Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The Soupiest Week Ever
Monday, September 29, 2008
Chekov and Pam!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Desperate Plea!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Superman Extra
Monday, September 22, 2008
Into the Wild
The movie, starring Emile Hirsch, is a pretty great adaptation of the book. We get to meet many of the people Chris met in the book and even a couple new additions that really fit with the story. The movie also doesn't hint at his death like the book did. I imagine if I saw the movie without reading the book it would have had a larger emotional impact on me. As it was, I knew what was going to happen and it was a meh moment for me.
They also seemed to make his actions seem heroic, which is silly. McCandless was basically just a young, naive, idealistic kid who was very selfish and got himself killed. It was tragic, but not heroic. He abandoned everyone who loved him, including his family and all those who he met and touched on his journey. What was really sad was that right before he died, he realized what he did to those he loved and regretted his actions. It is a tragic, but good story. I would recommend the book over the movie (does anyone ever do the opposite?), but they are both worth checking out.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Content Free or Free Content?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Laika
Kudryavka, later named Laika (barker) by the Chief Designer himself, has many adventures, becoming a stray, being taken in by a family trying to give their awful son some responsibility, and running from the dog catchers. Eventually Kudryavka ends up in the care of Yelena Alexandrovna Dubrovsky, the assistant for the dog-training sessions. Yelena and Kudryavka grow very close and it is the first time the little mutt feels safe.
The story then goes through the training that the space dogs had to go through as well as the design of Sputnik II. The entire launch was designed and launched only one month after Sputnik I, the first man0made object in space. This limited time meant that there was no time to design a way to return the orbiter to Earth. Anything launched would not return.
Abadzis takes this story, which is already sad and moving, and makes it even more so. He brings life and personality to this little puppy and is really able to demonstrate how the people in charge of the dog and the launch might feel. The story is hard to read at times, becuase we always know what is coming. Abadzis is able to show the confusion that any animal in this situation might go through, and it can be heart-breaking.
The art wasn't my favorite at first. A lot of it came off as sloppy, but it grew on me and was really expressive. Emotions were displayed really well and the overall experience was made big and important through his artwork.
If you want to check out a graphic novel, or just want to learn more about this amazing animal, check out this book. It's fantastic.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Grizzly Man Diaries
Well, recently, Animal Planet decided to take it a little further. They put together a show called The Grizzly Man Diaries, which combines a massive amount of Treadwell's video footage and still photos along with excerpts from his own diaries. The focus though is on the wilderness, not Treadwell himself. What he saw and experienced there was amazing and it is great to see what Treadwell was really trying to do out there. The show is really amazing to watch. It has some of the best nature footage I have seen with a really interesting narrator to back it all up.
Here's the Grizzly Man movie trailer.
Here is a link to the offical Animal Planet website with the great music from the show. It fits perfectly with the story. You should really check this show out. Or at least the movie!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Showcase Present Superman: Part 8
Monday, September 15, 2008
Bridge to Terabithia
The two kids slowly become friends and soon find refuge from their lonely lives in the woods near their homes, where they create the mythical world of Terabithia, where they are the rulers and can do anything they want. This world is a refuge for them and a place where they can be themselves and finally be comfortable.
They have a few adventures in the woods with some CGI creatures that spring from their imaginations and it is obvious that these kids need an outlet for their lives. Their imaginations run wild, but seem like a lot of fun. Throught the story the kids face bullies at school and deal with them in some unique ways. They even learn that one of them isn't as powerful as she seems.
This movie isn't some Narnia knockoff or anything like that. It is very unique and is about these kids lives. Unfortunately it seemed to be advertised as a kids fantasy movie, which doesn't do this work justice. It reminded me of a nineties film like Radio Flyer or The War. It is a family film with heart and a message. There is a major twist near the end of the film with changes everything and is pretty hard to watch. It brings the kids back to reality and it really can be a lesson to kids.
My wife and I loved this movie. It was one of the best that we have seen in a long time. It was great to see a movie about life, love, imagination, and loss. It was not overbearing or preachy, it was just a great story with some great characters. If you want to see a really great family film, check this out.
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Events
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Red Rabbit
Red Rabbit was originally published in 2002 fairly soon after September 11th. I though I recalled that Clancy said he couldn't think of a way to write a new novel based in the real world because of the attacks, but it might have been more because he had tapped everything he thought he could after the attacks that was in his realm of understanding. Either way, this book is set in the past, between Patriot Games and The Hunt for Red October.
What I thought was really cool about this book is that it is, in part, based on real events. Mainly, that of the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II. However, this also made the book a little bit slow moving. I wouldn't call it boring, as I actually enjoyed all 618 pages of it, but not a lot actually happened in it.
We got a good glimpse of the early days of Jack Ryan and Mary Pat and Ed Foley, but setting the story around real world events meant that Clancy couldn't use his usaly technique of building up an intricate plan that is only thwarted at the last minute. In fact, the plan wasn't thwarted at all in this book, the heroes had nothing to do with the failed assassination attempt. That was a bit of an anti-climax.
