Remembering “Meteor Man” – One of the First Black Superhero Films

No, “Blade” (1998) was not the first black superhero film. In fact, there are quite a few to pick that came before – see: “Spawn” (1997), “Steel” (1997), “Blankman” (1994), and the very obscure “Abar, the First Black Superman” (1977), which was later retitled “In Your Face”. However, the one that stands out first and foremost, especially in terms of ‘superhero themes’ is “Meteor Man” (1994).

You have to remember, the early 1990s weren’t dominated by big, box office superhero movies that we are surrounded with today. In fact, the only thing people were accustomed to were the Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher “Batman” films. I point this out because it was surely a different time, especially in terms of capturing comic books and, eventually, their stereotypes on film.

On the surface, this is a ridiculous movie but in hindsight represents a paradigm which most big budgeted films ‘should’ follow. Now, I’m not justifying “Meteor Man” as a ‘good’ movie but I do still believe the film is overlooked especially in juxtaposition to Marvel’s Global Cinematic Powerhouse and DC’s Globally ‘Gray and Rainy’ Cinematic Universe. Much of the film may have you shaking your head but you need to let yourself enjoy it for what it is, even amongst the ‘what in the name of Abe Vigoda is going on?’ scenes.

With “Meteor Man”, the story is conventional (for a superhero movie) while also leaving room for comedy – intentional or not (even if we’re laughing at it rather than with it). We follow a Washington, D.C. high school teacher, Jefferson Reed (Robert Townsend), whose neighborhood is overrun by the gang the Golden Lords. One night returning home, Reed tries to rescue a woman from the Golden Lords but ends up being chased by them himself (eventually leading to him hiding in a dumpster). After climbing out of the dumpster, Reed is struck by a glowing green meteorite that leaves him severely burnt and injured. Once awakening from the hospital, he comes to find out that he has completely healed and that the meteorite actually absorbed into his body giving him superpowers nearly identical to Superman’s, except he has the peculiar power of absorbing a book’s contents just by touching it (that’s a pretty envious power although I guess the data retain ability only lasts 30 seconds).

“Meteor Man” is essentially Superman geared towards black people and more intimate in that it is a small, black community that is hampered by apathy and the oppression of drugs and gang activity. This is a unique take on ‘superhero’. More often than not, we’ll find a superhero defending an entire city and more recently in film, the entire world. With “Meteor Man”, he’s fighting for his neighborhood. Not only that, the hero actually inspires others to take action. Now, I know that Meteor Man isn’t derived from the comic books but he is most certainly inspired by them. All of the elements are there: experimenting with new powers, reluctance in moral duty, and even a worthy adversary in the leader of the Golden Lords, Simon Caine (Roy Fegan).

Although the message of the film is captured, the waste of pure talent cannot be overlooked. Check out the cast for this movie:

 
Robert Townsend

Eddie Griffin

James Earl Jones

Bill Cosby

Don Cheadle (in his 5th film)

Frank Gorshin (the Riddler from the 1960s Batman TV series)

Sinbad

Wallace Shawn

Tommy Lister, Jr (“Friday”, “The Fifth Element”)

 

With such an ensemble, you’d think there’d be much to relish in. Well, you’re wrong. Most of the movie is outlandish, but can be enjoyed if you like watching bad movies.

Here are some Highlights:

James Earl Jones (Darth Vader) wears an oversized jersey with a wig.

Meteor Man plants a giant garden (overnight) in a vacant lot.

As mentioned, Meteor Man has the power to absorb books (for 30 seconds) and uses a ‘Lady Modeling’ book in order to have a cat walk/fight with the film’s nemesis. Most absurd indeed.

Bill Cosby stars as a mute, homeless man. Think about that for a second. A comedian known for his verbal comedy (and at the height of his popularity – circa early 1990s) is given no lines! Wait, he does at least have a scene where he communicates with dogs by barking at them (I’m not kidding).

During Meteor Man’s flight training, he starts flying a foot from the ground because he’s afraid of heights.

The Golden Lords are broken into groups, with the youngest being named ‘Golden Boys’.

