Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Getting the Links Out

Here's a nice piece over at ADD's Kolchalkaholic blog. I love the last little bit.

Plan on buying the Identity Crisis Hardcover? Why not get a Green Arrow book for free too?

Boob War Week might be the best idea ever. See, that's why Dave gets all the ladies, he's brilliant.

Happy birthday and blog-iversary to Ed Cunard!

New Permanent Damage! Yay!

This is just friggin' hilarious.

So is this.

Roger reviews my Mixed Bag disc. I had planned on reviewing all of them...but I haven't had the energy. I did enjoy all of em though.

Best Simpsons ever? I couldn't even begin to decide, but Lemon of Troy is up there.

Tom didn't like Prison Break either. Glad I'm not the only one.

News about a few idiots coming to DVD. I can't wait.

Coming soon the my sidebar:

The Brick

The Life and Times of Sticky and Obtuse

Condemned by the Space Pope

Humanity Critic

Check 'em out!

-L
More Contest Stuff

Only a few entries for my Fantastic Four giveaway, so odds look good for anyone out there wanting to enter. It's free! Just email me at dedpool1979@aol.com, with the word FF Comics in the subject, and bam, you're entered! I'll anounce the winners in a little over a week, so get your entries in! Thanks to all those who have linked to it, and to those who haven't...COME ON!

As soon as that's over I'll have another one to announce, but this one you're gonna have to work for!

-L
Fanboy Instincts

It's weird. I have damn near 1000 DVDs, and I'm constantly loaning them out. When I did read books on a regular basis, I never kept them, I always gave them to anyone who wanted them. But, when it comes to my fanboy obsessions involving comics and such, my first instinct is to horde. I can't stand it when people want to play with my massive toy collection, it drives me nuts, but, you wanna borrow that $40 DVD set? Sure go ahead! I hate it when people move around my long boxes, but hey, here's a novel I just finished reading, feel free to bend the cover back!

I just gave away a crapload of my comics to both help out someone with a financial need (he'll remain nameless, and hopefully he can sell em off for some cash) and for his kids to read, which is the best cause in the world I think. My brain keeps screaming at me "You idiot, those things will be worth a fortune one day!" But it's wrong.

There's NEVER going to be another golden age or silver age of comics. You know why? Cuz we want there to be. We want all those boxes of full of worthless floppy books to suddenly skyrocket, and they never will. First, the reason those old books are worth money is because there aren't any of them around; they all got pulped in the war. Second, no one really cares about any of these new characters, Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, those were originals, who's going to rememeber Spawn forty years from now? I know I won't.

So, yeah, it feels good to unload books that will never do anything for me but collect dust, it's good to know someone will get some use out of them, cuz unless cars start running on comics, they weren't doing me any good.

Besides, I'm a Marvel fanboy...most of em were DC books. Like I need Superman stickin' his nose up at all my X-Men comics all the time. Stupid blue boyscout...

-L

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

The List from God

The Blues Brothers - 25th Anniversary Edition

This is playing in Atlanta this weekend, I'd love to go see it. They're broadcasting live interviews via satellite.

Clueless - "Whatever!" Edition

Boy, Brittney Murphy has come far.

Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Fourth Season

How often can one man get himself into impossible situations? Well, for four seasons at least.

Fire and Ice (2-Disc Limited Edition)

Bakshi & Frazetta, I'll have to check this out.

Garfield and Friends, Volume Four

I wish I'd been buying these, it's one of the best 'toons ever.

His Girl Friday

Good movie, buy it.

House, M.D. - Season One

Something else to add to the Netflix queue

Married With Children - The Complete 4th Season

Ashame they had to change the music.

The Mind of the Married Man - The Complete First Season

From the guy who brought us The Upsode of Anger...I think.

Monster-in-Law

HAHAHAHA.....no.

Nip/Tuck - The Complete Second Season

I've got season 1, still haven't watched it yet.

Roseanne - The Complete First Season

Even fans should avoid, it has syndicated versions of some episodes.

Sahara (Widescreen Edition)

My sister will be happy.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ways of the Warrior #3.4

Featuring episodes not yet aired on TV.

Tommy Boy - Holy Schnike Edition

One of the funniest movies ever, I'll be buying this soon enough.

-L
Wanna Make a Difference?

For just once in your life?

Well, go here and sign a worthwhile petition. Help bring more of James Kochalka's work to the masses.

-L

Monday, August 29, 2005

This is a Story About All My Friends

Not really.

New stuff up at the Galaxy today, including my look at (GN-turned-movie) A History of Violence. I've re-read the book since I wrote the review, and I think I actually liked it a bit more than the first few times I read it. Still, it's pretty much a slightly-sbove-average comics, not a great one. Also up is Joe Rice's latest Make-Believe War, and a slew of things from the bossman himself, ADD. So go check 'em out.

I'd like to take a second and commend Chris Hunter for the fabulous job he's doing at CBG. I think the site has actually gotten better since he took over updating, if for no other reason than we're actually getting some excellent content out of our gruff n loveable founder, Alan David Doane (who loves comics so much he gives em away- lotsa reading required!). Regardless though, Chris is giving the site his all, and I don't think he's getting enough public praise. So, Chris, great job!

I've updated my sidebar, so be sure and check out the new links, and while you're at it, enter my latest contest! By just emailing me (dedpool1979@aol.com) you can win a slew of damn good Fantastic Four comics!

-L

Sunday, August 28, 2005

Leavin' on a Jet Plane (Not!)

Got a chance to see The Terminal today, and while Tom Hanks gives a hell of a performance, the movie was pretty much just okay. The first hour was definitely the best part of the film, watching Hanks play a man struggling to adapt to his new surroundings, it's heartbreaking and touching, but somewhere the movie becomes a typical "root for the good guy" movie, and things just become too conventional for me. Stanley Tucci plays an excellent asshole, better here than he was in Big Trouble (and he was great in Big Trouble), which combined with Hanks is enough to carry the movie, but not make it a must-see. Zeta-Jones was surprising, I usually can't stomach her, but she brings more humanity to this than any other role she's ever had (partly, I'm sure, due to Spielberg directing), and I love how bitter-sweet the end was. Not the tour-de-force that Cast Away was, but worth a rental, or if it's on cable (I caught it on HBO) it's worth watching.

-L
Live, From the Couch

I need to get this baby wireless (my laptop).

So, go a package in the mail to day from good buddy ADD. Wanna kjnow what was in it?

Ojo, a TPB of a Sam Keith mini from Oni, Dreadstar Vol 1 HC, by Jim Starlin. I love Starlin's cosmic work for Marvel, but oddly enough I've never read any of his stuff outside that. This is a beatiful collection, and I can't wait to dive into it. Batman: Fortunate Son; looks to be a decent Batman read, and I like a good Bats story. Finally, the best of the bunch, in my opinion, Fantastic Four Vol. 1 HC, collecting the first 12 issues of the Waid/'Ringo run on the series. Since ADD originally got me hooked on these guys, it's only right that he sell me this fantastic collection. So, guess what that means?

It means it's time to give away some friggin' comics!

