Film. Comics. Sci-Fi. Superheroes. Pulp. Noir. History. Superman. 20th Century Archaeology.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
Happy Birthday, Stan Lee!
When I was a wee League, I was all about the Saturday Morning Cartoons. If you're one of my fellow Gen X'ers, you might recall some of the Marvel cartoons that were on during the era, like Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. What I recall is that episodes of The Incredible Hulk and other shows would start with Stan Lee breathlessly welcoming us "True Believers!" with a hearty "THIS IS STAN LEE!". So, for a long, long time (like, since 1981) I've associated the thrilling adventures of Marvel characters with Stan.
And, I'll tell you what else, I read all of Stan's Spider-Man, and it's really good, y'all. Not to mention how good I used to find the daily newspaper strip by him and Larry Lieber.
Signal Re-Watch: "Sunset Boulevard" and watching "Casino" on basic cable
Sunset Boulevard (1950)
I finally watched Sunset Boulevard about two years ago, and it's already become one of my favorite films. I received a copy on BluRay for Christmas (thanks, Jason & Amy!), and gave it a whirl. Frankly, I'm a bit shocked that I didn't do a lengthy write up of the movie during that time a couple years back when I first watched the movie in its entirety then went to the Paramount to see it, but I can't find a record of any formal prior discussion of the movie.
If you're not familiar, Sunset Boulevard opens on a murder in the Hollywood Hills (I guess, I don't know LA geography) and backtracks in pure noir style to how we got to this point. A struggling screenwriter who tasted success and watched it fade stumbles upon the decaying mansion of a once great silent film star now living as a recluse, planning her return to greatness. She has money, and plenty of it, and Joe is willing to take the money and deal with the insanity of the mansion and wretched screenplay she wants him to tidy up that will surely mean the return of Norma Desmond to an imagined legions of fans eagerly awaiting her return.
And then things get dark and weird.
The movie spawned a million quotes, and is best remembered for Gloria Swanson's stunning portrayal of Norma Desmond - a character that reflects what had happened to some extent to many stars of the silent era (and continues to happen to talent as they fade from the public eye in favor of the next new thing) - only, you know, amped up a bit. Add on real-life former silent director Eric von Stroheim as Desmond's aloof butler, and you've got a really interesting dynamic going.
In general, I don't love movies about Hollywood making movies, but sometimes the industry turns the eye back on itself and is willing to admit a few things about itself that make for a great story or provide an opportunity for great performances - even if there's maybe not a sense of a universal human experience or some such idea. But I do think the ideas about self-delusion, dreams of stardom and relevancy and what it means when it fades, what we're willing to do for a buck, and more... are recognizable if not relatable.
Plus, man, Billy Wilder's dialog.
There are a LOT of extras on the disc. Probably too many, but you can't say it's not fairly complete when it comes to talking about the film and reminds me of the difference between access to a film via a streaming service and why you might want to own a copy of your favorite movies.
The movie itself is one of those things that will continue to reveal bits of Billy Wilder's brilliance for several more screenings, and my appreciation for how all of the pieces fit together just grows with every viewing. I appreciate the devotion to Hitchcock (and also received the Hitch BluRay box set for Christmas that I am dying to crack open), but I think film school could do worse than to point that eye at Wilder and his ability to leap from genre to genre and redefine it as it goes. As they point out in the bonus features, he not only managed genre - he moved outside of genre and created his own kind of film with Sunset Boulevard.
Casino (1995)
Casino is not a short movie, clocking in at about 3 hours, but I've still seen it probably 8 or 9 times. And, I argue, it's one of the best reasons to reconsider Sharon Stone as something other than the somewhat Norma Desmond-esque figure she's hellbent on becoming.
The movie rolls out DeNiro as DeNiro, Pesci as Pesci and a whole herd of hoodlum and thug stereotypes from the Eastern US and drops them in Nevada in the wake of the Rat Pack.
