March 2013

Age of Ultron #1

/ / Comics

Age of Ultron #1I have absolutely no idea what the point of this comic is supposed to be. Marvel’s ten-issue event begins here with only the smallest appearance of it’s leading villain. What we do get is some weird dystopian alternate reality (think Age of Apocalypse but half-assed and really crappy) where the world has fallen to Ultron and D-list villains like the Owl are powerful enough to take down Spider-Man.

Nearly the entire issue is dedicated to Hawkeye‘s bloody rescue of Spider-Man from the Owl and his goons. Making it back to Avengers headquarters we briefly meet far-less heroic versions of Iron Man, Luke Cage, and She-Hulk. Along with Wolverine and Emma Frost it appears the heroes of this world have nearly given up as Ultron reigns supreme and Captain America lacks the will to lead his team into action.

Aside from being extremely violent, unnecessarily gritty, and all around unenjoyable, this first issue is also rather pointless as we don’t really spend any time getting to know any of these versions of classic Marvel characters. Maybe they’re saving that for the next nine issues. God help us all. Pass.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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House of Lies – Wonders of the World

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: House of Lies – Wonders of the World
  • tv.com: link

“You also, sir, manufacture a pretty sweet fuckstick.”

House of Lies - Wonders of the World

Marty (Don Cheadle) hides out in his apartment and licks his wounds following his altercation with the police that left him with a black eye and several stitches. Although he refuses to discuss the matter with his father (Glynn Turman) and brother (Larenz Tate), he can’t hide from Roscoe (Donis Leonard Jr.) whose mix of anger at what the pair of white cops did to his father and fear that something similar might someday happen to him actually hits Marty far harder than the physical blows that left him bleeding on the street.

…

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Winter Soldier #16

/ / Comics

Winter Soldier #16After saving the life of rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Joe Robards, the Winter Soldier and his new friend search for leads by heading to an isolated island in the middle of nowhere where the former head of the Red Room has set up a school for young assassins known as The Orphanage.

Although the story is pretty straightforward the reason behind the team-up of Robards and Bucky is less so (even if Bucky keeps the fact that he murdered the man’s handler years ago to himself), as is their final objective. A short conversation between Maria Hill and the retired, but very much still active, Nick Fury suggests the “Electric Ghost” at the end of Bucky’s journey will be another ghost from his past.

The island of misfit assassins is more goofy than frightening and the objectives of Bucky’s new mission are murky at best. Two issues in new writer Jason LaTour has done little to help sell me on the comic’s new direction. It’s not a bad issue, but there’s not much offered here to make me pick up next month’s comic. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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The Intouchables

/ / Home Video
  • Title: The Intouchables
  • IMDB: link

the-intouchables-blu-rayBased on the nonfiction book by Abdel Sellou, this French odd couple comedy stars Omar Sy as an ex-con out on the street who is hired as a caregiver for a rich French aristocrat (François Cluzet) with whom he has nothing in common. Most of the humor early on deals specifically with Driss’ (Sy) learning his new responsibilities, his discomfort with various aspects of his new job such as dressing Phillipe and “draining the ass” of a man he doesn’t know, and his fumbling juvenile attempts to woo Philippe’s completely uninterested assistant (Audrey Fleurot) into bed.

From there The Intouchables moves into the inevitable phase of the two finding common ground and becoming friends. Subplots involve Driss’ attempt to be a painter and keep his cousin () from following his same path, the relationship between Philippe’s daughter (Alba Gaïa Kraghede Bellugi) and her boyfriend (Thomas Solivéres), and Driss pushing Philippe to meet the woman (Dorothée Brière) he’s been corresponding with for months.

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The Mentalist – There Will Be Blood

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: The Mentalist – There Will Be Blood
  • wiki: link

“You’re putting your trust in the mistress of a serial killer.”

The Mentalist - There Will Be Blood

After months on her own Lorelei (Emmanuelle Chriqui) returns, still searching for answers about whether or not Red John was involved in the murder of her sister. Bertram (Michael Gaston) informs Lisbon (Robin Tunney) that she and the CBI will be working with Agent Kirkland (Kevin Corrigan) who refuses to elaborate on why Homeland Security is so interested in Lorelei. Lorelei’s return, and this latest murder, force Jane (Simon Baker) to admit to his role in her escape which Lisbon fears may come to light now that everyone is taking a hard look at Lorelei’s case again.

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