When FBI Special Agent Joe Merriwether (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is unable to solve a series of homicides, he enlists the help of a former colleague, Dr. John Clancy (Anthony Hopkins), a retired physician with psychic powers. Soon, Clancy realizes that his exceptional intuitive powers are no match for the extraordinary powers of the vicious murderer (Colin Farrell) on a mission.

And we’re giving away five copies!

To enter, please send an email with the subject header “SOLACE” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following:

Solace was being developed as a sequel to this film with Morgan Freeman reprising his role, with the addition of psychic abilities, until original director David Fincher reacted negatively?

Please include your name and address (U.S. Residents only. You must be 18 years old).

Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on April 2nd, 2017.

It’s hard to pick a ‘Best Issue’ this week, I’ll be honest, they were all pretty darn good.

I think for me it is a three way tie between Superman, Batman Beyond and Teen Titans.

Both Blue Beetle and Hellblazer need tighter writing, in my opinion; one is too slow and the other is lost in its own creative flow.

The standout character was Curare, I can’t wait to see how her story will evolve!

What was your favourite book or character? Leave me a comment!

This is my look into the DC Universe this week!

ACTION COMICS #976
Superman Reborn: Part 4
WRITER: Dan Jurgens
ARTIST: Doug Mahnke
INKER: Jaime Mendoza, Christian Alami & Trevor Scott
COVER: Patrick Gleason & John Kalisz
VARIANT: Gary Frank & Brad Anderson

Mxy continues to drop hints about Superman and Jon desperately tries to make Lois & Clark remember him not realising they are the New 52 versions reincarnated.

The imp offers Jon a chance to replace Superman as his best buddy but the boy is devastated not to be remembered.

Two more glowing balls of energy appear and through the power of their kindred spirits they merge with the New 52 counterparts and launching them back to Metropolis.

The histories of both Lois’ and Clarks are now realigned and Mr Oz is astounded that true love was able to fix what he and his mysterious rival had deliberately broken. Superman and his family have proven to be more powerful than they bargained for…

To Be Continued…

ART: 5/5
I’m a big, I mean huge fan of Doug Mahnke and am over the moon he gets to draw Superman in his newest ‘whole’ incarnation.  He doesn’t disappoint and where the previous chapter was maxing out the budget in cartoon art stakes, there is a level of realism here that makes Mxy more of a serious threat.  The unification of histories was a rush as the easter eggs of Superman’s mythos were thick and fast.  My favourite chapter of Superman Reborn so far!

COVER: 3/5
This cover leans more towards the art in the previous chapter. The cover art is just nowhere near as strong as it could have been. That page where Superman is reborn is spectacular, there really is no comparison. This is a cutesy cover, I think would have preferred it to match the interior art.

OVERALL RATING: 5/5
Another solid chapter in the story and though the 5th Dimension was becoming a little tiresome the pay off was worth it.  The dramatic beats with Jon realising Lois and Clark didn’t know him were very emotional and they even reiterated the New 52 remit of ‘just friends’ and that made Jon’s torment felt all the more. There was also the foreshadowing that the Kents proved more powerful then the might of Mr. Oz and his counterpart. Could Superman’s bonding hold the key to that Watchmen event?

HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #17
The Quest For Hope: The Blue and The Green – Part 4
WRITER: Robert Venditti
ARTIST: Ethan Van Sciver
COVER: Ethan Van Sciver & Jason Wright
VARIANT COVER: Kevin Nowlan

Guy is recovering after a confrontation with Arkillo and Saint Walker is safe so Kyle and Hal take the opportunity to have a heart to heart.

To Kyle’s surprise Hal admits that Kyle is the greatest Lantern. The talk spurs Kyle to speak to the Guardians and they tell him that he must take the next step in his journey and Saint Walker will help him achieve it.

Something interrupts the ritual and rocks the universe at the same time leaving Kyle devoid of the seven lights, his White Lantern status stripped.

All that is left is the power of will and with it a new ring is forged and Kyle is a Green Lantern once more!

To Be Continued…

ART: 5/5
Ethan Van Sciver really knows how to draw epic ‘Hollywood budget’ scale layouts and get your jaw to hit the floor.  Kyles evolution/devolution was brilliant. I don’t think there was a Kyle Rayner fan that wouldn’t let out a little cheer seeing him don his classic suit once more.  There was a lot going on in the issue that could easily have been lost, I’m glad that this actually felt like a space epic and looked like it too.

COVER: 5/5
I love the art but at the same time it spoiled itself by revealing the end. I love the triptych of Earth’s Lanterns.  Kyle was always my favourite so its nice to see him take centre stage.

OVERALL RATING: 4/5
I didn’t see that coming (I wasn’t sure if the cover was a red herring – and chose to avoid the tabloid sites). I was taken aback by Hal’s revelation of opinion on Kyle, mostly because fandom is usually split between the two, but at the story played out I began to feel reluctant with Kyle becoming a Green Lantern again, despite the words of the Guardians and encouragement of Saint Walker I still feel this is a devolution of the character. I only hope future storylines prove me wrong.

HELLBLAZER #8
The Smokeless Fire: Part 2
WRITER: Simon Oliver
ARTIST: Philip Tan
COVER: Declan Shalvey & Jordie Bellaire
VARIANT COVER: Yasmine Putri

John is interviewed by the police about the death of his friend in Paris.  When he proves unhelpful John is locked in a cell leaving Mercury alone to explore the Djinn alone.

The ancient Djinn tells her he can help her become more powerful and explore her potential but only if she keeps her true heritage and his involvement a secret from John. Later, once bailed, Constantine and Mercury return to the scene of the crime and find a shoe in the undergrowth around the house.

Casting an spell, John makes the shoe into a supernatural ‘homing pigeon’ that will find his friends killer and the journal they need for their quest…

To Be Continued…

ART: 3/5
The initial change of art was a breath of fresh air, but now an issue later it feels too different. I felt I had to decipher what was going on and when the art needs concentration rather than an immersive enjoyment capability, I feel it becomes a hindrance to the book as I then feel like reading it as much of a chore.

COVER: 4/5
The covers to Hellblazer have always been a bit on the abstract art side but this time round it feels more like an ‘in your face irony’.  Its symbolic, I dig that, but losing that off the wall horror edge to it makes it seem a bit weaker.

OVERALL RATING: 3/5
The writing is great. It’s funny, quirky, entertaining and character driven, the art for me just didn’t do the book any favours. I found the flashbacks lost themselves and became confusing interludes and to be honest I wanted to see more of John. Mercury is an interesting character but she isn’t why I bought the book and for a title carrying his name, he spends precious little time in the spotlight (though he is definitely a scene stealer when he does get the chance).

BLUE BEETLE #7
Risen
WRITER: Keith Giffen & Scott Kolins
ARTIST: Scott Kolins
COVER: Scott Kolins
VARIANT COVER: Cully Hamner

Doctor Fate joins the battle to save Jaime’s soul by battling the automaton Beetle Armour and Mortdecai.

Ted Kord meanwhile also joins the fray to help Jaime.

The evil force behind the plot is able to defeat Fate but not before he sends Jaime and Ted back home to their base.

Fate stares in horror as the scarab combined with magic creates a huge demonic form, Arion of Atlantis reveals himself to be the mastermind and now the most powerful creature on earth.

To Be Continued…

ART: 5/5
You know when you see a superhero movie sequel and the studio has obviously given the team the remit to be bigger, bolder and more brash? Blue Beetle is the epitome of that. Everything is bigger, but that’s not a bad thing considering how long the story has been bubbling away. The story wouldn’t be packing nearly as powerful a punch if the art didn’t convey the peril and scale of things. Where the story falters, the art excels.

COVER: 5/5
Continuing the theme of peril we have a cover that hits all the marks. The atmospheric feel really adds to the cover and the story as a whole and doesn’t feel like ‘grandstanding’ which is the direction it could have gone in.

OVERALL RATING: 3/5
I am so glad this story is heading towards an ending. It feels like it has been going on forever and going nowhere at the same time. Jaime and Ted were barely in this issue, instead the book was all about Doctor Fate.  I was always taught that ‘every issue is someone’s first’ and if thats the case I think the title character appearing in a total of 5 panels in 22 pages would make me ask for a refund. The reveal of Arion being the major villain that has been in the shadows all along left me cold, the concept and storyline is solid but the undertaking has been inconsistent and ultimately over long.

WONDER WOMAN #19
The Truth – Part 3
WRITER: Greg Rucka
ARTIST: Liam Sharp
COVER: Liam Sharp & Laura Martin
VARIANT COVER: Jenny Frison

A visit from Ferdinand is the impetus for Diana to reawaken and become Wonder Woman once more. The peace Diana feels, however, is short lived when she learns that Barbara Ann sacrificed her soul to save her, becoming Cheetah once more.

