One Year Later: The Girl, The Beard and The Unemployed

Almost exactly one year ago I arrived in Dartmouth Nova Scotia with 800 dollars, my parents, and flimsy at best hopes at any kind of sturdy, long term employment. It was a big move. Something that I wasn't sure would be the right one, something that made me incredibly nervous and it's something that's completely changed my life from what it was a year ago.

I haven't posted on this blog in a while, mostly because I've been busy with a new job, but also because I was kind of waiting until I got to this time of the year. Until my one year Hali-versary. It feels good to say. I've been here a whole year!

In that time I've gone through two beds, three jobs and sold most of my Movie collection. I've had amazing feasts, tried mussels and had to eat canned peaches for a day to survive. I've wrote, directed, edited, and finished a short film. I've grown out my hair, beard and gotten an amazing girlfriend.

It's been a real roller coaster of a year and I'm excited for what comes next. Last month I turned 22 and I told a few friends that I feel really good about 22. It's going to be a good year, I can feel it. I'm in a city I love, with a girl I love, with friends I couldn't get by without. Also having a job helps. A lot. Rent man, gotta pay it.

22 is going to be good, I feel so much closer to the person I want to be.

But for now, groceries.


Drive fast, take chances.

-Matt

The Superior Spider-Sequel: Raimi Vs Webb

This review contains spoilers for both The Amazing Spiderman 2 (2014) and Spiderman 2 (2004).

You have been notified.

     Spiderman. He's one of the most iconic and well know superheroes ever created. The character has appeared in comics, TV shows (both live action and animated), video games, and now, he's just appeared in his 5th feature film.

     The Amazing Spiderman 2 is the 5th Spiderman feature film to debut in the last 12 years. It's also the second second Spiderman film we've seen since Sam Raimi's Spiderman 2 10 years ago, which can be kind of confusing to talk about at times. Especially since neither era of Spiderman movies have ever had subtitles after the sequels names, opting instead for just a number, further adding to the confusion.

     However, aside from the name similarities Spiderman 2 and The Amazing Spiderman 2 couldn't be more different. There are of course the obvious differences, instead of Toby Maguire as the webslinging wonder we have Andrew Garfield, instead of Kirsten Dundst's Marry Jane as a love interest we have Emma Stone's Gwen Stacey. The Amazing Spiderman 2's special effects have the benefit of not being a decade old, and therefore, inarguably better, but they don't have Alfred Molina's Doctor Octopus, instead the have Jamie Foxx's Electro. Harry Osborne appears in both films, played by James Franco in the 2004 film, and Dane Dehaan this year.

     But for a fan like myself, I can't just talk about The Amazing Spiderman 2 no, because for me and I'm thinking a lot of fans as well, my opinion of this latest second Spidey movie has to be framed by my opinion of the old second movie.

SO that's what I'm going to do. Sam Raimi's Spiderman 2 vs Marc Webb's The Amazing Spiderman 2

Sam Rami's Spiderman 2

        Now personally I've never been a massive fan of the Raimi films I liked the first one, hated the third and just couldn't get into the second one, which I know is not the most popular of opinions to have. Many fans I know adore Spiderman 2 and call it the Raimi Trilogy's high point. But I find Spiderman 2 to be, at times, a tough sit.

