Just call me Jonny-on-the-spot! (I guess) ... A monstrously overdue MotU movie review

While I'm currently in the midst of a long blogging drought that -- according to my anxiety-guided reasoning -- must only be broken by a truly mind-blowing post, some of my thoughts here have been hanging around for weeks now waiting to be revealed, and I...well, I just keep getting distracted, darn it.  But this week, something happened to make it almost timely -- as in, the new Masters of the Universe movie already started streaming on Amazon -- so I need to throw in my two Eternian copper pieces and maybe encourage someone out there to give it a chance.

It's probably worth mentioning here at the get-go that Masters of the Universe (hereafter MotU) did not take long to be considered by many to be a box office flop, bust, bomb, disappointment, or whatever your favorite pejorative may be for this phenomenon.  It may have cost up to $200 million to make and, at the time I first constructed this comparison sentence, really hadn't made much more than half of that back in ticket sales. I recognize that the accounting of a franchise reboot like this (with loads of merchandising potential) is way more complicated than budget vs. ticket sales, so I don't think that necessarily means we won't get a sequel.  This is especially true thanks to the fact that viewers have really enjoyed the film (currently at an 86% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes), with a lot of folks really really enjoying it.

I am one of those folks.  It took me over a week to catch it in the theater...and then, a couple days later, I caught it again.  And I found myself really wanting to think about it, and talk about it, and listen to the soundtrack, and imagine its impact on my gaming.  I think it's a very good movie...maybe even a great one...and either way one whose long-term aura in my mind will be based upon how well it holds up to even more repeat viewing.  (And now that it's streaming...so far, so good.)  It is noteworthy in itself that I hardly ever see films in a theater at all, so the fact that I took the time to see this twice (including dragging Laura along to viewing #2) has to say something about my gut reaction.

Because I never know how to begin presenting the substance of a review without railroading myself into writing way more words than I intended (just to hash out all of the disparate points I feel the need to introduce), let me try to keep it simple by just listing some of the things that director Travis Knight and the team around him got right with MotU.  (Hopefully I'll also slip in some of the related "lows" so I'm not just gushing out what reads like a one-sided take on the film...)

1.  The casting and acting are top-notch for a silly adventure movie like this.  Nicholas Galitzine pulls off a very likable Prince Adam/He-Man, and Camila Mendes + Idris Elba are both great as Teela + Duncan/Man-At-Arms.  The quality extends to the less vital cast members as well.  I can't think of any performances that even sunk as low as "meh."  So, cast as a whole: Solid and enjoyable.  And beautiful.  Everyone is so beautiful!

Although...if I were to pick a weak spot in the acting, it would probably be Alison Brie's take on Evil-Lyn.  Not because it was a poor performance (not even "meh," as noted above), but simply because Evil-Lyn was underwhelming as a character to me in this film.  The thing is: I'm not sure what Brie could have even done to make me feel otherwise.  All movie, I just kind of expected more, but never quite got it.  (And THAT, my friends, is poorly thought-out nitpicking.)

But then...there's Jared Leto's Skeletor.  At this point, I'm too exhausted by how terrible apparently everyone in the world ends up being to look too far into the allegations that would make me question Leto's character as a human, so I'm not even going to approach that.  (I am sorry if that's a hard "no" for you as far as watching any of his films; I will say that the few things I have read do paint him as problematic at best.)

For the film though...when it comes to our unambiguously evil antagonist...Leto simply nails it.  I've seen people point to Frank Langella's performance as the skull-faced big baddie in the 1987 MotU movie as one of that film's highlights (and rightly so), and I believe Leto takes it to another level entirely.  This isn't just "take a crazy role and make it impactful," it's "take a crazy role and give the definitive performance of an absolutely archetypal character."  Like if Hollywood buzz supported it, I could see Leto being discussed for a best supporting actor Oscar.  (Yes, really!  I haven't heard anything about conversations like that, so I probably just sound crazy in writing it, but I think his performance is truly memorable enough that it wouldn't surprise me...like that time Jack Sparrow won an Oscar, or those times the Joker did.)

Skeletor looks great, too.  The red light of his eyes shifting within those otherwise empty sockets is pretty striking, and I found myself hypnotized by how the subtle movements of a bone face telegraphed emotions.  Overall, I'm sure there will be plenty said about Leto's presence in the blockbuster and how that may have impacted its bottom line (he has a certain history with big-budget action films), but as far as the art goes, Skeletor is a BIG win.

