Review: ‘Split’ – Full Of Promise But Incredibly Lackluster

Split, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, appeared to be at first glance a return to past cinematic glory for the wildly popular director. However, this film is nothing more than a cliche filled, ego driven, meandering bore fest riddled with predictability. While I understand that Blumhouse is thrilled to release a product to a nationwide audience but one would think that they have standards of quality. Didn’t they see warning signs?

The story is about a man named Kevin who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. Kevin has 23 personalities, and it appears that the personalities with any conscience are no longer in control. “Dennis” (one of Kevin’s personalities with no moral compass) abducts three teenage girls and locks them in prison below the surface. Now if the movie had been this and this alone, we might have had a better overall product. However, it seems if the director was fueled by some desire to make the film predictable and cliche, so he creates a character in the story who saw the “good” in Kevin (his therapist played by Betty Buckley).

The therapist believes that people with multiple personalities can undergo changes biologically, making them appear to be very real. It would be one thing if the film got right to her point and put the focus back on Kevin, but alas her backstory went on and on and on. Nothing in the therapist story adds any layer or nuance to either the development of the film or Kevin himself.

The same can be said about the narrative surrounding Casey, which we see in the form of ill-timed flashbacks. How does knowing that her dad was sweet and her uncle was a child molester add anything to the story of Kevin’s break from reality? The answer is nothing. What it does do is distract from what’s important about the film, and that is Kevin Crumb’s mental well-being. When you add so many extraneous parts to the narrative, it loses focus and takes away from the impact of the film.

James McAvoy plays the villain Kevin Crumb and his performance is commendable. However, his efforts are wasted in this film. The supporting cast, including the three girls who are abducted, are incredibly lackluster and don’t elicit any empathy when the audience should 100% be pulling for their safe return. To take this point even further, it’s as if each girl serves as some sort of personality quota that the director was looking to fill, I can just hear him now.

” Okay … we need a feisty young looking girl, a popular blonde hair girl, and a loner who is the rational one of the bunch”

Kevin spends a majority of the film having an internal debate about his mental capacity and which personality is in charge. Why do I care which personality is calling the shots? FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS! Why is Kevin even the way he is? The films barely address his past but doesn’t come close to addressing the level of psychological torture he endured to end up the way he was. Shymalan is hell bent on telling “his” story but isn’t dedicated to telling a quality story. It’s as if the director’s ego got the better of him.

In the end, Split is a film that got in the way of its own success. Instead of realizing what it already had, by adding layer after layer frivolous backstory it turned what was meant to be an extraordinary look into the evil one man possess to a very predictable look at someone with a mental illness.

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Review: ‘Monsters Unleashed’ #1

Nick Enquist

Monsters Unleashed is Marvel’s newest crossover that brings in all their heroes to face a threat of giant monsters. Yes, Marvel superheroes are fighting something else besides each other. It’s a great sight to see after Civil War II and Inhumans vs. X-Men, so already this book gets a heap of praise from me. However, how does the rest of the comic hold up? Is it worth spending the $4.99 on? Or should Monsters Unleashed be written off as another uninspired Marvel crossover event?

Writing

Cullen Bunn has proven himself to be a great writer, and here is no exception. Monsters Unleashed’s plot is simple, but not mundane. Giant monsters are falling from the sky, and it’s up to our favorite Marvel heroes to stop them. Easier said than done. This issue allows the audience to experience the scope and scale of the incoming threats. It’s certainly a great hook that will leave the reader wanting more. But where the writing really shines is in its characterization and dialogue. Bunn gives each character a unique voice, and shows off as many of them as possible. All the major superhero teams have a page or two dedicated to them; they’re showcased in a way that might make people interested in their stories. I know I’ll be checking out Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur after reading this issue. (Hell this comic even made me kind of like the Inhumans. That’s impressive)

However, the entire issue isn’t just superhero team after superhero team battling a Kaiju. There’s a deeper plot that focuses on two characters that have a relation to the event. A young boy named Kei Kawade – who may be unwittingly responsible for everything happening – and everyone’s favorite bad-ass, British monster hunter Elsa Bloodstone. Her story indicates that she may have a way to stop the monster apocalypse, or at the very least, we’ll be seeing more of her soon. Which, I’m very happy about.