There are good points of course, Raimi really nails a lot of the comedy in the film, whenever he makes a joke it really lands well and his action scenes are extremely well constructed. Particularly the fight that takes place up the side of the building and the train sequence. Alfred Molina's Doc Ock is a great character and shines every time his story's given time to do so. J.K Simmons' J. Jonah Jameson has always been my favourite part of the Rami films, over the top and hilarious, I just always want more of him yelling for MORE PICTURES OF SPIDERMAN. Rosemary Harris's Aunt may is warm and wonderful and also brings a lot of light to the movie.
        But for me the weak points in Spiderman 2 is the drama and the casting of the lead characters. Toby Maguire's Peter Parker comes off extremely whiney, dough eyed and strangely apathetic. He appears to have no real drive to do anything of value. He tends to kind of just not say a lot and take whatever path offers him the least resistance.
        The best example of this is during the second act of the film. Peter Parker gives up being Spiderman (something that actually happens in both films) this causes New York's crime rate to soar, and allows Doc Ock to just saunter around the city committing whatever crimes he wants. Peter shakes his great responsibility entirely, why? Because he's too stressed out from missing a few of Mary Jane's plays and various other events. Raimi's Spiderman gives up because being a superhero was just too inconvenient. Not really a quality I want to see in my hero.
        That aside the "romance" between Peter and Kristen Dundst's Mary Jane takes up a lot of screen time in the this movie and there's not a strong chemistry between them. I don't really ever feel while watching that movie, that I want Peter and Mary Jane to work it all out, all I want is for both of them to move on, because they don't seem that right for each other or not, I have a hard time caring what happens to these two blank faced disjointed characters have to say at all.
         They never have a good time together, they don't have any inside jokes or funny memories together, they don't seem that attracted to each other, they're just kind of in love with each other? Sort of? Maybe at times? Because it's in the script?
        I don't know I just don't feel it, the main characters just don't show a lot of attractive qualities, instead they're melodramatic, melancholy and seem out of place in what should be a light hearted superhero adventure flick. Which then makes the brilliant comedic elements seem out of place and leaves the audience sitting through boring, melodramatic dialogue between characters they don't really care that much about, waiting for the action to begin.
         James Franco is cast as Harry Osborne and somehow is both over and under utilized to move the plot along. He's a pretty non-threatening quasi-villainous Harry Osborne who's opportunity for an interesting and engaging story is instead used purely for sequel bait. Franco does perhaps the best job of the three "best friends" with what he's given, but he ind of just pops in and our of the movie seemingly only to serve to explain a very specific plot point. Harry is the reason most of the plot of the movie even happens and yet somehow he has almost no character moments with either of our two main characters outside of when he shows up drunk that one time.

 On the whole, I feel like Raimi's Spiderman 2 is a film that has not aged well. To me it's a film with some fantastic action scenes that don't last long enough, with long stints of.....something... in between them. I think a lot of that rests on Maguire who doesn't really seem like he's over coming anything, instead being dragged from plot point to plot point and starring at people for way too long before leaving weird creepy sounding messages for people. He's not the loveable, lame witted, nerdy kid with a heart of gold spiderman should be. Instead he's just a guy who's constantly apologizing, starring and mumbling.

It all feels like a recycled and rehashed version of the first film, only replacing Peter's transformation into Spiderman with him... giving it up so he can just do it again. All the same tropes and plot points are present from the main villain being schizophrenic and killing himself in the end, to Marry Jane being with another guy for most of the movie only to end up kissing Peter in the end.

To me Spiderman 2 is not at all the masterpiece that a lot of the comic book community sees it to be, and it never really has been. I don't get why people seem to adore this movie so much. Is it just because it came out when many of us were kids? Is it because MJ finds out who he is? I don't know, I've never understood it's popularity.

The entire time watching it I'm constantly wanting to see a hero who has an actual personality. A hero who does everything he can do to help those in need. A hero that's actually just as entertaining to watch inside the suit as he is outside of it.


That's where we come to this.

Marc Webb's Amazing Spiderman 2

When Sony announced that they were rebooting Spiderman. I like I'm sure many of you said "Really? we just finished a trilogy like 4 years ago!" As such I went into the first Amazing Spiderman movie highly skeptical and doubting I'd enjoy it. What I got instead was not a perfect movie but one that went in a completely new direction with the way all of the characters in the Spiderman universe were portrayed. I finally saw a Spiderman movie with people in it that acted like real people. Andrew Garfield's Spiderman does so much right that Toby Maguire's never did. Garfield's Peter Parker is awkward, but not in the stereotypical nerd kind of way, he's smart and quick but just doesn't know when to stop talking which often lands him into trouble. He and Emma Stone had great chemistry and while the villain seemed a little on the generic side, the efforts made to tie The Lizard into Peter's past is a good way to make him more interesting.

On the whole I really liked the first movie, much more than I thought I would and was expecting great things in the second film.

Amazing Spiderman 2 could have been a mess though. It's a story with two main villains, both of which have to have their origins explained. There was also the issue of Gwen and Peter's relationship which were it to continue defied a promise made in the end of the first film (The first film implies that they keep dating but leaves room for explanation otherwise). There was also the baggage of Peter's parents' story, which was left unfinished. It's a lot more baggage than Rami's film had going in, Spiderman wraps up everything in a nice neat little bow with only marginal character cliffhangers. Amazing Spiderman leaves much more untold.  So while I was hoping for the best, I was preparing myself for a cluttered, over-saturated spiderman movie (we have seen them before). What I got instead was a tight story that tells a lot, but still feels intimate and exciting.

