FROM BEST TO WORST
Isle of Dogs 
Shoplifters 
Magnificent Cake! 
The Favorite 
A Quiet Place 
Widows 
Hereditary 
First Man 
MOVIES I HOPE TO SEE:
Leave No Trace 
Can You Ever Forgive Me
Just a Few Problems with Avengers: Infinity War…No Big Deal
Spoiler Alert.
So there’s a thing that happens very often with superhero movies, TV shows, cartoons, and even comics. I’m sure it happens with Harry Potter fiction too, or anything where there’s special powers involved.
The writers forget what the powers do. This is especially problematic with very powerful characters like Martian Manhunter. I remember distinctly watching some episode of one of the Justice League cartoons and thought “If Martian Manhunter had remembered that he can go intangible, this fight would be over by now.”
THOSE PESKY INFINITY STONES
This is a pretty big issue with the Infinity Gauntlet. Now, your average movie-goer likely doesn’t really know what the six Infinity Gems do, and they barely explore that in the film. I’m a huge nerd and I’m not even clear on this. Sure we could both look it up, but let me take a guess: (1) the space stone allows teleportation; (2) the time stone allows you to manipulate time (this one is actually well illustrated); (3) the reality stone allows you to change reality; (4) the mind stone lets you control minds (illustrated in the first Avengers film); (5) the soul stone…???; (6) the power stone…allows you beat the Hulk???
So let’s agree to set aside the “it’s just a show, you should really just relax” mentality, and dig in to the tiny nerdy minutia like a good writer should!
it’s inferred that Thanos is a very powerful entity even without the Infinity Stones, so we don’t really know how much of his power is innate and what comes from the stones. But that’s not a dealbreaker for me.
But those Infinity Stones…oh those Infinity Stones. Given their special powers, there seemed to be a lot of super-brawling that didn’t need to take place for Thanos to fulfill his mission. Sure, they were very entertaining super-brawls, but it seemed to me that Thanos had a very specific task that was all-important to him, and he wouldn’t waste time smacking down some Avengers/Guardians/etc even if it did “bring a smile to his face” (note this line from the trailer didn’t appear in the film).
YOU FORGOT YOU COULD CHANGE REALITY
It’s established I think earlier than halfway through the film that Thanos can use the Reality Stone to turn matter, including people, into ribbons or blocks or bubbles. And yet there are melees that occur subsequently where Thanos opts to hurl moons at the heroes rather than simply willing them into inoffensive vapor. Why? He didn’t think of it? He didn’t want to? Is the most dangerous Avengers villain actually just kind of a dummy or easily distracted?
TELEPORT YOUR ENEMY AWAY
And what about the space stone’s teleportation ability? If I’m fighting Iron Man, and for some reason I don’t want to turn him into bubbles, why not teleport him away to the edge of the universe?
And speaking of teleportation, let’s talk about Dr Strange’s magical gates. He uses one early in the movie and it cuts off the arm of one of the minions. So we know it can do that. If I’m Dr. Strange and I’ve got Mantis keeping Thanos is a groggy state, why not use the magical gateway to cut off his gauntlet-wielding arm? Or better yet, his head? Or is this him keeping to his Hippocratic oath? Failing that, why not plop a portal underneath Thanos and send him to wherever he sent Loki in Thor: Ragnarok? That seemed to work. Sure, Thanos could bring himself back, but it could give the heroes a few critical, game-changing seconds in a life-or-death situation.
It is good move on the writers’ part that the Mind Stone was saved for last, otherwise I would be complaining that there wasn’t enough mass mind control throughout the movie. Iron Man and Dr Strange giving you trouble? Make them fight each other with mind control!
ATOMIZE THE AVENGERS AND THEN GET THE STONES
Another thing that bothered me…just a little bit…was this: Thanos knew who Tony Stark was, that’s stated in the film. He knew, I’m sure, that Stark was responsible for the failure of the invasion of Earth (from the first Avengers film.) So if you’ve got a giant spaceship, or a fleet of giant spaceships, presumably you have nuclear technology. We had it in the 50’s for heaven’s sake. So if you think the Avengers are going to be a thorn in your side, why not nuke them? You could beam a bomb down to Dr. Strange’s sanctorum or just have a guy walk up with a briefcase. Same thing with the Avengers compound or wherever the two Infinity Stones are on earth…and then collect the stones from the debris. Sure, I know, there are many reasons this idea might not work (protective spells on the sanctorum, for example, even though Hulk smashed through the roof no problem), but my point is, at least explore the possibility of obliterating the Infinity Stone carriers from a distance and then collecting the stones, rather than sending a couple guys for a big ol’ donnybrook. Yeah, it’s not as gripping to watch as a movie audience member, but it bears consideration, no?
NOBODY’S REALLY DEAD
The last, and most majorest of the major gripes, is killing off characters that we know are coming back. EVERYBODY KNOWS that there’s going to be another Spider-Man film and another Black Panther film. What, you’re going to have these movies without the main characters? No. So why oh why would you kill off Spidey and Panthery in Infinity War? People say that the ending of A:IW is ballsy, but this move undercuts the ballsiness in a major way, so much so that I have a hard time believing that even the characters killed by methods other than the gauntlet are going to stay dead. Sure they could make Guardians of the Galaxy 3 without Gamora, but I would be very VERY surprised if that happens, given the way they handled Thanos winning the day.
Now, I know that Avengers: Infinity War is actually only half of the story, and we’ve got the conclusion coming up in a year, so maybe, just maybe, all my gripes will be addressed and it will all make sense. I guess we will all just have to wait and see.
