The Greatest Avengers Story I Ever Read

Blog Post #18

I wrote the below review about the trade paperback and added my filmmaker's opinion about how we can see an adaptation!

Avengers: Under Siege by Roger Stern
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Way back when these were originally published (1986-1987) I read the original printing of these issues Avengers #270-277-- written by Roger Stern and illustrated by John Buscema and Tom Palmer.

I had been reading the Avengers for about six months when this storyline came up and I thought it was one of the best comic book stories I have ever read. I guess Marvel Comics did too and published this storyline in this trade paperback.

Led by Baron Zemo, the newly formed Masters of Evil formulated a plan to not only defeat the Avengers, but completely decimate them.

The Avengers line-up at the time of the siege was:
Captain America
Captain Marvel
Black Knight
Hercules
Wasp

Joining later was:
Thor
Doctor Druid

The Masters of Evil were:
Baron Helmut Zemo
Absorbing Man
Blackout
Black Mamba
Fixer
Goliath
Grey Gargoyle
Mister Hyde
Moonstone
Screaming Mimi
Tiger Shark
Titania
Whirlwind
Yellowjacket

The Wrecking Crew
    Bulldozer
    Piledriver
   Thunderball
   Wrecker

The panel from the Avengers book that introduces the Masters of Evil

As you can see the numbers were stacked against the Avengers and The Masters of Evil took on the Avengers piece by piece. Just when you thought there was no way the Avengers could survive…well you have to read the book, but everything in the end was not a happy ending.

Ultimately though it was a great storyline filled with action and plot twists and as Oliver Sava, A.V.Club.com put it "Roger Stern and John Buscema's 1986 story arc 'Under Siege' finds Avengers Mansion under attack by a new Masters of Evil, leading to one of the purest superhero-vs.-supervillain team fights ever put on the page.”

FILMMAKERS OPINION
As stated this was one of the greatest superhero/supervillain battles ever and of course given the success of the Avengers movie (2012) this would make a great follow-up…but it’s just too expensive to ever make into a live action film.

The fights in the book were awesome and bombastic and possibly could be filmed, but the amount of characters, heroes and villains would just be too much.

I think for an ANIMATED film it could be a great adaptation.


*You can read this story yourself in the trade paperback "Avengers: Under Siege". Look for it at your library or book retailer.

RELATED:
Another Cool Black's Mad Meditation "Ranking the Solo Avengers Movies" click the graphic below to read it!


View all my BOOK reviews

Magna Carta Holy Grail - The Cool Black Review

MAGNA CARTA HOLY GRAIL

Before I start, some background.

On June 16 during the fifth game of the 2013 NBA Finals, Jay-Z was featured in a new commercial by Samsung where he announced that his twelfth studio album would be titled, Magna Carta Holy Grail and would be released on July 4, 2013. He was seen speaking to producer Rick Rubin in the studio about the album saying, "The album is about, like this duality of how do you navigate through this whole thing, through success, through failures, through all this and remain yourself." The commercial featured producers that are confirmed to be on the album including Timbaland, Swizz Beatz and Pharrell Williams. The album was available for free download on July 4, 12:01 a.m. EST, to the first one million Samsung mobile device users via an app. —Wikipedia

Watch that spot below.

I was watching that fifth game of the 2013 NBA Finals when that commercial came on and in the subsequent days when the online hype reached a fever pitch I posted the below on social media.

Let me tell you about this #MagnaCarta. I'm a Jay-Z fan, I bought his last Ep #LiveInBrooklyn and will probably buy this new one, no frontin, BUT let me be clear unless he was holding them for this album Hov's mic skills have fell the f*ck OFF! I can't remember the last time I heard a Hov verse and said "YOOOO that was the sh*t!" I mean the best MC on #WatchTheThrone wasn't Hov. Let's keep it real. Bringing in all these superstar producers? *Yawn*  I'm not a fan of JUST hot beats I'm a fan of wicked rhymes and effortless spitting. Give me the complete package or don't do it!  I'm still a fan, but don't expect me to fall for the okey doke because you got some other stars on the album. If that's it he needs to as his t-shirt says #GoHome.

