4 Razors

Project Nim

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Project Nim
  • IMDB: link

project-nim-dvdFrom director James Marsh, Project Nim examines the study undertaken in the 1970’s which was an attempt to prove a chimpanzee, raised by humans, could be taught to act human and communicate through Sign Language.

The documentary includes interviews from several of those involved in the project including Herbert S. Terrace who led and championed the study for years but eventually concluded Nim only learned signs tied to certain rewards but never developed a full understanding of the language he was using.

Project Nim has an amazing wealth of documentary footage taken from the study. With this footage, and the interviews, Marsh puts together a film that not only documents the study but captures the emotional experiences of those involved with Nim including those who only saw him as an experiment, those who thought of him as part of their family, and those who were physically attacked by a chimpanzee they had come to view as a friend.

…

Project NimRead More »

Project Nim Read More »

Justice League International #6

/ / Comics

jli-new-52-6-coverWith the world safe from giant space robots threatening to pull it apart (at least for the time being) the team finds itself with some time on its hands. As Booster Gold and Batman help nab the bombers behind the attack on the Hall of Justice, Guy Gardner, Rocket Red, and Ice clean-up the last of the robot mess in Peru, and Godiva introduces August General in Iron to New York City hot dogs.

This issue is exactly what the title needed. Although there’s plenty of action here as both Booster and Batman and Godiva and August General in Iron stop bomb plots, the issue is much more centered on characters, their interactions, and motivations.

From the comic’s final panel it looks like the team is going to be thrown right back into the action but I’m hoping Dan Jurgens doesn’t forget to include these kinds of moments which really make a JLI comic work. I’m also sad to see the (apparent) departure of Batman who definitely belongs on this title. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

Justice League International #6 Read More »

Person of Interest – Root Cause

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

person-of-interest-root-cause

The latest number the machine delivers to Reese (Jim Caviezel) and Finch (Michael Emerson) is an out of work city employee (Myk Watford) with a family who is quickly reaching his breaking point. Things aren’t looking any better now that he has been framed for the assassination of the Congressman who pushed through the budgetary cutbacks that cost the man his job.

…

Person of Interest – Root CauseRead More »

Person of Interest – Root Cause Read More »

Usagi Yojimbo #143

/ / Comics

usagi-yojimbo-143-coverThe rabbit ronin’s wanderings lead Usagi Yojimbo to a village where a local soy sauce maker is under attack by his ruthless competitors.

Usagi stops the arson set to destroy the factory but soon realizes the town’s local authorities have no interest in stopping the violence. Given that the brewer has no one else to turn to Usagi decides to stay in the town for a few days.

Sakai is known for using issues of Usagi to describe and educate young readers on various aspects of Japanese life. Here we get quite a few pages of Usagi learning the lengthy process of how soy sauce is made.

The issue may be a little light on action but there’s plenty of foreshadowing to next issue’s conclusion of this two-part tale that tells us there’s a big battle or two coming if Usagi is to save the brewer from his enemies. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

Usagi Yojimbo #143 Read More »

Drive

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Drive
  • IMDB: link

drive-blu-rayBased on James Sallis‘ 2005 novel, adapted for the screen by Hossein Amini, Drive stars Ryan Gosling as a getaway driver with no name who finds himself in a sticky situation when he breaks his own rules. If this sounds a little like The Transporter franchise, well it is, but director Nicolas Winding Refn decides to treat a rather ordinary action tale as an art house film drawing comparisons to dramatic action films of the late 60’s and 70’s like Steve McQueen‘s Bullit.

The Driver has everything he needs. His evident skill gets him consistant stunt car work and the far more lucrative (though far less legal) jobs no one else can do. His business partner (Bryan Cranston) has just closed a deal with a mobster (Albert Brooks) to buy a stock car which will allow the Driver to finally hit the big time. But when the Driver allows himself to be sucked into the troubles of an attractive neighbor (Carey Mulligan) and her young son (Kaden Leos) by agreeing to help her husband (Oscar Isaac) pull off a big score things go horribly wrong.

…

DriveRead More »

Drive Read More »