This is like when they shot Rasputin, after they poisoned him, but before they beat and drowned him

Annyong!

Apparently, this is the year for all of my favorite shows to go off the air. Ok, maybe not ALL, but I've recently posted about the demise of Alias ("Alias" is a show about a spy" --Buster Bluth), and now it seems that for the 2,407th time since January, my #1 all-time favorite show, Arrested Development is in danger of being cancelled... again. COME ON!

And it does not bode well...

As the story goes, Fox doesn't want the show anymore. Who can blame them? The show wasn't funny, or well acted, or a prime example of comic genius. It didn't have any good stories to tell, and they couldn't get a single recognizable actor to play a role. Wow... that's a lot of sarcasm, even for me. Anyways, to continue, both Showtime and ABC were both interested in picking up the show. I would've preferred ABC only because I don't get Showtime, but I tell ya... if they had Arrested Development on, I'd call my cable company right away, that's for damn sure. I guess the frontrunner now is Showtime.

So what's wrong you ask? Sounds like good news right? Well, now according to Ain't It Cool News and Variety, Mitch Hurwitz, the demented genius who created the show, has decided to not be involved with the show if and when AD goes to a fourth season. At the outside, he'd return as a consultant, but definitely not as showrunner. And as it turns out, or so I hear, his return as showrunner was one of Showtime's conditions for picking up the show. Great! Just great!

Hurwitz also expressed interest in seeing AD as a movie. If he'll come back, I'm all for it. We need to hear more people talking nonsense to Bob Loblaw! Yes, I already bought seasons 1 and 2 on DVD, and I pre-ordered season 3 from Amazon already. One might say I've got the Arrested Development Disease... or ADD. HA! ha! no?

And It's jokes like that, ladies and gentlemen, why we need to keep actually funny shows like AD on the air!

Reason #531 why I should have my own private movie-theater

Over at Kung Fu Monkey, Rogers has posted what has to be the best rant yet on inappropriate behavior in movie theaters. Whether you've sat near that guy on his cellphone, the woman typing on her blackberry, the teens who can't shut up, or the couple making out... check out the post. I guarantee there is hilarity to be found.

It's funny 'cause it's true, and I wish that I'd said it. God, I love Netflix.

You want $45 for what?!?

Last weekend I went to Wizard World Los Angeles, or as a friend of mine calls it, GeekFest 2006. I tried to tell her that GeekFest 2006 is actually the San Diego Comic Con in July, but she wouldn't listen. For those of you who don't know, Wizard World is a touring convention of all things sci-fi, animation, and most of all, comics, put on by Wizard Magazine.

It's a small show, but worth it. There were many good deals to be found... 1/2 off TPBs, $2.50 new issues, $1 back issues, as well as a plethora of signings ("Hefe, what is a plethora?"). I didn't get too much signed aside from a couple of issues by writer Geoff Johns, one by writer John Rogers, and one by artist Pat Lee.

So, while I was at a particular dealer buying Runaways (vol.2) #s 13 & 14 (awesome, btw) for less than cover price, I look up and see something that shocks that hell out of me. They have a NM-condition first printing Marvel Zombies #1. So do I. That's not what shocks me. What shocks me is that they're selling it for $45! Can you believe that? Just as I think to myself that no one is dumb enough to buy it for that price, I overhear someone saying that no less than six people already had and that the dealer only has 2 left. $45! For a comic that came out roughly 4 months ago! Sure it had a low-print run and all, but I got my copy over a month after it had come out for cover price! That's $3! Hell, If you really want it, you can probably get it on ebay for $15!

Now don't get me wrong, the issue is worth about $15 now, but buying it for $45? That's ridiculous. That's gouging! And you just know it was the 16 year-old who saves his money every day from mowing lawns who buys it for that price! Dealers are just preying on the gullability of people at these shows.

But hey, if they're stupid enough to buy Marvel Zombies #1 for $45, send them my way. I have a Hunter-Killer #0 for them for the bargain price of $10. I know I only paid a quarter for it and that it's worth just that... WHAT OF IT?!?

