DC Comics is on a roll with their Rebirth of Detective Comics. Issue #937 is once again crafted by Writer James Tynion IV and the steady hand of Artist Alvaro Martinez. "The Rise of the Batmen" is on the horizon and it's up to the Caped Crusader's new motley crew of crime fighters to save the day.
In Detective Comics #937, Batman’s found his way into the heart of the Colony, the mysterious new organization cutting its way through Gotham City! Unfortunately, now that he’s in he may find there’s no way out!
A moment of clarity came upon me while reading issue #937. Kate Kane's father is Bruce Wayne's uncle! I must be dense as I've never put it together that Batwoman and Batman are related. That adds a whole other level of complexity and tragedy to the tale Tynion IV is telling.
Detective Comics #937 is rated T for Teen. It contains violence and gore and frightening and intense scenes. We're in PG-13 territory if compared to a movie.
Writer James Tynion IV takes the concept of Batman to the next logical step with Detective Comics #937. If the Gotham P.D. can find a way to officially weaponize the Dark Knight, just think what the U.S. military could do with his technology. They could build an army of armed and deadly Batmen ready to go to war at the drop of a hat. That's the chilling revelation we're left with as the issue comes to its exciting close.
Detective Comics #937 is available now in print and digital editions.
DC Comics is on a roll with their Rebirth of Detective Comics. Issue #937 is once again crafted by Writer James Tynion IV and the steady hand of Artist Alvaro Martinez. "The Rise of the Batmen" is on the horizon and it's up to the Caped Crusader's new motley crew of crime fighters to save the day.
Fathom Events brought DC Comics' highly-anticipated animated adaptation of Alan Moore and Brian Bolland's best-selling graphic novel "Batman: The Killing Joke" to theaters for a two-night only premiere event. Theaters were sold out all over the world and expectations were high. The movie reunites Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy and Joker extraordinaire Mark Hamill with Tara Strong as Batgirl.
In “Batman: The Killing Joke”, the Dark Knight (Kevin Conroy) must save Commissioner Gordon (Ray Wise) from the Joker's (Mark Hamill) twisted quest to drive him insane. Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl (Tara Strong) is caught in the middle of the Clown Prince of Crime’s maniacal scheme.
About thirty minutes into "Batman: The Killing Joke" I started wondering to myself, "Did they play the wrong movie?" I kept waiting for the Joker to show up, or for ANY sign that what I was taking in was even related to Alan Moore's critically acclaimed book. It's not that what I was seeing wasn't good, it just wasn't necessary to the overall story being told. I wanted to see what I came for.
DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation’s latest release feels like the filmmakers took two episodes of a new Batman Animated Series and combined them in an attempt to make a full length feature. There was no attempt to blend or combine the two halves together and make balance it out. I'd rather have just seen a thirty minute short film of Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s book. If you start it from the point where Batman walks into Arkham Asylum up until the credits roll, you have a snappy mini-movie that would please most fans of the Caped Crusader.
“Batman: The Killing Joke” is faithful to its source material once it moves into the actual adaptation of the graphic novel. There are changes and little bits and pieces visually altered to make the movie safer, contrary to its supposed R-rating. However, it’s actually quite surprising the extent animators went to in order to capture the essence of Brian Bolland’s handiwork. We also get ingenious nods to the different incarnations we’ve seen of the Joker over the years, from Jack Nicholson to Heath Ledger and more.
Let's talk about the R-rating for "Batman: The Killing Joke". While there are some adult situations and disturbing imagery, I would hardly consider this to be worthy of an R-rating. I've seen worse in a PG-13 horror film. It does include violence, gore and profanity. There are also insinuations of rape off-camera, but producer Bruce Timm says that's not what they were suggesting.
Aside from the actual adaptation of the graphic novel, “Batman: The Killing Joke” is definitely weaker than past DC Animated movies. If you skip past the first part of the film, you'll find an entertaining half hour or so dedicated to its title. I hate saying that because I love Director Sam Liu’s previous films and most of the other creative forces behind them. However, they struck out with their approach to this one.
"Batman: The Killing Joke" is available now in Blu-ray, DVD, and digitaleditions.
Fathom Events brought DC Comics' highly-anticipated animated adaptation of Alan Moore and Brian Bolland's best-selling graphic novel "Batman: The Killing Joke" to theaters for a two-night only premiere event. Theaters were sold out all over the world and expectations were high. The movie reunites Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy and Joker extraordinaire Mark Hamill with Tara Strong as Batgirl.
My exposure to '80s horror was hit-and-miss thanks to loving parents who kept me as sheltered as they could from the "evils" of the gory genre. So I did what every naughty kid would do: I went to my Dad's every summer and caught up on everything I'd missed during the past year. Many movies I caught through late-night marathons of HBO and Cinemax. Some slipped through the cracks, however. One of those was "The Return of the Living Dead".
