You might've noticed I didn't blog for over two months. There was no real reason. Well, nothing concrete, anyways. I just didn't have anything to say and would've felt like an egomaniac blogging for the sake of blogging. Granted, you've got to have a bit of egomania in you to blog in the first place, but I'm talking about Lex Luthor-type egomania. Anyways, here's what's on my mind:
—As of this morning (1/26), I'm three months and a day into my diet/health kick. I'm down to 181 lbs., for a total of 35.5 lbs. lost. The last time I weighed 181 lbs.? Sometime in 2004 or 2005. That was my senior year of high school. I'm in better shape now and healthier, too—45 minutes of cardio a day and eating with my head instead of my stomach. I feel good and I plan to drop an additional 11 lbs., if only to see 170 again. Those V-lines (or hump-lines or sex-lines or whatever you kids call them), too.
—The 83rd Academy Awards nominations were just announced. At this point, I don't care. I'll watch them, sure. But do I have a vested interest? Nah. They gave Alice in Wonderland a visual effects nomination, a movie with atrocious effects, but couldn't find room to nominate Scott Pilgrim VS the World for visual, sound, or editing. Shenanigans!
—Speaking of movies, lists, awards, etc., some friends and I have spent the last monthish talking about the best movies of the year. Here's my revised list, with brief snippets of reason:
1) The Social Network: Could it be anything else? Aaron Sorkin's writing is bloody captivating and makes me greener than the Hulk. I never thought watching someone type away on a computer would be fascinating, but I was proven wrong. Jesse Eisenberg was amazing, with more than just his delivery. His body language was phenomenal and by Zeus, did you see his eyes? They could've murdered the sun. Andrew Garfield made the movie though, by being the one completely likable fellow. He was the beating heart. David Fincher made it work, and Trent Reznor's score was great in its subtlety.
2) Scott Pilgrim VS the World: Easily my favorite movie of the year. I prefer this version of Scott Pilgrim's tale to Bryan Lee O'Malley's graphic novels, which is usually blasphemy in the nerd world. I know the movie has some issues (just read my review!), but it did so much so well. The editing was, as my pal Chase said, revolutionary. Edgar Wright assembled a stunning ensemble that worked together like old friends. The visuals, the sounds, it all clicks. And the bonuses make me wish I had been a part of the production.
3) Toy Story 3: If you've seen this movie, you cried. At least twice. I think I did three times. Looking back, I don't believe I was manipulated through the score, or by blatant attempts at sentimentalism. The trash disposal scene rests soundly as one of my favorite movie moments ever. We witnessed characters facing the worst possible situation, and instead of wasting that moment with panic or desperation, they reached out to one another. It was tragically heroic and I applaud Pixar for giving us something as real as that scene.
4) The Town: Ben Affleck, though the (former) butt of a lot of jokes, has a serious future in directing. He can handle action, knows how to build tension, and can get the best out of his actors (as evident by Jeremy Renner's Oscar nod). The crime movie has been done to death, but this felt fresh and invigorated. I appreciated the homages to Heat, too. At this point, it's hard not to take cues from Michael Mann's opus; even The Dark Knight's prologue was a love letter of sorts to Heat. I'd say Affleck and co. did a hell of a job keeping the standard high.
5) Black Swan: This spot was a tough race with True Grit and Inception right there. In fact, for a while Inception was in, but after a second viewing of Black Swan it won out. Haunted and disturbing, this movie stays right in your face and really doesn't let go. I love following an unreliable narrator around, especially when it's Natalie Portman at her best. She played this part so well, which is thanks to her skill and director Darren Aronofsky. The man cannot make a bad movie and each one will stick with you long after you've watched. Nina's trip throughout the film is horrifying and we feel as frightened as she does.
—I'd like to thank FOX broadcasting for canceling the excellent Firefly after all of 14 episodes. Now what the hell am I supposed to elliptical to? Arrested Development? Oh. Right.
—Just in case you haven't been visited by the Obvious Fairy, fallen out of the Obvious Tree and hit every branch on the way down, or been beaten with the Obvious Stick, read this.
—Before training ended at my job, we were told that in the last seven or so years, we'd only ever closed for snow three or four times. So far this year? Twice. We've gotten out early twice, too. Best part? I don't have to make it up during spring break or summer vacation. Of course, I don't have a spring break or summer vacation, but that's the price of adult(ish)hood.
—Over the summer, during the height of the Park 51 Muslim Community Center mania, no one seemed to notice that Republicans shot down a health care bill for 9/11 first responders. It came to a vote again in December, and the Republicans voted against genuine heroes one more time. But this time, a few people had enough. Shepherd Smith, over on FOX News, went off on a rant about it. Jon Stewart and all of The Daily Show took it up as a personal cause. They dedicated an entire show to it and invited a panel of 9/11 first responders onto the show to tell the truth about their situations. It was heartbreaking and disgusting how these men were treated. After that episode, the corporate media finally picked it up. Then the bill went to vote again and passed. So when people say that Jon Stewart isn't in the news business, you can agree. He's in the getting-shit-done business.
—The Superbowl is set! The Pittsburgh Steelers vs the Green Bay Packers. I'm rooting for Steelers even though they beat my (newly) beloved Jets. You can't argue against their defense and even if Big Ben is a sketchy/creepy/downright horrible person off the field, on it, he gets work done. But really, I love Troy Polamalu. It's hard not to. Even if he's not integral to the stop, he's there at the end of every play. There's that hair, too.
—Far too often, hosts at awards shows take the event deadly serious. Not Ricky Gervais. He recognizes the absurdity of a bunch of overpaid entertainers patting themselves on the back. I loved every joke, every line, every awkward moment. Everyone ever should take a cue from Gervais and not take themselves too seriously.
—Losing My Religion will be 20 years old on February 19. This song cannot get old. It's as powerful a listening experience now as it was when it was first released. I got to see Peter Buck (R.E.M.'s guitarist and writer of the classic riff) play the song live with Hootie and the Blowfish in 2006. Pretty awesome moment.
—I got my first gray hair. Two days after my 24th birthday, one of my fellow trainees, Maureen, looked over in my direction and gave me the wonderful news. Two others confirmed it. I'll take gray over bald any day. Gray has a certain prestige to it.
