"John Carter" -- Official Trailer (Updated to Include Second Trailer)

Plot Synopsis: John Carter of Mars is inexplicably transported to the mysterious and exotic planet Mars, and becomes embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions and discovers that the survival of the planet and its people rests in his hands.



John Carter is a sweeping action-adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars). John Carter is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose highly imaginative adventures served as inspiration for many filmmakers, both past and present. The film tells the story of war-weary, former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.





I haven't read the series of books written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, on which this movie is based, but there's something to be said for a movie that has source material going back to the early 1900's. I hear that many movies made since then borrow from Burroughs' books, but I'll ignore all those other movies and try to enjoy this based on its own merits.

"Boneshaker" to Come to the Big Screen

Oh hell yeah!

Cherie Priest's steampunk sci-fi novel "Boneshaker" is coming to the bigscreen with Cross Creek Pictures, Exclusive Media Group and Hammer Films onboard.



The companies said Wednesday that Hammer has acquired the rights to the novel. Project will be co-produced by Hammer and Cross Creek Pictures and co-financed by Exclusive and Cross Creek.



John Hilary Shepherd ("Nurse Jackie") is writing the screenplay. Hammer head of production Tobin Armbrust is overseeing.



Priest's novel is set in an alternate version of 1880s Seattle, where the city has been walled in and a toxic gas has turned many of its remaining residents into "Rotters," more commonly known as zombies. A young widow hunts for her teen son in the Seattle underworld while dealing with airship pirates, a criminal overlord and heavily armed refugees.



The novel, published in 2009 by Tor Books, is the first in a series set in the period, which has Priest has dubbed the Clockwork Century. Second novel "Dreadnought" was published in 2010, and the third, "Ganymede," was recently released.



Click HERE to read more.

22 November 11

Cookoff day! The theme was cooking with tea, and I won with my potato leek chamomile soup. Above is Amanda's beautiful oolong smoked tofu with candied orange rind and dandelion greens, which placed second. Visit the blog to view the myriad of other delicious tea-infused foods.

Waiting on Wednesday

This is a blog meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine to highlight upcoming books.



This week's can't wait to read selection is:



The Rook by Daniel O'Malley

Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

Publication date: 1/11/2012

Pages: 496



"The body you are wearing used to be mine." So begins the letter Myfanwy Thomas is holding when she awakes in a London park surrounded by bodies all wearing latex gloves. With no recollection of who she is, Myfanwy must follow the instructions her former self left behind to discover her identity and track down the agents who want to destroy her.



She soon learns that she is a Rook, a high-ranking member of a secret organization called the Chequy that battles the many supernatural forces at work in Britain. She also discovers that she possesses a rare, potentially deadly supernatural ability of her own.



In her quest to uncover which member of the Chequy betrayed her and why, Myfanwy encounters a person with four bodies, an aristocratic woman who can enter her dreams, a secret training facility where children are transformed into deadly fighters, and a conspiracy more vast than she ever could have imagined.



I have a confession-- this isn't just a can't wait to read selection. I'm already reading it!. But I'm enjoying it so much that I had to feature it.

My TV Debut on RHOBH!

Did you guys watch Real Housewives of Beverly Hills last night!?
I'll be totally honest, I've been waiting all season to see if I made the cut and I'm super excited that I did! Even if it was for mere moments and I barely said a word.

We filmed a total of 4 times and it was cut down to these few shots, but I got my name up there which was beyond cool!

I'm glad there were shots of the runway show and party at Adrienne's house where I wore my Miu Miu dress that I am OBSESSED with. (Perfect LBD!)

My mom is there taking a sip of champagne 4 people to the right of me on the screen up there. Hi mom! Your cleavage looks great! hahaha

It's funny that I was sitting next to Brandi and didn't know who she was yet since the season hadn't aired. She was really sweet and friendly and if you watch the show you'll see me laughing hysterically at something she said.

I'm so stoked to have been a part of this process. Adrienne is amazing and easily my favorite housewife! They didn't really show the shoes we made for her, which was weird and kind of a bummer, but here's a quick shot...

As for Lisa and her "Vander Pumps"... stick to Giggy and maybe a line of doggy clothes. Adrienne's got the shoe thing covered. ;)


I hope you enjoyed my TV debut, and possibly also my TV retirement. I don't know how these ladies do it week after week. I truly have a new respect for them. I was nervous and sweaty and over analyzed every shot and hated my hair and thought I made funny faces and on and on... it's all too much! Kudos to you girls that do it on the reg.



XOXO,

 

"Fate's Edge" by Ilona Andrews-- Fun, but Contrived

     I've been a fan of Ilona Andrews ever since I read On the Edge, the first book in "The Edge" series. Despite my sometimes finicky attitude toward paranormal fiction I like the genre when it's inventive and well written and I was really looking forward to Fate's Edge. But, like too many of my favorite urban fiction favorites, I fear the series is starting to buckle under the weight of too many contrivances.



