REVIEW: Justice League, Volume Two: The Villain's Journey

PLOT: Now that the team's origin story is complete, we shift to the present-day Justice League! What has changed? Who has joined the team since? And why does Green Arrow want to join those ranks so badly? Plus, the birth of a new super-villain! Someone is out to get the Justice League and he is determined to show the world how mortal these godlike beings really are!

REVIEW: I'm no longer that surprised anymore when I read a New 52 graphic novel, and find it to be so great that I just can't believe it took so long to do what they've done with all of these heroes. The first volume of Justice League was great, and probably the easiest and quickest read of all the New 52. It sets up their origin for how they came to be with each other, and it pits all of their personalities against one another and shows how dynamic of a group they are. One of the strengths in this book is the display of that very same thing, the bond and familiarity they have with one another's quirks and personalities is great. Everyone has a different way of speaking, or going about things, and in small arguments they use those to make fun of each other or bring someone back to reality. There are quite a few directed at Batman, which I really enjoy, because to this Justice League they're all pretty aware that Batman is the best of them and that's why they've agreed that he's the leader. That however, does not keep them from making fun of him, as he's often on the receiving end of this team's humor.

There are a lot of other things I love about this volume of Justice League, one of them being I think in the second issue of the collection where Green Arrow will stop at nothing to keep trying to butt in and join their team in a battle to prove he's worthy of the League. The way they show it battle after battle, from each page to the next really added to the humor of it and is probably really great set up for what is to come. Also, the villain was awesome. He goes by Graves, and he is able to bring the Justice League to their knees with weakness because his power is showing people their loss, and using it to incapacitate them. He's a great villain for them because no one in the Justice League is short on loss, and missing a loved one. I just also love the dark storylines that New 52 has had no problem incorporating into their new world, and making it really accessible for adults, as much as teens. As usual, I would highly recommend this volume of New 52 Justice League, as well as any other New 52 title out there right now. In addition, I'm not sure what all of the fuss was about with Wonder Woman kissing Superman. I get it, and it doesn't bother me, but it did come out of nowhere and in a pretty much cookie cutter chick flick moment between the two at the end of the volume. They could have at least used a little creativity in putting them together, but hey they might just be super wonderful together. Who knows.

WRITING : ( 9 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 9 / 10 )

STORY : ( 9 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 8 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 9 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: Assassin's Code

PLOT: When Joe Ledger and Echo Team rescue a group of American college kids held hostage in Iran,the Iranian government then asks them to help find six nuclear bombs planted in the Mideast oil fields. These stolen WMDs will lead Joe and Echo Team into hidden vaults of forbidden knowledge, mass-murder, betrayal, and a brotherhood of genetically-engineered killers with a thirst for blood. Accompanied by the beautiful assassin called Violin, Joe follows a series of clues to find the Book of Shadows, which contains a horrifying truth that threatens to shatter his entire worldview. They say the truth will set you free… Not this time. The secrets of the Assassin’s Code will set the world ablaze.

REVIEW: This series continues to amaze me. After dealing with Nazi scientists, zombies, and weaponized plague I figured all of the conventional science fiction plots turned non-fiction were all used up. Maberry takes what is a seemingly unrealistic story line and puts the realistic twist on it, as he has done with the rest of the series prior to Assassin's Code. I have to say I was blown away by this fourth entry in the Joe Ledger series, because not only did I not expect vampires when I first picked this book up, but I expected certain villains to play a crucial role in this novel. I haven't read vampires done this well since I read Guilermo del Toro's The Strain and two follow-up novels, and I was highly impressed with the mythos that Maberry weaves for his own vampires in the Joe Ledger series. I don't know if this is the first time he's tackled vampires, but he went about it really well and created them in a realistic world. The most important thing about this book is that it could have gone either way depending on how the vampires were viewed by the reader, and I saw some of the most inventive vampires that aren't particularly scary but you can almost relate to their story, you can understand them. That can be scary all on its own I suppose, and to see a vampire story written with some creativity and uniqueness to it is great in these trying vampire literature times.

Joe Ledger is his usual self, but it's really his disbelief in everything that is going on throughout the book that really sells it in the end. He has the reaction that most of us probably would, to the statement that vampires are not imaginary. When Ledger discovers that vampires may be a threat, even then he doesn't believe it, until he's pretty well convinced by his team members that what he's seeing is true. He even encounters a vampire early on in the book, and comes up with about every excuse possible to believe that he didn't just fight a supernatural being. I love Joe's mindset throughout Assassin's Code and it really fits and helps the reader relate and believe that this is plausible because Joe has so much trouble accepting his mission this time around. Of course, Joe's trusty sidekick Ghost is back and better than ever. Ghost has a rough go of it this time around and gets plenty beat up and it's kind of hard to read in certain moments, but he does get his ultimate revenge on the bad guys so don't worry about that.

This book sees the loss of a few characters, but addition of a couple others that may be future side characters from here on out. Joe meets the deadly, but beautiful assassin who calls herself Violin and almost falls in love with her before they ever even meet. I liked Violin because she is kind of like Joe, in terms of personality, but she belongs to a different secret task force that is directed by the Mother, Lilith. I liked the addition of all these different groups this time around, that show that the DMS is not the only one out there fighting evil in the world. Also a lot of historical mythology is added to the Joe Ledger series, that pertains to The Red Order and the vampires and how it all came to be with the Inquisition and holy wars of the past. I really liked Maberry's use of interludes to go back and show the past of these groups of both people, and vampire, and also go more in depth for Nicodemus. I have to say that Nicodemus literally gives me the creeps, and I love that he's still pretty well present and scheming in the background of the books. This book again, is probably the best one since The Dragon Factory, and that's not to say The King of Plagues sucked. My favorite is probably now this one, because the blend of realism that Maberry brings to the Joe Ledger stories, combined with something completely supernatural had me turning pages faster than ever before with Joe Ledger. Thank you Mr. Maberry, oh thank you and now to read Extinction Machine next, the most current Joe Ledger novel!