Based on something approximating the real-life events of Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal leaving Chicago and illegal gambling to establish mob foundations in a town where everything is legal - the movie presents the story using a fictionalized version in Sam "Ace" Rothstein (DeNiro) as a mobbed-up bookie who finds he can make a fortune as a legitimate businessman in the wilds of Vegas. How much is true, how much is speculation and how much is fabrication - probably best Scorsese himself doesn't know. Pesci, not so long since he tried mainstream credibility with My Cousin Vinny plays mob thug Nicky Santoro, the muscle Ace needs in the early days, but who becomes a liability the minute respectability becomes a necessity. Stone plays DeNiro's showgirl wife/ greatest distraction and liability.
Fantastically shot, meticulously detailed, Scorsese captured the last of old Vegas before it was subsumed with Vegas' secondary major industry - construction. (If you've never been to Vegas, it changes completely about every 8-10 years).
It's an epic film that isn't shy about a sprawling cast and intricate relationships presented in sketchy detail, but Scorsese keeps it easy to follow, using the template started in Goodfellas as a jumping off point. The story stretches over a decade or more, following the rise and fall of key characters who ignite the Vegas scene and make the world there possible before being subsumed by corruption outside, inside and something resembling the actual forces of the justice via the US Justice Department and a lot of bad karma.
Anyway, on this go-round I was really struck by how well the movie presents all of the characters, their motivations and points of view, and even if we want to root for Ace, he's maybe as bad or worse than Nicky in some ways - at least Nicky is honest about his nature and seems to want for things to work out - he just doesn't have the big picture vision that Ace seems to have in spades.
And, by the way, if you're a James Woods fan, this is one of his smaller, wonkier roles and every time it makes me laugh a little bit.
I did watch the movie on basic cable. Why? I don't know. I have a copy on DVD. But it was fascinating watching them edit the living heck out of Jos Pesci's dialog while allowing for bats to collide with skulls and running ads for The Untouchables where the ad was entirely the infamous "teamwork" scene.
Oh, American TV standards. You are so weird.
The movie will also have my undying respect for casting Don Rickles in a straight role in a movie. I mean, who does that? Brilliant.
I finally watched Sunset Boulevard about two years ago, and it's already become one of my favorite films. I received a copy on BluRay for Christmas (thanks, Jason & Amy!), and gave it a whirl. Frankly, I'm a bit shocked that I didn't do a lengthy write up of the movie during that time a couple years back when I first watched the movie in its entirety then went to the Paramount to see it, but I can't find a record of any formal prior discussion of the movie.
If you're not familiar, Sunset Boulevard opens on a murder in the Hollywood Hills (I guess, I don't know LA geography) and backtracks in pure noir style to how we got to this point. A struggling screenwriter who tasted success and watched it fade stumbles upon the decaying mansion of a once great silent film star now living as a recluse, planning her return to greatness. She has money, and plenty of it, and Joe is willing to take the money and deal with the insanity of the mansion and wretched screenplay she wants him to tidy up that will surely mean the return of Norma Desmond to an imagined legions of fans eagerly awaiting her return.
And then things get dark and weird.
The movie spawned a million quotes, and is best remembered for Gloria Swanson's stunning portrayal of Norma Desmond - a character that reflects what had happened to some extent to many stars of the silent era (and continues to happen to talent as they fade from the public eye in favor of the next new thing) - only, you know, amped up a bit. Add on real-life former silent director Eric von Stroheim as Desmond's aloof butler, and you've got a really interesting dynamic going.
In general, I don't love movies about Hollywood making movies, but sometimes the industry turns the eye back on itself and is willing to admit a few things about itself that make for a great story or provide an opportunity for great performances - even if there's maybe not a sense of a universal human experience or some such idea. But I do think the ideas about self-delusion, dreams of stardom and relevancy and what it means when it fades, what we're willing to do for a buck, and more... are recognizable if not relatable.
Plus, man, Billy Wilder's dialog.
 |
| "...we had faces!" |
There are a LOT of extras on the disc. Probably too many, but you can't say it's not fairly complete when it comes to talking about the film and reminds me of the difference between access to a film via a streaming service and why you might want to own a copy of your favorite movies.
