Movie Review: Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

2013's off to a great start with movies. Les Miserables opened in theaters a few weeks ago, and Arnold Schwarzenegger recently returned to action movies with his new vehicle "The Last Stand". There's certainly plenty to go by with the drama and action category, and the latter adds another new entry this week with the release of "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters", which stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arteton in the titular roles. Taking a cue from the classic Brothers Grimm tale "Hansel & Gretel", this piece takes a "What If" look at the siblings if they decided to take their traumatic encounter with the witch to the next level... By hunting and killing witches as a career and profession! It's certainly an interesting concept, and thanks to Solar UIP's special premiere screening of it a couple of days ago, I got to see it... And surprisingly in 3D format which I enjoyed! Here's a review if you're wondering if it's good to see like a tasty candy treat given by an unsuspecting witch. Be warned though, SPOILERS, so read at your own risk!

Movie Review: Les Miserables

It took a great while for me to appreciate the classical masterpiece that is Les Miserables. My first brush with the story based on Victor Hugo's 1862 novel of the same name came during my school days, when art and music classes exposed me to the musical drama piece, filled with memorable songs of hope, tragedy, and dreams of a better life sung by archetypal characters that would be inspire several literary works. Since then, I never looked up on "Les Mis" again... Until word came that the long awaited film adaptation would be helmed by "The King's Speech" director Tom Hooper, and would have an ensemble comprised of today's best Hollywood performers such as Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, and Amanda Seyfried.

Truth be told - unless it was an actual boradway play, movie musicals were hardly something I'd go for in the big screen. Les Miserables more than proved to be an exception to that rule, and after finally seeing it this week via local premiere, I'm literally at a loss for words for what is most deserving to be called a "beautiful masterpiece". Originally premiering in London last month and opening just this week in selected theaters internationally, the film version of "Les Miserables" is a great way to open your 2013 movie experience, and a timeless drama that any art, movie, or music fan should experience. Thanks goes to Solar UIP for the premiere screening this week, and without further ado, here is my review on this timeless dramatic masterpiece!

Comic Review: The Superior Spider-Man #1/ The Amazing Spider-Man #700

It's been a long time since I've actually appreciated a Spider-Man story, let alone a tale that signifies the end of an era as we know it. When Stan Lee and Steve Ditko introduced "puny" high school nerd Peter Parker into the world back in the 60's, who could have imagined that the once scrawny teenaged boy would become a hero endowed with the strength and powers proportionate to a spider, let alone be named THE World's most famous superhero? With continuous soaring popularity in comics and thanks to countless appearances in all forms of media that includes cartoons, video games, and films, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone around the world who didn't know your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

Yet here we are... A turning point in the character's life ended just as 2012 closed with THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #700, and the new year ushers in a brand NEW direction for the character... Something that claims to be better and "Superior" than the amazing webslinging hero that we've come to know and love through the decades.

So as we usher in the new year of 2013, I make my return to comic book reviews at the same time... And we start things off by reviewing one of the new books Marvel has released in its "Marvel NOW!" campaign... THE SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1!

SPOILER ALERT for those who don't know the big changes that have happened in Spidey's life. If you wish to find out for yourselves, best turn back at this point... NOW.