Geek in the City

MOVIES :: LOCAL FLICKS :: Fun in McMinnville

Tue, 20 May 2008 20:07:27 EDT

Astonishingly enough, this was my first trip ever to the McMinnville UFO Festival. Not wanting to forget the event, I brought my busted but somehow still functioning camera with me...

Special thanks to Cort and Fatboy for letting me tag along and all the great folks with the Kamino Squad and the Dark Side Troopers. Had a blast, see you all next year!

MOVIES :: MOVIE REVIEWS :: Extra-Spoilery Review - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Sun, 18 May 2008 19:23:33 EDT

Let�s give voice to the simmering snideness that�s been steaming under the surface for awhile now. Let the dam break and the vaguely bile-flavored observations rush to the fore:

The movie starts as if Indiana Jones tripped and face-planted into American Graffiti. And then it starts again. And then again. And then the movie ceases beginning, and begins to move ceaselessly. Well, up until it turns into a game of Donkey Kong Jr. But before John Hurt becomes Prof. Bruttenholm from Hellboy and Indy steps out to witness version 2.0 of U2�s Vertigo video, something pretty interesting happens. An honest to God Indiana Jones movie begins to pop, slowly, like a bag of Orville Redenbacher in an underpowered microwave.

Let�s step back and marvel at the set-pieces that work: (Aaron's Note - NO JOKE. THIS IS AN EXTRA SPOILERY REVIEW. NO COMPLAINING IF YOU CLICK "MORE")

MOVIES :: MOVIE REVIEWS :: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull � Spoiler Free Review

Sun, 18 May 2008 18:27:29 EDT

Has it really almost been twenty years since Dr. Jones saved the world from the Nazis? Had my high school adventure just begun when Indiana Jones and crew rode off into the sunset? So many of my earliest cinematic adventures are tied to that whip wielding archaeologist. The first time I ever reenacted movie scenes without using 3.5� figures; I was Dr. Jones, my whip, a tattered piece of yellow nylon rope, and the cedar shavings under my neighbor's raised deck were spikes of death. The first time my mom ever covered my face in an attempt to hide me from the horrors on screen, Mola Rom was conducting a ripping sacrifice to Kali. Finally, my first attempt at a fan film came on the heels of Last Crusade. Sure, I didn't own a blue screen, but I dangle friends from the side of a truck while I flung dirt in their face and shot some of the shakiest VHS footage ever. You see, for all my talk of loving Star Wars, Comics, Star Trek, and all the pop culture trappings in between; it was Indiana Jones and his pulp inspired adventures that kept me writing and shooting. To this day, I dream of making my first ever bit of fiction (from the age of 8), Indiana Jones and the Key of Cortez, into a story that joins the Dr. Jones canon, even if only in comic book or radio drama form. And so, it was with the wonder of a child raised on radio serials and the cynicism of an adult burned by my own expectations that I entered Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

While neither side left the theater hurt, neither did either side leave fulfilled...

RANTS :: FROM THE PEN OF THE MASTER GEEK :: GI Joe and Young Boys

Fri, 16 May 2008 11:28:36 EDT

Yea, this is a "morning after" repost. Thankfully, this is an all kinds of old article, so you may have never read this one. - AD

You know, I really should open this rant with a different title, not really looking forward to the type of searches people use to find this topic. Oh well, what�s done is done. (Not really, I could change it, but I�m too lazy). Anyway, as I was picking up yet another bottle of NyQuil (because I lack medical insurance, not that I�m pointing fingers) to keep this cold at bay I found myself drawn, as I often am, to the toy isle of the store. It�s funny how even toys follow a cyclical path. There, on the shelves were "new" versions of my old friends: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (I was a bit old at their heyday, but the comic ruled), Transformers (your friendly neighborhood Geek�s personal favorite), and GI Joe (and it�s cooler, but far more evil nemesis Cobra). As I was looking at the new Fortress Maximus (of which I have already taken as a band name, so back off) I heard a couple of boys talking about the GI Joe figures. In hushed tones I overheard, "He,he,he, they should pack Scarlett with the chick in leather cause then"� Unable to hold back, my chuckle spooked the junior pervs and they took off down the isle. Mind you, I wasn�t judging them (how could I)? I chuckled because I remember having similar conversations over the female GI Joe�s years ago�Ah hell, who am I kidding�I had that conversation last week. It went something like this�

NEWS AND EVENTS :: GET OUT OF THE BASEMENT :: The Gang is Back!

