REVIEW: Man of Steel

PLOT: A young itinerant worker is forced to confront his secret extraterrestrial heritage when Earth is invaded by members of his race.

REVIEW: So there are a few things that have to be told first before you can try to understand my review for Man of Steel. Everything about this movie, I have had a strong dislike for within the last 5 years or so. The director, the character, the shape of DC film outside of the recently Bat trilogy, and other things are some of the aspects I just wasn't excited to see with this movie. However, I'm a very big fan of comic books and though I don't read much Superman, it still interests me enough to see a movie that may come along once (or thrice) in my lifetime, depending on box office numbers and the desire for another re-imagining in the future. There have been a lot of mixed reviews for Man of Steel, and after seeing it I can certainly understand why. I found myself several times throughout the movie, wondering if I really even needed to see the film to know what I was missing. A lot of things grab your attention while you're watching, but it's almost all of the wrong things, at least for me. A common phrase I've heard to describe this movie is that it's "not fun", and while I can understand that there is a part of me that wonders what those people consider fun. This movie to me was about as "fun" as Superman could get, but it's definitely not as "super" as Superman on the theater screen could be.

Zack Snyder and I have been on bad terms since 2010 when I started seeing trailers for that godforsaken movie with CGI owls called Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole. One reason I couldn't hardly stand it, was that damned 30 Seconds to Mars song I must have heard nearly 100+ times just from watching that trailer at the theaters and on TV. Now, I'm not one to let a trailer ruin a movie before I see it, but I was judging from the get-go with how much slo-mo seemed to be used as well in the trailer. This is when Snyder first struck a chord in me, and got me wondering how he ever gets work in Hollywood. First he remade Dawn of the Dead, which was a great opportunity for him and a sight to be seen for horror fans. Purists still hate it, but the general concensus on that one is that it's a very fresh and entertaining take on the 1978 horror classic by George Romero. So, sweet, you remake a classic, update it and make it pretty awesome, go you. Then, Snyder takes it upon himself to make a film version of 300 which most audiences never even knew was based on a graphic novel by legendary comic writer Frank Miller. Okay fine, you get two big adaptation projects to start your film career, not too shabby. He does a phenomenal job and makes one of the best action movies of the last 10 years, and creates an army of fans all the while. Keep in mind that 300 was the beginning of Snyder's fascination with slow motion, zoom camera, and CGI action extravaganzas. So now Zack is two for two, what could he possibly move onto now? Well, that was Watchmen, which is yet another adaptation of quite possibly the highest recognized graphic novel today and a classic of not only comics but literature as well. Written by Alan Moore, Watchmen is a brilliant work of fiction, and yet again some young up-and-comer is going to snatch classic work up and try to make it his own. Fine, and again I go and see it because of what it is, and it was awesome, I loved it. Still chock full of slow motion, grand action sequences, and of course an attempt at interpretting the brilliance of Moore's writing.

So here's Snyder, sitting pretty at three for three with some really damn entertaining films, but they're all based off of some sort of prior work. Now he's deciding maybe it would be a good idea to market his stylized action with slow motion and CGI to a younger audience, thus the owl movie. Little do some of you know, the Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole is based off of a children's fiction book series, which leads us to now four out of four of his movies based off of other people's work. This is where he lost me, because that trailer was way worse than the actual movie was, but this was the point at which I became fed up with Zack Snyder. The overuse of slow-motion and silly things to make the viewer go "oooh" and "ahhh" just weren't working for me anymore, and I'd had enough. No one wanted to listen though, no Zack Snyder is still good, he makes cool films, and they look awesome! Some critics started to critique his work though at this point, because of the same reasons I suddenly found myself irritated. So what does he do? I'm going to do my own original story and make a movie with all the stuff I've learned from my previous four films and prove all you haters wrong, he says. What do we end up with? Sucker Punch, which is a very appropriately titled movie because I would have much rather taken a sucker punch to the scrotum than to ever watch that film or anything about it, and it's even loaded full of scantily clad women! But I gave him a chance, like I give to everyone, and boy was I disappointed. More of the same old shit, from the same old guy, who seemingly can't direct his way out of a paper bag unless he's moving in slow motion and he's seen the same brown paper bag before in his youth (original work knock). Then the news comes, there's going to be a new Superman movie! Hooray! DC fans rejoice, they may finally get it right this time! Christopher Nolan gets involved because of the success of his Batman trilogy, David S. Goyer comes on to write the script, and it's all shaping up quite nicely. Alright guys, who do we want to direct this thing? This is the Superman movie that is finally going to change the face of Superman in film much like Nolan did for Batman, and for once Superman will be liked by all as he should be. Let's get Zack Snyder, right?! Right. So it happened, and now here we are in June of 2013 wondering why the hell this movie just isn't perfect, and I'm going to tell you why.

