Now that I have started doing anime reviews, my sister has been hounding me to watch one anime in particular. If there has been any delay on my part in not watching this, it’s because of how highly everyone speaks of it, and I’ve just started watching anime, you know, didn’t wanna peak too soon, but oh well, here goes!

The first season of ‘Attack on Titan’ introduces us to a world in which humanity has been forced to live in a piece of land defended by 3 walls, against the threat of Titans; large, mindless giants whose only goal is to attack and eat humans. As a matter of necessity, three branches of the armed forces have been created. There is the “Military Police”, the force responsible for protecting the innermost section of land, the “Garrison”, who are responsible for guarding the walls, and finally the “Scouts” who venture outside the walls and will often come up against the Titans. The story is focused initially on three kids, Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert, who live in one of the outer segments of the outermost wall. One fateful day, a gigantic Titan appears, who looks different to the normal kind, and smashes through the outer wall, letting the Titans in. As hell breaks loose, the Garrison attempts to help evacuate the inhabitants of the town, but in the ensuing chaos, lots of people are killed and eaten by the Titans, including Eren’s mother. In the years following the tragedy, Eren, Mikasa and Armin resolve to join the military forces, in particular the Scouts. But what they discover along the way will change the way they see the Titans forever. Can the Scouts find a way to stop the Titans from attacking? And just what can these three do to help humanity survive?

So given that these series follow the manga, there is often more than one central arc in the season, and the first season of ‘Attack on Titan’ is no different. The introduction of characters is done in a good way, although I will say that, similar to shows like ‘Game of Thrones’, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to try to remember who everyone is. That being said, you very quickly learn who the main characters are and who you have to keep an eye on. My sister often goes on about how this is not only the best anime she’s watched, but also probably the best TV show in general she’s ever seen, which is such a big claim. Having watched the first season, and knowing that there are 3 more to come, I was genuinely very impressed. The creators have woven one of the most intriguing stories I’ve seen in years, and there are twists and turns throughout the season that keep you hooked. I also love the difference in the characters and their dispositions. Eren, for example, is so set on what he thinks is right and stands by it no matter what, which I respect a lot. But then you have Levi, one of the captains of the Scouts, who is just so badass and nonchalant. My only qualm with the show is that it’s a lot of death and destruction to have to watch, which sometimes I do find difficult. I also have only one fear about this show, and that is, will this quality of story last? I’m so used to watching shows that, after a season, begin to decline in quality due to the writers' inability to come up with more shocking elements to the story. Hopefully, that won’t be the case here, but I have to keep it in mind!

So the first season consists of 25 episodes. Not a massive deviation from normal. There are certainly variations in the pace of the show; some episodes are slower, but those are often the ones with backstories which are pertinent to the understanding of the setting. Often, with the shows that I watch, I will rate each episode on IMDB and I found that none of the episodes got below a 7. In terms of animation style, I thought it was certainly different, but not in a bad way. A lot of the characters are drawn in ways that make them look very depressed, but that is completely valid. The theme song of the first half of that first season? Perfection. Why did they mess with that? I don’t think I’ll ever know. Overall, this show is very, very good. Please don’t disappoint me!

Rating:

• Story: ★★★★

• Character Development: ★★★★

• Animation and Visual Style: ★★★½

• World Building: ★★★★½

• Enjoyability: ★★★★

Every time I take a little bit of a break from this website, I find that I have to really force myself to find a comic book, or a TV show or a film that really excites me, otherwise it can take a while. Given that it had been so long since I had reviewed a comic book, I thought to myself, I need to jump into a series I want to, and that naturally made me think of the X-Men!

‘Life Of X’ starts with powerful psychic Psylocke being attacked mentally by a villain named The Shadow King, aka, Amahl Farouk. In the ensuing battle, she ends up causing a massive explosion in London; however, realising that The Shadow King is attempting to take over the minds of many more unstoppable psychics, she summons a team to aid her. That team includes Old Man Logan, Rogue, Gambit, Fantomex, Bishop, Angel and Beast. The plan is simple: a group of them must travel to the psychic plane to stop Farouk before he achieves his plan. It won’t be easy, since The Shadow King will have far more power and ability to mentally challenge the team on his plane. Logan, Rogue, Gambit, Fantomex and Beast sign up to enter the nightmare realm, whilst Angel and Bishop stay behind to protect Psylocke whilst she maintains the psychic link. Despite being some of the best of the best, in the psychic plane, each of them is attacked in subtle ways, with the Shadow King attacking their very consciousness in an attempt to take over their minds. They’ve fought enemies like this before, but they’ll need help, and help is present in the most unlikely form. Can these X-Men survive the machinations of a madman? Or will they be guided to salvation by their friend in the shadows?

This happens every time I read X-Men novels. I’m always so excited, and there is a part of me internally that hopes they don’t disappoint, and then they don’t. Like seriously, this was a great novel with good character development, a nice mix of very well-known X-Men and some not-so-known. They all gelled well together, and I think in Amahl Farouk, we were given a good villain. I also think that, in this sense, comic books can portray stories that you know will never be considered by the film and TV show studios for their productions, but you wish they would. I have to say the twist at the end was enough to make me gasp!

The artwork was a mix, and each issue, I think, was drawn by someone different. Sometimes that annoys me. For a book like this, though, it was perfect. The covers were also pretty decent. Overall, a great novel in what is shaping up to be another good X-Men series!

Favourite Panel:

This was a crazy ending. Ultimate face turns heel?

Favourite Character:

Aah, books like these give you so much choice. It was a difficult one, but I think the character that really stood out for me was Fantomex!

Rating:

• Story Arc: ★★★★

• Character Development: ★★★★

• Artwork: ★★★½

• Enjoyability: ★★★★

• Re-readability: ★★★½

Level: Intermediate

It has been a crazy couple of weeks, and I know I’ve abandoned this blog for a while. But no more, I feel ready again to begin anew and bring you guys my (mostly) unfiltered thoughts. Last year, when I watched Superman (2025), I was quietly intrigued by how this new DCU was going to shape up. A year later, we’re ready for the second film in this new cinematic universe!

‘Supergirl’ starts with our titular character, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, in a very interesting place in her life. Having just turned 23, she’s out in some solar system where there is a red sun. Given that Kryptonian heroes like Supergirl and Superman need a yellow sun for their powers, visiting places with a red sun nullifies these abilities, and in this case, allows her to get drunk. One day, whilst in a bar on some unknown planet, she witnesses a young girl called Ruthye come in asking for help to take revenge on a brigand named “Krem of the Yellow Hills’ who has murdered her family. Kara wants nothing to do with this, as she doesn’t have the disposition of her cousin Kal-El, aka Superman. However, events led to Krem stealing Kara’s ship and poisoning her dog, Krypto. Realising that Krem has the antidote, she sets off to find him, with Ruthye in tow, despite Kara’s reservations. As they head through the cosmos, Kara recounts her childhood in Argo City, a city on Krypton that her father Zor-El had separated from the planet to go on living after Krypton’s destruction, but which met a fate just as depressing. Their adventure finally leads them to where Krem and his band of brigands have been hiding. Can Kara step up and be the hero her cousin thinks she can be? And can she stop Ruthye from becoming a murderer in her plan for revenge?

We should talk about the cast. I’ll start with Eve Ridley, who played Ruthye. There is sometimes this tendency when writing young roles that child characters end up being extremely annoying or too irrelevant, and I think Eve did a really fantastic job playing the middle line and remaining relevant and also integral to the film. David Krumholtz and Emily Beecham play Kara’s parents, Zor-El and Alura In-Ze. Fun fact, Krumholtz played Bernard the head elf in my favourite Christmas film, “The Santa Clause”. Their roles were small but poignant. David Corenswet appears as Superman, and his scenes were great. I think David is the perfect optimistic Superman, and I’m so excited to see him progress in this shared universe. Speaking of shared universes, Jason Momoa was cast as Lobo. He said it was the role he was born to play. I’m not sure I’m completely convinced yet, but he was a lot of fun. Okay, let’s talk villain. Matthias Schoenaerts plays the creepy Krem of the Yellow Hills. I know they changed his look from the original comic book version, but I just felt like he wasn’t memorable enough. The standout role was, of course, Milly Alcock as Supergirl. I’d seen Milly in the first season of “House of the Dragon” and was very impressed. She certainly brought a new version of Supergirl to the screen, and I think the character development was a highlight of the film!

