It can be truly said, that I have a bat in my belfry...

Day 2 and a late one at that. For this post, I have decided to compare the performances of the Joker given to us by Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, and Mark Hamill (I honestly give little thought to the late great Caesar Romero...). Each actor has given us his own unique spin on the Clown Prince of Crime and each has seemed fresh and has been a delight to watch, time and time again. Seeing each on the screen, big or small, causes us to watch the film (or tv series as the case may be...) over and over...

First up, good old Jack Nicholson from the 1989 Batman film. Mr. Nicholson started the role as a on-the-edge gangster and became the Joker after a toxic accident involving the Dark Knight (very close to the Joker's actual origin...). In this version, a younger pre-Joker killed Batman's parents, in effect causing him to become the Joker X-ty years later (not exactly meshing with the books, but I'll take it. Jack plays the Joker closer to the Silver Age version of the comic character (with a bit of the sinister borrowed from the Bronze Age...) what with the outlandish get-ups, the sadistic joke props, and the lethally playful nature his exhibits when destroying the world around him. His every delight is to make the world around him as mad and terrifying as he is and will sacrifice everything, from objects of his affections to his henchmen to the entire populace of Gotham itself, to reach this end. He's obsessive, psychotic, deranged, and suitably warped and I love it. Jack Nicholson, while not a suprising choice for the role (he DOES do crazy well...), was a more than appropriate choice for the role and it's a large reason I keep this film near the top of my favorite lists. If only they hadn't killed him at the end of the movie (DAMN YOU AND THE PRECEDENT YOU SET, TIM BURTON!)...

Now for the oddly wonderful performance by Mark Hamill in the 90's animated Batman series, as well as the occasional cameo in film and video games. Of all the actors to take on the role, Mark has done it the longest and in more things than anyone else. To be honest, I didn't learn that the Joker was Luke Skywalker until the animated series was on the decline and I caught his credit in Mask of the Phantasm (it's a pretty damn good movie, animated or not...). Up until this point, I always wondered what Mark managed to do after Star Wars and I'm glad it ended up being something that comes close to the pop culture appeal of Skywalker. Mark added something to the Joker that both Nicholson and Romero were missing (to one degree or another...): that large dash of anarchist crazy the Joker should always have. Sure, he had more of the gimmicks of previous incarnations, but he was just as happy blowing up buildings for no reason than following some plan. And that ever changing laugh! Jack was good but he was no Mark Hamill in this department. Further, each time they ask Mark to do the Joker in a video game, it's always a delight to hear that voice again (it's a generational thing...). If I could get one voice down pat, it'd be Mark's Joker (Lord knows I've tried...).

Last (but certainly not least...) is the late Heath Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight. I'll admit it (even if you won't..) that I was nervous when I heard that the dude from Roar and A Knight's Tale was going to be The Joker. No way that was going to work out good for anyone. We were all wrong. Ledger turned Joker from the Clown Prince of Crime to a serial force of anarchy whose only goal is to destroy. He managed to channel pieces of past Joker performances (Jack's affinity for gangsters and chemicals, Mark's ever changing laugh, some of the gaudiness of Romero...) and keep the role fresh and new. Despite Heath's passing, it is this role that kept (and still keeps..) the audience coming back for more. Watching the Joker just bring Gotham down around Batman's ears is beyond a delight. Like any good Batman media piece, the villain (in the end...) is always more interesting and fun than the hero himself. Me, I was sold after the 'magic trick' (That Was AWESOME...) on the fact that this was going to be one hell of a ride, all the way to the end. My hat's off to Mr. Ledger and it's a shame that he passed before we could see more of what he could do with the Joker...

