Disqus - Latest Comments for bbittner

Re: New Star Trek Clip: Bones is afraid to fly!

cedorsett — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:07:54 -0000

I am coming around to your point of view. It is hard for me to get past the idea that J. J. Abrams made the film. I don't really like his movies or TV shows.

The less J. J. Abrams, Roberto Orci, and Alex Kurtzman talk, the more excited I am about the film.

Really hope it is good.

Re: New Star Trek Clip: Bones is afraid to fly!

bbittner — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:38:07 -0000

My gosh. There were some lines that were delivered with an inflection almost identical to DeForest Kelly's inflection. Like Deforest got all hot and bothered about Genesis. Paraphrasing: "But here comes Genesis. Now we can do it in one day."

I'm pretty excited about the movie. That's because, like I've said it before, it's about the characters. As long as they get the characters right, I don't care that much about the plot. so what if it has too much action and is too much like Star Wars. Hell, put the write actors, saying the right things, and reacting the right way, you could put them in Fast and Furious and it would work.

Re: Severus Snape “I Will Survive”

bbittner — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:35:10 -0000

SPOILERS AHEAD

Snape has always been my favorite character in the Harry Potter universe. Especially in Alan Rickman's form. I've always been a sucker for baddies-turned-good, or baddies-possibly-turning-good characters.

And when I read that Harry's son was named "Albus Severus Potter," I got so choked up.

My only disappointment is how he died in Book 7. His death could have been a lot more dramatic, or ironic. He could have done something like Rowling did with Neville. Maybe kill one of Voldemort's key lieutenants before he died.

Re: Is it Ok to Celebrate Christmas, Even If You’re Not a Christian? - ExChristian.Net - Articles

bbittner — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:01:47 -0000

Even when I was Christian, Christmas was ALWAYS about the TOYS!

Re: Saving Star Trek

cedorsett — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:59:34 -0000

I agree that action itself would not be a bad thing, and I see Star Wars the same way you do. My worry is that in interviews the Writers, Director, and Producer have said that Star Wars is nothing but quick action, and have praised the idea that Star Wars does not make people think.

I am excited about the film, and want it to be good, the writers have said numerous things that make me question whether they understand the difference between a character driven drama and mindless action that assaults the viewer with a lot of shaky cam and nauseating eye candy.

SlashFilm recently reported the Entertainment Weekly synopsis of the plot:

Star Trek’s time-travel plot is set in motion when a Federation starship, the USS Kelvin, is attacked by a vicious Romulan (Eric Bana) desperately seeking one of the film’s heroes. From there, the film then brings Kirk and Spock center stage and tracks the origins of their friendship and how they became officers aboard the Enterprise. In fact, the movie shows how the whole original series crew came together: McCoy (Karl Urban), Uhura (Zoë Saldana), Scotty (Simon Pegg), Sulu (John Cho), and Chekov (Anton Yelchin). The adventure stretches from Earth to Vulcan, and yes, it does find a way to have Nimoy appearing in scenes with at least one of the actors on our cover — and maybe both. The storytelling is newbie-friendly, but it slyly assimilates a wide range of Trek arcana, from doomed Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood) to Sulu’s swordsmanship to classic lines like, ”I have been, and always shall be, your friend.” More ambitiously, the movie subversively plays with Trek lore — and those who know it. The opening sequence, for example, is an emotionally wrenching passage that culminates with a mythic climax sure to leave zealots howling ”Heresy!” But revisionism anxiety is the point. ”The movie,” Lindelof says, ”is about the act of changing what you know.”

These stories just add to my concern.

Re: Saving Star Trek

bbittner — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:01:18 -0000

I don't think adding action to Star Trek would be bad. There was plenty of action in all the series and movies. And action is relative. Today's audiences are more desensitized. To them, the original Star Wars movies must look positively dull when compared to today's action movies. You add the action from the original Star Wars movies to Star Trek, and today's audiences will barely notice it.

Also, I don't agree with the concept that Star Wars equals action and Star Trek equals rational thinking. To me, Star Wars equals the mythic struggle between good and evil, and Star Trek is about CHARACTERS.

I can't say whether I like Star Wars more than Star Trek or not. But I can say that I like the characters in Star Trek better than those in Star Wars. Star Wars characters are stock. They're symbols. The Star Trek characters are real. And "human". (Especially the non-humans).

I love all the characters in all the series and movies. But especially, Spock, Bones, Scotty, Data, Worf, Quark, Odo, and the Doctor in Voyager. (Heck, the Quark-centered episodes were my favorite in the DS9 series.) And one of the reasons I enjoy Star Trek novels, is that I love and know the characters. I can't say the same for Star Wars novels.