In the meantime, I will re-read my Spider-Ham comics and hope he appears in Avengers 4.
Thanks for reading all the way to the end! Here is my Patreon if you like this and all the silly things I do.
FLICKED UP 2017: The Movies I Did And Did Not See
From worst to best:
Unseen (As of Yet):
Too Many Reboots: My Answer To The Claim "Hollywood Has No New Ideas"
Go watch more movies.
Yeah!
Movies I'm Looking Forward to Seeing in 2016
THE HATEFUL EIGHT. Is this a 2015 movie or 2015 movie? Doesn’t matter I guess…
THE REVENANT looks great!
KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS. A lot of white folks providing voices for Asian characters in this one but Laika has a good track record.
NICE GUYS trailer makes me want to see it.
CAPTAIN AMERICA CIVIL WAR. blern
X-MEN APOCALYPSE.
HAIL, CAESAR! Coen Brothers always deserve a chance!
THE LOBSTER. This looks weird. I’m into it.
GHOSTBUSTERS.
WE ARE TWISTED FUCKING SISTER.
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY.
PEE-WEE’S BIG HOLIDAY. Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure is one of my fave movies of all time.
DOCTOR STRANGE
FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM. A Harry Potter movie without Harry Potter? Sold
HOWARD LOVECRAFT AND THE FROZEN KINGDOM
BOURNE 5. I’ve seen all the previous Bourne movies, I’ll see the next.
KUNG FU PANDA 3. I really enjoyed KFP 1 and 2 so here’s hoping the trend continues!
Was never a Deadpool fan and the trailer doesn’t do much for me but Marvel is going strong so hopefully this won’t be crap.
SPECIAL MENTIONS…
STAR TREK BEYOND. As a Trekkie, the reboot is not to my liking. Will wait for the reviews on this one.
THE WITCH. Historical horror films are the best horror films
SYNCHRONICITY. Michael Ironside in obvious Blade Runner inspired Time Travel flick.
Movies I Saw in 2015
2015 was not the year of 365 movies, but I did watch a bunch of films. Of the movies that were release this year, here are my thoughts:
The Spongebob Movie: Sponge out of Water
Not as good as the first one, but some good gags. 6/10
Chappie
Total disappointment. No characters the audience can (or should) identify with. Cool guns. 5/10
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Didn’t like Ultron as a villain, everyone has the same amount of sass. Give the sass to the sassy characters and let the other characters shine on other merits. 6/10
Ex Machina
Great performance, great story, great ending. 7/10
Mad Max: Fury Road
Not much of a story, but everything comes together visually and you don’t have much time think about the holes. 8/10
Tomorrowland
Tragically didn’t’ live up to its potential. 6/10
Inside Out
Frankly this movie bored me. I appreciated what they were trying to do but ultimately I think they missed the mark. 6/10
Slow West
Not much of a story but impressive visuals and great moments. 7/10
Ant-Man
Is Marvel in a rut? If so, it’s a fun rut. 7/10
Taken 3
The usual. 5/10
Mr Holmes
Great character study and performance. 7/10
Shaun the Sheep Movie
Super fun! Funny. Perhaps my highest recommendation of 2015 despite the fact that I only give it 7/10
Jurassic World
I’m not a superfan of Jurassic Park, but I like dinosaurs and movies. This movie was a bad joke. It made me laugh. 4/10
Turbo Kid
Likeable characters, post-apocalyptic, silly, fun, but even so relied a little too much on the nostagia factor. Worth seeing. 6/10
Terminator Genisys
What a mess. 5/10
San Andreas
Ridiculous but mostly entertaining. 5/10
Z for Zachariah
Post apocalyptic movies are for me. This was a good one without mutants and tricked out cars. Reminded me of The World, the Flesh and the Devil. 7/10
The Martian
Smart, fun, good. 8/10
Maze Runner: Scorch Trials
Another post-apocalyptic film filled with young adults and also Lili Taylor! 7/10
Steve Jobs
I don’t know anything about Steve Jobs. I watched this movie and still don’t know anything about Steve Jobs except he was an asshole and a bad father. 7/10
Sicario
Pretty intense and engaging, even though I didn’t understand some of what was going on. 7/10
Bone Tomahawk
Intense, disturbing, satisfying. 7/10
In the Heart of the Sea
I didn’t really buy Chris Hemsworth in this role but the tale was satisfying and darker than I expected. 7/10
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Total rehash of New Hope but we don’t expect much from Star Wars these days, do we? 7/10
Movies to See in 2015
Some movies I’m looking forward to. Plus a couple I’m not sure about…
THE MARTIAN
MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS
SPECTRE
PEANUTS MOVIE
HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2
THE GOOD DINOSAUR
THE HATEFUL EIGHT
Toren’s Post Apocalyptic Movie Guide (a work in progress)
In which an attempt is made to catalog and compare all reasonably well-known post-apocalyptic films. Corrections? Comments? Additions? Email Toren!
(zombies sold separately)
9 (2009) Â Â
Type of apocalypse: war/nerve gas
Location: America?
Number of humans: zero
Number of humans: zero
How many years since apocalypse: less than 10
Monsters: robots (with animal bones)
Cannibalism? none
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating: 7/10
12 Monkeys (1995)Â Â Â
Type of apocalypse: virus
Location: Philadelphia
Number of humans: lots
Number of humans: lots
How many years since apocalypse: 38
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating: 5/10
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating: 5/10
28 Days Later (2002)
Type of apocalypse: virus
Location: London
Number of humans: lots
Number of humans: lots
How many years since apocalypse: 28 days
Monsters: feral infected humans
Cannibalism? No
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating: 7/10
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating: 7/10
28 Weeks Later (2007)
Type of apocalypse: virus
Number of humans: hundreds?