The highlight to both Webb web movies is by far the interpersonal character drama, the exact opposite of the Raimi films. The chemistry Webb sets up in his first film between Gwen and Peter only seems stronger in this movie as their many scenes together become almost more entertaining than the action. Stone and Garfield play two unique sides of a young couple, madly in love dealing with the very real and intense guilt Peter feels for betraying Gwen's father's last request to stay away from each other. That plot point alone puts this romance head and shoulders above the awkward and cliche "will they, won't they" of the Rami films. Every minute Gwen and Peter are on screen together you can see, evidently, how these characters feel about each other and how exactly their relationship is in danger, but more than just that, you want it to work, because these two kids are meant for each other. But the brilliance in this relationship is that you also don't want them to be together, because you feel Peter's guilt for breaking his promise to Captain Stacey. It makes the audience wish that they could find a way to make it work, which is exactly what the characters are trying to do which is again why it works so well.  Their relationship really holds up the rest of the film, giving Peter motivation for doing the things he does, whether he's fighting actively to find a way to make it work, or trying to throw himself into investigating his father to try and forget about it. It's not just believable, but intensely relatable. Something we all really should expect from the director of 500 Days of Summer. 
      Gwen is clearly someone immensely important to Peter in this film, and the weight of their relationship drives them both to make the choices they do, including the choices that lead to her death in the end of the film. Which is heartbreaking for both the audience and Peter. This is what causes him to give up being spiderman. The death of Gwen, not just being late for things. It's understandably devastating to Peter, and makes his end decision to continue web slinging a gloriously triumphant moment. More so than it would have been any other way.

Peter continues to be a three dimensional character in Amazing Spiderman 2 showing huge swaths of humanity and compassion that Toby Maguire could never quite muster. In this film Peter continues to be very funny, ready with a response to anything. But Garfield's webhead is, in this film, not always right. He fails and makes mistakes, bad calls and often times doesn't know how to handle the situation, but always tries his utmost to do the right thing. This is shown very well in his relationship to Dane Dehaan's Harry Osborne.
       In this film, Harry is an old friend of Peter's from when they were small children, a friend Peter had at around the time of his own parents disappearance, but not for long after. This is why Peter seeks him out upon learning that Harry's father has passed away. Even though they haven't spoken in years, Peter returns to Harry like a friend paying back another friend's kindness. It's this familiar distance that makes the plot between them work nicely. Harry is a weird kid in this film, scheming and petulant, Harry is never painted as that good of a person, even at his best, which would make Peter and Harry's relationship strange if they had been best friends for years (this is what happened in the Raimi films). Peter instead, only really knew Harry as a kid and is trying to re-connect with him, which is why he doesn't notice anything off about Harry, instead assuming he's just upset over his father's passing and perhaps a different person to the one he knew years ago. Harry is also not, as was in the Raimi film, looking for revenge following the apparent murder of his father by Spiderman, which, from his point of view is pretty understandable if you think about it. Instead Harry comes to hate Spiderman for his own selfish reasons, the same reasons that lead to his mutation into the green goblin.
        The other nice thing is that Peter isn't fooled by Harry for too long, instead figuring out his intentions early. Then, upon seeing how destructive they could potentially be decides not to aide him as either Spiderman or Peter. In short, Webb's Peter Parker isn't a dough eyed idiot who refuses to see Harry Osborne for what he really is. Amazing Spiderman 2 has a much, much better dynamic and a better one in my opinion between these characters which makes both their shaky friendship and then animosity both more believable and real.

But that's not all the praise I have to give out for the character work in this movie, oh no.

The periferal characters all shine as well, from Jamie Foxx's obsessive and mentally unstable Electro to Sally Field's courageous and vulnerable Aunt May (who, thankfully, still hasn't been kidnapped). There's also great cameos by Paul Giamotti, Dennis Leary and of course Stan. Every character in this movie is a real person, with understandable challenges and struggles. The great victory of Amazing Spiderman 2 is that the audience can almost see themselves as any of the characters.