I have the uber-wonderful "Unthinkable" arc by Waid and 'Ringo as well as the follow up, "5th Wheel" AND the introductory issue, #60 (Vol. 3) as an added bonus. So, if you want some Fantastic Four comics, all you have to do is send an email to dedpool1979@aol.com, put FF Comics in the title, and, bam! you might win some comics! I'll choose a winner, at random, in two weeks. All you gotta do is email me! Remeber though, these are for the floppies, not the hardcover! So, get goin', email me already! (Oh, and, US residents only, please, unless you're willing to float the shipping cost!)

Any of you out there wanting to promote this, please do, and by all means enter it yourself!

I think I have some more books coming from ADD...but I honestly don't remember, I've bought so many books online in the last month I don't remember where I got what, heh.

So, there it is, your opportunity to win some swag for very little work, and it's not even crap, it's good stuff! So, get those emails in!

-L

Friday, August 26, 2005

Someday the Mountain Might Get 'em but the Law Never Will

Finished off Disc 3 of Firefly last night. Man what a show. As much as I couldn't get into Whedon's Buffy, he really had something special with Firefly. Combining Old West sensibility and gunplay with futuristic sci-fi and special effects. One of the cooler little things about the show is the lack of sound when the wide shots show the ship in spcae, one of the few (if only) shows to do that. Cuz, you know, there would be know sound in space. Pluse, it's got a great soundtrack for the episodes, I'd love to have that music on CD.

Disc 4 is on its way to me, looking forward to see how Whedon wrapped it up, and eagerly anticipating the movie.

Finished off Season 6 of the Simpsons. I hate the new packaging, so I think I'm gonna order the replacement box for it. It's just too flimsy. Season 6 was "Who Shor Mr. Burns?" for the finale, I'd forgotten that, alonmg with a number of solid episodes, but I just can't really get into the parody episodes that much, thankfully there are fewer here than in season 5. My fave out of the whole season has to be And Maggie Makes Three", it's funny and sentimental, something the show does better than almost any other. Lemon of Troy is a close second though, and is up their among my all time favs.

Watching Soap Season 2 off and on right now as well as occasionally popping in my Dukes of Hazzard Season 1 set. Soap kind went downhill after Season 2, but I'll probably buy the other sets just to have em. At least Season 3 still has Benson. I've also begun to realize that some of the Simpsons stuff is really influenced by this show. Not a lot, but some. Did any other show use opening title gags before this? And you can all laugh at me for having the Dukes set, I don't care, it's a big, stupid, fun country hick show, I love it.

Anyone on Netflix who wants to add me to their buddy list, feel free to send me an invite, Johnny B did earlier today, it's kinda cool.

Off to work with me, and maybe I'll watch The Station Agent tonight.

Oh, and the DVD I sent ADD was Lemony Snicket (didn't wanna spoil it for him!), which I'll probably talk about tomorrow.

-L

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Bloggin the Line

Femme fatale Laura Tegan Gjoovaag issued a Blogaround Challange.

Laura, I accept...finally.

First up we have Cognitive Dissonance. Yes, it's true, I've never read CD. I do know who Johanna Draper Carlson is though. I think I see her name bandied around on the internet as often as the word porn, but I never had an overwhelming desire to check out her blog. So, now I have. She talks a lot about manga, a subject I'm interested in, unfortunately I haven't found a book that interested me yet. Blacksad is a book I've been dying to get a hold of, but everytime I order it from Amazon they always backorder it and I never freakin get it. Anyone out there got a copy? Anyway, her blog is pretty cool, lots of links, good reviews. By that I mean she's not just stuck on one stinking genre. She also asks the most important question ever: What ever happened to Blue Devil? Good stuff, I'll have to add it to the sidebar soon.

Next, Noetic Concordance, a blog run by Brian Cooksey, who also took the challenge. There's lots of books reviewed here, mostly Marvel & DC, but enjoyable regardless. I like the mix of old and new stuff, and the reviews are intelligently written (unlike, say, mine). Nothing spectacular, but a darn good run-of-the-mill blog. It'll be added to the sidebar too.

Thirde, we have Christopher Priests blog, According to Me. I love Priest, how the hell did I miss this? No, I don't follow his books like I should, but whenever I've picked up any of his stuff I've enjoyed the hell out of it. It's not an all comics blog, which is cool, I imagine he deals in comics so much he NEEDS a place to vent out other things. Since I don't read enough creator blogs to begin with, and this is pretty damn good, it goes on the sidebar!

Next, it's Snark Free Waters, run by a number of people. It's a "Top 5" blog, consisting of lists of Top 5 various things. I got bored after about five minutes. If that's your bag, check it out, but it's just not that interesting to warrant daily checks.

Comics At My Brain is fifth on the list. Run by Tom Bondurant, it's a pretty good superhero comics blog. Tom seems generally well informed and talkitave as all hell. My God those are some long posts. Unfortunately he seems mostly infatuated with DC heroes, something I'm not overly interested in, and I'm already reading blogs by enough DC junkies that reading another might make my brain explode. It's good stuff though, well written, informative, even if it is only a capes blog.

The Low Road is up next. More good stuff all around here. Links, discussion, info, not a lot of reviews though (like I can talk...). I liked it enough to want to add it to the sidebar. Not much more to say outside of that, sorry.

Coming in at #7 is Highway 62. It's pretty much just linkblogging, which is okay, but that's what I have Neilalien for, no? But it is a creator blog, and it's by Matt, who's last name I do not know. It's okay stuff, just not terribly interesting.

Hitting the eighth spot is Dial B For Blog, a site I've seen mentioned in a few places. This is someone who apparently has waaaay toom uch time on their hands! Geez, I'm ashamed to even read it, it makes pretty much every other blog look like an ugly stepsister. Lots of hard work obviously went into this one, and I can't recommend it enough. The "Big Giant Hand" cover gallery is hilarious!

View From the Cheap Seats is my "number nine, number nine" blog. It's a pop culture blog, like mine, but moreso I guess. Kinda reminds me of Tom's blog. Good stuff, even if nothing junmped out and grabbed me from the get go. I'll be keeping an eye on it for sure.

Loose Pages ends the list. I picked it because the title was similar to my column's. It's another creator blog, and not terribly interesting i'm sad to say. Just sort of a day-in-the-life kinda thing.

So, there's my blogaraound, apologies to those expecting giant insights and criticisms. You'll all learn eventually I'm one lazy bastard.

-L

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

The Layered List

Adam-12 - Season One
Emergency - Season One

A pair of Jack Webb drama series, no interest on my part, but they're there for those that are.

Alf - Season Two

No go, the fact that they screwed up the first season means they won't begetting any cash from me.

Billy Madison (Special Edition)
Happy Gilmore (Special Edition)

A pair of juvenile Sandler flix. I love Happy Gilmore though.

Boy Meets World - The Complete Third Season

I've begun to really like this show in syndication, it's silly for sure, but it's pretty good.

Futurama - Monster Robot Maniac Fun Collection

YAY! I have the sets, but new intros and a commentrak with an animatic ensures my money.

Gladiator (Extended Edition)

This actually has lots of new features on it so it will be worth buying for fans.

