Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 469
February 12, 2013
February 11, 2013: Decision, Projects, and Hot Chocolate!
Thanks to everyone who took the time to offer their sage advice on my recent “dilemma of the day” (February 10, 2013: Let’s all pitch in and help me plan my life!). I was actually leaning one way but, after reading some very convincing arguments, am now reconsidering. Tomorrow, I’ll be meeting with my accountant who will no doubt help shed some light on/further complicate the issue.
Meanwhile, things are…progressing (?) on the projects front…
The SF series: Hmmm. I was kind of hoping we would have received the good word by now (that word, of course, being: “Go!”). We have broadcasters on board but require another piece or two of the financial puzzle to complete the package. I refuse to end up in a situation where I’m expected to produce a show with little cash but a lot of good intentions. Space ships don’t come cheap, y’know?
The Urban Fantasy series: We’ll be delivering our second draft tomorrow. Word is we’ll be shooting the pilot this spring. Beyond that…who knows?
The other SF series: Has garnered a fair amount of interest on the concept alone (based on a pre-existing literary work). It’s with the lawyers now and, whenever the deal gets sewn up, we can finally start working on the script.
The Drama spec: While the aforementioned are all very promising paying gigs, it never hurts to have a few scripts under your belt…just in case. I’ve decided to simply go ahead and outline this female-driven “fish-out-of-water” pilot. I’ll spend a few days beating it out and then, once a satisfactory structure is in place, I’ll crack open a bottle of Jagermeister and spend the weekend hammering out that first draft.
The SF/Horror/Fantasy spec: Ah, why choose one when you can do all three at the same time? Colorful characters! Humor! Over-the-top action! Writing this one will be a lot fun – provided I have the time.
The Horror movie: It went out a couple of months ago and has engendered some interest, but nothing solid. This one seems like a no-brainer to me and, depending on how these other projects pan out, I’m thinking of pulling it back in March, financing it through Kickstarter, and producing it myself.
The Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival ends in three days! You better move quickly if you want to check out the 50-some flavors available around town.
I, of course, have been trying my best. But, evidently, my best won’t be good enough in the end. Still, I gave it a game effort.
I started off sampling fourteen different hot chocolates in the the first week of the festival: January 31, 2013: The Hot Chocolate Festival!
Followed by another ten soon after: February 6, 2013: The Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival Tour II!
And, most recently:
Tosca: Dark chocolate and rum served with a choice of chocolate or liege waffle sample.
Available: Every day of the festival at Leonidas #29 – 1055 Canada Place (Vancouver Convention Centre West), Vancouver.
A fine hot chocolate though a touch too boozy.
Frozen Noisette: Melted praline blended into frozen yogurt, topped with a shot of melted chocolate, and finished with crushed hazelnuts. Served with a choice of chocolate or liege sample waffle.
Available: Every day of the festival at Leonidas #29 – 1055 Canada Place (Vancouver Convention Centre West), Vancouver.
A double rarity: gjianduja-based cold hot chocolate. And it was utterly, doubly delicious.
Beyond the Milky Way: Dark chocolate (64%) made with almond milk and coconut milk, flavoured with natural pear extract. Dairy free.
Available: February 2-8 at French Made Baking 81 Kingsway, Vancouver
Liked the chocolate a lot but thought it was weakened by the almond and coconut milk. The pear was very subtle.
Rose of Ecuador: 64% dark chocolate – origin: Ecuador. Infused with rose petals, and served with choice of chocolate square.
Available: Every day of the chocolate festival at Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France 198 East 21st Ave., Vancouver, B.C.
www.chocolaterienouvellefrance.ca
Finally! A rose-infused version that makes use of dark chocolate instead of the standard white. And it was wonderful. A perfect balance of flavors. That gang here definitely know their hot chocolate!
Anise: 64% dark chocolate – origin: Mexico. Infused with aniseed, and served with choice of chocolate square.
Available: Every day of the chocolate festival at Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France 198 East 21st Ave., Vancouver, B.C.
www.chocolaterienouvellefrance.ca
With the exception of the Orange Blossom, every hot chocolate I’ve had at Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France has been incredibly well-balanced. Here, the licorice flavor is present but compliments rather than conquers the chocolate.
