What ever happened to Gargoyles? Maybe they're in the Salton Sea

This is sort of a continuation of the previous blog. I was planning on writing this sometime in the future,but on the recomendation of my only follower, I moved it up. I figure if she's the only one reading, I'll write what she wants to read.


What happened to the cartoons of our youth? Okay so the eighties weren't great. Mostly homo-erotic cartoons about naked men wrestling each other (He man, Thundercats, etc.). Or Giant fighting robots that turned into things, or American soldiers fighting evil supervillains. But they had plotlines, and let to some really interesting cartoons in the 90's.


My favorite of these cartoons is probably Batman the Animated series. It had complex story lines. It dealt with organized crime, drugs, gun violence, in an entertaining way that despite the subject matter, didn't talk down to kids. People died, very realistically I might add, in gang violence. On Saturday mornings. But that's life. People die and kids need to know that if you shoot someone they generally don't get up. Now they can't even show guns in cartoons. It's weird. And I understand that it's just entertainment but theres no reason that there can't be a little realism. Why should every cartoon have people shooting lasers at each other with no real consequences to their actions? One of the best villains of the series is Ras Al Ghul, a middle eastern eco terrorist. I didn't even know what that term meant until I watched that series. I just miss having a good batman cartoon on tv.
Superman was ok, but the two series led to Justice League, which I still think is amazing. Sounds gay but it was definitely a cartoon that was made for the adult nerd more than kids.


And Gargoyles. That show invovled a lot of Shakespearan characters, teaching kids not only about right and wrong, good and evil, but classic literature as well. It was gritty, and complex. dealing with everything from fantasy and science, to religion and redemption. I can still remember the first time I saw it as a kid thinking I'd never seen anything like it. I still think it would make a great live action movie if anyone ever gets the balls to make it.

What do kids have today. Dora the Explorer? garbage. Diego? garbage. These shows claim to be educational but I've watched them with my friends kid, and I fail to see how he learns anything from those shows. Why not give kids a show that is a little more complex? One that they might not quite understand, but will want to figure out?

Even the new versions of the cartoons we all loved pale in comparison to the old ones. Theres a new ninja turtles, which essentially just follows the japanese model of a loose plot with flashy colors and fast paced action scenes. And the new Transformers is just an Anime knockoff. The Batman is just a crime fighting show for dummies. The rest of Saturday morning is filled with cartoons made for the sole purpose of selling card games. Try watching them sometime. All they are is instructions for how to play. It's awful.

As I said in the previous blog about the simpsons, I just feel like mainstream entertainment in general is just getting stupider. But we all watch stupid shows because what else are we going to do with the hours we used to spend hunting and gathering? AAAAAnd done being overdramatic. I just miss good cartoons. Can you blame me?

On to a review...





The Salton Sea(2002)
starring Val Kilmer

One of my favorite movies of all time. And that's saying a lot. I grew up enjoying old detective stories. The problem with most of the new Detective flicks is that they try way too hard to be noir, failing to realize that you shouldn't have to try. It should be subtle, not using rediculous dialogue, and internal monologue to beat you in the face with noir (Brick is a good example of that. terrible).
This movie is the exact opposite. It has the feeling of an old Detective story without being in your face.
It starts out with Val Kilmer as junkie Danny Parker, hanging out with speed freaks, and informing on other junkies to two narcotics detectives. He lives in a dump, and seems to have a life that's going nowhere. But like any good mystery nothing is as it seems.
The story goes back and forth through flashbacks to reveal the mystery of what happened at the Salton sea, and how Danny got to where he is. Tragedy landed him playing the part of a junkie, but he's there for a reason. Everything he does he does ultimately for justice.
He plays both sides of the law to solve the crime that has taken over his life. He's never who he appears to be, and you quickly find out that he's always in control. I can't say much about the plot without giving it away. Half the fun of the movie is the surprise of finding out whats really going on.
There are some great performances in The Salton Sea, including Vincent D'Onofrio as Pooh bear, a drug dealer who's put so much meth up his nose that he no longer has one, a rediculous plastic one taking its place. He's a ruthless criminal, but he has some pretty funny scenes.
Then there's Peter Sarsgaard (who you might remember from Garden State) playing Jimmy, a fellow junkie and Danny Parker's only real friend. He's one of those characters that you can't help but feel sorry for. Danny's playing everyone through the whole movie but Jimmy is a sweet genuine kid who would do anything for his friend and just got mixed up in the wrong scene. One of the best exchanges between the two is when he shows Danny that in honor of their friendship he got a tattoo of his face on his arm. He didn't have a picture of Kilmer's character so he described him to the tattoo artist from memory.
It's funny, it's sad, its entertaining and engrossing. And I know a certain someone doesn't like sad stories, so to you, I'll say it all works out in the end. It's in my top five of the last twenty years. watch it.

