Kal-El's new undies (From Yahoo! Movies) After their first glimpse of Brandon Routh in the Superman costume, fanboys everywhere adjusted their glasses in disbelief. The "S" on his chest is "too small," they grumbled. "And what's up with the burgundy cape and boots?!" Comic fans are a tough crowd to please, but translating a superhero's brightly-colored tights from page to screen is no easy task. Most of them would look silly on film. And if we can't take our hero seriously, who cares if the movie is good or not? Batman had to sport leather so he didn't look ridiculous (not counting Schumacher's vision). With Batman's success, X-Men, Blade, and Daredevil all followed suit with the bad-ass look of leather. But then came Spider-Man's home-sewn threads -- about as faithful as you can get to the comics, making tights look cool and with white eyes, even! The design of a superhero's costume might be the most important step when developing comic movies. Most of the time the costume succeeds, but not always the movie. And then, there's the occasion where both are destined to fail. Suggested Sites... Hero Vs. Hero - grades 12 of the most recent big screen-adapted Superhero costumes -- quality of movie is irrelevant. SFGate.com Article - "As superheroes come to life in movies, filmmakers realize their old costumes look, well, comical." Blockade Boy - blog about superhero fashion features images from a variety of comics with odd characters and their costumes. Superman Returns - official site of Bryan Singer's attempt at the world's most popular superhero. Forum: Fanboys Freak Out Over Pic of Routh in Costume - features gripes from fanboys and a photoshop-enhanced Routh.

Directory categories: Superhero Movies, Comic Book Movie Genre, Superman

Archived under: Batman, Comic Books, Costumes, Entertainment, Movies, Superheroes

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(Photo by Curtis Perry) Recreational vehicles have come a long way since Americans started using them to tour the country in the 1920s. "Tin Can Tourists" were blessed with curiosity and a sense of adventure, but didn't necessarily want to give up the amenities of home -- and thus was born the RV. After World War II, such companies as Airstream and Winnebago sprang up, dedicated to giving the motor tourist comfort in a surprisingly lightweight form. Even Hollywood got into the act, as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz attempted to drive across the U.S. in their movie, "The Long, Long Trailer" (a feat emulated by Albert Brooks and Julie Hagerty in "Lost in America"). And just what do these road warriors want to see? Well, they may start with the World's Largest Catsup Bottle, then the Big Duck, north to Hiawatha, "The World's Tallest and Largest Indian," then the World's Oldest Working Lightbulb, or any number of other unique destinations. Suggested Sites... RV Advice - recreational vehicle events, tips and tricks, FAQs, and more. Roadside America - you're out on the road; here's what to see. Roadside Architecture - keep your eyes peeled for one-of-a-kind buildings, restaurants, and giant... things. GasBuddy.com - get your motor runnin' and head out on the highway -- but first know where to find the cheapest gas. Vintage Vacations - restoring and selling period trailers and campers.

Directory categories: Road Trips, Recreational Vehicles, Roadside Attractions, RV Parks

Archived under: Autos, Parks, Roadside Attractions, Travel

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EGL girl in Tokyo (Photo by Bernard Langham) We know it's the anniversary of Queen Victoria's coronation today, but what's with the Victorian garb? But wait -- they wear those historical outfits year-round. History buffs? More likely these walking fashion plates are a part of an underground movement à la mode known as Elegant Gothic Lolitas, or EGL. These young women take on a nostalgic style that's hard to miss, donning the look of girls from the Victorian era. Clad with elaborately laced dresses and sporting decorative parasols, they originated from an urban Japanese music scene. The EGL subculture has been around since the late 1990s, and a few clothiers even specialize in this distinctive mix of elegant flamboyance with dark tendencies. If you happen to be a Victorian doll collector or a costume fanatic, consider taking a trip to Japan -- you might find real dolls roaming the streets of Tokyo. Suggested Sites... Avante Gauche - check out EGL galleries and literature. Metamorphose - EGL fashion brand with stores all over Japan. The New York Times: Gothic Lolitas - Demure vs. Dominatrix - Americans following EGL fashion.

Directory categories: Elegant Gothic Lolita, EGL Clothiers, Victorian Era, Queen Victoria

Archived under: Fashion, History, Japan, Royalty, Society and Culture

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(Photo by Craig Beames) It used to be that at weddings, the only one doing any recycling was the DJ. But brides-to-be are going green as much as white these days. Angelina Jolie is scrounging for wedding threads at Goodwill for her big day, and plenty of newly betrothed donate their duds once their happy day is done. Some recycle raiment, others forego gifts and set up charitable registries instead. Many live-in couples that may already have everything they need to start married life, happily say "no" to more clutter. Some even hold up their nose to cut flowers and choose potted plants or herbs, which can be recycled as wedding favors and taken home with guests for their gardens. This wedding season, though many lovebirds may not think twice about feeding landfills with their wedding waste, others are inspired to celebrate love by extending it to our planet. Suggested Sites... Waste Not, Want Not - great tips on how to use leftover wedding items to feed the hungry or brighten someone's day. Green Wedding Gown Sheds "Light" on Sustainable Fashion - a fair wage, fair trade, hemp silk gown with a light-up train. Eco-Wedding - examines some the environmental and social costs associated with weddings. Organic Weddings - gowns, cakes, invitations, and a plethora of other natural wedding ideas.

Directory categories: Charitable Weddings, Green Weddings, Sustainable Event Planning, Voluntary Simplicity

Archived under: Environment, Society and Culture, Sustainability, Weddings

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Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Elvis Presley (From Yahoo! Movies) In the 29 years since Elvis Presley gave his last live performance on June 26, 1977, the King has been surprisingly busy for a dead man. He's appeared on screen played by actors ranging from the good (Golden Globe-winning Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Emmy-nominated Kurt Russell), to the bad (Frank Stallone), to the utterly baffling (Don Johnson). He's been serenaded in hundreds of songs and documented in dozens of biographies. But he's also branched out from his real-life superstar persona into alternate realities and fanciful worlds. Fictional Elvis has been a geriatric mummy-fighter, the target of a teenaged kidnapper, a philosophical hitchhiker, and a foul-mouthed mentor to violent criminals. He's solved crimes in a punningly-titled series of detective stories, been elected to the Senate, and traveled through time to become the savior of a dystopian future. Not a bad career for a guy who (allegedly) died nearly 30 years ago. Suggested Sites... Presleyites, Dylanists and Springsteenians - Elvis, Bob, and Bruce analyzed and fictionalized. Elvis-Related Fiction - Elvis as a fictional character and Elvis-inspired novels and stories. Elvis in the IMDb - the King's listing, plus keyword matches and a list of movie characters named "Elvis Presley."

Directory categories: Elvis, Elvis Sightings, Elvis Impersonators, Elvis Humor

Archived under: Dead Celebrities, Elvis Presley, Entertainment, Fiction, Literature, Movies, Music

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