     Audrey Callahan is a former thief with the magical ability to open locks-- an ability and a life she is trying hard to leave in the past. But when her father begs her to do "one last job" while wielding the all-powerful weapon of familial guilt as leverage, Audrey agrees to a heist that ultimately brings her to the attention of some very dangerous people.

     Kaldar Mar is a rogue, gambler and thief who has turned his less-than-legal talents to use as a spy. After Kaldar is assigned to track down the items stolen by Audrey he soon discovers that in the wrong hands they could be a powerful weapon, and the only way to get them back is to track down the thief who stole them in the first place.

     As in all books set in the world of "The Edge" Kaldar will have to travel between the magical realm known as The Weird, the non-magical world known as The Broken as well as the in-between world of The Edge where magic is unreliable at best. Only this time Kaldar has the unexpected complication of some uninvited guests...



     Kids and pets-- the old cliche in movie making is to avoid kids and pets. Maybe that should be the new caveat in writing fiction as well. I'm as likely as anyone to be charmed by precocious kids and anthropomorphic animals-- who wouldn't be after growing up on Disney films? But these tropes that can quickly become overused; especially if a book features more than one. "Fate's Edge" has new adult leads but brings back the youngsters featured in "On the Edge." This time around George, a young necromancer, and Jack, a young lynx changeling, stowaway on Kaldar's transportation as he leaves on his mission to find the stolen items. Naturally, they are prompted to leave home due to misunderstanding that has Jack convinced he'll be sent off to a particularly bleak military school and the kids go through the requisite growing-up experiences on their adventures-- including the rescue of a mistreated cat. And just in case one abused animal wasn't enough, Audrey also has an uncommonly loyal raccoon that follows her around after also being rescued in infancy. None of the story-lines become too cute but there is a small feeling that the book was somewhat written by rote with all the guaranteed ingredients thrown in to ensure its likability.

     And one has to look no further than the main characters to see more personalities that fit into cookie-cutter roles as well. Kaldar, as a former thief and notorious womanizer, is a leading man we've seen many times: the perfect fantasy for women who dream of being able to tame the bad boy.  Audrey is the woman we'd all like to envision ourselves as being: perfectly gorgeous and always ready with the quick comeback. Neither character is poorly written and they have a believable chemistry. The dialog is brisk and clever and it's a book you'll enjoy reading even if it feels slightly predictable.

     I hate to offer a negative review of an author (or team of authors in this case) that I really like, but if I'm impressed by an author at one point I am also someone who expects a certain level of quality in subsequent books. "Fate's Edge" has a certain style to it that should appeal to fans of Andrews' books but I was left feeling that this one was a half-hearted attempt. Not only were the characters somewhat stereotypical, but the plot didn't always flow from a logical progression and had a cut-and-paste feel to it. Characters that are known from previous books and built upon the foundation of familial loyalty are quick to abandon the main characters with the flimsiest of reasons and it's obvious it's only done to push the story to its climactic confrontation-- but it ultimately left me feeling disgruntled at the incongruity.

     I also felt that the setting, which was key in making the earlier books in the series special, was lacking in this installment. Whether the story existed in The Edge, with its tough, poverty-hardened characters, or The Weird, with its unpredictable magic, I was always interested to see what new creatures would show up next. But a lot of "Fate's Edge" takes place in The Broken and when the setting does venture into The Edge it's usually only as a device to allow the characters to use their magic with very little of the atmosphere that made the first two books so intriguing. There is a small segment that is set in The Weird but it's confined to a fairly mundane circumstance and nothing new about The Weird is revealed. Essentially the story could have taken place in any random magical setting.



     Ultimately it seems as if "The Edge" series is prioritizing itself as romance oriented as each book is geared toward creating another idealized couple-- and there's nothing wrong with that. The series is fun to read and perfect if you're looking for some light fiction to pass the time. But "Fate's Edge" didn't quite have the oomph or originality that drew me to the series in the first place. I'll certainly come back for the next installment; I'll just hope for a return to the old formula in the future.



3 out of 5 stars.

21 November 11

Real Housewives Tonight!!!

Hello from New York! I am, as I type, watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills... getting hot flashes.
Make sure you tune in because you'll see yours truly in my TV debut. ;)Don't blink or you'll miss me!




 XOXO,

Movie Review: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Spoiled dancers, annoying kids...

With the success of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc (not to mention Return of the Jedi), Dr. Jones was destined to complete a trilogy. The second movie to feature Indy would be 1984's Temple of Doom, a movie that I've seen described as both the Indiana Jones series' Empire Strikes Back and as the worst film in the franchise. These are rather mutually exclusive descriptions, so I guess it's up to me to sort out the inconvenient truth from the fiction.



