X-Men Legacy #254

Composed By:

Writer: Mike Carey, Penciller: Steve Kurth, Ink: Jay Leisten, Colours: Brian Reber, Letterer: Cory Petit, Cover Art: Mico Suayan and Martia Gracia.

Story:

The X-Men are teleported through space to an unknown place as they follow the trail of Rogue who left in the hopes of finding Marvel Girl, Havok and Polaris that had been lost until now.

Review:

Landing the X-Men in treacherous waters, X-Men Legacy #254 spares no time before it drops us into some action and back into some solid story. Feeding from the anticipation from last issue, Rogue is found in a dire situation that for her does not look promising, and neither do things look great for the rest of the team.

Many questions are unanswered as of yet in the Age of X story and Mike Carey is not about to let these cards all fall onto the table. He tells us just enough that we have a glimpse into what is happening in the world and some sort of idea about the fate of Marvel Girl, Havok and the rest of the Starjammers team. Intelligently though he gives not too much away yet that we could surmise what might happen next, the crafty skill of Carey navigating as always, tediously close to revelation and insight.

Carey and his handling of characterisations is impeccable, though the team is at times at odds, without a seemingly relative core, there are moments that prove just how suited they are, with an unlikely combination like Gambit and Frenzy that Carey places in this issue, played out in the most extraordinary way, finding new strengths that he can put to the test, and make known what is indeed capable of happening.

Artist Steve Kurth takes the reins in this issue, taking the more traditional look to the art that we have not seen for a few issues at least. It does have some really inspiring alien landscapes, but for me, it seemed to fall far below the expectations that have been set. Kurth sadly falls short mostly on Rogue, and only her, as her representation is the only one that stands distorted and a bit comic in my opinion. It does not sit well with me, and it is a shame as the rest of the work is enjoyable, that is all that let me down.

Verdict:

It has the potential to be a title to beat for this year, only time can tell. It is off to a firm form, holding a stick of dynamite in its hand that will hopefully have the bang that will shake us all and cement its name.

Rating: 7/10

X-Men Legacy #253

 

Composed By:

Writer: Mike Carey, Penciller: Khoi Pham, Ink: Tom Palmer and Craig Yeung, Colour: Marte Gracia, Letterer: Cory Petit, Cover Art: Mico Suayan and Marte Gracia.

Story:

The X-Men track Styx and Endgame through the alleys of Paris. Legion faces off with Styx as the team battles the towering monster Endgame, and the X-Men Legacy “Lost Legions” story comes to a close.

Review:

“Lost Legions” comes to an admirable close in X-Men Legacy #253, and it has been an exciting story arc that has been told well by Mike Carey. Exactly as one could expect, Carey leaves us no time to wait as a new adventure and path is paved before our eyes, one that looks to resolve all queries left from the Age of X story.

Carey makes it a stand out issue in how he tackles two concurrent scenarios that have the team take on Styx and Endgame, leaving the fate of both hanging in the balance. Endless pages that scream out with action and excitement, Carey finds new ways to manipulate the characters that give us a truly exciting and tantalizing story for us to sink our teeth into. Fascinations with Rogue and Legion have lead to a reimagining of just what is capable and how these two extraordinary characters can be seen.

How Carey makes X-Men Legacy #253 most memorable is by his seamless transition into a new story and the vision he has to take the team back into territory that they left resolved in Age of X. Not only do we see ourselves launched into a new story and end on an indefinite cliffhanger, we see Carey invigorate the title in new and creative ways.

Khoi Pham and ink artists Tom Palmer and Craig Yeung do an astonishing job in bringing the story to life this issue, making waves in portrait battle scenes with Styx and particularly Endgame. For the most part it all looks incredibly detailed and picturesque, but as is always the case, some sequence panels leave something desired, not entirely clear in conveying the meaning. Marte Gracia guides the work well in his bleak vision to the story and his palette of colours evokes a sense of urgency and an unpredictable nature to the action.

X-Men Legacy #253 is one of the most harrowing tales that I have come across and it isn’t about to let up. Just as the story comes to a halt in one way, another seems to flourish. Mike Carey is an artist in his element, and it is an exciting thing to be apart of.