RATED : ( R )

WRITING : ( 10 / 10 )

STORY : ( 10 / 10 )

COVER : ( 7 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 10 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 10 / 10 )

TOP TEN TUESDAY: They're Goin' Fast!

This weekend sees the first weekend of what I would consider the end of summer, as all of the blockbuster hits have now hit the theaters. Now as we shift into the fall season, our movies shift into wannabe blockbusters and straight up crap. There isn't a whole lot on the menu for this weekend except for a couple of subpar movies, at least as far as I can tell. There is the heavily advertised Closed Circuit releasing tomorrow on a Wednesday, which touts rave reviews in its commercials, but one probably couldn't find the positive blurbs in a review online with a magnifying glass. Brian DePalma's Passion will also be out in limited release this weekend, but hasn't really received the greatest of praise either. There are two big hits this weekend though, which I guess could still consider this weekend a summer movie weekend. First, is the music documentary One Direction: This Is Us which probably already has lines of teenage girls waiting outside of theaters and skipping school for the entire week just to see (probably not actually). I couldn't care less about this concert film from One Direction, because I know there is only one direction for this boy band to head in the next 5 years, and that is down. I don't need to know who you are through the lens of a biased view, most likely yourselves, when you can tell that most of you are not that kind of people girls and boys should be looking up to. The other film releasing this weekend is Getaway with Ethan Hawke which has had some buzz surrounding it because of his co-star, Selena Gomez. Gomez has been trying to shift into more adult roles since her departure from the Disney network, and has had a big year in film but not really the most well received. I watched Spring Breakers the other day and it wasn't a great movie at all, but she also wasn't in it that much and she wasn't particularly the wild girl everyone was all worried that she would be. She played the more reserved girl of the four, and I'm sure Getaway will also show that she still has too much innocence about her to start getting all evil on us now, but only time will tell. This week's list is inspired by the release of Getaway, and I will count down my top ten favorite car movies. There's some great ones that I'm sure I haven't seen, and there are going to be some about cars, and some about the people who drive them. This is my list, vroom vroom!

10. Jeepers Creepers (2001)

Because I had to riddle my list with horror films, there are seemingly a lot of movies that came to mind when I thought of cars and horror together. The Hitcher, both remake and original, came to mind but didn't quite make the cut, though I enjoy them both equally. Jeepers Creepers however was one of those films that looks like a run of the mill scary movie, but really creates its own mythos in the real world that can really get under your skin, like The Creeper can. The title doesn't really do any justice to this film, as it's really one of the scariest and most original horror blockbusters I've seen since the year 2000. Also, Justin Long stars along with Gina Philips, and Long now predominately being a comedian, it's funny to see him in this more serious type of role. They are road tripping through the country when they believe that they have seen a man dump a body into a well, or a hole, and decide to investigate. Once they do, it kicks off the chase of the film, with The Creeper using his creepy beat-up truck to chase them down for what they've done. Even though our two main characters have a vehicle in the film, there's a lingering feeling of danger even though they're capable of escape on wheels. Any film that makes you feel as if the horrors are inescapable, even if your protagonists have an automobile, has to be a great horror film.

9. Death Proof (2007)

I really wasn't a fan of Death Proof when it first came out in unison with Planet Terror when it was all titled Grindhouse and part of the same movie. Then I saw the director's cut edition of Death Proof and I enjoyed it much more. It truly is the revival of Kurt Russell and his rough, gruff character that he seems cut out to play, but it never really took off for him after that. Two separate groups of girls fall victim to Stuntman Mike and his Death Proof car, but the latter of the two fights back and shows that Stuntman Mike himself, may not be death proof. I really do love the story, however gruesome it may be, that a stunt car driver has a car rigged up to be completely safe for him, but extremely dangerous for a passenger. It's a truly demented thought, a driver that executes his victim from behind the wheel while they're actually in the car, or I guess could be out of it as well. When Mike meets his match, it's a group of death proof girls that find a way to take Mike and his car down once and for all. This is written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, so the director's cut has dialogue in abundance, but once it gets to the action it is well worth it. It's also, obviously, a Tarantino movie, so expect lewd conversation, crude humor, and plenty of blood and violence because it's all there.

8. Joy Ride (2001)

I had a friend that always told me about this film and how much I would like it. I never saw it because I'm not a big Paul Walker fan, though I do enjoy Running Scared and actor/comedian Steve Zahn quite a bit. I didn't really know that it was what it was until someone explained it to me, someone being my friend, and how it sort of is a horror movie. When I finally saw it, my oh my, it's definitely a horror film but also functions as a really good suspense thriller, which is what it is typically classified as. When a group of three friends on a road trip decide to mess with a trucker over a CB radio, they find it could have been the worst idea they've ever had. When the trucker is looking for a girl, they decide to play with him and become Candy Cane, the trucker's girl of his dreams. The trucker seemingly only wants some lovin', but when he finds out that a group of three people were really playing a game with him, the real game begins. He then chases them in their car, from his semi-truck, and puts them through a grueling series of tests and tasks to get revenge on them. It's really a great suspense film, and definitely a good film for horror fans to check out if they've never seen it. What was supposed to be a Joy Ride, turns into a nightmare on wheels.

7. Christine (1983)

The famous car that kills! Christine is one of the several tales from Stephen King that was adapted for film, this one in particular was made during the 80's. It's about a car that young kid buys to have a new, cool car, but it turns out to be something else entirely. Christine has a mind of her own, and she's not a car that plays nice. As Christine unveils her evil ways throughout the film, Arnie, who purchased the car, starts to adopt the car's behavior and personality. It gives him what he wants, because he becomes the badass personality that he never could have been without the new car. This was the reason for getting the car, but as things start to get out of hand it becomes apparent that no one can stop the car. It all sounds very silly in theory, but Christine will actually make you think twice about the next time you see a dormant car on the side of the road at night, especially a clunker or a classic. It's a completely plausible concept now too with the way technology is that a car could have a mind of its own, but when this car turns on the headlights you better know to run the other way. The first movie on the list to sport a classic car, is also a classic film, especially in the horror genre and it's highly recommended.

