Wednesday 24 February 2010

Invictus

Cast
Matt Damon
Morgan Freeman
Tony Kgoroge
Marguerite Wheatley
Adjoa Andoh
Screenwriter
Anthony Peckham
Director
Clint Eastwood
Running Time
133 minutes

Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match. (Warner Bros.)

It's slow to get going, the use of seemingly inexperienced actors [like Gran Torino] jars and there's too much repetitive explaining. There also seemed something wrong with the visual image itself that I couldn't quite put my finger on though it might just have been the way it was being projected in the cinema. Having said all that once it got going it was exciting and moving.

Wednesday 17 February 2010

Ponyo

Cast
Cate Blanchett
Noah Cyrus
Matt Damon
Tina Fey
Frankie Jonas
Cloris Leachman
Liam Neeson
Lily Tomlin
Betty White
Screenwriters
Melissa Mathison
Hayao Miyazaki
Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Running Time
103 minutes

Ponyo is a story inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Little Mermaid." Already a box-office success in Japan, the story of a young and overeager goldfish named Ponyo and her quest to become human features an outstanding roster of voice talent. (Walt Disney Pictures)

Colourful hypnotic film full of wonderful little details and unexpected turns.

Tuesday 16 February 2010

May Comics

CBR has the new DC, Marvel, Dark Horse solicitations for May.

This is the stuff I'm thinking about in addition to my regular pull list.


BIRDS OF PREY #1
On sale MAY 19
32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art and cover by ED BENES
1:25 Variant cover by CLIFF CHIANG
Soaring out of BRIGHTEST DAY, the Birds are back in town! Because you demanded it, fan-favorites Gail Simone (WONDER WOMAN, SECRET SIX) and Ed Benes (JUSTICE LEAGUE, GREEN LANTERN) reunite to reinvent the book where they made their explosive debut as a team. Oracle, Black Canary, Huntress and Lady Blackhawk all return to Gotham City where they belong – and they’ve brought a couple of new friends (or are they foes?) along with them!
Guest-starring a major Bat-villain and the first appearance of the most dangerous, most twisted new Birds villain ever!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

I got the original series at the beginning but dropped it before Simone came along although I have a couple of her trades but haven't read them yet.


DC UNIVERSE LEGACIES #1
On sale MAY 19
1 of 10
40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Written by LEN WEIN
Art by ANDY KUBERT, JOE KUBERT & J.G. JONES
Cover by ANDY KUBERT & JOE KUBERT
1:25 variant cover by J.G. JONES
It starts here! DC Comics proudly presents a ten-part history of the DC Universe spanning five generations of heroes from the dawn of the Mystery Men to present day. In this first exciting issue, the Second World War rages on, giving birth to a new breed of hero. Caped and masked urban myths become legends as they emerge from the shadows to earn their place in history. Meanwhile, explore the bizarre new heroes Dr. Fate and The Spectre and learn whether their powers are real…or imagined.
Join renowned writer Len Wein (SWAMP THING, Incredible Hulk), legendary artist Joe Kubert (SGT. ROCK), his son, the fan-favorite Andy Kubert (BATMAN, X-Men) and J.G. Jones (FINAL CRISIS, 52) as they unearth the DCU’s epic history in this event you won’t want to miss!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

The price is a lot but it's for more story pages probably ~30 like JLA, I doubt it will go down but this could be amazing.


THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1
On sale MAY 19
48 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art and cover by YILDIRAY CINAR & WAYNE FAUCHER
1:10 Variant cover by JIM LEE
Fan-favorite LEGION writer Paul Levitz returns to the 31st century super team he made supreme with an all-new intergalactic era! This exciting series picks up on threads from Geoff Johns’s “Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes” storyline and creates its own all-new ones, including a Green Lantern Corps tie-in and the destruction of a major planet! Rocket on board here as Levitz and rising star artist Yildiray Cinar (TEEN TITANS) revitalize one of DC’s most beloved franchises starting with an oversized first issue with a variant cover by superstar artist Jim Lee!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

Given it's 48 pages the next issue may be a good price so I'll give this a go.


ZATANNA #1
On sale MAY 19
32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by PAUL DINI
Art by STEPHANE ROUX & KARL STORY
Cover by STEPHANE ROUX
1:10 Variant Cover by BRIAN BOLLAND
At last – the Mistress of Magic in her own ongoing series! Zatanna Zatara has long made her home in San Francisco, but right under her nose a sinister threat has developed – a crime boss who dominates the criminal underworld with the dark powers of the magical underworld! The terrifying Brother Night is making his play for San Fran, and the police force – including hunky detective Dale Colton – turn to Zee for help. But Brother Night is a whole new kind of criminal and if Zatanna thinks she can backwards-talk him down, then she’s in over her top-hatted head! Superstar writer Paul Dini (BATMAN: MAD LOVE) is paired with the gorgeous art of Stephane Roux (BIRDS OF PREY), making his anticipated DC debut on interior art! There’s only one thing to say – T’NOD SSIM TI!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. See the Previews Order Form for more information.

