It’s time once again for another installment of The Big Movie Mouth Off, starring Jeff Vice from MSN and Jimmy Martin from SLUG Magazine (and both are regular panelists on The Geek Show Podcast)

You can friend the show on Facebook here.

These are available exclusively on Comcast On Demand in Utah.  They are produced and directed by Bryan Young (myself) and Elias Pate both from Big Shiny Robot! and ShineBox Media Productions.

Starting next week, we’ll also be launching a joint Big Shiny Robot! and Big Movie Mouth-Off mini-podcast that will appear weekly featuring the boys, myself and Elias Pate.

Without further delay, let’s get to the reviews:

First we have the buddy comedy “Due Date”:

Then we have the John Lennon biopic:

And finally, our extra special review of Megamind:

In a recent interview with MTV, Eckhart revealed that he knows for a fact that Two-Face will not be returning for The Dark Knight Rises (I told you all he was actually dead!). You can check out the video of the interview at the link above, but here’s what Eckhart had to say:

“Chris and I had a meeting, on the beach, just the two of us,” Eckhart told MTV News at the red carpet premiere of his new film, “Rabbit Hole.” “I said, ‘Chris, a lot of people are asking me if I’m in the next ‘Batman.’ And Chris said, ‘Yes?’ I said, ‘Am I?’ He looked at me and he said, ‘No.'”

“We found ourselves alone on the beach together on a stormy day and he delivered the news to me,” said Eckhart. “I was heartbroken. But Chris has his reasons and my life must go on.”

“Honestly, it was Heath’s movie to go on,” he added. “We had a great movie. I’m so honored to be a part of that movie. I know Chris has got something in store that is going to blow everybody away.”

So there you have it Two-Face fans! Dent will not be returning for revenge on Batman or anything of the sort for the third installment – but, where that many of you really expecting him to? . . .

Last year, Joe Shchrieber took the Star Wars expanded universe by surprise with the publication of Death Troopers (you can read my review of that here).  It introduced zombies into the world of Star Wars in a very fun way.  It was set between Episode III and IV and featured Han and Chewie as main protagonists.

As his Star Wars follow-up to that book, Schreiber has taken the zombies from a galaxy far, far away into the time of the Old Republic (which is also the setting of the new Star Wars MMORPG).  Red Harvest tells the tale of a zombie outbreak on a far flung snow planet home to a Sith academy.  What could be more terrifying than zombies with lightsabers and force abilities?

While some of you are rolling your eyes at this conceit, I assure you, Schreiber has done his job to make it sensible.  Darth Scrabrous is seeking the path to immortality and is experimenting in his dark castle with various scientific and Force based formulas.  He’s unlocked the key to it, but needs a precious black orchid which is force sensitive on it’s own.  In fact, it is tied through the force to a young Jedi named Hestizo Trace who serves in the Jedi Agricultural Corps.  She and the Orchid are abducted from a far flung planet by a Whiphid Bounty Hunter (Tulkh, who was a very cool character) and brought to Scabrous for him to complete his dangerous concoction.

Basically, all hell breaks loose from there and every single character, from the Sith students to the Jedi are forced to fend for themselves.

To be honest, I was wary of this book at the start.  I like my Sith in pairs and when there are more than two, I get bored.  They’re so predictable in their arrogance and power-seeking that I really couldn’t care less to read about them.  Schreiber does quite a bit to allay those concerns and keeps those interactions minimal, focusing instead on the tight pacing and deft work at setting the atmosphere.  Scabrous and his tower remind me of the typical Dr. Frankenstein, toiling away on his creation in some stony castle, only to take things too far.  It’s a very effective and unsettling scenario, and normally I’d dismiss it as derivative, but Schreiber handles it like a master.

This is a splendid survival horror book and where others would work too hard to fold in the mechanics of the outbreak into the story, Schreiber makes it vital and interesting.  We care about the orchid and what’s been done to it, the orchid is very much a character.  We also care about its keeper, Hestizo.  We care about the Bounty Hunter.  We even care about members of the Sith academy.  It works very well for this story.

