I still haven't uploaded the entirety of the photoset, but that doesn't mean I have any less story to tell. Oh yes, the Con drama continues.
Sunday, I woke up bright and early with the intention of getting in line to help out my compatriots who had not yet been registered. I waited for an extra half hour for the trolley (in which time I could have walked to the convention center) and made my way up through the Sails Pavilion and towards the line for ballroom 20. Why Ballroom 20? That's where the Heroes panel was taking place later during the day.
Little did we expect an enormous line to be in place before we got there.
Little did we expect an enormous line for the exhibit hall as well.
So I stood in line for the exhibit hall, in which I was determined to pick up a few things before heading to the ballroom itself. An hour and change later, the line started to move steadily and quickly once the doors opened. We got in and walked around in the semi-filled hall for a bit before realizing that all the things I had wanted were already sold out. It was then I decided to make a try for the Ballroom.
Standing in line again, I heard the beginnings of the Bionic Woman panel. Lucky for me, I was able to join Grace, Amy, and John on the inside shortly. We saw the first 30 minutes of the pilot, which was fairly intense. Michelle Ryan, who now plays the modern Jaime Summers plays the role with such innocence and vigor, it reminded me of Jennifer Garner's as Sydney Bristow on Alias. In my opinion, it's some high praise, but the show really excels when Katee Sackhoff shows up as the original Bionic Woman. The show itself shows great promise, with some good action sequences and decent effects, but it has a lot of cheesiness to escape before it can prove itself as a hit drama.
Following the Q & A session, the ballroom emptied a tiny bit and made way for the TV Guide Hot List panel for the fall season. Truthfully, it was a tad boring, and the most exciting part was listening to Tim Kring and Masi Oka talk about the new season of Heroes. You could tell that there was a palpable Heroes fervor in the air by the audience reaction to their presence, so why not just recap the Heroes panel.
The highlight of the early afternoon was definitely seeing the entire cast of Heroes at the panel. Everyone from Adrian Pasdar to Hayden Panattiere was there to "thank" the fans for making the show such a big hit. They were humble and awed by the fan response, but made it a great point to show their appreciation. Most of them joked and expressed their great fortune for working with some of the best people in television, some of them even wore some hilarious t-shirts. The highlight might have been Greg Grunberg giving his t-shirt out to his biggest fan in the audience, but the real highlight was the clip they premiered for the new season of the show. I can't go over it all, but it looks just as exciting as the first season.
We shot out to the convention floor for a short stint in which I picked up a couple of toys and some new Copic markers. The girls then decided to head home after a good four hours of convention madness and Alvin and I decided to try and make into Hall H for the Marvel Studios panel.
The line was enormous.
However, we did have a good chance of making it in. The studio heads showed up in the beginning and joining them were the stars of the Incredible Hulk, Edward Norton and Liv Tyler. There was a brief shot of the Hulk's new look, a promise for a new beginning, and a proclamation by Ed Norton that he had written the screenplay. Undoubtedly this was most interesting.
Immediately following this panel, was the second highlight of the day, the cast and clip of Iron Man. Robert Downey Jr. is hilarious. Gwyneth Paltrow is phenomenal. Terence Howard is enthusiastic. None of them could match the raw excitement and hype of Jon Favreau. For the high action and comedy element of a Summer film, Mr. Favreau is an excellent choice. Anyone who has seen Elf knows he can direct a funny movie, but the high marks for Zathura were somewhat unexpected. He's accomplished, dedicated to the material, and incredibly pumped to see the movie released as a dedication to the original source material. After a brief introduction and exposition, they unveiled the first footage of the Iron Man film, and it was awesome. The bits of Tony Stark they showed were reminiscent of Michael Keaton's portrayal of Bruce Wayne. The effects shots were gorgeous. My favorite had to have been their application of practical effects versus computer generated imagery. Everyone in the crowd loved every second of footage they showed so much, they played it twice.
More excited than ever, we breached the convention floor for the last time. I made my way to the Flight Comics and Ms. Clio Chiang who drew an excellent sketch for me. I didn't get to chat much with most of the artists as their booth was swamped, but I still love going by and showing my support for what they've been doing.
With that, Alvin and I were off. We finished our night off in Old Town and crashed for the weekend. It was a truly excellent trip, and reminded me why I'm such a fan. Seeing as the final three days of the convention sold out, it would be a great idea to register well in advance for next year. Until then, I would have to say it was the best convention I've been to yet.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Comic-Con Nerd Overload - Part 2
Monday, July 30, 2007
Comic-Con Nerd Overload - Part 1
Aaaaand, we're back!
Comic-con was unreal. Seriously unreal. Last year was pretty mild compared to the madness of this year. Waiting in line for two hours didn't compare to sitting in a convention hall for three. The blazing sun of the San Diego skyline didn't prepare us for the hour and forty-five minute wait in line just to see Paul Pope. The crowds were insane. The restaurants were full-up.
And I loved every minute of it.
Friday was more about comic books than anything else. First things first, I attempted to find Mark Ryden signing one of his new books on the con floor. After walking all the way down to the vinyl toy section and realizing we had gone too far, I realized that I needed to keep track of the artist locations much more carefully. Luckily, some of the artists were much easier to find. For instance, my first sketch at the con came from Ms. Becky Cloonan. I picked up the mini that her and her compatriots worked on, and chatted with her a bit. While I love her work, I have to love it even more for her graciousness and openness.
