Carl Towns Classic Movies February Selection: Zebraman

My name is Carl Towns, and I'm here to present you in the finest... well... maybe not the finest-okay, sometimes the finest. No, screw it, the coolest or most noteworthy-yeah, that's it!

I'm here to present you noteworthy and cool films. This month is...



Zebraman is the 2004 film by cult director Takashi Miike, a director how notoriety(and infamy in certain cases) has made him a cult director here in the states with his thriller Audition and the ultra violent and sadistic Ichi the Killer. But for my money, Zebraman is his best work.

Zebraman is the touching story of Shinichi Ichikawa. His family doesn't like him, his job life sucks and his only escape is dressing up as the lead character from a forgotten Tokusatsu TV series(in short, live action superhero show). A new student comes to class with love of the same character and the two connect as he does with the boys mother. At the same time a rash of mysterious killings are going on and the Japanese Self Defense Force is investigating strange atcivies in the city.

Soon Shinichi realizes parallels from the show to his life. The hero was also a teacher and he himself is living in 2010, the year the series took place. He starts exhibiting super human powers and begins to learn the true secrets to the old series.

This movie, is simply awesome sauce. Really it is. Show Aikawa is just brilliant in the role that you instantly feel for the guy. His relationship with his student and the students mother ground this extraordinary movie with real drama which is something a number of director Miike's movies, that I've seen, lack at times. But Miike is no slouch, this man is one of the best visual directors I've seen. Whether he's working with film or digital, ultra violence or more commercial work he knows how craft movement, pacing, and just a look to his film that stands out. Even if the effects are little hokey it never takes away from the look of the film it self.

Zebraman is one of the best superhero movies ever made. hands down. I defy you to argue with this. Its larger than life when it needs to be and dramatic when its necessary, all without ever failing.

This is a truly cool and noteworthy flick so COP THIS! from Amazon or the such.



Oh, and I hear there's a sequel coming up. I'm scared from the teaser trailer.

A Gripe About DC Comics Thats Well Deserved

This trade, collecting the legendary Captain Marvel story the Monster Society of Evil(not to be confused with Jeff Smiths a few years back) which, as I've read, is the long Golden Age story of all time has not come out yet. It was scheduled last year in the middle and continually pushed back and back and back.

WHAT THE HELL DC!?!

Seriously, I am pretty tired of saying I'm a DC fanboy when I'm only buying a dozen of your titles and only have them are memorable. That's not counting Vertigo or any other imprint by the way. Tired of big events and the such. Blackest Night was pretty and all but not one of my crossovers. I don't even care about the new Flash comic or whatever else you got going like that thing with Superman. But I have been wanting to read more classic Shazam books(I have the first archive, need to get others) but you can't even put this sucker out? Why?

PUT THIS OUT ALREADY!!!

Carl's Damn Near Accurate Oscar Predictions

BEST PICTURE
"An Education"
"Avatar"
"The Blind Side"
"District 9"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Precious"
"A Serious Man"
"Up"
"Up in the Air"

Winner: Hurt Locker

Why?: Because it won the Critics Choice awards as well as the most wards from various Critics organizations.

My opinion: Of the films nominated, Inglourious Basterds was my fav. However Hurt Locker is a good movie. Just of the five films I saw(wow, five of ten. Better than one of five right?), I would rank it last behind Avatar because Avatars effects were awesome. District 9 and Up were the other films I saw.

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Jeff Bridges for "Crazy Heart"
George Clooney for "Up in the Air"
Colin Firth for "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman for "Invictus"
Jeremy Renner for "The Hurt Locker"

Winner: Jeff Bridges

Why?: Because he's one damn near every award thus far.

My Opinion: I've only seen Hurt Locker thus far so I have to go with Jeremy Renner who was excellent anyway.

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Sandra Bullock for "The Blind Side"
Helen Mirren for "The Last Station"
Carey Mulligan for "An Education"
Gabourey Sidibe for "Precious"
Meryl Streep for "Julie & Julia"

Winner: Sandra Bullock

Why?: Because Meryl Streep's her only competition and she has two.

