End of My Year Review 2009

FILM

District 9

Honourable Mention:

Drag Me To Hell, Avatar, Slumdog Millionaire

TELEVISION

Claymore

Honourable Mention:

Dollhouse, Spiral II

COMICBOOK

Justice Society of America

Honourable Mention:

Northlanders, Skaar: Son of Hulk, Witchfinder, Hellboy, BPRD, Wasteland, Superman: The World of New Krypton, Black Lightning, Madame Xanadu, Immortal Iron Fist, Incognito

SOFTWARE

Wallpaper Cycler Lite

Honourable Mention:

Norton Internet Security, Comic Collector

Sherlock Holmes

Cast
Robert Downey Jr.
Jude Law
Rachel McAdams
Mark Strong
Eddie Marsan
Kelly Reilly
Screenwriters
Michael Robert Johnson
Anthony Peckham
Simon Kinberg
Director
Guy Ritchie
Running Time
128 minutes

Sherlock Holmes has made his reputation finding the truth at the heart of the most complex mysteries. With the aid of Dr. John Watson, his trusted ally, the renowned "consulting detective" is unequaled in his pursuit of criminals of every stripe, whether relying on his singular powers of observation, his remarkable deductive skills, or the blunt force of his fists. But now a storm is gathering over London, a threat unlike anything that Holmes has ever confronted...and just the challenge he's looking for. (Warner Bros.)

I found it enjoyable and well done but much too long, it gave me a headache. Modern films in comparison to older ones don't seem to know how to end well. Here there was a good final image and the major story elements had been resolved but it just kept on going and even started up a new story before just abruptly stopping.

Avatar

Cast
Sam Worthington
Zoe Saldana
Sigourney Weaver
Stephen Lang
Michelle Rodriguez
Matt Gerald
Giovanni Ribisi
CCH Pounder
Wes Studi
Screenwriter
James Cameron
Director
James Cameron
Running Time
161 minutes

Jake Sully is a former Marine confined to a wheelchair. But despite his broken body, Jake is still a warrior at heart. He is recruited to travel light years to the human outpost on Pandora, where a corporate consortium is mining a rare mineral that is the key to solving Earth's energy crisis. Because Pandora's atmosphere is toxic, they have created the Avatar Program, in which human "drivers" have their consciousness linked to an avatar, a remotely-controlled biological body that can survive in the lethal air. These avatars are genetically engineered hybrids of human DNA mixed with DNA from the natives of Pandora... the Na'vi. Reborn in his avatar form, Jake can walk again. He is given a mission to infiltrate the Na'vi, who have become a major obstacle to mining the precious ore. But a beautiful Na'vi female, Neytiri, saves Jake's life, and this changes everything. Jake is taken in by her clan, and learns to become one of them, which involves many tests and adventures. As Jake's relationship with his reluctant teacher Neytiri deepens, he learns to respect the Na'vi way and finally takes his place among them. Soon he will face the ultimate test as he leads them in an epic battle that will decide the fate of an entire world. (20th Century Fox)

It was fantastic but I'd agree that the story is straight out of B-Westerns and the actions of the Michelle Rodriguez character given that she can't have spent any time with the Na'vi is puzzling. I saw an interview with Cameron saying the film can be enjoyed in 2D as much as 3D which does seem likely, this was my best 3D experience perhaps because the effect was toned down in some way. Overall the movie flew by and I enjoyed it tremendously.

March Comics

Newsarama has the new Marvel and DC solicitations for March plus CBR has the Dark Horse.

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


FIRST WAVE #1
On sale MARCH 3 • 1 of 6 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art by RAGS MORALES
Cover by J.G. JONES
1:10 Variant cover by NEAL ADAMS
DC’s shocking new pulp universe is finally unveiled! In the shadows of the War, the roots of the Golden Tree cabal grew deep into the heart of a fallen world... and the leaders at the heart of this secret organization see no place in their utopia for heroism. Doc Savage, struggling with the loss of his father, has been blind to their advance – until now. Central City’s mysterious Spirit has caught wind of their plans as well. But whose side have the Blackhawks chosen? What is the Red Right Hand? And where is the Batman? Eisner Award winner Brian Azzarello (100 BULLETS, JOKER) and superstar Rags Morales (IDENTITY CRISIS) craft a DC universe like you’ve never seen before! It’s a world with no supermen, only mortal men... Death can come at any moment, and adventure can still be found at every corner of the map! Will Doc Savage be the first to lead the coming world or the last to be crushed under its heel?
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

Maybe but the price is off putting.

Where The Wild Things Are

Cast
Max Records
Catherine Keener
Mark Ruffalo
Lauren Ambrose
Chris Cooper
James Gandolfini
Catherine O'Hara
Forest Whitaker
Paul Dano
Screenwriters
Spike Jonze
Dave Eggers
Maurice Sendak
Director
Spike Jonze
Running Time
101 minutes

Max, a rambunctious and sensitive boy feels misunderstood at home and escapes to where the Wild Things are. He lands on an island where he meets mysterious and strange creatures whose emotions are as wild and unpredictable as their actions. The Wild Things desperately long for a leader to guide them, just as Max longs for a kingdom to rule. When Max is crowned king, he promises to create a place where everyone will be happy. Max soon finds, though, that ruling his kingdom is not so easy and his relationships there prove to be more complicated than he originally thought. [Yahoo! Movies]

It starts out well, the real world stuff is good and the beginning of the fantasy world section but then it doesn't really go anywhere as not much happen other than he plays with the monsters and they argue with each other which got to be kind of dull. The creatures are brilliant visual creations however I think the voices especially James Gandolfini and Catherine O'Hara being so well known, take away from their believability as I kept thinking about what they really looked like.