Supernatural - 21st Century Hardy Boys

First show I watched as a boy was ...The Hardy Boys.
Goofy, pretty light interpretation of the novels but fun ...good spirited spooky stories.
But, like Scooby-Doo, there was no actual supernatural stuff ...just bad guys pretending...
..and it left me wondering how would Frank and Joe deal with a ghost? A REAL ghost..

That's exactly what Supernatural is ...Hardy Boys meets Lovecraft...

I'm the older of two brothers, and if we could fight spirits, meet girls, fight occasionally...
Actually, that is how it is.
My bro is also the younger, taller, and more boyish - me, I'm the fuckin' jerk.

It's just a great continuity..
Good spirited spooky tales.
They've taken a fun-as-hell concrete approach to the Heaven and Hell we grew up with, and it works. An earth where "we" are kept safe from the forces above, below, and secretly here.
No, it isn't THE WIRE but nothing is...
..I just happen to like TV/Film when it feels like everyone is having as much fun as I am.

..and like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural is an evolving story ...like long TV movies.
Love 'em. Thanks to HBO for that concept, though..

SUPERNATURAL is a blast.

A.

ps: photoshop is fun - check out the difference in image...

The Walking Dead

Best series on TV right now.

AMC's Walking Dead is the horror series Zombie fans have been waiting for ...but didn't know it. Frank Darabont is already one of my favorite filmmakers and you can feel not only his guiding hand but a real love for the material. Brilliant series, filled with suspense and smart writing.

Brings me to an irrelevant but interesting point nonetheless - I think the nerds of the world would save us from Zombies ...if anyone would it's them/us...
Most people would go into "full shutdown" if the dead did rise ...crazy stuff, but I'm betting the Zombie lovers'd take 10 seconds to assess and then "fight" - I think us nerds are actually just waiting patiently...

I love this middle ground where shows like Californication, Weeds, Six-Feet-Under ...Walking Dead are free to act like movies - well produced, well written and tight - great TV.

I can't wait for season 2...
...and now after talking to Josh ..the comic book too...

Go get Season One.

The FIGHTER

This is one of the best films I've ever seen.
Ever.

14 things I liked about T H O R

1) There's a film in the theatre right now based on the Marvel comic book character I grew up on, Thor - this in itself is awesome.

2) The Destroyer is in it, and looking like a Kirby drawing ... fantastic. One of the best shots in it was Jane over a defeated Thor, with the Destroyer slowly marching away ...very cool.

3) Chris Hemsworth as THOR. Perfect ...funny, strong, and looking as though he just stepped out of Walt Simonson's sketch pad.

4) Anthony Hopkins clearly likes the character of Odin, and Branaugh's direction... he's a lot of fun in this one.

5) LOKI - Tom Hiddleston gives us a damn cool "God of Mischief" ...well written and well acted. More excited for his presence in AVENGERS now.

6) Death - The fact that his Dad decided he had to die, or be willing to, really did raise the stakes. I think that's a pretty good way to prove oneself.

7) The VFX - From practical suits to mind-blowing CG it just looked fantastic - the Rainbow Bridge sounds a lot less lamer once you've seen it. Thor's Asgard was as engaging as it's "reality" - did not expect that..

8) Colm Feore - He raises everything he's in, though I am sad he's not Canadian.

9) Idris Elba - Lots of racist debate over changing the skin color of this character. Well, since he looked cool, acted well, and brought the charismatic presence he always brings I guess I'd have to side with the filmmakers on this one. PERFECT HEIMDALL.

10) Unlike Iron Man 2, Thor did NOT feel like an extended ad for another movie.

11) DESIGN - From the costume choices to the towers of Asgard, the whole movie is filled with absolute artistry ...and CG that genuinely supports the story.

12) The Ultimates: "God, I hope you're not crazy.."
I'm sure there were plenty of conversations on which direction to take this character - a "God" in the modern age - what to do? what to do?
The synthesis of "Classic Thor" with his modern "Ultimates" counterpart is perfect. Just enough of Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch's Thor in there with the best of Walt Simonson's run - Great work.
Thor in regular clothes in the rain, powerless and fighting to remove Mjolnir - cool as hell. 

13) FUN - Remember when comic books were fun? Characters laughed occasionally...
I'm not a fan of the 90's superhero mentality ...grouchy, psycho, self-important antiheroes, mostly written badly I found. This film is born out of enjoyment, like the first Superman in '78...
...and man, that's a welcome experience.

14) The "Easter Egg" - First one with a villain, and that mirror shot is a cheap theatre trick ...that I like a lot. Felt like 70's filmmaking for a minute there. Wasn't too excited about Loki as a baddie in Avengers buuuut that last scene ...cool, bring it on.
 

Thanks to Mr.Branaugh for loving Thor like a kid with a comic book...
...and thanks to MARVEL STUDIOS for treating the medium, the fans, and the characters with some good ol' fashioned respect. It's paying off for everyone involved.

A.