TRASH IN MY EYE Reviews

Monday, May 6, 2024

Comic Books, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for May 8, 2024

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAR242157 365 DAYS TO WEDDING GN VOL 03 $13.99

MAR242096 A DO GN VOL 02 $13.99

MAR241921 ACTION DUDE GN $9.99

FEB240565 ALPI SOUL SENDER GN VOL 03 (RES) $12.99

MAR242097 ANYWAY IM FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU GN VOL 02 $13.99

MAR241969 ANZU & REALM OF DARKNESS GN HC $23.99

MAR241052 ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #350 $9.99

MAR241048 B&V FRIENDS FOREVER FAIRY TALES ONESHOT $3.99

FEB241465 BATMAN SECRETS SAM KIETH GALLERY VARIANT ED HC $125.00

JAN247956 BENEATH TREES WHERE NOBODY SEES #6 25 COPY ROSSMO B&W (MR) $3.99

MAR241133 BENEATH TREES WHERE NOBODY SEES #6 CVR A HORVATH (MR) $3.99

MAR241134 BENEATH TREES WHERE NOBODY SEES #6 CVR B ROSSMO (MR) $3.99

MAR242008 BLACK CLOVER GN VOL 35 $11.99

MAR242009 BLUE BOX GN VOL 10 $11.99

MAR241533 BREATHE JOURNEYS TO HEALTHY BINDING SC $10.99

MAR241749 BRINKLEY YEARBOOKS GN VOL 02 TRYOUTS $13.99

MAR242161 CANDY & CIGARETTES GN VOL 08 (MR) $13.99

MAR242004 CHAINSAW MAN GN VOL 15 $11.99

MAR241820 CHEFS KISS DLX ED HC $24.99

FEB241114 CIRUELO LORD DRAGONS FAIRIES & DRAGONS HC $39.99

DEC230984 CRITICAL ROLE TALES OF EXANDRIA II ARTAGAN #3 $3.99

MAR241516 CURVEBALL GN $14.99

FEB240527 DARK SOULS WILLOW KING #4 (OF 4) CVR A REREKINA (MR) $3.99

FEB240528 DARK SOULS WILLOW KING #4 (OF 4) CVR B YOSHIOKA (MR) $3.99

FEB240529 DARK SOULS WILLOW KING #4 (OF 4) CVR C QUAH WRAP (MR) $3.99

JAN248162 DARWIN INCIDENT GN VOL 05 (MR) $12.95

MAR241199 DEADWEIGHTS #2 (OF 6) CVR A PIRIZ $3.99

MAR242139 DEATH MAGE GN VOL 05 $12.95

MAR241776 DEER EDITOR TP $17.99

MAR241777 DEVIL THAT WEARS MY FACE #6 (OF 6) $4.99

FEB241408 DF THUNDERCATS #1 HOMAGE SKETCH HAESER SGN & REMARKED $85.17

MAR241553 DF WHAT IF VENOM #1 BLACK BLANK VAR HEASER SILVER SYMBIOTE ( $88.00

MAR241861 DISNEY INSIDE OUT 2 EMOTIONS SURVIVAL GUIDE HC $9.99

JAN241333 DRACULA AFTER MAN #2 CVR A MARTINEZ (MR) $4.99

JAN241334 DRACULA AFTER MAN #2 CVR B CALZADA (MR) $4.99

JAN241335 DRACULA AFTER MAN #2 CVR C HASSON (MR) $4.99

JAN241336 DRACULA AFTER MAN #2 CVR D LTD ED B&W VIRGIN ART (MR) $9.99

MAR242103 DRIFTING DRAGONS GN VOL 16 $12.99

FEB241603 DWELLINGS HC (MR) $34.99

MAR242006 ELUSIVE SAMURAI GN VOL 11 $11.99

MAR241430 EMMIE & FRIENDS GN ALWAYS ANTHONY $15.99

MAR241431 EMMIE & FRIENDS HC GN ALWAYS ANTHONY $24.99

MAR241876 ESSENTIAL JUDGE ANDERSON TP SATAN $26.99

MAR241214 FAITH RETURNS #1 (OF 2) CVR A ERBETTA $4.99

MAR241215 FAITH RETURNS #1 (OF 2) CVR B VIDAL $4.99

