November 2012

Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow #19

/ / Comics

snake-eyes-and-storm-shadow-19-cover“Target: Snake Eyes” comes to a head as both Helix and the Coil seek out the Arashikage Clan‘s home in Cambodia, although for very different puproses. Helix continues her search for Snake Eyes only to be taken down by Storm Shadow and his ninja while Serpentor and the Soft Master lead the Coil into Arashikage’s home hoping to wipe out the entire clan for good.

The issue is filled with action including the new Cobra Commander‘s attempt to kill the Baroness for her recent failure, Snake Eyes squares off against Rika‘s son who wants revenge for what he sees as Snake Eyes’ traitorous actions that led to her death, Helix temporarily holding her own against the ninja, and Snake Eyes coming face-to-face with a betrayed Storm Shadow.

Another strong issue that sets up a possible Snake Eyes/Storm Shadow showdown in the next issue of G.I. JOE or perhaps another temporary reliance as the ninja clan will need all the help it can get to survive Cobra‘s latest attempt to destroy them. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Ame-Comi Girls #2 (featuring Batgirl)

/ / Comics

ame-comi-girls-2-coverI will admit the entire idea of Ame-Comi Girls is goofy as hell, and that’s part of the charm. One thing in short supply since DC Comics launched their New 52 is accepting and embracing the fact that comics are supposed to be fun. From the digital comics that were based on the anime-inspired figures from DC Collectibles, the Ame-Comi version of the DCU is female-centric, and in this issue features Batgirl and Robin facing off against Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Catwoman, and the villainous Duela Dent.

The writing isn’t great, although it’s better that many of the New 52 books from the past year, but one thing it delivers, oddly enough given its set-up, is easily recognizable characters. We get the basic archetypes for Batgirl, Poison Ivy, and (the original version) of Harley Quinn. Catwoman seems to be based off a more current interpretation, and I would have preferred by Robin to be blonde and named Stephanie Brown, but I’ll take what I can get.

The comic’s major weakness is its choice of resurrected best forgotten C-list character in Duela Dent. That said, there’s still plenty of fun to be had, and quite a bit of story jammed within the pages of the comic. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Covert Affairs – Lady Stardust

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Covert Affairs – Lady Stardust
  • tv.com: link

“This is a mistake, but at least we’ll make it together.”

covert-affairs-lady-stardust

In the Third Season finale Annie (Piper Perabo) calls on the help of Auggie (Christopher Gorham) and one of Barber’s local assets to help free Eyal (Oded Fehr) who is being held by Khalid (Haaz Sleiman) in Amsterdam. In order to get the information Khalid demands in exchange for Eyal’s safe return, Annie gets herself beaten and breaks into the U.S. Consulate to retrieve confidential information about CIA assets working undercover in Khalid’s operation.

…

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Covert Affairs – Lady Stardust Read More »

Doctor Who – Series 7 (Part One)

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Doctor Who – Series Seven (Part One)
  • tv.com: link

doctor-who-series-7-part-one-blu-rayThe first half of Doctor Who Series Seven is collected here including The Doctor‘s (Matt Smith) final farewell to Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill), dinosaurs on spaceships, a cyborg assassin in the Old West, an invasion of mysterious black cubes, the introduction of Mark Williams as Rory’s father, and an entire planet of insane Daleks which teases the future introduction of Jenna-Louise Coleman as The Doctor’s new companion in this year’s Christmas episode.

Centered around single one-off episodes rather than an ongoing story arc, these episodes get the season off to a good start (even if the western episode is a little flat), before returning the Weeping Angels to their original glory and saying a tearful farewell to the Ponds. “Dinosaurs on a Spaceship” is the real stand-out among the set which feels very much like a throwback to Doctor Who‘s old Douglas Adams days complete with an absurd premise and pair of quarreling robots.

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Doctor Who – Series 7 (Part One) Read More »

Dancing, Crazy People, and the Philadelphia Eagles

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Silver Linings Playbook
  • IMDB: link

silver-linings-playbook-posterWith his latest movie, Silver Linings Playbook, writer/director David O. Russell (The Fighter, Three Kings) delivers his most mainstream film to date in this adaptation of Matthew Quick‘s novel of the same name about a teacher (Bradley Cooper) who moves back in with his parents (Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver) after spending eight months in a mental institution. At times I think Russell can get too cute for his own good (see I Heart Huckabees), but Silver Linings provides the director the kind of manic characters he enjoys while still forcing him draw within the lines. The result is one of the year’s best films.

Our story begins with the release of Pat (Cooper) from his stint in the loony bin after brutally assaulting a fellow teacher who he discovers sleeping with his wife (Brea Bee). Armed with medication he refuses to take and an optimistic attitude of winning back his wife (despite being still haunted by her infidelity), putting his life back together, and looking for the silver lining in every bad situation, Pat begins his slow (and rocky) road to recovery.

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Dancing, Crazy People, and the Philadelphia Eagles Read More »