50 WORDS or LESS...

Archie: A Celebration of America's Favorite Teenagers

2012-01-27T13:01:00.000-05:00

ARCHIE: A CELEBRATION OF AMERICA’S FAVORITE TEENAGERS by Craig Yoe (Yoe Books! / IDW)
Yoe’s affection for Archie is evident in this historical tome full of rare art and photos, but condensing the text would’ve allowed for deeper excavation. Collectibles and adaptations get short shrifted along with the breadth of titles (the semi-serious ARCHIE AT RIVERDALE HIGH isn’t even mentioned), leaving me wanting more.

House of Lies

2012-01-27T12:55:00.000-05:00

HOUSE OF LIES
One of the (many) reasons I despised SEX AND THE CITY was there wasn’t one redeeming character for whom to root… such is the case in this odious comedy about a narcissistic team of scheming management consultants. Especially in this economy, soulless capitalist raiders do not make for endearing leads.

Alex Toth: Setting the Standard

2012-01-27T12:52:00.000-05:00

SETTING THE STANDARD: COMICS BY ALEX TOTH 1952-1954 Edited by Greg Sadowski (Fantagraphics Books)
This comprehensive collection of Toth’s work for Standard Comics in the 1950s alternates between sententious war stories, sexist romance tales, rote horror and sci-fi schlock, but the master cartoonist made it all look so good! Not Toth’s best work, but great to have all in color under one cover.

Sucker Punch

2012-01-16T11:15:00.000-05:00

SUCKER PUNCH
Zack Snyder’s adolescent male fantasy video game pastiche might be less interminable if its many slow motion scenes were sped up, shortening the movie’s length to probably 45 minutes. As it is, it’s a horribly acted, tiresome, puerile embarrassment for everyone on both sides of the screen.

Jack Davis: Drawing American Pop Culture

2012-01-15T17:07:00.000-05:00

JACK DAVIS: DRAWING AMERICAN POP CULTURE (Fantagraphics Books)
Despite some fuzzy reproductions, this handsome overview of legendary cartoonist / illustrator Jack Davis’ work is a nice (if frustratingly un-annotated) primer. Still, it barely scratches the surface of a half-century career that spans comics, advertising, LP, book and magazine illustration and movie poster design. Davis deserves a comprehensive anthology.

Cover Story: The DC Comics Art of Brian Bolland

2012-01-15T15:49:00.000-05:00

COVER STORY: THE DC COMICS ART OF BRIAN BOLLAND (DC Comics)
Bolland’s bold, intricately detailed artwork perfectly suits the iconographic nature of comic book covers, as this collection of diverse work for DC and Vertigo vividly depicts. Amusingly annotated by the artist, the book features preliminary sketches and traces his roller-coaster relationship with (sometimes overdone) Photoshop coloring and effects.

Mail-Order Mysteries

2012-01-15T15:42:00.000-05:00

MAIL-ORDER MYSTERIES: REAL STUFF FROM OLD COMIC BOOK ADS by Kirk Demarais (Insight Editions)
More than merely cataloguing cheap junk advertised in comics of the 1960s-80s, Demarais actually tracked down artifacts such as X-Ray Glasses, mini-spy camera and Raquel Welch pillow in order to posthumously rate their value and level of consumer fraud! A lovingly compiled, nicely designed treasury of (mostly) childhood hope-crushing dross.

Habibi

2012-01-09T10:44:00.000-05:00

HABIBI by Craig Thompson (Pantheon)
Thompson’s skill as an artist and storyteller is almost frighteningly preternatural, and the emotional and visual breadth of these 600-plus pages is staggering. HABIBI is a timeless tale of love, faith, power, sex, gender, social inequity and the essential quality of myth. Simply put, it’s another goddamn Craig Thompson masterpiece.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2012-01-09T10:40:00.000-05:00

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
Like the Swedish original, the story is overstuffed—it’s really two movies in one—and the mystery reaches a perfunctory, intellectually unsatisfying conclusion. Of course, Fincher makes it all look good, with beautiful cinematography and strong performances (but HOOO, Trent Reznor’s audio / T-shirt presence is annoying).

Mr. Wonderful

2012-01-09T10:33:00.000-05:00

MR. WONDERFUL by Dan Clowes (Pantheon)
One of the all-time great indie cartoonists, Clowes has begun to tread water in recent years, endlessly reiterating the banality of existence and the silly pointlessness of trying to be happy. Not that I’m against a bracing dose of nihilism now and then, but I miss his “earlier, funnier work.”

Firefly the Complete Series

2012-01-09T10:27:00.000-05:00

FIREFLY The Complete Series
How the Hell did I miss this? Joss Whedon’s late, lamented space western was a fully-realized ensemble piece, witty and engaging, unpredictable (usually) and complex (with a damn catchy earworm of a theme). Maybe my favorite sci-fi series since STAR TREK, and—sadly—years ahead of its time.

