Saturday, April 30, 2016

Review: Teen Titans Go! "Driver's Ed"

Now that I think about it, this episode features the first instance of this version of the Teen Titans actually fighting crime. (Unless you count the offscreen defeat of Mother Mae-Eye from last epsiode.) And they solve it by letting a demon drag the criminal in question to Hell.

For one glorious moment, this show was frickin’ hardcore.

Recap: Teen Titans Go! "Driver's Ed"

Today, the descent of Teen Titans Go! into slice-of-life stories continues as we go from last episode's money troubles to this episode's car troubles.

Not a single supervillain to be seen, though. Which makes a grand total of one so far.

Monday, April 25, 2016

Review: Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. "The Big Green Mile"

Knowing that this episode would be the resolution for pretty much everything since the Season 1 finale, I was really hoping that this episode would deliver. Because occasionally, even Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. can deliver something worth watching once.

I hoped that I would be able to at least give some kind of recommendation...


But instead… well….

Yeah, pretty much.

Recap: Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. "The Big Green Mile"

Since the Season 1 finale, things have been building up. The destruction of Vista Verde. The Hulks in space. The fugitive Hulks. This is where it all wraps up. Will it be the epic finale such a storyline warrants?
Have you forgotten what show we're dealing with?

Ten bucks says deus ex machina. Any takers?

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Review: Teen Titans Go! "Pie Bros"

I was right. After recapping this episode, I do want pie.

Strawberry rhubarb.

Oh yeah. Some whipped cream on top.

The real stuff.

….Aw, crap, this isn’t the last food-related episode. Looks like these Teen Titans Go!-related cravings won’t be stopping anytime soon.

...Seriously, though, I need me some pie.

Recap: Teen Titans Go! "Pie Bros"

Today, I examine the first Teen Titans Go! episode to revolve around food. And it certainly won't be the last. So let's... Actually, you know what? I'm going to get a snack real quick.

Something tells me that I'm going to start craving pie at the end of this, otherwise.

Monday, April 18, 2016

Review: Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. "The Doppelsmashers"

Finally, things are really happening in this episode. Unfortunately, story arcs that are set up, ignored, and eventually resolved in two episodes will be the lasting contribution Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. makes to the Marvel Animation Universe.

Hulk probably took the story format with him when he returned to Avengers Assemble after HAS was canceled.

Recap: Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. "The Doppelsmashers"

Today, I return to Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. for the first time in a while, now that I'm halfway through the "Fugitive Hulks" story arc. In the previous two episodes (three, if you count the out-of-order Halloween episode), the Hulks went on the run, got their dinosaur back, and wrestled an alien.

Hopefully, the story arc's actual plot shows up soon, because there's only two episodes left in it, including this one.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Sketchbook: Green Lantern Experiment

Today, this is a little bit different than my usual fare. This was more of an experimental piece, meant to be backlit to produce a glowing effect.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Review: "Superman"

The most grounded, realistic superhero movie at the time. Decades before The Dark Knight made such realism cool. Well, realistic as you can get when a man can fly.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Recap: "Superman" Part 3: Double Jeopardy

And now, the film shifts gears once again, as brain meets brawn. Might meets mind. The Son of Krypton versus... um, the Baldness Below the Streets?

Yeah, that's not catching on any time soon.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Recap: "Superman" Part 2: This Looks like a Day Job For....

Now that we've gone over Superman's origin, it's time for the movie to shift gears from subtle sci-fi into costumed superheroics.

It's less jarring than it sounds.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Recap: "Superman" Part 1: Last Son

Before I begin, I want to make one thing clear. Superman is one of my favorite superheroes.

And not just because his cereal is so dang delicious.
But that doesn't mean I'll be pulling my punches. Superman is often called the greatest superhero film of all time, so it had better be able to defend that title from some nobody with a blog. Just know that what I am about to do, I do out of love.

I must be cruel to be kind.

Monday, April 11, 2016

Recap: "Superman" Intro

There was a time, NewtCave readers, that Superman gave people hope.

And not just to Iron Giants.
There was a time when Superman films didn't need to be "defended."

A time when Superman films weren't controversial.

The year was 1978.

And people believed that a man could fly.