Number of humans: hundreds?
How many years since apocalypse: less than 3 years
Monsters: feral infected humans
Cannibalism? No
Ends on a positive? No
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
A Boy and His Dog (1975)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: Phoenix AZ
Number of humans: hundreds?
Number of humans: hundreds?
How many years since apocalypse: 17
Monsters: radiation victims (“Screamers”); robots
Cannibalism? Yes
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
After the Apocalypse (2004)
Type of apocalypse: War
Number of humans: At least 5
Number of humans: At least 5
How many years since apocalypse:
Monsters:
Cannibalism?
Ends on a positive?
Toren’s Rating: n/a
Toren’s Rating: n/a
After Earth (2013)
Type of apocalypse: Environmental cataclysm
Location: Undisclosed
Number of humans: 2 on Earth, multitudes in space.
Location: Undisclosed
Number of humans: 2 on Earth, multitudes in space.
How many years since apocalypse: 1000
Monsters: Aliens, evolved animals.
Cannibalism? No
Ends on a positive? Yes?
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
The Bed Sitting Room (1969)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: London
Number of humans: dozens
Location: London
Number of humans: dozens
How many years since apocalypse: 4
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? none
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
The Book of Eli (2010)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: San Francisco
Number of humans: hundreds
Number of humans: hundreds
How many years since apocalypse: 30
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? Yes
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Blindness (2008)
Type of apocalypse: mass hysteria
Location: unnamed city
Number of humans: billions
Location: unnamed city
Number of humans: billions
How many years since apocalypse: 0
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 8/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 8/10
Children of Men (2006)
Type of apocalypse: pandemic
Location: Britain
Number of humans: billions
Location: Britain
Number of humans: billions
How many years since apocalypse: 18
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? none
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 8/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 8/10
City of Ember (2008)
Type of apocalypse: Unspecified
Location: Somewhere in the United States
Number of humans: Presumably thousands
Location: Somewhere in the United States
Number of humans: Presumably thousands
How many years since apocalypse: 241
Monsters: giant star-nosed mole
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
Cloud Atlas (2012)
Type of apocalypse: unexplained.
Location: “Big Isle”
Number of humans: Presumably thousands if not millions or more.
Location: “Big Isle”
Number of humans: Presumably thousands if not millions or more.
How many years since apocalypse: 106
Monsters: no
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
The Colony (2013)
Type of apocalypse: ice age
Location: unknown
Number of humans: presumably at least 100
Location: unknown
Number of humans: presumably at least 100
How many years since apocalypse: less than 2 generations
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
Cyborg (1989)
Type of apocalypse: plague, anarchy, genocide, starvation
Location: New York, South Carolina, Atlanta
Number of humans: Presumably thousands or more
Location: New York, South Carolina, Atlanta
Number of humans: Presumably thousands or more
How many years since apocalypse: Less than 25 years
Monsters: cyborgs
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
Damnation Alley (1977)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: California, Utah, New York
Number of humans: At least
Location: California, Utah, New York
Number of humans: At least
How many years since apocalypse: 2
Monsters: giant scorpions, killer cockroaches
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 4/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 4/10
Day of the Triffids (1963)
Type of apocalypse: meteor shower
Number of humans: billions
Number of humans: billions
How many years since apocalypse: days
Monsters: killer plants
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
The Day After (1983)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Kansas, Missouri
Number of humans: millions
Location: Kansas, Missouri
Number of humans: millions
How many years since apocalypse: 0
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Day the World Ended (1955)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: Southwest America
Number of humans: more than five
Location: Southwest America
Number of humans: more than five
How many years since apocalypse: days
Monsters: mutant
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 4/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 4/10
Deathlands: Homeward Bound (2003)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: America
Number of humans: thousands
Location: America
Number of humans: thousands
How many years since apocalypse: 120
Monsters: mutated humans and animals
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 4/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 4/10
Def-Con 4 (1985)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: Eastern Canada
Number of humans:Â [pending]
Location: Eastern Canada
Number of humans:Â [pending]
How many years since apocalypse: 2 months
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? [pending]
Toren’s Rating:Â n/a
Toren’s Rating:Â n/a
Delicatessen
Type of apocalypse: undisclosed
Location: France
Number of humans: presumably thousands or millions
Location: France
Number of humans: presumably thousands or millions
How many years since apocalypse: undisclosed
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Doomsday
Type of apocalypse: virus
Location: Scotland
Number of humans: millions or billions
Location: Scotland
Number of humans: millions or billions
How many years since apocalypse: 30
Monsters: no
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
Cirio H. Santiago
Dune Warriors (1991)Â
Type of apocalypse:Â nuclear
Location:Â unknown
Number of humans: millions or billions
Location:Â unknown
Number of humans: millions or billions
How many years since apocalypse:Â 40-60 years
Monsters:Â only if desert dwarves count
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 3.7/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 3.7/10
Equalizer 2000 Â (1987)Â
Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Alaska
Number of humans: presumably thousands or millions
Number of humans: presumably thousands or millions
How many years since apocalypse: 100
Monsters: no
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating: Â 2/10
Toren’s Rating: Â 2/10
Five (1951)Â
Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: California
Number of humans: 5
Location: California
Number of humans: 5
How many years since apocalypse: months
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
 Future Hunters  (1986)
Type of apocalypse:Â tbd
Location:Â tbd
Number of humans:Â tbd
Location:Â tbd
Number of humans:Â tbd
How many years since apocalypse:Â tbd
Monsters:Â tbd
Cannibalism? tbd
Ends on a positive? tbd
Toren’s Rating: Â tbd
Toren’s Rating: Â tbd
The Girl With All the Gifts (2016)
Type of apocalypse: fungal disease
Location: Home Counties, Britain
Number of humans:Â hundreds or thousands
Location: Home Counties, Britain
Number of humans:Â hundreds or thousands
How many years since apocalypse:Â 20
Monsters:Â infected humans
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? debatable
Toren’s Rating: Â 7/10
Toren’s Rating: Â 7/10
Goodbye World (2013)
Type of apocalypse: computer virus
Location: undisclosed
Number of humans: billions
Location: undisclosed
Number of humans: billions
How many years since apocalypse: days
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
Hardware (1990)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: unknown
Number of humans: unknown
Location: unknown
Number of humans: unknown
How many years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: robot
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
Hell Comes to Frogtown (1987)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: undisclosed
Number of humans: presumably thousands or more
Location: undisclosed
Number of humans: presumably thousands or more
How many years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: anthropomorphic mutant frogs
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
How I Live Now (2013)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: English Countryside
Number of humans: presumably millions
Location: English Countryside
Number of humans: presumably millions
How many years since apocalypse: days
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
I Am Legend (2007)
Type of apocalypse: virus
Location: New York City
Number of humans: less than 6
Location: New York City
Number of humans: less than 6
How many years since apocalypse: 3
Monsters: feral mutant humans and dogs
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
It Comes At Night (2017)
Type of apocalypse: virus
Location: American wilderness
Number of humans: less than 6
Location: American wilderness
Number of humans: less than 6
How many years since apocalypse: 0-1
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating: Â 6.5/10
Toren’s Rating: Â 6.5/10
Land of Doom (1986)
Type of apocalypse: war
Location: unknown
Number of humans: unknown
Location: unknown
Number of humans: unknown
How many years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:Â n/a
Toren’s Rating:Â n/a
The Last Man on Earth (1964)
Type of apocalypse: plague
Location: Rome or California
Number of humans: 1-2
Location: Rome or California
Number of humans: 1-2
How many years since apocalypse: three
Monsters: vampiric plague victims
Cannibalism? yes and no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
The Last Survivors / The Well (2014)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Oregon Valley
Number of humans: presumably at least hundreds
Location: Oregon Valley
Number of humans: presumably at least hundreds
How many years since apocalypse: years to decades
Monsters: non
Cannibalism?
Ends on a positive?
Toren’s Rating: 5/10
Toren’s Rating: 5/10
La Jetee (1962)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Paris
Number of humans: thousands
Location: Paris
Number of humans: thousands
How many years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes and no
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Le Dernier Combat (1983)
Type of apocalypse: unknown
Location: France?
Number of humans: dozens at least
Location: France?
Number of humans: dozens at least
How many years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
Logan’s Run (1976)
Type of apocalypse: unknown
Location: Washington DC
Number of humans: presumably thousands or more
Location: Washington DC
Number of humans: presumably thousands or more
How many years since apocalypse: about 300
Monsters: robots
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
Los últimos dÃas (The Last Days) (2013)
Type of apocalypse: virus
Location: Spain?
Number of humans: [pending]
Location: Spain?
Number of humans: [pending]
How many years since apocalypse: [pending]
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? [pending]
Ends on a positive? [pending]
Toren’s Rating:Â n/a
Toren’s Rating:Â n/a
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)
Type of apocalypse: War/resource shortage
Location: Australian Desert
Number of humans: thousands
Location: Australian Desert
Number of humans: thousands
How many years since apocalypse: about five
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
Type of apocalypse: War/resource shortage
Location: Australian desert
Number of humans: thousands
Location: Australian desert
Number of humans: thousands
How many years since apocalypse: about 20
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
Mad Max Fury Road (2015)
Type of apocalypse: War/resource shortage
Location: Australian desert
Number of humans: thousands
Location: Australian desert
Number of humans: thousands
How many years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 8/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 8/10
Nausicaa in the Valley of the Wind (1984)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: unknown
Number of humans: presumably thousands or more
Location: unknown
Number of humans: presumably thousands or more
How many years since apocalypse: 1000
Monsters: giant mutant insects
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 10/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 10/10
New Barbarians (I Nuovi Barbari) (1983)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: unknown
Number of humans: unknown
Number of humans: unknown
How many years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters:
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive?
Toren’s Rating: to be determined
Night of the Comet (1984)
Type of apocalypse: comet dust
Location: Southern California
Number of humans: dozens
Location: Southern California
Number of humans: dozens
How many years since apocalypse: 0
Monsters: “zombies”
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
Oblivion (2013)
Type of apocalypse: war
Location: Northeastern United States
Number of humans: Hundreds or thousands
Location: Northeastern United States
Number of humans: Hundreds or thousands
How many years since apocalypse: 60
Monsters: aliens
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
Omega Man
Type of apocalypse: biological warfare
Location: Los Angeles
Number of humans: one
Location: Los Angeles
Number of humans: one
How many years since apocalypse: 2
Monsters: albino mutants
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
On the Beach (1959)
Type of apocalypse: Nuclear war
Location: Australia
Number of humans: dozens
Location: Australia
Number of humans: dozens
How many years since apocalypse: days
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:Â 8/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 8/10
Panic in Year Zero!
Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: California
Number of humans: dozens
Location: California
Number of humans: dozens
How many years since apocalypse: days
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
Planet of the Apes (1968)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: New York
Number of humans: hundreds
Location: New York
Number of humans: hundreds
How many years since apocalypse: 2000
Monsters: advanced ape society
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
The Postman (1997)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: Oregon
Number of humans: thousands or millions
Location: Oregon
Number of humans: thousands or millions
How many years since apocalypse: 15
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
The Quiet Earth (1985)
Type of apocalypse: experiment gone wrong
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand
Number of humans: 3
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand
Number of humans: 3
How many years since apocalypse: days
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
A Quiet Place (2018)
Type of apocalypse: alien invasion
Location: ___
Number of humans: ___
Number of humans: ___
How many years since apocalypse: ___
Monsters: Aliens
Cannibalism? ___
Ends on a positive? ___
Toren’s Rating:Â TBD
Toren’s Rating:Â TBD
The Road (2009)
Type of apocalypse: undisclosed
Location: Southeastern United States
Number of humans: presumably at least thousands
Location: Southeastern United States
Number of humans: presumably at least thousands
How many years since apocalypse: 8
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? not really
Toren’s Rating:Â 8/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 8/10
Salute of the Jugger (Blood of Heroes) 1989
Type of apocalypse: war
Location: undisclosed
Number of humans: thousands
Location: undisclosed
Number of humans: thousands
How many years since apocalypse: presumably scores or hundreds.
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
The Scorch Trials (2015)
Type of apocalypse: solar flares and “zombie” virus pandemic
Location: America, possibly San Fransisco?
Number of humans: Possibly millions
Location: America, possibly San Fransisco?
Number of humans: Possibly millions
How many years since apocalypse: unclear, presumably less than two generations
Monsters: insane cannibalistic virus-infected “cranks”
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? n/a
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Screamers (1995)
Type of apocalypse: war
Location: The planet Sirius 6B
Number of humans: unknown
Location: The planet Sirius 6B
Number of humans: unknown
How many years since apocalypse: 10
Monsters: robots
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
She (1982)
Type of apocalypse: apparently nuclear war
Location: unknown
Number of humans: at least hundreds
Location: unknown
Number of humans: at least hundreds
How many years since apocalypse: 23
Monsters: robots, mutants
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 4/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 4/10
Six String Samurai (1998)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Las Vegas
Number of humans:
Location: Las Vegas
Number of humans:
How many years since apocalypse: 40
Monsters: none
Cannibalism?
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 5/10
The Sky Has Fallen
Type of apocalypse: blern
Location: blern
Number of humans: blern
Location: blern
Number of humans: blern
How many years since apocalypse: blern
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? blern
Ends on a positive? blern
Toren’s Rating:Â n/a
Toren’s Rating:Â n/a
Snowpiercer (2013)
Type of apocalypse: climate change
Location: global (train)
Number of humans: hundreds
Location: global (train)
Number of humans: hundreds
How many years since apocalypse: blern
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Solarbabies (1986) Â Â
Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: unknown
Number of humans: unknown
Number of humans: unknown
How many years since apocalypse: 1000
Monsters: alien
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? Yes?
Toren’s Rating: tbd
Â
The Stand
Type of apocalypse: blern
Location: blern
Number of humans: blern
Location: blern
Number of humans: blern
How many years since apocalypse: blern
Monsters: ??
Cannibalism? blern
Ends on a positive? blern
Toren’s Rating:Â 4/10 (of what I watched)
Toren’s Rating:Â 4/10 (of what I watched)
Stryker
Type of apocalypse:Â nuclear
Location: presumably tbd
Number of humans: tbd
Number of humans: tbd
How many years since apocalypse:Â tbd
Monsters:Â tbd
Cannibalism? tbd
Ends on a positive? tbd
Toren’s Rating: Â tbd
Toren’s Rating: Â tbd
Tank Girl
Type of apocalypse: comet
Location: presumably Australia
Number of humans: thousands or more
Location: presumably Australia
Number of humans: thousands or more
How many years since apocalypse: 11
Monsters: kangaroo DNA-spliced supersoldiers
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 2/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 2/10
Terminator: Salvation
Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: California
Number of humans: thousands
Number of humans: thousands
How many years since apocalypse: blern
Monsters: robots/cyborgs
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive?
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
Testament – 6/10
Type of apocalypse: blern
Location: blern
Number of humans: blern
Location: blern
Number of humans: blern
How many years since apocalypse: blern
Monsters: blern
Cannibalism? blern
Ends on a positive? blern
Toren’s Rating:Â blern
Toren’s Rating:Â blern
Threads (1984)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Sheffield, UK
Number of humans: billions
Location: Sheffield, UK
Number of humans: billions
How many years since apocalypse: from days to 13 years
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:Â 8/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 8/10
Tooth & Nail
Type of apocalypse: blern
Location: blern
Number of humans: blern
Location: blern
Number of humans: blern
How many years since apocalypse: blern
Monsters: blern
Cannibalism? blern
Ends on a positive? blern
Toren’s Rating:Â blern
Toren’s Rating:Â blern
Turbo Kid (2015)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: unknown
Number of humans: scores or possibly hundreds
Number of humans: scores or possibly hundreds
How many years since apocalypse: Somewhere between 20 and 1
Monsters: robots
Cannibalism? Yes (in a way)
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating: 6/10
WALL-EÂ
Type of apocalypse: Mass consumerism
Location: Unknown
Number of humans: Zero
Location: Unknown
Number of humans: Zero
How many years since apocalypse: 800
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? None
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 10/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 10/10
Warriors of the Wasteland AKA Searchers of the Voodoo Mountain (1985)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Possibly South America
Number of humans: hundreds or thousands.
