The Best TV Show Ever?

I was recently re watching my Box Set of the superb FireFly TV show from the mind of Joss Whedon and it occured to me that this is probably the best thing I've ever seen on the TV, although I was never in a position to actually watch it as it aired.

I wonder how many other folks have missed out on this superb series? The Serenity film was - although obviously written for a ,shall we say, broader audience with it's super kung fu expert version of River - an amazing addition to the story and easily one of my favourite space films of all time.

I've now just got around to reading the Serenity comics, and thankfully , despite some very average artwork, they have not dissapointed me either as they have that special "Whedon touch" to them that ensures great storytelling, sharp dialogue, and lively unpredictable plots.

A big shame FOX never had the vision to support this series, it would - by now - have been paying them huge dividends I'm sure, just as Buffy and Angel have.

I wonder how long before Joss creates his own comic company and shows all the others how it's done?

;-)

The Dark Knight - A late review

Ok, I know, it's been ages since this already classic movie dominated cinemas, so I'm very late putting my two pennies worth in after many much more talented writers have already done such a good job of explaining why it's not such a great movie after all.

The only thing is, I think this is a great movie! In fact I'd go so far as to say it's a modern masterpiece. Even if there was no BATMAN in it and it was just a gangster crime flick, it would still be a great movie, and I think that is why it works so well.

Sure there are things wrong with it. The gravely voice of Christian Bale's Batman is a bit too gravely, the violence is a little underplayed at times, and there are a lot of set pieces.

However, if you compare this movie to other superhero movies it's simply head and shoulders above any of them.

(Apart from perhaps the original Superman. I'll always have a soft spot for that one... Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman... gotta love 'em!)

I could start gushing about Heath Ledger's incredible performance as the Joker, but I'm guessing that's very old news by now, but there are other more subtle even - dare I say it - more impressive performances in the movie.

In Batman Begins, Gary Oldman's Commissioner Gorden wasn't really very effective, but here he excels. Subtle character details and powerful emotional moments have given Gotham City's top cop a depth and believability the classic portrayal by Frank Miller in the critically acclaimed Batman: Year One graphic novel would envy.

In fact the one thing that makes this movie stand apart from other comic adaptions is that it not only does the source material justice, but in my humble opinion it surpasses it.

It takes the character of Batman in a brave new direction and delivers us the most terrifying while hilarious Joker ever seen on the big screen or on the sequntial page.

There are lots of other things I like about the movie. I love how Two Face works so well, and is played so convincingly by Aaron Eckhart, Michael Cain is superb and so is The new Rachel -Maggie Gyllenhaal, but I think the thing I loved the most was the amazing cinematography by Wally Pfister.

Not only do he and Director Christopher Nolan make full use of the amazing IMAX format, for those who get the chance to see it at an IMAX cinema, but as a conventional movie the cinematography is top notch and made the whole experience of watching this triumph of a film even more exhilarating.

Yes the ending is cheesy, and some of the fight scenes are a little clunky, but every great movie has it's faults, and this is a great movie... no doubt about it.

9/10

A Comic That Made me Cry? Oh For Crying Out Loud!!

And I nearly did cry when reading Bob Byrne's latest comic book: Mister Amperduke.

I had just been to the wonderful 2D Comic Festival in Derry, Northern Ireland, and was travelling on a Bus from Derry to Belfast to catch my plane home and decided to ignore most of the beautiful Irish country side in favour of a front row seat into the imagination of cartoonist Bob Byrne.

Bob kindly gave me a copy of Mister Amperduke at the festival, and I was very intrigued to see that the whole 160 page graphic novel was - in fact - a story told in sequential picture only, without the use of dialogue, captions or any other written word storytelling devices.

On reading I must declare that Mr Byrne is a f*%king genius!! The talented bastard managed to completly engross me in his magical world of miniature people and killer insects within just a few wordless pages.

In just two panels he achieves more character building than two bloody seasons of the latest US Tv drama.
Unbelievably, none of the characters in this book are human and a good proportion of the story revolves around some little miniature people in a tiny town built by what can only be described as a Dog Man.

However, the book somehow manges to say an incredible amount about what it means to be human, and made me care more for a set of characters than I have done for a very long time. It also makes one think about themselves and how we treat those around us (well if -like me- you are inclined to think about such things at any rate).

The story features prejudice, courage, hate, love, self sacrifice, and death, not to mention impeccable pacing, solid cartooning, wickedly dark humour, and heart stopping action scenes.

My hat is well and truly off to Bob Byrne for creating this singular and original piece of work, and I urge anyone who loves comics and reading this to visit http://www.clamnuts.com/ and order your copy right now.

Over and out.

Indy Is Back!!

Wow, everybody said how they hated the new Indy Movie, but I just loved it.
It reminded me of when I went to see the original films back in the 80's.

I was a child again, just for a couple of hours.

Thumbs Up Iron Man

ooo that sounds painful!

But seriously , I went to see the new IRON MAN Movie on Saturday night, and I have to say I thouroughly enjoyed it. The special effects were seamless, the banter with Tony Stark and Pepper Potts was spot on and the action sequences were well shot and well paced.

I do have some small gipes, (like Iron Monger being a shit villain, and the whole "America is ace and better than every one else" gung ho shite) but overall it's a top notch super hero action romp.

Can't wait for Indy 4 though. Saw the trailor and it looks very promising.

Over and out.

Chebbo

Fighting Through The Pain

I kid you not!

I was at a Wedding last Saturday, and had to go to work early the following day, and don't seem to be able to recover. My head hurts, and my back aches. I must be getting old.

However, today I went and met up with my old college tutor who is interested in me helping them with their new Graphic Novels Illustration Degree, and possibly also interested in exhibiting at our Comics Show in October, so the pain had to be ignored.

It was great to see her again. We had a few fall outs while I was in college, but I always had a deep respect for her. Unlike me, she's not aged a day since I left college in 1995, and I couldn't help but feel envious of her apparent lack of physical degeneration.

It seems the new North Wales School Of Art based in Wrexham will be an invaluable learning centre for new comic artists and illustrators, and hopefully I'll get a chance to play a small part in helping the students both find work and publish their own books.

Despite my good mood, the journey home was a pure test of endurance. I really need to get some sleep.

My New Dilemma

It seems that about 6 months ago in a moment of drunken abandon I very foolishly filled in an online application form for the X Factor TV programme, and today I received a letter inviting me to an audition in Birmingham on - get this - my birthday.

Now I was planning a good night out with my friends to celebrate my 35th birthday on the night before and I really don't want to cancel that. I have considered not going to the audition, as all that type of music really isn't my bag, and I feel a bit of a sham for going.

However, I can't help but see it being on my birthday as a good omen. Surely I must go? My family think I would be mad to miss out on such an opportunity. I guess I'll decide nearer the time.

What will I sing? Do I still have the voice to stop it being a total embarressment? I certainly don't have the looks anymore.

Whatever happens, my 35th is sure to be an interesting birthday.