007. Review - Man of Steel

Warner Bros.

The comic book community and its superheroes, from DC to Marvel and all those in-between, is enormous, but there are few figures within it that measure as tall as Superman.  From the first Max Fleischer cartoons to the last filmic attempt in 2006’s Superman Returns, the character has stood not only as a landmark superhero but as an important cultural icon.  The story of a lost Kryptonian raised on Earth to later become one of its greatest protectors is known the world over, and such it is that any new adaptation is met with great interest.  Man of Steel, directed by Zack Snyder, written by David S. Goyer, and produced by Christopher Nolan, is that new adaptation, the beginning of a fresh Superman franchise.  Starring Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Michael Shannon as General Zod, and Henry Cavill as the new man in blue, the film gives us the classic tale for a new age, a stirring visual feast that, despite its weak and even illogical writing, still manages to succeed.

006. Review - This is The End

Columbia Pictures

Ensemble comedies are a staple of the genre, from classics like It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World to recent fare like Bridesmaids.  It’s always great to see comedians riffing off of each other, building jokes to heights that couldn’t have been reached with one man or woman alone.  Such is the case with the new action comedy This is The End, starring Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, and Danny McBride as a group of friends struggling to survive as the world teeters on the brink of apocalypse.  The concept is taken a few steps further here, however, as each of the actors play exaggerated versions of themselves, holed up in James Franco’s art deco house in the middle of a burning Los Angeles.  At first glance, This is The End might seem like a punchline taken to feature film length, but it rises high above expectations thanks to a fantastic cast and nearly non-stop laughs.