Nothing ruins a joke like over-explaining it, but there's been an equal amount of confusion and adoration for the soft punchline in Monday's comic.
To that end, I thought I would post the clip from the movie that the comic references. For those of you in on the joke, this may serve as a fun trip down memory lane.
For the rest of you, just go ahead and buy Monster Squad already
(No Ratings Yet)Two things that I couldn't fit contextually with the giant blog post that preceded it, but I have more I need to talk about.
First, don't forget to check out the podcast I host with Gordon McAlpin from Multiplex and Joe Dunn from Joe Loves Crappy Movies called The Triple Feature tonight at 9:00 PM over at TalkShoe.com.
For SURE we will be talking about Monsters vs. Aliens because I know this is one of the rare movies that all three of us have seen before recording the show. So you know we're going to firing on all cylinders tonight!
We also gotten in the habit of reading listener questions on-air. We have a bunch of good questions for this week show and I'm really looking forward to answering them. If you'd like to have your question answered (it can be about movies, comics, whatever!) sent it to group@thetriplefeature.com. We WILL answer it!
The next thing I need to do is point your attention to another movie-themed web comic, Brian Carroll's Instant Classic. Specifically, his latest strip, titled "The Last Seven Hours." This comic is nothing short of brilliant. It's basically a musical number in web comic form.
44 panels in length, plotted and written within an inch of it's life, the comic is accompanied by a piano number written by Carroll and performed by three of his friends and the song is excellent.
I've known Brian for a few years. Our comics kind of came up around the same time. Stuff like this is where he really shines. It is unique, endearing and puts me to shame as a fellow artist.
I've always felt Brian's efforts were the classier affair between our two comics. If Theater Hopper were Milk Duds, Instant Classic would be a chocolate covered truffle.
You owe it to yourself to check it out. Tell 'im Milk Dud sentcha!
Wanna know the best way to start your week? MONSTER SQUAD REFERENCES!
You're welcome.
Speaking of monsters, I saw Monsters vs. Aliens this weekend and, unfortunately, was NOT bowled over. I'm not exactly sure what went wrong other than it fell into that same trap of pop culture references and soullessness that other Dreamworks animated movies seem to fall into.
Maybe I went in with my expectations too high after the success of Kung-Fu Panda last year. But Monsters vs. Aliens is just more of the same.
There are a few laughs to be had. Great line delivery from Stephen Colbert as The President and Will Arnett as The Missing Link. But, unbelievably, it's Seth Rogen who steals the show as the indestructible blob, B.O.B.
Much like B.O.B., Rogen has crafted an indestructible slacker/stoner/moron persona that brings the biggest laughs in this film. He's pretty much the only character having a good time while the rest of the world is falling down around him and his cluelessness and confusion makes him instantly endearing.
The rest of the movie is a cheap girl-power parable wrapped up in a few action pieces that have been strung together. Pretty much the best thing it had going for it was the 3D. But even that was a little annoying when they were pulling cheap moves like a guy hitting a paddle-ball toward the screen.
Really, Dreamworks? Why not shoot a scene at a kids birthday party so someone can blow a party noisemaker that uncurls into in our faces.
Should you see Monsters vs. Aliens. If you're a fan of animation, 3D movies and cheesy sci-fi from the 50's and 60's, I'd say "yes." If you're a fan of laughing or have laundry to fold, I'd say "no." I don't really regret going. But it could have been executed much better.
Switching topics, I wanted to let everyone know that I will be at the Emerald City Comicon in Seattle this Saturday and Sunday, April 4 - 5. I'm going to have a table on Artist Alley and you can find me at H-05.
I'm a little nervous about going because this will be the first convention I've flown out of state to attend. Typically I only go to conventions I can drive to so I can save on cost. But I found a cheap flight to Seattle and Emerald City was too good to pass up (they have an excellent reputation and are very welcoming to web comics).
