Good morning, gentle readers ... and welcome to March!
Really? Already?
I know, I know, I know. You're very aware -- as am I -- of what they say: "Time flies ..." And, of course, that's never been truer than when you're having fun. I realize each and every one of you stop by SciFiHistory.Net each more for a daily dose of fun-filled trivia, so it should go without saying that, yes, you and I are jointly experiencing that phenomenon of 'time flying' with each and every stop. Don't fret: this is what life is. I just hope that we manage to pack it in with as many great memories as we can on this voyage. That's truly the best we can hope for.
Thankfully, Friday is a bit of a day-off for me here at SciFiHistory.Net, so far as my volunteer extras are worth. As I've mentioned consistently, this has been a super-busy week for me, and now I have a morning wherein I can kick back just a bit to allow things to occur far more organically. Though I'll be back at the grind tomorrow, today is a welcome slow spot, giving me the chance to refresh. I slept in -- needed it, as I had a bit of insomnia overnight -- but here I am, ready and willing to give you my customary quick glance at what I find particularly important from the anals of genre history.
So ... if you're paying attention ... let's get into it.
Really? Already?
I know, I know, I know. You're very aware -- as am I -- of what they say: "Time flies ..." And, of course, that's never been truer than when you're having fun. I realize each and every one of you stop by SciFiHistory.Net each more for a daily dose of fun-filled trivia, so it should go without saying that, yes, you and I are jointly experiencing that phenomenon of 'time flying' with each and every stop. Don't fret: this is what life is. I just hope that we manage to pack it in with as many great memories as we can on this voyage. That's truly the best we can hope for.
Thankfully, Friday is a bit of a day-off for me here at SciFiHistory.Net, so far as my volunteer extras are worth. As I've mentioned consistently, this has been a super-busy week for me, and now I have a morning wherein I can kick back just a bit to allow things to occur far more organically. Though I'll be back at the grind tomorrow, today is a welcome slow spot, giving me the chance to refresh. I slept in -- needed it, as I had a bit of insomnia overnight -- but here I am, ready and willing to give you my customary quick glance at what I find particularly important from the anals of genre history.
So ... if you're paying attention ... let's get into it.
I can hear the complainers already: "But, but, but ... the remade Battlestar Galactica was more socially relevant for our times!"
Look, kids, that well may be the truth, but for those of us who really show up to star sagas more for the heroism, few things even got close to the original Galactica. Yes, I say that fully well knowing that the show truly suffered under the weight of being a weekly TV serial -- which to a degree shows that you can't quite deliver the Star Wars style formula successfully with each episodic installment -- but that doesn't change the fact that Glen Larson and company really gave it an admirable go ... so buckle up for me saying that I preferred the original 'Starbuck' over your socially relevant nonsense.
Hey: diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks. That's all this is.
Dirk Benedict was a space explorin' pioneer. He wasn't Captain Kirk. He didn't have a crew. At best, he had a few friends. But what he had was that irreplaceable swagger needed to be one of those grand cowboys in space. He gave the character the necessary edges to show that he wasn't as crisp and clean as his contemporaries but could still be counted on to come blazing to the rescue in the midst of any firefight. He and Apollo were a great team, and the show benefitted greatly from their shared macho charm.
Happy birthday, Mr. Benedict. And thank you for making that trip to the stars so very much worth it.
Look, kids, that well may be the truth, but for those of us who really show up to star sagas more for the heroism, few things even got close to the original Galactica. Yes, I say that fully well knowing that the show truly suffered under the weight of being a weekly TV serial -- which to a degree shows that you can't quite deliver the Star Wars style formula successfully with each episodic installment -- but that doesn't change the fact that Glen Larson and company really gave it an admirable go ... so buckle up for me saying that I preferred the original 'Starbuck' over your socially relevant nonsense.
Hey: diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks. That's all this is.
Dirk Benedict was a space explorin' pioneer. He wasn't Captain Kirk. He didn't have a crew. At best, he had a few friends. But what he had was that irreplaceable swagger needed to be one of those grand cowboys in space. He gave the character the necessary edges to show that he wasn't as crisp and clean as his contemporaries but could still be counted on to come blazing to the rescue in the midst of any firefight. He and Apollo were a great team, and the show benefitted greatly from their shared macho charm.
Happy birthday, Mr. Benedict. And thank you for making that trip to the stars so very much worth it.
Zack Snyder.
His name provokes probably as much love and respect as it does hate and loathing ... and, frankly, I've never quite understood why.
