Embracing Its Awfulness Makes Watching ‘Seventh Son’ Enjoyable

At last, after having its release date was moved a couple of times in the past two years, Seventh Son was shown earlier this 2015.  But it was only recently that I got to see it.     

Seventh Son tells of a wizened “spook” (not a spy or secret agent on this world, but a witch-hunter) named Master Gregory who took upon himself an apprentice – the seventh son of the seventh son, implied to be the requirement to become a spook – named Tom Ward after his previous apprentice was killed in a failed attempt to slay the dragon-morphing witch queen, Mother Malkin.  Master Gregory and Tom set towards Mother Malkin’s castle to slay her before the Blood Moon becomes full, on which her powers will peak and, by then, nothing will be able to stop her.  It’s a worn-out fantasy premise that I have many times encountered in many different forms. 

And yet I didn’t find Seventh Son tiresome at all, but, on the contrary, I was thoroughly entertained by it.

Make no mistake.  Seventh Son is a ludicrously bad movie.  Its plot is predictable, dumb, and horribly paced.  Character developments are dull and nonsensical; chemistry between characters is virtually non-existent; characters make obviously stupid decisions to push the plot forward; and, understandably, its decent cast has no choice but to ham it up (kudos especially to Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore).  However, this movie is aware of what it is and has no delusions of grandeur of what it is not.  It knows it is no Lord of the Rings, and rather of attempting be so – which would have been pathetic – it simply chose to thrive and have fun on its own campiness, accomplishing a “so bad that it’s good” result.

Accept this movie as it is, don’t think too much, enjoy its awfulness, and it’ll be genuinely fun.

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What Can Christians Learn from Spider-Man

Jesus Christ is the ultimate standard of every Christian.  But through our earthly heroes – whether real or fictional – we receive reflections of the good and praiseworthy qualities that we can fully see in Jesus Christ.  And, at the same time, the good and praiseworthy qualities that we find in our heroes – real or fictional – are traced back or projected towards our admiration of the supreme worth of Jesus Christ. 

As far as I can remember, Spider-Man has always been one of my most favorite fictional characters ever.  However, it’s not only because of the coolness and uniqueness of the character that I get to love Spider-Man but, most importantly, because of the admirable qualities that make him a genuine role model despite of being a fictional character.  And Christians can learn some really deep lessons from Spider-Man. 

WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY

Let’s start with the most obvious – Spidey’s iconic motto: “With great power comes great responsibility.”  From what I’ve written about it before:

It simply means that responsibility always accompanies power, and the amount of responsibility is directly proportional to the amount of power; hence, the greater the power, the greater the responsibility.  And what is this responsibility?  To do the right thing, of course!  If you found yourself possessing the capability or are in the position to do the right thing, then you should do it.  Or as Martin Sheen (as Uncle Ben in 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man) put it, “…if you could do good things for other people, you had a moral obligation to do those things.  That's what at stake here.  Not a choice, responsibility.”

Therefore, if Spidey is put in a situation where he knows he can do something good, he jumps into it with no hesitation.  When facing a difficult choice, but it’s apparent that it’s the right thing to do, he will still choose it.  He takes responsibility of the good he could do with the power he found himself having.      

In the same way, we Christians have been given much “power” (2 Timothy 1:7, Acts 1:8, Philippians 4:13, Ephesians 3:20, Luke 10:19, etc.), hence, we should act on the “responsibility” that has been entrusted to us (Matthew 28:19, Matthew 5:13-16, Luke 10:30-37, Hebrews 10:24, Titus 2:7-9, etc.).  Nonetheless, we should not think that we have to immediately go “save the world” (besides, saving the world was Jesus’ job, not ours).  Yes, Spider-Man has been instrumental or has contributed to saving the world a couple of times.  But it’s only because of his consistent willingness to take responsibility and do his best in every chance he can do good that he developed the moral instinct and preparedness to do good in whatever scenario, regardless of being big or small in scale.  Likewise, we should just do the best we can in doing good whenever the opportunity or situation calls for it – whether it be small or big (Luke 16: 10).

DO THE RIGHT THING.  NO MATTER WHAT.

An integral facet established by Spider-Man co-creator, Stan Lee, for the character to make him relatable is how his alter ego, Peter Parker, is constantly struggling with personal troubles such as financial difficulties and getting bullied (especially during his earlier days).  Moreover, his personal life is even affected negatively because of prioritizing the good he does as Spider-Man – he’s always late on appointments and school, benefits and opportunities are sacrificed, and even his relationships with the important people in his life suffer.  It’s as if he can’t catch a break.  What’s even worse is, due to the works of haters like J. Jonah Jameson, any good that he does is unappreciated by the public as he’s branded as a “menace.”  But regardless of the circumstance he’s in or any consequences it might cost him personally, he makes no excuses and he will do the right thing at every opportunity. 

Facing difficulties is always part of being a Christian.   But even in the midst of whatever degree or form of difficulties, just as Spider-Man constantly brings justice to the being of his Spider-Man identity, we should likewise constantly uphold our Christian identity.  We, Christians, are to obey Christ’s commandments and pursue God’s glory in all things.  With the same consistency and selflessness that Spider-Man displays in doing the right thing, so should we likewise display in doing right in every situation.  No.  Matter.  What. 

Doing the right thing is often not easy.  There will be times we will be sacrificing a personal benefit or advantage.  And there will be times that a good deed will go unappreciated.  And there will be even times when the right thing to do is an unpopular one.  But we learn from Spider-Man that we ought to do the right thing, no matter how hard it proves to be. 

For us Christians, if it’s worth doing for God’s glory, then we need to do it.  Even at the point of death (Revelations 2:10).            

PRESS ON.  NO MATTER WHAT.   

Spider-Man displays inspiring resiliency.  Whatever antagonisms and difficulties he faces as both Spider-Man and Peter Parker, he continues to fight on.  He will do the best that he can in any situation to do the right thing and to overcome the challenges in front of him.

But he does fall sometimes.  He gets discouraged.  There are times he wishes that he never became Spider-Man.  There are times that he wants to quit – or even had quit.  Despite the spider-powers, he is human after all and subject to human failings.  However, he never permanently stays down.  He eventually rises back to his feet.  Stronger than ever.  He presses onwards.  He continues being Spider-Man.    

