Name: JPRoscoe
Email:
Bio: Follow me on Twitter @JPRoscoe76! Loves all things pop-culture especially if it has a bit of a counter-culture twist. Plays video games (basically from the start when a neighbor brought home an Atari 2600), comic loving (for almost 30 years), and a true critic of movies. Enjoys the art house but also isn't afraid to let in one or two popular movies at the same time.
Posts by JPRoscoe:
Suicide Squad 1: Trial by Fire
July 24th, 2017|
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Comic Info
Comic Name: Suicide Squad (Volume 1)/Secret Origins (Volume 2)
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: John Ostrander
Artist: Luke McDonnell/Bob Lewis/Karl Kesel/Dave Hunt
# of Issues: 9
Release Date: 2015
Suicide Squad (1) #1
Reprints Secret Origins (2) #14 and Suicide Squad (1) #1-8 (May 1987-December 1987). Amanda Waller has assembled one of the meanest team of “heroes”. Calling them Task Force X, Task Force X is also known as the Suicide Squad because all the members are expendable and the government will take no ownership of them if they fail. Under the leadership of Rick Flag, Task Force X is assigned the missions that no other team will do…and with a group of villains at their core, Task Force X could either become the heroes they despise or find a means to escape the terms of their “parole”.
Written by John Ostrander, Suicide Squad Volume 1: Trial by Fire picks up after the events of the DC “event series” Legends. Collecting the retelling of Suicide Squad’s origin in Secret Origins (2) #14 (May 1987) and the first eight issues of the series, the collection features art by Luke McDonnell, Bob Lewis, Karl Kesel, and Dave Hunt.
With their own relaunched stand-alone series in the New 52 and the 2016 movie, interest in Suicide Squad returned, and with it the original series which launched the “new” look for the old team. The issues collected show how Suicide Squad went from a typical World War II comic to a “villains as heroes” story that kind of revolutionized the storytelling.
The idea of heroes as villains is pretty common place now, but it was relatively a new thing in when Suicide Squad was introduced in Legends #3 (January 1987). The model was tweaked and modified over the years and led to teams like the Thunderbolts at Marvel Comics. Here, you have a team at its basic level. Unlike something like the Thunderbolts, Suicide Squad doesn’t seem to care if they are viewed as heroes or villains and have no master plan.
Suicide Squad (1) #6
The issues are rather dense and feel heavy as you read through them. The first volume contains a lot of classic ’80s Cold War espionage with the Suicide Squad going up against the USSR and Middle East terrorists. The basic missions in the story have enough twists and turns to keep it interesting, but it doesn’t have quite the level of “fun” that could be written into the story (likewise current incarnations have too much fun and not enough mission).
The characters of Suicide Squad are the selling point. It is always a really fluid team and it seems even more fluid here. Characters can get killed or captured and are immediately replaced. The actual staffing of the team doesn’t make much sense (and never has) since having a team of supervillains is a bad idea regardless if they are expendable and the villains picked for the team are either impractical or just out-and-out dangerous for team mission.
Suicide Squad is a fun read though the eight issues seem to drag at points. The series is a good set-up for the movie though the team make-up has little resemblance to the team you’ll find in the movie. It is also a rather timely book (with the Cold War references) so younger readers might not understand the set-ups involved in the book. Suicide Squad 1: Trial by Fire is followed by Suicide Squad 2: The Nightshade Odyssey.
Related Links:
Suicide Squad 1: Kicked in the Teeth
Through a Glass Darkly (1961)
July 24th, 2017|
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Movie Info
Movie Name: Through a Glass Darkly
Studio: Svensk Filmindustri
Genre(s): Drama
Release Date(s): October 16, 1961
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Mental illness…
On an island for a family retreat, Karin (Harriet Andersson), her brother Minus (Lars Passgård), and her husband Martin (Max von Sydow) welcome back her father David (Gunnar Björnstrand) who is working on his novel. The family realizes that Karin is in danger as she suffers from schizophrenia which is only getting worse…and she doesn’t even know the level of her own condition. When Karin learns the truth, her world will fall apart.
Written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, Through a Glass Darkly (Såsom i en spegel or As in a Mirror) is an award winning Swedish drama. The film won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film with a nomination for Best Original Screenplay. It received a remastered Criterion edition (Criterion #209).
