3 Razors

newuniversal: shockfront

/ / Comics

“I’m seeing stuff, and…yeah, it makes no snse, but I taste what I’m seeing, and sometimes feel it or smell it.”

Warren Ellis’ reinterpretation of Marvel’s New Universe was one of more memorable projects from the House of Ideas last year.  Now Ellis returns with “season two,” a new six-issue mini-series entitled newuniversal: shockfront which picks up the further adventures of Earth’s new super-powered heroes and those who want them dead.

For those who haven’t read the first mini-series, available in trade paperback and hardcover (read the review), I’d suggest giving it a peruse before jumping into Season Two.

…

newuniversal: shockfrontRead More »

newuniversal: shockfront Read More »

Better Days

/ / Comics

“Why do I open my mouth?”
“Sir, we’re none of us sure.”

The story begins, as is often the case with this crew, with a heist which doesn’t go exactly according to plan.  The team captures a new prototype attack droid (by the skin of their teeth) only to find their contact unable to pay for the merchandise.  However, he knows where the crew can get their hands on some buried cash.  Of course this sounds like another wild goose chase, but without other options the crew agrees – only to get their biggest surprise yet.

This new three-issue mini-series, written by Joss Whedon and Brett Matthews, takes place after the events of Serenity: Those Left Behind and before the events of the film Serenity.  With Whedon on board the characters actions and words ring true, even when the looks sometimes does not.

The art by Will Conrad is a bit spotty for me as he captures some of the characters well (Jayne, Zoe, Inara) but seems to completely miss on others (Shepherd Book, Wash).  Still, I like the look and feel of the action on the page, even if the characters themselves aren’t always quite up to snuff.

…

Better DaysRead More »

Better Days Read More »

National Treasure 2 on DVD

/ / Home Video
  • Title: National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
  • IMDB: link

“Gates, people don’t believe that stuff anymore.”
“They want to believe it.”

The arrival of a mysterious man (Ed Harris) with proof that their ancestor Thomas Gates (Joel Gretsch) was a member of the group which assassinated President Lincoln leads Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage), Patrick Gates (Jon Voigt), Abigail Chase (Diane Krueger), and Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) on the chase to prove the existence of another treasure and clear Thomas Gates’ name.

Although not as good as the first film (read that review), there’s still quite a bit of fun to be had in this sequel which involves trips to Paris, London, Mount Vernon, and secrets buried deep inside of Mount Rushmore.  Like the first film this one includes plots and conspiracies, rival treasure hunters, and clues and secrets which must be found and deciphered.  Plus we get the gang once again breaking into places they shouldn’t including the Oval Office, Buckingham Palace, and even kidnapping the President of the United States (Bruce Greenwood) to ask him about a President’s Book of Secrets which just might hold the answer’s Gates is searching for.

…

National Treasure 2 on DVDRead More »

National Treasure 2 on DVD Read More »

The Forbidden Kingdom

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Forbidden Kingdom
  • IMDb: link

“I’ll kill you witch!”
“Not if I kill you first orphan bitch!”

forbidden-kingdom-poster

Based on one of the four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, Journey to the West, this new adaptation tells the story of a Jason (Michael Angarano) a young boy from Boston who finds himself thrust into a magical world and charged with returning the golden staff to the Monkey King (Jet Li) thus freeing him from his stone prison and freeing the land from the tyranny of the man who turned him into a statue, the Jade Warlord (Collin Chou).

Along the way to seek the wizard, um, I mean Warlord, Jason encounters companions who journey with him to help him on his quest including a drunken master (Jackie Chan), a beautiful girl hell-bent on revenge (Yifei Liu), and a monk (Jet Li). Together this small band of rebels travels through forests and deserts across the yellow brick road to reach the fortress, take on the Jade Army, led by the Warlord’s assassin (Li Bing Bing), and defeat Cobra Kai, um, I mean release the Monkey King.

…

The Forbidden KingdomRead More »

The Forbidden Kingdom Read More »

Leatherheads

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

“The game of professional football has come of age.”

The year was 1925 and professional football was a joke and losing money fast.  Out of money and options Dodge Connelly (George Clooney), the owner, captain, and marketer of the Duluth Bulldogs, comes up with a plan to save the sport by offering college stand-out and war hero Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski) a spot on the team.

The film has both big jokes and a sly wit.  Dodge, it turns out, is the game’s best promoter, and does what it takes to make his meal-ticket into a star even at the cost of his own glory.  Although the film takes pleasure in Dodge’s loosing influence over the team and the sport, if you watch closely you will also notice Dodge slowly helping out and making sure it’s Carter’s play which gets celebrated.

…

LeatherheadsRead More »

Leatherheads Read More »