Posts Tagged ‘X-Men 2’
6 items.
Am I aware that everyone and their brother will be making references to X-Men 2 this week? Yes. Do I care? Nope.
I’ve gotta say that I’m more jacked up for this round of mutant mayhem than I was for the first. I always had a mental block against the first picture because Brian Singer was at the helm. “Wrong choice”, I thought. It was confirmed when, in several issues, Singer confessed to have never been a read the comic books. “Oh, snap!”, I thought. “We’re doomed.” The fact that he kept pushing that Martin Luther King Jr. VS Malcom X ideology in regard to the relationship between Professor X and Magneto only exacerbated matters.
I always felt like the first movie was good, but flawed. It delivered in many regards – most notably bringing Hugh Jackman to the role of Wolverine, who slam dunked it. Kudos also for bringing aboard Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan as the aforementioned Professor X and Magneto.
But the remainder of the film felt cobbled together. Like they tried to make more of it, but just couldn’t.
James Marsden as Cyclops was a dud. Ditto for Anna Paquin as Rouge. Ray Park, Tyler Mane and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos as villains Toad, Sabertooth and Mystique were gimmicky additions at best. Darth Maul, a pro-wrestler and a supermodel? Please.
Halle Berry, of course, was the worst casting possible for the role of Storm. It should have gone to Angela Basset, if you ask me. She was offered it, but I guess she turned it down. Can anyone name the last movie she was in? Supernova? The Score? Yeah… good work, Angie.
But I have high hopes for the sequel. I know this is probably the most naive statement I can make considering A). It’s a sequel and B). It’s a comic book movie. But for some reason, I have a feeling it’s going to turn out more polished. I know they definitely had more money to spend. My wish is that it will make me turn around and appreciate the first a little more. Kind of how The Two Towers did for The Fellowship of The Ring. I think that will be the case since they don’t have to waste time on exposition and can just jump right into the action.
We’ll see.
Good news. Selling more posters. We’re inching ever closer to the half-way point of what’s left in the series. I don’t think you want to be left without one, do you?
I gotta give props to all the fine lads who have helped me pimp the wares as of late. Many thanks to Zach of No Pants Tuesday, Brian of Briworld, Carrington at Movie Punks, Aric from Fish Strips and Mark with Jayhoo and Jawhoo for spreading the good word.
Speaking of good ole Jay and Jaw, you need to check out this strip and look in the background of the second panel. See how cool these posters are?! Even THEY get cameos now!
I think this is going to be a pretty busy week for yours personally. I’m going to try and bring a forum to the site in the next week or two because I want those who have bought posters to have a place where they can discuss their experiences. Oh, and talk about movies.
I’ll also have an announcement regarding a new affiliation I’m considering. But the details will have to wait until later.
Thanks.
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I can tell you this – and I don’t think Jared will mind (evil snicker) – but when Jared was a wee lad, he used to run around his house in a pair of light blue pajamas (with footies!), hands outstretched, imagining that he was creating ice bridges as the ever-loving Iceman.
Picture how secretly thrilled he must have been to learn the young Bobby Drake is featured prominently in X-Men 2.
It may also interest you to know that X-2 will receive the largest international opening in movie history on March 2nd when it is released in 93 countries simultaneously. That’s more countries at once than Spider-Man or either Harry Potter movie.
Media spin would have you believe that X-2 is such an IMPORTANT movie, so VITAL to the fabric of the world culture, that there was no alternative BUT to release it in so many countries. But the real truth is that Fox is just trying to put a tourniquet on illegal pirating. “E” for effort, guys.
Onto more pressing matters.
It’s been a long time coming, but I’ve finally decided to shack up with Top Web Comics. For those of you who have been long time readers, you may be aware of my stance toward the organization has been negative for quite some time.
But I’ve also expressed great hope since the boys from True Nuff took over not long ago. I’ve seen lots of changes since Fruitad’s reign – which I believe was the root of a lot of the negativity surrounding the site. As such, I’ve decided to take advantage of the exposure TWC provides.
Since starting the whole thing with the posters (only 60 left, by the way!) I’ve come to realize how much Theater Hopper means to a lot of people. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support. I would never want to lie to you or make it seem as if my word was no good. You may all be strangers, but if you’ve read the site at least once, I consider you a friend. I would hate to do anything to sully that relationship.
That said, I want to take the positive aspects of my work and bring it to a wider audience and, having all but exhausted alternative advertising (link exchanges, crossovers, forum participation) believe firmly that the TWC is what can take Theater Hopper to the “next level”.
I liken it to using the Yellow Pages to advertise a service. You may think that you’ve got the best widget factory in the world, but who is going to find out about you if you don’t advertise? Tossing aside the competitive nature of getting your site voted into the Top 10, I look at TWC like the Yellow Pages of web comics and now it’s time to put my money where my mouth is.
Of course, the realization of my goal will be decided by you, the reader. And if you can lend your support, I would be eternally grateful.
I promise not to bombard you with requests for votes or pull stunts that blackmail you into a response. If I’m going to do this, I want to be honest about it. So the banner beneath the comic is the only places you will see me beg for your approval. And don’t worry, I’m going to do something about that standard banner and whip up something with a little more personality.
If anyone has issue with this decision, please feel free to e-mail me and I will discuss it with you at length. Those of you who have been coming here from the beginning are the lifeblood of this operation and you should be commended for it.
Thank you so much for your support and here’s to the continued success of Theater Hopper!
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First off, let me apologize for being late with the strip. Due a freak electrical storm that fried my ethernet card on Wednesday night, I’ve been without access to the internet.
