(Movie) Why so complicated? A look at Fallen Angels

This film was recommended by Paz (pazvsstuff.blogspot.co.uk) Thanks Paz! 

After last week's review of Chungking Express, I made a friend in Paz and she looked over the review. Naturally, her response was that we can't be friends, but she was obviously kidding, otherwise I wouldn't be doing the review she recommended. 

The question is, did this movie redeem Wong Kar-Wai in my eyes?

Let's review!

Story/Dialogue: Like its predecessor, Fallen Angels is set into two parts. The first story follows a hitman who gets his jobs from a woman who cleans his house. She has a crush on him but he can't reciprocate, as he ends up with a blonde. This leads us into the second story, where she finds out about 'Blondie' and we're introduced to a mute escaped convict who is hiding out with his father. For work, he breaks into other people's businesses and treats it as his own, often physically forcing people to buy his wares. 

The story in this sequel (In a lot of ways, that's what Fallen Angels is,) is a lot more cohesive and it tends to jump back and forth between the characters, which is something I really appreciated. When I get involved with a film, I like knowing who my characters are in the beginning and why I should care about them. Though the ex-con was introduced later, he was introduced in a subtle fashion and woven into the narrative a lot better than the characters in the previous movie. 

I found the characters likeable, if somewhat ridiculous (Perhaps that's why I liked them,) and found the story a lot more engaging than Chungking. Though it has a few references to the first movie, it could be classed as a stand alone if you've never seen Chungking Express. 

Cinematography: Wong Kar-Wai's handheld style feels a lot better in this story, giving us a fly on the wall perspective and letting us look at people from angles that we'd never consider. This gives the shot an out of place look, which shows our character's discomfort in some instances, or makes them feel small in others.

There was a scene filmed an ice cream truck which I found funny as there were people packed in like sardines and you could practically feel the discomfort of the tight space.

I also really enjoyed the film's shots on the roads. Sometimes it'd up or lower the frame rate, depending on the atmosphere and it worked really well in terms of story.

Audio: The tracks of this film really set the atmosphere. From jaunty, jazzy beats to distant sounds of nightclubs, you always got the feel of Hong Kong nightlife. Even its pockets of people listening to individual tracks that didn't feel as though fit in actually worked out well to represent how a person feels in the midst of their experiences. 

The subs were well written, and easily understood.

Overall: Yet again I was pleasantly surprised this week. Fallen Angels ended up being a lot better than I expected. There was a lot more structure to the story and it was a lot easier to follow. While in some cases the acting was a bit ridiculous and the narration kind of bugged me, (Though it was necessary for the mute,) overall, this movie was a delight to watch. 

5 Stars.

(Movie) Assassin's Creed...a look at In Bruges

This movie was recommended by Terri Jacobs. Thanks Terri!

In Bruges stars Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes. When it first came out, I remember seeing Mr. Farrell on Letterman promoting it and talking about how much he enjoyed the experience.

The question is however, is the movie any good?

Let's review!

Story/Dialogue: The story follows Ray and his mentor Ken as they hide out in Bruges for two weeks after an assassination. While Ken embraces the almost fairytale-esque atmosphere, Ray regards the place with utter distaste. Throughout their visit, Ray falls for Chloe, a young drug dealer who doubles as a production assistant, fights her ex boyfriend Eirik and makes friends with a drug abusing racist little person named Jimmy. He throws himself into all of this as a way to cope with the fact that he accidentally shot a little boy during the assassination.

The story here alone was enough to draw me in, but the way it progresses and shows why Ray's so angry throughout the film shifts the tone rather drastically, especially during the funnier scenes. I found Ray to be another likeable asshole in film (I think I might have to do a list for my YouTube channel). Getting in and out of trouble while talking about what other people would perceive as utter nonsense leaves you laughing and not being sure why. But those more dramatic scenes contrast so heavily that in a lot of ways, they feel out of place. As they add more to the story, though, it adds context and have reason for being.

The dialogue was fantastic, with the banter between Ray and the people he interacts with making you laugh. Furthermore, there are instances where you find yourself laughing and going, "Is this how real assassins behave?!" There's one scene where two assassins are in a standoff with a pregnant hotel owner in between them. They sit and talk while the owner is sitting there, "If you're not going to shoot someone, F&*K OFF!" It was brilliant. Broke the tension appropriately.

Cinematography: In Bruges captures a lot of the city's beauty, with sweeping establishing shots and tight framing. Using a movie set to make use of night shots was a really great idea. The parts where they're on something doesn't really look as though they're on anything, but the banter makes up for that. It was interesting seeing how things were framed. There were moments where Ray and Ken are framed right in the middle and it doesn't feel boring to look at, which I found fascinating, but never worked out why.

Audio: The music varied from classical to almost having a real gypsy vibe going on. While it fit the movie well, it wasn't overly memorable and I couldn't find myself buying the Original Soundtrack.


Overall: In Bruges was an unexpected surprise. I found it compelling with likeable characters and a tragic backstory. In a lot of ways, it was like a fairytale, but the ending left you feeling as though you were waking up.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and would happily watch it again.

5 Stars.

(Comic) O' Captain, my Captain....a look at Captain Marvel Vol. 1

Can I just say first that going through the comics on Googleplay (I download my comics, for ease of access,) that the comments frustrated me.

"Captain Marvel will always be a man to me."

