Comic Flashback: Chase #1 (1998)

Among the vast ocean of crappy 90s comics, there are few titles I could call “underrated.” But without a doubt, one of these underrated 90s comics is the short-lived DC Comics series named Chase.

Chase #1
February 1998
“Baptized in Fire”
Story: D. Curtis Johnson
Penciller: J.H. Williams III
Inker: Mick Gray
Colors/Separations: Lee Loughridge
Lettering: Comicraft
Associate Editor: Dana Kurtin
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50
Publisher: DC Comics

The issue opens in Daily, Ohio at a local junior high school where we meet your typical nerdy kid named Jerry Harris. The story doesn’t tell us much about Jerry other than has a massive crush on a classmate named Amy. Unfortunately, Amy’s jock of a boyfriend, Chad, catches Jerry sneakin’ a peek at his girl. Chad decides to make poor Jerry his new punching bag, but just before the punches started to fly, young Jerry’s Meta-Gene activates.

The scene shifts to New York City, where DEO Agent Cameron Chase is running late for her first day on the job. Once she’s at the office, Chase runs into DEO Field Personnel Manager, Sandy Barrett who informs her about the odd happenings in Ohio. Shortly thereafter, Chase is flying to Ohio to investigate.

While in the air, Chase looks over some information Sandy brought with her and is shocked to learn that the DEO is working with schools, altering tests to find out which kids might have a Meta-Gene.
When the two arrive at the Junior High, they check the student list and ask a Sheriff if anyone on it is missing. And wouldn’t you know it, Jerry Harris is the only one not in attendance.

Based on the scene, Chase concludes that Jerry is very likely pyrokinetic and is probably confused by what’s going on. Chase and Barrett conduct some interviews with Jerry’s classmates. During one interview we learn that Chad survived the blast, but is now in critical condition. He’es blind and much of his body has third-degree burns. Later that night, Jerry Harris is found in town. But when Chase, Barrett, and the police show up, Jerry lights up again.

Before Chase can get a shot in, Jerry flees and ends up falling into a pond for some reason. Jerry is taken into custody and on the ride back Chase makes him an offer he can’t refuse: She will send him somewhere where he can learn to control his powers. Jerry agrees to the deal because if he becomes a superhero, Amy might finally talk to him.

Later Chase says she doesn’t feel it’s a good idea to “reward” a kid after he nearly killed a classmate. Barrett asks her if she’d rather have the super-powered teen grow up to be one of the good guys or one of the bad guys. But what happens when the town’s folks show up with their torches and pitchforks to kill Jerry? Ah, you have to read Chase #1 to find out!

From what I remember, Chase was a book that had a lot of buzzes before it launched. The character of Cameron Chase debuted in the Batman books, which quickly made her stand out. But for whatever reason, the buzz surrounding her didn’t follow her to her solo book. And after re-reading Chase #1 for the first time in over 20 years, I can’t figure out why, because this book is fantastic!

Even if you didn’t read her Batman appearance, Chase #1 tells you everything you need to know about the main character. Writer D. Curtis Johnson makes it clear who Cameron Chase i, where she lives, and what she does for a living. Johnson also smartly made her thew reader’s point of view character. Doing this allowed us to experience her first day at work with her. When Chase learns something, we learn something which makes for fun reading.

There are some great moments in this issue too. I liked how on her way to work Chase sees Kyle Rayner (Green Lantern) flying through the city. It’s a small cameo, but it was cool seeing a DC hero simply going about his business while life goes on normally down below. But maybe my favorite part of Chase #1 is the school interviews. This is probably the most entertaining sequence in the book thanks to D.Curtis Johnson’s dialogue. I won’t say the interviews are as perfect as the Oberon interviews in Justice League International #24, but they’re still quite entertaining.

One of the highlights of Chase #1 is the art by J.H. Williams III. Chase may have been his first regular gig in comics, I’m not sure. But his style was certainly different from anything on the stands at the time. His art here is stunning, and it’s no wonder Williams would go on to superstardom on books like Promethea and Batwoman, but his work on Chase will always be a personal favorite.

As I said earlier Chase didn’t do well and was canceled far too soon. I think part of the problem is DC didn’t go as far with the concept as they should have. Chase should have been a Vertigo book that examined the ugly side of the DC universe. In hindsight, Chase could have been what Alias was for Marvel a few years later, but sadly the book never got a chance to spread its wings.

Overall though, Chase #1 is a wonderful book, well worth tracking down. The entire series is worth reading and I’m sure its cheap to find. I seem to remember DC publishing a collection, but I’m not sure if it’s still in print or not. Regardless the single issues should be easy to find online, so go find them and enjoy this hidden gem of the 90s!

Movie Flashback: Jaws the Revenge (1987)

Many movie fans have fond memories of the original “Jaws” film. The 1975 film put director Steven Spielberg on the map, and its widely considered to be the first true summer blockbuster. Unfortunately, my mother wouldn’t let me watch the original movie or any of its sequels when I was young, so my introduction to the franchise came in the form of “Jaws the Revenge.”

