Monday, September 9, 2013
Losing Faith in your Country
I recently read an article focusing on the sad state of affairs regarding our territorial sovereignty:
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/61320/losing-ground--how-ph-has-handled-sabah-west-philippine-sea-disputes-over-the-years
I was disheartened to read one comment from a reader saying he is so ashamed for being a Filipino because of the inaction of many of our leaders and the rampant corruption in our government. To those of you who feel the same way and feel there is no hope left for our country, and even wish they could change their nationality and even the very fabric of their being, I only have this to say:
I'm sorry you feel ashamed for being a Filipino. I can't blame you either. There's a LOT that needs to be done to put the Philippines back on the right track. Personally, I still have hope for the future of this country. I want my children to grow up proud of their country and try to teach them that we have to do what is right in order to have a better future. Every chance I get, I show them the shortcomings of our country, leaders and fellow countrymen, but I also try to teach them what we need to do to become better. I know that what is right is not always the easy thing to do, but we need to have faith that things can get better if we do our part, no matter how small it is. Even when things are looking bad, I tell my children DO NOT LOSE HOPE and ALWAYS DO WHAT IS RIGHT. Because I believe that personal integrity, hard work and hope for a better future can help us get to where we want to be.
I really think that recent events are now forcing our leaders to move in the right direction (the PDAF and other govt scandals, people become more aware and vigilant against crime and corruption, China showing its true intentions, the push for the FOI bill, AFP modernization, our president actually taking a firm stand on defending our sovereignty). We are already very late in the game when it comes to having a credible self defense capability, that is painfully obvious, but I see that there appears to be a genuine desire from some of our leaders to actually do the RIGHT THING. Honestly, I wish there was some way I could contribute to our country aside from paying taxes and following the rule of law. I have even sent emails to the office of the president expressing my views (I can only hope it actually reaches the president, but I wont bet on it since I am not a gambling man). Anyway, I think I am too old to be a soldier and probably no good at fighting anyway :) but I think I can still help somehow with my technical skills and knowledge if given the right opportunity. I just hope I am not alone in thinking like this...
Finally, I always tell my children: "Walang magmamahal sa Pilipinas kung hindi tayong mga Pilipino."
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
An Open Lettter to the President of the Philippines
Dear Mr. President,
Greetings! I know you are a very busy man so I will try to be brief and direct to the point.
The situation with China over the disputed territories is getting out of hand. China is now brazenly building more and more structures in the Spratlys and there's nothing we can do about it! Like myself, more and more Filipinos are becoming aware of this issue and are enraged by what the Chinese are doing there.
The situation with China over the disputed territories is getting out of hand. China is now brazenly building more and more structures in the Spratlys and there's nothing we can do about it! Like myself, more and more Filipinos are becoming aware of this issue and are enraged by what the Chinese are doing there.
In my humble opinion, wouldn't using the PDAF be the most
efficient and quickest way to modernize the AFP especially our Navy? I
know there are many pressing issues on your mind right now but I
honestly think that protecting the sovereignty of our country should be
your top priority. I know we have to deal carefully with China on this
issue since we simply cannot match them ship for ship. But the handling
of this issue by the DFA is simply infuriating! There appears to be no
self-respect left whenever the DFA makes any announcement regarding this
issue. This is simply disheartening!
I implore you to significantly increase the budget of the DND for modernization. If I am not mistaken, we not only have the PDAF, but also Malampaya to turn to for funding. If we can show China that they cannot bully us easily and at the same time, broadcast to the world that we are simply defending what is legally and rightfully ours and not being the agressor, this will go a long way to boosting the morale not just of the Philippine military, but of the entire nation! This will also show the International community that we are not a nation of weaklings, and that we are serious about protecting our national interests. This will also help our economy because I believe that more nations will see our country as finally becoming progressive and self-reliant.
Just think of how much jobs your administration can create by investing in navy shipbuilding and maybe even local weapons development! Didn't we use to have a missile development program? Didn't we also have a fighter plane development program as well? Whatever happened to them? If you can revive these programs, and maybe even get support from the private sector for R&D, I am confident we can become another Asian powerhouse! Imagine if you can tap the best minds from our top colleges and universities and get them to work on projects for the DND, we might even be able to create a home-grown military drone aircraft! Who knows what else we can come up with? Ultimately, securing our place in the Spratlys will not only be a boon for our poor fishermen over there, but also pave the way for our country to finally tap into the vast oil reserves supposedly existing there! Imagine the kind of bright future this country can have if we only had the will to take that first, hard step forward!
