C through E Links: Home * A-B * C-E * F-H * I-O * P-S * T-Z * The Superman Family * The Bat Cave * X-Movies * The Super-100 To C * To D * To E C Captain America Retrospective ('44 Serial, 1979 TV movies and 1991 Direct to VHS) Originally Reviewed on July 4th 2008 Unlike many of his Marvel super brethren, Captain America hasn1t fared well beyond the pages of his comic book. The first on screen version of his adventures was also the first for any Marvel (Then known as Timely) hero. It was a 15-part serial made in 1944 and it didn't resemble the comic character at all. In it, the good Captain is a District Attorney named Grant Gardner who packs a pistol instead of his shield and fights not the Red Skull, but a normal looking dude named The Scarab (The weapons the villain tries to acquire during this adventure include the "Electronic Firebolt" and the "Dynamic Vibrator" - imagine that on an MST short). Doughy guy Dick Purcell plays our hero; (doubled by Dale Van Sickle of Commando Cody fame) Purcell died a year after filming this serial, of a heart attack... after playing a round of golf! Sufficed to say Dick didn't quite look or move like a super soldier. Swinging 1966 found the character featured in one of those static animated cartoons. (I have the Iron Man 'toons from this era and they're pretty much stills from a comic book story, augmented with limited animation). Later, C.A will show up on Fox's Avengers and Spider-Man cartoons. A quick aside: As seen here, Spider-Man wouldn't always be a friend. An affront to all good comic book characters came in 1973 from the land of Turkey, with a low, low budget movie titled "3 Mighty Men" (3 Dev Adam). In this flick Turkish Spider-Man is a sadistic mob boss. Why? I don't know, but he's a nasty SOB. In the first scene he buries a woman up to her head at the beach and then has his henchman run a boat propeller through her face! Who will come to save the day? None-other that Captain Turkish America and his pal, uh El Santo? The duo really beat the ever lovin' crap out of Spidy and kill him several times. But Spider-Man (who doesn't have lenses in his mask, and thus you can see his bushy eyebrows) seems to have the gift of eternal life and keeps coming back. This movie is of course not part of the official cannon and it's probably best to pretend it never existed. Still, if you must be cruel to yourself, you can watch scenes at Youtube Up next... While DC was having success on the big screen with Superman, Marvel ruled television in the 70s with shows like the Incredible Hulk and a series of cheesy but fun movies. Dr. Strange was the best of the run but there were also 2 Captain America flicks from 1979 starring Space Mutiny's Reb Brown. The first was a drawn-out origin story that mangles the premise to bits. Steve is the son of the original Captain America, a scientist who used his 'flag' serum on himself. There's no war effort, no Red Skull or any other colorfully costumed villain. There is a guy with a neutron bomb who plans to blow up a town, so he can steal all their gold. But all he wore was a sharply tailored business suit. The screenplay, dialog and much of the acting is so bad I often laughed out loud. For example, Steve Rogers keeps driving off the edge of cliffs. I know there are extenuating circumstances but the second time it happens I howled. Then there's star Reb Brown. If he's was too charged up and yelled a lot in "Space Mutiny" (as seen on MST3K), someone must have slipped him a sleeping pill for this one. There's a noticeable lack of expression on his face and he delivers his lines in a flat, emotionless manner. The screenplay doesn't help matters. I love how after the second attempt on his life, he asks his scientist pal in a mopey voice, "Why are they mad at me". That sounds like something a 5 year old might ask. And at this point in the story it's pretty obvious this goes beyond someone being "mad". Reb looks the part but his Captain is dumb as a post and he's a tad too strong (He bends steel as "Six Million Dollar Man" style sound FX plays). Lastly, we don't get the real costume until the final minutes (even then he's still wearing a goofy bike helmet) and the see-through shield looks like something Whamo would have created. The second movie, Death Too Soon is better than the first, benefiting from the inclusion of lanky Christopher Lee as a terrorist who kidnaps a prominent scientist so that he might create a drug that speeds up the aging process. As for Steve Rogers, he's living the life! He's an artist, who lives with a cat named Heathcliffe... in a van down by the river? The opening scene is a great indicator of what to expect for the rest of the movie. When the elderly in his neighborhood are robbed after they cash their pension checks, Steve tells his old lady pal to go ahead and cash her check, and of course she's immediately beset upon (man if it was that easy why didn't the cops do this same thing long ago?) Steve in Captain garb zooms out, foils the crime and takes down the bad guy with his shield. That flimsy thing doesn't look like it could take down a puppy, let alone a large muscular man. But the thug drops like sack of potatoes and when he does, I couldn't help but howl with laughter. The movie might be a turkey, but it's an entertaining one. Cap still wears the helmet and rides the bike (which folds out into a comfortable hand glider at one point) but the costume is closer to the comic version. Reb Brown seems more animated and comfortable in the role (though his delivery still offers up a few laughs). Photogenic Connie Sellecca joins the cast, replacing Heather Menzies as Dr. Wendy Day. This isn't a wiz bang adventure, in fact it moves slowly. But there's a little mystery about a town that doesn't welcome strangers warmly, and that adds a few layers to the simple story. Oh, and the guy talking with the gal about the smoke in the sky, that was Alex Hyde-White, the future Mr. Fantastic in Corman's unreleased Fantastic Four flick. 11 years will pass until the next attempt, which was to be a big screen adaptation! Unfortunately they signed Albert Pyun to direct it, that's Albert "Alien From L.A." Pyun! The other nail in this heroes coffin was that it was a Menahem Golan production. This is not the most professional company so it's not a surprise that they ran out of money and couldn't finish filming the script as it was written. Here's a scary thought, Golan (with Globus) once owned the rights to Spider-Man! GAAA! They instead elected to film Superman IV GAAA! Anyway, test screenings went so poorly that the film was shelved and was later released direct to VHS. The movie has been raked over the coals over the years and it is deeply flawed with corn ball moments, an amateur score (which telegraphs every moment, just in case the audience didn't get what they were seeing on screen) and scenes that break the logic meter - For example: Cap is tied to a rocket aimed at DC but before it launches he grabs the Red Skulls hand. So the Skull of course, having already proven he's stronger than Steve, simply wrests free... Um, no - he grabs a knife and cuts off Steve's hand! Uh, no again - he grabs a knife and cuts off his own hand!! Yeah, I think that would be the first course of action most of us would take. Despite the faults, I still found this to be the best Captain America movie I'd watched by far. For one it actually follows the original storyline better than previous efforts. We get to see the Red Skull, WWII Cap and his release from the ice years later. His comic book gal pal, Sharon is there and Golan/Pyun didn't mess with the costume. I'd