January 2012

The Most Overrated Movie of 2011

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Bridesmaids
  • IMDB: link

bridesmaids-posterBack in May a little film starring a mostly female cast and led by Kristen Wiig hit theaters and became the unexpected breakout comedic hit of the summer. Marketed to audiences as a The Hangover for women, Bridesmaids won favor not just with critics but with movie goers who stuffed theaters for months ballooning the film’s total domestic box office to almost $170 million. What follows is a dissenting opinion.

In the past, along with my Best of the Year list, I’ve occasionally done a list for the worst films I’ve been forced to sit through as a film critic over the same year. Rather than do that for 2011 I decided to take a look at films which generated discussion and praise and find the one which rankled me the most. There was one clear winner.

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The Most Overrated Movie of 2011 Read More »

The Scarlet Spider #1

/ / Comics

scarlet-spider-1-coverI’m a fan of the Scarlet Spider. For those of you who don’t know who that is, the Scarlet Spider was the alter-ego assumed by Peter Parker‘s clone when he was reintroduced to comics in the 1990’s.

The Clone Saga has earned the animostity of several Spidey fans (some of it well-deserved), but despite many problematic elements (including its purpose to replace Peter with his clone as Spider-Man and its awful ending where the character literally disovled into dust for Marvel Comics to sweep under the rug) I’ll look back on it fondly for introducing the character of the Scarlet Spider.

When I heard a new Scarlet Spider comic was in the works I was excited but confused. After all the character was long dead. Learning the new series would center around the character of Kaine (another clone reintroduced in the Clone Saga), a character I have no real fondness for, I was a little less sure of what to expect.

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The Scarlet Spider #1Read More »

The Scarlet Spider #1 Read More »

Bond celebrates turning 50 with new Blu-ray box set

/ / Home Video News 

Like Bond? James Bond? Want all 22 “official” Bond flicks on Blu-ray in one handy dandy collection? Now’s your chance. For the franchise’s 50th Anniversary MGM and 20th Century Fox are releasing a new box set with all the films plus 130 hours of bonus materials. You can find the full press release after the jump.

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Bond celebrates turning 50 with new Blu-ray box setRead More »

Bond celebrates turning 50 with new Blu-ray box set Read More »

Justice League International #5

/ / Comics

justice-league-international-new-52-5-coverIssue #5 gives us the big showdown between the Justice League International and Peraxxus, the weird Galactus-lookin’ spice miner planning to blow up the world with four giant robots and sell off the mineral debris to the highest bidder.

Honestly, the story arc could have been wrapped up last issue, but things work out well here as the team comes together to save the planet and prove that this whole JLI thing might not be such a bad idea.

No, it’s still not as good as Keith Giffen‘s fabulous run on the title, but writer Dan Jurgens is starting to put these pieces together and focus on the relationships in this hodge-podge of heroes from many nations. He’s even got me caring about August General in Iron and Godiva. Now if someone could retrofit Booster Gold‘s costume to its pre-New 52 days!

The opening arc hasn’t been great, but it hasn’t had the huge ups and downs of the less consistent Justice League, either. The final panel makes me thing we’ll soon see another old friend from the Giffen days as well. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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