I also managed to catch Eric Canete right before lunch at the Black Velvet Studios booth, which was pretty cool. This was the first time (at this convention) that an artist was charging for a sketch. Well, the first time where I had been intending to buy something, but had to reconsider after asking for the sketch. Either way, I was more than willing to support him, he was relatively quiet as he worked on the sketch, but after chatting with him a bit, I realized that while he has a bit of publishing experience, he was unfamiliar with some of the current artists. He was pretty cool and talking with him and the writer of a series he's working on, I got the sense that his star is rising. Most definitely.
Speaking of the hour and forty-five minute wait, this is where Grace got a little testy. Paul Pope is one of the pre-eminent comic book artists of the modern era. Elusive as he is, the release of his Pulphope book from Adhouse was reason for promotion and celebration. Unfortunately, many other people felt the same way. Not being one to upset his fans, Paul spent a lot of time with each fan, even sketching for a small fee. It really tested Grace's patience to the point where she was in a sour enough mood that she had to leave for the rest of the day, which was really unfortunate. I left him with a copy of his book, a copy of THB, a print, and a smile.
The rest of it is kind of a blur. I popped through Artists' Alley, Vaguely scanned some of the toy booths, and attempted to grab a signature from Vasilis Lolos, even though I never saw him there. I did manage to catch a sketch and a word or two with Corey Lewis and Brandon Graham at the Oni Press table, which was cool. Rey showed me a sketch of a new character freshly designed for Sharknife 2 and Brandon regaled me with stories of his early days working in adult comics. Both guys were incredibly down to earth and really friendly. What surprised me the most is how much of a perfectionist Mr. Graham really is. Out of most of the artists I saw, he was the most liberal with his eraser.
As you can see, Friday was all about comics. Meeting most of these artists, getting sketches, and seeing the new work made me feel good about supporting the artists that I saw. Hopefully I'll be able to chat with them a bit more in the future, as SDCC really is a tough venue to get around and connect in.
Saturday was much, much more crazy.
More on this later.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
San Diego or Bust!
Tonight we prepare for the madness that is Comic-Con International: San Diego. Truly, it will be madness this year as the convention has sold out of all 4-day passes. Even more telling is that all Saturday one-day passes are sold out also. What this means is that there will be a plethora, nay, a wave of people attempting to get into the convention on Saturday morning. We will be attending both Friday and Saturday and for that, I owe a large debt of gratitude to my most awesome fiancee for putting up with my lifelong hobby.
I'm looking forward to seeing some of the panels, some of the creators, and perhaps a celebrity or two, but specifically, I hope to see:
And I'm sure much more. What's left for me to do is to actually pound out a schedule for the weekend, which I've been lacking in the past. This time, I'd rather not wander around aimlessly, so I'm hoping to get my money's worth. Who knows what will happen, but I'm terribly excited.
Again. I am a tremendous nerd.
I'm looking forward to seeing some of the panels, some of the creators, and perhaps a celebrity or two, but specifically, I hope to see:
Paul Pope signing his book, Pulphope
James Jean signing his new Process Recess 2
The Heroes panel featuring the entire cast
The Battlestar Galactica panel
Robert Downey Jr. as the Invincible Iron Man
The Flight and Gallery Nucleus booth
The Vinyl Toy Network booth replacing Tower Records
Previewing the 10" Bart Simpson Qees
Strolling through Artists' Alley for sketches
Glancing through Stuart Ng's vast European Hardcover collection.
James Jean signing his new Process Recess 2
The Heroes panel featuring the entire cast
The Battlestar Galactica panel
Robert Downey Jr. as the Invincible Iron Man
The Flight and Gallery Nucleus booth
The Vinyl Toy Network booth replacing Tower Records
Previewing the 10" Bart Simpson Qees
Strolling through Artists' Alley for sketches
Glancing through Stuart Ng's vast European Hardcover collection.
And I'm sure much more. What's left for me to do is to actually pound out a schedule for the weekend, which I've been lacking in the past. This time, I'd rather not wander around aimlessly, so I'm hoping to get my money's worth. Who knows what will happen, but I'm terribly excited.
Again. I am a tremendous nerd.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
The Author Provocateur
I have a bone to pick with Chuck Palahniuk.
This man has written many a novel chock-full of the absurd and grotesque. Listening to him speak, you understand that he writes provocatively not for provocation's sake, but because the format of the novel allows for this flexibility. If you've seen Fight Club, you are only scratching the surface of what he is truly capable of. Having not read the novel, I can only imagine that there were some depravities omitted by Hollywood, but I've heard that it is also his most mainstream novel. Reading Haunted, I can now understand why.
OK, myself, I've done a few exercises in trying to write with a different voice. I don't think I've always been successful, given that my blog tone tends towards repetition, but I can understand the challenge. There's an immense challenge to find a different point of view, and I commend Mr. Palahniuk for attempting to do so, but his devotion to minimalist fiction hampers his prose. I mean, really hampers it.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy his writing. I always feel like I've come away from reading one of his books having learned a thing or two about writing. What kills me in particular about this book is how far Mr. Palahniuk is willing to go to push the envelope. Yes, he presents this book as a horror novel, and most of what you find inside isn't any worse than anything else on the shelf (medically even), but it appears each story really is an exercise for him; an exercise in "what can I get away with today?"
Barring any sort of plot summary, I will say that each character is somewhat dimensional, but mostly 2-dimensional. Mr. Palahniuk has professed that the novel is part satire of reality television, and the pigeonholing of his cast fits that bill in their colorful nicknames, but I feel it prohibits him from fully examining the depths of his foray into horror. It does make for some graphic drama in pieces, but there's something of a barely missed bullseye.
