Sexytime for Trailers
Dec 05Lotsa big sneak peeks and trailers coming up for big impending films…there’s talk of the Indy 4 trailer and the Star Trek trailer hitting within the next two to three months, and the first seven minutes of The Dark Knight will precede I Am Legend in IMAX.
Ain’t It Cool has a few more tidbits: a nice Prince Caspian trailer, and for a flick coming in just a few days, the first five minutes of The Golden Compass.
(I couldn’t get the Caspian trailer to load all the way, so keep trying. I still need to see the first Narnia flick. I also need to read the last two Dark Materials books, although I have read Golden Compass three or four times, always intending to continue the series after I was done, but never getting into the second book. I think I need to try harder. Also, to shut up.)
Do the Zuda
Dec 04So I was finally inspired this morning to tromp over and check out Zuda Comics, where I quickly found a favorite.
I think there’s some slight refinements to be made–it would be neat if I could get an RSS feed to update me when the comics have new content, for example–but I was frankly stunned at how simple, elegant, intuitive, and versatile the comics reading interface is.
First off, it abandons the vertical orientation of print comics for a 4:3 aspect ratio that completely fills my monitor in full-screen mode. The controls are damned easy, and they fade quickly into the ether when in full-screen mode, so you can see the entire strip. Pages load very quickly as well.
On my nice flat-screen work monitor, it’s a seamless and satisfying reading experience–far better than any of the CBR files I “acquired” during the rapidly-receding halcyon days of illegal comics downloading. Not to slam the CBR format, as I think it’s the best at what it does, even if what it does ain’t pretty.
But this–now THIS is a way to read comics online. In that sense, it seems as though DC has stumbled upon a bit of an innovation. Which pleases me, and yet SHOCKS ME TO MY CORE.
These bastions of old media are supposed to be clinging to their paper periodicals for their very life, and they are, but DC is also quietly pushing the ball forward in a very leading-edge way. In doing so, they’re leaving Marvel behind in the dust, cause although the Digital Comics Unlimited interface is decent for what it does (and what it does ain’t pretty, neither), Marvel’s product isn’t nearly as sleek as the Zuda interface, which rocks. It also has no original content behind it, and if it ever does, it’s unlikely the content will push the comics format forward at all–it will probably be designed just like a print comic, so it will fit in the DCU reader, and so that they can print it and sell it.
This is a really exciting time to love comics.
Michael Hinman, you suck, eh?
Dec 03A buddy sent me a link to a set-visit for Tin Man, a re-imagining of the classic Wizard of OZ books. Exciting stuff. Only, reading the article was kind of like eating ashes. Of poo. While watching someone prepare more poo ashes for you to eat in the future.
Why? Well, it kind of depends on where you’re sitting right now I guess. Look around – if you’re in a state, this probably won’t mean anything to you. If you’re in a province, it’s a different story.
Right there, in the first paragraph of Mr. Hinman’s recounting;
The first time I heard about “Tin Man” was the first time I saw some scenes from the production. We were on the set of “Flash Gordon” just north of the American border near Washington state, and we were given some sneak peeks of the miniseries in the chamber of Ming the Merciless.
It’s called Vancouver, Mike. I know, because I’m soaking in it right now.
I’m kind of used to the taking-for-granted attitude some American’s have regarding Canada. I’m kind of used to it, because, well, I’m Canadian. The occasional snobby American doesn’t have to know where a percentage of their electric power, fresh water, or lumber comes from – it’s enough that we know about those percentages. Also, our mom says we’re cool.
And at the end of the day, we have excellent ties to the larger group of American’s, the cool ones that can name some of our cities – heck, they may have even visited one or two, or have relatives up here. In blue states, it’s not only alright to marry a Canadian – it’s kind of hip.
But then there are the rare, foil embossed, one-per-box Americans, who just make us mad. Think about that again. Make a Canadian mad. Now tremble! No? Ok, that’s fine.
Hinman, is one such chaser card.
…and a group of soldiers led by “Battlestar Galactica” alum Callum Keith Rennie (what isn’t this guy in anymore?) come to get D.G. (Zooey Deschanel) and take her away.
Well, Canadian shows, for starters – mostly because he’s appearing in pretty much everything filming in Vancouver (that little town across the border from Washington) or Toronto (that little town across the border from Michigan.) He’s one of our A game actors and he is in ur hollywoodz, makin’ ur moviez. Thanks for paying attention, Hinman.
What’s my point? I don’t have one really. As I said, it’s not new – I sat in on a press junket for Arnold Schwarzenegger, when he screened Sixth Day for all the crew and their families – he rented four theaters to do it. Whatta guy, I said. And during the conference, he was asked about working in British Columbia – his response, to paraphrase, was that he enjoyed it and he saw a growing bond between Hollywood and Vancouver. Mere years later, he was governor, stumping on the idea of keeping Hollywood jobs in Hollywood, and boo Canada. Nice.
Nothing I can say will alter who Hinman is and I’m not interested in trying. But I think it important to call him on it. After all, like water, power, lumber, comedians, and geese, a percentage of his job exists because Canada is pumping out genre TV and film constantly. He said it himself – he was on a set visit for Flash Gordon. Flash Gordon brought him to Vancouver. It’d be nice if he could mention it.
So, in short…
Take off, Hinman. You hoser.
Watching the Watchmen…Very Closely.
Dec 03The Geekanerd blog has a definitive, comprehensive comparison between the recently-released Watchmen movie stills and specific panels of the comic. Most excellent.
The Perfect Xmas Gift (For Me)
Nov 30My wife and I have agreed not to exchange gifts this year, because we need money more than crap in our house. Which is fine by me.
However, I believe someone somewhere may have me in a grab bag of sorts, and if so, may I submit…my dream gift?
With playful reverence to this entrancing icon and fascinating individual, Uppercase Gallery has published The Shatner Show book of artwork depicting William Shatner by artists and illustrators from Canada and the US. The exhibition was hosted in UPPERCASE from June 15 – August 31, 2007.