The Great Northern Brotherhood of Canadian Cartoonists

2011-12-30T14:49:00.000-05:00

THE GREAT NORTHERN BROTHERHOOD OF CANADIAN CARTOONISTS by Seth (Drawn & Quarterly)
Gregory Gallant aka Seth’s old-timey work constantly straddles a line between charming gentility and precious self-indulgence. This sketchbook project belies nostalgia for a world that never really existed, where cartoonists earned respect and even debauchery had an air of refinement. The end result is an amusing, lovely bit of piffle.

The Adjustment Bureau

2011-12-30T14:47:00.000-05:00

THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU
Matt Damon and Emily Blunt stumble through this stylistically challenged metaphysical romance thriller loosely based on a Philip K. Dick story. The whole thing feels sloppy and half-realized (magic hats!!), a painfully simplistic hack job rooted in the unsophisticated notion of everything being part of God’s plan.

Dexter Season 6

2011-12-30T14:44:00.000-05:00

DEXTER SEASON 6
The issue of faith seemed like ripe material for DEXTER, but this season was a mixed bag, with a bit too many leaps of logic and some forced, disappointing character turns, including Deb’s (hopefully confused) feelings for Dexter. Here’s hoping the many open threads tie more tightly next season.

Batman: Noël

2011-12-21T17:07:00.002-05:00

BATMAN: NOEL by Lee Bermejo
The Dark Knight takes the role of Scrooge in this bajillionth retelling of A CHRISTMAS CAROL (with Catwoman, Superman and the Joker as the three spirits). Bermejo’s detailed, stylized realism works beautifully in the holiday context (unlike Todd Klein’s distracting lettering), and the (predictable) payoff hits home.

Homeland

2011-11-21T11:09:00.000-05:00

HOMELAND
Showtime’s post-9/11 Cat & Mouse Game (who’s who?) is an absolutely riveting, refreshingly unpredictable tale of intrigue and paranoia, on scales both large and small. Claire Danes and Damian Lewis both impeccably portray a sense of tortured conviction and emotional isolation (although Mandy Patinkin’s peevish sanctimony can feel distractingly affected).

The Green Hornet

2011-11-21T11:07:00.000-05:00

THE GREEN HORNET
Unlike The Spirit, The Green Hornet was always a half-assed character, so this dull, ill-conceived, lazily written and utterly charmless adaptation isn’t exactly an aberration; It’s just a waste of time. Seth Rogen and Cameron Diaz remain teeth-grindingly grating, while Christoph Waltz seems rightly embarrassed to be here.

Big Lake: Do You Love Me? Yes / No

2011-11-15T14:40:00.001-05:00

Big Lake, DO YOU LOVE ME? YES / NO (Evil Island Fortress)
The debut offering from Jersey City’s Big Lake (aka Lysa Opfer) may only be five songs, but they are five huge pieces of deep, lush, mesmerizing songwriting, channeling an evocative gamut of emotions and displaying a fully-realized musical voice. True, I am biased. But I’m also tellin’ the truth!

A Very She & Him Christmas

2011-11-14T17:23:00.000-05:00

She & Him, A VERY SHE & HIM CHRISTMAS (Merge Records)
Zooey Deschanel’s charming singing in ELF became wan and cloying in every subsequent manifestation. Turns out Christmas music is the genre that best suits her vocalizing, as this low-fi collection of Xmas songs with M. Ward is a lovely, if sometimes precious little candy cane in a beautiful package.

Batman: Year One

2011-11-14T17:14:00.000-05:00

BATMAN: YEAR ONE
Using Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli’s classic run as a direct template, this animated film will please the fanboy faithful who demand these things be literal translations rather than loose adaptations. Bryan Cranston as a young Lt. Jim Gordon is genius casting in this decidedly adult, often violent tale.

John Doe: Keeper

2011-10-24T16:17:00.000-04:00

John Doe, KEEPER (Yep Roc Records)
The legendary X co-frontperson continues his rock-solid solo career with another indie-star-studded collection of country and roots rock that never forgets its punk rock pedigree. Mixing melancholic introspection, righteous indignation, wistful longing and soulful celebration, the well-seasoned KEEPER more than lives up to its name.

George Harrison: Living in the Material World

2011-10-24T16:13:00.000-04:00

GEORGE HARRISON: LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD
“The quiet Beatle” comes off as, well, pretty darn dull in Martin Scorsese’s overlong documentary that fails to turn tales of Harrison’s Hinduism obsession, often forgettable post-Beatles projects and sometimes-testy personality into enough meat for a meal (although Monty Python share some nice anecdotes about George’s film production).

Catwoman #1

2011-10-19T17:44:00.000-04:00

CATWOMAN #1 by Judd Winick and Guillem March
Ed Brubaker and Darwyn Cooke’s 2002 CATWOMAN relaunch was a mainstream comics anomaly, a Caniff-inspired stylish noir. “The New 52” births this lingerie-spattered reboot that reveals Catwoman and Batman engaged in a violent hate-fuck. Sure, we always knew, but, aside from juvenile prurience, there’s no reason for us to see.

New Girl

2011-10-19T17:40:00.000-04:00

NEW GIRL
Following some awful musical dalliances, the undeniably adorable Zooey Deschanel somewhat redeems herself in this mostly worthy sitcom. Sure, the setup is tired and her dude-mates are fairly bland archetypes, but the nicely-timed, genuinely quirky humor keeps me tuned in (as long as the singing’s kept to a minimum!).

