Craigslist is a Biscuit

You know when a valuable tool becomes useless all you want to do is throw it away, but you keep it around just in case you get desperate enough to go back to it, well for me that is Craigslist.

Like ebay, Craigslist was originally amazing and I used it for both finding actors for After Cheri and to sell/buy things. But honestly, I have been on this stinking Craigslist for like 2 hours and went through only 3 days worth of posts in the jobs section. To wade through the 70% "hot models wanted" and actually find something worth noting, is just not the best use of time. But that possibility of finding something awesome, is there in my mind, so I can't completely not use the site. Lets face it Craigslist is a Biscuit website, it is losing its usefulness.

Once something is discovered to have value and be of benefit, everyone and their brother jumps on it and floods it with thier scams and riuns it for everyone. Just like Myspace, people become infatuated with it, and with the masses using loses its functionality. Watch out Facebook and Twitter, your next!

Labor Day

In my effort to post everyday, I will post a quick note about my Labor day. We went out and played some Volleyball here in Ventura, got some good games in.

Oh, also watched a little of that show Fringe. Its pretty good. Think X-files by JJ Abrams.

Biscuit Movie Review: 500 Days of Summer

Anyone who has been in love will appreciate the truth that is in this movie. I saw this yesterday and I must say I enjoyed the movie very much. While there are parts that are not the most original in the world (The debate that there are no more original stories left in the world, which is a mute one in my opinion is for a post for another day.) the heart-felt joy and sadness that is this movie makes it an experience. I really liked the movie Brick (mainly for the dialog and genre-bending setting) and Joseph Gordon Levitt continues to give a great performance. While the lead actress, Zooey Deschanel gives a good performance, there is something about it that I can't abide. It's either that spacey-robotilike stare or maybe it's just the character, but the whole time I just couldn't figure out why she was the girl of Tom's dreams. Again, when you watch this movie you cant help but recall your own personal feelings/experiences with a break-up, which is a sign of a good movie.

Some of the best bits where the moments that we saw reality vs. expectations, and the art direction that would give it that classic indie style is so popular now. (See N. Dynamite and Juno for what I mean)

In the end, I say, go see it. Its heart-felt and well acted/directed. Not as funny as you might think but if a movie has the Smiths in the soundtrack, you automatically get a thumbs up from me.

Motion Comics...

Today I wanted to talk about Spiderwoman Agent of S.W.O.R.D #1 the first big push by Disney....er I mean Marvel into the world of what they are calling "Motion Comics"

For $0.99 (now I think its $1.99) you can download a 10 minute motion comic, with limited animation and voice acting. I'll first talk about my impressions of the concept and then dive into this actual story.

For those who have never really read comics, I can see this being a very cool media and an interesting way to get people excited about the Marvel universe. All you have to do is sit back and watch it. It still has some of the pacing and layouts like a comic, which is good and translates nicely. This is not an animated cartoon though, and you soon realize its different, even different from that Watchmen motion comic that came out either this year. This has no panels that move around and things like that, its a strange hybrid of movie and comic, and I think it works as that, something completely different. Its not trying to be a comic or a movie. Becuase of that it works better than the Watchmen motion comic and other tries at this that big comic companies have done, like the trailer to Civil War or the Ultimates. So on presentation and unique idea I give it a thumbs up.

That all said, there is no way I want comics to start going to this media. If you have not read Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics, you really need to read to, its amazing and teaches the magic of comics, even someone like Big Kev who has read many more comics and for longer than myself should go out and read Understanding Comics, its awesome and its all written as a comic. So there. I bring it up because comics have a magic when you read them that is lost in this new media of 'Motion Comics'. The magic and imagination that happens between the panels is what is amazing about comics. The way your mind reads the flow of movement and the voices that you give the characters is what makes comics a unique storytelling device. I realize comics on paper are being challenged by digital media, and I'm coming slowly to grips with that, but they better stay comics. Dont go into this Motion thing, it will kill what makes comics, comics.

I'm a big old-school fan of Bendis and Maleev and this really well done. The voice acting is top notch, and I love the art and subtle music. It plays like a 22-page comic in the 10 minutes and had the classic cliffhanger that you would expect to get you to buy the next episode. At $1.99 its not a bad price at all, especially considering all the production that went into this. If you are curious about the Marvel universe/comics and want an engaging story, I'd say go for it....but it will not replace a good 4-color funny book that you can have next to your nightstand. (He says as he looks at this shortbox of comics next to the bed)

Season 2 has begun!

+

=

Awesomeness.

Season 2 has begun. Episode #1 is ripe for the picking and I hope your auditory nerve endings are ready for the cacophony of radness that is about to come down from Heaven and smite thee like Mijolnir, the Hammer of Thor!

Not for the Faint of Heart!

Not for those that claim normalcy.

Not for those that think Desperate Housewives is a good show.

GO forthwith to Itunes! - download it!

Or podomatic

And our message boards and talkback about it.

You shalt surely email us at biscuitshow@gmail.com and we shall read thy messages and play voicemails.

I no buy....

Biscuit #62 - Going to the bookstore not to buy books, but just to hang out and read them because you are cheap.

