Ray's 53rd DCU/GrayHaven Megathread - Beware the Court of OOMPHwls!!!

[jason hissong]

How incredible is THE INVISIBLES?

Might be time for a semi-annual re-read.

Maybe after I finish Cerebus.

[chazbot]

I think he's a great visual director, although I haven't been a big fan of any of his movies personally.

Which is still a far cry from awful awful awful.

[Dark Sasha]

HEY! Swords are the brand of the guns! GET IT! GET IT!

[Ray G.]

Which is still a far cry from awful awful awful.

Yeah, but...Sasha. :)

[Dark Sasha]

KUROSAWA OR BUST YOU FARTS!!!


Or Grigori Kozintsev


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp5Rz0LqUSM

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Come on, man. Three times. THREE TIMES the Director's Guild saw fit to honor him with a nomination. They're one of the best predictors of the nominations out there. And three times the Oscars chose to nominate a glaringly weaker director over him. That's not something that just happens without an underlying motivation.

I think the underlying motivation is that the Academy just doesn't fawn over his films and they don't think they're really Oscar worthy films. He just doesn't make the kind of movies that the voters there tend to champion. I don't see that as a grudge or any kind of conspiracy. I think the closest thing he's ever made to an Oscar film was The Prestige.

[chazbot]

HEY! Swords are the brand of the guns! GET IT! GET IT!

I thought you were a fan of artistic creativity, but I guess it only counts if you find it novel.

[Dark Sasha]

I thought you were a fan of artistic creativity, but I guess it only counts if you find it novel.

But he's annoying.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Actually, the Oscars don't have a grudge against Nolan, they have a grudge against Ray personally, because if there would have been 9 films nominated for Best Picture last year instead of 10, Inception wouldn't have even gotten a nom. And if there would have been 8, neither would Toy Story 3... The Oscar's just don't like Ray. :D

[chazbot]

But he's annoying.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4o2yn0LQtOE/TtjFvBawBeI/AAAAAAAAAHU/-Gt1RHpBZY4/s320/pot-kettle.jpg

:p

[Matthew Brown]

Bleh, I know this is due today, but... Don't want to let it go.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Nothing is more crushing than looking in the new releases, seeing a movie that looks like it could be good, then reading the words "starring Dane Cook..."

[Arion]

I think the underlying motivation is that the Academy just doesn't fawn over his films and they don't think they're really Oscar worthy films. He just doesn't make the kind of movies that the voters there tend to champion. I don't see that as a grudge or any kind of conspiracy. I think the closest thing he's ever made to an Oscar film was The Prestige.

Memento was great too.

[jason hissong]

When are they going to make an INVISIBLES movie?

That's a trilogy, at least.

[Arion]

When are they going to make an INVISIBLES movie?

That's a trilogy, at least.

Who would be your ideal director?

[AndrewG]

Next year should be fucking stacked with top directors helming big budget movies.

It won't be because the Oscars won't recognize movies people want to actually watch anymore.

[Ray G.]

It won't be because the Oscars won't recognize movies people want to actually watch anymore.

Yeah, two of the last three best picture winners were ridiculously low-grossing. King's Speech was a lot more successful than I expected, though.

[jason hissong]

Who would be your ideal director?

Baz Luhrman.

[Arion]

Yeah, two of the last three best picture winners were ridiculously low-grossing. King's Speech was a lot more successful than I expected, though.

What's wrong with giving the award to a movie that hasn't broken any box office records?

[Ray G.]

What's wrong with giving the award to a movie that hasn't broken any box office records?

They don't have to give it to a movie that's breaking box office records, but when they give it to a movie that the public has basically shown no interest in, it kind of highlights how out of touch they are.

[jason hissong]

They don't have to give it to a movie that's breaking box office records, but when they give it to a movie that the public has basically shown no interest in, it kind of highlights how out of touch they are.

But the Oscars have never been a populist event. . . .

[Ray G.]

But the Oscars have never been a populist event. . . .

They've given a ton of critically acclaimed smash hits the award over the years.

[Arion]

They don't have to give it to a movie that's breaking box office records, but when they give it to a movie that the public has basically shown no interest in, it kind of highlights how out of touch they are.

Public and critics are different. Do you think crappy movies like Twilight or Transformers should win the Oscar?, since everyone goes to see that kind of movies...

[Ray G.]

Public and critics are different. Do you think crappy movies like Twilight or Transformers should win the Oscar?, since everyone goes to see that kind of movies...

No, but there's a healthy balance to be found.

Every year, there's a few movies that both public and critics embrace fully. The Oscars seem to have lost touch with that.

[Mylazycat]

So the three you haven't seen were the three that shouldn't have gotten noms... :D

I'm curious about The Help for the acting and Warhorse because Ray says he loved it. Tree Of Life...what I've heard makes me very uncertain I want to see it.


War Horse was amazing.

See?

[Mylazycat]

Other than Billy Crystal, who was pretty damn bland and uninteresting, and only had like maybe two good lines... I actually REALLY enjoyed this years Oscars. One of the better ones I can recall. No winners that I could really argue against. And most of the presenters were great, specifically Chris Rock, RDJ/Paltrow, and Stiller/Emma Stone.

I've heard it speculated that Crystal seemed like he may have had a cold. Then again, maybe he's that off his game.

Muppets winning best song was one of my hightlights. I :heart: Flight of the Conchords and Brett gave one of the night's sweetest and best speeches.

[Mylazycat]

They don't have to give it to a movie that's breaking box office records, but when they give it to a movie that the public has basically shown no interest in, it kind of highlights how out of touch they are.

Not really. They're voting for the Best Picture. Not Best Mainsteam Picture or Best Picture That A Lot Of People Have Seen.

The Grammys drive people up a wall in that they always nominate the Justin Biebers of the world over the higher quality but lower sellling.

[Dark Sasha]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtfQg4KkR88

[The Doctor]

I've heard it speculated that Crystal seemed like he may have had a cold. Then again, maybe he's that off his game.

Muppets winning best song was one of my hightlights. I :heart: Flight of the Conchords and Brett gave one of the night's sweetest and best speeches.

He looked pretty rough

But he was good enough

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

They don't have to give it to a movie that's breaking box office records, but when they give it to a movie that the public has basically shown no interest in, it kind of highlights how out of touch they are.

So if someone gives a comics award (like an Eisner or an Eagle) to something like Severed over something like New Avengers, then that means that those award voters are out of touch as well?

[Ray G.]

So if someone gives a comics award (like an Eisner or an Eagle) to something like Severed over something like New Avengers, then that means that those award voters are out of touch as well?

Is New Avengers getting far better critical notes than Severed?

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Is New Avengers getting far better critical notes than Severed?

A- No. And that's my point. These box office smashes that Andrew and you think should get Oscar noms are not getting better critical notes than the smaller films that do win.

B- Why should that matter with the point you made? If no one has any interest in reading Severed (and comparatively to much bigger selling books, they don't) then it doesn't deserve an award, simply because no one (on a large scale) has any interest in reading it.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

A well made movie is a well made movie, whether 100 million people see it, or 100 people see it. And a poorly made movie is a poorly made movie, whether 100 see it, or 100 million people see it. The end.

[Ray G.]

A- No. And that's my point. These box office smashes that Andrew and you think should get Oscar noms are not getting better critical notes than the smaller films that do win.

B- Why should that matter with the point you made? If no one has any interest in reading Severed (and comparatively to much bigger selling books, they don't) then it doesn't deserve an award, simply because no one (on a large scale) has any interest in reading it.

Andrew and I aren't really making the same point. Andrew seems to be arguing more strongly that successful movies should be getting nominated. I'm arguing that the Oscars actually seem to take popularity as a negative, even when the movie is demonstrably better.

Case in point, the 64% approval "The Reader" and the 72% "Benjamin Button" getting the nomination over "The Dark Knight". Or even more glaringly, the 48% approval "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" somehow getting nominated over the 82% approval Super 8, which was a box office hit.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Andrew and I aren't really making the same point. Andrew seems to be arguing more strongly that successful movies should be getting nominated. I'm arguing that the Oscars actually seem to take popularity as a negative, even when the movie is demonstrably better.

Case in point, the 64% approval "The Reader" and the 72% "Benjamin Button" getting the nomination over "The Dark Knight". Or even more glaringly, the 48% approval "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" somehow getting nominated over the 82% approval Super 8, which was a box office hit.

Except that both The Reader and Benjamin Button were better movies with better performances than The Dark Knight.

