Author Archives: Doc

Fuze

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The third movie of the day was a Thriller/action/heist movie that seemed to be a movie that I was going to like a lot. Unfortunately, plot contrivances brought my enjoyment of the tense film down too much.

According to IMDB, “An unexploded WWII bomb is discovered on a busy construction site in the centre of London. Chaos ensues as the military and police begin a mass evacuation against a ticking clock.“

That sounded exciting. What that synopsis left out was the heist that was taking place during the evacuation.

While I enjoyed a lot of the piece of the film, the story itself just became too unbelievable for me to accept the coincidences and the requirements for things to work out that the movie was expecting the audience to accept. I had a lot of trouble accepting most of this.

There are some solid parts to the film. The cast is excellent with Aaron Taylor-Johnson leading the way as part of the military on location to try to diffuse the bomb. We also had Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Ravonna Renslayer from Marvel’s Loki TV series), Theo James, Shaun Mason, and Sam Worthington.

The action was pretty good and the film does a really good job of building suspense for much of the movie. I just had a hard time with some of the twists that happen and some of the things that the film wants the audience to accept. Of course, I can not go into detail about these without spoilers so I will leave it at the fact that I did not find the story being told to be credible.

It is not a bad movie, but I could not get past the plausibility of the story.

2.75 stars

Over Your Dead Body

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Jason Segal and Samara Weaving co-star in this dark comedy about a couple whose relationship has been pushed to the point where both of them plot to murder the other.

Taking cues from films like War of the Roses, Over Your Dead Body takes the violence a step farther and gives us a film that has meta vibes to it as well.

Jason Segal is Dan, who is a less than successful director reduced to doing commercials while longing for the days of helming his one feature length film. Samara Weaving is Lisa, the pretentious actress who is involved with the theater and seemingly critical of her husband’s work.

The car ride to the cabin that they were heading to for the weekend showed well how these two had drifted away from each other and how they held a lot of inner (and outer) antagonism toward the other.

There are some scene of real humor in the film, many of which came in the form of violence and gore. I have to say there is a vomit joke, which you know I hate, but that was the only moment that I was not fond of during the film’s run time.

The film also featured actors Timothy Olyphant, Jake Curran, “Natalie” from Yellowjackets-Juliette Lewis (I tried to place this actress through the whole film, and I never was able to figure out where I knew her from until I got to IMDB), Paul Guilfoyle, Keith Jardine and Danusia Samal.

Jason Segal has been exceptional over the last few years on Apple TV +’s Shrinking, and this gave him a chance to do something different, while still keeping those traits of why we love him as an actor.

While there is nothing new and exciting about the story, the performances are great and the movie does not fail to elicit laughter. There are several tense and awkward scenes that really work in the context of the film and director Jorma Taccone brought the best out of the actors.

This is a very fun film of martial disharmony.

3.75 stars

Michael

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Critical reviews for Michael were surprisingly low this past week, bringing out all kinds of comments from the online community. It was as low as 28% on Rotten Tomatoes. Last time I looked, it was around 38% and I found that difficult to believe.

So, with expectations tempered, I went to Michael this morning in Cinemark XD, and I came out of the film having had a good time. I understand the reason why some critics did not enjoy this one though.

This is the story of Michael Jackson and his rise to fame, through the making of Thriller. Michael (Jaafar Jackson) had issues with his abusive father Joe (Colman Domingo) as he was singing with his brothers in the Jackson 5 and attempting to go solo.

Jaafar Jackson is excellent as Michael Jackson. Jaafar Jackson is a cousin of Michael Jackson in real life and you can see the family resemblance. He carries himself very well and his performance does show off the talent and beginning of the eccentricities of the character of Michael. I was also impressed with the performance of Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson. I hated that character throughout the entire film.

The music is sensational. I do not think that anyone can say anything negative about the music. I suppose if someone hated Michael Jackson’s music, this would not be a film for them, but, if they hate Michael Jackson’s music, why would they go to a two hour + movie of Michael Jackson.

