15/04: To seek out new life...
13/04: Fanfilm: Law & Order: Gotham
Gotham Central isn't around to bring the class, I have yet to get my hands on the latest Manhunter, and She-Hulk stopped being amusing after the poorly thought out Rape can be funny guys! storyline, so sometimes I need to have my super-heroic legal battle fix elsewhere:
(Part Two/Part Three)
Look, I have needs people, and if Harvey Bullock, Dick Wolf and Youtube fill them, then what goddamn right do you have to judge me?
Yeah, the quality veers wildly between competent and not so much, but it's a lot of a fun to see how both Law & Order and Batman share many of the same characteristics: bad puns at inappropriate times, attractively youthful sidekicks who are usually more competent than their de-facto mentors, and questionable science.
I know Century City was practically stillborn, but I am a total fan of genre mashing, and if the upcoming Caprica manages to successfully meld the nighttime soap and science fiction genres, maybe the Law & Order franchise can start ripping from the headlines of the future? Oh god, if that happens, I'll never leave my TV again.
(but could it have killed them to bribe a chick friend into a trench coat and badge and give me a little Renee Montoya action? Is that too much to ask?)
(Part Two/Part Three)
Look, I have needs people, and if Harvey Bullock, Dick Wolf and Youtube fill them, then what goddamn right do you have to judge me?
Yeah, the quality veers wildly between competent and not so much, but it's a lot of a fun to see how both Law & Order and Batman share many of the same characteristics: bad puns at inappropriate times, attractively youthful sidekicks who are usually more competent than their de-facto mentors, and questionable science.
I know Century City was practically stillborn, but I am a total fan of genre mashing, and if the upcoming Caprica manages to successfully meld the nighttime soap and science fiction genres, maybe the Law & Order franchise can start ripping from the headlines of the future? Oh god, if that happens, I'll never leave my TV again.
(but could it have killed them to bribe a chick friend into a trench coat and badge and give me a little Renee Montoya action? Is that too much to ask?)
McKelvie of the fab Suburban Glamour linked to this and now I'm all swoony:
Honestly, will retro-redesigns never not be awesome?
EDIT: While we're Iron-Manning it up, why do you also check out Ming's adorable/cute entry for the same Project Rooftop Invincible Upgrade contest:
Honestly, will retro-redesigns never not be awesome?
EDIT: While we're Iron-Manning it up, why do you also check out Ming's adorable/cute entry for the same Project Rooftop Invincible Upgrade contest:
05/04: Galactarant (no spoilers)
Well, now ends the nine months I have been waiting for the new season of Battlestar Galactica to air. In the amount of time that it's taken to begin this new season I could have met, impregnated and sired a child with a significant other. Then taught that child not to fear Edward James Olmos' time ravaged face. I haven't watched the episode yet and am trying my damnedest to avoid any website that would be chock full of spoilers. Not that I particularly care if something is 'ruined', but I feel that any show that hinges greatly on reveals loses a good chunk of entertainment value when you know what's a comin.
To be honest, I haven't exactly been eagerly awaiting either. Mainly because the twist from last season's finale was kinda lackluster. Four secondary characters hearing an old Bob Dylan song in their heads and realizing that their robots? Come on, the Massacre in Moldavia cliffhanger from Dynasty was more shocking than that... and that was just plain ridiculous (What was Amanda thinking anyway marrying a prince?). And anyone who didn't see Starbuck (aka Lady Jesus/Moses depending on your JudeoChristian beliefs) coming back to life to guide her flock is just ignorant in how tv works.
I will admit the end to Baltar's trial was pretty fun to watch, mainly because it's always good television to see a guilty man walk free. Baltar is probably my second favorite character of the show and I am somewhat excited to see how the fallout of his trial is handled with regards to the command staff of the Galactica, yet somewhat less excited about how he becomes a savior and ascends to heaven. Oh well, at least the finale wasn't as gimmicky as jumping ahead one year in the future to show that everyone is a slave to robots, bearded, missing an eye or fat. I seem to remember being at Comic Con and overhearing someone at the BG panel whisper to their friend, "oh my god, I wonder how Colonel Tigh lost his eye." Really? Was that something meant to spark fans curiosity, how an old, lonely drunk poked his eye out? Having frequented many dive bars in the San Fernando Valley I know quite a few cycloptic, ancient alcoholics eager to tell you how they lost their good eye after getting a few Schlitz Very Smooth Lagers in them, and let me tell you this, the story is rarely entertaining and usually involves Fungal Keratitus. But then Dafna so kindly reminded me we were at Battlestar Galactica Panel at the nerdiest event ever to ever take place annually in San Diego and almost immediately a small part of my soul shriveled up and died.