At times I was on the edge of my seat, other times I was repulsed by the pitch perfect blood and gore of the story.  This was a very careful and effective mix of Gothic horror, survival thriller, and Star Wars.  Overall, I was generally impressed, though I didn’t think it was as good as Death Troopers.  In fact, recognizable characters was what I thought was missing from this book.  Han and Chewie put Death Troopers over the top for me, and I hope with Schreiber’s next entry into the Star Wars Horror genre, we’ll get characters like them back.  And maybe something other than zombies.

You can preorder the book here. It’s scheduled for release on December 28.

Big Shiny Robot! has a weekly column in the Salt Lake City alt-weekly IN Magazine and every week we bring it to you on the site.

If you live in the greater Salt Lake area, you can pick up a copy of IN Magazine up from one of their ubiquitous newsstands, and we would highly suggest that you do.

You can read the online version of the story here.

This week, we get you into the buying spirit and tell you that you should be buying local comics from local stores. Though this applies pretty locally to Salt Lake City, the principle is the same where ever you live. (And in passing, might we suggest taking a peek at the Big Shiny Store? Lots of good stuff there for Christmas.)

We got a bonus this week: A look at the next episode of Clone Wars after Friday’s, which happens to be scheduled to air early next year.

I’m having a hard time containing my excitement about this arc of episodes. Between the Nightsisters and Savage Oppress… I’m just giddy.

The single line from the press release:

January 2011 will begin with a bang as Count Dooku seeks to eliminate his own apprentice — and Ventress does not take kindly to the attempt on her life.

This is from the last episode of Clone Wars for 2010, airing Friday.

This clip looks like a great mash-up of the speeder chase in Attack of the Clones and the speeder bike chase in Return of the Jedi and I really can’t wait to see it in context.

Now if only Padme’s hair reacted to the wind…

From the Press Release:

Senators Padmé Amidala, Bail Organa and Onaconda Farr attempt to rally the senate against a bill that would appropriate funds for millions of new clone troops – with disastrous financial consequences for the Republic. Their opposition to the measure, however, makes them targets for intimidation and attack. “Pursuit of Peace” is an all-new episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars – airing at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, December 3 on Cartoon Network.

Wait no longer, Tag Team Thursday is finally here! This week Shaz-Bot and Clobbet-Tron discuss Marineman #1.

C-T: Oh no! It’s Aquaman in a Miracleman outfit! Seriously though, I’ve loved Ian Churchill’s previous work on Superman, Supergirl, and Deadpool and the cover to this looks fantastic.

S-B: I am not as familiar with Churchill, though I have heard of him, I like the art style to be sure, cartoony, but not cartoonish, if you catch my meaning.

WHAT”S NOT TO LOVE ABOUT THIS?

C-T: I was hoping for action right from the start, instead we get a 3 page prologue that starts with 18 huge dialogue balloons.

S-B: Yeah, that was really off-putting. I was like, “Hello, wall of text!” Once I hunkered down and read it though, it flowed pretty well, like I was reading a segment on ESPN 3.

C-T: Well put. It’s always nice to get a little mystery in the prologue before the setup splash page. Steve Ocean isn’t the most creative name for an oceanographer, but he doesn’t seem to have much in common with Aquaman or Prince Namor either.

S-B: A lot of the names are water-based puns though, his buddy has the last name of Clearwater. It’s kind of refreshing to read a book that doesn’t take itself super seriously. Anyway, I agree he doesn’t really have too much in common with other water-based heroes. He doesn’t seem to have any powers, and is kind of like an underwater Steve Irwin. Speaking of, I know more about sharks than I ever did before, thanks to this comic.

SUPERPOWERS?

C-T: I was surprised at the amount of shark knowledge slipped in the aquarium scene as well. Despite the lack of powers there’s an element of heroism in his actions and the secrecy of his father hiding out in Marine Base Alpha only adds to the mystery.

Entering Marine Base Alpha

S-B: Yup. It started to get really intriguing there near the end…

C-T: I thought it ended quite abruptly however. Did you read the supplemental material? Sometimes the little things at the end of an issue really wrap it up for me and make the story a little more interesting, definitely the case here

S-B: Just when things were picking up, it’s like you hit a brick wall. I know you’re supposed to leave people wanting more, but wow, that was abrupt. As for the stuff in the back, that’s what convinced me to not just outright dismiss the book. I love hearing how a book came to be, and knowing that a creator puts his heart and soul into a project makes me want to support them.