"Hated this. Captain Marvel shouldn't be a woman."

We had this with Thor as well.

So when reading, always remember to retain an open mind.

This incarnation of Captain Marvel is the 7th in a line of Captain Marvels and I'll say this too: Carol Danvers isn't the first female Captain Marvel.

All I'm asking is that you open your minds a little more.

Now that I've had my two cents, let's have a look at the comic.



The story is set with Carol Danvers on earth, living in the crown of the Statue of Liberty. Feeling that she's gotten herself into a rut, she misses the adventure and excitement of the unknown.

So, she tells her significant other, James 'Rhodey' Rhodes that she's going to space.

He supports her decision and tells her that he'll be here when she returns.

Carol's mission in space is to return a young Nowlian named Tic to her new home on Torfa. She does this with the help of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

When they arrive, they receive news that the refugees are getting sick and dying. The King of Spartax and Star Lord's father, J'son, is trying to move the healthy off world and leaving the rest to die.

But there's more to this than meets the eye and Carol, Avenger of Earth and Galactic representative, will do all she can to save the refugees and find out if something is causing the sickness.

DeConnick's writing is sharp and sassy, with a lot of moments where you find yourself laughing out loud. It also shows Carol Danvers as a well rounded woman who, while she was not the ideal pick for the task Tic had posed, proves that she can get the job done, regardless.

Danvers is likeable and I really like the relationships she develops as the story progresses.

DeConnick shows that including all genders, binary and non is an easy task and shows it tastefully.

The art in this comic shows the characters with sharp edges, as though they were drawn with a razor blade, while the backgrounds contrast with rounded edges and a sort of, hazy look, as though you were looking at them in the middle of a desert on a hot day.

It's a nice contrast and I really enjoy the style.

Overall, I don't understand what everyone's beef was with this comic.

If you're going to judge a piece of art, you judge it based on the quality of story and art, not hating on it because it doesn't fill those needs of nostalgia.

Please, I implore you, give this a read with an open mind. It's well worth it.

5 stars.

(Comic) Something's fishy....a look at Aquaman: Sub Diego vol. 1

The story opens on a panda underwater. I have to admit that it's the first time I've been surprised by an opening.

Turns out part of San Diego has been submerged in water and the people there have developed gills in a case of rapid evolution. Aquaman's job is to save lives and find out the source of people developing gills.

He makes a friend in a young woman named Lorena, who I really enjoyed as a character. She's strong willed, but has a lot to learn about leading people.

But more importantly, it showed that Arthur was born to lead.

(Prepare for paragraphs on the justification of Aquaman's general awesomeness.)

Now you might be wondering, in comparison to Superman, what's a king to a god? In regards to Wonder Woman, what's a King to a goddess? In regards to Batman, what's a god to a man?

I hear a lot of talk about how lame Aquaman is and a lot of people don't recognise how important it is to be king. Superman and Wonder Woman have to look out for the good of the people, yet you'll find that even though they're good folk in their own right, there's a severe disconnection that comes with power. Unless they were to lose their powers, they don't really connect with humans that well.

By the same token, Batman is the most relatable in a lot of ways (we won't discuss how the power of money makes him nigh invulnerable,) being a man and plunging his hands into the filth of Gotham city to try and make it a better place.

Aquaman is one of those go between characters. It even shows in his biology. He interacts with people on both land and sea and between god and man. He is a leader and arguably a better diplomat than most.

Now that I think about it, maybe that's the real reason that people don't like Aquaman, because people don't like politicians.

But I digress.

Seeing Aquaman fight for people who are now under his care shows his true potential as a diplomat, crime fighter and king.

Furthermore, it's exciting to see the big bad as a background character. You don't really know who they are, but it's really cool to see them pulling the strings.

The art in Sub Diego is beautiful and captures the vastness of the ocean perfectly.

For example, THE BUBBLES! Seriously, if you don't read this for the story, look at it for the art.

Look, the fact of the matter is, this comic is worth reading.

The characters are likeable, the art is awesome and the story is a start to a great arc.

I'm going to give this 4 and a half stars.

Many thanks to Josh Crump over at Gotham Knights Fan Films for this recommendation! Go give their page a like!

https://www.facebook.com/GothamKnightsFanFilms

(Movie) Concrete Jungle...a look at Chungking Express

Thanks to Maia (uzuyucky.tumblr.com) for the recommendation

I think in terms of the movies that I've seen, this is the first one that I really struggled with watching. Understand that it has nothing to do with the fact that it's foreign, but the fact that it's an unconventional story.

As a writer who loves character driven story, it was really difficult for me to get a proper grasp of the story. Thank goodness for Wikipedia, am I right?

In any case, let's review!

Story/Dialogue: This film contains two stories. The first is about a cop by the name of He Qiwu, who had his ex break up with him on April Fool's day chasing a woman for a platonic relationship. They meet and spend time with each other before he takes her to a hotel so she can sleep. The woman in question happens to be a smuggler and shoots the drug baron who screwed her over the next day. She then wishes him a happy birthday via message from the hotel that they stayed at, which leads into the second story.