So what did I think? Well, for the second film in the DCU, I don’t think it was bad. I went to watch it with my sister, and we kind of went in with no expectations. Similar to how I felt when I watched “Superman”. I’d say that in terms of scale, it was never going to be on that level, but for what it was worth, it was an entertaining watch. I think in terms of criticism, the one thing that I would say is that there were moments where the plot felt a bit thin. Kara going from planet to planet and doing the same thing started to feel repetitive after a while, even if each planet was different. Weirdly, despite not being directed by him, it felt a lot like a James Gunn “Guardians Of The Galaxy” film. One of the saving graces of “Supergirl” was the message. Seeing Kara go through that character development, and her mother’s words, “Just be good”, really resonated with me, especially with everything that has been happening in my life!

In terms of cinematography, it was good. I’d say fairly standard when it comes to superhero films. Without sounding repetitive, I have to compare it to “Superman”, which I think had better cinematography. The music was definitely very important to the film, not only because the songs were very much representative of the almost ‘coming of age’ theme of the film, but because they really added to the mood. Overall, a decent second film in a budding universe. Dare I say I’m excited for the next DCU project?

Rating:

• Story: ★★★

• Acting: ★★★½

• Cinematography: ★★★½

• Music: ★★★½

• Enjoyability: ★★★½

So occasionally I’m in the mood to sit and watch something new, and although I’ve got lots of shows to catch up on, it feels slightly different to take someone else’s recommendation and just go with it. In this case, it was my wife who wanted to show me a show she had watched on Netflix many years ago, which she thought I’d enjoy!

The first season of ‘The OA’, sees Prairie Johnson, a young woman, return to her home after being missing for many years. However, her return garners a lot of attention, given that when she left, she was blind, and on her return had gained her sight. As Prairie tries to settle back into her previous life, it’s evident that something has happened to her, and she tries to find a group of people who she believes are worthy of hearing her story. The collection of people who answer her call is certainly an eclectic bunch. There’s Steve, the local bully, French, an academically and athletically gifted student, Buck, a young trans boy, Jesse, a reserved loner, and the most surprising of all, Betty, a middle-aged teacher at the school where all these students go. Despite their initial skepticism they sit and listen to Prairie’s story. She tells of her difficult childhood and the traumatic experience that changed everything. She then tells them of her meeting with Dr Hunter Percy, known as Hap, whose obsession with people who have gone through near-death experiences has led him to do the unfathomable. She finally tells them of the group of special people she met through this experience, whom she is desperate to get back to. Will this ragtag bunch believe the story she weaves? And can then help her complete the mission that she believes she was made for?

Okay, let’s start with the group that Prairie recruits. Jesse and Buck are played by Brendan Meyer and Ian Alexander, respectively. Both did a good job, but their characters were slightly overshadowed by the others, and we didn’t really learn much about them. Playing Alfonso French was Brandon Perea. I liked French, because his scepticism and intelligence led him to finding a lot of answers to questions I was asking myself. There were a few familiar faces in the show, too. Playing Betty, the shy but kind teacher, was Phyllis Smith, who played Phyllis in ‘The Office’. I have to say, the two characters were very, very similar, but it was still fun to see her. As Hap, was Jason Isaacs, famous for playing Lucius Malfoy in the ‘Harry Potter’ films. His portrayal of this charming but also cold character was commendable. It was difficult to dislike him. We also had Riz Ahmed playing Elias Rahim. His role was small, but I always like watching him play American characters. There were two standout performances for me. One was Patrick Gibson as Steve. The character development was phenomenal, and watching Steve go through those changes was fascinating to see. Finally, our protagonist, Prairie, was played by Brit Marling. Prairie is such a multi-layered character, and Marling was able to capture that essence perfectly. Plus, playing a blind character, in my opinion, is so difficult!

This show was, in a way, exactly the kind of thing I like to watch, but also thematically, there was a lot going on. I really enjoyed the flashbacks, and the way that Prairie told her story was very engaging. However, all the scenes in the present, in the small town, seemed slightly boring at times, and it was difficult to build authentic connections with all the characters. Now don’t get me wrong, it was clear that the show was attempting to help, and there was character development, but due to the nature of Prairie’s mission, it felt that she wanted out of this place, and so in a way, did I. There were certainly some interesting themes explored in the show, regarding consent, the shared bonds of those that have been in traumatic experiences together and even to a certain extent faith. Something extremely interesting to me was that this was a Netflix-produced show, and it came out in the same year as ‘Stranger Things’. The two shows are similar, but the latter took off with fans quite well, and I think that may be where ‘The OA’ lost out, with Netflix prioritising ‘Stranger Things’ over it!

Netflix tends to have decent budgets, and so a lot of the cinematography was good. Some of the scenes of Prairie experiencing the near-death experiences were great. In terms of music, there was certainly an importance placed on it, with regard to some of the characters, but I think the general soundtrack was not prominent. Overall, this was an interesting show, one that I’d like to return to, in order to see where the story takes our characters!

Rating:

• Story: ★★★

• Acting: ★★★

• Filmography: ★★★½

• Integral vs Filler Episodes: ★★★★½

• Enjoyability: ★★★

A long holiday has led to a long break from watching and reviewing films. But no more. I am back. I wanted to ease myself into watching something that wasn’t too brain-intensive, ha! Since I’ve picked the last few films that we’ve seen, my wife stated that it was time I let her choose, and choose well she did!

‘The Drama’ is a very simple story about a young couple, Charlie and Emma, who are looking forward to their upcoming nuptials. We see their first meeting, with Charlie attempting to impress Emma by talking about the book that she is reading, but it goes terribly, and Emma asks if he wants to ‘start over’. We fast forward two years, and Charlie and Emma are now engaged and organising different aspects of their wedding. One night, they see their DJ smoking heroin on the side of a road, which promptly leads to the two questioning if it’s appropriate to have her at their wedding. During a food tasting, with Charlie’s best friend Mike and his wife Rachel, the four discuss the worst things they’ve ever done. When Emma discloses hers, the mood changes, and there’s a shift in her relationship with Charlie. As he attempts to get his head around it, Emma tries her best to suppress her fiancé’s anxiety, but with the wedding just days away, will the two of them even make it to the altar?

Let’s talk about our two leads. Playing Charlie was Robert Pattinson. He does well to play a sort of awkward and anxious character, but naturally, we’ve seen that before from him. That being said, I did remark that I think he’s done a pretty good job of re-inventing himself from the Twilight days, and his performance in this film shows that even for simple roles, his ability to act has markedly improved. The same could be said for his co-star, Zendaya, who plays Emma. Zendaya, unlike Pattinson, has had a steadier come-up. We’ve seen her in Disney shows, we’ve seen her in Spider-Man, and then in Dune. However, she too is starting to take more layered and complex roles, and although her performance as Emma is not her best, it still shows growth and maturity. I do have to mention the two supporting leads. Mike, played by Mamoudou Athie, and Rachel, played by Alana Haim. Athie did a good job, but I have to give Haim her props. I’ve not seen her in anything; I only know her to be one of the members of the band Haim, but she can definitely act, and she does a pretty great job of being a mean girl. They both complement the characters of Charlie and Emma well, and overall, it’s not a huge cast, but it really doesn’t need to be!

