Birthdays
Carla Gugino b. 1971 (Spy Kids, Watchmen, Sin City)
Daniel Keyes b. 1927 (won 1967 Nebula for Flowers for Algernon)
Joel Schumacher b. 1939 (Batman Forever, Batman and Robin)
Richard Attenborough b. 1923 (Jurassic Park)
Today's Picture Slot = yes, I'm a heterosexual male.
I was surprised at how few films Joel Schumacher made, given his awful reputation. Almost all the scorn people pour on him is for nearly killing the Batman franchise. I would like to say to all those sci-fi fans currently on the fainting couch because Ben Affleck will be the next Batman, take a closer look at the writer and director of the next film, because it's those guys who will make it work or make it a mess. Blaming George Clooney and Val Kilmer for the awfulness of the 1990s Batman movies misses the point by a mile.
Many happy returns to everyone on the list.
Prediction: On the 29th of August, 1997, Skynet becomes self-aware at 2:14 am.
Predictor: Terminator 2, released 1991
Reality: In the movies, improvements in computer technology are almost never a good idea. Whether it's Colossus: The Forbin Project or 2001: A Space Oddysey or Terminator, smarter computers usually spell trouble for somebody. As a counterexample, we have War Games. Personally, my favorite smart computer is Marvin the Paranoid Android from the Hitchhiker's Guide series, brilliantly competent and bored out of his mind.
Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!
Yet another French postcard from early in the 20th Century predicting the year 2000.
Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!
Of course, things actually have gone to hell since 1997, so the only difference, perhaps, is that Skynet is operating more surreptitiously than in the movies.
ReplyDeleteHey! You left Sin City off Carla Gugino's c.v. Speaking of NSFW pictures you could use to prove your heterosexuality.
ReplyDeleteIt's not just the Batman franchise. From memory:
Yakko: Are you Joel Schumacher?
AnimatedJS: Yes
Y: You make movies, right?
AJS: yes
Y: Gee, maybe one day they'll let you finish one.
Thanks, Ken. I've added Sin City to the list.
DeleteCute Schumacher joke.
helluva picture slot, Prof.
ReplyDelete