---Turning The Screw, Galahad's Fall, and Choices are inspired by The Dark Knight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I bought the soundtrack to The Dark Knight earlier in the week, and it's eerie. Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard have created an incredible musical landscape. Hans' work makes his gorgeous Gladiator soundtrack sound like a fairy tale.

 

Mostly, it's his Joker motif (Hans handles that side of the composition) that just blows my mind. It's two notes. As a guitar player, all I can say is this. It is so Jimi Hendrix-driven. So metal. So gothic. So classical. I haven't attempted to play this yet, but it's something that can be played on guitar.

 

"Why So Serious?" is the opening track of the movie, and it is so riveting. It's the second longest track on the album, clocking just over nine minutes.

 

The more urgent, softer stuff is from Howard. It works, because he takes on the romance (heh, if you can even call it that), wants, desires of Bruce Wayne, Rachel Dawes, Harvey Dent. He takes on other themes.

 

It ranks up there with Star Wars, Fellowship of the Ring, The Last of the Mohicans, and Gladiator as a favorite soundtrack. It's that good.

Wow. For those like me who love The Stand from Stephen King, this is just...mind boggling.

 

Marvel Comics is going to do what Peter Jackson did with The Lord of the Rings to film.  They are going to, for lack of a better choice of words, do a 30-comic/graphic novel of Stephen King's The Stand.

 

This is huge, because if you have ever read the novel, or seen the 1994 ABC mini-series (which btw, was rather graphic for its time on TV), it's very complicated. I didn't read the novel until I saw the mini-series on TV, but much like Lord of the Rings and Dune, it's a story that is incredibly hard to translate to film or any other media without, for lack of a better phrase, pissing off fans. I've learned long ago that other interpretations of other media through another form (or, in my case as a musician, sometimes in the same media) that if you love it, like it, or hate it, it's just a matter of opine.

 

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/37608 in case you want to look.  This link has two interviews with the artists in question, along with some stunning final prints of the beginning of the story done in pencils(!) and other tools of art.

 

The very idea of someone tackling all the threads of this story and do it in comic form is truly ambitious, and trying to stay true to source indeed is an undertaking all in itself.

 

From what I saw and read, these artits are serious in keeping to source, and if Mr. King is giddy on what they are doing to his greatest novel, then I'm more than curious.

 

Instead of buying each comic individually, I am probably going to wait until the graphic novel comes out.

 

Like the novel, if you're ambitious, you can read the entire thing in one sitting. Trust me, I did that with both Dune and The Stand. Granted, those were after I first read them, but I have done marathon readings like that.

 

 We're tonight's entertainment

 

Batman: The Gotham Knight is an anime that bridges Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Similar to how The AniMatrix bridged the story between The Matrix and The Matrix Reloaded, it was released a few weeks before the live action film.

 

I didn't get my copy of Gotham Knight until oday. It consists of stand alone stories shown in such a way by the points of view of citizens of Gotham. I've watched the first two episodes, and here's how it goes.

 

The first episode is about street kids bragging about their encounters with The Batman. Each kid's version is very the top, until you get to one kid who says, "Man, I wish I had a story to tell."

 

Then suddenly, Batman and his foe appear, and the kid who doesn't have a story, tells his friends.

 

The second story is about two cops who just joined MCU (Major Crimes Unit). The female is more seasoned than the male, and the male character thinks that the milk run they are doing (dropping off a criminal busted by Batman to Arkan Asylum) is a waste of time.

 

They're attacked, and both officers do what they must, however, the male officer finds out why he was there. Batman tells them both that Lt. Gordon knows their character, and picked the right people.

 

The third episode is tecno based with Lucius Fox creating a device that Bruce beta tests for a golf tournament, but when it is used as Batman, he tells Lucius that it's too powerful.

 

The fourth is a wondeful piece of art.

 

The fifth deals with pain.  I really love this one, as it is Bruce Wayne's backstory on his travels before Batman Begins or it really could happen between the movies.  He is injured as Batman, but he tries to use a memory of one of his travels to help him. It proves that he truly is an outcast.

 

The final one deals with someone wanting to assasinate the Batman. Before the end credits:

 

The signal.

 

*flaps wings*

 

 

 

Brett,

 

I understand you have that itch to play again. However, while scratching that itch, you're creating a festering wound both with your legacy, and your ties to Green Bay, and to your dedicated fans.

 

Please end this. Stay retired. You truly have nothing left to prove. I grew up as a fan of Dan Marino, and when Peyton Manning broke his touchdown record for a single season two years ago, I could see that Dan was hurting. When you passed his record for career touchdowns and yardage, he was much more gracious, because I feel the reaction to Manning made him realize that records were meant to be broken.

 

I ask you, what would your father think of your current actions? I never saw that memorable Monday Night game after your father died. I wish I did. To me, if I were in your jersey, that game would have been much more sweeter than winning the Super Bowl. Why? Because from what I have heard, you played that game for your father's memory.

 

The loss of your brother-in-law was tragic, but you were stoic. Deanna's breast cancer, you stood by her. The loss of your boyhood home via mother nature, that had to hurt.

 

Prior to your Super Bowl season, you did what Barry Bonds refuses to do. Admit that you were a drug addict, and used pain killers to keep playing. You stood by Chewie years ago, when he faced criminal charges while partying with underage girls. He served his time.

 

You ripped into players who weren't giving their all to win. Did that loss to the New York Giants leave a chip on your shoulder?

 

At least when Dan Marino lost against the Jaguars in that thumping 62-7 playoff loss, both he and Jimmy Johnson left Miami. That hurt them I'm sure, but unlike you, Dan suffered a major injury that really changed his game. Unlike you, he was supposed to be in Super Bowls year after year, and win many. You won one, and lost one. He lost one, and never got back to the big game.

 

Yet, his 1983 draft protogee, John Elway (whom I disliked for years, until I saw him featured along with you, Wayne Cherbet, and Troy Aikman in an ESPN special called Before They Were Pros) beat you in perhaps the best Super Bowl I've ever seen.

 

I was in company with a Broncos fan. I wore your jersey. He wore Elway's. I congratulated my friend and consider Elway a hero out of sheer respect. He was destroyed in three previous Super Bowls, and ended his career on top.

 

You allowed Michael Strahan to break the season sack record. Admit it. I saw you smile when he sacked you. You did it, because you respected him, and you respected the game.

 

What would Reverand Reggie think of your current actions?

 

I have several Viking fans both loving the idea and hating the idea of you being in purple. Hell, my brother would pick on me endlessly if you ever went there as a Viking, as he lives in Minneapolis, and as you surely know, that is considered hostile territory for Green Bay fans.

 

Perhaps you're unwittingly cursing the Packers for the sake of the "Madden Curse".

 

For the sake of all Cheeseheads, your family, and your father, your legacy, and for Green Bay, end this and stay retired.

 

Show the Barry Bonds of the world that you're more of a man than they are. 

 

Favre4Ever,

 

Scott

I'm writing this with about three hours worth of sleep, and never in my life has a movie not only live beyond expectations, but it simply raises the bar fof a single genre.

 

The semi-cutesy, semi-dangerous worlds of comic book films, there's a new sherriff in town, and it's called The Dark Knight.

 

Forget that Heath Ledger is dead.  Quite frankly, had he still lived, he would be getting the exact same praise he has been getting after the release of this movie.

 

I'm going to break this review into sections, because there's so much complexity here. I'll try to be careful on spoils, but please be warned: some things DO involve major characters, and I will warn of my near crossing of spoils.

 

Bruce Wayne/Batman: He has a dream to someday hang up the suit for good and that day seems to be coming soon. A daring young DA named Harvey Dent finds a way to clean up Gotham.  But as events unfurl, Batman has to resort to an any means necessary approach, and at many points, moral dilemna and sacrifice. Bruce Wayne is actually in this more than his alter ego, but I think that's a good thing, because there's much more at stake.

 

Alfred and Lucius Fox: Bruce's two closest friends are perfect foils for Bruce to play on.  Both are his conscious, and both Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman utilize their screen presence and brilliant abilities to steer Bruce into the right direction.  There is a great sideplot with Lucius and a young member of Wayne Enterprises who seems to have figured out some things.  The way Morgan handles the situation is brilliant, but eventually it becomes a major plot point.

 

Alfred uses a great story of his military years to help Bruce understand that even though things are bad, the most important thing to remember is to endure. Even when Bruce doesn't want to make a choice that he doesn't want to face, Alfred tells him to stay the course. I'd love to see Michael Caine get an Oscar nod for some of the things he's done in this film.

 

Jim Gordon: I've always loved Gary Oldman. If his take of Dracula was the epitome of evil, his Jim Gordon is the epitome of goodness. The story arc with his character is fabulous. Something happens that shocks you, and sometime down the line, another thing happens, and you jus drop your jaw.  That's all I will say, because I'm straddling spoiler territory.

 

Harvey Dent/Two-Face: Aaron Eckhart has probably the most tragic character, and he's another one I feel could deserve an Oscar nod. He is so brilliant by ending up playing both sides of the law, it's amazing that it's the same actor.

 

Rachel Dawes: She is actually a pivot point for this movie, because she's in a rather wierd love triangle with three men. She's extremely important to the plot.

 

The Underbelly: In general, the criminals of Gotham. This is not a "waste a thug randomly" group of criminals.  Each thug that gets killed die for a specific reason. There's a sweet callback to Batman Begins to the yo-yo of Jim Gordon's old partner...except this time, it's juuust a little more painful.

