local cinema only had one screening of it: 7.45 pm on Halloween. When I discovered that the screening was going to be rarer than seeing Donald Trump’s tax records, I knew I had to go.

Only three people were in the theatre for it, myself included, which was both a positive and negative experience.

Before we begin, this intellectual entertainment offering will not be reviewing the film as such like previous reviews, but rather comparing the source material to the adaption. This is new for me as well, and just like many things in life, we will have to see whether it’s a stupid idea or not.

I will add my thoughts about the future of the movie franchise at the bottom if I can remember.

Credit: Mike Mignola & Richard Corden/Dark Horse Comics-Millennium Media/Dark Horse Entertainment

Clear as mud? Great, let’s establish the mediums first. In 2008, Dark Horse Comics released Hellboy: The Crooked Man #1-3, which was a limited series, running from July to September. Mike Mignola, Hellboy’s creator, was the writer, with Richard Corben supplying the art.

Hellboy: The Crooked Man was released on the 8th of October 2024 in the United States, written by Christopher Golden, Mike Mignola, and Brian Taylor; with Taylor serving as the director. It was released by Millennium Media and Dark Horse Entertainment.

Right off the bat, I think the movie is a faithful adaptation of the comics, regardless of what you think of the movie itself. Having said that, there are always subtle and creative changes when translating a story into another medium. Always has been and always will be.

At least to me, the comics and the movie differ in three different ways. Firstly, is the opening for the comic, where you have Hellboy wandering about the Appalachian Mountains alone, when he meets Tom Ferrell after Hellboy had finished with some stuff down South, as explained.

As for the movie, Hellboy is travelling on a train with BPRD agent Bobbie Jo Song, and another government agent. They were transporting some type of supernatural evil spider, so of course the spider broke loose, the train carriage derailed, and Hellboy and Song ended up in the Appalachian Mountains.

The second major difference was true fanboy service. During the movie, Hellboy receives a vision of a witch on fire, alongside a giant raven, who is a devil. Hellboy sees her later on and interacts with her. It turns out the witch is his mother, Sarah Hughes, and the devil is his father, Azzael. The vision, which is like a flashback, retells Sarah’s descent into Hell to be with her lover, Azzael, who turns directly to Hellboy and speaks to him.

In the comics, a similar scene unfolds where Hellboy falls asleep in the church where he first appeared in 1944. During his dream, he sees a witch repenting, however, a giant devil comes to claim her and her unborn child, addressing Hellboy and referring to him as, “…my favourite son.”

The difference here is that this scene did not happen in Hellboy: The Crooked Man limited series, but rather in Dark Horse Presents 1000 #2 (1995). It gives a great origin for the character, but it happened in a different comic.

The third major difference is the confrontation between Tom and Hellboy against The Crooked Man (Jeremiah Witkins) in his mansion. In the comics, Witkins was already injured and weakened from the church fight, so when Tom and Hellboy arrived at his mansion, he had reverted to his true form, which was a demonic crab-type creature. Tom throws his witchbone; which was the source of the shenanigans to start with, at Witkins, who vanishes back to Hell.

The movie is different, because why would I be talking about this if it wasn’t? The movie features Tom and Hellboy arriving at the mansion, with Song and Reverend Watts running about in the coal mines underneath.

Song and Watts’ mission was added to the movie, along with the extended goal of locating and destroying Witkins in the mansion. The comic displayed it as a straightforward operation, whereas the movie presented it as a final boss battle. It seemed Witkins was a lot more powerful in the movie than in the comics, but you need to make the villain a real threat to the heroes, so I get it.

Like I said, I think the movie is a fairly accurate and faithful adaption of the comics, so I was impressed with that. Considering Mignola was a co-writer of the script, you would expect it to be.

Now remember, that this blog post was comparing the comics and the movie, and not reviewing the movie itself. For that, you should seek out a real professional journalist, and not amateur hour with Some Geek Told Me.

However, and here it comes, I’ll say this. The movie is different from the three previous entries, mainly for two reasons. The first is that the film’s budget was only $20 million, compared to Hellboy‘s (2004) $60–66 million, Hellboy II: The Golden Army‘s $82.5–85 million, and Hellboy‘s (2019) $50 million. If you have less money to work with than previous films, the sets, CGI, actors, and practical effects will look and sound different.

The other random thing to consider is that the three previous movies in the Hellboy series have all centred on Hellboy saving the world, from the likes of Grigori Rasputin and the Ogdru Jahad, Prince Nuada and the Golden Army, and of course, Nimue the Blood Queen and her minions.

Hellboy: The Crooked Man gave us a version of Hellboy, who was not fighting to save the world, but rather centred on fighting to save one person, Tom Ferrell. If you’re a fan of the Hellboy movies, then this movie appears to be lacking by not turning the stakes up high, like trying to save the world.

But I would argue that this Hellboy presents a more honest version of the character, because he’s the world’s greatest paranormal investigator. This means he runs into ghouls, demons, ghosts, devils, monsters, vampires, witches, and everything else.

Not all of his missions require the world to be saved; it’s personal, like trying to save a person, a family, or a town. Comic book fans would back me on this, I’m sure! Maybe, if I say pretty please?

Also, if this is the future of Hellboy movies, I’m ok with that. I would rather see a live-action version of Hellboy like this or a live-action TV show, than no Hellboy at all.

Have you read Hellboy: The Crooked Man or seen the movie? How did they compare? As always, please let me know your thoughts.

So that’s another rant finished for another week. Thanks again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. And I’m going to repeat this for a third week in a row, but please remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, and if you’re a US citizen, please vote for Kamala Harris.

I want to see Donald Trump complain and whine about how his life is so unfair. Please, America, kick that man to the curb. For the world’s sake, please vote for Kamala Harris.

Take care and I’ll see you next week.

Three more Tōtaras have fallen: Tūheitia, James and John

On By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Comics, Movies, People

I realise that the world is not a perfect place. Wherever you look, there seems to be injustice, war, corruption, and lies. Yet, hope remains in the form of people going about their daily lives and doing the things that they love.

This can take many different forms, as people can help strangers in unexpected and wonderful ways. I respect numerous jobs and careers, as well as particular individuals around my town, country, and the world.

But life can deliver you a googly, and you’re left standing in shock and confusion on the cricket pitch, trying to understand how you missed the ball because it’s taken the middle stump.