The plot is well paced, throws a lot at you, but gives each storyline it's due attention without feeling like it's frantically rushing from story to story (see Spiderman 3). The movie opens with an explanation into Peter's parents' backstory, which is resolved towards the end of the second act of the movie. Electro and The Green Goblin's origins are given enough time to tell their stories without stepping over each other, which I think is a huge win. This film has Electro's origin largely take place early on, until the he's imprisoned after a fight with spidey, and then broken out by Harry Osborne in the third act who's had the intervening time to have his own villainous origin (even though he gets his "powers" very, late in the film).  This neatly sidesteps the pitfalls a lot of these multi-villain stories fall into by not having the stories overlap, but instead logically intersect at the end. Which is extremely well done, action packed, fun, poetic and also heartbreaking, like any good spidey story should be.

There are occasionally moments in the story that do feel forced. Gwen's story revolves around her decision to go to school in england or stay home with Peter, which isn't exactly groundbreaking.  Also Peter seems to spend a lot of time in his room, which gets tiresome and I missed J. Jonah Jameson. But apart from those small gripes I absolutely adored this movie.

Amazing Spiderman 2, for me, delivers in every area that Spiderman 2 didn't and matches or exeeds it at it's good points. Amazing's overwhelming heart and serendipity are what make it a better movie. Webb is so much more at home dealing with real character drama than Raimi seems to be. Raimi's character moments always feel contrived and lack the same enthusiasm and style his action scenes have, whereas Webb keeps the audience equally engaged in both. It's not an easy task that Webb accomplished beautifully.  Webb's film takes a look at the heart of the hero and is a movie about the weight of promises. Raimi's is about responsibility and looks at what it means to live a double life. I don't think Raimi's film is a "bad" movie, it's watchable, and has some genuinely good moments, I just find the Webb's more moving, engaging, and entertaining.  And isn't that what movies are all about, being moved, enthralled and entertained?


In short, go see Marc Webb's webslinger in action in The Amazing Spiderman 2 it won't be something you regret.

Appreciating Beauty and the Sources Therin

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? 

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer's lease hath all too short a date: 

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; 

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimm'd;

But thy eternal summer shall not fade

Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st;

Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st; 

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. 

The above is perhaps one of the most famous sonnets ever written. William Shakespeare, or as his friends call him, Bill Shakes, wrote that little bad boy in 1609, spurred on by what must have been one hell of a lady. Bill penned this, along with over a hundred other sonnets during his career, some sad, some happy, but none of which quite capture the feeling that this one does. The feeling you get in the presence of true, unadulterated beauty. In this case a woman (most likely, some scholars think good ole' Bill was, perhaps playing for more than one team if you catch my drift).

Bill talks here about how the beauty of the subject of his sonnet cannot ever be dimmed, about how it's beauty shines radiant light all over and affects the weather, and defies time and death.  Of course, these things are not literal, merely how Bill feels about how beautiful she is. But apart from those things Bill never really describes the subject of the sonnet. At least not physically. 

He doesn't even tell us that her beauty comes from her physical form. 

I mean, that's what we all picture, right? Some absolute bombshell, a cross between all the great beauties of all time, Someone who's a little Audrey Hepburn, a dash Kate Upton, a pinch of Marilyn Monroe and a smidgen of Leonardo DiCaprio. The perfect storm of human attractiveness. But he doesn't.

Bill doesn't say she was a buxom blonde, or that she has a body that can stop a train. He doesn't say her skin's clear, or that her waist is small. He doesn't say she's got good eye lashes, a nice caboose or that her lip gloss is poppin. He doesn't describe a thing about this girl other than the way he feels about her.

The greatest, most well known love poem on the planet doesn't mention things like a girl's body weight, her height, wrinkles, love handles or her cheekbones. 

Because that's not what's important. Not to Bill. 

Nah, my man Bill Shakes comes from a different viewpoint. One of true appreciation. Because Bill (no stranger to love himself) sees the world differently than how a lot of people do. Bill looks at the way this person makes the rest of the world feel like when they're around. How the world looks when she's near and how nothing in the world can ever take that away.

That's real beauty. Not something that can be sold in a box, packaged and marketed to appeal to insecurities.  Now I know I'm a little late to the party, International Women's day was a couple days ago now but I think this, if anything is the once sentiment I would want to convey to all the women in my life. The world will try anything to make you feel like you're not good enough. Like you don't matter, or that you're just not beautiful*. Marketing firms and makeup companies will try to convince you that you're always just one more product away from looking like Karen Gillian or Jennifer Lawrence.

