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Funky Winkerbean - Page 2

post #51 of 359
10/9/07 at 5:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by barbelithbomb
Lio, Get Fuzzy, and Pearls Before Swine are all great. But that's about it.
Seconding Pearls Before Swine - I love the gators - "Hullo, Zeeba Neighba."

Sundays are fundays 'cause I get my Opus and Prince Valiant. Fuck everything else.
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post #52 of 359
10/9/07 at 5:27pm
I don't think any of us appreciated what it meant to wake up to Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes each morning. That's like waking up to a loving blowjob and the smell of waffles.
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post #53 of 359
10/9/07 at 5:40pm
The only reason I knew about this strip at all was because of the Comics Crumudgeon:

http://joshreads.com/

Funny, funny stuff.
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post #54 of 359
10/9/07 at 5:48pm
The laffs continue!
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post #55 of 359
10/9/07 at 5:50pm
My local paper is running old Peanuts comics strips, and it makes me wonder why they can't just do that with Calvin & Hobbes and/or The Far Side. That would be better than the garbage on that page any day.

I'll agree with Pearls Before Swine - the gators are pretty good.
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post #56 of 359
10/9/07 at 5:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by The LD
The laffs continue!
I imagine a studio audience laugh track to their dialogue. Totally picks the mood rightup!
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post #57 of 359
10/9/07 at 5:55pm
lolgramps
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post #58 of 359
10/9/07 at 6:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Detonathor
While I'm not familiar with this classic strip, isn't a little weird that she refers to the guy's grandfather as "my dad" and not, you know, "your grandfather"? I mean, really, what's up with that?

And I'm not seeing nearly enough Bloom County and Outlands love here.
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post #59 of 359
10/9/07 at 6:27pm
My father was sick for about nine years and passed away recently. I don't say that looking for sympathy, but to point out that until he passed away I thought Big Fish was a good to great movie. I saw it once at an early screening and left a mess, and then a second time with my mother. We both blubbered, perhaps her more than me as her father died in World War II, and the two never met.

Looking for some comfort food cinema after his death I watched the film again and realized that it was actually a terrible film but it just pushed my daddy buttons. I'm guessing Rath is feeling the exact same thing, though I can suggest the thing that suckered me had a more respectable pedigree.
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post #60 of 359
10/9/07 at 6:30pm
I had no idea Rath had gone through something similar. If that's the case, I do feel bad.
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post #61 of 359
10/9/07 at 6:45pm
Regardless of how much it relates or doesn't relate to your dad, Big Fish is a good movie.
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post #62 of 359
10/9/07 at 6:48pm
No. No it isn't.
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post #63 of 359
10/9/07 at 7:22pm
BIG FISH is what put that For Better or For Worse granpa in a coma.
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post #64 of 359
10/9/07 at 8:33pm
Thread Starter 
I haven't brought it up in a long time around here, but yeah, my mother died of breast cancer (in October, actually) when I was pretty young, and the woman who my father dated for many years and helped raise me was diagnosed with it in 2006. I don't really like to bring that up -- it seems like a cheap attention grab to me at this point and I don't bring it up now to elicit sympathy -- but that's probably one of the reasons this storyline gets/got to me. (Although the winner and all time champeen is still "A.I.," which I haven't watched since it turned me into a sobbing wreck opening night.)

As for the badness of Funky Winkerbean (which I hadn't read in a while until this most recent storyline, but I really loved it as a kid)*, thanks to Ludwig for pointing out that blog, which ran through the more recent developments in that strip. It is pretty hilarious how dark and doom-ridden the strip has gotten. However, I think he makes a good point when he says this:

Quote:
I don’t hate it on principle, for starters. I don’t believe that the comics, or the newspaper comics in particular, should be a all-fun death-free zone. And, to touch on a specific aspect that seems to have pressed a lot of buttons: I’m a big proponent of quality-of-life decisions in medical care. I think that, if given the option of adding a few extra months to your life at the price of constant pain, “no” is a legitimate answer...