Good Times - The Complete Fifth Season

All these shows remind me of Family Guy now, with all it's referencing.

Kung Fu - The Complete Third Season

Once again, the white man doing something better. What's up with all that?

Layer Cake (Widescreen Edition)

I want to see this.

Life As We Know It - The Complete Series

I've heard good things about this, maybe I'll rent it.

New Jack City (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Pass.

The O.C. - The Complete Second Season

California, here we come. 90210 for the new generation.

Pair of Lewis Black Shorts

Lewis Black rules all.

The Ring Two (Unrated Edition)

Doubly pass.

Swamp Thing

I'm sure Mike is happy.

That's My Mama - The Complete First Season
That's My Mama - The Complete Second Season

More shows referenced by Family Guy. Never seen it.

The Transporter (Special Delivery Edition)

HA! This movie is pure crap, even for a "turn your brain off" flik.

The Truman Show (Special Edition)

All right!

What's Happening - The Complete Third Season

No comments, never really watched it.

Witness (Special Collector's Edition)

Wow, it's been a while hasnt it?

-L
Ded Remembers

There are very few movie watching experiences that I can recall with severe clarity. One of them is my first viewing on The Lion King. I was 16 and a sophmore in high school, it was one of those lazy days, right before a long break, where the teachers didn't want to teach and the students didn't really want to learn. The class was chemistry, and for the life of me I cannot remember the teachers name, just that she was new to the school that year.

I walked into the class room and took my seat at the back, smiling when I saw the TV set up in the front. When everyone had taken their seats she pulled out two videos, I haven't the foggiest what the other one was, but every girl in the class demanded to watch The Lion King. I remember thinking this was going to suck.

I'd rather have done some school work than spend the next hour watching a movie about a bunch of singing, dancing animals. A Disney movie, where nothing ever really happened, Disney was only ever good at maintaining a status quo in a majority of their films, especially their cartoons. I hated most of them with a passion. The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, all of those were the films I associated with Disney. I just didn't think they had it in them to make a truly excellent piece of film anymore.

So, it's fair to say I went into The Lion King determined to hate it. I hate being wrong, usually, and usually I'd continue to hate something I'm wrong about out of spite. It's been ten years (well, a little more) since I was wrong about The Lion King.

That summer I borrowed the film from my cousin. I can't tell you how many times I watched it. In fact, I still have it, I never gave it back to him. I stole it, you might say. Don't worry though, I shelled out my money eventually, and am now the proud owner of the Limited Edition Box Set, complete with book and drawings.

But, I'm getting ahead of myself. We didn't get to finish the movie, of course, but we did make it an hour into it. I say without reservation that the death of Mufasa is the most heart-wrenching piece of film I've ever had to sit through, and it came as a complete shock to me. It's a Disney film...no one ever dies in a Disney film, at least not like that. It was cold-blooded murder.

The Lion King is, without a doubt, one of the finest films ever made. There are plenty of accusations about where the plot is derrived from, and about how it's all stolen and what not, and the stupid little "sex" thing with the weeds, but none of that detracts from its glory.

It's a movie that works on more levels than anything before it or since, and on any given day, if you put a gun to my head I just might tell you it's the greatest film ever made. It's a love story, a comedy, a drama, there's action and adventure, it's a family film, it's everything you need in a movie. It's the best-selling home video of all time (55 million copies)! It's not even something you can argue with.

The most impressive thing about the film, visually at least, is probably the stampede, which too the CG department at Disney three years to do. THREE YEARS! On one scene, and it holds up as well today as it did in 1995. There's an instant sadness that comes afterward though, where young Simba is calling for his father and finds him dead, it's a scene that I still have trouble watching to this day.

So, when I heard that Joe Ranft of Pixar had died today, that scene came to mind. You see, Ranft was a writer at Disney before he went to head up the story department at Pixar. While some of his credits are of movies I can't stomach, one of them is The Lion King. It would be my extreme pleasure to shake the hand of everyone ever involved in that masterpiece and tell them just how wonderful it is, but I think they all know that, at least I hope they do.

Joe could probably be best remembered for another film that touched my heart and tickled my funny bone, and particularly for a scene that both my father and I found endlessly entertaining. Joe pitched and storyboarded the opening sequence for the timeless Toy Story film. That's right, The Green Army Men.

Toy Story, like The Lion King before it, opened my eyes to something I once though of as useless,and Joe Ranft was a part of that, a part of both of them. I'm sure he will be missed by his family, friend and collegues, and as a lover of all movies I mourn his passing. His worked has touched lives, there's not many that can say that. He helped create an industry, there aren't many who can make that claim either, but most of all he made movies, good ones, and for that I'm forever in his debt.

Now, if you'll excuse me I'm going to go salute him the best way I know how, that Lion King box set looks like it hasn't been cracked open in quite a while.

-L

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Quickies-8/23/05

Pulp Fantastic
Written by Howard Chaykin and David Tischman
Drawn by Rick Burchett
Published by DC/Vertigo

A few years ago Vertigo launched a V2K line, full of futuristic Vertigo-eque (READ: More adult) stories. I'm fairly certain this is the only one I've read. Chaykin and Tischman's names alone insures a modicum of talent, but I'm not familiar with Burchett's work at all ( a quick search turns up work on Blackhawk and Superman Adventures for DC).

The story is pretty basic, Vector Pope is a P.I., who's hired to investigate the disappearence of a girl. The deeper he gets into the case the more questions he unravels. If it immediately sound like Chinatown to you, well, congrats, you've seen Chinatown, apparently so have Chaykin and Tischman.

The characters are fantasticly unrealistic, there's a pretty good mystery going on and it all holds up pretty well, despite being pretty much a rip off. They've clearly thought out the world Pope travels in, from clones and androids to violent nuns and a church that's running just about everything, it's all very realized. They don;t wast time with intricate introductions, and the action begins on panel one, so they definitely get points for that.

Burchett's work here is very reminiscent of an artist like Darwynne Cooke, only not as refined. It fits in well with the space noir feel Tischman and Chaykin have created, but there's nothing overly gorgeous or spectacular about it, not that their should be either. It's smoothe and grim, and the man can draw an appealing figure to say the least.

If movies like Chinatown or The Big Sleep are your thing, Pulp Fantastic is definitely the comic for you. I'd have loved to see this as a regular series, but it's still a good read as is. If you see it lying around your local shop, definitely check it out, it's well worth it. Grade: A

A Day without a Mexican

What if all the Mexicans in California disappeared?

It's pretty good question, and this movie attempts to answer it in as many ways as possible. Other than that there's no real story behind the movie, just Califrnians living life (or trying to) without the Hispanic community to do all of its dirty work. Construction is all but crippled, schools get closed left and right for lack of educators, fruit and veggies become more expensove than gold, there's no one to harvest the crops.

