COMIC BOOK GUY (SEASON 31)

 

Welcome to the definitive breakdown of Hollywood’s latest attempts to cash in on our beloved comic book lore, as expertly judged by yours truly, a certified expert in caped crusades and super-powered heroics. From Ghost Rider: Damnation, where Aaron Paul’s flaming skull couldn’t burn away the generic script, to Gamera, the kaiju spectacle that dared to ask, “What if turtles were terrifying?”—and finally, Justice League War, which gave Michael Bay a Boom Tube and a blank check—this segment will enlighten you, dear reader, on how the studios keep missing the obvious genius of my personal fanfiction. Let’s get started before they greenlight a Bat-Mite movie....

GHOST RIDER: DAMNATION

Ghost Rider: Damnation roars in with Aaron Paul back as Danny Ketch for two hours of chain-whipping demons, David Duchovny sleepwalking as Mephisto, and Greta Lee’s Jezebel serving up so much chaotic energy you almost forget how painfully generic the plot is. Ancient maps, cursed towns, and a surprise ghost (rider) dad? Groundbreaking. The action is flashy, but the whole thing feels like it was written by a 14-year-old who just discovered heavy metal. At least there were no jelly beans.

GAMERA

Gamera stomps back onto the big screen with all the grace of a 200-foot turtle firing plasma balls and flying around with jet engines. It's a kaiju-smashing spectacle that’s equal parts glowing runes, family drama, and military standoffs, with David Harbour growling his way through as a grumpy marine biologist and Hiroyuki Sanada somehow being a kaiju expert. Gamera himself delivers the type of destruction we came for, complete with a polite turtle bow at the end. It’s big, loud, and unapologetically ridiculous — exactly what a Gamera movie should be.

BLACK WIDOW X HAWKEYE

Black Widow x Hawkeye is the buddy spy thriller you didn’t know you needed but got anyway, combining quippy banter, relentless action, and more covert betrayals than a soap opera on steroids. Mila Kunis steps into Natasha Romanova’s boots with a steely glare and a lot of flips, while Boyd Holbrook’s Clint Barton spends half the movie firing arrows and the other half cracking one-liners about his divorce. It feels a lot like an Avengers spin-off that wandered into the Mission: Impossible franchise. It’s a fun ride that doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but hey, sometimes you just want to see arrows explode and villains get EMP’d into submission.

JUSTICE LEAGUE WAR

Justice League War is what happens when Michael Bay gets handed $300 million, a roster of iconic heroes, and a mandate for maximum action. This film is two and a half hours of apocalyptic brawls, superhero banter, and CGI so dense it could bend light. The whole thing is a frenetic, over-the-top spectacle that somehow manages to juggle its sprawling cast and epic stakes. It’s bombastic and just self-serious enough to feel important. In other words, it’s exactly the Justice League epic we've all been expecting and desiring for decades.

CASTING GRADES (Season 31)

 

Jeff Stockton here with this season's edition of Casting Grades. In this segment I will dissect the casting of several films from the season - namely adaptations featuring characters that exist in other formats (or reality). Here we go....

GOD OF WAR III - PART ONE

Game to Film Post : https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2024/10/game-to-film-god-of-war-iii-part-one.html

Tom Hardy as Kratos

Appearance: B+

Performance: A-

Thoughts: Tom Hardy over the course of three films has made the character his own with a gruff, intense take on the role.

Overall Casting Grade: A-

Hugo Weaving as Zeus

Appearance: B+

Performance: B+

Thoughts: Weaving was a welcome addition to the franchise, bringing a lot of gravitas as Zeus.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

Charlotte Rampling as Gaia

Appearance: C+

Performance: B

Thoughts: The voice was there, but I didn't feel the intensity all the time.

Overall Casting Grade: B-

Ron Perlman as Cronos

Appearance: B

Performance: B+

Thoughts: Ron Perlman was a steady safe choice here.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

Katy O'Brian as Lahkesis

Appearance: B

Performance: C

Thoughts: O'Brian brought physicality, but not a ton else

Overall Casting Grade: C+

Lizzy Caplan as Atropos

Appearance: B

Performance: B-

Thoughts: She isn't given a lot to work with, but it was nice seeing her doing something out of the ordinary.