MAR241216 FAITH RETURNS #1 (OF 2) CVR C ERBETTA VIRGIN $4.99

MAR241217 FAITH RETURNS #1 (OF 2) CVR D VIDAL VIRGIN $4.99

MAR241230 FAKE REBELLION GN VOL 02 (MR) $12.99

JAN242270 FAVORITE POP IDOL MADE IT BUDOKAN GN VOL 06 $14.99

MAR241934 FETCH TP VOL 02 THE RESCUE $14.99

MAR242105 FIRE FORCE OMNIBUS GN VOL 10 VOL 28-30 $19.99

MAR241643 FLAVORS OF IRAQ IMPRESSIONS OF MY VANISHED HOMELAND GN $19.95

FEB240561 FORGOTTEN RUNES WIZARDS CULT #4 (OF 10) CVR A BROWN $3.99

FEB240562 FORGOTTEN RUNES WIZARDS CULT #4 (OF 10) CVR B WALLIS $3.99

FEB240563 FORGOTTEN RUNES WIZARDS CULT #4 (OF 10) CVR C BROWN $3.99

MAR242171 FREE LIFE FANTASY ONLINE IMMORTAL PRINCESS GN VOL 07 (MR) (C $13.99

JAN248161 GIVING DISGRACED NOBLE LADY CRASH COURSE GN VOL 05 (MR) $12.95

JAN241385 GOLD DIGGER WAR MISTRESS OF MARS #1 (OF 4) (MR) $9.99

JAN241591 GONE #3 CVR A JOCK $8.99

JAN241592 GONE #3 CVR B JOCK $8.99

JAN242252 GREAT JAHY WILL NOT BE DEFEATED GN VOL 08 $14.99

MAR242152 GUNHILD GN (SATUDAY AM TANK) VOL 02 HUNT FOR LOKI $13.99

MAR241740 HAPPY ASTRONAUT #5 CVR A MATT RODGERS $5.99

MAR241741 HAPPY ASTRONAUT #5 CVR B ART BALTAZAR $5.99

MAR241742 HAPPY ASTRONAUT #5 CVR C BALTAZAR VIRGIN HOLOFOIL $19.99

MAR241743 HAPPY ASTRONAUT #5 CVR D MATT RODGERS WEATHERED VAR $9.99

DEC237329 HEART OF THOMAS HC (NEW PTG) $44.99

MAR242176 HITOMI CHAN IS SHY WITH STRANGERS GN VOL 08 $12.99

MAR241014 HORROR & FANTASY ILLUS PLUM ISLAND CVR A IGOR VITORINO $6.99

MAR241015 HORROR & FANTASY ILLUS PLUM ISLAND CVR B HARVEY TOLIBAO $6.99

MAR241016 HORROR & FANTASY ILLUS PLUM ISLAND CVR C ABBONDANZA $6.99

MAR241017 HORROR & FANTASY ILLUS PLUM ISLAND CVR D SANTACRUZ $6.99

MAR241477 HP LOVECRAFT CALL OF CTHULHU GN (MR) $11.99

MAR242218 I CANT REFUSE S GN VOL 03 (MR) $14.99

MAR242111 I SEE YOUR FACE TURNED AWAY GN VOL 01 $13.99

MAR242178 IM IN LOVE WITH VILLAINESS GN VOL 06 $12.99

MAR241997 IN THE NAME OF MERMAID PRINCESS GN VOL 02 $11.99

JUL232116 INKED IN BLOOD HC VOL 02 ONCE UPON A CRIME (MR) $29.99

APR239415 IS WRONG PICK UP GIRLS DUNGEON SWORD ORATORIA GN VOL 21 $13.00

MAR241194 KORGI COMPLETE TALES TP $39.99

FEB241466 LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN GALLERY VARIANT ED HC (MR) $125.00

MAR241998 LIKE A BUTTERFLY GN VOL 06 $11.99

MAR241423 LITTLE BLACK BOOK #3 (OF 4) CVR A FRANCAVILLA (MR) $3.99

MAR241424 LITTLE BLACK BOOK #3 (OF 4) CVR B FINNEGAN & SIMPSON (MR) $3.99

MAR241425 LITTLE BLACK BOOK #3 (OF 4) CVR C MOVIE POSTER HOMAGE (MR) $3.99

MAR241715 LORE OLYMPUS GN VOL 06 $21.00

MAR241716 LORE OLYMPUS HC GN VOL 06 $28.99

FEB241418 LOVE & ROCKETS MAGAZINE #15 (MR) $6.99

MAR241826 MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR GN VOL 15 DINOSAURS $6.99