Agent Carter Archive


Carter. Agent Carter.
Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter
- Recap/Review

Season 1
Episode 01: "Pilot" aka "Now is Not the End"
- Recap
- Review
Episode 02: "Bridge and Tunnel"
- Recap
- Review
Episode 03: "Time and Tide"
- Recap
- Review
Episode 04: "The Blitzkrieg Button"
- Recap
- Review
Episode 05: "The Iron Ceiling"
- Recap
- Review

Teen Titans Go! Archive

1-2-3-4-go!
From Teen Titans to Teen Titans Go!

Episode 01: "Legendary Sandwich"
- Recap
- Review
Episode 02: "Pie Bros"
- Recap
- Review
Episode 03: "Driver's Ed"
- Recap
- Review
Episode 04: "Dog Hand" aka "Raven's Daddy Dearest"
- Recap
- Review 
Episode 05: "Double Trouble"
- Recap
- Review
Episode 06: "The Date"
- Recap
- Review
Episode 07: "Dude Relax"
- Recap
- Review
Episode 08: "Laundry Day"
- Recap
- Review

Episode 10: La Larva de Amor
- Recap
- Review

"40% 40% 20%"
- Recap
- Review

Saturday, April 9, 2016

View Log: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

There were two tie-in cereals for this movie. There was a Superman cereal, which was a delicious caramel concoction, equal parts sweet and subtle. And there was a Batman cereal, which was a horrible mixture of chocolate and strawberry, mixed together in a half-baked idea of what would work together and sell well.  And unfortunately, Batman v Superman is pretty much the same as the Batman cereal.

Spoiler Free Review
While the cast is giving it their all (in the case of Jesse Eisenberg, perhaps he's giving a bit too much), there's not much they can do to elevate the bleak, depressing, and often confusing and convoluted plot. But if you don't take it's awfulness too seriously, it's freaking hilarious and worth the ticket for that alone.

Just try not to see it as one big middle finger to the audience

Pay no attention to that big middle finger....
As for specifics.... well, spoilers ahoy. 

Spoilers ahead.

Monday, April 4, 2016

Review: Gravity Falls "The Time Traveler's Pig"

NewtCave Warning: The Recap preceding this is filled with a long, possibly confusing rant on time travel. Any time travelers who get confused by temporal mechanics may wish to read something else for the last few minutes.

Recap: Gravity Falls "The Time Traveler's Pig"

Okay, no. Something's up.

I postpone this post because I'm sick, and then at 2 AM, the day before it's supposed to go up, I finish my review.... and my Recap disappears. Like it was retconned from history. I don't know what's going on, but that won't be the only paradox today as I talk about Gravity Falls.

Get ready for more explanations about temporal mechanics!

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Review: Teen Titans Go! "Legendary Sandwich"

When looking at this episode, or indeed any episode of this show, there's a question that has to be addressed.

What is this show?

Recap: Teen Titans Go! "Legendary Sandwich"

I now find myself about to examine one of the most hated cartoons on TV at the moment. And I'm not throwing that word around; people genuinely despise this show.

Some hate it because they don't think it's funny.

Some hate it because they think it does a disservice to the original Teen Titans cartoon.

Some hate it because it was the sole survivor of the end of the DC Nation.

Some hate it because Cartoon Network really likes repeating certain episodes (especially "Puppets, Whaaaat?" and "Caged Tiger.") ad nauseum.

With a lot swear words involved, from the online discussions I've seen.
Pure hatred has been consistently spewed at this show, despite its surprisingly loyal fanbase's attempts to get people to re-evaluate it. And you know what? That's exactly what I'm going to do.

I'm throwing out all my preconceived notions and prior opinions and starting from scratch.

Ball's in your court, Teen Titans Go!

Try not to drop it as quickly as Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. did.

Friday, April 1, 2016

Site News: April, 2016 Announcements

Okay, real talk, guys.

No April Fools gag this year. After the slew of difficulties that all came up at once, I figure that the the biggest surprise I could launch on you guys would be having the blog running as it's supposed to be.

(Still haven't had a good chunk of time to fix pictures, but I'm slowly working on them.)

This April, the NewtCave will continue to bring you Marvel Animated Universe reviews, as well as a film review that I think is needed right about now. And the Gravity Falls review that wasn't posted yesterday because I was sick (like, we're talking fetal position/fever dreams) will be going up Monday.

I'll be going on vacation to visit family next week, but I've set up some posts to go up automatically when I'm gone. And after I return, I have the long-awaited task of archiving a metric butt-ton of posts.

But before all that, the ongoing look at Teen Titans Go! begins tomorrow. See you then!