Go ahead and laugh, it’s okay.

But wait a minute! If my mother wouldn’t let me watch any of the Jaws movies as a kid, then how did I watch “Jaws the Revenge” you ask? Well, it just so happened that my mother went on a week-long business trip, and one morning the movie came on HBO or Showtime (I can’t remember which). I knew Revenge wasn’t the classic movie, but I didn’t care. At long last, I was going to see a Jaws movie in all its glory, and that was all that mattered at the time. Unfortunately, as everyone knows “Jaws the Revenge” is a horrible movie.

I was only 8 or 9 when I saw “Jaws the Revenge,” but right from the beginning, I knew something was off. One of the first shots in the movie is a POV from the shark’s perspective. Now, I’m certainly no shark expert, but even at that age, I knew that POV on the screen couldn’t possibly come from a shark. But that was quickly forgotten when some police deputy on a boat got his arm ripped off by the shark. This scene is made to be dramatic and scary, but I found the amount of blood and fake arm funny more than anything. I also found it hard to believe that when the shark sinks the guy’s boat, nobody on shore heard anything.

I can’t remember what the guy’s name was, but his death was a big enough deal to bring his older brother Michael Brody (Lance Guest) and his family to the island to help his mom Ellen (Lorraine Gary) with the funeral arrangements. I think it’s said or implied that Michael hates being there because of what happened in the past, but since I hadn’t seen the other movies I was clueless as to what had happened. It could have been Michael hated the cable signal on the island for all I knew.

From there Ellen gets mad as hell and she can’t take it anymore. She flees the island saying something about hating the ocean or something. So where does Ellen move? to the Bahamas, where Michael works as a marine biologist alongside Jake (Mario Van Peebles). Once there Ellen pleads with Michael not to go into the water, which I found funny considering what he does for a living. Michael tells her not to worry because a great white shark has never been seen in warm waters. It’s like telling Neil Armstrong “Don’t get dirt on your boots” right before he stepped on the moon.

This being a cheesy movie, not long after makes the comment about great white sharks not inhabiting the area, a great white shark is seen nearby. But not just any great white shark, this is the shark from the opening scene, who made the trip from Martha’s Vineyard to the Bahamas. Upon hearing about the shark, Ellen Brody becomes convinced that the shark is following them because it wants revenge against her entire family. Her friends tell her she’s imagining things. After all, there is no way a shark could identify, follow, or even care about one individual human being.

The way people pushed aside Ellen’s feelings is pretty bad. If her family had a history with sharks, maybe her friends and family could have been more understanding. Then again, I probably would have called the looney bin later on when Ellen starts having visions of the shark attacking her loved ones. This included her son from the beginning of the film, but these visions are shown as Ellen’s memories, but the problem is she wasn’t there! So there is no possible way she could remember the shark attacking her son.

Oh yeah, I nearly forgot to mention that for some reason Michael Caine shows up as a local pilot named Hoagie Newcombe. He starts a relationship with Ellen, which doesn’t make Michael too happy. But I don’t recall if the film ever explains why Michael doesn’t like the guy. Perhaps he just doesn’t like the name, Hoagie Newcombe.

Then again, it could be that Michael was about to explain his reason when he suddenly starts running on a beach while screaming. But what makes me sad about Michael Caine being in this movie is that he had to miss accepting Academy Ward due to filming.

Anyways, I wish I could say the special effect in “Jaws the Revenge” save the movie, but they look dated even by 1980s standards. Most of the scenes featuring the shark are filmed in such a way that it is clear it’ a fake shark. Because of this, there’s very little sense of danger or mystery as the cast goes after Jabberjaw. The highlight of the film might be when in the end the shark comes out of the water and roars and Ellen, Michael, and Hoagie Newcombe. And I kid you not, for years after I thought sharks could roar because I saw it in this movie.

I don’t know if there was studio interference or if director Joseph Sargent is just bad at his job. But there were moments in “Jaws the Revenge” that look plain sloppy. Like when Michael Caine’s character goes from crash-landing his airplane in the middle of the ocean, swims to Ellen’s boat, and when he climbs on board he is completely dry. And don’t get me started on how Mario Van Peebles somehow survives being eaten by the shark.

in the end, I was shocked at how bad “Jaws the Revenge” was. It made me stay away from the rest of the series for several years. I didn’t watch the 1975 classic until it’s the twentieth anniversary in 1995. It was then that I finally understood why the first movie is still talked about as one of the best films ever. While “Jaws the Revenge” is the “Batman and Robin” of the franchise.

Long Way Up Review

Maybe it’s me, but it seems like a new streaming service launches every week. I’m already subscribed to seven or nine of them, so I had zero plans to sign up for Apple TV. But then, a few weeks ago, I saw a commercial for an Apple tv show called “Long Way Up” and I immediately knew I had to watch it.