Art

Civil War artist, Steve McNiven, helms the artistic side of this crossover, so of course the art is outstanding – particularly in the monster design. Each one looks unique, epic, and for lack of a better word, monstrous. There is a grand scale in the panels, particularly in how the angles of said panels are set up. I felt small while reading this comic. There’s also a great sense of motion going on as we see each of the heroes take on a monster. Totally Awesome Hulk, Amadeus Cho, has a really epic scene as he takes down one ugly Kaiju. This book is worth checking out just on the art alone. Sure, there are a few wonky perspectives and facial expressions, but they are few and far between and can be forgiven, especially on this grand a scale. McNiven’s craft is definitely the strongest selling point for this comic. His pencils are complimented greatly by Jay Leisten’s inks and David Curiel’s coloring. Both of them add depth and complexity to these designs.

Final Thoughts

It’s a shame that Civil War II was the first event that sprung out of the All-New All-Different Marvel relaunch; clearly Monsters Unleashed is what should have been released back in May. This comic not only brings all the heroes together to fight a common foe, but it also smartly showcases all the major teams and their heroes. It gives the audience a little tasting of Marvel’s line up. If you’ve given up on Marvel event comics, this one might be change things around for you, as it is engaging, uncomplicated, and fun. If you haven’t read anything from Marvel in a while, this will give you a smorgasbord of everything great going on in their other comics.

However, there is that $4.99 price tag on the comic. If it were a dollar cheaper, or printed in a prestige formatting, then I would recommend this book in a heartbeat. The issue does come with more story, which is a plus. However, I’m not a fan of the flimsy, cheap paper Marvel uses for their books. There’s also the question of how the tie-ins will effect the story or the progress of the event. However, it’s still an enjoyable event and I’m excited to see where the series is going to go next.

Let us know in the comments what you guys think.

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‘The Lego Batman Movie’ Is Getting An Early Screening For Charity

Aric Sweeny

January 21, 2017

Although The Lego Batman Movie comes out on February 10 in theaters nationwide, the film will be screened five days before, on February 5, for charity.

Producer Dan Lin has organized the event in honor of his son Miles Lin’s charity, I Dream Fish. The screening will be held at the Los Feliz’s Vista Theater in Los Angeles, CA.

About the screening: “I Dream of Fish and Harvest Craft would like to invite you and your friends to an advance screening of the highly anticipated, THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE. This is an exclusive event where you get to watch the movie a week before its nationwide release! Seats are limited and will sell out in advance. Ticket prices include free drink, popcorn, and valet parking. The best part – ticket proceeds will go towards funding future aquaponics systems, similar to our projects in India, Uganda, and our most recent project in Haiti, where we started a chicken farm!”

Created by Lin when he was nine, I Dream Fish’s goal is to encourage and promote sustainable fishing and farming in India, Haiti and Uganda.

Tickets to see The Lego Batman Movie early are available now, and range from $50-$100.

If you’re in the area, do you plan to see The Lego Batman Movie in support of I Dream Fish? Let us know in the comments section below.

“In the irreverent spirit of fun that made “The LEGO Movie” a worldwide phenomenon, the self-described leading man of that ensemble – LEGO Batman – stars in his own big-screen adventure. But there are big changes brewing in Gotham, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker’s hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up.”

The Lego Batman Movie stars Will Arnett as the Caped Crusader, Ralph Fiennes as Alfred Pennyworth, Zach Galifianakis as The Joker, Rosario Dawson as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, Mariah Carey as Mayor Grange, and Michael Cera as Dick Grayson/Robin.

The film lands in theaters on February 10, 2017.

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XXX: Return of Xander Cage and Art as America’s Remedy

Curtis Waugh

January 21, 2017

xXx: Return of Xander Cage is the person we all are in front of the mirror. When there’s no one else around, we stare at our flesh and we make goofy faces, smile and laugh like we’re with friends, pop zits, pluck eyebrows, do our makeup and give it our best Bowie. All pretense is dropped and we’re left with only what is staring back at us. It isn’t always what we want to see and it isn’t always what the world wants to see but gosh darn it if it isn’t beautiful anyway.

