2.5 Razors

The Librarians – And the Horns of a Dilemma

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: The Librarians – And the Horns of a Dilemma
  • IMDb: link

The Librarians - And the Horns of a Dilemma

The series’ first episode without Flynn Carson (Noah Wyle) struggles a bit as the Librarians-in-Training go after an evil corporation which has recreated the maze of the Minotaur under its offices. Wyle’s abscence leaves the show without a central character to focus the adventure around as Eve (Rebecca Romijn) has her hands full in just keeping her charges alive and the distrust between Jake (Christian Kane) and Cassandra (Lindy Booth) continues to fester.

…

The Librarians – And the Horns of a DilemmaRead More »

The Librarians – And the Horns of a Dilemma Read More »

Exodus: Gods and Kings

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Exodus: Gods and Kings
  • IMDb: link

Exodus: Gods and KingsThe tale of Moses is hardly new ground for Hollywood. Director Ridley Scott‘s version of the story is a mishmash of disaster porn and drama casting a mostly pale-white cast in the role of Egyptians and their Jewish slaves which, when not not off-putting, is occasionally unintentionally hilarious such as Sigourney Weaver and Joel Edgerton (reminding me of crazy Marlon Brando from The Island of Dr. Moreau) as Egyptian royalty.

Exodus: Gods and Kings isn’t a bad film per se. It’s competently handled and I actually think it’s more successful than last year’s similar biblical big-screen epic Noah, but it fails to add anything new to the story to justify it’s $140,000,00 cost. The effects are effective but not memorable. And the addition of 3D adds a dimension but is far from enveloping.

The film’s most bizarre choice, which may create a backlash within its desired audience, is the decision to cast God in the role of a petulant and impatient child (Isaac Andrews) who forces Moses onto a path and then throws a tantrum when his prophet fails to move quickly enough.

…

Exodus: Gods and KingsRead More »

Exodus: Gods and Kings Read More »

Supergirl #36

/ / Comics

Supergirl #36Supergirl goes to Sky High? New writers K. Perkins and Mike Johnson start Kara’s latest adventure with another attempt to live among humans by attempting once again to carve out a normal life. Of course that soon goes to hell when Supergirl is abducted by an exclusive school for super-beings and put through a series of test to determine whether or not she is worthy to join.

The first offering from the new team is a mixed bag. Although I enjoyed the art by Emanuela Lupacchino, choosing to put Kara in armor defeats the purpose of the character and, as I’ve said with the New 52 Superman, is akin to putting Chewbacca in a fur coat. It’s not only completely unnecessary but it looks ridiculous.

Both her short stint as a super-barrista, including another argument with Clark (when will these two be NICE to each other?), and her testing in space continue the trend of an angry young girl whose rage (sadly) may not have burnt out during her stint as a Red Lantern (its only saving grace). I’m far from sold on the book’s new-ish direction which lacks the wit, humor, and style of the new Batgirl. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

Supergirl #36 Read More »

Guardians 3000 #2

/ / Comics

Guardians 3000 #2Only two issues in the latest series featuring the original team of the Guardians of the Galaxy begins to stall. Although Guardians 3000 #2 ends on an interesting note involving a Tony Stark reference, the events of the latest issue don’t do much to push forward the near-identical (but now less interesting) series of events from the first issue. Plus we don’t get any dimensional swapping meaning we’re left with a version of the Guardians with a female Starhawk and no Aleta that just feels wrong.

Featuring plenty of action, the second issue suffers from the same roid rage muscle art from Gerardo Sandoval that hurt last month’s issue. And when he attempts to tone down that style characters often look oddly stretched as if they are standing in front of a fun house mirror. I gave the art in the first issue a pass because I was so happy to have the Guardians back, but with this issue no missing three of its core members (the real Starhaw, Aleta, and Nikki) while dragging its feet while developing its reality-bending plot it feels less and less like the team I know and love. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel, $3.99]

Guardians 3000 #2 Read More »

Mockingjay Part 1

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
  • IMDb: link

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1After two films of murder games by children building up to a rebellion stoked by class warfare the latest entry into The Hunger Games franchise offers only more build-up. Deciding to break the final book of the series into two parts, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 is nearly all set-up with no payoff in sight for at least a full year until next Fall (if ever).

Set an indeterminate period of time following the events of the last film, Jennifer Lawrence returns as reluctant hero Katniss Everdeen rescued at the end of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and recruited by the survivors of District 13 (the most well-funded and fully stocked secret underground rebellion in the history of cinema) to be the face of their revolution against President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and the Capitol.

Mockingjay does offer something new as it delves into rebellion, propaganda, and the physical and emotional toll of Snow’s policies towards those who defy him. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth, and Elizabeth Banks return as Katniss’ support system and Julianne Moore steps in as the leader of the rebellion with access to enough hair products to never have a single strand out of place.

…

Mockingjay Part 1Read More »

Mockingjay Part 1 Read More »