Of course you have to figure after all of Snyder's success with making the movies of a 13-year old's action/adventure wet dream, that Man of Steel will be much of the same. You're wrong. Surprisingly, I found a lot of the setting and stuff really breathtaking, especially the planet of Krypton. Though it seems kind of droll and gray, the set pieces are just beautiful and I don't know if they were CGI, but if they were it was damn good CGI. I was proud of my lost boy Snyder, doing the best he could for a much misunderstood superhero. But then the action starts, not a few minutes into the film, and Jor-El is fighting Zod. Sweet, okay, it all looks great and you have ex-Gladiator Russell Crowe kicking some ass as Jor-El. What's not to like? Well, every action sequence after that was a big, blinding mess of CGI with fists that move too clearly to be real, and people flying about so fast from building to building that it's hard to understand that they're even fighting. Are they just knocking each other over repeatedly but too strong to keep themselves from pushing their enemies through a wall everytime? My argument isn't with the fact that it's "inorganic" or the realism of the film suffers, obviously that cannot be the case with a Superman movie, but really? Fucking Metropolis was reduced to a steaming pile of metal and dirt by the time this movie was done, and I don't ever recall that much destruction from a few heroes and villains fighting in anything, ever. How do you bring Metropolis back after Man of Steel? Metropolis 2? Then somehow, during the final battle of the film where citizens are trapped under burning buildings and iron with concrete blocks on top of them, Supes and Zod find a perfect and pristine train station to duke it out in? And oh wait, there's people walking around in this train station with luggage like they're escaping or going somewhere? Where in the hell did these people come from, if the entire city has been turned to mush? But okay, I turn my head and say whatever, it's just a movie and I enjoyed what I could. The film definitely has the Snyder look, which is actually a thing I swear, watch his movies and try to disagree with me. But at least Snyder didn't go for the slow motion in every action scene, which was something I was very proud of him for restraining himself with.

The plot in the film is very thin, if not transparent. It's a retelling of Superman's birth, eventual arrival to planet Earth, and are you ready for the twist? Zod wants Krypton back after its destruction, and he needs Superman back to do it. Zod comes to Earth, he wants Superman, Superman wants to save the Earth, and so on and so forth. Such is the story in Man of Steel, just barely enough to make a full film with. But somehow Snyder extends this film to nearly two and a half hours, which I can hardly understand as it didn't feel that long but I can't help to think that with all of that time so much more could have been said and done. I found myself looking around and thinking periodically through the movie, wondering what others were thinking because I had no clue what I was watching. It just seemed like there were a lot of unnecessary bits and that may be because I'm initiated in the DC Universe and I may not need all of the explanations, but do you really think there are too many people out there that aren't aware that Clark Kent is an alien and he has few weaknesses, one of which is a green rock called Kryptonite? No. I did really like the 15-20 minutes where Zod first invades Earth and its technology, and alerts the citizens of every country that they are harboring someone they may not know isn't human. It was quite a nerve-rattling scene or two for a Superman movie, and it really showed the tone this was trying to take, but it never quite got better after the first 30 minutes.

But here's where the movie actually excels, and much to my amazement I really, really liked. That being the actual character of Clark Kent and Superman. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a mega Bat-fan, and truly despise anything Superman or Superman related. So for me to sit here and say that I actually partially enjoyed Man of Steel, is a very big step for me. Despite the Snyderisms, to beyond the lack of depth in the script, and ignoring the CGI-ridden film I was watching, I found a completely genuine and perfect portrayal of a hero I've come to hate over the years. Henry Cavill does such an outstanding job at playing Kal-El, and I hope to all that is holy if a Justice League movie is made, he's the guy for Supes. His Clark Kent is so on, when they show him hopping from one civilian job to another it just really reminded me of the darker Kent that I've seen in some of the comics, particularly Earth One. But then, his Superman side comes on the screen, and I was just blown away. There was even a nod in one of the frames, if I'm not mistaken, to Grant Morrison's All-Star Superman which isn't a comic I enjoy but the frame mention is featured as the cover on some editions of the book.

So all complaints aside, this wasn't that bad of a film. Would I watch it again when it comes out on video? Sure. Would I buy it in Blu-ray to watch again at home? Probably. Where this film lacks is in all of the small departments, mainly the stuff that doesn't matter to anyone else but me and some other nerds out there. But what this movie did do for Superman, is finally make him cool. I seriously felt like I could really like and enjoy watching Superman in this film, and most of it is probably credited to Henry Cavill's calm but stern tone in the character. You took him seriously, but knew he was friendly. He even got his jabs in here or there, meaning  he had some funny jokes, because obviously he beats up the bad guys with jabs too. So you take away the absolute mess of a city by the end of the film that had me scratching my head. Remove some of the CGI from the fights and slow it down so you can actually use your actors in the action scenes too. I don't have a problem with it, even though one of my most hated film directors today is responsible for its creation. Cavill is heroic, to be perfectly honest with you, and Michael Shannon as Zod isn't all you'd want it to be from such a fantastic actor of the dark arts, but it's acceptable. Russell Crowe as a badass Jor-El, and Amy Adams of course as Superman's #1 fan were passable too. Basically, this movie didn't impress me, nor did it disappoint. If you like Superman, go see it. If you don't like Superman, go see it. Chances are, it'll at least fill your summer movie hole for a week, and we can hopefully look forward to a better and possibly little more complex Man of Steel 2.

ACTING : ( 7 / 10 )

STORY : ( 4 / 10 )

EXECUTION : ( 4 / 10 )

POSTER : ( 6 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 6 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 6 / 10 )

REVIEW: Suspect

PLOT: LAPD cop Scott James is not doing so well. Eight months ago, a shocking nighttime assault by unidentified men killed his partner Stephanie, nearly killed him, and left him enraged, ashamed, and ready to explode. He is unfit for duty...until he meets his new partner. Maggie is not doing so well, either. A German shepherd who survived three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan sniffing explosives before losing her handler to an IED, her PTSD is as bad as Scott's. They are each other's last chance. Shunned and shunted to the side, they set out to investigate the one case that no one wants them to touch: the identity of the men who murdered Stephanie. What they begin to find is nothing like what Scott has been told, and the journey will take them both through the darkest moments of their own personal hells. Whether they will make it out again, no one can say.

