Tony Gringo
Got a problem? Odds against you? For straight-talking, bullshit-free, take-no-prisoners movie criticism, call the Gringo.
2000AD will occupy a place in the affections of anyone with a love of British comics. The creative, disruptive, overtly political publication was an important part of my childhood. My younger brother was an early subscriber and it set him on the way to an enduring love of the medium that has grown stronger over the years. My engagement might not be as intense as his (it would be difficult to match it) but I sucked up the stories and characters through osmosis, and have fond memories of Rogue Trooper, Slaine, Nemesis, the ABC Warriors and all the rest.
And then there is Dredd.
It’s been a decade since the Men In Black last saved the world from the scum of the universe and I did wonder whether time might have moved on and made the adventures of Agents K and J a little outmoded. Needn’t have worried. The crazy joie de vivre of the first two entries in the franchise is present and correct in the third, with Josh Brolin standing in very well for Tommy Lee Jones. Indeed, Jones is only in the film for ten minutes or so with the majority of the adventure set in 1969 as J finds himself cast back in time to thwart the plot of Boris, a diabolical alien who has picked up the sobriquet “Animal” thanks to his particular brand of evil.
There is a really, really, really good film to be made out of Judge Dredd. Stallone had the chin for the role but that was about as far as it went, and I get quite angry just thinking about the missed opportunity his take at the franchise was (I say "franchise", it's a blessed relief that he didn't get to give the property another go-around).
I know these having been kicking around for a bit now but in the event that you haven't seen them, the folks at Shiznit have done some very impressive Photoshop retouching to the posters for the films nominated for Oscars this season.
Well, I suppose we shouldn't be too surprised. The sequel to Clash of the Titans features, well, quite a lot of wrath. The film is helmed by Jonathan Liebesman and sees Perseus (Sam Worthington) travelling to the underworld to rescue Zeus (Liam Neeson) from his traitorous son Ares (Edgar Ramirez) and brother Hades (Ralph Fiennes).
