Alexander

If I remember correctly, and odds are against it, the whole group was based originally on the sixties Charlton superheroes. No, you are quite correct. Moore had intended "Watchmen" to feature the Charlton characters (which DC had just acquired), but DC realized that at least half of the characters would be dead by the end of issue twelve, and they balked. Moore recreated the characters (and the series is the better for it, I believe). The Blue Beetle character you were trying to remember was Nite Owl (in both of his incarnations). Dr. Manhattan was based on Captain Atom. Honestly, I can't imagine "Watchmen" with the Charlton characters. It would have been interesting, but the original characters Moore created are much more compelling.

I used to watch this early in the morning before school. I loved the theme song ("Spider-Man, Spider-Man - does whatever a spider can...") and the plots were pretty faithfully adapted from the classic Lee/Ditko issues. I remember the animation being painfully simple, however. The animators didn't bother to draw the webs on Spidey's costume (other than his mask). They also had one animated sequence of Spider-Man webslinging accross the city that they used over and over again. I'd be interested in getting some opinions on this question: How do people (who think about such things anyway) rate this series next to other attempts at animated Spider-Man shows? Here are my recollections: "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends": This was on Saturday mornings during the early to mid 1980s. It featured Spidey teamed up with Iceman (he of the sixties X-Men fame) and Firestar (invented for the TV show). Peter Parker and his friends lived with Aunt May (voiced by the great June Foray) and (for some reason) had a crime lab in Peter's bedroom. It was aimed at a younger audience, but I remember some good guest appearences by other Marvel heros in later seasons (such as Captain America and the X-Men). For a while "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends" was doubled up with an animated Hulk show, both of which were hosted by Stan Lee doing his "true believers" schtick. "Spider-Man": This show was around during the early 90s, I recall, and ran on Saturday mornings on Fox. I didn't watch it every week, but I do admit to catching it every once in a while. I bit grittier than "Amazing Friends." It featured some decent acting and lots of Spidey continuity from the comic books (some of it mixed up. I recall the Hobgoblin being one of Spidey's main foes on the show, even though Hobby was inspired by the original Green Goblin. On the show the Green Goblin appeared AFTER the Hobgoblin had already been established). I actually liked this show a bit. "Spider-Man Unlimited": I only saw this a few times, but what I saw sucked. For some reason Peter was living in a parallel earth where the High Evolutionary ran everything. The Green Goblin was a good-guy on this world and had a Russian accent. Don't ask. It was short lived, I believe. "Spider-Man: The Computer Animated Series": I don't know if this is still around, but I caught a few episodes on MTV when it first came out, and I thought it had real potential. I know that Doogie Howser was doing the voice of Spider-Man/Peter Parker, MJ was voiced by singer Lisa Loeb, and Harry Osborne was voiced by Ian Zering (or whatever. The guy who played Steve on "90210," in any case). The web slinging was spectacular (it looked better than the first movie), and the acting was pretty good too. I lost track of it pretty quickly, however. Then there was the live action Spidey series on TV in the 70s. I remember it as being pretty awful. Anybody remember this?

I have a feeling he meant Miller's "Dark Knight Returns," but Moore did put his distinctive stamp on the Batman character in "The Killing Joke." If you haven't read it, I absolutely recommend it. Moore also wrote Superman's swan song in "Whatever Happened To The Man of Tomorrow?" Both are excellent deconstructions of the superhero mythos, written right around "Watchmen." Speaking of interesting takes on Mr. A and The Question, Moore's Rorchach is based on those characters. Considering that Ditko was a Rand-head, it's interesting to note Moore's clearly jaundiced view of Ditko's philosophy. Staunch individualists turn into a psychopath who thinks nothing of breaking fingers as a way of gathering information. Of course, that classic scene (the crimefighter interrogating low-lifes in their dens of sin) is also present in Batman and Daredevil, as well as "The French Connection..." BTW, I thought that Spider-Man's fight with Ock on the elevated train was an obvious nod to "The French Connection." What say you?

