Thursday, March 27, 2014

Tube Watch (Week of March 27th)

We are back with another round of Tube Watch.  So what were the Great Stories family and friends watching this week?  Let's see.....

Our friend Jim watched some classic pscho on a plane-type action with Turbulence, which he quite enjoyed.  Ray Liotta and Lauren Holly star in that one.  He also screened Unknown, starring Liam Neeson.  A truly awesome suspense flick!  And knowing how much Jim appreciates older films, you had to know that there was going to be something made before yours truly had a license to drive....The Purple Rose of Cairo with Mia Farrow and Jeff Daniels (under the direction of that creepy Woody Allen).

Rob, on the other hand, did not spend so much time watching movies, but did take some time to catch up on The Walking Dead, as well as attending a Game of Thrones Season Four Episode One viewing party hosted by HBO in Boston.

Marcel took in a viewing of Catching Fire, the second Hunger Games movie, and claims that it is far and away a better movie than the first!

Chris risked life and limb by starting a new (to him) series from A&E called Bates Motel starring Vera Farmiga as Norma Bates and Freddie Highmore as the young version of the character made famous in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho.  Only one episode in, but it has him hooked for more, much to Melissa's Chagrin.  He also watched a very dull 1996 frontier adventure movie called The North Star, starring Christopher Lambert, James Caan, and Catherine McCormack, about a Native American who attempts to lay claim to a goldmine owned by an immoral land baron in Nome, Alaska in the gold rush of the 1800's.

Melissa and Chris both took a 2012 movie called Lawless (starring Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, and Guy Pearce), about backwoods moonshine runners and dirty cops during prohibition.  Not a bad flick.  She also caught up on more Lost Season Three episodes....who doesn't love that show, right?

What are you watching this week?

We'll check in again next week, but would love to hear some recommendations from you!

-The Great Stories Team


Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Comic Picks of the Week (March 26, 2014)

Wondering what books are hitting the comic shelves tomorrow?  Well, as always, there are quite a few, but which will prove to be a worthy read?  I'm going with four titles this week!

Blackout #1, Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #3, Origin II #4, and The Superior Spider-Man #30.




First introduced in 2013's Dark Horse Presents #24, Blackout is the story of Scott Travers.  He has discovered a suit that lets him move through the world both unseen and untouchable within a shadow dimension.  But at what price and where did this mysterious suit come from?  Seems like a tale worthy of a read.

My second selection needs little explanation.  If you haven't watched Firefly or Serenity, then you should start there.  Although admittedly, it boggles the mind that such could be the case.  Once you've done that, grab the prior two issues of this series as well.  Serenity: Leaves on the Wind continues the story of the best crew in the 'verse about nine months after the events of the feature film.  There are also two one-shot stories out there by Dark Horse that you can hunt down.  "You can't take the sky from me."

Next up is Origin II.  First of all, the issue is packed with Adam Kubert artwork; which, in and of itself, is worth the price of admission.  Second of all, you've got more of Wolverine's backstory penned beautifully by Kieron Gillen.  Still not sold?  How about I mention Sabretooth and Sinister are involved as well.  Give it a shot.  You won't be disappointed.

Last, but by no means least is The Superior Spider-Man #30.  This is part four of the Goblin Nation Arc and everything has certainly come to a head.  Marvel is teasing the issue saying "Once this happens, it CANNOT be undone!"  Once What Happens?!?!  Guess there's only one way to find out...

Great Stories are everywhere!

~Rob


Thursday, March 20, 2014

Tube Watch (Week of March 20th)

Hi Everyone,
Just checking in to let you know what the Great Stories family have been watching at home in our living rooms and snuggled in bed.

Chris watched You're Next, a home invasion horror movie, much to his wife's chagrin.  Yes, banished to the office to watch on the PC since this movie was not sanctioned as acceptable.  LOL.  He recommends it if you are looking for a good intense movie experience.  He did happen to watch the comedy Last Vegas (with Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Robert DeNiro, and Kevin Kline), to make up for his "poor taste", with his wife.

Marcel watched Hours, starring the late Paul Walker, but claims the movie was a bit disappointing.  For a 12 year old, he has some pretty sophisticated taste in movies.  He does recommend Freebirds, the time traveling turkey movie with Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson providing voices, as well as Justice League: War (the animated DC movie).

Melissa watched the Disney animated classic Peter Pan.  Heck, anything with Tinkerbell is going to find a prominent place on her viewing list. She also continues to catch up with the rest of the world viewing Lost Season Three episodes (only the best tv show in the last couple of decades!).