C-T: I really enjoyed the artwork and thought the story flowed fairly well, I just hope it picks up in the next issue, which I plan to read.

S-B: I have a feeling it will pick up next issue, and I’m willing to pick it up to find out.

C-T: Yeah, I don’t feel like you have to work very hard to enjoy this one, you get what you put into it!

S-B: My bottom line is, if you’re willing to give it a shot, this book is definitely worth your time.

That’s a solid recommendation from this tag team, check out Ian Churchill’s Marine man #1 from Image Comics this week!

Today, Dec 1, is World AIDS Day, and in today’s musings I’m going to do two things I thought I’d never do:  say nice things about DC Comics, and say nice things about President George W. Bush.

But my dislike for DC is nowhere near my general distaste for Bush, so let me begin there. On World AIDS Day it is time to remember those we know who live with HIV/AIDS or have died from the tragedy that is AIDS—an important distinction since HIV is no longer a death sentence if you can get access to the life-extending medication.

But I don’t have a close personal friend or relative who is HIV positive or that I have lost to AIDS, but I feel like I do thanks to the world of comics.

Of those living with HIV or who have died from AIDS, the latter category includes Jim Wilson, a longtime friend of Bruce Banner and nephew of The Falcon, who died in Hulk #420 (Dec 1994).  Wilson is attacked by an angry mob protesting an HIV positive boy being ordered to be able to attend school, and his injuries are so severe (and that he had been covering for his poor condition to begin with) that he dies from complications of pneumonia. Wilson pleads with Banner to use some of his blood to cure him, but Banner is afraid of creating another monster and refuses.  In 1994, AIDS was a death sentence.

Amazingly, also in 1994, we were introduced to comics airtist/writer Judd Winick on MTV’s the Real World.  At the time, I though judd was cool but kind of boring (still do) and spent less time dealing with Puck and Pedro and more time thinking how cute Cory and Rachel were.  But Pedro’s death from AIDS inspired Winick’s graphic novel Pedro and Me, one of Winick’s most award-winning books.

It’s also hard to think about AIDS in the 90s without thinking of its fictional counterpart in comics: the Legacy Virus.  While an interesting plot device in the mid-to-late 90s, the Legacy Virus eventually transformed into a metaphor for AIDS.  And when one of my favorite X-men, Colossus, sacrificed himself in order to provide a cure for the world, I wept.

This was AIDS in the 90s.  A lot of heartache. A lot of death. HIV was a death sentence, and we desperately needed a cure, one which would likely require sacrifice in the meantime.

But in the last decade we saw the rise of something completely different.  Anti-retroviral drugs now meant that HIV could be controlled and corralled, so you could live with HIV, not die from AIDS.

Kevin Smith’s Green Arrow books took a big risk when he introduced a new Speedy, a new sidekick: but this one was a girl, and a former prostitute. Mia Dearden was also HIV positive.  And she could kick ass as well as anyone, not only playing sidekick to Green Arrow but also as a member of Teen Titans.

You might have also seen Mia in a few of last season’s Smallville episodes.  Although it’s funny to think of a hero having a sidekick when he’s only like 21 and she’s 17.  That’s barely sidekick.  But hot and kicking lots of ass regardless.

So way to be for DC comics of actually doing things that are interesting, socially relevant, and give me further emotional attachment to your properties.  See, I can say nice things about DC!!!

The point is, though all of this, I feel like I have friends who deal with issues of HIV and AIDS.  It’s obviously not the same heartache to actually lose a family member or friend or lover as it was to lose Colossus to the Legacy Virus.  There’s no patch on the AIDS quilt for him, nor should there be.

But this is the essence of what the artform of comics ought to be: to provide some pathos, some moral context, to introduce you to the unfamiliar and to understand the universal in all of us.

As for the real world, there’s work to be done. Antiretroviral drugs are lifesavers if they can be distributed. Great strides were made in dealing with the plague of AIDS in Africa, and much of the credit should go to someone I am loathe to give credit to: George W Bush. In an op-ed in the Washington Post he writes:

I firmly believe it has served American interests to help prevent the collapse of portions of the African continent. But this effort has done something more: It has demonstrated American character and beliefs. America is a certain kind of country, dedicated to the inherent and equal dignity of human lives. It is this ideal – rooted in faith and our founding – that gives purpose to our power. When we have a chance to do the right thing, we take it.