Overall Casting Grade: B-

Adewala Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Atlas

Appearance: B

Performance: B-

Thoughts: His hulking frame helped sell the effects required for his role, but he didn't get much to work with as a performer.

Overall Casting Grade: B-

Tatiana Maslany as Athena

Appearance: B+

Performance: B-

Thoughts: She looked great back in the role, but her role is smaller here than last time.

Overall Casting Grade: B

Marton Csokas as Ares

Appearance: B+

Performance: B-

Thoughts: He's a bit of an afterthought here, but I hope he comes back.

Overall Casting Grade: B

Overall Film Casting Grade: B-

MARVIN THE MARTIAN

Animation to Film Post: https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2024/10/animation-to-film-marvin-martian.html

Mike Myers as Marvin the Martian

Appearance: N/A

Performance: A

Thoughts: I don't give out a lot of A's, but Myers was as close to perfect voice casting as I can think of for this role.

Overall Casting Grade: A

Seth MacFarlane as Bugs Bunny

Appearance: N/A

Performance: B+

Thoughts: MacFarlane does a good job, but it took a while to get used to his take on Bugs.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

Will Forte as Elmer Fudd

Appearance: N/A

Performance: A

Thoughts: Forte was a great choice for Elmer Fudd, making the character feel human alongside the trademark characteristics of the role.

Overall Casting Grade: A

Olivia Munn as Queen Tyr-ahnee

Appearance: N/A

Performance: B

Thoughts: Not the most complicated role in the film, but Munn brought a nice powerful presence to her voice work.

Overall Casting Grade: B

Overall Film Casting Grade: A-

GHOST RIDER: DAMNATION

Comic to Film Post: https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2024/11/comic-to-film-ghost-rider-damnation.html

Aaron Paul as Danny Ketch / Ghost Rider

Appearance: B+

Performance: B+

Thoughts: I like Aaron Paul's Ghost Rider as he feels relatable along with the intensity he brings.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

Emma Greenwell as Barbara Ketch

Appearance: B+

Performance: B+

Thoughts: Greenwell actually feels like Paul's sister in this role.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

David Duchovny as Mephisto

Appearance: B

Performance: B

Thoughts: Duchovny is a good choice for the role, but I don't think he gets enough to do here.

Overall Casting Grade: B

Greta Lee as Jezebel

Appearance: B-

Performance: B+

Thoughts: She may not completely look the part, she brings a fun energy with her performance.

Overall Casting Grade: B

Eamonn Walker as Stephen Lords / Deathwatch

Appearance: C+

Performance: C+

Thoughts: Walker still feels like an odd choice here. I don't see him following orders from Duchovny and Lee.

Overall Casting Grade: C+

Thomas Jane as Noble Kale

Appearance: B

Performance: B

Thoughts: Jane brings his usual gruff charm here.

Overall Casting Grade: B

David Denman as Michael Badilino

Appearance: B-

Performance: B-

Thoughts: I like Denman's take on the role, even if it isn't particularly comics accurate.

Overall Casting Grade: B-

Virginia Madsen as Sister Clara

Appearance: C+

Performance: B-

Thoughts: She 

Overall Casting Grade: B-

Overall Film Casting Grade: B-

REPEAL AND REPLACE

Fact to Film Post: https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2024/12/fact-to-film-repeal-and-replace.html

Jon Hamm as Paul Ryan

Appearance: B

Performance: B

Thoughts: Jon Hamm looks a little like a larger Paul Ryan and does a solid job with what he is given in the script.

Overall Casting Grade: B

John Slattery as Kevin McCarthy

Appearance: A-

Performance: B-

Thoughts: Slattery's role mostly consists of exposition but he does look the part clean-shaven.

