Hello readers,

Well, that's the last comic of this decade. Crazy, isn't it?

See you in 2010!

That's pronounced "Twenty-Ten" mind you.

Love,
Mike!

Hello readers,

Well that was fun, wasn't it? Now on to our regularly scheduled comics...

This comic was a ton of fun to shoot, mostly because when we were outside, there was a lot of playing in the snow.

Anyway, see you Wednesday.

Love,
Mike!

Hello Readers,

Merry Christmas!!! Christmas is the best. There's food, family, cozy fires, Christmas movies, and presents!

Also, go us for actually updating on this holiday. It means I have to stay up until midnight to update. God help you all if Santa skips my house because I'm updating this comic for you.

So enjoy our comic, enjoy the holiday, and come back next week.

Love,
Mike!

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Christmas Movies!

#1 - A Christmas Story (Warning: Spoilers are Below... don't read this until you see it)

I saved the best for last. Maybe the past two weeks of comics made it clear how much I love this movie, but in case you didn't catch that... I love this movie. The narration MAKES this movie, but the kid playing Ralphie brings it. Everyone brings it. Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon are PERFECT as the nameless parents. They provide a solid anchor for the rest of the mostly child cast that helps make this movie work.

In my mind, this movie is up there with others such as "This is Spinal Tap" and "The Big Lebowski"... every scene can stand on it's own and every scene is memorable and hilarious. You try to describe the movie to someone who hasn't seen it, and you find yourself rambling on about a lamp shaped like a leg, or amplifiers that go to 11, or a missing toe... yes, you're explaining something that happened in the movie, but you're not even beginning to touch on the brilliance.

And "A Christmas Story" isn't just a funny movie. It really portrays the dynamics of the relationship a child develops with their parents. The way Ralphie's mother covers for him when telling the Old Man about the fight with Scott Farkus marks the first time in his life that she's not acting just a parent, but as a friend.

When the Old Man gives him the BB gun on Christmas morning, he's passing him a torch. His father got him one when he was a child, and now he is giving one to his son. It's the first time the father and son do something together. That point is driven home when Ralphie tries to help change the tire. The look of shock and confusion the Old Man gives him lets us know he has NO IDEA why his son would be out there to assist. When he shows his son how to use that air rifle, both of their eyes are lit up, and for the first time, they're excited about the same thing.

So go out and watch these movies! Watch them with friends and family! Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, watch them to celebrate the season and the idea of everyone putting aside differences and sending out good will to all.

Merry Christmas!

Hello readers,

Happy Festivus!!!

It's just 2 days until Christmas, can you stand it?! I'm heading down for New York/New Jersey today, so I've spent most of the past 4 or 5 days glued to the computer, working on comics for the next 2 weeks so we'll be able to provide quality entertainment for all of you. You better damn well like it.

Tell your friends about us! Check our Facebook and Twitter pages!

Love,
Mike!

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Christmas Movies!

#2 - It's a Wonderful Life

God Damn right it's a Wonderful Life. This movie THE classic Christmas movie. Even after 60 years, it still knocks everybody's socks off. And for good reason. Frank Capra directing Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, not to mention a spot-on supporting cast. One of the best and most original stories answers the question we've all asked ourselves when we're down... "What if I had never been born at all?" Pretty dark for the 1940s, isn't it?

But wait, turns out it's hilarious! Brian, Peter, and I decided to watch this with some friends a few weeks ago (we were trying to decide which holiday movie to do a send up of for the comic), and this movieis WAAAY fu nnier than I ever remembered. That scene when they're kids and Mary Says to Violet "You like every boy!" and she says "What's wrong with that?" is a riot! Then George calls Mary "Brainless" for not liking coconuts.

Really, I could sit here and tell you why this is a great movie, but I'd just be summarizing every single scene. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, then go change that. Either way, watch "It's a Wonderful Life" or you're fired.

Hello readers,

We're getting ever closer to Christmas, and I don't know about you, but I'm wicked excited.

Hope everyone had a good Hanukkah! We made latkes and watched Inglourious Basterds.

Love,
Mike!

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Christmas Movies!

#3 - A National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Oh man, remember Chevy Chase? I think they said it best in Aaron Sorkin's short-lived show Studio 60, "One day Chevy Chase woke up and just wasn't funny any more." That day had not yet come when Christmas Vacation came out.