Diana, Steve, Etta and Ferdinand surmise that Veronica Cale knows more than she told them and so Wonder Woman and her team break into Cale’s office and are confronted by the hologram AI Doctor Cyber leading to even more twists to Diana’s story.

Maru and her squad of snipers ambush them as they escape and one of them suffers a fatal gunshot, will they survive?

To Be Continued…

ART: 5/5
That last page was a kick in the gut. We’ve only just got her back Sharp… you can’t do this to me!
Elsewhere Doctor Cyber finally got a little spotlight time and seeing her spring to life as more than a comedic AI for Veronica Cale was fantastic. The scenes in London were soft and emotional while the American ones were a the flip side of that with a much darker tone with the art accentuating that.

COVER: 5/5
The fight with Maru and her team didn’t play out like this, more is the pity, because I would have loved to see the team and a rejuvenated Wonder Woman have a proper fist fight with them.

OVERALL RATING: 5/5
Wonder Woman is back on fighting form! Not that the writing was ever below par, far from it!  The Truth is proving a revelation in exploring Diana, Wonder Woman and by extension Ferdinand, Etta and Steve and then there was that shattering climax… I’m in shock.

BATMAN BEYOND #6
Rise of The Demon: Part 1
WRITER: Dan Jurgens
ARTIST: Bernard Chang
COVER: Bernard Chang & Marcelo Maiolo
VARIANT COVER: Martin Ansin

Curare is being hunted by the League of Assassins and her journey leads her to Batman’s City. Meanwhile a fully recovered Bruce returns to the Batcave and is greeted by Matt, Dana, Max and Terry. Dana is struggling with learning the truth about Terry and he offers to take her home for a heart to heart while Matt reveals to Bruce that Terry has been using the deadly X-7.

Meanwhile Curare hunts down Barbara Gordon in her search for Batman but the League are in pursuit and a violent standoff occurs until the Bat Signal is activated.  Terry, determined to prove to Dana he is more than Batman, decides to ignore it leaving Barbara and Curare fighting for their lives.

To Be Continued…

ART: 5/5
Chang does a superb job of bridging the nostalgia for the series and movies with his own style and giving the book and unique look and feel. Curare is beautifully rendered and just as awesome as I remember her. Cannot fault it and I want to see more!

COVER: 5/5
Bring it on! Need I say more? OK this is how you do a showdown cover! Curare looks deadly and this is something I’m hoping to see play out!

OVERALL RATING: 5/5
The scenes with Terry, his friends and Bruce are filler, necessary filler but though they had some emotional short scenes, it was all about Curare.  We are obviously at the tail end of the previous storyline so threads have to be tied up or expanded upon and if there is something Jurgens is superb at is helping you connect to the characters. Terry is heading for a lesson in responsibility and balancing that out with the attack on GCPD will have some serious ramifications.

TEEN TITANS #6
The Rise of Aqualad: Part One
WRITER: Benjamin Percy
ARTIST: Khoi Pham
INKER: Wade Von Grawbadger
COVER: Khoi Pham & Jim Charalampidis
VARIANT COVER: Chris Burnham & Nathan Fairbairn

The Teen Titans are bonding until a news chopper arrives and the team discover Beast Boy has organised an interview with Kare 7 News.  Beast Boy introduces the team and shows the reporter around the base aiming to give the team some much needed good publicity.

Meanwhile Jackson Hyde is experimenting with his water manipulation powers learning how to control his new abilities. Jackson’s mother is far from impressed and while warning him about using his powers in public she lets slip that she had sworn to keep him safe.

As Beast Boy is waving off the news crew he is shocked when Bonnie is yanked deep into the ocean and while the Titans rush to investigate Bonnie’s disappearance Jackson finds that fate has led him to Titans Tower. No one is there to greet him, however, as King Shark reveals himself as the foe they must now face.

To Be Continued…

ART: 5/5
Some books never find an artist (or writer for that matter) that feels like a natural fit. Teen Titans since the New 52 has been a rollercoaster of quality but Pham seems to have that mix of comedy and action down to perfection. I really enjoyed the visuals this issue, long may they continue.

COVER: 5/5
With the exception of Damian, I am fairly unfamiliar with everyone in this TT incarnation. I’m pleasantly surprised that a Bat Family member isn’t at the forefront and I can’t hide the fact I loved the Young Justice cartoon and Teen Titans including Aqualad seems like its perhaps the closest we’re going to get to that in the DCU.

OVERALL RATING: 5/5
The story, with Percy’s writing and Pham’s art is a marriage made in heaven. Teen Titans has had a pretty bad run and reputation pre Rebirth and I can safely say this is the first issue in a long time I thoroughly enjoyed.

Can’t wait to read next issue!

Colossal, opening April 7th, is an offbeat dramedy with high-concept story unlike no other. Anne Hathaway plays an alcoholic woman who discovers she’s controlling the every action of a giant monster’s daily attack in central Seoul, Korea. Surprisingly, the whole thing works on a number of levels, mainly for its giddy send-up of kaiju clichés in the midst of an existential crisis from its protagonist.

Another highlight of the film is Jason Sudeikis’s turn against typically rom-com casting.  The character adds depth and drama, sometimes dividing audience opinion of the film in early screenings. I loved the it, personally, and think the film is successful in channeling the offbeat style of some of the best hybrid Korean horror-comedies like The Host.

At its buzz-worthy first SXSW screening, Neon distributor co-owner Tim League moderated a Q & A with director Nacho Vigalondo (Extraterrestrial) and star Jason Sudeikis (Horrible Bosses), before guest bartending a set at the next-door bowling venue The Highball.  The two address many of the film’s head-scratching surprises, starting with the crazy casting, but also addressing the film’s often dark diversions.

* * * * *

Tim League: So, explain how you first got involved with Colossal.

Jason Sudeikis:  My first reaction to the script was ‘wow, okay, alright,’ and at the same time, due to my ignorance, I was like who is this guy? Who can pull this off, you know? And then I watched Nacho [Vigalando]’s short films, which you can see online (from Drafthouse’s compilation Confetti of the Mind). I was like, this guy is great, he is very clever.  I’ve been lucky to work with very clever people in the past, like The Lonely Island guys, so my bar is high by association. Then when Anne comes on and gives it the gravitas and work ethic that she has, then it’s like a no brainer.

Also, I did like the opportunity to play a son-of-a-bitch after [having] a bunch of people like Jennifer Aniston, Alison Brie and Rebecca Hall falling in love with me. I realized I could use some of this exposition that I’ve grown weary of, and play a mega switch on it.

Nacho Vigalondo: It’s a cliché among actors to want to play a villain at some point in their lives.  Most of the time that villain is kind of flamboyant and charming, like the villain you want to dress as for Halloween.  But [Jason] plays a real asshole.  For me it’s a much bolder move.

JS: Yeah, but it’s all the same faces I make in my romantic comedies.  Like, my anger face?  That’s the one when I have fake sex in the other movies.

NV: But in my heart, no matter how many times I watch the movie, I don’t want to see Jason be such a bad guy, but you know that’s what real life is all about.  Some times awful things happen. The movie is trying to deal with real life somehow.  I’m afraid that the marketing campaign isn’t saying anything about this at all.  That’s interesting, but at the same time I want to shit my pants.

JS: You can shit Tim [League]’s pants.  He’s the one paying for it.

Actually, my fiance (Olivia Wilde) once said to me “you should play a psycho in a movie.” That’s coming from a person who sees the best and worst of you regardless. So when she read the script she was like, “yeah, there you go.”

I remember where I was when I heard the news that Anne Hathaway was staring in a Nacho Vigalando film, and I was like this is totally not happening. It seemed strange at the time, but how how?

NV: My life is a Black Mirror episode in which your whole life is part of the software and you pretend to be a filmmakers and at the end of the day you’re really a cockroach. No, I mean, her agent gave her the script. She read the script and, really what you don’t know is that behind the scenes she and Jason were so great and so charming to me and if they wanted to they could have crushed me like a cockroach with their finger. I was this nobody coming from Spain, and they had the right to be abusive to me, but they were so supportive.

How did you get the idea to go to such dark places in the film?

NV: Even if you have a word to describe this type of a movie, you know like “thriller,” “comedy,” or even “kaiju” I think that once you’re into the crafting of the movie, why not push things over the edge. I don’t want people to be disappointed [by the darker elements of the film] when they go to the theaters.  I prefer to push things to the edge even if it’s not what you think it will be.  Take it to the edge without exploiting the characters. I’m okay with turning things really dark, but respecting the characters and respecting the audience.

