:: Guy in a Suit Productions ::

Monday, July 28, 2003

posted by Travis at 11:11 PM

Our friend Mike is layed up at home after having surgery for a hernia. He thought it might be a good opportunity to get some of the movies on his list watched, so on Saturday we watched the Evil Dead Trilogy (Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, and Army of Darkness). I have never watched them back to back to back, and they work really well as a four hour piece of entertainment. I think Mike liked them for what they are, which is just B movie fun. Since Mike was getting a little cabin fever, and it is still around 86 degrees in our house, we headed back over to Casa De Pajaro on Sunday for swimming. It seems like the further away a pool is, the more you think you need one. When we lived in Long Beach, we lived about 12 feet from a pool, and it was more of an annoyance than anything else.

In other movie news, we watched Comedian tonight. It is basically videotape of Jerry Seinfeld doing stand-up in different clubs and trying to keep his game sharp. It is interesting insight into the world of stand-up comedy, and it has some good cameos; a nice behind-the-scenes movie.

I figured I'd put Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 4 and Angel: Season 1 up there as well, because Kim and I are working our way through those on DVD. I think I would like it better if TV just went off and shows were just sold on DVD, although, I would probably not get to see the shows that surprised me. Buffy is a lot better than I thought it was. It's very well written. Angel is of the same flavor, but a little more comic book-ish.

All the reviews for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on Xbox have praised it as the "best thing to happen to Star Wars in 18 years,", and "better than the last two movies." I was going to hold out for the PC version, but since it was pushed back a month I caved. I have to say the game is very good. It is basically Neverwinter Nights in the Star Wars universe with a third-person action view instead of the standard isometric view for RPGs. It has drawn my attention away from Star Wars Galaxies for the time being, but I'm hoping to put in some time on SWG this week.

Last thing, I finished my re-read of The Gunslinger, so now I need to buy the new one with revised text and read it. I want to know exactly what he changed or added before I re-read the other three Dark Tower books in time for Wolves of the Calla in November.

Wednesday, July 23, 2003

posted by Travis at 10:39 PM

This is disheartening news. I saw this posted at Cinescape. It concerns the recent film project for the comic Deathlok.

Pitched as ROBOCOP meets THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, DEATHLOK is about a weapons designer/family man who is implanted with cyborg prosthetics and a computer mind. Over time the man learns to quell his machine desire to serve as a killing machine and then he goes off in search of revenge.

This is pretty similar to the new script I was about to start. I guess it's better that I didn't spend 8 months writing it and then find this out, but still...it was an idea I was ready to write. I may see if I can change my idea up enough where they are not so similar, or I might move on to one of the other ideas I'd like to write.

In other news, this Batman fan film has been getting a lot of attention. It was screened at Comic-Con and has peaked the interest of the heavies at DC, Warner Bros, and some of the other studios in town. Shot for around $30,000 (a lot of money in my opinion) and over 4 days, the director planned to use it as a showcase reel. There is an interview with the director here. WARNING: AICN is an ugly site, so shield your eyes when you can.

posted by Travis at 12:18 AM

Kim and I just got back from the Arclight where we saw Blade followed by a discussion with the writer, David Goyer. David Goyer also wrote Blade II, is writing and directing Blade III, and is writing Batman 5 to be directed by Christopher Nolan. We've been to these things before, and usually the star or director or writer is hidden away and ushered around until their time comes to step into the spotlight. Well, when Kim and I got to the actual theater to go sit down, Goyer was practically taking tickets at the door. He was greeting people as they walked in and talking. After the movie, he was interviewed by argueably the most Goyer/Blade ignorant person available. It got so bad that I thought at one point he was going to ask, "So...who was Blade again?" People tried to grill him on Batman 5, but he stuck to the NDA. I asked him about Ghost Rider and he practically mirrored the same thing I said back in May 2002 about a Ghost Rider movie. He turned in a script for it and said it was "darker than Blade II". The studio decided they wanted a PG-13 Ghost Rider, so he bowed out and now Mark Steven Johnson (director of Daredevil) is working on it. We waited until the autograph hounds left to talk to him, but he was walking out with a couple of friends and I decided that I did not have anything good to say aside from the standard I'm-a-huge-fan-of-your-work line. I didn't want to be the last asshole he had to talk to before he went home, so we just walked out quietly behind him. A funny side note, Goyer and Kim and I (that sounds like a nice way to begin a story) were all getting our parking stamped, when the guy stamping the tickets, just trying to strike up idle conversation, asked David Goyer, "What'd you see?" I was expecting a touch of righteous indignation, but he just said, "Blade" and walked out. I guess writers are used to not being recognized. He also drove home alone, parked in the regular parking lot, and owns a modest car. David Goyer seems like a really cool guy who tells really cool stories.

Sunday, July 20, 2003

posted by Travis at 7:48 PM

Some cool images from Comic Con going on in San Diego this weekend hit the net. On the left is the first taste of Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus from Spider-Man 2 and on the right is a poster for the Hellboy movie. Both are clickable for bigger versions.

Kim and I saw Bad Boys 2 yesterday. It was big and loud and long, but I can't remember what it was about. It is probably worth seeing once, but I don't need to see it again. It is very violent, but what was more offensive was the number of children who could not walk on their own that were in the theater. I was bothered to the point of mentioning it to the "manager", who said that the state of CA would have to pass some kind of law before AMC would stop allowing children under 17 into R rated movies with their parents. I'm not really as interested in saving the children as I am in preserving my own enjoyment of movies. I get distracted by children hopping into and out of theater seats, climbing on their parents, and being noisy. It didn't distract me in Finding Nemo, but it did in Bad Boys 2. I do not understand how these people rationalize taking a 5 year old into a movie like that.

