The Portrait of Zool

DO take good care of yourself - get well soon!

Yeah. Wow!

And the Pen was off and running!

From: Ozymandias' email To: Zool's email Subject: Time is fleeting...Madness...takes its toll... Date: Fri, 03 Nov 2000 15:05:44 GMT I despise that movie, but hey, it is a pretty cool song. How've you been, my left coast buddy? I know I've been kind of delinquent in correspondence, but I've got some really good excuses (sounds ike you have too, from what I gather). (Booming car commercial voice) WITH A SCHEDULE LIKE THIS, I MUST BE INSANE! The meat of our guildpage is finished (read: content). I just need to translate it into the proper code. Hopefully I'll get that done muy rapido, or suck-TALK Arawn into it. With the aid of your silver tounge, of course. Boy oh boy did I pick the right publicist!! I'm still impressed by your snagging as many people as you have. But I'm beginning to wonder if our guys think that you're one of my multies, especially after the AM Woods sent me. {:>) Bears looking into... I completely forgot to tell you- the last quiz I was fretting over I passed with a straight A. Hooo yeahh. I also successfully survived my midterm. So far, so good. Now if I could only get some of the reading done... On the plus side, there's no quiz today, AND *I* have my homework done. It's been so long since I finished homework A) Early and B)Honestly it's a darn good feeling. Even if it was only an eight question survey. And for added flavor, I'm moving! I have no idea how this might affect my Archmage time, but we shall see. It may cut me down to once a week. :>( But, my *own* place! Yaaaay! It will be finalized within the month. Wish me luck! ~Ozy~ Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most. -Unknown Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy? -Unknown

From: Ozymandias' email To: Zool's email Subject: Re: Hello Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2000 05:04:32 GMT >From: Zool's email >To: Ozymandias' email >Subject: Hello >Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 04:41:29 -0700 (PDT) > >Wassup? > >Saw you had departed Terra - hope all is well. > >Hope it is a temporary thing, I would hate to lose such a budding >friendship. > >Write soon, >Zool :>) Ah, my idiosyncratic Eradication buddy, it was but temporary. It actually wasn't even intentional. It was just...errr, one of those silly things. See http://arch17.magewar.com/ubb/Forum23/HTML/000385.html for details. [Edited - personal] Can you tell I've been up just a *wee* bit too long? (My kingdom for that little eye-rolling similie that UBB lets you do) Hopefully by the time this week is out, I will finally publish one of my own original pieces in the Conservatory (not that playing Nemphis the fallen angel doesn't sound DARN cool), We'll have a basic guildpage, and you, Peredhil and I can REALLY start running our mouths off. But damn, he's so good at it! I keep having to resist the urge to kneel. Btw, could you give me his mage #? Since I croaked, I lost it. I didn't have it anywhere but in archmail. {:>\ He's in, but I still haven't told him! Ayayayay. I don't waaaaaaannaaa study for my networking quiz! I just DON'T. But it was, after all, my idea. In for a penny... Seriously considering bed before 1 AM, ~Ozy~ Hey, thanks for the concern. It *is* appreciated. But I'm not quitting AM anytime soon, heck no. So don't worry- be happy. (Ozymandias abruptly changes race, slips on a pair of glasses and skips off singing, "Doodoo, a-doo-doodoo, Be Happy" to himself.)

From: Ozymandias' email To: Zool's email Subject: Re: HEEEEEEEELLLP! Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 23:27:51 GMT >From: Zool's email >To: Ozymandias' email >Subject: HEEEEEEEELLLP! >Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 09:04:15 -0700 (PDT) > >Ozy, > >Well now I did it. On S1 BH I got into a discussion about Pacifists? >and their counter policy. Unfortunately, I think I may have pissed off >a rather powerful force in Terra - couldn't bode well for our guild. > >What should I do? You've been around longer than I, and I'm sure you >know some of these people. Should I back off with a reconcilliary >post, and make possible allies of P? Or should I stick it to them? > >This could have strong repercussions for the future of our guild, so >methinks I should get your opinion... > >On the edge of my seat... >-Z Well, bards by nature *are* individualists. A guild simply comes in handy because it offers more jobs. Now that BSing a bit has given me time to think- You go ahead and do whatever you see fit. It won't be against policy. As for whether or not the guild will back you, well, lemme ask OME, Nisassa, and Peredhil. I'll keep you posted. And hey, You can at least count on your founder. ~Pete~

