Sheep Movie Review: The Avengers directed by Joss Whedon

Marvel's The Avengers, directed by Joss Whedon, stars Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo and Samuel L. Jackson. This Marvel fan is over the frellin moon right now! If you're a die-hard fan or just stepping into this amazing world of Heroes and Villains now's the time to jump in and hang on for one heck of a fantastic ride!

Plot:

Marvel Studios presents Marvel's The Avengers-the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Marvel Studios spent last summer gearing up for this year's mega box-office hit. With X-Men: First Class, Thor, and Captain America audiences got a chance to embrace the wonders the comic-book world has had to offer for many years now. (It's ok latecomers we forgive you!) I stand tall and proud to be a comic nerd, and as one I am an even tougher critic on the film translations. I am throughly and truly pleased with The Avengers film edition.

To give credit where credit is due you cannot go without mentioning Joss Whedon. Joss had a clear sense of direction on where he wanted this story to go, the humor that needed to be a part of it, touching moments thrown in, and the absolutely breath-taking action sequences. CGI effects never looked better, plus the sound effects and sound mixing only add to the experience. The actors also came ready to work for this one so a big round of applause for developing characters who were necessary to bring the whole story together, and can I just say that Robert Downey is an outstanding actor and sells Iron Man like it's his second skin. The best part about the movie as a whole is that you can tell everyone had a blast making this and the character interactions were some of the most richly colored scenes that you really can't tell where your seat ends and the screen begins.

This movie surely won't win an any awards come Oscar time but by no means does that mean the movie isn't a great film. You don't have to create a dramatic eighteenth century masterpiece to touch audiences, you just have to give the folks something they can cheer for. The ultimate underdogs up against insane odds, forced to ban together to take out the evil psychos that want to destroy and enslave our planet. It's far fetched and over-the-top but who cares when it's this dang good!?

Comic fans will love the bits thrown in for the folks that have followed these guys and gals for a while. The Hulk's gonna smash some stuff, Captain America is going to throw his shield, Thor will swing that hammer baby! and Black Widow is going to be super sexy in her tight cat suit. It's all there for the taking so if you're looking for an amazing movie experience that's pure fun go out and see this beast. It'll rock your socks off!

Warning: Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Iron Man unfortunately remain clothed during the entire film. All letters commenting on this barbaric atrocity should be sent to Marvel Entertainment, LLC; C/O Joss Whedon 135 W. 50th Street, 7th Floor; New York, NY 10020.

Getting 4 and 1/2 'Shakespeare in the park' Sheep

KD

Intersections, Protector Corps, and Prize Giveaway

Recently, K sent me some comics drawn by a Bay Area artist. It's encouraging to see local artists get their stuff out there and try to make a name for themselves. Well, okay, not local to me, obviously, I live in Ohio. Yeah, not a cool state at all. But that's really besides the point. Anyway so she asked me to read these comics and talk a little about them so here goes.

I got issue one and two of a series called Intersections, written by Rich Boutell with art by Gene Guilmette. That would be the picture you see over there to your right. Now, as you can probably tell, it's in black and white but there are plenty of comics done in black and white, especially in the old days. Intersections follows the conflict between hero Arik and his evil sister. I didn't catch her name in the second issue when she appears, but I suppose that will be revealed in due time. Point is, battle between good and evil, Bay Area involved.

The other comic I got was the Protector Corps, with art and story done by Gene Guilmette. I only got one issue of that comic, so I have less of an idea about the plot but this is what I got so far. Superheroes emerged across the world in the 1930's, much like they historically did in comics in our own world. Anyway, World War II breaks out and because superheroes are available to fight in the war the war ends up lasting more than seventy years. Now, I would have imagined Captain America would have just gone over and punched Hitler in the face. I'm pretty sure that happened at some point. Apparently that wasn't part of the Allied strategy *shrug* maybe there's a reason explained later. Oh, except it isn't Hitler, it's the evil lord Hister. Parallel world shenanigans? I don't know. Point is, bad guys, good guys, they fight, fate of the world on their shoulders.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that, the...I'm going to assume they're the Axis Powers because I'm pretty sure the Allies wouldn't do this. (well Winston Churchill was kind of a nutter, as was Stalin. Actually, now that I think about it.) Anyway, the bad guys are sucking the very life out of the land somehow. Apparently it was a desperate gambit except now it's working? I don't know, it's probably explained more. Oh, and they can turn good superheroes eeeeeeevil, with extra e's. As you can probably tell, it's in color so if you like pretty colors that's a bonus. Truly I have not read a comic quite like this.