REVIEW: This is the first novel by Robert Crais that I have ever read, but I have to say I was mightily impressed with his writing in Suspect. There was something that this book had from the prologue, and it never lost that special something for 300 pages. That special something, or someone, would be the 85 pound black-and-tan German Shepherd named Maggie. The way that Crais writes the thought patterns of the dog, with really nothing outside of basic commands and actions that the dog recognizes, he creates a really heartwarming character that you don't expect when you first pick the book up. I was expecting a buddy cop book, with a man and his dog, as they take down baddies and bark up the wrong trees to find trouble. Instead, this is an emotional tale of a dog leaning on his new owner's shoulders, and the cop Scott James unknowingly leaning just as hard on his new best friend. The relationship that these two develop throughout the book is wonderful, and on multiple occassions had me smiling from ear to ear trying to keep my throat from getting scratchy. I know a book is really powerful when it impacts me the way this one did, and I would highly recommend this to any reader.

Scott James is a down on himself, depressed cop that has been reassigned to a new K-9 unit because of past events that left him unable to do his duty, at least that's what his superiors think. He lost his partner Stephanie, that he feels like he left behind to die and now thinks about her everyday of his life wishing he could have done more. Then Scott meets Maggie, a German Shepherd who lost her partner in the war due to attacks and an IED overseas. When choosing a new K-9 dog to train with and become part of the team, Scott chooses Maggie because of her past and he can relate to her in a way. They are both dealing with PTSD, and it's with each other that they find themselves coming out on top in this story. It's not so much a mystery as it is a story of friendship and dealing with trauma in our lives, and lines of work. The mystery is there, as they are working to solve Scott's case, but it's not at the forefront of the book. However, that didn't bother me and I think had the two story lines been reversed, with their friendship in the background, it wouldn't have been nearly as good. Maggie nearly steals this book entirely from Scott, and the chapters written from her perspective were really cool too.

I just have to say, that anytime Maggie referenced Scott as pack, or talked about the rules of being pack, it hit me hard. The loyalty that this dog felt towards its owner was astonishing, and it really says a lot for the writing of Robert Crais. I really hope that this is the beginning of a series, as Crais is known to have a couple series and could easily turn this into hit. Also, in the same vein of all new TNT shows with two names for a title, I think they could make a good series called Scott & Maggie and it would easily be a success on TV as well. I am doing this book for my Mystery Monday book club at the library, and I really only chose it because it had to do with dogs and it was a mystery-ish book and I thought it would attract patrons to my program. Little did I know, that myself and several others who read the book would fall in love with Maggie and the relationship Scott has with her. This is a truly astounding piece of writing, and I'm very happy to have read it because without the need of mass-appealing books for book club, I never would have read this. Now I want a German Shepherd really badly now, and I would hope that we could be pack just like Scott and Maggie.

RATED : ( PG-13 )

WRITING : ( 9 / 10 )

STORY : ( 8 / 10 )

COVER : ( 5 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 8 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Don't Mess with the Prez

Surely there have been many presidents in movies, television, etc., but who were among the best? This past year we saw a great portrayal of Abraham Lincoln by Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln, and a few years further back we saw Josh Brolin as George W. Bush in Oliver Stone's W.. But what about the presidents that didn't ever exist outside of movies or TV? I'm going to count down the top 10 fictional presidents to ever grace our television screens. With this weekend's sure-to-be blockbuster White House Down, we have Jamie Foxx playing The President whose house is attacked and none other than Channing Tatum, will be coming to the rescue (at least that's what it looks like to me, simple enough). Think what you want of the lookalike movie of the year, obviously following the success of Olympus Has Fallen from earlier in 2013, but it could be a box office hit with the two actors featured on the poster. I have seen neither of this year's "White House gets attacked" films yet, but I would definitely take the pairing of Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart over Foxx and Tatum any day. But we are here to talk about the best turns as president, so let's get to it shall we? Please keep in mind that I can only put on the list what I know, and I'm sure there are countless presidential roles I've never seen that deserve to be on a list, or that I've seen and simply never committed to memory well enough. These are merely my ten favorite fictional presidents and the most memorable to me, but that doesn't mean they are the best acted or most unique in any way. But this is where I leave you all, the readers, with the responsibility of commenting on some of YOUR favorites below when you're done reading, so myself and others can broaden our presidential horizons! Also, please correct me if I'm wrong on any of these, because my memory does serve me incorrectly quite often.

10. Danny Glover as President Wilson - 2012 (2009)

Ironically enough, White House Down isn't the first time that director Roland Emmerich has tangoed with the President. In 2009's 2012, Danny Glover was the lackadaisical President Wilson. The funny thing is, I don't remember him being in the film all that much until closer to the end. Though, at the possibility of the Earth's ultimate destruction, who better to have in office than President "I'm Too Old For This Shit", right? However, I merely put this on here to illustrate a point, and that is how frequently Emmerich has had a fictional President in his movies. This leads me to one of my biggest pet peeves in film because his movies rarely vary in plot either, and I've freaking hated on this guy with a passion for a long time now. Most of his movies deal with national emergencies or even world-threatening scenarios in which the POTUS is almost always likely to get involved. That's my one and only dig at Emmerich, because this list is inspired by his new film after all (which doesn't look nearly as bad as his filmography does).

