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Uneven Superhero Mashup Justice League

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“Yo – you seen that dude Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons anywhere? We’ve got to talk to him!” (L-R) Aquaman (Jason Momoa) as Aquaman, Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), The Flash (Ezra Miller) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) prepare for battle in a scene from Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure JUSTICE LEAGUE, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures. All rights reserved.


WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE: 

 


 

 



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher, Ezra Miller, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, J.K. Simmons, Billy Crudup, Jason Momoa, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Joe Morton and Ciarán Hinds

WRITER(S): Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon (screenplay); Chris Terrio and Zack Snyder (story); Bob Kane, Bill Finger, William Moulton Marston, Joe Shuster and Joe Siegel (characters)

DIRECTOR(S): Zack Snyder

 
WEB SITE: http://www.justiceleaguethemovie.com/HERE’S THE STORY: Still reeling from the death of Superman (Henry Cavill), Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman (Ben Affleck) has been on the hunt to track down a group of “metahumans” he believes will be essential in helping him fight future threats to earth. And while he already has Amazonian “wonder woman” Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) on board and a very eager and speedy Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) on board, Arthur Curry a.k.a. “the man who talks to fish” (Jason Momoa) is not trying to hear Wayne’s pitch. Then again, at least Arthur knows who he is, because Victor Stone (Ray Fisher) is still coming to grips with what his scientist father (Joe Morton) has done to him in the wake of an accident that should have taken this life. 


But with a threat he’s yet to determine the origin of seemingly starting to become more and more prevalent around Gotham, Wayne knows he’s going to need to get them all on his side sooner than later if the earth if going to have any chance to survive.

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Batman Vs. Superman apologists; Gal Gadot fans; Jason Momoa fans; people who will appreciate the visuals and references to other DC properties

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People who hated Batman Vs. Superman; people who hate the idea/execution of Ben Affleck as the Dark Knight; those who will find the film’s main antagonist underwhelming; people who will find some sequences of the film very paint-by-numbers and/or uneven

SO IS IT GOOD, BAD OR JUST AWFUL? “Diet Avengers … Diet Avengers … Diet Avengers” …


Sometimes, when a certain phrase goes through your head repeatedly, you have to stop and ask yourself “why?” To call Justice League “Diet Avengers” might at first seem like a cop out, but upon further contemplation, it may not be so much a cop out as much as it is a short yet accurate recapitulation of Warner Bros./DC Comics boldest attempt yet to compete head to head with the ebulliant force that is the Marvel Universe. 


A better term, however, might be “mixed bag” – because for a film where so many things are done right, so many others just feel out of place or wrong.


When Affleck was cast as Batman in the ill-received (or should that be, conceived?) Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice movie, he – despite his best efforts – really didn’t do anything wrong … But he also really didn’t do anything significant to quell the online backlash, either. In Justice League, Affleck finds himself once again, like his onscreen counterpart, of trying to do the right thing while knowing there are many who will just simply not forgive him for what he has done. Whereas he hits all the usual Bruce Wayne beats, he doesn’t do anything to make his character stand out. We get a kinder, gentler Batman, but one that seemingly only has any distinction in just how non-distinct he is. 


Likewise, Miller’s take on The Flash almost feels like an homage to another friendly, swinging neighborhood Marvel character, which, despite what surely is an attempt at bringing some levity to the situation, some are more often than not to find annoying (or at best, cheeky in an Austin Powers way) than genuinely humorous.


It is the film’s villain, however, that is an utter disappointment. Steppenwolf (voiced by Ciaran Hinds) feels like a low-rent villain, has low-rent villain dialogue and lacks the usual cool factor associated with most DC villains. There’s just nothing to him … Other than saying since he’s another Norse-style mythology creature he feels like a very low-rent, not entertaining version of another popular Marvel antagonist, right down to the horns.


