M&M's Dark Side
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Most of you may not know it, but I'm a huge M&M's fan. I love their commercials (and their candy's not bad either). I've been getting the collectible dispensers for about the last seven Christmas holidays or so and other little things here and there (including a DVD of all of their commercials). Tonight (well this morning), I decided to browse by the M&M's web site and I found out that today, coincidently enough, M&M/Mars is releasing a new "Dark Chocolate" M&M and promoting it to tie into the release of the new Star Wars sequel using the whole 'Dark side/dark chocolate' correlations. I'm sure that nobody really cares about that, but I thought that the 'trailer commercial' that they made to promote it was kind of cute. I thought that you want to take a look. (View M&M Star Wars parody).
Speaking of things that I'm a big fan of, I just found out last night that the characters from the General Mills monster cereal line (Count Chocula, Frankenberry, Boo-Berry, and the cream of the crop -Fruit Brute) are getting a face-lift by way of Steve Niles (writer of 30 Days Of Night, which you may not of heard of yet, but you will very soon thanks to Sam Raimi) and fledgling publisher AFD Press. The popular horror writer is putting a whole new spin on the gruesome foursome in a four-issue comic run titled The General Mills Massacre tentatively scheduled for an October release. Though Fruit Brute is featured, he's not a main character, but I guess I can live with that. At least he had the good sense to leave that Yummy Mummy character out completely. I'm not sure if it will be any good or not, but I think it's still a cool idea. I've been trying to think of ways to use Fruit Brute in my own work for the last few years(or even buying the rights to him since he's now defunct and forgotten), but if this story takes off I may not get that chance. Oh well, you snooze -you lose.
Author: Billy... » Comments:
An ineffective...ummm...'poll'
I just heard an interesting fact: In 24 of the 50 states, impotency is legal grounds for divorce. If I was one of those men, I wouldn't stand for that.
Author: Billy... » Comments:
HAPPY EASTER!
Sunday, March 27, 2005
I hope everyone had a great Easter. I actually volunteered to work, which in retrospect, was quite a mistake on my part. It was a horrible, HORRIBLE day at the O.K. Corral. Luckily, Mike and I came home to a delicious meal prepared by our own Amanda, so that wasn't bad. Other than that, it was just a matter of passing out from a WAY too long day.
Author: Billy... » Comments:
What a day!
Thursday, March 24, 2005
After running myself ragged from morning until late into the evening yesterday, I woke up early today and headed off to work in a semi-comatosed state. What followed was 8 1/2 hours of excrutiating pain. From amazingly irrational people to uncooperative management, the fact that it was too busy for words just added to my fruit-filled salad that seemed to be getting invariably tossed throughout the day. I even missed an important appointment that was set for 45 minutes after I got out of work, which turned into 12 minutes after I got out of work. Luckily, I was able to reschedule. The only saving grace to the day was getting to meet Michael Rapaport. He was much taller than I expected him to be, but he seemed like a cool guy. Amanda was pretty jealous. She has a thing for him in a BIG way. Well, I guess I didn't really have as much to say as I thought I did or I've just lost interest in reliving my day. Then again, maybe I'm just really tired. Perhaps I will just bid you adieu until next we meet. So until then, Ta Ta!
Author: Billy... » Comments:
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
RING 2
(View trailer for Ring 2)Well, I would like to say that I saw this movie on a dare, but I went of my own free will (I'm SO ashamed). Being a big fan of the first one, as soon as I heard that they were making a sequel to
The Ring I was worried that Hollywood would prove, once again, that they have no idea how to make a sequel, let alone choose which ones need one.
The Ring 2 was a lot like a bad marriage:1) Too much melodrama and not enough action
2) You don't realize what you've gotten yourself into until you've already commited to it.
3) The child is unnecessarily tormented through the whole darned thing.
4) It goes on WAY longer than it ever should.
5) After it's over you feel like you've just wasted a part of your life that you'll never get back.
Aside from the sub-par acting and the mediocre special effects, the movie had no real story development except for scenes that were just basically rehashed plot devices from the first movie with a new paint job. The scariest part about the first film is that in the end you still had questions and no real closure. The worst part about the second film is that they insult the audience's intelligence by trying to overexplain things and repeat plot effects over and again to make sure that you don't miss something instead of giving you an unexepected thrill now and then. In total, I would say that there is only about 3 minutes of screentime that would make even the most squimish person cover their eyes. The only thing truly scary about this movie is that it is a perfect example of how Hollywood is more concerned about cashing in on a hot name than making a good movie out of something bursting with so much potential.
Author: Billy... » Comments:
One down...
