tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-198040822024-03-03T16:25:21.527-08:00Got This Blog On LokSpaz The Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185119809608476779noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-55119121458577447022013-06-07T09:55:00.000-07:002014-11-08T13:39:42.428-08:00Superman & OscarIn seven days, the latest cinematic incarnation of everyone's favorite Big Blue Boy Scout, <a href="http://www.manofsteel.com/index.html?home" target="_blank"><i>Man of Steel</i></a>, finally comes out. I've long since given up hope of going into the theater with low expectations. Every piece of footage has gotten me even more pumped for the thing. With only a week left, I should probably stop seeking out this footage (PS-Warner Bros., stop it with the tv spots and clips please. I have zero will power!)<br />
<br />
Anyway, in honor of this newest Superman, I thought I'd do for the Super-franchise what I did for <a href="http://lokblogging.blogspot.com/2013/02/batman-oscar-2013.html" target="_blank">the Dark Knight</a> and list of all of the Oscar-nominated talent that has been part of the live-action films featuring the Man of Steel. I have a feeling this list will be way more extensive than the Batman one, but you never know. So without further adieu...<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://comicbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Man-of-Steel-Lois-Lane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://comicbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Man-of-Steel-Lois-Lane.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Amy Adams</b><br />
(Lois Lane -- <i><b>Man of Steel</b></i>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Supporting Actress -- <i>Junebug</i> (2006)<br />
Best Supporting Actress -- <i>Doubt </i>(2009)<br />
Best Supporting Actress -- <i>The Fighter </i>(2011)<br />
Best Supporting Actress -- <i>The Master </i>(2013) <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.supermanii.com/siiweb/sii%20behind-the-scenes/SMT_81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.supermanii.com/siiweb/sii%20behind-the-scenes/SMT_81.jpg" height="171" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Ned Beatty</b><br />
(Otis -- <b><i>Superman: The Movie</i></b>, <i><b>Superman II</b></i>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Supporting Actor -- <i>Network</i> (1977)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.beyondhollywood.com/uploads/2011/06/Marlon-Brando-as-Jor-El-in-Superman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.beyondhollywood.com/uploads/2011/06/Marlon-Brando-as-Jor-El-in-Superman.jpg" height="200" width="197" /></a></div>
<b>Marlon Brando</b><br />
(Jor-El -- <b><i>Superman: The Movie</i>, <i>Superman Returns</i></b>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Winner:</b><br />
Best Actor -- <i>On the Waterfront</i> (1955)<br />
Best Actor -- <i>The Godfather</i> (1974)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee: </b><br />
Best Actor -- <i>A Streetcar Named Desire</i> (1952)<br />
Best Actor -- <i>Viva Zapata! </i>(1953)<br />
Best Actor -- <i>Julius Caesar</i> (1954)<br />
Best Actor -- <i>Sayonara</i> (1958)<br />
Best Actor -- <i>Last Tango in Paris </i>(1974)<br />
Best Supporting Actor -- <i>A Dry White Season</i> (1990)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsB/2099-18686.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsB/2099-18686.gif" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Jim Broadbent</b><br />
(Jean Pierre DuBois -- <i><b>Superman IV: The Quest for Peace</b>)</i><br />
<b>Academy Award Winner:</b><br />
Best Actor -- <i>Iris </i>(2002)<b> </b><i> </i><b> </b> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://blog.newsarama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/PerryWhite-JackieCooper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://blog.newsarama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/PerryWhite-JackieCooper.jpg" height="200" width="193" /></a></div>
<b>Jackie Cooper</b><br />
(Perry White -- <i><b>Superman: The Movie</b></i>, <i><b>Superman II</b></i>, <i><b>Superman III</b></i>, <i><b>Superman IV: The Quest for Peace</b></i>)<b> </b><br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Actor -- <i>Skippy </i>(1931)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.hypable.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/man-of-steel-kevin-costner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.hypable.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/man-of-steel-kevin-costner.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a></div>
<b>Kevin Costner</b><br />
(Jonathan Kent -- <i><b>Man of Steel</b></i>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Winner:</b><br />
Best Director -- <i>Dances with Wolves </i>(1991)<br />
Best Picture -- <i>Dances with Wolves </i>(1991)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Actor -- <i>Dances with Wolves </i>(1991) <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.seanpaune.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Man-of-Steel-EW-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.seanpaune.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Man-of-Steel-EW-6.jpg" height="163" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Russell Crowe</b><br />
(Jor-El -- <i><b>Man of Steel</b></i>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Winner:</b><br />
Best Actor -- <i>Gladiator </i>(2001)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Actor -- <i>The Insider </i>(2000)<br />
Best Actor -- <i>A Beautiful Mind </i>(2002)<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://img2-1.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/080320/Paychecks/Supergirl-Faye_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img2-1.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/080320/Paychecks/Supergirl-Faye_l.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><b>Faye Dunaway</b><br />
(Selena -- <i><b>Supergirl</b></i>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Winner:</b><br />
Best Actress -- <i>Network</i> (1977)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Actress -- <i>Bonnie and Clyde</i> (1968)<br />
Best Actress -- <i>Chinatown </i>(1975)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/images/2013/06/Laurence-Fishburne-in-Man-of-Steel--585x411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/images/2013/06/Laurence-Fishburne-in-Man-of-Steel--585x411.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Laurence Fishburne</b><br />
(Perry White -- <i><b>Man of Steel</b></i>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee: </b><br />
Best Actor<b> </b>-- <i>What's Love Got to Do with It? </i>(1994)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzhvoH66UqdMxAFtxFMkMAFWiDfbhg6g5ppfR7__hU2hcMPeqOzC1gfOmNdgxPmCs1pzj9G39oXzFlqgBnNo63h9sWr9AI1zaBy1Ta7ZlvCULiLLcc3lPXLSvlKp36x9CaP99ow/s1600/LEX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzhvoH66UqdMxAFtxFMkMAFWiDfbhg6g5ppfR7__hU2hcMPeqOzC1gfOmNdgxPmCs1pzj9G39oXzFlqgBnNo63h9sWr9AI1zaBy1Ta7ZlvCULiLLcc3lPXLSvlKp36x9CaP99ow/s200/LEX.jpg" height="200" width="166" /></a></div>
<b>Gene Hackman</b><br />
(Lex Luthor -- <i><b>Superman: The Movie</b></i>, <b><i>Superman II</i></b>, <i><b>Superman IV: The Quest for Peace</b></i>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Winner:</b><br />
Best Actor -- <i>The French Connection </i>(1972)<br />
Best Supporting Actor -- <i>Unforgiven </i>(1993)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Supporting Actor -- <i>Bonnie and Clyde </i>(1968)<br />
Best Supporting Actor --<i> I Never Sang for My Father </i>(1971)<br />
Best Actor -- <i>Mississippi Burning </i>(1989)<i> </i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://magazine.motilo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Marial-Hemingway-in-Superman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://magazine.motilo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Marial-Hemingway-in-Superman.jpg" height="135" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Mariel Hemingway</b><br />
(Lacy Warfield -- <b><i>Superman IV: The Quest for Peace</i></b>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Supporting Actress -- <i>Manhattan </i>(1980)<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b> </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/images/2013/06/Diane-Lane-in-Man-of-Steel-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/images/2013/06/Diane-Lane-in-Man-of-Steel-.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<b>Diane Lane</b><br />
(Martha Kent -- <b><i>Man of Steel</i></b>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Actress -- <i>Unfaithful </i>(2003)<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/gallery/2006/07/05/perry3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/gallery/2006/07/05/perry3.jpg" height="200" width="171" /></a></div>
<b>Frank Langella</b><br />
(Perry White -- <b><i>Superman Returns</i></b>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Actor -- <i>Frost/Nixon </i>(2009)<b></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://mimg.ugo.com/201006/48873/cuts/annette-o-toole-as-lana-lang-superman-3_480x270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://mimg.ugo.com/201006/48873/cuts/annette-o-toole-as-lana-lang-superman-3_480x270.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Annette O'Toole</b><br />
(Lana Lang -- <b><i>Superman III</i></b>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Original Song -- <i>A Mighty Wind </i>(2004)<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cineplex.media.baselineresearch.com/images/277063/277063_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cineplex.media.baselineresearch.com/images/277063/277063_large.jpg" height="200" width="134" /></a></div>
<b> Peter O'Toole</b><br />
(Zaltar -- <b><i>Supergirl</i></b>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Winner:</b><br />
Honorary Award (2003)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Actor -- <i>Lawrence of Arabia </i>(1963)<br />
Best Actor -- <i>Becket </i>(1965)<br />
Best Actor -- <i>The Lion in Winter </i>(1969)<br />
Best Actor -- <i>Goodbye, Mr. Chips </i>(1970)<br />
Best Actor -- <i>The Ruling Class </i>(1973)<br />
Best Actor -- <i>The Stunt Man </i>(1981)<br />
Best Actor -- <i>My Favorite Year </i>(1983)<br />
Best Actor -- <i>Venus </i>(2007)<br />
<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.blu-ray.com/news/upload/505_tn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.blu-ray.com/news/upload/505_tn.jpg" height="200" width="147" /></a></div>
<b> Valerie Perrine</b><br />
(Eve Teschmacher -- <i><b>Superman: The Movie</b>, </i><b><i>Superman II</i></b>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Actress -- <i>Lenny</i> (1975)<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b> </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lahiguera.net/cinemania/actores/eva_marie_saint/fotos/3195/eva_marie_saint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.lahiguera.net/cinemania/actores/eva_marie_saint/fotos/3195/eva_marie_saint.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<b>Eva Marie Saint</b><br />
(Martha Kent -- <i><b>Superman Returns</b></i>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Winner:</b><br />
Best Actress -- <i>On the Waterfront </i>(1955)<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i2.cdnds.net/13/16/300x225/movies-man-of-steel-trailer-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i2.cdnds.net/13/16/300x225/movies-man-of-steel-trailer-05.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<b> Michael Shannon </b><br />
(General Zod -- <i><b>Man of Steel</b></i>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Supporting Actor -- <i>Revolutionary Road </i>(2009)<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20081007203815/superman/images/d/d8/Lex-luthor1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20081007203815/superman/images/d/d8/Lex-luthor1.jpg" height="200" width="131" /></a></div>
<b> Kevin Spacey</b><br />
(Lex Luthor -- <i><b>Superman Returns</b></i>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Winner:</b><br />
Best Supporting Actor -- <i>The Usual Suspects</i> (1996)<br />
Best Actor -- <i>American Beauty </i>(2000)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bigdamngeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/GeneralZodFilmEightiesFace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bigdamngeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/GeneralZodFilmEightiesFace.jpg" height="200" width="161" /></a></div>
<b>Terrence Stamp</b><br />
(General Zod -- <b><i>Superman: The Movie</i></b>, <i><b>Superman II</b></i>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Supporting Actor -- <i>Billy Budd </i>(1963)<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.wikia.com/marvel_dc/images/9/90/Ross_Webster_Donnerverse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.wikia.com/marvel_dc/images/9/90/Ross_Webster_Donnerverse.jpg" height="148" width="200" /></a></div>
<b> Robert Vaughn</b><br />
(Ross Webster -- <i><b>Superman III</b></i>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Supporting Actor -- <i>The Young Philadelphians </i>(1960)<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/smallville/images/a/a0/Superman_Krypton_Lara_movies_Susannah_York_780007-12.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/smallville/images/a/a0/Superman_Krypton_Lara_movies_Susannah_York_780007-12.gif" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
<b> Susannah York</b><br />
(Lara -- <i><b>Superman: The Movie</b></i>, <i><b>Superman II</b></i>, <i><b>Superman IV: The Quest for Peace</b></i>)<br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
Best Supporting Actress -- <i>They Shoot Horses, Don't They? </i>(1970)<b> </b>keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-3917674313883692432013-02-25T09:40:00.000-08:002013-06-13T06:18:48.997-07:00Batman & Oscar 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://nationalpostarts.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/christian-bale.jpg?w=620" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.whogottherole.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/the-dark-knight-christian-bale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://cdn.whogottherole.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/the-dark-knight-christian-bale.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Christian Bale </b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Bruce Wayne/Batman -- <b><i>Batman Begins</i>, <i>The Dark Knight</i>, <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i></b>)<br /><b>Academy Award Winner:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <i>The Fighter </i>(2011)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://data.whicdn.com/images/33064124/vicki_vale_kim_basinger_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://data.whicdn.com/images/33064124/vicki_vale_kim_basinger_thumb.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Kim Basinger</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Vicki Vale -- <i><b>Batman</b></i>)<br /><b>Academy Award Winner:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actress -- <i>L.A.</i><i> Confidential </i>(1998)</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sin.stb.s-msn.com/i/8B/2C9759CF5519DB7F5F55B6C7618F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://sin.stb.s-msn.com/i/8B/2C9759CF5519DB7F5F55B6C7618F.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Halle</b><b> Berry</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Patience Phillips/Catwoman -- <i><b>Catwoman</b></i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Academy Award Winner:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Actress -- <i>Monster’s Ball </i>(2002)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/alfred3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/alfred3.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="151" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Michael Caine</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Alfred Pennyworth -- <b><i>Batman Begins</i>, </b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><i>The Dark Knight</i>, </span></span><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Dark Knight Rises</span></span></i><span style="font-size: small;">)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Academy Award Winner:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <i>Hannah and Her Sisters </i>(1987)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <i>The Cider House Rules </i>(2000)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Best Actor -- <i>Alfie </i>(1967)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Actor -- <i>Sleuth </i>(1972)<b><br /></b>Best Actor -- <i>Educating Rita </i>(1984)<b><br /></b>Best Actor -- <i>The Quiet American </i>(2002)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/clooney.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/clooney.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%;"><b> <span style="font-size: small;">George Clooney</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: small;">(Bruce Wayne/Batman -- <i><b>Batman & Robin</b></i>)<b><br />Academy Award Winner:</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <i>Syriana </i>(2006)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Best <span style="font-size: small;">Pict<span style="font-size: small;">ure <span style="font-size: small;">-- <i>Argo</i> (201<span style="font-size: small;">3)</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<b>Academy Award Nominee:</b><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Director -- <i>Good Night, and Good Luck </i>(2006)<br />Best Original Screenplay -- <i>Good Night, and Good Luck </i>(2006)<br />Best Actor -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Michael Clayton</span> (2008)<br />Best Actor -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Up in the Air </span>(2010)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Actor -- <i>The Descendants </i>(2012)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Adapted Screenplay -- <i>The Ides of March </i>(2012)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsC/3529-29877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsC/3529-29877.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Tom Conti</span></b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Prisoner -- <i><b>The Dark Knight Rises</b></i>)</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Actor -- <i><span style="font-size: small;">Reuben, Reuben</span> </i>(1984)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://wpc.556e.edgecastcdn.net/80556E/img.news/NEt0zp2JHguJwy_1_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://wpc.556e.edgecastcdn.net/80556E/img.news/NEt0zp2JHguJwy_1_1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Marion Cotillard</b><b></b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Miranda Tate/Talia -- <i><b>The Dark Knight Rises</b></i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Academy Award Winner:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Actress -- <i>La Vie En Rose </i>(2008)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/penguin.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/penguin.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="145" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Danny DeVito</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin --<b> <i>Batman Returns</i></b>)<br /><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Picture -- <i>Erin Brockovich </i>(2001)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><i> </i><b></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c8/News-batbegins2-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c8/News-batbegins2-2.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%;"> <span style="font-size: small; font-weight: bold;">Morgan Freeman</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: small;">(Lucius Fox -- <b><i>Batman Begins</i>, </b></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><i>The Dark Knight</i>, </span></span><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Dark Knight Rises</span></span></i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">)<br /><b>Academy Award Winner:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <i>Million Dollar Baby </i>(2005)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <i>Street Smart </i>(1988)<br />Best Actor -- <i>Driving Miss Daisy </i>(1990)<br />Best Actor -- <i>The Shawshank Redemption </i>(1995)<br />Best Actor -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Invictus</span> (2010)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOBuC9MJ9xQvIUfbcgA3K-83LxKGlb3SoLCPSHhfhitA1ZYrtlxCXCVL4rJ9ImosUuzh8ZwJSOFI1S7ZQ0S7-uiQSp5YeR1V_cQEHeJKMOJTTMRPoqWb0ZH7D5SD1Vvxc1-U/s1600-h/rachel.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447062739973750082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOBuC9MJ9xQvIUfbcgA3K-83LxKGlb3SoLCPSHhfhitA1ZYrtlxCXCVL4rJ9ImosUuzh8ZwJSOFI1S7ZQ0S7-uiQSp5YeR1V_cQEHeJKMOJTTMRPoqWb0ZH7D5SD1Vvxc1-U/s200/rachel.