Okay, so I vanished for a little while.
I'm going to try to do better.
Official relaunch: February 1st.
Count on it!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Movies -- Transformers
I know a lot of us dreaded the coming of the Michael Bay version of Transformers. We clung to our memories of the 1980s animated series, no matter how well it may or may not hold up today (and in truth, a lot of it probably does).
There is one scene that will make you cringe at its silliness. Still, those existed from time to time in the animated series too. Other than that, this movie actually manages to mature the setting, including the implications of these giant robots' existence in this world that tended to be absent from the animations, and it actually has a reason its human characters are involved (if a bit of a stretch). Some of the Decepticon names are wrong too, sure (for example, Devastator is a tank instead of an amalgam of the six Constructicons), but it's they still do well with it. The robots characterization comes straight from the familiar blurbs on the toys, when it exists at all (Jazz is a hip-hop speaker, Ironhide is a bit abraisive and Prime is noble; on the other hand, Bumblebee and Rachet really don't get much chance to show personality).
In fact, Bumblebee not showing personality is rather sad, given that he's in most of the movie. He spends most of it needing to communicate in radio spots, television snippets, and songs, reminding me of the Junkions from the original movie. I don't really remember much of his original personality, so I can't really elaborate there.
The effects are top notch. You'll really believe a semi can turn into a thirty-foot robot.
It's worth a matinee viewing. Besides, it blows stuff up real good.
There is one scene that will make you cringe at its silliness. Still, those existed from time to time in the animated series too. Other than that, this movie actually manages to mature the setting, including the implications of these giant robots' existence in this world that tended to be absent from the animations, and it actually has a reason its human characters are involved (if a bit of a stretch). Some of the Decepticon names are wrong too, sure (for example, Devastator is a tank instead of an amalgam of the six Constructicons), but it's they still do well with it. The robots characterization comes straight from the familiar blurbs on the toys, when it exists at all (Jazz is a hip-hop speaker, Ironhide is a bit abraisive and Prime is noble; on the other hand, Bumblebee and Rachet really don't get much chance to show personality).
In fact, Bumblebee not showing personality is rather sad, given that he's in most of the movie. He spends most of it needing to communicate in radio spots, television snippets, and songs, reminding me of the Junkions from the original movie. I don't really remember much of his original personality, so I can't really elaborate there.
The effects are top notch. You'll really believe a semi can turn into a thirty-foot robot.
It's worth a matinee viewing. Besides, it blows stuff up real good.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
General Administrativaramastuff
Sorry I've been away from this for so long; things have been rather busy in real life.
I'm working on what will eventually be an urban fantasy superhero novel (although lots of people seem to want it to be a game setting, so I'll likely do that too). I don't know that I'll actually do anything with it once I'm done. Maybe I'll podcast it. Maybe not. I'm actually starting over on it, after mainlining most of the available episodes of Mike Stackpole's The Secrets podcast. I've had a rather bad habit of editing as I write, and there are a lot of other things I've picked up that I think will help me a lot. Among other things, I've outlined the thing, and maybe I can get something decent out of it.
Seriously, though, if you fancy yourself a writer, you need to check out The Secrets.
I still need to put together a basic game system to present to the Steam-Powered Magical Axe Group. More on this as it advances, or listen to the various podcasts I'm part of; I probably mention it there.
Finally, there is work, where I've had to catch up on a lot after vacation, leaving me rather beat when I get home.
Look for more regular postings in the future, though. Tomorrow, I'm probably going out to see Transformers, and if I have time before the AGC recording, I'll post about it.
I'm working on what will eventually be an urban fantasy superhero novel (although lots of people seem to want it to be a game setting, so I'll likely do that too). I don't know that I'll actually do anything with it once I'm done. Maybe I'll podcast it. Maybe not. I'm actually starting over on it, after mainlining most of the available episodes of Mike Stackpole's The Secrets podcast. I've had a rather bad habit of editing as I write, and there are a lot of other things I've picked up that I think will help me a lot. Among other things, I've outlined the thing, and maybe I can get something decent out of it.
Seriously, though, if you fancy yourself a writer, you need to check out The Secrets.
I still need to put together a basic game system to present to the Steam-Powered Magical Axe Group. More on this as it advances, or listen to the various podcasts I'm part of; I probably mention it there.
Finally, there is work, where I've had to catch up on a lot after vacation, leaving me rather beat when I get home.
Look for more regular postings in the future, though. Tomorrow, I'm probably going out to see Transformers, and if I have time before the AGC recording, I'll post about it.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Books -- Zack Parsons' My Tank Is Fight!
So, what is it that caught my attention about My Tank Is Fight! Deranged Inventions of WWII? Well, doesn't the title say it all?
Perhaps even more than that, is the author's description of his work as "Pulp History." All of the things in this book wouldn't be out of place in the wildest pulp stories, and yet all were at least on the drawing boards, and a few actually saw prototype.
Things like the Panzer VIII Maus, the largest tank ever constructed (and it's possible larger cousin, the over 1000 ton Landkreuzer P.1000 Ratte). Flying tanks. The HMS Habbakuk, an aircraft carrier made from ice. A Nazi space station. A helicopter backpack. It's all in there, and more.
