Watching: THE LAST SHARKNADO: IT'S ABOUT TIME

Year: 2018
Rated: TV-14
Director: Anthony C. Ferrante
Glutton for punishment, or completist? Either way, after sitting through/surviving every other Sharknado film, in hopes this was the last one I was curious to see if my observation of the films (that each one is slightly worse than its predecessor) was still true. Sure enough, The Last Sharknado is the stinker to end all stinkers, with a stupidly confusing plot serving as nothing more than an excuse for Fin Shepherd (Ian Ziering) to spend the film time-traveling from the age of dinosaurs throughout history, ostensibly to remake the present day into a world where the sharknados never existed. Yeah, it's that bad. Inside jokes, puns, and cameos from C-level-or-lower celebrities abound, but this time it's like they only half-tried to even make the special effects halfway believable, often times cutting away the camera as the shark actually strikes. And then there's that ending, where Fin and friends end up, what, 20,000 years in the future? Sharknados or not, you will only wish they'd stayed there. 1/10 stars

Watching: THE WIFE

Year: 2017
Rated: R
Director: Bjorn L. Runge
Glenn Close turns in another Oscar-worthy performance as Joan Castleman, a devoted wife and mother who years ago set aside her own writing career to raise a family and support the career of her husband, fellow writer Joe (Jonathan Pryce). It all seems to have paid off, too, as the film opens with the Castlemans learning that Joe has won the Nobel Prize for literature - but in the middle of all the interviews and hype and preparations for the trip to Stockholm, little cracks and fissures begin to show in the couple's relationship, with each other as well as with their children, including Joan beginning to maybe wonder about some of the choices she's made. Even knowing the Big Reveal of the film before seeing it, The Good Wife is a solid drama elevated to greatness whenever Glenn Close is on the screen (which is nearly every scene). So many times you can see the emotions going through Joan's face as events play on around her; even with no dialogue, you know what she's feeling and thinking, can tell when her boiling point is close or when she's barely able to keep her mouth shut. Olivia Colman may have had a showier, more complex role in The Favourite, but after so many nominations in past years Glenn Close really deserved that Oscar for this performance, as well. 8.5/10 stars

Reading: WISH - Chris Saunders (writer/illustrator)

Wish is the story of a very lucky young bunny named Rabbit, who one day is granted not one but three wishes of his choosing. Never having even had one wish at his disposal before, Rabbit wants to do things right so goes one at a time to visit his friends Mouse, Fox, and Bear, asking each for his ideas on what would be a good wish. The results are not only surprising for Rabbit, they also make all his choices so much easier in this charming, beautifully-rendered picture book where even the magic of friendship is stronger than that of a wish. Author Chris Saunders's illustrations are frame-worthy, some of the most beautiful artwork this reader's every seen in kid's literature, the book's message simple but in its way equally profound. A wonderful, touching tale. 5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.  

Reading: UNDEAD MESSIAH VOL. 2 - Gin Zarbo

Undead Messiah Volume 2 picks up pretty much where volume 1 left off: our zombie killer hero, 15-year-old Tim, wakes up attached to an I.V. in the small, locked room of what appears to be a castle. In a crib nearby lies the baby Tim and M-Kay were trying to get back from the bandaged-faced messiah in book one, before being snatched by the military, and soon Tim comes face-to-face with the man himself: Dr. Ritch, the raven-haired messiah behind the bandages determined to bring the world into a New Age - and install Tim as their new prophet. Tim, of course, has other plans - particularly when he realizes the purple liquid in the i.v. pouring into his veins will turn him into the kind of creature perfect for Dr. Ritch's cause. To say much more might risks spoilers, suffice to say Undead Messiah Vol. 2 has the same level of gorgeous and gory artwork as book one, this time with the story taking place - for the most part - in a Swiss castle Dr. Ritch uses as his hideout/fortress, complete with a gang of undead kids serving as both minions and experimental guinea pigs to their master. For this reader, book two didn't pack nearly the same wallop as book one, and unearthing Ritch's precise plan and motivation behind it all seemed drawn out a bit. Granted, much like any series part one is always supposed to start with a bang to draw you in, part two providing more exposition and back-story for the characters and what's going on ... and this one certainly does that, as well as providing part two's most important device: The Cliffhanger Ending, when all appears lost and yet even one most disaster occurs on the very last page to make you want to throw the book (or your Kindle) across the room and whine-whine-whine until Volume 3 is released! That is exactly what happened here, and it's definitely a testament to the quality of  this well-written/produced series that I will still be gnashing my teeth until book three drops in July. 3.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading: CHARLIE'S ANGELS VOL. 1 - John Layman (writer), Matt Idelson (editor), Joe Eisma (illustrator)

