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E. A Solinas reviewed:
Kill Bill - Volumes 1 & 2 [Blu-ray]
 She is gonna kill Bill, June 30, 2008 Sounds like a bad idea, especially since few in Hollywood can acknowledge that viewers have the attention span to cope with an ongoing storyline. But director Quentin Tarantino finally gets to show the world his epic two-part salute to homages, with buckets of gore, lots of flashing swords, and a wildly, entertainingly improbable action. Tragedy strikes the Bride (Uma Thurman) on her wedding day: The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (DiVAS) attacks and slaughters the guests, the groom, and wounds the very pregnant Bride herself. Her former boss/lover Bill (David Carradine) finishes the bloodbath by shooting the Bride in the head. But despite his best efforts, she isn't dead. A few years later, the Bride wakes to find that she has been in a coma for a few years, she's obviously no longer pregnant, and has been being used as a sex toy for rent. Lovely people she knows. After recovering enough to move, the Bride gets a sword sharp enough to "cut God," and goes on a revenge spree against the people who wrecked her life and killed her baby, including Cottonmouth (Vivica A. Fox) and the deadly O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu). Needless to say, she also is happy to cut down anyone who tries to stop her. In part two of "Kill Bill," the Bride continues working her way up the list of betrayers/former compatriots, including the vicious one-eyed Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah). And she won't stop until she gets to Bill himself, with the intent of getting revenge. But a monkey wrench is thrown into the Bride's revenge plans when she learns the truth about her baby and whether it died, and her conflict with Bill... Don't expect cinematic posturing and futile attempts at artiness from these two movies -- or rather, this one movie split in half. "Kill Bill" is cinematic pop art, a loving tribute to cheesy martial-arts flicks and westerns. It's pure homage, untainted by typical directing methods and immensely entertaining if you switch off your critical faculties, and make sure to refrain from asking "How the heck could that happen?" It also isn't for the weak of stomach; over 450 gallons of fake blood are used in both movies. But the blood usage is more "Monty Python" than "Braveheart": it's so over-the-top that it's gloriously sick rather than disturbing. So is the violence -- hacking dozens of people down and chopping off limbs without getting so much as a scrape is impossible, but it's sure fun to watch. But though the first half is a stylized revengefest, it's not all gore, gouged eyes and severed limbs. In between gory killings (Elle Driver's duel is the worst), the second half of the full movie is more character and dialogue-driven, and explores the pasts of the DIVAS and how the Bride became a superfighter. Additionally, Tarantino throws some brilliantly straight-faced one-liners like "Those of you lucky enough to have your lives take them with you. However, leave the limbs you've lost. They belong to me now." Uma Thurman, with her yellow tracksuit and katana, rules the screen as the Bride (name revealed in the second half, but she'll ALWAYS be "The Bride"). She cuts down people by the dozen, but it's impossible not to appreciate her iron-clad will. And the best supporting performances come from Liu as the ruthless O-Ren, the still-underrated Chiaki Kuriyama as an evil schoolgirl, and most importantly, Carradine as the quiet, ruthless Bill -- a primo performance. Sadly this is just the movies themselves on blu-ray, rather than the long-awaited "Whole Bloody Affair" -- both films together and uncut -- that is inexplicably being held back from US audiences. But at least all that color, blood and action is going to be in blu-ray definition. It's weird, it's creepy, it's brilliant, and somehow it's vastly entertaining. Tarantino's special triumph in "Kill Bill -- the Whole Bloody Affair" is to somehow rope his vast store of movie homages into a gory, action-packed storyline, and one that is one big bloody thrill. |
| June 30, 2008 |
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Donald Mitchell reviewed:
The Narrows (Harry Bosch) by Michael Connelly
| Getting Away with Murder . . . But Craving an Audience, June 30, 2008 Harry Bosch had worked homicide with LAPD for what seemed like a lifetime until he resigned after much frustration with police politics in City of Bones. Now, Harry is a private detective with a lot of time on his hands. Harry's life has a new direction after learning at the end of Lost Light that he is the father of four-year-old Maddie by his ex-wife, Eleanor Wish. Eleanor enjoys earning a living as a high-stakes poker player in Las Vegas, and doesn't enjoy Harry's company all that much. Harry is trying to split his time between LA and Lost Wages, but is feeling drawn to the southwest more and more. Harry stumbles into the serial murder investigation after looking into the suspicious death of an ex-partner whose heart medicine was tampered with. Naturally, the FBI wants him out of their hair . . . but Harry is always at least one step ahead of them. With a clever killer tweaking their curiosity, can Harry hope to survive between the twin anvils of a deadly murderer and the heavy-handed bureaucracy? Because of the serial killing aspect, the book has a pace and beat that aren't always present in the Harry Bosch novels. This story built up nicely into an exciting ending that made this book qualify more as a thriller than as a detective story. I haven't read The Poet, and I followed this story just fine. I have no idea how you will feel about this book if you did or didn't like The Poet. Very nice! |
| June 30, 2008 |
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Donald Mitchell reviewed:
Lost Light (Harry Bosch) by Michael Connelly
 Policing Cold Cases without a Badge, June 30, 2008 You can quit the force, but can you get it out of your blood? Clearly not based on this excellent novel about a retired Harry Bosch seeking justice for a murdered woman. But can you at least get away from the police politics? Maybe so. Maybe not. Why can't Harry leave a cold case alone? The dead woman's hands were "directed upward from her head, as if she were reaching out to someone, almost beseechingly, begging for something. They looked like the hands from a Renaissance painting, like the hands of the damned reaching heavenward for forgiveness. In my life I have worked almost a thousand homicides and no positioning of a fallen body ever gave me such pause." The advantage of being retired is that you have plenty of time to work on one cold case. The disadvantage is that no one has to help you. Harry Bosch always finds a way, driven by the cruel memory of the dead Angella Benton. One thing connects to another, and soon Harry is seeing that appearances may be deceiving . . . and intended to fool the casual observer. Then Harry steps his foot into something very delicate, the heavy feet come down on him. Harry doesn't like it, and he's more determined than ever to get to the bottom of the murder. Opportunity, motive, and alibi all turn out to be important to solving the crime. But Harry also notices some things that don't add up . . . but doesn't draw the right conclusions until the end of the book where you and he are in for a big surprise. This is one of the better Harry Bosch stories, and it marks new ground for the series. |
| June 30, 2008 |
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Donald Mitchell reviewed:
Lost Light (Harry Bosch) by Michael Connelly
| Policing Cold Cases without a Badge, June 30, 2008 Why can't Harry leave a cold case alone? The dead woman's hands were "directed upward from her head, as if she were reaching out to someone, almost beseechingly, begging for something. They looked like the hands from a Renaissance painting, like the hands of the damned reaching heavenward for forgiveness. In my life I have worked almost a thousand homicides and no positioning of a fallen body ever gave me such pause." The advantage of being retired is that you have plenty of time to work on one cold case. The disadvantage is that no one has to help you. Harry Bosch always finds a way, driven by the cruel memory of the dead Angella Benton. One thing connects to another, and soon Harry is seeing that appearances may be deceiving . . . and intended to fool the casual observer. Then Harry steps his foot into something very delicate, the heavy feet come down on him. Harry doesn't like it, and he's more determined than ever to get to the bottom of the murder. Opportunity, motive, and alibi all turn out to be important to solving the crime. But Harry also notices some things that don't add up . . . but doesn't draw the right conclusions until the end of the book where you and he are in for a big surprise. This is one of the better Harry Bosch stories, and it marks new ground for the series. |
| June 30, 2008 |
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N. Durham reviewed:
Guitar Hero Aerosmith Xbox 360 by Activision Inc.
 Aerosmith flavored Guitar Hero that doesn't offer much, June 30, 2008 Fun: Since Activision and Neversoft took control of the Guitar Hero franchise, we've been getting a steady stream of sequels and spin-off's, with Guitar Hero: Aerosmith being the latest game in the series. Featuring a pretty good collection of songs spanning Aerosmith's long career, you'll find that besides adding the Aerosmith-themed presentation, the game itself is basically identical to Guitar Hero III. This isn't really a bad thing, but considering this is a full-priced game, it would have been nice if there would have been a little more overall variations. The track list here is quite good though, with even some bonus tracks from Joe Perry's Joe Perry Project to find and play too, along with some bonus interviews with the band. Where the game falters however is that there isn't going to be any downloadable content, meaning that once you get through the game, there isn't much reason to go back to it. Getting through the game isn't that much of a challenge either if you're a Guitar Hero veteran, as the game proves to be not all that difficult compared to previous Guitar Hero games. It should also go without saying that if you aren't a fan of Aerosmith, this probably isn't for you. All in all, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith is an enjoyable diversion that fans of the band will get a lot of enjoyment out of for a while, but in the end, the game doesn't offer enough bang for your buck. |
| June 30, 2008 |
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Donald Mitchell reviewed:
City of Bones (Harry Bosch) by Michael Connelly
| Harry Sees Monsters Everywhere, June 30, 2008 As the story opens, it's the end of the year . . . a sad time for depressed people and two taxpayers take the quick way out. A call to Laurel Canyon reveals a bone that proves to be human, which also leads to a horrifying case of abuse. In searching for the rest of the skeleton, Harry is repulsed by the coroner's fixation on fame and glitter. He is refreshed to meet a mid-thirties rookie cop, Julia Brasher, who likes his style. The investigation is quickly compromised by someone wanting to curry favor with a television journalist, with dreadful consequences. Harry is, as usual, annoying the downtown people who care more about their image than justice. More mistakes occur, and more harm is done. Clearly, the lesson is that it's dangerous to turn the police loose on crime. If I could re-title the book, I would call it "People are never what they seem." You'll get more than your share of surprises in the book which is best appreciated as a deep character study. For those who like action, linear progress, and a taut plot, City of Bones will be frustrating: This book is more like the sort of "why do I bother?" soliloquy that most of us conduct in our heads from time to time. The investigating mistakes that Harry makes can be seen clearly if you read carefully: He's clearly not in a lucid state of mind. Exploring the sources and consequences of that displaced perception is the core of this novel. The noir parts of the story are well wrought. I especially liked the theme of peoples' bones being picked clean by the denizens of Hollywood. The reference to piranhas was quite effective. |
| June 30, 2008 |
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N. Durham reviewed:
The Zombie: Simon Garth TPB (The Zombie) by Kyle Hotz
| Better than the first Zombie MAX tale, June 30, 2008 |
| June 30, 2008 |
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N. Durham reviewed:
Space Invaders Extreme by Square Enix
| Proving that you can teach an old dog some new tricks, June 30, 2008 Fun: Space Invaders was a little before my time, which may be why I've never had a great time playing the original game. Space Invaders Extreme however proves that you can teach an old dog new tricks though, giving the classic shooter a new coat of paint that works surprisingly well. Celebrating it's 30th anniversary, the core gameplay of Space Invaders remains basically the same, but now the enemies you shoot have new powers and abilities, and each level ends with a great boss battle to boot. The game has a pseudo-psychedelic look to it that suits it well, and there's even a bit of strategy involved in taking out the baddies. What makes Space Invaders Extreme a real keeper however is the game's local and online multiplayer modes, which are a sheer blast, and sharing your scores via the online leaderboards is an added bonus. The only real flaw about Space Invaders Extreme is that the game is short, very short. Once you master the game, you'll get through it pretty quickly, but trying to top your high score is reason enough to revisit the game as well. All in all, Space Invaders Extreme is a worthy update of a classic that is definitely worth your time, and the bargain price tag only sweetens the overall package. |
| June 30, 2008 |
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Gail Cooke reviewed:
Lessons of a Lipstick Queen: Finding and Developing the Great Idea that Can Change Your Life by Poppy King
| ENCOURAGING AND EMPOWERING, June 29, 2008 When she graduated from high school in Australia (not too many years ago), Poppy didn't seem to have much of a future. Her grades had not been outstanding; she didn't really excel in any field. What she did have was a desire for something which eventually became an idea - an idea that grew into a multimillion dollar company. Within three years of her high school graduation Poppy headed the company that produced her own lipstick brand, Poppy Industries. She had sold her product to Barney's, and in 1995 was named one of the "Global Leaders of the New Millennium" by Time magazine. Not bad for a young woman with a lackluster future! She accomplished all of this by dint of energy, enthusiasm, and a firm belief that she could do it. She shares her path to success, including setbacks and roadblocks, in "Lessons of A Lipstick Queen." As Poppy says, "I have taken everything that I have learned and plotted it out to show you how you, too, have what it takes. You can find, explore, and make any idea happen." "Plotted it out" she has in 12 chapters, beginning with "You Already Have Ideas" in which she shows us to recognize the ideas that all of us have, and concluding with"Keep the Flame Alive," reminding us, among other things, that the customer is always right, and that our workers are treasure troves of ideas. A motivational story at heart Lessons of A Lipstick Queen is geared to bringing out the entrepreneur in each of us. - Gail Cooke |
| June 29, 2008 |
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Harriet Klausner reviewed:
The Midnight Eye Files: The Sirens by William Meikle
| enjoyable investigative urban fantasy, June 29, 2008 On Skye, Derek visits the Auld Kelpie Inn, but his questions are met with cold angry silence. He soon learns that John's relatives work and drink here; they resent strangers asking questions about him. However, his inquiry soon leads Derek to John, who is under the enchantment of a Kelpie; fathering her children. John needs to go home for his father's funeral, but though he cannot fathom why, John's cousins will not allow this to happen, but Derek helps him to escape. However, in Glasgow, all hell has broken loose, which sends police officers to question Derek; who now must wonder what he wrought when he brought the cursed John home. The second Midnight Eyes File case is an enjoyable investigative urban fantasy. The story line is fast-paced although somewhat disrupted with flashbacks including post traumatic stress disorder still suffered by the hero from his first book escapades. The Norse mythos that serves as the key fantasy element is cleverly designed so that the cops and the private detective must look into it; though the former are skeptical and the latter still recovering from his previous paranormal sleuthing. Sub-genre readers will relish the SIRENS and like this reviewer will seek a copy of THE AMULET; as William Meikle provides an entertaining paranormal investigative tale. Harriet Klausner |
| June 29, 2008 |
