Thoughts on the Batman v Superman Official Trailer

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

ahletwx18dkogwhiihxqIs Superman a false god or a prophet? Just who is he and what is his purpose on Earth? These are the questions raised in Zack Snyder’s reimagining of the DC Universe. In fact, this comics company has this “New 52” in place for sometime. and this director has been following along a similar line of themes for DC’s theatrical presentation and reimagining of some iconic heroes. In Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, not everyone approves of this new mighty man of steel poised to look like Atlas holding the weight of the world upon his shoulders. In the voice-over, one individual asks if the biggest demon might be someone who fell from the sky — is this an allusion to Lucifer, the Morningstar? We’re not talking about the devil here, but that’s the feeling some folks might get. Literary analysts might wonder if this person is playing on the idiom, “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.”

Given another frame where there are soldiers bowing to Superman, some may wonder just what kind of hold he has upon the fair people of Metropolis. The city has recovered from the events of Man of Steel, but not everyone approves. And is it a vault that he’s entering into?

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By the time Bruce Wayne aka Batman emerges, this version of the caped crusader is going to be nothing like former iterations seen on-screen. He’s staring at an old costume and is perhaps wondering if its time to put it on again. The dialogue is sharp as a new narrator speaks about how dark feelings can turn a good man to bad. There’s this fever and rage that festers, and that’s essentially Batman as visioned by Frank Miller. Viewers of this trailer get to see this version don some mechanical threads that gives him a wicked glowing eye look. Wayne is going to need it if he’s going to fight Superman.

Perhaps the biggest question here is just how far gone has Batman become? Is he there to do what’s right for the people of Earth? Does he even know about Superman’s weakness to Kryptonite? When this film’s subtitle is known as Dawn of Justice, that means other types of superheroes could potentitally emerge to side with either the caped crusader or man of steel in hopes to find freedom from being ostracized. The villain is not so clearly defined yet. As any follower of DC’s films will know, Lex Luthor is waiting in the wings.

Superman Coins Are Designed to Impress than to Speculate

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Superman 1932

If last year’s 75th anniversary celebration by the Royal Canadian Mint of Superman as an iconic hero where one of his creators hailed from Canada is not enough, then this year’s unveiling of four new coins proves that even up north, we still love him like he is our own son. After all, Krypton is gone, America is his adopted home, and the world is his oyster. Just what else can he do?

Apparently the folks at the Mint decided to continue his legacy! The new coins are using art to promote the years he was best recognized: 1938 (when he first appeared), 1972 (to honour Action Comics #419), 2001 (as an acknowledgement of The Adventures of Superman #596 issue, printed that year) and 2012 (in recognition of the new 52 universe). Depending on when a new reader discovered Superman, he or she may opt for a single coin to display on the mantle to show when that person’s age of discovery began. Several decades are missed, but so what? The comic book covers chosen are meant to highlight a part of Supe’s legacy.

And thankfully, the Mint is not making the same mistake that DC Comics blundered into in 1992 by the over-printing of a product, resulting in the decline of comic book speculating. There’s hardly any redeemable value to any of the the bagged editions of Superman #75.

Superman Gold

Three of the new coins are minted in silver, with face values of $10, $15 and $20 and the fourth in gold with a face value of $100. The mint is only producing 10,000 of each silver coin, and the gold coin is limited to a run of 2,000 world-wide.

Just like last year, comic and coin collectors will have to seek out the Man of Steel fast before his memorabilia flies away! The love for collectible products may not continue for another year … or can it with a film, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice on the way?

 

Snyder Gets Racy with Batmobile Tease

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

SnyderBatmobileHoly Heart attack Batman! Can I keep my beating organ at a steady rate when Zack Snyder, director of the Batman Vs. Superman feature film, reveals the newest incarnation of the Batmobile tomorrow? In all honesty, I’ll try. But I make no guarantee I won’t need a defibrillator when Gotham’s sick ride is made known.

Batman Vs. Superman is currently set to debut May 6, 2016 and will star Ben Affleck (Bruce Wayne / Batman), Henry Cavill (Clark Kent / Superman), Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Gal Gadot (Diana Prince / Wonder Woman), Diane Lane (Martha Kent), Jesse Eisenberg (Lex Luthor), Laurence Fishburne (Perry White), and Jeremy Irons (Alfred).

Casting Additions for Batman vs Superman!

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman

DC Comic’s holy triumvirate will kickstart the movie universe right in the shins and hopefully race on ahead to plans for a Justice League film. As for whether or not that will work is not the question right now. Instead, the attention will be on giving Wonder Woman the love thats needed in a mostly machismo universe. That’s been established with the recent reboot of Superman and in fitting in with the continuity that started with Christopher Nolan’s Batman.

But with Zack Snyder behind this product, the information that Israeli-born actress Gal Gadot will be playing a warrior-princess from Themyscira is exciting. She is best known for playing Gisele Harabo in the Fast and the Furious film series and this model won the title of Miss Israel in 2004. To have a foreign presence is fitting since this character is from the Mediterranean area. But little is known about this actress since her filmography is relatively on the short side. Her online bio states she served the Israeli Army for a time and this experience will no doubt serve her well when she starts training to really look the role.

But after this film, her presence in Hollywood will no doubt be on the rise.

Superman Celebrates 75 Years With Special Treats This Month

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Geek)

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I have to say this, but Superman is a partially Canadian invention, and he’s being honoured with several 75th anniversary commemorative coins by the Royal Canadian Mint this year.

Cleveland born Jerry Siegel and Toronto born Joe Shuster created this iconic character, and their simple ideals were at the forefront of what the Golden Age character was like. Superman’s ideals hardly ever changed in comic-book land. While the films took on a different front, that’s hardly the point of what I found great about this superhero. He’ll always be the ideal boy scout. This hero is supposed to represent the best of what the United States of America should be like. And I’ll leave the commentary about current political climate out of this exposition.

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So where’s the Justice League in Flashpoint Paradox?

When Flash is the protagonist, shouldn’t this movie simply be titled The Flash: Flashpoint Paradox instead?

dvd justice league the flashpoint paradoxSpoiler Alert

When Cartoon Network’s DC Nation is now comprised of Beware the Batman and Go Teen Titans Go, just where will comic fans get their Justice League fix? With Young Justice gone, fans of DC’s animated products do not have much left over to enjoy. This particular universe has a great diversity and great storytelling backing it. But with the new products showing a divergence than convergence, only the direct to video releases, namely Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox will prove that there can be only one.

And Barry Allen is stuck right smack dab in the middle of a coming apocalypse. Finally, some other heroes are getting the center-stage, and The Flash shows that one wrong mistake can mean one fractured time-line. Flashpoint is based on the 2011 comic of the same name, where the speedster awakens in a universe not quite his own.

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