Disney gets a little Tim Burton...

And that's just a title by the way I don't think Tim Burton will actually take up this project. But he could. This title is strictly based on the fact that this is something Tim Burton would do. Even Geektyrant.com says so, "This would make for a great project for Tim Burton to take on, but he's got a pretty busy schedule."

Anyway, what I'm talking about is the fact that I will now be reading this book this summer because it must be good if the company that basically rules the world is making a movie off of it. What I’m talking about is Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book. Weird title right? But if anything, if we're in the age of the heroes we're also in the age of the weird with people Tim Burton, Niki Minaj, Lady Gaga, The Walking Dead, American Horror Story, and etc. so why shouldn't Disney hop on board the weird train, they already own Marvel.

The description of the book, according to Geektyrant.com, is like this:

Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy-an ancient Indigo Man beneath the hill, a gateway to a desert leading to an abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible menace of the Sleer. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family. . . .

Sounds pretty good right? Wikipedia.com says that, “Gaiman had the idea for the story in 1985, after seeing his then two year old son Mike ‘pedaling his BMX around a graveyard” their family lived across from, in the English town of East Grinstead, West Sussex. Recalling how at home his son looked there, Gaiman thought he “’could write something a lot like The Jungle Book and set it in a graveyard.” It does sound an awful like something Burton would take on. But it seems like there could be more to this story. As it is, it reminds me of D.J. MacHale's The Morpheus Road Trilogy which just had the final book come out, The Blood so I'm going to read that but afterwards I want to tackle The Graveyard Book. Gaiman is the guy that wrote Coraline for those of you that don’t know him, and that was a great book. I haven't seen the movie because book adaptations normally suck, but that was a fantastic book so I really want to see how he composed The Graveyard Book. It's Gaiman's first "children's" book since Coraline and like that one it's being made for the big screen. It's also the first book to win the Carnegie and Newbery award and the author of the article I found about this novel likes the book himself.
"I'm actually reading this book right now with my kids, and so far, it's really good. It will definitely make for a solid movie, and Disney seems like the right place for it to be” (Geektyrant.com). So that means maybe I wrong about the whole Disney attacking the weird, from the description it sounds like a weird book but I haven't read it for myself so I have too. And I will, but then again, Disney is remaking Frakenweenie and Burton is all on board to redirect his old movie in stop-motion this time so maybe he will do The Graveyard Book.

This isn't the only book getting a movie deal, Tigers Curse the latest tweener supernatural love story by Colleen Houck landed screenwriter Julie Plec, executive producer, and co-creator of the Vampire Diaries TV series; she also writes a lot of the episodes. It'll be interesting to see who Disney gets to write and direct The Graveyard Book and hopefully I'll have read the book by the time they announce who is taking over. Until the next exciting entertainment post, According to Michael III, I'm excited to read this book! Thank goodness school ends for me next week.

—Michael III

Who is Amon?

Yea! Post #30! But who care about that, onto today's topic!

Who is Amon, really?

If you have been watching the last three weeks of The Legend of Korra you know that Amon is the protagonist for the latest reincarnation of the Avatar. Amon is the leader of the Equalists, a group of chi blockers bent on destroying the structure of bending. How are they going to do that? Amon can take away someone’s bending as he showed at an Equalists rally where Bolin almost got his Earthbending taken away and he plans on destroying bending one by one as his Equalists line them up before him. But as Tenzin said, “Only the Avatar has ever possessed that ability!” Not like it needed to be said, we already knew that. And if you didn’t all I have to say to you is: really? You honestly believe that Avatar Aang was walking around just teaching people how to take bending away? It’s the same as Katara probably never teaching Korra how to Bloodbend because it’s not okay for someone to have that much power over another! (Sorry Brittany.) But Amon proved that he can do it…or did he?