The reason, I am guessing, that most critics were not fond of this film was because of the story. It was not much of a story being told. Some of the real problematic moments of the movie were touch on at times (there was a scene with Joe and young Michael in a discipline situation that was hard to watch), but they do not go into a great deal of depth. Michael was portrayed as about the greatest guy possible, and, if you are looking for the controversy, you will be disappointed.

The story is basic music biopic 101 and it does not go into much more than that. However, the music is so great throughout the film and the performances are right on target that this film becomes one that is entertaining despite the flaws that it might have in the writing. There were literally a few moments of music that had me near tears from the nostalgia of it (particularly the Motown 25 performance).

I should also shoutout what a great job Juliano Valdi did as the young Michael. The first part of the film featured Michael in the Jackson 5 and Valdi had some real solid work in the film. The aforementioned discipline scene was for Valdi and he nailed that brilliantly.

Michael Jackson fans will love this movie and it definitely implies that this is a first film featuring the King of Pop. If you are looking for a deeper story, you may feel slighted.

3.8 stars

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #65

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#65

Midnight Star

Title: “Midnight Star”

Written: Al Yankovic

Album: In 3D

Release: 1983

Genre: Pop rock

This upbeat original song is about the type of tabloid newspapers that were such a huge thing during the 1980s.

Lyrics

I was waiting in the express lane
With my twelve items or less
At the checkout counter at the local grocery store
I was only passin’ by

But a paper caught my eye
And I learned a few things
I never knew before
It said

Your pet may be an extra-terrestrial
It said The ghost of Elvis is living in my den
You can learn to cope with stress
And you can beat the IRS

And the Incredible Frog Boy is on the loose again
Ohhh Midnight Star
It’s in the weekly Midnight Star
Aliens from outer space are sleeping in my car
Midnight Star, I wanna know, I wanna know!

Eat jelly doughnuts and lose twenty pounds a day
Hear the story of the man born without a head
And top psychics all agree

That the telephone company

Will have a brand new service that lets you talk to the dead

Ohhh Midnight Star

You can believe it if you read it in the weekly Midnight Star

They’re keeping Hitler’s brain alive inside a jar
Midnight Star, I wanna know, I wanna know!

Midnight Star I wanna know
Ohhh Midnight Star
Well don’t ya know that I read it, I read it in the weekly Midnight Star?

The UFOs have landed, and we’ll tell you where they are
Midnight Star I wanna know I wanna know
Ohhh Midnight Star
Well, you can read all about it in the weekly Midnight Star

You can use your ESP to learn to play guitar
I wanna know I wanna know
(Ahhh Midnight Star)
I wanna know I wanna know

I wanna know I wanna know
(Ahhh Midnight Star)
I wanna know I wanna know

Enquiring minds like mine wanna know
(You can read it you can read it you can read it in the Midnight Star)
I wanna know I wanna know

I wanna know I wanna know
(You can read it you can read it you can read it in the Midnight Star)
I wanna know I wanna know

I wanna know I wanna know
(You can read it you can read it you can read it in the Midnight Star)
I wanna know I wanna know

I wanna know I wanna know
(You can read it you can read it you can read it in the Midnight Star)

Source: Musixmatch

EYG Favorite Comic Covers of the Week

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April 24

Welcome back to the EYG Favorite Comic Covers of the Week. We have several solid covers this week, mostly variants. Of the winners, only one is an A cover.

Also Rans: Amazing Spider-Man #27 (Cover A), Amazing Spider-Man #27 (Cover B), The Sentry #2, Hello Body Horror #1 (A cover), Cyclops #3, Phantom of the Opera #3, Exquisite Corpses #12 (D Cover) and Corpse Knight #1.

Bronze Medalist

In Your Skin #1

Cover art by Som

What a lovely cover for a book that I have no idea about. I had it on my pull list so I must have enjoyed the synopsis at some point, but look at those colors and the sensual embrace. This new Image comic is hot, and I can see why.

