#BestOf Vertigo - Scottie's Nightmare

My favorite scene from Vertigo, and easily one of the best and most memorable classic scenes from Hitchcock...



Bernard Herrmann's music alone is pure classic.
Simply put: A-mazing!

CBR Xombi (2011)

 

Time to check out some less popular, less known American comic books.
Today's title, a "weird" light horror lil' comic going by the name....

Comic title: Xombi
Art by Frazer Irving
Story by John Rozum
Brave & The Bold feature art by Scott Hampton

Published by DC
From 2011
Lineup Xombi
Format:Trade Paperback collecting the entire six-issue Xombi series as well as The Brave and The Bold #26.

Originally pitched by writer/producer Dwayne McDuffie and created at Milestone Comics, a little independent publisher created to for African-American comic book creators, Xombi is probably one of the most original ideas to come out of that group.
Milestone was founded in the early 90s and was home to many original characters such as the popular and endearing Static Shock.
But unlike the others original ideas from Milestone, Xombi finds its roots in the old creepy and eerie 1980s comics. (too much Milestone characters suffer from the "Extreeeeeme!"-approach usual for 90s characters, just take a look at Hardware or Icon!)

Xombi is also a minority group, but isn't defined by it at all.
Rather is comics are a sort of mix of scifi and fantasy similar to DC/Vertigo's Constantine: Hellblazer.

This book is the first properly developed at DC Comics after they purchased the Milestone group, and after Xombi's original series. It was supposed to be an on-going series, but was stopped due to the company-wide relaunch ("The New 52").

David Kim was a simple man.
He had a fiancée, Dalia Rose, with whom things seemed to go for the better.
From Korean origin, he was a big shot scientist in Dakoto, who came from the New Jersey.
He had developed fantastic nanotechnology which, bonded with living organisms acted as a sort of virus.
One day due to an accident, he was mortal wounded. His assistant used the nanotechnological virus to help him....but ended "used" as raw material in the process.
Now, turned into a "xombi", David has become immortal, he is physically enhanced to his peak physical form and has the ability to regenerate from any condition.

Xombi was originally created by created by John Rozum and Denys Cowan.
This comic sees the return of his co-creator Rozum on his character over a decade later. He created Xombi and knows this character the best, and it shows.
The comic is fun, quite entertaining and really a unique read.

This new adventure sees David facing giant monsters of biblical proportions, ghouls and ghosts of all kinds and taking on flying fortresses.
His friend Julian Parker tags along, alongside a couple of crazy nuns, a "Catholic Girl" and more!
Our unnatural unlikely team of misfits face an evil mastermind prepared for every potential threat...

David is now living in the strangest worlds, facing things unlike anything he ever thought to ever see and yet tries to keep a foot in his old life as it was.
It's a fun story, full of deep thoughts on what it means to go through changes and what you would do to keep it from changing.

It is also a gorgeous well illustrated book. The artwork of Frazer Irving is simply outstanding.
The colors really set the tone of this fantastic world. Background might seem a bit empty or secondary, but it really contributes to this comic's tone.

As a "bonus", DC thrown in issue 26 of The Brave and the Bold comic, which was already collected in its own collection, but it's not a reason to dismiss this little addition.

It features a team up of Xombi with The Spectre.
A ghost is seemingly on a killing rampage, eating lifeforces of various creatures, from ghosts to vampires..and getting closer and closer to the living each time.
Xombi tries to reason with the former-Crispus Allen, now The Spectre. He was a cop in his anterior life, perhaps he can be reasoned with...

It's a pretty simple and straightforward story, too short to go anywhere really. But it's a fun portrayal of this new Spectre and Xombi and his cast all get their little moments to shine.

Overall, a very fun book. Recommended!

You like supernatural stories such as Hellboy and the B.P.R.D? Well this is right up your alley!
No need to read the previous Xombi stories, David Kim is only on his 2nd month being a xombi (which would consist on the entire previous series).

