Constantine (2005) Movie Review

There is really nothing inherently so wrong with “Constantine” that you would be justified in calling it “awful”. To be sure, there is also nothing really extraordinary about it to justify words like “great” or “pretty good”. In fact, the perfect word for...

March 31st, 2005 | Read More

Blade 3: Trinity (2004) Movie Review

If you enjoyed the originality of the original “Blade”, and thought Del Toro’s “Blade 2″ was hells on wheels, mannerisms and good taste be damned, then David Goyer’s “Blade: Trinity”, the third and supposedly final installment in the comic book superhero...

December 13th, 2004 | Read More

Generation X (1996) Movie Review

Long before the X-Men made a splash on the big screen, Marvel Comics tried things on a smaller scale with a television film based on a spin-off of the X titles. They made a very wise decision, and the result signals the beginning of Marvel’s rise as a theatrical force to be reckoned with. Breezy...

October 2nd, 2004 | Read More

Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1998) Movie Review

Things weren’t always so good for Marvel Studios. Several years before they were making big budget blockbusters, they were reduced to cranking out television films for the Fox Network. A fair effort went into bringing Nick Fury, the famed S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, to life, but even so it never truly...

August 18th, 2004 | Read More

Justice League of America: Pilot (1997) TV Review

After the disaster that was “Batman and Robin”, DC Comics tried to regain face with a live-action television pilot of their popular super team, the Justice League of America. Unfortunately, the finished product only made matters worse and was quickly shelved, never to see the light of day....

August 8th, 2004 | Read More

Spider-Man 2 (2004) Movie Review

It may be rated PG-13, but Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man 2″ is no kiddie picture. Of course that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bring your kids to see the further adventures of Spidey (Tobey Maguire) as he once again defies gravity, common sense, and a host of other improbabilities....

June 30th, 2004 | Read More

Gen 13 (1998) Movie Review

Back in the mid-90s, the most popular team in comic books wasn’t the X-Men, but a group from independent publisher Image Comics. Created by Jim Lee, Brandon Choi and Jim Scott Campbell, “GEN 13″ was the sexiest, edgiest team on the shelf and a hit with readers. An animated film version...

June 6th, 2004 | Read More

Bulletproof Monk (2003) Movie Review

You have to be a really big fan of Hong Kong legend Chow Yun-Fat (”The Killer”) to fully appreciate “Bulletproof Monk”, a derivative film about an immortal Tibetan monk (Chow) who has been protecting a mythical and powerful scroll for the last 60 years. Chasing the monk is Strucker...

May 29th, 2004 | Read More

The Punisher (2004) Movie Review

Probably the only thing writer/director Jonathan Hensleigh got right with his big budget version of “The Punisher” is to cast Thomas Jane (”Deep Blue Sea”) in the lead role. With his raspy voice and stoic personality, Jane is perfect. The rest of the movie? Not so good. In fact,...

May 19th, 2004 | Read More

Batman (1989) Movie Review

Before 1989, unless you were an avid comic book reader, you probably viewed Batman as a clownish superhero, trading punches and quips with bad guys with his youthful assistant Robin faithfully at his side. He was campy, a bit dull, and never dangerous. That is, until the summer of 1989, when Tim Burton...

May 19th, 2004 | Read More

Batman Returns (1992) Movie Review

With two bad movies back to back that ultimately wrecked the series, it’s hard to remember that at one time the Batman series was actually really good. Probably the best example of that is the second entry, where director Tim Burton (”Big Fish”) was given free reign to let his dark...

May 7th, 2004 | Read More

Hellboy (2004) Movie Review

Movies featuring little know comic book characters have come a long way since the modestly budgeted “The Crow” in 1994. Now Columbia Pictures gives Mike Mignola’s creation the full big budget treatment, complete with a talented cast and cutting edge special effects. But despite all...

April 2nd, 2004 | Read More

The Punisher (1989) Movie Review

With the big budget version soon to come out, it’s inevitable that there’s going to be renewed interest in the original attempt to bring Frank Castle to the screen. But anyone planning on renting the older version should do so with low expectations. This take on the character can be entertaining...

March 4th, 2004 | Read More

The Crow 2: City of Angels (1996) Movie Review

The second “Crow” film was controversial even before it was released, due to a massive re-editing by the film studio against the will of the writer and director. The result is a visually impressive film that is quite well acted and still entertaining, but adds nothing new to the Crow mythos....

January 13th, 2004 | Read More

Captain America (1991) Movie Review

Promoted as Marvel’s answer to “Batman” and set for release to coincide with the character’s 50th anniversary, this cinematic embarrassment was quickly shelved in 1990. It eventually received a quiet release on home video and cable television two years later, a deserving fate...

January 10th, 2004 | Read More

Lady Death (2004) Movie Review

In 1998, Lady Death creator Brian Pulido announced that the character would make the transition to the screen in the form of an animated feature film. Six years later, the “Lady Death” film finally arrives on video shelves for the perusal of those so inclined. While not exactly worth the...

October 3rd, 2003 | Read More

The Hulk (2003) Movie Review

“The Hulk” is probably the best comic book adaptation of 2003, which is unofficially the Year of the Superheroes. What “The Hulk” has going for it is a sure hand by director Ang Lee and two outstanding leads in Australian newcomer Eric Bana (”The Nugget”) and longtime...

September 1st, 2003 | Read More

Batman: Dead End (2003) Movie Review

A reader sent me a copy of “Batman: Dead End”, which has been making the rounds of comic book conventions and the online fanboy community for the last month or so. Harry Knowles at Ain’t It Cool News even reported on it, giving it quite a glowing review. But if you think “Dead...

August 7th, 2003 | Read More

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) Movie Review

The biggest problem with “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” (or “LXG” as the promos call it) is that it doesn’t offer anything new. Oh sure, the story takes place in 1899, and all of the gadgets on display are “antique” versions of what we’re used...

July 24th, 2003 | Read More

Batman 4: Batman and Robin (1997) Movie Review

“Batman and Robin” doesn’t require a lot of thought, except for this notion: Why didn’t the filmmakers call the third installment “Batman and Robin” and save the title “Batman Forever” for this fourth installment? Since the third installment introduces...

June 27th, 2003 | Read More