Geekfest Rants

In Defense of Odd-Numbered Star Trek Films - by Steve Vivona

It's a well known precept among Star Trek fans that the odd-numbered entries are the weakest. As Mr. Spock would say, "I would accept that as an axiom." For whatever reason, the filmmakers never seemed to hit two home runs in a row. Having said that, I do feel like the odd-numbered Treks get a bad rap, even if they aren't of the caliber of their even-numbered counterparts (this theory falls apart around Star Trek Nemesis and don't even talk to me about the J.J. reboots – I will never defend those).

In Defense of The Lone Ranger - by Steve Vivona

Feels like we've been here before haven't we?

About a year ago, I wrote a defense of "Legend of the Lone Ranger," the infamous Klinton Splisbury-starring misfire that derailed any hopes of further Lone Ranger movies for a good three decades.

So here we are again. Another Ranger film. Another defense. Usually, I defend older films whose reputations have taken a serious beating. Here's my first defense of a contemporary film whose reputation is only beginning to suffer — somewhat unjustly I might add.

Episode 149 - Where is the Kryptonite? - A Geek Look at Man of Steel - Part 2

Today on Geekfest Rants we give you Part 2 of our look at Man of Steel.   Carlos, Steve and Tony continue their heated discussion of the film. In addition, contributor Tom LaSusa offers his thoughts on the film as well -- including the "big controversy." Tom and Carlos also discuss what a Man of Steel sequel should include given the events of the first film.

Episode 149 - Where is the Kryptonite - A Geek Look at Man of Steel - Part 2 (36:36)

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Anyone wishing to suggest show topics or participate on any future shows, please leave us a comment below or e-mail us at [email protected] 

In Defense of Old Superhero Movies, Part 3 - by Steve Vivona

I thought I'd end my defense of the "pre-renaissance" superhero films with the most controversial of the three – Roger Corman's Fantastic Four. If you're reading this column, you probably have some sense of the troubled history of this "lost" film, and while it has been endlessly derided over the years, it has also gained a reputation as a sincere, honest effort that is far and away a cut above most of its contemporaries, and I agree wholeheartedly with that sentiment.

In Defense of Old Superhero Movies, Part 2 - by Steve Vivona

Shortly after The Punisher went into production 21^st Century Films (founded by Menahem Golan, late of Cannon films) announced two Marvel projects in the trades: Spider-Man and Captain America. Spider-Man soon entered a legal morass of court battles between MGM, Carolco, Sony, Golan and God knows who else, eventually emerging in 2002 as the blockbuster directed by Sam Raimi.

Cap was not so lucky. Golan managed to get his film off the ground with Cyborg director Albert Pyun, a well-meaning guy who has made a career of schlocky independent films that valiantly try (and often fail) to be more than what they are. Pyun's heart was in the right place on this film, but unlike The Punisher - which is punctuated by well-staged action set pieces – nothing happens in this film.

In Defense of Old Superhero Movies - by Steve Vivona

The recent release of special edition blu rays for the original Punisher and Captain America films got me reminiscing about the days when studio execs looked down on comics as little more than kiddy fare, and what little they did produce often went straight to video – or in one infamous case – nowhere.

As a member of the Television Club back in college I did a show about superheroes on film and television. This was 1992 mind you, so beyond the Supermans, the Batmans and the Hulk, most of what I was covering could hardly be considered classic.

It's hard to conceive of now but back in my day (did I really just say that?) superheroes were hardly the hot properties they are today. Aside from the aforementioned Batman and Superman, few studios were willing to take a gamble on characters from the funnybooks, and when they did they often strayed so far from the source material that the result was sheer parody.

In Defense of The Legend of the Lone Ranger - by Steve Vivona

 

My Dad is a huge Lone Ranger fan. As big a Star Wars or Star Trek fan as I am, he is for the Masked Rider of the Plains. My father possesses an infectious enthusiasm for the things he loves so it was hard for me as a kid not to be sucked into his passions, which included but were not limited to: baseball, swashbucklers, historical dramas and westerns.

Dad grew up on the western and his generation was inundated with its heroes. Names like Gene Autrey, Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy and the Cisco Kid were as common as Batman, Spider-Man or the X-Men. While he possesses a great love for Hoppy, I’m fairly certain he’s edged out by John Reid, as portrayed by Clayton Moore and briefly by John Hart.

In Defense of...Exorcist III - by Steve Vivona

   
I miss the days when I would see a movie because the trailer “looked cool.” Nowadays, I go to the theater only when I feel it’s absolutely necessary (i.e. superhero blockbuster). But in my late teens and early twenties that was my #1 pastime, and I had a steady stream of friends who (generally) shared my tastes (or influenced them), so we went almost every week, or so it seemed.

We rarely gave any thought to reviews. In those pre-Internet days the only buzz we were often privy to came from genre magazines like Starlog and Fangoria. It was that lack of discretion that led to us discovering treasured classics such as Highlander, Prince of Darkness, Evil Dead 2, They Live, Monster Squad and several others, all critically or commercially reviled at the time. 

In Defense of...The Star Wars Holiday Special and Legends of the Superheroes - by Steve Vivona

I like defending the seemingly indefensible. I’ve never had what I consider pretentious tastes. While I certainly enjoy artier fare my bread is buttered on the mainstream side, and I don’t apologize for that. Today, I’m tackling two television programs so infamously bad they defy description, but for 8-year old me they were manna from heaven, and on that basis alone they hold a special place in my geeky heart.

Said shows were telecast between November 1978 and January of 1979 and are emblematic of the worst late 70s TV had to offer. The era of variety television was winding down (thank God) but these two last gasps attempted to combine two of my great loves – Superheroes and Star Wars – with lowbrow slapstick, tacky musical numbers and garish sets. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you The Star Wars Holiday Special and Legends of the Superheroes.

 

In Defense of...Swamp Thing - by Steve Vivona

I know I’ve defended some dubious films since I initiated this column. Admittedly, some are for purely sentimental reasons. I believe others have been unfairly maligned or overlooked upon their original release. This one is a combination of both.

Back in 1982, aside from Superman, there wasn’t much going on theatrically in the live-action superhero landscape. We were nearly a decade away from Tim Burton’s Batman and two decades away from X-Men and Spider-Man. The technology simply did not exist to render their fantastic powers (as I’ve already discussed in my prior defenses of The Rocketeer and Dick Tracy).

However, two forward thinking producers – Ben Melniker and Micheal Uslan optioned two DC properties they believed had franchise potential (and that could be budgeted within reason). The first, of course, was Batman. Uslan fought for nearly 10 years to get the film made. Eventually his perseverance paid off with the highest grossing superhero film (up to that point) with Tim Burton’s Batman.