Creepy, but not horror. Fantastic, but not fantasy.

I give it:

  2.5 / 3 Plastic-trophies!

#TV News! trailer for J.J. Abrams' new show Revolution

First up, the sad news (at least, for me :P), Bad Robot Productions' latest series, Alcatraz has been officially canceled.
Awww... But...I liked the concept! And the characters were fun...
I'll miss having Jorge Garcia in a show around... And Sarah Jones was great too...aww...

Don't care if you didn't like the show, I'll miss it all the same...
This will be Bad Robot's second canned show. I hope they'll put it out on DVD at least, unlike Undercovers.. (any chance for a "Complete Series" on DVD for Undercovers too? Boyt was awesome!)

On the plus side, Abrams already has a new show coming up soon!
Which will debut on NBC - hope he simply avoids Fox from now on. Fringe will also be ending....with a small ~13 episode-long 5th season...
Anyway, the new show is co-created with Eric Kripke (Supernatural)
Here's the official pitch:

Our entire way of life depends on electricity. So what would happen if it just stopped working? Well, one day, like a switch turned off, the world is suddenly thrust back into the dark ages. Planes fall from the sky, hospitals shut down, and communication is impossible. And without any modern technology, who can tell us why? Now, 15 years later, life is back to what it once was long before the industrial revolution: families living in quiet cul-de-sacs, and when the sun goes down lanterns and candles are lit. Life is slower and sweeter. Or is it? On the fringes of small farming communities, danger lurks. And a young woman's life is dramatically changed when a local militia arrives and kills her father, who mysteriously – and unbeknownst to her – had something to do with the blackout. This brutal encounter sets her and two unlikely companions off on a daring coming-of-age journey to find answers about the past in the hopes of reclaiming the future.

And the first trailer!



This certainly looks promising!

It certainly got a better chance of survival on a network like NBC. (and not FOX!!)
The pilot will be directed by Jon Favreau, no less!
From the looks of things, it will start in September.

MR Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

...and after the show, here's the infamous Twin Peaks movie!
Considered a classic of cinema history by some, despised by others, they can only all agree that it is quite a confusing movie - in true Lynch fashion.

Originally, with all the planned script in the picture, lasting as long as 5 hours of runtime, it was then cut down to a more acceptable ~2 hours run (which for the time was quite a lot already if you ask me..).

David Lynch's most experimental feature according to his own words, make way for....

Movie: Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Directed by David Lynch
Release date 1992
Genre Supernatural/Mystery/Thriller/Drama Horror film
Country USA

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me is a continuation of the Twin Peaks TV series.

Neither a true prequel nor an actual sequel, in the purest sense of the meaning.
The story itself is clearly a "prequel", taking place before the pilot of the show, but watching it first will spoil the entire premise of the on-going mystery of the show (for its 1st season at least).
So, be warned, Spoilers ahoy!

Anyway, it is more of a follow-up as far as the exploration of the town of Twin Peaks go, as well as the themes touched, etc.

The story starts with David Lynch's own character, Gordon Cole at the FBI's Headquarters.
Gordon calls Special Agent Chester Desmond (Chris Isaak) about the murder of a Teresa Banks in Deer Meadow, Washington.
After getting a new partner called Sam Stanley (Kiefer Sutherland), both get a special briefing through clues, because Gordon speaks really loud and likes to use codes.

A Blue Rose case. There's been several missing Agents already on similar cases.
Our Agents follow the investigation which leads them to a mysterious ring in a trailer park.... which in returns makes Agent Desmond disappear into thin air!

The following day, we're back with Kyle MacLachlan as Special Agent Dale Cooper (or rather, introduced to Cooper long before he actually arrived in Twin Peaks).
One of the missing Agents - Agent Jeffires, David Bowie(!!) in a random cameo - makes a reappearance to warn Cooper at the FBI HQ. Coop goes to talk with Gordon about his recent dreams and this previous vision. He takes upon this investigation himself. The murder first and now these visions, Coop believes the killer will strike again and they must be prepared.