I personally believe we can be a small country that is capable of standing alone in a sea of hostility (just like Israel). Having allies is always good. But we cannot pin all our hopes on them. They have their own interests that we may or may not be aware of. China owns a huge chunk of the US debt and I am very sure you are all too aware of what is happenning between these two superpowers on an economic level. China is slowly buying out the US bit by bit! Sadly, when all is said and done, we have no one to turn to except ourselves. You can see this happenning all over the world.
It is painfully obvious that time is not on our side, so please find a way to show your countrymen that your promise of AFP modernization and attaining a minimum credible defense posture does not stop with the purchase of second hand ships and a dozen fighter jets.
Before I proceed any further, I want to be clear, I am against the actions of the Chinese government. I bear no ill will towards the citizens who probably are being fed lies and propaganda by their government regarding this issue. Some might take
me for a war monger. On the contrary, I would like to think of myself
as a patriot who fully supports your efforts for a better Philippines.
And I can honestly say that I am not alone! God Bless!
-----
Disclaimer:
These are my personal views and opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.
-----
Disclaimer:
These are my personal views and opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
PACIFIC RIM: My Movie Review
Now that I've finally settled down after watching PACIFIC RIM, I am now truly convinced that Guillermo Del Toro really knows what he's doing when it comes to delivering a live-action Mecha / Kaiju-inspired film.
I have never been this excited to see a film before. From the first time I saw an article on Del Toro and his upcoming projects, and having watched his films like Pan's Labyrinth and the Hellboy Movies, I was excited by the prospect of being able to finally watch this kind of movie about giant robots on the big screen. Because ever since I saw ROBOT JOX in the early 90's (which you should try to watch by the way, because the stop motion done on the robots were freakin' cool for its time), I knew deep down it was still not the right time for these type of movies to flourish given the level of special effects and technology available at the time. But ever since Iron Man become a huge box office success, and the quality of special effects (both practical and CGI), I was now convinced that we only needed a brave soul with enough imagination to make my childhood dreams a reality. Guillermo Del Toro stepped up to the plate and I was not dissappointed one bit.
This movie brings back good memories of my childhood when I became enchanted with Godzilla and Mecha Anime. Aside from watching out for the latest Godzilla flick, I would always remember the timeslots of robot shows like Mazinger Z, Voltes V, Diamos, UFO Grendaizer, Jeeg, Balatack and Mekanda robot. I would always imagine myself as one of these daring and herioc Mecha pilots battling evil monsters bent on destroying the world.
PACIFIC RIM was shot in 2D but Del Toro really took his time in converting this movie so that we can all watch it in IMAX 3D. Indeed, Del Toro goes on to say in an interview that "if you can watch this movie in IMAX 3D, then you really should watch it in IMAX 3D". And watch it in IMAX 3D I did! Much to my enjoyment, opening day coincided with my birthday. So thank you Mr. Del Toro for making this film! Because it was such a wonderful birthday gift!
From the first time I saw the very first trailer on YouTube, I was totally hooked on this film. I began watching out for every news tidbit I could about PACIFIC RIM on the Internet. My imagination was on hyperdrive! I was so glad they finally put up an official website and created a Facebook and Google+ account for the film so I knew where to get first hand information about the film. My craving for more info, images and sneak peeks was insatiable. I will happily admit to being a fanboy of the Mecha / Kaiju genre.
Ok, here we go!
In the world of PACIFIC RIM, the giant mechs are called "Jaeger" (a German term for "hunter", which just adds to the coolness factor). The giant monsters are called "Kaiju" (or Japanese for "strange beast"). The Jaegers are controlled by at least two human pilots. Del Toro goes on to explain in promotional video sneak-peeks that a single human pilot cannot control a Jaeger because of the sheer mental strain imposed on the brain of the pilot. In this film, pilots wear combat suits that not just let them survive battle with a Kaiju, but also acts as a conduit to the Jaeger itself. So that his/her body movements are imitated by the Jaeger. There is also a feedback mechanism that lets the pilot "feel" what is happening around the Jaeger. So imagine what you would feel if a Kaiju rips the arm off your Jaeger. Another cool concept is that pilots enter the "DRIFT" where they become one with each other (something like a Vulcan Mind Meld). So one pilot controls the right hemisphere of the Jaeger and the other controls the left.
