Monthly Archives: May 2011
Biff Bam Pop’s DVD Tuesday
Drive Angry – Nicolas Cage is likely driving angry all over Hollywood with the way his current film career has been going. Originally shot in 3D, the movie is supernatural thriller that finds Cage’s character breaking out of Hell to save his granddaughter from a Satanic cult. Drive Angry was a complete bust upon its release a few months ago, both critically and commercially.
Biutiful – Javier Bardem was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his performance as Uxbal, a single father dealing with life in Barcelona. The movie itself was also nominated for a Best Foreign film Academy Award and is this week’s pick of the week.
Kaboom – Thomas Decker, of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles fame, is the notable actor in this science-fiction story about a group of students sexual awakening. Kaboom was the first film to receive the Queer Palm at 2010 Cannes Film Festival.
Passion Play – this film stars Mickey Rourke, Megan Fox and Bill Murray and is the story of a jazz musician (Rourke) who comes across a circus, where he falls for The Bird Woman (Fox). The film debut at the 2010 Toronto Film Festival in rough form and was completely maligned at the time and never recovered.
TV Shows On DVD:
Psych – Season Five (this season features the brilliant Twin Peaks homage, Dual Spires and is well worth watching for any fan of the classic David Lynch series)
Countdown to X-Men: First Class: Andy Burns On 5 Classic X-Men Storylines
In preparation for the latest film in the X-Men film franchise, this week at Biff Bam Pop we’re counting down to the Friday release of X-Men: First Class with a series of x-focused articles.
I remember the very first issue of Uncanny X-Men I ever bought. It was #196, titled “What Was That?!“, written by Chris Claremont and illustrated by John Romita Jr. and the only reason I bought it on my weekly comic book run was because it was a Secret Wars II tie-in issue. In those 31 pages you can find all the stuff I love about Marvel’s merry band of mutants – inter-team conflict, the idea of forgiveness, and the dynamic relationship between Canuk mystery man Wolverine and his young protege, Kitty Pryde (and what young male reader didn’t fall in love with Ms. Pryde?). It was an awesome introduction to the world that I would go on to read over the next 25 years. Over hundreds of issues, there have been countless stories told; some great, some not. On that note, here, in no particular order, are 5 of my favourite X-Men storylines:
1) Age of Apocalypse – after a few years away from the X-universe, in 1995 I was brought back into it hard with the Age of Apocalypse crossover series. With the death of Professor Xavier in the regular timeline (accidentally killed by his son Legion), the world went to hell in a hand basket. Apocalypse ruled, Magneto was leading the X-Men, heroes were villains and vice versa, and the only one who knew how the world was supposed to actually be was the time-travelling Bishop. While things would eventually correct themselves, a few characters from the Age of Apocalypse would find their way into regular continuity, including the maniacal Dark Beast. This was one of the darkest stories in the history of the X-universe, and remains a fan favourite to this day.
2) Fall of the Mutants – if you know your x-lore, you’re well aware that the X-Men are often reviled and feared by the world around them. However, the events that transpire in the Fall of the Mutants, where the then current team of Wolverine, Storm, Colossus, Psylocke, Rogue, Havok, Dazzler, Longshot and Madelyne Pryor sacrifice themselves for the good of humanity, leaves them as heroes in the eyes of the world. The X-Men don’t die, of course, even though that’s how it appears to everyone, including the teammates they leave behind – they just relocate to the Australian outback for a few years.
3) The Trial of Magneto – Issue #200 of The Uncanny X-Men found the team’s most hated nemesis voluntarily standing trial for crimes against humanity. Of course, just like everything else when it comes to Charlie’s Mutants, the trial is far from easy, thanks to the arrival of the brother/sister tandem of Fenris. The double-sized issue had some great action scenes while also asking the team, the world and the reader if a redemption-seeking Magneto should be forgiven for all of the destruction he’s left in his wake.
4) The Dark Phoenix Saga – this may be considered obvious, but that’s only because of just how influential and memorable Chris Claremont and John Byrne’s work has become. While versions of it have appeared in both the X-Men films and animated series, none are as classic as the comics themselves. It’s amazing how much this storyline manages to incorporate in 10 issues. From the introduction of future mainstay Kitty Pryde to battles both Earthly (the Hellfire Club) and in space (the Imperial Guard) to Jean Grey’s ultimate sacrifice, The Dark Phoenix Saga remains an essential piece of X-Men mythology, regardless of how many times Jean has died and come back since.
5) Fatal Attractions – the only storyline on my list not written by Chris Claremont, which makes it apparent how legendary Claremont’s run with the mutants was. However, writers Fabien Nicieza and Scott Lobdell managed to leave their own mark with this storyline that brings Magneto back to his villainous roots in a large way. The most momentous moment occurs when, after being attacked and nearly killed by Wolverine, Magneto rips the adamantium straight off of Logan’s bones. It’s hard to shock comic books readers, but I remember being absolutely blown away by this scene, thinking “why didn’t this happens before?” The repercussions of these actions would be felt for years to come.
