The Trajectory of Captain America

Chris Evans at the 2008 Toronto International ...

Trajectory is the path a moving object follows through space as a function of time.

I got to thinking about where I might want to be after watching "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" the other night.

Partially because it's lead star apparently has NONE as I discuss here.

But largely due to one of the bit players in the ensemble of the movie: Chris Evans.

You MIGHT remember him for his first big turn in the spoof "Not Another Teen Movie." I certainly remember him. I did not realize he had some TV roles behind him, but he left them far behind once that movie hit.

He carried the suspense actioner "Cellular." This film relied on his ability to communicate only through a phone and he pulled it off.

However, it appeared he might be stuck in a typecasting hell of playing a sort-of bumbling California boy (ironic as he is from Boston).

This seemed confirmed when he was chosen to play the hot-headed Human Torch in 2005's "Fantastic Four" and its sequel.

Thankfully, Evans was able to show some range in independent films.

It was a set of three films that solidified that Evans was not just a good looking bumbler/hothead. He starred first in Danny Boyle's sci-fi thiller "Sunshine." Evans showed a range that he hadn't previously in any of his mainstream hits.

"Street Kings" was a grittier crime drama that was followed up by 2009's "Push." Both were darker films, much like the earlier (if not ironically named) "Sunshine." Evans's trajectory has clearly moved from previous expectations.

This year he did two ensembles: actioner "The Losers" and the aforementioned "Scott Pilgrim." In the first, he reverted to his previous bumbler role, but in a darker setting and with a clearer regard for the portrayal. (He is a still a great comedian). In Pilgrim, he was the bad guy- a bumbler, but definitely a clear bad guy, something he had not portrayed before.

Currently, he is working on being "Captain America- the First Avenger." Apparently, this will require numerous sequels. Hopefully, he is not held to the idea of just being Captain America, but even more as he has shown he can do.

Predicting Chris Evan's trajectory based on his first appearance in "Not Another Teen Movie" would probably not have him where he is today, but that's a good thing right?

What's your trajectory compared to where you have been and where you think and where you are heading?

Slow Death or Rebirth for Myspace?

Are we really watching the slow inevitable death of Myspace? With the integration with Facebook complete and the push towards what appears to be a mobile only function , isn't it time to call this one? One report says that Myspace is making $200 million less this year. They are functionally giving up on Myspace Music , which was always their bread and butter. Without the music tie in, why would people BOTHER with Myspace? I'm talking about it because my wife's band has used every medium known to mankind to promote themselves online and Myspace has been nothing but dead weight from the very beginning. Only bands and their most ardent fans go there. The rest are on Facebook. There is talk of selling Myspace, but who in their right mind would consider it? This will have some interesting implications for bands down the road. Many use Myspace as their de facto website, just pushing their domain name onto the customizable site. Now apparently, Reverbnation , a North Carolin

Check out my appearance on the The Toddcast Podcast

Click and watch the podcast recording of my appearance on the Toddcast Podcast Such a fun time!

New Life

It's weird, sad and slightly freeing. I've been headed towards a completely different life for a lot longer than I even knew. It took me a while to catch up to realize it was happening. Thankfully, I was cognizant enough to see it finally and mostly ready for it. It's amazing when you have the rug completely pulled out from underneath you. The adjustments are jarring. I made mistakes, but like most I learned from them, adapted, and tried my best to do better. The reason you see that truck next to a storage place? That's the sum of my life right now. Never take for granted that you will work hard for something or someone, and it will end up meaning very little. You are guaranteed nothing, owed nothing, promised nothing. Anything and everything can be taken away in a heartbeat. I wrote this to my kids a while back: I tried to be the best father I could be based on what I knew when I knew it and how I could. One of the lessons for your life needs to be: you need to b

Todd Lyden

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