From: Ozymandias' email To: Zool's email Subject: Re: Racouol is IN! Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2000 19:18:46 GMT >From: Zool's email >To: Ozymandias' email >Subject: Racouol is IN! >Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 12:06:04 -0700 (PDT) > >Racouol, who's aliad on A1 is 'Murdock', says he will join next week. > >Heh heh heh, Looking Gooood!! > >Out through the out door, >-Z You sound more and more like a Sesame Street sketch with each passing week, you know that? I can't even begin to imagine the type of personality your wife has to successfully live with you. :>D Congratulations and yeaahhhh buddy. Arawn, Racouol, Peredhil31, OneMeanElf, Nisassa, all in the "in-game" segment. What a coup! Oyoyoyoyoy. A decription for me, edits *still* waiting on the guildlisting, sleep to catch up on (wit recharging. Not to mention common sense.), war to declare on Temple Joat (as soon as I convince the rest o' the council [by the by, I know who it is, and we simply *must* war with them. Either that, or declare an alliance right off the bat. It's guys who we'd love to mess with and who'd love to be messed with], and *SOME* kind of full official listing of members and rules of play. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeshhhh. You know you're playing too much AM when you're going to skip a night, and this makes you worry for your guild. {:>) Ach du lieber (I neither remember how that's spelled nor what it means, but there's no Iuz here to reprimand me, so Pfft!, I say!). My new job is going quite nicely, but I tell ya, there's nothing like an entire day's worth of data entry to make you long for retail. Especially since today I have class DIRECTLY after work. So from 9AM-9:30PM on Fridays, I am typing, notettaking, and memorizing. It burns, precious! It burrrnssss! I'm actually looking forward to working in the bookstore tomorrow. :>) Oh, one note afore I go- as for wossname (the smart guy whose Archmail I sent you) I say we ask him to apply to our guild, and if he refuses, attack. Ain't I a stinker? Catch you in a day or two. Yours in writer's cramp, ~Ozy~ Coffee, help me coffee...

From: Ozymandias' email To: Zool's email Subject: In the interest of making the guts of an e-mail as convoluted as possible Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 05:27:46 GMT >Answer; > >Lord Graystoke, > >[edited for space] Thank you for your enquiry. > >Sincerely, >*I could send this if you'd rather.* > >Sorry, but I'm in a pretty good mood, so that's the best I could do. No, actually, I like it. I just hedge on sending it anytime soon because I have no idea if our people are at a point where we could beat the living snot out of him if he refuses his punishment (we beat him 'til he agrees). A bit violent? Maybe. But in the long run, it'll encourage the more hardline wiseacres to try harder to annoy us. And hey, we want the entertainment to keep coming back, right? :>) That and it'd help establish us as a *guild*, rather than just another silly little lark. Show 'em we actually *DO* stick by our rules. Heehee. Notice I say nothing about multiattacks. Think LotWR will want to be our friends? > > > I have no tolerance for wiseasses. > > Unless of course, the wiseass is me, or is rather good at it. :>) > >I have to give him credit for jerking our chain a little - I wonder if >he likes to write... Good point. Let's put the (verbal) pressure on him as soon as we take stock of our membership's standings, then respond accordingly to his reaction when we start needling *him*. I think that'd be the best way to find out if he's bard material. >Love the description - both versions! Actually, there were some values >listed in your first version that I rather liked. In fact, I called up >the description to draw from it for my ad (Hope you liked it, BTW) and >that's when I saw you had rewritten it. Love the humor of your second >version, it's good schtick. Perhaps we could work in some of the >first version as well? Yes, I'm a verbal packrat - I never throw >anything away. > D'oh! I saved nothing. I changed the values?? ERk? How tired was I??? heh. Glad you liked it. I was trying to acheive the stereotypical fantasy bard attitude there. Namely: thinly veiled mockery to inferiors when you can get away with it, well-schooled words, and a desire to further the cause of art (and one's pocketbook, but that'll enter in later). >Go ahead and list both my number and my email address if you want - I >leave them both available. > Excellent! I'll get right on it tomorrow. >I did not list my mage number in the guild ad because; >1) It looked cleaner that way. >2) I expect them to overcome such obstacles. Nicely done, btw. Standout stuff, especially on Ager. And no, the Legion doesn't count since they keep all their Rp'ing and writing to themselves for the most part or in their battles. > >I don't mean to be a wiseass, it just happens! > Oy, it's late. It struck me- it follows that if shit happens, ass happens. Or as my dad used to say, "Better a smart ass then no ass at all." When I let my mind wander, I'm occasionally afraid of it coming back. \:>D (just picture trying to grin really widely while arching an eyebrow at the same time there) >Hope you get a good nights sleep, > >Zool Thank you. Me too. > ~Ozy~ >

