Nelson Mandela was elected President of South Africa, O.J. Simpson basically invented reality television, Ross and Rachel started their “will they won’t they,” and I was born. That last one is important because it means I now get to have an opinion on films that came out while I was still trying to sit up. Here are my five favorite films from the year I was born.
1The Lion King
I’m a Disneyphile, through and through. I live it, breathe it, over-analyze it. Their best, above all else, is The Lion King. It has a great balance of drama and comedy. It pairs the deeply intimate loss felt by a son with a live-in-the-moment philosophy from the supporting cast, all serving a recognizable ascension story. The performances are iconic to the point of being legendary: the rich timbre of James Earl Jones’ voice adds to both the kingly and godly quality of Mufasa, while Jeremy Irons’ stage experience shines through Scar’s melodramatic nature. The music is some of Disney’s most memorable, the animation is gorgeous. It’s brilliant. And most importantly, I learned to use the VCR player from watching this tape nonstop for most of the 90s.
What is your favorite film from 1994? Comment below.
CBS Films released the latest trailer for ‘Dean’ Wednesday afternoon. Comedian Demetri Martin writes, directs, and stars in this heartfelt story of a father and son coming to terms with love, loss, and everything in between. This is Martin’s first feature film.
‘Dean’ was the 2016 winner of Tribeca Film Festival’s Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature.
About the film: Dean is an illustrator whose unwillingness to deal with the recent death of his mother means escaping his hometown of New York for an interview with an ad agency in Los Angeles. His retired engineer dad Robert takes a more regimented approach to grief, including putting the family home up for sale. Both father and son set out on their own paths to find a new normal as unexpected circumstances and potential new love interests threaten to thwart all plans.
The film stars Demetri Martin, Kevin Kline, Gillian Jacobs, Mary Steenburgen, Reid Scott, Rory Scovel, Christine Woods, Ginger Gonzaga, Peter Scolari, and Briga Heelan.
Why should you have to choose between your booze and your beer? You don’t! Mixing hard liquor with beer has turned into a staple, and is steadily on menus from restaurants to brewpubs. Beer cocktails most importantly, are taking over the beer world.
What makes the crafty cocktail so appealing?
First of all, you don’t have to choose! You can have the best of both worlds, having wonderful tastes all combined together in one glass, while still getting your beer fix. The real beer snob in all of us wants our beers alone, like they should be. The possibility of mixers has always been a thing, but one we will never admit to thinking about. There are a few popular options, but the most noteworthy are ones that really started the fad.
Irish Car Bomb
Dropping a shot of whiskey and Irish cream into a stout. Most commonly found in Guiness.
Beermosa/Manmosa
Orange juice and a wheat beer, most commonly Blue Moon. Different variations have evolved from adding champagne, to adding orange liqueur.
Bartending can be an art form. Mixologists can make the most amazing drinks, and you can have any flavor profile. To most bartenders, unless they work at a brewery, beers can be boring. You don’t get to make it your own,and sadly it’s just a pour. A crafty cocktail is a great to show the skills, have some artistic freedom, and make a drink that everyone will enjoy.
Cocktails and beers together in one perfect harmony is about all we can ask for.
Going back years, beer cocktails have been a part of the beer snob experience. Eater got to sit down with a couple of dudes and really talked about the mixture.
“The funny thing is that one of the ancestors of the cocktail itself is a beer drink, called Purl, which was made with bitter herbs and beer,” said David Wondrich, the author of the recent PUNCH: The Delights (and Dangers) of the Flowing Bowl (buy on Amazon). The hirsute historian of all things fermented (and drinks columnist for Esquire and Saveur) then added, “By the early 1700s sailors were drinking Flip, a mixture of beer, sugar, rum, and eggs served hot. Later in the 1700s Portaree, a porter with sugar and nutmeg became popular, was eventually served iced.”
It goes so far back in history, it has almost always been a thing.
Go out of your comfort zones and try a simple beer cocktail. You won’t regret it, and it will make you a well rounded beer drinker!
To kick off this year’s official Sailor Moon Day in Houston, Texas, the George R. Brown Convention Center will be hosting the Sailor Moon Amour Eternal Musical. The musical was first performed in October of 2016, and features 18 musical numbers, and runs for about 2hrs and 43min of pure cosmic YAS. This will be the first North American performance of any official live action rendition of the Sailor Moon franchise, which is fucking exciting. It can be assumed the musical will not be the full fledged production that toured Japan in 2016, as not all of the cast will be present to perform. Houston’s official Sailor Moon day is April 7th, and the convention runs in Houston from the 7th to the 9th during the Anime Matsuri 2017 convention. The official date and time of the performance has yet to be announced. The only thing better than a Sailor Moon musical, is a Sailor Moon musical that doesn’t require a passport to see. More information on the convention itself can be found on the Anime Matsuri official site.