The series stars friends actor Ewan McGregor and TV Presenter Charley Boorman. Both have been on similar adventures before in “Long Way Down” and “Long Way Round,” but I didn’t know that going in but now would like to check out. Anywho, the first episode of “Long Way Up” informs viewers that the friends drifted apart once Ewan McGregor moved to Los Angeles due to his film career. This changed a couple of years ago when he got a call letting him know that Charley was in a near-fatal bike accident.

However, if you think “Long Way Up” is a show all about motorcycles, you’re wrong. This is a show about friendship, and two old friends rekindling their relationship. The nearly fatal accident is what brought the two back together. Eventually, they decide to bring back the “good old’ days” by making a 13,000 mile, across 13 countries, from the tip of Argentina to Los Angeles… in electric motorcycles.

Something I liked about the show is how it took its time building to the 13,000-mile journey. We learn about Ewan and Charley’s past adventures, how they drifted apart and reunited. Then we see the planning of their trip as the two friends travel all over the United States and Europe to find the right equipment. And I mean everything from what type of bikes they’ll use, to what cars their support team will drive. There’s even a funny scene in which the two attempt to learn some Spanish basics. I found all of this interesting, but I have to admit I kept wondering how much this all cost because I doubt Harley Davidson donated the motorcycles the two guys use.

It was also interesting to see how emotional Ewan McGregor gets when talking about Charley’s accident. He mentions how it made him realize what’s important in life, and how he (and everyone) must do a better job at keeping friendships alive. Meanwhile, Charley’s recovery is amazing to see, and his determination to get back on a bike as soon as possible is incredible. He says, yeah I had a bad accident, but I can’t wait to get back on that bike.

But the duo’s main challenge is of course the fact that they are making this journey on fully electric bikes and vehicles. As we see during the first few episodes, this proves to be extremely difficult, at one point getting stuck in winter weather with zero charges in their bikes. While this adds drama to the series, it also gives Ewan McGregor a chance to open up to the camera. It turns out the famous actor had the same fears any of us would have if we attempted the same trip.

But maybe the best part of “Long Way Up” is seeing how many locals come to their aid. In the first couple of episodes alone see regular people letting Ewan and Charley use up all their power to charge their bikes, and even opening a small hotel to accommodate the team for the night. Normally I’d say this happened because a movie star was among them, but in most cases, I don’t think they knew who Ewan McGregor was. And in a year like 2020, it was nice to see there are a ton of good people out there. Also, it seemed like Ewan and Charley both enjoyed meeting everyone and learning about them and their home.

In my 42+ years, I’ve only been on a motorcycle twice and didn’t enjoy either time. So the world of bikes is foreign for me, but “Long Way Up” never made me feel like an outsider. You don’t have to be motorcycle enthusiast to enjoy this series, because at the end of the day “Long Way Up” is about two best friends reuniting by doing something they love.

“Long Way Up” grade: A

Homework: The Podcast episode 2

Listen up people, episode 2 of Homework: The Podcast is out now!

In this episode, long time friends Nick Jones, John Hammel, and yours truly, discuss the pop culture homework they assigned each other in the previous episode. So get ready to hear what they guys thought about:

“The End Is Always Near: Apocalyptic Moments, from the Bronze Age Collapse to Nuclear Near Misses” by Dan Carlin.

Oliver Stone’s epic (and controversial) 1991 film “JFK.”

Marvel Comics’ “Generation X” #1 (1994) by Scott Lobdell, Chris Bachalo and Mark Buckingham.

The album “Dark All Day” by the Gunship is a British band Gunship.

Season 1 of the Netflix mockumentary series “American Vandal.”

And the “Fool’s Dare” episode of the Shazam/Isis Podcast hosted by John S. Drew and Richard E. Lee.

Follow the podcast on Twitter: @hwthepod

Rise of Ultraman #1 Review

THE RISE OF ULTRAMAN #1
Writers: Kyle Higgins, Mat Groom
Artist: Francesco Manna, Michael Cho
Colorist: Espen Grundetjern
Letterer: VC’s Ariana Maher
Release Date: September 9, 2020
Cover Price: $5.99
Publisher: Marvel Comics

What it abuts…

In the darkness, there lurk Kaiju – terrifying and unfathomable monsters. Between Kaiju and the rest of us stands the United Science Patrol!
But who are these enigmatic defenders, and how do they perform their miracles? Shin Hayata and Kiki Fuji have spent half a lifetime trying to find out – and their quest is about to drive them toward a decades-old dark secret and put them on a collision course with a mysterious warrior from beyond the stars!
Kyle Higgins (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), Mat Groom (Self/Made), and Francesco Manna (AVENGERS) reimagine the classic origin of a pop culture icon as THE RISE OF ULTRAMAN begins!
Rated T+

What I thought about it…

I first discovered Ultraman as a kid in the mid-1980s and I’ve been a fan since. The original show remains my favorite, but I’ve watched some of the other shows too. The recent Netflix anime wasn’t perfect, but it had some of the Ultraman trademark moments I’ve always loved. When Marvel Comics announced this book a few months back, I was pumped! Surely Rise of Ultraman would be the return of the classic character to comics. So, how was this first issue?

