Logan: The End of an Era

Ever since the release of Superman: The Movie in the 1970s, the film industry has always shown interest in the superhero/comic genre for financial purposes. Certain film franchises have carried the torch since then, such as Batman in the late 1980s into the 1990s. There’s no doubt however, that Marvel has ruled since the year 2000, and it started with to the X-Men franchise. Through the success of X-Men, new life was brought into Marvel which lead to the powerhouse that it is today. With the release of Logan, this film brings a close to this era that revived Marvel and introduced the world to Hugh Jackman.

Logan takes place long into the future where mutants are thought to be extinct due to certain circumstances, and the popular X-Man has fallen far from grace. He now has a job he hates, surrounded by people who have no idea who he used to be, and the only link to his past is a frail, demented Charles Xavier. When a nurse shows up with a girl that bares certain “traits,” all hell breaks loose and the last two X-men risk everything to help a new generation of mutants to keep the race alive. This film is probably the darkest and most brutal film I’ve seen from Marvel to date.

The film starts off slow and depressing which is understandable, and it doesn’t explain much about what happened to the mutants or X-men until the near end of the film. The character development of Logan throughout the film is terrific as he goes through several issues such as alcoholism and survivor’s remorse. The action was gritty and the film didn’t hold out when it comes to the fight scenes between Wolverine and certain enemies. The only disappointment in the film was there was no strong villain in the film; there’s just a bounty hunter working for certain mad scientist with a dark agenda.

Sir Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman’s final performances are nothing short of magnificent and heartbreaking. Sir Patrick Stewart was already known for his work in the series Star Trek: The Next Generation as the famous Captain Jean-Luc Picard, but nobody shined more than Hugh Jackman. Hugh Jackman’s career took off back with the 2000 release of X-Men and has become a Hollywood icon since then, starring in several X-Men projects and serious roles as well. To see his final performance makes the audience relieve the past 17 years and realize this was it and there’s no coming back. All that could be said after the film is, “Thank you for living up to the characters that so many fans have grown up watching and love.”

Logan is an emotional ride that fans from the beginning will connect to real fast and will leave the theater knowing it may be over, but there’s a new generation on the rise. There is no doubt that this film will succeed financially but if you’re someone new to the franchise or you’re not a fan of the dark direction, this film may not be for you. I can’t deny that I wasn’t a fan of the backstory as well, but this film delivers on several levels. I give this film a 9.5/10 because of the lack of a main villain but this film is well worth the price of an evening show. Go and see the end of an era, but don’t wait after the credits because there’s nothing there, enjoy.   

Ode to Robin Williams

A Brilliant Robin

Ever since you and Mindy met,
I have never been able to keep my eyes off you.
When I saw you sail in with Olive
and flex your big forearms,
I knew you were a brilliant Robin.

I never needed toys
cause I watch you for amusement.
I never had to go fishing with grandpa
because I was watching a king on the screen.

The way you made us laugh with Comic Relief.
It was like watching poetry in motion,
like you were the leader of a dead society.
And you touched our hearts with more than comedy.

You’ve been everywhere from cold Moscow
to seeing a good morning in Vietnam.
Just to see you do what you can do
is a real awakening.

The way you can change colors
by turning into a big blue clown,
making dreams of a pauper come true
easier than saying Bibidy Bobidy Boo.

You’ve even changed sexes,
and proved that being an old lady
can be funny and lovable.
It’s almost like you have artificial intelligence.

Then, there is your voice
that hides so many others.
If I didn’t know any better Jack,
I’d say you were a machine covered in furry skin.

You can’t be real.
It’s like you popped out of Neverland
because you never get old in spirit.
There’s always a fresh joke for you to tell.

No birdcage can hold you.
I would have an easier time
trying to catch air with hands.
Your humor is what dreams can come.

You have done so much a man can do.
It’s almost like you have Insomnia
because you never seem to sleep.
You should be man of the year.