Overall Casting Grade: B

Raul Esparza as Ted Cruz

Appearance: B+

Performance: A-

Thoughts: The best casting decision in the film, Esparza gives Cruz an energetic take.

Overall Casting Grade: A-

Michael Shannon as Donald Trump

Appearance: C+

Performance: C

Thoughts: Shannon is literally given nothing interesting to do, completely wasting his talents here.

Overall Casting Grade: C

Keri Russell as Janna Ryan

Appearance: C+

Performance: C

Thoughts: Keri Russell is given next to nothing to do other than quietly sit near Jon Ham 

Overall Casting Grade: C

Corey Stoll as Jim Jordan

Appearance: B+

Performance: B-

Thoughts: With a wig he looks the part quite well. His role is another exposition delivery role.

Overall Casting Grade: B

Matthew Modine as Mike Pence

Appearance: B

Performance: B-

Thoughts: Modine shows up for brief scenes as Pence. He carries some authority in the performance.

Overall Casting Grade: B-

Matthew Rhys as Mike Lee

Appearance: B-

Performance: C+

Thoughts: Some one with a darker energy like Rhys feels all wrong here as Mike Lee

Overall Casting Grade: C+

Noah Emmerich as Rand Paul

Appearance: C

Performance: C+

Thoughts: The script doesn't do anything of note or interest with the role, leaving Emmerich with little to work with.

Overall Casting Grade: C

Overall Film Casting Grade: C+

BLACK WIDOW X HAWKEYE

Comic to Film Post: https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2024/12/comic-to-film-black-widow-x-hawkey.html

Mila Kunis as Natasha Romanova / Black Widow

Appearance: B

Performance: A-

Thoughts: She brings the right energy for the role and works well with Holbrook. She doesn't quite match the looks of the character at times.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

Boyd Holbrook as Clint Barton / Hawkeye

Appearance: A

Performance: A-

Thoughts: He is just about perfect as Hawkeye. He handles the action and the banter with equal skill.

Overall Casting Grade: A

Tom Selleck as Tony Stark

Appearance: B+

Performance: B

Thoughts: He doesn't get a ton to do here other than be an authority figure.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

Tobias Menzies as Damon Dran

Appearance: B

Performance: B

Thoughts: Menzies plays Dran in full Bond villain mode - which works for the tone of this film.

Overall Casting Grade: B

Claire Danes as Bobbi Morse

Appearance: B-

Performance: B

Thoughts: She does well in the role, even though she's not much of an action film actress.

Overall Casting Grade: B

Mandy Patinkin as Alexi Bruskin

Appearance: A-

Performance: B+

Thoughts: He makes for an entertaining villain here, hamming it up like his Princess Bride days.

Overall Casting Grade: A-

Sam Strike as Niko Constantin / Wolf Spider

Appearance: B

Performance: B+

Thoughts: He does well in the action scenes and as a foil for Black Widow.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

Overall Film Casting Grade: B+

THE EYE OF HISTORY

Fact to Film Post : https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2024/12/fact-to-film-eye-of-history.html

Kirsten Dunst as Margaret Bourke-White

Appearance: A-

Performance: A-

Thoughts: Dunst is great here bringing the looks and energy the role requires. There's a reason she is a favorite for Best Actress.

Overall Casting Grade: A-

Oliver Jackson-Cohen as Erskine Caldwell

Appearance: B-

Performance: B-

Thoughts: He broods his way through the role without looking much like the real guy.

Overall Casting Grade: B-

Faran Tahir as Mahatma Gandhi

Appearance: C

Performance: B

Thoughts: Tahir is a good actor but he has a completely different frame and appearance than Gandhi.

Overall Casting Grade: C+

Overall Film Casting Grade: B-

JUSTICE LEAGUE WAR

Comic to Film Post : https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2024/12/comic-to-film-justice-league-war.html

Mahershala Ali as J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter

Appearance: B

Performance: A-

Thoughts: Manhunter gets some powerful moments in this one, making good use of Ali's dramatic abilities.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

Tom Cruise as Hal Jordan / Green Lantern

Appearance: B+

Performance: B+

Thoughts: Hal is once again a little underwritten, but he does develop a good report with the others, especially Flash.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

Alexandra Daddario as Princess Diana / Wonder Woman

Appearance: A

Performance: B+

Thoughts: Daddario is once again great as Wonder Woman. She doesn't get a lot of heavy acting to do here, but the action is there.