So who wins? Who takes the cake with the poison Joker gas inside? It's a tough one objectively; each actor gave something to the role that each other could not give. Do I stick with the older, crazed gangster clown who 'created' The Batman? Or should it be the animated criminal with the higher body count than his other cartoon brethren? Perhaps it should be the mutilated chaos bringer with a knack for bombs? As I write this, the Jack Joker just shot Bruce in Vicki's apartment and left as a plane farting, so it's hard to be completely detached. Let's do this: The 'Most Faithful Award' goes to Mark Hamill as he embodied all aspects of the comic version at one time or another. The 'Crazy but Effective Award' goes to Heath for dismantling the mob, blowing up banks and hospitals, and creating Two-Face (also not true to the comics, but whatever...). Finally, Jack gets the 'Mastermind Award' for, despite being dropped into toxic waste, took over the mob, created elaborate schemes to kill everyone in Gotham (twice...), and his awesome henchmen (I'm looking at you ninja blade feet, bald guy with a boombox, and Bob...). Did I pick a favorite? Nope. Will I ever? Doubt it. I'm strangely comfortable with that fact...

Welcome back\Your dreams were your ticket out...

How lovely a new year. It's like new fallen snow, just waiting for my man-sized feet to slog through the pristine countryside. Ahhhh. That's right, folks: It's 2011 and time for another serious crack at the blog-o-sphere. Only this time, it's personal. Last year, I resigned myself to two posts a month as a doable amount of personal blogging. I was generally happy with the results. However, the wedding got in the way about mid-year and then I didn't pick it back up post-October (so sad for my fans...). But, with the advent of a new year, it seemed appropriate to give it another shot and try to be the writer I claim to be...

Now, the way this is going to work (boldly, I might add...) is that, for as long as I can, I will blog 5 days a week. It goes without saying that this is a bit more than 1 every 15 days (give or take a month...). However, by giving myself a task of this magnitude, I am requiring myself to not become complacent with the status of things and actually do something constructive/productive on a daily basis. Here's how it will break down:
- One day for something music related...
- One day for something movie related...
- One day for something game related...
- One day for something comic related...
- One free day...
This will give me enough leeway to explore my interests and not let the blog get stale and dull (well, dullER at any rate...). So, without further ado, I'll take Music for 100, Alex...


Now, I will review Tron: Legacy in a future post (mayhap even on the morrow...), but because I have been listening to the soundtrack since I received it (and thanks to my long-time reader, Brian, for the gift...), it seemed more appropriate to start with the soundtrack rather than the movie itself. If you don't like it, stop reading here...

I love Daft Punk, so it comes as no surprise that I love the album. Daft Punk was asked to score the movie soundtrack and I can think of no one better suited to the task of creating all the music for a movie based on a digital world. These guys are masters of electronic beats and have used all their skills to craft a score that is beyond appropriate for the movie. They have blended orchestral music (an 85 piece orchestra no less...) with the electronica stylings they are known so well for to form a composition that merges seamlessly with the film...

My one and only complaint: Many of the tracks are too short for me. Now, in terms of film music pieces, these pieces seem fine while they are backed by action sequences, moving landscapes, and your general film goings-on. However, as stand along tunes, I could use a little extension. However, despite the shortness, each track is filled with so much awesome that I feel the need to go and see Tron again just to have that experience all over again. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes Tron, Daft Punk, or just digs the electronica scene...

Grade: a solid A and a prayer for a new Daft Punk album, just to keep the vibe going...

And the tension/How it builds...

Good morning all. It's time for a much belated post on this nigh obsolete blog of mine. I'm ok with that. An event is one short time period away from happening again; something I've waited 4 years for and is finally coming around. I'm quite excited and as geared up as I can be, given the circumstances...

Tomorrow marks the return of the Great Designer Search held by Wizards of the Coast. The prize was a six-month internship in Washington state where the winner will (for all in tents and porpoises...) be a WotC employee. It's any amature game creator's dream, barring you actually play and enjoy Magic: the Gathering. Actually, scratch that. The possibility of working with one of the largest (at least the most well known...) game company in the country, if not the world, should be an aspiration to any creator wanting to hone their craft and actually get your ideas out of the basement and into the spotlight. An internship with WotC would definitely be a big step in the right direction...

