Am I aware that everyone and their brother will be making references to X-Men 2 this week? Yes. Do I care? Nope.
I’ve gotta say that I’m more jacked up for this round of mutant mayhem than I was for the first. I always had a mental block against the first picture because Brian Singer was at the helm. “Wrong choice”, I thought. It was confirmed when, in several issues, Singer confessed to have never been a read the comic books. “Oh, snap!”, I thought. “We’re doomed.” The fact that he kept pushing that Martin Luther King Jr. VS Malcom X ideology in regard to the relationship between Professor X and Magneto only exacerbated matters.
I always felt like the first movie was good, but flawed. It delivered in many regards – most notably bringing Hugh Jackman to the role of Wolverine, who slam dunked it. Kudos also for bringing aboard Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan as the aforementioned Professor X and Magneto.
But the remainder of the film felt cobbled together. Like they tried to make more of it, but just couldn’t.
James Marsden as Cyclops was a dud. Ditto for Anna Paquin as Rouge. Ray Park, Tyler Mane and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos as villains Toad, Sabertooth and Mystique were gimmicky additions at best. Darth Maul, a pro-wrestler and a supermodel? Please.
Halle Berry, of course, was the worst casting possible for the role of Storm. It should have gone to Angela Basset, if you ask me. She was offered it, but I guess she turned it down. Can anyone name the last movie she was in? Supernova? The Score? Yeah… good work, Angie.
But I have high hopes for the sequel. I know this is probably the most naive statement I can make considering A). It’s a sequel and B). It’s a comic book movie. But for some reason, I have a feeling it’s going to turn out more polished. I know they definitely had more money to spend. My wish is that it will make me turn around and appreciate the first a little more. Kind of how The Two Towers did for The Fellowship of The Ring. I think that will be the case since they don’t have to waste time on exposition and can just jump right into the action.
We’ll see.
Good news. Selling more posters. We’re inching ever closer to the half-way point of what’s left in the series. I don’t think you want to be left without one, do you?
I gotta give props to all the fine lads who have helped me pimp the wares as of late. Many thanks to Zach of No Pants Tuesday, Brian of Briworld, Carrington at Movie Punks, Aric from Fish Strips and Mark with Jayhoo and Jawhoo for spreading the good word.
Speaking of good ole Jay and Jaw, you need to check out this strip and look in the background of the second panel. See how cool these posters are?! Even THEY get cameos now!
I think this is going to be a pretty busy week for yours personally. I’m going to try and bring a forum to the site in the next week or two because I want those who have bought posters to have a place where they can discuss their experiences. Oh, and talk about movies.
I’ll also have an announcement regarding a new affiliation I’m considering. But the details will have to wait until later.
Thanks.
I can tell you this – and I don’t think Jared will mind (evil snicker) – but when Jared was a wee lad, he used to run around his house in a pair of light blue pajamas (with footies!), hands outstretched, imagining that he was creating ice bridges as the ever-loving Iceman.
Picture how secretly thrilled he must have been to learn the young Bobby Drake is featured prominently in X-Men 2.
It may also interest you to know that X-2 will receive the largest international opening in movie history on March 2nd when it is released in 93 countries simultaneously. That’s more countries at once than Spider-Man or either Harry Potter movie.
Media spin would have you believe that X-2 is such an IMPORTANT movie, so VITAL to the fabric of the world culture, that there was no alternative BUT to release it in so many countries. But the real truth is that Fox is just trying to put a tourniquet on illegal pirating. “E” for effort, guys.
Onto more pressing matters.
It’s been a long time coming, but I’ve finally decided to shack up with Top Web Comics. For those of you who have been long time readers, you may be aware of my stance toward the organization has been negative for quite some time.
But I’ve also expressed great hope since the boys from True Nuff took over not long ago. I’ve seen lots of changes since Fruitad’s reign – which I believe was the root of a lot of the negativity surrounding the site. As such, I’ve decided to take advantage of the exposure TWC provides.
Since starting the whole thing with the posters (only 60 left, by the way!) I’ve come to realize how much Theater Hopper means to a lot of people. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support. I would never want to lie to you or make it seem as if my word was no good. You may all be strangers, but if you’ve read the site at least once, I consider you a friend. I would hate to do anything to sully that relationship.
That said, I want to take the positive aspects of my work and bring it to a wider audience and, having all but exhausted alternative advertising (link exchanges, crossovers, forum participation) believe firmly that the TWC is what can take Theater Hopper to the “next level”.
I liken it to using the Yellow Pages to advertise a service. You may think that you’ve got the best widget factory in the world, but who is going to find out about you if you don’t advertise? Tossing aside the competitive nature of getting your site voted into the Top 10, I look at TWC like the Yellow Pages of web comics and now it’s time to put my money where my mouth is.
Of course, the realization of my goal will be decided by you, the reader. And if you can lend your support, I would be eternally grateful.
I promise not to bombard you with requests for votes or pull stunts that blackmail you into a response. If I’m going to do this, I want to be honest about it. So the banner beneath the comic is the only places you will see me beg for your approval. And don’t worry, I’m going to do something about that standard banner and whip up something with a little more personality.
If anyone has issue with this decision, please feel free to e-mail me and I will discuss it with you at length. Those of you who have been coming here from the beginning are the lifeblood of this operation and you should be commended for it.
Thank you so much for your support and here’s to the continued success of Theater Hopper!