Verdict:

X-Men Legacy #253 stands to prove to us why it is has been named a must-read title and shows just how ingenious Mike Carey really is.

Rating: 8/10

Safe House

Composed By:

Directed: Daniel Espinosa, Produced: Scott Stuber, Written: David Guggenheim, Released: 2012, Running Time: 117, Distributed: Universal Pictures.

Story:

Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington), an ex-CIA agent and wanted criminal, acquires a file from an MI6 agent that has him tracked down by mercenaries and forced to seek refuge in an American Embassy. It leads him into the hands of CIA and low-level agent Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds), a man stationed to mind and monitor the safe house they take him to. Weston is made responsible for Frost after his team is killed, tied into a conspiracy by the CIA to silence Frost and then Weston as he learns about credible information Frost holds that could irrevocably ruin the agency.

Review:

Exhilarating till the end, Safe House is a film that will knock your socks off almost literally, it leaves your heart jumping out of your chest and pounding from excitement, and then there is there are those tense and suspenseful scenes that catch you off guard, shocked the hell out of me. It will have you latching yourself onto the armrests as you lap up all the excitement and energy that this movie has to offer you, tense car chases, barrage of bullets, and heart-stopping suspense to make your body tremble.

Director Daniel Espinosa has worked this movie to the bone, capturing some of the most enjoyable and heart palpitating scenes that can be imagined, suddenly a fast-paced scene in the thick of it falls into a dead silence where the action creeps up from beyond the frame and like a thump to your skull you are thrown back into the deep end. Safe House is made to take you on a merciless ride that only stops momentarily before it throws you back in the thick of it, rushing and racing along at an excitable pace that mimics a real life drama, only better.

Reynolds and Washington play off one another remarkably in this film, they excel in constructing for us a picturesque drama that only ups the ante until the breaking point in the film where all the pieces are set in place and the chips begin to fall. Reynolds demands attention in this film, and matches the stellar performance by Washington in the film and even that of Brendan Gleeson, a corrupt head CIA agent that hunts Frost down; they are all impeccable.

Safe House is a film to see for 2012, and not to be missed by anyone. It is one that I would like to see win a few awards and get the acknowledgement and praise it deserves.

Verdict:

Go see it now, don’t wait any longer, it is a must see. If you miss it you’ll be kicking yourself raw.

Rating: 10/10

You’ve Got Mail

Composed By:

Book: Parfumerie by Miklos Laszlo, Screenplay: Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, Director: Nora Ephron, Producer: Nora Ephron, Released: 1998, Running Time: 119mins, Distributed: Warner Bros.

Story:

Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), a superstore book chain tycoon, befriends a woman through anonymous emails, sparking a connection and intimacy neither expect nor share in their actual lives. Kathleen Kelly (Mega Ryan), an independent bookstore owner confides openly online to Hanks, unbeknownst that he is her mystery lover.  Ryan and Hanks face a harsh reality that sees a closure to the much-loved store that Ryan owns for the new book chain, causing a discernable rift between the two, but amidst it all they still find love. Shock and awe ensue as they learn of each other’s identity, but the film stands to prove that love can triumph all woes in the end.

Review:

I can always appreciate a love story when it is told well, and in You’ve Got Mail, the formula has won me over. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are wondrous to watch on screen, their dynamic is beyond explanation, which is probably why Sleepless in Seattle hit home so well.

You’ve Got Mail is told in a way that is not at all sappy, it’s charming and even funny at times. Joe Fox, Hanks, strides around seeming all too pleased with himself, not at all this way when he speaks online, he is eloquent and endearing. Kathleen Kelly is likewise a more extroverted individual in her online persona but exists almost voiceless in her life, pushed down by her overpowering boyfriend who claims the spotlight. It is this precise element that brings the film its defining flavour and vigour, seeing these perfectly matched couple, that bring about the best in each other, split by dirty business that becomes particularly personal to Ryan’s character.