Ways to ruin a vacation…
Movies by Ingmar Bergman are often the epidomy of both classic cinema but also art house cinema. His stories are often layered and character driven instead of story driven and Through a Glass Darkly is a great example of his work.
As mentioned, the movie is primarily character driven. The story is almost non-existence and the film comes off very play like (it actually was later turned into a stage play). Many of the conversations don’t feel very natural, but they work in the context of the film. The distance between the characters (and the island setting) is demonstrated through the odd dialogue and tone. While most of the characters are internalizing, Karin’s schizophrenia has her raging against the odd detached nature of the film.
I did a bad thing
Harriet Andersson rules this picture with her raging performance of a character being torn apart internally. Her costars have the tougher role of repressing emotion and behavior with Gunnar Björnstrand as the cold father and Max von Sydow as the husband trying to put on the strong face. Lars Passgård’s Minus rivals Andersson as another character on the verge and needing more than he is being given by his family.
Bergman also gives great visuals. The island is both isolated and run down. The cabin isn’t in the best shape, but it has experienced life with the characters. The black-and-white film is cold but Andersson does heat up her scenes.
Through a Glass Darkly is a strong film. It was Bergman’s second Best Foreign Film in a row after The Virgin Spring (1960) and is rightly considered a classic. It isn’t easy to watch to digest, but it is worth trying for fans of Bergman or film in general. The film is considered part of a spiritual trilogy with Bergman’s Winter Light and The Silence (both released in 1963).
Black Mirror—Season 2
July 23rd, 2017|
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So…seen any good TV?
Technology has a cutting edge and discovering that could be dangerous. Martha (Hayley Atwell) learns dead might not mean dead when her love Ash (Domhnall Gleeson) is taken suddenly while a woman (Lenora Crichlow) finds herself with amnesia and drawn into a dangerous game she doesn’t understand. A cartoon character voiced by Jamie Salter (Daniel Rigby) makes a political splash, and two men (Jon Hamm and Rafe Spall) trade stories at a remote outpost on Christmas. They have all stared into the black mirror.
Black Mirror—Season 2 (or Series 2) aired from February 11, 2013 to February 25, 2013 with a holiday special “White Christmas” airing December 16, 2014. The series aired on the BBC’s Channel 4. The series continued to receive critical acclaim.
No way a person just spouting out junk would become popular in an election…at least Waldo didn’t win…that would be completely unrealistic (sarcasm)
Black Mirror is the modern (and more adult) grandchild of the original Twilight Zone. The series is edgy and (usually) unpredictable while offering gut-wrenching twists. The second season continues this trend and (as the title implies) reflects a lot of what is going on in the world despite being a fantasy.
The first three entries in the series (which technically are Series 2) are solid. “Be Right Back” is a nice twist on something like “The Monkey’s Paw” or even “Bobby” from the old Dead of Night horror movie where getting the return of a loved one isn’t always the best thing (though this is more psychological than horrific). “White Bear” was a bit predictable, but it was still a fun, fast-moving romp. “The Waldo Moment” is especially scary (and predictive) after the 2016 year of elections…it is ironic though while real life is scarier.
Paparazzi have gotten bad
“White Christmas” gained a lot of acclaim and is solid, but I also found it a bit wandering. Running over an hour, the episode is building to the ending, but I felt parts with Oona Chaplin and Rasmus Hardiker were too long to be given as “examples” to build upon (and felt more like stories that they did not have enough substance to turn into a full episode)…it is solid, but I wanted to like it more.
The series is still sharp. The visuals and editing really pump up the series and look big (which is ironic considering how long it took the BBC to get to this after years of hokey looking sci-fi series). It is the slick realism that makes the show really pop and feel real.
Black Mirror is a great, modern anthology. It has the potential to be funny, scary, and thought provoking all at the same time. It can take you new places or it can feel ultra-real and reality bound. Black Mirror had a third series released on Netflix in 2016.
Black Mirror—Season 2 Complete Episode Guide:
“Be Right Back”
2.1 Be Right Back Airdate: 02/11/13
The sudden death of her husband Ash (Domhnall Gleeson) leaves expectant mother-to-be Martha (Hayley Atwell) reeling. When she learns that a cloud-based recreation of Ash can be developed on her phone, Martha finds that her love might not be as dead as she thought.