Beauty can never be bought from a bottle or achieved through "victory" over some number on a scale. It comes from who you are inside. The complexities of a person are in themselves independently, mind bogglingly, beautiful. The fact that you made it to this life is statistically so insanely unlikely that your presence in the universe is like bolt of lighting in a dark cloudy storm. 

But it's when we allow ourselves (men and women) to forget that, that we loose touch with what beauty is. We place it all immediately on the easiest thing to see and too often forget the person underneath.

Now this is not about coming to terms with how one looks or that if one is, objectively a highly physically attractive individual that one has any less worth or beauty to them. All I'm saying is what Bill was saying. I think he went onto say it better than I ever could in his play Love Labours Lost when he said "Beauty is bought by judgement of the eye." 

Meaning that beauty truly only exists in the eye of the beholder. Everyone's definition of beauty is different. So never get hung up because you don't match someone else's. Because that kind of person, shouldn't match yours.

RIP William

-Matt

*[Not to say that this is the only trouble women face, that would be itself a belittlement. Not what I intend to convey at all. I'm merely speaking of the one thing that I have seen take it's toll most on the women I've had in my life over the years.]

The Eight Superhero Movies I Want to See Most

I love comics, and comic book superheroes. Some obscure, some pretty commonplace, and in an ideal world the DC and Marvel Universes would be fully cinematic, and feature every character that's cannon. But we're not there yet, in this day and age it's still surprisingly hard to get a movie made for anyone that isn't already an A-lister in the comics world (and even then it's still hard). I mean, things are a little easier on the Marvel side of the coin, but there's still some characters there I want to see get a film... and I guess that's as good a place to start as any on my list of the top 8 superhero movies I want to see the most!

#8 Ms. Marvel

Ms. Marvel is a great opportunity for Marvel to really tap into the female superhero concept with a character who's powerset rivals that of the mighty Thor. Instead of their current female cinematic lead, Black Widow, who's main power is 2 sigs and a skin tight "combat" suit. Ms. Marvel would also be easy to build into the expanding marvel universe that's getting ready to jump to full "Jack-Kirby-Space-verse" with the launch of Guardians of the Galaxy next year (Ms. Marvel's powers are the product of alien technology in the comics... most of the time).

As for which Ms. Marvel (there has been a lot), I think that it should either be Carol Danvers (the original Ms. Marvel) or Kamala Khan (The currently rebooted Ms. Marvel). Carol Danvers is a great character and it would show a lot of faith to the original comics produced in the 70's, But Kamala Khan is an opportunity to not only produce the first good female superhero movie, but the first good female Muslim superhero.
Which I think is really interesting. It provides so much to work with, from a character standpoint, but also I think it would show a much needed wave of diversity to the Marvel Cinematic universe, seriously, enough with the white dudes.

#7 Shazam! (Captain Marvel)

Shazam is a character I absolutely adore. I think it captures the purest essence of a comic book superhero. Billy Batson, an orphan boy is given magical powers by an all powerful wizard, every time he says the word "SHAZAM" (I don't know if it always has to be in all caps, but I feel like it should be). In the most recent incarnation of the character (written entirely by DC creative head Geoff Johns) Billy is in foster care and has a hilarious and heartfelt cast of supporting characters that keep his story fresh and energetic. I also think it might be a good idea to go with the Flashpoint version of the character, where it takes an entire group of kids to say the word together to transform into Captain Marvel (Although it's alternate universe so he's known as captain thunder, but whatever). I think it's the perfect blend of The Goonies and Man of Steel. It'd for sure be a great one for kids, who would also finally have someone to identify more directly with.

Plus the character's got a great look which I think would come across even better on screen and a giant talking tiger named Tawny. I mean, come on! Black Adam as a main villain is one of the strongest ones out there, and is a really easy baddie for kids to digest, while at the same time having a great amount of depth for the adults.


#6 Swamp Thing & Animal Man

I put these two together because I think this is, in a way, the best superhero "buddy-cop" DC could possibly spit out. With the two characters being so related (Swamp thing as the Avatar of all Plant Life, "The Green" Animal Man as an Avatar of all Animal life "The Red") it seems only fitting that their stories be told together. I mean, you don't have to call the movie "Swamp Thing and Animal Man" maybe just Swamp thing or Just Animal Man, but feature the other heavily. I think last year's crossover between the two of them (Rotworld) is the perfect example of how their story should take place both fighting The Rot separately, and in their own way, only to find that they need each other to finish the fight.

