Selkie

Now I understand why Kleenex paid for a commercial right before Pan's Labyrinth. Damn. That was a great movie. That you couldn't pay me to see again.

I feel for the toddler and the infant whose parents dragged them to see the film.

I could quibble about some of the mechanics of the dystopian future that's presented in Children of Men, but the overall impression is realistic and believable, sometimes uncomfortably so. Many of the supporting performances, if perhaps a bit overly quirky, were entertaining. (Thank you, Michael Caine. Thank you, "Now put on your fugee face" guy.) It's very pretty to look at, although the promo copy about it being "the most gorgeously shot film of the year" seems a bit of a stretch. But overall, the movie feels like the second act of an interesting, and much larger, film. At best, it's the second of a trilogy. Without the potentially even more interesting beginning, and the "oh please, do something unexpected with it" ending, the exercise doesn't quite work for me. Still, there are worse ways to kill a couple of hours.

This isn't a review, since I assume we've all read and formed our own opinions of Sandman, but this thread seemed the most appropriate place to place a link to the best price I've found yet on Absolute Sandman vol. 1.

Just an FYI for those who, like me, may have wanted this book but held off due to the price tag.

I'm surprised no one's mentioned Ravenous, aka "The Guy Pearce cannibal movie" yet. Horribly mismarketed - I thought it was some sort of period survival story along the lines of Alive - but it turned out to be quite a nice little horror story that's very pretty to look at.

Inca, thanks for starting a U.K. contingent! I'll PM you to exchange details closer to time.

Spain, I'll have to scan a picture of one of the Cthulhu elder sigils I make some time. I really wanted to have some ready to sell before the solstice, but alas, "real" life keeps interfering.

Are those actually out yet? I know they repeatedly pushed back the release date on the set, and the Tower Recrods' closures meant the black Cthulhu variant wound up struggling for distribution.

spiderlegs, you wanna join the DVD circle?

The Solstice bounty was unusually good this year for me. Among the treats was a copy of the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society's silent film Call of Cthulhu. I had heard rave reviews before, but the idea of shelling out twenty clams for a 47 minute B&W silent film gave me pause. Fortunately a friend gave me this DVD as a parting gift. Ladies and gentlemen, nightgaunts and shoggoths, this film is the Lovecraft adaptation we've all been waiting for. Because I think it should be seen by as many people as possible, I've decided to share my copy with STH members. If you agree to the following terms, you get to see this cinematic masterpiece for less than the cost of a rental at Blockbuster. How's that for a deal?

(1) You must be a member of STH registered before December 21, 2006, and have made at least fifty posts.

(2) Upon receipt, you e-mail both me and the member who sent it to you. Otherwise, we'll send Mi Go after you.

(3) Watch the movie within a reasonable amount of time of receiving it (say, two weeks). If you don't, you will be fed to Pickman's model. Alive. Feet first.

(4) Ship it on to the next member using the equivalent of first class mail (with delivery confirmation if you're in the U.S.) or airmail, and contact both me and the recipient to let us know it's on its way. Be sure to put a slip of paper inside indicating both your addy and the recipients's- the USPS has been a little screwy lately. If you don't - well, you don't want to know.

The DVD is region 0 and I don't mind it leaving the country, so don't be shy. The Great Old Ones are going to eat us all in the end, no matter where we live. P.M. me to be put on the list. I'll try to have it make its rounds within one country before it moves on to the next.

Inca, I'm very sorry for your loss.

Josh, regarding the increased amount of seismic releases in your area: lungfish can bury themselves in the ground for months or years before emerging. Noticed any around lately?

Keeyah and Dogpoet, I have been asked by Fish to pass the following message:

BWAAAAP!!

There I was, watching television and quietly minding my own business, when I heard thunderous splashes coming from Fish's tank. I figured after he rocketed around his surroundings like Secretariat a few times, he'd realize no food was forthcoming and he'd settle down. More fool I. I turned around just in time to watch him delicately slide the entire aquarium lid to one side and slither to the floor with the grace of a python descending from a tree.

For those unaquainted with Fish, let me explain. Fish is a fully grown African lungfish who has been with me since he was a 7/8" hatchling more than 20 years ago. Since then, he has transformed into a three foot long eel-like behemeth as thick as a man's arm, capable of living out of water for hours and traveling long distances on land. He is also armed with needle-like teeth designed for stripping flesh and muscle to the bone in a fraction of a second, and jaws capable of nipping off human digits without strain. In short, although he's no Carcharodon megalodon, an agitated Fish racing toward one is not something even an experienced keeper confronts lightly.

