Advanced Review: Batman #13

Scott Snyder has done something that has not been done in an extremely long time. He has taken a book, with one of the most recognizable characters in the entire world, and perfected it! This issue is completely devoid of banality, it is the pinnacle of great story making and no one should go without sampling it.

Everyone knows that issue #13 is the “return of the Joker”, we have all heard the hype for months, and it is well deserved! Everything about this book exudes fear. The art, the pacing, the reveal — virtually EVERYTHING — is unnerving! Your heart rate will quicken, palms will sweat and anxiety will rule the day as you tread deeper and deeper into the diabolical world controlled by the Joker. Gone are the hokey gag weapons and the imbecilic henchmen, this is a Joker that likes to get “hands on” with his work — to truly feel is art being perfected! He is more sinister, more lethal and even more cunning, making the Batman’s world a living nightmare that he is always one step behind in. And at the end of the day, the “detective” will fail and brutality will prevail!

Even though the meat of the book lies within the opening story, the back-up tale by Snyder and James Tynion IV, is a quintessential part as well. Revolving around the “Clown Prince” and his love, Harley, we find that their relationship has become as unhinged as the Joker’s face! The writing is volatile, making the conversation disturbing to say the least. You will gape in horror as discussion trends towards the removal of skin and you finally realize that this “Clown Prince” is no longer a joke. It is a menacing look at what the future will hold for Gothamites!

THIS style of book is what has kept me reading comics more than half of my life! A tale that resonates with you, that leaves you bewildered and breathless. One that melds scenes from classic tales with current ones, building a richness of history and solidifying it’s future. A tale that can truly show how emotional and artistic the medium can be when it is not held down. A book that is pure gold — tarnished with blood and soot!

Thank you Scott Snyder for creeping the hell out of me! It is amazing!

Comic Book News

Advanced Review: Archer & Armstrong #3

Fred Van Lente creates a seemingly never ending cavalcade of hilarity, excitement and action, in a book that deserves to be on everyone’s pull list!

Archer & Armstrong #3, brings the search for the pieces of the Boon full circle as Archer comes face to face with his past! Not only has he turned his back on his parents by teaming with, “He Who Must Not Be Named”, now he must explain his actions to the person he holds most dear — Mary-Maria! Plus, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — Ninja Nuns!

An emotional and enthralling read that will envelop your senses; A&A is one of those books that you look forward to ever month! It is witty and exciting, mixing “alt-history” and the ensuing hijinks of the best “buddy” stories to create a truly rare book that can please any comic fan! If you blended the intrigue and action of “National Treasure” with the charismatic characters of “Lethal Weapon”, you would be somewhere near the amazement that Archer & Armstrong brings — but, only near!

Clayton Henry, Pere Perez and Matt Milla converge their artistic talents to create a stunning visual experience that will tantalize the eyes! From highly stylized action sequences to tender emotional moments, this trio makes every panel jump off the page. There is nothing wasted, every miniscule detail has been paid attention to, making seemingly simple line art into something outstanding!

But, it is Fred Van Lente’s craftsmanship of the tale that keeps you enthralled. A page turner to say the least, it is rife with intrigue and captivating moments that keep you on the edge of your seat! Characterization is what comes first in this book and it is what will keep you coming back. From the aloof buffoon to the naive assassin, we are bewildered by how good a story about polar opposite characters can be. But it works — extremely well!

This is the first book that begins the “shared universe” of Valiant Entertainment. From here on out, you will see details from other books working their way into different stories. Although they may seem miniscule at the time, these are the stepping stones that will solidify Valiant’s titles together. So, pay attention! You are on the cusp of seeing a universe being built before your eyes! Breathe it in!

Movie News

Just What the “DOC” Ordered: The October Storm!

(Editor’s Note: Our latest column to hit Cosmic Book News comes from Chris “DOC” Bushley who will be taking a look at the less “cosmic” characters in comic books with his “Just What The Doc Ordered” OPED column!)

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

“Dueling Banjos”

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With the NYCC 2012 just around the corner, the “Big Two” are not pulling any punches to get you excited about their October releases. Even though the competition for your hard earned dollar is more fierce than it has ever been, the companies have two completely different visions on how to get the edge over the other! Let’s take a look at what Marvel and DC have in store for us and why it’s being dubbed — the “October Storm!”

Marvel Comics has wrapped up their most successful- and controversial- crossover yet, scoring the biggest sales and profit share in the first week of October with Avengers Vs. X-Men #12. But the masters at Marvel are not letting the intensity subside for a moment! October week two, showcases the end of Brian Bendis’ ten year run on Avengers with issue #31! Dubbed, “End Times”, it is a story that will cross between both Bendis written books, Avengers and New Avengers, and will not only change the status quo of the teams heroes, but also feature Dr. Strange in a larger role! Supposedly, his actions will lead directly into the future of Marvel NOW! Just enough push to lead into the movie hype!

As exciting as that sounds, next week also offers up the highest selling pre-ordered book of all time — Uncanny Avengers #1! This book not only begins the future of Marvel, but it also will have the mutant race becoming a more prominent fixture in all aspects of the universe! No longer will there be the distinct division between all things X and the rest of the heroes. Marvel Comics E.I.C., Axel Alonso, had this to say about the future involvement of the X-Men during an interview with CBR:

“ X-Men stories will continue to provide a unique reading experience that mines certain themes, but they won’t be so off to the side. In 2013, Mutants will continue to defend themselves from threats to their existence, but they’ll also be out there solving problems in the Marvel U, and “A+X” and “Uncanny Avengers” are your first glimpses of that.”

Not to be outdone by their competitors, DC Entertainment, has some pretty large news of their own! Though they will not be ending their highest selling franchises and beginning with new number ones (again!), they will however, be focusing on the return of one of the greatest villains of all time! Finally, the Joker will be introduced to the New 52! Batman #13, Batman and Robin #13 and Batgirl #13, all are released on October 10th; kicking off the “Death of the Family” storyline that is said to “rock” the Bat-books! A “new” take on Batman’s biggest thorn, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo have spent tireless moments perfecting the most menacing Joker they could think of. Though he is known for his devilish and demented antics, Scott Snyder is promising an even more horrific version of the “clown prince of crime.” Snyder goes on to share these thoughts about his Joker tale in an interview with IGN:

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:3415:]]“He’s intimidating because there are so many seminal stories from years before that really are some of the greatest Batman stories ever… in Death in the Family, he uses Jason [Todd] to get at Batman in as many ways as he’s hurting Jason too. In that way, Joker would make the argument that, “I’ve never faced off with you guys, but now I’m looking you in the eye and I’m coming for you. I will tear down and kill and burn anything in your life to break you.” They’ve never faced a nightmare like the Joker is the idea, and he’s coming for each one of those characters individually.”

Although this storyline will sweep through all the “Bat-books”, Snyder goes on to say that you do not need to read every book in order to follow the story:

“What’s going to happen in Batman is a thousand percent self-contained; it’s going to be my big Joker story with Greg Capullo in Batman. You will not have to read another book to follow it whatsoever to follow it, I promise you that. It’s from #13-17, with a big, huge finale in 17 with an annual-sized issue – and we’ll be in the back-ups too, so it’ll just be a giant story that’s the equivalent of almost seven issues packed into five. Even though that will be completely self-contained in Batman, you will see Joker in the other series in self-contained ways similar to Night of the Owls, where he goes after those Bat-family members in ways that will give him a chance to completely unleash the most terrifying things you’ve seen in those series up to this point.”

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:3417:]]Also, this month, DC Entertainment will be releasing their “Third Wave” for the New 52! Beginning with Phantom Stranger #1 by Dan Didio, Brent Anderson and Scott Hanna! This book will focus on the “Trinity of Evil” and why they were cursed to walk the earth for all eternity. Hopefully we will get some answers as to the events of Phantom Stranger #0, where we saw the creation of The Spectre, a glimpse of Pandora and the possible return of the Question! After the initial start week, we will see more “Third Wave” books that will focus on the history of the New 52 universe with: Sword of Sorcery #1 by Christy Marx and Aaron Lopresti and Team 7 #1 by CBN favorite – Justin Jordan and Jesus Merino! And let’s not forget another Scott Snyder book, stemming from the page of the “Court of Owls” storyline – Talon #1!

All in all, October is going to be an explosive month for comics in general! With so many books coming out in the first two weeks alone and so few dollars to be spent, where does your money lie? Hit us up in the comments below and let us know what will get you through this comic book “storm” of greatness! I, personally cannot wait to see the Joker! But, no matter what your choices are, it’s a great time to be a fan!

Comic Book News

Advanced Review: Avengers vs. X-Men #12

The amazing variant cover says it all — “The End,” but is it as epic as Marvel is making it out to be?

In some ways, yes; Marvel has recaptured the overall units sold in the months since Avengers Vs. X-Men has come out — no small feat since DC is right behind, chomping at the bit, waiting for Marvel to slip. And there are some truly great moments that occur in this book: We finally see the return of Nova, albeit for a mere moment and as someone we wish he wasn’t, but he is there. We also see some touching instances, too few and one in particular that I wish was especially more prominent, but they are there as well. The action is intense and the art was well crafted – an overall well done book – but was this the “epic” conclusion to the biggest event Marvel has tried to produce in decades?

Sadly, no.

This could have been a truly emotional tale of a man who was lost in order to save an entire race. A great character that has become a pivotal part of the entire Marvel U. in the last year. For a glimpse it was, but only for a glimpse. The defeat of the Dark Phoenix was quite unremarkable, but the direct moment before — could have been amazing! That’s how the whole book felt, like it was grasping for greatness and then watched as it slipped through its fingers. I am not trying to dissuade you from this book, the five dollar price tag may do that on its own, but it is a good read. I just wish there was more to it.

The “Architects” have finished their opus. Whether we are fans of it or not, it is finally through. I, for one, felt that it was done well half of the time, the other half could have been forgotten. The Marvel Universe as a whole has not been changed for better or worse! It is the same status quo we have always had. Yes, new teams will emerge from this and apparently everyone will be some form of an Avenger! Whether they are Uncanny, Astonishing or Spectacular, does it really matter anymore when they are all in the fraternal brotherhood of Steve Rogers?

All it took to wrap up this entire event was just three little words, so my review will be summed up by some as well, “What could’ve been!”