Now that you’ve read about a few of mine, tell me, what’s your favourite X-Men storyline?
Biff Bam Pop’s Weekend Box Office Wrap-Up Report
The Memorial Day weekend three day totals are in, and when it comes to predictions, I won some and lost some, as I stepped into the shoes of the vacationing Scotty G. I nailed the order of the top 5 and managed two almost perfect number to number predictions. Here’s how things turned out.
The Hangover 2 had a stellar opening weekend, the best ever for an R-Rated comedy. I had predicted the film would bring in $70 million over three days, and I wound up off by nearly $17 million. Since it’s release this past Thursday, The Hangover 2 has brought in an amazing $118 million over four days. Look for that number to get even higher once the Monday numbers get added in.
The other debuting film was Kung Fu Panda 2, the sequel to the 2008 film staring the voiced of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie and Dustin Hoffman. As I mentioned on Friday, I felt that this film was flying under the radar, especially when measured against the hype for The Hangover 2. It turns out I was a little overly generous with my prediction of $65 million for Kung Fu Panda 2′s opening gross. The film wound up with just $48 million over the three days, with a total of $53 million since it’s Thursday opening. While it’s certainly a big number, it’s not jaw dropping and leaves me wondering as to whether the film will make back it’s $150 million budget in North America.
Last week’s number one film, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides dropped 54% this weekend to land in the third spot as predicted, bringing in $39 million (I had predicted $40 million). The film has grossed $152 million in North America since it’s release, but at it’s current performance, below that of the previous two sequels, I’m skeptical that Pirates 4 will get anywhere near $300 million. But don’t shed any tears for Johnny Depp and company – this latest installment has already brought in $505 million worldwide, so it’s about as far from a bomb as you can get.
Bridesmaids took then fourth spot in our top five, with a three day gross of $16 million (my prediction was $15 million), down only 21% from the previous weekend. The comedy has legs and has been an absolute success at the box office, with it’s total gross currently $84 million.
Thor rounds out the top with $9 million, $2 million less than what I had predicted. The film’s total gross after four weekends is a decent but not amazing $159 million. These aren’t Iron Man numbers, to be sure, but Thor has already outgrossed The Incredible Hulk both in North America and internationally, so it’s definitely an overall success.
So to recap, here are my predictions:
1) The Hangover 2 – $70 million
2) Kung Fu Panda 2 – $65 million
3) Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – $40 million
4) Bridesmaids – $15 million
5) Thor – $11 million
And here are the weekend actuals:
1) The Hangover 2 – $87 million
2) Kung Fu Panda 2 – $48 million
3) Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – $39 million
4) Bridesmaids – $16 million
5) Thor – $9 million
How will things shape up when Marvel’s merry band of mutants return to the big screen this Friday when X-Men: First Class hits theaters? Check out our predictions on Friday!
Biff Bam Pop’s Box Office Predictions – Weekend of May 27th
It’s Memorial Day weekend in the U.S., which means a long weekend for our friends living in America. It also means two big releases jumped the guy and started their run earlier this week. Will that bite into their success this weekend? And just who will come out on top – the wolfpack or a kung fu panda? Here’s Biff Bam Pop’s predictions for this weekend (Friday-Sunday):
The Hangover 2, the sequel to the massive 2009 comedy hit, reunites Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakas for more R-rated, drunken merriment. However, unlike the first film which was both a critical and commercial success, this second time round is not getting great reviews. As of this writing, it’s currently sitting at 32% rotten at Rotten Tomatoes, which is a poor showing. Will the negative reviews impact its success this weekend? Doubtful – The Hangover 2 is going to be critic proof for sure, as it has already grossed $10 million from its midnight Thursday opening. With that in mind, I’m predicting a solid $70 million three day haul and a first place showing for The Hangover 2.
The second big release this weekend is Kung Fu Panda 2, the sequel to the 2008 Dreamworks animated hit. This film is one that I think has been flying under the radar, especially considering all the awareness when it comes to The Hangover 2. What Kung Fu Panda 2 has going for it, besides the voice talents of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman and Seth Rogan, is that it’s the only big new family film currently in theaters (Rio is fading and will be out of the top 5 this week). I’m guessing that we’ll see Kung Fu Panda 2 work as counter programming to The Hangover 2 this weekend with a debut placing at number two and a gross of $65 million.
The rest of the top 5 should be fairly predictable, at least in terms of order:
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides has been on top of the box office for most of the week, but word of mouth isn’t great for the fourth entry in the franchise and I have a feeling that it will have scored much of its audience on its opening weekend. I’m predicting a three day gross of $40 million, a decline of nearly 60% week to week, to put it in third place.
The other big comedy in theatres right now is Bridesmaids, and it definitely has strong word of mouth going for it. It will certainly lose some audience to The Hangover 2 this weekend. I’m predicting a fourth place finish with a gross of $15 million.