I haven't seen EL&IC yet, and I have seen Super 8. I LOVED Super 8, it was this generation's ET, but I wouldn't say it's a great movie, and I definitely wouldn't say it's an Oscar movie.

[jason hissong]

Johnny 'Fighting The Good Fight" Coker.

[Ray G.]

Except that both The Reader and Benjamin Button were better movies with better performances than The Dark Knight.

I haven't seen EL&IC yet, and I have seen Super 8. I LOVED Super 8, it was this generation's ET, but I wouldn't say it's a great movie, and I definitely wouldn't say it's an Oscar movie.

The idea that there's a "type" of movie that should win Oscars is a huge part of the problem.

More and more the Oscars are starting to look like the culmination of public and critical assessment of the year's movies, and more like a bunch of cinema elitists playing favorites.

[Dark Sasha]

Yeah. Titaniac was not a popular movie.

[Ray G.]

Yeah. Titaniac was not a popular movie.

15 years, Sasha. A lot has changed since then, and it's become really glaring since 2005 or so.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

The idea that there's a "type" of movie that should win Oscars is a huge part of the problem.

More and more the Oscars are starting to look like the culmination of public and critical assessment of the year's movies, and more like a bunch of cinema elitists playing favorites.

But they ARE cinema elitists. That's the point of an award, it goes to the best, not the most popular. In the case of awards, elite isn't a bad word.

[Dark Sasha]

And Avatar? Avatar had a best picture right?

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

15 years, Sasha. A lot has changed since then, and it's become really glaring since 2005 or so.

Yeah, they've been starting to get it right again. :D

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

My Oscar Winning Film for 2012...

Save The Date.

:D

[chazbot]

But they ARE cinema elitists. That's the point of an award, it goes to the best, not the most popular. In the case of awards, elite isn't a bad word.

There are different award shows. There are people's choice, there are the golden globes. You can't expect the Oscars to be a different type of award show than what it's become.

There is a case though that appealing to a more mainstream audience will help with how people view the Oscars, hence noms for Brad and George, but they aren't beholden to that stance.

[Dark Sasha]

Yeah, they've been starting to get it right again. :D

The wrong Crash won.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

There are different award shows. There are people's choice, there are the golden globes. You can't expect the Oscars to be a different type of award show than what it's become.

There is a case though that appealing to a more mainstream audience will help with how people view the Oscars, hence noms for Brad and George, but they aren't beholden to that stance.

Yeah, except that I'll argue that neither guy was nominated because of their mainstream appeal, they were nominated because they both gave fantastic performances, their mainstream appeal was just a bonus.

[chazbot]

Remember that time Around the World in 80 Days won best picture over Giant?

We should go back to those times.

[chazbot]

Yeah, except that I'll argue that neither guy was nominated because of their mainstream appeal, they were nominated because they both gave fantastic performances, their mainstream appeal was just a bonus.

Sadly, I hadn't seen either films, though I do agree both are fine actors.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

The wrong Crash won.

:D

I was actually just about to type this...

Even though I was really just making a joke- looking at the list of Best Picture winners since 2005, there was only one that I had a problem with winning, and that was Crash in 06. Now, BEFORE 2005? The first winner going back that I DIDN'T have a problem with winning? American Beauty in 2000.

[Dark Sasha]

The No Country There Will be Blood year was the best.

[Dark Sasha]

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzrj9hSiKG1qi0kfro1_500.gif

[chazbot]

We should have more years like '76 when Rocky beat out Taxi Driver for Best Picture.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

The No Country There Will be Blood year was the best.

Any 5 of those films could have won and I would have been perfectly happy.

[chazbot]

Oooh, I like the three-year range of Rain Man, Driving Miss Daisy, and Dances with Wolves beating out Dangerous Liaisons, My Left Foot, and Goodfellas respectively.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

We should have more years like '76 when Rocky beat out Taxi Driver for Best Picture.

Network > All The President's Men > Taxi Driver > Rocky

:D

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Oooh, I like the three-year range of Rain Man, Driving Miss Daisy, and Dances with Wolves beating out Dangerous Liaisons, My Left Foot, and Goodfellas respectively.

:D Exactly. Compared to what they once were. The Oscars have been pretty good at at least almost getting it right lately. Seriously, the last true "Are you fucking kidding me?" Year has been the 05 movies with Crash.

[chazbot]

Network > All The President's Men > Taxi Driver > Rocky

:D

Hah! The first one I quoted with Around the World beating Giant, The King and I and The Ten Commandments were also nominated that year. Talk about a stacked year.

One of the most egregious I saw going way back is An American in Paris beating out Streetcar Named Desire. Just wow.

[Dark Sasha]

No Godard film has won......

[Ray G.]

And Avatar? Avatar had a best picture right?

No, it lost to The Hurt Locker, which I believe is the lowest-grossing Oscar winner in memory.

The thing about that year is that Hurt Locker absolutely should have beaten Avatar - but it shouldn't have beaten Up in the Air or Inglorious Basterds.

[Ray G.]

But they ARE cinema elitists. That's the point of an award, it goes to the best, not the most popular. In the case of awards, elite isn't a bad word.

Not when that elitism is seemingly based on nothing besides a preconceived idea of what a good movie should be, regardless of execution.

And seriously, what pictures does Stephen Daldry have of Academy Members?

[chazbot]

No Godard film has won......

Speaking of... you hate on Luhrmann for casting Jamie Kennedy in a film, but Godard had Molly Ringwald in one of his. So there.

[Dark Sasha]

Speaking of... you hate on Luhrmann for casting Jamie Kennedy in a film, but Godard had Molly Ringwald in one of his. So there.
His lesser work!

[Ray G.]

Any 5 of those films could have won and I would have been perfectly happy.

I'd say only the two frontrunners were really worthy.

That was the rare year when I bitched a ton about nominations but was very happy with the actual results.

[Ray G.]

Oooh, I like the three-year range of Rain Man, Driving Miss Daisy, and Dances with Wolves beating out Dangerous Liaisons, My Left Foot, and Goodfellas respectively.

They've really overcorrected, I think. Sure, things like Kramer vs. Kramer beating Apocalypse Now was incredibly glaring, but so is across-the-board hits with audience and critics alike getting passed over because they're not "serious" enough.

[MAK15]

Because I love the attention:

http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?212402-My-Comic-Strip-Devil-on-my-Shoulder/page3

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

No, it lost to The Hurt Locker, which I believe is the lowest-grossing Oscar winner in memory.

The thing about that year is that Hurt Locker absolutely should have beaten Avatar - but it shouldn't have beaten Up in the Air or Inglorious Basterds.

The Hurt Locker was 4,200 times the better film than Avatar (as you pointed out).

I enjoyed Up In The Air a lot more than Hurt Locker, but they were both fantastic films, either deserved the win.

[jason hissong]

The Hurt Locker was 4,200 times the better film than Avatar (as you pointed out).

I enjoyed Up In The Air a lot more than Hurt Locker, but they were both fantastic films, either deserved the win.

Why you low-balling this?

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

I'd say only the two frontrunners were really worthy.

That was the rare year when I bitched a ton about nominations but was very happy with the actual results.

Michael Clayton and Atonement are both Oscar Worthy films. Juno isn't quite, outside of the script.

My personal fave film that year shouldn't have won, but it should've gotten a nom (at least for screenplay), and that's Charlie Wilson's War.

[Dark Sasha]

Jason: Johnny, is this about the oscars or is this about us?!

[jason hissong]

Jason: Johnny, is this about the oscars or is this about us?!

I would take the stance that for Johnny and myself, it's about the Oscars.

For Ray and others, it's about them.

[Arion]

I'm curious about The Help for the acting and Warhorse because Ray says he loved it. Tree Of Life...what I've heard makes me very uncertain I want to see it.



See?

I saw War Horse.

[Mylazycat]

Sadly, I hadn't seen either films, though I do agree both are fine actors.

Both Pitt and Clooney were fantastic.


:D

I was actually just about to type this...

Even though I was really just making a joke- looking at the list of Best Picture winners since 2005, there was only one that I had a problem with winning, and that was Crash in 06. Now, BEFORE 2005? The first winner going back that I DIDN'T have a problem with winning? American Beauty in 2000.

Love American Beauty. May be Spacey's finest hour and an overall excellent film.


No, it lost to The Hurt Locker, which I believe is the lowest-grossing Oscar winner in memory.

The thing about that year is that Hurt Locker absolutely should have beaten Avatar - but it shouldn't have beaten Up in the Air or Inglorious Basterds.