2.  The movie is paced surprisingly well.  One of the easiest digs to take in a review of MotU is that it goes on too long (it's 140 minutes!).  However, the time just flew by for me (both viewings).  I wouldn't say that the movie had to run that long to get in all of its vital thematic elements, but its flow is really, really immersive.  And of course, that can be attributed at least in part to the fact that...

3.  The effects fall somewhere in between Fine and Great.  I'm pretty much one of those old fogeys who pines for the days of practical effects and puppets for monsters.  Perhaps obviously, there are a LOT of digital effects in play throughout most of MotU; if they were bad, it would be tough to slog through.  Luckily, they're really good for the most part.  Similar to my Evil-Lyn opinion, I will note that I would have liked Cringer to be a bit more convincing, but he's still pretty darn good, and far from a dealbreaker...I mean, we're still getting to see a decent "live-action" rendering of freaking Cringer on the big screen (that's a big deal for me), so I won't complain too much!

I also get this feeling when watching movies featuring heavily CGI'ed environments where I start to have a lingering sense of unreality...like the artificial backgrounds stack up and start to feel sort of oppressive -- almost claustrophobic -- after a while.  (I just want to see a big open outside shot to make me feel like I can breathe again!)  MotU walks this line but never hits a point where it's too much, and honestly, some of the digital sets are so cool that they're worth some conscious suspension of disbelief anyway.  It is undoubtedly a good-looking film.

4.  The screenplay hits just about the right level of being both meta and Easter eggy.  These are definitely YMMV factors in evaluating a film like this one, especially since viewers are going to differ so widely both in the need to have these in the story AND in familiarity with the franchise and its history.  I would consider myself well "above" the average moviegoer, but well below the average He-Man superfan, when it comes to the details of MotU lore.  While watching, I caught plenty of references that literally brought a smile to my face, but it never felt like the film was degenerating into "Easter egg porn."  (And that, by the way, is a phrase that I have used in my head for a while but don't really think is ever used by anyone else.  Googling it only resulted in the sort of hits you'd probably imagine for a phrase like that.  Plus one "Florida woman" article.  Anyway...I hope it makes sense...)

And the meta nature of the movie is definitely worth talking about, as that's potentially what will make it or break it in the minds of a lot of viewers.  An obvious model to look toward...and one that I'm sure the studio had in mind...is 2023's Barbie.  Both iconic properties, pretty gender-specific, more than a little bit silly...and Barbie slayed at the box office, so I know its success was somewhere in the minds of Mattel's bigwigs as they tracked MotU's performance.  The thing is...that's kind of an unfair comparison to make at this point, as Barbie was an absolute triumph of a movie on many levels (and one that any IP-focused film would have a tough time living up to)...and its extreme lean into meta storytelling already meant that MotU was going to have to be a bit more subtle in its approach.

And where Knight and team landed...well, I think they really did hit within a sweet spot that would have been very easily misjudged.  I'm sure many He-Fans would have preferred a wholesale embrace of the ridiculousness of, say, the classic MotU character naming conventions, rather than the narrative end-around they went with (which I think I rather like, honestly).  But it's hard to imagine any filmmaker doing a better job with issues like balancing PG-13 fantasy violence with the expectations that follow a property originally aimed at six-year-olds.  And the downright ridiculousness of Skeletor, anchored by Leto's performance, is handled borderline brilliantly.  As in...I still think the movie has more to say to me...and going into it, I would have questioned whether I should expect it to actually say anything at all.

5.  The soundtrack is killer.  Yeah, I've already gone on too long here (me and my self-railroading), but it has to be said before I close things out:  The music in this one is just awesome.  And to be honest, I think I've only seen and heard praise for this aspect of the film.  It veers into a sort of symphonic power metal groove at times, and the inclusion of Queen (plus additional guitar work by Brian May) is both appropriate in itself and evocative of 1980's peerless Flash Gordon flick...a comparison that MotU can and should proudly wear on its sleeve.  The covers that are included also work well (and include one specific meta selection that I really enjoyed).

It's just...good stuff.