Time for bed. Thanks for reading.

~Quantum

Why the Simpsons suck, and Street Fight. Not Street Fighter. sorry Zangeif fans.

The Simpsons. There was a time when it was funny, and smart. This is not that time. I remember when I was a kid and the Simpsons made me laugh. There were jokes I didn't understand, and it made me want to research things. Pop culture jokes and history jokes that were fun for the adults, while still having dumb jokes for the kids. It was a cartoon version of a real family, and not the other way around. Homer would do something stupid, Marge would nag, Bart would screw up. But hidden in there was always a lesson. a moral to the story. On the off chance that they had a guest star you wouldnt know it, because they weren't playing themselves. There are exceptions to this, but for the most part stars would come on, play a character, and leave without needing to feed their ego by playing themselves. One of my favorite episodes is Titled "Lisa's substitute. Lisa falls for her substitute teacher played by Dustin Hoffman when Miss Hoover went on leave, thinking she'd contracted Lyme disease. As opposed to now. when every single episode is "what crazy adventure will the simpsons go on?" or "what crazy guest star will the simpsons meet?".
I remember trying to watch the Simpsons about six years ago, because my friends kept telling me "It's just as good as it used to be, it's just different." For some reason Tony Hawk was in it, as himself, and he introduced himself as "Skateboarding superstar Tony Hawk." It wasn't ironic, or funny, it was just stupid. Pretty sure blink 182 or some other band in their 40s who plays for tweens was in that episode too. they all blend together.
The biggest problem I have with it is that this is the simpsons that anyone under the age of 20 knows as THE Simpsons. They cant remember that once it was a smart funny show because they were too young. I'll save the rant about how all media is going that way for another time, but it really is all a symptom of the dumbing down of America.
It had a magic that most series never reach, and that I really don't think it will have again. The movie was slightly entertaining, but to everyone who thinks it's as good as the old simpsons, it's not. That's like comparing the original Starwars to Episode 1. Gross. Another rant I'll save for later. I find myself wondering if Matt Groening feels shame over what his creation has become every time he gets a check. I'm sure it's a passing thought while he's sitting in his mansion eating caviar. But I digress. I'll sum it up in a few words by simply saying, The Simpsons no longer has a heart...

On to better things

Street Fight (2005)
Starring Corey Booker and Sharpe James
Directed by Marshall Curry

I'll start by saying I'm a huge Documentary nerd. When I have free time to watch a movie, my vote is always for a documentary. The drama of real life generally is just a lot more interesting than anything that can be thought up. This movie is easily in my top five.
Corey Booker is a young democrat trying to challenge Sharpe James for the position of Mayor in Newark, a largely African American city in New Jersey. It's an uphill battle as James has been mayor for over 20 years, and the people seem to love him. As the story unfolds, you come to realize that there's more fear than love. Fear of the unknown mostly. Everyone seems to know that Sharpe is a theif, liar and thug, but he's the devil you know.
A lot of the movie ends up being racial politics, as Booker is an educated light skinned black man, who really seems to care about the people and the poverty of Newark. James uses this to attack him. sending out literature calling him white, or jewish, or just using his education to claim that he knows nothing of the struggle the people of the city face. Never bringing up that his parents were part of the civil rights movement and fought so there son wouldnt have to struggle. Meanwhile James, who in his defense did grow up in poverty, has lived in a mansion for years, and used taxpayer money to his own benefit over and over again. James is most definitely the villain, but even so steals the show, turning every negative into a possitive for his own campaign.
You see Booker struggle with smear campaigns, but Sharpe James doesn't have that problem. he will lie, steal, and even use city resources to make sure he keeps his position as mayor, at one point using the police to intimidate store owners with Booker signs in their windows, to tear down signs put up in public places, and attack camera men who get too close to the mayor.

I'd say this movie is a must see, and I won't give away the ending, but if you're into politics you'll know that Sharpe James faced several Federal charges, and this movie was part of the reason.

If you have netflix Street Fight is on instant watch, if not I'd suggest you track it down. definitely worth the time.

~Quantum

It's what you like, not what you ARE like; and please, don't piss off Chopper

Movies that are garbage. I'm going to skip past the obvious, because there are entire genres that really don't lend themselves to greatness, and go straight to the ones that I know friends of mine enjoy.

