If you’re a comics fan, this book will grab you pretty much
from the first page. If you’re not a comics fan, you’ll still find much to enjoy
here as this is a rollicking read even if you’re not so familiar with caped
crusaders, evil geniuses, cyborgs, men with Tiger’s heads and the like. Author
Austin Grossman has created something truly spectacular here, and has really
got inside the heads of the characters to bring readers a fully 3 dimensional
rendering of an otherwise 2 dimensional world. Normally I despise stories told
in the first person, not to mention told in the present tense, so I thought
this book was going to be a tough read for me to endure. Not so. Grossman’s use
of language is a marvel to behold, if you’ll pardon the rather obvious pun.
The book is superb, reading like a prose version of WATCHMEN
for a new generation. The cast of characters are equally compelling, gathering
all manner of superhero mainstays and stereotypes and explaining them in very
believable terms. On many occasions, Grossman makes you view these people in a
very different light to mere costumed avengers. Take Blackwolf for example. He
is basically Batman, in that he is a human with no powers beyond the physical
and the mental ones he has honed since childhood. He has added depth courtesy
of shades of Wolverine in his characterization, and it is very interesting to
see how he maintains his status as the badass of the group despite him being
the only one without any real powers, much the same as Batman does in the JLA.
The prose is concise yet intricate, his plotting layered and
engrossing, and his use of those superhero story clichés satisfying and
entertaining. No wonder the book has garnered so much attention from comics
fans and those outside the genre as well- ‘Soon I will Be Invincible’ is a near
perfect piece of literary entertainment that takes a genre and turns it inside
out. Witty, funny, and thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. Now, pardon
me while I go and start reading it again. Brilliant.
HOLLYWOOD
REMAKING THINGS THAT REALLY DON’T NEED TO BE REMADE.
Look, I can understand something like DUNE getting the
remake treatment, and can even deal with THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL coming
back to cinemas, but something we really don’t need is a remake of Child’s
Play. For those of you who still think that Chucky has only been in two movies,
let me give you a bit of a history lesson.
The gingernut doll possessed by a serial killer first turned
up in the film CHILD’S PLAY in 1988, and went on to ‘star’ in two sequels
before Bride of Chucky and Seed of Chucky came along and wiped out what little
credibility the series had. The idiotic fourth and fifth films have no
redeeming qualities whatsoever, aside from the presence of Jennifer Tilly, and
she’s only in half of one film!
I’d heard about the project being considered, but forgot
about it until this exclusive over at Bloody Disgusting caught my eye today. Listen:
WE. DO. NOT. NEED. ANOTHER. DAMN. REMAKE. There’s already Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Evil Dead and Hellraiser
remakes on the way, why clutter shelves even further with more duplicate
titles? If a Child’s Play remake does indeed get underway any time soon, it
will be a mistake. The franchise needs a few years rest, in order for the
memory of Seed of Chucky to fade a bit.
Word is that this version will be darker, more extreme, and
much less jokey. Okay, fair enough, but why not just clean up the original
print of the first film and re-release that as a special edition DVD, or at
most give it a limited theatrical run? This smacks of just trying to bleed more
cash out of a franchise that has long since outlived its usefulness or impact.
Having said that, if and when the damn thing does get made, I hope it is
brilliant and I have to eat my words. I seriously doubt it though.
Check out the original film and see how far the franchise
fell with the sequels. That first film is original, entertaining and carries
some genuine tension. Compare that to the later entries and, well, nuff said…
As geeks of the highest order, it’s only natural that we get through a hell of a lot of DVDs. We’ve been checking a few favourites out again and some films we’ve never seen before. Here’s the lowdown on what has been filling the Starstore staff brains with blood, violence and eyecandy of late.
RISE: BLOOD HUNTER
This is a surprisingly strong film considering it seems to have been marketed as a poor man’s Underworld. Lucy Liu is on fine form as an undead assassin hunting down vampires, while Michael Chiklis shows up on the trail of his daughter’s kidnappers. The two of them end up working as an uneasy team in the battle against the group of bloodsuckers that have caused them so much grief. This is a great evening’s viewing with no frills and no flashy CG. There’s blood galore and some great cinematography, which helps mask the meagre budget. It is great to see Liu kicking backside onscreen again, but as ever she seems a little uneasy with the action scenes. Otherwise this is a great little vampire movie without fangs but with a hell of a bite.
