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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 21, 2016 21:01:32 GMT -5
Day Nine was going to be Superman, which I love; but, MDG covers it well. I will just add, it was like a gift from Krypton to comic book fans of the 70s. It was a well acted, well paced, exciting, serious take on Superman. he is an earnest, selfless hero and audiences loved it. Now, before you say, "Well, audiences are more cynical..." I will say "Horse Hockey!" You didn't get much more cynical than 70s cinema, pre-Star Wars. Star Wars and Superman proved that if you give audiences real heroes and villains, without hints of irony, they will respond. Hollywood hasn't done a good Superman since, in my opinion (tv has a better track record with the character), because they won't embrace what Christopher Reeve did. Anyway... My new entry, to steal a bit of thunder from MRP, is Flash Gordon and is related to the animated series. It is Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All. This is the original movie that Filmation created for NBC, when they realized they couldn't afford to do it as live action. They went to town on the animation, using rotoscoping to give realistic movement to people and objects (the shots of Ming's fliers landing, as well as Zarkov's rocket). It also has a more adult tone, since it was created for prime time, rather than Saturday morning. The film gives a start to things, as we open with the Nazis bombing Warsaw. Flash is looking for a contact, whose dying word is "Mongo." Flash has to get out and is returning home on a plane, along with reporter Dale Arden, who recognizes him from the Berlin Olympics. Then, Ming's meteors hit. From there it is the same roller coaster ride that Alex Raymond gave us, with Flash and Dale meeting Zarkov, blasting off in a rocket, crash landing on Mongo, and the adventures that follow. NBC was so impressed with the footage that they asked for a series. Filmation reused the footage across the first 4 episodes, then reused shots throughout the series. You can spot the difference in the footage. The movie also features some different voice casting. Ted Cassidy voices Thun, rather than Alan Melville, in the series, while David Optashu is Zarkov. Allan Oppenheimer is nowhere to be heard and Ming is instead voiced by Vic Perrin (voice of Dr Zin, on Jonny Quest, and Control, on the opening of The Outer Limits). Flash is still Robert Ridgely and Diana Pershing is Dale, while Melandy Britt gets to be even sexier as Aura. There is a sequence on Aura's ship where she is rotoscoped as she rather sexily lounges before Flash, that most definitely was not there on Saturday morning. This is the Greatest Flash Gordon of all, perfectly capturing Raymond, while not hamstrung by the restrictions of Saturday morning. The film wasn't actually broadcast until after the series had been launched, in a Hollywood twist of irony. Dino De Laurentiss saw footage of it, in development, and was so impressed he invested some money in it, while struggling with his own Flash film. I've only ever seen clips and exceprts of this, never the whole thing, something I need to correct. -M The linked video is the whole thing, on Youtube, from the bombing of Warsaw, through Ming aiding Hitler, to the duel with Ming at the end. The Barin and Aura relationship has a few wrinkles that aren't in the series, as well. Flash , Dale and Zarkov are in normal clothes for the first third or so, having come from Earth. |
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Post by String on Dec 21, 2016 21:07:08 GMT -5
#4 Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Anime played a large role in my childhood and early adulthood. Their quality of animation and a more mature level of storytelling went beyond the standard Saturday morning fare and even the afternoon cartoon blocks during the weeks. I was always on the lookout for this particular style of animation, for I knew that I would see something new, something different, something engaging. In the mid 80s, on HBO, I stumbled across a film entitled Warriors of the Wind. Recognizing it as anime, I was drawn in by the characters, action, music, and designs of the story. It wasn't until years later that I learned this film was an US edited version of Nausicaa, itself an adaption of Hayao Miyazaki's manga opus of the same name. Having watched the original, I still love it. As Otomo did with Akira, Miyazaki somehow condensed the overarching themes of his work into this delightful and thoughtful film. Princess Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind seeks to promote love and compassion in an post-apocalyptic world dominated by a growing poisonous forest with monsterous insects seeded among the remaining kingdoms of Man struggling to survive. Yet these Kingdoms, spurred by fear of the encroaching poisons, respond with the age-old human maxims of greed and war. Can there be a peace between these factions? And what hidden secrets reside within the heart of these forests that may provide hints as to the true future of the world?  Miyazaki tackles environmental concerns and primal human conditions in an amazing film that is widely seen as being the beginning of the famed Studio Ghibli. Viz Media has since released official English adaptions of the manga in several formats, the best perhaps being a seven-volume graphic novel series.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2016 21:31:17 GMT -5
I've only ever seen clips and exceprts of this, never the whole thing, something I need to correct. -M The linked video is the whole thing, on Youtube, from the bombing of Warsaw, through Ming aiding Hitler, to the duel with Ming at the end. The Barin and Aura relationship has a few wrinkles that aren't in the series, as well. Flash , Dale and Zarkov are in normal clothes for the first third or so, having come from Earth. I saw that, and I have a few days off around the 2 holidays so I am hoping I can find a window to sit and watch it all the way through (having a 1 hour block to watch something uninterrupted rarely happens, let alone two). I may have ot watch it in chunks, but I will get to it soon. -M |
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Post by DubipR on Dec 21, 2016 21:49:58 GMT -5
#4- THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ADELE BLANC-SECIn 2004, I bought a stack of used French BDs from a used book store. In that stack, there were 4 were from Jacques Tardi's infamous mystery solving heroine. In a genre I love reading, the late Victorian/Gaslamp era of Paris is given to monster, criminals and fantastic adventures. Tardi's scripts are whimsical as his line work matches it beautifully.  In 2010, director Luc Besson gave the world a live action version of Tardi's masterwork. Combining the elements from her 10 volume run, but taking a lot from the first, along with the super charming Louise Bourgoin as the titular Adele, the film is a high energy and fun Tintin-like film. Beautifully shot and a good little popcorn film.... 