Movie News Reviews Video Game News

Movie Review: Resident Evil: Damnation

Forget “Retribution;” Damnation Shows Evil Going Global

A Film Review of Resident Evil: Damnation

By: Lawrence Napoli

We are DAYS away from the release of my most anticipated videogame of 2012 in Resident Evil 6 and Capcom saw fit to release its most recent CG film a week prior in an effort to prime American fans for the kind of story, action and thrills that will be awaiting us all on October 2^nd. What better way to do this than by giving the fans a prequel (of sorts) that bridges the gap between Resident Evils 5 and 6 without making any actual reference to either? This may sound a tad curious, but I attribute that to Japanese sensitivities to the concept of plot which I will explain later. This original film produced by the coalition of Capcom, Digital Frontier and Sony Pictures Entertainment joins its brother (Resident Evil: Degeneration) as the only two films to be part of the official Resident Evil cannon and unlike its predecessor, Damnation delivers a high fidelity experience that is sharp on looks and intense on action.

By the start of Resident Evil 5, the concept of international bio-terrorism is in full swing because the Umbrella Corporation allegedly goes bankrupt and in the process, all of its viral research and development hits the global black market. Anyone with a WIFI connection and a few million bucks could become a bio-terrorist overnight. Damnation further explores the investigation of B.O.W. (bio-organic weapon) sightings in an Eastern European (ex-Soviet Block) country with fan favorite Leon S. Kennedy taking the lead. Leon arrives in this country with a very obscure status as he doesn’t represent the CIA, Secret Service or BSAA in any capacity. The only thing the viewer knows for sure is that Leon is still some sort of US government agent as Ingrid Hunnigan (from Resident Evil 4) continues to relay intelligence to Leon via his cell phone. Leon is in full tactical gear as the country is in the midst of a civil war and the action simply shoots through the roof once he starts jogging to his next destination.

The overall story of Damnation is much more concise than any of the games because it strictly gravitates around the plot of this one setting and main character. However, the typical mood of conspiracy and betrayal is as consistent as any other chapter in the Resident Evil saga. As this franchise continues to move slightly away from “horror” to feature more “action;” Damnation is yet another perfect (or terrible, depending on your point of view) example of this strategy. The director, Makoto Kamiya wanted the events of this film to depict Leon S. Kennedy as he “descends into hell” which would seem to evoke more “horror” elements to this story. Sure, Leon gets disarmed at some point and only has his bound fists to survive for a while, but the fact that this character IS Leon removes ANY semblance of threat because fans know he’s a mainstay of the franchise and he IS in Resident Evil 6 as a primary character. There is virtually no element of horror to this CG film because there is no dedication to building suspense. Doing so requires many more moments of silence to allow the audience an anticipation of fear which the bullet and explosion filled pages of this particular script are ill equipped to produce. Oh well, I guess this just means Damnation must settle for being a really good action film with plenty of gory violence, gunplay and slow motion, close quarter combat.

One other aspect of this story that demands singular recognition is the fact that the B.O.W.s being used throughout Damnation are within the framework of war. As such, viewing classics like zombies, lickers, ganados, parasites and tyrants as alternatives to guns and grenades is a theme never before explored in Resident Evil. What makes this exceptionally interesting is the unprecedented level of control that is demonstrated over these monsters in addition to the fact that they are used against each other on several occasions. Ever find yourself cheering for the bad guy? The player/audience has always seen these things as antagonists that need to be dispatched or avoided, but never as an option in combat scenarios. It will be interesting to see if this concept is somehow applied to any gameplay mechanic in Resident Evil 6, so if it is – remember, you heard the prediction here first!

Resident Evil has always been a character driven drama so I was expecting to learn a little more about Leon S. Kennedy, the man, during yet another one man mission against the undead. After the events of Resident Evil 2 very little has been revealed about this man other than his continued involvement from a distance during the plots of every game and his hush-hush government training post Raccoon City. Unfortunately, Damnation is not very forthcoming about any new details concerning Leon; maintaining his status as an ultimate bad ass with unwavering ethical integrity. Ho hum.

Whenever Leon is involved, it seems Ada Wong is not far to follow as she (yet again) appears to be infiltrating this particular dangerous environment as a spy working for “someone else” (not named Albert Wesker because he’s dead, at least I think). If you have been living under a rock and have not seen any of the Resident Evil 6 trailers, Ada appears to be set up as the big bad in the upcoming game, thus working for herself all this time. That certainly jives with her character type, yet Damnation is clear about establishing an unidentified employer backing Wong’s infiltration. She’s still a sexy femme fatale and (you guessed it) very little else is revealed other than the fact that a more intimate relationship between her and Leon culminated prior to the events in Damnation. She clearly cares about him, yet neither is truly smitten with the other despite an obvious attraction that was set up in RE2.

The rest of the characters in this CG film are not particularly interesting as they are dealt with (one way or the other) within the confines of this plot. Degeneration approached its antagonists in the exact same fashion which, unfortunately, removes a healthy amount of danger and intrigue from these newly introduced characters. I admire the Japanese filmmakers for creating this movie, but as a plot, does not stand on its own strength and really comes off as a strategic setup piece to get gamers used to the scale, scope and stakes of RE6. These are the important bullet points I took away from Damnation: 1) Biohazards are potentially everywhere: from obscure rural communities to the largest of urban jungles in EVERY country. 2) Every variety of mutation you have seen thus far is probably going to make an appearance in the next game and the “zombies” that are supposedly making their triumphant return in RE6 are actually smart, weapon-wielding, ganados and not brainless T-virus victims. 3) Capcom’s marketing of the “3 campaign system” supposedly featuring 3 distinct play styles promising a return to “survival horror” in at least one of them is an absolute crock! This film and the exceptional RE6 trailer attached to it cement this franchise in straight monster-slaughter action. Accept it.

I liked parts of this film, but cannot admit to loving any of it. The extra features on the Blu Ray disc are nothing to write home about, but the “making of” featurette is neat seeing the cast do all sorts of motion capture work on set. I also found it interesting how this Japanese production company was using nothing but HP computer hardware for 100% of its production tools. It’s just a simple observation. This CG film is a vast improvement over Degeneration in almost every regard (look, sound and feel) with the exception of story. Clearly, Capcom did not give director Makoto Kamiya the same leeway Paul W.S. Anderson had with his adaptations. These films HAD to fit with the games and surely his options were limited. Still, I was amazed that nothing more than the stellar action was at work in Damnation. I wanted to see more character revelations, more connectivity with the games and overall more relevance, but what I got was more typical Eastern filmmaking that promotes style over substance; look over story. The Blu Ray copy of Resident Evil: Damnation retails at $19.99 US dollars and I simply cannot recommend this film at that price to anyone besides serious Resident Evil fans. If you find it on sale for $10, go for it, otherwise save that money for your pre-order of Resident Evil 6.

DCU Movie News Reviews

Batman The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 Review

Perfect introduction.

Comic Book News

Advanced Review: Justice League Dark #0

Let me put the record straight, this is not Hellblazer, this is the John Constantine of the DCnU. In many ways it is close, but not so far as to say they are the same character. They share the same name and the same innate ability to be a deadly bastard when push comes to shove, but that is where the similarities generally end. And when it comes down to the bottom line, at least as of late, Jeff Lemire’s John Constantine wins — hands down!

An origin story, at least for the hows and whys of the trench coat, Justice League Dark #0 does a fine job of familiarizing the audience of the key players of the book and their roles in forthcoming storylines. It is a glimpse of Constantine’s “coming of age” trek to America, where he can build upon his magical skill set. It is also the first meeting of Constantine and Zatanna, a meeting that sets in motion everything we know about Justice League Dark thus far.

The name Jeff Lemire is synonymous with great stories, and this one is no different. He incorporates miniscule nuggets of knowledge from character back stories, thus enhancing his vision of the character as well as placating to the inner “fanboy” in all of us (thanks for the Mucus Membrane T-shirt nod by the way!). But it his depth of character he creates that separates him from most writers today. He reaches into a character, pulling them apart to see how they function, and evolves them past their current incarnations. He makes them richer, more complex and, in the case of John Constantine — darker! It is this evolution of the Constantine character in a 32 page format, that makes this book so perfect.

Fans of the Hellblazer series should be excited to have their favorite character mucking up the DCnU, and doing justice to the original incarnation as well. Fans of comics in general, will be ecstatic to finally get the New 52 origin of one of the most beguiling characters ever created — John Constantine!

Comic Book News

Advanced Review: Talon #0

James Tynion IV and Scott Snyder team together again, this time they bring you the harrowing tale of Calvin Rose — Talon! The first brand new hero introduced into the “Bat family” in the DCnU!

From abused child to trained killer, Calvin Rose, has been raised to look for the worst in people in order to justify his actions. Unfortunately, all he has truly seen the entirety of his life are horrific events. It doesn’t take much for the Court of Owls to mold this young man into the perfect weapon and point him at any target they choose. But deep inside, there is a conscience that whispers to get out, to be free. A conscience that will forever set him at odds with the Court themselves!

A tragic and emotional tale, Talon, is a classic warrior’s story. One where the main character must shed the shackles that bind him in order to find his own path in the world; even though his freedom means an ever increasing threat from those that wish to use him for their own devious plans. Calvin Rose is a character that is never truly left to his own discretion, even his freedom is seen as a misdirection by other people. A choice that will force him to fight or die, but death will only place him back in the arms of those he so desperately wants to forget. So, for Calvin Rose, their is only the choice to fight and escape. The two things he has done all his life!

A fantastic tale and a great way to introduce a new book for the “Bat family.” The Third Wave isn’t quite upon us yet, but if the other books are half as good as this one, we’ll be in for one hell of a ride!

Comic Book News

Review: Justice League #0

Do not fret Justice League fans, although not a single Leaguer is seen in this book, it is still a great story that gives us the New 52 origin of Shazam!

Finally, no longer just a back-up story, Geoff Johns gives fans what they have been clamoring for! Billy Batson may have entered this series as a mere troubled boy, but he emerges as the wielder of the living lightning — Shazam!

The story is one of power and what you can do when the odds that have always been stacked against you, come crumbling down. What would you do if you were suddenly able to do anything you could ever dream of? What if you could do anything, but still retained the mind of a troubled youth — one that has seen too many hardships over the years? Would you squander it, do horrible things with it or just have fun with it?

Johns isn’t afraid to ask the smart questions in this book, but at times his tale seems to parallel Mark Millar’s Superior mini-series far too closely. Not to say this tale doesn’t have a unique story to tell, quite the contrary, but it does have similarities that are far too glaring. Similarities aside, the book itself is very well done and will make any fan glad that Shazam is back in the DC Universe!

