ARCH ANDROID- Janelle Monae’s debut cd is a good, if nonessential, collection of R&B and pop songs, Worth a listen,
GRAMMY NOMINEES 2009- The only real standout is Adele’s CHASING PAVEMENTS.
THE RAVEN WHO REFUSED TO SING – Rather forgettable suite of languid ballads. Try instead INSURGENTES, DEADWING, IN ABSENTIA, FEAR OF A BLANK PLANET, or WEATHER SYSTEMS.
REVIVAL – Two volumes in and this graphic novel series by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton continues to be a fresh and interesting take on the typically overused ‘zombie’ motif. In a small town in Wisconsin the dead are returning to life, and that is the least of the mysteries that this series explores. RATING: B+. OWN – This is a series worth adding to your collection.
PROPHET VOL 2 : BROTHERS – Not a fan of the art in this volume, and I find myself unable to get into the stories collected in this tome. Issues collected are #27-31, originally published in single magazine form. Issue # 29, sports a different artist, and that is the only part of this volume I find compelling. So unable to recommend this Graphic Novel, instead buy issue #29 by itself. RATING: BORROW – If you liked the first volume and can read this for free go for it, otherwise AVOID.
EARTH 2 VOL 1 and VOL 2 – The art is hit and miss, some good character redesigns of the big 3, however the other characters redesigns are pretty 1990s image bad. And the story/writing is likewise pedestrian and uninteresting, and very 90s feeling, in a bad way. RATING: AVOID.
THE KILLER IS LOOSE – What strikes you first is the location shooting and the cars, the evocation of a time and place long gone. Lots of familiar faces and great character actors of the period. Directed ably by Budd Boetticher and starring the always stalwart Joseph Cotten, This tale of heist and tragedy and vengeance is a solid, brisk, and engaging watch.
THE DEVIL INSIDE HER – One of that slate of unusual 70s movies, this one starts with Joan Collins in all her close up glory, with a performance somewhere between Agony and ecstasy, giving birth to a most unusual child. Film’s more than a bit ludicrous, but entertaining despite that.
BAY OF BLOOD – There are not many director’s as revered for their style (if not the quality of their actual movies) as Mario Bava, and in BAY OF BLOOD, he does double duty as cinematographer and director. Here his motifs of black gloved killers and primary colors are in full effect. This tale of rabid heirs offing each other for a fortune is hurt by an overbearing score, and a meandering, overlong and, like the characters portrayed, vapid storyline. An early progenitor of the splatter film, it’s little more than flimsy reasons to see people dispatched one after the other. That said there is something in the conceit of no innocents in this film, that makes this film stand out over its imitators.
Not a particularly enjoyable film, but worth seeing for its cinematic insignificance and visual style. Having seen most of Mario Bava’s film (including BLACK SUNDAY and BLACK SABBATH) the only two I consider worth owning are THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH and DANGER DIABOLIQUE. However BAY OF BLOOD is at least worth a luck.
Solidly mediocre. Only two songs worth a relisten, BLACK SKINHEAD and NEW SLAVES.
LATE REGISTRATION has 21 tracks and only two of them I would rate as worth listening to frequently, the addictive GOLD DIGGER and the blues powered GONE. The album is a fail, but those two songs are worth a listen.
Possibly not the choice that would have come to me, but the actor, script, and director will determine if its a great, inspired idea, or a mediocre one. I give them the benefit of the doubt. Idris Elba in Thor was a great decision, as was Samuel Jackson as Nick Fury, so this could be a great idea too.
Listen HERE!
Andrew Goth’s GALLOWWALKERS is an odd but effective mating of Sergio Leone’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST and Alejandro Jordorowsky’s EL TOPO with a bit of Raimi and Fulci tossed in, but for all its influences, there is a lyric mania to this film that is all its own.
GALLOWWALKERS is a decidedly new and lurid and grand guinol take on one of the oldest of film genres. Plus it is just a beautifully shot film, with some of the best end-credits I’ve seen; a film that deserves to be owned, and will only grow more favored with repeat viewings. Grade: B+.