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Maggie Gyllenhaal</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Rachel Dawes -- <i><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Dark Knight</span></i>)<br /><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actress -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Crazy Heart</span><i> </i>(2010)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.film.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/annehathawaythedarkknightrises-220-1342812351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.film.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/annehathawaythedarkknightrises-220-1342812351.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Anne Hathaway</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Selina Kyle/Catwoman -- <i><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Dark Knight Rises</span></i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Academy Award Winner:</b> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b></b> </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actress -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Les Miserables</span><i> </i>(2013)</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Actress -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Rachel Getting Married</span><i> </i>(2009)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/twoface.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/twoface.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Tommy Lee Jones</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Harvey Dent/Two-Face -- <i><b>Batman Forever</b></i>)<br /><b>Academy Award Winner:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <i>The Fugitive </i>(1994)<br /><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <i>JFK </i>(1992)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <i><span style="font-size: small;">Lincoln</span></i><span style="font-size: small;"> (2012)</span></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/chase-meridian.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/chase-meridian.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="156" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Nicole Kidman</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Dr. Chase Meridian -- <i><b>Batman Forever</b></i>)<br /><b>Academy Award Winner:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Actress -- <i>The Hours </i>(2003)<br /><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Actress -- <i>Moulin Rouge </i>(2002)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Actress -- <i>Rabbit Hole </i>(2011) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfP0y8AE9RQjhyeoN1vIEj_rL75Dbve1OKP8wVAEGRIr-9l3tEAWNkBxwFN3pIqEog0qy_qUST8jLI1ZUrvdfCaJlIvazxThtDD3k8lPTOHhzkBAYSQ6stcyQN2EhghrbRfs/s1600-h/Dark+Knight+Opener.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228902858651549490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfP0y8AE9RQjhyeoN1vIEj_rL75Dbve1OKP8wVAEGRIr-9l3tEAWNkBxwFN3pIqEog0qy_qUST8jLI1ZUrvdfCaJlIvazxThtDD3k8lPTOHhzkBAYSQ6stcyQN2EhghrbRfs/s200/Dark+Knight+Opener.JPG" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="147" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Heath Ledger</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(The Joker -- <i><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Dark Knight</span></i>)</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Academy Award Winner:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <span style="font-style: italic;">The Dark Knight </span>(2009)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Actor -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Brokeback Mountain</span><i> </i>(2006)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/penguin.0.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="153" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/penguin.0.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Burgess Meredith</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(The Penguin -- <i><span style="font-weight: bold;">Batman: The Movie</span></i>)<br /><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Best Supporting Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">The Day of the Locust </i><span style="font-family: arial;">(1976)</span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <i>Rocky </i>(1977)</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/neeson3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/neeson3.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="166" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Liam Neeson</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Henri Ducard/R'as Al Ghul -- <i><b>Batman Begins</b></i>, <i><b>The Dark Knight Rises</b></i>)<br /><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Actor -- <i>Schindler’s List </i>(1994)</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/joker.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="155" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/joker.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>J</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: arial;">ack Nicholson</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">(Jack Napier/The Joker -- </span><i><b style="font-family: arial;">Batman</b></i><span style="font-family: arial;">)</span><br /><b style="font-family: arial;">Academy Award Winner:</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest </i><span style="font-family: arial;">(1976)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Best Supporting Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Terms of Endearment </i><span style="font-family: arial;">(1984)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">As Good As it Gets </i><span style="font-family: arial;">(1998)</span><br /><b style="font-family: arial;">Academy Award Nominee:</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Best Supporting Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Easy Rider </i><span style="font-family: arial;">(1970)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Five Easy Pieces </i><span style="font-family: arial;">(1971)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">The Last Detail </i><span style="font-family: arial;">(1974)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Chinatown </i><span style="font-family: arial;">(1975)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Best Supporting Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Reds </i><span style="font-family: arial;">(1982)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Prizzi’s Honor </i><span style="font-family: arial;">(1986)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Ironweed </i><span style="font-family: arial;">(1988)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Best Supporting Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">A Few Good Men </i><span style="font-family: arial;">(1993)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">About Schmidt </i><span style="font-family: arial;">(2003)</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.darkknightnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Gordon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://www.darkknightnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Gordon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Gary Oldman</span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">(J<span style="font-size: small;">im</span> Gordon -- </span><i><b style="font-family: arial;">Batman Begins</b></i><span style="font-family: arial;">, <i><b>The Dark Knight</b></i><span style="font-size: small;">, <i><b>The Dark Knigh<span style="font-size: small;">t Rises</span></b></i></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">)</span><br /><b style="font-family: arial;">Academy Award Nominee:</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy </i><span style="font-family: arial;">(2012)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/grissom.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="164" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/grissom.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Jack Palance</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Carl Grissom -- <i><b>Batman</b></i>)<br /><b>Academy Award Winner:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <i>City Slickers </i>(1992)<br /><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <i>Sudden Fear </i>(1953)<br />Best Supporting Actor -- <i>Shane </i>(1954) </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.batman-online.com/news/1340060937_michelle-pfeiffer-catwoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://www.batman-online.com/news/1340060937_michelle-pfeiffer-catwoman.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Michelle Pfeiffer</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Selina Kyle/Catwoman -- <i><b>Batman Returns</b></i>)<br /><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actress -- <i>Dangerous Liasons </i>(1989)<br />Best Actress -- <i>The Fabulous Baker Boys </i>(1990)<br />Best Actress -- <i>Love Field </i>(1993)</span> </div>
<br />
<a href="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/ferdalump/darkknight/book%20scans/scan16.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="148" src="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/ferdalump/darkknight/book%20scans/scan16.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Eric Roberts</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Salvatore Maroni -- <i><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Dark Knight</span></i>)<br /><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <i>Runaway Train </i>(1986)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/catwoman1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/catwoman1.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="128" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Sharon Stone</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Laurel Hedare -- <i><b>Catwoman</b></i>)<br /><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Actress -- <i>Casino </i>(1996)</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/poison.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="157" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/poison.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Uma Thurman</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(Dr. Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy -- <i><b>Batman & Robin</b></i>)<br /><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actress -- <i>Pulp Fiction </i>(1995)</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/Max_shreck.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/Max_shreck.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Christopher Walken</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">(Max Shreck -- <i><b>Batman Returns</b></i>)<br /><b>Academy Award Winner:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <i>The Deer Hunter </i>(1979)<br /><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <i>Catch Me if You Can </i>(2003)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><br /></b></span><a href="http://z.about.com/d/comicbooks/1/0/O/4/kenwatanaberasalgul.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="131" src="http://z.about.com/d/comicbooks/1/0/O/4/kenwatanaberasalgul.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ken Watanabe</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">(R’as Al Ghul -- <i><b>Batman Begins</b></i>)<br /><b>Academy Award Nominee:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Best Supporting Actor -- <i>The Last Samurai </i>(2004)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div>
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/Begins1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/Begins1.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" width="146" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; font-weight: bold;">Tom Wilkinson </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">(Carmine Falcone -- </span><i><b style="font-family: arial;">Batman Begins</b></i><span style="font-family: arial;">)</span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Academy Award Nominee:</span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Best Actor -- <i>In the Bedroom </i>(2002)<br />Best Supporting Actor -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Michael Clayton </span>(2008)</span>keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-20807405102167621162012-06-12T08:42:00.000-07:002012-06-13T16:34:43.009-07:00Heat, Thunder, and a Chance of Rain...So the 2012 Weather Channel Finals begin tonight in Oklahoma City. It's still weird to me to say "Oklahoma City" in reference to an NBA franchise. It's just wrong on so many levels, and I'm not even from Seattle.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clevelandskyline.com/Seattle_Supersonics_se27_large_t4417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.clevelandskyline.com/Seattle_Supersonics_se27_large_t4417.jpg" width="131" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What could have been...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
See, that's the reason I'm very conflicted about the Finals this year. With the Oklahoma City ZombieSonics playing South Beach <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbdk3hLdABk">Hollywood as Hell</a> for the title, there is no good outcome. A Miami victory not only validates their <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmwJipHdqpA">premature title celebration</a> in the summer of 2010, but it takes away my one key argument against Lebron James: he doesn't have what it takes to win a championship. Full disclosure: I've been drinking the LBJ Haterade long before "the Decision." Plus, D-Wade is a jerk.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41JYWNVRWML._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41JYWNVRWML._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Better than <i>Prometheus</i>?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the other hand, while the OKC Thunder is not a hard team to root for if you just consider the players on the roster, Game 1 of the Finals should be played in Seattle tonight. It's always tough when teams change cities, but it's even tougher when it's a franchise as storied as the Seattle Supersonics. It's even worse when said team was bought by an out of town owner who had no intentions on keeping them in their city, but held the city for ransom nonetheless. So, I guess what I'm saying is Clay Bennet is a jerk.<br />
<br />
Which brings me back to square one. Who to root for? It's like what the tagline of <i>Alien vs. Predators</i> so eloquently said, "Whoever Wins, We Lose!"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
So after the jump, I'm going to run down all my reasons for and against rooting for each team in the Finals this year.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Let's start with the <b>Miami Heat</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.uppgrader.com/wp-content/themes/Pim/timthumb.php?src=http://www.uppgrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Miami-Heat-shirt-1.jpg&h=300&w=600&zc=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://www.uppgrader.com/wp-content/themes/Pim/timthumb.php?src=http://www.uppgrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Miami-Heat-shirt-1.jpg&h=300&w=600&zc=1" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Thank the old gods and the new for Joakim Noah.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've already stated my disdain for this team. Full disclosure, I'm a dyed in the wool fan of the Chicago Bulls. So, in my estimation, whoever wins the title this year will have a big, fat asterisk next to their name: for winning a title in a lockout-shortened season. And for Derrick Rose's knee. Also, being a fan of the Bulls, it's written that you cannot under any circumstances root for the Heat. It's in the contract.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://themeatlockersports.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/erik-spoelstra-miami-heat-basketball-offenses-basketball-plays-basketball-playbooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://themeatlockersports.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/erik-spoelstra-miami-heat-basketball-offenses-basketball-plays-basketball-playbooks.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If the Heat win, I'm trademarking #Sposanity now.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That said, the only reason I can think of to root for the Heat is for their head coach Eric Spoelstra. Long before #Linsanity took over the world, Coach Spo was arguably the most important Asian American in the NBA. When he took over the Heat in 2008, Spoelstra, who's Filipino, became the first Asian American head coach in any of the major American pro sports (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL). At the time, I even wrote about it over on <a href="http://ricedaddies.blogspot.com/2008/04/if-metrodad-is-resident-baseball.html">Rice Daddies</a>. So I guess it would be nice to see an APA coach hoisting the Larry O'Brien, but even if the Heat were to win the title, I get the feeling Spo won't get any of the credit. And I think he's been unfairly criticized throughout the Big Three era. Sure, he was outcoached by Doc Rivers in four of the seven Conference Finals games, but Doc's one of the best coaches in the game. I also feel bad for Spo because it's obvious at times that Wade and James aren't really listening to him. But I guess good coaching is also convincing your best players to listen to you even if they don't like you. Other wise known as "why Phil Jackson is Better than Mike Brown" theory.<br />
<br />
But yeah, other than ethnic pride, I gots no other reason to cheer on LBJ, D-Wade and their pet dinosaur.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thunderjerseyshop.com/images//oklahoma_city_thunder/thunder_070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.thunderjerseyshop.com/images//oklahoma_city_thunder/thunder_070.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>OKC</b> is more complicated. I've already stated that rooting for them is tantamount to cheering for other NBA cities to be treated like Seattle. But more than that, cheering for OKC means I have to support a team with a truly horrendous logo. Really, have you seen the Thunder logo? It's awful. And I'm not the <a href="http://www.jamesrobertwatson.com/thunderlogo.html">only</a> <a href="http://www.thedenveregotist.com/news/national/2008/september/8/oklahoma-thunder-logo-less-inspiring#comment">one</a> <a href="http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/thunder_what_thunder.php">who</a> thinks so. And their road unis are the worst. Seriously, the font and the typography of it are just atrocious. People actually paid someone loads of money to "design" that? Seriously?! Nevermind the whole Seattle fiasco, I can't root for a team with such an awful brand identity.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://moretalk.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/durant-backpack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://moretalk.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/durant-backpack.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">KD's going bungee jumping after the presser</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the other hand, I love KD. Dude is so fluid on the court. And I always make sure I'm not downloading "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-4oDr_3IdQ">Doodle Jump</a>" when a Thunder game is on. Plus, I seriously love that he single-handedly tried to make wearing backpacks cool a couple years ago. Also, he reps the <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dmv">DMV</a>. <br />
<br />
Oh, you know who else is kicking themselves over the Thunder's ascension? The Portland Trailblazers. Remember, Durant went second in the 2007 draft and the Blazers had the number one pick that year. And you know whenever Portland has a choice between <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B9obsY_Yg8">a dynamic, high-scoring, charismatic, franchise-building superstar </a>and an <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nERNj0afyY">injury-prone big man</a>, they're always going to go for <a href="http://www.nba.com/playerfile/greg_oden/">the big man</a>. It's their gift and their curse. <br />
<br />
<br />
An OKC title also means a sixth ring for D-Fish, officially making him
the Steve Kerr of the 21st century. (Wonder how Kobe will feel about
that.) The other reason to root for OKC?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusnbaexperts/James-Harden-IS-DJ-Scrunchface.-Getty-Images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusnbaexperts/James-Harden-IS-DJ-Scrunchface.-Getty-Images.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two words: the beard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Would I love to see Durant crowned an NBA champion before Lebron?
