University of Massachusets Athletics
Meyers Movie Picks Blog #4 - Mass Attack Gets Super Powers
December 09, 2008 | Hockey
Dec. 9, 2008
This is a genre that started as a light, unrealistic type of movie bound to strict guidelines as being a summer popcorn flick. Although, as of late there have been many successful superhero movies centered around a realistic world. The characters have been portrayed in ways that the common man can find easier to relate with.
The majority of the movie going people around the world have grown tired of the lackluster CGI effects and unrealistic characters. The "new wave" of superhero movies still incorporate fantasy characters with a dose of reality. I'm going to list a few of my favorite superhero/comic book movies and explain why.
Have you ever found yourself watching a movie and started to think, "What if I could..."? I sure have and if you haven't taken a moment to ponder the life of a super hero, I strongly recommend it. I asked my teammates that very question and you can check out their answers below!
NOTICE: In the midst of all the superhero fun please read the segment at the very bottom of the blog regarding a documentary I believe to be extremely important.
TOP FIVE COMIC BOOK/SUPERHERO MOVIES (in my opinion)
1. The Dark Knight - Check It Out On IMDB.com
This is the first comic book movie to not just succeed as a brilliant superhero movie, but as a classic crime drama as well. The superb acting by Heath Ledger carries a film full of strong performances. It really shows the potential of taking complex comic book characters and putting them in the real world.
2. Ironman - Check It Out On IMDB.com
I walked out of this movie pleasantly surprised. I went in with low expectations due to trailers that seemed to advertise just another superhero movie. This film was excellent in every way. The resurrection of Robert Downey, Jr. was complete after this movie.
3. Spiderman - Check It Out On IMDB.com
The first superhero movie that I believe started a realistic trend. It also got the ball rolling on the production of all the superhero movies that followed. Great story and a visual masterpiece.
4. Batman Begins - Check It Out On IMDB.com
This would be higher on the list if its sequel didn't top it. Director Christopher Nolan couldn't have approached a re-imagining of the series any better.
5. X-Men - Check It Out On IMDB.com The first superhero movie of the new century delivers. The all star cast brings this classic comic book to life with style.
Honorable Mention - The Incredible Hulk (2008), Sin City (one of the best on this list, I wanted to keep the top five strictly superhero movies), 300, X-Men 2
Teammate - Power - City/Area Protected
Brett Watson - Time Travel - Philadelphia
Justin Braun - Slow Time - Berlin, Germany
Scott Crowder - Control The Sun's Rays (specifically to give people painful sunburns) - Hawaii
Chris Davis - Freeze People - Dublin,Ireland
Dan Meyers - The Force - Georgetown, Cayman Islands
Will Ortiz - Fly - The World
Matt Irwin - Sonic Speed - Victoria, British Columbia
Chase Langeraap - Super Strength - Canada
Danny Hobbs - Be The Mask (Jim Carrey) - Ottawa
Cory Quirk - Invincibility - The Streets of B-Rock
John Wessbecker - Be a Transformer - America
Mike Marcou - Immortality - New York City
Doug Kublin - Fly - The Skies
Alex Berry - Teleportation - The US of A
TJ Syner - Invisibility - Springfield, Mass.
Shawn Saunders - Lightning Speed - New York City
Paul Dainton - Throw Balls Of Fire - Mullins Center
Matt Gedman - Super Long Arms In Order To Open Both Doors On The Bench - The Bench
Kevin Kessler - I Would Be The Moustache Man (I will throw mustaches at people in danger to help disguise them and I'll say "Here, take this muzzy!") - Mankind
Marc Concannon - Control Mother Nature - Entire World
Brian Keane - Telekinesis - Shortsville, New York
Martin Nolet - Time Travel - World History and Future
Jeff Smith - Heal People - Boyden Athletic Building
Topher Bevis - Fly - Voorhees, New Jersey
Jordan Virtue - Invisibility - The World
James Marcou - Iron Man - New York City
Casey Wellman - Fly - College Street
Michael Lecomte - Invisibility - The Province of Quebec
Ryan Leary - Read Minds - Marblehead, Mass.
John Sinnett - Spidey Sense - Cahoonaville
Carl Spackler: So I jump ship in Hong Kong and make my way over to Tibet, and I get on as a looper at a course over in the Himalayas. A looper, you know, a caddy, a looper, a jock. So, I tell them I'm a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald... striking. So, I'm on the first tee with him. I give him the driver. He hauls off and whacks one - big hitter, the Lama - long, into a ten-thousand foot crevasse, right at the base of this glacier. Do you know what the Lama says? Gunga galunga... gunga, gunga-galunga. So we finish the 18th and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know." And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice.
-Bill Murray- Caddyshack
I recently watched a brilliant and informative documentary about something I find very important in my life. I love the ocean and have recently become a certified scuba diver within the past few years. My parents have been diving for 25 years and it's a huge family hobby. While spending a wonderful Thanksgiving day at Chris Davis' house, we watched a documentary called SHARKWATER. Chris and his father share the same love of the ocean and were equally as upset after watching the documentary. The film surrounds the journey of a young Canadian biologist/film maker who investigates the unnecessary murdering of millions of sharks for their fins. He works with the Sea Shepherd in film who recently had his work made into a show on the Discovery network. The unnecessary slaughtering of sharks and whales has become an epidemic in the ocean. This documentary is an eye opener that will show you that the ocean will be permanently damaged if this issue is not taken seriously. Please check out Sharkwater!
Be sure to come support us at our last game before the break this Friday night at 7 PM vs. American International in the Mullins Center!
Thanks for reading and see you at the Rink!
