Maturity

Things society considers immature:
Comic books
Video games
Candy
Play
Toys
Science Fiction
Liberalism

Things society considers mature:
Marriage
Career
Insurance
Conservatism
Loans
Home ownership
Sex
Violence

Things I consider immature:
Religious dependence
Shopping
News media
Capitalism
Conservatism
Bigotry
Sex
Violence
TV
Film
Celebrity worship
Breast obsession

Things I consider mature:
Philosophy
Compassion
Responsibility
Humility
Self-sacrifice
Open-mindedness

Superman movie update

So... word is that David Goyer is writing a new script for a new Superman movie. Goyer helped kick-start this superhero renaissance with Blade in 1998 (after writing the horrible Nick Fury movie starring David Hasselhoff, but you can't blame Goyer for that). Goyer's more recent prolific work includes both of the new Batman films and [Batman director] Christopher Nolan will be around to give him a hand.

On top of which, Grant (All-Star Superman) Morrison and Geoff (Superman: Secret Origins) Johns have recently been made the official comic book consultants on all DC superhero films.

I hate to get excited about a superhero film (especially this early) because its often like being in a room full of hot women and then realizing they are all born again. Very disappointing... but if I ever heard news to get excited about, this is it.

But then, all they need is one bad actor or director to topple their house of cards.

A thought

A relationship is a negotiation between who you think you are and who they want you to be; an experienced player knows how to balance both sides of the equation, not holding too tightly to the former nor too generous with the latter, savoring the ability to navigate between these two poles.

Ideal casting for superheroes

Probably the hardest part of casting comic character is finding someone who is just the right age, but it raises an interesting question: Who would have been the perfect, all-time casting choice for some of the biggest icons in comic book history?

Agree? Disagree? Let me know!

Superman - Gregory Peck

Shown here in To Kill A Mockingbird, Gregory Peck's role as Addicus Finch won AFI's award for greatest film hero of all time. It isn't hard to imagine him as America's greatest hero or his mild-mannered alter ego.

Supergirl - Marilyn Monroe

As for Superman's cousin, I can't imagine anyone better than Marilyn Monroe. Aside from being an unparalleled beauty, the woman had a sense of presence that would make it easy to believe her as a demi-goddess from another world.

Batman - Orson Welles

Years ago, Mark Millar perpetuated a hoax that Orson Welles was a big Batman fan and he had nearly made the ultimate Batman movie. Although it was exposed as such in the same day, it was still a beautiful fantasy and ever since, I cannot escape the idea of Orson Welles writing, directing, and starring in a Batman feature film.

Wonder Woman - Paula Prentiss

Always a tough one to cast, but I'm going to have to go for sixties icon and the original Stepford Wife, Paula Prentiss. Prentiss has the grace, poise, and maturity that we no longer seem to value in our actresses.

Green Lantern - Harrison Ford

For the original Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, my mind immediately goes to Han Solo, another hotshot pilot with an abrasive demeanor. But if you want me to believe a man is fearless, well, I believe Harrison Ford. I believe he can do anything... and not just because he was Indiana Jones... though it helps.

The Spirit - Bruce Campbell

For Will Eisner's comedic, lantern-jawed hero, I would choose the incomparable Bruce Campbell. Best known for the Evil Dead series, he can now be seen on USA's Burn Notice. Campbell utilizes both heroism and comedy in all of his roles and he never fails. With the right director, he would have made an incredible Spirit.

Captain Marvel - Patrick Warburton

If Superman is a boy scout, Captain Marvel is a Care Bear. He has the powers of Superman with a demeanor so wholesome that he makes Clark Kent look like a neo-Nazi. To play him, I'd go with the huge actor with a great sense of humor, Patrick Warburton. Warburton is probably best known for his voice work in Venture Brothers as Brock Samson, in Family Guy as Joe Swanson, and in a series of Superman commercials starring Jerry Seinfeld, however his live acting work can be seen in Seinfeld, Newsradio, and Get Smart, the movie.

Joker - Willem Dafoe

There are several actors that could probably do an incredible Joker. Dennis Leary remains one of my top choices, but I have to say that Willem Dafoe would be perfect. Heath Ledger's Joker was an entertaining psychopath, but the Joker needs to be more than that. He is a symbol, much like Batman, and I think Willem Dafoe could convey that bone-chilling terror with nothing more than a painted face and a smile.

Riddler - David Hyde Pierce

I was watching a movie (Wet Hot American Summer) with David Hyde Pierce and thinking, "Huh... he could play Professor X." My roommate said, "How about the Riddler?" Yeah. Without a doubt. He may not be a big name, but he is perfect for the role.

