It had to happen. Here is the official gag reel from The Avengers. COULSON!!!!!!!!!!!!
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August 21, 2012
August 20, 2012
RIP Tony Scott
Sad news yesterday about the director/producer Tony Scott. He committed suicide. While we can't know what he was going through to make such an extreme decision, it's obvious he was in pain of some sort. Like most, I have a big issue with suicide as I lost a friend to it last year and another 6-7 years ago. It's always the ones left behind who have to deal with the aftermath. While I do think it selfish in most cases, as I said, we can't know exactly what was going on here.
I immediately started thinking of some of my favorite films that Scott directed. His career spans back decades. Top Gun, The Hunger, Beverly Hills Cop II, Crimson Tide and so many others. 2 films stand out as some of my favorites. True Romance is just a cool flick. Well executed on all sides of it. One of those films you can quote all day and remember certain scenes. Brad Pitt as the stoner, Dennis Hopper being interrogated by the mob, the big shootout near the end and more. But my favorite is probably Man on Fire starring Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning. It deals with an ex-CIA operative named Creasy (Washington), considered one of the best killers in the business, turned bodyguard, who goes on an all out rampage when his charge Pita (Fanning) is kidnapped in Mexico. He tears apart the kidnappers ring of evil piece by piece until the very moving ending. Creasy walks that moral line of doing what he has to do in order to get Pita back. And that involves lots of killing and violence. Washington plays this so deftly and gives a powerful performance. Never taking pride in the killings as it's just part of what he has to do. I couldn't believe it was never nominated (especially Washington) for Oscars but it is quite a bleak and violent tale.
Scott left behind some unfinished work in both directing and producing. There were even talks of a Top Gun 2. I am a huge fan of a lot of his work, as are many others since his films tended to be more crowd pleasers than critical hits. Here's hoping his family and friends find some peace during this tragic time in their lives.
August 19, 2012
August 18, 2012
Bullet in the Face!
This is some fun, silly and over the top shit! It aired on IFC over a couple of days and will repeat on Sunday in a marathon. Catch up if you can!
And star Kate Kelton is my new crush. She is bad ass, sexy and awesome.
August 17, 2012
The Fades
I finally caught up on The Fades. What is it about? Here's the official wiki summary.
"The programme centres on an English teenager named Paul who is haunted by apocalyptic dreams. He is able to see spirits of the dead, known as the Fades, all around him. The Fades cannot be seen, smelt, heard or touched by other humans – they are what is left of humans who have died but have not been accepted into the afterlife. As such, the Fades left on Earth have become embittered and vengeful toward the human race. It is shown in the first episode that the Fades have found a way to become partly human again and regain control of touch within the real world. However, they remain unseen in the world except to those special few like Paul – 'Angelics' – who have the ability to perceive the Fades. Paul finds himself pulled into a conflict between the Angelics and the Fades, trying to prevent the Fades from breaking back into the world and destroying the human race."
It aired in the UK last year and over here in the states on BBC America in January. I've had it saved on the DVR since and just never got to it until now. SO GOOD! Unbelievable that it won the BAFTA for best drama & didn't get picked up for a 2nd series. Only 6 episodes so easy to catch up on. Highly recommend even though it didn't get picked up.
August 16, 2012
Elvis Presley: The Comic Book
I was a huge Elvis fan as a kid. My mom had just about every one of his albums and I would listen to them constantly. We watched a ton of his movies too. I often emulated his dance and vocal styles. I even performed as him for one of my dance studios back in the day doing "Jailhouse Rock".
Suffice it to say, was I excited to hear about the Graphic Elvis project out just in time for the 35th anniversary of his death today. The physical copy is a tome and retails at $195 but they are offering a discount of $120 for August. Only 2500 copies printed. (Someone PLEASE BUY IT FOR ME!). They are really pushing the digital version at $9.99 with a "lite" (very limited) version for free.
Some top names in comics are involved. Stan Lee, John Cassaday, Paul Pope, Jimmy Palmiotti, Steve Rude, and more.
If you're an Elvis fan, check it out and pass the word.
August 15, 2012
Comic News Insider Episode 430 - Still Even More SDCC: Revolution/The Walking Dead Black Carpet!
Comic News Insider: Episode 430 is now available for free download! Click on the link or get it through iTunes! Sponsored by Dynamic Forces.
Reviews: Archer & Armstrong #1, Creep #0, Gambit Vol 5 #1, Hawkeye #1, It Girl & The Atomics #1
The final San Diego Comic Con interviews are in! We think...Roving reporter Melissa attended the roundtables for the upcoming show Revolution and chatted with stars Billy Burke, Giancarlo Esposito, J.D. Pardo, Tracy Spiridakos and creator Eric Kripke. She also attended the "Black Carpet" for The Walking Dead while out there covering for both CNI and Outside Comic Con (Thanks to Kim for access!) and chatted with stars Danai Gurira, Lauren Cohan, Steven Yuen, creator Robert Kirkman and ABC TV Scandal star Guillermo Diaz. The sound for the interviews isn't great but still lots of good content! Wear your forgiveness headphones and enjoy! Jimmy flies solo due to last minute cancellation from Stan Lee Jim Lee Jae Lee Jason Lee Spike Lee Lee Majors his Mom. He chats about hanging with Jonathan Ross in NYC, meeting Cyndi Lauper, and that good pal Grace Helbig is part of Kevin Pereira's leetUP tour. News includes: RIP Joe Kubert, Kelly Sue DeConnick and Stefano Caselli take over Avengers Assemble, a super crossover from DC Comics with Superman, Superboy and Supergirl, Dennis Stashwick and Dennis Calero getClandestine at SyFy and a long out of print Andrew Loomis book is back. As always, listener feedback, Top 3 and more! Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love!
