Monday, June 22, 2009
Dog on Pixar and stuff
Now I am sure many have read the critic reviews and all and know the first 10 mins or so of the picture...might be less but who is counting minutes when you are watching... and the montage sequence that pretty well sets up the main character. I admit I got a little watery eyed which doesn't really happen to me at movies. This one some how got to me in spite of myself. That's how I knew Pixar had another winner on their hands.
Pixar still puts out the best animated material out there. Though Dreamworks is close behind. They mostly have the Shrek franchise which unfortunately they have run into the ground. They are showing promise though with their most recent pic Monsters vs Aliens. That was near Pixar level. I really enjoyed that one as well though they did more of the 3D schticks that you see in a 3D movie , still Monsters vs Aliens did make me laugh out loud more times than expected which is good thing...at least for me not sure if the other audiences liked it.
Anyway if they are still in theatres go see both movies. Better than most of the remakes and sequels and Comedies that have come out this year. Hell even some of the Dramas don't match up to UP and aren't nearly as funny as Monsters vs Aliens. I hear the Hangover is quite good but its not exactly kid friendly, even if it does have a baby in it.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Just another Saturday...and some more sides
I updated the page for Sides...for the curious. I may actually get ambitious and dust off the old HTML editing and come up with a whole like site for Sides. I have some great ideas just need to relearn things. Though everything now is in Java, I am not looking to go that fancy...yet. Also wrote a couple pages on the script and am putting together my thoughts for a music video. I hope tomorrow to record a final cut episode and script out the next LT. Yeah sounds like a lot but I am finding I work better with self applied pressure than just goin eh. I am so far able to keep the projects seperate but it is fairly easy considering each is unique.
I did watch PotC:The Curse of the Black Pearl again today. Not sure why, probably because I enjoy that movie alot. Alot more than I should for a disney film but it is such a fun adventure film that I can't help but enjoy it. What does help is Johnny Depp's character that had definitely become a classic character already, Capt. Jack Sparrow. You can tell that this is a character Johnny loved playing, even if you didn't watch the interviews where he said he loved playing the character. Sparrow is supposed to be the bad guy, and he is a bad guy who lies, cheats, steals, double crosses his way through life but you can't help but cheer for him when he succeeds in escaping and feel bad for him an his terrible luck. That's why he is such a great character that truely could only be played by Johnny Depp who really helped carry the movie. Sure they had a great supporting cast and effects and real pirate ships, etc but what people come to the movie for the most is Capt. Jack. Johnny just can't help but steal every scene he is in with that character. I also think he had one of the greatest entrances that a character could have. In the first two minutes we see of Capt Jack, he says one line while bailing his sinking ship but by the time he has reached the dock we know exactly what kind of character he is. From how he holds himself to his attitude towards the dead priates hanging at the entrance of the cove, you can tell at least a little of what is in store for this character. I mean he is sailing into harbor on a sinking ship yet you would think he had the best vessel in the sea by how he handles the situation.
Sorry really didn't have much of a point other than that characters like Captain Jack aren't as easy to find in the movies of today. It is refreshing when you do get one. I hope to be able to write a part like that for a talented actor who will be able to sell the part like that. But only time will tell.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
On a roll, 100th post
Ah and so here it is. I am only 400 behind my good friend the Doctor. I would spend time reflecting on the blogs of old but the old montage show is just so played.
Some sappy song like "Through the years" by Kenny Rogers and...oh dear lord did I just make a Kenny Rogers reference. I feel so dirty now.
Anyway I did update the sides web page with a few more pages of writing for any curious folks.
Its been a good run and I have somethings on the horizon I plan on sticking to. So since this is a blog lets talk about my day
I ate three meals.
Went to the bathroom.
Went to work.
Worked my ass off
Drove in my car home.
Made Blt's
and currently I am writing a blog on Blogger. I am writing this Blog about it being the 100th Blog. In it I mention about my day. I will give you the highlights
see I talk about eating three meals a day, going to the bathroom and working, and some other things like my friend Doc who has like 500 blog postings. You should check it out.
Wow I need to follow my son's advice when says.
"Stop Staring into the Future."
Whats funny is one could get philosophical about it if one wanted too.
Anyway I quoted Clue the movie today and it got me thinking about that movie and it still makes me laugh. I think thats why I consider it a classic comedy, just like Blazing Saddles and Young Frankstein (that's frankenschtein). Those are three movies that I have fairly memorized and when I watch them I laugh my ass off. Litereally not a pretty sight but Duck Tape fixes everything.