Rounding out the top 5 in its fourth weekend will be the God of Thunder, Thor with a predicted $11 million gross. The Marvel superhero film will cross the $150 million mark this weekend and make back its budget in North America, but its doubtful that its going to reach that always desirable $200 million plateau. Iron Man Thor is not.
So to recap our top 5 predictions:
1) The Hangover 2 – $70 million
2) Kung Fu Panda 2 – $65 million
3) Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – $40 million
4) Bridesmaids – $15 million
5) Thor – $11 million
Check back on Sunday to see how we did!
Crosby Nash and Fallon Have A Party
Some things need little explanation – such as this instant classic video from Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.
Changing The Game – JW Ward On Marvel & DC’s Big Summer Events
To fans of comicdom, it’s Event Season – that wonderful time of year when Marvel & DC unleash line-wide, game-changing crossover events aimed at getting as much of your money as they possibly can.
JW Ward is a Toronto based writer, media personality and professional cynic. After much harassment he’s finally appeared at Biff Bam Pop! Follow him on Twitter at @jasonwardDOTca and at his own site, cryptically titled www.jasonward.ca.
The Wednesday Run – May 25, 2011
Every Wednesday, JP makes the after-work run to his local downtown comic book shop. Comics arrive on Wednesdays you see and JP, fearful that the latest issue will sell out, rushes out to purchase his copy. This regular, weekly column will highlight a particularly interesting release, written in short order, of course, because JP has to get his – before someone else does!
Strange Adventures
Written by: Various
Illustrated by: Various
Published by: Vertigo Comics
It’s no secret that I like my anthologies and my Vertigo Comics. Put those two things together, and you’re sure to find that mash up on a Wednesday Run.
Well, how about this Wednesday Run?
In a move that seems more out of parent company DC Comics’ playbook, Vertigo Comics, the mature, sophisticated redheaded stepson of the old publisher, is releasing a one off, 80-page homage to…science fiction!
Yes! You read that right! Strange Adventures, which borrows its name from DC’s classic sci-fi comic beginning in 1950 (which advertised “Amazing Science Fiction Tales!”) and ended in a weird, but storied run through to 1973 (giving us memorably strange characters like Deadman, Animal Man and Captain Comet, while showcasing the emerging artwork of the legendary Neal Adams), returns under the Vertigo banner this time.
And what a treat it will be for comic book fans old and new!
The Eisner Award winning writer/artist team of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso (100 Bullets) are here with a sneak peek at their upcoming, highly anticipated, new series, Spaceman. They’re joined by other writers and artists, both tried and true and up and coming, including: Peter Milligan (Shade the Changing Man, Greek Street, Hellblazer), Scott Snyder (American Vampire, Detective Comics), Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth, Essex County Trilogy, Superboy) and Kevin Colden (Fishtown, I Rule the Night) among others, tackling stories featuring fringe characters like Captain Comet and…Ultra, The Multi Alien.
Yeah. It’s weird. But it’s wonderful stuff.
Make the run this Wednesday – and keep it weird!
Bird Fly High-JP Wishes Bob Dylan A Happy Seventieth Birthday
I grew into Bob Dylan. I was not born unto him. That’s a possible assertion to be made by a generation not mine, but it doesn’t negate the importance his music and poetry have had on my own life. In fact, his art has had some lasting effects, surprising to even me. Only now, examining his oeuvre of extensive music on the eve of his seventieth birthday, and at the request of Biff Bam Pop! Editor-In-Chief, Andy Burns, do I see how lasting those effects have been.
There are two pieces of his music that carry a significant importance to my life:
Most of the Time, found on the Danial Lanois produced 1989 album, Oh Mercy, came to me late. I first noticed it while watching the film High Fidelity in the spring of 2000. A melancholy take on lost love, the song discovered me at a moment in my life when I was enduring an emotional toil espoused in the lyrics and music of the song. An understanding Dylan helped me through a rough patch along with close friends and time. Interestingly, our resident Editor-In-Chief, newly met at that period of my life, became and remains one of those close friends. In some was, Dylan was, and still is, part of our friendship.
But let me take you back now to a time when I was still a child.
At ten years of age, I was just discovering music with the help of the radio and music videos on television. It was 1983 and, turning channels on the family’s old Zenith, I came across Jokerman. My first encounter with him, I didn’t know if Dylan, here, was singer, poet, philosopher or preacher. My ten year-old eyes recognized some of the imagery of the video and was interested in many of the others: the politics of Kennedy and Reagan, the science of astronauts, the faith found within a church bible and the emotion in the artistry of Michelangelo, Munch and Picasso. And then there was the laughing comic book image of Batman’s arch nemesis, the Joker. Those images, from both the video and the lyrics of the song, stayed with me through my teens, and stay with me today, though my adult years.
Dylan was present in my life at a time when my interests and passions were first swirling, emerging and developing: art history, politics, philosophy, religion and even comic books. He was there, under different guises, during each break up and heart ache, on good days and nights, triumphs and travails and he remains an ever present companion in uncertain times, constantly changing, always recognizable.
Happy seventieth birthday Bob Dylan. Bird fly high by the light of the moon.
