2.5 Razors

Winter Soldier #16

/ / Comics

Winter Soldier #16After saving the life of rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Joe Robards, the Winter Soldier and his new friend search for leads by heading to an isolated island in the middle of nowhere where the former head of the Red Room has set up a school for young assassins known as The Orphanage.

Although the story is pretty straightforward the reason behind the team-up of Robards and Bucky is less so (even if Bucky keeps the fact that he murdered the man’s handler years ago to himself), as is their final objective. A short conversation between Maria Hill and the retired, but very much still active, Nick Fury suggests the “Electric Ghost” at the end of Bucky’s journey will be another ghost from his past.

The island of misfit assassins is more goofy than frightening and the objectives of Bucky’s new mission are murky at best. Two issues in new writer Jason LaTour has done little to help sell me on the comic’s new direction. It’s not a bad issue, but there’s not much offered here to make me pick up next month’s comic. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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Community – Alternative History of the German Invasion

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Community – Alternative History of the German Invasion
  • tv.com: link

“Here at Greendale that is a big fat no-no. We frown on anyone celebrating their own cultural heritage.”

Community - Alternative History of the German Invasion

After missing their chance to register for The History of Ice Cream the Study Group begins their European History class with the annoying Foosball-obsessed Germans (Chris Diamantopoulos, Alex Schemmer, Alex Klein) and taught by Greendale ‘s newest professor (Malcolm McDowell) who was fired from Cambridge after a “little slip-up with a coed,” and who challenges the class to examine history from the view of the vanquished as well as that of the victors. Although Abed (Danny Pudi) makes a friend when he realizes they’re both members of the same MMO guild, tensions rise when the Germans claim a piece of the study room for themselves and refuse to leave.

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Fables #126

/ / Comics

Fables #126Although Bigby and Stinky‘s road trip to find the missing cubs continues, the majority of the latest issue of Fables centers on Snow White dealing with the completely unexpected return of Prince Brandish who takes over the castle and plans to kill Bigby, murder Bigby and Snow White’s children, and then finally make Snow his wife (as he believes is his right under the law).

This isn’t a great issue for the women of Fables. Although she finally shows a single moment of spunk, Snow White is basically nothing more here than your basic damsel in distress for the entire issue. And Brandish makes short work of Briar Rose whose attempts to stick up for her friend gets her bitch-slapped into unconsciousness by the chauvinist pig.

Fables #126 also includes a story centering around Beast, the Blue Fairy, and Geppeto that I found a little hard to follow. It obviously involves a contract between the Blue Fairy and Geppetto, but what the Beast’s role is (not to mention the complete absence of Beauty) was a little hard to follow. Hit-and-Miss.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

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Community – History 101

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Community – History 101
  • tv.com: link

Community - History 101

The Study Group returns from Summer vacation (without show creator Dan Harmon) to begin their fourth year of community college only to find themselves forced to compete in Dean Pelton’s (Jim Rash) Hunger Games-themed competition to earn spots in the only History class offered this semester – The History of Ice Cream.

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Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
  • IMDB: link

“Whatever you do, don’t eat the fucking candy.”

hansel-and-gretel-witch-hunters-posterHansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters offers audiences the further adventures of Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton), the young brother and sister first introduced by the Brothers Grimm 200 years ago. After a brief retelling of the classic fairy tale (with one or two important tweaks) in which the young children fight off and kill a powerful witch living in a candy house in the woods, we catch up years later with our hero and heroine after they have become the world’s most famous witch hunters.

The plot by Tommy Wirkola (who also directs) and Dante Harper isn’t all that imaginative as Hansel and Gretel are pitted against a grand witch (Famke Janssen) with plans to use the rare event of a Blood Moon to make her coven invincible. What makes the film work, often in spite of itself, is its sense of humor and constant awareness of what it is. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is dumb fun embracing the ridiculous with witches more than a little reminiscent of Deadites and a pair of likable heroes that get knocked around repeatedly over the course of the film. It’s a film about life and death that never takes either all that seriously.

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Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters Read More »