What a marvel

I’m about as Marvel-illiterate as an American baby boomer can get. Comic books never crossed my radar as a child, and nearly everything I know of comic book characters comes from covering Comicon events from Phoenix to NYC.

I first encountered the origin stories of great comic book heroes at an exhibit inside the gallery of my local public library, so my big screen encounter with the imagined early life of Spider-Man came without the baggage that seems to have bogged down so many others.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” reads like a simple love story to those not yet initiated into all things Marvel, and it’s plenty entertaining as such. Once bitten by a spider, a teen smitten with the police chief’s daughter develops super-human powers that set the dad versus date dynamic in motion.

But he’s got his own daddy issues too. Both parents disappeared after leaving their boy with the relatives who go on to raise him. Seems they’d forgotten all about a briefcase left behind until it’s rescued after a plumbing mishap. Its contents set the adventures of Spider-Man in motion.

The teen twice discovers that using his newfound powers for revenge yields bitter results, and manages instead to yield them for good — waging a fierce battle with a scientist who once worked with is father but nowadays seeks a cross-species solution for his own partial limb.

I’d have been frightened out of my wits had I witnessed this story arc as a child. Sleeping after my first run in with “Creature from the Black Lagoon” was tough enough. And there’s little reason for kids to see the film’s many slugfests infused with a heavy dose of shoot ’em up, bang bang. “The Amazing Spider-Man” is rated PG-13.

It’s a fun two-hour romp through Marvel world for teens and up who appreciate fast-paced action sequences and familiar NYC settings like subways and streets lined with towering office buildings. Andrew Garfield (Spider-man/Peter Parker) rocks the acting vibe but Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy) gets too few chances to really shine. Enough with the long legs and go-go boots already.

The cast also includes Rhys Ifans (The Lizard/Dr. Curt Connors), known to folks who saw the Shakespeare authorship flick “Anonymous” as the Earl of Oxford. Plus Denis Leary (Captain Stacy), Martin Sheen (Uncle Ben) and Sally Field (Aunt May). Max Charles is the young Peter Parker.

Messages abound, but they’re blissfully brief. Think responsibility, rather than choice. Secrets have a cost, and they’re not free. If you break it, fix it. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Beware the perils of seeking perfection. Never be a bystander.

Lizabeth came home from a father/daughter outing last night armed with two black t-shirts sporting Batman logos. Looks like there’s more homework on my horizon, since the next “Dark Knight” film lands in theaters later this month. So many super-heros, so little time.

— Lynn

Coming up: Art meets frontier life

One amateur’s take on “The Avengers”

Two rules of war. Never start one. Never lose one. It’s one of many gems I picked up while watching “The Avengers” — the Marvel movie based on a comic book series first published when I was three years old. It took several decades for the darn thing to get on my radar. It’s only there now because I have a daughter who digs it and respect for a critic who panned it. Take note, theater folk. There’s actually some truth to that whole “no publicity is bad publicity” mantra.

I took my 22-year-old son Christopher along for a Saturday afternoon screening. Seated to our left was a young father with his son, who looked like kindergarten might be in his future come fall. I saw “Jaws” as a teen, and spent half the movie covering my eyes. All the little guy two seats over needed during “The Avengers” was a few brief plot points and a little lap time during the final battle scene.

I wasn’t a fan of letting my kids see all that shoot ’em up bang bang stuff before their teens, but I’m even less inclined to tell other parents how to make such choices assuming there’s no real danger involved. Just be sure any kids you take along know that Hulk-esque moves won’t be tolerated on the playground. And remember that it’s rated PG-13 for a reason.

There’s a single scene in the film that’ll stick with me for some time. It features a lone elderly gentleman standing up amidst a crowd of people who’ve obeyed villain Loki’s “kneel before me” command. The setting is a street in Stuttgart, Germany — and the Holocaust reference is clear. The choice costs him dearly, but it was the right thing to do.

