A look at the biggest comics, movies, TV and video game releases for this week
By Wade Gum
Posted 8/18/2008
Movies
Death Race
Friday, August 22
Rated R
Why is popular culture so enamored with making prison into entertainment? "The Running Man" started it with its awesome game show aesthetic and then "Smash TV" added in big bucks, VCRs, toasters and other amazing prizes. Now "Death Race" puts prisoners behind the wheels of deadly cars and encourages them to shoot the crap out of each other in a bid for freedom.
Jason Statham steps into his familiar role as "bald guy who beats up and shoots people" for this Paul W.S. Anderson joint that also stars Joan Allen, Tyrese Gibson and Ian "Al Swearengen" McShane. It really doesn't have much to do with the Roger Corman film from the '70s and it isn't much of a race, but it certainly has plenty of deaths in it.
The Rocker
Wednesday, August 20
Rated PG-13
The stars of "The Office" haven't had the best track record when it comes to the big screen. Steve Carell was in the underperforming "Evan Almighty" and "Get Smart," John Krasinski disappointed in "License to Wed" and "Leatherheads" and Rainn Wilson hasn't faired much better. No one really saw him in "The Last Mimzy," but people may pay attention to his first comedic effort – "The Rocker."
Wilson plays a washed up drummer who used to live the rock and roll lifestyle before the rest of his band booted him out on the street. He gets a second chance at fame and stardom when a group of teens recruit him into their tiny garage band.
The House Bunny
Friday, August 22
Rated PG-13
Happy Madison is almost exclusively a boy's club. Movies like "Grandma's Boy," "Little Nicky," "Strange Wilderness," "Joe Dirt" and "The Longest Yard" appeal to an almost exclusively male demographic. Anna Farris is a trailblazer though. She's smashing through the glass ceiling and proving that women can make comedies just as juvenile and trashy as men with "The House Bunny!"
Farris plays a playboy bunny that is living a life of luxury. She gets to live in a swank mansion and have men drool over her. In exchange, all she has to do is pretend to like Hugh Hefner. Unfortunately for her, a fight leads to her getting kicked out of the mansion and she has to relocate to the most similar place around: a sorority house.
Video Games
Too Human
Tuesday, August 19
Xbox 360
$59.99
Norse mythology is pretty cool. Other belief systems seem kind of lame in comparison to Thor, Odin, Loki, Valhalla and the awesome end days of Ragnarok. It's a wonder a belief system that cool didn't stick around. The only people who would practice it today are terrible heavy metal groups, the sort of guys who would never be allowed into Valhalla. Odin hates that type of music. He prefers contemporary jazz.
In the futuristic world of "Too Human," worshipping the Norse gods never went out of style. These starship troopers pray to the Odinson for victory and are whisked away to Valhalla by cybernetic Valkyries when they die. It's taken developer Silicon Knights years to get this oft-delayed title out, but now that it's here we can all slice and dice evil robots and pick up their loot to our heart's content.
Comic Books
Amazing Spider-Man #568
Dan Slott (W); Mark Waid (W); John Romita Jr. (A)
Marvel Comics
Is that a symbiote on the cover of Amazing Spider-Man? Why yes, yes it is. No matter how disgruntled many comic readers are with symbiotes, they just keep coming back to haunt Peter Parker. At least if we have to see another planet filled with symbiotes, we'll get to see John Romita Jr. drawing them, as he returns to the title to kick start the newest Spider-Man epic, "New Ways to Die."
In addition to fending off symbiotes, Spidey will have his hands full with the Thunderbolts, lead by the ever crazy Norman Osborne. Can Spider-Man handle these "reformed" villains on his own, or will he need help from other sources. Eddie Brock, perhaps?
Ghost Rider #26
Jason Aaron (W); Tan Eng Huat (A)
Marvel Comics
Do you love the '90s? Don't worry, you don't have to be one of the talentless "fundits" talking on VH1 nostalgia shows to show love towards a decade. The Ghost Rider of the '90s meets the old school spirit of vengeance in this issue, as fan favorite Danny Ketch returns to the fold! But wait a minute – is he a good guy or a bad guy? Will he help Johnny Blaze or hinder him?
You really can't blame Danny if he's a little miffed at everyone. After all, his title was unceremoniously cancelled in the '90s and the final issue wasn't even printed until a couple of years ago, as a tie-in to a movie in which he didn't appear. So you can see how Danny has gotten the shaft time and time again. Can you really blame him if he wants to blow Johnny's head off with a hellfire shotgun?
