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Samurai Jack – Episode XXI: Jack and the Dragon

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Samurai Jack – Episode XXI: Jack and the Dragon
  • wiki: link

Samurai Jack - Episode XXI: Jack and the Dragon television review

Throwback Tuesday takes us back to the adventures of the time-displaced samurai and his quest to make his way home. Jack‘s (Phil LaMarr) wanderings lead him into woods and a nearby village both plagued with an ungodly stench. Many of the early scenes feature Jack trying to keep the stench away (which his sword can miraculously cut through) and haggling with the Scissorsmith (John Kassir) of the town, unwilling to offer up any information for free (even if it might help save the town from the stench which is ruining their crops and forcing wildlife to flee). The man’s bird (which may or may not have once been his wife) proves more helpful in starting the samurai on the right path.

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Sonic the Hedgehog

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Sonic the Hedgehog
  • IMDb: link

Sonic the Hedgehog 4K reviewSonic the Hedgehog is a borderline kid’s film likely too juvenile for those who grew up with the SEGA games and relying a bit too much on nostalgia to connect with younger viewers who may not know who Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) is. James Marsden stars in a role not dissimilar to the human he played in 2011’s Hop who befriends, and has his life turned upside down by, an animated character. After fleeing his home dimension, Sonic has been hiding in the woods outside of the small town where Tom (Marsden) works as sheriff while dreaming of being a big city lawman.

We’re told Sonic has managed to stay hidden for years (incredibly unlikely from what we see here). A power burst by the hedgehog brings in Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) to hunt down Sonic who the mad scientist believes can power his various machines. Carey is completely over-the-top here and the script offers him plenty of opportunities to gorge himself on as much scenery as his appetite allows.

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Samurai Jack – Episode XX: Jack and the Monks

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Samurai Jack – Episode XIX: Jack and the Monks
  • wiki: link

“It. Is. Impossible.”

Samurai Jack - Episode XX: Jack and the Monks television review

Throwback Thursday takes us back to the adventures of the time-displaced samurai and his quest to make his way home. Jack‘s (Phil LaMarr) faith and perseverance is tested in “Episode XX.” After the minions of Aku destroy a time portal before the samurai can use it to travel home, a disheartened Jack encounters three monks who are on a quest to climb a mountain where, it is said, truth can be found at the mountain’s summit (while admitting no traveler has ever made it that far). While neither welcoming or discouraging the samurai, Jack joins them on their quest only to face obstacle after obstacle which further break his spirit.

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Superman: Red Son

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Superman: Red Son
  • IMDb: link

Superman: Red Son Blu-ray reviewBased on the comic mini-series of the same name, Superman: Red Son re-imagines a world where Superman‘s (Jason Isaacs) rocket crashed in the Soviet Union rather than Kansas. As with Mark Millar‘s comic, the film’s greatest strength is the set-up and the juxtaposition of seeing Superman grow up under a Communist regime rather than learning to fight for truth, justice, and the American way.

The script by J.M. DeMatteis makes changes from the original comic which are most evident in in the character of our protagonist who is far darker than as presented in the comic. DeMatteis certainly take’s the nurture over nature view as this Superman has far less respect for life than any we know (with the exception of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel). A common conceit is that Lex Luthor (Diedrich Bader) would have been a great hero if not for Superman. While still a flawed human being, the version of Lex is certainly less gray than even the Red Son mini-series portrayed.

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That Harley Quinn Birds of Prey Movie

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn
  • IMDb: link

Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn Blu-ray reviewI had much the same reaction to Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn as to Suicide Squad. There’s low-rent fun to be had here in this crass tale of Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) striking out on her own after leaving the Joker. Robbie reprises her role from Suicide Squad, but is forced to carry much more of the story this time around. The script makes Harley the film’s narrator, often telling events out of order or forgetting key points. The idea is fun for a few minutes, but this isn’t Rashomon or Memento. It’s a B-movie with delusions of grandeur.

On the bad side of mob boss Black Mask (Ewan McGregor), and no longer under the Joker’s protection, Harley finds herself working off a debt by tracking down a young street thief (Ella Jay Basco) in possession of a diamond far more valuable than anyone realizes. She’s also got to stay one-step ahead of Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez), the film’s cliched one good cop in the city.

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