Peter Bagge’s latest graphic novel, Other Lives, proves to be a brilliantly original and thoroughly surprising read. Although I’m still unsure of what I found to be more surprising—the story’s clever deconstruction of modern identity issues or the fact that it was published by DC’s Vertigo line of comics. In the past I’ve enjoyed pretty much everything I’ve read that bore the Vertigo logo (Sandman, Books of Magic, Fables, Hell-blazer, and many many others) yet I still find myself refreshingly surprised by the ever-widening scope of stories that are being released under this imprint. (more…)

The topical story and strong leads in David Verbeek’s “R U There” feel like a great short stretched into a feature that cannot sustain the tension for which it so earnestly strives. (more…)

The juxtaposition of the real and “imaginary” lives of four heavy Second Life users was fascinating. Watching the film was like taking an imaginary vacation to some other planet, with a complete society including beaches and dance clubs, fashion and real estate, friends and strangers. The graphics were very utopian, with clean lines and computer generated images. It was basically a binge of collective imaginations.

Life is much easier in Second Life than it is in the physical world. For instance, while dating in Second Life, a woman gets upset because the private beach won’t allow them to fly. (more…)

“Chatroom”, the first of a trio of cyberspace thrillers chilling the film festival, sees a dysfunctional youngster (upcoming British star Aaron Johnson) obsessively watching Japanese suicide videos in a dark locked bedroom.

He sets up a chatroom with four other troubled teenagers, but seems only to want to mess with their heads.

Directed by Japanese master of horror Hideo Nakata, but panned by many Cannes critics, the British movie brings a note of caution to fans of the virtual world both on the Internet and in video games.

“The Internet has been increasingly amplifying negative emotions: anxieties, fear, envy, hatred and anger,” said Nakata, whose movie was screened at the festival’s “Un Certain Regard” section. (more…)

Proudest avatar or proudest woman? I have to say it is a little bit of both.  Actually it is: LOADS of both!!! lol But the funny part is that still after 3 months of being partners Jag & I, people are still surprised by us getting married…  Understandable most of them don’t know the whole JAG & Pris story… but I would have thought by now everybody would have swallowed the “old” news…  so just in case some people still have not heard, let me spell it out for you: (more…)

But now I had another Second Life job:  Agina Island Estate Manager!  I don’t think JAG & I realised how much work there would be owning a sim… So we found ourselves a bit challenged and with a few disagreements on top of it, JAG was even ready to re-sell Agina Island.  But we also have some very supportive friends like Saki…. and it helped so much.  And we are now seriously considering expanding Agina by buying a second sim… (more…)