Indiana Jones - It's not the years, it's the mileage.

I'm not the kind of person who is impressed by celebrities.

I've lived in L.A. and have seen many film and TV stars as the make their way around town trying to lead as close to a normal life as they can while not out promoting whatever project they are working on. I'm happy to let them. I have no real desire to approach a celebrity while they are cutting into a steak with the wife and kids nearby. Because honestly, I really have nothing to say to them that wouldn't sound like the ramblings of a fan. I somehow doubt that we would become B.F.F.'s and start hanging out all the time. It probably the one area in my life where I'm firmly rooted in reality.

Harrison Ford, on the other hand...you can throw all of that out the window.

And Indiana Jones is pretty much the reason why.

Sure, as Han Solo in Star Wars he defined what it is to be a cool space pirate. Indiana Jones defined being cool period.

A lot of people make the mistake of thinking Star Wars is my all-time favorite films. Maybe it is, but so are the Indiana Jones movies.

I could probably go on to gush about all the reason why, but really, I'm pretty sure you already know all the reasons why. So lets cut to the chase.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull opens in less than two days and I really can't wait to see it.
When the project was first announced I must admit to being on the skeptical side. I was nervous about the whole idea, after all it had been 18 years since Harrison had last donned the fedora and Spielberg had evolved as a director and in some people's mind George Lucas had lost his marbles.
Then the first batch of rumors came out, about how scripts kept getting rejected, no one could agree on what the next adventure would be. A script by frank Darabont was turned down, word come out that Sean Connery was offered the chance to reprise his role and turned it down. Things weren't looking good.
BAM - then all of a sudden the principals all agreed, casting was underway and the filming was set to commence. I had trepidations. Most surrounding the rumors that were being spread about Shia LeBeouf's character. Shia is an actor I had never really taken a shine to. Supporting roles in Constantine, I Robot,

Then a funny thing happened. Transformers came out and I really enjoyed it and Shia was very strong reason why. So that alleviated a great deal of my concerns. But everything really fell into place for me when the teaser trailer hit. Once the opening notes of John Williams score sounded I was all in and ready for the adventure. Judging from some of the internet reaction I am not alone.

I can only hope that the fans are kinder this time around than they were when George Lucas released his Star Wars prequels. As I am one of the few defenders of that series I offer a small disclaimer for everyone who is getting ready to see Indy's new adventure - Lower your expectations!
I'm getting sick to death of people who build things up in their minds to such astonishing heights that no matter how good something it it will never top what they have built it u to be. You are going to see Indiana Jones have a new adventure on the big screen. Be happy with that, just enjoy it for what it is, a film that should provide a nice adventure for two hours.
When 'Last Crusade' came out I was 10 years old. It was the 1st time I got to see Indy in theaters. I'm really excited for the chance to go back and see him on the big screen again. Let try to keep our expectations grounded in reality people. Don't join the growing masses of haters who feel the need to go around (mostly on the internets) and blast the holy hell out of a film and everyone involved in it to smithereens.

The man with the hat is back, enjoy it. Harrison can't do this forver...

Or can he?

Justice League Unlimited - Complete series

Yeah, I'm a little late to the party on this one. But seriously, this was an absolutely incredible animated series.

The first two seasons of the show show, simply known as Justice League, focuses on the seven core members of the team coming together to stop the forces of evil. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern (John Stewart), Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl star for two seasons of epic two part tales, occassionally a three parter is thrown in. It's good fun entertainment that culminates with the climax of the Thanagarian invasion during season two and the shocking resignation of a core member.

Then the series undergoes a sweeping change - Justice League Unlimited - 52 new heroes, some get more spotlight than others, but it's fun to see who is hanging around in the background.

Bruce Timm and Dwayne McDuffie along with some other creative folks turned this series up to 11.
First, they brought in Green Arrow which was pretty damn cool. Then they bring in the Question! Oh that was a happy day indeed!

Then, to my surprise I found two new characters that I had an absolute blast seeing on the screen. The Vigilante and Shining Knight - these are silver age interpretations that I was simply amazed with and want to find out more about them.

Plus they brought in Task Force X and my favorite assassin Deadshot. (I would love to have clip here but nobody on youtube has one shorter than 9 minutes)

And then, my peronal favorite - With the league down and out against the combined might of Lex Luthor & Braniac (merged into one godlike being) Flash finally gets to show just how powerful he is. Behold!

Season two of the series is also excellent, but a tad short. Two highlights from the season involve Lex and Flash switching bodies and Batman going to the aid of the Flash who is under attack from the Rogues. Seeing Batman's reaction to how Flash deals with his villains is hysterical.

Oh and did I mention they throw in some stuff with Batman Beyond? How freaking sweet is that!

Part of my enjoyment of the series was listening to the characters and trying to figure out which Hollywood star they got for them. Some are kind of obvious, but no less fun! Hell, Clancy Brown as Lex Luthor alone is worth watching. And as usual Kevin Conroy proves he is the definitive voice of Batman.

A great animated series that anyone with even a slight interest in super-heroes can and should enjoy for a long time!

Dexter in the Dark

Jeff Lindsay's third book in his adventures of the lovable yet homicidal Miami Police blood spatter analyst Dexter Morgan is something of a curve ball.

And that's not a bad thing.

A series that doesn't come out and try new things, that stays with a formula is a series that grows stale quickly.

Mr. Lindsay tries some new techniques and some unique ideas out in order to Dexter through the ringer this time around. For the most part it's successful and he is able to lead Dex down a dark and twisting path unlike any we have seen in the series so far.

How does he do this?

