Movie Monday - R.I.P.D.

What if you took Ghost and crossed it with Men in Black? Well, you'd get R.I.P.D.




Director: Robert Schwentke

Writer: Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi, David Dobkin

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Bacon, Mary-Louise Parker, Stephanie Szostak

Release: 2013

Nick Walker, Boston police detective, has made a few mistakes – namely, taking evidence from a crime scene in the hopes that he might be able to get enough money to live comfortably with his wife, Julia. But when he begins to have second thoughts, his partner Hayes steps in and kills him. That's not the end of Nick, as he gets offered a position with the Rest In Peace Department, the afterlife law enforcement that hunt down the souls of those who have died but refuse to leave Earth. And it looks like Nick and his new partner Roy have stumbled onto something a lot bigger than anyone suspected and it has to do with the evidence Nick got killed for.

THE SQUEE

• Ryan Reynolds is comedic genius, always has been, always will be. He doesn't get to cut loose in this, but it's still entertaining to watch.
• Jeff Bridges chews the scenery like it's going out of fashion – he's over-the-top and almost steals the 'main character' status from Ryan Reynolds. The same goes for Kevin Bacon; he takes a pretty standard role in a sci-fi action movie and makes it fun.
• There are some really solid special effects throughout the film, from the frozen time people experience as they die, to the grotesque shapes that the corrupt dead souls take on. There are some parts that aren't as well done, but those can be ignored easily. It's on the same level as the first Men in Blackfilm.

THE SUCK

• That is actually the major problem with this movie; it's trying REALLY hard to be Men in Black. That's understandable – the source material is incredibly similar to the Men in Black concept but the plot is almost directly comparable. The only major difference is that Nick tries to return to his previous life whereas J pretty quickly gives up his. For the most part, the humour is pretty close to Men in Black too; Ryan Reynolds doesn't quite have the attitude of Will Smith (mainly because his character treats the whole thing as SERIOUS BUSINESS) but he gives it a valiant attempt.
• There are some weak points in the humour too. The running gag of how Nick and Roy appear to the living gets old fast – it's basically one joke (Jeff Bridges looks like Marisa Miller, a Victoria's Secret model!) and it gets used again and again and again for no real reason. I guess it could be to remind the audience that Nick will appear different to his wife now he's dead but that's been done before much better – check out Dead Like Me for a great example.
• The major plot of the film feels incredibly generic. The first third as Nick gets accustomed to his new existence is interesting and then it suddenly falls into a trough where things seem to happen without a great deal of explanation. Yes, everything has a reason, but not a great deal of motivation. It's a shame that they didn't follow the source material where the antagonist are souls escaping from Hell as part of a plot to overthrow Satan.

There's a lot of potential in this film. I think it would have made an amazing TV series (but might have cost a lot of money) but as a movie it's only so-so. I really do recommend reading the stand alone series that Dark Horse produced and that the film is based on.

R.I.P.D. - Peter Lenkov – 9781616550714 - $24.99 – 104 pages

Sunday Spotlight - September Recommendations

Justice League Dark vol. 4: The Rebirth of Evil - Jeff Lemire - 9781401247256 - $24.99  - 192 pages
Wonder Woman requests the aid of the Justice League Dark – the magicians, sorcerers and supernatural heroes of the DC universe to help her find Pandora’s Box, the only item she believes can save the dying Superman. But Pandora’s Box is hidden for a reason, and the Phantom Stranger must race to convince the other heroes that Wonder Woman must be stopped before she releases the evil that Pandora’s Box hides.


Constantine vol. 2 - Ray Fawkes - 9781401247478 - $24.99 - 144 pages
. Things are not going well for John Constantine – his stash of hidden mystical weapons has been stolen and are now being used against him. He must battle the thieves with the most powerful weapon he has left – his mind. John Constantine’s original series, Hellblazer, was one of the longest running comics Vertigo ever had, and now he’s been relaunched in the New 52.


Batman: Arkham Unhinged vol. 3: End Game - Derek Fridolfs - 9781401246808 - $24.99 - 232 pages
Tying in with the bsetselling Batman: Arkham video game series, the Arkham Unhinged books are great side stories for fans of the games. With part of Gotham City walled off by Hugo Strange in an attempt to create a new prison, criminals are free to run wild. But some semblance of society and justice remain, and the Joker has been placed on trial – by Two-face, who is both prosecutor and judge. Batman must make the choice to save his most hated foe or let injustice be done.


