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Joe Goodhart (27 KP) rated New X-Men: Childhood's End, Volume 2: Crusade in Books
Nov 30, 2020
I finished reading NEW X-MEN: CHILDHOOD'S END Vol 2 this afternoon. Wow! No, seriously, WOW! I thought the first volume had some drama going on, but this volume turned that drama up to eleven!
It's a brutal story, as the New X-Men have to struggle with trying to work as team as well as dealing with their teammates getting killed by Reverend Stryker. Humor is nowhere to be found in this story. From the opening pages' funeral for the "M-Day"/"mutant powers no more" students who perished at the end of the first volume, you can tell you're gonna have a storyline big on the feels!
For me, what really stood out for me was the way Laura Kinney's (X-23) was written, as well as the students' reactions to all the ensuing chaos. We can see some of the students starting to think of Laura as one of them, instead of just the token "weird, new kid". I am pleased with Marvel's decision to let Yost and Kyle handle this. Man, I miss GOOD editorial decisions, versus the ham-fisted ones being made of late!
Okay, I am already over-anxious, wanting to go read Vol. 3, as this story arc is like a loose tooth you gotta wiggle. Yes, it's very moody and sombre, but it should be, as this TPB features a hell of lot of death and destruction. Initially, I did not necessarily approve of the basis for the revived X-FORCE, but seeing what these poor kids went through, yeah, the world definitely called for a team that allowed for killing of the Big Bads.
In short, read this, but definitely read Vol. 1 first!
<b>RATING:</b> 5 out of 5 SNIKTS
It's a brutal story, as the New X-Men have to struggle with trying to work as team as well as dealing with their teammates getting killed by Reverend Stryker. Humor is nowhere to be found in this story. From the opening pages' funeral for the "M-Day"/"mutant powers no more" students who perished at the end of the first volume, you can tell you're gonna have a storyline big on the feels!
For me, what really stood out for me was the way Laura Kinney's (X-23) was written, as well as the students' reactions to all the ensuing chaos. We can see some of the students starting to think of Laura as one of them, instead of just the token "weird, new kid". I am pleased with Marvel's decision to let Yost and Kyle handle this. Man, I miss GOOD editorial decisions, versus the ham-fisted ones being made of late!
Okay, I am already over-anxious, wanting to go read Vol. 3, as this story arc is like a loose tooth you gotta wiggle. Yes, it's very moody and sombre, but it should be, as this TPB features a hell of lot of death and destruction. Initially, I did not necessarily approve of the basis for the revived X-FORCE, but seeing what these poor kids went through, yeah, the world definitely called for a team that allowed for killing of the Big Bads.
In short, read this, but definitely read Vol. 1 first!
<b>RATING:</b> 5 out of 5 SNIKTS
Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated This Island Earth (1955) in Movies
Sep 28, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
A scientist working on a new form of atomic energy is recruited by the mysterious Exeter to work with other scientists on secret project, but all is not what it seems.
This Island Earth is a classic 1950’s Sci-Fi flick, it starts as a bit of a mystery, a plane fails and is then remotely controlled, strange components arrive from an unknown company and Exeter is strange. Considering the age of the film, the effects aren’t too bad, there is the almost obligatory use of coloured light when things are being controlled, there are no visible string on the flying saucer and the costumes aren’t too terrible. Without going over the top with make up or prosthetics the film mangers to show that there is something ‘otherworldly’ about Exeter and his companions and even the alien planet of Metaluna is quite good.
This Island Earth also has, what has to be one of my all-time favourite aliens, the Metaluna Mutant. These are the total opposite of Exeter and costumed to look totally alien. They are almost pointless to the plot of the film. The normal Metaluna’s are not really an enemy so, to add a bit of threat to the end the film the mutants are introduced as a servant type race that have been mind-controlled but the hero’s run into a couple that are hurt which gives the opportunity to have the female lead chased around for a few minutes. The point is the mutants are unnecessary, the Metaluna leader has already created a threat which could have been used.
This Island Earth easily fits into the ‘Atomic fear’ movies of the 1950’s but also shows the hope the world had for nuclear power which makes the film a refreshing change from the normal alien invasion flic.
This Island Earth is a classic 1950’s Sci-Fi flick, it starts as a bit of a mystery, a plane fails and is then remotely controlled, strange components arrive from an unknown company and Exeter is strange. Considering the age of the film, the effects aren’t too bad, there is the almost obligatory use of coloured light when things are being controlled, there are no visible string on the flying saucer and the costumes aren’t too terrible. Without going over the top with make up or prosthetics the film mangers to show that there is something ‘otherworldly’ about Exeter and his companions and even the alien planet of Metaluna is quite good.
This Island Earth also has, what has to be one of my all-time favourite aliens, the Metaluna Mutant. These are the total opposite of Exeter and costumed to look totally alien. They are almost pointless to the plot of the film. The normal Metaluna’s are not really an enemy so, to add a bit of threat to the end the film the mutants are introduced as a servant type race that have been mind-controlled but the hero’s run into a couple that are hurt which gives the opportunity to have the female lead chased around for a few minutes. The point is the mutants are unnecessary, the Metaluna leader has already created a threat which could have been used.
