Mr. Mxyzptlk

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Posts posted by Mr. Mxyzptlk

  2. DCAU Talk

    in Comic Book Adaptations

    Posted

    as most people believe its in continuity.

    Actually I doubt that's true. Mike and James are the only people I've heard who believe it's in continuity. The biggest DCAU fan base at Toonzone pretty much unanimously agrees that it's not in continuity.

    And the DCAU is awesome. I'm currently doing a blog that compiles a whole bunch of reviews I've written for it. It's in my signature.

    On the topic of 'Far From Home', am I the only one who thought that that was one of the most poorly developed romances ever in a cartoon series?

  4. Episode 33

    in World's Finest Podcast

    Posted

    Pre-Episode Banter

    -About time, for some reason the wait for this podcast felt a lot longer than the wait for the last one.

    -Man, sorry to hear that James, good about your raise though.

    -'The Dark Knight'...Gah that was such an amazing movie. So glad you guys liked. I too thought that this was the best Joker I've ever seen, probably better than even Mark Hamill.

    -That must have been horrible holding that in for the last half hour.

    -Oh yeah James, I'm in Atlanta too and I was pretty upset about all the sold out I-MAX showings.

    -This is definitely going to be one Earth-2.net the Show that I'll have to see.

    E-Mails

    -Mike I love your voice when talking about your possible downloading.

    -I terribly disagree about 'Gotham Knight'. I still think it's great. And I thought that 'Deadshot' had a good bit of depth to it too.

    -I disagree tons about the sidekicks. 'Mask of the Phantasm' didn't have Robin; you don't need Robin in a Batman movie. And it doesn't really need to be funny either.

    -Yeah, everyone hates Bale's Batman voice. But I really don't mind it; he has to disguise his voice somehow.

    -I have to agree with Mike about how it takes away from Superman to have other Kryptonians around.

    -Mike, your laugh's creeping me out.

    Episodes

    Little Big Head Man- Wow, I'm surprised how boring a Mr. Mxyzptlk/Bizarro team-up episode can be. The animation is the worst in all S:TAS, using Jade studios, the same studio as 'The Terrible Trio'. Some parts are fun, but it's really just one really long fight scene.

    -I agree a whole lot about your 'Simpsons' analogy.

    -I agree that there were funny parts too, especially Mxy's little video.

    -Yeah, it was a different voice for Gsptisnz, Sandra Bernhard to Jennifer Hale. Never mind, James got it.

    -Ha, super grenade deflecting powers.

    -Yeah, Mike is dead on about the animation. It was the same studio that did 'The Terrible Trio'. It was really stiff.

    Critters- Very infamous episode, but I don't particularly mind it. Farmer Brown was a badass and a lot of the backgrounds were super cool. And the music was AWESOME. I know you guys are going to hate it, just like everyone else.

    -Mike, your summary was so so great.

    -I'm looking forward to this a whole lot.

    -Yeah, the designs for the monsters are one of the highlights. My personal favorite is the cows.

    -I didn't notice that either about the BBQ sauce factory workers.

    -Whoa Mike, how could you have never seen this episode before? That's super weird.

    -Oh yeah, I love when Bruce Wayne plays dumb.

    Absolute Power- I hate this episode. The whole fascist thing has been done FAR too much in the DCAU. Come on, how many times can they do the same story? Darkseid, Mongul, 'Warrior Queen', etc. And why did they feel the need to bring Jax-Ur and Mala back? The only good part is the big action climax with the black hole.

    -I can't even remember this one that well, but I'm loving your rants.

    -I thought both Jax-Ur and Mala episodes were equally terrible.

    -Yeah, maybe this is Sinestro's home planet.

    -I remember her name: Katma Tui.

    -Man, I never noticed how horrible Superman is in this episode. For shame.

    Cult of the Cat- One of the better Catwoman episodes out there. This episode was incredibly bland, but it wasn't really terrible and I liked a lot of the action. I'm especially glad there was no crazy animal rights nonsense in this one either.

    -Yeah, I definitely agree with you. It's not good at all, but it's far better than the rest (except for 'In Brightest Day', which is awesome).

    -I actually read something interesting about how criminals don't want to unmask him because it would diminish the prize. Once you've unmasked him, he's just a man and not a legend, so no one really cares at that point. And besides, maybe the cult doesn't really care about him anyway.