A year later, we're now in the little town of Twin Peaks.
Following the life of 17 years old High School prom queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) in her very discontinued life.
You see, Laura Palmer has various faces.
Laura juggles different lives she's been going through, two boyfriends, and other strange relationships.

And that is not all!
She has been pursued since her childhood by a man from her nightmares, the one they call BOB.

And it's not over yet!
Her father Leland (Ray Wise) has been acting quite strangely as of late.
And there's also all those dreams of a Black Lodge and a ring...

It's the story of Twin Peaks "before the show".
A very dark tale, fans will notice the absence of humor unlike the show.

The movie came out in 1992, a year after the series ended actually.
Almost all the cast returned for this film, with the only exceptions being Lara Flynn Boyle who didn't reprise her role of Donna Hayward because rumors say she was asking for way too much money, after being quite difficult during the 2nd season of the show, so she was simply recast with Moira Kelly instead who did quite a good job of keeping the character the same. And the lovely Sherilyn Fenn as Audrey Horne , due to conflitcs with her shedules, but she was easily taken out of the story, Audrey having no real connection to Laura Palmer anyhow.

At first glance or view, it might seem like a mess of a movie.
Because it had been cut down from its original 5-hour first cut into such a shorter production.
Various scenes that featured returning TV characters were cut down entirely.
It also requires a familiarity with the universe of Twin Peaks. (for example, Annie appears at somepoint, out of nowhere, murdered, in a vision without any explanation whatsoever)

The movie is full of symbolism and dream imagery. The line between the everyday life and the Red Room/the dream world blurs as we follow Laura in her downward spiral which will result in her death.

It is also quite constructed like a serial, movie or not.
The movie is clearly divided into two overall distinct parts/chapters, each with their own segments/episodes.
The whole end of the movie being the story of the final seven days of Laura Palmer.

Because it was clearly aimed for watchers of the show, it expects you to to know the characters.
The scene of the "clues" briefing with Lil the Dancer is a perfect example of the way fans used to read into every detail of Twin Peaks episode.

Anyways, it's a great dark horror movie, a different kind of horror than the way people are used to with Hollywood.
A beautiful picture, lots of red tones and unique images.
And let's not forget Angelo Badalamenti’s amazing score. Compared to the show, the music here sounds more like a cacophony of lights and sound.

Overall, it is a much darker, bleaker and more brutal vision of the world of Twin Peaks.
It seems that more new mysteries are created than resolved.
It's a very strange experience, unlike any other.
Dark, brutal, probably too consuming for the general public which explains the way it was received originally. One of most disturbing movies you'll see.
What is real or not... the line blurs... blurs... blurs..

Be warned though, do not expect something closer to the TV show.
When it once was originally presented at the Cannes Festival in 1992, the movie was received with booing from the audience (that's just rude!). The negative reception came from a confused audience no doubt.
It's the kind of story that will follow you, making you think and interpret on your own.
The kind of plot that only benefits from repeated viewings. For fans of Twin Peaks and David Lynch mostly.

It's funny to see how more than a decade later, being finally released over there, the movie finally found a commercial success in Japan - which resulted in the heavily TP-inspired Deadly Premonition.

David Lynch originally planned various movies an eventual series of films, "Fire Walk with Me" being the first one because it resolved all the details taking place before the series.

The movie is also quite fast paced, things seem to move forward quickly and jumping around story points here and there, you can feel the heavy cuts specially in the early portions of the movie.
Fans are still waiting for the promised director's cut since the laserdiscs-era. (it seems one was prepared and ready, around 3 hours 30-long)

A great movie.. that is, with prior knowledge of Twin Peaks.

I give it, for Twin Peaks connoisseurs:

 2.5 / 3 Necronomicons (must watch!)

For average Joe:

  0.5 / 3 Necronomicons (run from it!)

