Here's the trailer and clip first if you haven't seen them yet:
1.First off they got his name wrong... again. Seriously, how hard is it? It's ConstanTINE not ConstanTEEN.
2. John's accent sounds weird, like a cross between a Cockney and a Scouser and that's good because that's what John actually is. However sometimes you can hear the actors native welsh come through.
3. Some of it seems pretty cheesy. Like the way he says bollocks and the music in the clip.
4.Why is it set in America? That's like setting Batman in Alaska.
5.Why is Chas now American and why does he die in the trailer?
6. Ravenscar is good.
7. Possible reference to Newcastle and Nergal is good.
8.The female lead doesn't seem like she can act and she reminds me far too much of the female lead from the movie.
9. No smoking sucks and it also means no Dangerous Habits.
10. No swearing sucks.
11. John Constantine is NOT an exorcist.
12. His trenchcoat looks too new and too clean like he just bought it at a costume shop.
13. It seems more like a cross between NuConstantine and the movie rather than an actual adaption of Hellblazer.
14. It's just a trailer of a pilot so there is a lot of room for improvement.
Being a duder from rural-ass Scotland there wasn't many places I could get comics, but amazingly my local newsagents (remember when that was a thing?) used to occasionally get Marvel Collectors Editions, these are the comics that set me on the way to geekdom. I was trying to clear out the cupboard in my room out today and just found a polythene packet full of my old comics. I have:
A Gallery of Rogues is a semi-regular noir fiction blog that will contain reviews of games, books and movies as well as topic articles (Blog Theme and Background Sound: The Pine Box Boys.
These Bastards Sure Are Southern.
The Good
Now I've never been to the good ol' US of A before, let alone the American South but through books and movies I think I have a good feel for it and it's always been the part of the country I have the most affinity for. To my eyes the South has a lot in common with Scotland (where I'm from) which is ironic considering they are both at different ends of their respective countries and both have completely different climates. Yet both are very rural places that are fiercely protective of their cultural identities. Football (be it American or not) is a big deal in both areas. Religion is always a background tension in both areas. And the population of both areas are thought of as a bit more gruff and harder and are often looked down upon by the rest of the country. So because of this I'm a fan of any fiction that features Southern Americana and this is one prime example.
Southern Bastards is steeped in the South. Everything from the warm colour schemes provided by Rico Renzi and Jason LaTour, to the drawl that Jason Aaron gives to every character in the book. From the second you meet the main character Earl Tubbs, you just know you're in for a home cooked revenge thriller that couldn't have been set anywhere other than south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
Speaking of the art, it's fantastic. Aaron made all the write calls when he was deciding when he needed to add text and when he could just sit back and let LaTour spell it all out for us with his amazing art. Just with a few choice panels we get a feeling for who these characters are and what their relationships were like and the mood is established from the get go.
The Bad
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I got nothing.
The Verdict
Southerns Basterds is a gritty rural noir that couldn't be more southern if it was rustling cattle while whistling Dixie. Jason and Jason kick the series off with a perfect blend of story, mood and action that should hook any reader in to the world of Coach Boss and Earl Tubbs.
A Gallery of Rogues is a semi-regular noir/espionage/martial arts fiction blog that will contain reviews of games, books and movies as well as topic articles (Blog Theme and Background Sound: The GrandMaster and Rainy Mood)
The Grandmaster is is a martial arts-drama set in the 1930s-40s and tells the story of the legendary Wing Chun master known as Ip Man, who many people will know was the master and teacher of one Bruce Lee. This movie, directed by the artsy film maker Wong Kar Wai, tells the story from Ip Man's rise to the head of his kung fu school, through Japan's invasion of China during WW2 and ends with him settling and opening a martial arts school in Hong Kong.The film starts with Ip Man competing with rivals to be the next grandmaster of his school of kung fu. He must be tested by the other grandmasters in various duals as well as navigate the political intrigue as each school isn't so friendly to each other and rivalries quickly start to form.
