People love essential books. Put the two concepts together and what have you got? This guide really does exactly what it says on the tin. And if your wallet can stand the strain, it also gives some further recommendations. For example, if you likeAsterix And The Great Crossing, you should check out the Smurfs… It has to be said that their definition of a graphic novel is fairly broad. Trade paperback collections of comics count as graphic novels in this instance....

Paul rediscovers a lost Jack Kirby classic from the golden age… Jack Kirby is king. Quite possibly, hes God. This is the world thats to come, Kirby continually reminds us. Concepts that all seemed wild back in 1970s but now they have eerie parallels with modern society. Kirbys imagination is wild and prophetic, combining sci-fi with action and satire. Part of the reason for that is the looseness of the plotting....

Between then, hes gotten yet another remake into theaters. Ben Carson (Kiefer Sutherland) is an ex-cop with a troubled past. Since accidentally shooting a fellow officer on an undercover assignment, Bens life has gone into the toilet. Mirrorsis a cut above the average late-summer fare thanks in no small part to Kiefer Sutherland. Theres suspense, not torture. I didnt expect this from the director ofHaute Tension, thats for sure. The film is a bit long for my tastes, coming in at 110 minutes....

A classic 1990s thriller gets the high definition treatment. Not quite sure why, though… The first time I sawIn The Line Of Fire, I hadnt seen theDirty Harrymovies. The screenplay, thus, wisely keeps the focus on Horrigan and Leary for the majority of the film. But its a competent job, even if theres headroom for further improvement. The audio fares better, with the TrueHD 5.1 track handling the subtleties particularly well....

Like Mario,Braids gameplay comprises six worlds, which are in turn broken down into bite-size levels. The initial levels act as a tutorial, gently introducing what soon becomes a mind-bendingly intricate system. Not since 2001sICOhave I played a game with such a palpable sense of place. Rating: 5 out of 5

I have a problem with any movie based heavily on cars. They always affect me a bit too much, and usually not for the best. Heres an example: After I sawGrindhouse, I sped all the way home. Not just like a little speeding, I mean a lot speeding. I had the highway to myself, so I just put the hammer down. Not all the way, but farther than I usually speed....

Ill-judged comedies such asOscarandStop! And it wasnt a bad choice at all. The Blu-ray release, however, is a bit of a muddle. The picture is generally good, and in some sequences it lifts to quite strong. Youll have little doubt that youre looking at an early 90s movie, simply be looking at your screen. What you wont find on the disc, for some reason, is any subtitles. Movie: Rating: 3 out of 5

Soul Calibur returns at last, bringing with it cameos from some Star Wars favourites. How could we make Aaron any happier? As a rule, I can give or take one-on-one beat em ups these days. This is seriously good stuff. Fans ofSoul Caliburwill know exactly what to expect here, andSC4covers all the combat basics perfectly. There are several game modes on offer inSC4. This is one of the most interesting modes, and replaces the quest-jot down modes from previous games....

The newest trend in comedies lately is metatext. Joker Modine) toApocalypse Now. Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) is a big-name comedy actor famous for fat suits and fart jokes. Kevin Sandusky (Baruchel) is a young actor just getting his big break. This is the movie Ive been waiting for all summer. Ive been interested from the first trailer. This is all three of those in one. Ad content continues below The cast is just incredible....

I am very tired! How do you feel when the film is compared to the other big summer comic book movies likeHulkandIron Man? How do you think it stands out? I think its very, very different from those. So we went for it. You know I really dont know. Movies and audiences are like blind dates, you have no idea how its gonna go! Can you talk a bit about the process of making the crazy creatures?...

Theyve left behind a secret dossier on all they know about Batman. His origins, his friends, his enemies; everything you ever want to know about the Dark Knight. It names all the hoods, gangsters and mob leaders. Or the Bane character who nearly put Batman permanently out of action. No wonder Arkham Asylum and Blackgate Penitentiary have been been too full for rats. What a sleaze pit of a city we live in....

Of course there have been many movies that have shot beyond the solar system of success. But could we have really accepted Nicolas Cage as the Man of Steel? To think we were tantalisingly close to having James Camerons vision of Spidey! In some alternative universe, its possible these projects packed cinemas alongside Chris Columbus tale of theFantastic Four. Of course, the final versions might be preferable anyway. Hughes has diligently but admirably gathered together all the different strands into one complete cautionary tapestry....

The Doctor helping the Daleks? Would the Time lord ever contemplate such a thing? But why are the Daleks mutating? Could it be related to a decline in the wasp population? The pairing of the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa was one Peter Davison felt worked well. The Fifth Doctor seems more thoughtful than the breathless innocent familiar to Eighties TV audiences. The Mutant Phasewriter and director Nick Briggs is clearly enjoying himself as the various Dalek voices....