Movie Review: Casablanca

Rick doesn't pretend he likes Ugarte, but his honest despite is more valuable to the thief than false friendship.

Casablanca (1942) dir. Michael Curtiz It is early December, 1941. In French Morocco, the port city of Casablanca, the hot night spot is Rick’s Cafe Americain. With an abundant supply of liquor, gambling, and the music of pianist/singer Sam (Dooley Wilson), it’s no surprise that “everyone comes to Rick’s.” The owner, Richard “Rick” Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), was… Continue reading Movie Review: Casablanca

Movie Review: Militant Eagle

Fang contemplates the broken jade bracelet that symbolized his marriage vows and briefly regrets what he did to his wife.

Movie Review: Militant Eagle (1978) directed by Chia Chih Li At the end of a three-year war, a general bids a fond farewell to one of his best officers, who wants to return to civilian life. We jump to ten years later, after another war has just ended. By imperial (I think it’s the Tang Dynasty)… Continue reading Movie Review: Militant Eagle

Movie Review: Lady Snowblood

Even Yuki can appreciate the beauty of a flower.

Movie Review: Lady Snowblood (1973) directed by Toshiya Fujita Yuki (Meiko Kaji) was born in prison, the result of her mother Sayo (Miyoko Akaza) seducing multiple guards in order to get pregnant. Sayo’s husband and son had been murdered, and herself raped and tortured, by four criminals as a byproduct of the criminals’ scheme to defraud… Continue reading Movie Review: Lady Snowblood

Comic Book Review: Golden Age Marvel Comics 2

Comic Book Review: Golden Age Marvel Comics 2 by Various This volume reprints the contents of Marvel Mystery Comics #5-8 from 1940. The introduction by Roy Thomas points up the contrast with the publisher’s other anthology title of the time, Daring Mystery Comics. This one had star characters like the Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner,… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Golden Age Marvel Comics 2

Comic Book Review: Queen & Country Definitive Edition Volume 02

Comic Book Review: Queen & Country Definitive Edition Volume 02 story by Greg Rucka, art by Various Recap: Tara Chace is a special agent for Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) code-named “Minder Two.” Unlike regular agents who are stationed in a specific place, she and the other two Minders are sent wherever a developing situation… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Queen & Country Definitive Edition Volume 02

Movie Review: Green Lantern: First Flight

A Green Lantern briefing is interrupted.

Movie Review: Green Lantern: First Flight (2009) Directed by Lauren Montgomery Test Pilot Hal Jordan is practicing in a flight simulator when that non-vehicle is suddenly surrounded by a green glow and transported to a nearby desert. There he finds a crashed spacecraft and its dying pilot, an alien named Abin Sur. Abin Sur bequeaths his… Continue reading Movie Review: Green Lantern: First Flight

TV Review: Lupin: Dans l’Ombre d’Arsene Part 2

Despite recent setbacks, Assane still has a plan.

TV Review: Lupin: Dans l’Ombre d’Arsene Part 2 Quick recap: Assane Diop (Omar Sy), a Senegalese immigrant to France, believes his father Babakar (Fargass Assande) was framed by his employer Hubert Pellegrini (Herve Pierre) for the theft of the fabulous Queen’s Necklace. Taking inspiration from Maurice LeBlanc’s tales of Arsene Lupin, Assane has fashioned himself… Continue reading TV Review: Lupin: Dans l’Ombre d’Arsene Part 2

Movie Review: Drive Angry

John Milton has seen better days.

Movie Review: Drive Angry (2011) directed by Patrick Lussier John Milton (Nicolas Cage) was a bad person who committed many crimes. It’s no surprise he ended locked up for many years. During those years, his daughter grew up, joined a cult, left the cult, got married, had a child, and then was murdered by the cult… Continue reading Movie Review: Drive Angry

Book Review: Catfishing on CatNet

Book Review: Catfishing on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer It is the not too distant future, a time of self-driving cars, drone package delivery, and robots teaching sex ed. Steph Taylor doesn’t think too much about technology, as she has other concerns in her life. Ever since she can remember, her mother has been moving them… Continue reading Book Review: Catfishing on CatNet

Book Review: The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror Volume 16

Book Review: The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror Volume 16 edited by Stephen Jones Let’s go back to 2004 for what at least one editor considered excellent short horror fiction. As with the later volume I have reviewed, there’s a lot of ancillary material. It opens with an extended look at horror and horror-adjacent… Continue reading Book Review: The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror Volume 16