Saddest movie... EVER!!

Sad as in the emotion, not sad as in quality.

As you well know, I am a movie buff. I'm into horror movies, animation, sci-fi, action, dramas, you name it. Out of all the movies I've seen, none has ever made me quite as sad and depressed as Grave of the Fireflies, a 1988 Studio Ghibli animated film from director Isao Takahata. Imagine the really evocative movies like Schindler's List, Sophie's Choice, and Titanic, now multiply that by 50, and you've reached Grave of the Fireflies.

This is the story of Seita and Setsuko, teenage brother and very young sister, whose village is firebombed during the course of WWII. Their family is killed and they struggle to make it on their own in WWII Japan. It's a beautifully-made movie, one of the best war movies ever made, and has in it some of the most horrible things I've ever seen. Not in terms of gore, but in terms of the tragedies of war. I don't think an animated movie has ever seemed so real before.

I never recommend this movie to anyone. Which is odd, sure, but after how depressed I felt after the movie, I can't willingly suggest that someone else go through that. I don't think I'll ever see this movie again, despite it's greatness. Maybe it's because Setsuko reminds me of my niece. She'll probably remind you of yours too.

One of the best movies I've ever seen. Don't go see it.


EDITORIAL NOTE: If you read the previous version of this post, you'll know that it was quite different. I just didn't like the way it sounded, hence the change. I'll stick with this one.

I'm going to trademark "Superchamps"

It turns out that Marvel and DC Comics jointly own the trademark on the term "Superhero," and it was filed back in 1981. Apparently, now they are trying to register the term "super-hero" (note the hyphen). Gut reaction to both trademark applications: this is ridiculous. Everyone knows what a superhero is, but do they necessarily associate the term with either of those 2 companies? Well... maybe. Maybe my gut reaction was wrong and superheroes are normally associated with DC or Marvel, and everyone just fails or refuses to admit it. Let's see...

Name 5 superheroes. Off the top of my head, I'm gonna say Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Wolverine, Spider-Man. Look at that closely and you could also read it as DC, DC, DC, Marvel, Marvel. Did anyone say Human Torch? Marvel. What about Daredevil? Marvel. What about Green Lantern and the Flash? Both DC. I'm willing to bet that if I were to name a superhero, you'd be able to tell me if it's Marvel or DC. I guess we do associate them with superheroes.

Now, there'll be some nay-sayers out there that will yell out the likes of Savage Dragon (Image), Spawn (Image), and Witchblade (Top Cow). My only response to that is: do you really think of them as superheroes, or are they just comic books? I'm not making a distinction in quality, because there isn't one by any means, but rather simple semantics. It's just that the term comic book implies some sort of super-powered characters and their adventures, no matter the publisher. Take the comic book "Fell" for instance. It's an Image comic about a detective in the crappiest part of the crappiest part of town. No super-powers here. And I constantly find myself saying "Fell" is awesome, and making sure to tell people that it's just about a detective with no powers. It's a crime/detective/noir comic. If I were to say I bought a comic called "Cyberforce" (Top Cow), and left it at that, would you honestly not automatically think it was about a team of mutants or whatever... maybe even about cyborgs (which I don't think it is, by the way).

There's a recent editorial in the Los Angeles Times on the Superhero trademark that is worth reading. Quite frankly it's not the best editorial in the world, but it does make a fine point about certain terms like Band-Aid and cellophane losing their association with their original brands. Found this link thanks to my constant visitation to the awesome blog BoingBoing.

Overall, I think I've convinced myself that this this isn't entirely a big deal. It doesn't prevent me from using the term superhero in normal conversation. I just can't brand anything with that name, and I wasn't planning to. Very few people use the word "superhero" in a title anyways.

I reserve the right to change my mind and explode in a fit of rage when this directly affects me. You were forewarned.

Words from the Wise, vol. 1

Some choice words here about writing/directing/acting from people in the biz. You don't have to like them to think they make a good point. Just so happens, I'm a big fan of all the one's here:

"...ordinary people in extraordinary situations."

