2.5 Razors

Fables #127

/ / Comics

Fables #127With Bigby and Stinky still off on their dimensional road trip, Fables #127 continues the bizarre situation involving Prince Brandish‘s return and his kidnapping and sequestering of Snow White who, under Fable law, is his wife. As Snow’s friends are kept at bay by the intricate magical protections which transfer any harm done to him to his wife, Snow tries futilely to escape.

Although Snow White’s predicament isn’t really humorous, the sheer nature of it allows for some offbeat jokes (including Snow White doing potty humor?). By the issue’s end Bigby, being finally made aware of what has been transpiring in his absence, returns home to save Snow White and put things right.

Sadly, once again Snow White is cast as the victim of the piece at the complete mercy of the man who wishes to bend her to his will. Not only does the spell cause Snow to give herself a nasty gash on her cheek, but Brandish goes so far as to break his wife’s arm to teach the woman her place. Yeesh.

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Justice League of America #2

/ / Comics

Justice League of America #2There’s certainly some improvement here over the atrociously bad first issue. As Green Arrow fights for his life in the medical bay the rest of the team comes together to fight the mysterious threat of the Secret Society of Super-Villains even though, as Steve Trevor points out to Amanda Waller, the team has never worked together, has almost no intel on the threat, and will probably get their asses kicked.

Aside from Waller’s irrational expectations, the second issue of the new Justice League of America has a few other problems as well. The opening shot of the Scarecrow‘s recruitment runs far too long while at the same time being unnecessarily obscure. It’s also unclear why, despite his injuries, why Green Arrow isn’t offered a spot on this team (after risking his life for them).

Issue #2 does have some fun moments, my favorite being the sequence involving Vibe and Hawkman meeting for the first time. Although it’s pretty forced, I also liked the idea of setting up a relationship between Trevor and Catwoman. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

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The Croods

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Croods
  • IMDB: link

the-croods-posterIf you follow show business, you’ve probably heard that DreamWorks Animation isn’t doing too hot. Ever since they mercifully let their not-so-jolly green giant retire, they’ve struggled to find any other banner property to prop their studio on. And last year’s Rise of the Guardians was especially disappointing at the box office. To make things worse, Jeffrey Katzenberg’s studio laid off hundreds and had to break off from long-time distributor Paramount Pictures.

All of this culminates with The Croods, which DreamWorks desperately needs to be a hit to avoid slipping further into uncertainty. But The Croods is somewhat of a mixed bag. If the studio was going for a Hail Mary they failed, but it’s still a passable family film that should go down as a safe play.

The Croods is the prehistoric tale of a family of Neanderthals that have survived in a scant desert the only way they know how: by hiding in the dark almost constantly. Eldest child Eep (voiced by Emma Stone) is a teenager trying to escape the protective hold her father (Nicholas Cage! As a stupid caveman!) has held his family under to keep them from being eaten by something.

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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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