(Movie) 4th wall wrecking ball....a look at Deadpool

Okay guys, this is a doozy.

11 years this movie has been in the making. This is like the Mad Max of the comic book world. 

Then, in a single moment, where planets aligned, and the rest of the universe fell into place, God saw fit to say, "Fuck it, this is what the world needs right now."

A lo' and behold, we got a saviour in red spandex.

Let's begin, because if I don't review this now, it'd be like perpetual edging and no one wants that.

Story/ Dialogue: For those of you who don't know who Deadpool (Played by Ryan Reynolds) is, he's a schizophrenic mercenary who can't die, thanks to a healing factor. This ability has caused his cancer to rapidly fluctuate, giving him the texture of a melted wax model crocodile.

To Deadpool, the fact that his appearance has changed this drastically occurs to him that this might be a deal breaker for his girlfriend (Played by Morena Baccarin. God, I miss Firefly.) decides to find the man that did this to him.

This is brief summary and there is so much more to this movie than mentioned. According to Reynolds, there are over 100 easter eggs in the film.

The story alone is enough to grab you. However, you find that it jumps between Deadpool's past and the present. As a result, it doesn't feel as though there's a dip in pace at any point in the film.

With regard to the dialogue, it was as though Shakespeare wrote a sonnet that was then handed to Charles Bukowski to be spunked all over.

What I mean to say is, it's so vulgar that it exceeds itself to become art. My closest example (And I mean by a long shot,) is the tv series Archer.

The analogies, the banter and the one-liners are...for a want of a better expression, on point.

Cinematography: The visuals in this film are impressive. Like, this is not an Iñárritu film, but I feel as though they both have the same amount of love put into the cinematography and CGI.

One of my favourite shots was the over shoulder shot when Deadpool lines up his shot to kick the guy he was chasing in the head. I can't imagine that would have been easy to shoot. 

Colossus looked awesome, but the real winner is Deadpool's eyes. So much expression from the whites of his eyes shifting that throughout the film I was sitting there asking myself, "Do eyes actually do that? Is that how they function?" 

It always felt as though there was something going on and even on a first watch, I feel as though I missed a lot. So I want to watch it again.

Audio: Even the audio track had comedic timing. DMX's "X gon give it to ya," stopping upon the realisation that something has been forgotten, then starting back up again, to "Shoop" by Salt and Pepa playing while Deadpool is waiting to kick some tail.

The dubbing was synced up well, and none of the audio was terrible, which is actually quite thankful. My audio teacher at my school once said, "Humans can handle crappy quality picture, but nobody will put up with shitty audio." So while this might seem like a criticism, it's actually a compliment.

Overall: Deadpool as a film is not only fantastic, but it stays true to the character. Unlike the one seen in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, this Deadpool feels as though he's jumped off of the page and started doing his thing.

The film is self aware, raw and hilarious. Plus, you feel as though you connect with the character on so many levels to the point where I almost got emotional in parts of the film. 

Deadpool, 11 years in the making, is a labor of love.

So it's my honour to give this film the Ravensmark, a seal reserved for the best of the best films out there.

Thus ends this review.

If you enjoyed reading this, have a look through my previous reviews. I do books and comics, too. 

Also, feel free to message me on twitter, tumblr and facebook with recommendations! I love getting recommendations from you guys!

(Movie) Can you teach a robot to love? A look at Equilibrium

Thanks to Bill Andres for this recommendation. This one's a favourite for him, so it's a pleasure to review it!

I've seen this once before, eons ago when I was around 17 or so. However, it never really stuck in my mind. 

I do put that down moreso to the fact that I'm an easily distracted person (See the gaps between review dates if you don't believe me,) so I was willing to give the movie another shot. 

Is it as underrated as Bill has claimed? 

Let's see! 

Story/ Dialogue: Set in an alternate world to ours, in the city of Libria, this world is dominated by a fascist government known as the Tetragrammaton. (The symbol for this society is quite similar to the Nazi's swastika,) The Tetragrammaton have stomped out emotions by injecting a drug called Prozium on the basis of suppressing negative emotions. Anyone seen feeling, listening to music, or housing art is charged with a sense offence and is sent to the incinerator. Those who enforce the new laws regarding emotions are known as Tetragrammaton Clerics.

The best of these Clerics, John Preston, tries to deal with these emotions after he misses a dosage. The movie follows Preston as he tries to work with the resistance to bring down the Father; the figurehead of the government.

