Spider-Man 3… Why Sam, why?

Well, True Believers… it has happened. Spider-Man has stumbled or should I say Sam Raimi has stumbled? The family and I saw Spider-Man 3 on Friday night at the Showcase Cinema in Ann Arbor. We were all looking forward to seeing it and why not? The other Spider-Man movies were great and well cast, IMHO.

Eric, quit yer bitching about Toby Maguire. We should consider ourselves lucky that the guy responsible for the Evil Dead trilogy got his hands on Spidey. It could’ve been worse… imagine Nicholas Cage as Peter Parker.

But after the house lights came up after 2 hours and 20 minutes, I felt let down. And it’s not Spidey’s fault. I put the blame on Raimi, who tried to deliver too much in this final chapter in his Spider-Man trilogy. Pick apart SM3 and it’s great, but as a whole it falls apart. There are simply too many story lines running parallel and the characters suffer because of it. Topher Grace is excellent but Eddie Brock doesn’t get fleshed out enough to make you care that this loser becomes Venom. Thomas Haden Church’s Sandman gets fleshed out but has nothing to do with the movie other than to serve as back-up to the big fight at the end. Toby Maguire and Kristen Dunst might as well phoned in their roles, as my friend Jacob points out.

I have to throw in that I loved this movie’s handling of Sandman. The scene where he’s trying to “pull himself” together after his accident was awesome.

Here are some other things I noticed about Spider-Man 3…

1. Spider-Man’s spider sense must have been on the fritz ’cause he never freakin’ used it during the whole film!!!

2. Bryce Dallas Howard’s Gwen Stacy was yummy but forgettable, except…

3. Stuff Bryce Dallas Howard in a skin-tight, black, leather outfit trimmed with white fur, dye her hair white, push up her boobies and she’d make a smokin’ hot Black Cat!!!!

4. I know the landlord and his hot lolita-ish daughter are interesting characters but were they good enough to keep Peter living in a dive apartment?

5. Bruce Campbell looked sooo old!!! I simply can’t handle a world where Bruce Campbell ages. I can’t do it. Modern science must band together and make this man age-less. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, PLEASE!!! Bruce has so much more to teach us.

BTW… Old Spice casting Bruce as the Old Spice Guy is the best… marketing… decision… EVER!

6. Kristen Dunst is a fine actress I suppose, but she really sucks as Mary Jane. We need a red-head with more curves, that’s all there is to it.

7. Spider-Man didn’t crack wise nearly enough in this film.

8. The landlord’s daughter is hot. Did I mention that already?

My solution? Extract Sandman and prep him for Spider-Man 4 then focus SM3 on Peter’s relationship with Eddie and Peter’s relationship with Harry and Peter’s relationship with MJ.

Wait, what am I saying? That sounds like some sort of twisted touchy-feely romance movie. IT’S A FREAKIN’ SUPER-HERO MOVIE… HOW ABOUT WE SHOW SPIDER-MAN FOR GOD’S SAKE!!!

Ok… ‘Nuff said for now. I’m gonna go watch my favorite Spidey film, Spider-Man 2. Excelsior!

Sir Graves is now broadcasting from the other side

Well, this is just damn sad … Sir Graves Ghastly has passed away. I remember watching him while growing up in Toledo, OH back in the 70s. You know, I really miss the days of weekend horror shows like Sir Graves, the Ghoul and Creature Feature. <heavy sigh>

I think I’m gonna watch “The Abominable Dr. Phibes” or “Theater of Blood” tonite in Sir Graves’ memory.

Old friends of mine keep weekend horror shows alive with their own brand of Horror Host Humor. Go here and check ‘em out … tell ‘em the BlueFez sent you. And whatever you do … don’t ask to see the shock therapy room. <twitches>

Tarr & Fether’s Pyscho Cinema

Canon Pixma MP600

I just bought a new printer last week, the Canon Pixma MP600, ’cause I needed a new printer to help rejuvenate my small-press endeavors. My current work horse, the Epson 2200, is a pigment-based printer and is very particular about the quality of paper you feed it. Pigment-based inks can only be applied to certain papers which tend to be expensive and can only be had in small quantities. Plus, the Epson is sloooow… a minute and a half for an 8.5 x 11″, full-color, full-bleed print. So much for full-color, full-bleed covers for my small-press comics.