  Temple of Doom starts out with... wait a second. Why is Han Solo in a James Bond-ish white suit? Who's this guy he's talking to? What's so important about this dancer chick? An overcomplicated and semi-amusing action scene later and... who the hell is this kid? This isn't me nit-picking or being funny, this is my serious reaction to the beginning of the film. It's assumed that we know Indiana Jones. We've seen the other movie he appeared in, in which he seems to have a number of partners available for various situations, but no one partner. He's capable of being professional, but doesn't really seem the type for suits and balls- I gathered from Raiders of the Lost Ark that he would be about as comfortable in a white tux as his counterpart Han Solo would be... and yet here he is. In a white tux, at a high class ball in China, with a Chinese sidekick who's apparently been with him for years. Anybody else feel like they missed several seasons of a television series?



 Interestingly enough, there is no such thing as a television series featuring the Harrison Ford version of Indiana Jones. Somehow, I'm not shocked there. What I am shocked by is this pitiful attempt to hide selling out, trying to seem diverse and gain a younger audience by including Short Round and giving Willie better billing and visibility than the far more interesting Marion from Raiders of the Lost Ark. There is simply no way to make Willie a tolerable character. The only possible value Jones sees in her is the chance for a quickie where one otherwise wouldn't be and the audience doesn't even get that. As for Indiana Jones, I see more Han Solo than ever in him here. Not in his actions, necessarily, but in the way his luck fluctuates between horrendous and epic. I have to wonder about the moral standard for a character who will use somebody as a hostage, and then save her life minutes later, though- unless the hostage thing was never anything more than a bluff.



 Ford does have some interesting scenes, trying his range as an actor as the sage archaeologist and womanizer, shows his sinister side to great effect. However  Indiana Jones is really the only character worth his salt here (I've already mentioned Willie). The antagonists range from a Prime Minister who appears to make threatening overtures before vanishing from the plot, a juvenile puppet dictator who seems to range back and forth between being a good and bad guy, and an evil priest (shaman, or whatever other term you wish to use) who has some interesting supernatural powers but is so predictable and one-dimensional he's not even worth mentioning again. Then we get our other protagonist: Short Round. What is Short Round? He's a caricature. That's it. Seriously- picture the most stereotypical, caricatured Chinese kid you've ever seen in a movie. Broken English, annoying interjections, lack of social graces, thinks about fortune cookies all the time, you know the drill. Oh, and he cheats at cards, too. I'm starting to see how Nute Gunray and Watto were really a step up for George Lucas's portrayals of ethnicity.



 The plot isn't horrible. It starts off as Indy is making a deal for a diamond, which goes awry when he is poisoned. Violent slap-stick- the sort of slap-stick with guns- occurs, and Jones eventually gets the antidote but not his compensation. He grabs the dancer he was using as leverage for the scene (I'm still not sure why, considering that she was not the only dancer in her troupe, just the lead), and they escape, meeting Short Round in the process and finding themselves escaping on a plane owned by the man they're trying to escape from. The landing that they make here is something you have to see for yourself (assuming it's not all over TVTropes and Youtube), but I have to say that it definitely puts the refrigerator scene in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull into context. The landing leads to more comedy, character development and exposition as the village Indy and the gang stumble across essentially tells them that he must retrieve a sacred stone from the Temple of Doom in order to receive their aid making it back to civilization. The trio visits the Temple, where they speak with the new government over a dinner that does a very good job of setting a very disturbing mood as well as making it clear that the child running the country is actually a puppet dictator who believes what he is told... at least, until we see him among those whose existence he swore to stamp out, and it becomes a little less clear. We get to see Harrison Ford and Kate Capshaw try to seduce the other before giving in to arrogant egotism. Then someone tries to kill Indy. What the hell; I never thought the mood would be consistent in this movie.



 Indiana immediately starts checking statues and such when he realizes nobody is trying to kill Willie (whose confused comments he is completely ignoring), which clears him to enter the paths under the Temple. We see such things as the dead rising (never mentioned again, don't worry), and a rehash of the garbage masher scene from Star Wars: A New Hope. Finally, we meet the Thuggee cult. The first scene with the cultists indicates the level of supernatural we're dealing with here. We see the main villain of the movie pulling out a man's heart before lowering him, still beating, into a portal to hell. This is two years after Poltergeist- Stephen Spielberg, of all people, should know that these don't always have to be in the basement by now! Indiana is caught, and they force him to drink a blood-like fluid that possesses him and turns him into a cultist. Even though the Thuggee are aware of Willie and Short Round, they are not made to drink- instead, they throw Short Round in with other child slaves prospecting for sacred stones and intend to sacrifice Willie. This certainly sounds like a good idea- I mean, when have you ever heard of a kid getting loose and going places they're not wanted? That would be preposterous, right? It is here where we finally get some real drama in this film, as Harrison Ford puts on his best (and awesome) sinister face and Willie is about to be sacrificed. Thankfully, Shorty learned during a deleted scene how he could free Jones from the curse, so he does so. From here, the plot essentially ends- as does the drama- and the action part of the movie comes in. 