All of it with a fair degree of snarky commentary, which fits well with some of these harebrained schemes.
Perhaps even more than that, is the author's description of his work as "Pulp History." All of the things in this book wouldn't be out of place in the wildest pulp stories, and yet all were at least on the drawing boards, and a few actually saw prototype.
Things like the Panzer VIII Maus, the largest tank ever constructed (and it's possible larger cousin, the over 1000 ton Landkreuzer P.1000 Ratte). Flying tanks. The HMS Habbakuk, an aircraft carrier made from ice. A Nazi space station. A helicopter backpack. It's all in there, and more.
All of it with a fair degree of snarky commentary, which fits well with some of these harebrained schemes.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Movies -- First Thoughts -- Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
I just got back from seeing Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. It's still early, so no big spoilers yet. But...
They did some very good things here. I wish it had been longer (I was surprised, looking at Cinemark's web site last night, that it was only around 90 minutes) but they did good with it. The group dealt with very real issues among them, while dealing with the greater threat, and all of it seemed to flow naturally along.
There were a few cliches, like the authorities who won't listen to people who know better. And the thing behind the Surfer... I think they handled the visuals about as well as they could have. More details on that in a month or so.
So, at the very least, it's a definite matinee pick. If you loved the original, it's a definite.
They did some very good things here. I wish it had been longer (I was surprised, looking at Cinemark's web site last night, that it was only around 90 minutes) but they did good with it. The group dealt with very real issues among them, while dealing with the greater threat, and all of it seemed to flow naturally along.
There were a few cliches, like the authorities who won't listen to people who know better. And the thing behind the Surfer... I think they handled the visuals about as well as they could have. More details on that in a month or so.
So, at the very least, it's a definite matinee pick. If you loved the original, it's a definite.
Movies -- Fantastic Four
With the sequel coming out tomorrow (and I more than likely will get out to see it fairly early), I figure I should talk a little about the first Fantastic Four movie.
Well, the first released Fantastic Four movie. I've never seen the legendary Roger Corman version.
Fantastic Four was one of the early wave of comic book movies that came out after the smash success of Spider-Man. It was also more along the lines of "fair" in my ratings. Maybe that's something about team movies. Although X-Men is still highly acclaimed, the main development occurred among Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Wolverine, leaving even poor Rogue relatively neglected, and Storm as almost a total cypher. The attention is spread a bit more evenly in Fantastic Four, but it still never quite grabs you like the other movies did.
Of course, the development of the group's new powers takes rather longer than simply being bitten by a radioactive spider. Having Doctor Doom share their origin is a great way to condense the story into something a two hour movie can handle, while keeping the broad brush strokes of the Von Doom-Richards relationship in the mix. The length of time involved makes it feel a lot slower, though.
The main problem, I think, is that the stakes never seemed very high. The characters were only reasonably developed, and Doom's motives were more petty than megalomaniacal. It's still a fair movie, but only fair.
And let's face it, Stan Lee as Willie Lumpkin, the FF's postman. Who else out there remembers that old comedy issue of What If? that posed the question "What if Willie Lumpkin became Herald of Galactus?"
The sequel, although Rise of the Silver Surfer is a rather silly name, deals with one of the definitive storylines of the original comic run. I'm hoping this is more what Spider-Man 3 wasn't.
Well, the first released Fantastic Four movie. I've never seen the legendary Roger Corman version.
Fantastic Four was one of the early wave of comic book movies that came out after the smash success of Spider-Man. It was also more along the lines of "fair" in my ratings. Maybe that's something about team movies. Although X-Men is still highly acclaimed, the main development occurred among Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Wolverine, leaving even poor Rogue relatively neglected, and Storm as almost a total cypher. The attention is spread a bit more evenly in Fantastic Four, but it still never quite grabs you like the other movies did.
Of course, the development of the group's new powers takes rather longer than simply being bitten by a radioactive spider. Having Doctor Doom share their origin is a great way to condense the story into something a two hour movie can handle, while keeping the broad brush strokes of the Von Doom-Richards relationship in the mix. The length of time involved makes it feel a lot slower, though.
The main problem, I think, is that the stakes never seemed very high. The characters were only reasonably developed, and Doom's motives were more petty than megalomaniacal. It's still a fair movie, but only fair.
And let's face it, Stan Lee as Willie Lumpkin, the FF's postman. Who else out there remembers that old comedy issue of What If? that posed the question "What if Willie Lumpkin became Herald of Galactus?"
The sequel, although Rise of the Silver Surfer is a rather silly name, deals with one of the definitive storylines of the original comic run. I'm hoping this is more what Spider-Man 3 wasn't.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Farewell Mr. Wizard...
And I read just after this evening's game that Don Herbert, television's Mr. Wizard, has passed away at the age of 89. And I'd thought he was getting along in years back in the 80s, when I was watching Mr. Wizard's World.
Something tells me he'll have to be honored with a character on the Rolemonkeys, at least when we get back to GODSEND Agenda.
Something tells me he'll have to be honored with a character on the Rolemonkeys, at least when we get back to GODSEND Agenda.
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