4 DAYS AWAY.

I am SO DAMN EXCITED for this Friday, for a variety of reasons.

The Avengers, and My Recent Superhero Obsession

I haven't really posted about it on here, aside from a few movie reviews, but over the past year or so, I've really, truly been bitten by the superhero bug. I'd seen pretty much all of the previous superhero/comic book movies (Batman, Spider-Man, X-Men, Iron Man, etc), and enjoyed them all pretty much, but not really to the point where I wanted to go into that world more.

Then came Thor.

It's not like Thor was the be-all and end-all of comic book superhero movies. While it was a great time and a very strong movie in my book, I wouldn't even put it top five of recent movies in the genre. I think what really grabbed me was how everything was completely wound together that all these Marvel movies were all interconnected, yet stand-alone at the same time. For some reason, that was awesome to me. I hadn't seen Hulk yet, so this was really the first time I'd seen this whole scheme in action. I wanted to read more into this whole Marvel world, but didn't quite take the leap yet.

Then came X-Men: First Class.

This one... this one really pulled me in. There were no Avengers tie-ins here, but after completely falling for this movie (I WOULD put this one in my top 5), I did a little comic book research and found the X-Men and Avengers were linked from the very beginning... Spider-Man too?!? Oh man. I was hooked.

I'm not really sure why exactly I love all this superhero stuff. Regular readers of this blog know of my love for escapism, and I'm sure that's a part of it... it's something new and fresh in my life, which is most certainly welcomed. But is that all of it? Who knows, I don't feel like delving into the why here. All I know is I love it so.

The Summer Movie Season

Beyond The Avengers, there is a legit plethora of movies coming out this summer that I am jazzed about. Yes, jazzed. In fact, starting this Friday, May 4, there is a new movie every single week through August 3 that I want to see, for assorted reasons.

May 4 The Avengers
May 11 Dark Shadows*
May 18 Battleship & The Dictator
May 25 Men in Black 3
June 1 Snow White and the Huntsman
June 8 Prometheus
June 15 Rock of Ages
June 22 Brave & Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
June 29 Magic Mike*
July 3 The Amazing Spider-Man
July 13 Ted
July 20 The Dark Knight Rises
August 3 Total Recall & The Bourne Legacy 

Sure, some of those movies are included in that list to merely "keep the streak alive" (the ones marked with asterisks), but all the movies on the list do interest me for one reason or another. Interesting cast, interesting premise, absurdity, favorite genres, bizarre pairings of talents (once again, Magic Mike gets it's own category), etc. This is shaping up to be a most exciting summer.

Now, as excited as I am about these movies, I am met with some trepidation. You see, I'm the OCD type that likes to be exposed to the original material first, if possible. The Avengers is preceeded by five movies, for example. Must re-watch those first. I really don't care to watch the Dark Shadows television series... but there are two prior Men in Black movies, four Alien movies, three Spider-Man movies, two Nolan Batman movies, the original Total Recall and three Bourne films to watch. There are also novels involved, but I certainly won't have time for those. Good thing I have Netflix and too much spare time!

If this were an instant message or something, a winking emoticon would follow that last sentence.

But seriously, if I actually see all the movies on the list and the movies leading up to them, that's thirty five movies between now and the weekend of August 3. That sounds silly and amazing. Absurd and exciting. Simultaneously. I hope to do it. I may keep a tracker. Probably on Twitter. Yes, definitely on Twitter. In fact, I'll generate a hash tag and embed it on the blog.

I will start right now.

Idol 2012: Top 6, The Songs of Queen (plus Contestant's Choice)

Aw, Colton. It's getting the point in the season where anything can happen, and all the contestants are so close that that gets amplified... so things like Colton going home happen. Disappointing, but the name of the game.

I love Queen. That's all the introduction this week needs.

Idol group numbers are always so awkward, usually hilariously so. This one isn't all that hilarious, but still awkward. I think the problem with these is that you have a large number of solo singers trying to stand out, which leads to a whole big mess, and usually one person dominating everyone else. Tonight? Elise. Everyone else, shut it, let Elise rock Queen.