There’s plenty of philosophical fodder in “The Avengers.” Freedom is life’s great lie. The world is growing ever stranger. Sometimes people need a hero. The world is full of people we can’t control. We all follow our true nature. Failure stems from lack of conviction. It’s best to pay one’s debts. Seems superheroes also have their politics. Think nuclear proliferation as a lousy deterrent.

I give the action much higher marks than the acting in this baby, but it’s the writing that really rocks. Lizabeth told me as much after seeing a midnight premiere of “The Avengers” in NYC with some friends. She’s a longtime fan of Joss Whedon, who directs the film and wrote the screenplay.

At one point Loki tells Iron Man he’s got no idea what he’s dealing with. Iron Man responds with, “Shakespeare in the Park?” (Seems Iron Man feels Loki is a “full tilt diva.”) When Loki plays the “I’m a god” card, Hulk give him a jab and a “puny god” quip. When someone marvels over the differences between brothers Thor and Loki, Thor retorts with “He’s adopted.” There’s even a nifty reference to flying monkeys.

I don’t speak “Marvel,” but still enjoyed the film in novice mode. It’s funny enough that nodding off is a luxury rather than a necessity. I suppose I’ll have to delve deeper into “The Avengers” backstory now, though Lizabeth will likely advise against it. She’s already explained that only the true geeks really get it. But that won’t stop me from trying — because now I know just enough to be dangerous.

— Lynn

Note: Click here to learn more about “The Avengers,” and here for the scoop on Phoenix Comicon (coming to the Phoenix Convention Center May 24-27). Guests include Ed Asner, longtime friend of Arizona Jewish Theatre Company (whose Curtain Call youth theater performs “Annie” next weekend), and author Tom Leveen (known to Valley theater geeks for all those years at Chyro Arts in Scottsdale).

Coming up: Art meets Mother’s Day, Memoir tales

Pop meets culture

I ran into a single father of two young children Thursday at Desert Ridge Marketplace. He was browsing through the gift shop of the Arizona Pop Culture Experience, a museum featuring pop culture fare from baseball cards to action figures.

Think comic books, posters, music with sci-fi themes and more. My 21-year-old son Christopher tagged along, and was excited to see Hot Wheels cars like those he played with as a child.

Turns out the Arizona Pop Culture Experience was part of a special preview screening of the new movie titled “Green Lantern” and that the dad, Tim, had seen it. He described it as “much better than I expected” but said the film, rated PG-13, was a bit too intense for little kids.

Call ahead before you hit the museum if you want to enjoy a full tour. I popped in during off hours so I wasn’t able to see the venue in all its glory. There are actually two stories, and some new exhibits in the works — so my photos below offer just a taste of all the Arizona Pop Culture Experience has to offer.

I didn’t see some of the things I’ve come to expect at more traditional museums, like signs explaining materials I wasn’t familiar with. For those well-versed in pop culture, no such descriptions are necessary — but I’m a mere neophyte at best. Next time I’ll bring my 18-year-old daughter Lizabeth along to translate.

You can click here for Arizona Pop Culture Experience hours, location and such. It’s unlikely I’ll get out to see “Green Lantern” this weekend, so I hope those of you who do will take a few minutes to add a comment to this post — telling me what you think of the film and whether you recommend it for other families.

— Lynn

Note: Tim shared that he’ll soon be moving his family to a small town called Victor, Idaho. He asked about finding parenting resources (like those we share in RAK each month), and I’m happy to report that there’s a library in Victor — which means they’ll get to enjoy plenty of outdoor time plus the summer reading program and other activities presented by the library. Libraries make a great first stop when you’re new in town or vacationing with kids.

Coming up: One World, Many Stories

Comicon tales

A few of Lizabeth's fun finds from Friday night at Phoenix Comicon 2011

It was “show and tell” at our house this morning — something my daughter, now 17, hasn’t done since circle time during kindergarten at Desert View Learning Center in Phoenix.

She awoke eager to show me her first day’s haul from Phoenix Comicon, taking place this weekend at the Phoenix Convention Center, which is billed as “the signature pop culture event of the Southwest.”