    -I actually don't think she ever comes back. 'Chemistry' is Poison Ivy. I love the 'Chase Me' short though.

    -Glad that's over, time for 'In Brightest Day'!

    In Brightest Day- I love this episode. It's not deep or anything and it sort of just a generic action fest, but this one brings back such great memories, not to mention what it adds to the DCAU. I love this one to death.

    -Agreed about Kyle Rayner being the best choice for the job.

    -Oh yeah, that Gil Kane artwork was excellent.

    -James, you are so lucky for getting to see the 'Great Brain Robbery'. Sad that it's going to be near the end of WFP. So sad.

    -Agreed about the Green Lantern oath. Love that you put it on par with the 'Pulp Fiction' speech.

    -Wow, you've submitted stuff to DC? Cool.

    -I love watching Kyle make anything with his ring, as opposed to John Stewart just sticking to generic shields and blasts.

    -I liked Superman making that face. I just thought it was annoyance at someone trying to force the Green Lantern mantle on him.

    Scores

    Little Big Head Man- You: 3 and 4 / Me: 4

    Critters- You: 2 and 3 / Me: 6

    Absolute Power- You: 3 / Me: 3

    Cult of the Cat- You: 5 / Me: 6

    In Brightest Day- You: 8 / Me: 8.5

    Can't wait for the next episode.

  5. The Dark Knight

    in Comic Book Adaptations

    Posted

    I don't know about anyone else, but I really want to see the Ventriloquist pop up at some point in this series. By the way, the movie's even better the third time you watch it. Just got back from seeing it yet again. I could easily settle for a few more viewings.

    I would love to see him also, but how do you portray him without making him look stupid?

    Well, he'd be just a regular guy in a suit with a creepy looking dummy. I think they could pull it off.

    Oh yeah, someone made the claim that Mr. Reese might become the Riddler because his name sounds oddly like 'mysteries' (as opposed to Edward Nygma). Interesting idea, but I'm not sure.

  6. The Dark Knight

    in Comic Book Adaptations

    Posted

    I don't know about anyone else, but I really want to see the Ventriloquist pop up at some point in this series. By the way, the movie's even better the third time you watch it. Just got back from seeing it yet again. I could easily settle for a few more viewings.

  13. My 'Gotham Knight' Review

    in Members' Columns and Reviews

    Posted

    This movie seems to get a lot of mixed reactions by reviewers. Some love the anthological take and the variety of segments, while others would have preferred a more coherent tale. Some loved the artwork, while others found it unfitting for the Dark Knight. Some watched the film without thinking about the Nolan-verse, whereas others viewed it with the expectations that it be everything the producers said it would be. This is my personal take; in it I will try to address why I enjoyed it and why I can't accept many of the flaws people find with it.

    'Have I Got A Story For You'

    This seems to be the segment that people hated the most. They point out many things, like the irritating dialogue of the skaters, the oddly proportioned character designs, and the fact that the story had been done before in a sense. Before I get into what I loved about this segment, I will address each of these points. First of all, I agree about the dialogue of the skater kids. It was definitely overdone in its attempt to come across as a ghetto dialect, and it was really quite distracting. However, that was the one thing about this story that I disliked. Secondly, the character designs are simply the way the artist chose to visually tell the story; it's his personal style. You may not like his personal style, but it's hardly a valid objective criticism. Additionally, as odd as the designs were, the allowed for very fluid and sleek animation. Finally, the story is not a rip-off of any sort of 'Legends of the Dark Knight'. I have read that the writer had not even seen that episode when he penned this, taking more of his inspiration from a comic done in the '70s. Even without that taken into consideration, it's worth noting that there are some very fundamental differences between this story and the story told in 'The New Batman Adventures'. The most important is that 'Legends of the Dark Knight' is supposed to be an homage to different comic book eras, meant to convey how different writers and artists have portrayed him throughout the years and why no interpretation is any better or worse than another. 'Have I Got A Story For You' was more in tune with the 'Batman: the Animated Series' episode 'P.O.V.' (but better in what it aimed to do), in that it shows how Batman's entire being is subject to how others see him, very much a story of perspective.

