And time goes marching on

I applied for a job I saw posted on the web today. I don't know if I have a chance but they asked for examples of web design work. I used this site since it's the only thing I really keep updated, (and want to mention.) The job would be great so here's hoping I at least hear something back.

The show Tuesday night was great. The big draw for almost everyone but me was that Hulk Hogan would be there. Everybody from the local media to the fans couldn't wait to see him. Now while it would be cool to see him since he was basically the first wrestler I knew growing up, I don't think much of his skills. I mean, my grandmother could do a better leg drop. But in the end it was a moot point. He was a no show. Some family thing or whatever. Oh well.

I had been thinking my March break wasn't for another week but it's next week. It used to be that I would daydream about having a week off work and do nothing but relax. now that I haven't been working in five weeks (five weeks!) it's nothing but a stressful feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Shaa well. - asmyth82 3:55 PM -

Goddamned Mother Canucker

I felt it was time for an update.

Nothing but work of the unpaying kind. I'm looking into some part time graphic design work that I've noticed posted. It'd be nice to be able to put this edumacation thing into effect and get my money's worth out of it.

My march break is next week and normally I would think that a week of nothing to do would be fantastic. But after being unemployeed for the last month and a bit, (the first time in eight years, I might add,) I'm feeling stressed out and useless. Which is odd since I won't be midlife crisis age for another 20 years.

I've been told the Matrix sequels have already leaked onto the internet. Of course I wouldn't try and find them. That would be wrong. That sounded sincere, right?

Schmackitydown is tonight. Yipee! *Note: That is the only time you'll hear me say "yipee!"*

Daaaamn right - asmyth82 2:06 PM -

Here comes Daredevil: The Review

Instead of waiting for Saturday to see the movie, (I'm impatient and found out I could make a few bucks this weekend,) I saw it today. I thought about how to organize this review, but first, a few things:

1) I have never seen a movie based on a comic book that I have liked 100%. There was the crappy Lex Luthor in the Superman movies, (a tacky base in the subway and an oafish henchman, riiight.) There was Batman, (his vehicles had guns for Christ sake! Motherfucking guns! Batman doesn't use guns. That and he drops bombs in a factory thus blowing it, and presumably the henchmen who were shooting at the batmobile, up.) There was Spider-man, (organic web shooters my ass. And the goblin, as good as Dafoe was, the mask sucked.) Blade, (the vampires were eurotrash and Whistler...yeech.) X-men, (It couldn't have been raining on the Statue of Liberty? Anna Paquin in a wet shirt? It worked for Kirsten Dunst.)

2) 'll try to keep spoilers to a minimum, but don't be surprised if a few pop up.

3) I may go into some character history, not only to hear myself talk, but to try and help fill people in who are sitting here thinking "What the fuck is going on?"

Now to start:

I decided to do this by character to start.

Daredevil
Daredevil is Matt Murdock. Lawyer by day, Justice seeker by night. Blinded by a childhood accident, he lost his sight but his other four senses were heightened to super human levels. He fights crime and protects those of Hell's Kitchen.
Affleck, as much as I don't really like him, was always my first choice for Matt Murdock. He has the look and basically like Patrick Stewart as Proffessor X, he is the role.

Elektra
Elektra Natchios was the daughter of a rich diplomat in the comics. She met Matt in college and they became lovers. Her life was turned upside down during a hostage taking gone wrong when her father was murdered accidentally by the police. She disappeared and was trained in the martial arts by a ninja clan called the Hand. She returned into Matt's life as an assassin for the Kingpin. She died fighting Bullseye, impaled on her own sai, for the right to be the Kingpin's top assassin. SHe was later brought back to life, yadda, yadda, yadda.
Jennifer Garner is as white as Wonderbread, but she's believeable in the role. She may not be Greek, but hey, she's good.

Bullseye
A killer with perfect aim, seeing Bullseye miss is like seeing rocks fall up, it doesn't happen. Kingpin's assassin, Bullseye killed Elektra in a fight using her own sai. Daredevil tracked him down and during the fight, let Bullseye fall. Instead of dying, Bullseye's back was broken. It has since been replaced with an adamantium spine. He continues causing havok for Matt, and has also killed Karen Page, another of Matt's loves, (think Gwen Stacey to Matt's Spider-man. Oh, that happened in the Guardian Devil storyline by Kevin Smith, in case you were interested.)
I have always thought that no matter how much they want to "update" the look, the bullseye scar is just stupid. I can understand not putting Hugh Jackman in yellow spandex, but as Bullseye even says in the movie: "I need a friggin' costume." Farrell also nails the role, by the way. Another excellent choice. He fits as a villian as Nicholson did as Joker. If only he'd stop touching the scar everytime he threw something. It'll never heal if you keep picking at it.