have rather seen chain mail rather than rubber... which brings us to the legendary rubber ears (I guess the thick material used on the mask made it difficult to cut out ear holes; therefore they pasted fake ones onto the sides, this is very hilarious when spotted as you can imagine) But at least he "looks" like Captain America. The shield is sturdy and makes a heavy metallic "thunk" sound when it strikes and that's a plus. It's got some decent actors, even though some of the hackneyed dialog they are forced to speak is atrocious. Ronnie Cox plays the President and reporter Ned Beatty is his boyhood friend. Darren McGavin goes overboard Southern, but I've always liked the man so it's nice to see him here. Heck even Bill Mumy (Lost in Space) has a bit part. Footballer Howie Long was considered for the lead but it instead went to JD Salinger's son, Matt. Salinger is a man of few expressions (I think I counted, mmmm, one) but he's tall and sturdy and seems a likable sort. When Cap ventures forth into this brave new world, he does a nice job of employing that lone expression by looking baffled by it all (Noticing the Japanese and German products was a nice touch). The Red Skull is Italian not German (I don't know why) and the actor playing him also displays a limited range of emotion (he does slimy weirdness) plus he sounds like Ricardo Montalban. I did enjoy the scene when he was in full Skull makeup and how he'd play up to his superiors as he was kicking Captain America's ass. The movie isn't exactly edge of your seat exciting, but at only 97 minutes doesn't fart around gets to the point quickly. The fights are a little difficult to see with all the lightning fast edits and the Captain isn't quite the incredible super solider he is in the comics - but they aren't static (as I've witnessed in many movies made on the cheap). This film version of the Captain is not very super; I can't even argue that it was very good. The corny stuff makes me wince (Steve shouts his girlfriend's name as he leaps from airplane and later gives the President a 'thumbs up' -groan-). But it didn't bore me, it held my interest and a few times it even reeled me in with the action at the end. With a budget and a great director to smooth over the rough edges, there was enough of an idea here that this could have been an outstanding feature. It has been announced that Cap will get his first shot in a major Hollywood production film (We've already seen the shield in Iron Man and the Super Serum in Hulk) and then it's off to the Avengers. Might things be looking up for the star spangled hero? I've never been a C.A. fan but a great movie could change that and if anyone of Marvel's stars deserves a break in this medium, it's the Cap. Good luck Steve, I hope your movie rocks! Captain Barbell Reviewed on March 16th 2009 Captain Barbell is meandering, soapy and pure corn. Based on one of the Philippines most popular characters it tells of a mild mannered janitor who is transformed into a superhero by means of a magic barbell. The protagonist is one part Superman, one part Peter Parker. (Enteng is a bumbling sad sack, pining over a gal who has only has eyes for his heroic alter ego). The Captain's main challenge is a strange group of villains that have also acquired power from the same source. The film is very odd. It has its tongue firmly in cheek, but there is some dark and sad subject matter that ruins any sense of fun (a woman is attacked and murdered - a homeless man becomes a half rat creature who melts children with his spittle). The killing stroke is that it suffers from attention deficit disorder, it simply can't stay focused and tell a linear tale. Characters and situations pop up and then set aside, while another batch of characters and situations are introduced. The pacing is a shambles. At an hour and 54 minutes, it runs too long for its slight premise and was in desperate need of tight editing and cohesive storytelling. There are few pluses: While Barbell's costume is cheesy (designed by actor Bong Revilla), the gentleman playing him is steadfast and charismatic. There's a brief dream sequence where we see Barbell, Darna (The Filipino version of Wonder Woman) and Lastikman fighting together. But these small rays of light are overshadowed by melodrama, hammy performances and undisciplined direction. Note: This is the 2003 feature - there was also a movie made in 1965 and 1986, as well as a TV series that began airing in 2006 (with a much cooler costume) Catwoman Originally Reviewed on September 2 2006 - Completely rewritten for this page I like cats and I've always liked Catwoman and I'd love to have seen a Catwoman movie. But unfortunately they didn't make a Catwoman movie. They instead elected to tell the story of Patience Phillips who comes from a long line of cat ladies who all share some connection to the Egyptian Goddess Bast. Selina Kyle is gone, Gotham is gone, Batman is M.I.A. They've ripped the character from the DC universe and made a horrid mess of things. The end result is a tepid, spastically edited, poorly fleshed out movie. Star, Halle Berry has that catatude down pat. She's sexy, slinky, playful and bad and despite the ugly headgear, is the only decent thing I can find in this flick. The rest are game but have nothing to sink their teeth into: Sharon Stone is the cosmetic Queen baddie who's selling her sisters out for love of money (and has gained a super hard face in the process). Rounding out the cast is love interest/cop played by Benjamin Bratt and Mad TVs Alex Borstein as Halle's fast talking, wise cracking, annoying as shit please shut up, dear God in heaven won't somebody please make her shut up or simply cut her out of the film - pal A Frenchman who calls himself Pitof directs the movie. Is that like "Pit-of despair?" Because I felt as depressed as a rhesus monkey after watching this dreck. Pitof and his crew made a bad looking film and they should have heeded the words of a wise man who once said, "Just because you can edit, doesn't mean you should!" - Tom Servo. The constant quick cuts gave me a headache, and while I don't mind CGI as a rule, this time out it's over used and poorly rendered. I wanted to love this film, but it wouldn't let me. It simply refuses to offer up even a dollop of nail biting action, real romantic tension or the kind of humor one might actually laugh at. A playful peek at Gotham's greatest thief would have been nice, instead there was this weak message about being superficial and girl power and growing old gracefully and being comfortable in your own skin or some such nonsense and I don't know any more, I'm all a messed up inside. Somebody just light the damned Bat-signal please! Note: The best part of the disc is a feature on the history of the character, running 29 minutes long, 8 of which is spent on this film. The other 21 minutes focuses on the Cat in comics, TV and Burton's "Batman Returns". Eartha Kitt narrates this nearly puuurfect peek into the (9) lives of the Feline Fatale Back to top of page Champions of Justice (Los Campeones Justicieros) Originally Reviewed on March 16th 2008 The movie opens to a jazzy score and the rumble of motorcycles. It's enough to make one feel as if they'd stumbled upon a showing of the Wild One. But that's not Marlon Brando leading these bikers; it's a bare chested guy in a mask named the Blue Demon. You know, no matter how easy it is for me to accept costumed superheroes, the appearance of masked wrestlers never fails to make me howl with laughter. It just looks so goofy and it's made worse when we later see the wrestler's at a beauty contest, dressed