Insert Title Here–Mass Effect and More

Every week there are tons of newly released films, Blu-rays, books, comics, and CDs, but the truth is, very few of them are worth your time. That’s where this feature comes in. Each posting attempts to highlight the best new media releases of the coming week. It’s far from exhaustive, and of course it will be mostly according to my taste, but I’ll try to do my best to include a wide variety, so hopefully you’ll see something that interests you too.

Mass Effect 3

The final entry in the trilogy for one of the greatest gaming franchises finally gets released this Tuesday. The developers claim that new players will be able to start with #3 without feeling lost, but if you’ve never played the series, you owe it to yourself to start from the beginning and play all the way through. Like most Bioware games, Mass Effect’s greatest strength is it’s story, so skipping the first 60-70 hours is really doing yourself a disservice. Additionally, your character and all the choices you make are carried over from one game to the next, meaning that a seemingly small decision made in the initial game can have dire consequences in the third. This all adds up to create a truly immersive universe. Don’t miss this game.

Games of Thrones Season 1

HBO has done a fantastic job translating George R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy series to the screen. Season One follows the events of the first book. Filled with great drama, action, and incredible performances, this is a standout TV series. It’s released on Blu-ray this week, and that’s really the best way to experience it – in large chunks rather than doled out an hour at a time.
Like Crazy

Also out on Blu-ray this week is Like Crazy. Beautifully shot and well acted, the real standout in this film is the script and, more specifically, the dialogue. More so than any other film in recent memory, it perfectly captures the slightly awkward language of new relationships, the halting, the slightly over-long pauses, the jokes and comments that don't quite land the way you thought they would, all without ever giving into the recent trend of over blowing these elements and essentially labelling them with a flashing AWKWARD sign. Some of the credit, of course, also has to go to the two leads, who are strong throughout, particularly Yelchin, who gives yet another great performance. Though it was marketed as a "love conquers all" story, it is really more of a relationship story. This bait and switch will likely lead to some unsatisfied viewers, but if you go in with an open mind, this is definitely worth the trip.

Avengers Academy #27

What’s really exciting here is that this issue will feature the return of the Runaways. Originally created by Brian K. Vaughn, The Runaways was one of the most original and well written comics to come out of the mainstream publishers in a long time. Vaughn left the series in 2007 and, after a short run with other writers, the series was shelved in 2009. The characters’ return in Avengers Academy is being used to gauge interest in returning the regular series to publication.

John Carter

Based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels of the same name, this is Disney’s latest attempt to start a PG-13 franchise that will rival the box office of its previous hit Pirates of the Caribbean. The trailers have been terribly uninspired, but early buzz is positive. The only reason I’m really interested in this is that it marks the live action directorial debut of Andrew Stanton, whose previous directing work includes Finding Nemo, and Wall-e. I hope he’s as successful here.

It’s a big week, but that’s all for now.

Sleep well,

DTE