The movie itself is one of those things that will continue to reveal bits of Billy Wilder's brilliance for several more screenings, and my appreciation for how all of the pieces fit together just grows with every viewing. I appreciate the devotion to Hitchcock (and also received the Hitch BluRay box set for Christmas that I am dying to crack open), but I think film school could do worse than to point that eye at Wilder and his ability to leap from genre to genre and redefine it as it goes. As they point out in the bonus features, he not only managed genre - he moved outside of genre and created his own kind of film with Sunset Boulevard.
Casino (1995)
Casino is not a short movie, clocking in at about 3 hours, but I've still seen it probably 8 or 9 times. And, I argue, it's one of the best reasons to reconsider Sharon Stone as something other than the somewhat Norma Desmond-esque figure she's hellbent on becoming.
 |
| you kids who work with video will never know the night mare of lighting this for film |
The movie rolls out DeNiro as DeNiro, Pesci as Pesci and a whole herd of hoodlum and thug stereotypes from the Eastern US and drops them in Nevada in the wake of the Rat Pack.
Based on something approximating the real-life events of Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal leaving Chicago and illegal gambling to establish mob foundations in a town where everything is legal - the movie presents the story using a fictionalized version in Sam "Ace" Rothstein (DeNiro) as a mobbed-up bookie who finds he can make a fortune as a legitimate businessman in the wilds of Vegas. How much is true, how much is speculation and how much is fabrication - probably best Scorsese himself doesn't know. Pesci, not so long since he tried mainstream credibility with My Cousin Vinny plays mob thug Nicky Santoro, the muscle Ace needs in the early days, but who becomes a liability the minute respectability becomes a necessity. Stone plays DeNiro's showgirl wife/ greatest distraction and liability.
Fantastically shot, meticulously detailed, Scorsese captured the last of old Vegas before it was subsumed with Vegas' secondary major industry - construction. (If you've never been to Vegas, it changes completely about every 8-10 years).
 |
| this one time in 1995, Sharon Stone made a movie in which she was terrific |
It's an epic film that isn't shy about a sprawling cast and intricate relationships presented in sketchy detail, but Scorsese keeps it easy to follow, using the template started in Goodfellas as a jumping off point. The story stretches over a decade or more, following the rise and fall of key characters who ignite the Vegas scene and make the world there possible before being subsumed by corruption outside, inside and something resembling the actual forces of the justice via the US Justice Department and a lot of bad karma.
Anyway, on this go-round I was really struck by how well the movie presents all of the characters, their motivations and points of view, and even if we want to root for Ace, he's maybe as bad or worse than Nicky in some ways - at least Nicky is honest about his nature and seems to want for things to work out - he just doesn't have the big picture vision that Ace seems to have in spades.
And, by the way, if you're a James Woods fan, this is one of his smaller, wonkier roles and every time it makes me laugh a little bit.
I did watch the movie on basic cable. Why? I don't know. I have a copy on DVD. But it was fascinating watching them edit the living heck out of Jos Pesci's dialog while allowing for bats to collide with skulls and running ads for The Untouchables where the ad was entirely the infamous "teamwork" scene.
Oh, American TV standards. You are so weird.
The movie will also have my undying respect for casting Don Rickles in a straight role in a movie. I mean, who does that? Brilliant.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Signal Watch Watches: "Trekkies 2" and "The People vs. George Lucas"
I watched these two docs back-to-back, trying to clear out some of my Netflix queue, but also to try to wrap up the number of docs I'm willing to watch about folks obsessing around a particular bit of geek-culture. It seems like there's a built in audience around these things, so they get made and we can have movies about ourselves as geeks, and that's okay. Having a movie that reflects the culture built up around a franchise is relevant if not important in understanding the context of that bit of media and why and how it fits in with the broader culture.
The two movies catch two powerful franchises and their fanbases at about the same period, around 2009ish, as Star Trek was more or less out of production and the audience is - you hate to say it - probably in decline as it aged out and maybe moved on as the content had both diminished over a few less-than-stellar series and hadn't had a great movie in quite a while. Star Wars was, of course, Star Wars, and the final installment (at time of filming) had left audiences with mixed feelings.