Actually I think these movies are even funnier now because I anticipate the jokes. I find my self laughing before the joke is played. The jokes don't really get old to me. Now some people may disagree but these jokes in these movies stand the test of time and are very often quoted. Much like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Clerks and Clerks II. These comedies sit up there with the classics of the Marx brothers and yes I shall even envoke the Three Stooges. Which gets me to my point,yes I did have one.
DON"T REMAKE THESE CLASSICS.
Not that Hollywood would listen to me. They are after making a movie based on Battleship.
I am too late in this matter though. Yes Virginia they are making thinking of remaking Clue and it has been greenlighted , THE THREE STOOGES. Nothing is truely sacred they even have a cast. No its not Seth Rogen as Larry, Steve Carell as Moe, and Anthony Anderson as Curly. no no instead of this group of talented comedians who I think would actually make this remake tolerable They have
prepare yourselves
Sean "I have done nothing but drama most of my career" Penn as Larry.
Benicio Del "Yeah I have done even more drama then Sean Penn" Toro as Moe.
and
Jim "I am one of the skinnest comedians out there who needs a new boost in his career" Carrey...who I am assuming will be in a fat suit.
I shit you not ...its on IMDB ---> Say it aint so Moe!
Why why why why why would they they risk choosing two drama boys who decided to stretch their acting chops to be such classic characters as the Larry and Moe. And Jim carrey, while he is a talented comedian, is about the skinnest guy in hollywood to play the large source of comedy Curly. I mean whats next a movie about Monopoly the board game...Oh Dear god no
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Sides the first couple pages.
So we will try this. The link above is to the first couple pages of a Story I started a long time ago. It is one of the many incomplete projects I have I want to finish. It is a war story. I would just like to add that I have never been in the military. I have complete respect for the men and women who serve in the armed forces. If my descriptions of battles are over the top or a bit unrealistic it is just cause my frame of reference for such things have been Documentaries on war and Hollywood. When I write I imagine it as more of a movie then text so that is why some elements may seem a bit, well Hollywood'ized. I do hope you enjoy the story as I post more pages and again feedback is always more than welcome. This one was intended to be quite long but I hope you stick with it. Hell I hope I stick with it. Posting pages up will help with that motivation.
Again sorry for the extra link but its the only way I can avoid retyping everything I have written and keep my formatting. As A geek my web posting skills are lacking but its just one of many things I hope to change this year yet.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
damn my hair is too short to pull out.
Anyway 1st day back from vacation and I wish I could say that I was re energized and ready to sally forth into the work routine with new vigor. But I can't because I am not. Still same old same old. Don't get me wrong vacation was great but it did not help me look at my job in a different light.
I had a great time with the family in Green Bay except for the driving. As some of my friends can attest too, I do care much for driving in the larger cities anymore. Fine call me a pansy, wuss, what have you but I just don't like it. I thought there were crazy drivers here in cow hump wisconsin but when you get into the city its increased by a factor of 10. I think I would be a little less bothered by the driving if it was just me but the fact I have the kids and wife in the car make me a bit more cautious. I use to be a more agressive driver or at least concerned driver when I lived in Milwaukee but not so much now.
What also through me off were the roads in Green Bay. That town was a bit tough to naivgate in if you did not stay to one of the three highways that cut through town. Course it didn't help that one of the bridges was closed and there was construction taking you on detours. Then the maps printed off the internet weren't exactly correct either. Big surprise I know.
I am usually very good at navigating but damned if the city didn't challenge me. Guess I just don't get out enough or something. I just had a tough time getting through that town when it didn't involve the main roads. Ah well everyone made it home fine which is the important part.
I am compiling in my head the events of the past three days and thinking of putting the account here for all to see, for those who might possibly be interested that is.
My goals for this week are to get some pages posted of the new fiction I am writing, A lonely trooper episode posted, a Final Cut episode posted, and work on the script. A tall order but I think it is doable. I do have my 2nd job this week but its only till 9 at night so I have time afterward. I may have to do this take time off thing again sometime. It was rather nice.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
English be damned
Until then I shall subject people to my videos on you tube for free. Perhaps I will post on facebook as well, who knows. I would love to be a writer as well but, as people have seen, my English writing is not so good.
But enough about that, lets talk about birds.
I had a rather close encounter with one on Saturday. Real close. Like on top of my head close.
