Sherlock Holmes examined: in print and on screen
The New York Times looks at the many portrayals of Sherlock Holmes in print and on screen.
Holmes’s vagueness and incompleteness on the page are what make him so irresistible as a pop figure, on whom we can project our own interpretation. A lot of what we know, or think we know, about him — the deerstalker hat, the cloaks, the catchphrase “Elementary, my dear Watson” — comes not from the texts at all but from subsequent imaginings of him, the movies especially.
Cool new Doctor Who images shows shift from Tennant to Smith
David Tennant was one of my favorite Doctor Who actors ever--right up there with Jon Pertwee (my fave) and Tom Baker (who probably ties with Tennant, in my estimation). So this Matt Smith fella has some big shoes to fill. The revived series has a great track record for quality, though, so I'm not terribly worried.
New comics Jan. 6, 2010
Complete list of items shipping Jan. 6:
DARK HORSE COMICS
NOV090044 BPRD KING OF FEAR #1 (OF 5) $2.99
OCT090016 CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #17 $2.99
JAN090090 GIGANTIC #5 (OF 5) $3.50
NOV090026 MASS EFFECT REDEMPTION #1 (OF 4) $3.50
NOV090067 STAR WARS CLONE WARS #12 HERO CONFEDERACY PT 3 $2.99
DC COMICS
NOV090203 AUTHORITY #18 $2.99
NOV090131 BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #40 $2.99
NOV090114 BLACKEST NIGHT WONDER WOMAN #2 (OF 3) $2.99
NOV090200 CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #45 $2.50
NOV090147 DOOM PATROL #6 $3.99
NOV090149 GREAT TEN #3 (OF 10) $2.99
NOV090151 JONAH HEX #51 $2.99
NOV090156 JSA ALL STARS #2 $3.99
NOV090201 LOONEY TUNES #182 $2.50
OCT090267 MAD ABOUT SUPER HEROES TP VOL 02 $12.99
NOV090157 MIGHTY #12 $2.99
NOV090135 RED ROBIN #8 $2.99
NOV090166 RED TORNADO #5 (OF 6) $2.99
OCT090252 SPIRIT TP VOL 05 $19.99
NOV090123 SUICIDE SQUAD #67 (BLACKEST NIGHT) $2.99
NOV090141 SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #11 (OF 12) $2.99
SEP090238 TERU TERU X SHONEN VOL 06 $9.99
NOV090167 WARLORD #10 $2.99
NOV090122 WEIRD WESTERN TALES #71 (BLACKEST NIGHT) $2.99
OCT090277 WILDSTORM AFTER THE FALL TP $19.99
OCT090314 WORLD I CREATE VOL 01 $9.99
IMAGE COMICS
NOV090344 DEAD AT 17 SOURCE BOOK $2.99
NOV090383 GOD COMPLEX #2 $2.99
NOV090317 HAUNT #4 $2.99
OCT090424 INVINCIBLE PRESENTS ATOM EVE & REX SPLODE #3 (OF 3) $2.99
MARVEL COMICS
NOV090456 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN PRESENTS JACKPOT #1 (OF 3) $3.99
NOV090509 CABLE #22 $2.99
NOV090565 DAREDEVIL TP BORN AGAIN $19.99
NOV090512 DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #897 $2.99
OCT090602 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN PREM HC VOL 03 MOST WANTED BK 02 $19.99
NOV090538 LIST HC $29.99
NOV090492 MARVEL BOY URANIAN #1 (OF 3) $3.99
NOV090563 MARVEL DIVAS TP $14.99
NOV090504 NATION X X-FACTOR $3.99
NOV090508 NEW MUTANTS #9 XN $2.99
