#Chuck Dodson

[rrrauschen]

Chuck Dodson & Andrew Filippone Jr., {2007} Happy Monday

[rabid-dog-steve-horn]

Cereal Mascot Therapy Session

[daydreamerdrew]

Comics read this past week:

DC Comics:

Legends of the DC Universe (1998) #10-11

These issues were published across September 1998 to October 1998, according to the Grand Comics Database. Both issues were written by Kelley Puckett. Issue #10 was penciled by Terry Dodson and inked by Kevin Nowlan. And the layouts of issue #11 were drawn by Terry Dodson, which were finished by Kevin Nowlan. This was a Batgirl story, taking place when Barbara was 18 and just at the beginning of her superhero career.

In this version of events, its portrayed that Jim Gordon could tell that Batgirl was Barbara as soon as he learned of Batgirl’s existence. In the first issue we see Barbara out fighting as Batgirl interspersed with a flashback to the senseless death of her parents, then Jim’s conflicted emotions as he drops Barbara off at college. He is both proud of and made afraid by the “fire” in her and what it could bring, and this ultimately makes him awkward with Barbara, unable to properly talk to her. Bruce as Batman approaches Barbara to tell her to stop being Batgirl, citing both the danger to her and the feeling that he owes it to Jim, but she convinces Bruce to train her instead. It’s after Barbara has started working with Bruce that Batgirl’s existence comes to Jim’s attention, and he’s horrified, but there’s no implication of him ever confronting Batman over it, just him trying and failing to bring it up with Barbara. But this doesn’t have the same amount of tension as is implied in the references to conflict between Bruce and Dick when he was around this age in other stories I read this week.

In the second issue Barbara happens to be part of a hostage situation at a bank, because it’s Gotham, and Jim rushes in alone to try to handle it, afraid of Barbara trying to do so all by herself, since he knows she’s Batgirl. He gets shot and taken prisoner, which Barbara witnesses, leading to a flashback from her perspective of Jim taking her in after her parents’ deaths. Her first attempt to handle the situation as Batgirl doesn’t go well and she is also captured. But it’s, maybe counterintuitively, while they’re imprisoned together and Jim is seeing Barbara as Batgirl up close that his fear is overpowered by his pride in her and he accepts that she is actually capable of being Batgirl, and he frees her to that she can save the day. This change of heart is expressed not through dialogue or even that much internal narration, but largely through his expressions. At the end of the story the two of them are still not seriously talking about their feelings, his about her future and for her what seeing him seriously injured dredged up, but are interacting cordially again.

Batman: Turning Points (2001) #1-5

These issues were all published November 2000, according to the Grand Comics Database. Issue #1 was written by Greg Rucka and drawn by Steve Leiber. Issue #2 was written by Ed Brubaker and drawn by Joe Giella. Issue #3 was written by Ed Brubaker, penciled by Dick Giordano, and inked by Bob Smith. Issue #4 was written by Chuck Dixon and drawn by Brent Anderson. Issue #5 was written by Greg Rucka, penciled by Paul Pope, and inked by Claude St. Auben. This miniseries was about significant moments in the relationship between Batman and Jim Gordon.

Issue #1 took place early in Bruce’s career as Batman and working relationship with Jim. At the beginning of the issue Jim's wife leaves with his son, and then there's a hostage situation at a wedding caused by a man whose wife and child just died. Jim trusts Batman to handle it, and he does, despite his inexperience. Afterwards Bruce goes to Jim's cleared out apartment to try to talk to him as a friend, which Jim rejects. Jim tells Batman, “That’s why you’re here? Because you feel sorry for me? Who do you think you are, anyway? You come to my home and you say you’re sorry to me like you’re my friend? We’re not friends. Are you married? Do you have children? Did your wife or partner or whoever walk out on you?” And after Bruce’s silence, “So don’t tell me you’re sorry. Right now I’ve got more in common with with Corbett [the hostage-taker] than I do with you. So unless you know what it’s like to lose your family, I don’t want to hear it.”

I was really surprised to see Bruce attempting to be a genuine friend in his Batman identity. My perception of him has been of him being really emotionally closed off and formal.

Issue #2 is about Jim reacting to Bruce taking Dick on as his sidekick. It has the intense title "From Generation to Generation Like Cancer." It's also drawn with an old-fashioned art style, which the rest of the issues in this miniseries weren't, and it's handled like it too, with Mr. Freeze having a goofy costume and weapon. At first Jim thinks that Batman must be “insane" for taking on a teenage partner. He believes that Bruce is putting Dick to the path to getting killed. But Bruce argues that he’s “helping him not get killed,” refers to what he’s doing as “not training him so much as I’m guiding him,” and makes an argument that wasn’t convincing to me that Dick needed an outlet for his anger, so, “I’m just trying to stop a cycle we’ve both seen too many times.”

Jim is swayed by this, and is also convinced to release one of Mr. Freeze’s captured henchmen despite not understanding the reason why. Upon seeing Batman and Robin together Jim is amazed, views them as “In a whole different world,” and then thinks, “What was I thinking? Our rules don’t apply to him. They never have,” which was shocking to me. What follows is Batman and Robin having a “conversation in the dark” with the henchman, taking the opportunity to intimidate or even torture him for information about Mr. Freeze. That was also surprising to me, both for this story that's early in Dick's career as Robin and with this art style. The information leads them to a hideout at a warehouse for large props for an old children’s show, which I assume was meant to evoke the 60s Batman show specifically.

During the following fight Mr. Freeze briefly has Dick in a perilous position, and also several police officers are killed. Counterintuitively, Batman being afraid that Dick could die and the deaths of the police officers makes Jim feel more confident in this arrangement, because he approves of Bruce and Dick's relationship and he thinks that Dick could die even if he wasn't a sidekick. It seems that the most important factor, over the evidence of Dick's skills as a fighter, is that Jim thinks having a partner is good for Batman. He ends the issue with the question: "how can I deny him what everyone wants, if I am his friend? How can I deny him a family?" The idea that he could have a family that isn't a partner to him as a superhero isn't considered. Bruce had raised the possibility that Dick could become a criminal without the outlet of being a superhero earlier, and the now fatherless families due to Mr. Freeze killing several police officers is also evoked by Jim as an example of "handing our troubles down from generation to generation." He also considers his relationship with his niece Barbara, which is made even more significant since he lost his wife and son.

This all is a striking departure from the first issue of the book where Jim did not yet consider Batman a friend, still thought of him as a strange but skilled person and wasn't caught up with the persona of the Batman, and didn't think of him as a person enough to consider that he could have lost anyone important to him. Note that in the "Prey" storyline read last this past week, it's emphasized how well Jim understands Batman including understanding the extent of his grief.

Issue #3 took place after Jason's death in the "A Death in the Family" storyline, published in 1988, and after Barbara was disabled in Batman: The Killing Joke (1988). Bruce changes his tactics, going back to being quick-acting vigilante that saves people then disappears, and doesn’t answer the Bat-Signal or otherwise work on solving mysteries. Bruce expressed admiration for Jim that he “is still here, doing his job… persevering.” He considers Jim to be the “better man” because what the Joker said to him during The Killing Joke made him doubt himself. Bruce is also worried about what will happen if he’s the one to bring in the current serial killer operating in Gotham, because it’s through being brought down by the Batman that his enemies become costumed criminals that continuously terrorize the city. In the end Bruce and Jim are affirmed in their friendship and mutual support for one another. Also, Jim tells Batman, “I’m sorry, too… about your son,” referring to Robin’s death. Batman says, “He wasn’t my son… Not really,” to which Jim says, “The hell he wasn’t.” It’s surprising to me that Bruce trying to downplay that relationship and not acknowledge Jason as his son isn’t responded to more negatively.

Issue #4 took place during the 1993-1994 storyline "Knightfall," which I haven't read, in which Bane breaks Bruce's back and then in the aftermath Bruce adopts a more aggressive way of dealing with criminals. Throughout the story there is an emphasis on that Jim thought he understood Batman, and he struggles with whether he's misjudged him and if he's one of Gotham's "psychotics and misfits," thinking that if that's the case, "Then it's my job to stop him. To make up for covering for him all these years." Tim Drake appears as Robin briefly, responding to the Bat-Signal when Bruce won't. Jim questions him about if Batman is all right, but Tim defers by only saying that he's physically fine, which frustrates Jim. I was struck by that it doesn't occur to Jim to be concerned for Robin's safety with Batman, even though there's a scene where Jim is worried about Batman breaking into his office to hurt him. The story doesn't end with a resolution where Bruce changes or Jim is reassured.