Faye Wong works at the takeout shop that He Qiwu and another cop, designation 663 frequent on their beat.
663 is dealing with a breakup of his own with a flight attendant and the more time he spends at the takeout spot, Faye ends up liking him. Later on the stewardess comes by to give the cop his spare keys to his apartment. Faye uses the key to break into his room and try and improve 663's life. Eventually he figures out she's breaking into his apartment and asks her on a date. She doesn't show and 663 finds out that she's gone to California as a final move before settling down.
She returns to find the takeaway shop is now owned by 663, who is renovating the takeaway shop into a restaurant. They exchange words and there's mention of a boarding pass she drew him a year ago. She writes him a new one and asks him where he wants to go. He replies that he'll go wherever she suggests. The movie finishes there.

Part of the reason I wrote out the over arcing story is that there's no resolution, no real mystery. We, the audience are taking a peek into the window of these people's little worlds. When I say story in regards to Chungking express, I use the term loosely.

The dialogue is heavy with prose, with personifications of towels and apartments. Characters speak their minds, yet the plot doesn't move further when they say things.


Cinematography: The better part of this film is looking at crazy camera angles and wondering at their significance. Or whether there's any point to the closeups that Wong Kar Wai uses. With his use of stop motion and crazy jump cuts, he recreated the crazy Hong Kong atmosphere and made it visually overwhelming to watch.

There were nice beats where we focused on something for a few moments to allow our eyes to rest, but visually this film is one that you'd have to watch again and again to take it all in.

Audio: One song that features in this film frequently is California Dreamin' by the Mamas and the Papas, but interestingly, I was captivated by the Cantonese cover of Dreams by the Cranberries. This aside the film mainly consisted of smooth jazz, the kind you'd expect out of a Dick Tracy comic.


Overall: This movie has received fantastic reviews for those that it's touched upon. I liken it to Sarsaparilla. One of those things where you either like it or you don't.

What annoys me is that while I sort of see what Wong Kar Wai was going for, I found the movie dull. Perhaps I didn't get it, but I wasn't all that drawn in to the visual aspects because I couldn't keep track of the story.

While I respect the work put into it, I wasn't a fan.

3 stars.

(Movie) Comedy for Cynics....a look at the Royal Tenenbaums

This recommendation comes from Jessica (meetmeinmontavk.tumblr.com)

I remember seeing the beginning of this movie when I was younger. It was late at night and I could recall that everyone in the movie was sad and eccentric.

At the time, I went to bed.

Now, many years later, I've watched it again. I'm older, somewhat wiser and have a stronger grasp on the quality of film.

So even though I was reviewing it, did I once again want to enter the embrace of my mattress instead of watching this film?

Let's review!!!

Story/Dialogue: The Tenenbaums are a family of eccentric geniuses with an estranged father and a mother immersed in her work. Each of the kids Chas, Margot and Richie are experiencing post success funks. Carrying their personal hurts and quirks, they move back into their childhood home to reassess their lives. On top of this, their dad comes back into their lives with the intent of being a part of it and trying to be a real father.

What's interesting about this story is how the family is well rounded and dysfunctional they are as characters. A Bob's Burgers before there was a Bob's Burgers, if you will. Each of them has a different relationship with their father and seeing it develop over the movie is fascinating to watch.

The dialogue is poignant, yet humorous, which is often how I'd imagine most people would feel if they have Christmas with their families.

There are a lot of moments where you find yourself laughing in the same way you'd laugh at a good memory you have of a friend you're no longer friends with.

In terms of story, it's well written and I enjoy the characters in all their crazy eccentric glory. Even the Narrator, whom I'd normally dislike just because narration in a visual movie would frustrate me, actually enhanced the quality of the film, which was a nice change.

Cinematography: One of the things that most surprised me most (and as this is the second Wes Anderson film I've watched,) is the fascination with symmetry that Mr. Anderson (HAH!) has. Everything is in the centre of each third and a lot of shots include characters stood in the three separate parts of the frame.
Each image is ordered and has this odd filter that feels like you're watching a Beatles documentary from the 60's.
There are some fantastic shots, especially the tracking shots of Richie's bird, Mordecai, that appeal to me.


Audio: A lot of the tracks that feature in this film are acoustic, including a variation of the Beatles', "Hey Jude." Music in Wes Anderson films tend to be acoustic and, for want of a better phrase, "fluffy." It actually both contrasts and enhances the film as a whole, which I found surprising.
The sound department is to be commended, as its work in the audio layering is well done and feels natural. Each of the characters say their lines clearly and concisely, even when they're being quiet.

Audibly, the film was pleasant to listen to.

Overall: The film hits this spot in your chest that makes you want to cry to the point where you're not sure whether or not you find something funny or sad.

The story is cohesive and set in chapters, so it's easy to follow. Each of the characters are quirky, yet likeable and more importantly, redeemable.

Cinematically, we see the sets in bright or pastel colours that contrast with the dark woods and the frames being incredibly orderly to the point where the cameraman might have OCD (Or CDO, if you need all the letters in the right order.)

Audibly, we have tracks from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, amongst various other acoustic soundbites.

Overall, the movie is pleasant and you leave the film feeling satisfied, not as though you have closure, but as best as you probably could get.

I'm going to give this film 5 stars.

Thus ends this review!

(Comic) Unlikely friends...a look at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Avengers Vol. 1

The Guardians of the Galaxy and Iron Man team up?

Oh hell yes. 

As a part of the new Marvel Now relaunch, all of the series have new stories so that the current audience don't have to read through a library's worth of comics to know the lore. 

