review
Reviews of the top geek movies, tv, and books in the industry.
'Trees Volume 2' Review
The second volume of Ellis’ Wyndham-inspired Science Fiction epic presents a widening gyre as the story picks up from the close of the first volume, starting with Joanne Creasy as she recovers from the events of the first volume and is sent to investigate the Orkney Tree by the British Government. Dividing much of its focus between this sortie into the far north of Scotland, and the machinations of the Mayor Elect in New York, Volume Two is far more focused than the first book of this series. This provides a strong benefit, effectively allowing Ellis to dive deep into the two characters. We do catch up with two more characters at the end of the book, which I assume is setting up the next book.
By Steve Cotterill8 years ago in Geeks
Movie Review: 'Blade Runner 2049'
“Sometimes, to love someone, you have to be a stranger.” Out of context, the above line of dialogue from Blade Runner 2049 doesn’t seem so profound. But when it lands in the context of the story being told by director Denis Villeneuve, the line plays as remarkably poignant. I won’t spoil the context in this review. Indeed, I will venture to avoid any spoilers whatsoever. What I can tell you about Blade Runner 2049 is that it has all of the atmosphere of cool that the 1982, Ridley Scott-helmed original had but with even better characters and deeper meanings, and yes, genuinely poignant moments.
By Sean Patrick8 years ago in Geeks
'Trees: Volume 1' Review by Warren Ellis and Jason Howard
Warren Ellis’ Trees is a fascinating, sprawling series that operates on a global scale. Like his Freak Angels series from Avatar, he’s openly channelling British Science Fiction author, John Wyndham, from the very outset of this book. Taking the premise of an alien invasion, Trees chronicles life ten years after a number of alien, black columns arrive on Earth, and do... nothing. They loom over human cities, silent and apparently inactive, apart from the occasional discharge that leaks into the planet’s biosphere. As a consequence, the story Ellis is crafting is both the story of human reaction to these aliens and of what happens as the Trees begin to change. I must say that my initial feeling with regards to the structure of this comics series is that it is a novel, one that builds slowly and inexorably towards a point where there will be convergence.
By Steve Cotterill8 years ago in Geeks
Classic Movie Review: 'Blade Runner'
Ridley Scott’s sci-fi epic Blade Runner is one of my favorite films of all time, mostly for the unique, lived-in look, and bleak futuristic setting. Blade Runner is an eye-catching mind-blower that, if it skimps on character development a little, more than makes up for character deficits with incredible visual artistry. It’s unquestionably Ridley Scott’s finest work and with the sequel, Blade Runner 2049, being released soon, it’s as good a time as any to look back on Sir Ridley’s masterpiece.
By Sean Patrick9 years ago in Geeks
H'ween Horrorthon: 'Scream 2' (20 Years Later)
"By definition alone, they're inferior films!" —Jamie Kennedy as film-geek Randy Meeks Hello, one and all. I hesitated to do this entry on account of the fact that I would rather review original films only—not reboots, remakes, re-hashings, and, the worst cardinal sin of all, sequels. I do feel that the chronic repetition of a movie plot and its formula does very little to quell the initial joy that emanated from the first film and, readily, its "continuation" of the story is usually just a dull re-tread of the first film's original story.
By Carlos Gonzalez9 years ago in Geeks
Reed Alexander's Review of 'X Moor' (2014)
SPOILERS! The Beast of X Moor or… The Beast of Wasting My Fucking Time... Really? You're going to set me up for a creature feature flick, and fuck it up with The Scooby-Doo Effect before it even gets started? I mean, at least you didn't try to pass it off like some bullshit twist, but fuck you and the beast you road in on. Look, just because you confess to The Scooby-Doo Effect in the first ten minutes does not make it okay. The whole fucking point of a creature feature flick is that we want to see THE GOD DAMN MONSTER! HALF THE FUCKING POINT IS THE BUILD UP TO THE BIG FUCKING MONSTER REVEAL AT THE END!
By Reed Alexander9 years ago in Geeks
Movie Review: 'The Stray'
The Stray is one ridiculously terrible movie. This family adventure about a family that takes in a stray dog that they name Pluto opens with a nearly deadly lightning strike and only gets weirder and more bizarrely bad from there. The film purports to be a true story written and directed by Mitch Davis about his own family dog. However, there doesn’t appear to be any truth that was actually captured in this silly, unrealistic screenplay filled with characters who are like aliens enacting human emotions.
By Sean Patrick9 years ago in Geeks
Movie Review: 'Battle of the Sexes'
I’ve spent a few days wrestling with why I don’t love the new, true life drama Battle of the Sexes from two of my favorite directors, Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton. The directors of the wonderful Little Miss Sunshine and the sublime Ruby Sparks have delivered a solid effort in Battle of the Sexes, but there is just something lacking. It’s not the performances either, as both Emma Stone and Steve Carell deliver standout takes on real life counterparts Billy Jean King and Bobby Riggs. So just what’s wrong with Battle of the Sexes?
By Sean Patrick9 years ago in Geeks
"It" Movie Review
Released: 8th September 2017 (UK and United States) Length: 135 Minutes Certificate: 15 Director: Andy Muschietti Starring: Jaeden Lieberher, Bill Skarsgård, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Nicholas Hamilton
By Robert Cain9 years ago in Geeks
H'ween Horrorthon: 'Fright Night' (1985)
"What's the matter, Charley? Scared?!" —Chris Sarandon as vampire Jerry Dandridge Hello, and velcome. So, I'm one of those people who isn't very squeamish when it comes to certain acts I see in horror films, least of all bloodsucking. I've never found vampires or even vampire folklore to be that scary to begin with. And yet, there's a certain frightening allure to them. Somehow, the idea of being undead for all eternity with bulging yellow eyes and sharp fangs with the ability to bite and then suck blood out of a jugular vein seems rather sad and pathetic. But, the allure comes from what vampires can also do. They can shapeshift (turn into bats, wolves, maybe even a cat; perhaps, a raccoon?), and they can also gently coax and persuade their victims in order to feed their bloodlust. They either become vampires themselves, or are disposed of after the act.
By Carlos Gonzalez9 years ago in Geeks