6. Speed Racer (2008)

The first film for the brothers Wachowski after creating one of science fiction's most decorated films, as well as one of the most thought provoking films still today in The Matrix, was the live action adaptation of Speed Racer. To keep with the cartoon style of the obvious cartoon it was based on, they used a lot of green screen and bright, vivid colors to create the world of Speed. The film wasn't really well-reviewed when it came out in the theaters, so I avoided it even though I was interested to see it. Then when it was released on video I was able to check it out with my free rentals when I worked at Blockbuster. What I saw blew my mind, visually and emotionally because I still don't understand to this day why this movie was bashed by the critics. First of all, it's a family movie and you're not going to receive some ultimate concept or thought-provoking idea in a Speed Racer whether it's directed by the Wachowskis or anyone else. What it does provide is a great story of a tight-knit family and how they deal with the stresses of loss and betrayal, and family matters from here to there. I think the overall story of the film, and the lessons taught are brilliant, and it's all wrapped up in a beautiful package. Yeah it may be mostly CGI that holds this movie together, and it's corny at times with the cartoon-like action, but it's truly a brilliant film in my opinion. The car races are out of this world too, and if you have a Blu-ray player this is definitely a title worth purchasing for your machine. With the bright colors, fast-paced races, and zany action, you're going to be amazed at just how compelling a futuristic children's racecar movie can be.

5. The Italian Job (2003)

Another movie I never wanted to see because I used to really dislike Marky Mark, The Italian Job is a remake of the 1969 film of the same name. I can't say that I've seen the original, but I finally did check out the remake because it starred my favorite actor, Edward Norton. It's kind of a bummer that he's not in it as much as the other stars like Mark Wahlberg and Jason Statham, but it's still a good action movie all the same. It's also one of the better heist movies, as that is essentially what it is. It comes to the point though where this heist can only be pulled off if they use Mini Coopers, which were just being released in a common market about the time this movie came out. I remember after this movie, seeing a lot of Mini Coopers on the road and it had to have been the slick car chase action that got this trend going for a couple of years after its release. This movie also has one of the greatest car chases, or car scenes, of all-time. It's a chase so well liked that even my local amusement park that is now Cedar Fair Amusements, but used to be owned by Paramount, had a ride that was for the movie and sat you in little Mini Cooper cars and shot you around a stunt track that resembled familiar scenes from the movie.

4. Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000)

Some of you know by now that I have a strong dislike for Nicolas Cage, however, there are some films that I really appreciate his horrible acting in. There's not a single movie that Cage is in that I think he acts it well, but sometimes his one-way delivery and quirky acting can really benefit a character in a movie. Gone in Sixty Seconds is one of those films, and it's a remake of a 1974 film with the same name. I remember liking this film at the time because I was into model cars, and Nicolas Cage has to steal 50 cars in one night to save his brother's life. He hires a team to help him do it, one of those people being Angelina Jolie, and there is one car that evades the team because of how rare and awesome it is. It was a 1969 Shelby Mustang GT500 that they had the most trouble in finding, and I had just built a model car of the same exact car when the movie came out. I had a bit of an obsession about it, but I did really enjoy the movie. I even sold my copy after awhile when the model cars became less of an interest, and I discovered how truly awful Cage's acting i]was. But once I saw the movie again at an older age, I saw how awesome the movie truly was and how many really cool cars you get to see stolen in the film.

3. Days of Thunder (1990)

If you don't like Tom Cruise, you're probably really going to disagree with me here but Days of Thunder is easily one of my favorite Tom Cruise movies and it's because this one is all about horsepower baby. Cole Trickle is the young racer coming up in the ranks of the pros, and he gets his chance to become one of the greatest racers in the game. A film directed by the late Tony Scott, it really was a great drama to analyze the career of an athlete after he goes from the hottest thing on the track, to the lowest thing off the track. I really like Days of Thunder because of Cruise's eccentric acting that really sells the youth in stardom role he is playing, and it's extremely entertaining too. You don't have to be a fan of NASCAR to enjoy this film, but it definitely has some loud engine moments as there's plenty of racing to be had. If you don't like Cruise, then you can get out, but I highly recommend Days of Thunder to anyone who hasn't seen it, because in my opinion it really is that great of a movie. This isn't the only Tom Cruise movie though to make my list this week. Also, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is a pretty direct parody of this film, and is also worth watching but was omitted from the list due to lack of actual car scenes and is mostly spoof of Days of Thunder.

2. Collateral (2004)

I'll never forget my mom taking me to the theater to see this film when it came out because it had Tom Cruise in it, and I really wanted to see it because it had Jamie Foxx in it, but it was rated R. We both got what we wanted from our respective actors, but I think we also were surprised by each other's actors in the process. This was one of those movies that blew me away the first time I saw it, with how great it was and how great the actors were in it. It's a really suspenseful film, and mostly all of it either takes place in the cab or somewhere that Foxx has driven them in the cab. Cruise plays a hitman who traps Foxx, the cab driver, into taking him around town and being his driver in a sequence of hits that piles up the bodies and gets them into trouble. The two actors were great together in this film and Foxx was even nominated for an Academy award for his role in the film. Directed by Michael Mann, this pulse-pounding thriller was a huge surprise to film goers and was also one of the better suspense thrillers to come out of last decade. The soundtrack for the film is on point, the car scenes are suspenseful, and every last bit of action between Foxx and Cruise is intense. I highly recommend Collateral to all that haven't seen it.