I'm not a huge action person. While I certainly enjoy fight scenes in movies, I'm not a big fan of elaborate, hard to follow action, nor does any action really recommend a movie to me on its own. This has an impact on my recommendation of the movie. The rest of the movie goes relatively predictably, with the same sort of slapstick action and antics that have made Indiana Jones famous. For me, though, this is the part of the movie that blurs together, just as it was during the first movie. To my admittedly non-fan eye, these sequences are relatively equivalent. They're not identical or terrible by any means, but if you want someone to analyze them, ask a true action fan. What counts is that (thanks to another deleted scene) the trio end up alone with the entire cult following them. Indy manages to get rid of the cult, and it comes down to a one on one fight, another decent and suspenseful scene despite the fact that the outcome was never really in doubt. So do I recommend Temple of Doom? Well, if impossible things like chilled monkey brains and annoying characters don't bother you as you wait during the lull between action scenes, then Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is your kind of movie. If, on the other hand, that sentence sounded particularly satirical and critical to you, this might not be your movie unless you're enjoying an Indiana Jones marathon with your friends. It's not a terrible movie, but it's not a particularity great one, either. Tell you the truth, if Willie had never made it to the final draft of the script, the film's score would be a good two stars out of ten higher. Not the actress's fault (I think). But I digress.



  Bill Silvia is a regular contributor at Fantasy & SciFi Lovin' News & Reviews. You can find more of his work at www.MiBreviews.com.

20 November 11

Jeff and I stopped at New Brighton Park on our way to the grocery store. It was freezing cold, but beautiful.

19 November 11

18 November 11

A tribute to the Amélie scene/quote about cracking the top of a crème brûlée with a teaspoon.
Jeff was at work and I didn't feel like doing much so I just watched a bunch of episodes of Boardwalk Empire.

The winner of the Shabby Apple giveaway is...

Lauren at Knitastrophy!


(I think the Universe is winking at me because I clicked through to Lauren's blog when she commented (as I do for everyone who comments!) and got so sucked into one of her posts, I actually left a comment. (Which I rarely do.) IT WAS LIKE A BLACK HOLE. Of greatness.)


I'll be sending you an email shortly, Lauren!


(For anybody who's been waiting, sorry for the delay! Here's a picture of Ryan Gosling from The Notebook to make up for it:

Confession: I don't understand people who find Ryan Gosling more attractive with a beard and shaggy hair than clean-shaven with floppy hair.


HOW CAN YOU RESIST THE FLOPPY HAIR


This has been the blog post of someone who was a preteen girl when boy bands were popular.)

Giveaway! "The Alloy of Law" by Brandon Sanderson

Courtesy of Tor Books I have a copy of The Alloy of Law: A Mistborn Novel by Brandon Sanderson to offer for giveaway.



Fresh from the success of The Way of Kings, Brandon Sanderson, best known for completing Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time®, takes a break to return to the world of the bestselling Mistborn series. Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds. Kelsier, Vin, Elend, Sazed, Spook, and the rest are now part of history—or religion.



Yet even as science and technology are reaching new heights, the old magics of Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world. Out in the frontier lands known as the Roughs, they are crucial tools for the brave men and women attempting to establish order and justice. One such is Waxillium Ladrian, a rare Twinborn, who can Push on metals with his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to become lighter or heavier at will. After twenty years in the Roughs, Wax has been forced by family tragedy to return to the metropolis of Elendel. Now he must reluctantly put away his guns and assume the duties and dignity incumbent upon the head of a noble house. Or so he thinks, until he learns the hard way that the mansions and elegant tree-lined streets of the city can be even more dangerous than the dusty plains of the Roughs.



Just add your information to the form below to enter (all information is guaranteed confidential and will be discarded once the contest ends) and I will randomly pick one winner by Friday, December 16th. No multiple entries please. All multiple entries will be discarded. Open everywhere.



Good luck!



**Contest Closed**

17 November 11

Happy Thanksgiving!

16 November 11

15 November 11

One of the trays in the rock & mineral collection I inherited from my Grandpa D.O. when he died a few years ago. I feel kind of weird about the fact that the asbestos sample isn't in a baggie or anything, just hanging out.

Waiting on Wednesday

This is a blog meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine to highlight upcoming books.



This weeks can't wait to read selection is:



Doubletake: A Cal Leandros Novel by Rob Thurman

March 6, 2012

Roc

352 pages





Half-human/half-monster Cal Leandros knows that family is a pain. But now that pain belongs to his half-brother, Niko. Niko’s shady father is in town, and he needs a big favor. Even worse is the reunion being held by the devious Puck race — including the Leandros’ friend, Robin — featuring a lottery that no Puck wants to win.



As Cal tries to keep both Niko and Robin from paying the ultimate price for their kin, a horrific reminder from Cal’s own past arrives to remind him that blood is thicker than water — and that’s why it’s so much more fun to spill.



I gave the last book in this series a so-so review, but this is still my favorite paranormal series. I have high hopes that "Doubletake" will be a return to form.

R.I.P Anne McCaffrey

So sad to hear this. I've read McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern so many times I've lost count.