NOV090419 SIEGE #1 (OF 4) $3.99
OCT098172 SIEGE #1 (OF 4) QUESADA SKETCH VAR (PP #897) $3.99
OCT098175 SIEGE CABAL 2ND PTG LARK VAR $3.99
NOV090571 SIEGE COIPEL POSTER $15.99
NOV090418 SIEGE EMBEDDED #1 (OF 4) $3.99
NOV090557 SIEGE PRELUDE TP $24.99
NOV090499 SPIDER-MAN MAGAZINE #9 $6.99
NOV090442 SPIDER-MAN NOIR EYES WITHOUT A FACE #2 (OF 4) $3.99
NOV090443 SPIDER-MAN NOIR EYES WITHOUT A FACE #2 (OF 4) CALERO VAR $3.99
OCT090599 TIMELY ANNUALS 70TH ANNIV COLLECTION HC $39.99
NOV090447 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #6 $3.99
JUN090616 X-MEN MUTANT MASSACRE HC $39.99
NOV090444 X-MEN NOIR MARK OF CAIN #2 (OF 4) $3.99
NOV090445 X-MEN NOIR MARK OF CAIN #2 (OF 4) CALERO VAR $3.99
JUL090606 X-MEN VS AVENGERS PREM HC $19.99
JUL090607 X-MEN VS AVENGERS PREM HC DM VAR ED 35 $19.99
JUL090604 X-MEN VS FANTASTIC FOUR PREM HC $19.99
JUL090605 X-MEN VS FANTASTIC FOUR PREM HC DM VAR ED 36 $19.99
WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT
NOV090572 WIZARD MAGAZINE #221 IRON MAN 2 CVR $5.99
NOV090573 WIZARD MAGAZINE #221 MADUREIRA DARKSIDERS CVR $5.99
*********
COMICS
SEP090678 28 DAYS LATER #5 $3.99
NOV090831 ANGEL HOLE IN THE WORLD #2 $3.99
OCT090699 ARCHIE & FRIENDS TP VOL 02 BETTY'S DIARY $9.95
OCT090700 ARCHIE DIGEST #260 $2.69
NOV090736 ATHENA #4 $3.50
OCT090843 BUCK ROGERS #7 $3.50
NOV090671 DINGO #2 $3.99
OCT090795 DONALD DUCK AND FRIENDS #349 $2.99
OCT091065 DRONE #2 (OF 4) $3.50
NOV090856 GRIMJACK MANX CAT #6 $3.99
SEP090959 HERCULES KNIVES OF KUSH #5 (OF 5) A CVR WRAPAROUND $2.99
SEP090960 HERCULES KNIVES OF KUSH #5 (OF 5) B CVR $2.99
SEP090704 INCREDIBLES #4 $2.99
NOV090848 JENNIFER LOVE HEWITTS MUSIC BOX #2 $3.99
NOV090857 JOHN SABLE FREELANCE ASHES OF EDEN #4 $3.99
NOV090681 KILL AUDIO #4 (OF 6) $3.99
NOV090862 LITTLE ADVENTURES IN OZ BOOK 01 $9.99
OCT090798 MICKEY MOUSE & FRIENDS #299 $2.99
OCT090804 MUPPET SHOW #1 $2.99
SEP090712 MUPPET SHOW TREASURE OF PEG LEG WILSON TP $9.99
OCT091020 PHANTOM DOUBLE SHOT #1 (OF 6) KGB NOIR $2.99
OCT090681 POSEFILE PKT MANGA TP VOL 01 $12.95
OCT090846 QUEEN SONJA #3 $2.99
SEP090942 RESURRECTION VOL 2 #6 $3.99
AUG090998 ROTTEN #6 $3.99
OCT090767 SIMPSONS SUPER SPECTACULAR #10 $2.99
NOV090840 STAR TREK SPOCK REFLECTIONS TP $17.99
NOV090858 STARSTRUCK #5 $3.99
NOV090740 TALISMAN ROAD OF TRIALS #3 $3.99
NOV090825 TRANSFORMERS TALES O/T FALLEN #6 $3.99
OCT090709 VERONICA #198 $2.50
OCT091066 WE KILL MONSTERS #6 (OF 6) $3.50
MAGAZINES
NOV091009 HI FRUCTOSE MAGAZINE QUARTERLY #14 $6.95
DARK HORSE COMICS
NOV090044 BPRD KING OF FEAR #1 (OF 5) $2.99
OCT090016 CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #17 $2.99
JAN090090 GIGANTIC #5 (OF 5) $3.50
NOV090026 MASS EFFECT REDEMPTION #1 (OF 4) $3.50
NOV090067 STAR WARS CLONE WARS #12 HERO CONFEDERACY PT 3 $2.99
DC COMICS
NOV090203 AUTHORITY #18 $2.99
