'Voyage of the Damned' special
I don't expect too much from the Christmas specials as it's been noted by the staff that they try not to demand too much from the audience during them, expecting them to be distracted by the eating and merrymaking and what have you. I found it an interesting adaptation of the disaster movie style to Doctor Who, with all sorts of science-fiction added to it so that we wouldn't get too distracted by real life. I found it enjoyable as it went through the paces. Enjoyed the cameos of old men. Was amused by the fact that London was deserted because of the events of the past two Christmas specials. It also made for a weird moment about a week later as I walked through the Titanic exhibit at the museum. Staring at the deck layout of the actual ship, I realized it was familiar because I'd been staring at it in the computer screens in the special. A little creeped out I muttered "Yes, that looks about right" and moved on.
-Compare/Contrast to 'Time for a Change'-
The Doctor uses 'Take me to your Leader', noting he's always wanted to say that. I have him using that line in 'TfaC'. Since he doesn't get to use it 'successfully', I suppose it counts that he didn't use it. Both lines are meant as jokes anyway. Forgive me if I find my own joke funnier (for a change).
'Partners in Crime'
A hint of an idea wrapped in character development to launch the season. More lightweight than the Christmas special (pun intended). Not unenjoyable but felt too mired in Russell's need to be sentimental on a regular basis.
-Compare/Contrast-
The Doctor notes that Martha 'fancied him', which is how I wrote her character in the story. Julie tries to explain how the Doctor is different, but it's early in their time together and she just doesn't get it. Julie would understand as it was her reaction to the Doctor and primary reason to travel with him as well.
'Fires of Pompeii'
Wow! Now we're in the good stuff. Mystery, historical event, a dash of sci-fi weirdness, all wrapped in an explanation of how the series views time and how the Doctor is different from you and I. And it was entertaining throughout. Quite, quite excellent. A nice throwaway line that's a continuity reference back to Hartnell early on when they still think they're in Rome. Excellent!
-Compare/Contrast-
The Doctor explaining how he views events and sees the options available is somewhat similar to the Doctors attempts to explain Nexus Points, only here done much more seriously, and rightfully so too!
'Planet of the Ood'
A bit simpler compared to the episode that preceeds it (which I just really enjoyed) but very nice as well. Has a cliffhanger moment halfway in, as if it were two episodes from the original run cut together! More old sitcom fellas show up here. As if going 'oh yeah?' to the Hartnell reference in the previous story, this story manages to reference a story from the first ever season, tying the Ood and the Sensorites a bit closer together! Nice!
By this point, all of three episodes in, I love Donna's character. As much as I liked Martha, she often felt like Rose 2, the 'rebound girl' if you like. Donna feels like a different character, a companion from the original series 'done right' by today's story telling styles. Her moment of emotional crisis in this episode is key to that. She already realized it would be all fun and games traveling with the Doctor but her moment of being overwhelmed felt very 'right', very normal. She's adjusting, finding out if her 'skin' is tough enough to do these sorts of things with the Doctor. I liked that.
-Compare/Contrast-
Didn't see anything specific in this episode. After three in a row, I found that odd almost, but is neither good nor bad.
More to watch.
01 November 2008
31 October 2008
Zombies, man...
Just finished reading 'The Zombie Survival Guide'. No clue why it's listed as a 'humor' book according to the back cover. It treats zombie outbreaks as matter of fact, truth. It's very creepy and tries to prepare you for what will likely happen. Soon. It's not funny at all.
Unless...
They want us to believe it's 'funny' so we won't put any faith in it. It's part of the cover up man! Believe nothing! Think for yourself! Pay atten
*communication ends*
Unless...
They want us to believe it's 'funny' so we won't put any faith in it. It's part of the cover up man! Believe nothing! Think for yourself! Pay atten
*communication ends*
30 October 2008
Progress makes me happy
Finally, finally, finally! got some work done on my script again yesterday. I started writing a movie script back in late June during the wind down period of actually having to go to work. I actually generated the bulk of it rather quickly but hit a point in the creative process which is the actual work part of it.
Let me see if I can explain. Generally speaking, ideas are no big deal to come up with. Everybody comes up with ideas for stories, mostly when you're not thinking too hard about it. It's like those 3D puzzles that don't look like anything until you relax your vision and then, boom, there's the sailboat. If you sit around trying to think of ideas, nothing. If you walk around talking randomly, they can flow like water.
The trick is taking this general idea ('Wouldn't it be cool if this happened, then that, and it ends like this?') and turning it into a tale that holds together to some degree. Not everyone can do that. If they could, they probably would. I'm not saying I have any great talent at this but I've managed to do it before, to completion, and I guess that counts for something.