Sir Brian May...a guitar legend and PhD astrophysicist who has said he would rather be remembered for his work helping animals.  Ya gotta love him!  (Image from MusicRadar)

If you've been on the fence about watching Masters of the Universe, I hope my obvious love for the film will encourage you to give it a shot.  (I want a sequel!)  I know it isn't perfect.  And even what I consider its borderline greatness...well, I recognize that it isn't for everyone and won't fault anyone who senses within the first half hour that it simply isn't their cup of tea.  I think that even some folks who fall into this camp, though, will be able to admit that it is so much better than it has any right to be based on its roots and its timing.  For most viewers, if it generates half the number and intensity of smiles that it has for me, I expect it to find a happy home in streaming.  And if you missed it on the big screen and ever get a chance to right that wrong, I would certainly recommend you take it!

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Thanks so much for reading, all.  I hope to be back, probably continuing with this thread of my MotU love, very soon...!

Musical Monday: Seal sings "kissed by a rose on the grey," and my world is falling apart (a little bit)

"Kiss From a Rose" has to be one of the most well-known and well-loved pop songs to be heavily associated with a superhero movie.  Originally released in 1994, its inclusion on the soundtrack to 1995's Batman Forever (not a bad movie btw...something maybe suited for a future post...) is what vaulted it into the public...ear.  And it does work amazingly well with the Batman mythos, since Bruce Wayne's lasting emotional trauma after the death of his parents gives a simple connection to the song's rose on their grave(s).

Except I just found out yesterday that he isn't singing "grave," he's singing "grey."  And I'm not sure how to feel about it.  It seems to be a pretty commonly misheard lyric...I'm definitely not the only one to be shocked by it, and I found at least one person suspecting the Mandela Effect at play.

Which would make sense...I mean, we even see the Waynes' graves, and roses, in the music video, don't we?

Wait...don't we?  Wtf do I remember THAT from?

Hmm.  What else am I going to find out about all of this?

Wait a minute, Val Kilmer died?!

Okay, I'm leaving this and coming back to it...

Elphaba and Glinda freaking killed it

It's been a while since the Oscars have been very exciting to me.  I had a period in my youth when I was really into movies and tried to see all the Best Picture nominees that I could, and the show was an event that I even looked forward to (that and the VMAs, for some reason...!).  So, I didn't watch last night, but when I realized that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande had performed, I checked it out ASAP.  And holy shit.  (Late edit: I'll try to keep this video updated as the ones I choose get taken down...)

 

I am a fan of Oz in general. It's quintessential American fantasy that I grew up with. I looked just now and was a little surprised that the only time I've even mentioned it on here is when I referenced it fairly vaguely in a discussion of the history of interplanar portals. But I dig it in a lot of the forms in which I've consumed it, and last year's first installment of Wicked is honestly one of the most immediately captivating movies I've ever seen. (It did win awards for costumes and production design last night, both for very good reason.)

Anyway, the fact that Elphaba and Glinda also perform songs from The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz makes this an even more interesting performance.  And they...freaking...killed it.  What's that?  Oh...no, I just have something in my eye...  (As did Michelle Yeoh at the end of that clip, which is really sweet.)

Honestly...and this might be hyperbole that I rethink once it's sat with me for a while...if you had to pick out a few things to show an alien species as representations of humanity's achievements, you could do a lot worse than showing them this clip.  I mean...the Einstein field equations probably have to be in there, and maybe a selection of different expressions of the Golden Rule or something.  But if you want to show that we're a beautiful species who made beautiful art?  This'll do.

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I don't think I've ever gamed in Oz at all, although I've thought a lot about it.  I backed Double Critical's Adventures in Oz Kickstarter and have enjoyed looking through the campaign PDF.  Unfortunately, unless something has changed or changes, it doesn't look like some (maybe any?) of us are going to be getting the physical rewards we signed on for, which is a shame but one of the hazards of taking part in crowdfunding.  So, I can't necessarily suggest picking up the book because there are creators who follow through who probably deserve your cash more...BUT it's a cool sourcebook, and I could easily see myself using it eventually.  Maybe the Monstrous Matters team will encounter some flying monkeys at some point...

Geeky SKAturday: "Orphan Town" from Warriors (concept album)

At this point, I really don't want to miss Geeky SKAturday twice in a row(!), so here's something close enough for this week...

The concept album Warriors, that I mentioned being excited about around a month ago, came out, and it's pretty great.  From Lin-Manuel Miranda (of Hamilton and...a bunch of other stuff) and Eisa Davis (who isn't as well known, but I was still probably a bit of a dick for not even mentioning her in that last writeup), Warriors is a really nice take on the cult film, changing things up enough to make it interesting but hitting enough familiar notes that it pays off to know a bit about the movie.  I had such high hopes for it that it wouldn't have been crazy for it to fall short, but it delivers.  And it's easily accessible, hitting both Spotify and YouTube immediately upon release.

