My Fantastic Four review

My Fantastic Four review 

  

Intro: How can you screw up a simple premise? 

Fantastic Four: This movie is about five people going into space to study a cosmic cloud that's close to Earth. That trip was short-lived when the group got hit by a cosmic cloud a learn that they have superpowers. So, they have to figure out how they can become normal again. 

Despite this movie not being well-received, I enjoyed it. What really hurts this movie is that it lacks a good story. The movie bounces back a fourth about the group dealing with their powers and their personal problems. Showing their origin story serves no purpose in this movie; the director should've told it in the opening credits, the way it was done in Spider-Man 2. One would think that after learning that you can turn invisible or turn into fire, you would freak out, but no, they react like it's no big deal. Why!?! The dynamic between the Fantastic Four would have been better if they had talked to each other and hadn't acted impulsively. The characters do have arcs, but the movie doesn't have enough time to flesh them out. 

Johnny Storm/ The Human Torch is an immature hothead who doesn't think before he acts. His antics may be amusing at times, but they also give him a punchable face.  

Dr Reed Richards / Mr Fantastic reminds me of myself, as far as he thinks, but never acts. ( However, I think before I do anything, for the most part.) He's so caught up in his work that he doesn't notice anything around him or in front of his face. 

Susan Storm/ Invisible Woman is the voice of reason in the group. My gripe with her is that she doesn't tell Reed that she wants him. Word to the wise, ladies; if you like someone, tell him don't drop hits, give him a lap dance (My editor had me in a headlock.) I mean, be direct with him. 

The writers made Ben Grimm/ The Thing sympathetic by default. I say that because of how his wife reacts to how the cosmic cloud affects him, to be fair, a lot of people would react that way because looks do matter.    

Julian McMahon/ Doctor Doom (the main villain) is not a good adversary for the Fantastic Four. I say that because the movie doesn't do much with him. Plus, he reminds me of the Green Goblin; he would have been a better villain if he was more manipulative towards the Fantastic Four.       

The movie has funny moments, it embraces the source material, and the group plays off each other well. This movie could have been better if it had been rewritten and if things weren't so simple. Overall, this is not the worst superhero movie I've seen because of its entertainment value. I would recommend this if you like Batman 1989. 

Rating = Rental 

The Flash season one review

The Flash season one review 

 

Intro: So we have another Superhero with a tragic backstory but he isn't a brute, what are the odds of someone going through a traumatic event and still being perky? Did I just say Perky? Darn it! Now everyone is going to think I grew up watching Teletubbies. When I first learned that the CW was going to make a Flash TV show I had mixed feeling about it. On one hand, I was excited because they have a chance to make The Flash relevant outside the comics. Even though this character had a live-action TV show over twenty years ago and the general public is not familiar with him. I mean they don't know this character like they do Batman and Superman.  

Part of the reason why is because four characters took the Flash mental. With the Justice League movie coming out WB has a chance to expose these characters on the small screen instead of us having to wait three or four years for the movies to come out. On the other hand, I was worried about this series because the creators of Arrow are also working on this show, doing a show like Arrow is hard enough and I'm worried that they're taking on too much too soon. After seeing how season three of Arrow turned out my fears were justified. With that said let's get into what I think of this series.   

The Flash: This show is centered on Barry Allen/The Flash who is a forensic scientist at the Central City Police Department. One day he gets Super-Speed after being struck by lighting from an explosion at S.T.A.R lads, that explosion also created metahumans who misuse their powers. With the help of S.T.A.R. lads, Barry decides to stop the metahumans and get closure for what happened in his past.  

I'm surprised that this show was well received because I didn't think people want to see a light-hearted series, considering the lack of love Superman is getting these days. You can tell that the creators of Arrow are behind this show, I mean both shows have similar intros, same number of episodes per season, flashbacks and the public gave the Flash nicknames. OK, it wasn't as bad as Arrow they only gave him two nicknames they are the streak and the blur. Wait! The blur? Is that a Smallville reference? The pilot episode was OK, I wish the creators would make jokes about Barry learning how to control his power in the pilot but that would have been too cliche. I only like one of the crossover episodes. No! It's not the Flash vs Arrow episode. The fight between the Flash and Arrow was contrived. The mystery in this series was handled well even though we know who did what because we don't know the whole story behind his or her actions. The way this season ends will get you hooked for season two.   

Barry Allen/the flash is basically DC's version Of Peter Parker, as far as being smart, awkward and having a strong moral compass. I would like him more if he had a backbone when it comes to women or people in general but I digress. I'm I the only one who thinks it's sad that Barry can still be late even with Super-Speed?  

Cisco Ramon (one of the members of Star lad.) is the comic relief and inventor. He reminds me of one of the guys from the Big bang theory.  

Caitlin Snow ( another member of Star lads.) is cute I mean a doctor and a good supporting character due to her compassionate nature. We learn that she was affected by the explosion in an emotional way. What bugs me about her is that there is one episode that gave us the idea that she's into Barry but that went nowhere.  

Dr. Wells ( the head of star lads.) is Barry/the flash's mentor. He's also the most interesting character on the show, I say that because he's an enigma at first but we learn more about him later on. 

Iris West ( the love interest) is dead weight, besides being a Lois Lane clone I mean a reporter she's a damsel in distress. Also, her attitude rubs me the wrong way. I don't get why Barry is into her, considering that she plays with his emotions. I wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole.  

Joe West is a Central City Detective and Iris Father/ Barry's Guardian. He didn't make the best impression at first but later on, you see that he care about Barry. He's Barry's voice of reason and he can be funny at times.  

I don't have much to say about Eddie Thawne ( Joe's Partner/Iris boyfriend.) because we don't know much about him. The only thing we learn about him is that he has a connection with one of the villains. He seems to be a stand-up guy. I feel sorry for him because of how he's treated in this season. I'm fond of how the love triangle between him, Iris and Barry was handled for the most part.   

Leonard Snart/ Captain Cold is the only villain that stood out to me, he's a jewel thief who's crafty, ruthless and patient. Whenever Captain Cold and the Flash face each other Captain Cold outsmarts him. He should have been the main baddie, heck he should have been the villain to stop in the Arrow and Flash crossover episodes. 

