6 Stars I'd Love To See As The Riddler

The world tends to overlook The Riddler as a great and iconic Batman villain.  With the newer movies taking a darker turn, The Riddler has drifted to the wayside in the film world along with other iconic villains like The Penguin and Mr. Freeze.  

But I think The Riddler is a bad guy that could really bring something interesting to the silver screen.  So if DC Films are thinking about bringing this character into all our Blu-Ray collections, here are 5 actors that I think could grab that iconic cane and run with it!

Neil Patrick Harris

Already a famous super villain from the cult classic: Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, Neil Patrick Harris has shown via film and stage that he can pull off eccentric roles quite easily.  Harris would pull off a different kind of Riddler, something dark yet comical in my opinion.  I also entertain the idea of a psychotic musical number.  His portrayal would be Legen...wait for it...dary.  (Sorry, had to do it.)

Jim Carrey

Call me a sucker for the classics, but he did a great version of The Riddler before, I think seeing him play a darker version of the same character would be interesting to say the least.  While Carrey is known as Hollywood's all time great funny men, he's also proven he can do crazy pretty good as well.  Carrey is also a bit older now and it would be cool to see a new take on an old gem.  I also really wanna go watch some 90s Batman movies now!

Benedict Cumberbatch

I slow speaking, more menacing Riddler?  I see that being just what Mr. Holmes himself would offer us if we saw Cumberbatch take the role.  Cumberbatch is somewhat of a darkhorse in my mind because he would offer up a completely new take on The Riddler than what tradition sees him as.  Alas, it may not happen, Benedict has already announced he'll be portraying Dr. Strange and usually in show business, it seems you only get one superhero.

Max Riemelt

A star from Netflix's new series Sense8 has been taking the internet by storm, mostly because in the series you get to know him...really well.  Riemelt has shown from that show alone that he can play the unstable role well.  I picture his version of The Riddler as more of a street made villain like he's made out to be.  Now I'm looking at comparisons between The Riddler and Aladdin...weird.

Zachary Quinto

Already a villain (a pretty dang evil one too) from NBC's Heroes, Quinto has the makings to become The Riddler and really make this character marketable.  His portrayal of Spock in the new Star Trek films really showed me how amazing this guy is, because honestly I didn't know it was him till the credits of the first film and I was a huge Heroes fan!  If Quinto was The Riddler, get me some popcorn, it's gonna be a good night!

David Tennant

While I respect all my other choices as Riddler, I true to my heart believet that The Doctor himself would be the perfect casting for the role.  After seeing Tennant portray my favorite version of The Doctor on Dr. Who, I quickly made comparisons between him and The Riddler.  One reason and one reason alone: delivery.  Tennant delivers lines and quips in the exact way that the iconic Batman villain should.  I see him producing lines that would become instantly iconic, such as Ledger's, "Why so serious?"  If anyone deserves this role, I again say that this man is tailor made!

Ant-Man: That Big Guy, Becomes A Little Guy, For His Little One

It's not easy being the Marvel film that follows Avengers: Age of Ultron, but somebody has to do it!  Many people have been skeptical over how Ant-Man would be received, but more importantly, will it live up to the standard that Marvel has set itself.  Needless to say this film has been under a microscope since its announcement.  (No pun intended...ok, all puns intended.)

(90s Chris Pratt...I mean Paul Rudd, portrays the films hero Scott Lang)

The premise of Ant-Man is that Hank Pym quits S.H.I.E.L.D after they try to replicate his Ant-Man technology.  Later on, Pym looks on as his daughter and protege have created the Yellowjacket, a suit that features the same shrinking technology, accompanied by lazers and rockets.  Pym then enlists Scott Lang, a former criminal, to dawn the Ant-Man suit and steal the Yellowjacket suit, before it can ever be worn.  

(Cue accurate Yellowjacket themesong)

I saw the film this past Friday and here's what I think of it!  Star Wars trailer before the get-go!  Boom!  This movie is awesome!  It's not a typical superhero flick, it's a heist flick done by friggin Super Heroes!  This movie is set up on the same scale as any Marvel movie, but you know what this feels like to me as well?  Minus them saying "shit" a fuck ton of times, it felt like Marvel's first attempt at a family movie.  The story focuses on Scott's will to better himself and reconnect with his daughter and has me drawing comparisons to Mrs. Daughtfire at times.  It might also just be a shout out to the fact that Marvel movies are indeed becoming family movies...Look around you people, change is happening.

