Trailers

I'm personally not a proponent for watching trailers on the internet or tv. I find them to be a poor quality in both sound and picture. Even the websites dedicated to the movies host poor quality trailers and if they are any good you aren't able to download them and keep them if need be.

Seeing that I work in a theatre I enjoy standing in the back of a theatre and watching them on the big screen. About 10 years ago, that was the first and only way to see the full trailers, but in these modern times you can see full movie trailers even on your telephones, yet I remain a purest.

As earlier mentioned I am very excited for the Batman Begins movie (my brother remains skeptical but that is neither here nor there. If he wants to defend his ignorance, he should start a blog) I stopped by the DivX website to update my drivers when I saw that they host high quality trailers of many major releases coming and already out. I highly recommend going there for your pretheatre trailer viewing, instead of many of the crap sites out there.

http://www.divx.com/movies/trailers.php

And yes, I have downloaded both Batman Begins trailers.

Rock Bottom hits bottom

Many of you are aware of the fine establishment of Rock Bottom. However few of you are aware that Rock Bottom has all-you-can-eat chicken wings and all-you-can-drink beer on Thursday nights for 15 dollars. The reason I say "few", is because last Thursday was the last time they will offer this sweet deal of deliciousness.

I demanded an answer for this travesty when it finally sunk in (I was drinking a lot of Naughty Scot and was in denial). The guy at the door explained that management feels they are not earning money (understandable, seeing that the before mentioned sweet deal, is in fact a sweet deal) but the employee explained that Thursday nights is the busiest weekday night for Rock Bottom because of the sweet deal. I said I would write letters and he gave me his blessing and endorsement.

As a card carrying member of the Mug Club I find this very disappointing. I urge all of you who love both chicken wings and beer to tell Rock Bottom the way you feel. I advise sending in your protests to their website. Together we can make a difference.

Crimson Room

I was told about this Crimson Room at www.chrisdiclerico.com, and tried it out. Its a puzzle game where you have to get out of the room using what you find to help get you out. It was very fun but the only stupid part is at the end.

Good luck, the only hint I will tell you is that there are 13 items to find. I got them all, and my brother got up to 11 before homework called him away.

Fear ends... Justice prevails (god I hope so)

The more I see the latest Batman trailer (as discussed on the Chatanooga Choo Choo) the more I am excited for it. I don’t know what it is. From what I can tell the entire trailer is basically the first reel of the film and the last reel of the film. Batman will be heavy drama and backstory to the dark knight and that’s what has been missing from the last couple Batman films.

What I don’t think the trailer touches on at all is Gordon, which I believe will be a large part of the film. I hope the story is similar to the one of Frank Millers Year One for Gordon’s plot, but I’m open for anything with Gary Oldman as Lt. Gordon.

I’m very excited at seeing the inner turmoil of Batman’s early years and training, for the first time on film (you don’t see Batman for the first hour). The most important part of Batman is his struggle to find himself inside and outside of the cowl and I believe that will be touched on more intimately with Nolan behind the camera.

My only fears are that WB hasn’t realized that the silver screen is too small for two villains and that they don’t over do the love story, even though its Katie Holmes. I’m tired of Bruce Wayne showing his woman the cave and who he really is, that plot point is getting as stale as the bat cave air.

This Batman is truly a new beginning and I hope it revives the dying franchise of the caped crusader.

Nice

If you ever get a chance to go to a Brewers/Cubs game at Miller Park I highly recommend it. It makes it especially sweeter that during the bottom on the ninth, 2 outs, bases loaded and its tied the cubs throw a ball for the 3-2 pitch. Wow, I've never seen so many frustrated cubs fans in my life (except during post season, or when a piece of Wrigley falls on their heads).

Its a good feeling when the Brewers put away the cubs, despite with what Brewer Fans must go through to watch a home game with the Cubs. The cheers and boos at all the wrong times, and the now famous chant OOOOOver-rated (they think they are so cute). One Cubs fan even explained to a bunch of heckling Brewer fan kids that the only reason they are Brewer fans is cause they are poor. I don't get that one, nore do I want try and see what brought that on. I think it can only strenghthen my theory. Cubs fans are jerks.

We Are Not All Dilberts

On the right of this blog I posted a few of my favorite websites (except for that Neville kid's site). These websites are “web comics” and I feel by posting them on the side I can help these juggernauts of the underground internet comic scene get maybe one more viewer. It’s all I can do for the enjoyment they have given me. I go to these sites regularly and reference them daily. They are the green sheets of my 20 something years. I don’t only read and enjoy them, but relate to them on many levels. I advise everyone to search for their own online comic that speaks to them, they’ll find it if they look.

These sites all started with one or two people just drawing and writing. Not really a job that guidance councilors would recommend as stable income. However, 5 to 10 years of doing this consistently they have formed a fan base. Not only do fans read and appreciate their work, but companies are seeing their work. Penny Arcade started making a website that had comics and criticized the gaming industry. Now they publish comics for video game strategy guides, go to Microsoft to test games before they are released, host a yearly convention that draws thousands of fans and raise thousands of dollars for a kids charity they started.

Today I was thinking about an online cartoon I use to frequent often, Xombie. I don’t know what got me to remember this site I haven’t visited in almost a year, but I did. I searched for it again and went to it hoping that perhaps a new chapter would be posted. James Farr (creator and artist) made a 3 minute chapter every 6 months. Every 3 months he would post a letter thanking his fans for keeping him going and keeping their patience. I find out that the creator and solo artist of this online comic is now in pre-production for a feature film of Xombie.

Stuff like this is not only amazingly awesome, but an inspiration. The one common thing of all these sites is that they were guys who wanted to get their art work out because they had no other way or no one would pay to see their art. It didn’t happen instantly and it sure wasn’t praised at first or all the time. They worked for it, and it took years and self dedication. I tap my hats to all web comic and web animators out there. Many of you have full time jobs and families and like to spend a couple hours every night before bed or forgo their lunch hours just to get their art out there. I just wanted you to all know, that we are reading, enjoying and looking for the next piece of work.