I generated the general flow for the movie in about five minutes. Boom. I wrote most of the last third/half/not sure of the exact math/whatever first and then went back and did most of the rest. My use of 'most' is where the work comes in. You see, the generation of most of the script has been all the creative, fun, making stuff up as I go part. The work part was outlining what I already had, seeing what I needed to add and making sure that the stuff I reference as having happened near the end, is referenced or happened in the beginning. Otherwise the audience goes 'huh? did I miss something?' and gets all distracted.
I didn't do the outline part until yesterday, about two months after I'd generated the bulk of the text.
'Wouldn't it be easier to outline it from the beginning and just check off what you've done?'
Probably. I'm sure some people work that way. I'm sure at some point I might work that way. In general I try not to do too much paperwork on the structure of the story I'm going to write. I prefer to mentally generate the basic idea, come up with a couple scenes in my head, and start writing it, working it out as I go. If I have something written down that dictates the flow of the story, I feel I'd be tied to that.
This doesn't mean that I never generate background material for a story, essentially write down stuff that's not meant to be scenes from the story itself. I just did that this past week for part of the novel I'm also working on, in an effort to work out the motivations and timelines for the characters involved, trying to make sure it makes sense so I don't have to rewrite a bit of stuff I already wrote. It's just that I've seen others work hard at building all this background information for stuff, writing histories of worlds, and get so wrapped up in that part of the process that they end up not writing anything because they burn out all the creative juices for a project. I've already mapped out multiple sequels to things in my head before. Sometimes it kills your interest in finishing what you're working on because you want to start on the fun part of the next story, rather than do the work parts of the beginning story. It can be a distraction.
Been awhile since I actually rambled here. That was fun! I'm not going back and reading it so hopefully it makes some sort of sense! :)
Let me see if I can explain. Generally speaking, ideas are no big deal to come up with. Everybody comes up with ideas for stories, mostly when you're not thinking too hard about it. It's like those 3D puzzles that don't look like anything until you relax your vision and then, boom, there's the sailboat. If you sit around trying to think of ideas, nothing. If you walk around talking randomly, they can flow like water.
The trick is taking this general idea ('Wouldn't it be cool if this happened, then that, and it ends like this?') and turning it into a tale that holds together to some degree. Not everyone can do that. If they could, they probably would. I'm not saying I have any great talent at this but I've managed to do it before, to completion, and I guess that counts for something.
I generated the general flow for the movie in about five minutes. Boom. I wrote most of the last third/half/not sure of the exact math/whatever first and then went back and did most of the rest. My use of 'most' is where the work comes in. You see, the generation of most of the script has been all the creative, fun, making stuff up as I go part. The work part was outlining what I already had, seeing what I needed to add and making sure that the stuff I reference as having happened near the end, is referenced or happened in the beginning. Otherwise the audience goes 'huh? did I miss something?' and gets all distracted.
I didn't do the outline part until yesterday, about two months after I'd generated the bulk of the text.
'Wouldn't it be easier to outline it from the beginning and just check off what you've done?'
Probably. I'm sure some people work that way. I'm sure at some point I might work that way. In general I try not to do too much paperwork on the structure of the story I'm going to write. I prefer to mentally generate the basic idea, come up with a couple scenes in my head, and start writing it, working it out as I go. If I have something written down that dictates the flow of the story, I feel I'd be tied to that.
This doesn't mean that I never generate background material for a story, essentially write down stuff that's not meant to be scenes from the story itself. I just did that this past week for part of the novel I'm also working on, in an effort to work out the motivations and timelines for the characters involved, trying to make sure it makes sense so I don't have to rewrite a bit of stuff I already wrote. It's just that I've seen others work hard at building all this background information for stuff, writing histories of worlds, and get so wrapped up in that part of the process that they end up not writing anything because they burn out all the creative juices for a project. I've already mapped out multiple sequels to things in my head before. Sometimes it kills your interest in finishing what you're working on because you want to start on the fun part of the next story, rather than do the work parts of the beginning story. It can be a distraction.
Been awhile since I actually rambled here. That was fun! I'm not going back and reading it so hopefully it makes some sort of sense! :)
29 October 2008
Cynical? No. Realistic? Yes.
Voting is the process by which we select the individuals that will be complained about for the next four years.
No politician will vote to eliminate their job. However, they will vote to eliminate your job.
Power corrupts. Therefore all politicians are corrupt to some degree. Therefore, logically speaking, voting is always the process of choosing the lesser of two evils.
No politician will vote to eliminate their job. However, they will vote to eliminate your job.
Power corrupts. Therefore all politicians are corrupt to some degree. Therefore, logically speaking, voting is always the process of choosing the lesser of two evils.
28 October 2008
'I Bury the Living' review
'I Bury the Living' - 1957
Story in Brief: It's businessman Bob Kraft's turn to run the local cemetery for a year. He's introduced to the details, especially the large map of the cemetery which displays unsold plots, sold plots (which are marked with a white pin) and plots in use (marked by a black pin). Bob accidentally starts slipping black pins into the map, only to have the associated people turn up dead. Does Bob suddenly have power over life and death?
