The Disfactor

Every time I see these two together I forget how much I enjoy those moments between John Wesley Shipp, the original television series Flash, and Grant Gustin today’s Flash. The writers couldn’t have made a better choice in actors for the man who would be Flash’s father. The other thing I’ve come to love about the series is its racial dynamics; especially in light of the Ferguson riots. The father son dynamic between Joe and Barry ranges from heart wrenching to inspirational. Every time I see these two men together I keep thinking if only America as a whole had the capacity to parent all of our children into healthy, successful adulthood regardless of our racial differences – what an incredible country we would have! However that’s not the case so back to tonight’s episode. I was actually hoping that Wells was not Professor Zoom once he and PZ had made their appearance together at Star Labs; unfortunately, I was right Wells is Professor Zoom.  What tonight’s episode brought hom...

“Batman wages a brutal reckoning against this city, something that neither of us agree with” spoken by Dr. Wells of Star Labs in the presence of Detective Joe West CCPD (Central City Police Department). In Sep. 14 th “Most Dangerous Places in Comics” which includes both DC and Marvel Universes Central City does not even rate whereas Gotham is 4 th immediately following Genosha. Marvel’s version of New York was 2 nd with Bludhaven being 1 st , a city that was transformed into a nuclear wasteland; thus moving Gotham into 3 rd place. The point in bringing this up is to highlight the methods I their madness. Until recently neither Green Arrow, nor the Flash has had an extremely exciting list of antagonists to choose from that honor belongs to the Dark Knight Detective  – Batman, who’s rouge’s gallery is nothing to play with. In fact, most of Batman’s villains are either bone chillingly psychotic or charmingly diabolic. Neither the “The Flash” or Green Arrow has ever faced villains...

A welcome respite from deep psychological underpinnings and emotional turmoil, tonight’s episode was about crowd pleasing, purposeful action. But the question that tonight’s episode does answer is this – how did Bruce manage to survive the period that occurred after the shooting of his parents. It also makes it clear that his parents’ shooting was more than just a robbery or a means to get them out of the picture. For those of us who’ve read “City of Owls”, we have to wonder if the Court of Owls organization were the ones behind the Waynes’ murder; are they the ones really pulling the strings in Gotham? Because of this bit of Bat history, I am expecting there to be another attempt on Bruce’s life. Which brings us back to the question; how did Bruce manage to survive the period that occurred after the shooting of his parents – Alfred! The answer is Alfred. Tonight’s Alfred shows Alfred at his best while alluding to his own back story. In the constant rewriting of Alfred’s back...

Due its simplistic storyline, there’s not a lot to be said about Tuesday night’s episode of the flash. Despite its incredibly fun “Revenge of the Nerds” episode and Carlos Valdes alias Cisco Ramon’s high tech formula for sonic punch which is obviously a blast at any high school after party for bullies. I still possess reservations about the show’s future due to its two reruns in a row at the beginning of its first season. Remember shows like the Flash are supposed to ran as if they’re competing in a marathon not the one hundred meter dash.  What I expect at this point is a weekly development of Flash powers based on high school physics, more hints that Tom Cavanagh alias Dr. Harrison Wells may actually be Professor Zoom and further investigation into the death of Nora Allen.  The possibility that Wells maybe Professor Zoom is what provides the series with a potential depth that may carry it through its first season and possibly second season. Not because of the effect...

Gotham’s Monday Night’s Episode By: Ian Cousins 11/11/2014 The Line That Must Not Be Crossed Who are these players, why do they exist, is Gotham truly that corrupting? Tonight’s episode is an explicit lesson in cruelty, hardness and deception. Who’s capable of it, who isn’t? Another Gotham – “decent, hopeful” words spoken with a grimace by Jim Gordon. The biggest question in DC universe is “did Batman create the villains, or did the villains create Batman”?  The English Dictionary’s explanation for villain is “a wicked or malevolent person”. Obviously, malevolence is not a domain strictly limited to Gotham’s adults, but also includes its children as witnessed by Bruce’s encounter with Tommy and his goons. What’s interesting about tonight’s episode is that Gordon’s development as a Gotham detective mirrors Bruce’s development into the character we come to know as Batman. What is crucial to the development of both characters is that strength, cunning and fea...

