andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Who the hell do you think I am? I'm the goddamn Batman.

Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?  It’s something I ask of all my readers… I just like the sound of it.

And with that not-so-obscure reference, we begin our review of Batman: Arkham Asylum, which is the best game of 2009.  Yes, I am saying that in October.

I have been drooling over this game for months now, and anxiously anticipating doing this review.  Now, as much as I would like to give an unbiased and honest review of Batman: Arkham Asylum, that is impossible.  I am a huge Batman fanboy (Batboy?) and although this will be a fair and balanced review, I am obviously biased in some respects.  I mean, I am literally wearing a Batman T-shirt right now, and not even for the purpose of this review.  Just ‘cause, suckers. READ MORE »

Ok, we all knew this was coming so I ask you, of all the super heroes out there who is the most lethal one?? I’m talking marvel and DC… the whole lot!

I know it’s been done in that whole Marvel vs DC series of comics and we all remember Amalgam comics (when DC and Marvel characters were combined in an alternate universe) but my point is this- I believe Batman to be the most lethal hero out there, simply put he is a man at the top of his game. It’s the same reason Lex Luthor is such a threat to humanity, in the end the most righteous and villainous characteristics emerge not from super human beings but simple human nature. Anyhow there are peeps out there who thought Wolverine could best Batman… sure… but why don’t we let the comic do the talking.

Oh and a special thanks to April and Staci for this one.

Click on the image for a full sized version.

Let me explain where this one is going… You see back a month ago or so there were rumors coming from Europe that Eidos had a disclaimer attached to all review copies of BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM. That disclaimer read that if you score the game 90% or had the cover of your magazine devoted to BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM that you can run an early review on this summers MOST ANTICIPATED GAME.

Naturally the game came out and despite its rumored controversy I can tell you its a BATMAN DREAM COME TRUE! SO since everything was proven wrong and the game was stellar I thought Id submit a work that I almost ran but decided not to until there further confirmations. Anyways Its ALL IN GOOD FUN! And expect more BATMAN COMICS Arkham Asylum spoofs in the future. HAHAHAhahahaHAHAHAhehehehehAhAHAHAH

As always click on the image for the full view

This is what's known as a bad day.

Batman vs. Punisher: Arkham Asylum vs. No Mercy Impressions

I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up by giving the impression this is a review of Batman: Arkham Asylum.  It’s not.  But I’ve been doing some research into the game, and wanted to rant a bit about the character of Batman as compared to other heroes, specifically the Punisher.  A friend of mine recently compared Batman to the Punisher as being very similar, and I couldn’t disagree more.  Why?  Let’s take a look. READ MORE »

Zack Snyder is interested in bringing Frank Miller’s comic book “The Dark Knight Returns” to the big screen.

Snyder, who previously directed a film adaptation of Miller’s graphic novel “300,” told iFMagazine he has already approached studio Warner Bros. about the project.

The story, which the director says is his favourite comic book, follows an ageing Bruce Wayne who comes out of retirement to once again defend Gotham City.

Snyder added that it is unlikely he would be able to make the movie because of potential conflict with Warner Bros.’s highly successful Batman franchise starring Christian Bale.

“The studio has this massive franchise and I don’t think they’ll let me make a Batman movie where he’s 50 years old and Ronald Reagan is President,” he said.

Snyder also helmed the 2004 remake of “Dawn of the Dead” and the comic-based movie “Watchmen,” which hits theatres March 6.

A bug-eyed robot has edged out the Caped Crusader for top movie of 2008 according to the Los Angeles Critics Assn.

The group chose Pixar’s “WALL-E” as the year’s best picture in its annual voting Tuesday, marking the first time in the association’s history that it has given the title to an animated film.

Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” fell just short of the honour, taking the runner-up spot instead. However, the blockbuster did earn a win in the best supporting actor category for the late Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker.

Penelope Cruz won in the supporting actress category for her work in two films: “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and “Elegy.”

Overall, no one film dominated the winners’ list. Sean Penn was named best actor for his portrayal of late San Francisco gay politician Harvey Milk in “Milk,” while Sally Hawkins won best actress for her role as a free-spirited schoolteacher in “Happy-Go-Lucky.”

Best director went to Danny Boyle for “Slumdog Millionaire,” which was named best film of 2008 last week by the National Board of Review.

The awards will be presented Jan. 12 at the critics’ annual banquet.

Could Cher be the newest addition to the Batman franchise?

The UK Telegraph reports that the singer is in talks to star as Catwoman in the upcoming sequel.

“Cher is Nolan’s first choice to play Catwoman,” said an unnamed studio exec. “He wants to her to portray her like a vamp in her twilight years. The new Catwoman will be the absolute opposite of Michelle Pfeiffer and Halle Berry’s purring creations.”

Johnny Depp is also reportedly being signed on as the Riddler for the sequal, tentatively titled “The Caped Crusader.” It should begin filming early next year in Vancouver.

“The Dark Knight” is expected to gross $530 million.

It seems that Ben Stiller can take down The Batman.

According to E! News, “The Dark Knight” finished the weekend box office in second place while Stiller’s “Tropic Thunder” took first place with an opening of $26 million – per studio estimates complied by Exhibitor Relations.

Although “The Dark Knight” failed to remain in the number one spot for the fifth weekend in the row, the Christopher Nolan film became the second all-time ranking movie by bringing in a total of $471.5 million dollars to date – beating out “Star Wars” which grossed $461 million domestically, including re-releases.

“Going in I would have been happy with $250 million,” Warner Bros. distribution chief Dan Fellman said today. “…We went for a ride like the public.”

The movie is expected to reach the $500 million landmark by the Labour Day weekend and it is likely to tap out at about $530 million – making it just about $70 million shy of Titanic’s $601 million domestic record.

“Titanic is king of the box office, and will remain that way forever,” said Fellan.

Christian Bale is a free man.

According to E! News, “The Dark Knight” star will not face any charges in regard to his highly-publicized arrest on suspicion of assaulting his mother and sister last month.

“We can today confirm that we have advised the Metropolitan Police Service that the actor Christian Bale should not face any charges,” the Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement. The CPS also said there was “insufficient evident to afford a realistic prospect of conviction” on the charges and that “the police have been advised that no further action should be taken against Mr. Bale.”

Bale has denied the allegations set against him. After the star was arrested and questioned, he was released by police on July 22.

Even Hollywood’s newest potheads could not beat Batman.

“The Dark Knight” took in another $26 million this past weekend and finished in the No. 1 spot for the fourth straight weekend. Batman beat out the stoner comedy “Pineapple Express”—which opened in second place with $22.4 million, according to studio estimates, reports E! News.

The Christopher Nolan Batman sequel has made a total of $441.5 million domestically and is No. 3 on the all-time domestic box-office charts, behind only “Titanic” ($600.8 million) and the original “Star Wars” ($461
million).

By this upcoming weekend, “The Dark Knight” is expected to surpass “Star Wars” and become No. 2 on the revenue charts.

Rounding out the top five box office movies were the following: “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” in third place with $16.1 million, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2,” in fourth place with $10.8 million, and “Step Brothers,” came in fifth place with $8.9 million.