The Reverse-Flash (the main Villain) is scary and threatening. I'm impressed with the way he manipulates everyone, well almost everyone. It's hard for me to consider him a baddie because he doesn't want what villains want like power, revenge, world domination and destruction. He does want to kill someone however that's not his main objective. My gripe with him is his plan has flaws and we don't know what motivates him to do certain things. 

The problems I have with this show are the plot holes, episodes can be repetitive and the show's theme. the theme of this season is moving on, some characters in this series have lost someone or something and they have to learn how to move forward, the way this show handles that theme was hit or miss. Episode 15 made me mad, when you watch the episode you'll understand why. 

Overall this is a good first season and I'm glad that it's getting another season. I would recommend this if you like mysteries and science. You'll have fun figuring out if the science in this show is legit.     

Arrow Season Three review

Arrow Season Three review 

Intro: Mr. Guggenheim ( One of the creators of this series), what made you think catering to the Olicity fans was a good idea? If it were up to me, I would tell them to go watch Twilight if they want to see two people talk about how much they love each other. Just because this show is on a network that caters to women doesn't mean it should be like every other series on that network.  

Arrow Season Three: This season takes place five months after Team Arrow stopped Slade Wilson/ Deathstroke and his army from destroying Starling City, and things have gotten better since then. I mean, crime has dropped to the point where Oliver is considering having a life outside of being the Arrow. Well, that fantasy turns into a nightmare when an ally of Team Arrow is murdered. So Team Arrow has to figure out who did it, plus deal with the aftermath of this character's death. 

Man O man, this season was a mess. I'm not that angry about it because two of the three creators left this series to work on The Flash. Now that's not a good reason for how this season turned out; however, I knew they were biting off more than they could chew. The problem with this season is the writing. I mean, for this season to justify itself, the writers have to make the characters stupid. For example, the killer and the main villain's plan makes no sense. Sorry, I can't elaborate on that. Team Arrow trying to figure out who killed their friend wasn't a good mystery because A there weren't a lot of suspects, and B the mystery only had red herrings. The Mystery in the Flash was better than this, but I digress. 

Another issue with this season is the plot holes. For example, at the end of season two, Oliver is broke, and he's still broke, but we see him travel in some episodes. What is he doing for money? Here are four other things about this season that bothered me. First of all, episode 9 plays with my emotions and insults my intelligence. Second, we lost two more characters this season we might lose another one next season. Third, episode 20 set up a plot point that could continue in the next season, but this season rushed it. Finally, the writers are playing the hokey pokey with the world this show sets up. This series is part of a world that has superpowers and supernatural elements in it, but they still want to keep the realistic tone. Are you kidding me? Also, the way this season ends feels like a series finale.     

I want to talk about the romance between Oliver and Felicity. This bugs me. No! It's not because I'm anti-romantic, which I'm not; it's because this romance came out of nowhere with no build-up. WOW! Just like Bruce and Natasha in Avengers: Age of Ultron. I know last season teased the idea of these two having feelings for each other; however, teasing a romance is not the same as setting one up. The reason why the creators did this is because they're wimps, I mean, they saw pictures and videos from Olicity fans wanting them to be together. Plus, they don't like Laurel, the love interest Oliver was suppose to be with, don't worry, I'll talk about her later. Look I don't mind the idea of Oliver and Felicity dating, however, I don't like that the writers are dragging out this romance by making it a will they won't they situation. Whenever these two are together, this is what I hear.  

Oliver: I love you! 

Felicity: Me too!

Oliver: But we can't be together. 

Felicity: You promise me forever!  

Oliver: I can't live without you. 

Felicity: I want your Bod. 

As far as the flashbacks goes I was outraged that Oliver didn't spend the whole five years on the island. I know the series drops hints that he wasn't always on the island; however, doing this undermines how dangerous Lian Yu is or suppose to be.  

I was hoping this show would borrow elements from the show Lost. People were already comparing this to Lost, plus this show borrows Batman stories and villains. The Flashbacks focus on how Oliver knows Amanda Waller, and they're trying to find a terrorist in Hong Kong. My grievances with the flashbacks (Besides the story being contrived) are the way most of them connected to what's going on in the present; it feels convenient. Also, the lessons he learned in those flashbacks contradict what he had learned before. 

Let's talk about the characters. 

Oliver Queen/The Arrow is an idiot this season; he does things to put people in danger. Also, this season would have ended sooner if ( My editor censored me for spoiling anything.) offer and ( Censor.) is down. I don't like the way he treats Laurel. For the most part, I understand why he acts this way towards her, but it makes him look like a hypocrite. The writers did something interesting with Oliver towards the end of the season; however, they didn't pull it off well. As far as Oliver being conflicted about being the Arrow and wanting a life is problematic because this makes him look disingenuous about fighting crime. I mean, why is he doing this if his heart is not in it?      

Speaking of Laurel, I have good news and bad news about her. The good news is that she's useful this season; the bad news is that she does things that make her unlikable. Come on, guys, this is the third season, and you still can't make Laurel likable? 

I don't like the idea of Diggle having a child because it turns him into a Mr. Mom. This also creates tension between Oliver and him about whether or not he should still be a part of his crusade now that he's a father? Plus, his subplot wasn't resolved or continued in this season. 

I was annoyed with what the creators have done with Thea. I mean, what's the point of her learning how to fight if she ends up being a damsel in distress? Also, Thea looks better with long hair.  

Malcolm Merlyn/ The Dark Archer is conniving. What bugs me about him, besides the fact that he's still alive, is that his focus episode ruined his backstory.  

Roy/Arsenal is now Oliver's/The Arrow's partner in crime; they have a big brother-little brother relationship. His subplot didn't have much of a payoff.   

Quentin Lance is this show's version of James Gordon now that he's captain of the Police department. Wait! How did that happen? I mean, how did he go from detective to captain in a few months? I'm not saying it's not possible; however, that's a big leap.  

Felicity is annoying this season, besides doing what she does best, all she does is cry, complain, and second-guess Oliver. Her focus episode was pointless; however, it made us question how she go from what she was to who she is now?  

Ray Palmer/The Atom is Mr. Sunshine. My gripe with him is that he doesn't add anything to the story, besides being in this series for world-building; he's just here to give Oliver and Felicity more drama. (To be fair, them arguing over Ray is justified; however, it's not for the right reason.) Also, I think it's funny that he wants to be a hero, but he does things that are not heroic. Also, I don't buy his motivation to become the Atom because it feels lame. What can I say about his Atom suit that's already been said?     

