A Frank Review of "Little Children" and "Venus"

I caught "Little Children," a film that turned out very different from what I was expecting, a ways back as part of a double screening at a local art house theater. The first quarter of the 2 1/4 hour film relies heavily on omniscient and quite amusing third person narration, as it brings to our attention the lives of a pair of married people who seem like they'd be much happier together than with their respective spouses. Kate Winslet's husband is demonized and dismissed by the 45 minute mark, never to be seen again. Jennifer Connolly delivers one of her liveliest performances in recent memory, sadly in the form of a one-dimensional overbearing wife. I don't see why Winslet rated an Oscar nomination, even though she's a delight and has a better handle on her American accent than was evidenced in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." Perhaps she was being awarded the "goes without obvious make-up and hair styling while playing frumpy compared to Jennifer Connolly" Oscar? Never mind that we get to see her naked repeatedly and in fabulous form, to such a degree that I could see kicking J.C. out of bed for her. Well, I would anyway, but I'm trying to be general here. Anyway, sometime into the second hour, the narration all but disappears, as does the humor, and the dramedy that follows isn't nearly as fun. After the two hour mark, we go headfirst into melodrama, and I guarantee you'll be wiggling in your seat. Worse, most of that time could have been saved and more goodwill engendered if the pedophile subplot that weighs down the picture had been excised completely. For the most part, it only serves as a means to not make a cheat of an ending feel like it came out of left field. I enjoyed this movie, despite my criticisms, but I warn that it was fatty and tonally inconsistent.

I stepped into the lobby, grabbed a few free magazines, and stepped back into a theater to view "Venus." After the enjoyable but overlong film that preceded it, I began regretting this double bill almost immediately. Like "Children," a story point involves an older man lusting after a younger woman. The problem is, Peter O'Toole is supposed to make his lechery endearing, and fails miserably. As a man barely in his thirties, I see the teenage grandniece of O'Toole's best friend as a child at best, bimbo at worse. At nearly three times my age, O'Toole sees a last fling, and just comes off as terrifically pathetic for the full 93 minute running time, as he barters for the girl's attentions as though she were a prostitute. This is another one of those "aged actor plays a thinly disguised version of himself in his probable last major film role" numbers, and serves mostly as a cautionary tale. This beautiful man, once Laurence of Arabia, is now a grotesque, blotto caricature of the once dashing matinee idol. His last ride is dull, charmless, repetitive, and makes the viewer feel unclean by association. Not recommended, unless you want to make yourself feel pretty, young and vital by comparison to O'Toole's ravaged form.

Green Lantern Corps: Recharge

The first thing I thought when I started reading this trade was that I must have missed something. I knew from the unbelievably overrated "Green Lantern: Rebirth" that Hal Jordan was back, and generally aware the Corps followed. It's just that I expected some sort of introduction to the new Corps, and an explanation for why Guy Gardner and Kyle Rayner were now on patrol off-world. DC Comics has become so incestuous over the past decade, it seems assumed that everyone is following every aspect of a "family" line. Not the case here.

Despite my initial disorientation, the trade started off well enough. A mystery was afoot, and our heroes going away party on the JLA Watchtower was cute. A new, reluctant Korugarian Corpsman was introduced with an understandable personal conflict. More recruits with ties to longstanding DC continuity offered strong story potential. I was almost reminded of all those wonderful Corps annual short story collections from the 80's, and Steve Englehart's daring run. Then recent revisions began to erode my interest: female Guardians... Parallax... Kyle Rayner as Messianic figure rather than blessed everyman.

Patrick Gleason, whose prior work on Aquaman pleased me much, is even better suited to adventures amongst aliens. Gleason is clearly of the post-Bisley school, and his time inking Doug Mahnke made a lasting impression. However, where Mahnke can't seem to progress past Kev O'Neil and company, Gleason incorporates techniques from influences as diverse as Kelly Jones, Chris Bachalo, Ethan Van Sciver and Larry Stroman. It serves him and the book extremely well, especially considering the further I progressed, the more his art was the only thing keeping me going.

The new characters quickly fell into tired "types," engaged in the unengaging-- a rote paranoid thriller involving mostly forgotten villains. Everything looks cool because of Gleason, but the story is connecting the dots to one cliche after another. Gardner the asshole becomes Gardner the coarse veteran, while Rayner is in the optimistic but otherwise generic hero role. The ante is repeatedly upped, but the plot is so well worn it remains a penny game. By the end, fans old an new will groan at the same old shit, and hopefully question why Geoff Johns and Dave Gibbons deserve one free pass after another based on past glories.

