It’s been a while

I have been what can only be described as incredibly busy and overall just needing time away from stuff I have to do on the computer. I’m not going too much into detail, but suffice it to say it’s been a pretty long and involved year. But recently a lot of great games have been coming out and I’ve watched some pretty good movies. I’ve been pimping them on Facebook, but there’s only so much you can write there and, in all reality, most of the people I know there aren’t as enthusiastic about games or movies as I am. So I want to get back into writing about the stuff I like for people who could use the information. I can’t promise posts every day (I’m still pretty busy and will be for a while), but I’ve definitely got some good stuff in mind. So be on the lookout for reviews of movies like Mongol and Charlie Bartlett and games like Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Borderlands.

Ponyo Coming to America

Ponyo hits US Theaters in August and according to a source on Nausicaa.net, will debue on over 800 screens. If anyone has info on which screens, please post, but if you’ve had Studio Ghibli films in your city in the past, it’s likely they’ll be there again. This is the largest amount of screens for a Ghibli film by far.

For those who aren’t sure what Ponyo is, check out the youtube trailer below.

Harry Potter 6 Final Trailer!

It’s too awesome for words.  Just watch it!

Twilight I Thought This Book Was About Vampires…?

“As she gazed into his perfect honey colored eyes, she was overwhelmed with giddiness at the sight of his perfection, and swooned when he smiled the perfect crooked (does that really work?) perfect smile of perfection like a Greek God who could never hope to be as handsome and perfect as the work of perfection himself that was Edward…”

Basically, I’ve summarized 90% of the book for you.  (Quick, someone hand me a thesauraus.  I’ve got to look up synonyms for perfection!)

I had no idea what Twilight was about, other than a nod at vampires, but at the time I had just come off the Harry Potter hype train, and loathing as I did waiting for sequels I figured I’d give this series a look when more of the books were out.  The Twilight series hype continued to grow, with nearly everyone around me swearing to its authenticity as the greatest series of all time.

I still planned to give it a look, but paused after going over a review on my friend’s blog.  After conferring with a second friend who’d read the entire series (because the Twilight fans SWORE the books continued getting better), I felt little to no motivation to read this book.  Hey, romance novels just aren’t my thing.

But with fellow women and girls around becoming fans a plenty, I felt if I were going to be able to have an opinion I’d have to delve in.  So, I began reading Twilight.

I was surprised!  Well, at first…

Here was this character Bella.  A typical teenage girl with family troubles and teenage girl insecurities.  She’s interesting, the view she presents is interesting, and although I know what’s coming I hope that we don’t arc away from the current Bella.  Then came the dreaded “descriptions.”  Those who’ve read know what I’m referring to.  The gushing descriptions (see above for an example) that occupy 90% of the rest of the book.

*VERY BIG SIGH*

And so a perfectly reasonable an interesting character becomes a crazed obsessive “swimfan” type girl, and the cheesiness factor is laid on thick.

So if I knew exactly what was coming, why bother reading in the first place?

To be honest, the take Stephanie Meyer has on vampires, albeit unresearched and a little too Superman without kryptonite, is interesting.  I found myself the most involved when I heard Edward’s origins and his families origins.  In fact, publish a book without gushing affections about Dr. Cullen and Edward’s adventures pre-Bella and I think you might have a very compelling novel.  This may be out of Meyer’s capability to do (aka where would the story be without the gushing affections?)

Something that is incredibly disturbing is the way their relationship works, which most readers have tended to shrug off to being a vampire.

But probably 70% of my reason for reading the book (the 30% being to have an informed opinion–which wouldn’t have been enough drive alone) was to bring to you a comic series I’ve affectionately named “The Mid-Afternoon Chronicles.”  I’m by no means a professional when it comes to comics, and some of you may not get it if you haven’t read at least the first book, but it amuses me and hopefully it will do the same for you.

This is merely a character concept of our ‘heroes,’ but I promise a new comic is coming soon and hopefully weekly.

Ok, seriously! What is this 'crooked smile?'

CW Greenlights Smallville 9th Season

I know, I can’t believe I’m saying it, especially the vast difference in coming into season 8 from season 7–and I was definitely among those who thought a season 8 was a mistake–fans, we have a season 9!  It’s official.  From the CW press release:

Also renewed were the network’s established Thursday team of SMALLVILLE, in its ninth season, and SUPERNATURAL, which after posting ratings growth this season, will enter its fifth season next year.

Check out Kryptonsite.com for more details, but I’m hoping we’ll see flights and tights with this news. If the new producers can keep the stories going strong as they have for this season, and bring us into a finish with season 9, I think I can forgive all mistakes and still call this one of the greatest shows I’ve ever seen and definitely one of the best renditions of Superman we’ve ever seen (if not the best).

Congratulations Smallville, and keep your fingers crossed for a great finish to season 8, and a great finish to the series in season 9.

Invincible Volume 10 arriving soon!

It’s due out February 25, but you can get it from Amazon March 1.  Does this annoy anyone else?  Anyways, it’ll be out and I’ve been craving Invincible like mad.  The cover art below.