The movie starts out with a short narrative by Raleigh (one of the pilots of the hero Jaeger "GIPSY DANGER"). He tells of the time when the first Kaiju emerged from the "RIFT" (a gateway between dimensions that opened up at the bottom of the Pacific). Since that time, more and more Kaiju began to appear and spread havoc across the countries near the Pacific Rim. People didn't want to resort to nukes everytime a Kaiju pops up so they came up with the "Jaeger program". Hence the tag line "To fight monsters, we created monsters".
The Kaiju and Jaegers are HUGE! They range from 250 to almost 300 feet tall (move over Transformers, you don't want to get stepped on by these behemoths). When it finally looks like mankind has found it's solution to the Kaiju menace, new Kaiju start popping up that employ new strategies and start beating the Jaegers. And to the horror of mankind, the Kaiju onslaught comes in more frequently with no end in sight. We see a sort of "doomsday clock" where the next Kaiju attack is predicted to happen and a countdown is shown.
PACIFIC RIM is all about giant robots vs giant monsters. It's a wild and loud roller coaster ride of epic proportions. This is something you should keep in mind when you go to see this movie. If you are looking for intense human drama and thought provoking ideas, this is not the movie for you. Be sure to keep your thinking caps outside the theater for this one!
As far as the action goes, I am an extremely happy camper! My only problem is that I am left wanting MORE titanic battles from the other Jaegers aside from Gipsy Danger and Striker Eureka. During the "Battle of Hong Kong", the four remaining Jaegers (Gipsy Danger - USA, Striker Eureka - Australia, Cherno Alpha - Russa, and Crimson Typhoon - China) are transported to the last operational Jaeger base called a "Shatterdome". Here, they will hold the fort while the rest of mankind builds a gigantic wall which they hope will contain the Kaiju. At this point in the history of PACIFIC RIM, politicians have lost faith in the Jaeger program and have decided to put their remaining resources in the construction of the "Wall of Life". Unfortunately, the wall is easily breached by a Kaiju and Striker Eureka (the latest, fastest and most agile Jaeger to date) arrives and puts an end to the Kaiju menace.
Meanwhile, Stacker Pentecost (portrayed by Idris Elba), head of the Jaeger program, has a crazy plan in mind. While the rest of humanity wallows in despair and walls itself off from the Pacific, he plans to enter the Rift at the bottom of the Pacific and nuke it from the inside to close it once and for all.
As they prepare for their daring mission, two Kaiju appear from the Rift and head towards Hong Kong. Our heroes are forced to send Cherno Alpha and Crimson Typhoon to do battle with the Kaiju. Unfortunately, the battle left me wanting to see more of these uniquely designed Jaegers! It was a shame to have them so quickly defeated by the Kaiju. Personally, I would have preferred that they got more Kaiju kills before they sacrificed themselves on their mission to the Rift. The rest of the battles were a sheer joy to behold!
Anyhow, I hope this movie earns a lot so that it easily warrants a sequel. I have read that Del Toro is already working on a sequel so this is good news! I also hope this sparks more fans to produce fan-fiction and inspire more Jaeger / Kaiju fan-art on the Internet. Hopefully, a successful toy / action figure line is not far behind.
Lastly, if you're a fan of Guillermo Del Toro and also like me who loves these types of films, GO WATCH THE FREAKIN' MOVIE AT LEAST TWICE! You will not regret it!
I have never been this excited to see a film before. From the first time I saw an article on Del Toro and his upcoming projects, and having watched his films like Pan's Labyrinth and the Hellboy Movies, I was excited by the prospect of being able to finally watch this kind of movie about giant robots on the big screen. Because ever since I saw ROBOT JOX in the early 90's (which you should try to watch by the way, because the stop motion done on the robots were freakin' cool for its time), I knew deep down it was still not the right time for these type of movies to flourish given the level of special effects and technology available at the time. But ever since Iron Man become a huge box office success, and the quality of special effects (both practical and CGI), I was now convinced that we only needed a brave soul with enough imagination to make my childhood dreams a reality. Guillermo Del Toro stepped up to the plate and I was not dissappointed one bit.
This movie brings back good memories of my childhood when I became enchanted with Godzilla and Mecha Anime. Aside from watching out for the latest Godzilla flick, I would always remember the timeslots of robot shows like Mazinger Z, Voltes V, Diamos, UFO Grendaizer, Jeeg, Balatack and Mekanda robot. I would always imagine myself as one of these daring and herioc Mecha pilots battling evil monsters bent on destroying the world.