Somewhat of a disappointment sadly. The story by Kyle Higgins and Mat Groom tries to cram too much information at once. The book’s first page is a splash page, but the art is obscured by thirteen (yes, thirteen!) caption boxes. However, I get why the writers did this. They have to introduce this word and cast of characters to people who are not familiar with Ultraman. But they go through so much information that I felt it slowed down the flow of the story. To make matter worse, we barely get any Ultraman, which is probably this book’s greatest sin.

The good news is that Rise of Ultraman has plenty of the stuff I’ve always enjoyed about Ultraman. In this issue, we see the United Science Patrol and their cool headquarters. We also meet one of their agents, a young woman named Fuji. She was by far my favorite character in issue #1. Fuji is a super-smart with technology and serves as the pov for readers. Based on this issue it seems like a lot of the heavy lifting in the series will be done by Fuji.

The art by Francesco Manna is solid. His style has manga influences and it fits with the world of Ultraman. There is a second story in this book featuring a page drawn by Ed McGuiness, but that made me wish he had drawn this series instead. However, I thought Manna did a terrific job in capturing the 1966 disaster that brought Ultraman to Earth. It was a nice way to kick things off and to pay homage to the legacy of the character.

I was let down by Rising of Ultraman #1, but maybe my expectations were too high. There are some good ideas here, and maybe things will improve in the next four issues. For now, though, I was left wanting more, and that’s not something you want to say after paying $5.99 for one issue.

Rise of Ultraman grade: C

Movie Flashback: Dracula 1931 (The Spanish Version)

In the early days of movies with sound (or talkies), Universal Pictures would sometimes release duplicate versions of some of their biggest films in Spanish, but also in French, Italian and German. The studio was able to make these movies on the cheap by using the same script and same sets as the A-listers, but it was all filmed at night with a whole new Spanish speaking cast and crew.

Perhaps the most famous of the Universal duplicate films is the 1931 Spanish version of “Dracula” directed by George Melford. The film used the same sets and costumes as the classic Bela Lugosi film of the same year. The Spanish version starred Carlos Villarías as Conde Drácula, Lupita Tovar as Eva Seward, Barry Norton as Juan Harker, Pablo Alvarez Rubio as Renfield, and Eduardo Arozamena as Van Helsing.

While the plot is similar to the English version, there are some changes to the script. Everything begins with solicitorRenfield traveling to Castle Dracula in Transylvania. Locals warn him against going there, telling him Count Dracula is a vampire. Renfield doesn’t believe the stories, but when he arrives at the Castle, the Count welcomes him with a drugged glass of wine and is bitten by Dracula. The now-enslaved Renfield and Dracula travel to England, where Dracula meets Dr. Seward and his family.

A woman named Lucia (Carmen Guererro) becomes the Count’s first victim in London, after which Professor Van Helsing is called in. He realizes that a vampire is in town and that Renfield is somehow involved. Later Van Helsing meets Doctor Seward’s new neighbor, Dracula, and concludes he is the vampire because he casts no reflection in the mirror. Meanwhile, Seward’s daughter Eva begins falling under Dracula’s spell and she grows weaker but also increasingly wilder. And you can guess where it goes from there.

The Spanish version of “Dracula” first came to my attention twenty years ago when a family friend who worked at a small tv station brought a copy home to watch. Unfortunately, the copy he borrowed from work was in poor shape. Quite often the dialogue was obscured by the static noises that probably came with the reel’s age. It also seemed to me that this was a copy of a copy if you know what I mean. Sometimes things were out of focus or incomplete.

However, I liked a lot of what I saw. The sets of course look amazing as do the costumes. The fact that the entire film was all shot at night makes the entire film scarier even if the tone is somewhat looser. The Spanish version also has a better flow to it, which surprising since it’s longer than Lugosi’s film. Perhaps the Spanish crew watched what their English counterparts were doing then found better ways to film certain parts. Or maybe it all came down to director George Melford (who spoke no Spanish) finding new ways to make his work different from director Tod Browning who helmed the English version.

Star Carlos Villarías didn’t have the scare factor that Bela Lugosi brought to his film, but in certain areas, Villarías surpassed Lugosi’s legendary performance. He may not be People’s Sexiest Man Alive, but I found it easier to believe women like Lucia and Eva would fall head over heeld for Villarías over Bela Lugosi. There are moments in the film where Carlos Villarías hams it up, but I think that has more to do with the way movies were made in those days rather than him chewing up the scenery.