God, yes! Imagine the following scenario: it's game 7 in OKC with the
score tied in the waning moments and Durant rises up to nail a three
with 10 seconds left on the clock. In the ensuing possession, James
plays hot potato with D-Wade until Mario Chalmers throws up a
desperation three that clanks against the back of the rim while time
expires. That would be glorious.<br />
<br />
<br />
Of course, that would also mean Clay Bennet (who I admit is way eviler than Lebron) would be handed the trophy by Stuart Scott. And the entire city of Seattle would burst into tears (it'll probably already be raining) while Shawn Kemp and Xavier McDaniel turn over in their graves.<br />
<br />
I'm sure Thunder-Heat is going to be a hell of an entertaining series to watch, and to be honest, I really don't have a dog in this fight.keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-65142798056151914402012-02-16T08:23:00.001-08:002012-02-16T08:57:43.746-08:00Linsanity x Pearl JamWhy aren't there more J-Lin highlight videos set to Pearl Jam?<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0uhO7564gaA" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
After Jeremey Lin's breakout game against New Jersey last week, before <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23linsanity">#linsanity</a> had officially entered the lexicon, MSG's music people blasted Pearl Jam's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS91knuzoOA&ob=av2e">"Jeremy"</a> from the rafters of Madison Square Garden to celebrate the arrival of the Knicks' newest phenom.<br />
<br />
At first, I thought it was a weird song to use considering it's about a kid who, after being overlooked and ignored his whole life, blows himself away in front of his classmates. But then again, after being overlooked and ignored his whole career, J-Lin is blowing up in front of the world, so I guess it is an apt choice. Still, I figure the lyrics could use a tweak or two:<br />
<br />
At home <br />
In the Garden <br />
Who would've thought <br />
He'd be on top?<br />
Number Seventeen <br />
Arms raised in a "V" <br />
Now the League knows J-Lin is for real<br />
Coaches didn't give attention, ohh <br />
To the fact that this kid could really play <br />
Then Jeremy saved the Knicks, and <br />
He rules this town <br />
Jeremy's ballin'<br />
We're all Linsane <br />
<br />
Clearly I remember <br />
Sittin' on the bench <br />
Seemed a harmless little fuck <br />
Ooh, but they unleashed a lion <br />
Single-handedly <br />
Beat the New Jersey Nets<br />
Now they won't forget <br />
And he hit them with a surprise left <br />
My jaw left hurtin' <br />
Ooh, dropped wide open <br />
Just like the day<br />
Oh, like the day I heard <br />
Coaches didn't give attention, ohh <br />
To the fact that this kid could really play <br />
Then Jeremy saved the Knicks, and <br />
He rules this town <br />
Jeremy's ballin'<br />
We're all Linsane <br />
<br />
Drives to the right side... <br />
Spins then kisses it... <br />
Off the backboard. <br />
Jeremy's ballin'<br />
We're all Linsane <br />
Jeremy's ballin', ballin' <br />
Jeremy's ballin', ballin' <br />
Jeremy's ballin'<br />
We're all Linsanekeith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-76630119310552851282011-06-27T08:01:00.000-07:002011-06-27T08:01:48.314-07:00Cliff Chiang: Boy Wonder of the DC Universe<a href="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/WWno1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-56410" height="150" src="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/WWno1-98x150.jpg" width="98" /></a><i>Originally posted at <a href="http://www.popcultureshock.com/cliff-chiang-dc-comics-latest-boy/56409/">Pop Culture Shock</a>. </i><br />
<br />
----------- <br />
<br />
Sorry for the confusing headline. Not trying to imply that Batman has a new sidekick. At least, not yet. As far as I know, Damian Wayne is still going to be Robin in the all new, all different DC Universe this fall. That said, the controversial, yet still eagerly anticipated, reset of the entire DC Universe has some fans scratching their heads, and others drooling over the creative teams announced to navigate the new DC landscape. One of those drool-inducing teams is writer Brian Azzarello and artist Cliff Chiang at the helm of the new adventures of the Amazon princess herself in this September's <i>Wonder Woman</i> #1.<br />
<br />
Though he couldn't divulge any classified information about what's actually going to happen inside the covers of the comic, Chiang was able to discuss what makes Wonder Woman such an enduring icon as well as why Diana would make for a badass rock star. Also discussed: Cliff's love of '80s music and giant robots. Not necessarily in that order.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
-------<br />
<br />
<b>What was your initial reaction upon learning you were penciling Wonder Woman?</b><br />
Excitement, then dread. It's a lot of pressure!<br />
<br />
<b>My daughter, who will be four soon, just instinctively says Wonder Woman is her favorite superhero. Why do you think she has been such an enduring icon?</b><br />
She's THE female superhero, and is the vessel for everything we want women to be. Like Superman, it's an impossible standard, so it's a good thing she's fictional!<br />
<br />
<b>Since <a href="http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/05/12/nbc-rejects-wonder-woman/">NBC didn't pick up</a> the television show starring Adrianne Palicki, are you disappointed there won't be a high-profile live action Wonder Woman this fall?</b><br />
It would be great to have more Wonder Woman stuff out there, but I'm kinda relieved that our book won't have to "compete" -- or worse, tie into -- a show that has a very different premise. <br />
<br />
<b>Why has it been so difficult to adapt Wonder Woman for live action? </b><br />
More than any other character, Wonder Woman means different things to different people. If you put ten people in a room, you'll get ten different answers, and most of them will not make for good comics or adaptations.<br />
<br />
<b>Speaking of "adapting" Wonder Woman, I kinda love the piece you did recently depicting Diana as Joan Jett (and Canary as Cherie Currie?). What was the inspiration behind that?</b><br />
<a href="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/WWJett.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-56411" height="150" src="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/WWJett-103x150.jpg" width="103" /></a>I was watching "The Runaways" with my wife, and I realized how important women rockers are to young girls, as a model for independence and confounding expectations. Check out the <a href="http://williemaerockcamp.org/">Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls</a>, and you can see how rock becomes an important tool for empowerment and growth. It's awesome. Female superheroes do a similar thing, so that piece is not about Wonder Woman having Joan Jett hair -- fun as it is, but really it's about rocking out and owning your identity.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Your "<a href="http://www.cliffchiang.com/category/remix/">12 inch remixes</a>" are always consistently great in concept and execution. Clearly, you're a big fan of 80s iconography. How did the idea of mashing up superheroes and classic 80s album covers first come about?</b><br />
<a href="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Batgirl-Prince.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-56412" height="150" src="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Batgirl-Prince-151x150.jpg" width="151" /></a>A friend needed flyers for a club party where he'd have dancers in costume, so I needed to figure out a way to combine music and<br />
superheroes. He's a huge Batgirl fan, so I was looking at images of Batgirl and her motorcycle and something clicked: the colors, the<br />
bike, the attitude -- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Rain_%28album%29">Prince</a>! I just started laughing and pretty much laughed the whole time I was drawing it.<br />
<br />
<b>Batgirl/"Purple Rain" is an all-time favorite, for sure! Do you have any more "remix" ideas brewing at the moment? </b><br />
No, I'll probably take a break from them. It's hard to find the right combination of character and album cover. Both need to be pretty<br />
recognizable for the gag to work, and the original album images need to have enough story to comment on the character. I rejected a lot of ideas because they'd just end up being portraits. It's a tricky thing to balance.<br />
<br />
<b>I still remember a pretty epic night of karaoke a few years back with <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/columns/asianpop/archive/">Jeff Yang</a>, <a href="http://lowbright.com/home/">Derek Kirk Kim</a>, and a few others. What's your ultimate 80s karaoke playlist?</b><br />
Two words: Peter. Cetera.<br />
<br />
<b>Speaking of "epic," (see what I did there?) how did Jerry Ma sucker you in to <a href="http://epicprops.com/blog/?p=1700">designing a t-shirt</a> for <a href="http://www.epicprops.com/">Epic Proportions</a>?</b><br />
<a href="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/epic-design.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-56413" height="150" src="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/epic-design-115x150.jpg" width="115" /></a>We've been talking about doing an Epic Props shirt for a while, actually, and this year we're sharing a booth at San Diego, so I had to rally and give him a cool design. It's for his Signature Line, which has shirts from <a href="http://www.epicprops.com/displayFrame.php?shirt_id=36">Walt</a> <a href="http://www.epicprops.com/displayFrame.php?shirt_id=31">Simonson</a>, <a href="http://www.epicprops.com/displayFrame.php?shirt_id=38">Geoff</a> <a href="http://www.epicprops.com/displayFrame.php?shirt_id=32">Darrow</a>, and <a href="http://www.epicprops.com/displayFrame.php?shirt_id=37">Larry Hama</a>, so there was a lot to live up to.<br />
<br />
<b>It really is a fantastic design, can you talk a little about the back story behind it? You're not normally associated with giant robots or that whole mecha aesthetic.</b><br />
I've been watching a lot of anime and reading manga, so giant robots are never far from my mind. But the prevailing anime aesthetic is pretty different from my own design sense, so I tried to figure out what a giant robot would look like in my world. Ever since I was a little kid, I've loved commercial planes and the idea of these hulking, riveted machines taking flight, so I wanted my robot to have some of that styling, and for the pilots to be wearing functional flight suits and not skin tight fetish gear. I didn't want the shirt to be too masculine, so the female pilot is taking a smoke break, just a quiet tiny human moment set against this weird sci-fi backdrop.<br />
<br />
<b>The Cliff Chiang Signature T-Shirt will be available exclusively at <a href="http://www.comic-con.org/cci/">San Diego Comic-Con</a>. If you're planning on being in San Diego this July, be sure to stop by booth #1221 and catch <a href="http://www.cliffchiang.com/">Cliff</a> with fellow <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SIUniverse">SIUniverse</a> alums <a href="http://www.epicprops.com/">Jerry Ma</a> and <a href="http://www.bernardchang.com/">Bernard Chang</a>! You can also find Cliff in San Francisco this weekend at the <a href="http://myinspirasian.com/community/2011EducationWorkshops.html">Sing Tao Education Expo</a> talking to young Asian American students about colleges and careers. <i>Wonder Woman</i> #1 will be available, along with all the other #1s in the new DCU, this fall at <a href="http://comicshoplocator.com/">comic shops everywhere</a>.</b><br />
<br />
-------<br />
<i><br />
Keith is the Editor-at-Large of the groundbreaking graphic novel anthology <a href="http://www.secretidentities.org/Site/Secret_Identities_Homepage.html">SECRET IDENTITIES</a> and Outreach Director for SIUniverse Media. Visit <a href="http://secretidentitiesbook.blogspot.com/">the official Secret Identities blog</a> to keep up with Keith and the rest of the SI team</i>.keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-75160696324000357052011-03-17T05:08:00.000-07:002011-03-17T06:14:49.843-07:00Oh, Ching Chong Ling Long Ting Tong, Oh?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://skreened.com/render-product/g/a/m/gamqizcvioyzleydzmgf/image.w174h200f3.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 174px; height: 200px;" src="http://skreened.com/render-product/g/a/m/gamqizcvioyzleydzmgf/image.w174h200f3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I have to admit. When I first saw <a href="http://blog.angryasianman.com/2011/03/alexandras-anti-asian-video-about.html">Alexandra Wallace's "Asians in the Library"</a> YouTube rant, my initial reaction wasn't outrage. Instead, I thought "Wow, that's a really tight tank top." Maybe it was cutting off the circulation to her brain?<br /><br />But many of my friends in the APA blogosphere <span style="font-style: italic;">were</span> outraged by Chesty McRacist's rant, and in recent days, it became fodder in mainstream news outlets from <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/rush-limbaugh-ucla-student-japan-earthquake-comments/story?id=13147708">ABC News</a> to the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/us/16ucla.html">New York Times</a>. And now Snooki 2.0 is a multimedia personality! I'm sure it won't be long before she's a contestant on "Dancing with the Stars." Hell, since the third year poli-sci major is both blond and vapid, Roger Ailes is probably drawing up a Fox News anchor contract as we speak.<br /><br />And that's been my issue from the jump. Sure the original video was offensive and stupid. But before a few days ago, no one knew who "Alexandra Wallace" was. Now? <span style="font-style: italic;">Everyone </span>knows who she is. No such thing as bad publicity, ya know?<br /><br />Fortunately, there are a couple of silver linings in the whole "Asians in the Library" flustercluck. First of all, it elicited this response from musician <a href="http://www.jfwong.com/">Jimmy Wong</a>, which is probably the catchiest song of 2011 so far:<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zulEMWj3sVA" width="320" frameborder="0" height="195"></iframe><br /><br />I hadn't heard of Jimmy prior to "Ching Chong Means I Love You." But now, his video and song is becoming a viral sensation in its own right. Seriously, do yourself a favor and subscribe to Jimmy's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/jimmy">YouTube channel</a>. You'll be glad you did!<br /><br />The other YouTube response that is worth disseminating is this brilliant persona poem by my main man <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/beau-sia/62811558678">Beau Sia</a>:<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F84NWh8Uzok" width="320" frameborder="0" height="195"></iframe><br /><br />Instead of rebutting Wallace's anti-Asian rant with a snarky rant of his own, Beau's poetry not only explores what goes on in Alexandra's mind, but contemplates the sense of entitlement and resentment that permeates much of the country's discourse about race.<br /><br />So thanks Alexandra Wallace. I didn't want to link to your idiotic anti-Asian video, but your idiotic anti-Asian video has inspired some great work from some of our best Asian American artists. And for that, I'm grateful.keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-17490315066964926292011-02-04T13:38:00.000-08:002011-02-04T13:40:34.556-08:00Waiting for Superman: The Beginning of the End<span style="font-style: italic;">Originally posted at <a href="http://www.popcultureshock.com/waiting-superman-beginning/55856/">Pop Culture Shock</a>.</span><br /><br />-----------------------------<br /><br />If you haven't heard, all new episodes of <em>Smallville</em> return tonight at 8pm EST on The CW. What? You thought <em>Smallville</em> returned <a href="http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/01/27/cw-pushes-smallville-supernatural-well-just-a-week/">last week</a>? Well, there's a reason why The CW <a href="http://www.spoilertv.com/2011/01/supernatural-and-smallville-what-delay.html">isn't a real network</a>.<br /><a href="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Tom-Welling-2.jpg"><img src="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Tom-Welling-2-100x150.jpg" alt="" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-55861" width="100" height="150" /></a><br />Anyway, barring any last minute scheduling changes, tonight's <em>Smallville</em> marks the start of the final push towards Clark Kent's red, blue, and yellow destiny. Since I've been a fan of the show from the beginning, I figured I'd use this space to talk about the show that single-handedly reinvigorated my love for the Superman universe. So what better way to kick off a weekly <em>Smallville</em> column than by discussing the casting of <a href="http://www.popcultureshock.com/henry-cavill-play-superman-snyderdirected-film/55851/">Henry Cavill as Superman</a>? Wait, what?!<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><strong>The Superman Exists. And he is British.</strong><br /><a href="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Henry-Cavill.jpg"><img src="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Henry-Cavill-126x150.jpg" alt="" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-55859" width="126" height="150" /></a> Last week's announcement of <em>The Tudors</em> star Henry Cavill being cast in Zack Snyder's Superman reboot definitely sent shockwaves throughout the fanboy community. Most observers seem split down the middle, with many objecting to the fact that Cavill hails from the U.K. Personally, I have no issue with this fact. So far, I'm digging what I'm seeing from Andrew Garfield as Spidey, and my mancrush on Christian Bale's Batman is well known. So the fact that Cavill wasn't born in Kansas has no bearing on his ability to play the Last Son of Krypton. With Snyder at the helm and Christopher Nolan behind the scenes, I have no doubt that <em>The Man of Steel</em> will be the Superman movie fans have been waiting 30+ years to see. The casting also clearly breaks the Snyder/Nolan Superman from the Richard Donner Superman films and their misguided quasi-sequel <em>Superman Returns</em>. (Duh, it's a <em>reboot</em>, after all!)<br /><br /><strong>It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... the Blur?</strong><br /><a href="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Tom-Welling-1.jpg"><img src="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Tom-Welling-1-100x150.jpg" alt="" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-55860" width="100" height="150" /></a> Now that we have a new Superman in our midst, what does that mean for the guy who's already (almost) Superman now? Well, the show itself has basically become a Superman show in its own right. Even though Clark hasn't put on the red and blue pajamas yet (though the costume<em> was</em> finally introduced in the season premiere), he does sport a nifty leather jacket emblazoned with the crest of the House of El. Aside from Clark's dual identity, other iconic aspects of the Superman legend already embraced by the show include: Clark and Lois' romance, the two working as partners at the Daily Planet, the Fortress of Solitude, and even shirt rips and phone booths! The producers are also feverishly trying to reinsert Lex Luthor back into the mix after "killing" him off three seasons ago (though Michael Rosenbaum is still <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/mrosenbaum711/status/10888509981">not committed to returning</a> to the show).