 

All that being stated, “Meteor Man” is still an important film worth considering, especially to see how far cinema has come with the ‘superhero genre’ itself. Personally, the linear story and message (albeit conveyed in the cheesiest of ways) is refreshing. It certainly is a departure from what we’re accustomed to now. Furthermore, I would appreciate a superhero movie that focused on something as small as a community. Frankly, I’m tired of the ‘world needs saving’ storyline. With more diversity in comics, I hope we get more subjective perspectives on injustices, etc.

With the upcoming “Black Panther” movie (to be released July 6, 2018) and “Black Lightning” TV series (CW Network) making its way to audiences, I hope that we at least remember the ‘community angle’ that was in “Meteor Man”. It’s something that I believe is sorely missing from superhero movies.
 

Note: Robert Townsend wrote, directed and starred in “Meteor Man”. Even though the film flopped both critically and at the 1993 box office, Townsend managed to find work as a director with Disney Channel’s original movie “Up, Up and Away” and even an unreleased 2014 Stand Up Comedy Film, “Bill Cosby 77”, which would be most interesting now with all the rape allegations Bill Cosby is currently facing.

“Narcos” season 2 trailer dropped!

You like crazy stories based on real life? Look no further than the story behind trying to nab the most notorious kingpin of all of all time – Pablo Escobar and his Medellin drug cartel. We follow two Drug Enforcement Agents and the cat and mouse game they play with Escobar. The drug network raised billions of dollars, which was used to persuade the Colombian government and it’s military to allow their activities.

*If you love the movie, “Blow”, I highly recommend this series.

Over the course of Escobar’s reign, at least 4,000 people were killed – due to the conflict between the cartel and drug enforcement agencies. Escobar was volatile and vicious, yet he remained smart enough to outmaneuver any attempts on his life.
 
This and much, much more is chronicled in the Netflix series, “Narcos”, which just released its 2nd season trailer (see below).

 
The series stars Wagner Moura (“Elite Squad”, “Elysium”), Pedro Pascal (“Game of Thrones”) and Boyd Holbrook (“Gone Girl”, upcoming “Wolverine” sequel). It was created by Chris Brancato, Carlo Bernard and Doug Miro. It is also executive produced by Jose Padilha (“Robocop”, “Elite Squad”, “Rio, I Love You”). “Narcos” can be seen on Netflix, with its 2nd season dropping on September 2nd.  

*Also available in beautiful 4K.

“Shedding Skin” with Jake “The Snake” Roberts

Jake “The Snake” Roberts – the name is iconic in the world of professional wrestling. He is a master of mental warfare that was known to strike fear into the hearts of any opponent he ever faced in the ring. His mere presence and voice could employ a chill over any crowd. He was a larger than life wrestling star whom became afflicted with a heavy addiction due to unresolved demons.

Much has happened since Jake “The Snake” Roberts left pro wrestling and, like many former wrestlers, his life was in disarray – he was abusing alcohol and drugs. That is until a very good friend of his (and fellow pro wrestler), Diamond Dallas Page, helped get Jake back on track both physically and mentally. Jake’s personal and courageous fight with himself is chronicled quite nicely in the documentary, “The Resurrection of Jake the Snake”, which is currently on Netflix Instant.

You see, this is a man who has seen his own demons and is now conquering them. He is learning how to deal with his life positively after dealing with years of shame and anger. Furthermore, his story is humanizing and you cannot help but root for the guy.

Over the past weekend I got the opportunity to spend some time with the WWE Hall of famer. It was at the O Comic Con that I finally got to meet the hero of the squared circle. As Nick (co-host and writer for Pop Culture Crunch) and I went up to meet Jake, he wasted no time in making us feel welcome. He was gracious enough to speak with us about his life and his message. His overall demeanor really won me over. There really is no easier guy to talk to. Our conversation led us on several topics – his addiction, how to do the proper DDT (a famous wrestling maneuver), and even how his diet led to his discovery of his favorite healthy treat – ‘black bean brownies’. Random, I know.What was more surprising to us was that Jake had his own comedy tour – The Unspoken Word tour with Jake “The Snake” Roberts. The idea came about when Jake witnessed another legend of the ring, Mick Foley, touring around the country telling people his personal, hilarious stories that were gathered by his experiences in the wrestling world. Jake reflected on this and thought, “come on man, I got forty years of snake sh*t to talk about”. Upon that realization, the Unspoken Word tour was born. With all those years of experience, each show is unique and custom to the particular crowd. Jake even mentioned that he has a knack for ‘feeling the crowd’ and reacting to that with stories that are best suited to engage with his audience (much like he did while wrestling).

