This is just a modern rock song...
Baadasssssssssssssss Cinema
This documentary is a great introduction to the history of Blaxpoitation film, with comments from the directors and actors of the period, contrasting with theories from modern film critics, actors and directors. The level of information is quite basic and will contain few surprises for those who have already read books/articles on Blaxpoitation, however it is fun hearing anecdotes from the directors/actors themselves. And its always fun hearing film academics squabble of the relevance of Blaxpoitation, and whether the genre did more harm or good to Black Civil Rights in America. Overall it’s a good place to start if you’re interested in the genre, but those less vital for those who know their blaxpoitation history.
New Comics 30/06/05
Albion: I picked this up based on Alan Moore’s name and the idea that obscure British heroes would be getting a meta-textual treatment. Now I’m not that familiar with the characters that Moore (and Moore) are using, but that didn’t stop my enjoyment of the series. There is a real sense of dread as the events in the comics (within the comic) appear to be predictions of what is to come. The idea that a Beano-type villain, in the real world would be a mass-murdering pervert is definitely chilling for those who grow up on the adventures of the Bash Street Kids and Desperate Dan. The dialogue is a bit off, too consciously “British-slang” to sound authentic, but the characters reactions to the events were well played. The art itself is great, meticulously representing the art of comics gone-by and presenting an angular perspective on the modern world. This series definitely has me intrigued and unless something very wrong happens, I’ll be sticking through till the end.
JLA Classified: I take back the comments in my Pull list; this issue redeems itself and the entire series. Perhaps the only problem with the series is that Giffen and Co. knew this was to be the last time they were going to be able to play with these characters, and tried to fit too many ideas into the arc they were given. In this the jokes were back to being funny, there were genuine moments of character revelations and development. And the art by McGuire is amazing, equally adept at detailed blockbuster/widescreen images of a giant rabid G’Nort attacking skyscrapers, as well as the expressions on a character’s face in a reaction shot, “timed” for comedic precision. This was a great send-off to a much maligned era of Justice League history.
Young Avengers: Still a great read, but not a lot took place in this issue. It was more of a knockdown/drag out fight between Kang and the kids; and Kang and the Avengers. Still it had great in-between moments. I do love Jim Cheung’s art but all his characters look the same age. Captan America despite a bit of stubble-fuzz looks the same age Iron Lad, Kang (sans mask), despite facial hair, looks like he could go to school with Hulkling. Still enjoying the story, and it was interesting seeing the team trying to save the day, but showing their inexperience. Probably the weakest issue yet, but still a great comic. The letters page of the comic (Yay letters page!) is still in a debate at the Hulkling/Asgardian love-thang, which I totally missed out on at the time. Not that debating isn’t healthy (you won’t go blind!), but surely they got some other mail?!?! What about the rest of the story? I want to hear what other fans have to say!
The OMAC Project: Enjoyed more of Rucka’s paranoid conspiracies within the DCU until I found out I would have to buy 4 issues of Superman comics so that I could understand the next issue. No Fair, DC! You fuckers! I don’t have the money for that!!! Will pick up issue 4, but if it doesn’t make sense I’m gonna be mighty pissed at Johnny DC and The Mole, I’ll drive by their shared studio apartment and throw a brick at their window. Anyway where was I? Oh yeah OMAC, great art, with a cool looking Batman. The tense scenes with the DC trinity were interesting just to see these three former friends straining to be civil to each other. It was also seeing the division between 1st and 2nd stringer heroes, separate even further, with Beetle shunning Wonder Woman to work with fellow also-ran, Guy Gardner! I mean, christ almighty I know I’d rather work with Wonder Woman, but the level of mistrust between the usually clean-cut heroes is what is finally making DC an interesting place for me. At the moment Rucka is walking a tightrope, with what he has done to my favourite Justice League line-up (the Giffen one) I should be mad as hell, but the story is so well written, I’m willing (at the moment) to give him the benefit of the doubt.
7 Soldiers Shining Knight: Still my least favourite 7 Soldiers mini, this time due to heavy, heavy expository dialogue. But with the end of this mini, I can’t deny that the plot still has me gripped and I can’t wait to see how this fits in to the Grand 7 Soldiers Scheme of Things!
The Flash: Rogue war continues, and I’m still pretty clueless, not the best jumping on point, but I am intrigued by the character of Zoom, who has become a villain to make Flash the best possible hero he can be. That’s some fucking weird justification, dude. Will pick up the rest of this run, and maybe the 1st issue of the next arc and see where we go from here.