Gangs of New York- Garbage. It was a musical without the music. rediculous sets. rediculous costumes. rediculous acting. everyone likes to pretend it was a good movie because Daniel Day-Lewis delivered a great performance. I admit that it was, but it was a great performance in a shitty movie. Cameron Diaz could never decide if she was supposed to have an accent. Neither could Leo for that matter. I left the theater thinking "Scorsese made this steaming pile?". But apparently I was the only one. One of my film school buddies tried to tell me how groundbreaking it was. My reply? "Wait five years. see if anyone is still talking about it." I think I made my point.

Across the Universe- Garbage. I'm not generally a fan of musicals, but I'm always willing to admit when they deliver and I just don't get it. This is not one of those movies. "oh, the characters names correspond with beatles songs so they can use them in the movie". Wow. so clever. I enjoy some beatles music, but hearing shitty versions sung by actors doesn't really do it for me. It tried way to hard to make the plot relevant, and failed miserably. It was a movie that had been made a million times, and better, without shitty music. It was a loose plot built around a bunch of songs covered by people nobody cares about. If you need a musical fix, rent The Producers instead.

Boondock Saints- Garbage. I get a lot of flack for this one. I remember one of my friends telling me that it was her favorite movie of all time when the Special Edition came out on dvd, and I was excited to see it. It was way oversold and definitely came nowhere near delivering. Where to start? Willem Defoe. I love the guy in the right role. But he was rediculous. I know you're supposed to suspend disbelief, but this was a movie about two guys murdering thugs, and Defoes character just pranced around being outlandishly flamboyantly gay. It wasn't funny, it was just uncomfortable, and I would think to some, insulting. Every time he was onscreen it just made me want to turn the movie off. Then theres the small role played by Ron Jeremy. All of my friends had boners over the fact that he was in the movie. So having a terrible actor who is a troll and former porn star is a good thing? The whole thing felt like a movie by someone with very little talent who had an idea without the ability to make it interesting. I love revenge flicks, and movies about people taking the law into their own hands, but they have to be written well. Boondock just doesn't do it. My friends love it and I'll never understand why.

Ok. I'm done complaining.....


Chopper (2000)
Starring Eric Bana
Directed by Andrew Dominik

What can I say about chopper read? Don't piss him off. At the begining of the movie Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read has spent most of his adult life in an Australian prison. He's the kind of guy who will stab you ten times in the face, back off and appologize, and then get pissed off when you won't forgive him. And according to the real Chopper, that's something he's done. He doesn't care who you are, friend or foe, if you have something he wants, he'll take it. He's a charming guy who plays all sides, and while a lot of his tales have been proven you can never tell where the reality ends and the fantasy begins. He's a murderer, a theif, and a thug. And if you're like me you'll be glued to the tv trying to figure out what crazy thing he'll do next. But he's unpredictable. He's by no means a hero but for some reason I ended up routing for him. He loves the spotlight, and while in prison Hams it up for TV interviews, becoming somewhat of a cult hero. After his release he uses his fame to write a series of crime novels. Eric Bana delivers a great performance, and I've read that the real Chopper actually requested him for the role when he was a relative unknown, because they actually look a lot alike. He had the character down, from the lumbering walk to the deceptively polite voice. This is one of the better movies I've seen in a while and it's one of those movies that flew beneath the american radar. Check it out. You won't be sorry.

On that note, I'm out. Happy New Years Everyone

~Quantum

Has common sense been bred out of the human race? The Singing Detective investigates...

Common Sense. Where did it go? I was listening to a story on the radio tonight that pissed me off. A first grader was expelled from school for bringing his boy scout multi tool to class. and this wasnt a pocket knife. this was a combo fork, butter knife, spoon. The kid who by all accounts is a good student, proud of his accomplishment in the boy scouts, is now forced to go to the local alternative school. With the kids who have emotional problems and lash out. kids who actually bring weapons to school.
So the way to deal with a good kid who just didn't know any better is to throw him into a situation that will likely ruin his life and make him a bad kid. No offense to anyone who went to alternative school. I have friends who went there and ended up in college. I have more friends who went there and ended up being drug addicts that I don't talk to anymore.
Are you really telling me that you can't make a judgment call and say the boy who brings a utensil to class is different than the boy who brings a handgun? It's insanity. There was a follow up story about a girl who was expelled from the second grade because her mom sent a cake to class for her birthday, and included a knife. The teacher used the knife to cut the cake for the students, then informed the principal who said the girl could no longer attend the school. It wasn't even her knife.
Nothing about that makes any sense and it really just serves to create more little criminals. The world isn't black and white and we really shouldn't treat it that way. Use judgment. Sometimes there's a little grey.