This Island Earth easily fits into the ‘Atomic fear’ movies of the 1950’s but also shows the hope the world had for nuclear power which makes the film a refreshing change from the normal alien invasion flic.
Darren (1599 KP) rated Black Sheep (2006) in Movies
Oct 14, 2019
Characters/Performance – Henry is the successful brother that gets traumatised when he is young, now grown up he comes to back to the farm to collect his part of the money. When he learns the truth, he must now face his nightmares and fight off the killer sheep running over the farm. Angus the brother that has been experimenting on sheep for his own personal gain, this puts his own life and members of his farm. Experience is the environmentalist that wants to expose the farm but she quickly turns when she needs to fight to survive.
Performance wise, each performance adds to the comedy being told through this film, no one is great but they all know just how to get the extra laugh needed from their characters.
Story – Only in horror could you come up with an idea of genetical altered sheep that will try to kill people. If you watch this story with this in mind, you will truly enjoy this story because it is just that bonkers it works.
Horror/Comedy – The horror would be, how scary do you find sheep? Well what about killer mutant sheep, that is your horror side to the story but this could also be used to describe the comedy involved in this film too.
Settings – The film is set upon on the farm which is good for the horror isolation side of the film as they must use the land to fight the sheep off.
Special Effects – All the effects are practical and all come off looking fantastic when you look to add the extra element of gore to the film.
Final Thoughts – This is one of those horrors you can put on and enjoy because the laughs and idea are so farfetched you just must laugh to get through it all.
Overall: Fun and enjoyable horror comedy.
Performance wise, each performance adds to the comedy being told through this film, no one is great but they all know just how to get the extra laugh needed from their characters.
Story – Only in horror could you come up with an idea of genetical altered sheep that will try to kill people. If you watch this story with this in mind, you will truly enjoy this story because it is just that bonkers it works.
Horror/Comedy – The horror would be, how scary do you find sheep? Well what about killer mutant sheep, that is your horror side to the story but this could also be used to describe the comedy involved in this film too.
Settings – The film is set upon on the farm which is good for the horror isolation side of the film as they must use the land to fight the sheep off.
Special Effects – All the effects are practical and all come off looking fantastic when you look to add the extra element of gore to the film.
Final Thoughts – This is one of those horrors you can put on and enjoy because the laughs and idea are so farfetched you just must laugh to get through it all.
Overall: Fun and enjoyable horror comedy.
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Gareth von Kallenbach (965 KP) rated the PC version of Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden in Video Games
Feb 8, 2019
Hard Game But Core Fans May Like it.
Fans of turn based combat will likely enjoy the latest game in the genre Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. The game has a Post-Apocalypse setting where players take control of two mutants, a Duck and a Boar, as they explore, battle, and salvage in a hostile environment.
There is a base of operations which is fairly safe for players to enjoy as they can not only gain new missions; but they can upgrade their loadout to better survive the tasks ahead.
The early missions were fairly routine as using my allotted number of moves per turn I was able to move, take cover, heal, reload, fire, and even throw a grenade.
The problem comes when the enemy has numbers as an early mission involved taking on 5 enemies of the same or higher skill level.
The enemies were able to flank players and call in help which only increased their superior advantage.
Hiding and waiting for them to pass, hit and run, and direct assaults did no good and added to the frustrations.
Considering players would have to take a turn to reload and enemies did not, plus the sheer numbers made it a frustrating undertaking.
In many ways it is a microcosm of the game itself as there are challenges and then there are challenges which are a bit too much for gamers who are not hardcore and are looking for a simple escape.
Casual players are likely to enjoy the premise and some of the gameplay but will become frustrated with the excessive challenge and combat mechanics required on some of the missions.
The game has decent graphics and sound and the characters are engaging and likeable but in the end the game becomes a tedious series of turn based battles that can grow old and frustrating after a while.
3.5 stars out of 5
There is a base of operations which is fairly safe for players to enjoy as they can not only gain new missions; but they can upgrade their loadout to better survive the tasks ahead.
The early missions were fairly routine as using my allotted number of moves per turn I was able to move, take cover, heal, reload, fire, and even throw a grenade.
The problem comes when the enemy has numbers as an early mission involved taking on 5 enemies of the same or higher skill level.
The enemies were able to flank players and call in help which only increased their superior advantage.
Hiding and waiting for them to pass, hit and run, and direct assaults did no good and added to the frustrations.
Considering players would have to take a turn to reload and enemies did not, plus the sheer numbers made it a frustrating undertaking.
In many ways it is a microcosm of the game itself as there are challenges and then there are challenges which are a bit too much for gamers who are not hardcore and are looking for a simple escape.
Casual players are likely to enjoy the premise and some of the gameplay but will become frustrated with the excessive challenge and combat mechanics required on some of the missions.
The game has decent graphics and sound and the characters are engaging and likeable but in the end the game becomes a tedious series of turn based battles that can grow old and frustrating after a while.
