Batman: Under The Red Hood

Just finished watching the Blu-ray of this, which was released earlier this week. I have to say, I was very impressed. Although I wanted to hate the storyline--because of a certain controversial decision to bring someone back from Batman's past who's been long dead--the production values of this animated film kept me glued for the entire 75 min run. The voice work was superb, and the animation's more in line with what I like to see in animated movies of a dark and mature nature. Almost like the HBO's "Spawn" series from back in the day.

And you know what? Now that I had some time to process the big reveal of just who it is that's "under the red hood," I actually think it's a pretty neat new development. Sure, we probably could have done without it . . . but now that it's here, Batman will just have to deal with it like he always does. It makes the universe he inhabits just a little more interesting now.

But I won't say anymore. What I *will* say is this: if you're a big fan of anything and everything Bats, do yourself a favor and check this out. Especially if you've liked the superbly slick and mostly spot-on direct-to-video animated movies Warner and DC have been putting out lately. This is another shining badge to add to their collection.

Check out the trailer below if you want an idea of what you're getting with this film:



Rent or buy (I recommend buy), you owe it to yourself to check this out. Trust me.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

The Future's So Bright . . .

Yesterday on his blog, "Whatever", SF writer John Scalzi expressed amazement over his new Droid X phone, and asked us all to consider the moment a particular piece of technology or advancement made us realize that we were now in TEH FUTURES!!! The comments from folks writing in their moment is quite the cross-section of different experiences, but little did I know that my own would come this very day. Like Scalzi, the discovery came with regards to my mobile phone; except that my phone is the phone everyone loves to hate -- the Apple iPhone 4.

See, I was watching a Chase bank commercial today. Chase is the bank that I'm with, for those keeping score at home. The commercial was for the Chase banking app on the iPhone that lets you manage your account, pay bills, and transfer money between accounts all remotely. I've had this app on my phone for almost 2 years now. It works great. But apparently it was recently upgraded to include a new exciting feature that has now convinced me that I am truly and surely in TEH FUTURES!!!

Let me presage this discovery by admitting that, in this day and age, I still find the occasion where I have to deposit paper checks. It doesn't happen every day, or even every week. But enough times throughout the year to make it an annoyance for me, particularly during tax season. So what has Chase done now to make my life all the better? Why, they've given me the ability to simply take a photo of my check with the iPhone's camera and use the Chase app to send the pic remotely. When the send is complete, the amount is magically deposited to my account sans the need for an ATM visit or face-to-face time with a teller.

In other words: I can deposit checks into my account FROM MY BED, people! Holy hells!

Yes, yes . . . I'm pragmatic enough to know that this singular feat is probably not as impressive to some of you as it is to me. And I'm also aware that the basic technology behind this function has been around in some form or another on mobile devices for quite some time. But I'd be willing to bet that *your* bank doesn't have this feature, not if your bank isn't Chase. And I'm also willing to bet that you receive the occasional check what needs depositing from time to time, too.

And, I'm sorry, but to me this is just friggin AWESOME!

Isn't it? Well -- ISN'T IT?!!!

Okay, okay. I'm calm now. Let's all return to our more important matters.

Rather Apropos, Don't You Think?

I find it eerily convenient that one of my favorite British sci-fi writers (of which I have quite a few on my short list of fave SF writers these days), just happens to have a book released last week that takes place entirely in a near-future Istanbul. Exactly two weeks after I'd just return from visiting that city for the first time!

Click here for more on the book at Amazon.

Ian McDonald first wowed me a few years back with his short stories and one novel that took place in a near-future India. The way he was able to so aptly capture a foreign culture and render it within some pretty nifty and mind-bending sci-fi concepts was something that just left me in numbing awe. His style and deft of prose and characterization is something I immediately found myself attracted to in these stories, and I've been shamelessly trying to imitate him ever since in my own writing.

He did the same thing for Brazil in another groundbreaking novel, too. And now it seems he's set his eyes on Turkiye. More specifically, Istanbul. Of course, you know, I just had to get this book. I haven't yet read his novel "Brasyl" which is sitting on my shelf, nor "Cyberabad Days" -- a collection of his award-winning short stories set in the near-future India I mentioned before. Both books I've been dying to get to, so I'm afraid "The Dervish House" will have to wait until then.

Or perhaps I should do what I want to do and read this latest book first? C'mon, let me buck the trend and be a total REBEL for once!

Heh, heh . . . we shall see.

Wouldn't You Know It?

They tell me it's going to pour buckets during my morning commute, so I bring my umbrella and nary a drop falls all the way to work. But had I not brought the umbrella? Oh, it would have been the second coming of Noah's flood out there!

