Alan Rapp

Cat Run

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Cat Run
  • IMDB: link

cat-run-dvdWith Cat Run director John Stockwell and screenwriters Nick Ball and John Niven deliver a derivative action flick that wants so hard to be cool it’s almost embarrassing. Mixing a healthy dose of nudity with brutal stylized violence (including torture scenes with a cigar cutter and dental drill), a plot that doesn’t make all that much sense, and intentionally bizarre characters (such as D.L. Hughley as a one-armed, no legged, office worker) Cat Run is one mess of a film.

Our story takes place in Eastern Europe where genius introvert (Scott Mechlowicz) turned failed chef and his childhood best friend (Alphonso McAuley) decide (for no apparent reason) to start a low rent detective agency above a porno theater in Montenegro. Their first client is a prostitute named Cat (Paz Vega) who stole their car and phone and is the sole remaining witness to a series of brutal murders. Well, client is a rather strong word as no one actually hired these likable but ridiculous pair to find anyone.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #12

/ / Comics

tmnt-12-coverThe Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, with the help of the Purple Dragons, finally arrive to save Splinter and take on The Shredder and his army of “stupid evil ninjas.” Issue #12 has plenty of action including the end of Splinter’s fight with The Shredder and a four-way takedown of the leader of the Foot Clan by the heroes in a half-shell.

The turtles not only manage to bust the heads of several Foot Ninja, Karai, their mutant soldier Alopex, and put a beatdown on The Shredder, but, more importantly, they get what they came for and are able to save Splinter from being killed by Oroku Saki a second time.

The issue ends with the foreshadowing of a possible Angel/Casey/April love triangle and April finally officially meeting Splinter and being able to finally thank him for saving his life. We also get the rather inglorious end to Old Hob and the news General Krang is prepared to go ahead with the ominous sounding “Plan B.” Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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The Newsroom – Bullies

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: The Newsroom – Bullies
  • tv.com: link

“I’m going to single-handedly fix the Internet.”
“What could possibly go wrong?”

the-newsroom-bullies

After a couple of on-air snafus Will (Jeff Daniels), who has been battling insomnia for several nights, shows up to a therapy season with a shrink he’s been paying for regular weekly seasons for years (he just hasn’t bothered to show up for the last four). When he finally shows up to his appointment he discovers Abe’s son Jacob (David Krumholtz) has taken over the practice after his father passed away two years ago.

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Winter Soldier #8

/ / Comics

winter-soldier-8-coverWhile Bucky and Jasper search frantically for Leo Novokov, the third Soviet sleeper agent trained by Bucky and now loose in the world, the pair keep coming up empty. And now that Novokov has the Black Widow he can put his plan into action.

And his master plan is to turn Natalia back into… a ballerina? Sorry? I know, I know, Novokov uses Professor Rodchenko and his brainwashing techniques to return the Black Widow to the Soviet assassin she once was, I just think it’s funny (and a little stupid) that the one instance we see of Natalia’s old self is dancing around on stage.

Meanwhile Bucky and Jasper are able to find and trace the helicopter Novokov used to make off with Natalia, but they don’t know that they are far too late because Natalia has now fallen to the dark side and is… dancing. Great idea for a story, but Brubaker’s choice of the final reveal makes the comic read far more humorous than ominous. Still, worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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