I don't think any movie has made me want to be a dad more than this one. Just so I could live through every painful second of it, and still have that Christmas spirit. And even at the end, when everything is INSANE and everyone's ready to leave, and he says 'No way, man... you are staying here with me and we are celebrating CHRISTMAS.' It takes a certain kind of man to commit false imprisonment against his own family in the spirit of the season.

And Chevy Chase aside, there is not a single performance that leaves you wanting. The cast has an incredible chemistry that makes this movie work. Like Julie Louise-Dreyfus and that other yuppie neighbor! Remember how Elaine is in this movie? Hilarious!

On a more personal note, this movie was something my family would always watch with my grandfather once December came around. This is the second Christmas we've had without him, but when I watched it with my family last weekend, my mom said she still heard every time he would have laughed. And knowing him, I knew what scenes would crack him up too.

The shame about Christmas movies is you can't really watch them all year round. This is not just one of the funniest Christmas movies in my mind, but one of the funniest movies. There's a slapstick brilliance to it that we just don't see anymore. Like that scene where they go sledding. Do you think any studio would make this movie today where that wasn't CGI? And what makes it so funny is that it IS real. I love a sweeping epic just as much as the next man (and when it's Lord of the Rings, I love it way more than the next man), but sometimes when there's CGI going on, you're so preoccupied with how real it looks that you're not really looking at it.

So here's to Christmas Vacation, capturing the reality of a family Christmas along with all the fried cats, ruined turkeys, and sexy sales ladies that come with it.

Hello readers,

Comic!

One week until Christmas, can you stand it?!

Come back next week.

Love,
Mike!

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Christmas Movies!

#4 - Elf

What a wonderful movie. They say that Hollywood only has so many stories, and yes, Elf soundly fits the "Character goes on a journey." Yet it strikes me as one of the most original Christmas movies to be released in the past 2 decades. Most of the new Christmas movies that come out seem to be the same old romantic comedy crap. To find something original, we have to look to the children's movies. And even then we get Jim Carrey is How the Grinch Stole Christmas and the like. It's shameless.

But when Elf came out, I knew it was different. It's one of Will Ferrell's best performances in my mind... sure it's ridiculous and over the top, but it's so different! An orphan grows up in the North Pole, raised as an elf and goes to New York City to meet his biological father, who's on the naughty list. Ferrell's occasionally obnoxious energy really works in this movie.

It hasn't been around as long as It's A Wonderful Life. It doesn't have the nostalgic humor of A Christmas Story. But it's a Christmas movie that has a spirit and humor that I hope we will be seeing in December for years to come.

Hello readers,

Today's comic is pretty excellent. By this point you may realize that we're doing a send-up of A Christmas Story. Today we're doing the scene that has my favorite quote... "Now, I had heard that word at least ten times a day from my old man. He worked in profanity the way other artists might work in oils or clay. It was his true medium; a master."

Anyway, come back on Friday for more Christmas hijinks!

Love,
Mike!

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Christmas Movies!

#5 - A Muppet Christmas Carol

We've seen a lot of different versions of A Christmas Carol. And why not? It's pretty much the first Christmas story after the whole Christ being born thing. And I don't want to say anything against any of these other movies (I haven't even seen Scrooged... I know, I suck), but Muppet Christmas Carol stands out.

Maybe it's a nostalgia thing. The Muppets making their appearance around Christmastime was as familiar as Jimmy Stewart when I was a lad. But there's a little something more to it than just that. It's the comedy inherent of a good Muppets' tale. It brings some much needed levity to an otherwise dark story.

And I could think of no better leading man to bring balance than Michael Caine. He just brings it. It's all in his eyes. They're so bitter and unforgiving in the beginning. They're so bright when he travels with the Ghost of Christmas Past. They're so concerned and lonely with the Ghost of Christmas Present, and so pleading and penitent with the Ghost of Christmases Yet to Come. And at the end on Christmas Day, they're so full of life.

And the songs! Hot damn, do I love those songs. Even now, at the age of 23... hell, at times of the year that are totally NOT Christmas, if I see a cranky ol' stick in the mud, my mind IMMEDIATELY leaps to "There goes Mr. Humbug... there goes Mr. Grim..."

And I could think of no Muppets more suited to the task of narrating than Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat. It's not like they're the comic relief, because the whole movie has some comedy, but they are certainly one of the high points.