Kingpin
The Kingpin of Crime, Wilson Fisk, ran every aspect of crime in New York. He was a large, fat man, but that only hid the fact he was insanely strong and quite quick. Not only did he have strength, he also had the brains to back it up. He's tried to destroy Daredevil in the past by destroying Matt's life. Recently, he's been betrayed by members of his organization and blinded then killed. That chain of events has also led to Matt's identity coming out to the public. But I digress.
First off, Michael Clarke Duncan isn't fat, nor white, but he makes a pretty good Kingpin. The first time he showed up on screen you expect him to strut he's got so much style. I'll get back to this in a bit.

Foggy
Matt's best friend. Foggy has been with Matt since basically forever. They have a law practice together of whom some clients are the superheros of the Marvel universe, such as the Fantastic Four. A kind hearted guy, but kind of a schmuck.
Hell, this character, like the others was nailed perfectly.

Ben Urich
Another of Daredevil's friends and allies. Urich has known Matt's identity for years, but keeps a lid on the story that could make a career. Urich is one who trys to help the little people, a person always looking for the truth and the good. He has helped squelch Daredevil's identity from coming out in the past.
Cypher can do a good guy. I never gave much thought to a secondary character like Urich, at least not to how he would translate to the screen.

Now to the main review. (I'll try to keep the comic nerdishness to a minimum here. I kind of failed above.)

First off, this movie is darker than Spider-man. And it works. The opening shots of Daredevil almost seemed to be ripped out of comic pages. Did you like the opening narrative in Spider-man? I hope so, because they do the same thing here. They kind of rush through the back story, skipping over Stick and how Matt trained. He goes from freaked out by his new senses one minute, to flipping around and kicking the crap out of the neighbourhood bullies the next.

DD's senses are nicely shown. The radar sense is really visually cool. The "built-in lie detector" ability of his hearing is obvious. You don't need to know anything about the character to figure out he can tell whena heart skips a beat, a giveaway someone is lying.

When he first suits up is cool enough to see his costume and weapons, but did you like the shots of Batman suiting up? I said to myself if they show a shot of DD's ass or codpiece or if the suit had nipples, I was walking out. Thankfully they didn't.

Watching DD leap around was kind of annoying. It looke dlike the visual effects people thought they were working on Spider-man. I can understand they don't need to be completely realistic, but watching DD land a 15 storey drop without so much as a pause was just ridiculous. Also watching him leap 40 feet was completely unbelieveable, as was jumping 10 feet straight up from a normal standing position. He has supersenses, not any type of superstrangth or spider powers.

I could, (and basically did,) forgive those events of defying gravity and physics, since it is afterall, a superhero movie but they try to bring it back into reality by showing all th scars DD has amassed during his fights. He pulls out a tooth that was loosened during a fight. He has a cabinet full of pain killers. He likes casual sex, which is nice to see in a superhero, that they aren't all save the day, go to work, sleep. Though I wonder how he explained all the scars. "I learned quickly a knife store wasn't the best place for a blind kid to work."

DD also does a really poor job of keeping his identity a secret. His mask is taken off at least three times during the movie. Also one of his billy clubs is examined by the police, and they find that the grappling hook/billy club changes. Once the grapples are closed and then the devil symbol is twisted around, the billy club turns into a blind man's cane. Great idea for the hero who needs to change quickly, but jeez, you'd think he'd try to be a little more careful.

Have I mentioned how I hate Bullseye's forehead scar? Seeing him is cool and as soon as you see something in his hands, you know someone's going to die. He kills using a paper clip, a peanut, pencils shuriken, DD's billy club, playing cards. Anything he touches is a weapon. That's why it's annoying at one point when he throws all his shuriken and panics he doesn't have anything else. The guy could kill you with pocket lint. Seeing him panic slightly because he has no weapon at hand is stupid. Plus when he does the whole Bond villian, explain the plot and reveal the other villian talk is also stupid.

