Judge Dredd Under Siege #1

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2000 AD, Dredd, IDW, IDW Publishing, Judge Dredd, Judge Dredd Under Siege #1, Judge Dredd Under Siege #1 review, Mark Russell, Max Dunbar, Mega City One

Judge Dredd Under Siege #1

Review by Paul Bowler.

All hell breaks loose in Judge Dredd Under Siege #1 when contact with the Patrick Swayze Block is suddenly lost. What initially seems like a routine mission quickly goes awry when Dredd and Judge Beeny’s investigation finds the rundown development has become the first stage in an attack on Mega City One itself!

This dark, satirical new four-part Judge Dredd series from IDW Publishing continues to build on IDW’s successful relationship with Rebellion – the UK publisher of 2000 AD. Judge Dredd Under Siege #1 brings all the familiar hallmarks of the iconic character to the fore as writer Mark Russell (The Flinstones, God is Disappointed in You) and artist Max Dunbar (Gears of War, Micronauts) weave a gritty action-packed storyline barbed with edgy humour.

From its powerful opening scenes there’s no doubting that the Law is indeed everywhere in Mega City One. Following a quick visit to the Grand Hall of Justice this issue quickly gathers pace and sets Dredd on his mission to the Patrick Swayze Block to find Judge Beeny. With the building on lockdown and overrun with mutants, the atmosphere and tension builds steadily as Dredd and Beeny find some unlikely allies. Its ingenious how writer Mark Russell also blends such a pointed social commentary into the script via the sci-fi prism of Mega City One to give us all food for thought, especially how neglect and the breakdown of society has turned the Patrick Swayze Block into a living nightmare for its residents to such a degree the shit has piled up so high – quite literally in fact – that its about to bite everyone in Mega City One on the ass.

Max Dunbar’s artwork, together with the vibrant tones and shades of colorist Jose Luis Rio, complements Ruseel’s tautly structured script perfectly. The seamless, free-flowing page layouts effortlessly conveys the drama and tension, Dunbar’s impressive realization of the exteriors and interiors of Mega City One and the Patrick Swayze Block look as ominous as they are futuristic, and his rendition of Dredd is also powerfully striking. Likewise, the depiction of the waste channel is equally shocking, as are the mutants and their leader Talleyrand, and the fire fights as Dredd and Beeny engage the insurmountable threat they face is also well staged and draws you right into the heart of the action.

The issue throws several curve balls your way as it builds to a thrilling cliff-hanger. Judge Dredd Under Siege #1, with its great story by Mark Russell and artwork by Max Dunbar, delivers on every level. I’ve been really looking forward to this new Judge Dredd series from IDW and I’m happy to saw it exceeded all my expectations, and then some!

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Writer: Mark Russell / Artist: Max Dunbar

Colorist: Jose Luis Rio / Letterer: Simon Bowland

Cover A: Max Dunbar / Cover B: Alan Quah

 

Solo: A Star Wars Story Film Review

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Alden Ehrenreich, Chewbaca, Darth Maul, Donald Glove, Emilia Clarke, Han Solo, Joonas Suotamo, Lando Calrissian, Michael K. Williams, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Ron Howard, Solo A Star Wars Story Film Review, Solo A Star Wars Story Review, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars, Thandie Newton, Woody Harrelson

Solo: A Star Wars Story Film Review

Review by Paul Bowler

Get ready to make the jump to light speed as the origin of the Star Wars sagas favourite scoundrel unfolds in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Set in an earlier time before the original 1977 Star Wars sci-fi blockbuster, this all new tale from a galaxy far, far way charts the adventures of a young Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich).

Naturally with Alden Ehrenreich taking on the role made so iconic by Harrison Ford in four pervious Star Wars movies, a great deal hinges on the characters portrayal, and Ehrenreich does a commendable job with his performance as Han Solo – bringing enough roguish swagger to the role to carry it off. You’ll soon find yourself swept along with the exciting series of escapades within the intergalactic criminal underworld that ultimately sets Han Solo on his journey from petty street thief to swashbuckling smuggler.

There’s a great supporting cast too, with Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke playing Han’s childhood sweetheart and partner in crime, Qi’ra. Woody Harrelson is also well cast as the gang leader Tobias Beckett who enlists Solo in a daring plot to steal a highly valuable shipment of coaxium fuel. For me though it was Donald Glover’s performances as the charismatic Lando Calrissian who totally stole the show, and Lando’s droid co-pilot / navigator L3-37 (voiced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge) also had some good moments.

The film is packed with big action set-pieces and strong defining character moments. From a death defying monorail heist, Solo goes on to meet his future co-pilot Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) and board a gloriously pristine looking Millennium Falcon for the first time, before taking on the infamous Kessel run and confounding the schemes of master criminal Dryden Vos (Paul Bettany).

Ron Howard was brought on to handle reshoots after the departure of the films original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Considering its somewhat troubled production, director Ron Howard has crafted a cohesive, adventurous, and extremely fun packed movie. It’s by no means perfect; some liberties are taken to ingratiate it into the wider scope of Star Wars canonicity, but for me Solo: A Star Wars Story proved a worthy and spectacular addition to the Star Wars saga!