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Well, as of today I have officially been in California for one year. When the hell did THAT happen?! It seems like maybe three or four months, but not a whole danged year! I can't imagine how people back home are making it without me, poor things. I guess for all technical purposes that means my initiation time is over. I haven't even been back home for a visit, but that's coming up in July. In celebration of such a 'momentous' occasion, I treated myself to a day at the WizardWorld convention in Long Beach. That was just fantastic. I met some pretty cool people and had a blast, but best of all I got my (WizardWorld exclusive) Super Grover figure at the Palisades booth. I'm a big fan of the Grover and they did a great job on him. He was kind of like the kick-off to a new Sesame Street line they're producing and one of my main reasons for wanting to go (sometimes it doesn't take a lot to make me happy). Mike went with me and we took a few pictures while we were there. I'll get them up on here in the next day or two. Anyway, I just figured that since this was my one year milestone I should probably write a little something. I feel like I've accomplished that, so until next time...keep on truckin'.
Author: Billy... » Comments:
I can wait a few years
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
-Oscar winning director Peter Jackson says it will be at least three years before he shoots The Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit. Jackson is currently filming King Kong in Auckland, Australia. While stopping by Sydney's Powerhouse Museum to check out the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) exhibition the director was asked how long it would be before he started production on The Hobbit. "Three or four years would be accurate, I would say," Jackson replied.-
I think that's so awesome. I know so many fans of the movies who didn't even realize that it was ever even a book that would love to see this movie, not to mention all of the life-long admirers of the original works. I can still remember catching the old Rankin-Bass animated version on television every once in a while. Considering what he accomplished with the main trilogy, I can't wait to see how Jackson handles the prologue. Sure, he wasn't completely faithful to the books, but he still told one heck of a story. Maybe if that works out all right he can do a movie version of the prequel, The Silmarillian. That would be a first for that story and would excite my friend Keith to no end. I'll have to stop thinking about it now or it'll seem like forever until it gets here.
Author: Billy... » Comments:
It's a bit unsettling...
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
I found this story a rather interesting example of the kind of monopoly one company can have over our media and news sources:
Monday, October 4th 2004 ended a six-year dispute involving Sophia Stewart, the Wachowski Brothers, Joel Silver and Warner Brothers. Stewart's allegations, involving copyright infringement and racketeering, were received and acknowledged by the Central District of California, Judge Margaret Morrow residing.Stewart, a New Yorker who has resided in Salt Lake City for the past five years, will recover damages from the films, The Matrix I, II and III, as well as The Terminator and its sequels. She will soon receive one of the biggest payoffs in the history of Hollywood, as the gross receipts of both films and their sequels total over 2.5 billion dollars.Stewart filed her case in 1999, after viewing the Matrix, which she felt had been based on her manuscript, "The Third Eye," copyrighted in 1981. In the mid-eighties Stewart had submitted her manuscript to an ad placed by the Wachowski Brothers, requesting new sci-fi works.According to court documentation, an FBI investigation discovered that more than thirty minutes had been edited from the original film, in attempt to avoid penalties for copyright infringement. The investigation also stated that "credible witnesses employed at Warner Brothers came forward, claiming that the executives and lawyers had full knowledge that the work in question did not belong to the Wachowski Brothers." These witnesses claimed to have seen Stewart's original work and that it had been "often used during preparation of the motion pictures."The defendants tried, on several occasions, to have Stewart's case dismissed, without success.Stewart has confronted skepticism on all sides, much of which comes from Matrix fans, who are strangely loyal to the Wachowski Brothers. One on-line forum, entitled Matrix Explained has an entire section devoted to Stewart. Some who have researched her history and writings are open to her story. Others are suspicious and mocking. "It doesn't bother me," said Stewart in a phone interview last week, "I always knew what was true."Some fans, are unaware of the case or they question its legitimacy, due to the fact that it has received little to no media coverage. Though the case was not made public until October of 2003, Stewart has her own explanation, as quoted at daghettotymz.com:"The reason you have not seen any of this in the media is because Warner Brothers parent company is AOL-Time Warner... this GIANT owns 95 percent of the media... let me give you a clue as to what they own in the media business... New York Times papers/magazines, LA Times papers/magazines, People Magazine, CNN news, Extra, Celebrity Justice, Entertainment Tonight, HBO, New Line Cinema, Dreamworks, Newsweek, Village Roadshow... many, many more!... They are not going to report on themselves. They have been surpressing my case for years..."Fans who have taken Stewart's allegations seriously, have found eerie mythological parallels, which seem significant in a case that revolves around the highly metaphorical and symbolic Matrix series. Sophia, the greek goddess of wisdom has been referenced many times in speculation about Stewart. In one book about the Goddess Sophia, it reads, "The black goddess is the mistress of web creation spun in her divine matrix."Although there have been outside implications as to racial injustice (Stewart is African American), she does not feel that this is the case. "This is all about the Benjamins," said Stewart. "It's not about money with me. It's about justice."Stewart's future plans involve a record label, entitled Popsilk Records, and a motion picture production company, All Eyez On Me, in reference to God. "I wrote The Third Eye to wake people up, to remind them why God put them here. There's more to life than money," said Stewart. "My whole message to the world is about God and good and about choice, about spirituality prevailing over 'technocracy'."If Stewart represents spirituality, then she truly has prevailed over the "technocracy" represented in both the Terminator and the Matrix, and now, ironically, by their supposed creators.Stewart is currently having discussions with CBS about a possible exclusive story and has several media engagements in the near future to nationally publicize her victory.
