I was looking forward to this. My previous attempts to rent it were thwarted as other bloodthirsty patrons beat me to it. But it lived up to the hype. At just shy of 90 minutes, it is short in length (and plot) but makes up for it with more blood and vengeance than the Punisher in an abbatoir.
John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is a Vietnam veteran and hardcore soldier, trained to kill with reckless abandon and creative use of vicious implements. Since his last cinematic outing in 1988’s Rambo 3, he has been carving out an existence in Thailand catching snakes. He lives alone and is as surly as ever. A group of well-meaning Christians come along and eventually entice him into taking them on his boat to the Burmese border to help villagers in need. In the opening scenes we see actual footage of the atrocities there that will stir your conscience and wait for Rambo to exact vengeance.
I’ve always been a fan of Sly. More than an actor (though with Rocky and Rambo to his credit, his impression on pop culture can not be denied) he always tries to lift his films above mere action flicks. As the writer and director on many of his own features, he is a league above Seagal and Van Damme. Here, he brings up notions of identity and convinces some mercenaries in rescuing the missionaries from Burmese rebels, that “this is who we are.” Welcome the bloodlust inside you, don’t deny it is the heart warming message of this slaughter. But you can’t help but cheer Sly and the merc caricatures on as they shoot, slice and explode an endless parade of baddies. I was smiling all the way. The violence is over the top but with bullets and knives that size, blood will spill freely. And that’s exactly what it does. Not recommended for those with a weak stomach, Rambo will otherwise entertain. Sly looks considerably older than he did in his previous revamp, Rocky Balboa, and runs and leaps less. Then again, there’s no need for such activity if you have a gun and a snarl bigger than any prison could hold. The guy still looks like a mountain. There is also a fair bit of crudeness, in the foul language and brief nudity, so be warned. This is Rambo, however, not Indiana Jones. He’s never been a family friendly character, but for a good night in where you want to find yourself cheering and laughing at some brutal punishment, check it out. Then have a shower and prepare for Rambo 5, coming in 2009.
For a sneak at 8 more indulgent fantasies come to life, 
I’ve been following this series since it began. It doesn’t have the traits of my usual picks, ie, no spandex, or space ships, or surprising resurrections. It doesn’t even have any secret identities! But what Mice Templar does offer is great story telling, and that’s enough to make it stand out from the superheroes crowding the racks.
The story told thus far concerns Karic, a young mouse who is rising up to become the next Templar, a long lost group of holy warriors who destroyed themselves long ago. After Karic’s village was raided and his family lost, he managed to rescue and befriend that old fantasy favourite-the mentor, and his rise to glory and greatness continues unabated. Actually, that’s not entirely true, which is what makes this series so exciting. There is always a sense of dread when reading Mice Templar, as betrayals and deaths and bloody battles drag the story to it’s unknown conclusion. Rats and owls and bats all seem horrendously fierce in a world where your best weapon is a lack of trust and a quick pair of legs. Karic’s earnest desire to fulfill the Fish Gods prophecy for him leads him to meet other Templars, such as Pilot (whom he rescues) and the bitter Cassius. Each issue ends on a cliff hanger as every rousing tale should and this one is no different, in which Karic must question his motivations thus far. Is his hope and admiration for the Templars a deserved one, or is he just way too naive and in over his head?
Similar to what The Animatrix DVD was to the Matrix films, 
comicbookjesus 
BOOM! Freebies
Relatively new publisher, BOOM! Studios have made a mark on the comics biz by offering a wide range of genres in a fairly short amount of time, and also by appointing High Priest of Fanboys, writer Mark Waid as EIC. High Rollers is one of their latest series, and is written by renowned novelist Gary Phillips. In this first of a four part series, Gary talks about his upbringing, his long love of reading and the basis of the new crime mini. I must say High Rollers certainly makes an impression in the first few pages with a brutal, yet strangely noble death, and seeing gangsters dressed up in suits while discussing business in a boardroom is a fine idea. If you’re a fan of Phillips, or stories where everyone has a gun and a funky nick-name, then this series is for you. If you don’t like either of those things, but do like large men with deep voices talking about “the streets,” then watch the video.
If that whet your appetite, then check out the rest of BOOM!’s vids here.
Lastly, there’s now a text commentary for BOOM!’s recently released Station #1, if murder on an international space station is your thing. And why wouldn’t it be? It’s written by TV writer Johanna Stokes and is a great insight into her inspiration and storytelling craft. Her explanation about that creepy two-page murder spread makes it even more frightening.
July 15, 2008
Categories: Comics . Tags: Boom Studios, free comics, Gary Phillips, High Rollers, Station #1 commentary . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment