5 Razors

1991 – The Silence of the Lambs

  • Title: The Silence of the Lambs
  • IMDb: link

The Silence of the Lambs movie review30 years ago, on Valentine’s Day, The Silence of the Lambs was released in theaters. While not the first of Thomas Harris‘ novels to be written about Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), nor the first to be adapted to film, The Silence of the Lambs stands out from the rest for the odd pairing central to its story. With prequels, sequels, and even television series, Hollywood has searched for a way to recreate the magic of a film that took home Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay while earning a reputation as an instant classic. 30 years later, they’re still looking.

The first thing you notice about watching The Silence of the Lambs is how well it holds up building tension and teasing the audience where the story will lead next. We start with the introduction of a FBI trainee sent to interview the former psychiatrist and currently incarcerated cannibalistic serial killer. The unusual relationship between the pair will provide the heart of the film as Lecter offers to help Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) hunt down a current serial killer, and former patient, Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine), as the tabloids have named him, who is killing and skinning young women.

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Young Justice #17

Young Justice #17 comic reviewI kinda love this issue. Taking place after the dust has cleared between the epic battle between the Justice League and the Legion of Doom we get a quiet standalone story featuring the League and Young Justice doing clean-up in Metropolis and teenager Yolanda Chan being bowled over at what she is witnessing.

There are some nice moments of camaraderie here as the Young Justice team continues to gel along with some sweet mentor/apprentice conversations between League members and the Young Justice heroes (the best of this involves Wonder Woman checking in with Wonder Girl and the Flash, thankfully minus all the extra crappy New 52 additions to his costume, catching up with Impulse at super-speed).

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Black Cat #12

Black Cat #12 comic reviewBlack Cat versus Iron Man, ’nuff said. After stealing herself some Stark armor, Black Cat leads Iron Man across the city on a joyride filled with some fun banter and a solid twist that leaves old Shellhead shell shocked. It’s the perfect culmination to Felicia’s recent notable thefts.

Black Cat #12 is the best issue of the series. Sadly it’s also the final issue of the series. Despite being in the middle of the year-long arc of Felicia’s war with Odessa Drake and the Thieves Guild, Black Cat has apparently become a COVID casualty. Still, the story teased at the end of the issue, which would have appeared in Black Cat #12 featuring a fight with Queen Cat will apparently take place in the upcoming Black Cat: Queen in Black (although no word yet on Felicia’s war with the guild).

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #105

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #105 comicsBefore throwing the Turtles into the next big arc, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #105 offers an interlude for our heroes to grow, relax, reflect, and build on what they’ve learned since reuniting in New York. This quiet issue is full of wonderful small moments for several characters. While evil lurks on the periphery, it doesn’t intrude.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #105 offers a couple of long-overdue moments where my favorite of the characters created for this comic is concerned. First, Raphael finally lets down his guard and allows Alopex in. Second, Raphael, Donatello, Leonardo, and Michelangelo all welcome the arctic fox as an official member of the Splinter Clan.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #104

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #104 comic reviewI loved this issue. After keeping the Turtles separate following the death of their father, they reunite in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #104 not to face some imminent threat but to finally share their grief with their loved ones. Donnie‘s trip to Mutant Town proves to be the catalyst needed to push Raphael and Donnie to returning to Leonardo and Michelangelo and tap into the strong family dynamic at the core of the title.

That alone would have been enough, but there’s plenty more story here as the Turtles together return to Mutant Town to set-up shop as protectors, mentors, and perhaps even senseis for a next generation of hero. There are some great moments among the foursome and with other characters including a nice back-and-forth between Alopex and Raph.

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