The Amazing Marvel Film Universe

Since 1998, when the Batman Franchise imploded under the weight of total camp and silliness, Marvel stepped up and 35 films based on Marvel Comics have been released.

The Amazing Spiderman 2, in a very poor showing, only held the Top Box-Office spot for 1 week before being knocked off by the juvenile movie Neighbors starring Seth Rogen and Zach Effron.

However, this is mostly because, The Amazing Spiderman 2 was awful. Modeled on the classic Death of Gwen Stacy storyline, the film simply failed. Besides the terrible special effects and the obligatory scenes of New Yorkers standing around gawking at explosions while NYPD vehicles exist only to be blown up, far too much film time was wasted on Electro's Origin, which followed the standard OSHA-violating industrial accident imparts super-powers to the victim who in reality would be dead.

The worst scene being the torture of Electro by the male Doctor Kafka, who wears make-up and listens to classical music while conducting experiments as an obvious cliched caricature of Doctor Josef Mengle. This character is made worse once it's understood that the inspiration for "Doctor Ashley Kafka" is an actual person.

One of the brilliant things The Dark Knight (2008) did was not show a villain creation scene for the Joker. Besides happening off screen, this also allowed Heath Ledger to taunt the audience and his on-screen victims multiple times with the 'Do ya wanna know how I got these scars?' line.

Instead of the cartoonish Electro created by genetically altered eels, why not just have Electro appear in New York rampaging and out for vengeance? During the course of the film, and I'm drawing off of Johnny Got His Gun, you can reveal this Electro is an eye-less, ear-less mouth-less electrically burned monster who can sense/manipulate electricity. Having been traumatized (perhaps by war or as an experiment for instance) and being little more than a charred corpse you can make him a lost soul who Peter Parker is forced to stop and is dismayed to learn he can not help.

One could argue such a film idea is too heavy or disturbing for a children's film? Well, ***spoiler*** Gwen Stacy does indeed die in the film. Though her death scene is, fortunately, not graphic.

Also why bring back the Green Goblin? However, it was accomplished the character would be compared to Willem Dafoe's excellent and psychologically frightening turn, in the Sam Rami Spider-Man film. There are many other Spidey enemies to choose from!

Of course, I would prefer the ultimate Spiderman Story of the 1980's; Kraven's Last Hunt.

But, perhaps I should be glad Sony Pictures won't be ruining that storyline the same way they flubbed Gwen Stacy's death.

Now, these films run into problems because even the Elektra (2005) and Punisher: War Zone (2009) had 40 million dollar budgets and even that kind of money is going to entail meddling from people unfamiliar or uncaring about the original source material. 

For instance, Ben Affleck's Daredevil (2003) committed the mortal sin, literally, of Daredevil letting a villain die. Daredevil, as the ultra-catholic, never kills and doesn't even let the scummiest of the scum die if he can prevent it.

The two Hulk movies (2003 and 2008) failed because the Hulk is an unworkable character for a stand-alone film. He's far too powerful, having literally carried a mountain range on his back in The Secret Wars. And the films end up with Hulk smashing a bunch of things and fighting a Hulk-esque enemy.

Iron Man 2 (2010) was an film which drew many detractors but, for the wrong reasons. I movie was fairly decent but was disappointed the film executives decided to give Robert Downey "palladium-poisoning", cured by Tony Stark's discovery/invention of a new element, as opposed to staying true to the source material and making Tony a drunk. The disease of Alcoholism, apparently being too heavy a topic for a film ostensibly marketed towards children.

The writers for the second Fantastic Four film (2007) apparently never read the Silver Surfer. While the decision to change Galactus from a big guy into an celestial monstrosity was fine, the Silver Surfer, that goofy footed philosopher has one line, "To Me, My Board"which must be included as the character swayed by the promise he sees in humanity turns on Galactus and fights for Earth.

Any film which doesn't include that line shows a lack of basic understanding of the character. Let alone the deeper Hegelian arc the writers undertook culminating in Issue 64 from 1992.

"On approaching the other it has lost its own self, since it finds itself as another being; secondly, it has thereby sublated that other, for this primitive consciousness does not regard the other as essentially real but sees its own self in the other." - G.W.F. Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit

The Dark Surfer and the Silver Surfer engage in the struggle unto death, as they attempt to get the other to acknowledge their superiority.

Complaints aside several of the Movie Franchises have succeeded both financially while staying true-ish to the characters. The Captain America stories (2011 and 2014) have resonated quite well. The Avengers (2012) succeeded with it's blockbuster approach. The Wolverine (2013), adapted from the 1982 limited series, overcame the earlier dreck from the first solo Wolverine movie Origins. (Please Note: Any comic book movie with Ryan Reynolds is guaranteed to be bad.)

