September 2011

Killer Elite

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Killer Elite
  • IMDB: link

killer-elite-posterTired of killing, the world’s best mercenary (Jason Statham) calls it quits only to be pulled out of retirement a year later by an oil sheikh (Rodney Afif) who holds one of his oldest friends (Robert De Niro) hostage to make sure Danny takes the job.

It seems a few years back the British S.A.S. killed three of the sheikh’s four sons. Now he wants vengeance before he dies and has chosen Danny to be the instrument of that revenge. In return he’ll release his friend and agree to pay Danny and his team (Dominic Purcell, Aden Young) $6,000,000.

Simple, right? Well it would be if it wasn’t for the fact that the Her Majesty’s Special Air Service are the best trained soldiers in the world. And if you didn’t know that going in the movie will remind you, more than once (except, of course, when our hero needs to dispatch nameless agents with relative ease).

…

Killer EliteRead More »

Killer Elite Read More »

Nightwing #1

/ / Comics

nightwing-1-coverAfter being disappointed with Dectective Comics #1 and Batgirl #1 (and to a lesser extent Batman and Robin #1) this week seems to be the one where the Bat-books start to make their comeback. Dick Grayson is out of the Bat-suit and back as Nightwing but writer Kyle Higgins makes sure that Dick’s time as Batman wasn’t wasted.

The issue is broken into three parts. The first involves Nightwing taking down a low-rent thug while thinking over his return to the role of Nightwing. This works well to reintroduce readers to the characters as well as a pleasant reminder that Dick’s time under the cowl hasn’t been lost in the DC Reboot.

The second-half of the story, however, was the one that the most pleasant surprise. When I heard the first issue had to do with Dick returning to the circus I was less than enthused. Haley’s Circus returns to Gotham for the first time since the Flying Graysons last performance and Dick’s conflicted feelings about making an appearance remind us, for all his differences, Dick does have a few things in common with Bruce Wayne.

…

Nightwing #1Read More »

Nightwing #1 Read More »

Captain America #3

/ / Comics

The story picks up right where the last issue left off: Captain America is battling the Ameridroid (a giant robot with the brain of a crazy scientist, made to look like Captain America) while Sharon Carter has her own hands full with Baron Zemo.

Meanwhile, Codename: Bravo and his mysterious lady friend continue to work behind the scenes using the comatose Jimmy Jupiter to play havoc with reality and pull a certain patriotic super-soldier into the dream world.

Writer Ed Brubaker does a good job explaining the Ameridroid without pausing the action. And even if the character is insanely goofy, it works well as a real threat to Cap. The fight between Agent 13 and Zemo isn’t quite as exciting but it does allow Sharon to get a couple zingers at Zemo’s expense. (I also liked Sharon’s attempt to throw Cap his sheild, which, of course, doesn’t go exactly as planned).

With Cap locked in the dreamworld for the next issue I’m assuming the craziness seen here is only the beginning. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

Captain America #3 Read More »

Birds of Prey #1

/ / Comics

birds-of-prey-v3-1-coverFor the first time since 2003 the regular writer of Birds of Prey is not named Gail Simone. As part of DC’s New 52 writer Duane Swierczynski takes over a team that, quite frankly, has seen better days.

The recent run of the title never matched the heights of the first volume and, although I love Gail Simone, I wasn’t opposed to giving someone else a shot at the title. Sadly, this isn’t what I had in mind.

Not only does Barbara Gordon‘s return as Batgirl throw Stephanie Brown under the proverbial bus but it leaves a huge hole to be filled on a title that centered around her as Oracle. The comic was about the relationship between Babs and Black Canary, and started clicking on all cylinders with the inclusion of the Huntress (and great supporting characters like Zinda Blake).

Although Black Canary is present here (in another puzzling costume redesign that makes me nostalgic for any of other costumes – even her Justice League look), the Huntress isn’t part of the team and Babs is present only a token appearance.

…

Birds of Prey #1Read More »

Birds of Prey #1 Read More »