Oh, right prizes. Okay so for the two people that read my insane ramblings here, we've got an opportunity for you to win. K put together this lovely prize pack which will be shipped to a singular fortunate reader whose name is picked out of my hat. Yes, my super awesome hat. The one I'm wearing in my biography post. Go ahead and look, I'll wait.

See? I told you it was a cool hat.
Where were we? Oh yes, prizes.

Now, I should warn you that this contest is limited to the United States only because we have American postage. So I'm sure all those Nigerian princes reading are now very sad. But for those of you still eligible the prize pack includes the following.

-Signed copies of the comics I just talked about!
- An official I Smell Sheep postcard
- Official I Smell Sheep stickers
- And an official I Smell Sheep bookmark with our new slogan "Entertaining ewe, one Monster at a time."

Actually the stickers look kind of cool, I might keep those. What's that, Katie? I'm not allowed to keep the stickers? Awwwwww, that's bogus. Okay, I'll put them back in the prize pack.

Anyway, to be eligible to win this lovely prize pack all you have to do is leave a comment on this post with the following.

- An e-mail address at which Sheep representatives can reach you.
- What power you'd have as a superhero.

Again, a reminder that only US residents can win due to postage. Sorry, Nigerian princes. Polling will close at 11:59 PM on 10 June 2011 and the winner will be announced on 12 June 2011. Thanks to my two readers.

BAK

Adventurer's Rule #18: Being Lawful Good doesn't mean being Lawful Stupid

The Neon Graveyard by Vicki Pettersson

And why you should read the Signs of the Zodiac series

Blurb:
Once she was a soldier for the Light, the prophesied savior who would decide the outcome of the eternal conflict raging unseen in the dark corners of her glittering hometown. Now, Joanna Archer is just another mortal -- still born of an impossible union of Shadow and Light . . . still hunted by both -- and carrying the unborn child of a lover held captive by a depraved demon goddess. Joining forces with a band of rogue Shadow agents, Joanna's ready to storm the stronghold of her demonic foe. She risks everything to enter this ghastly, godforsaken realm where the price of admission is her eternal soul. Because in a world that has stripped her of her power, identity, and fortune, Joanna has nothing left to lose -- except her baby, her future, and the epic war poised to consume the city.

Review:
This is the 6th and last book in the Signs of the Zodiac series. There isn’t much point in reviewing the actual book, if you have read the first 5 books in this series, then you *will read this one. You have to! No one who has watched Pettersson, tear down Joanna Archer, then build her up just to tear her down again throughout this series would want to miss the conclusion to this dark, completely captivating and gut wrenching Urban Fantasy!

It has been almost a year since I read the 5th book (Cheat the Grave) and I had forgotten why I love this series so much. When I started reading The Neon Graveyard, I was swept back into one of the most original, darkest and well written UFs out there.

So instead of talking about The Neon Graveyard and possibly spoiling an ending that has been 4 years in the making, I will tell you why you should start reading the Signs of the Zodiac series. To truly enjoy this series you must start with the first book.

I remember, vividly, reading the first pages of the The Scent of Shadows (book #1). It was the first time a book grabbed me so quickly and completely, and it was then I realized I loved dark UF. The world of the Zodiac is intelligent and clever, and certainly isn’t light reading. I cried and cussed at Ms. Pettersson (in my head ) for how she treated poor Jo Archer! But that is what this series is about.

Joanna is suddenly thrust into a secret world where a battle rages between the Shadow and the Light, and both sides feel she is the key to their success. She experiences extraordinary love and devastating loss as both sides try to control her fate. She struggles with the discovery that maybe she isn’t meant to be with either side, but somewhere in the gray. In a world where there can only be Shadow or Light where does that leave her?

Another reason to read this series is the writing, Vicki Pettersson is a damn fine writer. Her books contain fighting action, suspense, dark humor and are emotionally packed. For those who care, it is expertly written from the first person POV.

Here some examples of her writing from The Neon Graveyard:

Blackness, pure and raw as a midnight grave.
That was my first though. My second?
Shoulda brought a lighter.

I shook my head, utterly serious, cutting out his laughter. He needed to hear me on this. “You don’t understand. I will not love you gently, Hunter.”
“No?” The honeyed softness in his gaze hardened. After a moment, I realized it was done in challenge. “Then how will you love me, Jo?”
Recklessly, I thought, holding that steady gaze. With a rampaging heart, I decided, narrowing my own eyes. “Like a bull loves red.”

The Signs of the Zodiac series
The Scent of Shadows
The Taste of Night
The Touch of Twilight
City of Souls
Cheat the Grave
The Neon Graveyard

I give The Neon Graveyard and the whole series 5 sheep!

SS