5 Razors

Batman – Heart of Ice

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Batman: The Animated Series – Heart of Ice
  • wiki: link

Batman - Heart of Ice

In honor of Batman‘s 75th Anniversary we turn out attention back to the Dark Knight’s more memorable moments on the big and small screen with another episode from Batman: The Animated Series. Widely regarded as one of the best episodes of the series, “Heart of Ice” was the first episode of the series written by Paul Dini and the first directed by Bruce Timm. The episode also went a long way to establish Mr. Freeze as more than just a throwaway B-list Bat-villain and reinterpret the character as a tragic figure hellbent on revenge.

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2005 – The Upside of Anger

/ / Home Video
  • Title: The Upside of Anger
  • IMDb: link

The Upside of AngerReleased ten years ago, writer/director Mike Binder‘s The Upside of Anger is an underrated film built around a terrific performance by Joan Allen as the pissed-off matriarch of a family struggling to keep it together after her husband has disappeared (presumably to live with his secretary in Sweden). The woman’s life is further complicated by varying states of disrepair of her relationships with her three daughters (Erika Christensen, Keri Russell, Alicia Witt, and Evan Rachel Wood) and a burgeoning romantic relationship to a former Major League pitcher turned radio host (Kevin Costner) who, despite the woman’s rough edges, quickly falls for Terry and her family.

Along with Allen’s performance (arguably the best of her career as the unlikable but somehow still lovable Terry) the film gives each of the daughters strong roles dealing in their own ways with their mother’s constantly boiling disposition. Russell, Christensen, and Witt each bring something different to their roles as Evan Rachel Wood shines as the youngest sibling who is forced to grow up too quickly due to her father’s abscence and mother’s consequent behavior.

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Person of Interest – If-Then-Else

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Person of Interest – If-Then-Else
  • wiki: link

Person of Interest - If-Then-Else

In an episode that sees the potential death of nearly every member of The Machine‘s team, “If-Then-Else” delivers one of the most memorable episodes of the series and ends with one character’s life facing a very real and permanent end as the three-part “Trilogy” event continues. With the Stock Market crashing Reese (Jim Caviezel), Finch (Michael Emerson), Root (Amy Acker), and Fusco (Kevin Chapman) are lured into a trap by Samaritan with Shaw (Sarah Shahi) stuck on the subway dealing with a suicide bomber. Trapped with no good options we witness The Machine run various scenarios in an attempt to not only stop Samaritan from destabilizing the world’s markets but get each member of the team out alive. It won’t be entirely successful.

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The Multiversity: Thunderworld Adventures #1

/ / Comics

The Multiversity: Thunderworld Adventures #1I’m far from Grant Morrison’s biggest fan, and the New 52 bastardization of Billy Batson into a teenage punk unworthy of the magic of Shazam still drives me crazy, so my expectations for The Multiversity: Thunderworld Adventures #1 were pretty damn low. I was wrong.

As he did with All-Star Superman, Morrison shows off his love of Silver Age zaniness by crafting a classic Captain Marvel story that could easily fit into the pre-Crisis DCU. Complete with classic representations of all its characters, Morrison chooses not to wrongly remake Captain Marvel for a new age (as DC so thoroughly botched with the New 52) but instead remind us of the throwback hero who earned the nickname the Big Red Cheese.

The plot of the comic involves the latest scheme of Dr. Sivana to steal the magic of Rock of Eternity for himself and the Sivana Family who, once super-powered, square-off against Cap, Captain Marvel Jr., Mary Marvel, and their supporting cast who include Tawky Tawny (although sadly not dressed in his plaid suit). And even the Monster Society of Evil gets in on the fun!

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Astro City #17

/ / Comics

Astro City #17The latest issue of Astro City borrows a bit from the Atom and his adventures in the Microverse. Turning the tale on its side, instead of a hero spending his time in a microscopic universe we get the story of a villain who grew from those worlds, growing in power and size with each victory to eventually become one of the Honor Guard’s most powerful enemies.

Tom Grummett steps in for Brent Anderson providing a beautiful issue that fits easily within the already established narrative. To go along with those panels Kurt Busiek offers a story both celebratory and melancholy about a race of pacifists whose actions saved their own world but also led to the death of a hero which all still mourn.

Told as the story by the one who witnessed it, first in dreams and later in reality, Astro City #17 delivers on every level with action, loss, true heroism, and a very Silver Age message about the nature of sacrifice. Best of the Week.

[DC, $3.99]

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