That's it for now, amigos! I'm (still) working on a blog about the greatest comedy currently on TV, Community, so that may or may not be next. So until next time, remember that only you can prevent forest fires.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
It Happened On a Dark Knight
For those unaware, Batman was my first superhero. My dad, older sister, Cindy, and I used to watch the old Adam West re-runs in the den when I was little. How could I not be captivated? I fondly remember my Batmobile toy from Burton's 1989 movie, and the Batman action figure with the belt that acted like a grappling hook. I've been sporting Batman t-shirts for nearly two decades. I'm proud to say I've never seen all of Batman and Robin. I saw Batman Begins after graduating high school and loved it. The Caped Crusader is in my blood. I'm actually writing this blog draped in my Batman blanket. So, by January 2008, I had binders and notebooks covered in Joker smiley faces, Bat-Symbols, and "Why So Serious?". I think I might've even been working on a Joker voice because yes, I am that kind of person. Once we started seeing footage from the movie, I was nerding out hardcore. The entire summer before the release, all we talked about at work was The Dark Knight. I saw it at midnight in Joker facepaint and green hair because, once again, yes, I am that kind of person. What Heath Ledger did with the role blew me away. I immediately planned a trip to Raleigh for an IMAX screening. I saw it again when I went to Greensboro to visit friends. I may or may not have acquired it to watch while waiting for the DVD/Blu-Ray release. And you bet your ass I was there the day of the release to get the Blu-Ray. I love it and count it among my favorite films.
Yes, it has problems. Chris Nolan has trouble figuring out how to film Batman's fighting style. In Batman Begins it was fast and blurred and tight. We were supposed to feel like one of the guys getting pummeled. A lot of folks complained about that style, claiming the action was hard to follow. I agree and disagree with that; it was hard to follow every single hit, but I don't think Batman's fights are about individual moves. What they did in The Dark Knight, though, was a bad call. They pulled the camera back and didn't have much in the way of quick cuts. Sounds good in principle, but the choreography for the fights made Batman look slow. Really slow. It didn't feel right. That Batman-voice was bad news, too. Yeesh. Harvey Dent's arc was rushed, no two ways about it. Whether or not Nolan had any plans to do a third movie, killing off Dent after a rushed descent into madness and climax was not the right call. That's one of those threads you could leave open-ended and still have it feel satisfying. In that same vein, Nolan seems to struggle with the third acts in his Batman films. The first saw a main villain tased and a fight on a train. The second was drawn out. The idea was good, but the execution just felt off. And that shot of Batman running from the cops looked silly, like a kid in a Halloween costume. There's slight series inconsistencies, too. Wayne Enterprises is in a different building and the old one is completely ignored, despite the truck flip occurring right in front of it. There's not a single mention of the Narrows, or its current condition. And what about the train? We see it in one, maybe two shots. These latter two things were such huge, huge parts of the first film that it was odd to just completely move on from them. But I let myself look past all of that. Here's why:
—The story continues in a logical way. As Batman Begins ends, Gordon talks to Bats about escalation. We have Batman copycats, trying to fight crime with guns and hockey pads. The mob's getting desperate and dangerous. And of course, there's the Joker. He pushes Gotham to the brink, to what he sees as the next step. One of the few times he speaks honestly is in the interrogation room with Batman. There's no normal anymore in Gotham. Only freaks.
—The camera work and cinematography. Holy crap did this movie look amazing. Wally Pfister deserved an Oscar for his work, especially with the use of IMAX. Honestly, I have no idea why Hollywood hasn't jumped on that bandwagon. Yes, the cameras are heavier, harder to work with. Bigger, too. And louder. But if James Cameron can develop new technology to film 3D, why not IMAX, too? Why spend tons of cash to convert movies to crappy 3D in post when that money could go towards improving IMAX cameras?
—Harvey Dent. While Two-Face gets the shaft, Aaron Eckhart does a great job as Gotham's White Knight. He balanced the good, lawful man on a mission with a violence and anger just under the skin. Watching him fall was a pleasure, as bad as that sounds.
—The subtlety. In the opening heist, Joker gets himself a sawed-off shotgun. He also leaves in a school bus. He uses that shotgun at the fundraiser and again in the tractor-trailer. He leaves the hospital aboard a school bus, which is probably how he got there in the first place. There's also Scarecrow showing up again. Even if Nolan relegated him to a drug dealer (stupidstupidstupid), it's nice to see that these characters are still in Gotham, and not disappearing after the credits roll.
—Heath Ledger's Joker. Plenty has been said about this performance. Heath ate up scenery like it was edible underwear. If he was on the screen, he's all you watched. The Oscar was more than earned. Heath transformed himself into this character. He's completely unrecognizable, and it's not just the voice and make-up. Even when we see him sans facepaint, that's not Heath Ledger. It's the Joker, through and through.
Comic aficionados have also said plenty about this interpretation of the character. No, this it's not the playful but morbid Joker from Batman: The Animated Series. It's also not the insane Clown Prince of Crime from the comics. It's not Nichelson's Joker, or any other Joker. As it turns out, there is no THE Joker, no definitive take on the character. Alan Moore has a version. So do Grant Morrison, Tim Burton, Jeph Loeb, Chris Nolan, and so on for seventy-one years. He changes based on the medium and the writer. He changes based on the context of the story. Maybe Heath's Joker wasn't so playful. He didn't laugh as much as some might've wanted. He used facepaint instead of being scarred. But so what? This Joker was as charismatic and engaging and thoughtful and destructive as any we've seen. He was Batman's foil. And those, I think, are keys to the character.
Central to this version was manipulation and planning. This plays out beautifully in a bedside chat in a hospital, between Dent and the Joker. Every sentence is there to serve a purpose, to take Dent on a very specific journey down, down, down into madness. He masterfully shifts the blame of Rachel's death from his own shoulders to Gordon's and the mob's. Joker claims he's not a schemer, when in truth, no one schemes more, or better, than him. From the top of the movie, the bank heist was thoroughly planned. His meeting his the mobsters? Watch how he carries himself. He's reciting a practiced speech. When Gambol interrupts and calls him a freak, we see Joker go off-the-cuff. He planned out killing Gambol. He planned out the murders of two public officials, attempted the assassination of two, and one of those was in plain sight. And of course, there's the tractor-trailer/SWAT chase. Now, I read a lot of people complaining about this. How could Joker have planned all of that to work out that way? Well, readers, he didn't. Unless he had a crystal ball, there's no way he could've predicted the Batmobile's destruction or Gordon being alive and well. No, I think he just planned for lots of scenarios. There's also the meeting with the Russian mobster. Again, a rehearsed speech and act. He even had a cue for his goons to come in and douse the money in gas. I love it. I love that he lied to everyone except Batman.