On a positive note, Gadot once again shines and shines bright as the Amazon Diana Prince a.k.a. Wonder Woman while Fisher and Momoa make what – for all intents and purposes outside of Cyborg on Cartoon Network’s popular show Teen Titans Go! – have never been more than also-ran characters into viable parts of the franchise. Despite a rather lame origin explanation, Fisher makes sure his character balances a fine line between brooding and bruising while Momoa brings a rockstar cowboy flair that boosts the chances (and likely fans’ desire) for an Aquaman solo outing. (You’ll get your wish soon, Atlantis fans …) 


Then again, while there are great homages to past DC characters (Ryan Reynolds couldn’t even hate on how they show respect to his former green alter-ego) and the use of Henry Cavill is both great at its best moments and sappy at their worst, the film just feels OK – and that’s NOT what you want for major superhero team foray. Call it a bit of superhero fatigue, perhaps there’s a bit of wanting to appeal to the masses as opposed to just the die hard fans or the hard balancing act of fitting in a bunch of characters that haven’t previously come together before, but Justice League just feels like above average characters in an average superhero story. You’ll want to stick around through the end credits, of course, to see what may be next for the DC galaxy (using the term universe seems a bit redundant at this point), but you and your legion of friends can probably figure that out …


All in all, Justice League is not horrible, but it’s definitely not anything that’s going to make you feel like you need to rush out to see it again. Then again, if you didn’t like Batman Vs. Superman or the under-appreciated Suicide Squad, you might be better served catching a matinee. Because Justice League is definitely in a league of its own.


Whether audiences consider that league minor or major, however, remains to be seen. 

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

A Dayton Lesson for 2017

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Kim and Craig Jolly and their family

Here is a story you won’t soon forget.  This is Steve Milano aka The Big Ragu. Typically I write about local restaurants and local eats.  No Food Adventures today.  Today, instead we give you some food for thought.

While most people are making plans and new year’s promises, others are making very simple ones.  Their new year’s resolutions are to  continue the fight, to live, to survive.  This article is not only about a lifelong Dayton resident, it is about every person right now who is in a life and death battle with an illness.  It is a lesson for all of us to remember.

Craigs Cat Scan

Flashback 30 years ago, to August, 1987.   The Centerville football team locker room empties as the players trot down the gravel to the practice field.  It has been a long 8 months of weight lifting and conditioning. The original crowd in January of 100 perspective players has dwindled down to about 50.  The ones who are left are preparing for their first game.  One of those who persevered is a sophomore named Craig Jolly.  Craig was strong, and motivated.  Even then he was a fighter and a survivor in every sense of the word.  I know.  I was a senior playing offensive line too, and he was right there every practice, every step of the way.

New medicines and experimental treatments are a source of hope

Today, Craig has a family.  He has a local home with his wife Kim and two young daughters.  Unfortunately, Craig has something else.  He has a battle to fight.  But that is ok, because to his family, he is Superman.  On July 14th, 2016 Craig was diagnosed with a Grade 4 Glioblostoma tumor, the most deadly and aggressive form of brain cancer there is.  He was told then that the median life expectancy was 16 months. 

Ironically this being the holiday season, jolly is a word used quite often in songs, holiday movies and tv shows. Their whole life, they lived with this name, Jolly.  They are straining to hold onto that faith and their namesake.

His sister, Heather summed up the situation best on his DONATION PAGE:

Craigs sister Heather tries and comfort her brother’s pain in the hospital

Craig doesn’t live like he is dying. Craig lives like he is living.
And he always has. My brother has an enthusiasm for life, like I’ve never known. He effortlessly fills a room. He’s not just a piece of a part, he’s the whole show. He tells the jokes, and then he laughs at them too. And once you’ve heard his laugh you’ll remember it all your life. It bounces off walls and echoes down halls and it is unbelievably and undeniably infectious.

Craig isn’t just living, Craig is life.

Craig after a chemo treatment #oursuperman

He is the pulse of our family. The heartbeat of our home. And the first love of my life.
I have watched Craig fight, everyday these last 5 months. Everyday he fights. But he’s not just fighting cancer he’s fighting all the sadness and headache that comes with its demons.
That come with dying. But you’d never know.  If he gets down, he gets back up.
Every. Single. Day. He fights.
He fights for happiness, for love and for joy. He fights for laughing and smiling and living out loud. He fights for Kim and for Evan and for Anne.
And everyday he wins.
I will be in awe of his strength, determination, and optimism for the rest of my life. I will be devoted, admire and respect him, for the rest his.

 

Craig has decided not return to work. His wife Kim has taken an immediate indefinite leave of absence from her work to devote herself to his round the clock care.  They have spent money investigating countless studies, trials and equipment in pursuit of any glimpse of hope.  But it doesn’t matter.  Their commitment to each other is endless.  .