This documentary is a great introduction to the history of Blaxpoitation film, with comments from the directors and actors of the period, contrasting with theories from modern film critics, actors and directors. The level of information is quite basic and will contain few surprises for those who have already read books/articles on Blaxpoitation, however it is fun hearing anecdotes from the directors/actors themselves. And its always fun hearing film academics squabble of the relevance of Blaxpoitation, and whether the genre did more harm or good to Black Civil Rights in America. Overall it’s a good place to start if you’re interested in the genre, but those less vital for those who know their blaxpoitation history.
New Comics 30/06/05
Albion: I picked this up based on Alan Moore’s name and the idea that obscure British heroes would be getting a meta-textual treatment. Now I’m not that familiar with the characters that Moore (and Moore) are using, but that didn’t stop my enjoyment of the series. There is a real sense of dread as the events in the comics (within the comic) appear to be predictions of what is to come. The idea that a Beano-type villain, in the real world would be a mass-murdering pervert is definitely chilling for those who grow up on the adventures of the Bash Street Kids and Desperate Dan. The dialogue is a bit off, too consciously “British-slang” to sound authentic, but the characters reactions to the events were well played. The art itself is great, meticulously representing the art of comics gone-by and presenting an angular perspective on the modern world. This series definitely has me intrigued and unless something very wrong happens, I’ll be sticking through till the end.
JLA Classified: I take back the comments in my Pull list; this issue redeems itself and the entire series. Perhaps the only problem with the series is that Giffen and Co. knew this was to be the last time they were going to be able to play with these characters, and tried to fit too many ideas into the arc they were given. In this the jokes were back to being funny, there were genuine moments of character revelations and development. And the art by McGuire is amazing, equally adept at detailed blockbuster/widescreen images of a giant rabid G’Nort attacking skyscrapers, as well as the expressions on a character’s face in a reaction shot, “timed” for comedic precision. This was a great send-off to a much maligned era of Justice League history.
Young Avengers: Still a great read, but not a lot took place in this issue. It was more of a knockdown/drag out fight between Kang and the kids; and Kang and the Avengers. Still it had great in-between moments. I do love Jim Cheung’s art but all his characters look the same age. Captan America despite a bit of stubble-fuzz looks the same age Iron Lad, Kang (sans mask), despite facial hair, looks like he could go to school with Hulkling. Still enjoying the story, and it was interesting seeing the team trying to save the day, but showing their inexperience. Probably the weakest issue yet, but still a great comic. The letters page of the comic (Yay letters page!) is still in a debate at the Hulkling/Asgardian love-thang, which I totally missed out on at the time. Not that debating isn’t healthy (you won’t go blind!), but surely they got some other mail?!?! What about the rest of the story? I want to hear what other fans have to say!
The OMAC Project: Enjoyed more of Rucka’s paranoid conspiracies within the DCU until I found out I would have to buy 4 issues of Superman comics so that I could understand the next issue. No Fair, DC! You fuckers! I don’t have the money for that!!! Will pick up issue 4, but if it doesn’t make sense I’m gonna be mighty pissed at Johnny DC and The Mole, I’ll drive by their shared studio apartment and throw a brick at their window. Anyway where was I? Oh yeah OMAC, great art, with a cool looking Batman. The tense scenes with the DC trinity were interesting just to see these three former friends straining to be civil to each other. It was also seeing the division between 1st and 2nd stringer heroes, separate even further, with Beetle shunning Wonder Woman to work with fellow also-ran, Guy Gardner! I mean, christ almighty I know I’d rather work with Wonder Woman, but the level of mistrust between the usually clean-cut heroes is what is finally making DC an interesting place for me. At the moment Rucka is walking a tightrope, with what he has done to my favourite Justice League line-up (the Giffen one) I should be mad as hell, but the story is so well written, I’m willing (at the moment) to give him the benefit of the doubt.
7 Soldiers Shining Knight: Still my least favourite 7 Soldiers mini, this time due to heavy, heavy expository dialogue. But with the end of this mini, I can’t deny that the plot still has me gripped and I can’t wait to see how this fits in to the Grand 7 Soldiers Scheme of Things!
The Flash: Rogue war continues, and I’m still pretty clueless, not the best jumping on point, but I am intrigued by the character of Zoom, who has become a villain to make Flash the best possible hero he can be. That’s some fucking weird justification, dude. Will pick up the rest of this run, and maybe the 1st issue of the next arc and see where we go from here.
posted by James Plumb at 1:31 pm
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