1. The Fast and the Furious (2001)

The definitive car movie of my generation, and now series, is The Fast and the Furious. There are now six films in the series, and there are more on the way I'm sure as they continue to add big names to the series and have used Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to re-energize the franchise back into success. They are huge money makers, but there is a reason for that. These films are probably the most straight forward about cars, for cars, and for people who love cars. You see cars in these films that you never knew could exist before then, and though it's a fictional movie with mostly non-fictional cars, it's all in a reality based world. I loved the first film, and the race scene when Paul Walker's character first gets into the illegal street racing scene is one of the best car scenes of any film. Pop this film into a Blu-ray player and play that scene on repeat and I'd be a happy camper. I really don't feel that there is any movie out there that even comes close in starring downright bad (bad in a good way) cars alongside so-so action stars to create an explosion of manly awesomeness. Ask any car buff if they've seen these movies, and they'll usually say yes. They're not the greatest of films, but they're highly entertaining, and if cars can give you thrills, these are the ones you're looking for.

REVIEW: The World's End

PLOT: Five friends who reunite in an attempt to top their epic pub crawl from 20 years earlier unwittingly become humankind's only hope for survival.

REVIEW: The World's End was my most highly anticipated movie of the year, considering that this troupe's first hit film in Shaun of the Dead is my absolute favorite film to watch at any time. That film then spawned Hot Fuzz, which was a smart parody of sorts but this time of the action genre and not zombies. Then the fan base cried for more, and because of small connections between the first two, the group of films then became known as the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy because of the reappearance of Cornetto ice cream in the first two films. It became a trilogy as well due to the "three flavors" of genre chosen by Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost to be parodied but at the same time you could say that these films are intricate studies of the genres as well. I for one absolutely love Shaun of the Dead because of its commentary on the genre of zombie film as well as it being a really great zombie film all on its own. I've found that something special is always present in Edgar Wright's films and it isn't the comedy that is so rewarding, but it's that it is done with so much care that he doesn't take away from it being part of the genre it's making fun of.

The World's End is probably the weakest of Edgar Wright's three films in this "series", but that doesn't mean at all that it is subpar in any way. Wright has yet again found a way to perfectly blend the sense of humor of his character actors Simon and Nick, as well as analyzing a genre that he's gotten closer and closer to in his career over the last few years. With the possibility, and proable reality of his Ant-Man film being made in the next few years, it's nice to see that his exercise in the genre of science fiction went quite well because that's where he's going to be spending a good amount of time soon. Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World also was a great example of how his style of filmmaking not only analyzes and parodies the subject material, but becomes part of it simultaneously. The World's End takes all of the typical happenings of a science fiction coming to Earth story, and makes it his own via his band of merry pranksters that I couldn't see ever disbanding. I hope to all that is holy that these three continue to make films and that there could even be a possibility for another trilogy of the same type would be a great one.

Simon Pegg plays the rogue type, nothing is off limits personality this time around as he's edged closer and closer towards it in the previous two. In the first film he played a very down on his luck, almost shy guy with not a clue as to how the real world worked and Nicholas Angel in Hot Fuzz was a little closer to that bad ass personality but not quite to this degree. Pegg plays as the one and only Gary King, or The King if you'd like, and he's planning to assemble his group of friends back together from high school to attempt The Golden Mile. The Golden Mile is a pub crawl in their hometown of Newton Haven that involves drinking a pint at each and every pub in a certain order to complete the challenge. In high school they were unable to complete the mile as it became riddled with issues and distractions, which is explained at the beginning of the film and surely missed by the end of the film. I love Pegg's rough side on display here, and he really breathes a lot of life into the film because even though the rest of the actors playing the friends in the film are great, they don't bring quite as much energy as Gary.

Nick Frost stars sort of alongside Pegg again as Andy Knightley, his high school friend and practically brother, who is on the wiser end of the list when it comes to the group in its entirety. Throughout the film an event is referenced as a reason that Andy would never speak to Gary again, and it's one of the questions that lingers throughout the film and is perfectly revealed towards the end. The friendship on display in these films though between the two actors always appears so authentic, and I think that's what makes their relationships between their characters in these films so special. You can see the love between these two guys, and despite them playing characters in movies they always seem to be true to each other in a special way that brings chemistry to the characters in the film. I personally thought that this film was a stronger outing for Nick Frost, who has continually played the bumbling idiot in Wright's films, is now playing the wiser, smarter, and more mature character of the two, and actually all five here in The World's End. I was happy to see that despite Simon Pegg's obvious turn as the main character, Frost was able to star alongside and be the role model of the group when he typically isn't.

Also in the film is the star of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Martin Freeman, who is already a proven actor but is now a little more well known due to his portrayal of Bilbo Baggins. He also stars in BBC's Sherlock series as Watson, and does a fantastic job in that show, but here he plays the slick and suave O-Man. Along with Paddy Considine and Eddie Marsan, they round out the other three of the group who are as much involved as the rest and each have their own quirks. Out of the three I particularly liked Peter Page, who is played by Eddie Marsan, and his strange relationship with certain characters in the film, including Gary King. He wasn't really the bravest or funniest of the three, but he was the easiest to laugh at and he has quite possibly the best comedic moment in the film towards the end. The group of them played out really well together and I was worried about adding the other three after the first two films in the unofficial trilogy mainly starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost with each other and using the others as side characters. This time around they are part of a bigger group, but it all works for the better and provides for some interesting story when it gets down to the nitty gritty.

