Had a really fun time at Comic Con this year. I love the creative energy and general geek goodness that goes on. Some of the highlights for me:
Roaming the exhibition floor is one of my favorite things to do. There is so much to see and take it. The people watching is very fun. I always wonder about the people who walk around wearing really intense outfits - dressed as Batman, Master Chief, or hundreds of other characters - it just seems so very hot and uncomfortable. But I realized that these people really like the attention and like to be looked at. They like to feel like they are with their own people...I think we can all relate.
Plus, I love the different sections of the floor. The big production studio sets are always really cool and fun...interesting swag and things to see. For instance, today at the Warner Bros booth was the cast of Green Latern. But equally cool are the smaller, more independent sections where graphic artists and comic book artists hang out and show off and sell their work. I did my best to not buy any more prints, since Mel reminded me that I have a whole stack of them that are yet to be framed. But I'm constantly amazed at the level of creativity and sheer talent. I also really love the small toy manufacturers, for much of the same reason.
For some reason I also really like to wander through the autograph sections to see all of the has-beens hanging out waiting to pick up $20 here or there for an autographed picture from fans. These are stars from the 70s-80s-90s who are well passed their prime. Lindsey Wagner (Bionic Woman), Erin Gray (Buck Rogers), Dirk Benedict (A-team), and tons of others, sitting behind a card table hoping that a few fans will see them. For me, I like to simply watch them...no longer beautiful or in demand - they look so ordinary. But I remember them when they were the big deals, and it's a reminder that we all have our glory days, and that even the beautiful people lose their luster in time. It's both funny and sad at the same time.
For me, the big events in Hall H are what it's all about. Today I saw some great panels, highlighed by Green Latern. Looks very cool. Honestly, I am not a huge fan...but it looks like a great comic book movie, and the energy was great. Favorite moment was when a little kid...must've been five, asked Ryan Reynolds "What does it feel like to recite the Green Lantern's Oath." He said, "It sounds like this," and began to recite it.
"In Brightest day, in blackest night
No evil shall escape my sight
Let those who worship evil's might
Beware my power...Green Lantern's light!"
Boom! The crowd went nuts, and they panned to the little kid who was just standing there looking amazed. It was a fun moment.
Also saw some great Harry Potter footage and the preview for a movie called Sucker Punch. The other day I sat through the Stallone movie preview for "The Expendables" as well as a movie called "Don't be afraid of the Dark". Saw previews for "The Other Guy", and a bunch of other stuff (I wish Wil Ferrel weren't so crude, because he can be very funny).
But I believe the point is that I really like the feeling of seeing stuff first. I also like the energy in the Hall. And it is fun to hear about how these movies are made. It's always fun to me, and if the other stuff weren't so good I'd sit in Hall H the entire time.
What I don't like. I felt like there was a level of crudeness and profanity that I had not heard before, and I don't like that. I walked out of the Penn & Teller show...they gave me a bad feeling, and the language was very offensive. It is also a good reminder that the Hollywood types are not good people. They are not people to look up to. Although this is something I've felt for years, it's a good reminder. Don't get me wrong...I like the charaters and their portrayals a lot of the time; but I do not respect the people who portray them. It also made me uncomfortable to see these people idolized and to see so many other people (6,000, to be precise) get so excited by every words that came out of their mouth. There is nothing overtly special about these people...and yet there's an element of hero worship that goes on that made me concerned and frankly disappoints me.
As I said, I really didn't like the celebs...with three exceptions this time. I really liked Ryan Reynolds...seemed like a good guy. Also, I really liked the kid who plays Malfoy in Harry Potter. Seemed so excited to be there, very gracious, and like he had his head on straight. And I thought the Director for Scott Pilgrim was hilarious...maybe a little crazy, but hilarious at the same time.
Final thoughts:
I think I need a year off from The Con. Not that I don't like it, I do. But it's super crowded, not relaxing at all, and the offerings didn't seem very novel to me. I think I probably need to take a break from it and go back in 2012 to relight that spark.
Celebrity watch this time on the floor yielded: Wesley Snipes (Blade), Michal Dorn (Worf), Brent Spiner (Data), Marina (Trois, from TNG), the big tall guy who played Chewbacca, Ryan Reynolds, Elizabeth Mitchell, the Alien lady from "V", Blake Lively, etc, and Sergent Slaughter (from G.I. Joe fame). These are the people I was within feet of. The rest I saw from a distance.
I need to book my hotel early...being so far away made it all less intimate and real. I like walking down to it, grabbing some food with Mel, and spending a day there. So I think I need to plan better ahead to stay at the Westin or something.
Did I like going alone. Yes and no. It works fine when I'm just goofing around looking at stuff - I can't imagine many people would get as jazzed to look at the diorama featuring the G.I. Joe figures or Marvel Universe figures as I do. Don't get me wrong...obviously I would love the company; but this little experiment told me it's not necessary. That said, if anyone wants to go in 2012, let me know!
`Nuff Said.