Well it seems like hot beats may be enough because I have to admit MCHG was one of the best hip hop albums of summer 2013. As stated MCHG has some superstar producers and the beats aren’t just hot, they’re smoking hot! 

From the album opening Holy Grail featuring Justin Timberlake to the old school sounding beats of Picasso Baby (both produced by Timbaland) the album don’t stop with the hot tracks. 

Pharrell comes through with the bangers Oceans (featuring Frank Ocean) and BBC featuring NaS, but it is Timbaland that reigns heavy over MCHG. Timbaland worked on 7 out the 14 songs, an astounding SIX of those seven are HOT! It has to be said that Timbaland has co-credits on most of these songs, but most of them he has “chief credit”.

Among the best Timbaland songs are the best use of a Biggie sample I’ve ever heard on JAY Z Blue. The song cleverly blends samples from "My Downfall" by The Notorious B.I.G. with Jay-Z’s vocals. Timbaland also produced the R&B sounding Part II (On the Run) featuring Beyoncé that is mostly R&B, but a great “sequel” to Hov & B’s 03 Bonnie & Clyde. The other HOT tracks Timbaland worked on were the aforementioned Oceans and FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt.

In the end, Hov’s rhymes aren’t as innovative as they used to be, but they’re good enough to still make hot songs and in this case one of the hottest albums of the summer. I really have to say that. After giving much shade and skepticism over the way he announced the album, I think he deserves as much.

Below is what I thought were the HOT tracks.

1. Holy Grail (featuring Justin Timberlake) HOT

2. Picasso Baby HOT 

3. Tom Ford HOT

4. FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt (featuring Rick Ross) HOT

5. Oceans (featuring Frank Ocean) HOT

6. F.U.T.W.  

7. Somewhereinamerica  

8. Crown warm

9. Heaven

10. Versus (interlude)

11. Part II (On the Run) (featuring Beyoncé) HOT

12. Beach Is Better (interlude)

13. BBC (featuring NaS) HOT

14. JAY Z Blue HOT

15. La Familia

16. Nickels and Dimes warm

CLICK the button to see all of our blog posts about Jay-Z

The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Roundtable [VIDEO]

October 31, 2013
The Hollywood Reporter's annual series kicks off with a candid conversation featuring Matthew McConaughey, Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto, Josh Brolin and Michael B. Jordan.

From oldest to youngest they are:

• Forest Whitaker, 52
• Josh Brolin, 45 
• Matthew McConaughey, 43 
• Jared Leto, 41
• Jake Gyllenhaal, 32 
• Michael B. Jordan, 26

Watch the video below 


Novembe14, 2013
Steve McQueen, Paul Greengrass, David O. Russell, Ben Stiller, Alfonso Cuaron and Lee Daniels on explaining long days on set to their kids, getting notes from executives and what made them go behind the camera for the first time.

Watch the video below

How Vin Diesel Got The Rights to "Riddick" Back

Vin Diesel's Shrewd Move: Trading 'Fast & Furious' Cameo to Own 'Riddick' Rights
by Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter
September 4, 2013

How the franchise star revived the breakout role from 2000's "Pitch Black" after its sequel fizzled, leading to "Riddick."

Vin Diesel doesn't just play Riddick, the intergalactic ex-con who can see in the dark, he owns the role -- literally. And thanks to some shrewd maneuvers from the muscle-bound star, he has kept the franchise alive: Nine years after the last movie in the series, Universal is releasing Riddick on Sept. 6.

Diesel, 46, and Riddick writer-director David Twohy have overcome obstacles, but the key move came in 2006, when Universal asked Diesel to make a cameo in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. (Diesel had starred in the first Fast and the Furious in 2001 but walked away from the first two sequels.) Looking to recharge the series, the studio wanted to use his brief return in Tokyo Drift to signal he would be back center stage in a fourth movie. Diesel agreed, but instead of an acting fee, he demanded the studio give him and his One Race production company rights to the Riddick character.