I Want My TV Back 2009 pt 2

We got our TV back, and now they’ve already started taking it away again.  So, when can we expect to see some of our favorite shows again?  Here’s a short run-down of the shows, whether still on the air and soon taking a hiatus or already taking their hiatus:

SMALLVILLE Despite how I loathe Clana, the send off was amazing and powerful and after all that we get no new episodes?!  Well, not until March 15 with Infamous.  As opposed as I was to an eighth season, I’m actually crossing my fingers for a ninth to be the final.  According to Kryptonsite.com we should have new episodes until April 2 and then another pause, but with the season finishing up in May.

FRINGE Geh!  This one kills me!  No new episodes until April 7!  Talk about a drought.  Although, they did get the greenlight to continue on with the season a bit late in the game, so my guess is they’re hurriedly filming some more eps for us to enjoy.  I haven’t seen any news via TV.com or other as to how many more episodes we’ll get (April 7 will make 15), but let’s keep our fingers crossed for at least 20.

HEROES I’ve given up on this show.  You can’t build up the story arc and kill it mid-season and start with a new plot.  I’m hoping Bryan Fuller can fix things since they destroyed his previous show (Pushing Daisies), but I’m done at least until all the episodes are out.  Anyways, the point you’re here: new episodes every week until the end of March–which may turn out to be the end of the season, since that will bring the count up to 22 (but they could make a couple more).

24 Jack Bauer and friends will be with us at least until March 9 with new episodes every week, but traditionally they’ve shown new episodes until the 24 hours are up.  Still, just wanted to let you know only the first 12 hours have been confirmed.  And I know the show follows pretty much the same type of plot each season, but I still think it’s amazing they can pull it off.  Aside from there being nothing new under the sun, how many of our popular books and other TV shows follow similar patterns.  My point is, yes, we know how it’ll likely turn out, but I still find it fun to watch.

THE OFFICE Is on hiatus until March 5, with at least 2 new episodes confirmed.  We’re up to 15 broadcast episodes, so we can probably expect at least 9 more, which probably means the possibility of another small hiatus in March and finishing up in May, or just finishing early in April.

PUSHING DAISIES Still unscheduled officially and only with rumors of a June airing or a direct to DVD finish (which from a marketing standpoint would rake in $$$ for DVD sales…)  I’ve been rewatching season 1 with friends who I could never get to watch it while it was on, and of course now they’re sad it’s canceled. *SIGH*

BSG New episodes until March 20 which is probably also the season finale.

That’s really all I’m keeping track of.  You can find your own shows and episode dates at TV.com–which may or may not be reliable, unfortunately, but often the good fansites will at least have some decent info (aka Kryptonsite for Smallville).

Is there anything to look forward to in the summer as far as TV goes?  Anyone know?

Christian Bale = Psychomuch?

I’ve worked on a movie set, an independent with some notable but much smaller names than Christian Bale, but still around “celebrities.” While there are many of them who are very nice and pleasant people, no matter what character they’re playing, the fact is there are enough of them like Bale out there who think common decency in the way they talk to others is below them.

What am I referring to? If you haven’t heard the buzz around the net, then take a listen below. Although this is old news in the sense of when it happened, the audio has only recently been released. This is Christian Bale going very psychomuch on the supposed DP (director of photography) or someone for fixing a light. WARNING: Extremely explicit language–or Bale using the f-word every other word, literally.

For those who’d prefer to skip the profanities, basically we get nearly 4 minutes of Bale ranting and swearing for someone upsetting his scene, which according to most was perhaps at most a minor adjustment of a light. They’re trying to play it off to him being “in character” or “just doing an emotional scene.” But for all the demands Bale makes for professionalism in his rant, he comes up sorely wanting and a complete hypocrite.

I suppose this shouldn’t surprise us, since he was charged with an assault on his mother (and sister?) around the same time, but still… Can we let him off the hook with “having a bad day?” I mean, how many of us would still have our jobs if we acted that way at work?

I know a lot of us willing to shrug it off to being a “movie star,” but I think we shrug off too many things these days. Anyone in the public eye, be they celebrities, policitians, even presidents seem to get the shrug because, well, they’re “dealing with a lot of stress right now.”

I think it’s time to hold these people to the same value we hold ourselves. To be honest, I wasn’t all that thrilled with his acting in Dark Knight (Heath’s what made the movie for me). And all my motivation for a Batman 3 with him in it has gone to maybe-catch-it-at-the-dollar-theater.

If I had any kind of clout, I think I’d demand he publicly apologize to the DP or whomever he’d gone off on, and realize that those of us who invest in him through movies don’t want tantrum-throwing babies playing an iconic figure like Batman. I’m not saying fire him from Batman, I’m saying tell him to clean up his act.

Anyways, I’m disappointed.

Invincible: Finally a Better Use for that Name than Football!

