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Vegas (725 KP) rated Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) in Movies
Mar 28, 2020
A family film that still has a feel good feel to it...
A trainee witch is looking after a group of children in wartime Britain when her final lesson in witchcraft doesn't arrive... What follows is a search for the final spell on a magical bed... Trying to stop a German invasion and a fair bit of singing and dancing...
Angela Lansbury stars, in a role far removed from the character that she would later become famous for and puts in a great performance as the novice witch...
A live action and cartoon film that works really well when the two bend together, and is just the sort of film to bring a smile when things are getting you down...
Angela Lansbury stars, in a role far removed from the character that she would later become famous for and puts in a great performance as the novice witch...
A live action and cartoon film that works really well when the two bend together, and is just the sort of film to bring a smile when things are getting you down...
Shaun Collins (3 KP) rated Weapon X: Days Of Future Now in Books
Jan 12, 2018
Recommended to me by a friend, and sadly, I don't feel like I can review this fairly. While the book itself is solid X-Men stuff and good art abounds, it's very much a coda in the Weapon X saga. A wrap up to a VERY long, VERY involved story arc... of which I have no knowledge or information. I come to the Xverse from the 90s cartoon, the movies and a handful of TPB stories like Age of Apocalypse and God Loves, Man Kills. I just don't have a frame of reference to go on with this story. I'm sure some of the events (and deaths) are meant to be epic OMG moments, but I wasn't there for all the set up, so they were left empty.
Sam (228 KP) rated Titans - Season 1 in TV
Aug 17, 2019
Well Developed Characters (4 more)
Captivating Plot
Wonderful Backstories
Gorgeous Soundtrack
Surprisingly Dark
Everything I Could Hope For
As someone who grew up watching the beloved cartoon, Teen Titans, as well as an avid reader of the comic series, Titans and Teen Titans, a lot was riding against this TV show. However, I was truly surprised by how much I loved this series from the first episode. I've always adored the DC universe for their dark plotlines and backstories they give to the characters. I was thankful to see that they carried this same darkness into this television show. This paired with the talented way they showed the growth of the characters throughout the season was all done beautifully. I could not have possibly asked for more and look forward to the second season!
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Old Guard (2020) in Movies
Jul 10, 2020
Stop-me-if-you've-heard-this-one-before cartoon action fantasy. A squad of ass-kicking immortals find themselves menaced by nasty soulless corporate forces while they induct a new member.
Basically, Highlander for our times: competently put together and not without moments of interest, but basically all a bit dour and calculated when it comes to sending the appropriate messages (bad guys are straight white dudes and vice versa, for instance). Not much sense of romance, fun, or actual fantasy, which just makes the lack of a coherent backstory more noticeable (why do some people attain the film's peculiar state of immortality? They Just Do). Best not to worry too much about the plot, try to ignore the messaging, and just enjoy the production values and fight choreography.
Basically, Highlander for our times: competently put together and not without moments of interest, but basically all a bit dour and calculated when it comes to sending the appropriate messages (bad guys are straight white dudes and vice versa, for instance). Not much sense of romance, fun, or actual fantasy, which just makes the lack of a coherent backstory more noticeable (why do some people attain the film's peculiar state of immortality? They Just Do). Best not to worry too much about the plot, try to ignore the messaging, and just enjoy the production values and fight choreography.
Joe Goodhart (27 KP) rated Sherlock Frankenstein & The Legion of Evil #4 in Books
Nov 30, 2020
So, if you've read my reviews of Vols 1-2 of Jeff Lemire's BLACK HAMMER, then it goes without saying that SHERLOCK FRANKENSTEIN.. would be a win, right? Not so. Let me elaborate..
The writing was top notch, nothing less than the almost always exemplary writing that we've come to expect from Jeff Lemire. The art, however, not good. I was not previously familiar with David Rubin's art, but after this, I have no interest in seeking works by him.
The art was silly, almost cartoon. Not like Dean Ormston's. It took away from the story as a whole, making it feel like a pantomime or something. Again, not a good artist choice for any future BLACK HAMMER-related projects! If not the disappointing art, I would definitely have given this five stars!
The writing was top notch, nothing less than the almost always exemplary writing that we've come to expect from Jeff Lemire. The art, however, not good. I was not previously familiar with David Rubin's art, but after this, I have no interest in seeking works by him.
The art was silly, almost cartoon. Not like Dean Ormston's. It took away from the story as a whole, making it feel like a pantomime or something. Again, not a good artist choice for any future BLACK HAMMER-related projects! If not the disappointing art, I would definitely have given this five stars!
David McK (3251 KP) rated Aladdin (2019) in Movies
Aug 11, 2019 (Updated Dec 28, 2022)
Goy Ritchie's Will Smith starring live-action retelling of the 1992 Disney cartoon: a movie that, believe it or not, is now nearly 30 years old (I can't believe I just typed that).
While this does hew pretty closely to the original, this is not quite the shot-for-shot remake I was expecting (or feared), with Jasmine in particular given far more agency here, and with Will Smith's Genie 'bookending' the entire narrative.
