Thriller

23 Jan 2012

2 Comments

Witchblade, the Television Series

Witchblade, The Television Series – Two Seasons of Action and Adventure

Witchblade was a short-lived, but well-made, action drama television series based on the comic book series of the same name.

I was a little surprised to find out a television adaptation of the Witchblade comic book series existed. Although I read some of the comics back in the day, I couldn’t remember the full story. Which is good, because it helped me get into the show without any preconceived notions.

Witchblade is the story of Sara Pezzini, played by the ever-enigmatic Yancy Butler, an NYC homicide detective. Sara encounters an ancient artifact of incredible power called the Witchblade while in pursuit of a killer. Wielded only by women throughout the ages, the Witchblade is almost another character in and of itself. It gives Sara the power to see the past, present and future in glimpses. It can also heal, and more generally, it aids Sara in the form of a long blade. The Witchblade is sentient and sometimes displays a will of its own in direct opposition to Sara’s own wishes.

The show plays out like an action/adventure drama with supernatural elements. There is a bit of thriller and mystery in there as well. Overall, it is a very complex series. We look at the character of Sara Pezzini as she comes to grips with the murder of her father, the death of her partner, her lack of a love life, and the Witchblade itself with the power it holds. Conflicts abound. Sara versus criminals, Sara versus those that seek to take the Witchblade from her, Sara versus those that wish to use her, Sara versus herself. As you can see, there is enough in there to keep a good television series going for a long, long time.

Yet, somehow, this show ended after only two seasons. By all accounts, it was a well-received show, with good ratings. So, what happened? I found the show intriguing. It started with a made-for-TV movie, which you can consider the pilot episode. The pilot tells the story of how Sara’s partner died and how she came into possession of the Witchblade. The series continues that story for another 11 episodes. The second season expands on the first for another 12 episodes.

I did not have a problem with the show. The actors did well with their characters; the shows were admirably episodic with an overarching plot. There were enough twists and side stories to keep the drama going, and the exquisite torture of the main character throughout the show made it adequately dramatic. Sometimes it wasn’t great, but it was always at least good television.

A few gripes I had with the show: The first season has Sara’s partner, Danny Woo played by Will Yun Lee, already dead by the start of the first episode (he dies in the pilot). He still appears, but he is hardly a main character…yet he gets top billing in the opening credits. It is somewhat odd. He plays a bigger role in the second season. How a dead man manages to do that is up to you to find out.

Another problem was the second season itself. It’s not nearly as good as the first. Especially considering the season works as a reboot of the first season (once again, you will have to find out how that works by watching). The second season has much of what the first season lacked, yet it misses a bunch of the things that made the first season awesome.

But those are small gripes. The show is enjoyable, well written and well acted. You do not have to like the comic to enjoy it. You don’t even have like sci-fi or fantasy stuff to get into it. I suggest tuning in to the first season (including the movie/pilot) and from there you can decide if you want to jump into the second season.

When I found this series, I also found out there is an anime and manga series as well. I will be watching the anime soon, so look out for a review. Also of interest, I found there is a live-action Witchblade movie currently in the works. Of course, the news is years old now, but word is there is a script or two written up and there are still plans to make the movie. I am glad there is still interest in this franchise.

For more information on the television series, try the usual places:

Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchblade_%28TV_series%29

IMDB – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0274298/

Here is a link to the script of the pilot by Lee Thomson

http://leethomson.myzen.co.uk/Witchblade_1×01_-_Pilot_(1999).pdf

You can find everything mentioned in this article on Amazon and in other places:

Witchblade TV Series (2 seasons and movie/pilot) – http://amzn.to/WitchbladeTVSeries
First 50 issues of the Witchblade comic series – http://amzn.to/WitchbladeCompendium
The complete set of the Witchblade anime – http://amzn.to/WitchbladeAnime
The Witchblade manga (Complete with 2 volumes) – http://amzn.to/WitchbladeTakeru

