Monsters University

                Back in 2001, Pixar gave us “Monsters Inc,” a film that shows the lives of the monsters we fear at night, as part of their day-to-day job. Its business is to get kids screaming so they can power the city, but the irony is they think kids are contagious. Everything has been how it should, until one day Mike Wazowski and James Sullivan come across a child that has crossed over into their world, and now have to get her back in before authorities find out and shut down the factory, leaving the city without power. This was made during the golden days of Pixar; when they were still getting into recognition right after “Toy Story” and “A Bug’s Life,” and became one of the films people think of when they hear Pixar.

                It was then when Pixar became Disney’s go-to animation studio, they started to go into development on new films to their popular works beforehand…why “The Incredibles” isn’t getting one, I still don’t know, but I digress. Now when I heard “Monsters Inc.” was getting another film, I was really hoping to see a sequel and get a continuation of where the last film had left off, where Boo and Sully meet after many years. I would have loved to see what it would have been like if Boo came back to the monster world, then some conspiracy would go off between humans finding out more about the monster world and so forth.

Instead, we get a prequel about how Mike and Sully came to where they were before the first film. But the real question is, was it still worth it? Well…let’s dive in.

“Monsters University” starts off with Mike as a little kid, who sees the scarers of Monsters Inc. do their day to day routine, while on a field trip. He’s inspired by one of them, and says that Monsters University is the way to go, if he wants to be the right scarer. While there, he studies his hardest to be the best, while in competition with James Sullivan, who comes from a family of some of the best scarers. When the two are kicked out of the scaring program, they have to compete in the Scare Games with some of the weakest of the university, if they wish to get back in and finally fulfill their dreams of being scarers.

With that said, there are plenty of things that do work in the film. The relationship between Mike and Sully is investing, as well as capture the strong charm of the original film. Billy Crystal and John Goodman really have made these characters their own, much in the same vain Tim Allen and Tom Hanks made Buzz and Woody their own. The supporting cast was enjoyable as well, from Steve Buscemi as a younger Randall, to the members of Oozma Kampa. The strong elements come out of the relationships between the characters and how dedicated they’re putting their all into it by the end of the competition.

Does it have problems? Yes. With this being a prequel, this film has all the problems that come from it all. We’ve seen the first film, so we know that Mike isn’t going to be a scarer, so we’re just waiting for that point to where we see him make that decision. Not only that, but we also see that there are some problems made with the connections made to the original, like how Mike and Sully meet for the first time in college in this movie, where as the first film said they met in grade school. Mistakes like and the added little references that try to connect the two films do get distracting.

However, the more I watch it, the more I enjoy it a little bit more. Is it the best continuation Pixar has done? No, but it's still pretty good. If you got the chance, I say go and give it a watch. "Monsters University" does have a lot to like about it, and if you love the first film, then you'll enjoy this one.

Rating: 8/10

The Purge

                Platinum Dunes Studios has been criticized greatly, ever since it got started. For those who don’t know, Platinum Dunes is the studio that Michael Bay created by back at the turn of the century, with the intention of remaking horror films for a new generation. So far, it’s ranged itself from mediocre to downright awful with its movie, and with it producing the new Ninja Turtles movie, it’s likely to stay that way. However, despite this I actually showed some interest in their newest film, “The Purge,” which isn’t a remake of any horror film from the past.

                So how was it? Well, it was boring.

                In a future not too far from our own, crime is at its lowest, unemployment is at 1%, and the economy is stable, all because of the purge. The purge allows citizens to commit whatever crime they so wish, even to flat-out murder people. When a family allows a victim inside, they are soon in a struggle of whether they should let him out, or all die at the hands of these maniacs as they try to break in.

This does seem like an interesting concept, but the problem is in the execution of it all. To talk about this film is difficult, since that’s all that this film has going for it. I’m not saying everything else is bad in it; I’m saying with how that’s all the film was and hardly anything else, it could have been cut down easily and shown as an episode of “American Horror Story.” While I do feel that the cast did a good job with what they were given…that’s all that I can say, really. The scares weren’t all that eventful, and the suspense and atmosphere really had nothing going for it.

