Whedon's "Marvel-based" Series Follows S.H.I.E.L.D

It's official. The series announcement that Disney teased us all with a little while ago has been announced that it will follow the exploits of S.H.I.E.L.D (Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division). While Captain America and the rest of the Avengers cast is not expected to sign on, that doesn't count out our two prominent agents—so as long as the series doesn't follow the post-The Avengers timeline (we all want Phil Coulson in our lives).

This is speculative, but I can almost guarantee that Cobie Smulders will want to be a part of this project to reprise her role as Agent Maria Hill. In fact, she should be the main character because—come on! She's still a regular cast member on "How I Met Your Mother" though, so the chances of a scheduling conflict is very real. However, I have a good feeling about this.

ABC has ordered a pilot, and while Whedon may not have the time to really get his hands dirty with this project since "The Avengers" sequel is on his plate, several of his "Whedonites," such as Jed Whedon, Jeffrey Bell, and Maurissa Tancheroen, are on board with this one.

Other than the pilot, there aren't any details, so how the show's overall scope and feel is impossible to grasp; but the fact that this is actually happening, with these group of people a part of it, means that something a slice above your standard television series is currently in the works.

I for one am a happy schoolboy.

Not All Television is a Neverending Shame

Nothing here needs to be reiterated that isn't a tacit fact. Television rolls around in the mire of its own sloppy writing, pacing, and every other attribute known to moving pictures. It's a damn shame in every way--but in every smoky ruin of dystopia there's always something that comes along and reestablishes faith in humanity. The item I'm discussing is "Downton Abbey".

Some of you may have heard of it, but chances are most have not. This television series finished airing its second season on PBS (you see? support public broadcast) just before the end of 2011 and has gathered itself a dedicated fanbase on par with any other popular series during prime time in the US. I am lucky to have my faithful Netflix account always ready to suggest a number of movies and television shows, so I decided to give in and find out what "Downton Abbey" was all about.

Mary Crawley and Matthew Crawley

Now, I've just finished watching season 1, and I'm blown away. I enjoy "Sherlock" and "Game of Thrones" for their many wonderful elements that make them shine, but even they do not excel in every category such as this show. To be quite frank, I am flabbergasted that I enjoyed it as much as I did. Not giving too much away, the premise revolves around the inheritance of Robert Crawley's (Hugh Bonneville) estate because he has no male heirs--only three daughters. The issue of class is also a major plot point/theme as both the aristocratic Grantham family and their servants are the main characters. And this is where the show really shines; every major character contributes a whole lot to the pacing, acting, drama, everything of this series. Everyone is simply superb, and best of all (a personal preference because I abhor casting directors' needs to make every major character unrealistically beautiful) this group of people feel real, which only adds greater depth to their already incredible acting abilities.

The main characters in the Crawley staff

Rather than go on with a myriad of explanations praising "Downton Abbey", I'll leave this list of the best aspects of the series, and let you, the reader, decide whether you'd like to give it a shot. In closing, the best way to describe whether you'd enjoy the series: I'll say that it is similar to watching a collection of Keira Knightley period pieces, except less overly dramatized and with tighter writing.

• Every character is incredible. Whether I hate, love, or am indifferent about one, they all aid in weaving an immense story.
• The pacing is remarkable for a series steeped in Edwardian culture, which many would find boring. 
• The cinematography is worth merit because it gathers attention. You know you're being treated to something special when you are conscious of it.
• The dynamic between the servants are some of the most pleasing scenes I've ever watched.
• The theme song explains the series better than any critic could. Music speaks to the soul, and it releases this show's soul with great effect. 
• Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall of Harry Potter fame) delivers the greatest one-liners. She is truly the most experienced actress in the series and delivers her entire performance effortlessly. 

Tanka

Last fall I wrote some supplementary poems to go along with my 20-page short story for a class I took. I never found a good foothold on the story and therefore think little of it—but the poems on the other hand, I really like. 

I do not want to toot my own horn, but I feel that they are acceptable homages to the feudal period of Japanese history. Chaos reigned, as it did in medieval Europe, and writing about chaos helps to alleviate the pain from it. In the present, we live in our own troubled period, which I won't get into to--I'll only say that a neo-feudalism will arise if our situation does not change. 

Anyway, enjoy these tanka poems. I enjoyed writing them vehemently, and I still feel that they are quite apt for speaking on behalf of chaos.  

 

"They are manifestations of the ugliness that haunts our land. The sheer amount of blood that's been spilled in anger during this civil war brought these demons to life because when you mix blood, violence, and man, horrors are born." - Ushio Sakamoto (excerpt from my short story "Demons and Men")

一

A lifetime of prayer

floating downstream in water,

spotted by a boy.

He stumbles away panicked.

Bodies and war consume him.

二

No time to ponder—

the cicada song is mute.

Feet rush to their homes.

Sunsets cast long, lank shadows.

They grab at ankles and pull.

三

Blades are sharp and cold.

An indelible hollow

across her slim chest,

like an empty river bed—

same as the left spot in hers.

The Roll in Rock is Coming Back

Late to the party, but no less enthusiastic, I'm still giddy over discovering a band that has rejuvenated my love for the hard rock genre. In a world of the Foo Fighters and lots of bands that sound like Nickelback, I began to lose hope. My metal, indie, electronic—hell, even my jazz—requirements are being met, but up until today, I hadn't found a new hard rock band to get pumped up for that wasn't in its prime in the 1970s.

Halestorm, a concoction of siblings, Lzzy and Arejay Hale, and their two band mates, Joe Hottinger and Josh Smith, is something like a Foo Fighters-meets-Boston-meets-ACDC gumbo—with just the right amount of spice. Lzzy is one of the most phenomenal vocalists I've ever heard; the way she belts out some of those notes reminds me of the crazy vocal work that Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin did (There's even a video of her doing a cover of "Black Dog.").

Their most recent album "The Strange Case Of..." just came out in April so I highly suggest checking them out. This band elicits goosebumps. I don't like all their songs (very few), but that's because the nature of the music business these days has certain exceptions and stifles creativity to a lesser or greater (often greater) extent. Regardless, this band is all its own and rocks harder than most others, even the uber-popular Lady Gaga; their version of "Bad Romance" is better than her original, I think. I can only hope that this band is a sign of more uninhibited rock to come.

Also, this is my favorite song of theirs. It reminds me so much of Boston's "Rock and Roll Band."

  

Peace

I found this compelling and wonderful. This piece of art is still true to life 35 years after its creation. This also goes to show how good life can be with the right kind of hobbies to get you through the day-to-day.
Peace.

Stubborn Sizing Woes Nearing an End

Order a pair of jeans, or a shirt, and after waiting a few days, you get it—and it doesn't fit!

Every single person experiences trouble finding garments that fit them properly, in a physical or online location. At the store they seemingly have every size pants but your own (my 30x30 is quickly swept away most times), and online retailers run the obvious problem of lacking a physical garment.

Enter Styku.

This company is taking the initiative to realize an idea/concept that we've all known is necessary to online apparel shopping, but the practical application of the technology had not yet caught up to. Using a directory of apparel companies' sizing charts, CAD, and Microsoft's Kinect (other similar devices are sure to follow eventually), you can create a virtual scan of your body to see how something will fit you.

This is a revolutionary step in the online retail industry that will catch on very quickly; I see practical application and exploding popularity by the mid-decade. A more in depth exploration into the technology is given in the following video.

So, what do you all think? This technology is a wonderful step forward, but it's also the essential bridge toward a practical holographic apparel "fitting room." The future is fast approaching, and this is a great way to return a starved manufacturing base back to the USA.

Joss Whedon and The Marvel Bunch

I thought that Whedon would perhaps hang up the cape and tights, so to speak, after his riveting box office and critic success with "The Avengers" for something more up his alley in the world of television, but it's been revealed by Disney's Chairman, Bog Iger, that the Buffy and Firefly progenitor will be back to write and direct "The Avengers 2." This is fantastic news because that may mean this decade's slew of comic book superhero movies may become successful and respected trilogies (if not more) like "The Dark Knight" series of movies by Christopher Nolan. (I, for one, have complete faith in "The Amazing Spider-man" if Marc Webb continues to direct them.)

In addition, Whedon is also slated to create a "Marvel-based" TV series for ABC. Now this one would be incredible; it's television, so it's perfect for this man, but also because this medium could use a boost. Movies as of late have been impressing me, especially those with a fantasy or science fiction spin (my favorites), but TV is still overrun by reality television silliness, something even ABC cannot be absolved of (I'm looking at you mind-numbing Bachelor series). With Whedon on the job, I can potentially see a real, quality superhero series on network television, unlike NBC's disastrous "The Cape."

You all may remember Disney lost a ton of money earlier in the year with their gaffe "John Carter," so I can only hope that the behemoth company will allow Whedon--and every other person involved on the series--to do with it what they will. I trust creative minds because creativity tends to produce quality. Disney couldn't possibly be remiss with this project and allow their TV tropes to infect it. "The Avengers" made them $1.5 billion, so it would be terribly, regrettably stupid to allow any producer to "try" and facilitate in this television show's production. And if it doesn't hold up in the ratings as well as predictions will have it, simply wait. As FOX learned time and again with Whedon: his shows are like precious stones that need to be nurtured till they've turned to diamonds. I've got thousands upon millions of "Firefly" and "Dollhouse" fans who wouldn't disagree.

Only time will tell what will come of all this.

From Duology to Trilogy

The initial plan to make "The Hobbit" movie into two films has been revised into a three part epic. It's hard for me to say how I honestly feel about this. It's been about two years since I last read the novel and I can't convince myself that enough happened to totally justify three films--purely speaking from the hypothetical 2.5 hour runtime of this story's sequels.

And yet, I have full faith in Peter Jackson to pull this off amicably. In my case, I am a fanatic for fantasy, so I will gobble up every minute with pleasure spoon, but for others, three parts may be too much."The Hobbit" is rife with somber and riveting dwarf songs, so with three films to work with, I expect nearly every single one to be incorporated into the trilogy, which will most likely put a few people off; however, for those who love the Tolkien Universe, are film nerds, or have an interest in fantastical anthropology, this series will have it all. If the trailer is any indication, then we'll all have new material to sing at our local pubs:

The wind was on the withered heath,
but in the forest stirred no leaf:
there shadows lay by night and day,
and dark things silent crept beneath.

The wind came down from mountain cold,
and like a tide it roared and rolled;
the branches groaned, the forest moaned,
and leaves were laid upon the mould.

The wind went on from West to East;
all movements in the forest ceased,
but shrill and harsh across the marsh
its whistling voices were released.

(excerpt from "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien)
 

Other issues I suspect general audience goers will have with "The Hobbit," is that it won't appear nearly as "epic" as the original "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy (LOTR). There's no Mount Doom, Mordor, giant orc armies, balrogs, castle sieges, or most of the other world-hanging-by-a-thread elements that made that series seem so large. This story is character driven, and the main focus is Bilbo. It's a micro-look at the adventures of Middle earth denizens, rather than the macro LOTR.

However it's received, there's little doubt that it won't be a success. Marketing for the film wrapped up before it even began production, so many people will see it. The things that pump me up most about this film are the following succinct bullets:

• three films equals quite possibly the most faithful film adaptation of a novel
• Martin Freeman (of "Sherlock" fame) will be a phenomenal Bilbo Baggins
• the dwarf songs will set a visceral tone for the whole film
• it's a pure, uninhibited adventure story
• the project is in the hands of Peter Jackson, so the audience will get a "Skyrimesque"-like look into Middle Earth.

All that's left to say is: I hope Jackson doesn't decide to release these films in yearly intervals. Every six months would be ideal .