 

Gotham Police Department: Very well written storyline, and believe it or not, they get a lot of screen time that doesn't just involve random cops dying. Like the underbelly, they are killed for a reason.

 

Joker: Yes, I save this for last, because it's not just for a fan boy reason, nor a "tribute" to Heath Ledger. I know this will sound like a very odd comparison, but if you ever saw Dead Poet's Society, you know how Robin Williams' character's presence is felt, even when he is off-screen.  That's Ledger's Joker. Everything done without the Joker actually on-screen is reactions to what he has done ON screen.

 

This Joker loves to cause pain, even to himself. He has a purpose that seems to both reckless and with a plan. What Ledger does with this character is not to make us really laugh at his jokes (some ARE funny), but he makes us laugh at things that we normally would not laugh at. Even small gestures he does were funny.

 

But damn, is he just plain EVIL. He doesn't care about anybody.  All he cares is to make a simple point.  And damn does he make that point in the last third of the movie. It's a shame I can't jut say what I feel is the coolest thing about this movie, but it'd be a major spoiler.

 

The true best way to describe this movie is it's a torture. I've used the screw analogy with friends who've not seen it.  Slowly the screw turns until it's tight. You loosen the screw to give some freedom, but then turn the screw again, until at the end of the process, all you have left is a stripped screw and a broken head.

 

This is not your father's Batman. This is just brilliance.

It was decided today by my two fellow co-workers that we will go see the midnight showing of The Dark Knight.

 

All of us are really stoked for it. Considering that we work in our own little lab, and at one point our former digs used to be a room with no window at the door, it was called the dungeon, back roo, and yes, jokingly as a cave.

 

Or current digs does have windows on the doors. it was simply dubbed "The Lab" by a piece of paper (where's our etched real title??!)

 

So we improvised.

 

One of my compatriarts cut/paste our pictures, along with the Batman logo.

 

Above our pictures: "THE BATCAVE".

 

Geeks we are, besides, several groups have used the Simpsonize Me pics, and other edited pics to represent their groups. Why the hell not? :)

 

I'll post my review on Friday sometime, as I'll be needing sleep. By the time I get home, I'll need to be up by 6:30am....LOL>

 

 

Jim Abbott always amazed me, watching him flip his glove on every pitch.

 

 

He is an inspiration to all with handicaps.

 

 

It's a total shame that in less than a week, I'll probably see a movie that features a dead and promising actor at his best.

 

This is really hard for me to write, because Batman is perhaps my favorite of all superheroes. Mostly, because he's a man with resources and money that becomes a total shadow.

 

I love Superman (RIP Christopher Reeve), and Mrs. Hackman and Spacey played brilliant Lex Luthors.

 

But to me, Joker is like Hamlet. Batman is just Batman.

 

The whole Batman mythos to me was it was meant to be dark. Robin was added to keep it kid friendly.  I can see a one shot movie sometime down the line with the character, but if Christian Bale's comments are true to keep Robin out of this version, I'll be happy. Maybe if the story (GASP) calls for Batman to teach another..turn it into the Killing Joke/Bane/Azrael story, and done effectively, I'd buy it. I want this Batman series to just keep it to the dark.

 

My love of the franchise is here's a man in Bruce Wayne has to live the ultimate double life. He does his best with his money, but goes out to deal with the people who hurts the city of Gotham.

 

I love Jack Nicholson as Joker, and I hear that Mr. Ledger trumps the Jack.  To me, that says a LOT.

 

That's why I have high expectations.  But in my gut, I know I won't be disappointed.

 

You'll know if I fold next Friday.

 

"Here's my card."

I've been offline the last few days for various activities during the week (most notably last night, as it was a going away party for one of my co-workers).  However, considering that the story below happened about two blocks away, I can't help but comment.

 

This is not a post for the faint-hearted, but I feel even the faint-hearted must read the article for obvious reasons.

 

 

While I was watching the ending of Kill Bill, Vol. 2, I heard the explosion, and felt my trailer shake. According to the local paper, had the victim lived, he could have had federal charges against him. Sparkler bombs are considered to be IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices, and charges could be filed under the Patriot Act as an act of terrorism.  That actually makes sense to me, because well:

 

1). Even though (in this case), it IS an improvised bomb.  The very NAME of the stupid thing is bomb. The kid planned on firing it off out of town.

 

2). It's kind of dry at the moment, so something stupid like this could have spread a wildfire. If you've ever been up here, a wildfire here would not be like in California. Not as many trees, but grass burns pretty quickly.

 

3). Thankfully, no one else was hurt or injured. But sheesh, what if one of his roomates wre hurt?  Or the mobile home started on fire?  What if somebody nearby was BBQ-ing with the family? What if one of the people who were sitting or standing was a pregnant woman and miscarried?

 

Up until Sunday, I've never been involved in an explosion of any kind, as a witness (both visually and sound), and to hear the sirens go right off crazy within 15 seconds.

 

I usually respect the dead, but when you're trying to create a 'bomb' for fun with something that's highly combustive (magnesium, and from what one of my friends told me that knew one of the roomates say he was soaking them in a coffee can while he jammed them together. Ummm...DUH!), well, I hate saying it, but you deserve to be removed from the gene pool.

 

It's sad, but I honestly do not feel sorry for the guy. How can you feel sorry for being stupid?

 

When you blow your own legs off, disintergrate your hands, and have multiple impalations all because you want to make a big explosion, well, sorry, you deserve your fate.

 

It's sickening, because if this was actually something meant for something more fatal, well, the world has one less terrorist.  But since it was an accident, it's still sickening because it happened, and I hope it might help teach people that unless you are properly trained (aka explosive experts), stuff like this should not be done at home.

 

Mythbusters disclaim to not try what they do on the show at home.  Sure, it's one fun show to watch, but this just proves there's a reason why they do it.

 

I'd like to add one more tidbit to it:

 

DON'T BE STUPID!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to cry out and tell my tale,

but no one seems

to hear my voice

I have a choice

I can lay here and

I can scream, but

No one hears me

Scream

 

All I want to do is cry out

Why can't you hear me cry?

I don't want to die

But if I must die

I want you to hear why

Why I am going to die.

 

 

 

 

I look down upon you

And I see the good in you

You helped them to live

And I help the one who saves them

I hear your prayers

I feel your pain

I will help you through the pain

 

 

I was talking to Obi-Wan this morning, and he viewed my videos of both Steve Vai and Jimi Hendrix doing renditions of our national anthem.

 

He was blown away by Mr. Vai's rendition, and i think it is in part that he never seen it before.  It's been years since I've seen it myself.

 

Even though Mr. Vai did one hell of a rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, as a guitar player, Jimi's is the best version.  I found a vid on YouTube that is a clinic on this.

 

 

You be the judge.

 

Happy 4th.

Fourteen days from now, The Dark Knight is unleashed in the theaters.

 

I didnt see Iron Man or Hulk, but I hear those movies are very solid comic book movies and incredible adapatations of their source material.

 

However, Batman has always been my superhero.  Superman came from another planet (trust me, I love him too), but the thing I love about Batman is he is just a normal man.

 

He is a priviledged son who loses his parents in a horrid way. He decides at a young age to grow up quickly, beause he inherits a fortune.

 

I love how Christopher Nolan had done the origin story for this current series. I didn't see Batman Begins in the theater, but I was totally blown away with it.

 

Why?

 

I love the fact that the tone is dark. I loved how Batman just put fear into his enemies without showing himself, even when trying to gain allies. He does what he can, when he can. He doesn't want the spotlight, except for the Signal.

 

Joker to me is like Hamlet.  You just don't know where he's going to go with anything he does.  Sadly, if Heath Ledger's performance in this one is as good as I hear, and Oscar worthy, please give consideration, Academy.

 

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAA!

 

 

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home

 

 

 

From Steve Vai:

 

From the immortal Jimi Hendrix:

 

From Francis Scott Key.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wonder at times, on what our forefathers would think of what America has become, some two hundred-thirty-two years ago, on the eve of presenting the foundation of a revolution.

 

What would they think of the fact that 2008 had not only a woman run for president, but a black man---a slave in their eyes---run for president, and has a good chance of getting elected?

 

What would they think of big oil, and how the crisis is destroying the dream that they fought and died for in their time for us?

 

What would James Madison think of 9-11-01?  He was the last president we had who had to deal with an outright invasion of our nation. The White House burned, as his wife took away priceless artifacts.

 

What would they think of illegal aliens?

 

What would they think of gay rights, or the death penalty?

 

To me, these are personal questions that we each must face for ourselves on this day before the Fourth.

 

In my blood, I have Scottish and Swede blood flow. On the Scot side of my heritage, I have blood that tells me freedom is still alive.

 

What saddens me for those who immigrate to the US is the fact that they don't understand that freedom is not free.  This is especially true to the illegals.

 

My own forefathers moved to the US, via Ellis Island, and via a hurricane on the other side, but became a citizen.

 

What would Washigton, Jefferson, Madison, and others think of my views?

 

When I pass on, I suppose I'll have many conversations with them.

I just read on Ain't It Cool News that Don S. Davis, the man who played General Hammond in Stargate: SG-1 died.  No word in the article on what he succumbed to, but...

 

This sucks.

 

Granted, SG-1 is really the only show I saw this actor in, but he had a cool character in the series.

 

Sad time, this is.