So what's my beef? My beef is that Mr. Palahniuk is talented enough to do otherwise than publish a collection of his practice papers. The entire book reads similar to exactly what he writes about: A Writers' Workshop. It's interesting, it's shocking, but the substance really doesn't kick in until the last quarter of the book.
However.
However, I do realize that no one else could write such nervy literature aside from this author. Mr. Palahniuk shows once again that he is most devoted to honing his craft and attempting to find a new take on an old genre. In a way, the horror of this novel is really the horror that we see in the papers and on television and not the horror we imagine in abandoned houses and dark forests.
This man has written many a novel chock-full of the absurd and grotesque. Listening to him speak, you understand that he writes provocatively not for provocation's sake, but because the format of the novel allows for this flexibility. If you've seen Fight Club, you are only scratching the surface of what he is truly capable of. Having not read the novel, I can only imagine that there were some depravities omitted by Hollywood, but I've heard that it is also his most mainstream novel. Reading Haunted, I can now understand why.
OK, myself, I've done a few exercises in trying to write with a different voice. I don't think I've always been successful, given that my blog tone tends towards repetition, but I can understand the challenge. There's an immense challenge to find a different point of view, and I commend Mr. Palahniuk for attempting to do so, but his devotion to minimalist fiction hampers his prose. I mean, really hampers it.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy his writing. I always feel like I've come away from reading one of his books having learned a thing or two about writing. What kills me in particular about this book is how far Mr. Palahniuk is willing to go to push the envelope. Yes, he presents this book as a horror novel, and most of what you find inside isn't any worse than anything else on the shelf (medically even), but it appears each story really is an exercise for him; an exercise in "what can I get away with today?"
Barring any sort of plot summary, I will say that each character is somewhat dimensional, but mostly 2-dimensional. Mr. Palahniuk has professed that the novel is part satire of reality television, and the pigeonholing of his cast fits that bill in their colorful nicknames, but I feel it prohibits him from fully examining the depths of his foray into horror. It does make for some graphic drama in pieces, but there's something of a barely missed bullseye.
So what's my beef? My beef is that Mr. Palahniuk is talented enough to do otherwise than publish a collection of his practice papers. The entire book reads similar to exactly what he writes about: A Writers' Workshop. It's interesting, it's shocking, but the substance really doesn't kick in until the last quarter of the book.
However.
However, I do realize that no one else could write such nervy literature aside from this author. Mr. Palahniuk shows once again that he is most devoted to honing his craft and attempting to find a new take on an old genre. In a way, the horror of this novel is really the horror that we see in the papers and on television and not the horror we imagine in abandoned houses and dark forests.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Summer Movie Mayhem - Week 7
We witnessed Potter-mania firsthand while passing the Del Amo Barnes & Noble on Saturday night. The giant mob crowding the parking lot well after midnight surely paled in comparison to the hordes crowding the aisles inside the store, but it was fitting as we had just seen the latest film adaptation, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
By far, my favorite of the bunch was Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, directed deftly and wittily by the formidable Spanish director, Alfonso Cuaron. Teeming with subtext and adolescent tension, his film elevated the series beyond the recitations of Chris Columbus and brought it into the forefront of great pop culture cinema. The follow-up, Goblet of Fire, was deftly handled by Mike Newell, and where J.K. Rowling did a fine job of really increasing the literary stakes, Mr. Newell upped the ante cinematically. So it was with great trepidation that I sat in the theater awaiting a director I was not familiar with and a book of which I retained tenuous memory. With little expectation - retained by a lukewarm review from a friend - I think we really enjoyed ourselves.
Absent are the ubiquitous quidditch matches of old. Limited are many of the familiar supporting players. Obliterated is the notion that every character and plot point must be retained. What they've done with the movie is trim it down from a sub-900-page monster to a 2 and 1/2 hour sequel worthy of the series. Granted, it's most likely my third favorite of the five that have been released, but it's a close third to the Goblet of Fire.
We'll go with some of the good. The acting jobs by all the leads are superb. Especially stirring, for the small amount of time he is onscreen, is Ralph Feinnes as He Who Shall Not be Named. He's menacing and sanctimonious, but there's a measured elegance in how he moves, most evident in the way he handles his wand at rest. Even so, it's a shame that we don't get to see more acting by the seasoned veterans, I really do enjoy Emma Thompson's Professor Trelawney, but the 5 minutes or so we do see of her are too short. Also impressive are the visual effects. The climactic battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort really demonstrates how far the technology has come since the first film. Undoubtedly, it was the freshness of their appearance and explosiveness that drove home how truly dangerous and ingenious these two expert wizards are supposed to be.
What this means for anyone familiar with the franchise, is that the director behind the Half Blood Prince will have some mighty large shoes to fill behind three very committed visions. The best part for me is, I have a renewed vigor to tear through the 7th book as soon as possible.
Overall Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars
By far, my favorite of the bunch was Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, directed deftly and wittily by the formidable Spanish director, Alfonso Cuaron. Teeming with subtext and adolescent tension, his film elevated the series beyond the recitations of Chris Columbus and brought it into the forefront of great pop culture cinema. The follow-up, Goblet of Fire, was deftly handled by Mike Newell, and where J.K. Rowling did a fine job of really increasing the literary stakes, Mr. Newell upped the ante cinematically. So it was with great trepidation that I sat in the theater awaiting a director I was not familiar with and a book of which I retained tenuous memory. With little expectation - retained by a lukewarm review from a friend - I think we really enjoyed ourselves.
