Re-Inventing the Superhero

When I was a kid, Superheroes usually had Superpowers (Batman not withstanding). They were either aliens like Superman or the result of some strange radioactive accident like Spider-Man. Upon discovering their powers, they soon found themselves on the right side of the law, using said powers for the betterment of Mankind (i.e. kicking the butts of Super-villains).

Of course, Alan Moore changed the rules in the 80's with Watchmen. Sure, Dr. Manhattan's powers were the result of a radioactive accident, but the rest of them were just ordinary folks taking up the cause of Peace, Justice and the American Way. Most of the Watchmen didn't have X-Ray vision, super strength or the ability to fly. They simply relied on their own intelligence and training to get the bad guys.

In 2008, writer Mark Millar and illustrator John Romita, Jr. created Marvel's Kick-Ass, a teen-aged superhero who trained himself to fight villains and criminals, much like Batman. But Kick-Ass is a product of the New Millennium. His acts of heroism are displayed on YouTube and his services can be acquired by contacting him on his MySpace page.

Next week, Lionsgate and Marvel Films will release the movie version of Kick-Ass and I for one, cannot wait. The NSFW trailer is posted below, and the advance buzz is off the charts, despite the presence of Nicholas Cage as 'Big Daddy.' Director Matthew Vaughn made one of my all-time favorite Fantasy films (the extremely underrated and under-seen Stardust) and I have high hopes for his take on the adventures of Kick-Ass, Hitgirl and Red Mist.

Sure, Iron Man 2 will dominate the summer box-office, but I imagine Kick-Ass will probably be a whole lot more fun.

More, anon.
Prospero

I'm Excited

So, it's been a long, cold winter without a show for your Uncle P, though to be honest, that's mostly by choice. The older I get (no cracks from the Peanut Gallery, please - Oh, that's a give-away), the more I'm inclined to work on writing than performing. Still, the prospect of directing another show for the JTMF has me feeling young again.

As you probably know, this year's show is Del Shores' Sordid Lives, a black comedy about a white trash family from Southern Texas, gathering and preparing for the funeral of their matriarch Peggy, who died when she hit her head on a motel room sink, after tripping over the wooden legs of the Vietnam vet with whom she'd been having an affair.

A JTMF show is unlike any other I've ever done in more than 30 years of live theatre experience. Artists gather to not only honor the memory of a fallen comrade, but to raise money for both AIDS support groups and Arts Education charities. We only do three performances, two of which feature a gala reception and silent auction. All ticket sales go to the Open Arms Foundation and the James Tolin Memorial Scholarship at Mercer County Community College. A JTMF show is like working with family and egos are set aside for our common goal. I have been privileged to direct 5 of the 7 shows we've done, while appearing in the first two. This is our 8th year, and we are thrilled to still be doing what we do.

Auditions for the show are this coming Saturday, and while I admit that some roles have already been cast with actors I know will give the kinds of performances I am looking for, I am always excited to meet and cast people who have something new to bring to our considerable (and ever-growing) talent pool.

Tickets to this year's event are already available at the Kelsey Theater website. If you are unable to attend, but would like to make a secure donation via PayPal, you can do so at the JTMF website, www.jtmf.org.

If you are on the West Coast or in Canada, you can also help by visiting our sister organization, JTMF West in Edmonton, Alberta. The JTMF West will be holding their first fund raising event next weekend, April 17th at the Catalyst Theatre in Edmonton.

More, anon.
Prospero

Hip-Hip Hypocrisy!

There, I've gone and done it. I've finally equated the Pope with the devil (well, the creator of that sculpture did, but you get the idea).

Why am I doing so, you may well ask. Because its basically true. And forgive me for ranting the same rant I made on The Zombie Zone last weekend, but there are few things that make me more insane than religious hypocrisy.

The Catholic Church has a proven historical track record of hypocrisy. Popes have fathered bastard children, carried on affairs with young boys and turned a blind eye to genocide for nearly 2000 years. During WWII, as Hitler exterminated millions of Jews, Pope Pius XII never said a word about the atrocities being committed. And now, as more and more cases of pedophilia among priests are brought to light, Pope Benedict XVI remains silent, letting lesser Bishops do the talking for him in vague and non-committal terms, referring to the news as "gossip."

Seriously? Gossip? Hundreds of deaf boys molested in one parish alone; thousands of alter-boys buggered against their will; dozens of priests simply relocated after allegations of abuse? The president of the Catholic League, William Donohue, blames the abuse on homosexuality, rather than pederasty. I can't even imagine the gall it takes to make such a statement. Of the dozens of gay men I know, not one is a pedophile. In fact, every single one of them is as disgusted by the actions of these priests as I am. Yet the Church trots out their "Head Exorcist," who simply blames the Devil for the behavior of these monsters. "Nope. Not our fault. It must be... SATAN!" Is it any wonder that the KKK and other White Supremest groups hate the RCC?