You see I’m a little skeptical on the whole thing. Amon said that the spirits came to him to teach him this move so that way he could bring balance back to the world, because apparently the Avatar wasn’t doing a good enough job. Whether he was talking about Korra or Avatars in general I have no idea. But if he was talking about Korra, in her defense, she’s only seventeen and has been locked up for a majority of her life. Either way that’s obviously false because if you know anything about Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra then you know that the spirits have always chosen the Avatar to bring balance back to the world and that the Avatar shows up when balance needs to be replaced. Not to mention the spirits are all about nature and the elements, shoot, the moon spirit is a personal friend of the Avatar and I don’t see Yue just voting to suddenly get rid of the Avatar because if that was their intention then Korra would have never have been born and the Avatar would have ceased to exists. The only spirit I see against the Avatar would be Ko, the Face Stealer, only because the previous Waterbending Avatar tried to kill him.

I heard arguments that Amon could be Bumi, Aang’s and Katara’s second born and first son. Bumi is rumored to be the only non-bender of the family and if so that would make sense. Kia would get all the attention from their mother because she was the Waterbender and Tenzin from Aang because he was the next Airbender. Bumi would have been left in the dust and harshly because of the fact that he was the first son and fathers are always proud of their sons especially the first born; so the attention would have brutally switch from Bumi to Tenzin the moment he started Airbending if the rumors are true. Besides getting the name of his father’s best friend from his original childhood, Bumi, as harsh as it is to say, is nothing. If so in an effort to try and reconcile with his first son he could have made the mistake of teaching him Engerybending and now, with major daddy issues, he is setting out to destroy everything his father stood for. So that’s the possibility.

What I did like about last week’s episode is the creators of The Legend of Korra show they still know how to tell a good story. As it is The Legend of Korra has a darker theme because of the fact Korra is seventeen not twelve like Aang was. The series has, and has been made to have, a darker feel much like Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight; and the scene where Amon gangs up on Korra is a perfect example of that. Actually, Korra trying to hide her fear the whole entire episode was the perfect example. The writers depict a female who has had the weight of the world on her shoulders since she was a little girl. It’s not like the other Avatar’s who were told the truth on their sixteenth birthday. It seems like Aang wanted the White Lotus to find the Avatar early on and train them to get them ready. If anything, Aang showed they didn’t have to wait. Not to mention if you saw the first episode Korra was able to do three of the four elements when she was a girl, probably at the age of five. For the first time in her life, Korra is up against a challenge that she can’t compete against, actually two challenges; learning Airbending and Amon and the Equalists. But she’s not alone, everyone fears something, and no one knows that better than her past life who was afraid of losing his identity to protect the world.

The episode ends with Korra crying in Tenzin’s arms and Tenzin telling her that admitting her fear was the first and hardest step to getting over it, but before that we get a glimpse of Sokka, Toph, and Aang as adults…and looking good I must say. Toph looked basically the same but the boys, now men, looked awesome. And like one friend of mine said, “Aang looked so good with a goatee!” I agree to that. But as Tenzin runs up to Korra she thinks she’s seeing Aang run to her which means Avatar Aang isn’t going to let Korra go through this alone. He has something to tell her and he’s slowly starting to reach out to her. As far as we know, this is the first time ever that Aang has ever tried to talk to the young Avatar.

“Ever since you were a little girl you exceled at the physical side of bending, but completely ignored the spiritual side. The Avatar must master both.”

“I haven’t ignored, it just doesn’t come as easy to me.”

Already showing that spiritually Korra is…lacking, so Aang could now be forcing his way through, or the events taking place in Republic City are opening up her spiritual side or both.

And why shouldn’t Aang help her, Roku and Kioshi were very helpful to him and when the current Avatar’s journey on this world ends his/her job isn’t over, he or she is there to help the next Avatar bring balance back to the world and when needed lend their strength and training through the Avatar State. So no matter what Amon says, this isn’t the end. And in my opinion, seeing as when Amon took their bending away it wasn’t the big light show that we saw when Aang took down Phoenix King Ozai, it seems like he doesn’t know what he’s doing, so I’m not so sure. But all will be revealed as this season continues. So keep watching and root for Korra as she faces and entirely new threat that no Avatar has faced before. New episode tomorrow on Nick at 11:00 pacific time! According to Michael III, this isn’t the end!