The first thing I have to say is that it was such an A24 film. I’ve often spoken about the kind of films that the studio is producing, but from the get-go, I joked that it was typical A24. That, by the way, isn’t a good or bad thing, just my opinion. The film is pretty simple in its plot and design, but that works. Where it excels is its ability to switch seamlessly between present and past and weave that all together. In terms of themes, it was funny because my wife and I both felt that the two leads didn’t look like they had chemistry, but actually watching the film, you see how that chemistry develops in a sort of organic way, which is fun to watch. The film tackles a couple of interesting themes too, mainly, how do we hold people accountable for their past actions, but also, how does compatibility between couples really work?

The cinematography was again simple but effective. There were these really clever shots scattered through the film, and the way they seamlessly transition between adult Emma and younger Emma was really good. I’d say the music was not very prominent, which perhaps let the film down a little bit. Overall, it was a decent watch, nothing too serious, but sometimes that’s okay!

Rating:

• Story: ★★½

• Acting: ★★★½

• Cinematography: ★★★½

• Music: ★★½

• Enjoyability: ★★★½

Ever since I started this venture, I’ve been making my way slowly through DC’s New 52 novels, which I’ve been enjoying a lot. A part of me feels like maybe I’ll never catch up to the modern-day runs, but I thought with the speed at which I’m reading some of these series, I might get there eventually. So, having finished Volume 2 of Deathstroke a while back, I thought, let’s start Volume 3!

‘Gods Of War’ starts with Slade Wilson, aka Deathstroke the Terminator, receiving a mission to kill a wanted man. However, it appears that the kill won’t be easy, and he finds himself up against an army that almost takes him out. He manages to escape, just, and finds a man named I-Ching, who owes him from a job long ago. Deathstroke collapses in front of him, only to wake up and find himself decades younger, and more interestingly, with both eyes working and uninjured. But there’s no rest for the wicked, and despite his confusion, his next target is revealed to be someone called Odysseus, who is supposedly responsible for the army that tried to take Deathstroke down. A character called Red Fury gives him this information along with a truth serum that will reveal what has happened to him. As sceptical as he is, he gives it a try, only to end up in a vision in which he finds out that Odysseus is his father and is using his son, Jericho’s powers to control a whole host of people. Slade doesn’t know if the vision he’s seen is true or not, but he knows he needs to find his son. When he gets told that Jericho has ended up in Gotham City, he heads over there immediately. But we all know you don’t go to Gotham unannounced without a certain Crusader turning up. Can Slade find Jericho before Odysseus does? And is Odysseus who Slade’s visions claim him to be?

I always say that I don’t like the excessively violent characters, and that is generally true, but sometimes Deathstroke is the exception. He is one of my favourite villains, and I just think he’s badass. That being said, there were certainly times in this novel when I was genuinely wondering what the hell was going on. There was very little character development because every 2-3 pages, it felt as if I was being introduced to a new character that I wasn’t even sure was going to make it through the story. The second half of the novel certainly felt more coherent, and I enjoyed Slade’s adventures in Gotham!

The artwork and covers were done by Tony Daniel, who I think has one of the best styles, and I thoroughly enjoyed perusing the larger panels. He has a great ability to draw not only details and faces, but also to create wide landscapes which are dynamic and bold. Overall, not a bad novel, perhaps a little confusing in some places, but glad to return to Deathstroke’s adventures!

Favourite Panel:

This is what Ben Affleck’s Batman could’ve been!

Favourite Character:

There are genuinely quite a few good characters in this novel, but I have to give it to our titular character. Despite being at a disadvantage, he still comes out on top!

Rating:

• Story Arc: ★★★

• Character Development: ★★½

• Artwork: ★★★★

• Enjoyability: ★★★

• Re-readability: ★★½

Level: Advanced

A break from the cinema has meant that I’ve missed out on quite a few films that I was intending to watch. But with a long weekend and holidays approaching, I had the chance to sit down and watch a film that I was initially quite intrigued by. Part of that may have had something to do with the fact that I’ve been reminiscing on my time at school!

‘Wuthering Heights’ is a story set in Yorkshire in the 1800’s. The owner of Wuthering Heights, a large estate, Mr Earnshaw, brings home a poor boy whom he states that he has rescued. His daughter, Catherine, is instantly enamoured by this boy and sees him as a new plaything for her, much to the chagrin of her companion, Nelly, who is Mr Earnshaw’s ward. She names him “Heathcliff” after her dead brother. Very weird. The two are then inseparable, and you see their bond develop. Fast forward a few years, and you see them all grown up. Unfortunately, Mr Earnshaw, who has spent most of his days drunk and gambling, has lost a lot of money, and Wuthering Heights is in disrepair. One day, Catherine comes to find out that a wealthy young man, Edgar Linton, and his ward, Isabella, have moved into the Grange, which is the neighbouring property. She jokes that she will charm him, which gets on Heathcliff’s nerves, due to him having developed feelings for her. When Edgar sends a marriage proposal for Catherine, she is torn between her own feelings, but her decision is made for her when Heathcliff mysteriously disappears. After five years away, Heathcliff returns to his old life, only to find that he recognises very little of it. Can he and Catherine mend their friendship? Or will Catherine’s new life prove far better for her?

Playing one of our leads, Catherine was Margot Robbie. I initially felt that she may be a little old for the role, especially given how young her co-star looked, but I think in the film it was okay. I’ve still not concluded how well I think Robbie can act, although her performance in this film was good. As Edgar Linton was Shazad Latif, who did a great job of playing a sort of aloof gentleman. I did find it ironic that they cast Edgar with an actor who was ethnic, as opposed to Heathcliff, who in the book which inspired the film, was described as a ‘dark skinned gypsy’. I’m just saying, guys. Anyways, playing his ward, Isabella, was Alison Oliver. Now, clearly her take on the character was quite different from her book counterpart, but her ability to play this sort of zany and slightly unhinged character was fantastic. Martin Clunes played Mr Earnshaw, and Hong Chau played Nelly Dean. Again, their characters were slightly changed for the film adaptation, but they were good additions. I have to give a shoutout to Owen Cooper, who many of you would know from “Adolescence”. I think Owen is definitely one to watch, as his ability to act is phenomenal. Finally, the standout performance is Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff. I was sceptical, but Elordi does a fantastic job of portraying this tortured character, not too dissimilar to his performance as Frankenstein’s Monster. His accent was on point, and he was probably one of the few saving graces of this film!

Okay, what on earth was this fever dream? I had studied the Wuthering Heights novel as a teenager, and I remember really enjoying it. So when they announced they were making this film, it piqued my interest immediately. Then came the casting news, and I’ve already explained that I was slightly annoyed that they had the opportunity to do an accurate casting in terms of ethnicity, and they didn’t. I’m not one to harp on about DEI, but this is one of the few stories that has a lead with an ethnic background. That being said, I appreciate that the actors who were cast did the job they were asked to do. However, the director’s take on this book, I found, was a perverse and frankly disrespectful one, and honestly, it felt like it was just a smutty fan fiction. Several of the characters were changed into depraved versions, and by the end, I was left wondering why even adapt the novel? It was disappointing given that several other aspects of the film were done well!

I have to credit the film in terms of cinematography. Initially, when I saw Thrushcross Grange and the outfits that the Lintons were wearing, I felt that I had entered an Alice in Wonderland world, but I suppose it was to highlight the difference in the way of life that the Lintons were living compared to those at Wuthering Heights. Some of the shots were also visually stunning. The music was a mix of modern and classical, and again, I think the contrast worked well. Overall, this film just shouldn’t have been called Wuthering Heights.

Rating:

• Story: ★★

• Acting: ★★★½

• Cinematography: ★★★★

• Music: ★★★

• Enjoyability: ★½

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised that watching shows that are over 15 episodes long has become very difficult, which means that I often seek out shows with smaller seasons, and those that are less than 10 episodes are so easy to get through. This show in particular was recommended to me by an A+E consultant, who could not believe that I hadn’t seen it, and called myself a fan of Japanese culture. I took that personally and got to it immediately!