While at the Unspoken Word show (at the Funnybone Comedy Club in Omaha, NE), many enjoyed hearing his fun road stories and seemed to engage with him on a personal level. The opening act was great with some good comedy flavor from Alex Ansel aka Koolaid (alexansel.com). Jake delivered immediately by coming out to his classic theme song from his days of wrestling. He even proclaimed that his own music gives him nightmares to this day. (WHY?)

Jake detailed his life to the crowd with heart felt moments with his addiction which then morphed into jokes about living with Diamond Dallas Page and Scott Hall (formerly Razor Ramon). He even got into some neat stories about his early days wrestling, especially working with Macho man and the infamous snake bite. The real meat of Jakes show came from his pranks and ribbing of other wrestlers.Overall, Jake’s story is one that is humanizing and raw. To see Jake make such a turn around with his life is nothing short of inspiring. My time with Jake Roberts will be forever embedded in my heart and memory. Jake is truly an amazing person who is not afraid to speak the truth.

There was one question we asked Jake in which his response most definitely stood out. If you could communicate one message to your fans what would that be? A somber and humble Roberts replied “Never give up!”

For more information on the Unspoken Word Tour follow Jake on Twitter @JakeSnakeDDT
Visit www.jakethesnakeroberts.com

A special thanks to Matthew Fujan and the entire crew of O Comic Con.

“Mr. Robot” – Season 2 trailer offers a lot of Intrigue and Mayhem

One of the most anticipated returns to television this summer would undoubtedly be the breakout hit, “Mr. Robot”, on USA Network (of all places!). Although the network is mostly known for cheeky, off-beat comedy dramas or crime thrillers, “Mr. Robot” seems to be USA Networks ‘game changer’.

The show, which is created by Sam Esmail (he actually writes and directs every episode – this is very rare), is hailed for being culturally relevant while also being the most accurate depiction of how ‘computer hacking’ essentially works (its capabilities and complexities). Not only that, but it depicts how computer (social) technology isolates and morphs us into who we think we are. 

The series follows a computer engineer, Elliot Alderson (Remi Malek) that suffers from anxiety and depression. We slowly begin to understand why Elliot is depressed and why he uses drugs to cope. He is then recruited by a group of hacktivists (fsociety) to wipe out all debt by attacking E Corp. The leader of fsociety is known as Mr. Robot (Christian Slater).

You think I’m just hyping this to hype it? The series was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best TV Drama Series and won a Golden Globe for Christian Slater’s performance.

The new trailer (below) season two does a good job not revealing what essentially ‘went down’ in the 1st season. It also brings a level of intrigue while seemingly trying to answer all the questions that arose previously.

The series premieres on USA Network July 13th at 10/9c. I cannot wait! If you haven’t see the groundbreaking series, I highly recommend it!

“Keanu” is a Huge Disappointment

Talk about limping out of the gate! That’s still a saying right? For the record, I am a pretty big fan of the “Key and Peele” show on Comedy Central. You can imagine my disappointment after seeing this turd demon. I mean, the premise of the movie sounded great.

After being dumped by his girlfriend, the only thing that kept Rell (Jordan Peele) going was a cat that happened upon his doorstep. Things go awry when the cat (named Keanu) is stolen, leaving Rell to recruit his cousin, Clarence (Keegan-Michael Key), to help find the cat. Together, they must work for a drug dealer (Method Man) in order to get Keanu back.

Sounds like a good enough story, right? Wrong. Rell and Clarence are mistaken for other notorious killers (gangstas) and must put on a front in order to get Keanu back. These are essentially two nerds that try to act ‘gangsta’ and this is where some of the actual comedy lies. They both live unexciting lives and are supposedly ‘quickened’ when trying to act like gangsters but, in ironic/moronic stereotypical fashion, they get way in over their heads with the reality of their situation. Many ‘buddy movies’ follow this formula but it is executed with a lot more originality. “21 Jump Street” played with this formula perfectly. Not only did the two leads (in this case Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill) have chemistry but their characters were examined in relation to what they essentially mean to each other. In other words, there’s an emotional payoff to that story even outside of the comedy. This is not to say that there weren’t moments in “Keanu” that weren’t funny. I found myself chuckling a few times but wasn’t ‘busting out laughing’ by any means. The natural banter between Key and Peele is almost always entertaining but in this felt more forced. Whereas their skits on their popular TV series (which ended last year) point out the humor in the mundane or overlooked stereotypes, “Keanu” felt like a long skit that tired itself out.