See we were at Bay Beach amusement park enjoying an ice cream snack. When we were done we decided to head inside the common building where the restrooms were so the kids could wash off the stickiness from their summertime treat. On our way to the building, I saw a bird flying very low along the bushes. It waited until I was just heading up the stairs before it flew at me. It was at head level and got three feet from me before it decided to go back into a tree. I waited for the family to catch up and as they got to me the bird had returned. It flew low towards me and then landed in a bush in front of me. I went up to it to say a few words to it when I felt something scratch and slap my head. I ducked down in time to see a red wing blackbird fly off into a tree. The bird had divebombed my head and got close enough to smack me with its wings. It was a bit traumatic. Since that time we have joked about the birds having it out for me. At the sanctuary and the zoo. Even the high flying seagull seemed to have their eye on me. Kinda creepy.
Anyway when I return to the Batcave I will be posting pages of a story I have been working on for a while, a long while. Too long actually. I hope you all will enjoy. Is it something I would like to see published, you bet, one of my dreams. But before that would happen I would probably have to go back to school for English lessons. Also work my ass off at it alot harder. Same could be said for the video work.
Such is life. For now I shall try an enjoy my day off from work, tough to do when you are a workaholic, and spend time with the Brothers Krawczyk and da wife.
Family videos and such
I try to fight it but I can't. Just the video guy in me or something. Also the fact its a family video and once transfered to DVD will probably be watched once every so often or when we want to humiliate the kids when they are teens.
Anyway coming to a home theater near me will be our GreenBay Vacation 2009: The Brothers Krawczyk Attack.
Today we head to "the Zoo". Can't wait to shoot them getting eatin by a goat.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Comics how I miss thee
I guess our generation held on to those tried and true comics and the ritual of going to the comic store to get the latest issues.
I wonder how many kids nowadays are actually into comics, well that aren't derived from the latest japanese fad toy that is out. While some of those do pose to be interesting at the start they really seem like graphical instructions for the games themselves. I think more adults are buying comices than kids and not just because of one group has money over the other.
I welcome the fact my kids would rather read than stay plugged into the games. Yes we geeks love our video games but there is soooo much more of the geek world to explore.
I nearly wept when my children said they wanted to learn how to play D&D. sure they are a bit young but its the thought that matters.
But getting back to the subject matter, I have no problems with myself reading the comics but many of them have a lot more mature story lines.
Lucky enough we did find an issue of Batman The Brave and the Bold #5 featuring Batman and Captain Marvel, DC Super Friends #16, and a comic from free comic day called DC Kids Mega sampler. Not bad reading ....so my kids tell me ...not that I read them or any...yeah I read them.
Hey they are comics how could I not.
My friend awhile back mentioned a zombie themed comic. I finally got around to reading it recently and I am sorry I did not catch it sooner. "The Walking Dead" is definitely not for kids but is a fantastic zompocalypse story. They have done things with the story I didn't think they would do. Just when it seemed to get cliché, they would surprise you with something out of left field. It has yet to get campy or predictable. Good traits for a comic to have. I am nearly caught up and can't wait to see what happens next. In fact I think I will go read some more right now.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Ooo Shiny.
Sorry where was I.
I am easily distractable when it comes with projects. i know I have probably covered this ground before about my not finishing projects but its still occurs though I am fightening through the urge more now then in the past...now that I am aware and fully acknowledge my one of many flaws.
Also I recently came into possesion of all of the episodes of the 1966 Batman series.
We watched the first episode of the first season with the kids last night. The kids got a kick out of it while Jill and I laughed our asses off over the dialog. Dripping with cheese complete with Adam wests over acting... and over course there was Batman doing the Batoosie dance.
I remember watching it constantly as a kid. I look forward to reliving those memories and burning them into the minds of my young children in the near future. in between designing a L4D level. Hey its Zombies so its gotta keep my interest longer. I was so damn giddy when I got to shoot zombies in the very basic level I made going through the tutorial. The editing tools are still in beta but there is so much promise. I know I am probably behind many diehards out there but I also have a life and that sometimes takes priority over any project.
I am looking forward to the trip this weekend and hope the weather is good.
"Chief O'hara I want you to stake out that warehouse like a circus tent" Commissioner Gordon.
Riddler: "Three men are stuck in a boat with four cigarettes, how did they all smoke?"
Robin: "They tossed one cigarette over board and made the boat a cigarette lighter"
Ah good times
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
We Digdigdigdigdigdigdigdig dig the whole day through
Anyway I actually have started the script. I am just going to continue writing it and when I am finished go back and tweak it. I know it will need it ...at least a few times but I have actually started on it which is a good sign.
