I made an appreciation for Kiryu, the third incarnation of Mechagodzilla...wow, seven years ago. It got hit with a copyright claim that led to the audio being muted, and, to my shame, I've only just gotten around to re-uploading it (partly I didn't want to just do a re-upload when I was behind on new … Continue reading Kaiju Appreciations; Kiryu (Re-Upload)
Movies
Kaiju Appreciations; Zigra
My latest appreciation video is up at last. This was kind of a tricky one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFum3UHzhCY I haven't done a full survey, but at the moment I want to call Gamera vs. Zigra the worst kaiju film to come out of either Toho or Daiei (well, Gamera Supermonster might top it from being mostly just … Continue reading Kaiju Appreciations; Zigra
Masterful Heroes
I was trying to decide what made the hero in The Monster Men feel different from most other fictional heroes I’d encountered recently and I realized that it was a quality of masterfulness. Without spoiling too much, Number 13 is not only able to engage small armies of pirates in pursuit of his heart’s idol, … Continue reading Masterful Heroes
Actions Make Words Speak Louder
One mistake that a lot of writers make is to over-explain things (hey, that's me!); to put everything you want the audience to understand into dialogue so as to ensure that they ‘get it’. To be fair, this isn’t (usually) a huge deal; just clumsy and amateurish. But it’s more elegant and often much more … Continue reading Actions Make Words Speak Louder
Thoughts on ‘Sing’
The other day I checked out Sing, Illumination’s 2016 animated jukebox musical about anthropomorphic animals trying to save a koala’s theater. Overall, I found it pretty enjoyable. It’s probably not going to be a favorite, but it was fun, uplifting, and made some good use of its premise. The story: Buster Moon is the owner … Continue reading Thoughts on ‘Sing’
Friday Flotsam: Fable World Building, ‘Safety Last’, and Reading
1. A week of little progress and a lot of crashing. As often happens when one loosens the reins after Lent, Brother Ass takes off and goes wild. But on the positive side, he’s gotten a taste of discipline and so bringing him under rein again should be a bit easier than it was in … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Fable World Building, ‘Safety Last’, and Reading
Five Great Casting Choices That Never Were
1. Lance Henriksen as William Tecumseh Sherman Sherman’s a fascinating figure; repellent in many ways, yet certifiably brilliant and one of the few men on either side who went into the war knowing full well what it would mean. He’d be a good figure for a Patton-style biopic, or at the very least would have … Continue reading Five Great Casting Choices That Never Were
Friday Flotsam: The Emperor, the Director, and the Lexicographer
1. Today is the centenary of Bl. Karl of Austria’s death. Accordingly, I went to Mass before work to seek his intercession that God will send us good leaders (among other things). Those who aren't yet familiar with Emperor Karl are invited to learn more here. 2. A mild insomnia has been bothering me all … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: The Emperor, the Director, and the Lexicographer
Low-Effort Blogging: ‘What’s My Line’
I'm a big fan of the show What's My Line, which ran from 1950-1967, which was all about a panel of contestants try to guess the occupations - the 'line' of a guest. Then the special 'mystery guest' round brought in a celebrity guest while the panel blindfolded themselves. This was often a highlight of … Continue reading Low-Effort Blogging: ‘What’s My Line’
Reflections on the Oscars
You may not know it, but apparently the Academy Awards are coming up. Personally, I forgot all about them because…well, they’re pretty much best forgotten at this point. Modern Hollywood giving itself awards for artistry and technical skill is like the Soviet Government announcing canonizations for Sainthood; it means nothing and everyone except maybe the … Continue reading Reflections on the Oscars
Serpent's Den 