“White Bear”
2.2 White Bear Airdate: 02/18/13
Waking up with no memory, a woman (Lenora Crichlow) suffering from memory flashes finds herself on the run from killers and people recording the event with cameras. The woman finds an ally in a woman Jem (Tuppence Middleton) who says she knows what is happening and can stop the terror.
“The Waldo Moment”
2.3 The Waldo Moment Airdate: 02/25/13
Comedian Jamie Salter (Daniel Rigby) is making a name as the voice behind an animated bear named Waldo on a TV talk show. As Waldo branches into the big leagues and political commentary by running for office, Jamie finds that Waldo’s message (or lack thereof) is something that people want…and Jamie could change the world.
“White Christmas”
2.4 White Christmas Airdate: 12/16/14
Matt Trent (Jon Hamm) and Joe Potter (Rafe Spall) tell each other stories of how they ended up at the remote station on Christmas. Matt tells how he served as an aid for a man named Harry (Rasmus Hardiker) seeking a girlfriend in a woman named Jennifer (Natalia Tena) and a woman who’s cookie Greta (Oona Chaplin) discovers that being a household assistant could mean an end to her life. Joe reveals his relationship with Beth (Janet Montgomery) and his quest to regain his love and his unborn child when he is blocked by Beth…and the horror that resulted.
Related Links:
Black Mirror—Season 1 Review and Episode Guide
Lord of the Flies (1963)
July 22nd, 2017|
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Movie Info
Movie Name: Lord of the Flies
Studio: Two Arts Ltd.
Genre(s): Drama
Release Date(s): May 1963 (Cannes Film Festival)/August 13, 1963 (US)
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Nope…not crazy at all
Fleeing a war, a group of English schoolboys find themselves stranded on a tropical island without adult supervision. As Ralph (James Aubrey) tries to establish order among the boys, choir leader Jack (Tom Chapin) takes a more primal survivalist mode to the reality. With the children trapped between the two ideologies, war breaks out among the kids…and only the strong can survive.
Directed by Peter Brook, Lord of the Flies adapts the acclaimed 1954 novel by William Golding. The independent film was released at Cannes Film Festival in 1963 to positive reviews and received an X in Britain (meaning many of the actors in the film couldn’t see it in the theater) while it was not rated in the United States. A remastered version of the film was released by Criterion (Criterion #43).
My first introduction to Lord of the Flies involved a short adaptation in a reader featuring pictures of this film. The film wasn’t readily available at the time but the 1990 version of the film was released soon after. Thought the 1990 version of the film might take a more traditional approach to filmmaking, this version of Lord of the Flies is superior.
Poor Simon…and his pig head
Lord of the Flies is a difficult book to adapt in that the idea of children becoming ruthless killers after isolation scares adults and much of the book is about concepts and themes instead of dialogue and plot. Here, the visuals overtake the story but it works because the visuals wrap back around to the idea of themes and concepts.
The cast were novices that hadn’t done much acting (if any) at the time of the film. The cast were treated like they were at camp and hours and hours of footage were cut down into the short film to give them a more natural “kid” feel. James Aubrey emotes a lot in face which works for the character that is trying to be the adult while Tom Chapin is good as the brash Jack. It is ironic that Hugh Edwards is “Piggy” (who isn’t ever given a name here or in the book) because by today’s standards, he isn’t that heavy. Tom Gaman is also good as the wide-eyed “innocent” of the film Simon who tries to find a balance between the two parties (and pays for it).
Piggy, you had one order…”stay quiet” and you couldn’t do it.
With the children actors and a largely conceptual script, the visuals tell a lot. The movie was shot in Puerto Rico (the Bay of Pigs actually had injured evacuated to a naval hospital on the island during the first week of filming). It gets the ideas of madness and craziness of the situation. The movie almost has a documentary-esque look to it and the black and white adds to the starkness of the film.
Lord of the Flies isn’t going to be everyone’s favorite films. It has a very odd tone to it and the subject matter can be off-putting to some. The film’s rawness and ability to capture some very loose ideas is impressive along with getting a group of kids to convincingly show how society can break down under pressure. The 1990 version may be sleeker and smoother, but this one captures the essence of Golding’s story.