Silver Medalist

Corpse Knight #1

Variant cover G/ Die Cut Cover

Cover art by Matthew Roberts

A fun die-cut cover highlights this variant of the new Image book, Corpse Knight. This was another one that I had the A cover in my hands and saw this cover and decided that I needed it too. Great looking cover for a really fun first issue.

Gold Medalist

Spider-Man/Superman #1

Variant cover C Foil

Cover art by Mark Bagley

This was my favorite of the multiple covers of the Marvel version of Spider-Man/Superman #1. The foil on the cover was so awesome, with Spidey’s eyes and Cardiac’s blasts and the tentacles of whomever that is. Mark Bagley is one of the all-time classic Spider-Man artists and it is a great thing that his cover ends up a gold medal winner!

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #66

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#66

Perform This Way

Title: “Perform This Way”

Written: Lady Gaga /Jeppe Laursen/ Fernando Garibay/Paul “DJ White Shadow” Blair/Al Yankovic

Album: Alpocalypse

Released: 2011

Parody: “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga

A parody that almost did not happen. Al had sent the parody to Lady Gaga’s people, but they rejected it without Lady Gaga hearing it. When Lady Gaga did hear the parody, she gave her blessing. While Weird Al does not have to get artists permission to do a parody, he always apporached the aritst/company as a sign of respect.

Lyrics

My mama told me when I was hatched
Act like a superstar
Save your allowance, buy a bubble dress
And someday you will go far
Now on red carpets, well, I’m hard to miss
The press follows everywhere I go
I’ll poke your eye out with a dress like this
Back off and enjoy the show!

I’m sure my critics will say it’s a grotesque display
Well they can bite me, baby, I perform this way
I might be wearin’ Swiss cheese or maybe covered with bees
It doesn’t mean I’m crazy, I perform this way (‘from this way)

Ooh, my little monsters pay lots ’cause I perform this way
Baby, I perform this way (perform this way)
Ooh, don’t worry, I’m okay, hey, I just perform this way
I’m not crazy, I perform this way

I’ll be a troll or evil queen
I’ll be a human jelly bean
‘Cause every day is Halloween for me

I’m so completely original
My new look is all the rage
I’ll wrap my small intestines ’round my neck
And set fire to myself on stage
I’ll wear a porcupine on my head
On a W-H-I-M
And for no reason now I’ll sing in French
Excusez-moi, qui a PT (express yourself)

Got my straight jacket today, its made of gold lame
No, not because I’m crazy, I perform this way
I strap prime rib to my feet, cover myself with raw meat
I’ll bet you’ve never seen a skirt steak worn this way

Don’t be offended when you see
My latest pop monstrosity
I’m strange, weird, shocking, odd, bizarre
I’m Frankenstein, I’m Avatar
There’s nothing too embarrassing
I’ll honestly do anything
But wear white after Labor Day
‘Cause baby, I perform this way

Hope you won’t think it’s cliche if I go nude today
Don’t call the cops, now, baby, I perform this way
No reason I should regret all the attention I get
I’m not completely crazy, I perform this way, yeah

I perform this way-hey, I perform this way-hey
I’m always deviating from the norm this way-hey
I perform this way-hey, I perform this way-hey
I’m really not insane, I just perform this way-hey

Source: LyricFind

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #67

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#67

Phony Calls

Title: “Phony Calls”

Written: Lisa Lopes / Marqueze Ethridge / Patrick A. Brown / Ramon Murray / Rico Renard Wade /Al Yankovic

Album: Bad Hair Day

Release: 1996

Parody: “Waterfalls” by TLC

Genre: R & B

Samples: A prank call from Bart Simpson to Moe on The Simpsons. Voices were donbe by Nancy Cartwright (Bart) and Hank Azaria.

This is another great parody that would be out of date. With cell phones and caller ID, the prank call as they sing about here is much lesser. The parody of “Waterfalls” is still a brilliant work and the cameos by Bart and Moe really pull the song together.

