Currently Reading All Star Superman, Vol. 1 By Grant Morrison see related

The Dark Boy Scout

Ok so, Warner Brothers has decided to pull a Hulk and reboot the Superman franchise, a mere few years after the last kinda reboot, Superman Returns. Now, Returns was not my favorite movie but I didn't hate it either, unlike some people apparently. But whatever, maybe it will be awesome. What worries me though, is the idea that WB apparently thinks the best way to make money out of the Superman franchise is to make it darker, a la Dark Knight.

This is an insanely stupid idea.

I had a really long post on this subject, but I'm tired. Let me just say that I think Superman should be an inspiration, not a scapecoat, like Batman. Though he may go through dark times, he sould never be dark.

I know a lot of people are turned off by how uber-powerful Supes is, but I would recommend to everyone to read Grant Morrison's and Frank Quietly's series All-Star Superman, probably the perfect comic book miniseries. This guy was inventive enough to take one panel from each of the 11 released issues that summed up each, leading as sort of a trailer for the 12 issue series.

I just really wanted to show those. Seriously, its an amazing series, and seriously, its exactly what Superman should be like.

And for the love of all that is good, keep Mark "Wanted" Millar as far away from it as possible.

Lists N Such

So, last week AFI had their annual Top 10(0) Countdown, and this year it was the Top 10 Top 10's. Basically, its 10 categories that the Institue doesn't think they'd be able to get a full 100 out of. Anway, since their Top 100 Thrills and Chills a few years ago this night has turned into an event at my house, where me and my parents (and maybe my sis) watch and critique as we see fit. Unsurprisingly, I have taken issue with many of these selections, and have decided to publish the correct picks below, with the originals on the left and my improvements on the right.

A few qualifiers: I have not seen all the movies on their lists. These are asterik'd. Also, AFI in this case stands for American Film Institute, and not A Fire Inside, and as such all of their picks are American movies whereas mine are not. And I've just got to say, I think it would be an awesome idea if AFI the institute got AFI the band to make their own lists at the same time. That would be cool.

Also, the more observant of you will notice the institute's lists contains the genres Courtroon Drama and Romantic Comedy. Since I have no interest in this genres, I've chosen to replace them with something more interesting. For the record though, here are my top picks for each:

Courtroom: TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD
Romantic Comedy: TOP GUN

And lastly, since I think the last category of "Epic" is waay too vague, I've just decided to use it as a listing of my number 11 picks for each genre. 

ANIMATION

10) FINDING NEMO                                10) BEAUTY & THE BEAST
  9) CINDERELLA                                        9) FANTASIA
  8) SHREK                                                    8) TOY STORY 1 & 2
  7) BEAUTY AND THE BEAST                 7) ALADDIN
  6) TOY STORY                                          6) THE IRON GIANT    
  5) FANTASIA                                             5) FINDING NEMO
  4) THE LION KING                                  4) THE INCREDIBLES
  3) BAMBI                                                   3) THE LION KING
  2) PINOCCHIO                                         2) THE LAND BEFORE TIME
  1) SNOW WHITE                                     1) WALL*E

FANTASY

10) BIG                                                    10) LABRYNITH
 9)  THE THIEF OF BAGDAD*               9) PRINCESS MONOKE
 8)  GROUNDHOG DAY                          8) GROUNDHOG DAY
 7)  HARVEY*                                            7) A LITTLE PRINCESS
 6)  FIELD OF DREAMS                          6) LITTLE NEMO IN SLUMBERLAND
 5)  MIRACLE ON 34th STREET*         5) SHREK
 4)  KING KONG                                       4) HARRY POTTER FILMS
 3) IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE                3) PAN'S LABRYNITH
 2) THE LORD OF THE RINGS               2) THE PRINCESS BRIDE
 1) THE WIZARD OF OZ                           1) THE LORD OF THE RINGS

GANGSTER

10) SCARFACE (1983)                              10) ROAD TO PERDITION 
  9) LITTLE CAESAR*                                 9) THE UNTOUCHABLES
  8) THE PUBLIC ENEMY*                         8) A FISH NAMED WANDA
  7) PULP FICTION                                      7) CASINO
  6) SCARFACE 1932*                                  6) SCARFACE (1983)
  5) BONNIE AND CLYDE*                         5) PULP FICTION
  4) WHITE HEAT*                                       4) RESERVIOR DOGS
  3) THE GODFATHER PART II                 3) GOODFELLAS
  2) GOODFELLAS                                        2) THE GODFATHER
  1) THE GODFATHER                                 1) THE GODFATHER, PT II