Four years is a long time to wait for this. I'll be the first to admit my skills as both a creator and a player aren't what they were back then. At that time, I was just moving in with Tara and Brian and I were only just entering the wide world of non-American board games (I almost said unAmerican...). This means we were still playing a bunch of Magic more so than other games and my attention was focused. Also, that was when Time Spiral (the Magic nostalgia block...) was in full swing and any waning of my desire had been dashed. I loved Time Spiral alot and I really don't care if they don't consider Time Spiral to be the success they were hoping for...

Let's cut to now: Much has changed since then. I'm getting married, I've branched out from Magic quite a bit gaming-wise, I don't play Magic as often as I used to want to, my desires have matured, I started a comic book. But I still want this very much. Working for one the head gaming companies would be a dream come true. I am prepared to take six months out of my life to do this, and I love it that Tara is behind me in my desire 100%. My worry is that I don't have the chops to make it happen...

Last time, I only made it past the essay writing part. I try not to belittle that, but it was only the first round. The essays I submitted, though, were some of the finest I'd written (both I and others have said the same...) and I was very proud of them. Still am, too. My test taking skills were less than par to say the least. I think I scored around 50% or so. Put that in perspective; there was 35 questions or so and you were only permitted to miss upwards of 5 to even be considered for round 3. However, I did follow the competition religiously and created my own cards based on the criteria Mark Rosewater posted online (and thanks to Brian for helping me out and grading and such for that...). I will say I was disappointed in more than a handful of the official submissions as I truly feel I could do better, especially in the early rounds. Some might call that hubris; others call it sour grapes. I call it just being a better designer (at that time...) than some who have better 'book' knowledge of the game...

What to do? I worry that, should I succeed, that it will throw my life in upheaval. Let me tell you, I have had enough upheaval to last a lifetime recently, what with the wedding and car troubles and getting settled into my job and all. I don't worry about not succeeding; I feel the deck is partially stacked against me (not to be a pessimist, but I do look at the facts...). I will do the best I can as far as I get. There is a part of me that NEEDS to do this for satisfaction alone. I feel the need to prove that I can at least throw down with others who aspire to the lofty goal. I did the same thing by going to a PTQ years before the GDS happend. I guess we'll see what happens come Wednesday and Rosewater delivers unto the masses. Wish us luck...

The wait is (getting very close to being...) over...

Hey there, hi there, ho there! Yes, I know it's been over two months and yes, I know I've missed a couple of wine posts. Unfortunately, that won't happen today either (though I do have a couple of delightful California wines to talk about...). No, today we discuss patience paying off and keeping the faith even though all hope is lost. I am of course talking of the recent announcements of Marvel vs Capcom 3...

It has been roughly 10 years since we last looked on the roster of MvC2 with new eyes. It was an awesome game (and still is, for that matter...) and I will play it whenever I get the chance. MvC2 was sort of the culmination of 2D fighters for me from the day I stumbled across the arcade version of X-Men: Children of the Atom in the 90's and fell madly in love. This love carried over into Marvel Super Heroes (this one based on the Infinity Gauntlet miniseries...), but sort of tapered off with X-Men vs Street Fighter and Marvel vs Street Fighter (I hadn't played an actual Street Fighter game in probably a decade at that point...). However, my illicit love for the series was rekindled with Marvel vs Capcom and then to fuel the inferno, Marvel vs Capcom 2 was released a few years later. I (along with many of my geeky brethren...) have been waiting so very, very long for this day...

With that little intro out of the way, let me go on record saying I am WAY TOO excited for a game a year away from release. But the coverage of MvC3 has been extensive and I have begun to obsess over it (think of it as my Gulf Spill, except way better and less hazardous to the environment...) constantly. I'm not 100% sold on the graphics as of yet (oh 2D, how I miss thee...), but even the short roster released has me stoked: we've got Dante and Trish from Devil May Cry (an awesome game...), Deadpool (Marvel's current big shot, money making popular guy...), Super Skrull (slightly obscure, but an awesome inclusion because of it...), along with some old standards (Wolverine, Hulk, Ryu, Morrigan, etc...). Apparently, the final roster will be around 30 (a bit lower than MvC2's 56...), so I'm hopeful for more quality new guys to beef up the lists...

