Movie Review: Whip It (2009)

Whip It
Released 2009
111 mins.

Starring: Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, Kristen Wiig, Juliette Lewis, Marcia Gay Harden, Daniel Stern, Andrew Wilson, Jimmy Fallon, and Alia Shawkat

Synopsis: Ellen Page's follow up to 2007's smash success Juno sees her in another coming-of-age story, albeit much lighter in tone (sans teen pregnancy).  Page plays Bliss Cavendar, a spunky teen trapped in the small town of Bodine, TX where her well-meaning mother pushes her to compete in local teen beauty pageants. 

Bliss works at the local pork bbq restaurant with her best friend Pash and both dream of escaping their mundane small-town existences (or at least the constant antagonism of the popular kids).  A chance encounter introduces Bliss to the world of women's roller derby and she is immediatly smitten by the tough, beautiful players (with equally cool names like Maggie Mayhem, Jackie Daniels, and Eva Destruction). 

She tries out and is accepted as the newest member of the Hurl Scouts!  Problems arise as Bliss tries to keep her new project a secret from Mom and her underage status from her teammates.  She then falls (as all teenage girls do) for the atypical uber-cool rock boy (wear a condom this time Ellen!)

Mike Tells It Straight: This ain't no Juno.  Drew Barrymore does a decent, but not spectacular job directing and it's a cute story that doesn't take itself too seriously.  Ellen Page's trademarke sarcastic irreverence is the main draw here.  Plus a fun soundtrack and grrl! power roller derby action

TO BUY and Recommendations:
  

Movie Review: Whiteout (2009)

Whiteout

Released 2009

101 mins.

Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht, Columbus Short, and Tom Skerritt

Synopsis: Antarctica has some dangerous and downright deadly conditions, but also contains some of the most beautiful and unique sights on the planet. Populated by researchers living in base camps only accessible by airplane it’s a constant battle with the elements with liquor your only friend on the endless winter nights.

Kate Beckinsale is a US Marshal on her last stint at the South Pole just days from the annual winter exodus from the camps. When a mysterious dead body is found her instincts kick into overdrive as the frozen continent sees its first murder. What disturbing event caused her self-imposed exile to the coldest place on earth and can she solve the crime before being added to the body count?

Mike Tells It Straight: If you only want to see this movie because Kate Beckinsale is hot, then turn it off after the first ten minutes. The rest of the movie is a decent murder drama set amid the harshest conditions of Antarctica. You’ll get plenty of plot twists and a good attempt at a shock ending, but stop to think at any point and you may notice a few cracks in the ice. The weather would have done a lot more damage to our US Marshal’s face, but I gots to get me some thousand-year-old ice for my next cocktail!

Based on a graphic novel by Greg Rucka – booya!

TO BUY and Recommendations:
   

X-Men: Inferno Omnibus Hardcover Review

X-Men: Inferno

Marvel Comics

Oversized Hardcover “Omnibus”

600 Pages

$75.00

ISBN 9780785137771

Contributors: Chris Claremont, Louise Simonson, Mark Gruenwald, Walt Simonson, Marc Silvestri, Jon Bogdanove, Terry Shoemaker, Bret Blevins, Jim Fern, Rob Liefeld, Dan Green, Bob Wiacek, Al Williamson, Al Milgrom, Joe Rubinstein, Mike Manley, Hilary Barta, Glynis Oliver, Petra Scotese, Gregory Wright, and Tom Orzechowski

Reprints: X-Factor #33-40 and Annual #4, X-Terminators #1-4 (of 4), Uncanny X-Men #239-243, and New Mutants #71-73

Synopsis: Hell comes to Manhattan in the form of a hot redhead and the demon hordes of Limbo. The city suffers from a wicked heat wave along with the demonized transmogrification of most of the city’s denizens/objects (think Ghostbusters). The X-Men and New Mutants are smack in the middle of it all and we’ve got a major throwdown:

• The X-Men are believed dead by the world and have been living in the Australian outback. Madelyne Pryor and Alex Summers (Havok) have a budding relationship after her apparent abandonment by Scott Summers (Cyclops). Distraught at the disappearance of her son she attracts the attention of the demon N’astirh who promises to find the missing baby. Has the demon bitten off more than he can chew when she begins manifesting incredible amounts of power reminiscent of the Phoenix?

• X-Factor has been posing as a service hunting mutants for the benefit of the general public, but was recently outed as the original X-Men. Cyclops has been unsuccessfully searching for his wife Madelyne Pryor and their son. He originally left them to investigate the return of the supposedly deceased Jean Grey. Torn between family duty and his long-lost love will Cyclops be able to save the hate-stricken Goblin Queen from herself?