...Whatever my thoughts are on the execution of this, my esteem for it is boosted by its context: it sits in the middle of a section of the paper full of “legacy” strips now produced by committee, whose tired punchlines seem quite often to be literally phoned in. This series was undeniably trying at something a little grander.
And I think when you compare the way Funky Winkerbean seems to deal with its issues as compared to the far-more-manipulative-to-me "For Better Or Worse," I've always thought that the strip's been ridiculously sentimental, but it's always tried to approach things honestly. In my unfounded opinion.

Anyway, one of the positive things about this strip is that Batiuk is donating all of his royalties from the book that collects this storyline to a foundation for breast cancer research in one of the best hospitals in Northeastern Ohio.

*And I'm fully aware that nostalgia is coloring my opinion of the thing.
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post #65 of 359
10/9/07 at 8:57pm
Less simpering, more hilarious grandpa stroke comics.
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post #66 of 359
10/9/07 at 9:07pm
http://images.chron.com/apps/comics/..._Worse.9.g.gif
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post #67 of 359
10/9/07 at 9:10pm
Holy crap. Talk about an uplifting start to your day.
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post #68 of 359
10/9/07 at 9:21pm
lolololololololololololol
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post #69 of 359
10/9/07 at 9:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Dellamorte
No. No it isn't.
Yes. Yes it is.
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post #70 of 359
10/9/07 at 9:28pm
It's a shallow film with a trite message that pulls every single one of its punches.
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post #71 of 359
10/9/07 at 9:30pm
Also, I hope no one thinks I was mocking Rath, it's just certain things push buttons and we can't look at them objectively until maybe never. That's not a good or bad thing, it just is.
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post #72 of 359
10/9/07 at 9:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Dellamorte
It's a shallow film with a trite message that pulls every single one of its punches.
So what's the message (I think it has more than one because it works on multiple levels)? Also, I don't think it pulls any punches because it never even cocks its fist. It's not trying to "hit" the audience.
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post #73 of 359
10/9/07 at 9:55pm
You guys obviously missed the "touching" FBoW where the old family dog saved the baby from drowning in a creek and then promptly died in his master's arms; not even Lassie could top that.

Still, it's better than Cathy.
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post #74 of 359
10/9/07 at 9:55pm
The film is about a son reconnecting with a father he's always been annoyed by because all his stories cast him as the protagonist, and made the son feel like the father was a glory hog. In the end his father led a saintly life where many of his stories were exagerations, but not that far from the truth, and in the end the son learns to enjoy and take part in these fables.

The film also sets up the idea of an affair, and getting to the truth of your father, but it pretty much denies any darkness or gray shadings.

The film connected with me because my father's multiple strokes denied me the ability to know my father as more than just the man who raised me but as an adult. The film is about reconnecting with your father when you are old enough to see the other side, the adult side of things.
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post #75 of 359
10/9/07 at 10:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChunkyLover53
You guys obviously missed the "touching" FBoW where the old family dog saved the baby from drowning in a creek and then promptly died in his master's arms; not even Lassie could top that.

Still, it's better than Cathy.
"He's a hero!" "He's exhausted!"
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post #76 of 359
10/9/07 at 10:05pm
In hell, the comic pages only have Cathy and FBoW..
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post #77 of 359
10/9/07 at 10:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Dellamorte
The film is about a son reconnecting with a father he's always been annoyed by because all his stories cast him as the protagonist, and made the son feel like the father was a glory hog. In the end his father led a saintly life where many of his stories were exagerations, but not that far from the truth, and in the end the son learns to enjoy and take part in these fables.

The film also sets up the idea of an affair, and getting to the truth of your father, but it pretty much denies any darkness or gray shadings.

The film connected with me because my father's multiple strokes denied me the ability to know my father as more than just the man who raised me but as an adult. The film is about reconnecting with your father when you are old enough to see the other side, the adult side of things.
That's a plot summation, but not the message.