Friday, July 18, 2003

posted by Travis at 8:54 AM

I don't like to support internet trailers that are not in hi-res quicktime, but this one is not too bad. Some of you may remember Desperado with Antonio Banderas. Once Upon a Time in Mexico is the sequel. Here is the trailer.

Thursday, July 17, 2003

posted by Travis at 9:18 AM

The trailer for the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is up. I'm conflicted about it. When I first heard it was being done, and that Michael Bay was producing, I was worried. I really like the first one, it was The Blair Witch Project of 1974. I think they shot it for about $150,000. Anyway, the idea of a big budget remake was distasteful. Although, when I found out that Andrew Byrniarski was playing Leatherface, I felt a little better. You'd recognize Andrew if you saw him. He plays the giant muscled white guy in a lot of movies. I think it looks pretty good, but if they betray the ending of the original, I'll be upset. The last shot of the original is great stuff.

Wednesday, July 16, 2003

posted by Travis at 8:22 PM

It's hot in Southern California. Since Kim and I are basically slaves to the elements (hot outside? hot inside. cold outside? cold inside. wet outside? wet inside.) it is about 85 degrees in our house all the time. We got a new thermostat for the AC, and it worked so well that the compressor is broken now. Not to mention that the AC only cools the downstairs in its current configuration. We bought a Whirlwind Air Cooler, which is some kind of fan that you put ice into. We're hoping that it will ease our discomfort and help cool the couch and bed areas. In the meantime, an AC person is coming to look at our compressor...in 10 days.

Over the weekend we saw The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and it sucked. The story is absolutely stupid. I believe we are seeing Pirates of the Caribbean this weekend, which I hear is pretty good. I'd also like to see Bad Boys II this weekend, but that may not happen because I have to work on Sunday. There is an enormous project going on at work which requires me to work long hours and weekends. I think it is slowly taking its toll. Today when I came home from work, the will to move and speak completely left me (the heat probably didn't help). I was better after Kim made me some chicken strips and a half-hour of Samurai Jack, but still...it shouldn't be this way. The one thing that gets me through the week, is looking forward to the weekend. Well, now there is only one day of "off" before 6 days in a row of "on" again. Yeah, yeah overtime and extra money and blah blah, but I work to live, I don't live to work. Hopefully, we'll finish this project soon and get back to regular hours of operation.

Star Wars Galaxies continues to be good. Perhaps I'll post some more screens in an attempt to woo more people to its siren call.

Friday, July 11, 2003

posted by Travis at 11:07 PM

Kim and I have been trying to catch up on DVDs recently. We watched Narc a few days ago. It's pretty good if you like cop dramas from the 70s or The Shield. It tells a good story. We screened Braveheart for Mike yesterday, and that went surprisingly well. He seemed to enjoy it. Tonight we watched Grave of the Fireflies, a Japanese anime about some kids trying to survive in Japan during the closing months of WWII. It's good, but pretty depressing...and not very patriotic from our point of view. Short entry...time for SWG.

Tuesday, July 08, 2003

posted by Travis at 10:49 PM

Not much blogging because too much Star Wars Galaxies. The game has me, and not just me. My friend Jeremy has taken the needle and bought. We played some tonight, and it was good stuff.

I got some feedback from my writer friend Paul on my script. Basically he said that I had a good idea for a story, and that I should start over. I have to admit, that wasn't the news I was hoping for, but it was kind of what I was expecting. Paul gave me some great ideas and new directions to tell a better story, so I'll be starting on a complete re-imagining of it tomorrow. Other quotes from Paul on my script, "This is the bloodiest script I have ever read," and "I think you've written the longest and bloodiest chase scene of all time." I don't think those are compliments, but at least he is reading my stuff. He had a lot of positive things to say about it, but just did not think this would be a good script with which to enter the market. I really appreciate it, Paul, if you're reading this.

Thursday, July 03, 2003

posted by Travis at 7:21 PM

I've played two longish sessions of Star Wars Galaxies now, and I have to say that I think it is fun with a lot of potential. Here are a couple quick screenshots. I'd post my name and location so any of you who might buy the game can jump on the same server and area, but I can't remember it. I'll post that info later.

As you can see, the graphics are top notch, but the interface can get complex. I'm enjoying it, so let me know if you buy.

posted by Travis at 9:19 AM

The July 2002 Fantasy Film League is over. I won it, of course. Here are the final standings:

1. Travis - $125,347,500
2. Ron - $120,637,500
3. Kim - $120,187,500
4. Elliott - $104,175,000
5. Mr. Moore - $97,575,000
6. Jeremy - $76,875,000
7. Heffner - $41,477,500
8. Shane - $13,575,000

Tuesday, July 01, 2003

posted by Travis at 11:09 PM

Kim and I just got back from seeing Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines in digital projection in Glendale. In my opinion...it's great! It preys on your expectations from the first movies. It moves the story forward in an interesting direction. It isn't predictable. It has fantastic action sequences. It's a great movie. There were a couple of lines and small moments that I didn't care for (watch for the throw away line "That's my dad's plane. I trained on it.") but they don't ruin the movie. The TX is not the technological marvel that the T-1000 was in T2, but she is vicious and tough. I thought this one was more violent than T2. It reminded me of the early scenes from Terminator, where he is just killing people out of the phone book. The movie has a great sense of humor also, with some damn funny moments. Anyway, we (Mike, Kim, and I) were all pretty pleased with it.

I received my copy of Star Wars Galaxies today. So far, I've only installed and patched it. There was very little patching to be done. It was a pleasant surprise. I'm hoping to log some serious time on it this weekend.