Wolvrerine and the X-Men "eXcessive Force" and "Battle Lines" Reviews (Spoilers)
Also reviews for the latest episodes of Batman: The Brave and the Bold and The Goode Family and the Stephen King novel Misery.
Wolverine and the X-Men "eXcessive Force"
I wasn't too thrilled with this episode. Yeah, it was nice seeing Jean Grey again briefly at the end (the cliffhanger promised great things to come) but the episode leading up to it was only so-so. I didn't like this version of Mr. Sinister. Yeah, I love Clancy Brown too but the Sinister on the old show had a kind of elegance and ferocity which was in no small part due to his terrifying character design. This version is too streamlined and you can barely tell he has fangs unless the shot is in close-up and his famous black lips are missing. I also think he seems like the sort of character (like Apocalypse) you have to build up to instead of just throwing him all of a sudden into a story. I realize this version of the X-Men has a history behind it and I'm usually grateful for that. Here I wish he had gotten a proper introduction. ***.
Wolverine and the X-Men "Battle Lines"
Wonderful episode that pretty much explains where Rogue has been at and why she's done the things she's done. I have to say I'm delighted and a bit surprised that she was a White Hat all along going undercover in the Brotherhood. I didn't expect it because this version of the character didn't seem to get along with anyone (with the possible exception of Beast). I liked the twist.
And yes, I know I complained in just the very last review that I wish some villains on the show (like Sinister) were set up better but I like the approach they used with Juggernaut here. He was always an annoying villain on the old show so I like how they just had him show up to get his butt kicked. It may have been meaningless for kids who had no idea who he was but it got a smile out of me. *****.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold "Last Bat on Earth"
Didn't like this. It was all right but Gorilla Grodd has been used way too much on this show so far and I would have preferred a villain I didn't know for my first real dip into Kamandi lore. I liked all of the different animal people though (especially the Man-Bats in the Batcave) and the opening with Mr. Miracle was pretty good too. **1/2.
The Goode Family "A Tale of Two Lesbians"
I am again fascinated by a show that simultaniously takes gratuitous cheap shots at liberals while still managing to endorse the philosophy itself. Helen is a VERY annoying character and almost as bad as Peggy Hill in her own way. But what I found interesting about her sticking up for her lesbian friends at the end was that it was the people she was trying to impress who were being homophobic and intolerant and Who believed anyone who did not conform to the standards of a lipstick lesbian were gross and tacky. And that kind of message is not only a subversive thing to get the audience behind but it's completely true. And it FEELS right too so even if you're a conservative fan of this show who loves the liberal bashing, you can still appreciate the message this episode manages to send.
I don't want to bash King of the Hill but it's conservative plot twists were easy for the audience to get behind because they were guised under common sense. Here the moral had to do with sticking up for what was right even if it wasn't easy. I'm frankly surprised Mike Judge had this kind of show in him and I was greatly impressed. ****1/2.
Misery by Stephen King
Randall Flagg may be Stephen King's scariest villain of all time but Annie Wilkes is the most frightening realistic villain King has ever done and is almost worse than Flagg because of that realism. I can truly believe there are people as messed up as Annie out there who are that angry and violent and blame their behavior on everyone but themselves. Paul Sheldon's situation as her prisoner is so frightening because it is so believable and seems like the kind of thing that could happen to anybody. Most of King's books have a supernatural element to them so when some stories (like this one) don't you notice the difference.
Also liked the reference to the Overlook hotel too.
Paul Sheldon is a flawed character. I don't exactly like him but I am firmly rooting for him to triumph over Wilkes the entire way through. When he finally does I felt just as much satisfaction now as when I first read the book years ago. A wonderful book and one of King's better efforts. *****.
Wolverine and the X-Men "eXcessive Force"
I wasn't too thrilled with this episode. Yeah, it was nice seeing Jean Grey again briefly at the end (the cliffhanger promised great things to come) but the episode leading up to it was only so-so. I didn't like this version of Mr. Sinister. Yeah, I love Clancy Brown too but the Sinister on the old show had a kind of elegance and ferocity which was in no small part due to his terrifying character design. This version is too streamlined and you can barely tell he has fangs unless the shot is in close-up and his famous black lips are missing. I also think he seems like the sort of character (like Apocalypse) you have to build up to instead of just throwing him all of a sudden into a story. I realize this version of the X-Men has a history behind it and I'm usually grateful for that. Here I wish he had gotten a proper introduction. ***.
Wolverine and the X-Men "Battle Lines"
Wonderful episode that pretty much explains where Rogue has been at and why she's done the things she's done. I have to say I'm delighted and a bit surprised that she was a White Hat all along going undercover in the Brotherhood. I didn't expect it because this version of the character didn't seem to get along with anyone (with the possible exception of Beast). I liked the twist.
And yes, I know I complained in just the very last review that I wish some villains on the show (like Sinister) were set up better but I like the approach they used with Juggernaut here. He was always an annoying villain on the old show so I like how they just had him show up to get his butt kicked. It may have been meaningless for kids who had no idea who he was but it got a smile out of me. *****.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold "Last Bat on Earth"
Didn't like this. It was all right but Gorilla Grodd has been used way too much on this show so far and I would have preferred a villain I didn't know for my first real dip into Kamandi lore. I liked all of the different animal people though (especially the Man-Bats in the Batcave) and the opening with Mr. Miracle was pretty good too. **1/2.
The Goode Family "A Tale of Two Lesbians"
I am again fascinated by a show that simultaniously takes gratuitous cheap shots at liberals while still managing to endorse the philosophy itself. Helen is a VERY annoying character and almost as bad as Peggy Hill in her own way. But what I found interesting about her sticking up for her lesbian friends at the end was that it was the people she was trying to impress who were being homophobic and intolerant and Who believed anyone who did not conform to the standards of a lipstick lesbian were gross and tacky. And that kind of message is not only a subversive thing to get the audience behind but it's completely true. And it FEELS right too so even if you're a conservative fan of this show who loves the liberal bashing, you can still appreciate the message this episode manages to send.
I don't want to bash King of the Hill but it's conservative plot twists were easy for the audience to get behind because they were guised under common sense. Here the moral had to do with sticking up for what was right even if it wasn't easy. I'm frankly surprised Mike Judge had this kind of show in him and I was greatly impressed. ****1/2.
Misery by Stephen King
Randall Flagg may be Stephen King's scariest villain of all time but Annie Wilkes is the most frightening realistic villain King has ever done and is almost worse than Flagg because of that realism. I can truly believe there are people as messed up as Annie out there who are that angry and violent and blame their behavior on everyone but themselves. Paul Sheldon's situation as her prisoner is so frightening because it is so believable and seems like the kind of thing that could happen to anybody. Most of King's books have a supernatural element to them so when some stories (like this one) don't you notice the difference.
Also liked the reference to the Overlook hotel too.
Paul Sheldon is a flawed character. I don't exactly like him but I am firmly rooting for him to triumph over Wilkes the entire way through. When he finally does I felt just as much satisfaction now as when I first read the book years ago. A wonderful book and one of King's better efforts. *****.