Today is one of those days. Depending on the circles you travel in, you may have heard the sad news that Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII, James Earl Jones, and John Cassaday died within days of each other. I’m not a professional writer, which is painfully obvious, but I would still like to acknowledge these three icons because they have helped me.

Image by NoName_13 from Pixabay

For those of you who didn’t recognise his name, Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII was known as Kīngi Tūheitia, the seventh Māori monarch. He was coronated on 21st August 2006, on the last day of the tangi (funeral) of his mother, the Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.

He reigned until his death on 30th August 2024, aged 69. His successor is his daughter, the eighth monarch and second-only Māori queen, Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VIII.

Tūheitia’s mother was the monarch when I was born, so she was the only Māori monarch I had known. When she died, it was a major event in the country’s history. I remember watching the tangi and Tūheitia’s coronation, and I found it quite profound.

I respected and liked Tūheitia for many different reasons, which included and were not limited to reintroducing the need and concept of the Māori King movement to a new generation; promoting Māori culture around Aotearoa and the world; advocating for justice and prison reform for all people; representing Māori when meeting heads of state; trying to reduce the number of Māori incarcerated; desiring to unite all Māori; helping to lead the protests at national huis (meetings) against the current government’s recent policies towards Māori; and for being a passionate, positive and kind leader.

He will be missed.

Kīngi Tūheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII. Photo supplied by New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General

The great American actor, James Earl Jones died at his home in New York, on 9th September 2024, aged 93. James leaves behind a gargantuan body of work in theatre, television and film. He started acting in 1953 and only retired in 2021. James also belongs to the small group of performers who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award. He was an excellent actor and performer.

He overcame a shutter as a child and went on to have one of the world’s most recognised voices. I suppose it depends on the generation that you’re from, where you would identify his most famous roles, which include, but not all of them, Lt. Lothar Zogg (Dr. Strangelove), Jack Jefferson (The Great White Hope), Douglass Dilman (The Man), Thulsa Doom (Conan the Barbarian), King Jaffe Joffer (Coming to America), Terence Mann (Field of Dreams), Admiral James Greer (The Hunt for Red October), Mufasa (The Lion King), Raymond Murdock (A Family Thing), Junius Johnson (Heat Wave), Gabriel Bird (Gabriel’s Fire), many Shakespeare productions, and quite arguably, his most famous role, being the voice of the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader.

He will be missed.

James Earl Jones in NYC talking about his movie “Field of Dreams.” Credit: Robert Deutsch/USA Today

And finally, we need to discuss John Cassady. John died on 9th September 2024, in New York City; he was only 52 years old. John was one of these comic book artists, that you only needed 1-2 seconds to identify his work because it was very recognisable and gorgeous; whether he was the interior or cover artist. Damn, he was good.

This is a strange way to describe his art style, but I always thought his art was very “straight or linear.” At least to me, it seemed very different and unique, so I think that’s why I liked his work. Whether it was Astonishing X-Men, Planetary, Captain America, Star Wars, The Lone Ranger, Uncanny Avengers, or so many others, I feel lucky that I managed to witness his amazing work.

The number of awards that John received, reinforces that he was a very creative and talented man.

He will be missed.

Comics artist John Cassaday at a January 16, 2015 signing for Star Wars #1 at Midtown Comics Downtown in Manhattan. Credit: Luigi Novi / Wikimedia Commons

I never had the opportunity to meet these three men, but all of them, in their own way, have brought hope and joy to my life.

Thank you, Tūheitia. Thank you, James. Thank you, John.

The list of people I always thought I would get to meet one day, is slowly becoming smaller and shorter.

I’ve said this before, but I’ll repeat it.

In New Zealand, we have some mighty trees called tōtaras. They are symbolically important because they are massive, straight, light, and resistant to rot. Basically, they’re forest giants. Māori would use them to make large wakas (canoes), but also carve the tōtara to decorate maraes.

These are not my words, but they convey my thoughts and feelings:

KUA HINGA TE TOTARA I TE WAO NUI A TANE

THE TOTARA HAS FALLEN IN THE FOREST OF TANE

THE TOTARA IS A HUGE TREE THAT GROWS FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS. THE GREATNESS OF THE TOTARA IS A METAPHOR FOR WHEN SOMEONE OF IMPORTANCE PASSES AWAY.

To me, Tūheitia, James and John were tōtaras.

That’s it for this week. Thanks for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Please remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, be kind to yourself and I’ll see you next week for my 200th blog post!!

San Diego Comic-Con 2024: What projects are coming to a screen or store near you?

On By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Books, Comics, Movies, Television

This is the third year I’ve done this, but I like making fun mistakes. It’s that time of the year to discuss one of the biggest geek events on the planet: no, it’s not me wearing my Batman socks and my Iron Man t-shirt, at the same time. However cool and brave that event is, it pales compared to San Diego Comic-Con.

I’ve never been to it, mainly because it’s over 10,000 km away and I can’t afford to go; like ever. But that doesn’t mean I still can’t enjoy it, right? Right?!

San Diego Comic-Con is the opportunity for some of the world’s leading entertainment companies to showcase their upcoming products, whether toys, anime, computer games, manga, books, comics, movies, or TV shows, to the ticket-paying fans, and the rest of the world.

Standing in line for hours to meet an idol, overpriced food, cool tote bags, and cosplaying, what’s more to love?! Information, that’s what; specifically trailers, panels, and media statements.

After going through the list of upcoming projects, like a dog bin-diving, who is searching for a disgusting tissue, I have found some things that interest me. I have said this before about San Diego Comic-Con, but I haven’t read or watched every single scrap of information that was released. Tragic, but true.

So, what projects are coming to a cinema or store near you? Well, it’s a concoction, stranger than Dr Jekyll’s elixir. As always, with nearly every one of my posts, there are some rules. Of course, there are.

1.) I have not read or seen, every article or trailer released from San Diego Comic-Con. I can only discuss the things I know of, but also things I’m interested in. However, I will not be picking up a copy of The Bloody Beetroot #1, thank you very much.

2.) Just because a product is on my list, doesn’t mean I’ll get to see, or purchase it. Quite simply, if something has landed on this list, it has my attention; regardless if I watch or purchase it.

3.) I have included some information and trailers that were released, just before San Diego Comic-Con. This is because I’m the chief shareholder in the company. That sounds very fair.

Before I go on, I realise the world is a crazy place, and not everything that happens is positive. I’m aware of this, which is why this nonsense blog exists. Cool bananas?