The Emily Rose: Orange drinking chocolate, topped with housemade rose-coconut marshmallows.
Available: February 2- 14 at Cocoa Nymph 3739 W. 10th Ave (at Alma), Vancouver
www.cocoanymph.co
Cocoa Nymph makes a damn fine cup of hot chocolate. The tartness of the orange combined with the sweetness of the coconut and the bitterness of the dark chocolate to deliver one of Akemi’s favorites.
The Josiah: Basil drinking chocolate topped with housemade strawberry marshmallows.
Available: February 8 – 14 at Cocoa Nymph 3739 W. 10th Ave (at Alma), Vancouver
www.cocoanymph.co
Basil drinking chocolate? Really? Oh, yeah. Really! I was admittedly dubious but one taste thoroughly won me over. The best hot chocolate I had this week.
I’m really going to have to make these last few days count!
3rd-vancouver-hot-chocolate-festival
Tagged: Chocolate, Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France, Cocoa Nymph, French Made Baking, Hot Chocolate, Hot Chocolate Festival, Leonidas, Vancouver events, Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival
February 11, 2013
February 11, 2013: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews The Incredible Hulk (2008)!
This movie be improvement over first Hulk film de way a bad cold be improvement over Type A influenza. In retrospekt, you not want to subject yourself to either but, hey, in dis case beggars Supermovie of de Week Club reviewers can’t be choosers. Still, whereas first movie be uniformly stoopid-ridikulous throughout, dis Hulk movie start off entertaining-promising before shifting gears to dull-prediktable and finally downshifting to stoopid-ridikulous for last turd.
Bruce Banner invent formula dat give South American cola all de taste wit only half de calories!
Sekwel pick up where first movie leave off. Bruce Banner now living incognito in Rio de Janeiro (just like Grover after he knock up Swedish Chef’s niece Torbjorg!). He work at South Amerikan soda plant where duties inklude fixing tings and pissing off co-workers wit his gringo ways. Off-hours, he enjoy spending time wit his dog, meditating to control his heart rate, and trying to find cure for his Hulkitis. BUT one day, he cut himself at work and drop of blood contaminate a bottle. It end up getting shipped to U.S. where it unwittingly get drinked by Stan Lee (Seriously. Dese Stan Lee cameos be best ting about dese movies!). Before you can say “Excelsior!”, word get out and General Thunderbolt Ross dispatch army to GET HIM!
Army ambush Banner. Chase ensue – part of which take dem across rooftops of favela (Brazilian shantytown). Dis, of course, be a scene required for every movie dat shoot in Rio. Eventually, Bruce cornered in bottling plant where he beaten up by co-workers he happen to come across. He Hulk Out, kick some ass, and disappear.
He awaken some time later in Guatemala where he ask some guy for a lift. A couple of scenes later, Bruce be back in U.S. wit new clothes. How dis possible? Did he have cash and fake visa stashed away somewhere? Did sekret anonymous benefaktor make arrangents? Or did guy give him lift all de way from Guatemala in his jeep? We never find out but it would be nice to know.
It be at dis point in de movie when tings get a lot less interesting. Bruce make contakt wit his old girlfriend, Betty. But Betty’s new boyfriend, Phil Dumphy from Modern Family, find dis uncool and report him to General Ross. Army be dispatched. Bruce Hulk Out! More middling visual effekts! And, again Hulk get away (although monster seriously wonder where, exaktly, giant green guy can hide even if he can jump really far).
Bruce eventually hook up wit Betty again and dey track down mysterious Mr. Blue who working on serum to cure Bruce of Hulkism (also work on psoriasis!). He try it on Bruce and it work! At which point lab crashed by army! Bruce and Betty on de run – but get captured. Meanwhile, crazy soldier stay behind and force Mr. Blue to injekt him wit Banner’s blood. He mutate into…an Abomination! Giant, grey and bony! But, unlike Hulk, he speak perfekt English and still get to keep his quaint English accent.
General Ross learn about Abomination rampage. Bruce tell him only way to stop him be by letting him Hulk Out. Ross say okie-doke. BUT Bruce took serum! It possible for him to turn back into Hulk? How to know? Run on de spot until heart rate go up? Cut himself? Get soldier to slap him around? No! He trow himself out of a helikopter! HUH?!!
Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?
Cue silly monster fight. Hulk win and about to kill Abomination when Betty scream: “No!” and make Hulk stop. Not sure why. Mebbe she want to adopt adorable psychotic mutant? Who wouldn’t?!
Movie end in British Columbia where Bruce able to control his heart rate for 31 days – and den Hulk Out!
Movie also end wit Tony Stark approach General Ross in a bar about “putting a team together”. What could he be talking about?! All superhero volleyball dream team for next Olympics? Monster so excited!
Verdikt: Not terrible but not good. Dis movie be about as enjoyable as your kid’s piano recital. (Pleaze don’t lie to yourself).
Rating: 5 chocolate chippee cookies.
Tagged: comic book movies, Comic Books, Comics, Cookie Monster, Cookie Monster movie reviews, Cookie Monster reviews The Incredible Hulk, superhero movies, superheroes, SuperMovie of the Week Club, The Incredible Hulk
February 10, 2013
February 10, 2013: Let’s all pitch in and help me plan my life!
Okay. I’ve gone back and forth on this for close to a year now and I’ve finally made a decision. I’ve decided that I have to decide one way or the other.
I’ve tried to apply logic, then emotion, then allowed fate to make the decision for me. No luck. Neither logic nor emotion arrived at a satisfactory conclusion and fate was evidently too busy to get involved. And so, I find myself turning to the only logical option available to me: a blog reader vote.
So what do you level-headed types think? Should I sell the house or not?
Wait! Don’t answer yet! Let me lay out the arguments for both sides before you weigh in…
SELL THE HOUSE
As much as I love my home, there’s no denying the fact that I only make active use of maybe a third of the living space. Three of the four upstairs bedrooms go unused, as do the main floor office and sitting room. And, as much as I love the downstairs theater room, the only time I’m ever really in there is when the guys are over for Football Sundays. Realistically, I use the master bedroom, the kitchen and adjoining sitting area, and the downstairs workout room. The rest is either dead space or gorgeous storage area.
Akemi has been dying to move to the downtown area for quite some time. The house, while beautiful, is a little out of the way, meaning she either takes the bus or relies on me to drive her wherever she needs to go. A more central location would allow her more freedom. It would also, as we learned in Toronto, open up more social opportunities as we’d get to know many more neighbors.
Vancouver has been ranked as North America’s priciest city (Vancouver ranked North America’s priciest city), beating out both Los Angeles and New York! While the local condo market has done nicely, home prices have fared even better and my house, which I purchased for what I thought was a ridiculous sum many years ago, is worth considerably more now. If I were ever thinking of selling, now would be the time as the local real estate market is finally showing signs of softening. I sell the house, downsize to a comfy, modestly-priced condo, clear all existing debts and bank the rest.
KEEP THE HOUSE
Given my European background, the ultimate goal of owning a home is as engrained in me as my love of pasta and fancy ties. Where I am now, I don’t have to worry about noisy neighbors or parking or strata regulations. In the summer, I can sit out in my back yard and let the dogs run loose, something I couldn’t do in a condo. If the dogs need to go out, I don’t have to ride down an elevator to a green area. All I can have to do is open the back door and let them out. I can work out as early or as late as I like, while watching whatever I like, without having to wait for equipment or having to share with sweaty others. I can host Football Sunday on the big screen. And, most importantly, I don’t have to move and/or find storage space for all the (valuable) crap I’m amassed over the years!
So that’s what it comes down to. Basically. Either I keep the house or move into a condo. And, no, there is no compromise solution in which I happen to find a beautiful albeit smaller house that also happens to be centrally located.
IF I we do decide to sell the house, then this gives rise to another question: rent or buy?
