Nerdvana Begins Again...

Get your geek on...







This week, all geeks flock to Mecca, or San Diego as we call it...

Comic-Con 2012 will begin unofficially on Wednesday, and then a horde of geeks/nerds/fanbois will descend on the peaceful, seaside city to extort revenge for many a night of no date, or the low score on their X-Box live account.

But seriously, the world of pop-culture will see the latest films, shows, video games and yes, even comics will be there to be showcased. And I will too. Of course, I won't be able to attend everything, but I do plan on being there to report to you what Blue Sky finds important and relevant. Or at least as much as we can report.

I don't know how many more years I'll keep doing this. I've been going for over a decade, but each year it gets harder and more difficult to handle. It used to be a fun trip to buy back your childhood, but lately it's become a hassle as the crowds have grown. I know that the organizers have signed a deal with the city to keep it there, but unless they expand the convention center soon, and make it so that tickets aren't as hard to get as a rock concert, this may be my last.

Of course, I said that last year. But I still have yet to see the plans the city has for dealing with this and many other problems. If they don't work it out, Anaheim and Los Angeles await. Which are more convenient and have more space, but lack the fun of travelling to the lovely city further south of what is popularly known as Southern California.

Stay tuned for reports on our perceptions of what happens when "Man of Steel" finally gets a look at by the ones that really care. As well as that film about Hobbits and such. Maybe even a thing or two about superheroes (even Marvel superheroes). If you see a guy in a large gray trench coat with a red hat... that won't be me.

Sneakers, jeans and T-shirt are my modus operandi...

Birth Of The Grid...

For the Users...




Thirty years ago today...

In one of the most memorable times in film history, the Summer of 1982, a movie was released that would be groundbreaking, innovative, frustrating and ultimately disappointing. But, it would go on to have cult status, and develop a following that would eventually lead to books, comics, artwork, maquettes, models, toys, video games, a sequel, a prequel television show and many, many other offsprings.

The original "Tron" was released on this day thirty years ago. It presented a world most people had never thought of, and many had no understanding of. But it helped create dreams, it helped expand dreams and it helped grow new ones.

With all the focus on the new television show (which is great, btw), it appears that the Mouse has a new found understanding and care for this property and its potential. And if all goes well, Alan Horn will give a green light to TR3N by the end of the year or the beginning of the next.

It's about time to go back to the Grid...

A Future Without Rules, A World Without Walls...

You can connect, but will you disconnect...








The future isn't written, it's a path...

Media companies have come to rely less and less on the Big Four Networks as time has gone by. The days of sitting down to watch what was on the tube started to crack when Cable came out. Then with various other media sources, HBO, Showtime, etc. it slowly started to release the grip that those few networks had on the content viewers would get.

With the introduction of the Net, the world of Cable suddenly had competition. Not just from websites, but content that could be independently generated. But the promise of the Internet hasn't yet been fully realized. The potential that was there hasn't been able to break apart and show that it can be of the same quality as Network/Cable show.

Until now.

Take a look at this trailer for the new series produced by Brian Singer, entitled "H+" that just premiered. It looks incredibly professional, intriguing, disturbing and high quality. Like something that I'd find on network television or FX, or possibly A&E. But it's not on any of those channels. In fact it's not on a channel at all. It's a digital series that will premiere on YouTube on August 8. And it shows you not only what the future looks like in this apocalyptic series, it shows you what the world will be like in entertainment in the future as well.

I know that the Mouse is experimenting with a Disney YouTube Channel that is supposed to have original content ("Where's My Water," etc.), but they and other media giants need to take note of this kind of platform and focus on it.

It is the future...

The Hyperion Way...

Dream a little dream...






On this day in 1925, Roy Disney put down a deposit ($400) for a piece of land marked 2719 Hyperion Avenue...

It seems he and his younger brother Walter planned on constructing a little business there. Something to do with this new fangled entertainment idea called "animation" that others have been trying. Hopefully, he and his brother could make a go of it in this crazy place called California.

They would go on to produce many works of wonder until they moved into their new digs over in Burbank. That little plot of land is where the head of the most powerful entertainment company in the world resides today. And it was built from profits made from the first animated film ever created, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."

And that film would be created right here on a little plot of land that Roy just put a down payment on today...

Marvel's 52...

Make mine Marvel Now...










To be honest, I really didn't like the idea of DC Comics rebranding everything...