Have you seen the trailers or shots showing Elektra twirling her sais while wearing her leather outfit? Unfortunately, that is only a scant few minutes in the movie. She fights DD for about 5 minutes, then fights Bullseye for a couple more, is then stabbed and "dies." Thanks for coming out.

DD also takes a sai through the upper left torso, above the heart, near the arm. About the same place a major artery should be. And while he's "dying" and too hurt to help save Elektra, as soon as the police show up, he takes off, to go and "die" in a Church only to have Bullseye show up to finish the fight. Of course after all the physical exertion to get to the church and lying on the ground has healed the wound because he's able to get to his feet to fight.

After the fight with Bullseye would have been a good place to end the movie, leaving the battle with Kingpin for the next movie. But of course they have to fit it in and it's pathetic in my opinion. Of course Kingpin unmasks Daredevil, which ruins the revelation for the next movie. Matt, you would have loved it. It could have followed the comics. Matt falls for Karen Page, reveals his identity, she then becomes a drug addled pornstar and sells Matt's identity to the Kingpin for her next hit. It could have gotten a Role Model Oscar nod.

Did you like the part in Batman Returns where Bruce sees a womans shadow in an alley and runs after it thinking it's Selina but only finds a cat? Plus you see the back of her head when the bat symbol appears in the sky. Sort of similar thing here, except it's not "we'd do this subtlely but you're all stupid so we'll actually show you Catwoman" like in Batman Returns.

The cameos and name drops are fantastic for hardcore fans. There's the Stan Lee appearance. And it's not as short as the blink-and-you've-missed-it cameo in Spider-man. Jack Murdock fights Joe Quesada, other fighters are Miller, Mack, Bendis. All of it gave me a chuckle. The coroner, played by Kevin Smith is named Kirby. Completely just stuff for the comic fans, which is nice.

Overall, despite my complaints, it's one hell of a movie. I'd say it's about as good as Spider-man and I liked that movie a hell of a lot.

I'd give Daredevil 4 out of 5 stars.

I've also noticed I've mentioned Anna Paquin, Kirsten Dunst and Jennifer Garner. If I toss in the words nude and pics, that's sure to cause a major increase in site hits for me.

Whatever helps - asmyth82 11:01 PM -

Here comes Daredevil
Since the movie opens tomorrow, the mood hit me.



The man without fear - asmyth82 1:40 PM -

Scheduling is fun!

Oh what an upcoming many days it shall be! First off, I have a birthday party to go to. Those are always fun. As a child you got boodle bags or whatever you called them. The older you get however, candy becomes booze. There's a trick Jesus should've done. Or maybe fish and bread into candy and booze, since he already did the booze trick. Come to think of it, Jesus would be fun to have at any party.

Then the next week is just one big wrestle-a-thon. Not wrestle a thong. My buddy's newest roommate is part of a wrestling league who do shows for community centres and whatnot. So my friend, being the huge wrestling nerd he is, was completely down with that. Of course he needs a manager so I get to go to. So I get to go act like an asshole. Basically I get to act like I normally do except now in front of an audience.

Then that Sunday the pay-per-view is on, which is just another excuse to get hammered. Then Tuesday we got tickets for Smackdown! at our new arena. So that means getting wasted while there in person and then tuning in to see if I can see my drunken self on TV.

I spent the past weekend busy as well in case anyone cares, and I know you do because I tell you to. I sepnt Saturday and Sunday working in a printing company getting paid to, are you ready for this? Cutting and placing tape on covers of books yet to be bound. And I don't mean cut the tape then place it. I mean cutting the tape was one job and placing it on the pages was a seperate job. It did blister my fingers which the tape then ripped off. That isn't comfortable, just to let you know.

Saturday night was also the stag and doe for a guy from class. Amazingly fun with drinking and dancing and whatever else. I also learned that I can't say no to a beautiful woman in a low cut top. Is anybody shocked that a guy would say that? No, didn't think so. I'd ask for a show of hands but I already know how many guys would say the same.

On a non party note, we got our new kitten on the weekend. His colour has changed so now he looks like one of those tiny breeds of dogs, (I can't remember what they're called,) a raccoon and an arctic fox. He's also a big suck and hates to be ignored. Try cooking at a stove when all of a sudden tiny, sharp needles dig into the back of your leg. Fun. He's alos a complete lap cat. And, something I find completely odd in a cat, he fetches. It's a twilight zone moment when you can sit down and play fetch with a cat.