One of my favorite tracks comes when the Warriors encounter the second-rate gang known as the Orphans.  It's a cool scene in the movie, introducing us to Mercy, and the song has a sort of rocksteady rhythm for the verses, transitioning into really catchy choruses.  You could argue that Utkarsh Ambudkar sings the part of head Orphan Sully with a little too much...goofiness...but in the context of the song, with his right-hand man Jesse delivering backup lines like a bully's toady, it didn't take long for Sully's voice to sound natural enough to me.

For reference, here's the analogous scene from the film (cutting off a bit earlier than the song)...

And for gaming, here's the top Orphan in Monstrous6 terms...

Sully

From The Warrors Wiki

Leader, the Orphans

10 HP, 10 Defense

Strength 2
Dexterity 2
Knowledge 4
Presence 4

Skills: Misinformation +4, Streetwise +3, Leadership +2, Straight Razor (Short Blades) +1

Goal: Respect as a bopper

Quote: "I don't know what you're talkin' about, man.  How could this be a big meeting if the Orphans wasn't there?"

Lin-Manuel Miranda's Warriors is coming soon!

[Insert "come out to play" joke here.]

I just found out last week that the insanely talented Lin-Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame (along with In the Heights and the soundtracks for Moana, Vivo, and Encanto) has a concept album coming out next month (the one that starts tomorrow) based on The Warriors.  I'm pretty stoked.

Check it out HERE

As I mentioned recently, I've become a bit of a Playbill collector over the past few years, and my love of the transcendent musical Hamilton definitely played a role in that development.  And The Warriors...so, I found it relatively late in life, interestingly through learning about its potential influence on beat 'em up video games - specifically Double Dragon and Renegade - that I really liked as a kid.  But now, if you catch me on the right day, I'll probably tell you it's one of my favorite movies ever.  It's just so freaking...I don't know, stylish?  Beautiful?  Slick?  Cool?  I feel like a lot of folks of a certain age and outlook just have to admit, whether or not we think it holds up as quality cinema, that it's just badass.

It looks like Miranda is taking some interesting creative approaches - like casting women for all of the Warriors (plus replacing the Lizzies with some dudes called the Bizzies) and anthropomorphizing the boroughs of NYC by giving them distinct voices (maybe...I'm just guessing based on the cast list).  And the cast itself has some legends.

If you're interested in learning more about this most fortuitous combination of things I really dig, you can check out the album's website HERE.  I assume there will eventually be a stage musical, but either way, this looks awesome.

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And for a nerd touch, here's the film's closest-thing-to-a-hero Swan statted out as I've been putting numbers to characters lately...

Image from HERE

Swan

Warlord, the Warriors

15 HP, 11 Defense

Strength 3
Dexterity 3
Knowledge 2
Presence 4

Skills: Brawling +4, Courage +3, Streetwise +2, Knife +1

Goals: Survive; defend the Warriors

Quote: "When we get there, you stick close by, okay?"

Dragonfyre: I'm guessing you haven't seen it, and I'm guessing you're gonna like it

A recent Reddit thread about movies that play out like RPG adventures got me thinking about one of my favorite films matching this description.  While I plugged it on that thread...and I know I mentioned it when Pun discussed something similar over at Halls of the Nephilim (and have probably shared my love for it elsewhere on the internet)...I realized that -- criminally -- I have never discussed this very-discussable movie here on the blog.  And now that I'm working on a campaign involving fantasy monsters encroaching on our world, it's time to talk a little bit about...

Dragonfyre

AKA DragonFyre: The Worldgate Sentinel.  AKA Orc Wars.  (I don't know why it has a second, completely different name, but there ya go.)

From HERE

From HERE.  Yep, this is the same movie.

Very minor spoilers follow.  I think it's mostly stuff you won't be surprised by anyway.

There's a pretty simple premise here:  An American veteran struggling with PTSD buys some property out West to get away from everything.  Then he has to fight a bunch of orcs who trespass on his land trying to kill an elven princess.  He uses guns.

