3.5 Razors

Guardians of the Galaxy #6

  • Title: Guardians of the Galazy #6
  • Comic Vine: link

“Drax has ideas of his own.  He reasons that as Skrulls return to their native form after death, the only sure way to dtect them is to kill them… and that means killing everyone aboard.”

We begin the issue with the deaths of all the Guardians of the Galaxy, but only for a few seconds.  In order to find the Skrull infiltrators Drax, never the smartest blade in the drawer, rendered everyone aboard the ship braindead for a few seconds, thus forcing the Skrulls to revert to their true forms.

Elsewhere on the ship however Cosmo has discovered a startling truth about Knowhere’s uninvited passengers, although they are Skrulls they aren’t looking for a fight.  This group is made of pacifists who are attempting to escape the Skrull “schemes of conquest.”

During the craziness, conflict, and aftermath, the truth about Star-Lord‘s forming of the team by using Manits to bend the wills of everyone just enough to join comes to light.  Let’s just say the news doesn’t sit too well with the team who voice their displeasure before exiting stage left.

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Final Crisis: Revelations #3 (of 5)

  • Title: Final Crisis – Revelations #3 (of 5)
  • Comic Vine: link

“For one moment, one small, horrible, eternal moment I understand Crispus Allen and I understand the Spectre.  And I want to hate God, too.”

The story picks up with Gotham in flames and the populace slave to the Anti-Llife Equation and Darkseid‘s will.  We find the Spectre and Radiant, the Spirit of Mercy, under siege and ineffective against a mob and the Question getting the ever-living snot beaten out of her by Batwoman.

Elsewhere a legion of the converted, under the command of their leader Cain, who now possesses the Spear of Destiny, march to the church where the heroes have taken refuge.  The world has gone to Hell, their faith is broken, and evil is indeed winning.

Although dense, and a bit bewildering, I was surprised how accesible this issue is.  I didn’t read the first two issues of this Final Crisis tie-in, but even so the action is easy to follow, if odd.  (Vandal Savage is Cain?)

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The Duchess

  • Title: The Duchess
  • IMDB: link

“It is said that the Duke is the only man in Devonshire not in love with his wife.”

The film chronicles the public life of Georgiana, The Duchess of Devonshire (Keira Knightley) from her ill-suited wedding to the Duke (Ralph Fiennes), through her life in high society, her role as wife and mother, and her struggle with finding love.

Outside of her marriage Gerogiana is the life of the party, with a talent for fashion and a passion for the cause of women’s suffrage.

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Appaloosa

  • Title: Appaloosa
  • IMDB: link

“Which is how, fifteen years ago, I got to be a peace officer and Virgil Cole’s deputy.  Which is why I was with him now, still carrying the eight-gauge, walking the horses down a long, shale-scattered slope toward Appaloosa.”

The town of Appaloosa is under the thumb of rancher Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons), whose men take whatever they want.  After the marshal (Robert Jaregui) is killed by Bragg and his men the town council seeks outside help to solve their situation.

They enlist the help of two gun hands, Virgil Cole (Ed Harris) and his longtime sidekick Everitt Hitch (Viggo Mortensen) to clean up the town and take Bragg down.  Cole’s mission to deliver justice is made more difficult by the arrival of a complicated woman (Renne Zellweger) and Bragg’s connections in Washington.

Western lovers should enjoy this film which pays homage in style to many old favorites.  I was also impressed that much of the dialogue from Robert B. Parker‘s novel was kept in the film adding a unique voice both harsh and humorous to the proceedings.

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Flash Gordon #1 (of 6)

  • Title: Flash Gordon #1 (of 6)
  • Comic Vine: link

“My name is Flash Gordon and I think I’m about to die.”

Recent attempts to revive Flash Gordon for the new millennium have been less than impressive (see the now defunct Sci-Fi Channel original series).  Now Flash is returning to the comic pages with a new series from Ardden Entertainment.

Written by Brendan Deneen with art by Paul Green this first issue reinvents the characters while also returning them to their roots.  Here Flash Gordon is a professor and adventurer, Hans Zarkoff is a mad scientist, and Dale Arden is a agent for the CIA.

Flash is approached by Dale and her gorilla-like partner who believe Hans Zarkoff is working on a Weapon of Mass Destruction.  The truth behind the circumstances is far more complex and Flash and Dale end up with Zarkov in his experimental space ship only to find themselves not in Kansas anymore as they travel through a portal to another world.

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