Supergirl #1

2011-10-19T17:37:00.000-04:00

SUPERGIRL #1 by Michael Green, Mike Johnson, Mamud Asrar and Dan Green
The new Supergirl lands on Earth and punches out an armored security team for thirteen pages before her (presumed) cousin shows to stop the carnage. It’s nicely drawn (and, unlike Superman’s, Kara’s new outfit is actually pretty good), but the non-stop slugfest isn’t exactly a compelling story.

Batman: The Dark Knight #1

2011-10-09T17:46:00.000-04:00

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #1 by David Finch, Paul Jenkins and Richard Friend
Okay, DC, listen up. The problem with your universe wasn’t that it was dated, it’s that it was incomprehensible. The new DCU still has way too many Batman comics, and I vote that this pointless exercise in grit be granted a quick and merciful execution. Have Zsasz do it.

Game of Thrones

2011-10-09T17:45:00.000-04:00

GAME OF THRONES Season 1
It took about four episodes before I began to care about anyone on this show, but then I had to suffer the endless tragedies and indignities heaped upon the few heroes. There’s a vindictive, bitter undertone to this show that’s discomfiting, but not quite enough to keep me away.

Swamp Thing #1

2011-10-09T17:44:00.000-04:00

SWAMP THING #1 by Scott Snyder and Yanick Paquette
As the DC reboot is not across the board, some new #1s are continuing old storylines, and in this case, I am beyond confused. Who’s this Alec Holland? This is supposed to earn new readers? Also, I hope artist Paquette is sharing his paycheck with his “inspiration,” Kevin Nowlan.

Superman #1

2011-10-07T10:00:00.000-04:00

SUPERMAN #1 by George Pérez and Jesus Marino
Okay, the Man of Steel’s reintroduction isn’t all bad, mixing classic elements (no marriage!) with a potentially interesting take on the digital-age Daily Planet and its staff. Marino’s sleek finishes gild Perez’s breakdowns, but the overall tone is a bit too dark and I still hate that ridiculous costume.

Batgirl #1

2011-10-07T09:58:00.000-04:00

BATGIRL #1 by Gail Simone, Ardian Syaf and Vicente Cifuentes
One major Bat-alteration to the DCnU is Barbara Gordon’s regaining the usage of her legs and retaking the mantle of Batgirl. Simone’s tale of a death-dealer named the Mirror is big on characterization, action and suspense, with spectacular art (even her tweaked costume looks nice). This one’s a winner.

NOTE: For a side piece about this issue's lettering, see here.

Jersey Shore Season 4

2011-10-07T09:54:00.000-04:00

JERSEY SHORE Season 4
Italy, Schmitaly. By disingenuously avoiding any reference to our anti-heroes’ wealth and fame, an already-risible show gets even MORE annoying, missing an opportunity to mine potentially interesting territory (The Shituation is getting laid by gold-digging starfuckers, duh). Let’s see these douchebag/ettes openly acknowledge their (hopefully almost expired) 15 minutes.

The Flash #1

2011-10-07T09:51:00.000-04:00

THE FLASH #1 by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
The Flash has often been (sorry, fans) a pretty dull character. Pre-reboot, Flash mythology had become an overpopulated, conflicting morass. This mostly uneventful new debut doesn’t answer the question of how many other speedsters remain in the new universe, but frankly, I don’t really care.

Batman #1

2011-10-05T12:17:00.000-04:00

BATMAN #1 by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion
Behind the hideous logo lies one of the more stylized and subdued entrants in the new DCU. But why not take advantage of the reboot and reduce the extended Batman Family to a more manageable size? Two Robins, a Nightwing plus Batwing, Batgirl, Batwoman… Still? The proverbial Batcave is overcrowded.

Detective Comics #1

2011-10-05T12:15:00.000-04:00

DETECTIVE COMICS #1 by Tony S. Daniel and Ryan Winn
Aside from Batman’s pointlessly tweaked costume (and another bad logo), there’s not much new in the reboot of DC’s namesake title. Unless you count the Joker having his face surgically removed. I guess that’s a new one. The verdict’s still out, but so far, the renumbering seems pointless.

Whitney

2011-10-05T12:13:00.000-04:00

WHITNEY
Are we really still being subjected to laugh-tracked sitcoms with rat-a-tat gags in the place of actual dialogue and believable relationships? Hasn’t this tired format been euthanized by comedies like CURB and LOUIE? Cardboard characters bantering in an anachronistic form of entertainment is just embarrassing—and painfully unfunny.

Action Comics #1

2011-10-04T13:55:00.001-04:00

ACTION COMICS #1 by Grant Morrison, Rags Morales and Rick Bryant
I don’t mind the working-class Kal-El as a callback to the 1930s champ o’ the oppressed (nor even the jeans and work boots), but the usually dramatic Morrison’s introduction to the “new” Superman surprisingly lacks any emotional or theatrical impact. Morales’ art is fine, but where are Jimmy Olsen’s freckles?