I think the film probably surprises a lot of people with its quality.  I mean...it's definitely a B-movie, clearly ambitious beyond its budget.  The thing is, with many such films, there are things that I (not a filmmaker) can point to and say, "I don't think that should have ended up in the final cut."  Maybe a line needs to be re-cut more believably.  Maybe a goofy FX shot needs to be tossed.  It could be anything and is usually a lot of things.  However, Dragonfyre really doesn't have many (if any) of those moments.  It was clearly produced by skilled and detail-oriented creators.

Many of the costumes and props seem to be LOTR leftovers, or maybe commercially available replicas.  This obviously has the effect of giving the fantastic elements of the movie a look we've seen before, but considering the premise of the story, that might be more positive than negative.  They look pretty darn good.  FX-wise, artists clearly knew when to back off.  The cheesiest effect of the film is probably the CGI dragon (spoiler!), but even that is pretty solid, especially when you consider how dated CG effects from even highly regarded films can look today.  (I'll save my unpopular opinion of never really embracing the look of Gollum for another day.)  The most important effect in the film is probably the dark cloud-splosions of orcs getting shot in the head, and they definitely got that one down.  (It is a fairly violent film, btw, in case that's something you wish to investigate before taking the plunge to watch this.)

If I had to pick one thing to change about Dragonfyre, it wouldn't actually be anything related to production quality.  While the character of Whitefeather is portrayed very well by Wesley John, there's just something off-putting about having another Magical Native American (he's also blind!) character so central to the plot.  It isn't a dealbreaker for me, but I imagine some viewers might take enough offense to want to skip it altogether.  (I know, I know, I hear you...I need to get out of here with all of that woke shit.  I mean, if that's what you're thinking, Whitefeather definitely won't bug you...but I know I'm not the only one who cringes when we notice these stereotypes.)

Overall, I feel pretty good about dropping this one into the grand headcanon of my imagination, and it holds up really well as a film as long as you can accept the low-budget caveat.  (And as I make this edit, it's available on Tubi...free to watch if you don't count those pieces of your soul you give up as you watch commercials!)  Coming up...I think I need to stat out John Norton (the Worldgate Sentinel...oh, another spoiler!) to be an NPC in the Monstrous Matters campaign...

Monstrous Mini-Review: Interstellar

The deal:  This is another one where I am very late to the game on a movie that falls right in my wheelhouse.  I've seen this one enough on "best of" lists (and been told pretty directly that I need to see it) that I took a free choice of the family movie to watch it (on Prime).

Interstellar

2014, 2 h 49 min

Director: Christopher Nolan

Trailer:

The flick:  I probably don't have to say too much about Interstellar, the 2014 science fiction film from Chris Nolan that made use of some of the brain-bending characteristics of time revealed to us by relativity.  You, reading this post...I bet you've seen it.  And if you haven't, I bet you've seen the hype.

And...it's worth the hype.  Interstellar really feels like it fits in the pantheon of great science fiction "pondering-our-place-in-the-universe" screen epics.  You can pick your favorite to compare it to (Metropolis, 2001, The Matrix, whatever)...I think it'll hold up pretty well.

I will note...Matthew McConaughey is very much Matthew McConaughey, and however that statement makes you feel will probably tell you a lot about how you'll like him in this movie.  I think he did a really good job even if I did repeatedly hear "Alright alright alright" in my head.

But acting aside (and it's all good anyway)...if you like somewhat cerebral SF, it's probably a waste of your time to read anything else by me right now.  This is a fairly long film, so I recommend you use that time to watch it, if you haven't already...

The rating:  I should note that it's very possible that rating Interstellar too highly today will force me to rethink the assessment if I rewatch it at some point.  This has happened to me with The Dark Knight (another Nolan film).  At one point, I probably would have said TDK was like a top-five ever movie to me, but rewatching it has made me realize that I don't find it as rewatchable or consistently emotionally/intellectually moving as I guess I want my "favorites" to be.

At the same time, I had really high hopes for Interstellar because of how much I saw it built up, and it still delivered a great movie experience.  I mean, man is it good:

4.5 out of 5 shrews

The monsters:  Huh...I guess there weren't really monsters in this one.  Well, other than the humans are the real monsters angle, which honestly applies less to this movie than to most, and which is a path for this post that would probably give stuff away that I don't want to (just in case someone reading hasn't actually seen the film).

There is, however...and I'll try to word this unspoilerly...a group/being/force that is vital to the plot of the movie and is pretty cool to think about using in an RPG adventure.  Hmm...maybe one day...