‘Blue Eye Samurai’ Season 1 tells the story of Mizu, a young samurai who is on a mission to find a number of foreigners whom she blames for the death of her mother. What’s worse is that Mizu has blue eyes, similar to the foreigners, making her an outcast in Feudal Japan. She is taken in by a blind blacksmith, whose talent is known far and wide, and his reputation brings in a lot of warriors who are looking to have him make a sword for them. Mizu, from that young age, begins to learn how to wield a sword. Due to her being a woman, she has to be extra careful and take precautions to make sure she’s not discovered. On her journey, she meets a number of characters who become integral to her mission. Firstly is Ringo, a young man who has lost both his hands and has been working in his father’s noodle shop. Ringo sees Mizu as a chance to travel and perhaps learn to be the best at something else, and so begs Mizu to let him be her student. During a mission to find out who has been harbouring one of the foreigners, Abijah Fowler, Mizu comes up against an up-and-coming samurai named Taigen. Taigen has managed to secure a match with Akemi, the daughter of one of the local lords. However, during a duel with Mizu, he loses and thus Akemi’s father arranges an alternative match for her, leading to Taigen trying to get revenge on Mizu. Can Mizu find Abijah Fowler and continue her mission for revenge? Or will she see an alternative life unfold in front of her?

We have to talk about this cast. Some of the names surprised me when I looked them up, although some voices sounded so distinct. Voicing Ringo was Masi Oka, who a lot of people may know from “Heroes”. He did a great job in terms of making Ringo sound like the friendliest guy ever. Taigen was voiced by Darren Barnet, who was in “Never Have I Ever”, not that I’ve seen it. Haha! But genuinely, there were parts where I thought he sounded like Dave Franco and had this really cocky voice. One actress whom I do know, but did not recognise, was Brenda Song, who voices Akemi. Akemi is such a dynamic character, and I was surprised to hear the range in her performance. Okay, this show also managed to get some legends on board. Voicing Madam Kaji, a cunning woman who owns a brothel, was Ming-Na Wen, whose acting and voice acting exploits include Mulan and also Fennec Shand in “The Mandalorian”. Randall Park voices Heiji Shindo, an accomplice of Abijah Fowler. I recognised his voice immediately! Playing our main antagonist was Kenneth Branagh. I completely forgot that he’s from Northern Ireland, because I was so surprised to hear that accent. There were also a few veterans of the business. George Takei voices Seki, Akemi’s tutor, and the late Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa voices Master Eiji, the legendary blacksmith. The standout performance for me, though, was definitely Mizu, voiced by Maya Erskine. The character has this real gravitas, and Erskine delivered it perfectly!

So initially, I was a little sceptical about this show. As you guys and girls know, I’ve developed an interest in watching anime, and this show was recommended to me as one. By technicality, it isn’t one, and perhaps that’s why I raised eyebrows. That being said, this show is fantastic, and if Japan wants to formally adopt it as an anime, I’d be okay with that. I’d said before that shows which are more than 10 episodes can start to become a little draggy, but at 8 episodes long, I was also aware that perhaps there wouldn’t be enough run time to strengthen the story or the character arcs. I did not have to worry about that at all. The main characters each get their chance to shine, and the way the episodes weave means that, actually, there aren’t really filler episodes; it’s more like tangents to help you understand the characters. The story is compelling, and there is a lot of action, which means that you never get bored. I have only one criticism, and that is, there was far too much nudity, and most of it added nothing to the show. C’mon, guys, we don’t need that stuff to attract viewers!

The show was produced by a French company called Blue Spirit, and I have to hand it to them; the show was animated brilliantly. The mixture of the 2D animation with an almost 3D style created a unique blend, which I’ve not seen done as well as this before. The music was good, and most of all, I loved all the different backgrounds, from Fowler’s Castle to the ocean scenes with Ringo and Master Eiji’s shop. I’ve heard there is a Season 2 coming soon, and I cannot wait to see where Mizu’s adventures take her!

Rating:

• Story: ★★★★

• Voice Acting: ★★★½

• Filmography: ★★★★½

• Integral vs Filler Episodes: ★★★★

• Enjoyability: ★★★★

DC and Marvel have been getting lots of attention from me recently, and I thought, hang on, there’s another company whose comics I adore. Where the hell have Boom Studios been? It was then clear to me that a return to Angel Grove was needed, and in particular, I needed to go back, way back to a time when there were only 5 rangers!

‘Vol 3’ of Go Go Power Rangers sees The Ranger Slayer, aka Kimberly Hart, from an apocalyptic future come back to the past to stop the Rangers from finding out how to defeat her boss, Lord Drakkon. There’s only one problem. This group of Rangers have no idea who Lord Drakkon is, and they’ve not even met Tommy Oliver yet. Despite the blip in her plan, The Ranger Slayer still aims to destroy the Rangers and their command centre. But she’s stopped in her tracks by her younger self, and once freed from the control that Lord Drakkon had on her, she tries to make amends. Meanwhile, each of the Rangers is finding it increasingly difficult to keep their secret from their families, and even more so from their friend Matt, who is convinced that he is special because the Rangers keep saving him. Naturally, with all this chaos happening, Rita Repulsa, who has been watching from the sidelines, sees the perfect opportunity to strike and sends down a few of her infamous monsters to do what they do best. Can the Power Rangers come together to stop this threat from the future and protect their friends and family? Or will all these villains finally be able to do what they’ve always wanted and destroy the Power Rangers?

I’ve often spoken about my love for Boom Studios and these epic series that they were able to create. ‘Volume 3’ is no different, and in fact, having read the main “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Series” and seeing all the chaos that Lord Drakkon brings, it was nice to just step back to a time where maybe things were slightly simpler. Some of the twists and turns in the novel were amongst the greatest surprises that a comic book has given me. The character development was excellent, and despite being a team book, I never felt like any of the characters had been overlooked!

Long before I had seen his work for DC, Dan Mora’s artwork for the Power Rangers series was truly magnificent. You see those 5 stars? Yeah, there’s only a handful of artists who would get that. Mr Mora is one of those people. The covers were brilliant. Overall, a fantastic novel in a great series. If you aren’t reading this, what are you doing?

Favourite Panel:

This was a blow-my-mind kinda moment!

Favourite Character:

They’re all so good, but Kimberly (the OG one) was badass!

Rating:

• Story Arc: ★★★★

• Character Development: ★★★½

• Artwork: ★★★★★

• Enjoyability: ★★★★

• Re-readability: ★★★½

Level: Intermediate

Since we’re on a good run, and I’m really enjoying reading comic books again, I thought, let’s return to what I know best: Gotham. The last few Batman novels I’ve been reading have all been part of the “Death Of The Family” storyline, and I was sort of looking forward to being done with all of that. So it was time to return to Detective Comics!

‘Emperor Penguin’ starts with Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin, putting out a hit on Bruce Wayne in an attempt to become the most prominent philanthropist in Gotham City. Great way to do it, eh? However, thanks to several criminals keeping Batman busy, Bruce Wayne arrives late to the fundraiser, where he was supposed to be assassinated, and Cobblepot manages to find a way to gain popularity without inciting murder. There is then a one-shot story with Poison Ivy trying to find a way to destroy many of the Penguin’s “legitimate” businesses, but she enlists the help of Basil Karlo, aka Clayface. But this is Poison Ivy we’re talking about; she’s smart. She feeds Clayface some sort of hallucinogenic plant that makes him think they’re married and in love. Aww. The novel then focuses on The Penguin’s right-hand man, Ignatius Ogilvy. When the Joker comes back to Gotham during the events of “Death Of The Family”, he takes Penguin with him to Arkham to set a trap for Batman. In that time, Ogilvy sees his opportunity and takes over the Penguin’s empire, and all of his legitimate and illegitimate businesses. He comes up with the moniker “Emperor Penguin”, which is both hilarious and the stupidest thing I’ve heard. Can Emperor Penguin take over a crime empire without attracting the attention of the Batman? And can Batman finally find a way to stop Oswald Cobblepot?