I really liked this film a lot, and even though it doesn't even come close to Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz for me, I would still rank it amongst some of my favorite comedies. Edgar Wright's stylized direction for the sci-fi/comedy romp comes in handy as The Network (name for the aliens) surges to life in a pub's men's restroom and steadily becomes the threat that our group of silly heroes face. I still can't see Edgar Wright doing any wrong when it comes to film, and I'm extremely excited to see him now get to work on Marvel's Ant-Man and let's hope that the news of Nick Frost being Hank Pym is true (not really, but it was a funny joke). I can't recommend this loose trilogy to people enough, as the first two films are among probably my top five favorite comedies of all-time and this one, while it may not rank amongst some of the greatest, it is extremely enjoyable. Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz even rank pretty highly in their respective genres, because they are that great. The mindless robotic violence that is present throughout the film is highly entertaining, and I love the way the "gore" is presented in blue. It's all very fun, and not once through the film does it drag and feel like you need it to hurry to the next part. Each bit is slowly revealed after the previous one, and more and more is found out about The Network as it progresses to its apocalyptic end. The fight scenes were probably some of the funniest as the combat against these alien foes was completely outrageous, and Nick gets to have a good old Hulk Smash moment, or two, or three. All in good fun seems to be Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost's mantra as a group, because the conclusion to the Three Flavours Cornetto is as entertaining as ever and leaves you again wanting more from this well-directed dynamic duo.

ACTING : ( 9 / 10 )

STORY : ( 8 / 10 )

EXECUTION : ( 10 / 10 )

POSTER : ( 6 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 9 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: Before Watchmen: Minutemen/Silk Spectre

PLOT: As the predecessor to the Watchmen, the Minutemen were assembled to fight against a world that have more and more rapidly begun to spin out of control. Can these heroes from completely different backgrounds and with completely different attitudes on crime come together? Or will they fall apart before they begin? SILK SPECTRE takes an introspective look at the WATCHMEN feature player's struggles with her overbearing superhero mother and her scattered path toward taking the mantle of the Silk Spectre.

REVIEW: Before Watchmen has either gotten more dull as I've read through the collected volumes, or I read them in the perfect order of quality that I'm now getting to the crappy volumes. I wasn't so much a fan of this volume that chronicles the story of the Minutemen told mostly through the eyes of Nite Owl. I liked the side plot, that seemed like it should have been the main plot, of Hooded Justice and the missing children but it didn't really progress as quickly and as predominately as it should have. Everyone practically knows the small story of the Minutemen as present in the original Watchmen graphic novel and even the movie. The Silk Spectre half was also decent, but again it was just a lot of background to something that already been explained well enough for me the first go around. I'm finding that a lot of these Before Watchmen arcs center on characters that were already pretty well fleshed out and didn't need much more explaining, as I've gotten to more familiar characters and they've gotten less entertaining. Plus what is with writing so much on each and every page, I find a lot of the thought bubbles and informational boxes are pretty unnecessary and I wish there was a lot less to read because it's all pretty boring. This volume and the last one I read suffer from what I like to call, over-writing, because there's too much written on the page that the reader doesn't need to know at all because most of us reading these, read the original Watchmen graphic novel. I know these comics could have been a lot better if they wouldn't have tried to be so entirely faithful to being exact and precise prequels to Watchmen. Here's hoping that the one I have left will be better than the rest of them, because Comedian and Rorschach were the two best characters and that's the volume I haven't read. Plus if Azzarello is involved, odds are that I'm going to enjoy myself right?

WRITING : ( 6 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 6 / 10 )
STORY : ( 4 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 7 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 3 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 5 / 10 )

REVIEW: Batman: The Dark Knight, Volume Two: Cycle of Violence

PLOT: The Scarecrow has returned to Gotham City, but he's no longer the meek punching bag Batman is used to. The villainous genius has always preyed on the worst fears of his victims, but has refined his legendary fear toxin to even greater effectiveness and deadlier consequences. As the Scarecrow's origin is unfurled, Batman must find out not only how to conquer this dangerous psychopath, but how to beat his own worst fear.

REVIEW: Yet another brilliant New 52 Batman entry. Batman: The Dark Knight, Volume Two: Cycle of Violence does amazingly dark things for the character of Scarecrow and it really frightens on the page. The way that Scarecrow is drawn is just haunting, with his lips sewn together but still having the capability of talking. Hell, half his jaw is hanging off of his face for some of the book and he doesn't even seem to notice. Everything about this volume is dark and gritty, and it's unforgiving. Scarecrow is probably the scariest I've seen him in a Batman comic, and Batman is nearly at his most helpless against him. Struggling to remember why what he does is right by him, Scarecrow makes Bruce's journey through his mind that much more difficult when he loads him full of a new, and more powerful fear toxin. There aren't really any other villains in this book besides the Penguin who makes a small appearance when the Scarecrow is prepping his newest plot. This isn't the strongest of the New 52 Batman titles, but it surely makes a point to be one of the darker entries. If you like your Batman in the shadows with a side of spooky, this volume of Batman: The Dark Knight is definitely for you.

WRITING : ( 7 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 9 / 10 )

STORY : ( 8 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 9 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 9 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: You're Next

PLOT: When the Davison family comes under attack during their wedding anniversary getaway, the gang of mysterious killers soon learns that one of victims harbors a secret talent for fighting back.

REVIEW: I was lucky enough to get passes to an advance screening of this film last night, two days before its release, and I am so happy I was able to see this this week. With The World's End releasing this weekend I wasn't entirely sure if I was going to be able to make it out to see You're Next despite the great reviews and my unquenchable thirst for horror. You're Next is getting all kinds of rave reviews, similar to The Conjuring earlier this summer, for being not so much a unique kind of horror movie but more a formulaic, back to basics take on slashers. I have to say that just about every early review I've read up to this point is dead on. You're Next is nothing new, it's not original, and it's not even really all that creative. However, it's quite possibly the greatest and downright best slasher film I've seen in at least 10 years. At least to my recollection, You're Next is the best at getting all of the conventional slasher bits down pat but also never takes itself too seriously.