The plot of the musical fits into the series dream arc, and everyone’s moved out of Jr. High and into High School. Much like the first Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon musical, the show is entirely more character and story driven-focusing more on the characters interpersonal connections, and connections to their past in the Moon Kingdom. The Sailor Moon musicals aren’t as action packed as the animated series-or even the short running live action one. Let’s face it though, transformation sequences and kick ass fights don’t really translate well to live action musical theater. Confirmed cast members of the musical include: Hotaru Nomoto (Sailor Moon), Yume Takeuchi (Sailor Mercury), Karen Kobayashi (Sailor Mars), Kaede (Sailor Jupiter), Rimo Hasegawa (Sailor Venus), Syu Shiotsuki (Sailor Uranus), Sayaka Fujioka (Sailor Neptune), Mikako Ishii (Sailor Pluto), Karin Takahashi (Sailor Saturn), Risa Kawamura, Yoshimi Hidano, Ayano Nagasawa, Ayumi Sagisaka (Dancers), and Yuga Yamato (Tuxedo Mask). A good amount of voice actors from the English versions of Sailor Moon Crystal and Viz’s new dub of the original Sailor Moon anime will be in attendance of the Houston convention as well such as Cristina Vee, who voices Sailor Mars, and Christine Cabanos, who voices Sailor Saturn.
The musical’s DVD is set for release in Japan sometime in March. Until then, to quench your moon thirst, here’s a clip.
If that isn’t enough for you (because lordt knows it ain’t enough for me), Sailor Moon R: The Movie, is set to release on DVD April 18th, for $17.98 on Right Stuf.
I don’t know about you, but the food isn’t the only thing pulling me towards Houston now. *insert thoughtful hand under chin emoji*
Archie Comic Publications and Warner Bros. Television have signed an exclusive deal to develop new original programming and content based on Archie’s vast catalog of characters and properties, as revealed earlier today by The Hollywood Reporter.
Following years of daring and fan-favorite comic books including the DEATH OF ARCHIE, AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE, and the blockbuster ARCHIE relaunch by Mark Waid and Fiona Staples, the new production deal with Warner Bros. Television is the culmination of years of work by Jon Goldwater and the staff and freelancers of Archie Comics to bring the classic comic book characters forward into the present day.
Archie Comics CEO/Publisher Jon Goldwater told The Hollywood Reporter:
For years, people have been saying ‘Wow, Archie is making moves. They’re fearless. They’re trying new things.’ This is what happened next. We were redefining the brand by being daring and by, at the same time, protecting the integrity of the characters. As long as Archie is Archie and his friends are true to their characters, you can do anything with them. That’s what really opened up people’s eyes to their potential, and it’s a direct path to where we are today, which is having a Riverdale TV series on the CW and a new deal with Warners. The sky’s the limit here.
The reinvention of the publishing line at Archie Comics continues as ARCHIE writer Mark Waid will be brought further into the fold by working on an expanded number of titles in addition to serving as a writing mentor for young and upcoming talent.
Waid said:
This opportunity is exciting to me for a number of reasons. First, the chance to expand my role as a writer at Archie is terrific as we all share the same storytelling goals. Second, it allows me to exercise my editorial muscles, which–surprise–is why I got into comics in the first place. But most of all, the opportunity to help build a more diverse staff of writers, younger, eager to learn, and eager to teach me.
Waid’s first step in this new role will begin in May as he takes over the ongoing JUGHEAD series alongside new co-writer Ian Flynn (SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, MEGA MAN, ARCHIE BABIES). Additional titles and co-writers will be revealed later this year.
Batwoman certainly has a popularity amongst DC Comics fans, and has had a few critically acclaimed series. However, whenever she headlines a book, it never seems to last very long. This has lead her into comic book limbo a few times. Detective Comics has provided her a home these past few months, but now she’s ready to headline her own series again. So, how does her “Rebirth” issue hold up?
Writing
Marguerite Bennett and James Tynion IV are cowriting this series together; Bennet will take over Batwoman after the first arc. The two writers crafted a very strong reorientation comic for Batwoman, AKA Katherine Kane, that visits key moments in her life, and sets up an engaging cliffhanger for future stories. Bennet and Tynion have a fondness for the character, and give her even more depth in such a few panels. The comic is designed to give readers a full map of Katherine Kane, and the two writers do so in a way that feels effortless. If you’ve never read a Batwoman comic, don’t worry. This will give you all the information you need. But it leads our heroine down a path for her future comic. That being said, some of the dialogue comes off as a tad stilted, and Batwoman is oddly a little passive. Those are nitpicks however, they don’t bring down the comic at all.