Finally! really looking forward to this.


ACTION COMICS #858 NEW PRINTING
On sale MAY 19
40 pg, FC
$1.00 US
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by GARY FRANK & JONATHAN SIBAL
Cover by GARY FRANK
The Man of Tomorrow teams up with the 31st century’s greatest heroes in this opening chapter of the “Superman and The Legion of Super-Heroes” epic. But what has The Legion been up to since Superman last saw them? Reprinted for just $1.00, this issue is featured in the SUPERMAN AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES TP (APR090217).

HELLBLAZER #1 NEW PRINTING
On sale MAY 12
48 PG, FC
$1.00 US, MATURE READERS
Written by JAMIE DELANO
Art by JOHN RIDGEWAY
Cover by DAVE MCKEAN
John Constantine broke into the spotlight in this, his first solo comic, with the grisly tale “Hunger!” Reprinted for just $1.00, this issue is featured in the HELLBLAZER: ORIGINAL SINS TP (FEB058320).

THE AUTHORITY #1 NEW PRINTING
On sale MAY 1
32 pg, FC
$1.00 US
Written by WARREN ELLIS
Art and cover by BRYAN HITCH & PAUL NEARY
The widescreen adventures of The Authority began here, in this issue that transformed StormWatch Black into a new kind of super-team, courtesy of writer Warren Ellis. Reprinted for just $1.00, this issue is featured in THE AUTHORITY: RELENTLESS TP (SEP068117).

Same as last time getting the ones I don't have.


I, ZOMBIE #1
On sale MAY 5
32 pg, FC, $1 US
MATURE READERS
Written by CHRIS ROBERSON •Art and cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
1:10 Variant cover by DARWYN COOKE
Gwen Dylan is a gravedigger in an eco-friendly cemetery…and a zombie detective. Once a month, she has to eat a human brain – both to keep from going all “Night of the Living Dead,” and to keep her own memories intact. As a result, Gwen’s mind is crowded with the dead person’s thoughts. And lately, she feels compelled to fulfill their final requests. Torn between a mysterious mummy and a dashing young monster-hunter, Gwen is set for adventures beyond imagination! A were-terrier, a swinging ’60s ghost and a pack of paintball blasting vampires complete the cast of I, ZOMBIE.
Written by World Fantasy Award finalist Chris Roberson (CINDERELLA: FROM FABLETOWN WITH LOVE) with art by Eisner Award-winning superstar artist Michael Allred (X-Statix, Madman), I, ZOMBIE is a monster of a tale with razor-sharp prose and powerful pop artistry.
Don’t miss this special debut issue launching Vertigo’s next monster hit, priced at just $1.00!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

Looks interesting and for a dollar how can I not get it.


BLACK WIDOW #2
Written by MARJORIE LIU
Art & Cover by DANIEL ACUÑA
Variant Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Heroic Age Variant by TBA
THE HEROIC AGE IS HERE!
The deadliest hero from IRON MAN 2, INVINCIBLE IRON MAN and CAPTAIN AMERICA fights for her life!
Somebody wants the super-spy codenamed the Black Widow dead…and they came damn close! Now Natasha Romanoff, recovering and angry, chases the trail with fatal skill! What do her friends Iron Man, Wolverine and Daredevil know about her would-be killer…and why won’t they help her?!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

SPIDER-MAN #2
Written by PAUL TOBIN
Penciled by MATTEO LOLLI
Cover by KARL KERSCHL
When Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung Fu, comes to Midtown High, Peter Parker knows that trouble is probably coming along for the ride, but can even the amazing Spider-Man deal with feuding friends, a very unexpected new classmate, AND the villain known as Midnight, all at the same time? It's canine chaos and martial arts madness at its very best!
32 PGS./Marvel Adventures/All Ages …$2.99

I passed on these two last month because of the first issues prices but because the regular price is right I still have time to add them.

Wednesday 10 February 2010

The Princess And The Frog


Cast
Anika Noni Rose
Bruno Campos
Keith David
Michael-Leon Wooley
Jennifer Cody
Jim Cummings
Peter Bartlett
Jenifer Lewis
Oprah Winfrey
Terrence Howard
John Goodman
Screenwriters
Ron Clements
John Musker
Directors
Ron Clements
John Musker
Running Time
97 minutes

The Princess and the Frog is a modern twist on a classic tale, featuring a beautiful girl named Tiana, a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana. (Walt Disney Pictures)

It was good but it kind of dragged a bit, I shed tears at the end which kind of surprised me. Thinking about it, really I was crying about the fate of the Raymond character because the actor giving voice to him did such a great job and his whole sub plot was genuinely sweet also the actress playing the friend Charlotte was terrific too but they made the leads seem kind of bland by comparison. There was nothing really bad about it and a lot that was great but overall it was just good.