Photo by Elisabetta Jane Maria Allen

MEGADETH
That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires
Image Entertainment
Release date: Sept. 4, 2007

I’m going to tell you right from the beginning — I unapologetically love Megadeth.

I remember clearly that day back in 1985 when I discovered them. I was combing the “metal” LP bins at my local record store when I came across Killing Is My Business … And Business Is Good, which boasted a sticker on the cover stating that it was the debut album from former Metallica guitarist Dave Mustaine‘s new band. That’s all I needed to know. Seven bucks later, the low-production quality of opening tune “Last Rites/Loved To Deth” was blaring through my speakers, Mustaine’s raspy voice screaming, “I loved you to deth!!!”

Mustaine’s connection to Metallica — more specially, that Mustaine was fired from the pre-recording contract line-up of Metallica — has followed the Megadeth front man throughout his career, but not always to his benefit. Throughout the 1980s, a feud between Mustaine and his former bandmates was fought out in public during magazine interviews, which prompted thrash metal fans to take sides. But while Metallica spent much of the 90s in musical experimentation (much to the dismay of fans), Megadeth stayed true their metal roots, releasing now platinum albums Rust In Peace, Symphony of Destruction, and Youthanasia.

While Megadeth has endured numerous line-up changes, the long-red-maned Mustaine, who turns 46 today, has been the band’s one constant driving force, writing most of the music and lyrics. Even when in 2002 Mustaine suffered an arm injury which doctors believed would prevent him from ever playing guitar again, the singer/guitarist went through physical therapy to once again shred!

In 2005, California native Mustaine, along with guitarist Glen Drover, drummer Shawn Drover, and then-bassist James MacDonough, recorded That One Night – Live in Buenos Aires live at Obras Stadium in Argentina in front of 25,000 screaming — and I mean screaming — fans.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Season 3, Episodes 1-4
FX Network
Premieres Sept. 13, 2007

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia owes much of its existence to Seinfeld. The show has even carried the tagline “It’s Seinfeld on crack.” But while this show takes the basic formula and cardinal rule from its mentor (No Lessons, No Hugs), it found a way to push the boundaries of bad taste and political correctness and in the process, positioned itself to be one of the funnier shows on TV.

Charlie (Charlie Day), Mac (Rob McElhenney), and Dennis (Glenn Howerton) are all co-owners of Paddy’s, a local Irish Pub that never seems to see the light of regular business. The guys, along with Dennis’ twin sister Sweet Dee (Kaitlin Olson), is the head bartender and Frank (Danny DeVito), Dennis, and Dee’s father make up what is referred to as “The Gang.”

Season 3 continues to follow our group of misfits as they position themselves to become involved in even more ridiculous situations. Not much has changed for the gang since we last saw them. They are still running a bar with no discernible customer base, save for a few cockeyed schemes to bring in more business that usually blows up in their face. They all seem to be more consumed with serving their own self interests than customers. More times than not they are oblivious to people in their bar and annoyed by them when they finally do take notice.

When retired gang leader Wang-Jae is murdered, detective Tae-Soo returns to his hometown for the first time in ten years after leaving to become a detective in Seoul. Tae-Soo reunites with his old high school friends to say farewell to Wang-Jae, but feels that something is not right about his death. With his fists and temper at his side, Tae-Soo uses the power of the law to stir up a few hornet nests trying to figure out just what happened. For his troubles, Tae-Soo is beset by multiple gangs, all trying to keep Tae-Soo from finding out too much. But with his friend Seok-Hwan at his side, whose fists are just as merciless, Tae-Soo starts tearing through the lies, deceptions, and criminal activity setting up shop in the tourist district. And when he finally gets someone to talk, he learns that it may just be their mutual friend Pil-Ho behind the murder.

Ryoo Seung-Wan, who both directs and stars as Seok-Hwan, may not be pushing any boundaries with this 2006 action-drama from South Korea, but his style and enthusiasm more than make up for treading in safe waters. Ryoo, who has previously brought fan favorites No Blood No Tears, Arahan, and Crying Fist to the screen, once again dives head first into a world of brotherhood, betrayal, and sacrifice, which are themes that should be more than familiar to those who have swam in the waters of South East Asian cinema. Using a series of flashbacks and storytelling, Ryoo gets all of the characters and their relationships set up quite quickly, but by no means skimps on their depth. Even given the film’s short time devoted to the character build-up, Ryoo shows his strength at giving the audience all the information they need to understand what is going on.

Drafted #1
Written by Mark Powers
Art by Chris Lie
Colors by Joseph Baker
Letters by Brian J. Crowley
Devil’s Due Publishing
Cover price: $3.50; On-sale: Sept. 12, 2007

In our obsession with antagonisms of the moment, we often forget how much unites all the members of humanity. Perhaps we need some outside, universal threat to make us recognize this common bond. I occasionally think how quickly our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world. — President Ronald Reagan in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Forty-second session, September 21, 1987.

I’m one of those sore-headed skeptics who have never really believed an alien invasion would unite humanity.

I always thought if aliens attacked, half the countries on the planet would be scrambling to make deals with the invaders. Some groups of religious fanatics (and ALL religions have them) would welcome the end of the human race as “divine retribution” or “final judgment.” Others would waste valuable time blaming the government for being ill-prepared or the education system for not giving us the tools we need to stop invaders or even video games and hip-hop music for creating the kind of culture that would make an alien invasion possible.

In short, I don’t think a global invasion crisis would necessarily bring out the best in people. But the new comic book series Drafted, could make me change my mind.

Writer Mark Powers offers a grim fable of aliens who show up with an ultimatum: join them in fighting another group of aliens or be annihilated.