Issue #5 called back to the story of issue #1, with the character that held up the church wedding coming back and prompting Bruce and Jim to reflect on their friendship since then. Jim emphasizes how both of their lives are “marked by tragedies,” and says, “You told me that everyone needs a friend. You’ve been mine. I hope to god that I’ve been yours.”

Batman: Ego (2000)

This 62-page graphic novel was published in August 2000, according to the Grand Comics Database. It was written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke.

At the beginning of this book, discussing the Joker’s latest crime, Bruce thinks, “What horrifies me most- is that I seem to be getting used to it. The pain. The death. Not numb, but used to it. Like each new atrocity is the echo of a pistol fired long ago- in the depths of a dry well.” This reminded me of some of the language used in the “Shaman” storyline across Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #1-5, which suggested that Bruce was fated to be Batman because of what he experienced as a child, that he’s marked and it’s visible in his eyes. The last two panels that that bit of narration was placed over were Batman’s narrowed eyes as he looks at the Joker’s crime scene, and then child-Bruce’s horrified, wide open ones as he sees the gunman shoot his parents.

This book depicted Batman as this other figure that lived within Bruce since he was a child, and as a being that could be in conflict with him. It reminded me of Bruce Wainright from Batman: Creature of the Night (2018), whose Batman was in essence an imaginary friend come to life, a guardian angel that took the form of Batman because of that Bruce’s fixation on the to-him fictional character. Though the idea of Bruce Wayne being mentally ill is invoked very early in Batman: Ego, with presentiment flashbacks to Dr. Hugo Strange saying Batman had “both schizophrenia and a split personality” and Gotham City’s mayor calling him a “total headcase” early on. (The Hugo Strange quote actually comes from the "Prey" story arc, read later this past week.)

What incites the conflict between Bruce and Batman is that Bruce wants to quit being Batman, then the sticking point in their argument becomes that Batman wants to be able to kill criminals. Batman threatens, “If you denounce me- if you try to jam me back into your subconscious, then I promise I will torment you until the day we die! I promise you’ll wake up screaming every night of your pitiful life!” Batman brings up Harvey Dent, the lawyer and friend of Bruce turned villain Two-Face, and says, “Harvey was in a position where his secret self could act freely. Harvey’s condition ensured he couldn’t be held accountable for anything Two-Face did.” He says, “although we share a host body, I suggest we admit that we are separate entities,” and proposes that Bruce go on being Bruce Wayne, but “step aside” when Batman is needed. Bruce believes he is necessary to ‘temper’ Batman’s wrath, but is also unwilling to kill Batman, and so ultimately they continue on as they were before.

Nightwing (1996) #133-137

These issues were published across June 2007 to October 2007, according to the DC Wiki. All were written by Marv Wolfman. Issues #133-134 were penciled by Jamal Igle and inked by Keith Champagne. And issues #135-137 were penciled by Joe Bosco and inked by Alex Da Silva Soare. This story, titled “321 Days,” did take place in the present day of the Nightwing book, but it was heavily based around, and flashed back to, events of the period of time that Dick moved out from Wayne Manor for several months when he was 16 going on 17.

In their argument, flashed back to in issue #134, Dick says, “When we started this you were open and encouraging. You were like my father… But these last few years… All you’ve been doing is trying to control me.” Bruce tells Dick, “If I found you today instead of then, I would never bring you into the fold,” which is what prompts Dick to move out. Struggling to make ends meet on his own, Dick meets Eddie, and his right-hand woman Lui. Eddie tells a group of young people, “You’re being put down like you’re still nine ‘cause as much as they say they love you- You getting older means they’re getting older.” He assures the group, “Unlike your parents, unlike other adults, I’m not afraid of being replaced.” In issue #135 we see that Dick formed a romantic and sexual relationship with Lui, and the Eddie began training Dick (much like Bruce would have) and told him things like, “Good. Really good. But I’ll make you better. Maybe, someday, even better than me.”

Still in issue #135, Dick grows uncomfortable with the worsening criminal activity Eddie is involving the gang in and considers calling Bruce, but changes his mind, saying, “What am I doing? I left to prove I’m grown up. I can’t just call daddy.” Lui proposes to Dick that he help the gang rob Bruce Wayne with his access to him, but Dick can’t accept that they were “using” him and that he was just a “passkey” to them, until he finds out that Lui and Eddie are sleeping together, which is devastating for him. At this point Dick goes back to Bruce and they take down the gang as Batman and Robin, after which their relationship is repaired. Bruce says he can’t treat Dick as an equal because, “I’m older. Smarter. I can still take you in a fight. But I will respect you… as an adult. […] Maybe it just took a while for me to see it.”

Dick is deeply distressed about Lui coming back into his life 10 years later. Though outwardly he acts cordially, his internal narration over the 4 pages of their conversation in issue #133 reads: “Don’t trust her. Don’t trust her. Don’t trust her. Don’t trust her. She looks the same, smells the same. Don’t let her in. She’ll crush you, just like before. Smells like Jasmine, always did. Don’t do it. I want to believe her. Believe in her. Trust her. Jasmine. I can’t trust her. Don’t trust her. Jasmine and sweat. The memory is still strong. Dick Grayson loved her. Robin busted her. I can’t trust her. I shouldn’t. Jasmine and sweat. She still smells the same.”

Dick’s former relationships with Barbara Gordon and Starfire are invoked several times throughout the story. Dick questions in issue #134, “Is she why I’ve never been able to commit? Why it’s easy for me to say ‘I love you…’ But not ‘I need you’? as images of Dick and Kory appear behind him, and then of Lui fighting Robin. In issue #136 he thinks, again with Barbara and Kory appearing behind him for part of the narration, “After her… Couldn’t let myself trust… Couldn’t let myself believe… Couldn’t let myself get close. To anyone. I’m so tired of that. I want… I want… Just don’t know if I’ll ever be able to have.” In issue #137, after Lui has been seriously injured in a fight and Dick rushed her to the hospital, he thinks, “Damn you all. Once bitten. Twice shy,” and Barbara and Kory’s reflections in the glass briefly overtake his own.

In issue #137 Dick gives the speech that the title of the story comes from, telling the new Vigilante something he’s never been able to tell the people he’s actually close to before. He describes that after Lui, “I spent most of the next year pretending nothing had happened.” He says that, “Day one was the day I learned the truth.” Then, “when things looked their worst… 321 days later everything changed again.” I haven’t actually read The New Teen Titans (1980) before, so I’m not sure exactly which event from that this is referring to. Barbara and Kory are again depicted behind Dick, and he says, “Only, I had never confronted what was wrong. So I screwed up what I had… And then, later on, I screwed up again.”

Also, Dick running away from Bruce and joining up with a criminal gang that targeted young people reminded me of a similar thing happening in Robin: Year One (2000), though that was a bit different in that it happened very early in Dick’s career as Robin.

Nightwing (1996) Annual #2

This issue was published in April 2007, according to the DC Wiki. It was written by Marc Andreyko, penciled by Joe Bennet, and inked by Jack Jadson. I read this because it's included in the same trade that collects the "321 Days" storyline, so I thought it might be relevant. This issue was about Dick and Barbara Gordon’s relationship over the years, leading up to their present day state in the aftermath of the Infinite Crisis event.

I liked how Bruce hung over their relationship in the story. Early on Barbara sternly tells Dick to get back in bed because he’s recovering from injuries, and he tells her that her “glare” was “like you channeled Batman there.” She tells him, “Maybe you bring that out in people,” to which he says, “Ouch. Now you sound like him.” In the flashback to their first date when they were still Batman and Robin he’s fretting out they skipped patrol. He dramatically says, “Bruce is gonna kill us.” She says, “Kill you, not me. I don’t live with him,” but also, “He’ll never know we skipped patrol.” But Dick thinks, “Yeah, he will. He knows everything.”

Dick tries to confess the extent of his feelings for her back then, saying, “I’m a big boy now,” and, “I love you, Babs- as a friend, as a partner- and I’d like to believe I could love you as a…” but he doesn’t learn until the present day that she heard him. Barbara explains, “You should be grateful I did that. You had so much going on. The Titans had reformed again. And you and Bruce… Remember how tense things were then? You were so angry, you were rejecting all things Batman.”

