Watchmen (Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons)

Watchmen is – as probably everybody who ever knew a geek knows by now – a graphic novel by Alan Moore (writing) and Dave Gibbons (illustrating) (and was recently adapted into a movie, review follows tomorrow).

Plot:
In a parallel world, it’s 1985 and Nixon is still president of the United States. In the 40s, actual masked vigilantes appeared, which led to a ban in the 70s. Now, most of the vigilantes are retired. The story follows several of these more or less retired figures, namely Nite Owl, Silk Spectre, Rorschach, Dr. Manhattan, Ozymandias, The Comedian.
The Comedian is murdered and Rorschach, the only vigilante left, who is not retired and doesn’t work for the government is convinced that someone is killing off their old group. His investigations lead him deeper and deeper into the problematic world of the “superheroes”.

This comic is considered a mile stone in the history of this art form, and rightly so. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons show the possibilities graphic novels have (and novels or movies don’t) and at the same time tell a fascinating and thoughtful story about ethics and morale, without ever becoming moralistic themselves. Unfortunately, the ending was a bit incongruous with the rest of the graphic novel.

[SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS]

You have to get out of here! Your vagina is haunted!

taken from here

Youtubery

There’s more where that came from.

For more theme songs, check out Goldentusk’s Channel. I recommend Back to the Future. Or India Jones and the Song of Theme. Or James Bond. Or Jaws. Or Halloween. Or Superman. Or… oh… I think that’s all of them already…

While we’re at the topic of movie themes, did I link to this one already?

And maybe you know this one, but I just love it:

Mortal Kombat!

And some more people surprising other people by singing:

Or here:

Check out more from ImprovEverywhere!

Okay, I guess, now you’re all settled for some good video love. :)

Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)

Hellboy II: The Golden Army is an amazing ride. I didn’t care much for the first movie and I didn’t read the comics, but give Guillermo del Toro a budget he can work with and I’m in. If only to watch the amazing creature design and set design.

And Hellboy was great in that department. It was generally much better than the first movie, in my opinion.

The plot has its holes and I was a bit miffed by the way Liz Sherman was handled [that girl can fight, why won't you let her? And why wasn't she allowed to touch Red apart from his hands and his face?]. But who cares, when I can watch huge stone men, wood gods and the Angel of Death? And of course, the Bouncy Elf of Doom [Seriously, was Nuada* made of rubber?].

I wouldn’t even have minded a whole movie animated like the prologue, that looked really, really cool.

It was a really funny movie (“fuck-yoused” is all I’m gonna say. No, let me add “Barry Manilow”) and I seriously loved the background details – the posters and billboards, the way the stone man turned around to look after them etc. etc.

Altogether, it was a feast for the eyes and made me even more excited for The Hobbit. If that’s possible.

—

*Speaking of Nuada, Deadra and me were equally impressed by Luke Goss‘ voice. An impression, which was completely destroyed after youtubing Bros. Either, his voice changed really, really late or he had some kind of voice distortion thingy.

Tell Me Again, Why Don’t I Live in the US?

I mean, they have stuff like this:

And I can’t have it… :(

I guess you all know what this blog post will be about…

In case you don’t: The Dark Knight, Batman, Christian Bale, Christian Bale’s yummy ass, Christian Bale’s other yummy features, Bruce Wayne, The Joker, Jim Gordon, Harvey Dent, Rachel Dawes, quotes, but also, sadly, refrigerators. And anything else that keeps me from swooning in the middle of this post.

So, yesterday was Christmas. And Easter. And my birthday. And every other holiday in the world that means anything to me or anybody else. And of course, yesterday was the premiere of The Dark Knight in Austria.

Where should I start? I guess, best by saying that my expectations were so high, they were nearly beyond achievable, but this movie did it anyway. It’s a wonderful feeling, when you can expect so much and still leave the movie theatre completely satisfied.

[If there's anybody left, who hasn't seen the movie yet (like all the Austrians, who didn't get premiere tickets), be warned, after the picture and the break, there will be SPOILERS!]

I Can’t Wait Anymore

Here, a little more Batman related stuff, that miserably fails to make me not long for The Dark Knight, but which is really cool anyways.

Bat Battle (Cracked)

Batman’s Philosophy (Overthinking It)

Batman Coloring Pages (Coloring)

And last, but not least: Something’s weird here… (Shakesville)

YES! YES! YES!

So, Neil Gaiman blogs today:

So I don’t have to write lots and lots of emails back to all the journalists:

1) Yes, I am writing a two part Batman story.
2) Yes, Andy Kubert will be drawing it.
3) Yes, it will be two oversized issues.
4) No, I don’t plan to say anything else about it until it’s all written and drawn.

(I just called my Visa card to fix something, and found myself being asked if I was the Neil Gaiman. I said yes, I was. “So,” said the Visa person, “Are you going to be writing an episode of Dr Who?”)

Neil Gaiman + Batman = fangirl orgasm for me
Neil Gaiman + Batman + Andy Kubert = multiple fangirl orgasm

Batman as drawn by Andy Kubert

Neil Gaiman + Doctor Who would be another fangirl orgasm. But I guess, I will have to wait for that a little longer.

Green Action

Deadra and me went to the movies and watched The Incredible Hulk. Before I plunge into my point of view on the movie, let me say this: I’m not a Marvel girl. I don’t know much of the Marvel universe. And I’m not much of a Hulk fan, either. I watched the last Hulk because of Ang Lee, I watched this one because of Edward Norton and Tim Roth.

Deadra, on the other hand, is a Marvel girl (and doesn’t understand my obsession with Batman and Superman) and the film did for her, what he couldn’t achieve for me: One fan girl orgasm after the other. [NICK FURY!!! POSSIBLY DR. STRANGE!!! IRON MAN!!!] [Okay, I enjoyed Robert Downey Jr.'s appearance as well.]

Apparantly, meaning imdb says, (almost) all the small hints to the Marvel universe (which were really nice as far as I got them) were Edward Norton’s idea, who worked on the script (talented bastard…).

Oh, Sweetie...

Not so sweet

Good News (if it’s true…)

One of my favourite comics of all time is Blacksad. It’s about antropomorphised animals in noir detective stories. John Blacksad is the main character, a black tomcat and private investigator.

Unfortunately, there’s only three books so far (the last was published in 2005, so my hopes are rather low for it being continued).

So, imagine my surprise when I read today (although the news is older) that there’s probably a movie, directed by Louis Leterrier. I’m delighted! And after watching The Incredible Hulk yesterday, terrified! I hope, he directs that one better. If it’s being made. [Review of the Hulk follows tomorrow.]

Keep your fingers crossed for me!