Box Office Buzz: My favorite movies of 2012

By Ashley Bergner
Box Office Buzz

From superheroes to super spies, from hobbits to bow-and-arrow wielding heroines, 2012 was quite an epic year at the box office. It’s been a while since I remember so many good movies being packed into one year, and I had a difficult time narrowing down my list of favorites. Normally one film will rise to the top and emerge as my clear favorite (last year, Michael Fassbender’s breakout performance as Magneto in “X-Men: First Class” pushed that film to the top of my list). But this year, I had to spend a long time deciding what films I liked the best.

In terms of ticket sales, superheroes were the clear winners at the box office, with Joss Whedon’s epic mash-up “The Avengers” leading the pack. Arguably the most-hyped movie of the year, the film also was the biggest moneymaker, pulling in about $1.5 billion and ending up in the third slot on the list of all-time highest grossing films. It received a thumb’s up from critics, as well, scoring 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Toy Review – DC Universe Classics: Classic Robin By Mattel

I had every intention of buying this Robin when it was first announced. I just wasn’t going to buy it for me – it was going to be for Lil’ Troublemaker. Robin is his absolute favorite superhero; no matter what he’s wearing. He loves Batman and all, but I think like a lot of kids he identifies with Robin more. And Robin is a whole lot cooler now than he was when I was a kid.

Toy Review – Batman Legacy: Batgirl By Mattel

Oops – been incredibly busy. Forgot to post yesterday.

Batgirl is one of my favorite comic book characters.

And when I say that, I’m talking about Barbara Gordon, Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown.

But today I’m talking about Barbara. I feel that she is one of the very best female characters in comics. Very few others have been given such strong characterization, important roles, and – until recently – strong follow-through. I don’t want to say bad things about Gail Simone, as I respect most of her work. But her New 52 Batgirl is terrible.

Toy Review – DC Universe Classics Series 16 – Jean-Paul Valley as Batman By Mattel

This should have gone up last Wednesday for a whole week of Bat-centric toys, but I was on vacation. Now you get this today, another Bat-entry on Wednesday, and a Special Mystery Figure on Friday! Oooh…

Mattel had a tough decision to make when naming this figure. “Jean-Paul Valley as Batman” is obviously correct, but there are all kinds of reasons you might not want that hanging from a peg. While “Knightsend Batman” would have technically been more appropriate than “Knightfall Batman”, I think Knightfall is more likely to be familiar to the general public or lapsed fans as the story where Bane (this series’ build-a-figure) broke Bruce Wayne’s back and then Wayne found the one insane sociopath in all of Canada to appoint as his successor. Way to go, Bruce.

Earth Station One Episode 121: The Dark Knight Rises Movie Review

Join us this week, as the electric ESO crew rises to the occasion and inspects the concluding installment of Nolan’s supreme saga. But wait! What’s this? Joining Mike, Mike, and Bobby on the station is Dave Slotter, Scott Viguie, and the award-winning artist Mark Maddox. And lurking in the shadows is The Phantom Troublemaker! Will our intrepid trio survive? Tune in to find out!

Join us for yet another episode of The Earth Station One Podcast we like to call: The Dark Knight Rises Movie Review

Movie review: ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ a fitting conclusion to Batman saga?

By Ashley Bergner, Box Office Buzz

To say that fan expectations were high for “The Dark Knight Rises” is a little bit of an understatement. We’ve waited about four years to see the conclusion to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, a series that has been well-received by audiences and critics alike, and has set a new standard for superhero films.

I purposefully avoided reading many reviews before going to see “The Dark Knight Rises,” so I could walk into the theater with a clean slate. After watching the movie yesterday, I started reading through reviews and blog entries about the film, and I must confess, I was somewhat surprised to discover there’s been a bit of a backlash against the film by some fans. While some didn’t seem to think this film was as good as 2008’s “The Dark Knight,” I personally thought “The Dark Knight Rises” was a powerful, gritty and emotionally moving film, and I believe it is a fitting conclusion to Nolan’s Batman saga.

“The Dark Knight Rises” picks up eight years after the events of “The Dark Knight.” Although Gotham law enforcement has cleaned up the city streets and reduced the crime rate, all is not as well as it seems. Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has become a recluse, retreating to his mansion in a self-imposed exile after letting Batman take the fall for crimes committed by Harvey Dent/Two-Face. He’s convinced that if the public knew the truth about Dent, who is regarded as a hero, it would destroy all the good Dent had accomplished before he turned evil.

Toy Review – DC Universe Classics: Bane By Mattel

It took me a long time to build Bane, but I’m glad I did.

I’ve already got a perfectly good DC Direct figure of the Brazilian Bat-Breaker (not to mention the Arkham Asylum version I just bought); but I’ve never really felt that you can mix DC Direct with Mattel. They just don’t look right side-by-side in my opinion.

I’ve always been a big fan of Bane. This is mostly due to Knightfall and the ensuing Knight-prefixed storylines being some of my nostalgic favorites. They’re nowhere near consistent quality-wise, but it’s the biggest and most involving event of my comic collecting heydays. All people tend to think about is big, muscle-bound Bane breaking Bruce Wayne over his knee. Rarely does the amazing setup that led up to that point get mentioned. Well, until Nolan’s recent decision, anyway.

Next on Earth Station One…

Next week, the ESO crew travels to Gotham City for a review of highly anticipated blockbuster movie, The Dark Knight Rises. Plus, ESO welcomes Ed Catto for a discussion of all things Black Mask and Captain Action, including several announcements made at the San Diego Comic Con.

ESO wants to hear your thoughts on the finale of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy at http://www.esopodcast.com, at the ESO Facebook Group, @EarthStationOne on Twitter, email us at esopodcast@gmail.com, or call us at 404-963-9057. We might just read yours on the show. Plus, join us for the usual rants, raves, shout outs, and Mike’s Khan Report! It’s going to be an action-packed episode next week at Earth Station One.

Chuck’n Comics Episode 104: Batman #1

Welcome back once again to Chuck’n Comics where we are going to take a look at one of my favorite books of the new 52:  Batman.

BACKGROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I would normally deliver a little backstory here but…it’s Batman.  From Tim Burton to Christopher Nolan, we have heard the plot and background again and again so I won’t belabor the point.

Beware…spoilers.

Batman #1 follows the character we love as he undercuts a potential uprising at Arkam Asylum with the aid of the first Robin, Dick Grayson/Nightwing.  The fight isn’t much of a test of Batman’s skills as both him and Nightwing (disguised as The Joker) deal with it pretty easily.  From there we are taken to Bruce Wayne’s new project:  The future of Gotham.  There he meets a young, noble man with ambitions as large as Gotham itself,  Lincoln March.  Life is seemingly heading up until Bruce intercepts a call for Commissioner Gordon that involves a very brutal murder where in the only evidence are the murder weapons (throwing knives engraved with owls on the handles) and the DNA, under the fingernails of the victim, belonging to Dick Grayson.

This and Aquaman were the first books I got into when I heard of the new 52 and so far, I have been blown away by the artwork and the storytelling has ranged from action packed to creepy as all hell.  Issue #1, written by Scott Snyder and pencilled by Greg Capullo, starts a little slow, luring you into a false sense of “here we go again” and throws you head first into a free fall which leads all the why down to the court of the owls.

My favorite aspect has to be Capullo’s artistic style.  The self taught artist is in himself a great instructor as the artwork keeps the comic style while integrating a noir look to the book that isn’t overbearing but subtle and smooth.  Action sequences aren’t just stimulating but deeply moving, such as Mr. Freezes expression from getting his helmet smashed by the bat.  A great commitment to keeping characters engaged in the story keeps the reader engaged as well.

As a stand alone number one, it’s a really good book.  I initially got a little bored with how easily he dispatched so many criminals but having read the whole story arc, it sets up the rest of the story very well.

Check it out!  See you next time when we take a look at the real Avengers Vs. X-Men #1!

Toy Review – Dark Knight Rises Movie Masters Alfred Pennyworth By Mattel

On the one hand it is ridiculous that it has taken this long for Mattel to get around to making an action figure of the second-most-important living character in the Batman mythos. On the other hand, Mattel just released a figure of a frigging butler.

Looking at it from that latter perspective, it’s actually pretty amazing that this figure exists at all. Making a figure of a character that literally does nothing but stand around and talk is pretty risky, so kudos to Mattel for doing it.