Ok, I’m not here to shag spiders, so let’s do this!

Image: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images

Literature: (Books and Comics)

With the comics selection, the biggest projects that sparked my interest were from DC and Marvel. I’m not saying other companies have nothing of interest to me, but as I have said before, I can only talk about projects that I know of.

Absolute Universe

Yes, Marvel already did this with the Ultimate Universe, so over 20 years later, it’s DC’s turn. I don’t know all the details, but it seems they have reimagined key heroes like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman in a new universe.

Bruce has no money or Batcave, Clark has no family, and Diana is the last of the Amazons. The concept is simple, but the designs for the characters are impressive. There are more Absolute titles coming, like The Flash, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter.

I don’t know if I’ll buy any of these titles, but they look interesting, and sometimes that’s half the battle.

Credit: DC Comics

Star Wars

I need to remember to write about Star Wars: The High Republic. It’s been another year, and I still haven’t done it, so I’m sorry about that. We’re approaching the halfway point of the third and final phase of the project, but my love for Star Wars remains strong.

Information concerning Star Wars literature include:

Star Wars: The Acolyte: Wayseeker (novel)

Star Wars: The High Republic: Fear of the Jedi (limited series-Marvel)

Star Wars: Battle of Jakku: Insurgency Rising (limited series-Marvel)

Star Wars: The High Republic: Edge of Balance: Premonition (manga-Viz Media)

Credit: Marvel Comics

Here’s a quick update about the project that I discussed about last year’s Comic-Con. Knights Vs Samurai, is finally getting released in September, and I’m looking forward to it.

Credit: Image Comics

Movies:

Star Trek: Section 31

Technically, this is a television movie, but let’s not split hairs too much.1 Like any geek, I love Star Trek, and this spin-off from Star Trek: Discovery seems intriguing. Michelle Yeoh’s Philippa Georgiou was a stand-out character in the series, who eventually went on her own growth and development arc. Granted, I’m not entirely sure when the film is set in the timeline, but it’s enough to grab my attention.

It’s going to be on a streaming service, like nearly everything else, so I just hope I’ll be able to see it. Maybe finding a magic lamp will help.

Hellboy: The Crooked Man

Any long-time followers of this vanity project will know my love for Anung un Rama, aka Hellboy. I’ve been slowly going bankrupt for years, reading and collecting Hellboy comics; which led me to read the classic Hellboy: The Crooked Man mini-series, when it came out in 2008.

I knew a fourth Hellboy movie was being produced, but when I understood it was going to be about The Crooked Man, well, I did my infamous Daddy-Dance in front of my wife; and she just rolled her eyes.

After watching the trailer, I danced again, because the film looks immaculate. Leaning into the horror aspect of Hellboy’s world, goes in step with the ghouls and demons that live there. This is a film I am 100% going to see.

Captain America: Brave New World

Captain America: Brace New World is the MCU’s first film for 2025, wait..2025? Really? I remember going to see Iron Man only a few years ago…oh. Damn.

Anyway, I want to see this film, but just like Loki and the TVA in Deadpool & Wolverine, I haven’t seen The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, surprise, surprise. So basically, will people understand the progression of events in the movie, if they haven’t seen the mini-series?

I have no idea, but I’m keen as a bean to see whether Red Hulk will be intelligent or not. I’ll have to visit The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s Wikipedia page before visiting my local cinema, to get myself up to speed. Will this be enough? Again, I have no idea, but I still would like to see it.

Alien: Romulus

I want to see Alien: Romulus because I’m a fan of the Alien movies. The trailer makes it look dark, claustrophobic, and intense, just like any Alien movie should be.

However, after watching an army of face huggers running around a space station in the trailer, I’ve decided I’m going to watch the movie at home. I don’t want to be scared in public, so I’ll save the pants-peeing and pants-shitting for my living room. I still haven’t had the courage to watch Alien: Covenant yet!

Television shows:

The Penguin

Colin Farrell was unrecognisable as Oswald Cobblepot, aka Penguin in 2022’s The Batman; which was an amazing film. He was fantastic as Cobblepot, and if I understand the plot correctly, the show is set after the first film, but before the second, which is in preproduction.

After Carmine Falcone died in The Batman, Cobblepot is attempting to take over Gotham’s underworld and install himself as the new crime lord. That being the case, I think Batman will only be used in conversations, and not actually appear.

Maybe more of Batman’s Rogue’s gallery will turn up in the mini-series, because Sofia and Alberto Falcone are involved, so they could be setting up a live-action version of The Long Halloween. Who knows? Whatever the case, Farrell looks like he’s bringing the heat and it’s a show that my wife and I will watch together. And who said romance is dead?!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Season 3

Like I said about Star Trek: Section 31, I’ve been enjoying Star Trek: Discovery, but my admiration of the saga, also includes Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. I have to be honest, this show keeps surprising me, and that’s a good thing.

Witnessing these familiar, but also unfamiliar characters has been great, and the cliffhanger for Season 2 was unexpected. Strange New Worlds has helped me to fall in love with Star Trek, all over again. Isn’t that cute and nice?

Superman & Lois: Season 4

Superman & Lois has been a TV show that destroyed my expectations of it. Seriously. These versions of Clark and Lois are wonderful, and I fully believe that Clark and Lois are better together on screen. This show brings out their strengths and highlights that Clark can’t be Superman, without the support of his family; which to me, makes him only stronger.

Add in Season 3’s cliffhanger fight with Doomsday, and I’ve reserved my ticket for the final season. I’m going to miss this show.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power was quite divisive among fans for several reasons. I did watch the first season, so I can understand some of the criticisms, which I’ve discussed before on this magnificent blog.

However, unlike the hundreds, if not thousands of fans that have distanced themselves from the project, I am more than willing to give this show another shot at greatness. Have things improved on the show? I don’t know, but I promise I’m going to watch it. I see that Tom Bombadil is in the show, but I still want Melkor to have a cameo!

Also, this is a special mention about Batman: Caped Crusader. I’m going to write my first preview/review about a television show, and Batman: Caped Crusader gets to be the lucky winner. I’ll talk more about this closer to the time, but I’m optimistic about the show.

Anyway, that’s it for another week. What announcements from San Diego Comic-Con were you interested in? As always, please let me know. Remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, keep watching the Olympics, and I’ll see you next week for the return of the Solar System’s worst tour!