JS:  I was very lucky to grow up in a funny family, and be surrounded by people that make me laugh. So for me, being in a good mood is where the jokes come from.  But to misquote Mark Twain, every man and woman’s life is a tragedy, a comedy and a drama. We’ve all gone through these things where people don’t bring out the best of us. It’s as subjective as comedy. I just thought this was a very interesting story. You can pull it apart in many different ways and it still stays connected. Like a good album, if you’re in a good mood or a bad mood, depending on where you are in your life, you’re going to see a different flick here. It should be very interesting to read reviews [of Colossal]. I think it will reveal who he or she views the world at large. And that’s a very neat thing that didn’t really happen with Horrible Bosses 2 personally.

NV:  One review I read said “white straight male guys” will hate it.

JS:  Thank god they don’t go see movies. (laughing) I would say that the “woke” ones will.  They’ll be like “yeah, I went to school with that prick.”

Pacific Rim crossover?

JS: What?!

NV: Pacific Rim? Ugh, how can you put the Pacific Rim characters here? That would be so crazy. So, all the robots and all the monsters in that film are actually a bunch of rednecks in a town in South Carolina and they’re just beating each other. That’s the Pacific Rim version.

JS: Or you go there and it’s just, like, a paintball arena.

NV: Can I just say one thing? When you talk about toxic masculinity in other guys around you, it’s fair to listen to yourself. Listen to your own bullshit and your own demons. Even if you consider yourself a nice guy, and a guy who’s not violent, sometimes you hear a curious voice inside you. Even if you don’t know yourself to be evil, the voice is there. What if I’m that guy? Probably when Anne Hathaway’s character is fighting with Jason’s, it’s me fighting with some part of myself. So the two parts of my brain are portrayed by these two actors and this is awesome.

JS: That is colossal.

COLOSSAL opens April 7th in limited release

Check local listings for shows near you

Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown!

It’s Wednesday, the best day of the week! Let talk about comics, shall we?

The Flash #19
Written by Joshua Williamson
Illustrated by Jesus Merino and Carmine do Giandomenico

Joshua Williamson has got his groove back with this title.

This storyline picked up the pace in this final chapter of the current arc. Williamson does a great job tying it up and prepping for next month’s big event.

Barry Allen and Wally West travel to the Australian Outback in this issue. They aren’t there for pleasure though…they are there for Captain Boomerang. Captain Boomerang is the last person to have seen Wally’s father (the Reverse Flash) alive.

And let me tell you, there are some cool revelations in this issue.

The art by Merino is solid yet again. It is a great setup for next month’s storyline…”The Button”.

This is a nice lead into that storyline and let the games begin!

RATING: B

Deathstroke #15
Written by Christopher Priest
Illustrated by Carlo Pagulayan

Most of you who read this column on a regular basis know how much I absolutely love this book.

It’s one of the few books I read…then re-read again once a storyline is completed. I do that because the stories are so involved that I enjoy going back and finding all the subtle details in Priest’s work.

This is the book of Priest’s career. I’ve always liked his work, and this book is still on fire and I can’t get enough. He excels here.

In this issue, Deathstroke faces a rival assassin called Deadline. Deadline isn’t a generic villain by any means…in Priest’s capable hands Deadline is a violent and formidable threat to Slade Wilson.

I also like the addition of the new Power Girl, she’s a well developed character and I can’t wait to see how her arc plays out. You can’t ask for better than this.

This book also has the best rotating roster of artists. Every issue is great from cover-to-cover no matter who is drawing it.

Pick this one up- awesomeness abounds!

RATING: A

Mother Panic #5
Written by Jody Houser 
Illustrated by Shawn Crystal

This title reads like Batman on acid and that’s okay!

Jody Houser has one of the strangest titles in the marketplace right now. I love every issue that she writes…but it’s a bit daffy, so you just have to embrace it.

Of all the Young Animal Titles, this is at once the strangest and the most compelling.

A prime example is one of the characters named Pretty.

Now Pretty may or may not be working against Mother Panic. The whole thing plays out like a strange Victorian mystery almost, but with superheroes. If this sounds like something you might like, then pick this up.

Shawn Crystal is growing on me as an artist. This book had such a strong opening three issues that his art threw me off a bit last issue when I first saw it.

This is a compelling series.

Pick it up and give it a shot. It deserves to be seen.

RATING: B+

Doom Patrol #5
Written by Gerard Way
Illustrated by Nick Derington

At long last issue number five of the Doom Patrol is out!

It feels like a long time since issue number four…maybe because it has been! This is a great issue but I had to re-read the first four to figure out where the heck I am! It’s had a wacky shipping schedule.

It was worth it, however, for the read.

The story by Way is really great and it captures what I love most about the Doom Patrol. The characters are delightfully bent! It feels completely skewed from other pedestrian comics and I have to say it is so much fun to read.

This is the issue where the team comes together. But there are so many unanswered questions. It’s all up to our lead female, Casey Brinke, to figure out what it all means.

The art by Derington is fantastic. He’s like the bow on this wonderful package.

Pick this up and be wowed. And then eagerly await the next issue…coming soon! (Hope! Hope!)

In truth though, I don’t mind waiting for issues if they are this good.

RATING: A

Detective Comics #953
Written by James Tynion IV
Illustrated by Christian Duce

Man, this issue starts off with such a great cover!

I was excited to open the comic up and dig in. I wasn’t disappointed either: this issue is very strong! Tynion is killing it on Detective and now that he has found his voice, watch out!

The League of Shadows storyline continues here.

The battle continues! It’s exciting and each page is full of energy! In this issue there is also an unexpected ally for the team.

And it sets the story in a whole other direction.

The art by Duce is strong, and it kept the aforementioned energy going.

I love this story. It’s headed to a grand conclusion and I love this ride.

RATING: A-

Suicide Squad #14
Written by Rob Williams
Illustrated by John Romita Jr. and Eddy Barrows

This was actually another really great issue of the Suicide Squad. I have to be honest, I don’t really expect much from this title after the first ten issues. Once they got Jim Lee off the title, however, this has gotten stronger. This issue is another decent one for sure.

Harley Quinn is on the loose here.

She has a mission: To hunt down a villain named Rustam.

The problem is, Rustam has a new ally on his side.

And that ally is none other than Deadshot. Then all hell breaks loose and it’s pretty darn exciting.

While I’m not sure Romita Jr. Is completely suited to this title, the art is still better than it’s been. It also feels like we are going somewhere.

The backup (or is it another story?) is pretty good one too. Barrows does killer artwork here. A good package overall!

RATING: B

Batgirl #9
Written by Hope Larson
Illustrated by Chris Wildgoose

I am digging the art by Chris Wildgoose on this title! He has added energy and a verve we really haven’t seen. Every page flows with excitement. It’s great to see someone jazz up this title in a new direction.

The storyline here is the Son of Penguin.

Barbara is dating the Penguin’s son.

If that sounds like it may make for a crazy comic book well, it does. It’s got humor, pathos, and just plain good storytelling.

Hope Larson shines here too and this story is the best she has written (thus far) for the DC Universe.

I’m hoping the quality persists and I hope that this creative team stays together!

RATING: B+

Future Quest #11
Written by Jeff Parker
Illustrated by Evan “Doc” Shaner

Future Quest is a blast! This is another great story with great artwork! Future Quest is a consistent, hidden gem. It’s nostalgic and fun.

The focus of this issue is Space Ghost. I happen to love Space Ghost. In Parker’s capable hands, Space Ghost has been made a viable, well-rounded modern character. Kudos on that.

Shaner has to be one of the most underrated artists out there too these days.

The story involves robots, monsters etc. and he just knocks the art out of the park with each panel. For more fun than you can shake a stick at, pick up Future Quest!

RATING: B+

Hailed as “a crazy, stunt-filled action spectacular” (Scott Mendelson, Forbes) and “a shot of pure adrenaline” (Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly), xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE x-plodes on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand May 16, 2017 from Paramount Home Media Distribution.  X-cited fans can be the first to get it two weeks early on Digital HD May 2.

When a group of lethal mercenaries steal a hi-tech weapon that poses a global threat, the world needs superspy Xander Cage (Vin Diesel).  Recruited back into action, Xander leads a team of death-defying adrenaline junkies on a mission to kick some ass, save the day, and look dope while doing it.  Packed with some of the most mind-blowing stunts ever caught on film, xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE features a powerhouse international cast including Donnie Yen (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Deepika Padukone, Kris Wu, Ruby Rose (John Wick: Chapter 2), Tony Jaa (Furious 7), Nina Dobrev (TV’s “The Vampire Diaries”), and Samuel L. Jackson (Kong: Skull Island).

The xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Combo Packs are loaded with over an hour of action-packed special features, including in-depth  interviews with the all-star cast, plus a behind-the-scenes look at the film’s incredible stunts, locations and much more.  The film also boasts a Dolby Atmos soundtrack remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead.

 
xXx: Return of Xander Cage Blu-ray Combo Pack

The xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD compatible), French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  The DVD in the combo pack is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  The combo pack includes access to a Digital HD copy of the film as well as the following:

Blu-ray

• Feature film in high definition
• Bonus Content:

o   Third Time’s the Charm: Xander Returns

o   Rebels, Tyrants & Ghosts: The Cast

o   Opening Pandora’s Box: On Location

o   I Live for This Sh#t!: Stunts

o   Gag Reel

DVD

• Feature film in standard definition

xXx: Return of Xander Cage 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack

Fans can enjoy the ultimate viewing experience with the 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, which includes the Blu-ray detailed above, as well as an Ultra HD Disc presented in 4K Ultra HD with English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD compatible), French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description with English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The Combo Pack also includes access to a Digital HD copy of the film.

xXx: Return of Xander Cage Single-Disc DVD

The single-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  The disc includes the feature film in standard definition.

The grasping stories of some admirably lucky people winning enormous sums of money at a casino are now found everywhere on the internet. For casinos, it’s, surely, one of their favourite advertising tools, since people get tempted by such promotional trick and start playing land-based and mobile casino games on a regular basis. However, can one actually believe those stories and, probably, win a comparably huge amount of cash one day? Undoubtedly, one can! As the matter of fact, some games aren’t just bound to chance and luck but are influenced by skills as well.

Poker and winning reality

It’s no secret that lots of famed poker winners began with simply playing with their mates or practising in a video poker application. Some of those individuals state that they’ve done a long way prior to reaching the moment of glory at a high stakes table. As you probably know, there are regularly held million dollar poker tournaments, where every volunteer can participate if depositing a set amount of cash. One of those was Annette Obrestad from Norway, who happened to win $1 million by just playing her favourite game.

Is it skills or just luck?

The majority of gamblers still don’t believe one can enter a casino or poker site and start winning with minimum experience and no special skills acquired. There’s, surely, a background for their disbelief yet, the chances for a novice player to win big are quite high. The fact is a greater part of casino newcomers don’t rely on their skills, for those are very close to zero. Therefore, many of them choose to play the chance dependent games like roulette or slots, hoping for Lady Luck to show some favour for a novice player. And sometimes she really does, unveiling a series of free spins and ending up with a jackpot.

By the way, if someone’s looking for news and tips on how to get the best slot experience 2017, he/she may just check the link. There you’ll get a chance to practice, same as an opportunity to win extra dollars.

Which game to choose?

Of course, the payout rates totally depend on which game you choose and how often you play it. Yet, another question is what game to play. Speaking in advance, there’s no direct answer to that question as it’s just a matter of personal preferences and luck to a higher extent. Some may choose the games of cards like poker, blackjack or baccarat since you can influence the outcome with a proper playing strategy applied. Others, however, are convinced that skills mean practically nothing in casino games and view slots as the only possible option to play and relax. And there’s a great deal of evidence they are right. As an example, one may take John Tippin, who won $11 million in a casino slot machine and even wrote the book afterwards. So basically, whatever game you choose, there’s always an opportunity to get easy money!

Produced by Nicolas Gonda,
Sarah Green, Ken Kao
Written and Directed by Terrence Malick
Starring Michael Fassbender, Ryan Gosling,
Rooney Mara, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett,
Lykke Li, Val Kilmer, Holly Hunter

Song to Song is the most indie of indie films written and directed by the Sweetheart of the Indie side of Hollywood, Terrence Malick.

Song to Song is a loosely strung together story of Faye (Rooney Mara), a young woman living in Austin, Texas who dreams of breaking into the music business.

Faye involves herself with successful music producer, Cook (Michael Fassbender) to further her career, while Cook deceives and exploits a succession of hungry songwriters, including the naive BV (Ryan Gosling).

To complicate matters, BV falls in love with Faye, but doesn’t realize she’s involved with Cook.  Faye falls in love with BV, but neither tells BV any of the truth about Cook, or will she leave Cook and give up her chance at a big break.  Cook only wants everything he doesn’t have, which is talent or love, but will take it from everyone else.

If this sounds convoluted and confusing, welcome to the film, Song To Song.

Malick is true to form in creating a film that is more poetry than prose, but seems to have lost his way.  Song to Song feels like 3 different films; a documentary about the Austin music scene, a love triangle of self involved people, and a beautiful nature documentary full of gorgeous vistas.  These components have been mashed up and held together by heavy handed editing and dialog that is presented mostly as voice overs.

I normally love Malick’s style of storytelling, but without the structure of a strong script, the film becomes a slideshow of beautiful locations and beautiful actors with nothing for the audience to hold onto and therefore they become anesthetized to the beauty.  Actors are left to emote without restraint or stare off screen meaningfully while the audience is forced to listen to their disembodied voices pontificate.  The result is an exhausting trudge for the audience to get to the meat of the story. With a running time of only 2 hours it feels like a lifetime.

There are scenes that are filmed in such a way that is supposed to capture the small, precious moments in life; a look, a laugh, the light touch of a hand, the sunlight falling on a loved one’s face.  They are fleeting, which makes them bittersweet.  However, Malick and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki serve these moment up in such abundance, that they lose their preciousness. Moments that were meant to be intimate are often awkward, like you just walked in on your roommate and the significant other.

The sprinkle of real life interviews of noted musicians Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, John Lydon seems only added to give Faye, BV, and Cook the artifice of being real world musicians.  They are treated with little more love or respect than the instruments used to dress the set.  It is a missed opportunity to give audiences a chance to connect to the music scene and see why someone would want to be a part of that world.

These characters seem to have little real passion for the music that is suppose to be their shared link.  Each spends more time brooding over their inner dialogs, professing their love for the other person, but truly just wrapped up in their self and their own idea of their partner.

I feel teenage me would have loved the pathos of the Faye story.  Adult me is just impatient with the whole film.  Song to Song was made to please only one person, and that is Terrence Mailck.

It is no secret that the online casino industry is developing very rapidly and has already managed to fuel the market due to the entry of cryptocurrency based gambling platforms.

Nowadays, you will not see the crowds of people who are trying to get into the casinos of the Sin City, Las Vegas, and push their luck playing favorite table games and slot machines. These days, top rated online casinos are creating special gambling platforms that make it easier for customers to play in a comfortable homely atmosphere. And it is not only about a comfortable environment (the one you are used to) but about no one bothering, disturbing, and distracting you from the gaming process. Also, there is almost no difference between the real and the virtual gambling worlds. So, why would somebody want to spend thousands of dollars on traveling to Vegas or Atlantic City and playing slots or card games there if it all can be done right from home?

Bitcoin casinos

The most recent trend in the gambling sphere is the appearance of Bitcoin casinos that have lots of advantages compared to conventional online casino platforms. First of all, Bitcoin casinos can be accessed by absolutely every person no matter where they are located. Secondly, it can be done any time of the day and night, whenever you feel like playing. And thirdly, they easily transfer cryptocurrency into the casino’s wallet, thus enabling you to play within minutes after depositing money. Speaking of traditional online casino platforms, they are at times region specific. Additionally, payment methods are very limited, including card payments or wire transfers that might take hours if not days.

Despite the fact that Bitcoin online casinos are so popular across the globe, some people still keep playing at ordinary platforms. It happens because not all people are aware of Bitcoin platforms and those who know about them, are not sure about their security, safety, and authenticity.

Reliable online casino review platforms

If you are new to this industry and are looking for the best gambling platform or wish to change the one you are using now for playing, then it is highly recommended to check various reviews to make sure of the right final choice. There are reliable and trusted websites where one can find players’ reviews regarding this or that online casino platform, describing the software, customer support, offered bonuses, variety of games, payment methods, etc. All this information and details are more than enough for beginners as well as professionals to make the right decision based on real facts.

Such reviews can be compared to a gambler’s friends who are interested in the latest technologies and wish to involve them in the gaming process. That’s why before registering and putting money on any online casino account, it is important to check it by finding and reading reviews about it.

Produced by Jennifer Handorf,
Will Kane, Vaughan Sivell
Written and Directed by Alice Lowe
Starring Alice Lowe, Gemma Whelan,
Kate Dickie, Jo Hartley

Writer/director/star Alice Lowe was actually seven months pregnant while filming her horror/comedy Prevenge, a distinction which the gives the film an added edge.

Lowe stars as Ruth, a very pregnant woman who takes direction from her unborn daughter who seemingly speaks to her telepathically. The majority of the tyke-to-be’s demands are of the murderous sort, and most of the targets are people she feels are responsible for the death of Ruth’s boyfriend, Matt, who was also the baby’s father.