Justice League #1

2011-10-04T12:05:00.001-04:00

JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 by Geoff Johns, Jim Lee and Scott Williams
The flagship title of the new DC Universe portends an ugly future, with bickering, gritty, armored heroes in video game settings. Jim Lee’s eyestrain-inducing, overly detailed artwork (Green Lantern’s constructs are ridiculous) is rendered even more illegible by coloring that likewise lacks any subtlety or restraint. A sad mess.

Black Swan

2011-10-04T12:02:00.000-04:00

BLACK SWAN
Despite Matthew Libatique’s nice 70s-evoking cinematography, Darren Aronofsky’s patented sledgehammer style overwhelms an unavoidably predictable tale (with insulting exposition). Natalie Portman is quite good (and I’m no fan), but it feels like Black Swan’s critical status owes more to the haughty pedigree of its milieu than the film itself.

Sloan, The Double Cross

2011-10-04T11:59:00.001-04:00

Sloan, THE DOUBLE CROSS (Yep Roc)
Sloan celebrates its 20th anniversary with another solid slab of power pop, melding 60s British Invasion, 70s melodies and harmonizing and a post-new wave sensibility in a way that isn’t a mere retro pastiche. Not as awesome as BETWEEN or PRETTY, but a worthy addition to the library.

Patton Oswalt, Finest Hour

2011-09-13T17:37:00.000-04:00

Patton Oswalt, FINEST HOUR
Some years back, Oswalt predicted that contented domesticity would dull his comedic edge, a sadly prescient fear. This latest special (and CD) feels like a pale imitation of his former caustic brilliance, at times even evoking Ray Romano with a better vocabulary. Unfortunately, this is nowhere near his finest hour.

Entourage Season 8

2011-09-13T17:33:00.000-04:00

ENTOURAGE, Season 8
A show that was never great goes down in flames in a final season so contrived (E and Sloane split!), forced (Johnny Bananas!), inane (Turtle’s a millionaire!), unconvincing (Ari quits!) and predictable (Vince marries Sophia!) that I honestly thought it was going to all be a dream. Nope. Just putrid.

The Tillman Story

2011-09-08T10:38:00.000-04:00

THE TILLMAN STORY
This documentary on the cover-up and exploitation of football star Pat Tillman’s friendly fire death in Afghanistan is heartbreaking on many levels. Aside from the illumination of even more Bush Administration malfeasance, this documentary shows how nuanced thought and conviction of non-conventional belief is considered anathema in modern American culture.

DC Universe: Legacies

2011-09-08T10:36:00.000-04:00

DC UNIVERSE: LEGACIES by Len Wein and many artists
This epitaph for the pre-reboot DCU attempts to encapsulate 75 years of history, retroactive continuity and character acquisitions. The book starts strong, but falls apart in the post-CRISIS crossover-event eras, clumsily summarizing convoluted storylines in a few pages. Ironically, LEGACIES ultimately illustrates how overarching continuity is mainstream comics’ worst enemy.

Stuyvesant: Fret Sounds

2011-09-08T10:32:00.001-04:00

Stuyvesant, FRET SOUNDS (Dromedary Records)
Mixing breakneck melodies and righteous sloppiness in a classic Minneapolis mode (“St. Cloud” even gets a shout-out), Jersey’s own Stuyvesant hits its stride with this new collection of witty, fuzzy bluster, highlighted by the absolutely terrific “Duly Noted.” A big, big record from some awfully nice guys.

The Looney Tunes Show

2011-08-23T18:16:00.000-04:00

THE LOONEY TUNES SHOW
The design, animation, writing and voice acting all vary from competent to quite good. So why does this Bugs & Daffy sitcom just feel… wrong? Maybe trying to update these characters is simply a fool’s errand, as no modern interpretation can ever measure up to what are true American masterpieces.

DC Retroactive: Batman - the '70s

2011-08-03T11:54:00.000-04:00

DC RETROACTIVE: BATMAN – THE ‘70s by Len Wein & Tom Mandrake (DC Comics)
The Terrible Trio return to torment the Darknight Detective who, for some strange reason, has his bat-symbol photoshopped onto his chest in most panels (it ain’t that hard to draw). Wein’s script and Mandrake’s pencils capture the era, but again, modern production techniques dull the intended effect.

Louie Season 2

2011-08-03T11:48:00.000-04:00

LOUIE Season 2
What makes LOUIE one of the best shows on TV isn’t its unique combination of hilarity and melancholia so much as its singular vision (a tube rarity). Extreme hyphenate C.K. produces, writes, directs and edits as well as stars, making this a true, undiluted extension of his brilliant stand-up style.

DC Retroactive: Superman - the '70s

2011-07-29T13:27:00.003-04:00

DC RETROACTIVE: SUPERMAN – THE ‘70s by Martin Pasko, Eduardo Barreto & Christian Duce (DC Comics)
Mr. Mxyzptlk mentally torments the Man of Steel in this fun throwback to Superman’s Galaxy Broadcasting era. The art feels a bit rushed (as two different artists might indicate), and the retro esthetic is weakened by Andrew Elder’s overdone, completely anachronistic coloring. A superfluous backup 1978 reprint suffers from horrid reproduction.