SCIENCE FICTION

10) BACK TO THE FUTURE                                   10) CLOSE ENCOUNTERS 
  9) INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS*       9) JOHN CARPENTER'S THE THING
  8) TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY                 8) THE MATRIX     
  7) ALIEN                                                                      7) BACK TO THE FUTURE
  6) BLADE RUNNER                                                   6) TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY
  5) THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL*            5) CHILDREN OF MEN
  4) A CLOCKWORK ORANGE*                                 4) JURASSIC PARK
  3) E.T. - THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL                     3) ALIEN
  2) STAR WARS: EPISODE IV  A NEW HOPE       2) BLADE RUNNER
  1) 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY                                   1) STAR WARS TRILOGY

WESTERN

10) CAT BALLOU*                                                               10) FIEVAL GOES WEST
  9) STAGECOACH*                                                                9) 4:10 TO YUMA
  8) McCABE & MRS. MILLER*                                            8) TOMBSTONE
  7) BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID            7) SAME
  6) THE WILD BUNCH*                                                        6) NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
  5) RED RIVER*                                                                      5) THE SEARCHERS
  4) UNFORGIVEN                                                                   4) UNFORGIVEN
  3) SHANE*                                                                              3) ROOSTER COGBURN
  2) HIGH NOON*                                                                    2) TRUE GRIT
  1) THE SEARCHERS                                                              1) BLAZING SADDLES

SPORTS

10) JERRY MAGUIRE                                      10) JERRY MAGUIRE
  9) NATIONAL VELVET*                                 9) FIELD OF DREAMS
  8) BREAKING AWAY*                                     8) MIRACLE  
  7) CADDYSHACK                                              7) A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
  6) THE HUSTLER*                                           6) MILLION DOLLAR BABY         
  5) BULL DURHAM*                                          5) CADDYSHACK
  4) HOOSIERS*                                                   4) RUDY
  3) THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES*               3) FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
  2) ROCKY                                                           2) CHARIOTS OF FIRE
  1) RAGING BULL*                                           1) ROCKY

MYSTERY

10) THE USUAL SUSPECTS                                  10) BLUE VELVET
  9) DIAL M FOR MURDER*                                    9) LA CONFIDENTIAL
  8) BLUE VELVET                                                     8) A SHOT IN THE DARK
  7) NORTH BY NORTHWEST*                               7) KISS KISS BANG BANG     
  6) THE MALTESE FALCON*                                 6) BRICK
  5) THE THIRD MAN*                                              5) MEMENTO
  4) LAURA*                                                                 4) FARGO
  3) REAR WINDOW*                                                 3) THE BIG LEBOWSKI
  2) CHINATOWN*                                                     2) SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
  1) VERTIGO*                                                            1) THE USUAL SUSPECTS

ROMANTIC COMEDY / WAR

10) SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE                            10) 1941
  9) HAROLD AND MAUDE*                                 9) THE THIN RED LINE
  8) MOONSTRUCK*                                              8) PATTON
  7) ADAM'S RIB*                                                    7) BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWI
  6) WHEN HARRY MET SALLY ..                       6) BRAVEHEART
  5) THE PHILADELPHIA STORY*                     5) FULL METAL JACKET
  4) ROMAN HOLIDAY*                                        4) AOCALYPSE...NOW!
  3) IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT*                        3) PLATOON
  2) ANNIE HALL*                                                  2) DR. STRANGELOVE
  1) CITY LIGHTS*                                                 1) SAVING PRIVATE RYAN

COURTROOM DRAMA / ACTION

10) JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG*                           10) THE PROFESSIONAL
  9) A CRY IN THE DARK*                                              9) SPEED
  8) IN COLD BLOOD*                                                     8) AIR FORCE ONE
  7) ANATOMY OF A MURDER*                                   7) SPIDER-MAN 2
  6) WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION*                  6) THE BOURNE SUPREMACY
  5) A FEW GOOD MEN                                                   5) CASINO ROYALE
  4) THE VERDICT*                                                          4) TRUE LIES
  3) KRAMER VS. KRAMER*                                          3) ALIENS
  2) 12 ANGRY MEN*                                                       2) DIE HARD
  1) TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD                                     1) RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

