Posts Tagged ‘existentialism’
2 items.
I wish I could tell some grand tale of angst that lead me to create today’s strip, but truth be told, I was strapped for ideas.
Originally, I was going to do a strip about forgetting my wallet at the theater while attempting to buy tickets. This really happened to me on Friday when we went to see Old School. The punch line would have been something like “It’s like those dreams where you’re standing around in your underwear!” And there I would be in my skivvies.
But then I thought, “Nah. It’s been done.”
Then I was going to do a strip about The Pianist. It was pretty much a one note affair (no pun) that was a play on the pronunciation of the movie’s title. I’m sure if you take a minute to pause, you can envision where I’m going. Figuring it was kind of third grade, I decided to pass.
Today’s strip doesn’t relate to anything other than my utter disappointment with the big screen offerings Chris Rock seems to be falling for these days. If you’ve seen the trailer for Head of State, you know what I’m talking about. Bad Company, Pootie Tang, Down to Earth. This guy has to be one of the sharpest social satirists of the modern age and he’s making this crap? Oh, well. I guess Richard Pryor was in Superman III.
As I mentioned above, I was able to go out and see Old School this weekend. I was going to write a review about it, but truthfully remember very little of the movie. Maybe it was the beer I drank before the late showing to get into the spirit or maybe it was because there was nothing particularly worth recalling in detail.
The film was funny, but I don’t remember any scenes worth re-enacting for my friends and co-workers. Will Ferrell is the best reason to see the movie. His performance makes up for everything Luke Wilson lacks and smooths over the rough edges of Vince Vaughn’s character, who is somewhat unlikable.
Ferrell plays things kind of dumb, but delivers his lines in a way that milks every last ounce of funny from what he has to work with. Surprise cameos from Sean William Scott and Andy Dick played well.
I’d probably see the movie again when it comes out on video. Actually, I’d probably buy it on DVD. But I have no need to see it in a theater again. Check it out if you’re looking for a movie where you can just turn off your brain and laugh for an hour and a half.
In site news, I am working on implementing a script that will result in the site being converted to .php format. I grabbed the script from Comrade F, who you may have noticed running around over at Snafu Comics and Mall Monkeys. He’s a good guy and has been helping me with the conversion.
Making the upgrade shouldn’t affect your viewing of the strip, but it will help me to keep the site more organized. There may be a few tweaks involving the addition of graphics, but that can only enhance your experience in my estimation.
Anyway, in March I will have been in the game for half a year. I figure now is the time to get serious about things before the archive gets too big for me to manage.
Just something for your breadbox.
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This isn’t really the first time Tom has consulted religion (or at least his limited understanding of it.) Nor is it his first brush with existentialism. But when it comes to the matter of pop culture, it’s serious business and sometimes you need to look to a higher power.
I’ve personally been reading Entertainment Weekly since 1995 and I can remember the first issue I picked up. I was in Iowa City over the summer attending a two-week art camp at the University of Iowa. I was 17 and still in high school. It was great. We got to sleep in the dorms and we took classes ranging from photography, to oil painting and pottery.
But I digress. I picked up the magazine at the university bookstore and it had Val Kilmer on the cover in full costume for Batman Forever. I devoured the issue. And no, not because of the bat-nipples on the costume. Here was a magazine that was catered very well to my interest in the myriad of pop culture. Not just movies or music but television and books as well. I thought it was written exceptionally well and in a voice that spoke directly to me. 11 years later, I’m still reading it. If I had saved each of those issues, I surely would have become one of those people you read about who was found buried alive under all the garbage in their house that toppled over on them.
At any rate, I didn’t mean for this to be a giant endorsement of Entertainment Weekly. I’m not getting any kickbacks (but if anyone has connections!…) Just kidding. I’m just telling stories.
The pre-sale for the book is still going on. I’m feeling a little better about things. People seem to really like the idea of me signing the book and including a numbered original sketch with their orders. Of course, I would feel better if I could tell you I have all the orders I need and I was sending the artwork to the printer – but were still a ways off from that. So if you’re thinking about pre-ordering a book, do it today!
Also, don’t forget that I still have an open call for guest strips. I have a few people that have expressed interest and are working on things, but so far I don’t have enough to cover me while Cami and I are gone. I’m gonna need about 3 weeks worth of stuff, so if you have anything, send it in! Really the only limitation is to keep the artwork 525 pixels wide. Anything larger breaks the template of the site. But if you want to go longer, I’m okay with that! Black and white or color is okay. Just keep it tasteful (nothing worse than you might see in prime time network television) and I’ll roll with it!
I consulted my Magic Eight Ball and asked it if I see Mission Impossible 3 this weekend. I turned it over and it said "My sources tell me ‘No’." Part of the reason is because we’re having a big party at our house on Saturday to celebrate Cami earning her Master’s degree in Public Administration. A two-year struggle that’s finally come to a close. The other reason is that I’m pretty much over all of the hype and don’t feel like supporting Tom Cruise in any way, shape or form.
I’m not the only one. Tracking figures released Wednesday cite Mission Impossible 3 has 98% general awareness, 43% definite interest and 13% first choice. So, in other words, the marketing is doing it’s job by putting the film out there – but it doesn’t look like the majority of the audience is going to bite. There have been some initial good reviews. Some are calling it the best of the series. That’s good, I suppose. But it makes me wonder if the interest level in this film would be much more positive if people weren’t burnt out on the details of Cruise’s private life.
I like J.J. Abrams. I like Phillip Seymour Hoffman. If I see the movie, it’ll be for their talents. But from what I’ve read, Hoffman isn’t given very much screen time and the film seems to be edited in favor of Cruise. So, essentially, we end up with a movie abou a hero fighting a villian with no screen time. Sounds like cutting of your nose to save face. Which maybe what I’m doing by shunning the talents of those I like over those of one I don’t. But what can I say? I’m petty.
Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone!
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