As good as the core story is, the back-up is the one that will garner the most buzz. Written by Johns and drawn by Ethan Van Sciver, we are drawn into the web of the enigmatic — Trinity of Sin. We witness Pandora’s frustration over her judgment and finally get to see a fleeting glimpse of the mysterious “third” sinner. What we don’t know is why these beings are here, what they mean to do and if they are working for or against mankind. A truly rich and intriguing finish to a great book, one that will leave you with questions. Or better yet, THE Question!

Comic Book News

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile for September 19th, 2012

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

( A weekly quick pick of the five titles that should reside at the top of your pull list. IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER! )

I do the research, you reap the reward! Before you head out to your favorite shop today, be sure to add these five titles to your list of goodies! Forget that “apple a day” nonsense, this “DOC’s” prescription to good health starts with these top five books of the week!

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1. Daredevil #18: Continuing the further demise of Matt Murdock and “Foggy” Nelson’s friendship, this issue brings pack someone from their past. But can they truly be who they say they are? If it is, ol’ DD may be headed for the psych ward!

2. Justice League #0: Don’t fret JL fans, even though none of them are in this book, we get a great story of Billy Batson and the origin of — Shazam! Finally, there is no debate as to calling which character Captain Marvel anymore! Plus, is that the Question? Hmm?

3. Lobster Johnson: Caput Mortuum (One-shot): After a lackluster one-shot last time round, Mike Mignola more than makes up for it this time! High stakes action and Nazis on blimps? Who doesn’t love that?

4. Red Hood and the Outlaws #0: We all know the story of how Jason Todd died, but now we get to see his entire origin! From birth until now, Jason’s life has been full of tragedy, but what if it all hasn’t been by chance? What if someone has been manipulating every moment for their own sinister pleasure? This book is twisted!

5. Revival #3: The “smart” zombie book, this one is completely different than all the others in the genre! Eerie and unnerving, Revival will get you that horror fix without falling into the trappings of dumb jokes and even worse scenarios. I just wish they would stop showing the “little white guy!” Creepy!

Comic Book News

Advanced Review: The Walking Dead #102

After the deaths of Glenn and Abraham, there has been a lull in action, but a real focus on how the characters develop from here. Kirkman has dialed the brutality back to a minimum, giving ample time to see exactly how Rick and crew choose to deal with their new world dynamic. A world that is now more dangerous than ever before, a world that must deal with â€” Neegan!

Though we all love the insane twists and turns that Kirkman does so well, it is the “quieter” times when his writing skills really shine. The introspective stories of these hardened individuals, are truly what makes this book stand out more than anything else on the stands today. And with issue #102, we get more of the same.

Touching upon every major character, Kirkman reveals Rick’s new strategy for survival and the reactions to it. This is the book where everything truly changes! The group’s function, their outlook and eventually, a shift in their core dynamic; sets the stage for something we have never seen before. Loyalties change, relationships become strained, secrets are sworn and Rick puts himself in the cross hairs for the good of the group. But does the group need him to be there to begin with?

Well executed and thoughtfully expressed, Kirkman is the best at deepening the emotional bond between characters and the readers! He makes it so easy to get lost in their world and even easier to care about them. Fans of The Walking Dead television show, will undoubtedly recognize some of the same plot threads from Season Two in this book. And even though you may feel a slight sense of deja vu, it is comforting to see some aspects of the different genres meld into great stories for both avenues. Plus, it will make it easier to become a fan of the comic if you haven’t already! But, who am I kidding? Who isn’t a fan already!

Movie News Reviews

Movie Review: The Possession (2012)

More Creepy Girls with Long, Dark Hair

A Film Review of The Possession

By: Lawrence Napoli

As we approach October, we are beginning to see a wave of horror films attempt to make some money before the next Paranormal Activity steals everyone elseâ€™s mojo. As such, the whole â€œpossessionâ€ motif is in full effect this time of year and it is becoming more and more difficult to distinguish one from the other. They all seem to feature creepy little girls with long dark hair and some (like The Possession) are based on true stories. This movie involves exactly what the title suggests, but the tricky spin on the â€œtrue storyâ€ basis of this film is not the plot, but the setup surrounding the mysterious box that encapsulates a supposed demon. As the story goes: a college student named Iosif Nietzke sold an ancient Jewish wine cabinet box on eBay which he specifically described as having bad luck surrounding it (as he began losing his hair after acquiring it). A museum curator named Jason Haxton put in the winning bid at $280 and afterwards, several representatives of the Jewish community became aware of and very interested in this box. A Jewish newspaper, The Forward published an article about these boxes and many rabbis offered to handle (even open) the box themselves. Some went as far as suggesting that all digital imagery of the item be removed from the internet all together so as to prevent any possible spiritual invasion.

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You may have seen something like this before

A few aspects of this setup have been written into this film as screenwriters Juliet Snowden and Stiles White establish some of these details within the first 5 minutes. What follows, however, is a much more involved and dangerous series of events following a divorced couple, their two daughters and the utter torment that results once this box comes into their lives. Overall the story is quite interesting, but not told in a very foreboding or terrifying manner. In fact, The Possession is quite short on suspense which really detracts from the well conceived and executed supernatural phenomena as depicted on the screen. When things happen, there is usually no dedicated buildup. Most of the themes at work in this film are an amalgam of life lessons weâ€™ve all heard before: had selfish parents been more concerned with their children, the kids would be less compelled to pull away and be drawn to â€œalternativeâ€ fascination. I understand how a childâ€™s proximity to danger (real-world or supernatural) is a horrific element in and of itself, but I feel this concept has been played out in contemporary horror so much so that every deadpan stare, every shriek and every contortionistâ€™s wet dream doesnâ€™t have the same impact it had 10 years ago. There seem to be a few continuity issues towards the beginning of the film (ahem, the girl and her braces), but aside from that, scene transitions and dialogue are fairly kosher.

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My name is NOT Samara!

All of the performances by the cast are respectable, believable and appropriate for the types of characters they are playing. It definitely feels as if director Ole Bornedal directed his adult thespians as if this were a regular drama. Jeffrey Dean Morgan plays a very charismatic, yet self involved college basketball coach while Kyra Sedgwick plays a more conservative and annoyingly anal former housewife that is getting back into her own business as a jewelry designer. It is a little easier for 2 actors to portray a divorced couple if they are written only as mutually hostile or friendly, but The Possession requires equal parts throughout this film and thankfully, Morgan and Sedgwickâ€™s chemistry is more than capable of shifting gears in both directions at any given time. Also, I found Matisyahuâ€™s first feature acting role quite successful as Tzadok, the son of the head rabbi helping Jeffrey Dean Morganâ€™s character. Few musicians show any proficiency in an acting environment, but between him and Lenny Kravitz, these two men could be reversing that stigma.

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I am a real actor now!

The children didnâ€™t demonstrate quite the same impact, but were just as effective in their roles. Madison Davenportâ€™s performance as the older (and unaffected) sister, Hannah delivered your typical teenie-bopper, rebellious angst more concerned with popularity than anything else. Natasha Calis, however, had much more on her plate being the possessed sister, Em. Natashaâ€™s transition from daddyâ€™s little girl to creepy ghost girl was fairly impressive, but what I found more impressive was the discipline she showed in not breaking that disturbed demeanor once the box infects her character. Her filmography already has her experienced in several hard edged films and although I was impressed with her acting maturity, I was uncomfortable with some of the costume choices that were made for her character that somehow highlighted curves on an 11 year old. Perhaps I ought to be more alarmed by the glamour-shots both of these little girls have for their imdb.com pages.

Visual effects supervisor Adam Stern only had a few moments to show some really disturbing digital imagery, but the rarity enhances the disturbing to the deranged. The best digital effect was easily the fingers shown trying to crawl out of the little girlâ€™s throat from the inside which isnâ€™t a spoiler because it was shown in every trailer for this film. Although some other effects like the moth infestation, teeth falling out and demon manifestations were well done, none were on the same level as the fingers. This film had a budget of only $14 million dollars and chances are most of it went to the visual effects despite the fact there were only a handful of them. Still, if done correctly, these really expensive seconds of screen time prove that horror can still produce financial successes provided the rest of the cast and crew will work for scale or less.

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Somebody down there?

The Possession is a very decent horror film that is light on thrills, but solid on performances. Iâ€™m hoping to get a more intense experience from at least one of the upcoming horror films, but I will not grantee it seeing how the Paranormal franchise may be turning into Saw. This film is worth seeing if your horror itch needs to be scratched, but it doesnâ€™t distinguish itself amidst the other average movies that fill out the post-summer-blockbuster-hangover-weeks. It borrows far too much from The Ring and The Exorcist to be described as unique, but if you liked those films, you may not even care.

Movie News Reviews

Movie Review: Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)

Awful, Just Awful

A Film Review of Resident Evil: Retribution

By: Lawrence Napoli

I donâ€™t particularly care for Paul W. S. Andersonâ€™s work as a filmmaker during his tenure as Capcomâ€™s official Hollywood adapter of the Resident Evil franchise. I believe Mr. Anderson only has a cursory understanding of the overall storyline which has afforded him the gall to write all of the iconic characters as secondary support roles that do not impact the story in any way shape and form. Anderson has been quite blunt with his need to generate original characters that drive his vision forward which is why most of his main characters have been conjured out of thin air: Alice, Rain, K-Mart, L.J., the Red Queen, Luther West, etc. I donâ€™t mind the concept of expanded fiction referencing characters from the source material. In fact, a great example would be The Walking Dead video game by TellTale Games. The problem I have with Andersonâ€™s use of character is twofold: 1) his original characters are quite flat and 2) the iconic characters are basically cannon fodder for Alice. This is not good, not good at all.

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Warning: gratuitous cleavage shot

Resident Evil: Retributionis a perfect example of a writer/directorâ€™s ego gone wild. Andersonâ€™s tunnel vision in using every film (including this one) to further explore and expand the bloated importance of the character of Alice has forced him to severely limit his options in terms of plot and the story suffers for it. I will rephrase that last comment. The story is perversely warped as a result of it. Fans of the game series see a story in the film adaptations that is simply not Resident Evil. Those who arenâ€™t fans will experience this film as a sci-fi, action film unconcerned with details like â€œwho are these people?â€ â€œwhere do they come from?â€ â€œwhat is happening here?â€ and â€œwhy is any of this important?â€ It is true that Retribution opens with its signature review of the plot thus far in the previous films, but even with that refresher, the audience will be completely confused by the relevance of anything they are seeing that doesnâ€™t involve Alice running away from monsters. Despite frequent expository scenes that spoon feed the story, none of these moments address some of the basic viewer questions I mentioned earlier.

