As the inevitable evils of Christmas approach, work has started to stock pop-culture calendars for 2009. One of which is the ‘Simpsons Fun Calendar’. This has led me to wonder why it needs to be described as a ‘fun’ calendar, and whether there is indeed an ‘un-fun’ calendar.
Well, just for you lucky people, for November 2008, there is:
…and with internet. Last time I posted, I was getting ready to move, so I set up a torrent, and left it running, coming back to internet access for emails only. Then, at the new flat, no internet for a while, and recently, I’ve just been busy playing shiny games. It’s a hard life.
I’m worried that, in the future, any kids I have will outshadow my current (pretty high) grasp of technology, so that when I’m a parent, I won’t be able to set up the Holo-Recorder, or switch on my Rocket Boots to get to Space-Work. I could avoid this by not having any kids, but then I’d have a Holo-Recorder, and not know how to use it.
I noticed that there doesn’t appear to be any sort of helpful reading guide for going through Titan Books’ reprints of the Generation 1 Transformers comics, from Marvel and Marvel UK, in chronological order. So, I’ve done my best to compile a list of my own.
I’ve broken the list down into issue-runs which form a story-arc, and named the graphic novel in which they can be found in brackets. Once you reach US #56, Simon Furman from Marvel UK takes over the writing of both sets of comics, and so the run is easier to follow, by simply reading the US collections from there.
There are also some black+white reprints of later UK comics Titan Books did, but I’ve never tracked those down, hence why they don’t appear on the list. If I do, I’ll see where they fit in, and add them where appropriate.
Transformers US #1-6 (Beginnings)
Transformers US #7-12 (New Order)
Transformers UK #45-50 (Dinobot Hunt)
Transformers US #13-16 (Cybertron Redux)
Transformers UK #59-65 (Second Generation)
Transformers US #17-18 (Cybertron Redux)
Transformers US #19-20 (Showdown)
Transformers UK #74-77 (Dinobot Hunt)
Transformers UK #78-88 (Target: 2006)
Transformers US #21-22 (Showdown)
Transformers UK #93 (Second Generation)
Transformers US #23 (Showdown)
Transformers UK #96-100 (Prey)
Transformers UK #101-102 (Fallen Angel)
Transformers UK #103-104 (Prey)
Transformers US #24 (Showdown)
Transformers US #25-27 (Breakdown)
Transformers UK #113-120, Annual (Fallen Angel)
Transformers US #28-30 (Breakdown)
Transformers US #31 (Treason)
Transformers UK #130-131 (Time Wars)
Headmasters #1-4 (Trial By Fire)
Transformers UK #132 (City of Fear)
Transformers UK #133-134 (Legacy of Unicron))
Transformers UK #135-136 (Prey)
Transformers UK #137-138 (Legacy of Unicron)
Transformers US #32 (Treason)
Transformers US #35-36 (Treason)
Transfomers UK #145 (Second Generation)
Transformers UK #146-153 (Legacy of Unicron)
Transformers US #37 (Treason)
Transformers US #38-39 (Trial By Fire)
Transformers UK #160-161 (Space Pirates)
Transformers US #40 (Maximum Force)
Transformers UK #164-171 (City of Fear)
Transformers UK #172-173 (Space Pirates)
Transformers US #41-42, 44 (Maximum Force)
Transformers UK #182-187 (Space Pirates)
Transformers UK #188 (City of Fear)
Transformers UK #189 (Time Wars)
Transformers US #45 (Maximum Force)
Transformers US #46-48 (Dark Star)
Transformers UK #198 (Second Generation)
Transformers UK #199-205 (Time Wars)
Transformers US #49-50 (Dark Star)
Transformers US #51-55 (Last Stand)
Transformers US #56-62 (Primal Scream)
Transformers US #63-68 (Matrix Quest)
Transformers US #69-74 (All Fall Down)
Transformers US #75-80 (End Of The Road)
So, in the past few days, with birthday celebrations and such, I’ve finally seen three movies I’ve been meaning to see for a while now, some more recently than others.
Futurama: Bender’s Big Score
After the announcement of more new Futurama a small while back, I was looking forward to this with glee. Then, it arrived, and suddenly the experience of The Simpsons Movie came flooding back. Make no mistake, Bender’s Big Score is simply one extended episode, with the gaps between jokes also extended. It’s still funny in parts, but even Dr Zoidberg falling for a Nigerian scam email fails to save this from being a disappointment. Thankfully, the second release, Beast With a Billion Backs, is a much better affair, but I’ll leave that for another time.