After experiencing minor soul death i was ready to ask Lucy Lawless if Number Three was a more challenging role than Xena: The Warrior Princess.
I think what has really bogged me down about Battlestar more than anything else is the mysticism of the show. Now I know some people get off on that kinda stuff, but I watch because I believe that, for the most part, Battlestar has some really solid character development and interesting innovations when it comes to faction conflict. The military chain of command, martial law, surviving for the moment government led by Adama versus the Democratic, for the people, planning for the future government led by Roslin has been a persistent and intriguing aspect of the show that Battlestar seems to capture quite well compared to other politcal toned shows like 24. BG doesn't try to paint a crystal clear picture of who is right and wrong or good and bad (and it does so without being overly sympathetic to either side); each side makes a good argument for their continued political rule and each side is usually right about something at least half the time. Even the conflict between the humans and cylons is not easily explained away as humans good, robots bad*, which makes it particularly hard to hate the cylons.
Especially 6. And Athena.
Also, BG has some bitchin' production values for a Sci-fi program. Maybe not as 'relatively' bitchin production values as the original million-smackaroos-per-episode-which-was-a-lot-of-money-in-the-late-seventies-and-is-now-what-eighties-star-of-Manhunter-William-Peterson-gets-paid-per-episode-of-CSI Battlestar Galactica, but definately more effort is put into five minutes of BG than you'll see in the entire viewing of Mansquito** or Man-Thing for that matter. It's this high mark of quality that makes BG more viewable than let's say, oh I don't know, Stargate SG:1.
I'll cut to the chase,I've never been sweet on the philosophical, spiritual, existential crap in my sci-fi... that's why I didn't like DS-9, except for Quark. With it's Emissary of the Prophets this and Bajoran Fire Caves that, I lost interest in the philosophy of the hole damn thing very early on. Also that is precisely why I liked Voyager, if their was a problem facing Janeway and her crew, Ensign Kim could probably reconfigure the phasers using science (probably some math too) and blow it up. If the holodeck started making the villagers of a virtual, rural, English countryside sentient to their lives as holograms there wouldn't be much debate on whether to wipe their programing (maybe from The Doctor), they would go inside the holodeck and make sure shit like that didn't happen again. Until of course, it happened again. If I wanted that mystical stuff I'd watch Medium, but I don't, so I won't. I'm not saying the reason I watch the show is better than the reason you watch the show, that would just be fanboyish. I am saying that I am fully aware there is a Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy Book coming out soon and there are thousands of things I'd much rather read first.
And to think, i just logged on to say I was excited about Tivoing BG.
*As in Terminator 1-3 & the Sarah Conner Chronicles, AI, I Robot, and of course, Maximum Overdrive.
** Sorry Hank
EDIT:
Deep Space Nine, a cautionary tale (i.e. I love Ronald D. Moore and all, but I already know how the story ends. -Dafna)
To be honest, I haven't exactly been eagerly awaiting either. Mainly because the twist from last season's finale was kinda lackluster. Four secondary characters hearing an old Bob Dylan song in their heads and realizing that their robots? Come on, the Massacre in Moldavia cliffhanger from Dynasty was more shocking than that... and that was just plain ridiculous (What was Amanda thinking anyway marrying a prince?). And anyone who didn't see Starbuck (aka Lady Jesus/Moses depending on your JudeoChristian beliefs) coming back to life to guide her flock is just ignorant in how tv works.
I will admit the end to Baltar's trial was pretty fun to watch, mainly because it's always good television to see a guilty man walk free. Baltar is probably my second favorite character of the show and I am somewhat excited to see how the fallout of his trial is handled with regards to the command staff of the Galactica, yet somewhat less excited about how he becomes a savior and ascends to heaven. Oh well, at least the finale wasn't as gimmicky as jumping ahead one year in the future to show that everyone is a slave to robots, bearded, missing an eye or fat. I seem to remember being at Comic Con and overhearing someone at the BG panel whisper to their friend, "oh my god, I wonder how Colonel Tigh lost his eye." Really? Was that something meant to spark fans curiosity, how an old, lonely drunk poked his eye out? Having frequented many dive bars in the San Fernando Valley I know quite a few cycloptic, ancient alcoholics eager to tell you how they lost their good eye after getting a few Schlitz Very Smooth Lagers in them, and let me tell you this, the story is rarely entertaining and usually involves Fungal Keratitus. But then Dafna so kindly reminded me we were at Battlestar Galactica Panel at the nerdiest event ever to ever take place annually in San Diego and almost immediately a small part of my soul shriveled up and died.
