1. GEEK MONTHLY #1
From the folks at CFQ (primarily well-known nerd entrepraneur Mark Altman, who I have to introduce myself to as if it’s the first time every time) comes a magazine devoted to geek culture and all its incarnations. Thankfully, it’s under the stewardship of genuine good guy Jeff Bond.
This issue’s strong points:
- Really good piece on Sludge Diving (urban exploration). I had no idea such a thing exists.
- Pretty compelling Battlestar Galactica article. I’m not going to buy the series on DVD still, but good effort!
- I am in totaly agreement with their ranking of the Texas Chainsaw films so of course it’s a good point for the mag.
- Nice, albeit short article on The Fountain. By the way, that flick is leaving theaters soon, see it before it’s gone.
- Nice to see ol’ Johnny Butane contributing articles.
- Pretty solid reviews section.
- The Digital Bits guys get a column. At least Todd is cool.
This issue’s weak points:
- How do you spell Kuato incorrectly?
- They can’t veer too far from Trek, can they?
- Casino Royale is hardly ‘geek’ material. It’s as mainstream as it gets and since the series is only now regaining its cred, it’s an odd choice for coverage.
- Fashion pictorial?
- One page for Lovecraft?
Overall: 7.0 out of 10
2. PREMIERE – DECEMBER 06 – SUBSCRIBE
The biggest American film magazine sometimes treads the line
between mainstream and for the cinephile delicately, but often errs on
the former but with typically entertaining results. It’s as good as we
get until EMPIRE comes to the states full bore.
This issue’s strong points:
- Stallone!
- Very solid Platoon retrospective.
- The back page is all Peter O’Toole.
This issue’s weak points:
- The first 80 pages are scattershot and built for a short attention span, but this issue’s assortment didn’t really move me.
- Will Smith cover article kind of bland.
- Holiday Movie Preview is a bit of a letdown. No real surprises in the stuff they focus on (Eragon, Blood Diamond, Dreamgirls) and not as meaty as usual.
- One of my least favorite issues in recent memory.
Overall: 4.5 out of 10
3. FADE IN – VOL 9, NO 3 – SUBSCRIBE
The little engine that could. The rare film magazine here in the states that typically doesn’t fall for the traps set by the industry and advertising requirements. Geared towards the professional and the serious film fan or amatuer filmmaker, Fade In is a lucid and often spot-on choice for people who don’t just want to see pretty pictures and coverage for whatever is big and NOW.
This issue’s strong points:
- Their look at Brett Ratner’s development slade is a nice change of pace and I’m glad that they only mention Dark Horizons and AICN as Rat-Haters.
- Justin Long’s list of things you don’t known about Hollywood is so great you’d think he wrote for CHUD.com.
- Very solid Oliver Stone interview.
- Nice to see Robin Wright Penn getting a little love.
- Eric Bana piece is awesome. I love that they show the actual questions and answers, because that’s the only way an interview piece is going to feel organic.
- Their ‘In Da Club’ section is a truly loaded section.
This issue’s weak points:
- Some of the folks they devote ink to aren’t going to win any awards for the nonexistent ‘Exciting Magazine Article Subject’ award.
- Wish it was monthly.
Overall: 9.0 out of 10