Oh how busy I am - asmyth82 9:43 PM -

Oops, somebody switched the Amazon website for the Sharper Image's

Available only at Amazon.com! The Segway Human Transporter! Buy your now for a piddly amount of $4950! Preorders are being accepted now for a nonrefundable $495 deposit. Deliveries start on a first come, first serve basis starting March 1 with all units being shipped by July 31! Too bad they are only being shipped in the US. I'm sure a Segway in A cold, slushy Canadian March would be fantastic. Darn, they're only allowing two per customer. I wanted at least four.

A $99 dollar shipping charge to everywhere except Hawaii and Alaska. Hang on, Alaska? Who the hell would buy one in Alaska? Come to think of it, who would buy one to begin with? It's a god damned scooter.

And useless in wintery climates to boot. - asmyth82 10:22 PM -

"Three Little Words" my ass!

Just read Jake's post with the "three little words." Having worked that kind of job, though calling customers, not just picking names out of the phone book, three little words does not work. The call would go something like: "Hello?" No answer. Call back tomorrow.

We had to call everyone we didn't talk to back. I'm sorry, did I call you at dinner? Well since not everyone eats at the same time, that happens. I heard "we're eating right now," at 4 pm, 5 pm, 6 and 7 pm. I would apologize and make sure that having to call back, I did so at a different time. Now if someone was busy, I'd ask if there was a better tiem to call. If someone's repsonse to answering the phone was "fuck you," then I'd call them back the next day, at a bad time. I'd try to call at dinner or late. Fuck me? OK sir, but I'll keep calling.

Did you pick up the phone and there was no answer? sure, it could be the computer figuring out the best time to call, or in the case of my job, there was a delay on the line. Sometimes too many numbers would be dialed and there would be a brief delay. Upset? Well I'm sorry I wasted 7 seconds of your precious time, but unfortunately there's nothing I could do about it. Still no one there? Hang up then. You know the movement, the one where you put the phone back in the cradle.

The best way to get rid of a telelmarketer? Listen to them. It only takes a minute or two. Tell them you're in a rush, but if they hurry you have time and most double time it through their schpeil. Then tell them no thanks and be done with it. If the caller is really persistent it may take a few "no thanks." If you're really that bothered, tell them to take you off their list. But do it nicely, is it too much to ask?

Remember, telemarketers aren't calling you because they want to. They do it because they have to. They really don't want to bother you at dinner. Don't want to pick up the phone at all during dinner? Turn off the ringer.

Can you tell I'm pissed off today? - asmyth82 11:58 AM -

P.S means da postscript, (damn postscript)

I forgot to mention and didn't bother to edit in, that we're looking for a name for the new lil' guy. If you have any ideas, click the comment button or drop a line to names(a)combustionmonkey.com

The (a) stands for @, duh. - asmyth82 11:02 PM -

Just a designy kind of weekend

Well I spent the weekend either stuck in the computer lab at school or here at home. Saturday I went in early and spent the entire late morning/afternoon in front of a mac creating eps files and quark documents. I finished half an hour before they closed the lab so I go to print out seperations and a file report and the printer won't work. Paper jam. I fix it yet the printer still thinks there's a jam and it won't respond. So screw it I'll do it Sunday or Monday. The only reason I don't want to do it Monday was because if there's a problem with the seperations or the fonts screw up, (stupid postscript,) it'll mean a rush to fix it. unfortunately I spent today creating wedding invitations for some friends of the family. I had gotten the impression that it would be an hour tops. But as these things usually end up, seven or eight hours later and I'm still working away. Close cropping images, changing everything from RGB to CMYK after getting it all done and placed and incorperated before realizing it, changing the text to outlines after getting it perfect then being told a change was needed. Sigh. Yet I didn't mind all the work. Maybe I should get my head examined for not being bored by the tedium. It's kind of a zen thing I guess.

I also need to drop my Illustrator project at the printer's so I can hand it in on Thursday. It's gonna cost a bit, which every project is seeming to these days. Did they all get together and say "He doesn't have an income at the moment, let's make him spend more money to pass."

In other, non work of any kind news, we're getting a new cat. And by we I mean me. I didn't mean we as in me and everyone reading this. You can't come over and play with it, but if you want to clean the litter that'd be fine by me. It's seven weeks old so it's not ready to go yet. And while I haven't seen it, I've been told it looks an awful lot like this:



Cute, eh? - asmyth82 10:56 PM -