It's not exactly hard hitting, and it's all wrapped up in some psuedo-funny, far fetched little sci-fi plot, but the message is still their. Anyone who's ever wondered just how valuable the Mexican community is to America should check this out. Grade: B-

Confessions of an American Girl

I love Jena Malone, so I bought this. Most of America will probably see it as some sort of farcical comedy, and it is, but for anyone who's ever grown up poor in the South, well, it's as true to life as walking out their front door. Jena plays Rena, local trailer park girl, complete with half-sister and gay (but in the closet) brother, she's preggers and has finally convinced the rest of the family to go and visit their father...in prison. So what should be family day in the prison park turns into emotional hell for everyone involved. Secrets come out, lives get torn apart, people get their asses kicked, and a gay man finds love...in a prison barbershop. It's a typical All-American story. Definitely worth checking out if you see it. Grade A-

Cursed

Like Jena before her, I love Christina Ricci. I borrowed this one though, thank God. This is crap on top of crap...on top of more crap. It's a ridiculous werewolf film that brings nothing new to the table. Well, except that scene were the werewolf flips the camera off...after being teased by the two idiots hunting it. By teased I mean "That wolf is a sloppy dresser." If you're looking to laugh at a movie that's not trying to be funny (and manages to get Craig Kilborn and Scott Baio on board for dumb as hell cameos), then by all means, check it out, if not, well, avoid at all costs. Grade: D

Decoys

This one I can recommed solely because it's a dumb horror movie with an idiotic premise. Aliens from space have come to Earth to find men to seed their race. Sex and killing abound as one kid tries frantically to save everyone around him. It's the goofiest movie I've seen all year and I loved it. This should be on MST3K (if it were still around...), then people would see how great it is. And by great I mean far beyond stupid. If you're into those old horror films like THEM!, Killer Klowns or Plan 9, this may be right up your alley. Grade: A+ (Okay, really it's like a D, but come on, it's so stupid it's brilliant!)

-L

Monday, August 22, 2005

Two Posts in One Day?

I must be on crack!

Dave just asked a very good question in my comments thread about the National Treasure DVD. Go read it, I'll wait...

Back? Okay. Rather than just respond in the comments I figured I'd just address it completely (unfortunately this makes it seem impersonal, sorry Dave! I still love ya mate!)

My DVD buying policy is much like my policy on comics buying. I'll pretty much buy and watch/read any damn thing. It sounds dumb, and really it is, I waste more money on crap than anyone else I know, but it's just my policy.

How can I afford it? Well, with comics it's a lot easier, you can find comics cheap as all hell sometimes, and those discount bins are my favorite places to dig, so naturally I end up with piles of dung and a handful of good or great books. Personally I think it enhances the whole experience; getting lots of crap was worth finding that one friggin book you thought was amazing.

Same with DVDs for me, only it costs more. My one policy on DVD's is, with the sole exception of must-haves (READ: Geek films/ uber-cool special sets), I only buy them used. With National Treasure I also got two or three other movies because every used DVD place around me has a Buy 2-Get 1 Free or Buy 2-Get 2 Free sale all the time. That's how I end up with movies I don't always like and have never seen. When I can get three or four movies for $30 or less I'd much rather buy than rent. To rent four movies would cost me upwards of $20, especially if they're new releases. Then I have to return them, and only have a few days to watch them. For $10 more I can own it and watch it at my leisure. Sure, if I waited the rental price would eventually come down, or I could get it from Netflix (which I pretty much use for my TV DVD rentals), but I'd honestly just rather buy it. If I like it, I like it, if not, well I file it away or give/trade it off to someone who might enjoy it more (a good example is a movie I sent to ADD just the other day, but I don't wanna spoil the surprise, so I'll discuss it after he gets his mail!). I don't buy nearly as many movies as I used to, mainly because I lack the time to watch them and I don't have a lot of room for em.

Yes, I know it's a logic that's held together with spider-webs, one good breeze and it falls apart, but I love movies, and I love DVDs especially. There's so much there to explore, even with movies I don't like, that it makes it worth the purchase for me. So, yeah, I hate renting from video stores, and I dread going to the movies, I'd rather just buy them, especially considering this: Cost of two tickets-$15, Cost of large drink-$5, Cost of large popcorn-$6, Total-$26. If I'd spent $26 to see National Treasure I'd be pissed off as hell, add in the rudeness of today's movie goers, and well I just can't think about it. The DVD cost me less than $10, I got to watch it in a sleeve-less shirt and my crap-ass confortable shorts, in a recliner, feet up, a bottle of Juicy Juice in the fridge to keep me hydrated, and a bag of Ruffles with some dip to keep my stomach happy, and no one had to shell out the extra ticket prices. Total cost there is well under $20, but if I'd just watched the movie with my girl, no food or drink, I'm already over $5 to the good.

The only thing about this that ever works against me is finding mediocre movies. I like the bad ones, I like the good ones, but when a movie is really nothing but status quo throughout (like National Treasure) it just disappoints me. I'd rather they have gone all out and fallen on their asses than just kind of done without any real enthusiasm.

Don't mean to ramble, but I hope that at least answers the question (one I'm sure a few people have wondered about). So, thanks Dave!

-L
Ded's Guide to the Galaxy

Lots of stuff up over the last few days at my home away from home, including my newest Loose Staples column. Fair warning, it's definitely not my best work, comics have been a little dry around these parts lately, but I'm extremely happy with my little opening diatribe, especially since ADD singled it out on his own blog. Much thanks for the kind words boss, and I'll be honest and say that A LOT of the books I've left unread in the last year or so have remained that way simply because I want to be able to really enjoy them. I don't want my first reading of Cerebus to be constantly interrupted by whatever crap I have going on in my life at the moment, my first reading of Less Than Heroes shouldn't be something to rush through, it should be something I can really soak in, but some of em are just because I'm lazy!

Also up is the infinitely better Crack Shots by Marc Sobel. Marc is on the fast track to becoming my favorite (or one of at least...) reviewer. He always seems to find some really interesting books to read. One of these days I'm just gonna send him $100 and tell him to buy me a copy of everything he buys until he runs out of my money (Not a bad experiment actually...).

Also high on the faves list (or maybe just high...), Ian Brill reviews Rocketo #1 today. I was disappointed by my initial outing with Speakeasy Comics (Beowulf to be specific), but with fav capes book Helios jumping on board there and Ian's hearty recommendation of Rocketo, I'll have to re-think them altogether. Plus, Chris Allen is writing at least one book for them, so I'd be diving into their waters again eventually, but it looks to be sooner rather than later.

Speaking of Chris, his latest Breakdowns is a must-read. By must-read I mean read it or I will come to your house and beat you to death with your monitor. And don't forget Johnny B's Last Call. JB has been downright silent on his blog lately, but I'm sure it's because he's got better things to do than entertain me (like, say, watch The Tick!).

I've got some comics to review, I'm sure CH is wondering if I'm ever going to get around to finishing the ones I've been promising. I plan to do just that this week. On tap is Grounded #1, Bone Vol. 2, A History of Violence, and maybe, just maybe something else. For the folks reading this here blog, I just finished off a good series called Pulp Fantastic, so look for something about that coming up later in the day. Or if I get lazier, tomorrow.

-L

Sunday, August 21, 2005

A DVD Treasure

And a misleading title...

