Hiatusaurus: PopREX Takes a Break

Dear Readers,

First of all, thanks again for you continuing patronage. I would not have the drive to create new content for this blog if I thought it was going unnoticed and under-appreciated, so having such a great fanbase is a victory for both me and the quality of this blog.

I have some bad news though. As some of you may know, The Spot is currently a law student. And with May just around the corner, that only means one thing: FINALS SEASON. While I'd much prefer to write articles for your enjoyment than study for exams, I simply have no choice. As such, I thought it best to inform you all that Poposaurus will be on hiatus until May 13th, the day of my last exam. Its only three weeks, and I promise that I will be back on the blogging bandwaggon once my semester reaches its end. Again, my sincerest apologies, and I hope that your interest in Poposaurus does not wane with the dearth of material in the coming weeks.

Bloggingly Yours,
The Spot

Geek Alert! Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Confirmed!!

Let's attempt a little exercise, shall we? Think of the two geekiest things you can imagine. The two things you associate the most with the nerd life style. Got them? More likely than not, the two things you came up with are video games and comic books. And what better for all the geeks out there (like me) than a means of bringing those to mythical mediums together? No, I'm not talking about a video game based on a comic book, or a comic book based on a video game, but instead a video game in which comic heroes go toe-to-toe with some of our favorite video game stars in a fight to the death. It's uber-nerdage meets uber-pwnage; a way to finally answer the eternal questions like "who would win in a fight: Mega Man or Iron Man" and "do you think Ryu's haduken fireball is stronger than Cyclops's optical blast?"

And such is the beauty of the Marvel vs. Capcom series of video games. If you have ever stepped foot inside an arcade (or a Nathan's or Dave & Buster's or Jillian's), you have seen a MvC machine in action (most likely MvC2, the superior sequel). With a roster of over 50 combatants and game play like a hyper-evolved version of Street Fighter 2, MvC lets players craft teams of 3 fighters to pit against each other in combat. Fighters can be tagged in and out at will, and can team up to unleash some devastating special attacks. And now, 10 years after the release of MvC2, fans can finally rejoice: the long awaited third entry is on it's way, HD graphics and all. A final roster hasn't been released yet for MvC3, but based on the first trailer, we know that the game will feature Wolverine, Hulk, Iron Man, Ryu (Street Fighter), Morrigan (Dalkstalkers), and newcomer Chris Redfield (Resident Evil). With the rest of the roster left open, all us gamer/comic fans are left to speculate what other new superheroes and video game stars will enter the ring to duke it out. So, I have chosen eight potential fighter (4 from the Marvel Universe, and 4 from the Capcom video game IPs) that I would love to see included in MvC3. [NOTE: I have chosen not to include any characters that have appeared in previous MvC titles. So while I of course want to see Gambit, Magneto, Psylocke, Mega Man, M. Bison, and Captain Commando all make return appearances, they aren't worth listing here as they have technically already made the cut].

Marvel Universe

Mr. Fantastic: How obscure Marvel characters like Blackheart, Shuma-Gorath, and Sprial made appearances in MvC2, and not a single member of the Fantastic Four got a slot is well beyond me. So to right this wrong, I'd love to see at least one of the Four get a bid. The Thing would be too much like the Hulk, the Human Torch is a little too obvious, and the Invisible Woman is just a push over (who wants to fight as an invisible character anyway?). So that leaves Reed Richards, better know as Mr. Fantastic. And with his super-stretchiness, Mr. Fantastic would be the perfect candidate for a flashy fighting game like MvC3. Not only could he punch and kick across the screen like Street Fighter's Dhalsim, but he could also transform his limbs into weapons like mallets and maces for extra melee damage or roll around like a boulder.

Mandarin: One of Marvel's most powerful but oft-forgotten supervillains, Mandarin would be perfect for MvC3 for one reason and one reason alone: versatility. For those of you unfamiliar with the character, Mandarin's powers come from the ten rings he wears on his fingers. Each ring has a different power that Mandarin can use to tear apart his victims, including one that shoots fire, one that shoots ice, one that creates pitch blackness, and one that amplifies Mandarin's mental abilities and provides for mind reading and the creation of hallucinations. Clearly, each ring could be tied to its own different attack move. And for his finishing move? Well he'd use all the rings together for one powerful mega blast. And seeing as he is also well versed in martial arts, Mandarin would be no push over in melee combat either.