Quite a bit, actually. Yes, the original Ditko issues have a certain innocence about them, but at bottom existed a hardened cynicism about viewing life from the outside. It's been pointed out that comicdom's obsession with dual identities stems from the fact that a great many of the creators were Jewish. Certainly very few heros conformed to the "blonde, blue-eyed, all-American" ideal. Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man were all dark haired outsiders who were feared and despised for what they were, rather than what they did (which was always good). It wouldn't be a stretch to say that Lex Luthor or J. Jonah Jamison represented a typical anti-semite in their unreasoning hatred of Superman or Spider-Man. In that sense, the alter-ego (Clark Kent, Peter Parker) represents the Jewish American experience of assimilation. How many of these writers and artists overheard anti-semitic remarks by people who didn't know that they were in the presence of Jews? After all, Stanley Leiber changed his name to Stan Lee. It's not difficult to imagine that Peter listening to one of Jonah's anti-Spider-Man diatribes (unaware that he was in the presence of Spider-Man himself) refers to this experience.

Not a sin as far as I'm concerned. I have it. I like it.

Just got back from seeing this. It was -- no pun intended -- amazing. It certainly raises the stakes. Much better plotting (novelist Michael Chabon, author of Wonder Boys and the comic-book themed The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, co-wrote the story), less heavy-handed dialogue (although Aunt May still has some klunky speeches), INCREDABLE effects, great acting and a villian who doesn't wear a plastic fright-mask. It all adds up to one of the best comic-book based films since Superman the Movie. [Warning: Spoilers follow] It is truly staggering how much Spider-Man continuity they manage to squeeze into a little over two hours. Doc Ock's origin, the "Spider-Man, No More" story arc, Harry discovering that his father was the Green Goblin, on-screen appearences from both Doc Conners (The Lizard) and Col. John Jamison (The Man-Wolf), plus tons of Peter Parker as the original hard-luck hero (including a couple of unmaskings) and the continuing "will-he/won't he" romance with M.J. And it never feels rushed. No character feels short-changed. Toby Maguire IS Peter Parker. He inhabits the role the way Christopher Reeve WAS Clark Kent. The actor who plays Doc Ock is wonderful. He gets Ock's casual cruelty to the proverbial T. Eight thumbs way up from me!

No images come up when I Google my name, but a whole bunch of articles I've written do. I just saw that my review of Henry Hey's CD is quoted on the Yamaha web site! Seems that Hey is touring with Rod Stewart these days!

"Monica Duz D.C."

I got 11 out of 16 right. I erred too much on the side of caution and guessed that too many women were shemales. I work part-time at the library three days a week while I'm in school, and we have quite a few shemale patrons. In our case you can ALWAYS tell because they're usually these great big guys with deep voices and five o'clock shadow (I've actually seen one or two of them out of costume as well and dressed as men). Anyway, I feel that we should be supportive of such people for making the lifestyle choices they've made. It's not easy, I'm sure. However, I did get a big chuckle out of the fact that one such patron was taking out two videos that seemed rather appropriate: "The Crying Game" and "Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her." There's also this one he/she who's been coming in to the library quite a bit of late. She often dresses in a sari with a little jewel affixed to her forehead (I don't think she's actually Indian. I think she just likes dressing like one). She ALWAYS tries to flirt with me. She usually compliments my hair (which is odd, since I'm going bald) or my tie and tries to engage me in conversation. It's not that I mind being hit on by a transexual so much as the fact that she's so damned obvious about it! I feel like a piece of meat!

I hereby nominate this one for post of the year! I don't want to throw cold water on anybody, but you do know that this is a Steven Wright quote, don't you?

I'm in the pink of health, aside from a summer cold and some occasional allergy flare-ups. I am on antidepressants (which are working wonderfully, by the way. I've never felt better) and on medication for acid reflux. Otherwise, I'm pretty healthy.

This is a question that every music fan has to have addressed at some point during his or her life. What music would you like to be listening to when you die (assuming that you're dying at home, in bed, or at least somewhere with a stereo)? For me, I'd like to go out listening to "A Love Supreme." How about you?

"Yes Sir, That's My Baby." I personally think "A Love Supreme" would be a great song to play during the ceremony.