I've waited to post about The Dark Knight for a while now. I meant to over the summer, but there's a ton of things I meant to do over the summer I never got around to. When January rolled around and I realized I still hadn't blogged about anything in over a month (now over two months), I got to work. And I waited to post this today. Three years ago today, Heath Ledger died. I remember coming home from my screenwriting class, heading into my room, and getting a call from my friend, Chad. He told me Heath Ledger was just pronounced dead. I called bullshit. It just seemed so far-fetched. The timing felt wrong. If you remember, the first teaser for The Dark Knight had just been released ahead of I Am Legend in early December 2007. It was a true teaser, too: no images from the film, just dialogue and a chilling laugh. The seven minute bank heist had also been attached to the IMAX screenings of I Am Legend, and the viral marketing, which had started in May 2007 (revealing the first image of the Joker), was in fifth gear. Word was starting to spread about his performance, even before we got to see a trailer. And then his death. Selfishly, the first thing I wondered was whether Chris Nolan and co. had everything they needed, or if reshoots were necessary. I was worried about whether or not The Dark Knight would be finished and released. Later that day, I read about Heath's little girl, Matilda, his relationship with her, and some anecdotes from their Brooklyn neighbors. Then it became about a person, a father, not a character or a movie. Here was a kid who would never get to know her dad but from the movies he made and the stories she's told. And the thing is, this happens all the time. Children lose parents every day. This isn't uncommon, but we're all taken by surprise when it happens to a celebrity. We hold them to some odd, immortal-esque standard, when really, they're just as fucked up as you and me.
Author's Note: Why so serious, Joey? That ending's a bit morbid. I should lighten up. Next blog will end on a happier note. Funnier too, maybe. I promise.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Expanded Thoughts or: How I Learned To Stop Procrastinating And Love The Blog
I'm working on a couple of ideas for full-length posts, but until I stop and write them, you'll just have to deal with another stupendous edition of Expanded Thoughts, with MadChops! Shall we? (We shall.)
—This diet is doing good things. I'm eating healthier and smarter, I'm losing weight, and I'm feeling good. Wednesday marked 10 lbs. loss since my official start date (13.5-15.5 lbs. since the unofficial). Thanksgiving scares me though. So does the pizza party that's just been planned for the Friday after. This is where I up the exercise and control how much I eat.
—The Green Lantern trailer leaked. I'll link to it/embed it once there's a high quality version available sometime this weekend. I'm glad we're seeing it so early, because if this was closer to release, I'd be worried. CG is a blessing and a curse and you really see that here, particularly at the end. On the other side, Kilowog looked awesome. So did Abin Sur, Sinestro, and Hector Hammond. Still looking forward to this in big ways.
And here it is! I couldn't imbed it, so the link goes to Quicktime's site, which has several HD versions: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/greenlantern/
—That wasn't the only trailer to come out this week. We finally got a look at Jon Favreau's secretive Cowboys and Aliens. In case those words don't get you excited, let me introduce a few more: James Bond. Han Solo. Olivia Wilde. Cowboys. Aliens. Favreau does amazing things with genres that could just as easily cheese out. But when you take the story seriously, like with Iron Man, you can get great results. Jon, I've added this to my anticipated movies.
—You probably thought that after Cowboys and Aliens, I was done with trailer talk. You were, as it turns out, totally wrong. Because you see, the red band trailer for David Gordon Green's Your Highness came out a day or so ago. In case you have no idea, it's about James Franco and Danny McBride in the middle ages. They may or may not be stoned. Also, supreme-crush Zooey Deschanel as Franco's wife-to-be and Natalie Portman as a badass not afraid to show off her ass. To me, it looks as funny and nonsensical as Pineapple Express, which I loved.
—I'm re-reading Jurassic Park. But this time it's with the critical, editorial eye I developed the last few years at UNCW. Don't get me wrong, I adore the book and love the story, but it would take months to cut out all the superfluous words, monologues, and get the dialogue into something that resembles the way people communicate with each other. All the references to dinosaurs as lizards, too, and their flicking tongues (they're a type of reptile, but not the type you're familiar with). It's still a blast to read, flaws and all. If only I could watch Return of the Jedi and The Last Crusade with the same mentality.
—Glee is at its finest when it is dealing with the students. When they have the A storyline, the show kicks ass. See last week's episode. When the teachers have the A storyline, I get annoyed. See this week's episode. And I sure as hell can't understand why every single song on this episode had a teacher singing with the students. This is not a show about an eclectic group singing a musical. It's about a high school glee club. The adults should rarely, if ever, be singing with the kids in performances. The adult cast is full of great support characters, but their issues should not be the forefront unless it directly affects the glee club. Yeesh.
—Comic Book Movie News Time! Denis Leary is the latest edition to Marc Webb's Spider-Man movie, in the role of Gwen Stacy's father, Capt. Stacy. Tom Hardy has been cast in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises, but we don't have any idea as to who he'll play. Maybe Dr. Hugo Strange, maybe Croc. Maybe neither. There's also two female roles open: one to play a love interest, and the other a villain. Darron Aronofsky's The Wolverine will begin shooting in April of next year. I stand firm that I will not purchase another ticket for a FOX-produced comic book movie.
—I'm done saying anything after you sneeze. There's plenty of origins for "God bless you" after a sneeze and not a one makes any singular type of sense. Some think it originated during the plague and sneezing was a symptom. Could be people thought your soul was escaping and the devil might've found a way into you. Either way, it's old, archaic, and to me, foolishly outdated as a tradition. Sneezing is something our body does. It's extraordinary in its unextraordinarily commonness. So don't think me rude when I say nothing after you sneeze. Just think me crotchety and grumpy about traditions no one thinks to examine.
—I have to say it again: Community is one of the best comedies on TV right now. There's no excuse not to watch it. Old Chevy Chase as a racist? Yes please. Donald Glover on a regular basis? Heck yes. Alison Brie in the occasional cleavage revealing sweater? Say no more! It's also uproarious and well-written. But that's minor in comparison to Alison Brie's cleavage.
—Freddie Mercury was the last great front man. He may very well be the best. Do you think there's one better? Let me know, because I'd love to hear a case for someone else.
—Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 came out. I didn't see it at midnight. This breaks my heart in terrible ways. I'm hoping for a Sunday showing. But it may have to wait until after work Monday. I need some nerds up here.
—This diet is doing good things. I'm eating healthier and smarter, I'm losing weight, and I'm feeling good. Wednesday marked 10 lbs. loss since my official start date (13.5-15.5 lbs. since the unofficial). Thanksgiving scares me though. So does the pizza party that's just been planned for the Friday after. This is where I up the exercise and control how much I eat.
—The Green Lantern trailer leaked. I'll link to it/embed it once there's a high quality version available sometime this weekend. I'm glad we're seeing it so early, because if this was closer to release, I'd be worried. CG is a blessing and a curse and you really see that here, particularly at the end. On the other side, Kilowog looked awesome. So did Abin Sur, Sinestro, and Hector Hammond. Still looking forward to this in big ways.
And here it is! I couldn't imbed it, so the link goes to Quicktime's site, which has several HD versions: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/greenlantern/
—That wasn't the only trailer to come out this week. We finally got a look at Jon Favreau's secretive Cowboys and Aliens. In case those words don't get you excited, let me introduce a few more: James Bond. Han Solo. Olivia Wilde. Cowboys. Aliens. Favreau does amazing things with genres that could just as easily cheese out. But when you take the story seriously, like with Iron Man, you can get great results. Jon, I've added this to my anticipated movies.
