Sketchbook: Christmas Paintings 2015

As many of you probably already know from reading my monthly updates, this year, I've been spending some time painting and writing. Among the things I've painted are two small paintings which I gave to my grandparents.

And now that Christmas is over, I can present them to the world without fear of anybody seeing these gifts early.

Christmas Delay (Posts resume next week)

In the wake of the NewtCave's recent schedule changes, this delay might seem alarming, but it's simply a matter of time. If I'm going to Recap and Review Iron Man 3, I'm going to do it right. Unfortunately, that's taking more time than expected.

Not helping matters is the fact that I've had to rush to complete a few paintings in time for Christmas, which I shall be posting pictures of on Saturday for you all to see.

Very sorry for the delay, but like I said, I want to do this right if I'm going to do it at all.

Thank you all very much for understanding, and a Merry Christmas to you all.

Recap: "Iron Man 3" Part 1: Ready

This is a film that invites quite a bit of discussion. Fictional politics, character interpretations, design aesthetics, storytelling tropes, you name it. Pretty much every single aspect of the film has been debated and discussed.

So I’d like to apologize in advance that it’s going to take me a little longer than usual to cover it. Let’s not waste time, then. I’m here to tell you exactly why I love this movie so much… and why that’s not exactly an opinion everybody can agree with.

How appropriate that a movie that features literal flame wars has created so many flame wars.

Recap: "Iron Man 3" Intro

One year ago, for Hannukah, I took a look at Iron Man, the first film in Phase 1 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This year, for Christmas, I’m doing the same with its threequel. But it’ll take me a little longer to talk about it than usual. Because this isn’t just any movie. This is Iron Man 3. No MCU movie before or since has been this polarizing. This isn’t just something I can bang out in the middle of wrapping presents. Partially because I’m not very good at wrapping presents.

Something has gone horribly wrong....

So thank you all for an amazing year while I covered Phase 1 of the MCU. And as we examine the beginning of Phase 2, I’d just like to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy Hannukah/Kwanzaa/Festivus. Even you, Ant-Man.

"Aw, thanks!"

Just shut up while I talk about this movie. Think you can hold your usual commentary in until we get to yours?

"I'll do my best."

That's all I ask. Now let's begin.

Known as 3 Demir Adam in Turkey. Do not confuse it with 3 Dev Adam.

Review: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Phase 1

Marvel did it first, but did Marvel do it best? Time to take a look at the first Phase of Marvel's groundbreaking Cinematic Universe.

Unlike some of the other things I've covered, like Back to the Future and various cartoons, the MCU movies aren't the most... uniform things. That is to say, they're the culmination of many visions and stories, rather than a 100% unified whole, especially in Phase One. As such, I'll be forgoing a few aspects that I usually cover when I look at such a big chunk of entertainment. Because it's kind of hard to talk about, say, the music of six movies that were mostly composed by different people.

But there are some things that tie these movies together, and they deserve to be talked about.

Mostly Iron Man.

Review: Doctor Who "The Unquiet Dead"

You know, I think that even if the old Victorian gas lamps were infested with ghosts, like in this episode, the people would still trust them more than those newfangled electric lamps. They'll never catch on.

Recap: Doctor Who "The Unquiet Dead"

Tonight marks the end of Hannukah for the year. So I think we can now actually call it the Christmas season, despite all the stores claiming it starts the day after Halloween.

My Christmas Day traditions are simple. Wake up early, open presents, visit my dad’s parents, visit my girlfriend’s parents, visit my mom’s parents, and then return home to watch the Doctor Who Christmas Special. Christmas has been a part of Doctor Who history since the very beginning, with the First Doctor breaking the fourth wall to wish the viewers a Happy Christmas during “The Feast of Steven.” And starting with the Tenth Doctor, yearly Christmas specials would be counted as separate episode from the rest of the season, meaning an extra episode every year. But when Doctor Who first came back in 2005, its first Christmas episode was just another episode. The third episode, actually. The one I’ll be talking about today, in fact. So let’s take a look at the Doctor’s triumphant return to Christmas.

Not to be confused with the time he goes to a place called Christmas. Spoilers.

Recap/Review: Gotham Girls "Scout's Dishonor"

Okay, look, another Gotham Girls, blah blah blah.

Let me cut to the chase: Again with this STUPID minigame.

Screw this minigame.

But at last, I shall have my final revenge. I shall beat it. I must.

Not good enough.

I'll settle for that. Take that, decade-old game!

Do I even need to Recap and Review the webisode at this point? I showed this game what-for. I'm pacified.

If this cartoon was nothing more than Bruce Timm flipping me off for a minute, I'd still be in a good mood.

Review: Doctor Who "The End of the World"

I think if we can take one thing away from this episode, it's that the Doctor gives terrible gifts.

But he does a great impression of the MGM logo.

Recap: Doctor Who "The End of the World"

Happy December, NewtCave readers!

As we prepare for yet another round of pre-holiday panicking, I think it's important to give thanks that we're not doing an entirely different type of panicking. I'm sure we all remember the "Mayan Apocalypse" scare of 2012.

Luckily, in case you missed the news, the world did not come to an end, and future children have yet another reason to make fun of my generation's paranoia along with the Y2K bug. And they'll probably bring up Orson Welles' War of the Worlds hoax, meaning I'll have to remind them that I'm not that old. Dang future kids.

But today, I'm going to take a look at the Doctor Who episode that's going to seem just as silly as the movie 2012  if the Earth is still around in the year 5,000,000,000 or so.

We'll probably be on the 4,999,786,517th Doctor by that point at least. Unless they reboot the show.

Recap/Review: Marvel One-Shot "Item 47"

You can't see it, but I'm sighing. Unfortunately, I've just now reached the midway point for the Marvel One-Shots. As of this date, there are only five of them. And it seems like it's going to stay that way, now that Marvel can expand their ideas for short films into entire shows.

Everyone knows about Agent Carter's show spinning off from the Marvel One-Shot of the same name, but did you know that so did Jessica Jones? And they have a few more ideas for One-Shots that were never made, probably so they can expand them into their own shows.

But I think that these One-Shots triumph when all they're doing is telling a single story. No more, no less.

So let's take a look at example of a One-Shot doing just that.

And yes, I'm aware of the in-joke of the title.

Site News: December, 2015

As ever, just to alleviate any possible concerns, the NewtCave is not ending.

I will keep reviewing, but unfortunately, I'm simply unable to keep up with the strenuous pace I've set for myself.

As such, starting this month, I will be posting twice a week as opposed to my usual three. TV Recaps/Reviews on Mondays, and other posts on Saturdays. Film Recaps/Reviews will still happen over the course of a week.

There are many reasons for this, but it all comes down to my situation.

I am currently unemployed. I make no money off this blog. And even if I set up some ads, I'd only be making ten cents a day at best.

So however I proceed from here, whether it be trying to sell art, write a book, or even get a job at Wal-Mart, I need extra time in my life to make it happen. And the fact that the holiday season has arrived before I knew it isn't helping.

So unfortunately, that little snag called "reality" has reared its ugly head.

But the bottom line is this: The NewtCave isn't going anywhere. It's just adapting to survive.

Doctor Who on Monday of next week, and Iron Man 3 down the line, too.

Rest assured, I'll see you then.