Phil's Top Ten Films of 2017 - January 2, 2018

Hello again everybody and Happy New Year!! I'm gonna predict that 2018 will be another fantastic year for movies, as was 2017! There were an insane amount of movies that I absolutely loved and found myself walking away feeling completely transformed from viewing it. And that is the power of cinema: taking me somewhere new, showing me something I have never seen before, telling me a story I have never heard of and meet characters I can only imagine meeting. So without further adieu, here are my Top Ten Films of 2017!

1) STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI: Rey (Daisy Ridley) develops her newly discovered abilities with the guidance of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who is unsettled by the strength of her powers. Meanwhile, the Resistance, lead by General Lea Organa (Carrie Fisher), prepares to do battle with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and the First Order. The fact that I have seen the film three times already should indicate you just how much I loved it! But it is also heartbreaking to watch because it was the last film that actress Carrie Fisher appeared in before her untimely passing in December 2016. Writer/director Rian Johnson as deliberately taken the franchise into uncharted territory and I am very excited to see where this will lead.

2) THE DISASTER ARTIST: Based on Greg Sestero best-selling tell-all about the making of Tommy's cult-classic disasterpiece THE ROOM (“The Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made”), THE DISASTER ARTIST is a hilarious and welcome reminder that there is more than one way to become a legend—and no limit to what you can achieve when you have absolutely no idea what you're doing. James Franco is absolutely amazing in the movie and has become a force to be reckon with within the Hollywood community. His resume is very eclectic and personal, taking on roles and projects that really reflect his diverse interests of subjects. The film just sucks you in and doesn't let go until its beautiful conclusion!

3) SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING: A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, begins to navigate his new found identity as the web-slinging super hero in SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.

4) TURN IT AROUND: THE STORY OF EAST BAY PUNK: Narrated by Iggy Pop, the documentary spans over 30 years of the California Bay Area’s punk music history with a central focus on the emergence of Berkeley's inspiring 924 Gilman Street music collective. The film is the definitive telling of this vibrant story, drawing from a wide variety of voices, featuring exclusive interviews with and the music of the most famous and infamous rock and punk bands in history, including Green Day, Metallica, Rancid, Dead Kennedys, and over 100 more interviews with artists and musicians from California’s East Bay punk music scene. The film was nostalgic for me because I was there when the events in the film were unfolding. This is one documentary that the whole world needs to see and that punk rockers will watch forever!

5) THOR: RAGNAROK: Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett). But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo)! Both Hemsworth and Hiddleston have the best on-screen chemistry within the MCU and I can't get enough of them. I can watch these two all day! Cate Blanchett's Hela is cunning, vicious and deadly and is easily one the greatest villains in the MCU. Easily the best film in the series and is one of the funniest, action packed films within the MCU!!

6) CARS 3: Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician with her own plan to win, inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet, and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn't through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing's biggest stage! After the disappointing CARS 2, the third installment shifts its focus back on Lightening McQueen as he struggles with becoming older, losing his mentor Doc Hudson and his place in the ever-changing world of racing. This family film contains themes that adults will relate to with action and humor that kids will have fun watching.

7) WONDER WOMAN: Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when a pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers and her true destiny. Directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen and Danny Huston, the movie become one of the biggest blockbusters of 2017! It also become the highest grossing film directed by a woman, the first female superhero to earn $821.9 million worldwide and was the biggest film to come out of the DC Extended Universe!

8) GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2: Set to the backdrop of 'Awesome Mixtape #2,' Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team's adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their new found family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill's true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes' aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand. Writer/director James Gunn takes these band of misfits and cranks the adventures up to 11, all the while expanding of the characters themselves as well. What Gunn has done with this film is focus on the theme of family, whether it's blood or friends that are your family. This was a blast to watch!

9) DESPICABLE ME 3: After he is fired from the Anti-Villain League for failing to take down the latest bad guy to threaten humanity, Gru finds himself in the midst of a major identity crisis. But when a mysterious stranger shows up to inform Gru that he has a long-lost twin brother-a brother who desperately wishes to follow in his twin's despicable footsteps-one former super-villain will rediscover just how good it feels to be bad. Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier return for the sequel but are joined by South Park co-creator Trey Parker, who plays the hilariously former 80's sitcom child star to super villain Balthazar Bratt. With its themes of sibling rivalry, family acceptance and living in the past, the movie contains all the fun, charm and laughs of the previous installments!