Location: Possibly South America
Number of humans: hundreds or thousands.
How many years since apocalypse: 90 or more
Monsters: jungle dwarves with healing powers
Cannibalism? unclear
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
Waterworld (1995)
Type of apocalypse: climate change
Location: Denver, CO and Mount Everest
Number of humans: hundreds or thousands.
Location: Denver, CO and Mount Everest
Number of humans: hundreds or thousands.
How many years since apocalypse: hundreds
Monsters: mutants
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 3/10
Wheels of Fire (1984)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location:Â unknown
Number of humans: Likely thousands or more
Location:Â unknown
Number of humans: Likely thousands or more
How many years since apocalypse:Â tbd
Monsters:Â mutant subterranean”sandmen”
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating: Â 4/10
Toren’s Rating: Â 4/10
When the Wind Blows
Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: Sussex, UK
Number of humans: two known
Location: Sussex, UK
Number of humans: two known
How many years since apocalypse: days
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 6/10
World Gone Wild (1987)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: xxx
Number of humans: at least thousands
Number of humans: at least thousands
How many years since apocalypse: 28 days
Monsters: xxx
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? xxx
Toren’s Rating: xxx
Ends on a positive? xxx
Toren’s Rating: xxx
The World, The Flesh and the Devil
Type of apocalypse: global radioactive cloud
Location: Pennsylvania, New York
Number of humans: At least 3
Location: Pennsylvania, New York
Number of humans: At least 3
How many years since apocalypse: days
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 8/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 8/10
Young Ones (2014)
Type of apocalypse: drought
Location: USA
Number of humans: presumably millions or billions
Location: USA
Number of humans: presumably millions or billions
How many years since apocalypse: possibly less than a generation
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Z for Zachariah (2015)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Rural area USA
Number of humans: At least 3
Location: Rural area USA
Number of humans: At least 3
How many years since apocalypse: about 1 year
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
Toren’s Rating:Â 7/10
2014 is the year of 365 Movies
My goal for 2014 was to watch a movie for every day of the year – a movie that I have not seen before. Results are below, and I have emboldened the movies that really stand out.
DECEMBER
31. When the Wind Blows 1986
30. Last Samurai 2003
29. Ace in the Hole 1951
28. Taken 2 2012
27. Bad Seed 1956
26. Bourne Legacy 2012
25. Hot Tub Time Machine 2010
24. Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies 2014
23. The Gambler 2014
22. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 1962
21. Get Carter 1971
20. The Imitation Game 2014
19. The Grand Hotel 1932
18. The Santa Clause 1994
17. Monuments Men 2014
16. Daredevil 2004
15. The Trip to Italy 2014
14. Deathstalker 1983
13. Red Hook Summer 2012
12. Now You See Me 2013
11. The Equalizer 2014
10. Home Alone 1990
9. Bridesmaids 2011
8. The Terminal 2004
7. Gone With the Wind 1939
6. The Stranger Within 1974
5. Insomnia 2002
4. Wish I Was Here 2014
3. The Falcon and the Snowman 1985
2. Begin Again 2013
1. Belle 2013
NOVEMBER
31. Obvious Child 2014
30. Three Days of the Condor 1975
29. Sideways 2004
28. Fair Game 2010
27. Munich 2005
26. Foxcatcher 2014
25. The Philadelphia Experiment 1984
24. Angels in the Outfield 1994
23. The Last Time 2006
22. Eye of the Needle 1981
21. Nightcrawler 2014
20. Polar Express 2004
19. Django Unchained 2012
18. The Great Debaters 2007
17. The Hundred Foot Journey 2014
16. St. Vincent 2014
15. Blue Jasmine 2013
14. You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger 2010
13. Post Impact 2004
12. The Colony 2013
11. 39 Steps 1935
10. Los Angeles Plays Itself 2003
9. Mystery Road 2013
8. Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger 2014
7. Interstellar 2014
6. That Thing You Do 1996
5. Cherry 2000 (1987)
4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014
3. Radio Flyer 1992
2. The Book of Life 2014
1. I’ll Follow You Down 2013
OCTOBER
31. Words and Pictures 2013
30. Young Ones 2014
29. Earth Vs The Spider 1958
28. Braindead 1992
27. Island of Lost Souls 1932
26. Tarantula 1955
25. Hyde Park on Hudson 2012
24. Coraline 2009
23. The Witches of Eastwick 1987
22. Birdman 2014
21. Kingdom of the Spider 1979
20. Ivory Tower 2014
19. Are You Here 2013
18. Big Ass Spider 2013
17. Beneath Hill 60 (2010)
16. Desperation 2006
15. The Best of Times 1986
14. C.H.U.D. 1984
13. The Chumscrubber 2005
12. Submarine 2010
11. Murder by Death 1976
10. The Life of David Gale 2003
9. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2011
8. Reversal of Fortune 1990
7. Muppets Most Wanted 2014
6. King Solomon’s Mines 1985
5. The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared 2013
4. Tusk 2014
3. Witchfinder General 1968
2. Searching for Bobby Fischer 1993
1. Kinsey 2004
SEPTEMBER
30. The Homesman 2014
29. The Boxtrolls 2014
28. Punchline 1988
27. Popeye 1980