The Walking Dead Volume 8: Made To Suffer (2008)

My first rule concerning "The Walking Dead" is there are no spoilers. I refuse to read most reviews and solicitation copy because of this. I even hesitate to view covers. In my own reviews, aside from stuff that's already all over the web, I try to avoid going further than hinting. That holds especially true here.

You see, I love zombie movies, but find their appeal rarely translates to comics. Typically, the emphasis is on shock and gore, where my interests lie in the reaction of humanity to the most transgressive extinction level event imaginable. Only Robert Kirkman's zombie opus really captures what I love about "survival horror," and to a large degree, comics in generally. I adore a good twist in a narrative that is true to its subject, but still sends your head spinning. There is no current writer that comes to mind who does this as well as Kirkman, or with such startling consistency, and therefore few writers that bring me such joy. My reviews tend toward the negative, as I've read most everything this industry has to offer before, but Kirkman reminds me why I continue to be passionate about this art form. For about five years, "The Walking Dead" has been one of the best comics published, and at its current rate, will become one of the best ever published. The creative team on the book only improves with time, and there's no end in sight.

That said, I can't imagine reading this series in individual issues. The book's pacing is all over the map, with whole collections devoted to melodrama of the like seen in British soap operas. Others, like "Made To Suffer," are so packed with life-altering events as to be completely inaccessible for the uninitiated. A major threat from a previous extended story arc returns to offer reams of exposition, yet little of the surrounding events were revealed. This leads to a series of encounters with the massive cast of characters, few of whom are reintroduced. For longtime readers, that makes it all killer, no filler. For the new reader, the volume's subtitle may be all too appropriate.

About that hinting: One of the two characters I previously felt could carry the series met their end in this edition, and while I mourn the passing, the sea change seems best for the series' vitality. It allows some folks I've grown to appreciate the chance for a greater spotlight, and many other characters that had perhaps outlived my interest had a bit more left to offer. At least one should have probably lived to fight another day, but offered a bit of closure to what proved a bleak but open-ended conclusion.

While Kirkman continued to awe, I reserve the greatest kudos of this installment for Charlie Adlard, the most improved member of the team. For years, Adlard was my go-to artist when concluding that anyone could draw a comic with the right connections. I dreaded his replacement of original series artist Tony Moore, and was often confused by which character was which at first. A few years down the line, I can't imagine a better choice to continue the title. Now, each of his characters is entirely distinct and true to life. At times, you can "smell" them, his depiction is so believable. Where Moore seemed to relish the grisly EC macabre details, Adlard grounds the shambling grotesques in a reality that enhances their impact, rather than muddying the tone of the story with comical ghouls. One thing that struck me as a bit odd was that a great many panels reminded me of the Bart Sears/Ray Kryssing art team of the 90's, specifically their work on "Eclipso." One character in particular seemed tailored to that style. Maybe I just have a screwy frame of reference, but I liked this new direction.

Cutting to the chase, "The Walking Dead" remains one of the best comics in comics, is improving with age, and is bought without question here at ...nurgh... It receives my highest recommendation, but for God's sake, don't start with "Made To Suffer." No pudding before your supper...

San Diego ComiCon 2008 Analysis

Didn't go, but I'd like to dish regardless...

The new Watchmen movie character posters FTW. The funny thing is, I'm not a huge Moore fan, but this looks to potentially improve on the source through translation, at least for my entertainment dollar.

I'm going to get politically incorrect for a moment. A friend of mine's brother is autistic. At least five years ago, he dressed for Halloween as a pirate. I complimented his costume. Every single time I've see him since he asks me, repeatedly, enthusiatically, "How's my pirate ship?" You'll forgive me then, when I hear Jason Vorhees is now laying devious traps and moving at high rates of speed with pinpoint precision, I ask, "but, Jason's a fucking retard?" I realize our modern society no longer fears the creeping inevitable, unless its an economic recession, so gone are lumbering mummies, zombies, and now-- et tu, slasher? The main thing that bothers me is that if any of these remakes should have allowed for high octane holiday-themed massacres, it was "Halloween." Michael Myers started it all, and despite bad sequals, was a clever killer who could have been refitted for the 90's on better chassis than white trash with a 70's AOR soundtrack.

While I'm offending minorities, what does it say about the progress of the American Negro when Black Entertainment Television produces a brand new Marvel Super Heroes cartoon? I mean literally, like the show that ran from 1966-69. I can almost see the wires. I love the Black Panther, but my interest is on the decline. It was safe to assume the Reggie Hudlin material would be the basis for the series, and I've tried to support his repeatedly, which amounts to shame on me.