to the nines in tuxes, but still sporting those colorful masks~ BUWA HA HA HA oh for fun! Blue Demon is joined by the Avenging Shadow, Thousand Masks (I felt slighted as he only switched masks about 4 or 5 times), Shadows: The Giant and my favorite, The Killer Doctor! (Who wears medical whites with his mask). This Justice League of Mexico squares off against The Black Hand, an evil mad scientist who employs an army of super midgets! These guys are a gas. They are all dressed in red, capes, with a big M on the chest. The Black Hand gives them the "strength of 10 athletes" and for a while it works, as the wee ones whip our wrestling warriors wildly and without warning... Word! Of course the power wears off or short (sorry) circuits and the heroes turn the tide. As much fun as it is to watch giant wrestlers toss midgets around like loafs of bread -and believe me, it's funny as hell- After a while the endless fist fights, tumbling and tossing gets tedious. While considered a good film by Mexican wrestling film fans, for mere mortals like me it was tough going as it was simply too repetitive. There were many unintentionally hilarious moments that broke the boredom from time to time. But I can't, in all good conscious, recommend the effort. At least not alone, I think I'd need some guy in space and robot pals there to watch it with me. Comic Book: The Movie Originally Reviewed on April 26th 2008 This is Mark Hamill's project, he directs, did some of the artwork and stars as Don Swan. A diehard fan of the comic book "Commander Courage", who is hired as a consultant on a major feature film based on his favorite superhero. The movie starts off with the jaded Hollywood folks trying to bulldoze the obsessed fan, but the tide quickly shifts under Swan's pure enthusiasm during a promotional gig at the San Diego Comic Con. This one is miles better than the Junior Defenders, though the jokes will probably click better with geeks like me who've actually attended a Comic Con. There are loads of cameos and many laughs (one of the best and cutest is the bit with Bruce Campbell). It's got a nice message, which Hamill delivers at the end during a promotional panel for the movie (Hollywood execs are just doing what they do, but they don't really care about us fans and our love of the source material). Mark is amazingly good, he's perfect and his energy shines. You really do believe a guy like this could make a difference. The DVD is loaded with extras and should be viewed as it really adds to the film. The commentary is a delight as there are so many inside bits of info, for example: A deleted scene from "Super Guy" was used and the star of that film provided some of the comic book art seen in the film; or that the woman who gave voice to Harley Quinn has a small part as a secretary. The movie goes on a bit too long and my attention flagged at times. But generally I had a lot of fun and would recommend this one. The Condor Reviewed on February 7th 2009 Of the 2 POW! Entertainment releases, I'd read better things about Mosaic, but I gotta say I was far more impressed with Stan Lee's "The Condor", Overall I found the premise and characters more interesting. The story, written by comic legend Marv Wolfman (the man who created Blade and Bullseye and helped make the Teen Titans a hit), tells of a self absorbed skateboarding champion named Tony Valdez (Wilmer Valderrama). When his family is killed by an unscrupulous business partner who hopes to sell their untested nanotechnology to terrorists, Tony (who was crippled by skateboarding zombies employed by the same man), uses that tech to avenge their deaths and set things right. This is a story intended for more mature, older teen audiences. There's seduction and violence and some swearing and as with many Stan Lee creations, Tony is the wounded warrior who must learn harsh lessons, grow up and become a hero and man of substance. I liked the mystery; the characters are well rounded and likeable (or in the baddies case, not). The slimy English businessman is very much a cliché, but generally it all works. There's some warmth and humor (as when Tony expresses concern that his female friend is putting robots into him... in actuality, she provides the "nanobot" brace that allows Tony to walk). The characters are mostly Latino, and are steeped in the skateboarding community. Voicework is decent for the most part, though the femme fatale and English guy can come off laughable. Wilmer fares much better than Paquin did in Mosaic. The animation is sketchy, but I dug certain parts of it. The skateboarding zombies look freaky as they shake with rampant energy and stare out from dead black eyes. I thought some of the poses struck by the Condor looked sharp as well. Though the story lags in spots and there would be times when my attention would wander, I generally enjoyed this one because I cared about these folks and their story. Not bad, not bad at all. Condorman Originally Reviewed on September 16th 2006 While Disney has offered up some entertaining super-flicks over the years (Incredibles, Sky High, Rocketeer) Condorman was anything but. Michael Crawford (Phantom of the Opera) plays a comic book artist who gets involved in helping a Russian agent defect. Crawford receives much screen time, which he uses to annoy us with his whiney, high-pitched voice. He also drives the Condorcar, a Condorboat and wears the most ridiculous looking costume this side of that Puma dude. Condorman is mainly a comedic spy thriller with Super Hero elements. And while it looks like Disney poured some money into this (despite the cheesy flying shots) it all kind of comes off blah. It's not a wretched production, but it lacks thrills, suspense and that all important 'entertainment' factor. It tries hard but it is simply not very interesting or funny. Confessions of a Superhero Originally Reviewed on February 10th 2008 The official plot synopsis for the movies sums it up well... "A feature length documentary that chronicles the lives of three mortal men and one woman who make their living working as superhero characters on Hollywood Boulevard. This deeply personal look into their daily routines reveals their hardships and triumphs as they pursue and achieve their own kind of fame. The Hulk sold his Super Nintendo for a bus ticket to LA; Wonder Woman was a mid western homecoming queen; Batman struggles with his anger, while Superman's psyche is consumed by the Man of Steel. Although the Walk of Fame is right beneath their feet, their own paths to stardom prove to be long, hard climbs. CONFESSIONS OF A SUPERHERO explores the fascination, obsession and allure of fame through the eyes of some very unique people struggling to make it in Tinseltown." What the film quickly reveals is that many of these folks have difficulty differentiating fantasy from reality. Dressing themselves up in cheap looking costumes and panhandling, all the while truly believing that this is the road to discovery. They seem oblivious to the fact that many within the community see them as an annoyance and would rather see them gone. There are strict rules governing them; they can't solicit for money or give a set fee, they have to stand within a certain parameter and can't be aggressive in their request for tips. Of the four the guy-playing Superman is the most obsessed. His apartment is stuffed to the gills with Supes paraphernalia and he takes his role seriously (don't smoke in public while on breaks he instructs a newbie Ghost Rider). He offers that he is the son of actress Sandy D ennis but relatives of the woman doubt the validity of his claim. Batman