1 Like Vulcans, I embrace technicalities; but not for this section. The double pun is very much intended.

Movie Review: Deadpool & Wolverine

On By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Movies

Following last week’s fantastic preview of Deadpool & Wolverine, it’s time to discuss the movie review. I know, I know, my movie previews and reviews are amazing…at being terrible, but feeding UMC1 and UMC2, keeping my dog warm and happy, along with running New Zealand’s 5th least favourite website, means sleep is precious to me. Very preciousssss.

Like Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, I purchased the ticket at the cinema, days before the screening. Because you know, a geek’s got to do, what a geek’s got to do. At the cinema on Wednesday night, I jumped into line for food and drink, and the cinema liberated a small fortune from my bank account for said items.

And just like every other time at our cinema, I walked straight into the theatre and sat down, without anybody checking my ticket. This is the quintessential example of New Zealand culture: Trusting that the people sitting in a theatre have paid, so there’s no need to check their tickets.

Before I continue, they played the trailer for Captain America: Brave New World, which featured an image of the Red Hulk. I heard one person say, “I thought Hulk was green. Why’d they change his colour?!” Sitting in the back row, allowed me to have a wry smile without being seen. And yes, I am ashamed of myself.

Anyway, on with the review!

Credit: Marvel Studios

Let’s go over the rules of the review.

1.) Please be aware there will be spoilers concerning the movie, so proceed with extreme anxiety and caution.

2.) The aim of my reviews are not to rip apart the subject or trash it. If I liked the subject enough to watch or read it, then I’ll give my honest (possibly biased) opinion.

3.) I’m not a professional critic, so I’m not going to dive into deeper concepts and themes, or the art of filmmaking. I’m just a geek; always have been, and always will be.

And away we go!

So, did I like the movie? Yes, yes I did. I enjoyed it for different reasons, though I’ll try to cover them all. Firstly, the dialogue was sharp and more brutal than some fight scenes. The constant 4th wall insults, like the divorce reference and the Canada joke, had me laughing so hard that the woman sitting next to me kept glaring at me. Also, even though Gambit’s accent was comic-accurate, it was still funny to hear.

The movie was hilarious, showing even more than the previous two movies, that Wade Wilson is a lunatic who likes to stab and shoot, with or without the mask, but he’s a lunatic on the side of the angels.

The fight scenes were extremely graphic and violent, but you knew that was coming; it was expected. Still, using Wolverine’s skeleton as a weapon, strangely made a lot of sense in a twisted way. The scene where Deadpool had stabbed a TVA agent in the arse with Wolverine’s claws, is something I can’t unsee, no matter how hard I try.

The first fight between Deadpool and Wolverine in the Void was amazing, but it paled in comparison with the war they fought over in the Honda Odyssey, which was something I never knew I wanted to see. The entire sequence was phenomenal, simple, and entertaining, but horrific all at the same time.

The soundtrack was a surprise, with songs from *NSYNC and AC/DC, being somewhat appropriate choices for Deadpool’s dance routine against the TVA agents, along with the first fight between Deadpool and Wolverine.

Since we’re not talking about cameos, let’s discuss them. Some of the cameos included Deadpool variants, as well as Wolverine variants such as Patch, Age of Apocalypse Wolverine, Old Man Logan, the cover of Uncanny X-Men #251 Wolverine, comic-accurate height Wolverine, and the “Cavillrine,” were all extremely well done. When I saw the Uncanny X-Men cover with Wolverine being crucified on a giant X, I couldn’t help but quietly clap because it was obvious that they had done their homework.

With the other cameos, I suppose this movie was the official final chapter in the 20th Century Fox superheroes franchises, because it felt like it was becoming a tribute movie. I mentioned a few of the cameos last week, but I didn’t see Johnny Storm, Blade, or the appearance of Gambit coming.

Here’s a shout-out to the production crew including the Red Skull’s car and the Fantasticar. I appreciated seeing them again.

So, what about my preview questions?

  • I don’t have Disney+, so I haven’t seen Loki, only some videos from YouTube. This means my experience with the TVA is limited. Will the TVA be accessible to non-Disney+ viewers? Yes, they were accessible to a non-Disney+ viewer, but I still have a lot of questions about them, mainly who decides what goes in the Sacred Timeline? I’m sure when I get to watch Loki, many questions will be answered. Maybe.
  • I know Wolverine is alive in the film because it’s set before he died in Logan. But does this mean Logan is a fixed point in continuity? That was a sneaky one because Marvel Studios had explained that the film would be set before James died in Logan. They lied, because the whole point of the movie, was that Earth-10005’s version of Wolverine was dead. So yes, Logan was a fixed point in continuity.
  • Is Cassandra Nova’s Charles Xavier twin sister in the movie? Yes, she was, and Emma Corrin did a great job playing Cassandra Nova. My only question was why they cast a young actor for the role of Cassandra, when being Xavier’s twin, she would have to be decades older. She would be the same age as Xavier so she would be at least 60 years old; unless time works differently in the Void. I don’t know.
  • Will this movie somehow activate the X-gene in people in the MCU? If it did, I must have missed it, because I would have said no.
  • Will Liev Schreiber return? To the best of my knowledge, he didn’t.
  • Will 21st Century Fox’s X-Men’s continuity merge with Disney’s MCU, creating one continuity, or will it be something else? The ending of the movie surprised me, because I thought there would be some sort of timeline merging, but surprise, surprise, I was wrong. Deadpool remained in his Fox-era universe, and not in the MCU.
  • Will Wolverine lose his memories of the movie’s events by the end credits? I would say that’s a no, because he was at Wade’s party and holding Dogpool, by the end of the movie.
  • However the movie ends, will the X-Men be standing in the MCU? I’m going out on a limb and say, “Hell, no!”
  • How different will the MCU look after Deadpool & Wolverine? As far as I can see and understand, not a lot, if anything has changed in the MCU, because of the movie. Maybe if I understood the TVA better, I could give a better answer.
  • Will any Avengers turn up? The Hulk was fighting, I think a Wolverine variant wearing the classic 80’s brown and tan costume. There was also footage of Thor leaning over a dying Deadpool in the future.
  • Will Wolverine break the 4th wall? I believe Hugh Jackman broke the 4th wall in marketing adverts, but not in the movie. I hope I’m right about that!
  • Will the plot make sense with multiple timelines/worlds being involved? Remembering that Deadpool still had Cable’s time-travelling device from the previous film, and also armed with a TemPad, he could travel to other universes. Throw in the leftovers found in the Void, there were a lot of timelines involved. The plot wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t have to be, since Deadpool was involved.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman were devastatingly good, but it does raise the question of what happens next, since Deadpool is living on Earth-10005, and not in the MCU; especially with a new Wolverine walking around. For the MCU, I think the next film will be Captain America: Brave New World in February 2025, which I promise to watch.