Part of my nervousness stems from not knowing anyone at the convention. Sure, there will be a lot of web comics people there like Scott Kurtz, Jeph Jacques and the guys from Penny Arcade. But these guys operate WAY out of my league and they aren't people I've really had an opportunity to interact with socially before.
When I go to Wizard World Chicago ever year, I get to hang out with Gordon McAlpin, Joe Dunn and the rest of the Digital Pimp crew. We set up shop next to each other and goof off for 8 hours while we try to sell our wares. In Seattle, I'll kind of be own my own.
Well, that's not entirely true. To take the sting out of travel expenses, I'm splitting a room with Indigo Kelleigh from The Adventures of Ellie Connelly. So at least there is someone I can hang out with after being on the show floor all day. Or, if he has better places to be, I could always go see Fast and Furious the weekend.
Oh! I should probably mention that I was invited to speak on a panel at the convention! Yeah - it's the Business of Webcomics panel at 1:00 PM, Sunday, April 5 in panel room 3AB.
I'll be in a room, talkin' web comics with Robert Khoo from Penny Arcade, Danielle Corsetto from Girls With Slingshots and Jeph Jacques from Questionable Content, doing my best not to sound like an idiot. It's an amazing opportunity and I want to say thanks to the show organizers for including me! If you're coming to the show that day, check it out!
Is anyone reading this planning on going to the convention this weekend? If so, can you talk about it a little bit in the comments section? I just want to get a general sense of what to expect. I'm sure everything will be fine, it's just the unknown that's eating at me a little bit.
If nothing else, it'll be a real treat to meet fans from the West coast. This will be my first trip to your neck in the woods and I'm eager to meet you!
Thanks again for reading and I'll talk to you soon
It's been kind of interesting to read the reaction to today's strip. People have been leaving comments here and over at my Twitter account about what mythical or pop culture combatants they'd like to see in the free-for-all.
Vikings, pirates, astronauts, zombies, cavemen, vampires, Chuck Norris, The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man... I've heard 'em all!
The idea was floated around that I draw it and sell a print. I think it sounds like a good idea, but I keep thinking I've seen something like that before. In fact, after rummaging through the ol' memory banks, I remember Young American Comics produced an anthology a few years ago called The Big Ol' Book of BIZMAR - 75 stories combining Bunnies, Insects, Zombies, Monkeys, Aliens and Robots. I remember because a few of my friends contributed to it.
Certainly no one owns the rights to these kind of mash-ups. But I don't want to pour a lot of effort into something that's already been done.
What do you think? Would you like to see an original art piece from me featuring all of your favorite pop culture heroes and villains duking it out?
Leave your comments and suggestions for additional fighters below!
I wish I had a little more room in the comic to really capture the epic-ness of a Monster versus Alien versus Robot versus Ninja versus Monkey beat down. I hope the ASPCA doesn't mind that I put a shuriken between the eyes of Bobo there.
I'm still pretty pumped to see Monsters vs. Aliens this weekend even though some reviews are starting to come back negative. I guess some are complaining that it's kind of short on laughs and not very innovative. Some people are saying it's the Bad Old Days of Dreamworks Animation and not the blockbuster Kung-Fu Panda was.
I suppose maybe some of that is to be expected. After all, the director is the same guy who wrote and directed Shark Tale. But I don't care. I just want to watch something fun, bright and colorful. MVA fits the bill. Heck, I think I'm even going to shell out a few extra bucks to see it in 3D! Why not? What else am I going to see A Haunting in Connecticut? I think not. I'll report back later with my findings.
I don't have very much to talk about today. So, instead, I'll take this opportunity to point you to my good friend Joe Dunn's web comic Joe Loves Crappy Movies. Joe recently made a big announcement. His first book Joe Loves Crappy Movies: Volume One is now available from his site.
You guys really gotta check this out. Odds are, if you're reading Theater Hopper, you're probably already reading JCLM. But if you're not, you're gonna love it. Joe put a lot of work into this book to really add value beyond what you get on his site for free.