As part of Dick’s recovery, we see a scene of Barbara being encouraging and a scene of her speaking to him harshly to motivate him. After the harsh scene, Dick realizes that the spikes he pushed himself in order to not impale himself on were only “foam rubber,” and comments, “Bruce would’ve used real iron.” Barbara says, “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? But I’m not Bruce. And I’m not here to reinforce your guilty conscious.” Apparently, not risking seriously hurting him during training but still speaking harshly to him is a step up.

When a call from Bruce interrupts their conversation, Dick thinks, “It all leads back to him, doesn’t it?” Dick tells him that Barbara is acting “like a drill sergeant, but that’s what I needed.” Bruce very bluntly drops on Dick that he’s going on a long trip with Tim and wants Dick to come as well, that “I’d like my family with me.” Dick doesn’t even get a chance to respond before Bruce says, “I need a final decision by Friday,” and leaves. And then Barbara ends up leaving to ensure Dick goes with Bruce, telling him in a letter, “We both know you have to go with Bruce. Not because of him, but because of you.”

Of relevance to the “321 Days” story is that Barbara refers to that Dick lost his virginity to Starfire. He asks, “Who said I was a virgin,” and she responds, “Please. The whole ‘I-know-you-better-than-you-do’ thing?” Dick doesn’t correct her, just says, “Right.” (Though, to be fair, “321 Days” was published just a bit after this.)

Also, it was strange to follow up reading that story about Dick being affected by an early sexual manipulation, to the scene in this story where Dick sleeps with Barbara after he gets engaged to Kory, but doesn’t reveal that he’s engaged until the next morning, seriously hurting Barbara. That scene primarily highlights Barbara’s perspective; I don’t really understand what was meant for Dick to be thinking there.

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #11-15

These issues were published across September 1990 to January 1991 according to the Grand Comics Database. All were written by Doug Moench, penciled by Paul Gulacy, and inked by Terry Austin. This was the “Prey” storyline, featuring Dr. Hugo Strange as the primary villain.

This is immediately one of my favorite Batman stories that I’ve ever read; it worked really well for me. I read this simply because it was the next arc in Legends of the Dark Knight, but it paired well with Batman: Turning Points and Batman: Ego, considering the focus on Bruce’s mental state and relationship with Jim Gordon.

In the first issue Jim, Gotham’s mayor, and psychiatrist Hugo Strange appear on a live talk show together to discuss the Batman. Bruce justifies watching to Alfred by saying it’s “free analysis,” but as Strange talks he gets deeply distressed and self-harms by squeezing his glass so hard it shatters and cuts his hand, then continues watching as Alfred tends to his wound. Strange says that Batman is “extremely obsessed- and he craves individual power, indicating a paranoid mistrust of others.” Strange says that he’s, “Obsessed with the night, with darkness. Perhaps obsessed with vengeance,” and pinpoints that it all leads back to a singular trauma that happened during the night. And, regarding that he’s a “rogue who acts alone,” Strange says, “He does not wish to share his victories and accomplishments, yet he insists on remaining anonymous. You see-? He craves fame, wants to be a star, but not as himself- only as the fictional construct, ‘The Batman.’ And, referring to that he uses “the iconography of a hideous, filthy night-creature,” Strange believes that Batman’s motives aren’t “utilitarian” and instead “he exults in the dark power of this terrifying apparition.”

Bruce is comforted when Jim defends him, thinking, “Gordon knows. Gordon understands.” But when the mayor surprises Jim with the announcement that there’s going to be a new “vigilante task force” to take down the Batman, and Jim’s going to lead it, Bruce is distressed again. He thinks, “No. Not him. Not Gordon. Not the only one who understands.” Later, wondering if what Strange said about him being too obsessed and needing to work alone is true, Bruce thinks, “What would it take… for me to trust someone? And who could I trust?” Meanwhile, since Strange is going to consult on the task force, Jim is worried about him being able to figure out Batman’s secret identity. But later, when Strange requests the files on every mugging and murder from the last 5 years, he thinks, “At least he’s underestimated the extent of the Batman’s obsession- a lifetime obsession. He’s also underestimated the time necessary to prepare. In a mere five years, no man could become what the Batman is.” He agrees that Strange will be given the files, “but nothing of my suspicions.”

Strange, it turns out, is deeply disturbed and jealous of Batman. He imagines being like him would feel “omnipotent.” It’s a frustration that he can understand the Batman only psychologically, and he wants to know what it would feel like physically to be Batman. He also hates women, saying in issue #14, “You’re all alike! No man’s ever good enough for you,” as he hits the mayor’s daughter, who he had kidnapped after she spoke positively about Batman. He, in his delusional way, interpreted her support of him as her specifically being attracted to Batman, as opposed to him.

There’s a scene in issue #14 where Bruce is drugged, Alfred tries to help him, and then Bruce hits him before fleeing to the Batcave because he feels safe there. We see in issue #15 that Bruce stays there for several days, comfortable in the dark, and initially refuses to eat even though Alfred was bringing him food. This was the first moment I’ve read that’s made me sympathetic to Alfred’s position and appreciate his loyalty to Bruce. I don’t find him making fun of Bruce for being absurd endearing at all. And I believe his cold parenting holds some responsibility for how Bruce turned out. But this made me appreciate that Bruce is stronger than Alfred, and that Alfred continues to care for Bruce even though Bruce doesn’t always make it easy.

Also, referring back to Jim’s sentiment in Turning Points #2 that “our rules don’t apply to him,” which was about Batman taking on a teenage sidekick, it seems relevant that, prompting by the discussion of Batman’s role is a vigilante and his own inability to disobey the mayor, Jim thinks in the first issue, “in the end, if I’m not above the law… is he? And if he isn’t… Then what is he?”

[docrotten]

GREMLINS (1984) – Episode 250 – Decades Of Horror 1980s

“Ai-yah. You teach him to watch TV?” Do you mean there was a fourth rule? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, Crystal Cleveland, and Jeff Mohr, along with guest host Ralph Miller – as they take an effects-focused dive into Joe Dante’s Gremlins (1984).

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 250 – Gremlins (1984)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

Decades of Horror 1980s is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL (https://wickedhorrortv.com/) which now includes video episodes of 1980s and is available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and its online website across all OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.

A young man inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town.

  Director: Joe Dante

Writer: Chris Columbus

Produced by:

Michael Finnell (producer) (produced by)

Kathleen Kennedy (executive producer)

Frank Marshall (executive producer)

Steven Spielberg (executive producer)

Music by: Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by: John Hora (director of photography)

Editing by: Tina Hirsch

Casting By: Susan Arnold

Production Design by: James H. Spencer

Special Effects:

Chris Walas (creator: Gremlins) 

Bob MacDonald Jr. (special effects foreman)

R.A. MacDonald (special effects supervisor) (as Bob MacDonald Sr.)

Selected Cast:

Hoyt Axton as Randall Peltzer

John Louie as Chinese Boy

Keye Luke as Grandfather

Don Steele as Rockin’ Ricky Rialto (voice)

Susan Burgess as Little Girl

Scott Brady as Sheriff Frank

Arnie Moore as Pete’s Father

Corey Feldman as Pete

Harry Carey Jr. as Mr. Anderson

Zach Galligan as Billy

Dick Miller as Mr. Futterman

Phoebe Cates as Kate

Polly Holliday as Mrs. Deagle

Belinda Balaski as Mrs. Harris

Edward Andrews as Mr. Corben

Judge Reinhold as Gerald Hopkins

Chuck Jones as Mr. Jones

Glynn Turman as Roy Hanson

Tracy Wells as Schoolchild

Jonathan Banks as Deputy Brent

Frank Welker as Stripe / Mogwai / Gremlins (voice)

Howie Mandel as Gizmo (voice)

Fred Newman as Mogwai / Gremlins (voice)

Mark Dodson as Mogwai / Gremlins (voice)

Michael Winslow as Mogwai / Gremlins (voice)

Peter Cullen as Mogwai / Gremlins (voice)

Bob Bergen as Mogwai / Gremlins (voice) (as Bob Berger)

Michael Sheehan as Mogwai / Gremlins (voice) (as Mike Sheehan)

Bob Holt as Mogwai / Gremlins (voice)

Richard Carlson as Dr. Research (archive footage) (uncredited)

Jerry Goldsmith as Man in Telephone Booth Glancing at Camera (uncredited)

William Schallert as Father Bartlett (uncredited)

Steven Spielberg as Man in Electric Wheelchair (uncredited)

Kenneth Tobey as Mobil Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)

Effects artist Ralph Miller joins the Grue-Crew to add his experience working on Gremlin’s creature crew, led by Chris Walas, the designer of Mogwai and the gremlins. Though the crew focuses on the film’s effects, they also delve into the cast, cameos, crew, and behind-the-scenes stories. 