Legion Lost 1: Run from Tomorrow
July 19th, 2017|
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Comic Info
Comic Name: Legion Lost
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Fabian Nicieza/Tom DeFalco
Artist: Pete Woods/Matt Camp
# of Issues: 7
Release Date: 2012
Legion Lost #2
Reprints Legion Lost #1-7 (November 2011-May 2012). Separated from the Legion and trapped in the past, Dawnstar, Wildfire, Timber Wolf, Gates, Chameleon Girl, Tellus, and Tyroc discover that the terrorist Alistor they were pursuing has released a virus that could alter humanity’s future! With limited resources and unable to reveal themselves with fears of altering the future, the Legion could be facing their toughest mission yet…and the Hypertaxis virus is spreading!
Written by Fabian Nicieza and Tom DeFalco, Legion Lost Volume 1: Run from Tomorrow was part of DC Comics New 52 relaunch after Flashpoint. Featuring art by Pete Woods with additional art by Matt Camp, the series was faced with critical reviews and struggled to find an audience.
The Legion of Super-Heroes combined with New Teen Titans could be my favorite DC series. The original Legion Lost mini-series was a great read, and I looked forward to a retooled, reimagining of the Legion for the New 52. Unfortunately, Legion Lost made itself too difficult for even fans of the series to follow.
Legion Lost #6
Both Legion Lost and the New 52 Legion of Super-Heroes play with the relaunch by having actual Flashpoint affect the reality and separate the two teams. It is a little rocky to start out but it immediately launches into the hunt for Alistor. I felt that the Hypertaxis virus needed a little set-up however because it was kind of unclear how Hypertaxis spread and how dangerous it was…if it was as bad as the Legion perceived, it seems like they could have contacted other heroes (time travel isn’t a new thing to the Legion).
The series did a good job of picking Legionnaires for this volume but with its choices, it also kind of screwed Legion of Super-Heroes. A lot of the Legionnaires on this team are my favorites…making the flagship Legion less interesting to read for me. Also, the comic suffers the classic Legion problem of tons of characters and many with complex backstories. For new readers, this is a challenge, and New 52 was all about gaining new readers.
That doesn’t go to say that Legion Lost is all bad, but unfortunately for the title, it is extremely average. In a tough comic market, average can’t survive. I felt that DC did give the Legion a chance (both titles survived the first round of cancellations), but I also feel it didn’t get as much support as it could have. Legion Lost 1: Run from Tomorrow was followed by Legion Lost 2: The Culling which crossed over with Superboy and Teen Titans.
Related Links:
Legion of Super-Heroes 1: Hostile World
Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes
Watership Down (1978)
July 18th, 2017|
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Movie Info
Movie Name: Watership Down
Studio: Nepenthe Productions
Genre(s): Animated/Action/Adventure
Release Date(s): October 19, 1978
MPAA Rating: PG
Love the art for the El-ahrairah fable
A vision of death has come to Fiver, and Fiver’s brother Hazel realizes that the warren must move. Unable to convince the leaders of the warren, Hazel, Fiver, and a small band of rabbits begin a desperate mission to seek out a safe place. Besieged by their enemies, the descendants of El-ahrairah find that their own kind might be the greatest danger…as Lord Frith hangs heavy in the sky.
Directed by Martin Rosen (with uncredited help from John Hubley), Watership Down adapts the 1972 best-selling novel by Richard Adams. The film was a success in the UK, but underperformed in the United States but has gained a cult following since its release. A remastered version of the film was released by Criterion (Criterion #748).
I remember seeing a trailer or a clip of Watership Down when I was little and wanting to see it (but being told it wasn’t really for kids). I still ended up seeing it at a rather young age…and was completely wrecked by the movie.
Cute little rabbit…dying painfully
The movie is quite unforgiving and a foray into “adult” animated features. While a kid can watch, understand, and like the movie (I did), it is also pretty terrifying. You have rabbits brutally attacking each other, dogs killing rabbits, and the horrifying caught in a snare moment with Bigwig who grows covered in flies, saliva, and blood as he tries to free himself. The story has a lot real world undertones and some biblical aspects to the story. I particularly enjoy how the rabbits try to make sense out of the world they are living in (especially the humans) and their own creation mythology.
