As the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Beatles groundbreaking album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Shout! Factory will release the film of the same name on Blu-ray on September 26, 2017, and is available for pre-order now on Shoutfactory.com and Amazon.com. Sit back and let the evening go with the 1978 musical spectacular featuring stunning reinterpretations of over twenty classic Beatles songs! Special features on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band include an Audio Commentary with Pop Culture Historian Russell Dyball, Galleries and the Original Theatrical Trailer.

The one and only Billy Shears (multi-platinum recording artist Peter Frampton) and his best friends the Hendersons (Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Bee Gees) are four young men from the quaint little town of Heartland. With superstardom calling, this fabulous foursome leaves Heartland – and Billy’s beloved Strawberry Fields (Sandy Farina) – vulnerable to mean Mr. Mustard, who steals Sgt. Pepper’s magical instruments for a fiendish, “evil force that would poison young minds, pollute the environment, and subvert the democratic process.” It’s up to our heroes to save everything they hold dear with the power of music, kindness, and heart.

Featuring performances by Aerosmith, George Burns, Steve Martin, Earth, Wind & Fire, and more, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is a magical, musical tour through some of the greatest songs ever written, and an astounding time capsule of the late 70s unlike anything you’ve ever seen or heard.

Special Features:

• Audio Commentary With Pop Culture Historian Russell Dyball
• Original Theatrical Trailer

Batgirl and General Zod?

No, not a team-up, but the Action Comics and Batgirl issues  (guest starring Catwoman) were easily the cream of the crop this week followed closely by Scooby-Doo Team-Up (with guest star Jonah Hex.)

It wasn’t all perfection… Hellblazer, Hal Jordan and Blue Beetle missed the mark for me, but thankfully Wonder Woman, Looney Tunes and the Justice League Of America were there to smooth things over. I won’t spoil the reads but four iconic characters reappear this week and their (re)appearances might surprise you…

Here’s my glimpse into the DC Universe this week!

ACTION COMICS #984
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artist: Patch Zircher

What could Zod possibly want in the Zone?

Why would he double cross his own Revenge Squad?

As a newly healed Superman and his team regroup in the Zone, Lois, Krypto, Supergirl, Kelex and a battle-suited Jon (assisted by a strange presence) fight General Zod.

As Eradicator succeeds in his secret mission everyone is in for a shock… the bloodthirsty General wasn’t seeking to amass an army, instead he desired nothing more than to be reunited with his wife and son. As they are all beamed out of the Zone, Superman allows the Zod family to escape, leaving everyone in the ruins of the Fortress to wonder what this reunion could mean for the future.

Ever since Superman was re-established in Rebirth, many questioned what had happened to Ursa and Lor Zod and now we discover the answers.

Revenge was a storyline that started with a completely different agenda and in many ways, deceptively. At journey’s end however, all the threads were addressed and Jurgens has given us exactly what we wanted. The entire story arc was brilliantly written and with Zod, Ursa and Lor being the polar opposites of the Kent family, it will be interesting to see their relationships as we move forward.

HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #25
Writer: Robert Vendetti
Artist: Ethan Van Sciver

The balance of power is disrupted with Tomar Tu’s crime coming to light, while Kyle is discovered disfigured in his human form. This betrayal on both sides leaves the factions at odds and a final bomshell is delivered by Soranik, splitting loyalties forever.

The war begins and John Stewart is determined to bring the conflict to an end with a few tricks up his sleeve but even his plans lead to great losses.

The Yellows and Greens are separate once more but elsewhere in space a foe long thought dead returns to plot against all ring bearers.

It was a balance that couldn’t last but it was interesting to see this storyline play out.

I am still unsure where my loyalties lie as Hal, John and Kyle have all made questionable decisions as of late.

Flipping the impurity of the ring onto the Yellow lanterns was a surprise but otherwise it was a fairly pedestrian, by-the-numbers story, just like the issues before it.

The final pages were an expected inevitability but with Soranik in her current mindset I’m sure the Sinestro Corps will be in for a rough ride.

HELLBLAZER #12
Writer: Simon Oliver
Artist: Davide Fabri

Marid has caught up with Jon, Mercury and the journal they all seek.

The ruthless Djinn wastes no time drawing battle lines revealing to Dante that he has the boy’s baby sister and will not hesitate to kill for the secrets of the journal.

John left with nothing to lose makes a deal, if Marid allows Mercury and the journal safe passage to Abby Arcane and Dante is unharmed, Marid will get the ultimate prize… the Hellblazer himself!

It couldn’t be that easy could it?

That was unexpected!

‘Smokeless Fire’ has been as uneven in the writing as it has been in the art chores. There were so many interludes with Mercury, Marid and those strange flashbacks that the story at it’s heart never got the chance to really get going.

The thrill of the chase was lost amongst the twists and then Oliver gives us an ending out of the blue that doesn’t really fit in with what we know about Marid or his master plan.

A disappointing storyline, that had such promise.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #11
Writer: Steve Orlando
Artists: Neil Edwards & Sandu Florea

Caitlin Snow’s quest hits a roadblock but her journey is far from over in her search for a cure.

The Ray meanwhile, assisted by the rest of the team battle the Kingbutcher, for the fate of Vanity.

Do the Justice League Of America allow the wishes granted to remain fulfilled or defeat the Kingbutcher, crushing the lives of everyone around them?

The Ray pays the ultimate price but the Lords Of Order will not rest until someone pays for their crimes meaning a tumultuous future lies ahead for everyone on earth.

Ryan Choi meanwhile finally gets the news he’s been waiting for… Ray Palmer is alive!

I really should hate this title, it has no great villains, it has Batman on two teams at the same time and the JLA don’t seem to be anywhere near as iconic as the main team.

There is a certain ‘something’ there that Orlando has tapped into that makes it a survivor. This is the soap opera title of the DCU. The lives of the JLA are something that I care about. I am surprised how much I love this book, it has a way to go, but it has been an enjoyable journey thus far!

WONDER WOMAN #27
Writer: Shea Fontana
Artist: Mirka Andolfo

The bomb thankfully causes minimal damage, with Etta being the only casualty and Wonder Woman realising her presence was the cause for the attack.

Diana wastes no time getting Etta to medical attention, however the doctor isn’t all she seems.

The testing earlier that day had allowed the Doctor to calculate the correct dosage to drug Wonder Woman. The doctor is dying but stealing some of Diana ‘s DNA and grafting it with her own means she is instantly cured with some godlike side effects.

Wonder Woman fights back, warning the doctor of the danger she is in for stealing the gift of the gods, but the warning falls on deaf ears.

As Wonder Woman fights her double, the princess in unaware that a bounty has been placed on her head.

This two parter was a refreshing new direction. I really enjoyed Rucka & Scott & Sharp’s run, it was the stuff of legends, but having some short form stories are great fun too. The doctor’s double cross was very fast but something that can be overlooked in the interests of adventure.

Wonder Woman seems more like her Year One ‘innocent’ persona here, but I hope as Fontana grows more comfortable writing the Amazonian princess that she begins to get a little tougher.

LOONEY TUNES #238
Writers: Derek Fridolfs, Sholly Fisch, Jesse Leon McCann, Pablo Zamboni & Ruben Torreiro
Artists: Walter Carzon, Horacio, Ottolini, Saichann, Aranda & Mike DeCarlo

Four stories from the world of animation!

The first sees Wile E. Coyote purchase a universal remote from ACME that could help him outsmart that pesky Road Runner.

The second sees us visit Coyote’s ancestor in the prehistoric age and his attempts to eat a wooly mammoth, but where there’s a Coyote there is always a Road Runner!

Next, it’s time that the crazy characters seek to examine their neurosis as Porky, Coyote, Marvin The Martian and Bugs Bunny want some psychological help.

Finally, Coyote invests in a combat simulator to best battle his nemesis… what could go wrong?

The kids books are always the most difficult to review. They are always beautifully illustrated and brilliantly written. Sometimes I feel that these books are better than some of the more mainstream comics. They appeal to a mass audience (myself included) but I suppose I should spotlight my favourites to give you a bigger picture.

The ACME remote and the psychologist short stories were hilarious. Both very creative and working on both a parent and child level, delivering as many laughs as the cartoons themselves.

SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP #28
Writer: Sholly Fisch
Artist: Dario Brizuela

The Mystery Incorporated gang uncover a secret journal they never knew about, detailing the adventures of their ancestors and the great, great grandpa to Scooby!

It turns out that Frederic, Carrie, Thelma Lou, Gabby and Smiley-Doo were all pals in the old west and had journey into a town called Buzzard’s Belly.

In Buzzard’s Belly there is a monster terrorising the town but not only that, a fugitive names Bat Lash is also in hiding there.

With double the threat the old Mystery Inc are soon aided by the legendary gunslinger Jonah Hex.

Did they succeed to ride off into the sunset or will their fate remain a mystery Scooby and the gang will never solve?

I get done dishing out praise for one young audience book and then Fisch surprises me with a team-up I never thought would happen. Granted it isn’t quite a team-up in the literal sense but the creativity to bring it to life and the added bonus of Bat Lash made for one of the more entertaining issues in this series. I usually hate Wild West stories but this was very enjoyable.

BLUE BEETLE #11
Writers: Keith Giffen & J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Scott Kolins

Jaime overcomes the Scarab and in doing so forges a symbiosis no other owner has ever had.

This unique bond forces Doctor Fate to rethink his decision to kill Jaime and he permits breathing space while taking Arion into supernatural custody.

This should be the end of the story, Blue Beetle is a hero on his own terms now and everything is right in the world… except for a certain Mistress La Dama, who seeks control of El Paso and releases the evil entity Ghostfire to do her bidding.

Jaime’s drama is far from over as Batman decides the Beetle’s erratic career needs his close personal attention.

Someone stop the ride, I want to get off.

I’ve had root canal that was more enjoyable than these past eleven issues. Like binge watching The Walking Dead, you keep hoping it will get better, but it never does despite the odd glimmer of hope. I can only hope now that Jaime is in full control of the Scarab that the story arcs will get shorter and begin to improve. With two comic book legends at the helm this should be one of the biggest and brightest of the DC line up. Kolins energetic art feels slightly constricted in the issues framework, I feel he needs more bold splash pages to really cut loose.

BATGIRL #13
Writer: Hope Larson
Artist: Inaki Miranda

Batgirl rescues a young girl called Esme from a gang of bullies and quickly forges a friendship with her.

It turns out that the little girl is desperately searching for her beloved dog Rookie and who better than the world’s greatest girl detective to help her search?

Things take a turn for the bizarre when the two girls clash with Catwoman, but rather than uncover a crime they find Selina is also searching for a pet.

Isis has been kidnapped and they must join forces to find answers and all trails lead to the villainess, Velvet Tiger.

What could she want with two household pets and can Batgirl save the day?

Was this written as a homage to Adam West and Yvonne Craig?

This was an unexpected pleasure from start to finish, not as an issue of Batgirl but its homage to the 1966 Batman show. Isis and Rookie’s rescue was innovative as a tool to have the cat & the bat join forces but who would have thought the story would end like it did?

Who could have predicted the villainy of Velvet Tiger? Not me! I loved every second and the minions somersaulting around gave me pangs of nostalgia.

Hope Larson, thank you, intentional or not you wrote a fitting tribute.

Fear knows no limits when the suspenseful horror-thriller It Comes at Night creeps its way onto Blu-ray (plus Digital HD) and DVD September 12 from Lionsgate. From acclaimed writer/director Trey Edward Shults (Krisha), It Comes at Night tells the story of a man who will do anything to protect his family, no matter who or what the threat might be. Theatrically released by A24 and starring Joel Edgerton (Loving), Chris Abbot (A Most Violent Year), Carmen Ejogo (Alien: Covenant), and Riley Keough (American Honey), the Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh It Comes at Night is an “all-consuming and deeply disturbing chiller” (Collider) that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Heart-pounding suspense and razor-sharp tension highlight this highly-acclaimed thriller. 17-year-old Travis, secure within a desolate home with his protective and heavily armed parents (Joel Edgerton and Carmen Ejogo), watches his world abruptly change with the arrival of a desperate couple (Christopher Abbott and Riley Keough) and their young child. Panic and mistrust grow as the dangers of the outside world creep ever closer… but they may be nothing compared to the dangers within.

The Blu-ray and DVD releases feature an all-new featurette called “Human Nature: Creating It Comes at Night.” The It Comes at Night Blu-ray and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $24.99 and $19.98, respectively.

BLU-RAY/DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

• “Human Nature: Creating It Comes at Night” Featurette

For more information visit a24films.com/films/it-comes-at-night

A little known chapter in World War II history pitted brother against brother in one of the bloodiest conflicts of the war. From director Elmo Nüganen comes 1944, Estonia’s biggest domestic box office success and the country’s Official Entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2016 Academy Awards. On August 1, this “gritty war epic” (Variety) debuts on DVD and Digital from Film Movement.

An exclusive clip:

Revealing the tragic aftermath of the invasion and occupation of Estonia after the onset of WWII, 1944 recounts one of the most painful chapters of 20th century history for the beleaguered Baltic country. First seized by Soviet Russia, then by Nazi Germany, Estonia ended up with more than 50,000 men of combat age conscripted to fight for the Red Army and over 70,000 for the German military. The result was effectively a civil war, with former friends and neighbors forced to slaughter each other on the battlefield.

From July’s battle of the Tannenberg Line to the Red Army’s occupation of the Sorve peninsula at the end of November, 1944 is depicted through the eyes of Estonians fighting on opposing sides. With the Russians on the offensive, the outnumbered SS dig in to repel the Soviet advance on the Third Reich. Yet, half of their infantry are local Estonian recruits, drafted from Siberian Labor camps and sent back to their homeland wearing enemy uniforms; now, they must find a way to survive one of the deadliest battles of World War II. Humanizing the conflict, director Nüganen chooses to focus on two high ranking officers: Karl (Kaspar Velberg), a country boy turned SS officer, also haunted by his inability to prevent his family’s deportation to Siberia and Juri (Kristjan Ukskula), son of a communist collaborator, recruited from the Estonian Defense Forces by the Soviet Red Army.

The Hollywood Reporter says that Nüganen, who made his feature-length debut with 2003’s historic Names in Marble (which, until 1944 held the Estonian box office record) “stages battlefield action with an impressively kinetic in-your-face energy” and has “a flare for directing action with tense scenes of trench warfare.” They go on to say that the script, penned by Leo Kunnas, a novelist and former high-ranking Estonian military officer, is “rich in historical detail.”

The 1944 DVD features the original Estonian language version with English subtitles, as well as an English dubbed track. The DVD also includes the bonus animated short, Le Deux Vies de Nate Hill (The Two Lives of Nate Hill) from director Jeanne Joseph, examining the dualities of chance and fate.

And we’re giving away three copies of this Walmart exclusive title!

To enter, please send an email with the subject header “1944” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following:

What’s your favorite World War II movie?

Please include your name, and address (U.S. 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 August 6th, 2017.

Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown!

I’m just back from San Diego and a slew of great titles are hitting the stands. Here’s a look at the ones I read this week!

All Star Batman #12
Written by Scott Snyder
Illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque

I know people talk about the creative team of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo a ton.

For my money, the collaboration I love more is the one between Snyder and Albuquerque. They work wonderfully together and have for almost ten years now. Their latest creation in these pages is some of the best work they have done together.

This is part three of the storyline “The First Ally.” In it, Batman battles the villain Nemesis.

It’s a psychological battle that only Snyder could write. Every page, there is some new bit of information learned. We also find out who and what is behind the Nemesis mask. It’s a good revelation too.

The relationship between Batman and Alfred is well handled here. It is also tested very harshly as well.

Snyder makes the whole thing compelling. And the art is some of Albuquerque’s best. Good storytelling and top notch figure work. This book is going away soon but it’s going away on top.

RATING: A

Doom Patrol #7
Written by Gerard Way
Illustrated by Mike Allred

The first six issues of Gerard Way’s Doom Patrol run were some of my favorite comic books published in the last year.

In this issue, Nick Derington takes a break from drawing and instead we are treated to Mike Allred’s artwork.

Niles Caulder is back! He wants to take this new Doom Patrol team and run it like the old Doom Patrol team. But can he be trusted?

Of course he can’t! He’s Niles Caulder!

Way writes a fun issue with this premise with lots of cool twists and turns both humorous and gruesome.

The art is great. If you’re an Allred fan, you’ll love it. I am an Allred fan, so it made me happy. This is a nice break from the previous six issues and a nice jumping on point for new readers. Pick it up now.

Gerard Way’s Doom Patrol is something special indeed.

RATING: A

The Flash #27
Written by Joshua Williamson
Illustrated by Howard Porter and Paul Pelletier

The “Running Scared” storyline has been awesome!

Barry Allen and Iris West go into the future to fight the Reverse Flash. It’s a brutal battle too. Williamson has been weaving a hell of a tale. It all leads up to this issue.

Barry and the Reverse Flash go toe to toe.

That’s the entire issue really. Except Barry has been turned into a demonic Flash of sorts. Can Barry beat Thawne? And can he Reverse the effects of what he’s been turned into?

Williamson answers these questions in a satisfactory way. The opening scene and how Barry looked gives an instant impact.

The art by Porter and Pelletier does get a bit mixed. That being said, it’s a great issue for a title that turned into a heck of a thrill ride.

RATING: A-

Batman Beyond #10
Written by Dan Jurgens
Illustrated by Bernard Chang

Man, what a cool title this turned out to be. I’ve always liked the Batman Beyond cast of characters, and Jurgens does a great job of keeping the style and the flavor of the original television series intact.

I wasn’t sure what to expect but it’s settled into a nice groove here.

This is part five of the “Rise of the Demon” storyline. The experimental Batsuit Terry is wearing is causing him to go bat…crazy. Bruce Wayne has to deal with Terry being a colder version of the Batman.

Together they have to get out of the den of Ra’s Al Ghul. Will it cost Terry his soul? Find out here.

Jurgens keeps the script lively. The art by Chang is perfect for this title. All in all, this is a good book month to month. Pick it up. I’m liking it very much.

RATING: B

Batman/The Shadow #4
Written by Scott Snyder and Steve Orlando
Illustrated by Riley Rossmo

I can’t believe how good this title is.

Riley Rossmo always drew a pretty mean Batman.

The genius here is his rendition of The Shadow.

He’s really the first guy since Kaluta to give the Shadow a strong visual identity. Some may argue Chaykin did it. Others may say Matt Wagner even. They are great artists for sure but nothing like Rossmo, who makes The Shadow modern and exciting.

The story by Snyder and Orlando is pretty damn good too. In this issue, the Shadow has to go through Gotham City and fight Batman’s rogues.

He has to do it to stop The Joker and Stag from killing Batman. Can he do it?

Most likely, yes. After all a second Batman/Shadow crossover was announced for this fall. That’s being said, this is awesomely compelling. Snyder and Orlando keep the story cooking.

Their characterizations of both Batman and the Shadow are spectacular. Pick this up. Or pick up the trade when it hits. Well worth your time.

RATING: A

Detective Comics #961
Written by James Tynion IV
Illustrated by Alvaro Martinez

This reinterpretation of Azrael is pretty darn good. Tynion again takes a character I hated and turned him into something I can stomach.

In this issue, Batman and Batwing fight against the villainous Order of St. Dumas and against their champion Ascalon. The fight is intense. Martinez handles the battle scenes extremely well.

The ending of this issue is exciting as well. Tynion seems to be slowly getting better with every issue.

This is probably the best story arc he has done thus far.

RATING: B+

Teen Titans #10
Written by Ben Percy
Illustrated by Khoi Pham

The other Titans book is the stronger one for me. I feel like this title got off to a rocky start and never recovered.

Percy is a pretty decent talent. I just feel he never found his footing. This issue is no different for me.

Jackson Hyde learns in this issue that he the son of the Manta. He joins his father in searching the ocean for a weapon that can change a lot of things. That’s the crux of this issue. Percy’s story doesn’t exactly engage the reader.

Also in this issue, Starfire questions Damian’s leadership abilities. The conflict between the two is great. The problem is that it’s short lived.

That’s a shame. It was the more interesting plot line. The art isn’t bad. For a more enriching experience pick up the other Titans book. This one is pretty standard overall.

RATING: C

Kamandi Challenge #7
Written by Marguerite Bennett
Illustrated by Dan Jurgens

This has been a whirlwind of a title. Every issue has a new creative team and they pick up off the cliffhanger of the previous creative team.

Some teams gel better than others. Bennett and Jurgens are amongst the ones that don’t.

Bennett takes us to a place where creatures named the Polar Parasites exist. They are controlled by these Snow Wizards.

And guess what happened? Kamandi must fight them!

He has a new bunch of pals too…The Bulldog Brittaneks. It’s a cold battle in this issue indeed.

Bennett does a nice writing job with the book. She layers some nice clues about Kamandi’s parents. Jurgen’s art feels like the two of them never discussed the book. It doesn’t jive well.

This could have been a little better. Maybe next issue.

RATING: B-

Mother Panic #9
Written by Jody Houser
Illustrated by John Paul Leon

Now for another issue of the weirdest superhero on the planet. Mother Panic! It’s a book written by the always wonderful Jody Houser. This is another instance where the writing and art don’t work as well as I would have hoped.

Mother Panic is in a race against time to defeat the villainy of the nefarious Remains. Will she do it? Or will Dr. Varma’s predictions of what will happen come to pass?

Houser keeps us guessing. It’s pretty strange. I’m just not a Leon fan. His art feels septic and I can never get into it.

Still, the story rocks and I’ll recommend it for that.

RATING: B

Suicide Squad #22
Written by Rob Williams 
Illustrated by Gus Vasquez

Rob Williams does a wacky job every issue writing this title. It’s a heck of a schizophrenic book though. Sometimes it’s nuts. The next month, it’s extremely nuts.this is one of those issues that’s extremely nuts. I’m okay with that.

The title for this storyline is called “Kill Your Darlings.” In it, Director Karla now commands the Suicide Squad. She has a plan in mind for them. She’s a lunatic who is an evil version of Amanda Waller. Wallet tries to wrest back control of the Squad. It’s awesome.

The art by Vasquez isn’t the best but it’s likable enough. There are some great character moments in the first few pages that make it worth it. Then it gets crazy. Ah well. It gets a B.

RATING: B

To celebrate it’s 40th Anniversary, Sony will re-release Steven Spielberg’s classic Close Encounters of The Third Kind in theaters on September 1st, before a new home video release in Digital HD, Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray on September 19th.

After an encounter with U.F.O.s, a line worker (Richard Dreyfuss) feels undeniably drawn to an isolated area in the wilderness where something spectacular is about to happen.  The film also stars Terri Garr, Melinda Dillon with Francois Truffaut as Lacombe.

We are not alone.

Produced by Kathryn Bigelow,
Mark Boal, Matthew Budman,
Megan Ellison, Colin Wilson
Written by Mark Boal
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Starring John Boyega, Will Poulter,
Algee Smith, Jason Mitchell,
John Krasinski, Anthony Mackie,
Jacob Latimore, Jack Reynor

They say that every story has already been told at this point, and that we mostly recycle that which is already happened.

That mantra is incredibly clear in Kathryn Bigelow’s latest film Detroit, which covers the Algiers Motel incident in 1967.  As we watch the violence unfold, it is nearly impossible to separate it from today’s uneasy climate with regard to police accountability.

And yet, this movie stands alone as a stunning and stirring masterpiece of a human experience that no one should have to go through.

The film looks at a group of young black and white guests at the Algiers Motel over the course of a night when riots have rocked the city. After calls of a sniper in the vicinity, law enforcement arrives and the situation grows tense as 3 men are murdered in one of the most chilling stories of Detroit history.

Given Kathryn Bigelow’s work with sweeping war epics like The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty it’s no surprise that she was able to make the situation immediately visceral. Truly, we felt as if the guests were the victims in a war waged by a powerful enemy. There is little else to feel except for varying waves of horror and empathy, sometimes separate and sometimes together, as you watch the guests fear for both their lives and the lives of their friends.

Everyone is bound together by the possibility of imminent and unchecked aggression at the hands of the police officers. The cinematography stays true to her previous styles, with the camera trained on violent acts and no shying away from the sounds of close-quarter gunshots and hard-hitting punches.

It is so rare to have a villain with nothing that makes them redeemable in the eye of the audience. At no point does Bigelow attempt to humanize the officers, to give them a plausible argument for why they would do this. John Boyega’s portrayal of security officer Dismukes is the closest you will find to a foil to their actions. As he tries to bridge the gap between law enforcement and citizen, between black and white, he represents those who would be apologetic, and who would look for extenuating circumstances to explain the obvious violence on the screen.

While Jack Reynor and Ben O’Toole are equally excellent at playing crooked cops, it is Will Poulter’s chilling and unforgivable portrayal of Krauss that will haunt moviegoers anytime a black-and-white drives by. Though he seems incredibly young to be playing this kind of part, somehow his performance is so engaging and engrossing in its cruelty that the questionable age range is not distracting after a few minutes. And with a lengthy runtime of two and a half hours, you will have those minutes to come around to your opinion. While it may turn off those casually browsing through summer movie listings, the time simply flies by as you are gripped by Bigelow’s emotional and heart-wrenching storytelling.

If there are any flaws in this movie (and certainly, they would have to be looked for) it would be that there is little framing of the political climate that led up to the incident. With that said, it still stands as an amazing feat by Bigelow. When the credits came up I felt like I had merely been sitting in my seat for an hour. I also felt that I could not get up without unclenching my hands from the armrest and removing the immense weight from my chest.

This film will launch many a discussion, from its relation to incidents in the news today all the way to the idea of treating this kind of domestic matter at the same level as all-out war.

Yet when you walk away from Detroit, there will be no question in your mind that this is a battle for the ages and it was being waged in a hotel room on a hot night in 1967.

Produced by Xavier Guerrero
Written and Directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky
Starring Brontis Jodorowsky, Adan Jodorowsky,
Jeremias Herskovits, Alejandro Jodorowsky,
Pamela Flores, Leandro Taub, Julia Avendaño,
Felipe Ríos, Carolyn Carlson, Bastián Bodenhofer

Alejandro Jodorowsky has been making films since the late 1950s.

His midnight arthouse film El Topo became a cult hit in the 1970s, and he has since written and directed a bunch of films that are both beautiful and intelligent.

Some may look at his films and ask “what the hell is going on?”

That’s fair.

Others may look at his films and just let the experience take them away.

Jodorowsky has always been someone who beats to his own drum whether it’s on film or if he’s writing comics (such as The Incal or the genius Metabarons). Then he goes ahead and directs this film, Endless Poetry. And so it is at age 88, Jodorowsky has done something unexpected. He has directed a masterpiece.

Endless Poetry is a film about Jodorowsky’s early days as a young poet. It’s about as autobiographical as he’s ever committed to in any form. It’s a film about young adulthood set in Santiago de Chile.

The film stars his son, Adan Jodorowsky. Adan basically plays a young version of Alejandro. He is magnetic. His performance drives this entire film. Whether he is talking to his father (Jodorowsky’s other son Brontis, magnetic as well) or being seduced by a dwarf woman (Julia Avenado), Adan is wonderful. He gamely jumps into every scene and we want to follow him.

He is eventually drawn to the Cafe Iris, where he is drawn to the attractions the Iris has. The adventures then get crazier and crazier. It’s a Jodorowsky film after all. But for once, it’s accessible in a way that none of his previous films have ever been. It’s also his most sincere and heartfelt.

This is supposedly the second part of a five part planned movie event. The first was a film called The Dance of Reality. I liked that film, but it’s impenetrable. This one isn’t. Everyone is welcome into his house this time.

The last few minutes are some of the most beautiful I’ve seen from any filmmaker this year.

Some will compare this film to some of Fellini’s great works. They should. The film really functions at that high a level. It’s an incredible movie experience for anyone wanting to be transported. This was completely exhilarating.

Bravo, Mr. Jodorowsky.

RATING: A+

Produced by Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone,
Akiva Schaffer, Billy Rosenberg, Phil Lord, Al Di,
Christopher Miller, Will Allegra, Mark Roberts
Written by Kyle Mooney, Kevin Costello
Directed by Dave McCary
Starring Kyle Mooney, Claire Danes, Mark Hamill,
Greg Kinnear, Andy Samberg, Matt Walsh,
Michaela Watkins, Beck Bennett, Kate Lyn Sheil

If you need a break from the overwhelming bleakness every time you turn on the news, may I suggest this sweetly magical indie, which appeals to the obsessive nerd in all of us.

Its offbeat mix of pathos and humor might not be your jam, but it made me smile. And maybe tear up a little.

Saturday Night Live‘s Kyle Mooney, who co-wrote the script, stars as James, a grown man who still lives with his parents.

He’s obsessed with Brigsby Bear, an extremely low-budget children’s show where a Teddy Ruxpin-esque bear must defeat the evil Mr. Sun, aided by two magical twins.

His whole bedroom is decorated with Brigsby merchandise and it’s all he thinks about from the time he gets up to when he goes to bed.

Without getting into the film’s major twist (which is revealed early on), James’s whole world is shaken up and now he has only Brigsby to cling to. But everyone is telling him that if he’s ever going to move on, he’s got to forget about Brigsby! Unthinkable!

Seeing James’s new friends come to share his love for the character and help him make an epic movie continuing the bear’s adventures is awfully heartwarming.

The inexperienced man-child has certainly done to death before, but the essential sweetness of the character gave this film a lot more — dare I say it — heart than your average crass comedy. I’d never seen Mooney before this, and I found James’s eccentricity endearing.

Mark Hamill (who’s not in the film much) does some of his famous character voicework as James’s equally odd father. And Greg Kinnear, as a similarly bearded cop, ends up doing a pretty great Luke Skywalker impression before the film’s end.

If you’re in desperate need of a smile (even a small one) this is the gently funny movie you need in your life right now.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Hall H once again brought the big guns out to play.  Here’s what happened.

Marvel Studios
In addition to wowing the crowd with a look at the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War, it was announced that Michelle Pfeiffer and Lawrence Fishburne would be joining the cast Ant-Man & The Wasp as Janet van Dyne (the original Wasp) and Bill Foster (Goliath).  Previously announced new cast members include Hannah John-Kamen, Walton Goggins and Randall Park.

The upcoming Captain Marvel movie starring Bree Larson is set in the Nineties and will introduce the Skrulls to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (lending some validity to the rumor that the fourth Avengers film would be subtitled Secret Invasion).  Also appearing will be Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury (with both eyes).

New trailers for the upcoming Black Panther and Thor: Ragnarok were also screened.

THOR: RAGNAROK

As for TV, there’s now a trailer for ABC’s The Inhumans and Netflix’s The Defenders.

THE INHUMANS

THE DEFENDERS

It was announced that Iron Fist would receive a second season, and popular character Colleen Wing (Jessica Henwick) will team up with Luke Cage detective Misty Knight (Simone Missick), likely forming their comic book team as The Daughters of The Dragon.  Also confirmed was the release of the upcoming The Punisher and a third season of Daredevil.

DC Entertainment
With neither a director, nor Man of Steel in sight, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher appeared on stage to hype their upcoming Justice League film.

JUSTICE LEAGUE

Rumored to be leaving the role, the latest Dark Knight Affleck told the crowd, “I know there was a misconception that because I didn’t direct it that I wasn’t enthusiastic about it. [But] it’s f***ing amazing. And I still can’t believe I’ve done two films and have this great history with this studio.”

“Let me be very clear: I am the luckiest guy in the world. Batman is the coolest part in any universe — DC, Marvel. It’s incredible. … I’m so thrilled to do it.”

Some new Aquaman footage was screened and future DCCU plans were revealed including:

• Shazam!: Without previously announced Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam. David F. Sandberg will direct.
• Flashpoint: Controversial time travel story featuring The Flash. Jeffery Dean Morgan has already tweeted his interest in reprising his role as Thomas Wayne.
• Wonder Woman 2: Gal Gadot and director Patti Jenkins expected to return.
• Suicide Squad 2: Director David Ayer will not return.
• The Batman: Ben Affleck starring with Jeremy Irons and J.K. Simmons. Written and Directed by Matt Reeves.
• Batgirl: Written and directed by Joss Whedon is said to feature Batgirl, Robin and Poison Ivy.
• Green Lantern Corps: Described as “Lethal Weapon in space,” the film is expected to focus on Hal Jordan and John Stewart.
• Justice League Dark: The supernatural team once had Guillermo del Toro and Doug Liman attached, but is currently without an announced director.

On the television side, Netflix teased the return of the third season of their animated series, Young Justice: Outsiders.

In the 26 episode season, “the teenage Super Heroes of the DC Universe come of age in an animated world of super-powers, Super-Villains and super secrets. In the highly anticipated new season, the team faces its greatest challenge yet as it takes on meta-human trafficking and the terrifying threat it creates for a society caught in the crossfire of a genetic arms race spanning the globe and the galaxy.”

The CW, Fox and Syfy brought their trailers for other DC Titles: including Gotham, Lucifer, Krypton, Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, Supergirl, The Flash, Black Lightning and the CW Seed series, The Ray.

GOTHAM: SEASON 4

LUCIFER: SEASON 4

KRYPTON

BLACK LIGHTNING

LEGENDS OF TOMORROW: SEASON 3

THE FLASH: SEASON 4

ARROW: SEASON 6

SUPERGIRL: SEASON 3

FREEDOM FIGHTERS: THE RAY

Other genre trailers for film and television include

THE KINGSMAN 2: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE

THE GIFTED

RIVERDALE: SEASON 2

DEATH NOTE

MY FRIEND DAHMER

THE WALKING DEAD: SEASON 8

HAPPY

ONCE UPON A TIME: SEASON 7

READY PLAYER ONE

BRIGHT

STRANGER THINGS: SEASON 2

WESTWORLD: SEASON 2

GAME OF THRONES: SEASON 7

PACIFIC RIM 2: UPRISING

THE SHAPE OF WATER

iZOMBIE: SEASON 4

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY

BLADE RUNNER 2049

What looks good to you?

Disney, Marvel and Netflix are excited to announce the newest seasons of their hottest shows coming to Blu-ray and DVD this summer!

Jessica Jones: The Complete First Season

Raw, riveting and relentlessly compelling, Marvel’s Jessica Jones: The Complete First Season ignites a firestorm of suspense cloaked in the haze of a noir-inspired slow burn. Haunted by a tragedy that broke her world apart, Jessica Jones settles in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City, and opens her own detective agency, called Alias Investigations, with the hope of rebuilding her life and keeping the lights on in her apartment. She discovers that the source of her trauma, a mind-controlling sociopath named Kilgrave, has resurfaced, forcing her to use her gifts as a private eye to track him down before he causes more damage to her life or to anyone else.