Without going into that whole pool of murk, I'll still willing to admit that I'm a fan of his particular theatrical finesse. Yes, yes, and yes: there may be sequences here and there that feel derivative -- sometimes even of his own work -- but no one ever said that all of Hollywood is original. In fact, it should go without saying that a great deal of what makes it to screens big and small is functionally derivative of some of what came before. Still, I'll always argue that Snyder has delivered some of the best visuals in the field of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror whenever he's been tasked with doing so.
And ... for the record? Zack Snyder's Justice League remains one of the single greatest SUPERHERO films in all of filmdom.
Yes. I said it.
Feel free to disagree. That's what life is.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Snyder. You've got a fan in me ... maybe 70-80% of the time.
His name provokes probably as much love and respect as it does hate and loathing ... and, frankly, I've never quite understood why.
Without going into that whole pool of murk, I'll still willing to admit that I'm a fan of his particular theatrical finesse. Yes, yes, and yes: there may be sequences here and there that feel derivative -- sometimes even of his own work -- but no one ever said that all of Hollywood is original. In fact, it should go without saying that a great deal of what makes it to screens big and small is functionally derivative of some of what came before. Still, I'll always argue that Snyder has delivered some of the best visuals in the field of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror whenever he's been tasked with doing so.
And ... for the record? Zack Snyder's Justice League remains one of the single greatest SUPERHERO films in all of filmdom.
Yes. I said it.
Feel free to disagree. That's what life is.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Snyder. You've got a fan in me ... maybe 70-80% of the time.
For folks who may've missed this ... no. I'm not a huge Supernatural fan. I didn't catch the show during its original run on television. In fact, I recall watching the first few episodes and then tuning out because I just didn't feel it was for me. (I won't belabor you with my ongoing issues with TV-grade Horror.) But ... maybe halfway through the show's run ... the wifey discovered it, and so we picked up the few first seasons budget-priced on DVD, slowly making our way through it mostly for casual viewing.
While I think she liked it far more than I did, I still found a great deal of entertainment from the show. It was exceedingly well-made and well-performed, even when some of the Fantasy elements were a bit campy. What truly elevated the show to the mythological heights -- in my humble opinion -- was the relationship of the Winchester brothers, one of which who was played by Jensen Ackles who turns one year older and one year wiser today.
Because we loved the work of the leads, we did hang with it all the way til its bittersweet ending. And like so many I think we were torn with the finale. Sure, it was well-written, and I think it had its good and bad points. Still, I would have rather seen both brothers S-U-R-V-I-V-E as I think the studio truly missed what could've been a greater opportunity to do like shows of Star Trek did before, that be in taking a brief respite and then launch a film franchise. The economics of Horror flicks being what they are, it could've produced a very affordable and yet highly profitable adventure, allowing fans to continue coming to the intellectual property for decades ahead. But ... as it stands?
Well ... it's over. And, yes, that's sad.
Still ... the warmest birthday wishes possible are extended to Mr. Ackles. He's a great talent, and we certainly wish him all the best.
While I think she liked it far more than I did, I still found a great deal of entertainment from the show. It was exceedingly well-made and well-performed, even when some of the Fantasy elements were a bit campy. What truly elevated the show to the mythological heights -- in my humble opinion -- was the relationship of the Winchester brothers, one of which who was played by Jensen Ackles who turns one year older and one year wiser today.
Because we loved the work of the leads, we did hang with it all the way til its bittersweet ending. And like so many I think we were torn with the finale. Sure, it was well-written, and I think it had its good and bad points. Still, I would have rather seen both brothers S-U-R-V-I-V-E as I think the studio truly missed what could've been a greater opportunity to do like shows of Star Trek did before, that be in taking a brief respite and then launch a film franchise. The economics of Horror flicks being what they are, it could've produced a very affordable and yet highly profitable adventure, allowing fans to continue coming to the intellectual property for decades ahead. But ... as it stands?
Well ... it's over. And, yes, that's sad.
Still ... the warmest birthday wishes possible are extended to Mr. Ackles. He's a great talent, and we certainly wish him all the best.
Just like ever, we've reached the end of this shared journey, peeps, and this is the time wherein I remind you that it doesn't really have to end here. There's more -- at 72 trivia topics, that's a great haul -- and you're all encouraged to head on over to the Daily Citation Page for March 1st, 2024 to continue your deep dive. You know what I mean? Continue this 'Make Your Own Adventure' journey and check all of it out. It's what you really want to do.
As always, thank you for reading ... thank you (even more) for sharing ... thank you (even even more) for being a fan ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
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