I’m sorry if I’m not giving enough, but I can’t give that much, since there’s hardly a thing to say. Out of all of the films Platinum Dunes…this one may as well be its worst. I mean, yeah their remakes are bad, but whether it was a reaction to the kills in “Friday the 13^th,” or just criticizing Freddy’s look in the new “Nightmare on Elm Street,” I at least got something out of it. And frankly, I’d rather be mad at a movie than to have no reaction to it whatsoever. This was just…a nothing movie. That’s all there is.

Rating: 4/10 (only for the acting, sets, and it being short.)

Man of Steel

People have said that “The Dark Knight Trilogy” has really defined itself to many as the highest possibility of what comic book movies can become. Christopher Nolan’s take on the mythology of Batman has not only taken its place in comic book movies, but also movies in general. The biggest examples are some of the changes made with characters, as they’re put into a much more realistic matter. To many this formula of “Nolanization” has some praise it as a blessing...but I think it gets TOO much praise. While I did enjoy “The Dark Knight Trilogy,” I think its realistic take took out some of the enjoyment that made Batman fun, and was just one-note serious.

Now, we have the Superman franchise getting a taste of the “Nolanization” formula, with Chris Nolan writing and producing, but under the direction of Zack Snyder, under the name “Man of Steel.” Before this film was released, there has been a lot of hateful feedback towards the changes that were revealed, but that wasn’t a concern for me, but there were concerns. The first one was the actor playing Superman, Henry Cavill. It’s not that I was upset about them replacing Brandon Routh (who I thought was a good Superman, you inflexible little…!), my problem was due to Cavill’s previous films being terrible and he didn’t do much to fix that. The other concern was with director Zack Snyder; “Watchmen” to prove that he did have experience with comic book movies, his last film “Sucker Punch” was a complete train wreck, and was in my opinion one of the worst films of 2011. In conclusion, the worry about the Superman mythology shouldn’t have been the first worry. As for the film itself, let’s take a look.

In the film, Kal-El is sent to Earth after the loss of his family and home, Krypton, in hopes of allowing his species to survive. Cut to years later, where we see Kal, now under the name Clark Kent, travelling the world under odd jobs, and getting by life with abilities that are far different from the normal man, as he finds a Kyrptonian ship that gives him the answers to questions he’s been asking since childhood with his human foster parents. Now it’s up to him to protect the Earth, as a surviving Kryptonian, General Zod, threatens to take over and create New Krypton. Now let me explain this right now…I really enjoyed this movie. This is another example of how the “Nolanization” formula can be done in the right way.

The acting, while not perfect, was still great. Amy Adams as Lois Lane really pulled through, fitting into the place that was left by Margot Kidder and Kate Bosworth. She took the character into her own, and wasn’t just someone who willingly got herself into trouble to get saved constantly. Oh, she does get saved, but not because she was daring to get some report done. Kevin Costner and Diane Lane both give out nice performances as the Kents. We see the struggle of what’s right with Costner, and we do have that humble parent who loves their son no matter what from both Costner and Lane. Michael Shannon did a pretty good job as General Zod, as we see him try to twist around the thoughts of Superman and try to get his way going, even if it means the death of others. Russell Crowe also did a great job here, and I was really surprised to see him play a bigger part than what I was expecting, and serves more to the plot than just being Superman’s father and a guide. And just so you know, YES, I did like Henry Cavill as Superman. With what they were going with in this movie, his reactions and motives do work and feel right.

Now the big question is do I think this is better than “The Dark Knight Trilogy?” Yes, because it has one thing that made it work: Balance. And with balance, you get an ACTUAL comic book movie. If you just took out the costume and names in “The Dark Knight Trilogy,” you’d have the exact same movie, and it wouldn’t change a damn thing. It’s the main reason why I think it really worked for “The Amazing Spiderman,” because it took itself in a serious matter, but was still fun and felt like it belonged in a Spiderman universe. Same thing here with this new Superman; it felt like it belonged here only.

The main criticisms I’ve heard about this movie is how it didn’t feel like a Superman movie, because the writing is very flawed, and the direction felt off. While I do understand the criticism given, I can’t however understand how they would say that about this movie, but have absolutely NO problem with “The Dark Knight Trilogy” having the EXACT same problem. So, you’re telling me the shaky cam and unbalanced feel of “Batman Begins,” the over-analyzing of “The Dark Knight,” and the MASSIVE plot holes of “The Dark Knight Rises,” is completely fine and are regarded as masterpieces, but the things wrong with “Man of Steel” are a crime and make the film suck? I’m not saying anyone is wrong here, but it’s just distracting to me. People, either bitch at both, or bitch at neither; there is no in-between. And if you do hate the movie, don’t just go pinning this on Zack Snyder alone, because he was the director; Nolan and David S. Goyer are just as guilty for writing the damn script.

Overall, “Man of Steel” was a fun time, and is again what I wanted from “The Dark Knight Trilogy,” but wasn’t as good as “The Amazing Spiderman.” It was fun, it was thrilling, and it felt RIGHT.

Rating: 8/10

Danny Phantom choice casting part 2 heroes

Welcome to part 2 of my casting choices for Danny Phantom. We’ve talked about possible villains that would work, so let’s talk about possible allies and our main heroes.

Let’s start off, with the coldest of allies:

Frostbite: In his travels of mapping out the Ghost Zone, Danny meets Frostbite, the soul leader of a tribe of yeti-ghosts, as well as the guardians of the Infi-map, an artifact that can lead its user to anywhere they so choose in the ghost zone. His tribe has a deep respect for Danny, after he had defeated Pariah and gained much trust, even to help him train his new ice powers, becoming one of Danny’s closest ghost friends. He’s strong, noble, and wise, so to play him I choose…

Liam Neeson – Gaining a reputation as one of the most memorable action stars of the past decade, Liam is capable of perfecting the mentor of the hero. He's played the creator of Narnia, the leader of the A-Team, an FBI agent who kills to get his daughter back, trained Obi-Wan and BATMAN, and Darkman.

Now if the decision to do Dan Phantom is possible, then it’ll be obvious they’ll include this one:

Clockwork: Being the controller of time itself, Clockwork is one that has much mystery behind him, but at the same time shows more than needed. He sees every possibility that can happen and has powers to even manipulate the time stream if he wanted to, but his logical thinking and calm tone say otherwise in what would be expected. For someone to play Clockwork in live action would have to be someone who could deliver a presence of smarts and surprise. So my choice is…

Christoph Waltz – Being a two-time Oscar winner, as well as the only good part about The Green Hornet movie, Christoph is an unpredictable maniac that keeps you guessing what he’ll do next, or what he’ll say to get out of a big situation. All you need to do is just watch at least one scene of his performance as Dr. King Schultz in Django Unchained, and I think you might agree with me.

This next one, you’ll need Esperanto to understand:

Wulf: Originally a servant prisoner of Walker, Wulf had regained his freedom from the help of Danny and his friends, and in return saved them from a ghost invasion. He has the ability to claw portals between the Ghost Zone and the human world, which has served for great escape routes, but can also be used for removing ghosts that overshadow humans. With him speaking Esperanto, it could be that he was a werewolf that died in the 1800’s. He is ferocious and deadly, only showing compassion for his allies. Now Wulf is a character that I'd be fine with if he was motion-capture, if done right. So who better to play him, than one who’s best at playing animals in that format.

Andy Serkis - Andy has played many different kinds of creatures, in terms of motion capture works such as "Lord of the Rings" and "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." He can get the emotion into a character through its movements and actions, more so than any other actor can. Andy is one of the most talented actors working today, and he would be a perfect choice to really bring Wulf to full life.