Amanda Waller is an ice queen who is the head of A.R.G.U.S. (Argus is DC's version of Shield.)

I'm not happy with how this series handled Ra's al Ghul because the writers turned him into Dr. Seuss. I'm not kidding about that; all he does is stand around and tell stories. One would think that a man who is known as the demon's head and has an army of assassins would be a bigger threat than he was in this season, but that's not the case. To be fair, there are two moments where Ra's is intimidating; one is a scene where he kills eight assassins by himself. I would have been impressed if he did it unarmed, but I digress. I'm also fond of how Ra's manipulates Oliver. It's hard for me to consider him the main villain because the Killer manipulated the conflict between Ra's and Oliver.  

OK, here are the things I liked about this season. I like that it starts off with a mystery because doing that gives us something different. I enjoy some of the episodes, especially the team-up episode. This episode is about The Arrow and The Flash trying to stop a renegade A.R.G.U.S. agent. This show continues the theme of family. The writers tried to make identity and responsibility themes, but that didn't work. The way this season ended left some things unresolved, doing that gives us something to look forward to next season.   

The bottom line is this is a bad season; hopefully, season four will bounce back.    

My Avengers age of Ultron Review

My Avengers age of Ultron Review

Intro: If you think Iron Man 2 suffers from setups this movie wants you to hold its beer. 

Avengers Age of Ultron: The movie takes place after Winter Soldier and the Avengers come together to capture the remaining Hydra agents. Meanwhile Tony/Iron Man is working on a peacekeeping drone program called Ultron, something goes wrong and Ultron wants to eliminate the human race. So, the Avengers have to stop him before it's too late. 

This movie is disappointing, part of the reason why is because it wasn't an improvement over its predecessor. The movie tried to have a better story and an interesting adversary, but the creators wasted this movie's potential. What also hurt this movie is the world-building and advertising future marvel movies, this really ruined the ending. Two new characters have a vendetta against one of the Avengers. They had a chance to get their revenge, but they didn't take it, why!?! 

There is another scene where the Avengers saw their fears and the writers don't do much with it, this bugs me because we see that it affects them. Also, they did something that could help them stop Ultron, it was big deal and yet they don't have a strong reaction about it what gives? Other problems I have with this movie are I don't find some of the jokes funny, references to past movies, not using two other comic book characters and the conflict between Ultron and the Avengers isn't flashed out. The movie would have been better if it was longer because it lacks focus. 

Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow is humanized in this movie due to her relationship with Bruce Banner/The Hulk, plus we learn more about her backstory. My gripe with her is that this relationship came out of nowhere. I'm surprised that she doesn't have a romantic relationship with Hawkeye. 

Speaking of Hawkeye he's the glue of the team and he provides humor.  

Nick Fury doesn't do much in the movie until the last act, he just reassures the Avengers. 

Bruce Banner/The Hulk has embraced the idea of using the Hulk as a weapon. Because of that he's more comfortable around the team and can help them with using his brain. Despite all of that he's still timid about the idea of being with Natasha. 

Tony Stark/Iron Man Is still obsessed with protecting the world from future threats, that's understandable because he's also driven by his love for Pepper Potts. I wish the writers would set up Ultron in Iron Man 3. I don't understand why he didn't use Jarvis for the drone's A.I. instead of creating a new one. If the creators did that it would add some emotional weight to whether or not Tony should destroy him because he isn't happy with how this program turned out? 

Ultron (the main villain.) is like Tony Stark as far as having his characterization. This bugs Ultron to the point where he throws a temper tantrum. I like his motivation he wants to kill mankind because he wants it to evolve, this involves mass extinction of humans and making life artificial. Basically, the dispute between the Avengers and Ultron is emotions vs logic, like I said the Avengers didn't question his motivation or how they feel about evolution or mass extinction? What bothers me about Ultron is that his body is too fragile and he's not as dangerous as he could have been. 

Here are good things about this movie. The fighting among the Avengers is done a lot better than the last movie and their interactions are great. The last act makes the Avengers look like heroes because it involves them saving people. The movie doesn't feel like it's centered on Tony Stark/Iron man. The movie can be funny at times. All in all this movie was a missed opportunity due to the setups and promotions of other films. I can kind of forgive that because this movie had to cover a lot of ground. I would recommend this if you want to see if this movie works better than the last one or not. 

Rating = Average        

My Avatar the last Airbender review

My Avatar the last Airbender review

Intro: Whoa! Anime better watch their backs. 

Avatar the last Airbender: This series is about four divided nations living in peace they are the Water Tribe, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation and Air Nomads. They also have people that can control the element of their respected nations called benders. That changed when the fire nation starts a war against the other three nations and to make things worse the Avatar (is the Jedi in this series as far as keeping the peace.) didn't show up. The war has lasted 100 years and the fire nation has the upper hand. Meanwhile, a boy name Aang resurface after being frozen in ice, he's not only the avatar but the Last Airbender. After getting Aang up to speed he has to learn the other three elements to stop the fire nation from winning the war. 

This cartoon can rival Anime, I say that because this series borrows from Asian culture to create this world. I'm surprised that a cartoon-like this is on Nickelodeon because that Network is known for its goofiness. I'm not saying that this series doesn't have funny moments however it doesn't just prove that it also offers serious moments as well. This show was popular enough to get a sequel series, graphic novels and a live-action movie that we all wish was better or didn't exist at all. I'm fond that this series lasted three seasons because it feels like a trilogy and less is more. This may be a simple story, but you don't mind it because of the characters, story arc's and asking are their lines you should or shouldn't cross when it comes to war? 

The ability to bend the four elements is based on martial art styles, science and characters' emotional state of mind. Season one is considered the weakest of the three seasons I can understand why some of the episodes feels like filler and they could have been done better. However, that season serves as setup for what's going to happen in the future. This series shows how this war affects people, some of them are under the fire nation's thumb, others are broken, some want revenge for what this war took from them and others are in denial about the war. Speaking of revenge, I enjoy the episode from season three that deals with this subject because it played with our expectations. The recap episode is one of the best episodes of its kind, the reason why is because it's played as a comedy and it helps the characters to reflect on themselves and the choices they made. 

