Book: "Big Damn Sin City" by Frank Miller

The Witch Trial:
The original Sin City run commenced publishing in 1991.  How well does this ground breaking graphic novel stand up today in this omnibus edition?

Who:
Written and illustrated by Frank Miller, with further illustrations from Lynn Varley
What:
Graphic Novel
Why:
It's the collected seven volumes of the original Sin City graphic novels
When:
Released in 2014
Where:
Set in the fictional town of Basin City from which we derive the nickname that forms the book title

The Case For:
The seven volumes that make up Big Damn Sin City are in order: The Hard Goodbye, A Dame to Kill For, The Big Fat Kill, That Yellow Bastard, Family Values, Booze, Broads & Bullets and finally Hell and Back.
This book is HUGE.  I can't emphasise that enough, not just in scope but in dimensions too (9 x 14.3 x 3.6 inches to be precise).  The binding is of a high quality as is the paper used for the pages.  It is typical of Dark Horse comics to produce such excellent work for this type of compendium.
For those not familiar with the events that appear in Sin City it is a group of individual stories that are told in a film noir style.  Each of the stories gets linked together with main characters from one story providing background or supporting characters in another.
Time lines overlap and when something happens in one yarn it also has effects in another.  It is a really intricately and interestingly weaved tale.  You think you are reading about an isolated storyline only for something to happen in the background that relates to one of the other six episodes.
The film noir style is accentuated by the artwork used.  Everything is done in black and white with very few exceptions, That Yellow Bastard being one of them.  Colour is used extremely sparingly throughout the series.  When it does appear it is used to dazzling effect, whether it is a splash of red lipstick or a pair of blue eyes; it really does bring your attention right into the drawings and fully compliments the art.
Sin City doesn't need the colour though for the amazing artwork on display to pop out at you.  The crispness of this paper only helps make the black and white jump off the page throughout the book.  It is incredible how just two colours can be used to such creative effects.  The brightness and contrast used helps increase the pleasure taken from admiring what you are viewing.  Shadow and light play such an important part here and they are both used stunningly.
It isn't much of a surprise that these light sources are in use when comparing it with the film noir inspiration, as it is one of the common traits of the genre.  What is surprising is how well it translates in still frames on paper.

The vast majority of all the stories are dialogue free, using only thought bubbles as the main character narrates the story unfolding.  This too is another convention often used in film noir to tell the story and is particularly effective in Sin City.  Thought bubbles are nothing new for comic strips so it shouldn't come as any surprise how well it works for these volumes.
Some of the art cells that make up some of these tales utilise a full page for maximum impact.  Due to the large format of this book it really helps bring the scene to life.  You find yourself scanning the whole page to really take in the scene being depicted.
For a graphic novel set in a fictional city with over the top situations it is surprising how relatable some of these characters can be and the situations they find themselves in.  Of course no one is going to run into a cannibalistic sadist; but finding a corrupt priest or politician is definitely not unheard of.  Who hasn't come across a person like Marv that you know can be an okay guy but if you say one thing wrong to him, he will flip out and probably cause you bodily harm!
Not everything is so simplistic but I do find myself reading these stories and thinking that some of it could be a lot closer to the truth than we would wish.  It isn't such a hard stretch to imagine similar scenario's playing out in the seedy underbelly of the crime world.  This is especially true of the things that occur in Old Town; it isn't so far-fetched to imagine that a person enters a certain area and is never heard from again.
Getting into the stories themselves, there are some that really standout for me and others that I wasn't as enthused about.  That isn't to say I dislike any particular volume.  On the contrary there is something I admire in each one just that I prefer some to others.  In most cases the ones I particularly enjoy relates to the main protagonist whose story arc the yarn is following.

I love Marv, which I don't think comes as a big surprise as he does seem to be top of many people's lists.  So it should also come as no surprise that The Hard Goodbye is one of my favourite tales.  Marv is obviously a guy with serious mental issues.  I love the fact that he is so relentless and all that matters to him is completing what he sets out to do.
I wonder if Frank Miller had Jessica Rabbit in mind when he initially came up with the idea for Ava Lord.  They both share many similarities with lots of other femme fatale's from the film noir genre.  But it is in the style they are both illustrated that I draw the comparison.  Never before have pencilled characters been as steaming hot as these two ladies!
I find Ava's seduction of Mort during A Dame to Kill For to be the best twist to this particular tale.  It also showcases her talents for getting men to follow her every whim and prove the title is well warranted.
Deadly Little Miho.  How cool is she?  It is fantastic to see one of the more frightening individuals portrayed being female.  Sure we have Marv, Dwight, Wallace and Manute bringing the brawn; but when it comes down to the finesse in the art of being deadly only Delia comes close to matching Miho.
You can certainly tell that Frank Miller must have enjoyed writing Miho's character due to the number of appearances she makes in other yarns.  It would not be beyond the realms of possibility to have other Old Town residents replace her in some of the other stories so there is an obvious affection from the author.  My personal favourite appearance has to be Family Values.  How can you not love a roller skating assassin?
Hell and Back is another story that I particularly enjoyed.  Wallace is such a badass.  At first you aren't quite sure what he is all about but he quickly turns out to be a guy that no one should mess with.  It is also the perfect way to end the series on an uplifting note proving that you can leave the city of sin and have hope for the future.

The Case Against:
Where does the book fall down though?  Well in such a massive collection the stories can get a little bit repetitive; especially if, like me, you binge read the whole lot in one go.  If you were to put this down after reading one volume and went on to something else before coming back for the next episode, then I think the repetitiveness would not be so obvious.
As it stands it is only a minor niggle and one to be expected really when trolling through such a large text there are bound to be parts which feel like they have already been seen or done already.  The fact that everything is black and white certainly adds to this feeling too.
Likewise with the storylines; some characters also seem to have many similarities when viewed together as a whole.  The film noir style narration definitely contributes a great deal to this thought as well.  When each of the main characters from each episode is narrating the story as it goes, then it is an unavoidable trait.  Of course it is also a trait that you have to expect from this style of writing so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise when considered this way.
Sin City is a very bleak setting which can feel very oppressive.  These are not uplifting tales in the main; no one here is chasing sunshine and rainbows.  This is a story of the sordid side of life and it does it very well, so no one should read this expecting the hero to live all the time.  I hate to keep harping on about it, but again it follows film noir's common themes where betrayal and death are prevalent.  We do end on a positive note however and that is not to be dismissed, but overall these tales do have a dark tone.
Speaking of dark tones we segue nicely into the actual artwork.  Now I don't have a problem with the two tones used throughout and have already stated how it is used to excellent effect.  There are a few cells however, where it can be hard to distinguish exactly what you are looking at due to the use of only black and white.
I must stress this is not a common occurrence throughout the book but you might find yourself staring at one scene for some time before finally working out what exactly is being depicted.  You also might consider it a blessing that you get to admire the craft that has gone into each frame whilst deciphering the shadows at work.  For me it was a minor annoyance and when you look at how many frames makes up the whole story I really am nit-picking.
The one final gripe about the content of the book is the lack of the single issue covers from each story.  I can appreciate that the inclusion of these during the main body of the book would have detracted from the overall flow.  But it would have been special to have these included in the end appendices.
Now as has been mentioned a couple of times this book is BIG.  This book is so big in fact that it is rather cumbersome to read.  It does weigh a considerable amount and resting it in your lap while reading can be rather uncomfortable.  Don't let that dissuade you from considering purchasing this however as it is still an excellent book, just not the most practical size.