Another year, like the No Country year, with excellent nominees for the most part.

[Arion]

Jason: Johnny, is this about the oscars or is this about us?!

It's always about us.

[Mylazycat]

Also, they need to go back to five nominations. Five nominations just has more weight to it and gives it more of an honour. Yes, I know stuff will still sneak in at 5 while more deserving doesn't, but there's just something about nine or ten or whatever number based off % they use they just takes away from it. It doesn't create any debate or tension to go past five. Five films creates a debate about that elite 5 and what should have been included but they want to increase the box office for more films, so...

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Why you low-balling this?

You have a point...

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Another year, like the No Country year, with excellent nominees for the most part.

Yeah I dunno... there were like 4 nominated films that year that I don't think should have been. But that'll happen with 10 nominations.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Also, they need to go back to five nominations. Five nominations just has mor weight to it and gives it more of an honour. Yes, I know stuff will still sneak in at 5 while more deserving doesn't, but there's just something about nine or 9 or whatever number based off % they use they just takes away from it. It doesn't create any debate or tension to go past five. Five films creates a debate about that elite 5 and what should have been included but they want to increase the box office for more films, so...

Yeah, 5 or 6.

[jason hissong]

What looks interesting tomorrow?

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Alright, just for shits and giggles, going back from now until, well, until I stop giving a fuck, here are the only Oscar winning films I have a real issue with-

05 films- Crash over any of the other four, specifically Good Night and Good Luck, and Capote

03 films- LOTR over, well, anything, but specifically Lost In Translation. Granted that was a pretty weak year.

02 films- Chicago over Gangs Of New York, and The Pianist

00 films- Gladiator over, well, anything, that year was really pretty damn weak, but I guess I would have given it to Chocolat

97 films- Titanic over Good Will Hunting

95 films- Braveheart over, well, once again, anything. But also once again, not a very good year. I probably would have had to go with Sense and Sensibility

94 films- Forrest Gump over The Shawshank Redemption, and Pulp Fiction

92 films- Unforgiven over A Few Good Men

90 films- Dances With Wolves over Goodfellas

So really, comparing the 2000s and 2000teens so far to the 90s, I'd say the Academy is finally getting it right, or at least a lot closer to right.

[chazbot]

I dunno, Unforgiven is a damn good film. And was seen as a cultural closer to Eastwood as a Western character. The others Johnny mentioned, can't disagree with.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

What looks interesting tomorrow?

http://www.midtowncomics.com/images/PRODUCT/FUL/1172236_ful.jpg

http://www.midtowncomics.com/images/PRODUCT/FUL/1112573_ful.jpg

http://www.midtowncomics.com/images/PRODUCT/FUL/1172319_ful.jpg

http://www.midtowncomics.com/images/PRODUCT/FUL/1172330_ful.jpg

http://www.midtowncomics.com/images/PRODUCT/FUL/1172332_ful.jpg

http://www.midtowncomics.com/images/PRODUCT/FUL/1172350_ful.jpg

http://www.midtowncomics.com/images/PRODUCT/FUL/1172352_ful.jpg

[Ray G.]

I actually think 2000 was insanely strong. Any of Gladiator, Traffic, or Crouching Tiger would have been a great winner. Along with the unnominated Oh Brother Where Art Thou and Cast Away.

Chocolat? Chocolat? :no:

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

I dunno, Unforgiven is a damn good film. And was seen as a cultural closer to Eastwood as a Western character. The others Johnny mentioned, can't disagree with.

It is. DAMN good film.

But it's no A Few Good Men.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

I actually think 2000 was insanely strong. Any of Gladiator, Traffic, or Crouching Tiger would have been a great winner. Along with the unnominated Oh Brother Where Art Thou and Cast Away.

Chocolat? Chocolat? :no:

Cast Away!? Cast away!? :nonono2:

I could have lived with Traffic, and yeah, Oh Brother Where Art Thou should have been nominated, but I was only comparing the winner to the other nominees. Gladiator was not a good movie. And if someone were to ask me to name 10 overrated films, Crouching Tiger would be on that list somewhere (right up there with Cast Away, ugh what a horrible movie). Chocolat was a fantastically well crafted film.

[Ray G.]

Cast Away!? Cast away!? :nonono2:

I could have lived with traffic, and yeah, Oh Brother Where Art Thou should have been nominated, but I was only comparing the winner to the other nominees. Gladiator was not a good movie. And if someone where to ask me to name 10 overrated films, Crouching Tiger would be on that list somewhere (right up there with Cast Away, ugh what a horrible movie). Chocolat was a fantastically well crafted film.

Oddly, you seem to be far more in touch with the Oscars while I'm far more in touch with critical consensus.

I was rather shocked to see that Chocolate had only a 64% approval rating (it's likely considered to have taken the slot of one of those other two movies due to a very aggressive campaign by Harvey Weinstein) while Cast Away had 90%! That's higher than a full three of the nominees!

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

2000 with Gladiator is JUST like 1995 with Braveheart... when everything thing else sucks and when in doubt... shoulda gone with the girly art film. :D

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Cast Away is such a bad movie. SO. BAD.

[Arion]

Also, they need to go back to five nominations. Five nominations just has more weight to it and gives it more of an honour. Yes, I know stuff will still sneak in at 5 while more deserving doesn't, but there's just something about nine or ten or whatever number based off % they use they just takes away from it. It doesn't create any debate or tension to go past five. Five films creates a debate about that elite 5 and what should have been included but they want to increase the box office for more films, so...

I agree. 5 is a good number.

[Ray G.]

2000 with Gladiator is JUST like 1995 with Braveheart... when everything thing else sucks and when in doubt... shoulda gone with the girly art film. :D

Gladiator is probably in my top five movies ever. I'd say it's there along with Hugo, Up in the Air, The Truman Show, and Inception, if I had to name five off the top of my head.

[Arion]

Gladiator is probably in my top five movies ever. I'd say it's there along with Hugo, Up in the Air, The Truman Show, and Inception, if I had to name five off the top of my head.

We all love the Roman Empire, that's for sure.

[jason hissong]

2000 with gladiator is just like 1995 with braveheart... When everything thing else sucks and when in doubt... Shoulda gone with the girly art film. :d

are you not entertained?

[shoelaceless]

http://www.midtowncomics.com/images/PRODUCT/FUL/1112573_ful.jpg

Hey, people who like comics with content, if Image is still letting Stokoe pack these things with 32 pages of story and no ads, this will be absolutely the best value in comics.

[jason hissong]

Gladiator is probably in my top five movies ever. I'd say it's there along with Hugo, Up in the Air, The Truman Show, and Inception, if I had to name five off the top of my head.

Recency bias!

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Gladiator is probably in my top five movies ever. I'd say it's there along with Hugo, Up in the Air, The Truman Show, and Inception, if I had to name five off the top of my head.

I actually had to google the Truman Show :) I had completely forgotten about that movie.

You're much more populist than I am Ray... well, except for when it comes to politics... :D

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

are you not entertained?

:lol:

And yes actually, I was totally entertained, Gladiator is GREAT FUN, I enjoy the fuck out of it... it's just not a very good movie.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Recency bias!

I'd put Social Network up there in Top 5.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

I like Ordinary People, but it shouldn't have won out over Raging Bull. Just sayin'.

[Arion]

are you not entertained?

That's a classic.

Peter David included that line in X-Factor, in the Gladiator joke...

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

I fucking love, I mean LOVE Top Gun, one of my favorite movies of all time. Easily Top 3. But guess what? Pretty shitty movie.

[Slewo.O]

Hey, people who like comics with content, if Image is still letting Stokoe pack these things with 32 pages of story and no ads, this will be absolutely the best value in comics.

Hmmmm...

[The Doctor]

No, it lost to The Hurt Locker, which I believe is the lowest-grossing Oscar winner in memory.

The thing about that year is that Hurt Locker absolutely should have beaten Avatar - but it shouldn't have beaten Up in the Air or Inglorious Basterds.
Bloody Avatar

:lol:

And yes actually, I was totally entertained, Gladiator is GREAT FUN, I enjoy the fuck out of it... it's just not a very good movie.

With this and the comment about LOTR you've lost me :)

[Dark Sasha]

Just MOON KNIGHT for me.

[Matthew Brown]

Just MOON KNIGHT for me.

Okay, but I've never done it for another guy before.

[shoelaceless]

Hmmmm...

