all things fan girl

  • Subscribe to our RSS feed.
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Digg

Sunday, 3 April 2011

Review: Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog: The Book

Posted on 22:26 by jackson

Crossposted on Film.com

It had me at "spurty in their lady place."

It's been almost three years since the writer's strike and the release of arguably the most wonderful project to have emerged from that tumultuous period in Hollywood history (what else did the writers strike produce? Oh yeah. Transformers 2. Point made.). Thanks to Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, we have not only a great web-series we can watch over and over, but toys, soundtracks, musical commentary and endless cosplay to geek out over and this week, a brand new book to add to the list. Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog: The Book. And that's exactly what it is. A book. Of Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog. It's pretty badass.

Normally with this kind of publication, the bulk is made up of art and photos, great to own as a fan, sure, but not practical in any way. But Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog The Book, much like Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog the web-series, isn't your typical book....slash.....web series. No, yeah, that makes sense. That sentence definitely was cohesive and was not nonsensical. Oh god. I've been reading and watching so much Whedon-speak, I can almost feel myself becoming a Whedon...self-deprecation! Meta jokes! Sonheim-esque musical interludes!  Attempts at jokes awkwardly placed in the middle of an article!

Now that that's out of my system, back to the topic at hand. To start, Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog: The Book, features both the original shooting script and the complete sheet music, which I was pretty astounded to discover. I was expecting page after page of photos and behind the scenes commentary, like most other coffee table books of this nature, but was thrilled to find out it's so much more. Sure, I couldn't actually keep the book upright on my piano to play the music, it is a giant coffee table book after all, but once I photocopied the pages I wanted to play, I spent hours futzing around with both my piano and guitar. Anything that gets me to musical instrument futz is an instant win. The book also made me want to rewatch the web series - and I did - (it's on Netflix Instant Watch!) - while following along. Singing with the songs, seeing where actors deviated (It warmed my heart that Simon Helberg (Moist) said all of his lines word for word), where moments changed from script to screen, and how actors handled stage directions like "a beat as he realizes he said that sarcastically" and "Captain Hammer isn't thrilled, but he's hiding it from her." I especially liked following along during Commentary: The Musical (not on Netflix Instant Watch, actually had to get up and put a disc in my Xbox to watch that one...Netflix, you shifty bastids, you....) because this time, I actually didn't miss any of the jokes. You really start to notice things like, wow, Neil Patrick Harris sure does know how to enunciate, because he's the only one I understand without this book in front of me! Well, to be fair, I didn't need to book to make out what Maurissa was saying either, but Neil is truly the king of proper musical enunciation. It is a thing to be admired.

The introduction alone is worth the price of admission, as Captain Hammer explains what we're about to read and reminds us that he is Teh Awesome by saying things like

"People often ask me to write the introductions to their books. They ask me to speak at their school, be Godfather to their child, or make a spurty in their lady place." 

Immediately followed by

"I usually say no. Books don't interest me (Stop calling, Michael Chabon!), school is for sissies, and the Godfather was a bad man who did mob crime. The lady thing is okay, as long as it's between consenting adults and no one gets hurt/slapped with a paternity suit (stop calling, Mrs Michael Chabon!). But to conclude this word section, books are for coffee tables." 

And it only gets better from there.

After the intro, the book then goes into a lengthy discussion of the pre-production process with the whole pre-pro team - Jed, Joss, Maurissa and Zack - still infused with that trademark Whedon humor. Well. It better. Considering that's four Whedons right there. The flow and tone of the conversation really makes you as the reader feel like you are in the room, especially because The Whedons Four let us in on fun facts that people *not* in the room may not want us to know, i.e. how Neil, Nathan and Simon all separately forgot about the first table read. Oops. Although Simon actually recalls the moment he realized he forgot about the read through in his "A Horrible Memory," one of four accounts from the actors, which also include "A Horrible Experience" from Felicia Day, a haiku by Nathan Fillion, and a lovely afterward from Neil Patrick Harris.