From the get go the one thing that is apparent is that this film looks goddamn gorgeous, whether it's the 12 man battle royal in the rain drenched streets of downtown Foshan or Gong Er practicing the 64 Hands style in the stark snow blanketed wilderness of northern China, man does this film look good. It's not just the setting that makes the film look great but also the masterfully choreographed fight scenes. Each punch or kick thrown has a weight and impact around it but is also graceful and never looks clumsy. Unlike other movies about Ip Man this one clearly embraces the myths surrounding the man and uses it to embellish the fight scenes, nothing too outlandish but just enough to give it a bit more flavour. The standout fight in my opinion is when Gong Er finally get's her showdown with Ma San at the train station, here she truly looks like a master using a mixture of martial arts styles.
This isn't your regular martial arts film though, it's not all about the fighting and there is some fantastic acting and drama here as well. Tony Leung does a fantastic job of portraying the virtuous but cool as ice Ip Man who is trying to look after his family in the harshest of times and Ziyi Zhang steals the show as the prideful daughter of a grandmaster that is trying to bring honour to her school.
The Grandmaster is definitely a great film however it does employ a pretty liberal use of slow motion shots, a few of them are even of things that don't typically warrant such, like a woman singing at a bar or a vista shot. The film does this so much it feels like it adds on 10 extra minutes to the movie. I see this as a small problem though as the even though the shots are lingering it's still pretty to look at.
Just like my Daredevil FanCast this will be with one eye on on the netflix show and one eye on a film that will never be made. Anyway let me know what you think.
Why: Tancharoen is most known for being the director of Fame and the Glee movie, the guy himself is a dancer and choreographer but the real reason I want him for Iron Fist is Mortal Kombat. This is the guy behind Mortal Kombat: Rebirth and the Mortal Kombat: Legacy series and if anybody has seen them then holy crap you know that they are good. Here is a sample:
Why: The reason I picked Hedlund is because I'd like to see to see the Defenders cast be slightly younger than the Avengers counterparts and I think Garrett is a great actor and he also has a personality that matches Danny as well as he looks exactly like him. I know a lot of people want a martial artist to play him but Garrett as proven he is a physical actor in the likes of Tron.
Why:I know, I know another dude from Glee (I don't watch the show, honest) seriously there is a reason why the best movie martial artists are dancers, Bruce Lee was a dancer, Jackie Chan was a dancer and Van Damme was a dancer. And not only is Shum an excellent dancer and martial artist (He played Sub Zero in MK: Legacy and will be starring in Revenge of the Green Dragon) but he's also a pretty good actor and has already worked with the director.
Why: Brian Tee has been around for while, he's been in films like We Were Soldiers, Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift and The Wolverine and he's also been in tv shows like Buffy, Grimm and also played Liu Kang in MK: Legacy. Great martial artist and great actor.
Why: This man needs no introduction, he's a martial arts legend that has played the likes of Shang Tsung and Heihachi Mishima as well as many many others. I can think of no one better to play the Dragon King of Kun L'un.
Why: I've always liked Browder in TV shows like Farscape and Stargate and I'd like to see him in more stuff. I think he would do a really good job play Wendell Rand, I think him and Danny wouldn't get on that well because they are pretty similar and that could give it some cool tension.
Why:Well the actor choice is a no brainer but the reason I want Colleen in the show is because she debuted in the Iron Fist comic before anywhere else and I think it would be a cool connection to the Luke Cage show if she appears here first Also I think I would amalgamate her with Blue Eyed Servant Girl.
Why:Come on, who wouldn't want Grand Moff Tarkin playing the sinister bad guy that's trying to kill of the Rands and steal their fortune? Also fans of Farscape will get the joke.
So my casting suggestions are with one eye on the upcoming TV show and one eye on the movie that will never be made. Anyway let me know what you think:
A Gallery of Rogues is a semi-regular noir fiction blog that will contain reviews of games, books and movies as well as topic articles (Blog Theme and Background Sound: Bohren & Der Club Of Gore - YouTube and Rainy Mood)
On paper Brian De Palma (the man behind such films as Dressed to Kill, Scarface and The Untouchables) directing an adaptation of one of the best crime noir books by arguably the best noir writer, sounds like a match made in heaven. Unfortunately it just doesn't come together as well as you might hope.