My Opinion: I'm just against Sandra Bullock for some reason. Though she was cool in Speed and Demolition Man. By the way, I've seen none of these moves.

DIRECTING
Kathryn Bigelow for "The Hurt Locker"
James Cameron for "Avatar"
Lee Daniels for "Precious"
Jason Reitman for "Up in the Air"
Quentin Tarantino for "Inglourious Basterds"

Winner: Kathyrn Bigelow

Why?: She won the DGA's top honor. So that's pretty much a shoe in.

My Opinion: I'm a Tarantino fan for sure and Avatar is a stylin' movie itself. However Bigelow did a damn fine job building the tension. Besides, first woman to win would be nice.

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Matt Damon for "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson for "The Messenger"
Christopher Plummer for "The Last Station"
Stanley Tucci for "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz for "Inglourious Basterds"

Winner: Christoph Waltz

Why?: He's been the front runner before the race even got close to starting with his Cannes Film Festival win.

My Opinion: Only saw this film and Waltz literally waltzed throughout the film. Hell, before him Tarantino was considering abandoning the project altogether.

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Penelope Cruz for "Nine"
Vera Farmiga for "Up in the Air"
Maggie Gyllenhaal in "Crazy Heart"
Anna Kendrick for "Up in the Air"
Mo'Nique for "Precious"

Winner: Mo'Nique

Why?: Because she's been the winner at all the other awards.

My Opinion: I saw none of these movies.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
"Ajami"
"El Secreto de Sus Ojos"
"The Milk of Sorrow"
"A Prophet"
"The White Ribbon"

Winner: The White Ribbon

Why?: Going with Golden Globes and buzz but... you never know. Last year Departures won when everyone thought it was going to be that Waltz With Bashir.

My Opinion: No opinion.

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
"Coraline"
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"The Princess and the Frog"
"The Secret of Kells"
"Up"

Winner: Up

Why?: Go back up and check the Best Picture noms.

My Opinion: Personally, Monsters vs. Alien was my fav animated flick of the year and its a crying shame Ponyo was left off. So of these, I love Up but lean towards Coraline. That said, great year for animation. Mostly...

SCREENPLAY (Adapted)
"An Education"
"District 9"
"In the Loop"
"Precious"
"Up in the Air"

Winner: Up in the Air

Why?: Won some awards already.

My Opinion: No opinion. Other than District 9 rocks and Jason Reitman is going to have to share credit with a screenwriter he went to bat against with the WGA for full credit and lost to.

SCREENPLAY (Original)
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"The Messenger"
"A Serious Man"
"Up"

Winner: Inglourious Basterds

Why?: Won some awards already.

My Opinion: Works for me.

ART DIRECTION
"Avatar"
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"
"Nine"
"Sherlock Holmes"
"The Young Victoria"

Winner: Avatar

Why?: Billion Dollars

My Opinion: Works for me.

CINEMATOGRAPHY
"Avatar"
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"The White Ribbon"

Winner: Avatar

Why?: Once again... Billion Dollars

My Opinion: I liked Basterds and Potter looked good.

COSTUME DESIGN
"Bright Star"
"Coco Before Chanel"
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"
"Nine"
"The Young Victoria"

Winner: The Young Victoria

Why?: Going with Critics here.

My Opinion: Meh.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
"Burma VJ"
"The Cove"
"Food Inc."
"The Most Dangerous Man in America"
"Which Way Home"

Winner: The Cove

Why?: Critics...

My Opinion: Apparently the successful and truly acclaimed Documentaries were snubbed. Everyone of them from Tyson to Anvil.

DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
"China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province"
"The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner"
"The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant"
"Music by Prudence"
"Rabbit a la Berlin"

Don't Know... But we'll say the Last Truck because of the timing.

FILM EDITING
"Avatar"
"District 9"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Precious"

Winner: Avatar

Why?: Money in the bank.