10) LOGAN: In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X somewhere on the Mexican border. However, Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are upended when a young mutant arrives, pursued by dark forces. THIS IS THE WOLVERINE I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR TO SEE SINCE 2000!! Jackman's performance of Old Man Logan is spot on!! His Logan is haggard, weary, laced with regret, remorse and alcohol. He's once again retreated from the world and wants to stay hidden from it. He's still ultra violent when he's backed up against that wall and he cusses like a truck driver. But, he still cares and it comes though, especially towards the end of the film. Needless to say, if he does get an Oscar for his portrayal of Logan, there will be Hell to pay!! An outstanding acting job from Mr. Jackman!!

And there you have it folks! My Top Ten Films of 2017! It looked like the year that comic book based movies and animated family films prevailed. But every year this list gets harder and harder to put together, but these were films that really made an impact on me, and I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading my picks. So if by chance there are films here that you haven't seen yet, I encourage you to check them out. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by them!

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees JUSTICE LEAGUE at the Cinelux Alamden Café & Lounge - November 27, 2017

The DC Extended Universe been playing catch-up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the exception of this past summer's blockbuster WONDER WOMAN, every single DCEU film has received every single kind of negative review you can think of. To be honest, I think it's a little unfair. I enjoyed the MAN OF STEEL. SUPERMAN V. BATMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE was okay, but it was uneven and incoherent. And I liked SUICIDE SQUAD. Now Warner Bros. has released the latest chapter in the DCEU with JUSTICE LEAGUE.

The film's official synopsis: Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes-Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash-it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

The movie has already received mixed reviews from critics, which is really uncalled for. The film has a solid three-arc story, all the characters get their fair share of on-screen appearances, the main antagonist felt like a real threat and it had a lot action and humor. Plus the movie marks the return of the Last Son of Krypton (this is no big spoiler, it's already been mentions by several media outlets).

Both Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot reprise their roles as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. They really do look and sound like superheroes, even though word has it that Affleck might be stepping down as the Dark Knight, which is a real shame. He brought us a totally different Batman; one that has been fighting crime for over 20 years. He's the elder statesmen of the group and he's that one that initiated the formation of the Justice League. Gadot is wonderful and Wonder Woman (pun intended)! Also making their return are Amy Adams as Lois Lane and Diane Lane as Martha Kent and Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth. But this time, they are joined by some new faces!

Beefcake studmuffin Jason Momoa portrays Arthur Curry aka the Aquaman! Momoa is currently every woman's wet dream. Gaining immortality from the television show Game of Thrones, Momoa's Aquaman is funny but serious and kicks a lot of ass! Ezra Miller's Flash is the kid of the group. He's unsure of himself, lack self-confidence and is new to this whole "superhero" thing. But he see him grow as the film puts him is situations where he must man up and be the hero he is capable of being. Victor Stone aka Cyborg is brought to life by actor Ray Fisher. Moody, terrified of himself and his abilities but very cool under pressure, Fisher captures the character's personality, strengths and flaws perfectly!

And last, but not least, I have to mention the great J.K. Simmons as Police Commissioner James Gordon. Wow!! Even though he was in the film for about 5 minutes, he looked and sounded like the old Jim Gordon from the comics!! Simmons has the distinct honor of portraying two of the most iconic comic book characters on film: Gordon and J. Jonah Jameson from the original SPIDER-MAN Trilogy! How freaking cool is that?!?!

Director Zack Snyder, who's petty much been in charge of the DCEU, originally was hired to direct the film, but left the project after a year into it due to the tragic death of his daughter. Joss Whedon was brought on board oversee the remainder of post-production, including writing and directing additional  his own scenes for the film. Even though Snyder's name is listed as director, one has to wonder how much tampering did Whedon do? And with that being said, will fans ever see Snyder's version of the film? Hopefully, Warner Bros. Pictures will release both versions of the movie when it comes out on Blu-Ray!