Prevenge follows Ruth as she becomes a highly unlikely serial killer, with a fair amount of gore thrown into the mix.

Lowe also co-wrote and starred in Sightseers which, I’ve been told (I’ve yet to see it), would make a fine companion piece to this film, both in terms of content and tone.

Here, she makes her feature directing debut, and she does a fine job. The whole is lesser than the sum of its parts, however: there are some terrific scenes (as well as a few not-so-terrific ones) and the initially annoying tone becomes more of a plus than a debit as discomfort reaches the breaking point and we welcome the inevitable violence.

However, when the end credits rolled, I felt a bit cheated. The ending almost renders the film a shaggy-dog joke (not quite, but almost); at the very least, the film kind of had the feel of a fever dream of a reluctant mother-to-be, but little else beyond that.

Still, that’s enough to make Prevenge worth a watch. Lowe – and everyone else – hits the right tone as a woman seemingly possessed. A fair amount of humor falls flat, but there is some wonderfully pitch-black humor that is spot-on.

Also, most of the kills are truly brutal, and seeing a very pregnant woman inflicting said brutality is both unsettling and amusing.

An excellent score by Toydrum is also quite effective here, by turns driving, melancholy and wistful.
While Prevenge doesn’t hold a candle to other “women-going-mad” movies such as In My Skin or Possession, it is worth a look. And who knows? Perhaps you’ll see a theme or strong point that I missed. Even lacking a discernable point, Prevenge is more than worthwhile for those with a penchant for black comedy.

Prevenge opens today at the IFC Center in New York
and The Cinefamily in Los Angeles, and will be available to
stream nationwide on Shudder, on March 24th

Produced by Haim Saban, Brian Casentini,
Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey
Screenplay by John Gatins
Story by Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless,
Michele Mulroney, Kieran Mulroney
Based on Power Rangers by Haim Saban
and Super Sentai by Toei Company
Directed by Dean Israelite
Starring Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott,
RJ Cyler, Becky G, Ludi Lin, Bill Hader,
Bryan Cranston, Elizabeth Banks

“Go Go Power Rangerrrrss—“

The audience erupted into cheers as the theme song played over the planetary defenders rushing into battle. But the song is abruptly cutoff, leaving everyone to wonder why we only received this one line teaser of the bright and enjoyable series we loved.

Unfortunately that feeling plagues the entire film. Lionsgate has already planned a six movie story arc for the franchise, and this first offering is more dramatic setup than energized storytelling.

The Power Rangers are a group of teens chosen by Zordon (Bryan Cranston) to protect the crystal that powers Earth’s life force, buried under their hometown of preppy Angel Grove. It is being pursued by the evil Rita Repulsa (Elizabeth Banks), who wishes to destroy the world. Through teamwork, combat training, and prehistoric mechanical beasts the Power Rangers try to overcome personal obstacles and focus on each other to save the day.

In this version, no one really knows each other before they unite as Power Rangers. This leads to an overabundance of character development that made the awkward pacing drag even more. They are also untrained as fighters so there are training montages that make you excited for a battle that never appears in its fullest. All hand-to-hand battling in the movie is far too short to feel like actual fight sequences, which is incredibly disheartening for an adaptation of an action based series. Instead of the one-liners and martial arts that drove the plots forward we get melancholy backstory to push through. With nearly three-quarters of the movie devoted to following the cast as normal “troubled” teenagers (Parent problems! Moodiness! Mean girl sexting scandals!) I found myself wishing someone would please just hit anything.

Hard.

Power Rangers suffers from wanting to be taken far too seriously for its subject matter. Even the abrupt campfire bonding scene (yes, really) is heavier than necessary. If not for the fact that the actors are so earnest and winsome with the little they have been given, viewers would be in a coin flip on whether to root for the Rangers saving Angel Grove or for Elizabeth Banks’ gleeful take on Rita Repulsa as she destroys downtown.

Where the film lacks in good story or directing, it shines in the relatively new-to-the-scene teen actors that will be carrying the franchise. Dacre Montgomery (Jason/Red Ranger) is stepping in as this generation’s Zac Efron with the same team-leading general likability and classic good looks. Becky G (Trini/Yelow Ranger) shows that she can handle the jump from YouTube to big screen with ease. It will be interesting to see if her natural singing talent is folded into upcoming movies. Naomi Scott takes Pink Ranger Kim to an edgier place, but you can see that it is stretching her abilities. Moments where she drops the snark and plays as genuine show promise for her future roles.

The two most energetic and affable Rangers are definitely Ludi Lin’s Zack (Black Ranger) and RJ Cyler’s Billy (Blue Ranger). Lin is hilariously manic and explodes off the screen in all of his shots. I’d love to see him in more comedy-action movies going forward because he was the most comfortable onscreen. Cyler brings such heart and sincerity to quick-talking Billy that you immediately empathize with him as the loveable center of the team. The early on admission of Billy being on the autism spectrum is well-handled, and explanations of some behavioral tendencies (fixation, difficulty with social cues, etc.) are unforced but noteworthy. The same goes for the quiet reveal of a major character as LGBT.

Lionsgate clearly wants to capitalize on this franchise, still going strong (albeit not as visibly) for over 2 decades. But the campy camaraderie and fight scenes that made the low budget original so enjoyable are missing in the big screen adaptation. There are calls back to it, but this movie is never really as fun as it should be for nostalgic adults or teens who are newer to the franchise. Hopefully, these are simply awkward growing pains and we’ll see a more fleshed out sequel in the future.

Produced by Bernard Bellew, Danny Boyle,
Christian Colson, Andrew Macdonald
Screenplay by John Hodge
Based on Trainspotting and Porno
by Irvine Welsh
Directed by Danny Boyle
Starring Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner,
Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle

“Choose life.
Choose Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and hope that someone, somewhere cares.
Choose looking up old flames, wishing you’d done it all differently.
And choose watching history repeat itself.
Choose your future.”

Danny Boyle returns 20 years later to Edinburgh, Scotland for a sequel to the highly successful Trainspotting film about addiction and friendship.

The film reunites Renton (Ewen McGregor) with Simon aka Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), the betrayed Begbie (Robert Carlyle) and the smack-obsessed Spud (Ewen Bremner) to great effect, portraying the void felt by the absence and passage of time.

T2 seeks to answer the question of what happened to the £16,000 Renton took at the end of the first movie 20 years on as the hook, but also looks to delve into the minds of these poor addicted souls and rarely offers any predictable redemption. Stacked up against the original film, this might not be as deep or as memorable to the pop culture lexicon as Trainspotting became, but T2 is a great companion to the original with surprising call backs, a driving soundtrack and shows what kind of men the boys have become.

This reviewer is writing this under conditions not dissimilar to Mark Renton’s attempts to kick the habit in the first film. Flu-like conditions have forces massive amounts of soup into my system, and fever dreams of my worst possible nightmares seem tangible and real. Renton returns home to see his father in his dotage, his mother has passed, echoing the scene of being admonished at his parent’s kitchen table.

Cutaways to the first movie are injected into the film, showing McGregor and Miller looking very young. This may reference chasing that first high, though drugs and meditation never work that way. You can try a lifetime and higher dosage to get to that point again, but you will never ever get there.

Spud is still an active junkie, separated from his partner Gail (Shirley Henderson) and his son Fergus. Renton checks on him first when he returns to Leith from Amsterdam. Here is the first bit of feeling like you are in a Danny Boyle film. Spud’s botched suicide attempt is filmed as fantasy and reality cut together. Renton is able to save Spud but not without some disgusting and shocking visuals.

Begbie has been incarcerated for years, but somehow manages an escape. When he finally meets up with Simon (Sick Boy) he’s told of Renton’s return and starts to plot his revenge on the betrayal of the £16,000. Simon is not exactly forgiving of his best mate Renton’s absence with the cash either, and included Begbie on a longer con to get back at Rents.

Simon has inherited his aunt’s pub Port Sunshine in Leith by the train tracks. He doesn’t make much there, and is a criminal at heart so he has resorted to blackmailing rich members of the community with sex tapes made in cahoots with his girlfriend Veronika (Anjela Nedyalkova). Simon’s also developed quite a heavy cocaine addiction, botching his most recent blackmail attempt.

Veronika is a young girl from Bulgaria, and our anchor to the modern day. She gets wrapped up in Sick Boy and Renton’s schemes and the three of them look to convert Port Sunshine into a brothel, legitimizing the failed strap-on business plan of blackmail. She’s an ally but also serves to drive more of a wedge between the two best buddies.

Renton returns to Leith clean and happy, and after saving Spud, he offers to save Spud from himself, urging him to be addicted to something else, and the remodel of the pub occupies that itch.