My Opinion: Yeah...

MAKEUP
"Il Divo"
"Star Trek"
"The Young Victoria"

Winner: The Young Victoria

Why?: Just a guess.

My Opinion: District 9 won this at Critics Choice and was not nominated here. Weird. Go Star trek!

MUSIC (SCORE)
"Avatar"
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Sherlock Holmes"
"Up"

Winner: Up

Why?: That's the buzz.

My Opinion: Of the films I've seen, up does evoke a real atmosphere with its music in the very dramatic first twenty minutes of the film.

MUSIC (SONG)
"Almost There" from "The Princess & the Frog"
"Down in New Orleans" from "The Princess & the Frog"
"Loin de Paname" from "Paris 36"
"Take it All" from "Nine"
"The Weary Kind" from "Crazy Heart"

Winner: The Weary Kind

Why?: T-Bone just makes the right music for the movies he's involved in.

My Opinion: Meh... haven't heard any of these.

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)
"French Roast"
"Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty"
"The Lady and the Reaper"
"Logorama"
"A Matter of Loaf and Death"

Guess... The Lady and the Reaper because the title is awesome.

SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)
"The Door"
"Instead of Abracadabra"
"Kavi"
"Miracle Fish"
"The New Tenants"

Guess... The Door. Don't know, sounds mysterious.

SOUND EDITING
"Avatar"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Star Trek"
"Up"

Winner: Avatar

Why?: Keeps ringing in the cash.

My Opinion: Seriously, sounds good.

SOUND MIXING
"Avatar"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Star Trek"
"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"

Winner: Avatar

Why?: Watch the money flow.

My Opinion: See above.

VISUAL EFFECTS
"Avatar"
"District 9"
"Star Trek"

Winner: Avatar

Why?: 300 million dollar movie makes billion dollars thanks to 3D tickets.

My Opinion: If it wasn't a 3D flick, District 9 or even Star Trek would whup it. But the 3D is just incredible.


There you have. Oscar predictions. Skip the show and watch a movie instead. It'll probably be boring anyway. It always is.

I Was...

Going to write something on the newest previews but first, the CBR links wouldn't show the pics. Than I found out that the bulk uploaders for Myspace and Photobucket couldn't read the uploads. Now, the old uploader for Myspace works for me and I could upload to photobucket from links but that would've taken longer.

Tiny Pic and Twitpic work for me fine.

Something to do with Flash or Java or something like that. Its annoying.

2010 Ramble Awards

Favorites in Movies

Favorite Film: Monsters vs. Aliens
Why?: Tough call. Absolutely loved Inglourious Basterds. Saw Hangover, Star Trek and District 9 twice each. And yeah, Up and Coraline were technically better animated movies but this lfick was so fun its become one of my go-to videos to watch. Seen it at least three times since boot-er, DVD.


Favorite Performance by an Actor: Chrisoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterd
Why?: That opening scene in Tarantino's latest is just killer. Waltz literally waltzes his way through this movie in villainous style as the Jew Hunter.


Favorite Performance by an Actress: Melanie Laurent for Inglourious Basterd
Why?: Most of the best female performances are on TV or in smaller films. So, since I missed a bunch of those films cause they didn't seem interesting, Melanie was the only real choice. Okay, Zoe Saldana(Star Trek, Avatar) was close but Melanie's performance as a Jewish woman in hiding in France was so strong I'm sad she has not gotten too many Supporting Noms from award shows.


Favorite Director: Neill Blomkamp
Why?: Thought I was going Tarantino? So did I but I decided with Blomkamp because District 9 was a visual treat. Not as technical and future-benging as Avatar sure, but he handles the performances, settings, and effects so damn well that this film is one of my all time fav sci-fi flicks.


Favorites in TV

Favorite TV Series: Sons of Anarchy
Why?: That second season exploded from the first episode and burned the competition. Intense work.