There also may or may not be scans of call sheets. I happen to love call sheets, with their lines and numbers and organization! Really. I actually do. Seeing the "official" parts of the production is a fun aspect of the book, because it reminds us that despite having zero studio involvement and zero pay, everyone in the production still fell back on their professional habits. There was no slacking off, no foregoing of call sheets, costume continuity shots, sketches, music demos or multiple read throughs that all the actors did eventually attend. And when such talented people bring their A game to a project with no studio interference, it shows.

On that note, the book also features several behind the scenes photos from events celebrating the finished outcome, like The Emmys, The Streamys and Comic-Con. There's even a scan of a reserved seat badge from the 2008 Dr. Horrible panel (sorry forgers, except I'm not sorry at all, the reserved seat passes change pretty much every year) and a shot of the audience watching said panel. I happened to be in that room and experienced what is still one of my favorite Comic-Con memories. Nathan Fillion recited his famous "The Hammer is my penis" line to an adoring crowd, which was immediately followed by a small child behind me asking "Mommy, did he just say the hammer is my penis?" But the aftermath chronicling doesn't stop with Comic-Con and award shows, there are also multiple shots of cosplayers, merchandise, and even some from a couple of amateur Dr. Horrible productions.

Overall, it's a must own for any fan of Dr. Horrible, especially if you don't yet own the sheet music. For some reason, there is actually quite an overlap in terms of Joss geeks and Musical Theater nerds (myself included), so if you know people who fit that criteria, this is certainly the gift for them. The fact that it even exists thrills me - that a webseries gets its own behind the scenes coffee table book. And reading through it got me to rewatch, listen to the commentary, play the music both on iTunes and with my instruments, and all in all remind myself how much I love Dr. Horrible and want a sequel. It's been three years. Enough of this already, Whedons. Moar please!

Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog Book 
Release Date: March 29, 2011
Warning: This book may cause you to speak like a Whedon for roughly 3-5 hours upon completion. The only cure is more cowbell. There is no cure.
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to Facebook
Posted in Dr. Horrible | No comments
Newer Post Older Post Home

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Popular Posts

  • Best Finds of Wondercon 2011 [And How To Get Some For Yourself!]
    Crossposted on Film.com I've been attending comic book conventions since I was two years old and perhaps my most favorite part of every...
  • The Definitive Differences Between Tintin and Rin Tin Tin
    Cross-posted on and commissioned by Film.com Image: alittlewhitenoise.com With   The Adventures of Tintin   opening this week, I keep encoun...
  • Buffy & Angel SNOGOMETER [Full Of Win!]
    Originally from SFX Magazine, we don't know why this making the rounds today, but we loves it and it's THE BEST CAUSE IT'S THE B...
  • D23 - Disneyland Kinect Adventures Slightly Improves, But Is It Enough?
    After being extremely disappointed in Kinect Disneyland Adventures at E3 in Jue, I decided to give it a go here at D23, with a couple more m...
  • What Would It Mean If _____ Won Best Picture?
    At this point the race has really come down to The King's Speech vs The Social Network to walk away with Best Picture come Oscar night...
  • Spaced Pilgrims!
    Thank you Edgar Wright for tweeting this and thanks Dark Bunny Tees for creating it. Now we just need Marsha, Twist and Colin and we're...
  • Lost Actors In Their Soap Days [Jeff Fahey Was ATTRACTIVE Alert]
    Okay, so because I've gotten back into Soaps recently (don't you judge me) I decided to subscribe to Soap Opera Digest again cause i...
  • Inglourious Dior
    I'm not exactly a fashionista. The world of haute couture is generally offensive to me, since it's largely comprised of ugly threads...
  • Celebrity Crush Of The Week
     It's only weird if you let it be weird, okay?
  • The New King of Crushdom - In Which I Write An Article About A Cute Boy SHHHH
    Note: this may be the most ridiculous thing you've ever read. Something happened in the past couple years. This. While many of us have u...