Fortunately the brightly colored Christmas wrapping paper attracted Fish's attention long enough for my father and I to round up the glass tank lid and a large box to herd him into. Fish, as one might expect, was none too thrilled with this plan.

So how did this fearsome predator react to the sight of two even larger predators intent on making him do something he didn't want to do? Did he, perhaps, threaten us with those powerful jaws? Elude us with his startling speed? Thrash wildly to make himself harder to grab? Oh no.

He puffed up his head and ... emitted the loudest farting noise I have ever heard. No elephant could out-trumpet, or out-fart, Fish. My father and I dissolved in laughter. Apparently this wasn't the result he was hoping for, so he tried again. And again.

After a couple of daredevil attempts, we did successfully wrangle him back into his tank. The box is the worse for wear - remember what I said about those teeth? - but Fish appears unscathed and the humans are fine, if occasionally prone to outbursts of laughter.

I'm wondering whether it is advisable to watch Serenity without seeing Firefly, the series.

Based on the experiences of several people I know who went into Serenity cold, you shouldn't have any problem having not seen Firefly. A couple of them even wound up borrowing my DVDs because they wanted more. In at least one crucial way, you might even enjoy the movie more without having the televisionbackground. Then you won't whimper about how flattened the characterizations are in the film as versus the series.

(FTR, I enjoyed the television series but am most certainly not one of the glassy eyed true believers. Had it not been cancelled it might have grown into the best of Joss Whedon's work, but as it stands it's a good series rather than a great one).

I cant imagine that Cars good.

I mean i love Pixar Animation, they made the best films in the genre, but...talking cars?

hagren, I seem to recall we have similar taste in movies, so I'll just mention that I hated Cars. If I hadn't been seeing the film with other people, I would have walked out. I found the characters uninteresting at best, and the plot was so formulaic that I can't even excuse it on the basis of it being a kids' movie.

I also loved the flying scenes, which I found incredibly sensual (anyone else think this, or just me?) I think many films recently have put too much whizz-bangery in their flying scenes, loosing the simple wonder of being able to fly. The quietness of some of Superman's flight scenes, the lack of urgency, the gentle rippling of his cloak, the gymnastic rather than action oriented flight poses, all created a timelessness and sense of joy in movement, a renewed amazement at the idea of moving through the air without falling.

Yes, yes, yes, and just for good measure, a resounding yes.

Lastly, did anyone else find the scene where Kitty remarks that there used to be two dogs, while remaining dog gnaws on it's former compainions bones hiliarious? Because I was the only person in the theatre who laughed. And by 'laugh' I mean 'laughed hysterically well into the next scene'.

Then some children turned around to stare at me and I felt like a sick, sick person.

When I saw this movie with the fanboys, everyone laughed. When I saw it with the civilians, no one did - and I took the same role of the the sick, sick person in the theater. In fact, the civvies acted like they were in( aside from the screaming babbling two-year who was incredibly lucky I did not feed it to a Pomeranian). The fanboy film experience was so much more enjoyable. They were celebrating their faith, not mourning it.

I hate that although you'd think I'd be used to it by now. I've been getting ma'am'd since I've been about sixteen.

Ouch.

I haven't seen it but one of the reviews I read mentioned a certain mythological allusion -- actually the same one that was used and expanded upon in one of the earlier films -- so I'd guess that element is in in the film somewhere.

Actually, the more I thought about it, it was. (FTR, keeping this discussion spoiler free is killing me). I overlooked the importance of an early speech in favor of something explicitly stated later on. If the movie wanted me to believe that Luthor's opposition to Superman is primarily ideological, I wish that point had been hit a tad harder. I'm all in favor of subtlety, but with this movie I sometimes found it difficult to separate subtlety from fanwanking.

Judging from all your reports, Routh isnt the shit actor I was afraid he'd be. But I still have reservations about his teenage looks. Seems like a minor quibble but given who Superman is, not really.

Fanwank that Kryptonians doesn't age like the rest of us, and you'll do just fine. The off ages of some of the other actors are harder, at least for me, to accept.