Verdict:
Overall Big Damn Sin City is a terrific addition to anyone's library.
We cannot condone the actions of some of the criminals and miscreants that appear in this tome being members of the inquisition and all.  Owning this grimoire however, will definitely not get you burnt at the stake but may leave you spellbound by the beautiful artwork held within its pages.

Evidence:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin_City

Poster Pride & Prejudice: case study AIR

Where we look at one Scorching piece of artwork that generates excitement for what it is advertising. 

Then on the flipside we also have a Torturous piece that makes you wonder how it ever got approval to promote the product...

French electronic band Air have eight studio albums to their name.  Here are the best and worst album covers they have produced in my humble opinion.

The Scorcher

It is a close call between The Virgin Suicides and Moon Safari, but I love the text and symmetry of this particular one just a smidge more.

The Torture

This makes them look like a couple of pretentious prats (yes I know they are French but that doesn't excuse this travesty).  Even the title Talkie Walkie makes me cringe.

Poster Pride & Prejudice: case study PINK FLOYD

Where we look at one Scorching piece of artwork that generates excitement for what it is advertising. 

Then on the flipside we also have a Torturous piece that makes you wonder how it ever got approval to promote the product...

In the interests of fairness I thought it best to choose from my own personal collection to start things off with this new feature.
So lets put Pink Floyd under investigation.

The Scorcher

Many will argue for Dark Side of the Moon which is easily the most recognisable Pink Floyd album cover, but Wish You Were Here is just an amazing piece of art.

The Torture

Need we say more about Atom Heart Mother other than letting the sleeve speak for itself - Mooo!

Film: The "Lone Wolf and Cub" series

The Witch Trial:
This series of films were based on the highly acclaimed manga.  Do they do justice to the source material or should Ogami Itto & Daigoro stay at the Crossroads to Hell...

Who:
Director: Kenji Misumi (parts 1, 2, 3 & 5); Buichi Saito (part 4); Yoshiyuki Kuroda (part 6)
Starring: Tomisaburo Wakayama, Tomikawa Akihiro, Yunosuke Ito, Tatsuo Endo, Minoru Ohki
What:
Chanbara (Japanese genre, basically a sword fighting film)
Why:
The original manga series was written by Kazuo Koike & illustrated by Goseki Kojima.  Kazuo Koike was involved in adapting his work for these screen adaptations.
When:
Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972)
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972)
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades (1972)
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril (1972)
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (1973)
Lone Wolf and Cub: White Heaven in Hell (1974)
Where:
Set in feudal Japan during the Edo period

The Case For:
In 1970 Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima had their epic work Lone Wolf and Cub first published.  When I say epic, I mean EPIC as the story stands at a staggering 28 volumes, totalling over 8,700 pages in length!  It has been adapted for both the small screen, the large screen and also in video game format.
Here we are looking at the six film series released in the early seventies, right at the time when Lone Wolf and Cub's popularity was at its height.  Four of the six films were released in quick succession during 1972, with the remaining two movies coming out at a rate of one per year for the next two years.
Throughout the sextet our two heroes; Ogami Itto and his son Daigoro were played on screen by Tomisaburo Wakayama and Tomikawa Akihiro respectively.  Their nemeses were the Yagyu Clan, whose leader Yagyu Retsudo was portrayed by three different actors during four of the films.
Each film saw Itto as an assassin for hire having to tackle a new challenge from the various people hiring his services.  Along the way he faces many adversaries and a seemingly never ending amount of Yagyu clan members out for his and Daigoro's blood.
He is left in sole care of Daigoro after being set up by the Yagyu who murder his wife in the process. Swearing bloody vengeance he makes his escape to tread the path of the Ronin; a wandering Samurai warrior.
With that overall synopsis out of the way let us look at what the focus is of each film and what were the highlights from all six movies.  I'm sure this is going to run to some length but let's dive right in...

There are informative captions appearing at the top of the screen during each episode, that help to explain what some of the different terminology used throughout the films actual meaning is.  This is a very helpful tool that adds to the overall enjoyment.  It would be quite frustrating trying to grasp what is happening at some points without it.
We start with Sword of Vengeance.  Itto is the Shogun's executioner, a position of high prestige.  It is the executioner's job to act as the Shogun's 'second' for any daimyo ordered to commit seppuku; more commonly known as hari-kari.  This task involves chopping the head off the daimyo as they disembowel themselves, which offers a quick release from what would be a painful slow death.
The opening scene has Itto performing his sworn role, but the daimyo in question here is a young child.  This does cause some consternation for the watcher as you question whether Itto will carry out the execution on one so young.  Of course this is feudal Japan where honour and duty is everything and Itto does indeed complete the grisly task!  Now being the first scene of a six movie series I am not really spoiling anything here as this is setting up the story.
The whole scene is extremely brutal and shocking, which helps set the tone for what is to follow.  It also provides the platform for everything else to come because it is this execution which gives the Yagyu the motivation to frame Itto and ultimately put him on his path of retribution.
Sword of Vengeance provides the origin story and as mentioned, sets Itto on his first steps on the road to regaining his honour.  There are a few great moments throughout this particular entry in the series.  We have some wonderful scenes take place; the stand out of which is the battle between Yagyu Bizen-no-kami and Ogami Itto that occurs in a water location which is superbly framed and very evocative.
We have a scene where two kids playing with a ball in the road, sing a song that provides one of the most humorous moments of the whole set, some of the lyrics of which are:
    "From high up in the mountain,
    If you shit a rocky turd, oh...
    It'll be all covered with sand...
    It'll tumble down like a pebble..."
Now whether something is lost in the translation (or gained depending on your opinion) this is certainly one of the strangest children's songs I have ever heard!
During this scene we are taken, via flashback, to when Itto has Daigoro choose if he wants to follow his father on his path of vengeance or if he wants to follow his mother to her grave.  It is a moving moment as you feel that Itto is conflicted with wishing to care for his son but not wanting him to experience the long and painful journey he himself has chosen.
When we get to the final showdown of this first instalment we see that the baby cart that Daigoro is ushered around in is more than what it seems.  Various parts of the cart can be removed to reveal different hidden weapons that Itto is adept at using to devastating effect.
Baby Cart at the River Styx introduces the Akari Yagyu, who are a group of female assassins led by Sayaka.  At first these ladies appear to be the main threat to Itto and Daigoro.  But once Itto is hired to eliminate a traitor of a clan of dye experts we find out that his target is being escorted by the Hidari brothers who prove to be the main enemies here.
The Hidari brothers are awesome; three siblings who are each specialists with their individual particular weapon of choice.  From the whole series the Hidari brothers were the bad guys that I enjoyed the most.  John Carpenter definitely took inspiration from their look for "The Three Storm" antagonists in Big Trouble in Little China.
Having the end battle amongst sand dunes provides a new and different setting to finish of this second entry.  We are also treated to some cool Hidari bloodletting as they set about clearing the path ahead of them before coming across Itto in this wasteland.