If you want 2 hours of entertainment, with a superhero movie that embraces the sheer ridiculousness of the genre, then you will love Deadpool & Wolverine. Adding in some graphic violence, insults, middle management villains, and one of the coolest dogs in cinema, this movie won’t win any Academy Awards, but it will win fans over. Maximum effort.

That’s it for another week and another terrible post. Thanks again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. My 200th blog post is coming up soon, so that’s exciting, at least to me. I mean, I thought I would have quit by now.

Remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, watch some of the Olympics, and I’ll see you next week for my annual recap of San Diego Comic-Con. Hell, yeah!

Movie Preview: Deadpool & Wolverine

On By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Movies

Some of my amazing dedicated followers may remember, that I had previously promised to watch more superhero movies at the cinema. I could bleat on about the reasons, but it’s a genre I love, and I’ve been lazy about going, so I need to do better!

The last superhero movie I saw at the cinema was Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which I previously previewed and reviewed. Since then, I’ve watched Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on DVD. Blue Beetle is saved on my watchlist, but I still haven’t seen Thor: Love and Thunder or The Marvels. I’m not sure where to watch them, as I don’t have Disney+.1

This long-winded introduction finally brings us to Deadpool & Wolverine. In New Zealand, the film opens on Thursday 25th July. I sold some extra comics, so I purchased a ticket for an advanced screening on Wednesday 24th July. Go me!

Deadpool is a great character, and Ryan Reynolds has done an extraordinary job at portraying the Merc with the Mouth. Seriously, amongst the graphic violence of Deadpool and Deadpool 2, Wade Wilson was spitting out burns left, right and centre.

Now combine one violence-loving mutant with an accelerated healing factor, with another in the form of Hugh Jackson’s Wolverine, and I believe there will be a lot of carnage.2

I mean, James has his claws, while Wade has a pair of katana blades, so their healing factors will be put into overdrive.

The marketing for the film, at least to me, has been taken to another level. Reynolds and Jackman have been priceless.

Even though Deadpool was an R-rated film, it brought in $782.8 million, along with Deadpool 2 earning $785.8 million. So how much money will Deadpool & Wolverine earn at the box office, and will the movie be any good? I’ve seen the trailers, so let’s discuss the preview!

Image by Yerson Retamal from Pixabay

Am I looking forward to watching Deadpool & Wolverine?

Yes, yes I am. We haven’t seen Wolverine in a live-action movie since 2017’s Logan, and this will be Deadpool’s first adventure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is because Disney purchased 21st Century Fox in 2019 for $71 billion, a number that still boggles my mind.

Also, this is me following through on my promise to watch and support more superhero movies at the cinema. However, there is one tiny issue. My local cinema has increased their prices again. In January 2024, when I saw Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, an adult ticket was $17.00. It’s now gone up to $18.00.3

What is the movie about?

According to Wikipedia, the premise is this:

Six years after the events of Deadpool 2, Wade Wilson lives a quiet life, having left his time as the mercenary Deadpool behind him, until the Time Variance Authority (TVA)—a bureaucratic organization that exists outside of time and space and monitors the timeline—pulls him into a new mission. With his home universe facing an existential threat, Wilson reluctantly joins an even more reluctant Wolverine on a mission that will change the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

What can we expect?

The movie’s running time is 127 minutes, so just over two hours, which is the average standard now. Not too short, and not too long; it’s smack in the middle.

As for other expectations, there’s going to be blood, death, stabbing, dismemberment, swearing, guns, claws, knives, swords, timelines, portals, and things I haven’t even thought of.

I know Matthew Macfadyen is playing a TVA agent, along with Emma Corrin, portraying the main antagonist, Cassandra Nova. Whether Nova will be revealed to be Charles Xavier’s twin is anybody’s guess, though it may be.

I know that some actors will be reprising their roles from the previous films, like Leslie Uggams (Blind Al), Karan Soni (Dopinder), Brianna Hildebrand (Negasonic Teenage Warhead), Shioli Kutsuna (Yukio), Stefan Kapičić (Colossus), and Morena Baccarin (Vanessa).

And just like any MCU film, there are going to be cameos. From my understanding, Jennifer Garner (Elektra Natchios), Aaron Stanford (Pyro), Tyler Mane (Sabretooth), and Dafne Keen (Laura / X-23), will be coming back; along with Jon Favreau’s Happy Hogan.

The Deadpool Corps will also be appearing, which will only be chaotic and murderous.

Do I have concerns?

I always have concerns when comic book characters are adapted into television shows or films. As for this one, I do have a few questions.

  • I don’t have Disney+, so I haven’t seen Loki, only some videos from YouTube. This means my experience with the TVA is limited. Will the TVA be accessible to non-Disney+ viewers?
  • I know Wolverine is alive in the film because it’s set before he died in Logan. But does this mean Logan is a fixed point in continuity?
  • Is Cassandra Nova’s Charles Xavier twin sister in the movie?
  • Will this movie somehow activate the X-gene in people in the MCU?
  • Will Liev Schreiber return?
  • Will 21st Century Fox’s X-Men’s continuity merge with Disney’s MCU, creating one continuity, or will it be something else?
  • Will Wolverine lose his memories of the movie’s events by the end credits?
  • However the movie ends, will the X-Men be standing in the MCU?
  • How different will the MCU look after Deadpool & Wolverine?
  • Will any Avengers turn up?
  • Will Wolverine break the 4th wall?
  • Will the plot make sense with multiple timelines/worlds being involved?

I’ve probably got more questions, but I’ll stop there.

I hope the film is successful with the critics, fans and at the box office because the genre could do with a heavyweight win. I’m feeling optimistic about the film, but let’s keep both feet on the ground, shall we? I’m watching it on Wednesday night, so next Monday’s post will be the review.

And that’s it for another week. Thanks once again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, remember that Palestine and Ukraine still exist, and I’ll see you next week for the Deadpool & Wolverine review. Take care of yourselves.