Our friend and sometimes columnist Rob watched all thirteen episodes of the just released Clone Wars:  The Lost Missions as well as Perks of Being a Wallflower (drama/romance), which stars Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, and Logan Lerman.  He recommends both very highly, but what does a man who thinks Moon Knight is the greatest character in the Marvel Universe know?  ;)

And finally, our friend Jim spent his week watching lots of classics including North By Northwest (Hitchcock), My Fair Lady (Audrey Hepburn), and The Owl and the Pussycat (with Barbara Streisand).  He especially recommends North By Northwest, as one of Hitchcock's best films!  On the more recent front, he viewed Inside Lleweyn Davis, a movie about the folk music scene in 1970's era Greenwich Village, which he also recommends highly even though the lead character is a "complete jerk".  LOL.  Plainly spoken Jim!
 

What are you watching this week?

We'll check back in again in a week to let you know the next movie Chris picks that gets him ex-communicated from the bedroom once again!

-The Great Stories Team




Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Comic Pick of the Week March 19 2014

Great Stories selects.....

The Witcher #1 (Dark Horse)






Dark Horse brings graphic novel rebirth to a character born in a fantasy book series written by Andrzej Sapkowski  in the 90's (and recently translated into English!).  The comic adaptation is penned by Paul Tobin with art provided by Joe Querio, and this first of five issues sets up quite a creepy tale as our protagonist Geralt meets a hunter with a tragic history. 

This incarnation of the comic is actually the second go around for The Witcher in this medium, and we recommend you pick up a copy.  If you really enjoy it, you can then go on a true treasure hunt for the six comic series that was released between 1993-1995.  The novels, which have also been adapted into a video game series, may just shoot to the top of our reading list as well.

Great stories are everywhere!

-Chris (for the Great Stories team)

P.S.  Thanks to Rob Fossey for last week's comic pick of the week, as well as his support for my fascination with all things Greg Rucka.  ;)

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Comic Picks of the Week (March 12, 2014)

I've gotta be honest here, there wasn't a clear winner for me in this week's new comic releases.  I'm very excited to read both Dark Horse's The Star Wars #6 (of 8) and Marvel's The Superior Spider-Man #29.  However, both are in the middle of existing story arcs and it's hard to advise people to hop on mid-arc.  But, if you are looking to grab some back issues then by all means go to town!  Both stories are well told.




The Star Wars is an adaptation of George Lucas's original rough draft screenplay.  It's quite different than the Star Wars you saw on the big screen and for Star Wars fans it's a great treat to see how things might have been.  You could of course wait a few months for the trade paperback or hardcover of the collected issues.

The Superior Spider-Man is coming to an end and this issue is part 3 of 5 of the Goblin Nation story arc.  If you've been living under a rock, then you may not know that Otto Octavius is the "Superior Spider-Man."  But, good old Peter Parker will be back next month.  As things come to a head, this issue will be packed with the nefarious spiderslayers, Spider-Man 2099, The Green Goblin, and his army of henchmen all gunning for "Spider-Man".  What's an octopus in spider's clothing going to do?

To be honest though, you would do well to also hop in a time-machine and go back a week and grab a copy of Moon Knight #1.  I'm particularly fond of the Skottie Young variant.  Or, you know, you could just go to the shelf with last weeks releases if you don't have a time-machine...whatever works.  Of course, I could be somewhat biased since The Fist of Khonshu ranks up there with a certain webhead on my list of personal favorites.  The truth is that this really should have been the pick of the week last week if someone around here didn't have a giant man-crush on a certain Punisher storyteller...




Great Stories are everywhere!

~Rob

Friday, March 7, 2014

Fresh Popped Corn: March 2014 Movie Trailers

Once per month, we will be taking a look at movies released for the upcoming month, and telling our readers where we would be spending our movie dollars each week, based on the look of the trailers.  Links to the chosen trailers will be provided so you can see just what we are so excited about.  Movie release dates are subject to change.

March 7th
The first week of March begins with the sequel to a big box office blockbuster, 300: Rise of an Empire, which will surely bring in another huge take.  For the kids, we have Mr. Peabody & Sherman starring the voice talents of Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Stephen Colbert, and Allison Janney.  The big question is if their target audience will connect with characters originating from the 1950's?  The Grand Budapest Hotel starring Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law, Bill Murray, and many others in this ensemble cast looks to be an entertaining look at a renowned concierge who takes a young man under his wing at a five star hotel between the two world wars.  Face of Love stars Ed Harris as the uncanny look-alike of a widow's (Annette Benning) husband and the effects of their love affair.  Robin Williams is in support here.  Grand Piano seems to be a thriller with tons of potential starring Elijah Wood as an emotionally fragile master pianist who is tormented by a very sinister John Cusack.  Also in that thriller vein is In Fear, which is a film about a young couple who get lost in the wooded backroads on their way to a hotel getaway and are tracked by a menacing threat.  Iain DeCaestecker (Marvel's Agents of Shield) and Alice Englert star.  Some really good candidates for a night out at the theater amongst this group, and with their being two winners, we will give you two trailers.  Here are Face of Love and Grand Piano for your viewing pleasure!