Aang is a fun-loving, goofy and adventurous boy who goes through a hero's journey. That journey is not simple I mean how is he supposed to learn fire bending if the fire nation is after him? Also, we see that he's having a hard time winning the other nations over his side not just because he was missing for 100 years it's because of the actions of the past Avatars. There are episodes where we see Aang beat himself up over the guilt of not only the things I mentioned but the responsibility of ending the war and why he was in the ice? Aang can be naive at times for example he's unaware of someone being crafty. Plus, that can create problems and I'm disappointed that there are no long-term consequences for his actions. I was let down by how Aang got out of his dilemma because it's such a cop-out and it raises more questions about this world. 

Sokka is not only the comic relief character but the skeptical one and the brains of the group. He has an arc of learning what it means to be a leader because he can be immature from time to time and he doesn't feel important. We also see how his father leaving him to fight the war affects him because he left him at a time when he needs him the most. I'm not crazy about the episode that deals with Sokka being sexist because A the way it was done was unfair and B it was done better with Katara. Also, I don't buy that has a love interest because he didn't make the best first impression on her, plus no woman wants to be with a guy who can't make her feel safe.

Katara is a water bender and Sokka sister. She's the motherly figure of the group as far as being kind, caring, compassionate and protective. Her motherly nature can make her a party pooper and not knowing when to pick and choose her battles. We also see that she has a dark side due to how the death of her and Sokka's mother affects her. Some fans are not happy with who she ends up with between the three guys that they suspect she would get with because she showed no romantic interest in the person in question. The only complaint I have with her is she doesn't respect the customs of her sister tribe. 

Toph is an earth bender from a royal family. She's a tomboy who can be sarcastic and independent. Her independent nature causes conflict between her and Katara because she doesn't like to be coddled. The series makes jokes about her being blind without offending the blind, I hope. her being blind makes her one of the strongest earth benders. 

Zuko (one of the villains) is Prince of the fire nation. He's hotheaded, stubborn and comes off as a bite entitled. With that said there are moments in the series that shows that he does have a heart. That makes it hard for me to consider him a bad guy because he hasn't done anything bad besides being a foil for Aang and the others, the reason why is because he's trying to regain what he lost. I'm surprised by how much he parallel's with Aang. He also has daddy issues part of the reason why is because he was overshadowed by his sister. 

Speaking of his sister man Oh man Princess Azula is a piece of work. She's manipulative, self-centered, spoiled, arrogant, heartless, conniving, sadist, (three minutes later), narcissistic, pretentious, insufferable, unstable, poisonous, high maintenance, butt infested, wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole and punchable face character I have seen in a long time! (I'm breathing hard after saying all that.) I'm sorry this character can really gets under your skin. Now some of these traits can be useful in combat but not when it comes to dealing with friends, family, or interacting with people in general. Why she's like this is understandable she grew up privileged and her being like this is her way of maintaining power. The one good thing I can say about her is she does care about Zuko in her own twisted way. 

Uncle Iroh is Zuko's uncle who joins him in his search for the avatar. he's a laidback and wise man who can be funny in his own right. We later learn that he was once a fire nation general and one of the strongest fire benders, but he gave up his status after learning that his son was killed in the war. In one episode we get the sense that he wasn't there for his son. You can tell that he loves Zuko because he stood by him through thick and thin even when Zuko is rude to him. To be fair Uncle Iroh can be annoying at times I mean he doesn't help Zuko capture the avatar, what gives Uncle Iroh!?! 

Fire Lord Ozai (the main villain) is an egotistical power-hungry madman. He isn't a loving father either because of what he did to Zuko and not addressing Azula's many bad traits. I like how this series build him up, we didn't get to see him until the third season. Also, he's a background villain as far as letting other people do his work. He has his people believe that this war will make the world better when really all they do is cause death and destruction. 

One of the many problems with this series is the plot holes for example how can you tell who's a bender and who isn't? Also, if the avatar hasn't been seen in 100 years what makes the fire nation think he's hiding all this time? It's hard to consider destiny the theme of this series because it only applies to three maybe four characters in this series also people say that word too many times. There are plot points that haven't been resolved and the climax is a cat and mouse game for the most part. It's hard to buy that this war lasted 100 wars because the other nations are not affected by it the way that air Nomads were. 

I'm mad at myself for not checking this show out when it first aired because it deserves the praise and reputation it got. This is one of the best cartoons of all time. 

The good, the bad and the ugly of Hypergamy

The good, the bad and the ugly of Hypergamy 

Forgive me if I'm all over the place with this topic; I have to be to make my point about this subject. 

For those of you who don't know what Hypergamy is, it's women marrying or dating the top men. Basically, if you heard of the 80/20 rule, that's what this is. Despite my complaints about this, I don't have a problem with women wanting the best man; no one else should either, because it will make you look like a hypocrite. For example, when you were in school, you picked kids to be on your baseball team; are you going to tell me that you're not going to pick the best players? If you're running a business, you want to hire the best people to do the job right? Hypergamy has its benefits; it can give us the push to do better and maintain standards.

One of the many issues I have with it is that not every woman is going to get the man of her dreams. Let's look at women's standards. They want a man that's over six feet tall, has a seven-figure income, a six-pack (That's a fair request if she's willing to stay in shape), and have the magic stick. I'm going to break down why these requirements are unreasonable. The average height for men is 5'9, the percentage of men who are between 6'0-6'2 is over 14%. There are 3.9% of men who are over 6'2. 20% of men make six figures a year, now imagine the percentage of men who are making seven figures. 

The average Joe makes between 42 to 50 grand a year. If that's not enough money for you, then I don't know what to tell you. Also, making six or seven figures is not rewarding because you don't get to keep all of it. As far as having a magic stick goes, you need to have a nine-inch pee-pee and know how to satisfy women in bed. First of all, the average pee-pee size is six inches. Second, you need to develop a good rapport with him in the bedroom if you want the other part. If you're not willing to put in the work, you're going to be disappointed.

