First off, I’ve gotta give credit where credit is due. Cami helped brainstorm the idea for today’s strip, so – thank you honey!
I knew I wanted to make some mention of John Cusack since his new film Identity opens today and I’m a big fan. I just wasn’t sure how to go about it.
I was playing around with the whole “I gave her my heart, she gave (stole) me a pen” line from Say Anything and a joke about how it seems like there is always at least one scene in each John Cusack movie where our hero is standing out in the rain.
It happened in Say Anything. It happens twice in High Fidelity. I think it even happens once after he gets spit out onto the New Jersey Turnpike in Being John Malkovich. What, is this guy some kind of amphibian? Is he half mud-skipper, or something. I’m beginning to think he has a clause built somewhere into his contract. Either that, or a gill sac that needs moistening between takes.
I only mention it because, from the trailer, it would appear that Mr. Cusack spends considerable time in the rain. Here we go again.
I would really like to see Identity, based solely on my affection for Cusack as an actor. He’s probably my favorite contemporary A-lister. In his teenage years, he projected the same confidence underlined by nervousness aura that I felt very in tune with. As an adult, he comes across as a self-assured individual with a certain cocky charm – the kind of man I would like to be. I see a lot of myself in him, although we’re nothing alike. In my opinion, he’s certainly more “everyman” than Tom Hanks, or whoever.
That said, I don’t think we’ll see the picture. Cami and I just aren’t the “scary movie” couple. We prefer to rent films from that genre instead of seeing them in the theater. If it gets too scary – pause.
Poster sales are chugging along and I have you to thank. Well, 30 of you at least. Still, for one week, I think that’s pretty good.
If you’re thinking about buying a poster, I don’t suggest procrastinating. These are nice posters. I think you will be very pleased with their quality.
After this poster business is over, I’m thinking about bringing back the forum. Seeing the kind of support I’m seeing from the sale makes me feel that it may be time to cultivate a community and give you guys a place to put down some roots.
Seriously, I think I have the most complimentary readership in all web comics. Maybe I’m not controversial enough to illicit that kind of negative response, but regardless, I feel damn lucky to have one good fan – let alone the several that have stepped forward in the last week.
Thanks.
After the idea was introduced that Tom’s Father was calling to him from beyond, I started to think about the father/son themes in Tron: Legacy. It wasn’t long before I transposed that exploration over to The Empire Strikes Back. Thus, a sci-fi mash-up was born. I hope you like it.
I went a little gonzo with the double-sized comic. Mostly because I knew there was no way I could fit all of it into four panels. Or, more accurately, inside the digital same real estate my average comic takes up.
So I went for broke. Decided to do a larger comic. Of course that meant the comic was a little bit late. But when you think about it, you’re kind of getting two comics this week instead of one. So that shakes out, right?
Working on this strip last night, I definitely had a sense that I had bitten off more than I could chew. But I could see the goal line on the horizon. I knew even if the joke didn’t go over, I would at least be happy with the results. Visually, the comic is pretty much everything I envisioned – and that’s a pretty satisfying feeling.
I haven’t yet managed to see Tron: Legacy yet, but monitoring the response to it on Twitter this weekend was interesting. Reactions seem to be split into two camps – people who thought the plot and dialogue was stupid while appreciating the special effects and everyone else who seemed to say “C’mon, guys! Tron: Legacy wasn’t THAT bad!”
An airtight argument to be sure.
It sounds like there’s enough about Tron: Legacy to admire from an effects standpoint, but I’ve also hear that if you’re not a tech geek, it can kind of leave you cold. I’m not worried. Tron: Legacy looks like it fits directly in my wheelhouse.
I don’t know when I’ll get a chance to see the film. A friend of mine wants to organize a “guys night out” with a bunch of friends to go check it out together. With the holidays in the way, it might be a while before I’ll finally get my chance.
Here’s something I haven’t heard people talking about… the 3D. Seems like Disney was push Tron: Legacy in 3D and IMAX pretty hard, but I’ve not heard anyone’s opinions about it.
I’m kind of against the idea of seeing it in 3D. Aside from the glowing suits, the film already looks dimly lit. Why do I want to throw on a pair of 3D glasses and drop the brightness on the picture another 20%?
If you saw Tron: Legacy in 3D, what was your take? Worth it or not?
That’s all for me. Feel free to leave your comments below. If you liked today’s double-comic, click that little Facebook “Like” button to the lower right. I’d appreciate it.
Cheers!