Paul Feig -- Geeks and Sex: American Style

Since this Wednesday marks the beginning of my favorite international geekfest, The San Diego Comicon, I thought that I would mark the occasion by reviewing the most recent memoir by Paul Feig the creator of Freaks and Geeks, his website can be found here and he is a regular commentator on Huffington's Post.

June 28th saw the release of Paul Feig's latest memoir Superstud: Or How I Became a 24 Year Old Virgin, the follow up to 2002's Kick Me. Superstud contains a series of linked essays in which Paul Feig discusses the development of his sex life, from childhood to the loss of his virginity (though he does have an afterword to let us know he has in fact survived the harrowing experience and is a happily married man).

Before I get into the "meat" of the matter, I would like to point out one small part of the writing craft in this book. Feig displays an amazing proficiency with being able to end one chapter with a sentence that seemlessly ties it into the next story. In fact, this particular feature made it impossible for me to put the book down until I had finished it. Not surprisingly my favorite seque was the first, "Little did I know that my own mother was conspiring against me." This line comes mid-page at a chapter break! Who wouldn't have to turn the page after reading this line? What does he mean that his mother was conspiring against him? You'll have to read the book to find out, but it has to do with the same reason I was continually attempting to "borrow" the "girl sitting in front of me in 7th grade's" copy of Vogue.

In his discussion of how one self-described geek struggled through the trials and tribulations of sexual experience, Feig makes one thing clear -- the universality of "dating" horror stories. Whether you lost your virginity at 24 or 14, you will still come across many examples seemingly plucked from your own life and placed in the pages of someone else's memoir.

Feig's narrative takes a straight forward and linear approach to the issue. So the first section, or book, (the one with the most essays if not the most pages) covers the quintessent and overpracticed activity known as masturbation. From his days of pre-understanding "good feelings" to his rabid hunt for visual stimulation, these chapters are thoroughly entertaining. As an aside though, I have to note that his comments during his "book store" days regarding the "Freaks and Jocks who beat him up in school" being the ones shoplifting from the local bookstore are unfair. More likely it was someone like me, in fact if he weren't a decade older than me and a Michigander I would have thought he was directly insulting me. You see, I was the kid who had found an affection for reading, but was too poor to buy books and whose parents dispised "Role Playing Games" so I acquired some by 5 finger discount. And to be honest...how many stoners and jocks do you know who would steal books?

Feig ends his "book" about masturbation with the most natural of endings...that of parental discovery and transports us into the world of middle school and high school dating. We all remember those days. People cooler than us constantly going out to parties or to go "cruising." We all have our use the concert to get the woman story, but I have to admit that mine pales in comparison to Feig's. Feig's date with Jill Holsteader to an REO show rates among the all-time most nightmarish and hilarious experiences penned to date. Just when you think the date can't get any worse, it does. But the whole thing is made tolerable, as these things can be in the best of cases, by the love of Feig's father.

Now would be a good time to mention that Feig's representation of his parents in this book is wonderful and demonstrative of the love he feels toward them. He states in his dedication that his parents probably wouldn't have wanted the book dedicated to them if they were still alive, but given his kind and loving presentation of his parents I would have to disagree. They might have thought their son was a little crazy, but they would have had the one great parental mystery answered for them and known that their child loves them dearly.

After the high school dating section Feig moves us into his post-high school dating days, divided into two sections Wayne State years and summer before USC (with a brief Christmas first SC semester reprise). The last section, naturally, contains a biblical stylized chapter in which Feig loses his virginity.

I could go into detail as to how each of his dating experiences reflects some part of my own, but to do so would be to give up too much of the ghost and not allow any potential readers of Feig's memoir the joy of self discovery. I am also now tempted to write my own memoir of my personal sexual adventures. In a way that is the highest compliment one can give a book, the desire to produce something similar to share with the world. In that way we can participate in a dialogue with someone who connected with us.

In a world where most people aren't Don Juan, it is refreshing to read the escapades of someone almost just like us.

Oh and before I forget, read the chapter that Feig begs you not to read. He really does mean that you shouldn't read it, and the subject is disturbing, but for some reason I thought even more highly of him after reading the chapter. That is the opposite of his fear.

Oh right, I also command you to go out and buy Freaks and Geeks right now, or at least put in on your Netflix queue.

Just kind of interesting...

Jackie Chan says Chris Tucker is holding up Rush Hour 3. You don't usually see Chan bashing people, so I guess it must be pretty severe...

Ahem.

Well, most likely going to catch FF4 this weekend for the anniversary. LYT, who generally has a good head for movies, says it's only a quarter as good as Batman Begins. But, that still makes it a good movie, right? I'll post on it on Monday, most likely.

I Love LA

This Saturday, I will jump into my car and drive down to LACMA Saturday night to see The Killers starring Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner on the BIG SCREEN!

Sure...Sure, you say, "But this weekend is Fantastic Four and the box office is slumping!" Blah, blah, blah.

I'll be seeing FF on Saturday, just like you, but watch The Killers and compare it to the "films" that are coming out now and you will understand why the box office is slumping.

Besides, it is followed by a noir film starring Victor Mature. You know you want to watch Sampson!

Batman Begins

OK, like I said, old news. One bit was interesting, though--just how much this reminded me of the old Batman, Blind Justice comic. Now, that's a re-release... the orig. game out with Detective 600, and Detective is, I think, above 750, so divide 150 by 12 and you have 12.5 years ago. That actually doesn't seem old enough for the storyline, which had Bruce Wayne framed as a Communist Spy, but anyway.


Basically, it introduced Henri Ducard, and Batman in ninja training fighting lots o' guys. Obviously, BB had a lot of scenes from Year One, including and especially a bunch of bats attacking a SWAT team, but it seemed to be more based on this particular comic, a comic that was conveniently re-released this year.

So, public service announcement, etc.

Back!

Well, haven't been on in a while. I fell into this weird no-pop-culture hole. Anyway, roaring back with three movies in one day! Saw Batman Begins, War of the Worlds, and Shark Boy And Lava Girl.

Anyway, War of the Worlds first, since the other two are old news. I don't know what to say about this movie--first off, I really did not enjoy it. Not for the usual reasons, either: I really have nothing bad to say about the acting or effects. The ending really, really needed some work, but it's about 2 minutes long, so whatever.

I just found watching this film to be a harrowing experience. The characters, who are not astoundingly likeable, are hunted constantly, endlessly. The action is almost too intense, as their continued survival is pretty silly at times. Also, the machines have bad physics... their forcefields make grenades explode for some reason, and the forcefields just don't work later, for some reason.

The ending needed work... sure, it's classic. But, microbes were edgy back in the day, and not so much anymore. Remember how much the joke in Toy Story about Buzz Lightyear wanting to keep his helmet closed? Too bad the aliens here are too dumb. Actually, the re-telling here really hurts... now, instead of it being almost a whim when the aliens invade, it's been planned since before human civilization. Which makes it a thousand times stupider that they didn't keep their helmets on, because they've been on Earth before and somehow didn't notice all of the microbes.

At least before it seemed to be a first contact. Not, they're coming back, and they're still shocked by viruses. Waah waah wahhhhh.

You probably ought to see this movie. It's amazing and affecting and blah blah. Really, you should. It's harrowing, though.

Oscars of Adventure Gaming Announced

As you may or may not know, this weekend is the weekend of the Origins International Games Expo. This annual event kicks off the Summer Convention season for the Adventure, and recreational, Gaming industry in the United States. The convention is organized by the Game Manufacturers Association and highlights the best products of the past year and hints at the products in the upcoming year. In essence the Origins show is an event run by the Gaming industry for Gaming fans.

While shows like GenCon, the largest gaming convention in the United States, are the first place that most games are released to the public, the Origins show is where most games are advertised one month before the massive wave of releases.

More importantly, Origins is when the American Gaming industry rewards excellence in achievement for last year's crop of Gaming Products.

That is why I am happy to provide this year's list of winners, with commentary (if you don't want my comments, you can merely see the results and the full ballot here):

Origins Awards 2005 Winners
Congratulations to all the winners! Thanks to everyone who participated this year!

Best Play-By-Mail Game

Enlightened Age Entertainment
Fall of Rome

I don't have any knowledge of this game, but it does look quite interesting. I am not the hugest PBM fan, especially with the innovations of online gaming, but I am a fan of turn based strategy games and most PBM games are of this sort. In fact, the only PBM game I have ever played is Hyborian War. I will have to defer to the expertise of the jury on this one.

Best Historical Board Game
GMT Games LLC
Sword of Rome

It is not surprising that GMT games won this year's top Historical Boardgame Slot (my personal choice would have been Memoir '44) as GMT makes games of consistant quality play. Their Card Driven Games are quite enjoyable, and the company supports internet play by including Cyberboard support. So you don't need a nearby friend to play.

One of GMTs drawbacks is their reliance on traditional "counter" mechanisms in the gaming format. Modern gamers tend to like "pieces" rather than counters both due to visual and pragmatic reasons (counters are very easy to lose). But this drawback wouldn't be much of one if the cost of GMT games was kept down. Sadly, The Sword of Rome comes in at $65.00. Not a bargain, but the gameplay is innovative and enjoyable

Best Historical Miniatures Line
Brigade Games
WWI: Western Front 28 mm

These are nicely scultped pieces by Michael Owens and are useful both for diorama and miniatures wargaming use. My own gaming tends toward fantasy or "ancients", but these are a fine looking batch with broad applicability.

Best Historical Miniatures Game
Clash of Arms Games
Dawn of the Rising Sun:
The Russo Japanese War 1904-1905

No comment

Best Board Game
Days of Wonder
Ticket To Ride

This game won last year's prestigeous "Spiel des Jahres" in Germany and it would have been a shock if it didn't win the Origins award for best board game. Ticket to Ride and it's sequel Ticket to Ride: Europe are innovative an enjoyable games for the whole family. What is remarkable in both of them is their ability to create a game with sufficient strategic challenge which is also playable by the entire family. As the saying goes, "five minutes to learn...a lifetime to master." The simple mechanics and high end playing components make for an almost ideal gaming experience. Go and immediately add this to your board game closet. You will play it far more frequently than Monopoly. Though Betrayal at House on the Hill and War of the Ring are fantastic games, it is the combination of complexity and accessibility that make this stand out in my mind.

Best Miniatures Game
Ad Astra Games
Attack Vector: Tactical

Innovative and extraordinarily complex. I just don't know if it is fun yet. I only have a few friends with sufficiently advance mathematics capabilities to play this game with. See the word vector in the title? This uses vector movement, a realistic addition to be sure, but too realistic? Still it is good to see innovation win in these categories.

Best Miniature Line
Dark Sword Miniatures, Inc.
Elmore Dragons

Balderdash! This demonstrates pandering fanboy-ness beyond belief. It's not that these are bad miniatures, they most certainly are not, it is just that they don't compare to the Rackham stuff coming out of France. The Rackham miniatures are so beautiful that I am afraid to even attempt painting them.

Best Collectible Card Game
Z-Man Games, Inc.
Seven Masters Vs. The Underworld

This won more from a refusal to accept commerical success than anything else. I have been playing Shadowfist for a while and I do like the game, but I have to say that the "Vs." game system is hands down my favorite from the past year.

Best Traditional Card Game
Atlas Games
Cthulhu 500

This game is fun, but I really believe that Atlas' other major card game last year, Gloom, deserves the award. Gloom was innovative in two ways. First, card design. The translucent cards allow for card/effect stacking with great fluidity. Second, it is a game where you try to make your opponent live a less tragic life than your own. You want to suffer more and die horribly. Gloom could best be described as the card game most likely to become a Tim Burton film. Cthuhu 500, while fun, just didn't live up in my mind to Gloom. Tragically, Gloom wasn't even nominated.

Best Role Playing Game
Atlas Games
Ars Magica: 5th Edition

Great game, great company. One problem. No one plays this game.

Best Role Playing Game Supplement
Wizards of the Coast
Eberron Campaign Setting

Maybe the best "campaign setting" ever. I currently use this.

Best Fiction Publication
Guardians of Order
Path of the Bold

Umm...okay, whatever. I couldn't read past page 6. This was dull and trite fiction

Best Non Fiction Publication
Steve Jackson Games
Pyramid Magazine

Best Game Accessory
Steve Jackson Games
Cardboard Heroes Castles

Inexpensive and useful.

Vanguard Award
All Wound Up
Twilight Creations, Inc.

Intrigueing innovation to make a boardgame using wind-up toy zombies. On that alone they should get a prize. But the rules are ambiguous and the pieces have trouble staying erect.

Flames of War
Battlefront

Fire as She Bears! 2.1
Starboard Tack Press

Pirates of the Spanish Main
WizKids, Inc

Gamers’ Choice Award

Legends
Harlequin Games

Desert Rats – British in the Desert
Battlefront

Axis and Allies D-Day
Avalon Hill

A Call to Arms (Babylon 5)
Mongoose Publishing

VS System
Marvel Origins and X-Men VS The Brotherhood
The Upper Deck Entertainment

Cthulhu 500
Atlas Games

World of Darkness Storytelling System Rulebook
White Wolf

Betrayal at House on the Hill
Avalon Hill

I'll add more comments later.