EPIC

10) THE TEN COMMANDMENTS                    10) BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM           
  9) REDS*                                                                9) ALICE IN WONDERLAND
  8) SAVING PRIVATE RYAN                              8) LAYER CAKE
  7) ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT*  7) THE WRATH OF KHAN 
  6) TITANIC                                                           6) KILL BILL
  5) SPARTACUS*                                                   5) TALLEDEGA NIGHTS
  4) GONE WITH THE WIND                                4) SE7EN
  3) SCHINDLER'S LIST*                                       3) MUNICH
  2) BEN-HUR                                                           2) PIRATES OF THE CARRIBBEAN
  1) LAWRENCE OF ARABIA*                               1) KING KONG (2005)
 

Worst. Joke. EVER.

Ok so, Staypuft Marshmellow Man knocks on the door to Zuul's corner apartment. Zuul says, "Who Gozer?"

*cue Ghostbuster theme*


This is how I spend my time. Man I make myself sad.

You've GOT to be Kidding Me

Hey, you know what pisses me off?

This. Specifically 3 and 6. I mean, W.T.F, Mate?!

Of course, this is the same publication that ran this article over Christmas, so obviously they have no idea when it comes to good sci-fi.

Also, a big helping of what-the-crapola to Frank Miller, who somehow thinks this:




equals this



And I can't even begin to guess what Smash Brothers has to do with it. But really, the only thing that could get me excited about this movie is if Samus showed up and duked it out with the Spirit.



.......



Holy crap. This must happen!

The Trouble With Poet Is How Do You Know It's Deceased

Ok so here for your viewing pleasure are some of the poems that I wrote for creative writing that I liked. Enjoy. Or...whatever.

Cartoon State of Mind
Upon first meeting pen and paper turn to bright colors and wavy lines
That blur together in a cartoon state of mind.
Images starting in stiff staccato
Shift into an ultra-slick actionized fighting flow.
Speed lines and sound FX burst forth!
While panels and frames are dwarfed
By Characters larger than life:
Damsels with hair that defies gravity form chorus lines
Whilst dimpled heroes fight fiends of the most dastardly kind,
Their helpful ol’ chums in tights quipping left and right;
Evil and villainy spotlighted in Technicolor black and white.
Yes, outside nefarious storms beckon, the nefarious-est yet,
Something even here in our four color fort we can’t forget.
 Before long we must be back on our way,
To with gritting teeth to hold the onslaught at bay.
Doom & Gloom – not all that hard to find.
Rarer though, is this frantically carefree cartoon state of mind.


Iono
A wild abandon of garments
She girds about her raiment.
Headphones cap ‘round her ears,
From her eye she cries an inked tear.
Her hair is green, and red, and blue,
Pink, blonde, orange, and black too.
A frayed shirt no iron has touched
Announces the catchphrase of the month.
Baggy jeans that get caught under feet
Are accented by a black coat, regardless of heat.
Piercings and chains clink an ring;
Airport security’s worst dream.
She slouches tall, in disarray,
My straight-laced heart, hers to slay.


Capes and Cowls
The sun shown brighter than the night broods dim,
As shrouded darkly in cape and cowl
I came to school, my visage mirthfully grim
Whilst my cheer rose higher than any fowl
Would dare. A contest at school there was for
Those with spirit to dress famously.
The Dark Knight I chose, and through the door
Came, my cape flowing triumphantly.
Many good things there were on the day
That the Bat Man stalked the halls of school.
And afterwards, as cloaked I made my way
Home, two boys spied me, their eyes round pools.
Their delight was great, for all young tots
Are a superstitious and imaginative lot.

Pilgrimage
The pilgrim beings his trying journey
At the footheels. For many moons this task
Has been put off. But inevitably,
The time has come, and now what has been asked
Of him he must do. The first leg is hard,
And it will only become more difficult
As time goes on; he knows this is the shard
In his side. There is no one else at fault
But himself, he thinks. These thoughts pass away
Into nothingness as he climbs. He can
Hear creation’s heartbeat, joyful and fey.

At last he pulls himself over the lip of Man,
Arriving at the end of the path he’s trod
Gazing darkly into the face of God.