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| Been a while. Thought I'd update my comic book movies list.
- Sin City
- 300
- Batman
Begins
- Spider-Man
2
- X2
- Spider-Man
- Superman
Returns
- Superman
The Movie
- Superman
II
- The
Road to Perdition
- Men In
Black
- TMNT
- Blade
- X-Men
- Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
- Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles
- The
Mask
- The
Crow
- Spawn
- Spider-Man 3
- Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
- Fantastic
Four
- Hulk
- Blade
Trinity
- Blade
II
- Men In
Black II
- Batman
- Batman
Returns
- Daredevil
- Captain
America
(1991) (I don't remember this very well...)
- Mystery
Men (I don't remember this one either.)
- Batman
Forever
- Punisher
- Over
the Hedge (apparently based on a comic strip)
- Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles III (here is where it starts getting really ugly)
- Superman
IV: The Quest for Peace
- Superman
III
- The
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
- Supergirl
- Steel
- Ghost
Rider
- X-Men:
The Last Stand
- Catwoman (really not so bad as a comedy)
- Batman
& Robin
Some notable comic book movies on the horizon: TDK, Iron Man, Justice League, Superman: Man of Steel, Incredible Hulk, Wanted, Wolverine, Watchmen.
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| Ok, now that the angry post is out of the way... here's a funny story I wanted to share with a little introspection involved.
Today I went to get an emission test at a Shell gas station. While I was waiting (one of my cylinders was messed up, so the repair took a few hours), one of the workers looked at my license plate and asked me if I'm from Maryland.
I said, "yeah."
And he said, "isn't that in Ohio?"
I said, "umm, no, it's by Washington, DC."
He looked astonished and said, "THAT far up there?"
I said, "uh yeah.. I think it's not as far north as Ohio, though."
He said, "wait, you said Washington, DC right?"
I thought maybe he's thinking Washington state. So I said, "yeah, like on the East Coast."
And he thought for a second and said, "Ooooh yeah..."
Then we chatted a little bit about the weather and what it's like growing up in the burbs. At one point, he said, "so then you said you went to Berkeley down here?"
I said, "no, in California."
He said, "oh, cuz there's a Berkeley here in Houston."
Anyway, so in the past, I've heard stories of people (mostly in California or Texas) not knowing their states, particularly Maryland. It bothered me that Americans don't know that Maryland is a state and that half of the nation's capitol is in Maryland. But with my incident today, I didn't find myself bothered so much. I think in the past, the stories have always been with supposedly educated people. College students from UC Berkeley or UT Austin. Both are good schools and I would expect students to at least know a thing or two about the states. I mean, maybe it's upsetting because people don't know MY state - but I think it's more than that. Certainly I don't know much about many other people's states, and I don't want to be hypocritical as a result. So I think it's at least important for your average educated citizen to know that Maryland (or any other state for that matter) is a STATE and not part of one. Maryland may not be so popular as New York, California, or Texas, but it's at least somewhat important since it was one of the original 13 colonies and partial home to Washington, DC. Anyway, again getting off topic. So this mechanic I talked to today, he wasn't any self-proclaimed educated man by any sort. He had humility. He recognized that he's from the inner city and as a result, he wasn't well educated. (Well, yeah he did try to play it off like he knew where DC was when he clearly didn't, but that's beside the point.) Anyway, I wasn't really bothered by his ignorance. I'm not sure really what that says about me as a person, but I guess it makes sense. People that are accepted into college, regardless of their major, I
feel like they should know some basic things about their own country. This mechanic wasn't given the benefit of a good education so I can't hold it against him that he doesn't know where/what Maryland is - can I? | | |
| Just watched 300 a few hours ago. It was pretty fantastic. Not as faithful as Sin City, but still pretty darn faithful. Anyway, that's not the point of what I want to talk about.
