Saints & Vigilantes

THE FORTRESS OF DEREK SAYS, "LET THEM EAT CAKE!!!"

The weather hasn't been as hot lately, so that's a good thing. Kind of a medical day...Keeping tabs on my sister's doctors visit, and I myself was the vet for Ares the Cat getting vaccinations (he gets freaked out by the dogs at the hospital---a dog fight broke out in the other room and there was blood on the floor). Both my sis and cat are alright, though.

Let me just throw this out here: Max von Sydow is an amazing actor. My bros (Nick, Greg, & Rick) are watching "Shutter Island" right now (currently my 3rd favorite film of 2010). Max plays the creepy doctor in this flick, and I grew up loving him in movies like "Flash Gordon", "Dune", and "Needful Things". His best movie though? "The Exorcist". Frightening to this day!

We watched "Boondocks Saints 2: All Saints Day" earlier. Wasn't nearly as good as the first one, which I just dig thematically; religious vigilantes slaying the wicked. This new chapter didn't get compelling until the last thirty minutes. Glad they did throwbacks and cameos for lovers of the 1st film, but a lot of the film was too jokey and the dialogue was bad. Director Patrick Duffy needs to focus on a better screenplay for his next film (there were some interesting visuals in the movie, though). Once the story was fully fleshed out in the 3rd Act, it was pretty cool, but they should of revealed it earlier on. A documentary about Duffy called "Overnight" (a cautionary tale for any new blood breaking into Hollywood, and what NOT to do!) is a fascinating picture.

Saw the new DC Universe animated film "Batman: Under the Read Hood" yesterday and it was a very fun thrill-ride flick. Lots of villains, good action, nice voice acting, and good moral dilemmas for Bats. If I wrote Batman, he'd be a little more hardcore. He would have killed Joker a long time ago! Batman shouldn't share Superman's morality. He doesn't need to be The Punisher, but he should be angry and vicious, vengeful to an extent. Yes, he is brilliant, composed, but also a little nutty, on edge, living in the darkness and within the pain of his tortured soul...

My favorite DC Animated might be "Justice League: Crisis of Two Earths". Had a good time hanging out with my buddy Terence on his bday on Wednesday, along with my new film buddies Jole, Aaron, and Julian (who have some awesome YouTube content) at one my favorite Italian spots, The Deli News. I baked a bday cake for T, Max, and Stephanie from Pulp Fiction Comics (it was their birthdays earlier this month), and it was bomb, if I say so myself!

Look forward to a fun party tomorrow night. Will post again soon!

Subway Kinda Day

My cat has to hang out in the shower to stay cool. And he bites me to show his affection. What a sweetheart.

About to eat my 3rd Subway sandwich today...All my meals were from Subway...Who am I, Jared?
Some of them weren't even as good as normal. I hate when you get the Subway guy who just doesn't wanna help you...The happier the sandwich-maker, the better the food tastes!

Back hurtin'...Its a daily struggle. Hot again today. Didn't get much screenwriting done. Bad me. Need to write a new poem, too. Gotta write a comic strip with my artist Winford for my buddy Chris's website...A lot I gotta work on.

Watched two movies, "Law Abiding Citizen" and "Brooklyn's Finest". Both had cool parts, but I didn't enjoy either movie's ending. Good hanging out with recovering bro, Nick.

Hopefully I can go to a cool movie screening tomorrow. And I hope my cat does better in this heat. Poor Ares!

Tuesday Today

Hot day today, but loving it! Went on two nice walks...Worked on some writing. Falling behind on my movie-watching! My homie Max is totally kickin' my behind in 2010 movies watched (he's seen over 50 of this year's films, I've seen over 30). Need to schedule my days better...New comics tomorrow, so I have an early morning at the shop.

Sadly, my poor sister had to go the hospital today, but thank God she's fine...They ran some tests, she had stomach issues...I appreciated all the prayers from my friends! She's back at her home now, will have to do follow-ups later this week.

Had an awesome time at a bonfire last night with my buddies Greg (my bro of 15 years), Karen (my little activist spitfire), and Terence (my production manager). Nothing says summer like a beach and a firepit! We had burgers and 3 separate fires going! Still a lot of rusted nail and spider covered wood leftover too in the truck...Here's a pic from Greg's iPhone.

Can't wait to go see "Inception" this week. Had a crazy bday filled weekend couple days ago, will blog about that later...I have some In 'N Out calling me right now!

The Wounded Hunter (poem)

The Wounded Hunter
By Derek-Aron Van Easley
Composed May 4th, 2010

Forsaken for what I truly know
My shining quiver accompanied by bow
The arrows pining targets yonder
And oft I ache my heartless ponder
I wonder if my bow and arrow, my quiver
Give me reason to quake and shiver
Delivered in a narrow spurning
This time is fickle with the hands-a-turning
Distant in this suffered longing
All along, not quite belonging
Singing songs off key and shocking
The hunter’s set, the prey he’s stalkin
Gawking at his stealthy trappings
He’s checked his plans and drawn his mappings
But napping was I, while still awake
My arrow’s shot with a purposeful mistake
I take in my wounds, this hunter’s gaming
And in myself I find the blaming
A taming feature of a deranged bullseye
For in exchange, one creature shall die
The crying howling is not unheard
For pain is growling in muffled words
And hearts that are pierced from arrows shot
Are memories adrift in nets, still caught

Hot in July

It's hot! Cannot believe it is July already. My folks just had their anniversary, America is having her birthday, my best friend is turning 30, then my Pops has his bday...I'm happy, listening to "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club right now. How I love my 80's music!

Hope all is well out there for everyone is the universe. Had a nice refreshing walk, had a delicious Subway lunch compliments of my Sis, and got a nice phone call later, bittersweet, but good all the same. Also got some good writing done (new poem, which I will post here soon)...Reading the latest issue of JUSTICE LEAGUE of AMERICA, and wishing my friends well who are going to the Anime Expo!

Finally watched "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" on DEMAND, and it was good! The animation was different and bright, and the voice actors (Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Bruce Campbell, James Caan, Andy Samberg & Mr. T) did a great job. (I want to get into voice acting!) The story was also original and refreshing. Sony Animation Studios turns out some nice flicks.

Favorite movie of the summer, and perhaps the year, is still "Toy Story 3". Absolutely loved that film. So much humanity from animated plastic figures. Amazing. Almost saw it for a second time the other day, but my friend was too tired to do a double feature (we saw "Jonah Hex" after we DIDN'T make it into the screening of "The Last Airbender" that we had passes to). The Twihard fanatics were out in full force that night! On Wednesday, they broke midnight opening night box office records! Loving summer movie season!

I'm feeling good about my book, my partnership with my producing friend, and some of my poetry getting published in my friend's online magazine. Very nice.

Check out my Twitter page, of the same name,
http://twitter.com/fortressofderek. Follow me!
Enjoy this beautiful summer!