Book | This Music Leaves Stains | PASS

Fascinating. Thanks for the loan PW!

Book | Misery Obscura | PASS

Brilliant. Thanks for the loan PW!

Movie | The Cabinet of Caligari | PAss

Don't compare this to the silent original. That's a mistake. Instead, expect a more modern twist on the basic premise. I loved how they made everything odd, including the lines and how the actors delivered them. Very cool.

TV | Mary Shelley's Frankenhole | PAss

Despite this sounding like it's a porn, it's not! Instead, it's a cute (adult, though there's not much risque going on) stop-animation show celebrating the horror classics with a modern(ish) spin. If you're a fan of such things like me, then you should check it out!

Movie | Thirst | PASs

Park Chan-wook does it again, this time it's a vampire romance.

Movie | Tentacles | Fail/Pass!

So bad it's good, starring a great cast and featuring some super fun period cinematography.

TV | Working the Engels | Pass

Despite the cheap production and rather poorly constructed characters, the cast (especially Martin and Rohl) somehow bring the whole thing together and the lines are actually rather funny.

Movie | Conan the Barbarian (2011) | Pass

Was it good? No. But if you're desperate for a swords and sandals flick, you could do worse.

Movie | The Wasp Woman | PAss

Fun B-movie stuff! Hits all of the classic cliches.

Movie | Queen Rock Montreal | PAss

What the heck?! Maybe there was some sort of problem with the copy we saw, but it didn't seem like the speed was right. Everything was sped up about 10%. It was weird. Still, these guys are/were fantastic.

TV | Make or Break: The Linda Perry Project | Fail

Though the artist/contestants are more compelling and interesting to me, the format is just too worn out.

TV | Last Comic Standing | PAss

I've never watching this before, despite the draw of JB Smoove being the host. For whatever reason, I got hooked this season and found all of the comedians to be very interesting.

Movie | Fresh | PASs

This "life in the ghetto" movie features an superb cast (including tons of great actors), a marvelous plot and an incredible soundtrack by the one and only Stewart Copeland. I loved it. Unfortunately, it also features the two things I cannot stomach; cruelty to animals and violence towards children. I was nauseous several times while watching this film and had to fast forward a couple of times. Still, this is a very good film. Thanks for the loan, PW!

TV | Brain Games | Pass

TV | Idris Elba: King of Speed | Pass

Excellent actor Idris Elba gets to play with all sorts of super cool cars of various ilk. If that sounds like fun to you, then you should check it out. But if it just sounds like another rich guy living out his fantasies on the telly, then skip it. I just watched the parts I was interested in.

Movie | Snowpiercer | PASS

Wow. Now this is a movie. Too bad most folks won't see it, won't get it and won't even want to. In addition to all of the refreshing (though quite violent) originality (if such a thing could possibly exist in a world that's seen everything), there were lots of really fantastic references in this movie; to Terry Gilliam, the Ying/Yang of life and even The Wizard of Oz. Just an amazing film. Don't see it. It will be my private pleasure.

TV | China, IL | Fail

Basically, an animated version of Community. As if that show wasn't bad enough.

Movie | The Raid 2 | PAss

Oh boy, here we go again.

"The best martial arts movie ever!"

"The most violent movie ever!"

...add in all of the hype from the above movie poster.

Do people know how ridiculous they sound when they make these statements? They clearly don't see many movies. While The Raid 2 is undoubtedly an excellent, fast-paced, extremely bloody and violent martial arts movie, it's highly debatable that it's any of those things. Yes, it's good. Is it the best (whatever) ever? No. For the love of Pete, go out and see a movie or two before you make such ridiculous statements.

And while I'm certain it won't even register with most film goers, this movie suffers the same problems that the first did; mainly, a plot that presents absolutely nothing new and is predictable in the extreme (though there are some fun twists, anybody with a brain won't be in the least surprised). The character development is also paper thin, but then, what do you want from a good punch-up. Which just points out the other problem - we're still stuck in the 70s, where bad guys come one at a time, the good guy recovers instantaneously and nobody reaches for a weapon when its most advantageous. That last point is extreme here, including a scene where a hit man wades thru about a million henchmen, but doesn't cut a single one with the machete he holds. What the...?!?

When you claim something is the most violent, you have to clarify if you mean just plain old violence or disturbing violence. This movie is heavy on the former, with some touches of the later. But either way, it's hard to declare it the most.

In addition to all of that, this go around is also waaaaay too long, at two and half hours. The action is fairly non-stop, so the end result is that you're so tired by the halfway point, you don't care that much about what happens.

Despite all of that, these criticisms are really more about the goofballs that make stupid declarations based on a lack of knowledge and experience. So, if you're game, you should definitely see it. Stay tuned, because there's going to be a third installment. It will most likely be rather empty-headed and derivative, too.