To the women who want a man who have these things, how often do you meet a man like that? If the answer is not very often, then what does that say about your standards? I'm not trying to shame women for having expectations; I'm trying to get them in touch with reality. I'm surprised that women who are out of shape want the top men. What made them think that they can get that kind of man? (Well, they have a chance if they're pleasant to be around; however, the odds are still stacked against you.) Do you see what I mean when I said women treat us like illegal immigrants? They expect us to not only look good but make a truckload of money and were suppose to accept them looking a mess. Am I the only one who finds this insulting? What can women give us that they didn't give to another man? If you are not a virgin or had more than three sex partners, you have no right to ask for the top men. 

This is one of the many reasons why I don't take feminism seriously because hypergamy works against feminism. For example, if you make 125 grand a year, who are you going to attract? Also, if you're 6'4, how do you expect to find a man taller than you? If there is a way for men to get taller, I wouldn't recommend that they take it because of the health problems that come with being as tall as an NBA player. Basically, feminism is undermining men's ability to live up to their expectations. 

Another gripe I have with hypergamy is that it has no limits, because of that, women don't know how to settle for one person. No woman can look me in the eyes and tell me that they wouldn't consider leaving their boyfriend or Husband for someone taller and has more money. ( Unless she's a traditionalist.) Heck, I bet they'll flirt with him. This is one of the two ways Hypergamy can hurt boys and men. If women can't be happy with one person, then what's the point of men trying to woo women if they can't be satisfied? Would you be outraged with your boss for firing you for someone more qualified to do your job, even though you have been doing a good job for years?

Another way hypergamy can hurt men is in the society we live in. We don't live in a society that encourages men to develop their survival instincts; you need that if you want to be the protector of the family. If you don't know how to survive in the wilderness, then that's what I'm talking about. We shouldn't put so much stock in making money to the point where it defines us; money has no value in certain places, like a prison. Also, hypergamy can make it hard for men of different age groups to work together because we are playing in each other's sandboxes. As far as older men getting with younger women and young men hooking up with older women. Being the top candidate has its downsides, like it can put a target on your back. Let's look at the WWE, for example. 

They have a PPV event called the Royal Rumble, in this event, the wrestlers have to throw each other over the top rope until one man is left in the ring. The Big Show is the biggest and tallest wrestler the WWE have. Whenever he enters the ring, the other wrestlers gang up on him. I laugh at him whenever he gets upset when that happens to him because he's bigger than all of them; they're not going to treat you like everyone else, and he shouldn't expect that. Another example is bucks. Female bucks are attracted to the male buck with the biggest horns. The downside to that is that it makes them more likely to die from arthritis. Do you see what I mean? 

Hypergamy is hurting women as well because their standards are keeping them from finding a man. American women are not doing the best job at practicing hypergamy. I mean, if they really want the top 20% of men, why can't they stay married to them? Also, if they want a man who can protect and provide for them, why didn't they move to Japan? Asian men are some of the smartest people on the planet, and they know martial arts. I'm not saying that to stereotype them, I'm saying that because it's a part of their culture. How can women expect men to be considerate about what they want when they don't consider what we want? For example, if you don't care that men have to work 12 or 14 hours a week to start their own business, why should I care that you have to starve yourself to get in shape and keep that figure?

Women wanting the top man can have its downfalls. For example, let's say you're on an Island, there are ten women and ten men on this Island. The ten women get knocked up by two out of the ten men, but they don't want to do anything for them or their kids. So, they go to the other eight men, and they don't want to help you either because you gave them the cold shoulder. Do you see what I mean? You can't have it both ways; you can't say most men are beneath you and expect them to get you out of a jam. This is why men with deep pockets should be picky about who they date, not because every woman wants your money, it's because you weren't there for him before he built his wealth. If she wasn't there for you beforehand, how will she be there for you after the fact? 

Hypergamy can hurt society. You can't have a society without structure; you can't have structure if everyone is not willing to do their part. Because women want men of power, you're not encouraging teamwork. Do you think a Basketball team can succeed if everyone wants to be the shooting guard? Can a business succeed if everyone wants to be the CEO or CFO? White-collar men wouldn't make a lot of money if it wasn't for the labor of blue-collar men. I'm not saying white-collar men can't do the same jobs as blue-collar men, but they can't spread themselves so thin. 

No one enjoys doing anything without recognition or compensation; that's how you create disgruntled employees and players. There was an episode of Hey, Arnold that dealt with this. That episode was about Arnold being invited to a party, but the host ends up putting everyone out because of her high standards, so she ends up partying with the kids she considered losers. Do you see where I'm going with this? I'm not saying everyone should get the same praise or benefits; however, you can't promote the idea of there's no I in team and not give everyone acknowledgment.   

Before I wrap this up, I want to ask this question can women overcome Hypergamy? If women become aware of hypergamy and its downside, then it's possible. However, it's an uphill battle. Women need to handle hypergamy the way companies and neighborhoods do. They don't just hire the most qualified person; they also want someone who has a good temperament. Well, if you're better than most people on the job, having a good temperament might not be a big deal depending on what you do for a living. Plus, society doesn't make a big deal about having a good temperament as they do qualifications, but I digress. As far as neighborhoods go, money is not enough to live in a nice area; you have to be classy and maintain your property if you want to be a part of that community. 

My point is that a man's character should matter just as much as him being on top of the food chain. I have mixed feelings about hypergamy; on one hand, it helps boys and men know what to expect from women. On the other hand, I wish it was compartmentalized because knowing this doesn't help boost morale, as I explained in this post. Also, trying to live up to women's standards is problematic for three reasons. First of all, you're not sincere about bettering yourself, because of that, you're not going to make much progress. Second, we're kind of sending the wrong message to women, I mean, we can't say women's standards are unreasonable and still try to live up to them. Finally, it doesn't help women to pick men who are compatible with them when men strive to be the type of man they think they deserve.   

That's all I have to say about this subject, for now. Do you think the benefits of hypergamy outweigh the bad?   

My Project Almanac review

 My Project Almanac review

Intro: Did this movie need to be a found footage film?

Project Almanac: This movie is centered on a boy name David Raskin who is trying to get accepted into MIT. His luck seems to turn around when he discovers a device that can travel through time by his deceased father. After he got it working him and his friends use it to get things to work out in their favor. That’s short-lived when the consequences of time travel catch up to them, so they have to fix things before the damage is permitted.