    Personally, I felt this was a very strong segment. It wasn't meant to be taken seriously, rather as lighthearted fun. It starts off the film perfectly, as it begins an evolution of sorts, as the Batman in each segment progresses from mythical, to distant, to ultimately up-close and introspective by the end of the movie. While this segment lacked much depth or profundity, it was still a visual feast. The fight scenes were beautiful, as was the background art, and even if I agreed with every criticism I refuted earlier, the incredible animation would have been enough compensation for me. The detail is staggering and there are so many instances of distortion and excellent timing that I add so much to the excitement of this segment. For those who are used to the dark seriousness of prior Batman incarnations, 'Have I Got A Story For You' is definitely a bit hard to swallow at first, but for anyone who loves good fun and amazing animated action, this story is a definite winner.

    Grade: A-

    'Crossfire'

    A nice contrast to 'Have I Got A Story For You', this segment takes a more cinematic approach. It's a lot more low-key, a lot more tense, and a lot more focused on character interplay than on visual excitement. This is one of my least favorite stories in the film, but I still enjoy it. I find myself agreeing with a lot of the criticisms that others have pointed out. One is that the dialogue isn't particularly strong between Allen and Ramirez. While, I think there are some sharp lines here and there, it's mostly a rehash of platitudes concerning Batman's role as either a well-intentioned protector or an outlaw vigilante. However, the cinematography, loose shreds of continuity from the first segment (Jacob Feeley being the man in black we saw Batman fight in 'Have I Got A Story For You'), and most notably the eerie music, keep it entertaining. Additionally, the mention of the Narrows and the fact that the entire island has become sanctioned off for all of the lunatics we saw running around at the end of 'Batman Begins' is a notable tie-in to the first Nolan film. Hopefully, most people know as well that Crispus Allen and Anna Ramirez are scheduled to appear in 'The Dark Knight'.

    The story picks up when the two detectives get caught up in a gun fight between two mob bosses, Sal Maroni and the Russian. While the gun fight is rather poorly executed, it's neat to see Maroni in action (yet another thread that connects to 'The Dark Knight'). The segment really gets good when Batman intervenes. While the animation in this segment is a lot stiffer, the moment in which Allen flies up, his leg bound by Batman's grapple, is very well directed and animated, a sequence that works very effectively in the context of the story. The Batman in this segment is the dark mysterious Batman that most of us love. From his very presence emanates darkness, fear, and a great badass quality. His quickness in taking down the thugs juxtaposed with the awe in the eyes of Ramirez does a great job of showing just how epic Batman is as he works. Finally, the image of Batman standing, fire all around him is beautiful. While there are some nit-picks that Batman's suit shouldn't withstand the flames, I don't take issue with it in the least. Bruce Timm has stated many times that he produced this film with the intention that the Japanese directors do their own interpretations. If the man who directed this segment felt the need to sacrifice a little bit of realism for a stunning visual, I'm certainly not one to argue.

    As Batman apprehends Maroni, who has just threatened Ramirez's life, we are treated with a glorious instance of everything that makes Batman an awesome hero: his almost demonic quickness in stopping Maroni, his powerful voice as delivered by Kevin Conroy in the words 'No, you won't', and his sheer dark visual look as he stares down Maroni, now cowering in fear. The segment definitely starts out slow, but it builds to a beautiful climax that serves to show us a perfect embodiment of what we all love about the Dark Knight.

    Grade: B+

    'Field Test'

    There is only one thing that hurts this segment: the animation. It is stiff, there is limited movement, and the action lacks much impact. This is the one criticism about this segment that I agree with. I don't agree with the attacks on this segment's character designs or Batman's choice to use the bullet-deflecting device. As for the former complaint, even though this is the most generically anime of all the pieces, it is still very fitting. The pretty-boy Bruce Wayne design is perfect for the suave young Bruce of this story and the rest of the character designs, lighting, and backgrounds, are all beautiful. Now, in regards to the bullet-deflecting device, people complain that it makes Batman too powerful and not vulnerable like he should be. Now even though saying that there is any way that Batman 'should be' is completely foolish, this criticism doesn't hold any water anyway. It's worth noting that Bruce Wayne is young in this segment; he obviously doesn't have the moral fortitude of his later more experience self, and anything that could help him better fight crime would surely be welcomed. Secondly, by the end of the segment, Bruce quits using the device, which should appease everyone who didn't like it. It's a rather nice message and I'll go into it a bit more later.