Absent are the ubiquitous quidditch matches of old. Limited are many of the familiar supporting players. Obliterated is the notion that every character and plot point must be retained. What they've done with the movie is trim it down from a sub-900-page monster to a 2 and 1/2 hour sequel worthy of the series. Granted, it's most likely my third favorite of the five that have been released, but it's a close third to the Goblet of Fire.
We'll go with some of the good. The acting jobs by all the leads are superb. Especially stirring, for the small amount of time he is onscreen, is Ralph Feinnes as He Who Shall Not be Named. He's menacing and sanctimonious, but there's a measured elegance in how he moves, most evident in the way he handles his wand at rest. Even so, it's a shame that we don't get to see more acting by the seasoned veterans, I really do enjoy Emma Thompson's Professor Trelawney, but the 5 minutes or so we do see of her are too short. Also impressive are the visual effects. The climactic battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort really demonstrates how far the technology has come since the first film. Undoubtedly, it was the freshness of their appearance and explosiveness that drove home how truly dangerous and ingenious these two expert wizards are supposed to be.
What this means for anyone familiar with the franchise, is that the director behind the Half Blood Prince will have some mighty large shoes to fill behind three very committed visions. The best part for me is, I have a renewed vigor to tear through the 7th book as soon as possible.
Overall Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Last Night Out
Vegas was great.
We did a lot of real "guy" stuff for the b-party. It was raucous and although a few didn't make it through the entire night, those that did were brave and rewarded for their efforts. Imagine if you will though:
At any rate, the guys' night was a great success. coupled with the great night we had previously with the combined bachelor/bachelorette soirée, Spamalot, and a night at Centrifuge and Rouge, the weekend was smashing. Smashing, I say. More on these later.
Oh, and I did make sure to iron my shirt before we went out.
We did a lot of real "guy" stuff for the b-party. It was raucous and although a few didn't make it through the entire night, those that did were brave and rewarded for their efforts. Imagine if you will though:
- A lavish dinner at one of Vegas' finest dining establishments, complete with an excellent hamburger and exquisite french fries.
- A group of young men taking in some lovely Romeo y Julieta cigars paired with tequila.
- Striped shirts aplenty.
- And other some such things we shan't talk about.
At any rate, the guys' night was a great success. coupled with the great night we had previously with the combined bachelor/bachelorette soirée, Spamalot, and a night at Centrifuge and Rouge, the weekend was smashing. Smashing, I say. More on these later.
Oh, and I did make sure to iron my shirt before we went out.
Monday, July 16, 2007
My First Dog
As fun as our Vegas weekend was, there is a bit of tragedy. Friday evening, well into our arrival and midway through dinner, I was informed that our family dog, Frankie had a stroke at some point during the day. He could barely walk, didn't recognize my parents, and couldn't even see anymore. As my parents took him to the vet, they could see there was very little option left to them, but out of love, they decided to wait and see if he could recover.
I had known, he was sick for a long time, as he had congestive heart failure. He had been gaining quite a bit of weight back and seemed to be doing very well. He even had a lot of energy the last time we got to visit him and was even barking louder than usual. Needless to say, this was very unexpected.
Saturday morning, I get the phone call that he had suffered what the veterinarian thought were numerous smaller strokes during the night. He couldn't walk and could barely lift his head. I can't even imagine how he looked and how sad my parents must have been when they saw him that morning and part of me is glad I wasn't there to witness him so weak. That same trip to the vet really left my family with no other choice but to end his suffering. My dad said he was there when the doctor gave him the injection.
I don't know that I could have been that strong.
He passed while lying comfortably on the table. As small and grey as he had been for the last few years. Quiet.
We're going to plant a tree for him, I do not know where. But wherever it is, I hope it grows as large as the size of his spirit.
I had known, he was sick for a long time, as he had congestive heart failure. He had been gaining quite a bit of weight back and seemed to be doing very well. He even had a lot of energy the last time we got to visit him and was even barking louder than usual. Needless to say, this was very unexpected.
Saturday morning, I get the phone call that he had suffered what the veterinarian thought were numerous smaller strokes during the night. He couldn't walk and could barely lift his head. I can't even imagine how he looked and how sad my parents must have been when they saw him that morning and part of me is glad I wasn't there to witness him so weak. That same trip to the vet really left my family with no other choice but to end his suffering. My dad said he was there when the doctor gave him the injection.
I don't know that I could have been that strong.
He passed while lying comfortably on the table. As small and grey as he had been for the last few years. Quiet.
We're going to plant a tree for him, I do not know where. But wherever it is, I hope it grows as large as the size of his spirit.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
If Only I were Colorblind
Back in the day, before the advent of modern coloring and publishing techniques, the palette with which comic book artists and cartoonists had to work was pretty small. Because the primary colors were easiest to produce at the printing press, it's no surprise that many superheros and cartoons of the day were brightly colored with many common themes. My post yesterday regarding a similar scheme really made me think.
Am I missing any other popular combinations? Once again, and always, I am an enormous nerd.
