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by Glenn Dunks

There is a reason that filmmakers keep going back to space. The very concept of an ever-expansive mass of significant nothingness can inspire the mind in infinite ways. But whereas for many, the immediate idea is to resort to fireballs, aliens and standard hero versus villain storylines, I find myself far more attracted to those who turn towards the stars with a sense of wonder and awe. It is perhaps why I respond so well to documentaries like Roman Kroitor and Colin Low’s Universe (the short that inspired Kubrick’s 2001), Al Reinert’s For All Mankind, and now Emer Reynolds’ The Farthest, one of the year's finest.

Celebrating the 40-year anniversary of Nasa’s 1977 mission to send two Voyager satellites into space, this Irish documentary is a work of stunning beauty. A film that grapples with the concept of not just what this giant science experiment is,...

Real Name

Sam Wilson

First Appearance

Captain America #117, September 1969

Nicknames and Aliases

Snap Wilson, Blackwing, Blackbird.

Powers and Abilities

Falcon possesses the ability to communicate telepathically with his trained falcon, Redwing, and with other birds as well, enabling him to see through their eyes, access their memories and, to a limited extent, control their actions.

He is also a highly skilled falconer and trainer of wild birds, as well as a gymnast and hand-to-hand combatant, having received extensive training from Captain America.

Gadgets and Accessories

Falcon wears a high tech harness that enables him to fly. The harness generates holographic hard light wings, which can also be altered into a variety of different configurations. He also wears a “talon”, a grappling hook-like device built into his gauntlets.

Friends and Allies

Redwing (his trained falcon), Captain America (both Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes), Black Widow, Sharon Carter, Nomad, D-Man, Jim Wilson...

Canada's National Film Board, commonly referred to as the Nfb (or Onf if you herald from the country's French speaking parts), has long been a groundbreaking producer of shorts and features though it's best known for its shorts (53 of the Nfb's 72 Oscar nominations have been for short films). Having produced over 13,000 films since its formation in 1939, the Nfb is responsible for quite a few ground breaking and awe inspiring projects and one of the most celebrated also happens to be one that inspired a famous feature: Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Douglas Rain, who later went on to voice Hal 9000 in Kubrick's movie, narrated Roman Kroitor and by Colin Low's Universe, a short that combines photography and animation that explain how the universe and the planets [Continued ...]...

DVD Playhouse—December 2011

By Allen Gardner

The Rules Of The Game (Criterion) Jean Renoir’s classic from 1939 was met with a riot at its premiere and was severely cut by its distributor, available only in truncated form for two decades until it was restored to the grandeur for which it is celebrated today. A biting comedy of manners set in the upstairs and downstairs of a French country estate, the film bitterly vivisects the bourgeoisie with a gentle ferocity that will tickle the laughter in your throat. Renoir co-stars as Octave. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Introduction to the film by Renoir; Commentary written by scholar Alexander Sesonske and read by Peter Bogdanovich; Comparison of the film’s two endings; Selected scene analysis by Renoir scholar Chris Faulkner; Featurettes and vintage film clips; Part one of David Thomson’s “Jean Renoir” BBC documentary; Video essay; Interviews with Renoir, crew members,...

This week's roundup of DVD releases include fan favorites from TV, a scarred comic book antihero, the next installment of The Lost Boys, the requisite creature features, a Roger Corman set, and SyFy's apocalyptic view of the world. Also, don't forget to check out the soundtrack from the hottest vampire TV show right now (well, there's only one playing currently) at the very end of this list.

While waiting for your orders to arrive by mail, you can always catch up on Camera Obscura for free with our Episode 1-7 episodes & recap or watch the newest episodes on Dailymotion. You can also learn all about creature making from our Q&A With Camera Obscura's FX Maestro Jeff Farley.

On with the list....

Jonah Hex

Directed by Jimmy Hayward

Out of the pages of the legendary comics and graphic novels steps Jonah Hex (review), a scarred drifter and bounty hunter...

The company that has given us countless goodies this year including a bevy of Roger Corman titles along with the resurrection of Gamera, Shout! Factory, is not only one of the first out of the gate with its San Diego Comic-Con news, but Shout! is ready to tackle the show with a vengeance!

From the Press Release

Shout! Factory returns to Comic-Con International San Diego 2010 with a stellar lineup featuring upcoming and current home entertainment juggernauts that will be showcased in a special panel discussion, media appearances, special signings, interactive fan activities and Comic-Con exclusives at the Shout! Factory booth (#3749, main show floor) throughout the convention. Fan favorite filmmakers, creators and select stars from Shout! Factory’s branded properties scheduled to attend include: Roger Corman, Julie Corman, Joe Dante (Piranha, Trailers from Hell, Gremlins), Allan Holzman (Galaxy of Terror, Forbidden World), Sid Haig (Galaxy of Terror, The Devil’s Rejects), Mary Woronov (Death Race 2000,...