The soundtrack is glorious in it’s callbacks to Iggy Pop’s ‘Lust for Life’ given new life by a remix by The Prodigy, while including new talent such as Wolf Alice and dipping into the Trainspotting vinyl collection for nostalgic hits from The Clash and Queen. American audiences are introduced to comedy hip-hop duo The Rubberbandits as their video for ‘Dad’s Best Friend’ takes over Simon’s gigantic television screen in his apartment and Renton, like a man 20 years displaced asks “What is this?”. The apartment is perhaps just a minor upgrade from the drug den where we first meet Spud melting into the carpet and den leader Mother Superior. Veronika refuses to stay over because it is messy. Renton comforts Simon by insisting the flat is just ‘masculine’.

T2 doesn’t beat you over the head with, “Look at Renton, he jogs now, he’s cleaned up and is returning home”. No, this movie shows you how difficult it is for people to really change. Some bonds are lifetime bonds, and sometimes betrayal can play out with a long game and allies are thick as thieves, except when it doesn’t suit them. While loosely based on Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting sequel Porno, the movie itself is written by Trainspotting screenwriter John Hodge drawing from both books and the original movie, steering away from a strict Porno adaptation.

A criticism I have of the storytelling was inserting the trope of having a main character chronicle the adventures of the boys, to be collected and read someday. Perhaps it seemed like an unnecessary trope or crutch, but I’d like to see if it rubs me the wrong way on a second viewing.

T2 is unique by the nature of the timing between the sequel and original, closer to Richard Linklater’s Boyhood than anything else in modern film. This is a deeply satisfying observation on aging and relationships, a great second volume to a revered piece of cinema. For Boyle, it rescues him from the criticism of Steve Jobs, but also is a unique opportunity to revisit without rebooting. This doesn’t achieve the 5-star greatness of Trainspotting, but it doesn’t have to. It gets you close enough to the edge that you can stand and look down and stop yourself from falling over.

Produced by David Ellison, Dana Goldberg,
Bonnie Curtis, Julie Lynn
Directed by Daniel Espinosa
Written by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson,
Ryan Reynolds, Hiroyuki Sanada,
Ariyon Bakare, Olga Dihovichnaya

With the upcoming release of Ridley Scott’s new film in the Alien franchise, it is unsurprising to see Sony and Columbia Pictures release their bid for the year’s sci-fi thrillers.

What is surprising is how much I enjoyed it.

It has been a long time since I have watched a thriller where I haven’t had the urge to yell at the screen for the characters for doing truly stupid things.

Set on an international space station, Life start out with all of the standard tropes of an “Alien” type film.

A small group of scientist and astronauts, long away from Earth, long to complete their final mission, and go home to Fame and Glory; all in the name of science and space exploration.  Olga Dihovichnaya and Rebecca Ferguson are the by the book authoritative women, commander and safety officer,  respected by all the crew.  Hiroyuki Sanada is your family man with a wife and newborn he has never seen in real life. Ariyon Bakare is your lead scientist who is driven by his love/obsession for discovery.  Jake Gyllenhaal fills out the role of the recluse doctor who wants to be away from humans as much as possible after war-time trauma.  Ryan Reynold is his own trope as the smart aleck, blue-collar-roots engineer, who wisecracks and acts as the one rash individual who is acts more on instinct than logic.

The bones of the story is by the numbers. Scientists discover lifeform, lifeform becomes antagonistic, crew fights for their lives, and possibly all life as we know it. Yes, it has been done before.  However, it is the way it is told that is refreshing.

The filmmaking is lean. At a fast paced 1 hour 40 minutes, Life does not waste a lot of time getting to the action, yet the movie never feels rushed.  Characters are developed, but not lingered on.  Enough bread crumbs are left to get to know the crew without having to be spoon fed a detailed background of each character.

Each of the fictional scientist actually act like scientists.  They follow procedure, make rational decisions, and it is only through human error that things go awry.  This is an important detail for me, since I spent most of Prometheus wondering why their scientist did things the way they did.  For their actions, they deserved to be alien food, but I digress). The director Daniel Espinosa relies less on jump scares (which are the easy way out in a thriller) and more on building the unease through the actors reactions in a scene to make you feel unsettled.

The alien itself is a nice divergence from the typical design.  Instead of the standard dark colors, armour plating, and rows of teeth (or mouths), Life’s alien is smooth lines and light colors, it’s movements swift and graceful, like and underwater sea creature.  These qualities are disarming, making the later violence seem more menacing.

I saw a twist coming at the end, but not the one that was given until it was almost revealed.  It gives the film a slight different tone than the one that Espinosa and the writers had been building.  I almost wonder if there was a change at the last minute to satisfy a producer or studio executive.  Or if it was a nod to sci-fi classics like The Thing or Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

If you are new to the genre, it’s a solid space thriller.  For the sci-fi connoisseur, it won’t hold the same kind of surprise that a new viewer will experience, but it is fun to see the influences and how the are played with and presented for a new generation.

Produced by Jim Burke, Josh Donen,
Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Screenplay by Daniel Clowes
Based on Wilson by Daniel Clowes
Directed by Craig Johnson
Starring Woody Harrelson, Laura Dern,
Isabella Amara, Judy Greer, Cheryl Hines

You can count on one thing from Daniel Clowes when it comes to storytelling. He will make you feel every emotion, frustration and triumph that his characters experience. This rings truer than true for the film adaption of his graphic novel Wilson.

Clowes has adapted his comic book to a screenplay that is directed by Craig Johnson. Woody Harrelson stars as the middle-aged, tragically honest and too smart for his own good, namesake of the title, Wilson as we join him, whether we want to or not, though a slice of his life that finds him not understanding the world around him.

Along the way, he loses his estranged father, gets back with his ex-wife (Laura Dern) and meets his daughter for the first time, brilliantly portrayed by relative newcomer, Isabella Amara. A series of well placed notions but very poorly executed places Wilson in a world he never expected and on the other side of this journey, he may find the balance he needs to cope with the changing world around him.

Director, Johnson perfectly realizes the “not quiet right” world of Wilson, from the quirky background characters to the main supporting cast featuring Judy Greer as the dog sitter, Shelly to David Warshofsky as Wilson’s acerbic, assholish childhood friend. Johnson has taken the finely tuned screenplay by Clowes and makes you feel as if you have stepped right into the pages of the book of this dysfunctional and sometimes upsetting life Wilson has chosen to lead.

As a fan of Daniel Clowes’ myriad of graphic novels and the two previous adaptions to film of his work, I realize that Wilson will not be for many people. It was almost not for me. Like Ghost World and Art School Confidential, Clowes has a knack for creating beautiful patchwork quilts out of the lives of human’s who just don’t quite fit into the world they occupy. Clowes loves these misfits and handles them with care and love. He loves sending them though an odyssey of growth and heartache that we are allowed to experience as well. In the end things may or may not be a little brighter but they are usually uncomfortable and they are definitely never dull.

If you are a fan of Ghost World, American Splendor, Crumb, and/or Art School Confidential then I highly recommend this film as an apropos addition to your collection. If you aren’t a fan, then I would say skip this one as it will leave you feeling uneasy and the small bright spot at the end may not make up for the painful journey you had to traverse for the meek reward.

Produced by Ravi D. Mehta, Dax Shepard,
Andrew Panay, Rick Rosner
Written and Directed by Dax Shepard
Based on CHiPs by Rick Rosner
Starring Dax Shepard, Michael Peña,
Vincent D’Onofrio, Adam Brody,
Rosa Salazar, Vida Guerra, Kristen Bell

Dax Shepard must be a really, really nice guy.

Somehow he not only got the unnecessary, but long gestating reboot of the Seventies television series made, but he also wrangled many familiar faces into the film which he not only starred in, but also wrote, directed and produced.

Unfortunately, Shepard forgot to make the film particularly engaging, or bluntly, good.

There’s not enough of anything to set it apart.  It’s not that funny.  It’s not that action packed.  It just is.  And although that’s serviceable, it’s not enough to actually make it an improvement over a 40 year old tv show.

In an attempt to give the film some depth, Shepard not only abandoned the concept of the series, but also replaced it with a cliché filled series of scenes that add up to the same formula that audiences have seen again and again.

This time, Ponch (Peña) isn’t even Ponch.  He’s an undercover agent sent to infiltrate the California Highway Patrol to solve a series of heists and an unusual suicide that are believed to be executed by a cabal of corrupt cops.  Ponch is teamed up with former extreme sports star Baker (Shepard), a rookie to the force.  They eventually earn mutual respect and discover that the bad guy happens to be Lt. Raymond Kurtz (D’Onofrio), which comes as no surprise from the moment he appears on screen.

