Review by Nolan P. Smith Before Image Comics’s debut issue of Descender #1 hit the shelves, the book was buzzing the news feeds. The sci-fi series was picked up as a motion picture for Sony before most people even read the first issue. That puts a lot of pressure on writer Jeff Lemire (Animal Man) and artist Dustin Nguyen’s (Batman: […]
By MrAndMrsSmith I had the opportunity to see the Lazarus Effect this week and there are a few opinions I would like to share with those of you that are still trying to decide if you want to shell out the cash to see it in the theater. The movie is about two chemists that are working on a serum […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith Photos by Nolan P. Smith (Victor Valley)—The force is strong in the land of the rising sun. Bandai/ Tamashii Nation’s Movie Realization line has taken on the epic sci-fi franchise, Star Wars and taken it to feudal Japan with their line of Samurai reimagining’s of some of the franchises most iconic characters. First up is […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith (Victor Valley)—When Ready at Dawn revealed they were making The Order: 1886, a Victorian based third person shooter with werewolves and more, I was more than excited. Knowing that this title was a PlayStation 4 exclusive is one of the reasons that motivated me to finally purchase the next gen system. Right before the game’s […]
Review by Jason T. Smith (Victor Valley)—As a part of February’s PlayStation Plus free games for the PlayStation 4, I was happy to see Apotheon- a game which I knew little about. Just by the screen shots I saw, I figured it was worth a shot- what I found was one of the most enjoyable side scroller games in recent […]
By Nolan P. Smith (Victor Valley)—In the race for what will be hailed as movie of the year, one movie continues to come up in every conversation: and that movie is Birdman, or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance. I finally decided to take the plunge and see what this film was all about now that it is out on DVD […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith (Apple Valley)—When it comes to the world of films, we are enthralled with the spies. Especially spies fighting for the greater good; James Bond is, of course, the most well known on the silver screen. With Kingsman- The Secret Service, we are once again thrown into a world of espionage and world domination- does […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith (Victor Valley)— The world is an empty, dying, decaying wasteland of dirt and heat- well, at least for the hunter Tanoor. But when a stranger appears and speaks about a land with water and greenery everywhere, the world gets that much larger in Image Comics/Shadowline’s The Empty #1. The book is written and drawn by […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith (Victor Valley)—Zombies have been all the rage for the past few years. Whether from the ultra popular TV show and comic book, The Walking Dead, or video games like Dead Rising and Dead Island, zombies have been the go to menace. But with so many products and projects cashing in on the craze, when does […]
By Nolan P. Smith (Victor Valley)– The pay per view that kicks off every year has come and gone: that’s right, WWE’s Royal Rumble is in the history books already. The event had some amazing matches, some bland ones, and some drop dead perfect moments. I’ll touch mainly on the positive of the show for this review, but I will […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith (Victor Valley)— What if you were two weeks away from marrying the girl of your dreams and suddenly realized you have no best man, you have no friends, and at your wedding, you will look like a total loser? That’s the premise here for The Wedding Ringer, the new comedic film from funny man Kevin […]
Review by Jason T. Smith (Victor Valley)—World Wrestling Entertainment, also known around the world as WWE, is the creator and king of sports entertainment as we know it today. From TV to comic books, video games, and more, the company has expanded its reach to just about every form of media. With WWE Immortals, they delve into the world of […]
Review By Nolan P. Smith (Apple Valley)—American Sniper is a film that many are aware of now, especially after its many award nominations it has received in a short amount of time. The story of Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. history has become an intense film. Is it film of the year? The year just started, but […]
Review By Nolan P. Smith (Victor Valley)—2015 aims to be a hallmark year for the Star Wars franchise. Star Wars Episode VII hits this December, Star Wars Battlefront returns to the gaming world this year, and this is the year that the franchise returned to Marvel Comics. How does the House of Ideas handle the return of one of the […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith (Victor Valley)—For months, gamers were seeing the trailers and game play for Middle-Earth- Shadow of Mordor and waited with a mild anxiety. For one, the game looked and sounded amazing, but on the other hand, it was a licensed game, and most licensed games fail miserably. Thankfully, Shadow of Mordor not only dispels any worries: […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith The Interview has been the most controversial movie of the year, as anyone who has followed the news knows. Planned for a December