From MSNBC.com



Prolific science fiction and fantasy author Anne McCaffrey died Monday at her home in Ireland shortly after suffering a stroke. She was 85.



McCaffrey published nearly 100 books in her lifetime and was best known for her popular “Dragonriders of Pern” novels. In her bio on her website, McCaffrey shared the following insights about her approach to writing and her first novel, which was published in 1967:



“Her first novel, ‘Restoree,’ was written as a protest against the absurd and unrealistic portrayals of women in s-f novels in the ‘50s and early ‘60s. It is, however, in the handling of broader themes and the worlds of her imagination, particularly the two series ‘The Ship Who Sang’ and the fourteen novels about the ‘Dragonriders of Pern,’ that Ms. McCaffrey’s talents as a story-teller are best displayed.”



McCaffrey was born in Cambridge, Mass., and moved to Ireland in 1970. In the late 1960s she became the first woman to win a Hugo Award for a work of fiction and the first woman to win a Nebula Award. She was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2006.



Click HERE to read more.



We'll miss you Anne.

advanced babbling (holiday style)

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I present to you this outfit from May (MAY!!!) as evidence of my seasonal inappropriateness.

Well, I mean, it's winter now, and this was a spring/summer outfit, but this actually looks pretty appropriate for a mild winter, aside from the florals (which I condone all season every season anyway), so you may think it's seasonally appropriate,

BUT COME ON. SERIOUSLY? This outfit is just over six months old. If it were a baby, it would probably be in the stage of its language acquisition where it starts babbling with vowels and consonants. THAT IS SOME ADVANCED BABBLING.

And so to make up for the seasonal inappropriateness of this post, I'm going to holidayify it. (Or is it spelled holideify? Verb? To make holy Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, &c. through ritual worship?)

HOLIDEIFIED WISHLIST:

• spiked hot chocolate (BEHOLD! I AM 21! I constantly forget this!) made from actual chocolate, not that powdered abomination (or else you will be excommunicated)
• this Sherlock print
• every color of Maybelline Baby Lips, just for the packaging, because CUPIDDAMN if they wouldn't make great stocking stuffers
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar sheets
• to rewatch The Tree of Life (so I can weep) and Love Actually (which made me tear up when I was like 14 but which I have no feelings about anymore except for the whole HUGH GRANT! COLIN FIRTH! ALAN RICKMAN! MARTIN FREEMAN! party. Shame? What is shame?)
• this Justin Bieber t-shirt (you may think I am joking but I am not)
• Urban Decay Super-Saturated High Gloss Lip Color
• an ugly micro-striped sweater (with bonus points for intermittent metallic stripes)

Here is another photograph because I need to fit it in this post somewhere.

Sweater: uncle's. Light blue thermal: Old Navy, gift. Floral dress: Ross. Tights: DKNY. Plaid shoes: Keds.

HOLIDEIFIED OUTFIT PHOTO (BEFORE):

HOLIDEIFIED OUTFIT PHOTO (AFTER):

I see your pastel penguins and raise you a smiling star in a Santa hat.

Here's another photo I need to fit somewhere.

Oh my Santa Claus! Plaid with florals! The heresy!

CAN YOU TELL I'M EXCITED FOR HOLIDAY SEASON?

P. S. My Shabby Apple dress giveaway ends tomorrow!

14 November 11

I put old t-shirts into frames when I don't wear them anymore, but can't bear to get rid of them.

"Dead of Night" by Jonathan Maberry-- Never Lets Go

     I thought I had an idea of what Jonathan Maberry's new book Dead of Night would be like after reading his other zombie-themed novel, Patient Zero, but Maberry surprised me by going beyond your standard action fare by offering a powerhouse of a horror novel.



     When two small town cops, Desdemona (Dez) Fox and her partner JT Hammond, respond to a disturbance at the local funeral home they never imagine the world will be changed forever. As horrifying as the blood-spattered scene is, the true nightmare doesn't begin until they realize the dead aren't staying dead.

     Dez's ex-boyfriend Billy Trout, a reporter for the local newspaper, is on the trail of a juicy story about Homer Gibbon, a serial killer who just received the lethal injection. While trying to find Gibbon's next of kin Trout begins to piece together a story going all the way back to the Cold War and something known as Project Lucifer.

     Herman Volker, a defector from communist Russia, is a scientist with a mad obsession and the creator of Project Lucifer. While continuing his research in secret at a small town prison Volker unwittingly unleashes an unbelievable horror and, as the government tries to stop the plague from spreading, the entire town may have to be sacrificed to keep the whole disaster secret.



     There has been a lot of buzz going around about "Dead of Night" and it is definitely well deserved. I am a big fan of zombie themed fiction and willingly read it in all of its incarnations whether it's comedic or something soulful, but the main attraction is always the underlying horror of the story-- something Maberry conveys very well. The narrative builds quickly as the story jumps right into the action and deftly weaves together the varying story lines into a cohesive whole and before you're halfway through you're hooked.