1 My wife said when she gets a part-time or full-time job, she’ll get Disney+ for us. I’m going to hold her to that.

2 Just to be clear, I’m not talking about the Spider-Man villain.

3 New Zealand’s currency is basically Monopoly money.

Happy Star Wars and Free Comic Book Day!

On By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Books, Comics, Movies, Television

As you can tell, today is not a Monday; so why is there a short blog post from me? That’s a simple answer, because not only is today Star Wars Day, but it’s also Free Comic Book Day!

Star Wars Day is always held on the 4th of May, regardless of what day it is, just so people can say, May The 4th Be With You. Free Comic Book Day (FCBD), however, is traditionally held on the first Saturday in May. 

I feel they are two of the largest pop culture dates on the geek calendar, so it’s not often that Star Wars Day coincides with FCBD, but I think it just gives people twice the reason to celebrate the day.

I have mentioned it before, but Star Wars has a special place in my family. We enjoy it through movies, books, toys, board games, TV shows1 and cosplay. This also includes comics. Throughout the years, I have gathered a collection of Star Wars comics, so FCBD holds significant importance for me.

Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm & DC/Marvel/FCBD

So, what’s the point of this post? Easy, if you’re a fan of the adventures of characters from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, then today is your day to watch the movies or TV shows, read that book, play that computer game, or simply wear that Darth Vader t-shirt to the supermarket. Own this day, own it!

If you’re a fan of comic books, you need to get yourself down to your local comic book store; if possible, so you can support them by picking up some free comic books, cosplaying as your favourite characters, and buying some items. These stores are the lifeblood of the industry, so please support them.

And if you’re a fan of both Star Wars and Comics, well…today’s the day you can live your best life! My family recently made their own fantastic Stormtrooper helmets, which UMC1 and UMC2 will be wearing somewhere today.

How are you celebrating Star Wars Day and Free Comic Book Day? Please let me know. Ok, that’s it for me. Enjoy this amazing day and I’ll see you on Monday.

1.) One day I’m going to get Disney +. It’s not today, but one day.

Movie Review: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

On By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Movies

Last week, I created one of the world’s best movie previews with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. So what you ask, could I do to top such an articulate, engaging, and studious form of critical literacy? By producing the review of course!

Unlike with The Flash movie last year, I didn’t purchase my ticket online. Armed with a second mortgage, I purchased my ticket from the cinema, along with my food. And just like last time, I walked straight into the theatre, with nobody stopping me to check my ticket.

On a special note, I saw the Dune: Part Two trailer there, and I wanted to shout, “Villeneuve, take my money! Take it now!”

Credit: Warner Bros.

Just like last time, let’s set the rules for the review.

1.) Please be aware there will be spoilers concerning the movie, so proceed with extreme anxiety and caution.

2.) The aim of my reviews are not to rip apart the subject or trash it. If I liked the subject enough to watch or read it, then I’ll give my honest (possibly biased) opinion.

3.) I’m not a professional critic, so I’m not going to dive into deeper concepts and themes, or the art of filmmaking. I’m just a geek; always have been, and always will be.

And with that, let the review begin!

To start at the beginning, did I like the movie? Yes, I did. Is it the greatest superhero movie ever made? No, it isn’t, but that’s ok because I had fun.

So what did I like about it? Just some quick things, I’m sorry. Firstly, and quite obviously would be the CGI. While watching the film, you can understand where the majority of the budget went. You’re setting the movie in Atlantis, with people who can live and breathe underwater, and swim at insane speeds. Of course, it looks amazing, it needs to!

I also enjoyed the design and scale of the sets, as well as the costumes. From a logistics point of view, it must be very extremely difficult to create something physical, that’s based on something else. If it’s an original piece of work, then you can make it look however you want.

However, if you’re adapting something, then you need to balance the old and new, by giving the item a sense of familiarity, mixed with contemporary, fantasy, or futuristic design. I thought the film looked gorgeous!

I also liked Arthur’s emotional growth since the last film. Yes, the core of him is still the same, but he’s changed. His new responsibilities have altered the way he sees the world, which is a positive thing.

Because of Momoa’s version of Aquaman, it was great to see humour leaking through into scenes, where I wasn’t expecting it. The difficulty of getting Arthur Jnr. to sleep, and keeping him asleep, is something I’m painfully aware of. As babies, both UMC1 and UMC2 firmly believed that sleep was only for the weak.

Amber Heard was in the film but with a much-reduced role. It may have hurt the plot because of this, but what do I know?

There are other things I enjoyed about the film, but let’s keep the movie train moving.

What about things I didn’t enjoy? I thought Kordax would have played more of a larger role. By this I mean, I thought he would have escaped his prison by the end of the first act, or the start of the second act, building to a final fight in the third act. He was defeated too quickly and easily, to be honest.

I thought Black Manta’s plan to burn the orichalcum, so he could gain access to Kordax’s prison, seemed overly complicated for such a simple thing. If Black Manta knew where Kordax’s prison was located, why couldn’t he use some flashy ultra-tech, to directly melt the ice?

Another thing that I thought was odd, was when Arthur came up with the idea of talking to Orm, the others explained that his jailors, the Deserters, would never allow this to happen. Arthur then explains he’s just going to break Orm out of prison instead, at the risk of igniting a war with them.

I realise the film needed a reason for Orm to be out of prison, I just thought it was strange that the best option open to them, was to break him out.

Alright, what about my preview questions?

  • Will Arthur and Orm’s relationship copy Thor and Loki’s? Yes, in a lot of ways, it did. At one point, Arthur even referred to Orm as Loki.
  • Will Orm have a redemption arc or will he return to his evil ways? He did have a redemption arc, and also found some much needed closure.
  • Is Black Manta one-dimensional? In this version, he certainly is. He can’t move past wanting vengeance against Arthur, over the death of his father.
  • What is Arthur’s relationship with Mera and Atlanna? Arthur is still happily married to Mera, and from what I saw, he’s still close with Atlanna.
  • Will there be a “talking to fish” reference? From what I remember, and I could be wrong about this, there wasn’t. However, both Arthur and Arthur Jnr., talk to some marine creatures in the film.
  • Will the plot be convincing or predictable? I think the plot was both. It was predictable, yet there were times it felt surprising.
  • Will there be a deus ex machina moment in defeating the undead merpeople army? I thought the undead merpeople army would have appeared earlier in the film, so it was a shock to only see them in the third act. And yes, there was a deus ex machina moment.
  • How much does the world know of Atlantis? That was answered in the film with Arthur and the council debates, with Atlantis still being kept a secret from the world.
  • Does the Justice League visit Atlantis? To the best of my knowledge, the Justice League were not mentioned or referred to; so I have no idea.
  • Will Aquaman say, “Outrageous!” in the film? Sadly, this outrageous statement did not occur in the film, which is an outrageous injustice.
  • Are the creatures from the Trench in the film? No, they were not, as much as I wanted them to be.
  • What type of closure will the film give us, since it’s the last entry in the DCEU? Atlantis has revealed itself to the world, and much like T’Challa and Wakanda at the end of the first Black Panther film, Arthur wants Atlantis to join the United Nations.