<br /><br />All that's missing are the tights. And the glasses. And the flying. Okay, so there are still a few arrows left in the Superman quiver (hands off, Oliver!) but with only eleven episodes left, will the writers be able wrap up season-long story arcs (you know, little story bits like Lex clones, the Suicide Squad, the Vigilante Registration Act, Clark and Lois' wedding, the return of Lionel Luthor, <a href="http://www.tvguide.com/News/Smallville-Callum-Zod-1028466.aspx">the return of Zod</a>, and um, <strong><em>Darkseid</em></strong>!) introduced this season and still give fans the expected Superman iconography by the finale? It's a daunting task for sure. And these last eleven hours are the <em>Smallville</em> crew's last shot at truly defining their version of Superman. Especially since there will be yet <em>another</em> version of Superman coming in December 2012.<br /><br /><strong>A <em>Smallville </em>Superman movie?</strong><br /><a href="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Smallville-Promo.jpg"><img src="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Smallville-Promo-106x150.jpg" alt="" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-55858" width="106" height="150" /></a>I'd imagine that the odds that <em>Smallville</em> gets a two-hour series finale is pretty high. I mean, last year's Justice Society episode was expanded into a "two-hour movie event" so why wouldn't the culmination of ten years of Clark-teasing not get the same treatment? If we do get a two-hour finale, then my request to the showrunners is that they make sure the finale is the <em>Superman</em> movie <em>Smallville</em> fans have always wanted.<br /><br />It's no secret that I always thought WB should've migrated the <em>Smallville</em> cast to the big screen a long time ago. When the show began in 2001, original creators Al Gough and Miles Millar often talked about their "five year plan" for the series. This would have been ideal since it would have cut down on a lot of the times in which the show was treading water and keeping Clark from being Superman because it kept getting renewed by the network. If they stuck to their five year plan and then took Smallville to the big screen in 2006, we might have also been spared <em>Superman Returns</em>. Though, many fanboys wouldve probably hated a "<em>Smallville</em>" movie just as much.<br /><br />But since I'll never get to see Tom Welling and Erica Durance portray Superman and Lois Lane on the big screen, I hope that we are treated to an epic series finale with all the iconic Superman beats we've all come to expect. With all the Superman iconography that has already been on the show, especially in the last three seasons, waiting until the last second of the last scene of the finale to reveal Welling in the red and yellow S-shield will be unacceptable. I want a full on Superman movie for the last two hours of Smallville, damn it!keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-28312458384660692482011-01-10T08:18:00.000-08:002011-01-10T09:23:59.556-08:00I'm a Chinese Parent, Raised by Chinese Parents...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/RV-AB179_CAU_co_G_20110107173529.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 176px;" src="http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/RV-AB179_CAU_co_G_20110107173529.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>...and I think <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754.html?mod=wsj_share_facebook">Amy Chua's book</a> is full of crap.<br /><br />Wow! There are so many things I want to comment on after reading that excerpt... I'll just do it stream of consciousness because there are so many things to unpack in Chua's book and in the reactions of the APA blogosphere over the weekend.<br /><br />First off and full disclosure, while my parents were first gen immigrants, my upbringing was decidedly <span style="font-style: italic;">not </span>the result of stereotypical "Chinese parenting." My parents always encouraged me to get good grades, but they never discouraged me from choosing my own activities. For instance, I never even touched a piano or a violin growing up. In fact, when it was time to pick an instrument in a fifth grade music class, I went for the drums so I didn't have to learn to read sheet music!<br /><br />The first thing that struck me after reading the excerpt published in the Wall Street Journal was that Chua seems to have a whole lot of time on her hands if she's spending all those hours being such a hardass. My parents worked such long hours everyday that, even if they wanted to chain me to a piano, there was no way 1) we could afford a piano, and 2) that they had enough free time to worry about me practicing the piano.<br /><br />See, I grew up in a small rural town in the south and my parents worked 14 hours a day, six days a week at the family restaurant. So I grew up in a working-lower-middle-class home. My memories of parental pressure didn't involve hours practicing scales or memorizing elements of the periodic table. Instead, their expectations primarily revolved around me helping out at the restaurant if I had any free time. This isn't to say that I was a bad student. I was an okay student. In elementary school, I was part of the Gifted and Talented program, and I took honors and AP courses throughout high school, but I was also encouraged to play sports, make friends and enjoy life as well. I even brought home the occasional C (mostly in math and science, go figure) and the house didn't crack in two.<br /><br />I actually look back on my childhood warmly and fondly. I was surrounded by uncles and cousins and grandparents who all had a hand in helping to raise me. I remember sitting in the restaurant's back office watching "Wheel of Fortune" with my grandmother and great grandmother (neither knew a lick of English, but loved watching the contestants react to winning or losing on the TV), play basketball with my uncles and football with my cousins on the weekends, even, god forbid, had sleepovers at friends' houses! In fact, the first time I encountered the stereotype of the overbearing Chinese parents--probably in something written by Amy Tan, I couldn't relate at all. The idea was foreign and exotic to me. Which is probably why people love reading about it so much.<br /><br />So, three-and-a-half years ago, I became my own "Chinese" parent when my daughter was born. Early on, my wife--who came to America from Japan when she was a high school freshman--agreed that we would provide our daughter opportunities to be successful, but that we'd <span style="font-style: italic;">never </span>force them on her. And in her first three years of life, she's already taken more "lessons" than I did my whole childhood! Most recently, she's been enrolled in a Developmental Dance class for toddlers at the university where my wife works; she takes soccer lessons at her daycare, and took infant swimming lessons her first two summers. A few months ago, her daycare started giving her homework--which usually involves coloring something or tracing a letter or two--once or twice a week, and occasionally my wife attempts to help her recognize hiragana. All of these activities do not come at the expense of playtime, or trips to the library, or eating meals as a family, or just spending quality time together.<br /><br />Ironically, I was having dinner with my father a few weeks ago and the topic of my parenting skills came up. Believe it or not, my dad thought that I was a little <span style="font-style: italic;">too</span> strict. His reasoning? I didn't let her watch television. "That's not exactly true," I told him. My dad was basing his conclusion on the fact that the television is usually off when they come over to visit. And to be honest, what's the point of visiting your grandkids if they're preoccupied with the tube the whole time?<br /><br />Even when YeYe and GaGa (that's what my daughter calls her grandmother. It has nothing to do with the meat-dressing pop star) don't visit, it's true that we limit the amount of TV she watches, because trust me, she could definitely stare at Kai-Lan or Dora for hours if we let her. Heck, that would probably make it easier on us too. Ya know, Nick Jr. is a heckuva babysitter. Instead, we have a pretty standard routine: after she gets picked up from school, she usually spends the early part of the evening playing with her toys with one of us while the other gets dinner ready. Then, when dinner's served, we all sit together and talk about her day. After dinner, she picks up her toys before we sit on the couch and fire up an episode of Dora the Explorer or Micky Mouse Clubhouse (thank god for DVRs). After that, and a discussion about what she just watched--usually facilitated by her--it's upstairs for a bath, a book (actually two), and bedtime. Plus, hugs, kisses, and "I love yous" before lights out.<br /><br />See, my Chinese mom and dad think that's "strict." And "Chinese mother" Amy Chua probably thinks that I'm incompetent. I like to think that it works. Our daughter's healthy and happy. What more could we ask for?<br />________________<br /><br />FYI, this is cross-posted at <a href="http://ricedaddies.blogspot.com/2011/01/im-chinese-parent-raised-by-chinese.html">Rice Daddies</a>.keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-19657939523367514682010-07-17T10:48:00.000-07:002010-07-17T11:18:31.823-07:00Can Chris Nolan Have His Oscar Now?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cinemablend.com/images/news/18477/_1273247172.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 364px;" src="http://www.cinemablend.com/images/news/18477/_1273247172.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Since Oscar royally screwed the pooch in '09 when it totally <a href="http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b80212_oscar_snubs_dark_day_dark_knight.html">snubbed <span style="font-style: italic;">The Dark Knight</span></a> for Best Pic and Best Director noms, the Academy gets a chance to right a wrong this year if it gives Nolan his due for the mind-blowingly phenomenonal <span style="font-style: italic;">Inception</span>. Seriously, I think this movie has a good chance to sweep the nominations when Oscar season descends upon Hollywood. For starters, people are still shocked that <span style="font-style: italic;">The Dark Knight </span>was shut out of all the major categories save for Best Supporting Actor thanks to Heath Ledger's criminal-to-ignore performance as the Joker. But Director? Nope. Picture? Nada. I mean, it only grossed <span style="font-style: italic;">a billion dollars</span> and everything. So why should it be recognized, right?<br /><br />Anyway, since the Academy loves giving out make-up Oscars (see Pacino's <span style="font-style: italic;">Scent of a Woman </span>win or Russell Crowe's <span style="font-style: italic;">Gladiator</span> victory), it should finally give Chris Nolan a seat at the grown-up's table.<br /><br />What other categories, besides Best Pic and Director, do I think <span style="font-style: italic;">Inception </span>has a shot at? I'm glad you asked. Obviously, Wally Pfister will once again get acknowledged for his gorgeous cinematography. Art Direction and Visual Effects are locks as well. And Hans Zimmer's powerful score is his best work since, well, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Dark Knight</span>. I'm also hoping for a few acting nods for Ken Watanabe, Tom Hardy and Marion Cotillard, but I won't hold my breath.<br /><br />Lastly, while I'm hoping for an <span style="font-style: italic;">Inception</span> sweep at the Oscars next year, I do worry that in doing so, the Academy will find no reason to honor <span style="font-style: italic;">Batman 3</span> in 2013.keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-90754262370882626482010-07-01T06:19:00.000-07:002010-07-02T10:08:28.474-07:00SI at the SI! Talkstory at the 2010 Folklife Fest<span style="font-style: italic;">Originally posted at the <a href="http://secretidentitiesbook.blogspot.com/2010/06/si-at-si-talkstory-at-2010-folklife.html">Secret Identities Blog</a>:<br /><br />-----------<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://apa.si.edu/img/2010/folklifeSecret3.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 467px; height: 311px;" src="http://apa.si.edu/img/2010/folklifeSecret3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This past Sunday, the SI crew (Secret Identities, that is) got a chance to talk about the book and "build a hero" with a volunteer from the audience at the Smithsonian Institute's (the <span style="font-style: italic;">other </span>SI, natch) 2010 Folklife Festival.<br /><br />It was definitely an awesome experience to get a chance to be a part of such a great tradition. Big thanks to Phil Nash, Terry Hong, Chloe Ith, Kozue Tsunoda, and the rest of the Smithsonian staff and volunteers that made this happen!<br /><br />To read more about our adventures in the D.C. heat, read Jerry's recap <a href="http://epicprops.com/blog/?p=1004">For What It's Worth</a> and the Smithsonian's Asian Pacific American Program's <a href="http://apanews.si.edu/2010/06/28/talkstory-apa-superheroes/">official blog</a>.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-87085337644898199202010-04-14T15:48:00.000-07:002010-04-14T15:56:45.076-07:00Secret Identities is Blacklava's Daily Deal!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://epicprops.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/jia067-150x150.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 70px; height: 70px;" src="http://epicprops.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/jia067-150x150.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>It's hard to believe that it's been a whole year since <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.secretidentities.org/">Secret Identities</a> </span>came out. In honor of that anniversary, our buddies at <a href="http://www.blacklava.net/">Blacklava </a>have made the book part of their daily deals!<br /><br />For today only, if you order a copy of the book, you'll also receive a signed bookplate--drawn by the illustrious Jerry Ma--and an exclusive litho of Kelly Hu and her character "Jia" drawn by Cliff Chiang. Oh, and they've signed it as well. So what are you waiting for? Go to Blacklava and grab a copy of Secret Identities right now!<br /><br />(And for what it's worth, I think Parry Shen is my favorite Asian American Superhero)<br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FbibEFBkQGk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FbibEFBkQGk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object>keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-81912342106011325772010-03-10T09:37:00.000-08:002010-03-10T09:52:06.359-08:00Batman & Oscar -- 2010<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span>This is an almost yearly (and pointless) exercise, but hey, it's my blog and I can post stupid stuff if I want to. Anyway, </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">after the 82nd annual round of Hollywood self-congratulations, it's time to update the following list with the Bat-alums to get nominated for little gold men in 2010.<br /><br />Also, as a side note, this year's academy (futilely) attempted to make up for last year's snub by nominating 10 films (though <span style="font-style: italic;">Hurt Locker</span> won Best Pic anyway) and using <span style="font-style: italic;">The Dark Knight </span>to describe what the Sound Editing/Mixing awards are all about.<br /><br />Well, hopefully Nolan's <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2010/03/christopher-nolan-takes-flight-with-superman-we-have-a-fantastic-story-1.html">third go-round</a> in Gotham will get the Oscar love it will more than likely deserve.<br /></span><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/vvbatman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/vvbatman.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Kim Basinger</b> (Vicki Vale -- <b style="">Batman</b>)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Winner:</b></span><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Best Supporting Actress -- <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><i style="">L.A.</i></st1:place></st1:city><i style=""> Confidential </i>(1998)</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"></st1:city></st1:place></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><b style=""><br /></b></st1:city></st1:place></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/halleberry_catwoman_240_004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 122px; height: 102px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/halleberry_catwoman_240_004.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><b style="">Halle</b></st1:city><b style=""> <st1:state st="on">Berry</st1:state></b></st1:place> (Patience Phillips/Catwoman -- <b style="">Catwoman</b>)</span><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Academy Award Winner:<br /></b>Best Actress -- <i style="">Monster’s Ball </i>(2002)</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/alfred3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 145px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/alfred3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Michael Caine</b> (Alfred Pennyworth -- <b style="">Batman Begins</b> &<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></span>The Dark Knight</span>)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Winner:<br /></b>Best Supporting Actor -- <i style="">Hannah and Her Sisters </i>(1987)<br />Best Supporting Actor -- <i style="">The Cider House Rules </i>(2000)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b>Best Actor -- <i style="">Alfie </i>(1967)</span><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Best Actor -- <i style="">Sleuth </i>(1972)<b style=""><br /></b>Best Actor -- <i style="">Educating Rita </i>(1984)<b style=""><br /></b>Best Actor -- <i style="">The Quiet American </i>(2002)<br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/clooney.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 109px; height: 147px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/clooney.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style=""> George Clooney</b> (Bruce Wayne/Batman -- <b style="">Batman & Robin</b>)<b style=""><br />Academy Award Winner:<br /></b>Best Supporting Actor -- <i style="">Syriana </i>(2006)<b style=""><br />Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b>Best Director -- <i style="">Good Night, and Good Luck </i>(2006)<br />Best Original Screenplay -- <i style="">Good Night, and Good Luck </i>(2006)<br />Best Actor -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Michael Clayton</span> (2008)<br />Best Actor -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Up in the Air </span>(2010)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/penguin.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 108px; height: 149px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/penguin.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Danny DeVito</b> (Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin --<b style=""> Batman Returns</b>)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b>Best Picture -- <i style="">Erin Brockovich </i>(2001)<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><i style=""> </i><b style=""><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><br /></b></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/fox.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 109px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/fox.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" > <span style="font-weight: bold;">Morgan Freeman</span> (Lucius Fox -- <b style="">Batman Begins </b></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >&<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></span>The Dark Knight</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Winner:<br /></b>Best Supporting Actor -- <i style="">Million Dollar Baby </i>(2005)</span><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b>Best Supporting Actor -- <i style="">Street Smart </i>(1988)<br />Best Actor -- <i style="">Driving Miss Daisy </i>(1990)<br />Best Actor -- <i style="">The Shawshank Redemption </i>(1995)<br />Best Actor -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Invictus</span> (2010)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOBuC9MJ9xQvIUfbcgA3K-83LxKGlb3SoLCPSHhfhitA1ZYrtlxCXCVL4rJ9ImosUuzh8ZwJSOFI1S7ZQ0S7-uiQSp5YeR1V_cQEHeJKMOJTTMRPoqWb0ZH7D5SD1Vvxc1-U/s1600-h/rachel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 81px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOBuC9MJ9xQvIUfbcgA3K-83LxKGlb3SoLCPSHhfhitA1ZYrtlxCXCVL4rJ9ImosUuzh8ZwJSOFI1S7ZQ0S7-uiQSp5YeR1V_cQEHeJKMOJTTMRPoqWb0ZH7D5SD1Vvxc1-U/s200/rachel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447062739973750082" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Maggie Gyllenhaal</b> (Rachel Dawes -- <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Dark Knight</span><b style=""></b>)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b>Best Supporting Actress -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Crazy Heart</span><i style=""> </i>(2010)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/twoface.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 95px; height: 132px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/twoface.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Tommy Lee Jones</b> (Harvey Dent/Two-Face -- <b style="">Batman Forever</b>)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Winner:<br /></b>Best Supporting Actor -- <i style="">The Fugitive </i>(1994)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b>Best Supporting Actor -- <i style="">JFK </i>(1992)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/chase-meridian.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 115px; height: 147px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/chase-meridian.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Nicole Kidman</b> (Dr. Chase Meridian -- <b style="">Batman Forever</b>)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Winner:<br /></b>Best Actress -- <i style="">The Hours </i>(2003)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b>Best Actress -- <i style="">Moulin Rouge </i>(2002)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b><br /></b></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfP0y8AE9RQjhyeoN1vIEj_rL75Dbve1OKP8wVAEGRIr-9l3tEAWNkBxwFN3pIqEog0qy_qUST8jLI1ZUrvdfCaJlIvazxThtDD3k8lPTOHhzkBAYSQ6stcyQN2EhghrbRfs/s1600-h/Dark+Knight+Opener.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 112px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfP0y8AE9RQjhyeoN1vIEj_rL75Dbve1OKP8wVAEGRIr-9l3tEAWNkBxwFN3pIqEog0qy_qUST8jLI1ZUrvdfCaJlIvazxThtDD3k8lPTOHhzkBAYSQ6stcyQN2EhghrbRfs/s200/Dark+Knight+Opener.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228902858651549490" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Heath Ledger</b> (The Joker -- <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Dark Knight</span>)<br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Academy Award Winner:<br /></b></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Best Supporting Actor -- <span style="font-style: italic;">The Dark Knight </span>(2009)<br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b>Best Actor -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Brokeback Mountain</span><i style=""> </i>(2006)<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/penguin.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 116px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/penguin.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Burgess Meredith</b> (The Penguin -- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Batman: The Movie</span>)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Best Supporting Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">The Day of the Locust </i><span style="font-family:arial;">(1976)<br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Best Supporting Actor -- <i style="">Rocky </i>(1977)</span><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><br /><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/neeson3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 88px; height: 107px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/neeson3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Liam Neeson</b> (Henri Ducard -- <b style="">Batman Begins</b>)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b>Best Actor -- <i style="">Schindler’s List </i>(1994)</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/joker.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 167px; height: 129px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/joker.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">J</b></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style="font-family: arial;">ack Nicholson</b><span style="font-family:arial;"> (Jack Napier/The Joker -- </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Batman</b><span style="font-family:arial;">)</span><br /><b style="font-family: arial;">Academy Award Winner:<br /></b><span style="font-family:arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest </i><span style="font-family:arial;">(1976)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Best Supporting Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Terms of Endearment </i><span style="font-family:arial;">(1984)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">As Good As it Gets </i><span style="font-family:arial;">(1998)</span><br /><b style="font-family: arial;">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b><span style="font-family:arial;">Best Supporting Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Easy Rider </i><span style="font-family:arial;">(1970)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Five Easy Pieces </i><span style="font-family:arial;">(1971)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">The Last Detail </i><span style="font-family:arial;">(1974)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Chinatown </i><span style="font-family:arial;">(1975)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Best Supporting Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Reds </i><span style="font-family:arial;">(1982)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Prizzi’s Honor </i><span style="font-family:arial;">(1986)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Ironweed </i><span style="font-family:arial;">(1988)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Best Supporting Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">A Few Good Men </i><span style="font-family:arial;">(1993)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Best Actor -- </span><i style="font-family: arial;">About Schmidt </i><span style="font-family:arial;">(2003)</span><br /><br /></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/grissom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 123px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/grissom.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Jack Palance</b> (Carl Grissom -- <b style="">Batman</b>)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Winner:<br /></b>Best Supporting Actor -- <i style="">City Slickers </i>(1992)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b>Best Supporting Actor -- <i style="">Sudden Fear </i>(1953)<br />Best Supporting Actor -- <i style="">Shane </i>(1954)</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/catwoman-pfeiffer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 174px; height: 127px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/catwoman-pfeiffer.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Michelle Pfeiffer</b> (Selina Kyle/Catwoman -- <b style="">Batman Returns</b>)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b>Best Supporting Actress -- <i style="">Dangerous Liasons </i>(1989)<br />Best Actress -- <i style="">The Fabulous Baker Boys </i>(1990)<br />Best Actress -- <i style="">Love Field </i>(1993)</span> </p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/ferdalump/darkknight/book%20scans/scan16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 99px;" src="http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/ferdalump/darkknight/book%20scans/scan16.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Eric Roberts</b> (Salvatore Maroni -- <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Dark Knight</span>)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b>Best Supporting Actor -- <i style="">Runaway Train </i>(1986)</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/catwoman1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 99px; height: 153px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/catwoman1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b style="">Sharon Stone</b> (Laurel Hedare -- <b style="">Catwoman</b>)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b>Best Actress -- <i style="">Casino </i>(1996)</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><br /><br /><br /></b></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/poison.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 105px; height: 82px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/poison.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style="">Uma Thurman</b> (Dr. Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy -- <b style="">Batman & Robin</b>)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b>Best Supporting Actress -- <i style="">Pulp Fiction </i>(1995)</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/Max_shreck.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 126px; height: 124px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/Max_shreck.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style="">Christopher Walken</b> (Max Shreck -- <b style="">Batman Returns</b>)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Winner:<br /></b>Best Supporting Actor -- <i style="">The Deer Hunter </i>(1979)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b>Best Supporting Actor -- <i style="">Catch Me if You Can </i>(2003)</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><br /></b></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://z.about.com/d/comicbooks/1/0/O/4/kenwatanaberasalgul.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 84px;" src="http://z.about.com/d/comicbooks/1/0/O/4/kenwatanaberasalgul.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style="">Ken Watanabe</b> (R’as Al Ghul -- <b style="">Batman Begins</b>)<br /><b style="">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></b>Best Supporting Actor -- <i style="">The Last Samurai </i>(2004)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/1600/Begins1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 89px; height: 122px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7446/1967/320/Begins1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Tom Wilkinson </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">(Carmine Falcone -- </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Batman Begins</b><span style="font-family:arial;">)<br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Academy Award Nominee:<br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Best Actor -- <i style="">In the Bedroom </i>(2002)<br />Best Supporting Actor -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Michael Clayton </span>(2008)<br /></span>keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-62043060923881560432010-02-05T07:49:00.000-08:002010-02-05T08:07:08.212-08:00Jeff & Erin Are Cool, But Parry Did It BetterBy now, I'm sure you're aware of "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/23/jeff-erins-epic-wedding-t_n_434267.html">Jeff and Erin's EPIC Wedding</a>" trailer i.e., the wedding invitation seen 'round the world. It came out a few weeks ago and quickly infected the rest of the internetz soon after.<br /><br />If you haven't heard of it, peep it below:<br /><br /><object width="420" height="255"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wTqLyCTESjg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wTqLyCTESjg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="255"></embed></object><br /><br />Pretty cool, no? But Jeff Wong ain't the only Asian guy to profess his love for his woman in a slickly edited video for the world to see. In fact, the actor <a href="http://www.parryshen.com/">Parry Shen</a> did it first almost a decade ago when he proposed to his future wife in a "deleted scene" from the groundbreaking <a href="http://www.betterlucktomorrow.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Better Luck Tomorrow</span></a>. But what does Parry <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.parryshen.com/images/Hand.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 122px; height: 183px;" src="http://www.parryshen.com/images/Hand.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>think about Jeff & Erin's Epic Wedding?<br /><br />"[The video] is very cool," said Parry. "And although it is technically superior in terms of production value... Jeff and Erin weren't really <span style="font-style: italic;">in</span> any of those films."<br /><br />Touche, Parry.<br /><br />"Heck, my wife thought it was really a part of <span style="font-style: italic;">BLT</span> and thought my character was proposing to Stephanie [the female lead in the movie]!"<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-QPxzCOx9Ds&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-QPxzCOx9Ds&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I'd also like to add that Jeff & Erin's EPIC Wedding doesn't have A-list cameos by Sung Kang, Roger Fan, Jason Tobin, and Zooey Deschanel and isn't directed by Justin Lin.<br /><br />So Parry FTW!<br /><br />PS, if you want to read more of my conversation with Parry, go to <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.popcultureshock.com">Pop Culture Shock</a> and keep hitting "refresh" until you see the interview posted.keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-29664724785764324452009-11-07T14:22:00.000-08:002009-11-07T14:24:03.602-08:00My Top Five Asian American Action Figures<span style="font-size:85%;">Originally posted at <a href="http://www.popcultureshock.com/top-asian-american-action-figures/53056/">PopCultureShock</a>.<br /></span><br />*****<br /><br />When Jon recently asked me to join the PCS team, he said I could blog about anything I wanted. Because of my affiliation with <a href="http://www.secretidentities.org"><strong><em>Secret Identities</strong></em></a>, I figured I could talk about where Asian Americans and pop culture intersect. And while I love comics, movies and TV as much as the next pop culture junkie, I have to admit that collecting action figures is my biggest weak spot. So I figured I'd pop my PCS cherry with a piece that I actually pitched to ToyFare a couple years back: the best Asian American action figures on the market!<br /><br />Granted, this isn't the most original idea. In fact, the inspiration came from an old <a href="http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Shrine/1275/">website</a> (I mean, it's so old, it's still hosted on geocities!) by a guy named Paul Chen who chronicled the web's best Asian action figures. Unfortunately, homeboy's site hasn't been updated in a decade, and action figures have gotten way better (and more Asian American, natch!) in the years since.<br /><br />So rather than just listing each and every action figure of an Asian character that's sitting at your local Toys 'R' Us, I gave myself some criteria. First off, either the character or the actor portraying that character immortalized in plastic has to be Asian <em>American</em>. That means <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja65Xb_z4llQN-RScP8h7TaoEQCOtTu0EOI7Lav6Pk4WiCnduyp1iQvYeR2ORk1W5sJeuKpSn_VLYAKshQgi0WzVWPSm-dq_Fy3mXcGdJzWT7Tjc-8HEnX9t7_DfSBlVO0K1Ua/s400/ra's+begins.jpg">Ken Watanabe as Asian R'as Al Ghul</a> from Hasbro's <em>Batman Begins</em> or McFarlane Toys' <a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41IQ2pIhKFL._SL500_.jpg">Yao Ming</a> don't count. Sorry guys.<br /><br />The other criteria I look for in an action figure are sculpting, likeness accuracy, and points of articulation.<br /><br />So without further ado, let's start with #5, which is actually a tie!<br /><br /><strong>#5. Sulu from Diamond Select Toys/Sulu from Playmates</strong><br /><br /><img src="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/takei-sulu-150x150.jpg" alt="takei sulu" width="150" height="150" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-53099" /><br />How could we talk about Asian American action figures without talking about the granddaddy of Asian American sci-fi: Mr. Sulu? There have been <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3588/3602368765_1ecee8e569.jpg?v=0">several</a> Sulu <a href="http://www.collectorsconnection.com/images6/18a556.jpg">action</a> <a href="http://www.minimatedatabase.com/img/fig/fig0637flg.jpg">figures</a> from various companies over the years, but for the sake of this blog post, I'll stick with this 6-inch fig from DST's Star Trek Classics line. When it comes to Trek action figures, I think Diamond and Art Asylum are unrivaled. I love the scale and detail in all their figures, and the sculpt on this Sulu in his classic uni is the spitting image of George Takei!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/cho-sulu-150x150.jpg" alt="cho sulu" width="150" height="150" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-53096" /><br />Back in the late '80s/early '90s, my brother and I used to collect the 4-inch <em>Next Generation</em> figures from Playmates. The detail and articulation on those toys weren't the greatest (which is likely the case for most toys of that period), but there is definitely a sense of nostalgia that kicks in when thinking back to those figures. So I was (sort of) excited to learn Playmates was returning to the world of Star Trek to do figs for the reboot that came out last May. And to be honest, these weren't the greatest toys. The 3 3/4-inchers left a lot to be desired and the detail on the 6-inch scale was not as impressive as their DST analogs. Still, we were treated to our very first John Cho action figure. Now, if only they'd make action figures for the <em>rest</em> of the <em><a href="http://www.betterlucktomorrow.com/">Better Luck Tomorrow</a></em> crew and my collection will be complete!<br /><br /><strong>#4. Athena and Boomer 2-Pack from Diamond Select Toys</strong><br /><img src="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/boomer_athena-150x200.jpg" alt="boomer_athena" width="150" height="200" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-53091" /><br /><br />Wow, another DST figure? Trust me, this has <strong>nothing</strong> to do with the fact that I used to work at Diamond! Anyway, I'm putting Boomer and Athena here even though I don't watch <em>Battlestar Galactica</em>. What's that? How can I make that claim and still be allowed on a site like PopCultureShock without having my geek credit card cut up into a million pieces? And where do I get off recommending an action figure of a character from a show I don't even watch? Good questions, all. First off, I've always <em>meant</em> to watch BSG, but just never got around to it. So it isn't like I've purposefully shied away from it like I did with, say, everything in the Whedonverse (blasphemy!) As for the second question: my justification for putting this Grace Park 2-pack on my list is, well, because it's a Grace Park action figure. Duh! Plus, there are two of them.