JAN241171 MASTERPIECE #5 CVR A MALEEV $3.99

JAN241172 MASTERPIECE #5 CVR B LEE $3.99

DEC231036 MASTERS OF UNIVERSE FORGE OF DESTINY TP $19.99

MAR242114 MEDALIST GN VOL 02 $13.99

MAR242211 MOBSTERS IN LOVE GN VOL 01 $12.99

MAR242212 MONSTER CATS GN VOL 01 $14.99

FEB240982 MONSTERS ARE MY BUSINESS & BUSINESS IS BLOODY #2 $3.99

MAR241770 MORNING STAR #2 (OF 5) $4.99

MAR241771 MUGSHOTS #1 (OF 4) CVR A CHRIS MATTHEWS (MR) $5.99

MAR241772 MUGSHOTS #1 (OF 4) CVR B FRAN GALAN (MR) $5.99

MAR241152 MY LITTLE PONY CAMP BIGHOOF TP $17.99

MAR242001 MY SPECIAL ONE GN VOL 06 $11.99

MAR242186 MY STATUS AS ASSASSIN EXCEEDS HERO GN VOL 05 $13.99

MAR241805 NIGHT PEOPLE #3 CVR A STRIPS & SIMPSON (MR) $4.99

MAR241806 NIGHT PEOPLE #3 CVR B PHILLIPS (MR) $4.99

MAR241939 NOODLES RICE & EVERYTHING SPICE COOKBOOK GN $22.99

FEB240983 ODDLY PEDESTRIAN LIFE CHRISTOPHER CHAOS #9 CVR A ROBLES $4.99

FEB240984 ODDLY PEDESTRIAN LIFE CHRISTOPHER CHAOS #9 CVR B DAO $4.99

MAR241930 PEANUTS TP SNOOPYS BEAGLE SCOUT TALES $11.99

MAR242091 PETER GRILL & PHILOSOPHERS TIME GN VOL 12 (MR) $13.99

MAR241325 PHOEBE & HER UNICORN GN VOL 19 UNICORN CRUSH $12.99

FEB241105 PUNK MAMBO PUNK WITCH PROJECT ONE SHOT CVR A PANOSIAN $12.99

DEC230926 QUESTED SEASON 2 #3 CVR A WALLIS $4.99

DEC230927 QUESTED SEASON 2 #3 CVR B LULLABI $4.99

DEC230928 QUESTED SEASON 2 #3 CVR C RICHARDSON VIDEO GAME HOMAGE $4.99

MAR241708 ROBERT SILVERBERGS BELZAGOR HC (RES) (MR) $39.99

FEB241454 SANTOS SISTERS #6 (MR) $5.00

JAN242097 SCRIBBLES HC VOL 03 (MR) $18.00

MAR242118 SEVEN DEADLY SINS FOUR KNIGHTS OF APOCALYPSE GN VOL 12 $10.99

FEB241349 SHI #1 30TH ANNIV ORIGINAL ART ED (MR) $64.99

DEC231619 SIXTH GUN OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 (MR) $39.99