9. Killer Mike as President Taqu'il - Frisky Dingo (2006)

For those at a complete loss for who in the hell Taqu'il is, you probably haven't watched Adult Swim on Cartoon Network, at least when Frisky Dingo was on the air. A completely bizarre cartoon featuring a character named Killface that is in the business of world domination and eventually finding his place in the White House. At one point during the show's run, the famous rapper in the show Taqu'il decides to run for President and actually wins the race. Those who know the character, I probably need not explain the humor of it all, but it was truly one of the best moments in the show's run. President Taqu'il is just a personal favorite, because any of the episodes in which he was featured prominently were great.

8. Harry Shearer as President Schwarzenegger - The Simpsons Movie (2007)

More of an extended cameo (sort of) rather than an actual role in the film, this was one of the running jokes in The Simpsons Movie. Obviously, jokes of Schwarzenegger running for the presidency are not hard to find, but The Simpsons Movie found a very great way to do it and at a very appropriate time in our history. Though not voiced by Arnie himself, this gag in the film was one of the better parts of it's national and political commentary, of which The Simpsons have always been outstanding at doing. However, I don't feel the comedy of Arnold Schwarzenegger as the POTUS needs much more explaining, it was just funny! D'oh!

7. Benjamin Walker as President Lincoln - Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)

Those of you who chose to skip out on Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter last year really missed out on a treat. Obviously a campy horror mash-up, and adapted from the book of the same name by Seth Grahame-Smith, it did little to no justice to the actual history of Mr. Lincoln. What it did do though, was make an extremely interesting President equally as entertaining as he fought his way through hordes of vampires to find the master vampire that changed his life forever. The movie was a pleasant surprise at the box office, and actually didn't get too completely trashed for being silly, which was great to see as a horror fan. This is definitely a fictional take on a non-fictional President that you don't want to miss!

6. Cherry Jones as President Taylor - 24 (2001)

There were a lot of Presidents in and out of the White House doors during 24's eight season run on Fox, but President Taylor was by far one of the better ones running the country. The first POTUS that was a woman, she quickly became one of the classic characters during the show's run and presented great evidence that a woman as President wouldn't be half bad, even though she was fictional. President Taylor was one of those politicians that would almost always follow her heart in a decision, but remain true to the rules of being who she was to the country all the same, and she NEVER negotiated with terrorists. She wasn't the first President on 24 though to draw a lot of the audience's support, so much so that some would even suggest nominating her for President even though she's not actually real. Cherry Jones did an amazing job at portraying the United States' first female president, and I don't think there are many who could argue that she was one of the show's best characters.

5. Stephen Colbert as President Hathaway - Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)

A cameo at best, but Stephen Colbert was the voice behind President Hathaway in 2009's Monsters vs. Aliens. He had not just one shining moment in the film though, as any of the scenes Colbert's voice had the chance to grace were phenomenal. Colbert is already a funny guy, but when you add to that a PG-style sense of humor and as much silly as humanly possible, you end up with President Hathaway. During his communications with the invading aliens, he does an outrageously poor job in conveying his message by playing a tune on the keyboard. Also, during a meeting in a top secret bunker, he can be the one heard shrieking and screaming about everything except the actual scare on hand.

4. Harrison Ford as President Marshall - Air Force One (1997)

"GET OFF MY PLANE!" ... Need I say any more than that? Though I'm dropping Ford's President Marshall at #4 on the list, there simply isn't anyone on the same plane as this President. He did whatever it took to save his family. He did whatever it took to save his presidency. He did whatever it took to save his life, and the lives of others. He did whatever it took, is simply the theme of the story here. You just don't mess with Harrison Ford as the POTUS, no way no how. If you're on Han Solo's ship, the Millenium Falcon, and he asks you to get off his ship, you probably should. If you're on Indiana Jones' commandeered plane stolen from Nazis, and he asks you to get off, you probably should. If you're on Air Force One and President James Marshall wants you off of his plane, he's probably not going to ask. Get off his fucking plane already man. Seriously, get the fuck off of his plane, or you're going to end up getting tossed off against your will into the night sky with nothing to help you land but your own 10 tiny little fingers that will shatter on impact, and do you know why? President Marshall doesn't want you on his goddamn plane.

3. Terry Crews as President Camacho - Idiocracy (2006)

President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho, the President that you hope one day never to see. Kind of... Back when Terry Crews wasn't one of The Expendables, he was turning in comedic gems like this one and trying to bang on some White Chicks. Crews is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to comedy, and it's a shame that he doesn't get the opportunity as often as he probably should to show off these chops of his. Even his short-lived reality show was funny as hell, and it's all because Crews is kind of like a Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson when it comes to on-screen presence. Combine the Macho Man, a commercial for Wal-Mart, and a roided-up gangster and you've got President Camacho. Let's hope it truly is 500 years before we see a POTUS on this level.

2. Bill Pullman as President Whitmore - Independence Day (1996)

I'll let Emmerich's work speak for itself, though in rare fashion, as this was one of the greatest speeches ever given by a President and it was in a movie. Bill Pullman was not be trifled with in Independence Day and he did whatever he damn well pleased, and/or needed to do to save our country, and our freedom. Let this, be President Whitmore's evidence for runner-up on this Top 10 Tuesday. 
"Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. "Mankind." That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom... Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution... but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: "We will not go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!"

