Posts
Decided to reconfigure things here a bit (hopefully to make things a bit clearer.)
I've created an entirely new blog I'm calling my "Comics Index Blog". It is here that I'll include month-by-month labels in order to more specifically index what I've read by original release (and, potentially, other factors, although I'll still be limited by the maximum number of text characters Blogger allows me to put in each blog entry's label's field).
I've started off by carrying over portions of the posts I made about comics that I posted in 2009 to this new blog (specifically, the posts about Watchmen and Star Trek: Countdown). I've included links back to the original posts on the main Reading/Viewing blog page.
The only changes I made to the original blog entries was removing the month-by-month labels ("1986-09 (Comics)", "1986-10 (Comics)", etc., and replacing them with the more general, by the decade style that I use for novels, nonfiction, movies, etc. ("1980s Comics").
As with Star Trek related entries, I still intend on posting at least brief entries to the main page about everything that I read, but the comics ones will become less detailed, referring one over to the Comics Index Blog page.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Avatar
Avatar (2009) (Movie)
(Opened in the U.S. 12/18/09; seen 3/14/10).
It's been nearly a year since I last posted a blog entry about a movie I've seen. Partially that's because I haven't been out to see very many movies lately. Also, I've been very busy with various other things (moving again in November of '09 and some pretty big work changes coming up are just two of those; plus, I've gotten pretty active on Facebook which is where I've shifted a lot of my internet time).
Here's something I wrote about Avatar over on my Facebook page:
Avatar was good. ...[I]t "rocked" in all the areas where one would expect it to. Everything looked awesome. Cameron really raised things up another notch in terms of creating an incredibly exotic looking alien world. The action scenes were exciting and some of the best I've seen, both the ground and air based combat.
If you're looking for a really deep plot you might be a bit disappointed as it's pretty predictable (the old "natives being persecuted and driven off their own land by technologically superior invaders" theme) and it follows a lot of the standard action movie conventions, as well. The lead two or three characters are *just* developed enough to keep one interested in what was happening (aside from the pretty stereotypical tough guy drill sergeant bad guy, and even he "works" in the context of keeping things moving along and providing the necessary danger/conflict).
But I think for most people going in to see Avatar, they don't mind those relatively minor quibbles. It's obviously marketed as a big action/sci-fi "blockbuster" type movie so people should realize what type of movie they are going to see. (I have to admit that, aside from visual effects wise, I'm a bit surprised that it got so much Oscar notice. It didn't seem like an "Oscars type" movie to me. Then, again, what it actually won was in the areas of art direction, cinematography, and visual effects.)... See More
I saw the 3D version (which costs me an additional $3 on top of the matinee price for a regular movie). It took a few minutes for my eyes to adjust. (Just a few minutes into the movie they do one of these cool looking shots where you are inside the space ship and the interior walls seem to recede back many miles into the distance. My eyes hadn't adjusted quite yet so it had a brief vertigo-like effect on me. And near the end of the movie during the big, climactic battle things got a bit fast, action wise, which I had a little trouble following every now and then with the 3D effect. But, otherwise, it was an enjoyable experience, one that I wasn't going to be able experience unless I went out and saw it at the theater. (I will find it interesting to watch the standard "2D" version when it comes out on DVD to compare.)
Warning, Avatar's running time is 162 minutes. So over 2 1/2 hours long. Plan your day accordingly. :) (Not quite as long as Titanic--which I'm actually one of the seemingly few people who actually enjoyed, at least going by most of the people I talk to--which was 194 minutes long. But, don't worry, I heard on the radio that Fox is thinking about re-releasing Avatar with additional scenes this summer. They wanted to keep the movie in the digital 3D and IMAX theaters longer but it got bumped from them when Alice in Wonderland came out in 3D on March 5. One source said that there could be as much as 40 more minutes of additional material, but IMAX movies can only be 170 minutes long, so that only about 8 additional minutes if IMAX theaters are one of their primary concerns.)
Oh, and sequels are pretty much a sure thing as Avatar is currently the highest grossing movie ever (and Cameron already had plans for a couple of sequels when he was making it should it do well enough.)
(Opened in the U.S. 12/18/09; seen 3/14/10).
