Well, my movie's been viewed an astonishing 24 times - astonishing in that I can't imagine that I know 24 people who might come here to visit and read my ramblings. I'll just believe that a number of those viewings are repeats... but then again, even that's somewhat hard to believe.

I finally saw Batman Begins today... jaw droppingly good. I've been running hot/cold when it comes to comic book movies. For every Batman Begins, there's a Fantastic Four slouching towards Bethlehem. When done correctly, comic-films play into our natural desire for heroes - heroes who are both us and more than us.

Unlike a lot of people I know, I wasn't a huge fan of the two Tim Burton Batman films (though they were Citizen freakin' Kane compared to the rest of that series). You see, I've been a fan of Batman for as long as I can remember reading comic books. I loved the idea of the lone (or almost lone if you count Robin) figure fighting for justice in a corrupt world. But more then that, Batman is a beautiful contrast to the comic book heroes whose enemies were defeated through superhuman strength or speed; Batman, though strong and trained in various fighting styles, is a normal man. He is a detective, who uses all his mind and strength to beat his nemeses. Burton's vision was too cartoony for my tastes; dark cartoony to be sure, but cartoony nevertheless. It missed the believability so crucial to Batman's world.

Christopher Nolan's vision of Gotham (and the whole story of Batman) is far more realistic - the Wayne business, the famous toys are explained (someone has to make these things for Batman) and, most interesting for me, the psychology of the characters. Sure it's melodramatic, but, with its firm grounding in realism, it's melodrama in the very best sense of the word: sensational drama with heightened emotions. In an interview with Cinescope, my PhD advisor and brilliant screenwriter, George Toles, commented that in order to make films with fantastic subjects, the writer/director must ground that subject in the mundane and every day. So, the incredible Technicolor land of Oz in The Wizard of Oz needs to be grounded in the dull, sepia cornfields of Kansas. Nolan's Gotham is perfectly grounded.

Listening to: Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue... 'cause it's a kind of blue sort of day.

It's a reasonable 20 degrees today. No sweat... literally. The neighbourhood's a buzz with activity. People out mowing their yards, planting things in their gardens. And I'm inside, watching it all from the window.

Leaving for Newfoundland in a few days. Still have to pack and all that goodness, but I'm not worried. It'll be nice to get away for a week. First part of the trip will be occupied with Rachel's friend's wedding, but after that we can do whatever.

Looks like I'll finally be getting to Batman Begins tomorrow, so that's a good thing.


Listening to: "Black Stacey" by Saul Williams.

It's a like million degrees here in the Peg and uber-humid... gotta love the thin layer of sweat that NEVER GOES AWAY!

Shamefully stolen from my friend Jaimie at http://www.livejournal.com/~ardently/
01. Reply with your name and I will write something I like about you.
02. I will then tell what song/movie/icon reminds me of you.
03. If I were to apply an o'clock to you, I'll tell you what it would be.
04. I will try to name a single word that best describes you.
05. I'll tell you the most memorable moment I've had with you.
06. I will tell you what animal you remind me of.
07. I'll then tell you something that I've always wondered about you.

So, today was the first nice, summer-like Saturday here in Manitoba. We're talkin' sunshine and lollipops and a solid forty mile-an-hour wind. All through the neighbourhood were signs of the beginning of summer; well, actually there were signs for garage sales, but in this part of Winnipeg they’re pretty much the same signs. It was incredible; probably a dozen such sales in a 10 block radius of my house. Everyone trying to sell off the crap they inexplicably purchased at garage sales last years. Why are we so convinced that 3 legged tables and coffee mugs that boast "World's Best Fishermen" are "bargains" at any price? Sure, that waffle iron sans cord was only 35 cents, but surely that change could have been better spent elsewhere?

Of course, the only reason to go to a Garage Sale (IMHO) is the scour the used books. Mostly, you'll be seeing 30 year old Harlequin Romances, with titles like "Rogue's Reunion" and "Blind Passion" or pot boiler suspense novels by authors you've never heard of. But every one and a while you'll come across something wondrous. You just have sort through arm-fulls of Joyce's Dilemmas and Canary Affairs to find it.

Listening to: Let Me Get What I Want - the Smiths.

All right, kiddies. Not much going on here again today, though I'm actually have fun at work today. One of the books we're publishing in the next little while is a book on Winnipeg in 1912. My boss is interested in tracking down some information on the vaudville curcuit that ran through here then. See, here's the story. Once, while here on tour, Groucho Marx was passing a theatre and heard uproarious laughter. Curious, Groucho went in and saw a young comic named Charlie Chaplin on stage. Impressed, Groucho returned later with his brothers to meet Chaplin. It's also told that the Marx invited Chaplin to their show, where he dramatically read a newspaper during their performance. At Chaplin's next show four orthodox rabbis sat in the seats he'd reserved for the Marx Brothers. The problem here is figuring what's truth and what's comedians telling stories. Regardless, I find it mindboggling that all of the great geniuses of film comedy performed here: Buster Keaton, WC Fields, Fatty Arbuckle all made their way through here on one of the vaudville tours. Crazy! Motley Crue was through here last year... so that's sort of the same, I guess. All right, it's not the same at all.


It also seems that I'm getting record (well, for me) traffic here. My short film has been viewed 20 times now. I've only heard back from a couple of people, but the overwhelming opinion is that it made them "sad". That's cool. Emotion, any emotion, is good, right?