While this looks good on paper, in practice is dulled by over the top prose and rather weak plot development. It's only until 3/4 of the way through the movie that we meet or are even aware of the Resistance. Futhermore, Preston doesn't come off as someone we can identify with. He's cold, calculated, but even showing his interactions with his family didn't seem to make me connect with him.

While I understand that this is what Prozium does to you in regards to emotions, I feel as though you'd find someone more relatable in a robot. I'd have to wonder how much better received it would have been had we seen this movie from a member of the Resistance's perspective.  

Cinematography: This is where the movie excels. It's well framed, with sweeping pans that show the grand architecture of Germany, where most of the film was shot. Visually, it adds more to the storytelling than the dialogue ever could. One of my favourite shots is when Preston kills his partner and it switches focus from Preston's boss to his sword, where a single drop of blood falls of the end of edge. I think the only part that confused me was the moment where he was looking at the matte painting from the window. I suppose it could have been symbolism for him feeling something, but it ruined the suspension of disbelief. 

Audio: The tracks throughout the film tended to jump between rock music and a choir to represent the dogmatic beliefs of an iron fisted government. The sound effects were covered well, given the jump cutting fight scenes. 

Overall: As I said in the story segment of this review, Equilibrium is a fantastic idea in theory, but in the same way a man tries to behead a criminal with a spoon, is subject to poor execution. 

With that said, the Gun Kata concept is excellent and I'd love to see it refined in a future movie.

While I struggled a lot with this film, I did enjoy it and learned a lot from watching it. 

So I'm going to give it a solid 3 stars.

Thanks again to Bill for his recommendation of a film that is underrated and a good study focus. 

His artwork is amazing! Give his facebook page a like:

https://www.facebook.com/wasillustrations/

That's it from me! Until next time, folks! 

(Movie) Revenge is like is like Ice Cream....a look at the Revenant.

I went and saw this film with the Iron Matriarch on a Sunday. I almost missed it, actually. 

There are many things to consider in this film, but at this stage, I only have one question:

Is this film enough to get Leo his Oscar? 

Let's review it! 

Story: This is a revenge story, plain and simple. Mr. Glass' son is murdered and he's left for dead in a half dug grave. Using all his rage, he drags himself from that grave to find the man who put him there in the first place.

This story strikes you on a primal level and the environment reflects the unforgiving anger of nature and man alike.

While there isn't a whole lot of dialogue, the story is told through a visual means and that makes it all the more compelling to watch.

Speaking of...

Cinematography: This movie was shot in Canada with natural lighting.

For those of you who don't understand the painstaking task that Iñárritu undertook, imagine building a doll's house from scratch and if you messed up even a tiny detail, you'd have to start over.

That's how excruciating the work going into this film was.

It pays off, too. You feel as though you're making the trek that Mr. Glass makes. I kind of wish I'd taken a hoodie with me or something.

Audio: While there wasn't a lot of music, the main thing I want to talk about is the dubbing for the Native American spoken throughout the movie. It was matched up poorly and felt really lazy, which counterbalanced the immersion the rest of the film accomplished.

The lack of music made the scenery feel authentic, as though they recorded the ambience for the entire movie.


Overall: Considering that this movie won 3 Golden Globes amongst many other awards, the Revenant should be set for an Oscar.

The story was simple and made engaging by its beautiful, if dangerous scenery. The long takes added an element of depth that few films have these days and the dedication of the creators and actors (DiCaprio slept inside an animal corpse for this movie,) shows that this movie, as violent and bloody as it is, was made with love.

It has more than earned itself 5 stars.

Thank you guys for reading this review! 

I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to get it out, but I'll do my best to keep on top of it. 

Please feel free to send in recommendations of movies or books. 

Thanks again for reading! 

(Comic) Post Apocalyptic racing...a look at Birdlander

The Birdlander is a 5 part comic by Edwin Bickford and Aaron Walther. They've described this comic as a blend of Miyazaki, Mad Max and Moebius. 

Admittedly, I'm not familiar with Moebius, but I can see the resemblance of the Miyazaki films and Mad Max. The art style reminds me a lot of Nausicaa, which is regarded as one of the greatest Miyazaki films of all time.

We're thrown into a post apocalyptic world, where dragonmen make slaves of humans and those who try to survive make use of a nomadic lifestyle. 

