“Wish Upon” – a drinking game waiting to happen.

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Denise
Sometimes I’m too lazy for a full-out piece. Sometimes everything I’ve got to say about a film can be summarized in a sentence or two. Sometimes it’s both. So herewith, a quick-n-dirty on…Wish Upon!

Nutshell: It’s fun when a horror movie gets you to laugh because it’s funny on purpose.  Not so much when a tired bunch of creators toss out a film that’s so poorly conceptualized that laughter comes along when it really shouldn’t.  Perhaps this could be a great drinking game film, but right now this tired mess of jump-scares and overused cliches just doesn’t jell.  Points for not punking out at the end, and for casting actors I enjoy. Which are the only two reasons why this film gets more than a shrug from me. Grade: D Continue reading →

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“War for the Planet of the Apes” is the APE-x of this series

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Denise

Nutshell: Literally awe-inspiring.  Director Matt Reeves and an incredibly talented group of motion capture and live action performers deliver a meditation on what it means to be human…and how humanity isn’t something you’re born with by simple genetics, but something hard won every single day. Grade: A

“BAD APE! Bad ape.”

Story: Fifteen years after Rise, genetically enhanced intelligent chimpanzee Cesar and his followers hope that peace can be found in the wilderness.  Sadly, humans – with a fanatical Army officer with a “Kill all Kongs” mentality at the forefront – have other ideas.  When Cesar’s group is brought low, he must decide what’s best for those under his protection. Continue reading →

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: “Dunkirk”!

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Denise

I love historical dramas.  Feels like I’m getting entertainment and knowledge all in one go.  (Or better still, I leave the theater wanting to know even more about the historical events shown in the film!) So why not watch Dunkirk, a film about Allied troops in WWII with no way out…except help from home. Synopsis!

From filmmaker Christopher Nolan (“Interstellar,” “Inception,” “The Dark Knight” Trilogy) comes the epic action thriller “Dunkirk.” Nolan directed “Dunkirk” from his own original screenplay, utilizing a mixture of IMAX® and 65mm film to bring the story to the screen. “Dunkirk” opens as hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops are surrounded by enemy forces.  Trapped on the beach with their backs to the sea they face an impossible situation as the enemy closes in.

Well then, what are you waiting for? Storm the beaches!

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Con News: SPX announces special guests for SPX 2017!

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Denise

I absolutely adore the Small Press Expo.  Not only is it a great way to get your hands on tons of incredible indie comics while chatting away with their creators, but the panels are outstanding.  Not to mention the great crowd of fans that attend, making SPX feel more like a meeting of friends than a con.  A huge meeting of friends, but friends nonetheless.

I even attended last year…but sadly illness hit before I could post about anything.  (MUCH love to the incredible, hilarious and extremely gifted Keith Knight and his They Shoot Black People Don’t They? presentation, which should be required viewing for anyone, comic book lover or no!)

This year looks like a great crop o’ guests as well, including Jillian Tamaki (Skim), Eisner and Ignatz-award winner Eleanor Davis (How to be Happy), Ignatz-award winner Tillie Walden (Spinning), Matt Wuerker (Politico.com), and so many more!

Read on for the full details!

Continue reading →

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“Guardians of the Galaxy” Blu-ray release date announced!

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Denise

Because I can’t get enough of this poster. EVER.

Hey there fellow Groot aficionados!  Marvel Studios has announced the official release date for the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Digital copies and Blu-rays!

Nutshell: digital copies will be available starting August 8th, and the whole lovely Ultra HD/Blu-ray editions will hit stores August 22nd.

So for folks hoping for MOAR MARVEL before Thor: Ragnarok hits theaters in November?  Tada, y’all!

Read on for the full 411!

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Con News: the comic book “Ringo Awards” jury announced!

Posted on July 11, 2017 by Denise

There’s a new awards kid in town.  And I’m really digging the name. It’s the Ringo Awards, and these awards were created to celebrate ” the creativity, skill, and fun of comics.”  And who isn’t down for that?