PACIFIC RIM was shot in 2D but Del Toro really took his time in converting this movie so that we can all watch it in IMAX 3D. Indeed, Del Toro goes on to say in an interview that "if you can watch this movie in IMAX 3D, then you really should watch it in IMAX 3D". And watch it in IMAX 3D I did! Much to my enjoyment, opening day coincided with my birthday. So thank you Mr. Del Toro for making this film! Because it was such a wonderful birthday gift!
From the first time I saw the very first trailer on YouTube, I was totally hooked on this film. I began watching out for every news tidbit I could about PACIFIC RIM on the Internet. My imagination was on hyperdrive! I was so glad they finally put up an official website and created a Facebook and Google+ account for the film so I knew where to get first hand information about the film. My craving for more info, images and sneak peeks was insatiable. I will happily admit to being a fanboy of the Mecha / Kaiju genre.
Ok, here we go!
In the world of PACIFIC RIM, the giant mechs are called "Jaeger" (a German term for "hunter", which just adds to the coolness factor). The giant monsters are called "Kaiju" (or Japanese for "strange beast"). The Jaegers are controlled by at least two human pilots. Del Toro goes on to explain in promotional video sneak-peeks that a single human pilot cannot control a Jaeger because of the sheer mental strain imposed on the brain of the pilot. In this film, pilots wear combat suits that not just let them survive battle with a Kaiju, but also acts as a conduit to the Jaeger itself. So that his/her body movements are imitated by the Jaeger. There is also a feedback mechanism that lets the pilot "feel" what is happening around the Jaeger. So imagine what you would feel if a Kaiju rips the arm off your Jaeger. Another cool concept is that pilots enter the "DRIFT" where they become one with each other (something like a Vulcan Mind Meld). So one pilot controls the right hemisphere of the Jaeger and the other controls the left.
The movie starts out with a short narrative by Raleigh (one of the pilots of the hero Jaeger "GIPSY DANGER"). He tells of the time when the first Kaiju emerged from the "RIFT" (a gateway between dimensions that opened up at the bottom of the Pacific). Since that time, more and more Kaiju began to appear and spread havoc across the countries near the Pacific Rim. People didn't want to resort to nukes everytime a Kaiju pops up so they came up with the "Jaeger program". Hence the tag line "To fight monsters, we created monsters".
The Kaiju and Jaegers are HUGE! They range from 250 to almost 300 feet tall (move over Transformers, you don't want to get stepped on by these behemoths). When it finally looks like mankind has found it's solution to the Kaiju menace, new Kaiju start popping up that employ new strategies and start beating the Jaegers. And to the horror of mankind, the Kaiju onslaught comes in more frequently with no end in sight. We see a sort of "doomsday clock" where the next Kaiju attack is predicted to happen and a countdown is shown.
PACIFIC RIM is all about giant robots vs giant monsters. It's a wild and loud roller coaster ride of epic proportions. This is something you should keep in mind when you go to see this movie. If you are looking for intense human drama and thought provoking ideas, this is not the movie for you. Be sure to keep your thinking caps outside the theater for this one!
As far as the action goes, I am an extremely happy camper! My only problem is that I am left wanting MORE titanic battles from the other Jaegers aside from Gipsy Danger and Striker Eureka. During the "Battle of Hong Kong", the four remaining Jaegers (Gipsy Danger - USA, Striker Eureka - Australia, Cherno Alpha - Russa, and Crimson Typhoon - China) are transported to the last operational Jaeger base called a "Shatterdome". Here, they will hold the fort while the rest of mankind builds a gigantic wall which they hope will contain the Kaiju. At this point in the history of PACIFIC RIM, politicians have lost faith in the Jaeger program and have decided to put their remaining resources in the construction of the "Wall of Life". Unfortunately, the wall is easily breached by a Kaiju and Striker Eureka (the latest, fastest and most agile Jaeger to date) arrives and puts an end to the Kaiju menace.
Meanwhile, Stacker Pentecost (portrayed by Idris Elba), head of the Jaeger program, has a crazy plan in mind. While the rest of humanity wallows in despair and walls itself off from the Pacific, he plans to enter the Rift at the bottom of the Pacific and nuke it from the inside to close it once and for all.
