2012 Books Read Thread

1. Flashback by Dan Simmons: 

A sobering look at the near future.  Ostensibly a murder/mystery, Simmons uses it as a story engine to postulate a very frightening, potentially real future especially given the recent economic and political climates around the world. 

War Horse Movie Review

The Equine Edition Of, 'There & Back Again'

A Stephen Spielberg war movie, cinematography by Janusz Kaminski, musical score by John Williams; equals a movie worthy of viewing for those three reasons alone.

I have been fortunate to view some glorious looking movies and War Horse has jockeyed right there for the lead. Shot on location in various rural locations throughout England this is a truly glorious looking movie.  At times the depth of field of the rolling, lush, and rocky hills depicting turn of the 20th century rural farm life is almost three dimensional without any technical trickery.

The look of the movie changes to match the events. So, so gorgeous when it can.  So horrifying when it has to be.

And it makes the contrast of the hellhole that is war mutilated topography that the French countryside has been battered into, all the more shocking to behold. Structurally this movie echoes strongly the story arc of the three Lord Of The Ring movies condensed into one. Warhorse starts out in a bucolic surroundings, moves to progressively worse environments, and then returns back to the peaceful surroundings of an English Shire.

To carry that analogy a bit further, one could think of War Horse as the equine edition of LOTR. It follows the journeys and tribulations of a horse called simply Joey by his first master, a young farmboy named Albert.

Joey provides the narrative thread that ties together all the various tapestries; each an individual vignette about different human characters.  And what a cast Spielberg has gathered together for this movie.  A veritable who’s who of English character actors - many os which were recently seen in the Harry Potter movies - plus actors on the upswing such as the latest TV Sherlock Holmes - Benedict Cumberbatch, Thor’s Loki - Tom Hiddleston, and The Boxer’s - Emily Watson.  Joey’s master is played by with the appropriate turn of the century innocence by newcomer Jeremy Irvine. 

Every cast member is uniformly excellent throughout. It is truly an ensemble piece with small moments of emotional resonances against the backdrop of a world war.  Any shortcomings in the characters are tied into how well their story is tied into with Joey and his journey. 

And that is what Warhorse is about.  Those small moments of humanity that still arise under the harsh, uncaring rigors of war.  Often those moments are lost or crushed beneath the cruel boot heel of conflict. The opening peaceful moments of the movie areso light heart in nature as they play out like moments expected in family type fare.  They are so rapidly and jarringly lost as the war starts.

Yet throughout the war, decency & compassion survives.  Whether it is between comrades, family members, or enemies. Even people and animals.

Spielberg has crafted an old time movie that is simple in concept. In lessor hands this would likely be a far less emotionally resonant viewing experience.  Maudlin even.

In Spielberg’s hands it works.  Those closing scenes; bathed in a yellowy glow, the actors in silohuette; would be cloying if done by another director.

Spielberg elevates the material of a story of a boy and his horse. This is a story of the effects that wars have on everything. 

Before, during, and after.

X-Men: First Class - It Really Is

The Creative Powers That Be behind the latest cinematic comic book incarnation of the X-Men must be hard pressed not to be doing a fair bit of gloating.  Ever since news of this prequel project started to tingle the web threads of the internet; derision and cynicism by all, had been the overwhelming reaction.

Including yours truly.

Fringe Episode Review - 4.07

Wallflower

The Need To Be Seen

 ~~~

“The hours I spend with you I look upon as sort of a perfumed garden, a dim twilight, and a fountain singing to it.  You and you alone make me feel that I am alive.  Other men it is said have seen angels, but I have seen thee and thou art enough.”

George Moore

~~~

Timing is so important.  One can take all the proper steps for THE big date; be dressed to the nines, bring a big bouquet of roses, and a box of chocolates but if you show up at the wrong time all your preparatory work can go for naught.

How many refills is this?

Such is the fate of, ‘Wallflower.’  It came on the heels of the previous fantastic installment, ‘And Those We’ve Left Behind.’ Tough enough.  But then to become the unintentional Fall Finale, due to the pushing out of the airing schedule by one week because of baseball’s World Series, is truly a cruel twist of fate.

Fringe FBI Podcast Season 4 Episode 7

Frea, Jan, Lou, & Maximus get together after each Fringe episode in this temporarily constructed shared reality known as a podcast to discuss the Fourth Season of Fringe.

'Wallflower'
 

The Need To Be Seen

Agenda:

1) Intros

2) Episode Easter Eggs  

3) Quick Thoughts 

4) RoundTable 

5) Ep Rating - out of 10 Genes

 

Intro Music: 'One Headlight' - The Wallflowers

Exit Music: 'No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature' - The Guess Who

Leave us feedback here or on Twitter:

Frea - @Frea_O

Jan - @happydayz3

Lou - @olddarth

Maximus - @mxpw999

Jan's Wallflower Recap can be found at NiceGirlsTV

FBI Inc Podcast graphics designed by Frea_O

My written episode reviews can be found on this blog under my OldDarth handle. 

On the run all the time? A commuter? Listen to our portable version
via iTunes - Alternate Reality Version.

Review of Smart Pop's The Psychology Of Dexter

The Psychology Of Dexter

Taken from the Smart Pop website 'About' page:


'Smart Pop Books - On the best in Pop Culture Television, Books, And Film'

'Smart Pop books is a line of smart, fresh funny essays on the best of pop culture tv, books, and film, with particular focus on science fiction and fantasy television and literature.'

From the back cover of Smart Pop's The Psychology of Dexter book:

'Millions of us are fascinated by unlikely hero Dexter Morgan - a character who constantly makes us question what being “normal” really means.  What makes Dexter tick? And what makes a show about a serial killer so appealing to those of us at home?

Think you know Dexter?  The Psychology of Dexter will make you think again.’

Fringe Science: Parallel Universes, White Tulips, And Mad Scientists

Fringe Science: Parallel Universes, White Tulips, And Mad Scientists

Taken from the Smart Pop website 'About' page:

'Smart Pop Books - On the best in Pop Culture Television, Books, And Film'

'Smart Pop books is a line of smart, fresh funny essays on the best of pop culture tv, books, and film, with particular focus on science fiction and fantasy television and literature.'

From the back cover of Smart Pop's Fringe Science book:

'Fringe has always been more than the sum of its parts-but its parts, too, are worth a closer look.  The show combines a surfeit of mad science, some old school sci-fi flair, and a dash of strawberry-milkshake whimsy to create the challenging, fascinating Pattern that keeps us coming back season after season and universe after universe.'