- Published on
I've always had a fondness for Time After Time (1979). In my youth, it was one of the first movies to get released on a fledgling home pay cable network in my area, and I can remember watching this flick every single time it came on the channel. I love it, and -- even today -- I think it boasts one of the best time travel yarns of its type: H.G. Wells pursues Jack the Ripper into what was then the present day in an attempt to stop the serial killer from continuing his handiwork in the modern era.
In any event, I noticed yesterday that Bluray.com is reporting that there's a new Blu-ray release of the title coming from the Warner Archive Collection. (The link to the article is right here.) That's great news for folks who haven't yet had to see the film, as its been out of production for some time.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
In any event, I noticed yesterday that Bluray.com is reporting that there's a new Blu-ray release of the title coming from the Warner Archive Collection. (The link to the article is right here.) That's great news for folks who haven't yet had to see the film, as its been out of production for some time.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
- Published on
By my own admission, I'm not much of a Marvel guy. Part of this is owed to the fact that I grew up reading far more DC Comics' titles than I ever did Marvel, and part of it ties to the fact I was never as much drawn in by Marvel's stories as I were with the characters. Still, I have nothing but respect for Wolverine, and I think Hugh Jackman has done an incredible job bringing that particular mutant to life in each of the films he's appeared.
Logan looks to be yet one more good outing for Wolvie, and even this DC guy is sad it'll be Jackman's last go'round. Here's the trailer which dropped recently; enjoy it for what it is.
Logan looks to be yet one more good outing for Wolvie, and even this DC guy is sad it'll be Jackman's last go'round. Here's the trailer which dropped recently; enjoy it for what it is.
This one looks solid, though I also try not to get all that wrapped up in quality trailers. After all, their purpose is to get butts in the seats, not necessarily to tell a grand story.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
- Published on
As a people, we sure do love our time travel yarns.
Star Trek. The Twilight Zone. Planet of the Apes. Quantum Leap. You name it, and practically every Science Fiction franchise has dabbled in some way, shape, or form in traveling through time (with a few notable exceptions). And … why not? Isn’t there something that’s happened in our own lives that we’d love to go back and correct or – at the very least – change the outcome? That alone is probably one of the reasons why even non-SciFi fans enjoy the occasional time trip, and it’s certainly one of the driving reason television executives are thrilled to put another commodity up for view on the ‘Boob Tube.’ This season has a few new entries into this unique sub-genre, but perhaps the most lauded is NBC’s Timeless.
Coming from Eric Kripke (The CW’s long-running Supernatural) and Shawn Ryan (FX Network’s explosive crooked cop drama, The Shield), Timeless is an action adventure focusing on an unlikely team of heroes – history professor Lucy Preston (the comely Abigail Spencer), Special Forces soldier Wyatt Logan (Matt Lanter), and resident science nerd and timepod pilot Rufus Carlin (the always likeable Malcolm Barrett given a character name that’s CLEARLY a nod to Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure). They’re conscripted to a secret government agency and sent through time to stop a criminal mastermind – Garcia Flynn (Goran Visnjic) – who is curiously bent on destroying the past for reasons not quite clearly spelled out (thus far).
As of today’s date, I’ve seen the first three episodes (sadly, I’m not on any media moguls’ emailing list wherein I could receive complimentary advance streaming), and I wanted to sound-off briefly on the show’s prospects … which, at this point, I’d say aren’t all that grand.
Star Trek. The Twilight Zone. Planet of the Apes. Quantum Leap. You name it, and practically every Science Fiction franchise has dabbled in some way, shape, or form in traveling through time (with a few notable exceptions). And … why not? Isn’t there something that’s happened in our own lives that we’d love to go back and correct or – at the very least – change the outcome? That alone is probably one of the reasons why even non-SciFi fans enjoy the occasional time trip, and it’s certainly one of the driving reason television executives are thrilled to put another commodity up for view on the ‘Boob Tube.’ This season has a few new entries into this unique sub-genre, but perhaps the most lauded is NBC’s Timeless.
Coming from Eric Kripke (The CW’s long-running Supernatural) and Shawn Ryan (FX Network’s explosive crooked cop drama, The Shield), Timeless is an action adventure focusing on an unlikely team of heroes – history professor Lucy Preston (the comely Abigail Spencer), Special Forces soldier Wyatt Logan (Matt Lanter), and resident science nerd and timepod pilot Rufus Carlin (the always likeable Malcolm Barrett given a character name that’s CLEARLY a nod to Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure). They’re conscripted to a secret government agency and sent through time to stop a criminal mastermind – Garcia Flynn (Goran Visnjic) – who is curiously bent on destroying the past for reasons not quite clearly spelled out (thus far).
As of today’s date, I’ve seen the first three episodes (sadly, I’m not on any media moguls’ emailing list wherein I could receive complimentary advance streaming), and I wanted to sound-off briefly on the show’s prospects … which, at this point, I’d say aren’t all that grand.
Where to begin?
Well, the pilot was good, certainly on par with most of what one can find on any television dial these days, but – given both Kripke and Ryan’s participation – I guess I expected something a bit more filling or a little different than what's evolved. Chasing bad guys through time can only go on for so long until audiences start to question where it all can end given the fact that 'anywhere, any time' is an awfully daunting playing field.
Chiefly, the performances of the principles were more than a bit flat.
Spencer’s a curious choice for a series lead: she’s certainly looks the part of a primetime starlet, but her delivery and timing have been inconsistent, some of which could be owed to predictable writing. Lanter – as a leading man – really brings little to the role of Logan; he’s understandably committed like a good soldier to carrying out “the mission” (which kinda/sorta fluctuates a bit with each hour), but the premise has also saddled him with memories of a dead wife, and this gives him good reason to stray from the course. Barrett is the program’s bright spot; he’s a bit of a comic genius -- one who cut his chops on ABC’s Better Off Ted, a sitcom which deserved better treatment from that network -- but he’s spent an awful lot of screen time either reminding us he’s black or maligning history’s overall treatment of “people of color” far too quickly and far too often. Still, his is the only character I care about, so his being a third wheel to two other clunky leads with little to no chemistry opposite one another tests my patience.
In the pilot hour, the team don’t so much save history as they rewrite it to fit the purposes of the adventure (I’m guessing this will somehow be addressed as the program’s greater mythology develops -- there appear to be two agencies with conflicting agendas, but it's too early to tell): Visjnic’s Flynn villainously wants the Hindenburg to crash – just on a different day (relates to its passengers, the audience is led to believe) – but the team successfully gets the airship evacuated. Still, that first hour concluded with a solid hook, the kind of thing audiences look for with smart writing: somehow, Lucy’s present has come undone, removing her kid sister entirely from existence. No doubt, this fuels the woman’s fire to stay committed to putting things back the way they were.
The second hour – the group finds itself in Washington DC the day before President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated – was an improvement though much of the writing still dabbled in areas way too predictable for long term success: Preston stepped up her efforts to be a leader, Logan starts to grasp the bigger possibilities of time travel, and Carlin (sigh) finds himself a somewhat disgraced black Union soldier/imposter. Once again (and perhaps way too soon), Flynn’s intent was to increase history’s body count, but the team thwarts every assassination attempt except that of the 16th President’s death.
The third hour?
Meh. It was a wildly convoluted trip to the early 1960’s involving President Kennedy’s mistress which also involved the theft of plutonium (a sad staple to too many time travel stories) with an open cliffhanger only promising more destruction needing to be averted.
Well, the pilot was good, certainly on par with most of what one can find on any television dial these days, but – given both Kripke and Ryan’s participation – I guess I expected something a bit more filling or a little different than what's evolved. Chasing bad guys through time can only go on for so long until audiences start to question where it all can end given the fact that 'anywhere, any time' is an awfully daunting playing field.
Chiefly, the performances of the principles were more than a bit flat.
Spencer’s a curious choice for a series lead: she’s certainly looks the part of a primetime starlet, but her delivery and timing have been inconsistent, some of which could be owed to predictable writing. Lanter – as a leading man – really brings little to the role of Logan; he’s understandably committed like a good soldier to carrying out “the mission” (which kinda/sorta fluctuates a bit with each hour), but the premise has also saddled him with memories of a dead wife, and this gives him good reason to stray from the course. Barrett is the program’s bright spot; he’s a bit of a comic genius -- one who cut his chops on ABC’s Better Off Ted, a sitcom which deserved better treatment from that network -- but he’s spent an awful lot of screen time either reminding us he’s black or maligning history’s overall treatment of “people of color” far too quickly and far too often. Still, his is the only character I care about, so his being a third wheel to two other clunky leads with little to no chemistry opposite one another tests my patience.
In the pilot hour, the team don’t so much save history as they rewrite it to fit the purposes of the adventure (I’m guessing this will somehow be addressed as the program’s greater mythology develops -- there appear to be two agencies with conflicting agendas, but it's too early to tell): Visjnic’s Flynn villainously wants the Hindenburg to crash – just on a different day (relates to its passengers, the audience is led to believe) – but the team successfully gets the airship evacuated. Still, that first hour concluded with a solid hook, the kind of thing audiences look for with smart writing: somehow, Lucy’s present has come undone, removing her kid sister entirely from existence. No doubt, this fuels the woman’s fire to stay committed to putting things back the way they were.
The second hour – the group finds itself in Washington DC the day before President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated – was an improvement though much of the writing still dabbled in areas way too predictable for long term success: Preston stepped up her efforts to be a leader, Logan starts to grasp the bigger possibilities of time travel, and Carlin (sigh) finds himself a somewhat disgraced black Union soldier/imposter. Once again (and perhaps way too soon), Flynn’s intent was to increase history’s body count, but the team thwarts every assassination attempt except that of the 16th President’s death.
The third hour?
Meh. It was a wildly convoluted trip to the early 1960’s involving President Kennedy’s mistress which also involved the theft of plutonium (a sad staple to too many time travel stories) with an open cliffhanger only promising more destruction needing to be averted.
Because the existential ‘do over’ offers extremely personal appeal, these stories need to be strongly tied in with characters who’s very being mean something.
Audiences have to not only care about these people but they have to want to care about them for it's that "connection" that allows them to willingly suspend disbelief on even trivial matters. They'll accept time travel as a storytelling device if (and only if) they see things improved somehow as a consequence, and that's what's missing from Timeless. For these fortunate few, things aren't improving; granted, they may not be getting progressively worse, but they're still not improving.
It isn't Lucy Preston so much as it is caring about Lucy's plight that's missing.
It isn't Wyatt Logan so much as it is caring about the man willing to do anything to turn back time and save his wife.
Similarly, it isn't so much listening to Rufus Carlin's incessant reminders about race and history as it is caring about how his world improves as a consequence of what he sees, learns, and does.
As I said, the only one I care about at this juncture is Rufus. But as his circumstances aren't changing or improving, what really has been changed? Where is the improvement? What has been gained in taking this great adventure? Removing the cause and effect relationship from storytelling on a personal level makes Timeless less of a time travel show and more of a conventional drama, albeit with still disappointing returns.
None of this is meant as a slight to the talents of Spencer or Lanter. In fact, I'd say that they're doing just "fine" with what they've been provided. It's just that their characters just aren’t as compelling as their narrative circumstances … so I’m hoping the writers have a bit more up their sleeves or this is going to get old real fast.
That's certainly no admirable position for a show dealing with time travel!
Audiences have to not only care about these people but they have to want to care about them for it's that "connection" that allows them to willingly suspend disbelief on even trivial matters. They'll accept time travel as a storytelling device if (and only if) they see things improved somehow as a consequence, and that's what's missing from Timeless. For these fortunate few, things aren't improving; granted, they may not be getting progressively worse, but they're still not improving.
It isn't Lucy Preston so much as it is caring about Lucy's plight that's missing.
It isn't Wyatt Logan so much as it is caring about the man willing to do anything to turn back time and save his wife.
Similarly, it isn't so much listening to Rufus Carlin's incessant reminders about race and history as it is caring about how his world improves as a consequence of what he sees, learns, and does.
As I said, the only one I care about at this juncture is Rufus. But as his circumstances aren't changing or improving, what really has been changed? Where is the improvement? What has been gained in taking this great adventure? Removing the cause and effect relationship from storytelling on a personal level makes Timeless less of a time travel show and more of a conventional drama, albeit with still disappointing returns.
None of this is meant as a slight to the talents of Spencer or Lanter. In fact, I'd say that they're doing just "fine" with what they've been provided. It's just that their characters just aren’t as compelling as their narrative circumstances … so I’m hoping the writers have a bit more up their sleeves or this is going to get old real fast.
That's certainly no admirable position for a show dealing with time travel!
- Published on
For those who missed Independence Day: Resurgence when it ran theatrically, the DVD arrives on home video today.
Meh. I don't recall anything all that specific about my review (link). It honestly "felt" like one of those flicks that audiences never asked for but producers felt was a good idea. The performances were a bit tired and perhaps even a bit more predictable than the first feature, but I do recall that the ending has some nice action sequences and tied everything up in a bow (much in the same way its predecessor did).
If you interested in ordering from Amazon.com, then here you go! (Reminder: no, unlike other sites, I have no relationship with the online retailing giant ... I simply do announcements of this nature as a Public Service Announcement for readers.)
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
Meh. I don't recall anything all that specific about my review (link). It honestly "felt" like one of those flicks that audiences never asked for but producers felt was a good idea. The performances were a bit tired and perhaps even a bit more predictable than the first feature, but I do recall that the ending has some nice action sequences and tied everything up in a bow (much in the same way its predecessor did).
If you interested in ordering from Amazon.com, then here you go! (Reminder: no, unlike other sites, I have no relationship with the online retailing giant ... I simply do announcements of this nature as a Public Service Announcement for readers.)
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
- Published on
Yes, yes, yes, I know how some readers feel about my covering certain releases which they feel are more "horror" than legitimate Science Fiction, but the Re-Animator series is very near and dear to so much of what SciFi "of a certain era" looked like ... so any time one of the features of that franchise gets this kind of treatment then it deserves some attention, even modest plugs.
Arrow Video's latest home video release hits retailers today, and -- for those of you unaware -- Arrow does a MASSIVELY impressive job packing their discs with special features, something truly rewarding to fans of the films the company can squeeze into their fantastic catalogue. And -- for the record -- not all of what they release gets "All Regions" exposure, so this one is probably worth a look for die-hard fans of the property if not fans of SciFi/Horror in general.
For those interested, here's the link to Amazon.com. Check it out for all of the details.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
Arrow Video's latest home video release hits retailers today, and -- for those of you unaware -- Arrow does a MASSIVELY impressive job packing their discs with special features, something truly rewarding to fans of the films the company can squeeze into their fantastic catalogue. And -- for the record -- not all of what they release gets "All Regions" exposure, so this one is probably worth a look for die-hard fans of the property if not fans of SciFi/Horror in general.
For those interested, here's the link to Amazon.com. Check it out for all of the details.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
- Published on
Oh, my dear! The Angels are creepy as anything! Seriously, they creep me out. The wifey, too.
In any event, I used to have a pretty great relationship with BBC Home Video, and occasionally they'd get in touch with me to offer complimentary discs for me to review. Sadly, that's kinda/sorta fallen by the wayside (most outlets are now offering streaming links to review content, and I just don't have time to screen everything that gets offered my way), so I've let it lapse. Still, I saw this title available today via The Digital Bits, and I immediately ordered me a copy from Amazon.com. I generally love these Doctor Who 'theme collections' because they'll throw in classic episodes alongside the newer ones for fans of all Who. No idea yet as to what's on here specifically (Amazon.com's citation is curiously empty of details), but I'll update once I receive my copy in the mail.
Here's the link to Amazon.com in case you're interested.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
In any event, I used to have a pretty great relationship with BBC Home Video, and occasionally they'd get in touch with me to offer complimentary discs for me to review. Sadly, that's kinda/sorta fallen by the wayside (most outlets are now offering streaming links to review content, and I just don't have time to screen everything that gets offered my way), so I've let it lapse. Still, I saw this title available today via The Digital Bits, and I immediately ordered me a copy from Amazon.com. I generally love these Doctor Who 'theme collections' because they'll throw in classic episodes alongside the newer ones for fans of all Who. No idea yet as to what's on here specifically (Amazon.com's citation is curiously empty of details), but I'll update once I receive my copy in the mail.
