I've been writing a lot on the darn thing, but it means I have little time for the net. Hopefully soon, but I figure since I seem to be in some sort of groove right now, I'd better stay in it. I'm getting tired of being in school as a student and I really, really want out ASAP. Of course, that's at least a year and a half away, but the more I get done now, the easier it will be once the nit-picky copy editing and source triple checking has to be done.
No promises - I will blog if I can, but the dissertation has more of a claim on my time.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Latest episode of BSG
I had quite a few thoughts on last night's episode of Battlestar Galactica.
But I felt it would work better as a post at the higher trafficked M*.
So go here to read my BSG thoughts. (with a bonus discussion of the classic Science Fiction short story "The Cold Equations").
But I felt it would work better as a post at the higher trafficked M*.
So go here to read my BSG thoughts. (with a bonus discussion of the classic Science Fiction short story "The Cold Equations").
Monday, February 19, 2007
Ghost Rider "sorta kinda" review
Random Thoughts on the Ghost Rider movie:
1. As evidenced by the link on my sidebar, I love the character of Ghost Rider. He's one of the best and most interesting comic characters ever created. At their worst, they were a sort of horror-lite (i.e. scary for nine year olds), but at their best they were morality plays about dealing with and overcoming your own inner demons.
2. Generally, the average age of most comic book readers today is someone in their mid to late twenties. They want a bit more meat on their stories.
3. This movie is basically on the "scary for nine-year olds" level. It also basically has the plot of a video game - fight one themed villain after another until you reach the final level and battle the big bad. In 1983, this would have been a pretty cool film. Right now, I'm convinced nine and ten year olds will love it. The core audience, however, will most likely be disappointed at the utter immaturity of it all.
4. Cage does a decent job acting. Several scenes that would otherwise have been unsalvagable come across as decent because Cage is committed to the role and gives it his all. So, while the movie was awful, Cage at least comes across as a mildly talented actor.
5. What is up with this Emo villain? Blackheart looks like he belongs among the perpetually depressed angsty youth. The Devil really must be a lousy parent.
6. The director has no subtlety. Yes, it's a movie about a guy with a flaming skull who rides a motorcycle, but several scenes are so over the top they make the rest of the movie seem restrained. Why is Blackheart mugging for the camera in the middle of a desert with no one around? Why does Roxanne Simpson have to be framed in white while wearing a white dress and making a dramatic entrance? How come Blackheart can enter a church and kill a priest, but can't go visit a cemetery because it's "hallowed ground"?
7. Mark S. Johnson should never be allowed to make another comic book themed movie. Ever.
1. As evidenced by the link on my sidebar, I love the character of Ghost Rider. He's one of the best and most interesting comic characters ever created. At their worst, they were a sort of horror-lite (i.e. scary for nine year olds), but at their best they were morality plays about dealing with and overcoming your own inner demons.
2. Generally, the average age of most comic book readers today is someone in their mid to late twenties. They want a bit more meat on their stories.
3. This movie is basically on the "scary for nine-year olds" level. It also basically has the plot of a video game - fight one themed villain after another until you reach the final level and battle the big bad. In 1983, this would have been a pretty cool film. Right now, I'm convinced nine and ten year olds will love it. The core audience, however, will most likely be disappointed at the utter immaturity of it all.
4. Cage does a decent job acting. Several scenes that would otherwise have been unsalvagable come across as decent because Cage is committed to the role and gives it his all. So, while the movie was awful, Cage at least comes across as a mildly talented actor.
5. What is up with this Emo villain? Blackheart looks like he belongs among the perpetually depressed angsty youth. The Devil really must be a lousy parent.
6. The director has no subtlety. Yes, it's a movie about a guy with a flaming skull who rides a motorcycle, but several scenes are so over the top they make the rest of the movie seem restrained. Why is Blackheart mugging for the camera in the middle of a desert with no one around? Why does Roxanne Simpson have to be framed in white while wearing a white dress and making a dramatic entrance? How come Blackheart can enter a church and kill a priest, but can't go visit a cemetery because it's "hallowed ground"?
7. Mark S. Johnson should never be allowed to make another comic book themed movie. Ever.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
A New year, a new post.
