Tag Archives: Batman

Grand Rapids Com Con 2017 was bigger, better with more to celebrities

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Photos and article by  Katelyn Kohane, a WKTV community contributor

 

“Your mission should you choose to accept it…” is to follow me through the 2017 Grand Rapids Comic-Con.

 

“This deal is getting worse all the time.”- Lando Calrissian

 

Oct. 20-22 was Grand Rapids Comic-Con. I attended Friday and Saturday this year and was pleased to see that the event has been getting bigger and better since I attended a few years ago. It seems to have a lot more booths and better-known celebrities in attendance this time around, and there were also a lot more people as well.

 

Both days I was able to see one of my favorite actors Billy Dee Williams, who is well known for his roll as Lando Calrissian in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” Another roll of his was Harvey Dent in the 1989 “Batman.” I waited a few hours in line Friday to see Williams. I always find it fun waiting because you get to talk to a lot of cool people who also are waiting and you get to hear some of their stories. I actually first met Williams seven years ago while I was working at Areosmith Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster during “Star Wars” weekends at Walt Disney World. So fast forward to last weekend and I saw him and his manager again and his manager remembered me from Areosmith Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster. That was pretty cool he remembered me!

 

Williams’ line at the Grand Rapids Com-Con was as long as the last time I saw him and when It was finally time to see Williams, he was just as nice as I remembered him to be. It was great to see him again.

 

Above, the author with Billy Dee Williams. Below, a signed photo from Williams.

 

The Grand Rapids Com-Con had a number of other celebrities too. Those also in attendance were Gates McFadden from “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” Kane Hooder from “Jason X,” Julian Glover from “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” and “James Bond,” and Catherine Sutherland from “Turbo: A Power Ranger Movie. Friday” I also walked around and checked out some of the booths and cool costumes.

 

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Saturday, I sat in on three panels in the main hall. The panels I attended were Jim Sterarko, “Batman,” and one featuring Williams.

 

The “Batman” panel was for the animated series, which of course I had watched. In attendance for the panel was Adrienne Barbeau who played Catwoman. Loren Lester who played Robin. Diane Pershing who played Poison Ivy and Clive Revill who played Alfred. It was a reunion for them since most of them had not seen each other in 20 years.

 

One of the questions I remember them being asked was “what where their favorite episodes?” Lester mentioned the episode “Sub Zero,” while Pershing mentioned “Home and Garden.”

 

Adrienne Barbeau, Diane Pershing, Loren Lester,  and Clive Revill during a panel discussion at the 2017 Grand Rapids Com Con.

 

In between the panel discussions, the 501st Legion gave an award to Julian Glover to honor his participation in The Star Wars Saga all these years, which was cool to see.

 

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Then it was finally time to attend the program featuring Williams. It started with a few clips from his greatest performances to get the crowed pumped up to see him. His manager came on stage to introduce Williams and also served as host. They started a question-and-answer discussion right away.

 

The first person in line mentioned that during his wedding his wife and he had an argument over whether or not the gentleman in a bridal magazine was Williams. Williams confirmed it was indeed him. His manager then had the gentleman call his wife on the phone and she spoke with Williams so he could tell her too. Later in the discussion, Williams’ manager found the photo from the magazine and put it up on the screen so everyone could see it.

 

A few people asked him if he thought race was ever an influence in whether or not he got a roll, and his answer, which I thought great, was he really had never thought how that affected him at all.

 

A few people asked him about any new and upcoming part for the “Star Wars” franchise. He did not say too much about the franchise but did mention that he had had lunch with Donald Glover, who plays young Lando Calrissian in an upcoming Hans Solo film set to be released next year. He also mentioned that he gets along well with the entire “Star Wars” cast.

 

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I actually had to leave about 15 minutes early so I could go to my photo op with Williams. When he was finished with the panel, he came over to the photo op. It was so nice to see him again.

 

After the photo op, I walked the booths and took a few photos. Overall, it was a great weekend at the 2017 Grand Rapids Comic-Con

 

“May the force be with you.”

Batman v Superman: From Hall H to the big screen

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Batman v Superman

By: Katelyn Kohane

 

“The greatest gladiator match in the history of the world. God vs Man. Day versus night! Son of Krypton versus Bat of Gotham!”