So, even though I'm looking forward to this new Star Trek movie, and expect plenty of action, it's the characters that are going to make it for me. And from what I know of the cast, I know it won't disappoint. (Especially Spock!)

And that image of the cast (minus Spock) is awesome. You can tell the makers of this movie are putting substance over style. They all look real. Not perfect-looking movie stars. Character and story will be king.

I can not wait.

Re: If the press will just do their job, all will be OK (Scripting News)

bbittner — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:01:14 -0000

I left a comment on your article on the Huffington Post. I wanted to leave a link to my referring to your article on my blog. But the comment fiter wouldn't let me. So here it is.

http://whatbillthinks.blogspot.com/2008/09/dave...

Re: CNN.com Finally Catches Up on Palin Church Video

bbittner — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:20:43 -0000

Watching the Rachel Maddow show right now (9:20 PM EST) and their finally airing and discussing this video.

Re: Palin’s Religious Views Scare Me

bbittner — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:53:51 -0000

I'm glad my clippings were of some interest to you. And your tweets have been a breath of sane air. I've been troubled about this whole campaign. And I lost some sleep over it last night. I mean to blog my thoughts on it all, but am waiting till after McCain's speech.

Re: Occult Heroes: X-men

Bill — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:19:03 -0000

You're right, the look is Victorian, but not necessarily steampunk. But, I guess if there was only one aspect of the characters that could be steampunk, it was that McCoy got that way because of a laboratory experiment. But I guess that could also be Victorian Gothic as well.

Re: Occult Heroes: X-men

cedorsett — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:24:40 -0000

Definitely. Perhaps we should compile a list of works and define a genre.

Re: Occult Heroes: X-men

bbittner — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:22:42 -0000

If so, I guess Hellboy would probably be in that genre, right?

Re: Occult Heroes: X-men

cedorsett — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:57:13 -0000

If there isn't an occult-punk or to use Lovecraft's fsvorite word, weird-punk because it sounds better. hmm, maybe this should webook project.

Re: Occult Heroes: X-men

bbittner — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:28:26 -0000

That is pretty freaking sweet. At first glance, it's overall look is steampunk. But upon a closer look, it's all more occult-ish. Is that such a genre? Occult-punk?

By the way, I posted an idea on the deviantART page about another character idea. It's pretty obvious, but here it is anyway...

A clockpunk automaton brought to life by Rasputin, who he simply named "Pitor"

Re: Kevin Smith Digs Star Trek?

cedorsett — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:04:21 -0000

I thought so too, but since it is obvious he was dancing around and NDA, I thought I should dance around the subject a little bit.

Re: Kevin Smith Digs Star Trek?

bbittner — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:31:34 -0000

Seems pretty obvious to me.

Re: Exploring The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor

cedorsett — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:24:34 -0000

I have to agree. There is just something about him that makes me laugh. I have always enjoyed his work... even Monkeybone

Re: Exploring The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor

bbittner — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:27:00 -0000

I've always liked Brandon. He rarely takes himself too seriously. And there are some moments in "Bedazzled" where he is just hilarious.

Re: Here we go again!

cedorsett — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:05:18 -0000

We did 2 panels this year. I am always on the GLBT in Fandom panel, and we also did a podcasting panel. We recorded both of them and will be putting them out on the podcast soon.

Re: Here we go again!

bbittner — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:56:27 -0000

What's the panel subject?

Re: Here we go again!

cedorsett — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:58:34 -0000

I have a photo op scheduled for Saturday, but I doubt I will have much time to talk at all, plus I will be on a panel while he is on stage.

Re: P:SI #189 "No Stairway… Denied!"

bbittner — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:15:07 -0000

Really appreciated your mention of the fact that you publish your stuff (or at least some of it) under CC with the hope that people create works in the world you built. That is one of the hopes I have with my stuff. (In fact, sometimes I think I'd rather have somebody just take my ideas and just run with them. But that's just me being lazy.)

Re: Theater or Renter WALL·E

HomersWisdom — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:35:08 -0000

Thanks Bill,
I have been hearing good things about Wall E. We have moved it up to a renter status thanks to the feedback

Re: Theater or Renter WALL·E

bbittner — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:36:21 -0000

Saw this last night. Maybe be my favorite Pixar movie yet. Smiled and/or laughed through the whole movie.

Re: Here we go again!

bbittner — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:34:30 -0000

Wow. Cool batch of guests. I'd love to meet George Takei.