There are lots of superhero video games out there and many just seem to be capitalizing on the name, but this game actually made me feel like I was in the cape and cowl of Batman. You have the thinking and fighting skills, detective abilities, stealth, and cool gadgets of Batman.

The Arkham Asylum game play and story feel as though they are straight out of a comic book, and Batman’s rogue’s gallery of villains is fun to match up against. There is outstanding voice acting…I thoroughly enjoyed Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hammill as the Joker. The two also voice the animated series. Logistically, I felt the developers created a great atmosphere and good game play mechanics.

The only flaw…The final fight was anti-climatic. After such a great challenge to get to the end, I expected a more difficult final battle.

Now it’s on to Arkham City!

I just couldn’t wait, so I braved the crowds on opening weekend, sat first row, center and patiently watched 25 minutes of previews…did I mention that I was excited to see this movie?

PROS : )
• EXCELLENT casting and the actors had great chemistry.
• Every character had a chance to shine.
• Well written script with a sense of humor and plenty of dramatic moments (I appreciated that the movie didn’t take itself too seriously).
• Superb combination of comedy, drama, and action.
• The final battle scene was thrilling and worth the build up.

CONS : (
• I don’t really have any but I guess if I’m going to be nit-picky I’d say that there are five movies that are the prequel to The Avengers, and if you just came to see this movie, you’d lose some of what was going on. (So just see them too!)

FINAL THOUGHTS…
This one lived up to its pre-opening hype.

Stay for the scene after the ENTIRE credit roll. Very funny and worth the wait!

Jonathan

Check out my pros and cons for Hunger Games and John Carter.

On November 18, 2011, LCpl Joshua “Chachi” Corral was killed in action while serving with the United States Marine Corps in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. In his memory, his family started the Semper Fi Foundation to support Chaci’s mission to “take care of his men.”

To LCpl Corral and every soldier who has sacrificed for all of us…we thank you! We’ll remember…

OSCAR WILDE BY STEPHEN SILVER: SILVERTOONS.COM

“I am not young enough to know everything.” Oscar Wilde

I’m going to a friends’ wedding next week and can’t figure out what I should wear. I’m wondering if my dad still has this tux?

Cardboard Box Theatre Project is dedicated to the creation of new works. I participated in their recent, “A Night of Staged Readings.”

Partial Cast for Nature’s Mistakes: Molly Murphy, Amelia Bethel, Jonathan Murphy

I played Max in Nature’s Mistakes, a black comedy about the freak show of real lives. Julie Jigour is an upcoming playwright and this was the first staged reading of this delightfully demented play.

Here’s the synopsis:

Tight on cash, Jack and Mary Rowley sell their younger daughter to Maximillian’s Museum of Nature’s Mistakes, the freak show visiting town. As their older daughter questions her sister’s disappearance, a conniving doctor reenters the Rowleys‘ lives, a prostitute seeks revenge, and a church zealot attempts to bring down the show. Yet the showman keeps telling stories to draw people into the tent, where the reality may be less grotesque than what exists outside.

Favorite Lines:

GERALDINE
How dare you! No sinner can claim to follow in the footsteps of the Lord! Your words are evil as the abominations you’ve brought to our town.

MAX
Well you might be surprised, Geraldine. Sometimes a town’s got abominations all its own. And besides, didn’t Jesus teach to love all God’s creatures?

GERALDINE
Those are not God’s creatures.

MAX
Well they may look different on the outside, but inside they have hearts just like you and me. I mean, you do have a heart, too, don’t you?

The second play performed that night was All That Grows: A Contemporary Folk Musical by Molly Murphy (yep, that’s my sister), and Dani Lencioni. The play is a post apocalyptic tale about a brother who dreams and sister who’s trying to. The music helped to drive the story and the harmonies were haunting and beautiful.

Here’s the synopsis:

The Acalanes. A desolate mountain range void of water and color where the community has no ambition but survival. Avian and his sister Emmalyn struggle to find meaning to their dreams, and perhaps escape.

Favorite Line:

“Everyone is afraid of finding pain in other people when they feel they already have enough of of their own.”

“Dickens Dream” by Robert William Buss

“Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” Charles Dickens

Jonathan Murphy voiced the character, “Godrod, the Hammer,” NPC for The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim created by Kris Takahashi. According to Kris, “All you need to know about Godrod is that he’s nuts.”

“I was set free because my greatest fear had been realized, and I still had a daughter who I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became a solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” J.K. Rowling

Jonathan

Interesting article on Cumberbatch in the NY Times.