This is no cheap and cheesy remake of a classic horror genre. Historical fantasy at its best, Dracula Untold staring Luke Evans alias Bard the Bowman in Peter Jackson's three-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is one of the most exceptional Dracula film's I've ever seen. Though light in special effects,    the special effects it does deliver are spectacularly dark and mind blowingly awesome! As Evans’ bright red cape fluttered wildly in the wind while scaling the craggy cliffs of his heroic damnation, I shouted “wow” that’s  Batman. Despite its simplicity, Dracula Untold is one of the best well-acted movies I seen this year. Utterly realistic in dialogue, great cinematography and actors capable of portraying their motivations and convictions with movement and attitude; an ability that’s become a rare skill in today's cinema. This film creates a clear understanding of the anti-villain concept. Its portrayal of how good becomes corrupted into ...

Just in ; leaked information concerning Batman vs Superman. Despite the fact that I just discovered this footage on YouTube produced by Machinima in July of this year, I certain tht there are those of you who haven't seen it yet. So here it is!

What did I tell you! In the very first moments of Gotham Jim and Barbara split-up. After this tense moment Gordon is assaulted by Zasz, a flashy hit man for Falcon and sent on the run. But the tense moments keep coming, they don’t stop. It’s like firing a gun – bam, bam, bam! The third gunshot Bruce embracing Gordon as he prematurely turns over the case to Chris Allen and Renee Montoya. However it doesn’t end here; three great successive shoots back to back. The writers decide that this isn’t enough, they now pick up a shot gun after putting down the revolver. What’s the shot gun – Penguin turns the table on his competitor for his boss’s affection after using him to take out a drug ring owned by Falcon by buying his competitor’s wingmen right out from under him. This is then followed by discovering that Penguin is collaborating with Falcon to destroy Maroni, Fish Mooney and Nicolai the Russian.  There’s no need for psychological profiling, or deep insight concerning to...

Did you ever wonder what happened to  Mayhem -- the guy from Allstate?  For those of that are truly fans of Dean Winters' Allstate commercials. We might be a little disappointed by the fact that Allstate did not get William Fichtner alias the Accountant to do its ultimate Allstate commercial. This scene is from "Drive Angry" staring Nicolas Cage and William Fichtner. Its a reminder that some of the best commercials come from straight out of movies.

The Flash has arrived! Tonight’s episode – Captain Cold. Final proof that special effects normally seen in theaters and on DVD can be created for television on a weekly basis. It also introduced Captain Cold, the first of Barry Allen’s rogue’s gallery.  Didn’t you just love his raspy voice, chiseled good looks, brains and brass balls: this deadly Cold spree could make any girl hot blooded. Despite the overly white world of Central city depicted in DC comics, this Central city has a well-rounded eclective cast of main characters that are far from ethnic stereotypes. Tonight’s episode proved that even simplest story lines can be cool and exciting. In short, the episode was a well-balanced diet of character relationships, special effects and incredible not for TV villains. On the commercial side, it was further proof that DC may be working out the kinks for a Justice League or Flash movie franchise. This possibility can be surmised through carefully placed branding – example the Ka...

Yes Goat boy or “Spirit of the Goat” was introduced by in DC comics by Damian Wayne's  mother Talia Al Ghul when she offered a half-a-billion dollar bounty on Damian’s head. Goatboy, taxi-driver, father and killer-for-hire, just how many people has Gotham turned into psychos.  An all around Gothamite, Goat boy alias born and bred in Gotham City was the leader of Slaughter House a gang located in – what else Gotham’s Slaughter House district. Bruce and Damian tracked the gang through tracking a shipment of Lone Star Brand meat. Creepily surreal, tonight’s story should be a favorite for those Bat fans that like to link Batman to more sinister occult aspects or reality. the worshiping of goat gods was common in ancient Egyptian city of Djedet (later called Mendes) located in the Nile; it then spread to ancient Greece and obviously Gotham also known as the place of goats or goat paddock. Gotham is also known as the place of fools and uniquely enough it has a history of its...

