Super Dud

When you hear or see something about Superman, many things come to mind: the powerful man of an adopted planet. He is a force of justice. And the “S” in the emblem often is ingrained in your thoughts.

The character has been around for many decades and shows no signs of retiring anytime soon. Perhaps it is the awkward charm of the character that attracts comic book readers to him.

It's not a surprise that another animated film that comes directly to DVD has Superman for the main character. They're trying something new and different.

But I feel the film “All Star Superman” falls flat.

I'll tell you why.

Though the film is excellently drawn. It is modeled after the clear cutting details from Frank Quitely's art from the comic books. There is a wide gallery of colors filling the movie in every scene. It's a nice film to look at. And the characters do look like that they take giant leaps out of the comic book pages.

But that's where all semblance between the animated film and the comic books stop.

Superman is all about awe and wonder... the man who fell from the cosmos like an angel falling out of the heavens. His mystery is one of bewilderment.

You don't see any of that here in the “All Star Superman” cartoon film. You don't feel very close to the characters. You don't have the childlike sense for the character. It's gone and drowned out by the commotion of the film.

I didn't enjoy the comic books of “All Star Superman” or the animated film itself either. Perhaps I've been spoiled by the most recognized performance of otherworldly character: Christopher Reeve. Perhaps he brings the human element into the character so well.

You don't get it here in the “All Star Superman” animated film. The characters seem too cold and flimsy. I didn't find the conversations between Lois Lane and Superman to be believable when she learns of his secret identity.

Much of the mystery of the character has been trampled by an all too rigid story of Lex Luther trying to dominate the world. Again.

Grant Morrison's original story inspired the film here. He is a very good comic book writer. He's written a few of the memorable stories for Hellblazer along with Animal Man from the Vertigo line of comics. He's done other things worthy of note.

But I never thought Morrison was a proper writer for Superman. Nor was he a proper writer for the likes of Fantastic Four. He doesn't the right fit for the superhero type books. His best books are often non-superhero books. Hellblazer for one.

I felt that I wasn't getting involved in the lives of these characters. Instead they were simply milling around in an fashion throughout the story. I wanted to see more of the relationship between Superman and Lois Lane. But they are more of a mismatched pair.

It's unfortunate that I'm saying all this. Bruce Timm does still produce the best of the cartoons of today. His legend is already in stone when he produced the Batman animated series which became a milestone in cartoon history.

But “All Star Superman” isn't one of the milestones. It's an all dud.

I kept hoping to they would bring something positive out in the film, but it's drowned out by the monotonous sour mood. I feel like I'm watching everyone on a grouchy day. It's no fun.

They wasted a remarkably good actor Michael Gough in the part of the Parasite. His talents are totally thrown out the window and you'll see why. The character of Parasite simply does a lot of mumbling. That's about it. Wasted.

These comic books or the "All Star Superman" didn't need to have an adult oriented theme to the stories to make them feel modern. They need to have a childlike wonder to the stories.

That was what they did with the new Doctor Who series when they tapped into our childlike imagination. They need to do the same thing with the Superman character.

And perhaps it was Christopher Reeve who made us believe that a man could fly. It's true enough. Even after thirty years this actor still haunts our imagination with his unforgettable performance.

Can Ghosts, Vampires and Werewolves lead a Normal Life? Nah...

It's taken me long enough to see the show. Three years, in fact.

But I was able to check out a copy from the Neenah Public Library. It was like digging into a goldmine when I found it.

“Being Human” is a British series that's a strange hybrid of horror, comedy and drama. Though it's a well written one. Not a major classic. A minor classic. But it holds its own very well as a drama.

It revolves around two roommates living in a quiet corner of a neighborhood. They're trying to fit into a normal stride of life. They got jobs, lives and go out to eat once in a while. The only thing is this. One's a vampire and the other's a werewolf.

There's a third roommate of sorts who's a ghost. So this is a kind of “Three's Company” you never got to see. But all sorts of strange things happen when they're trying to be stay normal. But it's harder than they think.

The interesting thing about the series is that they put these characters into very normal situations such as talking with neighbors, going to a bowling alley for a few games or have a party at their house. They try to keep their secret lives from spilling into their everyday routine.

It doesn't always work.

The BBC series is the brainchild of writer Toby Whithouse who whipped up a couple more follow-up seasons ("series" in British terms) after this. Apparently it's popular enough to have a long lease of life in England.

Whithouse was responsible for writing the story “School Reunion” for Doctor Who which featured the return of Sarah Jane Smith in the series along with a certain robot dog K-9.

“Being Human” is a fun series if you want to go for Doctor Who spotting.

Russel Tovey who plays George the werewolf was also in Doctor Who in an episode called “Voyage of the Damned.” The always lovely Lenora Crichlow who plays the resident ghost was also in the episode “Gridlock” back in season three of the Doctor Who series. There are other Doctor Who veterans you can spot such as Dean Lennox Kelly who played Shakespeare in the new Doctor Who series.

There are only six shows in the first series. Same as all English programs from the BBC, the series is cut in half. They made six episodes for the first series. I was told by a friend of mine that the reason why England's shows are usually six to 13 shows a year is because the shows cost twice as much to make there. I haven't heard of that explanation before. But it makes sense. It takes twice as long to make the shows in England as well. At least the quality would be usually better.

What makes the show watchable are the major characters themselves. Yes, they fight with each other much like friends do. They get upset or run off. But you can also see that the characters do really care for each other. In the episode where the Crichlow character Annie tries to haunt her rotten ol' ex-boyfriend, she finds she is ready to give up on life. She wants to give up on everything that is normal as she lays on the sofa motionless. Her friend George lends her a hand and says, “Let me help you.” You can believe it.