As they prepare for their daring mission, two Kaiju appear from the Rift and head towards Hong Kong. Our heroes are forced to send Cherno Alpha and Crimson Typhoon to do battle with the Kaiju. Unfortunately, the battle left me wanting to see more of these uniquely designed Jaegers! It was a shame to have them so quickly defeated by the Kaiju. Personally, I would have preferred that they got more Kaiju kills before they sacrificed themselves on their mission to the Rift. The rest of the battles were a sheer joy to behold!
Anyhow, I hope this movie earns a lot so that it easily warrants a sequel. I have read that Del Toro is already working on a sequel so this is good news! I also hope this sparks more fans to produce fan-fiction and inspire more Jaeger / Kaiju fan-art on the Internet. Hopefully, a successful toy / action figure line is not far behind.
Lastly, if you're a fan of Guillermo Del Toro and also like me who loves these types of films, GO WATCH THE FREAKIN' MOVIE AT LEAST TWICE! You will not regret it!
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Concept Gundams for the Philippines
Inspired by the movie +Pacific Rim, I also decided to do some sketches of what Philippine designed Gundam Mobile Suits might possibly look like. Hey, I'm an optimist when it comes to the future of my motherland! The Gundam setting I was aiming for was Mobile Fighter G Gundam hence the use of "Neo-Philippines". :D
My first sketch: Adarna Gundam (Adarna is a mythological bird with magical properties in Filipino folklore). This is primarily a long range combat unit as it packs a lot of missiles and other long-range weaponry. I have to admit though that the design was influenced by elements from Voltes V, Destroids from Macross, Gundam Sandrock, a Roman gladiator and a rooster! (Whew!)
My second sketch was inspired by ethnic themes one would normally see in Mindanao. I call this one the Lapu-Lapu Gundam. Note the broadsword and shield which shows this as a melee unit. It also has a Gatling cannon on the right shoulder area. I was also thinking of this as a possible mass-production unit.
Lastly, I made the Indio Gundam, (Indio was a racial term used to refer to native Filipinos during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines). My idea for this was to have another melee unit whose primary weapons are "Arnis" sticks and a "Kris" sword. Well, that's it for now. Hope you like these illustrations. Till my next blog, keep feeding your imagination! :D
My first sketch: Adarna Gundam (Adarna is a mythological bird with magical properties in Filipino folklore). This is primarily a long range combat unit as it packs a lot of missiles and other long-range weaponry. I have to admit though that the design was influenced by elements from Voltes V, Destroids from Macross, Gundam Sandrock, a Roman gladiator and a rooster! (Whew!)
My second sketch was inspired by ethnic themes one would normally see in Mindanao. I call this one the Lapu-Lapu Gundam. Note the broadsword and shield which shows this as a melee unit. It also has a Gatling cannon on the right shoulder area. I was also thinking of this as a possible mass-production unit.
Lastly, I made the Indio Gundam, (Indio was a racial term used to refer to native Filipinos during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines). My idea for this was to have another melee unit whose primary weapons are "Arnis" sticks and a "Kris" sword. Well, that's it for now. Hope you like these illustrations. Till my next blog, keep feeding your imagination! :D
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Pacific Rim - No Jaeger for the Philippines?
So I already mentioned that I'm pretty stoked with the movie Pacific Rim. I was so excited with this movie by one of favorite directors (Guillermo Del Toro of Hellboy and Pan's Labyrinth fame), that I just had to make my concept of what a Philippine Jaeger would look like. What's a "Jaeger" you ask? A Jaeger is basically a human-piloted giant robot that fights giant monsters called "Kaiju". From what I've seen in the trailers so far, the Philippines didn't get it's own Jaeger for some reason (Is our country just for Kaiju poop stopovers? BOOO!), anyway, a Jaeger probably cost billions of dollars to build so I'm not gonna complain anymore and just show you what I have so far. This is something I already posted in my Facebook account so some of you might have already seen it. I have a few more in the works and I hope to have them posted here very soon! I call this Jaeger TIDAL SPIKE !