1. Dennis Haysbert as President Palmer - 24 (2001)

Now commonly known around the United States as the All State guy (before Mayhem showed up), it may be a little known fact that he was one of the greatest fictional Presidents ever to live. A man who trusted Jack Bauer, and only Jack Bauer with his safety and presidency at one time, is a man that can be trusted. A man who defied the odds, and did become the President even though his assassination was attempted. Haysbert not only had the acting skills to play 24's greatest political character ever, but he also had the perfect voice for the POTUS, and I mean P-E-R-F-E-C-T. I spoke of President Palmer for years after he left the show, and how I would actually vote for this character in real life if he were ever actually able to run for President. His moral compass unwavering, and his heart unfaltering, he was the true definition of a President in every sense of the word. I can't help but think that if there were a President Palmer in office today, that we would all be in good hands.

REVIEW: Bloodshot, Volume One: Setting the World on Fire

PLOT: Your name is Angelo Mortalli. Your brother is trapped behind enemy lines and on the verge of - no. That's not right. Your name is Raymond Garrison. You've retired from the dangers of the field, but a desperate plea from your oldest friend plunges you into a vicious firefight that - no. That's not right, either. You are Bloodshot. You are the shade of gray that freedom requires. The perfect confluence of military necessity and cutting-edge technology. A walking WikiLeaks. A reservoir of dirty secrets that could set the world on fire. And you've just been captured!

REVIEW: Never before had I heard of the character Bloodshot, but you can imagine by the cover above I had to pick it up and at least see what it was about. I have to say I was quite surprised with how awesome this was. I reviewed the first volume of Harbinger a couple weeks back (also new from Valiant), and said how that was surprisingly good as well. Where that one has the goods, this one has all the same elements but maybe a notch up higher on the scale. Bloodshot is a straight up bad ass, and when he finds out that all he's been fighting for what was merely a dream, he lets loose on anyone who stands in his path to redemption. I particularly loved the cells where Bloodshot had been shot or injured, and he was regenerating and bringing himself back to live. Just truly cool, hard adult violence in the comic and I always love to see that. I cannot wait to see what a second volume has in store, and the covers for the issues in here were amazing. I would definitely recommend Bloodshot to any fans of action, science fiction, both, or blood, because this comic has it all.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 9 / 10 )

STORY : ( 9 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 10 / 10 )
AWESOME : ( 10 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: Batman Incorporated, Volume One: Demon Star

PLOT: Eisner Award-winning fan-favorite writer Grant Morrison concludes the Batman epic he began nearly a decade ago in BATMAN & SON, pitting the entirity of Batman Incorporated against the Leviathan organization headed by the Dark Knight's former romantic interest Talia al Ghul. As Leviathan enacts a plan that threatens the world, Batman and his allies must fight against the rising storm--but not everyone will make it out of the encounter alive.

REVIEW: It was only two weeks ago when I reviewed Joe the Barbarian by Grant Morrison and really loved it. I remember saying how I had a love/hate relationship with the author because his work in comics is typically outstanding, however there are some characters he just doesn't get as good of a grip on. Batman is not one of those characters, as Morrison was seemingly meant to write Batman stories for DC. Though the writing at times is a bit confusing, and the story can lose you (especially in some of the other Batman arcs) there's just something so special about his way with the Bat. Some of his Batman arcs have been among the most liked by the fans, and I often see his name in my list of Top 10 Batman graphic novels. He has an outstanding vision for the character, and brings a darker edge to the comic than has ever been previously explored except by a Frank Miller, whom I have the same relationship with.

This is technically the second volume of Batman Incorporated, as the first volume came out pre-New 52 but it definitely leads into this story. Another outstanding entry into Morrison's Bat-folio, and it's amazing that his story is continuing to unfold across several Gotham titles including this one. The end of Demon Star is most definitely a cliffhanger if I've ever read one, and now I absolutely cannot wait for the second New 52 volume of Batman Incorporated! Also, Chris Burnham deserves a round of applause for the outstanding art in this book. It has several looks throughout, but he does a great job at bringing Morrison's vision to life much like the artists before him have been capable. It's almost as if Grant brings the best work out of people in his books, and maybe they in turn do the same for him. All I know is that this should have been called Demon Stars, because it's worth way more than just one. Yeah, I'm clever so what.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 ) 

ARTWORK : ( 8 / 10 )

STORY : ( 9 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 9 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 10 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: Joyland

PLOT: College student Devin Jones took the summer job at Joyland hoping to forget the girl who broke his heart. But he wound up facing something far more terrible: the legacy of a vicious murder, the fate of a dying child, and dark truths about life—and what comes after—that would change his world forever.

REVIEW: I'll start by saying I have never read a book of Stephen King's. It's very surprising that I've gone all of this time as a reader and I have never read one of his books. When I was teenager I read most of his collection of short stories called Everything's Eventual but I don't count it as really reading some King work. I have however, seen a lot of the movies that have been based off of his novels so I feel that I know his work somewhat familiarly. Joyland did not strike me as something that would be typical King, and it looked like it was going to be more of a straight up mystery despite the description on the back really leading you to believe it would be some sort of horror story. I was pleasantly surprised that this was like a version of The Shining that didn't have all of the terrifying elements and had a lot more heart in it.

Devin takes a summer job at the amusement park Joyland, and with that comes a large life experience that seemingly makes Devin the person he is today. I really enjoyed how the story was told from the perspective of an older Devin, reflecting on his experiences at Joyland. It really gives the novel that King-feel, and shows why he is still one of the most prominent story tellers still writing today. There's a shroud of mystery surrounding the story, and it makes it seem very mystical when being told this way. His encounters with the workers of Joyland, those

in the town, and himself really weave a shockingly heart-warming story about the joys of life, the mysteries of our existence, and the meaning or purpose of why we're here. There's a lot to speculate on in the book, and I'd love to discuss these points in the future once more people have read the book.