By all beats all, I think Ant-Man, stands up strong as one of Marvel's greats.  If there was ever a little guy that came out to fight as a summer blockbuster, he totally said said bring it, and gave a yellow minion a rock bottom!  Ant-Man is kind of everything you need in a family summer blockbuster: a compelling family criminal, that steals and fights for money, all in order for him to see his daughter again.  Who Also: happens to kick some ass, in some of the coolest action sequences you'll ever see!  Dudes and dudettes, Ant-Man approval: Granted.

Daredevil: Blind Superhero Has Netflix Seeing Stars

Thank you to Netflix and Drew Goddard for bringing Daredevil to the masses!  This show is freaking amazing and literally glued me to the tube like it was sponsored by Elmer's.  (Also Drew Goddard gets points for having his name make me think of Jimmy Neutron.)

(WARNING: SPOILERS MAY COME AT ANY TIME.  I WRITE IT AS I GO ALONG)

Daredevil the character first appeared in his self-titled comic in 1964.  Since that time the character has become a staple in the Marvel Universe and even had his own movie in 2003 starring Ben Afleck.  While I personally didn't care for the movie, the new original series on Netflix has put a fresh spin on the character and it's certainly for the better.

Charlie Cox brings to life Matt Murdock, lawyer by day, and masked vigilante by night.  Cox is really able to capture the essence of Murdock, a character that's been hardened by life, but yet still has a caring/vulnerable side.  Murdock uses the power of his other senses to help himself defeat the thugs/criminals/bad guys that plague Hells Kitchen, a city that Murdock will do anything to help restore order to.

(Charlie Cox brings the blind vigilante to life on screen.  The above photo was snapped as he told Jimmy Fallon about how tight the suit actually is.)

Cox is joined in the series by an amazing cast of characters and actors alike:

Deborah Ann Woll plays Karen Page.  A strong and determined young woman who ends up snooping into a company's files while working as a secretary.  When she stumbles across some secret company files, that is when she finds herself in hot water.  After a few attempted murders, Karen finds safe-haven with Murdock & Nelson, her lawyers, then begins working at their firm.  She's inquisitive and still wants to bring down the company bullies and figure out who the man in the mask is that saved her life.  Woll, before know for her stint on True Blood, does a great job of playing the "inquisitive girl" that has pretty much become a staple for any superhero franchise.

Eldon Henson brings to life Matt Murdock's best friend and law partner, Foggy Nelson.  Foggy is a full on definition of adorkable.  The thing I find the most endearing about Foggy is that time and time again in the series you get to see him play the lawyer that has a heart.  (And he's really frakkin good at it)  Foggy is constantly struggling to prove himself, in law and in life.  The thing I like about Foggy is he's so much more than just a loveable sidekick or the funny punchline.  Foggy actually brings something to the plot and he and Karen need to get together...like now.  

Well hey there Rosario Dawson!  I have to admit that I was a little taken back when I saw Rosario pop up as Claire Temple.  Claire came out of nowhere in the series, she was good samaritan that helped patch up Murdock the masked man after he was found in a dumpster.  She ends up finding a budding relationship with the man that she constantly revives and stitches, but in one episode in particular, Claire finds out that she might not want to be mixed up in this craziness after all.

Vincent D'Onofrio is pictured above.  Watch the series and it's entirely possible not to recognize him as Wilson Fisk.  (He's Kingpin, can we just call him Kingpin already?!)  (Also, did you know he plays the guy that gets turned into the creepy alien in Men In Black?)  Wilson Fisk is the ultimate crime boss, he controls the police, the media, the mob, the drug lords, even the senator; you name them, Fisk as ties with them.  Fisk is attempting to do the same thing Murdock is, he wants to make the city better.  Fisk's idea of a better city though is tearing it down and rebuilding it from scratch into what can basically be called his ideal crime paradise.  D'Onofrio captures every bit of rage that comes from Fisk's mouth and mind.  Honestly, I'm terrified of them both!

Overall this series is a goldmine of entertainment.  It's got the superhero element, but it's also pretty dang violent, it's definitely cornered the niche of an adult comic book drama.  The first season is also an amazing origin piece and actually goes deep down into showing you what drives this characters and what makes their brain tick.  It's full on brilliant!  There's a reason the show is now the highest rated show on Netflix!  

In addition to Daredevil, Marvel has announced three other shows that are to come from the partnership with Netflix.  I'm stoked to hear about this as a comic fan because it's bringing in characters from all over the Marvel Universe and attaching them to the cinematic universe.  With shows like this on Netflix and shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Agent Carter on ABC, we're now getting flooded with different shows that all push one giants storyline!  It's amazing and I can't get enough!  Keep it coming!

