October 2008

Appaloosa

  • Title: Appaloosa
  • IMDB: link

“Which is how, fifteen years ago, I got to be a peace officer and Virgil Cole’s deputy.  Which is why I was with him now, still carrying the eight-gauge, walking the horses down a long, shale-scattered slope toward Appaloosa.”

The town of Appaloosa is under the thumb of rancher Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons), whose men take whatever they want.  After the marshal (Robert Jaregui) is killed by Bragg and his men the town council seeks outside help to solve their situation.

They enlist the help of two gun hands, Virgil Cole (Ed Harris) and his longtime sidekick Everitt Hitch (Viggo Mortensen) to clean up the town and take Bragg down.  Cole’s mission to deliver justice is made more difficult by the arrival of a complicated woman (Renne Zellweger) and Bragg’s connections in Washington.

Western lovers should enjoy this film which pays homage in style to many old favorites.  I was also impressed that much of the dialogue from Robert B. Parker‘s novel was kept in the film adding a unique voice both harsh and humorous to the proceedings.

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Religulous

  • Title: Religulous
  • IMDB: link

“I don’t believe in Santa Claus.”
“Of course not, that’s one man flying all around the world and dropping presents down a chimney.  One man hearing everybody murmur to him at the same time, that I get.”

In an attempt to better undestand religon, and to make some fun out of the more ridiculous beliefs, Bill Maher takes a trip around the world to discuss relgiion with politicans, scientists, theologians, and the common people.  What results is an often funny, though not that enlightening, experience.

Much like Michael Moore, Maher begins his journey with a preconceived outcome – proving the ridiculousness and dangerous nature of all the world’s various religions.  Although quite humorous with his quips and various well-placed clips from religious films, he’s mostly preaching to those who already don’t believe in organized religion.

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Blindness

  • Title: Blindness
  • IMDB: link

“That’s impossible, nobody goes blind like that.”

It starts when a single man (Yusuke Iseya) experiences sudden blindness.  The condition quickly spreads around the city, and the government quarantines the infected, forcibly sending all of them to a military controlled facility.

The story has a good concept even if it doesn’t ever develop it fully.  Based on the novel by Jose Saramango there are two main themes at work here.  The first, and less interesting, is how quickly and easily humans devolve into animals given a crisis.  Events in the quarantine facility soon destroy social convention and niceties leading to riots over food, war, murder, and rape.  Not the prettiest of pictures, even for the blind.

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Flash Gordon #1 (of 6)

  • Title: Flash Gordon #1 (of 6)
  • Comic Vine: link

“My name is Flash Gordon and I think I’m about to die.”

Recent attempts to revive Flash Gordon for the new millennium have been less than impressive (see the now defunct Sci-Fi Channel original series).  Now Flash is returning to the comic pages with a new series from Ardden Entertainment.

Written by Brendan Deneen with art by Paul Green this first issue reinvents the characters while also returning them to their roots.  Here Flash Gordon is a professor and adventurer, Hans Zarkoff is a mad scientist, and Dale Arden is a agent for the CIA.

Flash is approached by Dale and her gorilla-like partner who believe Hans Zarkoff is working on a Weapon of Mass Destruction.  The truth behind the circumstances is far more complex and Flash and Dale end up with Zarkov in his experimental space ship only to find themselves not in Kansas anymore as they travel through a portal to another world.

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My Name is Bruce

  • Title: My Name is Bruce
  • Comic Vine: link

“What the FUCK is that?!”
“That’s Guan-Di.”
“You mean the son of a bitch is real?!”

After a young punk, only after some late night vandalism, mistakenly frees an ancient demon known as Guan-Di, the villagers come up with a plan to save themselves which involves kidnapping a B-movie action star and bringing him south of the border.

Told he’s been hired for a special birthday event Bruce Campbell agrees to play along with the natives only to discover he’s in some deep doo-doo when the real-life demon begins to hack people to pieces.  Faced with hightailing it or becoming the hero he plays in the movies Campbell reluctantly agrees to stay and help.

Those familiar with the ¡Three Amigos! will recognize the basic structure of the tale.  There are some moments of interest mostly displaying Campbell’s initial cowardice and moments of heroism, and an odd secret weapon used to control the hack slashing demon.

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