So, I watched National Treasure this weekend, and boy was that ever a dud of a movie. The script sounds like it was put together over a weekend (right after reading a "history" book of freemasons). The only things going for it are decent actors (well, competent may be a better word) and Jerry Bruckheimer, who's name insures a fair amount of brainless action.

If you don't know, it's the story of a guy who must steal the Declaration of Independance to keep it out of the hands of some bad guys, both of them are certain there's a map on the back which leads to a massive treasure hidden by the founding fathers (some of which were freemasons). If it sounds like some kind of Indiana Jones meet Tomb Raider thing, well, you're on the right track.

The dialogue sounds like it was written by someone who closely studied the action films of 1995. Complete with stupid one-liners and brilliantly stupid people figuring out things for no apparent reason (especially Cage's opening little rant where he comes to the conclusion about the DoI...).

For good or bad it's part of my DVD collection, I didn't like it, but if you're into movies like Charlie's Angels and whatever other mindless movie reminds you of that, well, it may be worth a rental to ya.

-L

Friday, August 19, 2005

Oh, yeah...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CHRIS ALLEN!!!!!!!!!

Go check out his blog!

-L
Comics!

I've dug up a few reviews, because frankly I haven't read that many books lately, so here's some things I've reviewed but for some reason or another I never got around to posting them (because I'm lazy and I forgot!).

Conan Vol. 1: The Frost-Giant’s Daughter and Other Stories
Written by Kurt Busiek
Drawn by Cary Nord and Thomas Yeates
Published by Dark Horse Comics; $15.95 USD

Robert E Howard’s Cimmerian warrior has a long, storied history in comics. The first Conan comics came from Marvel in the early ‘70s, originally written by Roy Thomas and illustrated by Barry Windsor-Smith, the series and its many spin-offs would last well into the ‘90s before Marvel dropped the property. Dark Horse comics acquired the rights to publish a new series in 2002 and shortly thereafter hired Kurt Busiek and Cary Nord, two men best known for their superhero work, to bring Conan back to comic shelves, and to keep the book on schedule Thomas Yeates was brought in to co-pencil with Nord.

This collection houses issues #0-6, and part of issue #7, and follows Conan as he journeys north from his homeland in search of Hyperborea. Along the way he is recruited by the men of Aesir to seek vengeance on a group of Vanaheim raiders who slaughtered women and children in the Aesir village. In exchange the Aesir agree to see him to Hyperborea. What follows are well over 170 pages of beautifully illustrated, bloody, violent battles, ancient sorcery, mythical beings, beautiful temptresses and fantastic realms.

Busiek’s decision to adapt Howard’s original tales into illustrated form is a noble one, and he manages to manipulate the world Howard created to great effect. The story that gives this collection its title, The Frost Giant’s Daughter was one of Howard’s earliest Conan tales, and is essentially just a short story involving Conan fighting a pair of frost-giants. However, Busiek weaves the story flawlessly into the tapestry of Conan’s history, adding layers of depth to the story’s seemingly typical encounter.

The un-inked artwork of Nord and Yeates masterfully captures the savagery and beauty of Howard’s fictional land. From Conan’s very first appearance in the book they’re able to show how he is both a fierce and valiant warrior as well as a kind, intelligent man. It is his sword we see first, which leads into a full page illustration of a brutal decapitation, necessary for saving the life of a woman and her child. In a short series of panels the creative team has given us all the information we need to know about the Cimmerian.

The collection is also brimming with social commentary, some of it occasionally out of date, but relevant nonetheless. Early in the story Conan finds himself allied with people he would normally call his enemy, the Aesir, people who in fact treated him as an enemy upon their first meeting. As he helps them track down and kill the Vanaheim men that attacked their village he wonders if has been wrong about one enemy, can he be wrong about the other.

The most fascinating issue Busiek addresses is that of paradise, and at what cost ultimate peace is obtained. Conan was told that in the land of Hyperborea there is bliss, a land of an eternal race, where the sun always shines and there is no famine or disease. What he discovers is that all this is indeed true, but this paradise comes at a cost, one that could turn the hardest of stomachs.

As gorgeous as the artwork is, perhaps the greatest compliment that can be paid is that it’s impossible to distinguish between Yeates’ and Nord’s pencils. The two work flawlessly together, and with the help of colorist Dave Stewart, they have created a comic that visually sets itself apart from anything else currently on comic shelves. While un-inked pencils are fairly common in today’s market, there have been few examples of how well the process can be used, the process is used so successfully here that it is impossible to imagine it any other way, and after seeing their Conan, no other seems exactly right. Barry Windsor-Smith’s version of the character is likely the most well known illustrated interpretation, at least in the comics community, and his work is reflected in Nord’s and Yeates’ pencils, but I dare say the duo’s vision of the character is slightly superior to Windsor-Smith’s.

Perhaps part of that superiority is in the way Busiek writes the character. Again, taking his lead from Howard’s original work, Busiek portrays Conan as an amalgamation of many things, not simply a fierce and unequaled warrior, but a kind man, one whos duties are honorable and who can not only fight his way out of a situation, but is able to outwit his foes as well. Add to that his occasional misstep, one of which costs his friends their lives and you have a character that is relatable, no longer is he a superhuman brute, just a man trying to do what’s right, one who can both succeed and fail.

This collection also contains a few “special features”; a brief biography on Robert E. Howard, written by Mark Finn as well as pages from Cary Nord’s sketchbook, along with Nord’s three page try-out pencils of a story written by Busiek. Finn’s biography, though brief, captures the beautiful tragedy that was Robert E. Howard’s life. For anyone, like myself, who is familiar with Howard’s work, but not his life, it’s a revelation. The fact that his creations, Conan in particular, continue to live on and thrive so long after his death speaks volumes about what he was able to achieve in his all-to-short life.

Busiek, Nord and Yeates have delivered a book that is as faithful to Howard’s vision of Conan the Cimmerian as anything that’s come before it, and the books success is any indication (the first issue has now gone to a third printing), they are indeed achieving what they set out to do. It’s one of the finest examples of modern comics done right and proof that the fantasy genre is as viable today as it was in the past. Grade: A+

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Frontier Publishing Presents #1
Written by Derrick Ferguson, Russ Anderson, Trevor Carrington, Mike McGee, Michael Exner III
Drawn by Alex Kosakowski, Tamas Jakab, Sheldon Bryant
Published by Frontier Publishing; $2.50 USD


Frontier Publishing Presents #1 contains four separate tales, two of which are prose stories. The first, Dillon and the Escape from Tosegio is scripted by Russ Anderson with a story by Derrick Ferguson and art by Alex Kosakowski. Dillon is not exactly an original story, the style will feel vary familiar to any fans of the Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider series’, but Derrick and Russ still craft a fun, interesting tale.

Dillon is a soldier of fortune, currently on the run from a group of natives for “stealing” their princess and some of their technology, the only catch being he has neither. His partner, Awesome Times has double crossed him, taking both the princess and the technology, leaving him to fend for himself.

The creative team has a good handle on serialized storytelling. In this age of the decompressed style of comics, it’s rare enough to find a single issue that tells a complete story, much less one that does it in ten pages. Derrick and Russ do an excellent job of conveying the history of the character without having to go into too much detail; we’re given the basic facts that are needed to understand the story and that is it, and it works surprisingly well. They also wrap up the plot nicely, yet leave it open for future stories, one of which an advertisement promises is available now.

Alex Kosakowski’s art, while not phenomenal, manages to hold its own with the fast paced script. The action sequences are pretty good; it’s never difficult to follow the story, with or without the dialogue, which is more than most rookie pencilers can accomplish. Overall it’s an entertaining story, nothing really new, but that’s not always a bad thing.

The second is the first of the two proses, titled Idyll; it’s written by Trevor Carrington with an illustration by Sheldon Bryant. Idyll is the story of Ann, a woman with Bell’s Palsey, a condition which can paralyze your face either partially or wholly.

It’s a touching account, one that feels out of place with the other tales contained within the issue. But, that doesn’t detract from its value in the least. Simply put, it follows Ann throughout her workday, dealing with the stares of the people around her, and then to a local bar where she meets a man who asks her to smile.

There are moments where it’s a bit heavy handed, but overall it’s a stirring, tender tale of a woman learning to live with her disabilities, despite the rejection and misunderstanding of those around her. The illustration by Sheldon Bryant is of a key moment in the story, and is very reminiscent of some early Bill Sienkiewicz cover illustrations. Unfortunately the black and white coloring detracts from it rather than adding any kind of tone or nuance.

Third in the book is a story titled The Skiff, written by Mike McGee with pencils by Tamas Jakab. It follows two people, Kitty and Evan, as they recover the dead body of one of Kitty’s friends to dispose of it. We’re not given much background as to the why’s and what-for’s of what is going on, but McGee sets up the relationship between Kitty and Evan nicely. Their friendship is one we can easily latch on to and instantly care about, and the end is fitting, if somewhat bittersweet.

Jakab’s pencils do a decent job of holding the noir-style the story is aiming for. It’s an interesting comparison to Kosakowski’s pencils in the Dillon story; here every panel feels alive with erratic movement, jumpy and irrational, never wanting to stay in one place too long, where as Kosakowski’s panels are more inviting and appealing to the eye, trying to cram as much detail in the panels as possible so that you can linger a little bit longer. While both stories are the same length, the pencils here make The Skiff seem much shorter. Not that that’s a bad thing, or that they aren’t good, just that Jakab’s style is very jagged, it’s like watching a film with very quick cutaways.

Unlike Dillon, this story doesn’t feel as open ended, sure there is more that could be explored, specifically with the duo’s relationship, but it doesn’t leave that desire behind as it ends. Of all four stories this is probably the best, McGee and Jakab have a good chemistry between them and it will be interesting to see what they can produce next.

The final story, and the second prose tale, is Death as a Pimp, written by Michael Exner III with another illustration by Sheldon Bryant. It’s the shortest story within the book, clocking in at two pages, but it’s still a worthwhile read. In fact, to call it a story is probably a disservice, it’s closer to a poem, and therefore tremendously difficult to critique. Both the work and the accompanying art have been crafted well, and there can be many meanings read into exactly what the two are trying to convey, I choose to see it as representation of death on the streets, a message about urban decay, one that can be slightly over-the-top in a few paragraphs, but no less powerful. But ultimately, like any poem, its meaning and message are up to the mind of the reader. Bryant’s art, as good looking as it is, is very out of place within the story, and doesn’t seem to represent the message the author is trying to convey, but it is pleasing to the eye regardless.

Overall the book is a noble first effort from people both passionate and dedicated to comics, art, and the written word. Frontier Publishing has made a good primary step with this collection, and I look forward to seeing what they can produce to follow it up (Note: A shorter version of this review will appear in my next Loose Staples!). Grade: B-

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Lunch Hour Comix
Written and Drawn by Robert Ullman
Published by Alternitive Comics; $4.95 USD

Got this one from ADD a while back, I've probably read it a half dozen times since. It's a good collection of slice-of-life comics, very much in the same vein as Kochalka's Sketchbook Diaries. The book is smart, funny and often silly as hell, but always very charming. Ulmman's art is pretty darn good, more down-to-earth than most diary cartoonists. There's nothing really exciting here, but it is a great read regardless. Good observational humour and day-in-the-life drama. It's a short read, but like I said one you can keep coming back to and it makes a hell of a coffee table book. Grade: A

-L

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Them's the Links

In my time off the one thing I regretted not doing was linking to some good stories/blogs I otherwise would have. So, to rectify that, here's some place you should be visiting:

The Galaxy has tons of content to check out, most recently Jog reviewing Mineshaft #15 and the always fabulous Rob Vollmar's International Geographic column.

It's Thursday, which means yesterday we got a new Permanent Damage...huh? No new Permanent Damage? OH MY GOD!!!! The world is ending!

*sigh* Well, here's last weeks that I didn't link to, check it out!

Hey look, Laura's got links too!

I never got to give a big giant House of the Ded Welcome Back!!!!!! greeting to pal and fellow blogger-across-the-pond, Dave! His Clandestine Critic was a siite I discovered through a contest I held a while back and I have to say seeing him posting again is wonderful. So, welcome back Dave, we missed you man! There's too many of us blogging about funnybooks from the U.S., we need that British wit to balance it all out!

Has everyone been reading The Comics Reporter? Well, why the hell not? If you're a Hard Time fan (or convert like me), this story should both interest and depress you.

Dave reviews New Mutants Annual #3. I have this...I have every issue of New Mutants, but you probably could have guessed that, no. It's a good book, goofy, stupid, mind-numbing entertainment.

Via FredSez, the always hialrious Mr. Hembeck interviews the star of the greatest comic book series EVER. That's right, Fred Hembeck and Jesse Custer in the same panel. Folks, comics do indeed kick ass.

What the-? Darkseid with a fro? Hell yeah!

Well, that about covers it. Maybe I'll actually talk comics later!

-L

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

I Owned the First Radio in Springfield

It's true, I swear.

Hey Rog, how ya like my new slogan? Heh.

So, is the hiatus over?

I suppose, though I doubt my updates will be daily right now, but ya never know.

Got a ton of comics to read but I just haven't had the desire. Among them The Tale of One Bad Rat, Cerebus Vol. 1 and Human Target

Recently added movies: Quest for Camelot, Sin City, Trapped in Paradise.

TV Shows: Simpsons Season 6. Been watching the Muppet Show season 1 a lot lately too.

ADD has started a new blog, Kolchalkaholic, check it out, coming soon to my sidebar! It's good stuff.

I've been thinking of copying someone else's idea lately, namely Dave over at Long Box. Only instead of comics it would be DVDs. It would be a project I'd never finish in my lifetime, but it's one I'm considering at the moment. I certanly own enough good and awful movies to make it interesting.

I killed at Halo 2 last night, but I wasn't playing with anyone that was really good. I really suck at hand to hand, and the pistols in H2 aren't nearly as deadly as in Halo. It kinda pisses me off, plus you can't zoom in with 'em.

Coming later: links a plenty!

-L

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Just When I Think I'm out...