Cannonball: Another more obscure Marvel character, Cannonball would be an extremely formidable opponent to fight against in MvC3. Originally a member of the New Mutants and later an X-Man, Cannonball has the unique ability to release large amounts of thermal energy around his body that he uses to propel himself through the air like a...cannonball. This allows him to travel at great speeds and crash into opponents for massive damage, which plays directly into one of the more creative aspects of the MvC series: aerial combat. MvC puts a large focus on "juggling combos," where players knock their enemy into the air and then continues pummel them in midair. Cannonball could pull off these moves effortlessly. Also, simple punches and kicks become devastating with his ability to detonate the area around his limbs.

Green Goblin: I like a good balance of heroes and villains in my video games, so for the fourth slot I decided to pick another bad guy. And who better than the deranged Green Goblin. I prefer a depiction more akin to the Spider-Man comic books than the movie franchise personally. As a fighter, the Goblin would have a veritable never-ending bag of tricks: pumpkin bombs, the multi-functional Goblin Glider, and of course, his superhuman strength and agility. Goblin would be formidable both on the ground and in the air, summoning the Glider whenever he needs to take to the sky for aerial attacks. Plus, wouldn't it be nice to get a chance to beat that goofy grin off of his green face?

Capcom Universe

Sir Arthur: Much like Mr. Fantastic, I find it hard to believe that Sir Arthur from the Ghosts 'n Goblins series never appeared in MvC or MvC2. Truly one of Capcom's flagship characters, Arthur is all business. His games are punishingly difficult. His lance is sharp and ready to slay. His boxer shorts are...er...polka-dotted. And while his earlier arsenal may seem limited, if the Super Ghosts 'n Ghouls version is used, Arthur will have a whole slew of different magical weapons and attacks at his disposal. Perhaps in the same vein as Jill Valentine from MvC2, he could even summon a ghost, ghoul, or demon to come to his aid. Really, it may just be worth it to see those hysterical boxers again.

Zero: Anyone who has played the Mega Man X games can attest to the fact that Zero is like 300 times cooler than Mega Man (regular or X-version). In any of those titles that let me choose between the blue bomber or his long-haired red comrade, I will without fail opt for the latter. You see, not only does Zero have an arm cannon like Mega Man (and in some depictions, a much stronger one), he also carries a light saber-esque beam sword. Clearly, this would grant Zero the ability to fight from both long range and up close. He could also use some of the weapons he utilizes in the Mega Man Zero series, such as the whip-like Triple Rod and the Shield Boomerang. And with that flowing mane of golden locks, he'd look damn-snazzy doing it.

Mike Haggar: Haggar is probably the most recognizable Capcom character on this list. From the classic Final Fight series, Haggar is the mayor of the fictional Metro City, who takes the law into his own hands (well, fists) to clear out the members of the evil Mad Gear with his after they kidnap his daughter. Haggar's got some anger issues and a mighty upper-body. As such, any character, super-powered or not, would think twice about going toe-to-toe with him. Of course, Haggar would have his signature spinning fists attack, and would probably be a talented grappler. In this regard he may be too similar Zangief, the Russian combatant from the Street Fighter games, but if I had to choose one, I'd go with the American Haggar for his sheer bad-assery.

Dante: With the shift from the PlayStation and N64 to the Xbox, PS2, and GameCube, game designers finally had the horse power to create some really flashy action games. And none were flashier than Devil May Cry and its sequels. DMC had some of the most stylized, visually pleasing action of any game of the generation. Accordingly, Dante, the series' protagonist, would be ideal for MvC3. His twin pistols, swords, and interchangeable fighting styles give him versatility. His ability to change into demon form gives him some potentially crazy special attacks. And his red trench coat, black boots, and white hair give him a fashionable flair that simply can't be matched. Here's hoping he wears a shirt under that trench coat, lest he be just a bit too flashy.
 

Vote for Poposaurus in the Blogger's Choice Awards!