Art
Steve Epting and Ben Oliver bring a unique aesthetic to Batwoman. One that is somehow both slick and gritty at the same time. The character designs are smooth and crisp, but the backgrounds have a grainy, dark effect to them. It creates an unsettling mood around these characters. The use of red in particular is handled well to highlight key memories and moments. One scene toward the beginning is especially brutal. It all adds to a fantastic Noir motif. It’s visually fantastic, and creates the right tone for a Batwoman comic.
Conclusion
Batwoman Rebirth #1 is the perfect comic for fans who have never read a comic featuring Katherine Kane. For long time fans it may feel like retreading old territory, but if we can see Krypton blow up a thousand times then we can see Batwoman’s origin one more time. Really what makes the comic work is how much they explore very specific moments in Katherine Kane’s past. There a few cracks, but overall it’s a fantastic story that I’m excited to see more of in the future. Another must buy from DC Rebirth.
Super Sons #1 has been one of DC Rebirth’s most anticipated series. It was delayed, but nicely previewed in the Superman series, and fans were excited to see Jonathan Kent and Damien Wayne partner up. The son of Superman and the son of Batman are ready to step into the spotlight and work together. So how is this first issue for the sons of the most iconic superheroes ever?
Writing
Peter J. Tomasi, writer of the Superman series, brings a delightful sense of charm and wit to Robin and Superboy. What’s great about these characters is that, despite their circumstances and abilities, Tomasi writes them as kids. Kids with very different perspectives. Jonathan comes off as overly naive and innocent, while Damien is stubborn and thinks he understands the world. The two work off each other great and have a fun chemistry. We also get to see them in their home environments; juxtaposing the young heroes upbringings. Superman is nurturing and caring; Batman is tough and disciplined. This comic is absolutely a recommendation for kids, as it has a great sense of humor as well as some fun action. The book does dip its toes in a little bit of the Rebirth continuity, but it isn’t overwhelming.
Art
Jorge Jimenez is the artist and Alejandro Sanchez is the colorist for this monthly series, and they could not have been better choices. Jimenez brings a vibrant, dynamic, and stylish approach to the tales of these two young heroes. Each panel pops with color thanks to Sanchez, the action scenes carry a sense of movement, and the whole book feels kid friendly. That certainly isn’t a mark against the book, but rather a highlight. It’s a fantastic style to go for with these characters. Definitely worth a pick up just for the art alone, but the art lends itself brilliantly to the humor and storyline.
Conclusion
This first issue is an absolute must buy. It’s funny, well thought out, and really goes deep into these wonderful characters. As the introduction to Robin and Superboy, it does everything right. It sets up the most important characters, their relationship, gives the reader an intriguing hook, and then ends on a cliffhanger. This comic cannot be recommended highly enough. Pick it up ASAP and be ready for the start of a great ride for this dynamic duo.
If you’re like me, you fell off the Pokemon GO train months ago. The game was a blast for about two months, but then, it just became dull. Well, it seems as though Niantic took notice, as they are rolling out a major update to the app this week.
Baby Pokemon from the Johto region were added in December. However, now, the full list of those Pokemon, which includes 80 creatures, are set to be included in the game.
In addition to these new Pokemon, the update will include evolution items, berries, more outfit customization, and more.
“While catching Pokémon, Trainers can use two new Berries—the Nanab Berry, which slows a Pokémon’s movements, and the Pinap Berry, which doubles the amount of Candy received if the next catch attempt succeeds. Trainers will also be able to customize their avatar’s appearance with a new selection of hats, shirts, pants, and other items. Additional items will be available for purchase from the in-game Pokémon GO shop.”
Although this will surely get some players back in the game, it will still lack many features that franchise die-hards like myself just can’t ignore; how can you have a Pokemon game without shinies, proper battling, or even trading between other players? This update is a step in the right direction, but the game is nowehere near the level it should be. I’m expecting a lot from a free app, but it’s because I want this brand to succeed.
What are your thoughts on this major update to Pokemon GO? Will it get you playing the game again, or are you one of the few that never stopped playing? If this update doesn’t do it for you, what features need to be added to grab your interest again? Leave us your thoughts in the comments below!
Aliens on Earth. Black Ops and Intel. Scientific experiments on people. Hybridization. Secret power structures…On an alternate Earth, all these elements will come together in a bold new interpretation of now classic concepts and characters. Welcome to ‘The Wild Storm’!