After experiencing minor soul death i was ready to ask Lucy Lawless if Number Three was a more challenging role than Xena: The Warrior Princess.
I think what has really bogged me down about Battlestar more than anything else is the mysticism of the show. Now I know some people get off on that kinda stuff, but I watch because I believe that, for the most part, Battlestar has some really solid character development and interesting innovations when it comes to faction conflict. The military chain of command, martial law, surviving for the moment government led by Adama versus the Democratic, for the people, planning for the future government led by Roslin has been a persistent and intriguing aspect of the show that Battlestar seems to capture quite well compared to other politcal toned shows like 24. BG doesn't try to paint a crystal clear picture of who is right and wrong or good and bad (and it does so without being overly sympathetic to either side); each side makes a good argument for their continued political rule and each side is usually right about something at least half the time. Even the conflict between the humans and cylons is not easily explained away as humans good, robots bad*, which makes it particularly hard to hate the cylons.
Especially 6. And Athena.
Also, BG has some bitchin' production values for a Sci-fi program. Maybe not as 'relatively' bitchin production values as the original million-smackaroos-per-episode-which-was-a-lot-of-money-in-the-late-seventies-and-is-now-what-eighties-star-of-Manhunter-William-Peterson-gets-paid-per-episode-of-CSI Battlestar Galactica, but definately more effort is put into five minutes of BG than you'll see in the entire viewing of Mansquito** or Man-Thing for that matter. It's this high mark of quality that makes BG more viewable than let's say, oh I don't know, Stargate SG:1.
I'll cut to the chase,I've never been sweet on the philosophical, spiritual, existential crap in my sci-fi... that's why I didn't like DS-9, except for Quark. With it's Emissary of the Prophets this and Bajoran Fire Caves that, I lost interest in the philosophy of the hole damn thing very early on. Also that is precisely why I liked Voyager, if their was a problem facing Janeway and her crew, Ensign Kim could probably reconfigure the phasers using science (probably some math too) and blow it up. If the holodeck started making the villagers of a virtual, rural, English countryside sentient to their lives as holograms there wouldn't be much debate on whether to wipe their programing (maybe from The Doctor), they would go inside the holodeck and make sure shit like that didn't happen again. Until of course, it happened again. If I wanted that mystical stuff I'd watch Medium, but I don't, so I won't. I'm not saying the reason I watch the show is better than the reason you watch the show, that would just be fanboyish. I am saying that I am fully aware there is a Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy Book coming out soon and there are thousands of things I'd much rather read first.
And to think, i just logged on to say I was excited about Tivoing BG.
*As in Terminator 1-3 & the Sarah Conner Chronicles, AI, I Robot, and of course, Maximum Overdrive.
** Sorry Hank
EDIT:
Deep Space Nine, a cautionary tale (i.e. I love Ronald D. Moore and all, but I already know how the story ends. -Dafna)
01/04: Can't Hardly Stand It
Sorry about the lack of updates lately... the excuses I threw at De are for the most part true. But on the good side, while looking for an apartment around the Westside I happened into a small board shop called Rip City Sports in Santa Monica. Small and family owned since 1978 it's a really cool spot where you can pick up longboards, skateboards and all your accessories. But the coolest part about the whole place was their collection of classic and hard to find decks on display on the walls, none of which are for sale.
Including this one.
I've never fully comprehended that corny, cliche phrase 'so close yet so far' like I did standing less than a foot away than this most righteous board. The owner of the store, who I think was named Jim, explained how he acquired the much sought after World Industries board through a series of contacts and also how the board will never-ever leave his posession. For how little were made of this particular board, less than several thousand, I wouldn't be surprised if this particular deck at Rip City wasn't one of the few handful still intact in all of LA.
You don't ride a board like that, you hang it up and soak it in... especially cause Jim told me he's heard this Mike Valley Animal Man Deck have been sold in auction upwards up 1,500 dollars. I would post a picture of me with the board, but all I had was my camera phone and that is of such poor quality it looks more like two warbly blobs than me with a board. Oh well.