In this first volume, Peter Quill, better known as Star Lord, has been ordered by his father, the King of Spartax to stay away from Earth with the threat of arrest. 

Quill, whose backstory we see at the beginning, ignores his father's orders after the Badoon attack Earth.

What's strange about this story is that it abruptly switches to moments in which Quill is trying to get the band back together. Frankly, this is kind of jarring for someone who is only establishing themselves in comics.

The dialogue is funny with each of the characters bringing their own kind of humour to the table. Introducing Iron Man into GotG, he learns the Groot can only speak three words and trying to interact with Drax is....tricky, to say the least. 

The art style, though it changes depending on what part of the backstory occurs, is beautifully detailed and if it were animated, the angles in the panels look dynamic and create an action packed scene that blend well with the humour. 

I liked seeing Stark interact with the GotG and he seems to fit in quite well, though I often wonder how he charges his suit in space.

In the end, while the story was interesting, the fact it was as jumbled as it was left me feeling confused. I had no knowledge of the lore prior to reading (except for the movie,) so it was a bit tricky to make heads and tails of it. The art style changing kind of threw me off as well. 

Also, what's with the page breaks saying, "please turn to next page?" what's with this hand holding garbage?!

With this in mind, I've decided to give this comic 4 stars. 

(Movie) You're waiting for a train....a look at Snowpiercer

This review was requested by Sara Cooper. Thanks Sara! 

This was one of the first movies I watched before I started getting involved with Film School.

Released in America a year after its initial release due to the company owning the license requesting editing to the film with the director denying that, Snowpiercer is one of those films that captures your attention. What is not commonly known is that is an adaptation from a French graphic novel titled, "Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette."

Without further ado, let's review.

This review shall contain no spoilers.

Story/Dialogue: Set in a distant future where the world has suffered nuclear winter, the remnant's of the world's population lives on a train known as the Snowpiercer. It's a capitalist society, where the further down the train cars you go, the more terrible things get.

Enter Curtis, a slave who seeks to revolt by reaching the front of the train with his ragtag group of followers.

As the movie progresses, you see how different the rest of the train cars are.

What's more, there's a lot of secrets hidden on this train. Ones you never expect to witness.

The dialogue isn't over the top, but some scenes felt a little forced. I can't say which ones as it contains spoilers, however.

The film has a way of making you invested in these characters and rooting for them, which is something that most films struggle with these days. (Ala Age of Ultron.)

Not knowing it was an adaptation prior to this review, I would have said it's one of the better original stories I'd witnessed.

Cinematography: Oh man, the set pieces on this film are insane! They make it look as though they're shooting in tight quarters and it feels as though the stakes are high, especially in moments like the New Year scene.

One of the best things about the editing in this is that there is actually a reason for all the choppy cuts during action scenes. It's chaos with loads of people fighting in tight quarters.


Audio: Oddly, this audio makes me think a lot of Bioshock. With that said, it wasn't overly memorable. The dubbing, especially for the Korean, was fantastic.


Overall: Snowpiercer is one of those diamonds in the rough. The cast give a great performance, though the ending left me with loads of questions. The setting integrated beauty and a visceral disgusting element that struck me as horrifying and fascinating.

I give this movie 5 stars.

(Movie) Tapped out...a look at Half Nelson

This movie was recommended by Jessica (meetmeinmontavk.tumblr.com)

I was discussing Blue Valentine with Jessica last week and she suggested that I take a look at this film, as it was the movie that showed Ryan Gosling's true acting potential. 

I'm inclined to agree. 

But, how does it rate?

Let's review! 

Story/Dialogue: Half Nelson follows Dan Dunne, a history teacher using an unusual method of teaching called didactics. Teaching a class of African American kids, he's well liked amongst the students and teachers, but the Principal is not a fan as they are of different teaching styles. 

He's also a cocaine addict. 

When Drey, one of his students finds him in the bathroom stoned, she helps him and they establish an unlikely friendship. 

Drey is a teenage girl with a single mum who works and a brother in prison for dealing drugs. His former employer, Frank (Portrayed by Anthony Mackie) tries to recruit her into the business, while Dan tries to mentor her and be her friend as well as her teacher.

The main theme of Half Nelson is change and the collision of opposites. Throughout the film, we see this theme reinforced. What's more, the film's rewatchability shows that this film can be analysed over and over so you can see the many examples of the theme being portrayed. (I'll cover those in the next section.)

The dialogue is easy to understand, though not everything is straight forward in the speech. Like, you're not going to have someone who asks for help straight up, they need to beat around the bush. To admit your deepest fear is the turning point.

While I don't want to give away spoilers, I also would like to point out that his addiction is never resolved. However, I don't think this would be the same movie if it had been resolved. This is about current conflict in the self and the world around the characters, not the resolution of said conflict.

Cinematography: Most of the scenes are shot handheld, which gives us an intimate atmosphere to what we witness. We're less of an audience and more of a bystander that is mostly ignored.

There are instances of dolly use, such as when Dan is going for a morning run, but it's not used often.

As you watch, you'll notice that the theme of change and conflict of opposing forces is shown visually throughout the film. This includes:

- Skin colour

- Age
- Class
- Profession

- Mentors

- Relationships

This occurs both internally and externally and it's all shown on screen.

Audio: Though not overly memorable, the music is the kind of tracks you would hear on the street. It feels natural. It's not as though you'd hear Hans Zimmer or John Williams at a restaurant or on a street corner, but this score and library audio combination feels right at home on the streets of NY.