Only problem with this movie is that for some unknown reason, Netflix doesn't carry it. I don't know how to complain to Netflix about this, but if you have any idea, let me know.

A Muppet Christmas Carol is one of those children's movies that you don't outgrow. In fact, I feel like it gets better with age. It has all the themes and morals of the original tale (albeit without actually going into Hell), and some command performances from human and Muppet alike. Buy it if you have to, this is a movie you shouldn't be without come December.

Hello Readers,

Well, it's Mid-December, and that means Christmas!!! My favorite time of the year. There's all the decorations, the food and drink, the presents, the family, and most importantly... the memories.

I know I don't write in this thing as a blog very often, but since Christmas and Movies are two of my favorite things, I'm gonna do a countdown to Christmas with my 6 favorites. I'm not speaking for everyone here at World Wasn't Meant, just myself. Check out the forums to discuss your favorite holiday movies!

And don't forget to come back on Wednesday! Today marks the beginning of a wonderful holiday adventure!

Love,
Mike!

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Christmas Movies!

#6 - Die Hard - Warning... there are spoilers for Die Hard and Lethal Weapon.

Yes, obviously Die Hard is a great action movie with John McClaine, one of the coolest protagonists of all time. But what makes it a good Christmas movie?

At face value, Die Hard is a thrilling action movie with solid characters, witty banter, a top-notch villain, and enough gun fights and explosions to invade a small country. And yes, it happens to take place around Christmas. Sounds like Lethal Weapon, doesn't it? So what separates these late-80s, LA-based, Christmas action movies?

It's about redemption and sacrifice. I'm not going to say John McClaine is a Christ-figure (the German dude at the end was the guy who came back to life), but he went out there and risked his neck to keep his family together. I'm not just talking about saving Holly's life, but he went to LA to win her back. This was a man who was unwilling to change at the start of the film, but the violence and mayhem we always associate with a good Christmas helped him and Holly figure out their priorities. So hey McClaine children... Merry Christmas. Not only are your parents alive, but they're back together.

And let's not forget our delightful supporting cast. Hans Gruber is the Grinch that threatens Christmas. Does he learn in the end? Yes and no. Yes, he learned the catchphrase, but no, he's dead now.

Arguile is your Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer character. Usually he's driving a cab, not chilling in a limosine with all the other reindeer. But because he was in the right place at the right time, he saved Christmas and stopped that other guy from escaping. Way to go, Arguile!

And Al. How could we forget Al? He plays Clarence to McClaine's George Bailey. Sure he's not perfect, but he's a lovable guy trying his best. And then at the end, he gets his wings. It's more about shooting a surviving terrorist than it is about a bell ringing, but the message is the same.

Don't get me wrong, Lethal Weapon is a great movie. But as far as Christmas themes go, Mel Gibson's big moment comes when he says, "OK, I guess I won't kill myself THIS year." Die Hard really brings the holiday spirit.

Hello readers,

This has happened before when I picked up Brian's lunch. Honestly... it'll probably happen again. I think it's easier if he just learns to enjoy an Italiano sandwich than it is for me to remember what kind of sandwich he likes.

Check out our store! E-Mail us about things you want!

Love,
Mike!

Hello Readers,

Today's comic is about Netflix's instant queue disc that allows you to stream movies on your Playstation 3. What Peter said of this (and I agree) is that every so often, some new technology comes out and catches you totally by surprise. Granted, this thing has been out since last year or so, but if we haven't seen it, it's new to us right?

Also what's the deal with Google Wave? Is anyone using this thing? What can I do with it?

Love,
Mike!

Hello readers,

This is a story about how a man (Peter) triumphs (fails) against machine (a microwave). It's really heartwarming on one level, and just plain sad on another.

Love,
Mike!

Hello readers,

This concludes our 3 weeks of Thanksgiving-related madness. Come back on Monday. Check out our store. There's an e-mail account called "storeATworldwasntmeantDOTcom" where you can e-mail us and let us know what you'd be interested in buying.

It's really a cool thing, you guys.

Love,
Mike!

Hello readers,

Rule of thumb regarding Brian... if you don't see him directly in front of you, he is most likely right behind you.

Post on Facebook and Twitter! Tell your friends about us, like seriously.

Love,
Mike!