The Shows I'm Addicted To - 9/28/13

Hello there everyone!  Welcome to The Shows I'm Addicted To!   I'm a little late with this week's edition cause to be honest, I've been busy!  Yep, busy, you know, being a productive member of society and what-not!  But there's been a lot happening on TV.  I'm still awaiting the season debut of Once Upon A Time, and I am trying to catch up on all these fall premieres.  Though some of them have been pretty awesome!  

Just a quick recap for those of you who are new to the blog, this is a countdown of the shows that are keeping me awake at night watching them.  Some of them are on the air, and some aren't.  I'm using Hulu, Netflix, and of course grand-daddy cable to watch all kinds of shows.  So here is the Top 10 shows that I'm enamored by this week!

10. Phineas & Ferb
(Last Week: N/A)

After being absent from the list for a little bit, my childishness comes shining through once again as Phineas & Ferb has returned to the list!  This is my constant show that I put on as I'm falling asleep.  That's not a bad thing either, it's just mind-numbing fun!  Got to love cartoons!

9. Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D
(Last Week: N/A)

Debuting on the list and on screens worldwide this week is Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  This show was just a guilty pleasure the entire time for me.  It was Marvel references and some familiar movie faces and a Joss Whedon show all the way through.  The show felt just like a mini-movie and I'm hoping each episode follows that format.  This has the possibility to be the next Heroes, or dare I say, better than Heroes.

8. WWE NXT
(Last Week: #7)

WWE NXT drops one spot this week.  This week's episode was alright but it was missing some of that spark that makes the show great for me.  The Divas match was pretty plain, mostly cause I'm not a fan of this Lay-Cool ripoff that Sasha Banks and Summer Rae are going for.  The tag-team turmoil was disappointing due to The Ascension winning.  Seriously, the gothic gimmick never works.  But I will say that I'm enjoying Bo Dallas' new direction and I'm looking forward to how his feud plays out with Sami Zayn, it looks like it's going places!

7. Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
(Last Week: #8)

Swapping spots with WWE NXT this week, Guy Fieri pulls his crazy eating show up a spot and has me hungry for more.  I said it last week and I'll say it again, but I don't care for Fieri, but I really just can't stop watching him.  He's kind of like that guy from Man Vs. Food's douche-bag cousin.  But the real reason I watch this show is to literally just stare at the food and salivate like the sad sack I am on the couch.  This show is way too addicting!

6. WWE Monday Night RAW
(Last Week: #5)

This WWE RAW was alright this week.  It's kind of the same story I had with this week's WWE NXT.  It wasn't a bad episode, just nothing stood out to me.  With the superstars trying to stand up to the new McMahon family faction thing.  It was just a little plain.  Here's hoping next week brings something more exciting.

5. South Park
(Last Week: N/A)

South Park is back!  The new season made its debut this Wednesday.  Now along with the new episode, I've seen so much of the show this week it's crazy.  Of all the adult cartoon shows, South Park has to be my favorite.  It's got that dirty humor to it, but it also has a great social commentary to each episode that I enjoy.

4. The IT Crowd
(Last Week: #3)

Sticking around this week in the top half of the list is that golden show straight out of the United Kingdom.  No, not Dr. Who, it's The IT Crowd.  Now the final closing episode is coming soon and I'm still trying to finish up the series.  But you know there's so many other shows, that I'm just trying to keep up.  This show is amazing and I can wait to see how it ends, as sad as that is to say.

3. Sleepy Hollow
(Last Week: N/A)

Can I just say how amazing this show is!  I watched the first two episodes back to back and couldn't take my eyes off the screen.  I will say I was a little thrown at the first 15mins of episode one cause I didn't quite grasp what was going on, but as the episodes went on, I was literally captivating.  Mr. Crane is one of my favorite new characters.  I am on the edge of my seat waiting for next week!  I'm officially hooked!

2. New Girl
(Last Week: #2)

I'm calling the number 2 slot the Total Divas curse.  It seems when something falls into number 2 it's pretty much destined to stay there.  New Girl has taken in this new slot.  This show keeps me laughing every time so I don't see it leaving the top half of the list anytime soon!

 1. Weeds
(Last Week: #4)

The biggest jumper this week...or should I say this biggest grower...anyone, every week I make a pun and say I'm not.  Weeds jumps up a few spots as I am still obsessed with this show.  I'm plowing through it on Netflix and I love it!  Every characters is golden and every line is so well written...I"m just head over heels for this show.

So what do you think about this week's list?  Do you like it?  Do you hate it?  Is there something I should be watching that I'm not?  Sound off and let me know. 

Follow Me on Twitter: @joeyesrojo and you will get updated on my show watching habits!

Till Next Week Folks,

Joey