Baby Cart to Hades is the first time we really see Itto's immense killing power as he takes on a huge amount of enemies.  Again the baby cart plays an important role in this fight and seems to have been tricked out with an even bigger arsenal of gadgetry.
We also have the introduction of Kanbei, one of the more fleshed out opponents Itto comes across on his travels.  There is a mutual respect between the two which comes from the laws of honour both men adhere to.  This is probably the most interesting thread weaved throughout the third movies story.  Kanbei you feel has a similar amount of darkness and light conflicting within his soul as Itto does.  He is a great addition to the series.
Baby Cart in Peril also has one of the standout characters outside of our two heroes; Oyuki, a female assassin who has a heavily tattooed torso.  She exposes her upper body when fighting to distract the enemies sent against her.  There is no denying the exploitation aspect at play here, but there is such an element of cool as well that you soon forgive the gratuitous nudity.
One of Retsudo's sons Gunbei Yagyu also comes into the frame.  He has a riveting interplay with Daigoro, which really puts Daigoro in the spotlight for the first major time in the series and takes him away from Itto's protection too.  Surprisingly Gunbei has in the past proved to be more skilful than Itto and we are treated to the continuation of their rivalry here.
The climax again sees Itto take on what seem to be impossible odds against a vast array of Yagyu clan members being led by Retsudo, who returns here for the first time since the first episode.  Both men face off at the close and leave the battlefield bloodied for their troubles.  We have seen Itto injured before but never to this extent and it is refreshing because you do get the sense that even though he is a formidable warrior, he is not invincible.
Peril is probably my favourite out of all six movies; we have interesting foes for Itto to face off against during this instalment.  There are two solid storylines in both Oyuki's revenge and Retsudo's political machinations plus some great fight sequences to go with it all.  It is undoubtedly a great addition to this saga and I think having a different director probably helped revitalize the approach to the material.
Baby Cart in the Land of Demons has a lot of intrigue to contend with.  First Itto comes up against five messengers who he must prove his skills against to be worthy enough to be assigned the task they have for him.  That task involves the killing of another child, this one an imposter who has been used to usurp the real heir of a daimyo.  All this he needs to accomplish while keeping Retsudo's hands off a document which would expose the deception.
Daigoro is given his second individual story thread too and one which has more depth than his previous run in with Gunbei.  Here he is protecting the identity of a thief and we see that he is following the code of honour that Itto has instilled in him as he refuses to break the promise he made to the thief.
I loved seeing Daigoro in action here; for one thing we get to hear him speak something other than calling for his father.  It is also an opportunity to see this loveable child again show maturity far beyond his years.
While I wouldn't put Land of Demons near the top of my favourites it is certainly a chapter that has its interests.  It also sees Kenji Misumi return to directorial duties.  I am sure that after producing four films in 1972, three of which were directed by Misumi, the extra time in between this release certainly allowed everyone to recharge for this outing.
The final film White Heaven in Hell is quite different to all that has preceded it.  For a start we have a new setting as all the action takes place in the middle of winter with plenty of snow abounding.
Tonally there is a shift too as our heroes face a clan of practitioners of some sort of voodoo type magic.  This clan is led by Hyouei, an illegitimate son of Retsudo.  It was interesting to see Hyouei deny Retsudo's plea for aid in his quest to kill Itto.  In a society renowned for its sense of duty, to see this disobedience took me by surprise.  Of course it doesn't mean that Hyouei isn't intent on seeing to it that Itto and Daigoro finish up dead, he just wants it to be on his own terms and not be dictated to by a father he has never known.
The grand finale is a snowbound battle where Itto again faces off against Retsudo and the Yagyu clan.  Daigoro's baby cart has been mounted on ski's to help navigate the terrain which is kind of cool.  Not to be outdone Retsudo enters this contest riding on his on pimped out bobsleigh.
With snow falling all around him Itto has to overcome ski mounted Yagyu members as well as dodging all sorts of missiles slung at him.  The whole scene is completely different to anything else we have seen so far and kind of comes across as one crazy way to finish the series.  Skiing duellists is not something I expected to see that is for sure!
Over the duration of the sextet we have some awesome individual scenes.  The pacing and framing is excellent in places, helping to build tension or intrigue to what we are viewing.  There is also a great mix of locations which helps provide enough variation from one film to the next.
Our two main actors are terrific throughout.  Even though Tomisaburo Wakayama looks like he has spent too much time at the catering cart, he certainly has the moves and skills required for his role.  Tomikawa Akihiro is simply adorable as Daigoro, he definitely doesn't say a lot but he doesn't need too.  He provides that bit of humanity to the duo and it is amazing how much emotion the two can portray with a look at one another.  I found the pairing to be spot on.
Then we have our fights and boy does it deliver on the fights.  Of course we have to end each one with the traditional boss type battle (sometimes more than once per movie depending on the number of antagonists) in perfect chanbara fashion.  If sword action is your thing you won't be disappointed with the amount of action appearing in any of the films.

