Uncovering Pop Culture's Hidden Gems
First, a disclaimer: If you have seen neither the theatrical nor the ultimate edition of this movie and do not want a few plot points revealed, then please watch the movie before reading this. While I keep my discussion of the story and certain major developments limited to my earlier review of the theatrical version, much of what I have written […]
Read moreIron-Blooded Orphans (IBO), the latest release in the long running Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, follows the exploits of a budding cadre of child soldiers who live on Mars. They are the byproduct of a catastrophic battle referred to as the “Calamity War.” It’s conclusion resulted in a diaspora that marginalized the Martian populace and reduced the planet to little more […]
Read moreI went into Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice with an almost foolish amount of enthusiasm. Although decades of old fanboy cynicism had done much to mitigate my expectations in a general sense, I couldn’t help but be overcome by a real feeling of hope. This was Batman v. Superman after all – the big bang of the DC cinematic […]
Read moreLast night, as part of the CW’s “DC Films Presents: Dawn of the Justice League” event, the first official Suicide Squad trailer debuted. The video, which you can watch above, gives us a better look at quite a few of the upcoming movie’s protagonists. Notably, Will Smith’s Deadshot and Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn take up the bulk of the trailer’s brief […]
Read moreOne Punch Man, a 12-episode series based on a popular webcomic of the same name, tells the story of Saitama, a salary-man-turned-superhero in a fictionalized version of Japan. This familiar backdrop is shared not only by average citizens, but also by other heroes and, more importantly, strange and monstrous villains of indeterminate origin that wreak havoc on the general populace. […]
Read moreThe Supergirl pilot was a hot mess – it would take GOP levels of gall to deny this. The creative team behind the show seemed to have almost no (or too much) control over the amount of information that needed to be included in this opening act. This is a persistent problem throughout the episode, but the introductory sequence, wherein […]
Read moreNostalgia can be a cruel mistress. Often, enticed by her comely looks and sweet words, I have foolishly played into her hands and paid dearly for it on more than one occasion. With the release of Transformers: Devastation, it appeared that I would once again lay with my silvery tongued paramour and suffer the ardent sting of her betrayal. All […]
Read moreCreating a great opening theme, regardless of genre, is a task that merits great attention. Quite often these musical prefaces become as iconic (or trivial) as the series they are meant to introduce. Certainly, not all opening themes can become a part of the zeitgeist, but there a chosen few that so perfectly capture the imagination of an audience they […]
Read moreBack in the late ’80s, and certainly during the early ’90s, I was already hard at work nurturing my burgeoning love of video games. Much of my earliest exposure came from a Sega Master System that I received for Christmas one year (an NES soon followed). Like many of you out there, I played the living heck out of both […]
Read moreMR. E & MLE photo by teajayphoto. NOTE: This interview is part of a series of pre-show interviews leading up to TuffGnarl.com’s 2nd Annual Rock & Roll Debauch at Churchill’s this Saturday, August 22. Mr. E and MLE, a newly formed folk punk duo from right here in Miami, are the alter-egos of Steven Toth and Emile B. Milgrim. Mr. E, for his part, has […]
Read moreAs much as any other aspect of game play, music is an inextricable part of the Japanese Role Playing Game (JRPG) experience. In a genre where friends become enemies and stalwart companions run the risk of being unceremoniously murdered, a JRPG’s soundtrack is an important constant that helps maintain cohesion within the bounds of even the most sprawling narrative. It […]
Read moreJustice League: Gods and Monsters Director: Sam Liu Writers: Bruce Timm and Alan Barnett Run Time: 72 Minutes Release Date: July 28th, 2015 Studio: Warner Brothers Home Video Penned and produced by fan-favorite Bruce Timm, Justice League: Gods and Monsters is a re-imagining of the beloved (and sometimes maligned) superhero super team as a darker, perhaps even unlawful, band of […]
Read morePostal #5 Bryan Hill, Matt Hawkins, Isaac Goodhart, Betsy Gonia Top Cow Productions/Image Comics July 13th, 2015 Having earned his mother’s trust in the first arc, Postal #5 finds Mark Shiffron faithfully carrying out his official (and unofficial) duties as Eden’s post master. Although not much is said about the events connecting this chapter to the last, it’s probably not […]
Read moreAs our list of bests and worsts comes to a close, my thoughts turn to the future of live-action anime adaptations. In a time when romantic comedies and period dramas share cineplex space with the likes of the Avengers and colossal Jaegers, it seems like just about any series stands a chance of making the jump to the big screen. […]
Read morePostal TPB Vol.1 (Postal Issues 1-4) Bryan Hill, Matt Hawkins, Isaac Goodhart, Betsy Gonia, Linda Sejic Top Cow Productions/Image Comics June 24th, 2015 Read Postal #1 – for FREE! Postal, a title that speaks both to our protagonist’s occupation and to greater threats looming on the horizon, takes place in a fictionalized version (I hope) of Eden, Wyoming. Taken at […]
Read moreIn my last article on the subject, I explored what I felt were some of the very best live action anime adaptations available today. We continue our exploration of live action adaptations by taking a look at the flip side of that coin. So, without further ado, here are my picks for the five worst live action anime adaptations ever […]
Read more