In this, we are introduced to Sumi, a lone rider who is on the hunt for someone for reasons as yet unexplained.

This comic from the get go throws you into the deep end, with gritty backgrounds and equally rough looking characters. It a lot of ways, it bears the appearance of a manga while making the characters appear racially diverse. 

I'll say that the first issue doesn't feel like 26 pages. It's feels so packed with things to look at and pay attention to. 

The dialogue offers a lot of information and conveys a natural tone. The use of story as exposition is an old one, but the use of images works better in a comic than it does a movie. 

I enjoyed reading this and I can only hope that it continues to come out. 

Nothing is more important to a storyteller than the listener/reader/watcher saying, "what happens next?"

This is what's grabbed me. I need to know what happens next.

I rate this issue 4 stars. A fantastic read, but I need more.

You can find their site here:

http://thebirdlander.com/

Within they have links to their social media and a patreon where you can contribute to the creation of this excellent comic. 

(Book) Vikinger no more....a look at Sons of Odin Book 3: Oath Breaker

Firstly, I want to say thank you to Erin for allowing me to read her books. It's been a fantastic ride.

Before reading this review, have a look the previous reviews and make sure you read the books!

Book 1: Odin's Shadow review: http://rave-nreviews.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/book-odins-shadow.html

Book 2: A Flame Put Out review: http://rave-nreviews.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/book-a-flame-put-out.html

Now, if you've finished with those, let's get to the review.

The story follows Selia and her boys running away from her former husband, Alrik Ragnarsson. 

What better person to run to than the kinder, prettier and honest younger brother?

Ulfrik Oath-Breaker finds solace for Selia and her brood on an island off the coast of island, where they meet a group and learn to live alongside them. 

Unlike the other books, the final instalment is infinitely more introspective as Selia comes to terms with her true feelings while trying to please everyone. Ulfrik discovers many things and struggles to deal with them in the same way he handles most things; by bottling them up.

This book shows that character development can take precedence over action and still have the same effect as a powder keg going off. Sparks fly, both romantic and violent and it's great to see some older characters return along with fresh new faces.  

Selia has gone through many trials and Erin addresses them in such a way that shows Selia taking responsibility while still retaining her dignity.

A powerful, thrilling and unexpected conclusion to the best Viking romance series I've ever read.

5 stars.

Buy the book: http://www.amazon.com.au/Oath-Breaker-Sons-Odin-Book-ebook/dp/B019PL2NEK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1452786346&sr=8-2&keywords=Oath+Breaker

Find Erin's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/erinsrileyromance

Erin's blog: https://erinsriley.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/erinsriley1

Thanks again to Erin for this amazing series! I can't wait to see what you come up with next. 

Follow Ravenreviews:

http://rave-nreviews.tumblr.com
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(Movie) Spaced Out....a look at Interstellar

A pair of gents by the name of Connor and Ethan recently recommended this movie to me after we got talking about space and science and all sorts of nerdy things.

So, having come back to reviewing, I figured I would show them not only what I'm capable of, but what I thought of their recommendation. 

Here we go! 

Story: A former pilot leaves a dying planet in hopes of finding the people who were trying to find habitable planets in another part of the universe.

A gross oversimplification to be sure, but that is the summation of the story. Nice and simple, right?

Wrong! 

This is a Christopher Nolan movie. If you've seen Memento, Inception or the Dark Knight trilogy, you know that this movie is not going to be easy to follow.

Let's get the negatives out of the way, first.

1. The story is somewhat weak. I only found out what was truly going on halfway through the film.
2. They spent way too much time focusing on Cooper and Murph's relationship. Not to say that it didn't warrant it, considering how important it is to the movie, but I felt that it could have been handled better.
3. The writers for this film treat the audience like idiots. Andrew Stanton from Pixar will tell you, "Give them 2 + 2. let them figure out the rest." I felt like I was being talked down to and that's the last thing you want from your audience.

With that said, from what I understand, the science is pretty spot on. I also like the poetry that Michael Caine quotes (Fun fact: That poem is the basis for the Rundown/Welcome to the Jungle. Not just a pretty action movie.) The poem, by Dylan Thomas, is a perfect representation of the state of humanity and the hope that it holds on these adventurers.

Also, Matt Damon needs to stop getting lost. First it's behind enemy lines, now it's TWICE in space.