Now let’s talk about a character that I think would work best if she appeared in a sequel after Vlad Masters:

Danielle Phantom: Danielle started off as a clone of Danny created by Vlad Masters, given almost every ability that Danny has, but has one flaw: an over usage of her power at once will have her become unstable and turn back into ectoplasm. However, thanks to Danny and Valerie, she now has been able to become more stable and more cautious about her abilities. While she does have some similarities to Danny, Danielle can be sort of a trouble maker at times when on her own, but is still good hearted. Now with her being a half-ghost, she’d have to be played by a young actress who’s good with action…I think you know where I’m going.

Chloe Grace Moretz – Chloe is one of the best child actors working today. She can bring out so much personality, but at the same time, kick more ass than anyone else. She’s ranged from such great films like Martin Scorsese’s Hugo, (500) Days of Summer, and the role of Hit-Girl in the Kick-Ass movies. All that’s needed is some ghost abilities, and you’ve got yourself a perfect candidate for the Ghost Girl herself.

While New York may have the Ghost Busters, Amity Park has…these two:

Jack and Maddie Fenton: Ever since their college days, or maybe even before, Jack and Maddie have shared a strong passion for the paranormal. They’re opposites of one another: Jack being the lovable goof, and Maddie being the daring strategist. Their chemistry of how they work off one another is how both the comedy and teamwork really adds in. And for them, I choose…

Bruce Campbell and Jodie Foster – Bruce is one of the best B-movie actors working today. His resume is chuck full of icons such as Ash from Evil Dead, Brisco County Jr, and Sam Axe in Burn Notice. To him, fighting supernatural demons is like a trip to the grocery store, he has no fear. Not only that, but in the film “My Name Is Bruce,” he’s shown that he’s not afraid to make fun of himself at times. As for Jodie, well she’s one of the best known actresses ever since the 70’s. She’s had interactions with Hannibal Lector in Silence of the Lambs, dealt with a home invasion in Panic Room, and has had strong on screen chemistry with Robert De Niro. With her work, I say let her be Maddie.

Now when it comes to having crazy parents, we always need the responsible daughter:

Jazz Fenton: Jazz is the overbearing honor student in the family. While she does have her naggy moments, she’s still likable and cares much for her little brother, even as a half-ghost. She tries so hard to be part of a normal family, but as time goes on, she learns to embrace her family’s enjoyment of ghost hunting, mostly due to wanting help Danny in his fights. At one point, she even admits she has “ghost envy,” due to her parents caring more about ghosts than they do her. She can be a great strategist, and at times can serve as a great help for Danny when he really needs it. If she is to be played by anyone, it should be…

Emma Stone – Over the past five years, she’s really gotten much recognition as a great young actress. She can be snobby at times, but also have responsibility for her siblings, and show that she isn’t one you want to mess around with. All of that is able to be seen in her performance in Zombieland, and you can see her academic wanting in her roles as Skeeter in The Help, Olive in Easy A, and Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spiderman. If she’s not good enough for Jazz, then I don’t know who is.

Now we go to our favorite techno-geek:

Tucker Foley: Tucker is pretty much Danny’s best friend, and both he and Sam have kept this friendship since the second grade. He’s the big techno geek of the group, and has been a blessing for ghost fights, but it’s what also gets him ridiculed socially.  His way of being with women mostly comes from him being around Danny, whether it’s the ghost-hunters vibe or being judge at a beauty pageant. For him to be played in live action, I have a good choice.

Daniel Curtis Lee - Best known for playing Simon Cookie on Ned’s Declassified, Daniel is pretty much an expert with playing techno-geeks who catch on pretty easy. Quick tech wizard, has hard trouble with women at times, but is still a good friend and willing to help out when needed.

Next up is everybody’s favorite Goth:

Sam Manson: While she might look like the stereotypical Goth chick, Sam is a much more developed character, being an environmentalist and vegetarian. In the episode “Memory Blank,” we find out that she’s the one who convinced Danny to step into his parents’ ghost portal and get his powers. While she is rich, she doesn’t exploit it just to get friends like most do, and has a dislike for anything that is too mainstream, especially her parent’s choice of lifestyle. Throughout the series, we see the growing relationship between her and Danny, and by the end they finally confess their true feelings. She is strong willed,  is no pushover, and is willing to take risks if it means helping out her friends. Now for Sam, I actually have TWO choices to play her, but both are really good so either one would work for it. Choice #1 is...