The problem is Movie Studios don't want to take any risks with these stories. They'll go for what they think will make the most money as opposed to crafting a piece of cinematic art, based on a comic book.

But I, of course, am not the intended audience. Having collected comics from the early 80's through the mid-90's my quibbles and critiques are dismissed as those of a fanboy. What the Studios look for is the Hundred of Millions of dollars these movies make them in profit.

Chicken Hawks Mitt Romney and Joe Walsh smear Veterans

So the words about noble deaths and sacred blood and honor and such are all put into dead lips by grave robbers and fakes who have no right to speak for the dead.  ~  Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo

Republicans are cheap suits and grave robbers. That despicable right-wing generation who currently infest DC came of age by being spineless cowards. They actively avoided service in Vietnam in order to advance their political careers at home. Now they are only too ready to Use Dead Veterans as Props for their Campaigns and to smear living War Veterans.

Mitt Romney revived his Benghazi Hit Job on the President by invoking the name of Glen Doherty. Republicans love dead Veterans because they can stick their words into the mouths of the dead. It's awful and it's been the standard MO of Right-Wingers, especially cowardly pukes like Romney, Dick Cheney and Karl Rove.

Well, Barbara Doherty, the mother of the slain Former SEAL, ordered Romney to stop using her son's death for his political gain.

"I don't trust Romney," she said. "He shouldn't make my son's death part of his political agenda. It's wrong to use these brave young men, who wanted freedom for all, to degrade Obama."

Mrs. Doherty is correct in her opinion of Mitt Romney's character, the cowardly Romney has made his entire career and fortune on using people. It's what the Plutocrats like Mitt Romney do.

However, here in Illinois my Congressman Joe Walsh found things a bit more difficult as he faced a living Veteran and found out his tawdry smears only highlight his cowardice.

During the debate between Congressman Walsh and Tammy Duckworth, Walsh head up a photo and stated,

"I was marching in a parade in Schaumburg (IL), Sunday, two days before the Democratic convention, when Tammy Duckworth was on a stage down in Charlotte (NC) — if you can look at the picture — picking out a dress for her speech Tuesday night.”

Duckworth, merely retorted, 

"I do sometimes look at the clothes that I wear, but for most of my adult life, I’ve worn one color — it’s called camouflage.” Adding, "My opponent has attempted to criticize me for talking about my military service. But I served — and he didn’t."

Joe Walsh isn't your standard Republican. He's been trying to carve a niche for himself over at Faux News since his whisper thin victory over Melissa Bean in 2010.

Mainly, Walsh has accomplished this by yelling out that President Obama is black, by screaming at his constituents, by telling Postal Workers in his district he's going to vote to eliminate their jobs and by getting sued for over $100,000 in child support. But, nationally, Republicans have made Troop Worship a Fetish. But, let a Veteran speak out against them and Right-Wingers will no more honor you than Iraqi insurgent or Al Qaeda operative would.

Veterans and those slain in war mean very little to Republicans. George W(orst President Ever) Bush gave 6 Gold Star Families a "Special" Presidential Coin when they visited him since he couldn't be bothered to show up for their funerals and admonished them; "Don’t go sell it on eBay.”

Republicans don't care about Veterans.

Republicans love war. Republicans love the acclaim that comes with waving the Bloody Shirt and talking about Freedom from the comfort of their stateside offices. Republicans love the Trillions of Dollars and thousands of lives they feed the rapacious War Machine.

That is what Mitt Romney represents. Mitt Romney couldn't care less for individual military members,

"I didn’t use the word troops, I used the word military, and I think [giggles] they refer to the same thing.” 

The Military-Industrial-Complex are people, my friend! Romney only cares for the Military-Industrial-Complex and how best to use dead Veterans to advance his Campaign.

Update:
According to a friend of Doherty's, Elf Ellefsen, Romney introduced himself to Doherty four separate times during the gathering.

“He said it was very comical,” Ellefsen said, “Mitt Romney approached him ultimately four times, using this private gathering as a political venture to further his image. He kept introducing himself as Mitt Romney, a political figure. The same introduction, the same opening line. Glen believed it to be very insincere and stale.”

Ellefsen said Doherty remembered Romney as robotic.

“He said it was pathetic and comical to have the same person come up to you within only a half hour, have this person reintroduce himself to you, having absolutely no idea whatsoever that he just did this 20 minutes ago, and did not even recognize Glen’s face.”

