Story Teller | Fiction Review | Geek Culture
I had to post something about this show after reading the Chosen One of the Day at SyFy Wire.
This was an obvious go at Star Wars and had some memorable bits. But I had no idea there was an earlier opening sequence, the original theatrical release. Ha!
Mastery isn’t a destination.
Work while they sleep.
Study while they party.
Save while they spend.
Live like they dream.
It’s an every day journey, a way of living.
There will be four Avatar sequels to Avatar. That’s exciting. But I can’t wrap my head around having the same villain in all four movies. Stephen Lang will be reprising his role as the tough sumbitch Colonel Miles Quaritch, that much is confirmed. But why?
I don’t see the appeal of having the same villain in four movies. Granted, Cameron is taking his cue from Peter Jackson in his aim for shooting all four movies with one overarching story a la Lord of the Rings style, but I think it’s a mistake. James Cameron, who can defeat his own blockbuster achievements, is the right man to pull something like that off. And he has enlisted four additional screenwriters to help him on Avatar II, III, and IV. There must be a good reason for this, I hope. But I’m skeptical.
Stephen Lang was a great villain in Avatar, but we know that Colonel Quaritch was killed in battle when he tried to snuff out Jake Sully. He took two in the chest from Neytiri’s bow, effectively ending his life. Will Cameron resort to the ol’ “unless you saw him die, he didn’t really die” tactic?
Cameron explained it this way:
“Steven was so memorable in the first film, we’re privileged to have him back. I’m not going to say exactly HOW we’re bringing him back, but it’s a science fiction story, after all. His character will evolve into really unexpected places across the arc of our new three-film saga. I really look forward to working with such a gifted actor, who’s also become a good friend.”
So, it’s science fiction you say, eh? Maybe it was a clone. The Colonel had survived Pandora long enough with beauty marks to show – three scars to the head – that he learned to have safeguards in place. I hope we don’t get cheated here. It feels cheap to have the same villain back, again and gain. Yes. All four movies, can you believe it?
I would rather a new villain appear. Let’s follow Jake Sully and Neytiri, and the whole Na’Vi as they encounter new challenges, either more humans arriving with new dangers or threats from indigenous warlords or beasts.
Think a lot on what you want to be or what you want. Act like this person, think like this person. Make decisions like this person. Consider how they approach problems, and find solutions, and teach or help. What kind of advice would they give? If you’re not armed with that kind of advice, learn the subject.
See yourself as this person. Like the things they like and eat the food they do. Make their friends, your friends. Introduce yourself like this person.
Walk like this person. Have this person’s posture. Wear this person’s clothes.
You can’t wait for this to happen, you must take action. Every day, make a deliberate effort to shape yourself into the kind of person you want to be.
Richard Phillips discusses sci-fi on the show and shares some of his writing process. The interview covers his Rho Agenda series and his new project in the fantasy genre.
Continue reading “Episode 004. Interview: Author Richard Phillips”
Whiskey homage to Adam West, the disappointing Mummy movie that Shoff viewed along with a discussion about the Dark Universe. Then we hash out the latest patch in World of Warcraft before talking about new games and E3.
Continue reading “Episode 003. Adam West, the Mummy, Word of Warcraft patch talk, and E3”
Discussion centered on the Wonder Woman movie and an overview of women in sci-fi.
Continue reading “Episode 002. Wonder Woman and Women in Sci-Fi”
Tasting a dram, applying our Star Wars rating system, and talking about our experience at the Phoenix ComiCon 2017
(Warning: Spoilers Ahead)
This past weekend, I had the unfortunate displeasure of screening “The Mummy”. The film stars Tom Cruise as a soldier of fortune, however misfortune may be more appropriate as he accidentally unearths the tomb of an Ancient Egyptian princess named Ahmanet after ordering an air strike on a small town in Iraq. Yep, he orders an air strike on a small village in Iraq. Why, you ask? Oh, because he is being pursued by Iraqi soldiers for, I guess, just existing. The film doesn’t make this clear, just jumps the audience into the fray as the reasons for much of anything in the movie are seemingly insignificant. The gist is, Tommy Boy possesses a “treasure map” which he stole from a hot chick who he wined, dined, and boned (a sexual encounter the movie attempts to poke fun at with multiple jokes about his 15 seconds of, ahem, “internal” fame). The jokes don’t land, and it just gets awkward, kind of like Tom’s jacked up mid-line when he smiles. Ok, got his teeth out of the way, so now I can confidently move forward with this incoherent plot.
Stay tuned for SHOFF SCREENS “THE MUMMY”!