Monstrous Mini-Review: Starship Troopers

The last one was fun, so why not keep it going?

Starship Troopers

1997, 2 h 9 min

Director: Paul Verhoeven

Trailer:

The deal:  So, until very recently, I had never actually seen Starship Troopers, which I imagine many would refer to as a classic, even if its execution was polarizing.  When it came out in 1997, I'm pretty sure I thought it looked a bit...silly.  It became more intriguing once I found out it was based on a seminal science fiction novel, and as I became more entrenched in the culture of gaming, I started to realize just how important Robert A. Heinlein's story has been in establishing the archetype of the space marine...especially the space marine that fights big alien bugs.  It was time for me to finally get a feel for the setting.

The flick:  I enjoyed this one quite a bit...but I can sympathize with those who don't.

Let's get some of the obvious criticisms out of the way.  The acting isn't stellar...but it's definitely functional.  The plot is farcical...but that seems to be intentional, and I suppose it allows a much "bigger" story to be told once you let go of complete plausibility.  The boobs and gore might be unnecessary...but they fit into an overall tone that seems to shout, "This movie is R-rated, dammit!"  And the effects do sometimes look dated...but when this occurred, I actually found it to have a certain retro-SF charm.

To be fair, I would even say I liked the effects overall.  The space action scenes look great (with the occasional green-screen artifact, of course...like I said, retro-SF charm!).  And those bugs came out a lot better than I imagined they would.  (That may be thanks to limiting the battle environments to barren landscapes, but if so, it was probably a trade-off worth taking.)  The obvious CGI effects didn't detract much, if at all, from my enjoyment...from my personal perspective, it was much less distracting than...well, just about any scene involving Gollum.  And...I mean, it was 1997!  The extent to which the effects fall short of that era's version of perfect is balanced out by the extent to which it seems the filmmakers knew they were producing a B-movie.

Now...as for the accusations of fascism.  I couldn't remember, going into the watch, what the general consensus is regarding the right-wing particulars of the movie and how much of those aspects are rooted in the source material.  I did have the benefit of being able to look up, while stepping away mid-film, some details of the movie's production and initial reception.  I wish I forced myself to make a solid prediction of whether I was going to read that the film is actually pro-fascist or only mockingly so...because I'm pretty sure I was leaning toward a satirical interpretation, BUT there is enough ambiguity of value judgment on the future fascist society depicted in the film that I probably could have been convinced it was genuinely meant to glorify that way of life.  It would have been poorly executed...just too goofy and over-the-top about some things...but I get why some viewers assumed that was the case.

I can't really understand why anyone would force the issue once the conversation went "hey that's fascist," answered with "I know, I'm making fun of it"...but maybe that also has to do with the difficulty of getting such a message out in 1997.  If Starship Troopers were released today, there wouldn't be a dearth of sources to tell us about its political intentions; instead, we'd have an avalanche of unreliable reports that place it all over the political spectrum.  So...I suppose the world would still be confused, just for a different reason...

The rating:  Well, I'm still trying to figure out my benchmarks here.  I felt like this deserved more than The Killer Shrews' rating of 3/5, but there's no way I could justify a 4.  For now:

3.5 out of 5 shrews

The monsters:  The aliens/bugs/arachnids are, overall, fantastic.  Visually, the various types of aliens (differentiated by appearance and role in bug society) range from excellent (warrior bugs) to not-great-but-not-terrible-for-1997 (hopper bugs).  In a way, these things are literally genre-defining, so there's a lot to chew on with regard to their presentation and place in the story...

Y'know what?  This needs its own post.  I'll get back to you on these guys...

Image from HERE

Roger Corman, 1926-2024

Image from HERE

Sad news recently as we found out that film legend Roger Corman passed away last Thursday at his home.  Obviously, at 98 years old, he doesn't necessarily fit a "tragically early" narrative, but it is always a loss when such a strong influence moves on from our world.

Corman directed about 55 and produced somewhere around 385 films during his career.  I remember, as a youngster, seeing his name pop up in places that seemed somewhat disparate at the time.  I hadn't tuned my geek sensibilities enough to put everything together; finally, after probably years of noting Corman's presence around the film industry, I kind of realized, "Oh!  Little Shop of Horrors...A Bucket of Blood...Battle Beyond the Stars...Carnosaur...The Fantastic Four from the 90s...somehow, that's all from the SAME GUY!"