The film cast strong voice actors for the roles. John Hurt has the lead as Hazel with Richard Briers playing his brother Fiver. Ralph Richardson played the chief rabbit of Hazel and Fiver’s warren while the terrifying Woundwort was played by Harry Andrews. The conniving Cowslip was Indiana Jones alum Denholm Elliott and Nigel Hawthorne also had a small role as Campion. The scene stealing Kehaar (who even shouts “piss off” to the little rabbits) was played by American performer Zero Mostel.
Aren’t rabbits cute when they play and hop together?
The art of Watership Down also tells you that you aren’t watching a Disney movie. It is radically different than Disney (especially at the time) and features a tons of different styles within the movie. It is ragged and raw at points and I’ll admit that I don’t always like the rabbit designs which unfortunately sometimes cheapen the movie. However, it displays the brutality of the film which isn’t afraid to get bloody…real bloody.
Watership Down is a weird anomaly in the animated film world. Like the book, it is a story that should be for kids, but adults will enjoy it far more than children who could be traumatized by it. The book’s popularity always puts Watership Down on the list of films for a remake. A Canadian-British TV series ran from 1999-2001 and a new version of the series is scheduled for release on Netflix in 2017.
Bone: Tall Tales
July 18th, 2017|
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Comic Info
Book Title: Bone: Tall Tales
Publisher: Scolastic
Writer: Jeff Smith/Tom Sniegoski
Artist: Jeff Smith
Release Date: 2010
Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails #1
Smiley has agreed to take the Bone Scouts and Bartleby camping…but you can’t have camping without stories by the fire. With the Bone Scouts and Bartleby as his enchanted listeners, Smiley tells them the tales of the adventurer Big Johnson Bone and his venture into the Big Valley long before Smiley, Fone, and Phoney found it. Big Johnson Bone’s encountered changed the course of the Valley and altered the lives of Rat Creatures forever!
Bone: Tall Tales is a compilation book which contains part of the series Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails #1-3 (December 1999-February 2000) by Tom Sniegoski in addition to new, original material by Jeff Smith. The standalone story was reprinted along with the color reprints of Bone by Scholastic.
I loved Bone, but I primarily liked the Bones. Both Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails and Rose were nice addendums to the series, but I always preferred to stick to the core storyline. Rereading Bone: Tall Tales reminds me why.
Bone: Tall Tales isn’t bad, but it also isn’t Bone. The story since it is short stories is rather fragmented and Big Johnson Bone just isn’t as compelling of a character as the cousins. Tom Sniegoski took the idea of American folklore like Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill and wrapped it up into the story.
Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails #2
I love the Rat Creatures so the story does have that going for it. It is kind of odd that Smith allowed Sniegoski to reveal the “secret origin” of his great creations, but I imagine he had a lot of say on how the story was scripted and presented. The loss of the tails due to Big Bone Johnson fits in with the folklore aspect of the story but still isn’t as fun as the original series.
Fortunately, Jeff Smith did provide the art for both the series and the story. I think Rose worked because of how the story evolved, but taking another artist for this story just wouldn’t have worked. The Bones feel like they belong to Smith even more so than some other comic creations…they’re design is simple, but Smith breathes so much life into them in his work.
If you are a fan of Bone or a parent who wants more Bone to read to their kid, this volume is a much more family friendly version than some of the later volumes of Bone itself. The story is for completionists but still provides a quick Bone fix for those who miss the characters…plus, it is nice to see that the characters moved on after they left the Valley.
Related Links:
Bone: Quest for the Spark—Book 1
Black Mirror—Season 1
July 18th, 2017|
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Who’s looking at you through the mirror?
Reach the edge of reality where everything reflected isn’t reality: a world where a Prime Minister is pushed to make the ultimate public self-sacrifice to save a princess being held prisoner by a terrorist group, a reality where society is powered by people pedaling bikes and the only hope of escape is reality TV, or a world were everyone’s memories are recorded and can be replayed and studied. Reality is slippery…reflections are everywhere.
Black Mirror—Season 1 (or Series 1) aired on the BBC’s Channel 4 from December 4, 2011 to December 18, 2011. The sci-fi anthology series was made up of three hour long episodes.
How far would you go for your job and country?