Lyrics

Mom and dad are goin’ out for the evening
And you’re stuck inside the house all alone
That’s when you decided it might be fun to harass someone
Dial a random number up on your telephone
You ask if their refrigerator is running
Then you tell ’em they should go out and catch it
Buddy, if they ever figured out where you were callin’ ’em from
They’d come and bust your head right in with a ratchet
Listen to me
Don’t go makin’ phony calls
Please stick to the seven-digit numbers you’re used to
I know that you think it’s funny drivin’ folks up the wall
But it’s really gettin’ old fast
Little Melvin has a natural obsession
Askin’ for Prince Albert in a can
He gets a kick each time he makes a collect call
To some guy he doesn’t know who lives in Japan
He’s callin’ strangers up at three in the morning
Gives ’em pizza pie delivery at four
He won’t be laughin when they’re tracin’ his line
One day the phone police will be there at his door
Yo, hear me
Don’t go makin’ phony calls
Only dial the seven-digit numbers you’re used to
Swear someday I’m gonna yank that phone cord right out from the wall
How long is this phase gonna last?
Come on Moe’s bar, what’ll ya eat, beat or drink?
Uh, yeah, hello, is Mike there?
Last name Rotch.
Hold on. I’ll check.
Mike Rotch! Mike Rotch!
Hey, has anybody seen Mike Rotch lately?
Listen to me, you little puke.
One of these days, I’m going to catch you,
And I’m going to carve my name on your back with an ice pick!
Don’t go makin’ phony calls
Please stick to the seven-digit numbers you’re used to
You went through the New York City phone book and prank called ’em all
Hope that you grow out of this fast
Dont’ go makin’ phony calls,
Please stick to the seven-digit numbers you’re used to
Betcha think it’s funny when you’re drivin’ folks right up the wall
But you’re just a pain in the aaa….

Source: LyricFind

The Boys S5 E4

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Spoilers

“King of Hell”

You wouldn’t think that they would need to have a filler episode in their final season. Yet, that is exactly what it felt like when watching “King of Hell.”

That is not saying that it was not a great episode. It just did not feel very significant to the overall story that has only a few more episodes to go.

I did like the reunion between Annie and her absentee father, and the family that he had now built. This was some good character work and was the best part of the episode.

With Butcher, Frenchie, Hughie, MM and Kimiko in search of the original V1 formula, they head to Fort Harmony, which was anything but harmonious. There were spores in the building that made everyone become raging assholes (I mean… even more so, in Butcher’s case) which would lead the Boys to try and kill each other.

They also dropped a bunch of angry lines and comments that were cutting with their honesty. While this was entertaining, it felt like a side quest that did not truly mean much of anything with the exception of Frenchie and Kimiko apparently breaking up (maybe?).

Oh, and Homelander has decided that he is the savior… that he is God. And he told Firecracker that she was in charge of making everyone believe it.

Homelander is simply off his rocker completely. His patheticness is reaching new levels of disgusting behavior. There is just so much mental illness in Homelander right now that I have no idea what is going to happen next.

It is fun to know that “The Walking Dead” and “The Last of Us” are canon in the Boys universe.

Invincible S4 E8

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Spoilers

“Don’t Leave Me Hanging Here”

I have to say, I found this finale for season 4 to be very interesting. There were no major massive blood fest battles. No one is ripping the literal guts out of Mark. No huge planetwide destruction. Chicago doesn’t get trashed again.

Instead, Mark returned from the war with loads of PTSD and guilt over things he did or did not do.

Eve admits to having an abortion, which was a shocking revelation for me. I was scared that Mark would react in a negative way toward Eve, but instead, he turned those feeling inward to the core of his being. He took the stance that he was not here for her, that he left her alone. It just added one more psychological trauma to the young man’s psyche.