—You probably thought that after Cowboys and Aliens, I was done with trailer talk. You were, as it turns out, totally wrong. Because you see, the red band trailer for David Gordon Green's Your Highness came out a day or so ago. In case you have no idea, it's about James Franco and Danny McBride in the middle ages. They may or may not be stoned. Also, supreme-crush Zooey Deschanel as Franco's wife-to-be and Natalie Portman as a badass not afraid to show off her ass. To me, it looks as funny and nonsensical as Pineapple Express, which I loved.
—I'm re-reading Jurassic Park. But this time it's with the critical, editorial eye I developed the last few years at UNCW. Don't get me wrong, I adore the book and love the story, but it would take months to cut out all the superfluous words, monologues, and get the dialogue into something that resembles the way people communicate with each other. All the references to dinosaurs as lizards, too, and their flicking tongues (they're a type of reptile, but not the type you're familiar with). It's still a blast to read, flaws and all. If only I could watch Return of the Jedi and The Last Crusade with the same mentality.
—Glee is at its finest when it is dealing with the students. When they have the A storyline, the show kicks ass. See last week's episode. When the teachers have the A storyline, I get annoyed. See this week's episode. And I sure as hell can't understand why every single song on this episode had a teacher singing with the students. This is not a show about an eclectic group singing a musical. It's about a high school glee club. The adults should rarely, if ever, be singing with the kids in performances. The adult cast is full of great support characters, but their issues should not be the forefront unless it directly affects the glee club. Yeesh.
—Comic Book Movie News Time! Denis Leary is the latest edition to Marc Webb's Spider-Man movie, in the role of Gwen Stacy's father, Capt. Stacy. Tom Hardy has been cast in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises, but we don't have any idea as to who he'll play. Maybe Dr. Hugo Strange, maybe Croc. Maybe neither. There's also two female roles open: one to play a love interest, and the other a villain. Darron Aronofsky's The Wolverine will begin shooting in April of next year. I stand firm that I will not purchase another ticket for a FOX-produced comic book movie.
—I'm done saying anything after you sneeze. There's plenty of origins for "God bless you" after a sneeze and not a one makes any singular type of sense. Some think it originated during the plague and sneezing was a symptom. Could be people thought your soul was escaping and the devil might've found a way into you. Either way, it's old, archaic, and to me, foolishly outdated as a tradition. Sneezing is something our body does. It's extraordinary in its unextraordinarily commonness. So don't think me rude when I say nothing after you sneeze. Just think me crotchety and grumpy about traditions no one thinks to examine.
—I have to say it again: Community is one of the best comedies on TV right now. There's no excuse not to watch it. Old Chevy Chase as a racist? Yes please. Donald Glover on a regular basis? Heck yes. Alison Brie in the occasional cleavage revealing sweater? Say no more! It's also uproarious and well-written. But that's minor in comparison to Alison Brie's cleavage.
—Freddie Mercury was the last great front man. He may very well be the best. Do you think there's one better? Let me know, because I'd love to hear a case for someone else.
—Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 came out. I didn't see it at midnight. This breaks my heart in terrible ways. I'm hoping for a Sunday showing. But it may have to wait until after work Monday. I need some nerds up here.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Expanded Thoughts: The Regular New Edition
—I've always wanted to be in a female-fronted band. Recently, I've been listening to a ton of Stars, Rilo Kiley, Feist, Regina Spektor, No Doubt. The sung female voice holds something in me hostage. I can't explain it, I just know that it hits me in a different way than a male voice. But again, I couldn't tell you about the difference, just that it exists. It's rather abstract. Maybe you get it, without the proper words to explain it.
—The midterm election has come and gone. Republicans took the House and gained seats in the Senate. Prop. 19 was defeated, but so was Prop. 23. I hope things go the way they have in the past, especially during the Clinton administration: President Obama gets a second term, and we see the economy continue its climb. What will we see? A lot of bullshit political posturing. Republicans have made it known if they gained the House they'd investigate the Obama administration. For what, you ask? Whatever they can imagine. They'll work to repel health care reform, according to Rep. John Boehner, the soon-to-be Speaker of the House. I'm sure my parents will appreciate that since I'm scheduled to hop back on their health care come January thanks to the reforms. It'll be an interesting few years, that's for sure.
—How did the Republicans win? Turns out the Democrats didn't really believe in the things they accomplished. I mean, if they did, why weren't the immediate benefits of health care reform touted? How come the tax cuts of the stimulus package were hardly mentioned, if at all? Why wasn't this graph shown on major news networks, or in campaign commercials? Where was the backbone of the Democratic Party? Unfortunately, it was nonexistent. Maybe two years will shape them up.
—And for my final (maybe) political rant: Two parties does not work. It hasn't worked in decades. Every election cycle, the party talking points come out, and it's always the same. Real Libertarians need attention. So do Independents and members of the Green Party. Why these aren't considered serious in the political system drives me crazy. You get a better media narrative when it's the same two parties against each other, and I imagine it's easier for lobbyists to buy-off a politician when they have a big (D) or (R) next to their name. My pal David argues that the introduction of a third party means someone who didn't get a true majority of votes could be elected (that sure sounds like the 2000 election to me). But they would have a majority of the votes cast, and I'm OK with that. I guess now's as good a time as any for third parties to really get their names out there.
—Growing up frightens me, and everyone else, I think. All of a sudden, I'm going to be working 40 hours a week. I'll be paying off my student loans starting Dec. 4. Soon after, there'll be a car payment and insurance. Eventually, rent and utilities again. Then it's a house payment. An engagement ring, diapers, baby food, strollers, doctor's appointments, clothes, birthday parties, more insurance, another car, tuition, etc., etc. See how quickly it can spiral out of control? People I graduated high school with have kids. Several. Good friends have gotten or are getting married. Kids I went to middle school with, that I knew in 3rd grade have kids and a ring. That's what I see, and I don't know how to respond.
—I've had a surprisingly hard time getting into a couple of books. I won't reveal titles because I'm not trying to lose friends, but know that I'm as surprised as you would be if I were brave enough to say which books they are. Taking a break from them is about all I can do, and I hope in a few weeks I've got the urge to restart them. I don't think it's my attention span, or lack thereof. I wish it were that simple.
—The Walking Dead finally premiered on AMC, and what a show it was. It pulled in 8.3 million viewers. Wow. Want to read more of what I think of it? Of course you do! Well, head over to Among The Walking Dead! David, Chase, and myself will be doing write-ups, recaps, op-eds, massages, and conversating about the series after each episode airs. Make it your new home for The Walking Dead based opinions.