The Case Against:
As is often the case with this type of film, some of the problems that people will have with them are common issues.
There are many occasions throughout the series where our protagonist comes up against a number of foes, only to have them attack him one person at a time.  As a viewer you know that it would be far simpler for the villains to just attack en masse but it never happens that way.  Of course if it did work out that way the bad guys would invariably always win out, which we can't have!  There are also the choreography reasons that helps explain why we end up with one attacker at a time as it makes for a far more visually coherent scene.
If you are not familiar with chanbara films then the first time you see someone getting slashed with a sword you would be forgiven for wondering how on earth blood squirts from the body like a massive fountain.  It often is typical for characters to die with their blood spraying all and sundry in most movies of this nature.  To fully immerse yourself in the genre it is something you have to accept; that even though a person won't turn into a sprinkler of blood normally, they sure will when slashed by a blade in a Japanese Samurai film!
I did find it funny that Itto all the way through this set walks with a slow deliberate pace; it did make me wonder how he ever gets anywhere.  It must take him ages to get from one place to the next which makes it even funnier that the Yagyu have so much trouble catching him.
Our first entry Sword of Vengeance has some distinct sound issues.  Now this might just appear on the Ultimate Collection that I viewed it on but I doubt it.  There are scenes which have no Foley or music at all and we are left with complete silence.  It is very distracting and takes you out of the sequence completely.  At first I feared every film would be like this but thankfully the problem is only restricted to parts in the opening chapter.
Daigoro is breastfed by a complete stranger near the beginning of Vengeance and you wonder why on earth this is included.  The mother lamenting her lost child never appears again throughout the rest of the movie.  Does seem to be a strange choice, maybe something is lost in the translation to English but I was baffled by this scene appearing.
It is also a blessing that Yunosuke Ito is replaced for the future entries as Retsudo.  He is clearly over acting and over emphasising his dialogue to the point that it takes an age for him to utter a sentence.  The hair and make-up department definitely wouldn't have won any awards either for their efforts with Retsudo's wig and facial hair.  He does come across as a comic book villain in this one.
The Akari Yagyu's choice of weaponry in River Styx are very unusual.  Whilst the razor blades hidden in the headwear of some are appealing; the hidden daggers in vegetables are definitely not.
Their leader Sayaka also has her moment of strangeness when she jogs backwards while making her get away from Itto after their confrontation.  Very bizarre and so out of place in relation to the tone of the film.  It is definitely a scene delivered in reverse shot and I had the feeling that they wanted to portray her fleeing the fight in a hurry without turning her back on her adversary, but it looks so wrong.
After Itto's fight with the Kurokawa clan he takes shelter in a ramshackle hut.  Now the surviving Kurokawa along with Sayaka know he is in here and injured but choose to not go in and finish the job.  It is so typical of bad guys in movies who don't take the easy option but instead come up with some convoluted way of getting rid of the hero.  Of course it wouldn't be much of a story if our evil characters did kill the good guy so easily but it still remains a frustrating element of many films.
The writers of River Styx obviously love the Hidari brother with the iron claws more than the other two brothers as a lot of the focus is on him using his weapons.  They would have created more fear for our heroes wellbeing, if a little bit of focus had gone on creating the sense that the Hidari were all equally powerful rather than just the one with the coolest tools at his disposal.
Both the prostitute from Sword of Vengeance and Sayaka from River Styx seem to have affection or admiration for Itto and I was confused as to whether they both wanted to follow him or be with him come the end of each film.  I did find both very similar endings and hoped that the remaining movies wouldn't follow the same trend.  Thankfully it was only the first two that shared this theme.  We also have Torizo in Hades doing similar but with much better reasons considering what Itto had done to help spare her life.  The way she is held back by the people around her helped redeem her actions in my eyes as it isn't Itto rejecting her.  Instead it is others recognising that following Itto will be no life at all for her.

Baby Cart to Hades in my opinion has the weakest of the story lines of all six films. There seems to be too much going on for one film, it would have been better with a clearer focus on one thread.  Maybe if they had chosen to focus mainly on the character of Kanbei who adds so much to this particular entry I would have enjoyed it much more.
Hades makes a strange choice to introduce some narration during the first part, which offers up some exposition regarding watari-kashi.  As it is the first time we have heard a narrator after two previous instalments, it does feel a little out of place.  We possibly could have been forgiven our ignorance as to the exact nature of what a watari-kashi is and just gone along for the ride in knowing that the people we are about to meet aren't going to be good Samaritans.
There is also an uncomfortable amount of rape in this third film, starting with our watari-kashi characters.  I am never comfortable with rape scenes on screen as they can be unnecessary in most cases and it certainly brought my enjoyment level of this entry down.
I had two things that irked me from Baby Cart in Peril.  Involving our two new antagonists; Oyuki and Gunbei.
My first gripe was with Oyuki's resolution.  I was very disappointed with how her storyline finished up.  The way her father is in the whole affair annoyed me too, but I think that came down to my interpretation of his feelings towards her at first.  It was only later on reflection that I came to the conclusion that he wanted Oyuki to regain some honour which she does in the end.
The problem I had with Gunbei completely revolved around his vow to be the one who will kill Itto at the end of the film.  I fully expected him to make a future appearance in the remaining two films only to be left down hearted when he doesn't show up again.  I am sure this is solely down to perhaps later instalments being abandoned as the producers probably felt that after six films this story had run its course.  But it would have been glorious to see the two of them face off one more time.
The opening gambit of Land of Demons I found a bit hard to swallow.  If one of the five messengers was killed by Itto before they had a chance to pass on their message then their whole scheme would have been for nothing.  The idea itself was sound, but having him come across these assailants on his travels just seemed like a bad plot device.  It was something that really annoyed me, especially when you consider that the task they were hiring him for was time sensitive and this was just delaying its commencement.
Whilst I enjoyed the change of scenery in White Heaven I did feel that you could tell this was the end for the Lone Wolf saga.  For starters we don't have the traditional opening music; instead we get some funk song playing over the opening.  What the hell is that all about?  Obviously it is a clear sign of the times with Blaxploitation films really hitting their prime but it was so out of place in relation to the rest of the series.
Introducing the magic aspect also felt out of place.  We haven't seen any supernatural elements with any foes so far, apart from Sayaka's bizarre backwards jog from part two.  Here though we all of a sudden have voodoo style zombies who can burrow beneath the earth to surprise their victim.
The film then resorts to how do we put our hero in danger; have him attacked by overwhelming odds.  As Wikipedia, that font of all knowledge, states Itto kills 150 people in this film.  Now even if that isn't a record as it claims on wiki, it is still a ridiculous number for one person to slaughter during an 83 minute running time.  Don't get me wrong, I know to expect lots of carnage in a chanbara film but this was way over the top.
Retsudo has a converted bobsleigh that is now a killing machine, as well as Itto's baby cart's arsenal of weapons, really brings us into James Bond gadgets galore territory!  It was a surprise at first but then in the scheme of things it does come across as more comical than anything else.
Finally though I was most disappointed that there was no conclusion with the final entry.  I was expecting the two main rivals to face off in a grand battle but it wasn't to be.  Obviously this was done on purpose with the possibility of further adventures to come that just didn't eventuate.  After investing so much in the overall story arc and especially if you don't know how the original manga ends up; you would have every right to feel ripped off with the final chapter's conclusion.
I think Yoshiyuki Kuroda came in as director with the offer to freshen things up with some new ideas and for me it just didn't work out as well as it should have done.  Which probably then spelt the end of this incarnation of the Lone Wolf and Cub tale.
Who knows though, maybe one day someone else can pick up the mantle of these characters and give this the finale it deserves.