Overall Casting Grade: A-

Dave Franco as Barry Allen / Flash

Appearance: B+

Performance: B+

Thoughts: Franco gets one of the bigger arcs of the heroes here - specifically learning how to be a superhero.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

Jake Gyllenhaal as Bruce Wayne / Batman

Appearance: A-

Performance: B+

Thoughts: Gyllenhaal becomes the de facto leader of the group and he delivers, holding his own with the likes of Tom Cruise even.

Overall Casting Grade: A-

Vanessa Kirby as Dinah Lance / Black Canary

Appearance: A-

Performance: B+

Thoughts: She doesn't get as much to do this time around, but she is still really good.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

Taylor Kitsch as Carter Hall / Hawkman

Appearance: B+

Performance: B

Thoughts: He kind of feel like the JL member left out in the cold here. He is good in the action, but doesn't get to do much acting.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

Chloe Grace Moretz as Kara / Supergirl

Appearance: A-

Performance: B+

Thoughts: Her relationship with Superman was good in this one, with a nice familiar tone.

Overall Casting Grade: A-

Aidan Turner as Clark Kent / Superman

Appearance: B+

Performance: A-

Thoughts: He gets some really good moments in the finale of this one.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

Giancarlo Esposito as Darkseid

Appearance: B-

Performance: B+

Thoughts: Esposito brings the goods again.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

Lachy Hulme as Steppenwolf

Appearance: B+

Performance: B

Thoughts: Hulme isn't in this one a ton, but he is still a good choice.

Overall Casting Grade: B

Glenn Close as Granny Goodness

Appearance: B+

Performance: B+

Thoughts: Close was a great choice to bring Granny Goodness to the big screen.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

Jake Weary as Jason

Appearance: B

Performance: B

Thoughts: Weary is good as Jason, but he doesn't get a ton to do.

Overall Casting Grade: B

Camila Mendes as Donna Troy

Appearance: B+

Performance: C+

Thoughts: It still seems like the DC leaders don't quite know what to do with Mendes' Donna Troy.

Overall Casting Grade: B-

Martyn Ford as Kalibak

Appearance: A-

Performance: B-

Thoughts: His towering frame make Kalibak feel like a true threat to even Superman.

Overall Casting Grade: B+

Overall Film Casting Grade: B+

The Roundup with Jeff Stockton (Season 31 GRA Edition)

  

 

 

For this awards-centric edition of The Roundup, I will go through each category and tell you who I think should win the award, who I think actually will win the award, and who I think has no chance to win - followed by a brief thought on the category this season. And for this season - and possibly future seasons - I have decided to bring back my snubs for each category as well.

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Who Should Win: Ocean Pawn
Who Will Win: Marvin the Martian
No Chance: Vindicators

Snub(s): N/A

Thought(s): It seems like the voters are into animated films these days, so I think Marvin the Martian could take a win here, although it should go to Ocean Pawn for its great poster featuring Marisa Abela as a mermaid warrior.

BEST SOUNDTRACK
Who Should Win: Ecstasy
Who Will Win: Scarface
No Chance: Animal Farm
Snub(s): N/A

Thought(s): Whenever possible, it seems like voters here like a good up-tempo soundtrack, and Ecstasy matches that completely.

MOST WANTED SEQUEL
Who Should Win: Friday the 13th: Blood Ties
Who Will Win: Gamera
No Chance: Ghost Rider: Damnation
Snub(s): Justice League War

Thought(s): Friday the 13th: Blood Ties completely revitalized the franchise in my opinion so it deserves the award just to make sure we get to see what comes next. 

