Criticize This!

ALBUM REVIEW: The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely

The Raconteurs
Consolers of the Lonely
Third Man, 2008
**** out of 5

Many successful musicians have what could politely be called follies; vanity projects which have the faithful shaking their heads ruefully and hoping for the next proper release to arrive all the sooner. Some of the more notable examples of this leave-of-senses taking include both of Lou Barlow’s Sebadoh side projects, Folk Implosion and Sentridoh. As well, we have Bill Wyman’s classic WTF moment with Je Suis Un Rock Star? And finally, any solo project by a member of The Who could be considered the grandest of follies, especially those releases featuring the atonal singing of patented exploding drummer Keith Moon.

So when The Raconteurs made their appearance a couple of years back with 2006’s Broken Boy Soldiers, it looked pretty much like just another piece of ego trippin’. Jack White, by now a global colossus with the dynamic duo White Stripes, teamed up with his old mucker Brendan Benson and a rust-belt rhythm section to get some kicks laying down Detroit rock city riffs. This allowed White to escape the relentless glare of the spotlight while simultaneously letting him pretend to be “one of the gang”, which is something he doesn’t get when it’s just him and a silent, lead-footed drummer out there on the nation’s stages.

COMIC BOOKS #40: Mighty Avengers, Secret Invasion, Scud's farewell and more!

Mighty Avengers #13
Secret Invasion #2
Action Comics Annual #11
Scud: The Disposable Assassin #24

COMIC BOOKS is written, shot, and edited by Michael Goldberg

New on DVD - May 13, 2008

Cate Blanchett in I'm Not There

I'm Not There Criticize This! pick of the week - Any fan of Bob Dylan will find I'm Not There an interesting film. Great performances, direction, and overall look makes it worth owning. The soundtrack is also worth a listen. Starring Cate Blanchett, Heath Ledger, and Christine Bale.

Youth Without Youth - Francis Ford Coppola returns with a messy romantic mystery. Too long and boring to recommend. Starring Tim Roth. Also available on Blu-Ray.

Untraceable - This movie makes me want to scream! Stupid, stupid, stupid! Almost as bad as the 1995 Sandra Bullock crapfest The Net. Diane Lane has officially killer her career. Also available on Blu-Ray.

Also available this week: Mad Money, The Great Debaters, The Cottage

COMIC BOOKS SPECIAL: Iron Man Movie Review

Iron Man: In short go see it. (Stay after the credits)
Read Cate Jones' Iron Man Review

COMIC BOOKS is written, shot, and edited by Michael Goldberg

New in theaters - May 9, 2008

Speed Racer - After filming darker fare such as The Matrix and V For Vendetta, the Wachowski brothers turn to lighter fare with the family flick Speed Racer. Based on the cartoon series, Emile Hirsch stars as the title character, who decides to compete in the race that claimed his brother's life, The Crucible.

What Happens In Vegas - Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher star as two people who mistakenly get hitched after a drunken, debaucherous night in Las Vegas. When they find out one of them has won a jackpot, they try to trick each other into getting the money - but complications arise when they fall in love.

COMIC BOOKS #39: Abyss, Avengers, DC Universe and much more!

New Releases:

DC Universe: Zero
Green Lantern #30
Action Comics #864
Abyss #4
Deepak Chopra's Buddha #2
The New Avengers #40

COMIC BOOKS is written, shot, and edited by Michael Goldberg

MOVIE REVIEW: Iron Man (2008)

The sheer greatness that is Iron Man can be summed up in two words: perfect casting.

As brilliant but flawed industrialist Tony Stark, Robert Downey Jr. single-handedly elevates director Jon Favreau's superhero pic from good to great. Putting his bad-boy image to good use, Downey as Stark is a debaucherous, sharp-tongued businessman who's redeemed after seeing the error of his ways.

New in theaters - May 2, 2008

Iron Man - Billionaire industrialist and genius inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is captured by terrorists and told he must construct a weapon for them if he wants to survive. Instead he builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes. When Stark learns of an evil plot that could resonate around the globe he dons his suit and becomes Iron Man, intent on making up for past misdeeds by saving the world.

COMIC BOOKS #38: Mighty Avengers, Thor, Countdown, and more!

Graphic Novel:
Daredevil: The Devil, Inside and Out

Series:
Mighty Avengers #12
Thor #8
Countdown #1
Death of the New Gods 8 of 8

COMIC BOOKS is written, shot, and edited by Michael Goldberg

New on DVD - April 29, 2008

A scene from The Diving Bell & Butterfly

The Diving Bell & Butterfly Criticize This! pick of the week - An amazing film based on the true story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby after he suffered a stroke and was left trapped inside his body paralyzed. Read the book beforehand (which was written by him blinking his left eye) to get a real sense of what he went through.

The Golden Compass - Creepy, controversial fantasy film based on the book of the same name. Starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. Also available on Blu-Ray.

27 Dresses - Annoying romantic comedy starring Katherine Heigl stars as a woman who has been a bridesmaid 27 times (but never a bride). Also available on Blu-Ray.