To be honest I sent the webmasters a suggestion to have a "design your own Jaeger" contest (and not just the design your own Jaeger using parts from the Jaegers shown in the movie). Looks like I wasn't the only one who wanted to see what other fans had in mind for original designs, and boom! They actually held a contest! Unfortunately, it was only for US residents (BOOO again!). BUT, Since I'm a big fan of Del Toro and giant robots/monsters, I did my own designs anyway. If this post peaked your interest, go visit the Pacific Rim Facebook or Google+ account for more juicy tidbits on this movie! AND WATCH THE MOVIE! :D
In designing the TIDAL SPIKE Jaeger, I was thinking of a mech that could not only engage in close quarters combat but also do damage from long distance. Here's a quick rundown of TIDAL SPIKE's specifications:
Height: 260 feet
Weight: 2100 tons
Weapons:
1) Hi-density / Hi-velocity drill spikes
2) Head-mounted medium-range plasma cannon
3) Two (2) hip-mounted plasma cannons
4) Two (2) shoulder-mounted AKM (Anti-Kaiju Missile) pods
Power Source: Advanced Heavy Water Reactor Core
Here's what my original sketch looked like before I started working on it in Photoshop. Just goes to show nothing's set in stone when you're on a roll with your ideas... :D
If I have enough time, I'll try to make a battle spec section just like the one below of my favorite jaeger, CHERNO ALPHA (you just gotta say it in a heavy Russian accent)!
To be honest I sent the webmasters a suggestion to have a "design your own Jaeger" contest (and not just the design your own Jaeger using parts from the Jaegers shown in the movie). Looks like I wasn't the only one who wanted to see what other fans had in mind for original designs, and boom! They actually held a contest! Unfortunately, it was only for US residents (BOOO again!). BUT, Since I'm a big fan of Del Toro and giant robots/monsters, I did my own designs anyway. If this post peaked your interest, go visit the Pacific Rim Facebook or Google+ account for more juicy tidbits on this movie! AND WATCH THE MOVIE! :D
In designing the TIDAL SPIKE Jaeger, I was thinking of a mech that could not only engage in close quarters combat but also do damage from long distance. Here's a quick rundown of TIDAL SPIKE's specifications:
Height: 260 feet
Weight: 2100 tons
Weapons:
1) Hi-density / Hi-velocity drill spikes
2) Head-mounted medium-range plasma cannon
3) Two (2) hip-mounted plasma cannons
4) Two (2) shoulder-mounted AKM (Anti-Kaiju Missile) pods
Power Source: Advanced Heavy Water Reactor Core
Here's what my original sketch looked like before I started working on it in Photoshop. Just goes to show nothing's set in stone when you're on a roll with your ideas... :D
If I have enough time, I'll try to make a battle spec section just like the one below of my favorite jaeger, CHERNO ALPHA (you just gotta say it in a heavy Russian accent)!
Monday, July 1, 2013
REBOOT!!!
Ok, I am going to reboot this Blog of mine!
I don't have anything yet to post except that I'm totally excited about this movie (Pacific Rim) by one of my favorite directors... Guillermo Del Toro! :)
I'm definitely doing a movie review on this after I watch it in IMAX 3D on opening day (July 12) which just happens to be the day after my birthday! YAY!!! :)
I'm nuts about robots/mecha so expect more stuff related to this in the future... :D
I don't have anything yet to post except that I'm totally excited about this movie (Pacific Rim) by one of my favorite directors... Guillermo Del Toro! :)
I'm definitely doing a movie review on this after I watch it in IMAX 3D on opening day (July 12) which just happens to be the day after my birthday! YAY!!! :)
I'm nuts about robots/mecha so expect more stuff related to this in the future... :D
Monday, May 2, 2011
Thor the movie review
Now I'm admittedly a comic fan (more Marvel than DC in fact). So I'm obviously biased when it comes to the characters of both companies. Though I love DC's big guns (can you say Justice League?), I have more respect and admiration for the heroes who have flaws (some more obvious than others) but try their best to overcome their shortcomings in their fight for what is good and right. And Marvel has these flawed heroes in abundance. DC heroes are more like the bastions of purity, ultimate power and perfection (not much I can relate to, in a manner of speaking).
But I digress. It's been quite a while since I actually went out to watch a movie on the big screen. Well, my wife and I finally managed to squeeze in some quality time. And guess what? We watched Thor! She knew I loved movies based on comics and I knew she'd like watching Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Natalie Portman (Thor's love interest Jane Foster) onscreen.
OK now... From this point on... I'm issuing a SPOILER ALERT for those of you who haven't seen the movie yet! Read at your own risk! :D
I had my fair share misgivings before the movie came out, I didn't know who Kenneth Branagh was (the director Marvel decided to go with) and how well Chris Hemsworth would be able to portray Thor (although he did a good job as a Spartan in 300). But as for the rest of the cast, I loved the idea of Anthony Hopkins as the mighty Odin. I had no doubt he would make a great Odin. I also had high hopes that Natalie Portman would do the character of Jane Foster justice. I was even quite relieved to know they didn't make Jane Foster a nurse and instead turned her into an astrophysicist. It actually made a lot of sense in the movie to have her portray a star-gazing science geek. Thor after all, was not of this world, but from a very far-away place in outer space. I though their version of Loki actually looked cool. Great choice of actor (Tom Hiddleston) and I loved the helmet design of Loki. He actually pulled off a sneaky, scheming and believable Loki in the Movie (from the way he fights and the way he fools and deceives everyone to get his way).
Now, let's get back to Thor. Chris Hemsworth portrayed Thor impressively (minus the traditional "Aye, Thee, Thine, Thou", etc. whenever he spouts a sentence in the comics). He certainly got the attitude down pat. He was quite boisterous, a braggart, foolhardy, always letting his fists (and hammer) do the talking instead of using his brain first. A true warrior type dude who would rather mow down the enemy and let God sort them out later. As far as the costume goes, I think they made a wise choice and went with the updated look of Thor in comics. The fight scenes with the Frost Giants and the Destroyer was quite satisfying. I always wondered how they would show Thor using Mjolnir in a realistic fight scene. Now I know. And I am happy the way it turned out. When it comes to non-human opponents, Thor is one of those fighters that doesn't hold anything back (just like good ol' Wolverine and Punisher). He's a born brawler. They didn't make the film campy. They played fast and loose with the science and mythology (which I liked). In effect, Marvel and Kenneth Branagh successfully created another Marvel character that I wouldn't mind seeing more of in the future.
Loki, on the other hand, was quite a surprise. Tom Hiddleston did himself proud in this one. He actually made Loki believable and thankfully not pathetic on screen. He was the reason for the formation of the Avengers after all. The fighting style he employed showed he was the opposite of Thor. Although a very capable fighter, he would prefer to fool and trick his enemies by using sorcery rather than bashing their skulls in. Showing his past as the son of a Frost Giant adopted by Odin was one of those classic bows to Marvel history that I really appreciated. His discovery of his past and his eventual confrontation with Odin about his childhood was an effective way to introduce a bit of drama into the whole mix. He actually came across as a formidable foe who uses deceit and trickery quite effectively. NEVER turn your back on Loki.
Other items of interest (to me):
Some additional comic geek cross-over trivia:
Post-credits sneak peek: Agent of SHIELD Nick Fury apparently got his hands on a Cosmic Cube. While he is discussing how it can be possibly used as a limitless power source with Jane Foster's mentor, Loki is shown (obviously invisible to everyone) manipulating people from the background to create more mischief... Sounds like a good prelude to the AVENGERS if you ask me...
OK. That wraps it up for me. I strongly recommend THOR for the whole family. It's an enjoyable film whether or not you're a comic book fan. Just leave your thinking caps out the door when you watch this since it's basically a fun fantasy film with lots of action.
Next blog: CAPTAIN AMERICA! :D
But I digress. It's been quite a while since I actually went out to watch a movie on the big screen. Well, my wife and I finally managed to squeeze in some quality time. And guess what? We watched Thor! She knew I loved movies based on comics and I knew she'd like watching Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Natalie Portman (Thor's love interest Jane Foster) onscreen.
OK now... From this point on... I'm issuing a SPOILER ALERT for those of you who haven't seen the movie yet! Read at your own risk! :D
I had my fair share misgivings before the movie came out, I didn't know who Kenneth Branagh was (the director Marvel decided to go with) and how well Chris Hemsworth would be able to portray Thor (although he did a good job as a Spartan in 300). But as for the rest of the cast, I loved the idea of Anthony Hopkins as the mighty Odin. I had no doubt he would make a great Odin. I also had high hopes that Natalie Portman would do the character of Jane Foster justice. I was even quite relieved to know they didn't make Jane Foster a nurse and instead turned her into an astrophysicist. It actually made a lot of sense in the movie to have her portray a star-gazing science geek. Thor after all, was not of this world, but from a very far-away place in outer space. I though their version of Loki actually looked cool. Great choice of actor (Tom Hiddleston) and I loved the helmet design of Loki. He actually pulled off a sneaky, scheming and believable Loki in the Movie (from the way he fights and the way he fools and deceives everyone to get his way).