The American

2011-07-29T13:22:00.000-04:00

THE AMERICAN
George Clooney mopes through Anton Corbijn’s fashion shoot / thriller as a butterfly-loving hitman / gunsmith who befriends a priest and falls in love with a hooker while hiding out and doing one last job in Italy. The movie’s snail-paced, but atmospheric enough to engage until the heavy-handed conclusion.

Captain America: the First Avenger

2011-07-25T12:13:00.000-04:00

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
A unique opportunity to make a gritty WWII-period superhero movie is squandered in favor of a two-hour ad for toys and THE AVENGERS. Chris Evans is just okay while Hugo Weaving’s cartoonish Red Skull feels lightweight in a film with adequate style, but a sad lack of character development.
(for more, see here)

¡No Pasaran!: Porter in the Making

2011-07-25T12:09:00.001-04:00

¡No Pararan!, PORTER IN THE MAKING ep (Killing Horse Records)
I’ve always been impressed by this Jersey trio’s highly intelligent art rock, but often felt like I didn’t get it. Until now. This new ep is a revelatory, perfect mesh of brain and brawn, a refreshing slap of righteous post-punk directly to the head, and the gut as well.

Funny Misshapen Body

2011-07-25T12:04:00.000-04:00

FUNNY MISSHAPEN BODY by Jeffrey Brown (Touchstone)
I’m normally not a fan of primitive cartoonists, but Brown’s scratchy, minimalist style is perfectly suited for the kind of (literal) navel-gazing on display in this painfully relatable autobiographical tale of Brown’s evolution from a Crohn’s-afflicted, comic book obsessed kid to disgruntled art student to working cartoonist.

Brothers

2011-07-25T12:01:00.000-04:00

BROTHERS
War is Hell, but coming home is often worse. The Homeric BROTHERS works best as a bleak statement about the seemingly unwinnable situation in the Middle East, while the drama on the home front feels like something we’ve seen too often before. Still, Tobey Maguire’s performance is devastating.

Insidious

2011-07-19T11:56:00.000-04:00

INSIDIOUS
Why do I fall for horror movie hype? This haunted house—er, kid—retread incorporates elements of POLTERGEIST, THE SHINING, AMITYVILLE HORROR and other (better) scary movies into an oddly bland, style-deficient film (a Trent-Reznoresque demon ain’t spooky) with a mere handful of shocks and a predictable ending.

Archie Firsts

2011-07-19T11:52:00.000-04:00

ARCHIE FIRSTS Dark Horse Archives Special Edition
The collected first appearances of the major characters from Riverdale offer an enlightening glimpse at how fully-formed Archie, Jughead, Betty & Veronica and Reggie were from the beginning. Sadly (and typically), the re-colored, awkwardly re-lettered artwork neuters the archival aspect of an otherwise handsome book.

Reagan

2011-07-19T11:50:00.000-04:00

REAGAN
My admittedly biased review: HBO’s entertaining documentary on Ronald Reagan is a refreshingly lefthanded counterbalance to the usually historically-ignorant exaltation afforded a President whose policies paved the way for the our current economic crisis and whose style came to define the shallow, gut-level posturing of modern politics.

Let Me In

2011-07-14T11:47:00.000-04:00

LET ME IN
Director Matt Reeves successfully replicates the eerie, isolated atmosphere of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, likewise capturing the agony of awkward, lonely adolescence. Yet the film suffers slightly from the American need for redundant exposition (visual and literal) and a lack of subtlety that defined the stylish Swedish original.

The Last Exorcism

2011-07-14T11:45:00.000-04:00

THE LAST EXORCISM
This tired mockumentary attempts to meld BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, THE EXORCIST and ROSEMARY’S BABY, to extremely ineffective results (oh, and faux-documentaries shouldn’t use a traditional horror movie score). The oxymoronic over-underacting only adds to the utter lack of potency (and the poster image isn’t even in the film). Yawn.

Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead

2011-07-13T17:29:00.002-04:00

DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: The Writers and Artists Who Made NATIONAL LAMPOON Insanely Great by RIck Meyerowitz
While most people associate NATIONAL LAMPOON with their lowbrow movies, the magazine itself was often highly intellectual, sometimes (as this book illuminates) too much for its own good. Tales of the often-obstreperous staff and contributors are at times as deranged as anything published in the groundbreaking publication.

The Tourist

2011-07-13T17:26:00.000-04:00

THE TOURIST
A seemingly bored Johnny Depp is led around Venice by an affected, pallid, scary-skinny Angelina Jolie (honestly, I do NOT get the appeal) in this muddled, boring, glacier-paced romantic comedy / thriller. I appreciate the attempt to craft a stylish, old-fashioned chase film, but Hitchcockian this ain’t.

MasterChef Season 2

2011-07-13T17:25:00.001-04:00

MASTERCHEF Season 2
This show needs serious retooling; Heart-tugging auditions select 100 contestants, quickly whittled down to 18 based on an apple peeling test? Then why bother getting us emotionally invested? The supercilious hosts are often slap-worthy, but the cooking challenges are interesting enough to keep a foodie tuned in.

