Saturday, March 21, I will be at STARBUCKS on Lake Mary Blvd., in Lake Mary from 2 - 4 p.m. to hand out screening tickets for THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT on March 25th at Regal Waterford Lakes at 7:30 p.m.

Feel Free to grab a cup from the kick-ass folks preparing coffee and settle in for a few surprises for those of you who may have missed a couple of the neat things that you may not have gotten at WATCHMEN (ooooooooo).

STARBUCKS on LAKE MARY BLVD. Saturday, March 25th from 2 - 4 p.m.

See you in the dark.

^v^Joey^v^

The WATCHMEN movie has delved deeper into superhero mythology than any movie has ever dared go. It has engraved a new benchmark for not only comic book movies, but also films of any and all genres. For over two decades, fans dreamed of a full-length, feature film featuring the WATCHMEN. Zach Snyder and Warner Bros. have accomplished this endeavor with a resounding success.

After seeing WATCHMEN twice in one day, no mean feat I remind you, as it is three hours long (EACH TIME!), I can easily say that I am thrilled with its creation and insight into the vision of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Only Gibbon’s name is featured as Co-Creator in the movies credits due to a long ago declaration from Alan Moore that he would not participate in any of his creations being commercialized from their originally intended media creation.

Most comic movies are, expectedly so, about a larger than life character who overcomes miraculous odds to remain the hero of the day. Most of the time, very little is disclosed about the person behind the mask except hints that feed the motivation to play dress up and take on villainy.

The success of WATCHMEN in the 80's as a twelve-part closed end comic book series was the story’s focus on the heroic actions of the people behind the masks and identified that these heroes showed no fear while "on-duty" but they were very human under the pads and capes. They exhibit fears, nightmares, emotional difficulty, laughter, tears and love that is often secondary in plot and focus to being at the scene of the crime at the right time.

The hero formula demands that a hero face odds that are insurmountable. Then small success is achieved only to be crushed at the tragic failure they meet next. Some of them come of age at this point, others find their inner strength, and others yet find that they have no regard for themselves but they are “that guy”. The only one who can alter fate.

WATCHMEN did not linger on the glories of the Minutemen or the WATCHMEN but the tragedies that the people who made these groups up were real and more than enough to make any of us question faith and sanity.

I won’t go into the details of the on-screen tale yet as it hasn’t even been released. But like all novelizations turned movie, there are certain differences and artistic licenses to be taken. Purists of the graphic novel may, and usually do, have some difficulty with making a piece more timely. Ultimately, the value of this film and graphic novel is that they are both masterpieces of their media.

Graphically, the film is gorgeous and the various visual techniques used in its creation bring you into the time periods and moods represented in the film. The acting, at times can be campy, along with some of the make-up, but overall, this is as great an homage to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s WATCHMEN novels as could ever have been wished for or envisioned.

^v^Joey Cruz^v^
RavenLoches Entertainment
www.ravenloches.com

By this time tomorrow, we will all be coming down from the buzz of MEGACON and ramping up a new one for WATCHMEN and will be mulling over the questions that have been hounding us for decades..... Should it have been made? Was it true to Moore and Gibbons vision. Was it ok to let Dr. Manhattan's dingle dangle jingle?

There are grand events in the near future that must remain hush for the moment. We will see you at the WATCHMEN and hopefully have surprises for some of you die-hards.

Be sure to check back here for more information about upcoming events and movie ticket drops. Visit our frieds at IC PLACES for much more than one person deserves, but they have it all for you.

ICPlaces.com, Mevio.com

As usual, see you in the darkness.

Joey Cruz
I Watch the WATCHMEN!

We managed to get a few extra tickets to the WATCHMEN screening for Monday night that we can get to you this weekend. If you have anyone that missed out on the first 150 from RAVENLOCHES (gone in 20 mins. thank you very much), let me know and I can perhaps set something up for a quick Sunday Ticket Drop.

Otherwise, I'm still looking for ideas on how to inspire me to write and finish my book. It's there but so is the languishing and a new puppy to play with (o:

See you in the dark!
^v^Joey^v^

Of course it's that time of year again and MegaCon is upon us. With the last season of Battlestar Galactica looming and George Perez in the MegaCon seat of honor, you can't beat it.

Check out www.megaconvention.com for the rundown of guest, seminars, panels, and be ure to pay attention to the Hall changes posted. Don't get lost for too long and miss your autograph times.

Joey