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The “S” stands for “suck-ass”

On top of Andersonâ€™s failings as a writer, his degrading ability to get decent performances from his actors is obvious. Sienna Guillory apparently forgot how to act all together as her awkward line delivery made Jill Valentine look like she was in a high school musical. Bingbing Li may not know the English language as all her dialogue seems like it was post-dubbed, thus making Ada Wong look like she was pulled out of a cheesy kung-fu flick. Colin Salmon could not be persuaded to get in shape for this film and his performance as One in the first Resident Evil was Academy Award winning material in comparison to this. Johann Urbâ€™s rendition of Leon S. Kennedy seemed more concerned with the placement of his hair than coming off as a suave badass. And Michelle Rodriguez should not be a professional actress in the first place.

There are some shining lights to this film in regards to the performances. Milla Jovovich will never win an Oscar, but she is quite comfortable in action films and the confidence she shows in Alice works for that character. I still tend to snicker every time Alice tries to be poignant on screen, but then she punches someone in the face and itâ€™s suddenly all better. Aryana Engineerâ€™s (an 11 year old) performance as Becky (Aliceâ€™s â€œdaughterâ€) is uncharacteristically moving amidst the various degrees of anger-filled rage from the rest of the cast. Her chemistry with Jovovich onscreen is charmingly sympathetic. But the best performance is displayed by the (once again) underused Shawn Roberts as Albert Wesker. The attitude, the snide remarks, the accent: this man simply embodies every inch of Wesker and for the life of me; I cannot understand how dense Paul W. S. Anderson must be to not feature this actor/character more.

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More of me would have made more millions for this movie

The action and effects in this film actually take a step back from the last film: Resident Evil: Afterlife. The audience was treated to a slew of super human activity between Wesker and the Alice clones in that film and when compared to the bigger monsters and standard mass shootings of various zombie hordes in this film, Iâ€™m left unimpressed. Hopefully the viewer isnâ€™t turned off by slow motion as the visual effects company, Mr. X abused â€œslo-moâ€ in every, single, action sequence. It was too much of the same old, same old. As for 3D; DO NOT PAY TO SEE THIS FILM IN 3D! The 3-4 instances of â€œthings flying at the screenâ€ do not justify the inflated ticket price to see a movie like this. No other film franchise has taken advantage of the 3D scam more so than Resident Evil. It is a major contributing factor for explaining how this saga could be described as â€œthe most successful series of films based on video games.â€

Resident Evil: Retribution inspires little confidence in the franchise and even less in a software company as significant as Capcom. Eastern developers have recently been falling behind the west, but when you couple questionable business moves like handing the Hollywood adaptation of your most prominent IP to some dude who happens to be married to Milla Jovovich must reflect disintegrating stock value. As ridiculous and contrived as many of the moments in the Resident Evil game history are, none of them come close to the absurdity of Paul W. S. Andersonâ€™s take on zombies. If he plugged Star Wars characters into an Indiana Jones story, heâ€™d genuinely believe he invented Episode VII! This film is a pass. Go see Expendables 2 if you need action, but youâ€™re simply better off waiting to buy Resident Evil 6 for your Xbox or Ps3. That is, of course, if this film doesnâ€™t make you want to march to Capcomâ€™s corporate headquarters and set semtex to the whole building.

Comic Book News

Review: X-O Manowar #5

The “Summer of Valiant” may be coming to a close, but the comics world continues to heat up each week as another Valiant book hits the shelves! Not only does Valiant strive to push their characters forward into the hearts and minds of fans, they also are bringing some of the best comic characters back to the forefront of the industry. This week it’s — Ninjak!

Robert Venditti’s tale of a man displaced in time continues here, and we get an inside look at just how emotionally scarred Aric is from knowing everything he has ever held dear is gone. Venditti makes the reader connect on a deeper level with Aric, revealing his vulnerabilities and even his arrogance while wielding the X-O armor. A flawed man in a desperate time, Aric is someone we can sympathize with and enthusiastically root for as he unleashes his frustrations upon an unwitting world!

The juxtaposition between the morose barbarian Aric, and the calculated assassin Ninjak — is perfect. Ancient ideas and modern concepts clash in a too short battle. Their differences are vast, while their parallels end at a mounting body count. And believe me, the bloodshed is quite staggering in this issue! All the more reason to covet this series!

A fast paced, intelligent tale — Robert Venditti delivers lightening in a bottle yet again! If you haven’t picked up this series yet, there is still time to delve into the Valiant Universe. The “Summer” may be over but the “Arcs” are just about to begin!

Be bold, be unique — be Valiant!

Comic Book News

Review: Batman #0

I would like to thank Scott Snyder for NOT churning out yet another rehashed origin story. The tale of Bruce Wayne becoming Batman has been done so many times that even my nephew knows it — and he’s only two!

Rather than giving fans more of the same, Snyder tells a tale of a young Bruce Wayne trying to find his niche in the war against crime. Both eager and naive, Bruce dives in head first, but he doesn’t know the depths he will need to go in order to save the city he loves.

Building upon the mythos he has crafted so well, Snyder gives the reader a barrage of ideas in this tale. From the first Batarang, a chance meeting with James Gordon and a glance at Bruce Wayne’s original “home base”, fans will be clamoring for more just as it comes to a close. Curiosities about the past and how it will resurface in the future will abound you in this well crafted and refreshing tale. But, for me, it is the follow up story that truly makes this book pitch perfect.

On a single night, five years in the past; the “Bat family” ponder just what heroism — or lack there of — means to them. From an alleyway, a principal’s office, a circus tent and a rooftop, these people’s lives have been inexplicably changed by a man they have never met, although his shadow descends over them all.

Rife with characterization and overwhelmingly intelligent, James Tynion IV has set the bar for emotional tales in eight pages or less! From loyalty to bravado, from fear to childlike awe, this tale gets to the center of all the characters in a simple yet, stunning manner. It is a rare story that will make you appreciate how precious good stories are — even without the “Bat.”

Comic Book News

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile for September 12th, 2012

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

( A weekly quick pick of the five titles that should reside at the top of your pull list. IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER! )

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:3024:]]1. Batgirl #0: Gail Simone has been hinting about Batgirl’s origin since issue one, especially that fateful night when it was all taken away from her. Well, you won’t see how she learned to walk again here, but you will see her heroism in full swing and her first meeting with a certain Knight! Well paced and very rich in characterization, this is a fantastic series!

2. Avengers Vs. X-Men #11: This is the single most impressive book of the series. Continuity issues aside — Cap asks the Hulk to join the Avengers? Wait, isn’t he already one in Avengers Assemble? Oh, that one’s only about Marvel movie characters? Okay! — this one gets the heart racing again! Plus, someone gets kill… oh, right –NO SPOILERS! I always forget!

3. X-O Manowar #5: One of Valiant’s coolest creations comes back in it’s flagship title! Enter–Ninjak! Finally, Aric has his hands full when Ninjak is paid to retrieve the X-O armor. But, will the world’s deadliest assassin turn it over or keep it for himself?

4. Batman #0: A cool tale about Bruce Wayne’s first attempts at bringing justice to Gotham, but it’s the back-up tale by James Tynion IV and Andy Clarke that makes this book worth while! Revolving around the “Bat family” of characters, we get to see their different perspectives regarding heroism in a single night. Really well done!

5. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #2: Purely for nostalgic reasons, this one continues James Robinson’s tale of young Adam and his quest to remember his past. It seems a certain sorcerer has made him forget the man he truly is, but that won’t stop him from trying! Not even — Trapjaw! Let the eighties reign supreme!

Movie News Reviews Video Game News

The State of Hollywood 6: The Metal Gear Movie

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The State of Hollywood 6:

The Reality of the Metal Gear Solid Movie

By: Lawrence Napoli

What could go wrong?

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When the Metal Gear Solid film adaptation was confirmed to be in the works at Konamiâ€™s 25^th Anniversary of the video game franchise, I was very intrigued at the prospect of bringing one of the most cinematic game sagas to the silver screen. I was also quite apprehensive of such lofty ambitions for the simple fact that Hollywood has blundered just about every gaming license it has gotten its greasy palms on, and Iâ€™d hate to see Kojimaâ€™s masterpiece sullied by anyone for any reason. Just look what they did to Super Mario and he was a fat plumber who curb-stomped turtles to save a princess. How can Hollywood possibly handle the â€œnuances, ideology [and] cautionary tales,â€ (quoting Avi Arad, himself) of global conspiracy by the military industrial complex to control the future of mankind via technology, genetics, economics and violence? (Wait, isnâ€™t that happening in real life now?)

The answer to that question is that none of the above really matters to Avi Arad or anyone else in Hollywood because there are greenbacks to be made and ravenous fan bases ripe for exploitation. Hollywoodâ€™s goal is producing blockbuster gold in the form of a film that may or may not have something important to say about life, but is really more interested in wooing dollars out of our wallets with explosions.

In many respects, the meat of Metal Gearâ€™s story contains ideas that average blockbusters wouldnâ€™t normally give a second thought to. That is until the most recent culmination of Christopher Nolanâ€™s Dark Knight Trilogy (who, by the way, is the only director Kojima has mentioned interest in allowing to helm a Metal Gear adaptation). Unfortunately, there is only one Chris Nolan and he will be too busy promoting the rest of DCâ€™s alphas to Batmanâ€™s prominence on film. Thus, [insert director here] inspires far less confidence in this projectâ€™s production which attracts a smaller pool of actors and other talented filmmaking professionals to the cause.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2964:]]Why Metal Gear and why now?

The entertainment industry seems to see Aradâ€™s alliance with Columbia Pictures as a response to Ubisoft using its own production facilities to create an Assassinâ€™s Creed adaptation starring Michael Fassbender. I see it as Hollywood having sucked just about all the sellable juice from the comic book industry and it needs a new host to leach upon before it goes through a true â€œdry spellâ€ of projects.

The big four of the entertainment industry: music, movies, books and DVDâ€™s are averaging between $30-60 billion dollars of annual, global revenue in their respective categories and the video game industry is on par with each of them. This simply wasnâ€™t the case 15 years ago, but considering the constant evolution of the internet and the increased demand for user interactivity as a result; it stands to reason that gaming continues to be on the rise and more people regardless of age, gender and ethnicity are plugging in. The best known franchises in gaming have high exposure for various consumer bases around the world, so considering Hollywoodâ€™s recent trend on focusing on global numbers (as opposed to [US] domestic profits), it makes perfect sense for more games to be remixed as movies.