The Social Network

2011-07-13T17:22:00.000-04:00

THE SOCIAL NETWORK
The lavish critical praise of David Fincher’s version of the founding of Facebook seems as overblown as the number of friends my 13 year-old cousin has. The cast is suitably slimy, but as with all historical fiction, the blurring between reality and speculation ultimately mitigates the dramatic impact.

Green Lantern

2011-06-21T10:47:00.000-04:00

GREEN LANTERN
The leaden romance between unnecessarily mopey hero and yet ANOTHER pretzel stick leading lady stalls the energy of this otherwise serviceable sci-fi superhero flick. Sure, the villains are goofy, but the action’s fun and the core / corps is there. Alas, the outlook for a villainous Sinestro sequel is looking blacker…

Those Darlins, Screws Get Loose

2011-06-14T18:16:00.000-04:00

Those Darlins, SCREWS GET LOOSE
Murfreesboro, TN’s Darlin girls (and added guy) tone down the honky tonk of their first record and amp up the reverbed ‘60s girl / garage sound on this superior sophomore effort, a snappy and salacious disc that is much better suited to their piss and vinegar style.

Devil

2011-06-14T18:15:00.000-04:00

DEVIL
Oh, what a shock. The old lady was the devil and Janekowski was the hit and run driver. M. Night Shyamalan, I know you didn’t direct this uninspiring, predictable, overblown TWILIGHT ZONE episode, but you’re still responsible. Please, I beg you: Stop making movies. Just stop. Thanks.

Portlandia

2011-06-14T18:11:00.000-04:00

PORTLANDIA
Fred Armisen and Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein simultaneously celebrate and eviscerate the hippies, yuppies, vegans, musicians, artists, baristas and other denizens of Portland, OR in this smart, cool and often hysterical sketch comedy show that blends MR. SHOW, TENACIOUS D and KIDS IN THE HALL into a frothy, caffeinated potion.

Buried

2011-06-14T18:09:00.000-04:00

BURIED
Ryan Reynolds plays an Iraqi-abducted American contractor buried alive with a really strong cell phone, lighter, knife, flask and flashlight and forced to attempt to negotiate his freedom. A serviceable, claustrophobic thriller, but how the Hell are the credits so long for a movie entirely set inside a coffin?

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights

2011-06-08T22:09:00.000-04:00

GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD KNIGHTS
After a few missteps, the DC Animated Movies come back big with this spectacular DVD. Six interlocking tales (some adapted from the comics) draw on a rich sci-fi / superhero mythology, incorporating impeccable character design, beautiful animation, fantastic action, Nathan Fillion as GL and Mogo socializing!

Salt

2011-06-08T22:03:00.000-04:00

SALT (Director’s Cut)
Wait… is this a superhero movie? Otherwise, how does 80-lb anorexic Angelina Jolie kick so much ass and defy gravity in this wretchedly predictable spy thriller? From the obvious “surprise” villain to its forced, franchise-begetting ending (please, no), this ludicrous farce makes Derek Flint look like Jason Bourne.

Genius, Isolated: The Life and Art of Alex Toth

2011-06-08T22:00:00.000-04:00

GENIUS, ISOLATED: THE LIFE AND ART OF ALEX TOTH by Dean Mullaney and Bruce Canwell
The first in IDW’s trilogy chronicling the life and work of one of comics’ most important figures (and my favorite artist) tackles Toth’s beginnings through the early 60s, with beautiful reproductions and enlightening backstory. But a rather jejune design and slim selection of DC material leaves a hole unfilled.

Knight and Day

2011-06-08T21:55:00.000-04:00

KNIGHT AND DAY
Tom Cruise makes an ineffectual stab at a Clooneyesque mix of humor and bravado while Cameron Diaz plays gratingly perky kewpie doll in this painfully off-key action/spy flick semi-parody (overloaded with my most hated movie cliché: machine gun toting assassins who can’t hit the side of a barn!).

X-Men: First Class

2011-06-06T12:29:00.001-04:00

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
While I would’ve liked a bit more period stylization—and have some nitpicking quibbles about characters, accents, and power inconsistencies—this 1960s X-prequel (hilariously tying into the Cuban missile crisis) is an emotionally grounded, wildly satisfying (albeit X-continuity-contradicting) origin story, full of explosive action and fun nerdbits.

The Killing

2011-06-06T12:24:00.000-04:00

THE KILLING
This smart, moody, Lynch-paced adaptation of the Danish series about a teenage girl’s slaying offers tantalizing clues while emphasizing the often trivialized sense of grief and loss that death brings. A wonderfully unglamorous cast only adds to the haunting tenor (Seattle certainly makes a great setting for murder mysteries).

The Flash: Rebirth

2011-06-06T12:21:00.000-04:00

THE FLASH: REBIRTH
The Silver Age comics icon is back in this expository-leaden example of how the DC Universe’s cluttered, impenetrable mythology has become overpopulated with too many variations on the same characters and too much history. Ethan Van Sciver’s stiff, clunky art vainly attempts an ill-advised realism, while lacking grace and style.