Nora Ephron (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle) packages a love story in a neatly formed envelope that becomes unraveled throughout the film, showing the true influence and growth both force out of each other. Joe Fox learns how to bestow kindness and a proper sense of manners on people and Kathleen Kelly finds a voice to fight for what she believes in, what her wants and aspirations are. They turn each others greatest power on the other, he finds a place for her gentle and humble voice in his while she finds a way to use his confident and untamed voice, liberating her from constraint. Ephron pits them against each other but it doesn’t stop them from finding love in the end, instead it gives it much more value.

You’ve Got Mail is a film that contains something missing in latter interpretations, a relatable feel, and a truthful resonance. It stands the test of time and is still heartwarming. It has a timeless factor, we don’t see that enough.

Verdict:

You’ve Got Mail is a love story told simply and told well. If you don’t cry, at least you’ll laugh, with a box of tissues there beside you.

Rating: 8/10

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Composed By:

Written and Directed: John Hughes, Produced: John Hughes and Tom Jacobson, Released: 1986, Running Time: 103 mins, Distributed: Paramount Pictures.

Story:

Ferris Bueller, a high school senior decides to skip a day of school to spend the day in downtown Chicago. Along for the ride are girlfriend Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara) and best friend Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck). Dodging the Dean Edward Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) scorned sister Jeanie (Jennifer Grey), and his parents, Ferris pulls off the most extravagant day imaginable.

Review:

Films like this are rarely seen these days, and none too often miss that mark which provides the timeless touch. Luckily, this makes Ferris Bueller’s Day Off the more memorable as a result.

Extraordinary to the end, protagonist Ferris Bueller has a live life to the full mantra behind all the action in the film, doing all that is humanly possible in one average school day, and then so much more. Intelligently written and mighty witty, the film takes you on a wondrous journey towards enlightenment and fulfillment…at least for some characters that is. John Hughes molds a film that both questions the monotony of everyday life and explores a vibrant culture and city in Chicago that Ferris reveals to us through his eyes, teaching us that a little fun is evidently therapeutic for the soul, and invigorating for life itself.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a rebellious movie that says life is too short to stay stuck in school, and so it takes us through all of life’s little pots of gold that are to be enjoyed, all before the reality of the world places them back in check. Broderick, Ferris Bueller, breaks that forth wall constantly in the film and reaches out to us and involves us, his life is a translatable metaphor to our own lives, the feelings of being trapped or unfulfilled and then having to take those serious commitment to life goals and ambitions.

John Hughes tells a story of paramount importance, that we must break free of what is socially and morally correct and pave our own way in life, do all the things we want to do, be the person we aspire to be, not a carbon copy and boring drone. Hughes tells it with flare and racy excitement, as the three take to the streets of Chicago, learning some valuable lessons, finding a new lease on life, but just as key, having a mountain of fun along the way.

Verdict:

Whether you’re a John Hughes fan or not, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a movie that caters to the rambunctious and rebellious side in all of us.

Rating: 9/10

Mr Big of Bankstown: The Scandalous Fitzpatrick and Browne Affair

Composed By:

Writer: Andrew Moore, Publisher: UWA Publishing, First Published: 2011, Pages: 216.

Story:

A businessman, Raymond Fitzpatrick, and a journalist, Frank Browne attempt to railroad the career of an MP, Charles Morgan, but end up in gaol after being sentenced by Parliament. Debated since the sentence was passed down in 1955, this book details the historic story that divided Australians, seeing two men sent to gaol without trial, which has and was seen as an infringement on freedom of speech and human rights.

Review:

Constructing the world around notorious figure Raymond Fitzpatrick, the book, Mr. Big of Bankstown, takes the reader down often polarising paths of the Bankstown man, as we see a man that was both praised and condemned for the things that he did. Ultimately, he forged the way for a town to prosper, and we see this revisited throughout, but does it justify all his actions, even those that were highly questionable.

Author Andrew Moore takes us through the ins and outs of this mans life, his life as a contractor and then as newspaper owner and runner, his life as a trustworthy friend of most but then a feared enemy to others, paving his path in life that was not without corruption at times, leading to his fateful day in gaol. Moore leaves us feeling a tad ambivalent about their fates, but what is made sure is that on June 10 1955, these two men were gaoled without trial and conviction, and in this, a great injustice was done, where Parliament took law into their own hands and punished these two men unjustly.

