‘Charlie Says’ Offers Another Look Inside The Manson Family

This month marks the 50th anniversary of a fascinating and horrible American tragedy. I’m speaking, of course, about the Tate-LaBianca

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August 19, 2019August 18, 2019 Ben Martin 120 Views 0 Comment 1969, biopic, Blu-Ray, Charles Manson, crime, crime drama, Digital HD, drama, DVD, films, history, home video, movies, New Release, streaming, streaming services, true crime

Anime Comics Film

80 Years Of The Bat: DC Animation Adapts Hush

80 Years of The Bat is a column created to celebrate the 80th anniversary of one of the most beloved

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August 12, 2019August 11, 2019 Ben Martin 163 Views 0 Comment 4K, adaptation, alfred pennyworth, animation, Bat Family, Batgirl, Batman, Batman 80th Anniversary, Batman: Hush, Bill Finger, Blu-Ray, Bob Kane, Bruce Wayne, Catwoman, comic books, commissioner gordon, crime noir, crime stories, DC, dc animation, DC Comics, Dick Grayson, DVD, film, Harley Quinn, home video, Jason Todd, Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, knightfall, Matt Reeves, movies, New Release, Nightwing, Robin, streaming, streaming services, Teen Titans, The Batman, The Joker, The Riddler, tim drake, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Home Entertaiment

Anime Comics Film

80 Years of The Bat – Jeph Loeb & Jim Lee’s Batman: Hush

80 Years of The Bat is a column created to celebrate the 80th anniversary of one of the most beloved

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July 31, 2019July 30, 2019 Ben Martin 204 Views 0 Comment alfred pennyworth, Bat Family, Batgirl, Batman, Batman 80th Anniversary, Batman: Hush, Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Bruce Wayne, Catwoman, comic books, commissioner gordon, crime noir, crime stories, DC, dc animation, DC Comics, Dick Grayson, Harley Quinn, Jason Todd, Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, knightfall, Matt Reeves, Nightwing, Robin, Teen Titans, The Batman, The Joker, The Riddler, tim drake, Warner Bros. Animation

Get Down With ‘Crawl’

I’m not sure about the rest of the world, but the Southern U.S. has a unique brand of animal attraction.

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July 25, 2019July 24, 2019 Ben Martin 174 Views 0 Comment B-Movies, creature feature, horror, horror film, horror movies, movies, New Release, Paramount Pictures, suspense

High Life: A Visual Sci-Fi Slow Boil

For years, I’ve heard the name of French filmmaker and writer Claire Denis (The Stars at Noon) bandied about in

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July 22, 2019July 21, 2019 Ben Martin 163 Views 0 Comment Blu-Ray, Digital HD, drama, DVD, film, home video, movies, New Release, Robert Pattinson, sci-fi, science fiction, streaming, streaming services

Comics Events Film

80 Years Of The Bat: Back Issue Magazine’s Batman ’89 30th Anniversary Issue

80 Years of The Bat is a column created to celebrate the 80th anniversary of one of the most beloved

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July 9, 2019July 8, 2019 Ben Martin 225 Views 0 Comment 1989, 30th Anniversary, arkham asylum, Batman, Batman 1989, Batman 80th Anniversary, batman forever, Billy Dee Williams, Blu-Ray, Bruce Wayne, Catwoman, comic books, crime noir, crime stories, DC, DC Comics, special events, Tim Burton, Warner Bros.

Child’s Play Remake Is No Buddi Of Mine

Once or twice a year, I’ll take a stroll down the toy aisle. Since there’s currently a 90s renascence occurring,

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July 3, 2019July 3, 2019 Ben Martin 223 Views 0 Comment app, apps, Artificial Intelligence, Aubrey Plaza, Brian Tyree Henry, child's play, chucky, dolls, Horror Films, horror movies, Mark Hamill, New Release, Orion Pictures, remake, sci-fi horror, technology

The Dead Don’t Die: A Meta Zombie-Comedy

Love his style or hate it, writer/director Jim Jarmusch (Only Lovers Left Alive) is an original talent in cinema. If

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July 2, 2019July 1, 2019 Ben Martin 270 Views 0 Comment Adam Driver, Bill Murray, Black Comedy, comedy, comedy-horror, Danny Glover, dark comedy, independent film, New Release, The RZA, tilda swinton, Zombies

Nearly 20 Years Later, Shaft Returns At His Best

In 1971, Shaft kicked-off the Blaxploitation subgenre in earnest. This original flick didn’t excel in sex and violence as the

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July 1, 2019June 30, 2019 Ben Martin 271 Views 0 Comment action film, action-comedy, B-Movies, Crime Movie, crime stories, films, Jesse T. Usher, movies, New Release, reboots, Regina King, Richard Roundtree, Samuel L. Jackson, sequel, Shaft, soft reboot, tim story, Warner Bros.