Cinematography: Like all of Nolan's films, Interstellar is visually impressive. From the lighting, to the camera angles (Key one being when it's attached to what appears to be a crashing prototype plane of some sort,) to the framing of the vast uninhabited planets that they visit.

My only gripe for this section is TARS. WHAT THE HECK EVEN IS THAT THING!? It looks clanky, impractical and makes me think of Robin Williams if you took all the humour out and turned him into a discount Rubik's cube.

Everything else, from the corn fields to that weird book room in the heart of the black hole is visually astounding.

Audio: The music for this felt as though it picked a fight with the dialogue so instead of having a decent conversation with the audience, they tried to talk over the top of each other.

Now, I'm not sure if it's just my ears, but sometimes it feels as though the dialogue is a little too soft.

With these things in mind, I enjoyed the score and felt it added to the movie's overall atmosphere. It gives you this sense of adventure and the overall innocence that comes with discovery.

Overall: While I had my grievances, I did enjoy Interstellar. As a lover of space, I felt I grew to know it a little bit better for watching this film.

I'm going to give it 4 stars.


Something I didn't explain before is that Connor and Ethan are missionaries with the intent of travelling to places to spread the word of God. A great cause, to be sure, but one that doesn't come cheap. 

If you'd like to support them, I've left links below so that you can help them out. They're good blokes and I'd like to see them get to where they need to go.

Connor and his wife Alix are headed to Greece and Germany and Ethan is going to Cambodia and Hong Kong.

Please support them if you can.


https://www.youcaring.com/connor-and-alix-bruson-391046
https://secure.ywamnewcastle.com/product/student-paymentdonation/

(Movie) (Spoiler Free) Lost in Space...a look at Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

So you're all aware, the review will be SPOILER FREE! 

If I get enough requests for it, I'll talk spoilers. 

Let's begin.

Story/Dialogue: In short, this story is once again about good vs. evil. The labels for the two factions are the Resistance and the First Order, respectively. In the midst of all this, a deserting stormtrooper ends up finding a scavenger on the planet of Jakku. Together, they try to get a droid with a map to the find a key ally for the Resistance. 

Nice and simple, right? 

Okay, so I'm going to get the negatives out of the way, first. The dialogue in some aspects is atrocious. It feels as though certain characters are saying things for the sake of the audience more than anything else. 

Plus, between Finn and Rey, it felt as though they had stumbled onto the set of Star Wars and cameras happened to be set up to watch them. Please don't misunderstand, I love these new characters. However, I also feel that my suspension of disbelief was ruined because they felt like fans being on set, rather than characters in a movie.

With that said, the story was pretty solid. The characters base wants are simple and easy to identify. Furthermore, the film was a lot lighter than the other films. There were some genuinely funny moments and the characters felt a lot less...I want to say stiff.

I want to say more, however, I do not want to spoil it, so let's move on.

Cinematography: The fantastic part of this film is that not only did we get to see Han, Chewie and Leia, but they also brought back the crew from the originals/prequels.

The framing in this seemed a little chaotic. Though, it also adds a little more to the action, so it's not a bad thing. 

It was fascinating to see how they added CGI to a lot of new aliens. While in a lot of instances the alien work was still done with latex casting and the like, the CGI felt a little out of place. Especially with certain characters that I won't name.

Audio: JOHN FREAKIN' WILLIAMS RETURNS!! The creator of the Star Wars theme added so much extra atmosphere to the movie. Of all the things I love about Star Wars, it's the iconic music. It was nice to see that the theme of the characters of the older films came back into play, but I also feel as though the newer character's themes weren't all that memorable. I wouldn't have minded a subtle weave of electronic music within the orchestral arrangement for the new themes. 

Overall: Some have loved it, some have hated it. Does it feel like an Episode IV reboot? Sure it does!

As a film, the Force Awakens is a force to be reckoned with. Solid storyline, excellent visual effects and music make it fantastic as a standalone film. 

As an instalment to an iconic franchise, though, I am still unsure it holds up. In a lot of ways, it feels like a fan film, where the fans snuck in on set and acted out Star Wars. On top of that, the small details, like blaster fire, made it feel inconsistent with the franchise.

As a fan of the films, I find myself torn.

I'm going to give this film 3.5 stars. 

Author's note: Thank you guys for sticking around. I know I've been away and busy with a couple of personal projects, but news is coming!