I grew up crazy about "Charlie's Angels". From the pilot film on it was my weekly primetime obsession, and to me nothing will ever replace season one with the original holy trio: Jill, Kelly and Sabrina. Evidently Dynamite Entertainment feels the same, as they've gathered the first five comics of their "Charlie's Angels" series into this groovy graphic novel, which in every way feels as hip, corny, and wonderfully nostalgic as the original series - while, in its own way, giving a wink and a nod as an homage to the show, never (thankfully) taking itself seriously. My only gripe, in fact, is that the characters in the book don't actually look that much like the original actresses (or actor, in Bosley's case) who portrayed them on television. That was a bit jarring at first, but soon I was invested instead in the story, which opens when the angels are called upon to infiltrate an arms deal going down at the ultra-hip Limbo Lounge in Los Angeles (like I said, man, this books is TOO seventies). The angels save the day, of course, each subsequent comic in the collection moving the ladies onto their next case, even as the reader begins to realize more nefarious plans are afoot to shut down the angels for good, in the end. I was really liking the stories and colorful, 70's-style art from the beginning, but a little more than halfway through I found myself caught up in the writing (especially when three "anti-angels" show up), and the ending even held a couple sweet, silly surprises that made me again reflect back to the original series in my mind with a nod and a smile. Being a fan of the show I pretty much went into this expecting to enjoy this - but was surprised, in the end, at how much. Well done, and hope to see more! 4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: DARK METRO: THE ULTIMATE EDITION - Tokyo Calen (writer) & Yoshiken (illustrator)

Anyone who has ever ridden a near-empty or deserted subway train - especially underground, and at night - knows the genuine creepiness that can settle in around you. Or, as Dark Metro puts it: "They go through their day to day routine , never suspecting that in the subway tunnels is a gap between the land of the living and the land of the dead." This volume combines books one and two from the manga series, as well as adds the finale - book three - to this 500ish-page total of "Twilight Zone"-style stories carrying you through the various subway systems that snake around and under Tokyo. The black-and-white artwork is stylish and often freaky (bloody as well, God knows), adding to the "Twilight Zone" feel as readers are treated to what happens when a mother take drastic measures to rid herself of the little boy she doesn't love or want ... a group of teenage boys pay the price for acting as unwanted "matchmakers" for their female classmates ... or a samurai sword with a history of evil is reactivated by a greedy foreigner dying to own it. Too many good stories to mention, especially in the first third of the book, during which we're also introduced to the mysterious Seiya, the handsome young man and believer of justice who seems to be the only bridge between both worlds. The second half of the book gives us more information both about Seiya and the world beyond the train tracks, but ultimately it's the stories that shock and satisfy throughout, making at least this reader wonder how he may ever board a subway train at night again after reading this. The last third of the book - the newest addition - feels a bit rushed, the stories not as taught, but as a whole Dark Metro: The Ultimate Edition is as much a recommendation for a permanent place on your shelves as it is to simply read. Currently my favorite manga. 5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Watching: THE NIGHT EATS THE WORLD

Year: 2018
Rated: TV-14
Director: Dominique Rocher
Another film with a brilliant-sounding premise, The Night Eats the World opens at a big party in a Paris apartment, where loner Sam (Anders Danielsen Lie) has shown up to get back the box of his stuff that his ex-girlfriend (it's her and her new man's party) accidentally took with her when she moved out. The apartment is packed and the girlfriend keeps putting him off, and when Sam accidentally gets struck by a raucous party guest he gives up and retreats to the small private room in the back of the house, shutting the door so anything can barely be heard, to get away from the noise and crowd and nurse his bloody nose. Before long, Sam is asleep in an armchair opposite the door. He remains asleep hours later, even when the mute music turns to muted screams ... but the next morning wakes up to find the apartment empty and trashed, blood on the walls. He finally locates his ex sitting with someone on the steps outside, but when he speaks to her, her head jerks around toward him to reveal half her face eaten away, and Sam slams and locks the door just as she reaches it, barely saving his own life. Paris has suddenly gone quiet, bodies and abandoned cars and the undead filling the streets, and over the days and weeks of being holed up alone, Sam wonders if he might just be the last human alive. A great survivalist film, of sorts, and decent zombie flick with some jump-worthy moments and plenty of gore, but with Sam being virtually the only speaking character in the film you have to really be engaged with him - rooting for him - for the film to work, and I only found myself about 70% there (especially toward the end, when Sam did some really stupid stuff that just got on my nerves - though, in retrospect, I can see why he did them). The film mines for more depth in its second half (generally succeeding), and has an ending some might consider open to interpretation - but if it's still got me thinking about it a couple weeks after seeing it, I guess that says something about the impression the film had on me, either way. 7/10 stars

