The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 6: Secrets

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

This is the episode where it all begins to unfold. For readers of the comics, we already know what was in the barn and why Hershel was so protective of it, but here we finally see what the secrets cost everyone. Glenn is very lucky he didn’t just jump in to the barn preparing for Maggie. Investigating goes a long way in the zombie apocalypse, folks. This opening is much screwier than most episodes of the show as Carl is being his usual petulant self to Lori, while Hershel’s helper Patricia hobbles a bunch of chickens to feed to the walkers in the barn. The show has a penchant for animal cruelty, but it also serves to emphasize the eat or be eaten mentality that the world has become.

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The Case of Hana & Alice (2015) [Fantasia Film Festival]

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL

Shunji Iwai’s “The Case of Hana & Alice” is apparently an animated prequel and adaptation of a much beloved indie titled “Hana and Alice.” The pair of women are almost like pop culture’s most iconic best friend in its home country, and this film chronicles how they met and became the best of pals. You really don’t have to see the original film, claims much of the press releases, but I’ll say that it might just help. Surely, there aren’t many references to the original film, but the original actresses return to voice their younger selves, and this might be exciting to folks that love the original film. For me, it was just a nice little bit of lip service and nothing more.

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The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 5: Chupacabra

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

This is a banner episode for Daryl Dixon, who owes a lot to season two. Say what you will about season two, but it’s where we get a better definition of the character and the rigid guidelines he operates by. For a long time he’s been about himself and Merle, and now he realizes he has something else to fight for. He has a goal to strive for, and he’s dead set on finding Sophia. The Daryl from season one would tell everyone to fuck off, but here he’s saving T Dogg from being chomped by a horde of walkers, he’s out bonding with Andrea, he’s giving pep talks to Carol. And now he’s going all Rambo to find a trace of Carol’s daughter.

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The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 4: Cherokee Rose

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

This is the episode where Rick begins his transformation from law man to post apocalyptic warrior. Shane has been intimating for a while now that things are just different and there’s no method to the madness anymore. People will die, people will be killed and people have to be sacrificed. Maybe Otis needed to be sacrificed, or maybe not. Shane definitely felt it was worth sacrificing Otis to get to Carl. Would Shane and he have made it out of the school if Shane didn’t kill Otis and leave him behind? Who knows? I’m not saying what he did was justified; it’s just the law of the new land.

When Rick completely stores his sheriff’s uniform and badge in to a drawer, it’s the hint that this is no longer a man following a code. He’s no longer living by normal rational guidelines that we all once lived by.

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Sweet Madness (2015)

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

Since her inception in 1992, Harley Quinn has been one of Batman’s most intriguing and alluring rogues. She’s the ultimate fan girl to the point of lunacy, and her cunning along with her ability to match wits with just about anyone make her one of the most fascinating figures of contemporary culture. It’s no shock that director Peter Dukes sought to explore the inner most psychology of Harley, as she’s titillated just about everyone. And it’s satisfying that director Dukes is able to convey Harley’s persona so well. Despite the fact that Batman never appears, “Sweet Madness” is a pretty sick and brilliant fan film that puts Harley front and center.

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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

Much like anyone that grew up in the nineties, “Alexander and the Terrible Horrible…” was a childhood favorite. It’s a really good and funny book about bad luck and how we make our own. Surely Alexander looks like a boy who is perpetually cursed, but really if he hadn’t been so careless the night before, perhaps his day would have been better. My expectations for the film adaptation were slim, considering the book is only about thirty two pages long. Much like “Liar Liar,” the film is based on a slight touch of fantasy, and unfolds like a less menacing and violent “Three O’Clock High.”

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The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 3: Save the Last One

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

I call this episode the “Breaking Dead” episode. It starts out much like “Breaking Bad” where massive events have happened, and we have to catch up. That’s not a bad thing, I just like that the episode practices the aforementioned show’s methods, and it does it well. We see Shane, we see him with a shaved head, and we know some heinous shit has gone down.

I say this again, though, Chandler Riggs really is at his top in this episode. Riggs, Bernthal, and Melissa McBride own this season without a doubt. Their performances vary wildly, but they take command of every episode they’re allowed to have a spotlight in. I really wanted to see more of Carl’s plight, and I was terrified for him from the moment he was shot.

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