Month: May 2007

  • No More Heroes Any More – The Death of Captain America

    No More Heroes Any More – The Death of Captain America

    In a genre where finales are rarely final, and resurrections are a daily occurrence, why did the death of comic book hero Captain America garner such widespread attention?   Captain America is dead. Again. Probably. Indefinitely. For the foreseeable future. Until comic sales begin to flag yet again. To the embittered fan acclimatised to the…

  • John Constantine: Hellblazer – Empathy is the Enemy / The Red Right Hand Review

    John Constantine: Hellblazer – Empathy is the Enemy / The Red Right Hand Review

    2006, DC/Vertigo Writer: Denise Mina Art: Leonardo Manco, Cristiano Cucina Colours: Lee Loughridge Letters: Jared K. Fletcher Of Vertigo’s prestigious catalogue, Hellblazer has always remained the most accessible title. John Constantine’s popularity can be contributed to the character’s strict adhesion to the noir genre. A paranormal Philip Marlowe, Constantine is an empty vessel with little…

  • The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) Film Review

    The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) Film Review

    2006 Dir: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Script: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Cast: Ulrich Mühe, Martina Gedeck, Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Tukur 1984 East Germany, Keen Stasi agent Gerd Wiesler (Mühe) is assigned to spy on playwright Georg Dreyman (Koch), who is suspected of Western learnings. Monitoring Dreyman and partner Christa-Marie’s (Gedeck) every activity from an attic…

  • Schindler’s List Film Review

    Schindler’s List Film Review

    1993 Director: Stephen Spileberg Script: Steven Zaillian Cast: Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Sagalle, Embeth Davidtz Despite, or due to its controversial subject matter, Schindler’s List received unanimous praise on release. Considered the most realistic cinematic depiction of the Holocaust, this frank picture, its imagery almost documentary at times, is remarkable…

  • Life is Beautiful Film Review

    Life is Beautiful Film Review

    1997 Dir: Roberto Benigni Script: Roberto Benigni, Vincenzo Cerami Cast: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giustino Durano Whimsical buffoon Guido Orefice (Benigni) arrives in Arezzo with plans to open a book shop, and soon wins the affection of upper-class Dora (Braschi). But their harmony is disrupted when it is revealed that Guido is Jewish, and he…

  • Pan’s Labyrinth Film Review

    Pan’s Labyrinth Film Review

    2006 Dir: Guillermo Del Toro Script: Guillermo Del Toro Cast: Ivana Baquero, Doug Jones, Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, Ariadna Gil, Álex Angulo In war torn post-Civil War Spain, Ofelia (Baquero) and her pregnant mother Carmen are taken under wing of the fascist and spiteful Captain Vidal (López). After discovering an ancient labyrinth in the nearby…

  • Maléfique Film Review

    Maléfique Film Review

    2002 Dir: Eric Valette Script: Alexandre Charlot, Franck Magnier Cast: Philippe Laudenbach, Dimitri Rataud, Clovis Cornillac Bound to a promise to be home foe his son’s birthday, recently imprisoned Carrere plans to escape with or without his cellmates; the colossal transsexual Marcus, cannibalistic simpleton Daisy and elderly prison librarian Lasalles. But the discovery of a…