Again, that's the plot but there's far more interesting ideas in the film. It's far more interesting watching the metaphors of Edward's story as he finds his way through life. I love when he leaves the perfect town because while it may be comfortable, no one ever grows or learns or becomes a richer person. I love how as the story goes on, the story becomes less whimsical but still imaginative. And it fits perfectly into Burton's filmography as he continues to explore the possibilities and consequences of imagination.

I'm glad the film connected with you emotionally but as for reconnecting with your father simply because you're old enough to understand them is simply what happens more than "THE MESSAGE".

As for the pulling the punch of the affair, again, I don't think it's trying to hit the audience and just chickening out. What would be the point? Learning that his father isn't perfect? That he's not a saint? That's a different movie. That's a different character. Sure, it's a punch but it doesn't serve the overall story. While I can see that it would have added to the "message" of an adult reconnecting with his father in a way a child couldn't connect with a parent, I don't think parental morality is the crux of the reconnection as much as finding the truth in fiction.
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post #78 of 359
10/9/07 at 10:44pm
What are the consequences of imagination? Alienating your son, who then learns to love you on your deathbed? If that's the case, if dad couldn't understand why the son might want to know the real you, then he's kind of an asshole. But the film does say that, but it lays much of the blame at the son's feet. Is what amounts to an affectation that important that when your son asks you to be real with him you can't? That's way more interesting than what the film settles on, which is, sad to say, some Chicken Noodle Soup fo the Soul bullshit.

As for the truth in fiction, the film is also about the storyteller, and again, if you're going to explain the need to create fictions, it helps if it comes from a realer place than what the film ends up essaying. You found the story in the corners, but what's front and center is trite. If it's about the power of fiction, I guess I don't really need a film to tell me how great fiction is. It's sort of like writing a book about how awesome books are. It's a world between criticism and actual storytelling. I'd rather have the real experience (which this then isn't) of a great story than be mollycoddled about the power of fiction. For a better version of this, see Pan's Labyrinth, which actually does everything that this was sort of trying to do a million times better.
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post #79 of 359
10/9/07 at 11:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Dellamorte
What are the consequences of imagination? Alienating your son, who then learns to love you on your deathbed? If that's the case, if dad couldn't understand why the son might want to know the real you, then he's kind of an asshole. But the film does say that, but it lays much of the blame at the son's feet. Is what amounts to an affectation that important that when your son asks you to be real with him you can't? That's way more interesting than what the film settles on, which is, sad to say, some Chicken Noodle Soup fo the Soul bullshit.
But that's assuming that the father is denying his son that knowledge when it's clear that Edward truly believes that his stories ARE reality. It's not delusion but interpretation. You could argue that Edward is including impossibilities in the stories but it's clear in his actions and his personality that there's just no such thing as "impossible" to Edward (so tempting to make an "Impossible Is Nothing" reference but I'll resist). He lives in a world of endless possibility.

Quote:
As for the truth in fiction, the film is also about the storyteller, and again, if you're going to explain the need to create fictions, it helps if it comes from a realer place than what the film ends up essaying. You found the story in the corners, but what's front and center is trite. If it's about the power of fiction, I guess I don't really need a film to tell me how great fiction is. It's sort of like writing a book about how awesome books are. It's a world between criticism and actual storytelling. I'd rather have the real experience (which this then isn't) of a great story than be mollycoddled about the power of fiction. For a better version of this, see Pan's Labyrinth, which actually does everything that this was sort of trying to do a million times better.
It's not about the power of fiction. It's not about power. It's about the filter of imagination and Burton always seems to be fascinated with the dark and light sides of imagination. The film isn't saying "Boy, fiction sure is great!" but rather that it's more than just an escape or a means of communication or a tool for teaching. Those are what it does but not what it is and Burton's always chasing that windmill.