(Story from Boycott-RIAA.com)
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In an addendum:
Ms. Sophia Stewart has not yet won her case against Joel Silver, Time Warner and the Wachowski Bros. The decision on October 4th enabled Ms. Stewart to proceed with her case, as all attempts to have it dismissed were unsuccessful. Ms. Stewart's case will proceed through the Central District Court of California.
Author: Billy... » Comments:
Friday, March 11, 2005
ROBOTS
(View trailer for Robots)Tonight (Thursday night) Mike, Lorrie, and I caught a midnight screening of the new CGI movie, Robots, at the
Arclight Theater. I thought it was really good. In fact, I can't wait to see it again. They had a whole exhibit of the original pencils, paintings, and character art mounted on the walls. There was even a glass case featuring some metal sculptures of the main characters in the lobby. The Arclight always goes all out for new movies. Even cooler though, was the new Star Wars Episode III trailer before the movie. I'll tell you, if you liked the first one that was released you will LOVE this new one. Wow! Mike has quite a dislike for the Star Wars series and even he was pretty impressed, so that has to say something. It was one of those last second decisions to go see the movie, but it was a lot of fun. I'm glad we went. Now you go...
Author: Billy... » Comments:
March 8th, 1994
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Right after I finished writing my last post I started thinking about what the date was today and I realized that today is not only the day that I found out the horrible news about Helena, but it's also the anniversary of my father's death. He died 11 years ago today from throat cancer (cigarettes are a terrible thing), but it only seems like 2 or 3. It's amazing that it's been that long. I know I already posted about him on his birthday, so I'm not going to go on about it. They say that time heals all wounds, but I'm not really sure that's the case...
Author: Billy... » Comments:
Ignorance is SO bliss...
Since my last post, it's been eating me up inside to know what happened to my friend, Helena. I was alright today, but a friend called to make sure that I was okay and it made my mind start racing again. I just had to find out, so I started digging online. I finally came across one article (with the help of a friend), but I wish SO much that I would have just left it alone now. What I read ripped my heart right out of my body and my head won't stop buzzing. Actually, I guess you can all read it for yourselves:
Woman found dead in Milan; boyfriend arrested
Helena Mata was found dead Monday morning.
By Evening News staff
MILAN - A Milan woman was found dead in her apartment Monday morning and
her boyfriend was arrested hours later.
The victim has been identified as Helena Mata, 37, who lived in the
first block of W. Main St. Family members became worried when they
hadn't heard from Ms. Mata and notified police. The victim reportedly
had been stabbed, but police would not confirm that.
Milan police reported the suspect, believed to be 31, was arrested about
3 a.m. today after officers spotted his vehicle in the city. He was
being held in the city jail.
Ms. Mata's body was discovered about 11:15 a.m. Monday.
It was the second murder in Milan this year. In May, a woman was killed
and her 13-year-old daughter discovered her body.
The victim's boyfriend faces murder charges.
I just don't know what to do now. I keep picturing it happening over and over again in my head. I know I shouldn't, but I keep blaming myself. I feel like I should have been there to protect her. When I heard that she passed away I kept thinking cancer or some other physiological problem took her, but I never would have imagined anything like this. I have no words for how I feel. I just...I don't know. I'm sorry, Helena...