Verdict:
Itto & Daigoro may choose to live as demons on the crossroads to hell, but you won't find me condemning them anytime soon.  Unless I am offered 500 Gold Pieces that is!

Evidence:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_Wolf_and_Cub:_Sword_of_Vengeance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_Wolf_and_Cub:_Baby_Cart_at_the_River_Styx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_Wolf_and_Cub:_Baby_Cart_to_Hades
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_Wolf_and_Cub:_Baby_Cart_in_Peril
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_Wolf_and_Cub:_Baby_Cart_in_the_Land_of_Demons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_Wolf_and_Cub:_White_Heaven_in_Hell

Television: Marvel's Jessica Jones

The Witch Trial:
Marvel's continued expansion onto the small screen continued with Jessica Jones.  Do her super powers manage to capture our imagination and will we want to see more?

Who:
Starring: Krysten Ritter, Rachael Taylor, Mike Colter, Carrie-Anne Moss, David Tennant
What:
Season One
Why:
Part of the greater plan of Marvel in their attempt to dominate the world!
When:
Released 2015
Where:
Takes place in Hell's Kitchen in New York

The Case For:
Jessica Jones is one of those lower level super heroes from Marvel who doesn't have enough pulling power on her own to green light a movie but has enough of a following to warrant the gamble of a small screen debut.  Along with Daredevil, Iron Fist and Luke Cage (who is part of the cast here) and also not forgetting Agent Carter as well as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Marvel are certainly expanding into television in a big way.
In a similar vein to the film releases, Marvel have created enough of a difference in the storylines amongst their TV output so you don't feel you are watching the same repetitive tales.  It is a clever marketing tool and one that I hope they continue with as each show certainly has its merits and audience appeal.
Again they have shown they are a modern forward thinking company with this show based around a strong female lead.  Along with Agent Carter and the forthcoming Captain Marvel film, as well as super heroine Black Widow's many on screen appearances, they are certainly leading the way by putting female role models at the forefront of their products.
Jessica Jones is as much about the people as it is about the heroics.  The character studies that take place make this one of the most interesting takes on the genre from the huge array of super hero shows we are inundated with.
There is a strong emphasis on the mental health issues of not only Jessica Jones but also her supporting cast too; Trish Walker, Will Simpson, Malcolm Ducasse, Jeri Hogarth, Kilgrave and any number of others too, all have their problems on display.
Post-traumatic stress disorder plays a huge part in the lives of many of these people, particularly our heroine.  We also have drug addiction, anger management, mental torture, bulimia and child abuse addressed during this season.  It is so refreshing to have these topics discussed and recognised so openly in a genre best known for focusing on big explosions and plenty of action.
Character development is imperative to engage with your audience when it comes to television.  A film can get away with just being entertaining but if you want watchers to keep tuning in each week, you need to have people that are interesting so viewers want to see what happens next in their lives.
This show certainly achieves that.  It was very satisfying, for example, seeing Malcolm struggle with his drug problem and trying to overcome it.  The same goes for seeing how Trish copes with the trauma from her childhood and gaining the strength and belief to stand up for herself.
Of course Jessica's struggle with coming to terms with the mental anguish that Kilgrave put her through during her time under his influence is the main plot point throughout this first season.  Krysten Ritter portrays her as a very capable woman but also one who you can see is clearly traumatised from her ordeal.  She uses alcohol as one of her coping mechanisms.  It is clear this is a person who has trouble opening up to others.  She is not one to cry out for help even if she recognises that it would be cathartic for her.
It's an excellent performance from Ritter, very nuanced and subtle; she can evoke many emotions just from a flicker of her eyes or the curl of her mouth.  That's not to say she doesn't kick ass when it is needed.  She is no shrinking violet that is for sure!
The relationship she shares with Trish Walker is one of the highlights of the show.  Ritter and Rachael Taylor do have excellent on screen chemistry.  It is nice to see the support they provide for one another but also display their differences too.  In much the same way siblings will disagree, fight and bicker, we see the same from the two of them.
Jessica's love interest Luke Cage makes his on screen debut here before he gets his own show in 2016.  Luke gets a good introduction and we basically get enough of his story so once his series does come along, we aren't going to be subjected to half a season of origin story.  There is very little explanation for either hero as to how or why they have these super powers.  It's a nice touch though, because we don't need to know.  The fact they are different from regular people is just something we are left to deal with.
I liked this particular partnering too.  Both Jessica and Luke have baggage and issues to deal with.  You get a sense that they could be kindred spirits.  Each have the burden of trying to hide their abilities from the wider public and this shared agenda helps bring them closer together.  There is a connection between the two that I don't want to spoil, but the way this particular story thread is handled throughout the season's run is very dignified.  The resolution certainly feels well handled in relation to their shared experiences with Kilgrave.
This brings us to Kilgrave.  David Tennant portrays one of the best rounded out super villains we have yet seen in the Marvel universe.  One of the benefits of TV is the extra time it allows to develop the bad guys as well as the good guys.  Like Wilson Fisk from Daredevil, Kilgrave certainly has his fair share of screen time, which allows us to get a glimpse of why he is the way he is.
Kilgrave is very charismatic with undertones of menace and a temper brimming just below the surface.  For someone who doesn't have a group of henchmen at his beck and call, he certainly uses his powers to bring people to his aid when needed.
His usage of his mind manipulation powers bring us full circle back to the mental trauma suffered by many people at his hands.  Kilgrave's victims come together to form their own support group that allows us to explore their group therapy sessions.  This sort of situation makes you realise you are watching a different type of TV show which isn't afraid to tackle bigger issues.
As the season gets closer to the end we are provided with a hint as to what the future possibly holds. We may see Nuke appear as an enemy our main protagonist has to deal with. There is also the mysterious IGH introduced in the last couple of episodes that requires further investigation. Both of these should have enough intrigue to entice viewers back for season two.
There is a nice crossover character introduced in the last couple of episodes from Daredevil.  There are a number of other minor players that we meet here, in addition to the ones introduced already in Daredevil, that all add to that world building that should bear fruit once we get to The Defenders mini-series planned for the future.