From: Ozymandias' email To: Zool's email Subject: Why is it I never seem to get the *fun* parts of sleep depravation? Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 03:12:35 GMT You got him! [Edit: Re Peredhil] Ha! And ha again! That is so cool! You know, that exchange made me realize that my attitude about the guild was all wrong- I was thinking that we'd do all the normal things, but much more eloquently. Nay! We should *emphasize* vanquishing our enemies with words. Which isn't to say that we shouldn't defend ourselves, or lay down the law for any particularly vile miscreant. But we should outtalk them, no matter what! Which leads into my next concern-Graystoke (#441). First peace treaty or first target? You decide... Message From Graystoke (#441) at Tue Oct-10-2000 19:36:36 Hi there great guild leader. I'm not representing my guild...just myself ....but I wish U'll accept my personal asking 4 a NAP with your whole guild. :-) [DELETE] [REPLY] I have no tolerance for wiseasses. Unless of course, the wiseass is me, or is rather good at it. :>) In the interest of continuity, I would like to put your name up on our guildlist posting as the one to contact for joining, but I'm not sure how to go about it because I don't know which would be okay with you: id # or email? By the way, have you seen the guildlisting yet? I'm dying to know what you think, and am really hoping it won't fall under the "it was late and I was tired" category. So take a peek! Remember, the guild of terra link is underneath the diplomacy one on the main mage page. Now, I believe, after checking in with my fellow priests of the Great God and Pharaoh Nanotoknonnen (almost as much fun to say as it is to spell!), that I shall take some 'me time', go curl up with a good book, and (Please, Lord) pass out early.

From: Ozymandias' email To: Zool's email Subject: Re: Yadda yadda yadda: More guild stuff. Date: Mon, 09 Oct 2000 19:02:43 GMT I just gave Orlan a redefinition of yours and his positions: "Zool made a good point about making any division between the in-game portion of "The Pen" official makes things too convoluted. A redefinition, then- You guys are both recruiters, but Zool is in charge of advertising, and you're in charge of coralling members in the BH as you see fit, except for the Council of Elders: You, Nisassa, Me, Zool, Arawn (if he joins), OME, and Racouol (if he joins) . Howzat?" And I just signed OME as tactitian! Boo-yah! And it only took *three* days of begging. For the nonce, I'd better go. Breakfast to eat, Ozy to check and see if the poor schlub's dead (check the guilds of terra list under diplomacy, look for "The Pen is Mightier than the Sword", and keep in mind that I very cleverly wrote that when I was at 8 forts and no turns left. *MEGA-sigh* The inherent dangers of writing whilst sleep-deprived. Sheesh. Oh yeah, I should probably get ready for work, too. :>) TTFN! Sincerely, ~Ozy~