The best part about You're Next is that it blends in a sense of humor along with all of the horror. The movie isn't really that scary, but what it does it entertain the crowd like a horror movie should. Horror movies aren't really known to be films that the Academy chases after to praise, but they are movies that audiences chase after in hopes of their next scream or smile, however demented the latter may be. Some have gone as far as saying that this is a black comedy, or horror comedy, and I'd like to agree because while it has a very dark and serious look, the characters are a bunch of cartoon characters. There's one of every type of person present in the movie, and it's the one that nobody expects to be much else than what she is said to be, that ends up being the major player. I loved this part of the movie because no slasher movie is complete without its survivor girl, ask Leslie Vernon, and Sharni Vinson fits the bill perfectly.

For every cheesy line or awkward moment of dialogue that provides laughs, there is an equal reaction of disturbed violence or haunting visual to match it. There are quite a few scenes in the film that draw the heebie jeebies out from under the skin, one of which makes monsters under the bed seem like a dream in comparison. There's blendy of blood, and little to no gore (at least in my standards) and that allows for the kills at the end of the movie to pack a bigger punch. Sharni Vinson as Erin was the biggest surprise of the movie, as no one in the film struck an familiarity with me but she does an outstanding job emerging from the large group of characters and becoming the survival girl. At first, some could find it hard to believe her as the main protagonist but at the same time it's very believable that a young female college student would be the one to keep her head on straight in a crisis involving several people.

One of the things I really liked about the movie outside of the survival from masked killers put on by Erin, was the score behind the film. For me, it sounded an awful lot like an old 80's slasher film. It has the feel to it and it gives the film that strange feeling that you've been there before, or experienced this in some way shape or form, and enjoyed it. I think the score was one of many ways that You're Next was a love letter to its predecessors. It wasn't hugely original, but it paid homage to the classics that had been there and started in the game from the beginning. While it may have not been an entirely original story, it was definitely one of the freshest takes on the genre that we've seen in awhile. It's not a remake, or a reimagining, but it's a tribute to all those who came before them and dances carefully between the classics and the B-list horror movies that have tried to mimic those classic slashers and what made them as relevant as they are today over all the schlock that we've received since.

Even though it was pretty obvious to me that a few twists and turns were in store, I still had a ton of fun with You're Next. There are several twists at the end that leave you interested in the movie all the way through, but you'd have to be pretty oblivious not to know that some of them are coming. I didn't let any of that ruin the movie for me, as I kept the twists in the back of my head I was still able to enjoy whatever was taking place on the screen. You're Next's strongest quality is the fact that once it starts with a two-kill title intro, it never lets go and continues to build the suspense of the animal mask killers. I didn't find myself surprised or completely at a loss for what was going on once in the movie, but kill after kill provided plenty of entertainment. There really are no lulls in the film, and it paces itself very well for a slasher. Where most slashers have a lull in the center after extraneous characters are killed but the head honchos are headed towards, this one does a fairly good job of killing off one character at a time. The masks are particularly as scary as I imagined them to be, as the killers seem pretty human in motion and action and unlike most masked killers, they never seemed to be supernatural in any way. Maybe that's what makes You're Next so enjoyable and relatable for audiences. You pretty much know from beginning it's man vs. man, or man vs. woman in this case, and you really don't know who's going to come out on top in such an even matchup. You're Next definitely leaves me wondering though, what's next? For Adam Wingard, after successes with V/H/S and its sequel, and now this, many are wondering if this guy is the next real deal in the genre of horror. Only time will tell, and hopefully all you horror fans get out to see this movie this weekend, because that's all I have to say, You're Next.

ACTING : ( 6 / 10 )

STORY : ( 7 / 10 )

EXECUTION : ( 9 / 10 )

POSTER : ( 9 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 9 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 8 / 10 )

TOP TEN TUESDAY: The Holy Trilogies

This weekend is a huge weekend for movies, and it very well may be the last big weekend of the summer. The big, upcoming horror hit You're Next promises to be this year's most talked about horror film and is still holding steady at 90% fresh on RottenTomatoes.com a few days before its release. I have advanced screening passes to go check it out tomorrow night, so I'll have to let you know how accurate that figure is. It didn't look all that great to me when seeing trailers but from what I hear it sounds like a gruesomely good time and pretty promising. Also, for the non-adult crowd and probably more likely tween girl crowd we have the highly anticipated release (for said crowd) of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, which is the latest young adult novel adaptation that is all the craze. I expect it to be yet another mock-Twilight that is trying to capitalize on the success of previous films based on teen novels that drive the girlies crazy. I'm not entirely sure what the attraction is to these films, based off of book after book that appear to be highly overrated (I'm a librarian, I know these things). There are a handful of limited release films like the kung fu entry The Grandmaster which looks pretty intense and dramatic, as well as Nicolas Cage and John Cusack's The Frozen Ground, which proves that neither can find much else to do. The movie that I'm extremely ecstatic about coming out this weekend is The World's End which is the final entry in the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy. If this is your first time visiting the site, you may have question as to why I would be so excited for such a thing but those of you who are familiar with my tastes know why. Fans have been waiting quite awhile for this third film from writer/director Edgar Wright, writer/actor Simon Pegg, and buddy Nick Frost to follow up their well-respected first two films Shaun of the Dead (my favorite movie ever) and Hot Fuzz (which is equally great). I can't hardly put into words how excited I am about The World's End and how well it's being reviewed thus far, so I've decided to count down the top ten film trilogies of all-time, or at least the ones that I've seen all three films to. There is a huge list of trilogies that are worthy of this list, and obviously the trilogies wouldn't exist if at least one to two of the movies were amazing. However, I have narrowed it down and so I present to you, my holy trilogies of film.

10. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

 

This is a trilogy that is probably up much higher on the list for most but because I was introduced so much later in life, it doesn't hold quite as special of a place in my heart as it does for other fans of film. Obviously, Indiana Jones is a very popular character because he became part of the title after the first film. Most people don't even know that Raiders of the Lost Ark did not have an "Indiana Jones and" attached to the beginning, and it wasn't until the creative team saw the power of the name Indiana Jones, did they begin attaching it to the beginning of the movie titles. Kind of similar to how First Blood turned Rambo into a sensational franchise character, and thus ended up becoming part of the rest of the titles. Matter of fact, why didn't that end up on my list... Anyways, Indiana Jones became an iconic character for two reasons that I can see. One, the outstanding acting of Harrison Ford as a hero with an attitude was proven yet again in these films as he became probably the greatest action/adventure character ever created. Doctor by day, adventurer by night and if it wasn't for Ford's incredible ability to create a character that's as funny as he is serious, it could have easily been a flop. The second reason this trilogy works so well is because of the big creative mind behind it, Steven Spielberg. The guy is a film legend for a reason, and this trilogy is one of the many examples brought to attention when recalling his prolific career in filmmaking. I'm not the biggest fan of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom but it is still pretty entertaining, and the other two films are just classic. Raiders of the Lost Ark is easily one of the greatest action/adventure films ever made.



9. Back to the Future (1985)

Back to the Future Part II (1989)

Back to the Future Part III (1990)

 

Another trilogy that I wasn't really introduced to until much later in life, though I had seen the first film a couple of times growing up because of my parents showing it to me and loving Michael J. Fox. When I received the Blu-ray trilogy box set for my birthday though a few years ago, I was able to watch all three films and I was instantly in love. At the time the gift giver knew my obsession with all things nerd, and of course Blu, so it was a wise choice and I suddenly discovered how much I was a fan of Back to the Future. These are some films that are just downright fun, and even watching them today they for some reason don't feel all that dated. Not to mention the strange coincidences like the Star Wars film playing in the background in the future of Back to the Future Part II and other things. These movies are a little corny but they have earned their place in popular culture due to notable scenes and the famous DeLorean, and just being downright entertaining and fun. Also involved in this trilogy is Steven Speilberg, but not as a director who would be Robert Zemeckis that is also known for fun and usually family films. This is one of those classic trilogies that just has to be introduced to your children when you have them, or your family when it's completed. It's a truly magical experience that I believe will stand the test of time for years to come. Marty is going to continue being McFly until someone else makes as fun of a time travel movie as these ones.

 

8. The Evil Dead (1981)

Evil Dead II (1987)

Army of Darkness (1992)

 

There are several horror trilogies that you could probably include on here, but none of them are quite as successful through the entire run as Evil Dead was. The only other comparable series was the Scream trilogy but the third film just doesn't do that whole series any justice by being a joke of itself. Evil Dead however, progresses from being a truly frightening experience full of demons, evil, and brilliant practical FX work into quite possibly the greatest horror comedy of all-time. Army of Darkness is a cult classic for many reasons, but mainly because of its sense of humor. Horror comedies often have struggle with balancing the elements of both a comedy, and a horror film. Army of Darkness executes on both sides perfectly, and presents one of the funnest adult horror films you'd ever see. It's so corny in a way, but at the same time you recall all that the character Ash has gone through up until that point and know that evil is bound to find him yet again. One of the reasons I love the Evil Dead trilogy is obviously because it's horror, but the amazing use of practical FX back in the 80's and early 90's was just stunning. The witches or whatever you want to call them, from the first two films, are downright creepy and some of the monsters after the first film are insane. There's also a reason they made a remake, and it's because these films were great then and they're still great now, and though it didn't need an update the Evil Dead trilogy is as relevant today as ever.
 

7. The Bourne Identity (2002)

The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

 

There are so many action trilogies out there in the world, but I feel there are few that match the intensity of these films. From The Bourne Identity forward, they continue to up the ante and match the intensity of the previous film by adding more layers to the story and a lot more action. The Bourne Ultimatum in my opinion, may be one of the greatest action films of all-time and though it's not like action films of the 80's, it wallops as Matt Damon cruises through his enemies in the best ways possible. There are a lot of great fight scenes and action scenes throughout this whole trilogy, but there is a lot of well acted drama too and that's what sets these films apart from the rest of the action trilogy canon. The scene in the third and final film where Jason Bourne sets up his followers by making them think he is elsewhere, when he really is in their offices placing the call to them. It's just brilliant hero stuff, and you can't help but root for Bourne as he is easily misunderstood and just wants to be normal. There are a lot of things that you can relate to as a viewer, but when your hero is so relatable it makes it that much easier to get involved and root for the guy. If you have seen The Bourne Legacy but never saw the first three films, or never had any interest in this trilogy, I highly recommend it. It will be regarded as an action/drama classic series of films by the time 15 years have past on The Bourne Ultimatum.
 

6. The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather: Part II (1974)

The Godfather: Part III (1990)

 

I obviously didn't see this classic trilogy until much later in life, other than the horse at the foot of the bed scene on a few countdowns of classic film moments. It's a hardcore drama through and through, and if you don't believe me you can take a look at the total runtime for this trilogy. There are several reasons this trilogy is one of the greatest, and for me there are a few other reasons that make it not the single greatest ever like a lot of people claim it is. First of all, the third movie is so far off the mark of the first two it makes it hard to claim that the entire trilogy is legendary. When anyone thinks of these films, it's usually moments from the first two. Imagine a world where The Godfather: Part III is equally as intense as The Godfather: Part II. The acting of Marlon Brando is most of what makes this classic for most, but take a look at other actors that got their start in the mob here. Al Pacino does amazing work, as well as Robert De Niro, and let's not forget the master director behind all of these films. Martin Scorsese has proved since nearly the beginning of his career that runtime is not a problem, because the film that he makes will be great. His movie can be listed as four hours long, and everyone is still going to see it because Scorsese can craft some of the most epic drama films anyone has ever seen. There is no one that rivals his talent when it comes to hard-hitting dramas, and The Godfather trilogy is proof that even after nearly ten hours of The Godfather goodness, you can leave folks wanting more. Of course, let's not hope for it because if The Godfather: Part III is any proof, a fourth entry would just be really long and good, but not great like these first two films are. Scorsese won't touch it either, unless they make him an offer he can't refuse.