Resiliency – and, most importantly, faithfulness – in all circumstances is necessary for a Christian.  In discussing my life slogan, “Keep Calm and Press On”, I wrote, with regards to Philippians 3:7-14:

Despite the tremendous amount of hardships and struggles that he had undergone in his life, Paul remained enthusiastic, resolute, and kept moving forward.  Why?  For he understood the great value of this future prize that God has set for him in Heaven, and that no earthly pleasure or glory can ever come close in matching that.  So he worked hard for the glory of God – storing riches in Heaven that will last for eternity – rather than seeking earthly pleasures and glory that are all temporary anyway.  In everything, he gave it his all, no matter what.  He knew that every sacrifice, every pain, every drop of effort, is going to be worth it; the glory and happiness that he would receive as reward far outweigh the sufferings that he experienced in this world while working for God’s glory.

While Spider-Man probably only has a noble – but incomplete – sense of altruism that keeps him fighting, Christians have the advantage of having an infinitely valuable Heavenly Prize to look forward to – a Reward that will more than make up for all sacrifices done in this world.  Hence, don’t Christians have more reason to fight for?  Don’t Christians have more reason to be resilient about?  Don’t Christians have more reason to rise up after falling?  Don’t Christians have more reason to press onwards?  Don’t Christians have more reason to continue upholding their Christian identity? 

BE JOYFUL.  NO MATTER WHAT. 

With the many problems that he experiences in his life, and with his strong sense of duty of doing right no matter what, it would come to no surprise if he ended up being a burdened and grave superhero.  But, ironically, he is quite the opposite.  Spider-Man is one of the most joyful superheroes around.  Yes, there are some times that he feels that being Spider-Man is a curse, but as I’ve mentioned earlier, he eventually gets over his brooding.  Most of the time, he enjoys being Spider-Man and delights in what he does.  And that is reflected on his cheerful, goofy attitude when he goes around doing his Spider-Man duties. 

In the same way, despite the hardships, there is much to rejoice about as a Christian (1 Peter 1:8, Philippians 4:4, Luke 10:20, etc.).  I no longer need to go at length discussing how or in what ways.  Yes, we have crosses to bear (Luke 9:23), and pain and struggles will always be part of the Christian life, but there is much joy in the presence of Christ.  And it should be apparent for the world to see as we live out our Christian identity and do our Christian duties.

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‘The Last’ is a Necessary ‘Naruto’ Shōjo Story

The Last could be the most well-made Naruto movie ever.  Though, to be fair, this is only the third Narutomovie I’ve seen – but it’s certainly the best among those three.  There aren’t any epic action scenes, and its story treads on many familiar tropes, but it was compelling enough at the right parts to make it an enjoyable watch.  Moreover, being set during the time lapse between the events of Chapter 699 (the end of the Infinite Tsukoyomi; aftermath of the Fourth Shinobi World War) and Chapter 700 (Naruto as the 7^th Hokage), The Last is officially part of the Narutocanon – thus, this elevates its importance above the other movies and making it more interesting.        

  

Personally, I’m just happy to see a story set during the time lapse.  And this is the thing about the movie I liked the most.  The time between Chapter 699 and 700 was a period I wish the manga chose to explore instead of immediately jumping towards Naruto being Hokage.  For me, it would have been the best opportunity to start afresh with the interesting characters and world of Naruto after its exposition-heavy, convoluted last arc ruined everything.

Plot synopsis: the antagonist Toneri seeks to destroy the world by sending the moon crashing towards it.  And, as to be expected, it is up to Naruto and his friends to stop him.  But this is just padding to what The Last is really about – the story of how Naruto and Hinata became a couple.  Which is fine since that is one of the intriguing questions that Chapter 700 has raised.  And the two do make a cute, engaging Shōjo story. 

Miscellaneous musings:

• Apparently, ninja can breathe on the moon.   
• 19-year old Naruto’s look is his coolest yet. 
• It is understood that Hinata is a meek, gentle character.  But she is much too fragile in this movie – something I didn’t like – as if she’s not a toughened, veteran shinobi of the Fourth Shinobi World War. 
• Nice to be reminded that Shikamaru is the smartest character in Naruto.  
• Seriously, I want to have more tales set in the period between Chapters 699 and 700.  And the anime series has the window of making this happen before it proceeds towards the “New Era” (Naruto as Hokage, and his son, Boruto, as main protagonist).  I remember how the Naruto anime series provided ample time for the manga to considerably pull ahead by doing 77 filler episodes before proceeding to Shippuden.  I suggest that the same thing be done this time around (but in a much, much better fashion than what transpired in that 77 episode-run, since that stretch has most of Naruto’s most mediocre, pointless, and awful episodes).  So, after covering the events of Chapter 699, the anime should do a lengthy run of filler episodes set during the period before Naruto become Hokage.  And let there be sensible character and plot developments that would appropriately set up the status quo of Chapter 700.  At least show me if Kakashi was any good as Hokage and how Naruto was chosen as his successor and how all those characters developed into couples. 

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The Plot of ‘The Voices’ Fell Short of Giving Justice to the Promise of Its Premise

Jerry is a factory worker suffering from psychological imbalance.  Whenever he doesn’t take his prescribed medication, he experiences hallucinations, which includes imagining that his pets – Mr. Whiskers (a cat) and Bosco (a dog) – can talk.  And he prefers it this way, as his world is brighter and more cheerful.  On the other hand, whenever he takes his pills, he becomes more in tune with reality; thus, he sees his world as it is – messy and bleak – and is haunted by nightmares of his abused childhood.  Struggling with his mental condition – with Mr. Whiskers and Bosco somewhat acting as his id and superego respectively – an unintended, accidental killing (or is it?) would propel him into becoming a serial killer.

I’m probably not the first one to notice (because it’s that obvious) that The Voices is like a twisted version of the comic strip, Garfield – a socially awkward adult that talks to his cynical cat and is adored by his blissful dog.  It’s the perfect premise for a dark comedy.  That’s why I was really looking forward to this film after I got to read its synopsis.

Unfortunately, the premise was not transformed into the adorable and smart plot that I was expecting.  Sure, the story is not really bad.  In fact, most critics liked it.  But I find it lacking.  I believe there was a lot more that can be accomplished with the available material.

