Please don't kill Lord Morpheus

If DC/WB seriously ruins The Sandman, the greatest comic book of all time, I think I will vomit out of disgust.

In the early 1990's, my world was a slightly better place thanks to a very entertaining and well told story, found in the pages of DC's dark spinoff, Vertigo Comics, spawned from the creative mind of writer Neil Gaiman. Dream, his equally flawed siblings of The Endless, and the eclectic cast of supporting characters populating Lord Morpheus' gloomy, yet quirky realm, a wonderful fantasy land where I actually felt like I belonged, were a huge part of my adolescence.

Let's hope producer Joseph Gordon-Levitt doesn't cast himself as Dream. That would be a travesty, an injustice the likes of which even the Endless have never seen before.

No offense to "Dark Knight" writer David Goyer, but Neil Gaiman should be writing the screenplay, not just "executive producing".

In this matter, I agree with Sandman creator Neil Gaiman. I'd rather there be "no Sandman movie than a bad Sandman movie." Lightning only strikes once. It's hard to do justice in reproducing such a rarely brilliant piece pop culture art. That is why The Sandman film has been in limbo for over two decades, and probably should remain so.

If this project ever makes its way to the big screen, I hope I will be pleasantly surprised at the results, but if not, I will be devastated that my adolescence has been turned into a theme park.

©2014 Denim McDemus

Why Marvel is winning the movie war

Here's the big difference between Marvel movies and DC movies:

Marvel/Disney announce them, promote the heck out of them, and then release them soon after. They also promote the characters through cameo appearances, which leads to solo films, which then leads to team-ups and team films. Plus they keep the public excited about their product, by putting out several blockbuster Marvel films every year, strategically spread throughout the year, so that one is opening as another is fading out.

DC/WB announce possible films that won't even be cast for several years, and often don't ever happen, featuring characters the non-comic-reading general public isn't familiar with, without introducing the characters first, and featuring actors/actresses most people aren't yet familiar with, or who most people hate. Sure, DC has the big one-two punch. Batman and Superman will always be big draws. But other DC characters? Not without the type of visual promotion rival Marvel employs.

What do you get more excited about, possible films with sketchy release dates far in the future, featuring obscure characters and unannounced actors/actresses, or action-packed previews of soon to be released films, featuring the actual cast and a set release date?

Of course, the one problem both companies share is their habit of casting Ryan Reynolds. Stop doing that!

©2014 Denim McDemus

No Hope For Television

FOX dropped the ball again. “Raising Hope” was the best comedy on TV, and the most quirky fun I've had in a long time.

Burt and Virginia Chance (Garret Dillahunt and Martha Plimpton) were TV's best couple, and the show had the best supporting cast on TV: Gregg Binkley as Barney, Todd Giebenhain as Frank, Kate Micucci as Shelley, and of course Cloris Leachman's brilliant performance as Maw Maw.

Sure, Lucas Neff and Shannon Woodward were average at best as Jimmy and Sabrina, but the rest of the cast more than made up for it, and Burt and Virginia were the main focus of the show anyway, and rightfully so. Sure, they got away from the premise of Hope's upbringing, in favor of more quirky adventures, but that's what made the show so great. 

The show still had a lot left in the tank. It hadn't gotten stale at all. There was a lot more they could have done yet.

Once again, FOX had a great show, and once again, they failed to promote it, moved its time slot too many times, and gave up on it way too soon.

Poor Jeffrey Tambor (Virginia's father, Arnold) was on the wrong end of FOX's ineptness again (Arrested Development). Series Creator Greg Garcia once again had a quirky comedy with a loyal cult following canceled after 4 seasons (My Name Is Earl). His other current show, The Millers, just doesn't have the quirky feel of “Raising Hope” and “My Name Is Earl”. It comes off as normal TV fare, despite starring the brilliant Will Arnett.

I will miss tuning in to one of the few shows worth watching in these sad days for television. Pat yourselves on the back, America, as you corrode your brain with the mindless drivel, rehashed content, and staged reality shows which you have demanded the television landscape be littered with.

©2014 Denim McDemus

How I Met Your Mother Finale Failure

THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS:

So... I watched the HowIMetYourMother 2 part finale, and I kind of wish I hadn't. The episodes weren't funny, but also weren't nostalgic. They certainly weren't legend...wait for it...dary. They were even depressing and infuriating at times. Sure, life has sad moments. People grow apart. But this is fiction, television, entertainment, an escape, a comedy.

This should have been the episode that lasts in our memory of all that was great about the show. I was looking forward to the finale, but I was very disappointed in it. This show went out with a dud rather than a bang. (no Barney pun intended)

All along, I've been making more appropriate mock titles for the show, so here are some based on the finale (spoilers):

"How I Wasted 9 Years Searching For A Temporary Solution"

"How I Met Your Mother, But Still Ended Up With Robin"

"How I Ruined A Great Show In 2 Episodes"

"How To Build Up To A Brief Footnote In Ted's Life"

"How To Spend Your Life Searching For Miss Right, and Still End Up With Miss Wrong"

"How To Abandon The Show's Premise After 9 Seasons"

"How To Untie Loose Ends"

"How To Punish Barney For Finally Settling Down"

"How To Alienate Your Fan Base"

"How To Make Your Kids Uncomfortable For 9 Years"

"How To Disrespect Your Late Wife's Memory"

"How I Never Loved Your Mother"

"How Your Mother Wasn't Robin"

"How I Gave Robin Yet Another Chance To Use Me"

"How Bad Was That Finale"

Maybe you liked it? Maybe you're glad Barney and Robin got divorced? Maybe you're glad Ted and Robin MAY HAVE gotten back together? Maybe you're ok with the show spending 9 seasons leading up to Ted meeting "The Mother", and then have her killed off a few minutes later (in real time, not the in show timeline)? Maybe you're ok with Ted finally finding and marrying the perfect woman for him, but ending up with someone who has been proven to be wrong for time many times? Maybe you're ok with Barney losing the only woman he ever truly loved, and that incident pulling the gang apart? Maybe you enjoyed the "How I Met Your Mother" finale, but I did not.

©2014 Denim McDemus