From: Ozymandias' email To: Zool's email Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: More guild stuff. Date: Mon, 09 Oct 2000 04:44:28 GMT As guild publicist, you're the go-between for the main guild and the Public Relations Board, of which Orlan is head. You still reatin complete autonomy over marketing the main guild, but as for recruiting Noncom members (Public Realtions Board 'cause they'll get us noticed even faster), that's all Orlan. The Public Relations Board will be those who like the BBs more than the game, don't want to/can't commit to the in-game segment. Long and short, they'll be the BHs-only membership. How does that grab you? We haven't even made ourselves known yet, and alreadty we have to split in two. This is GREAT! The potential here is muy bueno. Well, Places to go, people to cajole. Catch you later. ~Ozy~

From: Ozymandias' email To: Zool's email Subject: Re: Re: Re:Guilding, guilding... Date: Mon, 09 Oct 2000 04:25:52 GMT >From: Zool's email >To: Ozymandias' email >Subject: Re: Re: Re:Guilding, guilding... >Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 17:42:39 -0700 (PDT) > >Mister O, > >Don't even worry about the previous email. I've sent out enough emails >of questionable intent that it is not an issue here. You know what I >mean. > Oh yes. I *ahem**cough* believe so. >Confirmations confirmed. Great! So we're agreed to agree! That is, we have a guild, I like the >proposed rules, don' worry 'bout a thing. > >Haven't heard back from anyone yet! I'll get in touch with them in >game quick though - last time it was three weeks before Racouol >answered his email. :< > >The registry. What's that? Enough said. I'll do the announcement >as soon as I have clarification on something. What exactly is the >criteria for guild entry? I know you proposed that they attack one of >us and we judge the attack arrow. I think that is good for two >reasons; >1) Gives some idea of their writing skills. >2) Gives some idea of their AM skills. > I would like to make another motion- use the letter 'u' as the word 'you' at any given time, and you fail/get punished. In the entrance exam, the attack arrow had better be pretty damn good to make up, or you don't get in (see below for that to fully make sense. I wrote this paragraph after the next one). Oooh, or maybe for members, they have to write 'I will always spell out my personal pronouns' 500 times on the blackboard (set up a thread in GA BH). >The problem is that I've barely begun to reasearch. I propose that >they message us, at which time I'll ask for a sysapses of their AM >experience and a sample of their writing on a theme suggested by one of >us. Counter-counter proposal: They message us w/an AM resume. We like what we see, they attack one of us, we share the battle report. That way, we get a more in-depth look at their skill. Considering our numbers now, I nominate me to fill the position. 'As we dance to the masochism tango...' Ever hear Tom Lehrer's music? I think you might enjoy him. :>) > To sum up- Entrance Exam Send us a resume of your greatest skills in AM. Tell us about your strengths and weaknesses (to a reasonable point, of course). Cite major accomplishments. Give us any particularly good battle data, nifty stuff what you've posted, etc. Second and final part of the test, attack one of the Council of Elders. We'll share the attack arrows (and stackings, where applicable), and judge you fit or uncultured heathen. >We can do the attack thing when I'm a little more prepared for it. >Yeah, I'm a whimp. > Ah, yes, but you are a cautious one. Those usually live longer. >You are mage #110. I will message you with my number and alliance >offer. BTW, what IS the name of our Guild? The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. I *do* like the name, but I think it's a trifle unwieldy. Any suggestions? Mayhaps The Pen is Mightier? > >Overcome with guild, (Uugh!) >Zool Spare me from this PUNishment. ~Ozy Man~ P.S.- Orlan and I just came up with a REALLY neat idea. I'll tell you tomorrow, if you can't get ahold o' him. Oh, man this'll be fun!!!!

From: Ozymandias' email To: Zool's email Subject: Re: Re:Guilding, guilding... Date: Mon, 09 Oct 2000 00:08:13 GMT I have to apologize. {:>) I wrote you on Friday reaaaaaaaaallllllly brain fried. I fell asleep eight or nine times at work. Ozy needed sleep. So I was just a wee bit more demanding than I wanted to be. Sorry. Now, with that out of the way, if you haven't done them already, what I repropose is that you take care of the public announcements, and I do the guild listing. Like I said, if you haven't done both already. I'll look around, and if I see no guild listing, I'll do it later tonight. If I do, on to phase two! Whatever that is... Perhaps seeing if we've got a consensus on the rules, and hey, confirming who's in! What do Racouol and Arawn say? Go ahead and give 'em my mage # if they want to powwow. Do you have it? Poop...I'll send it to ya later tonight. Let me know confirmations ASAP, though! That does still stand! More later. ~Mister O~

From: Ozymandias' email To: Zool's email Subject: Guilding, guilding, over the bounding main... Date: Sat, 07 Oct 2000 03:40:51 GMT You know I almost put up an announcement in the guilds of Terra, when I remembered that *you're* our publicist! D'oh! Far be it from me to steal your thunder. Have at it, Old Bean! I'm thinking that since we're both in agreement and since we're the entire guild right now, that the motion for all previous suggestions to be made into official policy is passed. Yea? Nay? And further on your new duties-how do you think we should do a...a... Criminy, I forgot the name of the guild bbs! Oh yes! Union of honor post on A1? And what the sam hill role should *I* fill? Right now, I'm thinking founder and member of the council of elders. Which would be you, me, Arawn, OME, and Racouol. Again, dissent? Agreement? Now *I'm* getting psyched up about this! Heeheehee. Write soon. We need to get the ball rolling!! Yours in Anxiety, ~Ozy~

From: Ozymandias' email To: Zool's email Subject: Re: Bard's guild-Brain shower! Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2000 05:51:58 GMT Invites are most certainly NOT a big deal. Go right ahead, since you'll be one of the founders. The more the merrier! And heyyy, Racouol is a world-famous singer. Of *course* he's bard material!! How silly of me. :>) And I'm going to bed this time. I mean it. ~Ozy~

From: Ozymandias' email To: Zool's email Subject: Re: Bard's guild-Brain shower! Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2000 04:41:57 GMT >From: Zool's email >To: Ozymandias' email >Subject: Bard's guild >Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2000 17:57:57 -0700 (PDT) > >Hello! > >Just a quick note, I'm going to start a Zool on A1, >just in case. > Excellent! Hey, even if it's just you and me, bud, I'll be happy. Er, as founders, of course. (The two of us as guild- "Tremble before our might!" *Ready? On three. One, two, three!* "Grrr!") No Peredhil. *sniff* Shoot. I was hoping to recruit him as tactitian (since he reads so dern much on the boards). Maybe OME... This will be fun. A1 it shall be. So can I count you in? I'm going to put up an official ad on the guildpage in the next couple of days, if so. Oh! Nisassa isn't on often, but offered his help. I think he'd make a smashing PR man/diplomat, don't you? :>D I've just caught the Pointy Eared one on ICQ even as I type. *crosses fingers* Awaiting her reply... Or maybe Nis could be diplomat/spy. A diplomatic envoy on boards, a stacking ferret in game. And we could have *you* as publicist! Oh, the possiblities!! Now that I think on it, any special knowledge/skill you could fill a position with in game? Inquiring minds want to know! Some ideas on policy- Our mission statement: Bringing a better class of attack arrows to the battlefield. The art of war: Anybody randoms us, it's dogpile on the uncreative time!! We will post battle reports like any other self-respecting egocentric guild, but they will be in the form of epic poetry. Or maybe just a short story. I ABSOLUTELY suck really bad at poetry. Either way, we'd all pitch in. Admission: Any prospective member (outside of the high-ranking officials who have proved their mettle) has to attack one of us. If we like his arrow, he's in. The more unique, the better (outlandish, original, blah, blah). Oo, it looks good! She didn't say no. On the horizon-Once we get some details pounded out and a healthy number of members (#?), I'm toying w/ the idea of a creating us a webpage. And on that note, I'd best get going. Work and school tomorrow. Earrrrllllly. And there was much rejoicing. "Yaaaaaay." ~Ozy~