• The New Mutants are trying to save one of their own from becoming the thing she hates most. Illyana Rasputin is the X-Man Colossus’ sister and was kidnapped to Limbo where she apprenticed under the demon Belasco. Eventually rebelling and conquering the realm with her mutant ability to control the teleport discs native to the dimension, Illyana has slowly succumbed to her dark side. Belasco’s former henchman S’ym was infected by the transmode virus and is gathering power to overthrow the Darkchylde. Will the friends be able to save Illyana and stop the demonic invasion?

• The X-Terminators are the teenagers brought together by X-Factor’s mutant-hunting services. They uncover a mystery involving disappearing babies and demons, but these youths are more enthusiasm than skill. Will they be able to make a difference or die trying?

Affected by the demonic influence permeating the city both X-Men/X-Factor teams must stop trying to kill each other long enough to save the world and one of their own. Once the dust settles the real perpetrator is revealed!

Pros: Claremont's writing is perfect and each character is his own personal creation honed over 150+ straight issues, Silvestri’s art is pure sex and easily some of the best of his career, beautiful over-sized hardcover including the main storylines from Inferno, clears up some major ongoing plot threads such as Magick/Illyana/Darkchylde + Madelyne Pryor/Jean Grey/Phoenix, great extras including house ads and additional covers, ‘80s fashion/trends were in full effect when this was created and you’ll get to relive all the good (and bad)

Cons: Simonson’s art just doesn’t hold up to Silvestri’s and even Bogdanove’s art is sexier/more coherent for a team book, Rob Liefeld (briefly) contributes, doesn’t include the many other tie-in stories from Spider-Man/ Daredevil/ Excalibur (it would be most excellent if another volume were produced to collect them)

Mike Tells It Straight: Gnarly to the max, the ‘80s are back! I first started reading X-Men comics when “Inferno” hit shelves and this story was a real blast from the past. You will get your X-Men/New Mutants fix right here, but be warned: this book is not recommended for new X-Men readers. You need to know a lot of back-story to really enjoy the conclusion to several major plot threads. Recommended reading for complete preparation: Uncanny X-Men Omnibus vol. 1 (intro to Phoenix), Dark Phoenix Saga (exit Phoenix), From the Ashes (intro Madelyne Pryor), Phoenix Rising (Jean Grey returns), Mutant Massacre (intro to Marauders), Essential X-Factor vol. 1 (Cyclops reunited w/Jean Grey, Madelyne goes missing), and Fall of the Mutants (‘death’ of the X-Men). Now you’re ready!

TO BUY and Recommendations:
   

Inhumans Review

Inhumans
Marvel Comics – Marvel Knights
Softcover Trade Paperback
288 Pages
$24.95
ISBN 0785107533

Contributors: Paul Jenkins, Jae Lee, Richard Starkings, Dave Kemp, and introduction by Alex Ross

Reprints: Inhumans #1-12 (of 12)

Synopsis: The Inhumans are a race living in secret isolation for millennia in the domed city of Attilan with a society based on diversity. Their king Black Bolt bears a terrible burden possessing a voice powerful enough to level mountains and must remain in complete silence. He is represented by his wife Medusa and surrounded by the royal family.

Attilan has moved to the recently risen Atlantis where human nations are focusing efforts to mine rediscovered technology. Maximus the Mad languishes in prison dreaming insane dreams as a new group of youths pass through the transforming Terrigen Mists. His terrible plot hatches and brings humanity within reach of the city, endangering all within. Only Black Bolt can save them, but what if he does nothing at all?

Pros: Lee’s art is elegant with a touch of realism, he does some great redesigns for Karnak and Gorgon, Jenkins captures the core of these characters and spins a tale appropriate to all, mature tone with some action, introduces a new set of young Inhumans which appear in a sequel, the scene with humans dressed up as Inhumans is great, nice insight into Triton’s past and the sinking of the Lusitania, more insight into Inhuman culture

Cons: You’ll need a rudimentary knowledge of the Inhumans and their society prior to reading this story, along with how Atlantis is on the surface again (see Fantastic Four: Atlantis Rising storyline) and why the Inhumans are back on Earth (they were originally in the Blue Area of the moon), Lee’s art tends to be really dark and shadowy, I get the feeling the Inhumans lives are very antiseptic and forced (old traditions), it’s uncertain if anything of lasting importance happens in this story, Alpha Primitives still lurking in the dark with no resolution

Mike Tells It Straight: Great story and art on this one makes it a strong recommendation. Jenkins revitalized the Inhumans franchise for Marvel with this subtle, complex story. It definitely builds to a climax and has a few twists to keep you entertained, but you have to be patient. I still don’t know what Black Bolt’s thinking!

TO BUY and Recommendations: