North by Northwest 50th Anniversary Edition

NORTH BY NORTHWEST 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Alfred Hitchcock’s most entertaining film gets another reissue that STILL isn’t full VistaVision widescreen. Decent bonus features (some carried over from the previous DVD) are marred by an unforgivable grammatical error (see below), but nitpicking aside, the movie itself is an undeniable classic that belongs in any respectable movie collection.

Fringe Season 2

FRINGE Season 2
Unlike LOST, J.J. Abrams’ neo-X-FILES is fun whether you’re following the overarching “Pattern” storyline or not. Taken in large doses, FRINGE is as epic and enjoyable as genre TV gets, thanks to smart writing and a superb cast that deftly meld suspense, humor, melodrama, sci-fi and horror.

Cat Burglar Black

CAT BURGLAR BLACK by Richard Sala
Sala’s work is a unique mixture of fairy tale whimsy, gothic creepiness and gentle sexuality. This tale of a squad of teenage girl thieves seems geared towards a younger audience, and is mostly setup for an ongoing series (it also seems ripe for TV adaptation), but it’s still ghastly fun.

The Hangover

THE HANGOVER
After all the hype, perhaps my expectations were too high for this now-iconic comedy. Sure, I laughed, but the puzzle pieces didn’t quite fit in what felt like a cobbled-together, forced conclusion (at least Zach Galifianakis didn’t turn out to be a cylon). Ultimately, THE HANGOVER cheats.

Satchmo: the Wonderful World and Art of Louis Armstrong

SATCHMO: THE WONDERFUL WORLD AND ART OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG by Steven Brower
Just as the technical limitations of jazz-age audio recording give an unintended aural patina to Louis Armstrong’s early music, the browning of decades-old scotch-taped photos, typewritten notes and vintage clippings adds to the visual beauty of Satchmo’s reel-tape box and scrapbook collages, creating a mesmerizing 50-year visual biography.

Wildsville: The Art of Derek Yaniger

WILDSVILLE: THE ART OF DEREK YANIGER
Retro illustrator Derek Yaniger is not just adept at recreating the vibe of the Jim Flora / UPA-era, he’s also a master of color, lettering and design. Yaniger’s passion for all things Beat is infectious and inspiring rather than forced and tiring (ala the overrated Shag). Cast thy peepers, Clyde!

I Love You, Man

I LOVE YOU, MAN
Answering the question, “Does the world need a Bromantic Comedy” with a firm “Not really,” this movie needlessly follows every cliché of the genre it apes, right down to the third act conflict that’s resolved at the climax. A strong cast (led by the always-funny Paul Rudd) helps a lot.

Jersey Shore

JERSEY SHORE
Yes, it’s funny, yes, it’s addictive and yes, they’re all vapid, dopey, narcissistic and orange. But fighting, “creeping” and the word “Guido” aside, what’s most offensive about JERSEY SHORE is that these people are going to have far more than their Warhol-allotted 15 minutes. IDOCRACY inches ever closer…

Secret Country: Women, Whiskey and Nightlife

Secret Country, WOMEN, WHISKEY AND NIGHTLIFE
Straight outta Kearny NJ, it’s a rollicking country and western free for all, rife with equally indelible hooks and bathroom-graffiti-worthy lyrics about hot dogs, cold beer and more loose women than you can shake a…. well, you get the idea (the artwork’s not too bad, either).

The Art of Harvey Kurtzman

THE ART OF HARVEY KURTZMAN: THE MAD GENIUS OF COMICS by Denis Kitchen and Paul Buhle
A fascinating, inspiring, and sometimes heartbreaking tale of a true pop culture genius, one of the fathers of modern satire. Kurtzman was living testament to the sad truism that artistic brilliance is often trumped (no pun intended) by canny business acumen. Read it, laugh and weep!

Watchmen: the Ultimate Cut

WATCHMEN: THE ULTIMATE CUT
The integration of TALES OF THE BLACK FREIGHTER is nice for fans of the comic and the commentaries and bonus features are pretty good (especially “Under the Hood”) but with the superfluous Motion Comic and digital download disc supplanting the theatrical and director’s cuts, this set is hardly “Ultimate.”

Up in the Air

UP IN THE AIR
So… a non-commercial, ambiguous ending begets a masterpiece these days? Maybe I’m overly film-literate, but I saw the twist coming pretty early, and found both characterization and narrative too lackadaisical to be either moving or meaningful. I don’t need a fairy tale ending, but I do need a fleshed-out story.