Republicans Piss On Veterans

You can always hear the people who are willing to sacrifice somebody else's life. They're plenty loud and they talk all the time. ~ Dalton Trumbo

Senate Republicans object to a bill to aid homeless veterans. They can't find the money for it. What republicans can find, time and time again, is a way to fuck over anyone who's poor, homeless or wounded in service to the Wealthy. It's the only "Service" they respect. And in line with standard Republican thinking; If you're poor, homeless or wounded it is of your own choosing/fault.

Republicans are grave robbers and scum they would rather veterans die so they can co-opt their lives and place conservative talking points into the mouths of the dead.

NeoCon Frank Gaffney: "It is regrettable that they had to die, but I believe they did have to die."

And if the dead veteran turns out to be an anti-war atheist who believes in country over conservatism they can merely echo Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter and say, "I don't believe it".

The Republican Party is filled with Liars, Chicken Hawks and Cowards. I highlighted the 2010 CPAC meeting in February. And Not One! Not one of the leading voices in Modern Conservatism ever served in uniform! Yet here they are using the troops and veterans to advance Republican Party interests. Republicans are a fucking disgrace.

Related:
Two Weeks in Forever: Marines in Helmund Province, Afghanistan 2009.
CPAC = Chicken Hawks United and Domestic Terrorist Sympathizers [Disaffected and it Feels So Good]

The Marines Leave Iraq

"Is the sacrifice worth it? It is worth it and it is vital to the security of our country," ~ George W. Bush

On 01/23/10, the US Marines transferred Anbar Province over to the US Army and are heading home after 7 years of Operations in the area.

And while I am still firmly against the Iraq War, and do not believe any so-called victory is worth the price we paid, I salute my brave Corps Brethren.

The Marines who served prior, during and after my time in Iraq accomplished an incredible feat through sheer guts, intelligence, determination, training and perseverance despite the best efforts of the Bush/Cheney Neo-Con chicken hawks and Democratic cowards who sent them over there to make money for the War Profiteers.

Sadly because Conservatives have no intention of going to war they view the Marines and Soldiers as little more than wooden tokens on a RISK like game board. And many Marines bled their heart's blood into the desert for no good reason. And those that made it back to the States physically have left a part of their souls in the Middle East.

For some Marines never really come home. They suffer, unable to readjust to regular life in the 1st CIV DIV. Many take their lives.

Why? Because Dick Cheney and the Republicans (and then the Democrats) couldn't be bothered to deal with bureaucratic mismanagement and spend time helping those they sent into harm's way. But, that's to be expected from Republicans. Republicans are Cowards who hate the Troops and view them as raw meat. To be ground up serving Republican interests and advancing the Republican Party.

The Republican Party especially likes when soldiers die because Conservative Chicken Hawk Cowards, like the grave robbers and fakes they are, put their evil ideology, into the mouths of the dead for whom they have no right to speak.

Championing War, with no intention of fighting, and Using the dead are core Conservative Principles.

And they even give talks highlighting their cowardice: "Join the UMass Republican Club for yet another lively and edifying political discussion on the costs, necessities, consequences, and benefits of war." Because all that The University of Massachusetts Amherst Republicans and "rising star in the conservative intellectual movement" Jonah Goldberg are saying is Give War a Chance... You can always hear the people who are willing to sacrifice somebody else's life. They're plenty loud and they talk all the time.

Related:
Disaffected and it Feels So Good: Feels like Suicide

New Corps Old Corps

'Cause there's nothing at all
Except the space in-between
Finding out what you're called
And repeating your name ~ Ruby, Kaiser Chiefs

There are only two servicemen, killed in Afghanistan, Chicken Hawk War Proponents can name, Pat Tillman and Joshua Bernard.

Joshua Bernard was the Marine whose tragic death was seen by Americans safely ensconced in their homes, office buildings and EIB Studios because the Associated Press callously defied Bernard's fathers' request to not show the photographs of his death.

But, while the Pro Human Pain and Suffering Punk Ass Bitch Republicans and Conservatives became enraged at the showing of this Marines' death it was typically for the wrong reasons. To Punk Ass Bitch Rightwingers Bernard's death is necessary because once Bernard is dead flabby crap filled REMFpublicans can besmirch his name by co-opting him.

"So the words about noble deaths and sacred blood and honor and such are all put into dead lips by grave robbers and fakes who have no right to speak for the dead."