     Most of the story follows the two main characters and each represent a part of the discovery process. Dez is on the front line of zombie attacks and she and her partner J.T. witness the early carnage as they try to sort out what is happening. Billy Trout represents the investigative process as his digs into the origins of Project Lucifer and draws out the truth of why it was created in the first place and how it was unleashed. When the story does deviate into other p.o.v.'s it's usually to flesh out the story-- so to speak-- as Maberry takes great care to create a back story that explains the origins of the zombie plague and give it a credible scientific spin.

     The characters are interesting and, while I wouldn't call them stereotypes, they are people we've seen before. Dez reminds me a lot of Kara Thrace from BSG:  a seriously damaged badass with abandonment issues who chases away anyone who tries to get close. Maberry doesn't shy away from making Dez a character that is hard to like, but she's compelling and definitely someone to root for. Billy Trout is too much of a bad boy to be the Lee Adama to Dez's Kara Thrace, though their relationship does have a lot of baggage, and he has a strong understanding of what makes Dez tick-- and loves her anyway. J.T. fills the role of mentor and friend to Dez who gently tries to nurture Dez's relationship with Billy.  Herman Volker is a good villain because he isn't one-dimensional. What he does is wrong, evil even, but he is driven by a tragic past and never intended for Project Lucifer to escape beyond the strictest boundaries.



     There are a lot of things that make "Dead of Night" a better-than-average zombie story. It is genuinely suspenseful and the small-town setting really drives home the horror as the characters are routinely confronted with situations in which their friends and neighbors are overtaken by the plague. These zombies aren't the slow, shambling kind either and thanks to the genetic tweaking of Project Lucifer they aren't entirely unaware of their circumstances-- as we learn through the eyes of one of the infected characters. The added uncertainty of the military being sent to keep the situation secret, rather than save the town, also adds another layer of dread as it is a situation that is too easy to imagine; and one that feeds into the basic fear of not being able to trust those who promise to come to our rescue.

     There might be a glut of zombie fiction out there but Maberry offers something that stands out in a crowded field. "Dead of Night" isn't some lightweight offering nor is he trying to turn the zombies into some kind of tragic hero (as some authors are now inexplicably trying to do). This is a horror novel-- like zombie fiction should be.



4 1/5 out of 5 stars.

Movie Review: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

In one of the most iconic films of the early 80s, Harrison Ford defies death, the Third Reich and, most importantly, the Star Wars curse as he battles to obtain one of the most sacred artifacts of the Western World.

The opening scenes to Raiders of the Lost Ark set the tone perfectly for the film- and, I believe, for the entire series, though I'm still speculating on that. Once I finish this review, I can send Raiders back to Netflix and watch Temple of Doom. Anyway, Indy quickly reveals his skill, temperament, his luck and the extent of his planning- in that order.



 Let's get on to the inevitable. I have a Star Wars column, so naturally when I see Harrison Ford I need to make a Han Solo comparison. Well, yes, there is a little of that inclination. More importantly, in my eyes, is the fact that I've heard comments made to the effect that Han Solo and Indiana Jones are the same character. From “a certain point of view” I can understand that. There are two different sides to Han Solo, both of which are necessary to understand him as a literary character and both of them are present in Indiana Jones, although to different degrees.



 One side of Han is the way he's constantly built up- his exploits, his ability to function as a cold-hearted businessman, his survival of impossible situations. There's also the side of Han in which he exists as comic relief: the stories that everything he accomplishes is due to luck, his history of being turned on by his comrades or otherwise facing impossible odds. The success of Han Solo as a character relies on the first side being shown just enough to convince the reader that it is his default mode with the reality being that the second side is far more prominent in works heavily featuring him. The success of Indiana Jones as a character requires that just enough of the second category be shown to create a cheesy and amusing atmosphere while he relies on the first category for his very survival and those of his comrades (although luck certainly plays a part in his survival as well).



 Jones, like Solo, is of a morality that is not entirely devout, but nor is it the callous disregard for human nature shown by Boba Fett; another character that shows a bit of reflection in Jones's skills and body language. While I'm on a Star Wars trip, the opening of the film shows us one more character, as slight as Fett, that may have influenced Indiana Jones: Sir Alec Guiness's portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi. It's not much, but subtle hints in the way Jones reacts to sudden turnabouts in circumstances and his canny regard as he identifies traps just seems informed by the elder actor.



 After the opening sequence, which has little relevance to the plot but is rather effective at introducing us to both Indy and Belloq, his rival and Arkh nemesis. We then move on to the main plot: finding the Ark of the Covenant before a detachment of Nazis, including Arkhaeological adviser Renee Belloq. First, we need to go on a side trip to introduce us to Marion, the sort of love interest and token female in this flick, and S.S. Major Toht, the villain that Belloq is too apathetic to be. Marion is a big question mark all around. I just can't tell when she is supposed to be acting and when she's not. If she's pretending to be drunk, we should see more scenes of her acting sober immediately afterward. If she's not pretending, then why does she keep playing drinking games and losing? Then again, she acts like she's drunk whether she's sober or not, so again, this begs the question- when is this character acting? Is she serious about how she has no particular loyalty for Jones? O is she acting? Is she just horny and will take any companionship she can find? The lack of understandable motivation for this character is probably this movie's biggest flaw. That said, I think Karen Allen did a great job creating a somewhat likable and rather entertaining character- I just think she needed a little more direction.



