IRON MAN 3: Back in Black

Iron Man 3 is a Shane Black movie, and this is a wonderful thing.

For those of you who don't think you know who Shane Black is, you actually do. The man was something of a superstar in the screenwriting scene of late 80's/early 90's Hollywood, scoring big with Lethal Weapon and soon becoming the highest paid writer in the industry. But his early (largely entertaining) work is nothing compared to the movie he made with Robert Downey Jr.

Back in 2005.

Written and directed by Black, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang was the lifeline that eventually lead Downey Jr. to the superstar role of Tony Stark, and is a modern noir masterpiece. The film boasts wicked humor, snappy banter from actors bringing their A-game, and ingenious subversion of the genre.

Which, not coincidentally, pretty aptly describes Iron Man 3 as well

What Does the "S" Stand For?

The third - and likely "final" - theatrical trailer for Man of Steel has hit the net, and it looks great.

How great?

I Don't Feel Sorry For Rapists

*****TRIGGER WARNING*****

I really really can't believe how utterly out-of-control rape culture has gotten in this country. In the past fifty years the US has seen some welcome advancements in multiple social arenas, but every time I stop to revel in the smell of the 21st century, it seems like someone has to come along and ruin it for everyone.

Now, I normally try to keep this blog relatively politics-free, preferring to focus on geek-centric issues of popular culture and entertainment, but I'm just too furious right now to give a damn about stuff like a new G.I. Joe movie when this kind of stupid crap is making it seem like people think the 19th century is a valid reference point for behavior. So since this is a thing (that just somehow keeps getting WORSE), this is what we're talking about today. Sorry in advance.

The Disney Renaissance Part 10: Tarzan

And now we come to the final film of the Disney Renaissance. This movie is generally regarded as marking "the end" of that period in Disney animation history because the films that came afterward didn't quite match the streak of critical and commercial acclaim that Disney had enjoyed in the 90's. The studio strayed from the "adaptation with catchy musical numbers" formula during the following decade, with mixed results.

In many ways, this new trend started with the 1999 hit Tarzan, a movie that eschewed the standard song-and-dance numbers of movies like Hercules and Mulan. It still plays very much in Disney's wheelhouse, recaptured some of the magic that helped Aladdin to be so broadly appealing, and ended up being the studio's most successful film since The Lion King.

A Sad Way to Die Hard

Can't say I didn't see this coming. But A Good Day to Die Hard is horrible.

And no, I don't mean "not as good as the original" or "not good in a 'snooty art house film' way" - I mean it's legitimately terrible even in the field of brain-dead star-driven action vehicles. I'm not even sure I can properly express how not just bad, but bizarrely incompetent the entire affair is.

But I'm gonna do my level best.

Who's the Boss?

A few months ago a friend of mine embarked on a bit of a venture with some associates - including myself - to produce a podcast covering a wide range of nerd-related material from movies to gaming to random popular culture to just plain old shouting matches (the most fun). Because that's sure a niche that no one's bothered to try filling, right?

But all joking aside, I'm excited to present The Load Bearing Bosses. And just so you know we're "official" we even have a logo. . .

The Disney Renaissance Part 9: Mulan

Of all the films of the Disney Renaissance, none went through such a dramatic transformation during their development as the ninth film. Before the idea to focus on a figure from Chinese legend came about, Disney was developing a story called China Doll about an oppressed girl who was rescued by a British prince and went to live happily ever after with him in the west.

Needless to say for anyone who's seen Mulan, they went in a very different direction indeed. Thankfully.