When he hit the screen in 2000 in the low-budget Pitch Black, Riddick became a breakout role for Diesel, who had only had supporting parts in Saving Private Ryan and Boiler Room. Originally, PolyGram wanted Steven Seagal. "It's easy to see Vin now in it, but auditioning is not his gift," recalls Twohy. "He didn't rise to the top of the heap in a clear way, but there was something there."

Twohy and producer Ted Field championed the actor, and Pitch Black, produced for about $22 million, turned a modest profit, grossing $53 million worldwide. But when 2004's sequel The Chronicles of Riddick, which cost more than $100 million, took in only $116 million worldwide, plans for more movies disappeared.

Diesel, his star rising with the continuing success of the Fast & Furious franchise, couldn't shake the underdog Riddick, though. "It's the story of my life," he said in an emotional speech at Riddick's L.A. premiere Aug. 28.

So in 2009, Twohy and Diesel hunkered down in Diesel's kitchen and hammered out a new story. Instead of continuing in the extravagant vein of the second film, they returned to basics, with a lone Riddick marooned on a hostile planet. The project, with Diesel and Field producing, was introduced in 2010 at Berlin's European Film Market, where it was one of the hottest titles in the presales market.

But they still weren't home free. With crews arriving in Montreal in 2012, the money ran out when a completion bond fell through. "It was messy, it was bad," says Twohy. "We basically got kicked out of town." Diesel then personally advanced funds until bank loans were secured and the filmmakers could return to Montreal, where they shot for 48 days on a budget in the $35 million to $40 million range. Somewhat ironically, Universal, which had unloaded the character, then took an equity position in the film and agreed to distribute, allowing Diesel to resurrect his Riddick.

Cool Black's Mad Commentary: "Instead of continuing in the extravagant vein of the second film, they returned to basics" To me that was perfect. I liked the second film, but though such extravagances was unnecessary. I liked the "basic Riddick" against the world, not the whole mythology they tried to build.

ADDITIONAL
Check out Vin Diesel's FIRST film on our parent blog 'Nother Brother Entertainment here

Spike Lee Goes Online to Raise Money For Next Film

Spike Lee Launches $1.25 Million Kickstarter Campaign for Next Film

by Rebecca Ford, The Hollywood Reporter
July 22, 2013

The director follows in the footsteps of Zach Braff to crowdsource is upcoming project about people's addiction to blood.

Spike Lee is turning to Kickstarter to help him fund his next film.

The Red Hook Summer director has launched a campaign asking people to help him raise $1.25 million dollars for his next film, which will be about people's addiction to blood. "A lot of sex in it too," adds Lee in a video on the site.

Lee, whose next film will be the remake of Oldboy, starts out his video greeting mentioning the recent success that film production has had through Kickstarter, including the Veronica Mars movie and Zach Braff's upcoming pic Wish I Was Here.

"Filmmaking is what I do, filmmaking is what I love. You guys, help me keep it going because this is a mother f---ing tough business," says Lee, who adds that he won't be taking a fee for the project.

For those who contribute $5, Lee will provide a Tweet of thanks and project updates. The incentives go up from there, ranging from an autographed DVD to a phone call from Lee and -- for a contribution of $10,000 -- dinner and a New York Knicks game with Lee.

"With the current climate in The Hollywood Studio System it's not an encouraging look for Independent Filmmakers," Lee states in the note on his Kickstarter page. "I'm not hating, just stating the facts. Super Heroes, Comic Books, 3D Special EFX, Blowing up the Planet Nine Times and Fly through the Air while Transforming is not my Thang."

Lee's campaign runs for 30 days, until Aug. 21.

Spike Lee Reaches $1.25 Million Kickstarter Goal
August 18, 2013, The Hollywood Reporter Staff

Spike Lee has reached his Kickstarter goal of $1.25 million. His campaign crossed the finish line on Friday, August 16, 2013.