Thoughts:
It's a great title, isn't it? It conjures up images of some demented man who tortures people by burying them alive, doesn't it? Well, that's not this movie. This movie is about the possibility of men having 'powers beyond those of known science'. If it were made today, it probably would have been an episode of the 'X-Files'. For that matter, it may have been remade as an episode of the 'X-Files'. I haven't seen all of them, so I don't know myself.
At any rate, the focus of the movie is on Bob Kraft, his guilt, the possibility that he may have some strange ability, how this affects his relationship with others, and how all this erodes at his sanity. Richard Boone (playing Bob Kraft) starts out as a normal businessman, accepting what he sees and not thinking about much else. He is, for all intents and purposes, a 'normal' fifties strong male lead. We watch as his world slowly shatters around him.
In all honesty, this movie shouldn't be any good. The direction gives the movie a very television feel (perhaps assisted by the fact that it was shot at the television ratio). It feels like a very good, slightly long episode from some anthology programme. This is not a bad thing. Tension builds as the movie progresses and remains tight for the finale. While attempting to not discussing the ending much, it seems to state one thing but hint at others. It seems tight enough to feel like an ending, but loose enough for the viewer to make up their own mind.
As referred to earlier, this film appears to have been shot at the 'standard' ratio which translates to a full-screen image. The way that the lettering is displayed during the opening credits seems to bear out that the film was meant to be at this ratio and nothing during the course of the film looks incorrect at this ratio.
The black and white video image is solid, miles crisper than the murky VHS copy I found a few years ago. There are a few marks to the image, but nothing awful and nothing consistent. The sound is free from pops and crackles. It may have been treated or remastered in some way, but I won't swear to that.
The back of the case indicates that the running time is about one hour, twenty minutes. The actual run time is closer to one hour, fifteen minutes. As such, it's not a substantial time investment to make.
This film is another in the MGM 'Midnite Movies' line and, like the others, has an SRP of $14.95 but can be found for $9.95. The disk also includes a trailer as well as French and Spanish subtitles. I have seen the title pop up on presumably gray market DVDs at an inexpensive price. Considering the low price of this disk, and despite not having seen the quality of the other disk as of yet, I would recommend this version of the movie. I don't expect the movie will sound or look any better than it is presented here.
Recommended to rent. I know I have spoken relatively highly of this title, but I'm not sure it will appeal to many others. It's a good, quiet cult film. Watch it and see if you like it first. Most people will probably only require viewing it once, they'll enjoy it, but have no need to see it again. Rent it.
(Standard DVD pricing has probably changed note applies here as well.)
Story in Brief: It's businessman Bob Kraft's turn to run the local cemetery for a year. He's introduced to the details, especially the large map of the cemetery which displays unsold plots, sold plots (which are marked with a white pin) and plots in use (marked by a black pin). Bob accidentally starts slipping black pins into the map, only to have the associated people turn up dead. Does Bob suddenly have power over life and death?
Thoughts:
It's a great title, isn't it? It conjures up images of some demented man who tortures people by burying them alive, doesn't it? Well, that's not this movie. This movie is about the possibility of men having 'powers beyond those of known science'. If it were made today, it probably would have been an episode of the 'X-Files'. For that matter, it may have been remade as an episode of the 'X-Files'. I haven't seen all of them, so I don't know myself.
At any rate, the focus of the movie is on Bob Kraft, his guilt, the possibility that he may have some strange ability, how this affects his relationship with others, and how all this erodes at his sanity. Richard Boone (playing Bob Kraft) starts out as a normal businessman, accepting what he sees and not thinking about much else. He is, for all intents and purposes, a 'normal' fifties strong male lead. We watch as his world slowly shatters around him.
In all honesty, this movie shouldn't be any good. The direction gives the movie a very television feel (perhaps assisted by the fact that it was shot at the television ratio). It feels like a very good, slightly long episode from some anthology programme. This is not a bad thing. Tension builds as the movie progresses and remains tight for the finale. While attempting to not discussing the ending much, it seems to state one thing but hint at others. It seems tight enough to feel like an ending, but loose enough for the viewer to make up their own mind.
As referred to earlier, this film appears to have been shot at the 'standard' ratio which translates to a full-screen image. The way that the lettering is displayed during the opening credits seems to bear out that the film was meant to be at this ratio and nothing during the course of the film looks incorrect at this ratio.
The black and white video image is solid, miles crisper than the murky VHS copy I found a few years ago. There are a few marks to the image, but nothing awful and nothing consistent. The sound is free from pops and crackles. It may have been treated or remastered in some way, but I won't swear to that.
The back of the case indicates that the running time is about one hour, twenty minutes. The actual run time is closer to one hour, fifteen minutes. As such, it's not a substantial time investment to make.