Anna Sophia Robb – Better known for playing Leslie in Bridge to Terabithia, Anna can pull of playing a girl who is more different than anyone you’ll ever meet. She has a great sense of energy to her, and isn’t afraid to take risks. Now part of the Goth attitude can be seen in her performance in Soul Surfer, where she’s in a struggling battle to live life after a tragic attack. Not only that, but she’d have some familiarity working with a Danny Phantom movie, since she first voiced Danielle in the episode “Kindred Spirits.” All you need is her hair dyed, dark clothes, and you’ve got a great Sam.

Now, choice #2 is...

Mae Whitman - Best known for playing Katara on "Avatar: The Last Airbender," and one of the 7 Evil Exes from "Scott Pilgrim," Mae has an experience with both creating dynamic emotion in a character, as well as comic book style action. However, when she played Mary Elizabeth in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," she brought a marvelous performance as a girl who deems away from most social types until an unpopular one makes her open up to him. That performance really does add so much to what Sam is.

But like I said, either one would be fine.

Well, we’ve come a long way…now it’s time we bring out the one you’ve all been waiting for. The duly-appointed deputy of Amity Park, and our favorite halfa:

Danny Phantom: The young teenager that is granted the abilities of a ghost, after turning on a ghost portal from the inside of it. Much like Peter Parker, Danny is that unpopular kid that gets on the wrong end of situations he doesn’t want to be a part of. However, unlike Spiderman, Danny’s powers have started as being hard to control, that can lead to him revealing his secret. It’s only until his first few ghost fights that Danny’s able to have control of his abilities, with new ones coming in as he grows stronger. If Danny is to be played in live-action, it should be by someone who can pull off being a teenager, like Andrew Garfield or Josh Hutcherson. However, there is one that had a film last year, that really showed much potential, and he’s one that everyone has agreed would make a great Danny.

Logan Lerman – While he’s best known for Percy Jackson, Logan has really been evolving more as an actor. Even in bad films like “The Three Musketeers,” he did prove that he can be good when it comes to action movies. However, the depth and reality of a teenager outcast who becomes a better person can be seen flawlessly, in his performance as Charlie in “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” That work alone makes him worthy of taking on the role of Danny.

So those were my picks on a Danny Phantom movie. If you feel I missed some big choices, feel free to list them and say who’d you like to see play them, or if you have someone else for a role than what I chose would work, tell me. I’d love to see what you guys would consider. Hope you enjoyed my list, and I hope that you at least think I have some decent choices.

See you next time!

Danny Phantom Choice casting part 1 villains

Back in the mid-90's to early 2000's, we were treated to a lot of animated shows to have featured teenagers as the main protagonists saving the world. Shows like "Teen Titans," "Kim Possible," "Freakazoid," "American Dragon," "My Life as a Teenage Robot," and "Static Shock" are all some of the main examples of such. However, among all of those, there is one show that had become so popular, that it really stands out as one of the best animated shows of the past decade; and that show is “Danny Phantom.” Created by Butch Hartman of "Fairly Odd Parents" fame, this is one of the few shows that was brought out by Nickelodeon during it's Silver Age of animation, and is one of the few that had people petition and protest it to come back, showing how much of an impact it has had. Not only did the show have amazing characters, great stories, as well as endless creativity, this show was basically Hartman’s love letter to Marvel comics of the 60’s (particularly Spiderman) and horror films. It combined action with comedy and suspense, with much added elements of science fiction.

The story tells of a young boy named Danny Fenton, a 14-year old boy who lives in the town of Amity Park, with his older sister Jazz, and his parents Jack and Maddie. The two are ghost experts, and have been studying them as far as their college days, working on a portal that will lead into the Ghost-Zone. When it looks to them that it doesn’t work, Danny is convinced by his friends to go check it out, and as a result, turns the machine on and is turned into a half ghost. At first, he tries to get used to his new powers, and it isn’t until later on that he learns what his powers are for now. He soon takes on the responsibility of becoming Amity Park’s hero, protecting the people from the evil ghosts that escape and wreak havoc all over.