Favorite Performance by an Actor: Neil Patric Harris for How I Met Your Mother
Why?: How I Met Your Mothers a good comedy but NPH makes it better. Well, most the other cast is good to but without Harris, this show would've been canceled long ago.


Favorite Performance by an Actress: Katey Sagal for Sons of Anarchy
Why?: That last scene in Season 1, episode 1 and than the next couple episodes. Sagal is awesome.


Favorite Episode of the Year: The Ring-South Park
Why?: I knew it was a South Park episode. yeah, Sons was a better season overall butt he good episodes of South Park just killed. This one revolving around Purity Rings, Jonas Bros. and a foul mouthed Mickey Mouse was genius. Plus it has a hilarious ending that's a touch nostalgic for us long time South Park fans. Interestingly, Margaritaville episode won the Emmy this year for animated episode. That one was awesome.


Favorites in Comics

Favorite Ongoing Series: Empowered
Why?: This category is, in general, ongoing series. Traditional comics, OGN series, and manga. Topping this year in Empowered because volume 5 dealt with the circumstances at the end of volume 4 beautifully and sped to a draamtic conclusion that shocked me.


Favorite Writer: Adam Warren for Empowered
Why?: Not too many comic writers doing multiple books I like. Technically none at all. Sorry Geoff Johns. So I went with Empowered's writer artist Adam Warren.


Favorite Artist/Art Team: JH Williams III & Dave Stewart for Batwoman in Detective Comics
Why?: JH Williams killed ever issue. One of my fav artists on top of his game. He and writer Greg Rucka made this one of my fav superhero books this year. Williams design work and ability to shift his style to fit the mood is what makes him great. Plus the wonderful coloring of Dave Stewart. Can't forget him.


Favorite Collected Edition: The Life & Times of Martha Washinton in the 21st Century
Why?: Despite not being my fav Frank Miller or Dave Gibbons work, it is a good book made even more impressive in this single over sized omnibus with extras galore. Where the hell were all these specials on Frank Millers Ronin Absolute edition over at DC. Dark Horse kicked this one into gear with so much cool stuff. I got the 99 dollar hardcore. I hear there's a 30 dollar omnibus coming soon. The story of poor black girl who becomes a soldier and freedom fighter is just a good kick in the ass of dull comics.


Favorite Novel

Favorite Novel I Read in 2009: The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
Why?: I checked out the paperback of The Girl with the Dragon tattoo expecting it to be over rated. That thing kidnapped me. This book, is so much mroe awesome. The second part of the Millennium trilogy about a finanical reporter Mikael Blomkvist and the hacker chick Lisbeth Salander finds the duo tied up with a murder leading to Lisbeth. Its up to them to clear her name, though they are doing it seperately.


Favorites in Music


Video is NSFW

Favorite Artist/Band: Kabuto the Pyhton
Why?: Despite my reservations about a rapper under a V for Venddeta mask, KTP kicked ass on the Parsletongue mixtape which I still bump sixmonths later. Plus several diss tracks, several guests verses, and collections of unsued, unreleased or older material-2009 was the year of the Python. His flow is just mean and fun. Thats a cool combination.


Favorite Album: Parsletongue Mixtape by Kabuto the Python
Why?: Despite it being too long with too much random filler, the meat of the album kills. From Saigons of Thump to the cool ass-kicking High School Musical(that has practically nothing to do with the movie other than two small references). Plus that Margret Thatcher sample for a middle verse in Open Season is just awesome.


Favorite Song: Bottoms Up by My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
Why?: Death threat switched beetween evil and funky so the album had mixed results. But this sexy, funky, and slightly evil track is a gem. One of my fav all time TKK songs.

In case you are wondering, Chikara Pro Wrestling, fav wrestling company. Mike Quackenbush fav wrestler. Team FIST bes tag team. Team uppercut vs. Masters of 1000 Holds best match at King of Trio's Night 2. All Chikara.

Edit: If the spelling and grammers off, its because the auto spell/grammer thingee isn't working right.