— by CHAS BLANKENSHIP — From pulp vigilante and allied soldier to space explorer, tragically hip comedian and newly-revived hardboiled detective, Batman had just about seen it all…surviving his own history to become what many people thought a comic book hero couldn’t be… A Legend.[...]
Archive for April, 2010
Under Review: ‘Kick-Ass’
— by H.G. WATSON — Full disclosure: I debated opening with “This film will kick YOUR ass.” But in the interest of avoiding any puns in this review of Matthew Vaughn’s “Kick Ass,” I will say this: the film certainly lives up to its name. There is enough blood, guts and martial a[...]
Batman: A Detective’s Revival (1970 to 1979)
— by CHAS BLANKENSHIP — As the comic book industry entered into the ’70s, a realization was made…readers were maturing. No longer impressed by the overcooked nature of the ’50s and ’60s, they sought characters and stories with tangible drama…emotional depth…and an[...]
A Scene from ‘When You’re Strange’
— by ALLISON HIGGINBOTHAM — It has been 45 years since The Doors became a band, 39 years since Jim Morrison’s death, and 37 years since The Doors disbanded. After all this time, people still remain enamored with The Doors. The new documentary “When You’re Strange” tells the life [...]
Poster Peek: ‘Sex and the City 2’
— by AMANDA KOEHLER — I have to admit it — I am really excited for “Sex and the City 2.” That being said, all of the posters I have seen for the movie are kind of ridiculous — including the one below. “Sex and the City” fans know that in the SATC world[...]
Under Review: ‘Casi Divas’
— by BEV QUESTAD — Duplicity, estrangement, mistaken identity, passion and emotional upheaval: these are the hallmarks of a great comedy and “Casi Divas” lives up to it all. In addition, “Casi Divas” is complex and deep, making it as rich in its content as its color – of which [...]
The Good, The Bad and The Smurfy
— by ADAM POYNTER — For those of us in our 20s and 30s, we can reminisce about our childhoods and the Saturday morning cartoon we use to watch, but that wasn’t the beginning of the “Smurfs.” No, they got their start in Belgium by a cartoonist named Peyo in 1958. It has[...]
Trailer Talk: ‘Ong Bak 3’
— by JESSIKA OWENS — When you hear the word Thailand, is your first thought Tony Jaa? Or even martial arts? My guess is that for the majority, neither Tony Jaa nor martial arts are what the word Thailand evokes. When most people think of martial arts films, China and Japan, Lee and Chan [...]
The (New) Adventures of Batman
— by CHAS BLANKENSHIP — At the height of Saturday Morning glory, you’d be hard pressed to find a more suitable and worthwhile character than Batman. A perfectly cartoonish example of this is 1968/1977/1985’s “The (New) Adventures of Batman.”[...]
2010 Cannes Film Festival Lineup Unveiled
— by RACHEL COYNE — If you’re lucky enough to live in France and have an “in” with the movie biz, then May 12 to 23 will be a very exciting time for you. For the rest of us, we’ll have to be satisfied to check out the recently-released list of features playing at the […][...]
A Scene from ‘Cemetery Junction’
— by JOSIANE OCHMAN — Co-written and co-directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the clip for “Cemetery Junction” hints at a promising film-making career for the duo known primarily for their television work. The clip is self-assured in tone and dialogue. It features a[...]
First Look: ‘Jackass 3’
— by TIERNEY BUTLER — Let me just say this: I have been a big fan of the “Jackass” franchise since I was about 11 years old. I own all the seasons of the TV show and all of their movies on DVD. So when I heard they were going to be doing a “Jackass […][...]
American Hangover: The Elegy of Comedy Movies
— by CHRIS HYATT — I may seem like a serious guy, but I appreciate a good comedy flick from time to time. I’ve seen every movie Mel Brooks ever made, minus “Young Frankenstein.” I’ve farted in your general direction with the Monty Python crew, and the very last time I pla[...]
Trailer Talk: ‘The Joneses’
— by RACHEL COYNE — “The Joneses” answers the question of why the grass is always greener on the other side: Because it’s specifically marketed to be that way! David Duchovny and Demi Moore star as “married” couple Steve and Kate Jones, who move into an affluent neighborhood wi[...]