Posts Tagged ‘E.T.’
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Nov25
In case you didn’t know, all this week we’re celebrating Theater Hopper crossing the milestone of 50 strips!
And to help with the celebration, I’ve recruited the ever-awesome Carrington Vanston from Movie Punks to do a crossover this week.
Fans of Movie Punks will recognize the scenario from when he hooked up with Shivian from Oh My Gods! We each take turns doing a strip, and to see the next stage of the plot, you have to visit the corresponding artist’s web site. Really simple!
I’m kicking things off today, and tomorrow, you can see Carrington’s take over at Movie Punks. This is going to be a lot of fun, so be sure to follow along!
You can find part one of our crossover located on the Bonus Materials page. Expect to find subsequent installments there as well. I’ll be sure to keep everyone informed when new strips appear on the page.
The reason we’re doing a crossover is to thank you, the reader for your support and enthusiasm. I’ve received several nice letters from fans and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. But we’re not doing this for just those who send letters. This crossover is also for the casual reader. Because without the steady stream of hits you add to our totals, I would consider myself a failure and quite outright. You encourage us, too – if somewhat silently. 🙂
Of course, this crossover wouldn’t be “special” if I weren’t working extra hard to bring you a week of regular strips. So that means you’ll be getting 6 strips from me instead of the standard three. That’s right. I’m working DOUBLE hard just for you. No, not you. You owe me money. The guy to your right. Him. Oh, and everyone else.
I did today’s crossover at an 8 panel job. The file is really big, so for those of you with slower connections, you might consider going to the bathroom or making a sandwich while waiting for it to download. However, I must recommend you don’t do both at the same time, because that is very gross. Regardless, it’s out there in all its enormity, waiting for you.
I’m not sure if I’ll be able to follow up with another 8 panel strip on Wednesday because it basically devoured my entire weekend. So what I’m saying is don’t get used to it. Of course, it all depends on what Carrington fires back with tomorrow. We’ll see then if I need to one-up him. 🙂
I will say there was a bit of serendipitous timing with this crossover. Since this week is Thanksgiving, I’ve got a few days off from work. It’s giving me extra time to work on the strip and goof off. Meanwhile, my wife will be slaving over a hot stove.
God, I’m a bad husband.
Not really. In truth, I’m just a really bad cook. Cami wouldn’t let me near a stove if her life depended on it. I’m sure I’ll be made useful by making several trips to the grocery store for her. Picking things off a shelf – that’s about all I’m good for. That, and drawing silly pictures. Enjoy!
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My apologies for the lateness of this week’s comic. I struggled with this one. I think I probably bit off more than I could chew. I guess 8-panel comics do that to me.
But I really wanted to include that line about walkie-talkies and shotguns. As you may or may not remember, Spielberg digitally removed the shotguns federal agents were carrying and replaced them with walkie-talkies for the film’s 20th anniversary re-release in 2002. It caused a bit of an uproar.
I’m sure I wasn’t the only person to have looked at the trailers for Super 8 and thought to themselves “It looks like E.T. with lens flares.” It’s kind of hard not to when you know that Spielberg was an executive producer and they slapped that old Amblin Entertainment title card in front of the previews.
Additionally, harping on Abrams for utilizing his favorite visual device may even be a little cheap. But at least there was SOME context for the lens flares in Abrams’ reboot of the Star Trek franchise. He said he wanted the film to look like the future.” What’s the deal with adding lens flares to a movie that’s supposed to take place in 1979?
I didn’t get a chance to see Super 8 this weekend and was left kicking myself because I’ve done a really good job of keeping myself spoiler-free. If Abrams is known for his love of lens flares, he’s equally well known for creating an air of mystery around his films. Although, once the mystery is revealed, there is rarely a reason to stick around or care about that movie ever again (Cloverfield, I’m looking at you.)
I do kind of wonder if this retro-vibe Abrams is exploring with Super 8 isn’t a bit of a wank, though. This is not just a period piece we’re talking about. He’s purposefully aping a specific style. Is Abrams trying to push the nostalgia button to earn points with audiences? Is Super 8 an original composition or is it a remix? The way Hollywood looks these days, it’s hard to know what’s authentic anymore. Every movie is either a remake, a sequel or a reference to something else.
But I still want to entertain the mystery. I’m kind of enjoying the chase. That’s why I’m not exactly enthusiastic to ask you guys to submit your thoughts about Super 8 if you happened to see it this weekend. I want to go in “pure.”
After all, if Super 8 is an 80’s throwback, it seems appropriate to be caught off-sides by it like audiences back then did. Back before there was the internet or a 1,000 spoilers creeping around every corner.
Am I alone in this? Did anyone else experience the same sense of anticipation with Super 8? Is it justified or am I being manipulated? And if I’m being manipulated, isn’t that kind of the point?
I guess I’m feeling kind of philosophical today. If you’d like to add your thoughts in the comments section, jump in.
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