Poison Ivy - Angelina Jolie

I've heard Angie's name tossed around to play Catwoman a lot... and while she isn't a bad choice, she is the perfect choice for Poison Ivy. Catwoman is a thrill-seeker, but Poison Ivy is an insane seductress and (in a very real sense) a plant goddess. She should be death that you might walk toward willingly because she is that fucking sexy.

Penguin - Joe Pesci

For this character, I had a lot of options. Internet buzz seems to put Philip Seymour Hoffman in the lead. For a long time, I had WC Fields as my favorite. Certainly Danny DeVito and Burgess Meredith were good choices, but for my money, no one can beat Joe Pesci. Now that is a Penguin that we can all get behind.

Daredevil - Dylan McDermott

Jumping over to Marvel Comics for a bit, as I said before, I'm a big fan of The Practice where star Dylan McDermott plays a Catholic defense attorney who could easily double as the man without fear. Sadly, that time is passed, but I can still dream.

Longshot - Johnny Depp

My favorite superhero is the third-string character, Longshot, who is something of a male ingenue. He is beautiful, clueless, and fearless. His original comic is drenched in '80s nostalgia, so it isn't hard for me to imagine what a period Johnny Depp film would be like. Awesome, that's what! One of Longshot's powers is his extreme beauty and I can't think of any man who is more universally attractive than Johnny Depp.

Punisher - Sylvester Stallone

Go watch First Blood and any other Rambo movie that suits your fancy. I have reason to suspect that the Punisher was inspired by the literary Rambo about a Vietnam vet who takes the war home with him. Sly Stallone, in his heyday, would have been the perfect Punisher. Can he act? Probably not, but he doesn't really need to for the role.

Magneto - Rutger Hauer

I didn't care for Ian McKellan as Magneto. He was a great Gandolf, but as Magneto, he just struck me as a dirty old man. Magneto needs to look like a hero, in a way, but a dark hero... because that is who he is. He isn't taking over the world for glory or power. He is doing it to save his people and that sort of messiah complex would be conveyed better through the hard-set jaw of Rutger Hauer.

Storm - Angela Bassett

And, of course, no one liked Halle Berry as Storm. When I saw Strange Days, I knew that Angela Bassett was the perfect choice for Storm. Not only tall, Bassett is statuesque and can deliver her lines with the confidence and conviction to convey a woman who spent her youth worshiped as a goddess.

Beast - Kevin Smith

This one was a recent revelation, but I'm convinced that Kevin Smith would be the ideal Beast. Too often, this role is cast as dull and bookish, but the Beast is actually incredibly funny and versatile. Kevin Smith has the perfect demeanor and voice to play this role, and he has the comedic writing ability to ad lib his own lines. Being a big comic fan, I have to imagine that he would jump at the chance.

Jean Grey - Anne Hathaway

For the role of Marvel Girl/Phoenix, I am captivated by Anne Hathaway. Not only is she gorgeous, she is a terrific actress. With her cast as Jean Grey, it wouldn't be hard to imagine why she is the girl that both Scott and Logan obsess over.

Black Panther - Denzel Washington

For a long time, Wesley Snipes was in talks to follow up his work on Blade with a Black Panther feature film, but I never thought Snipes was right for the role. He is good at being a bad ass, but when I think African prince, I think Denzel Washington. The man is as smooth as James Bond, but he has the incredible acting range to play powerful, charismatic leaders. While I doubt he would play a superhero, I hope he would make an exception for this one.

Well, that's all for now. What do you think? Do you know any actors that would be perfect for a comic role? Let me know!

It's nice to have your opinions confirmed

So Matthew Goode says that he shouldn't have been cast a Ozymandias in the Watchmen film.

I agree... but apparently we were hardly alone in this opinion.

Dicot

I had a dream the other day.

Well, not a dream exactly, but close. I was in a very plain Japanese style room sitting at a low table drinking tea with a beautiful young woman. We sat in silence, speaking only in eye contact and smiles.

After the tea, we lay on the table spooning. I flow into her and she flows into me until there is only the vaguest and most arbitrary distinction between us. Together, we form two halves of a seed and I watch as we grow.

Eight unlikely characters I'd like to see in the new Avengers movie

Well, the Avengers movie is on its way. First, we will see a Thor and Captain America movie, but after that, all eyes are on the Avengers.