Also, because the Spanish version was made for international markets, the filmmakers were able to take more chances. Take for example the role of Mina, played in the English language version by Helen Chandler. In the Spanish film, the character becomes Eva, played by Lupita Tovar. Mina’s necklines are high and her costumes cover her body from top to bottom. Eva’s necklines, on the other hand, are low and her costumes are more revealing, decades before they became popular in the Hammer horror films. So yeah, this movie is sexier than the Bela Lugosi classic.

Ever since I first saw this version of “Dracula,” I’ve seen it grow in popularity. The people at Universal noticed too, and have restored the film, even releasing it as an extra feature in every DVD release of the English language original. If you’re a film buff it’s fun to debate which version is better. The Bela Lugosi film will always be a classic, but the Spanish version also has its high points.

Were you to watch the films back-to-back, it’s almost impossible not to compare the show. If I had to choose a favorite one I’m not sure I could. It might depend on what kind of mood I’m in at the time. But at the end of the day both Dracula films are worth checking out. Both films turn 90 next year and they’re as good now as they were back in 1931.

Away Netflix Review

Possible spoilers ahead!

From creator Andrew Hinderaker, showrunner Jessica Goldberg (“The Path”) and producers Jason Katims (“Parenthood,” “Friday Night Lights”), Edward Zwick (“My So-Called Life”) and Matt Reeves (“The Batman”), comes the new Netflix drama “Away.” The drama series tells the story of the international crew of astronauts making mankind’s first trip to Mars and the loved ones they each left behind.

Leading the crew is Hilary Swank as Emma Green, the heroic commander of the historic mission. ISRO provides Green’s second-in-command, Air Force fighter pilot, and the mission’s medical expert, Ram Arya (Ray Panthaki). Roscosmos has leaned out Misha Popov (Mark Ivanir), their most decorated cosmonaut and by far the most experienced of the crew, as chief engineer.

Chemist Lu Wang (Vivian Wu) represents CNSA who is, by international agreement, to be the first person to step foot on Mars. Rounding out the crew is UKSA’s Dr. Kwesi Weisberg-Abban (Ato Essandoh), Ghanaian native, space rookie, and the mission’s botanist, who harbors a dream to grow plants on Mars.

Taking the mission meant Emma had to leave behind her husband Matt (Josh Charles), a NASA engineer, and teenage daughter Alexis (Talitha Bateman), who face personal difficulties with Emma gone. While in space, a series of challenges (and miscommunications) threaten the mission from the start, while each episode flashes back to reveal details about the lives of a different crew member, detailing their lives and the personal baggage they’re bringing to Mars.

As crazy as it sounds, before hitting Netflix last week, I hadn’t seen any trailers or ads for “Away.” All I knew was that two-time Oscar winner Hillary Swank was going to be in it, which I assumed meant “Away” was a movie and not a tv show. Well, I was wrong and I’m glad I was because the 10 episode season gave the story room to breath and plenty of time to develop some wonderful characters both in space and back on earth.

Something that makes the series unique is that a large part of the drama comes not from problems the crew faces in space, but from the in-fighting between them. Emma is often in conflict with veteran cosmonaut Misha (Mark Ivanir), who believes that having logged more time in space than anyone else makes him more suitable to command.

Now I’m no expert, but the way Misha treats Emma would surely get him grounded in the real world. The level of disrespect he gets away with is insane, and not, his backstory is no excuse for treating fellow astronauts this way. But at the same time, it does make for good television, like when he and Emma have to do a risky spacewalk to fix a solar panel and neither knows if they can trust the other.

Perhaps the only colleague Misha gets along with is Chinese astronaut Lu Wang (Vivian Wu). However, she also has problems with Emma, though why a problem exists is not as clear. Lu Wang often comes off as entirely detached from the real world and focused solely on her work. But she did leave behind a husband and child and has one of the series’ best subplots. The episode where her past is explored was one of my favorites of the season, and it detailed the interesting method she used to master the English language.

Considering the pressures of a three-year mission with very little guarantee of survival, this crew spends a lot of time bickering. They’re all missing the people they left behind but at the end of the day, they have the same goal: get safely to Mars and return home. And I have to say I loved having five members of vastly different cultures share a very cramped spaceship. Having each crew member come from a different country makes the mission seem like it the entire planet is involved.

Acting-wise, Hillary Swank is wonderful as Emma. At first glance, you think Emma will be bored by the book’s character, but Swank’s performance makes her a complicated character who is adjusting to being a commander and missing her husband and daughter. Despite the conflicts within her crew, Emma does care for them, but she also expects you to do your job. As good as Swank is I can’t help but think we’ve barely scratched the surface on Emma, and there is more of her to discover.

Beyond Swank’s excellent performance, one of the series’ scene stealers is Talitha Bateman as Alexis (one of my all-time favorite names name by the way). After a surprising event early on, Alexis is forced to grow up in many ways, taking control of some of the things her mother would be in charge of is she was on earth. Bateman handles the part well giving Alexis a nice mix of humor, heart, and fierceness. One of my favorite moments of the season comes when Emma realizes her daughter is acting just like her, something that her husband does not dispute.

If I have any complaints about “Away” it would be in the first episode of the season. Something happens as the crew makes their way to the moon, and throughout the episode, we are lead to believe that this incident is the root of all the problems Emma faces with the rest of the crew. However, the incident didn’t start any of the conflicts we see, it only made those who disliked Emma dislike her a bit more. I felt like this subplot was unnecessary and slowed things down too much when other subplots appeared more serious.

I’m almost certain that many people watching “Away” will compare it to the 2015s epic “The Martian.” But that’s an unfair comparison, the film is about getting and astronaut home awhile the Netflix series is about the journey these people take to Mars and the difficult road those at home are facing. When it comes to science, I think “The Martian” is set above “Away,” but what the series lacks in that area is made up of some interesting twists and subplots.

In the end “Away” is its own thing and a wonderful one at that. I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed this series considering I didn’t know anything about it. But the series has a cool premise, excellent performances from Hillary Swank and others, and it kept me engaged throughout the 10 episodes. I would definitely say this is a show worth checking out.

“Away” grade: B

Better late than never review: Greyhound

Possible spoilers ahead!

Directed by Aaron Schneider, 2020s “Greyhound” is an adaptation of the novel “The Good Shepherd” by C.S. Forester. The film stars Tom Hanks (who also wrote the film) as Ernest Krause, a seasoned Naval officer who’s granted his first command on the destroyer USS Keeling (call sign Greyhound) shortly after the U.S. enters World War II.

Krause is tasked with leading a group of Allied ships across the North Atlantic fr from air support. This means it’s up to Krause and his men to protect the vessels from attacks of German U-boats following them. As they enter the Mid-Atlantic, the Greyhound’s crew must not only battle their enemies, but also the treacherous conditions of the ocean and the exhaustion of staying on their feet as they face a non-stop barrage from the Germans during the crossing.

“Greyhound” is a movie that I was hoping to see on the big screen earlier this year, but as we all know the world went to hell, and the movie was shuffled off to Apple. Last week the wifey and I decided to sign up for Apple Tv and that’s where I finally got to see the movie over the weekend. Although I wasn’t familiar with the novel, I have to say the film adaptation impressed me in many ways. Not only is “Greyhound” visually stunning, but it’s nearly non-stop action.

First off, the filmmakers did a phenomenal job of making viewers feel like they were on the ship themselves. From the constant rocking motion, to how cold the men look as they cross the Atlantic in the middle of winter. As I said above, “Greyhound” is nearly non-stop action and I was on the edge of my seat from the moment Krause and his crew first spot a U-boat a few miles away. After that point I was as invested as the crew of the Greyhound and the more tired they got, I began to feel it too.

Acting-wise, Tom Hanks is terrific as usual. This man is one of the few actors out there who I believe in any role he’s in. Whether he’s an astronaut, Mr. Rogers, a guy named Joe, a ship captain, or anything else, Tom Hanks always manages to make me care about the person. There is no doubt in my mind that he is one of the best actors of all time.

However, “Greyhound” does have its fair share of flaws. While the action and cinematography are stunning, the movie fails is in giving us a sense of who Ernest Krause is in civilian life. There are nods to him being a man of faith (his bible is always on hand and he prays before eating anything). At the start of the film, we meet the woman he loves (Elisabeth Shue) but she is sadly wasted here with less than five minutes of screen time. Otherwise, the film struggles in giving the audience any background on Krause.

I for one would have like to know if he had been in the Navy before Pearl Harbor or if he joined right after. In some later scenes I got the feeling he was inexperienced, but this is barely touched upon so who knows for sure. Some other stuff too gets ignored like, how did he and Elisabeth Shue’s character meet, and why won’t she marry him before he ships off? These are questions the film never answers or acknowledges.

Sadly, the lack of character development also extends to the supporting cast. This is a shame given the great actors in the supporting cast. Actors like Stephen Graham, Rob Morgan, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo fight for screentime and we’re lucky if we get their character’s name and/or rank. The only member of the Greyhound crew that I felt we got to know a little bit was Rob Morgan as George Cleveland, a Mess Attendant 2nd Class. Cleveland’s main job was to make sure the captain ate, and it seemed like they had a good relationship. Unfortunately, this is never explored in the film.

Yet, despite its flaws, “Greyhound” is still a movie I would recommend. The action is incredible and never lets up. Throughout there is always a sense of danger and that there is something at stake for captain Krause and his crew. Tom Hanks delivers another powerful performance, and the movie is worth watching for that alone. In the end, I still wish I had seen “Greyhound” on the big screen because the battle scene would have looked even better.

“Greyhound” grade: B

The Boys Season 2 Review

Possible spoilers ahead!

