Preacher

Preacher tells the story of Jesse Custer, a preacher in the small Texas town of Annville. Custer is accidentally possessed by the supernatural creature named Genesis, the infant product of the unauthorized, unnatural coupling of an angel and a demon. The incident flattens Custer's church and kills his entire congregation.  

Genesis has no sense of individual will, but since it is composed of both pure goodness and pure evil, its power might rival that of God Himself, making Jesse Custer, bonded to Genesis, potentially the most powerful being in the universe.

Driven by a strong sense of right and wrong, Custer journeys across the United States attempting to literally find God, who abandoned Heaven the moment Genesis was born. He also begins to discover the truth about his new powers. They allow him, when he wills it, to command the obedience of those who hear and comprehend his words. He is joined by his old girlfriend Tulip O'Hare, as well as a hard-drinking Irish vampire named . This darkly comedic "Preacher" is based on Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's popular 1990s comic book franchise of the same name. Now a series on AMC

I am totally in on Preacher.  Previews do not give this show justice.  Being an avid fan of the walking dead.  I found out this was another one of these DC hardcore comics.  So after running through the whole 10 episodes on AMC I picked up the series published by Vertigo.  I have to say. I like the way the TV show is structured more than the comic.  But the level of detail in the comic explains a lot of different things I could not pick up in the AMC series.  But on the other hand.  The series went into detail of the characters that the comic didn't start off with.  Great writing on the show to put together what the comic book started.  The first season goes with the detail in the town and the back story of Jesse.  Backstory of the town and a little backstory of Tulip.  There lives in the comic as opposed to the show is different.  I think more interesting and deeper but different non the less. the angels are such a great twist to the TV series that it was worth changing the story line from the comic.  Comedic, engaging and creative.  the AMC series goes a different direction but I believe worth the diversion.  My new addition.  Can't wait for the next season.  

The Act of Killing

The Act of Killing (Indonesian: Jagal, meaning "Butcher") is a 2012 documentary film about the individuals who participated in the Indonesian killings of 1965–66, directed by Joshua Oppenheimer and co-directed by Christine Cynn and an anonymous Indonesian. It won the 2013 European Film Award for Best Documentary, the Asia Pacific Screen Award, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 86th Academy Awards.

I always look up top documentaries of the year as well as what did the Academy nominate for the year.  This was one of them that stood out as a sort of strange way of telling a story.  This was a really disturbing, fascinating and a vision of evil in the world where people are oblivious of their actions.  This amazing documentary seems surreal because it doesn't even seem like any of their actions actually happened.  Especially the way they were re-enacting what went on.  90% of the perpetrators have no remorse at all and enjoyed reminancing over the great times of killing their enemy which was their own people.  But the one gentleman you see is totally struggling mentally and emotionally.  a very disturbing and confusing movie to digest.  But even with that said,  an Amazing documentary to see.

Attack on Titan (Season 1)

Attack on Titan (second half)

So, remember this.

“ Attack On Titan is set in a world where the remains of the human population live inside cities surrounded by enormous walls due to the sudden appearance of the Titans, gigantic humanoid creatures who devour humans seemingly without reason. The story revolves around Eren and his surviving friends enlisting to fight against the insatiable monsters.

So from episode 12 to 25 (season finale) we find that some how Eren has become a hybrid of a human/Titan.  His conscieness slips from Eren to the monster Titan.  The courts trying to side with the military police to make a decision if he is a danger to everyone or side with the Garrison Regiment if he can assist humanity with defeating the Titans.  But then there is a twist.  A female Titan with intelligence and special abilities appears out of no where when the squadren goes out on a mission outside of the wall.  The big twist is these super Titans are actually humans in the body of Titans just like Eren.  But we are not given access to this mystery.  There are hints along the way but nothing has come together as of yet.  

We end this season with the squadren rebelling against each other because of what they want to do with Eren and they find out that one of their members is the female Titan.  It ends with lots of questions but anticipation for the next season.   