The New 52.

It seemed totally unnecessary and almost apologetic. There was nothing wrong with their characters or the linear trajectory on which those stories were headed. It almost felt like a reboot with the words, "We were wrong" plastered atop every issue.

But it's been a very big success for the former National Periodical Publications funny book maker. The teams that they've put together and the stories they've generated have been far stronger and popular that I would've thought.

And now, Marvel appears to be getting in the game.

The Disney sub-division has announced a new imprint entitled: "Marvel NOW" which focus on stories that will deviate from the normal line of stories. This will allow artists/writers to unshackle stories they would like to tell, but are limited in publishing because of interference with the traditional canon of comic book lore. In a sense, it's an introduction to another Marvel Universe, the same way that Ultimates was as well.

Perhaps the studios will take note of this since they based so much of the MCU on that perspective...

Unveiling UntoldTreasures...

Unfolding Archives...









There are many benefits to living in the West/California/Big Cities...

We have many things you won't find back East that are great. In-N-Out, Trader Joes, Fresh and Easy. Oh, and Disneyland, of course. And now we have Disney California Adventure. I'm sure many of you haven't heard of it since it's a new park that just opened. It's good, trust me. But, back to what I was saying, there are a lot of nice things we get to experience here. Many Disney related things. For instance, if you're in the Bay Area, you can go to the Walt Disney Family Museum and see/experience the amazing life of Walt.

But now, there's something else you can experience that opens today.

A while back I mentioned some of the wonderful things that D23 does, like the unfinished Oswald short that they brought to life for members. If you have to be in Southern California, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in Simi Valley, is having a fantastic exhibit of Disneyana. If you want to see some amazing things and are a Disney Geek/Fan or just a pop-culture fan in general, please go. To purchase tickets, click here. Who knows who you might see there? But you'll find an amazing collection of memorabilia that will bring out the kid in you.

Here's a chance to see dreams in tangible form...

The Amazing Spider-Man Redux...

Doesn he do whatever a spider can



...

Hey, the Colonel here to report with some recon:

Is the Amazing Spider-Man perfect? No.

Is the Raimi Spider-Man perfect?  HELL NO.

Is The Amazing Spider-Man the best adaptation of the character?  Yes.

So instead of writing another review, I wanted to mix it up a little and concoct what I think a perfect Spider-Man movie would be using two ingredients:  The 2002 Raimi film and The Amazing Spider-Man.

FADE IN:

OPENING – The Amazing Spider-Man (TASM) – Great, love it.  It has mystery, suspense, gives Peter and emotional drive, maybe a little like the opening in “Batman Begins”, but let’s roll with it.

So we CUT the VO off of Raimi Spider-man (RSM).  And NO VO in the end, having Garfield saying “Spider-Man” on the bridge was pretty much perfect. So that brings me to…

Garfield IN, Magurie OUT.  In fact, Maguire isn’t even in the same league.

Stacy IN, MJ OUT.  Ditto for Dunst.

So what do we keep from the RSM?

Harry IN.

OSBORN IN.

This is where TASM failed in my opinion. It misses Peter’s central friend in his life, a friend who will reshape Peter’s destiny.  Keep RSM scene with Harry and Norman with Peter – great set-up for characters, their arcs and future villains.

Norma Rae Aunt May – IN, Willard Uncle Ben IN. Rosmarie Harris OUT, Robertson OUT (may he rest in peace – EXCEPT FOR THE IMMORTAL WORDS “WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY – IN, IN, IN, IN).

Curt Conners IN, Norman Osborn as Green Goblin OUT (that will be in part 3).


Dennis Leary vs. James Cromwell – “That won’t do pig, that won’t do” gotta give it to Leary.   Cap. Stacy – IN. (Even though he isn’t even in RSM)

TASM Flash Thompson > Joe “True Blood” Flash.

Keep ALL of Origin of Spidey from TASM, CUT RSM.  Cut the sorry cafeteria scene that looked like a warners bros. cartoon,  maybe keep the bus scene the before and after…

Origin of Spidey, TASM does it right, big IN. But we keep from the RSM the wrestling scene (have Garfield crash in the ring, getting inspiration with costume then CUT to wrestling scene from RSM).

RSM Crook holds up bookie IN – Sheen getting taken out by liquor store OUT.  Crook blazes by Peter in RSM IN.