Author: Billy... » Comments:
Helena Mata
Saturday, March 05, 2005
When I first moved to Ann Arbor 5 or 6 years ago I moved in with a friend that I had met earlier that year who was in immediate need of a roommate. I was looking to get out of my place and she was a really great girl, so it worked out pretty good for both of us. Her name was Helena and she was one of those girls who was obsessed with things being amazingly clean, but on her it was kind of a charming trait. We lived together for about a year and after a few months we became really close. We had an odd relationship where we didn't really get involved in each others lives, but we trusted each other completely to talk about problems we were having or just to blow off some steam now and then. She was by far the best roommate I've ever had. Unfortunately, when it came time for our lease to be up, some things had happened in both our lives that led us to decide we weren't going to renew the lease. We would just make other arrangements for our living situations, though I think we would have been happier staying where we were. The last month was really uneasy and uncomfortable between us, but for no apparent reason. When I had moved my things out I didn't even wait around to tell her goodbye; of course, she was pretty busy herself getting moved into her new place, so she wasn't really around either. I didn't talk to her again after that.
I never felt good about how things were left between us and I constantly told myself I was going to go see her at her work sometime and make it up to her, but I always felt strange about it. I just kept putting it off. I knew I would do it one day and then everything would be fine (or at least better). Well, a couple of months before I left for California I saw her walking with a friend in the Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor. I was really happy to see her and I wanted to go talk to her, but she seemed like she wasn't in the best of moods so I opted to wait until next time. I tortured myself for the rest of that week about being so afraid to just go talk to a friend that I hadn't seen in a few years. Next time I would do it for sure.
Last week I was speaking to my friend, Chuck (not that one), who had had a huge crush on her way back when and we started talking about Helena and how long it's been. It got me thinking and I decided I was going to give her a call and see how she was doing. Earlier today I recieved a phone call from Chuck. I didn't answer the call, but he left a message for me to call him back. When I called him back he told me that he had decided to stop by Helena's work and just say, "Hi", for old time's sake. When asked to speak to her, they told him that Helena had passed away about a year ago. They didn't say how and he didn't bother asking. When I heard the news I was devastated. I had seen her just over a year ago and passed up my last chance to share a warm hello with an old friend. Who knows? It could have been weeks, days, or even minutes from the time that she died and I'll never forgive myself for that. I don't know why I'm sharing this, but it's really weighing hard on me right now.
Just remember, nobody is promising you tomorrow so don't miss out on the things that you could do today.
Author: Billy... » Comments:
'...Walt': Part II
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
**This actually started out as a comment, but it just kept growing**
The problem isn't that Disney is putting out no effort movies to turn a quick profit. The problem is that Disney owns control of the original stories from their films, so if they put something like that out (whether you see it or not) it still becomes a tainted fact in that continuity. The story will NEVER be what is was before. Plus, most parents could care less about preserving any kind of "magic" that these movies had. All they care about is that they've purchased another hour and twenty minute babysitter for their kids. And, yes, when it comes to a business like Disney I CAN blame them for wanting to make money, if that's the way that they're going to do it. I suppose it would be fine if they took one their iconic characters, like maybe Goofy, and killed him off in a horribly bloody death scene or, better yet, started an entire line of rated 'NC-17' movies starring everyone favorite childhood pals in ways that you've never seen them before. After all, it's just business, and you can't blame them for putting it out there if there's a chance it could sell when none of their other ideas are working. Like it or not, Walt Disney left a legacy which came with a certain amount of responsibility to the people. The characters may be copyrighted to Disney, but those movies belong to us. They are a part of who we were growing up as much as anything else was. For all technical purposes, they're defacing national landmarks. It's not impossible for a powerhouse like Disney to come up with an original idea (Companies do it all the time.), but they would rather rape the dreams and visions of a man whose no longer around to defend his name that's slapped right on the banner of the company doing all of this. Worst yet, as a result of what they're doing there actually NOT making the money that they should in their animated movies (and they can't figure out why...seriously) and have considered all but doing away with the majority of their animation departments. Disney without animated movies? Well, I guess as long as they're making money, right? On second thought, maybe that would be a GOOD thing...
Author: Billy... » Comments:
Part of me died with Walt...
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Is DVD/home video the worst thing to ever happen to Disney? Remember when the name 'Disney' represented something pure, something that brought an undeniable joy to the world? No matter how jaded a person you were, there was at least one thing that Walt Disney had contributed to the world at one time or another that would bring a smile to your face. Sure, there were always other cartoons out there that you may have loved just as much, but there was something magical about seeing a Disney film. When the lights went down and the screen lit up and you could hear the symphony start to play as the words "Walt Disney presents" appeared on the screen, you could feel the exhilaration race through your body. I remember seeing Bambi at the drive-in as child. While the movie played I was in utter awe at every single frame. I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't blink once. That's just how it was. When you heard a Disney movie was coming to the theater it was a special event. We didn't ever have a lot of money when I was a kid, so I didn't always get the chance to see them, but when I did they just became a part of me, a special place in my childhood. The memories of that were so pure and had such an impact that I can still remember the rush from myself as a child lost in the story on the screen.