Room 237 (The shinning)

Room 237 is a 2012 American documentary film directed by Rodney Ascher about interpretations and perceived meanings of Stanley Kubrick's film The Shining (1980) which was adapted from the 1977 novel of the same name by Stephen King.The film includes footage from The Shining and other Kubrick films, along with discussions by a number of Kubrick enthusiasts. The film has nine segments, each segment focusing on different elements within the film which "may reveal hidden clues and hint at a bigger thematic oeuvre."

Kubrick is an amazing director.  He does his movies with such complex and intellectual thinking that people find his movies confusing.  I wanted to get more background on others view of what they saw in Kubrick's movies and wonder if I picked up on any of it.  Boy was I wrong.  The main focus is the shinning but other Kubrick Movies are shown and referenced. The interviewee's come up with so many different observations that made me think of obsessed people as well as people with too much time on their hands.  From sexual undertones, Nazi holocaust, Indian genocide and more.  

What I see in this documentary is the strangeness of Kubrick vision that transitions to his audience watching his movies.  If you are a Kubrick fan, you will see some great interpretations of how he wants his movies to tell a story on top of visual he wants you to always pay attention to.  Good story telling if you are a Kubrick fan.  

Attack on Titan (Season 1 )

Attack on Titan 2013 (First half)

I was introduced to this series years ago but never put it on my list.  There has been many great Anime series I’ve seen but this one just didn’t interest me.  Even the trailer and previews didn’t interest me to want to start this series.  So when I heard there was a live action film.  I decided to take a little time to binge season one.

This was the synopsis I read prior to watching the first episode.

“When the man-eating giants called Titans first appeared, humans retreated behind massive walls. After a hundred years of safety, a colossal-sized Titan smashes through the defenses, unleashing a flood of giants and carnage in the streets. Eren Jaeger watches helplessly as one of the creatures devours his mother. He vows to kill every Titan walking the earth.  Eren and his surviving friends enlist to fight against the insatiable monsters. The future looks bleak, but there’s more to Eren than meets the eye: he may be humanity’s last hope against extinction. 

I’m on episode 14 and I had no idea there would be this amount of intensity and well-written human experience into this series.  The evolution of the story and characters kept me waiting for the next episode.  The story read like most Anime series.  Monsters appearing in their country and how does the citizenry fight back with a hero or two to lead them.  Or school kids finding power enough to fight demons or monsters.  But these first 12 episodes has shown the human race chased back into a cage to only see each cage being broken down while the titans move forward to devour them.  But you are enthralled by the tension of what will occur episode after episode.  Now back to the episodes. Eren has changed and we now will see what the humans will do with this revelation.  

Death Note (Series)

Death Note (Japanese: デスノート Hepburn: Desu Nōto?) is a Japanese manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. The story follows Light Yagami, a high school student who discovers a supernatural notebook from a Shinigami named Ryuk that grants its user the ability to kill anyone whose name and face he knows. The series centers around Light's attempts to create and rule a world "cleansed of evil" as "God" using the notebook, and the efforts of a detective known as L to stop him.

Here are the different publications of this story:

o   Shueisha Manga series from 2003 -2006in Shonen Jump (108 chapters)

o   Viz Media adapted it for North America in 2005

o   Television Anime aired in Japan from October 2006 - June 2007 (37 episodes)

o   Released on DVD in 2007.  Prior to this it was downloadable via the Internet

o   Separate Light novel based on the series was published in 2006

o   Three live action films released in Japan June 2006, Nov. 2006 and Feb. 2008

o   Television drama released in 2015

o   Fourth American adaptation will be released 2017

I ran into Death Note around 2009 - 2010.  I read a small article about this anime that told the story about a young genius who found a book from a demon that could kill anyone when they put their name in it.  I was already into watching Anime suspenseful stories, so this seemed interesting that it was a very long series and was rated very high in Japan.  What came next was becoming obsessed with this series and not getting enough of it.  Yes, I saw all 37 episodes but really couldn't get into reading the Manga's.  So next I had to find ways to get the live action TV series as well as the Movies.  I was thoroughly satisfied.