My favorite character is Annie. She's like the next-door neighbor you would want. She's nice, kind and will probably share cookies and coffee with you. She's not a mean spirit at all. So if the afterlife would be filled with nice people such as her, it wouldn't be a bad place.
She starts out as hysterical in the beginning of the series. She whimpers some and feels sorry for herself. But she gains more confidence as the series progresses and becomes a rather formidable opponent.

I thought the writing on the fifth episode was rather good. Near poetic in many places throughout the episode. The story centers on Aidan Turner as the vampire Mitchell who is thinking about going back to his old clan. The perspective written in the story is very interesting.

It gives you an idea of what the monster's perspective on normal people is like. How he said something along the lines: “You live your life searching for who you are. Then when you find out who you are, then you start to live your life.” It's a beautifully written passage that gives you a sense of understanding what life is. And that is what the show “Being Human” struggles for. It attempts to put human life under a microscope and explores the flaws of it.

The British series so far is very good. But there is already an American remake of it in development. Why do they even bother? They should just show the British version on PBS stations which would be enough. But American think it can do everything better. Didn't work out well for the much lamented American made “Life on Mars.” The original British series is one of the most brilliant shows ever made on TV. The American version was basically, "Everything that can go wrong with a series."

The American remake did a crap job and gave it a crappier ending to it. The BBC should have sued for awfulness.

And they're doing the same thing to “Being Human”? No thanks. I'll stick with the original version if you don't mind.

I'm curious to know what happens to George, Mitchell and Annie of the original “Being Human.” I want to hear more about these unsung heroes. They're like friends you wouldn't mind having. And they do lead very interesting lives...

Feathers of a Black Swan

There are still some visually interesting, compelling films hitting the theatres these days. They do come far and between and sometimes. And without warning.

One of those films is “Black Swan” (2010) where the imagination in the film does take on a life of its own. It has some of the most visual images that can burn into your mind long after you are finished watching the film.

It’s a remarkable feat. Movies should do that. They should haunt you. They should be filled with surreal scenes that stay with you in your head like a lingering nightmare.

Some people have problems with this film being a psychological horror film. They call it “nonsense” and believe the horror elements should be done away with. I don’t agree with it at all. The director Darren Aronofsky knows how to make a good horror film. It needs atmosphere… a slow build-up of mood. Most times, a horror film lets loose toward the very end when all the atmosphere swirls into a chaotic state. The writer H.P. Lovecraft knew how to create a picturesque stream of horror. So did Edgar Allan Poe.

Aronnofski was able to bring these stark images to the film with powerful expression of innocence turning into sexual desire.

There are many little things that leads into the harbinger of bad deeds.

Nina played by Natalie Portman who is slowly transforming in many scenes. She is meek, cowardly in some portions of the film. But other parts is a different side of her… like a broken mirror. She escapes her meek self and becomes dominating.

The transformation scenes can be very telling.

She pulls a long thread of loose skin from her finger in one bathroom scene. Some of the transformation scenes are very jarring. There is another where she is consumed with the itching on her back as she pulls out a feathered barb from her skin. It is a black feather. Her eyes turn a reddish nightmare. She goes through the psychological storm of changing into something else. Perhaps a swan?

There are many other things that create the slow build-up. Many of these are contributed by Nina’s mother played by the always dependable Barbara Hershey. She is controlling, jealous mother who rages against her daughter. Nina is coddled and sheltered by her mother.

Hershey may very well be one of the most creepiest things in the film. She looks ancient in her role. And it is this age that seems so threatening. She sacrifices her entire career as a dancer to raise her own daughter. She takes it out on Nina. She wants to control her daughter to become the perfect dancer.

The young woman Nina goes through a mountain of exertion and hardship to win the role of the Swan Queen. She practices religiously. She works tirelessly in the New York City ballad company to dance in the production of the Swan Lake. There is one problem. She is replacing the now unbalanced Beth McIntyer (Winona Ryder) who was the original ballad dancer for the Swan Queen. In many ways, she foretells the future for Nina. It is violent, dark and bleak.

Nina provides the very soul for the production and is cast reluctantly as the ballad director. But the director feels that Nina is perfect for the White Swan because she is fragile and innocent. However, as the Black Swan, she is too frigid.

But when the director tries to kiss Nina during a confrontational moment, she bites him on the lips. He said, “I just saw a flash of the Black Swan right there.”

There are many sexual scenes which create a darker version of Nina. Perhaps it is the driving desire which pushes Nina over the edge. The need to be in center stage can be very punishing as well. The need to be perfect can drive a young woman out of her mind. There is also the note of psychosis that can be dragging the young Nina down.

Remember the same thing happened to Sid Barrett of Pink Floyd fame… the first songwriter, lead singer and guitarist was unable to deal with all the popularity and stress that he was undergoing. So he went to his little corner of craziness. He was unable to handle all the fame and glory that went with his popularity.

That is perhaps what might have happened to Nina. She was simply pushed too far over the cliff of insanity.

The film “Black Swan” deals wonderfully with the idea of doppelgangers. You see doubles everywhere. Nina sees her doubles in mirrors and often in very frightening moments. Her understudy Lily is a near double of Nina… who believes that Lily wants to steal her role. There are many other moments of doppelgangers. The White and Black Swan are doppelgangers as well. It is a splitting image.

“Black Swan” remains an interesting study of a psychological rollercoaster ride. it’s brilliantly handled in the written story. We already saw what the Black Swan role can do to Beth. Nina seemed to be unable to lift herself out of the abyss either.

I’m not sure how well people will understand the film. It’s a heavy duty film which requires some thinking. And it is a very challenging film. And it’s nice to see a thinking horror film once in a while. We need more of those.