I think the largest question for Aquaman now, is what happens next? The DCEU is dead. Long live the DCU. It truly will be fascinating to see where Aquaman fits into this new shared universe, as well as the actors and actresses involved in the project. I understand Jason Momoa is out as Aquaman, but not out of the DCU? I don’t know, so you’ll have to ask James Gunn and Peter Safran.

If you’re on the fence about watching this film, you’re allowed to be. Like I said earlier, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is not the greatest superhero movie ever made, but it’s two hours of entertainment and fun, and you get to watch the good guys win. What’s wrong with that? The CGI underwater scenes are worth the cost of the ticket anyway.

Before I leave you and watch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, I want to share something with you.

Superhero movies are not for everybody. But neither are horror, western, action, comedy, science-fiction, or musical movies. Given the state of 2023’s superhero movies, if we, the fans of superheroes and cinema, do not go and watch and support these movies, they will stop making them. And then we all lose. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re a DC or Marvel fan, or something else, if a superhero movie flops, it sends shockwaves across Hollywood and influences other studios. They get scared and invest less money into a comic book movie, which increases the potential of the movie flopping. If we don’t watch these movies, they will stop making them.

And with that, I am done for another week. Thanks once again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, go watch some of the African Cup of Nations games, and I’ll see you next week for the return of Some Geek Told Me’s Tour of the Solar System!


Movie Preview: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

On By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Movies

The last time I saw a superhero movie at the cinema was The Flash. I do feel some guilt and shame though, because as a geek, I still haven’t seen Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Marvels, or Blue Beetle.

Having realised this, I have decreed that I will go and watch Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. My first and last preview was for The Flash, so after talking to Some Geek Told Me’s chief good ideas officer, the Rubicon was crossed and their advice ignored, so we are doing it again!

Aquaman is an interesting and somewhat confusing character because he’s often viewed as a punchline or as comedy relief. Arthur has been through many changes over the years, mainly sporting a 90’s beard, losing his son, losing his left hand, but also gaining a telekinetic harpoon for a hand; that was extremely badass.

Jason Momoa’s version of Arthur Curry in the DCEU has been outrageous.1 Even though the DCEU has had the wobbles; in fairness, so has the MCU lately, let’s preview the last DCEU film and the sequel to the $1.152 billion juggernaut. 2

Before we move on, I need to state that I have tried exceptionally hard to avoid reviews about the film, apart from the box office takings. However, I have seen the trailers many times over. Sweet as? Let’s go!

Image by 鑫 孙 from Pixabay

Am I looking forward to watching Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom?

Of course I am, though my local cinema currently charges $17.00 per adult ticket. Ouch!

What is the movie about?

From what I understand, a few years have passed since the first film, because I believe Arthur and Mera have a son; but I don’t know his age. I also don’t know if Arthur and Mera are/were married, but I’m quite sure Arthur is still King Arthur, the once and future king.

Black Manta is still pissed at Arthur for indirectly killing his father, as you would. Because of this, he finds the Black Trident, which I can only assume is not a positive thing. From the trailers, Arthur has to team up with his half-brother Orm (Ocean Master), and possibly fight Black Manta and another villain.

Or I could be totally wrong.

What can we expect?

Apparently, the running time is 124 minutes, so you might as well say two hours. This length of time can sometimes be too long for a story, too short, or just right; so where this movie falls is anybody’s guess.

An obvious question is how much time will Amber Heard (Mera) have on screen, considering her very public court trial with Johnny Depp. Will she have the same supporting role as last time, will it be more, or even less? I have no idea, I work for a living.

I know Patrick Wilson (Orm), Temuera Morrison (Thomas Curry), Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Black Manta), and Nicole Kidman (Atlanna), among others, have returned for the sequel. The question remains if there will be any cameos from characters from other DCEU films.

I know the film’s budget was around $200 million, so I expect a lot from the CGI; I mean a lot. There appears to be some sort of undead merpeople, swimming around creating mischief, and at first glance, they look good; as in badass. The fight scenes were impressive in the first film, so I hope they will be even better in the sequel.

Do I have concerns?

As I stated with the Flash preview, I will always have concerns with every comic book movie. Finding a balance between honouring the source material and having creative liberties is difficult, but not impossible.

  • Will Arthur and Orm’s relationship copy Thor and Loki’s?
  • Will Orm have a redemption arc or will he return to his evil ways?
  • Is Black Manta one-dimensional?
  • What is Arthur’s relationship with Mera and Atlanna?
  • Will there be a “talking to fish” reference?
  • Will the plot be convincing or predictable?
  • Will there be a deus ex machina moment in defeating the undead merpeople army?
  • How much does the world know of Atlantis?
  • Does the Justice League visit Atlantis?
  • Will Aquaman say, “Outrageous!” in the film?
  • What type of closure will the film give us, since it’s the last entry in the DCEU?
  • Are the creatures from the Trench in the film?

The fatigue of superhero movies has become a real problem now, with 2023 being a brutal year for the genre. However, let’s not be Marvin the Paranoid Android about this. I’m planning to be entertained for two hours, by a character that was created back in 1941. UMC1 would point out, that’s even older than me! I have high hopes for the film.

I have to check my social calendar, and my meetings with the Some Geek Told Me staff, to nail down a screening, however, I will see it at some point this week. Which of course means, that next week will be my review of the film.

Anyway, that’s it for another week. Thanks once again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, stay away from Coruscanti death stick dealers, and I’ll see you next week.

1). 50 fifty points for anybody that gets that reference.

2.) Sorry, I couldn’t help throwing in a Marvel reference.

Every day is the same: Movie Edition

On By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Movies

People reliving the same day over and over again is not something new to the human experience.

It could be playing against a particular person or team, already knowing that you’re going to lose the same way, just like all the other times you have tried. It could be a new scandal rocking the government, but in reality, it’s an old one because it just keeps happening. It could be having an argument with the same person over the same thing, time, and time, and time again.