In the meantime, it's back to reviews as always. However, I'm only doing one a week. It'll be randomised. You won't know whether or not it's a book or a movie and that's due to access and time spent on reading/watching. I'll cover series if you guys want, but recommendations are always helpful! 

Thanks for reading! I'll catch up with you soon! 

Kind regards,

Ravenreviews

(Comic) Baby Daddy....a look at Daredevil: Guardian Devil

While I knew that Kevin Smith had worked in comics before, I'd only been familiar with his films, so it was interesting to see how he'd interact with this medium.

Guardian Devil follows Matt Murdock as he encounters a woman who gives him a child that is believed to be the Anti-Christ.

Okay, first off, taking a superhero who typically operates in a small scale area and throwing him an apocalyptic curveball is a great move. So you have him trying to juggle this, along with a couple of his exes coming back to town all the while trying to keep his best friend and colleague Foggy Nelson out of prison.

After reading Hush and watching that play out, Guardian Devil lead me down a dark alley and then suitably beat me over the head with a plot twist.

From the get go you're immersed in heavy, introspective dialogue, which I'm told is a Daredevil standard. It feels less like a comic and more like a play on a page. Beautiful, grand and deep. After each issue I feel as though I need to take a minute or so to digest what's happening. Even though I read this in a night, it took the entire night to read and process. 

The art is a rich canvas of bright colours against the harsh yellows, browns and greys of New York City.

I think the only thing that bugged me was the fact that Foggy looked comically out of place. He reminded of one of those old 90's cartoon characters. Like a bumbling security guard or a administrative clerk with a weird voice. Having only witnessed the Netflix series (Which was awesome and I'll probably talk about it at some point soon,) and the 2003 movie (Which I enjoyed when I was younger, but now....I'll have to review that one next week and see how I feel about it.) I can only wonder if Foggy was always drawn that way or not. But it felt out of place and got on my nerves a lot. 

Overall, this was a fantastic read. I loved seeing Matt argue with himself and interact with people and sleuth his way to the truth. Such an excellent read.

4 and a half stars.

(Comic) Fist of Iron, Soul of Platinum...a look at Iron Fist: Rage

While I do have recommendations to get to, (and I will get to them!) the past fortnight has consisted of me devouring Sam Alexander - Nova, Guardians of the Galaxy and X-23. More importantly, after seeing the video by the Comicstorian (You can see the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbfyTnfSCwA) I was compelled to read it too. 

Daniel Rand is being interviewed by a journalist named Brenda who wants to know the story of how he got his powers. We see the story through a series of flashbacks, before we learn that ninjas have broken into Danny's penthouse. 

After fighting off the ninjas, Danny and Brenda come across a little girl with a massive backpack. It turns out the ninjas were looking for her. 

This story is intense and you don't always feel as though you know what's going on. Even though you know who the bad guy is, you still feel there's an element of mystery to it. 

The dialogue jumps from prose-y, to humorous to something that reminds me of Short Round from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Unsure if it could be classed as racist or not, but then if I have to question it, it's probably the case. 

The art style feels gritty and intense that are reminiscent of the brush strokes in Okami. It feels as though I'm looking at stills of an anime or something, which I find fascinating to look at. 

Overall, I enjoyed the story, but the dialogue left a lot to be desired. 

I'm going to give it three and a half stars.

(Book) Stop, Hammer Time! A look at Soulless Monk

As you can see, this is the second instalment of the Inquisitor Series. 

When we last left Brother Sebastian, he'd been given a ring that was reserved for Hammers. Hammers are like the Red Berets of the Clergy. They attempt to Purge the toughest things that go bump in the night. 

But it's not all roses. A Bishop has had his name besmirched, so Sebastian has to leave New England under the wing of Clergyman heavy hitter Brother Malachi. 

The story formula changes up with the inclusion of former monk James. Reading the chapters from his perspective was like looking at the other side of the coin. He seemed emotionally distant not just out of necessity, but also because he completely disregarded human life in exchange for power. 

It's almost as if he traded his soul or something! 

I enjoyed reading both Sebastian's and James' paths. Though they end up in very different places from what I expected, it was still emotionally satisfying. 

Thaddeus is a great bad guy, but his henchmen seem a lot like those bumbling gooks from Saturday morning cartoons. Their incompetence is probably the real reason that Thaddeus failed. Not so much a critique as an observation.  