--Alfred Hitchcock, on the themes of his movies.

"You can always improve your dialogue by listening to how people speak. I don't mean listen to what they're saying and cpy it down; I mean listen ot how they say whatever they're saying. Listen for their inflections, their lazy grammar, their colloquialisms."

--Kevin Smith, on writing.

"Our primary function is to create an emotion, and our second job is to sustain that emotion."

--Alfred Hitchcock, on the role of a director.

"It's different when you're the director, because you have to negotiate with each and every actor. If I need someone to deilver a pizza in a scene, I don't need him to tell me he's doing it because his parents were alcoholics and he has a drug problem. I just need him to deliver the pizza. So you find that you're actually asking actors to do much less than they're capable of because that's what you need for the scene."

--George Clooney, on the transition from actor to director.

" The trick is to get in late and leave early. Whatever the point of the scene is, get to it and leave. Don't hang around."

--Brian Michael Bendis, on writing.

Also, check out the post on writer Gail Simone's blog entitled The Best Advice Ever About Writing, Period, Part One. It's a damn good read.

There will be a test on this later in the week.

My first story pitch (and Hellboy)

ohGod ohGod ohGod ohGod! I'm going in for my first proper bonafide story pitch at the end of next week down at The Studio, and I'm stressing like you wouldn't believe. If all goes well and the project gets greenlit, I'll be primarily the producer of an animated series for a major movie studio! Can't give you more details right now, though. Sorry! Top secret hush hush and all that what what, but "a nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat."

Hopefully, they'll also let me write the script since I'm developing the story, but "Baby steps, Bob." One thing at a time. I get myself worked up over the possibilities, and then I realize that I'm getting worked up and become so incredibly cynicial, it's ridiculous. Now if I could only figure out what to insert for the 2 gaping holes in the story, I'd be much happier. I'll keep you all updated as things move forward (or if they hit a brick wall!)

Anyways, it's always good to know that others are stressing like I am, just in a more advanced state, and with much more experience than I have to get them through it. I'm talking about Tad Stones, supervising director and producer of the upcoming Hellboy animated movie. He's keeping an online blog/diary of the whole production. It's really good stuff, very detailed, and is very educational for those of us who need it. He discusses everything from voice actors to color to storyboards to conferring with Hellboy-creator Mike Mignola. And the art is incredible! If you're a fan of Hellboy (the comics or the movie; I myself have never read the comics, but LOVE the movie) or just a fan of animation in general, Tad's blog is pure gold. Check it out!

"now all we need is a little energon, and a lot of luck."

Alias Finale (and other dates)

People! Join with me in a moment of silence. One of the best TV shows in recent memory is coming to an end on May 22nd in a 2hr series finale. That's right, after 5 seasons, Alias will be no more. And while I am the first to admit that the show was only good for the first 2 seasons and the first half of season 3 (the rest was ok), I am still sad to see it go.

Season finales for other ABC shows that I like: Lost = May 24th (2hr); Grey's Anatomy = May 14th & 15th (1hr each night). Check local listings for showtimes (can't believe I just said that). For a full list of ABC season finales, check out this posting on Ain't It Cool News.

and STOP WATCHING REALITY TV! you're ruining TV for the rest of us.

On April 26th... Sam's Story

On Wednesday, April 26th, 2006, a very special comic book will come out: Superman/Batman #26; and with it also comes a heart-breaking / heart-warming story. I want to explain it to you... I want to explain how this story makes me feel, how sad it makes me, how impressed I am with those involved in the issue, and how I wish there could be more like it. I don't think I can though. And I won't be able to do the backstory of this issue any justice. So here's a few paragraphs from an article on Newsarama on "Sam's Story":

A unique feature of this medium of comic books is how often we like to explore “alternative timelines” – variant "dimensions" and "universes" that deviate due to a singular event, causing ripple effects that change the entire world.