This movie may be the chronicle of time travel but it’s not as good as that movie. I was on the fence about this movie because we have so many books, movies and tv shows that deals with time travel is there anything new that can be done with this concept? The filmmakers seem to be aware of this, so they subvert our expectations when they time travel. Also, time travel is limited in this movie. The device can take you back three weeks and minutes last hours when you time travel. In other films like this time travel is used to fix a dire situation that’s not the case here. For the most part, they are using it for fun. The movie addresses the dos and don’ts of time travel. I like the teens because they remind me of actual teens. Plus, they are the kinds of teens parents want.

One of my many issues with this film is the rules of time travel in this movie doesn’t make sense and the plot holes that comes with it. OK, I’ll try my best to address my next gripe without spoiling anything. Jessie Pierce is a girl that David has a crush on and she plays a role in why things are out of control. This is one of the reasons why we have rape victims because women keep playing mind games with men by giving them mixed signals and not giving guys a strong enough hint that you’re into them. If you don’t want to be put in this situation stop doing that! If you want to let him know that you like him make him brownie, show him what you look like in a bathing suit, gave him a lap dance, or… (before I can finish my editor put me in a chokehold)

Me: OK! OK! I’ll behave!

I’m sorry I didn’t mean to go off topic it’s just that I’m tired of seeing this in Rom-Coms and in real life. Back to the movie, the way it ended makes you want to give David a stunner. I wish this movie would deal with how time affects teens. I mean between going to school, after-school programs, homework and house chores they have no time to unwind. Overall, this is an OK film that I would recommend if you’re a sucker for these films.

Rating = Rental

My thoughts on Heroes reborn

My thoughts on Heroes Reborn 

 

Before I give my thoughts on this series I want to talk about the past series. I'm surprised that this became a hit because superhero media wasn't as popular as it is now when this show aired. Really when you have a show that rivals Lost, you're doing something right. Heroes is like X-Men but without action and comic book elements. (I was going to say this show reminds me of Unbreakable but that would be too obvious.) This show is basically about people learning that they have powers and dealing with how these powers affect them and the people around them. I appreciate that this show didn't go in the obvious direction as far as having all these people team up kind of. 

Season one is my favorite (despite it having a weak climax.) because it has a simple story with other subplots. My favorite character is Hiro because he embraces the idea of being a hero without being cheesy. The last three seasons not so much, the only good thing about season four is how it ended. It ended with the general public knowing that people with superpowers exist. There was suppose to be a season five in comic book form but I don't know what happened to that. 

Now onto what I think of this series. I'm happy that this series is despite how the last three seasons turned out. I want to see how the writers will follow up on how season 4 ended. The only direction the writers can go that I can think of is the Day of Future Past direction, as far as having the heroes being hunted, imprisoned or used as weapons. In order for this or any story the creators come up with to work they have to avoid making the same mistake in the past, as far as making characters too powerful, bringing characters back from the dead and adding new characters that serve no purpose. That's all I have to say about this for now what do you think should happen in Heroes Reborn?           

My 2014 movie reviews

My 2014 movie reviews 

Intro: Oh, great a Lego movie this is going to be a shameless toy commercial. Don't take my word for it, look at Bionicle, that toy line came with a story. That story was adapted into novels, video games, and direct-to-video movies. Despite all of that it was discontinued or forgotten. This movie is going to be awful. I can't wait to hear IGN and Rotten Tomatoes reap this movie a new one. 

After the movie came out.  

Boy, do I feel stupid I mean considering the success of the Lego video games I should have seen this coming. Wait a minute! People despise Power Rangers and Barney for being cheesy, but they would eat this movie up for its cheesiness. What the fudge is going on here!?! 

The Lego Movie: This movie is centered on a construction worker name Emmet who living his life. One day he's mistaken as the special and he's torn between two groups who want him. On top of that, he doesn't have the abilities of the special, so Emmet has to do what he can to protect his world.

This movie is a love letter to this toy line! The story doesn't sound special (no pun intended) but how it's told is what makes or breaks that story. Heck, you can argue that the story is a parody of the Matrix because it was told with charm. I'm impressed with how realistic the Legos look it's hard to tell if it is stop motion or CGI. The movie captures the creativity of using Legos and the nostalgia we had for them. It also makes fun of the Lego toy line like using the instructions, the Lego's limited movement and not having a lot of facial expressions. Not only that the movie pokes fun at the business side of Lego world. There is foreshadowing of why things play out the way they did in this movie. The theme of this movie is conformity vs individualism, it deals with the ups and downs of both ideas. The films also deal with creativity and teamwork.   

     

Emmet is a typical construction worker who's happy all the time. His hero's journey shows that he has something to offer. 

Waltz style is a tough woman without losing her femineity. 

Vitruvius is the mentor figure.  

Lord business (the main villain) is a ruthless dictator.  

The rest of the characters are comic relief. 

One of the many things that bugs me about this movie is that it threw shade at Bionicle. If you know the history of that toy line, you'll understand why this bothers me. Heck, the movie didn't even reference Knex. The jokes in this movie are hit or miss depending on the person. Batman got too much screen time in this movie compared to the other DC characters. Do I really have to explain why this is an issue for me? 

Overall, this is one of those movies that will take you by surprise. If Legos have lost its popularity this movie will revive it. 

Rating = Worth Seeing 

   

Intro: The marketing team did this movie no favors by having this movie remind us of Spider-Man 3. 

The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Peter Parker/Spider-Man has graduated high school and is now living his life. Things get complicated when a bad guy is on the loose, his relationship with Gwen is rocky and someone from his past shows up with some bad news. So, Peter has to sort things out before he can stop this new threat. 

This fell short of being underrated. Sadly, people think this movie is as bad as Spider-Man 3 because this movie avoids making most of the same mistakes that movie made. The theme of this movie is abandonment; everyone feels abandoned by someone in some way. Time also plays a role in the movie too. This movie deals with internal conflicts instead of external ones. I like the way this movie opens with Spider-Man and part of the ending because it has payoff for one of the characters. This film has a lighter tone than the previous film. 

Peter Parker/Spider-Man is torn in this movie by his personal life as far as his on-again-off-again relationship with Gwen, reconnecting with Harry, and seeking closure about his parents. As for Spider-Man, I like more this time around, his more heroic and sarcastic. I like the way he interacts with the public, he says and do things to make their day. Thank goodness he got a new suit. Does anyone else find it odd that he never mentioned Harry, considering Oscorp is a reminder of him? My gripe with him is that he could have been proactive in helping Harry.    