Ryan Reynolds’ performance here has been one of his best yet.  He really thrives in playing deranged, funny characters.  And it’s the best thing that I can probably take from this movie – a reminder that Ryan Reynolds is born to play the loony Wade Wilson a.k.a. Deadpool.  Now that’s one movie I would really hate to be disappointed about.

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Why 'Digimon' is Objectively Better than 'Pokemon'

I’ve grown up enjoying both Pokemon and Digimon.  But though Pokemon is the bigger and more popular franchise, I’ve always held the belief that – at least with regards to anime series – Digimon is better than Pokemon (but with regards to games and other products, I have no say on the matter since I’ve only got the chance to play Pokemon video games and card games and never with any Digimongames, though I’m familiar with the gameplay of Digimon World 2).

As far as premise is concerned, there is more substance in Digimon’s than Pokemon’s.  Both shows involve humans directing “monsters” to battle.  However, in Pokemon, the whole battling is primarily intended for human amusement.  It’s basically a reinvented form of cockfighting.  On the other hand, in Digimon, the battling has a nobler purpose – usually, to protect the world or humanity from evil threats.  Moreover, a Digimon acts more of a partner to the human in battle rather than just being a pawn as with the relationship of a Pokemon and its owner/trainer.  

Pokemon tells the story of a boy named Ash Ketchum who left home to travel the world to find and collect as much Pokemon as he can, then oblige them to battle with other people’s Pokemon, so that he can be the greatest Pokemon master ever.  The charm of Pokemon is hinged on the appeal of collecting, and as a collector of stuff myself (comics, books, toys, etc.), I understand the thrill of collecting things.  But, seriously, even if all these Pokemon don’t mind or even fancy being collected and used by humans for sport, there’s something selfish and petty about Ash’s motivation as well as the concept of Pokemon collecting and battling.   

Actually, I disdain Ash Ketchum.  Though he has some likable qualities, like genuinely loving his Pokemon and sincerity in offering friendship to everyone (even his antagonists), he is, nevertheless, an incompetent, dumb, bland, and annoying character.  It’s so frustrating how he is easily gullible and lacks some form of tactical talent as a Pokemon trainer (especially when you get to play his doppelganger, Red, in the games.  Red is a more interesting character and makes much smarter decision than Ash – primarily because Red is your virtual avatar.  Also, the characters in the manga – including Red, who happens to also star on a Pokemon manga series – have more personality and more interesting Pokemon lineups).  And there hasn’t been much character development with Ash either.  He’s basically what he is now as he was about eighteen year ago.            

And that’s another thing.  Ash – unappealing of a character that he is – has been the central character of Pokemonall this time.  That’s 18 seasons being stuck with this character.  And his characterization and purpose is basically intact all this time: travel the world, collect Pokemon, have mediocre adventures, battle with other trainers, so that he “can be the very best.”  Yada, yada. 

In Digimon, there are diverse protagonists, so you have the option of choosing which character you want to root for or relate to.  In the first series of Digimon, there were seven (which became eight later on) main protagonists.  And that’s just the first series, there have been more series after that, hence, more characters.  Moreover, actual character developments are happening with these characters.  They are not stagnant, but dynamic.  These characters grow up.  These characters change.  New characters are introduced.  It’s just like the character pool of Power Rangers. 

As what was already mentioned in the previous paragraph, Digimon also has the advantage of having different series like the Gundam franchise.  With each Digimon incarnation, there is a different set of characters and premises and rules.  Again, just like Gundam.  It keeps everything fresh and exciting.       

 

In terms of strorytelling, Pokemon is dumber, goofier, and more light-hearted, which is actually not a problem, but it makes the extent of its storytelling limited.  It doesn’t help either that the writing on Pokemon is just plain bad a significant amount of time.   On the other hand, Digimon’s storytelling is smarter and purposeful.  Yes, there is some amount of campiness on Digimon, of course, but that’s just for the sake of creating humor (it’s still a kid’s show after all).  Nonetheless, because of its more substantial premise, Digimonis able to have much more depth and stakes (i.e. death and tragedy happens) in its storytelling. 

And because there is more maturity in its storytelling, Digimon’s villains are often more interesting.  Digimon’s villains are more ambitious and ruthless.  Most Digimon villains are consistently in “global menace” level.  In Pokemon, though Ash encounters some serious threats once in a while (especially in the movies), the campy Team Rocket serves as the regular antagonists.  Now, I like their trademark chant and member Meowth (since I have an affinity to cats), but Team Rocket is just a pesky group of antagonists that we just can’t take seriously. 

Speaking of Meowth, he is one of the rare Pokemon that can communicate by human language.  Almost all other Pokemon merely utter their names (or syllables from their names).  But all Digimon can talk!  The ability to talk does not only give Digimon more personality and appearance of intelligence and independence, but also establishes better relationship between the Digimon and his human (again, they are partners).

The nature of evolution is also more interesting with Digimon than Pokemon.  A Pokemon evolves in a ladderized manner, and once it gets to the next level, it permanently stays at that form.   On the other hand, a Digimon’s evolution to a higher form isn’t permanent.  It can always go back to its status quo. Moreover, aside from evolving into a higher form, there are other varieties of Digimon evolution.  For example, Digimon can combine (temporarily, of course) with another Digimon to form a new Digimon form.  Also, humans can even (temporarily) combine with or transform into Digimon.  Evolution is definitely more exciting and complex in Digimon.   

Simply put, Digimon has the superiority in plot, premise, characters, and even in some other small details – like, Digivices and tags and crests are aesthetically cooler, more personalized, and has much more utility than Pokedexes and gym badges.  So those who say that Digimon is just an inferior imitation of Pokemon don’t really know what they are saying – either they haven’t watched enough episodes of both shows or they simply lack good taste.  Pokemon might have come first, but Digimon is objectively better. 

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‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ is Awesomely Epic, But Fails to Up the Ante

For the record, I do love Avengers: Age of Ultron.  It is even my most favorite movie I’ve seen this year so far.  However, I was expecting something more out of it.  I was hoping it would surpass the previous Marvel film, Guardians of the Galaxy, as the greatest Marvel film ever just as GotG surpassed the Marvel film prior it, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  Also, I was hoping that it would provide a massive game-changing effect on the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  However, though AoU (I will be referring to Avengers: Age of Ultron as such from here on) has some status quo changes at the conclusion of its high-stake narrative, there aren’t any Winter Soldier-level shakeups at all.