is a George Clooney look-a-like who suffers from anger issues and paints himself as a person with mob ties who once killed a man. As the film progresses though, we begin to see the delusion. That he has anger issues is without question, but in an attempt to make himself more than he is, he's created these scenarios within his mind. Most (Including the Hulk) don't take these tales seriously and a scene where he speaks with a therapist about his supposed murder is rather sad and desperate as he paints himself into a corner with his story and fidgets like a schoolboy caught in a lie. A woman who does a weak Wonder Woman and a guy who dresses up as the Hulk round out the cast. WW we see actually going to auditions and going through one agent after another. Her story is the least interesting or colorful as she's just a small town gal with a dream and as of yet, has not drifted too far into the illusion. The Hulk is probably the most stable and understand the situation he's in. He seems rather embarrassed by the whole dress up thing, stating that this wasn't why he came to Hollywood. He too has not drifted into a dream world within his mind; he was once homeless and knows his limitations (I got a laugh about his teeth and his Steve Buscemi line). And it was true joy on that face when we see him land a small part in a movie. Confessions makes for a very interesting nights viewing and I'm glad I caught it (You can watch it instantly at Netflix). The filmmakers don't inject themselves into the story very often, they just let the camera's roll and ask a few pointed questions. While the process does expose cracks in the armor, they don't seem to be overtly trying to do a 60 Minutes style expose. If the actors humiliate themselves, it is a trap they set for themselves. Still there are times when it gets difficult to sit through. These are interesting but often-pathetic people who simply don't have the skills to succeed in this biz. When a few characters (Elmo and Mr. Incredible) are arrested for being too aggressive in their pan handling the 4 gain some notoriety by association. The tips increase, their photos make the rounds and they even wind up on the Jimmy Kimmel show. For a brief moment they get to be the stars they always dreamed of being but it's as comic relief. They do something that affords them little dignity and when the bright lights finally beckon, it does so in a mocking way. It's kind of sad when Superman gushes about how this could open doors to a legit career. I've got to give the guy credit though, he believes. Against all the odds he pushes forth despite one disappointment after another. And he and the rest did manage to get themselves top billing in a movie, even if it is a movie that doesn't paint them in the most flattering light. The Continued Adevntures of Reptile Man Reviewed on May 12th 2009 Originally known as "Brittle Glory", that pretentious title was ditched in order to cash in on the superhero boom. Completely devoid of charm or humor, Reptile Man is a sad, depressing little movie about a sad, depressing has-been actor. Played by Tony Curtis, Jack Steele used to star in a Batman-esque TV series but now he can't even fill a showroom with fans. He's a mean, desperate man who goes out in public in his old Reptile Man suit and abuses his assistant Lewis (Arye Gross), an aspiring actor who dresses up as the sidekick "Tadpole", and accompanies him in public appearances. The movie runs the same material into the ground, scene after scene. Jack is a jackass, unlikable, even when the filmmakers push the mental illness card in attempt to solicit some sympathy from the audience. They fail, and fail even further to make Gross's character someone you'd root for. We watch Steele insult everyone, including Lewis - who in turn goes home and treats his patient wife poorly. These people are so colorless and without joy that I never gave a damn whether they were okay, or found success, or simply grew up and acted human for a change. They tease Curtis's death twice; each time my response wasn't one of sympathy but rather happiness that maybe this turkey was finally at an end. Don't waste your time with this one. I could barley force myself to review it. The Crow Originally Reviewed on September 6th 2007 Based on a comic book, it hovers near the line of "Super Hero" (ala, Blade) but is more anchored in the supernatural/horror world. It's a dark, nasty, ugly story, but it's well told, moves at a steady pace, and I dug the look of it, which melds gothic to German expressionism, I enjoyed director Alex Proyas' next movie, "Dark City", a little better, because I cared for the displaced characters more and liked that true light and hope was restored in the end. With the Crow, while the good guy wins, I suspect the violence and cruelty will continue (allowing for another Crow). I've always found this a real difficult movie to watch, with its scenes of rape and drug abuse. I know that was the point and that this nightmarish world was the look and feel they were going for, but everything was so bleak, so hopeless that I find it a bitter pill to swallow (More so than other flicks of this ilk) Of course this production will forever be marred by the on set death of actor Brandon Lee. Lee was still growing as an actor and some of his lines are delivered stiffly (His quote from "The Raven") but there are also moments where he shines and shows his potential (His performance with the junkie -Mother is the name of God to a child- That's not only the best line in the movie but Brandon delivers it with chilling authority). Plus, he just looks cool as hell in the makeup, dark clothes; with that guitar slung at his side. The bad guy is sometimes over the top -he's given some real clunky lines too- but overall he's suitably slimy and his sidekick sister is creepy as well. The other actors are fine and the little girl isn't annoying (as many child actors can be in these kind of movies) Though not a real pleasant viewing experience for me, I can appreciate that this is a well-made movie that inspired imitation in many comic book films thereafter (Sin City, Daredevil) Cutie Honey Originally Reviewed on June 4th 2008 Cutie Honey is a live action filming of a popular Manga series and it's a phantasmagoric bubble gum colored fantasy, which might overwhelm or delight - depending on your perspective. It does capture the essence of anime quite well, and in this case I actually enjoyed the English dubbed version because it sounded so much like the cartoons we saw here in the States. The adventure drives full throttle right from the start as Cutie Honey jumps into the thick of the plot when she attempts to rescue her Uncle from a member of the Panther Claw gang. A gang led by their Queen, Sister Jill. The action here sets the tone; it is frantic, colorful, funny and augmented by clever animation. Most attempts to blend live action and animation have not fared well from what I've viewed in this marathon, but it works quite effectively here. Honey gains some unlikely and sometime reluctant allies in a cop and a reporter in her fight against the Claw. The baddies are the usual broad figures, but also quite interesting. Indigo Claw is creepy and Black Claw flamboyant and imposing. Sister Jill and her assistant are an odd, surreal pair. Eriko Sato as Cutie Honey looks great in her costume (and in her underwear, which is thrown in there gratuitously). as fits the genre) and it's the nano technology that powers her -and allows her to switch clothing at the drop of a hat (much like Ultraviolet)- that the Queen desires, for it will give Sister Jill