I first caught "The Return of the Living Dead" one early morning a couple of years ago. I was flipping through the channels while looking for something to watch during my morning ride on my exercise bike. The blend of excessive gore and slapstick humor had me giggling and smiling the entire time. I'd found a new favorite film.
Scream Factory brings “The Return of the Living Dead” home in a new Collector’s Edition. The two-disc set is packed full of bonus material and a 2K scan of the interpositive guaranteeing a better viewing experience than you’ve ever had watching this classic bloodbath. Dan O’Bannon wrote and directed his take on “Night of the Living Dead” co-writer John A. Russo’s horror novel.
On his first day on the job at a medical supply warehouse, poor Freddy (Thom Mathews) unwittingly releases toxic gas from a secret U.S. military canister, unleashing an unbelievable terror. The gas reanimates an army of corpses, who arise from their graves with a ravenous hunger... for human brains! And luckily for those carnivorous cadavers, there is a group of partying teens nearby, just waiting to be eaten in “The Return of the Living Dead”.
A brief history on the origins of “The Return of the Living Dead” are in order. George A. Romero and John A. Russo wrote the original “Night of the Living Dead”, kickstarting the zombie craze that still stalks us five decades later. The two had a dispute over what direction sequels to the movie should go in. They decided to split ways and each one could do what they wanted as long as they followed one simple rule. Romero’s follow-ups were referred to as the “Dead” movies and Russo’s carried “Living Dead” in their titles. Thus, two very different horror franchises were born.
Scream Factory’s “The Return of the Living Dead” Collector’s Edition is loaded with special features. Disc One includes new audio commentary with Gary Smart (Co-author of “The Complete History of ‘The Return of the Living Dead’”) and Chris Griffiths. New audio commentary is also provided by actors Thom Mathews, John Philbin, and Make-up Effects Artist Tony Gardner. Two more audio commentaries feature Director Dan O’Bannon, Production Designer William Stout, and the cast and crew. A featurette on ‘80s horror films entitled “The Decade of Darkness” is found as well. There are also theatrical trailers, TV spots, still galleries, zombie subtitles for the film, and “In Their Own Words - The Zombies Speak”.
Disc Two contains a ton of new featurettes like “The FX of the Living Dead”, “Party Time: The Music of ‘The Return of the Living Dead’”, and “Horror’s Hallowed Grounds - Revisiting the Locations of the Film”. The workprint of the movie is found, too. Interviews with Writer / Director Dan O’Bannon and Creator John A. Russo are also included. “More Brains: A Return to the Living Dead” definitive documentary and a couple more featurettes cover everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the cult classic.
The movie is rated R for nudity and adult situations, violence and gore, profanity, and frightening and intense scenes. There’s quite a bit of unnecessary nudity to some degree or another, both male and female. Full frontal nudity is implied, but a prosthetic patch actually covers any of the midsection area giving the character a “Barbie look”. Everything else is par for the course when it comes to zombie movies.
"The Return of the Living Dead" is what I would consider to be an essential piece of '80s horror history. When you think of all the different components that make up the decade, they're all found here. It's the "Valley Girl" and "Clueless" for the genre. Director / Writer Dan O'Bannon captured lightning, blood, and guts in a bottle in a unique way that filmmakers have been trying to duplicate ever since.
"The Return of the Living Dead" Collector's Edition is available now on Blu-ray.
My exposure to '80s horror was hit-and-miss thanks to loving parents who kept me as sheltered as they could from the "evils" of the gory genre. So I did what every naughty kid would do: I went to my Dad's every summer and caught up on everything I'd missed during the past year. Many movies I caught through late-night marathons of HBO and Cinemax. Some slipped through the cracks, however. One of those was "The Return of the Living Dead".
With the Detective Comics title being published twice monthly now, it grows increasingly more difficult to keep up with reviewing each one. The seemingly breakneck speed of each issue is paralleled by what Writer James Tynion IV and Artist Eddy Barrows are thrusting on us every other week. Thankfully, both Detective Comics #935 and #936 are spellbinding enough to keep readers doubly interested in what’s going on within the pages of the books.
In Detective Comics #935, Batman and his team find themselves in the crosshairs as the villain they’ve begun hunting turns the tables on them. Batman and Batwoman have the skills to survive, but do their young teammates? Is this where hero training ends in tragedy?
Issue #936 of Detective Comics opens while Batman is M.I.A. It’s time for Batwoman to take the reins! But can she control a strike force that’s barely worked together…including unstable wildcard Clayface? The most enjoyable part of James Tynion IV’s story arc is the strained and building relationships between the odd choice of characters Batman threw together for his new team of crime fighters. I especially receive joy when getting to see Batwoman take charge of the bunch. She’s given a particularly challenging task and does her best to accomplish it one trial and tribulation at a time.
