3 Razors

Austenland may be a fun place to visit, but…

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Austenland
  • IMDb: link

Austenland

Based on the novel of the same name by Shannon Hale, writer and first-time director Jerusha Hess (co-writer of both Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre) delivers a quirky, over-the-top, odd film that is more charming than it has any right to be. Showcasing how one may take fandom too far, Keri Russell stars as Jane Hayes, a middle-aged single woman with a lifelong obsession for the works of Jane Austen and a romantic life that has never lived up to her fantasies. Spending her entire savings, Jane books a vacation at an Austen-themed destination getaway where she might finally live out those fantasies as a woman from Austen’s era.

In the spirit of a Christopher Guest film that simultaneously celebrates and pokes fun at a particular niche, Austenland‘s premise could turned around any number of overzealous fans and the properties they embrace so religiously. However, anyone who has ever known a woman obsessed with Austen’s books may take a somewhat perverse glee in Jane’s realization that her time-period-appropriate assigned role isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.

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Austenland may be a fun place to visit, but…Read More »

Austenland may be a fun place to visit, but… Read More »

Two-Face #1

/ / Comics

Two-Face #1Another Forever Evil .1 tie-in issue offers us a look at Two-Face accepting the role of Gotham’s protector (and dispenser of his own brutal form of justice) all at the flip of a coin. True to the character, Batman and Robin #23.1 certainly doesn’t skimp on the bloodshed as the villain becomes judge, jury, and executioner for all who get in his way.

Although the comic gets the character right, there is obviously something missing (besides anything resembling fun). The absence of Batman (or really any member of the Bat-Family) to oppose him, really hurts Two-Face as a character who only flourishes when he has a rival to go up against. The choice to make some of the lesser villains angry at his vigilante rampage to try and force that kind of conflict doesn’t really work.

By the end of the episode the luck of Gotham City (which is far less covered in vegetation that the Poison Ivy comic would suggest) has finally run out as the flip of the coin leads Two-Face back to his more destructive ways. For fans.

[DC, $2.99]

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Daredevil: Dark Nights #4

/ / Comics

Daredevil: Dark Nights #4Somedays it just doesn’t pay to be a super-hero. Writer/artist David Lapham takes over with a new story involving Daredevil chasing down the 10-inch nuisance known as Buggit who just stole crucial evidence from a case involving Matt Murdock’s latest client. Most of the comic features Daredevil becoming increasingly frustrated with being unable to apprehend the little S.O.B. who, while leading him through a wild goose chase all over New York, continues to put our hero in harms way including dropping him right into the path to the Shocker.

Although I didn’t stick around to see how Lee Weeks‘ first arc of the anthology ended, a new writer/artist and the appearance of the Shocker on the cover (who sadly only appears on a couple of pages) made me pick this one up. Doing double duty, Lapham captures the spirit of the character (and the ridiculous situation he finds himself in) while providing several great panels of Daredevil in action.

After a mostly fun lighthearted affair I was a little sad to see the comic take such a dark turn on the final page. Although I’d recommend this issue, I’m not sure I like where the story is headed. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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The Newsroom – Election Night, Part I

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: The Newsroom – Election Night, Part I
  • tv.com: link

The Newsroom - Election Night, Part I

With Jerry Dantana (Hamish Linklater) officially filing suit against ACN for his termination the next morning, and Leona Lansing (Jane Fonda) adamantly refusing to accept anyone’s resignations or cut a deal with her former employee, News Night turns its attention to covering the 2012 elections in the first-half of the Second Season finale of The Newsroom. Although the elections, and the impending lawsuit, dominate the episode there’s plenty of room for behind the scenes insanity as Charlie‘s (Sam Waterston) no-mistake tirade version of a pep-talk leads to, you guessed it, an on air mistake and two of the show’s female leads become obsessed with mostly insignificant matters far outside their control.

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Superman – Livewire

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Superman: The Animated Series – Livewire
  • wiki: link

Superman - Livewire

With a new Superman in now in theaters every now and then I’ll continue to take a look back at the hero’s more memorable moments on both the big and small screen. Superman: The Animated Series put their own spin on several new and classic comic book villains but of all the baddies made specifically for the show Livewire (Lori Petty) stands out above the rest. Although her introductory episode may not be one of the show’s best, Livewire turned out to be another fun character to add the animated rogues gallery of our hero.

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