Red and Blue:
Spider-man
Superman
Optimus Prime
Captain America
Captain Marvel
Green and Purple:
The Hulk
The Jackal
Lex Luthor
Grape Ape
Kang
Red and Yellow:
Daredevil
the Flash
Captain Marvel
Iron Man
The Shocker
Bonus - Silver:
Silver Surfer
Silver Samurai
Silver Sable
Megatron
Metallo
Spider-man
Superman
Optimus Prime
Captain America
Captain Marvel
Green and Purple:
The Hulk
The Jackal
Lex Luthor
Grape Ape
Kang
Red and Yellow:
Daredevil
the Flash
Captain Marvel
Iron Man
The Shocker
Bonus - Silver:
Silver Surfer
Silver Samurai
Silver Sable
Megatron
Metallo
Am I missing any other popular combinations? Once again, and always, I am an enormous nerd.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Summer Movie Mayhem - Week 6
Summer would not be complete without Michael Bay. Honestly, I think his films typify what we've come to accept as popcorn-stupid blockbusters. Whoever went to a Bay film and thought to themselves, "I'm in for some serious thought-provoking cinema?" I haven't, not since I was first exposed to his lens in the superfantastic Bad Boys, there has been no reason to attempt dissection of filmic vagaries. Why should Transformers be any different?
Yes, it's the adaptation of a toy with which an entire generation of men my age would identify with. Yes, it's a cultural phenomenon where properties of the 1980's are being co-opted for mass celluloid consumption. Yes, it's built for the screen perfectly by Mr. Michael Bay. Upon the first opening lines by the original Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen, there's absolute nostalgia. The nostalgia of waking up on Saturday morning to catch the epic struggle between autobot and decepticon, the nostalgia of that first crack of the blister pack as you peel out your die-cast and plastic Transformer toy that was bound to be broken, and, for me at least, the nostalgia of reading through a dozen or so comic books further exploring the saga of the aliens from Cybertron. It was hyped beyond belief for people just like me, so it was inevitable that I would forego a lot of scrutiny for suspension of credible thought.
I loved it.
That first scene, where Bumblebee transforms in front of an awe-struck Sam Witwicky, played by Shia Labeouf, is a spectacle to behold. I liken it to the best scene of last Summer from Superman Returns when the Man of Steel catches an airplane of passengers before a packed stadium crowd, it was as if imagination had exploded in front of my eyes. The same spectacle was played out time and time again in each action sequence, each transformation, in the juxtaposition of the giant robots and their human surroundings, and in the plain good versus evil storyline. The film could be no more black and white if Optimus Prime was wearing a white cowboy hat. Seriously.
There were the cheesy moments. The injection of pop culture a few years old was a bit much, but somehow it seemed entirely appropriate. A property familiar with many kids has to have some cheese factor, and it wasn't excessive. There were groan-worthy plot points and dialog, but it wasn't front and center. I also do take issue with some of the cinematic liberties concerning Megatron and the Matrix-errrr-Allspark. That's just the nerd in me rearing his ugly head for continuity. It still wasn't enough for me to disregard how much I was enjoying watching the movie.
The movie never forgot that the robots themselves were the main event and thank Michael Bay that he knows how to shoot an action sequence. Each one was choreographed to near perfection as the volume was clearly ramped up to 11. What really brought it all together was the voice acting of the lead Autobot and Decepticon. Of course, no other actor could play the part of Optimus Prime but Peter Cullen and while I had reservations with Hugo Weaving as Megatron, he was great as always. I have fond memories of the original voice actor, but dramatically, I think it was a solid choice.
Overall Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Yes, it's the adaptation of a toy with which an entire generation of men my age would identify with. Yes, it's a cultural phenomenon where properties of the 1980's are being co-opted for mass celluloid consumption. Yes, it's built for the screen perfectly by Mr. Michael Bay. Upon the first opening lines by the original Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen, there's absolute nostalgia. The nostalgia of waking up on Saturday morning to catch the epic struggle between autobot and decepticon, the nostalgia of that first crack of the blister pack as you peel out your die-cast and plastic Transformer toy that was bound to be broken, and, for me at least, the nostalgia of reading through a dozen or so comic books further exploring the saga of the aliens from Cybertron. It was hyped beyond belief for people just like me, so it was inevitable that I would forego a lot of scrutiny for suspension of credible thought.
I loved it.
That first scene, where Bumblebee transforms in front of an awe-struck Sam Witwicky, played by Shia Labeouf, is a spectacle to behold. I liken it to the best scene of last Summer from Superman Returns when the Man of Steel catches an airplane of passengers before a packed stadium crowd, it was as if imagination had exploded in front of my eyes. The same spectacle was played out time and time again in each action sequence, each transformation, in the juxtaposition of the giant robots and their human surroundings, and in the plain good versus evil storyline. The film could be no more black and white if Optimus Prime was wearing a white cowboy hat. Seriously.
There were the cheesy moments. The injection of pop culture a few years old was a bit much, but somehow it seemed entirely appropriate. A property familiar with many kids has to have some cheese factor, and it wasn't excessive. There were groan-worthy plot points and dialog, but it wasn't front and center. I also do take issue with some of the cinematic liberties concerning Megatron and the Matrix-errrr-Allspark. That's just the nerd in me rearing his ugly head for continuity. It still wasn't enough for me to disregard how much I was enjoying watching the movie.
The movie never forgot that the robots themselves were the main event and thank Michael Bay that he knows how to shoot an action sequence. Each one was choreographed to near perfection as the volume was clearly ramped up to 11. What really brought it all together was the voice acting of the lead Autobot and Decepticon. Of course, no other actor could play the part of Optimus Prime but Peter Cullen and while I had reservations with Hugo Weaving as Megatron, he was great as always. I have fond memories of the original voice actor, but dramatically, I think it was a solid choice.