‘Death Of The Family’ was a great event, but it focused so much on what Joker was doing that I think it definitely left a bit of a gap in terms of showing us what Gotham was like during that time. In that sense, ‘Emperor Penguin’ was the perfect novel, focusing mainly on the streets and those villains that we didn’t see during that entire debacle. I enjoyed the majority of this novel, and the few issues in between, focusing on Clayface and Poison Ivy, were great. I think Batman has such an iconic gallery of villains that novels that are able to showcase lots of them at the same time are the best. The only qualm I had with this novel was that I don’t particularly think that Emperor Penguin is a great villain, and I hope he’s not here to stay!

Look, the artwork was good, honestly, some of those panels were beautiful, but the real standout? Those covers. Every single cover in this novel was fantastic, but the one I chose above, oof, goes in hard. Overall, you know that Batman never disappoints, so returning to this series was a good move. Let’s go and read some more comics!

Favourite Panel:

I’m glad he understands the irony!

Favourite Character:

It’s a Detective Comics novel, guys, it was always going to be Batman!

Rating:

• Story Arc: ★★★½

• Character Development: ★★★½

• Artwork: ★★★★

• Enjoyability: ★★★½

• Re-readability: ★★★½

Level: Intermediate

Sometimes I love stumbling upon a series I’ve not heard of before, and given that I’ve always been a DC fan, there are actually so many Marvel comics that I have yet to discover. I decided to continue my exploration of the All-New Marvel reboot from a few years back. I generally like Team books better, so I thought, why not jump into the “Inhumans” series!

‘Global Outreach’ tells the story of Crystal, Princess of the Inhumans, who is tasked by her sister, Queen Medusa, to find all the new Inhumans being created by the “Terrigen Mists”. She’s given a team and the means to go about her mission. A lot of the team consists of new Inhumans who gained their powers from the mist, and they’ve got a lot to learn about how to control their powers. The team attempts to show the world that they are there to help by aiding countries that now have new Inhuman citizens. Despite an initial trepidation, it appears that Crystal can convince the right people, and they are allowed to proceed with their mission. However, one day, they get told that the Terrigen Mists have gone through Sin-Cong, a country with a ruthless military dictator. Crystal is adamant that, irrespective of politics, they have to help, and initially, Sin-Cong’s leader, The Commissar, is open and welcoming. Naturally, this leads to some suspicion from some of the members of the team, but they have no choice but to accept what they are shown. But when all the members of the team have the same dream one night, whilst they are in Sin-Cong, they realise there may be more at play than they initially discovered. Can Crystal get her team of Inhumans out safely? And just who is pulling the strings in Sin-Cong?

You know, I’ve said it before, so it’s not going to come as a surprise. Marvel novels are always good when I least expect them. I had read the Black Bolt series a few years back, and I honestly didn’t think it was all that, which probably led to the lack of interest I’ve had in the Inhumans before, but this was a good novel. I really liked all the characters, and the character development was very good. I think if I had to pick at it, I’d say that it needed more action, but that’s me being pedantic!

The artwork was okay, with some good double pages. However, I think that the covers were really fantastic, and honestly, I struggled to find my favourite one. Overall, a very surprising read, and perhaps a series I’ll return to sooner than expected!

Favourite Panel:

With everything going on in the world, I just felt this was poignant!

Favourite Character:

This novel had quite a few good characters, but I think the award has to go to Crystal! No idea who she was before this, but I rate her!

Rating:

• Story Arc: ★★★★

• Character Development: ★★★★

• Artwork: ★★★

• Enjoyability: ★★★★

• Re-readability: ★★★½

Level: Intermediate

Listen, it’s been a while since I was getting through novels this quickly, and I felt like I needed to capitalise on that momentum. So I thought to myself, I should probably return to DC’s Earth-2 series, because this world is kinda depressing these days, might as well see how an alternate world was faring against despots!

‘Battle Cry’ starts with a story introducing us to Captain Al Pratt, a soldier who, in the aftermath of the attack by Apokolips on his world, was imbued with abilities that allowed him to change his size. Given his newfound powers, he is immediately drafted into “The World Army”, the combined forces of all the countries that are still operating on a global basis. In the aftermath of the Apokoliptan attack, the enemy forces, led by Steppenwolf, a ruthless general, created giant fire pits which have remained on vast swathes of the landmass. After a mission to explore one of these fire pits goes awry, it appears that options are limited and the World Army must go after Steppenwolf, who has remained trapped on this Earth, with no way back home. However, it’s not just the World Army who are after Steppenwolf. The “New Wonders” consisting of the Green Lantern, The Flash and the Dr Fate of Earth-2 have come up with a plan to preemptively strike, which coincides with the World Army’s mission. Despite there being two groups of heroes trying to stop this maniac, Steppenwolf has a trick up his sleeve in the form of his three ’Terrors’, who are powerful beings enhanced with the powers of Apokolips. Will these new heroes be able to save the day and stop Steppenwolf? And who’s the new guy in a Bat-costume who is running around behind the scenes?

Look, let me start with the positives. This novel did so much laying down of lore and character development, which really helped to enhance the understanding of readers to the nuances of Earth-2 and how all these different organisations and characters interact. That being said, I felt like this novel was not as exciting as the previous two. Perhaps that’s because, honestly, I’m only interested in the main heroes and not particularly in side quests and all this other drama. Give me hero vs villain action!

The artwork was good, with very expressive faces. The one thing that I think the artist, Nicola Scott, did very well was create these huge expanses and battles. Really well done on those. I think the covers were perhaps where I felt that the novel was let down a little bit. Overall, though, a decent novel, not the best in this series, but I still love Earth-2!

Favourite Panel:

Doesn’t matter which Earth it is. Batman is as Batman does.

Favourite Character:

There were so many to choose from, and although I’m intrigued about this new Batman, I do really like the Flash of this world!

Rating:

• Story Arc: ★★★½

• Character Development: ★★★

• Artwork: ★★★½

• Enjoyability: ★★★½

• Re-readability: ★★★

Level: Advanced

I was recently saying to my wife that I’ve kind of developed an aversion to reading about characters who are overly violent and sadistic. Then I decided to return to this series. Carnage has always been an extremely chaotic character, and the first novel in the series was a little subpar, so it was time to see what this one was all about!

‘World Tour’ sees Cletus Cassidy, aka Carnage, being saved by a teenage girl who is sailing the world. Carnage, having sustained some serious damage from an attempt by the military to capture or kill him, is clinging on to life, but holds within his possession “The Darkhold”, a mystical book full of spells. He is particularly obsessed with the spell that would allow him to create more symbiotes, all of which would be tied to him directly. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the ability to harness its true power. His mission takes him all over the world, eventually landing him in Indonesia, where apparently there is someone with the information he needs. Meanwhile, Agent Dixon, who was the FBI agent responsible for creating the original team to take down Carnage in the first novel, is relieved of her position, but is then approached by a woman named Victoria Montesi, who tells Dixon that she will fund her operation to take down Carnage. The old team is reassembled, including Eddie Brock, who now houses the Toxin symbiote, as well as John Jameson aka Man-Wolf. Having discovered the Carnage now holds potentially a power that could end the world, the team head over to Jakarta to stop the monster in his tracks. Can Carnage find what he needs to unlock the Darkhold? Or will Dixon and her team of misfits be able to take down Carnage once and for all?

I had quite low expectations of this novel. That’s not me being a pessimist, it’s just that I’ve never really liked Carnage as a character, nor have I found him very interesting. That being said, this novel was not bad. I initially thought having the Darkhold feature was going to lead to some Dr. Strange crossover but actually they kept it fairly simple. There was certainly a lot of tension, and a few omg moments. Although there was little character development, it almost didn’t matter because the pace of the novel was fast and you wanted to get to the action!

Errr, the artwork I’d say was average. There were panels that looked very busy, but I think the artist struggles with faces. The covers are really what shone in this novel. Similar to the first novel in the series, but a lot better, I thought. Overall, this was not a bad novel at all, and I think I would like to return to this series at some point to see what happens next!

Favourite Panel:

I genuinely gasped when I read this - you have to read the novel to get it!