Starring Krysten Ritter, David Tennant, Rachael Taylor, Mike Colter, Wil Traval, Erin Moriarty, Eka Darville and Carrie-Anne Moss, Marvel’s Jessica Jones was created by Melissa Rosenberg.

Facebook • Twitter • Instagram

Daredevil: The Complete Second Season

The razor-thin line between redemption and retribution explodes with a vengeance in Marvel’s Daredevil: The Complete Second Season.

With Wilson Fisk behind bars, Matt thinks his efforts to bring order to Hell’s Kitchen are succeeding—until chaos reignites with two new arrivals: Frank Castle (a.k.a. The Punisher), an anguished ex-soldier determined to visit bloody, irrevocable “justice” upon his adversaries, and Matt’s volatile old flame Elektra Natchios. Meanwhile, a lethal, relentless source of ancient evil continues to amass power. Now, as both the stakes and the body count rise, Matt faces a life-altering choice that forces him to confront what it truly means to be a hero.

Marvel’s Daredevil: The Complete Second Season stars Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Vincent D’Onofrio, Rosario Dawson, Stephen Rider, Jon Bernthal and Elodie Yung.

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Both series are available to own on Blu-ray and DVD on Aug. 22 with 13 exciting episodes for fans to add to their libraries.

In celebration of the biggest pop culture event of the year, Fandango FanShop, the new movie merchandise marketplace from Fandango, brought the excitement of San Diego’s convention to fans everywhere with a new program entitled, “Fandango Superfan Weekend,” available at www.fandangofanshop.com/comiccon.  Consumers across the country can easily access an extensive lineup of exclusive and new products, with new offers launching throughout the course of the event.

From July 19th through July 23rd, Fandango FanShop hosted daily showcases highlighting must-have products. The FanShop promotion kicked off with “The Super Universe,” offering a variety of Batman and Spider-Man-inspired exclusives for the ultimate superhero fan. Buyers will also receive an exclusive Poster Posse print with the purchase of $25.00 or more of Marvel gear on FanShop.

On the second day of the Con, FanShop launched “Fierce Females” with new products celebrating strong female characters including a “Spider-Gwen” tote and wallet, as well as an exclusive Star Wars-inspired locket necklace. Fans will also have the chance to purchase a variety of exclusive Wonder Woman-inspired fashions that are among FanShop’s best sellers.

FanShop wrapped-up the superfan weekend with a limited number of items capturing “The Beauty of Horror and Sci-Fi,” including colorful pop-culture art prints from renowned artists “Shag” (Josh Agle) and Tom Whalen. The prints showcase fan-favorite Universal  Studios Monsters from popular horror and sci-fi titles such as Frankenstein, The Mummy, Bride of Frankenstein and Dracula, to name a few.

Created especially with the fan in mind, FanShop’s offerings include:

The Super Universe

• Special Offer: Fans buying $25 worth of Marvel gear on FanShop receive an exclusive Poster Posse print free*. The 8×11 poster featuring a matte finish on heavy stock will also be on sale for $29.99. *Limited 500 available.  May be subject to an additional shipping charge.
• Exclusive Batman San Diego Pin *Limited 400 available and numbered 1-400
• Exclusive Spider-Man Pin *Limited 500 available
• Exclusive Spider-Man T-Shirts – Young Men’s
• Exclusive Batman T-Shirt – Young Men’s
• Top-Selling FanShop products include:
  • Exclusive Wonder Woman Pin Set
  • Sprayground Spider-Man Webbed Shark Backpack
  • Deadpool Suit Up Adult Crew Socks
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Cap
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Funko POP!
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Groot Cutting Board
  • Funko Wonder Woman Rock Candy Figure

Fierce Females

• Exclusive Star Wars Locket
• Spider-Gwen Tote
• Spider-Gwen Trifold Wallet
• Top-Selling FanShop products include:
  • Exclusive Wonder Woman Black Racer Tank
  • Exclusive Wonder Woman Scoop Cool Grey T-Shirt
  • Wonder Woman Leggings

The Beauty of Horror and Sci-Fi

• Art prints from artist “Shag” (Josh Agle) featuring various Universal Studios Monsters from fan-favorite horror and sci-fi titles.*Limited number available
• 10-print folio of the “Universal Studios Classic Monsters” by Tom Whalen
• Star Trek x RockLove Trillion Necklaces
• Top-Selling FanShop products include:
  • The Mummy Funko POP!
  • Star Wars Darth Vader BBQ Tongs
  • Power Rangers Men’s T-Shirt
  • Transformers Cuff Links

To accompany FanShop’s vast array of superfan merchandise, FandangoNOW, the fast-growing on-demand video service from Fandango, is also celebrating the Con with the release of customized movie playlists available at www.fandangonow.com/list/fan-favorites.

And to celebrate this Geekcentric celebration, we’re giving away two exclusive Batman San Diego Pins (Limited 400 available and numbered 1-400)!

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

Which four actors played Batman more than once onscreen?

Please include your name, and address (U.S. 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 August 6th, 2017.

Produced by Tony Germinario, George Stohr,
Andy O’Connell, Brandon Heitkamp,
Kevin Interdonato, Russ Russo, Joe Sernio
Written by Tony Germinario,
Kevin Interdonato,Russ Russo
Directed by Tony Germinario
Starring Kevin Interdonato, Amanda Clayton,
Tom Sizemore, Brian O’Halloran,
Russ Russo, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini,
Brandon Heitkamp, Lynn Mancinelli

Frank Pierce is a former criminal who gets drawn back into the criminal underworld.

One night he is a witness to a crime he objected too and seeks to contact police and turn in Mickey Duro for the crime.

Unfortunately for Frank, Mickey gets word of the phone call to the police and this kicks off a dangerous back and forth between the two.

Bad Frank is a well-written crime thriller that has a plot that was properly thought through and characters who perform believable actions based on well-established motivations.

Co-writer and director Tony Germinario has crafted a solid thriller with an engaging central character on a budget the fraction of the typical Hollywood release.

The film also features an impressive cast featuring Tom Sizemore and boxer Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, but it is lead actor Kevin Interdonato as Frank Pierce who really stands out as someone to watch.

Bad Frank is a solid thriller which will entertain and excite and is well worth checking out!

Bad Frank is now available On Demand.

It’s a post-Comic-Con week, and while fans are still buzzing about the upcoming Diamond Select Toys items they saw on display there, there are a ton of new DST items shipping to their local comic shop they can actually buy!

From the Dark Knight to The Dark Tower, from mini-busts to Minimates, there’s something for every kind of collector at your local comic shop this week! Read on, and reserve your favorite items at your local comic shop or order through your favorite online retailer!

Batman Animated Series Riddler Resin Bust

A Diamond Select Toys release! Riddle me this, riddle me that – who’s the Bat-foe with the most stylish hat? Joining DST’s epic line of resin busts based on Batman: The Animated Series, this bust of Edward Nygma, a.k.a. the Riddler, captures him in his suited look from the early seasons of the show. Measuring approximately 6 inches tall, this bust is in scale to other pieces in the series, and sits atop a pedestal base inspired by Gotham’s art-deco architecture. Packaged in a numbered, full-color box with a numbered certificate of authenticity, this bust is limited to just 3,000 pieces. Sculpted by Varner Studios! (Item # FEB172600, SRP: $59.99)

Batman Classic TV Series Shakespeare Bust Vinyl Bank

A Diamond Select Toys release! Quick, to the Bat-poles! Okay, so you haven’t installed those Bat-poles yet, but if you keep your spare change in this vinyl bank, you’ll save up for them in no time! Based on the bust of Shakespeare that unlocked the moving bookcase in the Batman Classic TV Series, this 20-inch tall vinyl bank features a working neck hinge, so you can tilt the head back to reveal a dial and button, as well as a real, working coin slot! With a coin access door hidden in the base, no one will suspect that this realistically painted bust is secretly a bank, or that you’re secretly Batman. Packaged in a full-color box. Sculpted by Paul Harding! (Item # JUN162388, SRP: $85.00)

Caddyshack Vinimates Gopher Vinyl Figure

A Diamond Select Toys release!  Fore! Get ready for another round of Caddyshack Vinimates, based on the classic golf comedy!

This nearly 4-inch vinyl figure of the Gopher is sculpted in the Minimates block-figure style, and features an articulated neck for further posing options.