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Post by foxley on Dec 21, 2016 22:03:28 GMT -5
#4- THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ADELE BLANC-SECIn 2004, I bought a stack of used French BDs from a used book store. In that stack, there were 4 were from Jacques Tardi's infamous mystery solving heroine. In a genre I love reading, the late Victorian/Gaslamp era of Paris is given to monster, criminals and fantastic adventures. Tardi's scripts are whimsical as his line work matches it beautifully. In 2010, director Luc Besson gave the world a live action version of Tardi's masterwork. Combining the elements from her 10 volume run, but taking a lot from the first, along with the super charming Louise Bourgoin as the titular Adele, the film is a high energy and fun Tintin-like film. Beautifully shot and a good little popcorn film.... I bought this when the dvd was on special and have still not got around to watching it. I may have to move it up my 'to be watched' pile. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 21, 2016 22:16:13 GMT -5
I've been meaning to check this out, as I love Besson's films and enjoyed Tardi's story. I need to pick this up, while I wait for Valerian & Laureline to be released.
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Post by hondobrode on Dec 21, 2016 23:36:54 GMT -5
 Persepolis is the autobiography of Marjane Satrapi, the daughter of liberal secular parents growing up during the Islamic Revolution of the late 70’s and 80’s. It’s a fascinating look from the inside out from this young child’s worldview and the cultural shift to an overwhelming theocracy of repression and cruelty.  From a brief yet powerful background on the country and people of Iran dating back to the Persians hundreds of years before Christ, it’s place in the ancient world and dealings with the Mongels, the Turks, Iraq, invaders, including Great Britain and the Allied forces, and the oil rich reserves. Given this framework, it helps to flesh out the true Iranian identity of who they are and why. Satrapi’s work helps to cast a light we don’t often see; that not everything or everyone is a terrorist, a fundamentalist or fanatic. Despite the narrow scope that we as the American public are mostly exposed to, there have been freedom fighters, not everyone follows without questioning, and there are good and moral peoples in every corner of the world; a humanist tale of hope that’s extremely powerful and unforgettable. The DVD can be had fairly inexpensively and is every bit as good as the graphic novel. Despite the non-commercial nature of the movie here in the states, it performed much better outside of the U.S., though critical acclaim came from 'round the globe, though some countries censored parts for violence, sexual or adult content, and certain political viewpoints opposite of the government. It's also been a subject of criticism in certain areas here. Ironically, one difference between the two is that the current day is in color compared with the black and white extremes of Marjane's memories of Iran. |
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Post by coke & comics on Dec 22, 2016 3:36:59 GMT -5
#4 Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind I have a sneaking suspicion this film will be showing up again on these lists. |
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Crimebuster
CCF Podcast Guru
Making comics!
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Post by Crimebuster on Dec 22, 2016 10:31:05 GMT -5
Before we start... does anyone want to get out?