AoU has been extremely spectacular (especially the climactic battle sequence), and watching all those superheroes assembling together and just be superheroes is exciting enough.  However, the experience I had with the first Avengers movie wherein I was blown away by the culmination of Phase One’s years of build-up – all those superheroes standing together for the first time – has not been replicated when I watched AoU.  I still had a terrific time with AoU, but just not at the same level as the first one.     

AoU noticeably wobbles a bit with its story, and treads on a couple of plot elements that we have already seen in the first Avengers movie.  It has a good amount of humor despite of having a darker tone, but it’s not as clever and funny as the first one.  However, it does have a better distribution of important character moments, more thematic depth, and more eye-popping action sequences.       

       

In conclusion, Avengers: Age of Ultron might not be as insightful or game-changing as Captain America: Winter Soldier, and not as fun as Guardians of the Galaxy, but it was still a very enjoyable epic movie.    

May 1 in the US, but April 22 in the Philippines. Yeah!

Miscellaneous musings:

• I find it funny that, in a likely attempt to subtly tie up the Rage of Ultron graphic novel with the movie, Marvel was willing to give us a glimpse of how the new Marvel Universe will turn out post-Secret Wars.  Rage of Ultron was earlier released this month and is obviously set after Secret Wars. 
• I was expecting an Ant-Man reference.  Maybe as minor as a mention of Dr. Hank Pym (Ultron’s original creator in the comics).  There was none.
• It was interesting in that one scene where Ultron leans his head sideways as if he’s Raymond Reddington.
• The take on Hawkeye’s character here is a bit similar to the down-to-earth theme of Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye comic book series.  
• The Hulkbuster vs. Hulk sequence was pretty badass as expected.  But I’m not satisfied with how it concluded.   
• I was annoyed that Joss Whedon employed his trademark “kill a beloved character” plot element once again, but only because it was done as a gratuitous attempt to create a dramatic effect (on the contrary, the “death” of Phil Coulson in the first movie served a purpose).  The death of that Avenger really felt unnecessary at that point.  It didn’t really improve nor push the story forward.
• AoU has the weakest mid/post-credit scene in a Marvel movie ever. 
• That fake bootlegged Spider-Man post-credit scene could have ruined AoU’s mid-credit scene for me.  That one really makes scenes.  It has a Whedonian touch and a perfect Spider-Man characterization.  It’s frustrating that that was a fake.   Why didn’t Marvel do something of the same effect?   
• Or, maybe… Just maybe…Hmmmm…. Okay.  I’m calling this.  Maybe that Spider-Man post-credit scene is legit after all, but reserved for the American audiences on May 1, just as it was with the shawarma scene in Avengers.  I might just be delusional here (because I want a Spider-Man cameo so bad), but I’m still calling it. 
• Here’s an exciting thought: Joss Whedon directing and co-writing the next Spider-Man movie!  With Whedon’s knack for writing funny one-liners and Spider-Man’s reputation as a wisecracker – it’s a perfect match.

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The '12 Monkeys' TV Series Turned Out to Be Just as Interesting as the Movie It Was Based On

When I learned that a 12 Monkeys TV series was being developed by Syfy, I was doubtful that it’s going to be any good.  The 12 Monkeys movie is one of the most brilliant time travel tales ever.  The story has already been told.  Retelling it in TV format – even if there will be some reinventions – would not only seem redundant and unnecessary, but, it felt like, that no matter what, the TV series will always look like a cheap knock-off in comparison to the movie.  So I didn’t immediately jump into the show once it started back in January. 

But, then, I found myself marathoning it this April.  Was just compelled to try it.  And I was immensely entertained.  It’s not as smart and fresh as the movie.  But it was just as interesting.  The core premise of the movie – a guy named James Cole from a post-apocalyptic future is sent back in time (our present) to stop the enigmatic “Army of the 12 Monkeys” from releasing a plague that will put humanity at the verge of extinction – is the same with the TV series.  But there are much more complicated details involved with the TV series as well as well-done diversions from the source material.       

The rules of time travel set by its premise was not particularly innovative or mindblowing, and even have some shades of outlandishness at some details.  But the narrative consistently adhered to those rules, so there’s not much distraction from inconsistencies – unsatisfying those rules may be.  And it did result to some enjoyable storytelling. 

The writing isn’t perfect.  There’s always the nagging feeling that there’s something dumb and incoherent regarding plot details and character motivations.  Nonetheless, I’m just too entertained to even care.  Also, there is the fact that the story isn’t finished yet.  There’s still a lot of mystery.  Maybe everything will only perfectly make sense once the story ends.      

 

A couple of things already went full circle by the time the season concluded, but there are still plenty of intriguing questions left unanswered as well as room for thrilling storytelling opportunities set up by the game-changing events of the season finale that I am legitimately excited for season 2.  Not bad for a “cheap knock-off” of a classic 90’s film.

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‘The Man with the Iron Fists 2’ is a Disappointing, Dull Sequel

The first The Man with the Iron Fists movie (released back in 2012) had a stupid, mess of a story.  However, it did feature a good amount of ludicrous, “themed” characters that delightfully made the movie look like an adaptation of an old-school fighting game like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat.  Thus, despite its bad script and direction, it still resulted to a fun watch.  Unfortunately, the sequel doesn’t have the advantage of having a bunch of oddball warriors battling among themselves, which made this movie unremarkable and not as fun.

The Man with the Iron Fists 2 employs a familiar plot and a couple of clichéd tropes from old Hong Kong martial arts movies.  At the early part of the narrative, I was still finding it enjoyable because of the nostalgic appeal provided by its hackneyed tone (I adored Hong Kong martial arts flicks when I was a kid).  But as the movie goes on, I found myself getting tired of being able to predict every plot development and twist that unfolds.  By the time it gets to its last third, I couldn’t care less of the story. 

For a martial arts film, the fight choreography was impressive – if we’re still in the 80’s or 90’s.  By today’s standard (set by films like The Raid), the action was pretty lacking and lackluster.  It was as uncreative and unimaginative as its plot. 