Steve Rogers couldn’t have said it better himself.

So while I think it’s probably not appropriate to “celebrate” World AIDS Day, I hope we can all reflect on how comics have increased our awareness, and celebrate characters like Speedy who live with HIV rather than die from AIDS.

There are a few other HIV positive characters from comics, tv, movies, and so forth.  Wikipedia has a good list I can recommend.

And because I don’t want to leave you too depressed, here is something to cheer you up: Conan O’Brien and the Walker: Texas Ranger lever’s single greatest scene ever:

“>watch?v=zo1kNGGEle0

Recently, I was invited as a member of BigShinyRobot to try the closed beta for the upcoming MMORPG, DC Universe Online. I’ve been enjoying it for about a week, but have been under a non-disclosure agreement. That’s been lifted today, so I am happy to share my impressions with all of you!

The bottom line is , I really like it, there are a few things that I hope are improved upon though. Some parts of character creation are kind of dicey. For instance, the hair options are very cluttered because hair and facial hair aren’t separate options. Another thing I would like is if you could actually use the established DC hero emblems, but from the forums it looks like those might be available as in game rewards. The naming conventions are kind of odd as well. Certain words don’t seem to be usable, which is the norm for vulgar or otherwise offensive words, but I actually didn’t seem to be able to use “bot”. My hero was going to be Shaz-Bot, but I had
to settle for Shazmotron, mashing my name along with Swank’s. On the other hand, when I finally made myself a villain, the system let me use Martian Deathhunter, so I don’t why they’d block some words and not others, especially ones so derivative.

One of the aspects of character creation I was looking forward to most was the ‘Inspired By’ system. If you want to emulate, or be inspired by a hero, you have that option. It gives you a similar power set and look to the hero or villain you choose for inspiration.  The designs they give you are pretty generic and the number of characters you can be ‘inspired by’ was lacking. With Shaz-bot, I based the design on Captain Marvel. I had to do all of the heavy lifting as it were myself though, because Cap wasn’t one of the heroes you could be inspired by. I was also a bit surprised that there aren’t any lightning-based powers, as that is kind of a superhero MMORPG staple.  I compromised and made my character shoot mystical energy instead. When I made the Martian Deathhunter on the other hand, I totally got to ape the Martian Manhunter’s look and power set. I just tweaked things a bit to make me look a bit more ‘evil’.

My character, before I added a cape and before I had to change my name.

Outside of character creation, my overall experience was positive. The actual gameplay is a nice mesh of a light action game and a traditional MMORPG. You have to take an active part in the battle, rather than just hitting a button and auto attacking.  This makes the fighting fun rather than tedious and is a great way to go about it. Comparing it to another hero MMORPG, It’s kind of a polar opposite from Champions Online, where the character creation is ridiculously robust, but the actual gameplay is lacking. Another thing I was wondering about is how the game’s interface would work, being on both PC and PlayStation 3. I am happy to say playing this game with a gamepad is smooth as silk. It’s obvious that the game was built to be played with one rather than as an afterthought. Now, I am a dyed in the wool DC fan, so I can’t say this without being biased, but if you let yourself, you can totally get caught up in the role playing aspect. I felt like I was a part of the DC Universe. I even came up with a backstory in my mind for both of the characters I’m playing.

The missions are really awesome. It seems the missions you are assigned are based on the origin you pick for yourself. As Shazmotron, I was picked a magic-based origin, so my missions revolved around fighting Faust for the first main story, and then a Trigon possessed Raven for the second. There are plenty more, I am sure, but for the beta I was level at 9. I haven’t progressed far enough to talk too much about the villain missions yet, but if they measure up to the hero missions, no matter what you decide to do in game, you’re bound to find something you enjoy.

When it comes to in-game environments, I started in Metropolis, but I didn’t really explore it much, I was mainly confined to Chinatown because of the way my missions went. I have yet travel around the city, but I know familiar areas like Suicide Slum. When I got Shazmotron to level 9, I added a new flight power that lets my move a lot faster and that makes exploring much more fun, and to do that, I traveled to Gotham. Gotham City is awesome. I went to the East End, found the  Bat-Signal, which really shines onto a far away cloud which was sweet. I found Arkham Asylum which was really cool too, I couldn’t find Wayne Manor, but I guess that’s supposed to be on the outskirts and I couldn’t leave the city in that way. There were invisible walls, which you would think would be disappointing, but the city is large enough that you won’t encounter any unless you’re deliberately exploring.