In my humble opinion, JUSTICE LEAGUE is an action packed, entertaining comic book blockbuster!! Fans of the DC comic will enjoy seeing this big screen adaptation during this holiday season!! 4 1/2 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

JUSTICE LEAGUE is currently playing in 2D and 3D in theaters nationwide, including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees SUICIDE SQUAD in 2D from Warner Bros. Pictures - August 20, 2016

It looks like the fight between the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and DC Expanded Universe (DCEU) is staring to heat up. When DC Comics and Warner Brothers released MAN OF STEEL back in 2014, it kicked off the own cinematic universe to rival Marvel's. Earlier this year, the second film of that shared universe was released in the form of BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE. The film received mixed reviews, but this guy right here thought it was cool! Now they have released film number three to movie goers everywhere. Also receiving some resistance, SUICIDE SQUAD is a damn good villain movie that I think caught people by surprise.

Theatrical Movie Poster

The film's official synopsis: It feels good to be bad...Assemble a team of the world's most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government's disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However, once they realize they weren't picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it's every man for himself?

This was an amazing and fun movie to watch! It has a lot of action, facinating characters and great story. It's a story that's been told numerous times before but the execution of it that makes the movie so much fun to watch. All these ingredients plus some added new ones creates this amalgam of a movie. 

Actress Margot Robbie shines as our favorite cute and crazy Harley Quinn! Her performance was incredible as she really captured the personality, the charm and the essence that made the character so popular when she first appeared on the beloved 1990's cartoon show Batman: The Animated Series. Will Smith's interpretation of Deadshot was actually really well done. The filmmakers added some new aspects to this legendary character's mythos. Smith adds humor to the assassin's arsenal while dishing out some outstanding violence. Then there's Jai Courtney as the Australian bad guy Boomer. Ok, I've said numerous times in other reviews that Jai Courtney couldn't act his way out of a paperbag and that Hollywood should stop trying to make him a star. Yes, I can be pretty mean sometimes. But I have to admit, he was super cool and funny as this villain. Hell, I didn't even knew it was him till about halfway through the damn movie that it was him! So yeah, good job Jai! Good job mate! Oh, look for a cameo by Ben Affleck as Batman as well. The man looks good in that suit!

Now it's time to address the white elephant in the room. Yes, I'm talking about Jared Leto performance as the Joker. This is the most radical interpretation of the iconic villain. Where as Jack Nicholson's Joker from Tim Burton's 1989 BATMAN was pretty straightforward, and Heath Ledger's Joker from Christopher Nolan's THE DARK KNIGHT is just amazingly powerful and original, this version is by far the biggest departure from its comic book origins. This new Joker is still psychotic but he's all tattooed up, sports a mean grill and is a big time gangster! Yup, major changes with the Joker. But somehow, it all works! Leto's portrayal of The Clown Prince of Crime is criminally fantastic!! (Yes, pun intended) He throws himself into the role, and as I might add, was well documented from the cast and crew that he stated in character during filming. Now that's what I call commitment to your craft!!

As for the film's director David Ayer, his style fits the look, the tone and the pace of the movie perfectly. It's a fast-paced movie with great camera angles, compositions and set-ups. There's a fine balance between practical sets and special effects and the CGI and the results look awesome on the big screen. The version I saw was the standard 2D very but I am very curious to see it in 3D. 

SUICIDE SQUAD is this summer's most evil, villainous, action packed, spectacular blockbuster! Despite all the negative reviews from fans and critics, I feel that it was undeserving. I know everyone's a critic. I mean c'mon, I'm a film blogger for crying out loud. But I'm so sick and tired of people bad mouthing movies and then putting it out on social media for all to read. Granted that is your opinion and you have a right to have one, but I feel that this movie doesn't deserve all this bad press. My opinion is this: go see the movie for yourself and form your own opinion. But at least give the movie a chance. 4 out of 5 stars!!  Recommended viewing!!

SUICIDE SQUAD is playing in 2D, Real 3D and in IMAX theaters nationwide, including the Century Greenback 16 in Sacramento. Check your local listing to see if it is playing at a theater near you.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil counts down to the BIG WOW! COMICFEST at the San Jose Convention Center May 17-18, 2014

Hey kids! What time is it? That's right! It's summertime! School's out. College graduations are commencing. And you know what else? That's right! The Big WOW! ComicFest returns to the San Jose Convention Center this weekend May 17th and 18th! Yes, San Jose's premier comic book show is back with comic book artists, gamers, filmmakers, cosplayers and costume contests, local and international celebraties and so much more!

