Alan Rapp

We Used to Be Friends, a Long Time Ago

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Veronica Mars
  • IMDB: link

“Always.”

Veronica MarsSeven years after going off the air creator Rob Thomas and the cast of Veronica Mars reunite (with the help of an insanely productive Kickstarter campaign) to bring Veronica (Kristen Bell) back to Neptune just in time for her 10 year high-school reunion. Oh, and to help an ex out of a pesky murder charge. It’s just like old times, in the best possible way.

The script by Thomas and Diane Ruggiero finds Veronica living with Piz (Chris Lowell) in New York and interviewing for jobs at prestigious law firms when a voice from the past reaches out in need of help. Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring) is the lead suspect in the murder of his girlfriend (Andrea Estella). Yep, it really is like old times.

Long ago hanging up her camera and spy gear, Veronica agrees to return only to see her father (Enrico Colantoni) and help Logan find a good lawyer. Things don’t go according to plan. Of course she also have time to reunite with several old friends and enemies, make an enemy of the new sheriff (Jerry O’Connell), and even (against her wishes) attend her class reunion.

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I Feel No Need, No Need for Speed

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Need for Speed
  • IMDB: link

“This ain’t just about racing.”

Need for SpeedNeed for Speed is no Cannonball Run II. You could even argue it’s no Speed Zone (which replaced Burt Reynolds and company with SCTV vets John Candy, Eugene Levy, and Joe Flaherty along with a host of lesser-known stars for a forgettable third Cannonball Run film). Loosely based on the popular video game franchise, Need for Speed stars Aaron Paul as kick-ass small-time racer and mechanic Tobey Marshall whose rivalry with his old girlfriend’s (Dakota Johnson) new boyfriend (Dominic Cooper) ends with him serving two years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

Recently released, and with the help of his friends (Scott Mescudi, Rami Malek, Ramon Rodriguez) and a new love interest (Imogen Poots) providing a top-grade car, Tobey will try to settle the score on the road by breaking parole (and dozens of traffic laws) to earn a spot in a super-secret race on the West Coast held annually by a reclusive millionaire (Michael Keaton). To get there, however, he and Julia (Poots) will have to survive the trip across country after his rival posts a bounty to make sure Tobey never makes it to the starting line.

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Nova #14

/ / Comics

Nova #14The Nova and Beta Ray Bill team-up continues as the pair save a spaceship while making their way to Knowhere where the slavers Bill has been hunting, and Nova was tricked into helping, are holed-up. Forced to separate (and bring the team-up to a premature end), Nova discovers a new ally in the former head of security of Knowhere and forgotten Guardian of the Galaxy – Cosmo!

I’m glad to see someone remember Cosmo actually exists (unlike the telepathic canine’s former partners), but I’m a little confused as to when the Guardians of the Galaxy’s secret base inside the head of a Celestial became Mos Eisley? Also, despite his unimpressive visage, Cosmo is actually not the easiest foe to defeat so I’m hoping next issue explains how he lost control of the secret station to a group that had to trick a Nova into fixing their ship’s engine.

Despite these issues, Nova #14 is a lot of fun and I’ll take any excuse to get Cosmo back into comics (even if I’d rather be seeing him in Guardians of the Galaxy). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Mind Games – Pet Rock

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Mind Games – Pet Rock
  • IMDB: link

Mind Games - Pet Rock

Ross (Christian Slater) and Clark (Steve Zahn) are hired by the concerned parents of a confused young girl (Emma Dumont) who has fallen under the sway of a charismatic cult leader (Randall Batinkoff) and who they promise they can deprogram to not only leave the cult but to want to leave the cult. When the first attempt fails as Clark underestimates their opponent who sees Megan (Megalyn Echikunwoke) coming from a mile away, the pair have to get more inventive. Ross also has to manage Clark who decides midway through the process he doesn’t want to simply hypnotize their mark into following what her parents want (making them no better than the cult leader) but make her strong enough to trust her own decisions.

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Morning Glories #37

/ / Comics

Morning Glories #37The latest issue of Morning Glories centers around yet another of the Truants as it follows the roaming astral body of the comatose Akiko who, while talking to her comatose body, roams various moments of her past, current unfolding events around the school (and possible future?) including meeting Danielle Clarkson, her days growing up and learning in Abraham’s Camp, a ballet recital for the older Jade, and making it down to the basement to comfort the blinded Fortunato.

Given that all we see in this issue occurs during a dream state, albeit a far looser one than some that we have witnessed in the past, its unclear how much is true and how much (such as the visions the young woman sees when performing in front of an older version of Jade she seems to know but can’t possibly have met yet) is actually true and how much is simply the dream. As to the lessons learned from Akiko’s experiences, even if her dreams are more clear, the meaning behind much of what we see continues to be suggested but largely shrouded in mystery (as fans have come to expect).

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Morning Glories #37 Read More »