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Avengers Infinity War Film Review

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Avengers Infinity War, Avengers Infinity War Film Review, Benedict Cumberbatch, Black Panther, Bradley Cooper, Captain America, Chadwick Boseman, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, Doctor Strange, Gamora, Guardians of the Galaxy, Hulk, Infinity Gauntlet, Infinity Stones, Iron Man, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, loki, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr, Samuel L Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Spider-Man, Thanos, The Avengers, The Vision, Thor, Tom Hiddleston, Tom Holland, Wakanda, Wanda Maximoff

Avengers Infinity War Film Review

Review by Paul Bowler

Get set for Marvel Studios’ Avengers Infinity War to rock the Marvel Cinematic Universe to its very core as the Avengers and their superhero allies confront the deadly power of Thanos, played with gravely voiced menace by Josh Brolin. Earth’s mightiest heroes must prepare to sacrifice everything in order to prevent Thanos from gathering the Infinity Stones into a gauntlet that could enable him to destroy the universe!

Quintessentially the culmination of everything the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been building towards since its inception way back in 2008 with Iron Man, it now falls to the nineteenth film in Marvel‘s box-office hit-machine franchise to bring this ten year journey across the MCU full circle with Avengers Infinity War.

Although our heroes were left fractured by the events of 2016’s Captain America Civil War, it’s not long before they reunite in the face of the threat posed by Thanos and the mad Titan’s nefarious scheme to wipe out half the universe.

With returning favourites including Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and Captain America (Chris Evans) leading the charge into battle along with Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson), Vision (Paul Bettany), Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olse), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), and War Machine (Donn Cheadle), there’s also the welcome addition of Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), the Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Spider-Man (Tom Holland), and the Guardians of the Galaxy into the mix, along with numerous other characters from the MCU also joining the ranks of the films heroic ensemble cast in the battle against Thanos!

Right from the jaw-dropping opening, it quickly becomes apparent that not everyone will survive either. The two and a half hour running time boasts spectacular action and drama, with its narrative interwoven across four major plot threads, spanning locations across the entire MCU; this epic crossover event is ably handled by the directing duo of the Russo brothers and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFreely.

For a film so packed with plotlines and characters the Russo brothers still manage give everyone a moment in the spotlight – however fleeting – and still keep everything and everyone on track. Thanos cuts a swathe of devastation in his quest to acquire all six Infinity Stones, but it quickly becomes a very personal battle for the Avengers because one of the stones is embedded in the Vision’s forehead, making the androids impending plight especially heartrending for his love interest Wanda Maxim off – in scenes movingly played by Elizabeth Olse and Paul Bettany. Chris Evans continues to impress as Captain America, times have been tough for Cap in recent films but the camaraderie between Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes / White Wolf (Sebastian Stan) shines though here, as does Roger’s great respect for Wakandan king T’Challa / Black Panther. The spiky banter between Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man / Tony Stark and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange is another highlight, and Tom Holland’s wisecracking Spider-Man is always fun to have around. Chris Hemsworth also gets some great scenes as the vanquished Thor who teams-up with Guardians of the Galaxy Star Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Groot (Vin Diesel), and Rocket (Bradley Cooper) in the fight to stop Thanos.

Avengers Infinity War crams a hell of a lot in but it never feels bloated or gets bogged down in needless exposition. The majority of the characters are well served by the script, key emotional beats really hit the mark, and there are plenty of fun one-liners to enjoy. Infinity War also goes out of its way to firmly establish the giant purple alien Thanos as the ultimate Big-Bad of the Marvel Universe, and the CGI wizardry together with Josk Brolin’s brilliant performance mesh seamlessly to bring us one of the most richly compelling villains to have ever graced the MCU. Although his motivations in Avengers Infinity War diverge slightly from his comic book counterpart, Thanos still remains a towering presence throughout the film, there’s also great pathos to his scenes with Zoe Saldana as his adopted daughter Gamora, and his fearsome lieutenants The Children of Thanos (known as the Black Order in the comics) are an imposing – if rather one-dimensional – addition to the villain’s forces.

Avengers Infinity War is a veritable fangasim of comic book action, packed with mind-boggling special effects and huge action set pieces that dazzle amidst every twist and turn of the plot as events inexorably rumble towards the epic final battle, and its subsequent game-changing conclusion. Once the dust settles the excitement, gut wrenching loss, and unexpected surprises in Avengers Infinity War will leave you reeling as to where the Marvel Cinematic Universe goes from here. Avengers Infinity War doesn’t pull any punches, however with the stakes raised so high in this move it makes you wonder how much of it is set in stone – especially with the continuation already due in next year’s fourth Avengers film – but one things for sure Avengers Infinity War is without doubt one of the most ambitious and breath taking superhero movies ever!

 

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Marvels’ Ant Man and the Wasp New Official Trailer!

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Ant Man, Ant Man and the Wasp, Ant Man and the Wasp official trailer, Evangeline Lilly, Marvel Comics, MCU, Michael Peña and Michael Douglas, New Ant Man and the Wasp trailer, Paul Rudd

Check out the Official Trailer for Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and the Wasp!

From the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes a new chapter featuring heroes with the astonishing ability to shrink: Ant-Man and The Wasp. In the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a Super Hero and a father. As he struggles to rebalance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) with an urgent new mission. Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside The Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from their past.

Starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Peña and Michael Douglas, the film is released July 6 in the U.S. and August 3 in the UK.

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