26. …And Justice For All (1979)
25. Earth Days 2009
24. Hector and the Search for Happiness 2014
23. You’ve Got Mail 1998
22. Delicatessen 1991
21. Michael Clayton 2007
20. Deathlands 2003
19. The Drop 2014
18. Suspiria 1977
17. Le Dernier Combat 1983
16. Shrink 2009
15. Midnight in Paris 2011
14. Chef (2014)
13. Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
12. This Boy’s Life (1993)
11. G.I. Jane (1997)
10. Terms of Endearment (1983)
9. Rover (2014)
8. Life After Beth (2014)
7. Maneater (2007)
6. Due Date (2010)
5. Bad Words (2013)
4. The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014)
3. The Squid and the Whale (2005)
2. The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
1. Locke (2013)
AUGUST
31. Mr. Peabody & Sherman 2014
30. Sleepless in Seattle 1993
29. The Color Purple 1985
28. How To Survive A Plague 2012
27. The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet 2013
26. Man of the Year 2006
25. The Great Buck Howard 2008
24. House of D 2004
23. Algiers 1938
22. Dragnet 1987
21. The Arrival 1996
20. The Night Listener 2006
19. Communion 1989
18. The Bed Sitting Room 1969
17. Frank 2014
16. Wall Street 1987
15. The Children’s Hour 1961
14. Rachel Getting Married 2008
13. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close 2011
12. The Faculty 1998
11. Bonfire of the Vanities 1990
10. Snowpiercer 2013
9. Volunteers 1985
8. Guardians of the Galaxy 2014
7. The Money Pit 1986
6. The Ice Storm 1997
5. A Simple Plan 1998
4. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
3. Bicentennial Man (1999)
2. Boyhood (2014)
1. Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
JULY
31. Captain Newman, M.D. (1963)
30. Sailor Beware 1952
29. Crimes and Misdemeanors 1989
28. Joe Versus The Volcano 1990
27. Knocked Up 2007
26. Julie & Julia
25. Sabrina 1954
24. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes 2014
23. About Schmidt 2002
22. Hancock 2008
21. Garden State 2004
20. Life Itself 2014
19. Ironweed 1987
18. The Sunset Limited 2011
17. The Big Year 2011
16. This is 40 2012
15. Heaven Can Wait 1978
14. Dungeons & Dragons: The Book of Vile Darkness 2012
13. Empire of Dreams 2004
12. Noah 2014
11. Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked 2003
10. The Comedy 2012
9. Stand and Deliver 1988
8. A League of Their Own 1992
7. Jeff Who Lives At Home 2011
6. Ordinary People 1980
5. Tammy 2014
4. I Know That Voice 2013
3. Battleship 2012
2. 25th Hour 2002
1. Edge of Tomorrow 2014
JUNE
30. Transformers: Age of Extinction 2014
29. Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid 1969
28. Still Mine 2012
27. The Long Walk Home 1990
26. Meet the Feebles 1989
25. Perfect Sense 2011
24. Goodbye World 2013
23. Kramer vs. Kramer 1979
22. The Bucket List 2007
21. Driving Miss Daisy 1989
20. Short Cuts 1993
19. Revolutionary Road 2008
18. As Good As It Gets 1997
17. A Few Good Men 1992
16. A Streetcar Named Desire 1951
15. Altered States 1980
14. Her 2013
13. After the Dark 2013
12. No Place On Earth 2012
11. Trek nation 2010
10. Hitch 2005
9. Doubt 2008
8. Five 1951
7. the Killing 1956
6. Pineapple Express 2008
5. Riders to the Stars 1954
4. A Guide for the Married Man 1967
3. The Grapes of Wrath 1940
2. Small Time Crooks 2000
1. Daikaiju Gamera 1965
MAY
31. The Spanish Gardener 1956
30. The Hunt 2012
29. Six Days Seven Nights 1998
28. Doctor At Sea 1955
27. Father’s Little Dividend 1951
26. World’s Fastest Indian 2005
25. Thunder on the Hill 1951
24. Rebecca 1940
23. Anatomy of a Murder 1959
22. The Trip 2010
21. Hello, Dolly! 1969
20. Role Models 2008
19. X-Men: Days of Future Past 2014
18. Dazed & Confused 1993
17. Saving Mr Banks 2013
16. Philomena 2013
15. Dear Mr Watterson 2013
14. Far Out Isn’t Far Enough 2012
13. Sightseers 2012
12. Primer 2004
11. Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey 2012
10. Jiro Dreams of Sushi
9. Valhalla Rising 2009
8. Godzilla 2014
7. Solomon Kane 2009
6. Pretty In Pink
5. The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology 2012
4. Say Anything 1989
3. With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story 2010
2. Deceptive Practice 2012
1. Robocop 2014
APRIL
30. Beware of Mr. Baker 2012
29. Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan 2011
28. Side By Side 2012
27. Bigger Than Life 1956
26. The Divide 2011
25. All the President’s Men 1976
24. Synecdoche, New York 2008
23. Divergent 2014
22. Confessions of a Superhero 2007
21. Best Worst Movie 2009
20. Step Brothers 2008
19. The Dictator 2012
18. Pandora’s Promise 2013
17. Jodorowsky’s Dune 2013
16. The Troll Hunter 2010
15. Super 2010
14. Windscale: Britain’s Biggest Nuclear Disaster 2007
13. Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai 2011
12. The Big Blue 1988
11. That Guy…Who Was In That Thing 2012
10. Heckler 2007
9. Tom Segura: Completely Normal 2014
8. Inequality for All 2013
7. Dykket (1989)
6. The Improv: 50 Years Behind The Brick Wall
5. Captain America: Winter Soldier
4. Skyfall
3. Doctor Strange 2007
2. Battle Beyond the Stars 1980
1. Tucker & Dale vs. Evil
MARCH:
31. The Music Never Stopped 2011
30. Shutter Island
29. How I Live Now 2013
28. Berserk: The Golden Age Arc 2 – The Battle For Doldrey
27. 12 Years a Slave 2013
26. No Way Out 1950
25. Lonely Are the Brave 1962
24. Falling Overnight 2011
23. The Grand Budapest Hotel 2014
22. A Face in the Crowd 1957