3.5 stars out of 5
Awix (3310 KP) rated Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) in Movies
Feb 8, 2018
Everything but the Nagashidai
Almost wholly nuts kaiju-SF movie originally produced for the 50th anniversary of Godzilla's first appearance. It actually does a pretty good job of having something for everyone - everyone who's ever enjoyed a Godzilla film, anyway. The plot is certainly reminiscent of some of the 60s movies - aliens from Planet X (seriously) turn up and initially pretend to be friendly, but turn out to be intent on taking over the world, using their ability to control almost all of Earth's monsters. Naturally, Godzilla is immune, and the desperate human characters resort to releasing Godzilla from the prison he's been in for years so he can sort the invaders out - even if this will mean him having to fight virtually every other monster on the planet almost single-handed.
All very promising, if you like this sort of thing, but the director's clear desire to actually be making a Matrix sequel is a bit intrusive - there's a lot of human-on-human martial arts action which isn't what I personally turn up to a Godzilla movie for. The sheer knowing silliness of the film may also be off-putting for some viewers.
But set against all that, there's a bit where Mothra battles Gigan! There's a fight between proper Japanese Godzilla and the mutant iguana pretender from the Roland Emmerich version! You get to see Baby Godzilla sitting in the cab of a pick-up truck during an unexpected subplot about hitch-hiking! And much more. (Keith Emerson's soundtrack is very atypical for a Godzilla film, but actually pretty funky.) The sheer profusion of monsters - nearly every Toho beastie makes at least a cameo, the only big-name absentee being Mechagodzilla - and the cheerful craziness of the story make this, if not quite an entirely worthy tribute to Godzilla's first fifty years, then certainly a very hard film to completely dislike.
All very promising, if you like this sort of thing, but the director's clear desire to actually be making a Matrix sequel is a bit intrusive - there's a lot of human-on-human martial arts action which isn't what I personally turn up to a Godzilla movie for. The sheer knowing silliness of the film may also be off-putting for some viewers.
But set against all that, there's a bit where Mothra battles Gigan! There's a fight between proper Japanese Godzilla and the mutant iguana pretender from the Roland Emmerich version! You get to see Baby Godzilla sitting in the cab of a pick-up truck during an unexpected subplot about hitch-hiking! And much more. (Keith Emerson's soundtrack is very atypical for a Godzilla film, but actually pretty funky.) The sheer profusion of monsters - nearly every Toho beastie makes at least a cameo, the only big-name absentee being Mechagodzilla - and the cheerful craziness of the story make this, if not quite an entirely worthy tribute to Godzilla's first fifty years, then certainly a very hard film to completely dislike.
The Iron Giant (1999)
8.2
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Joe Goodhart (27 KP) rated New Mutants by Zeb Wells: The Complete Collection in Books
Nov 30, 2020
So, thanks to recent good deals on Comixology, as well as mandated COVID-19 stay-@-home in NC (it's the same elsewhere in the U.S., but I just felt like throwing out where I am in the mess), I have taken it upon myself to catch up with some classic Marvel mutant madness that I had missed first time around. For this week's excursion, I took on Zeb Wells' NEW MUTANTS run.
First, let me say that I had never read anything Wells had written before this. That being said, I would agree with what I saw a number of people saying in their reviews: that Zeb Wells does a bang-up job of writing for X-youngins! The dialogue and characterization never felt off or just plain badly written. It felt like he had a genuine fondness for the characters, and it was reflected in the way he treated them in the stories.
The only thing that prevented me from giving it four Stars was the art. I felt the stories detailed were interesting and several towards the end were very tense and exciting to me. However, that art? Not so much.
It started out great in the beginning w/the art by Dio Neves during "Return of the Legion". However, it just became a sea of inconsistency, as just too many artists of varied styles made for a mess that kept it from being a four Star book!
Final conclusion.. The art, while severely conflicting with the differences in styles, was not a high point of the book. Zeb Wells' writing? So, so good! Made me remember that not all the X-books at that point in time were angst-y and full of internalized self-conflicts!
Next on my list? I have the two volumes of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning's run of NEW MUTANTS, which picks up after Wells' run. To coin a phrase from comedian John Mulaney's act, "This oughta be good!". See y'all when I am finished with that one.
First, let me say that I had never read anything Wells had written before this. That being said, I would agree with what I saw a number of people saying in their reviews: that Zeb Wells does a bang-up job of writing for X-youngins! The dialogue and characterization never felt off or just plain badly written. It felt like he had a genuine fondness for the characters, and it was reflected in the way he treated them in the stories.
The only thing that prevented me from giving it four Stars was the art. I felt the stories detailed were interesting and several towards the end were very tense and exciting to me. However, that art? Not so much.
It started out great in the beginning w/the art by Dio Neves during "Return of the Legion". However, it just became a sea of inconsistency, as just too many artists of varied styles made for a mess that kept it from being a four Star book!
Final conclusion.. The art, while severely conflicting with the differences in styles, was not a high point of the book. Zeb Wells' writing? So, so good! Made me remember that not all the X-books at that point in time were angst-y and full of internalized self-conflicts!
Next on my list? I have the two volumes of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning's run of NEW MUTANTS, which picks up after Wells' run. To coin a phrase from comedian John Mulaney's act, "This oughta be good!". See y'all when I am finished with that one.
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