Though, I never expected to get so attached to one of the summoned creatures the magi are capable of summoning. Without saying much, I found him incredibly likeable and was legitimately sad when it died.

The detail throughout the story kept me engaged and the pacing was so quick that I had to take breaks to pace myself. 

I don't know for sure, but I'm pretty sure my favourite character so far is Brother Malachi.

The dangerous thing about sequels is that you need to find a way to ramp up the action and the tension without going too big, too quickly. 

Soulless Monk found a great balance of raising tension without going too big. 

It's a visceral journey that makes Catholicism look cool and goes from 0-60 in a matter of pages.

I can't wait for the third book.

5 Stars

You can find the book here: http://www.amazon.com/Soulless-Monk-Inquisitor-Book-2-ebook/dp/B015JC9LY4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1444927824&sr=1-1&keywords=soulless+monk

(Comic) Can't get the Butcher Back....a look at Oink: Heaven's Butcher

This comic was recommended by a guy I met recently when I went to see Kevin Smith and Jay Mewes at the Sydney Opera House. 

I never got his name, but apparently he went by the handle "Crowboy" on Ebay. He was in the row in front of me, so if you happen to know the guy, let him know that this one is for him.

In an Orwellian Dystopian future, humans make slaves of men/pig hybrids and force them to slaughter pigs for food. They are poorly treated and indoctrinated into a belief that they are not worthy of "heaven" because of their forms. A young priest goes to see the Oink, the pigman who butchered heaven for his final confession before he is executed. The pigman tells his story.

As a young slave, Oink sees one of his brethren brutally killed, but as far as his cellmates and the clergy are concerned, that pigman was "saved."

Questions burning in his heart, Oink challenges the system and burns it to the ground. 

Throughout history, pigs have always been a representation for uncleanliness. This comic is no exception, complete with half man, half pig hybrids. As far as most would be concerned, this is the height of abomination and filth. 

I turned the pages with a mix of fascination and horror. These people who stand at what they consider to be heaven mistreating these hybrid folk because they were different. It was unforgiving in its storytelling and was visceral in its visuals.

The art style looked to be digitally coloured and drawn and looked like it was made up of slash markings, which I found beautiful, yet difficult to look at. Like watching someone get tattooed. 

In any case, this brutal and hellish comic is more than worthy of 5 stars.

(Comic) Wrath of Khan....a look at Ms. Marvel

This recommendation comes from my best mate, Sarah. She crochets and she's pretty awesome. You can find her over on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/shinyshinycrochet

Thanks dude! 

Everyone knows of the days when Carol Danvers was Ms. Marvel. With the swimsuit looking "armour" and the thigh high boots. 

Danvers inspired many people as Ms. Marvel, but none so much as Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American living in Jersey City. A massive superhero geek and Spider-Marvel shipper, she writes fanfics in her spare time.

One night, she decides to disobey her parents and sneak out to a party to see what it's like. Once Kamala realises it's not all that it's cracked up to be, she tries to make her way home. On the way, she encounters the Terrigen Mists, that were released by the Inhuman King, Black Bolt. After falling unconscious and having a bizarre hallucinogenic dream about Captain Marvel speaking Urdu (The language of Pakistani,) Kamala steps forth with the ability to shapeshift and elongate her body.

This is the beginning of Kamala taking on the mantle of Ms. Marvel. Soon she is helping people in a trial and error fashion. Making it up as she goes and using video games to cope with combat, Kamala is a young woman the demographic can relate to. 

What's more, it's nice to see Marvel making their roster more diverse and including more than just cis gendered white people. (Funny, coming from a cis gendered white guy, but hey, everyone needs a character to relate to.)

Kamala is incredibly likeable in that she tries her hardest to do the right thing, despite her parent's rules. She also geeks out frequently, which makes her even more likeable. 

The art is unlike anything I've seen before. Everything looks so soft and has a glow about it. Seeing hard lines during the night moments make it visually fascinating to look at. 

Overall, Ms. Marvel is a compelling story that shows a lot of culture while being respectful. The panels are a feast for the eyes in their soft textures during the day and their slightly harder textures during the night. 

I'm going to give this comic 5 stars. 

(Movie) A fine wine....a look at the Intern

I went to see this with the iron matriarch on Monday. We'd seen the trailer and talked about going to see it, so we were pretty excited. (She also got out of letting pay for her ticket! Incorrigible.)

I'd seen some of the reviews for it, too (Jeremy Jahns and Chris Stuckmann are two such guys I subscribe to on YouTube,) and they seemed to enjoy it.

But enough of expectations and reviewers! Was it worth watching?

Let's find out! 

Story/Dialogue: A retired widower Ben Whittaker (Robert DeNiro) has sent in an application video for a seniors intern program at an online fashion company run by Jules Ostin, (Anne Hathaway) a quirky boss who excels at micromanaging.

As Ben deals with being back in the workforce, Jules struggles with the decision to hand over control to a CEO. 

Now, let me be very clear on this point! This is not a romantic comedy. At least, not in the traditional sense. Blake Snyder will tell you that all buddy comedies are romance stories and to a point, he's right.

However, we're dealing with love in a friendship capacity. It explores dynamic of two people with a massive age gap and no romantic interest in each other. Ben, even as an intern, plays a mentor to Jules, who challenges him and keeps him on his toes. 

It's this chemistry that works really well throughout the movie. 

The other thing is that it's incredibly funny. There were a lot of instances throughout the movie that were both tastefully done, yet still hilarious. 

While the dialogue isn't prose from the tongue of the Bard, it's perfectly suited to the film. Not groundbreaking, but not clunky. 

Cinematography: The camera seemed to reflect Jules in that there was no handheld element. Dolly shots made grand sweeps of the streets of Brooklyn and the remodelled warehouse that Jules works in. 

I think the only instance where I was irked by the lighting was when Jules was in bed and even though the lights were off, there was this weird glow as if there was a skylight right on their bed. It was an interesting shot, but it kind of took me out of the story, which bugged me. 

Unlike the camera shots, the framing was often unbalanced. Characters would all stand to one side leaving 2/3's of the screen empty. However, this is not a complaint, merely an observation. It allowed all the focus to be on the characters in the scene, but didn't allow for much visual storytelling. 

Audio: The score contained a lot of flutes, which made the shots of Brooklyn feel whimsical. It also included a lot of upbeat piano and more bar appropriate music in those scenes.  A lot of the other times, it wasn't all that memorable.

The atmos tracks were well layered and added an air of authenticity, while maintaining that same movie quality. It's often difficult to balance that, so it's something that I greatly appreciated.

Overall: Frankly, this movie was everything I hoped for and more. The acting was excellent, the humour was funny and tasteful and you can't help but like each of the characters. It really shows that even though you may be retired, you still have plenty more to teach and to learn. 

Lastly, I also loved how the beginning and the end shots mirrored each other. It was a nice touch.

5 Stars.

Thus ends this review.

(Movie) I need some space....a look at the Martian

When it comes to watching movies, I have two rules.

1: Anything surrounding hype is not to be watched until the hype has died down. (I've still yet to see Frozen)

2: Pick movies based on the story, not on the cast in the movie.

This movie is the first in which I've broken the rules I've set for myself. 

Why?

Let's review! 

Story/ Dialogue: The story follows a crew on a mission to Mars. One of the crew is presumed dead and left behind on the red planet after the crew had to leave abruptly. This crew member, Mark Watney (Matt Damon), must survive a certain amount of solar days until NASA can get him home.

This is a classic tale of man vs. nature. What's interesting however is that it cuts between Earth, the Hermes (the ship that the rest of the crew are on,) and Mars. Everybody has their own way of handling the situation. Teddy Sanders, played by Jeff Daniels, is trying to not cause a panic and doesn't want to tell the crew, because he wants them to focus on the mission.

Meanwhile, Mark needs to find a way to grow food while everyone finds a way to get him back.

Arguably the best thing about this movie is Mark's determination to survive. He tackles the task with humour and a plucky, can-do attitude. It makes you want to root for him and make sure he gets home.

The other thing is the tension. This guy is in space, so making sure he doesn't suffocate is the top priority. Even though the situations are different, the tension only increases. I was literally on the edge of my seat by the climax of this film.

The dialogue is snappy and a lot of it makes you laugh. There's even a few references in there to satisfy your inner geek.

Cinematography: You and I have seen deserts. Sandy with a couple of rocky mountains, right? Well, if you add a filter, you can make it look like Mars. I know this probably sounded sarcastic in your head, but it was actually praise. They resolved the challenge of making a desolate place interesting. With all the sweeping shots, you really get this sense of isolation. The framing is well composed and nothing looks visually boring. 