The two movies catch two powerful franchises and their fanbases at about the same period, around 2009ish, as Star Trek was more or less out of production and the audience is - you hate to say it - probably in decline as it aged out and maybe moved on as the content had both diminished over a few less-than-stellar series and hadn't had a great movie in quite a while. Star Wars was, of course, Star Wars, and the final installment (at time of filming) had left audiences with mixed feelings.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Our Christmas Letter, 2012
This is the annual holiday letter Jamie sent out to family and friends.
No, I am not kidding.
No, I am not kidding.
Dear Family and Friends,
Happy Holidays!
Another year has passed here in our quiet hamlet of Austin, Texas. The past twelve months certainly had their ups and downs.
We’ve been very glad to have family so close by this year as Jamie’s mother had some health issues at the end of the summer, and we’ve been able to see her regularly and enjoy her progress. Doug has also been here quite a bit to check in and assist.
In the early summer we visited Chicago for vacation and took in the museums, local nightlife and an Astros/ Cubs game at Wrigley. Jamie’s health has been very stable and Ryan continues to work for the Texas Digital Library, refusing to divulge any details due to the sensitive nature of his experiments.
In fact, for much of the year, Ryan has been locked up in his makeshift laboratory in the old watchtower on the edge of town. Luckily, he’s not alone and has his assistant, Fritz. The pair are working almost feverishly day and night, refusing to see anyone. You’d hardly know anyone was there but the lights in the tower and the large boxes with strange return addresses delivered regularly under cover of darkness.
In fact, Ryan’s been such a workaholic that the only time we see him seems to be on moonless nights on the road near the local cemetery with his wagon and a shovel where he’s been taking strolls. “I like to keep fit,” he explains.
He does love his work, and I think he’s on twitter, so maybe you can reach him there!
If you did not hear, early in the year, Jamie was inducted into “The Avengers Initiative” and it sounds like she spent quite a bit of late May wrangling with despotic transdimensional overlords hellbent on subjugating the planet. It sounds like her ragtag team of misfit heroes really came together and we won’t need to be worrying about those alien invaders again for a little while. She felt the team work was challenging and complicated, and she’s sorry about the giant metal snake thing they left in Manhattan. That said, Jamie very much enjoyed the experience and plans to see the team again in summer of 2015. Maybe with The Vision this time if anyone is thinking ahead.
By the way, if you meet a S.H.I.E.L.D. operative, we really encourage you not to look them in the eye, but do give them a big “thank you”.
We hope you and yours had a terrific year, and we hope 2013 turns out to be the best one yet.
Sincerely,
Mr. Bananas, esq.
Chimpanzee & Head of Household Staff
Stately Steans Manor
Monday, December 24, 2012
Happy Birthday, Little Lu
 |
| Lucy has her Alamo Bowl pick |
Christmas Eve is the birthday of my favorite runt, Lucy the Little Black Lab.
Today Lucy turns 8 years old. She was born in a backyard in Mesa, Arizona and was adopted/ purchased in February of the 2005.
As my brother says "she's very smart about things that she wants to do", which many people mistake for being a dumb dog. Nope. As inbred and tiny as she may be, she's all Lab with all the stubbornness that comes with the breed and all the need for attention that comes with that, too.
Most evenings I spend my time on the sofa with Lucy leaning against my side. Oh, certainly, she can be a real pain, but in the end I know she wants a few things in the world: walkies, cookies and love. Most days we can provide two out of three.
Happy Birthday, Little Lu.
Peace on Earth
We come back to a few things each Christmas here at The Signal Watch.
Many years ago now, NathanC shared with us the incredible video of the Apollo 8 Astronauts reading from the book of Genesis from the moon on Christmas Eve, 1968.
Once again, we share this with you.
And, of course, images from the Alex Ross/ Paul Dini collaboration, Superman: Peace on Earth.
May you find warmth in this cold season however you seek it, be it among family, friends, in solitude or on the dark side of the moon in a tin capsule, looking back at our lonely orb, bright against the void.
Close another chapter. Be grateful for everything the year gave you, and take a moment for what it took from you.