March 14th
The second week of the month has the video game turned movie Need for Speed, starring Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, and Imogen Poots.  Looks more like Fast & Furious Part 14 to us!   Tyler Perry's The Single Mom's Club will get the housewives out to the theaters with their girlfriends, but you can count the Great Stories team out on that one (at least...as long as our wives don't make us go).  Veronica Mars, starring Kristen Bell, looks to bring the popular tv show character to the big screen.  The Art of Steal stars the great and powerful Kurt Russell!  Add in the talents of Matt Dillon, Jay Baruchel, stuntmen in need of big paydays, grand criminal schemes, and you pretty much have all the info you need on that one.  Bad Words takes Jason Bateman on another inappropriate comedic journey....this time as a man who travels around to beat little kids in spelling bees by gaining entry on a technicality (him not having graduated from 8th grade).  Enemy looks like a mind-warp with Jake Gylenhaal running afoul of his doppleganger and becoming obsessed with finding out more at his peril.  Patrick: Evil Awakens looks like pure grade c horror fare from the UK as a comatose hospital patient with a supernatural abilities.  And The Right Kind of Wrong is a comedic drama about the tragic subject of a woman's blog that goes mainstream as he suffers the indignity of his life exposed but then re-focuses his life in an ill-advised pursuit of a recently married neighbor.  There is only one movie seemingly worth dropping the full movie ticket price...and that is Enemy.  Check out the creepy trailer below!



March 21st
Week number three presents Divergent, starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, and Jai Courtney.  A movie about a futuristic world broken into virtue classes, and a movement to destroy those who are special (divergent).  Muppets Most Wanted finds our childhood legends embroiled in a jewel heist while on tour in Europe.  Bring the kiddies and the popcorn!  Anita is a biopic about the Clarence Thomas hearings before congress and the woman at the center of the controversy.  Maladies stars James Franco as a maladjusted soap opera writer in this quirky comedy.  McCanick features David Morse as a narcotics detective on the hunt for a low level criminal who knows information on a cop's past.  Brandon Routh, Mike Vogel, and Rachel Nichols co-star. Nymphomaniac Volume One is a Lars Von Trier film (first of two volumes) that recounts a woman's stories of deviance retold to a man who saves her life.  Huge ensemble cast featuring the likes of Shia LaBeouf, Stellan Skarsguard, Uma Thurman, Christian Slater and many more, but the subject matter may be an acquired taste.  Rob the Mob is a criminal heist movie about a bunch of nobodies who decide to make it big by ripping off...you guessed it...the mob.  But our pick of the week is going to be Blood Ties starring Clive Owen....this guy needs a bounce back film.  Hopefully this is it!



March 28th
We finish out the month with the Biblical epic Noah, starring Russell Crowe.  We hear that as part of the promotion for the film, the leading man actually met with the Pope to try and get his endorsement.  Not sure how that turned out, but the movie seems to take some liberties with the history presented in the Good book.  We expect bigger box office for this one than the recent Son of God, however.  Sabotage stars Schwarzenegger and Terence Howard as DEA guys being hunted by a dangerous cartel.  The Boys of Abu Ghraib is a re-telling of the scandalous military prison in Iraq run by American soldiers during the recent occupation starring Sean Astin and Luke Moran.  Breathe In features Guy Pearce as the patriarch of a host family to an attractive European student who turns the family on end following her arrival.  And Michael Pena stars in Cesar Chavez as the hero from the streets in this biopic about the labor organizer.  Rosario Dawson co-stars.  It's a tough one, once again, this week!  Noah and Sabotage make this one a toss-up and depending on your tastes, we don't think you can go wrong with either one based on the trailers.  Check them out!





That is it for another edition of Fresh Popped Corn.  Coming up next on the blog are reviews for graphic novel Robot God Akamatsu with art and words from our friend James Biggie, as well as Jim and Chris' picks for top comedies in an April Fool's edition of The Honor Roll.  See you back here soon!

The Great Stories Team

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Comic Pick of the Week March 5 2014

Great Stories selects.......

Veil #1 (Dark Horse)



A new brand of horror comic from the mind of Greg Rucka and illustrated by Toni Fejzula.  A young woman of unknown origin awakes in a subway station naked and alone amidst a sea of vermin.  As she makes her way into the world we know, she is immediately confronted with the best and worst of our society.  But Veil, as she is named, is not as helpless and vulnerable as she seems.

As we became familiar with Greg Rucka's writing through Punisher and later through his wonderful creation, Lazarus, it is quite apparent that he has a talent for writing strong female characters.  More evidence can be found in his two Whiteout graphic novels.  Veil seems to be no exception, and if horror graphic fiction is your cup of proverbial tea, then we encourage you jump aboard for this tale and see what twisted paths Mr. Rucka has planned!

Great Stories are everywhere!

-Chris (for the Great Stories team)