Posted by admin on 18 Jun 2010 under books, movies, television
Tracy Falbe
I read many types of books, both fiction and nonfiction, but the fantasy genre always stays at the top of my reading pile. Many of the elements of fantasy that perpetually attract me are:
1. Sword fights
Some critics might label them juvenile, but the thought of defending myself from death and dismemberment is undeniably exciting. Swinging the blade along with a hero or heroine sweetly satisfies because it lets the civilized mind explore the properly forbidden realm of violence. As a reader, I am also attracted to the power represented by the sword. This ancient weapon meant for war and not hunting is a potent symbol, forged from the ores of the Earth and given deadly force by the strength of flesh. These ancient truths resonate with me.
2. Magical Races
Magic is an essential element for fantasy literature. It can come in many forms, but I prefer the magic to be exclusive to a special race. I enjoy thinking about a race apart from humanity that has an expanded command of the forces of the universe.
3. Pre-industrial societies
Most, but not all, fantasy novels are set in a world that is pre-industrial. It usually has technology similar to that of the ancient world or Medieval times. I think this setting is attractive to me because there are no cars. I’ll admit it. I like horses. Better yet, how about riding a dragon?
4. High stakes
By this I mean that the plot is usually driven by the need to save the world, save the kingdom, save the princess, etc. It is something very important that matters to humanity, or elves, or fairies, or whoever. General fiction stories set in my real world simply don’t captivate me nearly as often. I want to think big and get away from my little life.
5. Political intrigue
Many fantasy books include characters who are among the elite of society. Kings, priests, scholars, generals, warriors. Such characters are usually trying to maintain their political power and are under attack from scheming rivals. It is fun to read about people facing such problems in which failure can mean assassination, execution, or exile. I guess I enjoy fantasizing about being in charge.
6. Social commentary
Although fantasy tends to focus on hereditary aristocratic elites, the storylines often include other segments of society. Slavery, racial prejudice, gender oppression, religious fanaticism, and child labor frequently are examined within the fictional contexts of fantasy literature. I like fiction that tackles weighty themes that trouble our real world, and fantasy books can sometimes critically illuminate social ills.
7. Mythic scope
The events and characters in fantasy often operate on the level of legends and the shaping of worlds. This is very appealing because it adds to the impact of the story. The story is about something that mattered to the world, to its history and maybe even its creation.
8. Heroes
This is the genre that delivers good old fashioned sword-swinging heroes who will take on the bad guys. Such raw elemental displays of bravery make good reading.
9. Quests
The characters usually have to endure long dangerous journeys. They have to go here and get this magic amulet. They have to go there and build an alliance and gain an army. Quests are a very effective plot device, and I like the straightforwardness of it.
10. Taverns
Quests inevitably involve stopping somewhere for the night, getting a drink and dinner, and probably hiring a mercenary. Anyone who has been on a road trip can appreciate that feeling of wary excitement when entering a strange watering hole. Tavern scenes serve as a great way to bind the mythic and heroic characters to the readers by putting them in such an intimate and familiar situation.
11. Monsters
All manner of vicious beasts, undead, dragons, and tentacle-waving horrors assault the adventurers, and it often makes for thrilling action. I like these metaphorical battles that represent my fears of the overwhelming force of Nature, and, beyond that, the supernatural. Fighting monsters resonates with something deep in humanity that once struggled through a truly threatening and primeval world.
This rich and varied genre lets me enjoy my imagination and draw upon the deep experiences of humanity through the ages. I invite readers to discover my four-part fantasy series The Rys Chronicles by downloading Union of Renegades at http://www.braveluck.com
Article Source: 11 Things I Love About the Fantasy Genre
Posted by admin on 02 Jun 2010 under movies, reviews
Paul Gallen
1. Blade Runner
Blade Runner follows policeman Rick Deckard, and the pursuit of four illegally cloned humans in a dystopian, futuristic Los Angeles. So many things make this movie the best: a brooding score, the “I’ve seen things…” polemic, and the iconic future LA cityscape all work to tell a gripping story.
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey
It achieved world-wide praise for its revolutionary special effects.
It had many brilliant moments: accurate simulations of space that are still unparalleled even with today’s CGI, the characterization of Hal, the malevolent super-computer, and using classical music in the opening scene.
3. Star Wars
The film weaved themes of good warring with evil in a space opera setting. It used an all-encompassing “force” wielded for good or evil, adding a touch of mysticism not usually seen in sci-fi films. It was the first blockbuster, influencing sci-fi sagas for decades thereafter.
4. Alien
It was lauded for Gothic set design, terrifying Aliens, and heroic Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver. Alien also addresses themes of motherhood, and shows effective tension by showing long stretches of quiet followed by scenes of sheer terror.
