Sylvain Chomet Makes The Simpsons Worth Watching Again…

Posted on March 6, 2014 by geelw

Ha. In case you don’t know who Mr. Chomet is, drop everything (well, not your phone or tablet or laptop if you’re somehow reading this in transit or while sitting in a coffee house of some sort) and go rent his wonderful animated films The Triplets of Belleville and The Illusionist, I’ll wait (La la laaaa, la dee dah, la la la laaaa). Oh, you’re back. Anyway, what he’s done with Homer and his family is amazing and YES, I’d LOVE to see how he’d handle a complete episode. Granted, the time that would take would be pretty ridiculous, but given that nothing seems to stop The Simpsons from dying again, it won’t matter how long it takes to get completed after all. Or hell, at least let’s see a Treehouse of Horror short from the guy (which will still take almost forever to get made)…

Hmm. It Seems IKEA Has Something For Every Storage Solution…

Posted on March 6, 2014 by geelw

Heh. They ought to see my current game library. Hmmmm… if I had the time and a camera to make a fancy video, maybe I should send them a clip so all those people could fall out of their fancy (but relatively inexpensive) Swedish-designed chairs as they scramble to solve MY particular problem. Bonus points if they can get 2000+ games, about 40 or so systems, a ton of press materials and a smaller stack of movies spread across storage in THREE rooms into ONE. Then and only then would I be a true believer! Then again, the wonders they did for this guy in Singapore sure are pretty neat to behold, so there’s hope for me yet.

Harlan Ellison’s City on the Edge of Forever Finally Comics-Bound!

Posted on March 6, 2014 by geelw

YES. I’m SO pleased at this news that I’m too busy doing mental back flips and stuff to type out a boring descriptive post about the plot and whatnot, so you get to read a boring descriptive press release instead. Woo. Yeah, I’ll be grabbing this five-issue series for sure. Or should I hold out for the inevitable collected edition? Ah, whatever – we’ll see. Isn’t that cover awesome, by the way? Meanwhile, just for fun here’s an old Harlan Ellison’s Watching video for you on the implosion of the trading card collector’s market:

As to that Trek comic? Here, go read all about it below the jump… Continue reading →

Things I Know Exist But Am Baffled By: Prescription 3D Glasses!

Posted on March 3, 2014 by geelw

I recall being at a trade show back around 2006 or 2007 and overheard some people talking about the prescription 3D glasses or lenses for moviegoers. I laughed at that because 3D has always been a few year fad that fades away as interest wanes and money goes down the drain, but it seems I was off a bit. Yes, Virginia, you CAN get a pair of actual prescription glasses like these Oakleys from a few places for your movie and TV watching pleasure. Wow. Granted, like actual modern 3D glasses, they’re one hundred percent useless for walking down the street, so if you spring for the super cool Hobbit or Transformers frames, no one will see them in a dark theater unless you buy your ticket beforehand, whip out your shades, make a clever joke and put them on like you’re on an episode of CSI. (Yeaaaaaaaaahhhh!).

Of course, the oh, so painful downside of looking so cool at a price is the other price of falling down that long escalator up to the theater as you’re trying to impress people with your specs but can’t see a few steps in front of you. Just remember, when you DO fall, try to tuck and roll – being curled up in the fetal position at the bottom of that escalator makes it easier for the paramedics to do their thing. And if you DO fall, and don’t get a scratch on you?

Well, I guess you can just call it a case of… blind luck! (Yeaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!)

More Orphan Black Tease-itude? It Just Won’t Quit Until You Watch, Folks…

Posted on March 3, 2014 by geelw

Nope, I’m still not watching these teasers, folks. I just embed and write up lines for you to read because I want not a thing ruined for me. I’ve already gotten a few people hooked on this show (whee!), so I’ll take my cut of the profits anytime, Beeb. Anyway, enjoy what’s here and if you run into me on the street, don’t spill any beans or else…

Game of Thrones Season 3 Recap. A Little Real History to Go With The Fake One…

Posted on March 3, 2014 by geelw

Ah, if only actual politics were as simple as letting loose your dragons on some fool who thought he’d get the better of you or getting all stabby-stabby with enemies you lure into a formerly blissful wedding celebration. Nope, I don’t think we’re headed for World War III anytime soon, but the dicey situation between a few countries these past few months have a nasty parallel to the years 1936-39 if you poke through the history books. Of course, it’s hard to gauge the future based on current actions, but if the past is any indication, a lot of us will be turning to shows like GoT for some time off from real world issues. Let’s also hope that someone shows Mr. Putin some of those history books so he sees that working your way to the top over the bodies of others means the bottom rushes up faster at some point to meet you.