BUY A CONDO
When I told a friend’s wife that I was weighing whether to buy or rent, she looked at me as if I was crazy. ”If you cash out,”she told me, “you’ll never be able to buy back in.” Maybe and, then again, maybe not, but it’s certain that had I sold my house at any point in time between when I bought it and early last year, I certainly wouldn’t have been able to buy it back for a ballpark price. There’s simply no way to outguess the market. My writing partner, Paul, admonished me for even considering it. In his mind, you sell to buy – that way, you remain on even footing. Yes, ideally, it would be great if you sold at a point when the market was softening, banked the cash from the sale, then waited a few years to buy back in when the market was down. But what if the market doesn’t go down? What if the market actually goes up? Maybe Paul is right. Don’t try to outguess the market. And, for what it’s worth, in my experience, real estate has proven itself the safest of investments.
RENT A CONDO
Are you kidding? The local real estate market has softened for the first time in a decade and signs are pointing to a continuing downward trend. As I already mentioned, while home sales are feeling the pinch, condos are feeling it even more as construction continues unabated.
So, what’s it going to be? Let’s wrap this up. I’ve got a bunch more life-altering issues to sort out!
February 9, 2013
February 9, 2013: More from the Akemi Fall 2013 Collection! Days of Stargate Atlantis Past! Remnants!
Akemi is still at it, expanding her doggy wardrobe.
Continuing our stroll down SGA memory lane with one of my favorites…
REMNANTS (515)
This one was a personal favorite for several reasons. It offered action, humor, surprises and, best of all, genuinely heart-felt character moments brilliantly conveyed by our amazing cast and guest stars. It was also a bit of a bitch to write and, as such, incredibly satisfying to finish, a fairly complex script that required a proper balancing act of three seemingly separate storylines – and their ultimate convergence at episode’s end. My fellow Exec Producer, Carl Binder, considered it my best script of the show’s fifth season. My other fellow Exec Producers, however, weren’t quite as enamored. Rob Cooper felt it was “too literary” (which I thought was a nice compliment until I realized it was actually a criticism). He, and Exec Producer Martin Gero, also felt I was way too rough on our hero, Sheppard. My writing partner, Paul, meanwhile, had only one real objection – and that was the chopping off of Sheppard’s hand, for both creative and production reasons. Yes, I agree that Sheppard does suffer greatly but I argue it’s fine because, at the end of the day, it’s all in his head. Also, the Shep-whumpers reaaaallly needed this one!
Just so much to say about this episode – and I already have. Some Remnants-related past blog entries you might want to check out:
November 15, 2008: The Remnants Write-up - In which I offer some insight into my inspiration for this script (Harvey and a desire to complete Richard Woolsey’s rehabilitation from pencil-pushing suit to lovable Commander) as well as behind the scene photos and a breakdown of some of the scenes, beats, and dialogues that didn’t make the final cut.
July 22, 2008: Remnants Day #1 Behind the scene pics in Woolsey’s quarters.
July 23, 2008: Burgers then Back on the Program then Remnants Day #2 Behind the scene pics of the McKay/Zelenka scenes.
Tagged: Atlantis, Days of Stargate Atlantis Past, Days of Stargate Past, Dogs, french bulldog fashion, french bulldogs, pugs, Remnants, science fiction, scifi television, SF, SF television, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis
February 8, 2013
February 8, 2013: Pidgin Restaurant!
Akemi and I don’t get out as much as we used to but, the other night, we hung up our pots and pans (and packed away the sous vide machine) in favor of a night out. We headed to Gastown to check out Pidgin, one of the newest additions (less than a week old!) to the local dining scene. The man behind the menu, Chef Makoto Ono, was the winner of the first Canadian Culinary Championship at Gold Medal Plates back in 2007. Since then, he has opened Makoto restaurant in Beijing, as well as Liberty Exchange and Liberty Private Works (which made the World’s Best 50 Restaurants) in Hong Kong. And finally, Chef Ono has set up shop in Vancouver.
I’ve heard the menu described as mix of French, Japanese, and Korean influences with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients. Akemi and I were intrigued…
The menu is a one-sheet covering everything from appetizers to larger plates, the individual prices a guide to their relative portion sizes. We started small and worked our way up.
The rice crackers and sweet soy anchovies weren’t my thing (as I enjoy neither rice cracker or anchovies) but Akemi is a big fan of both and loved this starter.
Akemi concentrates on eating.
More my speed where the fried shisito (Japanese) peppers with parmesan and pine nuts. I’m a big fan of their sweet and slightly bitter taste, also the fact that roughly one in every three is mouth-blastingly hot.
Akemi presents…
One of the highlights of the night, however, was the sea urchin with cauliflower mousse, ponzu jalapeno salsa, and dashi. Forget what you think you know about sea urchin. Most of the stuff served at many sushi restaurants is packaged and possessed of an unpleasant funkiness. But get them fresh – as served here – and they’re nothing but creamy sweetness melting in your mouth. I ended up having two servings.
Akemi also did a wedge salad with tofu dressing, nori, and bonito flakes. Again, not my thing but very much hers.
The only dish that didn’t impress was the Korean rice cakes with pork belly with tomato sauce and furikake. It wasn’t bad, but I thought the belly and rice cakes an odd textural combination.
On the other hand, there was the other highlight of the night: beef tongue and cheek with broccoli pistou and mustard. A marvelous dish but, I thought, a little pricey given the portion size.
We had three options for dessert and, rather than risk second-guessing myself, I decided to go with all three.
The black sesame cream with red bean and snow fungus was interesting and I loved the little crunch imparted by the fungus, but it felt like a very good Chinese dessert – which is my way of saying it was better than what I’d expected but not something I’d order again.
The chocolate fritters with the matcha dipping sauce were a bittersweet treat. My only quibble was that the chocolate inside the fritters hadn’t totally melted and were solid and cool at their center.
The meringue with yuzu curd, vanilla, and celery (Yes, celery!) was excellent – and Akemi’s favorite. This was the dish she was talking about on the way home.
The verdict? Akemi put it best: fresh, clean flavors.
We’ll definitely be back and, on our return visit, I’m definitely getting the one menu item I regretted missing: the foie gras rice bowl with chesnuts, daikon, and unagi glaze!
Oiiishiiii!
Tagged: food & drink, Pidgin, Pidgin Restaurant, Vancouver Restaurants
February 7, 2013
February 2013: The Akemi Fall 2013 Collection! Days of Stargate Atlantis Past! The Prodigal!
Akemi has caught the dog fashion bug! Over the last couple of days, she’s been hard at work, snipping, sewing, and generally cannibalizing some of her older outfits, transforming them into haute canine couture. Check out her Fall Collection so far:
Meanwhile, a naked pudgy Bubba awaits his first outfit…
Sadly, Akemi is running out of material as we cleared out our closet and dropped off our old clothing at one of the local donation bins last month. It was while we were searching through the drawers last night that the idea came to me: “Hey, you know where we can find some old clothes? The local donation bin.” Strangely, she wasn’t thrilled with my suggestion.
Continuing our Days of Stargate Past reminiscing with…
THE PRODIGAL
(514)
One of the high points of Atlantis’s fifth season was this episode (compliments of Executive Producer Carl Binder) that saw the return of Michael, one of the show’s most colorfully nuanced villains. The episode includes Michael and Ronon going a mano a mano in the control room followed by tower-top battle between Michael and Sheppard. While the latter was being shot, at one point, Joe Flanigan’s stuntman lost his balance and went off the tower (fear not, he was cabled and there were some nice comfy mats to cushion his fall), which prompted actor Connor Trinneer to throw up his arms and triumphantly proclaim: “I win!”.
Teyla’s decision to – let’s not mince words here - murder Michael engendered a fair amount of controversy. Was she justified in her actions? Did the fact that she was a mother protecting her child color your opinion of her actions?
Setting up the big radio-controlled car showdown (photo courtesy MGM Television)
Boys and their toys (photo courtesy MGM Television)
Michael comes out on top (photo courtesy MGM Television)
Michael marshals the troops (photo courtesy MGM Television)
Tagged: Atlantis, Days of Stargate Atlantis Past, Days of Stargate Past, dog clothes, dog fashion, Dogs, french bulldog fashion, french bulldogs, pug fashion, pugs, science fiction, scifi, scifi television, SF, SF television, SGA, Stargate: Atlantis, The Prodigal
February 6, 2013
February 6, 2013: The Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival Tour II!
My Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival tour continues with visits to…
Bengal Dream: Milk chocolate with sweet spices (chai) served with caramelized honey and orange palmier.