Hooray!

Poposaurus has been nominated (by someone...) in the Best Pop Culture Blog category of the 2010 Blogger's Choice Awards! If you like the content you see here, please follow the link below and vote for Poposaurus. For those of you who vote, Poposaurus will love you forever. For those of you who don't, well, let's just say you should start sleeping with the lights on. Here's the link:

http://bloggerschoiceawards.com/blogs/show/92409

Thanks,
The Spot

3,000 Hits!

Gonna keep on tryin' till I reach the higher ground...

Reader's Editorial , vol. 3: South Park's 200th Episode (by Ace)

[The following article was submitted by one of our faithful readers: Ace. If you are interested in submitting your own article, click here for more information about our weekly reader's editorial. Enjoy!]
 
Last Wednesday night at ten o’clock, just like it has for over ten years, South Park aired on Comedy Central. But this time, South Park aired their 200th episode, the fifth of the 14th season, and quite possibly one of the best episodes of the series. Since the beginning of the 14th season, Comedy Central, Trey Parker, and Matt Stone (the show’s creators, writers, and voices) have been making much ado about this episode. The pair divulged a few months ago that the 200th episode would revisit various celebrities that South Park had taken shots at, a mainstay of the show since its inception. I always felt that South Park as a social satire had really developed in the show’s later seasons, so this was apropos of their second centennial. I suppose this was the reason I was so blown away by the 200th episode, because it wasn’t just a show about the various celebrities it has taken shots at, but it was a colossal love letter to the show’s most hardcore fans, and for that I thank them.

Before we get to what precisely made this one for the real fans, let’s talk for a minute about the celebrities. More and more frequently, South Park episodes focus on the absurdity of pop culture. For example, this season opened with an episode dedicated to recent celebrity sex scandals. But this is nothing new; from Kathy Lee Gifford to Mel Gibson to Britney Spears, nobody has been insulated from the Trey and Matt treatment. Of the hundreds of celebrities who made an appearance on the 200th episode, here are some of my favorites: Sally Struthers (absolutely loved her as Jabba the Hut in the Starvin Marvin in Space episode), Kanye West (seeing him in the green fishdicks suit was great), George Lucas (complete with Indiana Jones being raped), Hill-Dog (who, presumably, still has a snuke in her snizz), Russell Crowe (I’m glad he’s back and ready to fight some cancer), and plenty more. I also loved the inclusion of new celebrities, like Tim Burton, who according to Trey (and myself) hasn’t had an original thought since Beetlejuice and should just make love to Johnny Depp already. To be honest, however, I got a little tired of the Tom Cruise being a fudgepacker routine. We got it the first time you called him a fudgepacker, and that scene could have been trimmed down a bit.

I also love that they tested Comedy Central yet again with the Muhammad issue, this time pointing out the hypocrisy of it all by referencing the Super Best Friends episode, in which Muhammad appeared. It’s almost like Trey and Matt were like, “Come on, it’s our 200th episode, you can’t say no this time! And we already showed him! Come on!” They were quick to point out the absurdity of the whole situation with lines like, “When it comes to Muhammad, Jesus doesn’t matter,” and displaying Buddha doing drugs, where Jesus’ only reprimand was not to do it in front of kids. So, we learned Muhammad in the back of a U-haul is fine, but walking around in knight’s armor isn’t. And speaking of the Super Best Friends, I loved the return of Moses, who I wish still required macaroni pictures.

Okay, with all that out of the way, let’s talk about why I adored this episode. First and foremost, Mitch f-ing Connor. His brief cameo at the end of the already hilarious “Fat Butt and Pancake Head” is possibly one of my favorite moments in South Park history. Mitch Connor is the embodiment of Cartman’s insanity and criminal genius. When Cartman throws his voice, and starts talking about skipping towns as a con-man, I lose it. We all thought Connor bit the dust after he took that Cyanide pill with dramatic thoughts of whether or not he would dream (as Cartman waved his hand as if to shake himself of the possession). But I guess Trey and Matt got us, kind of.