I thought things would be hunky-dorky since I bought a replacement card last night and installed it, but I still can’t connect. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve done something wrong, or if it is my woefully inconsistent local service provider. My card appears in my Network Connections window of my control panel and it says it’s enabled, but it just can’t make that leap to connecting to the internet. If anyone has any ideas, please contact me.
With that out of the way, how many of you are seeing X-Men 2 tonight? I should see EVERYONE raising their hands. That’s right. Even you in the back. I can see you.
The early reviews look to be pretty positive, so I’m excited for a good result. It’s been reported that Brian Singer was given a budget upwards of $157 million – and it shows.
Usually I’m of the persuasion that throwing more money at a picture makes things worse, not better. But, if anything, the first X-Men was sorely lacking in the amount of effects it could have exhibited. A healthy dose of greenbacks could be the only solution.
Personally, I’m pumped to see Nightcrawler on the big screen and I think the casting of Alan Cumming was brilliant. His addition to the cast, I feel, will be much better received than if they had introduced Gambit or Beast. (Extra points for them sneaking Colossus into the mix!)
I’ve always been an old-school Nightcrawler fan. I don’t like the direction his character has taken in the comics – that of a priest (I prefer his swash-buckling days) – but I always appreciated the dynamic of a man who outwardly looks like a demon, but inwardly is devoutly religious. The irony is palpable.
And, of course, the ability to teleport just kicks ass.
*BAMF!*
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May05
So if you’re like the rest of the free world, you probably saw X-Men 2: X-Men United over the weekend. And if there is a cooler movie suffering from a lamer subtitle, I haven’t heard it.
Never the less, the movie most assuredly handed my ass to me and with a polite grin and a nod said, “See this? This is your ass. Thank you.”
Did you hear the story about X-2 being the 4th highest grossing opening of all time? $85 million in three days. Not too shabby.
Frankly, though, I’m not sure if this is something we need to celebrate. And, if you keep it within context, is not as big of an achievement as you may think.
X-2 had the advantage of the one of the largest roll-outs in Hollywood history. Over 93 countries simultaneously and nearly 3,800 screens in this country. Yet, it couldn’t break the figures of the three highest opening weekend earners Spider-Man and the first two Harry Potter movies.
In fact, X-2 did almost $30 LESS business than Spider-Man did at this same time last year. Incidentally, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets was the previous screen record holder with 3,682.
But forget the figures. What about the movie! Excellent on all counts and delivered right where it counts. I got to see a lot of the stuff I wanted to see versus the first movie which I always felt like it was on a short leash.
When the school is attacked and Colossus armors up from flesh to steel, it has got to be one of the most cathartic movie moments in recent memory. Even if it was only a fraction of a second – to see it sent chills up my spine.
Of course, if you couldn’t tell from today’s comic, I thought Nightcrawler stole the show. He’s gets the best effect sequence right at the start of the movie. I won’t spoil it, but it sets things off in a good direction.
I was a little disappointed that he wasn’t given much to do during the middle of the film. He only got his 10 minutes at the start and then was kept handy in the last 5. I wish they used him more.
Same for Iceman. It was if he only got to use his powers twice, and he never did the trick where he covers his whole body in ice. Maybe they’re saving that for X-3.
A really great moment in the movie is when Magneto escapes from prison. Again, I won’t spoil it, but it’s very clever. And anyone who is familiar with the comics will get the reference to what he does to the guard.
By the way, did anyone else notice that they stuck in Dr. Hank McCoy (AKA – The Beast) as a commentator on a TV talk show running in the background. Sweet!
Obviously I could go on and on, but I won’t. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, you’d better get moving. After all, The Matrix Reloaded is only two weeks away. We wouldn’t want you to fall behind!
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“I’ve got the Dungeon Master’s Guide / I’ve got a 12-sided die / I’ve got Kitty Pryde / and Nightcrawler too / Waiting there for me / Yes I do, I do” Weezer
So X-men 2 was pretty cool. My faith in comic book movies is restored. I really didn’t think the first movie was all that great, but I definitely liked this one. Though still slow in places due to multiple storyline, the good parts of this movie definitely made me forget about that.
Nightcrawler was awesome. The “invincible” Alan Cumming proved his worth. With the little bit I know about his character, plus Iceman’s developing story, I am compelled to go stand in line for X-3. Well as long as they play The Matrix Reloaded for me whilst I wait.
The weekend I also saw The Pianist. It was absolutely great. I am glad that Adrien Brody won an Oscar for it. It was well deserved.
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Today’s blog will be uncharacteristically short for once. If only because there’s very little I can add to the comments I’ve made so far about X-Men 2.
All I know is that everyone in my circle of friends is still talking about it. “Did you see it?” “What did you think?” I’ve also been getting my fair share of e-mail pointing out that Gambit was indeed in the movie. Apparently a file on the Cajun appears when Mystique (disguised as Lady Deathstrike) is looking up file information on Magneto. I must be slipping in my old age because I totally missed it.
While I have your attention, can I ask you to vote for Theater Hopper at Top Web Comics. Please remember to do it everyday. I’m just kind of hovering around 18 on the list and want to see if I can crack into the inner sanctum a little further. Many thanks!
Other notes of interest.
I watched the MTV Icon Award ceremony for Metallica tonight fully expecting it to suck. I was pleasantly surprised to see the boys still have their chops. It gives me hope for their new album and makes me want to dig out all the old ones.
Of course, right now, I’m swimming in the deep end of audio bliss. The White Stripes new album “Elephant” is totally kicking my ass. It’s a little more rockin’ then their last one. Actually, you can consider it a return to form if you compare it to their earlier works. It’s very good.
I’ll be back later with more news.
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