Metal Gear, as a franchise, gives Hollywood everything it wants in an adaptation: relevance, popularity, violence and lots of opportunities for special effects.[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2965:]] Yet history has shown there is no such thing as â€œa sure thingâ€ so not every gaming icon makes perfect sense to invest in. As marquee as Mario and Link are in videogames, neither could sell a contemporary blockbuster the way Solid Snake can because they are rooted in Nintendoâ€™s stylized fantasyland which may not be for everyone above the age of 13. Halo also generates high visibility, but a film adaptation might turn off an audience more interested in action as opposed to being bombarded with too much sci-fi jargon and exposition. The same goes for Mass Effect and BioShock. The only other contemporary franchise that might out shine Metal Gear as a potential film would be anything that bears the name of Call of Duty, but please note the similarities between the two: modern day/future warfare, modern day army tactics, modern day violence (with a slight sci-fi edge to Metal Gear).

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2966:]]Dollars, cents and â€œsuccessâ€

Letâ€™s just say there really isnâ€™t a lot of success when it comes to movies based on video games (as there isnâ€™t much success in games based on movies). Hollywood measures its success in cash and despite the ever increasing cost of general admission and conspiratorial gimmicks like double the ticket cost for IMAX and Digital DLP projection, the industry is still not making the money it used to make. Yes, consumer feedback is most directly reflected in the dollars they spend and when you observe mega-films like Avatar and The Avengers take home multiple billions of dollars worth in global ticket sales, it makes you wonder how Hollywood could ever be struggling.

Hollywoodâ€™s problem in general (and game adaptations in particular) is that â€œsuccessâ€ measured in dollars is a skewed statistic as a result of the aforementioned inflation and tricks. Only focusing on the green has contributed to the overall decline in Hollywoodâ€™s product and whether you agree with that statement or not, the audience is showing disappointment due to its increased absence as the years go by. When you go to the movies, how often do you sit in theaters that one would consider â€œfull?â€ When you talk to your friends about movies how often do complaints like â€œIâ€™ve seen it all before,â€ and â€œtheyâ€™ve run out of ideas,â€ come up in the conversation? It all sounds very circumstantial and unquantifiable, but if we tracked the number of tickets sold (regardless of price) we would begin to see an alarming drop in patronage overall.

Why should any of this be important to Hideo Kojima and his Metal Gear franchise? Acknowledging the rising cost and decreased business of Hollywood has[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2968:]] placed even more pressure on blockbusters to over perform at the box office and this increased scrutiny demands stricter adherence to the â€œHollywood formulaâ€: good writing and plot are sacrificed for big name actors, elaborate set pieces, visual effects and tons of explosions (essentially style over substance). Even â€œthe formulaâ€ cannot be considered foolproof, but no major studio will ever bankroll such a project unless â€œthe formulaâ€ is in full effect. Cue, (Sony) Columbia Pictures which owns 15.5% of movie market share and is 2^nd only to Warner Bros. in pure blockbuster production power. Big money is already behind this Metal Gear project, but accepting it implies the complete submission to whatever Hollywood says the movie will be. In the words of Amanda Connor regarding the adaptation of her husbandâ€™s Jonah Hex: â€œYou donâ€™t handle Hollywood. Hollywood handles you!â€ Sorry Kojima-san, youâ€™ve just been kicked out of the writerâ€™s room.

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“Kojima approved” may be irrelevant in the Metal Gear adaptation.

Why it will fail!

Three words: TACTICAL, ESPIONAGE, ACTION! That is the subtitle for every Metal Gear Solid game and it designates to the player exactly what this fiction is all about in addition to the order of importance of each of these elements have within the story. Hollywoodâ€™s â€œformulaâ€ dictates quite the opposite by forcing the film to be focused on action/effects, rated PG-13 and entirely unconcerned with social commentary. When the base philosophical difference between the source material and the adaptation is that far apart, how on Earth could Avi Arad speak so smugly about staying true to Metal Gearâ€™s â€œnuance and ideology?â€

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This is a sneaking mission Snake. The goal here is gathering information, so apply appropriate tactics.

Metal Gear Solidis not about war. War has changed. War is the escalating cost of gasoline and energy. War is hacking databases to steal identities. War is Chinese banks buying up American debt. War is corporations over people. War is the race to do things better, faster and cheaper than the other guy. War is less about proxy battles fought on foreign soil and more about the concept of human struggle and how interconnected every individual is in our daily toils as we live our lives. THAT is Metal Gear Solid. THAT is the story of Solid Snake: a super soldier coming to grips with how his warrior code of honor and discipline is completely at odds with his chain of command and the true authority behind it. It is a case study in refined, character driven drama where even individuals of immense power still answer to another; slaves to causality; chess pieces playing out their roles. The trick is they are all discovering this truth and not everyone likes it.

Solid Snake running around for two hours blowing sh*t up has 0% chance of producing a story that approaches any of the above.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2971:]]How it might succeed

The right people have to be recruited for the creative positions in this kind of production: writers, actors, crew and F/X. They must be led by a director that becomes intimate with the source material and creates a vision that he or she will not allow producers or executives to compromise. [Insert director here] is not well versed in having a spine, let alone creating a vision worth buying into. This is the reason why there are so many directors you have never heard of and will never hear from again. Any old person will not do to direct this adaptation.

Mechs must be fully animated, but discipline must be maintained so as not to turn Metal Gear into Transformers. One easy step in accomplishing this feat is by completely forgetting Michael Bay (or his agent) exists. The second step is putting serious thought into the final battle which involves Snake vs. Liquid who is piloting the mechanical behemoth, Metal Gear Rex. As ridiculous as 1 man fighting a robot the size of a house is, planning the action in a way that is not â€œover the topâ€ is the only way the climax of this film (and Rex specifically) doesnâ€™t come off as stupid. Of course, thatâ€™s assuming the director wants to play out the final confrontation in the same manner as the game. The answer to this situation becomes a little less daunting so long as â€œtacticalâ€ and â€œespionageâ€ continue to prevail over â€œaction.â€

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My name is Rex, not Grimlock!

Finally, the right actor must be cast for Solid Snake. Certainly, Metal Gear features one of the most colorful casts in the history of fiction, but the story is very singular in perspective and Solid Snake is the man. The internet has an interesting list of potential leading men such as Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Sean Bean, Viggo Mortensen and Matt Damon (sorry David Hayter, you are invited to play some role on the film, but you canâ€™t be Snake). My particular problem with these high profile, A-listers is that just about all of them have already represented iconic characters recently and franchise fatigue is inevitable. This affects both the actorâ€™s performance as well as the audienceâ€™s ability to accept the actor in the role. I am most intrigued with the mentioning of Josh Holloway who is most remembered for his role on Lost. I like the fact that he has as much to gain from the role of Solid Snake as the role does from his performance. He certainly looks the part, but can he act it? Also, can he completely delete his southern accent? Both of which are vital to creating a viable, Solid Snake. I wonâ€™t give Josh my official endorsement, but the mitigating circumstances I just mentioned place him higher on the list than anyone else.

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Conclusion

Adapting Metal Gear is not the slam dunk many would make it out to be. Otherwise, it would have already happened. It certainly presents a high risk/high reward scenario provided the creators approach this film with the intention of keeping it unique from other war/sci-fi/action films. It also presents a low yield/heavy backlash scenario if the adaptation simply sucks. I am not certain Kojimaâ€™s ego would survive such an outcome and Iâ€™d hate to have him stare that possibility down up close and personal. And perhaps that is the reason we havenâ€™t seen this game in Hollywood scripts up to now. However, with the upcoming release of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (developed by Platinum Games) and Kojimaâ€™s desire to move into the producerâ€™s chair for future Metal Gear Solid games, it seems he is being less possessive of his brainchild. Ironically, Snake and Kojima share the same problem of trust as both consider themselves to be true professionals that rely on their own efforts rather than others. Still, itâ€™s much easier for a man to move mountains with the help of other men.

Comic Book News

Advanced Review: Archer and Armstrong #2

Wonderfully written and stunningly drawn, Archer and Armstrong is at the pinnacle of Fred Van Lente and Clayton Henry’s careers! There is so much crammed inside this 32 page package, that it is only fitting it explodes from page one!

Fred Van Lente is one of the most underrated writers in comics today! He melds the mundane and the fantastic together so well, that the reader has no choice but to be completely engulfed in his tale. And what a tale it is!

Rife with modern sensibilities, conspiracies, historical references, action, intrigue and a comedic repertoire that could challenge any stand-up comic — this is the book everyone should be clamoring for every Wednesday! Enthralling to say the least, the juxtaposition between the over the top Armstrong and the virgin assassin Archer — is top notch! Nothing feels forced between the polar opposite heroes as Van Lente’s skills as a writer take center stage again, creating a homey feel as we witness the characters battle wits and fists against one another. It’s as if we were reading a book about the “original” Odd Couple, Oscar and Felix, but with way more bravado and way more bruises!

The richness of the characters is what truly makes this book as amazing as it is. The social commentary and intricate conspiracy plot threads do nicely to raise the bar as well, but it is the focus on defining these characters that sets it apart from the “bigger” titles on the racks.

As our summer slowly dwindles down, the “Summer of Valiant” continues to heat up — so don’t be left behind! Get in the shops and ask for some of the best books around — Valiant books! You won’t be disappointed!

Comic Book News

Advanced Review: Green Lantern #0

First, there was all the hype regarding the reexamining of the Alan Scott character. Then last week we saw “the kiss heard around the world” as Superman and Wonder Woman locked lips! This week is Geoff Johns’ turn to generate hype for the DC Universe! The introduction of a new Green Lantern is never an easy task, especially when it revolves around such a hot button issue such as religion.

When the first pictures arose of Simon Baz, the new GL, there was already people up in arms regarding the fact he was holding a gun. But when it was revealed he was Arab-American — it became an intensely more heated discussion.

Geoff Johns has crafted many outstanding tales for the entirety of the DC Universe and Green Lantern #0 is more of the same. He has created a character that, not only will be controversial, but has a depth and range that far outreaches the shackles laid upon him by the public over his religion. Empathetic and jarring, the tale follows Simon from an innocent youth to criminal intentions in his adulthood, making him nothing short of a questionable “hero.” And therein lies the intrigue! Johns tale is littered with enigmas, from Baz’s past to his current stressful situation, the reader is bombarded with an array of winding questions that leave you craving more.

Insightful, and well paced, Johns has broken through the walls of the status quo, creating a character that may not be worthy of the power he is bestowed but has the heart and drive to. An everyman that is just trying to do right by his family, and we can all empathize with that.