The sound department did a fantastic job in making sure that the atmos tracks were well layered and didn't conflict with any of the dialogue.

Overall: While I'm not a big fan of the white saviour trope in films (See Elysium and such movies like that,) I did enjoy how immersive this film was. I felt that rather than simply watching it, I was a part of it. 

Ryan Gosling really stood out in this role and felt real somehow. In the other movies I've seen, he's often been disconnected from the film or has been Ryan Gosling pretending to be someone else. In this film, he was Dan Dunne. 

I loved Drey as a character. She's smart, sassy, but she's also prone to making mistakes, which only made me like her more. She's organic and her development as a character is really interesting to watch.

Overall, I give this movie 5 stars. 

(Book) Viking Shenanigans...a look at Sons of Odin Book 2: A Flame Put Out.

The Vikings are at it again!

Erin S. Riley's look at a young woman in a world of harsh, yet beautiful people from a harsh, yet beautiful land continues.

Selia is adjusting to life as the wife of a Hersir. She finds comfort in her routine, but when her husband Alrik leaves to go a-viking, everything goes downhill from there.

One of the things I loved about this book is how it never lets up. You have babies being born, people dying, dangerous characters being introduced, babies born out of wedlock, the true purpose for a-viking amongst many other things.

Ms. Riley does not hold back with her descriptions of births or deaths and it's something that's I've always appreciated. No matter how gruesome or uncomfortable a scene may be, it's always detailed and spelled out in a way that it can't be misinterpreted. 

Selia has been filled out more as a character, which is not always something that people can do well when it comes to sequels. At the end of the day, the question is whether or not the love of your husband or your children takes priority. 

I like how Alrik's daughter, Ingrid has taken a more prominent role and has developed as more than just a starry eyed brat. 

It's hard to like a lot of the male characters, but while I'm on this topic, I like the subtle indication of a homosexual viking. It's not something that authors often consider actively and nor is it done tactfully. In this case, however, Ms. Riley does just that.

Erin S. Riley has taken her writing skills and put them to the grindstone, showing a brutal edge of love's rounded corners. This is a book everyone should read if you want a fantastic, rollicking read full of romance and violence.

I'm going to give this review 5 stars. 

Author's note: The reason this review is so short is so that you don't receive any spoilers. Spoilers suck. 

Thus ends this review!

Update: You can buy the book here: http://www.amazon.com/Flame-Put-Sons-Odin-Book-ebook/dp/B0143JNIKW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1445467086&sr=8-2&keywords=Odin%27s+shadow

(Comic) Devil's Advocate....a look at Marvel's Civil War

This review was recommended by James Bridges. 

With all the hype that the Civil War movie is gaining, it made a lot of  sense to have a look at the original source material from which the movie is derived. 

After a massive screw up involving teenage superheroes and an explosion that killed a lot of people, the U.S Government has put forward a bill so that superheroes would be registered, trained and paid. Kind of like a super powered police force. 

This bill, which is then passed, divides the superhero community. 

On the one hand, you have Tony Stark, the Iron Man, suggesting that people register because it's not only good business, it's also very practical. Superheroes would have accountability and be trained to use their powers in a manner that would minimise collateral damage. 

Captain America, on the other hand, believes that by registering, they give up their greatest weapon. Their anonymity. Not only this, but then they'd have a boss in the U.S government and Cap is all too familiar with how they use superheroes. As he says, "If we register, they'll start telling us who the villains are."

These two sides argue, prepare traps and prison and fight it out with people trading sides in between.

Not only does this comic feature heavy hitters like Cap, Iron Man, Yellow Jacket and Doctor Strange, but as it encompasses the entire superhero community, you've also got the X-Men to consider. Every one has a say in the matter.

The story is cohesive and self contained. You know enough about the characters that even if you haven't read comics before, you could still follow the storyline. It's a simple plot, with massive and complex consequences. With that said, I would recommend reading some comics to get backgrounds on some of the lesser known superheroes.

Having only just started reading comics myself, I wasn't overly invested in the characters they killed off, because I hadn't heard of them.

So before you read this storyline, I'd advise reading other comics in the same universe, so you can get a feel for the characters. 

I think the only thing that really bugged me is the fact that one of the key characters they killed off was a person of colour. What's more, I didn't know all that much about him, which is why I advised reading comics prior to this storyline.

The art style is colourful, yet gritty. Heroes in upbeat brightly coloured costumes are contrasted by dark and grungy scenery. Men are drawn with strong square jaws and large shoulders and women are drawn slender, yet well muscled. While unrealistic for two of the many genders, this is comic history and we look back on what was in order to build from that. 

All in all, it was a fascinating read and often makes me wonder what I would do in those situations. Would I take a side? Or would I be like the X-Men and Doctor Strange and sit it out all together?

What would you do?

This comic warrants 4 and a half stars.

Thus ends this review.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments. 

I'll see you all next week, when I tackle the Guardians of the Galaxy! 

Please leave me some comic recommendations if you have any and I'll see you all soon!  

(Movie) Death Race...a look at The Last Cab to Darwin

This review was requested by Daniel Rath of Headland Creative Media (http://bit.ly/1KpUelk)

When I asked Daniel if he had any recommendations (I have been taking requests for comics, books and movies, in case you hadn't noticed. :P) he suggested this movie without a second thought.

