Tag Archives: movies

Spotlight on Jimmy’s Bastards

In the fourth week of this year’s Gotham Calling spy month, we’re looking at Jimmy’s Bastards, a recently completed mini-series about a thinly-veiled version of James Bond, called Jimmy Regent (because Bond and Regent are both London tube stations, get … Continue reading

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When Batman comics meet the boxing world

While I don’t particularly care for boxing in real life, I’m a huge sucker for boxing in fiction. I’m a fan of Brian De Palma’s Snake Eyes and Raoul Walsh’s Gentleman Jim. Hell, Robert Wise’s The Set-Up is up there … Continue reading

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On Return of the Caped Crusaders

I tend to give DC a lot of flak for their frustrating live-action movies in recent years. The best one, by far, was Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman, which had a handful of cool scenes and broke some new ground by … Continue reading

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Going to the movies in Gotham City

Longtime readers won’t be too surprised to find out that, as an unabashed cinephile, I am fascinated by Gotham City’s film culture. In fact, throughout the years, I think I’ve managed to piece together some of its key features… Batman #459 … Continue reading

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Minor but cool sci-fi comics

After the remarkable Ex Machina, Alex Garland has now put together another tense, intelligent science fiction film in the form of Annihilation. The movie feels like a welcome reminder that, even though cinema tends to simplify the dense, heady tales … Continue reading

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Batman’s animated team-ups

I wish I had something more original to say about the latest hit in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but I’m with the crowd: Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther is a masterpiece. Building on utopic alternate history to respond to Afro-pessimism, the … Continue reading

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More chopsocky covers

Last month, I did a post about Batman covers reminiscent of chopsocky movies, which got me thinking about my relationship with this subgenre… In particular, I was reminded that my interest in kung fu action has always been mostly connected … Continue reading

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A year of sci-fi movies and shows

The Last Jedi hits the screens this week and we’ll see what comes out of it. So far, Rian Johnson is OK in my book. He did Brick, so I know he’s into film noir. He did The Brothers Bloom, … Continue reading

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Bruce Wayne, disco party animal

Chris McKay’s The Lego Batman Movie may be a genuinely funny absurdist comedy, an inventive visual delight with spot-on voice acting, a postmodern, good-natured spoof of superhero blockbusters as well as, at the same time, an action-packed mega-crossover adventure yarn … Continue reading

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Between Gotham City and Casablanca

I’m pretty sure I’m not breaking any new ground by stating that Casablanca is one of the most enjoyable films ever made. This 1942 classic about heartbreak and antifascism in a French colony bursting with contraband and political intrigue manages … Continue reading

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