In July 2014, Doc Rotten and Thomas Mariani covered Gremlins before the Monster Movie Podcast became Decades of Horror 1980s. Check it what they had to say at this link: 

Monster Movie Podcast Episode 68 – Gremlins 1984

As of 21 January 2024, Gremlins is available for streaming from many PPV sites and on physical media in 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray formats. 

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, chosen by Jeff, will be Slaughterhouse (1987). They may need a shower after this one.

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the Gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the Gruesome Magazine website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

Check out this episode!

[ancientphantom]

This month is AWASH in new stuff! This is just a jackpot of new things.

Conversations with Phantoms by Ron Albanese is an honest-to-goodness nonfiction deep dive into the 1979 piece of classic cinema, KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park. If you wanted to know more about how that movie ever possibly came into being, now you CAN.

Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles is the first of two books about a magical theater in which the lines between magicians and musicians are blurred, and kidnapping the star is not out of the question. We don’t see a lot of versions of the Phantom that emphasize his stage magic and supernatural qualities!

When Night Breaks by Janella Angeles is the second in the series, with the heroine navigating the frightening underground world of mirrors and illusions while magicians battle to rescue her from the sorcerer she’s afraid to love...

Echoes: Das Erbe der Maske by A. L. Butcher is the German edition of Butcher’s novella Echoes of a Song, about Raoul coping with the trauma of the events of the original story... and whether or not something is actually happening to him now. Worth a grab if you prefer reading in German!

My Favorite Shade by Rebekah Dodson is a modern romance novel featuring Erik as a shy geek, Kristine as a sexy new divorcee, and the unfortunate Raoul as the cheating husband she’s in the middle of breaking up with. Connections to the Phantom story seem slim, but Erik and Kris play a D&D-esque tabletop roleplaying game, so we can only hope...

The Phantom Verses by Angela Patmore is a volume of poetry based on the Phantom story, mostly with a very sympathetic image of the Phantom himself.

The Butt Pounder of the Opera by Chuck Tingle is FINALLY a comedic gay erotica from the king of bizarre porn, in which a handsome sasquatch is going to do things to an innocent young opera performer. I have been waiting for years to see when Tingle would finally write something Phantom related. I was starting to take it personally.

Phantom of the Community Theatre, directed by Dave R. Watkins is a parody short film about a squad of ghost hunters called in to deal with disruptions at the local community theater. It looks like one of those love it or hate it comedy deals - proceed at your own caution!

Here’s hoping for another month like it in October! Come on, spooky Halloween Phantoms!

[spiritti]

Uplifting quotes from powerful individuals

Here is our collection of inspirational and thought-provoking quotes to uplift curated by the Spiritti review team.

A clear vision, backed by definite plans, gives you a tremendous feeling of confidence and personal power. - Brian Tracy, author and motivational speaker

Proper planning and preparation prevents poor performance. - Stephen Keague, author

Plan your next move because every step contributes towards your goal. - Sukant Ratnakar, author and motivational speaker

Always have a plan, and believe in it. Nothing happens by accident. - Chuck Knox, former NFL head coach

The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don’t define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them. - Denis Waitley, writer and motivational speaker

Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination. -Fitzhugh Dodson, author

For plenty more inspirational reads and eBooks, go to Spiritti.

[gokinjeespot]

off the rack #1303

Monday, March 2, 2020

 This is a public service announcement. You will be ticketed for parking on the street during a parking ban even though the snow has already been cleared from the roads. We got a ticket parked in front of our house last week because we couldn't get into our driveway after the grader left a big snow bank at the end of it. I hope to spare anyone from being dinged with what I think is an unfair fine.

 Amazing Spider-Man: Daily Bugle #2 - Mat Johnson (writer) Mack Chater (art pages 1-12) Francesco Mobili (art pages 13-20) Dono Sanchez-Almara, Protobunker & Peter Pantazis (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). I can't read the rest of this 5-issue mini. The art really bothered me this issue. It was hard to tell what was going on the first few pages and then seeing Peter Parker in civvies looking almost exactly like the bad guy confused me further. There are interesting mysteries about Spidey's webbing and a Wilson Fisk involvement with an explosion, but this story probably won't matter in the grand scheme of things, so I don't think I'll miss anything if I bail out here.

 Punisher Soviet #4 - Garth Ennis (writer) Jacen Burrows (pencils) Guillermo Ortego (inks) Nolan Woodard (colours) Rob Steen (letters). Frank and Valery go after Konstantin by kidnapping his trophy wife. She's amenable to divorce by Punisher. Thank Garth for improving my mood.

 Basketful of Heads #5 - Joe Hill (writer) Leomacs (art) Riccardo La Bella (additional pencils) Dave Stewart (colours) Deron Bennett (letters). Everything leading up to this issue has been circumstantial. Now the villain tells the complete story. I'm rooting for June to survive this mess.

 Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #3 - James Tynion IV (writer) Steve Epting & Javier Fernandez (art) Nick Filardi (colours) Travis Lanham (letters). Heh, it's the Joker who helps Lex beat the Batman Who Laughs. It looks like next issue's pulse pounding conclusion will be Lex and his super villains versus the Batman Who Laughs and his infected super heroes. It's been a while since the Main Man has been in a comic that I've read.

 Avengers #31 - Jason Aaron (writer) Gerardo Zaffino, Geraldo Borges, Szymon Kudranski, Oscar Bazaldua, Robert Gill & Mattia De Iulis (art) Rachelle Rosenberg & Mattia De Iulis (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). I haven't seen Tony Stark in a while so I assumed he was dead. Nope. He was zapped a million years into the past by the master manipulator Mephisto. The devil tries to get Tony's soul. This is a wonderful full issue of Iron Man and if Jason wrote an Iron Man book, I'd read it.

 Amethyst #1 - Amy Reeder (story & art) Gabriela Downie (letters). I remember reading the original Amethyst book when it hit the racks in 1983 with the Ernie Colon art. It was fun and weird with a plucky heroine. This new Wonder Comics book has the appeal of having art by Amy Reeder who wowed me with her work on Madame Xanadu and Rocket Girl. Here she is writing as well and the art and story is tight and concise. This is a nice substitute for the dearly departed Naomi book.

 Avengers of the Wastelands #2 - Ed Brisson (writer) Jonas Scharf (art) Neeraj Menon (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). It's the origin of Captain America of the Wastelands. His name is Grant. I think this is a great way to change tried and true Marvel characters to make them fresh and new. Having them fight an evil Doctor Doom is nice and simple. Four Avengers may become five but they have to contend with a super villain first.

 Suicide Squad #3 - Tom Taylor (writer) Bruno Redondo (art) Adriano Lucas (colours) Wes Abbott (letters). The new Squad's first mission under Lok's leadership does not go according to plan. Neither are these super villains what they seem. This is why I read Tom Taylor books. Forget about any new Crises and DCeased and pick up this most excellent comic book for some straight up action and skulduggery.

 Kill Lock #3 - Livio Ramondelli (story & art) Tom B. Long (letters). I get why the calligraphy font is used in the Wraith's word balloons but man, is it hard to read. This issue explains why The Kid is innocent and shouldn't be branded. The four droids find the one who can lead them to the Kill Lock's off switch but she betrays them. This universe of sentient robots is pretty cool.

 Jessica Jones: Blind Spot #4 - Kelly Thompson (writer) Mattia De Iulis (art) VC's Cory Petit (letters). Each issue has started off with Jessica held captive by the bad guy. The end of this issue reveals who that is and how she was killed and resurrected. I am looking forward to the conclusion to see how she defeats the villain.

 Batman Superman #7 - Joshua Williamson (writer) Nick Derington (art) Dave McCaig (colours) John J. Hill (letters). A new story starts here. Part 1 of "The Kandor Compromise" pits the World's Finest duo against Ra's Al Ghul and General Zod. One of the bad guys is working with the good guys. I got bored of the fight between Superman and Rogol Zaar so what happened to the city of Kandor was a surprise to me. I'm interested to see the final fate of the shrunken city.

