Movie Review: Zatoichi’s Vengeance

The biwa priest lampshades that Zatoichi's sensory abilities are comic book level.

Movie Review: Zatoichi’s Vengeance (1966) directed by Tokuzo Tanaka Let’s look at one of the Zatoichi films! This Japanese series ran for 26 films from 1962 to 1989, all starring Shintaro Katsu as the titular blind masseur. Plus a five year TV series, and a couple of modern remakes. From the relatively scanty hints of backstory… Continue reading Movie Review: Zatoichi’s Vengeance

Movie Review: Bangkok Dangerous (2008)

Joe gives Kong some combat pointers.

Movie Review: Bangkok Dangerous (2008) directed by Oxide Chun Pang and Danny Pang Joe (Nicolas Cage) is very good at his job. Very professional. He stays anonymous, doesn’t ask questions, doesn’t get personally involved with people, and erases all traces. This is very important to be a successful international hitman. How did he get into the… Continue reading Movie Review: Bangkok Dangerous (2008)

Movie Review: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Tracy is James' first true love.

Movie Review: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) directed by Peter R. Hunt James Bond (George Lazenby), agent of Her Majesty’s Secret Service, is a bit at loose ends. He’s spent the last two years trying to track down Ernst Stavros Blofeld (Telly Savalas) with no luck. M (Bernard Lee) would like 007 to move on… Continue reading Movie Review: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Movie Review: 48 Hrs. (1982)

Hammond and Cates have worked their way up to "grudging respect."

Movie Review: 48 Hrs. (1982) directed by Walter Hill San Francisco police detective Jack Cates (Nick Nolte) isn’t having a good day. He started it with fighting with his bartender girlfriend Elaine (Annette O’Toole). Then he invited himself along when two fellow detectives were trying to do a simple credit card theft/fraud bust (they weren’t too… Continue reading Movie Review: 48 Hrs. (1982)

Magazine Review: The Spider #85: The Council of Evil

Magazine Review: The Spider #85: The Council of Evil by Norvell Page While Richard Wentworth, the Spider, is well known for having a policy of “shoot first, take no prisoners” towards criminals, he doesn’t always kill. If a crook is knocked out or otherwise incapacitated, the Spider will merely brand their forehead with a spider… Continue reading Magazine Review: The Spider #85: The Council of Evil

Movie Review: The Great Escape

Danny and Sedgwick attempt to blend with the Russian prisoners.

Movie Review: The Great Escape (1963) directed by John Sturges During World War Two, the Germans captured quite a few enemy soldiers, primarily aviators who’d been shot down or crashed. The Allied prisoners considered it their first duty to escape from captivity, and several of them caused enough headaches that the Luftwaffe built a new prison… Continue reading Movie Review: The Great Escape

Movie Review: Universal Squadrons

Deakin confronts Peacemaker.

Movie Review: Universal Squadrons (2011) directed by Mark Millhone (also released as “Minuteman.”) Captain Lance Deakin (Riley Smith) has returned to his Texas ranch after a second hitch in Iraq as a quartermaster at an isolated supply depot. During his absence, his lover Becca (Willa Ford) and hired hand Corky (David Born) have been trying to… Continue reading Movie Review: Universal Squadrons

Comic Book Review: B.P.R.D.: Killing Ground

Comic Book Review: B.P.R.D.: Killing Ground story by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, art by Guy Smith In the alternate history of the Hellboy franchise, the United States government created a group called the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. The title demon who does not in fact want to bring about the end of… Continue reading Comic Book Review: B.P.R.D.: Killing Ground

Manga Review: From the Red Fog 1

Manga Review: From the Red Fog 1 by Mosae Nohara The place is England, in the late Nineteenth Century. Ruwanda Bailey is twelve years old, and from his earliest memories, his mother has kept him locked in the cellar. Miranda Bailey is beautiful, often compared to a rose, but her “thorn” is her habit of… Continue reading Manga Review: From the Red Fog 1

Movie Review: The Last Stand (2013)

Time for the town's defenders to lock and load!

Movie Review: The Last Stand (2013) directed by Jee-Woon Kim Gabriel Cortez (Eduardo Noriega) is the organized crime version of a nepo baby, being a third generation cartel boss. But he didn’t stay on top in the business by being anything less than a ruthless, cunning active criminal. When captured inside the United States, Cortez uses… Continue reading Movie Review: The Last Stand (2013)