It's been nearly a year since I last posted a blog entry about a movie I've seen. Partially that's because I haven't been out to see very many movies lately. Also, I've been very busy with various other things (moving again in November of '09 and some pretty big work changes coming up are just two of those; plus, I've gotten pretty active on Facebook which is where I've shifted a lot of my internet time).
Here's something I wrote about Avatar over on my Facebook page:
Avatar was good. ...[I]t "rocked" in all the areas where one would expect it to. Everything looked awesome. Cameron really raised things up another notch in terms of creating an incredibly exotic looking alien world. The action scenes were exciting and some of the best I've seen, both the ground and air based combat.
If you're looking for a really deep plot you might be a bit disappointed as it's pretty predictable (the old "natives being persecuted and driven off their own land by technologically superior invaders" theme) and it follows a lot of the standard action movie conventions, as well. The lead two or three characters are *just* developed enough to keep one interested in what was happening (aside from the pretty stereotypical tough guy drill sergeant bad guy, and even he "works" in the context of keeping things moving along and providing the necessary danger/conflict).
But I think for most people going in to see Avatar, they don't mind those relatively minor quibbles. It's obviously marketed as a big action/sci-fi "blockbuster" type movie so people should realize what type of movie they are going to see. (I have to admit that, aside from visual effects wise, I'm a bit surprised that it got so much Oscar notice. It didn't seem like an "Oscars type" movie to me. Then, again, what it actually won was in the areas of art direction, cinematography, and visual effects.)... See More
I saw the 3D version (which costs me an additional $3 on top of the matinee price for a regular movie). It took a few minutes for my eyes to adjust. (Just a few minutes into the movie they do one of these cool looking shots where you are inside the space ship and the interior walls seem to recede back many miles into the distance. My eyes hadn't adjusted quite yet so it had a brief vertigo-like effect on me. And near the end of the movie during the big, climactic battle things got a bit fast, action wise, which I had a little trouble following every now and then with the 3D effect. But, otherwise, it was an enjoyable experience, one that I wasn't going to be able experience unless I went out and saw it at the theater. (I will find it interesting to watch the standard "2D" version when it comes out on DVD to compare.)
Warning, Avatar's running time is 162 minutes. So over 2 1/2 hours long. Plan your day accordingly. :) (Not quite as long as Titanic--which I'm actually one of the seemingly few people who actually enjoyed, at least going by most of the people I talk to--which was 194 minutes long. But, don't worry, I heard on the radio that Fox is thinking about re-releasing Avatar with additional scenes this summer. They wanted to keep the movie in the digital 3D and IMAX theaters longer but it got bumped from them when Alice in Wonderland came out in 3D on March 5. One source said that there could be as much as 40 more minutes of additional material, but IMAX movies can only be 170 minutes long, so that only about 8 additional minutes if IMAX theaters are one of their primary concerns.)
Oh, and sequels are pretty much a sure thing as Avatar is currently the highest grossing movie ever (and Cameron already had plans for a couple of sequels when he was making it should it do well enough.)
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Vulcan's Soul Book 3: Epiphany (2007)
Vulcan's Soul Book 3: Epiphany (2007)
("Star Trek" novel)
Josepha Sherman and Susan Shwartz
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])
Third book in the "Vulcan's Soul" trilogy (follows Exodus and Exiles). In this final novel in the Vulcan's Soul trilogy, we see the fate of Karatek and his people stranded and enslaved on the frozen half of the Romulan twin world, Remus, and also the origins of both the Remans and the Watraii. In the present, post-Dominion War Next Generation time frame, Ambassador Spock, Captain Saavik, and the others aboard the U.S.S. Alliance face a confrontation with not only the Watraii but also the Romulans over the ancient Romulan relic stolen by the Watraii and recovered by Spock and company. Adding to the situation is the kidnapping of the Romulan Praetor by the Watraii, to which Starfleet sends in Captain Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise-E to assist. Over the course of the novel, the connections between the various sub-plots (the "Memory" sections from the time of the Sundering and those in the present) become apparent. Opinion: best of the three (then, again, I'm a Star Trek: The Next Generation fan in general, so my interest picked up even more when Picard and company came into the story. The Karatek storyline gets better here, too, however, as it nears it's inevitable conclusion. There are even some somewhat interesting side chapters delving into the minds of the various high ranking Romulan and Federation political figures. However, there are also a few parts where it is not entirely clear just what is being referred to if one has not already read Sherman and Shwartz's earlier novels, Vulcan's Forge and Vulcan's Heart. (Finished reading 2/2/10)
("Star Trek" novel)
Josepha Sherman and Susan Shwartz
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])
Third book in the "Vulcan's Soul" trilogy (follows Exodus and Exiles). In this final novel in the Vulcan's Soul trilogy, we see the fate of Karatek and his people stranded and enslaved on the frozen half of the Romulan twin world, Remus, and also the origins of both the Remans and the Watraii. In the present, post-Dominion War Next Generation time frame, Ambassador Spock, Captain Saavik, and the others aboard the U.S.S. Alliance face a confrontation with not only the Watraii but also the Romulans over the ancient Romulan relic stolen by the Watraii and recovered by Spock and company. Adding to the situation is the kidnapping of the Romulan Praetor by the Watraii, to which Starfleet sends in Captain Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise-E to assist. Over the course of the novel, the connections between the various sub-plots (the "Memory" sections from the time of the Sundering and those in the present) become apparent. Opinion: best of the three (then, again, I'm a Star Trek: The Next Generation fan in general, so my interest picked up even more when Picard and company came into the story. The Karatek storyline gets better here, too, however, as it nears it's inevitable conclusion. There are even some somewhat interesting side chapters delving into the minds of the various high ranking Romulan and Federation political figures. However, there are also a few parts where it is not entirely clear just what is being referred to if one has not already read Sherman and Shwartz's earlier novels, Vulcan's Forge and Vulcan's Heart. (Finished reading 2/2/10)
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Work Related Reading (Children's Books)
A Book (2009)
Mordicai Gerstein
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])
Children's picture book. (Finished reading 1/20/2010)
*****
How Oliver Olson Changed the World
Claudia Mills; pictures by Heather Maione
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])
Children's chapter book. (Finished reading 1/20/2010)
(Quick blog entry. May go back and add more details at a later date.)
Mordicai Gerstein
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])
Children's picture book. (Finished reading 1/20/2010)
*****
How Oliver Olson Changed the World
Claudia Mills; pictures by Heather Maione
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])
Children's chapter book. (Finished reading 1/20/2010)
(Quick blog entry. May go back and add more details at a later date.)
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Texas Run (1985)
The Texas Run (1985)
("V" novel)
Geo. W. Proctor
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])
Tenth original "V" novel (eleventh overall). California resistance member, Rick Hurley, unexpectedly finds himself drawn into the middle of a medical supply run into Visitor occupied Dallas/Fort Worth. Meanwhile, the Houston Visitor mothership commander has ambitions not only to further his own career status but also to capture resistance member, Sheryl Lee Darcy (whom Rick has fallen for). His goal: to force her to conceive another "star child" (like Elizabeth from the television series). When Sheryl Lee's mother, whom the commander is obsessed with, turns out to have died, the commander turns his sights on her daughter, Sheryl Lee. An okay enough "V" novel. Nothing special though. (Only television character in the book is Mike Donovan, in the first chapter.) Next book in my chronological "V" reading/viewing: The New England Resistance. (Finished reading 1/13/10)
("V" novel)
Geo. W. Proctor
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])