—Everything about Sony's reboot of the Spider-Man franchise has sounded like webbing to my ears. Wait, what? That analogy makes no sense. Can we move past it and pretend it didn't happen? Thanks. First bit of good news: they want to take the story to high school. Second bit of good news: Marc Webb of the amazing, spectacular, astonishing, friendly neighborhood (500) Days of Summer will direct it. Third bit: Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker and (spoiler alert!) Spider-Man. Fourth bit: Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy. AWESOME. But there's more, webheads! Rhys Ifans will play Dr. Curt Connors and the Lizard. It's about time we get to see him on the big screen. And just announced today: Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben! AND Sally Field as Aunt May. With such great casting, it's hard not to wonder who they'll get for Green Goblin or Harry or Kraven or Doc Ock, Mary Jane, Eddie Brock, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty, and on and on and on! They are doing it right, friends.
—Sorry to bring politics back up, but some news came out Thursday about former-President Bush, and I'm not sure which is worse. He admits in his memoirs that he did order waterboarding. Now, depending on your humanity, you see waterboarding as torture. In fact, the United States of America, back in the '40s, thought of waterboarding as torture when the Japanese used it against American troops. So adamant was the USA that it was torture that Japanese soldiers were tried for war crimes for waterboarding. Fast forward 60 years, and apparently we're a-OK with NOT prosecuting an admitted war criminal for war criming. Classy. But not as classy as this: Bush feels that Kanye West's outburst over the federal government's response to Katrina was the lowest point in his presidency. Not the murder of over 3,000 innocent civilians on 9/11, not allowing a city to drown, not lying constantly about Iraq, not torture, the worst deficit in history, or the collapse of the economy. None of that compared to Kanye's insinuation, if not blatant naming, that Bush was racist. Sometimes I'm not sure if George Walker Bush is a bumbling idiot, evil mastermind, or plainly tragic. I'm a very empathetic person, but the man makes it so hard.
—Not watching Community? Start! The show rocks. Definitely one of the best 3 comedies on TV.
—So, last week was kind of a scrimmage for my diet. During said scrimmage, I lost about 10 pounds. Then Halloween weekend happened. Yikes. I started it for reals on Monday, beginning at 212.5. I'm at 209 right now and was here yesterday, too. I'm adjusting what I eat/when I eat as I see different results. Big giant thanks to Bobby, Zac, Cindy, Beth, and Hope for good ideas on getting myself back into shape! You're all awesome.
—I'll be posting my weight every morning on Twitter if you want to keep tabs at home. I won't judge you for being a little creepy. Don't have Twitter? Check out the little Twitter box on the right-hand side of my blog!
—I got my hair trimmed on Thursday. On discussing blow-drying and its effect on my hair, my hairdresser said, "If I blow it, it'll get big, ya know?" Yes, yes I do.
—The midterm election has come and gone. Republicans took the House and gained seats in the Senate. Prop. 19 was defeated, but so was Prop. 23. I hope things go the way they have in the past, especially during the Clinton administration: President Obama gets a second term, and we see the economy continue its climb. What will we see? A lot of bullshit political posturing. Republicans have made it known if they gained the House they'd investigate the Obama administration. For what, you ask? Whatever they can imagine. They'll work to repel health care reform, according to Rep. John Boehner, the soon-to-be Speaker of the House. I'm sure my parents will appreciate that since I'm scheduled to hop back on their health care come January thanks to the reforms. It'll be an interesting few years, that's for sure.
—How did the Republicans win? Turns out the Democrats didn't really believe in the things they accomplished. I mean, if they did, why weren't the immediate benefits of health care reform touted? How come the tax cuts of the stimulus package were hardly mentioned, if at all? Why wasn't this graph shown on major news networks, or in campaign commercials? Where was the backbone of the Democratic Party? Unfortunately, it was nonexistent. Maybe two years will shape them up.
—And for my final (maybe) political rant: Two parties does not work. It hasn't worked in decades. Every election cycle, the party talking points come out, and it's always the same. Real Libertarians need attention. So do Independents and members of the Green Party. Why these aren't considered serious in the political system drives me crazy. You get a better media narrative when it's the same two parties against each other, and I imagine it's easier for lobbyists to buy-off a politician when they have a big (D) or (R) next to their name. My pal David argues that the introduction of a third party means someone who didn't get a true majority of votes could be elected (that sure sounds like the 2000 election to me). But they would have a majority of the votes cast, and I'm OK with that. I guess now's as good a time as any for third parties to really get their names out there.
—Growing up frightens me, and everyone else, I think. All of a sudden, I'm going to be working 40 hours a week. I'll be paying off my student loans starting Dec. 4. Soon after, there'll be a car payment and insurance. Eventually, rent and utilities again. Then it's a house payment. An engagement ring, diapers, baby food, strollers, doctor's appointments, clothes, birthday parties, more insurance, another car, tuition, etc., etc. See how quickly it can spiral out of control? People I graduated high school with have kids. Several. Good friends have gotten or are getting married. Kids I went to middle school with, that I knew in 3rd grade have kids and a ring. That's what I see, and I don't know how to respond.
—I've had a surprisingly hard time getting into a couple of books. I won't reveal titles because I'm not trying to lose friends, but know that I'm as surprised as you would be if I were brave enough to say which books they are. Taking a break from them is about all I can do, and I hope in a few weeks I've got the urge to restart them. I don't think it's my attention span, or lack thereof. I wish it were that simple.
—The Walking Dead finally premiered on AMC, and what a show it was. It pulled in 8.3 million viewers. Wow. Want to read more of what I think of it? Of course you do! Well, head over to Among The Walking Dead! David, Chase, and myself will be doing write-ups, recaps, op-eds, massages, and conversating about the series after each episode airs. Make it your new home for The Walking Dead based opinions.
—Everything about Sony's reboot of the Spider-Man franchise has sounded like webbing to my ears. Wait, what? That analogy makes no sense. Can we move past it and pretend it didn't happen? Thanks. First bit of good news: they want to take the story to high school. Second bit of good news: Marc Webb of the amazing, spectacular, astonishing, friendly neighborhood (500) Days of Summer will direct it. Third bit: Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker and (spoiler alert!) Spider-Man. Fourth bit: Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy. AWESOME. But there's more, webheads! Rhys Ifans will play Dr. Curt Connors and the Lizard. It's about time we get to see him on the big screen. And just announced today: Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben! AND Sally Field as Aunt May. With such great casting, it's hard not to wonder who they'll get for Green Goblin or Harry or Kraven or Doc Ock, Mary Jane, Eddie Brock, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty, and on and on and on! They are doing it right, friends.
