31 Days Of Horror (Day 4): ABC's Of Death 2

Director(s): Various

Writer(s): Various

Starring: Various

Release Date: October 31, 2014

Plot: Be ready to learn your ABC's again with 26 new directors and 26 new deaths bring your kids to a blood and gore filled horror so good your face will be blood red.

31 Days Of Horror(Day 3): American Psycho

Director: Mary Harron

Writer: Mary Harron and Guinevere Turner

Based on: American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

Released: January 21, 2000 (Sundance), April 14, 2000

Starring: Christain Bale, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Josh Lucas, Samantha Mathis, Chloe Sevgny, Justin Theroux, Reese Witherspoon

Plot: Patrick Bateman is an effigy of the 1980′s. Young, attractive, and wealthy he spends his days “fitting in” on Wall Street. He spends his nights mutilating colleagues and strangers to vent his frustrations with the shallow and materialistic culture he is a part of.

Review: The Boxtrolls

Director(s):  Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable

Writer(s): Adam Pava, Irena Brignull

Starring: Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Elle Fanning, Ben Kingsley, Jared Harris, Nick Frost, Tracy Morgan, Richard Ayoade, Simon Pegg, 

Adapted form the novel "Here Be Monsters!" written and illustrated by Alan Snow

Release Date: September 26, 2014 

Review: Tusk

Director: Kevin Smith

Writer: Kevin Smith

Starring: Justin Long, Michael Parks, Johnny Depp, Haley Joel Osment, Genesis Rodriguez

Release Date: September 19, 2014 (September 6, 2014 TIFF)

Plot: While interviewing a mysterious seafarer named Howard Howe, podcaster Wallace Bryton is taken hostage by Howe, who attempts to turn him into a walrus. Meanwhile, Bryton's best friend Teddy Craft and girlfriend Ally Leon team up with an ex-cop named Guy Lapointe to investigate his disappearance.

Review: Godzilla

The King of Monsters is back and bigger than ever. This isn't an exaggeration either. He is HUGE.

Director: Gareth Edwards

Writer(s): Dave Callaham, Max Borenstein

Starring: Bryan Cranston, Juliette Binoche, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Ken Wantanabe, Vivienne Graham

Released: May 16, 2014

Plot: The world's most famous monster is pitted against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

Review: Hanna

Director: Joe Wright

Writer(s): Seth Lochhead, David Farr

Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Vicky Krieps, Cate Blanchett, Paris Arrowsmith, John Macmillan, Tim Beckmann

Release Date: April 8, 2011

Plot: A sixteen-year-old girl who was raised by her father to be the perfect assassin is dispatched on a mission across Europe, tracked by a ruthless intelligence agent and her operatives.

Review: The LEGO Movie

An adventure of hilarious proportions.

Director(s): Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Writer(s): Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Starring: Chris Pratt, Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks, Morgan Freeman, Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Nick Offerman

Release Date: February 7, 2014

Genre: Animated/Action/Adventure

Plot: An ordinary LEGO minifigure, mistakenly thought to be the extraordinary MasterBuilder, is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil LEGO tyrant from gluing the universe together

Does The LEGO Movie live up to all the hype? Find out in our review HERE: 

Living Sacrifice: Ghost Thief

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Living Sacrafice: Ghost Thief (Review)

Artist: Living Sacrifice

Album: “Ghost Thief”

Released: 2013

Label: Solid State Records

Genre: Metal/Melodic Hardcore

Review: Frozen

Director(s): Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee

Writer: Jennifer Lee

Starring: Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Santino Fontana, Alan Tudyk,

Released: November 27, 2013

Genre(s): Animation/Adventure/Comedy

Plot: After Elsa's secret has been revealed her icy powers trap the kingdom of Arrendelle in an eternal winter. Elsa's sister Anna sets off on an epic journey to save her sister alongside rugged mountainman Kristoff and his loyal Reindeer Sven.