For More TV Reviews by Silencio Barnes

For General Reviews by Silencio Barnes

<br />

By: Silencio Barnes Reviews, Television Review Tags: action, adventure, Anthony Cistaro, comic book, David Chokachi, drama, Eric E, Eric Etebari, John Hensley, Marc Silvestri, mystery, Review, Sara Pezzini, series, television, Television program, Television Series, Thriller, Top Cow Productions, TV Review, two seasons, Will Yun Lee, Witchblade, Witchblade Television Script, Witchblade the Movie, witchblade tv scripts, Yancy Butler

16 Jan 2012

3 Comments

The John Cleaver Series by Dan Wells

The John Cleaver series is a trilogy of books by author Dan Wells. They are supernatural horror/thriller novels labeled as Young Adult fiction. Even though they feature the exploits of a fifteen-year-old kid, don’t let the YA designation fool you. These books are full of terrible things happening to people of all ages…for your entertainment.

I heard of these books while listening to the Writing Excuses podcast, of which Dan Wells is one of the cast. He often speaks about the writing process by referring to his first novel, I Am Not a Serial Killer. In fact, it’s probably the title of the book that made me want to read it more than anything else did.

I Am Not A Serial Killer (John Cleaver Books)

I Am Not A Serial Killer (John Cleaver Books) [Wells, Dan] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. I Am Not A Serial Killer (John Cleaver Books)

These books are about John Cleaver, a fifteen-year-old kid in a small town with an obsession for serial killers. He lives over the mortuary where his mother and aunt works and even takes part in the embalming process with them. Diagnosed as a sociopath by both himself and his therapist, he tries to cope with being different.

Everything takes a turn when an actual serial killer shows up in town and starts murdering people. This excites John and sends him on the trail of the killer. At the same time, his own inner monster comes to life. He does not know if he wants to catch the killer, or participate.

Mr. Monster (John Cleaver, 2)

Mr. Monster (John Cleaver, 2) [Wells, Dan] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Mr. Monster (John Cleaver, 2)

I have already written some reviews of all three books in the series so I am not going to get into a lot of little details:

Review of Book 1: I Am Not a Serial Killer

Review of Book 2: Mr. Monster

Review of Book 3: I Don’t Want to Kill You

One thing you need to know is that this is a “supernatural” horror/thriller. I only stress this because, apparently, people seem to become upset when the story goes from being pure thriller material to supernatural horror.

I Don’t Want to Kill You (John Cleaver, 3)

Amazon.com: I Don’t Want to Kill You (John Cleaver, 3): 9780765328441: Wells, Dan: Books

I Don't Want to Kill You — I Don’t Want to Kill You

There is one thing about the series that I find a little unsettling. There seems to be an overall lack of emotion. This is understandable from them main character’s point of view. After all, he’s a sociopath. But over the course of three books, there are several serial killers killing and a multitude of suicides…all in less than a year. You would think that in a small town, these things would make people a little…edgy. The situation comes up a bit in the third book, but overall, it seems as if nobody really cares about all these atrocious murders happening. That’s only a small concern of mines. These books are fun, enjoyable, entertaining and very easy to read.

If possible, you should get all three books and read them back to back. Each novel takes place almost immediately after the last. And since they are all fast reads, you won’t have to wait to get right into the next installment.

Dan Wells (author) – Wikipedia

Daniel Andrew Wells (born March 4, 1977) is an American horror and science fiction author. Wells’s first published novel, I Am Not a Serial Killer , was adapted into a movie in 2016. Dan Wells spent his childhood in Salt Lake City, Utah, and began writing at a young age.

I Am Not a Serial Killer

Mr. Monster

I Don’t Want to Kill You

The Story Continues

Next of Kin: A John Cleaver Novella

Next of Kin: A John Cleaver Novella [Wells, Dan] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Next of Kin: A John Cleaver Novella

The Devil’s Only Friend (John Cleaver, 4)

Amazon.com: The Devil’s Only Friend (John Cleaver, 4): 9780765380678: Wells, Dan: Books

Over Your Dead Body (John Cleaver, 5)

Amazon.com: Over Your Dead Body (John Cleaver, 5): 9780765380692: Wells, Dan: Books

Read more Book, Movie and TV Reviews by Silencio Barnes

By: Silencio Barnes Book Review, Reviews Tags: book, book review, books, crime, Dan Wells, embalming process, Fiction, horror, horror thriller, I Am Not a Serial Killer, I Don't Want to Kill You, John Cleaver, Killer, mortuary, Mr. Monster, murder, novel, Review, Serial killer, serial killers, series, sociopath, story, supernatural, supernatural horror, three books, Thriller, thriller novels, Writing Excuses, YA, Young Adult, Young-adult fiction

16 Jan 2012

0 Comments

I Don’t Want to Kill You

I Don’t Want to Kill You – Book Three of The John Cleaver Series

This is a continuation of my look at Dan Wells’ John Cleaver trilogy. It started with I Am Not a Serial Killer, continues in the second novel Mr. Monster and finishes here, in I Don’t Want to Kill You.

“John Wayne Cleaver has called a demon—literally called it on the phone—and challenged it to a fight.”

I Don’t Want to Kill You is the third and final book of Dan Wells’ John Cleaver trilogy. It is a supernatural horror novel with a YA label. It looks like Mr. Wells saved the best for last. I find book three is a better-written story with better characterization. In fact, it seems as if characters that just sort of existed in the first two books, finally got personalities, including the main character. If you read my last two reviews, you would know that I have had a problem with the main character’s woodenness for the last two books.

What “I Don’t Want to Kill You” is About

Much like the last book, this book starts after the events of the previous installment. In this book, John Cleaver finds himself up against another killer on the loose. Not only is there a murderer once again among the populace of his small town, but now there is also a rash of suicides. John must figure out how the two relate while juggling his new-found social life. If you have read the first two, then you know that John with a social life is something of a big deal.

I Don’t Want to Kill You (John Cleaver, 3)

Amazon.com: I Don’t Want to Kill You (John Cleaver, 3): 9780765328441: Wells, Dan: Books

There is much personal growth to the main character in this one. He is still the angsty, misunderstood youth from the first two books, but this time around, he is actually learning as he goes, and finding out new things about himself. After all, he just recently bested two supernatural killers so his confidence level is through the roof. He also seems to have much less of a struggle in this book with his “Mr. Monster.” This is a welcome change for me. He doesn’t spend the book focusing on how different he is.

At the end of the previous novel, he sent out an invitation to another supernatural beastie and so there is no surprise when one comes to his town. However, once the killings begin, John realizes that not only does he have no idea who the killer could be, but there may also be more than one of them.

One small peeve I had with this book was the character of the pastor. The author builds him up and then just…lets him go later on in the book. It is only a small peeve, amongst a few others, but they are not worth mentioning here. They do not make the story any less good.

Just as book two was slightly longer than book one, book three is slightly longer than book two. The extra length does not make this book any less of a quick read than the previous ones. Dan Wells managed to pack in a lot of action, a few twists, much character building and it all still flows quickly and evenly.

When the book is over, you may find yourself upset there isn’t another to read right afterwards. Wells manages to resolve the major plot threads but still leave a lot open to future expansion.

Read my review of Book 1, I Am Not a Serial Killer

Read my review of Book 2, Mr. Monster

Read my review of the John Cleaver Series as a whole

By: Silencio Barnes Reviews, Book Review Tags: Dan Wells, Dexter, horror, httpsyandex-ruclckjsredirfromyandex-rusearchweb, I Don't Want to Kill You, John Cleaver, Mr. Monster, Serial killer, supernatural, Thriller, YA, Young Adult

9 Sep 2011

1 Comment

Repeaters

Note: If you are looking for the song played at the end of Repeaters, check this post – Breakneck Speed, the song at the end of Repeaters

<br />

Repeaters aka Groundhog Day Redux

A gritty mind-bending thriller about three twenty-somethings who find themselves in an impossible time labyrinth, where each day they awaken to the same terrifying day as the preceding one.