In such an alternative universe, perhaps a young writer with the familiar last name of Loeb – in this case Sam – follows up his first published work in Dark Horse’s Tales of The Vampires #5 with a one-shot issue of Superman/Batman #26. On the strength of that work he is assigned his first limited series, and then eventually an ongoing series. Perhaps in short order the comics industry finds its next Eisner winner, familiar name to the pages of Wizard and Newsarama, and fan-favorite panelist at the San Diego Comic-Con.

But that’s just an “alternative timeline”. In June of 2005, seventeen year-old Sam Loeb, son of comic book writer Jeph Loeb, died after a three-year battle with cancer.

By all accounts Sam lived a remarkable life for such a young man, touching the lives of just about everyone he came in contact with. And in April, DC Comics and a host of superstar creators are giving comic book readers a small glimpse into who Sam was and what he might have been, as 26 of the biggest names in comics lend a hand to finish a special story Sam wasn’t able to complete before his passing.

Superman/Batman #26 isn’t just a glimpse at the kind of comic book writer Sam Loeb may have become, but the way so many people who knew him have rallied around this special project, for those of us who didn’t know him it serves as a glimpse at the person he was, the mark he left, and at the limitless potential that the world lost with his passing.

We recently had the opportunity to speak to Sam’s colleague, best friend, and father – Jeph Loeb – to discuss the upcoming issue…

There's much more to the article than the few paragraphs above. If you want to keep reading, check out the full article on Newsarama.

In the article there are also several B&W pages from Sam's Story, a special supplement in the issue. Anyone familiar with Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale will know what to expect. If you're not, this is a fine intro. Either way, it won't take long. Read them anyways.

When I heard about Superman/Batman #26 and after I read the previously mentioned article, I went out to my local comic book shop and bought Tales of the Vampires #5 which contains a story written by Sam Loeb. He was an excellent writer; that much was clear from the story.

When this book comes out, even if you don't read comics, pick one up at your local comic book shop. It'll only be $3.99, and it's for a good cause. Proceeds from the sale of this issue will go to the Sam Loeb College Scholarship Fund. Better said in the words of Jeph Loeb, writer/producer for Lost on ABC and Smallville on the WB, and one of my top three favorite comic writers of all time (quote also from the Newsarama article):

LOEB: Every artist and writer has agreed to donate his or her fees and royalties directly to The Sam Loeb College Scholarship Fund. In addition, all of the artwork will be auctioned off next summer - at either the convention in Chicago or San Diego. All of those proceeds will go to the Fund as well.

The Sam Loeb College Scholarship Fund was set up in September 2005. It awards one student, a graduating Senior, each year who attended Sam's High School, North Hollywood High Gifted Magnet Program. The student best exemplifies Sam's qualities both as a student and as a person - in other words, brilliant with a sense of humor.

Since The Fund receives a portion of the book's sales (through the artists and writers royalties), we are urging the retailers to order heavily for two reasons.

I get my new comics every Wednesday (new comics day!) from DJ's Universal Comics in Studio City. Cat, the owner, is a huge supporter of the issue (he's even mentioned in the article), and I know he'll be ordering huge numbers of this issue. If you can't find it at your local comic book store, then come to Cat's. I'm sure he'll have more. If you don't normally buy comics, go to Cat's anyways. He'll make you feel right at home buying your first comic.

DJ's Universal Comics, 11038 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604. Phone: 818-761-3465

Hope to see you there on that day in April. I'll post on this subject again when the issue actually comes out. Until then, let me finish by echoing a sentiment from the latest issue of Superman, #650 (written by Kurt Busiek and Geoff Johns):

don't forget to look up. Nobody looks up anymore.

Linking is wrong! right?

Neil Gaiman, the writer of the epic Sandman series, as well as Neverwhere and Mirrormask, has received a very amusing legal notice. The whole thing has to do with a website the he doesn't own linking to an unremarkable film's website that he has nothing to do with. No wonder he refers to the whole thing as dada.

And when did linking to a website become against the law? Is it? If so, no one told me. Hell, I'd be happy for people to link to my site. Hmmmm... let's see. What do they call that... oh yes! It's called GENERATING TRAFFIC!