Maybe the film centered on the father-son relationship for you because you saw it when you were going through a similar experience. The coming of age story of Edward's life jumped out at me because that's where I'm at in my life right now and when I saw it. Does that make the film empty because it's vague enough to fit into the lives of many without seriously existing on any themes or is it universal in its appeal and thoughtful in how it touches on various aspects of life? I'd like to think it's the latter but I get where you're coming from if you think it's the former.
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post #80 of 359
10/9/07 at 11:11pm
Wow, those For Better or Worse strips are about as much fun as a kennel fire.
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post #81 of 359
10/9/07 at 11:20pm
To me, in re-viewing it, the critical scene is the one where Benson tells him how he was really born. The value of fiction comes in knowing the real. But to get to the whole thing you have a deeply schematic story that opens doors that I wasn't willing to look at the first time I saw it.
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post #82 of 359
10/10/07 at 1:10am
I can't wait to see tomorrows FBFW strip. Maybe the dying grandpa will explode and give his entire family AIDS when they inhale particles of his blood.
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post #83 of 359
10/10/07 at 1:18am
I can sense a Terry Schiavo-type of "conclusion" around the corner.
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post #84 of 359
10/10/07 at 1:56am
Thread Starter 
Fun Wikipedia Fact That May Not Be True: For Better or Worse was shortlisted for a Pulitzer in 1994.
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post #85 of 359
10/10/07 at 2:30am
LMAO!!!!

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post #86 of 359
10/10/07 at 2:51am
I know I love to start the day with a cup of coffee, then I open up the morning paper and head straight to the comics page to read about cancer, strokes, and parents denying their children's homosexuality.

And then I say to myself "Today is a good day."
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post #87 of 359
10/10/07 at 2:55am
Least I Could Do takes on FBFW: Rayne learns what it's like to age in real time.

P.S. Thirding Pearls Before Swine. Toot for joy!
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post #88 of 359
10/10/07 at 11:02am
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/funky.asp

ROFLMAO x 10
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post #89 of 359
10/10/07 at 11:06am
HA! I love the distance he's willing to go for a laugh!
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post #90 of 359
10/10/07 at 11:06am
Why is he weeping at Shakespeare's grave?
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post #91 of 359
10/10/07 at 11:08am
Thread Starter 
Jesus, even I don't understand what that means.

Edit: Oh, okay:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/fu...?date=20070915

Still, that's like the shittiest representation of Central Park ever.
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post #92 of 359
10/10/07 at 11:09am
He's weeping because he's stuck in such a crappy comic. The rain symbolizes Shakespeare weeping for all of us.
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post #93 of 359
10/10/07 at 11:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad Millette
Why is he weeping at Shakespeare's grave?
I was going to make that joke, but I wasn't sure if the bust was someone from the strip.
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post #94 of 359
10/10/07 at 11:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RathBandu
Jesus, even I don't understand what that means.

Edit: Oh, okay:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/fu...?date=20070915

Still, that's like the shittiest representation of Central Park ever.
The look on his face when she says "surprise me" is actually disturbing.
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post #95 of 359
10/10/07 at 11:14am
If this doesn't end with his wife rising from the grave ala Pet Sematary I will be very disappointed.
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post #96 of 359
10/10/07 at 11:19am
nevermind, misread

LOLCANCER!
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post #97 of 359
10/10/07 at 11:25am
I know how to lighten the mood in this thread:



Snuffy Smith, ladies and gentlemen. The comic that doesn't need to make sense or be funny.
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post #98 of 359
10/10/07 at 11:29am
Bring back the comics about spreading loved ones' ashes and trying to smile. Snuffy Smith depresses me.
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post #99 of 359
10/10/07 at 11:37am
"Send Funky to Iraq"

What, nobody remembers the two-long series about Funky's brother stepping on a mine in Afghanistan?

I liked the comic more when everybody was in high school (I'm pretty sure my alma mater was the inspiration).
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post #100 of 359
10/10/07 at 11:39am
No, we're talking about sending Beetle Bailey to Iraq.
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