In Coffee Spoons

EPIC MICKEY MOTHERFUCKING CONFIRMED.



I have not picked up the Game informer issue highlighting it yet (going to do so tomorrow or Monday). First details @ Aussie-Nintendo reveal a great plot:

"The game explores the existence of a forgotten world, a place where lesser-known Disney characters are relegated to. A dark and depressing land filled with broken rides and set pieces, these unloved characters have become bitter and twisted. Lead by Oswald the Rabbit (Disney's first ever creation - long before Mickey Mouse), they now seek revenge for what they've become."

I love it. I mean, the entire concept of a steampunk dystopia Disney is impossible not to love. But Erin's already going over potential character appearances (The Aussie Nintendo shows a revamped Phantom Blot that gave her a Ladies' Moment) and I'm going over potential ride/attraction appearances. This is really going to be a chunk of Disney history.

It's confirmed for the Wii, and confirmed that the project is being headed by Warren Spector. I was impressed when I simply heard that Spector was going to be involved, and am double-impressed after Game Informer's video interview showcasing his insane Disney fanboyism.

For those of you who missed the leaked concept art, check it out.

Now...I just wait god only knows how long for the game to actually come out. ;_;

I just tried several times to write about what a great time I had at home last week, but was unable to form anything terribly coherent due to a lack of sleep, tea, and foodstuffs. Will remedy that later.

In the meantime, here is the important point of the entry I was trying to write:

GO SEE WALL-E.

Magical backtracking in time: I had a great birthday. Thank you and <3 <3 <3 to everyone who sent me greetings, even Dap who sent me this what the fuck thank you but what the fuck.

Erin and Mom came for cake (yay) and presents (yay) and Thai food (yay) and shopping (yay).

World's cutest birthday cake.

Kitcheny goodness from my family. Along with a bunch of groceries. So set to cook now. Lot of new recipes I've been wanting to try.

Erin wrangled me a really great DS emulator and downloaded me a bunch of ROMs. I'm failing hardcore at the DS version of Cooking Mama because it requires the mic. Don't stare at me with those flaming fire eyes, Mama! I'm trying my best!

Erin stayed over for a long weekend, which was also great. We watched a ton of movies. A ton. Good movies. Bad movies. Hilariously bad movies. Eraserhead freaked her out more than I was epxecting, but I consider that fair trade for the shit like Felidae and Skywhales that she keeps bringing when she visits.

I just realized how often my celebrations are a blend of cute, fun, and horrific. Awesome.

Erin has been having quite the streak of good luck with her disturbing cartoon collection recently, and one of her YouTube finds was Felidae.

It's a murder mystery involving animal experimentation, freaky science, and religious cults. I've found it invariably compared to Watership Down; because it's told from an animal POV, and because a book was turned into a horrific animated nightmare never intended for children and inevitably shown to them anyway. (Given the experimentation angle, I'd call Plague Dogs a better comparison.) It's not great, it's got flaws, but it's original enough and scary enough to be more than worth your time.

So this left us all looking for the book. Apparently Erin's streak of good luck passed on to me, because I found it quite by accident in the library. Gulped it down in one sitting last night.

The verdict: Not so good.

It does, of course, flesh out certain characters and scenes much better than a movie can. Especially the professor and his deterioration, which is told in a chapter of journal entries. It's wonderful and much more convincing.

The surreal dream scenes are just as horrifying as in the movie. There's even an additional one involving endlessly murdered kittens.

But for the most part, this was just painful to read. It's poorly written. Very, very poorly. Ham-fisted and overeager.

It's like he's very self-consciously adding "I AM A WRITER, LOOK AT ME WRITE" elements. Long, ridiculous analogies and purple-prosed similes. Equally purple, cliche descriptions of setting and character. Long emphatic tirades on human nature with no basis whatsoever in believable dialogue.

When he drops his self-conscious writing "act" and actually just *writes*, it's not bad. The dream sequences, as I've said, are great. There are quite a few scenes towards the end where he cuts the crap and goes into clear, captivating storytelling mode with very suspenseful results.

It's just a pity that he takes an entire book to hit that stride.

(P.S. nitpick: There are also too many moments in which one character finds himself expositioning to another. In CSI, it is ludicrous that a lab tech needs to explain to another lab tech how he used his lab technology. In Felidae, it is ludicrous that a cat needs to explain to another cat how he used his cat senses.)

(P.P.S. There's apparently a sequel.)