1.5 Razors

Gangster Squad

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Gangster Squad
  • IMDB: link

gangster-squad-posterGangster Squad is an average straight-to-DVD action flick that happens to be set in the 1950’s and boast a cast of actors all of whom are slumming here. Adapted from Paul Lieberman’s book, the film centers around real events in Los Angeles when a select group of cops worked to take down gangster Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) by any means necessary. And by “adapted” I mean any relation to the events covered in Lieberman’s book (such as who survives and how Cohen was eventually taken down) to screenwriter Will Beall‘s script are likely accidental.

I can only guess director Ruben Fleischer lured the likes of Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Nick Nolte, and Robert Patrick to the project with the proposal of making something akin to The Untouchables (which this film desperately wants to be compared to). With poorly cast actors, dreadful dialogue, costumes and sets that feel more like costumes and sets than period locations and attire, Gangster Squad couldn’t be further from Brian De Palma‘s terrific film. It’s actually closer to something as completely forgettable as Takers.

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Teen Titans #15

/ / Comics

teen-titans-new-52-15-coverLike pretty much every other issue of Death of the Family, Teen Titans #15 is a mess that makes less sense the more you read it. Once again we get the Joker capturing a member of the Bat Family (this time Red Robin) and torturing him by saying (but once again failing to offer a single piece of evidence) that he knows the identities of every member of the Bat brood.

For no reason that makes any sense, the Joker dresses Red Robin in his classic Robin costume before talking at him non-stop for the rest of the issue. Meanwhile, the rest of the Teen Titans reach out to Batgirl for help now that they are lost in Gotham without their leader.

Although Batgirl proves less than helpful (as she tells them, as nicely as possible, to fuck off and deal with their own issues), the team does run into Arsenal and Starfire, seeking out their own member of the Bat Family, as the issue catches up with the final page of Red Hood and the Outlaws #15. I’m so ready for this crossover to end. Hit and Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

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Justice League #15

/ / Comics

justice-league-new-52-15-coverBecause no one, anywhere, was demanding it, DC begins its Aquaman-centric crossover “Thrones of Atlantis” beginning here with the accidental attack on Atlantis by a U.S. air craft carrier (don’t you hate it when that happens?).

On other fronts, Superman and Wonder Woman are still dating and the Man of Steel takes the opportunity to explain his ingenious disguise as Clark Kent, Hal Jordan is still missing (and it seems no one is looking for him anymore), and the back-up story of the New 52‘s douchebag version of Captain Marvel continues as Billy selfishly turns on Freddy Freeman and is confronted with Black Adam for the first time.

Unless you’re a huge Aquaman fan anxiously anticipating this new event (i.e. your name is Geoff Johns) there’s almost nothing here for you. No Flash. No Green Lantern. Batman saved by Aquaman. The art’s not bad, and we get a little more of Superman and Wonder Woman together on a date, but that’s about it. Pass.

[DC, $3.99]

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Tarantino Unchained

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Django Unchained
  • IMDB: link

django-unchained-posterWith Inglourious Basterds writer/director Quentin Tarantino strode a fine line between between drama and revenge fantasy in his depiction of a select group of Jewish soldiers taking on the Nazis during WWII.

With his latest, Tarantino returns to the well of his revenge fantasy, the theme he’s been stuck on for nearly an entire decade (since 2003’s Kill Bill Vol. 1), to push the envelope even farther with a blaxploitation western that leaves good taste in the dust. If there’s ever a film that so thoroughly argues for a director to be shackled to studio pressure it’s the inarguable trainwreck that is Django Unchained.

Jamie Foxx stars as Django, a slave freed by a bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) in need of his help to hunt down and kill the Speck brothers (James Remar, James Russo). After Django shows promise, Shultz (Waltz) agrees to train the newly freed slave in the art of bounty hunting and help retrieve Django’s wife (Kerry Washington) from a ruthless plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio).

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Batman and Robin #15

/ / Comics

batman-and-robin-new-52-15-coverI cannot express how ready I am for Death of the Family to be over. Seriously, I’m done. The Joker‘s reintroduction to the New 52 has been a gritty, dirty, and awful B-movie horror flick version of Batman I never wanted to see. The latest issue of Batman and Robin features a Death of the Family tie-in as Damian is captured by the Joker.

In much the same tone as nearly every other issue of this crossover, we’re given a bleak story of a captured Damian matching wits with the face-removing Joker who gets to know the newest Robin far better. The comic ends with a reveal that I’m guessing will be explained in one of the other comics (as it certainly isn’t here) before returning to the story next month.

I like Damian, and I certainly like how he stands up for himself against the psychopath, but there’s nothing of note, and certain nothing enjoyable delivered here that makes this one worth picking up. Sadly, this seems to be an all to familiar trend with the Bat-books recently. Pass.

[DC, $2.99]

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