Oh yeah, on a related note, remember this board that I had to settle on because I will never be able to get the one mentioned above? Well aparently Baker didn't have the rights to make a Bad Music For Bad People board either, and that too has been pulled off the shelfs. Yet according to the Baker Boards website they're still selling these wheels:
Oh well, i'm too old for that stuff now anway.
Including this one.
I've never fully comprehended that corny, cliche phrase 'so close yet so far' like I did standing less than a foot away than this most righteous board. The owner of the store, who I think was named Jim, explained how he acquired the much sought after World Industries board through a series of contacts and also how the board will never-ever leave his posession. For how little were made of this particular board, less than several thousand, I wouldn't be surprised if this particular deck at Rip City wasn't one of the few handful still intact in all of LA.
You don't ride a board like that, you hang it up and soak it in... especially cause Jim told me he's heard this Mike Valley Animal Man Deck have been sold in auction upwards up 1,500 dollars. I would post a picture of me with the board, but all I had was my camera phone and that is of such poor quality it looks more like two warbly blobs than me with a board. Oh well.
Oh yeah, on a related note, remember this board that I had to settle on because I will never be able to get the one mentioned above? Well aparently Baker didn't have the rights to make a Bad Music For Bad People board either, and that too has been pulled off the shelfs. Yet according to the Baker Boards website they're still selling these wheels:
Oh well, i'm too old for that stuff now anway.
26/03: Faces of Rage Addiction
Roger
Bane
Roger
Bane
Hourman
But I guess some could argue that's a good thing. Thanks to Dom and Adam, I've been set straight on what's what in the GI Joe Universe. And besides, once the live action movie comes out I can forget all about GI Joe comic's canon and just go by the guidelines the film sets out.
______________________________
-Ian Brill shows us what it means to be a good parody. Thanks for posting this Ian, this has always been one of my favorite Mr. Show clips inspired by one of the best damn movies (and best musical) ever.
-Tom the Dog explains why a Robocop rehash is gonna suck. MGM better comply if they know what's good for them.
- Meet the Ding-A-Ling Family courtesy of Kevin Church, last of world famous international playboys.
- Dave's discussion of Pirates in comics and Pirates in real life is a real eye opener.
- Mr. Mozzocco shows us what it would be like if Jonah Hex tried to join the Justice League in The Showcase Presents Justice League Pt. 3. Included is the greatest panel EVER!:
______________________________
-Ian Brill shows us what it means to be a good parody. Thanks for posting this Ian, this has always been one of my favorite Mr. Show clips inspired by one of the best damn movies (and best musical) ever.
-Tom the Dog explains why a Robocop rehash is gonna suck. MGM better comply if they know what's good for them.
- Meet the Ding-A-Ling Family courtesy of Kevin Church, last of world famous international playboys.
- Dave's discussion of Pirates in comics and Pirates in real life is a real eye opener.
- Mr. Mozzocco shows us what it would be like if Jonah Hex tried to join the Justice League in The Showcase Presents Justice League Pt. 3. Included is the greatest panel EVER!:
21/03: Long Lost Brothers
Jonah Hex
Snake-eyes*
You make the call.
*In case you were not aware, Snake-eyes from GI Joe was horribly scarred
20/03: Damn you Japan.
I pride myself as a staunch defender of American ideals; I don't work on weekends, I eat neither snails nor raw fish, and Kid Chris most certainly don't do anime.
No sir, I don't like it. And believe me, I've tried. I've watched numerous anime series with the same result, I just don't care for it or I don't get it. The art styles don't appeal to me, and the series I've seen have always failed to spark my continued interest. Super Milk Chan, which aired briefly on Adult Swim, is the only thing I've ever enjoyed watching, and I'll admit that that was one of the stupidest shows ever on tv. I think my interest in the show was largely due to my college lifestyle, with the added usage of anime enhancing substances. I've even dated numerous girls who loved anime... so I of course feigned interest in it until they eventually broke up with me for any number of reasons. Hell, I went to Anime Expo once, and as someone who is a comic book and sci-fi con veteran like myself, i spent the entire day asking then-girlfriend "can we go now?". Sure, girl's costumes at Anime cons are generally 'better' than that of their comic book equivalents, but anime cons also have the added problem of me having to play that dangerous game of "Is that girl too young to be wearing that?" all day. The short and long of it, I'm not an anime fan.
That goes for manga too. Except for the Star Trek manga, which I view more as just another attempt by Star Trek to reach a younger audience.