Detective Comics #935 and #936 are both rated T for Teen. They contain violence, language, and frightening and intense scenes. Most of the violence is the typical comic book variety we’re all used to seeing in the pages and on the screen of superhero comics and movies.
I've been saying it since the return to original numbering started and I'll say it again. I like where Detective Comics is going. Writer James Tynion IV strings us along issue by issue giving us just enough to keep us on a hook and coming back for more. Eddy Barrows's illustrations offer us a visually appealing companion to Tynion IV's captivating storytelling. We've been introduced to a real ragtag team of heroes looking to prove something to their Bat-boss. Their personal journeys along the way only add more drama and excitement to an already pulse-pounding adventure.
Detective Comics #935 is available now in print and digital editions.
Detective Comics #936 is available now in print and digital editions.
With the Detective Comics title being published twice monthly now, it grows increasingly more difficult to keep up with reviewing each one. The seemingly breakneck speed of each issue is paralleled by what Writer James Tynion IV and Artist Eddy Barrows are thrusting on us every other week. Thankfully, both Detective Comics #935 and #936 are spellbinding enough to keep readers doubly interested in what’s going on within the pages of the books.
When J.J. Abrams rebooted "Star Trek" in 2009, many fans were unhappy with the direction he took the franchise. They screamed that Abrams had taken the soul of Gene Roddenberry's forward-thinking and groundbreaking creation and turned it into a "Star Wars" clone. They claimed it didn't have a heart and concentrated solely on the tropes of modern action movies.
Longtime Trekkies might have been right at the time and had a valid gripe. I personally loved both the first movie and "Into Darkness". The way I look at it, Abrams saved a franchise that, for all intents and purposes, was completely dead in the water. Whether you liked it or not, 2002's "Star Trek: Nemesis" had all but put the last nail in the coffin. For six years, "Star Trek" lied dormant and dead.
"Star Trek Beyond" boldly takes us where the two previous films had yet to go. It throws us headlong into the five year mission to seek out new life and new civilizations. Director Justin Lin successfully takes the formula of the original series and injects it with the modern dose of action a new generation of Trekkies will crave and demand.
A surprise attack in outer space forces the Enterprise to crash-land on a mysterious world in “Star Trek Beyond”. The assault came from Krall (Idris Elba), a lizard-like dictator who derives his energy by sucking the life out of his victims. Krall needs an ancient and valuable artifact that's aboard the badly damaged starship. Left stranded in a rugged wilderness, Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto) and the rest of the crew must now battle a deadly alien race while trying to find a way off their hostile planet.
As usual, all the main crew members in "Star Trek Beyond" did a great job of capturing the essence of their characters and carry on the legacy each one carved out since the launch of the TV show in 1966. The death of Anton Yelchin is made even more tragic after witnessing the importance of Chekov's presence in this third outing. He's given a lot of screen time and is one of the players that contributes more to the entire story.
I was impressed how writers Simon Pegg and Doug Jung fit in a couple very nice tributes to the original cast of “Star Trek.” Leonard Nimoy is definitely paid respect through a small side story that weaves through the bigger tale. Another scene will no doubt pull the heartstrings of older Trekkies who grew up watching the first television show and classic crew.
My only real complaint is that Director Justin Lin didn't give orders to the cameraman to pan out and visibly show two individuals fighting clearly on the screen. Cinematographer Stephen F. Windon's obsession with shooting hand-to-hand combat close up makes it hard to figure out what you're looking at. Much of this is also the fault of quick cuts in editing that makes the action a big garbled chaotic mess.
Interestingly, "Star Trek Beyond" shares some familiar traits with one of "The Next Generation" movies. There are some definite parallels between "Beyond" and "Insurrection". I don't want to go into detail with spoilers, but longtime fans will make the connection.
“Star Trek Beyond” is rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence. There’s also some profanity used throughout the movie. Overall, it’s no different than the first two movies. The adult situations have actually toned down a bit.
Aside from some cinematography issues addressed above, "Star Trek Beyond" takes viewers on an exhilarating voyage into the next chapter of a classic franchise which was granted a new lease on life. A quality mixture of blockbuster action and genuine science fiction makes for a two hour trip out of this world. We might be going where we have gone before, but we’ll still have some fun on the way.
When J.J. Abrams rebooted "Star Trek" in 2009, many fans were unhappy with the direction he took the franchise. They screamed that Abrams had taken the soul of Gene Roddenberry's forward-thinking and groundbreaking creation and turned it into a "Star Wars" clone. They claimed it didn't have a heart and concentrated solely on the tropes of modern action movies.