There isn't much to say about Gwen because the movie doesn't do much with her besides complaining about Peter.  

Aunt May has the same characterization as before despite having one tender scene with Peter. That's what bugs me about this character, that scene makes her look insecure. Don't get me wrong I understand where she's coming from but she's not seeing things from his point of view. 

Harry Osborn is the best character in this movie! The reason why is because it's tragic to see how this character went from point a to point b. My issue with this character is that he parallels with Peter. This would have been meaningful if he had played a bigger role in the story. 

Max Dillion/ Electro is a disposable bad guy who's a nut job. That's the problem with this character, he serves no purpose in the story.   

What really bugs me about this movie is that it pulled an Iron Man 2 on us, you'll see what I mean when you watch the movie. This movie wasted Norman Osborn! Continuing the subplot about Peter's parents is pointless because A the opening of the movie showed us what happen to them and B we can guess why they left him behind. The movie also suffers from head-scratching moments, editing, rushed plot points and false advertisement.   

In closing, this movie was a letdown because it has so many subplots and how the movie was structured, it doesn't feel like it's telling a story. 

Rating = Average 

Intro: Godzilla or Kaiju fans are going to kill me. 

Godzilla 2014: The movie is about a Navy Bomb expert name Ford Brody reuniting with his family. That didn't last long when he gets caught up with his father trying to seek answers about what happened to them in the past. They get more than what they bargain for when they learn that mankind is in danger so they have to do what they can to protect their home.  

This movie wasn't the best way to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Godzilla. Most of the film feels like an overextended teaser trailer. Whenever we get a glance at Godzilla or the monsters the movie cuts away. I know he doesn't get a lot of screen time, but the director could have used his limited screen time in a way where you don't forget you're watching a Godzilla movie. Of course, the human characters are the weakest link in this movie because most of them are not engaging. The movie seems to give more attention to other creatures than Godzilla himself. 

The fight between Godzilla and the other creatures is lame! The color palette in this movie makes the film look bland and most of the film is shot at night. How can you have a Godzilla movie without his signature theme? This movie makes me want to give a backhanded compliment to the 98 film. You can say whatever you want about that movie at least that film had some entertainment value. This movie could have been better if the writers were creative with the material they have.     

Joe Brody is a tortured character instead of him trying to heal from the past he's fixated on it. This creates tension between him and his son. My gripe with him is that he could have used more screen time. 

Ford Brody is just the straight man in this movie. That's a shame because more could have been done with him. 

   

Dr. Serizawa represents Monarch, an organization that studies Godzilla and creatures like him and the military advisor.   

I like the opening credits because it reminds me of the other Godzilla movies. The first and last act is the best parts of the movie for me. I'm fond that this movie takes itself seriously because that's a way of paying homage to the film that started it all.     

Despite how I feel about this movie it was a welcome return to this franchise in America. I would recommend this if you like these kinds of movies.   

Rating = Rental

Intro: Hollywood should take notes from this movie the next time they want to make a video game movie.  

Edge of Tomorrow: This movie is centered on a soldier name Maj. Cage who has never seen combat. He finally gets his chance when he is assigned to a suicide mission in a never-ending war against Alien invaders. After dying he discovers he's in a time loop with the help of a fellow soldier they have a chance to end the war once and for all.  

This is the best video game movie which isn't saying much considering the competition. The reason why I said that is because the movie gives you the experience of watching someone playing a game without actually playing the game. We see the main character dying, learning from his mistakes and rage quitting. The movie manages to give us the video game experience without it being repetitive. This movie also provides comedy and it doesn't step on the toes of this being an action movie. There isn't much to say about the two main leads because the movie hasn't given them much development. 

One of the problems with this movie is how the time loop works? We don't know anything about the mimics. (The aliens they are fighting.) The story could have used more meat. Overall, this is the most entertaining film I've seen this year. I would recommend it to Halo fans because this is the closest Halo movie they are going to get. 

Rating = Worth seeing 

Intro: There's always that one person who will ruin things for everyone. 

Dawn of the Plant of the apes: The movie takes place ten years after the events of the first film and the apes have formed a community under Ceaser's rule. The human race on the other hand is falling apart due to a virus that's affecting most of them. The humans run into them because they are looking for a power source in their area. Of course, this creates tension between the two groups to the point where the apes are provoked to attack the humans, so Ceaser has to keep them under control before their actions lead to war.

This movie is an upgraded version of the fifth movie in the original series! I was worried that a new director would screw up this movie thankfully that's not the case. The director gave us beautiful shots and scenes to give the story emotional weight. Speaking of the story it may be predictable but how it is told gives it nuance. For example, the tension between the two groups is not black and white. Plus, the two groups having conflict with each other is a never-ending struggle due to bias, unwilling to compromise and not being able to let go of the past. That's the theme of this movie fear, we see how destructive fear can be when we let it get the best of us. This movie continues to explore the question does intelligence separates humans from animals? The action scenes are outstanding! 

Ceaser is a leader and father in this movie. Despite showing compassion for humans, he doesn't want anything to do with them. Due to that, he's not innocent when it comes to how things played out in this movie. You feel bad for him when he gets a reality check. There is a subplot of him fighting for his son's influence. 

Dreyus is the leader of the human colony. He's willing to do whatever it takes to protect his people. He parallels well with Ceaser because of that. 

Malcolm Is the voice of reason he trying to find common ground with the apes. 

Koda is Ceaser's, right-hand man. He's not crazy about the humans on their territory given his history with them. That's what bugs me about this character, I understand why he feels the way he does about humans, but he's not making things better by coming off as antagonistic.         

One of the problems with this movie is the human characters, they are the weakest part of the film for me because we don't get much from them beyond the surface. Speaking of humans, I wish Will Rodman was in this movie because he can help smooth things out between the two groups. Really the movie would have a different ending if the two groups had group therapy. There are also some head-scratching moments in the film. 

In closing, this is a good follow-up that I would recommend to fans. 

Rating = Worth Seeing 

Intro: So Triple H can't play Thor but Batista can play Drax OK.