Talking of Will Smith: he had some big shoes to fill and - thankfully - he wisely does not attempt a Robin Williams impersonation, instead making the character more his own (although, of course, he has the same musical numbers to belt out).
On the down side, however, this version of Jafar is far less menacing than the original ...
While this does hew pretty closely to the original, this is not quite the shot-for-shot remake I was expecting (or feared), with Jasmine in particular given far more agency here, and with Will Smith's Genie 'bookending' the entire narrative.
Talking of Will Smith: he had some big shoes to fill and - thankfully - he wisely does not attempt a Robin Williams impersonation, instead making the character more his own (although, of course, he has the same musical numbers to belt out).
On the down side, however, this version of Jafar is far less menacing than the original ...
Shaun Collins (3 KP) rated Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History in Books
Jan 12, 2018
A wonderful birthday present from Keith and Sarah, i blew through this in less than a week. Granted, there are some big, beautiful full-page pictures, but the story of the Back To The Future trilogy is just as fascinating. As a long time fan, (Back to the Future is a perfect trilogy, and I'll challenge anyone to fisticuffs who says otherwise!) a lot of this information I knew. But I also found MANY undiscovered nuggets that made me love it even more. In depth and accessible, with a week by week breakdown of what was shot, when, where and how. The last chapters go beyond the Trilogy to cover the Ride at Universal Studios and the CBS cartoon series, this is truly the Ultimate Visual history. (Published before the start of IDWs comic series, it unfortunately misses those.)
Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated G.I. Joe---The Movie (1986) in Movies
Jan 14, 2018
The real toy story
Most of u us had G.I Joes growing up and watched the cartoon and we wanted to beat the evil organization called Cobra. It is brought to life in this action packed movie
Duke (Tatum) is a life long military man who is charged with delivering new top secret missiles when his unit is attacked by members of the evil Cobra. We see the use of future weapons and good battle scene and he and partner Ripcord (Wyanes) are saved by members of the G.I Joe elite. The go with them to learn about the unit and ultimately the missiles get stolen and they join the unit to fight back and recover them. THe movie has some good twists and turns and a good fight scene here and there. This movie spawned a sequel why I don't know
Duke (Tatum) is a life long military man who is charged with delivering new top secret missiles when his unit is attacked by members of the evil Cobra. We see the use of future weapons and good battle scene and he and partner Ripcord (Wyanes) are saved by members of the G.I Joe elite. The go with them to learn about the unit and ultimately the missiles get stolen and they join the unit to fight back and recover them. THe movie has some good twists and turns and a good fight scene here and there. This movie spawned a sequel why I don't know
Awix (3310 KP) rated Aladdin (2019) in Movies
Jun 12, 2019
Eye-searingly garish, largely redundant auto-cash-in on the 1992 cartoon (which, full disclosure, I've never seen) - if you don't know the plot, well, what's wrong with your parents, did they never take you to a pantomime when you were young? Cave, lamp, genie, princess - I note that Widow Twankey has been ruthlessly scythed from the story.
After a slow start it does generate some energy and entertainment value, mainly because of Will Smith's turn as the genie (Will Smith in good movie role choice shocker!), and for anyone looking for something of substance to contemplate, there is an interesting subtext about the nature of power in traditional hierarchical societies. In the end, though, it manages to take panto plotting, Broadway show tunes, MOR power-ballads, blockbuster CGI, and Bollywood dancing and produce something which still feels essentially lifeless and calculated.
After a slow start it does generate some energy and entertainment value, mainly because of Will Smith's turn as the genie (Will Smith in good movie role choice shocker!), and for anyone looking for something of substance to contemplate, there is an interesting subtext about the nature of power in traditional hierarchical societies. In the end, though, it manages to take panto plotting, Broadway show tunes, MOR power-ballads, blockbuster CGI, and Bollywood dancing and produce something which still feels essentially lifeless and calculated.
Andy K (10821 KP) rated Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) in Movies
Jun 12, 2018
Who remembers Roger Rabbit?
My first summer job was in 1988 (I'm old) so I remember watching Who Framed Roger Rabbit over and over and loving it more each time I watched.
The late, great Bob Hoskins was able to hold his own against the melee of cartoon extravaganza put forth all around him. The story is fun and exciting with lots of twists and turns, but to just be a part of the cinema roller-coaster that is this film was all part of the fun.
Or seeing Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse together. Or seeing a piano duel with Donald and Daffy Duck.
I have never been a big fan of remakes, but they could probably do a great remake if Zemeckis decided to remake his own movie. I would be a fan of that.
The late, great Bob Hoskins was able to hold his own against the melee of cartoon extravaganza put forth all around him. The story is fun and exciting with lots of twists and turns, but to just be a part of the cinema roller-coaster that is this film was all part of the fun.
Or seeing Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse together. Or seeing a piano duel with Donald and Daffy Duck.
I have never been a big fan of remakes, but they could probably do a great remake if Zemeckis decided to remake his own movie. I would be a fan of that.