With Hollywood's big GODZILLA remake opening this weekend, Big WOW! pulled out all the stops by having several  legendary Japanese actors appearing at the fest! First is Kenpachiro Satsuma, who first came to fame by donning the famous Godzilla suit for the 1984 film RETURN OF GODZILLA. After the film's release, he would play the famed reptile 11 more times! Joining him are actors Satoshi “Bin” Furuya, best known for being the original Ultraman, and Daisuke Ban, best known for his title roles in "two of the most iconic series of all time, KIKAIDA and INAZUMAN!" If you are a true Japanese fan, then you will want to meet these three acting icons!

There are numerous comic book personalities already signed up to appear at the convention and all are icons in the industry: Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead), Mike Mignola (creator of Hellboy), Joe Linser (Cry for Dawn) Sergio Aragones (Groo the Wanderer), Michael Golden (The 'Nam, Dr. Strange), Joyce Chin (Vampirella, Xena, Guy Gardener: Warrior), Mark Badger (Spider-Man, X-Men), Arthur Adams (Superman, Godzilla, Monkeyman and O'Brian), and Neal Adams (Batman, Green Lantern/Green Arrow) just to name a few.

Along with comic book personal, there will be other celebrities appearing from all avenues. In the entertainment world, fans can meet local stars such as Balrok and Cave Girls Shotzi Black Heartt and Madison Hannah from the hit KOFY TV20 television show Creep KOFY Movie Time, horror hostess Miss Misery from Miss Misery's Movie Massacre, horror host Lord Blood-Rah of Lord Blood-Rah's Nerve Wraking Theatre, Strephon Taylor from November Fire, local documentary filmmaker Tom Wyrsch and legendary Creature Features host John Stanley.

As for Big WOW! celebrities, look no further than William Katt (from the TV series The Greatest American Hero, CARRIE, HOUSE), Clare Kramer (from the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, BRING IT ON, and BIG ASS SPIDER), Richard Kiel ("Jaws" in the James Bond films, HAPPY GILMORE) Costas Mandylor (from the TV series Picket Fences, the SAW series), Kevin B. Grevioux (co-writer and producer of the  UNDERWORLD films), Jane Wiedlin (guitarist of The Go-Go's), and Alison MacInnis ( Dana Mitchell the Pink Ranger on the current season of Power Rangers Super Megaforce) just to name a few!

Fans will also meet some of the finest cosplayers around, including Valerie Perez (Wonder Woman),  Anthony Misiano (The Joker), Ivy Doomkitty, and Vegas Powergirl for starters. Then there's all the comic book artists at the Underground and Artist's Alley creating original works of art, the cool Anima area that includes my friend Carlyfornia, plus all the dealers, toys, comics and everything else you can imagine!

There's also cool programs and panels during the two days, including a Power Rangers panel, Top Cow Studios panel, Cosplay 101, Cultural Diversity in Comics, a Costume Contest and so much more. Plus there's also going to be a Magic the Gathering Tournaments for all you gamers out there!

Some of the big events to check out is the1st Annual Famous Monsters Film Festival, hosted by the fine folks over at Famous Monsters of Filmland, "the magazine that has inspired generations of imaginations such as Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro, Steven Spielberg, and many more." The film festival will be running the entire first day and some of Sunday morning. Also worth checking out is the Batman Museum: Celebrating 75 years of the famed Caped Crusader! Witness and marvel (no pun intended) at rare original artwork, toys, games, posters and collectibles of all kinds!

So what are you waiting for? Start planing to attend Northern California's premiere comic book and entertainment event! To learn more about the convention and to purchase tickets and passes, please visit Big WOW! ComicFest's official website at www.bigwowcomicfest.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show! 

Phil sees MAN OF STEEL (again) at the Cinelux Almaden Cinema-June 17, 2013

Hello there people. So after spending the weekend attending the Hitchcock 9 over at the Castro Theatre, I wanted to see a film that was the complete opposite to a silent film. So after work I went to see MAN OF STEEL over at the Cinelux Almaden Theater over by my house.

OK, so I said in my original review that I really enjoyed the film. Well, after seeing it a second time, I still enjoyed the film. Now I have been receiving a lot of slack because I liked it. From family members to filmmakers, a lot of people really don't like the movie. My take on this can be boiled down to this one simple statement: it's just a movie. That's it! It's there for my amusement and entertainment. Was I entertained? Yes. Was I blown away by it? Yes. Did it have a good story and interesting characters? Yes. Did it have cool special effects? Yes? Did it offer action, humor, and drama? Yes. So, I liked the movie. Deal with it people!

