Oh, noes! What’s Charlie gonna do?
I’ve been setting up more than a few of this Friday cliffhangers during this storyline, haven’t I?
Well, once you see what Charlie does on Friday, we’ll catch up with everyone in the present next week. Hopefully, we’ll learn more about why Jimmy is still hanging around. Stay tuned, people! We’re in the home stretch!
Not much for me to talk about today. Well, except that maybe my Netflix experience. Still goin’ strong!
I realize that I didn’t talk about Man on Wire when I said I would last week. Man on Wire was the first film I rented from Netflix and also happened to be the winner of the Best Documentary award at the Oscars on Sunday.
I liked the movie a lot. It was arranged with a very tight narrative with a great blend of reenactments, interviews and original footage.
In case you’re not familiar, the subject of the film is Philippe Petit, a French tightrope walker who walked the span between the twin towers of the World Trade Center shortly after they were completed in 1974.
The movie is more about the planning stages of the walk more than the walk itself. So the filmmakers are able to milk a lot of tension our of the reenactments as the original parties explain their actions as if it were happening in real time. The walk itself feels like some kind of hazy dream, but certainly a one-of-a-kind moment that seemed to impress and capture the imagination of everyone involved – even the authorities, who could do no better than to charge Petit with trespassing
Petit comes off like an eccentric in his interviews or perhaps a hyperactive child. But I admire anyone who feels compelled to create art to serve a higher purpose. He performs his walk not for profit or fame (although those things come later), but to inspire others to dream. Ah, existentialism as only the French can make it!
I kind of wonder if hanging around Petit in real life would be exhausting. But I have to admit I was charmed with his magic trick and balancing act at the Oscar’s when he delivered his acceptance speech.
In the words of Best Week Ever, “please be in our lives every day.”
As for the next movie in our queue, Cami reserved Henry Poole Is Here. I’m not sure why. I thought we were being diplomatic with our choices. I rent one, then she rents one — back and forth and so on. She says she rented it for me! I don’t anything about the film, but I’m happy to watch it all the same. It has Luke Wilson in it, so how bad can it be?
Don’t answer that.
I’ll be back later in the day to pose a question to everyone about contributing transcripts of the comics to the site. Until then, talk amongst yourselves. Who here has seen Man on Wire? What were your thoughts?
I told Charlie she was the one I love. I didn't even know that other girl!
I must have said something to upset her. She pushed me away.
I wasn't prepared for what she did next.
Im loving this story but a part of me cant wait to get back to the regular every day antics of Tom and Co.
But still can’t wait for friday!
and talking about friday not really anything coming to my theatre that i want to see.
probably go to Street Fighter cuz of a fan of the games. but i know it will probably suck.
Your thoughts tom?
I can appreciate that, Kit. The pacing of these longer arcs is a little better suited to daily comics. I’m ready to start doing gag-a-day stuff again soon.
I’ve seen a couple of clips from Street Fighter and I can tell you the fight choreography is terrible. Wire-fu is nakedly evident and the actors they’ve hired don’t look like they have any fighting experience.
If the movie has “Fighter” in the title, then what’s on screen should probably live up to that promise, don’t you think? Besides, it’ll never be as cheese-tastic as the Raul Julia/Jean-Claude Van Damme version!
I haven’t seen Man on Wire yet, but ever sense I saw a trailer online, it’s kinda been tugging at me. As an independent filmmaker myself, it definitely seems like one that I shouldn’t let pass off my radar.
I think I know what’s coming from Charlie… I’m picking up on your signals in these cliffhanger panels pretty well, at least, I think! hah. Won’t find out til Friday. Also, now that I’ve made my first post, I have a feeling I’ll be hanging around the comments section more often. Of the small handful of webcomics I read, your blog is the one I enjoy reading the most. So that naturally leads to me wanting to participate! Thanks for adding the comments section on the new site.
Oh and one last thing. Although the story arc has been a little long, and you were nervous to start one, I have to compliment you on your dramatic story telling. You’re doing great developing the characters, moving it along, and dishing it out in 4 panel spurts really well. The mini-cliffhangers are great too… hmm, that sounds like a familiar format. You ever consider writing for television? 😉
Ha! My wife and I have the same netflix arrangement and we’ve really enjoyed using netflix (aside from the handful of times we’ve gotten broken discs in the mail).I’ve been enjoying the storyline it’s really adding a lot of depth to Jimmy and Charlie… I know that was the point but I just wanted to echo that from my perspective it’s working.
I saw “Man on Wire” a few months ago and really enjoyed it. I will probably join my very short list of documentaries I would like to own. I’m also very surprised that no one has made a fictionalized version of this story yet. However, Petit’s feat took place before the towers were entirely completed – in the film they speak of only being able to go up the elevator to a certain floor because it was the last one completed. There was still construction going on in the upper floors.
