Good morning, gentle readers, and welcome to February 13th, 2024!
How's the week shaping up for you?
Mine is going swimmingly, folks, just swimmingly. I do have a doctor's appointment later in the week that'll pull me away from the blog -- nothing to worry about, so far as I know -- and a few other items that require a bit of personal time; and yet all-in-all things are looking up. Thank God we left 2023 behind us as that year I'd had more than enough of. Am I right?
Well, well, well ... what can I tell you about today?
I finished up an old Film Noir film yesterday afternoon that I'll be reviewing this week (most likely), and then I even managed to squeeze in a mid-1970's fright that came in the mail just a few days back. I won't divulge it yet -- I'm doing a bit of reading into its background, preparing for my review -- but I will say it's a bit of a confusing flick. It's one of those that may or may not have started out as a novel -- the research is a bit unclear at this point -- and I can't help but wonder if some of the effect has been lost in translation, as they say. Interesting performances and a few good scenes; and yet it's still a picture that's hard to give an enthusiastic thumbs up to. You'll know more in a few days, so don't fret.
Otherwise, that's all I have for now on the personal/casual front. Let's get down to the nitty gritty, and I'll tell you what I find worth celebrating On This Day In Science Fiction History ... if you will.
How's the week shaping up for you?
Mine is going swimmingly, folks, just swimmingly. I do have a doctor's appointment later in the week that'll pull me away from the blog -- nothing to worry about, so far as I know -- and a few other items that require a bit of personal time; and yet all-in-all things are looking up. Thank God we left 2023 behind us as that year I'd had more than enough of. Am I right?
Well, well, well ... what can I tell you about today?
I finished up an old Film Noir film yesterday afternoon that I'll be reviewing this week (most likely), and then I even managed to squeeze in a mid-1970's fright that came in the mail just a few days back. I won't divulge it yet -- I'm doing a bit of reading into its background, preparing for my review -- but I will say it's a bit of a confusing flick. It's one of those that may or may not have started out as a novel -- the research is a bit unclear at this point -- and I can't help but wonder if some of the effect has been lost in translation, as they say. Interesting performances and a few good scenes; and yet it's still a picture that's hard to give an enthusiastic thumbs up to. You'll know more in a few days, so don't fret.
Otherwise, that's all I have for now on the personal/casual front. Let's get down to the nitty gritty, and I'll tell you what I find worth celebrating On This Day In Science Fiction History ... if you will.
Because I do like to give some complimentary shout-outs to some of the best hours of televised Science Fiction and Fantasy, I'd be remiss if I failed to mention that it was on this day all the way back in 1993 (in TV syndication, mind you) that Star Trek: The Next Generation saw its beloved Captain Jean-Luc Picard die in the heat of the moment and find himself in a curious afterlife, indeed ... one apparently 'lorded' over by none other than Q himself.
"Tapestry" is one of those rare convergences of great ideas, solid writing, and winning performances. It's easy to see why it's often voted as one of the fan-favorite installments in all of TNG's run -- if not even one of Trek all-time best hours -- because it's a relatable story, am I right? Who among us wouldn't like to get a do-over, perhaps setting ourselves and our lives on a vastly different trajectory? Yes, it's the kind of the thing that's been done here and there and everywhere else, but rarely has it been done so wonderfully in Trekdom ... and that's saying something.
So ... if time permits ... find a means to watch it today, whether that be via a streaming platform or through your old physical media purchases. It'll definitely be time well spent, and it might even cleanse that palate from that -- cough cough -- less meaningful Paramount+ journey that was all three seasons of Star Trek: Picard. I know, I know, I know ... "but Picard Season 3 was good!" No, I disagree. It had good moments, but it wasn't much better than what had come before. (Yes, that's my estimation, and that's what I do on my website, peeps.) I understand you're easy to forgive such jackassery, but I'm an old dog ... and get off my lawn!
