Fantasy

Warcraft

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Warcraft
  • IMDb: link

WarcraftA good video-game movie is something of an oxymoron. The genre has produced dreadful results over the years including (but not limited to) the likes of Max Payne, Super Mario Bros., Hitman, Alone in the Dark, and Doom. Even the ones that prove watchable fit more into the “so bad they’re good” category than on any merit of their own.

Given the huge success of World of Warcraft, it’s not surprising that the some form of the Blizzard game made it into theaters. I’m actually shocked it took this long. That the movie isn’t awful puts it ahead of many of its predecessors. That it isn’t altogether that good is less surprising.

Set on the planet of Azeroth, the script by director Duncan Jones and Charles Leavitt shuffles between the native humans and the race of invading Orcs. In each case the movie gives us a central warrior to help focus that half of the story. There is plenty of fan bait to be had with broad and small nods to the game, but where the game allows you to explore the vast world of Azeroth this version proves mostly empty as we are teased with locations that remain unexplored.

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Alice Through the Looking Glass

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Alice Through the Looking Glass
  • IMDb: link

Alice Through the Looking GlassOther than the bizarre Burtonian designs of the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) and the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) I remember almost nothing of 2010’s Alice in Wonderland. Six years later Tim Burton reassembles the cast for a sequel one studio executive, and possibly some other people somewhere, thought would be a good idea. Six years from now I wonder if I will remember anything about this film.

With Burton taking a backseat as producer this time around, James Bobin (The Muppets, The Muppets Most Wanted) steps into the director’s chair. Burton’s fingerprints are all over the film so we can’t really call it Bobin’s movie, but there are some humorous touches that could come from the director.

Set several years after the first film, Alice (Mia Wasikowska) is now a ship’s captain who is pulled back into Wonderland by either A) a friend in need or B) her inability to deal with the stress losing her ship to her ex-fiance. You can decide for yourself whether you believe Alice is an adventurer or a troubled young woman with mental problems she deals with through detailed hallucinations.

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Red Sonja #5

/ / Comics

Red Soja #5Red Sonja‘s return to Hyrkania continues as King Savas makes Midyan his captive and plans to use a Red Sonja impersonator to win the support of his people. As for the real She-Devil with a Sword, she has her hands full with taming a Roc for most of this issue. Finally taming the giant bird of legend, Sonja is ready to return to her friends and lead a rebellion against Savas and the throne.

I’m far from a regular reader of Red Sonja. Sure, I’ll jump in from time to time but there’s usually not enough going on to keep my interest for long. Red Sonja #5 marks my first foray into the new series by Marguerite Bennett and artist Aneke. I was able to catch-up on events fairly quickly. And even if Sonja is absent from a large chunk of the story having to deal with the politics inside the Hyrkanian palace, she still gets her opportunity to shine hunting and taming the bird of legend.

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Once Upon a Time – Only You / An Untold Story

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Once Upon a Time – Only You / An Untold Story
  • wiki: link
  • wiki: link

Once Upon a Time - Only You / An Untold Story

Given last week’s wrap-up of the Hades‘ storyline, the purpose of the final two episodes of Once Upon a Time‘s Fifth Season is to set-up next season. Introducing the characters of Dr. Jekyll (Hank Harris) and Mr. Hyde (Sam Witwer) when Zelena (Rebecca Mader), Hook (Colin O’Donoghue), and the Charmings are all accidentally transported to a new land filled with characters whose stories remain untold, lays the foundation for next season’s conflict. The introduction of Jekyll and his ability to finally succeed in splitting his dark half from himself sets up the return of another major villain for next season as Regina (Lana Parrilla) expels the Evil Queen thinking she has finally found a way to destroy her evil half for good.

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Once Upon a Time – Last Rites

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Once Upon a Time – Last Rites
  • wiki: link

Once Upon a Time - Last Rites

Loss is the theme of “Last Rites” as several of the show’s female characters will mourn the loss of a loved one before all is said and done. Returned from the Underworld, Regina (Lana Parrilla) attempts to convince Zelena (Rebecca Mader) of Hades‘ (Greg Germann) true motivations. The cost of doing so will be high for both sisters as both Hades and Robin Hood (Sean Maguire) will meet the same end at the hands of the Olympian Crystal which not only kills its victims but removes them from existance all-together.

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