Comic Book News

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile for September 5th, 2012

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

( A weekly quick pick of the five titles that should reside at the top of your pull list. IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER! )

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1. Archer and Armstrong #2: Fred Van Lente is one of the most underrated writers in the world of comics today! This book is full of action, social commentary, history and comedy — combining in a whirlwind of pure excitement that will leave you wanting more. Oh, and there are Nun Ninjas! Yep, Nun Ninjas! Awesome!

2. Damsels #1: Leah Moore and John Reppion’s take of classic fairytale “damsels” is as fun and irreverent as we always wished they would be! Full of intrigue, this one will keep you pleasantly puzzled but never completely confused. Plus, you have to check out the cover by J. Scott Campbell — stunning!

3. Fashion Beast #1: Not to be outdone by his daughter, Mr. Alan Moore dredges up a play he wrote decades ago with fashion mogul Malcolm Mclaren, revolving around a modernized tale of high fashion and Beauty and the Beast. Antony Johnston’s adaption to comic form from Moore’s play, is quite curious and engaging, making us ponder just what is more important in life.

4. Punisher #15: The dual pistoled duo brings down the house in this bombastic issue! The Punisher and Marine Sergeant Rachel Cole-Alves, have taken the fight to the Exchange’s doorstep and not everyone will make it out alive! A great book with a great character that deserves so much more than going to space!

5. Green Lantern #0: Questions run rampant in this origin tale of the latest Green Lantern — Simon Baz! Although forged by his religious beliefs, he is so much more than the shackles the government places on him for them! Cool character that may or may not be worthy of the ring upon his finger! Check out the full review!

Comic Book News

Review: X-O Manowar #4

After the bombastic assault Aric bestowed upon the Vine army last issue, there is some much needed “down time” between the pages of this one. Though the introspective look is not focused upon the time displaced Aric, but rather the cause of all his woes â€” the Vine themselves!

It has been said many times before that a hero is only as good as his villains make him out to be. Venditti continues to prove this statement true, as he expands upon the background of the Vine and how far their influence reaches into the Valiant Universe! Perfect pacing and well thought out characterization, has brought these cruelly simplistic villains to the forefront as truly diabolical beings. Ones that have grand schemes already in place for our hero and, more importantly, the entire human race!

Venditti and Nord continue to create refreshing, poignant stories that captivate readers in ways that haven’t been done since the silver age of comics. There is an excitement that exudes from the page, even during the most mundane of scenes, that enthralls the reader. It instills a sense of awe and wonderment that can make the most hardened of cynics a fan of comics again.

If Venditti can make a bunch of spider faced aliens a fearsome force to be reckoned with, hold onto your hats my friends, because issue five will blow you away! That’s right, it’s the return of one of the most lethal assassins around â€” Ninjak! Aric’s world is about to get a whole lot more complicated!

Comic Book News

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile for August 29th, 2012

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

( A weekly quick pick of the five titles that should reside at the top of your pull list. IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER! )

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2800:]]1. Locke and Key: Grindhouse (One-shot): Joe Hill continually creates one of the best and yet, one of the most underrated books out there! If you haven’t picked up this series yet, you are sorely missing out on a completely mesmerizing, hauntingly amazing book! Dive on in, but remember where you left your keys!

2. Justice League #12: A truly great story that completely outshines the hype it is getting over the cover. Check out my full review for all the details!

3. Uncanny X-Force #30: The “bad boys” take the child Apocalypse on a road trip to show him who he truly is! Cool tale that makes me want to see a “buddy” film starring Sabretooth and Daken!

4. Green Lantern Annual #1: This one will pave the way for the “Rise of the Third Army” arc that will hit all the GL books in the coming months! So, get out there and get ’em if you can! Some retailers ordered low due to the $4.99 tag price, but we don’t care about money! Right?

5. American Vampire #30: Holy schnikees! What is Pearl doing on that last page? Things are going to change in a big way in A.V. and you can thank Scott Snyder for that! It might not sell 80,000 copies Mr. Liefeld, but it damn well beats anything you’ve ever done!

Comic Book News

Advanced Review: Justice League #12

Everyone has been clamoring over the image of Superman and Wonder Woman in a passionate embrace that adorns the cover of Justice League #12. It has been donned here at the CBN offices as, “The kiss heard around the world!” But, is the hype regarding this image actually warranted? Does the book stand on it’s own merit, or is it just an afterthought overshadowed by the big, money grab cover?

I am pleased to say, that issue 12 has been one of the best books of this entire run! Rife with characterization, Johns and his army of artistic talent, have crafted an outstanding tale that is a solid foundation for all the pomp and circumstance that comes with it’s cover. One that finally shows, an often at odds group of heroes, meld into something they haven’t truly been before â€” a team! Relying on each other, seeing each other’s fears and overcoming them as a single unit, the Justice League solidifies itself just in time to see it all come crashing down. Subsequent events will forever change the dynamic of these heroes, but it is their journey together that makes this book worthwhile.

Johns has taken every essential aspect needed to craft the perfect tale, stirred them together and created something better than the sum of their parts. He both excites and moves us, from our rudimentary need for action to our longing to be understood by another â€” it is pitch perfect! And the cover, which will be eclipsed by the story within (trust me!), is just icing on the cake. Nothing can overshadow the frailty Johns bestows on his godlike characters. The least human of characters that can become the epitome of humanity in one single moment! Amazing!

This is my pick for best book of the week â€” hands down! Not for the kiss, but for what transpires to make the kiss occur.

Movie News Reviews

The State of Hollywood: 10 Best American Born Actors

The State of Hollywood 5 (b):

10 Best American Born Actors as of 2012

By: Lawrence Napoli

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It was a bit more difficult sorting through the men (Editor’s Note: compared to the women) to come up with a 10 â€œbest,â€ â€œcurrent,â€ and â€œAmerican born,â€ Hollywood actor list. Quite frankly, there are more opportunities for men in this business because those who control the means of production (writers, directors, producers) still happen to be men [who are also mostly white]. Iâ€™d like to forewarn the reader if he or she happens to be sensitive about their leading men because there will be noticeable absences on this list for the simple fact that obvious additions 10 years ago have somewhat dropped out of the game due to age, a loss of interest or (fill in the blank). NOT appearing on this list are notables: Hanks, Spacey, Travolta, Pacino, De Niro, Agents K and J, Malkovich and â€œJACKâ€ Nicholson. Oh, did I touch a nerve there? I believe you all know where to send your complaints.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2785:]]10) Jeff Bridges

Born: Los Angeles, California in 1949

Last major feature: True Grit and Tron: Legacy (2010)

Notable awards: 2010 SAG, Golden Globe and Academy Award for best actor in Crazy Heart

Highlights: Iron Man, K-Pax, The Contender, The Big Lebowski, The Fisher King, Tron, Last Picture Show

On a quick side note: if I could nominate the entire cast of The Big Lebowski I would (minus Tara Reid), but alas not everyone in that cast has had an opportunity to truly lead productions (though many have and Iâ€™m glad Buscemi is doing well in Boardwalk Empire). That being said, â€œThe Dudeâ€ is every bit as awesome as the nickname that made us forget heâ€™s just another Jeffrey Lebowski. Toss in the fact he didnâ€™t speak a single discernible word for the entirety of True Grit and still got an Oscar nomination for it shows us that even the Academy can appreciate Jeffâ€™s eccentricity. The manâ€™s a true Hollywood star and although he had no major releases last year, heâ€™s slated for two in 2013: R.I.P.D. and The Seventh Son.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2786:]]9) Brad Pitt

Born: Shawnee, Oklahoma in 1963

Last major feature: Moneyball (2011)

Notable awards: 2012 NSFC best actor in The Tree of Life and Moneyball and 1996 Golden Globe for best supporting actor in Twelve Monkeys

Highlights: Inglourious Basterds, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Snatch, Fight Club, Se7en, Legends of the Fall

Often maligned for his â€œpretty boyâ€ status, Pitt continues to show more seasoning as an actor these days as well as some smarter choices for the roles he signs up for. You kind of have to have more patience and discipline as an individual if you are the father of a family of 20. Say what you will about his acting ability, but his performances make the films heâ€™s been involved with MUCH more interesting. Unlike Tom Cruise, Pitt still has a real opportunity to win an Academy Award as an actor because he can sell more than just action flicks. Until then, heâ€™ll just have to remain envious of his wifeâ€™s Oscar.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2787:]]8) Lenardo DiCaprio

Born: Los Angeles, California in 1974

Last major feature: J. Edgar (2011)

Notable awards: 2005 Golden Globe for best actor in The Aviator

Highlights: Inception, Shutter Island, The Departed, Catch Me If You Can, Titanic, Romeo + Juliet

Ah Leo, another pretty boy makes the list, but this one happens to be one I formerly had a serious beef with concerning his status as the male version of Helen of Troy to all young women as a result of his work in Titanic. Had I been getting as lucky with the ladies as Leo had in general during the late 90s, perhaps Iâ€™d feel differently. However, his filmography speaks for itself as his recent work has definitely made me more of a believer. As Brad Pitt has shown a deeper commitment to character, so too has DiCaprio as he matures as a professional. Leo has a few years on Pitt to grab that Oscar, but itâ€™s a toss-up as to which one of them actually lands it first. His upcoming work for The Great Gatsby should be compelling enough for yet another nomination once it releases.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2788:]]7) Matt Damon

Born: Boston, Massachusetts in 1970

Last major feature: We Bought a Zoo (2011)

Notable awards: 1998 Golden Globe and Academy Award for best screenplay for Good Will Hunting

Highlights: The Adjustment Bureau, True Grit, Invictus, The Bourne Trilogy, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Rounders

Yes, the best heâ€™s managed so far for notable acting recognition is a number of nominations. The argument could easily be made that Good Will Hunting was such a phenomenal fluke that validated Damon and Affleckâ€™s existence on the Hollywood scene that it should come to no oneâ€™s surprise that he hasnâ€™t become the alpha actor he should be. To that I say Damon still makes this list even if GWH never existed. Sure, heâ€™d drop a few spots, but his work on the Bourne franchise is quite balanced between the action and drama. The chemistry he had with Emily Blunt on The Adjustment Bureau was inspiring. But it was the command he demonstrated throughout Rounders that proved he not only belonged in Hollywood, he could headline it.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2789:]]6) Denzel Washington

Born: Mount Vernon, New York in 1954

Last major feature: Safe House (2012)