release, the film was postponed due to the nature of the film and threats that were made if the film were to be released; the film makes light of North Korea and […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith (Apple Valley)—The Hobbit, the prequel story to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, was expanded from 2 to 3 films, with the last film in the trilogy being The Battle of the Five Armies. Many were perplexed by the decision to make a third movie- why was a whole movie needed to finish telling the […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith Written by Amy Hernandez Art by Chris Hernandez (Victor Valley)—When you come across a children’s book that sticks out in your mind, that begs to be read and re-read due to its uniqueness and feel good story; then you know you have a hit. It’s the hallmark of a great book: Jack and the Zombie […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith (Victor Valley)—Valiant Entertainment has been delivering some of the best comics out there since returning in 2012. We have seen heroes like X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Quantum and Woody, and more, but with modern day twists. With the release of The Valiant #1, the company aims to up the ante once again with a comic that […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith Writers: Tim Siedell and James Asmus Artist: Pere Perez Publisher: Valiant Entertainment (Victor Valley)—Valiant Entertainment relaunched a few years back with a slew of hits: X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Archer and Armstrong- iconic characters from the past made modern, and made into bonafide hits. Then the publisher brought back the crazy, comedic super-team known as Quantum […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith Writer and Artist: Naoki Urasawa Publisher: Viz Signature Rating: T+ for Older Teens (Victor Valley)—Monsters adorn the pages of comic books and manga titles across the globe; horrifying, death defying monsters that battle the forces of good right out in the open. But in real life, the monsters out there don’t wear masks and make […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith Writer: Yu Sasuga Artist: Ken-Ichi Tachibana Publisher: Viz Signature Rating: M for Mature (Victor Valley)—I hate bugs. I am almost certain most readers will agree with me in their dislike for insects as well. So, what if you take one of the most annoying, disgusting bugs (the cockroach) and turn it into a super strong, […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith Label: Shady/Interscope Release Date: 11/24/14 Format: Digital, 2 Disc CD set (Victor Valley)—Eminem is arguably one of the most well known rappers on the planet, and for good reason. The motor-mouthed MC from the Motor City has made an impact on the rap game that nobody can argue: whether you like him or not, the […]
By Nolan P. Smith Publisher: Nintendo Platform: Wii U Rating: E 10+ (Victor Valley)—When it comes to flagship Nintendo games, certain games always seem to come up: the Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong, Pokémon, along with many more. So when the game that combines the characters from all these titles and more and throws them […]
By Nolan P. Smith (Victor Valley)— When Walt Disney Animation Studios announced that their next project would be based on a Marvel Comics property, fans everywhere rejoiced. This is the studio that brought the world “Wreck-It Ralph” and “Frozen”, after all. Yet, when finding out that the movie would center around the little known super group Big Hero 6, some […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith (Victorville)— Usually, if you take two great things and combine them, the result is something amazing. So, take for instance, Scarlett Johansson, known for her action packed role as Black Widow in the Marvel cinematic universe, and Luc Besson, the man behind one of the greatest action/dramas I have ever seen, Taken. Should be an […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith (Victorville)— They are a staple in pop culture, and the last few years have been particularly great. Thanks to the recent Nickelodeon cartoon, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a hit once again. But with this new film, many, including myself, have speculated that it would be a huge misstep for the franchise, as director […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith (Victorville)— He is one of the most well known heroes in mythology, as well as in the history of pop culture. He is half man, half god, and all heart. When we hear the name Hercules, we think of the monsters, the challenges, the tragedies and the strength. So, does this latest film featuring the […]
Review by Nolan P. Smith (Victorville)— Marvel Comics is known for their iconic characters: Captain American, Spider-Man, Thor, Iron Man, Wolverine, the list goes on and on. So when it was announced that the latest Marvel film would be Guardians of the Galaxy, many looked in dismay and shock. Who? You take an outlaw, a talking raccoon, a humanoid […]
By Nolan P. Smith (Victorville)— The worlds of comic book and graphic novels can bring us stories you never imagined would appear in the medium. A History of Violence, Noah; there are many comics that went on to become films, as fans had no clue where the film’s origins lies. Snowpiercer is such a film. Originally a French comic book […]