Thu, 15 May 2008 09:21:39 EDT

As if you need yet another reminder to attend the greatest party of 2008 (perhaps all time). Still, in case you're on the fence about attending The Rick Emerson Show Listener Party 11 � Emerson�s 11� Then I�ve got a few choice words for you�

"Now go get your fucking shine box"!

Come on! This is Emerson's 11 � The greatest frakking party you will ever experience. Check it!

All you fellow Freaks and Geeks
The Crystal Ballroom
Booze galore (with enough servers even)
Emerson Starship busting out metal covers of your favorite watches and "surprises"
World Premiere of Debilitating Degeneratism and You, starring Tim Riley
Nickle Arcade playing their hits and the first live performance of Vodka in Heaven
Even more booze
And finally�
The Rick Emerson Roast � Join Roastmaster Carl Click, Storm Large, Sarah X Dylan, Cort and Fatboy, Byron Beck, Peter Carlin, Scott Dally, and your friendly neighborhood Geek as we trash what little dignity Mr. Emerson maintains!

Plus special surprises and the North American premiere of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull!*

It all happens at the Crystal Ballroom tonight at 8pm. There is no cover, but you gotta� be 21 to attend. The doors open at 7pm and if previous events are any indication, you better be in line when those doors fling open!

If you have the time before, pop on over to Pop Culture Zoo and check out their interview with DC Comics Editor-in-Chief, Dan DiDio.

Finally, tune in tomorrow with my spoiler free review of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. (Assuming I can even move).

Oh yea, keep the votes rolling in for Geek in the City in the Willamette Week�s Best of 2008. (And thanks to all that keep pimping the site, we GitC Writers salute you)

Whew.

*Um, GitC Legal would like to state that in NO WAY will Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull be screening at this event� But, the bastard does get to catch a press screening this weekend. Jerk!

NEWS AND EVENTS :: GET OUT OF THE BASEMENT :: Best City. Best Week!

Tue, 13 May 2008 09:25:24 EDT

TRAILERMANIA 8 - 60 minutes - May 13 at 7 and 9pm - Clinton Street Theater - 26th and SE Clinton - Admission: $6

As Scott and I have claimed on many an episode of Film Fever Radio, sometimes the trailer is the best element of a movie. (I�m looking at your Underworld). Local film archivist Greg Hamilton took that belief and turned it into a fantastic screening event! I�ve been to many previous Trailermania screenings and each one has been a blast, I don't expect this one to be any different. You owe it to yourself to check it out. Just take a gander at some of these trailers, in their glorious 35mm print form!

Genghis Khan, Sword of the Conqueror, The Sword of Monte Cristo, The Mongols, 10 Commandments, Born Again, Heaven Can Wait, Preacherman, Oh God, Front Page, The Black Bird, One on One, Pink Panther Strikes Again, The Hustle, Casey�s Shadow, Littlest Horse Thieves, Zebra in the Kitchen, Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion, Barefoot Executive, Matilda, Hills of Home, Son of Lassie, Incredible Journey/Old Yeller, For the Love of Benji, C.H.O.M.P.S., Lucky, The Shaggy D.A., George, Digby the Biggest Dog in the World, Snoopy Come Home, Lady and the Tramp,101 Dalmatians, Peter Pan, 1,000,000 Duck, The Boatniks, Gnome Mobile, Which Way Is Up, Never a Dull Moment � 3 Caballeros, Hot Lead Cold Feet � Mr. Toad, Scandalous John, Charlie and the Angel, Jericho the Clown, Worlds Greatest Athlete, The Strongest Man in the World, Treasure of Matacumbe, Escape from Witch Mountain (I had the biggest little kid crush on Kim Richards, before I even understood what a �crush� was. �AD), Bed knobs and Broomsticks, Mary Poppins, The Great Gatsby, Ruby Gentry, Fast and Sexy, Niagara, Mysterious Island, The Island of Dr. Moreau, Jaws 2, Blue Water - White Death, The Poseidon Adventure, The Towering Inferno, Logan�s Run, The Man Who Fell To Earth, Soylent Green, The Green Slime

Q & A w/prizes to follow the screening�ask about your favorites - and hear about some of the more obscure cinema discoveries from the Trailermania vault.