eternal life. There are some bumpy roads, a montage with a sad Honey fails, and an attempt to deliver a message at the end comes off maudlin and heavy-handed. And yet, that very message does provide an interesting and non-traditional ending to the norm seen in these types of films. I rather liked it. Fans of the sword wielding character should love this movie. It does exactly what it sets out to do and for the most part succeeds in that endeavor. Though it does get a bit too much -at times- for my blood. The tone was humorous and hyper. The film looks sharp - the imagery, color and costumes are all a wonder to behold. I'd recommended it with one caveat: Your enjoyment depends on how much cute and honey you can tolerate, because this movie lay's it on thick (even the music's cute). Back to top of page D Danger Diabolik Reviewed: March 1st 2009 Neither Diabolik or Kriminal are heroes, they are costumed villains but they are such enjoyable comic book baddies that I had to add them to the marathon. Diabolik was the first to be published, the second to be filmed and it's the best of the Italian fumetti adaptations. Dino De Laurentiis constantly dogged Director Mario Bava during the entire production but he never the less managed to deliver a stylish pop art tour de force. Diabolik is brightly colored and marked by striking camera angles, though Bava is a tad too fond of the mirror reflection trick; it all effectively leaves a lasting impression. For example: The scene where Valmont's thugs create an image of D's gal pal and partner in crime, Eva, exemplifies the films mod psychedelic atmosphere. The story is straight forward - constantly thwarted Inspector Ginko, turns to a criminal (Valmont) to stop a criminal (Diabolik). The backlash of this action? The master thief blows up Government buildings. The film has some violence (Eva is tortured and a doctor is gunned down) and Diabolik is no hero, though he wins the support of the people by making fools of the government. This is reflective of the times - coming after the rule of Mussolini, comic creators struck back at those in power by having a rogue element show them up at every turn. A hip Ennio Morricone score adds flavor to the film; the gadgets are Bond like (The idea of the clamshell entryway to a hideout was later used in 007s "Diamonds Are Forever"). The acting is tough to gauge due to the dubbing, but Celi's Valmont (coming off his turn as Largo in the James Bond adventure, "Thunderball") is always imposing. While John Phillip Law isn't very expressive he is convincing as the suave super thief, and Marisa Mell not only fits Eva to a T, she looks gorgeous as well (props to the magnificent costume designs seen throughout) The DVD (now out of print) has some nice extras, including a commentary track by the late John Phillip Law. In total, Diabolik is cool in look, sound and action. Daredevil Originally Reviewed on August 8th 2006 Daredevil is a tale of two movies. Early in his comic book career, Matt Murdock was a bush league Spider-Man. An athletic wise cracker, whose radar sense was similar to Peter Parker's Spidey sense. But over the years Murdock formed his own personality. He fought on the tough side of town and with writers like Frank Miller and later, Brian Michael Bendis, Daredevil became Marvel's version of Batman. The movie, written and directed by Daredevil fan Mark Steven Johnson, comes in two distinct forms. The theatrical cut, which focuses heavily on the relationship between Matt and Elektra, was an okay movie. But while watching it I kept thinking how choppy the entire production felt. There was good reason for that feeling, because what the studio wanted and what the director envisioned were 2 different things. And the director was right. While I miss the romance, the director's cut is the more complete film. Kingpin is no longer this random character, but the entire focus of the movie. His dirty fingers are involved in everything. With a sub-plot concerning a murder (which included Coolio in a role) restored, the movie becomes more focused and regains a tighter narrative flow. Other additions are more scenes with Foggy Nelson (played delightfully by Jon Favreau), which adds to the humor. To balance that out, the film as a whole takes on a darker, seedier feel (There's brief nudity and an F-bomb). Oh, and for DD fans, we get a quick scene with Matt's mother. While Daredevil doesn't make my top 10, it is better than advertised. Ben Affleck actually does a good job and though Jennifer Garner isn't like the Elektra of the comic, she still has a nice chemistry with Affleck and doesn't distract at all. Michael Clarke Duncan is a commanding Fisk, while Colin Farrell is funny, though a little over the top as Bullseye. Moments that work brilliantly: The scenes between father and son Murdock. The unique radar vision; the scene with young Matt's first frightening discovery of his radar sense; the moments with the rain when Matt can see Elektra (and how she hides herself from him with the umbrella); the music and seeing Matt's scars and bruised body, showing how the fight for justice has taken a toll upon him. Dark Justice Reviewed on April 21st 2009 Filmed as "Yup Yup Man: A Modern Day Caped Crusader". The film opens with a corny and poorly staged sequence between a (homeless?) father and son who are beset upon by another homeless man, who murders the father and then tosses the boy into the ocean. The film then cuts to the here and now, where we see that the boy has grown into a schizophrenic man (Robert, played by William Bulmiller) who wanders the streets saying "yup, yup" while collecting cans to sell. Robert seems to have endeared himself to a young woman and a local bar owner. Though I'm not sure why. He's unwashed, incoherent and that "yup yup" tic became so annoying that I nearly turned off my TV, I certainly wouldn't want to hang with the guy. There is this kind of low-grade Forrest Gump thing going on here. Where our protagonist is someone the filmmakers want us to root for, but then it mocks the character, using him as comic relief. The bits with the bartender, Jack (David Bowe) are seriously off putting and sum up the unfocused and illogical nature of the movie. Jack spends a lot of time teasing the mentally broken man, but also considers him a friend and someone who... "Changed his life"? Hu, really, in what way? It is while in the bar, watching the news on TV and hearing about all the crime in town; that Robert explains to Jack that someone needs to do something. Inspired by a poorly drawn comic book titled "Dark Justice", Robert decides he wants to become a hero called the Caped Crusader. Jack needles Robert, but inexplicably offers support and helps create the costume. It's at this point that I actually started warming up to the film. As Robert fights crime, even killing at times, he comes out of his fog and begins to regain his sanity. That was a compelling idea, and one that Bulmiller conveyed nicely. (Plus I was overjoyed that the annoying "yup yups" had come to an end). I found myself interested by the lead character, as well as the story - despite the flaws, and they are legion. The editing is horrid, there are montages, which either didn't add to the story or make any sense. It's philosophically fuzzy, illogical (Jack goes to the cops but Robert isn't brought in for questioning?) I never got a firm grasp on certain character's motivations. For example, why is the woman played by Jocelyn Seagrave so enamored with this troubled man? The lead actors aren't bad but the rest of the cast (reporters and cops) are terrible. It's very low