Gaiman on Batman? For two issues? I smell the stink of disappointment coming off three of the four winds, but we'll see how she blows next year.

In order to keep everyone honest, the Ultimates line was all about producing entry-level books for new fans coming out of the X-Men and Spider-Man movies. It's now long in the tooth with elements that muddy the throughline of the new batch of Marvel movies. Plus, Marvel allowed their top talent to work on in-continuity titles, while the line went to seed. Is it any wonder we're seeing the unpcoming contract-and-expand rebirth of the line? With the talent already handling Iron Man/Captain America/etc does it serve a purpose anymore?

Somebody explain what DC is thinking with this integrated licensing business? I like the Milestone characters, and see no reason why they can't exist on Earth-35 and host DC characters in a new mini-line. I don't get the rights nightmare of incorporating Icon and Static into Teen Titans and JLA, unless Milestone Media has signed away rights, which seems more unfortunate to me than anything. Was ownership compromised from inception, queering Milestone taking, say, Hardware elsewhere-- in the manner of DC being unable to get movies made outside Warner Brothers? Worse is this business where the Archie super-heroes will be joining Batman in the new Brave and the Bold. I hate to burst the bubbles of the 15 combined fans of Mighty/Red Circle/!mpact characters, but they are absolute losers. They have never, ever, in any way been a sucess. They died quickly in the Golden Age, and have had one non-revival lasting under three years per decade since the 60's (70's exempted.) They are failures, DC won't redeem them, and I don't understand why anyone would need to have that reality explained to them. Good money after bad, but Archie praises Jesus for the rubes.

Speaking of DC failing lines, didn't they just reboot Wildstorm a couple years ago? Third time's the charm?

What is it with Marvel feeling the need to date their line with a bunch of geriatric 40's/50's throwbacks? Sentry, the Twelve, the Lost Generation, Agents of Atlas, and now Blue Marvel? Didn't "Truth" get this shit out of your systems? I reckon it would have been nice ti have had black super-heroes in the 40's and 50's, but the Marvel Universe truly began in the 60's, and they gave us some great heroes like Black Panther. DC needs "Blue Marvel." Marvel needs to get its head out of DC's ass and live for today.

Case in point: War Machine. Boo. Yah. That's the stuff.

Anyone ever read Mister X? I've always wanted to...

I'm really looking forward to Darwyn Cooke on the "Parker" books.

Rose McGowen is too old and surgically victimized to play Barbarella, but with a time machine or vaseline on the lens that could still have worked great. Red Sonja? Bridgette Nielson could still snap the increasingly twiggy McGowen in half. You need at least Jessica Biel's build to qualify for She-Devil With A Sword. Green screen won't cut it.

It's about time Image named Robert Kirkman a partner, and I sincerely hope he focuses all his creative energies on creator-owned properties in the future. That guy's a real talent, but it was squandered at Marvel. Maybe he could steal a reasonable facimilie of his Ant-Man back, like the Image Seven all did when forming their company?

"Image United?" Did we forget "Shattered Image" and the 10th (--er--15th--ish) Anniversary Hardcover? Highly dubious.

Christos Gage's "Absolution?" Should have went to Image instead of Avatar...

Really getting excited about the animated D2DVD Wonder Woman. I'm pleased with her more ethnic features, as well.

I'm just going to say it-- "Batman: The Animated Series" was far from perfect. I don't feel it was built for repeat viewings. You had two kinds of episodes; the ones that were involving and memorable, so you didn't want to see them too often; and the ones that were plain dull. The Superman series fares better with far fewer episodes because they were more action-oriented with a wider variety of locales and guest-appearances. They weren't nearly as smart, but they were more generally fun. The new Brave and the Bold series seems to give viewers the Dark Knight, with Superman's pacing, and Justice League Unlimited's cast of hundreds. I'm very enthused about this.

Ask Men.com's Top 99 Women 2008 Edition

I like these kind of lists on websites, but not the billions of ads, redirects, and impossibly slow load times. Until the matter is addressed, I will spoil these mother bitches at will!

"AskMen.com's Top 99 Most Desirable Women is an annual list compiled by AskMen.com readers and staff, ranking the famous females deemed to be the year's most alluring. In casting their votes, readers are asked to look beyond sex appeal and beauty to pick women who have the characteristics they value in a potential companion, like intelligence, humor, charisma, and ambition. The result is an annual list that acts as the definitive gauge for identifying what modern men desire most in their female companions.