Categories

  • 24
  • 30 Rock
  • 500 days of summer
  • 50s Movies
  • 90210
  • A Capella
  • abduction
  • Absent Mothers
  • Access Theater
  • acting
  • Action
  • Activision
  • Actors
  • Adania Shibli
  • adornment
  • Ads
  • Adventure
  • AFI Fest
  • Ahimsa Collective
  • alcatraz
  • Alcohol
  • Alice in Wonderland
  • All Things Fangirl
  • Alphabet
  • American Idiot
  • American Idol
  • american reunion
  • Anaheim
  • AND OH MY GOD ADULT SIZED KEN TAGS.
  • Angel
  • Animals
  • Animation
  • Apple
  • Archer
  • arkham city
  • Art
  • art parties
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Assassins Creed: Brotherhood
  • Atari
  • Auctions
  • Audition
  • avatar: the last airbender
  • Avett Brothers
  • awake
  • Awards
  • Awesome
  • Back to the Future
  • Backstage
  • Bad Robot
  • badass
  • Barbie
  • Barbies
  • basara samurai heroes
  • Batman
  • Battlestar Galactica
  • Best Of
  • bill and ted
  • bionic commando reArmed2
  • Bioshock
  • bioware
  • Blogging
  • blu ray
  • Blu-Ray
  • Blunderbuss
  • Board Games
  • Boardwalk Empire
  • Bob Dylan
  • Bon Iver
  • Books
  • Bored To Death
  • boredom
  • Boston Film Festival
  • Bottle Blondes
  • Boys
  • Brad Pitt
  • Brecht
  • Brian Selznick
  • British
  • britney spears
  • Broadway
  • Brooke Berman
  • Brooklyn
  • Buffy
  • cabin in the woods
  • Caitlin Burns
  • CalArts
  • Caleb Followill
  • Capcon
  • Captain Blood
  • Captain Planet
  • Cards
  • cARTel
  • Cartoons
  • Casting Call
  • Catwoman
  • Caucasian Chalk Circle
  • Celebrities
  • Characters
  • Charity
  • Choir
  • Chris Evans
  • chris miller
  • Chris Nolan
  • christina hendricks
  • Christopher Nolan
  • Chuck
  • Classic Movies
  • clint eastwood
  • Clips
  • Clock Root Books
  • clone high
  • clone high usa
  • Clothing
  • clowns
  • Coachella
  • Cocktails
  • Cold Hearted Snake
  • Collectables
  • Colossus
  • Comedy
  • Comic Con
  • comic-con
  • comic-con 2011
  • Comics
  • Community
  • concerts
  • Contest
  • Conventions
  • Conversation
  • Cooper Union
  • Costume
  • covers
  • Crashbox Theater Company
  • Crazy 4 Cult
  • Crushes of the Week
  • cult movies
  • Cyclops
  • d23
  • Damon Daunno
  • Daniel Faraday
  • david fincher
  • Dawson's Creek
  • DC
  • DC Comics
  • dead rising 2
  • Deadpool
  • Death
  • Debate
  • Desmond
  • Despicable Me
  • Dharma Initiative
  • Dinosaurs
  • Discussion
  • disney
  • disneyland
  • Doctor Who
  • documentaries
  • Dogs
  • Dolls
  • Dominic Monaghan
  • dont you dare sell out of this before I get there
  • Download
  • downton abbey
  • Dr. Horrible
  • dr. who
  • dragon age
  • Dream On
  • Dreams
  • Drinks
  • driven to drink
  • DVDs
  • E3
  • Earl Lovelace
  • Earth
  • Easter Eggs
  • Ebay
  • Edgar Wright
  • Edward Gorey
  • Eminem
  • Emma Frost
  • Emma Watson
  • emmys
  • England
  • Entertainment Earth
  • Entertainment Weekly
  • episode 2
  • Errol Flynn
  • eruditechick
  • Etsy
  • Etsy Geek Search Of The Day
  • Event
  • event write up
  • events
  • extreme makeover: home edition
  • Fable 2
  • Fable 3
  • Fan Outreach
  • Fangirl Awards
  • Fangirls
  • Fantasy
  • Fashion
  • Fat Kids On Fire
  • Feminist Press
  • film festivals
  • Film.com
  • Finn
  • finnick odair
  • Fiona Apple
  • Firefly
  • Florence + the Machine
  • Food
  • Foodie
  • Fringe
  • Fringe Festival
  • funk
  • Furniture
  • G4
  • Gallery 1988
  • game of thrones
  • Game Review
  • gamers
  • Games
  • Gary Oldman
  • Geek Girl Con
  • Geekgasm
  • Geeks
  • Genius
  • geoff boucher
  • Ghost Recon
