3 Razors

Homefront

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Homefront
  • IMDB: link

HomefrontAdapted from Chuck Logan‘s novel of the same name by Sylvester Stallone, Homefront stars Jason Statham as former DEA Agent Phil Broker who moves with his young daughter (Izabela Vidovic) to a small town in the Louisiana Bayou after Broker’s last undercover assignment leaves both the former agent and young Maddy with prices on their heads by a biker gang out for blood.

Better written than many of Statham’s films, Homefront casts Kate Bosworth and Marcus Hester as a quarrelsome couple whose son gets into an altercation at school. Not letting the matter rest the mother enlists the help of her villainous brother (James Franco) which leads to all kinds of hell eventually erupting around the sleepy small town. Playing on basic themes of revenge and an unbeatable but reluctant hero unwilling to be pushed too far, the film works as a very well-trod B-movie action-thriller.

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Maleficent

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Maleficent
  • IMDB: link

MaleficentOffering a new live-action take on Sleeping Beauty from the perspective of the original tale’s villain, Maleficent proves to be a passable flick that works better than either of the recent disappointments, Mirror Mirror or Snow White and the Huntsman, both of which failed while attempting a similar approach to the retelling of Snow White.

Not without its own issues, most of which can be traced back to film’s lethargic opening act explaining Maleficent’s (Angelina Jolie) past and the series of events which led to her inevitable heel turn, Maleficent works largely due to the performances of Jolie and Elle Fanning (as the girl who would become known as Sleeping Beauty) and the film’s impressive style and design. Jolie is perfect for the role, relishing every moment on-screen, although the movie doesn’t really start moving until after Stefan’s (Sharlto Copley) betrayal which leaves the most powerful member of the fairies hell-bent on revenge on the man who stole far more than her heart and ultimately choose power over love.

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Justice League United #1

/ / Comics

Justice League United #1Not as strong as the new series’ opening zero issue, Justice League United #1 features the newly constituted Justice League Canadian team taking on a giant monster who is more than a match for Green Arrow, Animal Man, Stargirl, and the Martian Manhunter. While offering the same humor of last month’s issue, and wasting no time to get Adam Strange into a New 52 version of his trademark costume, things get a little bloodier this time around (particularly in the B-story involving Hawkman‘s battle with pseudo-Lobo in space).

While I still think this group of heroes can work, I’m having some doubts about the initial set-up here as it looks like it’s going to take at least a couple more issues to bring the full team together and make sense of things. A more straightforward first story, more centered on establishing the dynamics of the group and how the team works together would probably have worked better rather than throwing us into a pair of separate stories light years apart which are likely only to get more complicated as the Canadian group is transported to Rann. For fans.

[DC, $3.99]

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Re-Released on Home Video: Rock Star

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Rock Star
  • IMDB: link

Rock StarBased loosely on the real life of Tim “Ripper” Owens, a Judas Priest tribute band member who was chosen to replace the real band’s lead singer, 2001’s Rock Star centers around a similar journey for Chris Cole (Mark Wahlberg). Shortly after being kicked off the tribute band he started, the Steel Dragon obsessed singer gets a chance to live his dream by replacing the Dragons’s lead singer (Jason Flemyng).

The script is hardly original as the dream life of sex, drugs, and rock and roll eventually destroys Cole’s relationship with his girlfriend (Jennifer Aniston) and makes the singer stop to reexamine what is truly important in his life. That said, the Steel Dragon world, complete wit over-the-top antics and odd characters such as the tour’s road manager (Timothy Spall) and a public relations manager (Dagmara Dominczyk) packing more than just a love of the music, provides some entertaining moments.

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The Shadow #24

/ / Comics

The Shadow #24The series’ two-issue finale begins here with a string of unexplained deaths in Chinatown and the coordinated rise of the recent undead by an unknown force planning on taking control of New York City. The unexpected horror-element is a surprise as The Shadow dismisses reports of the walking dead only to be attacked by a mob of zombies.

Although The Shadow learns why some in Chinatown believe the dead are rising from the grave, I’m betting the answer is far more nefarious and complicated than simple ceremonial burial practices. Given all that the unusual adventure has to reveal in a single issue, however, I wonder if we’ll be given the full story or if part will be left untold.

With Howard Chaykin on deck to write and illustrate a six-issue mini-series taking place in the late 50s following up the conclusion of this ongoing title, it’s a little unclear where the character goes from here, but I’d be surprised if Dynamite didn’t have future plans for the vigilante who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. Worth a look.

[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]

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