This film is another in the MGM 'Midnite Movies' line and, like the others, has an SRP of $14.95 but can be found for $9.95. The disk also includes a trailer as well as French and Spanish subtitles. I have seen the title pop up on presumably gray market DVDs at an inexpensive price. Considering the low price of this disk, and despite not having seen the quality of the other disk as of yet, I would recommend this version of the movie. I don't expect the movie will sound or look any better than it is presented here.
Recommended to rent. I know I have spoken relatively highly of this title, but I'm not sure it will appeal to many others. It's a good, quiet cult film. Watch it and see if you like it first. Most people will probably only require viewing it once, they'll enjoy it, but have no need to see it again. Rent it.
(Standard DVD pricing has probably changed note applies here as well.)
27 October 2008
An epiphany leads to calm
Took a walk and pondered, as I tend to do while walking. All the signs on peoples' front lawns kept distracting me. Then it hit me, I have electionitess! I'm sick of hearing about all the stuff that guy did and this guy won't live up to and all that associated junk.
Started to feel better immediately. Ahhhh...
Started to feel better immediately. Ahhhh...
Grumpy part 2
Not to belabor my grumpiness, which has yet to completely fade, but there are a couple more possible reasons for it.
1) I'm tired. This sounds ridiculous to me because I've been getting more sleep now than when I was working. I do set the alarm so that I don't oversleep as I know that leads to me being groggy and grumpy. With the weather changing and the temperature often in the not really cold yet but not warm anymore range, it's possible I'm not sleeping very deeply and therefore not getting rested properly.
2) Upon seeing me yesterday, one of my young friends noted I looked tired. "Maybe you're getting sick!" she noted cheerfully. Wouldn't that be wonderful? She also playfully chastised me for not getting a flu shot but I think that stuff is no good. Just makes the flu virus mutate faster. I understand some peoples reaction to a flu shot is that they feel oogy for a couple weeks. Might as well have the flu at that point. And what's the difference between a cold and the flu now? When I was younger, a cold was something that made your nose run and your throat cough. The flu involved tummy troubles. Now they've blurred together somehow.
Mostly I don't like the idea of a flu shot because I don't deal well with needles. They've made me pass out before. Not a fan. I don't get sick every year so I figure it's worth the gamble.
Probably also means I'm due...
1) I'm tired. This sounds ridiculous to me because I've been getting more sleep now than when I was working. I do set the alarm so that I don't oversleep as I know that leads to me being groggy and grumpy. With the weather changing and the temperature often in the not really cold yet but not warm anymore range, it's possible I'm not sleeping very deeply and therefore not getting rested properly.
2) Upon seeing me yesterday, one of my young friends noted I looked tired. "Maybe you're getting sick!" she noted cheerfully. Wouldn't that be wonderful? She also playfully chastised me for not getting a flu shot but I think that stuff is no good. Just makes the flu virus mutate faster. I understand some peoples reaction to a flu shot is that they feel oogy for a couple weeks. Might as well have the flu at that point. And what's the difference between a cold and the flu now? When I was younger, a cold was something that made your nose run and your throat cough. The flu involved tummy troubles. Now they've blurred together somehow.
Mostly I don't like the idea of a flu shot because I don't deal well with needles. They've made me pass out before. Not a fan. I don't get sick every year so I figure it's worth the gamble.
Probably also means I'm due...
26 October 2008
Grumpy
Been in a bit of a sour mood of late. I'd hoped that completing 'Time for a Change' would lead to further completions but none have been forthcoming. I've been a bit writers blocked since then. I've been getting things done on my other projects but they are so expansive that it's sometimes hard to see the progress on a daily basis. I'm trying to do too much at once and it looks like I'm getting nothing done. Not unlike work really.
I did get some background planning work done on a section of my novel today. That's helped. Progress.
Some of it might be physical as well. I'd gotten more sun than normal this summer and the past couple weeks I've gone almost cold turkey due to the weather. That's gotta mean something. I managed to get a walk in yesterday and get some hints of sun during it but it didn't help too much.
With the baseball season over, for the Brewers anyway, I've had less beer than I'd been drinking over the summer. Boozed it up a little last night, relatively speaking anyway, and that helped a little.
I think I understand the problems. I'm still working on the solutions.
I did get some background planning work done on a section of my novel today. That's helped. Progress.
Some of it might be physical as well. I'd gotten more sun than normal this summer and the past couple weeks I've gone almost cold turkey due to the weather. That's gotta mean something. I managed to get a walk in yesterday and get some hints of sun during it but it didn't help too much.
With the baseball season over, for the Brewers anyway, I've had less beer than I'd been drinking over the summer. Boozed it up a little last night, relatively speaking anyway, and that helped a little.
I think I understand the problems. I'm still working on the solutions.
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