Sometimes You Just Want Time To Stand Still
1 week ago
Greg and Bill over at SciFiDaily have inspired me to make a list, and I love making lists. So, without further hooplah, here's my 25 favorite Science Fiction and Fantasy films (in order even) and a bit of why.25. The Matrix Trilogy I love it when movies show me things I've never seen before. Even though the movies are derivative, liberally borrowed from the works of Harlan Ellison, William Gibson, Rudy Rucker, pick your cyberpunk author, the trick with any derivative work is to become something more than the sum total of its...
Being a review of Dennis Culver's excellent mini-comic, Funwrecker.The incomparable Dennis Culver has created an all-inclusive term that defines what it means to go through life with a penchant for social guerilla warfare. The term is funwrecker, and it's an important state of mind for anyone who takes it upon themselves to go out into the world to spread the message that comics are cool. As a raw concept, the funwrecker is firmly rooted...
So, I was fishing around on Blogger the other day, mostly looking for other movie review blogs, just to see what was out there. In my meandering, I stumbled across one of the best online reviewers I've seen, and trust me, I've seen quite a few. So, anyone in need of some sharp, insightfull, witty commentary on what's new on the whole movie scene, go check out Courtney's Blog: Movie Reviews.And if you want to see more from this marvelous movie reviewer, you can also go check out her main blog Courtney's Blog: My thoughts... or...
Being a review of the movie The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy.I can't begin to tell you how much I really wanted to love this movie. Like most American kids, my first exposure to The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy came in the form of a wholly remarkable book that was expanded by its' author, Douglas Adams, from his original radio play. To say that the book and its' subsequent sequels changed my life would be somewhat of an overstatement,...
One of the coolest things about being an online reviewer is that every so often, the creator of the piece you're saying nice things about will get ahold of your review. If you're really lucky, they'll use what you said as a reviewer tag for their book. It's kind of getting published by proxy... except nobody pays you, and you don't really get any accolades other than from your friends that look at you like you're the most pathetic creature on the planet. Not as good as say, getting your first novel published, but pretty damn...
A Review of Where's It At Sugar Kat? The Thin of the Landby Ian Carney and Woodrow PhoenixSlave Labor Graphics$12.95The cashier at the video store gave me a funny look. She stared at me, sizing me up. She cocked an eyebrow, looked down at the DVD I'd just slapped on the counter and asked, "Underdog?"I nodded, "It's a cartoon series."She stared at me, blinking slowly like cows often do when events happening around them are overriding their...
This is yet another of those SAVANT essays, except that this one never got published. The magazine folded before I got the chance to run it. Too bad, because I'm sure it would have ruffled all kinds of feathers.SAVANT had a Delphi forum that was quite the happenin' place to hang out. A lot of industry creators would check in there from time to time, and a lot of the online journalists too.One of the greatest of the aforementioned online crew is Johanna Draper Carlson. The inventor of the Squiddy Awards and curator of one of...
So, we go at it again and again, round and round, 'till death do us part."I can't believe you put so much time and money into those things.""Well, if you'd just try reading one, you'd probably like it.""I doubt it.""Well, at least try one. Here, you like Buffy the Vampire Slayer on the TV, try the comic.""Sure honey, I'll get right on that."Grow the fuck up. Your girlfriend isn't interested in your comics because she doesn't think there's anything there for her. As long as you keep catering to that thought and reinforcing it...
Yup, this story is absolutely true. I changed the names because I'm quite certain the surviving parties wouldn't want me plastering their names all over the internet.I originally wrote this piece for an online magazine called SAVANT. It had a weekly section called "Essential", which was basically a long essay about "pick your graphic novel."Over the few years it was active, SAVANT degenerated drasticly. But I always tried to write by the rules that were set down by SAVANT's heart and soul, the excellent Matt Fraction. If you...
A Review of The Crowby James O'BarrPocket Books$16.95There are places in our hearts we don't often visit, dark corners that wall us in during the early morning hours. You've been there, just as I have. You snap awake and the room that should be familiar is strange and you're unsure of yourself, shrouded in twilight memory, slipping into blackness. The void calls to all of us.I bought The Crow graphic novel again. This will be the seventh...
Being a short illumination on the difference between the horror and fantasy genres.When Courtney first read this review, she was annoyed that I didn't take the time to explain the difference between fantasy and horror. Apparently the irony of the joke was lost on her, however... the more I thought about it, the more I thought maybe she had a bit of a point there. After all, the difference is often blurry at best.So, let's take two movies as patent examples of my point, The Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness.The Evil Dead 2 is...
Being a review of the movie The Ring 2I have decided just today that I am the reincarnation of Pollyanna Whittier. I have this recurring waking dream that one day someone in Hollywood will say, "You know, that was a good movie, but enough is enough. Let's do something completely original and not make another one." It's a small dream with absolutely no chance of ever coming to fruition, but it's sweet, and it's mine.I also dream that one...
Okay, so....Before I caved and finally got my own Blogger account, these posts were always posted on (girlfriend) Courtney's blogger journal first, so I figured I'd add little snippets of behind the scenes stuff to keep anyone who reads both The Daily Cat Chase and this one interested. It was such a good idea that I think I'll keep doing it.So, this is the deal. Courtney is the poster child for adult ADD, and as such, is a fidgety widget when it comes to watching movies in a real-life honest to Gawd movie theater. She has little...
A Review of the film Sin CityDirected By: Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller, and Quentin TarantinoIt's a gut wrenching heartbreak for a comic book fan. Hollywood has finally decided to make a movie of your favorite comic book series, and you're always of two minds. On one hand, it'll be neat to see those characters you've spent years of your life with put to flesh and blood and projected up on the big screen. Considering what they can do with...