Also, get a hold of us!
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Thanks for listening!
August 14, 2012
Tonight I WILL Be Miss Saigon
Back in my musical theater days here in NYC, I had many an audition and eventually worked in many shows over the years including Jesus Christ Superstar, The King and I, Hair, Godspell, West Side Story and more. My first big Broadway audition was for Miss Saigon. I was a huge fan of Les Miserables. Miss Saigon was by the same people. I really liked it and felt I was totally right for it. After all, I'm Asian for pete's sake! Over the years, I got more confident with auditions and learned my limitations. But then, I just felt like it was my destiny to get this show. I had a Miss Saigon tee-shirt that I wore for inspiration as well! Yeah, I was that nerdy about it. And I had history on my side as the original "Kim" in the show was fellow Filipino Lea Salonga!
Day of the audition came. I wore the tee-shirt underneath a nice button down shirt for luck. I sang my song and that was that. I knew right away that I wouldn't even get a callback. It just wasn't to be. My voice was nowhere near strong enough but I thought maybe I'd be considered for chorus just because I looked the part. Alas, no.
It didn't deter my love for the music and story. If you're not familiar, it's basically Madame Butterfly set during the Vietnam war. American G.I. named Chris meets Vietnamese girl named Kim and they fall in love. However, at the fall of Saigon, he gets out but she doesn't. Many very powerful moments in the show. So many great ones but one of my favorites is the song embedded below. A short duet called "Please" between Kim and John (best friend to Chris) a few years after the war. John is struggling on whether or not to tell Kim that Chris has moved on in life though he always remembered her. Meanwhile, Kim has been waiting 3 long years for her lover to come back and meet his son. Just a beautiful moment between the characters and you can really hear the hope in "Kim's" voice and desperation in "John's".
I auditioned for the role of "Thuy", ("Kim's" original betrothed), years later. And while my voice was stronger then, I still didn't get a callback. A few of my friends were cast in the Broadway production and national tour so I got to enjoy seeing them in it at least. And while I may not have been right for it, I can be Miss Saigon any day by just playing the soundtrack and singing along.
#BikiniAndSashNotIncluded
August 13, 2012
Meeting Tracie Bennett
The British actress (and Tony nominated for currently playing Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow on Broadway) Tracie Bennett popped into the bar at the end of the evening and I think she might be my new favorite person ever. I wasn’t sure who she was even when she introduced herself though I did think she seemed familiar. (I had to look up that other info about her). She was so damn funny, charming, lovely, flirty (she liked my eyes) and just super nice. We bonded over the UK and had a great time chatting. Looking forward to seeing her again in the near future. Heck, I had no desire to see the show, but after meeting her, I certainly do. Though I think it closes this week. Ah well. Maybe the gods of theater will bestow a ticket upon me for a Wednesday show as it’s my only day off this week.
If not, we’ll just have to throw back a few beers at her favorite pub when we’re in the UK together.
#ItCouldHappen
August 12, 2012
Jimmy Aquino: Poet Laureate
Old girlfriend Dionne (from when I was 20) dug this out and texted me this picture of a little poem I wrote/drew her on the back of a business card. (Yes, we're still friends after all of this time.). Apparently, I used to be a romantic and charming fucker before New York City beat it out of me. That and some crazy girlfriends. And it seems I’ve always written like a 5 year old.
Let me see if I can interpret my secret code from back then:
- I am at the tree. (In reality, I worked at a place with the word "tree" in the name.)
- Just as busy as can be. (Ooh, clever me. A Coke can for "can" and an actual bee for "be".)
- I waiting for you. (Clearly forgot the "am" here. So ashamed.)
- To take away my ? (I think it's "blues" as it's slightly blue in color but I have no idea what the symbol is of nor what I used to make that blue color. Did I stab a Smurf?)
- And make me smile and be happy. (Look at that! Smiley teeth for a smile and yet another bee for "be"!)
Get me and my "a, a, b, b, a" rhyme skills! Oh, me.
I remember doing stuff like this for her (and other girlfriends) all of the time in my younger days. I wonder if any others have my treasure trove of poetry gathering dust in an old footlocker. Some day in the future, scholars will discover these amazing works and print a collected edition entitled "Love Juice: The Complete Works of Jimmy Aquino Trying to Get Some, Getting Some and Desperately Trying to Keep Some".