My entirely subjective and totally subject to change on a whim, 5 best things and 5 "what the?" things about 2006:
(honestly, this is totally off the top of my head and I'm likely forgetting/overlooking several items of more worthy inclusion).
Best:
5. Me Finding Clint Walker's Blog: 'Nuff said.
4. The change over in Congress: Parties come and go, and IMHO it's healthy to change whoever is in charge every so often. Besides, in politics it's often a case of "meet the new boss, same as the old boss."
3. Cars: The movie. Not Pixar's best, but it tells you something about movies today that when Pixar flops, it's still better than 90% of the movies out there.
2. The Return of Ghost Rider to Marvel Comics: My favorite comic book character ever gets one okay series from Garth Ennis, and one really good series from Daniel Way. Too bad the upcoming movie starring Nicholas Cage looks like it will be one of the worst in 2007. But I hold out hope.
1. The Birth of my third child: Thomas Wagner Wolfe, 9 lbs. 2 oz. on November 18th.
Top five "what the?":
5. A Prarie Home Companion: The Movie. I love the radio show, and (I never thought I would say this) Lindsay Lohan did an amazing job in this movie. Other than that, the plot made little sense, the theology was a bizarre muddle, and nothing that happened mattered at all. A waste of a movie and of Altman's last film.
4. Kerry's botched joke at the expense of the troops: 'Nuff said.
3. Being told that because Mormons "don’t kill people, you’re fair game" by a Washington, D.C. reporter: I get it now - in order for a religion to get respect in the media, you have to start killing people. Thanks for the lesson.
2. The Left Behind video game: Clint Walker (Friar Tuck) said it best.
1. The dust up over Orson Scott Card's new book Empire. Seems because it has conservative views expressed in it (as well as liberal ones, but never mind that), it must be attacked often and viciously. See reviews at SFBC.com and Amazon.com - from them, I gather most of the reviewers have only read the first five or so chapters, if that. Card's best work it ain't, but it's hardly the right wing propaganda that the far left loonies who are attacking it claim it is. They seem to think that if a work of science fiction treats conservative views as okay or at least respectable, it must be destroyed before it spreads like an infection. Whatever.
(honestly, this is totally off the top of my head and I'm likely forgetting/overlooking several items of more worthy inclusion).
Best:
5. Me Finding Clint Walker's Blog: 'Nuff said.
4. The change over in Congress: Parties come and go, and IMHO it's healthy to change whoever is in charge every so often. Besides, in politics it's often a case of "meet the new boss, same as the old boss."
3. Cars: The movie. Not Pixar's best, but it tells you something about movies today that when Pixar flops, it's still better than 90% of the movies out there.
2. The Return of Ghost Rider to Marvel Comics: My favorite comic book character ever gets one okay series from Garth Ennis, and one really good series from Daniel Way. Too bad the upcoming movie starring Nicholas Cage looks like it will be one of the worst in 2007. But I hold out hope.
1. The Birth of my third child: Thomas Wagner Wolfe, 9 lbs. 2 oz. on November 18th.
Top five "what the?":
5. A Prarie Home Companion: The Movie. I love the radio show, and (I never thought I would say this) Lindsay Lohan did an amazing job in this movie. Other than that, the plot made little sense, the theology was a bizarre muddle, and nothing that happened mattered at all. A waste of a movie and of Altman's last film.
4. Kerry's botched joke at the expense of the troops: 'Nuff said.
3. Being told that because Mormons "don’t kill people, you’re fair game" by a Washington, D.C. reporter: I get it now - in order for a religion to get respect in the media, you have to start killing people. Thanks for the lesson.
2. The Left Behind video game: Clint Walker (Friar Tuck) said it best.
1. The dust up over Orson Scott Card's new book Empire. Seems because it has conservative views expressed in it (as well as liberal ones, but never mind that), it must be attacked often and viciously. See reviews at SFBC.com and Amazon.com - from them, I gather most of the reviewers have only read the first five or so chapters, if that. Card's best work it ain't, but it's hardly the right wing propaganda that the far left loonies who are attacking it claim it is. They seem to think that if a work of science fiction treats conservative views as okay or at least respectable, it must be destroyed before it spreads like an infection. Whatever.
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