WE'RE BACK!!!...

I was going to make this about Super Smash Bros., but something truly wonderfully awesome has happened tonight and I feel the need to spread the joy around. After several years of spartan music selection (considering what came before), the hard drive with all my digital music, every song I've ever gotten and put on the computer, has magically began to work again! It is a true miracle and I am happier than you can imagine...

Now, those close to me might say, 'Hey, what about you and Tara and the big to-do and all...' That is for another post for another day. You know, after the fact. No, tonight the joys of my own music selection are almost back to where I was before I moved up here. Thousands upon thousands of songs are mine once again, and once I combine them with the iTunes (eventually) and all the songs I acquired whilst up here, I shall feel a certain amount of peace of mind...

So here's my advice to you, kiddies: Don't put all your crap in only one format. If that format becomes lost (say, a crashed hard drive or assholes take your collections out of your car cause you are too damn dumb to lock your car...), have at least one back up in a different format. Since I thought I lost both in a very short time lapse, it was more devastating than I would care to explain. Even if you burn your cds onto a drive, don't get rid of the hard copies. Store them away until you need them again or run out of storage room or whatever. Such relief you can't buy...

Next: A Smash Bros. post...

Part DUECE!!!...

Finalizing the review of Hulk vs Thor, so here it comes...



The story involves Loki, god of mischief and Thor's brother, trying to find a way to kill of his brother once and for all. And, despite all attempts in the past, the only thing that came close to beating Thor was the rage machine himself, The Hulk. So Loki, along with the Enchantress, capture Banner, turn him into the Hulk, then proceed to physically REMOVE BANNER FROM THE HULK!!! Ok, I can't actually be that upset over this. I had to accept it when Jean Grey did it during the Onslaught saga. So, with Banner gone, Loki gains control of Hulk and sends him rampaging through the streets of Asgard. As can be expected, Big 'n Green mows through gods (yes, plural), dukes it out with Thor a bunch, Loki loses control, Hulk rampages more, and then Hel (Norse goddess of the underworld, kids) gets involved, restores Banner to Hulk, and that's where it ends. I gotta say, after I wrote 'Hulk rampages more', that was where I was comfortable stopping...

Gotta make this good, so the good points first. Like Hulk vs Wolverine, the costumes and art are spot on, if a bit stylized. If you want my opinions on that, check out the other post. But I actually have to praise the art further, because, unlike in HvW, there was more material to be faithful to. They really did nail it and it was all believable in the context of this story. The other item that made it a bit more enjoyable than the movie that came before it was the ending, and more like it actually had one. While HvW ends ambiguously (groan), HvT ends with Asgard being saved, Hulk returns to Midgard (Norse for the Earth, kids), and the heroes win the day, or as much as you can call getting your crap kicked all over the mythological planes by the avatar of all destruction (apparently)...

That segues nicely into my biggest problem with this pile: Hulk takes on the majority of the Norse pantheon and rips it to shreds with barely a mark on him. Yeah, I know, the madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets, but this is plain retarded. Big movers and shakers like the Norse gods barely slow Hulk down, but Wolverine holds his own? What kind of precedent is being set here? Are we allowing Wolverine to be this powerful or is it just that the Norse gods can't get their shit together and, oh I don't know, BANISH HULK FOR ALL ETERNITY TO SOME ABYSS IN THE ABYSSAL PLANES?!?!? (ok, I lost my way in that rant). Still, I know Hulk is the 'ultimate wrecking ball on legs', but these are FREAKING GODS!!! I kind of want to see what kinds of berzerkers and barbarians would have worshipped Hulk as a god now. Friggin' sweet...

The other issue I have is that, even though Loki lost control of Hulk, Hulk continued rampage and destroy his way to the sleeping Odin, I guess with the intention of destroying him(?). The Hulk I remember reading wouldn't mindlessly go towards a shiny light to destroy it. He'd make his way out of Asgard in a couple of leaps, just to be left alone. That's all Hulk really wants in the end is to be rid of Banner (check, at least for a while) and to live alone. After Loki was gone, there would have been no motivation or remote reason to go after Odin. A liberty that must have been taken, I suppose...