Still in theatres in Australia, I went and saw it this Sunday just gone with the Iron Matriarch, (I wrote a post about her on my tumblr, which you can see if you get the chance.)

I'll be the first to say that I'm not a big fan of Aussie films. I'm told on a regular basis that all we have to offer is cop dramas and Aussie comedy that most of the world just doesn't get. You only need to look at the American version of Kath and Kim for that one.

This aside, I was skeptical as I entered the theatre. 

So, did it fall short? Or did it exceed expectations?

Let's review!

Story/Dialogue: Michael Caton plays Rex McCrea, a taxi driver from Broken Hill, NSW who is dying of cancer. He hears on the radio about a Doctor in the Northern Territory (Over 3000kms or 1864 miles) who has recently had a bill passed to make euthanasia possible for those patients who are in need to die with dignity.

There are other aspects to this plot, such as characters he meets and befriends and the places he goes. For spoiler's sake, I'll avoid talking about it.

The characters in this film are incredibly likeable. Rex is a loner with a razor wit and the companions he meets along the way are delightful. Their arcs are equally as important as Rex's as they reflect the other aspects of experiencing life.

One of the things I loved was how they portrayed the Koori bloke in this film. His character arc was emotionally satisfying and you found yourself grinning along with him.

Loveable rogue types, dude. Problematic favourites. 

My favourite character though is simply delightful and you can't help but fall in love with her. She's got a lot of guts and heart and it adds an element of dialogue to an unspoken storyline. She calls it like it is and I love her character so much for that.

The dialogue of this film is witty and carries an air of unapologetic blokiness about it. It fits the typical 'Laid back Aussie vibe' that most foreigners seem to think we have, yet has these undertones of intelligence that shows the characters are saying more than they're letting on.

Cinematography: This movie absolutely shone in the cinematic department. You had landmarks in the film that were iconic. This includes Alice Springs, Darwin, Broken Hill and the Devil's Marbles. I loved the time lapse shots showing night falling and the transition of the day. 

The visual symbolism was beautiful and should be kept and eye out for. See if you can figure out the significance of the tree of dead feral cats. Landmark? Or Symbol? 

Framing was creative, yet not all that innovative. Nothing really had me asking, "How did they get that shot?" But it was incredibly pleasant to watch in terms of soft pushes and slow camera movements. 

Visually, it was a feast for the eyes and it was a great way to show Australia's best sides. We are more than just the Gold Coast, Bondi and various deserts. 

Audio: While the tracks were pleasant to listen to, with lots of guitar work that didn't make it sound like the Tamworth Country Music Festival, it wasn't overly memorable. It reminds you of a bloke who lives out at Broken Hill. Hard working and in this case, taken for granted and under-appreciated.

Overall: The Last Cab to Darwin should be considered an iconic movie and as far as I'm concerned, sets the bar for Australian film in 2015. 

Forget your Australias, forget that atrocious looking Blinky Bill reboot (I'd be happy to review it, if only so I can smite the bugger,) this film is honest, deep and intense. I found myself holding my breath in certain instances and was invested from the moment Rex started dancing in his house at the beginning of the film.

The Last Cab to Darwin warrants a Ravensmark (picture pending,) reserved only for media of the highest caliber. I haven't seen a drama like it and I think it'll be a long time before I see a drama like it again. 

Thus ends this review.

I hope you enjoyed this review as much as I enjoyed watching it. Please, if you can, share this on facebook and retweet it on twitter. Support this amazing film.

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Thanks again, guys! I'll see you again on friday for Civil War! :D 

(Movie) Heart of Stone...a look at Song of the Sea

This review was recommended by Nicky (flourishtodecay.tumblr.com)

For those of you who don't know, Nicky is one of my best friends.

So one night when were talking, she asked me, "WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO WATCH SONG OF THE SEA!?!" (It was honestly like that. All caps. You know it's good when people are asking you to watch something they love in caps.)

Credit to Nicky Costi (flourishtodecay.tumblr.com)

This wasn't the first time and I'd been putting it off due to reviews and writing. But after this request, how could I possibly say no?

So I said that I'd review it.

Is it as good as Nicky made it out to be?

Let's review!

Story/Dialogue: The story is based heavily in Irish folklore. A young boy named Ben loses his mother when she gives birth to his little sister, Saoirse. When she is grown, she cannot speak, but after she dons a cloak that turns her into a seal, her father, Conor puts the cloak into a lockbox and throws it into the sea. The two kids are sent away with their Grandmother, leaving their father and their sheepdog, Cu, behind.

The rest of the movie is about Ben and Saoirse trying to get home and so Saoirse can don her outfit once more to fix the world of the good neighbours.

Now, I'm trying not to spoil this for you, dear reader. I can't add more to this without ruining the story and the significance of the folklore.
My only suggestion is...if you decide to watch the movie, you look up the creatures in Irish folklore.
The dialogue is very natural. You could meet these kids, adults and elderly folk in real life and aside from hashtags, they would speak as they do in this movie.


Animation: The animation style touched on something nostalgic. It makes you think of a movie, tv series or a children's book you'd seen/read as a child. It fills you with emotion to see these character come to life as if by magic.

Each of the textures of both characters and landscape is unique. It's as if Elmer the Elephant was used in a South Park style construction of setting and characters.