Review: The Purge

Director: James DeMonaco

Writer: James DeMonaco

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder, Adelaide Kane, Edwin Hodge, Rhys Wakefield

Released: June 7, 2013

Plot: In the future, a wealthy family is held hostage for harboring the target of a murderous syndicate during the Purge.

Slint: Spiderland

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Slint: Spiderland (Review)

Artist: Slint

Album: Spiderland

Recorded: August & October of 1990.

Released: March 27, 1991.

Label: Touch & Go

Genre: Post-Rock

Review: Man On The Moon

Man on the Moon is a biopic that highlights the life of estranged “song-and-dance man,” Andy Kaufman

Director: Milos Forman

Writer(s): Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski

Starring: Jim Carrey, Danny DeVito, Courtney Love, Paul Giamatti

Released: December 22, 1999

Plot: Man on the Moon is an American biographical comedy-drama film about the late American entertainer Andy Kaufman.

Rich Versus Roach, Review

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Rich Versus Roach, Review

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Artist: Max Roach & Buddy Rich

Album: Rich Versus Roach

Release Date: 1959

Label: Mercury

Genre: Jazz

Brother Ali: The Undisputed Truth

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Brother Ali: The Undisputed Truth (2007) Review

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Artist: Brother Ali

Album: The Undisputed Truth

Release Date: 2007

Label: Rhymesayers Entertainment

Genre: Hip Hop

Review: What Maisie Knew

What Maisie Knew takes the not so original story of divorce and places its own spin onto it. 

Director(s): Scott McGehee and David Siegel

Writer(s): Nancy Doyne and Carroll Cartwright

Starring: Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgard, Steve Coogan, Joanna Vanderham, Onata Aprile

Released: September 7, 2012 (Toronto International Film Festival), May 3, 2013

Based on: What Maisie Knew by Henry James

Plot: In New York City, a young girl is caught in the middle of her parents' bitter custody battle.

Guns N’ Wankers: For Dancing and Listening

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Guns N’ Wankers: For Dancing and Listening (Review)

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Artist: Guns N’ Wankers

Album: For Dancing and Listening

Release Date: 1995

Label: Fat Wreck Chords

Genre: Punk, Pop Punk, UK, Alternative

The Jesus and Mary Chain: Darklands

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The Jesus and Mary Chain: Darklands (review)

Artist: The Mary And Jesus Chain

Album: Darklands

Release Date: 1987

Label: Blanco y Negro

Genre: Post-Punk, Shoegaze, Indie, Alternative

Comic Review: Harley Quinn #000

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Harley Quinn #000 - Comic Review

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Publisher: DC Comics

Title: Harley Quinn #000

Price: $2.99

Writers: Amanda Connor, and Jimmy Palmiotti

Artists(17): Charlie Adlard, Art Baltazar, Becky Cloonan, Darwyn Cooke, Tony S. Daniel, Sam Kieth, Bruce Timm, Jim Lee, Stephanie Roux, Tradd Moore, Chad Hardin, Adam Hughes, Dave Johnson, Dan Panosian, Jeremy Roberts, Walter Simonson

The beloved Batman villain and former Arkham Asylum psychotherapist, Harleen Quinzel, or "Harley Quinn" has her own solo title as a part of DC's "The New '52." After a huge controversy regarding a contest DC hosted, asking amateur artists to draw a panel depicting Harley naked in a bath tub with electronic appliances plugged in and dangling above her, fans have been excited to see one of their favorite female villains get her own title. But did it live up to expectations? 

Story Summary 

This is going to be a really quick summary because honestly, not much happened in this book. Throughout the entire book Harley Quinn is in a dream about having her own comic title in which she teams up with the writers to find an artist for her new monthly title. The whole book is a montage of different artists drawing Harley Quinn in different situations. It isn't until the end of the book that we get some sort of story. At the end, a man (who just so happens to look like Walter While) pulls up in a fancy car and tells Harley that one of her former patients from Arkham recently died and left her a four story house. 