Well, Marine Corps 1st Sgt John Bernard (retired), the father of Joshua Bernard and perhaps the only man who can speak for him wants a change in the RoE (Rules of Engagement) in the Afghan AO before more Marines and Soldiers, used as police officers and nation-builders, are killed.

The new RoE were put into affect by General McChrystal back in July when he took over the ISAF AO. His RoE calls for breaking off of contact with the enemy when said engagement threatens civilian Afghans and limits to the use of close air support (CAS) and indirect fire (arty).

Back then Never-Ending War Supporters and Punk Ass Bitch Rightwingers were skeptical of McChrystal's plan to try and limit civilian deaths. However, when McChrystal went public in his request for more forces in theater anti-Obama blogs, like Professor of Life supported McChrystal as if his word about the Afghan AO was inspired by Douglas MacArthur.

The Punk Ass Bitches of the Right would no doubt attack 1st Sgt Bernard if they could because all they care about is opposing Obama and anyone who gets in the way of the Righteous Anti-Obama War is against them. So, most likely, if any flabby Chicken Hawk Fox News Chicken Hawk becomes aware they will attempt to co-opt and use 1st Sgt Bernard to attack Obama.

The price we are paying for the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are not just measured in the tragic death of Americans, like Joshua Bernard, or the money stolen by Xe and other Military Industrial Complex Corporations but in the millions of small hidden fees extracted by warfare on the bodies, minds and souls of the survivors.

For a peek into life of Marines in Helmund Province, Afghanistan watch: Two Weeks in Forever

Afghanistan = A Bag of Smushed Assholes

“If I knew exactly what the mission was, probably so, but I don’t.” ~ Sergeant Christopher Hughes when asked if the mission was worthwhile.

Bush handed Obama a shit-filled leaky plastic bag of a mismangled war in Afghanistan. Deaths have been on the rise the past two years, including the cold blooded murder of two American Soldiers by an Afghan National Police Officer.

With COIN and most guerrilla wars the campaign remains at a low simmer for years with the occasional flare up. The Insurgents only real goal is to remain alive. They do not have to conduct any operations and the occasional successful attack on the occupying force is enough to bolster their recruitment or morale while trying to provoke the occupiers into a poor heavy handed response. Insurgencies end when the occupier leaves or begins colonization of the region.

If an occupier does colonize an area the attempt can become a mass migration and displacement (The Magyars into European Hungarian plain, the Normans into Sicily, The Europeans into the Americas, The English into Australia),
Or succeed for a few years or centuries (The Berbers into Spain, the French into Indochina, the Chinese into Tibet, The English in India) and then become reversed and the conquerors leave behind a sizable minority.

Most of the recent extended 4GW conflicts of the post-world war 2 world stem from repeated colonization attempts, e.g. Ireland, Israel/Palestine, and The Balkans.

Afghanistan has always been a crossroads of empire and warfare, especially the last 30 years; following the failed Soviet attempts at subjugation of the region, the Warlord battles of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Burhanuddin Rabbani, Abdul Dostum, the Taliban gained control and waged campaigns against the ethnic minorites of Tajik, Uzbek and Hazara in the country, until the US and Coalition forces invaded in response to the Terror Attacks of 9/11.

Any way, 8 years later, I don't know what the mission in Afghanistan is today and the Troops in Country don't know either. I don't think Obama knows either. It's not as if we're trying to diminsh the ridiculous growth of poppies flooding the world with Heroin, but, we have set up a Government, which conducts Bush-esque fair democratic elections, killed thousands of Al Qaeda terrorists, Taliban supporters and innocents, and brought back corporations to the region and revitalized infrastructure during the 7+ years we and ISAF occupied the area. Sooooo, now why are we staying? And what would be the point in adding 50,000 more troops as General McChrystal requests?

"You can always hear the people who are willing to sacrifice somebody else's life. They're plenty loud and they talk all the time"... Uber-Patriots Sean Hannity and R. Limbaugh are attacking Obama on his strategy in Afghanistan. They demand to know his plans, they demand he listen to General McChrystal! The pure unmitigated gall, the lack of compunction of these Chicken Hawks is what I've come to expect from the cowardly Punk Ass Bitches of the Right.

There was never a word against Bush's utter colossal failures, gross negligence and incompetence in fucking over America, Afghanistan and Iraq. His failures were points of pride for these Toxic Pukes. They spent the entire time attacking Democrats and adhering to the IOKIYAR mantra. Obama has no idea what to do with the Afghan War but to his credit is taking time to meet with Advisors and analyze the Bag of Smushed Assholes he inherited from Bush. But to the Punk Ass Bitch Conservatives and REMFpublicans Obama's to blame for not immediately doubling down and supporting the mantra of War Today, War Tomorrow, War Forever!