5. Solaris
A compelling, tragic drama of a psychologist travelling to another planet to replace a scientist. Once he arrives, he meets secretive survivors… and his dead wife. Reality is replaced with the dreams of the planet’s alien intelligence.
6. Terminator
Robots from the future send a cyborg back in time to assassinate a future human rebel’s mother. It’s a perfect piece of film-making in its genre, blending gripping action with intelligent time travel mechanics.
7. The Day the Earth Stood Still
In postwar America at the height of the Red Scare, an alien named Klaatu tries to convince the world’s leaders to stop the rush towards nuclear destruction. It has excellent dramatic tension and a message of peace that was far ahead of its time.
8. War of the Worlds
HG Wells’ tale of invaders from Mars of Earth was adapted into another cold war era movie. The idea that there could be life developed on different worlds which one would never recognise was a compelling idea for its time. The spare special effects only heightened the contrast between humans and the unknowable invaders.
9. The Matrix
Stylish clothes, martial arts action, and ground-breaking special effects combined to make a fresh spin on artificial intelligence enslaving humans. It also pioneered the use of “bullet time” sequences used worldwide today.
10. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
A tale of Richard Dreyfus’ growing obsession with aliens against a backdrop of a mysterious governmental agency has given the core of sci-fi film lore ever since.
Paul Gallen writes guides on gadgets, gaming and electronics and is the encyclopaedia of LCD TV. He can tell you all about the best deals on cheap LCD TVs, including a LCD LG TV or a plasma Panasonic TV.
Article Source: Top 10 Sci Fi Films
Posted by admin on 24 May 2010 under movies, reviews
Adam Krause
When I found out a few weeks ago that I was being sent a copy of the upcoming DVD release of Surrogates to review, I was neither excited nor disappointed. Mainly because when the film was released in theaters this past September, it was one of those movies that I gave an “Eh, I’ll rent it” response to when asked what I thought of it. And even though I was familiar with the highly popular graphic novel in which the movie was based on, I just wasn’t impressed enough by the film’s trailer to run out to my local marquee and see it upon its theatrical release.
Turns out I was correct in my decision to hold off on seeing Surrogates until it came out on DVD, as the film was surprisingly entertaining; a fun science fiction tale to get lost in but with a few minor glitches that might have provided more disappointment if I had purchased a $12 movie ticket to view it. But seeing it as a rental was an enjoyable experience, leaving me with a much more positive impression when the end credits began to roll.
Surrogates starts off with an opening credits montage that brings the viewers up to date with the film’s alternate reality where a brilliant doctor has invented a technology that allows human beings to operate remote controlled robotic versions of themselves with nothing but their minds, feeling and experiencing everything the machine experiences. Originally created for humans suffering from disabilities like paralysis, like the doctor himself, the technology soon becomes so advanced that anyone is able to purchase a “surrogate” for themselves, allowing them to live a flawless, carefree life vicariously through their mechanical versions.
With the vast majority of the world’s population becoming hermits while using their surrogates for all of their daily activities, life has become all but perfect on planet earth. That is, until the son of the doctor who invented the technology is mysteriously murdered while attached to a surrogate, marking the first homicide in 14 years. FBI Agent Tom Greer, played by Bruce Willis, heads the investigation that takes many twists and turns, leading Greer to abandon his surrogate as he starts questioning their extensive use in a society that is now essentially run by machines.
As I said earlier, the film is based on the highly popular 5-issue comic book series that was drawn by Brett Weldele and written by Robert Venditti, who was obviously influenced by classic sci-fi tales like Terminator and Blade Runner as he explores many of the same concepts. The film version of Surrogates was directed by Jonathan Mostow, the man who previously gave us such titles as Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and the submarine drama U-571.
With Surrogates, Mostow envisioned the story and characters in a much more polished, saturated look then the dark, gritty source material it was based on, a move that turned a lot of die-hard fans of the comic book off. I, on the other hand, feel the film’s clean-cut look added to this notion of a faux world of perfection due to surrogacy. A world where all the men desire to look like mannequins from the Gap and the women look like the fembots from Austin Powers.
Surprisingly, Surrogates is actually one of those rare movies that’s based on a comic book that would have actually benefited with a longer running time. With the film’s duration clocking in at just under the 90-minute norm, the film’s entire third act seemed incredibly rushed just as the story’s progression started picking up steam. And the character development of Tom Greer (Bruce Willis) seemed a little short-changed and needed more screen context to justify the earth-shattering decision he makes at the end of the film (no spoilers here).
Now as far as the actual DVD goes, unfortunately if it’s special features that you’re after, you are better of opting for the Blu-ray release of the film instead. The DVD only offers a rather stale commentary track by Mostow and a Breaking Benjamin music video of a song that never even appeared in the film. Nonetheless, Surrogates is definitely worth a viewing as the film’s intriguing premise and entertaining action might surprise you, especially if you’re a fan of the comic books. So if you were like me and shrugged it off back when it was in the theaters, you’ll get another shot at it; Surrogates is available on DVD and Blu-ray now.
Adam Krause is a huge film buff. If he is not watching a movie, he is most likely writing one or about them. To read film reviews, blog posts and more articles like this one, please visit adamkrause.webs.com. Or visit http://www.staticmultimedia.com, a website that Adam writes for that thoroughly covers film, television, video games and music for all of your entertainment needs.
Article Source: Surrogates – A DVD Review of the Sci-Fi Film Starring Bruce Willis
Posted by admin on 17 Feb 2010 under movies
Matt Hayden
Like many cinematic genres science fiction has benefited greatly from the amazing advances in CGI that have occurred over recent years. The technology has enabled sci-fi directors to realize their visions much more thoroughly, and it has been a crucial factor in the creation of some truly stunning films.
However, I don’t feel that these advances always bring something positive to the process. In a paradoxical way, they often seem to detract from the genre. Now that directors can put pretty much anything they can imagine onto the screen using CGI, making it look very close to real, they seem to consistently go overboard.
An example is the movie Alien Versus Predator. While it’s not absolutely jam packed with CGI, there’s quite a bit in there.
The director doesn’t hold back, and goes all out to realize his vision. All the events occur in rapid succession. The editing is frenetic and the action comes very think and fast. However, the characters have very little depth, and their relationships are not interesting or well developed. The film is certainly stylish, and has a lot of energy. But ultimately it’s pretty forgettable.
The original movie, Alien, is very different in almost every regard. Being made in the late seventies, there’s no use of CGI. The editing is not particularly slow, but there are a lot of long shots and set pieces that play out gradually, increasing the tension. The story seems to unfold in real time. The cinematography is just brilliant – crisp and clear and atmospheric. The characters are all deep and complex, as are the relationships between them.
All these factors combine to create an amazingly suspenseful movie that you can watch over and over again without getting bored. And the film contains scenes and images that people will never forget. (You’ll no doubt remember the famous chest bursting scene. That was done with puppets and exploding sachets of fake blood!)
It’s as if the limitations that the film-makers had to work within back in those days actually made them more creative, and they came up with a more memorable, brooding, and original sci-fi movie as a result. Matt Hayden is a writer in Sydney Australia. He has an often humorous blog about politics, news and popular culture.
Article Source: CGI is a Blessing and a Curse For the Science Fiction Film Genre
Posted by admin on 25 Jan 2010 under movies
Al Case
Many of the martial arts, like karate are fiction. Slam somebody on the nose with a palm and bone shards will spear into his brain and kill him, except there isn’t any bone in the nose, its all cartilage. And all those old legends, a lot of them are good for washing the hog, if you have a willing hog.
But, there is a certain science that has proven true in the martial arts. This is the science of how to use geometrical energy potentials. I discovered this field while reading a series of books called the Lensmen Series.
I suppose the first time it hit me was when E. E. Smith, the author, described spacemen fighting on the hull of a space ship. They were hooking their feet under hand grips so they would not fly into space when they hit somebody. They were anchoring themselves so they could apply force, and not have the force dislodge them.
Soon I was swallowed by a universe where weapons created incredible geometries of force. A death ray was a beam, and it could be deflected by a well built shield. And if a shield could deflect, then a shield thrust sideways could slice the first shield apart.
Soon I was enraptured by images of fleets of space ships creating their own particular brand of strategy. Fleets of space ships would form globes around other fleets, and cones of spaceships would swallow globes of fleets. Each time a geometry was described, my mind struggled to keep up with the wash of new concepts.
Then, shock of shocks, fleets of spaceships gave way to mental powers. Those same rods and globes and cones and shields, made real in the extreme of space combat, became the stuff of mind to mind encounters. How do you slide your awareness through the grid of another but alien mentality?
And, ultimately, done with the books, I began extending these outer space alien mind combat strategies to the martial arts. I sank my weight and planted my stance so I would not fly back from my own force. I described cones with my arms, and engulfed globular fists as they flew out of space at me.
When I tell people about this they generally think I am a bit crazy, or they know me a genius. Reading sci fi for inspiration, who would have thought. Yet, isn’t the martial arts an art, and shouldn’t it be filled with creativity and expression and beams of force and mind to mind conflicts?
Al Case has researched martial arts for 40 years. A writer for the magazines, he is the originator of Matrixing Technology. You can find out about Matrixing by getting his free ebook at Monster Martial Arts.
Article Source: The Effect of Spectacular Science Fiction on Martial Arts