3.5 Razors

The Next Three Days

/ / Home Video
  • Title: The Next Three Days
  • IMDB: link

How far would you go for the person you love? That’s the central question at the heart of writer/director Paul Haggis‘ dramatic thriller The Next Three Days.

After his wife (Elizabeth Banks) is incarcerated for a murder she didn’t commit, and every legal option is exhausted, John Brennan (Russell Crowe) decides to take the only choice left. He begins planning to break his wife out of prison and flee the country with their young son (Ty Simpkins).

Haggis delivers a compelling thriller filled with hard choices as John finds himself going further and further down the rabbit hole. The film is scattered with an assortment of strong supporting roles (Olivia Wilde, Jason Beghe, Liam Neeson, Aisha Hinds, Brian Dennehy), but the weight of the story falls entirely on Crowe’s shoulders and, not surprisingly, he delivers.

…

The Next Three DaysRead More »

The Next Three Days Read More »

Cinderella: Fables are Forever #2

/ / Comics

“Fables are Forever” continues as Cinderella deals with the possibility that Dorothy Gale, her longtime nemesis and the greatest assassin of the Fables universe, appears to be back from the dead and back to her old tricks.

I really enjoyed the structure of this comic. The current storyline of protecting Ivan Durak is the least interesting of what is covered here, but the comic is filled with multiple flashbacks involving Cinderella’s previous encounters with Dorothy in the Soviet Union and Thailand which give us a better understanding about both women without giving too much away too soon.

I’ve also got to compliment Shawn McManus’ art which fits the story by perfectly capturing the different locales and time periods the story covers. I particularly like the artist’s closeups on the characters capturing various expressions over the course of the issue. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

Cinderella: Fables are Forever #2 Read More »

Batgirl #19

/ / Comics

batgirl-19-coverAfter last month’s magical romp with Klarion the Witch Boy (that sounded way dirtier than I meant it to), Batgirl returns to the streets to track down the speedster thief (Slipstream), try and lose her biggest fan (The Grey Ghost), and get used to the improved digs (thanks to a generious contribution by the Wayne Foundation).

We also get more of Stephanie’s unsuccessful juggling of her school life, home life, and nighttime activities, as well as a couple of great panels (like this one) showcasing the humor of the character.

On the negative, I’m not sure the reveal of Slipstream’s big plan makes more sense than simply emptying the various bank vaults he’s hit. That said, I’m still willing to wait and see how things play out. I also thought the Barbara/Proxy showdown (i.e. here’s your lesson kiddos) was a tad forced for my tastes.

Even with these minor quibbles Batgirl continues to deliver yet another good story. Worth a look.

[DC $2.99]

Batgirl #19 Read More »

Annihilators #1

/ / Comics

annihilators-1-coverTaking the place of the now disbanded (and mostly dead) Guardians of the Galaxy comes a new super-powered cosmic squad of “Annihilators’ including the Silver Surfer, Beta Ray Bill, Gladiator, Quasar, Ronan the Accuser, and Cosmo.

A new member Ikon, a Space Knight, arrives only to quickly anger almost every member of the team and almost lead to it disbanding before fighting a single battle. Thankfully, a crisis arises and the Annihilators set out to stop the Space Knight’s arch-nemesis Doctor Dredd from freeing the Dire Wraiths from their prison.

The lighter side comes in the form of a B-story focused on Rocket Raccoon working in the mail room (where he was hired to fulfill the company’s quota of cute sentient animals). Things aren’t going great for the former Guardian, and then someone sends him a homicidal clown in the mail. Don’t you hate it when that happens? The ensuing battle (and getting fired) lead the intrepid hero in search of his old pal Groot, but he’s unprepared for what he finds.

…

Annihilators #1Read More »

Annihilators #1 Read More »