Speaking of large areas, the JLA watchtower is MASSIVE. There are 4 wings to it and they are quite extensive. There are familiar DCU Heroes all over it, and reminds me more of the JLU watchtower from the show rather than the original Morrison one. The villains get a Legion of Doom headquarters, but I haven’t been to it yet. In the attached gallery you can see screenshots of every hero I could find. I of course had to find Captain Marvel to prove to myself he was indeed even in the game, and he actually gets a cut scene in the Faust story.

Speaking of cutscenes, they are really something special. They aren’t CGI like the opening movie, but in my opinion, they are even better. It’s like an idealized version of a motion comic. They are very limited animation-wise, but they are so vivid and vibrant that they just kind of pop out at you. I assume it’s all Jim Lee art, but I can’t really tell as I am not terribly familiar with his DC work outside of the Batman side of things. And I certainly wouldn’t want to slight any of the fine people who’ve worked on this game.

I’ll admit that I didn’t play terribly much of the multiplayer content, but it’s a testament to the game that I didn’t really miss it all that much. What I did play very still very satisfying. I was able to play a 4 vs. 4 player vs. player arena. In the arenas, you can play as established DC characters. This arena we were limited to using Robin and Harley Quinn. It was very fast paced and fun, so much so, that I was too focused to actually take any screenshots of it! Later on, I was on a team task force type of multiplayer where we had a vast plain to fight back Brainiac’s opposing forces. It was a timed event, and I only got in at the tail end of it, but it was still very appealing. You have to use squad tactics, and communicate with your teammates, otherwise you’ll be lost! I look forward to more multiplayer gameplay once I dive back into the game.

So as not to gush too much, one thing I wanted to mention was the voice acting in the game. If you somehow find yourself playing the beta, I implore you not to be turned off by the voices. The game is in an early enough stage that the final voice work is not complete, and therefore placeholder voices are used, because the game does have rather extensive voice overs. This is not a knock on the game in any way, just an observation on the beta process.

All in all, when I judge a video game, there are obvious things that I look for, but above all it has to be fun. Trust me when I say: This game is very fun to play. Although I’ve been hyped for it since it was announced, I was kind of leery about it, because I didn’t want to play another “me too” MMORPG. After playing the beta for a week, those fears are completely gone. I decided right then and there to pre-order it. The hardest part was picking which store to go to, because every retailer has a different in game item![nggallery id=46]

If you’ve read recent issues of Amazing Spider-Man, you may have noticed yet another new goblin on the block. That’s right, there’s a new Hobgoblin ready to strike terror into the hearts of Spidey and his supporting cast, or so it seems. Those of us versed in Spider-Man lore, might have remembered that this particular Goblin has been known to throw a pumpkin bomb or two in the past as well. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, sit back and prepare yourself for the origin of Green Goblin the 4th, Phil Urich!

Oh yeah, did I mention this was published in the 90's?

This is one of those origins that are told in flashback, so we start with the above image, which is actually kind of menacing looking, to be honest. Anyway we open on the scene of a video store being ransacked by some thuggish looking youths. It turns out the reason they are hitting this particular establishment is that Phil, our “hero”, was recently kicked out of said store. He complained about it to a friend of his, who was one of these thuggish types. He decided to flip the store and sell the videos on the black market or something. That part isn’t all that important. The cops inevitably show up, and while Phil is on the scene, he doesn’t want to get thrown in with criminal types, as he actually is opposed to this revenge scheme or whatever it is. Trying to save his own skin, we see the first bit of young Mr. Urich’s character come to fore.

If Kidd Video is an intentional pop culture gag, way to be obscure.