One of the better parts about the visuals is that you couldn't tell what was green screened and what wasn't. I mean, the space scenes were (or were they? CONSPIRACY!) but the rest of the scenes look liked they'd been shot in the same place Mad Max: Fury Road was shot.

Seriously though, fantastic visuals and framing.

Audio: I love how a lot of the music tied into the story. It added humour and an extra layer of suspense to the overarching story. What's more is that I really enjoyed how balanced the sounds, dialogue and music were well balanced. None of them seemed to overtake the others, which I really liked. 

The score had an tension raising element with some electronica flowing throughout which I really enjoyed.

Overall: The Martian is a movie best seen from the edge of your seat. Not only is there a fantastic cast, there's more funny moments to outweigh the crap (if you've seen the movie, you'll understand the pun,) Mark gets into. 

It's well worth the watch and is one of my picks for best movies of 2015. 

Which is also why it warrants a Ravensmark (Picture pending,) a symbol for movies, comics and books of the highest calibre. 

Thus ends this review. 

(Comic) Let's do the time warp again! A look at Marvel 1602

I read this back in 2008 and while I fell in love with it (I'll explain why in a moment,) I didn't pay attention to the author.

Years and a growing admiration for Mr. Gaiman later I come across this story again.

As I swipe right to turn the pages on my tablet I fell in love with this story once more.

The story follows Nicholas Fury and Stephen Strange, the head of intelligence and court magician respectively to Queen Elizabeth the 1st.

Now, while both of these characters might not surprise you, there are other characters that feature in this story. Matt Murdoch, better known as the Daredevil, Peter Parquagh and Carlos Javier and his band of Witchbreed.

The story focuses on a treasure being brought back from the Crusades in Jerusalem and people are trying to find it. There's also a sense that the timeline is out of whack and they need to find the cause.

Now, I'm not usually one for what if stories as that's my entire process as a writer. It literally starts with, "What if?" So when I usually see things like this, I question the point of their general existence.

However, (and I'm not saying this because I love Gaiman's work,) I found it incredibly immersive story wise, the characters are likeable (Try and not like Matt Murdoch, I dare you,) and seeing the true nature of characters is fascinating to look at.

One of the reveals in this left me going, "huh, well that's a thing," in a scenario that people would normally try to play up. But no, it's done with respect and tact and they move on from that.

I feel as though in some instances I remove myself from the story as it gets to be too dialogue heavy and I want to focus on the artwork.

The artwork drags your eyeballs further into the world as the pieces add another dimension to the old school atmosphere of the comic.  

Overall, this piece by Gaiman and his crew is excellent, but at times I wished it weren't so dialogue heavy. I found this incredibly disconnecting.

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

(Comic) Be vewy, vewy qwiet......a look at Batman: Hush

Many thanks to Josh and John over at Gotham Knights Fan Films for this recommendation! Give their facebook page a like. https://www.facebook.com/GothamKnightsFanFilms

As a kid, I grew up watching the Tim Burton Batman films. The music in those films was awesome and I was always running around like I was in the Batmobile.

Funny story, when I was 5, I tried to leave the house dressed as Batman to fight crime. At like, midnight. 

I was the night....until my mum tried to catch me leaving the house. 

In any case, let's talk about Batman: Hush.

This story follows Batman and his quest to find the person messing with him and his city. It features a large cast of heroes and villains that are intricately interwoven throughout the plot. In the story we see Killer Croc, Harley Quinn, Clayface, the Joker, amongst. This also includes Oracle, Nightwing, Catwoman and Red Robin.

As we follow Batman, we learn more about his childhood friend and how a man wrapped in bandages is using him like a puppet on a string. We see the bandaged man, who knows so much about Batman that we wonder who he truly is.

What's brilliant about this comic's writing is that you never truly know who Hush is until the very end. You're lead on a merry journey that immerses you in all the Batman lore or at least a lot of it. 

What's more is that I like the dynamic between Batman and Catwoman. While yes it's a heteronormative relationship, Catwoman is her own woman. Yes she takes orders from Batman in some instances, but she's still her own woman and it's great to see her exercise her own power. The fact she keeps Bruce on his toes is super important and I respect the writer a lot for that.

I loved this comic and would love to check out more. 

So I'm going to give it 5 stars.

(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