But well, it really does sound like a good movie and I'm looking fwd to seeing it today/tomorrow and hearing that Williams score in a theatre for the first time (which alone is almost worth ticket price).

As long as you manage your expectations going in, I think you'll enjoy it. The film certainly isn't flawless - what movie is? - but it's quite enjoyable, even for someone like me who loathes Superman. I can easily nitpick small stuff, like Spacey's intermittent lapses into his Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil southern accent, but this is a film about broad strokes, and on that level, it succeeds.

Thank you for making me feel older than I already am.

 

Yes I saw the original one in the theatres.

If it's any consolation, so did I. I even still have the Official Collector's movie magazine purchased when it was new.

Just to add insult to injury, someone ma'am'd me in the theater. I AM NOT OLD! I'M NOT!

Someone on another board I'm subbed to just posted a really great interpretation of Lex's motivations. Now I'm wondering whether I missed something, or if it's another case of fanwanking something that's not there.

To those who've seen the film:

Do you think thatthe textual reason Lex hates Superman is that he hoards priceless knowledge, and keeps it from mankind?

My zealous fanboyism still makes me say that Batman Begins was the better film, but this one was still superb. Everyone should check it out.

I don't believe that's solely zealous fanboyism. I think Batman Begins is the better film. Batman's always been permitted shades of moral ambiguity denied to Superman, and that has to make writing easier. Even so, the pacing's a lot tighter on BB than SR, and overall I do think it's a better film. SR is arguably the prettier film, especially on a big screen, but it shies away from fully addressing some of the major points that it raises.

I've got to agree about Jimmy Olsen. His age bothers me - exactly HOW old was he when Clark left? - but he definitely lightened the tone in ways that were appropriate.

I desperately wanted to see the Imax version, but the only one within a reasonable driving distance sold out last week. I do plan on making the trek to see the film a second time in that format.

I will say that seeing a super clean print probably made a difference. I suspect some of the subtle texture that makes the movie feel so real will be lost quickly as the film gets dirty, so I'd advise seeing it sooner rather than later. I was surprised that it wasn't available digitally, at least at the local theater that offers that option. Don't know whether the studio didn't make that format available, or that the theater showing it on seven screens opening night chose not to (which I doubt).

This review avoids major spoilers. I'll be happy to answer any spoilerific stuff upon request.

I thought Superman Returns succeeds at being a reverential interpretation of American myth that's faithful to the source material without being slavishly beholden to it. The film is all about contrasts and parallels. Superman and Luthor. Space and Earth. Silence and noise. Lois and Kitty. The view of Earth from above, and the view of a toy city. Flight, as achieved by a demigod, compared to the flight, achieved by man.

The imagery is downright lyrical, and its sheer beauty is something to behold. Although character, plot, and other soft stuff is what makes or breaks any film, the CGI is important in any big superhero movie. Despite a few very brief glitches, the effects are extremely well-done. More importantly, the cinematographer is a god among men who does some amazing work with lighting that elevates the look substantially above the average summer blockbuster. In the midst of a subdued world full of soft light and heavy shadows that never succumbs to the temptation to go noir, the brightly colored costume subtlely paints Superman as a beacon of light in a drab world, and does a lot to sell the uniformly enthusiastic response of the world to the news of his return.

There's no mistaking the Risen Star allegory at play. The film hits you over the head with it, complete with scenes showing Superman backlit by a literal rising sun. They're so lovely to look at, though, it's hard to complain. One key aspect of the source material is altered slightly, and although the change is minor, the impact is not. The scene remains visually powerful, even unexpectedly shocking, but it strikes a blow at Superman's already shaky ideology - and ideology and motivation tend to be some of the weaker aspects of the film. Like so many portrayals of Superman, the film avoids the sticky details. He's meant to be a beacon of light, hope, and goodness? What does that mean, exactly? Are there tough choices to be made? What does he do specifically to show humans the potential that lies within them, as opposed to performing feats of which that only a Kryptonian under a yellow sun is capable? The movie avoids tackling those kinds of issues in favor of showing him act as a superpowered rescue worker. The one major plot development that does involve him making a moral decision winds up tarnishing the patina of The Man of Steel, so maybe it's for the best that they stuck to safe ethical ground.