I love comics, not in the way the otakus standing outside the comic shop eager to buy the next issue love comics, but despite the usual stigma you can catch me reading them on the train.  The trouble for me is time.  Much as I would love to read everything, I just can’t, so I’m selective as to what I spend my time reading.  Lately I’ve been into manga (Japanese comics), but when a friend recommended the Invincible series I put a pause on my manga addiction.

I wasn’t disappointed.

Invincible is the story of a young superhero with Superboy-like roots, but with a less kryptonian interesting twist.  Created by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker and published by Image Comics, this comic series is nothing you want to pass up.

NOTABLE CHARACTERS (sans-spoilers):

Invincible, alias Mark Grayson.  The teenage son of Nolan (Omni-man) and Debbie Grayson.  At 7 years old, Mark’s father told him he was Omni-man, an alien from a planet called Viltrum and that he’d probably start exhibiting powers after puberty.  The comic starts when Mark receives them and decides to be a superhero like his father before him.

Omni-Man, alias Nolan Grayson.  Member of the Guardians of the Globe (think Justice League), and alien from the planet Viltrum.  According to conversations with his son Mark, Viltrum is not disimilar to Krypton, in that they gained peace and technology and the Viltrumites decided to share it with the world.  Nolan was assigned to protect Earth from any alien threats and took on the persona of Omni-man, and secret identity of Nolan Grayson, a travel books writer.

Atom Eve, alias Samantha Eve Wilkins.  Classmate of Mark and a part of the “Teen Team.”  At first I wanted to lump her into the usefulness powers category of Jubilee, but a later issue explains what is is Eve can REALLY do and it’s pretty cool.  Her origins story is also pretty interesting.

Allen the Alien. This character is a pleasant surprise to the plot.  A victim of empire-like destruction and take-over of species, Allen and Mark become friends in protecting the world and eventually the universe.  Aside from being just as strong and tough as Invincible, he’s just cool.

Robot. Leader of the “Teen Team,” and eventually becomes involved with the Guardians of the Globe.  He’s super intelligent, and also becomes more than he seems.  Another character with a great backstory.  That’s probably why this series works, they put a lot of effort into the important characters.

Mauler Twins.  Two villains I never get tired of.  They’re always bickering over who is the clone and who is the original, while being mad geniuses and some fun foes of the superheroes.  They seem to creep into issues being both unexpected but fitting at the same time.

Angstrom Levy.  Another villain that makes for interesting twists in the series.  And with a name like that, you’ve gotta be destined for supervillainess (it just works, don’t you think?)  His powers are being able to teleport from dimension to dimension, which also makes for probably my favorite villain/hero interaction in the series.

There are loads others, but this gives you a quick idea of the Invincible universe.

Still wondering why you should read it?

Well, aside from being another well-written superhero comic, if you’re into the show Heroes, this just takes it a step further when the world actually has superheroes in full costume hanging around.  It’s got witty humor, fun sarcasm, farse, and I think offers as real a view you can get (I mean, this is a superhero comic) on what it might be like to suddenly become a bonified superhero.

We usually see the superheroes as superheroes, but what about the rough starts?  Think of this as more of a Peter Parker, I’m a superhero but I’ve also got regular problems too.

It just works.

So give it a try.  There are several ways you can do this (and praise your local library if they’ve got it).

You can go issue by issue, which may be harder now that we’re nearly 60 issues in (as of Feb 2, 2009), though you’ll get the story the quickest at around $2.99 per issue.

You can get the paperbacks (what I recommend) at around $11 and up a piece which usually contain 4 issues.  So basically once 4 more issues have come out you can expect another paperback.

Or if you want something more collectible, there’s the Ultimate Collections, which contain usually 3 paperback’s worth of issues at around $23 and up per book, though this takes the longest, since you’d need a lot more issues to have come out.  (The 4th one is supposed to come out this month or soon, it varies from source to source).

You can check out the first issue online at Image Comics here and see what you think.  (For how long, I dunno).

It’s a good series though, and if you’re feeling burnt out on comics or animation, well, this seemed to help revive me.

Rating: A+

The 11th Doctor – Doctor Who

This is semi-old news, but time, etc., point being I finally got around to posting it.  Some of you may not have known, but the 11th Doctor has been picked for the newly rebooted Doctor Who series.  David Tennant, the 10th Doctor, will film a few specials this year, but then he’s out and season five will start afresh.  So who’s our next Doctor?

Matt Smith!  Wait… who?  Yeah, exactly.  He’s 26, so the very much so youngest Doctor we’ve had yet, but supposedly new head writer Steven Moffat wanted:

…someone very British, odd-looking/eccentric and if young had an “old soul” carrying the weight of his past 10 lives or if old a “young soul” with energy.

So there you have it. We won’t see Matt Smith until 2010 (or I suppose a Christmas Special 2009). My initial reaction was “they’ll NEVER replace David!!!!” and that may still end up being true, but I reminded myself of the first transition from Eccleston to Tennant. I was wary of Tennant and it’s easy to say from this end he’s the best Doctor ever, but I didn’t know that starting with him. So, I’m saying I’m willing to give Mr. Smith a chance.

Look for specials from our current beloved Doctor in April (possibly the 11th according to rumors).