The awards will be presented on Saturday, September 23, 2017 during the Baltimore Comic-Con.  And the list of judges look pretty darn impressive.

Think you’ve got a great idea for a nomination?  Submit, submit, submit!  Deadline is July 18th, so get ’em out there…

Read on for all the info!

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Blu-ray Giveaway: “The Fate of the Furious”!

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Denise

Ready to strap in and get your speed on?  Well, I’ve got Blu-ray copies of The Fate of the Furious, and I’m ready to give ’em away. Synopsis!

On the heels of 2015’s Furious 7, one of the fastest movies to $1B worldwide in box-office history and the sixth-biggest global title of all time, comes the newest chapter in one of the most popular and enduring motion-picture serials of all time: The Fate of the Furious.

Now that Dom and Letty are on their honeymoon and Brian and Mia have retired from the game – and the rest of the crew has been exonerated – the globetrotting team has found a semblance of a normal life. But when a mysterious woman (Oscar winner Charlize Theron) seduces Dom into the world of crime he can’t seem to escape and a betrayal of those closest to him, they will face trials that will test them as never before.

From the shores of Cuba and the streets of New York City to the icy plains off the artic Barents Sea, our elite force will crisscross the globe to stop an anarchist from unleashing chaos on the world’s stage…and to bring home the man who made them a family.

This series is pretty darn good, and I say that as someone who barely knows how to check the oil in my car.  Ready to get your hands on a copy of Furious?  Let’s go!

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Con News: LYNDA CARTER comes to Baltimore Comic-Con! One Night Only!

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Denise

Holy cow – Wonder Woman is coming to Baltimore Comic-Con!

Okay, it’s really Lynda Carter, the woman who brought Wonder Woman to life on TV.  But just as awesome, right?  And did you know she’s an incredible singer too?  Yes indeedy – and she’ll be at Baltimore Comic-Con on Friday, September 22nd, 2017 for a one-night-only one woman show!

Seriously, if you’re interested, snap up tickets now.  I’m sure this will be a huge event during BCC.

Read on for full details!

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets”!

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Denise

What up, my genre films people?  I’ve been intrigued by Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets for a while now y’all. (#LUCBESSON) So I’m stoked that I’ve got passes for the Baltimore screening!  Synopsis!

In the 28th century, special operatives Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline work together to maintain order throughout the human territories. Under assignment from the minister of defense, the duo embarks on a mission to Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis where diverse species gather to share knowledge and culture. When a dark force threatens the peaceful city, Valerian and Laureline must race against time to identify the menace that also jeopardizes the future of the universe.

Ready to suit up and head into space?  I know it!  Let’s go! Continue reading →

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Elsewhere Review: three summery beers for Green Man Review

Posted on July 9, 2017 by Denise
I like beer.  Oh sure; I prefer dark pours like porters and stouts.  But I like beer.  Lovely, lovely beer.  So enjoy these reviews from GMR, and find the full reviews at their hyperlinks!

Flying Dog Family Tree

I tend to have a huge Sad when the weather starts getting warmer.  Not because it’s gardening season; I love fresh vegetables and the inevitable cauldron of walnut pistou served up in the kitchen (try it slathered on Cook’s sourdough.  Delicious!) But because my beloved stouts and porters typically get tossed aside by local pubs and alehouses.  So I sniff around for beers with a lighter touch.  Which brings me to this particular pint; Family Tree.

This Belgian style Pale Ale is definitely on the hoppy side, but not in an overkill kinda way.  In fact, there’s a nice malt to it, with a decided lack of bitterness that typically turns me off from the usual Belgians. Oh, there’s a hint o’ bitter here, but it’s in a faint ESB kinda way, rather than an overly yeasty grabs-you-by-the-collar invasion. This Tree is a refreshing, light pint that’s easy to drink and pairs well with all kinds of things.

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