In January 1947, the mutilated body of aspiring Hollywood Betty Short was found, severed at the waist, in an empty LA lot. Around this real-life case is spun a fictional web involving boxing rivals turned LAPD partners Lee Blanchard (AaronEckhart) and Bucky Bleichert (Josh Hartnett) – each increasingly obsessed with the case, each comforted by Lee’s girlfriend Kay (ScarlettJohansson) – and the powerful Linscott clan, including femme fatale Madeleine (Hilary Swank) and pill-popping mother Ramona (film-stealing Fiona Shaw).
The actors for the most part recite Ellroy’s staccato prose well enough, but while the characters in the book would crawl under your skin with their secrets and desires the live actors performances are just so shallow it's hard to care or even dislike any of them. I think the big problem with the movie was the casting in general, I've never thought of Hartnett as an exceptional actor and his performance in the film just isn't up to scratch. In period pieces there is a certain way the actors need to speak and hold themselves that is in fitting with the times but Hartnett doesn't even attempt to do this, if you didn't know any better you'd think he was back on the set of The Faculty. On the other side of that is Fiona Shaw who hams it up so much you can't help but either smile at the call back to the actors of yore or just cringe (although not as cringe worthy as the drug deal shoot out). The other two main character actors Eckhart and ScarJo seem to be phoning it in for the most part but the bigger thing that annoys me is that ScarJo's character Kay who was a strong woman who and a nuanced relationship with both the main leads in the book gets turned into a complaining temptress in the movie.
The movie does do some stuff right and it's mostly in the style department. Weirdly Hartnett's monologues are a lot better performed than his actual on screen acting and when it's accompanied by the sleazy saxaphone jazz that drips from the speakers it's all Grade A Noir. The details afforded to the costumes and 50's LA setting also help to set the scene and is arguably the movies greatest strength.
Overall The Black Dahlia is a great sounding and very pretty film with nice dialogue that's performed by mediocre actors portraying shallow characters.
A Gallery of Rogues is a semi-regular noir fiction blog that will contain reveiws of games, books and movies as well as topic articles (Blog Theme and Background Sound: Why don't you do right - YouTube and Rainy Mood)
Sin CIty 2 is one of my most anticipated comic book movies of this year and the more I see of it the more excited I become. Hopefully it can live up to it's stylish predecessor. Also keep an eye out for my review for this first movie.
Also here's the trailer for anybody that's not seen it yet.
A Gallery of Rogues is a semi-regular noir fiction blog that will contain reveiws of games, books and movies as well as topic articles (Blog Theme and Background Sound:Chinatown - 06. The Last of Ida - YouTube and Rainy Mood)
Moon Knights Back After His Ill Fated Trip To The City Of Angels. Can Warren Ellis Get Him Back On Track?
The Good
The first word that comes to mind when describing Moon Knight #1 is cinematic. But I don't mean that in the sense of high octane explosions but rather this book has all the mood and style of a great crime thriller. It almost feels like you're reading an X-Files episode written by James Ellory. It's almost like a pilot episode for a TV-show (Imagine that, huh?). A big part of that is the amazing art by Declan Shalvey and the masterful colouring by Jordie Bellaire. Moon Knight or Mr. Knight's (as Detective Flint likes to call him) stark while visage imposed against the dark browns and reds of the New York cityscape along with his swagger and the the panel frames just screams neo noir.
Warren Ellis does a great job of catching us up on who Moon Knight is and what he's been up to but he doesn't do it in a way that seems forced and he also manages to keep that bit of mystery about that character that will have even long time fans wondering if they know everything about him. He also does a good job of taking some aspects of the character that were introduced in the last run that were maybe not so well received and making them a lot more palatable. Doing this without the aid of retconning or just straight up ignoring what came before (even if it's bad) is the sign of a great writer.