OH MAN! So cool!

But seriously, either of these characters would make for such a unique movie. Both are "Superheroes" but not at all in the traditional sense. Swamp thing, a monster by all appearances, fighting to preserve nature's place in the world, and Animal Man, a father and husband forced into the service of animal life, often at the cost of his family. Neither "fight crime" but that's okay. We see that in every other superhero film, this is a real chance for DC to build a fuller more complex and rounded cinematic universe.

#5 Spiderman 2099

Now, I'm going to get this out of the way, I don't know if this would technically be under Sony's Spiderman film rights, or Marvels, and I suspect neither to either of those companies, so the likelihood of this happening is slim. But I think It would be a supercool departure from the awkward, teenage spiderman we've all seen so much of recently. Spiderman 2099 is a geneticist by the name of Miguel O'Hara who accidentally turns himself into a Spiderman and fights crime with all the powers of Spiderman (and a couple small additions) in super corrupt future version of New York. As a sci-fi lover this concept jumps out at me as much as a Batman Beyond movie. Imagine Spiderman fighting giant future laser robots! Awesome!

But speaking of Batman Beyond...

#4 Batman Beyond

Created by the legendary duo of Paul Dini and Bruce Timm in the wake of Batman: TAS Batman Beyond was simple, and awesome concept. Taking place in a future version of Gotham City, Batman Beyond follows Terry McGinnis who, under the tutelage of an elderly Bruce Wayne become's Future Gotham's new Batman. The suit had such an iconic look and the character of Terry was so well written that fans have been begging for this movie for years.

Ironically, it actually almost did get made, in the early 2000's Paul Dini wrote a screenplay for the film while under a screenwriting contract with Warner Brothers during the long development process of Superman Returns. The studio passed on the script however, and that may be the closest we'll ever come to seeing Terry up on the big screen, which is really unfortunate.

#3  Aquaman

Yes, it seems my list is predominantly DC characters, but that's mostly because Marvel is doing such a great job of rolling out their characters on the big screen with plans in the works for most of the big hitters. DC on the other hand has so many of it's A-listers just waiting to be filmed, not least of all is Aquaman.

The thing about Aquaman that many people don't understand is that Aquaman (in the right hands) is one of the most interesting and badass superheroes on the entire Justice League and has been around for almost as long as Batman and Superman. Making him one of the oldest comic book characters currently still featured in his own book every month.

But let me lay it down for the casual fan. Aquaman is a warrior king, bearing Poseidon's trident that is his birthright, Arthur Curry fights to protect Atlantis from threats external and internal, as well as serving to protect the surface world. With not only the ability to command all sea life, Aquaman has super strength, heightened agility, extreme durability and the ability to survive indefinately on both land and in the water. Aquaman is not affraid to dole out his own brand of sea-justice on the criminals of the world. Geoff John's most recent arc with the character is a great example of how interesting and dynamic this character is, torn between his life on the surface and his kingship of Atlantis.

This is a movie Warner and DC desperately need to make to shift the reputation of this truly awesome character away from his comical misconceptions.

#2 Cyborg

With Green Arrow having a hit show and The Flash about to finally receive his due in his own, sister show, the next biggest gaping hole in cinematic representation on the Justice League has got to be Cyborg.

Cyborg, like Ms Marvel is a great opportunity to break from the predominantly white superheroes heading today's movies. But more than that, Cyborg is another very well written and identifiable character ripe material to turn into a movie. Victor Stone, a high school senior, is a star quarterback vying for his scientist father's attention when suddenly and unexpectedly he is seriously injured by alien technology. Seeing how dire the situation is his father attempts to heal Victor with experimental nano-technology which inadvertently combines with the residual alien particles in Victors body creating the first ever Cyborg. A hero whose highly adaptable body and mind form all kinds of cool weapons and tools to take down evil.

Cyborg was originally only a member of the Teen Titans, but DC has finally given Vic the promotion he deserves and he's now a fully fledged member of the Justice League. It's my opinion that they should continue elevating Cyborg in their universe with his own movie. Or at the very least an appearance in the surely upcoming Justice League movie.

#1 Zatanna Zatara

Magic. That's what's been missing from my superhero movies. Sure Thor gives us a little but they're very quick to liken the Asgaurdian technology to real science. I want bonafied magic. And I want That magic to come from the wand and words of Zatanna.

Zatanna is a stage magician, the best in the business, who blows every audience member away with her seemingly impossible illusions. But here's the catch; It's real magic. Zatanna is the daughter of Zatara, a famed magician himself who taught her all the ways of the Arcane arts which she uses to battle embodied evil across the astral and mortal planes. With flick of her wrist, a few backwards words, and a witty quip, Zatanna sends evil back to where it belongs both on her own and as leader of the magic focused Justice League Dark.

I think it's become clear in the course of this article that I really want there to be a greater amount of diversity among the cinematic heroes. But that's not the only reason any people on this list are on it. Least of all Zatanna. She's just the kind of character that I love to see on screen. Someone who can face very dark tragic themes with a sense of humour and the power to back it up. She's such a unique character as well, seeing as there's yet to be any superhero movie that has it's main character really rely on magic this much. Just think Hermione Granger meets Spiderman and that's what this movie could be, whimsical, magical, comical fun.








Honorable Mentions

There are a few characters I would have put down, but it looks like a movie featuring them is actually in the works, those being Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Ant-man and Doctor Strange. I would also love to see a Flash movie, but he;s getting a TV show so I can't be too greedy. Green Arrow would make a good movie, but I've been enjoying the heck out of Arrow on The CW so I think if anything they should just slot that character into the Movie universe.

I also would have said Daredevil, Luke Cage and Iron Fist, but they've all been confirmed to have shows in development for Netflix, so it looks like they're finally getting their due.

I'd like to see Supergirl and Nightwing, but those characters have such strong ties to their mentor characters that DC has to really universe build for a while before we'll see them, even though Nightwing is probably my favourite character mentioned in this article.


See you later, true believers!

-Matt

My Top 13 Songs of 2013

Music is one of the greatest things around, it inspires us in ways no other medium can. It can be just what we need to hear, or something we've never heard before that changes our outlook. It can score our journeys and underline our lives. And sure, there are lots of award shows that will talk at length about what the "Best" songs/albums/artists were this year, I've found that the opinions of things like the Grammy's rarely line up with what I thought about music, I'm sure there's a lot of people who agree. The Grammies and other award shows are based on peer-review and that's fine, but that's not how I consume my music. I don't consult a panel to tell me what to listen to, and I would never presume to tell anyone else what to listen to either. Music is such a personal thing, like any art, it's quality is entirely in the eye of the beholder.

That being said this year had some awesome music in it, and I couldn't not talk about some of my favorites. So, in no particular order here are the 13 songs that made the biggest impact on me this year. Please check 'em out for yourself.

13: Sweater Weather- The Neighbourhood

The Neighbourhood are an alternative rock band from california who released their first full album I Love You This year. This song, Sweater Weather,  is the second single off of that album. It's a dark melodic tune that conjures up visions of hanging out at the beach at night with a girl the singer seems to care only marginally about. To me it's a song about the banality the singer finds in doing the same routine over and over again. I love the beat and the echoey guitar. It's the kind of driving melancholy that's perfect for a rainy day.

12: Get Lucky- Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams

Yes, I'm aware it's probably on every end of the year list. Yes I know the whole point of this song is just talking about going out getting hammered and, well, getting lucky, grounds thoroughly covered by every other pop song this past decade. But I can't help it. This song is just the right blend of funk, electronic and r&b that never fails at making your toes tap, your liver quiver and your butt on the dance floor. That guitar riff just won't quit. This song is pure fun from beginning to end.

11: Gang Of Rhythm- Walk Off The Earth

Honestly, this band stole my heart and loyalty as soon as they put out the famous Somebody I Used to Know cover on youtube three years ago. I've followed them since and to be honest thought of them as a cover-exclusive kind of band. But as it turns out their original stuff is really great as well. This song in particular is right up my alley, it's happy, fun and doesn't take itself to seriously. It's a song about making a song, and a good one at that. Keep it up WOTE. I want more!

10:  Full Circle- Half Moon Sun

This is a song I heard a lot of in November it's solid harmonies are what drew me in at first and the melancholic beat and dark, subtle guitar is what kept me around. This Montreal based band has been quickly climbing the Canadian charts ever since this song was used in a Assassin's Creed IV trailer earlier this year, and I can say I'm very excited to see what they've got coming up next.