RUNNING SCARED
Paul walker’s 2005 actioner is full of grit, grit and more grit, with added blood, bullets and swearing. An extremely violent film, it does keep you glued to the screen for every bone-crunching, mob-slaying, squib-bursting second. As a hardcore action film, it is very heavy on plot, which is great as it adds no end of gravitas to what would otherwise be nothing more than an ultraviolent shoot-em-up. Running Scared serves up some of the most tense action scenes we’ve seen in a long time, and leaves you breathless. Not going to appeal to everyone, but a very hard film to stop watching.
FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
I missed this when it was on limited theatrical release over here, and picked the DVD up on a whim. I’m glad I did, as this ludicrous romp is great fun, and it is plain to see that the cast know they’re making a tongue-in-cheek zombie flick. All the usual airbourne plot devices are given an outing here, with bloody effect. The CG shots are hilariously cheap, but it adds to the charm of this Z-grade horror cheapy that delivers the gore and the cheap laughs. Fun fun fun.
LOST BOYS: THE TRIBE
As far as DVDs sequels go, this is great. Sure, it isn’t a patch on the original 1987 teen horror masterpiece, but the cast and crew have done an admirable job of bring us a film that, if adding nothing to the franchise, doesn’t ruin it completely. Corey Feldman is back (and so is Corey Haim if you sit through the credits for the extra scene), and steals the show alongside Angus Sutherland while various pretty people (why aren’t there any normal looking folks in these flicks?) get slaughtered and show off their fangs. The feeling of anarchy that the first film had is present to a large extent here, even if the production values and the slightly MTV style direction show the film up for what it really is- a bit of a cash in. Bloody entertaining though.
UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION
With the trailer for Underworld: Rise of the Lycans being shown at SDCC and thus leaked online, it seemed like a good idea to get reacquainted with the Underworld universe before we get to see the prequel at the start of next year. This second film has everything that a sequel should have- stunts, action and bigger set pieces. The thing is, it also has an excellent cast, including the glorious Derek Jacobi (!!!) and a much more gripping premise. Essentially a chase film, this has got to be one of the best vampire movies in recent years.
PAPRIKA
Do not watch this film if you’re, well, sane. It may well be visually stunning for its duration, but you will have to be a bit mad to get what is going on, Thankfully, we’re all a bit odd here so it was no problem. Paprika is a real trip into imagination that literally fries the senses as you watch it. A delirious mass of ideas and sterling execution make this animated film something truly special. The story, about a stolen device that enables you to enter the dream world that links u all, is nicely handled, but it is those insane visuals that will leave a lasting impression. Demented and brilliant.
Some titles that have kept our writers and staff turning pages galore…
DAWN OF THE DUMB by Charlie Brooker
Infamous columnist Charlie Brooker pulls no punches with this collection of articles, columns and absolute venom. In 338 pages he tears popular culture, politics and more to pieces with hilariously cutting results. An absolute Must read.
UN LUN DUN by China Mieville
Quite simply, this is the most original and engrossing fantasy novel we have read in years. Utterly captivating and nigh on impossible to put down. The story will stay with you long after the final page.
MY BORING-ASS LIFE by Kevin Smith
A year in the life of the man that created Clerks and brought us jay and Silent Bob, told in detailed (and very graphic) diary form. Hilarious, heartbreaking and surprisingly poignant in many places, this is a superb look into the mind and the life of one of our most unique contemporary moviemakers.
SILENT BOB SPEAKS by Kevin Smith
Mr Smith’s first book, this is a hilarious collection of articles and columns from various sites and magazines. A sharp, witty collection of pieces on film, comics, actors, life and more. Not as weighty as ‘My Boring-Ass Life’ but a strong book nonetheless. Essential for fans.
RISE: BLOOD HUNTER 
FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
PAPRIKA 