Review of the Book

Before I start the review, let me just say... I HATE THE NEW HARLEY QUINN RE-DESIGN! She may be sexy but PLEASE! Give us the original Harley back! Okay... Now on with the review!

Though I do not read a lot of DC comic books, one thing I have always loved from DC was Batman's villains. Just something about them always intrigued me. One of my favorites being Harley Quinn. When I heard that she was getting her own comic title I automatically knew right off the bat that I would be adding this book to my pull. She's absolutely insane and I love that! Harley Quinn #000 was, well... Quite interesting to say the least. The forth wall was broken the entire book and made me feel like I was reading an old school Deadpool book. (am i allowed to mention Marvel books in a DC review? Oh well.) Which is not a bad thing at all! Though this book had absolutely no story line I actually really really enjoyed it and thought that it was just a fun book to read. When it comes to the writing, I can't really complain about it to be honest. I wanted a fun book showcasing Harley Quinn, and that's exactly what I got. Even though I did not gain anything at all from it. I am very excited to see how the writers do on this book when it is actually following a story arc and there is actually things happening, instead of the writers just writing a crazy fun book. Though, I do hope this title stays crazy and fun, maybe with just a little less breaking of the forth wall. The art in this book is again, really really hard to critique since there were 17 different artists. Some were better than others, but none of the art made me go "well that looks like crap." Which is really good in my opinion. I have a feeling that a lot of people are going to have issues with this book since the "controversial" panel wasn't even in the book, and because this book didn't really follow a story line or advance anything, but that's really what I liked about this book. It was just a book for fun and having a fun read. I am very disappointed though that DC pulled that panel. Overall, I really enjoyed this issue and am insanely excited to see how this series pans out!

Pros, Cons, and Rating    

Pros: It's fun, it's entertaining, and it will put a smile on your face

Cons: No real story, and the costume re-design is stupid

Rating: 8/10. Solid book. Nothing too special yet, but it was just an overall fun read

Comic Review: Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #006

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Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #006 - Comic Review

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Publisher: Marvel Comics

Title: Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #006

Price: $3.99

Writer: Christopher Yost

Artist: Marco Checchetto

Part two of Christopher Yost's "Superior Six" story arc is something fun and entertaining. After taking the sinister six hostage, The Superior Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus, puts his former villain team mates under mind control in order to fight crime with a "superior" super team. In part one we see the first development in this and see just how the sinister six react to being under the control of their arch nemesis. In this issue, part 2, we see how the city of New York, the police department, Mayor J. Jonah Jameson and the Avengers react to this recent team up and boy, none of them see happy. Now wanted by the Police Spider-Man and his new "superior six" take to the streets again to fight the wrecking crew, and the masters of evil who team up to take down Spider-Man and his team.

Story Summary(some spoilers)

The book starts with some of the most important Spider-Man characters reactions to the recent Spider-Man, Sinister Six team-up, and no one seems happy about it. After taking the stolen "quantum particle engine" back to Parker Industries for safe keeping, Spider-Man receives an alert of an attack on the city at the hands of the wrecking crew and the masters of evil. Spider-Man takes his mind controlled "superior six" out into the city once again in an attempt to stop them. While they are fighting, Sun Girl also shows to help Spidey and his team stop the villains. About halfway through the fight Spider-Ock (nickname for Superior Spider-Man) realizes that this attack is all a diversion so that the super villain "Lightmaster" could steal the quantum particle engine. When Spidey returns to Parker Industries he finds that he is too late and that Lightmaster had already stolen the device from inside Parker Industries. After a reveal that Sun Girl is Lightmaster's daughter, she is able to stop her dad from firing the device at Spidey and his Superior Six. Spider-Man the commands Sun Girl to shoot the device with her powers so that it would activate it. After activating the device Spidey notices that the blast had knocked out his mind control over the sinister six and they are now free. The book ends with Spidey staring at his villains, setting up the next issue to be one heck of a battle. 