Style: See HvW, mostly. As I said before, way to go artists for making the art incredibly faithful, despite your own spins on it. Get these guys and gals more jobs and better scripts to work with...

Story: While HvW was in the realm of the absurd, HvT went with acceptable and Buh-Horing. It was predictable, flat, and not all that interesting to watch. Yes, this ending was better, but that was the best part about it. It was over...

Voices: Meh. Nothing really worth writing about. Not great, not awful...

Grade: D+ to C- and a plea for a redo. Art alone cannot make this piece all that worth my while. They could have stepped it up a little, but I get the feeling someone was trying make an easy buck with this two set. Gave my copy to my roommate. He couldn't get through them both, that's how disappointed he was. If you want to opinion on this, post here. Or better yet, find me, ask for my copy, then give it back with your own review. Tell me I'm wrong with this review...

The Witteman's Review of....

Hulk vs Wolverine/Hulk vs Thor...

Lionsgate released this two feature set of action packed animated films recently, and I was intrigued by the previews and clips youtube had to offer. It's no secret that one of the biggest on going battle feuds within Marvel comics is between Wolverine and the Hulk. But, it does make for good cinema to have the god of thunder to go up against the ultimate Marvel powerhouse. Let's begin...

Hulk vs Wolverine is up first and, unfortunately, I have but one word for it: Disappointing. Now, it wasn't completely disappointing, but overall, I wanted something else, or at the very least, something more. Our films starts with our favorite Canadian berserker being called in by the Canadian government to take care of the Hulk, who's been rampaging across the Canadian countryside (I never thought I'd write 'Canadian' so much in one sentence). This is reflective of, not just the plot, but the actual dialogue lifted from Ultimate Hulk vs Ultimate Wolverine (to which I am not a HUGE fan of the Ultimates line, but this picture won me over):



Adding a high note, Wolverine is garbed in his 90's suit rather than his modern suit, which I definitely prefer (though not against the yellow and brown suit). Anyways, after a slightly long tracking sequence, Wolverine meets up with Bruce Banner, Banner turns into Hulk, and combat ensues. To the creators' credit, there was an adequate use of blood and profanity that you would expect if these characters were to actually exist without going of the top for shock value. I suppose that's the highest marks I can give this piece is treating the characters with an adult mindset than just for kids, which happens to many comic-to-cartoon adaptations (Thank God for Batman: The Animated Series)...

So, after what seems like a much too short combat sequence, Wolverine's villains show up, take down both Wolverine and the Hulk, and drag them off to the Weapon X facility. Wait, WHAT?!? Yes, they felt the need to throw *ahem* plot into a feature that would almost be better as just a combat vehicle. So, we see a surprisingly good adaptation of the Weapon X storyline via flashback, and subsequently find out that it was in fact Weapon X who wanted both the Hulk AND Wolverine as their weapons. I mean, I guess since the combined efforts of Sabertooth, Deadpool, Lady Deathstrike, and Omega Red couldn't...stop...

WAITAFRIGGINMINUTE!!! Neither Deathstrike or Red were Weapon X victims!! Sure, they fall into the 'We Hate Wolverine With Every Fiber Of Our Being' Club, but Omega Red was a damn TARGET, not a member of Weapon X! Oh god, continuity is a harsh mistress. And I know Deadpool is the 'Merc with a Mouth' and is sort of a more popular character nowadays, but this interpretation is just annoying and you are just waiting for Hulk to rip his head off (he doesn't). After the inclusion of *sigh* Weapon X, the film takes a decidedly more anime style (especially in Deathstrike and Red's case), but not enough to make me shut it off. Since the villains can't decide between killing off Wolverine or self-preservation against RAGE INCARNATE(!!), they get their crap kicked all over the place...

As the movie draws to a close, Hulk (for some reason) decides to tear the ENTIRE COMPLEX DOWN. Seems more prudent that he would just escape, but hey, I'm just a fan. After these moments of special effects-ery, and swatting Wolverine with a skyscraper-esqe pylon, the Hulk leaves his wake of destruction behind him and returns to the Canadian wilds where he is free to roam in piece. OR IS HE?!?! Wolverine still happens to be conscious and (oddly enough) rechallenges the Hulk to begin where they left off 45 minutes ago. The movie fades to black as these two unstoppable forces leap back into the fray, as if this battle will continue for eons upon eons...

