Alan Rapp

The Irrational – Formal Ties

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: The Irrational – Formal Ties
  • IMDb: link

The Irrational - Formal Ties

“Formal Ties” takes Alec (Jesse L. Martin), Marisa (Maahra Hill), and Owen (Arash DeMaxi) to the Italian embassy for the marriage of a the daughter of a political refugee (Nikolai Tsankov) who someone at the heavily-guarded event wants dead. Putting the life of another guest in jeopardy, the killer uses the opportunity to sneak a second assassin on to the premises leaving our trio to work with the embassy security and find both men, without alerting the guests. Getting these three to the embassy and the eventual motive both feel a bit shaky, but the investigation itself works well. 

…

The Irrational – Formal TiesRead More »

The Irrational – Formal Ties Read More »

Green Lantern Dark #1

/ / Comics

Green Lantern Dark #1

It begins with the end of the world. The first issue of the seven-issue mini-series introduces us to a world of darkness where monsters prey on the survivors of a post-apocalyptic Earth. Some, like the young Lunette believe that the last remaining hero, the Green Lantern, will save them from the dark. But when the Lantern arrives in town, she’s not who Lunette expected believing the power she carries is a curse only lighting the remains of a world already damned.

…

Green Lantern Dark #1Read More »

Green Lantern Dark #1 Read More »

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory – The Marooned Five

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Jurassic World: Chaos Theory – The Marooned Five
  • wiki: link

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory - The Marooned Five

The second episode of the season gets the group back on to dry land (which they will later learn is in Senegal). Heading inland the group discovers dinosaurs and a few locals, one of whom will play a major role over the rest of the season. Misjudging the situation, and attempting to help, the group almost gets Zayna (Anaiya Asomugha) and her mother Aminata (Cherise Boothe) killed by not understanding the symbiotic relationship the pair have made with the Stegosaurus who just appeared in their fields one day. By taking care of them, the dinosaurs in turn protect their farm far the far more vicious dangers of the jungle. The pair offer the weary travels some sanctuary, but for answers to their question,  Ben (Sean Giambrone), Kenji (Darren Barnet), Darius (Paul-Mikél Williams), Yaz (Kausar Mohammed), and Sammy (Raini Rodriguez) will have to journey up river.

…

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory – The Marooned FiveRead More »

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory – The Marooned Five Read More »

The Monster Squad

/ / Home Video
  • Title: The Monster Squad
  • IMDb: link

The Monster Squad

Released to mixed reactions from adults, and bombing at the box office, 1987’s The Monster Squad did strike a chord with kids, eventually earning cult classic status on cable and home video. The film’s strength is in how real the young protagonists feel, speaking and acting like kids who have discovered that monsters are real. Our main characters are a self-named Monster Squad of preteens (Andre Gower, Robby Kiger, and Ryan Lambert, Brent Chalem, and Ashley Bank who begs her older brother to join the group and eventually earns her spot in the film’s climax) who already know a bit about monsters which comes in handy when they start popping up all over town.

…

The Monster SquadRead More »

The Monster Squad Read More »

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft – Living Midnight

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft – Living Midnight
  • IMDb: link

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft - Living Midnight

“Living Midnight” features others getting the best of Lara Croft (Hayley Atwell) at pretty much every turn. She loses both the ruby box and Jonah (Earl Baylon), gets outplayed again by Charles Devereaux (Richard Armitage) who offers her a bit of backstory, and tracks down the ruby stone only to lose it to Deveraux and Jonah who apparently is now his zombie minion. The highlight of the episode is Lara’s theft of the stone, and how bloodthirsty she becomes after it is in her possession, but even after overcoming its influence she still ends up losing the stone to the rival hunter who gets more powerful with each stone he collects. It’s another so-so episode for a series that needs Lara getting some more wins and a few more standout moments.

…

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft – Living MidnightRead More »

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft – Living Midnight Read More »