Notable awards: 2002 Academy Award for best actor in Training Day, 1990 Golden Globe and Academy Award for best supporting actor in Glory, 2000 Golden Globe for best actor in The Hurricane

Highlights: The Book of Eli, American Gangster, DÃ©jÃ Vu, Man on Fire, Training Day, Philadelphia, Malcolm X, Glory

Easily the most decorated actor on this list; Denzel has accomplished just about everything a professional actor can aspire to in Hollywood land. Everything about this manâ€™s acting ability can be summarized in one word: intensity! The real question is whether age is starting to catch up to him seeing how his last outing with Ryan Reynolds didnâ€™t exactly fire up the critics in a positive way. I canâ€™t blame an alpha actor like Denzel for doing a paycheck film, but it does hurt his â€œcurrentâ€ and â€œrelevantâ€ status somewhat; thus his placement at #6.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2790:]]5) Philip Seymour Hoffman

Born: Fairport, New York in 1967

Last major feature: The Ides of March (2011)

Notable awards: 2006 SAG, Golden Globe and Academy Award for best actor in Capote

Highlights: Doubt, Capote, Cold Mountain, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Magnolia, The Big Lebowski

No, Mr. Hoffman does not make this list because of some â€œun-prettyâ€ quota. Heâ€™s a damn fine actor whose work extends well into the indie scene while still getting much deserved respect (and bank) from Hollywood. Few actors can be so effective in both comedic and serious roles but Philip has this in spades. His films tend to be a bit more cerebral in nature so his exposure to the average movie-goer may be limited. Yet, this man is a living, breathing example that performance can transcend looks (and thatâ€™s a BIG accomplishment amidst all the plastic of La La Land). He adds instant credibility to any cast and any production, but the smart choice is always to have him slide into a featured role because he can make the whole thing Oscar worthy.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2791:]]4) Edward Norton

Born: Baltimore, Maryland in 1967

Last major feature: The Bourne Legacy (2012)

Notable awards: 1997 Golden Globe for best supporting actor in Primal Fear

Highlights: The Incredible Hulk, The Illusionist, Death To Smoochy, The Score, Fight Club, American History X, Rounders

Is he a diva incapable of playing well with other marquee actors? Is his agent a money grubbing troll? Who knows the real â€œtruthâ€ behind the fact he was not a part of the epic cast of The Avengers because it certainly was NOT the result of poor acting. He certainly made me forget that Eric Bana practically murdered Marvelâ€™s big green machine in tandem with Ang Lee. Norton is as skilled as actors come. He was plain evil in American History X, yet plain loveable in Death To Smoochy. His skill cannot be questioned, but if he presents chemistry issues for oneâ€™s cast, that presents a legitimate concern. Perhaps Norton is just getting a bad rap as a result of gossip gone wild. However, if so much gossip is consistent over a period of time, there may be some truth to it.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2792:]]3) Morgan Freeman

Born: Memphis, Tennessee in 1937

Last major feature: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Notable awards: 2005 Academy Award for best supporting actor in Million Dollar Baby, 1990 Golden Globe for best actor in Driving Ms. Daisy

Highlights: The Dark Knight Trilogy, The Bucket List, Along Came a Spider, Se7en, The Shawshank Redemption, Unforgiven, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Glory

As the elder statesman of this list, Morgan Freeman continues to deliver impactful performances as an actor because he finds the roles that compliment his age rather than react against it. Of course, his iconic voice does much to extend his legacy as a marquee narrator (thus negating any ill effects of being â€œtoo oldâ€). Heâ€™s still more than capable of being the single feature to any production, but heâ€™s gravitating towards projects with strong ensemble casts. Heâ€™s won his Oscar so I canâ€™t argue with his approach to further cementing his legacy. I personally feel he was hosed for being overlooked by the Academy for his work on Shawshank, but then everyone that wasnâ€™t associated with Forrest Gump was overlooked in â€™95.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2793:]]2) Robert Downey Jr.

Born: New York City, New York in 1965

Last major feature: The Avengers

Notable awards: 2010 Golden Globe for best actor in a comedy for Sherlock Holmes, 1993 BAFTA for best actor in Chaplin

Highlights: Iron Man Trilogy, Sherlock Holmes, Tropic Thunder, A Scanner Darkly, Wonder Boys, Heart and Souls, Chaplin

(Iâ€™m not even going to mention the brilliance of Sherlock Holmes) How much money has this one individual made for Marvel Entertainment? An exact number would be difficult to come up with, but the fact that he is playing the role he was born to play in Tony Stark has a lot to do with Hollywoodâ€™s continued obsession with adapting comic book titles. Now letâ€™s totally forget his involvement with all things Avengers and look to the fact that he got nominated for best supporting actor for his work in Topic Thunder. Tropic Thunder!?!? Donâ€™t get me wrong; it was fairly funny, but he was the only good thing about that goofball comedy AND he got props from the Academy for doing so. This man has made â€œquirkyâ€ the new â€œsexy,â€ yet he isnâ€™t the king of quirk as that title belongs to â€¦

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2794:]]1) Johnny Depp

Born: Owensboro, Kentucky in 1963

Last major feature: Dark Shadows (2012)

Notable awards: 2008 Golden Globe for best performance in a musical for Sweeney Todd and nominated for just about everything else, yet never ultimately winning

Highlights: Pirates of the Caribbean Saga, Public Enemies, Finding Neverland, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, From Hell, Blow, The Ninth Gate, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Ed Wood, Edward Scissorhands

You do of course realize that had Johnny decided to sell out and become the teenie-bopper heart throb he was being groomed for, we would be talking about an actor with an inferior filmography and absolutely zero recognition from any notable authority in the field of acting proficiency. Heâ€™d also not be on this list at all. Yet, he still hasnâ€™t won one single Oscar despite so many nominations and other performances worthy of nomination. This reveals the inner quirk of Johnny Depp; a man determined to have his career play out the way he wants it. Depp has all the skills as he can produce any performance for any role. The only reason he doesnâ€™t have multiple Oscars is a direct result of the projects he chooses to commit to. Depp despises the mainstream as evidenced by the soul connection he shared with Hunter S. Thompson (of all people). There are so many Oscar winning actors, yet few have been as unique as individuals let alone the roles they became famous for as Depp. Frank Sinatra would be proud that heâ€™s â€œdoing it his way,â€ but I do see Oscar gold in Johnnyâ€™s future. Whatâ€™s really interesting is that an Oscar victory would not be seen as vindication for him personally. His acceptance speech would probably go something like: â€œThanks for this, but I have a fresh batch of opium at home with my name on it. Bye.â€ It could possibly be the best acceptance speech in the history of the Oscars for the simple fact it would finish way before the orchestra played him offstage.

Those are my 10 best leading men and women of todayâ€™s Hollywood who actually originate from this country. I completely understand how Hollywood is always looking for the next â€œhot, young thing,â€ but Australia isnâ€™t the only place they should be looking. I liken Cavillâ€™s role as Superman to that of Patrick Stewart becoming the new captain of The Enterprise. Stewart rose above the pressure and scrutiny of such ambition because his performances were simply amazing for every episode and every film. All Cavill has to do is match that type of performance for one money and then maybe Americans will accept a Brit as the one who stands for truth, justice and so on and so forth.

Movie News Reviews

The State of Hollywood 5: Hollywood’s 10 Best Actresses Today

The State of Hollywood:

Movie News Reviews

Casey’s Dune Hollywood Film Draft: Cameron, Stewart, Hemsworth, Connery, Nicholson

(Editor’s Note: The following is part of The First Cosmic Book News Fantasy Hollywood Draft)

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By: Casey Gordon

Director: James Cameron â€“ Jimmy C, as I like to refer to him, is a relatively well known director, responsible for such cult hits and underrated classics like The Abyss, Titanic, and Avatar. Now, can he handle Dune? Good question. I think the answer is yes. He has dealt with licenses in several of his past productions, such as the Titanic (that one museum place owns it maybe, but I mean, he didnâ€™t make it up. The Titanic hit an ice cube and sank. Oops), Rambo, and Aliens. And that group turned out well enough. Perhaps his biggest hits were mostly his creations, like Avatar, and not sourced from elsewhere, but that doesnâ€™t mean he canâ€™t make Dune. Referencing Avatar again, that film also showed that he could lead a team to create a believable (if youâ€™re into believing stuff) alien world, and then bring it to life. And maybe sand doesnâ€™t sound exciting. But it is. Or maybe I should have picked Peter Jackson. But then the already long walking across Arrakis would become even longer. And Jimmy Câ€™s milkshakes bring all the boys to the theatres.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2737:]]Gurney Halleck? Well, Patrick Stewart of course. What? You say he already has done it? DAMN RIGHT! And he hasnâ€™t really changed at all. And the man is a muse. And he knows how to use a sword. Iâ€™m not going to explain it any more either. So there.

Duncan Idaho. He was a pretty cool guy. Until he died (OR DID HE? He did. But not really). But he is the Swordmaster in residence, the ladies loved him, and he killed record amounts of the Emperorâ€™s Sardaukar. He is Chis Hemsworth. I mean, this is the role for him to play, look at his role as Thor, or the Huntsman (decent, but that movieâ€¦I shake my head). He can easily be a warrior who enjoys his Spice beer a bit too much, but can easily hold his own in a fight. He could do it.

Stilgar. Heâ€™s the stalwart leader of Sietch Tabr. The leader of the desert nomads; the Fremen. And he is Sean Connery. He is at the age where he can command respect, but has the appearance of one who has fought for many hard years in the past before he reached this place. And while he may be old, the fight hasnâ€™t left him yet. Is he retired from acting? Not when he hears of his casting. A proper crazy Ivan this will be.

Baron Harkonnen will be Jack Nicholson. Now maybe he isnâ€™t fat enough to be in a suspensor suit, but minor detail. He certainly has villainy under his [[wysiwyg_imageupload:2738:]]control, such as the commanding Colonel Jessup, the crazed Jack Torrance, or the dastardly Daryl van Horn. All of whom have characteristics that would combine to make one fantastic Baron. A sadistic, scheming old man with everything he needs, but nonetheless has lust for ever more power.