Favourite Character:

I mean they’re all a little shady aren’t they? Except Man-Wolf, who seems like a good guy, even if his father is always trying to take down Spider-Man!

Rating:

• Story Arc: ★★★

• Character Development: ★★½

• Artwork: ★★★

• Enjoyability: ★★★

• Re-readability: ★★½

Level: Advanced

Having another person to sit and watch movies with often means that you expand beyond the normal horizons, and this morning, my wife decided that she wanted to watch this film with me. I’m never one to turn a film down… unless it’s to do with those stupid “Minions”, so I was game. This was a film that I had heard about, but to be honest, there was only one reason I had any interest in watching it!

‘The Housemaid’ tells the story of Millie Calloway, a young woman who is looking for a fresh start and a job. She attends an interview to be a live-in housemaid for Nina Winchester, a rich woman, who is keen to get some help around the house. Millie also meets Nina’s daughter, Cece, and her husband, Andrew. At first, it seems like the perfect job, and given Millie’s desire to make some money and have some stability, she wants to make a good impression. But soon the cracks begin to appear, and Millie finds that Nina is not who she appeared to be when they first met. Repeated actions by Nina make Millie look back, and then she has to deal with the constant mental breakdowns that Nina experiences. Millie soon finds out from people who know the Winchesters that Nina had gone through some trauma and had done a lot of pretty intense things. Millie’s only defence is Andrew, who tries to do his best to satiate his wife and tries to offset the antagonism that Nina feels for their new housemaid. As the pressure builds, Millie realizes that she has to do something to stop the abuse. Can she figure out who to trust to help her get out of this situation? And who else is hiding a secret of their own?

This was a pretty small cast, which hopefully should make it easier to review. Let’s start with our protagonist, Millie, played by Sydney Sweeney. I’m not oblivious to the memes, and I see why she has gained popularity, but my honest opinion of her before watching this was that I didn’t particularly think she could act. After watching this, I think she can act. I’m not convinced that she can act very well, though. Playing Andrew is Brandon Skelnar. Now, I had never heard of this guy before last year, I think he’s fairly new on the scene. However, everywhere I look, people are fan-casting him as Batman in the DCU. This was the only reason I actually wanted to watch this film. The guy has some decent range, and again, he’s not a bad actor. Perhaps I could see him as Batman, but I’m still holding on to hope that it will be Theo James. Ha! The two minor roles of Cece and Enzo, the Winchesters’ gardener, were played by Indiana Elle and Michele Morrone. Both were good additions to the cast. Let’s talk standout performance. Nina Winchester is played by Amanda Seyfried, whom, up until today, I have just known from the ‘Mamma Mia’ films. She generally gives off a happy-go-lucky vibe, but in this film, I actually saw a performance that I did not know she was capable of. Kudos to her!

I mean, this film was a fairly average watch. There were parts of it that had me hooked, and the tension was high, and then other parts where I was like hmmm, this could have used more. It’s not exactly what you want from a thriller, is it? Now, this very rarely happens, but I saw the twist in the film from the very get-go. It was slightly clear what the film was trying to achieve, and there were certainly some smoke and mirrors, but it wasn’t enough to make it predictable. This all sounds really bad, and I guess I have to balance that out. It wasn’t the worst thing I’d seen, and the really shocking bits did genuinely surprise me. A slightly better script and I think I’d have enjoyed it more!

Apparently, the film had a budget of $35 million, which I think is pretty believable. It then went on to make $360 million. Damn. It did very well then. The director Paul Feig has directed some very enjoyable films, including ‘Bridesmaids’, ‘Spy’, and ‘Last Christmas’. This felt pretty different in genre from those, and I’d say, despite my criticisms, I have to give him credit for trying something different and financially succeeding. The music was pretty apt. Overall, not a terrible watch, but not something I’d be recommending to others!

Rating:

• Story: ★★½

• Acting: ★★★

• Cinematography: ★★½

• Music: ★★★

• Enjoyability: ★★★

Having just gotten over the high of watching ‘Frankenstein’, I thought to myself, hang on, isn’t there a DC character by that name? It had been a very long while since I last read Frankenstein’s adventures with S.H.A.D.E., and I figured it was time to return. I have to say, the first novel was not my favourite by any means, but it was still an okay read!

‘Secrets Of The Dead’ is a huge compilation of stories. It starts with a one-shot story about Frankenstein, nicknamed Frank by most of the characters in the novel, and his once-upon-a-time love, Lady Frankenstein. Great names. The next story introduces us to “The Rot”, one of the three ancient forces - this one representing all the death and decay in the world. Whilst the Rot attempts to kill Frank, it realizes that Frank is both immune to its power and also to death. Armed with that knowledge, Frank goes on with his other missions. One of which involves him breaking into a microscopic base which houses several S.H.A.D.E. agents, since he’s been told by Father Time, the weird commander of this agency, that there may be a mole within the Organization. Frank seems a little tired of it all, but goes along with the plan. The final story sees the Rot take over the entire world, and suddenly Frank’s immunity to it becomes the World’s only solution. The problem is, the man who is now leading the Rot is none other than Frank’s creator, Victor Frankenstein. Can Frank find a way to stop his mad creator and save the world? And will he finally get the peace that he so craves?

I have genuinely no idea what the hell was happening in that novel. I mean, as a comic book character, Frankenstein is pretty interesting, but I often wonder if DC know what to do with him. His portrayal in the ‘Creature Commandos’ DCU show was almost the complete opposite of what he is in the comics, and so I think perhaps sticking to one archetype would be best. There were so many stories in that novel, and perhaps it was because it was the last in this series that the writers thought all loose ends needed to be tied up, but it felt all over the place with no coherent structure. The only saving grace was that the other characters were enjoyable to read, including Nina, Velcoro and Khalis. More of that, please!

The artwork was a mixture of artists, and if I’m being honest, I’m not sure I liked much of it. I get that they were probably trying to give off a horror feel to it, but the inconsistency wasn’t great. The covers were okay. I don’t know, I don’t think this was a great novel, and my feelings about it harkened to the time when I had to read those awful Larfleeze novels!

Favourite Panel:

Oof. Doesn’t matter which version of Frankenstein it is, the guy drops bars!

Favourite Character:

Lots of choice in this novel, with the Creature Commandos featuring. Although it should be Frank, I think Velcoro was extremely entertaining!

Rating:

• Story Arc: ★★

• Character Development: ★★½

• Artwork: ★★

• Enjoyability: ★★½

• Re-readability: ★

Level: Impossible

Wow. I have to say, it’s been a while since I’ve written a TV show review, and it’s been even longer since I’ve watched anything from the CW. I remember when I started university, all the shows I was watching at the time were on the CW, and it makes sense because their target audience was literally people in their late teens. On top of that, they were the only channel that was producing DC Comics TV shows at the time. So nostalgia baited, it was time to jump back in!

‘Arrow’ Season 3 begins in the aftermath of the previous season. Oliver loses his company because no one really trusts his judgment in running it, and in steps Ray Palmer, a genius scientist, who not only steals Oliver’s company but also steals his girl. What!?! The Arrow Team also seems to be getting into a new rhythm, and then Sara turns up, and everyone is overjoyed. But when she is mysteriously killed, the team scramble to find her killer. With the villainous Malcolm Merlyn turning up, it seems that a likely suspect has been identified. But all is not as it seems, because as the mystery of Sara’s murder begins to unravel, a new enemy emerges from the shadows. We are talking about the League of Assassins led by the indomitable Ra’s Al Ghul. Similar to several Batman comic book storylines, Ra’s sees something in Oliver, and when the two of them become embroiled in combat, Ra’s feels like he has found his successor. Despite his persistence, Ra’s finds that Oliver is reluctant to take him up on his offer. But he finds a way to persuade him. At the same time, the different members of Team Arrow are going through their own challenges. Laurel is dealing with the loss of her sister, Diggle is dealing with the change in his relationship, and Thea is finding it difficult to deal with her identity. Can Oliver and his team come together to deal with this new threat? Or will dissent separate them forever?