It comes packaged in a full-color window box. (Item # FEB172607, SRP: $9.99)

Dark Tower Movie Minimates Series 1 Box Set

A Diamond Select Toys Release! The epic novels by Stephen King are now an epic feature film, and DST is epically excited about it! This all-new box set of four Minimates mini-figures features four characters from the upcoming film – Jake, the Gunslinger, the Man in Black and a Tracker – each with up to 14 points of articulation and fully interchangeable parts and accessories. All four figures come packaged on a full-color blister card. (Item # APR172628, SRP: $24.99)

Marvel Gallery Gwenpool PVC Diorama

A Diamond Select Toys Release! When Gwenpool takes a selfie, it’s time to practice your selfie-defense! Coming from a world where everyone in the Marvel Universe is just a comic book character, Gwen Poole is a rookie mercenary on the rise, and she feels no guilt when her targets are fictional! This 9-inch sculpture, the first merchandise ever made of the hot new character, is made out of PVC plastic and features detailed sculpting and paint, atop a circular Gwenpool logo base. In scale to all Gallery and Femme Fatales PVC figures, Gwenpool comes packaged in a full-color window box. Sculpted by Alejandro Pereira! (Item # DEC162562, SRP: $45.00)

Marvel Gallery Jean Grey PVC Diorama

A Diamond Select Toys Release! The Phoenix rises! The popular Marvel Gallery line of PVC dioramas continues with the first member of the Uncanny X-Men, the telepathic/telekinetic host of the Phoenix Force, Jean Grey! Standing approximately 10 inches tall, this diorama shows a happy Jean Grey in her classic green costume, hovering over a fiery Phoenix symbol! This PVC figure features detailed sculpting and paint applications, and comes packaged in a full-color window box. Sculpted by Alejandro Pereira! (Item # FEB172612, SRP: $45.00

Marvel Milestones Armored Thor Resin Statue

A Diamond Select Toys Release! Prepare for the coming of the Odinson! The God of Thunder heralds the return of the Marvel Milestones line of statues, wearing his full armor as seen in Walt Simonson’s issues of the Marvel comic. Swinging his hammer Mjolnir, Thor hovers above the ground, ready to repel any horde that would lay waste to his beloved Asgard! Measuring approximately 18 inches tall, this statue’s production run is limited to only 1,000 pieces, and comes packaged with a certificate of authenticity in a full-color box. Sculpted by Phil Ramirez! (Item #JAN172646, SRP: $225.00)

Marvel Retro Cloth Punisher Action Figure Gift Set

A Diamond Select Toys release! Is the Marvel Retro line ready for…The Punisher?! Never released in the classic Mego toy line of yester-year, violent vigilante The Punisher is the latest Marvel character to get the 8-inch Retro action figure treatment from DST! This gift set features one classically-styled white-gloved Punisher figure, in a vintage-style box, plus two additional heads and outfits: a bandaged head with a trenchcoat and bullet-proof vest, and the civilian streetwear of veteran Frank Castle! With interchangeable heads, hands, costumes and accessories, you can display your Punisher however you want! Packaged in a full-color gift tray! Designed and sculpted by EMCE Toys! (Item# DEC162577, SRP: $80.00)

Find a store near you at comicshoplocator.com!

The end of summer brings exciting original fare from the streaming giant, and super mediocre Hollywood offerings to fill out the schedule.

Right out of the gate, Netflix treats us to Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later. But then Marvel and anime fans have to wait patiently for The Defenders and Death Note with nothing but bland rom-coms to fill the weeks ahead.

Once again, Netflix’s originals are outshining its Hollywood fare, which is either boring, bland or been seen a thousand times before.

The Matrix, anyone?

AUGUST 1

The Addams Family (1991)
Perhaps the greatest TV-to-movie adaptation of all time that utilized the full talents of Angelica Huston and Raul Julia. Pure bliss.

The Astronaut’s Wife (1999)
Johnny Depp plays an astronaut who creeps out Charlize Theron, and not in a cool Tim Burton way.

A Cinderella Story (2004)
Hilary Duff stars in a story straight from the public domain, with enough changes to keep Disney lawyers at bay.

Bad Santa (2003)
If Billy Bob Thornton opted to become a mall Santa, this would be a documentary.

the bomb (2016)
Originally part of a multimedia installation at Tribeca, this animated movie is a study at the culture surrounding nuclear weapons.

Cloud Atlas (2012)
Utter brilliance or utter drek? This fantasy sci-fier from the Wachowskis has fans and critics divided. Starring Tom Hanks, Halle Berry and Jim Broadbent, the epic that spans five centuries is certainly fascinating.

Everyone’s Hero (2006)
Mediocre animated fare about a boy who tries to return Babe Ruth’s talking bat.

Funny Games (2007)
American remake of the absolutely chilling French torture pic might be unnecessary and not as gripping, but the performances from Naomi Watts, Michael Pitt and Tim Roth are worth the price of the ticket alone.

The Hollywood Masters (Season 1)
The Hollywood Reporter series takes a deep dive into Tinsel Town and the masters who make it work.

Innerspace (1987)
Sci-fi comedy romp starring every big ‘80s star and then some. Martin Short plays a milquetoast store clerk who is accidentally injected with a microscopic Dennis Quaid. Hijinks ensue.

Jackie Brown (1997)
Quentin Tarantino’s follow up to Pulp Fiction didn’t have the style, grace or pizzazz of the indie blockbuster, but this is still one hell of a ride, with a tour de force performance from Pam Grier.

The Last Mimzy (2007)
Kids find a box of toys that make them smarter and give them special abilities.

The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
The first Matrix was a groundbreaking achievement in filmmaking that had audiences at the edge of their seat. The sequel was also good, but confusing and began to muddle the plot. The third one was a user error on the part of the filmmakers.
My advice? Watch the first one three times and forget the other two.

Lord of War (2005)
Nicolas Cage plays an arms dealer who ushers in a new era of terrorism, while dealing with family drama, his love life and the law.

N.O.L.A. Circus (2015)
Rival New Orleans’ barbershops declare war on each other. Hijinks ensue.

The Number 23 (2007)
Jim Carrey attempts to break away from slapstick comedy and sight gags with this thriller that follows a man whose discovers an obscure book is seemingly based on his life. Hijinks ensue.

Opening Night (2016)
A bunch of terrible people attempt to get their production to debut.

Practical Magic (1998)
Witchcraft 101 for the rom-com sect. Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as hot witches in high waisted jeans.

The Royal House of Windsor (Season 1)
“Drawing on newly available evidence, this epic series explores the Windsor dynasty’s gripping family saga, providing fresh insights into how our royal family have survived four generations of crisis” – Channel 4’s official site

Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Tim Burton and Johnny Depp solidify their common-law union with this solid outing that takes on the classic Washington Irving terror tale. Bonus Christopher Walken with a face full of sharp teethies.

Small Soldiers (1998)
Toys go to war with each other in this lower budget, slightly darker version of Toy Story.

Surviving Escobar — Alias JJ (Season 1)
As the Medellín Cartel crumbles, Pablo Escobar’s No. 1 hit man struggles to stay alive and gain respect in the prison hierarchy.

The Wedding Party (2016)
Romantic comedy proving the point made by Bridezilla: everyone who wants a lavish wedding are terrible. A two-hour advertisement from the Clark County Marriage Bureau in Las Vegas.

Tie the Knot (2016)
A romantic comedy that takes a look behind different cultural traditions when an American gal flees to India.

Who Gets the Dog? (2016)
Alicia Silverstone and Ryan Kwanten play a divorcing couple who fight over the family pooch.

Wild Wild West (1999)
Terrible TV adaptation that marks the end of big budget summer movies that both star Will Smith and include a theme song with the same title.

AUGUST 2

Jab We Met (2007)
Romantic comedy that proves that the concept of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl is not just an American invention. She can be annoying on an international level as well.

The Founder (2016)
Michael Keaton stars in this biopic about Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonalds who revolutionized the food industry.

AUGUST 3

Sing (2016)
Soulless animated fare about animals auditioning for a singing competition. All the humiliation of X-Factor and American Idol, but in a barnyard.

The Invisible Guardian (2017)
An unusual Spanish-lingo ghost story about a police investigator on the hunt for a serial killer.

AUGUST 4

Icarus (2017)
Bryan Fogel’s fascinating and thrilling docu about the Russian doping scandal during the Olympics. A must-see.

Voltron: Legendary Defender (Season 3)
“In an all-new series, five unlikely heroes and their flying robot lions unite to form the megapowerful Voltron and defend the universe from evil.”

Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later (Season 1)
“A decade after their wild summer as junior counselors, the gang reunites for a weekend of bonding, hanky-panky and hair-raising adventures.”

AUGUST 5

Holes (2003)
Before he became a poster for but undisclosed mental issues, Shia LeBouf had a career as an actor. Really. Here is the proof.

AUGUST 8

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (Season 7)
Beloved kid show watched by young girls and creepy man-children alike.

AUGUST 9

Black Site Delta (2017)
Part Dirty Dozen, part Expendables, all blah. Military prisoners fight off terrorists.