    This segment is great for its abundance of continuity references. The mob fight subplot continues, the satellite mentioned in 'Crossfire' is seen again, Lucius Fox's and Bruce Wayne's relationship continues to progress along the same lines as it began in 'Batman Begins', and Marshall's introduction is a great setup to what we find out in 'Deadshot' later on. The episode builds slowly to a climactic payoff, just like 'Crossfire', although it is better executed here. Instead of cramming the entire first half with repetitive back-and-forths, we get a bit more variety here. It starts off with some good scenes between Lucius and Bruce, and then goes on to show us Bruce's conversation with Roger Marshall, a corrupt businessman, at a golf game. All throughout these conversational scenes, the dialogue is a lot crisper and more natural than it was in the first two segments, which is a huge plus. As the segment progresses, it arrives at the big action-packed finale. The reason 'Crossfire' doesn't work as well is that it was more of a two-act structure, whereas 'Field Test' flows much better in adopting the three-act structure of most stories.

    The segment ends as one of the thugs he is fighting in his takedown of Maroni and the Russian ends up getting shot by one of the bullets that reflected off of Batman's magnetically generated field. Batman feels guilty and as a result takes the man to the hospital. This is great because it shows a more flawed side of the character, an aspect I personally felt was missing a lot in 'Batman Begins'. It shows Batman undergoing a moral dilemma. In saving himself, he endangered another life. The story ends beautifully as Bruce returns the device with a very poignant line.

    Grade: A-

    'In Darkness Dwells'

    This segment really didn't have much of a point outside of being a dark old-fashioned Batman adventure. It's one of my favorite segments in the entire movie for many reasons. The first is that it was written with the Nolan films very much in mind. There is a more emphasis on the established realism of 'Batman Begins'. We see what happened to Scarecrow after the events at the end of the first film, and while not everyone liked what happened to the Scarecrow and complained that he didn't feel like the same character that we saw in 'Begins', I thought it was fitting. Having been a pawn of Ras Al Ghul in that movie, it seems natural that he would take his chance to be a controller, especially given all of the escaped criminals that were exposed to his fear toxin. Secondly, I loved seeing Batman and Gordon together. Their conversation flowed very well, and it really did feel like the relationship from the comics. The ending in which Batman refuses to be helped by Gordon is an excellent counterpoint to the trust they seem to have in each other earlier in the story.

    All this is well and good, but what I really loved about this segment is the visuals and the animation. No segment looks as beautiful as this one does. The opening shot of this is too good to be put into words. I'll just say that it is the best that I have ever seen Gotham City look in all my years as a Batman fan. The rain and the shadows are animated flawlessly and they add a perfect visual atmosphere to the piece. People who hated the look of this film I find hard to take seriously as there is absolutely nothing anyone can find fault in at a visual level here. I suppose that the lip-synching was pretty rough here, but that's not really the fault of the animation so much as it is the fault of the voice actors. The high animation quality continues as Batman enters the sewers. The fight with Killer Croc, however brief, is stunning. The camera shaking, the model consistency throughout, the attention to detail in the setting that surrounds them; it all looks amazing. The real highlights come as Batman descends into the Scarecrow's lair to save the kidnapped cardinal. The color scheme is rich and the animation utilizes all sorts of timing and distortion techniques. I especially love the bent foreshortening of the pipe that Batman scrapes his gauntlets against just before knocking out Scarecrow. It's all excellent and I have yet to see anyone constructively criticize anything about the look of this segment.

    While the plot may be a little thin, I think the sharp dialogue compensates for it. There is a plethora of good one-liners to be found throughout and there's not one line that feels out of place. It really seems to carry on in the same vein of 'Field Test' in regard to the writing. It's not the most profound story (that one is yet to come), but visually, I'm not sure that there is a single segment that tops it, even 'Deadshot'.

    Grade: A

    'Working Through Pain'

    This is my favorite segment. I have yet to read any real criticisms of this segment aside from the confusion that the same wound that Batman is tending here is the same one he received in 'In Darkness Dwells', when in reality he had gotten shot at the beginning of the story, and that of the ending, which some people didn't understand. One review I read criticized some of the dialogue, but I really thought that this was the best written story. It had a beginning, a middle, and an end, and it really did a lot to explore Batman's tortured self. I haven't read much of Brian Azarello's works, but I found his interview very interesting, in which he said that he doesn't consider Batman a hero, more a messed up guy trying to compensate for his past. Azarello's vision really comes through in 'Working Through Pain', which is perhaps the most profound and most emotionally affecting segment of the film.