I love The Twilight Zone and there has never been a really good substitute for it. Despite being original, The Twilight Zone was predictable…Black Mirror has a lot of The Twilight Zone’s twists, but it definitely isn’t predictable.
Black Mirror plays a lot with technology (the “Black Mirror” in the title is in reference to the reflection in things like computer screens and phones). The idea also doubles for a mirror of society. The stories feel very “real” despite being in a fantasy world. They are satires of things in modern society like cyberterrorism, reality TV, and self-obsession. They are smartly and tightly written…the only regret you’ll have is the shortness of the seasons.
You can be a star…for a price
Like The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror picks a who’s who of current British actors this season (most on the cusp of being known). Rory Kinnear of “The National Anthem” has appeared in Bond films. “Fifteen Million Merits” casts Get Out’s Daniel Kaluuya and Downton Abbey’s Jessica Brown Findlay with Rupert Everett playing the Simon Cowell stand-in judge. The 13th incarnation of the Doctor and Attack the Block’s Jodie Whittaker appears with Toby Kebbell and Tom Cullen in “The Entire History of You”. It is the solid casting which helps tell the stories which could be absurd (or obscene) with out strong actors.
All your memories in a flash!
Black Mirror also makes the plot realistic by having a very low key appearance. Even “Fifteen Million Merits” which is the most sci-fi of the three stories has the appearance of a place and a location that could exist. It is high tech but it also feels natural…adding to the horror. Black Mirror could be set in the future but sometimes it could be today.
Black Mirror is a great sci-fi series that continues to evolve. With rotating casts and short seasons, Black Mirror could have a long life if the people behind it choose to allow it to live on. With the introduction of Netflix, the series has gained a larger audience and therefore could expand its audience as more and more people catch themselves staring into the black mirror…and the horror it reflects.
Black Mirror—Season 1 Complete Episode Guide:
“The National Anthem”
1.1 The National Anthem Airdate: 12/04/11
Princess Susannah (Lydia Wilson) has been kidnapped. The kidnapper has demands which includes the Prime Minister Michael Callow (Rory Kinnear) having publicly broadcast sex with a pig on air. As the clock ticks down, the tensions rise…and the Prime Minister and the government must make a decision.
“Fifteen Million Merits”
1.2 Fifteen Million Merits Airdate: 12/11/11
Pedaling is a way of life for Bing Madsen (Daniel Kaluuya), but he has a secret love for another pedaler named Abi Khan (Jessica Brown Findlay) who has a singing ability. Saving his merits, Bing has a choice to use his credits to get Abi in a chance to be on the popular show Hot Shot to become the next star, but getting off the cycle might be harder than both Bing and Abi thought when Abi faces the judges Hope (Rupert Everett), Charity (Julia Davis), and Wraith (Ashley Thomas).
“The Entire History of You”
1.3 The Entire History of You Airdate: 12/18/11
All memories are recorded and retained and available for a moment’s recall as a redo played through a piece of technology called a grain. Liam Foxwell (Toby Kebbell) is an attorney struggling to find work. When Liam meets a man named Jonas (Tom Cullen) at a party that had a relationship with his wife Ffion (Jodie Whittaker) in the past, Liam begins to become obsessed with uncovering his wife’s feelings for Jonas.
Constantine 3: The Voice in the Fire
July 17th, 2017|
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Comic Info
Comic Name: Constantine/Constantine: Futures End
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Ray Fawkes
Artist: Juan Ferreyra/ACO/Edgar Salazar/Jay Leisten
# of Issues: 6
Release Date: 2015
Constantine #13
Reprints Constantine #13-17 and Constantine: Futures End #1 (June 2014-November 2014). John Constantine is an unwilling servant of the Cult of the Cold Flame. While working as their agent, John is trying to find a way to work out from under their thumb. With Mister E as his prisoner in the Moonblade, Constantine has a plan…but he could end up taking the strangest trip of his life.
Written by Ray Fawkes, Constantine Volume 3: The Voice in the Fire follows-up Constantine Volume 2: Blight. The collection features art by Juan Ferreyra, ACO, Edgar Salazar, and Jay Leisten. The collection includes Constantine #13-17 (June 2014-October 2014) and the one-shot Constantine: Futures End #1 (November 2014) which is a tie-in to the DC event title Futures End.