Second, the Gingers. I knew South Park was going on the offensive against the gingers all over again after they released a video poking fun of the “angry ginger kid” viral videos during the off-season. Previews for this season included a shot of Cartman in full ginger costume mimicking his ridiculousness. I’m not sure if that is going to be part of the second part of the episode, if that ever comes to be at all. Still, great to see the Gingers back at the Airport Hilton, plotting their takeover. Huzzah!

Third, Mecha-Streisand. In an episode full of celebrity returns, it wouldn’t be complete without the return of Bar-bu-ra. This was relevant in two ways. Primarily, Streisand is perhaps the biggest foe of Matt and Trey. The original Mecha-Streisand episode was one of the first shots fired at Hollywood from South Park. Her name is even uttered in the South park movie as the worst curse word you could say, used to unleash Cartman’s V-chip fury and defeat Satan’s army. Also, the 5 story tall robot-zilla is used here as a demonstration of how far the show’s animation has come since its inception. Since Season 10, the show has looked absolutely phenomenal, and uses some serious computer technology that they don’t often get to show off. Here’s hoping we also see the return of Robert Smith from "The Cure" to once again help take down the mechanized beast.

As for the actual story, the final two happenings of the episode were HUGE. First, Mr. Hat made his return to the show, paying homage to the show’s beginnings. I always wondered if Mr. Hat would find his way back to Garrison’s hand. I wanted Hat to return, not because I thought Mr. Hat was hilarious, frankly I think Garrison has become much funnier since he dropped Mr. Hat, but because it’s a nod to people who have watched every episode religiously. The fact the Mr. Hat and Mitch Connor did time together back in Saigon had me rolling.

The granddaddy of them all, however, has to be regarding Eric Cartman’s father. All this time, we were led to believe that his mother was a hermaphrodite and was actually both his mother and his father. This is canonical, and the fact that they are brining this up is epic. I must have been close to 11 years old when my local cable network finally picked up Comedy Central. Before that, I was relegated to listening to .wav files of a very different sounding Cartman shouting that he was big boned, and not fat. “Cartman’s Mom is a Dirty Slut” was the first episode I ever saw, and from that moment I have been hooked. To go back and revisit that classic plot line is almost like Trey Parker saying, “thanks for watching, budday.”

One big question remains: will there be a part two? Who knows. If I had to bet, I would say that next week would be a Terrence and Phillip episode, followed by part two to close the first part of the season (for all of you who don’t know, “Not Without My Anus”, a T and P episode, followed the original “Cartman’s Mom is a Dirty Slut” before airing the much anticipated conclusion). And who is it? I’d say either Dr. Mephisto, who hasn’t been seen in quite some time, Chef a.k.a. Darth Chef, playing into the Star Wars theme, or Gerald Broflovski. While Cartman does sort of resemble Mephisto, Gerald as Cartman’s father would make him Kyle’s brother, and Jewish (sort of), which would make for some hilarious moments. Still, I’m putting money on the return of Chef. Playing into the theme of celebrities returning, brining Chef back would allow Trey and Matt to make amends with the deceased Isaacs Hayes, who played Chef on the series for years before quitting after some artistic disagreements. Chef had always been the town’s voice of reason, and his return could save the town one more time. But really, in the end and in our hearts, we all know Cartman’s father was the 1989 Denver Broncos.

HBO's Treme: Two Perspectives

As some of you may know (and all of you should know), the new HBO show Treme, created by the same team who brought us The Wire, debuted last Sunday. Critics have been raving ever since (87% on Metacritic after 30 reviews), so I thought it was appropriate to give this important and impressive piece of television it's due respect here on Poposaurus. And in an attempt to really do the show justice, I have enlisted the help of a close friend of mine who is a native NOLA resident (and a talented wordsmith, if I do say so myself) to supplement the article with his own reactions to the show, which stand to be quite different from mine as I am a born-and-raised yankee. Below, you will find both of our reviews of Treme (first his, then mine). I think the similarities and differences between our reactions will prove rather interesting.

Treme: A Careful Depiction of the City Care Forgot
By FatFat McWhoDat

As a born and raised native son to New Orleans, words fail to describe the complexity of emotions I feel when considering Katrina and the months thereafter. The water line in my home was only a few feet above the floor; nevertheless my family lost half of our house to mold. Therefore, the period of time in which HBO's new series Treme begins isn't exactly a favorite memory for myself or anyone affected by Katrina. At the very least, its a difficult topic to discuss and even more painful to see played out on screen.  However, Treme approaches the subject with poignancy and deft, exploring the melancholic subjects of mass destruction, civic tragedy and personal loss with enough respect as to incite interested conversation instead of grief.  Moreover, the show provides an overwhelmingly accurate slice-of-life portrayal of New Orleans culture through the eyes of its inhabitants. Treme's attempt to capture the essence of daily life in New Orleans is undoubtedly the most authentic representation achieved through mass media in recent memory.

Treme certainly hit upon a few phrases one would hear everywhere in New Orleans after the flood: "how's your house?," "how much water did yall get?" and one that always had more gravity for myself: "drop you where exactly?" All of these questions sought deep, complicated responses, and one of the characters responded in typical fashion, suited perfectly with the right blend of anger and courtesy to steer the conversation elsewhere, "don't ask me about my f*ing house." Although bits of the show seemed contrived, fetishized New Orleans catchphrases- perhaps of the canon Steve Zahn refers to- i.e., "Red beans and rice? and it aint even monday!" Wendall Pierce's surprised interjection is something you'd never hear down here. You'd also never see a Mardi Gras Indian walking alone in the middle of the night 3 months after Katrina, for two reasons at least: he wouldn't be able to put the suit on without help and the national guard would have arrested him on the spot for violating curfew. However, the scene made for some beautiful imagery, didn't it?

While it'd be easy to sit here from my balcony on Constantinople Street, listening to the St. Charles streetcar rumbling down the avenue on a pristine spring morning and chastise the mundane, misplaced elements of Vaughn's (The Abita Jockomo IPA Sign, for instance), I'd much rather instruct y'all as to what Treme got right, or as close to right as anyone could expect. For all of its music, nothing pleased me more than seeing Rebirth Brass Band playing "I feel like funkin it up" with second line revelers dancing on cars, buying beer from coolers, singing along under the overpass at North Claiborne and I-10, and enjoying life in whatever manner suited them best at that single moment. This scene was a true masterpiece, not only in the technicality of its production, but also in the accuracy with which it depicts the New Orleans Second Line tradition. Second Lines are singularly amazing elements of New Orleans culture, and I urge everyone to experience one. Furthermore, Kermit Ruffins is a real New Orleans trumpet player, who has really been playing here for decades and he really does have WHO DAT tattooed on his chest. His music is spectacular, and I saw him perform last weekend at French Quarter Fest. When Steve Zahn says, "America needs it some Kermit," he's 100% right. This guy should be nationally regarded as a world-class musician. Lastly on Kermit, he really is high all the time and loves to bbq.

Finally, I'd like to discuss my favorite character on the show, played my New Orleans local John Goodman. His rant about "a federal F up of epic proportions" is par for the course down here. Outside of New Orleans and the Gulf South, people know the events of late August and September 2005 as "Katrina." But when you're down here, it's called "Katrina and the Federal Flood." I could write books talking about this one (I've already done a research paper in college), but I'll try to keep my thoughts here short and to the point. John Goodman is based off of Ashley Morris, a Tulane Professor and blogger who became a pop culture figure head with his incredibly defiant works about the aftermath of Katrina. John Goodman's explanation about what happened during Katrina and who is responsible for those events, he was almost speaking verbatim what Ashley Morris wrote years ago, and what New Orleanians in general hold to be true- (not because we were the victims and need someone to blame, but because we saw this coming decades ago after Betsy in 1965 and this is where I stop myself to keep from writing too much).

In conclusion: Yes, Treme is pretty much as good as it gets when putting New Orleans on TV, but no its not perfect. In the tradition of The Wire, the show's novelistic approach will allow complex plot lines to unfold throughout the season, aided by a group of stellar actors and scenes authentic enough that you should believe them to be true. However a single fact remains when trying to express the Jewel of the South in any medium of art: The only way to experience New Orleans is to come down for yourselves and see what we're all about. Jazzfest is only 2 weeks away, and guess what: You're all invited.