Let’s talk cast. The main cast remains the same. Stephen Amell returns as Oliver Queen/The Arrow. Amell has slowly been crafting his art through the seasons, and although Oliver remains his gruff self for the majority of this season, we see him slightly return to a coldness not seen since the first one. Team Arrow, including David Ramsey and Emily Bett Rickards, return as John Diggle and Felicity Smoak, respectively. In terms of character development for the two of them, there was some, but it felt that they were sidelined to a certain extent. One of the main subplots for the season involved Willa Holland as Thea Queen and John Barrowman as Malcolm Merlyn. Now I’ve always thought that Holland’s performance has been one of the better ones in the show, and seeing Malcom return was also really good. We have to mention our newcomers this season. Brandon Routh, who famously once played Superman, stars as Ray Palmer, and he brings this sort of naivety and charm to the role that I thought was perfect. Matt Nable is the villainous Ra’s Al Ghul. Errr, I’m not sure what to say about this casting. Ra’s, to my understanding, was Middle Eastern in ethnicity, and Nable is the most Australian-sounding man I’ve ever heard, ahah. For the standout performance this season, I have to give it to Katie Cassidy, who plays Laurel Lance. Laurel’s journey from grieving sister to certified badass by the end of the season was fun to watch!

Oh man, what to say about Season 3. It took me over 6 months to actually find a way to watch this season. I felt that the first two seasons of Arrow were so good, and the storyline was gripping. It felt like this season was a step down. Now, don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all terrible. I liked the flashback scenes, since they put Oliver in a new environment, even if that environment wasn’t as exciting as Lian Yu or even the ship. I will say that this season upped the ante on introducing more DC characters, like Wildcat, Katana and of course, Atom. It felt far more like a superhero drama than it had before. But the main storyline was weak. I know that previously it has been said that Green Arrow is a sort of alternative Batman, and the first season of Arrow was definitely pushing that, but having Ra’s as the main bad guy, who’s looking for someone to take over his mantle? Surely they could’ve found more Green Arrow villains rather than pursue one in a different character’s gallery of rogues? Idk, it just felt lacklustre!

Naturally, the CW didn’t have the biggest budget in the world, but I think that the graphics and filmography were considerably improved this season. They obviously had to spend money on some of those scenes with the Atom suit, but even the choreography seemed slightly better this season. The music has always been apt for the kind of show that Arrow is, so there’s not much to say there. Overall, this season was not great, not terrible, but disappointing given how good Season 2 was!

Rating:

• Story: ★★½

• Acting: ★★★

• Filmography: ★★★

• Integral vs Filler Episodes: ★★★

• Enjoyability: ★★★

For the last month, all I’ve been hearing about is this Warner Bros. deal that has been occurring. Netflix looks like it’s still on top, and despite Paramount’s best attempts to get any governing body around the world to side with it, I think Netflix will still win. What this means for Warner Bros. films is still to be seen, but in the meantime, it’s going to be interesting to see the kind of stuff that Netflix is releasing!

‘Frankenstein’ is by no means a new story. But a new retelling is always welcome. We start with a Danish ship that is stuck in the ice somewhere in the North Sea. Whilst the sailors are attempting to hack away at the ice, they stumble upon an injured man, named Victor Frankenstein. The captain takes Frankenstein to his private quarters and asks his tale of him. We see Victor’s childhood, where he is shunned by his father and adored by his mother, and after she passes, giving birth to his younger brother, William, Victor finds himself adrift emotionally. He becomes a surgeon, obsessed with bringing the dead back to life. His obscene experiments then catch the attention of Henrich Harlander, a man who states that he will pay for Victor’s work so that he may bring a corpse back to life. At the same time, he meets Elizabeth, Harlander’s niece and his brother William’s fiancée. Victor becomes enamoured with her and is desperate to impress her with his experiment. One night, the conditions are just right for Victor to perform the impossible, and he brings to life his ‘monster’. But things don’t go the way that Victor wants, and he finds that his new creation has ideas of its own. Can Victor prove to the world that he has conquered death? And just what does this Creature want?

I remember hearing a few things about this film during its production, but the cast was not one of those things. But by God, what a cast. Let’s start with the genius scientist himself, Victor Frankenstein was played by Oscar Isaac. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Oscar Isaac. He’s funny, he’s talented, he’s stylish, and very good-looking. Oscar Isaac in Dune is what I want to look like when I’m 40. He absolutely steals every scene he is in. Top quality acting. Let’s talk about Henrich Harlander, played by the indomitable Christoph Waltz. Now Waltz, despite being rated very highly, I still feel is such an underrated actor. In roles where the lines between good and bad are blurred, he plays the role well, and this was definitely one of those performances. Mia Goth plays Elizabeth, and again, a good performance there. I think she suits films in this genre generally, because she’s good at being serious and morose. I’m not sure I could imagine her in a romcom. Okay, let’s talk about the Monster in the room: Jacob Elordi. Now, I’ve not seen ‘Euphoria’, and so I had passed this sort of undeserving judgment on Elordi as one of those actors who are in popular TV shows, who doesn’t know how to act. I take it completely back. Jacob, if you’re reading this, you have garnered my interest, and I think you could be one of the greats. Please just do Heathcliff justice?

Frankenstein is a character that I think has been done so many times, and in so many forms, that I wondered if this film would be able to bring anything new to the experience. Whilst I don’t feel that viewers will take anything new away from the story, seeing alternative takes on characters we’ve seen before is certainly interesting. The film is also split into three parts, and so you see the story from several perspectives, which again I think adds to the enjoyment of watching the film. The themes that are explored are clear; get therapy people, haha. We all, in a way, share Victor’s ambition to do the impossible, and when that mission stems from a place of negative emotion, it doesn’t end well!

So naturally, Netflix has a variety of budgets, and some films get far more than others. It was clear from the get-go that ‘Frankenstein’ was one of those films. From the stellar cast to the cinematography, everything was done to the highest level of quality. It’s not surprising, given that they had the legend, Guillermo Del Toro as director. Del Toro, who is so known for creating the weird and wonderful, I think may have played this one a little tame, but it was still visually beautiful. I’d say the music was probably the only aspect of the film that I thought was average, but with a project like this, it really didn’t matter. Overall, a very good retelling of a classic!

Rating:

• Story: ★★★

• Acting: ★★★★

• Cinematography: ★★★★

• Music: ★★★

• Enjoyability: ★★★½

Oh my Lord. My exams are finally over. This means I’m finally stepping up from role as part-time writer, editor and curator of “The Masked Medic” and becoming a less-than-full-time writer, editor and curator of “The Masked Medic”. Trust me, it’s a big promotion that comes with a 100% increase in my salary from £0 to a whopping £0. With this newfound responsibility, I’m aiming to bring you more reviews than ever. Starting with this one.

‘Midnight In Paris’ is the story of current screenwriter and aspiring author Gil Pender, who finds himself in Paris with his fiancée, Inez, and her parents. Gil loves everything about Paris, and thinks that all the great writers, artists and visionaries of the 20th century were inspired by the French capital. His obsession with 1920s Paris, however, doesn’t go down well with Inez, and she’s very keen to enjoy the holiday before returning to her life in the United States. When they bump into a couple of her friends, Paul and Carol, Inez finally sees a reason to go exploring, much to Gil’s chagrin. One night, whilst drunk, Gil goes walking through the city, getting lost before being picked up by a couple of partygoers in an old car. Despite his initial reluctance, Gil goes with them, being brought to a party like he’s never imagined. Suddenly, he finds himself with new passion and vigour for his writing, and he finds himself inspired by the city he loves so much. Meanwhile, Inez sees this behaviour as annoying, sure that whatever Gil is talking about is largely nonsense. Will Gil’s experiences help him finish the novel he so desperately wants to write? And just who will he meet along this magical journey?