The Man with the Iron Fists 2 is, simply speaking, a bad movie.  Even if you enjoyed the first movie – or, rather – especially if you enjoyed the first movie, you will find The Man with the Iron Fists 2 a disappointing and dull sequel.

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'Wyrmwood' is an Atypical, Insanely Funny Zombie Flick

The Australian-produced Wyrmwood: Road of the Damned – also known as simply Wyrmwood – tells of a zombie apocalypse that seemingly ensued after a meteor shower (it was unrevealed, however, whether there’s a direct connection between the meteor shower and the zombie apocalypse) and follows a mechanic named Barry taking a Mad Max-style road trip amidst it to get to his sister, Brooke, who, unbeknownst to him, has been taken captive by a shady military unit so that she can be a lab rat for a mad scientist’s experiment on zombies.          

What’s unique about this movie is how the specifics of this particular zombie apocalypse is shrouded in mystery and weirdness – People with blood type “A-” are unaffected; liquid fuel ceased to be inflammable (hence, became useless) when the zombie apocalypse started;  the breath of zombies are discovered to be efficient substitutes for liquid fuel, but this stops working when dusk arrives, as the zombies apparently use the “fuel” generated by their breath to move quicker during night-time; and, most interesting of all, Brooke gained the power to control zombies after getting experimented on.  The movie ends without actually providing clear explanations regarding these bizarre happenings.  Thus, by not attempting to make sense of it all, it only enhanced Wyrmwood’s insanity.  Which is a good thing, actually.  This is the kind of movie that doesn’t need to be strong with its logic, but in fact proportionately increases in entertainment value by how ridiculous and insane it gets.  

What I like most about this movie is how it was able to make me genuinely laugh aloud.  There are no gags involved here (like the classic zombie movie Shaun of the Dead); the mood is straight-up dire and deadpan.  However, hilarity is successfully generated by ludicrous situations and screw-ups that the narrative fabulously sets up.

Wyrmwood doesn’t have the makings of a classic, and it does use a couple of the clichés of the zombie genre, but it tells a sufficiently creative and amusing spin to an otherwise worn-out premise.

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'Furious 7' is Not the Franchise's Best, but Proved That It Still Has a Lot Left in the Tank

Furious 7 has received from critics the highest rating ever given to a Fast and Furious movie.  However, I think that it’s being overrated a bit.  I think – with all due respect – that if we get rid of the sentimental value of this film serving as a Paul Walker tribute, and we can just be a bit more honest about it, and judge this movie on its own merit, we’ll arrive at the conclusion that this movie is not as great as Fast Five and Fast & Furious 6.  Seriously.  In my personal opinion, the past two Fast and Furious movies are better – the best two in the franchise. 

Furious 7 featured clever humor and one-liners here and there, but there was also some noticeable bad writing done on a couple of eye-roll inducing dialogues.  There were plenty of exhilarating and goofy action scenes to enjoy, but the climactic action sequence felt bloated and cluttered (hence, looked inferior compared to the action scenes during the early acts of the movie).  And the Rock – who lights up every scene he’s in and has a lot of scene-stealing lines ever since he joined the franchise – lacked screen-time.  Also, the camera work and editing were bad at times. 

Don’t misinterpret however that I didn’t like the movie.  I did.  It was a very fun watch.  For all its flaws, Furious 7 has ample good stuff to easily make up for it.  Firstly, again, most of the action scenes – both those involving cars and close-combat – were fantastic (I just didn’t like the climax – except for Paul Walker’s fight sequence.  That was awesome).  Secondly, I genuinely laughed whenever its attempts at humor hit the target (Tyrese Gibson’s character provided a good dose of comic relief once again).  Thirdly, the new characters were great.  It was a thrill to see The Transporter clash with Dominic Toretto; Jason Statham’s character has been, by far, the greatest, most badass villain of this franchise.  And Kurt Russell’s “bureaucratic badass agent” character was a delightful addition to the Fast and Furious universe – the guy was easily likable.  And, lastly, just like its predecessors, Furious 7 also has a lot of heart.

Moreover, I also have to applaud the work done on Paul Walker’s character.  I approve that instead of being killed off, he was instead retired in the most satisfying way possible.  I was also amazed by how the scenes that Walker was unable to shoot (because of his untimely death) were flawlessly accomplished by means of his brothers serving as stand-ins, strategic camera angles, and – most importantly – CGI.  Cinema magic has indeed come a long way.  The not-so-subtle, heartwarming tribute sequence at the end – to establish Brian O’Conner’s retirement from the franchise – was also a nice touch (though it was kind of funny how the manner of the characters’ behavior towards Brian’s retirement was as if he actually died). 

Furious 7 is dumb (as expected of this franchise), but immensely entertaining (as expected of this franchise since Fast Five).  And this latest Fast and Furious installment simply proved that this franchise still has a lot left in the tank. 

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Top 10 (Non-Western) Gunslingers in Fiction

I already made a list out of my favorite Western gunslingers in fiction (check it out).  This list is now exclusively made of fictional gunslingers that are not cowboys or gunfighters functioning in a Western setting.  However, it’s fine if these characters have some subtle references to or took some inspiration from the “Western cowboy” trope – they will still be considered for this list if so.  To qualify as a “gunslinger”, the character’s trademark weapons should be handguns, so anyone who regularly wields a weapon aside from handguns is disqualified for consideration.     

10.) HELLBOY

 

Hellboy, whose real name is Anung Un Rama (which means “and upon his brow is set a crown of flame”), is a demon that was summoned from Hell when he was still a baby by Nazi occultists.  He was rescued by the Allied forces and Prof. Trevor Bruttenholm, who took it up for himself to raise him as his own son.  Thus, Hellboy would grow up like a normal human, familiar with and engaging in human culture and practices.  He would also develop a knack for humor, gab, and sarcasm.  

Hellboy joins the organization founded by Prof. Bruttenholm – the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD) – and uses his innate demonic strengths to fight in humanity’s behalf against occult threats.  Though he carries a variety of paraphernalia to combat supernatural evil forces, his primary weapon of choice is a large-ass revolver named “Good Samaritan.”  However, he’s only number ten in this list because he himself admits that he is a lousy shot and prefers to fight close-range.  

Ron Perlman killed it when he portrayed Hellboy in the film adaptation.   