Here's the link to Amazon.com in case you're interested.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
- Published on
Having had a bit of spare “me time” recently, I had a chance to watch some “classic” science fiction B movies on the internet; and a thing I did notice was that they were not all that classic. Another thing I noticed was that one of the most commonly used phrases was “Turn on the artificial gravity,” thus saving an absolute fortune in special effects.
However, I have to say some of them have been thoroughly entertaining. The acting may not be Oscar-winning material and the special effects were somewhat less than special, but the enthusiasm of the predominately US-centric “star voyagers” for the tales being told is overwhelming.
If you are after some good old-fashioned square-jawed heroic space-faring, I recommend the following:
Running to about 90 minutes, The Phantom Planet is set in the far distant future of 1980(!). (Yeah, well, this was made in 1961 when it was hoped that space exploration would be common place by then.)
The United States Air Force's Space Exploration Wing has a base on the moon and is ready to send a mission to the mysterious red planet, Mars. They have a mishap and lose another of their Pegasus spacecraft with two more crew members disappearing, leading to rumours of "space monsters" and "phantom planets", as people did back then (mostly whitecoat-wearing scientists and hard-nosed military types with grey flecking in their hair).
A decision is made to send mission pilot Captain Frank Chapman and his navigator Lt. Ray Makonnen, both of whom are slated for the Mars mission to investigate in their own Pegasus craft. To be honest, you would think that the U.S. Air Force's Space Exploration Wing might find less important and highly-trained people to carry out a mission as dangerous as this. And if I were them I would certainly use another type of spacecraft; after all, this make and model does seem to have a bit of a dodgy track record.
Anyway, as they carry out the search their ship receives minor damage (see, these Pegasus ships are jinxed!) from a meteor shower, and both men go outside to carry out repairs. Unfortunately for Chapman his spacesuit is pierced, and he is sent into unconsciousness. Makonnen is able to repair Chapman's suit but as he opens the door to push Chapman inside he himself is fatally struck by a similar particle ... but before he is propelled into deep space, he closes the door with Chapman safely inside the ship.
Chapman awakes much later to find his crew mate gone. He also finds he cannot communicate with the moon base, so he creates a log of the events stating that he's going to land on an asteroid that is somehow pulling his ship towards it...
Want to know what happens next?
Then ... look up the movie on the internet. This blog post is definitetly spoiler-free.
I will me making more entries on other "classics" soon but that will have to do you for now.
So until the next time.... "tttttthat's all folks!"
However, I have to say some of them have been thoroughly entertaining. The acting may not be Oscar-winning material and the special effects were somewhat less than special, but the enthusiasm of the predominately US-centric “star voyagers” for the tales being told is overwhelming.
If you are after some good old-fashioned square-jawed heroic space-faring, I recommend the following:
Running to about 90 minutes, The Phantom Planet is set in the far distant future of 1980(!). (Yeah, well, this was made in 1961 when it was hoped that space exploration would be common place by then.)
The United States Air Force's Space Exploration Wing has a base on the moon and is ready to send a mission to the mysterious red planet, Mars. They have a mishap and lose another of their Pegasus spacecraft with two more crew members disappearing, leading to rumours of "space monsters" and "phantom planets", as people did back then (mostly whitecoat-wearing scientists and hard-nosed military types with grey flecking in their hair).
A decision is made to send mission pilot Captain Frank Chapman and his navigator Lt. Ray Makonnen, both of whom are slated for the Mars mission to investigate in their own Pegasus craft. To be honest, you would think that the U.S. Air Force's Space Exploration Wing might find less important and highly-trained people to carry out a mission as dangerous as this. And if I were them I would certainly use another type of spacecraft; after all, this make and model does seem to have a bit of a dodgy track record.
Anyway, as they carry out the search their ship receives minor damage (see, these Pegasus ships are jinxed!) from a meteor shower, and both men go outside to carry out repairs. Unfortunately for Chapman his spacesuit is pierced, and he is sent into unconsciousness. Makonnen is able to repair Chapman's suit but as he opens the door to push Chapman inside he himself is fatally struck by a similar particle ... but before he is propelled into deep space, he closes the door with Chapman safely inside the ship.
Chapman awakes much later to find his crew mate gone. He also finds he cannot communicate with the moon base, so he creates a log of the events stating that he's going to land on an asteroid that is somehow pulling his ship towards it...
Want to know what happens next?