Other than that not much to say tonight.
Hope its nice for this weekend.
Been long day...time for some nachos.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Hey look up in the sky its a bird, its a plane, no its a Monday
Ah so Had a soggy weekend. This still put a damper in my plans for my location shooting for Lonelytrooper. I know I could do blue screen but its kind of fun doing a location shoot plus it is quicker, cleaner and hell just looks better. Besides is very fitting for the way the story has progressed so far. Hopefully I can shoot it today in between downpours.
Had a decent weekend otherwise. My day off Friday was better than I thought, Saturday spent a good chunk of the day with the boys watching Batman The Brave and the Bold. We all enjoyed that. I really didn't get to any writing. Did get two movies in the mail we need to watch yet, Yes Man and Bedtime Stories. More mainstream than most of the movies I have watched recently but still something I thought I may enjoy. Gotta balance the Italian cannibals and zombies movies with something...other than porn.
Anyway I may use them for my movie review comeback which yes I have yet to film as well. I don't have my 2nd job this week so I have time. Its not like I don't want to do these projects, far from it. Just the energy is been lacking.
We have a weekend family trip coming up next weekend which should be fun. Going to Bay Beach and probably The Zoo in greenbay and if there is time I will be taking my boys on the Wisconsin right of passage, Lambeau field. I don't have season tickets or any tickets so for now its as close as they can come to being there for a game. Hopefully we will check out the hall of fame and maybe lunch at Curlys' I would like to take the tour too but those tickets are almost as hard to get as well any tickets that have Lambeau's name on it.
I do feel bad I will not be able to join the rest of the Lenny Lane Army for the wrasslin in milwaukee on Friday but one can't do it all. There will be other matches to be sure.
well thats about it keep a sharp eye for a new story, yes I will post soon. I hope people liked the poem Parody. Its something that just popped in there a few years ago and had to write it down. Funny how those things work out.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
The Vader (A Parody of the Raven)
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The Vader
(A Raven parody)
By Mark Krawczyk
Once upon a Planet Dreary,
as I practiced, sore and weary,
With my light saber and book
of Jedi Lore.
I suddenly heard class=GramE>a breathing, like someone softly seething,
Seething
outside my blaster door.
"Tis
some alien" I did mutter "that's seething at my blaster door"
Quote the Vader "Open
the door."
My head it started reeling
and my heart was swiftly beating,
Not prepared for the dark
figure outside my door.
My arms were a class=GramE>quiver, my back gave a shiver,
While my fear extended into
my very core.
I chopped him up, this class=GramE>man who brought fear to my core,
I Left a head and torso,
nothing more.
I knew I should not have
stayed, should have gone far,far
away,
Hid out on
Dagobah or on Yavin Four.style='font-family:Arial'>
But stupid I had become, to the
Jedi temple I did run,
Hoping to
find one Jedi and maybe more.
In my search I had found
just 2 droids and little more.
It was R2D2 and R4.
The troopers, how they came
to enforce the Emperor's Reign,
With Ani's
help, they killed the Jedis by the score.
He use to be my friend but
that soon came to an end,
When the class=SpellE>Darkside pulled him through its blackened door.style='font-family:Arial'>
"You were the chosen
one," I screamed to my blaster door.
Quote the Vader
"Nevermore."
Out the window, I thought
I'd jump, on the bed my leg did bump,
Spilling
me out on to the metal floor.
From my hand the saber flew,
my chance to flee it did go too,
As my weapon went under my
chest of drawers,
I got up and as I reached
under the chest of drawers,
Quote the Vader "I'll
wait no more."
Then there came the humming
of someone swiftly running,
Running a class=SpellE>lightsaber into my blaster door,
Through the door I knew he'd
cut, to come in to kick my butt,
Right through the hole he'd
made in my metal door.
I tried to plea to him but
knew he wouldn't hear me through the door,
He wanted revenge, nothing
more.
My saber I did find, the
memories came and filled my mind,
Of all the brave Jedi
written in our lore,
My weapon I did light, took
my stance, prepared to fight
To Fight like I never had
before.
His red saber I could see,
as it came through the badly damaged door.
Fight with Anakin, I would
once more.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Part of the door, it did fall, his name is
what I called,
As the dark lord came
through the hole in the door,
He was dressed all in black
and swift with his attack,
Nearly killing me before the
battle had begun,
I countered, blocked, and
jumped, through the door I did run.