MAR241996 STAR WARS MANDALORIAN MANGA GN VOL 02 $14.99

MAR241995 STAR WARS VISIONS MANGA ANTHOLOGY GN $14.99

FEB241503 STILL (ONE SHOT) (MR) $7.99

MAR241696 SUNHEAD GN $18.99

MAR241697 SUNHEAD HC GN $26.99

MAR241870 SWEET VALLEY TWINS GN HC VOL 04 HAUNTED HOUSE $21.99

MAR241869 SWEET VALLEY TWINS GN VOL 04 HAUNTED HOUSE $13.99

MAR241982 TEAM PHOENIX VOL 4 GN $13.99

DEC231040 TEAR US APART TP $19.99

MAR242123 THAT TIME I REINCARNATED SLIME TRINITY GN VOL 08 (RES) (MR) $12.99

MAR242209 THERES NO FREAKING WAY BE YOUR LOVER L NOVEL VOL 04 $15.99

MAR241182 TMNT BLACK WHITE & GREEN #1 CVR A SHALVEY $5.99

MAR241183 TMNT BLACK WHITE & GREEN #1 CVR B STOKOE $5.99

MAR241185 TMNT BLACK WHITE & GREEN #1 CVR D 40TH ANNIV $5.99

MAR241188 TMNT SATURDAY MORNING ADVENTURES TP VOL 02 $16.99

MAR241644 TRACES OF MADNESS GN $19.95

MAR242198 TRUE LOVE FADES AWAY WHEN CONTRACT ENDS GN $13.99

FEB240992 USAGI YOJIMBO CROW #2 CVR A SAKAI $4.99

FEB240993 USAGI YOJIMBO CROW #2 CVR B HAN $4.99

MAR242140 USOTOKI RHETORIC GN VOL 07 $10.95

FEB241146 VALENTINE BLUFFS MASSACRE #2 CVR A MARTINEZ (MR) $4.99

FEB241147 VALENTINE BLUFFS MASSACRE #2 CVR B PHOTO (MR) $4.99

FEB241148 VALENTINE BLUFFS MASSACRE #2 CVR C CALZADA (MR) $4.99

FEB241149 VALENTINE BLUFFS MASSACRE #2 CVR D HASSON (MR) $4.99

FEB241150 VALENTINE BLUFFS MASSACRE #2 CVR E LTD ED B&W VIRGIN ART (MR $9.99

MAR241208 VALIANTS (2024) #1 (OF 4) CVR A ALESSIO $4.99

MAR241209 VALIANTS (2024) #1 (OF 4) CVR B DI MATTIA $4.99

MAR241210 VALIANTS (2024) #1 (OF 4) CVR C ALESSIO VIRGIN $4.99

MAR241211 VALIANTS (2024) #1 (OF 4) CVR D DI MATTIA VIRGIN $4.99

NOV230913 WASHED IN THE BLOOD #2 (OF 3) CVR A MORANELLI (MR) $4.99

NOV230914 WASHED IN THE BLOOD #2 (OF 3) CVR B CANNON CONNECTING (MR) $4.99

NOV230915 WASHED IN THE BLOOD #2 (OF 3) CVR C PARSONS VIDEO GAME HOMAG $4.99

NOV230916 WASHED IN THE BLOOD #2 (OF 3) CVR D FLOPS (MR) $4.99

NOV230917 WASHED IN THE BLOOD #2 (OF 3) CVR E PARSONS VIRGIN (MR) $9.99

MAR242200 WHAT HE WHO DOESNT BELIEVE IN FATE SAYS GN VOL 04 $14.99

FEB241359 WHAT IT IS GN (MR) $22.95

MAR242201 WHITE MAGE DOESNT WANT TO RAISE HEROS LEVEL GN VOL 02 $14.99

FEB240996 WITCHER CORVO BIANCO #1 CVR A MASTANTUONO $3.99

FEB240997 WITCHER CORVO BIANCO #1 CVR B ZONJIC $3.99

FEB240998 WITCHER CORVO BIANCO #1 CVR C NEYEF $3.99

FEB240999 WITCHER CORVO BIANCO #1 CVR D MOLINA $3.99

MAR242002 WOLF GIRL BLACK PRINCE GN VOL 07 $11.99

DEC231045 WORLD OF BLACK HAMMER OMNIBUS TP VOL 03 $29.99

MAR242141 WRONG WAY USE HEALING MAGIC GN VOL 06 $12.95

MAR241999 YONA OF THE DAWN GN VOL 41 $11.99

MAR242003 YOU AND I ARE POLAR OPPOSITES GN VOL 01 $11.99

MAGAZINES

DEC232009 ANIMAGE MARCH 2024 $21.00

FEB241344 COMIC SHOP NEWS (100CT BUNDLE) #1916 (Net) $PI

JAN242260 HOBBY JAPAN APRIL 2024 $22.00

DEC232010 HOBBY JAPAN MARCH 2024 $22.00

DEC232011 MEGAMI MARCH 2024 $22.00

DEC232012 NEWTYPE MARCH 2024 $21.00

FEB242010 OTAKU USA MAGAZINE #6 SUMMER 2024 $7.99

FEB240568 STAR WARS INSIDER #225 PX ED $9.99

BOOKS

MAR241858 ADVENTURE TIME AMAZING COLORING BOOK SC $18.99

MAR241633 AMERICAN GIRL LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK HC $8.99

DEC231778 CURIOUS VIDEO GAME MACHINES COMPENDIUM OF RARE CONSOLES HC ( $38.95

MAR241634 DISNEY LION KING FAVORITES LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK HC $11.99

MAR241636 DISNEY PRINCESS & FROG LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK HC $5.99

JAN241646 DOORWAY TO JOE HC $99.99

MAR241637 FUNKO DC BATMAN JOKERS PARADE LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK HC $5.99

MAR241638 FUNKO F IS FOR FRIENDS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK HC $5.99

MAR241639 HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPONGEBOB LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK HC $5.99

MAR241640 LION KING CIRCLE OF LIFE LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK HC $5.99

MAR241971 LOKI BAD GODS GUIDE TO RULING WORLD HC $15.99

MAR241641 MARVEL X-MEN LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK HC $5.99

MAR241978 MAX & MIDKNIGHTS GN BATTLE OF BODKINS $10.99

MAR241871 OFFICIAL GAME OF THRONES COOKBOOK HC $35.00

MAR241859 POWERPUFF GIRLS SUPER FIERCE COLORING BOOK SC $18.99

MAR241642 SEINFELD WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK HC $5.99

JAN241741 STAR WARS RETURN OF THE JEDI VISUAL ARCHIVE HC $65.00

MAR242196 STARS OF CHAOS SHA PO LANG L NOVEL VOL 03 $19.99

MAR241976 THE MOST RELAXING VIDEO GAMES HC $39.95

MAR241857 WAR PARTY BESTIARY COMPENDIUM SC $4.99

MAR242142 WRONG WAY USE HEALING MAGIC L NOVEL VOL 04 $14.95

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DC Comics Shipping from Lunar Distributors for May 7, 2024