The Road

THE ROAD
Despite an aversion to dystopian visions of the future, I had high hopes for this film. But ultimately, its bleak message was better elucidated in THE DARK KNIGHT: “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” I’d rather visit PLANET OF THE APES.

Paul F. Tompkins: Freak Wharf

Paul F. Tompkins, FREAK WHARF
One of our finest voices of comedic disdain lets loose with another slab of hilarious (oft poetic) social commentary. FREAK WHARF tackles church (“Still hanging in there!”), dogs, new dads, energy drinks and more. One weak bit about pie vs. cake cannot dull the shine of 2009’s best comedy album!

Avatar

AVATAR
Yes, it’s very nice to look at. But everything you’ve heard about the cardboard characters, predictable storyline and wooden dialogue is true to the point of making the spectacle as hollow as a really nice fireworks show. Sorry, it’s inexcusable for a $300,000,000.00 movie to have a crappy script.

V

V
Unlike BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (great until its disastrous final season), this update of the ‘80s sci-fi show doesn’t take enough risks to rise above merely serviceable. Alien queen Morena Baccarin is solely interesting amidst a painfully bland cast and the social / media metaphors are labored to the point of exhaustion.

Passengers

PASSENGERS
Anne Hathaway is a psychotherapist who senses something is amiss while treating five plane crash survivors (including an annoyingly Carpe-Diem Patrick Wilson). This plodding suspense thriller is obnoxiously Buscaglia-esque and its “twist ending” would be predictable even if THE SIXTH SENSE hadn’t rendered it a cliché.

Asterios Polyp

ASTERIOS POLYP by David Mazzucchelli
This decade-in-the-making epic about an architect too smart for his own good is well worth the wait. Mazzucchelli’s masterful usage of comics’ unique storytelling flexibility makes the book as much about art as its protagonist’s journey. Depth and detail warrant repeat readings (but I hate that truncated dust jacket!).

Dexter the Third Season DVD

DEXTER The Third Season DVD
Can a quasi-sociopathic serial killer find true friendship and perhaps even a partner in crime? That’s the question asked (and brutally answered) in the third season of this ridiculously great show. If only the extra features weren’t so lame (more commentaries, less “bonus” episodes of other Showtime shows).

Parker: the Hunter

RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE HUNTER by Darwyn Cooke
Cooke’s unabashedly retro style (particularly this less polished version) fits this crime noir graphic novel like a tailored suit. A supremely unlikable protagonist doesn’t hamper the enjoyment of this visceral tale of revenge and retribution. Booze, broads, blood and betrayal make for a read that’s not for fanboys only!

83rd Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

83rd MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE
The one reason to watch NBC’s annual advertainment crapapalooza: To make fun of it! Watch Matt Lauer wince as he reads his scripted gags! Carly Simon lipsynchs (why use microphones?) in front of skating Care Bears near the Hamburger Helper float under a giant floating Pillsbury Doughboy! KILL ME NOW!!!

2012

2012
Roland Emmerich destroys the world again, but at least he’s getting better at it. If you ignore the Everest-sized plot holes (two years? Really?) and teeth-grating stock movie clichés (Shut up and save the people already!), 2012 is actually a fairly fun ride. Okay, except for the chasm-jumping Winnebago.

Trauma

TRAUMA
I never saw this DOA NBC medical drama, I’m reviewing it based solely on a line from a commercial, wherein an EMT actually says to someone with some life-threatening emergency, “DON’T YOU DIE ON ME!!!” Call me reactionary, but that alone was enough to keep me far away from TRAUMA.

Was Superman a Spy?

WAS SUPERMAN A SPY? AND OTHER COMIC BOOK LEGENDS… REVEALED! By Brian Cronin
This collection of urban legends about comic book culture doesn’t contain a slew of revelations for the hardcore geek, but it’s still a fun read (despite a preponderance of exclamation points). Kudos to Cronin for clearing up some muddled history (e.g. the impetus for Batgirl and the Fantastic Four).

30 Rock

30 ROCK
Despite a rather intense dislike of Tina Fey, I swear I’ve tried to like 30 ROCK. But the overly mannered broad humor of this show just makes me wince (ala the execrable SCRUBS). Yes, Alec Baldwin verges on genius, but he’s lost in a sea of painful, unfunny mugging.