This exciting video I found is my most favorite fight scene from a YouTube series called Super Mario Bros. Z, where Mario, Luigi, Sonic, and Shadow fight four caped Koopa Troopas in a high flying battle that only the Powerpuff Girls could match up to. Enjoy.
Aug 282010
Aug 272010
Masters of the Universe (Keepcase)
Some recognizable actors include a young Courtney Cox and the late Billy Barty who has played some interesting roles in several old fantasy films of the 80s. Gwildor was definitely one of them.
I liked this movie, but it had some disappointments. First off we never see Prince Adam change into He-Man. It would’ve made a great effect for the big screen. What also could’ve made this movie better is if it had included characters like Orko, Ram Man, or Trap Jaw. However, Beast Man (Tony Carroll) sure looked cool along with Evil-Lynn (Meg Foster) who has more of a intergalactic warrior edge to her wicked sorceress image.
Aug 252010
Now this is a more unique take on the classic superhero. Batman Beyond, Seasons 1-3 (DC Comics Classic Collection)
The new and improved Batman has new gadgets like wings and rocket boots to help him fly, stealth capabilities, and super strength within the suit. Not to mention that Bruce can monitor everything and keep in contact from the bat cave.
Since all of Batman’s original archenemies are either dead or middle-aged, Terry ends up finding new archenemies to fight. Such as; Inque a shape-shifting blob of a woman, Spellbinder an intelligent creator of illusions, Blight a man with radioactive skin, the Royal Flush Gang a family of mobsters dressed like playing cards, and others.
Of course Batman Beyond doesn’t change everything from the original versions. One of Gotham City’s biggest street gangs is known as the Jokerz. The punks all dress as clowns with attitudes. As for Bruce Wayne’s other old comrades, Dick Grayson had left Gotham City awhile back and Barbara Gordon has become the new commissioner, which is a little helpful.
There was also a movie based on the series called Batman Beyond – Return of the Joker
Star Wars star Mark Hamill was the voice of the Joker on this movie and Batman the Animated Series. I met him at Star Wars Celebration V 2010.
Despite that the story lines can be dark sometimes, this was a great series. But what really makes Batman Beyond such a great show was the background music during the fight scenes. Hard rock and battles are an excellent mixture.
Aug 232010
The Castle of Cagliostro (Lupin the III)
While fixing a flat tire, Lupin and Jigen find Clarice, a bride on the run from mobsters. For the thrill of the excitement, Lupin and Jigen go after them and rescue Clarice. Lupin just can’t resist a lovely damsel in distress, but she gets captured again.
Lupin has some very crafty skills with agility and gadgets, much like a superhero. Or is he a super villain? It’s hard to tell because he’s on the wrong side of the law, but isn’t dangerous to others.
The character was also featured on the series Lupin the 3rd and was voiced by Tony Oliver, who I met at Anime Festival Orlando 2010. It was bit unclear to me, so I asked Tony if he was the voice of Lupin on this movie as well. It turns out that it was Bob Holt. There were three actors who played the role in the Lupin franchise, Tony Oliver, Bob Holt, and Sonny Strait, who was also at Anime Festival Orlando 2010. Tony liked his version the best.
Lupin and Jigen soon find out who Clarice is and soon get more than what they bargained for. She is the unwilling fiancée of the Count of Cagliostro and the boss behind the fake money. Things really get exciting when the Count’s henchmen, who are ninjas with sharp metal gloves and bulletproof bodies, attack Lupin and Jigen.
After escaping, Lupin and Jigen sneak into the castle to rescue Clarice. They slip by all sorts of traps throughout the place. Lupin even climbs a tower with his bare hands before using any of his grapplers. Then Lupin slips from a rooftop, but uses it to gain speed and jump a long distance. That’s incredible. Makes you wonder how he does in track and field.
Lupin soon falls into a trap door with a lot of corpses hanging down as well as a pile of bones at the bottom in the catacombs. “Must be previous uninvited visitors.” That sure is a lot of them. There’s hardly any walking space in that spooky area.
It soon becomes a war zone at the castle after Lupin and Jigen crash the Count’s wedding in another attempt to rescue Clarice. The Count and Lupin even have a duel within the clock tower. It’s real smooth how they both maneuver with all of those moving gears.
This was an exciting film with a good story line. I still wonder where Lupin learned his amazing skills, even if he is only an animated character.
Aug 202010
Yeah, like me.
What makes a great villain? Usually it’s a wickedly tough adversary that the hero(s) must go up against in order to protect the innocent. In many superhero stories, there are usually quite a few different archenemies. Each of them is colorful in their own way.
Let’s take Batman for example. He fights criminals all over Gotham City, but the only villains who are most popular are the colorful ones, such as Joker, Penguin, Cat Woman, Riddler, etc. because they stick out from the rest as much as the superhero.
Dick Tracy is another perfect example. The criminals he fights all have various quirks, which they are named after, like Mumbles, Flat Top, Prune Face, Itchy, etc. I’ll tell ya, if it wasn’t for that, Dick Tracy would never have made it as an icon, no matter how heroic he was.
From an artistic perspective, a great villain is an enemy who is not only colorful, but is evenly matched to the hero. That way it appears more like a 50/50 chance on who will come out on top.
I have here a top five list of my most favorite match-ups that help explain my point.
#5) He-Man vs. Skeletor from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Skeletor’s motive is simple, he wants to rule the world. He-Man is the only one who can stop him and maintain peace in Eternia. It sounds a little one-sided at first, but now I understand that it’s merely a power struggle between the strongest beings representing good and evil.
#4) Obi-Won Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) vs. Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) from Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith: These two Jedi warriors used to be partners. With the seduction of Darth Sidous and unfair treatment of the Jedi counsel, Anakin had completely turned rogue. That soon led to their exciting one on one battle, but what was really touching was when after Obi-Won won the fight, he still felt devastated from Anakin’s betrayal just as any mentor would feel if their protégé turns on them.
#3) John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone) vs. Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) from Demolition Man: The motives for these two need no introduction, cop vs. convict. However, the relationship goes deeper when Phoenix gets Spartan arrested with him. The battle scenes between them became more intense when Phoenix develops some new combat skills, which challenges Spartan even more.
#2) Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) vs. Faith (Eliza Dushku) from Buffy the Vampire Slayer: These two are both slayers and used to be friends. Although Faith was troubled to begin with, her reason for turning rogue was different. She wanted to live on the wild side and be free, but Buffy knows better. That soon caused some friction between them as to how the slaying should be done. On the other hand, don’t you just love a good cat fight?
#1) Xena (Lucy Lawless) vs. Callisto (Hudson Leick) from Xena: Warrior Princess: Let’s certainly not forget this classic match-up. Years ago when Xena was evil, she conquered Callisto’s home village and killed her family. That drove her to become more like Xena in every way possible while vowing revenge. Callisto had definitely succeeded, even from beyond the grave, if you know what I mean. As beautiful as she was, it’s really Callisto’s psychotic persona that makes her a favorite of mine.
Basically a good villain is one who is worthy of the title. Whether it’s personal grudges or being consumed by a dark power, villains have goals, but it’s their evil intent that gives them bad karma, which is also enjoyable to watch at times.