Instead of going into full detail, I will just say that the last 50-70 pages is where the book starts to climax and wrap itself up. Joyland really builds and builds until the last page, and packs a wallop on the last 10 pages. Devin tells an amazing story of love and mystery, and it's really epic depending on how you see the events leading up to it. I could definitely see this novel being made into a film if it becomes a bestselling hit in 2013. It would be one of King's non-horror, more drama-like films but of course that always comes with a little bit of mysticism in the story. I'd highly recommend this for any fans of Stephen King, and mystery novels as well. This can even pass as a ghost story, and there is a ghost involved from early on in the book but it's not particularly the focus of the story.

RATED : ( PG-13 ) 

WRITING : ( 10 / 10 )

STORY : ( 8 / 10 )

COVER : ( 10 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 7 / 10 )

FINAL RATING: ( 8 / 10 )

REVIEW: Apocalypse Cow

PLOT: Forget the cud. They want blood. It began with a cow that just wouldn't die. It would become an epidemic that transformed Britain's livestock into sneezing, slavering, flesh-craving four-legged zombies. And if that wasn't bad enough, the fate of the nation seems to rest on the shoulders of three unlikely heroes: an abattoir worker whose love life is non-existent thanks to the stench of death that clings to him, a teenage vegan with eczema and a weird crush on his maths teacher, and an inept journalist who wouldn't recognize a scoop if she tripped over one. As the nation descends into chaos, can they pool their resources, unlock a cure, and save the world? Three losers.Overwhelming odds.One outcome . . . Yup, we're screwed.

REVIEW: Obviously I picked up Apocalypse Cow because it was a book about zombies, and cleverly titled to show that the author had a sense of humor. One would assume that this book would be beyond silly, and not really worth much at all but for a few laughs. The cover, title, and plot summary makes you think this is just some B-level trash. In all honesty however, this book was entertaining as hell. I haven't read a book so genuinely fun and exciting since something like Wayside School back in the days of elementary school. Michael Logan did an outstanding job at making a story of zombies or infection unique, creative, and it stands out as some of the best work in the genre.

The book definitely kind of reads like a B-movie in the horror genre, but there's something about Logan's writing that is just laugh-out-loud hysterical. I haven't been tempted to laugh frequently when reading a book, or even as often as I did while reading Apocalypse Cow and that really speaks volumes for how great this book is. It's not just a silly book, and it's not full of only laughs and witty writing. The book is equally as disgusting and horrifying as it is hilarious, and it goes to show why Michael Logan won the Terry Pratchett Prize for this book even though it's his very first full-length novel. I was so impressed by Logan's writing, especially being that it was his first novel ever written. Everything was present at the beginning of the book to get you reading, all of the humor and comedy draws the reader in. Then as the book progresses, it gets more intense and a lot more metaphorical as the story shapes up. It is really such a perfectly layered work of fiction, it makes you wonder how Michael Logan has never published a full book before.

There's so much content in this book, and I wish I could talk about it more in depth to explain how this could be one of the greatest horror/comedy experiences I've ever had. I'm a huge fan of horror/comedy film, and to be as impressed by this as I am by one of my favorite films Shaun of the Dead, I'd say Michael Logan did a great job. There is plenty of blood and gore here, there are plenty of characters with variety to empathize with. Geldof (the Gray) was a very likable, innocent, but intelligent protagonist who serves as the main voice of the story. Lesley is your ditzy blonde character in typical horror fashion, and Terry is your bad ass guy that has to be the ring leader at times to get things done in the apocalypse. The greatest characters in this book however, are the infected animals. There are some outrageous and completely wacky scenes with these creatures, and their entrances into their scenes were always classic. From cows to pigs, and squirrels to rats, there was no shortage of animal gags and gross-outs. I would highly recommend Apocalypse Cow to anyone looking for a good book of laughter, a unique take on the zombie genre, or just a downright entertaining book. Don't let the cover and title fool you, this book won the Terry Pratchett for a reason. May Michael Logan milk the success of this book for as long as he wants, it is well-deserved, but please bring us some more this greatness please!

RATED : ( R )

WRITING : ( 9 / 10 )

STORY : ( 8 / 10 ) 

COVER : ( 9 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 10 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: The Incredible Hulk: Planet Hulk

PLOT: Savage alien planet. Oppressed barbarian tribes. Corrupt emperor. Deadly woman warrior. Gladiators and slaves. Battle axes and hand blasters. Monsters and heroes... and the Incredible Hulk! Let the smashing commence!

REVIEW: To say that I'm a Hulk-sized fan of The Incredible Hulk would be incorrect, though I do put a lot of value to the character. I was one of few who was impressed by his appearances in film recently, but I haven't read too many comics. Planet Hulk was one of the first I've ever read, and I have to say I was pretty blown away. The story is great, Hulk has been launched off to another, more primitive planet, and has to make a new life and name for himself. But he doesn't just find one name on this new planet, he finds many because of the many people's lives he touches upon arrival. This is a really cool original story for the Hulkster, and obviously it really wouldn't work for much anyone else in the Marvel universe. I geeked a little bit when the Hulk and Silver Savage did battle, and the fact that Savage was using the surfboard as a shield was just plain badass. With this, I would definitely continue into reading some more original Hulk stories as this one has done a lot to surprise me. Hulk is a great character, and I never really saw him that way until I read this and then the bit written at the end by the author saying how great of a story Planet Hulk is for him and truly displays his potential for fiction and sequential art. This is a must-read for any Marvel or Hulk fans looking for a new book, or possibly non-Marvel fans looking for a good book to get into.

