December 2011

Batman #4

batman-4-new-52-coverScott Snyder’s run on the newly relauned Batman started pretty strong but this issue, much like issue #3, gets bogged down too much in the history of a young Bruce Wayne’s obsession with the mysterious secret organization known as the Court of Owls.

The idea is presented (and thankfully dismissed) that the secret sect may have had something to do with the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne. There’s also an offhand reference to Joe Chill that comes off clumsy and confusing (even more so because we don’t know if Batman knows Chill killed his parents in this New 52 version of the DCU, or if Chill is even responsible here).

Although I’m happy to see Snyder focusing on the detective aspect of Batman, the mystery surrounding the Court of Owls has gotten stagnant. I’m also sad to see that Bruce Wayne’s relationship with Dick Grayson appears to be more dismissive and less collaborative than I’d like.

The art by Greg Capullo looks great, and the comic ends with a panel that suggests things will pick up in the next issue. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

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The Artist

  • Title: The Artist
  • IMDB: link

the-artist-posterFame is a fickle thing. The largest star in the world can fall into relative obscurity almost overnight, and an extra can go from chorus girl to center stage almost as quickly. Hollywood films have played on these themes for decades, but none in more than 80 years have done so quite like The Artist.

Set to a Vertigo-esque score by Ludovic Bource The Artist is a marvel in itself. In an age where CGI is king this little independent film takes us back nearly a century by embracing the era of Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks.

In 2011 it’s not every day you get a black and white silent film. The action alone carries the story, with title cards (rather than subtitles) to fill in any necessary exposition.

Our story begins with the introduction of George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), the world’s biggest silent movie star, and Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), a young extra just starting out on one of George’s films. As Peppy’s career begins to take off George finds himself obsolete almost overnight as silent films are replaced by talkies.

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We Bought a Zoo

  • Title: We Bought a Zoo
  • IMDB: link

we-bought-a-zoo-posterWe Bought a Zoo certainly isn’t writer/director Cameron Crowe‘s best film. However, it is his most family friendly and, with the possible exception of Jerry McGuire, his most commercial. It some circles that may be seen as a bad thing, but if Crowe’s latest is a little more formulaic than usual he still delivers a charming film that most should be able to enjoy.

Based on a true story, Matt Damon stars as Benjamin Mee, a single-father still reeling from the death of his wife (Maggie Elizabeth Jones). In need of a fresh start, and against the advice of his brother (Thomas Haden Church) and the disapproval of his angsty teenage son (Colin Ford), Benjamin spends the family’s savings to buy a rundown zoo, saving the park and the 200 species from destruction.

In a few months, with the help of the park’s zoo keeper (Scarlett Johansson) and staff (Angus MacfadyenPatrick FugitElle FanningCarla Gallo) Benjamin must to get the zoo up to code if he has any hope of seeing a return on his investment and save the park for good.

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The Ten Best Ongoing Comic Series of 2011

2011 turned out to be a pretty good year for comics. This list takes a look at the best ongoing titles of the year (that means no mini-series or series released only as a graphic novel). To make the list each title had have at least four issues before the close of 2011. DC Comics leads my list with five titles (however, only one is still in print), Marvel comes in second with two of the best titles of the year, and then we throw in a rabbit ronin, a crime-fighting mallard, and a foursome of fearsome turtle power.

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Coming Soon

  • Title: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
  • IMDB: link

It may still be a year away, but we now have our first trailer for director Peter Jackson‘s return to Middle Earth in the first-half of the new movie adaptation of The Hobbit. Martin Freeman stars as Bilbo Baggins who is tricked by Gandalf (Ian McKellen) to join the quest of twelve dwarves (Richard ArmitageGraham McTavishKen StottAidan TurnerDean O’GormanMark HadlowAdam BrownJohn CallenWilliam KircherPeter HambletonJames NesbittStephen Hunter) into the Misty Mountains to retrieve their treasure from the dragon Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch). Several LoTR alums reprise their roles in the new film including Elijah WoodAndy SerkisHugo WeavingOrlando BloomChristopher Lee, Cate Blanchett, and Ian Holm. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens in theaters on December 14, 2012.

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