Lee, who launched his campaign on July 21, had 30 days to reach his fundraising goal so that he could make his next film, which he says will be about people's addiction to blood.

He hit the $1 million mark with about one week left in his campaign.

Lee, whose next film will be a remake of Oldboy, included a video greeting on Kickstarter that explained his inspiration to start the campaign were the success stories of the Veronica Mars movie and Zach Braff's upcoming pic Wish I Was Here on the fundraising platform.

"Filmmaking is what I do, filmmaking is what I love. You guys, help me keep it going because this is a motherf---ing tough business," says Lee, who adds that he won't be taking a fee for the project.

For those who contributed $5, Lee provides a Tweet of thanks and project updates. The incentives go up from there, ranging from an autographed DVD to a phone call from Lee and -- for a contribution of $10,000 -- a day on set and in the edit bay with Lee.

Lee described the project as about "human beings who are addicted to Blood. Funny, Sexy and Bloody. A new kind of love story (and not a remake of Blacula)."

After the campaign was launched, some people criticized the established director for eclipsing attempts by younger aspiring filmmakers to crowdfund their films. Lee defended his actions in a video.

"I understand why people might think that, but that's not the case at all," he said. "I'm bringing people to Kickstarter who've never even heard of Kickstarter," particularly "a lot of people of color."

August 21, 2013
The campaign offically ended on August 21, 2013 at 12:15PM and as of that time the offical amount rasied was $1,418,910.

CLICK the button to see all of our blog posts about SPIKE LEE

Kanye West — Yeezus The Cool Black Review

Kanye West — Yeezus

Yeezus, like his 2008 album 808s & Heartbreak is a departure from Kanye’s usual hip hop offerings. As Kanye classified 808s & Heartbreak a pop album, that incorporated elements of synthpop, electronica, R&B, and electropop, so is Yeezus. While the 808 tracks are primarily sung rather than rapped by Kanye, the Yeezus tracks are mostly rapped. 

While the musical styles vary from song to song and sometimes in a song itself I think the album as a whole WORKS. While not all the tracks (any?) are radio singles, the album works if you listen to it as a whole. There are several tracks that do stand out and classify as HOT that I have listed below.

I like Yeezus a lot and I applaud Kanye for trying something different—and making it work!

1. On Sight HOT

2. Black Skinhead HOT

3. I Am God (featuring Justin Vernon) warm

4. New Slaves (featuring Frank Ocean) HOT

5. Hold My Liquor (featuring Chief Keef and Justin Vernon)

6. I'm In It (featuring Justin Vernon and Assassin)

7. Blood on the Leaves HOT

8. Guilt Trip (featuring Kid Cudi)

9. Send It Up (featuring King L) warm

10. Bound 2 (featuring Charlie Wilson) HOT

Reviews of previous Kanye Albums

808s & Heartbreak - A quick review

Kanye West ‘Fantasy’ Review…sort of

Watch the Throne - The Cool Black Review

CLICK the button to see all of our blog posts about KANYE WEST

Marvel Movies: Phase Two and Beyond

Blog Post #17

In April 2005 Marvel Studios launched a plan on developing all of the solo Avengers in their own pictures to eventually “assemble” them in one film, The Avengers in what they are now calling "Phase One" ( I ranked them all in a previous post here)

In order of release:
1. Iron Man (May 2, 2008)
2. The Incredible Hulk (June 13, 2008)
3. Iron Man 2 (May 7, 2010)
4. Thor (May 6, 2011)
5. Captain America: The First Avenger (July 22, 2011)

The Avengers (May 4, 2012) 

______________________________________

Phase Two will begin with Iron Man 3 (May 3, 2013)

THEN

THEN

THEN

THEN CULMINATING IN

Scheduled for May 1, 2015

________________________________________________

Phase Three reportedly will start with 

Scheduled for November 6, 2015