The wonderfully odd thing though is that the frame rate doesn't move in the same way that stop motion would. It's as though it was scanned into a computer and had the frames move so smoothly that it was visually satisfying to watch.

It was as though it was filmed on a dolly.


Audio: Irish music is so soothing. The drums and the whistles and the soft harmonising of the voices. It made me think of an old Gamecube game called Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles. The music in that game and Song of the Sea are incredibly similar.

It also draws a lot on the song that was in the story, The Snowman. I don't know. Every time I listen to the tracks I think of Walking in the Air.

It was memorable and it gets stuck in your head. Infectious, even.



Overall: This movie (after much prompting, thanks Nicky!) was absolutely delightful visually, audibly and in terms of storytelling. It drew on folklore that didn't convolute the story and allowed you to be immersed in the world as a gradual experience, rather than simply chucking you in the deep end. Another thing that Nicky mentioned and I'm inclined to agree with is the fact that it's highly rewatchable. If you're a visual person, you may need to watch it again so you can keep track of the story rather than simply looking at the textures. If you're a story person, then you can rewatch it and be taken in by the visuals. The audio is impossible to ignore as it's ingrained in the story and you may just want to rewatch it for that.

Song of the Sea was a fantastic experience that's self contained in its story and is overall incredibly satisfying. Which is why I'm giving it the Ravensmark (Picture pending,) as this symbol is reserved for media of the highest caliber.

Thus ends this review.

If you can, please share this review around as the movie is highly underrated and warrants exposure.

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(Comic) Not for kiddies....a look at the Mask Omnibus

Growing up, the movie starring Jim Carrey and introducing Cameron Diaz was a favourite of mine. It came out in 1994 and at that point I had no idea it was an adaptation.

Now, I'm looking at Dark Horse's website to try and find a job as a writer and see one of the comics they produce (Aside from Hellboy, Umbrella Academy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles AND Star Wars,) was the Mask.

Established in 1982, the Mask was created by Mike Richardson, the owner of Dark Horse comics. He's also written for comics like Godzilla, among many others.

I went into this comic expecting it to be like the movie.

But, like the title says, it's not for kiddies.

Our main character for this story is not a who, but a what. It is the Mask; a mysterious object that when put on, brings out the wearer's deepest desires and warps them.

Oh, it also stops you from dying from unnatural circumstances.

While we see Stanley Ipkiss, he is a mere piece of a much bigger puzzle.

As for the Mask itself, it trades hands between Ipkiss, his girlfriend Kathy, Lieutenant Kellaway and a young punk kid.

Throughout the process where it's being worn, the Mask cracks jokes and has a slapstick comedy routine.

Unlike a slapstick routine, however, it contains a lot of blood.

If you need a modern comparison, think Deadpool with less breaking the fourth wall and multiple personalities.

While Deadpool has a randomness where even he doesn't know what he's doing, the Mask operates on the desire of the person who wears it. Want justice? Want to be noticed? The Mask will amplify these feelings an enormous amount.

As a story, this was a fascinating read. I must admit I was a little shocked by the amount of gore the comic contained. I'm by no means squeamish, but I suppose that ties in with my expectations for the comic to be like the movie.

The art style is reminiscent of the 60's Marvel comics, which is something I appreciated. The explosions were well drawn and the more comical aspects (Such as that big stupid grin on the Mask's face, which I adore,) actually work better than the live action movie. Though, Jim Carrey's makeup in the movie was exquisite.

The main point of this review is to ask the following questions:

Did I enjoy this comic?
Would I recommend this comic?
Did it meet or exceed the expectations I had?

I enjoyed it, though it was matched by a morbid horror and great unease that I found within the pages.

I'd recommend this comic.

It was not what I expected. Though, I want to continue reading and find out what happens next.

That alone warrants a solid 3.5 stars.

The score is not a reflection of my enjoyment or the quality of the comic.

Yet something in it set me askew and I can't quite put my finger on it. So that is why it earned the score you see.

Thus ends this review.

If you like this review, could you share the link on facebook, retweet it on twitter and reblog it on tumblr. The more views I get, the more time and money I can put into these reviews. 

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(Movie) The darker side of business....a look at the Social Network

First of all, ugh.

This movie is recommended by Maia (uzuyucky.tumblr.com)

Let me preface this by saying that I was suitably miffed about watching this film. When I first heard about the release in 2010, I found myself saying, "They'll make a movie for just about everything these days!"

It's not because I don't like Facebook. I'm a user, after all.

It's because Hollywood thought it important enough to make it into a movie.

So while I was dragged kicking and screaming to watch this movie, (I can still hear Maia's voice in my head as my fingers slam the keys and my eyes are narrowed,) the question is:

Did seeing the movie change my mind?

Let's begin.

Story/Dialogue: This story jumps between Facebook's inception and the period in which Mark Zuckerberg is getting sued by both the Winklevoss twins and his close friend Eduardo Saverin. I'm not sure how true to the original story this movie was, but I get the feeling you're not supposed to like Zuckerberg. If you are supposed to, it's a Sherlockian like. What I mean is, he's an asshole, but because he's brilliant, he gets away with it.

This arc that Zuckerberg takes ends on a strong note with a satisfying touch for the audience, who by this point aren't overly fond of him. As it is with most films, the ending will be the opposite of the beginning. The Social Network showed this remarkably well.