<br /><br /><strong>#3. Data from Mezco Toys/Short Round from Hasbro</strong><br /><img src="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/data-mezco-130x150.jpg" alt="data mezco" width="130" height="150" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-53112" /><br />That's right. Number 3 on my list is <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0702841/">Jonathan Ke Quan</a>, baby! Now, while it could be argued that his two most iconic portrayals--Short Round from <em>Temple of Doom</em> and Data from <em>Goonies</em> --are essentially Long Duk Dong for the tweens of the '80s generation, I have to disagree. First off, Data was the <strong>man</strong> in <em>The Goonies</em>. And secondly, Short Round is the heart and soul of <em>Temple</em> and is the best sidekick Indy's ever had. That's right, Shia! I said it.<br /><br />Anyway, even though Quan hasn't worked in several years, the last couple have been good for him, at least from an action figure point of view. First off, Mezco released a series of <em>Goonies</em> figures and didn't skimp on the accessories! I mean, he comes with the Pinchers of Peril for chrissakes! As for Short Round, I've been wanting 3 3/4 scale Indy figures since I was a little kid (hell, I actually remember Kenner's short-lived <em>Raiders</em> figures) for no other reason than to have Indy and Han Solo standing next to each other on my desk. So, when they expanded the line that came out in '08 to include <a href="http://www.hasbro.com/common/images/products/40788122d90b_Main200.jpg">Short Round</a>, I was so there. But, what was even cooler was the Short Round Mighty Mugg that was exclusive to Entertainment Earth. Seriously. How dope is this?<br /><img src="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/short-round-mighty-mugg-150x150.jpg" alt="short round mighty mugg" width="150" height="150" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-53113" /><br /><br /><strong>#2. Tunnel Rat (1987) from Hasbro</strong><br /><img src="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/tunnelrat-98x150.jpg" alt="tunnelrat" width="98" height="150" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-53114" /><br />I think it's safe to say <em>G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero</em> was the be-all-end-all action figure/comic/cartoon franchise of my childhood. I mean, I loved He-Man and the Super Powers and the Real Ghostbusters and Thundercats... Okay, I loved <em>every</em> toyline in the '80s, but there was something special about Joe vs. Cobra (so the fact that I've gotten to know and hang out with Larry Hama in the last few years is, like, mind-blowing). I knew that a Joe had to figure on this list somehow. I could have gone with easy ones like <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8b/StormshadowCobra.jpg">Storm Shadow</a> or <a href="http://www.epicprops.com/display.php?shirt_id=25">Quick Kick</a>. And I was <em>this close</em> to putting Snake Eyes here. But in the end, I had to go with Chinese-Trinidadian Tunnel Rat. And not the <a href="http://www.yojoe.com/action/09/tunnelrat10.shtml">"Resolute" one</a> that came out this year. I'm talking old school. The one with the "Win a Fridge Action Figure" sticker on the card! Not only was Tunnel Rat's likeness based on Hama himself (though the bio on the filecard, like most of the one's in the collection, was based on a friend of Larry's), but the dude's got the coolest specialty: explosives! Not the resident martial artist or ninja. Nicky Lee was the dude who blew sh*t up! And you don't get more Asian American than that.<br /><br /><strong>#1. Bruce Lee series from Enterbay</strong><br /><img src="http://www.popcultureshock.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/bruce-lee-fist-of-fury-200x150.jpg" alt="bruce lee fist of fury" width="200" height="150" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-53115" /><br />Tops on the list have to go to the coolest sixth-scale action figures I've ever seen. And ironically, my favorite Asian American action figure is one I don't (and will probably never) own: Enterbay's Bruce Lee <a href="http://www.enterbay.com/web/list.php?id=67">series of figures</a>. Unless, you had $200-$300 you wanted to give me, that is. Still, I've seen these bad boys up close and personal, and they are worth every dollar that I don't have to spare.<br /><br />Enterbay has done several Bruce Lee figures now. There are two from <em><a href="http://www.enterbay.com/web/productInfo.php?f=list&id=91">Enter</a> the <a href="http://www.enterbay.com/web/productInfo.php?f=list&id=92">Dragon</a></em>, one from <em><a href="http://www.enterbay.com/web/productInfo.php?f=list&id=100">Game of Death</a></em>, one from <em><a href="http://www.enterbay.com/web/productInfo.php?f=list&id=99">Way of the Dragon</a></em>, and a <a href="http://www.enterbay.com/web/productInfo.php?f=list&id=307">Kato</a> from <em>Green Hornet</em>. But my personal favorite is the one modeled on Bruce as Chen Zhen from <em>Fist of Fury</em>.<br /><br />Not only are these the best, most intricate sixth-scale bodies, like most 12-inch figures, each one comes with a plethora of accessories and outfits. To wit, the FoF Bruce comes with two different head sculpts and three(!) different hair sculpts (seriously), two different tailored, cloth outfits, five sets of hands, a pair of nunchucks, a premium wooden diorama, and the infamous "Sick Man of Asia" wooden sign that Bruce so famously cracks in two! <br /><br />And the best part? Enterbay's exclusive 360 Eyeball system, which allows you to <em>pose his eyes</em>! I know I'm a sucker for articulation, but <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WEubzV39H8">that's just crazy</a>!<br /><br /><em>Keith is the Editor-at-Large of the groundbreaking graphic novel anthology SECRET IDENTITIES and Outreach Director for SIUniverse Media. Visit <a href="http://www.secretidentities.org/Site/Secret_Identities_Homepage.html">the official Secret Identities blog</a> to keep up with Keith and the rest of the SI team</em>keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-37044485580726103352009-10-06T07:05:00.001-07:002009-10-06T07:06:51.648-07:00Bmore Comic-Con This Weekend!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.comicon.com/baltimore/images/illseeyouinbaltimore.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 125px;" src="http://www.comicon.com/baltimore/images/illseeyouinbaltimore.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>After stops in <a href="http://secretidentitiesbook.blogspot.com/search/label/NYCC">New York</a> and <a href="http://secretidentitiesbook.blogspot.com/search/label/SDCC">San Diego</a>, we'll complete the Comic-Con trifecta with a jaunt through B-more for <a href="http://www.comicon.com/baltimore/">Baltimore Comic-Con</a> this weekend. <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://secretidentities.org">Secret Identities</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span>editor <a href="http://epicprops.com/blog/">Jerry Ma</a> and I will be repping the book in Artists Alley at Table #54. Make sure to stop by. Jerry will be doing some sketches and will have some of his awesome <a href="http://epicprops.com/index.php">Epic</a> tees in tow as well.<br /><br />Also in attendance at Comic-Con are fellow SI contribs <a href="http://www.bernardchang.com/">Bernard Chang</a>, <a href="http://www.cliffchiang.com/">Cliff Chiang</a>, Larry Hama and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/exiledzone">Greg LaRocque</a>. Check us out!keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-69884629497191186732009-09-11T06:32:00.001-07:002013-02-17T10:01:40.077-08:00Welcome to the Hall, MJ<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Michael<br /><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> after Carl Sandburg's<a href="http://carl-sandburg.com/chicago.htm"> "Chicago"</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"> Champion of the world,<br /> All-galaxy MVP, a living statue,<br /> Player moved the way 'Trane fingered the sax, dribbling with Roach-rhythm;<br /> Soaring, always balling,<br /> Air, simply, The Man:<br />They tell me you could fly and I believe them, for I have seen your Air<br /> Jordans pissing on the heads of would-be defenders.<br />And they tell me you aren't human and I answer: Yes, it is true I have seen the<br /> Man, near death, drop 40 on Utah in the Finals.<br />And they tell me you are intimidating and my reply is: On the faces of Knicks<br /> and Lakers I have seen the marks of religious fear.<br />And having answered so I turn once more to the few who would doubt your ability, saying<br /> you've lost a step, and I give them back a laugh and say to them:<br />Come and show me another with skin like wet leather, whose shadow could still drop fifty-five<br /> at will, who still dies for the hoop and lives for the baseline J.<br />Fading from the corner amid others half his age, sweat gleaming, his<br /> silhouette set against the rest of the league;<br />Flying to the rim like a hawk swoops to its food, the ball streaking through the air<br /> like a comet,<br /> Michelangelo,<br /> Swooshing,<br /> Fading,<br /> Flying,<br /> Driving, dying for air, dunking,<br />Above the rim, tongue hanging from his mouth, mocking gravity,<br /> floating away and not apologizing.</span></span></span><a href="http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x221/likemikephotobucket/statue.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x221/likemikephotobucket/statue.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 464px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span>keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-4469660737327164122009-08-29T14:43:00.000-07:002009-08-29T12:04:19.414-07:00My Favorite Michael Jackson Videos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyGv9s2yiVEFJe39rKBRmzWocGnYubQMXLh5e-5CkLUFVhc8ECjzxXiHbgQjLO-9xISil0NkSbTp0zFWApKv2ciOaKJe6h_awDmSNkvrEd2uAEiu2mghGIfXfUIo3JPKY0UsB/s400/don't+stop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyGv9s2yiVEFJe39rKBRmzWocGnYubQMXLh5e-5CkLUFVhc8ECjzxXiHbgQjLO-9xISil0NkSbTp0zFWApKv2ciOaKJe6h_awDmSNkvrEd2uAEiu2mghGIfXfUIo3JPKY0UsB/s400/don't+stop.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I've been wanting to do a Michael Jackson post since he passed, but could never find the right words. Especially since there were so <a href="http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/06/remembering_the_time.php">many</a> better <a href="http://soulsummer.com/blog/harry-allen-remembers-michael-jackson-audio/">eulogies</a> out <a href="http://gilesli.com/blog/2009/06/25/you-deserve-peace-michael-jackson/">there</a> already. But since today would have been his 51st birthday (not to mention the revelation that he was<s> murdered</s> manslaughtered), I figured this is as good a time as any to remember the King. And I'd do so by running down my five favorite Michael Jackson videos.<br /><br />These last two months, I've been listening to <span style="font-style: italic;">a lot</span> of MJ's music. I mean <span style="font-style: italic;">a lot</span>. I've gone back and rediscovered so many musical gems that I had either forgotten about or never really paid attention to. <span style="font-style: italic;">Bad </span>was always my favorite album because it was the one that was out when I was old enough to anticipate it. <span style="font-style: italic;">Thriller </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">Off the Wall</span> were constants in my life when they were out, but I was so little, I didn't realize how important those albums were. But with <span style="font-style: italic;">Bad</span>, I still remember the feeling of peeling the plastic off of the casse<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2009/07/01/smooth-criminal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 179px;" src="http://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2009/07/01/smooth-criminal.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>tte and popping it in to the boombox for the first time. It was a revelation.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bad</span> also had the fortune of being complemented by the completely awesome and nonsensical <span style="font-style: italic;">Moonwalker</span> movie. I still don't know what the thing was about. I only know that it was awesome! And within it contains, to me, hands down, Michael's greatest accomplishment on film, <span style="font-style: italic;">Smooth Criminal</span>. I always hated that MTV always played the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WjOn5TNjBM">Radio Edit version</a> of the video because the sped up, blurry effects obscured the single greatest thing about this video: that insane, anti-gravity <span style="font-style: italic;">lean</span>. I don't care if it was a special effect. When MJ and his dancers hit that lean, hot damn!<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7CZ2BZZYloI&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7CZ2BZZYloI&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />My second favorite MJ video comes courtesy of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Dangerous</span> album. The video itself is actually kind of silly. Magic Johnson's delivery of the line "I present to you the stick man!" is as awkward today as it was 16 years ago. The other cameos, Eddie Murphy and Iman, feel dated (but Eddie's still hilarious), but the reason this is second on the list, is strictly for the choreography. When MJ and the other dancers start tutting and the music breaks down, it's exhilaratinng dancing.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oN_uaH-A58o&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oN_uaH-A58o&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Number three on the list is a video to a song I don't even really like. Also from <span style="font-style: italic;">Dangerous</span>, "Jam" isn't a particularly good song. In the pantheon of New Jack Teddy Riley compositions, "Teddy's Jam 2" by Guy is still better. Also, Heavy D's rap interlude is pretty terrible, and the Kriss Kross cameo really dates this as an early 90s ditty. Still, this vid makes the list simply because of the appearance by the <span style="font-style: italic;">other</span> MJ that impacted my childhood: Michael Jordan. The moment where Jackson tries to teach Jordan to dance is priceless!<br /><br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OdLhCv9t8bg&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OdLhCv9t8bg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />A Michael Jackson video list would not be complete without "Thriller." I don't particularly like zombies, and this used to scare the bejeezus out of me when I was a kid, but you don't get more iconic than this. I mean, when <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o">Filipino inmates</a> are recreating your choreography in prison, you know your video has touched people's lives everywhere. Plus, werewolf Michael is always cool.<br /><br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1kNP3jogfek&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1kNP3jogfek&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object><br /><br />Lastly, I have to go with "Don't Stop til You Get Enough to round out my list. I realized in my immersion in all things Michael that my favorite era is actually the late '70s MJ. Tracks like "Enjoy Yourself," "Shake a Body" and "This Place Hotel" are beautiful songs. And it all culminated in <span style="font-style: italic;">Off the Wall</span>. I started this post talking about why <span style="font-style: italic;">Bad </span>was my favorite album growing up, but as an adult, it's <span style="font-style: italic;">Off the Wall </span>hands down. Michael's voice has never been as pure as it was on this record. And as you can see in the video below, in which he's simply singing/dancing alone on a blue screened, there's an innocence and joy in the performance that was never really there again once he became a galactic megastar. When I think of MJ, the picture I'll always have is the Michael in his late teens/early twenties with the little fro and the huge bow tie. That's my Mike. May you rest in peace. And Happy Birthday.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-KRLN956HpA&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-KRLN956HpA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-15770641456696089062009-08-26T07:52:00.000-07:002009-08-26T08:15:46.179-07:00"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/08/26/health/policy/26kennedy-patients.480.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 176px;" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/08/26/health/policy/26kennedy-patients.480.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Woke up this morning to the news that Ted Kennedy <a href="http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/senator-kennedy-is-dead-at-77/">had died</a> in the middle of the night. If there's anything that should inspire the Democrats to grow a backbone and actually <span style="font-style: italic;">fight</span> for health care reform, it should be the passing of the one man who spent his entire career fighting for it.<br /><br />It's also hard to believe that it was almost exactly a year ago that Sen. Kennedy delivered this moving address at the Democratic National Convention in Denver:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1Ypm-1Hz5o4&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1Ypm-1Hz5o4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />While it's fortunate Kennedy made it to January to witness the swearing in of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, it's a shame that he did not live to see the sweeping change to the health care system that this country so desperately needs (which would have been the case had Kennedy <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> passed last night).<br /><br />Maybe this will wake up and energize the left to take back control over the health care debate. Maybe the "moderates" will realize they're "negotiating" with a group of people who have no desire to negotiate. Maybe they will finally understand they've compromised too much already. Maybe the Democrats will actually pass <span style="font-style: italic;">real</span> health care reform.<br /><br />Do it for Teddy.keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-14064110869931647952009-08-11T10:29:00.000-07:002009-08-11T10:39:51.089-07:00The Ballad of G.I. JoeWhoa. This is the third G.I. Joe post in a row. Damn.<br /><br />Anyway, I'd like to amend the post the other day called "<a href="http://lokblogging.blogspot.com/2009/08/greatest-gi-joe-movie-ive-ever-seen.html">The Greatest G.I. Joe Movie I've Ever Seen</a>." I stumbled across this video at <a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/076041c13b/the-ballad-of-g-i-joe">Funny or Die</a>, and while I still think the stop-motion with the 3-3/4" figures rules all, the video embedded below is definitely the best live action G.I. Joe I've ever seen.<br /><br />Seriously. When the FoD guys' casting choices trumps the big budget names at Paramount, ya know something's wrong with your movie franchise.<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" id="ordie_player_076041c13b" width="448" height="376"><param name="movie" value="http://player.ordienetworks.com/flash/fodplayer.swf"><param name="flashvars" value="key=076041c13b"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed flashvars="key=076041c13b" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" quality="high" src="http://player.ordienetworks.com/flash/fodplayer.swf" name="ordie_player_076041c13b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="448" height="376"></embed></object><div style="text-align: left; font-size: x-small; margin-top: 0pt; width: 448px;"><a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/076041c13b/the-ballad-of-g-i-joe" title="from Cha-Ching Pictures, Olivia Wilde, Zach Galifianakis, Alexis Bledel, Billy Crudup, Julianne Moore, FOD Team, Chuck Liddell, Sgt Slaughter, Tony Hale, Laz Alonso, Joey Kern, Henry Rollins, Alan Tudyk, Vinnie Jones, and Josh Simpson">The Ballad of G.I. Joe</a> from <a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/olivia_wilde">Olivia Wilde</a></div>keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-80278195068029983622009-08-10T06:32:00.000-07:002009-08-10T06:42:40.960-07:00The Greatest G.I. Joe Movie I've Ever Seen!Okay, so <span style="font-style: italic;">The Rise of Cobra </span>has been getting a lot of crap from the fanboys and the critics despite (or because of?) the fact that it opened at #1 with over $56 million at the box office. I've already said <a href="http://lokblogging.blogspot.com/2009/08/half-battle.html">my piece</a> on the movie. I liked it enough, though I will readily admit that it is not a good movie. In fact, it's pretty terrible, but it's one of the few <span style="font-style: italic;">terrible</span> movies that I actually dig. So there.