The hallucinations that Mark continued to have all episode, seeing Thragg brutally murdering the people he loved, was weighing on his mind drastically. It was sending Mark into a deep depression, filled with anticipation of what he was not going to be able to prevent.

We discover that Debbie had broken off her relationship with Paul. When she found out that Oliver was injured and was left on Talescria, Debbie decided that she was going to be with Oliver. This seems to be the way Debbie and Nolan are going to get back together, even if he should not be allowed to do so. I am not sure I want to see them back together.

Mark is out for a flight to clear his head, when he come across Thragg. However, Thragg is not in a mood to fight. He has an offer. The remaining 37 Viltrumites are going to live on earth and try to reestablish their race by mating with humans. In return for being left alone, Thragg promised Mark that they would never do anything to hurt the earth or anyone again.

It was a deal that Mark did not want to accept, but the realization that, if he did not accept it, the earth would be the center of the war, most likely killing billions of people, if not devastating the planet.

Mark agreed to the deal. Thragg tells Mark that he saved everyone on the planet.

Quite a different finale than what we have been used to from Invincible. I liked the change of pace and the characterization of Mark is really strong. Of course, things are not finalized here because Alan received a message from “beyond the grave” by Thaedus that sent Alan to find the ultimate weapon, the virus that kills Viltrumites and gave him instructions to use it, even if it killed the whole human race.

Oh… not good.

That was a twist that reconceptualized the whole series and the allies. Things look as if they only going to get worse.

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #68

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#68

Polka Your Eyes Out

Title: “Polka Your Eyes Out”

Album: Off the Deep End

Release: 1992

Style: Polka/Comedy

Songs: “Cradle of Love,” “Tom’s Diner,” “Love Shack,” “Clarinet Polka,” “Pump Up the Jam,” “Losing My Religion,” “Unbelievable,” “Do Me!,” “Enter Sandman,” “Humpty Dance,” “Cherry Pie,” “Miss You Much,” “I Touch Myself,” “Dr. Feelgood,” “Ice Ice Baby,” “Ear Booger Polka.”

Another polka medley appers in the Top 100.

Lyrics

Rock the cradle of love. Rock the cradle of love
Yes, the cradle of love
Don’t rock easy, it’s true
Rock the cradle of love
I rocked the cradle of love
Yes, the cradle of love
Don’t rock easy, it’s true

Doo doo doo doo doo doodoo doo doo doo doo doo doo doodoo doo
(Doo doo doo doo doo doodoo doo doo doo doo doo doo doodoo doo)

The Love Shack is a little old place where
We can get together
Love Shack, baby
(Love Shack, baby, Love Shack)
Hey!

Pump up the jam (hey!). Pump up the jam (hey!)
Pump up the jam, pump it up!

That’s me in the corner
That’s me in the spotlight, losing my religion
Trying to keep a view
And I don’t know if I can to it
Oh no, I’ve said too much
I haven’t said enough

The things you say
Your purple prose just gives you away
The things you say
You’re unbelieveable
(Oh!)

Do me, baby. Do me, baby
You can do me in the morning, you can do me in the night
You can do me when you want to do me
Yodalodaladyhoo!

Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
Off to never never land

The Humpty Dance is your chance to do the Hump
Do me, baby
Do the Humpty Hump, do the Humpty Hump
Do me, baby
Do the Humpty Hump, come on and do the Humpty Hump

She’s my cherry pie
Put a smile on your face ten miles wide
Look so good, make a grown man cry
Sweet cherry pie-yi-yi
Woo!

Drum solo!

I miss you so much (M-O-I miss you so much)
I really miss you much (M-I-S-S you so much)
I miss you so much (M-O-I miss you so much)
I really miss you much

Hey, I don’t want anybody else
When I think about you I touch myself
Oh, I don’t want anybody else
Oh no, oh no, oh no no no

He’s the one they call Dr. Feelgood
He’s the one that makes you fell all right
He’s the one they call Dr. Feelgood
He’s gonna be your Frankenstein

Let’s kick it!
If you got a problem, (yo!) I’ll solve it
Check out the beat while the DJ revolves it
Ice ice baby
Ice ice baby… Word to your mother!
Ice ice baby
Ice ice baby forever
I’ll be your ife… ice… baby!
Hey!