• Jessica Sanchez - Bohemian Rhapsody - What's with the black and wh--DISEMBODIED FLOATING HEADS. OMG. Yeah yeah, usual Jessica performance, both upbeat and ballad, whatever. Let's talk the extra Jessica heads. That was amazing.
• Skylar Laine - The Show Must Go On - YES. I have nothing more beyond that. YES. 
• Josh Ledet - Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Good stuff. Probably my favorite Josh performance in a while… but WTF is with the constant standing ovation for Josh? Every. Single. Week.
• Elise Testone - I Want It All - Oh man. This is going to be a fantabulous episode of Idol tonight, isn't it? JLo says it right: everything came together here. This is Elise's element. 
• Phillip Phillips - Fat Bottomed Girls - Queen isn't exactly Phil's wheelhouse, but that was fun. Good stuff. Nowhere near Phil's best, but he weathered the theme, if you will, without doing the usual Phil performance. 
• Hollie Cavanaugh - Save Me - Speaking of usual performance… same old same old from Hollie. Sounded fine, but that's about it. 
• Jessica Sanchez - Dance With My Father (by Luther Vandross) - I thought for sure Josh was going to sing this… anyhoo. Wonderful job. I've never really loved this song, but I loved Jessica's take on it. For a change.
• Skylar Laine - Tattoos on this Town (by Jason Aldean) - I didn't love the song to be honest, but Skylar singing actual country is always a treat. This girl is going to have a hell of a career. 
• Josh Ledet - Ready for Love (by India.Arie) - Another song I've never been crazy about, but another song sung well from Josh. And, shocker, another standing ovation! 
• Elise Testone - Bold as Love (by Jimi Hendrix) - Elise just does her thing, is awesome, and calls it a night. No big deal. 
• Phillip Phillips - The Stone (by Dave Matthews Band) - I've never been crazy about music by DMB, and this is no exception. I liked the performance as a whole, but meh to the song.
• Hollie Cavanaugh - The Climb (by Miley Cyrus) - Who knew Hollie would pick this song? Oh, everyone, right. That said… wow. EVERYTHING that was blah or meh about Hollie earlier tonight was fixed in this performance. Easily her best of the competition, just may be the best performance of the night. Oh, Hollie, how to complicate things!

I love this season of Idol. There, I said it. I liked last year, but this year is about 10x better. It's not quite season 8... but what is?

Winner of the Night... Skylar. Hollie will also get a big bump in this "category", because she hit a homerun going last, but Skylar. I'm not convinced a girl will win this season, and am really not convinced a country girl can win again... but if anyone can, it's Skylar. I love her.

Better watch out... I honestly have no idea. I'd say Phil had the weakest night tonight, but I see him as the front-runner, really. Hollie based on past performances? Elise based on past result shows? Jessica? Hollie is probably 6th if I were to do some sort of 'power ranking' thing, but who knows after her 2nd performance. Could be another zomgshocker tomorrow.

Idol 2012: Top 7 (Part II), Now & Then

OMG A SAVE?!? SHOCKER! I DIDN'T THINK IT'D BE USED!!!! OMG!!!

Except that if you count the weeks, you see that it had to be used. So, there's that.

The question: is America sick of Jessica, or is it voter complacency? I'm leaning towards the latter... but who knows.

"Now & Them" week. An Idol standby. But a decent enough theme.