Overall Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Monday, July 09, 2007
When Was the Last Time...
I ever did one of these:
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE.
Two of my uncles for both my first and middle name.
2. ARE YOU AN ONLY CHILD?
I've an older sister.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
When it's written neatly, yea, but most of the time it's chicken scratches.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
I'm partial to Genoa Salami and Capicola.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Nope.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I'd hope so, but sometimes I really hate me :)
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Who, me?
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yep.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Cinnamon Toast Crunch or plain ol' Honey Bunches of Oats. You'll find me most often eating either oatmeal or Cheerios though.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
If they're new, yes. After a few months, all bets are off.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Strong how? I could use a few more push-ups in my daily regimen.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Chunky Monkey. Num.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their handshake if I'm meeting them. Superficially, probably their posture.
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR?
Rrred, like a rose.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
Laziness.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My grandmother.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
Meh.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Brown slacks and some loafers. Very exciting work clothing.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Honestly?
Crackers and rondole. Oh, and some grapes.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The air conditioner blasting the room to 50 degrees before 8 AM.
23. FAVORITE SMELL?
Not sure, I bet it has something to do with rain, grass, and probably a Sunday morning.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My mother.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Of course :)
26. FAVORITE SPORTS YOU LIKE TO WATCH?
Basketball and Hockey. Baseball makes me want to snooze on television, but I do like seeing it in person.
27. HAIR COLOR?
Darkish brown. Is it strange that my beard has a bit of red in it?
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Not often, mostly on the weekends if I can help it.
30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Mexican, what else?
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
How about ambiguous endings?
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Transformers. It was cheesy but so, so awesome.
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Yella.
35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Hershey's? I like the peanut butter kind.
36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Ice cream. Or perhaps a milkshake.
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND TO THIS?
Meh.
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Meh.
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?
Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk. He needs serious help plus I need to finish this before the 21st.
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
A picture of what I work on at the moment.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Burn Notice. Then I watched some Engaged and Underage (sad, I know) and started to TiVo "The Bourne Supremacy."
42. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SOUND?
I love listening to Grace sing along with the radio.
43. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Japan. I still want to go back.
44. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I can doodle a little bit and when coaxed, I can pick up a saxamaphone.
45. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
The LBC. I'm legit.
46. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Ehn.
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE.
Two of my uncles for both my first and middle name.
2. ARE YOU AN ONLY CHILD?
I've an older sister.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
When it's written neatly, yea, but most of the time it's chicken scratches.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
I'm partial to Genoa Salami and Capicola.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Nope.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I'd hope so, but sometimes I really hate me :)
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Who, me?
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yep.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Cinnamon Toast Crunch or plain ol' Honey Bunches of Oats. You'll find me most often eating either oatmeal or Cheerios though.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
If they're new, yes. After a few months, all bets are off.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Strong how? I could use a few more push-ups in my daily regimen.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Chunky Monkey. Num.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their handshake if I'm meeting them. Superficially, probably their posture.
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR?
Rrred, like a rose.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
Laziness.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My grandmother.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
Meh.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Brown slacks and some loafers. Very exciting work clothing.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Honestly?
Crackers and rondole. Oh, and some grapes.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The air conditioner blasting the room to 50 degrees before 8 AM.
23. FAVORITE SMELL?
Not sure, I bet it has something to do with rain, grass, and probably a Sunday morning.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My mother.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Of course :)
26. FAVORITE SPORTS YOU LIKE TO WATCH?
Basketball and Hockey. Baseball makes me want to snooze on television, but I do like seeing it in person.
27. HAIR COLOR?
Darkish brown. Is it strange that my beard has a bit of red in it?
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Not often, mostly on the weekends if I can help it.
30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Mexican, what else?
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
How about ambiguous endings?
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Transformers. It was cheesy but so, so awesome.
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Yella.
35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Hershey's? I like the peanut butter kind.
36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Ice cream. Or perhaps a milkshake.
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND TO THIS?
Meh.
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Meh.
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?
Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk. He needs serious help plus I need to finish this before the 21st.
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
A picture of what I work on at the moment.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Burn Notice. Then I watched some Engaged and Underage (sad, I know) and started to TiVo "The Bourne Supremacy."
42. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SOUND?
I love listening to Grace sing along with the radio.
43. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Japan. I still want to go back.
44. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I can doodle a little bit and when coaxed, I can pick up a saxamaphone.
45. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
The LBC. I'm legit.
46. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Ehn.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Summer Movie Mayhem - Week 5
Ratatouille is the best movie I've seen so far this Summer. This is not exaggeration since every big movie coming out thus far is a sequel of some sort. When most other films are carrying a 3 of some sort behind the main title, it's a breath of fresh air when a filmmaker like Brad Bird comes along and knocks one clear out of the park.
Once again, I stress how amazed I was when I first saw the animated feature The Iron Giant. Anyone who enjoys traditional animation should see The Iron Giant, not because it's a great example of the power still present in 2-dimensional animation, but for the fact that it still carries a powerful story entertaining for both adults and kids. The same can be said for Mr. Bird's follow-up feature and first Pixar collaboration, The Incredibles and it also holds true for this latest effort.
