Alternative Magazine Online

by Martin Mulrooney | 26/08/2010 · 9:35 pm

FILM REVIEW – The Illusionist

By Marty Mulrooney

TheIllusionist

The Illusionist is a new British-French animated film from acclaimed director Sylvain Chomet (Belleville Rendez-vous). The film centres around a travelling entertainer who befriends a young girl named Alice whilst performing in a small Scottish village during the late 1950’s. When he travels to Edinburgh in search of work she follows him, unaware that his magic is in fact just an illusion. The gifts he bestows upon her seem to have been conjured from thin air, but behind the scenes he is constantly scraping together as much money as possible so he can keep up the ruse, unwilling to break the spell.

Continue reading →

BOOK REVIEW – In The Miso Soup by Ryu Murakami, translated by Ralph McCarthy

By Marty Mulrooney

InTheMisoSoup

In The Miso Soup by Ryu Murakami is a 180 page emotional assault, a book that instils an unshakeable mix of morbid fascination and mounting dread with each passing sentence. It is the story of 20 year old Kenji, a “nightlife guide” in Tokyo, and Frank, a 35 year old American who may very well be a deranged serial killer. Mere days before New Year, the pair embark on a journey through the city’s sex clubs, hostess bars and backstreets that will expose them to the darker sides of both Japan and the human psyche, against a backdrop of sexual depravity and cultural despondency. It is an utterly compelling read.

Continue reading →

FILM REVIEW – The Expendables

By Marty Mulrooney

TheExpendablesUkPoster

The Expendables is a blast from the past, a totally old school action film starring some of the biggest action stars of the 80’s and 90’s. Written and directed by Sylvester Stallone, the film tells the story of a group of elite mercenaries, sent on a mission to overthrow an South America dictator. But of course, not everything goes to plan…

Continue reading →

BOOK REVIEW – DC Comics: The 75th Anniversary Poster Book

By Marty Mulrooney

dc_final cover

DC Comics celebrates 75 years of fantastic comic books this October with the publication of DC Comics: The 75th Anniversary Poster Book, published by Quirk Books. Showcasing 100 of their most famous covers, each page is perforated and ready to frame, with behind-the-scenes commentary (as well as quotes from the artists themselves) offered on the back of every page.

Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Books

Tagged as Batman, Book Review, DC Comics, DC Comics: The 75th Anniversary Poster Book, Paul Levitz, Robert Schnakenberg., Superman