‘Tis the season for children’s charities

Ever since I became a father I seem to have lost all ability to say no to children’s charities. The latest solicitation came in the mail today from the Make-a-Wish Foundation. How can you not give money to an organization that helps grant dying kids their once-in-a-lifetime wish?!?! Such a tear jerker.

So yes, Make-a-Wish Foundation, you win. I will donate.

Speaking of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, I had the opportunity to see it in action first-hand 10 years ago when I worked at Marvel Comics. They flew Stan Lee to our New York office to meet a sick kid and give him a tour of the Marvel bullpen. See, now I’m getting all choked up just thinking about that again.

Maybe I’m like the Grinch. My heart grew ten sizes when Ethan was born.

Hulk is smashing good

I have seen the Incredible Hulk, and it is good. Very good. Better even than the generally positive reviews are giving it credit for.

This Hulk recalls the very best parts of the TV series—Banner as a lonely exile on the run and looking for a cure—with bigger set pieces, better acting, and a firm place in the growing Marvel Universe of the silver screen. The screenplay displays a sharper-than-it-needs-to-be wit, and Ed Norton brings genuine pathos to Banner’s tortured existence. The CGI is pretty good, too. 

Side note # 1: Anyone who thinks Hulk shouldn’t have been CGI needs to watch the Fantastic Four movies again and take a long, hard look at The Thing. No, wait, I take that back. No one should have to watch the Fantastic Four movies.

Side note # 2: A big eff-you to A.O. Scott for this little throwaway line from the New York Times’ review: “If you really need a superhero to tide you over until Hellboy and Batman resurface next month—and honestly, do you? really? why?—I guess this big green dude will do.” First of all, Hulk smash puny film critic; and second of all, yeah, I like comic book movies. What of it? 

Anyway, I digress.

The Incredible Hulk is a world away from the 2003 version, and thank god. With any luck this one will have legs at the box office and spawn a few sequels. Keeping Norton in the fold as Banner is the key, though. (Easier said than done, unfortunately.) He really makes the movie work, and without him I don’t think I’d be nearly so high on the film.

For my spoilerific take on this movie—and to see two grown men argue like teenage fanboys about how high the Hulk should be able to jump—read the comments section of Eric’s review.

Tag, I’m it

I’ve been tagged by Eric, which means I’m supposed to link to his blog (done!), leave a comment there so his readers can visit mine (done!), post the rules on my blog (done!), and share seven weird facts about myself. I’ll just go with seven random facts you may not have known. Here goes.

1. In 2nd grade, my friend Shawn Gurczak nicknamed me Indiana Josh. I was so obsessed with Indy that I even had the fedora, the leather jacket, and an actual bullwhip, which I used to practice using in my driveway. It was later confiscated after I used it on a girl named Jill Barney during recess. Five years later, Jill Barney became my first girlfriend.

2. I’m pretty sure I was the first person in Rowley, Massachusetts, to complete Super Mario Brothers on the Nintendo.

3. I entered college as a Computer Science major. I graduated with degrees in English Lit and Imperial Russian History. Miraculously, I still found a job.

4. I was once mistaken for Chris Claremont, father of the massively successful X-Men comic book franchise. This is actually a really funny story, but you’ll have to wait for my upcoming exposé, “Confessions of a former Marvel Comics intern,” for the details.

5. My five favorite movies of the 1980s, in order, are: Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Empire Strikes Back, The Princess Bride, Ghostbusters, and Highlander. Those five films probably did more to shape who I am today, for better or worse, than everything else I’ve experienced combined.

6. I think I’m the only person in my entire family who’s ever voted for a democrat.

7. I was scared to death of becoming a dad. Now I can’t imagine anything better. And I say this even after Ethan woke us up every two hours last night!