AUGUST 10

Diary of an Exorcist — Zero (2016)
Spanish-language horror pic about a priest attempting to find redemption in an exorcist case.

AUGUST 11

Atypical (Season 1; Netflix original series)
“When a teen on the autism spectrum decides to get a girlfriend, his bid for more independence puts his whole family on a path of self-discovery.“

Home: Adventures With Tip & Oh (Season 3; Netflix original series)
“A misfit alien named Oh moves in with Tip and her family, in a series that picks up the dynamic duo’s adventures where the hit film left off.”

Naked (2017)
“Nervous about finally getting married a guy is forced to relive the same nerve-wracking hours over and over again until he gets things right on his wedding day.”

True and The Rainbow Kingdom (Season 1; Netflix original series)
“When something’s wrong in the Rainbow Kingdom, bighearted guardian True and her best friend, Bartleby, are there to grant wishes and save the day.”

White Gold (2017)
“Meet Vincent, the smart, handsome and cocksure double glazing salesman who’ll stop at nothing to get his piece of the pie.” – BBC Two official site

AUGUST 13

Arthur and the Invisibles (2006)
A huge, monster box office hit pretty much everywhere except the US, this kiddie adventure from helmer Luc Besson follows a young boy as heads out on a treasure hunt in an attempt to save his family home.

Hot Property (2016)
A “comedy” about the real estate market.

Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo (2017)
“Through the team’s testimony and the supporting voices of Apollo astronauts and modern NASA flight directors, Mission Control explores their journey from the faltering start of the program to the Mercury and Gemini missions, and then the tragedy of the Apollo 1 fire and the glories of the Moon landings.” – Official site

AUGUST 14

The Outcasts (2017)
High school nerds get their revenge on the teen queen after falling victim to a cruel prank.

Urban Hymn (2015)
Social worker helps a kid from the wrong side of the tracks through singing in this ho-hum feel good drama.

AUGUST 15

Barbecue (2014)
Middle age French people gather for an outdoor BBQ and talk about life. There are probably no ribs involved.

21 (2008)
MIT students use their brains to win big in Vegas. Sort of based on a true story, but with different genders and races and backstories and dramas and endings.

A New Economy (2016)
“What if working together for the good of all was the most common business model? Watch, as several organizations strive towards building a more cooperative future. By putting humanity before the bottom line, they are finding their place in an economy previously dominated by profits and big business.” – Official site of documentary

All These Sleepless Nights (2016)
Polish art pic about two students wandering the streets of Warsaw, contemplating the future.

Donald Cried (2016)
Man returns home after a long stint away, only to discover that he needs the helping hand of a long discarded buddy after he loses his wallet.

My Ex-Ex (2015)
A woman on the verge of a meltdown decides between two unlikely romantic prospects.

The Sweet Life (2016)
Two loners meet in Chicago and travel together to San Fran in a road-trip suicide pact. Probably not the feel good movie of the year.

AUGUST 16

Gold (2016)
The McConaughssance continues with this odd drama about a prospector who takes his dealings to Indonesia to hunt for buried treasure.

AUGUST 18

The Defenders (Season 1; Netflix original series)
“Marvel’s The Defenders follows Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and Iron Fist (Finn Jones). A quartet of singular heroes with one common goal – to save New York City. This is the story of four solitary figures, burdened with their own personal challenges, who realize they just might be stronger when teamed together.” – Netflix
Side Note: YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

Dinotrux (Season 5; Netflix original series)
“Half dinosaur, half construction truck, full-on fun! Watch giant Ty Rux, his little buddy Revvit and the crew come face-to-face with evil D-Structs.”

Glitter Force Doki Doki (Season 1; Netflix original series)
“Four girls summon their inner superheroes to defend Earth and the magical kingdom of Splendorius from King Mercenare and his minions.

I Am Sam (2001)
Here. Watch this scene from Tropic Thunder. It best explains this movie and Sean Penn’s role in it:

What Happened to Monday (2017)
Dystopian sci-fier about a group of septuplets avoiding death from a government that only allows a single child per family.

AUGUST 19

Hide and Seek (2005)
Mediocre thriller with Robert DeNiro about a widower trying to get his family through the trauma of his wife’s suicide and a haunting.

AUGUST 20

Camera Store (2017)
Candid drama about the switch to digital from film and how it affected the small time store owner.

AUGUST 21

AWOL (2016)
A woman with her eye on a military career is stopped in her tracks by an unexpected love.

Bad Rap (2016)
Docu on four Asian-American rappers trying to make it in the music industry.

Beautiful Creatures (2013)
Based on the The Caster Chronicles Trilogy of books, a supernatural teen thriller about the mysterious new gal in town and the secrets that surround her family.

Gomorrah (Season 2)
Italian television crime drama based on the successful book series.

Unacknowledged (2017)
Docu from Disclosure Project founder Dr. Steven M. Greer about life on other planets.

AUGUST 22

Sadie’s Last Days on Earth (2016)
Offbeat comedy about a teen girl who preps for end of times.

AUGUST 25

Disjointed: Part 1 (Season 1; Netflix original)
“She’s living her dream as the owner of a cannabis dispensary. She and the budtenders — her son and a guard — are pretty much constantly high.”

Death Note (2017; Netflix original)
“Intoxicated by the power of a supernatural notebook, a young man begins killing those he deems unworthy of life. Based on the famous Japanese manga.”

DreamWorks Dragons: Race to the Edge (Season 5)
“Hiccup, Toothless and the rest of the Dragon Riders set up camp far from Berk and battle old enemies while discovering new dragons.”

Once Upon a Time (Season 6)
The world of Storybrooke continues to spin out of control with zero chill. This time around we get Aladdin.

AUGUST 29

Bring It On: Worldwide #Cheersmack (2017)
I honestly had no idea this was still a thing.

The Good Place (Season 1)
“…A smart, unique new comedy about what makes a good person. The show follows Eleanor Shellstrop, an ordinary woman who enters the afterlife and, thanks to some kind of error, is sent to the Good Place instead of the Bad Place, which is definitely where she belongs.” – NBC

AUGUST 31

Be Afraid (2017)
A man suffering from sleep paralysis learns his dreams are real and plotting against him and his family.

Laughter is always in vogue! Just Shoot Me!: The Complete Series hits DVD for the first time on September 5, 2017, from Shout! Factory. Just Shoot Me! was a smashing success in its original seven-season run on network television, and this must-have set features all 148 episodes from the beloved sitcom, and comes complete with cast and crew interviews and select episode commentaries.

Laura San Giacomo (Sex, Lies, & Videotape), David Spade (Saturday Night Live), Wendie Malick (Hot In Cleveland), Enrico Colantoni (Veronica Mars), and Academy Award nominee George Segal (The Goldbergs) all star in Just Shoot Me! as sharp-tongued coworkers in the fast-paced world of high-fashion publishing. This endlessly funny hit from the co-creator of Modern Family, Steven Levitan, is truly the very model of sitcom style.

Just Shoot Me!: The Complete Series brings together every episode from this long-reigning fixture (1997-2003) of NBC’s classic comedy lineup. Nominated for six Emmy Awards and five Golden Globes (including Best Comedy), this acclaimed ensemble comedy couture spanned the hilarious gamut from catwalk to casting couch. Set in the bustling editorial offices of fashion magazine Blush, Just Shoot Me! chronicles the daily grind of the magazine’s quirky staff, serving up all the laughter that’s fit to print!

Bonus Features:

• Always In Fashion: A Conversation with Steven Levitan and the Cast of Just Shoot Me!
• The Blush Covers Gallery
• Episode commentaries:
  • Back Issues – Commentary with Creator and Writing Producers
  • Lemon Wacky Hello – Commentary with Creator and Writing Producers
  • King Lear Jet – Commentary with Creator and Writing Producers
  • My Dinner with Woody – Commentary with Creator and Writing Producers

I’m still working my way through all the nuggets of awesome to come out at San Diego Comic-Con.

At this Nerdmas in July, the pop-culture geek masses unwrap the shiny boxes to receive Hollywood’s latest superhero blockbusters, magic works in progress, sci-fi TV series, toy products … and, occasionally, some comic books.

My summer weekends stay pretty busy at the pool, so I don’t really catch stuff as the news comes out. But I did pick up on the newest Justice League trailer.

Sure looked kick-ass.

And, again, the promo spends a lot of fun time on Aquaman. He’s shaping up to be the fun one of the bunch.

If we’re to compare Justice League to its Marvel counterpart in The Avengers, Aquaman appears to combine the studly carriage of Thor with the unbridled might of Hulk. It also doesn’t hurt that, for the DC Comics fanboys, Jason Momoa’s metalhead hair and beard conjures Lobo, the indestructible alien bounty hunter himself.