The dialogue is intelligent (They're at Harvard, so I suppose it's a given,) and throws a lot of numbers and statistics around.

They use the tagline in the movie, which would seem tacky in most other films, but worked well in raising the stakes.

I'm not going to go into too much more detail about the story for spoiler reasons (plus, finding out who Justin Timberlake plays is pretty freakin' awesome if you haven't seen this movie already. A great introduction,) but we'll say that it was well written for a story that is not yet finished. (I feel as though the rise of Facebook must be contrasted by its fall, which it is yet to have. Only then will we have a complete movie in a story sense.)


Cinematography: Visually, this movie was excellently framed. You see multiple instances where you have characters in three or more different perspectives...very Citizen Kane.
I love the stylistic choice of having low tungsten lighting contrasted with natural outside light everywhere else.
A lot of the movie is shot at night, so you see a lot of tungsten bulbs being used and gives everyone that artificial look, which would also be a representation of everyone wearing a mask. Hiding their true intentions.

Audio: THIS IS THE SEGMENT I'VE BEEN MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO!!!

TRENT REZNOR.

THE SCORE WAS WRITTEN BY NINE INCH NAILS!!!

While there was a recurring theme song that played throughout the film, there was some heavy industrial music that sounded awesome. It only enhanced the scenes by adding arpeggios and digital sounds. The music was brilliantly composed and I'm actually going to look at getting my hands on the OST for this movie because I'm so psyched about it. (You know a score is good if it makes you scour the internet looking for it.)


Overall: Firstly, as I wrote this all I could think of is this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMRBYkg5jmg

It never fails to make me laugh. Now that I've seen the Social Network, I laugh even harder.

As for the movie, I was surprised at how poignant the story was. It was a tale of betrayal and power and how the things you can create can get out of hand. Eisenberg played a great Zuckerberg, though I have to wonder if Zuckerberg himself really is that much of an ass in real life.

I wish I could hate how much I enjoyed watching this movie. It was compelling and the story was excellent.

5 stars.

Goddamn it Maia. 5 stars. I_I

Thus ends this review.

Feel free to leave a comment recommending new comics, books and movies. I read and reply to all of them. Unless they are bots. 

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I'll see you guys on Friday with a comic review!

(Movie) Misery Guts....a look at Blue Valentine

I swear to you I don't have a thing for Ryan Gosling.

This movie was suggested to me by Hannah (readingfreak.tumblr.com)

For the record, to my knowledge, she does not have a thing for Ryan Gosling either.

In my recent experience with Ryan Gosling, I've come to the conclusion that Ryan Gosling is in fact a younger Nicholas Cage clone who had facial reconstruction surgery and somehow managed to have cat DNA integrated into his system.

At least, this is how his acting comes across. Not that that's a bad thing. Merely an observation.

But this movie is not about Gosling alone.

So, let's review.

Story/Dialogue: This story juxtaposes two events that coil around each other like a double helix. The beginning, where Dean meets Cindy and the end, where the love between Dean and Cindy is lost. When Cindy and Dean are just getting together, Cindy learns that she is with child with no thanks to a guy she was seeing previously. Dean takes responsibility and becomes a painter of houses. Cindy works as a nurse and together they have a life that Dean is desperately trying to hold onto and Cindy feels she's suffocating in.
The best thing about the dialogue is that even though there wasn't a lot of it, the lack of it conveyed more than a load of dialogue could ever do. Though, what dialogue there was wasn't overly profound.
The story says a lot about a realistic love and how passion can wane. I recall a post that showed this movie as one amongst a few movies that showed an excellent representation of love.

Cinematography: This movie's juxtaposition of two stories bleeding into each other is shown through the types of camera movement. As Dean and Cindy begin with their relationship, the handheld style and rich colouring shows the rose coloured glasses stage of a relationship. The one where everything is happy and upbeat. The other end of this story shows more steadycam and dolly shots, with a lot of colour bled out of them. This is to represent the routine and structure (however unsteady) that the relationship has developed. It also shows the fact that the love is gradually fading away.

A final note, but the last shot of the movie where Ryan Gosling is walking away while fireworks are going off reflects the intense emotions felt when breakups occur. Passionate people are explosive and when those people collide, it often reflects poorly in the aftermath.

Audio: I had some trouble with the audio and while I'm not sure if it was the copy of the movie I had or whether it was intended, it forced me to focus on the character's faces and watch how they communicate rather than the words they said. Ryan Gosling has a habit of repeating a lot of his lines and while it's not bad, you start to focus more on what he's doing rather than what he's saying, which I think is a good thing. Movies are visual, after all.

The tracks in this movie were so subtle that they were gone from my memory even as I heard them. "You and Me" by Penny and the Quarters was the most memorable track, but only because of the significance of it to the movie.

Overall: Blue Valentine was a movie that showed better than told. Had I not gone in knowing the premise of the movie, I would have been dissatisfied with the end result. Knowing what I do, though, made the movie an enjoyable watch.
I've been informed that Blue Valentine's director actually had Ryan and Michelle live together with the little girl so that their chemistry appeared genuine. Which it most certainly did.

A great, if sad movie. Cathartic, almost.

4 stars.

Thus ends this review.

If you had thoughts about the review or the movie itself and want to discuss it, I'd love to know what you think down in the comments. 

Recommendations are always welcome!

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Stay tuned, as this isn't the only review out today!