Amazing Spider-Man #621 continues developing characters, shifting them around, moving them into places (metaphorically speaking). I continue to dislike the story that brought us to this Brand New Day, that the Pete/Mary Jane marriage had to be sacrificed to get us here, but the amount of creative energy that it sparked cannot be denied. So much of it could have existed with the wedding intact but, you know, let's not harp on that. Black Cat visits to help Spidey gets something back from Mr. Negative. Aunt May is still suffering the effects of Mr. Negative's touch and is much more, well, negative for it. Old friends reunite. And the Lizard is soon to return. Yay!
Punisher #14 continues the FrankenCastle storyline, providing us with some information on our bad guy. 'Alps is cold. Perfect temperature for the dish I'm going to serve him.' Ha!
Incredible Hercules #141 contains feats of great bravery, great courage, as well as great treachery. Not everyone will make it out alive. Since they're already announced the 'Hercules: Fall of an Avenger' mini-series, that should be a hint, huh? The how though? Woo-boy. Did not see that coming and maybe should have.
The Tick - New Series #2 is laugh out loud funny. It's like watching a new episode of the 1990s cartoon show. 'Climbing a series of ladders didn't work for Donkey Kong, and it won't work for you villain!' Add some great cartoon art as well as a subplot with Chairface Chippendale and mmmm, tasty!
Then I read Simpsons Comics #163 and laughed out loud more. This issue is written and drawn by legend Sergio Aragones. To say that he gets the Simpsons is an understatement. Homer is responsible for saving the plant from meltdown yet again before accidentally setting it back to meltdown. The meltdown alarm goes off about three or four times during the issue, with Springfield assuming the end is here every time. Senor Ding-Dong reappears! This should be an episode. Really.
19 February 2010
16 February 2010
A Few Thoughts on the Movies I Saw This Weekend
The Wolfman - Loved it! The movie felt like an update of the Lon Chaney Jr original because that's what it was. Many updates or remakes drift from the original out of some interest in not repeating the entire original film or because aspects of the original no longer work (aka they are considered cheesy now). The Wolfman isn't a note for note remake like that Psycho they did about a decade ago. Lawrence Talbot is a Brit that moves to America as a young man and becomes an actor. It's 1891 in England. The movie starts with the 'even a man pure of heart' speech from the original. The makeup and effects are great, creating a creature that is part Wolf and part Man. One thing that people seem to miss is that the creature from these Universal films is not a werewolf as such, he's a Wolfman. He doesn't turn into a Wolf, he turns into a creature that's structurally human but with strong animalistic features.
There are some scenes where the accents aren't the same as they are for the rest of the film. The big 'twist' isn't really a twist as it's obvious for most of the movie. I'm sure that once I watch the movie a couple more times I'll find other flaws.
But nothing big stood out to me as annoying. It's a classic tale updated with some violence. Some muted but obvious violence. I liked it.
Die Hard - Bruce Willis! Alan Rickman! No shoes! Man that's fun.
Die Hard 2 - Bruce Willis! ... A plane! It's fun but not as much fun. Oh wait, Dennis Franz! Well, sort of.
The Hangover - I keep hearing that this movie is the best thing in ages and hilarious and ridiculous and whatever. After watching it I feel I must say that some of my friends do not get out much. It's not that the movie is not funny but it's not even close to being as funny as the hype presented. It's not that the movie is poorly cast or structured or anything like that. It's not bad. It is funny. I just didn't find it THAT funny. Comedy's like that though, and everyone's funny bone is different. I'm just glad I didn't buy it.
There are some scenes where the accents aren't the same as they are for the rest of the film. The big 'twist' isn't really a twist as it's obvious for most of the movie. I'm sure that once I watch the movie a couple more times I'll find other flaws.
But nothing big stood out to me as annoying. It's a classic tale updated with some violence. Some muted but obvious violence. I liked it.
Die Hard - Bruce Willis! Alan Rickman! No shoes! Man that's fun.
Die Hard 2 - Bruce Willis! ... A plane! It's fun but not as much fun. Oh wait, Dennis Franz! Well, sort of.
The Hangover - I keep hearing that this movie is the best thing in ages and hilarious and ridiculous and whatever. After watching it I feel I must say that some of my friends do not get out much. It's not that the movie is not funny but it's not even close to being as funny as the hype presented. It's not that the movie is poorly cast or structured or anything like that. It's not bad. It is funny. I just didn't find it THAT funny. Comedy's like that though, and everyone's funny bone is different. I'm just glad I didn't buy it.
15 February 2010
Music Monday - Seether
Sometimes I have a lot to say about the bands or songs I post on a Monday. Sometimes I don't. I suspect this will be more of the latter.
You see, Seether is one of those bands I'm familiar with due to a friend so I don't have a long history to fall back on and go 'oh I remember when', even though I've seen them play live in concert. Sort of anyway. I couldn't actually see them much through the crowd.
This first song wins for the video if nothing else.
The video does connect with some of how I react to the band though. It's filled with pop culture references from the 1980s, even down to the animation style being similar to the video game graphics of the day. The band makes me feel old and yet young. Old because the band is referencing music from the early 1990s, the era when I was first really getting into music, and that just feels weird in a way. This song feels much more like Nirvana, not so much in the sound, but in the themes.
And yet it makes me feel young because, for whatever it is or isn't, it is fresh enough to feel new, to sound enjoyable. It may not be the most experimental thing in the world, it may not be steering music into fantastic new directions, but it's catchy and it sticks with you. There's some depth to be found.
Like this. Peppermint Schnapps my friend.
You see, Seether is one of those bands I'm familiar with due to a friend so I don't have a long history to fall back on and go 'oh I remember when', even though I've seen them play live in concert. Sort of anyway. I couldn't actually see them much through the crowd.
This first song wins for the video if nothing else.
The video does connect with some of how I react to the band though. It's filled with pop culture references from the 1980s, even down to the animation style being similar to the video game graphics of the day. The band makes me feel old and yet young. Old because the band is referencing music from the early 1990s, the era when I was first really getting into music, and that just feels weird in a way. This song feels much more like Nirvana, not so much in the sound, but in the themes.
And yet it makes me feel young because, for whatever it is or isn't, it is fresh enough to feel new, to sound enjoyable. It may not be the most experimental thing in the world, it may not be steering music into fantastic new directions, but it's catchy and it sticks with you. There's some depth to be found.
Like this. Peppermint Schnapps my friend.
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