Quote the Vader, "You
are my teacher no more".
His powers he did use, as he
continued the abuse,
And used
the force to push me to the floor.
I held off his attack,
though I was on my back,
My own
powers coming to use to me once more.
I pushed him back into the
wall and he came at me swinging more.
Anakin was stronger than
before.
On and on we did fight, down
the halls of dark and light,
Until we
found ourselves at a Hanger door.
Our sabers they did clash,
with sparks that made a splash,
Shorting out the controls
and opening the door,
As we continued the fight I
knew that I soon could take no more,
I then saw the sky, and
nothing more.
Through the open door I did
jump, and soon landed with a thump,
Death would have to wait for
me once more,
A little droid, I can say,
had come to save my day,
In my fighter that was
driven by R4,
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> I asked, if the Jedi could ever be as strong
as before,
Quote the Vader
"Nevermore"
Friday, June 5, 2009
Friday yep still there
All in all a good day off.
I hope to finish the lonely trooper episode tomorrow and play some games with the kids and start posting a new story soon that I really hope people will like.
Thats about all I got.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
A Workaholic note
What can I say I am a work a holic...another thing that tends to cut into my doing projects mostly because even though I may leave work my mind has a harder time of leaving work at work. Then I become mentally exhausted and well a bit lazy. The term Burnout comes to mind which would probably be most fitting for how I feel at the end of the day. Also the fact that my job requires me to use my brain doesn't help. It keeps it interesting to be sure but its a whole different way of thinking than the free flow of creative thought I use when working on my projects.
I realized I had only taken one full day off since January so it was about time for another one. I have more than enough days to burn. The fact that I have a 2nd job helps in my workaholism. Feeds the flame so to speak. I am working at trying to leave work at work but alas it has not gone well....I am getting better to be sure but its still tough.
On a side note I did get the script for the next lonely trooper done and hope to record it during my day off. Hell I may record two and work on writing or I may veg in front of some illuminated monitor . At least its not work
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Poor Poor Monday.
Its not the fact that the day is Monday that makes it less tolerable than the rest of the days, it just happens to be the first day of work after having two days of not work. If you want to blame any day blame Saturday and Sunday for making Monday so bad. They are the ones that get you just relaxed and use to not being in the work environment before they run away on you. Leaving you standing there with Monday like the last two kids in the line to be picked for kickball teams.
Now it can be calculated that more work needs to be done on Mondays then the other workdays but again its not really Monday's fault. Saturday and Sunday are the ones that let things go to hell over the weekend so when its Monday's turn more things need to be fixed. So try to go easy on Monday when it comes around. It just happens to get the bad spot on the calendar.
Tuesday is a day that understands Monday's troubles the most. Usually Tuesday is just another workday but occasionally it becomes a Monday on those Holiday weekends were we have off on Monday. Tuesday then catches the brunt of the disdain. In fact sometimes when the Tuesday becomes a Monday its worse because Monday really lets things go to shit when its a day off so there is an extra day of stuff that can go wrong that needs to get fixed. Tuesday really doesn't like those weeks too much.
Wednesday is a day that is quite happy where it's at. It knows its place in the week is a coveted one. Why? well for one it is far enough away from the weekend where people are use to working by now. They come into work and things are fairly routine, plus Wedneday marks the halfway point to another weekend, so people are happy the week is half over. Wednesday is also a very happy day because at least once year it gets to feel like a Friday. So Wednesday is probably one of the best positioned days of the work week.
Thursday is more lucky than Wednesday in that it gets more chances to feel like a Friday but it also has the rep of making the work week long. By Thursday everyone really really wants the weekend to be there , so Thurday is more of a lamenting day. Its a day that people work hard to try and get things done before the weekend and a day people only look at as a bridge to Friday. Thursday is the day that most wants to be Friday and is happy when it gets its chance but wishes it got its chance more often.
This then brings us to Friday. This is the mover and shaker day. Friday is the day that is probably the happiest of all the days. Everyone usually looks forward to it, can't wait for it and when it finally arrives, people are generally in a better mood. Plus the fact that it gets to share the status of the Weekend the most out of the other workdays. Friday is also very content in its position like Wednesday is.
Of course there are those floating holidays that all the workdays love because every four years or so they get to be "the Day off" . Again Friday benefits the most out of this occurance just because it has the regular holidays that makes it part of the weekend and then the floater holiday too. We could talk about Saturday and Sunday but those two I think are rather self explanitory.
see what happens when I let my mind wander.