Movies -- Cloverfield

So this afternoon I ventured out into the melting snow and caught the day's first showing of Cloverfield, J.J. Abrams big monster movie.

As seen in the trailers that caught our attention last summer, it's shot in first person, Blair Witch Project style. If you liked that movie, as I did, you'll dig this one. It doesn't quite bring up the scares as Blair Witch did very effectively, as in Cloverfield you do eventually see the monster chasing our protagonists, very clearly. If you really, really hated Blair Witch, I can't imagine you'll like this, either.

I can't speak to people's complaints of motion sickness, as I don't get motion sick.

As I said, there are only a few scenes that give real scares; a lot of the rest is basically a thriller, with the protagonists making their way through Manhattan for various reasons as the strange creature from somewhere else makes its way around, destroying all in its path. The opening twenty minutes or so (a going away party for one of the protagonists) let you get to know the people you'll be following around, just enough to feel bad for them, but personally, this never really rose much above "just a monster movie" for me.

But it's a cool enough monster movie.

Books -- Jon Armstrong's Grey

I still haven't settled into an actual posting schedule here. The best I can say for now is I'll post once a week, maybe more. For example, watch for a post on Cloverfield probably on Tuesday.

In the meantime, though, the Phillip K. Dick nominations were announced recently, and among the nominees is a book I had the joy of experiencing through our friends at Podiobooks. That is Jon Armstrong's Grey.

This novel looks at a dystopic future through the lens of our fascination with reality media and celebrity news, among other things. Michael Rivers, heir to the Rivergroup security corporation, is wooing Nora, scion of MKG, in hopes of merging the companies. They mesh well, with similar fashion sense and interest in the highly artistic fashion magazine Pure H. Then Rivers is shot, and his long strange voyage begins amidst the resulting conflict between the companies, and even the mysteries between his own parents from two vastly different worlds. What secrets lie in Michael's past? Will he be reunited with Nora? What is his father's big plan?

I haven't had this much fun with a dystopic future since Snow Crash, and that's saying something. Granted, Grey is not as deep as Stephenson's work, but it's not going to that same place, either. It goes somewhere all its own, and does so well.

You can check out the podcast for free, of course, or you can hunt down the book from NightShade Books.

Websites -- Sillof's Workshop

Okay, so I lied about a February relaunch. I didn't intend to.

But while poking around another popular blogging site, I encountered a link to Sillof's Workshop, in particular one of his custom action figure links to a Gasligh Justice League.

I seriously wish I had that kind of time and talent.

Holy Crap, Where Did Time Go?

Okay, so I vanished for a little while.

I'm going to try to do better.

Official relaunch: February 1st.

Count on it!