Source: LyricFind

Daredevil: Born Again S2 E6

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Spoilers

“Requiem”

What a way to end an episode…

That final few moments of DD vs. Kingpin and the standoff with the AVTF and Karen outside was unbelievable. When that screen went to black, I was not ready for it.

I loved the appearance of Jessica Jones. We get the first appearance of her daughter. That was cool. I assume this is more comic accurate and that the father is Luke Cage, and we’ll learn about that later in the series. It seems that Jessica has been having issues with her powers since the birth of her daughter. They come and go. Not good for someone like Jessica Jones.

Karen is going darker with every episode. The conflict between Karen and Matt over Bullseye in this episode was one of the most intense ones in the series so far. It was a stunning moment of acting from Deborah Ann Woll. It makes me wonder if this is leading toward the death of Karen, who is one of those characters from the comics who has had an iconic death.

Daniel sets up B.B. to see if she is the leak. He gave her info that was fake, to see if she would release it. B.B. nearly does it, but she ends up deleting the message.

Matthew Lillard has some great scenes in this episode too, including one with the mayor. It feels as if there will be some big stuff with Mr. Charles moving forward.

The death of Vanessa devastated Fisk, and I was never sure what he was going to do. I did know that the doctor should not have come in to speak to Fisk. That giant Kingpin bearhug snapped the poor doctor’s back was brutal. Then the big Daredevil/Kingpin fight at the end of the episode was awesome.

There are two more episodes to go. I am not sure what else there can be. This season has been so great so far. I can not imaging where this is heading.

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert

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I had a open stretch of time tonight before Daredevil: Born Again so I went to Fandango at Home and rented the concert documentary by Baz Luhrmann, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert.

The film has a lot of behind-the-scenes footage and recordings featuring Elvis and his music.

We get some wonderful insights into the music and life of Elvis Presley, most of it right from the King’s mouth. Interspersed with scenes from his live concerts that he did after his movie contract expired.

It was great hearing him sing some songs that were not typical Elvis songs. We heard him sing some Beatles (Yesterday), Simon & Garfunkel (Bridge over Troubled Water), and the Righteous Brothers (You’ve Lost that Loving Feeling) among others.

Hearing the classic older Elvis songs ( In the Ghetto, Suspicious Minds, Burning Love) was awesome, especially with the live versions.

The concert documentary was highly entertaining and was a great piece of entertainment for the time frame that I had available. I kind of wish I had seen it on the big screen with a better sound system. It was a fun hour and a half with great music and an enjoyable backstage history.

4 stars

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #69

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#69

Since You’ve Been Gone

Title: Since You’ve Been Gone

Written: Al Yankovic

Album: Bad Hair Day

Release: 1996

Style: a capella/1960s pop-rock

This is a fun song, in the same general vein as “One More Minute.” This is one of the few Al songs that had an official karaoke version as a B side to Gump.

Lyrics

Since you’ve been gone
Well, I feel like I’ve been chewing on tinfoil
Since you’ve been gone
It’s like I got a great big mouthful of cod liver oil
Oh well, I’m feelin’ like I stuck my hand
Inside a blender and turned it on
You know, I’ve been in a butt load of pain
Since you’ve been gone
(Since you’ve been gone)
I couldn’t feel any worse if you dropped
A two-ton bowling ball on my toes
(Since you’ve been gone)
It couldn’t hurt anymore if you shoved
A red-hot cactus up my nose

Since you’ve been gone
Well, it feels like I’m getting tetanus shots every day
Since you’ve been gone
It’s like I’ve got an ice cream headache that won’t go away
Ever since the day you left me
I’ve been so miserable, my dear
I feel almost as bad as I did
When you were still here

Source: LyricFind