I just read some reviews on rottentomatoes, and I was disappointed to find that 300 is only at 61%. Moreover, I read the little blurbs of the bad reviews it got, and seriously, most of these people I would categorize as stupid. I mean, maybe they're not stupid and maybe they are, in fact, well educated. But these people just don't get it. Their condescending, pompous attitude towards the "comic book" subculture is their problem. Basically, all their complaints were about the story lacking substance, being over-the-top, and/or being a verbatim translation from Frank Miller. That is a completely ridiculous stance against a movie that is based off of a comic book. I mean, for a story that is SO faithful to its source material, you either criticize the rare moments of unfaithfulness or you criticize the way it was translated to film (like maybe how there's too much slow motion). Yes, you are entitled to your own opinions, but if its the story you don't like, don't hate the film - hate the comic. I mean, basically that's all I'm seeing. People are basically hating the comic - whether they know it or not. And if you don't like the comic so much, maybe this isn't the genre of movie you should be critiquing. Also, if you really dislike the comic so much, I'm sorry but you're in the minority here. 300 the graphic novel is critically acclaimed. It's won awards for how good it is.
The same goes for Sin City. Those who don't like Sin City because it's cheesy or because it has bad acting... they don't get it. These things are done on purpose. It's based on a comic book. It's supposed to have a simplistic, artificial feel to it. Sin City was a BRILLIANT movie, given the genre. Even Jessica Alba (who has yet to prove her acting abilities aside from Sin City) played Nancy spot-on. Ok I'm getting way off topic. The point is, you can't fault a film that's based on a graphic novel for its story because you hate the graphic novel's story.
Another thing that's even more ludicrous. The whole premise of the movie is a small handful of soldiers versus a massive army. Impossible odds. This is NOT something you can criticize. This is how the story plays out. Read the comic. Read your history books. Read Wikipedia. Whatever you read, you'll find out that the Battle of Thermopylae is about 300 Spartans versus hundreds of thousands of Persians. And criticizing the trite motive of the antagonist - wanting to take over the world. Why would you criticize that? That's EXACTLY what the Persians wanted. They were all about ruling the world. Don't criticize a story for being faithful to a comic and SERIOUSLY, don't criticize a story for being faithful to history. I know the story's come a long way from being faithful to history, but don't criticize it for when it is faithful. That's stupid.
Back to my original point, criticizing comic book subculture (sorry, this is entry is horribly structured - this is why I suck at English). This goes beyond critiquing 300. There is some sort of (almost inherent) belief among the general public that people that are into comic books are immature delinquents. People (like these critics) feel the need to look down upon this culture from their egotistical pedestals. Let me tell you something. Comic book fans are not delinquents. They may have childish interests. They may be young at heart. But in general, that does not and should not detract from the type of people they are. Comic book fans can contribute just as much to society as anybody else. You can't discriminate against people for their interests - at least not if solely based on their interest in comic books. I have friends and family that think it's hilarious how I'm into comics as much as I am given my age (not to mention, haters like the recent incident I had on Xanga). You can be any age and still enjoy comic books. There's a whole nation that can attest to that (Japan). If you are really so condescending towards comic books, you are likely very closed-minded. Enjoying comic books is the same as being a fan of a certain brand of clothing or a certain musician or a certain sport or a certain series of books (*ahem* Harry Potter anyone?).
I know I'm not a writer. I'm far from being eloquent. But hopefully I can at least open some eyes. I'm not forcing anyone to like comic books. But the least you can do is not discriminate against it.
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| IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
So, here's how it works:
1. Open your music library (iPod, MP3, whatever)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool...
(Ok, so this is what I got the first time I played. I think my Sound Department was on crack or something.)
Opening Credits: Vertical Horizon - Everything You Want (I'm everything you want, everything you need? Or I want a dude??)
Waking Up: Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight (Waking up late in the evening, getting ready for a partay. That's cool I guess.)
First Day of School: Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved (First day of school and already pining for a girl, not bad.)
Falling in Love: Jet - Look What You've Done (I fell in love, you made a fool of everyone. Blasphemy.)
Fight Song: Lifehouse - Hanging By A Moment (What a mellow fight scene. I'm hanging on... hanging on to what? Falling in love with my opponent?)
Breaking Up: Fountains of Wayne - Stacy's Mom (Oh man, breaking up with my girlfriend cause her mom is so hot.)
Life: Dishwalla - Opaline (I'm not sure what this song is about, but it seems awfully depressing.)
Mental Breakdown: The Wonders - That Thing You Do (Great, now I think I'm a 70s one hit wonder rock band. And I'm obsessed with this girl. Stacy or Stacy's mom?)
Driving: Michelle Branch - Everywhere (I do tend to swerve lanes...)
Flashback: Craig David - Seven Days (Ah, remembering the good ol' days when I could pick up a girl in London and be sleeping with her in two days... for 4 days straight.)