Just because some activities have become socially acceptable does not diminish their Biscosity. There are a lot of things that are now coming into fashion, but really its still being a Biscuit. While the bookstores have now made it part of their business plan to put couches and coffee shops in thier stores to welcome the casual reader, if you have money to buy the book, go buy it, dont spend all day for a week reading the latest Twilight book. Originally the concept might have been born in colllege schools where poor students couldnt pay for the expensive research materials, but now its in vogue and today as I went to the Bookstore to read a little on scriptwriting, I saw people of all age groups and social circles sitting around reading books and magazines.

Ever wonder if this activity happens in a library, where you are actually supposed to read the books for free? Nope. Libraries are like nursing homes now, with quick visits to the section that you want to look up and visit with and rush back home.

Making it comfortable and pleasant to check out the book jacket or read the 1st chapter to see if this book for you in one thing, but staying all day to copy, take notes from and memorize a book is just plain cheap. And being cheap is being a Biscuit.

Oh and one place that this is NEVER acceptable....comic book stores.

Ingloriousness - Movie Review

I saw the new Quentin Tarantino movie yesterday, at 3:25pm, another one of the advantages of being unemployed, but hey I saw the matinee, so what the heck.

I'll first start off with my history with Quentin and go from there.
I first saw Pulp Fiction in 1996 just about a year or so after it came out, I didnt see it in the theatres because I was out of the country at its release. I remember renting it at Blockbuster and hearing from old friends that it was 'hardcore' and one of their favorites. I saw it and immediately loved it. Of course it was all about the writing. Quentin is known for his dialog and his characters and Pulp Fiction had that in spades. There was also the non-linear storyline that I loved and that was fresh to me a the time. I had very little exposure at the time to the films that inspired Quentin so everything was new and fresh for me.
I rented Resevior Dogs and again, I loved that. I didnt care for 4 Rooms, and I do think that Jackie Brown is another very good film. Kill Bill is good, but not my favorite and I did like Death Proof. So while i dont like everythign he does I would consider myself a fan, so with that lets get on to the show....

Inglorious Basterds is first not a re-make and second is basically a foriegn film. Ifyou are annoyed by reading subtitles, then pick something else to watch, unless you speak German, French and a little Italian. This movie was definitely mis-marketed, in that its not an action film, there are 2 action scenes, and at 2.5 hours, its mostly talking heads, which turns out to be reading, so if that sounds tiresome, take a pass. That all said , I love it. I'm a film-snob, so I like this kind of thing.
Tarantino is like a smash-up dj, who puts the things he loves in the movies that he makes, he's really just a big film geek, and thats why I love it. This is a Spagetti-Western set in WWII and except for a couple of weird places it works the whole way through. It has his mark on it, the shots, and music its all Tarantino, but its also fresh, becasue its a period film and he has to restrain himself more than his previous works, and I think it works becasue of that.
Its not the usual Tarantino either, theres very little foul language and of course no pop-culture. There are a couple of graphic scenes (scalping of the Nazi) but beside that its not very violent.
Christoph Waltz is amazing, one of the best villians ever! You can always tell a good movie if it has a good villian. (read Silence of the Lamb, Empire Strikes Back, etc) He plays Col. Hans Landa and is completely charming and ruthless.
Brad Pitt chews up the scenery in his scenes, but honestly its good, but doesnt really have too much to work with here. The Basterds are not in the movie much themselves, despite with the title would lead you to believe.

So, I have it an 8. Great movie if you are a fan of Tarantino and dont mind subtitles.

One Man's treasure

Can you believe soemone was going to throw this hat away?
Well, I went to take out the trash...one of the new tasks befitting of a newly unemployed newlywed and lo and behold this hat was there next to the bin.
I took it and now will find new ways to incorporate into my daily life.

Just wanted to share this with all the Biscuit Readers/Listeners.

Being a Biscuit #36 - Picking up trash and putting it on your head.

Biscuit Ball

Some of us when we are unemployed get in that 'funk' you know what I mean, where stress and worry rule the day and even the good things in life can lose thier charm.

To battle those feelings one of the best things that I can recommend is to take up something new. For me, one of those things is beach volleyball. My wife plays and I've been learning from her a couple times a week, down at the beach here in Ventura.

Oh and the other thing that is consuming my thoughts is this "bluescreen of death", first off, I hate Windows Vista, and I got this new laptop that has it and the first day that my 15 day trial of Norton expires, my computer starts doing this. Still cant figure out what is causing it..... suggestions are welcomed.

Keeping our word

As we promised, the blog will be updated daily, as much as possible.

I have added the actual picture from Biscuit Big Kev of his cubicle the day he quit. Some of us aspire to the level of Biscuitry that this man can do in his sleep.

Pure comedic genius.

We just recorded another episode, which hopefully will be out in the next week or so.

On the personal front, I am working on a few creative projects along with this and starting up my mastery (thanks to my new wife) of beach volleyball. wish me luck out there on the sand!

Unemployed

Aint nothin' fun about being unemployed. A couple of us Biscuits here on the Biscuit Show are unemployed and the additional stress and concern that it adds to life is the pits.

Good things are headed our way I'm sure of it, and as George Michael says, 'You gotta have Faith'.

So what does this mean for you, our gentle readers? It means more Biscuit Shows! We are committed to puttign up more episodes this year and really working harder than ever on this program.

Stay tuned, good things are coming out way!

-aj