• Hollie Cavanaugh - Rolling in the Deep (by Adele) - I never would have guessed Hollie would do this song! /sarcasm… A good performance, though, probably Hollie's best. 
• Colton Dixon - Bad Romance (by Lady Gaga) - I get what Colton was trying to do… but misfire. I wasn't digging that. Maybe it was the compacted performance, but everything seemed rushed and not fully realized.
• Elise Testone - No One (by Alicia Keys) - A safe song choice, sure… but flawless, effortless vocals. FLAWLESS.
• Phillip Phillips - U Got It Bad (by Usher) - I initially thought this was a train wreck waiting to happen… but not the case in the slightest. Quite the opposite, actually. Just might be Phil's best performance to date. 
• Jessica Sanchez - Fallin' (by Alicia Keys) - This performance was nothing new. Strong vocals (as usual), Beyonce-like focus and vocals (seen it), random red things all over stage (seen it). Boringness got her voted out last week… then this. 
• Skylar Laine - Born This Way (by Lady Gaga) - Performing with Sons of Sylvia! Niiiice. I continue to not really enjoy the country Born This Way… but this performance was spot-on. As the judges gushed about, this is Skylar's third straight powerhouse performance. Loved it.
• Josh Ledet - I Believe (by Fantasia) - Good, I guess. I've never really 'gotten' Fantasia, and didn't really 'get' this performance. Josh definitely felt it, though.
• Hollie Cavanaugh - Son of a Preacher Man (by Dusty Springfield) - Meh. A bit of a return to the underwhelming Hollie of old. The judges loved this, but we know they can't be trusted.
• Colton Dixon - September (by Earth, Wind and Fire) - Giant tree! A bit safe, but Colton made an iconic song his own. Personally, I liked this better than Bad Romance.
• Elise Testone - Let's Get It On (by Marvin Gaye) - Underwhelming after the master class she put on earlier. The song choice could have been MUCH better. Trying to have a discussion with the judges about critique is usually a kiss of death, too… eek.
• Phillip Phillips - In the Midnight Hour (by Wilson Pickett) - Phil sans guitar! Fun performance, if a bit un-Phil-like. Both smart decisions. Good night for Phil. "Brilliantly awkward" indeed, Steven.
• Jessica Sanchez - Try a Little Tenderness (by Otis Redding) - MUCH more interesting performance to me by Jessica. Good stuff.
• Skylar Laine - Heard It Though the Grapevine (by Marvin Gaye) - More Sons of Sylvia, and more awesomeness from Skylar. Good night for Skylar, too.
• Josh Ledet - Change Is Gonna Come (by Sam Cooke) - Good stuff, sure… but easily the most obvious performance of the night. 

Winner of the Night... Skylar. Easily, Skylar. Phillip also had a very good night, but Skylar turned in two finale-calibur performances.

Better watch out... Elise or Hollie. I'm biased so I'll say Hollie will get booted. The third member of the bottom three will be interesting to see...

(The return of) Loser of the Night... Sons of Sylvia. Like two years ago, they were being pushed as the next best thing in country music, with a plum spot on Carrie Underwood's album and an opening gig for her on tour... and now they are backing up an American Idol contestant with no credit given. Eek.

Idol 2012: Top 7, Songs from the Last Three Years

Last week went as it should have. Good.

How random of a theme. They call it "Songs from This Decade"... but my title is more descriptive.

• Skylar Laine - (by Kellie Pickler) - Fantastic. Everything about this performance was fantastic. Bravo. Skylar going first though… that's a concern.
• Colton Dixon - Love the Way You Lie (by Skylar Gray) - broken record: Fantastic. Everything about this performance was fantastic. Bravo. A little safe perhaps, but I don't care.
• Elise Testone & Philip Phillips - Somebody I Used to Know (by Gotye) - Elise pretty much kicked Philip's ass on this… but that's ok. I hope this is on iTunes…
• Jessica Sanchez - Stuttering (by Jazmine Sullivan) - I'm starting to lose any interest I had in Jessica. Hella talented, absolutely… but I'm bored.
• Josh Ledet - Runaway Baby (by Bruno Mars) - I'm 100% certain the judges have never heard this song before. Josh did the song as written aside from needlessly wailing the end of it… but he's dynamic and a performer! Go him! 
• Colton Dixon & Skylar Laine - Don't You Wanna Stay (by Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson) - This is like a genre flip that's throwing me for a loop. Sad to say… this was an unfortunate mess. 
• Hollie Cavanagh - Perfect (by P!nk) - A noble attempt, but Hollie's too… rigid for midtempo pop music. Unfortunate misfire.
• Philip Phillips - Give a Little More (by Maroon 5) - I almost didn't recognize this song, but in a good way. I totally admit my bias here, but I kinda loved this. He does do pretty much the same thing every week, so he needs to be a bit careful.
• Josh Ledet, Jessica Sanchez & Hollie Cavanagh - Stronger (by Kelly Clarkson) - Ah, when a trio sings an duo arrangement. Third voice, just wail in the background. The third voice consistently sounded good, the two voices in harmony sounded weird, and the solos were all meh.
• Elise Testone - Yoü and I (by Lady Gaga) - LOVE Elise at the piano. Strong performance overall, but a bit safe for me. Nothing spectacular or really new from Elise. Great vocals as usual, but pretty much as expected.