There are so many great characters in the Danny Phantom universe, that to make a film about it would take a lot of effort behind it, and the right casting. And I don’t just want to see a TV movie, like they did with Fairly Oddparents. Danny Phantom deserves to have the big-budget, Hollywood blockbuster treatment, with a great director and stellar cast attached to it.

So for part 1 of my choice casting, we’re going to start with the villains. Now what I mean villains is that I’m choosing ones that would work as MAIN villains for the big screen. There could be other villains that could be good for a cameo or that I might look over, but these are ones that I think would work the best in the film. Also, the choices I’m making are ones that can be played without the overbearing use of CGI, except for when they’re intangible, invisible, overshadowing another, and flying. However, I do have a couple exceptions that I would be okay if they used CGI, as long as they got their original voice actors to play them again. Those choices are Mark Hamill as Undergrowth and Michael Dorn as the Fright Knight.

Now let’s get into the real list. So without further ado, let’s start with the Ultimate Enemy:

Dan Phantom: The evil future being that destiny has Danny become. After losing his friends and family in a tragic explosion, Danny turned to Vlad Masters, saying he’s the only one who would understand his problems. In doing so, he asks him to tear away his human emotions, by splitting him from his ghost half, which revolts and takes over Vlad’s ghost half after splitting them. The two evil halves combined formed a new terror, one that is more powerful than any other ghost in existence. Even when he fights his own past self, he’s aware of what actions are needed to make sure that his past doesn’t change to where he doesn’t exist. For him, someone would have to be used to being very bloodlustful, but know that he has everything turn into his own hands.

Benedict Cumberbatch – Here’s an actor who can really deliver that essence that he had chosen this life because of a hard history he’s had, as seen in his performance as Khan in “Star Trek Into Darkness.” Just the look in his eyes and that voice really set the tone that he’s bad news. If you just take a look at his interactions with Kirk in the film, tell me you wouldn’t want to see this guy play Dan.

Next, let’s talk about everybody’s favorite ringmaster:

Freakshow: Coming from a long line of ghost controllers, Freakshow has used his ancestors’ talents to take over the minds of ghosts for his own selfish needs, such as robberies, obtaining power, and the doing away of people who will stand in his way. He is also the one who has been a researcher and possible creator of the Reality Gauntlet, an artifact that allows him to control everything and everyone he so desires. However, even when he has the upper-hand, he can let his envy and stubbornness get the better of him, which would lead to his downfalls. To play him, an actor who’s familiar with playing characters that are outwitted or messed with, but still a fitting foe.

Now much like how they allowed Darran Norris, the voice of Timmy’s Dad in Fairly Oddparents, to play him in live-action in the TV movies, I would be perfectly fine if they did the same with Freakshow’s voice actor.

Jon Cryer – It may come off as a surprise for those who didn’t know, but yes, the “Two-and-a-Half-Men” star was the voice of Freakshow, and I think Jon could bring that character to life perfectly. He has that great presence among him, being the guy who ends up being the butt of the joke, ruining plans he had going. And with it being live-action, I hope to see Jon bring more to the table and give us something about the character we haven’t seen yet.

Now it’s time for…the one that shouts about himself a lot.

Nicolai Technus: As a ghost that controls all of technology and anything mechanical, Technus has shown to be a much bigger threat than he seems at times. He almost dominated the city with a body of useless junk or all of Fenton Works, and almost taken over the world through the internet or the greatest computer satellite. His intelligence and power has proven from time and time again that he is a strong challenge for Danny, coming back stronger and stronger every time. While he is a formidable opponent, he isn’t without some of his quirks of shouting out his plans, or even his attempts at sounding *ahem* “hip with the times, G.” In terms of what version we go with, I’d say Technus 2.0 would be a better fit, but if we stick to 1.0, I have no problem with it. The right person we’d need for this character would have to be…

David Tennant - Better known for playing the 10th Doctor, David is a very energetic actor and can really pull out any kind of charm to a character related to science fiction. And as the Doctor, you can tell that he's been around for a long time and has knowledge beyond people's imagination. Not only that, but he can also play a smartass character to add to the character, as seen in his role as Peter Vincent in the new Fright Night.