—Michael III

"Looper" Assassins for the future, are found in the past

"Never let your target escape..." Unless that target is Bruce Willis because then you have no choice. Sorry Joseph Gordon-Levitt, it's true, and I don't care if you were in Inception, Bruce Willis has survived FOUR Die Hard’s and is about to survive a fifth and possibly a sixth. Willis said if they do want to do a sixth it will be the last one he will do. (Screenrant.com)

For those of you that haven't seen the trailer for the new movie by Rian Johnson (written and directed), Looper is the upcoming movie about assassins who eliminate targets from the future for a crime organization known as the “Gat Men.” The assassins are known as Loopers and they are paid well as long as they never let their target escape. But one day Gordon-Levitt recognizes the victim (Willis) as himself and hesitates to kill him allowing his future self to get away and the "Gat Men" come after him as he hunts himself down (Wikiepedia.com).

Sounds like a trippy storyline right? I know this trailer and the news about it has been out for a while but I still wanted to talk about this movie because it looks good. Emily Blunt (The Adjustment Bureau) adds to this already amazing cast for a movie about assassins and time travel. Not much has been released about this movie just yet but it does come out this year on September 28th. So be on the lookout for more updates to the movie, until then, According to Michael III, you should check out this trailer and let me know what you think below! Remember to spread the word if you like what you read!

—Michael III

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kGFyVKmqA0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

"Let it Shine!" A Disney Channel Original Movie. Disney takes on the lack of Positive Hip-Hop and I love it!

This summer “The Truth is [definitely] in the music!”

So if I haven’t said it already I’m sorry guys, but the truth is, I’m a big kid. The other truth is besides writing, music is my next passion since I was singing since I was little kid and playing the drums since I was seven. But growing up in a constricted household has left me a little kid at heart which is probably why I’ll make a great father when my baby girl is born this summer. But I have been a fan of Disney’s musicals from The Cheetah Girls down to Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, which, if you know your Disney, in the middle of that was the High School Musicals as well; heck those movies prompted me to get into theater my senior year of high school.

One thing that has upset me is Hip-Hop music because a lot of it is nothing but sex, drugs, and money and while some rappers flow really well and have tight beats the messages is sickening. Which is why, if you knew me for real, you know how big of a Will Smith fan I am because one: Will was all I could listen to in my household that was rap, and two: because I respect the fact he chose not to do “gangsta” hip-hop and no matter what anyone says he is the best rapper ever. No one can ever top the fact he was the first ever Rap Grammy and he did it without cursing or talking about what the other rappers were talking about. He paved the way for those who have come around and stained what he paved. So imagine my surprise when I’m watching a recorded episode of Phineas and Ferb last week and I see not only a preview for a new musical on Disney Channel but one focused on positive Hip-Hop. Let me tell you, I was about to drool.

Disney will be premiering Let it Shine on June 15, 2012 staring Tyler James William, Chris from Everybody Hates Chris. For those of you that watched that show you know how great of a young actor he is, but the film will also star Trevor Jackson, who I can’t find any information on, Coco Jones who I found out about through Disney’s Next Big Thing (NBT) and who is also a very talented young singer and only 14, and Brandon Mychal Smith who is the talented comedian from Disney’s So Random! and is slowly establishing himself as a singer and rapper as well. You know how Disney likes their triple threats, but the difference is, for the first time since the Cheetah Girls and Camp Rock with Demi Lovato and The Jonas Brothers, Disney is making a musical where people can truly sing. I may have liked HSM but they were all made into singers except Lucas Grabeel who doesn’t sing but can sure sang when he wants too.

So far this movie has not only piqued my interest but has given me hopes that maybe we can get more positive hip-hop out there, as it is Jaden Smith seems like he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and Will is actually recording another album himself. B.o.B can be a lot more positive if he stops focusing on doing songs such as “Strange Clouds” and starts focusing more on songs like “Magic” and “Play the Guitar” feat. Andre Benjamin 3000. And you can bet I will be supporting this movie 100 percent.