Two more lives ruined by zero tolerance...



The Singing Detective
Starring Michael Gambon

Some of you know that during the summer I usually run a boat in the Alaskan fishing industry. It's hard work when it's busy, but when it's not I have lots of downtime. In that time I watch movies, and occasionally find a gem or two that I wouldn't have otherwise known about. This six episode British miniseries is one of those gems.
Michael Gambon stars as mystery writer Phillip Marlow (if you enjoy noir fiction, you'll recognize the name) who is in the hospital dying slowly of a debilitating disease. Sounds depressing, and it is, but the real fun comes when he begins to live out his mysteries in his dreams and hallucinations. In his dreams he is he's a detective. solving a mystery. And the line between reality and fantasy become blurred. Something about living out his dreams and past memories gives him the key to defeating his disease. That is all I will say. wish I could give a better review, but I'm rewatching it right now and don't want to miss anything. Ok, that was a shitty review and I'll add a better one when I'm done watching it again but I really wanted to share how good it is right now. Trust me. Netflix it. It's worth a watch. That's all for now.

~Quantum

Tiger Woods is ruining the nation...and David Duchovny rules.

This is an open letter to everyone who enjoys "entertainment news". It's your fault that Tiger Woods is on every channel and that i have to surf the internet to find out whats actually happening in the world.
The entertainment news should be left to TMZ, Entertainment Tonight, and the Today Show. How do we benefit as a society from knowing who's blowing Tiger Woods? It's taking away from the time we used to spend learning things about the world around us. It's making us stupid. and it's not the news station's fault. Just like it's not Mcdonald's fault that you're fat. They're just trying to make money. That's the world we live in now. There is no longer journalistic integrity. It's your fault. Because you're all a bunch of gossiping voyuers who would rather see the destruction of celebrities than spend that time getting smarter. learning new things. I know the news used to be depressing, but damn it, it was news.
Don't get me wrong; It's not just your fault. You were manipulated. But you fell for it. and now you're hooked. and the rest of us have to suffer. I also blame Fox news. They turned news into entertainment. Using political pundits to spread their version of the news. It's fucked up, but because youve responded to it every station is doing it. So we get to hear how much Obama sucks, and see a little ticker at the bottom giving us up to date info on which whores Tiger fucked, at the same time! Technology advances, we get stupider. Read some Philip K. Dick. It's all been predicted. In ten years, look back and realize how stupid we've gotten collectively, and you'll be sad. Okay. don't. because you won't be intelligent enough by that time to grasp the concept.
So enjoy your fox news on every channel. And your TMZ. The few of us left with the sense to find out what's really happening will rule you one day.

And when the technology takes control, we'll join the robots...


On a lighter note...

Review of Californication
Starring David Duchovny and Natascha McElhone

What can I Say about this show? It's surprising. to say the least. When I heard the plot I thought, "eh, it's been done". But there's something about David Duchovny in this role that just makes sense. It's serious subject matter that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's funny and at times heartbreaking, it's rediculous but feels real, and it all takes place in the most false city in the world. LA.
I suppose I should tell you the plot at this point. Duchovny plays writer Hank Moody. He wrote a book called God Hates us All, that was subsequently turned into a movie called Crazy Little Thing Called Love. He's not happy about this and can never seem to get his next book written. He had been with the same woman for years, but she's moved on. She's engaged and has custody of their teenage daughter.
Hank Moody is the kind of guy who fills that hole in his life with as many beautiful women as he can, while still trying to win back the love of his life. When he has her, he's a decent family man; when he doesn't, he becomes a drunken manwhore. Which makes for some entertaining TV. I find myself hoping they'll get back together, even though it's obvious that every time they do it's hopelessly doomed.
A lot of the comedy comes from the relationship between Hank and his agent, Charlie Runkle. a little bald man who starts off faithful to his wife, but despite his looks becomes more like Hank with every episode. *Spoiler Alert* at one point Runkle attacks Rick Springfield with a lobster. Watch it. In context it's hilarious.
It's pretty graphically sexual, so it's not one for the kiddies, but really. Give it a watch. I think you'll like it.

That's all I have for tonight. Hope everyone (meaning my one follower and maybe three readers) had a wonderful christmas. Thank god it's over.