I think it’s high time we talk about, the Red Huntress:

Valerie Gray: Much in the same way Danny is to Spiderman, Valerie is much like the New Goblin of the series. With a black-belt in karate and the gift of ghost hunting equipment from Vlad Masters, she’s held a serious vendetta against Danny Phantom and any other ghost, for ruining her status in the high school food chain, lose so much of her belongings, and have her father lose his job at Axion Laboratory. At one point, she admits after spending so much time with Danny that she develops a crush for him, even admitting that she’d give up ghost hunting if they ended up together. If done right in a live-action adaption, I would love to see Valerie motivated more to be a ghost hunter, if something more precious to her social life was taken from her. We never see Valerie’s mother, so what if their work at Axion was to help cure cancer, or something like that, and they were close until a fight Danny is in ruins that, leaving her mother to die. Cliché, but that would be something that could really push Valerie to that edge, as well as make the story in a dark turn that would be appropriate for fans of the show. And the best choice I would see for Valerie would be…

Zoe Kravitz – Zoe is one of those young actresses that can really pull her own and give audiences a true Valerie Gray. Plus, she has experience working with superhero films, as seen in her performance as Angel in “X-Men First Class," as well as in the "Divergent" series. One thing's for sure, is that she's one you would NEVER want to mess with.

Now this next entrée, if you’re not familiar with by the end, you’ll remember her name:

Ember McLain: The rock and roll ghost with the most. Ember is considered one of my favorite villains for two reasons. #1 – Out of all the ghosts who have been given back-stories in the show, Ember had the most heartbreaking. She was a teenager who wasn’t all that popular, but had dreams of being a rock star. The downside was, she had a very sensitive heart, as she was left at a date that never came to her, and she went home crying. That same day, a fire had burned the building down, which she was asleep through, leaving her to die and turn to ash, hence the name: Ember, as well as her own theme song. And #2 – She’s the ghost responsible for furthering Danny and Sam’s growing relationship within the first season. She’s very ill-tempered, most obsessed with attention, and really strong with the power of music. Casting her would be a difficult choice, since the one portraying her would have to be musically talented. I'm still in a bit of thought at the right choice, but for now my choice would be...

Samantha Barks - Barks has shown she's got a great singing voice, as seen in her performances on Broadway and film with Les Miserables. Her performance as Eponine could really capture that look in Ember's heart of her past life, and the pain she goes through. Plus, it would give her more range to let out all that fury in her out so brilliantly.

We've talked about a huntress…let’s talk about the HUNTER:

Skulker: One of the most iconic of the Danny Phantom villains, Skulker is one that never gives up on prey, even if it ends up trashing another one of his armored suits, which hides his real form. He has relied on more gadgets more than natural instinct. His obsession with collecting Danny’s pelt has shown his extreme persistence in catching him, even to go as far as try use cheap tactics. In the later part of the series, we learn he’s developed a relationship with Ember, but we don’t quite see how that developed exactly; I would love to see how they would do that if interpreted into a movie. Now as far as I’m concerned, Skulker needs to be played by an actor who can pull off a frightening hunter, and to play him I choose…

Ron Perlman – If there’s anyone who is capable of doing Skulker true justice, it’s Ron Perlman. While he did voice Mr. Lancer on the show, Ron has had so much movie experience and make-up, most notable with Guillermo Del Toro films like Blade 2, Pacific Rim, and the Hellboy movies. Not only that, but his voice is…well, awesome. I mean, if you listen to one episode of Teen Titans where he plays Slade, you can just feel so much chills go down your spine. Just give him a tech suit, and let him give it his best shot.

