I think it might have been while watching The Devil’s Advocate, probably when it first came out in ’97. Pretty good flick, and I thought “You know, this girl Charlize Theron is good but let’s face it, she’s no Ashley Judd.” And I started referring to her as the poor man’s Ashley Judd. This of course was unfair but Hollywood. Ashley was the absolute best and then I never saw her again.
Then only a few years later when Charlize was doing guest shots on Arrested Development did I realize that she was the best ever and Ashley Who? Because Hollywood. Also, I guess I’m fickle.
I figured Judd just retired from acting, bought a farm, took up marine biology, etc., who knows? Because she was never heard from again.
But in researching this blog to determine when she utterly and completely abandoned Hollywood, a quick look at her IMDB page told me that she never left. She just hasn’t done anything I’ve really been interested in for the last couple decades. Sorry Ashley. Mind you, I also hadn’t *heard* about anything she was in fir 20 years, so maybe that’s on her press agent.
However, I am all about Charlize Theron.
The whole family was watching The Old Guard on Netflix the other night–thumbs up– and it’s a testament to Ms. Theron, that the “question of “what do we all want to watch” was answered more quickly than at any time in history. It’s a very good film adaptation of a comic that deals with a group of immortal commandos who try and do good.
Recommended.
Afterward, I thought back to a few other recent Theron films like Atomic Blonde and Mad Max: Fury Road and I realized that Charlize is really one of our top level movie action heroes these days. Roughly the same type of heroes we’ve seen in the Rambo, Die Hard, Terminator, Transporter, Fast & the Furious and John Wick films over the decades. But here’s an unexpected added dimension regarding all the leads:
She can actually act and her action films have a bit more depth.
Quality acting is certainly never a given in these films. You know what I’m taking about. T2 is still one of the all time greatest action films of all time, John Wick manages an unparalleled kill count and the F&F films have somehow built and maintained a huge audience but these films are definitely not huge because of the acting prowess of Arnold, Keanu or Vin. They just cleanly deliver a certain amount of cheesy dialog that works in the pertinent scenarios. Lots of cliches to go around.
Tom Cruise is not exactly a great actor nearly as much as he is a magnetic movie star, who somehow manages to make us forget how batshit crazy he is in real life. That is impressive though, admittedly.
Speaking of Cruise, Charlize does do a lot of *her* own stunts too. She worked out a long, single cut, brilliant fight scene on a staircase in Atomic Blonde that should be seen. There’s a sequel in the works and I believe one for The Old Guard as well.
Yes, Charlize is going on 45 and like any other action hero, that means she’s got *at least* another decade in her before she says enough is enough with what can be a very strenuous routine.
To Hollywood, I say continue to take advantage of this amazing resource now. She is just too good to let get away.
In fact, if Hollywood really wants a guaranteed blockbuster action hit, gather together a host of the kick ass women’s brigade of film. Charlize, Halle Berry, ScarJo, Gal Gadot, Tessa Thompson, Kate Blanchette, Milla Jovovich and Angelina Jolie, with maybe Helen Mirren as the leader. Hell, throw in Sigourney Weaver!
No, don’t resort to adapting a previously male property and redo it, (Ghostbusters, Oceans 8), DO SOMETHING ORIGINAL.
Yeah, yeah, I know, Hollywood, where “remakes are king”.
And yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, we don’t have *any* strong women roles in movies. Right.
Steve Shives puts a lot of content out on the internet. A LOT. he puts out several series of videos on YouTube, at varying degrees of quality. The one I’m most familiar with is “Trek Actually”, a series of videos where he talks about all aspects of Star Trek. In it, he meticulously and comprehensively covers themes and topics in and of all things in the Trek universe — tv series, streaming series, movies, etc.
He also has various satirical, analytical and parodying videos aimed at society and politics. He also has the “5 Stupid Things about ________”, and he does a series with his wife which features talking stuffed animals embroiled in comedic situations. He undoubtedly has other ongoing projects as well, as I know he does various podcasts, interviews, broadcasts, you name it. The point is, he produces a lot. By trade, he’s a writer and it’s possible he also has a day job but I have no idea how he finds the time.