Using the Dead

The Dead can't Speak... but that doesn't stop those those who wish to take or maintain power from using them. The most recent incident is Barack Obama wearing a bracelet with the name of soldier killed in Iraq during the Presidential debate. It appears the family has asked Obama not to wear the bracelet.

Of course, the Demopublican/Republocrat side would never stoop to such behavior. My side is pure and righteous, the other side evil and ghoulish. My side has every right to invoke the dead and use them to take power because my side will do what is right with that power.

No one in politics has the right to use the dead. It is odd the side of the blog-o-shpere which supports McCain (or simply loathes Obama) is just finding out now those in power use the dead to support their continued control. Where or where have you been during the last seven years? You haven't been listening to Bush use the dead as the main reason we have to stay in Iraq?

But of course, supporting The War to Realign the Middle East to conform to American business and military interests, by simultaneously protecting Israel and Saudi Arabia, placing a puppet regime in Iraq with which to gain access to their oil reserves and possessing force projection ability towards both Syria and Iran is a good and proper use of American lives...

The truth is there is only one side in America, the ruling side, the Party of Property which controls you, does not have your interests at heart and to whom you are nothing more than an interchangeable and replaceable cog wheel in the machinery of industry or war.

You can always hear the people who are willing to sacrifice somebody else's life. They're plenty loud and they talk all the time. You can find them in churches and schools and newspapers and legislatures and congress. That's their business. They sound wonderful. Death before dishonor. This ground sanctified by blood. These men who died so gloriously.

They shall not have died in vain. Our noble dead.

Hmmmm.

But what do the dead say?

Nobody but the dead know whether all these things people talk about are worth dying for or not. And the dead can't talk. So the words about noble deaths and sacred blood and honor and such are all put into dead lips by grave robbers and fakes who have no right to speak for the dead. If a man says death before dishonor he is either a fool or a liar because he doesn't know what death is. ~ Excerpt from Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo

Feels like Suicide

With an ounce of pain
I wield a ton of rage
Just like suicide - Soundgarden, Like Suicide

Update 04/23:
CBS News is reporting Two US Senators are calling for the resignation of Bush Regime Liar Ira Katz. Of course, Katz will step down apologizing for his misstatements over such a trivial matter as wounded vets taking their own lives after Bush's War of Conquest and Choice. And Bush will delude enough people into believing he's not to blame for the mistreatment and abuse of veterans.

So the VA for some unknown reason is lying about the number of vets who have taken their own lives. Now why would the Department of Veteran Affairs lie about what happens to veterans post-war? To keep the American people in the Dark about the human toll of war because the Surge is working.

How much evidence needs to come to light to show the disdainful indifference Bush and his cadre has for Veterans.

Veterans benefits are hurtful to national defense: "The amounts have gotten to the point where they are hurtful. They are taking away from the nation's ability to defend itself," says David Chu, the Pentagon's undersecretary for personnel and readiness.

When the VA continually (here and here) loses Veterans personal information.

And when Veterans groups get together and sue for better health, the Bush Regime fights to have the case dismissed.

Armen Keteyian has emails, from the VAs Head of Mental Health, Dr. Ira Katz lying and covering up the number of suicides by Veterans. Here's the CBS transcript which claims Dr. Katz made efforts to hide the information from CBS News and lied during testimony.



So the words about noble deaths and sacred blood and honor and such are all put into dead lips by grave robbers and fakes who have no right to speak for the dead. Dalton Trumbo, Johnny Got His Gun

If you Support the War, Enlist.

The title says it all. I don't care what your political leanings are, but if you believe the battle with "Islamo-Fascism" is the defining struggle of the 21st century you're under 42 and reasonably healthy, you had better put down your keyboard, grand latte, and high paying consultant job; take the Oath of Enlistment and pick up a rifle.

However, oddly, many who are pro-war have no intention of placing themselves at risk and the sad truth is those (here, here, here, here and here) calling for the continued Occupation of Iraq and even expanding the War (here and here) do so knowing full well it will not be their powdered asses, shitting into a hole in the desert or going 7 weeks without a shower, or washing in contaminated water.

I have to assume these people are suffering from Delusion; a false, persistent belief not supported by sensory or objective evidence.

Or...

Or... They realise this is a war for money and control of the Middle East and do not see it as worth their own blood.

As Dalton Trumbo wrote, "You can always hear the people who are willing to sacrifice somebody else's life. They're plenty loud and they talk all the time."