9.) JUDGE DREDD

This character originally appeared in comics, but was also given a terrific live-action portrayal by Karl Urban in an underrated film adaptation back in 2012 (let’s pretend the one starring Stallone never happened).  In a dystopian future, Dredd is a “Street Judge” – a law enforcement officer who is literally a police, judge, jury, and executioner rolled into one.   Hence, once he apprehends a criminal, he can immediately convict and sentence him, and carry out the appropriate execution when necessary.  Being a Street Judge, Dredd possesses the standard issue “Lawgiver pistol” – which is designed to be exclusively handled by him and has six kinds of ammo.        

8.) THE PHANTOM

 

“The Phantom” is a masked crime-fighter persona that has been passed from father to son.  Because of this, the Phantom is thought of by people as immortal and has been given nicknames like “The Ghost Who Walks.”  The current Phantom, who is  being featured in the popular comic strips, is Kit Walker, the 21^st Phantom in line.  He has no superpowers, but uses his skills, wits, and his reputation as a “ghost” to fight crime.  The Phantom doesn’t particularly seek criminals and then shoot them, often choosing to beat them up instead.  But he will use his two M1911 pistols when the occasion calls for it. 

7.) DAISUKE JIGEN

Jigen is a character from the popular manga/anime series Lupin III.   Jigen is often by Lupin’s side when he’s on a heist.  Though his primary function in Lupin’s crew is that of a “trigger man”, he also fulfills duties as Lupin’s aide-de-camp or unofficial “number two.”   He is adept in a variety of firearms, but his preference is that of a Smith & Wesson Model 19 revolver.   He possesses amazing quickness and accuracy as a shooter, and is known to use the notch of his fedora to improve his aim.      

6.) THE SHADOW

The Shadow originated from the pulp era of comics and novels, and is just one of several Zorro-inspired “wealthy gentleman by day, masked crime-fighter by night” adventure heroes that emerged during that time (one other example of which is Batman).   My first encounter with the character was in the 1994 film starring Alec Baldwin.  I was impressed by how “unique” of a superhero he was – particularly, how he will laugh maniacally like a villain to intimidate his opponents.  He possesses psychic powers and can also make himself invisible.  But even with these superpowers, the Shadow still arms himself with a pair of pistols.

5.) JOHN PRESTON

What if you can mix close-combat martial arts with gun-slinging?  That is what the movie Equilibrium explored with “Gun Kata”, a fictional fighting style that I adore.  John Preston (played by Christian Bale) is the main protagonist of the movie.  And in this movie’s universe, he is considered as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Gun Kata fighters there are.  Equilibrium is a must-watch, not necessarily due to its story, but because of John Preston’s awesome close-combat gunfights.   

4.) SPIKE SPIEGEL

I admit that when I wrote my list on fictional Western cowboys/gunfighters, I forgot about Spike.  He would have qualified for that list since Cowboy Bebop is a “space western” and Spike is even referenced as a “space cowboy.”  So I intend to make it right with Spike, and make a little exception for him here (besides, I also established in the introduction that it’s acceptable if the character has “some subtle references to or took some inspiration from the ‘Western cowboy’ trope.”  Moreover, Spike isn’t really a complete “cowboy/gunfighter character in a Western setting”).  

Spike used to work for the Red Dragon Syndicate, but after faking his death so he can leave the syndicate, he found himself working as a bounty hunter with former cop Jet Black.  Spike shows proficiency in several skills, including martial arts, sleight of hand, piloting, and – of course – shooting.  Spike’s trademark gun is a Jericho 941.      

3.) ALUCARD

This reinvention of Dracula is my choice for the greatest “vampire hunter” character in fiction (read my “vampire hunters” list for a more detailed analysis of the character).  He can easily tear apart his opponents by means of his viciously powerful vampire powers, but favors engaging in battle with a pair of large, badass handguns:   the Hellsing ARMS .454 Casull Auto (or “The Casull” for short) and the Hellsing ARMS 13 mm Auto Anti-Freak Combat Pistol, Jackal (or “The Jackal” for short).  The Joker-like, “badass gunslinger” persona is what initially drew me to this character. 

2.) VASH THE STAMPEDE

Vash is one of the coolest anime characters ever.  As what I had written about him in the past:

At face value, Vash has one of the coolest get-ups or appearances found in anime.  Just one look at him and you can easily tell that he’s one kickass, badass dude.  And the appearance is not at all deceiving.  At the first episode, we learn how awesome he is when the fact that he’s a guy with a high bounty on his head was presented.  And then we got acquainted with his superhuman agility, reflexes, and eyesight, which are combined with his superior gunslinging skills.  More than that, the reason the anime is titled “trigun” is because Vash has three guns in his disposal: his revolver, a cybernetic left arm that turns to a machine gun, and his “Angel Arm” – his right arm, when activated by his revolver, turns into a powerful cannon that can level cities with a single blast.

Awesome dude.

1.) GENJO SANZO

I’ve been an anime fan for many years now, and Genjo Sanzo has remained as my most favorite anime character all this time.  A large part of it is because of the unparalleled depth and charisma of this gunslinging monk.  After being crowned as the 31^stSanzo and tasked to travel to the West to recover his late master’s Holy Sutra, he was led to a weapons room to arm himself for his mission.  Without any further thought, he proceeded to make a sole pick: a “banishing gun” – a five-shot Smith & Wesson revolver.   However, he was not only a gunslinger by his choice of weapon.  He truly embodied the personality of a gunslinger – terse but crusty; lonely; dogged; an I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude; and never backs down from a necessary challenge, no matter how formidable and grim it is.

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The ‘Daredevil’ Web TV Series is Simply Batmanly

Just finished watching Daredevil’s first season.  And I have one word for it:  “Batmanly.”  It’s a word I kind of invented (though it’s very much likely that I’m not the only one who was able to “invent” this word; it’s not that hard to think of, really) to describe something that has the same kind of badassery, angst, and/or awesomeness – or any other quality for that matter – as Batman.  In the past I’ve made use of “Batman-like” or “Batman-esque”, but “Batmanly” certainly has a better ring to it.  (Which is understandable, really, for Daredevil has always had the same tone as Batman – or, rather, Frank Miller’s respective runs on both comic book characters have put the same distinctively grim and gritty tone on their characters.  Hence, providing Daredevil a “Batmanly” adjective is simply appropriate.)     