budget, the look and feel of it reminded me of the Superhero, only it's miles better and much more cohesive (which doesn't say a lot for Superhero because Dark Justice is not the most cohesively made flick). It's a difficult one to assess. It's not a well-made movie, but there are moments where it drew me in. I'd love to see this idea filmed by a director and screenwriter with more talent. Darkman Originally Reviewed on August 30th 2006 DARKMAN is an amalgam of so many iconic figures: The Phantom of the Opera, Jekyll and Hyde, with a touch of the brooding Batman and a spot of Hitchcock in the mix. D.M. is the rare instance where the movie came before the comic book and when Sam Raimi was announced as the director of Spider-Man, anyone who'd seen this movie knew the web slinger was in great hands. Raimi has always had an impeccable eye for composition. He is a master storyteller and like Hitchcock, understands the camera like he was born with it (BTW: Can you spot the homage to Hitch's "Psycho"?). Yes his humor can get a bit slap sticky and his films often have a heavy melodrama to the dialog-but this fits with a comic book type movie. The acting is brilliant; Francis McDormand and Liam Neeson (Darkman/Peyton Westlake) give a depth not seen in many movies of this ilk. And Larry Drake as bad guy Durant is cold, cruel and demented. The movie opens by introducing us to this character and Raimi established quickly that this is one sick mother you don't want to mess with. The direction is classic Sam. The scene transition that takes Julie (McDormand) from a devastating explosion to a gravesite is stunning. The scene where Darkman swings below a helicopter is wild, broad and a hoot (as he crashes into buildings and runs atop a truck). Also I loved the surreal representation of Westlake's explosive anger. Darkman leaves us with the impression that the character would live on, fighting crime in future movies. There were 2 decent direct to video efforts (the rushed to production-and it looks like it- "Return of Durant" and the not so bad, "Die, Darkman, Die"). Later there was a comic book series. But nothing ever came close to capturing the directorial imagination and multi-leveled acting found in the original. In addition to that I should mention Danny Elfman's score. Though there are times when it sounds too similar to his score on Batman from the year before, overall his work adds much to the film. I especially liked the inclusion of the Phantom-like organ. In addition to this there's a small cameo by Bruce Campbell; and though he doesn't say a word, he's an always-welcome presence. Darkman II: The Return of Durant and Darkman III: Die, Darkman, Die (Direct to DVD) Originally Reviewed on June 21st 2008 I found the Darkman sequels were much better than the ones for Robocop, though neither matches the original and each has a cookie cutter feel to them. In both "Durant" and "Die" -after an action sequence opens the movies, the scene shifts to Peyton Westlake's lab, where he tries and fails to extend the time for his artificial skin. Both are mirror images of the other as he slams his fist on the table and cries "NO!" In both films he finds help in improving his formula, only to have it snatched away from him by a gangster type. The new Darkman, Arnold Vosloo is stiff and too cool and provides nothing near the nuance of Liam Neeson. You lose the feeling that Peyton is coming unglued and struggling to maintain his composure. In parts II and III, while in his skin mask he seems like any other normal adjusted human. Though the films do have the surreal explosion of anger thing from the original, here it feels more tacked on than natural. Both stories though are interesting and never get dull. The first remake, "The Return of Durant" suffers the most from lapses in logic, probably because the production was rushed (and it feels like it). I never did buy Durant's return. After that big explosion he comes out of it with a scratch, walks with a cane and has some neurological tick - the guy should have looked as much a mess as Westlake, and that would have made for a cool contrast/similarity to explore. Also, without Raimi's artistic approach, the violence comes off merely cruel and nasty rather than scary. Westlake's scientist helper is dispatched too quickly, Renee O' Connor (Xena) as the scientists sister takes over the ally role and is the one Peyton must protect from Durant. I never felt any warmth from or for her and therefore I didn't get very deeply involved with her plight. "Die, Darkman, Die" also concerns a gangster, though actor Jeff Fahey isn't as good as Larry Drake. He sometimes comes off shrill, too broad and one-dimensional. The movie is an improvement and the premise is a good one as the doctor who performed the operation on Payton in the first film, returns to... help? I also like how Peyton gets a taste of a normal life when he dresses up like the mob boss and finds that he begins to care for the bad guys wife and child. Neither film comes close to the artistic flourishes of the first and both are far too derivative and therefore, become far too predictable. But each was entertaining and unlike the Robocop trio where only the first is worth owning, Darkman makes a nice triple-feature. Darna Ang Pagbabalik (Darna the Return 1994) Reviewed on March 23rd 2009 This heroine has been around for a spell so the filmmakers didn't feel compelled to recap her origin, and we are thrust right into the center of the action (in which Darna beats up some guys who caused a disaster, though how they did this is never explained). The scantily clad super hottie is the Philippine's answer to Wonder Woman and in this chapter of her adventures her task is twofold: Stop a killer named Magnum and thwart Dr. Valanetine Adan, the evil televangelist who has stolen the source of Darna's power and plans to use it to her own diabolic ends. A little research revealed that this was the 14th Darna film, in a series that goes back to 1951. Darna was created by Filipino Komiks legend Mars Revelo and told the story of a poor girl who finds a small white meterorite. When she swallows the stone and shouts "Darna!" she transforms into a crime fighting warrior (originally it was implied that the stone was given to her by God or an Angel). The baddie, Valentine Adan is the daughter of Darna's old time foe Valentina from the 1950s (who was born deformed with snakes for hair). Anyway - The story here is rather sad, Narda (Darna's alter ego) loses her mind along with her power, a flood has destroyed her village and displaced its people. Thugs harass them, grandma joins a cult - heck life is all kinds of toil and hardship (but as with all Filipino superflicks, there is a healthy mix of humor as well). Soon, with the help of her tenacious brother Ding, Narda reclaims her stone and sets everything right. The problem with the movie is that it often drags and is marred by uneven pacing and narrative. Instead of getting to the point it meanders aimlessly (I found myself impatiently imploring it all to hurry up and GET GOING!). A tangled romance doesn't help as it unfolds at a lethargic pace. In addition to that, the score is cheasy, flying sequences look phony, and the teary scene between Adan and her rubbery snake mother was as idiotic and silly as all get out. Darna Ang Pagabalik had potential; the premise offered lots of twist and turns, but sloppy, unfocused work by the two-credited director's sabotaged any hope of meeting that potential. And no matter how cute the leading lady is (and "Wowzie, wow, wow!" She has a striking -Lynda Carteresque- figure), she