So, How Was Your Christmas?

A scene from The Ref, one of the best Christmas movies ever.

It's the day after Christmas, and it's a Monday. That's a helluva combination right there. You've got your post-holiday blahs, and the most depressing day of the week rolled into one. In fact, it's probably the second worst day of the year, after January 2, the day we all have to go back to work when the holidays are really and truly over.

There is good news, or at least there is for me! I have the week off! It isn't paid time off, so it isn't all great. But it is time off. A whole week of it. I'm already sad that I've burned up three days of it, but there is still a week to go! I'm quite certain that it will be over with before I'm ready. But I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts. BUT. . .the irony of all of this time off, is that even though I have the time, I'm unlikely to be a prolific blogger this week. Oh, I'll get some stuff up. Probably even some good stuff. The Iowa caucuses are coming up, after all. But it isn't going to be a banner week.

So, please, if you're here for some snarky news nuggets and political commentary--thank you--and please come back when more is going on! Thank you, and please forgive my laziness!

Great Caesar's Ghost! No New Superman Movie?

Image from source, Bam! Kapow!

Well, I am bummed. I'm a big DC Comics fan, particularly of Superman. I eagerly anticipated Superman Returns, and was happy that the movie came out as well as it did. The film had its flaws, but I thought Brandon Routh made a great Superman, and Kevin Spacey a terrific Lex Luthor. In hindsight, continuing the story told in Superman: The Movie and Superman II may not have been the best decision. But overall, I really liked it.

I'm in the distinct minority. Though almost every comic book fan saw the film, the prevailing attitude seems to be that the film sucked. It's kind of like Star Trek fans' dismissal of Voyager, Enterprise and sometimes Deep Space Nine. They're hardcore fans, they watched every episode, but they have nothing nice to say about them. Fans can be cold, and they were cold to Superman Returns.

The film also had an unfair disadvantage in having to recoup tons of money from the many false starts that DC and Warner Brothers spent decades coming up with, then trashing. So, a respectable box office tally barely recouped the costs. And now, due to a lawsuit with the heirs of Superman's creators, DC will soon be restricted from using some of the elements of Superman lore without paying out extra money. So, you'd think that doing a Superman movie before that kicks in would be prudent. But, you'd be wrong.

Why? I dunno. How in the world could it be so difficult to come up with something good for the best-known superhero of all time? They've been talking reboot, which I think sucks, especially this soon. And given the track record of DC with both Superman and Wonder Woman (as well as with other properties), it is likely that the next Superman film will have the same challenge of overcoming costs from aborted projects. I guess my hopes from the formation of DC Entertainment were for naught.

[Excerpt]

Superman Not Heading Into Theatres Anytime Soon

. . .When asked if the shake-up (and the recent court decision) meant a Superman movie would be more likely to happen now, Nelson replied that "We actually don’t have any current plans for Superman. . ."

Read more at: Bam! Kapow!

Kevin Spacey on Hannity & Colmes for Recount

Much to the chagrin of The Other Half, I often turn on the FOX "News" program, Hannity & Colmes while I'm working on the blog. Even today, he made me shut the door, so that he wouldn't have to hear Sean Hannity's voice! What can I say? I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. Sometimes--terrible as the show is--it gives me a little grist for the ol' blog mill.

Tonight's episode featured a couple of things you don't often see on the show. One, it was a taped interview, because Hannity was off for the night. Two, it featured a sort of "soft ball" interview, with Hannity's punches pulled. And three, the guest, Kevin Spacey of HBO's political docu-drama, Recount, was completely not intimidated by Hannity. I almost wish that Hannity had come out swinging, because I think then Spacey would have totally owned him.

Highlight: Hannity's claim that Katherine Harris is caricatured by the film, and Spacey's priceless reaction.