The Wild Storm #1
Written by: Warren Ellis
Art by: Jon Davis-Hunt
Colors by: Ivan Plascencia
Published by: DC Comics
Writing
For comic book fans, neither writer Warren Ellis nor the Wildstorm Universe needs much an introduction. When paired together previously, they gave birth to some of the biggest characters and properties in comics today (I’m thinking specifically about The Authority, Midnighter, and Apollo). So bringing in Ellis to breath new life into some of the core Wildstorm ideas is a no-brainer. It is, in fact, a perfect match. The first issue brings in Zealot, The Engineer, Jacob Marlowe, Spartan, and Voodoo. IO and “Wetworks” are even mentioned. The whole WildC.A.T.S. crew is being set up and it’s great to see. Getting into details explaining their new roles would be spoiler territory, and really a lot of the pleasure I got from reading this comic was seeing how these concepts were being reintroduced. It’s like hearing a perfect song cover; it’s definitely better heard, or in this case read, than said.
However I will say this, it is excellently paced, and has the biting, satirical, and unique dialog that Warren Ellis fans have come to expect. There are also bad-ass moments, and of course humor. Folks skeptical that Ellis would be phoning it in (as he has at times) need not worry here. This is the writer doing what he does best; cutting edge, concept driven sci-fi that simultaneously feels like it’s from the far-future yet could also happen tomorrow.
Art
Jon Davis-Hunt and Ivan Plascencia are doing high-caliber art here. The storytelling is clean, but not overly glossy. It’s sharp but still feels handcrafted. Subtle details like the shading and panel borders ground what could have been an overly cold comic considering its “high-concept” feel. The characters are also rendered softly, with linework that allows the artist to create emotion in both body language and facial expressions (again a subtlety lost in many mainstream comics, and this IS a mainstream comic).
The color palate is delicate, light, and muted in the best way. It serves to highlight that art and story, not over power it like in so many books today.
Conclusion
If The Wild Storm is an indication of what is to come from this DC imprint, then I am on board. It’s great to see a master scribe like Warren Ellis set loose in his own universe. DC Comics has a great track record with reinvigorating properties by using new imprints and great creators. This looks like another success for them in that line. Pick this up, it will not disappoint.
2016 is a memorable year for comic book films. Especially the likes of Deadpool.
Thanks to Ryan Reynolds and Tim Miller, Deadpool is one of the biggest surprise hit films of all time.
The plot is thus: Wade Wilson meets Vanessa and falls in love. It sure reads like a sappy love story, right?
Wrong.
Wade gets terminal cancer and becomes desperate. An experimental treatment gives him healing abilities. However, it also leaves him with a scarred visage, which can’t be healed.
Unable to face Vanessa, Wade decides to seek out Ajax and have him reverse the process. He becomes a vigilante and takes up the name Deadpool.
Reynolds gives the performance of his career as Deadpool. Having shot to fame doing comedy, the role seems tailor-made for him. He’s not afraid to hide his good looks behind prosthetics. At one point, he quips, “You think Ryan Reynolds got this far on his superior acting talent?”
As Weasel, T.J Miller serves as a good straight man to Reynolds’ wisecracks. He does get in a few great moments, such as describing Deadpool’s face as “an avocado had sex with an older, more disgusting avocado.” His deadpan one-liners make him the perfect foil to Reynolds.
The rest of the cast does well. Moreno Baccarin is a fine love interest as Vanessa, and her witty banter with Reynolds is a major highlight. As Blind Al, Leslie Uggams is one of the biggest surprises, because she is as just as profane as Deadpool. One such scene involves an argument over Ikea furniture. If Fox ever makes a mutant sitcom, Deadpool and Blind Al would be the perfect subject.
Where Deadpool succeeds is the tone. Neither grim or farce, it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Instead, the director embraces the slapstick humour and black comedy. Nor does the movie shy away from its comic origins. We get the mercenary background and the Weapon X treatment. In fact, there’s a brief cameo by a certain henchmen named Bob, who appears in the comics.
Deadpool takes time to make fun of everything. Reynolds mocks action cliches, reality tv, and the X-Men series. In one amusing moment, the actor spoofs his past Green Lantern role by asking for a costume that isn’t CGI. He even gets in a dig at Hugh Jackman by wearing a cut-out of the Wolverine star’s face.
The film also incorporates more of the X-Men mythos. Colossus provides a nice contrast to Deadpool. In a sense, he acts as a foil to Wade Wilson, urging him to join the X-Men. Brian Hildebrand’s Negasonic Teenage Warhead provides a nice amount of deadpan snarky humour. One can only hope that we see her in future films.
Deadpool is one of the best comic book movies of all time. Fox could have the new face of the X-Men franchise on their hands. Since Jackman is retiring, it would be wise to keep Reynolds around.
Not bad for a mercenary who can’t keep his mouth shut.
The Wild Storm #1