Don't go yet, there is more�

NEWS AND EVENTS :: GEEK CHECK!!! :: 2008 Emerald City Comic Con!

Mon, 12 May 2008 08:53:29 EDT

Make sure you pop on over to my friends at Pop Culture Zoo for their coveration of the Emerald City Comic Con.

Also, don't forget to prepare for the greatest party in 2008 (and perhaps all time) this Thursday at Portland's Crystal Ballroom...

The Rick Emerson Listener Party 11 - Emerson's 11

The doors open at 7pm. No cover, but you gotta' be 21 and over. Expect a slew of guests from past and present Emerson Shows. Entertainment from Nickel Arcade and Emerson Starship (can he have his name on more things), and the long awaited... Rick Emerson Roast starring Scott Dally and your friendly neighborhood Geek, Sarah X Dylan, Cort and Fatboy, Storm Large, Byron Beck, and that Mrs Brian Wilson, aka Peter Carlin.

Be there! Drink! Laugh! Drink! Mock! Drink! Vote! (whore) Drink!

COMICS :: REVIEWS :: House of Mystery #1

Sun, 11 May 2008 13:21:49 EDT

Vertigo Comics - Matthew Stures & Bill Willingham (writers) - Luca Rossi & Ross Campbell (pencils)

In the modern era of decompressed storytelling, the first victim wasn�t a reader�s pocketbook. (Although that was the bloodiest victim). It was that mainstay of the spinner racks from the 1950s - 1970s; the Anthology Comic. Comics like Tales of Suspense, True War Stories, and my personal favorite, House of Mystery.

Thankfully, the talented crew at Vertigo, arguably the most successful comic book line of all time, resurrect the anthology comic with an all new House of Mystery!

It is everything you remember and nothing familiar!

RANTS :: FATBOY'S SHINY AWESOMENESS :: The G is for Goofball

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:25:07 EDT

� or �

Why Movies based on Toy Lines Only need 2 Dimensions

Just like Darth Dylan, once you get Fatboy started, you can�t shut him up. Still, this one is gold! �AD

A veritable crate-ful of new images from Stephen Sommers� GI Joe movie was air-dropped into the eager, empty, crumb-scattered lap of a geek populace this morning, and unlike the rash of photos from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull that have been slowly rolling like a paper mache boulder down dolly track, the reaction to the Joe photos has been interesting. That is to say, there�s at least been a reaction. Indy�s generating about as much heat as a snowflake outside a bar in Tibet.

You got Marlon Wayans loaded for bear, Sienna Miller just flat-out loaded, Christopher Eccleston looking snazzy as Destro, and Darth Maul getting his ginsu-guns on as Snake Eyes. The reactions have run the gamut: �That looks PERFECT!� �Everyone�s just wearing black.� �It�s like they taped an 80�s laptop to his chest.� �THAT�S Doctor Who?� �Wow. I�m getting Mortal Kombat flashbacks.�

It�s that last one I wanna pay attention to...

COMICS :: COMIC SOCIETY :: The Cancer of Continuity

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:24:11 EDT

Please join me in welcoming the newest ~~sucker~~ writer to Geek in the City. The one and only Fatboy Roberts of the Mighty Cort and Fatboy Show. Not one to shy from Geek controvery, Fatboy jumps head first into what he believes the greatest threat to the comic industry. Enjoy! - AD

Eventually, everything in Comics gets killed off. Robin. Superman. Your Innocence. John Byrne's legitimacy. But, comics being the superpowered soap opera for men that it's become; unless you're Uncle Ben, you�re getting brought back to life. Norman Osborn. Superman. Crises on Earths. And stringing all this dying/living/changing/mutating nonsense together is the spine of superhero storytelling: Continuity.

And if Continuity is the comic book's spine, Comics has scoliosis. And missing vertebrae. Continuity has comics paralyzed and stuck in a motorized chair, chin resting on the lever. The wheels are spinning as fast as the tinker-toy motor will push it, but the crippled industry atrophying in the worn leather seat isn�t moving anywhere. The continuity won't let it.

Let me be Benny Hinn for a second. Let me lay hands upon Comics weary forehead and utter a few words of thin wisdom, praise hallelujah. Some will mock and deride, but when Comics gets up out of that chair, back straight, and strides with purpose towards a heyday it hasn�t known since the late 80�s, just remember where to send the donations.

Kill Continuity...