~Quantum

Merry Christmas to the refugees of District 9

Why is it that at 28, my family still does christmas as if my brothers and I are still kids? around ten, we all gathered around the tree to open presents. I got a shirt, a pair of pants, a board game (settlers of Catan), a book I've never heard of, a sushi rolling set(?), and for some reason a deepfryer. haha. Now Iv'e been going to the gym every day, and I'm getting in pretty good shape, so to that one I had to say "Really?"
After we go to bed, they still sneak downstairs and place a couple of presents under the tree. From Santa. I did make a painting for my mom. of a rooster. she didnt cry, but the reaction was still pretty great. Some of you might know shes been asking me to paint her something for years and I never do it. So now I'm the favorite son again. For now anyway.
Now I'm watching District nine on my Stepdad's plasma. It's really great. With the exception of Avatar I don't think there's another movie that's so successfully reinvented scifi. and on a rediculously low budget. If you haven't seen it, I'd recommend giving it a shot. It's the first movie in which I've seen truly believable emotion from computer generated characters. and unlike most movies I think the Shaky camera adds to the overall feel of the movie. It's brutal and despite the subject matter and budget, feels real. check it out.

on that note, I'm off. I think I hear Santa coming...

Hipsters and Lions oh my...

It's 330 AM. I 'm laying in bed. Was about to go to sleep but felt the need to start my first blog early. Is anyone else sick to death of hipsters? I am. In Seattle you can't turn a corner anymore without seeing someone wearing a scarf in 80 degree weather (well not now, but in the summer), skinny jeans, and a stupid, possibly ironic Tshirt. Members only jackets. Giant plastic sunglasses. People who spend thousands of dollars to look like an extra from Back to the future. Part II. The one with the eighties version of the future.
I guess really I'm just sick of labels altogether. The hardcore kids are just as bad. Flannel shirts, covering shirts of bands that are cool, because you've never heard of them. Usually because they're terrible and lack even basic skill when it comes to playing an instrument. Keeping the straight edge movement alive because It's totally awesome to lump yourself into a group based on what you DON'T do.
All I'm saying is like what you like, but don't narrow your view by proclaiming yourself to be this or that. wear what you want to wear, but don't try to look rediculous just because you're surrounded by people who look like they belong in the circus.
We all go through phases. I went through some terrible ones. there was a time in my early 20's (raves were on the upswing) when I thought it was a good idea to have bleached white hair. I have brown skin, and black hair. Not a good idea. But I grew up. and got over it. Because it was awful. Every time i see a guy in his thirties, presumably jobless, shaved head, proudly proclaiming every two minutes that he's straight edge, I want to punch him in the face.

Don't be any one person. Do everything. See everything. Be everything. It makes life a hell of a lot more interesting.

Man I'm tired. That's probably the most disjointed rant I've ever embarked upon. Ok. not true. but I swear they make more sense when I write them during the day. I better do a review before I start talking about how the hot topic kids and abercrombie folk are all buying theyre costumes from the same company.

Pride of Bagdhad

Written by: Brian K. Vaghn with art by Niko Henrichon

I just read this book for the second time, and damn it is powerful. It starts with a bit of truth. During the U.S. led invasion of Bagddhad in 2003, a zoo was hit by a bomb, and several animals were freed. That's basically where the truth ends, and the drama begins. The story is about a Pride of lions, some who were captured, and some born in captivity, trying to make their way home through the chaos of a human war.
It's filled with political allegory, but not so much that it takes over the story. you care about the characters because they just want to be free. The leader of the pride is Zill, an alpha male who loves the other lions, and tries to get them safely through the streets and out to the desert. In opposition is Safa, his former mate, now old and scarred, who is comfortable in the zoo, remembering the challenge of trying to make it out in the world. Raising the question of whether it's better to suffer free, or have the comfort of captivity. Then there is Zoor and Ali, another lioness (and Zill's current mate) and her cub born in captivity. She's a broken woman who sees the situation as her way out. because anything is better than being cared for. Stuck. She believes whatever is out there, it has to be better. There are encounters with soldiers, and bears, and flashbacks to their life before the zoo. I'd say more, but I really don't want to give away too much.
I'll just say that if you don't read comics, or graphic novels, this one is a great jumping on point if you like sad stories. I've given it as a gift three times, and two of the girls I gave it to cried after reading it. It's a self contained story, and you dont have to go to the comic store to get it. Check it out at Barnes and Noble, Borders, or just Wiki it. trust me its worth it.

The sentences are all running together in my head, so it's time for sleep. 430 AM. Callin it quits.

Quantum