From: Ozymandias email To: Zool's email Subject: Flash of brillinace! Date: Wed, 04 Oct 2000 06:44:52 GMT But not proper spelling! Want to help me start a guild this reset? And ask Peredhil for me as well, would you? I'm going to try and recruit Orlan, Arawn, Seraph, Woods, and Wyvern. What do you think? ~O~

How was the Pen started, and who started it? If you have ever wondered that, my friends, then step up and read for yourself just how it happened! Recently I read that the Pen is now two years old, and I have to say that is true of it's present web site, of it's present incarnation, but actully the Pen as an entity is, as of this writing, nearly five years old! There have been several websites in the Pen's lifetime, but it all started, as most of us know and many of us recall, from Archmage. Archmage was a turn based game, collecting turns over time which were then taken in forwarding the game. What to do while you were waiting for more turns? Go to the Archmage bulletin board and hang out, of course! Given the battle strategy theme of the game, however, it was only natural that the battle was often translated to the board. Because Archmage was basically without graphics, other than a few stills that accompanied the various information pages in the game, a lot of the game play, much more than you would think, was played with words. Oh, certainly if you did not know how to play the game you were in trouble - there are few things online as satisfying as torching a million of your opponents soldiers - but how much more fun was unnerving your opponent with a few well placed barbs! On the boards too, many battles were won or lost depending on one's skill with a Pen, err, keyboard, rather than the sword. In this atmosphere, the Pen was born, even one day taking on a life of it's own. Fortunately, I am a (nearly) terminally lazy person - you know the type, mounds of stuff on his desk, never throws anything away (that would mean work!) and generally maintains activity through simple inertia. BUT that is a good thing in this case, because recently I was checking some of my back emails and found that I still had some of the ORIGINAL emails sent to me by the Founder, Ozymandias (hallowed be his name), blathering about some guild or other he wanted to start, named - that's right - The Pen is Mightier than the Sword! Feeling some may find them of historical interest, I have (with his permission) decided to give them a home in the Pen Library.

LOL! err... sorta.

Once there was a blind man, who had been blind since birth. One day he was talking with a friend, who remarked that it was too bad that he could not see. "What do you mean?" replied the blind man. "I mean that it is very sad that you are blind," replied his friend. "Why?" asked the blind man again. "Because," said his friend, "you miss all the things that sighted people see." "Like what?" "Well, everything - the sky, the stars, all manner of views and visions. Light itself, even." The blind man chuckled quietly, and scoffed. "You know, that is all I have heard of ever since I can remember, but the truth is I have no idea what you are talking about. All I know of 'sight' is what other people say about it. Frankly, I have come to believe these things you speak of, sky, stars, visions, even light itself, simply exists in your imaginations. They do not exist." "But how can you say that!? It is clear to a sighted person as life itself! Do you not feel the heat of the sun's rays on your skin in the daytime? Does not every sighted person tell you of the same things?" "Ah, but my friend, feeling warmth is a far cry from what you describe as sight, and as for other people agreeing on these things it would be for me a matter of faith. The truth is I simply do not see it. How am I to accept such a fantastic thing merely on your say- so? Logically, if my own senses are to be trusted apart from what other people tell me, I am left with only one choice - that light does not exist."

It seems only a few years ago I remember reading of the good Captain's death. It was saddening, though I suppose he lived a full and long life - and brought back memories of when we only had three channels to watch!

Ah, thank you!