There is a segment of the world that might scoff at the wanton abandon for fun at play in Vin Diesel’s spy franchise. “I can’t take it seriously” or “It’s dumb”, some may say. Just like a bully in high school or a drunk asshole at a bar, those people are to be pitied, not hated. Dismissal based on face value (don’t judge a cover by its book, or something like that) is the death of all art and robs people of the experience of getting to know what another person, or art form is like. If I sound defensive it’s because I know the ludicrous action film I saw today has a big, pulpy heart that likes to make fearless faces in the mirror and, as evidenced by today’s presidential inauguration, a lot of the world is afraid of that sort of fun.

Now, let me quickly say that I know this is all ridiculous semiotics for a film where dirt biking through a 30-foot wave is treated as plausible. But that’s part of the point. The amount of fun, charm, wit and innocence present in xXx 3 rises its viciously anti-physics actions to a realm of entertainment and pleasure that is desperately needed in this world. The United States of America today witnessed an occurrence that the majority of us didn’t ask for and that we all deservedly have a necessity to be afraid of as humans with certain inalienable rights. That isn’t politics, that’s fact. Art as escapism, while being a practice in which I partake, is partially a misnomer because we will all find a way to relate our experiences to the events in our lives and society. The art displayed in xXx doesn’t have an air of self-importance as other action masterpieces like Terminator 2 but that quality makes it fully capable of handling the absurd nature of our present, real crises. Like Xander Cage, Americans and the world “live for this shit” and we will find a way out of it.

Art and film work in funny ways. Just because we have amazing films like Silence, Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight that carry the torch of the human experience with solemnity doesn’t mean there isn’t room for Fast Five and xXx at the table also. Diversity in art is just as important as diversity elsewhere.

I wouldn’t be making this argument if I didn’t think xXx: Return of Xander Cage wasn’t actually a gloriously fun and poignant film about rebuking the system and finding a family you can count on. D.J. Caruso’s film is shot with the glee and fervor of a person discovering love for the first time. Everything from Diesel’s goofy gravel voice, Donnie Yen’s uber coolness, Tony Jaa’s weird rhythm to Nina Dobrev’s innocently violent awakening brings a cinematic joy that many rote studio blockbusters are lacking. Not all big, dumb action movies are Great, big, dumb action movies and the heart displayed here is the difference-maker.

Back to the semiotics — I don’t think, however, I’m making a mountain out of a molehill remarking that this sort of joyous lunacy was accidentally released on a day with such divisible world views. I firmly believe that if we sat down every American voter in a theater for xXx: Return of Xander Cage, we might not get a different human at our helm but we would definitely look at each other’s faces and see ourselves and smile and we would be able to work this all out.

Movies can change the world. I’m approaching life after January 20, 2017 with a new confidence I didn’t think I would have had when I woke up on this day. xXx provided that for me and for that, I thank the film and everyone involved. Go see it, go see anything, take a risk, believe in yourself and look in the mirror and create the weirdest face you’ve ever imagined. I guarantee it’s beautiful.

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James Cameron Is Returning To The Teminator Franchise

Jonathan Bruce

January 20, 2017

James Cameron is back.

According to Deadline, Cameron will return to the Terminator franchise. He’ll serve as executive producer on a new movie.

Tim Miller is in talks to helm the film. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to reprise his role as the T-800.

Paramount Pictures is keen to start production on a new movie. The original film came out in 1984, and the film rights would revert to Cameron in 2019.

According to Mike Fleming Jr, the project is under the guidance of David Ellison, who owns Skydance Productions. His plan is to hire “some top-flight science fiction authors to find the movie creatively.”

This marks Cameron’s first involvement with the franchise since 1991. After the release of T2: Judgement Day, he sought to buy back the rights to the series. Unfortunately, his fellow producers beat to the punch in getting the rights, prompting him to walk.