 

First two rows: Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill. Bottom left: Gal Gadot, bottom center: Jesse Eisenberg, and bottom right: Amy Adams.
First two rows: Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill. Bottom left: Gal Gadot, bottom center: Jesse Eisenberg, and bottom right: Amy Adams.

Last year, I was lucky enough to get into Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con for a first look at Batman v Superman. The preview was amazing and the whole cast was there! I had the privilege to see Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Gal Gadot and Zach Snyder.

 

Let’s take a quick glance back at some of the actors and actresses who have portrayed some of these great characters: Batman, Superman, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane and Wonder Woman.

 

Lois Lane has been portrayed by Noel Neill, Margot Kidder, Teri Hatcher, Erica Durance, and now Amy Adams.

 

Lex Luthor has been portrayed by Kevin Spacey, Gene Hackman, Lyle Talbot, Michael Rosenbaum (who is my favorite Lex Luthor uptil now.) and now Jesse Eisenberg.

 

Batman v Superman Hall HWonder Woman has been portrayed by Lynda Carter and now Gal Gladot (she is awesome. Loved her in Fast and the Furious).

 

Superman has been portrayed by Christopher Reeve, Dean Cain, Tom Welling (my favorite Superman), Brandon Routh and now Henry Cavill.

 

Last but not least, of course, is Batman who has been portrayed by Adam West, George Clooney, Val Kilmer (one of my favorite actors), Christian Bale (my favorite Batman) and now Ben Affleck.

 

Ben Affleck held his own as Batman
Ben Affleck held his own as Batman

It certainly was humbling being in Hall H to see the new characters in person. Many people, including myself, were worried about Ben Affleck playing Batman. However, that worry is no longer there. I think he has proved that he can tackle the role.

 

I personally enjoyed this take on Batman v Superman, and while I loved parts of the cast, there is certainly room for improvement. Superman is overshadowed by Batman, and I am team Batman all the way. This Batman is a little darker than normal with Batman utilizing more guns. Hey, desperate times call for darker measures.

 

Within the first two days of release, I had already made it to the theater twice to soak in all the action. In fact, I liked it so much that I even bought the sound track composed by Hans Zimmer.

 

As the movie opens you see separate sides of both Batman and Superman. We catch up with Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent and Diana Prince (Wonder Woman) at a party hosted by Lex Luthor. Bruce Wayne comes to investigate Lex Luthor and Diana Prince is at the party to see if she can get a picture back from Lex that he stole from her. Diana ends up stealing the hard drive from Bruce, but since she can’t unlock it, she ends up giving it back to Bruce.

 

Bruce becomes more of a detective and unlocks the hard drive to find a picture of Diana. He also notices that Lex has found others like her including the Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg.

 

Superman had to answer to the Senate
Superman had to answer to the Senate

Superman gets into some trouble and the Senate holds a hearing. Lex blows up the hearing and starts even more trouble. Lex kidnaps Lois Lane and Martha Kent. Superman saves Lois Lane but Martha is still held by Lex. Lex threatens Superman that he has to fight Batman in order to save Martha. Superman and Lois attempt to convince Batman to save Martha. Batman obliges. Then Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman fight Doomsday. Two are victorious, while one scarifies himself to save the day.

 

(And breath!)

 

I condensed the movie down considerably, but you get the gist. If you haven’t seen it yet, the epic fight is worth the price of admission.

 

The first night I saw the film I went with a group of friends. I have to admit the first time was better than the second because you didn’t know what to expect. On second viewing, this time with a few friends from the West Michigan Film and Video Alliance, I noticed that the dream sequences were a little long and so was the fight with Doomsday. Overall, I’d give it an A-.

 

Don’t forget that Captain America: Civic War is coming to theaters of May 6. Suicide Squad will premier on August 5. The superhero movies never stop coming.

 

“It may be the Gotham city and me… we just have a bad history with freaks dressed like clowns.”

 

Katie works in the film industry as a camera operator and has worked on films like ‘All You Can Dream’, ‘Set Up’ and a TV show called ‘American Fallen Soldier.’ She loves helping WKTV with the Citizen Journalism team and working as a tech at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Katie loves working in the film industry and loves watching movies just as much!