Tenth original "V" novel (eleventh overall). California resistance member, Rick Hurley, unexpectedly finds himself drawn into the middle of a medical supply run into Visitor occupied Dallas/Fort Worth. Meanwhile, the Houston Visitor mothership commander has ambitions not only to further his own career status but also to capture resistance member, Sheryl Lee Darcy (whom Rick has fallen for). His goal: to force her to conceive another "star child" (like Elizabeth from the television series). When Sheryl Lee's mother, whom the commander is obsessed with, turns out to have died, the commander turns his sights on her daughter, Sheryl Lee. An okay enough "V" novel. Nothing special though. (Only television character in the book is Mike Donovan, in the first chapter.) Next book in my chronological "V" reading/viewing: The New England Resistance. (Finished reading 1/13/10)
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The Avengers Battle the Earth-Wrecker
The Avengers Battle the Earth-Wrecker (1967)
Otto Binder
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])
Introduction by Stan Lee. First novel based on Marvel Comics characters. The Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Goliath/Ant-Man, and the Wasp) must defeat "Karzz, the Conqueror" (an alien time traveller from the 70th century) who threatens to set in place "four world-doom catastrophes" to destroy the Earth out of revenge for humanity's stepping in the way of his complete rule over the galaxy in his own, future, time. By destroying the Earth in the 20th century, he plans to create an entirely different timeline where he is ruler of all. Notable for being the first novel based on Marvel Comics characters more than anything else. Very campy. (Makes Batman Versus Three Villains of Doom--see below--downright serious, in comparison.) Doubtlessly, Binder was trying to emulate the then "hip" writing style Stan Lee was using in the Marvel Comics of the time, but an entire novel of said style can be rather difficult to take, to put it lightly. For collectors/completists only, I'm afraid. (Oh, and by the way, while Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch appear on the book's cover, they are not actually present in the novel itself. However they and Thor are described as "former members" early on in the novel, and are represented by statues dedicated to each of them during an Avengers themed telecast.) (Finished reading 1/6/10)
Otto Binder
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])
Introduction by Stan Lee. First novel based on Marvel Comics characters. The Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Goliath/Ant-Man, and the Wasp) must defeat "Karzz, the Conqueror" (an alien time traveller from the 70th century) who threatens to set in place "four world-doom catastrophes" to destroy the Earth out of revenge for humanity's stepping in the way of his complete rule over the galaxy in his own, future, time. By destroying the Earth in the 20th century, he plans to create an entirely different timeline where he is ruler of all. Notable for being the first novel based on Marvel Comics characters more than anything else. Very campy. (Makes Batman Versus Three Villains of Doom--see below--downright serious, in comparison.) Doubtlessly, Binder was trying to emulate the then "hip" writing style Stan Lee was using in the Marvel Comics of the time, but an entire novel of said style can be rather difficult to take, to put it lightly. For collectors/completists only, I'm afraid. (Oh, and by the way, while Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch appear on the book's cover, they are not actually present in the novel itself. However they and Thor are described as "former members" early on in the novel, and are represented by statues dedicated to each of them during an Avengers themed telecast.) (Finished reading 1/6/10)
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Vulcan's Soul Book 2: Exiles (2006)
Vulcan's Soul Book 2: Exiles (2006)
("Star Trek" novel)
Josepha Sherman and Susan Schwartz
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])
Second book in the "Vulcan's Soul" trilogy (follows Exodus and continues in Epiphany). The two separate (but presumably related) stories begun in book one continue onward. The first, that of Karatek, his family, and contemporaries aboard the ships that thousands of years ago left their homeworld of Vulcan behind in what would later be referred to as "the Sundering". They eventually arrive at their new home. But, after surviving the many trials of the long voyage, Karatek and his family have one last betrayal to face upon their arrival. The second storyline, which takes place in the Star Trek: The Next Generation/Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 24th century time frame, follows Ambassador Spock, Captain Saavik, Captain Montgomery Scott, Lt. Commander Data, and Romulan expatrate Ruanek's attempt to rescue Admiral Chekov from the Watraii. (Finished reading 12/26/09)
("Star Trek" novel)
Josepha Sherman and Susan Schwartz
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])
Second book in the "Vulcan's Soul" trilogy (follows Exodus and continues in Epiphany). The two separate (but presumably related) stories begun in book one continue onward. The first, that of Karatek, his family, and contemporaries aboard the ships that thousands of years ago left their homeworld of Vulcan behind in what would later be referred to as "the Sundering". They eventually arrive at their new home. But, after surviving the many trials of the long voyage, Karatek and his family have one last betrayal to face upon their arrival. The second storyline, which takes place in the Star Trek: The Next Generation/Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 24th century time frame, follows Ambassador Spock, Captain Saavik, Captain Montgomery Scott, Lt. Commander Data, and Romulan expatrate Ruanek's attempt to rescue Admiral Chekov from the Watraii. (Finished reading 12/26/09)
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