Immortal words (yes, I am repeating myself) IN, Sheen’s paraphrasing gibberish OUT.

(Not to jump ahead but since we are on the subject, Flint Marko in Spider-Man 3 being the guy who helped with Uncle Ben’s murder OUT,  but let’s just have an OUT for the whole Spider-Man 3 shall we?).

TASM when Peter dresses up and takes out hoods IN (a little Batman Year one, but still cool none the less),  then we CUT to  RSM as he is tracking the killer.

Keep warehouse scene from RSM. The whole enchilada baby, THIS is what makes Spider-Man who he is.

BACK TO TASM Origin, keep everything and sprinkle in Norman and Harry, not at graduation but a function. Like I said before, NO GOBLIN!  He is only Norman and he has the scenes with Peter in RSM.  We get that he treats Peter better than his own son, we build on this relationship for the future.  So we can replace Rajit Ratha with Osborn, and Conners argues with the CEO about testing.  Get rid of the Osborn dying part, he is very much alive in the Redux.

Origin of Lizard – I liked that Conners was Peter’s professor and I love the comic book back story with him and his wife and kid but fine, could have used a better plot device but let’s give TASM this one.

TASM - Coldplay, Peter and Gwen, dinner scene – GREAT.  After the shot with the bugle, instead of the Lizard on the cover it is Spidey whith a tag line “WHO IS THIS MASKED VIGILANTE?!”  So that gives Peter the idea and now for extra money he starts selling his pics for cash that’s where we bring in J.J.J.!  How can you make a Spidey movie without one of the most iconic characters in comic book history?  Spidey without J.J.J. is like Batman without Robin (oops, bad example, maybe Burns without Gracie?).  You gotta have some J.J.J., and Simmons was great in that part so we have Peter freelance for J.J.J. and that is why he sets up his camera to take pictures when he is in the sewer tracking the lizard.

KEEP Peter whisking off with Gwen, swinging in the sky (okay, it was a little like “Superman” The Movie, but it didn’t have that horrible “If you can read my mind” song that gives Celine Dion’s  “Titanic” theme a run for its money, so we will keep).  But if we keep that then we CUT the rain scene with MJ which is fine by me.  Dunst in the rain is as sexy as Shelly Long was as Olive Oyl in “Popeye”.

And now we play TASM from here on out. FORGET the lame montages of Spidey taking out crooks in RSM, FORGET the burning building in RSM to save the baby, the new one with the kid in the car is far superior, FORGET the awful parade with Macy Gray, FORGET Goblin knocking him out and NOT EVEN ATTEMPTING TO TAKE SPIDEY’S MASK OFF!, FORGET the challenge that Goblin proposes to Spidey about saving MJ or the kids (it worked better in “Batman: Forever”).  Keep TASM as it is, complete  with:

Webshooters – THWIP!  The organic webshooters have sailed away on the Titanic with Cameron and crashed in the iceberg.

Angst, major major Angst.

Elfman vs. Horner and the winner is…ELFMAN BY A LONG SHOT!

Crook with Knife – LOVE IT!  Go suck an egg Maguire!  THIS is what Spidey is about!  He is awkward, clumsy, shy and pensive as Parker but when he puts on the suit he is brash, wise cracking and over confident.


Parker coming home to May all beat up and bruised – EPIC.

Spidey’s poses – right out of the FREAKIN comic book!  I know CGI has gotten a lot better, but come on, Webb actually did a lot of stuff practical and it shows, great work with the stunt team and CGI artists to bring Spidey to life right out of the panels.

Stan "The Man" Cameo vs. Stan Lee Cameo in RSM - Excelsior to TASM!

We actually SEE Garfield make the suit, it just doesn't magically appear like in RSM.


And again Garfield, he makes Maguire look like the new Michael Keaton or maybe even Adam West.  Maguire should have just stayed home and drank from the Cider House Rules because Garfield OWNS the part.

Stacy and the funeral (remember no funeral for Osborn we just set him up later).  Harry instead goes to Stacy’s funeral (ok, we can’t just splice and dice, this will take reshoots, mocap, cgi set builds and frame restoration but I think we are on to say something).

CUT.  PRINT.

Whoops this is the digital age and we are trying to write a script or scriptment or treatment or an opinion? Whatever…FADE OUT.

I’m sure I left out a lot, so the haters will hate, but in my opinion true believers this would be an amazing Spider-Man.