To be completely honest, looking over Corman's filmography makes me realize that I have seen embarrassingly little of his work.  As someone who has become more and more drawn into genre films over the course of my life, however, I think I've seen Corman's influence all over the movies I've enjoyed through the years.  The list of folks who cut their teeth on Corman productions is long and impressive, from James Cameron to Francis Ford Coppola to Martin Scorsese.  (I love the tale that he once told Ron Howard, "If you do a good job on this film, you'll never have to work for me again.")

I think Roger Corman is sort of the Lou Reed of motion pictures...he may not be universally recognized, but his influence is everywhere.  To paraphrase the summary I've often seen with regard to the albums of the Velvet Underground: Only 1000 people might have seen his movies, but every one of them went on to make movies of their own.  (Although, really...the magnitude of his output means that a whole lot of us have experienced at least some small part of his catalog.)

Perhaps most importantly, Corman was all-in for the medium he loved, and by all accounts that I can recall, it seems he was a pretty nice guy.  That'll always be good for Hollywood.

As I continue to (attempt to) move this blog into a specific direction with regard to the content I present (e.g. I'm really into creature features at the moment), I have a feeling I'm going to mention Roger Corman a time or two in the coming months.  I hope you'll take a moment to look over his work, think a bit about the massive impact he has had on our culture, and maybe take in some of the hundreds of silver screen spectaculars he left the world.  I can pretty much guarantee that...eventually...you'll find something you love.

Monstrous Mini-Review: The Killer Shrews

Well...I guess I just feel like reviewing an old monster movie...

The Killer Shrews

1959, 1 h 9 min

Director: Ray Kellogg

Trailer:

The deal:  The Killer Shrews was made by the same director, around the same time, as The Giant Gila Monster, which I feel like I've seen referenced more than this one, but maybe that's just because I'm typically more drawn to the idea of a giant Gila monster than that of killer shrews.  At any rate, those two films formed a double feature back in the day, and currently it seems they both have some pull among fans of old lowbudgetscifihorror fare.  (They both got roasted on MST3K, which I think automatically lifts a B-movie to the next level of awareness among the public.)

It stars James Best, who I recognize only as Rosco P. Coltrane from The Dukes of Hazzard.  (He would go on to appear in a sequel to this in 2012!)

It's also in the public domain, so it's easy to find, and there's a good chance you've stumbled upon it before...

Image from HERE

The flick:  Best plays a ship captain who finds himself stranded on a remote island with his first mate and a team of scientists who are clearly keeping some secrets.  Piece by piece, the puzzle of their situation is put together (although there really aren't that many pieces, to be honest).  The menace they face?  This one's gonna shock you, but it's killer shrews.  The crew has to wait out a hurricane and survive the night for a chance to escape in the morning light.

This is a very good creature feature that provides all the basics folks look for in schlocky sci-fi.  It definitely moves slowly (the MST3K crew had some fun with the fact that the characters spend a lot of time standing around talking), but the next turn of the plot usually comes around before one can get too antsy.  The acting is vintage B-movie melodrama and includes an appropriately shallow love connection (and jealous suitor).  And...to probably annoy anyone reading this who insists they don't see race, I'll note the positive that there's even a Black character who...other than playing out that debated trope of horror movies (sorry, SPOILER)...could be a lot more cringeworthy for a 1959 film.

And then, of course, there are the shrews.

From HERE

Those beautiful, giant, killer shrews.  It's fun to see them as dogs-in-scruffy-jackets (and they actually seem pretty menacing moving like a pack of dogs), but those hand puppet closeups are worth the price of admission alone.

The rating:  I've gotta be careful not to fence myself in by giving the first movie I review like this (and maybe only, who knows with me) too high of a rating and then realizing that the things it does well can actually be done a lot more well.  The shrew effects carry a lot of weight, though.  This is a very watchable film that doesn't overstay its welcome.  I'm tempted to seek out the sequel but am held back mainly because I'm not sure I want to chance ruining the positive outlook I have on this one!

If you're a "throw a movie on" type with a tolerance for B-movie foibles, this is great background noise, and there's always the MST3K version if you want to check it out but would like the security of wry humor.  I don't think I can go any lower than 3/5 right now.

3 out of 5 shrews

The monsters:  I wouldn't change a thing about these creatures.  They are simple and effective.  I suppose you'd be disappointed if you went into it assuming they were going to be giant giant...but they are the size of dogs, which...I don't think I have to tell you, that's pretty darn giant for a shrew.