Having grown up Lutheran, I think of this as a night of anticipation, not just for the presents under the tree and the turkey that was showing up during tomorrow's celebration, but it has always been a night when we took a beat and a breath and in the tradition with which I was raised, the next day's delivery was about a better tomorrow for all of us, if we chose it.
Whether you're Lutheran, or Catholic or Zen Buddhist or Atheist, maybe we can choose a better tomorrow. I know what that future looks like to me, and it's what I hope for every Christmas Eve, and every New Year's Eve.
May your Spaceman Christmas be a merry one. We wish you a peaceful Christmas Eve, wherever you are on The Good Earth.
And the only post-Bing Crosby Christmas song that should be in everyone's Holiday rotation, Ms. Darlene Love.
Many years ago now, NathanC shared with us the incredible video of the Apollo 8 Astronauts reading from the book of Genesis from the moon on Christmas Eve, 1968.
Once again, we share this with you.
And, of course, images from the Alex Ross/ Paul Dini collaboration, Superman: Peace on Earth.
May you find warmth in this cold season however you seek it, be it among family, friends, in solitude or on the dark side of the moon in a tin capsule, looking back at our lonely orb, bright against the void.
Close another chapter. Be grateful for everything the year gave you, and take a moment for what it took from you.
Having grown up Lutheran, I think of this as a night of anticipation, not just for the presents under the tree and the turkey that was showing up during tomorrow's celebration, but it has always been a night when we took a beat and a breath and in the tradition with which I was raised, the next day's delivery was about a better tomorrow for all of us, if we chose it.
Whether you're Lutheran, or Catholic or Zen Buddhist or Atheist, maybe we can choose a better tomorrow. I know what that future looks like to me, and it's what I hope for every Christmas Eve, and every New Year's Eve.
May your Spaceman Christmas be a merry one. We wish you a peaceful Christmas Eve, wherever you are on The Good Earth.
And the only post-Bing Crosby Christmas song that should be in everyone's Holiday rotation, Ms. Darlene Love.
Merry Christmas, Jamie
Merry Christmas to my own Donna Reed. Once again, I seem to have failed to lasso the moon for you.
I hope that's okay.
You make it a wonderful life, indeed.
I hope that's okay.
You make it a wonderful life, indeed.
Yes, we watched: Santa Paws 2 - The Puppening
A lot of discussion followed the viewing of this, the second installment in the Santa Paws franchise. Santa Paws 2 is a spin-off of a spin-of of the 1990's harmless movie about a Golden Retriever who could shoot free throws called Air Bud. Since 1997, I believe this is the 17th movie in the franchise/ shared universe of Air Bud. No, I am not kidding.
I saw part of the first Air Bud movie on cable once, and its really very sweet. If you're playing along at home, Bud was a real dog that COULD shoot free throws, so they made a movie using this dog, because... holy @#$% - that dog could shoot free throws! But as dogs do, he died. They got other dogs and made more movies in which the dog played sports, and then, at some point, the franchise wasn't cute enough, so the script called for Bud to put some other Golden Retriever in a family way, and out came a herd of wise-cracking golden puppies and an entirely new and far more annoying franchise.
After a few of those movies, Disney (yes, Disney) insisted on a Christmas version, and our heroes joined with Santa's dog's son, I believe, Puppy Paws in Santa Buddies. This begat The Search for Santa Paws. Which begat this installment.
 |
| really, I have no one but myself to blame. |
I saw part of the first Air Bud movie on cable once, and its really very sweet. If you're playing along at home, Bud was a real dog that COULD shoot free throws, so they made a movie using this dog, because... holy @#$% - that dog could shoot free throws! But as dogs do, he died. They got other dogs and made more movies in which the dog played sports, and then, at some point, the franchise wasn't cute enough, so the script called for Bud to put some other Golden Retriever in a family way, and out came a herd of wise-cracking golden puppies and an entirely new and far more annoying franchise.
After a few of those movies, Disney (yes, Disney) insisted on a Christmas version, and our heroes joined with Santa's dog's son, I believe, Puppy Paws in Santa Buddies. This begat The Search for Santa Paws. Which begat this installment.
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