Stardust
In tenuous link mode, I saw the trailer for this when I went to see the aforementioned Simpsons movie at the cinema, and knew I had to see this movie, as it seemed to echo the fantasy greats of the 1980’s, such as The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Adventures of Baron Munchausen and The Princess Bride. Unfortunately, due to time and money constraints, I never managed to see it at the cinema, and recently picked it up on DVD.
I’m glad that I did (under the advice of my best friend Eilidh), as it’s without a doubt one of the best fantasy films I’ve ever seen. The characters are charming and charismatic, the backdrops are breathtaking, and the story is a classic fairy-tale, unmarred by modern sensibilities. Aside from one slightly deus ex machina part towards the end, I couldn’t find a single fault with this film, and even then, being a fairy-tale, I think I can forgive some previously-unexplained magic saving the day.
The Birds
A Hitchcock classic, but one that I hadn’t actually seen up until tonight. Even though the effects obviously look a little dated nowadays, it’s quite surprising how tense the film still manages to be. The claustrophobic nature of the small town works perfectly, and as I somehow have never had the ending spoilt for me, I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout, wondering how things were going to pan out. The film starts out my planned run-through of a collection of Hitchcock films, due to HMV having a generous boxset of about 12 films going for £25. (Plus i picked up North by North-West separately at the same time.)
So, that’s three catch-ups there, and hopefully I’ll be returning to my usual Music Mondays and Good Gaming Fridays soon enough. The VS System related stuff is going to remain laying low until I manage to buy some new cards, and get back into being able to actually play it.
Until next time, toodle-pip.
Been away for a bit, as it was exam season/lots of work/travelling/lack of money for VS. System stock. Now I’m back, with a random aside stemming from my Ars Magica roleplay group. Whilst discussing some movies, I mentioned that I hadn’t seen Fight Club, but had seen enough clips, and heard enough from people that I could piece together the plot.
So, here’s my attempt to have a semi-coherent script for Fight Club:
Fight Club: A Movie Starring, and Possibly Written, Produced and Directed by Brad Pitt.
ACT 1: A Suburban Home, With One Of Those Odd Kitchens Where The Floor Level is Lower Than The Rest of The House.
-> It’s morning, and a man in a generic shirt and tie walks in on his wife in the kitchen.
Bruce Banner: Hi honey, did you sleep well? I can’t stay for long, I’m late for work after our perfect marital sex overran by exactly 17 minutes and 27 seconds.
Corpse Bride: That’s okay perfect husband. How’s your head, I know you’ve had trouble sleeping lately, which I’ve heard can really effect your ability to sell cars at your incredibly frustrating job.
Bruce Banner: I’ll be okay, just so long as silly customers and arrogant workmates DON’T MAKE ME ANGRY I should be fine, and not suffer any sort of mental illness whatsoever. Or random monster-transformations.
Bruce drives to work, and gets into a stressful situation in a traffic jam, causing him to reach for a prescription capsule in the glove compartment, where there’s also a gun/knife/knuckle-duster.
Bruce Banner: Damn it, I’ve run out of my pills for my headaches and sleeping problems. This might be a problem in the forseeable future. TO THE DOCTOR’S SURGERY!
ACT 2: The Doctor’s Surgery
As Bruce walks in, he starts looking at the various sick people, and tries to keep away from them. He eventually gets to his doctor.
Doctor Strange: I’m sorry Bruce, due to budget cuts from our incredibly stressful government, I can’t prescribe you any of your medicine. I sure hope this won’t cause you to go crazy or anything.
Bruce Banner: I’m sure it’ll be absolutely fine Doc, don’t worry about it.
Cue a montage of his day at work being incredibly bad, including spilt coffee down his shirt, being hit by a car in the car lot, and being told he’s getting a paycut.
Bruce Banner: Noooooooooooooooooo!
Bruce ends up in a generic seedy-looking bar. Brad Pitt sits down next to him.
Brad Pitt: Wellitlookslikeyou’rehavingabaddaytherebuddy. CanIbuyyouadrinklike?