This year, over 5 million votes were cast as AskMen.com readers identified the females from the worlds of music, fashion, sports, and entertainment who they felt best represented their ideal woman. So who has joined the likes of Jessica Alba, Beyonce and Adriana Lima in being named 2008's No. 1? Find out by making your way up through the list --"

99. Blake Lively (Gossip Girl)
98. Jenna Fischer (The Office)
97. Vanessa Minnillo (Nick Lachey's girlfriend)
96. Giada de Laurentiis (Food Network's Everyday Italian)
95. Lindsay Lohan
94. Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)
93. Ashlee Simpson (singer)
92. Ali Larter (Heroes, Resident Evil: Extinction)
91. Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Live Free or Die Hard, Death Proof)
90. Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil Trilogy, Ultraviolet)
89. Kerry Washington (Fantastic 4: Silver Surfer, The Last King of Scotland)
88. Jessica Chobot (IGN Weekly)
87. Marion Cotillard (La vie en rose)
86. Sophia Bush (The Hitcher)
85. Rachel Weisz (The Fountain, The Mummy)
84. Ivanka Trump (The Apprentice)
83. Olivia Munn (Attack of the Show!)
82. Naomi Watts (Eastern Promises)
81. Hilary Duff (singer)
80. Alyssa Milano (Charmed)
79. Ana de la Reguera (Nacho Libre)
78. Nadine Velazquez (My Name is Earl)
77. Rashida Jones (The Office)
76. Jennifer Love Hewitt (Ghost Whisperer)
75. April Scott (The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning)
74. Maria Sharapova (tennis star)
73. Ana Ivanovic (tennis star)
72. Dita Von Teese
71. Cate Blanchett (Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull)
70. Federica Ridolfi (random busty Itallian)
69. Lucy Pinder (frequently topless Brit)
68. Leona Lewis (The X Factor winner)
67. Mallika Sherawat (Bollywood actress)
66. Padma Lakshmi (Top Chef)
65. Michelle Marsh (random Brit model)
64. Nelly Furtado (singer)
63. Anne Hathaway (Get Smart)
62. Cassie (Step Up 2 the Streets)
61. Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical)
60. Malin Akerman (The Heartbreak Kid)
59. Kristen Bell (Heroes, Veronica Mars)
58. Kate Moss
57. Rose McGowan (Grindhouse)
56. Sara Varone (Buona Domenica)
55. Gwen Stefani (singer)
54. Sienna Miller (Stardust, Interview)
53. Michelle Lombardo (Entourage, Californication)
52. Salma Hayek (Latin Goddess)
51. Hayden Panettiere (Heroes, awful singer)
50. Reon Kadena (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater)
49. Danna Garcia (model)
48. Nicole Scherzinger (Pussycat Dolls)
47. Jessica Simpson (singer, "actress")
46. Gemma Atkinson (Brit model)
45. Sofia Vergara (Entourage)
44. Jaime Pressly (My Name is Earl)
43. Katharine McPhee (American Idol runner-up *corrected*)
42. Elin Nordegren (Swede model)
41. Petra Nemcova (model)
40. Emmanuelle Chriqui (You Don't Mess with the Zohan)
39. Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean)
38. Shakira (singer)
37. Rachel McAdams (The Notebook)
36. Christina Aguilera (singer)
35. Angelina Jolie (Wanted)
34. Kelly Brook (model)
33. Layla Kayleigh (model)
32. Brooke Burke (model)
31. Bianca Beauchamp (model)
30. Alicia Keys (singer)
29. Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives)
28. Kim Kardashian
27. Aishwarya Rai (Bollywood actress)
26. Penelope Cruz (Latin Goddess)
25. Heidi Klum (model)
24. Elisha Cuthbert (Captivity)
23. Carrie Underwood (American Idol winner)
22. Monica Bellucci (Shoot 'Em Up)
21. Halle Berry (Things We Lost in the Fire)
20. Bar Refaeli (model)
19. Miranda Kerr (model)
18. Cheryl Tweedy (Popstars: The Rivals)
17. Maggie Q (Live Free or Die Hard)
16. Gisele Bundchen (model)
15. Natalie Portman (V For Vendetta)
14. Beyonce (singer)
13. Keeley Hazell (Brit model)
12. Megan Fox (Transformers)
11. Maria Menounos (Entertainment Tonight)
10. Adriana Lima (model)
09. Marisa Miller (model)
08. Rihanna (singer)
07. Jessica Biel (I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry)
06. Scarlett Johansson ("actress")
05. Jessica Alba (Latin Demi-Goddess, "actress")
04. Eva Mendes (Ghost Rider)
03. Kate Beckinsale (Underworld)
02. Alessandra Ambrosio (model)
01. Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up)