For you folks that might fit my less than positive description, you might consider broadening your horizons and seeing:

Seven Samurai (arguably the best martial arts film of all time)
Oldboy (where the hammers-as-weapons idea came from)
Martyrs (so much more completely disturbing and violent than this film)
Infernal Affairs, Serpico and Donnie Brasco...among others (undercover cop infiltrates crime family)
Game of Death (where the plot for The Raid came from, done arguably better)
...and don't miss Iko Uwais and Gareth Evan's first foray into film together, Merantau, which does have character development in it, so I know it can be done.

Oh, why am I even bothering?

TV | Dominion | Pass

I liked the movie this television series is based on, Legion. But this show is pretty boring. And why does it seem like all of the SyFy shows all look the same?

Movie | The Rise and Fall of The Clash | PAss

TV | Rick and Morty | PASs

Super creative writing makes this a show to definitely watch for adults who miss when The Simpsons was actually fresh and interesting.

Movie | Big Ass Spider! | Pass

I was just thinking it would be fun to see a creature feature that focused on fun and was a throwback to the old B-movies. Well, this fit the bill nicely! The FX were terrible, but the humor was really funny. I like Greg Grunberg (Heroes) a lot as an actor. I hope he gets more good roles.

Movie | I Wake Up Screaming | PAss

Despite the title, this is not a horror movie. It's a fun murder mystery film noir starring Victor Mature. Great plot twists, but an annoying over-usage of the song "Over the Rainbow" (a couple of years after The Wizard of Oz came out). It's played constantly throughout the entire film.

Movie | The Super Cops | PAss

On the surface, this is a bit of gritty 70s fluff. But because it's actually a real story and features the actual cop duo that famously made all of those arrests for real, it suddenly becomes something much more. It's also a lot of fun to see such recognizable faces that are so fresh and young.

TV | Extant | Pass

The pilot was rather boring and not very engaging. But, we'll give it another try.

TV | Finding Carter | Fail

I am definitely not the target audience. Plus, it was really bad. The weirdly stylized world that the show depicts is disturbing on many levels.

Movie | Sympathy for Lady Vengeance | PASs

More of the same; brutal, disturbing, high-tension and beautifully made. I will seek out more from Park, that's for sure. Just a warning, though; there are few things that I want to see less in a movie - cruelty to children and animals. This contains plenty of the former and bit of the later. Truthfully, I had to fast forward through those parts. That stuff is just unwatchable for me. Still, this is such a well done film, that I was able to appreciate the rest and the reason why that stuff was in there. It is not just for shock value, like some other films of the genre.

TV | Adventure Time | Pass

I liked it better than Regular Show, but I'm not the target audience. What I did like about both shows is the writing, which is quite good, and the character development.

Movie | Sympathy for Mr. Vengence | PASs

Okay, Chan-wook Park is my favorite new director, who also did the original (and superior) Oldboy. That film is the second part of the "Vengeance" trilogy, this one was the first. Park is definitely one to watch. His films feel fresh, though they are mighty violent and always include something or other that will make you squirm in your chair. Both films did for me, that's for sure. Still, I'm looking forward to the third part of this trilogy.

TV | Regular Show | Pass

Cute enough, I guess.

Movie | The Day of the Jackal | Pass

I'd seen the remake with Bruce Willis. Now I've also seen the original.

Movie | Bullet to the Head | Pass

It wasn't bad, for what it was. I like it when Stallone's in movies that don't overreach, like The Expendables. It just never turns out well. Actually, I'd love to see him in something that really did feature him a different light, like Cop Land. That was pretty good and possibly his best role. Note that I didn't say his most iconic. That's for sure. But maybe Cop Land was better than the rest because of the cast and James Mangold's work. I'm not hating on Stallone, I like him a lot. But the world's greatest actor...I still think he's got more in him that the usual stuff he's seemingly stuck with. I'll keep looking and hoping for a really great role for him. He deserves.

Movie | Robocop (2014 Remake) | Pass

Kinnaman and Oldman save it from being another boring remake. Haley appears to be the only one actually enjoying himself, though.

But like my SSO (Significantly Smarter Other) said, "Why? Did it need a remake?"

Movie | The Mindscape of Alan Moore | PASs

Brilliant, if slow documentary completely focused on Moore mumbling. What he says will make your brain hurt a bit. If you're open to it, it's definitely food for thought. I found it fascinating.

Movie | Kick-Ass 2 | Pass

Not great, mainly due to a poor script.

Movie | The Assassination Bureau | PAss

Raucous comedy set in 1906 about a female reporter investigating a secret society of assassins for hire. Great cast is hugely fun to watch.