4 Razors

47 Ronin #1

/ / Comics

47-ronin-1-coverDark Horse Comics founder Mike Richardson has been obsessed with bringing the Japanese legend of the 47 Ronin to comics for the better part of a quarter of a century. Now, with the help of artist Stan Sakai, he succeeds in beginning his tale of the Japanese legend (based in historical fact) of 47 former samurai turned ronin who attempt to avenge the honor of their former master.

Stan Sakai is the perfect choice to bring the story to life, although I’ll admit it does take a little getting used to him drawing humans rather than katana-wielding rabbits. As good as his work is here, for someone going through months of serious rabbit ronin withdrawal (Sakai’s work on Usagi Yojimbo was halted for him to work on this project), I can’t wait to see him return to new stories of his creation.

The first issue of the five-issue mini-series is presented in a way that should appeal both to those who already know the story and those discovering it for the first time. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.99]

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Scandal – Spies Like Us

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Scandal – Spies Like Us
  • tv.com: link

“I really, really like killing people.”

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Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) receives an anonymous letter from a suicide victim (Richard Gilliland) shortly before his death asking her to protect a group of spies who were part of a top secret off-the-books CIA program from a master hacker who plans on exposing them all, included Huck (Guillermo Díaz). Despite Huck’s initial reaction to run, Olivia convinces him to stay and let her do what she does best by fixing the situation.

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Person of Interest – Critical

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Person of Interest – Critical
  • tv.com: link

person-of-interest-critical

The latest number delivered by The Machine introduces some unusual problems for Reese (Jim Caviezel) and Finch (Michael Emerson). First, Reese has to save the life of a previous number second time when Leon (Ken Leung) gets mixed up with the Russian mob. Second, they have to find a way to protect a surgeon (Sharon Leal) who is being blackmailed by a mysterious businessman (Julian Sands) holding her wife (Erica Leerhsen) hostage to make sure the doctor’s latest patient doesn’t survive his surgery.

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The Ambassador

/ / Home Video
  • Title: The Ambassador
  • IMDb: link

the-ambassador-dvd

A funny film about blood diamonds? As odd as that sounds, it’s exactly what The Ambassador delivers. For his latest work Danish journalist and filmmaker Mads Brügger undertook the challenge to expose the corruption of diplomatic titles sold on the black market and the African conflict diamond trade in the Central African Republic by purchasing a diplomatic title and becoming the newest ambassador for Liberia.

Through the use of hidden cameras Brügger is able to document the alarming amount of corruption, bribes, and backroom dealing for those with enough money the grease the wheels of the corrupt government of the CAR.

Despite good intentions, Brügger is no white knight. The filmmaker never takes a moral stand on the situation, and his involvement only increases the wealth of the corrupt officials he exposes while giving false hope to citizens who believed the man’s cover story of opening a match factory in the region which would have employed hundreds, if not thousands, of workers.

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