Then ... look up the movie on the internet. This blog post is definitetly spoiler-free.
I will me making more entries on other "classics" soon but that will have to do you for now.
So until the next time.... "tttttthat's all folks!"
- Published on
I’ve often entered into debates about why Fox TV’s The X-Files was so popular.
During the program’s run, critics often suggested that Chris Carter’s conspiracy yarn simply yet efficiently tapped into the zeitgeist, a collective funk allegedly fueled by an audience’s skepticism over governments and what they tell us about the world. I, however, often attributed X’s fame to the fact that for perhaps the first time in TV history here was a show that painted a human face on things each of us might have fleeting fascinations with. You say you believe in vampires? Well, here’s a story that explores vampires. You say you believe in miracles? Well, miracles exist, and here’s how you spot them. There’s a monster living under your bed? Well, of course there is, and what took you so long to catch on?
At a time when polls suggest that up to seventy-five percent of us believe that we’re not alone in the universe, 20th Century Fox television presented a program willing to put up two well-written characters to weekly debate and sometimes debunk UFOs, aliens, and the necessary government conspiracies while not thumbing its nose at the audience. And always – always – Carter and his willing cast and crew let their audience decide whether “the truth is out there” or not. We never had to believe, but a desire to want to was optional, respected, and encouraged.
Because such subject matter has always interested me, I was thrilled to pick up a copy of Ben Mezrich’s The 37th Parallel. Parallel explores the life and times of Chuck Zukowski, a real-life Fox Mulder (sans the government ID) who has spent over a decade personally investigating UFOs, cattle mutilations, and the like; and – much like The X-Files – Mezrich recounts the adventures of an ordinary man willing to risk life and liberty not only asking extraordinary questions but establishing astounding conclusions, the biggest of which links to the book’s title. (I won’t personally spoil it for you, though a handy bit of web searching will show you that it’s all over the place.)
Like Zukowski, I’m a believer, most decidedly in the fact that UFOs exist. (We may differ on what we believe they are or where they come from, but I digress …)
Under Mezrich’s watchful writing, it’s easy to see how an average guy who seeks to understand things might find himself obsessively compelled to look under rocks for answers to life’s questions, and it’s that compulsion that drives so much of Zukowski’s story. Along the way, you “feel” his desire to keep searching, even if it’s just for one more day. Everything about his journey feels authentic, even when he’s unintentionally putting his family’s welfare at risk; he admits knowing some of his choices are wrong, but it’s so very human to not help one’s self or to not serve one’s best interests when you’re truly committed to the truth. Dare I say, there’s probably a little bit of Chuck Zukowski in each of us? It’s that everyman appeal which gives Parallel its spine.
Along the way, Mezrich also introduces us to some very real supporting players. Outer space entrepreneur Robert Bigelow plays a larger-than-expected role in Zukowski’s story; their trails overlap in ways obvious and sometimes concerning. Chuck’s wife (Tammy) and sister (Debbie) each have their own unique perspective on the investigations; but each is understandable and relatable given the nature of their separate relationships to the central player and the mysteries presented here. Even the Zukowski children pop up when you least expect them (such is the child’s tendency), fleshing out what could in lesser hands seem trivial when – in reality – might be seminal developments in this long and winding road.
Still …
The essential problem I have with Mezrich’s The 37th Parallel is that – despite being an interesting read that puts and maintains that much-needed human face on the narrative – it finishes (kinda/sorta) where it started, never really quite answering any of the questions it raised and with a conclusion that feels “lifted” from Hollywood instead of the ‘slice of life’ attitude which dominates so much of the Zukowski story. Think of it this way: for 247 pages the reader is led to believe it’s a work of bona fide non-fiction … but – on the very last page – you find you’ve been dropped on your butt in a popcorn flick.
To make matters worse, Mezrich implies that both he and Zukowski finally have the answers – answers to perhaps not only a single conspiracy but also perhaps anything that’s tangentially referenced in the greater UFO phenomenon – but they’ve cleverly “redacted” them from the text – complete with black-out boxes – and you’re not worthy of the secrets they’ve uncovered.
So … what’s the purposes of all this fuss?