Now, we know this movie will feature what comic fans call "The Big Three" (Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor) as well as Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury. There is a fair chance that Hulk will be in it as well as Black Widow (played in Iron Man 2 by Scarlet Johansson). And there is a lot of speculation that the script will include Avengers mainstays Giant Man, Wasp, and Hawkeye.

Now, I'd like to see all of these in the Avengers movie and as long as we get most of them, I should be happy. But just for fun, I'd like to look at what characters I don't expect to appear in these movies, but would be pretty awesome. All of the picks are (or were) Avengers so there is sufficient justification to add them to this film. And with a superhero team movie such as this, it would be easy to add or remove characters from sequels, as we will assume they have their own personal heroing to get to.

So without further ado...

8) Vision

One Avengers character that has always intrigued me is Vision. He is the android of the team with the ability to alter his mass (thereby gaining super-strength or intangibility). Maybe its his name, his garish costume, his powers, or his relentlessly stoic demeanor, but I'd love to see him in a film. Just maybe not this one. He would be best in a future film with Ultron as the villain.

Like Data from ST:TNG, Vision is an outsider looking in on humanity with a mixture of envy, confusion, and disappointment.

7) Beast

Throughout the seventies, Hank McCoy left the X-Men and became an Avenger. With his acrobatic abilities, wise-cracking demeanor, and scientific brilliance, it was a really good fit. I'd love to see him introduced into the Avengers movies, but hopefully not played by Kelsey Grammer. I love Kelsey, but he was too dry for Hank. Once again, I'd cast Kevin Smith.

I doubt Beast will ever be in an Avengers movie. With Iron Man around, his skills are a bit redundant (unless the plot specifically requires a geneticist). The furry makeup would be a pain in the ass and probably wouldn't look good on screen (at least, it didn't on Kelsey). As one of my favorite characters, I really hope I'm wrong and he does appear.

6) Spider-Woman

Marvel has recently been giving Spider-Woman the star treatment. She is actually in no way related to Spider-Man. Even her origin is entirely different. She was genetically design with mixed spider genes as part of a super-soldier experiment by the team of terrorists known as AIM (Advanced Idea Mechanics). It would be interesting if the villain of the movie was a terrorist group like HYDRA or AIM, and if so, this could be the best way to introduce Jessica Drew to a wider audience.

5) Black Panther

The king of the mythical and technologically advanced nation of Wakanda would make a great addition to the team. I think of him as the African Batman... if Batman ruled his own technologically advanced country. Maybe he would be better served with a film of his own, but I'd love to see him in the Avengers. Wakanda actually had a cameo in the Wolverine film when they stole the sacred metal (vibranium) from the African tribe. Vibranium is one of the key compounds to create adamantium... which is what Captain America's shield is made out of.

4 & 3) Quicksilver & Scarlet Witch

These twins are the children of Magneto and that alone should mean that it is unlikely they would appear in Avengers. However, they never appeared in the X-Men films, so I have to wonder if their licensing rights are part of the "Avengers package" and not the X-Men one. Quicksilver's super-speed would be awesome on film while Scarlet Witch's hex bolts aren't so film friendly, but they can enable all sorts of interesting twists to the story.

2) Spider-Man

Well, with the Spider-Man franchise getting a reboot, this one seems extremely unlikely, but I'd kind of like seeing Toby Maguire's swan song in this film rather than Spider-Man 3. I imagine that the new teenage Spider-Man wouldn't fit well in the Avengers, but Toby's grown-up Spidey could really work.

If they don't think they'd want him in future films (for whatever reason), he could simply be a part of the crisis in this one and decline membership at the end. The same could be said for...

1) Wolverine

This choice surprised even me, but what wouldn't be awesome about having Hugh Jackman's Wolverine in the Avengers? With the X-Men receiving a similar teenage reboot, Wolverine will probably be absent (fingers crossed) or the Scott/Jean/Logan love triangle will be particularly uncomfortable. So what better answer than to move the character to the Avengers? Sure, I want him to leave the Avengers in the comic... but those are the comics.

Also, Wolverine is a great counterpoint to some of the other characters. You could start the movie with Wolverine being sent to track down the Hulk (much like in his original comic appearance). Captain America always teams up well with Wolverine because they have radically different experience being in the military... and Nick Fury would be somewhere in the middle. And just try to tell me that the chemistry between Robert Downey Jr. and Hugh Jackman wouldn't be awesome. If Wolverine saw a self-important rich boy in his own battlesuit, he would make it his goal in life to bug the crap out of him.

The more I think about it, the more I think that the only reason not to do it would be if they can't afford Hugh Jackman's salary.