—Sorry to bring politics back up, but some news came out Thursday about former-President Bush, and I'm not sure which is worse. He admits in his memoirs that he did order waterboarding. Now, depending on your humanity, you see waterboarding as torture. In fact, the United States of America, back in the '40s, thought of waterboarding as torture when the Japanese used it against American troops. So adamant was the USA that it was torture that Japanese soldiers were tried for war crimes for waterboarding. Fast forward 60 years, and apparently we're a-OK with NOT prosecuting an admitted war criminal for war criming. Classy. But not as classy as this: Bush feels that Kanye West's outburst over the federal government's response to Katrina was the lowest point in his presidency. Not the murder of over 3,000 innocent civilians on 9/11, not allowing a city to drown, not lying constantly about Iraq, not torture, the worst deficit in history, or the collapse of the economy. None of that compared to Kanye's insinuation, if not blatant naming, that Bush was racist. Sometimes I'm not sure if George Walker Bush is a bumbling idiot, evil mastermind, or plainly tragic. I'm a very empathetic person, but the man makes it so hard.
—Not watching Community? Start! The show rocks. Definitely one of the best 3 comedies on TV.
—So, last week was kind of a scrimmage for my diet. During said scrimmage, I lost about 10 pounds. Then Halloween weekend happened. Yikes. I started it for reals on Monday, beginning at 212.5. I'm at 209 right now and was here yesterday, too. I'm adjusting what I eat/when I eat as I see different results. Big giant thanks to Bobby, Zac, Cindy, Beth, and Hope for good ideas on getting myself back into shape! You're all awesome.
—I'll be posting my weight every morning on Twitter if you want to keep tabs at home. I won't judge you for being a little creepy. Don't have Twitter? Check out the little Twitter box on the right-hand side of my blog!
—I got my hair trimmed on Thursday. On discussing blow-drying and its effect on my hair, my hairdresser said, "If I blow it, it'll get big, ya know?" Yes, yes I do.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Random Thoughts: October Edition
—Nothing makes me more nostalgic than autumn. Despite making great friends up here, the Gang is missed.
—I'm going to Raleigh in mid-January and I am pumped! I haven't been that way in a while and it'll be great to see old, familiar faces.
—Wikileaks released an unprecedented amount of information about the Iraq war. But none of its content is getting legitimate coverage from the US media. That sucks.
—For the last seven years, if not longer, we the people were lied to. Hundreds of thousands of people, whether American, Iraqi, Afghani, have died. Who knows how many more were tortured. No one will be held accountable, and that is unacceptable.
—You know who else won't be held accountable? The white-collar criminals and their cronies who brought the economy to its knees. But you and me will get 10+ years for possessing an ounce of pot or more.
—Christopher Nolan has given us the title of his third Batman movie: The Dark Knight Rises. I like the implication in the title; in The Dark Knight, Batman became the Dark Knight. This may not be a persona he wants, but it's one he'll carry. Chris Nolan also revealed no Riddler, which I like. It opens the door to a lot of other great villains the movies and mainstream public haven't seen.
—I'm super-pumped for the Rally to Restore Sanity and for all my friends going. It ought to be a blast. And seriously, get Jon Stewart or someone to give me a call.
—Back to the Future's 25th anniversary has come and gone: on October 26th, 1985, Marty McFly went back in time to November 5th, 1955. Putting serious thought into it, this is probably my favorite trilogy of all time.
—Congrats to the Texas Rangers on their first World Series appearance. I may be a Yankees fan, but it'd be a lie to say anything other than Texas outplayed them.
—For the uninformed, I finally got a job. Forty hours a week, salary, benefits...An adult job.
—Did you hear Mitch McConnell of South Carolina say the Republicans' number one priority is keeping Barack Obama from getting a second term? It's great to know we have elected officials looking out for us and not their party. This is how I know the two-party system is broken, and why we need viable third-, fourth-, and fifth-parties.
—This upcoming election is crucial. Read this and tell your friends, parents, etc. Misinformation is everywhere and it's disturbing. There's no slant, no bias to facts. Use them.
—Speaking of this election, VOTE. Tell your friends, parents, enemies, frenemies, acquaintances, whoever! I don't care who you vote for, just that you are voting. If you're in California, might I suggest voting for Prop. 19 and against Prop. 23. The former legalizes possession of pot. The latter will cost billions of dollars in clean energy and jobs.
—The rumormill is a-churning: George Lucas is planning a new STAR WARS trilogy, well after the events of Return of the Jedi and with no connection to the Skywalker Saga. I can and will be OK with this if Lucas isn't writing or directing, and he surrounds himself by greater talents who will challenge his decisions.
—Once again, I <3 Rachel Maddow.
—Something to keep in mind when discussing/reading about politics, faith, discrimination, etc.: Be a skeptic. Just because it confirms your bias does NOT make it true. If it elicits a strong emotional response, take a step back and re-evaluate it. People are manipulators, regardless of political party, religion, etc. Keep you head up and eyes open.
—I'm going to Raleigh in mid-January and I am pumped! I haven't been that way in a while and it'll be great to see old, familiar faces.
—Wikileaks released an unprecedented amount of information about the Iraq war. But none of its content is getting legitimate coverage from the US media. That sucks.
—For the last seven years, if not longer, we the people were lied to. Hundreds of thousands of people, whether American, Iraqi, Afghani, have died. Who knows how many more were tortured. No one will be held accountable, and that is unacceptable.
—You know who else won't be held accountable? The white-collar criminals and their cronies who brought the economy to its knees. But you and me will get 10+ years for possessing an ounce of pot or more.
—Christopher Nolan has given us the title of his third Batman movie: The Dark Knight Rises. I like the implication in the title; in The Dark Knight, Batman became the Dark Knight. This may not be a persona he wants, but it's one he'll carry. Chris Nolan also revealed no Riddler, which I like. It opens the door to a lot of other great villains the movies and mainstream public haven't seen.
—I'm super-pumped for the Rally to Restore Sanity and for all my friends going. It ought to be a blast. And seriously, get Jon Stewart or someone to give me a call.
—Back to the Future's 25th anniversary has come and gone: on October 26th, 1985, Marty McFly went back in time to November 5th, 1955. Putting serious thought into it, this is probably my favorite trilogy of all time.
—Congrats to the Texas Rangers on their first World Series appearance. I may be a Yankees fan, but it'd be a lie to say anything other than Texas outplayed them.
—For the uninformed, I finally got a job. Forty hours a week, salary, benefits...An adult job.
—Did you hear Mitch McConnell of South Carolina say the Republicans' number one priority is keeping Barack Obama from getting a second term? It's great to know we have elected officials looking out for us and not their party. This is how I know the two-party system is broken, and why we need viable third-, fourth-, and fifth-parties.
—This upcoming election is crucial. Read this and tell your friends, parents, etc. Misinformation is everywhere and it's disturbing. There's no slant, no bias to facts. Use them.