Anime Comics Film

80 Years Of The Bat: Batman Vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

80 Years of The Bat is a column created to celebrate the 80th anniversary of one of the most beloved

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June 18, 2019June 17, 2019 Ben Martin 309 Views 0 Comment 4K, action film, alfred pennyworth, animation, Bat Family, Batman, Batman 80th Anniversary, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, Batman/TMNT, Bill Finger, Blu-Ray, Bob Kane, Bruce Wayne, comic books, commissioner gordon, crossovers, Damian Wayne, DC, DC Comics, Digital HD, DVD, home video, New Release, Nickelodeon, Nightwing, Robin, sci-fi action adventure, Teen Titans, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe, The Joker, TMNT, Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

Dark Phoenix Burns Dimly, Failing To Take Flight

Many folks, myself included, feel that X-Men (2000) is responsible for helping kick-off the age of the comic book movie

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June 14, 2019June 12, 2019 Ben Martin 289 Views 0 Comment 20th Century Fox, 20th Century Fox Films, action film, comic books, Dark Phoenix, evan peters, Fox, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Marvel mutants, Marvel Studios, MCU, Michael Fassbender, mutants, New Mutants, New Release, Nicholas Hoult, prequel, sci-fi action adventure, sequel, Simon Kinberg, Sophie Turner, superheroes, Walt Disney, X-Men, X-Men: Dark Phoenix

80 Years Of The Bat: Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Vol. 1

80 Years of The Bat is a column created to celebrate the 80th anniversary of one of the most beloved

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May 29, 2019May 28, 2019 Ben Martin 262 Views 0 Comment alfred pennyworth, Bat Family, Batman, Batman 80th Anniversary, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, Batman/TMNT, Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Bruce Wayne, comic books, commissioner gordon, crossovers, Damian Wayne, DC, DC Comics, Nightwing, Robin, Teen Titans, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe, The Joker, TMNT

The Violence, Vengence, & Fun Continues In John Wick Chapter 3

A mere four years ago, a little sleeper hit called John Wick (2014) was released. This modestly-budgeted film boiled the

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May 25, 2019May 24, 2019 Ben Martin 259 Views 0 Comment action, action movies, box office, Crime Movie, Do Not Cross John Wick, Halley Berry, Ian McShane, Jason Mantzoukas, John Wick, John Wick 2, John Wick 3, Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Lionsgate, martial arts, New Release, sequel, The Matrix, ultraviolent

Vigilante Flick El Chicano Subverts Expectations

Vigilantes and superheroes go hand-in-hand in certain ways. Both types of characters are all about dispensing justice. But, while superheroes

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May 21, 2019May 20, 2019 Ben Martin 236 Views 0 Comment action movies, Batman, films, independent film, movies, New Release, The Punisher, vigilante

Under The Silver Lake: A Sun-Drenched Neo-Film-Noir

Genre as a concept is an interesting beast. If you’re willing to embrace stories, you might find yourself attracted to

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May 9, 2019May 8, 2019 Ben Martin 339 Views 0 Comment A24, Andrew Garfield, Blu-Ray, crime noir, DVD, film noir, films, Movie, New Release, streaming, streaming services, Under the Silver Lake

Avengers: Endgame Serves As The Satisfying End Of An Era

It’s weird to think that The Marvel Cinematic Universe has essentially been around for all of my adult life. Iron

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May 3, 2019May 3, 2019 Ben Martin 355 Views 0 Comment Andy Serkis, Ant-man and the Wasp, anthony mackie, Anthony Russo, Avengers: Endgame, Avengers: Infinity War, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Bill Mantlo, Black Panther, Black Widow, Bradley Cooper, Brie Larson, Bruce Banner, Captain America, Captain America: Civil War, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain Marvel, Carrie Coon, Chadwick Boseman, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, Danai Gurira, Dave Bautista, Disney, Doctor Strange, Don Cheadle, Don Heck, Drax, elizabeth olsen, Falcon, film, Gamora, Groot, Guardians of the Galaxy, Hulk, I Am Groot!, Idris Elba, Infinity Gauntlet, Iron Man, Jack Kirby, Jim Starlin, Joe Russo, Joe Simon, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, keith giffen, Kevin Feige, Larry Lieber, Letitia Wright, Loki, Mark Ruffalo, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Comics, Marvel Studios, Matt Reeves, MCU, Michael B. Jordan, Nick Fury, Paul Bettany, Peter Dinkalge, Peter Parker, Peter Quill, Robert Downey Jr., Rocket Racoon, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Shuri, Spider-Man, Spider-Man Homecoming, Stan Lee, Star-Lord, Steve Englehart, Steve Gan, T'Challa, Thanos, The Avengers, The Infinity Wars, The Vision, Thor, Tom Hiddleston, Tom Holland, Tony Stark, Vin Diesel, Vision, Wakanda, War Machine, Winter Soldier, Zoe Saldana