Monday night's episode of Gotham presents both Bruce and Alfred in roles that would be more at home in Game of Thrones: Bruce a young lord attempting to preserve his share of the seven kingdoms while beset with inexperience, lack of martial training and limited allies; Alfred as Maester who must guide his young lord through various pitfalls, traps and deceptions besieging the kingdom of Gotham as he attempts to balance his role of loving surrogate father with that of loyal servant. As for Jim Gordon, he finds himself in the role of a man without a country.  In fact his role is similar to that of John Snow, he is beset by secrets believed to be long buried, allies possessing daggers behind their backs, and enemies to powerful to be attacked outright.  Even those that are supposed to be close to him are unable to be completely trusted or relied upon.  Gotham is also a main character -- one that is bent on self-destruction, and revenge.  It is through the ...

Ferguson Riot  According to August 18 th ’s, 2014 Marketwired article, Dr. Brian Hooker a PhD in biochemical engineering working for the Focus Autism Foundation, uncovered data manipulation by the CDC concerning the incident rate of autism amongst African-American boys. His discover of this manipulation didn’t occur until after successfully filling a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for original data on the DE Stefano et al MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and autism study. He was assisted in making this discover by an unknown whistleblower at the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). Dr. Hooker's study was published August 8 th in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Translational Neurodegeneration. This study showed that African-American boys receiving their first MMR vaccine before 36 months of age are 3.4 times more likely to develop autism vs. after 36 months. This discovery points out exactly why some individuals believe that various forms of race b...

AND MY STERO SANG BY: Jabram Raven Allen Sep. 2014 In the midnight hour  amidst  my apartment's withering flowers, my stereo sang. Physically, hideously out of date, it sat faithfully within my rooms moldy silence blurting out hymns of blasphemous New Age choirs; all this it did as I sat at a small glass table covered with simple white cloth bemoaning my fate upon this wretched orb.  I sat in mortal darkness silently, cursing life; only my fear of hell kept me from reaching for that I most desired – a swift and sudden death.  While heaving in unwanted breaths, my salt rimmed eyes caught a glimpse of a spirited shadow that appeared swiftly above my fireplace, a dancing Rorschach whose twin ruby embers plunged through my self induced cannabis, pinot fog piercing deeply into my battered brain. Of what horrid shapes its confusing blots presented my weary soul in its fevered state I dare not say; especially not of that fearful image through which it showed me i...

I totally agree that George R.R. Martin is as stated by Time magazine "The American Tolkien" . Being a fan of pseudo-historical stories, novels and plays ranging from Tolkien's" Lord Of The Rings" to Chaucer's  Canterbury Tales,  I would have to place Martin among the top creators of medieval fantasy and pseudo-history. It is obvious through numerous details existing within the teleplay version of "Game Of Thrones" that Martin is an ardent observer of Europe's Medieval era and folklore. "Game Of Thrones" is probably the greatest television phenomenon since Buffy, Star Trek or Xena. What is remarkable about Martin's attention to history is that even throughout his creation of pseudo-history, he mentions various  geographic locations such as  "The Land Of The Nazarenes' " during Daney's trek through the "The Red Waste", people of color being presented as nobles and nomadic lords as oppose to slaves or f...

Reviewing "Man of Steel's" opening act/scene (Destruction of Krypton). For racist of all stripes, it was extremely disturbing to witness a presumably all white, technologically advanced society be caught in the midst of ecological, political and planetary chaos. For racists there is an immediate assumption that homogenous populations breed perfect societies -Ha! Can you say French Revolution, Bolsheviks,1776? What was disquieting for people of color was the obvious absence of Kryptonians of color. Kryptonians of color sewn throughout the opening scenes depicting Krypton's destruction would have equated to a just technologically advanced society. What has been covertly deposited into the minds of Superman audiences was the myth of white supremacy and that it can only be achieved in the absence of people of color. Its very much like the opening scenes of the Shining in which its plush, elegant hotel possesses native American art, but no native Americans. I.e. wh...