Uncanny X-Force #4 Review

What Rick Remender has done with Uncanny X-Force  in just four issues is remarkable. Not only has he assembled a cast of misfits that include both the mostly forgotten and the over-exposed but he went right for the jugular with his first arc having them face off against one of the biggest bad asses in the X-universe. He also crafted some of the most interesting horsemen of Apocalypse we have seen in years. What's great about his team here is that on paper they shouldn't work but he manages to make each one not only integral but works them together so well you would think they have been a team for years. 

This is the final issue of the opening arc 'The Apocalypse Solution' and see's the team closing in on their target. Other than each of them fighting there way to Apocalypse their isn't much that happens of note. Until they finally confront the enemy and find him in the body of a small child. Knowing what he can become Archangel want's nothing more than to destroy him but Psylocke has other plans. The shock ending is something that you just need to experience for yourself to feel the shock-wave it could have down the road. 

As much praise as Remender's writing, quite rightly, deserves an equal amount of accolades should be heaped on the art of Jerome Opena. His pages are exquisite, dynamic, detailed and near perfection. He uses some of the most unique vantage points to deliver panels you just don't see coming. The fact that the last three pages have such an emotional impact on the reader with only 3 lines of dialogue speaks volumes. Where the series will go from here I don't know, but I can't wait to find out.  

Written by: Rick Remender

Art by: Jerome Opena

Cover: Esad Ribic

Colors: Dean White

Letters: Cory Petit

Publisher: Marvel Comics

American Vampire #11 Review

American Vampire was the best new series from any publisher last year, period. The reason i originally picked this up may have been because it had Steven Kings name on the cover and a big fat number 1 but the reason I stuck around was because of Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque. They have crafted such a rich, dark and vibrant world to tell their story in that I honestly didn't even notice which issue Steven Kings name dropped off the cover. Lately the world of American Vampire  has gotten a little larger with the inclusion of new vampire species and the shift in focus from Skinner Sweet to Pearl and Henry.

This issue begins with Pearl showing some vamps just what an 'American' vampire is capable of, with Henry fighting by her side. We get some insight into her psyche and her fear that Henry will eventually see the monster she is and leave. The action here is interspersed with scenes of their old friend Hattie, fresh from her escape last issue, trying to track down Pearl and Henry for some payback. It's nice to see some more of the human side of the 'American' vampires from Pearl, yeah it's great to revel in the complete bastard that is Sweet but a little depth is appreciated. I also love the way Snyder handles the Hattie part of the story, ratcheting up the tension as she closes in only for us to find out her story is taking place in the recent past and she is still two steps behind her quarry.

Snyder's writing is as amazing as always, from the pacing and direction to the razor sharp dialogue, the man rarely has a misstep these days. The fact that he manages to bring out the emotional depth of Pearl a the same time she is literally tearing guys heads off is pretty damn impressive. Artwork duties are still being handled by Mateus Santoluco again with co-creator Albuquerque taking a break. Santoluco does a fine job stepping into big shoes, his pages have a raw almost grimy feel to them in places and it works beautifully with the tone of this issue.

Month to month American Vampire has risen to the top of my must read list, one of the greatest things about the book right now are the endless possibilities. With such a sandbox as big as twentieth century history to play with I am sure Snyder can so some amazing things. We already know we are going to be seeing a WWII arc in the coming months and I can't wait to see what else they can come up with for us.  

Written by: Scott Snyder
Art: Mateus Santoluco
Cover: Rafael Albuquerque
Colors: Dave McCaig
Letters: Steve Wands
Publisher: Vertigo

Never Let Me Go DVD Review

"We all complete. Maybe none of us really understand what we've lived through, or feel we've had enough time" 

I'll be the first to admit that this movie doesn't seem like my usual fare, I sold it to my wife as something for the both of us. Part chick flick with a sci-fi twist that would appeal to me. Turns out I over sold her part and undersold mine. It all worked out in the end though, this is an insanely well made, hauntingly beautiful movie that's probably best watched with your significant other to save your geek cred.

The basic premise is that in the 1950's a medical breakthrough was made that allowed the life expectancy of humans to surpass 100 years, that breakthrough was cloning. The movie follows the story of narrator Kathy (Carey Mulligan), as the movie begins she explains she has been a 'carer' for 8 years now as she looks through glass at a man on an operating table. She goes on to tell the story of Tommy (Andrew Garfield), Ruth (Kiera Knightley) and herself. The story begins with the three of them as kids at Halsham House a seemingly idyllic boarding school that has . Kathy falls in love with Tommy but before she can let him know he enters into a relationship with Ruth. When they turn 18 they leave Halsham to live at the cottages, a collection of secluded farm houses where the clones from various schools around the country live while they wait to give their first donations. It's at the cottages where they first hear about the possibility of having the first donation deferred for couples who can prove they are in love and also where the relationship between the three deteriorates to the point where Kathy decides to leave to become a carer. 

While she is with one of her donors at the hospital she notices that Ruth is there and goes to visit her, this leads to a reunion between the three friends with Kathy being the only one who is yet 
to make a donation. Ruth apologizes to them and asks for forgiveness for keeping them apart, in an effort to make up for it she found out the name of the person who you are supposed to go to to request a deferral and advises them to seek one so they can finally be together. This proves to be Ruth's final act as she completes soon after. Kathy and Tommy go in search of a deferral only to find out there is no such thing and the patient Kathy is looking at through the glass at the beginning of the movie is Tommy.

Director Mark Romanek's adaptation of the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro works amazingly well on the big screen. His often haunting imagery combined with the unique, almost bleak, color palette used in the movie combine to really portray the emotional disconnect captured by the book. The sad, cold feeling portrayed by the lack of primary colors in his palette plays beautifully with the bleak lives the characters are forced to lead and allow us to identify with them regardless. The actors also put in sublime performances capturing the naivety you would expect from people raised to never experience the world as we know it.  

Directed by: Mark Romanek
Written by: Kazuo Ishiguro (book) and Alex Garland (screen play)
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield.
Distributed by: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Website: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/neverletmego