Too Big to Fail

2011-06-01T16:55:00.000-04:00

TOO BIG TO FAIL
Curtis Hanson’s star-studded take on the origin of TARP glosses over the cause (deregulation by the Reagan and Clinton administrations), and sputters with some awkward Economics-for-Dummies-style exposition but paints the shortsighted rapacity of the institutions who took our money and kept it for themselves with a nice, scathing black brush.

Blondie, Autoamerican

2011-06-01T16:52:00.002-04:00

Blondie, AUTOAMERICAN
Aside from fattening his own wallet, Harold Camping’s Judgment Day prediction surely prodded sales of Blondie’s “Rapture”-including 1980 album. A sometimes-overreaching mixture of disparate musical genres suffers from Eighties overproduction, while scoring marks for avoiding formulaic repetition. The end result is a bizarre, but oddly endearing mixed bag.

Pawn Stars

2011-06-01T16:49:00.000-04:00

PAWN STARS
While their counter-expertise and office conflict are obviously producer-manufactured, the likeable multi-generational assholes of Las Vegas’ Silver and Gold Pawn Shop and their desperately clueless and greedy customers (“It’s worth $3,000… can I have $3,000?”) make for some often fascinating, sometimes aggravating (Rick’s wheezing laugh!), completely addicting television.

American Pickers

2011-06-01T16:46:00.000-04:00

AMERICAN PICKERS
More like American Douchebags. I have zero affection for these two dim, myopic antique dealers who travel the country on a relentless mission to rip off the poor and the elderly while vainly attempting to seem erudite and funny (evoking less Abbott & Costello and more antiquing Hamburglar and Grimace).

Thor

2011-05-10T11:04:00.001-04:00

THOR
It took me about 20 minutes to get used to the tonal mixture of Kenneth Branagh’s loud and shiny super-sitcom, but it ultimately works, even if the scale is surprisingly small. I remain Meh on Natalie Portman, but the rest of the cast embraces the grand cheese with great aplomb.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

2011-05-10T11:00:00.000-04:00

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD
If I were into video games… or Manga… or Beck… or if Michael Cera didn’t make me wanna kick puppies… or if I were a 16 year-old girl… I may well have enjoyed Edgar Wright’s stylish comics adaptation. Things being as they are, however, I cannot say I did.

Action Comics #900

2011-05-06T13:18:00.001-04:00

ACTION COMICS #900
This anniversary issue forgoes stand-alone celebration for contemporary comics’ aggravating focus on expanded storylines. Damon Lindeloff’s and Geoff Johns’ backup tales shine, but David Goyer’s citizenship renunciation story smacks of PR grab and a Richard Donner-penned piece is illustrated in an awkward storyboard style. Overall, an unsatisfying missed opportunity.

Ad Nauseum

2011-05-06T13:13:00.001-04:00

AD NAUSEUM: A SURVIVOR’S GUIDE TO AMERICAN CONSUMER CULTURE edited by Carrie McLaren and Jason Torchinsky
This collection of essays from STAY FREE! Magazine and website balances righteous anger with hilarious bemusement over the ever-widening corporate encroachment into our lives. While modern technology has rendered some of these pieces anachronistic, this book is an excellent primer for the conscientious consumer.

Talking Funny

2011-05-06T13:11:00.000-04:00

TALKING FUNNY
Well, not really. Look, I think Jerry Seinfeld, Ricky Gervais, Chris Rock and Louis C.K. are all amazingly funny men, but this 45 minute circle jerk is only slightly enlightening and even less amusing. This discussion of style and philosophy could’ve remained a work discussion among friends.

The Other Guys

2011-04-26T18:05:00.000-04:00

THE OTHER GUYS
Adam McKay’s cop/buddy film spoof does double duty as an indictment of corporate malfeasance and the government’s role in helping the rich get richer. A nice mixture of broad slapstick and smart satire enhances the film’s multi-layered texture. Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg play off of each other beautifully.

Blank City

2011-04-26T18:03:00.000-04:00

BLANK CITY
The NYC 1970s punk scene has been well-documented, but until now the concurrent no-wave / cinema of transgression movements have gotten short shrift. Compelling, uncensored personal stories are vividly illustrated with film excerpts and home video of NYC’s evolution from depressed artist’s haven to real estate developer’s playground.

Smallville Season 10

2011-04-26T18:02:00.001-04:00

SMALLVILLE Season 10
It may be five seasons overdue, but this final year has yielded payoffs Superman fans have longed for. Erica Durance may be the best Lois Lane ever and Tom Welling remains a solid Kal-El. Taken on its own terms, two-hour finale could be well worth the wait.

Foo Fighters, Wasting Light

2011-04-20T21:26:00.000-04:00

Foo Fighters, WASTING LIGHT
Pat Smear rejoins the Foos as they go back to the garage (and analog tape) with producer Butch Vig in a blistering return to form after the beer-jingle complacency of their last two records. Happily, I can again ask and answer, “You know who doesn’t like Foo Fighters? Jerks!”

Community, Season 2

2011-04-20T21:24:00.001-04:00

COMMUNITY, Season 2
Literate, lowbrow, meta, absurd, cynical, warm, brilliant, traditional, radical, refreshingly unpredictable. Ken Jeong is a comic genius, but the ensemble truly shines. It took a while for COMMUNITY to find its voice, but in this second season, it’s become my favorite sitcom. There, I said it.