Listening to: "Clint Eastwood" Gorillaz
"Bet you didn't think so I command you to"

Wednesday and not an interesting thing to say.

Things have been kind of slow this week in the not very exciting wrld of Mike". Truth be told I'm still sort of recovering from the weekend. Two late nights (friday and sunday), little napping and early rising (6:45am Monday) have left me groggy and grumpy (as my wife can attest). Just sort of zombie-shuffling my way through the days.

Started the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer yesterday. Really enjoying it... though I did swear I would never watch a show with the word "Buff" in the title.

Listening to: the constant, reassuring hum of the janitor's vaccuum cleaner

Serving up a big steamin' pile of Friday Five. On Saturday. Shut up, please.

1. What's the last song you heard?
Drowning Pool, "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor"

2. What were the last two movies you watched?
That would have to be Kevin Smith's Jersey Girl and David Lean's Brief Encounter

3. What were the last three things you purchased?
Oh, this one's easy: two coffees at work on Thursday because no one for the office remembered to bring in a new tin o'coffee and a big ol' bottle of Diet Pepsi on Wednesday to feed my aspertane addiction.

4. What four things do you have to do this weekend?
Um, let's see. I have to call my parents, email Chris and Jenn (that's one thing; they're a couple), read some books, and, seeing as my coffee cup is now empty, ake more coffee.

5. Who were the last five people you talked to?
Rachel, Jonathan, Bobby, Tommy, Edgar.

So, it's Thursday: at least that's what the calander says. My body seems to dispute all evidence to that fact. I feel like it's Friday... that I should be home, sleeping, watching movies or even studying (which I really do).

All right: I've come to a decision! Veronica Mars was the best new show last year, narrowly edging out House and blowing away Joey (for which I held low to no expections). For those of you not hip to the Mars, it's the story of a small town highschool girl who's best friend was murdered about a year before the show begins. Her father, the former sheriff and current private detective, suspects that the girl's parents are guilty, not a popular opinion. Veronica, isolated and ostracized from her former friends, works for her father, but often finds herself going into business for hereself. What I like about the show is the sense of a greater story being told: while the final episode reveals the truth about the friend's murder, clues and leads are sprinkeld throughout the entire season, which makes it seem like some thought and planning went into the show. In a medium where lack of forethought and vision are the order of the day, VM is a smart, well plotted welcome to network TV. If you haven't caught VM, check it out this summer in reruns.


I hear the secrets that you keep, when you're talking in your sleep.

1) Total number of books owned:
Oh, boy. We just bought three large bookcases (to go along with three other large bookcases) in the past few months and there are still books piled up in closets. Both Rachel and I did English degrees, so we have TONS of books. Plus, one of the main perks of teaching is the free books,so I'm always getting more.

2) The last book I bought?
Hmmm, I guess the last one I bought was a Jeeves and Wooster omnibus from Amazon.

3) The last book I read?
I'm in the middle of both Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and Vile Bodies. The last one I finished was Handful of Dust.

4) Five books that mean a lot to me?
1) The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - a magical book I reread often (and fondly)
2) Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - few authors have captured how horrible it can be to be a teenager
3) Catcher in the Rye - see #2
4) High Fidelity - if I'm honest with myself, I'm far more like Rob than I would ever want to admit
5) On the Road - in another life, I wish I could be Jack Kerouac

Comic Books:
1) Maus - without question, the most powerful comic ever written
2) Dark Knight Returns - Batman in Regan's America; brillant
3) Crow - when I first read it (well before the film) it was unique
4) Ghost World - one of the first "non-superhero" comics I read and it showed me the potential of the medium.

You can't always get what you want, but if you try some time, you might find, you get what you need.

Last night I was indeed surprised. A group of friends had a little appreciation party for me and another friend, Rob. I could totally see have a party for Rob; he's leaving in a week or so, first to some camp for the summer, then to Edmonton. But me? After feeling really discouraged the past couple of weeks, an appreciation party (complete with ice cream cake) was a huge boost. Some of my friends are awesome.

Listening to: the loud jerk teaching downstairs; seriously, he's a floor away, his door's closed, my door's closed and I can still hear him.

A friend of mine was telling me about her adventures at a new kickboxing place. Seems she's been kickboxing for awhile now, but, since she recently moved, hadn't found a new place to train. And I have to admit, I was a little jealous reading about the kicking and the boxin; even the hyperextending an elbow sounded like a lot of fun. See, I always wanted to take some sort of martial art - I was a huge fan of kung-fu films (still am) and I always wanted to learn. In University I made the mistake of making a little bit of fun of someone who'd started taking Taekwon Do.... she promptly threw me across the room. And I mean threw: my feet left the ground and I hit a wall.

The problem is that I'm kind of old to be starting now. Going to a beginner's class and getting my butt served to me by a bunch of schoo children doesn't sound that appealing. Self esteem's low enoguh with being beaten up by someone 25 years younger than me. Plus, I'll never get my flexibility to a level to do those awesome jumps or high spin kicks; like David Carradine in Kung Fu the Legend Continues I'd be stuck doing lame low to mid kicks. And who wants to do those? No one, that's who.

Listening to: Dandy Warhols "We Just to be Friends"