Comics Events Film

80 Years Of The Bat: Original Batman Films Receive Theatrical & 4K UHD Releases

80 Years of The Bat is a column created to celebrate the 80th anniversary of one of the most beloved

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May 2, 2019May 2, 2019 Ben Martin 458 Views 0 Comment 1989, 30th Anniversary, 4K Resolution, 4K restoration, Batman, Batman & Robin, Batman 1989, Batman 80th Anniversary, batman forever, Batman Returns, Blu-Ray, Bob Kane, Bruce Wayne, comic books, crime noir, crime stories, DC, DC Comics, special events, Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Home Entertaiment

The Amityville Murders Tackles The True-Crime That Inspired The Horror

Around 3:00 A.M. on Wednesday, November 13, 1974, six distinct rifle shots rang out inside a family home. Inside this

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April 29, 2019April 28, 2019 Ben Martin 438 Views 0 Comment Amityville Horror, Blu-Ray, crime drama, Digital HD, drama, DVD, horror, horror film, Horror Films, horror movies, independent horror, indie horror, New Release, streaming, streaming services, The Amityville Murders, true crime

80 Years Of The Bat: Bat Family Issues

80 Years of The Bat is a column created to celebrate the 80th anniversary of one of the most beloved

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April 25, 2019April 24, 2019 Ben Martin 297 Views 0 Comment alfred pennyworth, Bane, Bat Family, Batgirl, Batman, Batman 80th Anniversary, batman: no man's land, Batman: RIP, Batman: The Killing Joke, Batwoman, Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Bruce Wayne, comic books, commissioner gordon, crime noir, crime stories, Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC, DC Comics, DC Rebirth, detective comics #27, Detective Comics #38, Dick Grayson, Golden Age, Jason Todd, knightfall, New 52, Nightwing, Robin, Teen Titans, The Joker, tim drake

New ‘Hellboy’ Reboot Is A Cinematic Purgatory

Mike Mignola is one helluva’ talent in the world of comics. One whose style is incredibly unique. Mignola began his

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April 21, 2019April 22, 2019 Ben Martin 447 Views 0 Comment action movies, columbia pictures, dark fantasy, Dark Horse Comics, David Harbour, DC Comics, films, Guillermo del Toro, Hellboy, hellboy 2, Hellboy 25th Anniversary, Hellboy ii: The Golden Army, Hellboy Reboot, horror, horror comics, horror movies, Ian McShane, Lionsgate, Marvel Comics, Mike Mignola, Milla Jovonich, movies, Neil Marshall, New Release, Ron Perlman, Sony, Stranger Things, ultra-violent, Universal

‘The Public’: A Thought Provoking Drama

Libraries have always been a place of peaceful respite for me; as I would imagine, they have for most patrons.

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April 16, 2019April 16, 2019 Ben Martin 373 Views 0 Comment Alec Baldwin, books, Christian Slater, drama, Emilio Estevez, films, independent film, Jeffrey Wright, jena malone, Michael K. Williams, movies, New Release, sociopolitical, the public

80 Years of The Bat: Detective Comics #27 (May 1939)

80 Years of The Bat is a column created to celebrate the 80th anniversary of one of the most beloved

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April 9, 2019April 8, 2019 Ben Martin 464 Views 0 Comment Batman, Batman 80th Anniversary, Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Bruce Wayne, comic books, crime noir, crime stories, DC, DC Comics, detective comics #27, first issue

Jordan Peele’s ‘Us’ Taps Into The Horror Of Humanity

It’s not news to anyone that comedy and horror have long-been genres that compliment one another. They both evoke extreme