If there was a museum of you,
I’d wait all night there with happy feet.
I’d take a picture of you,
and rush it to one hour photo.

I hope somehow I get to meet you someday.
So, until then I will say thank you for everything.
You are a brilliant Robin, and, until there is another,
Good Hunting Mr. Williams.

Those Lips

Full both in form and emotion.

It’s an insult to cover them

with flavored additions

that just remove from their

Natural beauty.

If touching her

with my unworthy curves

meant carried the price

of losing breath.

I would gladly welcome asphyxia.

Why would a pair of curves

be worth a precious gift?

Because having life and living it

are two different things.

To have been blessed by them is a miracle.

There are a million others

so why are these above all?

The answer is quiet simple

and yet, very powerful.

These lips belong to the woman I love.

How To Say I Love You

Don't say "I love you"
with a serpent's tongue.
Spreading your false energy
through my veins -- that's worse than
any venom and murders the heart the quickest.

Don't say "I love you"
like a child does a toy,
something that is to be enjoyed
for a short period time and then discarded
without a care for the one who is used
and will be left alone in dark misery.

Don't say "I love you"
at all.

Give that person a gift
at an unexpected time,
and give it for no reason.

Kiss that person,
not with lustful intentions
but with meaningful ones.

Do something for that person,
not because they asked
but because you want to for them.

Be there for that person
no matter what the reason,
even when they don't want you to.

Look each other in the eyes
and enjoy that moment of silence,
that moment where words have no purpose.

Finally, hold that hand.
That is always the first step
and will always be the most important one.

If you want to say "I love you"
and actually mean it.
Then don't say it at all.


Excerpt from Madness in a Recession, available in print and on Amazon.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Justice League Dark

DC Comics has released its newest animated film, Justice League Dark, which was anticipated for some time for several reasons. It’s a rated R version which is a step up from most of their films which are usually G or PG-13 and the film is rated R for good reason. Justice League Dark is exactly what the title implies because this was full of death, blood and adult language. This is the 3^rd film starring the 52 version of DC’s superheroes but even though they’re in the film, they aren’t the main characters. The main character is none other than John Constantine while superheroes like Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman make an appearance.

John Constantine is a character made famous by the film adaption back in 2005 starring Keanu Reeves. Coming from the pages of Hellblazer, John Constantine is a man of mysticism who acquired his gift after serial encounters with the supernatural. This lead to a series starring Matt Ryan recently that was cancelled shortly after its first season but hasn’t stopped Matt Ryan from reprising his role in DC adapted shows like Arrow. He’s also the voice actor for Constantine in this film as he leads a new league with the assistance of Batman against a supernatural foe. A league comprising of Zatanna, Estrigan, Boston Brand (Deadman) and Swamp Thing.  

A series of supernatural events start gaining the attention of the Justice League and all the evidence leads to the conclusion that this is more than the league can handle. Batman is lead to Constantine and persuades him to investigate the matter. For those who don’t know who any of the characters, there’s plenty of backstory on each character so you can be brought up to speed. A known enemy makes a surprise appearance and the film is left wide open for a possible sequel if this film does well financially. Is it worth the buy?

The action kicks off and is constant in the film with several battles but it becomes a problem with casting spells and speaking in tongues. There’re moments where you could get lost in the battle and it makes you wonder what just happened. The characters involved are known from their appearances in certain shows such as Justice League and several other DC shows except for Swamp Thing. Swamp Thing hasn’t made an appearance since his motion pictures that came out in 1982 and the television series in the 1990s. When the defender of the swamp finally arrives, it’s enough to bring goosebumps but it’s short lived which is disappointing because Swamp Thing is only in the film for a few moments.   