Craig’s sister Heather describes Kim and Craig’s interaction:

Kim and Craig Jolly

Kim’s look is one of unconditional, unwavering, endless love. She has been our rock. Craig’s is one of a man completely still smitten, 20 years later. I see gratitude in his embrace and the hardest part is, I see an apology in his eyes.
I’m sorry we didn’t get forever. I’m sorry you’ll raise our children alone.

A PLAN OF ATTACK:

Heather goes on to explain that in late November/early December, doctors learned that Craig’s tumor despite being cut out, despite being radiated, despite being starved with a ketogenic diet, despite being poisoned with chemotherapy, is back, and has very aggressively grown and spread throughout his brain.  But here’s the thing, you’d never know that either. Craig’s entire brain is swollen, shifted past midline, and infected with tumor. And yet he’s still just laughing, loving, living Craig. Is it sheer willpower? Or is it a miracle?

Endless tests, xrays and more

Surgery: Craig had decided to go forward on December 29th, with a very involved tenuous second craniotomy where they will remove all areas of tumor, a significant part of his brain and then inject a trial vaccine into the cavity to try to eradicate it.  Craig fully understood the risks and possible outcomes.  But you see, Craig is a fighter.  He wants to go down swinging.
He wants to live life… living, as his family says.
Craig knew that regardless of the outcome, the knowledge gained from this trial will eventually help others.

The family asked Craig the week of his diagnosis 5 months ago if his sister could make him a “Go Fund Me” page, knowing very well

Craig and his daughter

the catastrophic cost that come with terminal diagnosis’s. His pride just smiled, shook his head and declined.
“We’re okay he said, we don’t need it now.”
This time Heather didn’t ask him.   This time she is asking anyone to help.  He needs it now.
Heather wanted to raise money so Craig could enjoy these moments free of financial worry. So he can have some relief to spend time with his family stress free. So he can continue to spend his time living his life living, for all the days of his life.

Heather writes: “And I would be absolutely grateful beyond measure, if you would help me. #oursuperman”

 

UPDATE  DECEMBER 28th – THE POWER OF POSITIVITY, PERSEVERANCE and PRAYER:

The family has been holding onto hope this holiday season.  Again, Craig’s little sister writes on her Facebook page:

Superman and his sister Heather

“Hope has been a word that’s hard to get close to these days. Hope has an electric fence wrapped and entangled around it; you can only get shocked by it so many times before you stop trying to get near it. There’s been so many times along this journey that we’ve gotten too close to Hope only to be jolted, thrown back in the air, and dropped to the ground.

But that wasn’t today.  Today Hope knocked one out of the park.”

Craig explains why in his Caring Bridge Entry below.
#lovewins #thepowerofprayer #oursuperman

“I’ve never seen anything like it.” Not exactly the words you expect to hear from your neurosurgeon the night before brain surgery. My pre-operative MRI was significantly improved to the point that he had to double-check to be sure it was still mine. Mid-line shift was gone, swelling was down, and new lesions are now imperceptible. The main tumor that was 5.7 (and too large for me to qualify for the Tocogen trial) was now at 4.3cm. They’ve already submitted paperwork to see if I can re-qualify for the Toca trial, but for now we are standing down – no surgery tomorrow!!

And. . . exhale. This punctuates a couple day stretch where both car

Craig and his sister Heather share a laugh

batteries died, our dishwasher and sink broke, our basement flooded and we had to rush to the hospital to get a platelet draw again to see if I could even do surgery. Seriously, what a roller coaster.I’m gonna curl up in a warm bed and sleep well tonight. Or maybe now. Now feels good. . . “
Craig

It is great news heading into the new year and we wish Craig continued improvements.  We hope this story is an inspiration and lesson to many.  Please note as you ring in the new year.  Some have resolutions that may be way different than yours.  Take a lesson from perseverance and never giving up.

We wish a fantastic new year to Craig and his family and everyone who took time to read this article.

In 2017, you never know who will step out and be a superhero, but the Jolly family definitely has a #Superman.

If you would like to help donate to Craig’s cause, click the Go fund me links above or go to his Caring Bridge site HERE.

Craig Jolly and his sister Heather