Oft-times, UFO books are understandably maligned for creating smaller niches within what’s already an existing cottage industry: instead of joining the broader scholarship of what’s come before, authors like to stake out their own territory, to build their own readership and ignore so-and-so’s books because “mine are better” or, at least, that’s what consumers are led to believe. Due entirely to that last page “construction,” Mezrich’s tome “feels” like the worst kind of purchase – crass commercialism meant to cash in on the subject matter while only promising to provide answers to some of humanity’s most perplexing questions, including “are we alone?”
It’s a cheap finish, one that readers didn’t deserve, and one that’ll definitely have me questioning whether or not this was legitimate scholarship or simply a wild goose chase for cash.
During the program’s run, critics often suggested that Chris Carter’s conspiracy yarn simply yet efficiently tapped into the zeitgeist, a collective funk allegedly fueled by an audience’s skepticism over governments and what they tell us about the world. I, however, often attributed X’s fame to the fact that for perhaps the first time in TV history here was a show that painted a human face on things each of us might have fleeting fascinations with. You say you believe in vampires? Well, here’s a story that explores vampires. You say you believe in miracles? Well, miracles exist, and here’s how you spot them. There’s a monster living under your bed? Well, of course there is, and what took you so long to catch on?
At a time when polls suggest that up to seventy-five percent of us believe that we’re not alone in the universe, 20th Century Fox television presented a program willing to put up two well-written characters to weekly debate and sometimes debunk UFOs, aliens, and the necessary government conspiracies while not thumbing its nose at the audience. And always – always – Carter and his willing cast and crew let their audience decide whether “the truth is out there” or not. We never had to believe, but a desire to want to was optional, respected, and encouraged.
Because such subject matter has always interested me, I was thrilled to pick up a copy of Ben Mezrich’s The 37th Parallel. Parallel explores the life and times of Chuck Zukowski, a real-life Fox Mulder (sans the government ID) who has spent over a decade personally investigating UFOs, cattle mutilations, and the like; and – much like The X-Files – Mezrich recounts the adventures of an ordinary man willing to risk life and liberty not only asking extraordinary questions but establishing astounding conclusions, the biggest of which links to the book’s title. (I won’t personally spoil it for you, though a handy bit of web searching will show you that it’s all over the place.)
Like Zukowski, I’m a believer, most decidedly in the fact that UFOs exist. (We may differ on what we believe they are or where they come from, but I digress …)
Under Mezrich’s watchful writing, it’s easy to see how an average guy who seeks to understand things might find himself obsessively compelled to look under rocks for answers to life’s questions, and it’s that compulsion that drives so much of Zukowski’s story. Along the way, you “feel” his desire to keep searching, even if it’s just for one more day. Everything about his journey feels authentic, even when he’s unintentionally putting his family’s welfare at risk; he admits knowing some of his choices are wrong, but it’s so very human to not help one’s self or to not serve one’s best interests when you’re truly committed to the truth. Dare I say, there’s probably a little bit of Chuck Zukowski in each of us? It’s that everyman appeal which gives Parallel its spine.
Along the way, Mezrich also introduces us to some very real supporting players. Outer space entrepreneur Robert Bigelow plays a larger-than-expected role in Zukowski’s story; their trails overlap in ways obvious and sometimes concerning. Chuck’s wife (Tammy) and sister (Debbie) each have their own unique perspective on the investigations; but each is understandable and relatable given the nature of their separate relationships to the central player and the mysteries presented here. Even the Zukowski children pop up when you least expect them (such is the child’s tendency), fleshing out what could in lesser hands seem trivial when – in reality – might be seminal developments in this long and winding road.
Still …
The essential problem I have with Mezrich’s The 37th Parallel is that – despite being an interesting read that puts and maintains that much-needed human face on the narrative – it finishes (kinda/sorta) where it started, never really quite answering any of the questions it raised and with a conclusion that feels “lifted” from Hollywood instead of the ‘slice of life’ attitude which dominates so much of the Zukowski story. Think of it this way: for 247 pages the reader is led to believe it’s a work of bona fide non-fiction … but – on the very last page – you find you’ve been dropped on your butt in a popcorn flick.
To make matters worse, Mezrich implies that both he and Zukowski finally have the answers – answers to perhaps not only a single conspiracy but also perhaps anything that’s tangentially referenced in the greater UFO phenomenon – but they’ve cleverly “redacted” them from the text – complete with black-out boxes – and you’re not worthy of the secrets they’ve uncovered.
