Slumdog Millionaire

The opening of Slumdog Millionaire shows the main character,Jamal,played by Dev Patel on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. From there it moves back and forth roughout the film. Next we see him at the police station being tortured and continuously being asked of how he did it. Accusations that he must have lied to have gotten that far on that show, because of his upbringing. As Jamal tries to explain himself to the police, every question that he answers right brings about another story of how he knew the answer. It starts off during his childhood, and thinking back how it all came about, his mother being killed and him and his brother Salim having to raise themselves from a very young age. Along the way they pick up another orphan, Latika. The three of them spend a considerable time together, all being brought to an orphanage, which they believe will make their lives that much better. It turns to be more of a child slave operation with the owner picking these kids to go out and beg and make him tons of money. The two brothers manage to escape, leaving Latika behind. Jamal however never forgets her, and continues to pine for her, and her love. The brothers go through more ups and downs, trying to survive in their own way. Jamal ends up being the good brother, who continues to search for his love Latika, while the older brother Salim has turned into a bad ass who has love for the money, and his brother to a point. They continue to go back and forth from the police station, to Jamal's childhood, until the Police Chief is satisfied enough to release Jamal to go back to the show for the final question and to get his millions. This movie has it all, a bad childhood, lost love, quest for riches, gangsters, all because of a gameshow. While Salim comes across as a person who is only in it for himself, whenever times are really bad he does his best to help his younger brother. It also raises the question of whether or not money is the root of all happiness, or would the love of another be more important than all the riches in the world.

5 out of 5

The Keene Act

A public service announcement about the Watchmen and what the government would like YOU to do about it.

February short story:Love Eternal

He had less than an hour to decide. Live forever,,alone, or to be 1oo with the love of his life?  This question had been on his mind for over a month since being given the choice.

Peter had been a loner for most of his life, never having a relationship last longer than a few months, which he contributed to the instability of his childhood.  Always moving, changing schools, having to make new friends.  This got to him, giving him an unstable feeling.

Now 35 years of age, for the most part, he had been content with meeting women and having sex with them, then moving on, that's all he had ever known in his life.  He figured why should he change, he'd just be moving on again. That was, until that one New Year's Eve.  He had another attractive woman in his sights, and she seemed very much single.

She turned to him, "Peter Sullivan!"  This was startling to Peter as he had never met this woman before in his life.  "Do I know you?"  "No, but I know you, from bar to bar,from woman to woman, I kind of know all about your life."   "Listen lady, go fuck yourself, you know nothing about me or my life."  "You've moved constantly in your life, and with these women. I'm here to make you an offer."  Unless it involves you getting naked and having sex with me, I'm not really interested."   Yes, I am going to let you have sex with me, and then after, we are going to talk business." "Whatever works for you, as long as I'm getting sex, the rest is whatever."

So, Peter and this woman went back to his place, where she proceeded to undress him, quickly removed all of her clothing, and then let him have his way with her in every possible way. Satisfied with the outcome, he lay on his back for a few minutes,then said, "So. What is this deal you would like to discuss?"  "Have you ever thought of living forever?" "The thought may have come to mind every once in a while. Why?"  "The offer i have for you is this. You can live forever, all alone, or,I find you the love of your life and you get to live to the ripe age of 100. Interested?"

Peter was a bit puzzled, but went along with it anyways. "There must be a catch. And who are you to offer eternal life? God or the devil?"  "Pretty close.  One of Satan's many children. An experiment if you will, to see if love is worth it, to pass on living forever. If you agree to either of the deals, you have 30 days to make up your mind.  At the end of the 30 days, I will return to grant either of your decisions."

Peter thought about it, mulled it over,shook her hand and said, "See you in 30 days. By the way, what is your name devil child?"  "I go by Serafina."  "Thank you Serafina for the best sex I have ever had in my life."  "You are quite welcome. I don't get many opportunities down there," she smirked.

Peter started to think about this,day after day, week after week.  It wasn't as easy as he thought it would be. Sure, live forever, have sex with whoever, no commitments, just like now.  Or, finally have that stability he had craved his whole life.

30 days had passed, and Serafina had returned.  "Hello Peter, have you made your choice?" "Do I get to see this so-called love of my life before making up my mind?"  "No,Peter, you're going to be going into this decision blindly."  "Ok then.  I may regret this, but I will choose to live to 100 with one woman, who will be the love of my life.  I do not  need to live forever."