 Giant-Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost #1 - Jonathan Hickman (writer) Russell Dauterman (art) Matthew Wilson (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). This mostly wordless $4.99 US one-shot will be a quick read but I read it twice just to soak in the beautiful art. The story starts with the discovery Storm's body and ends with a problem after Ororo is resurrected. This leads into a story where Jean, Emma, Logan and Scott will have to save Storm again.

 Leviathan Dawn #1- Brian Michael Bendis (writer) Alex Maleev (art) Josh Reed (letters). Leviathan succeeded in shutting down every spy agency and the leader has been revealed to be an ex-spy named Mark Shaw. The good guys are still trying to fight back but they're going to need help. Time for Kingsley Jacobs to start up Check Mate again. I like the players he's gathered. I'm looking forward to watching this game unfold.

 Finger Guns #1 - Justin Richards (writer) Val Halvorson (art) Rebecca Nalty (colours) Taylor Esposito (letters). And now for something completely different. This new urban fantasy introduces two teenagers with a weird power. Wes discovers that when he shoots people with his left hand he can make them angry. Sadie can calm people down when she uses her right finger gun. They meet by accident at the mall and try to get a handle on their newfound powers. It's a cool concept and I wonder where these kids are going to end up.

 Fantastic Four: Grimm Noir #1 - Gerry Duggan (writer) Ron Garney (art) Matt Milla (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). This one's all about Ben's bad dreams. I thought the bad guy was Nightmare but it's another one of those mystical villains that generally mess with Doctor Strange. I expected some sort of Mickey Spillane type story but there's no murder, just a pretty dame needing rescue. It's a nice character study of the ever lovin' blue-eyed Thing.

 Detective Comics #1020 - Peter J. Tomasi (writer) Brad Walker (pencils) Andrew Hennessy (inks) Brad Anderson (colours) Rob Leigh (letters). Two-Face is back and he's more bipolar than ever. This is what I like to see, an old villain presented in a slightly new way. We still have the scarred coin dictating how Harvey acts but there's a new twist with a cult of fanatics and the Church of the Two Strikes. I love how the first page hints at the return of the Court of Owls too.

 Falcon & Winter Soldier #1 - Derek Landy (writer) Federico Vicentini (art) Matt Milla (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). This 5-issue team-up starts off with a heavily armed and armoured hit squad attacking Bucky Barnes in his home. The Winter Soldier emerges unscathed and hops his motorcycle to find out who sent the killers. Meanwhile Sam Wilson is searching for a missing vet. The two meet at a government agency office where all the staff are dead. Wanting to know who's doing all the killing has got me interested in reading the rest but when a preppy killer shows up and kicks both of the heroes asses I decided to put this mini on my "must read" list. The kid's name is the Natural. Picture a blonde Damian Wayne in a pair of Chuck Taylors.

 The Amazing Spider-Man #40 - Nick Spencer (writer) Iban Coello & Ze Carlos (art) Brian Reber & Peter Pantazis (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). The fight between Spider-Man and Chance had to do with a bet that Chance could get one of Spidey's web shooters. What bothered me was how easily that was done and Spider-Man's lack of urgency to get it back. There's a couple of foreshadowing scenes that will keep me reading however. One involves the Clairvoyant device and the other is who Norah Winters is working with.

 X-Men #7 - Jonathan Hickman (writer) Leinil Francis Yu (art) Sunny Gho (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). This issue is dedicated to a new Mutant Ritual called the Crucible. It's a lot shorter than calling it the Arena of Death and Rebirth. It shows how mutants who have lost their powers can get them back. But first we have to endure a deep philosophical discussion between Cyclops and Nightcrawler. It's a real snoozer if you're an action fan.

 Action Comics #1020 - Brian Michael Bendis (writer) John Romita Jr. (pencils) Klaus Janson (inks) Brad Anderson (colours) Dave Sharpe (letters). I wish they would stop with the deceiving covers. It looks like Superman is trying to come between Lex Luthor and Leviathan but what actually happens inside is Superman fighting Lex and the Legion of Doom. If it weren't for Young Justice helping out I would have found this issue boring.

 X-Men/Fantastic Four #2 - Chip Zdarsky (writer) Terry Dodson (pencils) Rachel Dodson, Karl Story & Ransom Getty (inks) Laura Martin (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). There's a lot of heroes accusing heroes of shenanigans concerning the disappearance of Franklin and Valeria. They are actually guests of Doctor Doom. Victor wants to reverse what Reed did to his son and I want to know why. With the X-Men converging on Doom Island, good old Doc Doom is prepared for an attack.

 X-Force #8 - Benjamin Percy (writer) Bazaldua (art) Guru-eFX (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). Why did Oscar Bazaldua stop using his first name in the credits? Domino and Colossus attack the flesh factory making assassins using Neena's DNA. The organisation funding the flesh factory has a mysterious benefactor and I'm hanging around to find out who that is. I wish they would change either Sage or Jubilee's costume. I keep getting them confused.

[lecameleontv]

Titre V.O. : The Pretender [Official Website] Titre V.F. : Le Caméléon

Projet 2024. La série a été rediffusée à partir du lundi 27 juin 2022 sur 6ter à la TV française. à 16h20. Elle a été également rediffusée (2021/2022) à la TV U.S..

Créateurs : Steven Long Mitchell et Craig Van Sickle

Création Consultant :  Rick Wallace et  Chris Ruppenthal

Scénaristes : Tommy Thompson (13 épisodes), Javier Grillo-Marxuach (3 épisodes), Juan Carlos Coto (11 épisodes), Mark M. Dodson (7 épisodes), Harry Dunn (6 épisodes), Lawrence Meyers (6 épisodes), Daniel Trully (6 épisodes), Dave Alan Johnson, Andrew Dettmann (5 épisodes), Tony Blake (3 épisodes), Paul Jackson (3 épisodes), Kimberly Costello (2 épisodes), Tyler Bensiger (2 épisodes), Chris Ruppenthal (2 épisodes) ...

Réalisation : Frederick King Keller (20 épisodes), James Whitmore Jr (8 épisodes), Terrence O'Hara (7 épisodes), Chuck Bowman (6 épisodes), Rodney Charters (5 épisodes), Steven Long Mitchell (5 épisodes), Michael Lange (4 épisodes), Scott Lautanen (4 épisodes), Michael Zinberg (3 épisodes), Joe Napolitano (3 épisodes), Ian Toynton (2 épisodes), Vern Gillum (2 épisodes), Krishna Rao (2 épisodes), Michael Klick (2 épisodes), Rick Wallace (1 épisode),  Gabrielle Beaumont (1 épisode), Jon Koslowsky (1 épisode), Jesús Salvador Treviño (1 épisode), Thomas J. Wright, Jim Charleston, Oscar L. Costo, Charles Siebert, Anson Williams, David Jackson, ...

1er Assistant Réalisateur :  Michael Klick (25 épisodes)

Producteurs : Marianne Canepa (58 épisodes), Jan DeWitt (15 épisodes), Juan Carlos Coto (12 épisodes), Daniel Trully (12 épisodes), Andrew Dettmann (12 épisodes), Michael Klick (3 épisodes), Jon Koslowsky (3 épisodes), Rick Wallace (1 épisode) ...

Producteurs délégués : Steven Long Mitchell et Craig Van Sickle , Fred King Keller, Juan Carlos Coto (22 épisodes), Tommy Thompson (3 épisodes), Jan DeWitt (22 épisodes), Daniel Truly, Andrew Dettmann, Michael Klick (7 épisodes), Rick Wallace (1 épisode) ...

Producteur co-délégués : Tommy Thompson (55 épisodes), Ian Toynton (11 épisodes), Mark M. Dodson (3 épisodes)

Producteur superviseur : Kimberly Costello (7 épisodes), Juan Carlos Coto (3 épisodes), Daniel Trully (3 épisodes), Andrew Dettmann (3 épisodes)

Producteur consultant : Tony Blake (22 épisodes), Paul Jackson (22 épisodes)

Direction de la photographie : Rodney Charters (3 épisodes)

Edition : Scott Boyd (21 épisodes), Jon Koslowsky, Javier Grillo-Marxuach Editeur délégué :  Lawrence Meyers

Direction de la distribution : Tory Herald (saison 2), Sharon Bialy (saison 2 à 4), John A. Aiello (saison 4)...

Nb de saisons : 4 (Tournage) Incursions/Crossovers : Profiler (3) Nb de TVfilms : 2 (Caméléon contre Caméléon / L’Antre du Diable) Nb de romans : 2 (Renaissance / Saving Luke) Nb de roman graphique : 1

Où voir les acteurs cette semaine à la TV française ?