The Case Against:
Are we at risk of an over saturation of super heroes?  Marvel certainly doesn't seem to think so.  The question does need to be asked though, especially when we get shows with characters that have a hard core group of fans but aren't as well known to the wider public.
It does make you wonder if a show based on someone like Jessica Jones is going to have enough appeal.  Certainly when you see the quality of what is on show here it should do, but is it going to attract people who will think it is just yet another show about costumed heroes.
Both Jessica Jones and Daredevil have a much darker tone to them than the movies Marvel have released.  They are definitely aimed at more mature viewers than the target audience for the films.  That's a bold move when you already have the numbers flocking to see your product on the big screen.
It's also a well-planned calculated move though.
There is a certain cynical thought that the TV shows are here in an attempt to widen Marvel's appeal to people who wouldn't be interested in seeing their movies.  There would be age groups who would view their output as too juvenile for them.  By having more cutting edge TV shows aimed at a mature audience it gives Marvel access to these groups.
By the same token the darker tone and subject matter of Jessica Jones certainly alienates a lot of the younger generation who do flock to see their movies.  You would imagine that Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Matt Murdock in their current incarnations won't be showing up in any future films and vice versa, Thor or Hulk aren't going to make an appearance in Hell's Kitchen any time soon.
It is a shame as it does isolate them to their current media.  On the other hand it could also be a good thing too.  If Tony Stark was popping up all the time to meet with Jessica then the show would quickly become a case of "Guest Starring" each week.
As for Jessica Jones itself there is a distinct lack of action per episode if fans are expecting to see lots of punch ups.  Especially as both Jones and Cage are super strong, you would be forgiven for thinking that it will be a full on fight feast every time.  It isn't a problem for me as the greater subject matter being covered is far more interesting than seeing fight after fight.  There is still a fair share of action anyway but some might think there just isn't enough.  For instance I found Daredevil had a fight quota that each episode felt the need to meet, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of that series.
One thing that did amuse me greatly was Jessica's continuous use of her strength to open locked doors.  That particular trope must have appeared on average once per episode, so much so you could consider making it into a drinking game.  She could certainly get a second job as a locksmith if she was short of cash!
The most frustrating thing that did occur was Kilgrave managing to get away time and time again.  Just when you think she has him something would crop up to allow her nemesis to escape once more.  Combine this with the door opening powers and you could end up with a drinking game that would make you more than a little tipsy.
Probably the most annoying part of the season was the final resolution.  The writers built such a great villain with so much about him to love and hate that it would be nice to see Kilgrave appear further.
What has become a common trait though for Marvel, is they seem to only allow for the bad guys to have one storyline before we move on to the next one.  In the comic world it is the opposite though as enemies are brought back time and time again.  It would be great if Loki wasn't the only one to appear more than once.
I think they may have missed a trick here with Kilgrave; he has a similar appeal to the god of mischief, certainly with David Tennant's portrayal of him.

Verdict:
She might have been burnt at the stake back in the 1600's for her super power abilities.  Today, however, we need to commend Jessica Jones for breaking new ground in a forever expanding genre.  No witches here people, just plenty of broken doors that need mending!

Evidence:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2357547/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Jones_(TV_series)

Book: The "Jason Crane Sleepy Hollow" Trilogy by Richard Gleaves

The Witch Trial:
Richard Gleaves uses the basis of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" to mould this trilogy, with the characters of Richard's books being the descendants of the main characters from Irving's "Legend" story.  How well does he achieve this premise we will find out below...

Who:
Author: Richard Gleaves (with a little help of course from Washington Irving)
What:
Horror/Mystery
Why:
Normally I would let you know here if the book is a standalone book or part of a series.  However I am covering all three books in the series as it stands now (hopefully we get more in the future).
"Rise Headless and Ride" introduces our main hero Jason Crane, with "Bridge of Bones" continuing the saga and "General of the Dead" concluding the trilogy.
When:
Set in the present day
Where:
Based in the small village of Sleepy Hollow

The Case For:
I came across the book "Rise Headless and Ride" from a BookBub recommendation (a website that all avid book readers should use).  Having read Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" a few times, as well as having the audio book too, you could say I was already a fan of the original source.
So when I read the blurb for "Rise Headless and Ride" and saw that it contained the Headless Horseman and was set in Sleepy Hollow it is safe to say that I was keen to explore this novel.
Richard Gleaves uses this haunted location for the setting of his story, crafting his tale around the original "Legend" short story.  The way he has incorporated the "Legend" in to his own trilogy is a remarkable achievement.  His love of the original text and the village itself really shows through in his work.
Our hero is Jason Crane, a teenager who tragically lost his parents in a motoring accident.  He moves to Sleepy Hollow with his grandmother, who has guardianship.  Her motive for moving to the region, unbeknown to Jason, is that he is a direct descendant of Ichabod Crane.  This will have a bearing on the future of himself and everyone else around him.
We are soon introduced to Hadewych Van Brunt who, without wanting to spoil it too much, appears to be one of the villains of the piece.  But impressions can be mistaken and there are a few surprises in store for both protagonist and villain.
The story arc of Hadewych is done in such a way that from one chapter to the next you are unsure as to whether you want to hate him or wish for his redemption.  The same goes for Hadewych's son Zef who experiences many emotional shifts.
That is one of the main strengths of these books; the depth of character development that takes place is excellent.  Not just for our hero but nearly every person we get to meet grows in some way throughout the series.  You find yourself disliking a person at the beginning and then further along hoping that they survive the tale.
Seeing as how this story has a supernatural element to it we are soon introduced to special "Gifts" that certain people have.  I was a bit sceptical when these abilities were first introduced into the story but as more details came to light about their nature they did add to the overall enjoyment.
Each Gift is well thought out and helps to move the narrative along whilst also providing some of the materials more light hearted moments.  Also the reasons given as to why regular people have no knowledge about the gifted, is done in a believable and satisfying way.
I'll admit I wasn't aware that Sleepy Hollow is an actual place in New York.  I thought it was somewhere made up for the original "Legend" story.  To find out it is a real village was a pleasant surprise.  So much of this trilogy is featured around real places, or events that happened, or people that truly existed.
There are layers upon layers of references and clues to these along the way, that only pay off as you get to certain points.  Once you reach these sections it makes you want to go back and re-read bits to see how you missed them.  There are probably other references that I didn't pick up on that would jump out or be clearer on a second read.
The Salem Witch Trials, along with Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" are a couple of things hinted at throughout the narrative.  Also the way the Tarot is used throughout the plot is superbly done and once it gets to "General of the Dead" you will wonder at the ingenuity of it all.
There is just so much attention to detail and planning that must have gone into the development of this story that makes me really appreciate the efforts of the author.  The way things have been integrated into the story makes the world building that is taking place here appear to be only a small part of a much larger universe.
We could be reading only a portion of what has the potential to be an epic work of fiction.  That is what excites me the most about this saga.  There is so much more that can be explored further and I for one hope for plenty more to come from the Jason Crane world.

