4 Razors

Astro City #29

/ / Comics

Astro City #29Known for taking a different perspective on the super-hero concept, the latest issue of Astro City is presented not from the view of a hero, villain, or even civilian of the planet Earth. Instead the entire issue takes place on the planet Zirros, throneworld of the Zirr Empire, from the perspective of a young dreamer named Zozat who grows up hating the alien invaders known as humans.

Although mostly backstory for the story which should unfold in the next issue, Astro City #29 does what writer Kurt Busiek and artist Brent Anderson do best: flip a familiar story on its axis and present it in a new way. The result means delving deep into Zirros and the life of Zozat in particular. I have no doubt that Zozat’s talent as a bonder will play a large role in the story to come which begins with the capture of a member of the First Family and an attempted rescue by her teammates.

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Trumbo

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

TrumboBorn out of fear, the Hollywood blacklist and the subversion of American values by the House Un-American Activities Committee during the Cold War is far from one of America’s prouder moments. Director Jay Roach‘s new film looks back at the Hollywood Ten, Hollywood screenwriters blackballed out of the studio system for their alleged involvement with the Communist Party. As the title suggests, the film primarily focuses on Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston) and the struggles he and his family faced during the Red Scare.

Despite a prison sentence followed by being unable to write under his own name, Trumbo continued to secure work under a variety of pseudonyms and two of the scripts he wrote, but wasn’t given credit for, went on to win Oscars for Best Picture. John McNamara‘s script is a bit by-the-numbers in its depiction of events, but Roach gets a terrific performance by Cranston and surrounds his star with a first-rate supporting cast that includes Diane Lane, Helen Mirren, Louis C.K., Alan Tudyk, John Goodman, and Elle Fanning as McNamara’s script follows the bizarre professional journey of Trumbo’s career.

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Star Wars Rebels – The Future of the Force

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Star Wars Rebels – The Future of the Force
  • wiki: link

Star Wars Rebels - The Future of the Force

Ahsoka (Ashley Eckstein) reaches out to Kanan (Freddie Prinze Jr.) and Ezra (Taylor Gray) when the Empire begins targeting force-sensitive children and sends the Inquisitors Fifth Brother (Philip Anthony-Rodriguez) and Seventh Sister (Sarah Michelle Gellar) to kidnap the infants from their families. Splitting up, the episode mostly follows the adventures of Kanan, Ezra, Zeb (Steve Blum), and Chopper on the planet Takobo. Before the end, however, Ahsoka will rendevouz with our heroes showcasing just how far the young padawan has come in her mastery of the Force since her first appearance in The Clone Wars.

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iZombie – The Hurt Stalker

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: iZombie – The Hurt Stalker
  • wiki: link

iZombie - The Hurt Stalker

All the evidence in the death of a wedding planner (Lola St.Vil) who used to date and stalk police officers leads the department to believe Babineaux (Malcolm Goodwin) is responsible. Chowing down on the dead girl’s brains doesn’t help Liv‘s (Rose McIver) love life as she becomes increasingly suspicious and jealous of any woman in Major‘s (Robert Buckley) life, but it does help solve the case (even if it means a short stint in prison where her brain-hunger almost causes severe problems for her annoying cell mate).

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Jessica Jones – AKA It’s Called Whiskey

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Marvel’s Jessica Jones – AKA It’s Called Whiskey
  • wiki: link

Jessica Jones - AKA It's Called Whiskey

As Jessica (Krysten Ritter) attempts to get the drugs she needs to stop Kilgrave (David Tennant) and orders Jeri Hogarth (Carrie-Anne Moss) to take defending Hope (Erin Moriarty) more seriously she reacts in horror to Hogarth and Trish‘s (Rachael Taylor) plan to get their client to go public on air with her story. As expected, Kilgrave responds, first over the air and then by sending a police officer to put a bullet in Trish’s brain. In an episode that showcases the villain’s actual and psychological power over his victims it also introduces some limitations to his powers. He’s unable to compel anyone to do his bidding over the airwaves and, as Jessica is able to take advantage of on two separate opportunities here, the literal interpretations of his commands can be used to break his temporary control of his victims.

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