Although most of my attention has been focused on the job search during the past few weeks, I have had some time to catch up on reading and filing.
I recently finished Brad Geagley‘s Day of the False King, the first of two historical mysteries set in Ancient Egypt. I had previously read his Year of the Hyenas, partly because Janice recommended it and partly for running my Pathfinder: “Holy Steel” teleconferencing game. I liked both novels for their plots and archaeologically accurate descriptions.
I have a bookshelf worth of Arthurian stories, references, and analysis, and I prefer the more realistic versions of the tales to the tragic fantasy of Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, the musical Camelot, or John Boorman’s Excalibur.
Friends, I hope that you’ve had a good Memorial Day weekend. On Saturday, 24 May 2008, Janice and I drove down to Norwood, Massachusetts, for lunch at Conrad’s and to pick up my subscription at New England Comics. From there, we went to the Emerald Square Mall in North Attleboro, Mass., where we ran into Sara F. & Josh C. After walking around a bit, we met Ken G. at the Showcase Cinemas nearby, later followed by dinner at Applebee’s. Here’s my review of Indiana Jones [4] and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Once more, cliffhanging adventures
First, the usual disclaimer: I’ve been a fan of this cliffhanging franchise since seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark with my father back in 1981 (“It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage”). I own numerous DVDs, reference books, novelizations, comics, role-playing games, and toys associated with the works of producer George Lucas, director Stephen Spielberg, and lead actor Harrison Ford. And, yes, I did wear my safari shirt and fedora, but at least I left my whip at home! Thus, this is hardly an objective review, and since a movie ticket now costs about $10 a pop, I tend to like those films I choose to see in theaters.
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, or “Indy 4” for short, picks up the story of our favorite adventuresome archaeologist in 1957. The Nazi and Thuggee adversaries of the earlier flicks have been replaced by Soviets, and the MacGuffin this time is a South American artifact that may be of extraterrestrial origin (I’ll try to avoid “spoilers,” but some of the reviews I’m linking to may give away more of the plot).
The strongest part of this movie is the cast, with Ford only slightly slowed by age as Professor Henry “Indiana” W. Jones Jr. and Karen Allen still attractive as a middle-aged Marion Ravenwood, Indy’s spunky onetime girlfriend. I missed the presence of the late Denholm Elliott as mentor Marcus Broady, John Rhys-Davies as Egyptian ally Sallah, and Sean Connery as Dr. Henry Jones Sr., but their absence was noted, and Jim Broadbent, Ray Winstone, and John Hurt do add a bit of gravitas to the ensemble, even if their roles are small.
Newcomers to the franchise include Cate Blanchett as nefarious Soviet paranormal investigator Col.Dr. Irina Spalko and the ubiquitous Shia LaBeouf as youthful rebel without a cause Mutt Williams. As in last summer’s Transformers, LaBeouf acquits himself well and isn’t as annoying as he could be in a blockbuster movie. Lucas’ musings on father-son relationships, human history and belief, and the value of friendship are here as in his Star Wars space opera series.
The cinematography reminded me of how Raiders, Indiana Jones [2] and the Temple of Doom, and Indiana Jones [3] and the Last Crusade revived interest in the pulp entertainment of the 1930s. This time, Indy and his globe-hopping compatriots go from the desert of New Mexico to the groves of academe in the U.S. Northeast to the highlands of Peru. Computer-generated imagery smoothly replaced the matte paintings and animatronics of previous films.
Speaking of the previous films, there are several “Easter eggs” for alert fans, including references to the lost Ark of the Covenant, to the camaraderie of The Last Crusade, and even to the instructive Young Indiana Jones Chronicles television series, as well as the novel and comic book continuity.
The set-piece action scenes are also well-done, playing to Spielberg’s strengths. They include fisticuffs in a secret government warehouse followed by a nuclear explosion, a swashbuckling chase scene through the jungle and down some waterfalls, and the usual trap-riddled tombs and temples. There are of course snakes, angry natives, and this time, ants. Yes, the pace is slower than it was in the original movies or in those that would carry on their legacy, such as The Mummy and National Treasure, but I think that gave the characters time to shine.
I would have preferred a more mystical MacGuffin or plot device, in keeping with the previous movies, but I understand the need for more science fictional elements since Indy 4 is set in the 1950s. In fact, I did like seeing the greasers and bobby-sockers of Lucas and Ford’s American Graffiti, visual allusions to Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and displays of the patriotism and paranoia of the Cold War that are still strangely relevant. The movie quietly ends on a high note, if not quite the ride into the sunset of Last Crusade. On the other hand, I’m not sure if a continuation about Mutt would really count as an Indy flick.