Wikipedia has the plot line—“The story unfolds in Atlanta, Georgia, as Cyrus DeBarge and his best friend Kris McDuffy reunite with their childhood friend, teenage singing sensation Roxanne "Roxie" Andrews, whose music label is sponsoring a songwriting contest at a teen club. Cyrus, who writes music under the name ‘Truth,’ crafts a heartfelt and contest-winning rhyme about Roxie but to his dismay, his work is mistakenly attributed to Kris. Lacking the confidence to step forward, Cyrus stands by while Kris not only takes credit for the lyrics but ultimately begins to win Roxanne's heart too. Now, it's up to the true poet to overcome self-doubt, seize the opportunity to reveal his authentic self and pursue his dreams. All the while, Cyrus must convince his preacher father that hip-hop music can have a positive message.” I like this because of the fact I grew up in a Christian household myself, one of the reason why Smith was the only Hip-hop I could listen too. It seems like this story will appeal to everyone who has their reasons for why Hip-Hop is bad because like the narrator says in the trailer for the movie, “Cyrus was all about the music.” And when it comes down to it, for a musician that respects some aspect of all type of music, all it comes down to is if you’re doing it for the music, and not for the money and fame. Until next time, According to Michael III, thank you Disney Channel!

Here’s the link to the trailer on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts4NvZUaxEk&feature=relmfu

—Michael III

'A Guy, A Girl, and A Podcast" Episode 15: Looking to the Future...of Movies! Recap

So before the next Podcast comes out this week, this is just a little recap on GGP from last week. Episode 15 “Looking to the Future…of Movies!” Emphasis on little because of the fact that it was the normal 30 min or so, BUT the topics were small because it was only a list of movies that are coming out the rest of this year. Oh, Brandon, I didn’t know what comes out on December 14 so you’ll have to kick me in the face…but now that you told me I am excited for it! But Brandon and Christina tackle a list they found that explains the movies that are coming out this year from the day they recorded the episode, April 23.

Movies mentioned are Leonardo’s The Great Gatsby, which I’m excited about because Leonardo is playing Gatsby; I loved the book, except the ending. Oh and Brandon, my mom did go to high school with DiCaprio, but not only that, but she saw him perform on stage for a talent show when he was a freshman. She thought he was fantastic, but because of stupid social orders in school, she didn’t talk to him because juniors don’t hang out with freshman. I’m so mad at that…I could actually know Leonardo if she had just talked to him. Sigh…

Other movies mentioned are of course the movies that bring on “geek orgasms” as the Guy and Girl call them, The Avengers and The Dark Knight—and I am seeing The Avengers this Friday, not at midnight like The Guy but hopefully still opening day so be on the lookout for my recap on that. Speaking of which, if you haven’t already heard, The Dark Knight will be showing its final trailer when you go see The Avengers. Wonder how much money D.C. paid to have Marvel allow that? Or vice versa…Marvel could have been trying to up the hype for The Avengers but it’s not like they needed since they keep showing clip after clip. I’m leaving those clips alone because I don’t want the movie to be spoiled. And vice versa for The Dark Knight, eh, in my opinion heroes got to stick together.

Disney’s Brave is mentioned, The Amazing Spider-Man, Ice Age 4, and many others are brought along for the crazy, frantic, relationship talking journey. They don’t go into full detail about the movies but they promise to do so as the due dates get closer…as do I my fellow bloggers and readers. So until the next GGP episode, According to Michael III, Brandon needs to admit he is a Disney Channel star fan or I’m putting him on blast next week and telling everyone who it is and how bad the love is! J Subscribe to them on iTunes and get new episodes for free when they come out. Or download the free Stitcher app and enjoy them there. Also follow them on Twitter @guygirlpodcast or on Facebook at “A Guy, A Girl, and A Podcast.”

—Michael III