Today when I opened by Yahoo news alerts, they sent me this story. Japan appoints an anime ambassador? No wait, Japan appoints a giant, talking, blue, time traveling, robot cat as their anime ambassador. Of course, why wouldn't they? The story says that Doraemon, the giant cat in question, will act as a culture ambassador for Japan as he showcases his film on an international scale. Do other countries even really need to be aware of anime? While this is a relatively harmless political position, the article goes on to say that Astro Boy is already serving as the current ambassador for overseas safety, yet another robot in a position of power in Japan. Oh boy.
I just hope this doesn't open the door in America to other cartoon ambassadors. Perhaps GI Joe'sDespero DESTRO as military ambassador in Iraq. Cheetarah as Ambassador of Taste. Papa Smurf as Economic Ambassador to the EU. Ambassadors Sugar and Spike? Where does the madness end?
In case you were wondering, Yahoo always alerts me to stories involving robot cats.
No sir, I don't like it. And believe me, I've tried. I've watched numerous anime series with the same result, I just don't care for it or I don't get it. The art styles don't appeal to me, and the series I've seen have always failed to spark my continued interest. Super Milk Chan, which aired briefly on Adult Swim, is the only thing I've ever enjoyed watching, and I'll admit that that was one of the stupidest shows ever on tv. I think my interest in the show was largely due to my college lifestyle, with the added usage of anime enhancing substances. I've even dated numerous girls who loved anime... so I of course feigned interest in it until they eventually broke up with me for any number of reasons. Hell, I went to Anime Expo once, and as someone who is a comic book and sci-fi con veteran like myself, i spent the entire day asking then-girlfriend "can we go now?". Sure, girl's costumes at Anime cons are generally 'better' than that of their comic book equivalents, but anime cons also have the added problem of me having to play that dangerous game of "Is that girl too young to be wearing that?" all day. The short and long of it, I'm not an anime fan.
That goes for manga too. Except for the Star Trek manga, which I view more as just another attempt by Star Trek to reach a younger audience.
Today when I opened by Yahoo news alerts, they sent me this story. Japan appoints an anime ambassador? No wait, Japan appoints a giant, talking, blue, time traveling, robot cat as their anime ambassador. Of course, why wouldn't they? The story says that Doraemon, the giant cat in question, will act as a culture ambassador for Japan as he showcases his film on an international scale. Do other countries even really need to be aware of anime? While this is a relatively harmless political position, the article goes on to say that Astro Boy is already serving as the current ambassador for overseas safety, yet another robot in a position of power in Japan. Oh boy.
Doraemon(center) plans to travel the world, aiding other countries with his interdimensional stomach pouch.
I just hope this doesn't open the door in America to other cartoon ambassadors. Perhaps GI Joe's
In case you were wondering, Yahoo always alerts me to stories involving robot cats.
19/03: "...but can he act?"
I, for one, am excited about the prospect of a Luke Cage movie. The biggest, baddest ass superhero this side of the Mason-Dixon is sure to be a fan favorite for at least one week in the box office. I mean come on, he's super strong, has bullet proof skin, and is tougher than anyone else in the whole Marvel Universe... plus I'm pretty sure he has a leather jacket that is as durable as his skin (I think).
I suppose it really depends on how they go about presenting the character. I know, mainly since Tyreese Gibson is expected to play Cage, that they're probably gonna go for the gritty, bald, New Avenger era of Powerman and not the wacky, head band wearing, yellow disco shirt and afro, Hero for Hire era that I would enjoy seeing. I really hope it's not the horribly, horribly offensive MAX imprint of Cage that really did a diservice to everyone involved.
As long as we get one enthusiastic, non-ironic "Sweet Christmas" out of the deal I'll probably be somewhat satisfied.
At least I found this on the Youtube. This guy thinks he's got the chops to be Luke Cage. What do you think?
I suppose it really depends on how they go about presenting the character. I know, mainly since Tyreese Gibson is expected to play Cage, that they're probably gonna go for the gritty, bald, New Avenger era of Powerman and not the wacky, head band wearing, yellow disco shirt and afro, Hero for Hire era that I would enjoy seeing. I really hope it's not the horribly, horribly offensive MAX imprint of Cage that really did a diservice to everyone involved.
As long as we get one enthusiastic, non-ironic "Sweet Christmas" out of the deal I'll probably be somewhat satisfied.
At least I found this on the Youtube. This guy thinks he's got the chops to be Luke Cage. What do you think?