Aquaman is the guy riding on the hood of the Batmobile yelling “Yeah!” He’s the dude gleefully leaping into battle, who says “I dig it” at first sight of Batman’s getup. In the new trailer, he stomps a parademon several stories through a building and emerges from the dust with a hair flip, trident in hand.

Wait a minute. Is Aquaman finally cool?

We’ve had four decades of Aquaman jokes since his anodyne, water-lovin’ behind appeared on Hanna-Barbera’s Super Friends starting in 1973. The talking to fish, the yellow shirt, dry land is his weakness, etc.

In the 1990s, DC rebuilt Arthur Curry into a longhaired, bearded deepwater Viking with a harpoon hand. Aquaman showed up in his classic look as a wordless cameo on the Superman animated series, but on the Justice League cartoon a few years later he again resembled the Viking warrior style.

We got a strapping version of him on Smallville, in which it was nice to see him be strong alongside teams of other superheroes. And James Tucker’s Silver Age-nostalgic Batman: The Brave and the Bold cartoon reveled in an over-the-top, metatextual version of his Super Friends self.

Outrageous.

When Geoff Johns and Jim Lee relaunched the character in DC’s New 52 continuity, they gave Aquaman the old suit, a hipstery haircut with sideburns, and a necklace. He summoned great white sharks to chomp a bunch of parademons and corrects a bunch of asshats that he has a telepathic link with aquatic lifeforms, but he doesn’t “talk to fish.”

Not only did the first run on the New 52 Aquaman comic book feature Ivan Reis art that made Arthur Curry sexier than ever. He even fought a race of monster-men and ran his own international superteam featuring a bodacious Brazilian jungle woman. Altogether, a fine adventure book, too.

But when Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Comics goes and casts Jason Momoa as Aquaman, that’s putting all the chips on the table to make the Atlantean powerhouse cool once and for all.

You can’t hire Momoa, freakin’ Khal Drogo himself with all his dark-and-burly sex appeal, and not change Aquaman’s course forever. Who doesn’t love a big, broad man swinging his giant, golden trident around to part the seas?

Chris Hardwick was joking when he said to Momoa at the Justice League panel that he was Aquaman “because everyone’s wet right now,” but he wasn’t lying. The man who swayed Lisa Bonet might be enough to sway an audience to check out Justice League. And the work on the upcoming Aquaman solo film, directed by Fast and the Furious man James Wan, is shaping up nicely so far.

Both movies could suck, though. So far DC only has Wonder Woman as a well-regarded film.

But at the very least, seeing a brown-skinned, Pacific Islander, albeit with blonde highlights and blue eyes, was enough to persuade me to place Aquaman’s scaled armor on the list of potential Halloween costumes this year.

I’m now in Year Four of wearing this big beard, and I don’t think I’m ready to let go of it yet. Come Halloween time, I like that I can incorporate the beard into whatever costume I choose.

The character doesn’t need to be bearded, per se, but the beard adds color. A 2015 costume as Joker became a pirate, with my beard colored green.

It’s also fun for me when I can do my nerd Halloween as a pop culture character, and they’re somebody with brown skin. In a world where the characters are overwhelmingly white, while I can choose any character, too often I’ll be “Black Thor” instead of just Thor. Sigh.

Going as Captain Nemo from The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comics, I could indulge both my skin tone and my beard. Bliss, I tells ya. And now Jason Momoa could possibly be the definition of Aquaman for this generation forward.

If Jason Momoa can kick it as King of the Seven Seas in that big beard and brown skin of his, I can do the same with mine, right?

No joke.

SYFY has announced the acquisition of Seasons 1 and 2 of buzzy web series CON MAN from Redbear Films. The news was shared with excited fans during SYFY’s CON MAN: Cons and Fandom Culture panel at San Diego Comic-Con by creator, star and moderator Alan Tudyk. The short form web series, which debuted on Vimeo and Comic-Con HQ, will premiere on SYFY in September. The critically-acclaimed, geektastic series, which recently received two Emmy nominations in the short form comedy or drama category, follows the journey of Wray Nerely (Tudyk), a washed-up, former sci-fi celebrity who revisits his glory days on the convention circuit.

For more details visit Facebook.com/ConManSeries

In the hopes of escaping his past as a notorious outlaw, “Wild Bill” Hickok seeks redemption as a small town lawman. Unfortunately, as the titular gunslinger discovers, the past has a way of catching up with you in HICKOK, a frontier thriller starring Luke Hemsworth in his first leading role in a feature film; the period Western from Cinedigm and Status Media also stars Trace Adkins, Country Music Hall of Famer and Golden Globe-winner Kris Kristofferson and Oscar-nominee Bruce Dern. On August 15, the gritty western rolls into retail on 4K UHD + BD and DVD; it is also available on all leading digital platforms and on demand.

The story of the West’s most notorious gunslinger and his road to redemption, HICKOK finds the infamous, hard-drinking outlaw (Hemsworth) in 1870’s Abilene, Kansas, seeking to start a new life. Captivated by Wild Bill’s unparalleled gun skills, the mayor, George Knox, (Kristofferson) quickly ropes him in as the town marshal. Recognizing the need to clamp down on the wildest cow-town in the west, Hickok soon finds himself at the center of a controversial ordinance while dispensing his own brand of frontier justice. His attempts to protect Abilene, however, are quickly challenged by a band of outlaws led by powerful saloon owner Phil Poe (Adkins). And when Poe places a bounty on Wild Bill’s head, the marshal, with the help of outlaw turned lawman John Wesley Hardin, makes a stand for Abilene and his new life, while putting his reputation as the fastest draw in the west on the line.

Shot on the dusty, turn-of-the-century sets like Melody Ranch, which is also home to HBO’s hit series “Westworld,” the action-packed HICKOK, directed by Timothy Woodward Jr. (Traded, Weaponized, 4Got10) and written by Michael Lanahan, is filled with gritty authenticity. Variety calls it “a respectfully sincere retelling of a familiar legend,” and of Hemsworth’s star turn, The Hollywood Reporter declares, “following in the footsteps of such actors as Gary Cooper, Jeff Bridges and Sam Elliott, among many others, the burly Hemsworth proves more than credible with his portrayal of the iconic gunslinger.”

And we’re giving away three copies!

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

What Academy Award winning actor portrayed Hickok in a 1936 film directed by Cecil B. DeMille?

Please include your name, and address (U.S. 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 August 13th, 2017.

Hickok is available in stores and online on August 15th, 2017

Produced, Written and Directed by Tom Getty
Starring Curtis Caldwell, Tom Getty, Daniel Kuttner,
Philip Lewis, Eamon McGee, Kirsten Meenan, Joel Neff

I am going to save you some time.

Pass.

There is very little about this movie that makes any sense at all. It’s also low rent from beginning to end.

I can show you low budget movies with extremely high production values.

This is not one of them.

I can show you low budget movies with amazing scripts.

This is not one of them.

I can show you low budget movies with amazing acting.

This is not one of them.

I can show you YouTube videos with incredibly professional special effects.

This doesn’t have them.

The premise is simple. Producer, writer, director, star, Tom Getty is set up as a patsy for a terrorist attack that takes place in Pittsburgh. Conspiracies and excitement unfolds as he escapes from CIA custody and uncovers a deadly plot to destroy America.

Suspension of disbelief is required to truly enjoy movies and I am more than willing to believe the setup is possible. I would even go so far as to say the patsy set up was masterful. Kind of a long con with a cute girl that wound up putting poor ex special forces soldier Ryan into the middle of a terrorist conspiracy.

Everything that happens after that is completely implausible. There are too many instances of “why didn’t they just shoot him?” to make reasonable sense. Too many moments of, “why in the world would character X behave this way?” to really enjoy the movie. There are too many plot holes and coincidences. Somehow our “hero” can figure out what’s going on and get on the trail of the bad guy and his gang when literally every resource in the federal government is impotent…. OK… maybe that part is plausible, but not really.

The bad guy is such a rip off of Tom Hardy’s Bane in, The Dark Knight Rises, I think Christopher Nolan & Tom Hardy should buy this movie and burn every print of it to make sure no one accidentally mistakes them for being involved. It’s ridiculously poor writing and the execution by rookie actor Philip Lewis is less homage to Tom Hardy and more horrible impersonation. Having Lewis talk through a Darth Vader voice modulator is also a choice that’s really hard to defend or understand.

Last but not least we have the poor shot choices and production values. Almost every close up is a profile view, almost like Getty was shooting the scenes with the camera mounted on a selfie stick. The jump cuts and weird angles aren’t innovative, they are taxing to the viewer. The action sequences are poorly choreographed and what little gunfire there is sounds like toys. The CGI explosions are terribly animated. There is also a makeup job on the bad guy that is so poorly executed it almost defies description.

Obviously, I can’t recommend seeing this.

.5 out of 5 stars

America Has Fallen is now available On Demand.