Fast forward a few years. Disney is no longer one man's vision of bringing joy to people's lives. It's a corporation who's sole purpose is to whore out the Disney name and use it's power to bleed every last cent that they can get out of every property they can wrap their hands around. With the exception of Pirates of the Caribbean, Disney hasn't made a worthy film in years. The only saving grace for the company has been the contributions that were made by Pixar. With only one film left to come out of the coupling, Cars, Disney is once again left to it's own devices. So what does the house of imagination choose to offer? There own devices, that's what. Instead of creating new worlds and wondrous stories to touch children's minds and hearts, they've opted to squeeze the last bit of juices out of the used, once-delicious oranges in the bottom of the trash can. In comes direct to video movies. This was Disney's only true contribution for the last decade while they allowed Pixar to do amazing, revolutionary things in the animation world (as long as Disney received top credit for it). The animation king had become the contamination king with forgettable insults like Lady and the Tramp II, 101 Dalmations II AND 102 Dalmations, Pocahontas II, Cinderella II, The Lion King 1 1/2???, basically using people's sentimental connection to these characters to cash in just a little bit more. All the while stealing from you everything that you may have held special about these movies, demystifying powerful characters, and creating incontinuities to otherwise solid stories. As long as they follow a formula (throw in some unnecessarily weak songs and at least one comic relief and that'll be good enough) parents will buy it because kids will see that the characters that they loved are in it, so it should be just as great an experience, right? What a great plan! What was the last movie they released with the big three (Mickey, Donald, and Goofy)? The Three Musketeers!!! That story's never been told before! Wait a tick...as a matter of fact it's been told by DISNEY before! Now that's REALLY reaching (Treasure Planet, anyone?).
What am I getting so worked up about, though? This is Disney, right? I'm sure they have big things planned for this year. Let's see...The Incredibles comes out next week on DVD. That's a fantastic (Pixar) movie. In October, (a beautifully Walt-inspired) Cinderella finally comes to a special edition DVD for all of you aspiring princesses out there, apparently as a follow-up to the forgettable sequel that came out to DVD...What?...two years ago! (That can't be right...) What else does Disney have to offer? How about Lilo and Stitch 2 (not to be confused with Stitch: The Movie, which was made to sell kids on the TV series), Tarzan 2 (obviously, Tarzan and Jane must not have been a sequel either), we've just had Mulan 2 (because apparently Mulan didn't prove as much as we thought she did in the first one), both Toy Story 3 AND 4 are in the works (sans the series' biological father and life's-blood, Pixar), Dumbo 2 was being developed (maybe they've decided to have the respect to leave at least one classic alone), in the theaters we have Pooh's Heffalump Movie starring a baby heffalump (child-speak for elephant) trying to fit in and be friends with the gang (making all 'heffalumps and woozles' stories from before meaningless), and saddest of all -a Bambi sequel, about the young fawn with his father and what happened before he returned as a fresh buck, taking away all the strength and mystery that made his father such a powerful character in the original movie. I can only imagine what Disney has on the horizon.
I'm not saying that all of Walt's movies were oh-so-original. Almost everything that he brought to the screen had already existed by the time he put his own special twist on it (Snow White, Bambi, The Jungle Book, Winnie-The-Pooh, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Alice In Wonderland, Robin Hood, Pinocchio -all other people's works). The difference is that he didn't recycle, he re-envisioned. He wanted to present something that he thought the people would enjoy, not something that he thought the people would buy. His versions of these stories were so amazing that when someone mentions their names, Disney's name is thought of before the original works themselves. Or course, nowadays even these movies aren't that special to kids. They've been seen time and time again and sit on the shelf in-between Pokemon and South Park. As long as they're making their money, they'll continue to vault the classics and sell them back to the public in another ten years, all the while finding ways to milk another story out of each and every one of them while we're waiting. How long before they add Rose Red into the scenes of the original Snow White movie so that they can re-release an EXTRA-special version of it or better yet, a sequel where Dopey finally speaks. That ought to dash a childhood memory or two. Maybe Geppetto decides to make a second wooden boy and Pinocchio feels unloved and leaves. He takes to a life on the streets (perfect place to add a little edgy rap song) and in a fit of rage accidentally kills Jiminy Cricket, pulling on all our heart strings for the loss of a childhood icon. That's powerful stuff! I guess from now on it's "And they all lived happily ever...until".
...All that being said: Go out and buy Bambi on DVD. It's a beautiful, time-honored classic that you just can't go wrong with. In fact, I think I'm going to go watch it right now...
Author: Billy... » Comments:
