A Curious Case for Elevation to Prime-time

While I didn't have the opportunity to watch the recently concluded Oscars, I'm glad that much like this year's artistic output in film, the commentary on the awards, both real and "imagined" was of a similarly high quality. How else does one explain Chris Carlisle's impassioned plea for the recognition of '80s cartoon icon Optimus Prime?

Choice excerpts include:

The reason I’m not watching this year is because I am boycotting the broadcast due to the omission of a deserving nominee in the best actor category. This actor’s performance encompassed physically demanding stunts, displaying ranges of emotions from sorrow to happiness, and working under extreme conditions with minimal direction. His display of thespian mastery was truly one of the greatest on-screen performances this past year, if not the decade. In spite of all this and for reasons I cannot comprehend, Optimus Prime was shut out of the best actor category.

Oh I know what many of you are thinking right now. “But Chris, Optimus Prime isn’t real.” You know what I say to that? Shut up. Shut right the hell up with that talk. Optimus Prime is more real than any of the other actors up for award this year. I’ll tell you who’s not real. Johnny Depp. He’s a complete CGI creation. How else do you explain that he hasn’t aged since appearing in the original Nightmare on Elm Street almost 24 years ago?

As far as acting chops go, Optimus Prime has Depp beat hands down. The same goes for George Clooney, Daniel Day Lewis, and the rest of the best actor nominees. While I can’t say that I’ve seen the films of any of the nominees up for best actor this year, I’m willing to wager that none of them were required to battle 30 foot robots or even turn into a truck. Speaking of which, can Clooney turn into a truck? Can Lewis or Depp? Pshaw! Talk about limited range.

Have a nice day! And visit Chris Carlisle's site. You won't be sorry you did.

Photo Credits:
Picture of Optimus Prime comes courtesy of Wikipedia.

Autobots...transform?!

I know that a lot of people are eagerly anticipating the summer release of Michael Bay's Transformers movie, so I couldn't help but dig around the Net and come up with this gorgeous shot of Optimus Prime. Usually, Michael Bay projects leave no room for apathy: either you really like his movies or you don't. Regardless of how Transformers turns out, it does signal, to some extent, the end of an era, particularly for children of the '80s. Come the 4th of July, we no longer have to wonder how cool it would have been to have a live-action Transformers movie, because for better or worse, we will get to see one. Still, the existence of a live-action Transformers movie is but another indication of the gradual sense of encroachment we feel whenever another previously unmapped section of our imagination is wrenched, sometimes brutally, into reality.

Which is precisely why I'm posting this snarkily self-indulgent Lil Transformers shot, courtesy of Matt Moylan over at Lil Formers. This ought to get the hearts of my geek readership all a-flutter: Autobots team up with the Green Lantern Corps! I would like to extend my thanks to Geek of All Trades for the wonderful link. He sent it over a couple of months ago, and it slipped through the cracks somehow. At any rate, enjoy!