Why is this Death Note Series so good?  Think about a serial killer and the best international detective in the world playing a cat and mouse game to figure each other out.  One to stop the deaths of people.  The other to kill that person that is tiring to stop them.  Watching these two geniuses trying to find each other's identity while hiding their own is so entertaining.  it was hard to look at this as a cartoon ( not a cartoon, Anime). In the mean while, people are dying for their bad deeds or perceived deeds and new characters and followers appear to cause chaos in the investigation as well as world domination plan.  The writing is amazing and for an anime, the characters are well portrayed.  I could say great acting but this is illustrated.  If you are just looking at this Japanese Anime as American cartoons.  Please get that out of your mind.  This is serious story writing.  I'm revisiting this because there is an American version coming out in 2017. Netflix is the orchestrator to this movie and it looks interesting with the characters they have chosen.  The Anime News Network has recent details of this development.  Nat Wolf (Paper towns, The fault in our stars) will play the lead Light Yagami.  A relative unknown but with good acting reviews.  There have been some good Japanese adaptations in the past when it came to horror and some action movies as well.  Even though this was made into a Japanese live action film, I would like to see what a Westerner take is on this morally divisive movie.  So if you look forward to this new version, try watching the Anime and live action movies.  The anime is fantastic and gives you time to see the director develop the characters.  The live action speeds through it but gives you enough as a stand-alone.  Like the Girl with the dragon tattoo, this really can be an amazing conversion.  Take the time to try both, the anime series and live action.  You won't be disappointed.    

Deadpool

A former Special Forces operative turned mercenary is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopting the alter ego Deadpool.

http://youtu.be/frRFOrbPfNc 

I wasn’t a big active fan of Deadpool in the Marvel world. he showed up here and there but I really didn’t get the details until the buzz came out with the movie. Learning more about the breaking through the 3rd wall as Deadpool has constantly done in the comics. I was looking forward to seeing this movie. The question was, will other people get it and will it become good enough to be part of the Marvel universe. Well……. We all see it now. The comedy, the action and a basic superhero storyline was good enough to be the early blockbuster of the year. Ryan Reynolds did an amazing job as this clown of a superhero. To me, the real winners in this movie are the writers and the director to be able to work the witty banter with the marvel action. The obvious jokes you would see in the movie, the writers were all ready there. Thus cracking you up before you realize that you thought of the same thing. If you are a Marvel fan of the movies and used to the Big Bang of ironman, Thor whatever. This isn’t it. This is closer to the darkness of the Netflix marvel universe with a humorous spin to it. This is what Deadpool is.   Real quick,  The appearance of the X-men and the way they tried to get him back to the mansion was hilarious.  So, a mercenary gets cancer a some sneaky ass suit shows up with a cure and more.  the comedy starts way before he becomes the deadpool hero.  What was very entertaining as well are the supporting characters that were placed around him.  Very personable and engaging.  not a lot of filler characters.   So, for those who haven’t seen this movie. Pack up your snacks and bring along your comedy bag with your large drink of superhero slurpy. Highly enjoyable. No Oscar winner but mostly likely 3 other movies after this one.

Sicario

Denis-villeneuve has become one of my favorite new directors out. (Prisoners, enemy) below is the story line of the movie.

In the lawless border area stretching between the U.S. and Mexico, an idealistic FBI agent [Emily Blunt] is enlisted by an elite government task force official [Josh Brolin] to aid in the escalating war against drugs. Led by an enigmatic consultant with a questionable past [Benicio Del Toro], the team sets out on a clandestine journey forcing Kate to question everything that she believes in order to survive. 

What started out as a mysterious bust in the desert with drug cartel deaths. moved into a very suspenseful CIA/FBI drug moral dilemma. An FBI agent and her partner joins forces with some mercenaries and government consultants to follow leads on high level drug leaders in and outside of the United states. what ensues is a black ops team infiltrating mexico and doing lots of unorthodox ways of getting information. 

Denis does a great job with building up intensity as well as bringing you closer to the characters. Benicio is amazing. Josh is Josh like he always is. I was a little disappointed with Emily’s part in the movie but I do understand the good vs. moral setup for the movie. very good and interesting movie.