Eagle-eyed readers might have noticed that this column took its first break in over a week. That’s only because the weekends have less news and announcements to cover, and we sort of burned through a lot of cool stuff in the first few columns, so we needed a refractory period to sort of build back up.
Eagle-eyed readers might also have noticed rodents out in that field, because what good are the eyes of an eagle if you can’t spot lunch? Squirrel! Squirrel! Squirrel!
Anyway, here’s some stuff.
BATMAN RETURNS! AS TOYS!
One thing that did happen this past weekend was WonderCon in Anaheim. Here are some cosplayers, if that’s your thing. Movie studios and comic book companies are still gearing up for Comic-Con in San Diego, but there was also stuff worth reporting at WonderCon.
For example, McFarlane Toys announced a ton of new figures. Most relevant to me personally was a line based on 1992’s BATMAN RETURNS. You’ve got Michael Keaton as Batman, Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, Danny De Vito as The Penguin, and Christopher Walken as Max Schreck. Also those gigantic penguins from the big finale will be there. Pretty sure this is the first figure modeled after Christopher Walken since SLEEPY HOLLOW in 1999. I don’t have high-quality pictures of the Batman figures yet, so let’s look at Christopher Walken as The Horseman.
By the way… as long as we are celebrating him… Happy birthday Christopher Walken! Here’s to 82 glorious years and to many more!
‘90s CON!
Another convention happened this weekend: ‘90s Con, which was officially 90s Con, but since I’m a copy editor at heart, I insist on adding that damn apostrophe. I kind of wish I’d known ahead of time that this was happening. Not sure I would have gone, but probably might have considered it. They had most of the casts of the first couple SCREAM movies, and a few other cool actors who really deserve more than the limiting designation of “actors from the 1990s.” It happened in Hartford, which for me is a hike, but still relatively doable. I’ve schlepped up there for HorrorFest the last two Septembers. Want to see pictures?
ZACK SNYDER’S NEXT MOVIE…
The internet’s most debated filmmaker has announced he is partnering with the UFC to direct BRAWLER, about a young fighter making his way in the UFC. I’m not a hater, not exactly. I’ve liked some of his movies. I don’t think he’s untalented, but I also realize I had to use a double-negative rather than saying anything enthusiastic. I just don’t see this guy as worthy of the devotion he receives from some of the most obnoxious fans in the world. He’s fine, I guess. But that’s it. Now, as far as the recurring critique of Snyder’s films as fascist, I’m not ready to co-sign that assessment, but I will absolutely say that hitching one’s wagon to Dana White and his UFC is THE ABSOLUTE WORST way to dispel accusations of fascist tendencies.
BILL MURRAY IS BACK!
Bill Murray can be reclusive. He can also be everywhere, as he seems to be lately, celebrating Saturday Night Live, promoting RIFF RAFF, promoting THE FRIEND. Mixed bag, but THE FRIEND has a big dog and Naomi Watts, so that one wins.
THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES!
Here’s the trailer for the upcoming episode. Nothing but the usual perfection. Got to savor the last few episodes as they arrive.
THE NASTIEST JOKER EVER GETS A FIGURE…
The Killing Joke is generally agreed-upon to be one of the great Joker stories. Written by Alan Moore and drawn by Brian Bolland, this story shows the Joker at his most monstrous and also at his weakest. Mainly the monstrous, though. Characters like The Joker are generally less interesting the more you learn about them, as 2019’s JOKER proved. One reason why Heath Ledger’s Joker was so compelling was in how he kept teasing at various origin stories for how he became what he was, though it was apparent that we couldn’t trust any of them. In The Killing Joke, The Joker has no name, just an unlucky comedian whose sad life finally becomes too much. Again, the 2019 movie took this notion as gospel, but it gave him a name. In my own opinion, and you can have your own, The Joker’s anonymity is more troubling. He could be anyone. He could be everyone. He’s American society’s cruelest impulses, and it’s funny to him. Sound like anybody you can’t escape? Sometimes the evil clown makes it all the way to the White House.
As much as I admire The Killing Joke, I don’t want an action figure of this version of the character. That’s like inviting an evil into my home. But it looks great! Just as if it stepped off the pages of Brian Bolland’s crisp, expressive, immaculate artwork. He still does covers, by the way, but it’s rare to get sequential artwork from Bolland these days. In case you’ve never read The Killing Joke before, do it. Then explore Alan Moore’s work beyond. It gets more interesting from there!
L.A. WITCH!
I dig this band, and I really dig their new video for the song “Icicle.” I’m pretty sure you will too, being on a site called Daily Grindhouse and all.
- [THE BIG QUESTION] WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE ENSEMBLE IN MOVIES? - July 22, 2016
- [IN THEATERS NOW] THE BOY (2016) - January 24, 2016
- Cult Movie Mania Releases Lucio Fulci Limited Edition VHS Sets - January 5, 2016
Tags: Action Figures, Alan Moore, Batman, bill murray, Brian Bolland, Christopher Walken, Columns, daily grindhouse, DC Comics, Jon Abrams, L.A. Witch, McFarlane Toys, music, Music Videos, Ronny Chieng, Suicide Squeeze Records, The Joker, Toys
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