There was some sprinkled talent in the film that missed more than it hit. I’m referring to Will Forte as the neighbor drug dealer, Luis Guzman as a drug kingpin and Anna Faris (playing herself) as a drug crazed lunatic. They attempt at elevating the comedy but definitely fall short. They seemed like placeholders just so the plot would continue to chug along (which is also what I was doing while watching this – I believe I was drinking Dale’s Pale Ale). Not only that, the film ended in a cookie cutter manner with a silly car chase and a side love story that was quickly added in by a technicality that was reversed. I guess I am being sort of cryptic because I don’t want to spoil the movie but I sure as heck not recommending it to anyone!  

I will say that I remain hopeful for both Key and Peele in pop culture. I do find that they are talented. The movie doesn’t hit but, to me, this seems like a learning experience for the two. On the plus side, the film is sitting at a 79% on Rotten Tomatoes with most praising the film and the chemistry between its stars. Don’t believe everything you read unless it comes from me (obviously kidding)!

The film is directed by Peter Atencio (“Key and Peele” TV show, “The Last Man on Earth” TV show) and was written by Jordan Peele and Alex Rubens. The film officially came out in theaters today (April 29th).

Grade: D+

“Vinyl” is “The Wolf of Wall Street” meets “Mad Men”

That’s a weird combination, right? Well, it certainly is a different TV series. The show may be polarizing given the sheer amount of graphic language, drug use, violence and sexual content. Underneath all that, I can assure you, is a really creative drama waiting to be embraced. With all the talent behind (Mick Jagger, Rich Cohen, Martin Scorsese, Terrence Winter) and in front (Bobby Canavale, Olivia Wilde, Juno Temple, Ato Essandoh, Ray Romano) of the camera, who wouldn’t be intrigued by the 1970s period drama?

The series is like that of The Wolf of Wall Street because it is in your face, crude, and has everyone chasing the dollar for their own personal (okay, let’s call it selfish) reasons.  Every single character is unique and brought to life by solid performances and excellent writing.  We are talking about flawed characters chasing a dream at the expense of others. Oh, and what makes this like Mad Men is the period and the cultural issues that stand as a forefront but instead of advertising that is used to propel ideas, it’s music (lots of different music). Just as Mad Men was about how cultural differences and ideas about society can be subliminal in advertising, so to can be the cultural undertones that cling to different types of music (and its lyrics). This is what can really separate this show from all others. To truly understand why particular music is adored (which is what our protagonist essentially does), is to comprehend larger ideas.

We follow Richie Finestra, the owner of a record company (American Century), who is on the verge of selling his company to a big German owned music label. The narrative progresses in 1973 and flashes back to the time Finestra was beginning to start his career as a manager, especially while working with his first client, a blues and gospel musician, Lester Grimes (played by Ato Essandoh).

While Finestra (who is also trying to stay clean due to his insatiable need for coke) is trying to keep his company from failing (so as to look successful to the German buyers), we are introduced to the rest of his company which includes his right hand man, Zak Yankovich (Ray Romano) and the A & R team (Artists & Repertoire). As artists like Led Zeppelin pull out of contracts and radio executives refusing to play their music on air, this puts everyone in panic mode. The future of the company is pending its sale to a larger one.

Note: Some of the musicians in the series are not real.

It isn’t until the pilot episodes 3^rd act that the unthinkable happens to our main character. He must deal with a situation that tests his soul and affects everyone around him, including his family. With so much on the line, what is Finestra to do? Well, he finds odd solace in a concert in a seemingly shuttered pocket of New York City to attend to (while all coked up).  What occurs there is an allegory to his inner feelings.

Vinyl is one of the coolest new shows out there. Who cares if it’s in your face with sex, drugs and rock n’ roll? That’s what the music industry (more specifically the record industry) was. You can’t deny that. That is not to say that the show isn’t introspective, it definitely is. You can always look to the conflicted Finestra, played by the wonderful Bobby Canavale.