DC COMICS:

52 Volume 1 TP (2024 Edition), $49.99

Batman #147 (Cover A Jorge Jimenez), $4.99

Batman #147 (Cover B Jorge Jimenez Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Batman #147 (Cover C Yasmine Putri Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Batman #147 (Cover D John Giang Ghost-Maker & Clownhunter AAPI Month Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Batman #147 (Cover E Kendrick Kunkka Lim Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman #147 (Cover F Stevan Subic Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries #5 (Cover A Puste), $2.99

Birds Of Prey #9 (Cover A Leonardo Romero), $3.99

Birds Of Prey #9 (Cover B Ejikure Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Birds Of Prey #9 (Cover C Christian Ward Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Birds Of Prey #9 (Cover D Philip Tan & Elmer Santos Cassandra Cain AAPI Month Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Birds Of Prey #9 (Cover E Chris Ng Card Stock Variant), AR

Boy Wonder #1 (Of 5)(Cover A Juni Ba), $5.99

Boy Wonder #1 (Of 5)(Cover B Cliff Chiang), $5.99

Boy Wonder #1 (Of 5)(Cover C Juni Ba), AR

Kneel Before Zod #5 (Of 12)(Cover A Jason Shawn Alexander), $3.99

Kneel Before Zod #5 (Of 12)(Cover B Lucio Parrillo Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Kneel Before Zod #5 (Of 12)(Cover C John Giang Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Nightwing A Knight In Bludhaven Compendium Volume 1 TP, $59.99

Our Army At War #81 (Facsimile Edition), $3.99

Poison Ivy #22 (Cover A Jessica Fong), $3.99

Poison Ivy #22 (Cover B Frank Cho Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Poison Ivy #22 (Cover C R. Kikuo Johnson Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Poison Ivy #22 (Cover D Elizabeth Torque Card Stock Variant), AR

Poison Ivy #22 (Cover E Frank Cho Card Stock Variant), AR

Shazam #11 (Cover A Dan Mora), $3.99

Shazam #11 (Cover B Brandt & Stein Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Shazam #11 (Cover C Serg Acuna Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Showcase #22 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover C Gil Kane Foil Variant), $5.99

Steelworks TP, $16.99

Suicide Squad Kill Arkham Asylum #4 (Of 5)(Cover A Dan Panosian), $4.99

Suicide Squad Kill Arkham Asylum #4 (Of 5)(Cover B Ariel Olivetti Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Suicide Squad Kill Arkham Asylum #4 (Of 5)(Cover C David Nakayama Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Superman House Of Brainiac Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Jamal Campbell Foil Variant)(House Of Brainiac), $8.99

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Sunday, May 5, 2024

Review: "DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES" Goes Ape Sh*t

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 21 of 2024 (No. 1965) by Leroy Douresseaux

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Running time: 130 minutes (2 hours, 10 minutes)

MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and brief strong language

DIRECTOR: Matt Reeves

WRITERS: Mark Bomback and Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver (based upon characters created by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver)

PRODUCERS: Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Michael Seresin (D.o.P.)

EDITORS: William Hoy and Stan Salfas

COMPOSER: Michael Giacchino

Academy Award nominee

SCI-FI/ACTION/DRAMA/THRILLER

Starring: Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Kirk Acevedo, Toby Kebbell, Nick Thurston, Karin Konoval, and Judy Greer

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a 2014 American science fiction-thriller, action, and drama film directed by Matt Reeves. It is a direct sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) and is also the second installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot film series.

It is the eighth entry in the overall Planet of the Apes film series, which began as an adaptation of the 1963 French science fiction novel, La planète des singes, by Pierre Boulle. In Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, apes and humans are thrown together for the first time in years, and a fragile peace is threatened by mistrust and betrayal.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes opens ten years after the birth of “The Simian Flu” pandemic (as seen in Rise of the Planet of the Apes). Deadly to humans, the flu has reduced the worldwide human population, and only 1 in 500 humans (.20 percent) are genetically immune to it. Human civilization has been destroyed after societal collapse.

There was a large group of apes that were all bestowed with genetically enhanced intelligence by the virus. They established a colony in the Muir Woods National Monument near San Francisco. Their leader is the chimpanzee, Caesar (Andy Serkis), who protects the colony with his lieutenants. Among them is the sinister and treacherous bonobo, Koba (Toby Kebbell).

One day, for the first time in years, apes and humans meet. A group of humans, led by Malcolm (Jason Clarke), unknowingly enters the apes' territory in search of a hydroelectric dam that could restore power to a rag tag human community living in the ruins of San Francisco. As level-headed as Malcolm is, there are hotheads among the humans, like their leader Dreyfus (Gary Oldman), an ex-police officer. Among the apes, Koba is the hothead, but a fragile peace develops between the two tribes. However, mistrust and betrayal threaten to plunge both humans and apes in a terrible war for control of the San Francisco area and ultimately, for dominance over the Earth.