What's the big deal you say? Well, nothing 'cept that I *hate* carrying things with me when I have to take the subway. It's crowded and annoying enough on public transportation. Don't need to add to it by burdening myself with unnecessary accessories.

Oh well, such is life . . .

A Movie Scene I Still Love

Was just thinking about the movie "Hustle & Flow" today and how great it was, with one scene in particular standing out for me as a writer. The movie is one of those polarizing effects by which those who have never seen it make wildly inaccurate judgments on what they think it's about, and those who *have* watched it who've come to the realization that it's one seriously good flick!

Yes, the movie is about a Memphis pimp trying to break into the rap game. Yes, it has naughty language and scenes with female bits showing -- OH NOES! But at its heart this is a tale about overcoming the odds and reaching for a dream.

If you have not seen the movie, you should rent it. If you think you're not into this sort of thing, just watch it anyway. Open your mind for 2 hours and think of the real message behind all the cussing and such.

Or, alternately, just check out the clip below and get a glimpse of what it's like to wring creativity out of a few pages of scribbled lyrics:

Thank You, Thank You . . . You're Far Too Kind!

I just wanted to issue a quick, but heartfelt THANK YOU to all you wonderful people who continue to read this blog on a daily basis. Or, at least, to make a quick check for updates -- which I know I'd been lax on for the first half of the month.

Truth of the matter is, I've been receiving unprecedented amounts of traffic to the site in the past several weeks. Traffic that even increased for the two weeks I was away and couldn't update. I've even quadrupled the number of unique daily visitors to the blog since I started it almost 2 years ago, and for that I just have to say:

Well, gosh! I didn't realize anyone cared enough to visit. :)

Now, if you shy sonsuvbitches would just leave COMMENTS when you truck on in through my living room and eat my pie, that would really be something. Seriously, how hard is it to click on the little link at the bottom of each entry and leave a few quick words revealing your thoughts?

But it's okay, for I still love you. Mostly.

Except you over there, with the striped green shirt and ridiculous hair. I'm pretty sure I hate you.

Because, Danny Trejo Has To Eat . . .

Back in 2007, Grindhouse was released in theaters -- a double-feature bill directed by both Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino as a testimony to their love of the schlocky exploitation B-movies of the 60s and 70s. To round out the whole retro feel of the project, 4 "fake" trailers were attached to simulate an actual Saturday afternoon matinée -- complete with film grain and burn-ins on the stock. It was awesome!

One of the phony trailers was for a movie that just looked way over the top, starring RR's favorite go-to guy, Danny Trejo. It was called "Machete" and perfectly encapsulated the tongue-in-cheek tone of one of the two Grindhouse feature films, Planet Terror. At the time the trailer was never meant to be taken seriously, but it went over so well with audiences that RR decided to give more attention to the thought of actually making this his next real feature film.

And, now ladies and gentlemen, that day has come.

"Machete" -- very much real, large and in charge -- will be coming to a theater near you in the coming weeks. The official trailer was just released last week, and I have to say I'm impressed with how close in tone it still remains to the previous "fake" trailer. With a few surprise faces added to the cast to boot!

As an interesting study, I've included both trailers below. First the phony one from Grindhouse, followed by the real one just released. Keep in mind that this is a movie made purposely to be over-the-top with copious amounts of blood, sex, and violence. Not unlike last year's critically acclaimed, but woefully under-appreciated indie action flick, "Black Dynamite".







I've always been a Danny Trejo fan and a huge supporter of Robert Rodriguez's films, so needless to say I going to be there on opening day.

How about you?

Parents Need To Discipline More

And, no, I'm not talking about hitting the child. You can discipline without resorting to corporeal means to do so.

Anyway, I must preface what I'm about to say with an admission: I don't watch daytime tv, so I'm not familiar with the names of the people who populate such shows like Live! With Regis and Kelly (although I'm sure of at least two of them there), or Good Morning, America and such. Usually the tv plays in the background while I work from home and I barely pay attention to what it's saying.

But yesterday was different. I believe it was the Today Show that was on. I could be wrong. And I don't know who the Asian-looking lady is on one of the segments, but it was during this one that I noticed what's fundamentally wrong about these parents today who want to be their child's friend.

The segment, if I remember correctly (which I'm sure I don't) was about finding activities to do with your children. The guest was a mother who had her young 4 year old with her on the set. While this woman and the host spoke, the little girl could be seen causing all sorts of destructive mayhem in the background. And without barely a pause in her conversation with the other woman, the mother said to her daughter: "Good job, honey!" in that distracted, off-handed manner parents use when they could care two shits what the child is really doing. In this case, the little girl had just finished throwing a toy plane straight into the wall with much relish, breaking it in two.