  • ghost trick
  • Gifts
  • Gil Zabarsky
  • gingerbread
  • girl gamers
  • girl power
  • Girls
  • Giveaways
  • Glee
  • Glee Cap
  • Glee Live
  • Glee-cap
  • Gleecap
  • Gleek
  • Golden Globes
  • Good Movie Alert
  • Gorillaz
  • Gossip Girl
  • Grammy Awards
  • Graphic Novels
  • great hera
  • Green Day
  • Green Lantern
  • Gremlins
  • griff the invisible
  • Grilled Cheesus
  • Guest Blogger Alert
  • gunstringer
  • Haden Blackman
  • Halloween
  • Hamlet
  • Hanna
  • Harley Quinn
  • Harmonix
  • Harrison Ford
  • Harry Potter
  • Harry Shum Jr.
  • Haymarket Books
  • HBO
  • Hellwalk
  • Henry Cavill
  • Hero Complex
  • High School
  • HitRecord.Org
  • Holiday
  • Home Decor
  • Homeward Bound
  • Horror
  • house of lies
  • How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
  • Hugo
  • hunger games
  • Inception
  • Indiana Jones
  • infographics
  • Inglorious Basterds
  • insidious
  • Internet
  • Interpol
  • Interview
  • Invisible Plane
  • iPad
  • Iron Man 2
  • Jack White
  • Jackie Earle Haley
  • Jake Gyllenhaal
  • James Hance
  • jason reitman
  • Jason Schwartzman
  • Jason Segal
  • Jeffrey Dean Morgan
  • Jeffrey Eugenides
  • Jennifer Egan
  • jennifer lawrence
  • Jim Dooley
  • Jimmy Kimmel
  • JJ Abrams
  • john stamos
  • Jonah Hill
  • Jonathan Safran Foer
  • Joseph Gordon Levitt
  • Josh Tate
  • Joshua Jackson
  • Joss Whedon
  • Journey
  • Joy Harjo
  • Judgement Day
  • Julian Casablancas
  • Jurassic Park
  • Karmetik Machine Orchestra
  • Katee Sackhoff
  • Ken
  • Kevin Pereira
  • Kevin Smith
  • Kick Ass
  • kickstarter
  • kid with a bike
  • Kids
  • Kids Movies
  • Kill Shakespeare
  • Kinect
  • Kings of Leon
  • Kristen Stewart
  • Kronos Quartet
  • La Roux
  • LA Times
  • lacma
  • Lacy Demon Clothes
  • Lady Gaga
  • Leaving Brittney Alone with sharp objects
  • leetup
  • Leighton Meester
  • Lesser America
  • Lionhead
  • List
  • literature
  • Live Blogging
  • live read
  • LivingSocial
  • lord of the rings
  • Los Angeles
  • Lost
  • Lucas Arts
  • m. ward
  • M.I.A.
  • MAC
  • Machete
  • Macs
  • Mad Men
  • Magical Lasso
  • Make up
  • Making Money by being a fan.
  • Making-Of
  • Margaret Atwood
  • Marjane Satrapi
  • mark ruffalo
  • Marketing Campaign
  • Marvel
  • Marvel BS Capcom
  • mary sue
  • masks
  • Media
  • mega man
  • Megamind
  • Megan Fox
  • melissa leo
  • Mercedes
  • Merchandise
  • metric
  • Mia Farrow
  • Michelle Rodriguez
  • michelle williams
  • Microsoft
  • Midnight in Paris
  • Mirror's Edge
  • Mod
  • monsters inc
  • monsters university
  • Morrison Hotel Gallery
  • Mother Jones
  • motherhood
  • Mothers
  • Movies
  • Movies for women
  • Mr. Schuester
  • MSN
  • MTV
  • multimedia
  • Mumford and Sons
  • Muppets
  • Muse
  • Music
  • Music Video
  • Musicals
  • Na'vi
  • Nathan Barr
  • Nathan Fillion
  • Necco Wafers
  • Neil Patrick Harris
  • nerds
  • Never Seen Lost
  • New York
  • New York Comic Con
  • New York Times
  • Nicolas Cage
  • Nightmare on Elm Street
  • Nintendo
  • Noir
  • Norton
  • not hating glee this week.
  • novels
  • NPH
  • NYU
  • Obsessions
  • OH MY LORD THIS IS JUST TERRIBLE
  • okami den
  • Once
  • opinion
  • Oscars
  • Pacey
  • Pacey-Con
  • Paley Center
  • paleyfest
  • Panel
  • Parody
  • Parties
  • PEN
  • PEN American Center
  • PEN Festival
  • People Get Ready
  • phil lord
  • Photo of the Day
  • Photography
  • Pipeline Theatre Company
  • pirates
  • Pixar
  • Playstation
  • poems
  • poetry
  • Point/Counterpoint
  • Poison Ivy
  • Poker Face