Now, let's get back to Thor. Chris Hemsworth portrayed Thor impressively (minus the traditional "Aye, Thee, Thine, Thou", etc. whenever he spouts a sentence in the comics). He certainly got the attitude down pat. He was quite boisterous, a braggart, foolhardy, always letting his fists (and hammer) do the talking instead of using his brain first. A true warrior type dude who would rather mow down the enemy and let God sort them out later. As far as the costume goes, I think they made a wise choice and went with the updated look of Thor in comics. The fight scenes with the Frost Giants and the Destroyer was quite satisfying. I always wondered how they would show Thor using Mjolnir in a realistic fight scene. Now I know. And I am happy the way it turned out. When it comes to non-human opponents, Thor is one of those fighters that doesn't hold anything back (just like good ol' Wolverine and Punisher). He's a born brawler. They didn't make the film campy. They played fast and loose with the science and mythology (which I liked). In effect, Marvel and Kenneth Branagh successfully created another Marvel character that I wouldn't mind seeing more of in the future.
Loki, on the other hand, was quite a surprise. Tom Hiddleston did himself proud in this one. He actually made Loki believable and thankfully not pathetic on screen. He was the reason for the formation of the Avengers after all. The fighting style he employed showed he was the opposite of Thor. Although a very capable fighter, he would prefer to fool and trick his enemies by using sorcery rather than bashing their skulls in. Showing his past as the son of a Frost Giant adopted by Odin was one of those classic bows to Marvel history that I really appreciated. His discovery of his past and his eventual confrontation with Odin about his childhood was an effective way to introduce a bit of drama into the whole mix. He actually came across as a formidable foe who uses deceit and trickery quite effectively. NEVER turn your back on Loki.
Other items of interest (to me):
- The Rainbow Bridge - in the movie, it's shown as a real bridge that has multi-colored lights streaming through it as if it was studded with fiber optic cables that ends in a chamber where one actually "beamed" to his/her chosen destination by Heimdall (or anyone with enough power to activate the transportation device, like Odin). Good move in a visual sense. The fact that they utilized some sort of wormhole-based technology as their means of transportation from Asgard to any point within Heimdall's reach was a stroke of genius as far as I'm concerned. Besides, literally walking on a rainbow would probably ruin the whole movie (think Rainbow Brite, ugh!)
- Asgard - Cool concept having Asgard located in another part of the Galaxy or Universe (take your pick). Looks great with the floating buildings. A cross between a super advanced civilization and Norse mythos. Not too overwhelming to the eyes (unlike Transformers)
- Mjolnir - good thing they chose the classic hammer instead of the modern axe/hammer hybrid. It was a nice touch to have Odin make the hammer voice-programmable (also looks like only Odin's voice can reprogram Mjolnir too).
- Jotunheim - the home of the Frost Giants was depicted as another planet, not some mystical realm or dimension. Good move again.
Some additional comic geek cross-over trivia:
- Bruce Banner (a.k.a. HULK) is mentioned (not by name, mind you) as being one of SHIELD's previous object of interest after SHIELD agents confiscate Jane Foster's equipment and research data on the arrival of Thor to Earth.
- Tony Stark is also mentioned (by name this time) by the lead SHIELD agent when the Destroyer arrives on Earth (obviously mistaking the Destroyer for one of Stark's armored inventions).
- Hawkeye (played by Jeremy Renner, who did a good job in the film Hurt Locker) was a good choice for a cameo since he's obviously going to be part of the Avengers movie. I wonder if they give him the scarlet costume in the Avengers comics or give him the black spandex make-over (like they did in X-Men). I'd personally like to see a re-imagined scarlet costume for this hero.
Post-credits sneak peek: Agent of SHIELD Nick Fury apparently got his hands on a Cosmic Cube. While he is discussing how it can be possibly used as a limitless power source with Jane Foster's mentor, Loki is shown (obviously invisible to everyone) manipulating people from the background to create more mischief... Sounds like a good prelude to the AVENGERS if you ask me...
OK. That wraps it up for me. I strongly recommend THOR for the whole family. It's an enjoyable film whether or not you're a comic book fan. Just leave your thinking caps out the door when you watch this since it's basically a fun fantasy film with lots of action.
Next blog: CAPTAIN AMERICA! :D
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