Category: Reviews
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THOUGHT CLOUDS: Justice League #12 (the kissing issue) (Comic Review)
JUSTICE LEAGUE #12 Geoff Johns, writer; Jim Lee, artist I know, I know. Superman belongs with Lois Lane. Wonder Woman belongs with Steve Trevor. And the world is up in arms because Superman and Wonder Woman were caught kissing. And HOW I know it is that the Internet told me. What the Internet DIDN’T tell…
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H+ (series review)
(This is part of a series of reviews of online sci-fi and fantasy.) H+ Like The Booth at the End, H+ has an interesting premise, although it comes in on the sci-fi end of the speculative spectrum. It is more like Electric City in form, though. Instead of having episodes, it consists of short, four…
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ELECTRIC CITY (series review)
(This is part of a series of reviews of online sci-fi and fantasy.) ELECTRIC CITY Before I watched The Booth at the End, my favorite online original series was this animated electro-punk futuristic sci-fi adventure (a variation of steampunk, without the steam). It stars Tom Hanks as one of the city’s elite assassins, and since…
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THE BOOTH AT THE END (series review)
(This is part of a series of reviews of online sci-fi and fantasy.) THE BOOTH AT THE END I’m watching the latest episode (episode four of season two) of what has turned out to be my new favorite speculative fiction TV show. But it’s not on TV. And probably never will be. No network is…
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Why Is Breaking Bad So Freaking Good?
Breaking Bad is an interesting show. I’d heard many people talking about it, many of them fans of speculative/imaginative fiction, but it wasn’t until it made it to Netflix that I managed to watch it. And once I started watching, I was enthralled. But why? What is so engrossing about this show? Well, there are…
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THOUGHT CLOUDS: Batman Earth One (comic book review)
(This review originally appeared on The Spirit Blade Underground Podcast.) BATMAN EARTH ONE Geoff Johns, writer; Gary Frank, artist Here’s what the critics have to say about Batman Earth One, by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank: “. . . new, breathtaking . . .” – Brad Meltzer, important writer guy “. . . the right…
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MOVIE REVIEW: Total Recall (2012)
Total Recall is an interesting movie. As an effects movie, especially as a sci-fi effects movie, it is fantastic. The special effects, and the world those effects create, are brilliant. As science fiction, with its look forward into future technology and culture, it is fantastic. Some of the ideas in this movie just make sense,…
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REVIEW: Doctor Who the Movie (and the MOVIES . . .)
Netflix is the one and only reason I have become such a huge fan of Doctor Who. Before Netflix, I was a casual observer. I enjoyed watching old episodes from the original run (Tom Baker being my favorite Doctor), but mostly as a curiosity, a foray into the history of sci-fi. I was familiar enough…
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REVIEW: Prometheus
My initial spoiler free thoughts after my first viewing of Prometheus: 1. Yes, I said “first viewing.” This is a movie that encourages multiple viewings. I do not know if I will go and see this in the theater again (maybe a dollar theater) but I do plan to watch it again. Possibly a couple…
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FEEDBACK — What did YOU think of Avengers? (Poll)
What did you think of The Avengers? Did it deserve the half billion dollars it made last weekend? Did it meet your expectations? Exceed them? Not even come close to them? Let us know in our poll . . . [poll id=”8″]
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AVENGERS WEEK: The Avengers (Ben’s movie review)
No movie lives up to the hype. But some come close. The Avengers comes very, very close. It already has many difficulties to overcome: an ensemble cast; a couple years of build up and fan expectation; the enormous shadow of Iron Man and Robert Downey Jr. over the other characters and actors; a mix…
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AVENGERS WEEK: Thor (movie review)
THOR (reviewed as a single movie) Thor was a difficult movie to make. It’s about gods and men, some of whom speak like Shakespeare. Sort of. It might be difficult to relate to that. So Marvel thought, “You know who makes Shakespeare relatable? Kenneth Branagh. Let’s just hire him.” So a Shakespearean actor and director.…
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AVENGERS WEEK: Biggest Avengers Disappointment
The general public hasn’t seen the new film yet (unless you live overseas, which is a whole other issue), but before I ever step into the theatre I already have one major disappointment that distracts from my enjoyment of this film. I’m not even talking about the injustice that Jack Kirby and his family…
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AVENGERS WEEK: Captain America – The First Avenger (movie review)
CAPTAIN AMERICA (reviewed as a single movie) Captain America was better than I hoped it would be. It is not a perfect movie, but it is a fun movie, and an inspiring movie, and a sincere movie. It is a period piece. The only way they could have done it, really. Captain America, if it…
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AVENGERS WEEK: The Incredible Hulk (movie review)
THE INCREDIBLE HULK (reviewed as a single movie) After Ang Lee’s Hulk movie* didn’t meet expectations . . . and after Iron Man surpassed expectations . . . and after it was realized The Avengers was going to be a reality . . . Marvel knew they had to get the character of the Hulk…
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AVENGERS WEEK: Iron Man & Iron Man 2 (movie reviews)
IRON MAN (reviewed as a single movie) Iron Man was the first movie that Marvel really took as its own. And it was amazing. A “game changer,” as people say. It was fun and loud and cocky and new. It set up a sequel, with the great press conference announcement at the end, and also…
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THOUGHT CLOUDS: Harlan Ellison’s Phoenix Without Ashes (Comic Review)
PHOENIX WITHOUT ASHES Harlan Ellison, writer; Alan Robinson, artist This review of a graphic novel starts with a review of a TV series from 1973, so bear with me. When I was but a lad, I went and saw Star Wars on the big screen and wanted more. On the small screen, in my very…
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REVIEW: Green Lantern Is ABOUT Hollywood
Green Lantern. For those who don’t know, it’s a superhero sci-fi fantasy action movie about Hal Jordan, who is given a ring (and a lantern, which charges the ring) that can create anything Hal can imagine using the power of green (also known as willpower) . . . which comes with a price: he is…
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REVIEW: Awake pilot episode
Tonight, NBC premiere’s a new police procedural with a sci-fi/fantasy twist. And it’s awesome. The premise: a man is in a car accident with his wife and son and finds himself straddling two worlds. In one, his son lived. In the other, his wife lived. Whenever he falls asleep in one world, he wakes up…
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THOUGHT CLOUDS: Dark Matter (Comic Review)
DARK MATTER Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, writers; Garry Brown, artist As you may probably know if you are familiar with the podcast, I write comic books. I also read them. If you’ve listened to the podcast, you also know I am a fan of the Stargate franchise. All of the series. So, by proxy, that…