Here's the thing: I can understand wanting to save face, but there comes a time when the overwhelming evidence of a cover-up has to be exposed and acknowledged. And if that means saying "You're right. I'm sorry and I will fix it," then you should take your lumps and deal with it. Instead, as the Vatican has always done, the Pope and his minions continue to deny and hide the truth, blaming anyone and anything they can, other than themselves. And they have done so for centuries.

To me, the Catholic Church stands for oppression and denial, more than anything else. Antiquated ideals and unscientific principles aside, the act of denial in the face of overwhelming evidence negates everything the Papacy (and indeed, Christianity itself) stands for.

Jesus wept.

Okay. Another rant over. Back to nonsense, anon.
Prospero

Why Facebook Is Awesome

Back in the mid-90's, your Uncle P found himself in a playing Mushnik (for the 2nd time) in a production of Little Shop of Horrors for Princeton University's "Princeton Summer Theatre," a program which allowed students the opportunity to run a repertory-style theatre company for a summer. They were desperate; I had done it before; I was cast with what was barely an audition.

It was during this production that I met a young man playing the voice of Audrey II, who would go on to cast me in the role which would eventually inspire the name of this blog. This tall, gangly, funny and talented fellow had an unusual vision for The Tempest. He set it in an abandoned subway, transforming the shipwreck to a train wreck and turning Ariel into the spirit of a Broadway hoofer and Caliban into an NYC homeless person. It was the first of many guest performances I have been privileged to have on many NJ college and university campuses, and one of my favorite roles of all time. The PST Board then asked me to direct the following summer, which led to my first time directing Shakespeare. My consequent production of A Midsummer Night's Dream not only proved to me that I actually could direct, but went on to break PST Box Office records, resulting in SRO sales and a long list of hopeful standbys. It also made me the first (and as far as I know, the only) person outside the campus community to direct a production at Princeton, a distinction I will always hold near and dear to my heart. It also allowed me, the following year, to direct the aforementioned production of Much Ado About Nothing, during which Q and Dale fell in love.

Over the years, I lost touch with that young man, though I thought of him (and several other young folks from that era) often. When I first created my Facebook account, I searched for many of those talented folks, to no avail. They had scattered to the winds (as college graduates are wont to do).

A few days ago, through a random connection I had just made with one of my favorite Midsummer cast members (Yes, Suzanne, I'm talking about you), the young man in question (now married with child) made a "Friend" request. You can't imagine how happy it made me to reconnect with someone who not only "gets" me, but for whom I have always had a genuine affection. Dallas from Fort Worth is the original "Dear D" (no offense to the Dear D we all know and love, who will always and forever be that to me) and you have no idea how happy I am to reconnect with him.

People may bitch and whine about Facebook and it's ever-changing policies and layout, but I will always be happy that it's there to help me reconnect with people I have known and loved over the years. And Dallas, if you are reading this, thanks for finding me. I'm so glad you did. Dead Rats, forever! (And yes, that's a private joke.)

More, anon.
Prospero

The Most Disgusting Thing You'll See This Week

I know I blogged briefly about this movie before, but now that its release seems eminent, I thought I should give it its own post.

The Human Centipede may well be the one Horror movie that your Uncle P just cannot see. Why? Well... its the whole 'Feces Factor.'

The plot apparently concerns a mad German scientist (is there any other kind?) who wants to connect people's mouths to other people's anuses. Why? I have no idea. The whole conceit is so repulsive to me, I can hardly believe I'm posting about it.

Dutch Writer/Director Tom Six has made only a handful of films, most of which sound as equally repulsive. And the film's international cast seems to have no problem with the movie's theme, or the face-to-ass performances it required of them (which makes Uncle P question their sanity). Honestly, I cannot imagine a more repulsive film (and that's counting the infamous "Two Girls, One Cup" video). Nor can I imagine the amount of money that it would take for me to accept a role in this movie. Ugh!

Released by IFC Films (which automatically loses points in my personal "Respectability" list), The Human Centipede will likely be Direct-to-DVD. Honestly, I hope no one in his or her right mind will buy or rent this vile exercise in depravity. So why am I posting about it? Simply to warn you, Dear Readers, from watching it. Just thinking about it makes me throw up in my mouth a little. Yuck! Really? This movie got funding? From whom? Whomever it may be, I never hope to meet them. Though if I should, I'll be sure to smack them, hard.

I had hoped to have a review of Clash of the Titans for you tonight, but an exhausting weekend of Spring Cleaning and long-overdue kitchen painting kept me from my favorite multiplex. I will hopefully see it one night this coming week. Though, based on what other movie bloggers have had to say, I may want to wait until it is available On Demand.

More, anon.

Prospero

The Gayest Things You'll See This Week

A mixed bag of gay stuff tonight...

That's Bradley Cooper as 'Faceman' in the The A-Team movie. Dirk Benedict, star of the original "Battleship Galactica" and the ridiculous 1973 Sci-Fi movie Sssssss , played the role on the 80's TV show (which I am quite proud to say I have never seen). The show also starred the late George Peppard, Dwight Schultz and Mr. T. From what I understand, the show was about a group of disgraced soldiers out to prove their innocence while working as mercenaries for ordinary folks in trouble. Or some such nonsense. I didn't see much TV in the '80's. I was either rehearsing, performing or out dancing at City Gardens* (the Trenton Alt Music dance club/dive where I first saw Sinead O'Conner and where John Stewart served me drinks at least once a week for a couple of years). Needless to say, 'The A-Team' had little to offer a New Age Theatre Arts major who was much more interested in Hamlet than Hannibal, Faceman, B.A. and Murdoch. I was certainly aware of the show, which lasted a paltry 3 seasons on CBS, but couldn't have cared less about it.