Ultimately, this was a fun read for me because of my familiarity with the characters and my interest in the cold war. Check it out if you haven't read it before but already enjoy Clancy.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
TV: Things That Make Me Sad
Then I saw the first episode, and it was horrible. The hosts yell and the contestants are some of the stupidest on TV. There is way too much talking and not nearly enough of the funny stuff. It's nothing like Wipeout, which is fantastic. It's not funny, but sad. If you want to witness the sadness, go here for the complete first episode.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Showcase Present Superman: Part 7
Action Comics #245
"The Shrinking Superman"
Tagline: "Superman shrinks because he wants to, not because he has to."
This story starts, like many others, in the offices of the Daily Planet. Lois is dressed in a parka because, you see, Superman has agreed to take her to see his Fortress of Solitude for a newspaper feature. Smart huh? Let's take a reporter to our secret hideout so she can share details with the world. Here are some of the thing Lois gets to see while she is there:
- His "Super Tool-Chest" ie a box of giant tools
- A bowling alley with 100 pins instead of 10
- An "atomic powered robot" that he uses to try to beat the crap out of him
- A super-creepy room devoted to Lois Lane, herself. Instead of being creeped out, she is very flattered.
Kandor, the shrunken Kryptonian city that Superman keeps in a jar (ah...I love foreshadowing)
A crystal ball which is really a two-way TV set that can contact Superman
Superman leaves Lois all alone to look around while he goes to some appointements (if I know Superman, it probably has something to do with orphans. While looking at Kandor klutzy Lois knocks the jar over and it cracks open. So, obviously a devious criminal, Zak-Kul breaks out. He is then able to re-enlarge himself (he musta used one of those emails I'm always getting) and use an "Electronic Plastic Surgery" machine with a Superman button to make him look just like our hero. He then takes the clothes off of a Superman mannequin to complete the disguise.Lois realizes pretty quickly that Zak-Kul is not Superman thanks to a message from the real Supes on the crystal ball. The criminal immediately tells Lois his plans to shrink Superman. He then cuts off another Superman mannequin's head that falls and knocks her out. When she comes to she is able to get the shrinker/enlarger and is faced with two Supermen. You would think at this point Lois would be happy about having another option for marriage, but no, she has to figure out which is the real Superman.
She asks one simple question about some lame criminal and has made a decision, so she blasts a Superman with the shrink-ray. Turns out it was the real Superman. You see, he faked not knowing about a criminal for fear that if Zak-Kul were found out he would start a Super-Fight and wreck his temple to himself. Superman is then shoved back into the jar using tweezers. Zak-Kul, for no apparant reason decideds to assume Superman's identity and begins to save people, and even asks Lois to marry him. Score!So, they live happily ever after. Well, no, you see, Lois still wants to know his secret identity. Fake-Superman gets nervous, so he decides to kill Lois by making her drive off of a cliff. And then...Superman swoops in a saves her. You see, he shrunk himself down so small that he fit between the atoms of the jar (FYI criminals, now you can all get out of Kandor!). He then re-embiggened himself and rescued Lois, who promply rips up the marriage license that she carried with her at all times. Phew, another marriage averted!
Monday, September 8, 2008
The Brother's Solomon
Friday, September 5, 2008
Taking Orders From the Pope!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Mad Men
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Showcase Present Superman: Part 6
Action Comics # 244
"The Super-Merman of the Sea"
Tagline: "Superman = Aquaman"
This story starts with Clark Kent leaving or a two week vacation of patrolling Metropolis and the world. Fun! Soon he sees a rocket slam into the ocean and when he goes to rescue the travelers her finds that they are mer-people from the Water World (you know, like we live on Dirt Planet). Superman mysteriously decides to stay underwater with them and leaves a stupid note floating on the surface for a sailor to see "AM UNDER SEA EXILE SUPERMAN." A one panel interlude shows Superman telling the merman that he is going to abandon the surface world forever. Is this the end of the Superman we know forever?! No, it's not, don't be stupid.
Jimmy Olsen decides to investigate and can't figure out why Superman is not coming back up, so he decides to go down under water and ask him. Turns out Superman is building an underwater Fortress of Solitude and he includes a big sign " Superman's Fortress of Solitude Submarines and Divers Keep Out". That should work well. As soon as Jimmy shows up Superman waves him away. It appears that Superman wants to be Aquaman as he monitors the seven seas. But, the best part? He uses a Guided Missile Whale (!) to gather deep sea specimens.
Lois ventures underwater next and sees Superman acting like he is in love with a mermaid. She follows them and finds another building "Home of Mr. and Mrs. Superman" with two thrones labelled "King and Queen of the Sea" inside. Again, Superman is incredibly modest.
The nations of the world decide they need to capture Superman and interrogate him to figure out why he ditched them, so they shoot a kryptonite tipped torpedo at him. I think I would have ditched them too! Superman escapes in his Guided Missile Whale and continues to help Vul-Kor the mer-man in his plot against to cover the entire surface of the planet in water using Global Warming!! Vul-Kor beings to weaken and eventually decides to abandon his plan on Earth. Superman had been poisoning him with extra salt in the water. He had to pretend to be on their side so they didn't call for backup. He poisoned them so they would never come back, but he had to abandon us dirt folk so that Vul-Kor would believe him. Genius! And perfect timing, he was done in enough time to get back to work after Clark's vaction!