Which brings me to my REAL reason for writing this post (oh, you didn't think I would just write some vague praise for an unreleased game, did you?), which is my wants for the roster of MvC3. Now, since this post has gone on a bit, I'll try to keep the reasoning short. Without further adieu, I give you:

The Witte's Wants for Marvel versus Capcom 3

- Mega Man: The blue bomber was always one of my favorites playing MvC2, and I would hate to see the little guy get the axe...
- The Punisher: With Chris Redfield's reliance on fire arms, I'd like to see ol' Frankie throw his skulled shirt in the ring and duke it out with the other big guys...
- Nightcrawler (with swashbuckling action...): There was a time when 'Crawler was a fun loving, Errol Flynn-esque adventurer, and I want that back. Give the brother a sword, his teleportation, and Spidermanlike agility, and he'd be some fun...
- The Bionic Commando: This guy was unique, as far as main characters on the NES go. Using his bionics in an arena would lead to some fun situations...
- Mystique: Cheap selection, but the MvC franchise doesn't have a copycat character (that I know of...) yet. Similarly, the Taskmaster would fill that niche similarly, if in a bit of a different way...
- Iron Fist: A Kung Fu master with a finishing move of sorts, he seems a shoe in for a fighting game like MvC...
- Namor, the Sub-Mariner: He's one of the oldest Marvel characters and enough going on with him that he wouldn't be just another powerhouse beater. Plus, he may draw the ladies with his bare, chiseled chest...
- Ghost Rider: I always thought GR was pretty cool (and I won't let Nick Cage take it away from me either, damn it...), and having him in a fighter like this would also add to the all around coolness of both games...
- Ash: Someone one made a great MUGEN character, so I kind of had to throw him on there...
- Cable: Another one from the old one, I had a lot of fun with Cable when I played this alot, so I hope he returns...
- Sandman: Here's a guy who could do so many things with small bits of silicon. If we lose Venom, I hope we gain him...
- The Vision: My favorite character whilst playing the old beat-em-up Avengers game; he's got enough abilities to match up with the other heavy hitters...
- Puck: Another one on the size scale of Mega Man, it would be interesting to see how they would integrate this acrobatic dwarf into the mix. Plus, he's got one of the best pun names in the business...

You might have noticed I chose mostly Marvel characters. To be honest, that's where most of my info lies. I don't follow Capcom closely enough to develop a relationship with most of their characters, so I went with what I know. Tell me, fair reader: who do you want to see, duking it out in the next installment of Marvel vs. Capcom...

Sweet 'n Sassy...

Welcome, wine lovers, to another segment of The Witte's Wine Reviews. Since I have been doing a lot of reds, I decided to switch gears and go for whites in April. The following two wines are solid standbys that didn't push any boundaries but also were a delight to drink. Let's get to it...

First up: a 2008 Gewurztraminer from Chateau Ste Michelle in Washington state's Columbia Valley. It has been said the Gewurz grape makes wine to compliment the spiciest of foods and this one is no exception. A delightful nose of fruits leads into flavors mimicking the nose, with floral notes, citrus and pleasant spices. The finish was cool and crisp, blending well with the fajitas we had that evening. This particular wine is semi-dry, giving only a hint of sweetness, adding to the whole experience rather than overpowering it as in some wines. I would say, after finishing this bottle, that I will compare other Gewurztraminer wines to this one until I find its equal. I haven't had many of this variety, but this makes me hopeful for the future. Ste Michelle is a solid winery to choose from and I would recommend it to any wine lover...

And now, from the Columbia Crest Grand Estates is a 2007 Riesling, also from Washington's Columbia Valley. I am starting to get the impression that this is an excellent area for wine selection. Everybody knows that I dig the Rieslings (as do many in my circles...) so it is no surprise I enjoy this one too. I would categorize this as a sipping wine, a wine to be enjoyed when the mood strikes you, and a compliment to most meals. Like the Gewurz prior, it is cool and crisp and tastes of subtle fruits and tang. It finishes with body, but no overpoweringly so, allowing a satisfyingly slow consumption. The nose, like most Rieslings, it bright and vibrant, which leads into the tasting. As with all solid Rieslings, get this one and share it. You won't be sorry (by the by, I couldn't find a picture for the 2007 variety so you are stuck with the 2005...)...

There was a third wine this month, purchased on a whim based on price, age, and difference to what I would normally pick. The vineyard was Talus(?) and it was a 2003 Chardonnay. Apparently, chardonnay only last 2-6 years in the bottle. It tasted like carmelized green beans. Blech. For the month of May, Tara brought me a Muscat and a Merlot directly from California. Can't wait to try them, and as always, it's always a fine time for wine...

The Ever Evolving Playlist vol. 2...

Here's we go again. I can't say I've gotten all that I wanted off my vol. 1 list, but I did find enough since then to warrant a second list. Thankfully, they will come at such a pace to not overdo the gimmick. A special thanks to the Pandora radio station, without which there would be no list for this post...

1. Peter Gabriel - The Book of Love
2. The Darkness - Out of My Hands
3. Soundgarden - Spoonman
4. Hyper - Cascade
5. Them Crooked Vultures - New Fang
6. John Mayer - Who Says
7. Owl City - Fireflies
8. Chable & Bonicci - Ride
9. Cursor Miner - Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
10. Whitesnake - Is This Love?
11. The Crystal Method - Smile?
12. Stevie Nicks - Rooms on Fire
13. The Who - Baba O'Reily
14. Jim Croche - I Got A Name
15. Kaskade - Steppin' Out
16. Mumford & Sons - Little Lion Man
17. Yes - Our Song
18. Crosby, Stills & Nash - You Don't Have to Cry
19. Zircon - Ladder to the Sky
20. Hanson - Thinkin' Bout Something

As with the first list, here are some recommended tracks for your enjoyment...

1. Moonbabies - War on Sound
2. Van Halen - Dance the Night Away
3. Aerosmith - Come Together
4. Metallica - I Disappear
5. Gypsy Kings - Trista Pena
6. Foo Fighters - Wheels
7. Bruce Springsteen - Held Up Without a Gun (live)
8. ZZ Top - Planet of Women
9. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Runnin' Down a Dream
10. Steely Dan - Reelin' in the Years
11. No More Kings - Sweep the Leg
12. Fleetwood Mac - You Make Lovin' Fun
13. The Alan Parsons Project - Where's the Walrus?
14. MC Lars - Space Game
15. Sufjan Stevens - Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois
16. George Michael - Freeek!
17. Modest Mouse - Dashboard
18. Temple of the Dog - Hunger Strike
19. Gin Blossoms - Follow You Down
20. The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

As always, enjoy...

Anne McCaffrey would be proud...

Tara and I went to see 'How to Train Your Dragon' last night as a date movie (She does love some cute critters...) and it was pretty good. Not so cute to turn most adults off but still pretty appropriate for the kiddies. I will say DreamWorks is getting better and better about their animation of people. The skin tones were nigh spot on (even if they still have kept the goofy faces...), the big dragon looked good enough to be used in Clash of the Titans (also not a too terrible movie...) and water effects are still incredible. The voice acting was decent, using Gerard Butler as the stock 'I'm the gruff talking leader' of the vikings and well as using Jay Baruchel (that skinny guy who plays awkward well...) as our hero. If you want a light movie to see, this wouldn't be bad to choose...


I must make a note of a feature I wasn't completely sold on: the 3-D experience. Normally, Tara gets a bit ill if she sees a 3D picture, but this was all that was available for us to see. So, she sucked it up and went for it and didn't get sick at all. But (and I think Tara agrees with me..), the 3D actually detracted from the total movie watching experience. Now, I know some people SUPER support the 3D movement these days, but there wasn't enough going on in 'Dragon' (i.e. crap coming at you...) to really warrant providing it in 3D. The glasses tend to wash out some of the colors, making it appear to be projected on parchment paper. I checked the colors to see if I was right a few times during the movie and Tara agreed that we should have seen it in 2D...

My other beef with 'Dragon': the ending. I won't spoil it completely, but I do get tired of the 'subjugated people can't stop the tyrant, but with a LITTLE extra effort (as well as a pseudo-life lesson...), they can destroy adversity'. 'Dragon' isn't alone in this; I've seen this in several movies over the last several years. Beowulf did this (despite that I couldn't reach it with a weapon, I can reach it without if I force myself...) and it was ridiculous. FF: Rise of the Silver Surfer did this (now that I've seen true sacrifice[?], I will stop my master...) and I was super pissed. Granted, my anger stemmed from my geek side (Galactus wouldn't be dumb enough to give the Surfer that much power, nor do I believe that after countless planets being destroyed, seeing Sue Storm's sacrifice would turn himself around [see?]...). Either way, it brings us to my point: from a story's standpoint, given countless implied opportunities to topple adversity but never have without token motivation, the way the characters win/destroy the big baddies/etc. seems ludicrous to me. At the very least, give me an existing rebel faction where getting sufficiently motivated fits. Otherwise, rewrite that sucker...

Despite that extremely long rant on the ending, I do recommend 'Dragon' for a fun movie to see in 2D, especially if you want to see something you don't have to get too involved in. This isn't bad; not every movie needs to be a noggin' scratcher. We need these simple fun movies to balance out the others. See it or definitely see it on dvd asap. You won't be sorry...

Your heart will thank you...

Hello, wine lovers! It's time yet again for a monthly review of two newly tasted wines. For March, I decided to go with a highly recommended red Italian wine as well as a red from Ithaca, which we procured on our last trip north (God, I love Ithaca wine...). Unlike last month, however, these two wines were a treat to drink...


First up, a fine 2007 Chianti from the Da Vinci vintners in Italy. Normally, I am not a fan of dry red, but this one was special. I was immediately taken in with an intense nose, combining berries and oak. Upon tasting, the oakiness combined well with the dryness, but left a very busy feeling within my mouth. The dryness pleasantly left after swallowing and finished well, only leaving a hint of flavor behind. It has been said that dry reds often pair well with pasta dishes, and this one was no exception. I would also have enjoyed this for sipping with a group of friends. Further, the Da Vinci vintners (from the town of Vinci no less...) have designed a very pleasing label, perfect for display. While this wine has been the most expensive so far (not that expensive in the grand scheme, really...), it now ranks highly on my lists of reds to purchase...


Our next wine, I have to admit something. I cheated on this one. I've tried this wine before. I'm a fraud (boo hoo, wah wah...). It counts, though, because I've never bought and drank a whole bottle of this wine. Anyways, on to the review. This is an Estate Red from the Hosmer Winery in Ithaca, NY. There is no date with this one, but Tara mentioned that blends (like many 'Estate' blends at other wineries...) often DON'T include the date, as they use grapes from multiple years. This red holds many superficial similarities with the previous Chianti (actually, with it being a blend, it probably has similarities to most reds...), but holds its own with unique qualities. The nose on this was more fruity than woody, which in turn carried over into the tasting part. This was a much more plummy wine than the previous, but still carried a nice body with some dryness. Interestingly enough, this wine dried in the mouth in a different area than the Chianti (lips vs sides of the mouth...). Drinking this wine goes well with meat dinners, but I don't know if I'd drink this alone were I in the mood for wine. I will take a point away from Hosmer as the label was a bit boring and uninformative. Doesn't make this a bad wine, though. Bottom line, this is a solid red if you like reds...

April is half done by the time you read this post. This month has a delightful Riesling (kind of a cheat; Rieslings are a go-to wine...) coming, but I just can't decide where to go with the other half of the month (less than half actually...). Any suggestions?

Would you like some cheese with that...

As promised, per my New Years Resolution, here comes two more wine reviews for your reading pleasure. Unfortunately for me, the wines were less than a pleasure to drink. These two definitely weren't awful (and I've had some awful wine...), but they were more...well, let's allow my review of them speak more of my mind...


First up, a 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Turning Leaf winery in California. It has a very rich red color and a very dry nose (not always a good sign for me...) and it's flavor matched it. While in most cases this would be a plus, in this Cab Sauv, not so much. The dryness and oakiness overtook the fruit flavors that lie beneath it, leaving it tasting like a generic dry red wine than an individual. However, after a few days uncorked and breathing, it developed a much richer flavor, balancing out the dryness and making the drinking much more pleasurable. Turning Leaf gets points for presentation (nice label and all...) and having a wine that improves with some time, but this will not be a wine I will be revisiting often. Not a fan of many dry reds, anyways...


Next, a 2008 Pinot Grigio from the Lumina winery in Italy (my second European wine...). Like many Pinot Gris I've tried, this has a fresh and fruity nose. However, like the Cab Sauv I just mentioned, it's flavor fell into the realm of the generic. Nothing really stood out other than tasting like 'wine'. In its defense (also like the Cab Sauv...), a day or two open and a more unique flavor came forward. An interesting note: this Pinot Gri has a screw on top rather than a cork. I wonder if this (as with some others I've tried...) affects the taste and longevity of the wine or if it's all in my head. Either way, this particular wine will take a back seat to my preferred ones. Nice try, Lumina...

Now, despite my earlier mentioning of not enjoying dry reds too often, the next review contains at least one if not both wines being red and dry (I haven't broken into wine #2 yet...). Reason: these wines, more than any other, are ones that I need to slog my way through to find the gems. Thankfully, the first is a keeper, so that's something. Till then, it's always a fine time for wine...

What time is it...

ADVENTURE TIME!!!


A smattering of years ago, a short toon made itself aware to me via Youtube. The toon in question: Adventure Time. It. Was. Hilarious. Surprisingly, enough it has remained funny even if it has waned in the eyes of some. It's a sort of random assortment of cartoon moments and cliches and still manages to be fresh. I look at it as a parody of the more ridiculous elements of modern cartoons, but not in such away that it smacks of meanness, spite, or ridicule. Not only is it geared toward the young, it is also a sort of love note to us adults who enjoy an absurd yet harmless show...



A quick bit of info: Adventure Time was created by Pendleton Ward and was nominated for an Annie Award. The toon detailed the exploits of Pen (changed to Finn) and his magic dog Jake. They battled the Ice King and rescued the Princess. That's where the normal parts ended. We are introduced to a Rainacorn, an Iceclops, a lost elemental, Abraham Lincoln in the past...on Mars, and then we see ninjas stealing an old mans diamonds. Cah-razy... Afterward, it developed a cult following due to its' aforementioned random absurdness and easy to use catch-phrases, such as 'Rhombus!' and 'Hey sloppy milkshake...'. Further, since being discovered on the interwebs, people have wanted to show turned into a series. And now, finally after 4 years, Cartoon Network is going to give us what we wanted. Awesome...



Now, I've seen some of the promos for the new show and I am pleased with the results. The animation style is slightly different, but not too much. They did change a few of the voice actors (which is moderately understandable, since it's been 4 freakin' years...), and here I do have a complaint. I have no feelings about the actors for Finn or the Princess, but they changed the Ice King's voice from Charles Adler to Tom Kenny. While I have nothing against Tom Kenny (his biggest claim to fame is Spongebob...), Charles Adler voiced The Cryptkeeper from Tales from the Crypt. And that's just cool on so many levels. I am glad John DiMaggio has returned to do Jake's voice, for he is also to voice of Bender on Futurama. Awesome...

Here's the link to see the original short. Also, check out the other, newer bits from the up and coming series and tell me what you think. If I missed something awesome, point it out to me...