And honestly, I almost couldn't care less about the movie version (didn't anyone learn anything from The Dukes of Hazard?), except that it stars Cooper and District 9's Sharlto Copely. Oh, and Liam Neesom takes on the George Peppard role. Seriously. Did Natasha's** death effect Neesom's judgment so profoundly that he can no longer tell when he's making a crappy movie? Still... Bradley Cooper. Woof! I seriously doubt I'll be seeing The A-Team either in a theatre; on DVD; On Demand or even on Spike when it undoubtedly premieres there by next February.

Okay - you got me. I'll be watching for some shirtless Bradley. So sue me.

Anyway, from gay fantasy to gay reality, singer/songwriter Jason Mraz (whose music has not been in my personal Top 10) is now officially one of my heroes. Here's his PSA for We Give A Damn, a group of primarily straight celebs who believe in LGBT rights:

Celebrities including Cyndi Lauper, Judith Light, Anna Pacquin (who recently came out as Bisexual) and Wanda Sykes have all lent their voices to the cause. And speaking of causes...

A San Francisco Bay Area high school was recently targeted by the disgusting Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church in their continued attempts to blame all of our country's (if not the world's) ills on gays. Gunn High School students, who were warned in advance of WBC's planned protest, took to the streets in response. Here (via) is their beautiful response:

That makes me almost wish I had gone to Gunn, though I expect the reaction may have been a little different in the late 70's. Still, it's heartwarming to know that there are right-minded youth out there who not only recognize what is right, but are willing to show it.The positive energy expended by the hundreds in attendance surely outweighed any negativity the WBC expended in their hateful and misguided messages.

This coming Sunday is Easter, the Holiest Day on the Christian Calender (even though it's celebrated on a different day every year). Considering all the crap the Catholic Church has been trying to hide, re-blame and deny lately, I think I'll celebrate by seeing Clash of the Titans, in an effort to reaffirm my own Paganism. Visit me tomorrow on The Zombie Zone, where I'm sure to offend someone with a comparison of the Resurrection to Zombieism.

* Remind me to tell you sometime about City Gardens, Q, Devo and the Vampires... its a rather disturbing little tale.

** Corrected on 4/4/10 - as pointed out by my dear Stephen at Post Apocalyptic Bohemian. Thanks, Love!

More, anon.
Prospero

Fan-Freaking-Tastic

Last year, I posted an April Fools joke on April 1st. I considered it this year -- I thought maybe a fake movie review or something. But then I realized that the entire Internet was full of April Fools posts, so I decided against it.

Instead, I'm posting about yet another remake of yet another Sci-Fi movie classic. Variety is reporting that director Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy) is slated to helm a (sigh) 3D remake of the 1966 classic Fantastic Voyage. Starring 60's B-listers Stephen Boyd; Raquel Welch; Donald Pleasance; Arthur Kennedy; Arthur O'Connell and Edmond O'Brien, Fantastic Voyage is the story of a group of doctors who are shrunk down to microscopic proportions and injected into the bloodstream of a near-death diplomat whose survival is vital to world peace.

Pre-dating nanotechnology by 40 years, the movie's "micronauts" make their way through the diplomat's body toward his brain, in an attempt to repair damage that was caused by an assassination attempt. Using then state-of-the-art special effects, the team and their ship (The Proteus) travel through the diplomat's vascular system, encountering thunderous heartbeats, turbulent rises in blood pressure and an attack by antibodies on their trip to the brain, where they use a laser to repair the damaged tissue. Of course, the antibody attack was simply an excuse to have Ms Welch in a skin-tight diving outfit. Pleasance plays the bad guy while Boyd and Welch provide the eye-candy. Science Fiction legend Isaac Asimov went on to write the movie's novelization, fixing several flaws inherent in the original script.

To be honest, I am not all that upset by this particular remake. The original is hokey and while it may have been cutting-edge in 1966, it hasn't really aged all that well.

Honestly, if anyone can do justice to a remake, it's Greengrass. He's already proven his skills at making exciting, tension-filled movies. And advances in biology, medicine, nanotechnology and visual effects can only improve upon the original. Of course, the whole 3D thing makes me crazy. Yes, I know we're probably stuck with it until true holographic 3D movies arrive, but it seems like every Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror movie slated for production in the next two years is going to be in 3D. And while the new optical 3D is certainly better than the old 2-color process, I for one see no real advantage in 3D filmmaking. If Avatar is any indicator, 3D obviously does nothing to enhance what all of the best movies have in common: great stories, terrific acting, intelligent writing and honest direction. Truth be told, give me Casablanca over Piranha 3D, any day.

More, anon.
Prospero