BestOf Twin Peaks - FBI Special Agent Gordon Cole

Will you check this out...

Someone grabbed some of the best scenes from Twin Peaks featuring director/creator David Lynch as his own slef-inserted cameo character FBI Special Agent Gordon Cole!
It was such a fun and great character on the show, the very few times he had the occasion to appear in front of the camera.

Anyway, enjoy these awesome scenes:









And some scenes from the movie as well:





It looks like the FBI only hires unique characters, heh? :P

Lynch was a pretty good actor all in all. 'wish he'd goten more appearances!

CBR Chase

 

Here's an absolute must read - and yeah, I'm already telling it right away from the start.

One of the most original and interesting reads DC produced in these last couple of decades.
Introducing...

Comic title: Chase
Art by J.H. Williams III, Charlie Adlard, Rick Burchett, Kelley Jones, Yanick Paquette, Greg Scott, Diego Barreto, Eric Canete, Robert P Hall, Shawn Martinbrough, Michael Gray and John Beatty
Stories by Daniel Curtis Johnson, J.H. Williams III and Doug Moench

Published by DC Comics
From 1998/2011
Lineup Adam Strange, Animal Man, Countdown
Format: Omnibus trade paperback, collecting the 9-issue miniseries of Chase, Chase One Million, Batman #550 and short stories from DC Universe Heroes: Secret Files #1, Secret Files Guide to the DCU, Superman: Our Worlds at War - Secret Files #1, JSA Secret Files #2, Flash Secret Files and Origins #3, Joker: Last Laugh Secret Files #1, Batgirl: Secret Files #1 and Hawkman: Secret Files #1. 

Chase is a title created by J.H. Williams III and Daniel Curtis Johnson.
It lasted for 10 issues - not counting the specials and tie-ins/appearances/cross-overs in other books.
It really became something unique, thanks to the combined efforts of its creators.
The writing of Dan Curtis Johnson made its stories stand out as a smart noir-esque and mature title taking place in the DC Universe. A more realistic approach and supernatural to this costumed populated fictional world.

While J.H. Williams III really gave a life to this side of the DCU.
And was oh-so fitting to this unique approach.

Playing with the comic book medium, analyzing it and deconstructing this incredible premise. (of flying people dressed in spandex costumes)

Our titular character first appeared in Batman 550 (in 1998) to promote the launch of this new series (which is also included in this book).

Cameron Chase is an agent of the D.E.O. - the Department of Extranormal Operations - newly recruited by Director Bones himself, head of the DEO.
She's part of a special task force of the government, her role is to mointor and keep "metahumans" under control.

Being a former detective, most of her stories are told as cases and assignments.

Along the way she discovers she actually possesses powers of her own, the ability to negate superpowers of other metas in her proximity.

She also tries to come to terms with a long time trauma from her childhood during the course of her series.
Her father was killed in an horrible fashion involving costumed characters...

Spoiler:

Walter Chase had been the super hero known as the Acro-Bat, many years ago.
With a bunch of other costumed heroes, they formed a team called "Justice Experience", probably inspired by stories about the Justice Society in the 50s no doubt.
But due to their inexperience, someone perished once during a struggle with supervillains. Someone took it personally and decided to avenge the death of that girl. He became Doctor Trap, went on a vendetta against the Justice Experience.
And killed Chase's father in front of her own eyes as a child.

Anyway, that is why Chase hate costumed vigilantes.

During the course of her series, Chase is assigned to various kind of jobs, tasking the Suicide Squad, Teen Titans, etc.
The stories shift from serious tone to more light hearted tales.
Her family secrets revealed in an amazing 6th issue, the Dark Knight guest stars several times and clashes with Chase...

It's a very fun book all around.
The quality is maintained, and supervised through and through, even in the guest issues or other appearances in other comics, like the ones from Shadow of the Bat or Secret Files.

And a fun exploration of what having spandex-wearing individuals around mean and the unforeseen implications those so-called heroes don't always think of.