So … what’s the purposes of all this fuss?
Oft-times, UFO books are understandably maligned for creating smaller niches within what’s already an existing cottage industry: instead of joining the broader scholarship of what’s come before, authors like to stake out their own territory, to build their own readership and ignore so-and-so’s books because “mine are better” or, at least, that’s what consumers are led to believe. Due entirely to that last page “construction,” Mezrich’s tome “feels” like the worst kind of purchase – crass commercialism meant to cash in on the subject matter while only promising to provide answers to some of humanity’s most perplexing questions, including “are we alone?”
It’s a cheap finish, one that readers didn’t deserve, and one that’ll definitely have me questioning whether or not this was legitimate scholarship or simply a wild goose chase for cash.
- Published on
SciFiHistory.Net has received word that Victor Acquista's Sentient is now available for purchase via Amazon.com in either digital or softcover paperback. According to the publicity information up at the website, here's the book's premise:
"The Mind Warriors of T'rox, intent on being the supreme sentient race in the galaxy, annihilated the home world of Adden, a place where the people had lived telepathically connected in peace and harmony. Their species slim chance to survive rests in a distant colony, genetically altered to block telepathy and evade detection by T'rox.
"Anyeuros escaped the destruction of Adden, traveling disembodied for 168,000 years before arriving on New Adden, only to learn of the disastrous consequences of the genetic manipulation--violence, poverty, abuse, prejudice.
"T'rox is on the verge of collapse, a result of social stagnation and infighting among the clans. Discovery of New Adden, the lost colony, provides a chance to reinvigorate their race with a fresh conquest.
"However,discovering their past mission was incomplete, a resulting conflict ensues, but a troubled physicist, his young neighbor, and an artificial intelligence may be the key to defeating them. Heroic misfits and outcasts are woven into three intersecting story lines and will determine humanity's fate."
Disclaimer: book announcements are not to be considered endorsements. Think of this as our website's way to serve the broader SciFi Community with public service announcements. Otherwise, book reviews conducted by SciFiHistory.Net are always marked as such.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
"The Mind Warriors of T'rox, intent on being the supreme sentient race in the galaxy, annihilated the home world of Adden, a place where the people had lived telepathically connected in peace and harmony. Their species slim chance to survive rests in a distant colony, genetically altered to block telepathy and evade detection by T'rox.
"Anyeuros escaped the destruction of Adden, traveling disembodied for 168,000 years before arriving on New Adden, only to learn of the disastrous consequences of the genetic manipulation--violence, poverty, abuse, prejudice.
"T'rox is on the verge of collapse, a result of social stagnation and infighting among the clans. Discovery of New Adden, the lost colony, provides a chance to reinvigorate their race with a fresh conquest.
"However,discovering their past mission was incomplete, a resulting conflict ensues, but a troubled physicist, his young neighbor, and an artificial intelligence may be the key to defeating them. Heroic misfits and outcasts are woven into three intersecting story lines and will determine humanity's fate."
Disclaimer: book announcements are not to be considered endorsements. Think of this as our website's way to serve the broader SciFi Community with public service announcements. Otherwise, book reviews conducted by SciFiHistory.Net are always marked as such.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
- Published on
Despite what one might think, the era of the Original Star Wars Trilogy retains the tapestry richest to tell interesting and compelling stories within George Lucas' former property. Why? Well, it all boils down to one trait: conflict. Nothing new need be created except fascinating characters -- itself a challenge all of its own -- but the overwhelming 'Good Vs Evil' backdrop is already established.
Thankfully, someone at Disney listens, and Star Wars: Rogue One - A Star Wars Story continues to look like the film to beat so far as this longtime fan is concerned. Another trailer dropped today, and I wanted to share it for those who're faithfully following.
Thankfully, someone at Disney listens, and Star Wars: Rogue One - A Star Wars Story continues to look like the film to beat so far as this longtime fan is concerned. Another trailer dropped today, and I wanted to share it for those who're faithfully following.
This one can't come soon enough! I've been thrilled by its premise since its announcement, and now it's right around the corner for the holidays. Let's hope it delivers.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!