Alright, with this one, we need to play by the rules:

Walker: A jail warden of the Ghost Zone, Walker is seen as one of Danny’s most persistent enemies. Unlike Skulker though, Walker wants Danny to suffer and live the rest of his afterlife in the jail he escaped, and take revenge for making a fool out of him. He’ll do anything to take back his prisoners, even if it means taking hostage those precious to him, or even turning his entire town against him. He’s a rule follower, but one that does it with a plan that will work to his advantage either way. That kind of sounds like…

Russell Crowe – Better known as the Gladiator and the new Jor-El, Russell has that presence to him that his job is more important than the lives of others. He can easily portray someone whose life is centered on the law and will do anything to make those who disobey it pay the price. The best way of seeing this is in his underrated performance as Javert in Les Miserables. If his interactions between Hugh Jackman or anyone else in that movie don’t show him good enough to play Walker, I don’t know what will.

And now…presenting, the one who reigns over his foes with triumph:

Pariah Dark, the Ghost King: The most powerful enemy Danny has ever faced, to where he needed an exoskeleton to win. Before any of the ghosts that Danny had faced even existed, Pariah was the absolute ruler of the ghost zone, until he was banished by high rulers, who dethroned the king and separated him from his power. With such divine abilities, Pariah is practically invincible. I can think of only one actor to give this character the glory he deserves.

Hugo Weaving – He’s played so many iconic villains that it’s practically the name of his resume. He has the presence and feel of a dictator with much power, as seen with his roles as Red Skull from Captain America, Megatron from the Transformers trilogy, and Agent Smith from The Matrix. Those performances alone have him ready for someone like Pariah.

With every king, there must also come a prince in the series:

Prince Aragon: The prince of the medieval territories of the Ghost Zone, Aragon is one who believes only in the Dark Age ways of life, to where his power over the kingdom has time stop and anything modern or advanced be completely useless. Much like his sister, Dorathea, he too has an amulet that grants him the ability to turn into a fearsome dragon. Egotistical, arrogant, and all powerful, he is a mighty foe that only one just as strong can match. If he is brought into a movie, I could only see one way they could establish him into it. He’d have to be Pariah’s son. I know it seems out of place for most people, but when you think about how he keeps time frozen in one part of the Ghost Zone, and yet still a prince, I would think this would make it an interesting idea if they do decide to have Pariah be his father. And who better to play a stubborn rich boy, then our typical stubborn rich boy

Tom Felton – While it is a little type-casting, I think Tom has some great variety to work with in Aragon. He has the charm, power, and snootiness that would suit Aragon, as seen in his role as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, but with an added bonus of the abilities of a dragon would make him a much bigger threat. I rest my case.

Now, let’s move on to Danny’s cheese-head, arch enemy:

Vlad Plasmius: The first human-ghost hybrid. In a freak accident during college, Vlad had been infected with ecto-acne, which ruined his reputation and caused him to become a freak and lose his chances with Danny’s mother. Years later, he’s become a billionaire, now with years of experience with his ghost powers. Time and time again, he’s attempted to kill Jack, and steal his family away, or take down Danny until he agrees to be his new apprentice. He’s even gone as far to cheat his way into becoming mayor of Amity Park. Vlad has gained a reputation as one of the greatest villains in cartoon history, but one aspect I really want to see is showing the torment that comes from having his powers at first. That would bring a great deal of drama into the character, to where we do feel some sympathy for him, rather than him just be a villain. For me, there needs to be an actor who is very determined, eager, and calculative at his attempts of taking back what he lost.

Hugh Jackman – My favorite actor as one of my favorite villains. Hugh has played a variety of characters, ranging from a poor soul trying to change his life, to an Canadian mutant in a comic book film series, to even playing a magician. The one thing we haven’t seen him play is a villain. Vlad’s charm and charisma of a human, along with the intimidation of his ghost are all in one little package. Not only that, but Hugh's a brilliant actor, and showing both the lust and torment of his powers would be a walk in the park for him. And as a Broadway star, I think it would be great if Hugh gave Vlad a sense of fun once in a while, really adding more to the character; but if they didn’t, then I won’t complain.

Well, that's it for now. Check in for part two, and I'll cast the heroes and allies.