Bruce Banner: Sure, whatever. Get me the moddiest drink in the bar.
Brad Pitt: Itellyouwhat, Iknowagreatwaytorelievestress. Finishyourdrinklikeandfollowme.
Bruce finishes his Bailey’s, and follows Brad Pitt down a dark alley, to a clangy metal door. Brad Pitt knocks on the door to the tune of a nursery rhyme. It’s opened by a gruff man, and Bard & Bruce enter an abandoned store-room with a judo mat on the floor.
Brad Pitt: ThisistheFightClublike. There’stwentysevenandahalfrulesforFightClub, thefirstisthatyoudon’ttalkaboutFightClub. Becauseofrulenumberone, nobodyknowswhattheothersixteenandahalfrules are. Sowealljustquotethefirstrule,andhopeitcatchesonwithcultsocietylike.
Brad Pitt then challenges a random guy from the assorted crowd to a fight. It happens to be loveable rocker Meatloaf.
Meatloaf: I’m gonna pound you like a bat out of hell Brad!
Brad Pitt: Bringit.
Brad performs a Hadoken, and sends Meatloaf through a wall. There’s a stunned silence as Brad walks over to Meatloaf. He then grab’s Meatloaf’s hand, picks him up, and everyone cheers.
ACT 3: MONTAGE OF DOOM
Bruce begins fighting regularly at the club, and arriving home late, to the frustration of his wife. Eventually, Brad takes Bruce aside for a private chat.
Brad Pitt: NowBrucemyfriend, we’vegotaspecialprojectgoingon, butweneedsomefunds. Iwantyoutohelpmeraisesomefunds, forthisspecialprojectIcan’ttellyouaboutjustyet.
Brad takes Bruce outside a factory.
Brad Pitt: Nowthen, we’regoingtomakesoaplike, butwe’lldoitonthecheap. Now, grabtheserandomsacksofhumanfatfromthedumpster, andwe’llgobacktoyours.
Cue Brad and Bruce making human-fat soap in Bruce’s bath-tub whilst his wife is out. She returns to find approximately one million bars of soap in her house, and starts arguing with Bruce.
Brad Pitt: Nowthen, Bruce, letmehandlethislike, IthinkIcansettlethingsout, andexplainwhat’sgoingontoyourwife, youjustgooutsideandcooldownabitlike.
Bruce goes outside and into his car. Brad comes out a few minutes later, and dumps the soap in the back of the car. They then drive to Fight Club, where they give the soap to a gruff man, who then proceeds to sell human-fat soap at wherever it is you can actually sell human-fat soap.
Bruce Banner: So, what do we do with the money? We going to party it up, or put up some drapes in the Fight Club?
Brad Pitt: Now, that’sjustsillymate. We’regoingtoblowupaloadofbuildingwithbombs. Allpaidforwiththesoapyoumade, and completelytraceablebacktoyourhouse. Let’sgo.
ACT 4: Skyscraper Building Car-Park
Bruce Banner: I don’t know if I want to do this. Isn’t blowing up buildings a bad thing? Plus, I don’t want to get my perfect wife involved.
Brad Pitt: Nowthen, don’tworryaboutthat. Ikilledherwhilstyouwereinthecar, soshecan’tpossiblybeaproblem.
Bruce Banner: Noooooooooooooo!
Bruce then turns into the Incredible Hulk, and has a fight with Brad Pitt. The view switches to the security camera in the car-park, and it shows Bruce fighting with himself. Brad Pitt wins the fight, and leaves Bruce in the car-park, proceeding to blow up the building.
ACT 5: Epilogue
A series of flashbacks reveal that Brad Pitt was in fact not real, and was an extension of Bruce Banner’s personality, brought about by his lack of medication. As he became more stressed, ‘Brad’ became more violent in his stress relief, resulting in Bruce killing his perfect wife, and being the one who sets up the blowing-up of the buildings.
The film then ends on this ‘cliffhanger’, with some cheesy rock music.
I thought I’d put up a message a few days ago, but apparently not. It’s exam-season for me right now, so I’m concentrating on revision, which means I don’t have much free time at the moment. Plus, when I do, I want to spend it away from my room where I’ve been cooped up reading all day, rather than on the PC.
My last exam’s on the 15th, so hopefully should be back to normal after that.
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