Podcast - Episode 83: X-Men Movies VS MCU Movies

Look, I'm aware that a dumb list of reasons why the X-Men movies are better than the MCU movies is not really worth the amount of scorn or attention that we give it in this episode, but, well...we're all on edge these days and sometimes you just have to find an outlet.

Allow me to submit to you this image of Robbie Amell, my current choice for Nightwing:

Right? 

What else...OH! That stupid Jeremy Renner Instagram post! Get ready for your eyes to bleed!

Daily prayer for unity #roughroad #strangedays #smallthingsmatter #beActiveNotReactive

A post shared by Jeremy Renner (@renner4real) on Feb 21, 2017 at 3:51pm PST

I mean...my god.

Let's end this with a picture of Chris Evans on the red carpet at the Oscars with his sister, because awwwwwwwwww:

Podcast - Episode 82: The Wolverine

We have reached the end of "Logan's Run" with 2013's THE WOLVERINE. What a long, boring trip it's been.

I know we did a whole episode on this before, but Hugh Jackman's body in this movie was...crazy. Like...way too much.

Here's the side-by-side of Jackman in X-Men (2000) and this movie:

Like, what on earth?

And, like, yeah. Maybe that second body looks more like the way Wolverine is drawn in the comics, but...no one expects a real human being to look like a comic book drawing. I certainly don't expect human actresses to look exactly like the comic book versions. That would be physically impossible.

Here is a blog post I wrote back in 2007 about that comic where Bruce Wayne dresses like a rich lady. And here he is, sans wig, but still wearing the make-up:

So pretty.

Enjoy the episode! Thanks for listening!

Podcast - Episode 80: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

They. Just. Keep. Getting. Worse!

This has to be the worst one, right? This week we watching X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, and, yeah...that is not a good movie.

But at least it has GAMBIT, right??!! YEAAAAHHH!!!

Ugh. How do you make Taylor Kitsch look that bad? Honestly.

Here's stupid ol' Logan laying waste to the poor elderly couple's bathroom:

Moron.

As I mention, there was a very important news piece this week that aired on Fox5 in New York. It was a gripping investigation into the work-out routine of Sebastian Stan as he prepares to bulk up to play Winter Soldier again. This is good journalism, guys.

You should really watch the whole video. It's important to follow the news. And there is grunting:

And if you're interested, here is the art I bought from Chris Samnee, now hanging on my bedroom wall.

Here's a better look at the Winter Soldier sketch on the invoice:

It's SO GOOD!!!

Big thanks again to Heather for getting these to me from the States.

Alright,  next week we're watching The Wolverine. And tonight we're seeing The Lego Batman movie!

Podcast - Episode 79: X-Men: The Last Stand

Well, the world has gone from bad to worse this past week. You know what else has gone from bad to worse? These X-Men movies.

Dave and I bit the bullet and watched X-Men: The Last Stand this week, a movie that neither of us had seen since we saw it in theatres in 2006. It's not very good. But at least it references an ancient meme.

Here's Bucky's stupid new arm, as revealed in this week's Thunderbolts #9.

It's in a bad way, Bucky. A very bad way.

No. Come on.

Sigh. Anyway. 

Happy belated birthday to Dave! It was his birthday yesterday (Jan 31), a fact that I neglected to mention on the podcast. My brain isn't working so great these days.

Next week: X-Men Origins: Wolverine. God help us.

Podcast - Episode 78: X2: X-Men United

This has been an unbelievably sad week, so why not rub a little X-Men in the wound, right? This week Dave and I continue our look at the X-Men films of Hugh Jackman with X2: X-Men United. This is a movie that, for years, was considered to be the best superhero movie ever according to many incorrect lists. It's not really better than X-Men. It's just longer. 

On top of that, we try to wrap our heads around the argument that punching Nazis is bad. Here's what we've concluded: it's not. In fact, it's very good.

First of all, here is the link to Layton Reid's Facebook page. Layton is my husband's younger brother, and he passed away on January 19. I know that on the podcast I probably sound a little stiff when I'm talking about him, but truly I'm devastated. I am just horrible at expressing emotion. I am so glad I got to know Layton and have him as my only brother-in-law. He is incredibly inspirational, and his life and outlook have made me far more appreciative of how precious life is, and to be grateful for how lucky I am. It's just really fucking unfair that his time was so short, and I will really miss him. If you read some of his essays on his Facebook page, you'll get a good sense of how incredible and funny he was.

You can read Warren Ellis' thoughts on punching Nazis here. Here's the bulk of it:

“I understand there’s been some confusion online as to whether it’s ever right to punch a Nazi in the face. There is a compelling argument that all speech is equal and we should trust to the discourse to reveal these ideas for what they are and confidently expect them to be denounced and crushed out by the mechanisms of democracy and freedom.

All I can tell you is, from my perspective as an old English socialist and cultural liberal who is probably way to the woolly left from most of you and actually has a medal for services to free speech — yes, it is always correct to punch Nazis. They lost the right to not be punched in the face when they started spouting genocidal ideologies that in living memory killed millions upon millions of people. And anyone who stands up and respectfully applauds their perfect right to say these things should probably also be punched, because they are clearly surplus to human requirements. Nazis do not need a hug. Nazis do not need to be indulged. Their world doesn’t get better until you’ve been removed from it. Your false equivalences mean nothing. Their agenda is always, always, extermination. Nazis need a punch in the face.”

If you would like to read people's applications to the Sebastian Stan Protection Squad, you can check out the posts that use the instagram hashtag here. Here's the application, if you are interested in applying. I mean, volunteer work is important, and I can't think of a better cause than devoting your time and energy to protecting the happiness and well being of a thirtysomething movie star.

ANYWAY.

We really did get around to talking about X2 eventually. But first!

Check out how happy Bucky is for one hot second in Black Widow #10!

It doesn't last long. But so happy for a fleeting moment there!

And look at how cute Bobby and Romeo are in All-New X-Men #17!!!

Aaaaahhhh!!! I love the ice breaking off of him!

Ok. X2.

First of all, this movie definitely has its moments. In particular, it has this moment:

Lookin' good, Wolvie. And in this same scene we get Bobby taking the long neck bottle from Logan's hand and gently blowing on it, never breaking eye contact. It's...a tad homoerotic.

Anyway. Lots of thoughts on the movie in the podcast episode.

Thanks for listening! Next week...X-Men: The Last Stand. :(

Podcast - Episode 77: X-Men (2000)

An evil monster becomes President of the United States this week and we are coping by watching all of the X-Men movies. We kick it off this week with X-Men (2000). It's not bad, guys!

We're going to be continuing with this for as long as we can stand it. We will at least be watching the first three X-Men movies. I think we should force ourselves to watch the first two Wolverine movies as well. If anyone has copies to lend us, let us know!