June 2012

Top Ten Live-Action Fairy Tale Movies

/ / Top Tens & Lists

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The recent release of Snow White and the Huntsman started me thinking back on Hollywood’s best live-action fairy tales. Sure, when we think movie fairy tales Disney’s animated classic films immediately come to mind, but over the years there have been several attempts to adapt, or create new, fairy tales without the use of animation. Many are best forgotten, but it turns out there are quite a few worthy of discussion. With apologies to The NeverEnding Story and Ever After (both of which will have to settle for honorable mentions), here are the Top Ten Live-Action Fairy Tale Movies.

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Before Watchmen: Minutemen #1

/ / Comics

before-watchmen-minutemen-coverWhen DC announced its plans for Before Watchmen, a new mini-series set in the world Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons created more than 25 years ago, but without their input, I was, like many, not too keen on the idea. Of all the titles suggested the only one that piqued a little interest was Minutemen.

Written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke (and that’s really enough for me to give it a shot), the first issue of Before Watchmen: Minutemen is little more than a reintroduction to the characters we learned about in Watchmen. Told through the eyes Hollis Mason, the first Nite Owl, as he is putting the final touches his memoirs “Under the Hood,” we meet each of the Minutemen (Sally Jupiter, Hooded Justice, Silhouette, Dollar Bill, Mothman, The Comedian) through Mason’s narrated flashbacks.

Although it doesn’t really give any new information about the characters the setting and characters are a perfect fit for Cooke’s writing and art. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Fairly Legal – Force Majeure

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Fairly Legal – Force Majeure
  • tv.com: link

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Justin’s (Michael Trucco) surprise gift of two tickets to a private concert of a Brazilian singer/songwriter (Josefina Scaglione) impresses Kate (Sarah Shahi) but has unintended consequences when the limo on the way to a private party afterwards with the star leads to her arrest after drugs are discovered by the police.

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Avengers vs. X-Men #5

/ / Comics

Avengers vs. X-Men #5If you were wondering how Marvel Comics was going to draw out Hope Summers becoming the Phoenix over a twelve-issue maxi-series, issue #5 answers that question with an unexpected bait-and-switch.

On the moon where the Avengers and X-Men battle and the Phoenix Force arrives, Iron Man and Giant Man create an ill-explained kamikaze robot created to disperse the the Phoenix Force before it can completely merge with hope. However, their plan doesn’t quite give them the expected outcome.

Although Hope Summers is denied the Phoenix Force, it instead it finds itself dispersed among five of the X-Men – Cyclops, Colossus, Magik, Emma Frost, and Namor who take Hope “home” to save here, heal her, and prepare her for what is to come.

Honestly, as twists got this one is pretty damn dumb, but having the power dispersed among five different X-Men may create some unusual battles over the next few issues before Marvel finally relents and gives us the only thing we’re reading this comic for – the new Phoenix. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Kung Fu Panda #5

/ / Comics

kung-fu-panda-5-coverAfter four months where the mini-series had apparently run its course, Ape Entertainment’s Kung Fu Panda returns with the first of two new issues before beginning a new series Tales of the Dragon Warrior.

In the main story, “Discipline & Disorder,” Tigress and Po are sent to a nearby village under attack by the warlord Mei, a fox with an army and an invisible striking attack. When the pair find themselves outsmarted and stuck together in a Chinese finger trap they have to learn to work together to survive.

In the short back-up story, “Grrls Night Out,” Tigress and Viper attend the village of Lin Ju’s harvest celebration only to get in a bar fight at a local tavern started by two trying to hit on them.

Although neither adventure is terrific, each is fun and has a nice moral for kids. At $4 the price will always be high for this title, but fans of the characters should enjoy this one. For fans.

[Ape Entertainment, $3.99]

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