<br /><br />Anyway, the title of this post is <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> in reference to the live-action spectacle that is currently dominating Hollywood. Instead, I recently stumbled across the following stop-motion videos that were used to promote the movie. (You can find the source for these vids at the official <span style="font-style: italic;">Rise of Cobra </span>website <a href="http://www.gijoemovie.com/cobraisland/?utm_source=GIJoeEmail&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=CobraIslandEmail&utm_campaign=GIJoeemail">here</a>.)<br /><br />To be honest, I'm sort of relieved that I caught these <span style="font-style: italic;">after</span> seeing the movie. If I had seen this beforehand, I too would have been mightily disappointed in what we got onscreen. I mean, the stuff they do with a bunch of Hasbro's 3 3/4" 25th Anniversary figures and vintage Joe vehicles trumps everything they did on film. If the nine-year-old me geeked out watching the movie, he nearly passed out watching the coolness of the toys literally coming to life in the embeds below. <br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.gijoemovie.com/cobraisland/embed-shell.swf?dl=0" quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" name="G.I. Joe The Invasion of Cobra Island Player" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" allowfullscreen="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="380" align="middle" height="400"></embed>keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-17116046357289670632009-08-07T05:33:00.000-07:002009-08-10T06:52:09.717-07:00Half the Battle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://coronacomingattractions.com/sites/default/files/gijoe_snakeeyes_poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 237px;" src="http://coronacomingattractions.com/sites/default/files/gijoe_snakeeyes_poster.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Since I reviewed <span style="font-style: italic;">Transformers: ROTF LMAO</span> <a href="http://lokblogging.blogspot.com/2009/06/when-is-someone-going-to-let-me-make.html">back in June</a>, I guess it's only fair that I talk about my thoughts on <span style="font-style: italic;">G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra</span> as well. (Interesting/creepy side note: when I came home from seeing <span style="font-style: italic;">Transformers</span>, I turned on the computer to find out Michael Jackson was hospitalized/dying. Last night, after watching <span style="font-style: italic;">G.I. Joe</span>, Twitter tells me John Hughes had passed. It's true, the '80s are slowly disintegrating from existence.)<br /><br />OK, first up, shocker of shockers, I actually kind of <span style="font-style: italic;">liked <span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>the movie. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't good (at all), but it was undeniably <span style="font-style: italic;">fun</span>. (Full disclosure, I saw the move for free at a vintage-style drive-in with some cool friends, so these factors could have attributed to the enjoyment factor). I think I liked it on a visceral level (similar to why I was a fan of the cartoon, methinks--which also, when you really get down to it, weren't very good either). Of course, I would have preferred a movie that adhered a little closer to Larry Hama's epic comic stories (especially his version of the Snake Eyes-Storm Shadow relationship), but that's probably asking too much.<br /><br />I'll say this, if you enjoyed the cartoons, you'll like the movie. My brother Raymond observed too that if you were a 12-year-old, the cinematic <span style="font-style: italic;">G.I. Joe </span>experience would have been a revelation. And I can't disagree. There's just something geeky cool about seeing all the cool vehicles and weapons wreaking havoc and blowing up cities. And you can't leave out the badass katana fights--ninjas make everything better after all. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.shockya.com/news/wp-content/uploads/gi_joe_mars1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 193px;" src="http://www.shockya.com/news/wp-content/uploads/gi_joe_mars1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The one thing the movie got right, unlike <span style="font-style: italic;">Transformers</span>, is that each of the characters had a distinct personality. Even if they were all wearing black leather, <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Men</span> suits, each character on the Joe team--Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Breaker, and Heavy Duty--had a unique role and function. I actually kind of wish the movie was more about them than the two leads we got--Channing Tatum's Duke and Marlon Wayans' Ripcord. Tatum takes the notion of "wooden acting" to a whole new level. Seriously, this dude makes Hayden Christensen seem like a dynamic thespian. And while Wayans' Ripcord was a likable character, I would have liked him more if he weren't channeling 1997-era Will Smith. I was also disappointed in Dennis Quaid's <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.joesightings.com/images/86hawk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 107px; height: 168px;" src="http://www.joesightings.com/images/86hawk.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>General Hawk. Hawk was one of my favorite Joes growing up, and Quiad just sleepwalks through the whole thing. And also, would it have been so bad to let him wear a brown bomber jacket and green camo pants for just <span style="font-style: italic;">one scene</span> in the flick? Is that asking too much?<br /><br />On the Cobra side of things, I thought Sienna Miller was okay as Baroness (though I would have preferred the vague, eastern European accent she had on the cartoon) and dug Christopher Eccleston's snively, conniving interpretation of Destro. I'm undecided about Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Cobra Commander. He was appropriately over the top, but I couldn't get passed the <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://kkwu.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/3121027856_19aafdaa27_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 181px;" src="http://kkwu.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/3121027856_19aafdaa27_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>redesign of the character, especially during the supposedly iconic reveal of him as "The Commander." I think that scene would have worked better if JG-L was wearing a mask that actually evoked one of Cobra Commander's many looks and not the weird, clear skull-looking helmet they gave him. I guess my problem with Cobra Commander and the Neo-Vipers is the same problem I have with the robot model designs in <span style="font-style: italic;">Transformers</span>, namely that they are <span style="font-style: italic;">over</span>-designed. I mean, the Cobra Trooper look is pretty hard to mess up. They're wearing blue military uniforms and blue helmets with red or black scarves over their faces! Why make them look like Imperial Stormtroopers crossed with an <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.videogamesblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/gi-joe-rise-of-cobra-video-game-neo-viper-character-artwork.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 156px;" src="http://www.videogamesblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/gi-joe-rise-of-cobra-video-game-neo-viper-character-artwork.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>armadillo? I figured the looks of the Joes and Cobras would not be so difficult to translate to live action, so I don't understand the need to redesign everything. Some designs are iconic enough to stay the same, no? I mean they got the looks of Baroness, Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow (for the most part) right, so why not the others?<br /><br />So what <span style="font-style: italic;">did </span>I like? Honestly, I liked the little touches. The most geek-out moment for me was when Breaker asked for a piece of gum and blew a bubble while in the car. I thought that was awesome! A nice little touch for the fans. I thought Snake Eyes was pretty cool (despite the mouth on the mask and lack of UZI. Seriously, Snake Eyes packs a glock? WTF?). I do wish the backstory of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow wasn't as simplistic as the movie made it seem. But it was serviceable. I hope there's more focus on them in Part 2. Basically, I want a Snake Eyes movie. (Hey, if all the <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Men </span>movies can be about Wolverine, than all the <span style="font-style: italic;">Joe </span>movies can be about Snake Eyes!) And Snake Eyes looks absolutely badass in a hood and trenchcoat!<br /><br />I liked that the Night Raven, the C.L.A.W., the S.H.A.R.C.s, and the U.S.S. Flagg all made appearances. And Baroness' tricked out HumVee was essentially a modern version of the <a href="http://www.yojoe.com/vehicles/84/stinger/">Cobra Stinger</a>. The Pit was pretty cool too. I also liked that the Joe's arctic gear resembled Snow Job's.<br /><br />Bottom line: it was a bunch of dumb fun. I really wanted to dislike the movie, but I have to admit I was entertained for two hours. It was definitely better than both <span style="font-style: italic;">Transformers</span> movies, and there's a (naive) part of me that hopes they fix what they got wrong for the sequel. What can I say? At heart, I'm a diehard Joe fan. Larry Hama practically defined my childhood. I was gonna like it no matter what.keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-19597400714435253522009-07-29T05:36:00.000-07:002009-07-29T06:04:05.588-07:00More photos from San Diego<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSM6GhC3DUexFVI5LnD5jUf_VPcI2B92_ft3quQFDegg_nKP2Sj4tUOrZF-o12OmTKjIEI-Oz02JTx5GzFFm4SXjXBhjM-HYm3e9xIaD-Bu-lQNK4P2qf7DhoDtKYaLsK3WM/s1600-h/DSC06188.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 117px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSM6GhC3DUexFVI5LnD5jUf_VPcI2B92_ft3quQFDegg_nKP2Sj4tUOrZF-o12OmTKjIEI-Oz02JTx5GzFFm4SXjXBhjM-HYm3e9xIaD-Bu-lQNK4P2qf7DhoDtKYaLsK3WM/s200/DSC06188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363861984092481458" border="0" /></a>Now that Comic-Con has come and gone, it's finally time to get back into the daily grind that doesn't involve immovable lines of people and sweaty homemade spandex costumes. While I'm glad to be home, sleeping in my own bed, a part of me bemoans the fact that it'll be at least another year before I am able to walk into a men's room and witness the scene to the left. Only at Comic-Con!<br /><br />I'll also miss seeing all the random celebrities that I encountered while hanging out in San Diego. Aside from meeting Kelly Hu (<span style="font-style: italic;">X2</span>) and grabbing drinks with the likes of Keiko Agena (<span style="font-style: italic;">Gilmore Girls</span>)<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>and the illustrious <a href="http://www.parryshen.com/">Larry Shen</a>, I also caught glimpses of Brian Cox (<span style="font-style: italic;">X2</span>) Zachary Levi (<span style="font-style: italic;">Chuck</span>), Tyrese (four times!), Emily Deschanel (<span style="font-style: italic;">Bones</span>), Scott Wolf (<span style="font-style: italic;">Party of Five</span>), Morris Chestnut (<span style="font-style: italic;">Boyz N the Hood</span>) and Elizabeth Mitchell (<span style="font-style: italic;">Lost</span>). The last three were spotted having dinner together at Nobu (where Epic Props/Secret Identities had our own epic dinner!)<br /><br />So I leave you guys with some of my favorite photos from Nerd Prom. Till next year, stay classy San Diego!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWjf7dWvaZk6dA5LmGPU9poDhyphenhyphen0Mr1Mh41PWMIHE9w03g7xCcYlwCgblyqZZiyrnXnBk-jUbbR30oRPz5jF8gdOp7nF66LDJE8R52J4ssKpPI4bTNt113y9CmwhKGLtczCRE/s1600-h/DSC06191.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWjf7dWvaZk6dA5LmGPU9poDhyphenhyphen0Mr1Mh41PWMIHE9w03g7xCcYlwCgblyqZZiyrnXnBk-jUbbR30oRPz5jF8gdOp7nF66LDJE8R52J4ssKpPI4bTNt113y9CmwhKGLtczCRE/s200/DSC06191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363861791923393170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Oh yeah, did I forget to mention Hugh Jackman in my celeb rundown?<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjhTjy0OXdfa50eJR8Q6YocAX5WrBJJJiyn8KmhMJdwUoK26pj903Rhhi58UgfGIlD9qAt7hikCwG0Z_SK0FJoMqOTvlsR8t-gezX52viZk9Yr9yUjfp7x3CDT_KGzFyVyLY/s1600-h/DSC06192.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjhTjy0OXdfa50eJR8Q6YocAX5WrBJJJiyn8KmhMJdwUoK26pj903Rhhi58UgfGIlD9qAt7hikCwG0Z_SK0FJoMqOTvlsR8t-gezX52viZk9Yr9yUjfp7x3CDT_KGzFyVyLY/s200/DSC06192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363861520787246770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Bumblebee was also in attendance.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77cpy4uNd-JYA6ZKlJiPyxv_NWDiE0okNDMKd5XhXP17LpoXdoWccbyYodRHyTOEMI26oNvQLwHlEeJiDtfSPCrYG6kUNP36oUzxyHgJs-z9L3D28DyOvHYi-1bLsf8W_2wg/s1600-h/DSC06194.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77cpy4uNd-JYA6ZKlJiPyxv_NWDiE0okNDMKd5XhXP17LpoXdoWccbyYodRHyTOEMI26oNvQLwHlEeJiDtfSPCrYG6kUNP36oUzxyHgJs-z9L3D28DyOvHYi-1bLsf8W_2wg/s200/DSC06194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363861327058871042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">You cannot understand how badly I wanted to get the black/gold vinyl Voltron!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUb8kO9jOf4VHjjOTicQ3iCrk96-vzkw_PAY9UqPfg76eoA_mM4c7X2ddKedgIXHHFQeFWkYP6EZzj0CScS146R42Q3JSOsknQ_bmvZ5Ut7ACS2hPhtb0cQkvzFfhf0E3dagU/s1600-h/DSC06195.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUb8kO9jOf4VHjjOTicQ3iCrk96-vzkw_PAY9UqPfg76eoA_mM4c7X2ddKedgIXHHFQeFWkYP6EZzj0CScS146R42Q3JSOsknQ_bmvZ5Ut7ACS2hPhtb0cQkvzFfhf0E3dagU/s200/DSC06195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363861148591979138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">It would have been nice to bring home Giant Voltron too, I guess.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5uOSQELEEcuh8JnHVnOXutpd79RSEne-5hsGsP8o7e5S450lQPArnMEU4YGp7QjBimDKaJe5oj9u9t0geTde-PX5PJelIgctxnZl6mM8bedntPCtJ0Gw32mvul0o1yQeEkU/s1600-h/DSC06207.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5uOSQELEEcuh8JnHVnOXutpd79RSEne-5hsGsP8o7e5S450lQPArnMEU4YGp7QjBimDKaJe5oj9u9t0geTde-PX5PJelIgctxnZl6mM8bedntPCtJ0Gw32mvul0o1yQeEkU/s200/DSC06207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363860989357973746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Secret Identities in the hizzy!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFRpe5_96gDugyRxE_MyxLuRlZUg3O5IBjTI2VnsGw4RAyv1FcaWakeIwGs4KbeTiF_A4V-9IW7gpZsY65U6vfQ26gUaRAq_G88-lG9dbYzbpdjX3bXWPR5d-Dmcm3NDzIvI/s1600-h/DSC06217.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFRpe5_96gDugyRxE_MyxLuRlZUg3O5IBjTI2VnsGw4RAyv1FcaWakeIwGs4KbeTiF_A4V-9IW7gpZsY65U6vfQ26gUaRAq_G88-lG9dbYzbpdjX3bXWPR5d-Dmcm3NDzIvI/s200/DSC06217.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363860824694747250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Kelly Hu signing Natsuko's copy of <span style="font-style: italic;">Secret Identities</span>...<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDHx690ozbAEKoA9Gei6XnLMMvcKghehG2HuOhLD4jV-7PngmXn0JNRGemIS3YPgjeohkrsD-la1fSDuAjApgYtutVF-ji4suTdfVQx3a8s-ckCJ7OcVv99mtrFf287pws8E/s1600-h/DSC06232.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDHx690ozbAEKoA9Gei6XnLMMvcKghehG2HuOhLD4jV-7PngmXn0JNRGemIS3YPgjeohkrsD-la1fSDuAjApgYtutVF-ji4suTdfVQx3a8s-ckCJ7OcVv99mtrFf287pws8E/s200/DSC06232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363860685395490786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">...and modeling my favorite <a href="http://www.epicprops.com/display.php?shirt_id=10">Epic Props shirt</a>...<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ84oRg8nRV_Tbk88-gT-j0_zhclb72DVqZO5DGkzEXcyrYropspuG3yYjUgZGkUmwtXGbmTDGcYfAgFeX85nSFj5CQVzJzCNmRuE3wrB8sl1huaDaSQY13yqWoo6snpy1ckA/s1600-h/DSC06225.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ84oRg8nRV_Tbk88-gT-j0_zhclb72DVqZO5DGkzEXcyrYropspuG3yYjUgZGkUmwtXGbmTDGcYfAgFeX85nSFj5CQVzJzCNmRuE3wrB8sl1huaDaSQY13yqWoo6snpy1ckA/s200/DSC06225.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363860550160425938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"></span>...<span style="font-size:78%;">and getting interviewed byVictor of G4 Canada's "Electric Playground."</span><br /></div>keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-88250818346755058472009-07-27T07:18:00.000-07:002009-07-27T09:21:31.544-07:00What I Did This Weekend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkaj7CWQEzesoJuEBOkaS5nTdN-To0diEfc4H1IDWps-LGom7znxxgqMVgyG-IdnQUE0c8m5U7aB00muWt3b7VlOQb7kmFu6Lg9fBETI_GaCYUTw0PxQ1PH9OTfsGr3xtGJk/s1600-h/DSC06072.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkaj7CWQEzesoJuEBOkaS5nTdN-To0diEfc4H1IDWps-LGom7znxxgqMVgyG-IdnQUE0c8m5U7aB00muWt3b7VlOQb7kmFu6Lg9fBETI_GaCYUTw0PxQ1PH9OTfsGr3xtGJk/s200/DSC06072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363159927097005298" border="0" /></a>Just got back from a whirlwind five days in San Diego. Was in town for a <a href="http://www.comic-con.org/">little trade show</a> you may or may not have heard about. I was helping to hold down the fort at the <a href="http://www.epicprops.com/">Epic Proportions</a> booth with my boys Jerry, Parry and Jeff as we hawked <a href="http://www.secretidentities.org/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Secret Identities</span></a> to the sweaty, costumed sea of humanity before us. Being that this was my first San Diego experience--and I had heard all the stories of how insane it is--I was braced for the madness, and to be <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MIUOG3OyOU3FUdQrxQOVBZcsenUIl9ton6A4Z5bBOwF8bKLIEw_buYswCr4YX8n6TBLuFq7SiIpEWoIRAZGBfWkXZlrSG_0dHv76_ALIKd0f4Fm_P9PqhfJI5s79sA3I2Go/s1600-h/DSC06074.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MIUOG3OyOU3FUdQrxQOVBZcsenUIl9ton6A4Z5bBOwF8bKLIEw_buYswCr4YX8n6TBLuFq7SiIpEWoIRAZGBfWkXZlrSG_0dHv76_ALIKd0f4Fm_P9PqhfJI5s79sA3I2Go/s200/DSC06074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363159829764066946" border="0" /></a>honest, I didn't find it that different than others that I've been to, except that maybe this was <span style="font-style: italic;">a lot more fun</span>.<br /><br />I think it helped to have a home base like the Epic Props booth to come back to. For one, this experience was different because I had a book to promote and sell (and sell we did!), but also because I got to hang out with some really cool people. So not only was it cool to see Parry, Jerry, and Jeff again, but it was doubly cool to get to know everyone holding down the Epic side! So big ups to everyone at Epic, and especially Ken, Will, and Sandy!