1. Blackjack chewing gum My Grandmother used to buy me this, and I actually found some and bought it last month. 2. Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water Yup - ergh! 3. Candy cigarettes Oh yes! 4. Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles yup 5. Coffee shops or diners with tableside juke boxes yup. 6. Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers Remember the milkman, but it was cartons by then, so no. 7. Party lines yup 8. Newsreels before the movie I remember cartoons before the movie, but not newsreels. 9. P.F. Flyers The shoes? yup 10. Butch wax lost me here completely 11. Telephone numbers with a word prefix (OLive-6933) nope 12. Peashooters yup 13. Howdy Doody yup 14. 45 RPM records yup - still have a collection 15. S&H Green Stamps yup 16 Hi-fi's yup - actually have one (NOT stereo!) 17. Metal ice trays with lever yup - handle always broke off 18. Mimeograph paper smelled like tomatoes to me... 19 Blue flashbulb yup, full of steel wool. 20. Packards my grandfather had one 21. Roller skate keys yup 22. Cork popguns yup, and you can still find them occasionally 23. Drive-ins yup, and there are still a few around 24. Studebakers yup 25. Wash tub wringers yup 21

Happy birthday!

Whoa! I need to keep up with this thread a bit more - lots of good reviews! A few words of reviews above: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly; I think one reason you found this so unremarkable is because it is the most copied western of all time. Basically, this was the original formula western as we know it today - any improvements are in depth, not in plot. When this film came out in, nineteenseventywhatever, it blew people away (pun not intended) pulling together and concentrating every gut-held notion about the west, and every successful western since contains the most important elements from it. In fact, I've seen a lot of suspense and drama with very similar scenes... HellBoy; I agree, this was a lot of fun, but was otherwise completely bungled. What ruined it for me was the moment where they were sitting in the alley and HB gave his gun to that guy and told him to load it. The other guy took this immense gun in his hand and... nothing! He handled it like the prop that it obviously was. I mean, why doesn't everyone carry a 1 caliber revolver? Because the weight would be prohibitive, but that giant sidearm was handled like a toy in the move, and a great opportunity was missed to give life to the HB character and thus the movie. Another thing - what did that knife in the fist logo have to do with the movie?? I only saw him wield a sword once, and that really was not made out to be such a momentous and defining scene that it merited modeling the logo of the story after it, not to mention that that scene comes after the logo is already seen in the movie. What this all says to me is that the movie really lacked a cohesive visionary person to guide the movie and ensure the consistency necessary to really transport the viewer. Ah well. Favorite Directors: Pretty much anything by Akira Kurosawa is worth watching, and I would add Federico Fellini - except for Satyricon! I highly recommend Juliet of the Spirits and Mulholland Drive as two of my favorite movies. Anyway, recent movie I saw: What the bleep do we know!? http://www.whatthebleep.com/ I have been waiting a long time to see this and am I glad I finally did! I highly recommend this movie to most people. The story of the movie, as well as the movie itself, is worthy of a few words before I get into the story. This is an unusual combination of dramatic story, animation, and documentary. Also, after finishing the film, the filmmakers were unable to get anyone to distribute it, so they devised a plan to get a few local theaters to show it, make a web-site, and depend on word-of mouth to get people to ask for the film at their local theaters. This has proven slow, but very successful, as they are now opening internationally. So what is the movie about really? The movie is what it is, a dramatization with commentary on some people's view of the universe. Though some people will find it's anti-religious-dogma statements offensive, the film is definitely fresh and thought provoking, and definitely strikes a chord with the masses, as it's success has shown. Tying it's message together with the expert's commentary in the documentary portions of the film was a stroke of genius, yet I still found a LOT of entertainment in the dramatized portions of the film, such as the wedding dance scene and the bath scene. Though I can't guarentee someone else will like it, I can guarentee that you haven't seen anything like it before, which in itself is of tremendous value in todays glutted formulaic movie market. I sincerely reccomend you go see this film, and if it hasn't come around to where you are at yet, then go to your theater and ask for it!