Filled with plenty of dated homophobic jokes, retreaded plot points, plenty of cameos and my personal pet peeve, the lack of utilizing the original theme music in the climax, CHiPs joins the ever-growing list of unnecessary and uninspired television to film adaptations that will soon be found on the streaming service of your choice.

In the near future, Major (Scarlett Johansson) is the first of her kind:  A human saved from a terrible crash, who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world’s most dangerous criminals. When terrorism reaches a new level that includes the ability to hack into people’s minds and control them, Major is uniquely qualified to stop it. As she prepares to face a new enemy, Major discovers that she has been lied to: her life was not saved, it was stolen. She will stop at nothing to recover her past, find out who did this to her and stop them before they do it to others. Based on the internationally acclaimed Japanese Manga, Ghost in the Shell.

For your chance to download passes to GHOST IN THE SHELL
on Wednesday, March 29^th at 7PM at AMC Boston Common click HERE.

The streaming service steps ups its game this springs with a slew of new titles including a whole host of fun horror such as 1408, The Return of the Living Dead series and new indie classic The Babadook.

TV shows making their season premiere include the seventh season of Pretty Little Liars, the first season of Preacher and the second season of Wayward Pines, to name a few.

And for original programming, Hulu’s own The Handmaiden’s Tale makes its debut. But given today’s political climate, this might hit a little too close to home and end up the scariest of all the offerings.

* Showtime = Movies and shows are only available with a subscription to the Showtime add-on premium service

APRIL 1

1408 (2007) (* Showtime)

A Horse Tale (2015)

Agent Cody Banks (2003)

Affliction (1998)

Almost Famous (2000)

America’s Sweethearts (2001) (* Showtime)

Bad Company (1995) (* Showtime)

Bangkok Dangerous (2008) (* Showtime)

Ben Collins: Stunt Driver (2015)

Beyond the Sea (2004) (* Showtime)

The Big Empty (2003)

Bigfoot Country (2012)

The Burrowers (2009)

Cadillac Man (1990)

Call Me (1988)

Casual Encounters (2016)

Chaplin (1993)

Chosen (2016)

Company Man (2000) (* Showtime)

Cry Freedom (1987) (* Showtime)

Dancer (2016)

Days of Thunder (1990)

Deja vu (2006) (* Showtime)

Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999) (* Showtime)

Eddie Murphy Raw (1987)

Election (1999)

The Ex (2006) (* Showtime)

Factory Girl (2006) (* Showtime)

Federal Hill (1994)

Felicia’s Journey (1999)

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

Fifteen and Pregnant (1997)

Fight to the Finish (2016)

Flyboys (2006)

Frankenstein (2004)

Furry Vengeance (2010) (* Showtime)

Gator (1976)

The Giant King (2015)

The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)

Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969)

Happy Endings (2005)

Hemingway’s Garden of Eden (2010)

The Hours (2002)

I Am Number Four (2011) (* Showtime)

I.Q. (1994)

In Old California (1942)

JFK (1991)

Kill Me Again (1989)

Kingdom of Blood (2016)

Kiss the Girls (1997)

Lincoln (2012) (* Showtime)

The Magnificent Seven Ride Again (1972)

March of the Penguins (2005)

Mighty Joe Young (1998) (* Showtime)

Miss Potter (2006) (* Showtime)

Mother’s Day (2016) (* Showtime)

Mr. Brooks (2007) (* Showtime)

Mulholland Falls (1996)

My Best Friend’s Girl (2008) (* Showtime)

NYC Underground (2013)

Original Sin (2001)

Out of the Inferno (2016)

Payback (1999)

People Like Us (2012) (* Showtime)

The People vs. George Lucas (2011)

Pony Express (1953)

Premonition (2007) (* Showtime)

The Puffy Chair (2007)

Return of the Living Dead 3 (1993)

Return of the Living Dead 4 (2006)

Return of the Living Dead 5 (2007)

Road Trip (2000)

Robocop (1987)

Robocop 2 (1990)

Robocop 3 (1992)

Saturday Night Fever (1977)

Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)

Serpico (1973)

Sexipede (2010) (* Showtime)

Scrooged (1988) (* Showtime)

Shaun of the Dead (2004) (* Showtime)

Sliver (1993)

The Spirit (2008) (* Showtime)

The Switch (2010)

Tale of Tales (2015) (* Showtime)

Tapeheads (1988)

Thelma & Louise (1991)

Tommy Boy (1995)

Trail of Blood (2013)

Twice Upon a Yesterday (1999)

Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys (2008) (* Showtime)

Under the Sea (2009)

Usual Suspects (1995)

The Warriors (1979)

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1998) (* Showtime)

Wicker Park (2004)

The Yards (2000) (* Showtime)

APRIL 2

Hello, My Name is Doris (2016)

APRIL 4

Dimension 404  (Series Premiere; RocketJump)

Precious Cargo (2016)

The Last Exorcism (2010)

APRIL 5

Preacher (Season 1 (AMC)

Prison Break (Season 5 Premiere (FOX)

APRIL 6

NHL Road to the Outdoor Classics Ep. 4 (2017)

APRIL 7

The Beach Boys: Making Pet Sounds (2017) (* Showtime)

Steve Byrne: Tell the Damn Joke (2017) (* Showtime)

APRIL 8

Camp Lakebottom (Season 1; Disney XD)

First Dates (Series premiere; NBC)

Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016)

Beyond the Edge (2016)

Perfect in ’76 (2017) (* Showtime)

APRIL 9

The Perfect Match (2016)

In A World (2013)

APRIL 10

Swelter (2014)

APRIL 13

Short Term 12 (2013)

APRIL 14

The Babadook (2014)

The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015) (* Showtime)

The Straight Story (1999) (* Showtime)

APRIL 15

DOT (Season 1a; Sprout)

Sid the Science Kid Seasons 1 & 2; PBS)

Sid the Science Kid: The Movie (2012)

APRIL 18

Famous in Love (Series premiere; ABC Family)

My Hero Academia (Season 1; Funimation)

Ain’t Them Bodies Saints (2013)

Election Day: Lens Across America (2016)

APRIL 19

Pretty Little Liars (Season 7; ABC Family)

Teen Beach Movie (2013)

Den Brother (2010)

The Even Stevens Movie (2003)

Johnny Tsunami (1999)

Stuck in the Suburbs (2004)

Tiger Cruise (2004)

APRIL 21

LA Story (Season 2; Awesomeness TV)

Warpath (1951)

APRIL 22

Cesar Millan’s Dog Nation  (Series Premiere; Nat Geo)

APRIL 24

Top of the Lake (Season 1; Sundance TV)

APRIL 25

Origins: The Journey of Humankind  (Series Premiere; Nat Geo)

Wayward Pines (Season 2; FX)

APRIL 26

The Handmaid’s Tale  (Series Premiere; Hulu Original)

APRIL 29

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Season 4; Nickelodeon)

GOING, GOING…GONE

APRIL 2

Inspector Gadget (1999)

Tombstone (1993)

APRIL 14

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

Blank Check (1994)

Homeward Bound 2: Lost in San Francisco (1996)

Homeward Bound: the Incredible Journey (1993)

APRIL 19

When A Man Loves A Woman (1994)

APRIL 30

Baby Boom (1987)

Born Romantic (2001)

Chocolat (2000)

Drop Zone (1994)

Escape From Alcatraz (1979)

Fatal Attraction (1987)

Forces of Nature (1999)

Get Shorty (1995)

I Went Down (1998)

Major League (1989)

Rent (2005)

Rob Roy (1995)

The Running Man (1987)

Sands of Iwo Jima (1950)

Soapdish (1991)

Terms of Endearment (1983)

Untamed Heart (1993)

Wild Bill (1995)

Well, here we are. The latest row about pop culture diversity continues with Iron Fist.

It wasn’t enough that a vocal group of people were interested in flipping the script on Iron Fist’s origin story rooted in old-fashioned comic book orientalism, by recasting Danny Rand as an Asian-American man.

Even worse, this makes Iron Fist the back end of a double whammy on issues of Asians in entertainment. We also went through the complaints of whitewashing in Doctor Strange by casting Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One, the crisscrossing recriminations, and the kind of polite interracial exchange that ends in the white person feeling happy and Margaret Cho feeling pissed off.

Did I ever think Marvel Studios would cast an Asian-American as Rand? Not really, because we know how this game works. However, it was another piece in a good conversation that needs to continue regarding the continued vast lack of quality Asian representation in pop culture.

But you’d think, after all that, Marvel and other studios would hire some PR consultants who deal with messaging on cultural and diversity issues.

Is it so hard to simply say, “We understand the issues raised. We stand by our choices, but we’ll keep working on creating quality, diverse content. Please give us a chance; we’re here for all the fans”? Even if your biggest detractors don’t believe you (and they likely don’t have any reason to), and even if you’ve really said a bunch of nothing, at least it doesn’t further fan the flames.