VERY NSFW Language

An Index of Frank Movie Reviews

[REC] (2007)
[REC] 2 (2009)
28 Days Later... (2002)
28 Weeks Later... (2007)
42nd Street Forever Vol. 1 (2005) & Vol.2 (2006)
50/50 (2011)
200 Cigarettes (1999)



A History of Violence
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
Across the Universe (2007)
Aeon Flux (2005)
The Amateurs (2007)
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
American History X (1998)
American Reunion (2012)
Amores Perros ("Love's a Bitch," 2000)
The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
Ator: The Fighting Eagle (1982)
Ator l'invincibile (1982)
Avatar: An IMAX 3D Experience (2009)
Avengers Assemble (2012)



BaadAssss Cinema (2002)
Le Battement D'ailes du Papillon (2001)
The Beast Within (1982)
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
Bigger, Stronger, Faster* (*The Side Effects of Being American)
Birth
Blood Mania (1970)
Blood of Dracula's Castle (1969)
Blue Manhatten (1969)
Boy Eats Girl (2005)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
Brideshead Revisited (2008)
The Brother From Another Planet
The Brothers Bloom (2009)
Brüno (2009)
Burn After Reading (2008)



The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
The Candy Snatchers (1973)
Captain America: The First Avenger 3D (2011)
Casino Royale (2006)
Che: Part One & Part Two (2008)
Children of the Living Dead (2001)
Choke (2008)
Chronicle (2012)
Coraline (2009)
The Crazies (2010)
Cruel Intentions 3 (2004)



D.C. Cab (1983)
D.E.B.S.
The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
Dark Corners (2006)
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Dawn of the Dead: European Version (1978)
Day of the Dead: The Need To Feed (2008)
Day of the Dead 2: Contagium (2005)
Day of the Woman (1978)
Dead and Gone (2008)
Deadgirl (2008)
Death Wish (1974)
The Devil's Hand (1961)
Diarios de Motocicleta (2004)
George A. Romero's Diary of the Dead (2007)
The Dictator (2012)
Die Hard 4.0 (2007)
District 9 (2009)
Drag Me To Hell (2009)
Dredd 3D (2012)

Emmanuelle (1974)
Evil Dead Trap
Exit to Eden (1994)
Eyes Without a Face (1960)



Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Farinelli: Il Castrato (1994)
Fatal Beauty (1987)
Fidel (2000)
Flesh Wounds: Seven Stories of the Saw (2006)
Food, Inc. (2009)
The Fountain (2006)
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
Fright Night (2011)
Funny Games (1997)
The Fury

Gakuen Mokushiroku (2010)
The Gathering (2002/2007)
Ghost Rider
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Gods and Monsters (1998)
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
The Green Hornet (2011)
Green Lantern (2011)



Hacked To Pieces: The Rise and Fall of Slasher Movies
The Hamiltons
Happenstance (Le Battement D'ailes du Papillon, 2001)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: An IMAX 3D Experience (2009)
Henry & June (1990)
Hey, Mom! (1969)
Highschool of the Dead (2010)
The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
A History of Violence
The Hole (2001)
Hooker's Revenge (1974)
The Howling (1981)
Howling 2: Your Sister is a Werewolf (1985)
Howling IV: The Original Nightmare (1988)
The Hunger Games (2012)



I Spit On Your Grave (1978)
The Ice Harvest (2005)
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
The Invasion
Iron Man (2008)
Iron Man 2: The IMAX Experience (2010)
Iron Man 3 (2013)

Jisatsu Saakuru (2002)
Juno (2007)

Karla
Kuffs (1992)

Låt Den Rätte Komma In (2008)
Léolo (1992)
Let the Right One In (2008)
Little Children
Live and Let Die (1973)
Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
Looper (2012)
Lord of the Flies (1963 & 1990)



Machete (2010)
Madmen of Mandoras (1963)
Maid in Sweden (1971)
Man of Steel (2013)
Marvel's The Avengers (2012)
Milk (2008)
Mindhunters
The Monster Squad (1987)
Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)



Network Two-Disc Special Edition (1976)
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)
Night of the Comet (1984)
The Night We Never Met (1993)
Nightmare in Wax (1969)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