The first season of Daredevil served as a slow-paced, 13-episode origin story.  Heck, Daredevil was only officially born – name and costume and all – in the second half of the last episode!  It would have been tedious if it had not been so well-written, and so well-directed, and so well-acted – so well-everything.  The fight scenes were brilliant, the themes were thoughtful, and there were a lot of great character developments.  It was simply too engaging to find something complaining about.  Though I would have loved for it to have shown more concrete connections to the Marvel Cinematic Universe than the subtle ones featured, and to see Matt ditch the crude ninja outfit for the Daredevil costume sooner, and to see Matt’s walking stick being converted into Daredevil’s trademark billy club, and for Ben Urich to have not been killed off (because he’s an important character in the Daredevil/Spider-Man universe, and could still have been probably used in future MCU stories), but those are mere preferences rather than actual complains.    

    

Others are already saying that Daredevil is the greatest superhero TV series now.  Now, I wouldn’t go that far.  I still think The Flash and Arrow are better.  And, again, the first season has merely been an origin story for Daredevil.   We’ll only really know once we get to see some actual superheroing being done, which we’ll have to wait until the next season.  However, if this fantastic first season is any indication, I think that it has a good chance of getting there.  Daredevilis Marvel’s real first step into taking TV dominance from DC. 

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In ‘Batman vs. Robin’, Batman Faces One of His Biggest Challenges Yet – Being a Father

Batman vs. Robin is set months after the events of 2014’s Son of Batman.  Damien Wayne – now permanently staying with his father, Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman, and serving as his Robin – is struggling with the paradigm change.  Raised and trained by his grandfather Ra’s al Ghul to kill without hesitation but is now being taught by Batman to avoid it – “Justice, not vengeance,” as Batman constantly reminds him – Damien has a difficult time keeping his grim, murderous instincts in check when dealing with criminals, but overcomes the temptation because of a sincere desire to honor his father. 

However, with both Bruce and Damien suffering from flawed and damaged personalities, friction between them is inevitable.  Bruce, concerned for Damien’s safety as well as the chance of him succumbing to the darkness inside him, wants to keep him in a tight leash.  On the other hand, Damien is deeply frustrated of his father’s lack of trust.

Batman and Robin’s strained, “powder-keg” relationship is inevitably set to explode.  All it takes is a spark.  And that spark came in the form of the Court of Owls – a sinister, secret society of Gotham’s rich and elite, who has manipulated the city from the shadows for generations to advance their agendas and preserve their power.  A part of their plans involves recruiting the rich Bruce Wayne into their ranks, but, ironically, also involves destroying his alter-ego, Batman, who they consider a great threat to their operations (I have no idea, though, why they didn’t do it sooner in Batman’s career).  The Court of Owls plans to attack Batman by exploiting the rift between him and Robin, and create conflict between the two (hence, the “Batman vs. Robin” title).  They intend to do this by sending their lead henchman, Talon, to win over Robin and manipulate him into joining their side. 

Batman vs. Robin’s plot made it possible for a compelling father-and-son drama unfold in its storytelling. And I believe the movie has successfully fleshed out what I think is the most powerfully unique thing about the whole “Damien Wayne as Robin”: the father-and-son drama it brings to the “Batman and Robin” dynamic – Batman struggling to be a father, Robin struggling to be a son.  Sure, Bruce Wayne also served as a father figure to Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake.  But it’s different with Damien because he’s his biological son.  The connection between them is much significant – as well as any chemistry and conflict that can develop – due to being their own flesh-and-blood with each other.  Batman’s struggles as a father put additional depth to the unique “humanized” charm that makes him stand out in the DC superhero pantheon.  And Damien being tormented in his search for identity, acceptance, and redemption makes him distinctive above all the Robins that came before him.  Above its enjoyable action and beautiful animation, this aspect, for me, is what makes Batman vs. Robin a great film. 

Miscellaneous musings:

• Observation: Batman animated films > Justice League animated films.  So far, I haven’t disliked a Batman animated movie yet.     
• I would love to see Grant Morrison’s “Batman and Robin” – wherein Dick Grayson was Batman with Damien Wayne as his Robin – adapted into an animated film.  But since that happened pre-New 52 and DC is seemingly adapting New 52 concepts exclusively for their current direct-to-video animated features, I don’t see this a likely thing happening.  Bummer.
• I like Damien Wayne as a character.  The fantastic development of the character made him my choice as favorite Robin.  Yes, he’s an arrogant brat, but he’s a lovable arrogant brat.  However, I noticed that some annoyance was being provoked by the quality of the voicing of Damien in this movie.  The experience was like hearing Sarah Silverman’s Vanellope in Wreck-It Ralph.  
• The cameo of future Damien Wayne Batman from Batman #666 was much appreciated.
• Next on DC Universe Animated Original Movies: a dark, Elseworld-style story titled Justice League: Gods and Monsters, wherein Superman is the son of Zod (not Jor-el), Wonder Woman is a New God, and Batman is a vampire.  I recently saw the teaser trailer.  And it looks pretty godawful.  And the worst thing is that this is produced by Bruce Timm, the man who created the beloved “Timmverse” – the greatest animated adaptation of the DC universe.  I wish he opted for a more lighthearted project.

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China's Invasion of the Philippines Will Happen in Our Lifetime

Satellite photo of the development of a Chinese military base in the West Philippine Sea

I have joked in the past that the Philippines is more or less ready for Chinese occupation due to the reality that most of our rich people have Chinese ancestry and surnames, numerous Chinese temples are scattered across the country, and Filipinos are fond of buying cheap, China-made knockoffs.  But, seriously, I extremely hate to see a Chinese invasion happening – to have the Philippines go to war with China, lose, and be occupied.  It’s a troubling scenario. 

Besides, if the Philippines will go to war, I will be probably be drawn to the conflict – whether by being conscripted to the Philippine military, or helping in the resistance.  It’s something I’m not particularly equipped for.  I’m awfully out of shape.  And after experiencing riding or witnessing some rides in Enchanted Kingdom about a year and a half ago, I learned that I’m pathetic in facing life-threatening danger.  I will arguably be useless in a fight.