I have been a fan of the Planet of the Apes film ever since I saw the original film, Planet of the Apes (1968), back in the day when CBS broadcast it on a regular basis. Its sequel, Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), thrilled and chilled me. I also enjoyed Tim Burton's 2001 Planet of the Apes, a remake and re-imagining of the original film.

I was skeptical of Rise of the Planet of the Apes when it was first release, but I thoroughly enjoyed it when I first saw it. I could not believe how exceptionally well made it was. As we all prepare for the impending release of the franchise's latest film, 2024's Kingdom of the Planets of the Apes, I am going back to watch and review, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017).

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a really entertaining film. Director Matt Reeves has spearheaded a pulpy, post-apocalyptic drama that thrives on inter-tribal conflict. However, I don't think Dawn's drama is quite as substantive as its predecessor, mainly because this film focuses so much on the apes that, except for Malcolm, the film glosses over the human characters that have the most potential.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a true Planet of the Apes film. The apes are more important, and the humans exist mainly to cause conflict among the apes. Rise of the Planet of the Apes's drama was more grounded in reality, and its subplots mattered beyond being fuel to light the flames of conflict. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is very well made and is fun to watch. Still, I feel like I'm waiting for a bigger and more important film.

7 of 10

B+

★★★½ out of 4 stars

Sunday, May 5, 2024

NOTES:

2015 Academy Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Achievement in Visual Effects” (Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barrett, and Erik Winquist)

2015 BAFTA Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Special Visual Effects” (Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Erik Winquist, and Daniel Barrett)

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Friday, May 3, 2024

Comics Review: "SPACE GHOST #1" Revives a Classic

SPACE GHOST VOL. 1 #1

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: David Pepose

ART: Jonathan Lau

COLORS: Andrew Dalhouse

LETTERS: Taylor Esposito

EDITOR: Joseph Rybandt

COVER: Francesco Mattina

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jae Lee with June Chung; Bjorn Barends; Michael Cho; Alex Toth; Francesco Mattina

32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (May 2024)

Rated “Teen”

Space Ghost is a superhero character created by the American animation studio and production company, Hanna-Barbera Productions. The character first appeared in the Saturday morning cartoon series, “Space Ghost,” which was originally broadcast on CBS from September 1966 to September 1967 for 20 episodes. Space Ghost shared his television series with a second feature, entitled “Dino Boy in the Lost Valley.” Space Ghost was designed by cartoonist and comic book artist, Alex Toth (1928-2006), who created the character with Hanna-Barbera's founders, William Hanna (1910-2001) and Joseph Barbera (1911-2006).

In his original incarnation, Space Ghost was a superhero whose base of operations was a small world known as “Ghost Planet.” He fought super-villains in outer space with his teen sidekicks, Jan and Jace, and their monkey, Blip. His main weapons were power bands he wore around his wrists and lower arms; the bands fired off multiple energy beam-based attacks, including heat, cold, and force, to name a few. Space Ghost could also fly, survive in space, and turn invisible (his “Inviso Power”). He also had a space ship known as “the Phantom Cruiser.”

Space Ghost sporadically appeared in various comic book publications over a fifty year period. Dynamite Entertainment has just launched a new Space Ghost comic book as part of its licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Entitled Space Ghost Volume 1, it is written by David Pepose; drawn by Jonathan Lau; colored by Andrew Dalhouse; and lettered by Taylor Esposito.

Space Ghost Volume 1 #1 opens on Space Colony Omnicron. It is the home of brilliant scientist, Doctor Jarrod Keplar, and his children – a pair of twins – Jan (a girl) and Jace (a boy). Now, Omnicron is suffering a surprise attack at the hands of space pirates. Dr. Keplar is planning to escape with his children and their pet monkey, Blip, who is more than he seems.

The colony's defenses are overwhelmed, however, and when tragedy strikes the Keplar family, all seems lost. Yet these ruthless pirates did not count on a wild card – the cosmic vigilante known as “the Space Ghost.” This almost folkloric figure metes out justice throughout the galaxy and brings vengeance to those who prey upon the defenseless. But can even this phantom save this day?

THE LOWDOWN: Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles. Space Ghost Volume 1 #1 is the latest, but it is not the first Space Ghost comic book that I have read.