<br /><br />When I did manage to navigate through hordes trying to get free swag and gawking at various booth babes and celebs, it was pretty maddening. (Quick tip: when trying to blow some steam off after being stressed out, walking the exhibit halls is <span style="font-style: italic;">not </span>the way to go.) They're not exaggerating about this place being packed to the gills. Making your way to, say, Artists' Alley requires planning, preparation and patience. And blisters on your feet. Fortunately, being an exhibitor allowed me to gain access to the halls before the doors were open, and this was the best time to check out all the studios' elaborate booths, though they were not open to offering their free (or even not free) swag until doors opened. Boo!<br /><br />Anyway, Comic-Con was an awesome experience. Met a lot of cool people, hopefully gained some new fans, and reconnected with a lot of old friends! Just some of the cool people I got to hang out with (however briefly) included: Derek Kirk Kim, Gene Yang, Kazu Kibuishi, James Jean, Heidi MacDonald, Clay Moore, Shelley Myers, Cliff Chiang, Danny Lee, Keiko Agena, Shin Kawasaki, Phil Yu, Larry Hama, Janice Chiang, Bernard Chang, Sean Chen, Fletcher Chu-Fong, and a bunch more. Can't wait to do it again.<br /><br />And now comes the only part that anyone cares about in a San Diego Comic-Con wrap-up: the photos! At the time, I thought I was taking a ton of pics, but it turns out that there was a lot of stuff I just forgot to take pictures of, otherwise I'd be standing around pointing my camera everywhere and snapping photos of everything. Here's what I did manage to capture in pixels. Check out even more photos on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=109857&id=58688536866">Facebook</a>!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsz515Ay20d8FnUjy-oTPgR2MudqVR59cdSAC7yOMwKuU5ClKt8amm4J7nha9T0F0KjWb7GabxX-S1ca1y98BvMtJzmPNyLYWVePVXRhP9DyjBzBm8VxbAdxYgUHQh71IKMI/s1600-h/DSC06083.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsz515Ay20d8FnUjy-oTPgR2MudqVR59cdSAC7yOMwKuU5ClKt8amm4J7nha9T0F0KjWb7GabxX-S1ca1y98BvMtJzmPNyLYWVePVXRhP9DyjBzBm8VxbAdxYgUHQh71IKMI/s200/DSC06083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363159496041633634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:78%;">The Bat-Pod!</span><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHRyr1CByzEGycSLLHJ-VSkIvTkCGsz-RcIYHS1ok_SjN1UJ0MAmrfPNOCyh5HcGhXndr7cTuy-FpviLo0M6XPV-JBCUHprofFUayk3xckCrTB8BtC7QphQqPNG125Xl5WKE/s1600-h/DSC06091.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHRyr1CByzEGycSLLHJ-VSkIvTkCGsz-RcIYHS1ok_SjN1UJ0MAmrfPNOCyh5HcGhXndr7cTuy-FpviLo0M6XPV-JBCUHprofFUayk3xckCrTB8BtC7QphQqPNG125Xl5WKE/s200/DSC06091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363159246753106274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Lounging at the Hard Rock with Jerry Ma, Cliff Chiang & Parry Shen.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1DrGhD_flLJ5Jwil9yjrIH9eMyQFj7-_HjCEJJrAeurc7Y6380U6d_OoeLrjCyIsOgZ5jUMu_PJrd-PQ24iJ0-xuvNVw3S34uWxyAaovy6nvVWzaguBudWt6Ut3KiM8f6uo/s1600-h/DSC06108.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1DrGhD_flLJ5Jwil9yjrIH9eMyQFj7-_HjCEJJrAeurc7Y6380U6d_OoeLrjCyIsOgZ5jUMu_PJrd-PQ24iJ0-xuvNVw3S34uWxyAaovy6nvVWzaguBudWt6Ut3KiM8f6uo/s200/DSC06108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363158805554027826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Gene Yang and Larry Hama are some of the guys who stopped by the booth.</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DACx_wv24SJs2GvZhuCmL0fFQX9m-7VFIQnKJ6oJ2rRf6dfNyn7hhpOdeBXf6gOtiFjrHxVvAz_sgxFX0PlmuphbSjpH5x0snLOiYWReuVrTjWk8APFLXpScicwXYtivu8Y/s1600-h/DSC06115.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DACx_wv24SJs2GvZhuCmL0fFQX9m-7VFIQnKJ6oJ2rRf6dfNyn7hhpOdeBXf6gOtiFjrHxVvAz_sgxFX0PlmuphbSjpH5x0snLOiYWReuVrTjWk8APFLXpScicwXYtivu8Y/s200/DSC06115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363158526766437538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Larry with Snake Eyes himself, Ray Park.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8ukflyhhI_dxnWycrcAq4t5i6QZiJYWgdhnMuX3nZUxJQGXO_ALb6F4QkwmoID2xje316TuF7mI7VWlg3lIHP_UxLGMSFqaGYxnaezg-aPTOX-RvfR6o0ymQCOuX3yqiZME/s1600-h/DSC06138.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8ukflyhhI_dxnWycrcAq4t5i6QZiJYWgdhnMuX3nZUxJQGXO_ALb6F4QkwmoID2xje316TuF7mI7VWlg3lIHP_UxLGMSFqaGYxnaezg-aPTOX-RvfR6o0ymQCOuX3yqiZME/s200/DSC06138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363162302201831842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">This one's for Raymond: Me and <span style="font-style: italic;">Usagi Yojimbo </span>creator Stan Sakai!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPR0YtgWrUwjWfsj7tP0vt69BCGzYjc73CZkHSZK6Nv19A6w90yrLfyC24IzqQZqg9ZFG2kk1C5Qf-ImDJWudAJqQlKnkG5rMOWvlyH02xbAo1A2rF5H1QKxyxbcsptc7o0Y/s1600-h/DSC06169.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPR0YtgWrUwjWfsj7tP0vt69BCGzYjc73CZkHSZK6Nv19A6w90yrLfyC24IzqQZqg9ZFG2kk1C5Qf-ImDJWudAJqQlKnkG5rMOWvlyH02xbAo1A2rF5H1QKxyxbcsptc7o0Y/s200/DSC06169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363158136038424530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">The guys with <a href="http://www.keikoagena.com/">Keiko Agena</a> and <a href="http://www.mingdoyle.com/">Ming Doyle</a>.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0edllwWLwUizVkI3HFtxi3fv1591InAkhqy941Y0OUT-3KcMfj4Bgcd7kkpaznb7D8b9PnDskA7P9urn1XiGOp3pmxTEE7tXwBYmty_Q9dsjqokucX4YirLrt3y-KvxdiS54/s1600-h/DSC06206.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0edllwWLwUizVkI3HFtxi3fv1591InAkhqy941Y0OUT-3KcMfj4Bgcd7kkpaznb7D8b9PnDskA7P9urn1XiGOp3pmxTEE7tXwBYmty_Q9dsjqokucX4YirLrt3y-KvxdiS54/s200/DSC06206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363157682419318642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">You don't want to see Phil when he's <a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/">Angry</a>!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAcNDIwxaBq44ux6UeJMmf7Sg_k8h-wLqS6cry0DZR0y8LDBx6vC7MfDna74o-onUeJwUbOugnYeT-pb4ACjvkxQRoUGqDSDPZEZRkwW2ghytli44VclonVZf4WiJn8-lHnM/s1600-h/DSC06221.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAcNDIwxaBq44ux6UeJMmf7Sg_k8h-wLqS6cry0DZR0y8LDBx6vC7MfDna74o-onUeJwUbOugnYeT-pb4ACjvkxQRoUGqDSDPZEZRkwW2ghytli44VclonVZf4WiJn8-lHnM/s200/DSC06221.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363155876883762322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">With Kelly Hu and Cliff.<br /></span></div>keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-91823769658910249412009-07-20T21:02:00.000-07:002011-07-21T06:59:39.209-07:00A Poem for Bruce: 11/27/40 - 7/20/73<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;"><st1:place st="on" style="font-family: arial;"><i>Like Water: </i></st1:place></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;"><st1:place st="on" style="font-family: arial;"><i>Excerpts from Bruce Lee’s Last Interview</i></st1:place></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on"><i>Hong Kong</i></st1:place><i>, July, 1973</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<i><o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">I guess it all adds up to bad karma, man.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">My father used to talk about these demons<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">that shadowed my life like rain clouds<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">crawling over an April afternoon.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Always there. But there’s more <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">to me than demons. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">***<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m serious.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Dismiss what I do. <i>Chop-socky Kung-fu</i>, <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">you might say. But that’s <i>my </i>art. Not just ass-kicking and<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">a <i>wa-taa</i> here and there. That jazz isn’t about<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">self-defense, man, it’s about saving <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">my self. And baby, every day I leave my soul out there,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">bloody and tired. Honestly. Expressing. Myself. That <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">can’t be taken away,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">no matter what. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">***<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">See, I’m not a superstar. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">That’s an illusion, man. I mean, a star <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">just burns up and fades into the seconds that <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">disappear on the horizon. But I got nowhere<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">else to be, but here. Tell me, you think Jimi <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">could tell the difference between the music<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">bleeding out of those strings and his own damned soul?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">***<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s the seventies now, and baby,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">there isn’t any room left for anymore accusing.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">I don’t have time to worry about who’s white<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">and who’s wrong. As far as I am concerned, <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">in the eyes of Heaven, we are all racing to<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">the same end. But outside, <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">the weather isn’t good <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">for Orientals right now. <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> is just <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">waking up from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Korea</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">with <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Vietnam</st1:place></st1:country-region> untying our boots, you tell me<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">who looks like the enemy?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">***<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s like time’s watching me, man, and<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">I got no reason to believe all the shit <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">isn’t going to drop on me – as if the scabs<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">on my soul weren’t warning enough.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">But I have to live my life trying<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">to find a calmness through the chaos, ya know?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">***<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Take Linda, my wife, the way her hair<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">spills like sunset down her back.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">That’s how I explain this thing<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">we’re all swimming around in. Those demons?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">They can’t catch me. I know the deal.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">I know.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://i2.asntown.net/9/bruce-lee-the-lost-interview.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i2.asntown.net/9/bruce-lee-the-lost-interview.jpg" style="float: left; height: 196px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 294px;" /></a> <br />
<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19804082.post-58359617063562411382009-06-25T12:44:00.000-07:002009-06-29T08:09:23.768-07:00When is Someone Going to Let ME Make a Transformers Movie?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://themovingpicture.net/wp-content/uploads/transformers2_poster_final.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 311px;" src="http://themovingpicture.net/wp-content/uploads/transformers2_poster_final.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>So I just got out of <a href="http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/transformersrevengeofthefallen/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The IMAX Experience</span></a>. That's a lot of colons. (By the way, props to the Maryland Science Center for <span style="font-style: italic;">finally</span> showing Hollywood movies in their IMAX theater! I've been lobbying for this for years--or at least since <span style="font-style: italic;">The Dark Knight</span> came out last summer. No more Fake IMAX at AMC for me!)<br /><br />Anyway, as I was saying, <span style="font-style: italic;">TF:ROTF:TIE</span>. Where do we begin? This flick fails on so many levels, not least of which are the <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090624/ap_en_mo/us_film_transformers_jar_jar_again">Stepin Fetchbots</a> that have been getting the brunt of the negative press. More on them later. I think a lot of my problems with this movie are the same ones I had with the first one: mainly, the robot designs are too busy and indistinguishable, the human characters are corny, the action is hard to follow, the humor is crass, and the storyline is nonsensical (or maybe non-existent?). Only these problems have been magnified a thousand fold.<br /><br />For instance, I read that were dozens of more robots. I wouldn't know because they all look <span style="font-style: italic;">exactly alike</span>. Especially the Decepticons. You know how I could tell the difference between Megatron and Starscream when they were on screen together? I couldn't! Everyone's a jumbled mess of chrome and metal. And the human characters are even worse this time around. Everytime Sam's parents were on camera, I wanted to shove a Decepticon probe-bot in my eye sockets. Seriously, whoever thought a scene in which Sam's mom gets high on "special" brownies must have been high on "special" brownies.<br /><br />Oh, Michael Bay. Sometimes "awesome" doesn't equal "good." As I mentioned, I saw the IMAX cut of the flick. Like Christopher Nolan did last summer in <span style="font-style: italic;">The Dark Knight</span>, Bay and co. actually shot several scenes using an IMAX camera. Like <span style="font-style: italic;">TDK</span>, the aspect ratio changes whenever an IMAX scene occurs and the image fills the 50-foot screen. <span style="font-style: italic;">Unlike</span> Nolan, though, there is no rhyme or reason to his use of IMAX footage. In <span style="font-style: italic;">The Dark Knight</span>, whole swathes of the movie were filmed and presented in IMAX--like aerial establishing shots of Gotham, the opening bank heist, the Bat-Pod chase, and the climax. In <span style="font-style: italic;">TF2, </span>Bay cuts back and forth between IMAX footage and standard 35-mm footage IN THE SAME SCENE! Not only is it distracting, it's pointless. Whenever <span style="font-style: italic;">Dark Knight</span> switched aspect ratios, it was meant to put the viewer directly into the scene. Nolan had each IMAX shot last several seconds so you could take in the whole scope and breadth of the scene you were witnessing. With the constant cutting between 35-mm and 70-mm in <span style="font-style: italic;">Transformers</span>, the effect is actually the opposite. Rather than being enveloped by the experience, you're being jarred in and out of the scene.<br /><br />(WARNING: The rest of this review will be full of SPOILERS! You've been warned.)<br /><br />The only time IMAX really worked was during the forest battle near the beginning of the film. This scene worked for two reasons: one, Bay limits the shifting aspect ratio and keeps most of the scene in IMAX, and two, with the characters fighting on the green background of the forest, you could actually <span style="font-style: italic;">see</span> and comprehend the action.<br /><br />The battle in the forest is also the setting of Optimus Prime's "death." I had the feeling this was coming from some of the trailers. It was a much cooler death than the one Prime got in the animated movie 25 years ago. (I'll never forgive Hot Rod for getting Prime killed!) My only issue was the fact that they were killing off Prime in only the second movie. Fortunately (or not) Prime gets resurrected during the end battle (using the Matrix of Leadership no less!) so that was cool. Speaking of "deaths," Sam visits Autobot Heaven. To which I say, WTF?!<br /><br />So let's break the flick down into the GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY:<br /><br />GOOD: the aforementioned forest battle is cool (though the whole time I was thinking, why aren't the other Autobots helping Optimus? Why is he taking on five Decepticons alone? It's not like the others weren't around). I also like Soundwave as a satelite (and that his voice sounds like he did on the cartoon! Yay!) with his projectiles transforming into Ravage (what, no love for Lazerbeak?). I also really like Optimus' heroic unveiling in the beginning of the movie when he was airdropped over Shanghai. That's how you make an entrance! I also appreciated references to the Matrix of Leadership and Energon.<br /><br />BAD: Um, everything else? The human Decepticon (again, WTF?!), the annoying roommate, the blurry CGI. Seriously, why spend hundreds of millions on ILM when the finished product is just a bunch of grey and green blurs on the screen? Also, how can you ruin the Constructicons? Devastator was one of the coolest toys when I was a kid. Construction vehicles that can combine into a giant mega robot? Awesome. For some reason, though, these Constructicons combine into a lumbering gorilla-bot, with mechanical testicles by the way, that can barely move. What's the point, really?<br /><br />Maybe it's just me, but I also got a strong anti-Obama streak throughout. He's clearly POTUS in the flick. There's mention of him being evacuated to a bunker during the Decepticon assault. But that isn't what bugged me. Instead, I thought the NSA pencil-pusher character was a veiled criticism of this administration's "diplomacy first" foreign policy. There's a scene in which said pencil-pusher, on direct orders from POTUS, tells Josh Duhamel's Marine character that they are basically going to sit down and negotiate with Megatron. I was waiting for him to finish his sentence with "without preconditions."<br /><br />UGLY: What? Other than Megan Fox's collagen implants? Rimshot.<br /><br />Seriously, though. Who came up with Mudflap and Skids? I know Jazz (who's my favorite Autobot, by the way) from the first flick got some flack for being too "urban", but it's as if the writers thought to themselves, let's take that criticsim and make it <span style="font-style: italic;">even more offensive</span>. Like I said, Jazz was my favorite Transformer (too bad Scatman Crothers couldn't do the voice in the first movie), but I don't recall him being a jive-talking robot. Also, it isn't <span style="font-style: italic;">just</span> the fact that Mudflap and Skids speak in "urban slang." They also happen to be illiterate buffoons with giant bug-eyes and gold teeth that serve no other purpose than to be laughed <span style="font-style: italic;">at</span>. In other words, they're minstrels in disguise.<br /><br />Bottom line is that I disliked <span style="font-style: italic;">Transformers 2</span> so much that not only am I not going to buy the DVD, I'm going to sell my copy of <span style="font-style: italic;">Transformers 1</span> to a used DVD store.keith chowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463122964757985868noreply@blogger.com1