—Speaking of this election, VOTE. Tell your friends, parents, enemies, frenemies, acquaintances, whoever! I don't care who you vote for, just that you are voting. If you're in California, might I suggest voting for Prop. 19 and against Prop. 23. The former legalizes possession of pot. The latter will cost billions of dollars in clean energy and jobs.
—The rumormill is a-churning: George Lucas is planning a new STAR WARS trilogy, well after the events of Return of the Jedi and with no connection to the Skywalker Saga. I can and will be OK with this if Lucas isn't writing or directing, and he surrounds himself by greater talents who will challenge his decisions.
—Once again, I <3 Rachel Maddow.
—Something to keep in mind when discussing/reading about politics, faith, discrimination, etc.: Be a skeptic. Just because it confirms your bias does NOT make it true. If it elicits a strong emotional response, take a step back and re-evaluate it. People are manipulators, regardless of political party, religion, etc. Keep you head up and eyes open.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Making Changes
Nobody's perfect. And no one knows that more than each one of us. Whether or not we're found attractive has little to do with it. We all have things that bother us about our bodies. Maybe it's the shape. (I, for example, am a pear.) Maybe it's the weight. Maybe it's a lack of muscle, or definition, or tone. Maybe when we try to grow our hair long it acts like a spoiled child and will do nothing you ask of it. (Maybe I need a haircut.) It's also possible I'm just projecting onto you, my loving and adoring audience. Either way, I'm tired of it. I'm tired of not being at the weight I want. I'm tired of shirts fitting just a bit too tight around my stomach/waist. I'm tired of the accentuation of my ass in a pair of jeans. Most of all, though, I'm tired of saying I'm tired of it. Tired of my usual excuses and cop-outs.
There's a good deal of reason I've put on 50+ lbs. since 2004/2005. My junior year, I wrestled at 154 lbs. Nothing about that was healthy. Salads and water composed my diet. Every day. I could shed 4 lbs. from the start of practice to the end. But then I got into a car accident and unceremoniously quit wrestling. To say my metabolism went crazy would be an understatement. By senior year, I'd put on 25+ lbs. By my freshman year of college, I was 190 lbs. It's climbed, with brief moments of respite, until I peaked at 218 lbs. a month or so ago. Now it fluctuates between 213 and 216. That's too much for me. I'm not happy about the way my body wears the weight.
I've been passing up opportunity after opportunity since I started to put on weight my senior year. Why? Because I'm lazy. I have problems with motivation. I'm not sure when this set it, but I think it was right around my sophomore year of high school. It's carried itself into college and failing classes I wasn't interested in. It's kept me from running regularly. Although I'd argue I've always hated running, even when I was in shape and running track. Sometimes I'll use my knees as an excuse. A lot of time that's valid, but a lot of times it isn't. Right now I'm fed up with myself and that mentality. This general laziness has gone too far. A friend of mine, Bobby S. we'll call him, lost 40 lbs. in 7 months. That's astonishing. For years, I've been telling myself I could lose that kind of weight. My diet didn't change, and either did my exercise really, so I was never surprised that the weight didn't come off. But here's a friend, someone my own age, who's done the damn thing. I called him and we talked for nearly an hour, with a good chunk of that dedicated to what he did for those 7 months. Not a bit of it sounds impossible. It sounds hard, definitely. But I bitch out far too often when difficulty's involved. Maybe you do, too. No better time than right now to start making changes.
I'm going to do it. My motivation? Remember months ago when I congratulated my buddies Matt and Kathryn on their engagement? Matt asked me to be in the wedding party. Their wedding is 7 months away, at the end of May. For the most part, I haven't seen Matt, Jim, Bobby (I think I have more friends named Bobby than most people), Kathryn, their families, etc. since I moved to Wilmington. I'd love to get back there and be thinner and healthier. But it's going to be tough. It's going to take a structure and discipline I haven't exhibited in years. It's going to take time to figure out what works for my body. But if I don't start taking care of myself now, when will I?
I'm going to try to dedicate a post a week about all of this. I'm not going to keep track of weight loss. I won't be setting a weight loss goal. That mentality won't help. It'll add stress to meet the marks and I'm not doing this to add stress. Not with a new job starting in early November. So here's where I turn to you, my loving and adoring audience. What are your favorite healthy meals? What are your healthy snacks, besides fruit? Suggestions will be embraced and I will try anything (I hated pickles at the start of the year, and now I'm all about them. Who knows what other foods that happened to).
Next week or the week after is the start date. I need to do some analyzing of some behaviors and patterns before jumping into this thing. And I'd love for you to help me along with it. Ask me how the diet's going every now and then. I hate that I need it, but those little reminders every once in a while will make a huge difference. In turn, I hope we see a huge difference in the upcoming months.
Editor's Note: I reserve the right to change things, like watching my weight, as I please/as I get advice from people who know things.
There's a good deal of reason I've put on 50+ lbs. since 2004/2005. My junior year, I wrestled at 154 lbs. Nothing about that was healthy. Salads and water composed my diet. Every day. I could shed 4 lbs. from the start of practice to the end. But then I got into a car accident and unceremoniously quit wrestling. To say my metabolism went crazy would be an understatement. By senior year, I'd put on 25+ lbs. By my freshman year of college, I was 190 lbs. It's climbed, with brief moments of respite, until I peaked at 218 lbs. a month or so ago. Now it fluctuates between 213 and 216. That's too much for me. I'm not happy about the way my body wears the weight.
I've been passing up opportunity after opportunity since I started to put on weight my senior year. Why? Because I'm lazy. I have problems with motivation. I'm not sure when this set it, but I think it was right around my sophomore year of high school. It's carried itself into college and failing classes I wasn't interested in. It's kept me from running regularly. Although I'd argue I've always hated running, even when I was in shape and running track. Sometimes I'll use my knees as an excuse. A lot of time that's valid, but a lot of times it isn't. Right now I'm fed up with myself and that mentality. This general laziness has gone too far. A friend of mine, Bobby S. we'll call him, lost 40 lbs. in 7 months. That's astonishing. For years, I've been telling myself I could lose that kind of weight. My diet didn't change, and either did my exercise really, so I was never surprised that the weight didn't come off. But here's a friend, someone my own age, who's done the damn thing. I called him and we talked for nearly an hour, with a good chunk of that dedicated to what he did for those 7 months. Not a bit of it sounds impossible. It sounds hard, definitely. But I bitch out far too often when difficulty's involved. Maybe you do, too. No better time than right now to start making changes.