So when I saw Owen Wilson on the poster of this film, I was immediately like, what? I mean, I suppose that’s a little mean, but then again, I’ve never considered Wilson seriously, mostly because he does make good comedy films. Nevertheless, Gil, who is a slightly nonchalant character, is what Wilson does perfectly. Alongside him, playing Inez is Rachel McAdams, whom I genuinely get confused with several other actresses. Luckily, she didn’t have to show off her acting chops very much, but she played a very convincing and annoying fiancée to Wilson’s character. Finally, the last of the main cast is Marion Cotillard as Adriana, the young woman whom Gil continues to run into during these parties he attends. I generally find Cotillard to be intense, but that’s more from her facial expressions rather than the role that she is playing. Adriana is naive and unassuming, and Cotillard plays her well. The supporting cast is unreal, and includes Tom Hiddleston, Corey Stoll, Adrian Brody, Kathy Bates, as well asthe previous French First Lady, Carla Bruni. It’s a stacked cast, but one that melds into creating this rich background to Gil’s story!

I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this film. My wife chose it, but she chose it specifically because she thought I would really enjoy it. And she was right. ‘Midnight in Paris’ has a simple story, but one that surprisingly immerses its viewers by the end. Nostalgia in itself is a powerful force, and the film capitalises on it perfectly. I was just thinking last night, how often I find myself thinking about “the good old days”, and I suppose that most adults must feel the same. Gil’s desire to live this fantastical life in Paris makes sense, therefore, and the annoyance that Inez feels is the same annoyance we feel towards her. I have to say, I’ve been to Paris a number of times, and personally, I don’t get the allure, but the film does showcase what an iconic city it is, and how influential it’s been on modern art and literature!

As I said, the film was a simple plot, and the low budget made sense. Some of the cinematography was decent, especially the parties that Gil attends. I’ve not seen any other Woody Allen films, and I know that there were some serious allegations made about him. I’ve always said that I would try to separate the art from the artist if possible. The film does have a distinct style, and the music is certainly one of those aspects that I feel was done quite well. Overall, this was just one of those feel-good films that you put on casually and enjoy!

Rating:

• Story: ★★★

• Acting: ★★★

• Cinematography: ★★★½

• Music: ★★★★

• Enjoyability: ★★★

I know that ever since I expanded my reviews to anime, my attention has been largely held by the new category. I recently thought about whether I was starting to lose interest in comic books, and felt a little sad. But then I realized that I didn’t start this blog for any other reason than to be a stress reliever, and it was okay to flit from interest to interest. I think that process calmed me down enough to open up a comic book! Ha!

‘Back In The Hood’ is the story of Ben Reilly, a clone of Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man. Ben goes by the moniker “The Scarlet Spider”. The novel starts with Ben contacting an old colleague of his, whom he worked with, in what sounds like a conman job to help bring people’s relatives back to life. Following that ploy, he went undercover and only recently resurfaced. He asks his colleague for money and heads over to Vegas, wanting a new and perhaps profitable start. However, his luck wanes when he ends up in a casino that is owned by Cassandra Mercury, a rich and vengeful businesswoman. Cassandra’s daughter is one of the victims of Ben’s con and has been in a coma. As fates align, Cassandra and Ben come face to face, and she remembers that he was the one who promised to bring her daughter back. Ben, seeing himself in trouble, promises her that with her financial backing, he can come up with a plan to cure her daughter. If that wasn’t trouble enough, Kaine Parker, another Peter Parker clone, begins to look for Ben, with the intention of killing him. Can Kaine find where Ben has been hiding? And can Ben figure out how to undo the mistakes of his past?

Listen, straight off the bat, what the absolute hell was going on in this novel? I started this series in an attempt to read something new, and this was the first novel in this series, but I was so, so confused as to what had happened before. I’ve said this before, but Marvel’s continuity is genuinely all over the place. Also, why are there so many Peter Parker clones? Where did they come from? It feels like I’m going to have to do a lot of background reading to find out all the answers I need. If you can ignore all of that confusion, the novel isn’t bad. I did feel like both Ben and Kaine were overly violent and lacked the moral streak that Spider-Man has, but I suppose that’s why they’re flawed clones? I don’t know.

The artwork was not bad, I think the style was crisp, and the colours were bright. The covers were certainly a highlight, and I struggled to choose one to put at the beginning of this review. Overall, an extremely confusing novel, which I’ll probably return to one day, just for clarity’s sake!

Favourite Panel:

Given that they’re both Peter Parker clones, this cracked me up!

Favourite Character:

Errr… they’re all Peter Parker? But I suppose if I had to pick someone, it would be Ben Reilly. Don’t have much choice.

Rating:

• Story Arc: ★★½

• Character Development: ★★★

• Artwork: ★★★½

• Enjoyability: ★★½

• Re-readability: ★½

Level: Impossible

I feel that ever since I opened myself up to starting a new category of review, it’s basically all I want to do now. I took a little break to watch the first season of Kaiju No. 8, but naturally, with a third season round the corner, it was time to return to Gege Akutami’s world!

‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ Season 2 starts with a flashback arc. We get to see everyone’s favourite teacher, Satoru Gojo, as a student himself, with his fellow second years, Sugeru Geto and Shoko Ieiri. Gojo and Geto are given a mission to protect a young girl who is due to be absorbed into Tengen, a mystical, immortal jujutsu sorcerer who is responsible for maintaining the protective barrier over the Jujutsu High Schools. However, two separate groups are trying to stop this absorption process and target the girl, as well as Gojo and Geto. The second arc brings us back to the present day, with the group of curses, consisting of Hanami, Jogo, Mahito, and the now villain Geto, having finally come up with a plan to stop Gojo. All of this takes place in Shibuya in Tokyo, and starts with the villains setting up a number of veils to trap innocent people in and to keep the jujitsu sorcerers out - all except Gojo. As Gojo descends down into the underground, he is met by several challenges and challengers - all designed for him alone. Meanwhile, the remaining sorcerers are split into teams and begin to attempt to break the veils and make their way down to help Gojo. Can the villains pull off their plan before backup arrives? And what will come of the city of Tokyo once this is all over?

I have to say, I think having two arcs in one season was a pretty good idea. The first arc, although considerably shorter, almost acts as a palate cleanser as we get to meet some of the characters we know in slightly different circumstances, but also we’re introduced to some new and iconic characters *cough* Toji *cough*. Personally, the highlight of that arc was the friendship between Gojo and Geto, something that we haven’t really seen prior to this. I think the evolution of who they end up becoming is clear, but it’s nice to see a time when they were best friends. The reason I think that first arc is needed is that the Shibuya Arc is like going from 0-100 in a second. You know how the first season is like, ooh, there are these schools that train jujutsu sorcerers, and the two branches have a little rivalry, so cute? Well, the second season is like imagine what it would be like if the world had no hope and entire cities were under supernatural attacks. There were a lot of moments where I needed to pause just to understand what was going on, and I’m grateful to my anime expert sister who broke down some of the concepts for me. That being said, there were some truly spectacular moments, where my jaw was on the floor. There were more twists and turns than I could imagine, and by the end of the season, I needed a quiet moment to just sit and reflect on what I had watched. Thus, the delay in getting this review to you!

Similar to the first season, this second season clocks in at 23 episodes, but unlike that first season, it definitely felt like every episode was building on the story. There was perhaps one filler episode, but it was quite funny, so I didn’t mind. The one criticism I have is that the ending of this season, like its predecessor, left me slightly confused. I love the animation style of this show, and there were so many amazing fight scenes that took my breath away. One stood above the rest, but I’ll let you guys find it. The music this season was a step up. The opening of the ‘Shibuya Arc’ was done by a group called Gnu. It’s so catchy, I’ve made it my ringtone. Do you understand how good something needs to sound for me to revert to a teenager who is looking to download a new ringtone? Unreal. Overall, this season takes the stakes sky high, and I’m so, so excited for season 3!

Rating:

• Story: ★★★★

• Character Development: ★★★★½

• Animation and Visual Style: ★★★★

• World Building: ★★★★

• Enjoyability: ★★★★½