WTF? Friday...4/7/2017

Hey Joe...

...you've seen this. Right?

So I was wondering. What could possibly get these guys together to form a team in the first place? I mean yeah, they're fighting The Hand, but The Hand is a "new" villain to both Luke and Jessica. So why would they get involved? How would they get involved? What do they have in common? What would they be Defending? How are they all connected?

 Here's my brilliant theory:

Claire gets captured by The Hand. Don't know why. Can't even begin to fathom the circumstances. But something happens, and Claire (or something she feels passionate about) needs Defending. She truly is their Coulson.

August 18th can't come soon enough.

WTF? Sunday...4/2/2017

So...

...who's #7?

So, Iron Fist (WTF? Friday...3/24/2017)

Hey Joe, let me ask you a question:

Have you seen Iron Fist? 'Cause I've seen Iron Fist.

I saw Luke Cage too, but there was a disconnect.

For one thing, I don't know the character very well. I've got a couple of issues, including some Power Man and Iron Fist, but I knew his origin...his motivation...his "gist".

The show, however, emphasized Harlem. I know nothing about the history of Harlem. I liked the show, but that lack of knowledge affected my enjoyment.

Now back to Iron Fist.

Again, I don't know the character well, but I got his 'gist'. However this time around, my interest wasn't very high. I'm just not a fan of martial arts based comics. I don't think he's a bad character or poorly written or anything, it's just that he (and his genre of books) aren't my cup of tea.

I like what the show didn't do - focus on Chinatown, spend a lot of time in K'un-Lun or feel too "Kung Fu Fighting".

I also didn't like what it didn't do - show us any of K'un-Lun, have Danny meet Luke or give us the mask.

I like what it did - show us Danny re-integrating himself into his former life (and world for that matter) and kick some serious ass.

I also didn't like what it did - give us a lot (a LOT) of Rand Corporation. Know how much I knew about Rand Corporation from the books?

THAT much.

Know how much I cared about Rand Corporation in the show? Same thing.

I love Love LOVE Claire. I'll never get tired of watching her integrate herself into the Defenders mythos. Say what you want, the Netflix shows needed a Coulson. They got one HELL of a Coulson. And in some ways, a better one. 

I guess what I'm saying is - since the books didn't hold my interest, the show didn't either.

But is that because the show was bad? Is it because the character is bad? I really don't know. I am planning on rewatching the series in the near future...and yeah, eventually buying it on Blu-ray.

Don't judge.

My hope is that the show will have the chance to improve with Season 2 (which it deserves), giving fans more of what we want - especially after reading Season 1 reviews like this one.

In Marvel Studios I Trust

Enjoy your weekend!

WTF Logan? (WTF? Friday...3/17/2017)

Okay Joe, SPOILERS ahead.

So I finally saw Logan.

Well...

The Good:

That kid - Dafne Keen. Watch her. She's gonna be big. I mean it.

I don't know the character. Like AT ALL...except that she's a clone of Wolverine.

But I could watch Dafne play her all day long. She owns it. To me, she IS X-23.

This move deserved it.

The ending. It brought me to tears.

The Bad:

Now, before you get mad, hear me out:

My problem wasn't with Stewart's performance. He was captivating as always. My problem is with Charles Xavier. Seeing him delirious and feeble was almost too much to bear. 

Almost.

The WTF?:

These were the Reavers?

I ask because they were only mentioned by name once, and it went by pretty quick. Did any if them get names? I was looking for Bonebreaker or Pretty Boy. Hell, even Reese. But I couldn't make any of them out. And Donald Pierce? His name was where? On the card? Where's my pause button...

 I never saw X-Men: Apocalypse. 

So I have no idea how Logan factors in, if at all. But why would Xavier lose his s#!t and destroy the mansion? No flashback? No explanation? Just raspy prattling on and on about how sorry he was. And don't even bother naming anyone who was "destroyed" along with it. 