There's really nothing to deliberate about. This is what comics are about. Picking up an issue that looks good. Hitting the ground running and figuring out the story. Reading and rereading. Tracking the rest down later if you want. This is not a novel to be read closely from the beginning. It is a darkly comedic fantasy action comic book about orcs.

[Slewo.O]

There's really nothing to deliberate about. This is what comics are about. Picking up an issue that looks good. Hitting the ground running and figuring out the story. Reading and rereading. Tracking the rest down later if you want. This is not a novel to be read closely from the beginning. It is a darkly comedic fantasy action comic book about orcs.

I'll pick it up and see if I can find the trade. Does this please thee, Shoe?

[Dark Sasha]

Okay, but I've never done it for another guy before.

It's ok.

[Dark Sasha]

Okay, but I've never done it for another guy before.

Just remember.


Shove it in.
Tap it around
and make sure you turn it off before you remove it.

[Mylazycat]

There's really nothing to deliberate about. This is what comics are about. Picking up an issue that looks good. Hitting the ground running and figuring out the story. Reading and rereading. Tracking the rest down later if you want. This is not a novel to be read closely from the beginning. It is a darkly comedic fantasy action comic book about orcs.

Orcs, you say?

Hmmm...

[chazbot]

Just MOON KNIGHT for me.

So everything you like about comics is in Orc Stain, but not picking it up?

*scribbles notes*

[Matthew Brown]

Orcs, you say?

Hmmm...

It's fucking awesome.

[Slewo.O]

So everything you like about comics is in Orc Stain, but not picking it up?

*scribbles notes*

:)

Let's not forget this is the guy who whines about Daredevil hand waving Shadowland and being a cheater, when he did in fact divorce his wife, and yet is ok with Moon Knight skipping over the events of the Shadowlands mini.

[Dark Sasha]

So everything you like about comics is in Orc Stain, but not picking it up?

*scribbles notes*

Dammit Chaz! It's not going to be at my store!

[Mylazycat]

It's fucking awesome.

I need to get this, somehow, some way.

[AndrewG]

Andrew and I aren't really making the same point. Andrew seems to be arguing more strongly that successful movies should be getting nominated. I'm arguing that the Oscars actually seem to take popularity as a negative, even when the movie is demonstrably better.

Case in point, the 64% approval "The Reader" and the 72% "Benjamin Button" getting the nomination over "The Dark Knight". Or even more glaringly, the 48% approval "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" somehow getting nominated over the 82% approval Super 8, which was a box office hit.

There should be a box office minimum of say 80 million and 1000 screens to be considered.

The Severed argument is flawed. Severed isn't a blockbuster like Avengers but it sells. Itd be more like something no ones heard of or cared to see (like the Artist) getting an Eisner or Academy award over a solid (Super 8, Harry Potter, Dark Knight) that people saw and got good reviews

Not saying nominate something because of sales but make sales an entry point. Still has to be a good movie.

The Oscars are a better product when people are invested in the nominees not the shit they had this year.

[AndrewG]

But they ARE cinema elitists. That's the point of an award, it goes to the best, not the most popular. In the case of awards, elite isn't a bad word.

Absolutely wrong. If the 'experts' are so out of touch w the mainstream then they shouldn't be able to hand out awards. Taking the word of a handful of 'experts' over thousands/millions of people. That's dumb

[AndrewG]

Oooh, I like the three-year range of Rain Man, Driving Miss Daisy, and Dances with Wolves beating out Dangerous Liaisons, My Left Foot, and Goodfellas respectively.

That was great. Good movies w box office pull. Perfect

[Ray G.]

There should be a box office minimum of say 80 million and 1000 screens to be considered.

The Severed argument is flawed. Severed isn't a blockbuster like Avengers but it sells. Itd be more like something no ones heard of or cared to see (like the Artist) getting an Eisner or Academy award over a solid (Super 8, Harry Potter, Dark Knight) that people saw and got good reviews

Not saying nominate something because of sales but make sales an entry point. Still has to be a good movie.

The Oscars are a better product when people are invested in the nominees not the shit they had this year.

I wouldn't go that far - it would have excluded Hugo and Up in the Air, to name two - but when it gets to the point that being popular actually seems to make the Academy give a movie less credibility, something is really off.

[Dark Sasha]

That was great. Good movies w box office pull. Perfect

And Goodfellas is still on cable somewhere.

[AndrewG]

I wouldn't go that far - it would have excluded Hugo and Up in the Air, to name two - but when it gets to the point that being popular actually seems to make the Academy give a movie less credibility, something is really off.

Then those should have been better movies. ;)

[Ray G.]

Then those should have been better movies. ;)

I don't see anything wrong with having some movies that didn't gross as much up for the big awards or even winning occasionally when it's deserved.

The problem is when being an obscure indie starts to become a prerequisite to be taken seriously.

[Dark Sasha]

I don't see anything wrong with having some movies that didn't gross as much up for the big awards or even winning occasionally when it's deserved.

The problem is when being an obscure indie starts to become a prerequisite to be taken seriously.

It's a narrative thing. It's a little guy vote.

[Ray G.]

It's a narrative thing. It's a little guy vote.

Nothing says little guy like Harvey Weinstein polishing his 22nd Oscar.

[Dark Sasha]

Nothing says little guy like Harvey Weinstein polishing his 22nd Oscar.

Slumdog.

[Ray G.]

Slumdog.

Made $142 million.

Really, I think the problem is more with the nominations than with the winners overall.

[Dark Sasha]

Made $142 million.

Really, I think the problem is more with the nominations than with the winners overall.

Slumdog was headed to Direct to dvd before a Toronto film festival bump and it was hyped up all over the place.

[Ray G.]

Slumdog was headed to Direct to dvd before a Toronto film festival bump and it was hyped up all over the place.

And? How is this what we're talking about? Slumdog isn't one of the movies I'm arguing against.

[Dark Sasha]

And? How is this what we're talking about? Slumdog isn't one of the movies I'm arguing against.

Well for a while it was obscure and an indie.

[Matthew Brown]

I don't know Howlett's email.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

I was just putting a couple movies I just bought up on my dvd shelves, and my very first thought was- "Man, Ray would fuckin HATE my movie collection." :D

[Dark Sasha]

Ray, which movie in the Three Colour trilogy is your favorite?

[shoelaceless]

I was just putting a couple movies I just bought up on my dvd shelves, and my very first thought was- "Man, Ray would fuckin HATE my movie collection." :D
Aren't you a huge Love Actually fan?

[Ego Lives!]

I don't know Howlett's email.

howlett145 AT yahoo.co.uk

[Ray G.]

howlett145 @ yahoo.co.uk

You'll want to edit that so Howlett doesn't get spammed.

[Ego Lives!]

You'll want to edit that so Howlett doesn't get spammed.

WHOOPS. Thanks Ray.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Aren't you a huge Love Actually fan?

I am. Is that a Ray movie? I'm sure we'll have at least one or two in common. I do own Up In The Air.

[Matthew Brown]

There, damn script is turned in. Pick it apart! See if I care!

[Ray G.]

I am. Is that a Ray movie? I'm sure we'll have at least one or two in common. I do own Up In The Air.

I've never actually seen Love Actually. It doesn't seem like it'd be my thing, but I don't object to it.

[shoelaceless]

I am. Is that a Ray movie? I'm sure we'll have at least one or two in common. I do own Up In The Air.

I dunno. I just never thought of you as having especially obscure tastes.

This is not a criticism of your tastes or proclamation of obscurity in my own tastes.

[Matthew Brown]

Up In The Air had George Clooney, right? That made me sad, so I hate it! Bad movie, bad!

[The Doctor]

I've never actually seen Love Actually. It doesn't seem like it'd be my thing, but I don't object to it.

Lots of fun

[Ego Lives!]

There, damn script is turned in. Pick it apart! See if I care!

Wrapping mine up right now. I don't know what I was looking at, but I thought I had more time.

[Matthew Brown]

Warning, for Western, my people may start to look different.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Lots of fun

Yay, I love you again.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

I dunno. I just never thought of you as having especially obscure tastes.

This is not a criticism of your tastes or proclamation of obscurity in my own tastes.

I wouldn't say I have especially obscure tastes either... unless we're talking about porn...