I wish I’m just fooling around with the title of this article.  But there’s half of me that really believes the Chinese will make a move to invade us.  Probably not soon.  But maybe within the next two decades.  Yes, China has been historically controversially aggressive, but it seems that the communist country has been more so recently.  Sure, other countries are presently threatened by China, too.  But, looking at the signs being shown by our current status quo, if ever China decides to go an invasion spree, the Philippines is the likeliest first target.        

For years, China has constantly disrespected the sovereignty and boundaries of the Philippines.  But its recent construction of artificial islands and military bases within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone is its most disturbing action so far.  Some of those bases are only a little bit over a hundred kilometers away from Philippine mainland!  If ever China decides to invade the Philippines, its military logistics will easily flow through those military bases as entry points.  Definitely, China’s behavior is a clear prelude to invasion.  In fact, by clear violation of the 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone set by UNCLOS, it is already, technically, an invasion.        

This issue regarding China’s penetration into Philippine waters and its building of military bases should be dealt with ASAP.  I’m a bit upset that there seems to be a general ignorance and apathy about the matter, not only in the international community, but among Filipinos as well.  It is a matter that I believe deserves everyone’s utmost attention and should be addressed urgently.  Here are some things that I would like to see happen right now:      

Filipinos should be more attentive regarding the matter.  I understand that our country is dealing with countless problems internally.  But I still believe that the issue with China deserves a top priority.  I hope that the Philippine government and media will provide the attention that the issue deserves.  How can other nations see the urgency and magnitude of the problem if we Filipinos aren’t giving it the concern it deserves?  I understand that P-Noy wants to leave a great legacy.  And there’s probably no greater legacy than managing to address this matter, or at least, laying the groundwork for the next president to do it.

The Philippines should start lobbying for other countries’ support.  If the Philippines fall, other countries in the region is also open to invasion.  As early as now, the Philippines and other countries (India, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, etc.) that have problems with China should openly declare an alliance already.  I want all these countries to strongly imply that they will gang up on China if necessary.

Strong reassurance from the US.  Our main military ally is the US.  The US promised that it will take military response if China continues to push its aggressiveness.  But, more than this, I hope the US will tangibly provide military assistance now by giving (or loaning) the Philippines a couple of modern military hardware.  A couple of drones, especially.  Such gesture will not only provide us some valuable weapons when time comes, but it will send the message to China that the US is committed on aiding us if they continue their aggressiveness.  In fact, I wouldn’t even mind if the Philippine government will officially declare what the Chinese are doing now is an invasion (which technically is exactly that anyway) and then request US aid in destroying those bases.

A US military base in Mindanao.  It has always been one of my realistic – because I also have a couple of far-fetched ones – dreams for this country, up there with a modern rail system operating in Luzon.  Let that sink in.  Think of the huge effect that a US military base will provide.

The US and the UN declaring an ultimatum for China to remove those bases.  If China refuses to comply, sanctions should be given.  The Philippines had already filed a case against China in the world court.  This case is a sure win for the Philippines (since simple common sense shows that China is at fault here), but China has made it clear that they won’t adhere to any decision in favor of the Philippines.  UN should grow a pair, and make a clear, firm statement right now of the actions they will take to enforce their ruling on the matter.

Diplomacy and taking legal action – which are the only things the Philippines is doing at the present – are of course the ideal ways to resolve this.  But the Philippines should, at this point, seriously consider what should be done once this channel is exhausted.  I’m not asking the Philippines to make a strong, hasty mobilization for war against China right now (besides, we don’t have the firepower to back it up).  But I believe it is necessary for the Philippines to relay the message that, regardless of our limited capability, we are prepared to make a move and destroy those Chinese bases once UN makes a resolution regarding the matter and China refuses to comply.  Moreover – and most importantly, because we can’t do this alone – the Philippines should also actively request the UN, the US, and our other allies to make official statements and pledges on what they intend to do if China will choose to disregard UN decision and continue their aggressive behavior.             

There’s the saying, “Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile.”  China’s bases within Philippine waters are the metaphorical “inch” we can’t afford to yield.  Therefore, what I would really like to see is for the Philippines to prioritize this matter and make substantial, calculated moves right now.  We should not wait until China is already comfortably positioned to take the metaphorical “mile.”    

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"Celebrate!" 2015 VBS Songs

This is the recording of our renditions of the featured songs of this year's VBS -- the Filipino-themed Celebrate!.  

click here for more videos

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‘Monsters: Dark Continent’ is Another Angsty War Drama… But With Cthulhu Aliens!

I greatly liked the first Monsters movie back in 2010.  It was a beautiful, thought-provoking film which depicted the USA-Mexico border having been transformed into an “infected zone”, wherein Cthulhu-like aliens have surfaced and settled after a space probe crashed in the area.   This sequel, Monsters: Dark Continent, is set ten years after the events of the original film.  Another “infected zone” has emerged in the Middle East, and American troops are deployed to fight an all-out war against the alien monsters.  But aside from the alien monsters, American troops also have to deal with the typical armed insurgencies in the region (so it ended becoming a chaotic “three-way war”).  

The different setting and premise of Dark Continent from its predecessor gave it a very different tone, too.  For one, Dark Continent was action-packed.  It was also apparent from the cinematography and visual effects that it enjoyed a bigger production budget.  Most importantly, while the first movie was a thoughtful drama, this sequel is an attempt to be a thoughtful action-drama in the vein of American Sniper.  But the political theme allegorized in it is not as clever as its predecessor’s.  Besides, it felt like such themes are too worn-out at this point.  Still, though Dark Continent’s depth suffered from that – the first movie is definitely more thought-provoking – I still appreciated how the clichéd themes are uniquely portrayed by the fact that Cthulhu-like aliens are involved in the metaphor. 

The beginning and middle acts were truly engaging, although the weak last act exposed to me how derivative the movie really is.  I was just too entertained by the previous acts to notice the fact earlier.  When the narrative started slowing down, it gave me time to reflect, and I quickly realized how lacking the movie really is.  I think if it were a bit more action-heavy till the end, it would have distracted me from its flaws; I would have liked the movie more.      

Monsters: Dark Continent has its problems, but I liked it overall.  If one expects this to be as rich as the first movie, one will be easily disappointed.  But take the movie as it is – like I did – and it’ll be an interesting watch.

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