Paul
- Title: Paul
- IMDb: link
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost reunited? And this time the pair are directed by Adventureland‘s Greg Mottola? Sounds promising, doesn’t it? Almost too good to be true? Guess what? It is.
…
3 Razors
The Music Never Stopped
- Title: The Music Never Stopped
- IMDB: link
What is it about music? It can inspire, deeply move and remind us of times long since past. It’s that final piece which is the heart of The Music Never Stopped. We tie memories to sights, smells, and sounds. A familiar song can produce a rush of forgotten emotion tied to a specific moment from our past.
J.K. Simmons and Cara Seymour star as parents who haven’t heard from their son in nearly twenty years. One day the phone rings and they find Gabriel (Lou Taylor Pucci) in the hospital struggling with the effects of a brain tumor which has left his mind fractured. The memories Gabriel retains are limited and inaccessable, and his illness has created an inability for him to form new permanent memories.
After doing some research Henry (Simmons) enlists the help of a therapist (Julia Ormond) and together they begin to reach Gabriel through the music of his era – the same music which created the rift between father and son years before. When a song he recognizes plays his memory returns, albeit briefly.
…
The Music Never Stopped Read More »
New Avengers #10
- Title: New Avengers #10
- Comic Vine: link
- Writer:Brian Michael Bendis
- Artist: Daniel Acuña
There are two stories going on here. The first is the current squad of New Avengers fighting Superia and her squad of former H.A.M.M.E.R. troops. One Avenger is already down and the team has their hands full with villains they were just joking about last issue.
The second takes place years before and follows Nick Fury on his mission to recruit the very first team of Avengers consisting of Silver Sable, Sabertooh, Kraven, Namora, Ulysses Bloodstone, Dominic Fortune, and Dum Dum Doogan. Aside from historical clusterfuck this presents with this team being the Avengers before the Avengers (and thus tying the Star Trek franchise for the worst idea of another Enterprise being the best ship in Starfleet decades before the original Star Trek), it’s a pretty good tale. Oh, and did I mention I hate that they’re called the Avengers?
Even if I do have issues with the flashback storyline it’s by far the more intriguing of the two. (Sorry if I can’t get choked up on the apparently imminent death of a C-List West Avengers character Marvel kills and brings back whenever it fits their whimsy.)
…
Usagi Yojimbo #135
- Title: Usagi Yojimbo #135
- Comic Vine: link
- Writer: Stan Sakai
- Artist: Stan Sakai
Usagi Yojimbo‘s travels take him on a trek through secret mountain trails and another encounter with the deadly Lord of Owls.
The mysterious villain kills two groups of warriors, the first in a flashback told to Usagi by his mountain guide, and the second before Usagi’s eyes as the mysterious creature mercilessly strikes down a band of outlaws disguised as monks.
As a single issue tale this one doesn’t do much to stand-out, but from the verbal fencing between Usagi and the Lord of Owls you get the feeling writer Stan Sakai is laying the groundwork for an important future tale. On its own it’s good story, but I wanted a little more. I also felt the art was slightly below Sakai’s usual level of quality. Then again, I’ve been reading through a glut of very strong classic Usagi stories recently, so it’s possible I’m judging this one too harshly by comparison.
Fans of the character will no doubt want to pick this one up, but for casual readers this issue delivers more on promise than execution.
[Dark Horse, $3.50]
Usagi Yojimbo #135 Read More »
Secret Avengers #10
- Title: Secret Avengers #10
- Comic Vine: link
- Writer: Ed Brubaker
- Artists: Mike Deodato, Jr., Will Conrad
“Eyes of the Dragon” concludes as the team races to save Shang-Chi before Fu Manchu can kill his son, complete his ritual, and return to the land of the living.
This one’s full of action as the team attacks the Shadow Council’s base and John Steele learns his invulnerability doesn’t apply to weapons forged by the gods.
I was impressed how the Secret Avengers felt like a real team (with snide comments and all) this time around. Whatever the cause, the team clicked better here (at least for me) than in most of the earlier issues.
I’ve felt this comic has been shaky ever since it’s first issue, but there are moments here when it really feels like things are beginning to come together. Of the current major Avengers titles it’s been the most hit-and-miss so far. We’ll have to see if the things continue to improve, but this one is worth a look.
[Marvel $3.99]
Secret Avengers #10 Read More »