Alan Rapp

The Librarians – The Dark Secret / The Steal of Fortune

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: – And the Dark Secret / And the Steal of Fortune
  • wiki: link
  • wiki: link

The Librarians - The Dark Secret / The Steal of Fortune TV review

The Librarians open up their Fourth Season by going back to the beginning, not the beginning of the series but the beginning of the franchise. News that one of the original cornerstones has been uncovered (which, if combined with the others, could be used to make the Library solid in this dimension once more) pauses preparation for the tethering ceremony to connect Flynn (Noah Wyle) and Eve (Rebecca Romijn) to the Library. Knowing the situation is dire, and the Librarians must stop the heretic Order of Shadows from recovering the remaining stones and destroying the Library, forces Jenkins (John Larroquette) to reveal the dark secret of who he’s been keeping prisoner in the Library for a century – Flynn’s original Guardian Nicole Noone (Sonya Walger).

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Batman #36

/ / Comics

Batman #36 comic reviewOkay, this is pretty good. Kicking off a new arc, writer Tom King and artist Clay Mann tackle the issue of Batman‘s impending wedding to Catwoman, and his friendship with Superman, from the perspective of both the Dark Knight Detective and the Man of Steel. While both are attempting to get to the bottom of their latest cases (which will end up linked by the end of the issue) each has to deal with the women in their lives asking why one hasn’t talked with the other about the wedding.

The two storylines run parallel, at times side-by-side as both men struggle to explain the other. In an issue where each tries to explain how fundamentally different they are, the creative team perfectly illustrates how just the opposite is true. Along the way they’ll also tackle issues like Catwoman’s trustworthiness and Superman’s super-secret identity.

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Star Wars: The Last Jedi

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Star Wars: The Last Jedi
  • IMDb: link

Star Wars: The Last Jedi movie reviewI love Star Wars. I’m a fan. Always have been. My love of film, science fiction, and movie merchandise can be traced back to the film that sprung from the mind of George Lucas. I mention this because, as a fan, it’s not always easy to look critically at what you love. However, I will do my best (while avoiding spoilers).

Star Wars: The Force Awakens gave me a taste during its final moments, but Star Wars: The Last Jedi finally delivers on the Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) film I have been waiting impatiently for since 1983. Adding to my interest in the latest installment of the Star Wars franchise was the fact that a grizzled Luke would get paired with my favorite of the new characters introduced in the previous film. Those expecting Luke to jump immediately into action on behalf of Rey‘s (Daisy Ridley) plea might be initially disappointed, but (despite small complaints I have with the film) I think you’ll agree that writer/director Rian Johnson succeeds in paying homage to what has come before while shading a bit more outside of the lines than J.J. Abrams was willing, or able, to do.

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Detroit

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Detroit
  • IMDb: link

Detroit Blu-ray reviewKathryn Bigelow‘s distressing and unflinching look into the Algiers Motel killings during Detroit’s 1967 12th Street Riot, is as masterful as it is hard to watch. It’s a brutal film to sit through as the director refuses to pull punches or tack on any kind of happy or hopeful ending. As a result the film struggled mightily at the box office despite being a critical success. There are obviously parallels between the story we see unfold and recent events, such as those in Ferguson, Missouri. In 50 years we may not have come as far as we had hoped.

Screenwriter Mark Boal pieced together the script from written accounts and interviews with survivors. Algee Smith leads an exceptional cast as one of many held captive at gunpoint, threatened, beaten, and subject to psychological torture by racist police officers (Will Poulter, Jack Reynor, and Ben O’Toole) and members of the National Guard in the Algiers Motel. The longer the police stay, looking for a shooter that doesn’t exist, the deeper the hole they dig for themselves and potential witnesses to their actions.

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Usagi Yojimbo #164

/ / Comics

Usagi Yojimbo #164 comic reviewThe middle chapter of “The Mouse Trap” picks up with Usagi‘s attacker delivering the rabbit ronnin to the Black Goblin Gang where the quick intervention of Inspector Ishida and the thief Nezumi prevent a groggy Usagi from meeting an inglorious end. Although Ishida is able to save his friend, Usagi is able to overhear a bit of the underlings talk about the hidden true head of the gang, and several members are killed by our heroes, Usagi and Ishida don’t learn about the next attack of the Black Goblin Gang until it is too late.

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