Next up is Tom Felton as the Sting. I mean Tom Felton as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. Tom Felton is mainly known for one role, that of Draco Malfoy, which is how he came into consideration for this role. He has had plenty of practice at being a bad guy, but as an accessory to the main evil, not as his own menace, which is almost exactly what Feyd is. He can act the haughty heir, raised the sadistic heir of the Harkonnen family, as he did for the Malfoys. And while we all know what happens at the end, until that point, heâ€™s had this role for 10 years. Now let it be used for a better franchise.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2739:]]The Lady Jessica is Cate Blanchett. The Lady Jessica is a respected role. She is the mother of Paul Muadâ€™dib, the concubine of Duke Leto Atreides, and a Reverend Mother of the Fremen. She is in almost a regal position in the world of Dune. And Cate Blanchettâ€™s filmography has helped prepare her for the role, as Queen Elizabeth I, Galadriel, and Katherine Hepburn. And all of those roles are of powerful, regal women, as is the Lady Jessica.

And finally we come to Paul Muadâ€™dib Atreides. To be cast as Paul is Josh Hutcherson. Hutcherson has had a solid acting career since the age of 10. Most recently, he was cast in the Hunger Games in the leading position as Peeta Somelastnameoranother. And with that, he can become Paul. And while he might have been beaten up a bit in that film, he would kick way more ass on Dune. And he could do it. Heâ€™s a strong young actor, and this would cement his place in history. In addition, it seems that his hair could be styled the same way that MacLachlan had his hair as Paul in the 1984 Dune film directed by David Lynch. Because that is the official Atreides heirstyle (get it?).

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The Spice must flow . . . again!

Comic Book News

Stephen King’s new short story, “Batman and Robin have an altercation,” will debut from Harper’s Magazine on 8/28/12!

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The September issue of Harper’s Magazine, hitting shelves on 8/28/12, will feature a brand new short story from the “master of horror” — Stephen King! Although the tale is titled, “Batman and Robin have an altercation,” it has nothing to do with the “Dynamic Duo” in any way. Rather, it is about a middle-aged man dealing with his Alzheimer’s afflicted father.

For three years, Sanderson has taken his father to lunch every week, to the same place and has had the same exact conversation. Until one day, while being brutally assaulted, Sanderson is saved by his father. A single moment of clarity after years of confusion, one that might change reality as they both know it!

Though the issue doesn’t hit shelves for five more days, you can subscribe to Harper’s Magazine and read it now! But, if you want a little more information before you buy, here is an excerpt for your viewing pleasure. Courtesy of Harper’s Magazine.

Batman and Robin have an altercation

By Stephen King

Sanderson sees his father twice a week. On Wednesday evenings, after he closes the jewelry store his parents opened long ago, he drives the three miles to Crackerjack Manor and sees Pop there, usually in the common room. In his â€œsuite,â€ if Pop is having a bad day. On most Sundays, Sanderson takes him out to lunch. The facility where Pop is living out his final foggy years is actually called the Harvest Hills Special Care Unit, but to Sanderson, Crackerjack Manor seems more accurate.

Movie News Reviews

The Expendables 2 Movie Review

Yo G.I. Geriatric Joe!

A Film Review of The Expendables 2

By: Lawrence Napoli

Wow, these guys look old now, but I really enjoyed the first Expendables film. The reason (and I do mean only 1 reason) I relished in it was its particular blend of nostalgia with awe over the fact that so many marquee action stars were united in their efforts to shoot, maim, explode and knife their way into our hearts in one, contained, Hollywood production. The Expendables 2 attempts to do this once again by featuring an influx of additional marquee action talent to this franchise with the presence of Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris [no, Liam Hemsworth a.k.a. Mr. Miley Cyrus doesn’t count even if he happens to be the real life brother of Thor!]. Once the final credits rolled, I shrugged my shoulders and admitted that I had certainly seen worse, but was glad that I used my free Regal Cinemas pass for admission as opposed to actual cash. The sequel to The Expendables falls prey to the common syndrome of “going-through-the-motions mediocrity” because everything the audience sees has been done by the same people in the previous film. I dare say that even animating Mr. Norris’ beard to punch someone in the face (of its own accord) could not have generated enough charming intrigue to justify dropping bills to see this film. As such, I’d only recommend this as a Netflix/On Demand rental or in 7 months time from now when it’s playing back-to-back-to-back on FX.

And that’s it for my review.

No, just kidding. I have a few other things to say.

You know what was really missing from The Expendables 2? Acting was missing. Now before you all pan me for criticizing a muscle bound, meat-head of an action/explosion blockbuster for lacking decent performances, let me explain. If all it took was muscles, then any ”˜roided out bum could be a Hollywood star. What made the action stars of The Expendables legendary was the ability to produce performances to make audiences care about their characters throughout their careers. If no one ever cared, no one would cheer for the hero and action films would be pointless. If I need to explain why the audience cared for the likes of John McClane, Rocky/Rambo and even a reprogrammed Terminator then there’s no hope for you. Realizing this, however, is the key to unlocking the secret of making a great movie (let alone action film). The first Expendables had three such examples of performances generating empathy: 1) Mickey Rourke’s overall performance as Tool, 2) Jason Statham’s (Lee Christmas’) side story with his girlfriend and 3) Giselle ItiÃ© as the daughter of the evil/wanna-be-reformed warlord. Stallone, Crews, Couture, Li and Lundgren are there to kick a$$ and blow sh*t up and guess what? The same holds true for the sequel minus the aforementioned quality acting. There is no Mickey Rourke this time around, Jason Statham’s role is severely reduced and the quota filling presence of a woman was bequeathed to Nan Yu who only manages a valiant attempt at being seductive and sympathetic.

Failed performances are the fault of shoddy directing, but all things being equal, I did not envy Simon West’s (Con Air & The Mechanic) task in telling so many alpha males where to go and what to do. Perhaps it takes an action star to relate to action stars? Say what you will about Stallone as a filmmaker, but you cannot deny the savvy of his specialty. His work as the director of the first Expendables is severely overlooked in getting the most out of his larger than life cast. Stallone was so personally invested at just about every level of production for the first film that it not only showed in his performance, but in the rest of the cast as well. The sequel features too many hands in the cookie jar and everyone was looking to kick back, Ocean’s Twelve style.

Another culprit of this sequel’s fizzling is easy to identify: the writing. Let’s just say if people’s brains were exploding over the plot gaps and convenient twists in The Dark Knight Rises, people will certainly be convinced that the world is flat after seeing The Expendables 2. Such is the randomness of most of the plot and action of this film, but the worst part about it was the complete lack of character development between films. No one seems to have learned a lesson in regards to their lives or how they approach their dangerous jobs. They all fight like they want to live, but shouldn’t they be getting more help or even using a little something I’d call strategy to win? I thought these guys were pros and the only way to survive the lifestyle of a professional mercenary is to adapt and evolve.

And speaking of “evolution,” the action and effects for this film demonstrate a lack thereof. Expendables 2 continues to feature animated kill shots to accentuate physics defying brutality so often that it started to feel like I was watching a Bugs Bunny cartoon. Can someone’s head really be taken off with a thrown knife? Since Jet Li is featured even less than Jason Statham, the lack of choreographed fisticuffs places too much of the action burden on gunplay which isn’t particularly diverse seeing how everyone sticks to the same weapons they have from the beginning. I was pleased to see the return of Terry Crews’ popular automatic shotgun, but it makes the same exact sound from the first film and I swear it looked like the audio dub for the sound f/x was not in sync with the video of that gun firing. If there’s one thing you could count on for a movie like this, it would be the explosions, right? Even those seemed a tad muffled as they didn’t come close to the amalgam of auditory chaos that wreaked havoc on the audience in the previous film. Don’t get me wrong, the body count was very impressive and blood was gushing galore, but I simply could not describe the action as intense and certainly not as good as Expendables 1.

Liam Hemsworth does not belong in this movie. He is not his brother (who, by the way, is still coming into his own). His presence is a shameless attempt to money-grab some attention from teenage girls who know about Miley Cyrus and The Hunger Games.

The Expendables 2is very average as far as action films go, but the names tied to this franchise generates the kind of buzz a film like this normally does not enjoy. If this franchise has a future, it had better consider being a better action film before adding Clive Owen, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, Steven Segal and the ghost of Brandon Lee to its roster. Simply adding the cast of The Avengers to The Expendables won’t yield a better movie or some additive boon at the box office. It will, however, expose your franchise as a one trick pony that can’t do much else besides name dropping.

Comic Book News

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile for August 21st, 2012

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

( A weekly quick pick of the five titles that should reside at the top of your pull list. IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER! )

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2642:]]1. Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom #1( of 4): There is no better way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of one of the coolest pulp heroes ever created than with â€” Mark Waid and Chris Samnee! Pull on your helmet and strap on your jet-pack, this is going to be one exhilarating ride!

2. Super Crooks #4( of 4): Mark Millar’s amazing mini, about a group of costumed villains hitting their biggest score, comes to it’s stunning conclusion tomorrow! This one has enough surprises and twists that even M. Night Shyamalan is jealous!

3. Before Watchman: Dr. Manhattan #1( of 4): J.Michael Straczynski and Adam Hughes create a metaphysical melody of a tale that will leave you pondering just about every moment of your life. This thought provoking story is the closest thing anyone will ever get to the original, Alan Moore, Dr. Manhattan. Well, unless Mr. Moore decides to write about him again. I won’t hold my breath!

4. Justice League Dark #12: Since Jeff Lemire took over this book, it has been on fire! Vertigo fans can rejoice with the return of Neil Gaiman’s Timothy Hunter and the House of Secrets! But, all is not what it seems and our heroes stand divided against a barrage of ancient baddies that could spell the end of all existence! Brilliant!

5. Fables #120: This is one of the most well done comics on the shelves each and every month! And the, Cubs In Toyland, storyline has been horrifically tender, jarring and completely disturbing! If you are looking for something that will move you with each page â€” this is it!

Comic Book News

Advanced Review: The Walking Dead #101

After the shockingly horrific events taking place in issue #100, Robert Kirkman gives us a somewhat cathartic issue this week to let us recover.

Although the characters, and we the readers, are still reeling from what happened to Glenn, there is no rest for the wicked. The pace is one of adrenaline fueled panic, which is exactly what the characters are feeling, but it rushes directly into a mediocre story. There is no time to flush out what these characters are going through, no contemplation regarding what to do and forgiveness given too freely to each other. The fleshing out of characters and their emotional distress is what The Walking Dead is known for, but these aspects seemed to be glazed over in this issue in order to make room for the next big surprise waiting around the corner.

Don’t get me wrong, the issue has merit and some well done scenes, but the pace is just way too fast. The connections between characters and the “little” moments seemed to loose their pull on the heartstrings the way they usually do â€” and it was sorely missed. The “Something To Fear” storyline has been one of the best overall arcs to this tremendous book, issue #101 is just the weakest link.

Cosmic Book News

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Batman and Robin have an altercation

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