White Noise, Drifting

Vienna and Dev sketch,
"Cry, Cry 11"

I'm getting better at sleep.

Some nights, it just creeps up on you; but tonight, it's warm, and inviting. How strange.

Maybe it helps I've temporarily embraced a more nocturnal lifestyle; thankfully adaptive to work, and allowing for lots of introspection and mindfulness. Not to mention, a touch-base with religion. I'm glad to have this time to myself. 

Gotta work on the whole "being productive" part, though. There's a few tasks on my list - but I'd rather lay in bed. I deserve it - today was taxing, physically; though pretty calm otherwise. Good balance.

So, what does the future hold? None of my concern. We'll get there when we get there; water under the bridge. Until then, I've got other things to worry about.

I ought to sleep... Randy Savage needs cuddles. 

Review - Spirit Halloween Good Guy Doll (Chucky)

 

The Lakeshore Strangler awakens...

I've been on a major Chucky binge the past few months - it started when I rented the entire series from the Family Video at which I worked (rest in peace), and I haven't been able to shake it since. It's like a horrible, orange-haired chimp clung to my banana wielding psyche. Or something. 

Just recently, I snatched up this wicked little guy - er, Good Guy. Spirit Halloween's newest model of the titular terror, complete with replica box! 

Chucky's looked pretty different from film, to film - to TV show, nowadays. Just like Godzilla's ever-changing appearance, Chucky's design depends on everything from plot, to creative direction, to budget - making for plenty of variety between incarnations.

This particular edition seems to aim for a sort of generalized take on the character, though I think it looks most like the "disguised" Chucky as seen in Curse of Chucky. It's the buck teeth and heavy, sunken eyes. Admittedly, the face sculpt could use a bit of work - I'm not sure what it is, but something about the eyes and forehead seems pretty off when you're looking through the eyes of an over-scrutinizing fan. It isn't enough to completely throw off the likeness, but it certainly isn't what I'd call one-to-one. More like... three-and-a-half-to-one.

However, that aside, it should be noted this doll isn't particularly dedicated to onscreen accuracy, beyond some neat little details such as the patterns on the soles of his bright red shoes, or the open, sort of pointing sculpt on his hands. I'd venture to guess any semblance it has to one particular version or another is pure lucky coincidence - it's definitely a Good Guy doll, and that's all it needs to be.

At the end of the day, calling this a poor representation of the character by any stretch of the word just isn't fair. This is most definitely Barbie mode Chucky, at his glazed, glassy-eyed best. If you're looking for a Good Guy that leaps off the screen, you'll have to go a bit higher end.

 Something I'm a bit less receptive toward, as far as accuracy goes, is the box; the most glaring of which is the "Chucky" tagline across it's face, which was never there in any of the movies. It's one of those things where I understand why it's there - I just wish it wasn't.

The packaging is designed to be very reminiscent of it's onscreen counterpart - and, make no mistake, it gets the job done - but, choices such as the entirely new art of the Good Guys, or the self-referential additional taglines, sadly null any real accuracy the box could've had. 

Still, will I lose any sleep over the box being less than perfect? Of course not - it looks cool regardless, especially with the Chuckster sealed away inside. The colors are right on, and at about 31 inches, it looks just as tall and imposing as it did lining the warehouse shelves seen in the memorable climax of Child's Play 2.

Holding NECA's Ultimate Chucky

Chucky stands - that's right, stands! - about an inch shorter, making him quite a bit taller than most budget Chucky dolls. His head can turn, albeit very tightly, and both arms have been fitted with a bendable wire allowing for some simple posing. Allowing him to stand is very dense stuffing throughout his lower body; meaning, sadly, his legs and torso have almost no poseablity. It's awesome he can stand on his own, but I do wish he could at least sit down. 

To hopefully noone's suprprise, he's more of a decoration than a legitimate doll or action figure; which, to me, is why issues such as it's inaccuracies feel so important to point out. If he's designed for display, I'd think one may as well have aimed for the stars in lieu of the limitations necessary for your average toy.

Cult of Chucky establishes that the Good Guys brand has been reissued and remade ad-nauseum throughout the years, becoming something of an infamous horror icon - not unlike the ever-evolving, ever-trashy Child's Play saga. Maybe this is an example said reissues, what with the somewhat updated package design and, again, self-referential taglines. I could certainly see the demonic Play Pals cashing in on Andy Barclay's raves of killer dolls.

Personally, despite my criticisms, I dig this Chucky! It's not perfect, but then, for a representation of an extremely creepy doll from the 1980's... I'd say he's ticked all the boxes, really. 

Here's hoping I survive the night. 

Update - Messing around with him, I noticed the bendable wire actually does thread down into both legs. Still not very poseable, though - movement starts around the knee. Thought it was worth a mention!

Chrome

 

Things have been a bit quiet. With the way things tend to go, lately, a calm, uneventful day is a blessing in and of itself. Gotta keep an eye out for those silver linings. 

My team and I finished an early version of an AR tech project, as well worked with our collaborator to rough up some ideas for new concepts in art, animation and social engagement. I'm particularly proud of my success with the aforementioned AR tech; its something I've never quite tried, but lo and behold, I seem to have struck out on my first attempt. Amen to that.

Its all a bunch of very fun stuff - hard to stay so horribly vague, but, all in due time. Jumping the gun's never turned out well for anybody, besides Neo. 

It's been rainy, and grey; just the way I like it. Makes me feel revitalized, a little less alien. Something about the groggy warmth, the slick, monotone emptiness - you just can't go wrong. Less is more! Pair that with yet another viewing of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, one of my favorite go-to comfort flicks, and you've got one fine sleep schedule killer. 

I love watching the reflections of hazed orange and off-white as the rain trickles through their beams of broken light; the odd ambiance of a streetlamp, or stoplight, a beacon in the quiet murmur. It reminds you you're not alone. A reminder I needed, tonight.

Maybe someday, I'll always be out, among the stars, black, and dreamless water. It's where I feel safe. 

Sometimes, these passing days, weeks - they're sort of comforting. I have a feeling I won't particularly remember them, beyond a lingering mood; tenseness, loneliness. The usual back-order. But, it always leads to rainbows; I look forward to spring, summer, and all those awful, sweaty months of Floridian torture. 

Who am I kidding. Here's to hurricane season. 

The Corona Chronicles - Well

I seem to have missed a year... or so. My bad.

So, what all's happened in the wild and often-later-deleted life of the Wastelnd's finest trashman? 

Well... I've moved, I've panicked, I've ghosted, I've stood, I've smiled, I've loved, and I've unfortunately done just about everything one might expect to have happened during a long period of unexplained absence. That's right down to getting my first tattoo - what can I say! I've grown attached to the lovely little numbers of seven and one; coincidentally, also the name of my start-up production company. What are the odds?

But, enough about that; there's a very good reason these events have gone unmentioned, and it's simply because I didn't feel much of it was worth dwelling on - let alone archiving and displaying along my dusty, toy review laden little corner of the internet. That's the past, this is now... though, the difference is a bit debatable, as the years continue to more or less bleed into one another.

As such, the virus continues on...  

Speaking of which, that's another accomplishment crossed off my "dissappearance duties" list; I caught a terrifying disease! That's right; I'm a warrior, baby. I took the punches, I took the two weeks off, and I came back standing. Complete with multiple hours of Marvel and Hammer binge-watching. For what it's worth, there wasn't much in terms of discomfort; it was basically an exaggerated cold, with lots of pressure and discomfort in my chest and legs. Hate to say it, but I've had worse. 

In brighter news, though, my friends and I have begun work on some very exciting animation and illustration projects; not the least of which includes my pilot, which has evolved and morphed into a pulsating wildebeest the likes of which you've probably seen before. Long story short, I've decided to dip into the neon pools of experimental filmmaking; finally putting those few college years to use as I translate the completed pilot script into something a bit more cerebral. I've included a teaser trailer below...