 A better script wouldn't have hurt, either (though she seems to be the only character that suffers from this- last minute addition?). Even though Raiders of the Lost Ark came out years in advance, I can't help but make a comparison to Disney's Aladdin once they make it to their destination. Maybe it's because of the monkey that manages to say “uh oh” (although Abu didn't play both sides of the fence). Maybe it's because Marion in Cairo reminds me of the way Jasmine would have acted if she were drunk (was Marion drunk?). Maybe it's just the imagery and the hustle and bustle of an Arabian city which I have yet to see in many contexts.



 The tone of the film is intentional cheesiness with a realistic presentation- the type of film that won't show the gruesome details of an airplane propeller making short work of a Nazi but doesn't shy away from portraying the blood spatter either. And that's not a figurative example in this case. Raiders toes the line in the expert way that the mind behind Return of the Jedi could accomplish- along with Spielberg and others in major roles. Harrison Ford, so good at his role (Han and Indy's attitudes are similar enough that it's like a third film in a row for him at this point), plays a major role in this tone, as does Karen Allen.



 I'm not going to go down the IMDb list, but I can't think of a single major or supporting role from this film that does not do a great acting job here. The perfect example of the tone is the first appearance of the now-iconic Indiana Jones theme music (score by John Williams, which doesn't even need me to elaborate): Indiana jumps onto a vine, starts to swing, the epic music starts playing... and he falls into the water and swims to the plane. This is followed shortly thereafter by what must be the cheesiest scene in the entire film, not for anything that really happens or the effects, but simply Harrison Ford's immense (presumably intentional) overacting, coupled with the choppy edits, as he explains to Jacques just how he feels about snakes. To clarify: no, this does not look as professional and modern as the rest of the film, and no, I do not think this is a drawback. It's like putting a big cheese wheel on top of the platter and crackers- now you know exactly what to expect from the rest of the film. The pepperoni and hummus are now pleasant surprises as you enjoy the cheese you came for in the first place. Normally, I would conclude this review here. But, I think I just did, by accident. Seriously, what can I say that will top that? Oh. Wine. Well, I did mention a token female who drinks. I think she works as the wine in the metaphor.



  Bill Silvia is a regular contributor at Fantasy & SciFi Lovin' News & Reviews. You can find more of his work at www.MiBreviews.com.

13 November 11

12 November 11

Jeff and I went to Kerrisdale Cameras and got a new lens. Not the exact same, because after reading a bunch of reviews, it turns out our 18-105 lens is not really worth as much as it costs and has a couple of problems that I noticed, but Jeff thought I was crazy when I brought them up. Anyway, we ended up getting the significantly less expensive 18-55 and are intending to get a nice 50mm prime in the near future. I do miss the zoom of the old lens, but it's worth it for the crispness I'm getting at close distances with this new one.
In the evening Jesse hosted a rum tasting party, and unlike the vodka tasting party, all the rums were DRASTICALLY different, and with the exception of the Newfoundland Screech, all were delicious.

11 November 11

11.11.11.

Book Review: Star Wars – The Old Republic: Revan by Drew Karpyshyn

Prior to Revenge of the Sith, it was rare to see anything resembling a tragedy in a Star Wars book, and even since then when it occurs it is usually in terms of a secondary character – not the one who the book is named after. I’m not complaining about this move, it makes for a very different reading experience than what you’ll most often find in a Star Wars story – but I also felt it was important to note in a review that might be read by fans who only occasionally check out a Star Wars book.



 If you’re looking for your standard Star Wars action adventure, you’ll find some of that herein (just as you might in Revenge of the Sith) but mostly the sense of foreboding that you might feel when reading it is justified – things are not going to go well for Revan. Revan is a Jedi who turned to the dark side, was mind-wiped by the Jedi Council and ultimately came back to the light to defeat his own apprentice. But he’s a hero that can’t be trusted, because no one knows why he turned to the Dark Side in the first place – a question even he doesn’t know the answer to. He is having visions of a storm covered planet, where he believes a threat exists which may hold those answers.



 Leaving his pregnant wife behind, Revan along with the Mandalorian named Canderous and his loyal astromech droid T3, will head into the unknown regions of space. The first clue lay on the planet hiding the mask of the leader of the Mandalorian people when he was defeated in single combat by Revan. Here Canderous will face his own demons. His people are in search of the mask in order to unite again and wage war against the Republic, a war they lost and one which would only result in more bloodshed on both sides. Canderous might be the leader his people need having worked with a Jedi, but it’s just one more betrayal to add to his having abandoned them in their time of need.