But the production I value the most by far is “The Ensign’s Log Podcast”.
This is just shy of genius. The concept is that two ensigns on the original starship Enterprise are doing a weekly podcast set during the adventures of Star Trek, the original series. So the events of those episodes often have some effect on these two low level officers. You don’t need an encyclopedic knowledge of the show or have the episodes memorized by any means. The ensigns and their adventures are the stars and focus of the show. Actually being familiar with every episode they’re referencing is just an additional chuckle.
The podcast is not Starfleet sanctioned, so the two ensigns are sending it out on the sly, with aliases. Ensign “Barclay” is the communications officer, played by Jason Harding and Ensign “Riker” is a security officer played by Steve Shives. Of course the hidden joke there is the two aliases they choose are the names two members of The Next Generation cast members. Because these guys do know and love their Trek.
Side note– it’s really not for little kids– but I doubt little kids would be into this anyway. The production value is top notch, as far as music and accurate sound effects from the era, and the boys do a lot of extra voice work with a variety of “guest stars”.
Star Trek, TOS, ran for 79 episodes and the Ensigns basically dedicate one episode *for* each episode. They’ve been doing this for a few years now and have put out over 60 so far. I started listening a month ago and am already on episode 63. It’s really well done and occasional LOL funny. They manage to cleverly entwine their stories, their character’s backstories, and the tv show’s eps into an interesting ongoing adventure serial.
The more I listen to, the more involved I get in the lives of these two lovable and lamentable idiots. The beautiful part about it all is that since podcasts are forever, you can just start at the beginning and take your time. If you go to lemmelistenpodcasts.com
you can locate the ‘cast and start from the beginning.
I really don’t listen to podcasts. Almost never. But these guys have a funny show, which mixes nicely crafted scenarios with some improvisation thrown in.
When one considers the work of Shakespeare, Milton, King or San Juan, one can’t help but feel a tiny little tickle at the base of their brain.
What is this tickle?
Is it harmful to me?
It can’t be– it tickles!
No, that tickle is just you hearing about these literary Giants of creation and reflexively remembering the latest creation in the Lundeen stable.
Horse Guy!
I know what you’re thinking, you’re thinking “What ho, Rick…” –and really, we should talk about this because you say that a lot–
“Rick, surely you’re going to devote an entire month *just* to Horse Guy?!?!?”
Well, I would, but I really don’t have that much material.
I have enough material for a week.
Let’s see, got about 5 strips, the song….OH YEAH, THERE’S A SONG!
So maybe a Horse Guy week is warranted.
We’ll see.
I guess I could record the song, then people could play it back and then just mime the words with mouth movements promoted by spreading peanut butter on your gums and trying to lick it off. (The old Mr. Ed trick)
Yes. That WOULD be a good lockdown activity.
Part of the reason I like Horse Guy on the art side is that I can do it as a rougher piece each time, slightly loose pencils, a grittier feel in general.
Well, here’s the latest strip… and here it is via the link to my illustration site — it has each of the three strips so far and the visual gets larger, the larger you make your window.
Originally appearing briefly in the 100 Covers series, I decided I wanted to expand on the character. An assassin that’s rather unemotional and likes killing with his hands. He tends to snap necks but in the end, whatever gets the job done in any given situation.
Initially, the first issue is more of a straight nod to the late, great Darwin Cooke, may he Rest In Peace. Specifically the one color palette to give the story a distinct look. In the first book, we see the Swede in three different scenarios, where the actual kill is usually in an enclosed space or out in the open against great odds.
Book two: Sugo, which just came out, throws the Swede a bit of a curve ball when another assassin intrudes in his business and costs him money. This is not good for anyone. Meet Sugo. He also has a very distinct way of killing people. Side note: Book Two changes the color scheme a bit too for each scene.
The Swede Book One is available at Amazon HERE.
And The Swede Book Two – Sugo is also available on Amazon HERE.
Most people reading this know all about Mickey & Maj but for those who don’t, it’s the story of a seven year old boy who meets an ancient, wise-cracking sentient Magic Carpet that can take him anywhere is time, space or different dimensions.