Hmm…: What’s strange is that the ratings weren’t all that high for the show’s debut (around 700K people). This was likely because of The Walking Dead stealing so many viewers for that time slot. Plus, we have yet to see how many people check out HBO Go/Now for later viewings.

In summary, you should at least give Vinyl a chance. It’s filled with zany, despicable characters and one-liners set against a lush backdrop of the pivotal music industry of a bygone era.

Grade (for the 2 hour pilot): B+

That Narcos show on Netflix is pretty badass…

It was a Monday afternoon (Labor Day) and I couldn’t possibly be any lazier. Of course, this is the after effects of a longer weekend filled with late night partying. With that said, I took this time to finish binge watching Narcos on Netflix.

Let me just say that there are those that may be turned off from the subtitles but you’d be a fool to pass this show up. I mean, the setting is in Medellin, Columbia so it only makes sense to have it in Spanish. The show is narrated by one of its leads in English so it’s not all in Spanish. It also doesn’t hurt that the show is available in Ultra HD (streaming 4K), so the sweeping landscapes are captured in crisp images and colors.
If you hadn’t already figured, the story focuses on Pablo Escobar’s rise as the world’s most successful criminal and the law enforcement agents (DEA, CIA, Columbian police and military) that try to work to take him down. The sheer amount of violence and drug trafficking that occurred in the 1980s into the early 1990s is absolutely unfathomable. Plus, every side of the law is playing the other. So, as agent Steve Murphy moves from America into Colombia to combat drug traffickers (or as the show labels them – Narcos), he must learn to adapt to a society that is ultimately ran by the Medellin cartel. Murphy even comes to find that sometimes there is a blurry line between good and evil as he and fellow agent, Pena, try to capture the Narcos.

The super talented Wagner Moura (Elite Squad, Elysium) plays Pablo Escobar as a well-intended, egotistical maniac who will stop at nothing in order to accomplish his nefarious goals. He commands the screen and I couldn’t imagine anyone better for this role – sorry, Benicio Del Toro (referring to 2014’s Escobar: Paradise Lost). Boyd Holbrook plays agent Steve Murphy, who, I have to admit, took me some time to warm up to. Most of this was because his character didn’t jump off the screen like the others or his partner, Pena (played by Pedro Pascal – Game of Thrones). It seemed that Murphy was there simply for exposition but he becomes a more interesting character as the show goes on. He is the untested American who is thrust into a world that he thinks he’s ready for.

Outside of the performances, the story is gripping and based on actual events. How Colombia became the cocaine capital of the world is so fascinating – how routes are selected to smuggle drugs, how people are bought, and the politics involved – from both American Intelligence agencies, Ronald Reagan’s crusade against communists and later the drug cartels, and the famous Search Bloc (comprised of three Special Ops units of the National Police of Colombia).

The show may have taken some liberties with actual events, but that doesn’t necessarily take away from it. Look, the pilot episode is slightly intriguing but gets progressively better from there. We end up getting a lot of characters’ backstories so that when the sh*t hits the fan, you feel it on more fronts. If I had to liken the show to anything, I’d point to the movie Blow and its exploration of how cocaine created empires.
Moreover, the show is just so damn cool. All of these Narcos make even the most notorious criminals in American history look like nothing. I’m not trying to idolize the criminals (mainly the Drug Lords) but you can’t help but get caught up in their exuberant worlds/lifestyles. If anyone gets in their way, they just make sure they go after who is responsible and set an example for anyone else daring to step on their toes. Even the set design and costumes need praise. A lot of the characters in the show have moustaches. They look so cool that even I want to now grow one. Was Colombia really that moustache prone in the late 1980s? The musical guitar riffs also add a nice touch to the series. The music, though subtle, seems to cloud Colombia as a complex country that holds a mystery that everyone is looking to solve. Perhaps I’m reading into that too much?

Anyways, a second season has already been ordered and I cannot wait. Netflix tailors all of their original content for binge viewing. I honestly believe that Narcos is another winner to put up beside their other uber successful shows – House of Cards and Orange is the New Black.
The show was created by Chris Brancato and some of the episodes were directed by Jose Padilha (Elite Squad). The show stars Wagner Moura, Boyd Holbrook, Pedro Pascal, Maurice Compte, and Joanna Christie.

Grade: A-