Serafina turned to him with a big smile. "I hope you won't be disappointed, but I am going to be your wife.  I am not Satan's child, but an angel from heaven.  This was my decision as well. I already had eternal life alone, but I wanted to be in love.

Joker Review

I just recently purchased and read the original graphic novel titled Joker, written by Brian Azzarello and art by Lee Bermejo. Brian Azzarello writes the grizzled crime series 100 Bullets and has collaborated with Bermejo in the past with Lex Luthor: Man of Steel. This is arguably the best take on the Joker since Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke. The Joker in this sways a little from the in-continuity Joker and merging it with Heath Ledger’s version of the character. Although the book was more than likely written before Azzarello saw The Dark Knight but he may have used some influence from the trailers.

Joker reads pretty much like I expected a point of view from his side of things would read. A messed up, psychotic, twisted and sadistic way of life that the Joker lives. To say this is a Joker only story though would be a misstep as new character, Johnny Frost, is created to be the narrator. This is the problem with the book, as Frost isn’t a character that matters but just a subplot that is intersecting with the Joker’s. Frost is a way for us to view the Joker during this story but Azzarello doesn’t just use him as a narrative tool but incorporates his story as well. As we follow the Joker from his unexplained release from Arkham Asylum to his rise back to reacquire “his city”. Joker shows us the Gotham underground and its dirty, grim nature as he shoots and slices his way back to the top. Not knowing if the Joker is insane all the time or just when he feels like it is part of the allure he brings to the pages.

With the book not being in-continuity we are treated to new takes on existing characters. Killer Croc is now just a big strong thug living in a meat locker. The Penguin is illegitimate business man “running the city” while the Joker is away. Harley Quinn is shown briefly throughout the book as the Joker’s girlfriend. The Riddler is the very different in this story. His cane serves a purpose as his right leg is limp, while clothing is a completely different style. You don’t know what his purpose is but he steals things, whether it is for himself and sells them or is commissioned by others to steal certain items we do not know. He is shown selling something to the Joker that was “impossible” to get, but we are never privy to find out what it was. Two Face is living or at least looks like he is trying to live a somewhat normal life. We don’t know if he is evil or good but has cops on his payroll who are working for him to try to keep the Joker out of power.

The art in this book is fantastic and at first I didn’t think that was the case when I was just a few pages in. Bermejo changes his style throughout the book from his main pencil and inks to a combination of semi-painted panels and then to dark tones with lots of black. At first I was turned off by this shift in art styles but then I realized the reason for this was to show the nature of the Joker and how he sees everything differently. Not just different but a constant change from one minute to the next. Bermejo also uses the differing art styles and storytelling perfectly to focus on certain moments in the story

Not a perfect look, but a gaze into the Joker’s mind and character. This book is gorgeous in an ugly sort of way and should sit on your shelf next to The Killing Joke and Arkham Asylum. Any fan of the Batman mythos, crime stories or psychological thrillers would enjoy this book.

4 out of 5 stars
Colin Enquist

DVD Pick: The Last Winter

Unusual circumstances make for an unusual thriller

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

Similar to an evergrowing number of today's films, Larry Fessenden's The Last Winter borrowed a page out of the everyday headlines, tackling the topical subject of global warming as the backbone of its unconventional plot. Set in the isolated Alaskan tundra, The Last Winter is a different kind of horror-thriller, using the seeming spirits of caribou-like creatures as the foe (its not as bad as you might think), rather than psychos in masks or ghosts with grudges.

Ron Perlman trades in his Hellboy get-up for winter boots and a parka, as the leader of a group of oil scouts who are each brought to the edge of sanity, one by one. A mysterious force infects the group--mostly made up of Hollywood nobodies--before it allegedly spreads to neighbouring towns, and possibly the rest of the planet, much like the repercussions of a global warming.

A "horror" movie in which the Earth is the bad guy doesn't exactly send shivers up your spine, but Fessenden (Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth) somehow finds the terror of this very real possibililty and conveys it well onscreen, and with almost no special effects to speak of. He uses the bitter surroundings of Alaska's most unforgiving regions and the shortfallings of the relatable characters to provide us with one of the most original "horror" movies in recent years.

3.5/5 stars

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

On June 26, 2009 last years blockbuster returns to theatres. With Micheal Bay, Steven Spielberg and Shia LaBeuof all returing I think we can assume we will get another fun popcorn flick. Not much is known about the plot, but here is the first teaser trailer that will be featured during the Super Bowl.