Autographed photos. Freebie like luggage tags and treat bags featuring faces of fan favorites. Posters to line the walls of her college dorm in NYC this fall — including one from a movie called “The Roommate” that’ll hardly make a glowing first impression.

We got our first taste of Phoenix Comicon 2011 while lunching at Majerle’s Sports Grill, across the street from the stage door at Symphony Hall, which we first discovered when Lizabeth performed the role of “party girl” in the Ballet Arizona production of “The Nutcracker.” The streets were dotted with folks wearing superhero T-shirts and other pop culture fare.

James was struck, while picking Lizabeth up after the event Friday night, by the blend of people intermingled in the streets — those finely dressed for an evening graduation ceremony, those donning patriotic garb for the Phoenix Symphony’s “Boogie Woogie Pops” concert and those whose tastes trend more towards Marvel’s “Green Goblin.” The city, like our three children, is growing up all around us.

Having a mom who blogs is a mixed bag. My kids know to offer a disclaimer for arts-related conversations that aren’t meant for public consumption. But sometimes they enjoy the opportunity blogging brings to spotlight the good things we discover during our daily travels.

Lizabeth was particularly animated while describing finger puppets she’d seen at one of the exhibitor booths at this year’s Phoenix Comicon. Finger puppets of cute, furry animals aren’t hard to come by. But “bacon” finger puppets — and even “finger” finger puppets — have a different sort of magic altogether.

Lizabeth took special care to snag a business card for Stacey Rebecca Gordon, proud puppet crafter and performer whose business is dubbed “Puppet Pie.” I was delighted to discover that Gordon — who describes herself as improviser, mom and wife — has a charming, cheeky blog complete with photos of her works.

One of Lizabeth's favorite actors is working to create a culture of literacy

Lizabeth was equally smitten with the “Kids Need to Read” booth. “Kids Need to Read” is a non-profit organization based in Mesa that enourages literacy, promotes social responsibility, fosters leadership and inspires imaginations. Canadian-born Nathan Fillion, one of Lizabeth’s favorite actors, is a co-founder of “Kids Need to Read.”

“I felt like such a geek,” Lizabeth told me during one of her many Comicon tales. I expected her to follow with a story of being the only person at the Convention Center sporting regular street clothes (if that’s what you call a purple “I’m Not Dead Yet” T-shirt from the musical “Monty Pyton’s Spamalot“).

But she was referring to gushing over someone she met at Comicon. Not a celebrity or actor protraying a super-hero, but a real super-hero — a librarian. Lizabeth shared with the librarian how much trips to our local libraries, still a favorite pastime for James and the girls, have meant to her through the years.

Libraries make the world feel bigger and more intimate at the same time, and no child should ever have to do without them. Lizabeth mentioned to the librarian she met at Comicon the fact that librarians she met as a child were always so nice, friendly and helpful.

Lizabeth shared that the librarian seemed genuinely touched by her words. Perhaps she, like many others, feels unappreciated or doesn’t receive nearly the recognition she deserves. It can’t help that so many libraries and other keepers and creators of culture are taking a hit during budget battles that strip pounds while trying to save pennies.

Tonight’s Phoenix Comicon events include the “Kids Need to Read Geek Prom,” sponsored by Bookman’s — with all proceeds benefiting “Kids Need to Read.”

Comicon also includes a film festival — with films sporting titles like “Laptop’s Revenge,” ” Paint-B-Que” and “Peace, Love & Tacos” (plus others with a more offensive vibe). But it’s Lizabeth’s flyer for a 2010 independent film titled “Beautiful Boy” that looks most intriguing. The movie hits Valley theaters in June.

As James headed out this morning to drive Lizabeth to downtown Phoenix for more Phoenix Comicon adventures, I commented that Lizabeth seems to be having the time of her life. He readily agreed, adding an insight of his own…

“She’s with her people.”

— Lynn

Note: Desert Ridge Marketplace in Phoenix is home to the “Arizona Pop Culture Experience.”

Coming up: From Sondheim to South Park, Father’s Day meets JFK