Most impressively, he's selling "Artist Editions" of the book featuring kick-ass original sketches inside. People who order before Sunday get upgraded for free! You gotta look at the work he's doing with these sketches. Check out this thread in his forum. They're amazing.
Joe's a great guy and I really want him to have a lot of success with his first book. So maybe you can take some of your tax return and invest it in something you're really going to enjoy. Take my word for it.
That's all I have for today. Thanks for reading and I'll see you guys next week!
Last week Cami and I watched No Reservations starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart when I noticed that Eckhart has fabulous hair and I hate him for it.
Later, we watched an episode of 30 Rock we had recorded guest-starring Mad Men's Jon Hamm when I noticed that his hair is also fabulous and that I hate him just as much.
Clearly these two should team up so they can flaunt their fabulous hair and I can hate them equally at the same time.
Think of it as the W.A.S.P. version of Bandidas starring Penélope Cruz and Salma Hayek from a few years back. Maybe Eckhart and Hamm can be investment bankers who run out of mousse, or something.
You know, I was working on a big blog post this morning to talk about Monsters Vs. Aliens, but my browser crashed before I could post it, so I lost everything.
I'm kind of frustrated at the moment, so I'll give you the Cliff's Notes version instead:
I know that doesn't give you a lot to hang your hat on in terms of discussion, but I was literally just about to hit the "SEND" button when I lost the whole thing. So I'm just gonna roll with this.
I think I might be back a little later in the day with some more news. But in the meantime, let's see if we can generate some conversation around Monsters Vs. Aliens. Are you guys excited for it? Dare I say I might be anticipating this one a little more than I was Watchmen! It just looks fun! Leave your comments below!
Thanks!
Just because it's impossible to do a comic about Nicholas Cage without referencing it, here it is once again...
The best scenes from The Wicker Man.
"How'd it get burned? HOW'D IT GET BURNED! HOWDITGETBURNED?!!"
At this point there have been so many B-grade thrillers starting Nicholas Cage and his mighty-morphin' hairline, it's almost become a sub-genre within the comic!
I'm kind of fond of the idea that Cage is host to some kind of demonic, mousse-infused demon hairpiece. It would certainly justify a lot of the decisions he's been making lately.
Knowing was the big box office winner this weekend, bringing in almost $25. I know some people who liked it, but the general consensus is that the film is not good. I'm intrigued by the concept, but it looks like a rental to me so long as no one spoils the whole number thing. I have to admit I am curious to see what happens when they run out.
...But not so curious that I have to run out opening weekend and drop $10 on it.
What's been interesting is reading the articles about Cage that basically said he's sold out. Jeffery Wells from Hollywood Elsewhere suggests some kind of virus has gotten into his system, "like a pod was placed next to his bed in '05 or '06 and another life form took over."
John Anderson from The Washington Post cuts to the bone when he suggests that "Cage, once held up as an example of the intrepid artistic impulse, has become something of the poster boy for blind ambition, cynical role selection, questionable judgment and, worst of all, humorlessness: He glowers, he hunches, he looks meaningfully into the distance without it meaning anything at all."
Owen Gleiberman from Entertainment Weekly doesn't even attempt to hid his contempt, asking in his article's headline: Nicholas Cage: Artist or hack?
This could very well be a case of critical dog-piling. These guys could all be feeding each other in terms of their theories. But could the also be reflecting a sense of general disappointment with Cage and his choices?
Not that it's any business of ours, I suppose. But I think Gleiberman is onto something when he points out that Cage makes movies that people want to see. But Gleiberman is quick to point out that, for some, "Cage has become something of a joke, a proud I don’t give a f---! hack-for-hire who sells out his gifts with such unabashed promiscuity that it’s almost as if he were daring you to call him on it."
I'm curious what the rest of you have to say about this topic. Personally, I fall somewhere in the middle. I cringe when Cage shows up in movies like Bangkok Dangerous and Next. But I won't front when I say I really enjoyed him in straight-up-the-middle family entertainment like the National Treasure movies.