The other kids in the program.

WHO THE F**K ARE THEY??? I remember a member of the New Mutants/X-Force named Rictor, but the Rictor in the film doesn't have the same powers. As for the others, Laura rattles their names off so fast I could barely make them out. The names were written out on the back of the picture, but who the hell was who? Their powers were pretty cool though...

The ending. It brought me to tears. And not even a post-credit scene?

At least we learn where Logan stands within the Deadpool franchise - 

Since the film is seen in the Deadpool trailer AS a film, it is therefore outside Deadpool continuity. Just don't ask me about that "Old Man and the Sea" review at the end. 'Cause that just made NO sense whatsoever.

Have a good weekend Joe!

WTF? Friday...3/10/2017

Mornin' Joe...

So as I was telling Pepe, Logan made $237.8 million worldwide over opening weekend. Well, that number has risen to $300,649,174 over 6 days. That puts it firmly in ninth place within the X-Men franchise. It's about $53 million away from taking #8 away from X-Men: First Class, and roughly $73 million more is needed to beat X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

You heard me - X-MO:W made more worldwide than X-M:FC.

But...getting back to Logan...

What I didn't know was that this film is the third collaboration between Jackman and director James Mangold. I mean yeah, he directed The Wolverine waaaaay back in 2013, but even waaaaay-er back in 2001 he directed Kate and Leopold. 

So Mangold knows his Jackman.

And no. I haven't seen it yet. I'm waiting for a weekday off so I can see it before picking Adorkette up after school. One More Week...One More Week!

Have a good weekend Joe! 

WTF? Friday...11/11/2016

Hey Joe.

It is very...VERY...difficult to celebrate Veterans Day without getting political, but I'm gonna give it a try. 

I am deeply humbled by the sacrifices made by those choosing to protect and defend this country. The dork in me brings images of Steve Rogers, Frank Castle and G.I. Joe to mind. And as fun as that is, it takes away from the seriousness and brutal reality of the United States Armed Forces.

Thank you for your service. Today, and Every Day.

WTF? Friday...10/14/2016

Hey Joe. So, what's happened this week that made me ask WTF?

Not me...Adorkette.

She fell while rock wall climbing. She broke her right ankle in at least two places (the surgeon - and yes, she'll need surgery - needed a CAT scan done to check for a possible third break). So we're looking at six weeks of healing, and six more weeks of physical therapy.

Yup...WTF?. Big time.

WTF? Friday (9/9/2016)

 I know Joe. "Just the Facts." Okay, here are some facts:

Summer, unfortunately, lasts approximately 91.25 days. Exactly the same as every other season.

It does NOT run from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It runs from the Summer Solstice to the Autumnal Equinox.

It ALSO does not give people the right to act like asses during this confusing time period.

• Just because you can afford to have your fancy vehicle stored away nine months out of the year, doesn't mean you can take up three spaces by parking diagonally.
• Stop looking for long sleeve hoodies in July. You're in Maine. Deal.
• You wanna drive with the top down? Fine. You wanna drive with your foot sticking out of the window? You're a moron.
• Stop looking for bathing suits in September. See above.
• Speaking of September, you have to stop for school buses. Even when taking your 40-footer you named 'Tax Shelter' for a "spin".
• If you're in a store with your children (whether it's raining or not) and they break something, tell someone.
• When you visit another place, drive like those around you. You wouldn't drive on the right in London, and you wouldn't head towards Broadway and 42nd Street doing 5 mph. You'd get killed. Going 60 on a back road at 2 AM? Same thing.
• Trash cans exist for the sole purpose of holding trash. Use them. That being said, trash cans are NOT ashtrays.
• When talking with your friends about the problems you face refurnishing your cottage, remember that some people around you live here year round...and have to afford heating oil.

Seriously Joe,

the Equinox can't get here fast enough.

GoT Season 5! (WTF? Friday...9/2/2016)

Okay Joe, tighten your shorts, 'cause this one's gonna hurt,

So.

