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Getting into Dem Bones Which Make Up Why Dead Boy Detectives is Recommended Viewing Fun!

Fans of anime and TheCW style programming will find a lot to like with this take of the comic book Dead boy Detectives.

Spoiler Alert

Although some elements in the live action adaptation of Dead Boy Detectives are different from the comic books, not everyone is going to notice. What I like about this pair of undead sleuths is the fact they talk about how life in the thereafter works. I know all of it is made-up, but there’s an ounce of truth regarding a few things, especially concerning what defines the soul and why whoever holds dominion over it can control the individual. When not all ghosts are willing to possess a human, then there’s something worth considering.

What’s offered is not like other young adult supernatural adventure series about best mates solving occult crime. It’s nothing like The CW series and although Locke & Key exist in the same Vertigo universe, I have to wonder if other agencies will get identified, should more episodes get made.

I suspect the reason why this series is so heavy on LGBTQ is because of the comic books. It may have begun with Jill Thompson‘s take, and when she published her graphic novel with a yaoi style cover, I had to wonder. In the latest 2023 miniseries, Edwin opens up to those feelings, and I’m honestly not surprised showrunners Steve Yockey and Beth Schwartz are going hard on having an almost all queer series. Unfortunately there’s just no impact, other than to make this series stand out from others. It should really be about a pair of ghosts helping other spooks find peace than to explore the difficulties of coming out. Those episodes don’t really stand out. Continue reading “Getting into Dem Bones Which Make Up Why Dead Boy Detectives is Recommended Viewing Fun!”

Going Behind the Scenes. Secrets From The Inventor as Revealed by Jim Capobianco

In order to make sure The Inventor would appeal to all ages, writer-director-producer Jim Capobianco spent more than a decade fiddling with getting all the details right, like the Maestro would do too!

For our readers unfamiliar with your work, can you please introduce yourself.

I’m Jim Capobianco and have worked in animation for something like 35 years and my latest film is The Inventor, which I wrote and directed. I got my start at Walt Disney Studios working in their story department, and my first work was with The Lion King–I stayed there for five years. Afterwards, I moved to the Bay Area to work at PIXAR (for 19) and have credits on many films, from Bugs Life to Coco.

One movie I’m particularly proud of was Ratatouille, where I wrote the first draft of it with Jan Pinkava, the director, and we were honoured with an Academy nomination. I left PIXAR in 2016, and then it’s proven pretty good. I worked on Mary Poppins Returns and directed the 2D animation segments, and then followed that up with a project called Philharmonia Fantastique–which was kind of a Fantasia piece, and directed the animation for that. And that plays with a live symphony orchestra.

Continue reading “Going Behind the Scenes. Secrets From The Inventor as Revealed by Jim Capobianco”

Ninjago Dragons Rising. The Magic is Back in Season Two!

A lot of repeat watches of Ninjago Dragons Rising were required to figure out where the series is going.

Ninjago Dragons Rising Poster When the lives of many winged reptiles are in constant danger in Ninjago Dragons Rising, just who can save them will require new and old heroes of the realms uniting. That premise defined season one, and it made for a decent continuation. It wasn’t all that memorable or standalone very well since it had to deal with establishing why old fans should care about Arin, Sora, and Wyldfyre. When I wanted to see the old team and only learn they’ve been individually sent across the multiverse, I got worried!

Thankfully half the team manage to find their way home. They’ve reunited in The Merged Realm and are the new masters to teach the new team some tricks. While I didn’t get much from the first season, I still appreciated the fact there is some continuity between the various series. What’s presented isn’t trying to recon. But in order for the series two to excel, it had to delve into why Dragons are suddenly very important. What fans get to learn is that these dragons are the embodiment of ideas Greek theologians would speak of–had they been aware of the big bang.

Continue reading “Ninjago Dragons Rising. The Magic is Back in Season Two!”

Simply Irrestiable! City Hunter on Netflix

Here, we look at what made the City Hunter franchise change over time, and look at the latest entry which is surprisingly faithful to what makes it great.

Streaming on Netflix
Release Date: April 25, 2024 (USA & Canada)

Part of City Hunter’s appeal lies in the fact it’s a very hilarious buddy film about Ryo Saeba (Ryohei Suzuki), a merc who really loves his women while taking out crime in Shinjuku, Japan. Sometimes his behaviour gets in the way of getting the job done, and this is something Hideyuki Makimura (Masanobu Andô) dislikes. And despite warning him to not put his moves on his sister, that’s because he’s knows what his partner can do, and is overprotective. And when he dies in the line of duty, he hopes this sweeper will do the right thing and be more like a brother to her.

The anime was really popular in the 90s, and many of the episodes were based on the manga published the decade prior. In today’s woke culture, his actions would not be tolerated and despite this character’s low-brow behaviour, the love for this franchise over the years remained strong. As a result, a fair number of reboots and reinterpretations look at other aspects of Ryo’s career.

Continue reading “Simply Irrestiable! City Hunter on Netflix”

In Fallout, It’s Wild and Wooly. A Review from a Non-Gamer’s Perspective.

Amazon Prime’s Fallout fits very well into the weird west genre when considering how it overlaps with all that’s beloved from The X-Files and Nightbreed.

Streaming on Amazon Prime

Fans of post-apocalyptic narratives don’t really need a primer to enjoy Fallout. Everything gets explained during the course of eight episodes and folks can either binge or pace it out for the next two months. After its explosive debut last week, I’m hooked and love the undead cowboy who must have read a lot of Jonah Hex comic books. At first, I thought it was set during the 50s or later, like 1977 when this antihero’s exploits was in print. Instead, it’s 2077 when the world blew up.

Had the introduction not shown Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell) signing a piece of paper showing the date of March 17, 2299, I would’ve thought the vintage set design existed for another reason. With all the era appropriate decor, the only thing out of place is the television. It looked like it was from a future time similiar to The Jetsons. And with what’s broadcasted in black and white, I thought Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered the start of the next World War!

After the nuclear destruction of Los Angeles, the details fall into place. Those who caught sight of the clouds raced to shelters (called Vaults) and those who didn’t are dead or heavily mutated. Some turn into Ghouls and live long lives, and others aren’t even trying to rebuild. After 200 years, a very feudal society defines the surface world.

Continue reading “In Fallout, It’s Wild and Wooly. A Review from a Non-Gamer’s Perspective.”

Star Trek Lower Decks is Beaming to Home Video For Those Slow To Catch Up

After everything that’s been done during Star Trek Lower Decks previous season, the arcs are getting bigger, nastier and who doesn’t love that Wrath of Kahn moment?

Star Trek Lower Decks Season 4 DVD Cover — Available to preoder on Amazon USA

Streaming on Paramount Plus and Coming to Home Video on April 16, 2024

Although I wasn’t fully hooked on Star Trek Lower Decks right away, it’s found a place in my viewing schedule after seeing the Strange New Worlds episode, “Those Old Scientists.” To see the Jack Quaid reprise the role in live action was enough to earn my respect for the sci-fi comedy.

And because of that, I’ll have plenty ot catch-up viewing to do. Fans who have been picking up each season as they are released will be happy season four is coming to home video this week! While some folks will be sad that the upcoming season five will be the last of the series, I’m secretly glad because that means a complete set will most likely be offered next year, to which I can obtain the entire run in one go.