Moore takes a balanced approach to the lives of both Fitzpatrick and Browne, more critical of the life of Browne more than anything. It is made to make us think about what happened that day and how it changed Australia, marking what many see as a travesty. Never taking a side, always keeping an even keel about it all, Mr. Big of Bankstown tells a story about a business man who was unfairly treated and improperly sentenced. A life that was tainted by corrupt actions and dirty tactics, Mr. Big, Raymond Fitzpatrick, was a man portrayed as good to all that took care of his town and people.  Lost in mounting political slander from MP Charles Morgan, his actions took him down a dark path that eventually got him gaoled in 1955.

Verdict:

A vital read for any Australian, detailing a pivotal moment in our history that is still spoken about today. Marking a precedent for all parliamentary decisions on contempt of parliament and parliamentary privilege that is still in use today.

Rating: 10/10

Tomorrow, When The War Began

Composed By:

Writer: John Marsden, Publisher: Pan Macmillan, First Published: 1993, Pages: 284.

Story:

Seven young teenagers set off for a camping trip, only to find when they return that everyone is missing and possibly dead. They must learn to survive on their own and evade capture, lest their fate by sealed as well.

Review:

Tomorrow, When The War Began is a spooky story that is made better if you certainly read it before you see the movie. It launches itself into a surreal existence for all the teens as they are greeted by a deserted town and the shocking visuals of dead dogs and dying animals along their path home.

Marsden evokes striking feelings of fear and desolation in the book, illustrating stark imagery like the dying and dead pets, and the dead bodies they find hanging from the car door, unsettling but familiar sights that the characters come to terms with. As well, he depicts a ravaged land that is isolated and detached from the world beyond, turning the once beautiful and untouched country town into an inescapable prison, sending them all scattering for a safe inhabitance from danger.

The novel is interjected with fast-paced and exhilarating action as they put all their strengths together and fight against this opposing force that is mounted against them. Left quivering and broken at times, the characters show a journey into forced maturity and the struggle they have in dealing with what has become their daily lives. There is a realisation that life has been shaped by their experiences and it is shown how it significantly changes them and the perceptions of those around them. Notably it even helps some to put perspective on their lives as a whole and see a much broader world around them.

Tomorrow When The War Began leaves you in prolonged suspense and will even surprise you at times when you least would suspect it. It remains an honest and real look at the world around them, and ends exactly where it should, at a pivotal time when anxiety and fear is weighing heavily upon them and their continued existence is in the balance. Marsden has produced a terrific book that sets a real standard of writing, unmatched in some respects even now. After you start you will have trouble tearing yourself away, it gets a mean hold of you that you cannot shake.

Verdict:

Tomorrow When The War Began is a read for those that want some action and suspense but don’t mind a little romance and love falling into the mix. Solid all the way through and not easy to put down once you start. It’s a gem.

Rating: 9.5/10

The Catcher in the Rye

Composed By:

Writer: J.D Salinger, Publisher: Penguin Books, First Published: 1951, Pages: 220.

Story:

Holden Caulfield, a seventeen-year-old boy, narrates his story and adventures in New York City, following his expulsion from the prestigious college Prencep Prep. Holden is met with colourful characters and important life lessons that educate him about the world and it explores intimately his mindset and attitudes about sexuality, the world itself and the people that orbit around him.

Review:

Catcher in the Rye is a book that is strewn with angst; a world told through highly critical eyes, filled with naïve views on important issues and intellectual matters that the protagonist can’t comprehend. Maybe this is its charm though, how little we all know about the world. All I can say is that I cannot help but be moved this book in at least one way.

Holden Caulfield is a frustrating character to understand, he hates a lot of things in the book, calls it “crumby” too many times for my liking and always says things like “to tell you the truth”, that are irritating in parts. He is endearing in some parts but, he stands his ground about the way he wants to conduct himself in life, he likes what he likes and doesn’t care to voice things he doesn’t particularly like. It is a critical view he presents to us but it is his own, and he isn’t fazed by the world and how they see things, he stands tall and honest to himself, it is an admirable quality.