There's a gag in Shakespeare (in "Twelfth Night," I think) in which a man has received what he believes to be a love letter from a woman with which he is infatuated. He says something like "Can this be her hand? It is! These are her 'C's, her 'U's, her 'N's, her 'T's." Upon which the Falstaff-like clown (who is one of the men responsible for planting the forgery) popps up and says to the audience, in an aside, "Her 'C's, 'U's, 'N's, and 'T's?" So even Shakespeare used that word!

I got it, after much deliberation. I have a LOT of Blakey, and as much as I like him, it does all start to run together after a while. I have to say I was impressed. It does have a much looser sound than Blakey's Blue Notes. A welcome change. Pity about Gilmore's solos, though.

Now THIS is a Goddamed tragedy. Screw Ronnie. Rest In Peace, Brother Ray. Think I'm gonna drown in my own tears...

I would argue that ALL Jazz IS Fusion, when you come right down to it. There is no such thing as "pure" jazz. All jazz fuses multiple musical elements and styles. The first jazz was a fusion of marching band music, ragtime, blues, spirituals, European classical music...and even opera (both Bechet and Armstrong were opera fans, and Bechet was known to include quotations from arias in his solos)! The term "jazz purist" is a contradiction in terms. Jazz has always used contemporary popular music as a reference point. Why shouldn't that include rock, funk, hip-hop, and electronica? To come right to the question, what do YOU have against Fusion, Hardbopjazz?

Not really, no. Not only are albums like "Return to Forever," "Head Hunters," and "Bitches Brew" still regarded as classics (and still highly influential), but numerous younger artists such as Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton, Stefon Harris, Roy Hargrove, Wallace Roney, Kurt Rosenwinkle, Chris Potter, Dave Douglas, and Matthew Shipp are making fusion albums (many of them damn good too). Plus the *kind* of fusion is growing and changing. Douglas and Shipp have both made albums that fuse jazz and electronica. Others, like the Bad Plus, are fusing jazz with rock without using electric instruments. Let us not forget that Herbie Hancock is still at it ("Future 2 Future" only came out a few years back) as is John Scofield ("Uberjam" and "Up All Night" are great fusion albums). Not only is fusion still kicking, but I see no reason for it to let up any time soon. Fusion will be remembered as a much maligned form, but it will be more than a "footnote."

Everyone's a critic...

Nope. Classic album and a classic cover. Nothin' bad about it.

Um...because Paris is a beautiful city in a beautiful country where artists are appreciated for their talent and not the color of their skin? Ya think?

I think Cube would make a good Trane. Maybe Ice T should play Miles and Ice Cube could play Coltrane! Then Vanilla Ice could play Bill Evans...

Once, when I was working in a B.U. office, a bomb threat was called in. The cops came, but they didn't evacuate the building! I was very upset, and I told my boss that I couldn't continue to work if they refused to take the threat seriously. She let me go home, but told me that I was making a big deal out of nothing, since such threats were never real and no one ever REALLY blew up office buildings. I said that it would be better to err on the side of caution and evacute the building for a thorough search then ignore it and have it turn out to be the real deal. Well, there was no bomb, of course. And I was made to look like an idiot. Except... Almost a year to the DAY after the false bomb threat, Oaklahoma City happened. I remember going in to work, walking up to the boss who accused me of making a big deal out of nothing and said, "So no one really blows up office buildings, huh?" I have a feeling it would be taken seriously if it happened today...

I'm getting the feeling that some people would REALLY object to Snoop playing Miles. I don't share that objection. I think he's the wrong physical type, but I like Snoop as a rapper. He's got a similar feel to Miles (very laid back), and I can see why playing Miles would appeal to him. Would he do a good job? I don't honestly know. Several rappers have turned out to be fine actors (Ice T is probably the best example, along with Will Smith who was always more of a comedian than a rapper). I think it would depend more on the filmmaker and less on the star.

There is an actor, I'm afraid I don't know his name nor can I find a picture of him, who played a small role in Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" who would make an excellent Miles. He played one of two gangsters who ran with West Indian Archie (Delroy Lindo). When Malcolm talks to Archie later in the film (after Malcolm has converted to the Nation of Islam and Archie has apparently had a stroke) Archie describes what happened to his old comrades. The actor I'm thinking of is the one who's character died while having sex with a while woman. Anyone remember this guy? He looked just like Miles...