Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (2013) – Jay Oliva

The second installment of The Dark Knight Returns continues the adaptation of the iconic 80s graphic novel. Redefining Batman for a whole new generation, and putting the dark in Dark Knight, the story continues its exploration of an older (now no longer retired) Batman/Bruce Wayne (Peter Weller – who still can’t separate his Batman and…

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012) – Jay Oliva

The Dark Knight Returns is an iconic graphic novel, a story that redefined Batman in the 80s, and was, perhaps, the one adaptation that I was looking forward to most. I liked that the creative team knew to tell the story properly, they had to take their time with it, setting everything up, which meant…

Batman: The Killing Joke (2016) – Sam Liu

I remember, not that it was that long ago now when the DC animated movie adaption of the iconic graphic novel The Killing Joke was released. Fans were in an uproar about the addition of a plot frontloaded to the beginning of the film which reveals Batman (wonderfully voiced by Kevin Conroy) had sexual relations…

Full Metal Jacket (1987) – Stanley Kubrick

Stanley Kubrick’s look at the Vietnam War isn’t only a commentary on the war itself, but the dissolution of the self, and the soul of humanity to be replaced by an animal nature that restrains us a species and diminishes who we are. From the introduction to the Marine Corps on Parris Island, South Carolina,…

The Defiant Ones (1958) – Stanley Kramer

The next big film for me to watch in DK Canada’s informative and entertaining The Movie Book is Bonnie and Clyde, but having reviewed that one previously, I jumped right to the What Else to Watch list and found a title that I hadn’t seen yet, Stanley Kramer’s The Defiant Ones. Boasting a stellar cast…

The LEGO Batman Movie (2017) -Chris McKay

Bat-tastic! Is that a word? It should be. Because if Batman (Will Arnett) had his way, I’m sure that is exactly how the Caped Crusader would describe it. With the LEGO Movie in 2014, Warner Brothers and LEGO proved that they can make a family film that is not only family friendly, it will entertain…

Fan Expo Canada 2016 Preview

  Thanks once again to Touchwood PR, The Mind Reels will be covering Fan Expo Canada as press! I am particularly grateful this year, as it’s the first time since 2005 that I haven’t been able to purchase a pass for the weekend, and was not sure if I would be able to attend at…