9: Dreaming- Smallpools

This LA based band only just formed this year and if their debut EP is telling at all, we're in for some great tracks from these guys in the future. Dreaming is a song I only discovered a few weeks ago and it's already climbing my "Most Played" list in my iTunes very quickly. I love the poppy beat, the combination of synth and guitar and the lyrics themselves, that are seemingly at odds with the bouncy beat and chorus. For some reason I can not get this song out of my head. 

8: Touch- Daft Punk

Get Lucky got me to buy Daft Punk's newest album, Random Access Memories, but it was Touch that turned out to be my favourite track from it. It's got a really weird and otherworldly intro which disuades some casual listeners, all to eager to get to the music who'll press "skip" all too soon. But those people are missing out on possibly one of the best songs I heard this year. Off the charts instrumentally this is one track I keep coming back to again and again.

7: Starting Over- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (feat. Ben Bridwell)

This year marked a special occasion for music. It was the first time an independent artist topped the charts in America. Thrift Shop was the song and that propelled Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' album The Heist to being one of the top twenty highest grossing albums this year, and three more singles off of it including Same Love, White Walls and Can't Hold Us. And those songs are all great but to me one of the bigger stand outs from The Heist was Starting Over a heartfelt song in which Macklemore talks about this very personal struggle for sobriety. It's a song I like to show to people who think that all rap is about is Sex, Violence and Drugs. I really love this album and it's not the only time it'll be talked about on this list but Starting Over is a track that really stuck me with it's honesty and down to earth-ness that's very appealing for me in a rapper. I'd rather hear about someone's real struggles and challenges in their music than something they've contrived to sell records (looking at you Kanye).  And that's a trait that I think has drawn a lot of people to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis this year and a big reason why they've been so successful. It's a realness you don't get from a many top 40 artists these days.

6: Pompeii- Bastille

Bastille, a band from London England, really captured my imagination with this single off of their album, All This Bad Blood. As a bit of a history buff it's really cool to hear a song that, for all intents and purposes is actually about the Roman city of Pompeii which was consumed by a volcano. It's a song about going to see Pompeii, that's just cool. It's also got some killer harmonies and a pounding drum beat that holds it all together.

5: Ways To Go- Grouplove

I mean, first off it's hard not to love this video. It's just about as much fun as this song is. Poppy and bright it's got some great instrumentals and I'm always a big fan of having both male and female lead singers in a band. This song is a great one to throw on when you're in the mood to get a'dancin.

4: Wing$- Macklemore &Ryan Lewis

 I said earlier how much I adore this album and why, I love every track on it but I find it so weird that this song hasn't seen as much radio play as the other ones off the album. Wing$ is all about shoes. Something that you'd think wouldn't be as profound a topic as Macklemore makes it in this song. But he uses them to talk about things like materialism and self identity. It's a really tight track that makes you really think, and that's what I like in a good rap song.

3: Sleepwalking- The Chain Gang of 1976

Yep, it's the song from the GTA V trailer. Yes that's where I first heard it too. But after hearing it a couple times in the trailer (and game) I started to really really dig it. It's got probably one of the best hooks on this list, and just always makes me feel like a badass inside when it comes on. It's just full of swagger and punch and I just love it.

2: On Top- Flume feat T-Shirt

This is probably one of the coolest music videos to come out this year. I love how video game-y it is. Same with the song. It's got tons of arcade-y sounding hooks and even though it's a song I only very recently discovered, I really, really dig it. Although it'd be nice if there was a little something more to the lyrics.

1: We Think We Know You- Bo Burham

This. F*&$ing song. Bo Burham, for those unaware, is a young stand up who incorporates a lot of funny songs (amongst other things) into his act. This song comes at the end of his most recent special what. and it's really sweet. Sure the intro's all talking and a big, huge part of what makes the song great is Bo's actual performance in this bit. But that doesn't make me love it any less. Easily the one song that blew me away the most this year. I didn't expect it to exist and when it finally kicked in I lost my brain. The other great thing about it is that it makes the transition from comedy bit to real introspective song so seamlessly, once it starts really going you understand what Bo's singing about and how it's a real thing to him, not a bit. 

Thanks for reading, go watch all the vids then disagree with me. Because that's the beauty of opinion. You always get to have your own.