gdp's Comments

Godheval.net : Black People and the Democratic Party

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 03:45:35 +0000

So...does this mean the Godheval side of you has won out and you're backing to posting? Heh.

Anyway, in reference to the post, the main reason no one is going to change things for "black" people in this country is that the development/airing/consideration of the "black" point of view will basically undermine the country. Showing America the other side of the "veil", to use Du Bois imagery/analogy here, in a non-bombastic, even-handed, well-presented format that could not be ignored would cause way too much psychological dissonance for the American public at large. Hence, the continued marginalization of "blackness" even under the guise of "hope and change" (man, those two words will forever be ruined in the context of progress now. Just typing them makes me feel like a partisan blockhead).

Here is a link to a comedian demonstrating what "white" people think when they see portrayals of black suffering. Which is intensely ironic considering he's trying to poke fun at white guilt while demonstrating through his dialogue how he as a "white" person handles it...denial, willful ignorance, evasive rationalizations, and/or blind dismissal because "they must be making this sh*t up! I haven't seen that behavior personally". He's still makes some good points and has a couple of other funny vids. Anyway, that's all for now.

link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN9hy4YNIv0

Godheval.net : Why Video Game Movies Fail

Fri, 7 May 2010 00:17:34 +0000

"But one thing about Runaways is that you HAVE to start from the beginning." Well the issue I found in that bookstore way back when was the first one so I did start at the beginning. I tracked the series down on the internet in .cbr format and rereading the first issue confirmed that this is what I had read. Again, thanks for the reminder. "I compared Jackman's Wolverine to the one from the 90s X-Men cartoon" Aaaah...I had forgotten about the 90's cartoon. We never had cable television growing up so it was comic books for me. However, we did manage to watch it here and there at friends/relatives houses. Not so long ago we downloaded a bunch of the seasons and watched them. Man, it was so much cooler when I was younger, lol. Though it now seems super cheesy, it's still the x-men in bright and juicy animated color with that great opening theme song so it still gets bonus points from me :) But yeah from that standpoint I would have to agree that Jackman got pretty close to that representation of wolverine.

Godheval.net : Why Video Game Movies Fail

Thu, 6 May 2010 01:42:24 +0000

"But I wonder, have you looked into the more independent stuff for your post-80s hankering?" Well I haven't heard of the Last Man (I've added that to my list to watch). As for the runaways, is that the one with the teenagers and one of them has some rainbow power or something? If it is what I'm thinking of, then yeah I started reading that but there was only one issue at the bookstore I found it at :( I completely forgot about that. Thanks for reminding me. "...you gotta admit that Jackman nails Wolverine..." Eh, kind of. His face is a great match but he isn't...cool...enough. I don't know how much X-men you have read but it is that "spirit of wolverine" problem you mentioned. He is supposed to be one of the most dangerous (if not the most dangerous) mutant in the X-Men world. In one issue Professor X claimed that when fighting at his best, Wolverine is doing the mental equivalent of like 2 or 3 chess grandmasters/supercomputers? (it was in the arc where Magneto strips the adamantium from his bones) or something ridiculous like that (I can't believe I just quoted a comic book...*facepalm*). Anyways, combine that with years of fighting experience in the CIA, Weapon X, his Samurai training, etc. and his super fast regeneration powers and you have a package of pure bad-assery. Or at least that's the idea. All that to say that Jackman's onscreen presence (and awful looking wire-work action) just doesn't do it for me. His latest Wolverine movie was terrible. Anyhow, though some of my comic book frustration is showing, I don't really care that much anymore. I haven't read a comic book in years now (and given up on almost all fiction...another rant for another day) so this is just the echoes of my comic book rage from the past, heh.

Godheval.net : Why Video Game Movies Fail

Wed, 5 May 2010 00:59:38 +0000

"Video game movies fail because the writers and/or directors are merely looking to capitalize on a successful franchise, but do not have any personal emotional investment in the project. They are unable to tap into the “spirit” of games, and that disconnect manifests on screen with disastrous results." I cannot express how much I agree with this statement (and the entire post in general). In my opinion this fully applies to comic books as well. As someone who read Marvel and DC comics (pre-90's releases*) whenever I could find them in libraries and bookstores [where I could read them for free by sitting on the floor of course : ) ], I've been pretty disappointed by the big screen incarnations because they've all lacked that comic book flare/spirit you mention here. Comic books are an interesting blend of violent/action-packed and goofy/lighthearted (they ARE wearing spandex most of the time after all) that almost all the "superheroes" flicks have not been able to capture yet. Usually when I voice such opinions most people say that I'm expecting a direct comic book to movie transition. That's not true. What I am expecting is to feel that comic book enthusiasm emanate from the big screen. So far, less than a handful have even come close (I won't bother saying which ones because I don't want to bother explaining all the reasons I think so). Comic book movie directors could at least make Matrix/Bourne-level action if they don't even want to work on a plot. At least! *takes deep breath* Yeah yeah, I realize my comic book rage is bleeding through some...you'll have to forgive me :P. With all that said, I still can't stop myself from watching the superhero movies, no matter how bad, anyway. I take comfort in knowing that I usually do so at a dollar theater (or..ahem..*borrowing* from the internet). *I say pre-90's because after reading Marvel/DC comics from both before the 90's and after, the post-80's comics are absolute trash. The drawings look like barely defined sketches plus photoshopped colors smeared on top plus failed attempt to attract "emo-teen" audience plus missing comic book "spirit" = not worth reading. The fun and imagination and skill and creativity just seems to have gone completely downhill. Look no further than the "Ultimate X-men" series. The series which started out barely average gets infinitely worse. Just...I'll stop here. So anyway, Street Fighter Legacy does looks promising. I'm looking forward to watching that when it's released.