So yeah, Phil throws the cops off the trail to save his own skin. Because of this, the “mastermind” behind the video heist, Ricko the Sicko (nice!) ends up liking the cut of Phil’s jib, so he gives him a cut of the take, which are VHS cassettes in this case. Phil gets dropped off at his loft, and he tosses the videos in the trash and crashes,

A new day dawns, and we find Phil at his job, interning at the Daily Bugle for his uncle, Ben Urich. Yes, this is another Spider-Origin with an Uncle Ben involved, just go with it. As we go on, Ben assigns Phil the task of researching some property Harry Osborn may have bought under a dummy corporation before he “died” (note: he’s not dead anymore. Comics!). Anyway, the two Urichs talk for a bit obout the Goblin legacy. You see, Ben is writing a book he’s calling ‘Dynasty of Evil’ about the Goblins/Osborns. Phil, ever the plucky (annoying) young lad, chimes in with his assessment:

Foreshadowing!

The next day, Phil returns with his assignment done, and Ben is very happy with it. Phil himself is kind of beside himself for being praised so highly. Ricko the Sicko praised him as well. I’m no psychoanalyst, but Phil may have some, as we say in the biz, “mental issues”. Ben tells Phil now that they know said property was indeed owned by Harry Osborn, he (Ben) must now go and check it out for Gobliny stuff. Phil offers a few words of discouragement, but Ben is determined, so they part ways.

Phil is still kind of high on life as he contemplates going to journalism school and how bright his future is. That train of thought is derailed when he comes across his friend who instigated the whole video store debacle from a couple of days ago. After a brief altercation, Phil brings up the whole Goblin work thing, and his “friends” ears perk up. We cut away to later on in the day, Ben is off to investigate Harry’s warehouse, and Phil gets a call from his thugbuddy and learns that Ricko has been informed about a possible Goblin stash, so they’re about to turn the place upside down. Phil, showing a modicum of backbone, gets his rear in gear and heads off as well, knowing his Uncle Ben may be there at the same time!

He gets there, and Ricko is ecstatic and offers Phil a majot cut of whatever is found. Proving that his moral compass doesn’t point to magnetic north, Phil is considering it, thinking the damage is done already, why not profit from it. Before he can answer, random thug 1 and 2 happen to find Ben Urich on the premises. Before he can be seen by his uncle, Phil ducks behind some crates. He struggles with his flight or fight response, wondering how he could possibly save Ben, when he finds the main circuit breaker! Under cover of darkness and a disguised voice, he tried to lead ben from danger, suggesting they split up. They do so and Phil after some Clouseau-esque bumbling, find something that’ll change his life forever.

He wanted to say "Sweet Christmas" but that line was taken.

Phil is distracted for a sec, checking out the admittedly cool Goblin lair, when all of a sudden he’s startled by rat and crashes himself into the above vat of green ooze. It turns out this is some derivative of the Osborn Goblin formula that gives them their strength. It apparently also causes great pain, as Phil is writhing in agony on the floor. Before he can give in to the sweet blackness of oblivion, he hears through he walls that his Uncle Ben has been caught! He gets the maybe not so bright idea to don the goblin costume to save Ben. As soon as the mask goes on Phil’s head, he’s hit by a massive jolt of electricity. You see, this Goblin outfit is really tricked out with tech and laden with nondescript circuitry. Anyway, Phil manages to make his way to a goblin glider and goes off to save the day.

"Sadly, I left my wit in my other glider."

During the course of the battle, Phil suffers through the requisite new hero jitters and discovery of powers, like super strength, and what will be come to be known as his “lunatic laugh”. Ultimately, he does come out on top, but makes a quick getaway when the police arrive. It’s not the most auspicious entry of a new hero ever, but no less effective. we leave this opening tale with a bit of a “Goblin Monologue” if you will.

Why yes, I do like dynamic flying glider shots, why do you ask?

It is decidedly not the end for our Mr. Urich. While he doesn’t get to be the heroic Goblin for long, he does make a bit of a mark, and it turns out the “lunatic laugh” is something purely his own and he retains it to this day. Phil went on to make a support group for young heroes, stole Darkhawk’s (a fellow 90’s hero) amulet, and kind of started to fade into limbo until Dan Slott brought him back to make a heel turn and become the new Hobgoblin last week. At first, I thought the heel turn was kind of out of character for Phil, since I am much more familiar with him from the Spider-Girl mythos where he reclaimed the Goblin mantle with an Osborn’s blessing. Regardless, re-reading old adventures, I can see that there are seeds there from the beginning, and besides Slott is a great writer, so I’m all in. And now you know… the rest of the story!