If you're going to interpret Superman as a Christ figure, Brandon Routh is the man for the job. I wouldn't have thought a franchise could be twice-blessed with alchemical casting for an almost impossible role, but it was. Routh's Superman is full of grace, in both the physical and spiritual realms. The character will always be handicapped by the need to be perfect, but Routh hits all the right notes to make his Superman appealing and reassuring without being cloying or sanctimonious. The script demands a sense of otherworldliness, and Routh conveys it perfectly. If his performance as Clark Kent is a little too beholden to Christopher Reeve's, it's a minor and forgivable offense that occupies minimal screen time.

To have a great hero, one needs a great opponent, and here's where the film starts to get shaky. Kevin Spacey imbues his Lex Luthor with much-needed menace, and does a wonderful job. A few scenes tie into the campiness of Gene Hackman's performance, but even those moments are almost always turned around by a reminder that he is a dangerous, vicious man. Unfortunately, what's missing is a well-reasoned ideological opposition to Superman. His motivations are somewhat muddled, and his main driving force seems to be one of the weaker ones available. If I'm supposed to believe that his opposition to Superman is rooted primarily in ideology, then the ideological points he raises needed to be fleshed out. I'm all in favor of subtlety, but with this movie I sometimes found it difficult to separate subtlety from fanwanking. Even then, a lot of Luthor's characterization could have been salvaged had he been provided with a brilliant plan. In fact, what he devises, while horrific, is downright stupid.

Unfortunately, Luthor's not the only one whose beliefs would have benefited from some more development. We're told, repeatedly, that Lois has written a highly regarded article called "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman." I think we're meant to believe that she has discussed the topic cogently in that article. I would have liked to hear her argument. We never learn, even at the highest level, what that article contained. All we are given is that she understandably feels betrayed by Superman's abrupt departure five years earlier. It's hard not to interpret what we're shown as Lois winning awards for an editorial that, at its heart, was about her feelings as a scorned woman. Surely someone as intelligent as she's supposed to be wrote something more compelling, personal feelings aside. I kept expecting a big reveal, but we never get it. I also think a fuller explanation would have added gravitas when she regains her sense of faith later in the film. The movie briefly flirts with the interesting idea that she feels the news of Superman's return is distracting the world from more important events, but drops that angle quickly.

Overall, Lois is in an improvement on her previous incarnations. We actually get to see her asking hard-hitting journalist questions and doing smart person research, and she's no longer personally abrasive. Kate Bosworth still wouldn't be my choice for the role, but she's better than I anticipated in all ways except one - she does mommy things, but I never bought that she had any real sense of attachment to her child. Marsden as Perry White's nephew Richard is an amazingly sympathetic, smart, mature character. I liked him, even if he's a little too good to be believed.

Kitty, Luthor's moll, is clearly meant to parallel Lois. Unfortunately, her character is so severely underwritten as to be a distraction. We're given none of her backstory as to how or why she's with him, and we're not even provided with a clear sense of how integral she is to Luthor's plans, or how much he trusts her. Without that context, her actions lack resonance.

"Moll" may be an antiquated word for what's supposed to be a modern story, but it fits. Age is rather strange throughout. We're meant to believe that the action takes place in the mid 1980's, but Metropolis is pure 1930's Art Deco ... with flat screen monitors and camera phones. (I covet the silver lamp on Perry White's desk). Judging by the flight time and skyline, Smallville is on another continent altogether. As images of mythic Kansas go, it's lovely. As far as accuracy to actual Kansas in what appears to be the 1940's, well, we'll let that slide. Had the entire film been a period piece, some troublesome aspects, such as some anachronistic sexist attitudes, would have been smoothed over.

Ages of the actors are even more problematic. I'll buy that Superman doesn't age like the rest of us, and Lois, while young, is passable. Jimmy Olsen? Ouch. And Martha Kent must have been quite old when she adopted Clark, that's for sure.

Little stuff. The plan sequence is appropriately harrowing; no wimping out on that one. Lots of nice little touches for the comics geeks, including a nod to the cover of Action Comics #1. Brando's insertion works, and isn't intrusive. The new costume's very good, and even though I'm not a big fan of the fish scales, I do like how they add to the film's already impressive sense of texture. Some plot holes I'd rather not think about, but not as bad as I expected, although blink and you'll miss some of the explanations the film does provide. Nitpicks aplenty for those who want them.