An Outsider's Take on HBO's Treme
By The Spot

Going into HBO's Treme, I was equal parts excited and wary. I was excited because I had recently started watching The Wire for the first time, and after discovering what an amazing show that was, I was happy to have the chance to start from the beginning with a new show by the same talented team. I was wary, however, because I knew that there was a strong chance that my yankee blood would remove me so far from the subject matter that I simply wouldn't be able to relate on a level that would allow me to properly enjoy the show. You see, before the show's announcement, I had never heard of the area of NOLA known as Treme. In fact, up until the day before the show aired, I didn't even know how to pronounce it (which I discovered in a rather embarrassing moment; apparently, it's French). And when I sat down to watch the series premiere, I felt a lot like an outsider looking in, much like the geek who gets paired with the three jocks to work on a group project in English class. And while my fears ended up being justified and I didn't quite wrap my head around everything I was seeing, I was still able to enjoy Treme for the marvelous show that it is.

In truth, if you didn't grow up in NOLA and/or aren't very familiar with the music, culture, and history of the city, some things are bound to go over your head. For example, most likely, you wont recognize all of the featured musicians, you wont appreciate the significance of the songs being played, you wont really understand the importance of the "Second Lines," and you definitely wont know what a Mardis Gras Indian is. But let me make one thing very clear: while being familiar with all of these different things may bolster your overall enjoyment of Treme, there is still a lot to like about the show even if you are unfamiliar (like yours truly). Most importantly, as is to be expected from the creators of The Wire, the characters and their dialogue are truly fantastic. Everything has a gritty realism to it that is lost in many other shows. The characters speak exactly as their real world counterparts do. They don't always say exactly what they are thinking or describe what they see going on around them to push the story along, but instead converse just like real people do. As such, the characterization in Treme is absolutely top notch, as the viewer learns who each individual character is by simply watching them be themselves, instead of through clunky exposition dialogue.

Of course, any show attempting to capture the emotional trauma suffered by victims of Hurricane Katrina must walk a fine line between realistic emotion and melodrama. Luckily, Treme hits the nail on the head in this department (at least, in my opinion). While it is clear that every character has been effected in a large way by the flooding (Ladonna's lost brother, Batiste's financial woes, Albert's trouble rebuilding his home, Janette's difficulty keeping her restaurant afloat), the show never depicts them as run-down, broken spirits. It is this strong will that makes them all so endearing and relatable, even to someone like me who is unfamiliar with what exactly they are going through. That is not to say that Treme does not have its fair share of emotional moments. The first time Albert steps into his old home is an emotional moment I remember particularly well, as is Creighton's interview with the British press. In short, Treme strikes a great emotional balance, showing just enough drama without beating the viewer over the head with it.

Adding to the show's realism is its implementation of music. In the series premiere, every single bit of music heard by the viewer was happening in real time around the characters. In other words, short of one brief montage moment, the audience is hearing the music exactly as the characters onscreen are, whether it is being performed by one of the many featured musicians or it is trickling out of a radio in the background. It is an effective method that further submerges the viewer into the realistic world created by Treme. Also, there are a lot of moment during the show where helicopters can be heard in the background; another nice realistic touch which I appreciated as a constant reminder of the tragedy surrounding the onscreen action.

If I could register one complaint against Treme, it is that, so far, there hasn't really been a lot of plot development. I know, it's only been one episode, and here's hoping that this changes in the coming episodes, but not a lot "happened" in the first episode. A good show is one that leaves you on the edge of your seat for the next episode, thinking to yourself, "I can't wait to see what happens to X," and, "I wonder where Y went and if Z is going to find out." The Wire was notorious for leaving viewers cringing for relief in the periods between episodes, and after the first episode of Treme, I am intrigued, but I am not enveloped by the potential of next week's installments. In truth, such a complaint is hard to validate seeing as how we are only one episode deep, but I sincerely hope that Treme develops some gripping story lines to compliment its fantastic characters or I may find my interest waning in the coming weeks.