The next two Terminator films didn’t have Cameron as part of the crew. However, he did serve as a consultant on 2015’s Terminator Genysis.

As it stands, the plot of the new movie is unknown. No script has been written, and there is no start date. Whether it will be a sequel or reboot remains to be seen.

Cameron is now working on the four Avatar sequels. Time will tell when production starts on the sixth Terminator film.

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Review: ‘Mae’ Vol. 1: A Wonderful Start Of A Long Journey

Anthony Wendel

When she was just a girl, Abbie discovered a portal to a fantasy world and has since had great adventures there: defeating horrible monsters, power-mad scientists, and evil nobles. But when she turned twenty-one it all came apart and she decided to return home. Her sister, Mae, had no idea what happened to Abbie all this time, and Abbie’s tales are too hard to believe—that is, until the monsters and other terrible creatures start to cross over to our world . . . Collects issues #1–#6.

Writing

Ready to go on an adventure? If not, then you should probably stay far away from this comic, because this series is nothing but a fantastic ride into another world. A series full of legends, magic, and super science which is the beginning of something big. From the moment in the first issue when Mae reunites with her sister Abbie, Mae’s world is turned upside down. The poor woman has little time to adjust to anything before she finds herself having to take drastic steps to keep her family safe from bizarre and dangerous opponents.

Writer Gene Ha shows a lot of geek love through the course of the book. There are plenty of nerdy references to behold. Each issue features a member of the cast quoting a cult classic movie or TV series. This is especially true in the back up stories where many items are spun into the background of each panel. It helps to sell the comedy of the book without it getting old or feeling forced.

Artwork

Gene Ha also provides art for the series with help on the colors from Rose McClain and Wesley Heartman. Ha draws some odd facial expressions at times but this is really the only complaint against the entire series. There is a wonderful mixture of different fantasy realms and styles on display from Star Trek to Gurren Lagann and other anime series.

There is a notable shift in art in chapter six when Paulina Gancheau takes over the art and with Kendall Goode on colors. The style isn’t bad, and does help to show a different side of the characters. It’s just noticeable when you get to the last chapter of the book and it turns out to be such a shift.

Conclusion

This is the start of a great indie book series which makes you want to check out the next chapter as soon as it is done. The only individuals who won’t find this book entertaining are those who are looking for a light read. This series is gearing up to take the reader on a very long adventure with a lot of dynamic characters. The pace and plot may move fast so hurry and pick up this first volume.

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DC Comics Teases New Imprint ‘The Wild Storm’ Curated By Warren Ellis

Manuel Gomez

January 20, 2017

On February 15, THE WILD STORM, DC’s newest pop-up imprint curated by Warren Ellis, will debut with its flagship title of the same name. The series will be written by Ellis with art by Jon Davis-Hunt.

Start your speculating now comic fans. Readers will remember that Wildstorm was the name of Jim Lee’s creator-owned line of books at Image Comics. The line gave birth to, among many things, characters like Midnighter and Apollo, who debuted in The Authority (actually also written by Ellis). Wildstorm was eventually successfully sold and folded into the DC Universe. Midnighter in particular was a critical hit. The comics publisher has had recent success with its other curated imprint, Young Animal, so perhaps this will follow suit? Check out the images below and tell us what you think!

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Hulk & Groot To Brawl In ‘Avengers: Infinity War’?

Aric Sweeny

January 20, 2017

For fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fights between heroes are a common thing. Whether it be the multitude of matchups included in Captain America: Civil War or Hulk versus Iron Man in Avengers: Age of Ultron, we’ve seen our fair share of brawls.

On this topic, Groot voice actor Vin Diesel hinted at a matchup we might be seeing in next year’s Avengers: Infinity War.

I’m excited about Baby Groot; he’s just too fun. And in Infinity War, I have to talk to the Russo brothers and find out how this is all gonna go down. I know somewhere in the Marvel universe there is a moment when you will see Groot and Hulk have a few words.

I think there’s gonna be a moment that we’re all waiting for, and whether you know it or not, you are waiting to see Groot and the Hulk get down.