What's your opinion about Cage? Is he selling his gifts short? Has he been doing these B-grade films for so long that you can barely remember his Oscar winning turn in Leaving Las Vegas? Leave your comments below.
In the meantime, don't forget to tune in to The Triple Feature tonight at 9:00 PM CST over at TalkShoe.com. We'll be talking about Knowing and the other box office winner this weekend, I Love You, Man.
I managed to see I Love You, Man over the weekend and I liked it. But I spent a lot of time cringing at the awkward social situations Paul Rudd's character puts himself in the middle of. I saw a little bit of myself in that character. I don't have a lot of guy friends and I can certainly identify with the challenge of trying to cultivate friendship in adulthood. It's friggin' hard! Seriously - I've you don't set yourself up with at least one or two guy friends early on in life, you're kind of screwed.
To be notified of when The Triple Feature is about to start recording live, start following my Twitter feed. I always make sure to post an announcement about 5 to 10 minutes before we start the show. If you're online, you can join in the conversation! We hope to see you there!
Tom's really being a sarcastic jerk in today's comic, isn't he? I think I will hide behind the "making my characters unlikable gives them depth" defense, Your Honor!
Julia Roberts bashing aside, I'm actually interested in seeing Duplicity at some point this weekend. It's written and directed by Tony Gilroy and this is his follow up to the brilliant and tightly wound Michael Clayton. Duplicity looks to be a little more effervescent, but it still swims in the waters of dubious corporate behavior.
Post-economic meltdown, I wonder how that will play? Roberts, along with co-star Clive Owen play ex-spooks and full time lovers representing two corporations who team up to con their respective bosses and steal a profitable new product. Will the audience find tolerance for a movie about corporate shenanigans - even if it's the corporations (not the consumers) getting screwed at the end?
Maybe it doesn't matter. Maybe they just want to see Roberts flash that ivory billboard she calls a smile. Ms. Roberts? The Joker called. He wants his mouth back.
Ya' burn!
I keed. I keed. Hey, Duplicity looks like a lot of fun. And even though Cami and I will be seeing I Love You, Man this weekend instead, I'd still like to try and squeeze this one in - if for no other reason than to see Clive Owen put on the charm.
Owen has been locked down by a lot of serious drama's and thrillers lately. I like him best when he's self-effacing. I mean, Shoot 'Em Up was a real turd of a movie, but he made it a lot of fun by putting on the airs of an afflicted, tough guy anti-hero.
Real quick, some site news.
I haven't mentioned it yet, but I've moved the ShareThis application under the comic and above the comic navigation (before it was hidden in the lower left hand corner of the blog posts).
If you're not familiar, ShareThis gathers up the links to nearly every social networking site there is and offers you, the reader, the opportunity to share links to Theater Hopper among your friends and peers.
I've been trying in vain to get some traction with social networking and I realize not everyone is on board with it yet. I also don't want to mention it too much, lest it come off like begging.
But if you're already on board with the social networking bandwagon, it would be really great if some of you could get into the habit of spreading links back to Theater Hopper around a little bit.
The ShareThis app has connections to StumbleUpon, Digg, Reddit, Del.ico.us, Furl, Technorati and more. It even has connections to Facebook and MySpace - and I know a lot of you have accounts out there.
Anyway, using ShareThis to link back to Theater Hopper is something really easy that you can do to help the site. I appreciate those of you willing to test it out. Thanks.
In the meantime, it looks like a pretty strong weekend for movies. In addition to Duplicity and I Love You, Man, Nicolas Cage is starring in the new apocalypse thriller Knowing. It's directed by Alex Proays who directed The Crow and also wrote and directed Dark City. So I'm always kind of interested to see what he's up to even though Knowing kind of looks like it's covering ground that Jim Carrey movie - The Number 23 - covered a few years back.
What do you guys think? What looks interesting to you? Leave your comments below and I'll talk to you soon!