The Bad
There was many things I didn't like about the previous run but one thing I would have loved if it had been done properly was Moon Knight's move to LA. Now before you all start throwing stones at me I don't mean I would have kept him as a tv producer or anything stupid like that. I just think that Los Angeles is the perfect setting for a pulp noir egyptian themed vigilante that solves weird crime and may also be insane. However keeping him in LA might mean that Moon Knight regulars like Detective Flint, Marlene and Frenchie wouldn't be turning up but I'm sure there would be a way to make that work. Also I kinda like the idea of LA becoming the home to all of Marvels loner psychopathic vigilantes.
The Verdict
Personal preferences that don't actually bother me aside (because let's face it, that's all my Bad section is filled with) Moon Knight #1is a great issue that could well be shaping up to be the most promising All New Marvel NOW! book so far. I would fully recommend it to anybody that's interested in Moon Knight, crime fiction or just good stories in general.
So welcome to A Gallery of Rogues. This is (hopefully) going to be a semi-regular blog I'm going to do about all things Noir, whether it's Crime, Pulp, Neo, Country or my new favourite Neon Noir! I'll be doing reviews and retrospectives on all manner of media like books, films, games and comics and I'll sometimes I'll just be talking about a topic that interests me. Really I decided to start making this blog since I can't find any decent fan sites and I've nobody else to talk to about it :- /. Anyway my first topic will be about the Femme Fatale.
She's the woman that walks in the door like a tigress in a Burmese orphanage- strawberry blond and legs four hours. Every mook in the room is looking in her direction but she's only got eyes for you. She sashays her way over leaving broken men in her wake. You get a whiff of her perfume. It smells like sex. She has bad news written all over her like October '29. You know you're not her first but you're fool enough to think you'll be her last.
Catwoman by Darwyn Cooke
The Femme Fatale is one of the oldest archetypal characters used in fiction. Female characters that use seduction and sex as weapons to manipulate people and get what they want have been used in ancient myths of every culture and is still used today. This type of character has been used extensively in Noir fiction and is now thought of as a staple in the genre.
These days this character type has been getting a bad rap. Some people see the Fatale as misogynistic and sexist relic to a bygone age when women were seen as sex objects and nothing more. For instance when DC rebooted with the New 52 one of the titles in the first waves Catwoman and everybody was happy about that. Catwoman is a great character and over the years has become one of the most popular female comic book characters. And she is also the epitome of the Femme Fatale. A dangerous girl that knows what she wants and will use anything at her disposal to get it. But when she was shown in the first issue of her New 52 series seducing Batman and having sex with him on the rooftops (a very femme fatale thing to do) fans were up in arms saying that she was over sexualised.
Another comic example I can think of is Natasha Romanova. Espionage has a huge overlap with Noir almost to the point that it's become the British version of the genre. In the spy game there was agents known as Honey Traps. Basically woman that use their feminine wiles to manipulate the male agents into spilling all the secrets. And this is what Natasha used to be. The name Black Widow is a reference to the spider that would bed her mate then kill it. However like other characters this trate is almost gone from the character as she is now shown to be more the straight up secret agent type.
the Black Widow
The talk of the Femme Fatale being sexist got me thinking about how to use it in a different manner. Do you think a role reversal would work? A hardnose female reporter being seduced and manipulated by a male. A Homme Fatale if you will? Or would that still be seen as sexist to the woman? I'm not really sure.
Part of the fun of Noir is that their isn't really any good guys. Everybody has some dirt on them. All the men are drunk and brutal thugs so I kind of enjoy having the females be sexy and manipulative. I do agree that sexism was rife in 50s, 60s and even some current crime fiction but I don't agree that the Femme Fatale was apart of that. In fact I see the character type as kind of opposite. She isn't going to take your crap but she'll take your money and your dignity and she's always the smartest one in the room usually with everybody else wrapped around her finger.
This was my first A Gallery of Rogues blog so hopefully you enjoyed it and I'll be doing more soon. Please leave comments in the mean time :)
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