Watching: VELVET BUZZSAW

Year: 2019
Rated: R
Writer/Director: Dan Gilroy
There's always that rush when you go into a new film featuring the stars (Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo) and writer/director (Dan Gilroy) of a previous film you really enjoyed, the way I enjoyed the creepy Nightcrawler. The trailer, as well, made me anxious to find the Netflix time to watch this. Then I did, and ... well, heck. Morf Vandewalt is a higly-regarded, rather snooty and self-absorbed art critic whose review could make or break an artist - and he enjoys that power. One of his closest friends (or as close as one can get to Morf) is Rhodora Haze, former member of the famous band Velvet Buzzsaw, who now has made a name for herself as an art dealer. Though Morf has a boyfriend at home, he's become re-enamored with one of Rhodora employees, Josephina (Zawe Ashton), and the two begin a torrid affair that only gets more complicated when an upstairs neighbor of Josephina's dies, leaving behind an entire apartment filled with over a thousand paintings and canvases. Josephina didn't know the old guy, and though he left word that every single piece of his artwork was to be immediately destroyed after his death by the property owners (cue ominous music), Josephina recognizes that what she see is incredibly strong and unique, and pretty much smuggles the lot down to her apartment. This is when weird things begin to happen and people begin to die - as did my patience, particularly with Gyllenhaal's performance for at least the first half of the film, where he seems to channel just about every stereotypical gesture, affectation, and mood you'd expect of a gay man in a film ... from 1950. After doing Brokeback Mountain especially, this viewer expected more and was actually offended a couple times during the film. Worse, while a unique and interesting premise, other than a cool scene with a giant silver ball the death scenes in the film are anti-climactic and weak - a condition that lasts throughout most of the scenes in the rest of the film, the one possible exception being Rene Russo in the last scene before the credits roll And I had such hopes, too. 4/10 stars

Reading: UNDEAD MESSIAH VOL. 1 - Gin Zarbo

Tim Muley is a 15-year-old boy in Switzerland obsessed with zombies. So much so, beyond the many, many video games he's played over the years to hone his undead-killing skills, sometimes even his best friend M-Kay wonders if maybe Tim sometimes might be trading fantasy for reality. Meanwhile, an unidentified internet messiah with a bandaged face, along with his child-like female minion, stalk a pregnant woman newly-arrived in the country ... and when Tim's walking home from school one day he discovers a grisly scene at a neighbor's home that makes him even wonder if he is losing his own mind. To say more might give too much away, but suffice to say Tim's lifelong dream of being able to fight zombies comes horrifically true - but it's all just the beginning of this grisly, blood-red manga that I couldn't put down. Every time I thought I knew where the plot was going another surprise loomed, and beyond why things were happening there always hovered the spectre of the mysterious bandaged-faced guy, who seems to be on top of things but reveals nothing. Great writing, illustrated with both grisly horror and dark humor, Undead Messiah Vol. 1 was a surprise that kept me reading until I finished the entire manga in a single sitting. Been a long time since I did that with any book. 4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: THE INFAMOUS RATSOS: PROJECT FLUFFY - Kara LaReau (writer) & Matt Myers (illustrator)

Book three in the adventures of Ralphie Ratso and his older brother Louie opens up their world for readers to learn more about their friends and school, where a poetry contest has caught Louie's interest; he and Ralphie will write and enter a poem together, and use the winning gift certificates to get a pair of new skateboards! Complications ensue when the school's handsome, most popular jock, Chuck Wood, comes to Louie with a problem: he has become smitten with Louie's friend Fluffy - a highly-intelligent rabbit obsessed with gardening - and seeks Louie's help to win her heart. Project Fluffy doesn't get off to the best start, however; worse still, it gets in the way of the brother-bonding time Ralphie has become so accustomed to. Meanwhile, viewers are treated to more humor and heart from the brothers' other school chums (Tiny and Millicent, especially, are personal favorites) ... in the end, as always, with papa Ratso Big Lou offering insight to get things back on track. Project Fluffy is the most well-rounded of the series, expanding the characters and relationships between them while keeping the strong bond of the two brothers at its core - and, as always delivering positive messages about friendship and family tucked neatly inside a genuinely entertaining story. 5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: BONE PARISH VOL. 1 (DISCOVER NOW EDITION) - Cullen Bunn (writer), Jonas Scharf (illustrator), Lee Garbett (contributing artist)

