3.5 Razors

Arrow – Unfinished Business

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Arrow – Unfinished Business
  • tv.com: link

Arrow - Unfinished Business

When a young woman dies on the street after leaving their club where the police believe she scored the Vertigo which led to her demise, Oliver (Stephen Amell) pays The Count (Seth Gabel) a visit in the loony bin hoping to discover who has taken up production of the drug. However, neither he nor Detective Lance (Paul Blackthorne), who makes his own trip to the mad house, get any answers out of the crazed former drug lord. Once the villain escapes the mental institution both men are forced to reassess their opinion of just how crazy The Count truly has become and what his end game might be.

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Morning Glories #25

/ / Comics

Morning Glories #25Billed as the “Season Finale,” the double-sized Morning Glories #25 fills in several missing scenes, while revisiting others, from the first two dozen issues of the comic’s run. There are no big revelations (except this one), but we do get some clarity on a handful of the characters’ motivations (particularly those of Abraham and Irina).

Hisao (who is really Jun) dies in his brother’s arms, Abraham is forced to reveal more than he’d like to Ike who is holding the current version of Jade hostage, and Irina’s true mission is revealed to the rest of her group when Guillame reveals that Irina isn’t hear to save Abraham but to kill his son (which, according to how she reads the situation, is the only way to save them all).

Hunter is saved by an older version of Jade who gets him to uses his mysterious ability to try and set the events, which are currently spiraling out of control, back on their natural path. However, it’s the one character (Casey) whose story isn’t touched on here who we learn is the key to everything. Worth a look.

[Image, $3.99]

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The Flash #18

/ / Comics

The Flash #18Things are going pretty well for Barry Allen. He’s in a committed relationship with a woman who knows his secret, the Flash is back in the good graces of Central City, and he’s working to get his old job as a police scientist back. However, there are still issues for the Scarlet Speedster to solve including helping repair the damage of the the ape attack, looking into who might be framing the Trickster for murder, and watching out for a pair of would-be super-heroes enhanced by their time trapped in the Speed Force.

Brian Buccellato takes over the sole writing duties for this issue and Marcio Takara steps in to do the artwork for a missing Francis Manapul giving the comic a sleeker look. The art is good, but the layered panels that flow into each other, which the comic is known for, don’t quite have the same zip.

Even with Manapul’s abscence the comic works pretty well, although I’m less sure of the storyline that unfolds concerning the Outlander Nation or Barry Allen inexplicably suddenly loosing his powers (I’m also less than pleased I have to read the next issue of Dial H to apparently find out the cause). Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Hidden Gem – Playing by Heart

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Playing by Heart
  • IMDb: link

“Talking about love is like dancing about architecture.”

Playing by Heart

Released in 1998, Playing by Heart follows the formula of several romantic dramedies (Love Actually being the best) which feature interlocking stories of couples in various states of their respective relationships. Written and directed by Willard Carroll, the film is notable for it’s impressive ensemble cast as well as a pair of the six stories which slowly come together during the film’s final act.

My favorite of the group features Angelina Jolie, as the beautiful but high-maintenance Joan, and Ryan Phillippe as the aloof young man with a dark secret who seems immune to her obvious charms. Also worthy of note are Sean Connery and Gena Rowlands as an elderly couple dealing with both the looming specter a life-threatening medical condition and a long-simmering old argument as the pair prepare to renew their vows on their 40th wedding anniversary.

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House of Lies – Hostile Takeover

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: House of Lies – Hostile Takeover
  • tv.com: link

House of Lies - Hostile Takeover

With his eyes set firmly on getting the financing to leave Galweather Stern and open his own shop, Tamara (Nia Long) convinces Marty (Don Cheadle) to stick things out and finalize the Carlson (Mather Zickel) deal before he jumps ship. However, when Carlson’s attempt to settle their differences means driving out into the middle of the desert to watch the crazy man blow up watermelons with Ernest Hemingway’s rifle, he begins to have second thoughts.

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