Batman: Earth One - Geoff Johns - 9781401232092 - $22.99 - 144 pages
In the same style as the bset-selling Superman: Earth One series, Geoff Johns re-imagines the Dark Knight for a new generation. Bruce Wayne takes his first steps as Batman in a bleak and corrupt Gotham City. His lust for vengeance against the man that killed his parents and the crooked police officers that allowed the criminal to go free may overwhelm him and he must walk a fine line between vigilante and criminal. Aided by his family butler Alfred, Bruce must overcome numerous obstacles in his quest for revenge. But can he contain the anger against a harsh world where retribution may be the closest thing to justice anyone can hope for?


Green Lantern New Guardians vol. 4: Gods and Monsters - Justin Jordan - 9781401247461 - $29.99 - 208 pages
Kyle Rayner is in a difficult situation. The Templar Guardians have recruited him to their cause, despite his reluctance, dragging him to the edge of the known universe, claiming he is the only one with the power to stop the growing threat. But once Kyle gets there, his reluctance may dissolve once he understands the true nature of the menace lurking in the dark between the galaxies.


Trillium - Jeff Lemire - 9781401249007 - $29.99 - 192 pages
Nika Temsith is a botanist in the 38th century, searching for a rare flower on the edge of civilized space that holds the cure to the plague sweeping the galaxy. She has just convinced the indigenous tribe to allow her access to their temple. Stepping through, she finds herself in a strange jungle. William Pike is a WW1 veteran suffering severe PTSD. With his explorer brother, he has ventured into deepest Peru searching for a lost pyramid. After an encounter with hostile natives, William reaches the pyramid, only to find a strangely dressed woman stepping out. Nika and William’s lives are about to cross, but their new-found romance threatens the fabric of the entire universe.


The Flash vol. 3: Gorilla War - Francis Manapul  & Brian Buccellato - 9781401247126 - $29.99 - 176 pages
The Flash is used to dealing with criminals like Captain Cold and the Mirror Master – rogues who are only interested in money but possessing crude cunning. The Flash consistently runs rings around them. But when the army of Gorilla Grodd invades Central City, the Flash finds himself severely outmatched. Grodd is a vicious killer, willing to destroy anyone who gets in his way. The Flash may have to ally himself with the very same villains he’s spent most of his career capturing, if he is going to keep Central City safe. Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato  have had an amazing run on The Flash, combining fantastic art with solid storytelling.


The Flash vol. 4: Reverse - Francis Manapul - 9781401247133 - $39.99 - 176 pages
The mysterious Speed Force killer has left a trail of bodies in his wake, always staying one step ahead of the Flash no matter how Barry Allen tries to track him down. The Flash will have to rely on his allies, including Kid Flash, if he is going to have any hope of facing the killer. But when he does, can he overcome one of his greatest foes – the Reverse Flash? This will be the last volume written by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato before a new team takes over.


Fables vol. 20: Camelot - Bill Willingham - 9781401245160 - $34.99 - 240 pages
The warriors of Fabletown must set forth on a quest to reassemble the shattered pieces of their once-great community. Rose Red claims the mantle of the Paladin of Hope as a new Dark Age calls for a new Round Table of mythic knights. Drawing on myths, folklore and fairy tales, the Fables series has received 14 Eisner awards over the years and is finally drawing to a close. Great for fans of Once Upon a Time, the series followed the dramas of those Fables who had escaped their homelands and the evil that threatens their continued existence.


Fairy Tail 41 - Hiro Mishima - 9781612624372 - $16.99
After 41 volumes, there’s still no sign of fatigue in the series. Highly enjoyable and great for anyone who wants stories of epic quests in a world of high magic. The titular ‘Fairy Tail’ guild always ends up in intriguing adventures that keep readers coming back. Plots and character arcs have been intricately developed by the creator, which makes this one of the best manga series available.


Attack on Titan 13 - Hajime Isayama - 9781612626796 - $17.99 - 200 pages
The next volume in the phenomenally successful Attack on Titan series. The books consistently top bestseller lists, not only in Japan but also in the United States. With an anime series currently available on DVD and a live-action film in the works, Attack on Titan has become the must-have new title. It is currently one of the best-selling graphic novels in Australia as well. With a heavy mix of drama and action, this series is best for older teenagers who can handle some of the darker themes the series delves into.

Wednesday Weirdness - Pop

Wednesday Weirdness is the day when we remember that sometimes, comics are just downright WEIRD! We take individual panels and present them out of context. If you’ve got a panel you’d like to submit, you can do so here.


Pop #1, 2014, Curt Pires (writer), Jason Copland (artist)