Lots of different sort of stories, including a fan-favorite One Million tie-in special issue. (a story taking place in the distant future)
Case that Chase works on, personal exploration through her own abilities and confrontations over "super-powered activities" juridisctions. This complete collection covers a wide range of type of stories.
Various unexpected surprises awaits Chase on her journey.

Also guest starring such characters as Batman, The Teen Titans, Booster Gold, Green Lantern, The Flash, the Martian Manhunter, the Justice Society and many more!

Overall, a recommended book!
May you be a DC Comics fan or not. Newcomer or long time reader.
New to American comics or not.

It's a very fun entry point to all things super powers. At a more human level.

The stories in themselves are great, original, dark, "real".

And also, this is as good as it gets in published comics.
This book is a huge omnibus-sized softcover in full color.
Containing 352 pages worth of material, covering most of Chase's career.
(she appeared much later on in the pages of Manhunter and Bat-woman at the moment)

Simply said, an absolute must read!

I give it:

  3 / 3 Plastic-trophies!

RR Twin Peaks

It's time for yet another "Random Review", 'haven't done one of these in a while.
This time, featuring a cult classic from the early 90s.

Twin Peaks!
A show like no other else.
Part-drama, part-science fiction, part mystery, part-fantasy...

It only lasted for 2 seasons, but it marked an entire generation of directors and writers.
And without it, I'm sure we wouldn't have gotten any of our current recent productions, these serials storyarcs-driven shows like LOST nowadays (or any of those other Bad Robot productions as well).

Name: Twin Peaks: The Complete Series
Created by David Lynch & Mark Frost
Original run 1990-1991
Genre Supernatural/Mystery/Thriller/Drama serial

Twin Peaks is a show created by famous director David Lynch, the man who made such  classics as The Elephant Man, Dune or Blue Velvet.
Lynch co-created the show with the novelist Mark Frost.

As soon as the pilot originally aired in 1990, the show was unlike anything else the TV market had back then.
Part-murder mystery thriller, part-fantasy drama with supernatural tone. It was the brainchild of two visionaries who wanted to bring in something deeply personal amongst a sea of generic sitcoms and usual cop/spy/medical shows.

Because Twin Peaks is very much a Lynch creation at heart.
And like most of his films, it is quasi impossible to really define the show with such themes.

The show touches a broad genre, depending on the mood.
It could really go anywhere at any time, from little comedy/campy moments to another scene featuring the melodramatic characters that inhabits Twin Peaks.

It was more than a simple murder story.

But let's start from the beginning, shall we?
What about the story itself?

Meet FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper.

The plot revolves around an FBI Special Agent as he arrives in the little town of Twin Peaks in some unspecified part of the United States. (probably near Washington from what is implied during the show)
This agent, Dale Cooper (played fantastically by Kyle MacLachlan) was tasked with the investigation of a very strange murder case, the murder of a popular teenage Laura Palmer.
Everything seems to point a mysterious killer Cooper had been chasing for the past 10 years. His m.o. always similar, leaving very strange clues on the victim, such as a tiny letter from a typer under their fingernails, this time an R.

To help him on this investigation, Cooper starts working with the local police force. He quickly make friends with the town sheriff Harry S. Truman (played by Michael Ontkean).

A big, diverse and original cast of colorful characters populate the not so peaceful anymore-town of Twin Peaks.
Some will be helping out Coop, like rest of the police department like Andy, Hawk, or others less friendly folk will be there to prevent him from resolving this sorry affair.

As a main character, Cooper is a very strange fellow as well.
While other regular detectives on TV usually rely on hard work, reflexion and deduction, Coop openly follows his instincts or even listen closely to his dreams.
Coop also has a lot of strange quirks and habits. He will want to stop by everybody and meet the inhabitant of Twin Peaks, learning about the lives and whatnot. Believing what he sees in his dreams to be actual clues and have important meanings, Coop will try to understand these signs send from beyond our realms. 
Also, a fun way to narrate the story, Coop is often seen recording his thoughts and ideas on a tape recorder, for an unseen person called Diane. (or is that the recorder's name?)