NOV090131 BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #40 $2.99
NOV090114 BLACKEST NIGHT WONDER WOMAN #2 (OF 3) $2.99
NOV090200 CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #45 $2.50
NOV090147 DOOM PATROL #6 $3.99
NOV090149 GREAT TEN #3 (OF 10) $2.99
NOV090151 JONAH HEX #51 $2.99
NOV090156 JSA ALL STARS #2 $3.99
NOV090201 LOONEY TUNES #182 $2.50
OCT090267 MAD ABOUT SUPER HEROES TP VOL 02 $12.99
NOV090157 MIGHTY #12 $2.99
NOV090135 RED ROBIN #8 $2.99
NOV090166 RED TORNADO #5 (OF 6) $2.99
OCT090252 SPIRIT TP VOL 05 $19.99
NOV090123 SUICIDE SQUAD #67 (BLACKEST NIGHT) $2.99
NOV090141 SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #11 (OF 12) $2.99
SEP090238 TERU TERU X SHONEN VOL 06 $9.99
NOV090167 WARLORD #10 $2.99
NOV090122 WEIRD WESTERN TALES #71 (BLACKEST NIGHT) $2.99
OCT090277 WILDSTORM AFTER THE FALL TP $19.99
OCT090314 WORLD I CREATE VOL 01 $9.99
IMAGE COMICS
NOV090344 DEAD AT 17 SOURCE BOOK $2.99
NOV090383 GOD COMPLEX #2 $2.99
NOV090317 HAUNT #4 $2.99
OCT090424 INVINCIBLE PRESENTS ATOM EVE & REX SPLODE #3 (OF 3) $2.99
MARVEL COMICS
NOV090456 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN PRESENTS JACKPOT #1 (OF 3) $3.99
NOV090509 CABLE #22 $2.99
NOV090565 DAREDEVIL TP BORN AGAIN $19.99
NOV090512 DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #897 $2.99
OCT090602 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN PREM HC VOL 03 MOST WANTED BK 02 $19.99
NOV090538 LIST HC $29.99
NOV090492 MARVEL BOY URANIAN #1 (OF 3) $3.99
NOV090563 MARVEL DIVAS TP $14.99
NOV090504 NATION X X-FACTOR $3.99
NOV090508 NEW MUTANTS #9 XN $2.99
NOV090419 SIEGE #1 (OF 4) $3.99
OCT098172 SIEGE #1 (OF 4) QUESADA SKETCH VAR (PP #897) $3.99
OCT098175 SIEGE CABAL 2ND PTG LARK VAR $3.99
NOV090571 SIEGE COIPEL POSTER $15.99
NOV090418 SIEGE EMBEDDED #1 (OF 4) $3.99
NOV090557 SIEGE PRELUDE TP $24.99
NOV090499 SPIDER-MAN MAGAZINE #9 $6.99
NOV090442 SPIDER-MAN NOIR EYES WITHOUT A FACE #2 (OF 4) $3.99
NOV090443 SPIDER-MAN NOIR EYES WITHOUT A FACE #2 (OF 4) CALERO VAR $3.99
OCT090599 TIMELY ANNUALS 70TH ANNIV COLLECTION HC $39.99
NOV090447 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #6 $3.99
JUN090616 X-MEN MUTANT MASSACRE HC $39.99
NOV090444 X-MEN NOIR MARK OF CAIN #2 (OF 4) $3.99
NOV090445 X-MEN NOIR MARK OF CAIN #2 (OF 4) CALERO VAR $3.99
JUL090606 X-MEN VS AVENGERS PREM HC $19.99
JUL090607 X-MEN VS AVENGERS PREM HC DM VAR ED 35 $19.99
JUL090604 X-MEN VS FANTASTIC FOUR PREM HC $19.99
JUL090605 X-MEN VS FANTASTIC FOUR PREM HC DM VAR ED 36 $19.99
WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT
NOV090572 WIZARD MAGAZINE #221 IRON MAN 2 CVR $5.99
NOV090573 WIZARD MAGAZINE #221 MADUREIRA DARKSIDERS CVR $5.99
*********
COMICS
SEP090678 28 DAYS LATER #5 $3.99
NOV090831 ANGEL HOLE IN THE WORLD #2 $3.99
OCT090699 ARCHIE & FRIENDS TP VOL 02 BETTY'S DIARY $9.95
OCT090700 ARCHIE DIGEST #260 $2.69
NOV090736 ATHENA #4 $3.50