Guardians of the Galaxy: This movie is about a space pirate name Peter Quill/Star-Lord getting caught in the crosshairs of bounty hunters who are after him for stealing an Orb. After they all get arrested they form an uneasy truce to get out of prison and sell the Orb. That becomes difficult when they learn what's inside the Orb and that Ronan wants it to destroy plants. So, Peter and the gang have to keep the Orb away from Ronan before it's too late.

This is one of those movies that I consider overrated! This movie is heavy on comedy and light on the story. Speaking of the story the way the story is told is convoluted, I mean we have characters going back and forth about what to do with the Orb? I don't like the song that was played in the prison scene because it was out of place for me. Am I the only one who finds it odd that the aliens in this movie can speak English flawlessly?

Don't get me started on the climax, the climax in the movie involves dancing. Yes! You heard me dancing. The movie introduces a character like we're suppose to know who he or she is but we barely in the movie. Since we're on the subject of characters I don't buy the dynamic between Peter and the bounty Hunters because all they do is talk about their tragic backstories for the most part. We do get scenes where some of them talk to each other about it, but you don't get the sense that there connecting because of it. Due to that, this ruined the dramatic tension in the movie.

Peter Quill/Star-Lord is the voice of reason of the Guardians. What bugs me about him besides how hard he tries to be funny. It's that he doesn't seem affected by what happened to him as a child. Also, what's the point of him being a human character if he's not oblivious about being in space? 

Groot is the muscle of the group. The only thing that bugs me about him is all he says is I am Groot.

I don't have much to say about Drax the destroyer, all we know about him is that he wants revenge on Ronan for killing his family. Also, he takes what people say literally, I'm surprised that people find this funny because when I use to do that, I get called retard. I'm sorry but I couldn't feel sorry for him because the movie didn't show us how much his family means to him. If the creators did that, I wouldn't mind so much that he did that stupid thing he did in the movie. 

Gamora is just like Drax as far as taking things literally plus she has her own agenda for the orb. Despite that she's the noblest of the pack and her backstory is depressing. 

Rocket is the standout character because he's the only one with personality. 

Yondu (Peter Quill's mentor) is funny, mean and knows someone close to Peter. What annoys me about him is he has an arrow that he can control by whistling and the director made that seem like a serious thing instead of using it for comedy. 

Ronan the accuser (Our main villain.) is a nut job; he wants to cleanse the galaxy by destroying certain plants. I wish we got more of his backstory.  

Nebula is Ronan's ally and Gomora's sister. The only thing we know about her is she resents her father for what he did to her. The writers could have saved her for the sequel because she doesn't serve much of a purpose in this movie. 

The only things I like about this movie it has amusing moments, how the movie uses most of the songs and the CGI look good. Overall, I don't consider this the best MCU movie, I would recommend this if you like space operas. 

Rating = Rental 

Intro: If this movie doesn’t make geek culture look cool, I don’t know what well.

Big Hero 6: This movie is centered on a brilliant boy name Hiro who uses his brain to do something constructive with the help of his older brother. That was short-lived when something tragic happened and he learns that someone has stolen his invention. So, he has to figure out who did it and why with the help of his brother’s invention.

This is one of those movies that isn’t bad, but it didn’t live up to the praise. What hurt this movie is the writing, the movie starts being about one thing then it turns into something else. Because of that, we don’t know what this movie is about. The big reveal in the movie would have worked if it wasn’t lazy. The characters are fine, but the movie didn't use them well, I mean they don’t add much to the story. Also, this group doesn’t have a straight man to balance them out. For a movie that’s suppose to be a superhero movie, it doesn’t feel like one. The villain is nothing to brag about, with that said he does parallel with Hiro. I wish the movie explores his pain because it's different for him or her.  

Hiro is a bright boy who doesn't know what to do with his talent or how to deal with his pain. 

Go Go is a confident and tough girl who keeps to herself and can be impatient.

Wasabi is the cautious one of the group. 

Honey Lemon is outgoing and cheerful.

Fred is laidback and learns something about him that will take you by surprise.  

Baymax has joined the list of marketable characters. He's the comic relief character because of his ignorance of how to interact with people and the movie jokes about him being a balloon. Despite being a robot nurse, he's not bound by his programming he knows where to draw the line. 

I like that this movie deals with the grieving process what's the point of Disney showing characters die in their movies and not the aftermath? Despite how I feel about the reveal in this movie it does play with my expectations. I'm fond of this movie's world because it combines western and Eastern cultures together. The movie shows how appealing science and robotics can be. The animation is excellent! 

All in all, this is an OK movie. This could have been better with rewriters. I would recommend this if you like movies about a boy and a robot going on an adventure. 

Rating = Rental              

Intro: Is this a movie or a documentary? 

Interstellar: The movie takes place sometime in the future where Earth is becoming uninhabitable. The people on earth can't grow crops, the air is unbreathable, and the weather is out of control. One day a farmer name Joseph Cooper discovers that NASA is still around, and they have a plan to save the earth's population that involves finding another plant for them to live on, NASA found three and they need Joseph to be their pilot so they can investigate them. That becomes complicated when time becomes a factor in finding a suitable plant, so the explorers have to figure out what to do before everyone on Earth dies.

I wish I can say this is the best Sci-fi movie of this year, however some things keeping it from reaching that height, I'll get into that later. I appreciate that the people on Earth are working together to try and save the planet instead of it being a dog-eat-dog world because I'm getting tired of seeing that. Plus, this makes you feel bad for them because they have to give up their ambitions to make the Earth stable. That's the theme of this movie instinct vs emotion the movie deals with different aspects of that theme. This movie also has twists and turns that took me by surprise and that help build suspense. There are references to 2001 A Space Odyssey in this movie and the visual effects look great. The way this movie handles time reminds me of DBZ as far as how gravity affects time. 

One of the many problems I have with this movie is the pacing it feels slow and this movie being three hours long doesn't help either. I'm annoyed with what happened to one of the explorers, do I really have to explain why? This movie demands a lot of your attention, and there are no moments for us to unwind. I wish I knew how other people feel about the conditions of Earth besides Joseph because that could add more conflict in the movie. Speaking of Joseph, his son Tom got the shaft as far as giving the movie emotional weight. There are head-scratching moments toward the end of the movie. How space and time work can be confusing at times. 

Overall, this is a good movie that could have been better if the director gave this movie entertainment value as well as being informative. If you like space exploration, then this is for you. 

Rating = Worth Seeing