Constantine always was a character I felt I technically should have liked. The character is written as an ass, but he’s extremely clever. He has a lot of bad luck despite his cleverness, and every issue of Constantine is essentially him trying to get out of the trouble he helps create. Despite a smart set-up, I always find Constantine a struggle to read.
Constantine #17
The volume of Constantine continues the bigger story of the Cult of the Cold Flame which has been running through the New 52’s Constantine storyline. The issues feel like a combination of Doctor Strange’s sorcery and a watered down version of Constantine’s Vertigo Hellblazer series. It isn’t bad, but it is still weird to see Constantine back in the traditional capes and heroes DC universe.
As someone who didn’t read Futures End, the stand alone issue seems like a throwaway. The end of Constantine #17 has a cliffhanger (which is continued in Constantine #18). The collection feels like it should have just ended with that, but you have the additional almost Elseworlds Constantine story to round out this collection…but it holds little interest.
Constantine just doesn’t quite work for me. DC keeps tweaking the character and trying to fit him in as a mainstream character and he doesn’t quite work. I like the character more as a paranormal investigator who might stop by to “help” (or screw) other super-heroes. A limited series here and there wouldn’t be a bad mix, but a continuing, non-Vertigo Constantine title doesn’t seem right. Constantine 3: The Voice in the Fire is followed by Constantine 4: The Apocalypse Road.
Related Links:
Constantine 1: The Spark and the Flame
Constantine 4: The Apocalypse Road
Black Orpheus (1959)
July 16th, 2017|
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Movie Info
Movie Name: Black Orpheus
Studio: Dispat Films
Genre(s): Romance/Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Release Date(s): June 12, 1959
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
You can’t escape Death
It is carnival season, and trolley operator Orpheus (Breno Mello) is preparing to marry Mira (Lourdes de Oliveira). Eurydice (Marpessa Dawn) has run away from her home with fears that a suitor wants to kill her and come to Rio de Janeiro to stay with her cousin Serafina (Léa Garcia). When Orpheus and Eurydice meet, a spark ignites which seems to be as old as the legend of Orpheus itself…but Eurydice is still pursued by death, and a simple songwriter might not have the power to save her.
Directed by Marcel Camus, Black Orpheus (Orfeu Negro) is a romantic fantasy based upon the ancient myth of Orpheus and the 1956 Brazilian play Orfeu da Conceição by Vinicius de Moraes. The film won the Palm d’Or at Cannes in 1959 and also won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. A remastered version of the movie was released by Criterion (Criterion #48).
Wow…that was some Carnival. It’s going to be hard to top next year.
I love mythology and the tale of Orpheus is one that has been told and retold. Black Orpheus follows in the path of the retelling but does it in a way that is both beautiful and fresh. Despite being over fifty years old, Black Orpheus holds strong.
The movie modernizes the story by placing it in a location that seems old and an event that resembles a Greek bacchanalia at points (which plays out in the ending since it does tie to Orpheus’ death). It is a smart weaving of the story amongst a modern setting though it was criticized by some for the portrayal of the Brazilians as people who simply love to sing and dance…but it is a modern fantasy.
The acting is also strong. Breno Mello wasn’t an actor when he was picked for the lead role. The soccer player was selected by Marcel Camus when he saw him on the street. Likewise the man playing Death was Adhemar da Silva who won two gold medals for Brazil at the 1952 Helsinki and 1956 Melbourne Olympics in the triple jump. Marpessa Dawn was actually American and despite being a “non-acting” cast, the group does play out the film with great performances which are aided by the legend and play feeling of the story.
Orpheus is dead…the sun rose…life goes on
The visuals also sell Black Orpheus. Shot in Rio de Janeiro, the film features lush locations that showcase the city’s beauty. It was shot in the favela of Morro da Babilônia which sits high above the city and gives great views of things like Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain. The setting of Carnival also provides great visuals and allows the characters to dress in attire which would resemble the mythology…further tying the film to the stories.
Black Orpheus is a great film that is a fun watch. The movie is great for those who love mythology because it really captures the essence of the story while modernizing it in a way that feels both like a fantasy and a real tale. The movie has held up over the decades due to the classical ties and is a worthy “classic” for those who love movies. Orpheus’ love might not have been strong enough to keep Eurydice with him, but it transcends times and history.
