Batman Bake-a-thon!

It's that time of year again! Several Christmases ago, I picked out and tried a very simple recipe for making "peanut clusters" (chocolate covered peanuts in cookie size "clusters"). I had also slowly developed the tradition of watching my favorite "Christmas Movie", BATMAN RETURNS every December. (In case you've forgotten, the movie takes place during the Christmas season in Gotham.)

Before long, I combined both traditions into an afternoon of baking Peanut Clusters and watching Batman Returns, along with several Christmas themed episodes of the Batman, Superman and Justice League animated tv shows.

Sometimes I'm joined by friends, but I've discovered I'm just as content to do it all by myself. Tomorrow afternoon will be this year's celebration of Batman and chocolate.

I'd better go buy my ingredients!

Expanding The Terminator Mythos

While "Legend Of The Seeker" makes some improvements and "Heroes" struggles to recapture lightning in a bottle, "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" continues to be a solid show.

Week after week it deals with the darker emotions and themes you would expect when telling stories about a mother and son constantly trying to escape unstoppable machine assassins.

They are also expanding on the Terminator Mythos in ways that respect the original material. I thought Monday's episode would be a turn in the wrong direction. I was afraid we were about to watch the tired formula of telling a story about the main characer's ancestors, but using the lead actors to play them.

Instead, we learned more about what a terminator is capable of, how long it is able to operate on its internal power source and a little more of who Cameron is.

SPOILERS!

I loved that at the end of the episode, despite Cameron developing a "friendship" with the late night librarian, when he was gone, she went right on to using the person that replaced him, showing no interest in where the previous guy had gone and whether or not he was okay, given his cancer. Cameron is a machine. And just when I'm scared they're going too far in the "does Data have real feelings" direction, they wisely remind the audience that "Nope! She doesn't!" (And let's keep it that way, okay? It's MUCH more interesting when she FOOLS people into thinking she has emotions. We've been the "Data" route too many times already.)

And poor John Connor. Just when it seems he's found a relationship that can give him an escape from the world he's in, she turns out to be from the future as well. Can't wait to see the ep. when he finds out!

I also am curious about the recurring Biblical themes. I'm not sure if the writers are ultimately trying to say something, but they don't seem to be borrowing exclusively from the book of Revelation, an all too common cliche for apocalyptic stories. There are references to other parts of scripture that make me wonder where things are headed. I really doubt any heavy-handed preaching will show up. But the hints continue to keep me interested.

I can't wait for Monday!

How often can any of us say that?

The Christmas Tree Massacre

Last year, I didn't get my tree to the appointed deposit location in time to be disposed of properly. Instead, I spent some time on and off on weekends, almost through February, sawing our dead tree into smaller bits to be thrown out in our green "lawn and garden" trash bin.

That was a real pain in the butt. I vowed that I would never make that mistake again.

So I made a brand new one instead, which has also resulted in a vow. From now on, I will always let the guys at the "tree purchasing place" cut a little off the bottom of the trunk. We've only been getting real trees for a few years and usually they just do that automatically. It has something to do with allowing water to get into the tree and keeping it alive longer. Whatever it does, I'm told its important. But I didn't know that until after we got home yesterday after I foolishly declined having the bottom cut.

So I took two hammers, two saws and a flathead screwdriver into the back yard, where I mercilessly beat and hacked at the bottom of this tree until I was able to re-expose the bottom. A very merry 30 minute ordeal that never should have happened. And it never will again... (grrr.)

Batman RIP-off

Batman #681 came out today, concluding the much-hyped, overly-cross-overed storyline that ran through all the bat titles and some of "the outsiders".

A few weeks ago I sold the other bat-books related to this series. I feel like DC really shouldn't have marketed all the bat-books as being part of RIP. The main storyline was all in "Batman" and spending money on the others was a waste. (Except for "Outsiders", which I get anyway.)

This whole ride has been pretty convoluted and incoherant for me and in the end I'm still left going "huh?" at a few things. Overall, I have to say that I could have done without this story. Unless something happens in the next issue, I have no reason to think this has been a redefining moment for Batman. And the fact that they are starting a new story arc called "Last Rites" just feels like they're trying to milk an expired cow.

