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I had him sitting right behind me!!  Though that was by choice I have to say.

I was delighted when comics writer and editor John Freeman asked me to write a review for his Down the Tubes website.  It's the first time I've been asked to write something outside of my Oink! Blog so I jumped at the chance.  Loved writing it and even editing it down to the required length.  Here's the link, can you let me know what you think?    I hope I did it justice for you long-time fans, it was a marvellous film!

http://downthetubes.net/?p=24461

No, just have my own opinion and I don't even like the majority of the Wachowski's output.  It seems to be a Marmite show, either people hate the slow burn and just want action and for it to be more like everything else out there and it just sails above their heads, or they love the original way of storytelling, the characters and the fact it doesn't pander to a stupid audience. ( And no, I'm not saying anyone who doesn't like it is stupid.)

For me, great characters are key to any series, this has that and the cast are superb.  The show is different and original, great idea, intelligent and isn't afraid to be in how it tells its story.

Sorry for the double post but forgot to say I think it's refreshing to see a show actually filming in all those places rather than use stock footage and then very obviously being filmed somewhere else entirely.

There's definitely a lot going on there from the word go, requires dedication I'd say but it's intriguing enough with a good bunch of characters that I think I'll commit.

John Carter was pretty good. Stanton's minor sin of not having any money shots for the first teaser probably didn't make any difference.

Several decent sci-fi action movies have bombed in the last few years (Serenity, that Karl Urban future cop thing, I forget what it was called), and what they all seem to have in common is a lack of either a big star or a recognizable brand for audiences to engage with.

Moral: if it's not a Star Trek / Star Wars / Mad Max sequel, hire Tom Cruise. Possibly.

Did that work for Jack Reacher though?

I'm still working my way through Daredevil (episode 10 tonight) but am considering giving this a try should I manage to get to the end before the next Marvel series hits Netflix.

Remember being a bit disappointed from the synopsis that there's no British segment, and also the Wachowskis have only ever done one good film. On the other hand, I get bored doing my ironing.

There is a British perspective, a London character.  I liked it. Really liked it.  It's completely different pacing-wise than anything I've seen before, very original but full of character and I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops. It's intelligently written and subtlely directed for the usually over the top Waxhowskis who I was never a fan of.  Lots of little segments for each character with the individual stories being pieced together (and tied together) likes pieces of a puzzle.  Taking my time though, I've a friend who wants to see it so only watching it when he's here.  One down and the next one or two this Tuesday.

Shrek was Dreamworks, yeah.  It was another series where I never liked the first sequel, but which got better again after it.  How to Train Your Dragon was great, very funny film and to me that's the most important part, the actual characters and story, rather than the animation.  By way of example The Polar Express didn't do it for me, yet the very simply animated (by comparison to Pixar and Dreamworks) Hoodwinked was a right hoot.

Wall-E was a film I chuckled to rather than laughing out loud, but I just adored the way so much communication was made with no words, it showed great skills to have such well written characters and to feel like you're getting to know them without them speaking.  Also was really surprised by the strong background narrative and think about it all the time when I see people buried in phones instead of communicating with the person they're physically with.  The film was like a warning about the future but hidden inside this cartoon.  Wonderful.

[Pixar]

Pixars running hits?! Clearly you haven't seen either of the Cars movies nor Monsters University.

I stopped watching Pixar film s since Toy-Story-Two (Awesome Opening Scene with Buzz-Light-Year and Bug's Life.

I guess these aren't really for anybody with out children.

That's a very broad conclusion.  While they may not be your cup of tea none of my close friends have kids and we're all big Pixar fans, as well as Dreamworks.  I thought Toy Story 2 was a bit shoddy but the third ended up as my favourite, and while Cars had me leaving the cinema halfway through out of boredom, I loved Up and was enchanted by Wall-E.

Just like any other studio each of their films won't appeal to everybody who liked the one before, they're all very different, again just like any studio.

(Oooh, Day of Chaos Mega Collection... tempted, tempted...)

Tempted isn't the word that comes most readily to mind...more like compulsory...even after having recently borrowed the 4th Faction from my local library, and having the Progs relatively to hand.

Yeah, might take a while to get here through Case Files....

[Judge Dredd:]

Well officially this was never called a jumping on issue by Tharg, just that three new stories began, so while it's a good starting point it's not the best for new readers, with three good but slow starters and Slaine still going.

Judge Dredd: Like all good Dredd stories since I started reading with Prog 1900 (and there hasn't been a bad Dredd story yet!) it sets up the premise nicely, focussing on character and slowly drawing us in.  Will look forward to seeing this develop.

Absalom: Really rather enjoyed this, my first dabbling into his world and I think he'll be an enjoyable character for me, even if I can't help feeling there's a family resemblance to the Crypt Keeper from Tales from the Crypt.

Slaine: This is my first Slaine story and after weeks and weeks of talking and not much else happening I've even found the action episodes rather boring too.  It could just be that because I'm not up to speed on the full thing, and so don't fully understand the background story, that I'm not being reeled in as much as I should.  But now that stuff is happening it just feels like repetitive stuff.  Still, spectacular art though.

Finally, Helium: Not sure if I'm that taken with D'Israeli's artwork on this after my first encounter with him was the superbly crafted Stickleback, but it could grow on me.  Nice setup to the story with the war, the poisonous air, the corruption in the local government, Constable Hodge's past... all-in-all it actually introduces us to quite a bit of potential story threads here.  Good stuff.

(Oooh, Day of Chaos Mega Collection... tempted, tempted...)

Oh yes and as for the wire in the trailer that people assumed was a mistake, [spoiler]the character is an action movie star within the story, brilliantly introduced in the first episode (only one I've seen) so I'd say yes we're meant to see the wire as it's a film set.[/spoiler]. See, we should never judge by trailer alone 

Matrix: No
JMS: Oh yes!
Freema: HELL YES!
Heroes lite: It's not, and as for Heroes: Not a chance in hell. 

Apologies if this person has been mentioned before but I see he's selling digital scans of every issue of 2000AD.  He puts up to 150 issues (including annuals and specials) on to each CD for a tenner.  He's also advertising as including right up to the latest issue.  There can be no doubt he's making money off illegal scans.  I've reported him to eBay a while back but he's just resisted yet again:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000AD-DIGITAL-COMIC-COLLECTION-COMPLETE-/171816425635?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item28010e98a3

Was never a fan of The Matrix movies but with their style coupled with JMS' writing I'm really, really looking forward to this.  Also, Freema Agyeman - rar! (etc.)  Got a friend coming round tonight to watch the first episode, will be making it last with one ep a week or so - as discussed elsewhere on the forum many still prefer that way, I'm definitely one of them!

- Don't need to worry about getting a decent light source

Um, less pedantic - but lack of electricity will definitely hamper any attempts at reading on a digital device...

And don't even try to read a digital comic on holiday on the beach, you won't see a damn thing.