Style: It was a nice mix between accepted American imagery and anime styled combat. Believable and not abhorrent, though their choices on some of the little details perplex me. But, as I said, these are little details...

Story: Did we really have to throw Weapon X in there? It would be like throwing a trip to the Negative Zone in the 'Death of Superman' storyline. Unnecessary. A slugfest with these two heroes would have carried itself. Also, how do end it with a non-ending? Why not use 'parting with grudging respect' or 'not meeting after the collapse of the facilities' or 'one letting the other go their separate ways'? Very unsatisfying in the end...

Voices: Quite good on the whole. I even like they got the guy who played The Kurgan in 'Highlander' to be the voice of Sabertooth. The Wolverine voice even evoked a bit of Cathal Dodd, the voice of Wolverine in the 90's...

Grade: C+ and a free pass for a redo. The story and some of the in-movie styles and portrayals bring the grade down a smidge, but on a good day, it might be graded a B- as well. I recommend this toon to others, mainly to get their reaction. Perhaps I have been too harsh, or not harsh enough. You tell me, fellow viewers...

Next up, Hulk vs Thor. Stay tuned...

The Return...

In the year of our Lord, 2-double aught-9, a mid-20's man makes his return to the interwebs. What he finds is a disgrace. A single post in December, January shamefully skipped, and over a week into February with nothing to show for it. This simply won't do. The only way to catch up to the NOW: Montage Post...

Starting it off, December: Had a most excellent vacation. Got to see most of my friends, ESPECIALLY those I keep in the best contact with. You others are next (I'm looking at you, Jen and Georgia). Christmas with the fam, including G-Maw Witte, was a nice taste of childhood again, but it's finally sinking in that I just can't go back to that life anymore. If you say 'Duh!', I've got a punch in the face and a kick in the teeth waiting for you. New Years was low key but fun. Spent it with Brian and Chris and Tara, had some most excellent wine, played games, and all in all, a good time to be had by all. Losing money aside, of course. AND if you ever wanted to know what The Witte looks like, this is me at New Years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKJnguZtEv8

The biggest event for January was, obviously, the inauguration of Barack Obama, our 44th President and the first black one to boot. No one took a shot at him, his rhetoric was on point, and now I just don't want to have to see him and his family on every damn magazine cover (won't happen). Seriously, he's in, he's going to do good things, but give us something else besides the Obama's, the Pitt's, and every other boring, blah blah story you come up with. All that aside, I congratulate the man on being the official ruler of the free world and the best of luck to his term(s)...

The transition between that moment and now has been marked by a few events is varying degrees of importance. Some of these happen to be:

-My dear friends Lexie and Grant had their first child (Rose), around the end of January and the beginning of February. This is significant since they are my first close friends I keep in contact with to spawn (so that cuts Ben out). I haven't seen the pictures yet, but due to the attractiveness of both of my friends, I can only assume it is a pretty baby...

-While in the grand scheme this sounds piddling, I figure it was worth a mention. Gran Torino is an excellent movie and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a more slice of life, character driven movie. Clint is true to form and recalls the days of 'The Man With No Name', except in this one, he has one (Walt Kowalski). He plays a Korean vet, racial as hell but (you guessed it) with a heart of gold. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say it is amusing to see such a character in this the modern age and still believe that such a character might really exist...

-In a new segment for The Witte Says..., I will be on Celebrity Watch. Now, this may seem like pablum or other media offensive word, BUT so far it's been awesome. Comic book crowd aside (like at IthaCon, see below), I happened to meet this guy:

This guy is known by the stage name Hilby the Skinny German Juggle Boy and he is most excellent. I saw him first at McDaniel College in 01 or 02, and then again in summer of 06 at the Maryland Renfest. Each time, he has been a treat. His shtick never gets old and appears to truly love his craft. I met/saw Hilby at the Salvation Army (my second job if you've forgotten) up here in Ithaca. When I saw him with his companions(?), I thought 'There is no way there are two guys who look and sound like that so I just have to ask.' So I did, kinda. It was lame, I said, 'Sir, do I know you?' And he replied, with that delicious German accent, 'Why, yes, I am a stage performer. I juggle, tell jokes, that sort of thing.' So we talked for a minute and he said, 'Say hi at the next show you see.' Alright, Hilby, if you read this(and, much like Rick Springfield, you probably won't), expect an odd hello from this fan...