The Case Against:
There weren't too many issues I had with this trilogy overall.
The back stories of Dylan and Agathe Van Brunt did take you out of the main story, but were imperative to get the bigger picture.  So whilst they did feel like you were being given a lot of extensive exposition in one hit, it was important to the overall structure of this tale.
Agathe's reading of her diary did feel a little forced for where and when it takes place in the third book but I struggled to think of a better place for this part to have unfolded.
It's unusual to have such large back stories told in full and in such detail when the wider drama is still continuing.  From some of the reader reviews I have seen, not everyone bothered to read these parts until after they had completed reading the main adventure.
The alternative of having them appear as appendices would have spoilt the overall effect.  Agathe in particular would have suffered if her diary wasn't included in the body of the book.  As much as you probably don't want to, you can find some sympathy for the life she missed out on and the person she could have become once you find out her history.
One of the major plot points throughout the novels are the "Gifts" that a person can have.  There does seem to be an abundance of secondary characters that all of a sudden are revealed as gifted people.  So many that you wonder if being a normal human is in the minority.  Now I fully understand why so many people need to have these abilities but at various parts you do think "Not them too," as yet another person is revealed to be gifted.
A lot of these extras that have powers however do help move the mystery along.  It is also a neat trick too, if you view their reveals in the context of the story and why being a gifted person is kept a secret from the wider public.
Out of all of our main characters the one person whose story does come across as slightly underdeveloped is Kate Usher.  Don't get me wrong, she is far more than a love interest for our hero but she definitely didn't have as large a story arc as the rest of the cast members.  I do hope that this is a deliberate ploy with the exploits of the Usher family being explored in future story lines.
Some might also consider Jason's best friend, Joey, to be a bit of a stereotypical gay character whose main role is to provide a bit of levity to proceedings.  He may well be at first but he definitely has a lot more depth to him and like everyone else in the story, he does grow throughout the series.
Both "Rise Headless and Ride" and "Bridge of Bones" do finish without having full closure, the ending of the latter being far more of a cliffhanger than the former.  Cliffhangers can be quite disconcerting for a lot of readers.  There are enough threads concluded in the first book and just the perfect amount of tease to make you want to explore the second book.
The way "Bridge of Bones" finishes makes me think that this second act is "The Empire Strikes Back" section of the saga.  There are so many unresolved plot points that leave you feeling frustrated because you want to know how they end.  Thankfully with the release of "General of the Dead" everything comes to a satisfying conclusion.
As I am sure you can gather from this overall trial that I loved this series.  My one concern is that Richard Gleaves has such a love of the source material and location; will he also have the same feelings for other settings and scenarios?
If he can maintain the high standard he has set himself in future instalments then we are in for a Treat, and that will be the Trick!

Verdict:
Whilst this series contains a lot of Witch action, there is no need for any of these novels to be burnt at the stake.  This trilogy is as hot as one of the Headless Horseman's flaming Jack O' Lanterns.

Evidence:
www.facebook.com/TheJasonCraneSeries
www.goodreads.com/author/show/1693533.Richard_Gleaves
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Sleepy_Hollow

Random Musings: The Scorchers & The Tortures of 2015

The Witch Trial:
Going for a slightly different format, as I ponder what had me ranting and raving like a mad man but also what had me singing its praises to all and sundry during the 2015 calendar year.
Warning there may be SPOILERS below...

The Scorchers
I experienced a lot of excellent entertainment throughout the year from film, television, music & books.  Each category had their own highlights.  Here are a few of my positive experiences.
Whilst they might not be the best things I saw or heard or read, each of these deserves to have their praises sung.


Films
There were many quality films released this year that were enjoyed by a lot of people that I also found to be highly entertaining.  Films like Mad Max: Fury Road; The Martian; Straight Outta Compton and Amy to name a few.
I thought I would highlight three little gems that hit the right chords with me that haven't had a huge distribution.  Therefore it has limited them from gaining a larger audience which I feel each one richly deserves.

"Bone Tomahawk"
A western horror story with a touch of "The Descent" about it.  Kurt Russell shows that he is still a fine actor and is well supported by everyone else involved in this production.  The suspense is intense and the violence makes you squirm in your seat.  A film that makes me want to view it again and that doesn't happen too often.

"The Final Girls"
What a great concept for a horror comedy.  A group of horror fans sucked into an actual slasher movie and then they have to avoid becoming the killers next victims.  This had a great blend of humour to go with the gore.  Sure it's not a perfect film by any stretch of the imagination but it had enough going for it, to keep me happy.  Perfect fodder for a Friday night movie accompanied with pizza and drinks.

"The Man From U.N.C.L.E."
The type of spy film that mixes its laughs with the action to great effect.  Both leads are well cast and really entertaining, you get the sense that they are having a lot of fun in their roles.  The locations are stunning and they had the 60's feel down to a tee.
Another movie that was a lot of fun to watch and whilst the ending could have finished with a real bang, I enjoyed the rest of the ride enough to forgive it.  Here's hoping for further exploits from Napoleon Solo & Ilya Kuryakin in future outings.


Television
Quite a few great shows either started for the first time or were continuing their epic sagas.  I thought instead of highlighting the shows that pushed my buttons, I would instead look at some of the individual episodes that left me on the edge of my seat and wanting to view the next instalment straight away.

Penny Dreadful, Season 2, Episode 3: "The Nightcomers"
Virtually the whole episode takes place in the past as we learn about Vanessa Ives coming to grips with her powers and seeking help to control them.  It had all the suspense, eeriness and dread that the writers could cram in to one episode.
A defining moment for this TV show and one that stayed with me for ages afterwards.  It truly helped develop Eva Green's character and gave her the chance to really show her range of acting talents.

Dr Who, Series 9, Episode 11: "Heaven Sent"
This episode had the Doctor dealing with the death of Clara, whilst being trapped in a seemingly endless time loop.  Its a one man tour de force performance from Peter Capaldi.  The episode structure is superb and the final payoff makes you want to fist pump the air.  Definitely one of the best episodes of the modern Dr Who era.