Jonah Hex

2011-04-20T21:19:00.001-04:00

JONAH HEX
It ain’t the worst comic book movie ever, and there’s some amazing actors (Josh Brolin! John Malkovich! Michael Fassbender! Michael Shannon!) slumming (Megan Fox, no) in this VERY loose supernatural adaptation of the DC western, but it ultimately just feels like a pointless sequel to WILD, WILD WEST.

Can You Dig It?

2011-04-12T11:49:00.000-04:00

CAN YOU DIG IT? THE MUSIC AND POLITICS OF BLACK ACTION FILMS
The vast majority of Blaxploitation compilations recycle the same songs over and over, but, aside from a few stalwarts (Isaac Hayes’ SHAFT theme seems mandatory), this two-disc set contains lots of rare groovy, righteous soul power from 1967-78 (as well as a 100-page book). You gotta make a resolution!

75 Years of DC Comics

2011-04-12T11:47:00.003-04:00

75 YEARS OF DC COMICS: THE ART OF MODERN MYTHMAKING by Paul Levitz
Taschen’s massive, beautifully illustrated 15-lb. tome may well be the quintessential history of the storied publisher of Superman, Batman, et al. Levitz’ four decades at DC make him a knowledgeable and passionate (yet surprisingly objective) chronicler of a vast, complicated legacy. And it makes a great desktop—literally.

Blue Bloods

2011-04-12T11:46:00.000-04:00

BLUE BLOODS
Genetically improbable siblings Donnie Wahlberg and Bridget Moynahan are the progeny of Tom Selleck, the paterfamilias of a legacy of NYPD cops. While every liberal bone in my body screams to hate this thing (Reagan? Really?), I can’t help but eat it up like red, white and blue ice cream.

Comic Art Propaganda

2011-04-04T12:46:00.001-04:00

COMIC ART PROPAGANDA: A GRAPHIC HISTORY by Fredrik Strömberg
A succinct history of how comics’ unique marriage of words and pictures can be a powerful tool for pushing an agenda. Fighting Hitler, hawking cigarettes, anti-drugs, pro-drugs, religious proselytizing, atomic energy, political revolutions and sex ed are just some of the topics covered in this fascinating collection.

The Horror! The Horror!

2011-04-04T12:44:00.001-04:00

THE HORROR! THE HORROR! COMIC BOOKS THE GOVERNMENT DIDN’T WANT YOU TO READ by Jim Trombetta
While the EC horror comics of the 1950s have been reprinted and eulogized ad infinitum, the other, lesser-known pulp atrocities that the government decided led to juvenile delinquency have, until now, gotten the short shrift. This nicely annotated, lavishly illustrated, DVD-enhanced tome ghoulishly picks up the gory slack.

Battle: Los Angeles

2011-03-24T16:54:00.000-04:00

BATTLE: LOS ANGELES
Remember how bad INDEPENDENCE DAY was? Well, this underwritten, visually convulsive, hyper-militarized version of the same story somehow manages to make Roland Emmerich’s film seem rich with human emotion and narrative depth. The biomechanical aliens are so indecipherably designed, they’re non-entities and our heroes are all cookie cutter marine stereotypes.

Fringe Season 3

2011-03-24T16:52:00.000-04:00

FRINGE Season 3
TV’s best science fiction show continues to expand its mythology, bouncing back and forth between the two (but why only two?) universes, asking lots of questions that fans can only hope will be answered! Smart, stylish, funny, well-acted and emotionally involving, FRINGE deserves your attention.

The Runaways

2011-03-24T16:50:00.000-04:00

THE RUNAWAYS
One of rock’s most fascinating stories gets a so-so film treatment. The band’s rotating roster of bass players and its career-ending clash of punk vs. metal sensibilities is totally ignored in favor of hoary rock-bio clichés of drug use, sex and ego clash. A wasted opportunity.

Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics

2011-03-16T11:15:00.001-04:00

SECRET ORIGIN: THE STORY OF DC COMICS
An in-house documentary can only be so objective, but this 90-minute story of the 75-year history (overly weighted towards film/TV adaptations) of DC Comics would’ve greatly benefited from another half hour, covering the Siegel-Shuster battles and the evolution of creators’ rights and benefits in the face of indie publishing.

127 Hours

2011-03-16T11:14:00.001-04:00

127 HOURS
Sure, Danny Boyle’s miraculously kinetic film is mesmerizing and inspiring, but for me, it primarily serves as a reminder to avoid (a) athletic activity and (b) the outdoors. Now, where’s that Scooby Doo house party?

Kick-Ass

2011-03-16T11:13:00.001-04:00

KICK-ASS
Evidence that comics are often more daring than film, this compromised adaptation falls back on Hollywood convention (boy gets girl, hero flies, shit blows up and more) supplanting the comic’s darker tone. Chloe Moretz (as the foul-mouthed Hit-Girl) and Mark Strong are eminently enjoyable in this otherwise muddled superhero-verité.