The book’s future is up in the air. It’s also dependent on sales as usual. I believe the concept has real legs to it but I’m just me. I can only spread the word just so much.
Action Lab was nice enough to combine Books One and Two into one collection and put it out via print and as a digital release. The collection is available on ComiXology and Amazon. The particular process in this case took over a year due to delays but it came out this past January. I figured that it would be an additional year before Book Three was put out of at all but they surprised me and it was released digitally on ComiXology on March 18th. So, the trilogy is out there. We’ll see if the response warrants more stories. Mickey & Maj: The Selfies is still available on Amazon as well.
Sequential Tart is a website that’s been very kind to M&M, with glowing reviews for the combined collection, as well as the release of the latest book. Thanks again to them. I did an interview with them about M&M that was featured in their April edition.
As to what comes next for Michael James Hawthorne and Majestic — I’m in the early stages of Book Four. Books One and Two were 40 pages each. Book Three was 56 pages. No telling on this one. I had a story in mind but I’m adding a few things as I go. Had a brainstorm or two during the break in the action.
Of course the pandemic has slow things up and killed a lot of momentum with Action Lab, so everything’s tentative there as well.
So we’ll see where the Magic Carpet takes us next time, or whether they’ll head into a black hole, because the thing IS.
I had such a good time creating 100 Covers, I decided to go back in for another round to play with different stories. As time passed, some members departed, and new ones joined up, as “The Second 100 Covers” takes us through Covers #101 thru 200.
The great sea god Neptune attacks but when he’s defeated and reduced in age to a preteen, his attitude is much happier and his power is added to the team when “Kid Neptune” joins.
A few members take off on an adventure in time, only to come back much later than the reader thinks, as shape-shifting aliens took their place.
Granite, the son of Rockefeller takes his dad’s place when it’s believed he dies.
The Obsidian Pride, alien lion beings from a different dimension, invade earth. One of their own turns against the pride, saving the Battalion and the planet. Zaphir then joins the team and eventually falls in love with Svea, who is eventually killed.
But her soul rests in Valhalla, and Zaphir decides to invade the realm of the dead and bring her back! They succeed, and bring back Elof as well.
An alien healer named Vanir claims he can safely separate Mala from the Tor symbiote. We assume that she goes off to see the world once she’s free but in reality, Vanir merely imprisoned her while he took on the symbiote and became Vavator.
Matunaaga, son of Mataak, also joins the team.
A subplot runs through the entire set of covers, where an arms organization is plotting with Vanator to take over and a disillusioned Granite temporarily falls in with them.
When all’s said and done, there are enough heroes for two teams and we end on a happy note, with cover 200.
I have ruminated about a third volume called “The Last 100 Covers” which would be a big time jump going to the next generation and Covers #901 through 1,000. Sometimes it comes down to how badly the audience wants more and how big that audience is that creates the demand. Unfortunately, the different nature of the projects I do have not created a large enough fanbase to justify continuing them.
I wanted to try a more serialized story like you’d find in comic strips. A sci fi adventure story about two young idiots, who like all of us at that age, think we’re immortal. Still a bit drunk from the night before, they stowaway on an experimental test rocket. Said test rocket is due to be unmanned for said experiment. The two young idiots merely being on the ship disrupts the experiment, causing a change in trajectory and navigation. The ship hurtles through a wormhole and ends up in our neighboring galaxy.
One of the idiots is killed on impact. The other is not so lucky. He wanders around the alien planet and although he manages to survive, he comes out a very different person in the end.
The screaming Zebra men of Alpha Centauri are the initial antagonists and they end up being used in the second Mickey & Maj story a few years later. I’m actually not sure if I was ever able to print a sample of these up. The horizontal format makes for fine web viewing but not so much for a standard printed book. And I went black and white simply to enhance the sci fi feel.
I had them all posted in an online book site which was very nice, where you could leaf through the pages on screen. But the site eventually went belly up. I’ll have to see if I can cobble together the collection and put it up on Amazon some day.
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