Leave it to Mr. Doane to drag me kicking and screaming (not really...) back to my blogging duties. He memed me, but it's a good meme, and life is lookin' pretty good right now, so I'll accept the challange.

1. Ten years ago: Jeez, in August, I dunno, dreading starting another year of high school, probably contemplating suicide and listening to Guns N Roses.

2. Five years ago: Happily working for former boss/good friend Alan Daffin. Not making great wages, but it was enough, I was writing alot more too. Man we had some great fucking ideas.

3. One year ago: Probably dreading going to my cureent job of three years. It's good money, but it's just a pain in the ass. I hate real jobs, I was born to be a writer.

4. Yesterday: Had $300 worth of work done to my car, reversing one of those credit cards I paid off back to "almost maxed out status" and dragging my laptop up to Best Buy because they sold me a dud. Both are working great now.

5. Today: Bought Simpsons Season 6 and Sin City with money I don't really have, had an FM modulator (I think thats what its called) installed in my car for my MP3 player, worked, almost cried because gas is so high (do me a favor, always tip your delivery driver -and waitress- no matter what you order, pizza, chinese, whatever, even if it's not food, if he uses his own car odds are pretty damn good he buys his own gas and provides his own mantinence, that shit isn't cheap, tip well, tip often, it'll come back to you one day), and ended up having a decent night at work, about to play some Halo on XBC, anyone else play?

6. Tomorrow: More working, maybe some Simpsons watching.

7. Five snacks I enjoy: Only five? Jeeze, ice cream, chips and dip, those oats n yogurt bars, cereal, and ummm....I dunno, pudding.

8. Five bands I know the lyrics to most of their songs: Guns N Roses, I'd say about 95%; Counting Crows, I'd say about 65%, Eminem, about 80% maybe; Bubba Sparxxx, maybe 75%, John Oszajca, 95%. I cheated the last three aren't bands, I know.

9. Five things you would do with $100,000,000: Jeez, thassa lotta dough. Alan had some good ideas. I'd never work again, thats for sure. I'd buy an island and invite all my friends to live there, that'd be like ten people. I'd have blogger conventions. That'd be sweet. I'd do something worthwhile, like adopt as many kids as possible. I'd take music lessons, maybe start my own publishing company. That's more than five, but fuck it. I'd do a lot. First though, I'd pay off my debt and buy a new car. I'd buy the business I work for and give everyone a raise, and let them wear buttons that say "Gas isn't free you know?" and everytime someone didn't tip, they'd be banned from ever ordering again.

10. Five locations I'd like to runaway to: Maine, somewhere in Canada, Norway maybe, Australia or maybe New Zealand.

11. Five bad habits: I curse like a fucking sailor. I can't have kids, their first words would be "Fuck that!" I spend money I don't have because I'm obsessive. I'm mean as all hell to people I like, I procrastinate (is that spelled write...hahahaha) because I'm lazy and I scratch the inside of my right ear with a q-tip every day, which means I'll likely be deaf in that ear inside of a decade.

12. Five things I like doing: Reading comics, writing about comics, watching movies/DVDs, listening to music, and what the hell, eating. You thought I was gonna say having sex didn't you? Oh wait, I'm a blogger, I forgot we don't get laid dammit.

13. Five TV shows I like: Currently? Scrubs, Futurama, Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, Teen Titans, Arrested Development, The Shield

14. Famous people I'd like to meet living or dead: Haha, Rob Liefeld, Stephen King, Wes Anderson, James Dean, and Axl Rose. They are my idols. Now, if you'd said infamous (HAHA!), easy: Alan Doane, Johnny B, Mike Sterling, Dorian, and Patch Drury. Actually Patch has been in a movie with his ex-wife, which is kinda cool, ADD has been portrayed in a comic panel, Mike and Dorian are like the king and...king of the comics blogosphere, and Johnny B...well...I'm sure he's famous for something...see, a bloggers convention, we needs it!

15. Biggest Joys at the moment: Hmmm....that I haven't completely sabotaged my life at 26, does that count? My DVD collection brings me the same hollow joy my comic collection does...same with my toys. I'm in love with my laptop.

16. Favorite toys: Oh jeez...my laptop, my comp, DVD player, sound system, mp3 player, my 20th Ann. Optimus Prime (hehehe) my Xbox, my Gamecube, the list could go on forever.

17. Five people to tag: Eh, I'm a lazy bastard, so no thanks.

-L

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Hiatus

Blog's gonna be on hiatus for a little while folks, I just don't have the energy or the drive to update right now, hopefully things will be back to normal in the near future, until then sionara!

-L

Monday, August 08, 2005

R.I.P. Peter Jennings

Never been much of a network news guy, but I knew who he was and he was definitely the "face" of the network news scene, or one of them at least. He was 67, my thoughts and prayers to his family.
Blog on the Run

This is my first blog post from somewhere other than my home computer, and I have to say this is sweet. I got a Gateway laptop, my home comp is a Gateway and I've loved it and had zero problems that weren't caused by me, so I have high hopes for this little laptop. The screen is fabulous, etter than my TV, the DVD player is awesome, it's got a 14' widescreen monitor and it jjust looks great. I've got a 60 gig HD on this baby which will allow for a good bit of mp3 storage, and I'm going to transfer all my stuff to this so I'll be able to write easily, unfortunately it only came with some trial programs so I'll have to install a few things. I've also got a few reviews to finish up for CBG, so I've got plenty to work on.

-L

Saturday, August 06, 2005

A Few Short Things

Didn't get the car, he got offered more money, oh well. I took the money I had for it and paid off two credit cards and had enough to buy a laptop, which I've been wanting FOREVER.It'll be nice to have a portable comp, I'll be able to do some blogging/reviewing on the go now, whixh is pretty much the sole reason I want, plus I've begun to hate my PC, sitting behind this screeen, hunched over in my chair, cut off from everything else, it just sucks most of the time. Now I can find a comft chair in the house, plop down and write! Not to mention the benefit of having at least one machine with a new Windows program, cuz 98 don't support much of anything anymore.

I might be selling my iPod too, I got offered $150, which means a $20 profit. Not sure if I want to invest in another mp3 player or not (those Dell Jukeboxes look sweet, my bro got one). I've also got a portable DVD player I might be getting rid of, in fact, I need to get rid of a few DVD players (counting my comp and video game systems, the new laptop, and the portable, I have like seven...it's insane. I used to have three TVs in my bedroom...yeah, I know).

Lastly, there's a new Son Volt album out.

Wait...

THERE'S A NEW SON VOLT ALBUM OUT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Yes, and oh my God does it rock. It's so, so nice to have some new stuff by these guys, everyone who's involved in the Mixed Bag CD project can expect a song or two off it in the future, but I urge every damn person out there, go buy it, it's called Okemah and the Melody of Riot, it friggin rules, so go buy it now!!!!

It's one of those newfangled dual discs too, I'm not too keen on having a disc that I can't touch either side, but having the music remixed for enhanced stereo, man it sounds awesome!