Reading on in the book it is filled with pages of nonsense dribble and angst-ridden speeches that act almost entirely to show just how low his view of the world is and just how seemingly bored and without interest with anything he is. Hating all things gets tiring after a while, and we are not eased by anything positive that will lift our spirits, that is a sore point for me. Yes, granted, it is a book about a self-righteous boy that is sick of the world, but we need to move past this to reveal exactly why he hates these things, what makes him tick.

After reading the novel and giving it time to settle, it is easy to extract one thing that makes it worth its time to read. Sexuality in its juvenile form gives us a lot to think about, providing a dated but valid perspective to sex, stating it as a means to manhood, one that is still perpetuated in society today. Defiance and a rebellion to authority is nothing new to literature but for Holden he gives a voice to generations, even now, that often feel unspoken for and captures a breadth of issues and problems that are relative to all in some way.

Verdict:

Catcher in the Rye is a book that will appeal mostly to boys and young males, it has a voice that can speak to people like no other book has been able to do, that is why it is a classic. Holden Caulfield is loud and obnoxious, he is overly naïve and hypercritical, but for years now, his words have had something meaningful to say, even if it is heavily veiled and hard to see at times.

Rating: 8.5/1o

Thunderbolts #165

Composed By:

Writer: Jeff Parker, Penciller: Kev Walker, Ink: Terry Pallot, Colours: Chris Sotomayor, Letterer: Joe Caramanga, Cover Art: Quinones & Renzi, Editor: Tom Brennan, Editor in Chief: Axel Alonso, Chief Creative Officer: Joe Quesada, Publisher: Dan Buckley, Executive Producer: Alan Fine.

Story:

The Thunderbolts with The Invaders bring down the Inhuman Torches, save the Human Torch and destroy Baron Zemo’s laboratory. Captain America starts to suspect the team isn’t as wholesome as they look, as the team looks to secure the power source they need to return home.

Review:

Thunderbolts #165 is part three of the unusual twist that finds them in the past, and it delivers a story that is filled to the brim with action and a lot of excitement.

Colourist Chris Sotomayor lights up this issue with a broad palette of colours and shades that he has put to use well. I particularly liked in this issue the way that he has handled the action and the movement with beautiful and well planned colour choices, especially red and orange tones that offer a vibrancy and energy that gathers force and energy from within the page. Soto plays around with varying shades and tones that pay off in the issue, and gives it a much more full and layered appearance than we have seen exhibited by other artists that have worked on this title. He work shows he is an exceptional artist, and the first two panels decisively show this to us.

Walker brings his standards up in this issue, he works in some really nice intricate details into the artwork that provide some amazing imagery like Captain America’s face almost melting from the intense heat made by the Inhuman Torches, and the severing of the hand and blood spatter that is made as a result as she viciously attacks one. Pallot works in sync with Walker to bring these elements to the foreground but he also works in his own character and contribution in the detailed lines and contours that can be seen in each of the characters on the page. Because of this the artwork is solid and feels like they really tried to draw this to perfection. I found it too hard to find fault.

Thunderbolts title writer Jeff Parker brings his time in the past to an end, but it is a fantastic story that has your heart beating constantly. He works in some moments that are just timeless like his occupation with characters Mr. Hyde and Troll that are all brute and no brains, integrating some much needed humour as the others try to educate these characters of needs for strategy. Parker starts to meddle with suspicions about the group, the veil starting to fall. It looks to all come crashing down for the team when Parker gives us a shocking but satisfying twist that comes to save them and allows them a hasty escape. Parker ends this story with a surprising end that keeps us in suspense, and offers an interesting way to see the Thunderbolts take off once more.

Verdict:

Thunderbolts #165 is the most enjoyable read I’ve had in a long time, with a team that exhibited extraordinary artwork that gave us a memorable display of the fine artistic skill at work. The Thunderbolts series is at a new height in my opinion, and earning a rightful place in my heart.

Rating: 9/10