Distribution principale :  Michael T Weiss --- Jarod Andrea Parker --- Mlle Parker Patrick Bauchau --- Sydney Jon Gries --- Broots Richard Marcus --- Dr Raines Paul Dillon --- Angelo Ryan Merriman --- Jarod enfant/adolescent Ashley Peldon --- Mlle Parker enfant Harve Presnell --- M. Parker James Denton --- Lyle Pamela Gidley --- Brigitte

Distribution secondaire/Invités exceptionnels :  Alex Wexo --- Sydney jeune Willie Gault --- le nettoyeur Willie Sam Ayers --- le nettoyeur Sam Kim Myers --- Margaret, la mère de Jarod Jason Brooks --- Thomas Christopher Tyler --- Ethan Jeffrey Donovan --- Kyle Darren Kennedy --- George Stamatis George Lazenby --- le major Charles Zachary Brown --- Kyle enfant Jonathan Osser ---  Keene Curtis --- Fenigor Kelsey Mulrooney --- Debbie Amir AboulEla --- le nettoyeur Gar Leigh Taylor Young --- Michelle Stamatis Lenny Von Dohlen --- M. Cox Leland Orser --- Argyle Marisa Petroro --- Emily Jake Lloyd --- Timmy Haley Joel Osment --- Davey Simpkins

Le Centre -

Saison 1 : Épisodes 01 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 07 - 08 - 09 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 22.  Saison 2 : Episodes 01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 09 - 10 - 11 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 20 - 21 - 22. Saison 3 : Episodes 01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 09 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 17 - 20 - 22. Saison 4 : Episodes 01 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 07 - 08 - 09 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 18 - 19 - 20.

Rediffusion U.S. de la série sur H&I en 2019/2020/2021. Rediffusion Fr de la série sur 6ter en 2022, sur AB1 en 2021 et RTL9 de 2019 à 2021.

Date présentation 2001 : 41ème Festival de la Télévision de Monte-Carlo.

source : imdb

[ceffythesquirrel]

Finally! My thoughts about the new video!

Okay. Here's why I think Thomas did a Halloween video on Christmas. If you remember back to before LNTAO came out, Thomas had said he was going to try to get two videos out before the end of October. It didn't happen, but they were planning to do a halloween video right after that episode came out. Unfortunately, they were unable to make the deadline, so they just said screw it and decided to to along with what they originally planned.

It was a hard episode to get into, for me at least, but after a couple times watching I started to like it.

Yeah I'm just not scared of Virgil's costume. It was really well made though! All of the costumes were well made. Logan's was the one that scared me the most. But I love that he took Roman's idea into consideration. (My boys.)

Roman was on fire in that episode! I mean that mummy costume, perfection and his come backs were the best. "Hypocrite say what now?" Hahaha good job Princey. I think this was my favorite episode of him in it. He also exhibited some of that character development he learned in the last episode so my boys are growing!

Virgil threw a rock at Thomas's head. I guess in this Sander's house they show love by throwing things at each other. Logan with a laptop, Virgil with a stone, Logan with a crumpled up note card, Roman with 'five binders' (including the +2 Patton failed to catch.) Logan with the cat hoodie. They like chucking things at each other almost as much as they love hurling insults. Also notice how Virgil hit Thomas in the eye, much like Logan did to Roman. Parallelism much?

Yes! I was wondering if they'd ever bring up the Yerkes-Dodson chart again.

All the parrallelism to AA part 2. Good to hear Roman's (Talyn's) scream again.

We got to see Virgil's room again. For all the newbies, Back in summer 2017 Thomas had talked about doing a halloween episode with Virgil's room again one time on an Instagram story. That didn't happen last year, but it looks like this is how they implemented that idea.

I feel a little sad that there were no rooms or character reveals this time around. To me those are the real plot points, the episodes that keep the series moving. But it was still content, and I liked it.

One thing I enjoyed was seeing Old Virgil and New Virgil kind of colliding in this episode. It seemed as if Thomas is trying to remind us that Virgil is still Virgil and we shouldn't belittle him even though he's acting nicer. Very similar to how Patton is trying to cope with Virgil's preferred way of being treated.

Although I'd like there to be a dark side reveal the next episode, I wouldn't mind a 'debate' episode between Patton and Virgil. That would be a hard video to watch at first for a lot of us, but I think it would be one we would watch over and over because it would have many great lessons in it.

Regardless however, theres many ways they can take the series, and I'm excited to see how they do it!

As for Deceit, well for one I like his laugh. Its nothing I would have ever thought he'd use.

Also I have no idea what the foreshadowing meant. But I'm excited to find out.

Good to finally meet Aunt Patty. I was wondering when she'd show up. When Is Aunt Patty's day? Should it just be December 24th? Or on National Aunt day?

Also Virgil's pet spider needs a name.

Oh my god dog!Patton in emo clothes was so cute. Also Patton is now a furry confirmed.

And overall, it was good to not have to wait another six months for a sander's sides. I'm ok with waiting every two months. It makes time fly by fast between them, as I'm creating and theorizing in between.

That's pretty much it though! And I already can't wait for the next one!

Also Thomas needs more sleep.

[angelofberlin2000]

By Mike Seymour

January 29, 2019

In the film, after a car accident kills the family of William "Will" Foster, played by Keanu Reeves, he will stop at nothing to bring them back, even if it means pitting himself against a government-controlled laboratory, a police task force and the physical laws of science.

On the verge of successfully transferring human consciousness into a computer, synthetic biologist and neuroscientist Will believes he can essentially resurrect his family. Will recruits fellow scientist Ed Whittle to help him secretly clone the bodies of his family and create replicas. Will eventually faces a "Sophie's choice" when it turns out that he can only bring three of his four deceased family members back to life. The film features what has been described by one critic as "cinema's weirdest not-to-be-missed robots, as it scarily, giddily threatens revenge, with a mere turn of its head."

The story and screenplay for Replicas was developed at Keanu Reeves and Stephen Hamel's production company Company Films.

trailer

Executive producer James Dodson got involved at the very beginning of the Replicas project two and half years ago, around the time they decided to shoot the film in Puerto Rico. 

Copyright: Entertainment Studios

The film was shot on the Alexa and ended up with over 400 visual effects shots. Keanu Reeves was heavily involved as both producer and actor. "He was interested in the whole movie. It was his movie. He developed the script. He was on it for two years before we shot it...and he was particularly interested in the AV stuff," comments Dodson, referring to the minority report style sequences, which were complex to act and animate. "Basically we were trying to tell the story that Keanu's character, William Foster, was going into the human brain and analyzing the data in the brain and then transferring the data elegantly into a machine facsimile of a human - into a synthetic human brain, if you will," he adds. "And it's not like you can just go and buy that on Turbo Squid."

The team worked with multiple vendors, spending months to try and find the right design solution. "Every piece of user interface was crafted, there was nothing off the shelf that you could use. Everything had to be designed specifically for this because it was such a specific story. Keanu was keenly interested in every step." 

The user interface designs of the brain in AR were started by Chris Keifer, who does much of the screen graphics for Westworld. "He finally cracked how to represent it. We had 9 or 10 weeks with him, before Pacific Rim 2 stole him away from us!" jokes Dodson. "Then Josh Zacharias took over, I talked to him almost every day for a year on this project. He really elevated the work and nailed it. It had to be believable and it had to tell the story but not be too on the nose...it was just so important that the audience would buy it."

The animation was choreographed to the motion data gained from Reeves hand movements, animated in Maya and rendered in RenderMan.

The team used iClone software in the production of Replicas in three different ways:

James Martin and John Martin led the previz team in visualising some of the action sequences such as the car crash in iClone.

There was also conceptual work around the AR infographics that Keanu's character manipulates, that needed the software for the interaction to work onscreen.

Finally in post-production, iClone was invaluable in animating the robot when it gains consciousness.

Reallusion makes the iClone software the team used. They are headquartered in Silicon Valley, with R&D centres in Taiwan, and offices in Germany and Japan. Reallusion is focused on the development of real-time cinematic virtual production and motion capture tools.

Reallusion provides users with character animation, facial and body mocap, and voice lipsync solutions for real-time filmmaking production. The company first launched iClone v1.0 at the end of 2005 and it found popularity within the Machinima community. The current version 7 was released in 2017. In addition to having its own real time engine, an easy-to-use avatar and facial morphing system with a voice lip-sync solution, the software interfaces with most mocap systems.

