Movie Review: Risky Business (1983)

That was the first mistake.

Movie Review: Risky Business (1983) directed by Paul Brickman Joel Goodson (Tom Cruise) is an upper-middle class kid in his last year of a Chicago high school. He’d like to get into Princeton like his father, but his grades are only okay, his SAT scores are mediocre, and his extracurriculars aren’t very shiny. Even his Future… Continue reading Movie Review: Risky Business (1983)

Movie Review: Killer Clans

Lu falls into a Roc Society trap.

Movie Review: Killer Clans (1976) directed by Chor Yuen, (Chinese title “Liu xing hu die jian”) Meng Hsin-Wan (Tsung Wa) is a top assassin of the Chinese underworld, working out of a brothel the madam of which is his boss. There’s another assassin on the premises, but he’s become an alcoholic since a certain incident… Continue reading Movie Review: Killer Clans

Manga Review: Lady Snowblood Vol. 1: The Deep-Seated Grudge Pt. 1

Manga Review: Lady Snowblood Vol. 1: The Deep-Seated Grudge Pt. 1 story by Kazuo Koike, art by Kazuo Kamimura It is the Meiji Era, and Japan is rapidly modernizing. Some have even suggested abolishing the Japanese language in favor of one easier to communicate in! But some traditions are more deeply rooted than others, like… Continue reading Manga Review: Lady Snowblood Vol. 1: The Deep-Seated Grudge Pt. 1

Book Review: Halo in Brass

Book Review: Halo in Brass by Howard Browne (writing as John Evans) Paul PIne, private detective, is hired on a missing persons case. It seems that Laura Fremont, originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, has gone incommunicado in the big city of Chicago. Her plain rural parents are worried sick. The first obstacle pops up in that… Continue reading Book Review: Halo in Brass

Movie Review: The Man with the Iron Fists

The Blacksmith checks out his new fists.

Movie Review: The Man with the Iron Fists (2012) directed by RZA Jungle Village is a lawless town, inhabited by various clans (most named after animals) that engage in frequent turf wars. The Blacksmith (RZA) is one of the few important neutral parties. He uses his skills to make superior weaponry for anyone who can pay… Continue reading Movie Review: The Man with the Iron Fists

Movie Review: The Big Boss

Cheng takes a snack break before the final battle.

Movie Review: The Big Boss (1971) directed by Wei Lo Cheng Chao-An (Bruce Lee) is from an impoverished farming village in China. His kung fu skills are top-notch so he could probably make good money as a professional fighter, but his mother has made him swear on her jade pendant not to fight any more. Instead,… Continue reading Movie Review: The Big Boss

Book Review: Dirty Doc Ames and the Scandal That Shook Minneapolis

Book Review: Dirty Doc Ames and the Scandal That Shook Minneapolis by Erik Rivenes City government corruption is a recurring problem in American politics. Some cities are notorious for their local corruption levels, while others have it come and go. Minnesota cities are no exception, though it has seldom reached the level of Mayor Albert… Continue reading Book Review: Dirty Doc Ames and the Scandal That Shook Minneapolis

Comic Book Review: Ambassador of the Shadows

Comic Book Review: Ambassador of the Shadows by Jean-Claude Mézières and Pierre Christin The universe is vast, and intelligent life has arisen on many worlds.  Over millennia, these different lifeforms have spread out from their points of origin and met each other.  Sometimes, these meetings have led to friendly interaction, sometimes they have ended in… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Ambassador of the Shadows

Book Review: Doctor Dead: A Percy & Quincey Adventure

Book Review: Doctor Dead: A Percy & Quincey Adventure by Tyler Tork Disclaimer:  I received a free download of this book to facilitate this review.  No other compensation was requested or offered. Percival “Percy” Drew and his cousin Quincey Harker are enjoying an afternoon at San Francisco’s waterfront in 1904.  Until, that is, the young… Continue reading Book Review: Doctor Dead: A Percy & Quincey Adventure

Book Review: Empire of Sin

Book Review: Empire of Sin by Gary Krist A criminal called “the Axman” opens this story, and after a thirty-year flashback through New Orleans history, wraps it up as well.  No one is sure who the Axman actually was, how many of the crimes attributed to him he actually did, or his final fate.  Rather… Continue reading Book Review: Empire of Sin