Available: February 2 – February 14 at Bel Cafe 801 West Georgia Street @ Howe (at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia)
A little sweet but some very nice flavors. The palmier packed quite a sweet punch as well.
Pretty in Pink: White chocolate with rose and raspberry, served with a vanilla bean shortbread.
Available: January 19 – February 1 at Bel Cafe 801 West Georgia Street @ Howe (at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia)
As Akemi pointed out, white chocolate-based hot chocolates are the toughest because, all too often, the sweetness of the white chocolate overwhelms the other ingredients. Conversely, attempts to balance the flavors can result in overkill. In this case, however, it worked – a perfect marriage of white chocolate and rose.
Raspberry Beret: Raspberry-infused white, milk, or dark Belgian hot chocolate. Prepared fresh to order, by blending whole chocolate pieces into steamed milk, topped with vanilla whipped cream, served with a trio of Bittered Sling-infused meringue cookies by Kale & Nori Culinary Arts.
Available: Every day of the festival at Blenz 708 Thurlow St. (at West Georgia), Vancouver. (Downtown Central).
Fairly bursting with raspberry flavor but never overwhelming the chocolate, this one was a pleasant surprise although it was a little thinner than the offerings at some of the other places we’ve checked out on this tour.
Shirokuma: White hot chocolate with Japanese matcha, served with a trio of Bittered Sling-infused meringue cookies by Kale & Nori Culinary Arts.
Available: Every day of the festival at Blenz 708 Thurlow St. (at West Georgia), Vancouver. (Downtown Central).
Shirokuma is Japanese for polar bear (shiro = white, kuma = bear) and is apparently, according to Akemi, a very popular flavor back in Japan. While good, the sweetness of the chocolate overshadowed the delicate matcha flavor.
Both hot chocolates were accompanied by a tasty assortment of meringues compliments of Kale & Nori Culinary Arts.
Cherry Bon Bon: Hot Chocolate with Cacao Barry Extra Brute Cocoa and sour cherries, topped with house-made sour cherry marshmallows, and served with a pecan fruit crisp.
Available: February 1-14 at Terra Breads 2380 West 4th Avenue (@ Balsam)
Weak and surprisingly devoid of any real chocolate flavor. I actually wondered whether real chocolate was used.
Blond Mystique: Roasted white chocolate, candy cap, and cognac hot chocolate. Served with a brown butter Caramelia financier. (Candy cap is a unique small mushroom, that when dried, has the aroma and flavour of earthy maple syrup.
Available: Every day of the festival at 1 Water Street, Vancouver (In Gastown)
Everyone else found it too boozy but I loved this incredibly flavorful drink.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels: Smoked cinnamon mocha with chocolate marshmallows and caramel powder. Served with Manjari chocolate brownie.
Available: Every day of the festival at 1 Water Street, Vancouver (In Gastown)
Fine but, ultimately, it just tasted like a flavored coffee.
Aphrodite: Nyangbo and parsnip hot chocolate, topped with whipped chocolate ganache and parsnip milk jam. Served with English Breakfast gelato.
Available: Every day of the festival at 1 Water Street, Vancouver (In Gastown)
A gorgeous, multi-layered drink. A lot going on here. This was everyone else’s favorite. For my part, I couldn’t get past the parsnip flavor.
Monty’s Heat: A spicy hot dark chocolate.
Available: February 2-8 at Gem Chocolates 2029 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver.
Some very nice, deep flavors that didn’t really pack a whole lot of heat. A very good drinking chocolate but a little weaker than some of the others we’ve sampled.
One In A Million: Hot chocolate made with Maranon (the world’s rarest chocolate), served with a chocolate-dipped madeleine.
Available: January 30 – February 10 at Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie Cafe 1059 Alberni Street
http://www.thierrychocolates.com/
Delicious, possessed of a nice rich fullness, I only wish it had been a little thicker.
Tagged: Bel Cafe, Blenz, Chocolate, Gem Chocolates, Hot Chocolate, Hot Chocolate Festival, Secret Location, Terra Breads, Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie Cafe, Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival
February 5, 2013
February 5, 2013: The Superbowl’s Most Controversial Ads! Days of Stargate Atlantis Past continues with…Inquisition!