About a year ago it felt like the best time in the world to be a DC fan. But with the lackluster Countdown series, a less than fantastic "Infinite Crisis", Flash sucking over-all, Pa Kent getting killed, JLA focusing on third string heroes... it seems like a pretty mixed bag right now. JSA, Green Lantern, Secret Six and a couple other books remain strong, but I'm hoping things will look better for all of these great characters after Infinite Crisis is over and the new year gets underway.

John Carpenter's: The Thing!

In my opinion, few movies stand the test of time like "John Carpenter's: The Thing". In the modern age of CGI, we see all kinds of terrible and fake-looking creatures. It's pretty clear when the actors are talking to a tennis ball and not an alien.

But before CGI, special effects wizards like Rob Bottin(The Howling, Legend) had to create animated puppets or intricate costumes to bring creatures to life. As a result, when you see the creature, you know the actors are seeing it, too. It's not a bunch of imaginary ones and zeroes. It's right there with the actors, covered in KY jelly to give it that look of slimy persperation you just can't get in CGI. And though there is still a "fakeness" to the effects, it still comes off as more real than many hollywood light shows brought to us by George Lucas.

Combine this with Bottin's wacked out creature designs and a constant sense of claustrophobia and paranoia, and you have a classic movie that is just what the promotional posters say: The ultimate in alien terror.

This is a movie that serves as something of an "initiation" into friendship with Paeter Frandsen. Most, but not all of my friends are subjected to this film the second or third time they hang out with me.

Tonight, I have the unique pleasure of having a friend over that I've known for years, but for some reason never got around to making him sit through this film. I've seen it so many times, that the greatest pleasure I get from it now is showing it to those who have never seen it. So tonight will be alot of fun.

Brace yourself, Jeff! For soon you shall encounter... The Thing!

Vampires that make me gag

In all fairness, I haven't seen "Twilight". I'm not going to see "Twilight". The previews alone remind me of so many things that make me gag.

High schoolers already think their little high school world is so important and beyond understanding. They already think they know what love is and the world just doesn't sympathize with them. Do we really need to taint the concept of a vampire underworld by mixing it with the overly dramatic lives and relationships of teenagers? Must we really watch vampires pass notes to each other in class and blog about how cute they think someone is on Myspace?

I talked to a group of high school girls today who had all seen this movie last night and they were incredibly enthusiastic and bubbly over the experience of watching it. I'm told critical reviews have so far not been as favorable.

If anybody wants to see this movie and tell me what they think (anybody other than a teenage girl.), I'd be interested. Otherwise, I can't wait for them to stop playing commercials for this terrible looking film.

"Seeker" is getting Weaker!

I'm frustrated to report that the new tv series "Legend Of The Seeker" has fallen vastly short of the potential displayed in the first two episodes. The 3rd and 4th episodes went almost entirely away from the source material, presenting one-shot stories that do not advance the over-all plot. They didn't do much to develop character either.

Speaking of character, Richard seems to be way off his game. If memory serves, he never made the kind of foolish choices in the books that he's making in the series. I'm talking specifically about returning to his home town without consulting Zedd.

In general, Richard feels too bright eyed and naive. In the books, Richard is a man's man, not some angsty, self-doubting, wet behind the ears hobbit!

Episode 4 in particular demonstrated some of the most predictable, substanceless writing that television is capable of. Can anyone say they really thought that lady was his mom? As soon as she said she held him the day he was born, I said "mid-wife" and waited an hour for the script to catch up.

If Terry Goodkind is truly involved in the writing chores, I'm sad to say that he should stick to books. If not, the show might benefit from what he has to offer. Either way, something has got to change. These episodes do not reflect the tone or character of "Wizard's First Rule", and I can't blame anyone for not sticking with the show at this point. Unfortunately, I am a huge Goodkind fan and so am hopelessly condemned to watch this show, even if things continue to get worse. Here's hoping I will be spared that torture.