Overall, I’d give Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which is rated PG-13 for violence and profanity, an 8 out of 10, or a B+. How does that compare with the previous installments? Raiders gets a 9 or a 10, or an A+. I’d give Temple of Doom a 7 or an 8, or a B+, while Last Crusade deserves an 8 or a 9, or a A-. I’d also give the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (now on DVD) an 8, or a A-/B+.
In related news, I belatedly watched Disney’s computer-animated Meet the Robinsons, which was fairly entertaining. The season finales of supernaturalslackercomedyReaper, superhero dramaSmallville, and Showtime’s The Tudors were decent, although I’m not sure the latter was historically accurate.
Completely devoid of historical accuracy was Brian W.‘s fun “Savage Worlds: Paranoia” one-shot last week. It was the first of a series of games between the D&D3.5 “Vanished Lands: the Broken Chains” Arabian fantasy campaign and the Boston-area group’s first Dungeons & DragonsFourth Edition party. The “Broken Chains” disbanded after many adventures; after fighting monsters, cultists, and demons, it was nice to end that party for now with the birth of one character’s children!
I thought Brian did a good job of melding the Savage Worldsrules-light pulp system with Paranoia‘s comedic cyberpunk. Tonight, I’ll be missing Josh C.’s Everwayfantasy session because I’ll be running the D&D3.5 “Vanished Lands: Holy Steel” teleconferencing team. I’ve spent much of the holiday weekend catching up on reading and filing. Janice and I also recaulked our bathroom, although painting and plumbing issues remain. Next weekend, we’ll be visiting my family in Virginia.
I’d like to congratulate the New York Giants and the team’s supporters on their victory in Super Bowl XLII and offer my condolences to fellow fans of the New England Patriots. While the Pats didn’t get the perfect undefeated football season they had hoped for, the big game was a close challenge rather than a blowout for either side.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning successfully drove down the field, and his defensive teammates did an excellent job of keeping the Patriots from advancing and kept the overall score low. Unlike some more hard-core sports fans, I have no interest in gloating and am glad that the game was close and that the Northeast was well represented.
Backing up a bit, on Saturday, 2 February 2008, Janice and I had brunch at Fresco and ran some errands in Needham Heights, Massachusetts, which The Boston Globereports is becoming a foodie town. It remains to be seen if the local population can support the various restaurants that I’ve blogged about. We also caught up on Avatar: the Last Airbender, The Batman, and decent romantic fantasy comedy Ella Enchanted.
We then met co-worker Ken G., who was in the neighborhood and brought over some DVDs. We watched noir comedy Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang, which was based on a graphic novel. We were pleasantly surprised to like the movie, which starred Robert Downey Jr. (soon to be Iron Man‘s Tony Stark) and Val Kilmer (once Batman). I’d rate it about an 8 out of 10.
Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr.’s career renaissance
We grabbed dinner at the Ground Round before Ken left, and Janice and I watched a dog show. The next morning, after the usual City of Heroesgame online, I met Thomas K.Y. and Beruk A. for a seafood lunch at Jasper White’s Summer Shack in Cambridge, Mass. We then went back to Thomas‘ place in Lexington, Mass., to watch a DVD of Day Watch.
The Russian modern horror/fantasy movie wasn’t as visionary as its predecessor, Night Watch, but I still thought the story of one man’s search for redemption and interpersonal connection amid a supernatural struggle among the forces of light and darkness was interesting. I’d give the subtitled film about a 7 out of 10.
We also checked out the dieselpunk/horror video game Bioshock and a few movie previews. As with the Super Bowl broadcast, Iron Man and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian look most promising. The other commercials during the game were lackluster in comparison with previous years, but at least Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers gave a solid classic rock performance at halftime.
Speaking of various contests, next time, I’ll blog about the U.S. presidential primaries!
Friends, I hope you had a good weekend. On Saturday, 10 March 2007, Janice and I attended the Rhode Island Pet Show in Providence. We observed canine competitions in agility and breed, saw rare breeds of dogs and cats, and even saw a fashion show featuring dressed-up humans and animals.
After that, we went to the Providence Place Mall, which is one of the bigger shopping malls in New England. On Sunday, we took advantage of the warmer weather by going to our usual book shops in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I’m pleased to report that Pandemonium Books & Games in Central Square has avoided bankruptcy for now.
Janice and I also screened 300, based on Frank Miller’s loose recounting of the Battle of Thermopylae. I own several of Miller’s graphic novels, including cyberpunk samurai drama Ronin, his redefinition of D.C. Comics icons in The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One, his work on Marvel Comics’ Daredevil, and gory noir Sin City, also recently (and faithfully) adapted into a movie.
300 Spartans
300 is about how King Leonidas of Sparta and some of his troops defied Greek law and momentarily held a much larger Persian invading force at bay in a mountain pass in 480 B.C.E. The visual storytelling was excellent, including computer-enhanced imagery, muscular acting, and fluid fight choreography. Gerard Butler, Lena Headly, Dominic West, and David Wenham, among others, give solid performances, overshadowing the more stilted Troy (itself a very loose retelling of The Iliad).
However, as some critics have noted, 300 is more Miller’s epic version of the story than a historically accurate depiction of events. As one noted, it’s the sort of movie the ancient Spartans themselves might have wanted to make rather than the truth.
For example, talk of Western “freedom” and “reason” versus the superstition and decadence of the East is mere propaganda. Sparta’s warriors were among the best in ancient Greece because the city-state’s many slaves enabled its landowning men to spend most of their lives in a standing army (aided by the navy of Athens when they weren’t fighting it). Homosexuality was common (not that there’s anything wrong with that), soldiers wore armor by then and didn’t fight half-naked, and feuds and corruption were as common as anywhere else.
The Persian empire was cosmopolitan, had many Greek allies, and while fearsome, their elite warriors and nobles were not the inhuman monsters (riding rhinoceri and elephants, no less) shown in the film. The same goes for the traitor Ephialtes, who was a shepherd, not a hunchback. Miller commonly uses such grotesque and exaggerated images. The doomed Greek forces were probably outnumbered 10 to 1 rather than 1,000 to 1, but that said, I enjoyed the bloody spectacle, which I would give a 7 or 8 out of 10.
Miller tends to go over the top with violence and sexuality, and I’m not a big fan of his flirtations with fascism in Dark Knight 2, All-Star Batman, or 300. Ever since the Greeks, Europeans have viewed themselves as purer, freer, and smarter than the rest of the world, and as U.S. troops are mired in modern Iraq and Afghanistan, the descendants of the Persians in Iran and those of Alexander the Great in the West have much needless bloodshed to answer for. All people deserve freedom and peace.
Speaking of comic books and nationalism, the assassination of Steve Rogers/Captain America in Marvel Comics last week made real-world news before issues had even reached retailers! The issue itself is a decent recap by crime writer Ed Brubaker of the star-spangled superhero’s career over the past 65+ years.
Like D.C.’s death of Superman about a decade ago, such an event may get mainstream popular culture attention, but is likely temporary and is more a means of selling comic books than a social statement. Both liberals and conservatives in the U.S. have tried to read meaning into Cap’s death, and as with Marvel’s recent “Civil War,” each can still come away convinced its side is right.
Part 2 of my root canal is tomorrow morning, but I hope to post another update installment and more comic book reviews in the coming week.
Friends, after recent conversations with Ron J.K., Steve M.R., and Jim J.D’B., I realized that it’s time to talk about my first love in genre entertainment–science fiction. Some of my television memories from childhood are hazy recollections of watching “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea” and Godzilla movies.
Science fiction vehicles
My father introduced me to the classic speculative fiction of prescient Jules Verne, cautionary H.G. Wells, and galactic visionary Isaac Asimov. I avidly read many of the books from the “Golden Age” of SF (the 1930s through ’50s), and I still prefer the fables of Ray Bradbury, the “juvenile” space operas of Robert A. Heinlein, and the evolutionary tales of Arthur C. Clarke to many later authors.
Of the so-called New Wave of authors starting in the 1960s through the 1980s, I like David Brin’s intricate “Uplift” series, David Gerrold’s postapocalyptic “War With the Cthorr,” and Larry Niven’s worldbuilding speculations in his “Ringworld” books. “Hard SF” based in actual science has been more successful in literature, while the more fantastical space opera once dominated movies and television.
I caught the wave of popular genre entertainment in the late 1970s/early 1980s, including of course “Star Trek,” “Star Wars,” and “Battlestar Galactica,” as well as numerous other movies and T.V. shows and their inevitable sequels/spin-offs/remakes. Through high school and college, I enjoyed the good (“Alien Nation”), the campy (“Buck Rogers”), and even some of the bad (“Ice Pirates”).
Although I’ve read Frank Herbert’s epic “Dune” series and cyberpunk by William Gibson, Bruce Sterling, and others, I was turned off by the belated popularity of those darker subgenres in movies, even if “Blade Runner” and the adaptations of “Dune” remain among my favorites. I do like the social commentary, quasi-religious allegory, and well-crafted settings, if not the cynical worldview of some creators.
