Posts Tagged ‘President’
4 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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For those of you interested in learning more about John Cusack and his politics, it may be in your interest to check out Cusack For President – a totally legit effort to get out boom box hero into the highest office in Western Civilization. And they sell nice t-shirts to boot.
A shout out also for Alex Shebar who recalled Cusack riding a motorcycle in the rain during American Sweethearts.
Got any other examples of Cusack in the rain? Pass them along.
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Jan21
Perhaps today’s comic tries a little to hard to tie itself to the historic events of yesterday’s inauguration of President Barack Obama. His appointment to Leader of the Free World really has little to do with a Brandon Fraser movie. But what is the web if not an opportunity to stay timely with your content? Plus, it’s history and I’m a big Presidential history fan. So why not?
Not to over-explain the joke, but the significance of President Obama’s inauguration is such a game-changer socially, politically and racially that it might not be uncommon for people to look for profound meaning and significance in other facets of their lives where there might not be any.
I am a big Obama fan (I voted for him during the Iowa Caucuses). But there have been critics who chastize his supporters for putting him on a pedestal and treating him like some kind of Messiah. Not to be a Negative Nancy, but I agree with that a little bit. Obviously the ripple effect of Obama taking the Oath of Office is HUGE. But let’s not raise him up to far, too fast. Let’s give the man some room to work. Let’s also not forget to roll up our sleves and help.
As far as Inkheart goes, I don’t know what to make of it except that Brandon Fraser seems to be stuck in some kind of fantasy/action ghetto career-wise at the moment. Between Inkheart, Journey to the Center of the Earth and The Mummy: Tomb of The Dragon Emperor, we’ve seen a lot of Fraser and his wigs with the weird bangs running away from special effects. Either he must be REALLY good on a green screen or he owes someone money. Wasn’t this guy in Crash a few years ago? What happened there?
In case you are unfamiliar with the plot, Fraser plays a Mo “Silvertongue” Folchart (oy…) who can bring fictional characters to life by reading aloud from their books. Adventure ensues.
Let me say this: In terms of movies that make reading the fulcrum point of their plot, there’s only one movie worth talking about, okay? And that movie is The Never Ending Story.
Don’t let anyone ever tell you differently.
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For the record, neither one of my grandmothers has an opinion about Barack Obama as President. They’re both dead.
I don’t mean to disparage their memory by being so blunt about it. But I wanted to clarify that I don’t actually have a racist grandmother. Sometimes the comic weaves in and out of autobiographical elements and this is one of those cases where it’s just a joke.
Incidentally, if either of them were alive, I don’t think they would upset about an African American President.
I’m kind of getting into a bad habit where I’m referencing videos in the blog post to help sell the jokes in the comic. But for your own edification, you need to see the red band trailer for the Paul Bettany angels-gone-rogue action film Legion.
WARNING: The language is a little salty and not safe for work.
Watching this trailer reminds me of cheesy action movies from the 80s. I don’t know if it’s the remote desert diner location, but I was immediately reminded of Maximum Overdrive when I first saw this. Also, the music is vaguely reminiscent of the first Terminator to me.
Am I the only one seeing this?
Maybe it’s the abundance of guns. Dennis Quaid’s character actually calls Paul Bettany’s character “Rambo” at one point. But, yeah… The end of the world? God’s army of angels? What does this movie need?… I know! GUNS AND EXPLOSIONS!!
Even though the stringy albino frame of Paul Bettany would be the last one I would run to for protection in the Apocalypse, I believe his detached British charm and dry delivery are the only things lending credibility to this film. It’s almost if he’s communicating “Look, I know this movie is crap, but I’m going to take it seriously.” You have to respect his conviction. Never in my life did I think I would write “Paul Bettany” and “action star” anywhere in the same paragraph.
What do you guys think of Legion? Cheesy fun or bloated action cliches with a Biblical theme? Is Paul Bettany credible as an action star? Also, does anyone have a racist grandmother they want to talk about?
KIDDING! JUST KIDDING ON THAT LAST ONE!
But seriously, leave your comments about Legion below.
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