-And, finally: ITHACON. dun Dun DUN!!! Taking up my first Saturday (as well as Jon and Jesse's), this college town of Ithaca has it's own comic book convention, hosted by their resident comic book club (big friggin' surprise there). For those of you who don't know, I, along with the two aforementioned friends, have our own comic book label (Crash N Klein Comics). Our two titles, Denim Avenger and CosMick, are in the works, the DA will be done probably before the weather breaks and CM will debut online late summer. Since the Witte has it in with said comic book club, he arranged for CnK to have a table at IthaCon. We had a ball. We rubbed shoulders with legit comic guys, like Ken Wheaton, Storn Cook, and Roger Stern. We hawked our wares, raffled off a picture, gave out fliers, and nearly got Jon a date. Too bad he lives in lower PA, yes? All in all, it was very productive and fun day, proving once again that we just love it behind the table...

Turning from his post, The Witte gives a small smile. It's not much of an inroad, but it IS a start. It's a new year, and by God, we're going to give it a better chance than it had in the last. Salut...

Character commentary...

Two jobs prevent a guy from doing the things he loves. In my case, writing is one particular hobby that has fallen by the way side. I try to write on my breaks, but it just isn't the same. So the weekends are starting to turn into writing days, especially with Tara being away. Ah well...

If you couldn't tell by my interests, or you just don't/haven't read this blog much, I enjoy the series 'Heroes' very, very much. I haven't been this excited about a periodical in quite some time (potentially since I had an X-Men subscription back in the mid-90's). I have to say the acting has definitely been kicked up a notch and the story is quite captivating. Remember, this is coming from a guy who's been reading several generations of comics for at least 3/4 of his life, too. I find myself eager each week for a new installment. I do, however, have one complaint about this currant season, and that is the treatment of the character, Sylar...

For those of you who have not been following the show, Sylar (or Gabriel Grey, if you like), is the longest running villain on the show, who has stayed the most villainesque than any other character. Others have strayed into the gray areas of hero and villain, like Noah (I WILL NOT REFER TO HIM AS HRG) or the staff of Primatech, whereas others, such as Nathan Petrelli, just haven't been around as long. Anyways, his primary concern in life is to appease his vampiric hunger for more power by any means necessary. To do so (for the most part), Sylar opens another powered individuals head and and absorbs whatever in there makes them special. Possibly something involving the adrenal gland, they haven't been 100% clear yet (which is good)...

On to my complaint. In this particular season, Sylar has been tossed around by the two rival companies, Primatech and Pinehearst, and by consequence, between Arthur and Angela Petrelli. So far, he's been doped into a coma at least twice, convinced that he is a Petrelli, teamed with and then betrayed by and against Noah Bennett, reuninted and teamed with Elle then later killed her, and basically went from crazy bad guy to crazy sort of good guy to crazy chaotic guy and then back to crazy bad guy. Here it is: All that has gone on is way too much. Nothing involving him this season is being fleshed out enough (other than his back story [a little]), and thus, makes everything involving Sylar seem very half-assed and thrown together. I think his acting deals well with this kind of story, but it is not what I would have wanted to see...

Here comes the critic in me: Were I to have been a writer for this series (I wish), I would have made his transition into a Primatech agent been his main focus for this season, with the possibility of him going to Pinehearst near the end of it. This would allow him to develop more as a character and make his defection much more meaningful and traitorous. Further, he should not be a Petrelli and I am glad they have made it possible that this is likely (due to last weeks episode, based on what Noah noes...er, knows). His involvement with Elle was good, but much too quick from empathy to psychosis and back and forth. Just too quick. This kind of thing doesn't happen in comic books this quickly. These kinds of transitions take time to sink in, build meaning, and be worth breaking down and changing...

So there's my two cents. Make no mistake, I enjoy 'Heroes' very much, as well as Sylar as a character. I think his type is good for the struggle against the good and the evil. I blame most complaints on the writer's strike and having to shift all kinds of gears in its wake. But, I am still looking forward to the rest of this season as well as (hopefully) many as they throw our way. Viva la 'Heroes'!...

