4 Razors

Darkwing Duck Annual #1

/ / Comics

What you usually want from an annual is an extra-sized adventure with something special enough to justify picking it up. BOOM!’s first annual for Darkwing Duck doesn’t disappoint.

The main story pits Darkwing Duck against Quackerjack who has decided to attack the toy company who drove him insane and started his life of crime. The villain is armed with an invention that transforms people into dolls meaning our hero will need all the help he can get – even from Quackerjack’s girlfriend?

Also included here is a short B-story about a criminal who uses a turtle to travel through time and a kind letter at the end of the comic to Darkwing fans everywhere, both written by the Darkwing Duck creator Tad Stones.

Not all annuals are worth picking up (in fact some I wouldn’t even use to line a birdcage), but this one delivers. The main story continues the wacky fun of the new series, and I got a kick at seeing the original creator of the show get dangerous one more time (if only for a few pages). Worth a look.

[BOOM!, $4.99]

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Justice League: Generation Lost #20

/ / Comics

jl-generation-lost-20-coverIn this one issue writer Judd Winick attempts to reconcile the Maxwell Lord of Justice League International with that of Infinite Crisis, and with the man who just killed the Blue Beetle…again.

This is something somebody probably should have thought about doing years ago. Better late than never.

Winick’s attempt (crammed into a single issue) does a fair job by shedding some light on Max’s relationship with his mother and how it drove him to become the man who created his own version of the Justice League. It also offers a turning point for the character and a plausible reason for the fundamental change in his character.

Given that so much of this issue is flashback we get very little of the confrontation of the JLI attempting to capture the fleeing Lord. What we do get is confirmation of Reyes’ death and a glimpse into the mind of the man who shot him. Must-read.

[DC $2.99]

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127 Hours on Blu-ray

/ / Home Video
  • Title: 127 Hours
  • IMDB: link

127-hours-blu-rayBased on a true story, 127 Hours has a simple premise which relies on a strong performance by James Franco, and slowly building tension around one man trapped with his time running out, to provide one of last year’s most memorable films.

Aron Ralston (Franco) is a mountain climber who becomes trapped in a narrow canyon when a large boulder pins his arm. Almost the entire film takes place in this small space as Ralson thinks back over his life and desperately tries to find a way out of his life-threatening situation.

Aside for a short appearance by Kate Mara and Amber Tamblyn early in the film, and a small selection of actors seen in flashbacks, Franco is alone on-screen in darkness for almost the entire film. And it’s his Academy Award nominated performance that makes 127 Hours a must-see.

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Megamind on Blu-ray

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

Anyone who ever enjoyed old Silver Age Superman comics and always wanted to see Lex Luthor beat the Man of Steel should go grab this movie right now. Megamind asks a simple question: What happens to a villain after he’s vanquished the hero? DreamWorks answer is as much fun on Blu-ray as it was in the theaters.

After giving us a short background on Megamind (Will Ferrell as our villain) and Metro Man (Brad Pitt as our hero) the movie quickly moves to the villain’s latest plot. Everything is going as usual, the hero is ready to save the day, rescue the girl, and thwart the bad guy. And then the unexpected happens – the villain wins.

The rest of the film focuses on Megamind trying to redefine his role in the world, his evolving relationship with intrepid female reporter Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey), and his own hero’s journey to be the next champion of Metro City.

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The Perfect Movie for Valentine’s Day

/ / Home Video, Theme Week
  • Title: Love Actually
  • IMDB: link

love-actually-dvdWritten and directed by Richard Curtis, Love Actually is a celebration of love. More than that, however, it’s a celebration of movie love. The film is jam-packed with characters, stories, situations, sampling the best romantic comedies have to offer. It’s not a spoof of romcoms, but a celebration of the best movie romances have to offer.

The film focuses on eight couples, each in a different part of their relationship as well as two additional stories which help tie them together: an aging rock star (Bill Nighy) and his manager (Gregor Fisher) attempting to win a holiday contest and jewelry store attendent (Rowan Atkinson) who shows up only when needed.

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