Overall, this was yet another strong night for the contestants. This is a strong season, methinks. BUT… everyone was rather safe tonight. There wasn't a single moment where you sat back and say "wow, I wasn't expecting that". Or, at least, I didn't have a moment like that.

Winner of the Night… Skylar? Colton? I'll call it a draw between the two of them. Them going so early might even it all out, though.

Better watch out… Hollie. No question. She's likely a goner. The rest of the bottom three will be interesting, though. It seems to me that everyone is pretty bunched up, so there could be a surprise here… but it'll probably be an all-girl bottom 3, because that's how the voters role: Hollie, Skylar and Elise. Unfortunate for the last two, but that's hot it goes.

Idol 2012: Top 8, 80's Week

Heejun gone! He was one of the two right choices. And the other right choice was buried at the top of the show tonight. Huzzah!

• Deandre Brackensick - I Like It (by Debarge) - Bury him at the top of the show, I like it. MUCH better than last week, but still not a fan. 
• Elise Testone - I Wanna Know What Love Is (by Foreigner) - Would have loved her to do "Hallelujah", too… I think "tour de force" is the word I'm searching for here. Apparently I saw a different performance than the judges…
• Colton Dixon & Skylar Laine - Islands in the Stream (by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton) - Cute. Seemed artificial, but I liked the harmonies.
• Phil Phillips - That's All (by Genesis) - Seemed tentative at points, but worked it out by the end. Nothing we haven't seen from Phil though…
• Hollie Cavanagh & Deandre Brackensick - I'm So Excited (by The Pointer Sisters) - Hollie doing an uptempo song is a breath of fresh air. The performance can't escape Deandre, though…
• Josh Ledet - If You Don't Know Me by Now (by Simply Red) - Haven't we seen this same exact performance from Josh already? 
• Jessica Sanchez - How Will I Know? (by Whitney Houston) - Not shabby. Nothing shocking, which is probably expected, given it's Jessia singing Whitney.
• Phil Phillips & Elise Testone - Stop Dragging My Heart Around - Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty - Loved this, as expected. But Phil, dear, keep the guitar.
• Hollie Cavanagh - What a Feeling (by Irene Cara) - I was excited for this after hearing Hollie's duet… but a misfire. Shaky performance that never got to where it needed to go. Actually, it came off incredibly desperate.
• Josh Ledet & Jessica Sanchez - I Knew You Were Waiting for Me (by Aretha Franklin & George Michael) - That was fun.
• Colton Dixon - Time After Time (by Cyndi Lauper) - Loved the arrangement, but vocals were a touch messy. Still, probably my favorite thus far. And giving credit to the band responsible for the arrangement? How un-Idol like!
• Skylar Laine - Wind Beneath My Wings (by Bette Midler) - Beautiful performance. Perfect choice after last week's performance, that's for sure. Best of the night.

Another strong night, all in all. I'm not totally convinced there is an absolute star this season, but this is a very strong season in it's own right. I'd be happy with no less than 4 contestants winning, which just may be a new personal record for me at this point...

Winner of the Night... Skylar. She took a VERY recognizable song, put her own personal stamp on it, and hit it out of the park. Great stuff.

Better watch out... Deandre and Hollie. The former turned in a completely unmemorable performance leading off the show... never good. And Hollie completely misfired on her solo. Given that she's a girl, she's my pick to go home this week.