You've got to be kidding me...

Holy. Shit...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxIvLcfNHPE

Our buddy Rick has, simultaneously, sold out the Rick Roll AND made it so freaking awesome. So, in his own way, he's pop music's Busta Rhymes. In any event, the amount of emotions flowing through me when I heard about, then saw, this awesome moment of the USA being Rick Rolled (which had to be like several million people), I can not describe it fully. Damn...

So cool a list...

Here's a tid bit of me for a quickie post:

Ten People I'd Like To Meet Before They/I Die (in no particular order)
1. Stan Lee...
2. Bruce Campbell...
3. Richard Garfield OR Mark Rosewater...
4. Frank Miller...
5. Phil Collins...
6. Dave Grohl...
7. Hugh Jackman...
8. Phil and Kaja Foglio...
9. Frank Welker...
10. Jim Cummings...

And, in a similar vein:

Ten Musical Acts I'd Like To See Before They Stop Playing
1. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band...
2. Foo Fighters...
3. The Eagles...
4. Phil Collins and/or Genesis...
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers...
6. Gipsy Kings...
7. Aerosmith...
8. America...
9. Dave Matthews Band...
10. Daft Punk...

'Nuff said...

Finally...

November, November, November. I just love the sound of it. Right between spooky October and festive December. MY month. MY November...

So it's been a while, which means I'll recap the major points since I'm on a schedule. We had Halloween that led into my birthday on the 2nd. Tara and me had already celebrated my birthday the weekend before and we did have a good time (despite what Tara wants to believe or remember). Took the day off of work and kept busy. Played some D&D with Tyson and Tara that day, so it was a low key birthday. Unlike last year, which (for me) was a super birthday. All (most) my friends came over and we hung out. I get razzed by some of my friends, cause they think that that's not a 'real party'. But I say I love it. I don't need booze and loud music to have good times. And hopefully anyone who came over then can agree...

We got ourselves a new President! Surprise, surprise. I didn't doubt that Barack would win it once he made it pass his primaries. His whole...everything was just too historic and epic to fail. But, to be totally honest, McCain did the best anyone could have done against such an opponent, and for that I give him respect. I hope he stays active politically because we need such a personality in his age group active...

Got a second job now. Will someone please tell me why and when I thought that working for the Salvation Army, which is a 40 minute walk from home and pays less than working at Tops, was a good idea. I have a feeling this won't last much past the turn of the next year. On the plus side, though, I get to see everything that comes in and then pick up some real gems for myself. I've got a copy of The Dark Tower game (a 'generic' fantasy board game {PRIMO}, not related to the Stephen King books) coming to me after work today and I cannot wait to bust it out will some of my geek friends...

Been keeping up on Heroes, too. A previous post corroborates such an addiction, but somethings do need to be said. I just caught last night’s episode today, and here are my thoughts:

-THEY KILLED USUTU?!?!?...
-I predicted this with Peter, but even though we have our 'favorite' characters losing their powers, whatever serum they are working on will give both Hiro and Peter their abilities back (Hint: this is how Peter will get his telltale scar)...
-I like how they've developed the older characters back stories. Definitely fleshes them out and makes them more three dimensional...
-Didn't see Meredith and Flynt being siblings, but I see what they are doing. Not sure I like how much interconnectivity they are giving the characters. Too much like a soap opera...
-Using Elle instead of replacing her with Daphne has been a joy. As probably stated before, I didn't like that it seemed Elle was written out of the show at the beginning of season three, but it looks like I was wrong about that. Elle vs Daphne, perhaps?...
-Eric Roberts' character wouldn't have let Meredith go. Everything that they set up him to be made that scene feel awkward. Same with Noah spying on and allowing Sylar to kill felt very off to me, partially because how quickly he turned against the company...

I think that will do for this catch up post. I'll stay on top of it more now, but working (potentially) 10 to 14 hour days, it doesn't leave much time to dilly dally...

Seriously guys...I'm getting to it...Not beating around the bush this month...

Keep your pants on...

Wow. November has been nuts. Stay tuned for more goodies...