But regardless of this gripe, and regardless of my unfamiliarity with a lot of the subject matter and many of the references, I still enjoyed Treme for what it is to me: great television. And while I can't attest to whether it is particularly authentic or faithful to NOLA residents, I can assure you that it is a fantastically scripted and acted TV show with some of the most realistic characters you'll find on the small screen today.

NEWS FLASH: A New Home for Coco

Attention all Conan fans! The Jolly Red Giant has finally found a place for his late night talk show! TBS has offered Conan the 11pm time slot in the their weekday lineup, pushing back George Lopez's late show to the midnight spot. However, because Conan would not go down the same path that's Leno did, he refused to accept the deal until Lopez himself called Conan and offered him the spot (apparently, George was pretty keen on the idea of having Conan as a lead-in. I agree). A true gentleman and a scholar. Conan's new show is slated to start in November, will run for one hour, and will air Monday-Thursday (one day less than Letterman and Leno's shows). For more information about the deal, see the links below:

http://tv.ign.com/articles/108/1083096p1.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1224691820100412
http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2010/04/12/conan-obrien-heads-to-tbs/
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/conan-obrien-will-do-a-late-night-show-on-tbs/?src=busln

May-flowers: the Five Movies to See in the Month of May

So it has come to my attention that, out of all the topics we cover on this blog, we have a severe dearth of content about movies, perhaps the most influential and artistic piece of the pop culture. I think this is because theaters are just so damn expensive these days. The last movie I saw in theaters was How to Train your Dragon, and the entire experience, including the ticket price and food (because let's be honest, anyone who sees a movie without simultaneously stuffing their faces is doing it all wrong), was definitely upwards of $40. $40 for 2-3 hours of entertainment? Pretty steep if you ask me, especially considering that with most cable plans, for around $100 a month, you can get an unlimited amount of television to watch (well, 720 hours of it if you watch for 24 every day for 30 days). Sure, you can argue that you aren't really watching a movie unless you're in the theater with the huge screen and booming surround sound (and, nowadays, the 3D glasses). But I simply can't afford to go often enough to see all the flicks the pique my interest.

However, with the summer months coming, there are a lot of high profile flicks getting me excited to get back to the screening rooms. April has some heavy hitters, including Clash of the Titans, Date Night, and Kick-Ass, which are on my radar. But it's the month of May when things really get rolling. As such, I've decided to pick the five movies coming out in the month of May that have me really excited and are poised to impress critics and fans alike. So pop some popcorn, tear open some Milk Duds, splurge for the large soda (it's only 25 cents more, after all), and prepare yourself for a look into the near-future of cinema.

Iron Man 2 (May 7th): So let's get one thing straight. If you have yet to see the first Iron Man, you are stupid. Not mistaken, not misinformed; if you still haven't seen Iron Man, you are, with out a doubt, dumber than every single person who has. Ok, maybe not. But regardless of whether you are familiar with the comic book or not, Iron Man was a fantastic movie featuring one of Robert Downey Jr.'s most natural and lovable performances. And the sequel is set to be everything the first movie was and more. With Tony Stark out of the Iron  Man closet, he stands to face heat from all angles. The military will be pressuring him to turn over the Iron Man armor for mass production, while new villains Whiplash (played by the terrifying to look at Mickey Rourke) and industry competitor Justin Hammer will seek to crush the hot headed Stark into scrap metal. Luckily, he'll have some help, as recent trailers show Iron Man fighting alongside long-time buddy Jame Rhodes who will be donning some armor as War Machine. Major babe power will be present as well, with Gwyneth Paltrow reprising her role as Pepper Potts and always sexy Scarlett Johansson starring as S.H.I.E.L.D. super-spy Black Widow. Needless to say, this will be one wild ride not worth missing.