Patton Oswalt stars as Remy, a rat with a palate. Ridiculous as it might seem, this is another fitting fish out of water tale from the studio. This rat with a dream doesn't fit into any kitchen or into any rat's nest, but is at home most when he is in front of the stove. His only creative outlet just happens to be a talentless chef named Luigi and his mentor Collete, voiced by Janeane Garofalo. Combined with his imaginary mentor, a devious rival chef, and his confused family, Remy must find a way to realize his dreams.
Positive buzz on the film really left expectations running high, but I wasn't hyping myself up since I wasn't at all inspired to see the last Pixar film, Cars. From start to finish, this movie is filled with love, charm, and pounds of what makes animation such a unique medium. Sure, they could have made this film 2-dimensional at one point, but as most of the major American studios have banished traditional hand-drawn pictures to television, we all benefit. What we saw in Shrek, while impressive, does not begin to compare to the amazing textures and setpieces onscreen. I would say that the initial scenes of Remy and his family awash in the Sewers of rural France was impressive enough, but the reverence the animators pay towards Paris is picture-perfect. The backgrounds teem with life and while we rarely see the restaurant itself, it's filmed with an elegance and warmth that would befit many a fine dining establishment.
The story itself, which is quite endearing, is miles above most Summer films in its simple complexity. While there would be one singular plot thread, there are plenty of layers to explore from every viewpoint. Every character developed throughout the flick serves the story in some point and every faint scar and burn mark on the chefs themselves is a testament to the detail-oriented freak in all of us. I found myself enthralled by it.
Many nowadays call Hayao Miyazaki the Japanese Walt Disney and it comes as no surprise that Brad Bird is now being called the American Walt Disney. A high praise it is indeed and I'm sure that Mr. Disney would be very pleased with the tradition that his studio has sought to continue to this day.
Overall Score: 4 out of 5 stars.
Once again, I stress how amazed I was when I first saw the animated feature The Iron Giant. Anyone who enjoys traditional animation should see The Iron Giant, not because it's a great example of the power still present in 2-dimensional animation, but for the fact that it still carries a powerful story entertaining for both adults and kids. The same can be said for Mr. Bird's follow-up feature and first Pixar collaboration, The Incredibles and it also holds true for this latest effort.
Patton Oswalt stars as Remy, a rat with a palate. Ridiculous as it might seem, this is another fitting fish out of water tale from the studio. This rat with a dream doesn't fit into any kitchen or into any rat's nest, but is at home most when he is in front of the stove. His only creative outlet just happens to be a talentless chef named Luigi and his mentor Collete, voiced by Janeane Garofalo. Combined with his imaginary mentor, a devious rival chef, and his confused family, Remy must find a way to realize his dreams.
Positive buzz on the film really left expectations running high, but I wasn't hyping myself up since I wasn't at all inspired to see the last Pixar film, Cars. From start to finish, this movie is filled with love, charm, and pounds of what makes animation such a unique medium. Sure, they could have made this film 2-dimensional at one point, but as most of the major American studios have banished traditional hand-drawn pictures to television, we all benefit. What we saw in Shrek, while impressive, does not begin to compare to the amazing textures and setpieces onscreen. I would say that the initial scenes of Remy and his family awash in the Sewers of rural France was impressive enough, but the reverence the animators pay towards Paris is picture-perfect. The backgrounds teem with life and while we rarely see the restaurant itself, it's filmed with an elegance and warmth that would befit many a fine dining establishment.
The story itself, which is quite endearing, is miles above most Summer films in its simple complexity. While there would be one singular plot thread, there are plenty of layers to explore from every viewpoint. Every character developed throughout the flick serves the story in some point and every faint scar and burn mark on the chefs themselves is a testament to the detail-oriented freak in all of us. I found myself enthralled by it.
Many nowadays call Hayao Miyazaki the Japanese Walt Disney and it comes as no surprise that Brad Bird is now being called the American Walt Disney. A high praise it is indeed and I'm sure that Mr. Disney would be very pleased with the tradition that his studio has sought to continue to this day.
Overall Score: 4 out of 5 stars.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Happy Belated 4th of July
Hope everyone had a good day wishing a big ol' Happy Birthday to the USA. Myself, I spent it gorging myself on hot dogs and hamburgers, pummeled by waves off the coast of Huntington Beach, and watching some cloud covered fireworks out by the pier. I'm beat up, but still ready to go for the rest of the week.
Happy 4th!
Happy 4th!
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Summer Movie Mayhem - Week 4
We're a little behind.
There's not much to really say about Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, which is a genuinely filler movie if there ever was one. Hearing Jessica Alba call it the "best family comedy of the Summer" was an eye-opener, as one might expect it to be an action blockbuster. Seeing as the first movie was a pure fun-only, no-frills family film through and through, it should come as no surprise that there's not much substance to file through upon final review of what hits the screen.
What went wrong with the first film is somewhat put right. Many had issues dealing with the look of Michael Chiklis as the Thing and this time around the makeup and prosthetics are flawless. You also get a sense that everyone is more comfortable with their powers, their celebrity, and the responsiblity it all entails. The cosmic and amazing are present as well, but that's really where the fun ends.
Ms. Alba is decent, but still a bit uninspiring. Julian McMahon, while serviceable, really hams it up more than necessary. As a comedy, the film lacks. Yes, it's funny in spots, but it's funniest to its core audience rather than funny to those older than a 7th-grader. My biggest complaint however, lies in their treatment of the main antagonist threat, Galactus.