It’s not a dream nor a hoax, “The Boys” Season 2 is finally here! Well, at least the first three episodes are. After their September 4 debut on Amazon Prime, new episodes will drop every Friday until the season finale on October 9. It’s a big change from last season, but the good news is that everything else audiences enjoyed about this raunchy, foul-mouthed take on super-heroes, remains the same.

As the new season begins, The Boys, Jack Quaid’s Hughie, Laz Alonso’s Mother’s Milk, Timer Capon’s Frenchie, and Karen Fukuhara’s Kimiko are still on the run having become fugitives at the end of Season 1. In the first episode, the group is still trying to figure out a way to expose the Seven so they can get back to their families and normal lives. But whenever they think they’ve turned a corner, their plans keep blowing up in their faces (sometimes literally). Through all this, Hughie ofter has a clandestine meeting with Annie (Erin Moriarty), who hasn’t forgiven him for the lies of last season. However, Annie recognizes the need for them to work together if they’re going to expose Vought for lying about Compound V for decades.

I’m glad season 2 of “the Boys” is finally here, but unfortunately, the season gets off to a slow start. But that’s because Karl Urban’s Billy Butcher is missing for most of Season 2’s first episode. I was surprised by his absence considering how last season ended. That big family reunion or confrontation I was expecting never materializes in the first three episodes. But there are some cool revelations made about Butcher’s family, which I won’t spoil here.

However, despite a slow start, I wouldn’t call episode 1 a bad one. The first episode brings viewers up to speed on where the characters are since we last saw them and sets up things to come in the new season. It may be a slow episode but it’s also a necessary one because we see how the events of season 1 affected the Boys as well as members of The Seven. The so-called heroes are twisted, but they have their human side as well.

The Seven suffered several blows in Season 1, and the group is still recovering from the ordeal. Homelander has his unique way of dealing with his murder of Stillwell in Season 1, which is mostly him making life miserable for the Butcher’s wife.

The Deep (Chace Crawford) remains in exile in Ohio and has become tangled up in what seems to be a cult for superpowered people. Meanwhile, several of the team’s female characters have much more to do this season. Starlight works undercover with Hughie to expose Compound V, but she has a new attitude which I liked.

Queen Maeve’s (Dominique McElligott) didn’t get much background last season, but her romantic subplot in episodes 2-3 this season was a highlight. Now I finally get why she keeps her other life s private, and I can’t say I blame Maeve for doing so. The Seven gets a new member in Stormfront (Ava Cash), someone who always says what’s on her mind and who loves being a hero. Stormfront brought some fresh energy to the team, and it was pretty cool to see her in action so quickly.

But of course, everyone is here to watch the Boys in action, and just like last year, Butcher is a larger-than-life character. The show picks up when he walks into the Boys’ hideout at the end of episode one. His mission to rescue his wife may be the same, but at least he knows now that she is alive. Through it, all Karl Urban chews up every scene he is in, but his actions have the others on the team questioning whether they should still follow him or not.

Kimiko goes on quite a journey in the initial three episodes. New revelations about where she comes from and why she is the way she is, flesh out her character. Karen Fukuhara conveys a lot of emotion without ever saying a word, and proves to be one of the strongest actors on the show. Hopefully, this is just the beginning and we get to see her expand her character and her acting abilities.

Dangling storylines from last seasons like Hughie’s quest for revenge against A-Train (who he helped save from an overdose-induced heart attack) and Starlight’s struggle to stick to her ideals while surrounded by amoral sociopaths continue this season. The first three episodes also expand some of Season 1’s smaller subplots like Queen Maeve’s private life, and Kimiko’s backstory. Several new threads are also introduced which will play out either this season or the next.

Ultimately, despite a slow start season 2 of “The Boys” is as wild and crazy as you’d expect. In only three episodes we get a ton of drama, character development, questions answered, and new questions rise. There are also some excellent action sequences with episode three having one of the craziest action scenes ever. Meanwhile, new characters like Stormfront will likely prove to be crucial down the line.

But let’s be honest, “The Boys” revolves around Butcher, his crew, and his need to reunite with Becca (Shantel VanSanten), who has an expanded role this season. The series works best when Karl Urban is playing a role in whatever is going on. When he’s not on screen or involved in the shenanigans, things slow down too much. That said, I like what I’m seeing so far this season, and I’m sure the best is yet to come.

“The Boys” season 2 score: B+

Movie Flashback: Romeo Must Die (2000)

2000s “Romeo Must Die” starred martial arts phenom Jet Li and singer Aaliyah in her first film role. The movie was loosely based on William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” but the funny thing is none of the characters are named Romeo or Juliet. Most of the plot centered around a crime war between Asian and African-American families in Oakland, California.