OCT090843 BUCK ROGERS #7 $3.50
NOV090671 DINGO #2 $3.99
OCT090795 DONALD DUCK AND FRIENDS #349 $2.99
OCT091065 DRONE #2 (OF 4) $3.50
NOV090856 GRIMJACK MANX CAT #6 $3.99
SEP090959 HERCULES KNIVES OF KUSH #5 (OF 5) A CVR WRAPAROUND $2.99
SEP090960 HERCULES KNIVES OF KUSH #5 (OF 5) B CVR $2.99
SEP090704 INCREDIBLES #4 $2.99
NOV090848 JENNIFER LOVE HEWITTS MUSIC BOX #2 $3.99
NOV090857 JOHN SABLE FREELANCE ASHES OF EDEN #4 $3.99
NOV090681 KILL AUDIO #4 (OF 6) $3.99
NOV090862 LITTLE ADVENTURES IN OZ BOOK 01 $9.99
OCT090798 MICKEY MOUSE & FRIENDS #299 $2.99
OCT090804 MUPPET SHOW #1 $2.99
SEP090712 MUPPET SHOW TREASURE OF PEG LEG WILSON TP $9.99
OCT091020 PHANTOM DOUBLE SHOT #1 (OF 6) KGB NOIR $2.99
OCT090681 POSEFILE PKT MANGA TP VOL 01 $12.95
OCT090846 QUEEN SONJA #3 $2.99
SEP090942 RESURRECTION VOL 2 #6 $3.99
AUG090998 ROTTEN #6 $3.99
OCT090767 SIMPSONS SUPER SPECTACULAR #10 $2.99
NOV090840 STAR TREK SPOCK REFLECTIONS TP $17.99
NOV090858 STARSTRUCK #5 $3.99
NOV090740 TALISMAN ROAD OF TRIALS #3 $3.99
NOV090825 TRANSFORMERS TALES O/T FALLEN #6 $3.99
OCT090709 VERONICA #198 $2.50
OCT091066 WE KILL MONSTERS #6 (OF 6) $3.50
MAGAZINES
NOV091009 HI FRUCTOSE MAGAZINE QUARTERLY #14 $6.95
Beatles vinyl remasters box sets on the way
According to Mojo:
"They are incredibly complicated in terms of getting the masters right and getting the packages right," added Jones. "How do you assemble them? How do you put them in a box? How much do they cost? We want to make sure we're doing it right and that people get real value from it."
![Battlestar Galactica: Season One [Blu-ray]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_v1D4i1kqe0zx-YSE2z9Hu_YrZmrsc65L4Lp4b-0d9r0JwutBPhbQ4AlhY-yljqVp5cK5ZssfNCS7Z56rykjmHSS0Om69TFNJdrACpfU3Xeons92OwjrPUkVca7ZLngwKQmqwmvRAhcsxmYcpIu1aJ6xzZ3bVtdAt_e1w-wGSTNfHm3GR6EL3MnoZiLYnZJlVYA2lZ53pzqfhwBETu4dEk8h48QvZ3gJ_mFXg=s0-d)
Review: Avatar
James Cameron's "Avatar" is an amazing film...to look at.
There's no denying this is a pioneering work in terms of filmmaking and computer-generated animation. Cameron's blend of live-action and animated imagery is gorgeous. Watching the film--a mix of heavy hardware sci-fi and Edgar Rice Burroughs-style interplanetary jungle fantasy--is a bit like slipping inside a Frank Frazetta painting. And that's pretty cool.
The downside is the story. As incredible as this realm is to experience, not much unique or surprising happens there. Cameron may have spent years coming up with the technology for this film's visuals, but he didn't spend nearly enough time on the script.
The rail-thin plot involves human space travelers mining the resources of a beautiful and primitive planet inhabited by nature-worshipping cat people. The catfolks want the earth people to go home, but the humans think maybe they can talk or trick the natives into letting them have their way with the place.