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

About Last Night
All The President's Men
The American President
American Splendor
Before Sunrise
Before Sunset
The Believer
The Bourne trilogy
Breach
The Brothers McMullen
Bubble Boy
Burn After Reading
Charlie Wilson's War
Crash
Crazy Heart
Crime And Punishment In Suburbia
Daredevil Director's Cut
The Day Of The Jackal
The Departed
Dog Day Afternoon
Down In The Valley
An Education
Empire Records
An Evening With Kevin Smith
500 Days Of Summer
A Few Good Men
For Love Or Money
From Justin To Kelly
Frost Nixon
Gangs Of New York
Ghost Town
Glengarry GlenRoss
The Good Shepherd
Gran Torino
Heist
Hot Rod
How To Deal
The Invention of Lying
Iron Man
Juno
The Last of The Mohicans
Love & Other Drugs
Match Point
Michael Clayton
Milk
Million Dollar Baby
Music From Another Room
Must Love Dogs
Mystery Team
Network
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
The Notebook
Oliver & Company
The Reader
Redbelt
Revolutionary Road
Say Anything
Saved
Serenity
The Social Network
The Souler Opposite
The Spanish Prisoner
Spartan
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
Star Trek
State Of Play (the BBC mini-series)
Thank You For Smoking
Towelhead
The United States Of Leland
Up In The Air
W.
A Walk To Remember
Wet Hot American Summer

[NickT]

There should be a box office minimum of say 80 million and 1000 screens to be considered.

The Severed argument is flawed. Severed isn't a blockbuster like Avengers but it sells. Itd be more like something no ones heard of or cared to see (like the Artist) getting an Eisner or Academy award over a solid (Super 8, Harry Potter, Dark Knight) that people saw and got good reviews

Not saying nominate something because of sales but make sales an entry point. Still has to be a good movie.

The Oscars are a better product when people are invested in the nominees not the shit they had this year.
That would mean that last year only 39 movies were in contention. Not a single best picture nomination would have made it, but The Zookeeper would be.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Nick, I don't know where Devon is, but my god they make some damn good cheddar there.

[NickT]

Nick, I don't know where Devon is, but my god they make some damnit good cheddar there.
It's around the sticking out bit at the bottom of the country :)


I like their Rice Pudding.

[Mylazycat]

That would mean that last year only 39 movies were in contention. Not a single best picture nomination would have made it, but The Zookeeper would be.

In 2010 Little Fockers - $148,438,600 domestic Box office. An Oscar classic!

The irony here is that The King's Speech grossed $135,453,143 at the domestic box office for 2010 films. A hell of a lot of people saw it.

[Ray G.]

In 2010 Little Fockers - $148,438,600 domestic Box office. An Oscar classic!

The irony here is that The King's Speech grossed $135,453,143 at the domestic box office for 2010 films. A hell of a lot of people saw it.

Yeah, box office isn't a pure metric. The real issue is the Oscar's snobbery of genre films that are successful and their tendency to develop long-time snubs of specific individuals.

[AndrewG]

That would mean that last year only 39 movies were in contention. Not a single best picture nomination would have made it, but The Zookeeper would be.

Zookeeper was panned universally. Would have never made it past the qualifying round. But 5-10 well made movies that were seen would have

[Ray G.]

Zookeeper was panned universally. Would have never made it past the qualifying round. But 5-10 well made movies that were seen would have

Super 8!

I kind of like your idea of a set percentage of the nominees having made over $100 million. I would say 25%.

[shoelaceless]

Guys, they already give an award for movies that make the most money. It's called money.

[Slewo.O]

Guys, they already give an award for movies that make the most money. It's called money.

:lol:

[AndrewG]

Super 8!

I kind of like your idea of a set percentage of the nominees having made over $100 million. I would say 25%.

90%

And at least on 1000 screens

:)

[Ray G.]

90%

And at least on 1000 screens

:)

I mean, I'm fine when a good movie that didn't make a lot of money gets nominated over a good or okay movie that made a lot of money.

What I have a problem with is when a bad movie that made no money gets nominated over a good movie that did.

[Dark Sasha]

Shame and Drive. Shame and Drive. Albert Brook supporting nom. Fassbender basically destroying himself on screen in front of everyone. Come on.

[Ray G.]

Shame and Drive. Shame and Drive. Albert Brook supporting nom. Fassbender basically destroying himself on screen in front of everyone. Come on.

I don't know about Shame, but Drive was an action movie thriller. The Oscars don't nominate those. You're contradicting your own argument. :)

[AndrewG]

Super 8!

I kind of like your idea of a set percentage of the nominees having made over $100 million. I would say 25%.

At 100 mil you could have had
Harry Potter
Super 8
Bridesmaids
The Help
Captain America

All well reviewed and successful

Add Rango, X-Men, and Dragon Tattoo for a solid 8. No Twilights or Transformers needed. You can be good and successful.

[Dark Sasha]

I don't know about Shame, but Drive was an action movie thriller. The Oscars don't nominate those. You're contradicting your own argument. :)

But give it to Albert Brooks. A complete U-turn of a performance.

[Ray G.]

At 100 mil you could have had
Harry Potter
Super 8
Bridesmaids
The Help
Captain America

All well reviewed and successful

Add Rango, X-Men, and Dragon Tattoo for a solid 8. No Twilights or Transformers needed. You can be good and successful.

Feels a little thin, honestly. Some good movies in there, but some fluff too.

Using a 50% rule with 10 nominees, you get...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Super 8
Bridesmaids
The Help
Captain America
Hugo
The Artist
Moneyball
The Descendants
Midnight in Paris/War Horse

I feel like that's a more solid, balanced list than either yours or the Academy's.

[Ray G.]

But give it to Albert Brooks. A complete U-turn of a performance.

In an action-thriller with car chases. Tough luck!

[AndrewG]

Feels a little thin, honestly. Some good movies in there, but some fluff too.

Using a 50% rule with 10 nominees, you get...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Super 8
Bridesmaids
The Help
Captain America
Hugo
The Artist
Moneyball
The Descendants
Midnight in Paris/War Horse

I feel like that's a more solid, balanced list than either yours or the Academy's.

I'll go 50/50 if you add no Woody (he can go fuck himself with a jagged knife) Allen and no Artist type bs

[shoelaceless]

It's weird how much respect you have for comics professionals, while assuming that professionals working in the film industry have no more insight about their work than the consumers.

[Dark Sasha]

In an action-thriller with car chases. Tough luck!

It's in the same class as No Country!

[Ray G.]

I'll go 50/50 if you add no Woody (he can go fuck himself with a jagged knife) Allen and no Artist type bs

:)

Okay, then:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Super 8
Bridesmaids
The Help
Captain America
Rango
Hugo
Moneyball
The Descendants
War Horse

[Dark Sasha]

Annie Hall is so GREAT!!!

[Ray G.]

It's weird how much respect you have for comics professionals, while assuming that professionals working in the film industry have no more insight about their work than the consumers.

I've called the Eisners out when they make ridiculous decisions too.

[AndrewG]

:)

Okay, then:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Super 8
Bridesmaids
The Help
Captain America
Rango
Hugo
Moneyball
The Descendants
War Horse

Okay then. And hell even when the Oscars do their montages of the best film moments/retrospectives you see clips of Star Wars, ET and Jaws more than crap no ones seen. They know!!!

[AndrewG]

I've called the Eisners out when they make ridiculous decisions too.

They at least acknowledge and reward books that sell. Haven't Daredevil, Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America and Iron Man all won or been nominated in the past several years

[Ray G.]

They at least acknowledge and reward books that sell. Haven't Daredevil, Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America and Iron Man all won or been nominated in the past several years

I think so. Although there were some ridiculous choices. I mean, twice they've nominated the final issue of a concluding maxiseries - one issue released that year - as Best Ongoing series, while things like Green Lantern, Fables, and Ultimate Spider-Man weren't nominated that year.

Young Avengers and All-Star Superman. So they were literally saying that those single issues were 12 times better than those other titles.

[Matt O'Keefe]

Got like 25 new pages from Lee for EVER AFTER #2. It's coming along. Also very deep into my big big BIG project, which will be pitched around at c2e2.

[Matt O'Keefe]

I think so. Although there were some ridiculous choices. I mean, twice they've nominated the final issue of a concluding maxiseries - one issue released that year - as Best Ongoing series, while things like Green Lantern, Fables, and Ultimate Spider-Man weren't nominated that year.

Young Avengers and All-Star Superman. So they were literally saying that those single issues were 12 times better than those other titles.

12 issues = an ongoing. 11 or less = a miniseries.

[shoelaceless]

I've called the Eisners out when they make ridiculous decisions too.

Don't get me wrong, if I paid attention to the Oscars/Eisners, I'd be dead from banging my head against the walls.