Justice League Dark is a decent action animated film but it has its flaws which kept this from being a great introduction to a new breed of heroes. The story was short and somewhat sweet but if you’re not a fan of mysticism or any of the characters above, then just pass this at the stores. It was good to see Swamp Thing back but it was like seeing Joker in Suicide Squad, I wanted to see more of him but unfortunately, he wasn’t considered important enough. This is still worth the buy if you’re a fan of DC and the characters involved but if you’re unsure then it’s worth renting. I still have give this film a 7 out of 10 because if you’re a DC fan then you should enjoy this but if you don’t know much then you might get turned off.

Death Didn't Part

A woman walks up a steep hill.

She does it twice every day before

she eats breakfast

and before she goes to sleep.

Her journey is long,

the air is hard to breath,

and without her cane

her muscles would give out halfway.

The hill is a high steep incline,

with rocks in certain locations.

If she were to lose her footing

then she would surely be killed.

She has never missed a day

and the weather is never a factor.

The clouds don’t control her desire

to make it up the hill.

She has struggled through

rain, wind, thunder, and snow.

She has crawled through

ice, mud and has never slipped.

She doesn’t forget the danger,

she knows all the risks

even at her old age.

It doesn’t stop her from her desire.

She goes when she has a cold,

when her temperature boils,

 and her arthritis is in effect.

What’s up that hill is her heart.

A cross that’s been there for a decade.

Underneath it, is the person

who gave his heart to her

and made a vow she broke.

They swore till death do them part

but she hasn’t left him

even after he left.

She lives, as if he still does.

She puts on a pot of coffee,

she goes up that hill,

kisses the cross

and says, “Good morning.”

During the day.

She keeps their chairs together,

 she’s watches their shows,

and tend to daily events.

She connects with his family and

shows his picture to the new generation.

She does what she can,

to keep his spirit alive.

At the end of the day.

She’ll put on a pot of soup

and go back up that hill

to kiss it and say something.

The one thing that death can’t control.

“I’ll see you tomorrow my love.”

2016: Enough Said

                There’s a difference between an event that makes you remember certain things about that day and last year. The events only take a few moments to happen but they stay with you the rest of your life and this year was like an event but with never ending moments. The year 2016 was an exhausting psychotic episode full of death, frustration and violence. From the endless round of celebrity deaths, a war between colors that matter and an election based on bigotry and corruption that has only lead to a divided nation. It’s been one of those years that makes you ask, “What happened to us in 2016?”

                Let’s start with celebrity deaths; about half my childhood died this year with the passing of icons like Prince, David Bowie, Alan Rickman and so on. Nobody seemed safe from start to finish, even when we were approaching the goal line. The biggest heartbreak came recently with the passing of music Icon George Michael who passed away Christmas day, then Hollywood legends Carrie Fisher then her mother just shortly after. It got to the point where people were wondering if celebrities should start heading for their bunkers. Celebrities weren’t the only ones that left us too early, there were victims and heroes.

                The only thing that happened more frequently than celebrity deaths were incidents involving either police brutality or deadly assaults on police officers. People were dying with incidents involving the police and some say it was unwarranted while others come to the defense of the police. Whichever side you believe in is something I’ll leave up to you because this isn’t about proving innocence. The result of these incidents were deadly attacks on police in several cities where many heroes fell. Rage and frustration were the motivation behind these attacks and it was also the motivation to get an outsider into office.

                Donald Trump won an election that will probably go down in modern American history as the most controversial campaign between two unpopular candidates. A choice between two candidates; one who appeared to be a corrupt politician and the other is a business man whose mouth is bigger than his brain. It seemed clear that we were all in trouble no matter who won this election and Donald Trump came out as the victor in this race. I wish him well as president and hope he does a good job but all things considered, people are on edge. The year can be described in many ways depending on your point of views and believes but the word I chose to describe is unique.

                Something brought out all the negativity in us and it showed for all the world to see and now we need to accept it. I understand that things are complicated and people just want things to be great again but we forgot the most important question. What is the point of being great if it brings out the worst in us? I hope things do get better after this year because I think I speak for a great deal of people when I say this year was almost too much to handle. Whatever next year brings, I wish you all many blessings, good fortune and good luck.