Director: Carl Bessai

Writers: Arne Olsen (creator, screenplay)

Stars: Dustin Milligan, Amanda Crew and Richard de Klerk

The other day, I sat down and watched this movie, Repeaters. I hadn’t previously heard of it, but saw that it was recommended here and there as a new sci-fi-ish movie that was worth a look. All-in-all…it was an okay movie. Just okay. I mean, your mileage may vary, but it’s a decent watch.

I suppose it’s impossible to talk about this movie without first talking about Groundhog Day. And I KNOW you’ve seen Groundhog Day. If you haven’t, then you should immediately get a copy however you choose and watch it before reading anymore of this article. Go ahead…I’ll wait.

<br />

Now, if you’ve seen Groundhog Day, you probably walked away from it thinking something like: “If that was me, I would’ve (insert heinous/criminal act)” – Well, Repeaters is sorta like that. But instead of Bill Murray, it’s three twenty-something-year-old recovering addicts…in rehab. Yes…hilarity ensues.

Well, not really. This is a very serious and dark movie. There are scenes and situations that will make the darker-hearted of us laugh…but they might make some of you cringe as well. Is it a very good movie? I wouldn’t say so. But it’s adequate.

The Characters in Repeaters

It’s a Canadian flick which I didn’t know until after watching it. It stars a few faces you may remember like Dustin Milligan, Amanada Crew (both were in Final Destination 3) and Richard de Klerk. All three of these actors have spent a lot of time doing television (US and Canadian), so they’re not exactly newbies to the screen.

The script called for a few scenes that were supposed to make you feel something for these people, but in the end, I didn’t really care. The actors performed within the confines of the lines given them, but none of them transcended their roles in any way. Well, Richard de Klerk gave it a good try. I think this may be one of those movies where the script is better than the final product.

Ultimately, I think this movie is asking us what would we do if we knew each new day started with a clean slate, no matter what you may have done the day before. I’m sure there are also a few metaphors involving addicts and how, to them, each day is just like any other when your sole raison d’etre is chasing that next fix.

I don’t know. But the Canadians certainly loved it. I found it an entertaining escape and well worth a watch. Maybe with a friend or two and some smoke in the air. There’s enough tension and action to keep your eyes on the screen. There’s also enough to drive some deep philosophical and intellectual discussion…if you’re into that sorta thing.

I think this movie would have been so, so much better…if Groundhog Day didn’t exist.

Where to Find More Information on Repeaters

There’s an official website as well as a Facebook Page

For more info and discussions, you can check IMDB

<br />

By: Silencio Barnes Movie Review, Reviews Tags: Amanda Crew, Arne Olsen, arne-olsen-repeaters, Bill Murray, Canadian, carl bessai, Dustin Milligan, ending-song-in-the-movie-repeaters, ending-song-repeaters, final destination, final destination 3, Groundhog Day, IMDB, movie, Repeaters, repeaters-canadian-movies, repeaters-ending-theme, repeaters-movie-review, Richard de Klerk, sci-fi, Thriller

23 Mar 2010

1 Comment

Michael Jackson's P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)

Sorry, but I love this song. Just listening to it makes me feel a little better when I’m feeling down. Figured I’d blog it so I can have a place to easily find it when I wanna hear it 🙂 I mean, it’s MY blog after all 😛

P.Y.T. is a song by Michael Jackson of course and was one of the (many) singles from his Thriller album. The version we all know and love is pretty much a remix of the slower demo version. Eything you need to know about the track can be found on Wikipedia. Click here for the wiki article on it.

So without further ado –

I like the footage used in the beginning of this video