Jet Li played Han Sing, a former cop in China, whose career ended when he took the rap for a crime his father Ch’u Sing (Henry O) was responsible for. After his son took the blame, Ch’u and his youngest son escaped to America where Ch’u continued his criminal ways. While Han serves his sentence in Hong Kong, he receives word that his younger brother was killed after a fight at a night club. Han breaks out of prison and travels to California to avenge his brother, but considering how easy it was for Han to break out of jail, I’m surprised he didn’t attempt it before.

Anyways, he easily makes it to Oakland where he meets a young woman named Trish O’Day (Aaliyah), and the two begin a friendship. Unfortunately for Han, Trish’s father is Isaak (Delroy Lindo), the Sing’s biggest rival, and someone who may be involved in the death of Han’s brother. Soon Han and Trish are in the middle of a war between their families with Ch’u’s second in command Kai (Russell Wong) and Issak’s right-hand man Mac (played by Isaiah Washington before he went crazy) pulling the strings.

However, this war between families isn’t over Han and Trish’s growing relationship. Hell, the families aren’t even fighting over money laundering, drugs, prostitution, or any of the other usual mobster stuff. Nope, “In Romeo Must Die” the two sides are fighting to seize waterfront land for the city’s brand new NFL stadium. Yup, you heard right: it’s all about joining the NFL.

I was in art school when “Romeo Must Die” hit theaters. My original plan was to see it with some classmates, but that plan fell through when the screening we wanted to be sold out. I had to wait until the weekend to check it out and once again the theater was packed. My friends and I ended up in the first row of the theater, which didn’t do our necks or backs any favors. Luckily, a storm knocked out the power and we had to exit the building. And when we were allowed back in, we got better seats.

Then “Romeo Must Die” began and it was not the movie I had expected. Based on all the trailers and tv ads I had seen, I thought this would be a full-on action movie. I certainly was not expecting a movie involving land seizures and the NFL. I was surprised the League didn’t go bonkers when the movie made it seem like they get in bed with mobsters during stadium negotiations. The title of the film is also misleading because the movie doesn’t spend as much time dealing with Han and Trish’s blossoming romance as you might expect.

But if you haven’t seen “Romeo Must Die” don’t put too much thought into the real-estate project. The stadium shenanigans merely served as a backdrop for elaborate martial arts sequences featuring Jet Li. Most of the fights in the film were choreographed by Corey Yuen. Many of the fights are pretty good, especially the climactic Han vs. Kai one-on-one. The only fight sequence that does not work is the football game where Jet Li destroys half a dozen guys and scores a touchdown, impressing Trish in the process.

“Romeo Must Die” isn’t all land grabs, martial arts, and family drama though. The movie has a fair share of humor throughout. Most of the time Han gets the upper hand on the bad guy’s thanks to the ineptitude of Maurice (Anthony Anderson). Even Jet Li has some funny moments, like when he pretends to be a delivery guy to keep Trish out of trouble and when he banters with Trish in a cab. But considering how violent some other scenes in the film are, the humor seems out of place once or twice.

I thought Jet Li was quite good at leading his first American film. His acting here won’t win him any awards, but when he spoke it meant something. And of course, his fight scenes were spectacular. Meanwhile, Aaliyah more than held her own against a cast of veterans. She was beautiful of course, but she also had a presence about her that commanded the screen. Out of everyone in the cast, I thought she handled the emotional scenes the best. Had Aaliyah not tragically died a year after this movie came out, I think she would have had a successful transition to films, and despite the age difference between Li and Aaliyah, I have to admit the two had pretty good on-screen chemistry.

The supporting cast of “Romeo Must Die” is solid too. Isiah Washington chews up the scenery every chance he gets, but the less said about that guy the better. Anthony Anderson is there for comic relief and gets his ass kicked a few times. The supporting player who stood out the most to me was Delroy Lindo. I liked that his character had regrets about his business dealings and how his men handled things. He truly wanted better for his children and himself as we see later in the film.

As I watched the movie in the theater, a woman sitting behind me turned to her boyfriend and said “Isn’t DMX supposed to be in this movie?” and she was right. The rapper DMX was heavily advertised as appearing in the movie as nightclub owner Silk. But the poor guy is in the movie for maybe five minutes tops. Maybe he was busy shooting that Steven Segal movie.

“Romeo Must Die” has its moments and some stylish action scenes. The acting is good and Aaliyah was impressed with how natural she was onscreen. But the stadium plotline is weak, and never really pays off. If your movie is gonna spend that much time on a land deal, at least give me a satisfactory ending. Also, the script has plotholes, like if the two families were causing this much damage around Oakland, why isn’t the press of the local authorities looking into things?

The only time we see a large police presence is at the end of the movie, and they let Han walk by even though he’d just killed like 20 guys.

Yet, despite its flaws, “Romeo Must Die” has become a guilty pleasure. Maybe its because it reminds me of a better time in my life, or maybe it’s because I can’t get enough of Jet Li using Aaliyah as a weapon when he refused to fight a woman. Whatever the case may be, this movie is worth checking out on a rainy weekend afternoon.