For the first time in his life, Dexter is made to feel fear.

The emotionless dispenser of dark justice finds something that lurks in the night that is darker than anything he ever imagined and he is afraid of it. So much so that his Dark Passenger goes into hiding and leaves Dex to fend for himself.

This gives Mr. Lindsay a very unique opportunity to explore Dexter's mind as he feels what it's like to be a human for the first time since his childhood. It also presents a chance for Dexter to contemplate his motivations and what makes him Dark Dashing Dexter.

Obviously I won't talk about the things he learns or much more of the plot. Other than as with the previous books, it moves quick and keeps you turning pages late into the night.

As with the previous books, particularly 'Dearly Devoted Dexter' my favorite scenes involve Dex interacting with Cody and Astor. Even the scenes with Rita have an element that I will always enjoy.

This time around Dex's foster sister, Sargent Deborah Morgan, isn't nearly as annoying as she was in the prior book. I still feel her reliance on Dexter to help her solves cases is a crutch that could be done away with. It makes her look insanely incompetent at times, granted the mystery she is presented with would be a challenge for most.

If there is one thing to nitpick it would be Dex missing bits of information that I'm pretty sure even the most casual reader was able to pick up. Now, again, Dex's state of mind in this novel isn't exactly where it normally, a strange word to associate Dexter with, is so that probably accounts for it.

Other than that, another excellent novel in fun and enjoyable series that continues to surprise by going places I never expected to be taken to.

So what is that can make Dexter Morgan feel fear? Go find out for yourself and have a blast!

Why do I even bother...

Of course a great hockey game is played last night and because I live in stupid East Coast Time Zone land of crappiness I miss a dandy of a 4 OT thriller. I was pushing myself just to stay up through the 1st OT when I realized I had to get up in 5 hours. So I turned on the tivo to record the rest of the game, honestly thinking it would be decided in the second OT. Oops. So the tivo only recorded OT 2 & 3 before shutting off since I didn't change the settings. Which means I missed the end of the game and seeing my adopted Sharks make another early post-season exit.

A small PS to the game - Naby and Turco were excellent and Brenden Morrow's hit on Milan Michalek was downright devastating! And totally clean for anyone who wants to cry foul.

So how did I do in round 2? 50% I got Pittsburgh and Detroit. That didn't take much skill to predict those two teams.

So now in the East we get Philadelphia(7) vs Pittsburgh(2)

The West is Dallas(7) vs Detroit(1)

In the east it's a no-win situation from my perspective. I hate both these teams and either advancing to the next round will induce vomiting.

Out West I'll go with Dallas. They are playing the type of hockey I really did and Turco has looked fantastic. Brenden Morrow is really showing why he is the guy who wears the"C" in Dallas these days. Plus I hate Detroit.

Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt Vol.1 The Dark Elf Trilogy Omnibus

Created over 20 years ago by R.A. Salvatore, Drizzt Do'Urden, the Drow Ranger, has grown into an immensely popular character in modern fantasy. Springing from the pages of the Dungeons & Dragons novels in the setting of the Forgotten Realms Drizzt hacked and slashed his way into the hearts of many teenage owners of twelve sided die.

I can remember first seeing his books in a classmates hand during freshman history in high school. Sure, I thought Drizzt looked pretty cool. But swords and sorcery? The few times I had played dungeons and dragons I was overwhelmed with boredom and quickly distanced myself from the game and anything that might be associated with it. Plus I was really into Star Wars so it had that to compete with and it lost resoundingly.

Alas, over ten years since high school ended and with a strong nod to J.R.R. Tolkien, I read fantasy books. Not a whole lot mind you, but certainly more than I used to. So what made me pick up Drizzt books? R.A. Salvatore wrote two Star Wars novels. I liked his writing and decided to pick up more of it. Oh the circle of life strikes again!

So fast forward - I've read the first 6 Drizzt novels. Devils Due aquires the rights to adapt the Drizzt stories to the comic format. I'm intriged, but the cover price scares me off. So I wait. And eventually I'm rewarded with the omnibus for the illustrated version of The Dark Elf Trilogy. Collected in the edition are the adaptations of 'Homeland' 'Exile' and 'Sojourn'.

I have to say, it's pretty good.

As with any adaptation some things are cut, somethings are condensed and somethings are just done right. For the most part this series is done right. Having read the novels I'm familiar with what was cut and condensed and I understand why. Scripter Andrew Dabb is clearly a fan of Salvatores novels and makes sure to keep all that is important in place. Tim Seeley does a fantastic job of illustrating a world I'd never seen anywhere but in my imagination. For the most part, my imagination seems to have nailed it. Except Tim draws Drow women way sexier that I ever gave them credit for.

I still think if you are fan of fantasy you'll do yourself a disservice by not reading the novels first. However, Dabb & Seeley do strong work in faithfully adapting the story and cramming as much of it as possible in the pages alloted without making the reader feel as if things they are being rushed through the developing stages of Drizzt's life.

I'm looking forward to picking up the next adaptation by Devils Due whenever it hits the stands.

I must have lost my keys.

OK, So I've been away from here for a little while.

It's not that I've had nothing to talk about, it's just that for one reason or another I've been sidetracked or bamboozled at every turn.

I had planned to talk more hockey, but that's just depressing me even thinking about it.

I had planned to share some stories from the New York Comic Con - This I will get to, but I'm still waiting for a few pics to show up.

I had planned to talk about some DVD's and TV shows I'm watching - I just haven't done it yet.

Yeah, the life in reality has gotten a little busy but I am still here.

Stay tuned for something new shortly.