The Chosen One

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Jan 252013
 

I’m cautiously optimistic that J.J. Abrams can make a decent Star Wars movie. As long as there’s no time travel and the main characters stay out of purgatory, everything should be fine. The only downside may be that the Star Trek franchise goes back into drydock for a while, unless Paramount can find someone else to take the reins. In my wildest dreams, we would get a movie from each franchise opening within a week of each other. It would result in massive geek riots or set us on the path to world peace.

Critic At Large: Star Wars #1

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Jan 172013
 

If you’re a fan of the original Star Wars trilogy, you owe it to yourself to check out the first issue of Brian Wood’s ongoing Star Wars comic. It picks up the story in the aftermath of the first Death Star’s destruction, with the Rebel Alliance trying to figure how to capitalize on its first significant victory and Darth Vader enduring the wrath of the Emperor. Wood gives us a bit of insight into how Luke, Leia, and Han cope with the toll of war while telling a brisk story of intrigue that will keep me buying future issues. And the book’s artwork nicely captures the visual sweep of the movies. Until Episode VII hits theaters, this should be enough to scratch your Force itch.

Issue #1

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Dec 202012
 

I’m on vacation for the next ten days, which should allow me to catch up on my comics reading. I’ve been sampling some of the Marvel Now! reboots and the new Thor and All-New X-Men series are compelling enough to keep me purchasing subsequent issues. I’ve largely avoided X-Men titles because they require a map, compass, and slide rule to understand the continuity. But Marvel may have found the recipe to attract new readers like me who might have been previously intimidated by the decades of backstory. Of course, they did something similar with the Ultimate line a few years back and that universe is still going strong. So I might need that map after all.

I want to say more about other comics like Saga and The Massive, but I’ll save that for my year-end round-up.

The Wrath Of Benedict Cumberbatch

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Dec 062012
 

I’m not sure what I think of the trailer for the new Star Trek movie. It has some nice shots of what looks like 23rd century San Francisco and Starfleet Academy and an intriguing glimpse of the Enterprise rising out of the ocean. But it doesn’t give much sense of the story. Sure, Benedict Cumberbatch provides some menacing narration, but we don’t hear boo from Kirk and Spock. I guess the details can wait as long as someone can assure me that the movie will deliver at least one epic space battle.

Adama Returns

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Nov 122012
 

The first two episodes of Blood and Chrome, the Battlestar Galactica prequel series, are worth watching. The first episode is a bit by-the-numbers, but things get more interesting in the next chapter. Visually, it looks great and is true to the series’ frenetic style, particularly in the space battle scenes. I’d rather see this as a full-fledged television series, but perhaps it has a brighter future on-line.

Here’s the first episode:

The Force Is Strong In This Rodent

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Oct 302012
 

When news of Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm and plans to film Episode VII showed up in my Twitter feed, I seriously contemplated the possibility that I may have stumbled into some strange alternate universe. Having assured myself that wasn’t the case, I then recoiled in horror at the thought of Mickey Mouse being digitally inserted into the Episode IV cantina scene in future re-releases. But as fellow geek John Scalzi notes, new ownership could breathe new life into the franchise. Lucas hasn’t exactly proven himself indispensable with the last few Star Wars movies and Disney certainly has the wherewithal to attract top-flight talent to work on Episode VII.

And white they’re at it, I wouldn’t mind seeing Pixar do an Indiana Jones film

Spock Returns

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Oct 052012
 

For your weekend viewing pleasure, here’s director J.J. Abrams showing off a clip from the next Star Trek movie to  Conan O’Brien. It’s spectacular! You may need to watch it more than once to fully absorb its awesomeness.

Make It So

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Sep 282012
 

Brian Phillips has a great essay at Grantland commenting on the 25th anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Money quote:

It’s obviously the case that the great subject of almost all American television — family — is also at large on the bridge of the Enterprise. Like The West Wing, the show offers a fantasy of smart friends working together and supporting each other that’s designed to make you want to join them. When you’re a skinny 13-year-old who’s scared a third of the time and bored another third, the idea of roaming the constellations with Captain Picard, whom adventure follows like a shadow and who always knows what to do, will obviously have a certain appeal.

Those sentences nicely capture my own reaction to the show. While I was already a Trekkie, I didn’t feel much affinity for the environs of the original show. But the NCC-1701/D seemed like the kind of place where a smart kid in a wheelchair could do okay for himself. The entire ship seemed to consist of gentle curves and slopes, implying that nothing was off-limits to a set of wheels. Medical care was always readily available and perhaps Commander Data could be my PCA when he was off-duty. Perhaps even Captain Picard would take notice of my potential and support my application to Starfleet.

Or so I imagined. And still do, sometimes.

Not Enough Spiders

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Sep 212012
 

The latest trailer for The Hobbit is suitably epic, although I’m disappointed in the apparent absence of Mirkwood spiders. I’m guessing we won’t see them until the second installment. This whole turning-one-book-into-a-trilogy business still strikes me as a dubious proposition. The dragon Smaug is featured in only a few pages of the novel, which makes me wonder whether Peter Jackson will significantly expand his role in the final chapter. Or Gollum’s, for that matter. But as long as we don’t get scene after scene of slapstick dwarves, I’m sure the first chapter will more than exceed my standards for awesomeness.

Klaatu Barada Nikto

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Sep 202012
 

The local Heights Theater is showing a series of classic science fiction movies this month, beginning tonight with the superb The Day the Earth Stood Still. I’m signing off shortly to get there in time, but I may post a few thoughts later. While I’m still disappointed that my local megaplex is closing, I’m happy to support an independent theater that shows a little love to geeks like me.

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