The owls are not what they seem-

For the most part of the series, the more serious one, it is mostly a characters driven piece.
We learn about these characters, their lives. Segments of these characters' life.

Cooper and his interaction with the Sheriff and his deputies.
The lives in Twin Peaks that won't ever be the same anymore, with the loss of this Laura Palmer leaving such a huge impact (as Bobby points out in the pilot).
A destroyed Leland Palmer, Laura's father (a fantastic Ray Wise covering such a wide array of emotions, never stopping to impress and surprise us) going to the deep end.
Her former friends trying to live their lives no matter what, with no success and her ghost still haunting their thoughts.
Twin Peaks' adults covering their lies about what was really going on this little regular American town.

But slowly, the death of Laura Palmer starts to reveal this small town for what it really is.
This apparently respectable piece of American land hides various layers of uglyness beneath the fake smiles.
Everybody was living double lives.

The more supernatural aspect of the town (and its forest!)  only glimpsed in the first episode starts invading Cooper's mind and slowly taking over the direction of the show.

It's quite an original and fun show to analyze as well.

Each episode represent a single day "in chronology", set in 1989. So we are often left with Cooper on a cliffhanger in the middle of the night, or simply going back to his hotel room.

Who is the real killer? What or who is this BOB? Where is the Black Lodge?
And what about that man from another place Coop seems to meet in his dreams?
What is really going on in the dark woods?
What about this deadly unfinished game of chess Cooper used to play with a certain Windom Earle?

The show loves to throw red herrings at us along the path.

All in all, it's an original show that wants itself original, fun and entertaining like TV used to!
The complete series on DVD allows to enjoy this unique experience seamlessly. (only interrupted by the Log Lady's random visions and allusions at each episode's start).

There was a lot of improvised reactions on the show, which really makes all these characters unique and real. Lynch and his directors used to let the actors play with that. Most of these came from the incredible Kyle MacLachlan in the role of Cooper, but let's not also forget all the other characters that gave life to this fictional town. (Lara Flynn Boyle, Sherilyn Fenn, Madchen Amick, etc.)

The music also.
Let's not forget to mention the music!
Composer Angelo Badalamenti's score is as much part of the show's success as the rest of the cast and crew!
He gave the show its mood and atmosphere. Moody, slow, it is composed of a mix of cool jazz, percussions, electric piano and other symphonic medleys. Sometimes almost parodical (in more talky/drama scenes), and works perfectly to create the uncertain feel of the town.

Overall, it is fun most of the time. Creepy in other occasions. Weird most of it. And always entertaining in the long run!
No, really. It is a must see! 
Give it a chance, the first hour might be hard on you if you're not used to Lynch work.

It's is an odd mix of soap opera and supernatural fiction for everyone to enjoy! 


There's a lot of interesting things to see, even on a secondary viewing. The shows plays with the audience in the composition, directing, etc.
For example there's this fictional soap opera that plays within the series, Invitation to Love. An over-the-top sort of pocking fun at the genre.

Sadly, when the ratings dropped in the 2nd season, ABC insisted they revealed the murderer's identity mid-season (2). Which is a bad move from the producers if you ask me. The show has a problem finding its feet afterwards, before picking up again in the end...

David Lynch also directed a movie based on the show, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.
Which works actually as prequel (and pseudo-sequel as well, clarifying some points regarding the ending and Cooper...).

Dreams is a big part in the shows' mytho.
And like a dream, it clings to your memory and leaves this blur, this presence in your thoughts.
Likewise, the series doesn't leave things really clear regarding most occurrences and events. Things are left open to the audience.

A recommended must-see for all!
(I'd gave it a perfect 3/3 must watch recommendation, if the 2nd Season didn't get as lost midpoint, finding back its track...) 


I give it:

2.5 / 3 Films!