DD, DS, Lego, G'Kar and Oscar noms

Warning… This will be one helluva long blog entry!

Just finished reading Daredevil 81, the final part of “The Murdock Papers” storyline and more importantly the last issue written by Brian Michael Bendis and drawn by Alex Maleev. This creative team have been working on the Daredevil comics for over 6 years, quite some time for any artist and writer to stay on any given project and since that date, every single month, Daredevil has been by far the most engrossing comic out there.

Unlike other Superhero comics out there, Daredevil has been heavily focused on realism. During the Bendis/Maleev run of comics, Daredevil has been married, divorced, defeated Kingpin and taken over the role of Kingpin and more importantly, had his identity revealed. But whilst over comics may not focus on the repercussions of such events, Bendis and Maleev have explored this to the ninth degree.

It has finally ended with Matt Murdock being thrown into prison alongside Kingpin.

Overall it has been a fantastic read and without doubt the most memorable comic series that I’ve read in a long time. So this is just a big “thank you” from me.

I have just recently read that Lego Star Wars II, The Original Trilogy, is due to be made into a game. This is great news. I really enjoyed Lego Star Wars, which was based on the prequel trilogy. It is by far, the most fun Star Wars game produced in a long time, and I like everyone else, much prefer the original trilogy of films, so a game based on these should be a blast.

I found a fantastic promo picture of the game, which can be found below:

Over the last few days there have been a couple of exciting add-ons for the Nintendo DS announced. These are as follows:

4 GB Media Player
This is a device being release by Datel which will allow you to store up to 4GB worth of music, video, photo’s or applications on the DS. The bottom touch screen acts as a control panel (i.e. showing play, stop, rewind etc) and the top screen displays the media.

It looks quite promising and I’m looking forward to reading reviews of this devise idc.

Web Browser
Nintendo have just revealed that an Opera (means nothing to me) operated web browser will be release for the DS in the near future. Allowing you to browse the internet via Wi-Fi using the DS.

Presumable the bottom screen will employ some sort of virtual keyboard.

I have a message for the PSP from the DS… It goes a little like this “everything you can do, I can do better…”

G’Kar is dead! :(

I’ve just recently read that Andreas Katsulas has just died aged 59 of lung cancer. He was best known as G’Kar in the excellent Babylon 5. A fine, fine actor. The highlight of any episode of Babylon 5 was always the banter between Londo and G’kar.

I think that a quote from Babylon 5, as spoken by G’Kar is most fitting:

G'Kar once said:
"I believe that when we leave a place a part of it goes with us and part of us remains. Go anywhere in these halls, when it is quiet and just listen. After a while you will hear the echoes of all of our conversations, every thought and word we've exchanged. Long after we are gone, our voices will linger in these walls for as long as this place remains. But I will admit that the part of me that is going will very much miss the part of you that is staying."

I’ve had quite a turbulent few days recently. I think the stress of a huge mortgage and the distinct lack of tenants has been getting to Roz and me recently. As you can imagine, it’s quite a weight on your shoulders and it’s meant that we have both been a little ratty of late to each other, combining to quite a row the other night. I think my anti-depressants probably chill me out about the situation a lot more than Roz, but this still doesn’t help things relationship wise.

Things are a little calmer now in the Harris household. I just wish that we could find some tenants for our flat, as this would alleviate SO MUCH stress.

Okay, now for my yearly Oscar nominees guesses:

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

78th Annual Academy Awards Nominations

BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
CAPOTE
CRASH
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.
MUNICH

I would really love to see Crash win this, but Brokeback Mountain has so much momentum behind it that I think it’ll likely win. I still have my fingers crossed for Crash, which is still an outside chance.

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
CAPOTE
CRASH
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.
MUNICH

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Philip Seymour Hoffman - CAPOTE
Terrence Howard - HUSTLE & FLOW
Heath Ledger - BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
Joaquin Phoenix - WALK THE LINE
David Strathairn - GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.

Everyone seems to think that this will go to Philip Seymour Hoffman, but I think that although it may be close, that this will likely go to Heath Ledger. Brokeback Mountain has such momentum behind it and it was Heath Ledger’s performance that made the film what it is.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
George Clooney - SYRIANA
Matt Dillon - CRASH
Paul Giamatti - CINDERELLA MAN
Jake Gyllenhaal - BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
William Hurt - A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE

I really don’t have much of a clue here. Popular opinion suggests that this will go to Matt Dillon, but I don’t think he deserves to win. I therefore think that Paul Giamatti will win, based on the fact that he didn’t win for Sideways last year more than his performance in this film.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Judi Dench - MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS
Felicity Huffman - TRANSAMERICA
Keira Knightley - PRIDE & PREJUDICE
Charlize Theron - NORTH COUNTRY
Reese Witherspoon - WALK THE LINE

Although I wouldn’t discount Felicity Huffman as a possibility, in view of her popularity due to Desperate Housewives and also because this is a challenging role.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Amy Adams - JUNEBUG
Catherine Keener - CAPOTE
Frances McDormand - NORTH COUNTRY
Rachel Weisz - THE CONSTANT GARDENER
Michelle Williams - BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

Michelle Williams role in Brokeback Mountain drew a lot of sympathy from the viewer so is a definite possibility to win. Although, in my opinion Rachel Weisz gave a stellar performance in The Constant Gardener and would be a more than deserving winner.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR
HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE
TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE
WALLACE & GROMIT IN THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT

Such a great selection in this category this year! If Wallace & Gromit don’t win, I’ll eat my hat.

ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE
KING KONG
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
PRIDE & PREJUDICE

ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
BATMAN BEGINS
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
THE NEW WORLD

ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS
PRIDE & PREJUDICE
WALK THE LINE

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
DARWIN'S NIGHTMARE
ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM
MARCH OF THE PENGUINS
MURDERBALL
STREET FIGHT

ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM EDITING
CINDERELLA MAN
THE CONSTANT GARDENER
CRASH
MUNICH
WALK THE LINE

Hmm, really not too sure about this one. I honestly think that The Constant Gardener most deserves to win this, so I’ll go with that.

ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
CINDERELLA MAN
STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH

ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES(ORIGINAL SCORE)
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
THE CONSTANT GARDENER
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
MUNICH
PRIDE & PREJUDICE

ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES(ORIGINAL SONG)
"In the Deep" - CRASH
"It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" - HUSTLE & FLOW
"Travelin' Thru" - TRANSAMERICA

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING
KING KONG
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
WAR OF THE WORLDS

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND MIXING
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
KING KONG
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
WALK THE LINE
WAR OF THE WORLDS

ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
KING KONG
WAR OF THE WORLDS

Even though I thought the effects were sporadic in King Kong (i.e. excellent for Kong, frankly dreadful at other times). I’d like to see War of the Worlds win, even though it was less effects driven, the special effects, when used, were much more stunning.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
CAPOTE
THE CONSTANT GARDENER
A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
MUNICH

I’d much prefer to see The Constant Gardener win… Although I doubt it will.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
CRASH
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.
MATCH POINT
THE SQUID AND THE WHALE
SYRIANA

I’ll be most annoyed if Crash doesn’t win this!