WRITING : ( 7 / 10 )
ARTWORK : ( 9 / 10 )
STORY : ( 8 / 10 )
COVERS : ( 8 / 10 )
AWESOME : ( 8 / 10 )
FINAL RATING : ( 8 / 10 )

REVIEW: Star Trek Into Darkness

PLOT: After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.

REVIEW: 4 years ago I was sitting in a movie theater catching the trailer for Star Trek directed by J.J. Abrams in front of a movie I'm sure I was excited as all hell to see. Watching that trailer, I know that I was sitting there laughing and mocking that a film was being made to reboot the franchise on screen. The trailer was packed full of action and intensity, and thought for sure there wasn't anything left for the film to deliver. I was mighty wrong at the time, and when I finally saw the movie and was able to have a fair opinion, I was blown away. Abrams had taken a television show that I only watched as a kid after hours because there was nothing else on a non-cable TV, and turned it into a hot commodity again. Now imagine my excitement for Star Trek Into Darkness after having been so pleasantly surprised by its predecessor, and you will understand my expectations for it. For me this was the first big blockbuster of the summer, and it most definitely held to the expectations. I was really happy getting to see this on the big screen, and I absolutely cannot wait to watch it again mainly for Benedict Cumberbatch's villain but there are plenty of reasons to want to see this again.

All of the main cast is back, which was a welcome sight as I thought for sure they'd be missing at least one important piece if a return trip on the Enterprise was to come to fruition. Chris Pine returns as Captain Kirk and does another passable job as one of the franchise's titular heroes. Chris Pine emerged onto the scene after the first Star Trek film and I can't say that he has impressed me much outside of said role. He seems like a fairly typical actor, one that could be replaced at the drop of a hat, but he is great as Kirk under pressure. He captures the intensity of a captain that would do anything for his crew, and his ship, in either order. Zachary Quinto returns as well to play Spock, and still is just as impressive as before. I was always a fan of Quinto's work on Heroes as the main villain of the show, and even his turns in small movie roles or other shows like American Horror Story. He can definitely get the job done, and had you asked me who should play Spock before I could have never told you. Now, I'd have no other suggestion other than him, because he seems so perfectly fit for the role and does an outstanding job acting it.

Also returning was Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Spock's new girlfriend, and turns in a great moment or two towards the beginning of the movie with her newfound love. There is an unusual chemistry between the two, even though they are two completely different characters and actors as well. Karl Urban is back as Bones, and seems to provide a lot of the great, perfect moment punchlines in Star Trek Into Darkness. I think where Spock's schtick became expected and not as funny as it was the first time around, Bones' sense of humor solidified and became the comic relief in this sequel. Simon Pegg, one of my favorite actors because of my favorite film Shaun of the Dead, is back as Scotty in limited time, as well as John Cho as Sulu. Anton Yelchin is again hilarous as Chekov, and gets to take Pegg's dropped on screen time for himself and makes the most of it. And last but not least, the voice himself Mr. Bruce Greenwood is back for the second round.

With such a large cast of returning talent, one wonders what new people they could bring on board that are going to really bring something new to the franchise. So they pick up Benedict Cumberbatch, recently popularized from his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on BBC's Sherlock (which is bloody brilliant by the way, check it out). Cumberbatch stands out as Star Trek Into Darkness' best, and plays an incredible dual villain/hero type that so easily draws the viewer in. His cold demeanor but overflowing intelligence give you an easy but unsettling feeling as you discover more and more about him throughout the story. Kirk and crew's first encounter with him in enemy territory is freaking awesome, and who knew Cumberbatch could come off as such a bad ass, which he does with ease in said scene. Also new to the crew is Alice Eve, who plays a fairly significant role in the film and of course is never hard to look at on screen. She for some reason reminds me of one of my most hated actresses, Nicole Kidman, but I really do enjoy seeing her in films.

J.J. Abrams again turns in a phenomenal product as he did with the first Star Trek, and really left me wanting a third film to complete what would be a very epic trilogy. The special effects in Star Trek Into Darkness are obviously great, and the music is well done indeed. The movie doesn't let up once it starts, much like the first, and it keeps up with it as well. I pretty much got exactly what I expected out of it, and I can't complain or whine for any more than what I was given. There was a classic moment retold, and a great villain constructed at the hands of a sci-fi storytelling master. Tons of great moments to cheer for the Enterprise, and just as many to question the motives of the movie's main villain. Oh yeah, and seeing future Spock again was of course absolutely entertaining.

ACTING : ( 7 / 10 )

STORY : ( 8 / 10 )

EXECUTION : ( 8 / 10 )

POSTER : ( 9 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 9 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 8 / 10 )

REVIEW: Hellblazer, Volume Two: The Devil You Know

PLOT: To Hell and Back. It's been a long and difficult road for John Constantine – one that's left him with demon's blood in his veins and dead friends' voices in his head. Still, with his sharp tongue and unequaled shrewdness, the sorcerer from Liverpool has manged to raise himself to a position as rarefied as it is dangerous: being the magician of last resort for a world under constant siege from the forces of chaos and evil. That same rough path has also sharpened his mind, and taught him a thing or two about ruthlessness. Now, with the outcome of an ancient prophecy hanging on his actions, it's time for Constantine to bring the scales of justice back into balance – at Hell's expense.

