Comic review: 1602

If you’re looking for something a little different in the super-hero genre, then I’m going to gently turn your head in the direction of 1602. Once again, I’m a bit late to the party, but now that I’m here, I’m hooked.Marvel_1602_Vol_1_1

Marvel Comics likes to reimagine its popular (and unpopular) characters in alternate histories, and I usually find them a bit dull. 1602 is a little different, probably because it was written by Neil Gaiman. This series imagines an alternate history where the super-heroes were born 300 years earlier – in England during the reign of Queen Elisabeth I. All the books are beautifully drawn (especially the covers), the story is imaginative and beautifully told. Surprisingly, it doesn’t gloss over some of the less politically correct aspects of the day, such as the persecution of Jews by the Catholic church. I’m probably two books away from the end but I’m giving the whole series a big thumbs up.

Er… no Deadpool though.

 

Film review: Blue is the Warmest Colour

Christ Almighty, this film is brutal…

I don’t think I’ve felt this drained by any movie that didn’t feature a single firearm or a car chase.

You’ve probably heard of it; it made a big splash at Cannes in 2013 for all the right and wrong reasons.

Blue-Is-The-Warmest-Color-Movie-PosterRight: it was a love story that was as raw as an open wound. (Yes, it was)

Wrong: some of the sex scenes sailed pretty damn close to hardcore pornography (No, they didn’t… Welllllll, maybe.)

Yes, the sex scenes were pretty full on, but to be honest they weren’t the films standout feature. What really worked for me was the superb acting from the two leads, Adèle Exarchopoulos (genius!) and Léa Seydoux Continue reading “Film review: Blue is the Warmest Colour”