The Superbowl is never without its share of controversy. Power issues. Blown calls. And, of course, the commercials!
What am I talking about? Well, find out for yourself. Presenting, the most controversial ads in superbowl history…
Holiday Inn compares itself to a post-op transexual:
Apple’s depresssing misstep:
The great Fred Astaire dances with a vaccuum cleaner, compliments of Dirt Devil:
Lifeminders’ self-proclaimed worst commercial. Coincidentally, they’re no longer in business:
Just For Feet’s superbowl commercial was so controversial, it’s almost impossible to tack down. Check it out here:
http://adland.tv/commercials/just-feet-kenya-mission-1999-030-usa
Ah, women. So bossy and temperamental. So says Pepsi:
Snickers manages to simultaneously offend homophobes and the LGBT community:
The HomeAway test baby:
Save the whales money with Groupon!:
Free Tibet! I mean Save with Groupon!:
Ah, Ching Ching and Ling Ling! We hardly knew you:
This year’s Volkswagon ad featuring a white guy speaking with a Jamaican accent (and attitude) sparked controvery. Some found it racist. Interestingly, all of my Jamaican friends found it hilarious:
And then there was this year’s Go Daddy ad that featured model Bar Rafaeli making out with some uber-nerd – complete with close-ups of them tonguing each other. Yech!:
.
Our walk down Atlantis memory lane continues with…
INQUISITION
(513)
There invariably comes a time in every season when the producers take a look at the bottom line and realize they’re over-budget and need to come up with a relatively inexpensive episode to put the show back on track – and, more importantly, ensure there is enough money for the big season-ender. Desperate times call for desperate measures. And just how desperate depends on how much money you’re looking to save. If you’re in not bad shape, you can look to do bottle show, an episode that takes place on the existing standing sets. No extra builds or moves to exterior locations are a big money-saver. An even bigger money saver is to eschew the bottle show in favor of the dreaded clip show, an episode that makes use of pre-existing material to tell a story. Sometimes, they can be great. While other times…well, they can be pretty forgettable.
One of the keys to producing a good clip show (relatively speaking) is to have a great story at its core – and, in the case of Inquistion, we had a pretty good one: Finally, after so many years of playing the role of galactic policeman, the Atlantis expedition was being held accountable for their actions. One the one hand, they had successfully defended the inhabitants of the Pegasus Galaxy from the wraith. On the other hand, at what cost? And there’s also an argument to be made for the fact that their presence in the Pegasus Galaxy only exacerbated the problem. It was an interesting debate that fandom had been heatedly discussing for years and, while there weren’t any easy answers, there were some convincing arguments on both sides. This then was the premise of the episode – at turns controversial and complex. But, hopefully, all sorts of entertaining as we would include flashbacks to various spectacular situations from seasons past. As clips shows went, it was a tall order – and it happened to fall on first-time writer – and longtime Stargate script coordinator Alex Levine.
Alex was more than up to the challenge. It was a tough script but, ultimately, a great learning experience – as he explained on his SciFi.com blog:
“Inquisition’ is a clip show, [and] that didn’t make it any easier to write. You see, there’s a particular aspect of writing clip shows that’s extra tough, and that is the part where they move in and out of the clips. Of course Paul Mullie, who did the re-write and produced the episode, has lots of clip show experience, but this was my first attempt. And writing specs and other scripts didn’t prepare me one bit. So let’s just say it was a great learning experience.
“At the end of the day, the writing staff was very kind. They met with me on my first draft, gave me notes and some time to re-write the script. I did another draft too on another round of notes. In the writing I found some things about the characters and the story that worked well; other stuff was discarded. There’s certainly some of my writing in the finished product, but I must credit Paul Mullie and the writing staff with much of the episode’s success. And my experience is not unlike other first time writers of any show. Stargate is no exception.
“The coolest part of the show, which is always why people watch clip shows, is that you’ll get to see pretty much every cool space battle we’ve done. There’s also great acting in this one — keep your eyes open for the character of Myrus (the Council Liaison), who is played by my real life brother, Tobias Slezak (different last name). He did a great job.”