You've seen the DeLorean (albeit in its disguise as the Einstein car - mustn't tip off the neighbors to its true nature). There's enough room in it for a whole team's kendo stuff, with room left over for my magic coat!

Get thee to Chi-town, kendo guy. I'll even take you to the secret stash of cheap LW&C TPBs.

Selkie, that would be lovely if you can manage it. I'm only in town for a few days and a lot of that will be taken up with the ROCK but I'm sure it'll be cool.

PM me closer to time, then, and let me know when, in what undoubtedly will be your crowded schedule, would be best.

Charlie, luv, are you trying to use the presence of a toddler and an infant as an excuse not to drive five hours for a visit? Get thee into a vehicle, or better yet, fly into O'Hare. After all, I live in the town of Dez and can easily chauffer you around in my time-traveling DeLorean for a day or two.

Will an embittered Welshman and his two English brethren settle for meeting this sort-of ex-Forumite Chi-town girl? My schedule's always a bit difficult to predict, but I'd love to see you guys.

So awesome. "I'll fire you for being fat!" I'm sure a good lawyer would be able to build a case against that man (of course in this comic he'd just claim he only represented thin women).

In this situation, he couldn't refuse to hire her because of her race or her gender (depending on the circumstances, possibly not her religion), but her obesity would be perfectly legal grounds for him not to hire her.

Then - "OK, you're no longer fat. Be my wife. (Despite me clearly being so shallow I won't accept a intelligent, capable and perfectly qualified woman to be my secretary, let alone my life-partner.)" :)

She could, however, sue him into oblivion for sexual harassment!

Eight months after I preordered, my Sunnydale library finally arrived! I'm so happy that DST released this playset, because the idea of a library playset would have been too cool to ignore even if it hadn't come with the added bonus of replicating the attractive Sunnydale library, my favorite Buffy set. When I win the lottery, I swear I'm having one just like it installed in my home. Until then, I'll happily content myself with this 1:12 scale version. I've just now assembled it, and I'm very pleased with the end result.

The Sunnydale Library, where everyone's welcome and always in scale!

The packaging is very compact and efficient, in a box not much bigger than those used for a Sideshow 12" figure. The graphics are attractive and bright, but I'm wondering why they chose to use a picture of the badly glued wooden prototype rather than final plastic and cardboard product. The assembly instructions are not a masterpiece of technical writing, but they communicate the essential points well enough. The end result, while quite large and impressive, isn't quite as overwhelming as I feared it would be. I believe the promo copy said it would accomodate fifteen 6" action figures. I haven't tried, but suspect that 15 would necessitate a tight but doable squeeze, and no bases.

Unlike the prototype, everything fits snugly where it should, to the point that during the assembly process I was grateful that the plastic was as sturdy and flexible as it was. The carefully cut and applied felt carpet is a nice touch. The accessories are a mixed bag - I really like the candles, jar, and picture frame; find the potted plants merely "eh"; and think the globe - while a good idea - doesn't measure up to the rest.

My biggest gripe - and it's a minor one - are the books. The stickers used are as good as I think stickers can possibly be, but they're still unmistakably stickers. I understand the need to economize, but sculpted books would have made a much bigger impact.

Dragging this thread back to its original intent, however briefly:

I just finished A-SS #s 1 & 2, and you guys were right. They're as well-written as I can imagine a Superman story can be (and while I still think Quitely's art is ugly, it's at least less ugly than it was circa The Authority).

The conclusion is also now official: I am not ever going to be a Superman fan. Ever, ever, ever. Give me Azzarello's Lex Luthor any day, but the big blue boy scout himself? Not a chance.

Thanks for all the recommendations, folks.

lyra, have you read Truer Than True Romance? In light of this thread, I think you'd appreciate it.

Many thanks for all the laughs, BTW.

I liked Jean as Phoenix, but don't understand why they had to make her all veiny and ugly when the Phoenix of the comics is basically this goddess-like creature who wouldn't have to strain for a second to do what she does, and who looks sheated in flame while doing it.

Because the filmmakers had to make it abundantly clear that they were doing the Phoenix storyline by way of Dark Willow? I wouldn't have been surprised if Wolverine had been nattering on about a yellow crayon as he was approaching her, or if a piece of rubble in the background had mysteriously taken on the shape of Acathla.