4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
We've seen both of the other Captain America movies on people's lists so far, but I haven't noticed anyone else picking Winter Soldier (that I remember, anyway). For me, this is not just the best of the Captain America films, but the best Marvel film so far, period. It works as a superhero film, and as part of the MCU, but it also works on its own right as a taut political thriller. In fact, I'd argue this is one of the few times in the MCU where the nods to the extended universe actually hurt the film rather than helped it - the Easter eggs and multiple endings setting up other films were a distraction from a core story strong enough not to need any of that stuff. Not just a good superhero movie, a good movie, period.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2016 19:58:52 GMT -5
Day 9 X-Men Days of Future Past It was hard picking one movie out of the X-Men franchise and I've been trying hard not to repeat characters more than once even if they've had good films or tv shows or both. I'm picking this one because I got a face full of Logan's arse and the story was quite good too, even if it was a play on a couple X-Men issues from 1981 that I have a bit of bias for. Was glad to see the Sentinels finally get some love and I have a soft spot for Michael Assbender. Umm Fassbender. I can't help but love the way Magneto stood up to those who hated mutants. Prof X was a douchebag and deserved some comeuppance on the plane. One disappointment - wish Emma Frost was there. |
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 22, 2016 21:13:34 GMT -5
Before we start... does anyone want to get out? 4. Captain America: The Winter SoldierWe've seen both of the other Captain America movies on people's lists so far, but I haven't noticed anyone else picking Winter Soldier (that I remember, anyway). For me, this is not just the best of the Captain America films, but the best Marvel film so far, period. It works as a superhero film, and as part of the MCU, but it also works on its own right as a taut political thriller. In fact, I'd argue this is one of the few times in the MCU where the nods to the extended universe actually hurt the film rather than helped it - the Easter eggs and multiple endings setting up other films were a distraction from a core story strong enough not to need any of that stuff. Not just a good superhero movie, a good movie, period. This was on my list but I dropped it. But that elevator scene is what Cap is all about. He knew he would bust them all up, but still asked if anyone wanted out first. Awesome . |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Dec 23, 2016 8:43:45 GMT -5
4. X-Men '92 Often these days when they make a cartoon based on a comic book, the try to take the square parts and shove them into round holes.... we need x character to be a teenager to be more relatable, or we need y character even though she doesn't fit the theme to make sure we have diversity, etc. The result is mixed.. sometimes one goes 'hey, that's a cool idea!' and sometimes one says 'WTF!'. This X-Men cartoon simply takes the most popular point of the comic, and makes it into a cartoon. While it's not as good on mood and production as the Dini-verse or some others, it's simple, it tells good stories, and it works. Most importantly for me, it's what got my little brothers into comics... which gets it probably a couple spots higher than it deserved  
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,197
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Post by Confessor on Dec 23, 2016 12:17:57 GMT -5
#4: Watchmen (2009)  Obviously Zack Snyder's cinematic adaptation of Watchmen isn't a patch on the graphic novel. Everybody with any sense knows that. But I still think it's a pretty damn good film in its own right. Visually, it looks fantastic and the central message that we need to be watchful of our leaders and alleged protectors, still comes through loud and clear in the film. Sure, there's no teleporting giant squid or Black Freighter story within a story (at least, not in the cinematic cut), but the film is still masterfully paced, with good character development and, in the case of the squid, a substitute ending that works better for the film than the original ending would've. The central cast are pretty much perfectly cast, with Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach and Patrick Wilson as the Nite Owl particularly stealing the show for me. I also like the fact that the film had the balls (excuse the pun) to show Dr. Manhattan nude – as he is in the book – for at least part of the time. I'm sure that most of us here have moaned about what isn't in the film on occasion, but the basic story structure is there, along with some of the narrative's weightier philosophical components. There's also some spectacularly bone-crunching action scenes and Malin Åkerman in that skin-tight latex costume. 
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Post by Reptisaurus! on Dec 26, 2016 0:39:26 GMT -5
# 4. Agent Carter Season 1 (2015)  Maybe C & C is right; Long form adaptations of (long form) comic serials work better than self contained movies? Anyway, I enjoyed this '40s girl power period piece mini-series more than any of the Marvel films, muchly because it gave the characters room to grow and develop without having to spend half of their time green-screening away from CGI robots. (Although I haven't watched season 2 yet.)
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Post by coke & comics on Dec 26, 2016 1:14:27 GMT -5
Ninth Day
Nausicaa was my #3 choice.
Luke Cage was a strong contender. I decided two Netflix shows was enough for the list, and by a paper thing margin that I preferred the other two.
X-Men Days of Future Past was a contender. I love that movie.
X-Men '92 came on just as I was getting into the X-Men comics. I have a strong nostalgic affection for it and would be curious to watch it again and see how it holds up.
Superman: The Movie is in the appreciate-more-than-like category. I do appreciate it, though.
Incredible Hulk is a series I always enjoyed.
Have not seen any Flash Gordon cartoons.
And never heard of Adele Blanc-Sec. Gaps to fill.
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