Batman: Year One/ DC Showcase: Catwoman

Starring the voice talents of Bryan Cranston, Ben Mckenzie, Eliza Dushku, Jon Polito, and Katee Sackhoff

Adapted from the story line "Batman: Year One" by Frank Miller and David Mazuchelli/ Written by Paul Dini

Directed by Sam Liu and Lauren Montgomery

Batman: Year One 

Adapted from the highly influential story arc that inspired Batman: The Animated Series and Batman Begins, DC animation explores the first year of not only the Batman, but Detective Jim Gordon in Gotham City. Initially, both men are adrift with how corrupt the city is: dirty cops, petty theft escalating to violence, children walking the streets and no one willing to stop it any of it. Soon, one dons a cape and cowl while the other becomes a pariah to set straight the Gotham police department. However, when evil men are threatened by change, they set their sights to kill the vigilante and the hero cop....

Sure, some people will feel that without a villain to fight, the film is too slow or that this story feels too familiar. First, this is the story of how Batman started: he wanted to fight the mob, the corrupt cops, not men in refrigerator suits. I enjoy seeing the rookie crime fighter fight the mortal man for a change. Second- yes, it's true, the story is familiar. That's because portions of the story were adapted to previous films, such as in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Batman Begins.

Finally, as per usual, voice director Andrea Romano gets a varied and talented cast of actors, from Bryan Cranston as Jim Gordon to Eliza Dushku as Selina Kyle/ Catwoman

Rating: * * * * of 5

DC Showcase: Catwoman


One of the best DC shorts yet, right up there with Jonah Hex and The Spectre. Changing up Selina's costume from B: Year one  to Ed Brubaker's 2002 update, this sees Selina on the hunt for a criminal named Rough Cut. A good short with catchy dialogue, stunning action, and a little risque behaviors, this is a short more for older comic fan than for the kids.

Rating: * * * * 1/2 of 5

Total: * * * * 1/2 of 5

The Amazing Spider-Man (Trailer) review

So, the teaser rubbed people the wrong way and Rhys Ifans made a spectacle of himself at SDCC last year: not exactly a great start for the Spider-Man reboot.

The full trailer? Look much more promising. Lots of great action, even a good Spidey-zinger (something desperately lacking from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy) and even some good blink-and-you miss'em moments with Dr. Curt Connors as THE LIZARD. All good. However, there's yet ANOTHER "unmasked in public" moment. Didn't we have this in Spider-Man 2? I thought the point of the reboot was to do new things with the wall-crawler. Also, I'm not digging the "emotionally disturbed" Peter Parker; couldn't we just have a socially awkward Pete, someone not comfortable with getting praise? Maybe the movie will be different, but that's what I saw.

Rating: * * * * of 5 (JUST ON THE TRAILER released 2/6/12) 

The Woman in Black (2012)

Starring Daniel Radcliffe

Directed by James Watkins

Release Date(s)- February 3rd, 2012 (US)/ February 10th, 2012 (UK)

Daniel Radcliffe stars as Arthur Kipps, a London lawyer tasked with carrying out the will and property of Alice Drablow, which includes Eel Marsh House. Soon, Kipps is drawn into mystery and fear as a ghastly woman in black continues to haunt him, whose presence results in the death of a child. Arthur must now solve the mystery before his young son comes to visit him and could be in the sights of the woman in black...

First off, I must applaud Daniel Radcliffe for his strong performance so soon after finishing the Harry Potter franchise. Radcliffe does a great job of using body language and his expressive face to showcase his own terror and to make his fear translate to the audience. Also, director James Watkins does a commendable job of injecting a moody atmosphere in the visuals. Most of the time, it's what you only see in shadows or hear that becomes more terrifying rather than when the titular character shows up.

Therefore, the major problem with the film is that it relies too heavily on jump scares. 90% of the scares in the film are when something (or someone) literally jumps in front of the camera and scares the most susceptible to the cheapest of cheap tricks in horror. I know this is a ghost story, but there are actual moments in the film that are chilling, such as when Kipps has dinner with the Dailys or when Kipps has an encounter with a little girl in a fire. Good horror is when the mood and the tension builds to an event, not when a "boogeyman" jumps in front of the camera.

Rating: * * * of  5

Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows

XMAS Postings

Hey Guys!

It's been a while. I've been busy, so reviews had to be put on the back burner. Therefore, since I've got time off from work, I'll have time for reviews starting with SHERLOCK HOLMES 2 this weekend. And, it might be a video review (that is if I can get my webcam set up).

The Walking Dead: What Lies Ahead

Directed by Ernest Dickerson and Gwyneth Horder-Payton

Written by Robert Kirkman and "Ardeth Bay" (a.k.a. Frank Darabont)

Season 2, Episode 1

Original Air date: October 16th, 2011

Picking up after Season 1's finale "TS-19", we see the remainder of Rick's group deciding to leave Atlanta behind for Fort Benning. Soon enough, there are new troubles for the group as they stumble across a church......

Some people I have noticed do not favor Rick using the walkie-talkie as a means for getting across exposition or vocalizing his inner thoughts, as this is awkward or monotonous to them: I have to disagree. I find that this means of relaying information to the audience is a good way to tie-back to Morgan and Duane (even if, as of this review, they have yet to reappear in their own separate plot lines), a way to make internal monologues work for the televised adaptation of The Walking Dead and to catch-up anyone who may have missed out on Season 1. That being said, let's take a look at the season opener.

* WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW*



For the most part, the episode has 3 major locations: an cluttered highway, a church, and a forest. Thankfully, the episode's directors  use the highway to his advantage, making it into a dangerous maze our group must dodge and overcome after being attacked by a pack of Zombies. There is a great deal of tension as the group hides under cars and in the motor homes rather than take a flashy and ill-fated battle against the zombies. That is what works about TDW as a comic: the group learns how to better avoid the zombies by using their minds rather than take a 'John Rambo' approach to the situation. Also, there is a great deal of discussion about the topic of faith in the episode, which I assume will be a major theme this season.


Rating: * * * * of 5 

Comic books

Hey everyone!

So, I have been told that there are some people out there who read my blog that made a request for me to review comic books, particularly Hellboy. However, I would like to know if I should review the more recent stories or start from the beginning. When I hear back from those interested, I will get on to that review. That being said, is there anything else out there that you'd like to request? If possible, I'd like to avoid being a copy-cat of LINKARA from TGWTG's Atop the Fourth Wall; I'll do good comics and some bad, but check what he's done first before you ask me.

Later!