As far as I'm concerned, there have never been enough Space Ghost comic book series. His last comic book appearances before now were DC Comics' Future Quest maxi-series and Future Quest Presents #1 (DC Comics), I believe. So I'm happy about this new series. This first issue is about re-introductions of classic characters and introductions of their new versions. This first chapter is a little chaotic and a little thin on plot. Still, it's fun to see Space Ghost in action, and even more fun to see Jan and Jace take a more proactive part in the combat than they have in the past.

Jonathan Lau's illustrations and Andrew Dalhouse's colors make for a gritty narrative, which I'll accept. I prefer that Space Ghost comics mimic the slick and technically proficient design style of the artist who first visualized the world of Space Ghost, the late Alex Toth. Still, the darker and rougher graphical storytelling style here may indeed work in selling this newer vision of Space Ghost.

I highly recommend Space Ghost Volume 1 #1. It is a first issue well worth many American dollars, dear readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Dynamite Entertainment's Warner Bros. comic book series will want to read Space Ghost Volume 1.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

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Thursday, May 2, 2024

Review: "RESERVOIR DOGS" is Still Running These Mean Streets

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 20 of 2024 (No. 1964) by Leroy Douresseaux

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Running time: 99 minutes (1 hour, 39 minutes)

MPAA – R for strong violence and language

DIRECTOR: Quentin Tarantino

WRITER: Quentin Tarantino

PRODUCER: Lawrence Bender

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Andrzej Sekula

EDITOR: Sally Menke

DRAMA/CRIME

Starring: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi, Lawrence Tierney, Randy Brooks, Kirk Baltz, Edward Bunker, Quentin Tarantino, and (voice) Steven Wright

Reservoir Dogs is a 1992 drama and crime film from writer-director Quentin Tarantino. It is Tarantino's debut film and is the film that brought him to the attention of movie audiences, film critics, and movie studios. Reservoir Dogs focuses on the aftermath of jewelry heist gone wrong as each surviving criminal tries to find out which of his cohorts is a police informant.

Reservoir Dogs opens in a diner and introduces eight gangsters. The boss is Joe Cabot (Lawrence Tierney), and he and his son, “Nice Guy” Eddie Cabot (Chris Penn), are plotting the heist of jewelry store that has obtained some pricey, fine-cut diamonds. Joe has put together a crew to pull off what seems like a routine robbery, and he has given them nicknames or aliases so that they don't know each other's “Christian names.”

Larry Dimmick (Harvey Keitel) is “Mr. White.” Freddy Newendyke (Tim Roth) is “Mr. Orange.” “Toothpick” Vic Vega (Michael Madsen) is “Mr. Blonde.” The other three are “Mr. Pink” (Steve Buscemi), “Mr. Blue” (Edward Bunker), and “Mr. Brown” (Quentin Tarantino).

However, the heist turns out not to be routine because it was like the cops were waiting for them. Now, two of the six robbers are dead. Four of them are hold-up in a warehouse. One of them is grievously wounded, and one of them has shown up with a young police officer, Marvin Nash (Kirk Baltz), he kidnapped. If they are going to make it out of their current predicament, however, they are going to have to discover which of them ratted the rest out to the police.

This year is the thirtieth anniversary of the original theatrical release of Quentin Tarantino's most famous film, Pulp Fiction. It's also the 30th anniversary of the film's debut at the 47th Cannes Film Festival. Before I take a look at that film in its entirety for the first time in thirty years, I decided to go back and watch Reservoir Dogs in its entirety for the first time in over thirty years.

Over the last few decades, I have seen many films referred to as “neo-noir,” because they are modern versions of “Film-Noir.” This term refers to the stylized Hollywood dramas – especially crime dramas – of the 1930s to the 1960s. The 1940s and 1950s are seen as the classic period of Film-Noir. I believe that Reservoir Dogs is legitimately neo-noir because it recalls two of my favorite Film-Noir classics, John Huston's The Asphalt Jungle (1950) and Stanley Kubrick's The Killing (1956), especially the latter of which Reservoir Dogs borrows several ideas and elements. Early on, it is also clear that the nonlinear narrative that Tarantino uses in Reservoir Dogs is similar to that of Akira Kurosawa's classic period drama, Rashomon (1950).

Reservoir Dogs introduces audiences to what would become Tarantino narrative hallmarks: pop culture references; gory violence, hard-hitting action, nonlinear storytelling, and a heady mixture of songs from the 1960s and 1970s. In this case, the music is introduced by an unseen radio DJ, K-Billy, voiced by comedian and actor, Steven Wright. At the time, however, those didn't feel like hallmarks. They were new, and over thirty years later, they still feel new, not like things that are now director trademarks which in many ways define Tarantino's career and process. Even watching the film now, I see them as clever flourishes from a young director with a lot of potential.

Yes, the dialogue does not always sparkle, but every moment of this film bursts with potential even. That is true even when the nonlinear storytelling reveals that the entire process of the jewelry store heist seems like a thing inadvertently built on a house of holes.

Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, and Steve Buscemi provide the strong performances that often keep Reservoir Dogs from seeming like a shallow work of plagiarisms. The bring depth, weight, and substance to ideas that might falter in the hands of lesser talents. Chris Penn and Lawrence Tierney make for a believable father-son duo, and the film's lone Black actor, Randy Brooks, as the police official, Holdaway, dominates every scene in which he appears.

Thirty-two years later, I am now wondering why I haven't watched Reservoir Dogs more often. It, along with Tarantino's next two feature films, Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown (1997), form Tarantino's purest filmmaking period. Without the big budgets he would get in his twenty-first century films, he had to be clever about the places he flexed himself, whereas now he can indulge his every whim. His characters were vulnerable and living on the margins as regular people, low-level criminals, and cheap hoods. In his films of the last two decades, the characters are flashy anti-heroes and rebels played by some of Hollywood biggest stars. Reservoir Dogs has not aged well simply because it has not aged. It still feels like a star recently born.

8 of 10

★★★★ out of 4 stars

Thursday, May 2, 2024

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Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Review: Stanley Kubrick's "THE KILLING" is Still Killer Noir

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 85 (of 2007) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Killing (1956) – B&W

Running time: 85 minutes (1 hour, 25 minutes)

DIRECTOR: Stanley Kubrick

WRITERS: Stanley Kubrick with Jim Thompson for additional dialogue (based upon the novel by Lionel White)

PRODUCER: James B. Harris

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Lucien Ballard

EDITOR: Betty Steinberg

COMPOSER: Gerald Fried

FILM-NOIR/CRIME/DRAMA/THRILLER

Starring: Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards, Jay C. Flippen, Elisha Cook, Jr., Marie Windsor, Ted DeCorsia, Joe Sawyer, James Edwards, Timothy Carey, Joseph Turkel, Jay Adler, Kola Kwariani, and Art Gilmore (narrator)

The Killing is a 1956 American Film-Noir thriller and crime drama from director Stanley Kubrick. The film is based upon the 1955 novel, Clean Break, from author Lionel White. The film follows a veteran criminal who assembles a five-man team to help him pull off a daring racetrack robbery.

Mention Stanley Kubrick’s name and most film fans will immediately think of his films such as Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and A Clockwork Orange, or later Kubrick films like The Shining and Full Metal Jacket. Not many will remember the film that first earned him the notice of Hollywood heavyweights like Kirk Douglas and Marlon Brando, a terrific little film-noir gem called, The Killing.

After spending five years in Alcatraz, ex-convict Johnny Clay (Sterling Hayden) decides that if he’s going to commit crimes, the reward should be worth the risk, and he’s found one that’s very worth the risk – a million dollar heist of a racetrack. Clay masterminds a brilliant and complicated scheme to steal $2,000,000, and recruits several conspirators including track employees and a crooked cop. The only flaw in Johnny’s near-perfect plan is that one of his gang members, George Peatty (Elisha Cook), tells his shrewish wife, Sherry (Marie Windsor), about the planned robbery, and she shares it with her boyfriend. Add a little dog and things get complicated very quickly.

The Killing is one of the best heist films I’ve ever seen. A superb cast of character actors, most used to playing tough guys, policeman, and shady types, gives this film a solid Film-Noir atmosphere and creates a edgy, taunt little thriller that you can’t stop watching until its concluded. Sterling Hayden plays Johnny Clay as a firm, no-nonsense guy that any hood would follow, and in a quiet, subtle fashion, he gives this film added edge.

Stanley Kubrick shaped The Killing using a non-linear structure, in which the narrative moves backwards and forwards in time. Many viewers will recognize non-linear structure as a Quentin Tarantino signature style in such films as Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. In fact, Tarantino credits The Killing with influencing his decision to shape his film narratives in a non-linear structure.

The film has a few problems that keep it from being a truly great film. Art Gilmore’s narration is poor, delivered in that stereotypical monotone used for crime films. Some of the dialogue is a bit too stiff, and the film drags much of the first half hour. However, The Killing pays off the viewers’ patience quite handsomely in the form of an excellent crime film about small time hoods masterminding the perfectly plotted heist.

8 of 10

★★★★ out of 4 stars

Original Post: Sunday, June 03, 2007

EDITED: Wednesday, May 1, 2024

NOTES:

1957 BAFTA Film Award: 1 nomination: “Best Film from any Source” (USA)

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A Negromancer May 2024

Welcome to May 2024. Happy May Day! Happy Cinco de Mayo! May the 4th Be With You! Welcome to Negromancer 2.0. This is the rebirth of the Negromancer, the former movie review site, as a movie review and entertainment and culture news blog.

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