MAN OF STEEL is currently playing in both 2-D and 3-D in theaters nationwide, including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends a very special advanced screening of MAN OF STEEL in 3D at the AMC Saratoga 14-June 5, 2013

In December of 1978, my mom took me to see director Richard Donner's SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE. I was five years old and it changed my life forever. From that moment on, I believed that a man could very well fly. Star Christopher Reeve literally flew out of the movie! Since then I've been a huge Superman fan. I started reading the comics at a feverish pace. Eventually I soon saw the sequels as they were released to theaters. Unfortunately, each one was worse than the previous. Shorty thereafter, Superman disappeared from the silver screen. Then in 2006, he returned to the big screen in SUPERMAN RETURNS, which was directed by Bryan Singer (X-MEN, X-MEN 2, and THE USUAL SUSPECTS). While the film had good intentions, it received a lukewarm reception from moviegoers and mixed reviews from critics. These factors caused the film to fail in relaunching the franchise. It looked like Superman's future at the movies was over.

Then in 2010, it was announced that director Zack Snyder (300, THE WATCHMEN, DAWN OF THE DEAD) and producer Christopher Nolan (director of the DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY) were teaming up to reboot the franchise and bring the last son of Krypton back to the big screen. Fans around the world waited in anticipation, myself included. Which brings me to this past Wednesday, where I was standing in line at the AMC Saratoga 14 with my fellow film buff and screenwriter Danny Rubio to attend a very special advanced screening of MAN OF STEEL in 3D!

It's interesting to see in this reboot just how much the filmmakers used several ideas and references from the comic book. Unlike the cold, icy planet of Krypton as depicted in Donner's 1978 classic, this Krypton is a perfect hybrid of organics and alien creatures as well as hi-tech battleships and cities. It's here that we are introduced to Superman's parents: scientist Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and wife Lara (Ayelet Zurer). History repeats itself as Jor-El stands before the council about the impending doom of their home planet, but this time we get to see an event that was only mentioned in the 1978 film: the nefarious attempt to overthrow the council by the evil General Zod (Michael Shannon). Once again he and his army are thwarted and they are sentenced to spend forever in the Phantom Zone. But during this attempted coup, Jor-El sends his infant son to the far reaches of space. Soon after, Krypton explodes and Kal-El reaches Earth.

What Nolan and Snyder do differently is that we don't see young Kal-El aka Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) grow. Rather we see him in his youth in a series of flashbacks, like what Nolan used in the DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY. In fact, the beginning of the film features Clack trying to figure out who he is and to find his place in the world. What's this your asking? Superman is suffering from self doubt and ponders his existence in the world? Well, yes. Here we have our lead, our hero, dealing with the issue of self doubt and self discover, which makes him more relatable. However, let's not forget, this is an action packed superhero movie, and when he finally dons his costume, he then becomes Superman. Cavill portrays both Clark Kent and Superman with such convection, strength, and vulnerability. Truly this man was born to wear the suit. He brings a new dimension to this iconic superhero.

Now there's another interesting twist that the filmmakers have made to the film which involves the famous Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams). Here, she is a Pulitzer prize investigating reporter, and in the film, she does something that the other previous incarnations have never done. Now I don't want to spoil the surprise, but this change was a welcome surprise. For the past 75 years, Lois never put the pieces together to deduce that Clark Kent was Superman, and that made her look a little stupid. Well, Nolan and Snyder has remedied this problem, and I thought it was a brilliant move. Also Kudos to Adams, who turns in a great performance and has great on-screen chemistry with Cavill.

General Zod has never been so evil, and that due in large part to Michael Shannon. Now nothing against Terence Stamp from SUPERMAN II, but Shannon goes over the edge and really makes our antagonist just simply cold, a calculating vicious individual. But in his mind, what he and his minions are doing to the Earth is logical. His mission is to preserve the legacy of Krypton, and he does that with extreme prejudice. Truly one of cinema's greatest villains!

Currently as I am writing this, the film has broken records for the month of June, but there is also a backlash to the film, which surrounds the climatic finale between Superman and General Zod. So before I go any further, let me now issue a MAJOR SPOILER WARNING!!! STOP READING THIS IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE YET!! STOP READING THIS RIGHT NOW!!!!

OK, let's discuss the ending, shall we? In case you haven't heard let me just say this outright: Superman breaks General Zod's neck. And he does this because Zod was about to zap a bunch of people and Superman comes to the realization that he had no other way to stop him. So he snapped his neck like a twig and let's out a horrendous scream. Now when I saw the film, and I saw what happened, I will admit I was pretty shocked by that. But then I realized something: In SUPERMAN II, Superman strips General Zod's superpowers, then crushes his hand, picks him up and tosses him to the bottomless pit of the Fortress of Solitude. Plus in the 1980s, Superman used green kryptonite to kill a General Zod from the "Pocket Universe." And let's not forget he was fighting to the death with the creature called Doomsday in the comics back in 1993. So he has killed, but very rarely. A lot of fans and critics are gripping big time about this incident, but remember the SUPERMAN II Hypocrisy!! How was that different than this film?!?

END OF SPOILER ALERT!!! END OF SPOILER ALERT!!! END OF SPOILER ALERT!!!

OK now that's over, let me state that I really enjoyed MAN OF STEEL! It was an excellent film, full of superhero action, romance, some humor, alien invasion, and one heluva super battle finale!! After 75 years, it looks like there's no slowing down for this iconic comic book hero!! 4 1/2 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

MAN OF STEEL is now currently playing in theaters nationwide, including at the AMC Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at http://www.amctheatres.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil counts down to the BIG WOW! COMICFEST at the San Jose Convention Center May 18-19, 2013

Ladies and gentleman, fanboys and cosplayers rejoice! The Big WOW! ComicFest returns to the San Jose Convention Center this weekend May 18th and 19th! That's right, San Jose's premier comic book show is back with comic book artists, Anima/Manga, cool cosplayers and costume contests, movie stars and so much more!

There are numerous comic book personalities already signed up to appear at the convention and all are icons in the industry: Neal Adams, J. Scott Campbell, Mark Badger, Sergio Aragones, Travis Charest, Adam Hughes, Kevin Nowlan, Barbara Kesel, and Frank Cho just to name a few.

Stan Lee circa 2007.

However, the big news is that on Sunday, May 19th, making is only Northern California appearance is none other than Mr. Marvel Comics himself: Stan "The Man" Lee! For those of you who may not recognize this name, Stan Lee is the co-creator of the Marvel Universe. Along artist Jack "The King" Kirby, Lee helped create The Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, The Avengers, The X-Men, The Mighty Thor, and Spider-Man. He's made cameo appearances in every Marvel film to date, and is the founder and CEO of POW! Productions. Stan Lee is a legend in the industry, whose contributions are extraordinary. The comic book world wouldn't be the same without him!

Along with comic book personal, there will be other celebrities appearing from all avenues. In the entertainment world, fans can meet local stars such as Balrok from the hit KOFY TV20 television show Creep KOFY Movie Time, horror hostess Miss Misery from Miss Misery's Movie Massacre, horror host Lord Blood-Rah, Strephon Taylor from November Fire, local documentary filmmaker Tom Wyrsch and legendary Creature Features host John Stanley. Also appearing is gutarist Jane Wiedlin from the Go-Go's, as well as Thomas Jane, star of the 2004 Marvel film THE PUNISHER.

Fans will also meet some of the finest cosplayers around, including Valerie Perez, Ivy Doomkitty, Keith  Carter, and Tally Smith for starters. Then there's all the comic book artists at the Underground and Artist's Alley creating original works of art, the cool Anima area that includes my friend Carlyfornia, plus all the dealers, toys, comics and everything else you can imagine!

There's also cool programs and panels during the two days, including a Geek Fashion Show, Costume Rock Band Challenge, Women in Comics, Filmmaking with Miss Misery, Latinos in Comics, and so much more.

So what are you waiting for? Start planing to attend Northern California's premiere comic book and entertainment event! To learn more about the convention and to purchase tickets and passes, please visit Big WOW! ComicFest's official website at www.bigwowcomicfest.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK/SUPERMAN Double Feature at the Castro Theatre-January 12, 2013

This past weekend I found myself once again at the historic Castro Theatre in San Francisco. Reason being was that the theatre was having a once in a lifetime double feature that yours truly couldn't pass up! Joining me on this cinematic was my best friend Dave and his girlfriend Christine. This was their very first time at the theatre, so this was a double special occasion! So folks sit back, relax, and have fun with this review!