Later

-L

Friday, August 05, 2005

It's Clobberin' Time

So last week I got around to buying that Fantastic Four DVD set, you know, the cartoon from the '90s? I figured I'd watch it while I wait for some more Firefly discs from Netflix...boy was that a bad idea. This might be the worst cartoon in the entire history of cartoons.

There's new content up at the Galaxy, Chris Allen has a new Breakdowns and there's a new reviewer, Kiel Phegly, looking at For Best Results: Do Not Open. Please, do go take a gander.

Laura's got some reviews for you, a few of them are book I picked up this week.

Heathcliff, Simpsons, Mission Hill DVD news!

That's all I got, have a great weekend folks!

-L

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Hey Kids, Comics!

Great haul at the LCS this week, I picked up A History of Violence and hope to get into it this weekend, maybe I'll get a review in at the Galaxy on it, if not I'll discuss it briefly here. New issues of Y, the Last Man (#36, I credited #35 as being the wrong issues last time, I'll have to go back and fix that), Tales of the TMNT (#13), and a cool little introductory issue of PVP (numbered as a zero issue). All those will be reviewed in the next Loose Staples, which will hopefilly show up on Monday at CBG.

The Intimates #10

I talked about issue #9 in the last Loose Staples, I commented on Guiseppe's art being noticibly absent and how that might not bode well for the book's future, this issue goes a long way in proving that. Iwahashi's pencils are so confusing and distracting here that not only did I have no clue what was happening IN the panels, it made Casey's dialogue completely unenjoyable. I have no clue how this book, inside of a few months has gotten this bad. It's conpletely unintelligible if you haven't read the last two issues and Casey uses the "scrolling text" (which is usually for relaying aside info about the cast and distrubuting "tips" to teens) to wax poetic about summers as a kid. It's not the worst thing I've ever read, it's just that the quality has slipped so much in such a short time. The next ish sees the kids return to school, and I can only hope it marks the return of this books greatness. C+

So, here's the part where I lied. That's all the comics talk I've got. I got discs 1&2 of Firefly in from Netflix and watched the first one last night. What the hell is wrong with me? Why wasn't I watching this? This show freakin' rocks! So, yeah, I'm gonna go pop in disc 2, maybe read a few more comics and get the next Loose Staples finished!

-L
This Bitch is Toast

Wal-Mart has the new Ghostbusters DVD set for 12.84, I couldn't resist picking it up. GB 2 is mostly lackluster, but I LOVE the first film and the production booklet that comes with it is phenomenal. There's even a Stay Puft ad on the back cover.

For those that have Boomerang, they've started showing the animated Batman and Superman shows from 12-1 am every night, I've been enjoying the hell out of it. I never caught much of the Superman toon so I'm glad someone's got it showing, I'll have to pick up the first season.

Here's something to piss of all you Whedon-ites out there. I'm not a fan and it pisses me off, I can only imagine how angry those of you who paid the 30 bucks or so for the original sets. Amazon will likely have it on pre-order special for $150-170, which comes out to about $25 a season, plus you get the new extras. I think it's time us DVD-o-files started rebelling against shit like this.

In the good news department The Flash is pretty much a go. I never got to see much of the show, so it'll be nice to be able to check it out. You'd think he'd have gotten to DVD a lot quicker than this...you know, being The Flash and all. Sorry, I just can't help myself. Also, Titus Season 3 is definite. I enjoyed the hell out of the Season 1&2 set and can't wat for this. January seems too long to wait! Finally, here's some Family Guy, Soap and Scrubs news.

Lotsa stuff going down at the Galaxy in the last few days, do go check it out. We've got another ADD review (this time of Flytrap by Sara Ryan and Steve Lieber, I must buy this!), Shawn Hoke's last Size Matters, the column has gone Blog, I'll be adding it to the sidebar soon, and finally the always excellent Rob Vollmar's latest International Geographic. But if you see anything else you haven't read yet, well, read it dammit!

Last but not least, it's wednesday, which means new comics, but better than that it means new Permanent Damage!!

I swear, I'm gonna talk comics tomorrow if it kills me!

-L

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

The Thin List

Alexander - Director's Cut (2-Disc Widescreen Special Edition)

Ummm...pass.

The Complete Thin Man Collection (The Thin Man / After the Thin Man / Another Thin Man / Shadow of the Thin Man / The Thin Man Goes Home / Song of the Thin Man)

I've never seen any of these.

The Cosby Show - Season 1

Sweaters and all.

The Dukes of Hazzard - The Complete Fourth Season

I think this is when they replaced the leads with those two idiots. Who'd have thought a show like this could become "crappy"?

The Greatest American Hero - Season Three

The last season of the show, I really enjoyed the first season but haven't bothered to get the second yet.

Guess Who

Hell no.

Hearts Afire - The First Complete Season

Never watched this show but I always heard it was great and Ritter is always fantastic.

Over There - The Battle Begins (Pilot Episode)

Anyone watching this?

Thin list indeed...

-L

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Return of the G

First and foremost, let me point you to the return of the one and only Alan David Doane. Nice to see a review from the boss, it's definitely been too long!

I recently bought the first Titus DVD set, and man do I miss this show, it's right up there with the greats even if it only lasted two and a half seasons. Any of you on the fence about this, buy it, now.

On a more personal not, I'M GETTING A NEW CAR!!!!!! Woooooooooohooooooooooo! A 2003 Dodge Neon, not the best of cars, but for $1500 with only 40,000 miles on it, well, I could hardly pass it up. My car's been on the becline for awhile, and it will be nice to have another vehicle to drive. It'll be costly keeping up with two cars, but really I can't see myself getting rid of a working vehicle because you never know, you know.

Watched a few movies recently, let's start with tonight:

The Upside of Anger

Costner and Allen give excellent performances but the plot of the movie seemed a little all over the place. I mostly enjoyed it but it drug in a few places. It tries to say alot but ultimately leaves more questions than real answers, the plot twist is unexpected and adds so much depth to a film that otherwise ends up being rather shallow. The humour is there but there's long pauses between the laughs and not all of them are filled with drama, sometimes it's just dull lengths of nothingness. Decent rental material, I don't think I'd recommend buying it though. B-

Finder's Fee

Who'da though Jeff Probst (yeah the guy from Survivor) could write and direct? It's not an excellent movie, but it's definitely good. The plot involves a stolen wallet, a winning lottery ticket, a poker game, a few friends and a stranger. Excellent casting (Ryan Reynolds, Matthew Lillard, and James Earl Jones) and a pretty decent script make this an excellent character piece, unfortunately there's a last minute, incomprehensible plot twiist almost ruins the whole thing. Almost. If you see this on the rental shelves give it a go for sure. B+

The Lady Eve-The Criterion Collection

A very, very good romantic comedy (more accurately a "screwball" romantic comedy) which finds a card hustler and her father taking on the rich son of an ale manufacturer, only the hustler and her mark fall madly in love. Directed by Preston Sturgess, it's definitely one of the best films within this little sub-genre (one I usually loathe no less) I've ever seen. It holds up alarmingly well and address a lot of themes you didn't normally see in films from the 40s, and the sexuality is astounding. If you're like me and you just can't get behind romance movies, look this one up it's well worth your time and it's funny as hell ta boot. A

-L