Nah, they said. As usual, the people behind the project get defensive, double down on the whole thing, blame everyone, and try to protest back at the protesting. “It’s just a story.” “Find something important to complain about.” “He isn’t meant to stand in for any race, he’s just a guy.” “Donald Trump got elected and it’s blowing back on us.”

Of course, it’s not helping that Iron Fist has been met with mixed reviews and a general assessment that it’s the worst of Marvel’s Netflix shows.

It also doesn’t help that Marvel put a lot of work into positioning its Netflix series as prestige TV by having each of them be About Something. And I think that’s what made the cries for an Asian-American Iron Fist carry more punch.

Daredevil delved into white working class identity and poor folks losing their homes to gentrification. Jessica Jones crafted its villain as a super-powered practitioner of violence against women. Luke Cage made itself about black identity, racial progress and police issues, wrapped up in a bulletproof black man in a hoodie. Street-level shows featuring ethnic whites, women, blacks and Latinos.

So what is Iron Fist, in this framework? He could represent Asians, had he been Asian. I figure they’ll leave that to Colleen Wing, whose character has been regarded as more interesting than Danny Rand on the show. Done right, Iron Fist could be the anti-Wilson Fisk.

nHowever, it could have been more. Marvel’s Netflix shows made their prestige bones through social relevance, and an Asian-American Iron Fist could have done that by jumping into issues of assimilation and cultural unbelonging. Iron Fist could have become an opportunity to hit something rarely seen in pop culture instead of just another superhero show and a fill-in to get to The Defenders. And yes, that includes the trope of the do-gooder white billionaire superhero.

Then imagine being Lewis Tan: a strapping, handsome, half-Asian son of a martial arts master and stunt coordinator. A guy who can do his own fighting and stunts, and act, to boot.

You audition for Danny Rand, too. And then you watch the part go to somebody who can’t do what you do, and the show gets dragged for lackluster fight scenes despite being about a kung fu master called “The Living Weapon.”

But hey, Finn Jones looks just like Danny in the comics!

And you get cast as a one-off villain.

Well. OK. So it goes, and goes, and goes. It’s a cycle people of color keep dealing with and dealing with, while a bunch of people tell you it’s not happening.

From that perspective, it’s easy to see why a few folks would make a ruckus, even if that ruckus doesn’t amount to much or gets defensively disregarded in the end. It’s the pattern involving skin that gets under folks’ skin, going beyond the nuts and bolts of a single TV show.

Studios, at the very least, please up your diversity PR game. Because, if you haven’t noticed, these issues aren’t going away.

Produced by David Lawson Jr.,
Bob Portal, Travis Stevens
Based on the novel by Bryan Smith
Written and Directed Trent Haaga
Starring Matthew Gray Gubler, AnnaLynne McCord,
Alisha Boe, Sheila Vand, Sam Eidson,
Michael Beasley, James Moses Black

Chip (Matthew Gray Gubler) is a likeable slacker who’s girlfriend Liza (Annalynne McCord) has come up with a scheme for them to get enough money for the couple to get out of debt and start anew, plus no one will get hurt.

Unfortunately before Chip can get a grip on the situation the pair have the money, but the bodies are piling up and there’s a live on in their trunk.

With a growing list of crimes adding up behind them, Chip and Liza constantly have to alter their plan while Chip has to re-asses his situation in all of this. It seems that the more they do to cover things up the more dangerous Chip’s night gets.

With 68 Kill writer director Trent Haaga has crafted a quirky and stylish comedic crime drama which doubles as a fascinating experiment in gender swapping. We’ve long experienced the cliché of the damsel in distress who runs a gauntlet of predatory conniving male characters until she summons the inner strength to stand up to them, but in 68 Kill the roles are reversed so that Chip is perceived as the week willed impressionable character whom all of the female characters attempt to take advantage of physically, emotionally, and monetarily.

Along with the excellent story elements 68 Kill boasts a phenomenal cast of which all of the leads put in fantastic performances, the stand-outs to me being Matthew Gray Gubler and Sheila Vand who you may recognize from 2014’s superb A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night.

68 Kill is an incredibly fun, uproariously inappropriate, and at times surprising take on the gritty indie crime film with some dark horror roots. See it soon so you can be the one to tell your friends about it.

68 Kill screens tonight at the Brattle Theatre
as part of the Boston Underground Film Festival at 9:45pm
For more information visit BostonUnderground.org

In case you haven’t heard, there’s a live action adaptation of Ghost in the Shell coming to theaters, and to mark the occasion, Crunchyroll has partnered with Paramount to the promote the film.

Crunchyroll (crunchyroll.com) is a leading global destination and platform for Japanese anime and Asian content. Crunchyroll delivers more than 25,000 episodes and 15,000 hours of officially-licensed content from leading Asian media producers directly to viewers translated professionally in multiple languages within minutes of TV broadcast.

Crunchyroll is offering $10 gift cards that can be used toward membership or for items in their online store and we’re giving away five of them to Forces of Geek readers!

To enter, please send an email with the subject header “CRUNCHYROLL” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following:

What is the name of your favorite anime series or film?

Please include your name and address (U.S. Residents only. You must be 18 years old).

Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on April 2nd, 2017.

Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown!

It’s Friday and it’s time to talk about comics that you may not have heard of! Here we go!!

 
Anno Dracula: 1895: Seven Days In Mayhem #1
Written by Kim Newman
Illustrated by Paul Mccaffrey
Published by Titan Comics

This is a surprisingly well written comic book. I was not expecting it to be at all. I guess this is based on a series of books (that I never heard of?). This is not an adaptation of those books however (Thank god).

Newman has decided to write new adventures of Anno Dracula in comic book form and I’m all for that! The cool thing about this book is that it takes place in a world where Dracula has won.

It’s pretty cool too that the book stars Kate Reed, a character who was cut from Bram Stoker’s original novel.

Kate is a well developed character here. Newman knows how to use her well.

The art is decent enough. The design work is great. The storytelling in the art is a little flat and stiff.

Overall though, it’s a good book and you would be very entertained it if you picked it up.

RATING: B

 
Jughead: The Hunger
Written by Frank Tieri
Illustrated by Michael Walsh
Published by Archie Comics

This book is a a complete pleasure to read and review. From start to finish, this book had my eyes glued to it. Archie Comics has been killing it in recent years and this book is another example of why.

Taking place in a universe outside the regular comics, this book give us another fresh spin on an old concept. Basically, it takes place in a universe where Jughead may be a werewolf. And that’s all you need to know!

Oh, and that’s it’s funny and kooky with a huge dash of horror thrown in.

Tieri writes a great script here. He’s one of the more underrated creators in comics. And Michael Walsh is a find.

This is one of the best new releases of the year.

RATING: A

 
Look
Written and Illustrated by Jon Nielsen
Published by NBM Graphic Novels

This book was quite a treat. The best way I can put it is this: if you like Bone and you like the film Wall-E, you should check out this book as it has echoes of each.

The world has been abandoned of all humans. There is a robot still here though trying to perform his one last mission. With that, he starts to wonder if this given task has any meaning left. He decides to go with his robotic bird friend Owen, to forget the past and find deeper meaning in the future. But everyone they encounter is still holding onto the past.

Nielsen asks the big questions in this book. He asks “why are we here?” The answers are wonderful and this book is pretty damn cool.

Pick this up. It’s a different book in a landscape where many books look alike. And it deserves your attention.

RATING: A-

 
Riverdale #1
Written by Will Ewing
Illustrated by Joe Eisma
Published by Archie Comics

Based on the hit Riverdale TV show….comes Riverdale the comic book!

It’s just as fun, just as breezy, and just as cool as the television series. If you like the television series, pick this up.

There is more fun to be had!

The interesting thing about this comic book is that it’s actually a prequel to the television show.

The events in it take place in the summer before the events in the show. It’s interesting and I loved it.

Ewing has a great feel for the characters. And I’ve always loved Eisma as an artist. It’s a good book and it’s a step above the usual TV show to comic book tie-ins.

RATING: B+

 
Transformers vs G.I. JOE: The Movie Adaptation
Written and Illustrated by Tom Scioli
Published by IDW Publishing

What the holy hell did I just read? And why did I like it so much?

The Transformers and G.I. Joe universe collide here. And it’s wildly bonkers.

Why is it so bonkers? Well…

This is the comic book version of the movie version of a film that doesn’t exist.

You have to read it to believe it. It actually is the comic book my ten year old self would have loved. It’s drawn just like I would have loved if I was still that age.

Scioli is a nutty comic book creator. And that’s a good thing. I enjoyed this very much and left me with a smile on my face.

RATING: B