REVIEW: After having read the first volume of the New Editions of Hellblazer, I wasn't really expecting too much from this second volume. The problem that I had with the first reoccurred here, because again I found myself struggling to make much sense of what was going on. I definitely understand that this comic is supposed to be fucked up, and it's supposed to be gross and terrifying and Hellish. But this comic is proof that shock value doesn't always equate to quality, and Constantine's narrative really lacks direction at times. I'd both love and hate to get inside the mind of Jamie Delano for 5 minutes, and 5 minutes only. Where Hellblazer lacks a real major arc, there are some good stories in here. The 2 Horrorist issues were fantastic, as was the art in them. I wasn't much of a fan of the middle story with the weird old people wizards or whatever they were. The first issue of the volume was definitely the most messed up of all though. I really want to like these because they are what one could consider "horror comics" but I think this lacks in places that today a horror comic would really thrive. Reading these New Editions really just makes me really want to get my hands on some New 52 Constantine. The artwork in these Hellblazer comics is also outstanding, reminiscent of some Sandman work. But I continue to struggle with the undeniably depressing, dark and disorienting stories of Mr. John Constantine.

WRITING : ( 6 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 9 / 10 )

STORY : ( 4 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 8 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 7 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 6 / 10 )

REVIEW: Joe the Barbarian

PLOT: Collecting the acclaimed 8-issue miniseries! Joe is an imaginative eleven-year-old boy. He can't fit in at school. He's the victim of bullies. His dad died overseas in the Iraq war. He also suffers from Type 1 diabetes. One fateful day, his condition causes him to believe he has entered a vivid fantasy world in which he is the lost savior—a fantastic land based on the layout and contents of his home. His desperate attempts to make it out of his bedroom transform into an incredible, epic adventure through a bizarre landscape of submarine pirate dwarves, evil Hell Hounds, Lightning Lords and besieged castles. But is his quest really just an insulin deprived delirium—from which he can die if he doesn't take his meds—or something much bigger?

REVIEW: I'm half tempted to just write "wow" and leave the review at that, because that is how stunned I am by Joe the Barbarian. I picked this up not really knowing what to expect, but figure that if Grant Morrison had written it, that it was at least worth a shot. I have a love/hate relationship with Morrison as he's been hit or miss with me in the past. I love his work on Batman for the most part, but All-Star Superman never hooked me (not that any Superman comic really has yet). This is the best comic I've read this year in 2013, I have been blown away with everything about this graphic novel. I don't want to go too much into how the side-by-side stories relate to one another, because it's so wonderful to read on the page as we follow our hero Joe through the book. I do love the little cameos by familiar characters throughout the book as well, which gives the story it's very hyper-fantasy feel.

Grant Morrison writes a story that serves as two stories in one, and reminds me of other fiction I've read before but he gives it his own cool spin. It's truly just great writing, as Morrison proves once again that there's a reason behind his name being towards the top of the list when it comes to original comic writers today. I really like Joe as the main character, even though he's a young boy and is obviously struggling throughout the book, he's never completely down or out. His love for life and his pet Jack are brought to life through Morrison's writing, but also the artwork of Sean Murphy who does an outstanding and remarkable job here. This is an A+ comic all the way around, and after reading this entire brilliant volume, one can only hope that Grant Morrison either has more Joe the Barbarian or similar quality stuff still in him. It's not really a super complex story, which can sometimes be expected from Morrison, and that's what amazes me so much is the simplicity of the story yet the gigantic emotional and visual punch it packs is out of this world.

This book is a must-read for all fans of comics and/or fantasy. You will not be disappointed. A beautiful book, truly amazing.

WRITING : ( 9 / 10 )
ARTWORK : ( 9 / 10 )
STORY : ( 10 / 10 )
COVERS : ( 8 / 10 )
AWESOME : ( 10 / 10 )
FINAL RATING : ( 10 / 10 )

REVIEW: Fantastic Four, Volume One: New Departure, New Arrivals

PLOT: We have seen the future and it will be fantastic! When Reed and Sue decide that the family needs to relax, they take Ben, Johnny and the kids on a little vacation ... through all of infinite time and space! And in the real absence of Marvel's First Family, a substitute FF, hand-picked by the real deal - Ant-Man, Medusa, She-Hulk and the all-new Miss Thing - stand ready to guard the Earth and the nascent Future Foundation ... for the four minutes that the Fantastic Four will be gone. What could possibly go wrong? Find out NOW!

REVIEW: I just have to say that this was such a great surprise after having read the first volume of the Marvel NOW! Iron Man because that was hugely disappointing. This however, was pretty awesome. I really loved the storyline that's in this volume with the Fantastic Four leaving regular Earth into a different time and space, so they have to pick replacements for themselves even though they will only be gone four minutes (convenient huh?). Though, to the Fantastic they will be gone a year, and the reason for leaving is very important to the future of the Four. This just had a really great story, and typically when Marvel goes into space I'm not much of a fan but the writer does a great job of making the story interesting despite the Fantastic Four actually leaving. The artwork is great, and I have to say this book had a really great sense of humor. I actually chuckled out loud a few times, especially with The Thing. Oh, and I have to say that John Storm that comes back through the portal is just straight-up creepy looking, but awesome at the same time. Where's that guy in some of the books? That could be a serious side-plot with a dark Storm like that, with how creepy he looks it really drew me in. So now, we're one for two on Marvel NOW! titles. I hope the others that I get the chance to read are much more like this one.

WRITING : ( 6 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 7 / 10 )

STORY : ( 8 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 7 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 7 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 7 / 10 )