Had a chance to watch a couple superhero movies over the weekend, including Kick-Ass 2 and Super, both of which provide some (if not ample) fodder for one of my game designs. You may not have heard of Super (I hadn't)...it's a Rainn Wilson vehicle and quite dark in its comedy. It's good (left an impression...I was thinking about it for a while after), if a little derivative. And not just derivative in the standard "vigilante film" way. A lot of people might draw comparisons between Super and, say, Kick-Ass or (more appropriately) Taxi Driver. However, I think the main inspiration for the film comes from Tarantino's violent "fairy tale" feature, True Romance. Nearly every element of the film, along with the whimsical fairy tale tone/plot has a direct correlation with the earlier film, though characters and plot elements are mixed in a different fashion (unlike the way, say, White House Down is nearly the exact same film as Die Hard). Despite the derivative elements, it IS it's own movie, and a good entry into the genre...if a bit of a dark and weird one.
The other film thing I wanted to mention is I got an email from Spencer Estabrooks, maker of the (clearly) D&D-inspired web series One Hit Die. Appears they've managed to put together enough scratch to fund a second season of ten episodes (the first season consisted of a four season prologue and a two-part Crushmas Special). Honestly, I'd forgotten all about the OHD folks, I'm afraid...lots on my mind the last two years...and I was very happy to be reminded of their presence. The dramatic arts (acting, writing, directing, costuming, designing, etc.) is, in many ways, its own reward...which is a good thing, because it seldom pays enough to allow folks to use it as their sole income. That the OHD people are able to generate enough support to continue a sustained creative effort like this is a testament to their will, talent, and work ethic.
 |
| They're back...and the gaming table's bigger. |
"She's not in this quest, but she's still alive in the realm. :)"So perhaps she'll be returning in a future show. Oh, yeah...here's the link to the Season 2 preview. Perhaps whoever's doing the new D&D movie (now that their legal wranglings are over) would do well to check out the OHD folks and not take the thing so seriously (to its own disadvantage). I'm not saying that such a film needs to be made in the OHD "mockumentary" style. Maybe something along the same tone as Ice Pirates, though. Just a thought.
[um...reminds me I still need to get my hands on a copy of Dark Dungeons]
Okay...children asre crying and screaming so it's nap time for everyone. Later.
Assuming you're talking about Dark Dungeons the RC retroclone (and not its namesake, which could probably be found in any 'religious' bookstore, even in Paraguay), I'd say good choice. I read through it a few years back, and loved everything about it except the adoption of individual initiative as the only initiative procedure. The paperback was a steal, too.
ReplyDelete@ Fuzzy:
DeleteNope. I'm talking about the movie based on the infamous Chick tract. Here's the link (should have put this in the post):
http://www.darkdungeonsthemovie.com
You may not realize this, JB, but I edited the script on One Hit Die. I was also the technical advisor. You can find my name in the credits.
ReplyDelete@ Alexis:
DeleteI remember you were an advisor on the first season, and I know they're up in your neck of the woods. Are you still working with them?
Since winning the Telus prize for best independent film last year, Spencer is increasingly hard to pin down. It was a huge moment for him, gave him funding he didn't have the first time around and he's rubbing shoulders with great talent nowadays. I'm really happy for him. I can get him on the phone if I want, but I'd rather not get in his way - and if he ever wants me for something, he won't hesitate to call.
DeleteThing is, when an artist hits that mark, suddenly there is way more to do than time to do it, and most everyone ends up being put on a shelf unless they have a specific skill that's desperately needed. I saw the second season, saw the direction that Spencer chose to go and felt confident he's got someone else to do for him what I did in the first season. Good for him! I'm busy with my own shit anyway. :)
I really enjoyed Super. Hilarious in parts. Tough ending, but I like films and books that subvert predictable narratives.
ReplyDeleteI rather liked everything about the ending; much of the film itself (up until the end) was "tough" to watch.
DeleteFunny how that almost exactly echoes my feelings on Sunday's Bears-Seahawks game. Liked the ending (and the final score), but that first half...VERY "tough to watch."
; )