Excuse me? Good job? Are you fucking KIDDING me? That little girl was clearly acting out to get some attention, and you're just going to congratulate her like some puppy that just did a trick for you?

Since when have parents become such pussies? Because, truth be told, I see this kind of behavior ALL the time these days. Young parents that are so afraid to emotionally scar their child that they give up all rights as a parent to knock some sense into the brat and teach them right from wrong. Instead, they want to reward and comfort them for ANYTHING the kid does short of burning the house down. Drawing a nice family portrait in crayon or snipping the tip of the dog's tail with scissors -- doesn't really matter. Either way: Good job, honey!

Look, people. Stop it. You are not there to be your kids' best friend. They have friends. They don't need that from you. What they *do* need is a firm hand to call them out on their bullshit. Because, let's be honest, kids know full well that they're full of shit. They just want to test the waters and see how much they can get away with from their lackwit parental figures. A pat on the head and a quick "atta boy" is no substitute for actual parenting -- and kids respond to this by acting out even more. Geez, no wonder.

I'm not a parent yet, but when I am I'm certain I'm not going to treat my kids like some accessory to show how successful in life I am. Because that's what children are to some people. Little puppies that are cute and cuddly and fun to show off, but who should be mollified with a nice treat if they intrude too much on your own important big people activities.

Good job, honey! Now just keep doing what you're doing and leave me alone -- mommy's on TV!!!

Out Brief Candle . . .

Since I was out of the country for two weeks and of sporadic Internet access, I completely missed the sad news from fave sci-fi writer, John Scalzi, about the passing of his family's pet Akita, Kodi.

Now, I wouldn't necessarily call myself a dog person. In fact, I'm not much of a pet person at all. But Scalzi's account on his blog of Kodi's life and what she meant to him and his family is probably the most touching tribute to a beloved pet I've ever read:

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/07/17/kodi-1997-2010/

Please check it out for yourself. Trust me, you will be moved to tears. I know I was, which is no small feat. But by the end of the article, I couldn't help myself. Perhaps because I've been reading Scalzi's blog now for several years, and had grown to appreciate his affection for Kodi and laugh at her often serious demeanor and antics with the several cats in that household during this span. I don't know if that is why the news hit me particularly hard, or if John's writing was just so beautifully rendered as to pull at a particular set of heart strings. Probably a little of both. In any event, a loss to the family is sad no matter what.

If any of you are dog lovers out there, be prepared with a box of tissues if you click on the above link. Just a fair warning.

Farewell, sweet Kodi. I did not know you personally, but your passing is felt heavy on my heart nonetheless.

Leave A Tip, You Bum!

I just updated to both a brand new wireless-N network router and a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem, and was on the phone with the cable company to register the latter. After the exchange of information was done, I was put through to an automated survey asking to rate the performance of the operator who assisted me.

I did so happily, knowing that these people depend on their customer satisfaction ratings. And, anyway, how hard is it to spend 60 seconds pressing "1 for very satisfactory" over and over again? Unless of course the customer service rep was horrible, in which case that's even MORE of a reason to participate in the survey, no?

So why do most people ignore these things? Is it really that hard to exercise a little empathy for the person assisting you?

It got me to thinking about tips, and how nasty folks can get over giving their service person the due appreciation he or she deserves. On our recent European vacation we witnessed some of our fellow cruisers routinely leaving out tips for services rendered. Services, I might add, that were delivered with the utmost courtesy, professionalism, and skill.

WTF? What is that all about? I'm not talking about on the ship, which had a mandatory gratuity already built in for each cruiser anyway, but on shore excursions mostly. We just couldn't believe it. You might as well slap the tour guide in the face and spit on his shoes!

Why are people so miserly when it comes to money? When I plan the budget for our trips, I do so with the knowledge that tips will have to be factored in. To me, it's part of the cost of travel. So when it comes time for it, I'm not surprised or put out at all.

Why is this so hard for others to do? Given how readily a lot of people accept services but don't tip for them . . . it becomes a little easier to understand the human penchant for enslaving their fellow man. No one wants to do the dirty work, but they'll happily let others do it and not pay them to do so.

Yeah. That's the kind of role model *I* want to be for kids.

Look What Came In The Post While I Was Away . . .

My latest electronic toy, and after a much maligned delay of 2 weeks! Sure, I could have used this phone while I was abroad. In fact, it was something I was looking forward to bringing with me due to its improved speed and the compass factor and what-not. I'm not bitter, though. The iPhone 4 got to me in the end, and that's all that matters.

So far it seems to be a significant upgrade to my 2-yr old iPhone 3G. I have to play around with it some more to unlock all its secrets, but so far I'm loving the super gorgeous screen resolution and the advanced camera with video function. Nifty!

Yes, such things make me happy.