Getting Back Together: James Blunt - You're Beautiful (Getting back with Stacy's mom only to realize I can never be with her? That sucks.)
Wedding: Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue (I can't find my bride on my wedding day. But if she comes back, we can leave Ocean Avenue and run forever. Right.)
Birth of Child: Savage Garden - Truly Madly Deeply (It takes the birth of my child to profess my love so eloquently to my wife.)
Final Battle: Michelle Branch - All You Wanted (What kind of final battle is this? Battle against loneliness? Is my life a chick flick??)
Death Scene: Lifehouse - You and Me (I've apparently fallen madly in love with this girl and now I'm dead. Great.)
Funeral Song: 3 Doors Down - Landing In London (So... I'm gonna wake up in London and back to my Seven Days Craig David routine? No wait, I don't think I'll make it through, I'll use your light to guide the way. Where are you leading me??)
End Credits: DJ Sammy - Heaven (Candlelight Remix) (At least I end up in heaven.)
(Ok, I'm playing again.)
Opening Credits: Matchbox 20 - If You're Gone (We've just started and I've already lost you. Darn.)
Waking Up: Staind - Right Here (Miserable from our breakup (offscreen?). Don't worry, I'll be right here. Actually I'm gonna go to school...)
First Day of School: Matchbox 20 - Real World (I wonder what it's like to be a superhero. I wonder where I'd go if I could fly around downtown. From some other planet I get this funky high from the yellow sun. Boy I bet my friends would all be stunned. Ahh, daydreaming in school. Awesome.)
Falling in Love: Johnny Rzeznik - I'm Still Here (I told you I'd be right here waiting. And I'm falling in love.)
Fight Song: Matchbox 20 - All I Need (Man, again I'm a wussy fighter. I need someone to cling to.)
Breaking Up: Nickelback - Photograph (This is pretty appropriate for breaking up, I guess. Reminiscing with photos.)
Life: Jay - Jian Dan Ai (Simple Love) (I thought I moved on but... I wanna take you to my grandma's house to watch the sunset, and I wanna watch baseball games with you... and ride bikes with you. Simple is good.)
Mental Breakdown: Train - Ordinary (I'm anything but ordinary. Can you save me from this world of mine? I think I'm from the Spider-Man 2 soundtrack.)
Driving: Dishwalla - Angels or Devils (Driving clears the mind. I can see the pain in you. I can see the love in you. Fighting all the demons will take time.)
Flashback: Matchbox 20 - Cold (Not good. Flashing back to our tumultuous time. You were so cold. Keeping me so low.)
Getting Back Together: Goo Goo Dolls - Here is Gone (Girl you trippin', I'm not the one who broke you, I'm not the one you should fear. So let's get back together.)
Wedding: Matchbox 20 - Bright Lights (You left town for the bright lights, if they don't receive you, turn around and come home. We'll get married. Or maybe I should just join you in Sin City and we'll get married there.)
Birth of Child: Green Day - Whatsername (I remember the face but I can't recall the face. Now I wonder how Whatsername has been. Seems that she disappeared without a trace. Wait, we're talking about my daughter?)
Final Battle: Goo Goo Dolls - Black Balloon (I don't know how to interpret this.)
Death Scene: 3 Doors Down - Loser (Dang, I'm a loser and you're pushing me off life's little edge. You suck.)
Funeral Song: Matchbox 20 - Downfall (Love save me now. You be my savior. I'll be your downfall. What am I talking about? This is my funeral. Who's gonna save me now?)
End Credits: Five for Fighting - 100 Years (Good way to sum it all up.)
So in conclusion, Matchbox and 3 Doors Down must be pretty tight with me, letting me use their songs so frequently. And... what a tragic drama this movie is. | | |
| Finally got back around to this. Though... I probably won't be back at it for at least another week. Anyway, here it is.
Jim's:
Mine:
Side by Side:
That kid's face is hard to draw for some reason. I realized after I had moved on from the first frame that I should've spaced his eyes further apart, but I didn't feel like going back to fix it. Oh well. At least he still looks human O_o.
That vanishing point perspective shot in the bottom left frame was pretty cool (though it really throws me off when I try to make Bats as massive as Jim draws him - as shown in his funny looking left pec). | | |
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