There are various ways to describe this experience of reliving the same day, again, again, and again. The first is an extreme form of déjà vu; which I feel deserves a blog post all on its own. Another is having a full-time job; every day is the same as the previous one. Another example is a time loop.

Living in a time loop could bring a plethora of emotions to the surface for a person, whether they are positive or negative, or in some cases, both of them.

Wait a minute Scott, what cases are you talking about?

I’m glad you asked. By the way, you ask amazing questions, well done.

Right, where was I? Of course, the list. Actually reliving the same day in reality would be as terrifying and dangerous as standing up at a women’s rights conference and booing. However, watching someone else work through their emotions during this traumatic time is a lot more entertaining.

I’m not an expert on pop culture, which is abundantly clear because of the lack of imagination in my writing, but also because I have not seen every movie in existence.

Having just said that I have made a list of some of my favourite movies that deal with time loops. As I ignore the sound of trumpets while I announce this, no Some Geek Told Me list would be complete without at least one exception!

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!

Groundhog Day (1993)

Let’s start with the most famous time loop movie of them all; Groundhog Day. Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is stuck in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, USA. It’s 2nd of February, Groundhog Day, and Connors is trapped in a time loop. No matter what happens to him during that day; no matter what, he wakes up in his bed unharmed at the inn at 6 a.m. on the 2nd of February.

Since the day is reset at 6 a.m., Connors remembers everything, but to the rest of the citizens of Punxsutawney, it’s the 2nd of February for the first time. You watch Connors experience every human emotion possible throughout his time in Punxsutawney, all the while trying to achieve a perfect day with his producer, Rita Hanson (Andie MacDowell).

When you meet Connors for the first time, he’s an arse, but as the movie moves forward, you start rooting for him. He slowly starts to change, which means he starts to care about the town. I’ve always liked this movie because the concept is simple and the dialogue is funny as hell.

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Based on the manga All You Need Is Kill, Edge of Tomorrow is a lot better than you think it is; it’s criminally underrated. The short version of this movie is that William Cage (Tom Cruise) is involved in a war with aliens named Mimics, that have invaded Europe.

Cage is killed during a battle after he kills a special type of alien. Some of the alien’s blood enters Cage’s body and after he dies, he wakes up on the previous day, unharmed. Cage retains the memories of the previous day, and with the help of Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), he learns the truth: every time he dies, he resets the day. And some of Cage’s deaths are hilarious!

As the movie progresses, and just like Connors in Groundhog Day, Cage starts to change. He starts to become an excellent soldier, but also a great leader. The concept of constantly dying to reset the day to win a war, brings a lot new level of intensity to a film that has amazing special and practical effects. Live. Die Repeat.

Happy Death Day (2017) and Happy Death Day 2U (2019)

Time looping with a masked serial killer. That is the best way to describe Happy Death Day and the sequel, Happy Death Day 2U. Theresa Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) wakes up in a strange dorm room on her birthday. Later that day, she is murdered by a person wearing a mask of her school mascot.

Gelbman then wakes up in the same dorm room, on the morning of her birthday. As the film moves along, Gelbman understands that every time she is murdered, she wakes up in the same place, at the same time. This allows Gelbman to investigate the killer’s identity, but to do so, she needs to keep dying until she learns the truth, and her deaths become very creative.

Just like Connors and Cage, Gelbman retains her memories of the past day, but nobody else. And just like Cage, Gelbman needs to die to reset the day. However there is a difference: every time she wakes up in the time loop, she is unharmed, but her body has remembered the damage, as her body shows evidence of recovering injuries.

Added that the sequel is even crazier than the original, these two films have taken the time loop genre to places that I’m ashamed to say that I enjoyed.

 Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash (2018)

I bet you thought I was going to discuss The Flash (2023) and not a Lego movie, right? The Joker is attacking Metropolis with laughing gas and a fun cannon, so the Justice League is out to stop him. The problem is that Flash is running late because the fastest man alive is always late!

Flash arrives and saves the day, but is drawn into a race with another speedster. Flash wakes up in his room, and just like the same morning, he is running late. Flash soon realises that every time he saves everybody, he ends up racing the strange speedster at the end, then he wakes up in his room on the same day.

Flash is caught in a time loop, and the only person who knows what is going on or could help him break out of it is the strange yellow speedster. But Flash has to catch him first! I think the actual time loop section of the film is quite small, but it’s a plot device to set Flash up for the rest of the film.

This version of a time loop is different from the others, because it’s deliberate, courtesy of the Reverse-Flash!

UMC1, UMC2, and I think it’s hilarious watching Flash go from a happy, positive, and optimistic character, to someone angry, jaded, and desperate to break free of the time loop. We love this movie because Flash is one of UMC2’s favourite superheroes. It has super speed fights, time loops, milkshakes, and a Clown Batman, or is that a Batman Clown?

And here are some honorary mentions:

Run Lola Run (1998)

Primer (2004) 1

Premature (2014)

The Final Girls (2015)

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

Naked (2017)

Palm Springs (2020)

And now for the exception; it’s not a movie, or about a traditional time loop. However, it needs to be mentioned, because when my wife and I saw it, we were gob smacked by its originality.

Doctor Who: Season 9-Episode 11: Heaven Sent (2015)

I’m not going to give too many spoilers for this fantastic episode, because I would rather you discover it for yourself. The Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi) wakes up in a teleporting tube, which appears to be inside a castle of some sort. He has no idea how he got there, how long he’s been there, or why he’s there, but he’s going to find out!

The Doctor soon discovers that he is being hunted, very slowly by a cloaked figure that never stops. The Doctor also learns that the castle is in the middle of an ocean, with no visible means of escaping. As the episode goes on, the Doctor slowly starts to learn, that somehow he has already been there before. He’s there for a very special reason, and more importantly, he has a job to accomplish.

Heaven Sent is easily the best episode of Season 9, if not one of the best episodes of Doctor Who or any television show ever. It’s a great example of why the character is beloved by fans, but also the extraordinary creativity of the production team.

Did I miss your favourite time loop movie out? As always, please let me know. Well, that’s another rant for another week. Thanks once again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. And just like last week, please don’t forget to walk your dog, read a banned book, donate to the Gaza Humanitarian crisis, and I’ll see you next Monday.

1 Not technically a time loop movie, but it does have time travel with loops.