"Tapestry" is one of those rare convergences of great ideas, solid writing, and winning performances. It's easy to see why it's often voted as one of the fan-favorite installments in all of TNG's run -- if not even one of Trek all-time best hours -- because it's a relatable story, am I right? Who among us wouldn't like to get a do-over, perhaps setting ourselves and our lives on a vastly different trajectory? Yes, it's the kind of the thing that's been done here and there and everywhere else, but rarely has it been done so wonderfully in Trekdom ... and that's saying something.
So ... if time permits ... find a means to watch it today, whether that be via a streaming platform or through your old physical media purchases. It'll definitely be time well spent, and it might even cleanse that palate from that -- cough cough -- less meaningful Paramount+ journey that was all three seasons of Star Trek: Picard. I know, I know, I know ... "but Picard Season 3 was good!" No, I disagree. It had good moments, but it wasn't much better than what had come before. (Yes, that's my estimation, and that's what I do on my website, peeps.) I understand you're easy to forgive such jackassery, but I'm an old dog ... and get off my lawn!
It isn't always easy to talk in any regard about the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy.
Now, buckle up, haters, because I'm not among you. I didn't think that George Lucas raped your childhood or any such thing when he decided to go back and tell the story he wanted to tell. Of course, nothing could ever live up to the greatness of the Original Trilogy -- that should go without saying -- and shame on all of you who seriously thought it could. Lucas is even on record as saying that the initial reason why he decided to start with the Original Trilogy was because "that's where the fun stuff was." So there. That alone tells me that he understood how things like galactic governance, trade federations, and the like were probably always going to get in the way of the merriment, but -- at this point -- it is what it is.
Plus, I conceded long ago that The Phantom Menace is a heavily, heavily flawed film. In doing so, I'd even stated that I had -- like many -- an idea for how it could've been crafted as better film, but that's easy because it's Monday Morning quarterbacking. Besides, it's ultimately George's story, and I'm fine with leaving it in his capable hands.
Still, Episode I had a few things I liked, one of which was the performance of today's 'Birthday Gal' Pernilla August. In Episode I and Episode II, she played Shmi Skywalker, the genetic sponsor of young Anakin Skywalker ... the little boy who'd grow up to both decimate and renew the universe. Think what you will, August did a solid job with the material she was given, proving that The Force can be strong with those whose Midichlorian count might not be all that high.
Happy Birthday, milady, and here's to many more!
Now, buckle up, haters, because I'm not among you. I didn't think that George Lucas raped your childhood or any such thing when he decided to go back and tell the story he wanted to tell. Of course, nothing could ever live up to the greatness of the Original Trilogy -- that should go without saying -- and shame on all of you who seriously thought it could. Lucas is even on record as saying that the initial reason why he decided to start with the Original Trilogy was because "that's where the fun stuff was." So there. That alone tells me that he understood how things like galactic governance, trade federations, and the like were probably always going to get in the way of the merriment, but -- at this point -- it is what it is.
Plus, I conceded long ago that The Phantom Menace is a heavily, heavily flawed film. In doing so, I'd even stated that I had -- like many -- an idea for how it could've been crafted as better film, but that's easy because it's Monday Morning quarterbacking. Besides, it's ultimately George's story, and I'm fine with leaving it in his capable hands.
Still, Episode I had a few things I liked, one of which was the performance of today's 'Birthday Gal' Pernilla August. In Episode I and Episode II, she played Shmi Skywalker, the genetic sponsor of young Anakin Skywalker ... the little boy who'd grow up to both decimate and renew the universe. Think what you will, August did a solid job with the material she was given, proving that The Force can be strong with those whose Midichlorian count might not be all that high.
Happy Birthday, milady, and here's to many more!
By golly and by gosh, there's more ... and with a mind-blowing 86 different genre trivia citations you can rest assured that there's a great deal more goodness awaiting your discovery. Where can you find all of it? Why, I'm glad you asked ...
As always, thanks for reading ... thanks for sharing ... thanks for being a fan ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
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