June 2015

Showgirls

  • Title: Showgirls
  • IMDb: link

ShowgirlsLet’s get something straight, Showgirls is a terrible movie. You can argue director Paul Verhoeven and writer Joe Eszterhas‘s 1995 train wreck is a guilty pleasure or falls into the “so good it’s bad” category (neither of which I agree with), but you can’t convince me by any measurable standard that Showgirls could ever be considered a good film. Some argue it’s satire, which it is, but good satire has something to say about its subject while Showgirls only has something to show while expecting a generous tip in its g-string for the trouble.

Elizabeth Berkley stars as stripper Nomi Malone whose dream of becoming Las Vegas showgirl which becomes a reality after meeting the depraved star of the show (Gina Gershon) and her equally-lecherous boyfriend (Kyle MacLachlan). What follows is a poorly written, with equally bad acting, tale of backstage politics, sex, backstabbing, revenge, and a brutal gang rape scene between Nomi’s roommate (Gina Ravera) and a celebrity’s (William Shockley) posse.

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Community – Basic Crisis Room Decorum

  • Title: Community – Basic Crisis Room Decorum
  • wiki: link

“Did we give a degree to a dog?”

Community - Basic Crisis Room Decorum

The latest crisis hits Greendale Community College when Annie (Alison Brie) calls an emergency 3am meeting of the Save Greendale Committee after learning that City College has created an attack against their school. The ad attacks Greendale for allowing a dog to get a four-year degree at the college, a proposition several members of the group believe may actually be possible and no one is able to immediately dismiss.

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #15

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #15There are two battles happening simultaneously in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #15. The first involves Buffy and the Scoobies battling the ancient demon Archaeus whose bloodline runs through Spike, and the second involves the battle within Buffy’s boyfriend’s brain as Archaeus’ pull brings out the bloodthirsty nature of William the Bloody and sicks it on Buffy and her friends.

Mind-controlled for half the story, Spike plays a big role in the issue that allows the vampire with a soul to prove his worth and fight off his darker nature. Xander also shows up for some quick thinking in the middle of the battle and later to put a rest to the awkwardness with Dawn which the pair have struggled with since the beginning of the season.

The issue ends with the team regrouping after a marginal victory without hope of defeating the demon alone and teasing the first big crossover event since Angel‘s wacky Twilight adventure. A Buffy, Angel, and Spike team-up? Okay, that sounds like some serious fun. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

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Daredevil – World on Fire / Condemned

  • Title: Daredevil – World on Fire / Condemned
  • wiki: link
  • wiki: link

Daredevil - World on Fire / Condemned

“World on Fire” and “Condemned” conclude the Russian mob arc from Daredevil‘s First Season as Wilson Fisk‘s (Vincent D’Onofrio) attempts to pin the murder of Anatoly Ranskahov (Gideon Emery) on Hell’s Kitchen’s new vigilante lead to Daredevil (Charlie Cox) being cornered by the police under the command of the city’s would-be kingpin of crime. Although Vladimir (Nikolai Nikolaeff) will learn the truth about Fisk’s involvement in Anatoly’s death it won’t prevent him from meeting a similar end. Just when I was finally getting intrested in the Russians, whose back story is finally explored here, the show writes both off the show leading to the showdown between the show’s hero and big bad in the season finale.

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Batman – Heart of Ice

  • Title: Batman: The Animated Series – Heart of Ice
  • wiki: link

Batman - Heart of Ice

In honor of Batman‘s 75th Anniversary we turn out attention back to the Dark Knight’s more memorable moments on the big and small screen with another episode from Batman: The Animated Series. Widely regarded as one of the best episodes of the series, “Heart of Ice” was the first episode of the series written by Paul Dini and the first directed by Bruce Timm. The episode also went a long way to establish Mr. Freeze as more than just a throwaway B-list Bat-villain and reinterpret the character as a tragic figure hellbent on revenge.

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