ParaNorman 3D (2012)
Penny Dreadful
Persepolis (2007)
Phantasm (1979)
Phantasm II (1988)
Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994)
Phantasm: OblIVion
Pineapple Express (2008)
Popcorn (1991)
Prometheus (2012)
Pumpkin (2002)
Punisher: War Zone (2008)

Quantum of Solace (2008)
Quills (2000)



Rambo (2008)
[REC] (2007)
[REC] 2 (2009)
Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D (2010)
Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008)
Resident Evil: Retribution 3D (2012)
Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988)
Return of the Living Dead 3 (1993)
Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis (2005)
Revolver
Rise: Blood Hunter (2007)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Rocket Science (2007)
Rogue Male (1976)
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Rudo y Cursi (2008)
The Ruins (2008)
The Running Man



S. Darko (2009)
The Sand Pebbles (1966)
Scanners
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
Seraphim Falls (2007)
Sex Drive (2008)
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
The Shining (1980)
The Short Films of David Lynch
Shortbus (2006)
The Singing Detective (2003)
Sinister (2012)
Skyfall (2012)
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Snatch (2000)
Son of Greetings (1969)
Southland Tales
St. Ives (1976)
Stand By Me
Stanley (1972)
Star Trek (2009)
Suicide Club (2002)
Super 8 (2011)
Syriana (2005)



Teknolust (2002)
Terminator Salvation (2009)
Terrified! (1963)
Terror in the Aisles (1984)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Shocking Truth (2000)
They Call Her One Eye (1974)
They Saved Hitler's Brain (1963)
Thor (2011)
Thriller: A Cruel Picture (1974)
Trailer Trash (2007)
Tropic Thunder
True Blood (1989)



V For Vendetta (2005)
V/H/S (2012)
Venus
Videodrome (1983)

W. (2008)
Waitress (2007)
Walk The Line (2005)
Watchmen (2009)
White Zombie (1932)
The Wolfman (2010)
The Woman in Black (2012)
The Wrestler (2008)

Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)
Zombi (1978)
Zombieland (2009)

Book vs. Movie/Movie vs. Movie

Abre Los Ojos vs. Vanilla Sky
Lord of the Flies (1954/1963/1990)
Reservoir Dogs vs. The Usual Suspects
Slaughterhouse-Five
Superman II: Richards Donner vs. Lester

Television/Direct-To-Video

Dead Like Me: Life After Death (2009)
Doctor Strange (2007)
The Girl's Guide to Depravity: Season 1 (2012)
Girls: Season One (2012)
His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th (2009)
Masters of Horror: Cigarette Burns
Masters of Horror: Imprint
Night Court: The Complete First Season (1984)
Night Court: The Complete Second Season (1984-1985)
Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008)
Superman: Doomsday (2007)
Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Shocking Truth (2000)
V, Season 1.1: 'Pilot' and 1.2 'There Is No Normal Anymore'" (2009)
The Venture Bros. - Season One

Music Videos

Retrospective: The Videos of Suzanne Vega (2005)

Other

AES+F
Juliana Hatfield at The Engine Room (2005)
Kids in the Hall 2008 Tour
Veruca Salt at The Engine Room 10/17/05

Current as of 7/8/13

1981 George Pérez JLA/JSA Pin-Up

Justice League of America #195 featured the umpteenth annual team-up of the Justice League of America and the Justice Society of America, this time under the pen of a master. I'm not slighting guys like Mike Sekowsky or Dick Dillin, but when it comes to iconic, perfectly on-model images of super-heroic collectives, Pérez is one of the undisputed champions. The JLA is dead solid perfect, excepting the first three at the top. For some reason, I've never been able to accept Pérez on Superman, perhaps because his realistic style minimizes the Man of Steel. His Wonder Woman was one of the best by the mid-80's, but here his handling is bland and unsure. Red Tornado seems both too robotic and too lifelike, if that's possible. You see, Pérez offers RT a mystique with his narrowed eyes and his subtle Mona Lisa smile. Meanwhile, Red Tornado has always been a shit character with no personality and the nuance of a jackhammer. Those three seem woefully out of place amongst the other gorgeous, finely rendered Leaguers.

The JSA had more problems, as their proportions are awkward, looking a bit too much like fan art. Robin looks excellent though, recalling Pérez's work with the young her on New Teen Titans, and most importantly covering up his terrible Earth-2 costume. At least Dick was in that fetid Composite Batman suit he was also afflicted with at times. Huntress and much of the bottom row also fared well.