    The episode more or less spends its majority constructing a parallel between Bruce's striving to overcome physical pain and his ultimate inability to control his emotional pain. As revealed in flashback, in seeking spiritual guidance on pain, Bruce had sought Cassandra, an Indian mystic. She taught him everything he needed to know about fighting pain on a physical level, but as she found out herself at the end of their training, he could not control the pain rooted deep inside of his persona, as that is what drives him and motivates him to do what he does. This is a great point made in the flashback, but it gets complemented perfectly by the ending of the segment. As Batman wanders through the sewers, he stumbles on an area covered in abandoned guns. Knowing full well that anyone could use these to hurt others and also undergoing certain mental anguish, Batman begins picking them up one by one, until he is holding a good pile. This scene hits home because it immediately follows Cassandra's speech about how Batman is driven by pain, and therefore this pile of guns not only makes sense as something Batman would do, but also as a visual metaphor for his being weighted down by the pain of his past.

    The really enjoy the artwork in this segment. It's a lot less stylistic than the rest of the segments. The designs are very ordinary with very pale color schemes, but they animate beautifully. There aren't many effects in the animation, rather the fight scenes are solely dependent on its fluidity, and it work wonderfully. Unlike the rest of the segments, the visuals and the story are equally great, and this is the only segment that doesn't have a single flaw.

    Grade: A+

    'Deadshot'

    This segment seems to be everyone's favorite and for good reason. It's a more traditional story: a simple Batman vs bad guy action-fest with nice underlying character themes relating to Batman's past. It sort of follows 'Working Through the Pain' in the sense that it deals primarily with Batman and his relationship to guns. However, while Batman in the last segment was very vulnerable and weak, here he has authority and everything about him feels firmly established. The main point of the segment is that Batman's quest is rooted in the death of his parents and that every villain he fights bears semblance to the man who took their life. In setting up Deadshot as a mirror image to Batman, the story sets up this idea perfectly and it concludes on an almost touching note.

    It begins with Batman pondering the death of his parents, which directly precedes a soliloquy he gives on the attraction of guns. It's surprising, yet it makes perfect sense and feels natural. Batman in his abstinence from using guns surely must know what makes them appealing to those he fights. This is juxtaposed perfectly with the gun-wielding and flamboyantly dressed Deadshot, who skillfully assassinates an unknown target, offering the perfect contrast to Batman. From there the episode ties a lot of continuity together from prior segments. We see that Crispus Allen now trusts Batman, that Deadshot is under the Russian's employ, and that Roger Marshall had hired him to kill the activist from 'Field Test'. This gives the segment a lot more weight than most. We are also treated to perhaps Batman's most familiar design in the film, the costume he dons very reminiscent of his usual comic book attire.

    The main crux of the episode, however, is the action as Batman confronts Deadshot. The animation, by Madhouse (the same studio that animated 'In Darkness Dwells'), is great although I personally found some scenes rather stiff. Anyway, each time I have watched this particular story, I have found myself blown away by the staging and direction and how seamlessly the action flows. Most directors would no doubt find it tough to stage a scene in which an assassin is preparing to shoot a target from a moving elevated train, only to get thwarted by a gliding Batman, who finds his way on top of the train to engage in the climactic fight. Here, it's pulled off effortlessly. The actual fight is great, consisting of gunshots, batarangs, and skillful maneuvers. The impact of the final blow is deafening, concluding one the best, if not the best, confrontations in the entire movie.

    This final fight is given more depth, however, in that Bruce tells Alfred, ever the paternal figure in Bruce's life, about how similar the fight felt to the night of his parents' murder, everything from the closeness of the walls to the gunshots. As Bruce finishes by stating that his mission is inherently futile, Alfred ends the film on a provocative note with the curious notion that perhaps Bruce has a greater purpose than what he currently strives for. Before things get too deep, the movie closes with the Bat-Signal, visible through the window of Wayne Manor.