21. Strangers When We Meet 1960
20. Prince of the City 1981
19. Gulliver’s Travels 2010
18. Rise of the Guardians 2012
17. Big Top Pee-wee 1988
16. Haywire 2011
15. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire 2013
14. Fruitvale Station 2013
13. Charade 1963
12. Before Midnight 2013
11. Before Sunset 2004
10. Too Big to Fail 2011
9. Carnage 2011
8. Bully 2011
7. Looper 2012
6. The Hunt for the BTK Killer 2005
5. Tape 2001
4. Death Race 2000 1975
3. The Gift 2000
2. The Wind Rises 2013
1. Safety Not Guaranteed 2012
FEBRUARY – 28 MOVIES
Before Sunrise 1995
3:10 to Yuma 2007
Safe 1995
3:10 to Yuma 1957
Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa 2013
Night on Earth 1991
Intact 2001
Exam 2009
Vanity Fair 2004
The King’s Speech 2010
The Night of the Hunter 1955
Lincoln 2012
Buried 2010
The Perks of Being a Wallflower 2012
The Truman Show 1998
Some Like It Hot 1959
The Winning Season 2009
This Is the End 2013
Kind Hearts and Coronets 1949
Sullivan’s Travels 1941
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 1947
Metallica Through the Never 2013
Attack of the Giant Leeches 1959
Shattered Glass 2003
No Escape 1994
Monsters University 2013
Despicable Me 2 2013
Ender’s Game 2013
JANUARY – 31 MOVIES:
The Lego Movie 2014
Nebraska 2013
Berserk: The Golden Age Arc – The Egg of the King 2012
Blackfish 2013
Brave 2012
The Life Zone 2011
The Thing 2011
Citizen Ruth 1996
Cocaine Cowboys 2 2008
Immortals 2011
Vulgar 2000
Cyborg 1989
Kick-Ass 2 2013
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 2011
The Hunger Games 2012
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 2009
Shakes the Clown 1991
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 2007
Willow 1988
Inside Llewyn Davis 2013
Mud 2012
It 1990 Mini-Series
World War Z 2013
Frozen 2013
A Night to Remember 1958
Titanic 1953
After Earth 2013
Ma and Pa Kettle 1949
The Inspector General 1949
Coal Miner’s Daughter
Secrets of “Dangerous” Astonishing X-Men DVD Release Finally Revealed!
For the second half of 2011 my full time job was working as an illustrator on the upcoming motion comic for Joss Whedon & John Cassaday’s run on Astonishing X-Men (specifically the “Dangerous” graphic novel). The release date for the DVD has been announced – April 10 – and here’s the trailer:
So what is a motion comic, and what exactly was my part in this production?
A motion comic is basically an animated version of a comic book, but instead of using traditional cartoon or computer animation, the production uses the artwork from the original comic and uses a variety of computer tricks, including turning the characters into ‘puppets’ to make them walk, disembowel other characters, etc. Add to that music, voice actors, visual and sound effects and you have a Rocket Robin Hood cartoon for the 2000’s! (This is not a slag, I love Rocket Robin Hood).
So what did I do? Let’s look at a couple of pages of the original comic:
There are five panels on this page. None of them fit the standard 4:3 TV aspect ratio, which is this: 
What our talented director Jesse had to decide for each panel was how the action would be framed for TV. In panel one it’s a quick pan down and back up to follow Cyclops’ red eyebeam. For this panel the art team (there were 4 of us at any one time) expanded the broken floor and smoke on the left and right of the action to fill the frame, and we had to fill in all the art behind the beam (Scott’s lower face and body) since the beam itself would added via animation FX.
In panel two I pretty much had to draw in an entire broken floor that Cyclops is standing on as well as his arms. Basically the same idea for panel three.
For panel four, if I recall correctly it’s a pan from right to left, so I had to draw in Colossus and the White Queens’ butts. This panel also gives a good example of how art needs to be filled in when a character moves. The White Queen starts off behind the evil robot known as Danger. But as she runs to the left all of her back and arm is visible and we have to draw that stuff in.
For the last panel, it’s been drawn in an extremely wide, thin format. This is the kind of panel where I’d have to fill in the top and bottom to make the art fit a TV ratio. This includes colouring, which I had very little experience with when I started, but thanks to the rest of my fantastic art team I got up to speed relatively quickly. I now have a much greater appreciation for comic colorists like Laura Martin.
One last example, from the first panel below, Wolverine walks in front of a character out of frame. In a comic, all John Cassaday had to do was draw half of Logan and half of Hisako and that gets the point across. In the final DVD motion comic, Wolverine starts at the left and walks through and off frame to the right, so we artists get to fill in his face and chest, and fill in Hisako’s face behind Logan. All this has to be done in a style that makes it look like John Cassaday drew it all. 
Luckily Cassaday has a solid, simple style that conveys all the information required without being ‘showy’ like you might get with (off the top of my head) your Todd McFarlanes or your Chris Bachalos (not saying these are bad, just that they are more complicated line art) so it was a real pleasure to work on.
I look forward to watching the final product!