More recently the company has developed Motion LIVE, which is a body motion capture platform that connects motion data streams from multiple industry mocap devices, such as Xsens and Rokoko, to animate 3D character faces, hands and bodies.

Motion LIVE did not exist when Replicas was in production however. "That program didn't exist 18 months ago when we were doing Replicas, but we used a similar thing. It was just Perception Neurons, motion capture software (by Noitom), which then fed directly into iClone. Replicas did not need facial capture of the actors' expressions, only their movements."

In the robot sequence, the robot was 100% CGI. On set there was a mocap artist in a Perception Neuron suit. This live data was fed into iClone and this allowed for a 'slap comp' version of the robot to be seen on set for framing and blocking. The edit used this footage as post-viz. "The great thing was that once that sequence was cut, we could send those exact MoCap files down to Argentina where the artists could take the data and attach it to the final full resolution robot," explains Dodson. The export from iClone to Maya was done as an FBX file.

For the crash sequence, the team used iClone to work out how to film with the stunt team and physical effects crew. The stunt car was on "a crane cable with a gymbal and we worked out which shots we could chuck it in the air and pull it back like a pendulum to drop it, and which ones would need visual effects," Dodson recalls. One of the features the team used in the previz is the ability to use a single jpeg to create a representation of the actual actors on the 3D models used for the layout and previz. Each of the family members was modelled this way for the previz.

Dodson fully acknowledges that major big budget films use expensive and often proprietary technology for simulation and previz. However for him, the benefit is in how inexpensive and accessible tools, such as iClone, are able to, "democratize the entire process of motion capture and real time rendering - I am just addicted to previsualisation, and the level of quality and detail we can do for a few hundred dollars and still have studio quality results is incredible." 

source

[saturdaynightmatinee]

CALIFICACIÓN PERSONAL: 7 / 10

Título Original: Gremlins

Año: 1984

Duración: 111 min

País: Estados Unidos

Director: Joe Dante

Guion: Chris Columbus

Música: Jerry Goldsmith

Fotografía: John Hora

Reparto: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Frances Lee McCain, Dick Miller, Polly Holliday, Keye Luke, Corey Feldman, Glynn Turman, Judge Reinhold, Scott Brady, Harry Carey Jr., Jonathan Banks, John Louie, Don Steele, Susan Burgess, Arnie Moore, Donald Elson, Belinda Balaski, Edward Andrews, Lois Foraker, Chuck Jones, Kenny Davis, Nicky Katt, Tracy Wells, John C. Becher, Jackie Joseph, Jim McKrell, Frank Welker, Howie Mandel, Fred Newman, Mark Dodson, Michael Winslow, Peter Cullen, Michael Sheehan, Bob Holt

Productora: Warner Bros., Amblin Entertainment. Distribuidora: Warner Bros.

Género:  Comedy, Fantasy, Horror

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087363

TRAILER:

[calebyap]

Bethlehem Conference 2018 on the Holy Spirit

Sam Storms – Don’t Quench the Spirit | PasCon 2018

John Piper – Seeking the Spirit | PasCon 2018

John Piper – Preaching in the Holy Spirit | PasCon 2018

Francis Chan – Praying in the Spirit | PasCon 2018

Jason Meyer – Biography on Martyn Lloyd-Jones | PasCon 2018

Sam Storms - Preaching as Power: How Not to Quench the Spirit When You Preach | PasCon2018

Kevin DeYoung - That All May See Your Progress: How We Can Improve As Preachers | PasCon2018

Jonathan Dodson – Gospel Power: The Essential Role of the Holy Spirit in Discipleship | PasCon18

Jonathan Parnell – Spirit-Empowered Gospel Community | PasCon2018

Aaron Menikoff – Shepherding in the Fruit of the Spirit | PasCon2018

Don Whitney – Prayer in the Life of the Disciple | PasCon2018

Paul Tripp - Danger of Familiarity | PasCon2018

Chuck Steddom – The Worship Leader’s Heart | PasCon2018

David Powlison – Serious Mental Health Problems: How Can Churches Help? | PasCon 2018

David Powlison – Depression & Anxiety: How Can Churches Help? | PasCon 2018

Susan Hunt – Glory in Spiritual Mentoring (Part 1) | PasCon2018

Susan Hunt – Glory in Spiritual Mentoring (Part 2) | PasCon2018

Plenary Speaker Q&A Panel | PasCon2018

[renaroo]

RenaRoo’s GIANT Comic Sale!

I am preparing for a giant move and as a result I need to majorly cut down on my physical comic books!!!

Followers and friends will have access to a Giveaway of single issues in a week, but right now I need to sell a LOT of trade volumes I am offering to sell at SUPER REDUCED prices! 

If you are interested, please look below! And contact me for information on how to pay/get shipped to!

If you are interested in haggling/buying multiple comic collections and want to make a bundle deal, I’ll be more than happy to work with you! For me the main objective right now is to ship as many things out as I can before I move November 15th!!!

Payments will be processed through PayPal and Ko-Fi!

NEW DEALS!!!

Paperback Comics - $10 + shipping BUY ONE GET ONE FREE

Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 1: The Chysalis by Chuck Dixon, Julian Lopez, Carlos Rodriguez, and Bit

Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 2: The Snare by Chuck Dixon, Carlos Rodriguez, Julian Lopez, and Ryan Benjamin

Batman and Robin: Dark Knight vs. White Knight by Paul Cornell, Scott McDaniel, Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, Judd Winick, and Greg Tocchini

Batman New Gotham Vol. 1: Evolution by Greg Rucka, Shawn Martinbrough, John Watkiss, William Rosado, Phil Hester, and Steve Mitchell

Batman: Birth of the Demon by Mike W. Barr, Dennis O’Neil, Jerry Bingham, Tom Grindberg, and Norm Breyfogle

Batman: Streets of Gotham Vol. 2: Leviathan by Paul Dini, Dustin Nguyen, Derek Fridolfs, Mike Benson, and Chris Yost

Batman: Streets of Gotham Vol. 3: The House of Hush by Paul Dini, Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs

Batman: The Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul by Grant Morrison and Paul Dini

Bedlam Vol. 1 by Nick Spencer, Riley Rossmo, and Frazer Irving

Ghost/Batgirl by Mike Kennedy and Ryan Benjamin

Lazarus Volume One by Greg Rucka, Michael Lark, and Arcas

Nightwing Vol. 5: The Hunt for Oracle by Chuck Dixon, Greg Land, Patrick Zicher, and Butch Guice

Nightwing Vol. 6: Big Guns by Chuck Dixon, Greg Land, and Mike Collins

Nightwing Vol. 7: On the Razor’s Edge by Chuck Dixon, Greg Land, and Drew Geraci

Secret Six Vol. 3: Danse Macabre by Gail Simone, John Ostrander, and J. Calafiore

Secret Six Vol. 5: The Darkest House by Gail Simone and J. Calafiore

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vol. 1: Change is Constant by Tom Waltz, Dan Duncan, and Kevin Eastman

Transformers Regeneration One Vol. 1 by Simon Furman and Andrew Wildman

Transformers Regeneration One Vol. 2 by Simon Furman and Andrew Wildman

Villains United by Gail Simone, Dale Eaglesham and Val Semeiks

Large Books - $15 + shipping BUY ONE GET ONE FREE

Batman: Cataclysm

Batman: Dark Victory by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

Batman: The Black Mirror by Scott Snyder, Jock, and Francesco Francavilla

Batman: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

Spider-Man: Birth of Venom by Jim Shooter, Tom DeFalco, John Byrne, Louise Simonson, and David Michelinie

Transformers: Phase One Omnibus Volume 1 by Simon Furman and E.J. Su

The Usagi Yojimbo Saga Book 2: Grasscutter by Stan Sakai

Collection Deals

52 Bundle - $15 + shipping + TWO FREE CHOICE

52 Volume One by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, and Keith Giffen 52 Volume Two by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, and Keith Giffen 52 Volume Three by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, and Keith Giffen 52 Volume Four by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, and Keith Giffen

