August 2011

Snake Eyes #4

/ / Comics

snake-eyes-4-coverSnake Eyes is free, but he’s still a captive deep inside the mountain fortress of Vikrim Khalikhan whose left the deadly Slice and Dice, and a whole army of soldiers, to deal with the Joe’s most dangerous warrior. As Snake Eyes fights the assassins, Helix goes after Khalikhan, and Iceberg has to figure out how to get the wounded Alpine, and himself, off the top of a Himalayan Mountain alive.

The end of this first story arc is heavy on action, both deep inside the base and on the mountain tops as Iceberg and Alpine fend off squadron of COBRA Flight Pods. Damn, I haven’t seen one of those in years! Well done.

The issue ends with a conversation between Snake Eyes and Scarlett to end the issue which gives us some clues as to Snake Eyes next “outside the box” assignment. I’m a little unsure of the final page’s reveal, but the rest of the comic is strong enough I’ll wait to see just what the Sword of Genghis Khan’s role in the upcoming story might be. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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The Conspirator

/ / Home Video
  • Title: The Conspirator
  • IMDB: link

the-conspirator-dvdDirector Robert Redford examines the trial of the first woman put to death by the Unites States Government through the eyes of a reluctant young lawyer (James McAvoy) who ended up ruining his career with search for justice in a court that wanted nothing more than a quick conviction.

The story concerns Mary Surratt (Robin Wright) who was charged as a co-conspirator in the assassinations of President Abraham Lincoln (Gerald Bestrom) and Secretary of State William Seward and the attempted assassination of Vice President Andrew Johnson (Dennis Clark).

Redford assembles a first-rate cast to tell an engaging story, but it never reaches the level of storytelling you would expect. Although the screenplay by James D. Solomon showcases the how Suratt was railroaded into the gallows and strongly suggests her innocence, the film never takes a definitive stand on her guilt. This means we aren’t subject to Suratt’s experiences but only those filtered through those of her lawyer.

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DC Retroactive: Justice League – The 90’s

/ / Comics

dc-retroactive-justice-league-90s-coverDC’s Retroactive titles have been a failed experiment (and that’s putting it kindly). The attempt at telling tales from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s with writers and artists who worked on those characters during that time period has delivered some of the most disappointing and awful tales the publisher has put out this year. Until now.

When I heard of the idea I was cautiously optimistic. Most of the group didn’t interest me much but I was going to get Dennis O’Neil writing a Green Lantern story (sadly, without Neal Adams), and Len Wein was doing a Batman story, but the one that really piqued my interest was Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire reuniting for a classic Justice League tale. And, unlike the others, this one actually delivers the goods.

The issue gives us the classic 90’s team (Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Mr. Miracle, Guy Gardner, Fire, Ice, Martian Manhunter, Oberon and Maxwell Lord), a Parademon who has lost Darkseid’s inhaler (or something) in a card game, the Injustice League, a giant monster loose on the city, and Power Girl shows up with that #$%@& cat!

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DC Retroactive: Justice League – The 90’s Read More »

Coming Soon – A Dangrous Method

/ / Film News & Trailers
  • Title: A Dangrous Method
  • IMDB: link

Viggo Mortensen teams up with director David Cronenberg once again for A Dangerous Method which follows the relationship between Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) and his mentor Sigmund Freud (Mortensen) and the troubled young woman (Keira Knightley) who comes between them. Vincent Cassel, Sarah Gadon, and André Hennicke also star. Christopher Hampton adapted the film from his 2002 stage play. The film opens on November 23rd.

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FF #7

/ / Comics

ff-8-coverAfter a two-issue interlude which derailed the current story arc on the Council of Reeds to focus on Black Bolt‘s whereabouts since his apparent death in War of Kings, writer Jonathan Hickman finally gets back to the story we’ve been waiting for.

Maybe it’s the fact that this issue is two months too late, or the fact that Hickman’s jammed the final battle with far too many characters such as the Reeds, their subordinates, the Inhumans, the High Eveolutionary‘s minions, and the expanded roster of the Future Foundation, but still doesn’t go anywhere new with the story.

There are moments including Sue‘s dialogue with her father-in-law and Valeria‘s escape from her room, but the main battle (including a far too obvious double-cross) feels rushed, messy, and unfocused. We are given a couple of hints that everything Reed thinks he knows about his other selves might be wrong, but here’s yet another issue that’s not really about the Council of Reeds. At least this one does have the Future Foundation in it. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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