For the developing story, visit Neil Gaiman's blog. And here's the permlink to his first of many entries on the subject. And lastly, here's BoingBoing's take.

don't you people have anything better to do? ugh

Netflix-aholic: "Can you dig it?"

I love Netflix. If you don't have an account, get one. It's the best thing ever. It also poses a problem for me: I tend to put the most random crap in my queue. Sooner or later you forget to reorder the queue with what you want to see and you end up getting DVDs that have the potential to just sit on your coffee table as an experiment to see if DVDs really will last 100s of years.

That almost happened with the latest movie I got from Netflix: The Warriors. I forced myself to pop it in last night instead of watching the latest Jack Bauer-fest. I'm sure there's plenty of people right now saying "I can't believe you haven't seen that movie!" Well, suck it up... I never had.

Bottom line: The Warriors is a really fun movie to watch. I'm totally willing to watch it over and over, but I wouldn't buy it. My problems with the flick are few and far between. In fact, I can only think of one... and it's with the guy who plays Cyrus. His constant refrain of "Can you dig it?" was funny as hell, but his overall portrayal was ridiculous... more like a pastor than the ultimate gang-leader.

As the film says, "Warriors! Come out and play." Rent this movie. Have fun. And don't you dare come back and tell me you didn't like it because it wasn't realistic. Because it's not. And that's not the point.

your friendly neighborhood Netflix-aholic.

MY 3 CENTS: V for Vendetta

Below is a slightly edited comment I posted on Kung Fu Monkey as a response to Rogers' post. Figured I'd share it with y'all here. Oh, and if you think it's repetative, see the title of my first post on this blog:

I don't get these people who walk out of movies based on the politics of the subject matter. As [another poster] so rightly said... what were they thinking when they went?

The film was ok in my opinion, but not great. It certainly had it's moments... moments where I was riveted and couldn't wait to see what happened next. But I'm sorry to say they were few and far between. I found most of the film to be a barrage of symbolism which is not bad in it's own right, but here the allegories were hammered into our brains repeatedly to the point where the director/filmmakers/writers/whatever sacrificed substance and story for umpteen references to current politics and messiah imagery. To me, all that repetition is just an attempt to dumb down the story for the general public (didja get it? no? how about the 3rd time? no?)

Problem is, the people who need it dumbed down are also the people who are leaving the theater 35 mins into the movie!

I don't have a problem with the movie's politics, just the way it was made (for the most part).

...and am I the only one who wants one of those masks?

That was the end of my comment. Now I'd just like to add 2 things:
1) I can't blame Alan Moore for wanting nothing to do with this film. Film versions of From Hell and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen were both terrible while their graphic novel counterparts were both excellent (League more than From Hell which was really dense). It should be no surprise whatsoever that V for Vendetta is an exceptional comic. which leads to...
2) If you liked the movie, definitely pick it up and check it out. If you didn't like the movie, well... get it from the library, read it, and then you'll feel better about the $20 you dropped at the movie theater on tix and popcorn.

mmmm... popcorn

"my hypocrisy knows no bounds"

Ahhhh... good old Tombstone. But seriously, folks... let this be a warning to all ye who venture here. I love movies. I love comic books. I am, however, only sometimes partial to comic book movies (my first example of why this post is so titled). I think you'll all agree with me that there have been some craptacular ones out there (Punisher anyone? take your pick on which version).

Come back and visit often. I have much to say... not that I'm going to use this as my soapbox, just a place to share my views and odd tidbits and sage advice gathered from around the interwebnetboxtubedealio.

Quick notes about me personally... I'm a writer who hopes to direct one day. Don't bother imdb-ing me. I haven't done much of note, and the stuff that I've done in the entertainment industry that I am most proud of, well, imdb doesn't list them. It does however list the film that I interned on for 2 DAYS! ugh. Anyways, I'm working on what I hope to be the last draft of my screenplay (one that I am very proud of), and also 2 comic scripts which I hope to have done before the summer (fat chance!) You'll probably get updates on those as we move along.

Stick with me, folks! I'll see you get there.

In the meantime, Knight to Queen's Rook 4. booyah!