A year and a half later, I finally found a kick-ass lil’ printer that will allow me to print my covers… Canon Pixma MP600. This printer is part of Canon’s multi-function line minus the fax function. I can’t say enuff good things about this printer. The print, copy and scanner quality is amazing. The inks for the MP600 are dye-based* which allow allow me to print on a number of papers not available to the 2200. I’ll post updates as I get more familiar with my new toy.

Oh, the best thing about this printer … at standard resolution, an 8.5 x 11″, full-color, full-bleed print on glossy paper… 28 secs. I do believe I’m back in business.

*The MP600 has 5 dye-based cartridges… C,M,Y,B plus a Photo-Black cartridge which is pigment-based.

BTW… I’m back.

Funny I should write this after posting my review of “Ghost Rider.”

Me so crazy.

Best thing is, I actually feel like writing and drawing again… which is a goood sign.

One-part chopper, Two-parts flaming skull… one big, heaping, handful of cheese!

Went to see “Ghost Rider” over the past weekend. Ummm… what does one say except, “Huh?” Something was on fire, and it wasn’t Ghost Riders flaming skull.

It was crap… a big pile of flaming crap!

Nicolas Cage did a quasi-Elvis impersonation off and on thru-out the entire movie. Eva Mendes’ body did nothing but function as eye-candy. I said her body ’cause she sure as hell wasn’t acting. Throw in lame dialog, a crappy plot, ridiculously stupid bad guys and Peter Fonda in a creepy… pedophile creepy… role and you have one flaming bag o’ doo!

To paraphrase that wordsmith, The Rock… “Can you smell what the Ghost Rider is cooking?” Yes, I did GH and it wasn’t pretty.

Summer 2006 comes to an end

It’s Monday, September 4, 9:52 p.m. It’s cool and dark outside. Everyone is in their beds and the house is quiet.

Tomorrow is the first day of school and for the first time I’m really emotional about this.

On one hand, I’m happy ’cause my wife will get a bit of a break and be able to rejoin the working world. But on the other, I’m sad… really, really sad. This sounds completely daft, but I’m on the verge of tears. My oldest is on the cusp of high school and becoming a young man and my youngest is just starting his scholastic adventures. I remember both times vividly and being scared to death of them.

My middle boy just wants out of school period. Sometimes I don’t blame him. There are times I want out of the working world.

You know, it also reminds me of my own age… the thinning hair, the extra lines on my face, the little gut that came outta nowhere. God I hope I keep my composure at school tomorrow.

Current mood: nervous

“Is it a phantom, a demon, or the Devil himself?”

I’m watching “The Car” while doing some research. It’s about a satanic Lincoln Continental that terrorizes a small, Southwestern town starring James Brolin. If you’ve never seen it, you’re missing one of life’s guilty pleasures.

Current Mood: Bored but busy

Currently Watching: “The Car“

A crazy idea… not so crazy?

I talked to a friend of mine on Friday nite regarding an idea that’s been floating around in my head for a long time. I’m not going to say what the idea is for fear of someone taking the ball and running with it. Suffice to say this idea is a complete 180° turn away from what I’m doing now. He really liked the idea. Everyone seems to like the idea. I like the idea… hell, I’m in love with the idea.

But this idea scares the living **** out of me. This thing in my head is growing on it’s own. That’s how I know when I have a good idea, a good story or a good design… when they write themselves. I simply act as a custodian, a guide to get this idea to fruition. I’m just scared I’m not “man enough” to see it thru.

Current Mood: Not Sure

BlueFez Blog resurfaces yet again!

Yes, I have a blog. Yes, I have been ignoring said blog. Yes, I’m sorry for ignoring said blog. I downloaded new blog software for Mac OS X today. Hopefully this will make things easier to post and publish.

Current Mood: Reflective

Currently Captivated By: A crazy idea in my head

Currently listening to: “Pure Imagination” – Gene Wilder – Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory OST