I'm going to do it. My motivation? Remember months ago when I congratulated my buddies Matt and Kathryn on their engagement? Matt asked me to be in the wedding party. Their wedding is 7 months away, at the end of May. For the most part, I haven't seen Matt, Jim, Bobby (I think I have more friends named Bobby than most people), Kathryn, their families, etc. since I moved to Wilmington. I'd love to get back there and be thinner and healthier. But it's going to be tough. It's going to take a structure and discipline I haven't exhibited in years. It's going to take time to figure out what works for my body. But if I don't start taking care of myself now, when will I?
I'm going to try to dedicate a post a week about all of this. I'm not going to keep track of weight loss. I won't be setting a weight loss goal. That mentality won't help. It'll add stress to meet the marks and I'm not doing this to add stress. Not with a new job starting in early November. So here's where I turn to you, my loving and adoring audience. What are your favorite healthy meals? What are your healthy snacks, besides fruit? Suggestions will be embraced and I will try anything (I hated pickles at the start of the year, and now I'm all about them. Who knows what other foods that happened to).
Next week or the week after is the start date. I need to do some analyzing of some behaviors and patterns before jumping into this thing. And I'd love for you to help me along with it. Ask me how the diet's going every now and then. I hate that I need it, but those little reminders every once in a while will make a huge difference. In turn, I hope we see a huge difference in the upcoming months.
Editor's Note: I reserve the right to change things, like watching my weight, as I please/as I get advice from people who know things.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Characters and Actors
I just finished reading an article, published on Roger Ebert's journal (click here to read it and pay attention to that second comment...), about writer Krishna Shenoi's experience with Superman, Superman: The Movie, and Christopher Reeve. It's a fun trip down memory lane for those of us spellbound as children by a man—super though he may be—flying. Everyone who's ever seen a movie has that one moment when the magic struck them. For me, it's in Jurassic Park. Imagine, if you will, that you're me, sixteen years ago (I first saw JP at the Walkertown drive-in a year after it came out, the year we moved to NC). I loved dinosaurs. Still do. So when we get the full-body shot of the Brachiosaurus, my heart exploded. It still does, every single time I watch the movie. As Alan says later in the film, "It's the most beautiful thing I ever saw!" My point? I get emotional attachment to film, to characters, to scenes, scores, moments, and so on. What Krishna wrote was an emotional appeal, and one I've thought about plenty in the last several years. I just happen to disagree with him on a couple points.
Superman: The Movie deserves credit for creating the super-hero genre. (I don't think anyone would count 1966's Batman as a legitimate contribution to anything but camp.) Since Richard Donner and Christopher Reeve awed the world, DC and Marvel have made their most popular properties into movies. Sometimes it's great (Superman, The Dark Knight, Spider-Man 2, Iron Man) and sometimes it's terrible (Daredevil, Superman III, Batman & Robin, Spider-Man 3). Krishna is right that Superman: The Movie started it off. But I disagree with this: "Without it, there would be no "The Dark Knight," no "Batman," no "X-Men," no "Iron Man."" Hollywood, at least the Hollywood we've seen in the last decade, is not entirely adventurous. I'm not saying there aren't creative people out there or creators willing to take a chance. I'm saying the studios don't want to take a risk with original properties that may or may not sink at theaters. Sequels, prequels, remakes, and adaptations dominate the box office. What Krishna boldly said is that without one particular movie, an entire genre wouldn't exist. I think Hollywood's dependence on proven commodities, and thus a bit of financial security, would have brought the super-hero genre to the same or similar place it is today. I don't want to get into the whole "what if" game that my argument can lead to, because any number of scenarios are possible. But comics had already broken into the mainstream: Superman was on TV in the '50s and so was Batman. Studios were aware of them. If it wasn't Superman: The Movie, it would've been Batman: The Movie, or Spider-Man: The Movie. Now, if the argument was if Superman: The Movie hadn't done well, there'd have been serious repercussions for the super-hero genre, I'd be in complete agreement.
Most of us are suckers for nostalgia. Ask anyone from my generation about Nickelodeon. For hours we can talk about Rocko, Arnold, Doug, Pete, Pete, Clarissa, and hundreds of other characters we grew to love. We'll probably have something snide to say about the current crop of Nick cartoons, too. You may even get to a version of "the good old days" speech we hear guys like Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck go on about (except we're talking about cartoons, not...whatever they're hoping for. I honestly don't know. Segregation? Tricky Dick? The gas crisis?). I do it with Jurassic Park. And I think Krishna's doing it with Christopher Reeve's Superman. Superman's also in the unique position of having been played on the big screen by only two men: Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh. I agree with Krishna when he says Routh wasn't Superman. He was playing Christopher Reeve playing Superman, because director Bryan Singer made a tribute to Reeve and Donner's original two films (the idea behind Superman Returns was that it was a sequel to Superman II). Routh was immediately barred in by what had come before. Val Kilmer and George Clooney weren't when they put on the Bat-Suit. Either was Michael Keaton or Christian Bale. Or Kevin Conroy. We saw unique, occasionally awkward/bad, takes on Batman. But with the Man of Steel, it's really just been Christopher Reeve. And he did an incredible job for two movies. But just because we haven't seen a new take on this character does not mean Reeve is the end all, be all. Because I heard the argument Krishna's making before. We all did, when Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker. Nicholson fans came out of the woodwork, praising his performance like never before. People claimed no one else could be the Joker. But ya know what? Mark Hamill was the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series. Luke Skywalker put his stamp on that classic villain. Then Heath Ledger did, and now people say no one else should ever touch the role. The thing is, Heath, Mark, Jack...They were all the Joker. But the Joker wasn't them. Same with Bond and Batman. And as much as Krishna would disagree, same with Superman. He's the father of modern super-heroes. He was created before Christopher Reeve, and tragically, has survived him. Batman has done the same thing. Wolverine will too, once Marvel gets their hands back on the rights. These characters have histories that movies and actors can only scratch at. They've gone through golden ages and silver ages, experienced bankruptcy and bad writing, good movies and disappointing movies. And yet, super-heroes are still revered. That's because they're bigger than their medium, whichever one it is. At this point, they're mythological. They're gods.
Sorry if this was nit-picky. I've just heard his argument before, from me, too. I've been in Krishna's shoes. I came around. A lot of it is acknowledging the way we taint films, cartoons, etc., from our childhood. We skew it beyond what it was/is. Actually, it's one of those things that goes beyond childhood. Anything we find some sort of emotional attachment to, we're defensive of: a car, significant other, memory, toys, pets. Sometimes we want things to be better, or bigger, more important. So we say that no movie will ever surpass Jurassic Park, or that George Lucas raped Star Wars AND Indiana Jones (the man just can't leave well enough alone), or that no one but Christopher Reeve will ever be Superman. It's understandable. This thinking, though, closes us off. I mean, what happens if Jon Hamm lands the role of Clark Kent, and we get one of the best performances of the year? We all need to be open to change, to something different and new, especially when it evokes a strong emotional response.
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