 

5. Clerks. (1994)

Mallrats (1995)

Chasing Amy (1997)

 

I don't know how many regard the first three films of Kevin Smith as a trilogy, but it is packaged and sold as one so I thought it deserved its spot here. Similar to the trilogy that is the reason for this list, Kevin Smith's Jersey Trilogy is comprised of three films that have their own stories and main characters, but all take place in the same fictional universe that Smith has created since making Clerks. back in 1994. They are comedies, and they are rude, crude and most often socially unacceptable but that Kev Smith has always had a knack for writing truly authentic people into his movies. Clerks. was a comedy that no one expected when it came out and despite its lacklusted performance in terms of money, it has become a cult classic and of course began the launch of Smith's wild career that has now landed him as one of the biggest commentators of Hollywood today, at least for us fan boys. When Clerks III finally hits theaters in the somewhat near future, I may have a more literal trilogy to put on a list like this, but for now I felt that Smith's work needed to be acknowledged. These are merely his first three films, and each one touches on a different subject matter while all retaining Smith's unique voice as a writer and director. Chasing Amy may be one of my favorite love stories ever, and the only reason I can't call it a chick flick because it is truly a love story written for dudes to enjoy, and Ben Affleck nails it.
 

4. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

 

Oh my god, I know but please don't kill me. Star Wars not being in the top three trilogies of all-time might as well be a betrayal to my geekdom and status as a film fan. Really, it's one of my favorites as it's sci-fi and action, and I grew up on it but the three above this just really have quality written all over them. Despite the high entertainment value of the Star Wars trilogy, I can't say that they're the most brilliantly written movies and present intense dramas without a little corn. The special effects are amazing, and so is the action and sesne of adventure. Nothing can beat these films, and like I said with Back to the Future, Star Wars is one of those that will be passed down from generation to generation just because of what it is. It's still as relevant as it was more than 30 years ago, if not more so now today than it was then. Kids grow up knowing what Star Wars is, and it's ingrained into their DNA somehow to just love. It's rare that you find a person out in the world that doesn't know who Darth Vader is, or Luke Skywalker. Everyone knows some of the basic stories and characters of Star Wars, even if they've never seen a minute of the films in their life. It's truly a testament to the power of the universe that George Lucas has created, and the multitude of new stories in science fiction novels and the merchandise and spinoffs created for kids are the proof. There is nothing quite like Star Wars and I dare you to find a trilogy that is more well recognized than this one is. Maybe, in a galaxy far, far away.

 

3. Toy Story (1995)

Toy Story 2 (1999)

Toy Story 3 (2010)

 

This is the trilogy that I think of when it comes to my childhood. I pretty much grew up watching these characters and these films, and when the final one came out a couple of years ago it was able to strike me directly in the heart when it looked like it could be the end of all our favorite toys. I was such a little kid when the first one came out, and I loved it because it was a Disney movie and it was computer animated and it was so cool to imagine your toys coming to life and being their own people when you weren't around. It kind of matched the magic of The Indian in the Cupboard which was also one of my favorite movies growing up. The first film is a hands down family classic, and while I don't think the second film is anywhere near as good, it holds its own against a lot of the family film competition. Each one of these films taught a valuable lesson in life, and I think it's truly amazing that even after 15 years they were still able to do that, and to teach something to the same crowd that started out watching Toy Story as a kid. Toy Story 3 had me and about everyone else my age in tears when we saw the film, because it was a group of people that we had come to know and love in these films and we didn't want to see them go. It's a lesson taught to kids and adults alike in the third film, and I really can't think of a trilogy that quite does what Toy Story can. It is as close to magic as you can get, and go figure it's Disney.
 

2. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

 

Definitely the most successful trilogy when it comes to Academy recognition, Peter Jackson's epic take on the trilogy of books written by author J.R.R. Tolkien rung in a new era of film. It was the biggest and most epic adventure since some of the classic trilogies you saw earlier on in this list. This was the trilogy of my generation, and it has the length to show up all the rest. From the beginning, the magic of Tolkien's Middle Earth is woven so perfectly by Peter Jackson. Everything seems to have leapt straight off the pages and created directly from the words of Tolkien, and while I haven't read much of the trilogy of books, I could tell that they were pretty faithful to them. The plethora of characters provides enough choices for anyone to pick a favorite, and it ranges from bad ass to straight up cowardly, and intelligent to moronic. There really aren't too many words that can explain the magic of the Lord of the Rings films without actually seeing them for yourself. There are those who swear by the extended editions but you'd be looking at about a 12-hour day of all Lord of the Rings. But definitely try this trilogy out, and if you've only seen one or two shame on you. This is a trilogy that has to be experienced from beginning to end, because it is the greatest fictionalized adventure of all-time, at least in my opinion. This film series should be listed next to epic in the dictionary, because it is most definitely so.

 

1. Batman Begins (2005)

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

 

For the second week in a row, Christopher Nolan's trilogy of Batman films tops the list. It really goes to show how much I love Batman, but also how truly great these films are as an entire piece of work. We all have our favorite film from the trilogy, most would say The Dark Knight, but together they serve as one of the greatest Batman stories ever told. Of the heroes rise to the occasion turned into an overwelcome stay in the underbelly of Gotham. No one could have made these films quite like Nolan, and I don't think it could or can be done, any better than it has been here. I hope it's a long time before they try to reboot the character and do something new, and I hope that if they do it turns into an R-rated horror fest like the recent comics have. If you've only seen one of these movies, or if you've never watched them sequentially, you ought to give it a shot. These movies are the definition of quality film. This is what should be studied in schools, because it's one thing when you make a good superhero movie like Marvel Studios has been in recent years. But when you make a hero film that could serve just as well as a police drama or wild action movie, you know you have gold. This trilogy is the definition of perfect, and honestly all trilogies that strive for similar goals should aspire to be what Nolan has crafted.