I found this short article discussing the history of the last Indiana Jones movie interesting as it answers a question I had for many years…why was Frank Darabont’s Indiana Jones script rejected? I find it extremely sad that Lucas rejected a script from the fantasic Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Walking Dead) for the simple reason that it had no aliens. Does Lucas have any sense that he is systematically destroying his legacy with every movie he makes? Stop making movies Lucas, stick to special effects engineering, you stopped being a good storyteller/director 30 years ago.
Whedon does Shakespeare?
Oct. 24, 2011 By 1 Comment
And apparently Amy Acker, Alexis Denihoff (Angel), Sean Mayer and Nathen Fillion (Firefly) are joing him. See the interview here. Apperently Joss Whedon took a month off after finishing The Avengers and decided to make a black and white, indie version of Much Ado About Nothing. I think the question everyone wants to know is whether its better then the Kenneth Branagh version with Keanu Reeves. The question everyone is afraid to ask is whether it will be better then The Avengers.
In Praise of Exo Squad
Oct. 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
It’s very unfortunate that this show was released well over twenty years as a children’s cartoon that no one remembers. The show was way ahead of its time, and a little too smart for its own good. The issues the show dealt with, plus the complexity of the plots, were far too much for your average 10-year-old. The show probably should have been directed to teenagers and adults, and if it were made today, probably would be. Unfortunately, it is similar enough to Battlestar Galactica that it will probably never be made. This is especially unfortunate because they were able to wrap up all major plotlines in two seasons of work in a much more satisfactory a manner then Battlestar. Part of me is worried that I may give too much away in telling you the story that was Exo Squad, but it is only my way of encouraging you to watch. If you don’t want spoilers, skip this blog post, go get Hulu Plus, and enjoy.
Feminism and A Song of Ice and Fire
Oct. 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
I think I will let others comment on this one. I found both of the articles interesting but for different reasons. The first one, a blog post by Sady Doyle at Tiger Beatdown, is interesting because it is one of the most hate filled blog posts I have ever seen. I have written in fury as well, but damn is she bitter.
What I found more interesting was Alyssa Rosenberg’s thoughtful reply on thinkprogress.org. Alyssa gives the topic the nuanced analysis it deserves, rather then just spewing random hate on a webpage. Sady may actually have some legitimate points, but her analysis (or lack thereof) is so wrathful and flippant, her point is lost.
Note: This is the last time I will ever post anything from thinkprogress.org ever.
Infinity Blade: Awakening
Oct. 4, 2011 By 2 Comments
Brandon Sanderson announced the release of his new novella Infinity Blade: Awakening. All I have to say is the man is a machine, and a creative one at that. I’ll have to add this to my must read list for this fall.
Terra Nova
Oct. 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
I have to admit that I did not go into Terra Nova with a lot of hope. It seemed like another overblown Fox series with a bunch of good-looking people and no actual story. This is not to say that Fox hasn’t made any creative, cutting edge shows, they just seem to cancel those before they get started. However, anytime there is a TV show where humans go back in time to live with dinosaurs, I have to be there for at least part of the ride. More after the jump.
Books I Am Excited About – Fall Edition
Sep. 29, 2011 By 1 Comment
When I say books, I actually mean audiobooks, as I have had very little time to read lately. I actually can’t remember the last time I read a book in its entirety without at least partially listening to it. I like audiobooks for two reasons, you can read them when you’re driving to work or at the gym and the readers often add a bit more drama to the actually novel if they are any good. Of course, if the reader is terrible, it can absolutely ruin a book. The worse reader I ever heard was for Terry Goodkind’s Wizard’s First Rule. He read every sentence like he was movie trailer announcer. Of course, considering the poor choices Terry Goodkind has made regarding how others treat his work (see Legend of the Seeker), I should not have been surprised. But it really is too bad because I probably won’t ever have time to re-read it and can’t stand to listen to it.
Now that I have had my aside about audiobooks, here are the books I am excited about this fall:
Brandon Sanderson Interview
Sep. 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Here is an interview of Brandon Sanderson by Leigh Butler. I have always liked how open Sanderson is about the writing process, and about his own work.
If you are not familiar with Leigh Butler, see her re-read of the Wheel of Time here. This is a good summary of the Wheel of Time, and I enjoy her insights on the work itself. Not sure it is worth starting from the beginning, because she has written a book’s worth of material herself. However, if you are mildly interested in catching up on the last few books before the finale (without actually reading them), this is a good method.
She is also reading and reviewing A Song of Ice and Fire here. This is not a re-read because she has not previously read any of Martin’s books, so her take is somewhat different. I am very surprised by how much she predicts correctly, and just how far off she is at times. Having read the books three times myself now, I have lost that surprised feeling, and its interesting reading someone’s reaction to key moments for the first time.
Season Two Game of Thrones Cast Additions
Sep. 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A list of the new cast members for Season Two of A Game of Thones. At least most of the people look the part, but I have to say that I am not too familiar with their acting abilities.
May the odds be ever in your favor!
Sep. 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
As my first post for Geekus, I decided to review my most recent read, The Hunger Games trilogy. My non-spoiler assessment is that I thoroughly loved these books. I thought Suzanne Collins did an excellent job getting into the mind of a young woman who was thrown into a horrible situation, who not only found the inner strength to survive, but to ultimately fight back. I would highly recommend this series to anyone, though I would put a PG-13 rating on it. Though it is considered fiction for young adults (and is published by Scholastic….I had no idea they still existed), I seriously question its suitability for children under the age of 13. It is extremely violent, and I think Collins treats killing a bit too casually at times, especially in the first book.
So, if you haven’t read the books stop reading this post and go read it yourself! However, if your interested in a more detailed discussion of the book, continue reading.