    Grade: A

    Overall, I loved this movie. Anything that shows alternate interpretations of Batman is great, and this movie offered six unique versions of my favorite comic book character. I know that a lot of people didn't like that there wasn't more to bridge the gap between the two Nolan films, but looking at it as its own film, it really is great stuff and very worthy of Batman.

    Final Grade: A

  14. Batman: Gotham Knight review (SPOILERS)

    in Members' Columns and Reviews

    Posted

    The first segment is called "Have I Got a Story for You". And boy was it terrible. First of all, it's a complete rip-off of "Legends of the Dark Knight" from Gotham Knights. Only with the cool factor replaced with a suck factor. It starts in an indoor skate park, with some kid doing a little late-night skateboarding. Hey, what’s a little B&E in Gotham City? Anyway, it turns out he's been waiting for his gang of friends, who are late because they each had a run in with (DUN DUN DUH!) the Batman.

    It wasn't a rip-off of 'LOTDK', it was an homage to an old Batman comic done in the '70s. The writer hadn't even seen that episode.

    And, uh, what anime cliches are there? I sure didn't notice any.

    Additionally, how is Bruce letting Lucius know that he's Batman a continuity flaw in the least? It was more or less implied in 'Begins' that Lucius picked up on the fact that Bruce was Batman.

    Also, too many of your complaints concern the Nolan-verse. Even though the film was advertised as a bridge, that was really just a marketing ploy. It was obvious that the writers tried to sneak in a few references, but the fact that Batman and his design are constantly changing is supposed to be the point of film, to show off the different directors' interpretations, and you have to keep in mind that they obviously weren't trying to mirror Nolan's films.

    Also, for 'Working Through Pain', you didn't really list any of the apparent plot holes that caused you to grant the story a 5/10. You only listed the body armor thing and that was about it.

  18. Episode 32

    in World's Finest Podcast

    Posted

    -For some reason I feel that Bane breaking Batman's back might have been just too brutal, even though I do remember there was a good spine cracking in 'Legends of the Dark Knight'.

    Batman breaks the Mutant leader's leg, not his spine.

    Really? I always thought it was his spine. I guess I have to go reread TDKR again. Still pretty brutal though.

    -I love the ending! I don't think it was rushed at all. I never thought of that ending as having anything to do with Gordon's keeping it a secret as a way to help the both of them were she to get caught. I thought Gordon was just subtly and sweetly telling Barbara that he approves, pure and simple.

    Jim outright says that he can't "approve or even acknowledge" Barbara's "new job."

    Yeah, I suppose you're right, I just never picked up on it, really.

    Mean Seasons- You: 0 and / Me: 8 (come on James, as the animation buff, I thought you'd at least give that to the episode)

    I gave it a two.

    Oops, better put that in there.

  19. Episode 32

    in World's Finest Podcast

    Posted

    Pre-Episode Banter

    -Looking forward to the 'Cowboy Bebop' video. Easily my favorite anime series.

    -Ha, I love the story about your cruise. I remember playing handheld games a lot on important site-seeing trips.

    E-Mails

    -I love hearing about people getting their families into the DCAU. Even though it's sad, I think it's great that the boy had such an emotional reaction to 'Growing Pains'.

    -I agree about Jax-Ur and Mala; I really can't stand them.

    -I never got that the Riddler was bald in TNBA.

    -Okay I don't know if anyone remembers, but in 'Pretty Poison', on Isely's ID, it shows that Gotham City is in New York. So yeah, I don't think that it's in New Jersey, at least in the animated universe.

    -I personally hate all of those Marvel animated series. Give me 'The Spectacular Spider-Man' any day.

    Episodes

    The Ultimate Thrill- I haven't seen it in a while, but I remember it being fairly enjoyable. I also recall some pretty good animation. And yeah, the ending is awesome.

    -I knew you would go crazy about the ending and sexual innuendo.

    -I never noticed how many times Batman decided to save antiques instead of chasing villains; pretty strange.

    New Kids in Town- I enjoy watching Clark as a teenager again. Brainiac seems to pop up quite a bit near the end of the series. He also seems to die a whole lot.

    -Okay, he should be invulnerable to shotgun bullets, but it's still an awesome scene I think.

    -I don't know, I think it's easy to accept that it's easy for Brainiac to constantly be resurfacing.