isn't enough to save this picture. Deathless Devil Originally Reviewed on October 21st 2008 The Turkish film explosion in the 60s and early 70s netted a lot of sex, violence and some crazy knockoffs (they have their own version of Superman and in another movie they pit El Santo and Captain America against an evil Spider-Man). Deathless follows this template and draws its plot from the American serial, "Dr. Satan". It concerns the son of a costumed crime fighter named Copperhead who vows to crush an evil mastermind's criminal empire. Dr. Satan, or as it's pronounced here, Dok-tor Schaten, looks like Gene Shallot on a bender and he's after... something. I was never really quiet clear on the details. All I knew was that he was bad, had a scheme that turned people into human bombs and that he owned a funny looking cardboard robot. Aside from the Doc, there's the comic relief who, like most of the comedic relief in these B pictures, offers no relief what so ever. He mugs for the camera, ogles and slobbers over the ladies and dresses like Sherlock Holmes. Picture a horny Dropo from "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" and you got this guy. The hero Copperhead is actually a cop; his costume is of the Mexican wrestler variety. I don't see why he ever needed to don the costume; it didn't provide him with any special abilities or protection. He was on the case as an officer of the law and could have done everything he did in that capacity alone. Anyhoo - His fighting style involves him leaping at foes and then spinning, kicking and punching like mad. Actually the fight scenes aren't bad in Turkish cinema as these were true-life tough guys. They were street fighters, fearless and would do whatever it took to make a fight scene work. Many were very acrobatic as well. The movie is rife with errors. As when Dok-tor Schaten straps an explosive to a detective, which also features a camera. This device is apparently imbued with magical qualities because when we are shown the Doctor looking at his screen, it seems he is able to see all kinds of viewpoints, even the back of the guy who has the camera strapped to his chest! (But he can't see Copperhead, who is sneaking up on the detective from behind?) The filmmaker steals/uses a lot of familiar music: Lets see - I heard "Wichita Lineman". The "Pink Panther" theme, a piece from the James Bond film "On Her Majesties Secret Service" and in the goofiest thing I've ever seen, the song "Popcorn" plays as Copperhead suddenly grabs hold of the Sherlock doofus and balances him on his head. Seriously, for no reason what so ever the closing shot is off these two walking down the road, head to head. This is pretty silly flick and will likely be of interest only to those intrepid B-Movie fans who fear no movie. There are loads of unintended laughs so that I was never bored. Deathless Devil is bad, but in a fun way. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog Reviewed on February 19th 2009 Joss Whedon hasn't had much luck getting a major Superhero film made. He's been attached to Iron Man, Batman and X-Men and when it seemed he had Wonder Woman in the bag, it was taken out of his hands. Stupid Hollywood, stupid, stupid Hollywood! Joss would be a natural (and an original) with this genre and Dr. Horrible proves it. Written with his brothers Zack and Jed and Jed's fiancé Maurissa Tanchoroen, Joss's 43-minute musical super caper was created for the Internet during the writers strike and it's a hell of a lot of fun. The premise is simple; it tells of Dr. Horrible (Neil Patrick Harris) who is looking to become a member of the "Evil League of Evil" - all he has to do first is execute an act of supreme badness. Unfortunately the job is botched due to the intervention of his arch-nemesis, Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion). To make matters worse, Hammer starts dating Horrible's one true love, Penny (Felicia Day). The bad Doctor steels his resolve, plots against Hammer and hopes to win the girl. Will everything go according to plan? The actors are a delight. Fillion is perfect as the shallow hero, Felicia Day is comes off a truly good and decent soul and Harris gives heart to his aspiring villain Dr. Horrible. There are also a number of colorful villains in cameos, the biggest belonging to Horribles pal Moist (Simon Helberg). The short film is funny, quirky and the music is catchy and nicely arranged and performed (I liked those harmonies). Harris has the best singing voice but they are all in fine form. A DVD is available at Amazon.com and it features several extras including a musical commentary. The film itself can also be purchased and viewed online. Thumbs up Joss and company - I give this a strong seal of approval! Doctor Strange (Made for TV Movie) Originally Reviewed on August 14th 2008 Doctor Strange never was one of my favorite characters. His look wasn't original (He had Tony Stark's mustache and Reed Richard's white streaks) and aside from eating an occasional bowl of magically delicious Lucky Charms, I never was much into the occult. It wasn't until Marvel released inexpensive paperback reprints of their classic comics that I discovered Strange's origins. And while I never became a fan I was enchanted by artist Steve Ditko's renderings of the spirit realm and the frightening pale figured named Nightmare who haunted the dream world astride a horse. Nothing in writer/director Philip DeGuere's 1978 made for TV movie matches Ditko's vision (there's no Nightmare and the Astral plain is nowhere near as mind blowing), still Philip does his level best with his small budget and delivered an atmospheric and solidly told tale. There are differences between comic and movie. Strange is a psychiatric physician and not a surgeon who loses the use of his hands. The ancient is now an Englishman named Lindmer (John Mills) and Wong has all his hair! Apart from that the film stays true to the spirit of the source material. Peter Hooten is a sturdy and caring Stephen Strange. Though his voice sounds dubbed (was it?) his likable personality as he discovers his new calling in life is a definite plus. Jessica Walter's cool resolve as the evil Morgan Le Fey is her best asset (a single look can chill your blood) as well as her greatest weakness (She can come off static and ineffectual), and it was nice to see Anne-Marie Martin (Billed as Eddie Benton) of "Sledge Hammer" fame playing the part of bedeviled love interest, Clea. Paul Chihara (who got his start on Corman's "Death Race 2000") wrote a dramatically charged electronic/synth score that adds to the otherworldly feel. The Direction by DeGuere is measured, the script is wordy and the movie is by no means an action packed thrill ride so it's likely that the pace will bore some viewers. As for myself I was interested in the premise, and liked the solid acting so that the dryness of the piece didn't interfere with my enjoyment. I think Dr. Strange would have made for a good weekly series and it's too bad it never made it that far. Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme Originally Reviewed on January 12th 2009 I haven't reviewed any of the Marvel direct to DVD releases because they don't inspire... well anything in me. It's fun to write reviews about films that run hot or cold, but ones that run along the lines of "m'eh" are the most difficult. I had every intention of penning a critique, but I just couldn't muster up the enthusiasm. The Avengers was just a big dull fight, Iron Man was barely the star of his own movie and his battle with the Mandarin was pretty much non-existent. The best of the early bunch was Strange but even that was no great shakes. What we get here is a revamp on the origin: Stephen Strange is a still a surgeon who loses his hands (though they seem to work fine for climbing mountains) but in this version he now joins a group of Sorcerers (one being old foe, Baron Mordo) who must square off against the formidable Dormammu. Animation was decent enough. The battles were fair though tethering the sorcerers to physical objects was a mistake. All of those swords fights would be cool if I were watching "Xena: Warrior Princess" but these characters wield magic and I needed to see them throwing spells, more so than they do in this feature. What "Dr. Strange" mostly is is a story of redemption and that aspect gets pretty labored and tedious after a while. Truth be told most of the Marvel Lionsgate outings are tedious, even the action heavy Ultimate Avengers was marked by tedium. So who knows if Strange had gone full bore on the conflict if it too would have still managed to dull my senses? Our friendly neighborhood Doctor has never been one of my favorite characters, but I did enjoy the Steve Ditko years. He brought such an off kilter, surreal mindset in his drawings that no one, no matter how sophisticated the work, has ever been able to match. Perhaps if this film had done away with re-imagining the story of Strange and simply tapped into his skewed roots (and feature the haunting Clea as well. Here she just gets a mention) they might one day translate the Sorcerer Supreme into film magic. Until then what we have so far is merely... Okay. Back to top of page E Elektra Originally Reviewed on August 11th 2006 When the Matrix stormed Hollywood, movie executives polled fans and discovered that Trinity was their favorite character. Soon, scores of female based hero flicks came out; Aeon Flux, Ultraviolet and least of them all, Cat Woman. Each failed to make heaping wads of cash, leaving those same execs scratching their heads. Recently the "Black Widow" movie lost its backing. The sentiment is, women action heroes don't sell. Have these boneheads ever considered that the reason these movies fell flat was because they sucked? I'll make you a guarantee - if Joss Whedon pulls out his old magic and makes a quality Wonder Woman movie, it will be a smash hit. Good word of mouth will give the movie legs, it will make money and all of a sudden female actions heroes will be hot again. (edit: Whedon has since been pulled from the project) Anyway, another of these recent box office duds was Elektra. A better film than her sister-heroes by far, but still an inconsistent effort all told. Its main problem is that it just isn't very compelling. Attempts to humanize the character only serve as an annoyance. I don't care that she suffers from OCD and its inclusion doesn't make me identify with the character. It only makes me impatient. Cut the crap and get to the story. There was a brief moment that held my attention. When Elektra first protects the father and daughter from the Hand, then brings them to her mentor Stick for safekeeping. There's a confrontation between E and Stick that says more about the character than any tacked on OCD. But then the trio wind up at a house in the woods, "E" bonds with the little girl and romances dad and there went my mind, wandering again (the little girl came from a comic book story by Greg Rucka, who isn't my favorite Elektra writer). Make me care for your characters and I'll follow a director anywhere, but this group never engages my sympathy or concern. Jennifer Garners not really that bad, she simply doesn't have much to work with. The highlight of the directors cut DVD was the extras. And I think they illustrate what went wrong with the movie. In one piece that explores the history of the character, writer Brian Michael Bendis explains that he saw her in the same light as Clint Eastwood's Man with no name. The main thrust of this character throughout the comics is that she's a killer, an assassin. There have been moments of redemption, but the best stories didn't explore that side of her. And any moral study came by setting her side by side with moral characters (Like Matt Murdock -Daredevil- a Catholic who loved her, but didn't see eye to eye with Elektra's stone cold methods on the elimination of bad guys) Had the movie delved into the killer side of her personality, instead of making it a tale of redemption, it might have been another winner for Marvel. Make it High Plains Drifter meets Crouching Tiger. Heck Kill Bill's Bride is more along the lines of what an Elektra movie should be. But, Marvel wanted it to be a super hero movie (hence her special powers to see into the future), the studios didn't want an R rating and so the assassin becomes vanilla. Exo-Man Reviewed on April 10th 2009 I remember Exo-Man being advertised on TV when I was but a lad. Back then we didn't have many options when it came to superhero movies, so I was really looking forward to it. Sadly I was soon bummed out by a story that bored me to tears and a hero who didn't show up till the end. Popping in the DVD I had immediate recall of every scene -even though I hadn't seen this in over 30 years- and the film is every bit as dull as I remembered. Predating M.A.N.T.I.S. Exo-Man tells the story of Nick, a college professor who nabs a bank robber. Before Nick can testify in court, a goon strikes him on the back, paralyzing him. After he receives a threatening call at the Hospital, Nick decides against testifying against the well connected robber and instead plots his revenge by creating a suit of armor that will allow him to walk. Exo's plot is wafer thin so it's heavily padded out. The script telegraphs every move and then takes its time getting to the point. Every excruciating detail is presented and unfolds at a snails pace. Whether it be laundry day (really, I didn't need to see Nick put the clothes in the machine and coins in the slot, I think I get it) or the creation of the suit. The entire movie made me fidget restlessly in my seat. When the film finally reaches its fantastic reveal the end results are a bitter disappointment. The boxy suit isn't visually appealing and it moves slowly making the action sequences every bit as dull as the set up, the only thing cool about it is the sound of a heartbeat it emits whenever it was activated. During its first shot out of the gate the thing quickly malfunctions and the guy he was pursuing winds up killing himself after falling from a building. In its second time at bat, it waddles around, stops bullets, crashes through walls and steel doors, makes its way to the evil Mob boss where it... reaches out and grabs hold of a binder filled with incriminating papers. Then waddles back out. What the - that was it? That was the big superhero finishing fight? The film does play host to some decent actors. Star, David Ackroyd comes off a laid back good-natured sort. Jack Coven, who played Jack McGee in TVs Hulk, is the mob bosses right hand man. And despite their small roles, it was nice to see veterans Jose Ferrer (The boss) and Harry Morgan (who plays an investigator who seems to know that Nick can help him solve his case --- though there's no reason why he should. There's no indication he knew of the Exo-Suit, heck when they first meet it wasn't even created). Still, none of these performers are able to wake up this slumbering iron giant. Yawn - It makes me pine for Tony Stark, now that's a guy who can build some bitchin' armor! Links: Home * A-B * C-E * F-H * I-O * P-S * T-Z * The Superman Family * The Bat Cave * X-Movies * The Super-100 Back to top of page