The later 1980s through the present (early 2000s) have continued to be dominated by post-cyberpunk dystopias. I’ve come to enjoy the pulps from the 1890s through 1950s, so it’s no surprise that steampunk is now one of my favorite subgenres. I’ve fallen pretty far behind in novel reading (partly as a result of becoming a copy editor, which requires enough hours of close reading), but of recently popular authors, I like David Weber’s “Honor Harrington” military SF stories. I’m not a huge fan of comic SF, but I did enjoy “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” in various media and “Galaxy Quest,” a loving spoof of the “Trek” franchise.
Space opera has fallen out of favor (compared with the 1990s, when “Trek,” “Babylon 5,” “Stargate,” and “Andromeda” were all on the air), while superheroes, “more realistic” cyberpunk, time travel, epic fantasy, and other subgenres are more popular right now. I’ll discuss the latter in other postings.
As for popular entertainment, here’s my ranking of the various actors who have starred in the BBC’s long-running Doctor Who time-travel series:
Four (Tom Baker, 1974-’81)
Nine (Christopher Eccleston, 2005)
Three (Jon Pertwee, 1970-’74)
Five (Peter Davison, 1981-’84)
Eight (Paul McGann, 1996)
Ten (David Tennant, 2005-present, so far)
Two (Patrick Troughton, 1966-’69)
One (William Hartnell, 1963-’66)
Seven (Sylvester McCoy, 1987-’89)
Six (Colin Baker, 1984-’86)
T.V. movies and radio shows (non-canon, including Peter Cushing, Rowan Atkinson, and Richard E. Grant*) *-my preferred of these
Also, in descending order of preference:
Star Trek on television:
The original series (1966-’69)
“The Next Generation” (1987-’94)
“Deep Space Nine” (1993-2000)
“Enterprise” (2001-’04)
“Voyager” (1995-2002)
Honorable mention: The animated series (1973-’75)
Star Trek films:
II “The Wrath of Khan” (1982)
VIII “First Contact” (1996)
IV “The Voyage Home” (1986)
VI “The Undiscovered Country” (1991)
I “The Motion Picture” (1979)
III “The Search for Spock” (1984)
XI “Star Trek” (2009)
VII “Generations” (1994)
V “The Final Frontier” (1989)
IX “Insurrection” (1998)
X “Nemesis” (2002)
Star Wars films:
Episode IV: “A New Hope” (1977)
Episode V: “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)
Episode VI: “Return of the Jedi” (1983)
Episode III: “Revenge of the Sith” (2005)
Episode II: “Attack of the Clones” (2002)
Episode I: “The Phantom Menace” (1999)
Honorable mention: “Clone Wars” animated series (2003-’04)
I’m also looking forward to the autumn 2006 television season (and current ratings):
Sundays: “City of Heroes” online multiplayer superhero game ***
Tuesdays:
-“Veronica Mars” (CW young adult sleuthing) ***
-D&D3.5 “Vanished Lands: Halmed Desert” heroic fantasy campaign
Wednesdays: “Hustle” (BBC/A&E do-gooder capers; now in reruns) ***
Thursdays:
-“Smallville” (CW superpowered drama) **
-“City of Heroes” (with Dexter V.H., David I.S., Steve M.R., and Byron V.O.?)
Fridays:
-“Avatar: the Last Airbender” (Nickelodeon animated fantasy) ****
-“Kim Possible” (Disney Channel animated action/adventure) ***
-“Stargate SG1” **** and “Stargate: Atlantis” ** (SciFi Channel military space opera)
-“Doctor Who” (BBC/SciFi Channel revived time/space travel) ***
-“Battlestar Galactica” (SciFi Channel revisionist military space opera) ***
Saturdays:
-“The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron” (Nickelodeon computer-animated SF comedy)
-“The Batman” (CW animated superheroes) ***
-“Legion of Superheroes” (CW animated comic book) **
-“Fantastic Four” (Cartoon Network animated superheroes) **
In my next blog posting, I’ll have to provide updates on the past few weeks, including the visit by high-school friends Damon F.P. and Steve M. to the Boston area, a fondue dinner with Thomas K.Y. and Cliff & Eliza Y., and the shift from the D20 “Mutants & Masterminds” 2nd Ed.: “Drake’s 7” superhero scenarios back to the D&D3.5 fantasy game! Later, -Gene
Gene's Worlds 
