Review: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (non-spoilers)

After three years, it’s finally here. The two titans of the superhero genre lock horns to usher in the shared DC Film Universe. The plot revolves around the clashing of ideologies between Batman and Superman as they each deal with their struggles. Kal-El now resides in a world where public opinion is divided on whether or not a God-like being should exist in society.

The Caped Crusader is fueled by the tragic events that occurred at the end of Man of Steel, compounded by the constant grief he carries due to the murder of his parents. This grief pushes him to launch his war with the staunch belief that if he can’t put the unstoppable in check, nobody can.

There are a lot of different ways that people are going to look at this movie. Film purists will curse “BvS” with utter conviction due to its overstuffed narrative.

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My Declaration for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice needs to be a great film, not a good film because good isn’t good enough. While this movie will establish the shared DC Films Universe, planting the seeds for future flicks with an Easter egg here and a cameo there is ancillary.

I want a movie that is worthy of the titular characters on the marquee while awakening my eight-year-old self. This film needs to finally settle every “who would win in a fight between Batman and Superman” argument I’ve ever had without dis-serving the iconic reputation of either hero. Continue reading “My Declaration for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” →

The Plague of Unauthorized Wrestling Albums

I come from a musically-inclined family; however, the maker left me out of that equation, which I’ve come to terms with. Besides, being an enthusiast of this artistic medium is more my speed anyway.

There are days where I enjoy nothing more than throw on the headphones and lose myself to the sweet melodies of some good music. The one thing that can send all of that to a screeching halt is to expect something amazing, only to get something awful in return. Continue reading “The Plague of Unauthorized Wrestling Albums” →

WrestleMania 32 = WWE’s Largest Crowd Ever Already?

WrestleMania 23 on April 1, 2007, at Ford Field in Detroit, the real attendance was 74,687, however, the announced number was 80,103. While that is an increase of over 5,000 attendees, WWE always inflates the number, promote it as the real deal, and refer to it as an “entertainment” number when called on the numbers legitimacy.

The Wrestling Observer reported that over 84,000 tickets have been sold for WrestleMania 32 on April 3rd, at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, TX. Frank Dee and I compare this number with some of the real and fake WWE attendance numbers of years past.

If you like what you hear clip, you can listen to The Raw Deal in its entirety at Gerweck.net: Pro Wrestling Since 1997.

Actors Who’ve Played Batman and Superman

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a mere two weeks away and some micro reviews of the film have already hit the web. While I’m not going to discuss them here, now would be a good time to look titular roles. Many actors have played Batman and Superman, respectively, and it’s hard not to compare actor A to actor B. Some have done wonders for the role while others were forgettable.

We’ve seen Henry Cavill as Superman, but this time we will get to know him as reporter Clark Kent. Ben Affleck casting as Batman almost started World War III when it was announced almost three years ago. Rumors and trailer footage all points to Afflack giving us a remarkable Batman, but see the film in its entirety will paint a clear picture.

Going back to the comparing game, we have to remember that these are two different incarnations of these iconic characters. Superman is still coming to terms with being mankind’s savior, which is something he took to rather easily in earlier films. Batman is older, grieving, and more brutal than ever before.

Without further ado, let’s look at some of the actors who’ve played Superman and followed by those who portrayed the bat of Gotham. Continue reading “Actors Who’ve Played Batman and Superman” →

Thoughts on the Passing of Japanese Wrestling Legend Hayabusa

Last week, the wrestling world was saddened by the passing of Eiji Ezaki, better known to fans around the world as Hayabusa.

The words grace and innovation encapsulate the legend of this masked highflyer who astonished fans all across the orient as the star of the FMW promotion in the mid to late 90’s. Hayabusa made his sole U.S. wrestling appearance at ECW Heatwave 1998.

Ezaki’s daring array of moves like his patented Phoenix Splash influenced a generation of wrestlers. I’ve come across many wrestlers on the independent scene who tailored their gear and in-ring presentation after Hayabusa

I recently recorded an audio blog discussing my introduction to Hayabusa, his cult like status among die-hard wrestling fans and the mark he left in the industry.