Theatrical Movie Poster (1981)

The first film up was producer George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg's 1981 action/adventure film RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. The film starred Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, a famed archaeologist who is hired by the U.S. Government to track down the famed biblical artifact called the Ark of the Covenant, which Adolf Hitler believes will make their army invincible. Joining Indy on his adventure is his old flame Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) and Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), as they all race to retrieve the Ark before Indy's nemesis Renee Belloq (Paul Freeman), his cohorts Colonel Dietrich (Wolf Kahler) and Major Arnold Toht (Ronald Lacey) and their Nazi Army can obtain it first!

Lucas' inspiration for the film came from his love of the old movie serials that he use to watch when he was a child. Fast forward to 1977 and Lucas is on vacation in Maui (trying to escape the enormous success of STAR WARS) and he runs into his friend and colleague Steven Spielberg, on vacation from work on CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. He told Lucas about wanting to make a James Bond action film. He told him that he had the perfect character. The rest is cinematic history. The movie was released to theaters by Paramount Pictures on June 14, 1981. The $18 million budget film grossed $384 million worldwide throughout its theatrical releases. The film spawned four sequels, toys, comic books, video games, novels and a television series entitled The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, which ran from March 4, 1992, to July 24, 1993. The film was included in the INDIANA JONES: THE COMPETE ADVENTURES Blu-Ray Boxset, which was released on September 18th, 2012.

Click here to view the film's original trailer.

Theatrical Movie Poster (1978)

The second film on the double feature was the first ever superhero movie that captured audience's imagination everywhere. The film SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE was directed by Richard Donner and starred Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Ned Beatty as his sidekick Otis, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Marc McClure as Jimmy Olsen, Jackie Cooper as Daily Planet chief Perry White, Glenn Ford as Jonathon Kent, and an unknown actor named Christopher Reeve as both Clark Kent and Kal-El, better known to us as Superman.

Everybody knows the story of Superman; even those who had never read the comic book knows the Man of Steel's origin. Repeating it here would be unnecessary, as the film's plot stays very faithful to the comic. Instead let me shine some light on the production of the film. Produced by Alexander and Ilya Salkind, Donner was directly both SUPERMAN and SUPERMAN II simultaneously. However, Tensions rose between Donner and the Salkinds, and a decision was made to stop filming the sequel and concentrate on finishing the first film so it could make its theatrical release date. Donner had already shot 75%, but the Salkinds fired him and brought in director Richard Lester, who who worked with the them on THE THREE MUSKETEERS and THE FOUR MUSKETEERS. Decades later, thanks to fans sending emails and petitions, Warner Brothers teamed up with Donner to release SUPERMAN II: THE RICHARD DONNER CUT. It contained the 75% footage that he shot and used other sources pulled to bring his version together.

SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE was released by Warner Brothers on December 15, 1978. It grossed $300,218,018 world wide. The film spawned three sequels, and was the inspiration for the film SUPERMAN RETURNS, which was directed by Brian Singer in 2006. In 2013, director by Zack Snyder and producer by Christopher Nolan will relaunch the franchise with the film MAN OF STEEL.

Click here to view the film's original trailer.

And there you have it! A great day of watching two of the greatest action heroes of all time! There's a ton of cool films being shown here at the Castro Theatre, so if one day you find yourself in the city by the bay and you're looking for something fun to do, definitely come here and see a movie! It will change your life forever! To view the Castro Theater's film schedule, visit their website at www.castrotheatre.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (again) at the Century 22-September 9, 2012

Yes my friends, I went and saw THE DARK KNIGHT RISES once again. This is my second time I've seen the film. Reason being is that it's a damn good movie! Hopefully all of you out there have already seen the film. If not, you are missing one of the best films of 2012! Also it's one of the best superhero films as well. What director Christopher Nolan did for the Batman franchise is unbelievable. By combining social issues, setting it in the real world, and dealing with real world topics, the films transcend the notion of what comic book movies should and could be. So do yourself a favor, go out and see this film!

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES is now playing in regular and IMAX theaters nationwide, including at the Century Theaters here in Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at http://cinemark.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!