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April 3, 2019April 3, 2019 Ben Martin 352 Views 0 Comment Blumhouse, Blumhouse Productions, box office, doppelgänger, Elizabeth Moss, films, Horror Films, horror movies, jason blum, Jordan Peele, Lupita Nyong'o, movies, New Release, politics, sociopolitical, suspense, thrillers, Universal, Us, Winston Duke

‘Dragged Across Concrete’ Lives Up To Its Title In Unexpected Ways

One of the most original voices in filmmaking in the past few years is writer/director S. Craig Zahler. A true

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April 1, 2019March 30, 2019 Ben Martin 490 Views 0 Comment crime, crime drama, Crime Movie, crime stories, Cult film, Don Johnson, films, Lionsgate, Mel Gibson, movies, New Release, S. Craig Zahler, streaming, streaming services, vince vaughn

‘The Final Wish’ Is An Empty One

Everyone knows that old horror trope of The Monkey’s Paw. Be careful what you wish for because it might change

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March 29, 2019March 28, 2019 Ben Martin 409 Views 0 Comment Blu-Ray, Demonic Horror, Digital HD, DVD, film, horror, horror film, Horror Films, horror movies, independent horror, movies, New Release, rural horror, streaming, streaming services

TV

Lethal Weapon: Season 3 Ends On An Explosive High-Note

[PLEASE NOTE: This recap of Lethal Weapon: Season 3, Episode 15: The Spy Who Loved Me DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS. It

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March 20, 2019March 20, 2019 Ben Martin 792 Views 0 Comment action, comedy, controversial, cops, Fox, Lethal Weapon, politics, recap, Season 3, Season Finale, tv, Warner Bros. Television

Franchise Expansion Or Implosion: Superman Returns

Franchise Expansion (or Implosion) is a column that looks at franchises that have new installments or releases forthcoming. In looking

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March 18, 2019March 16, 2019 Ben Martin 447 Views 0 Comment action film, Akiva Goldsman, Andrew Kevin Walker, blockbuster, Bohemian Rhapsody, box office, Brandon Routh, Bryan Singer, Christopher Reeve, comic books, DC, DC Comics, DC Entertainment, DC films, DCEU, Death of Superman, film, Gene Hackman, J.J. Abrams, Kevin Smith, Lauren Shuler Donner, Legendary Entertainment, lois and clark, Margot Kidder, movies, Nicolas Cage, Richard Donner, scifi, sequel, Superhero, Superman, Superman 80th Anniversary, Superman Lives, Superman Returns, Tim Burton, Titans, Warner Bros., X-Men

Business Events Film Toys

Documentary ‘Toy Masters’ Examines The Creation Of He-Man

The Mad Monster Party: Carolina is always a fun convention. (You can read my coverage of this year’s Mad Monster

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March 12, 2019March 12, 2019 Ben Martin 1694 Views 0 Comment business, cartoons, comic books, conventions, documentaries, documentary, documentary film, film festival, He-Man, He-Man and The Masters of The Universe, independent film, Mattel, New Release, Toys

A Horrific Weekend At The 2019 Mad Monster Party: Carolina

I’ve been attending horror conventions since 2011 when I traveled to Kentucky to meet legendary writer-director-composer John Carpenter. As a

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March 4, 2019March 4, 2019 Ben Martin 635 Views 0 Comment 2019, Adrienne Barbeau, Annual, Ash vs. Evil Dead, Batman the Animated SEries, Batman: The Killing Joke, Bruce Campbell, campy horror, conventions, Danielle Harris, DC Comics, Doug Jones, events, Evil Dead, film festival, horror, Horror Films, Kane Hodder, Mitch Pileggi, Q&A, Ray Wise, RoboCop, Swamp Thing, Twin Peaks

TV

Lethal Weapon Season 3 Penultimate Ep. Plays ‘A Game of Chicken’

[PLEASE NOTE: This recap of Lethal Weapon: Season 3, Episode 14: A Game of Chicken DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS. It is

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March 1, 2019March 1, 2019 Ben Martin 677 Views 0 Comment action, comedy, controversial, cops, Fox, Lethal Weapon, politics, recap, Season 3, tv, Warner Bros. Television

TV

Lethal Weapon 3.13 Takes A Trip To The Border

[PLEASE NOTE: This recap of Lethal Weapon: Season 3, Episode 13: Coyote Ugly DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS. It is assumed you

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February 20, 2019February 20, 2019 Ben Martin 565 Views 0 Comment action, comedy, controversial, cops, Fox, Lethal Weapon, politics, recap, Season 3, tv, Warner Bros. Television

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