Well, according to the actor himself, it seems like we might be seeing a throw-down between Hulk and everyone’s favorite 3-word character, Groot.

What do you make of his comments? Who’d win this fight? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below.

Avengers: Infinity War stars Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Scarlett Johansson, Brie Larson, Cobie Smulders, Elizabeth Olson, Jeremy Renner, Sebastian Stan, Peter Dinklage, Chadwick Boseman, Chris Hemsworth, Karen Gillian, Bradley Cooper, Samuel L. Jackson, Paul Rudd, Josh Brolin, Paul Bettany, and Mark Ruffalo.

Although no official synopsis has been released at this point, we can safely assume that Avengers: Infinity War will follow a story that includes Thanos, with the Infinity Gauntlet, taking on the Avengers. A more detailed plot summary will be released as the film’s release date nears.

Avengers: Infinity War will be released in theaters on May 4, 2018.

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Vin Diesel Still Wants ‘The Inhumans’ To Get a Film Adaptation

Aric Sweeny

January 20, 2017

Although The Inhumans was announced as a Marvel Cinematic Universe film years ago, it’s now officially moved to television. With the series starting this fall and the first two episodes being screened in IMAX theaters, fans are getting excited.

With the show on its way, many have been wondering about the fate of the movie. Vin Diesel, who was originally set to play Black Bolt, commented on this in an interview with Screen Rant.

“I think Marvel should never—I don’t think Marvel should abandon their opportunity to make a film out of it [The Inhumans]. I think it could be a huge, huge saga, and if I had more time I would go over to Marvel and have that very conversation. But I think it would be a big mistake for Marvel to abandon their ambitions or their objective or their goals of making it into a film, because it would make such a cool universe.”

Although Diesel still wants the film to get made, chances of that happening are pretty slim. With that said, though, there’s still hope when Kevin Feige is in charge.

In recent news regarding The Inhumans show, Roel Reine was just announced as the director of the series’ first two episodes. Reine is known for his work on Black Sails, the hit television series that preludes Treasure Island.

So far, information on the cast of this project is unknown. However, since the show’s premiere is less than nine months away, it won’t be long until we get to know who the next on-screen super-team is.

What are your thoughts on Diesel’s comments regarding The Inhumans? Do you think it will ever be turned in to a film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Be sure to leave us with your thoughts in the comments section down below.

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Four Fathers Brewing Co: The Starter Session IPA – A Fatherly Review

Michael Bedford

Four Fathers Brewing Company has been around since 2009. From Rockwood, Ontario, this craft brewery, as their website puts it, was the brainchild of “four hockey dads.” Four Fathers’ website goes on to describe how their fledgling brewery came into being over the course of a number of nights spent at the rink or hovering anxiously over stove-tops.

Four Fathers Brewing Company’s mandate involves, not surprisingly, four steps: stand up for each other, stand up for something bigger than yourself, stand up for the notion that quality craft beer matters, and be patient.

Today I’ll be reviewing The Starter Session IPA from Four Fathers Brewing Company. And, although I’m generally a patient person, I admit to being impatient to review this brew.

Four Fathers Brewing Company: The Starter Session IPA – First Sip

The Starter pours a semi-transparent amber colour with a thin layer of off-white foam that dissipates quickly. As with other IPAs, session or otherwise, I smell a familiar citrus aroma as I take my first sip. The Starter is surprisingly bitter for a session IPA, the bitterness improving in its aftertaste. This isn’t much of a beer for complexity. If you like hoppy IPAs, as I most certainly do, you’re bound to like The Starter.

Four Fathers Brewing Company: The Starter Session IPA – Last Sip

Bitter though this brew is, its relatively watery mouthfeel balances it out. The Starter’s mouthfeel gives it a light and thirst-quenching quality that all good session beers should have. And, with a 4.8% ABV rating your session can involve a couple of these 473-mL brews.

IPAs, especially session IPAs, go exceptionally well with salty foods. A giant pretzel, a plate of olives, some beef jerky, pickles, or a bag of chips are all good picks to accompany The Starter. It won’t be healthy, but the combination of bitter beer and salty food is not to be missed.

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