Orphan Black is Coming Back In April. Time To Get Teased…

Posted on March 1, 2014 by geelw

I didn’t think I’d like the show, but after a friend bugged the heck out of me, I caught the third episode of Orphan Black and got hooked in before I knew what hit me. I ended up catching the rest of the season and watched the entire thing On Demand over a weekend and got even more respect for Tatiana Maslany’s outstanding performance as so many clones is so many wigs and glasses and personalities.

If you haven’t seen th show yet, you may want to check it out even if sci-fi isn’t your cup of tea (or other beverage). The writing is solid, all those characters Maslany (who was ROBBED at the Emmys this year) plays hold your interest (even the ones that don’t make it out alive) and yup, you’ll be left on the edge of whatever you were sitting on when all is said and done.

Anyway, The new season kicks off Saturday April 19 at 9/8c only on BBC America (of course). I’ve been avoiding looking at these teasers because I want to drop into the new season as cold as possible, but I’m posting these here to get you folks who’ve yet to see the show all worked up about it. If I’ve done my job properly, the show will have a few new fans camping out at home on a Saturday night…

Game of Thrones “Artisan Piece” Vignettes: Making Westeros As Lovely And Deadly As Ever…

Posted on February 20, 2014 by geelw

I haven’t been keeping up with all these behind the scenes videos on Season Four, but I may as well post the two that jumped out at me thanks to someone pointing me to them earlier. I’m gathering all these locations around the world that get used on the show make great tourist dollar traps afterwards for those who can afford the vacation and maybe an arrow to the knee from some pissed of local who’s tired of loud crowds tromping through their back yards cooing and pointing at every tree, rock and body of water that LOOKS as if it’s straight from the show.

Yeah, that can get tiring for sure. On the other hand, you KNOW there’s that ONE guy or gal who’s making a killing being some sort of unofficial “official” go-to person who’s a font of knowledge about the areas and histories of everything they lay an eyeball on. Of course, there’s a good chance they’re lying through their teeth about half the stuff they’re bending your willing ear over. But that’s a good thing if you end up falling for their tall tales, correct? After all, you wouldn’t be a fantasy fan if you weren’t a sucker for a tale told well, right? Yeah, you know that’s true…

Game of Thrones S4 Trailer #2: Vengeance (Is Mine, And Yours, And Yours)…

Posted on February 16, 2014 by geelw

The clock is ticking away as Season 4 is headed to HBO and fans prepare their brains and bodies for what’s coming. I can’t keep more than one eye open at the moment thanks to my long day, so I’ll just let out a squeaky “Yaaay!” from the back of the room and fall over in a heap to sleep. Good night, people. I’ll be back and in better shape tomorrow… I think. Zzzzzz.

Hail Caesar! Another Great Comedy Legend Passes On…

Posted on February 12, 2014 by geelw

(Thanks, SidCaesarCom!)
Do yourselves a favor, class. Hit up Google (or whatever search engine you use) and YouTube, type in Sid Caesar and prepare for an education. Without him and a bunch of other dearly departed funny people, you have no sketch comedy, no Saturday Night Live and quite a few other shows and folks making us all laugh to varying degrees. What few episodes of Your Show of Shows I’ve seen made it for me one of the funniest live sketch shows ever created, and while “tame” by today’s standards, the writing team (Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, Carl Reiner, Danny Simon, Mel Tolkin and Larry Gelbart among others) plus the cast managed to pull off some nicely subversive and just plain timeless routines.

(Thanks, shawmk!)
I’m kind of bummed out a tiny bit because too many younger folks don’t know the man’s work and probably know less about how he and his team revolutionized on a few fronts, but that’s what the internet is for, I suppose. Anyway, here are three routines to start you on your trip. I’ll leave it to you to find more (and believe me, there are PLENTY of clips to go around from this show and others Sid did). Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to do a little research myself – I could use a good laugh today…