  • politics
  • Poll
  • Pop Culture
  • Portal
  • Powerpuff Girls
  • Predictions
  • Prince of Persia
  • prince zuko
  • Props
  • Prospect Park Bandshell
  • Prototype
  • Psychopaths
  • publishers
  • Puck
  • Puckasaurus
  • Pushing Daisies
  • Quentin Tarantino
  • Quinn
  • Quinn rocks
  • Rachel
  • Rachel Berry
  • Radical Entertainment
  • Radiohead
  • raiders of the lost ark
  • ramble
  • Rant
  • Reality TV
  • Recap
  • Red
  • Red Dead Redemption
  • Red Elevator Productions
  • Regina Spektor
  • Regionals
  • Religion
  • Retcon Fail
  • Review
  • Reviews
  • rian johnson
  • Rihanna
  • rin tin tin
  • Ringtone
  • Robert Ma
  • Robert Pattinson
  • Robert Rodriguez
  • Rock Band
  • Rock Band 3
  • Roger Ma
  • Rolling Stone
  • Rolling Stones
  • Romance
  • Roomsies
  • RPG
  • Runaways
  • Russia
  • ryan kwanten
  • Saccran
  • Salman Rushdie
  • San Diego
  • Santa Barbara Film Festival
  • Saturn Awards
  • Schedule
  • Sci Fi
  • Score
  • Scott Pilgrim
  • Scream
  • Screenings
  • SDCC
  • Season 2
  • Series Finale
  • set your dvr
  • seth green
  • Shahrnush Parsipur
  • Shakespeare
  • Shakespeare Forum
  • Shane Bauer
  • Shattered Dimension
  • Shaun of the Dead
  • Shaylyn Hamm
  • she and him
  • Shirt of the Day
  • shoes
  • Shorts
  • Showtime
  • Siege
  • Simon Pegg
  • Singing
  • Slashfilm
  • Sleep No More
  • Slings and Arrows
  • smash
  • snark
  • Soap
  • Soap Operas
  • Someone Who'll Watch Over Me
  • Something Borrowed
  • Song Suggestions
  • Sorcerer's Apprentice
  • Spaced
  • Spider-Man
  • Spies
  • Spirituality
  • Splice
  • spoilers
  • Springfield Punx
  • stamos
  • Stan Lee
  • Star Trek
  • Star Wars
  • stephanie meyer
  • steven spielberg
  • Still Alive
  • Streamy Awards
  • Street Fighter
  • Studios
  • Sucker Punch
  • Sufjan Stevens
  • summer in the city
  • super 8
  • Super Hero Squad
  • Superheroes
  • Supernatural
  • Surprise
  • sushi slippers
  • Swag
  • Swords
  • syfy
  • T-Shirts
  • Talia al-Ghul
  • taylor lautner
  • Team Fortress 2
  • Technology
  • teefury
  • Tekken
  • Television
  • Tennessee Williams
  • TERRIBLE PEOPLE
  • TERRIBLE THINGS
  • the adventures of tintin
  • The Ashgirl
  • The Avengers
  • The Beatles
  • The Big Bang Theory
  • The Big Lebowski
  • The Joker
  • the king's speech
  • The Liddy Plays
  • The Lonely Island
  • The Losers
  • The Mystery of Girls' Media
  • the river
  • The Sigh
  • The Simpsons
  • the social network
  • The Strokes
  • The Thrilling Adventure Hour
  • The Walking Dead
  • The Zombie Combat Manual
  • Theater
  • Theatricality
  • ThinkGeek
  • Thinkhero
  • Tim Burton
  • Timberlake Wertenbaker
  • Tina Fey
  • tintin
  • Tom Clancy
  • Tom Hanks
  • tom hiddleston
  • top ten
  • topher grace
  • Toys
  • Trailers
  • Transformers
  • Trilogies
  • Tron
  • Tru Blood
  • True Blood
  • TTLLTOT
  • tv
  • TV Tropes
  • Twilight
  • twilight zone
  • Twisted Metal
  • Twitter
  • User-Generated Content
  • V
  • valentine's day
  • Valve
  • vampire diaries
  • Vampires
  • Video Game Facts
  • Video Games
  • Video Games Games
  • Villains
  • Virals
  • visual art
  • Want
  • Warner Brothers
  • Warren Robinett
  • web series
  • Webisodes
  • weird science
  • westerns
  • wet hot american summer
  • Wheelchair sex
  • Wilco
  • Will Farrell
  • Wolverine
  • Women
  • wonder woman
  • WonderCon
  • Wonderwall
  • Woody Allen
  • WTF
  • x files
  • X-Men
  • Xbox
  • xoxogg
  • yacht party
  • Youtube
  • Zach Galligan
  • Zigabid
  • Zoe Saldana
  • Zombies
  • zooey deschanel