QUICK NOTE: When the hell did Parker Industries get formed? I know Peter was trying to start it up in the main SSM title but I don't remember it's actual formation? Is "SSM Team-Up" supposed to take place in the future of SSM? If you have any idea 

Review of the Book

Overall I very much enjoyed this issue of Superior Spider-Man Team-Up and think that it's definitely better than the previous three issues. This book has a lot of great action and is a pretty good representation of who the Superior Spider-Man is and how he acts, versus the overly arrogant version we've got in any other book he's made an appearance in. I think Christopher Yost did an awesome job with the pacing of this story and an awesome job with the way everything is falling apart with the Sinister Six. It really adds something new to the SSM universe. The art in this book was just absolutely beautiful! It's honestly some of the best art I've seen in a book lately. Super realistic style to it and it fits this books style perfectly!

Pros, Cons, and Rating

Pros: Good Writing, beautiful art, awesome action, and just a good intense feel to it!

Cons: The villains don't have any motives, and it felt like a very short read

Rate: 8/10. Overall a very fun and intense book!

Comic Review: Secret Avengers #011

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Secret Avengers #011 - Comic Review

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Publisher: Marvel Comics

Title: Secret Avengers #011

Price: $3.99

Writer: Ed Brisson

Artist: Luke Ross

Spoiler Sections Marked - Feel Free to Skip Spoiler Sections

This is part 2 of 2 for this Secret Avengers, Infinity tie-in arc, and though I absolutely loved the issue before this (Issue #010) I felt like this issue was lacking in story but was a good solid ending to the story. I know, that may sound a bit confusing. We pick up right where issue 10 left off, with our heroes trapped by yet another Inhuman. If you've been reading Infinity you know about the whole Terragenesis thing that happened with Black Bolt. Through this issue we see S.H.E.I.L.D Director Maria Hill trying to get online with the team in the field, while we see the team in the field (Nick Fury, Agent Coulson, Iron Patriot and Sarah Garza) fight for their lives against the Inhuman who is attacking them. 

Summary of the Story(some spoilers)

As I said, story wise it was fulfilling but was nothing great and felt like it was lacking compared to issue 10. Most of the book is back and fourth banter between Maria Hill, attempting to get a com back online with her team, and Nick Fury telling the rest of the team what the plan of action will be to take down the villain. Through all of this, Sarah Garza (a recently turned Inhuman/Super Hero) is narrating telling us how she doesn't feel like she can do this anymore and how she doesn't think she is good enough to run with the big dogs. After Nick Fury and his team break free from the Inhuman's grip they find refuge in a demolished house and formulate a plan. After the plan goes south and the Inhuman finds where the rest of the team is hiding (Nick Fury attempts to talk the Inhuman into relaxing and not killing everyone) he throws a car into the building in which the team is taking refuge, and Sarah Garza is believed to have been killed. Through a little shpeal that the Inhuman is going on, Sarah Garza's body absorbs the power from the car crash and uses it to become basically the Human Tourch. Sarah is able to stop the Inhuman and brings him within an inch of his life. As she is about to kill him, she realizes that she isn't strong enough and won't ever be able to kill anyone. Consequently, Nick Fury put a bullet into the back of the Inhumans head and killed him right then and there. The book ends with Sarah Garza telling Director Hill that there is no way she is going to be able to kill anyone and that she is no longer going to be a field agent.

Review of the Book

I stated above that the writing was both a good but disappointing ending, and what I meant by this was that it was a good wrap up to the arc, but was very basic and has been done a million times before this. It was a good ending because we got to see a character become who they truly are and realize exactly what they want to do. Bad, because we've seen this done before in basically every super hero comic at some point in time. The art in this book was average. It wasn't anything spectacular but was nothing terrible either. I feel like the art works very well with the Infinity event going on and overall really works for this specific story.

Pros, Cons, and Rating.

Pros: Good art, fun action, and fun characters

Cons: Disappointing ending, Okay writing, and something we've heard a million times before

Rating: 7/10. Fun read if you read it with issue #010 as well.

article by Matt Skajem