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST
Who Should Win: Justice League Invasion
Who Will Win: At Night All Blood is Black
No Chance: Scarface
Snub(s): Willamette

Thought(s): I think this will be the first big win of the ceremony for At Night All Blood is Black, but it never feels like an ensemble film to me so shouldn't win this award.

BEST STARRING COUPLE
Who Should Win: Johnny Depp & Eva Green - The Diplomat
Who Will Win: Damson Idris & Micheal Ward - At Night All Blood Is Black
No Chance: Ralph Fiennes & Paul Mescal - The Beauty
Snub(s): Jamie Lee Curtis & Harrison Ford - Willamette

Thought(s): The Beauty is out for me due to its lack of acting nominations. I think Depp and Green worked against each other fantastically, so I'd like to see them get the win here.

BEST VILLAIN
Who Should Win: Daniel Cudmore - Friday the 13th: Blood Ties
Who Will Win: Damson Idris - At Night All Blood Is Black
No Chance: Giancarlo Esposito - Justice League War
Snub(s): N/A

Thought(s): I don't like when main characters are nominated as villains. You can't be a protagonist and a villain at the same time. Idris seems to have momentum, but I would much prefer Cudmore get an award for his silent, physical performance as Jason Voorhees.

BEST ADAPTATION
Who Should Win: At Night All Blood is Black
Who Will Win: At Night All Blood is Black
No Chance: Animal Farm
Snub(s): Gamera

Thought(s): At Night All Blood is Black deserves this award for being a critically acclaimed novel adaptation - a rare sight these days in LRF.

BEST ORIGINAL STORY
Who Should Win: Willamette
Who Will Win: The Diplomat
No Chance: The Eye of history
Snub(s): The Life Survey

Thought(s): Willamette is original and audacious, but there is steep competition, especially from the award-friendly The Diplomat.
 
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Who Should Win: Suzanna Son - Hideaway
Who Will Win: Lily-Rose Depp - Scarface
No Chance: Nell Tiger Free - The Beauty
Snub(s): Amber Heard - Friday the 13th: Blood Ties

Thought(s): This one could go a lot of different ways as there is no clear favorite. Just going on gut instinct with my choices here.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Who Should Win: Diego Boneta - Scarface
Who Will Win: Micheal Ward - At Night All Blood is Black
No Chance: Tommy Lee Jones - The House Down the Street
Snub(s): Jay Mohr - The Diplomat

Thought(s): My guess is that this one will come down to Boneta and Ward - I don't think voters are going to bite on Jones or Walken here.

BEST ACTRESS
Who Should Win: Eva Green - The Diplomat
Who Will Win: Kirsten Dunst - The Eye of History
No Chance: Jenna Ortega - Ecstasy
Snub(s): Madison Iseman - Hideaway

Thought(s): Voters like biopics, so Dunst has to be the favorite even if her performance was not as good as Eva Green's in The Diplomat.

BEST ACTOR
Who Should Win: Johnny Depp - The Diplomat
Who Will Win: Damson Idris - At Night All Blood Is Black
No Chance: Harrison Ford - Willamette
Snub(s): Tenoch Huerta - Scarface

Thought(s): My heart says Depp, but my brain tells me that Idris has everything in his favor to win here.

BEST DIRECTOR
Who Should Win: Michael Bay - Justice League War
Who Will Win: Michael Bay - Justice League War
No Chance: Luca Guadagnino - Hideaway
Snub(s): Woody Allen - The Diplomat

Thought(s): My money is on Michael Bay - not just for this one, but the work he has put in over the seasons on the Justice League franchise.

BEST PICTURE
Who Should Win: Justice League War
Who Will Win: At Night All Blood is Black
No Chance: The Diplomat & Scarface
Snub(s): Willamette

Thought(s): Obviously this one is down to At Night All Blood is Black and Justice League War. It really could go either way depending on the mood of the voters. If they are in the mood to give it to a blockbuster, Justice League War has it. Otherwise, At Night All Blood is Black is a fairly safe choice for the serious voter.