My condolences go out to the family and friends of Eiji Ezaki.

Is WWE Planning Another Brand Extension???

If Shane McMahon beats the Undertaker at WrestleMania, he gains complete control of Monday Night Raw. This has fans talking about the possibility of another brand extension. PWInsider noted that WWE has discussed the idea, even before Shane returned to the company. I would like to put to rest and let me explain why.

The reason why WWE is not going to move forward with a second brand split is because Monday Night Raw is three hours. The length of the show makes it a chore for most fans to watch while the writers have a hard time producing 180 minutes worth of content. That’s with the entire main roster and Imagine splitting that in half? Continue reading “Is WWE Planning Another Brand Extension???” →

Street Fighter X G.I. Joe #1 Review

Street Fighter X G.I. Joe #1 | Writer: Aubrey Sitterson | Artist: Emilio Laiso | Colorist: David Garcia Cruz | Publisher: IDW Publishing

I’ve always been a G.I. Joe fan, and the number of hours I logged in playing the various incarnations of Street Fighter II for Super Nintendo would blow your mind. So naturally, I was all smiles when a crossover was announced, pitting these two franchises against one another.

While this is nothing new in comic books, there are so many facets of the world warriors and our great American heroes that seem tailor-made for one another. How could this go wrong? Continue reading “Street Fighter X G.I. Joe #1 Review” →

UFC Review: The Count tops The Spider in London

Fans tuning in on UFC Fight Pass this past Saturday were treated to a main event showdown that encapsulates the sport and spectacle of scripted melodrama that was all too real. Michael Bisping toppled Anderson Silva with grinding determination while showing no sign of bewilderment over the status and application of Silva’s combative brilliance.

In the first two rounds, Bisping was busier, constantly moved forward, and kept his head on a swivel, which diluted Silva’s counterstriking. Bisping even dropped Silva, twice, something no one felt he had enough power to administer. Bisping was on his way to winning the third round until the last 15 seconds took a bizarre turn.

Bisping lost his mouthpiece and informed the referee, and it appeared that Herb Dean was stepping in to halt the action to recover the mouthpiece. Bisping stopped fighting, looked down at the mouthpiece, and Silva walloped him with a picture-perfect knee to the head. Silva walked away as the buzzer sounded, believing he had won the fight.

Bisping was down and seemed to be out. Silva celebrated on top of the cage with his corner joining in, all while Dean vehemently yelled, “The fight is not over.” Once Silva got the message, he was agitated but ready to fight while the crimson mask of a wobbly Michael Bisping stained the octagon canvas.

The fourth and fifth-round saw Silva catch Bisping with a shot below the belt, and Silva received a karmic eye poke in return. Bisping looked like something out of a horror film as the blood seeped into his left eye. Blood be dammed, the unwavering Brit withstood Silva’s onslaught, including a Superman punch and a front kick to the face, while constantly tagging Silva’s chin.

The judges unanimously scored the bout 48-47 for Michael Bisping. Silva did more damage, but Bisping out landed him in the pocket where most of the fight occurred. Silva did his usual histrionics to no avail, and you’d think he would have learned his lesson after his loss to Chris Weidman.

This was an incredible fight where both fighters walked the razor’s edge. The mixture of star power, action, excitement, and controversy made for a special event that should only serve the UFC’s digital streaming service well going forward.

To summarize this fight, I would like to steal a phrase from the film White Men Can’t Jump. Silva wanted to look good first and win second. Bisping just wanted to win, and he did.

Why Do WWE Fans Dislike Roman Reigns?

Here is a clip from the latest episode of The Raw Deal where Frank Dee and I breakdown the fans dislike of Roman Reigns.

Click here to listen the show in it’s entirety as we discuss Shane McMahon’s return, edgy content, and a special announcement about a new show coming to Gerweck.net.