Deadpool by Daniel Way Bundle - $50 + shipping +TWO FREE CHOICE

Deadpool: Suicide Kings by Mke Benson, Adam Glass, Carlo Barberi, and Shawn Crystal Deadpool Vol. 1: Secret Invasion by Daniel Way, Paco Medina, and Carlo Barberi Deadpool Vol. 2: Dark Reign by Daniel Way and Paco Medina Dark Reign: Deadpool/Thunderbolts by Andy Diggle, Daniel Way, Bong Dazo, and Paco Medina Deadpool Vol. 3: X Marks the Spot by Daniel Way, Shawn Crystal, Paco Medina Hardback Deadpool Vol. 4: Monkey Business by Daniel Way, Carlo Barberi, Dalibor Talajić Deadpool Vol. 5: What Happened in Vegas by Daniel Way and Carlo Barberi Deadpool Vol. 6: I Rule, You Suck by Daniel Way, Carlo Barberi, and Bongo Dazo Hardback Deadpool Vol. 7: Space Oddity by Daniel Way, Sheldon Vella, Carlo Barberi, and Bong Dazo Hardback Deadpool Vol. 8: Operation Annihilation by Daniel Way, Sheldon Vella, Bong Dazo Hardback Deadpool Vol. 9: Institutionalized by Daniel Way, Carlo Barberi Hardback Deadpool Vol. 10: Evil Deadpool by Daniel Way, Salva Espin, and John McCrea

Demon Knights Bundle - $15 + shipping + ONE FREE CHOICE

Demon Knights Vol. 1: Seven Against the Dark by Paul Cornell, Diogenes Neves, and Oclair Albert Demon Knights Vol. 2: The Avalon Trap by Paul Cornell, Diógenes Neves, and Bernard Chang Demon Knights Vol. 3: The Gathering Storm by Robert Venditti, Bernard Chang, and Paul Cornell

Full Metal Alchemist Bundle - $75 + shipping + TWO FREE CHOICE

Single Trade Volumes: Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3 3-in-1 Trade Volumes: Volumes 4-5-6, Volumes 7-8-9, Volumes 10-11-12, Volumes 13-14-15, Volumes 16-17-18, Volumes 19-20-21, Volumes 22-23-24, Volumes 25-26-27 Fullmetal Alchemist Profiles by Hiromu Arakawa (contains bonus manga material) The Art of Fullmetal Alcehmist Volume 2 by Hiromu Arakawa

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Bundle - $30 + Shipping + TWO FREE CHOICE

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection Vol. 1 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection Vol. 2 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection Vol. 5 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vol. 2 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Classics Vol. 3

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Manga and Pocket Sized Volumes - $10 + shipping

DC Comics

The Untold Legend of the Batman by Len Wein, John Byrne, and Jim Aparo B&W SOLD

Dark Horse

Usagi Yojimbo Book 1: The Ronin by Stan Sakai SOLD

Usagi Yojimbo Book 2: Samurai by Stan Sakai SOLD

Paperbacked Deals - #15 + shipping

DC Comics

Batman: Contagion by Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant, Dennis O’Neil, Doug Moench, and Christopher Priest SOLD

Batman: Hush by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, and Scott Williams SOLD

Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? by Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert SOLD

Batwoman: Elegy by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III SOLD

Birds of Prey: Blood and Circuits by Gail Simone, Nicola Scott, Paulo Siqueira, James Raiz SOLD

Birds of Prey: Sensei & Student by Gail Simone, Ed Benes, Michael Golden, Joe Bennett, Cliff Richards, Alex Lei, Ruy Jose, Mike Manley, and Scott Hanna SOLD

JLA: World Without Grown-Ups by Todd Dezago, Humberto Ramos, Mike McKone, and Todd Nauck SOLD

JLA/The Titans: The Technis Imperative by Devin Grayson, Phil Jimenez, Andy Lanning, and Dexter Vines SOLD

Power Girl Vol. 1: A New Beginning by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Amanda Conner SOLD

Red Hood: The Lost Days by Judd Winick SOLD

Robin: A Hero Reborn by Alan Grant, Norm Breyfogle, Steve Mitchell, Chuck Dixon, Tom Lyle, and Bob Smith SOLD

Robin: Violent Tendencies by Chuck Dixon, Chris Barista, Cam Smith SOLD

Supergirl: Bizarrogirl by Sterling Gates, Jamal Igle, and Jon Sibal SOLD

Superman: Last Son of Krypton by Geoff Johns, Richard Donner, Adam Kubert, and Gary Frank SOLD

Superman: Secret Identity by Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen SOLD

Superman: Shadows Linger by Kurt Busiek, Peter Vale, Jesús Merino, and Renato Guedes SOLD

Superman: Up, Up and Away! by Kurt Busiek, Geoff Johns, Pete Woods, and Renato Guedes SOLD

Teen Titans Vol. 4: The Future is Now by Geoff Johns, Mike McKone, Ivan Reis, and Tom Grummett SOLD

Teen Titans: Year One by Amy Wolfram, Karl Kerschl, and Serge Lapointe SOLD

Vixen: Return of the Lion by G. Willow Wilson and Cafu SOLD

Young Justice: Sins of Youth by Peter David, Karl Kesel, Todd Nauck, et. al SOLD

IDW

Image

Marvel

The Amazing Spider-Man: Unintended Consequences by J. Michael Straczynski, John Romita Jr., and Scott Hanna SOLD

Spider-Men by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli SOLD

White Tiger by Tamora Pierce and Timothy Liebe SOLD

Others

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Tony Lee, Cliff Richards, Jane Austen, and Seth Grahame-Smith SOLD

Hardbacked Deals - $20 + shipping

DC Comics

Teen Titans Earth One Volume One by Jeff Lemire, Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson, Cam Smith, Brad Anderson SOLD

Marvel 

Hawkeye Vol. 1 by Matt Fraction, David Aja, Javier Pulido, Steve Lieber, Jesse Hamm, Francesco Francavilla, Matt Hollingsworth SOLD

Omnibus Deals - $25 + shipping

Dark Horse

DC Comics

Batgirl/Robin: Year One by Scott Beatty, Chuck Dixon, Marcos Martin, and Javier Pulido SOLD

DC Comics: The Sequential Art of Amanda Conner SOLD

DC Showcase Presents: Batman Volume 4 SOLD

Superman: Birthright by Mark Waid, Leinil Francis Yu, and Gerry Alanguilan SOLD

IDW

Collection Deals

The All New Atom Bundle - $25 + shipping SOLD

The All New Atom: My Life in Miniature by Gail Simone, John Byrne, Eddy Barrows, and Trevor Scott The All New Atom: Future/Past by Gail Simone, Mike Norton, and Eddy Barrows The All New Atom: The Hunt for Ray Palmer! by Gail Simone and Mike Norton The All New Atom: Small Wonder by Rick Remender, Gail Simone, Pat Olliffe, and Mike Norton

Catwoman by Ed Brubaker Bundle - $50 + shipping SOLD

Catwoman Vol. 1: Trail of the Catwoman by Darwyn Cooke and Ed Brubaker

Catwoman Vol. 2: No Easy Way Down by Ed Brubaker and Cameron Stewart

Catwoman Vol. 3: Under Pressure by Ed Brubaker, Paul Gulacy, and Jimmy Palmiotti

Saga Collection - $50 + shipping SOLD

Saga Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples 

Spider-Girl Bundle - $50 + Shipping SOLD

Spider-Girl by Todd DeFalco, Pat Olliffe, and Al Williamson Spider-Girl Vol. 2: Like Father, Like Daughter by Tom DeFalco and Pat Olliffe Spider-Girl Vol. 5: Endgame by Tom DeFalco and Pat Olliffe Spider-Girl Vol. 6:Too Many Spiders! by Tom DeFalco, Pat Olliffe, and Ron Frenz Spider-Girl Vol. 9:Secret Lives by Tom DeFalco, Pat Olliffe, and Ron Frenz Spider-Girl Vol. 10:Season of the Serpent by Tom DeFalco, Pat Olliffe, and Ron Frenz Spider-Girl Vol. 11:Marked for Death by Tom DeFalco, Pat Olliffe, and Ron Frenz

The Amazing Spider-Girl Vol. 3: Mind Games by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz The Amazing Spider-Girl Vol. 4: Brand New May by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz The Amazing Spider-Girl Vol. 5: Maybreak by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz

[shibascarf]

28-30

28. Favorite comic run?

oh man ummmmm....  probably impulse’s solo run.  loved that to pieces.  it hasn’t visually aged great, but i still love what it was and did.

29. Favorite comic artist?

i’m not too terribly picky with my artists? i think everyone has their own strengths.  that being said, i do really like marguerite sauvage, as well as rachel and terry dodson

30. Favorite comic writer?

marguerite bennet, dan jurgens, and i honestly really like chuck dixon’s work