Loving this little arc about Jimmy and Charlie. Can’t wait to see how it plays out.
I’m enjoying the story line. And Man on Wire was fantastic! I saw it on Friday, and now I want to learn to walk on the highwire myself.
Man on Wire was playing in the theater down the block from my dorm, and I never got around to seeing it. Been bugging me ever since, that.
I recently got Star Trek II on Netflix…it was great! Mr. Montalban was crazy good.
I have a suspicion that I know what Charlie is going to do (since I know someone who did this…), but we shall see. You’ve switched some things up before.
I’ll probably watch Man on Wire now. I mean, with an Academy Award, how bad can it be?
Don’t answer that.
I have to say though, I miss the old comics where you joked about movies. i don’t like this un-humorus (probably not a word but oh well) story line. I was hoping you’d do a strip on the Oscars or something. Bring Tom back!
Don’t worry. This isn’t a permanent change. We’ll be back to goofing off again soon!
Just remember those two hours you spend watching Henry Poole is Here are two hours that you’ll never get back and you’ll try to forget for at least a week. (Actually I’ve never seen the movie, but Luke Wilson seems stale at this point in his career, I guess maybe he can surprise and pull something out of his or his brother’s rump, but seeing as how I’ve never heard of that movie, I’m guessing not).
I dunno Tom, after reading years and years of you just making jokes about movies, seeing these storyline based comics just, quite honestly, don’t work for me. I totally understand your yearning to tell stories other than just thrice-weekly Shia LeBouf jokes, have you thought about starting a new comic with a focus on story? It’s just weird to see you taking characters based on real people, then making up side characters that have somewhat cliched backstories and attempting to add depth to something that doesn’t really need it.
It kind of reminds me of the Star Wars prequels, when despite there being an extended universe, everyone seemed to know each other. Of COURSE Yoda knew Chewbacca. They went on beer runs together.
I really think you should consider starting a second comic which lets you run wild with story. It just comes off so weird here. And it’s not really your fault – the characters were initially designed as a way for you to spout off about films, so suddenly trying to give them back-stories when they were never designed for it would make it awkward no matter what.
Anyway, just a thought. I just would have rather seen your thoughts on Oscar week in comic form is all.
Lonnie,
Fair enough. I don’t expect the longer story lines to be a hit with everyone. But at the same time, this isn’t the first time I’ve attempted something like this and people have generally responded well to them in the past (Jimmy losing his job, Charlie’s introduction, Jared vs. The Benbots, Jared transitioning from Affleck to LaBeouf)
I think, for me, it’s about exercising a different set of muscles every once in a while — if for no other reason than to prove to myself that I can do it. That doesn’t mean longer story lines with intertwining character histories will become the norm. It’s really only a matter of time before I go back to doing movie commentary.
As for the Oscars; There is so much competing noise on the internet already, I’d only be echoing what others have said. And since January and February is notoriously dead in theaters, this is the best time to do a longer story. I mean, really, do you want me making jokes about The Jonas Brothers Movie in 3D?
I’ve thought about doing a second comic, but not one that I would do at the same time as Theater Hopper. I just don’t have the time. I’d have to hang up Theater Hopper completely, which I don’t want to do just yet. If anything, I’d probably do a journal comic, or something — since my life seems to be pretty weird on a day-to-day basis.
I feel like I’m borderline shutting down your opinions. I don’t want to do that. I appreciate the criticism, honestly. I just wanted to be thoughtful and thorough with my reply.
I know it’s cliched to say “the suspense is killing me!”, but it’s true. You’ve definitely done a great job of sustaining the suspense.
I think that’s a very fair answer, I hope you don’t think I was trying to insult you or anything.
I mean, you can’t please anyone, that’s what being an artist is all about. I guess I just think your longer storylines would have more punch with different characters, that’s all. And I completely understand the urge to stretch different muscles – I was just stating that a different venue would do you more good I think. And not even a constantly updating comic – chainsawsuit updates whenever. I think you have a large enough audience that they’d want to read it whenever it’s updated.
I just wanted to throw that idea of a different comic to do story stuff and I understand why you’re doing what you’re doing.
Anyway, I think your response was fair and measured and I appreciate that. I hope you just saw where I was coming from and not complaining for the sake of complaining.
Lonnie,
It wouldn’t be fair of me to comment on my own story lines, express certain insecurities and tacitly seek out re-enforcement if I flew off the handle whenever someone came along and say “You know, I’m just not feelin’ it.”
I thought your criticisms were fair as was your suggestion for a second comic. Truthfully, I wish I had the bandwidth in my personal life to do it! 🙂
But, yeah. I’ve always been of the opinion that one can learn more from constructive criticism than effusive praise or damning condemnation. You provided valuable feedback and that’s exactly the kind of environment I want to establish within the comments area.
So thank you!