To this end, one of the humans--Jake--is assigned to help spy on the natives by essentially becoming one of them. Using experimental clone technology, he becomes the avatar in the movie's title. But whilst spying, Jake also quickly falls in love with a cute catwoman.
From there on, you know everything's going to go downhill. At least until it goes uphill again.
Jake's employers, naturally, aren't happy about him switching sides. And his new community isn't sure it can trust him. But he does the heroic thing--defending the indigenous culture against the mineral-hungry humans--all of which takes an exceedingly long time.
The movie is 162 minutes long and would've been better at 90 or so. As my 12-year-old son said afterward, "I thought it was almost over when they blew up the big tree, but that was only about halfway through." That latter half is spent watching events unfold, albeit beautifully, pretty much as you'd expect them to.
So, yes, "Avatar" is a deeply flawed enterprise. But if you're curious about the spectacle, go anyway.
Visually, it truly is a remarkable event and should be experienced in 3-D on a big screen. I can't imagine it will be nearly as impressive when viewed at home, although I definitely want to see the making-of featurettes once it appears on DVD.
There's no denying this is a pioneering work in terms of filmmaking and computer-generated animation. Cameron's blend of live-action and animated imagery is gorgeous. Watching the film--a mix of heavy hardware sci-fi and Edgar Rice Burroughs-style interplanetary jungle fantasy--is a bit like slipping inside a Frank Frazetta painting. And that's pretty cool.
The downside is the story. As incredible as this realm is to experience, not much unique or surprising happens there. Cameron may have spent years coming up with the technology for this film's visuals, but he didn't spend nearly enough time on the script.
The rail-thin plot involves human space travelers mining the resources of a beautiful and primitive planet inhabited by nature-worshipping cat people. The catfolks want the earth people to go home, but the humans think maybe they can talk or trick the natives into letting them have their way with the place.
To this end, one of the humans--Jake--is assigned to help spy on the natives by essentially becoming one of them. Using experimental clone technology, he becomes the avatar in the movie's title. But whilst spying, Jake also quickly falls in love with a cute catwoman.
Jake's employers, naturally, aren't happy about him switching sides. And his new community isn't sure it can trust him. But he does the heroic thing--defending the indigenous culture against the mineral-hungry humans--all of which takes an exceedingly long time.
The movie is 162 minutes long and would've been better at 90 or so. As my 12-year-old son said afterward, "I thought it was almost over when they blew up the big tree, but that was only about halfway through." That latter half is spent watching events unfold, albeit beautifully, pretty much as you'd expect them to.
So, yes, "Avatar" is a deeply flawed enterprise. But if you're curious about the spectacle, go anyway.
Visually, it truly is a remarkable event and should be experienced in 3-D on a big screen. I can't imagine it will be nearly as impressive when viewed at home, although I definitely want to see the making-of featurettes once it appears on DVD.
Pop links: Hammer Horror; Kaluta; Hembeck!
Jon's Random Acts of Geekery presents a whole lotta images---posters, stills, lobby cards--from Hammer Films' "Brides of Dracula.
More Hammer Horror images.
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Golden Age Comic Book Stories presents a batch of Tolkien calendar images by Micheal W. Kaluta.
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Happy seventh anniversary Hembeck.com (And Happy New Year, Fred!)
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Golden Age Comic Book Stories presents a batch of Tolkien calendar images by Micheal W. Kaluta.
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Happy seventh anniversary Hembeck.com (And Happy New Year, Fred!)
Pop links: Future predictions; Superman; Bad Plus; Disney seals deal on Marvel
From Booksteve: Predictions for the future...from 1950!
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From Geek Orthodox: Happy New Year from Superman!
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Hear jazz power trio The Bad Plus live at the Village Vanguard.
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Disney officially makes theirs Marvel.
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From Geek Orthodox: Happy New Year from Superman!
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Hear jazz power trio The Bad Plus live at the Village Vanguard.
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Disney officially makes theirs Marvel.
Shareholders of Marvel Entertainment, the publisher of Spider-Man and the Hulk comics, on Thursday approved the company’s acquisition by the Walt Disney Company, as expected.
And we're back!
Apologies for the hiatus, just adjusting to a new job and daily routines and very happy with the changes. I'll try to post semi-regularly--the usual goodies: Pop culture artifacts, news, reviews, observations, etc.
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