[Slewo.O]

Got like 25 new pages from Lee for EVER AFTER #2. It's coming along. Also very deep into my big big BIG project, which will be pitched around at c2e2.

:o

Well that's intriguing... Can't wait to see what it is, if/when we meet. For my money I'm taking a small break from the comic stuff, at least till Test Drive or the art from PHS rolls around. I'm knee deep in school stuff right now.

[Matt O'Keefe]

Box office gross is where public opinion comes in; the Academy should reward the best movies of the year. I liked Bridesmaids and Super 8 and may enjoy them for than the Artist, but I'm guessing The Artist will be the better movie.

[Dark Sasha]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpIYz8tfGjY

[Slewo.O]

I'm really hoping my letter gets published in Fatale #2. *crosses fingers*

It's probably one of my favorite Image titles running right now. I'd like more Incognito, but this is definitely pretty sick too.

[Ray G.]

12 issues = an ongoing. 11 or less = a miniseries.

That seems arbitrary.

Regardless, my point isn't that it shouldn't have been an ongoing, if that was the rule. My point is that they nominated ONE issue, the only one that those series put out that year, for Best Ongoing over a bunch of great series that put out 12 issues.

And in both cases, that one issue only made that year because it was very delayed. (they had both been nominated the year prior)

[AndrewG]

I think so. Although there were some ridiculous choices. I mean, twice they've nominated the final issue of a concluding maxiseries - one issue released that year - as Best Ongoing series, while things like Green Lantern, Fables, and Ultimate Spider-Man weren't nominated that year.

Young Avengers and All-Star Superman. So they were literally saying that those single issues were 12 times better than those other titles.

Best Series last ten years: Chew, Walking Dead, Y, All Star Superman, Goon, Astonishing X Men, All Star Superman, 100 Bullets, Daredevil , 100 Bullets

Not bad

[Matt O'Keefe]

That seems arbitrary.

Regardless, my point isn't that it shouldn't have been an ongoing, if that was the rule. My point is that they nominated ONE issue, the only one that those series put out that year, for Best Ongoing over a bunch of great series that put out 12 issues.

And in both cases, that one issue only made that year because it was very delayed. (they had both been nominated the year prior)

No matter how they judge it it's going to seem arbitrary to someone. And as much as I like USM and Fables, 1 issue of ASS has more oomph than any twelve issues of them. USM and Fables (and especially Green Lantern) are fun and well done, but not very layered.

[Slewo.O]

No matter how they judge it it's going to seem arbitrary to someone. And as much as I like USM and Fables, 1 issue of ASS has more oomph than any twelve issues of them. USM and Fables (and especially Green Lantern) are fun and well done, but not very layered.

Do they have a "Best Single Issue" category. Otherwise, it seems arbitrary to put ASS in the same category as a regular ongoing, especially since it was pretty clearly a maxi-series.

[Ray G.]

Best Series last ten years: Chew, Walking Dead, Y, All Star Superman, Goon, Astonishing X Men, All Star Superman, 100 Bullets, Daredevil , 100 Bullets

Not bad

No, that's decent. A healthy mix. Hard to believe that Fables, USM, and GL - the three longest-running magnum opuses currently in comics - never got their moment, though.

One of those ASS wins was for one issue, though! :hulk:

[AndrewG]

No, that's decent. A healthy mix. Hard to believe that Fables, USM, and GL - the three longest-running magnum opuses currently in comics - never got their moment, though.

One of those ASS wins was for one issue, though! :hulk:

Fables won a few for best storyline/serialized story. Nominated for a bunch as well. I 'think' USM was nominated before too. Not sure

[Ray G.]

http://www.comicsbeat.com/2012/02/28/dc-comics-month-to-month-sales-january-2012/

DC Month by Month.

[shoelaceless]

Fables won a few for best storyline/serialized story. Nominated for a bunch as well. I 'think' USM was nominated before too. Not sure

Bendis won a couple of best writer awards near the start of USM, didn't he?

[AndrewG]

Bendis won a couple of best writer awards near the start of USM, didn't he?

Think so, yeah.

[The Doctor]

I'll go 50/50 if you add no Woody (he can go fuck himself with a jagged knife) Allen and no Artist type bs
The Artist is an excellent movie, you can plug in your ipod and jive along to your own music to it:)

(not really but it's a funny idea)

http://www.comicsbeat.com/2012/02/28/dc-comics-month-to-month-sales-january-2012/

DC Month by Month.

Hoping can read these at work, many thanks

[Matt O'Keefe]

No, that's decent. A healthy mix. Hard to believe that Fables, USM, and GL - the three longest-running magnum opuses currently in comics - never got their moment, though.

One of those ASS wins was for one issue, though! :hulk:

I still argue that those three series are nothing more than well-told stories. No real depth, especially in GL. Plus, Bendis took him out of consideration for Eisners years ago.

[The Doctor]

About to start month to month, DC

Cutting blades at the ready

[Mylazycat]

Best Series last ten years: Chew, Walking Dead, Y, All Star Superman, Goon, Astonishing X Men, All Star Superman, 100 Bullets, Daredevil , 100 Bullets

In movie terms, Y: The Last Man and Walking Dead would be to that list as The Artist is to the Oscars. The superhero crownd = mainstream movie viewers and would be saying "What the fuck is that black and white/indie shit doing on that list?"

[The Doctor]

In movie terms, Y: The Last Man and Walking Dead would be to that list as The Artist is to the Oscars. The superhero crownd = mainstream movie viewers and would be saying "What the fuck is that black and white/indie shit doing on that list?"

Was Y black and white?

I've only read a few issues and honestly do not remember

[Mylazycat]

Was Y black and white?

I've only read a few issues and honestly do not remember

The Walking Dead is black and white. :)

Meanwhile, Y is a great series you need to catch up on.

[Ray G.]

Off to get my comics! :boogie:

[AndrewG]

In movie terms, Y: The Last Man and Walking Dead would be to that list as The Artist is to the Oscars. The superhero crownd = mainstream movie viewers and would be saying "What the fuck is that black and white/indie shit doing on that list?"

Not really. They were both good sellers. Walking Dead outsells many Big Two books. It earned the right to get rewarded. Most of the Oscar nominated films had no
audience

[Ray G.]

The Walking Dead is black and white. :)

That and Y are also breakout hits. I think they'd more be the equivalent of something like Slumdog Millionaire than The Artist.

The Artist = Fake Pat's favorite comic, Prison Pit. :)

[Slewo.O]

Off to get my comics! :boogie:

So girly!

[Mylazycat]

So girly!

...

No.

Just, no.

[The Doctor]

The Walking Dead is black and white. :)

Meanwhile, Y is a great series you need to catch up on.

I know that one

It would be strange if it was in colour, so much blood!

Didn't enjoy Y at all, wasn't for me

I felt the same about Runaways but actually found it a struggle to finish that one

Different shakes

[Slewo.O]

...

No.

Just, no.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_91YOfQJ6LgY/TFedK0hSyCI/AAAAAAAAArk/9sdgu47-P18/s1600/Cartman-WHATEVA-I-DO-WHAT-I-WANT.jpg

[Slewo.O]

Lost 5 pounds last night. I hope that's more due to the cardio and less due of the reduced portions. :lol:

[Howlett]

...

No.

Just, no.

Well said.

[Slewo.O]

Ugh, stomach is killing me. I need to get food into this thing. Adios fellas...

[Marcdachamp]

Best Series last ten years: Chew, Walking Dead, Y, All Star Superman, Goon, Astonishing X Men, All Star Superman, 100 Bullets, Daredevil , 100 Bullets

Not bad

That's a great list. Needs more USM and Alias, but otherwise it's pretty much perfect.

[chazbot]

That and Y are also breakout hits. I think they'd more be the equivalent of something like Slumdog Millionaire than The Artist.

The Artist = Fake Pat's favorite comic, Prison Pit. :)

The Artist is more like Scott Pilgrim by far than Prison Pit if we use movies to graphic novel analogies in terms of success.

The first two books of SP got little notice until it got so critically successful that it gained a much larger audience culminating in its own movie.

The Artist only started out on a handful of screens in the US until critical acclaim got it up to a thousand screens culminating in an Oscar.

Edit: movies not money, hah

[Howlett]

New Comic Book Day! :boogie:

Let's see what's for reads this week...

BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #1 - What the hell. Looks fun.
JUSTICE LEAGUE #6 - Interested to see how well this wraps up in one issue. Would've liked a more interesting villain though. Darkseid bores me.
SCALPED #56
SHADE #5
SPACEMAN #4
UNWRITTEN #34.5 - :boogie:
JOE HILL THE CAPE #4
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES MICRO SERIES #3 DONATELLO
PIGS #6
WALKING DEAD #94
ASTONISHING X-MEN #47 - Can't wait for Marjorie Liu's first issue. This isn't working for me.
AVENGERS #23 - I'm glad this Norman Osborn/ H.A.M.M.E.R. arc isn't going to last that long.
FF #15 - This hasn't been doing it for me since splitting into two titles. Though both connect brilliantly.
NEW AVENGERS #22 - See above. Glad it's wrapping up fast.
SIX GUNS #5 - This has been a great mini. I kinda hope there's a follow up.
TWELVE #10 - Been long enough, damn it!

Small week overall. That's a welcome relief.

[Marcdachamp]

The Artist is more like Scott Pilgrim by far than Prison Pit if we use money to graphic novel analogies in terms of success.

The first two books of SP got little notice until it got so critically successful that it gained a much larger audience culminating in its own movie.

The Artist only started out on a handful of screens in the US until critical acclaim got it up to a thousand screens culminating in an Oscar.

I've still only read the first two Scott Pilgrim books. I loved them, but I kinda blew off finishing the series after I saw the movie. :surrend:

The funny thing is, I absolutely loved the movie, too.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Both Andrew and James have said how they're glad it's a small week... and listed more than 10 books they're getting...

Is everyone Ray fucking Goldfield now!?!? :D

A 'small week' is like, I dunno, less than 5.

[jason hissong]

Both Andrew and James have said how they're glad it's a small week... and listed more than 10 books they're getting...

Is everyone Ray fucking Goldfield now!?!? :D

A 'small week' is like, I dunno, less than 5.

This is what I'm buying today:

[Marcdachamp]

Both Andrew and James have said how they're glad it's a small week... and listed more than 10 books they're getting...

Is everyone Ray fucking Goldfield now!?!? :D

A 'small week' is like, I dunno, less than 5.

Back when I had an LCS (:(), I used to skip one week a month because, somehow, I always had a week where only 3 books I bought would come in. And it was fucking murder not going. Now, I have to wait two weeks (3 if there are 5 Wednesdays that month!).

I really want to open my own shop. :surrend:

[chazbot]

Both Andrew and James have said how they're glad it's a small week... and listed more than 10 books they're getting...

Is everyone Ray fucking Goldfield now!?!? :D

A 'small week' is like, I dunno, less than 5.

I know what you mean. I couldn't remember the last time ten books I was buying came out the same week.

[jason hissong]

Back when I had an LCS (:(), I used to skip one week a month because, somehow, I always had a week where only 3 books I bought would come in. And it was fucking murder not going. Now, I have to wait two weeks (3 if there are 5 Wednesdays that month!).

I really want to open my own shop. :surrend:

Hope you have a LARGE bank roll.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Back when I had an LCS (:(), I used to skip one week a month because, somehow, I always had a week where only 3 books I bought would come in. And it was fucking murder not going. Now, I have to wait two weeks (3 if there are 5 Wednesdays that month!).

I really want to open my own shop. :surrend:

I honestly cannot think of a worse idea right now.

Maybe shoving a glass thermometer up you're peehole and smashing your dick with a rubber mallet... maaaaaaybe.

[jason hissong]

I honestly cannot think of a worse idea right now.

Maybe shoving a glass thermometer up you're peehole and smashing your dick with a rubber mallet... maaaaaaybe.

But just maybe.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

I know what you mean. I couldn't remember the last time ten books I was buying came out the same week.

Any week where I have like 8 or more, I'm overcome with dread and fear...

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Peehole.

[Marcdachamp]

Hope you have a LARGE bank roll.


I honestly cannot think of a worse idea right now.

Maybe shoving a glass thermometer up you're peehole and smashing your dick with a rubber mallet... maaaaaaybe.

One of my dreams is to be successful enough that I can own a shop and it doesn't have to make me much cash at all. I just need to break even.

But that's a pretty big pipe dream. :)

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

One of my dreams is to be successful enough that I can own a shop and it doesn't have to make me much cash at all. I just need to break even.

But that's a pretty big pipe dream. :)

Yeah, I mean, if you just have cash to throw away, then yeah, why not. But if anyone thinks it's what they're going to do as their sole source of income, this is what I'd ask them-

Does the town you're opening it in have a population greater than 50k?
Would you be the only comic shop within more than an hour drive of that town?
Will you be selling other merchandise other than just comics?
Is there a university/college in that town?
Can you afford to be in the red for your first year of operation?

If you answer 'No' to any of those questions, then I would strongly urge against it.

[The Doctor]

Reprintomania at DC

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/02/28/dc-comics-to-reprint-pretty-much-everything-on-march-28th/

[Marcdachamp]

Yeah, I mean, if you just have cash to throw away, then yeah, why not. But if anyone thinks it's what they're going to do as their sole source of income, this is what I'd ask them-

Does the town you're opening it in have a population greater than 50k?
Would you be the only comic shop within more than an hour drive of that town?
Will you be selling other merchandise other than just comics?
Is there a university/college in that town?
Can you afford to be in the red for your first year of operation?

If you answer 'No' to any of those questions, then I would strongly urge against it.

Yeah, I definitely wouldn't want it as my primary source of income. I want comics to be just that, but not in that way. :)

Also, while we're talking about my dreams, I want to teach a class at my alma mater on comics.

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Yeah, I definitely wouldn't want it as my primary source of income. I want comics to be just that, but not in that way. :)

Also, while we're talking about my dreams, I want to teach a class at my alma mater on comics.

Ya know what my dream is?

For you to return my last email.

:D

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

Reprintomania at DC

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/02/28/dc-comics-to-reprint-pretty-much-everything-on-march-28th/

They need to find some way to have returns sent in intact and to redistribute those. That would save them a lot of money I think.

[Marcdachamp]

Ya know what my dream is?

For you to return my last email.

:D

Well, we all need a dream to work towards, I suppose. :)

[The Doctor]

Back when I had an LCS (:(), I used to skip one week a month because, somehow, I always had a week where only 3 books I bought would come in. And it was fucking murder not going. Now, I have to wait two weeks (3 if there are 5 Wednesdays that month!).

I really want to open my own shop. :surrend:

So glad I found the online shop so I don't have to venture to my crappy LCS any more

[jason hissong]

Ya know what my dream is?

For you to return my last email.

:D

Tomorrow.

[Marcdachamp]

So glad I found the online shop so I don't have to venture to my crappy LCS any more

You can go to my super sweet one when it's open.

[Howlett]

Both Andrew and James have said how they're glad it's a small week... and listed more than 10 books they're getting...

Is everyone Ray fucking Goldfield now!?!? :D

A 'small week' is like, I dunno, less than 5.

I've been reading 20 to 30 books on average between what I buy or what I borrow every week for the better part of 20 years.

16 books, with 12 of them being ones I'll read this week while the rest I leave build until there's a chunk of issues to read/ a mini series I'm not in a rush to read until it's done is a small week for me.

So my statement stands. It's a small week this week :)

[The Doctor]

They need to find some way to have returns sent in intact and to redistribute those. That would save them a lot of money I think.
Thats actually a good idea :)

You can go to my super sweet one when it's open.
I would love to go back to an American comic shop

[John M. Coker (Johnny C.)]

7 books for me this week... a wee bit on the big side, but manageable.

[Mylazycat]

Justice league #6
unwritten #34.5
green wake #10
amazing spider-man #680
avengers #23
moon knight #10
new avengers #22

I was surprised it's 7 for a supposedly light 5th week.

[Mylazycat]

So, if you have to have 5 pages finished to pitch something, if it's a mini-series or series or OGN, do you have to have all your plot points and characters laid out in those first 5 pages?

[The Doctor]

So, if you have to have 5 pages finished to pitch something, if it's a mini-series or series or OGN, do you have to have all your plot points and characters laid out in those first 5 pages?

I think the pages are just to give whoever your submitting to an idea of flow and art etc

The main meat and potatoes of the story would likely be included in the pitch

It's like a trailer you don't give it all away unless you want to drive people nuts:)

[Mylazycat]

I think the pages are just to give whoever your submitting to an idea of flow and art etc

The main meat and potatoes of the story would likely be included in the pitch

It's like a trailer you don't give it all away unless you want to drive people nuts:)

So just write those 5 fully drawn art and lettered pages as you normally would and have all the actual full plot details in the pitch.

Ah, I get it.