Season 5.

For the life of me, I've never understood why Charlie Brown kept going back to Lucy to hold the damn ball. Once? That makes sense. Twice? That's testing the waters as it were. An opportunity to prove the theory that the first time may have just been a bad day. Plus, the whole 'signed document' thing. After landing on his back the third time, he should have called it done and given the ball to someone else. Anyone else. My money would be on Peppermint Patty. She'd not only hold the ball, she'd offer advice on how to kick it further...and then prove it. With Chuck taking a turn holding the ball. (Hey girl...)

I know. I'm digressing.

My point is - by strike number 3, you're out.

By the end of Season 3 I should have known better, but I keep going back to this crap anyways. Dammit.

WARNING - HERE THERE BE SPOILERS

 She finally, FINALLY, starts fulfilling her oaths. Shame it took over three seasons...

 Oh. So he IS in love with Dany. But five seasons? Really?

 Dany's story was cool. I get the point that being a leader takes time, and bad decisions happen. Moving on.

 The first (fine, second) time she's claimed rightful justice, and she gets punished? By blindness? The hell?

 And where the f**k was he?

Speaking of f**kers...could you add some 'corruption of religion' into this thing? 'Cause I'm not sure I fully understand the point you're trying to make here.

Thank you.

Anyhoo...

 This guy was a mess. A victim of blind faith. 

Picard said it best: "There are times, sir, when men of good conscience cannot blindly follow orders." Funny thing - he stood up to the Red Bitch before...

...just not this time. 'Cause, why should he.

But when this guy learns the truth, OOOOOOOOOOOH S#!!!!!!!!!!!!!!T!

Going back to Dany's education, I'd watch Tyrion work with her until I died. I loved every scene they were in together.

Why is she still breathing? Is it so Arya can (eventually. I'm guessing Season Eleven?) cut her heart out with a spoon? Apparently so. And she'd be doing it blind...which might actually be worth sticking around for.

That story wasn't bad. He's accepting who he is, what he is, and his place in the world. I liked seeing Bronn again too.

That scene wasn't nearly as graphic as I expected, and the people of the North may remember, but could they remember to STFU? Nope.

I get his situation. And BRAVO for actually doing something...

...'cause that bitch had to go. In fact, that was the first time I cheered the entire f**king season.

F**K you kid. F**K you hard.

Yeah. I know the wildlings killed your parents. Your entire village. I get the beef you have with them. WITH THEM!!! Why didn't you go off and stab someone who truly deserved it, instead of blindly following moronic idiots in search of something actually useful to do?

This made me want to throw my remote into the television and heave the whole thing out the f**king window.

You know what's weird? I knew going into this that Jon is alive in Season 6. He's resurrected by the Red Bitch (in a nod to Arya's Tom Bombadil-like scene with the Brotherhood from Season Three). Didn't matter. I was furious anyway. Mrs. Adorkification wound up getting furious at me, but that goes along with how we each appreciate storytelling. 

As a kid, I always loved stories with happy endings. The guy gets the girl. The villain is gone. The quest is complete. As a grown-up, I understand how boring that can be. I get that "good" stories now have to end with lessons learned, changes confronted and prices paid. These are the tales my wife truly enjoys.

The difference is -  while she enjoys how the stories develop over time, I need to know how it ends first.

I can't just get wrapped up in a good story. Not anymore. I'm not talking about mystery novels where there's always a solution and an explanation for the crime, or episodes of Sherlock. Those have yet to frustrate me when I'm done. I mean stories like Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, Doctor Who and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. I need to know how they end in order to justify watching them. If I like how it ends, or the ending piques my curiosity, then I'm interested in watching the tale unfold. In witnessing the journey from there to here. Otherwise, I'm piqued by Google's second definition of the word (and I'm looking squarely at YOU Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.).

I'm exhausted now. Time for either decaf or a nap. Probably both.