Blog Archive

  • ►  2014 (2)
    • ►  March (1)
    • ►  February (1)
  • ►  2013 (30)
    • ►  November (1)
    • ►  October (2)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  July (3)
    • ►  June (1)
    • ►  May (4)
    • ►  April (4)
    • ►  March (5)
    • ►  February (3)
    • ►  January (5)
  • ►  2012 (89)
    • ►  December (4)
    • ►  November (3)
    • ►  October (2)
    • ►  September (6)
    • ►  August (4)
    • ►  July (5)
    • ►  June (11)
    • ►  May (13)
    • ►  April (16)
    • ►  March (9)
    • ►  February (7)
    • ►  January (9)
  • ▼  2011 (138)
    • ►  December (7)
    • ►  November (11)
    • ►  October (13)
    • ►  September (13)
    • ►  August (13)
    • ►  July (11)
    • ►  June (9)
    • ►  May (6)
    • ▼  April (9)
      • Blu Ray Review: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallo...
      • Is Scream 4 The Perfect Date Movie?
      • Top Eleven Most Anticipated Movies Of Summer
      • The Greatest Fundraiser A Geek Could Ask For [Event]
      • How A Bad Robot Employee Is Making The World A Bet...
      • CONTEST - Hanna Prize Package!
      • Best Finds of Wondercon 2011 [And How To Get Some ...
      • Review: Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog: The Book
      • HAPPY POETRY MONTH!
    • ►  March (15)
    • ►  February (16)
    • ►  January (15)
  • ►  2010 (240)
    • ►  December (5)
    • ►  November (8)
    • ►  October (13)
    • ►  September (18)
    • ►  August (27)
    • ►  July (36)
    • ►  June (29)
    • ►  May (40)
    • ►  April (49)
    • ►  March (15)
Powered by Blogger.

About Me

jackson
View my complete profile