[AndrewG]

So, if you have to have 5 pages finished to pitch something, if it's a mini-series or series or OGN, do you have to have all your plot points and characters laid out in those first 5 pages?

Depends on the company. Everyone wants something different. The 5 page thing is basically because they want to see 5 pages of sequential. How does the story flow. How is the writing? Dialogue? Does the art tell the story on it's own or are the words and pictures saying the same thing? It's not so much the story itself...they're looking at the portfolio. The pitch is in the actual presentation, seperate from those 5 pages where you very clearly and concisely lay out the major characters and beats of the story. But most times what you're doing is going to a con, meeting and editor and giving them a copy of your 5 pager with a contact number. They read it at their lesiure and email you if they want you to pitch something. Not many, if any larger publishers (Marvel, DC, IDW, Dark Horse, Archaia) take pitches unsolicited.

[Marcdachamp]

Depends on the company. Everyone wants something different. The 5 page thing is basically because they want to see 5 pages of sequential. How does the story flow. How is the writing? Dialogue? Does the art tell the story on it's own or are the words and pictures saying the same thing? It's not so much the story itself...they're looking at the portfolio. The pitch is in the actual presentation, seperate from those 5 pages where you very clearly and concisely lay out the major characters and beats of the story. But most times what you're doing is going to a con, meeting and editor and giving them a copy of your 5 pager with a contact number. They read it at their lesiure and email you if they want you to pitch something. Not many, if any larger publishers (Marvel, DC, IDW, Dark Horse, Archaia) take pitches unsolicited.

Pssssh. I'll sell them. Well... me and... my mystery artist. :shifty:

[The Doctor]

So just write those 5 fully drawn art and lettered pages as you normally would and have all the actual full plot details in the pitch.

Ah, I get it.
That's what I would assume, I don't actually know

Packing in everything to 5 pages might come across a bit jumbled

[The Doctor]

Depends on the company. Everyone wants something different. The 5 page thing is basically because they want to see 5 pages of sequential. How does the story flow. How is the writing? Dialogue? Does the art tell the story on it's own or are the words and pictures saying the same thing? It's not so much the story itself...they're looking at the portfolio. The pitch is in the actual presentation, seperate from those 5 pages where you very clearly and concisely lay out the major characters and beats of the story. But most times what you're doing is going to a con, meeting and editor and giving them a copy of your 5 pager with a contact number. They read it at their lesiure and email you if they want you to pitch something. Not many, if any larger publishers (Marvel, DC, IDW, Dark Horse, Archaia) take pitches unsolicited.

Well I was close

Lucky guess :)

[Mylazycat]

Depends on the company. Everyone wants something different. The 5 page thing is basically because they want to see 5 pages of sequential. How does the story flow. How is the writing? Dialogue? Does the art tell the story on it's own or are the words and pictures saying the same thing? It's not so much the story itself...they're looking at the portfolio. The pitch is in the actual presentation, seperate from those 5 pages where you very clearly and concisely lay out the major characters and beats of the story. But most times what you're doing is going to a con, meeting and editor and giving them a copy of your 5 pager with a contact number. They read it at their lesiure and email you if they want you to pitch something. Not many, if any larger publishers (Marvel, DC, IDW, Dark Horse, Archaia) take pitches unsolicited.

Thanks. I appreciate this. Good info.

Also: could the stuff one has done for The Gathering be a part of a portfolio? As in "Here's a 4 page story, a 3 story and a one shot I've done"? Or do the pages you present have to be of the larger work you're pitching or hoping to pitch? As in I wouldn't show off a 3 page Bigfoot story if I wasn't actually pitching a big foot mini series written by myself with art by Blake Sims.

[The Doctor]

Thanks. I appreciate this. Good info.

Also: could the stuff one has done for The Gathering be a part of a portfolio? As in "Here's a 4 page story, a 3 story and a one shot I've done"? Or do the pages you present have to be of the larger work you're pitching or hoping to pitch? As in I wouldn't show off a 3 page Bigfoot story if I wasn't actually pitching a big foot mini series written by myself with art by Blake Sims.

It all proves what you can do in the end

Gives them an idea of how you write and stuff

(guessing again)

[Marc Lombardi]

So, if you have to have 5 pages finished to pitch something, if it's a mini-series or series or OGN, do you have to have all your plot points and characters laid out in those first 5 pages?


I think the pages are just to give whoever your submitting to an idea of flow and art etc

The main meat and potatoes of the story would likely be included in the pitch

It's like a trailer you don't give it all away unless you want to drive people nuts:)

Yup...what Doc said.

[AndrewG]

Thanks. I appreciate this. Good info.

Also: could the stuff one has done for The Gathering be a part of a portfolio? As in "Here's a 4 page story, a 3 story and a one shot I've done"? Or do the pages you present have to be of the larger work you're pitching or hoping to pitch? As in I wouldn't show off a 3 page Bigfoot story if I wasn't actually pitching a big foot mini series written by myself with art by Blake Sims.

More times than not the what you show editors isn't what get's 'bought'. You're just showing that you have the ability. A GI Joe editor may really like the way you write your super hero character and want you to write a Snake Eyes back up, etc. So if you think one of the Gathering stories is your best foot forward certainly use it as a way in the door. Multiple issues and stories of different formats shows at least variety.

Though if you're pitching creator owned you'd likely want to show parts of the actual story you intend to do

[Mylazycat]

It all proves what you can do in the end

Gives them an idea of how you write and stuff

(guessing again)


Yup...what Doc said.


More times than not the what you show editors isn't what get's 'bought'. You're just showing that you have the ability. A GI Joe editor may really like the way you write your super hero character and want you to write a Snake Eyes back up, etc. So if you think one of the Gathering stories is your best foot forward certainly use it as a way in the door. Multiple issues and stories of different formats shows at least variety.

Though if you're pitching creator owned you'd likely want to show parts of the actual story you intend to do

Thank you all!

Much appreciated!

[Marc Lombardi]

Thanks. I appreciate this. Good info.

Also: could the stuff one has done for The Gathering be a part of a portfolio? As in "Here's a 4 page story, a 3 story and a one shot I've done"? Or do the pages you present have to be of the larger work you're pitching or hoping to pitch? As in I wouldn't show off a 3 page Bigfoot story if I wasn't actually pitching a big foot mini series written by myself with art by Blake Sims.

Most companies will want to see five completed pages that are relevant to the actual pitch being made.

[Mylazycat]

Most companies will want to see five completed pages that are relevant to the actual pitch being made.

Thanks again.

:thumb:

[Dark Sasha]

Moon Knight #10
Ralph Wiggum special.

[Ray G.]

The Artist is more like Scott Pilgrim by far than Prison Pit if we use movies to graphic novel analogies in terms of success.

The first two books of SP got little notice until it got so critically successful that it gained a much larger audience culminating in its own movie.

The Artist only started out on a handful of screens in the US until critical acclaim got it up to a thousand screens culminating in an Oscar.

Edit: movies not money, hah

I have no idea what Prison Pit is, except that Pat loved it and I've never heard of it. :)

I don't know, Scott Pilgrim became huge. We'll see if the Oscar wins help the Artist achieve mainstream success. I doubt it.

[Ray G.]

Both Andrew and James have said how they're glad it's a small week... and listed more than 10 books they're getting...

Is everyone Ray fucking Goldfield now!?!? :D

A 'small week' is like, I dunno, less than 5.

I had 25.

My smallest week in 3 months. :D

[Slewo.O]

Moon Knight #10
Ralph Wiggum special.

Have you read L'il Depressed Boy?

[chazbot]

I have no idea what Prison Pit is, except that Pat loved it and I've never heard of it. :)

I don't know, Scott Pilgrim became huge. We'll see if the Oscar wins help the Artist achieve mainstream success. I doubt it.

Um, I think the film going from 4-6 theaters to 1,000, culminating in winning best picture would qualify as huge.

Hah, just looked it up on BOM, and The Artist already has a larger domestic gross than the SP movie. Otherwise, I don't know what qualifies as mainstream success to you? It's become part of popular culture already.

[Slewo.O]

Um, I think the film going from 4-6 theaters to 1,000, culminating in winning best picture would qualify as huge.

Hah, just looked it up on BOM, and The Artist already has a larger domestic gross than the SP movie. Otherwise, I don't know what qualifies as mainstream success to you? It's become part of popular culture already.

Well it didn't have an excessive amount of lame media tie-ins or was an adaption of a popular character and was trying to be an artistic vehicle. Plainly the public doesn't give a fig about that.