Robin Hood (May 14th): Take 1 part Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1996) and 2 parts Gladiator, multiply them and divide by Mel Brooks' Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and you have a pretty good idea of what this new take on an old medieval legend will be like when it hits the big screen. Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russel Crowe, Robin Hood stands to be the newest entry in a long line of successes this pair has had working together, including the aforementioned Gladiator, as well as Body of Lies and American Gangster. The story is familiar: Robin, after returning home from the Crusades, finds that England is facing incredible amount of tyranny and oppression at the hands of King John and his Sheriff of Nottingham. However, Crowe's Robin stands to be a much gruffer, militant leader than usually depicted, who uses intelligence and strategy over charm and wit to thwart his enemies. I have a few concerns, though. The first is that Cate Blanchett will be paying Robin's love interest Lady Marian. While a great actress and beautiful in her own right, I fear I may find myself longing for the (then) younger and much bustier Amy Yasbeck from Men in Tights. Also, this film started development as a new take on the legend, depicting a heroic Nottingham played by Crowe. This premise was dropped after Crowe dissented, which may mean this film ends up a bit disjointed and quick-scripted. Regardless, this new Robin Hood should be a gritty, action-packed romp through medieval England that will hopefully please fans of both Gladiator and the Robin Hood mythos.

MacGruber (May 21st): MacGruber! Pepsi pepsi pepsi pepsi pepsi pepsi pepsi! MacGruber! Pepsi pepsi pepsi! MacGruber!! Yes, well, for those of you who don't know, MacGruber is a character from an oft-recurring skit on SNL as well as those hilarious Pepsi commercials that ran during the Super Bowl. And in May, Will Forte will be donning his mullet wig once more to reprise the character on the big screen. Now, we all know that SNL-to-movie translations are extremely hit-or-miss (compare Wayne's World and Austin Powers with Corky Romano and Coneheads to get a good idea of what I mean). But the early buzz surrounding MacGruber is that it is actually pretty darn funny (rocking a solid 100% on Rotten Tomatoes after 6 reviews). Not only will Kristen Wiig be reprising her role from the show, but they will be joined by Ryan Phillippe, who will play MacGruber's straight-laced new partner. But the icing on the cake comes in the form of Val Kilmer as the humorous villain Dieter Von Cunth (apparently, the H is silent). While I'm sure the film pulls more than its fair share of punches, as long as it delivers a brand of ludicrous action-comedy similar to the first Austing Powers, I will be a happy little theater-goer

Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time (May 28th): Video game movie adaptations are generally not the best films. Actually, they pretty much all suck. Big time. From Street Fighter to Mortal Kombat to Super Mario Bros. to Hitman to Max Payne and even the Resident Evil series (which has somehow seen two sequels with one more currently in production), no movie based on a video game has been able to capture the true magic and spirit of the strong source material. However, this all is (hopefully) about to change with the release of Prince of Persia. First of all, this is the first video game adaptation to proceed with direct influence from the game's original designer (here, Ubisoft's Jordan Mechner). Second, the film has some very legitimate actors behind the wheel, including Jake Gyllenhaal as the titular prince, Sir Ben Kingsley as the villainous Nizam, and Alfred Molina as the Prince's mentor Sheik Amar. Third, the storyline is pulled straight out of what is without a doubt the best game in the Prince of Persia series: the identically titled Sands of Time (92% on Metacritic). Finally, this ain't no low budge affair, but instead a huge Jerry Bruckheimer and Disney project in the same vane as the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Needless to say, as a movie enthusiast, I am excited, and as a video game nerd, I am nearly foaming at the mouth.

Get Him to the Greek (June 4th): If you are like me, you absolutely, positively, 100% fell in love with Forgetting Sarah Marshall the first time you saw it, and hold that movie in higher regard than any other Judd Apatow flick. And now, perhaps the funniest character in that movie--the completely absurd Aldous Snow (played by British comedian Russell Brand)--is back and crazier than ever in Get Him to the Greek. Jonah Hill plays a young intern at a record company who is tasked with transporting Snow safely and soundly to a performance at the Greek Theater in LA. Of course, with Snow's constant sexual debauchery and rock-and-roll lifestyle, this is no simple task, and many funny and vulgar road blocks stand in the way. But as funny as this premise is on its own, the early buzz surrounding the flick is about Sean "Diddy" Comb's character Sergio Roma, a high powered record executive who, apparently, is absolutely hilarious. Plus, with the same director as Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Nicholas Stoller), what can really go wrong? [Ok, so this isn't technically a "May-flower," but it's pretty darn close and I think it's definitely worth your time, so get over it. ;)]

Honorable Mentions:
-Shrek Forever After (May 21st)
-Babies (May 7th)