 Meanwhile, an unknown Sith Empire has slowly been amassing power in the unknown regions of space – but threats to one of the inner circle of advisors to the Emporer, and suspicions of a greater rebellion brewing have forced them to call upon a relative outsider, Darth Scourge, to investigate. Because he has not been a part of the machinations of the various Sith Lords, he may be able to unravel the plot against Darth Nyriss – if her own advisors and security officers don’t destroy him first. It’s seen as a betrayal of their trust that an outsider should be brought in to do their jobs, and they’ll stop at nothing to keep him from succeeding – or is that because they are a part of the conspiracy themselves. The answers to these questions will give Scourge cause to question his own understanding of the Force as well as his loyalty to the Emperor.



 As years pass and Revan’s wife Bastilla raises their child alone, a message finally comes in the form of the returning droid T3, who was found by the Jedi Exile Meetra. Revan’s last known whereabouts were on a world in the unknown regions, where it appears two Sith took him into custody. Bastilla cannot leave her young child to go in search of her missing husband, but Meetra was his most trusted general during the Mandalorian War and she is more than willing to take up the quest. Her journey will take her into the heart of the secret Sith Empire, and into a final confrontation that may secure a peace for generations to come – but at a heavy price.



 Revan is a character introduced in the original Knights of the Old Republic videogame for the X-Box and PC, in fact he’s the character you play as while you become the redeemed hero described above. Likewise Meetra is the main character from the sequel to that game, and though you need not have played either to enjoy this book it is helpful as a reader already familiar with these characters will feel more strongly attached to them. Because Drew Karpyshyn was one of the writers of the original game, and a writer of the new The Old Republic MMO, Revan comes off as the strongest character in the narrative. He is driven to uncover his memories – convinced it is the only way he can keep his child from knowing the horrors of war. He’s a powerful Jedi, far more like those of Luke Skywalker’s era where to have a better understanding of the Force, they must not fear the Dark Side. Meetra comes off a little weaker in characterization, only driven by her desire to help Revan whatever the cost to herself – but without any real reason other than loyalty to him. Drew Karpyshyn has a tendency to turn Star Wars stories slightly on their ear, like in making the Sith the more relatable characters in the Darth Bane series, and he does so again here with the Sith Empire.



This is the most complete picture readers of The Old Republic novels have gotten yet of this side of the conflict, and I’m always intrigued by how differently the people who live by that set of rules thinks. There are multiple layers of plots, turning villains into unknown agents who may hold the key to victory or defeat. I enjoyed Revan, but ultimately I have some mixed feelings on it as well. I love Drew Karpyshyn’s Bane novels, and while Revan is a good book, I don’t think it’s quite at the level of those novels. Perhaps it’s the nature of it being a tragedy – which isn’t necessarily to my taste in a novel. Maybe it’s because, more than the prior The Old Republic books, this actually feels like a prequel or “set-up” to the game. It seems obvious to me that a number of the plots left dangling at the end of this book will be picked up by players once the game is released. That’s not to say that the book does not tell a complete story, it does – it just isn’t resolved in a way that was very satisfying for me.



At the same time, I loved visiting again with these characters (as I’m one who actually got to play the Knights of the Old Republic games) – though I did wish that more of the characters had made appearances instead of just being name dropped. Honestly though the author made the right choice with regards to that, as it would have just been catering more to the hardcore fan than serving a purpose in the story. I love The Old Republic setting for this new series of novels associated with the videogame, it tends to be very accessible to new fans and has resulted in some nice surprising twists on what I’d normally expect from a Star Wars story – and Revan continues to live up to that expectation. It’s not necessarily the best book to begin a journey into The Old Republic era (I’d still recommend Fatal Alliance as the best place to start, even though Revan is chronologically first) but it’s a welcome addition to the series and I look forward to Drew Karpyshyn’s recently announced next book in the series.

10 November 11

I got up early so I could take photos in the daylight, but the lens on the camera seemed clunky, almost jammed, and nothing was in focus even though it all looked fine in the viewfinder. Took the lens off to check it out and a piece of the aperture fell out. Super sad.

well shit, son

What if  

instead of "Well shit, son"

you read it as "Well-shit, son!"

I was walking along the Great Highway with my totally pasty, unshaven legs chilling out in striped shorts (rather inappropriate for the bitingly cold wind, for the record), when I asked my mom to take an outfit photo with her phone for my blog. Immediately after she snapped the first one, I was shat on by a bird.

Well-shit, son.

Then my grandma made me go buy a Lotto ticket for good luck.

I guess I must not be very lucky, because I didn't win. Maybe the third time's the charm. I've only been pooped on by birds twice, after all. (The first time was in fourth grade. I was wearing glasses, and it somehow pooped on my left eye in the space between the glass and my face. Well-shit indeed, son.)

By the way, here's the first of the many friendship bracelets I GAVE MYSELF TENDINITIS making.

Hat: gift. Sweater: old school uniform. Striped denim shorts: aunt's. Boots: Steven by Steve Madden. Bracelets: gift and DIY.