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David McK (3562 KP) rated Batman: Arkham Origins in Books

Jan 30, 2019

Hmmm … what to make of this?

I picked this up on a whim when I spotted it on sale in a local 'Works' (basically, bargain books) shop, with fond memories of playing the game on which it is based.

I thought it would be, basically, a comic/graphic novel retelling the plot of that game.

I was wrong.

A few pages into this, I realised it's actually a 'Choose-your-own-adventure' style of story, set (as the name suggest) back at the very start of Batman's career as a vigilante crime-fighter, with little-to-no links to that console game.

It was interesting for a diversion, however it did only take a couple of attempts to reach the 'good' ending (and even that was not that great), after a few dead-ends.

An interesting experiment, maybe, but nothing to set the world alight.

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David McK (3562 KP) rated Superman: Birthright in Books

Jan 30, 2019

It's funny, but while - like, I'm sure, most people out there - I may know (of) the origin of the Man of Steel, I've never actually seeing it written down anywhere.

Thinking about it, I think that knowledge comes from the Christopher Reeve Superman films, and the more recent TV series Smallville.

That TV series was still running when this graphic novel series was released.

This goes back to Superman's earliest days in Metropolis, with a brief flash-back to his high school Smallville days, to present a new take on the origin of the character - Jimmy Olsen? Check. Ma and Pa Kent? Check. Perry White? Check. Lois Lane? Check. Lex Luthor? Also check!

As such, I found this an interesting take on the character, with some dynamic action sequences and some stand-out visuals (Clark Kent soaring over a herd of stampeding Zebra's, for instance).

Kudos

Barry Newman (204 KP) rated The House That Jack Built (2018) in Movies

Feb 8, 2020

My first experience of a Lars Von Trier film and I certainly have mixed feelings. The film is undoubtedly technically well put together and Matt Dillon makes for a creepy and convincing serial killer (the kill scenes are very graphic and unsettling). Despite being 2.5 hours long for the most part the film actually managed to hold my interest in part due to Von Trier’s unique visuals and the numerous WTF? moments. Unfortunately there is little in the way of actual plot and the film tries to be some big profound work about seeing art in death but ultimately just comes off being pretentious .The final half hour in particular is completely baffling leading to an unsatisfactory ending. I also don’t know what would possess talented actresses like Uma Thurman to agree to appear in this solely as one dimensional victims either. Not a film I can see me watching again.