The Silver Surfer himself is another example of incredible special effects. While the lip service paid to the fans is immense, his master in the movie is relegated to playing the somewhat non-threatening role of a giant cosmic storm. It is impressive on the surface, but somewhere I'm seeing a missed opportunity with a planet-sized spaceship and a giant purple helmet. Ridiculous it might have been, but since when do Jack Kirby's creations have to be relegated to the funnybooks only?
As impressive as these visuals were, the lack of any real depth to the storyline or effective pathos left the film wanting. It was a step above the previous film, but not by much in that it wasn't a disappointment. Maybe the real disappointment came in that I wasn't expecting much to begin with. We'll hope that the next one delivers.
Overall Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars.
There's not much to really say about Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, which is a genuinely filler movie if there ever was one. Hearing Jessica Alba call it the "best family comedy of the Summer" was an eye-opener, as one might expect it to be an action blockbuster. Seeing as the first movie was a pure fun-only, no-frills family film through and through, it should come as no surprise that there's not much substance to file through upon final review of what hits the screen.
What went wrong with the first film is somewhat put right. Many had issues dealing with the look of Michael Chiklis as the Thing and this time around the makeup and prosthetics are flawless. You also get a sense that everyone is more comfortable with their powers, their celebrity, and the responsiblity it all entails. The cosmic and amazing are present as well, but that's really where the fun ends.
Ms. Alba is decent, but still a bit uninspiring. Julian McMahon, while serviceable, really hams it up more than necessary. As a comedy, the film lacks. Yes, it's funny in spots, but it's funniest to its core audience rather than funny to those older than a 7th-grader. My biggest complaint however, lies in their treatment of the main antagonist threat, Galactus.
The Silver Surfer himself is another example of incredible special effects. While the lip service paid to the fans is immense, his master in the movie is relegated to playing the somewhat non-threatening role of a giant cosmic storm. It is impressive on the surface, but somewhere I'm seeing a missed opportunity with a planet-sized spaceship and a giant purple helmet. Ridiculous it might have been, but since when do Jack Kirby's creations have to be relegated to the funnybooks only?
As impressive as these visuals were, the lack of any real depth to the storyline or effective pathos left the film wanting. It was a step above the previous film, but not by much in that it wasn't a disappointment. Maybe the real disappointment came in that I wasn't expecting much to begin with. We'll hope that the next one delivers.
Overall Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Reunion of the Decade
In the grand scheme of things, 10 years doesn't register more than an insignificant blip on the cosmic radar. While the universe itself is infinitely older than our own world, in our personal lives 10 years can change quite a bit. Seeing as that stretch of time almost qualifies as a third of my lifespan, it's amazing to me how much can happen within 10 years. I saw great evidence of this via our class reunion this last weekend.
Granted, many people will change between graduation and now, but life changes are very standard at our relatively young age. Many are married, many have their own businesses and dreams, and a few of us even have multiple children by this age. What amazes me the most, however, is how little changes in our personal relationships. Sure, there are people we may have had a falling out with, or instances that re-shape our friendships, but for the most part, catching up with those we haven't seen for a while brings back so many old memories that you can't help but laugh. In many ways, it really is just like it was, but in the same sense, you really can't go home again.
So there I was, with many of my old classmates, talking about what's really been going on within the last 10 years for people I haven't seen in ages and maybe even catching up on the last couple of years with those I've talked to or seen more recently. Like I said, the old friendships really are the same as they were, and you lapse into the same conversations you used to have and remember why you were friends in the first place. Listening to some of their stories, I was reminded about things I may have seen in school but never noticed amongst certain relationships. Grace and I had this conversation in the middle of things, saying that no matter what happened during our time together in school, 10 years later, the slate has been wiped clean. Very interesting.
Even so, when I mull things over a bit more, 10 years really shapes a person, regardless of their age, by the events, relationships, and environment around them. What I can be thankful for the most throughout these 10 years are the friendships that I've been able to form and keep and the inspirations along the way. So in this way, the reunion was a success. Hopefully, we'll be able to keep those promises to stay in touch more often, as one of my friends said, "We have no excuse not to." It remains to be seen, though, how 10 additional years will shape us again.
Granted, many people will change between graduation and now, but life changes are very standard at our relatively young age. Many are married, many have their own businesses and dreams, and a few of us even have multiple children by this age. What amazes me the most, however, is how little changes in our personal relationships. Sure, there are people we may have had a falling out with, or instances that re-shape our friendships, but for the most part, catching up with those we haven't seen for a while brings back so many old memories that you can't help but laugh. In many ways, it really is just like it was, but in the same sense, you really can't go home again.
So there I was, with many of my old classmates, talking about what's really been going on within the last 10 years for people I haven't seen in ages and maybe even catching up on the last couple of years with those I've talked to or seen more recently. Like I said, the old friendships really are the same as they were, and you lapse into the same conversations you used to have and remember why you were friends in the first place. Listening to some of their stories, I was reminded about things I may have seen in school but never noticed amongst certain relationships. Grace and I had this conversation in the middle of things, saying that no matter what happened during our time together in school, 10 years later, the slate has been wiped clean. Very interesting.
Even so, when I mull things over a bit more, 10 years really shapes a person, regardless of their age, by the events, relationships, and environment around them. What I can be thankful for the most throughout these 10 years are the friendships that I've been able to form and keep and the inspirations along the way. So in this way, the reunion was a success. Hopefully, we'll be able to keep those promises to stay in touch more often, as one of my friends said, "We have no excuse not to." It remains to be seen, though, how 10 additional years will shape us again.
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