Isaac's Film Reviews

Blurring the lines. Film review by Isaac Handelman It’s been a while since we’ve seen Cap -- almost two full years, in fact, since he made his last big-screen appearance in The Avengers alongside all of his super buddies. Now the first Avenger is back for his second solo outing, The Winter Soldier , which aims to reposition Cap as the central figure of the Avengers team by giving him an epic narrative fit for an ensemble piece. The result is a rip-roaring ride that ties together suspense, intrigue, and some of the most engaging, hard-hitting action that’s yet been seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. All in all, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a triumph that stands near the best of its kind. Boiled down to its most basic, The Winter Soldier is a conspiracy story that centers on a threat aiming to dismantle SHIELD from the inside out. Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), a.k.a. Captain America, is framed for a crime he did not commit and finds himself a fugitive, unknowing of ...

Live by the mead. Game review by Isaac Handelman Note: Reviewed on PC Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag can be compared, in many ways, to its protagonist, Edward Kenway. The game is big, bold, sometimes brash, and in constant pursuit of greatness. Black Flag is also enormous, constantly beautiful, and full of new ideas. Unfortunately, it also often forgets to address mechanical and structural issues that have plagued the series since its inception. Black Flag feels like two games in one, as if Ubisoft was aiming to test the waters (so to speak) of the pirate sub-genre under the safety of the Assassin’s Creed brand. The result is a game that can be most aptly described as a jack of all trades, master of none. The Assassin’s Creed series has, at its core, always been about two things: climbing and stabbing. In Black Flag , these two ingrained elements are further refined. Free-running around the sunny port cities of the Carribbean, Nassau and Kingston, is smoother than it’s ev...