Compiling together the first four issues of the Bone Parish comic, this page-turner of a graphic novel, set in New Orleans, follows the Winters - a criminal family led by matriarch Grace - in charge of making and distributing the hottest new drug in the city, as they rise quickly to the top of the local underworld thanks to this new drug infused with (wait for it) the ashes of dead people. Far from just being a new high in highs, what the Winters family sells seems to put you in personal contact with the dead, their memories or personality traits, intelligence or emotions (Grace herself uses the drug to keep her dead husband Andre around, from whom she seeks counseling on day-to-day business operations). It's all harvested locally thanks to grave robbings, and with the drug getting more and more in demand other gangs and criminal organizations want in. Even with her strong and strong-willed sons and daughter (the latter of whom is the only person who knows how to actually make the drug), even Grace recognizes that demand and risks might be growing too big for them to handle - and when a smooth-talking player from the coast wants to buy out the family, while a local mob boss wants to eradicate the Winters altogether, it's up to Grace to prove her family has the cajones to grow, rise, and stay in the game ... no matter what the cost. I can't remember the last time I devoured a graphic novel as I did Bone Parish Vol. 1, which grabbed me by the throat from page one and never let go. The artwork is dark, creepy and gothic - fitting for New Orleans - and writer Cullen Bunn has created, in the Winters, an "Empire"-like family (only without the music) you are always rooting for, no matter how over-the-top they go, because essentially they are just trying to keep what's already theirs ... theirs. Suspenseful, darkly comic at times, original and invigorating, Bone Parish is a comic/graphic novel series not to be missed. Already irritated at the cliffhanger I was left with that left me craving Volume 2!  5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: THE BALLAD OF YAYA BOOK 1: FUGUE - Jean-Marie Omont & Charlotte Girard (writers), Golo Zhao & Patrick Marty (illustrators)

In 1937 Shanghai, eight-year-old Yaya lives a somewhat privileged life with her well-to-do parents in the French Concession area of the city, able to devote time to her favorite obsession: playing the piano.  But war clouds are fast approaching on the horizon, word of a Japanese invasion imminent, and the night before her big audition for a prestigious music school, Yaya's father declares his daughter will not be going; indeed, he intends on spiriting his family away onto a boat leaving Shanghai early the next morning, securing their safety while he still can. Not realizing the full import of what's to come, Yaya decides she will make the audition anyway, meeting her parents at the boat afterward, and leaves a note to this affect before sneaking out of the house before dawn. Meanwhile, in a much less well-off section of Shanghai, a young boy named Tuduo, working essentially as a thief and pickpocket for the crime boss Zhu, decides it's time to escape this life when Zhu sets his eyes on Tuduo's kid brother Xiao to get into the same business. Hiding his brother away with the one person he can trust in the city, Tuduo sets out that same morning to find this better life for him and his brother ... as Japanese fighter planes appear over the city and the bombs begin to fall. As Yaya is awakened to the horrors of war when bombs begin dropping in her own section of the city, both children fight to survive while headed on paths that will bring them together, Yaya desperately seeking her parents as Zhu and his cronies hunt Tuduo through war-ravaged Shanghai, determined he and his brother will always be "family". Reading this book, thanks to the artwork and vibrant color palette containing watercolor tones throughout, I felt very much like I was reading a Studio Ghibli film come to life on the page, due to the wonderful character design. Yaya and Tuduo are both likable, upbeat children thrown into a situation over which they have little control and even less knowledge, yet they remain hopeful and fight for what's important and who they love. The first of a projected 9-volume set, be aware that The Ballad of Yaya Vol. 1: Fugue ends in a meaty cliffhanger ... with part two not due out in the States until July! 4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, Edelweiss and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

January Wrap-Up!

While keeping my film buff status thriving, working to be better with books and reading (my #1 love since childhood) is my BIG goal for 2019 - and I would say, while not yet setting the world on fire, compared to the last year or so, I am already ahead with finishing six books in January, as well as watching six new (to me) films (please click on any image to enlarge)!

Please check for reviews of all of these here, or keep an eye out as they should be up shortly (from my mouth to God's ear), and always - ALWAYS feel free to leave a comment on any post.

Happy Reading and Viewing to all for 2019!