Game of Thrones, Season 5, Episode 8: "Hardhome"
From a season of many highlights, the episode Hardhome was the standout.  Seeing a full army of wights being led by the white walkers was truly epic television.  Jon Snow using Longclaw to slay one of the white walkers had me yelling "yes!" at the TV.  This small achievement though is quickly over shadowed with the sight of the Night King reanimating the dead of both armies.
You truly feel the hopelessness of the survivors as they come to the realisation that this foe is relentless and will only continue to grow.  Winter is definitely coming!


Music
Outside of the record studio manufactured output there were some absolutely amazing albums released this year.  Here are just three of the ones that had me coming back again and again for repeat listening's.

"Honeymoon" by Lana Del Rey
The third outing saw Lana Del Rey really pare back the instrumentation and really put her voice to the fore.  You do get the feeling that Lana is playing by her own rules and if you are along for the ride then great, if not she won't be too bothered.  Uncompromising music as it should be.

"The Magic Whip" by Blur
Could a reunion album after so many years where the band members have been doing their own thing as separate artists be any good?  Hell yes!  "The Magic Whip" certainly had that Blur magic.
Amazing that a band can still retain some of the same sounds that formed part of their appeal but still appear so fresh and new today.  Hopefully it's not the last record from them.

"Sound & Color" by Alabama Shakes
That difficult second album after their amazing introduction to the world.  Alabama Shakes follow up to such an instant classic as their debut did not disappoint.  It might take a few more listens than "Boys & Girls" to really get the feel for this one, but once it grabs you, you won't be disappointed.  And that voice, Brittany Howard is just incredible.


Books
I might not have read too many books that were published in 2015, but I did read some absolute page turners.  The Girl on the Train and the Jason Crane series (which I will be covering in a future article) were definitely up there with some of the best ones I read but here are a couple of others that really took my fancy.

"The Girl With All The Gifts" by M.R. Carey
The zombie apocalypse has happened.  A medical clinic is looking for answers to solve the epidemic. Sounds like something we have heard before but Carey crafts this story so well with characters that you really care about.  There are surprises along the way too.  It's one of those books you don't want to end.  I can't wait for a screen adaptation.

"Clovenhoof" by Heide Goody & Iain Grant
This book looks at what would happen if the devil got the sack and was sent to live in Birmingham.  Clovenhoof and his "friends" get into some highly amusing situations mainly through the devil's ignorance of human culture.  In a rather episodic narrative but with an over arcing story line, this book details Clovenhoof's exile with hilarious results. I could see this making an awesome British sitcom.


The Tortures
So much time spent on so many bad films and television shows in the last twelve months.
Not so much with music and books I must admit.  At least with music it can be in the background and doesn't need your undivided attention.  If a book is bad you generally know after a couple of chapters.  But with the goggle box you tend to stick with it, in the hope that what you are watching is going to get better.  It often doesn't and I now try to hit stop before it is too late.
With all that said here are a few things that I did stick with that I wished I hadn't.


Films
It seems that 2015 stands out as a particularly bad year for comedy.  I viewed so many that didn't even raise a smile: Hot Pursuit; Hot Tub Time Machine 2; Kill Me Three Times & Ted 2 to name a few.  Two of those were sequels that just didn't need to be made.  We also need to thank god that the "6" in the title, referred to the number of brothers and not that it was the sixth episode of the Adam Sandler dross that was The Ridiculous 6.
Rather than dwell on the awful comedies here though, there were some other movies that failed to capture my imagination and it would have been better if I had given them a wide berth.

"Tomorrowland"
The premise was quite promising but the execution and the actual story was just stupid.  Amazing visuals cannot disguise a distinct lack of direction and poor storytelling.  Damon Lindelof is quickly losing all credibility as a script writer, how many more bombs does he need before people wake up to him.

"Ricki and the Flash"
Meryl Streep why?  I know this film actually had a fair few singing its praises but I just found it so tedious.  It had nothing new that we haven't seen before in much better films.  And the ending had me rolling my eyes so far into the back of my head, it was so unsatisfying.  Hollywood needs a happy ending though!

"The Intern"
Another film that had its supporters.  I hate when a film score is so in your face that it is telling you what emotions you should be feeling in each scene.  "Be upset here" because our music sounds sad, "Be happy here" because we are playing boppy, tinkly music now.  This is one of those movies where the score took me right out of the picture.
Anne Hathaway's role was far too unbelievable as someone who had managed to put together this booming company as well.  I lost count of the number of times that a small dispute had her tear up, I am sure her character must have shares in Kleenex.


Television
So which show Jumped The Shark for me?  And there was one series that was just wrong on so many levels...

"Orange Is The New Black"
Whilst I enjoyed the first two seasons, the third left me feeling that this show has probably run its course.  There are only so many story lines you can get from a prison setting and it definitely seems to have exhausted the best ones.

"Outlander"...
...Or "McRapie, Rape, Rape" as I called it.
Seriously this show seemed to be out to show that if you were a good looking lady in the 18th century then nearly every man you bumped into would immediately try and rape you!
This is meant to be some sort of sweeping romantic story.  But all I could see was some perverted fantasy where the damsel in distress was rescued time and time again just before some miscreant had his wicked way with her.  Sometimes more than once per episode!
Terrible, terrible show.


Music
It would be easy to target some of the pop stuff that gets dished out by studio's to keep their profits high, but I don't want to do that, I prefer to shed my ire at more respectable artists.  Two albums frustrated me this year more than any others.

"What Went Down" by Foals
Now I admit this is the first time I have actually tried giving Foals a go, after hearing so many good things about them.  I just wasn't that impressed considering the hype surrounding this record.  I thought it was quite a bland, generic indie album.  Sorry guys!

"Wilder Mind" by Mumford and Sons
Note to Mumford and Sons: You are not the second coming of Bob Dylan going electric has been done before and better so no one cares when you try it.  Please go back to what got you the fans in the first place and stay (mainly) unplugged.


Books
There was one book that I read this year that I regretted wasting my precious time on...

"Miramont's Ghost" by Elizabeth Hall
The historic building of Miramont Castle in Colorado would be a good setting for a ghost story as it is rumoured to be haunted.  The execution here though is so meandering and ponderous that I just couldn't get into it.
I could have forgiven it if the characters were interesting but they all had no redeeming features at all.  They were all so unlikable and not one of them creates any sympathy in the reader at all.
The ending as well is such a letdown.  You spend so much of your time when reading this book, thinking that it is going to finish with a bang but all you get is some awful conclusion that feels like the author just had no idea how else to finish it.  Avoid at all costs, you have been warned!