    -Perhaps, Brainiac doesn't want to destroy the world that early on because so much knowledge that he's gained throughout the years wouldn't exist, so perhaps Brainiac was more content with killing Superman so he could finish the job in the future, where more knowledge has existed for a longer period of time.

    Over the Edge- Yeah, I already know that you guys are going to gush all over this one. I personally think it's slightly overrated. The flashback within a dream sequence just seems a bit weird and out of place. And the animation was INCREDIBLE.

    -Yep, here we go, I knew y'all would love this.

    -This is way better than 'Old Wounds' though, but I actually prefer 'Growing Pains'.

    -I think that Batman was so apathetic because the mission is more or less over. He indirectly caused Batgirl's death and betrayed Gordon's trust. Everything is ruined, so yeah, I don't think it's because of Barbara, it's because he failed.

    -Well, Joker more than likely would not kill Batman if it was for Gordon's benefit. Sorry, but Joker doesn't fight. Bane fights, hence it's so much cooler watching Bane and Batman duke it out. I pretty much agree with James.

    -For some reason I feel that Bane breaking Batman's back might have been just too brutal, even though I do remember there was a good spine cracking in 'Legends of the Dark Knight'.

    -That's a great point about Bane's size.

    -That's also a neat point about 'Apokalips...Now!' and 'Over the Edge'.

    -I love the ending! I don't think it was rushed at all. I never thought of that ending as having anything to do with Gordon's keeping it a secret as a way to help the both of them were she to get caught. I thought Gordon was just subtly and sweetly telling Barbara that he approves, pure and simple.

    -I don't think Batman was there at all, but I love the jokes y'all are making.

    -I didn't notice any animation flaws at all.

    -Interesting that the episode was edited in the UK. It must have been hard to rework the music so that it flowed properly.

    -Thank you for pointing out the fact that it's so nonlinear.

    -Yeah, I remember being so shocked at this as a kid.

    -That's actually a great point about their costumes.

    -My question is why would Barbara keep all this information on her computer? Why does she feel compelled to keep all of this info on a computer easily accessible by her father?

    Obsession- Doesn't live up to 'Fun and Games' at all, but it's still pretty creepy and I enjoy it well enough. I'm still going to love hearing you tear it to shreds.

    -That's actually a good point, although I suppose that Superman can't just let Toyman die if he can help it. But yeah, robots don't matter, except for Red Tornado.

    -It is interesting though that Toyman never really did commit any crime.

    -I don't remember the rope scene at all though.

    -I have never seen that 'Static Shock' but I don't really care to at all.

    -It can't be Toyman in the case because that would mean he's dead, even though he comes back later.

    -Yeah, I thought the same thing about the life gauge.

    -What? You guys don't like 'Mean Seasons'?! For shame.

    Mean Seasons- Great stuff. I love the animation and I really like the satirical jabs too. The villain isn't terribly scary, but the ending is creepy. Dinosaur fight rocks.

    -Okay, you guys have a lot of great nitpicks and stuff, but still, the great animation makes up for it for me.

    -The TV shows were great! They were great spoofs of modern television.

    -Wasn't the dinosaur just part of some set for a television show being filmed? That's where I thought it came from.

    -I didn't notice the Baby-Doll parallels.

    Scores

    The Ultimate Thrill- You: 7 / Me: 6

    New Kids in Town- You: 6 and 7 / Me: 7

    Over the Edge- You: 8 and 10 / Me: 9.5

    Obsession- You: 2 and 3 / Me: 6

    Mean Seasons- You: 0 and 2 / Me: 8 (come on James, as the animation buff, I thought you'd at least give that to the episode)

    Next week doesn't seem to have many stellar episodes I'm sad to say.

  23. Episode 31

    in World's Finest Podcast

    Posted

    I love the B:TAS design. I don't think he needs to literally embody the fictional Mad Hatter, because that would probably seem a bit too coincidental. I think his design has the right amount of awkwardness and expressiveness and it was always a favorite of mine.

  24. NERD WAR!

    in Banter

    Posted

    AVGN for me. He does rely on profanity, but the humor that comes from how bad the games are is genuine, and his rants do often complement what happens in the games nicely. He really hasn't used that much profanity lately and does a great job at making fun of what goes on onscreen in a snide mean-spirited way. Also, I love the theme music and how fast-paced his videos are. That Guy is interesting to watch, but he's not as funny.