Many of you will recognize his brother, Thobias, from SG-1′s Heroes in which he played the part of Tech Sergeant Dale James, or more recently from the SGU episodes Intervention and Visitation in which he played the part of Peter, or, perhaps even more recently, from my Superbowl get-together where he played the part of “Guy scoffing down doughnuts” -
As for brother Alex, his writing career continued to blossom post-Stargate with credits on King, The Border, Verdict, Flashpoint, and an upcoming scifi series.
I knew him when…
Tagged: Alex Levine, Atlantis, controversial Superbowl ads, controversial Superbowl commercials, Days of Stargate Atlantis Past, Days of Stargate Past, Inquisition, science fiction, scifi television, SF television, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis, Superbowl commercials
February 4, 2013
February 4, 2013: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews Iron Man!
Monster not want to sound sexist, but Iron Man be waaaaay more fun and exciting den sekwel Iron Lady.
Movie open on rich industrialist playboy Tony Stark, a guy who be seeing more girly action den Kermit during his Muppet Show days! But during grand tour of Afghanistan, his military convoy attacked (see, dis why Monster prefer all expenses paid cruises). Tony taken prisoner by terrorists. Injured in attack, his cave-prison bunkmate build him mini arc reaktor to keep shrapnel from entering his heart (So DAT what arc reaktor does! Me got one two Christmas’s ago and be using it to power my gecko aquarium). Tony also forced to build terrorists a weapon like one designed by his company, Stark Industries. And, after dat, who knows? Mebbe a sous vide machine?
Hey! Dis not in pamphlet me got from Tourism Afghanistan!
But tricky Tony fool terrorists. Instead, he make pimped out suit of armor. He kick ass and fly away, crash, but end up getting reskued by army buddy.
Back home, Tony be conflikted. After finding out terrorists be using his weapons, he shut down weapons division of Stark Industries. Dis not sit well wit his partner, Obladi (Oblada Life Goes On Brah La La La How Life Goes On) Stane. But Tony not seem to mind. He too busy working on new and improved Iron Man armor like one he designed and built in Afghanistan. He test it, take it for a joyride, kick more terrorist ass, and, in one thrillling sekwence, outfly a couple of spiteful fighter jets. He also find time to flirt wit his cute assistant, Pepper Pots, in a relationship reminiscent of classik screwball comedies of de 40′s.
It turn out he not de only one working on a suit as terrorists be trying to reverse-engineer his first prototype. But terrorists de least of Tony’s problems. It turn out Obladi (Oblada Life Goes On…, etc.) in league wit terrorists all along. He steal plans for prototype from dem, den steal mini arc reaktor from Tony’s chest.
It all lead to terrifik, extended VFX showdown dat also reminiscent of classik screwball comedies of de 40′s. Sort of like Adam’s Rib except, instead of lawyers arguing a case, Tracy and Hepburn be business partners fistfighting in high-tech suits of armor.
Taking de new Audi Q7 for a spin.
Verdikt: A perfekt blend of aktion, humor and great dialogue. A skript dat aktually fun and make sense! No doubt screenwriters will be rewarded by not getting to write sekwel!
Rating: 9.5 chocolate chippee cookies!
Tagged: comic book movies, Comic Books, Comics, Cookie Monster, Cookie Monster film reviews, Cookie Monster movie reviews, Cookie Monster reviews Iron Man, Iron Man, superhero movies, superheroes, SuperMovie of the Week Club
February 3, 2013
February 3, 2013: Super Sunday!
Whew! I’m exhausted. Watching football, especially a game like today’s, really takes a lot out of you. Now that the season is over, I can look forward to some nice, relaxing weekends spent working on writing and rewrites.
I was, of course, pleased to see the Baltimore Ravens come out on top. And even more pleased with our final Football Sunday menu. What a day!
We kicked things off with a visit to the dog park for a bulldog meetup -
Then it was home for the football festivities -
Lawren brings the novelty beer.
Super football fan Kristin – and Lawren.
7 hour sous-vide Muscovy duck confit
Rob’s homemade tamales. Always a winner.
Chef Rob Cooper
Ivon and his gal Lulu.
Dinner: the mole sauce was fantastic.
For dessert: blueberry pie.
Choice of ice creams
Ivon brought donuts!
And Thobias brought the Turkish candy
Thobias indulges
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