My current rules obsession is a slightly homebrewed take on the D6 system that powered the old West End Games Star Wars RPG (and miniatures game)...simplified to be more in line with its Ghostbusters RPG roots.  (It's a work perpetually in progress.)  Here's a shrew:

From HERE

Giant Killer Shrew

Might 2

Dexterity 5

Presence 2

Skills: Dig +2

HP: 7

Move: 18

Handling Difficulty: --- (you ain't handling these fellas)

Attacks: 2x Claw 5 (1D6-3 damage) or Bite 5 (1D6-1 damage plus poison; death within 3 minutes if not stabilized or successful on one difficult save)

Man with a Movie Camera (1929) - decopunkrock experiment #1

(I guess I can turn anything nerdy.)

I have a few friends that I get together with as often as possible to play some music.  I play drums.  We've put some work into getting songs together, but our "natural state" as a band seems to be just jamming through blues/psychedelic/punk rock progressions until one of us feels like stopping.  It is great fun, and as the drummer, it's admittedly easy because I don't have to worry about what key we're in, and everyone pretty much has to follow my rhythm or they're the ones who sound wrong.  I just get to play.

(I don't really have what are referred to as "chops," and while I wish I could say I make up for that with rock-solid timing...well, I don't.  But man, do I enjoy it.)

Our latest "project" is to attempt improvised scores to silent movies.  We had our first go of it last Thursday...just my buddy Tom on guitar and me...playing along to the avant-garde Soviet documentary film Man with a Movie Camera.  This was probably a good one to start with, as there's really no wrong way to score this movie.

If that sounds like it interests you, maybe you'll want to give this a watch and listen.  I certainly don't post this to impress, but in the hope that others might enjoy the journey with us!  (Editing to add: Tom's guitar work is, however, impressive by my calculations.  Very atmospheric and melodic.)  We only got through about 38.5 minutes of it before stopping for the evening.  Maybe we'll finish it at some point.  Or just move on.  I'm looking forward to getting our bass player Joel back in the mix.

(Man with a Movie Camera, by the way, seems to be pretty popular for adding original scores...you can check out its YouTube search results HERE to see some of the options out there...!)

Just have to say...Fantastic Voyage has held up...

After thinking about the shrunken adventurer genre a bit, I decided to give 1966's Fantastic Voyage another watch last weekend, and I thought it'd be worth noting here that the movie has really held up to the passage of time.  It is, in some ways, a seminal work in this sub-sub-subgenre - to the extent that the TV Tropes wiki simply calls this style of adventure the "Fantastic Voyage" plot - and in my mind, it's quite deserving.

The film is, without a doubt, quite dated.  It really feels like 60s sci-fi...and I love that aspect of it.  The (Oscar-winning!) special effects are trippy and somewhat mesmerizing.  It also took home the statue for Art Direction that year, and I can certainly see why as the movie overall just looks cool.  And that's not just the special effects...the sterile look of the facility where the CMDF (Combined Miniature Deterrent Forces) operates sets a nice tone for the more grounded aspects of the film.

One thing that could probably be a drawback for many viewers is that the process of getting the crew shrunk down and into the human body takes forever.  I'd actually have to watch it again to note the specifics of this, but much of the early movie also runs with no music, so there's a very calm and methodical feel to it that I think extends to this scene.  Personally, I love it, as it emphasizes the danger and fragility of the process, rather than just shrinking, injecting, and moving on to the action.  BUT...I do work in a lab, so I may be drawn to that part of the storyline more than most.

Overall, if you enjoy retro SF, or even just solid SF in general, you should give this film a go at least once!

Now...how about a character?

As portrayed by William Redfield

Capt. Bill Owens

Level 4 Watercraft Pilot

AC 6[13]    HD 3d6+1 (12 HP)

Saving throw: 12

Move 12 ft.

Languages:  English, Russian

STR 11    DEX 17(+1)    CON 10    INT 14    WIS 9    CHA 9

Attack:  By weapon (+1 BHB)

Skill/tool proficiencies:  Pilot watercraft (expert), watercraft repair, perception, history

+2 to Saving Throws vs. explosions and environmental hazards

Stick Jockey (+2 to initiative in aquatic combat); Ocean Ace (may add +1 to two of a watercraft's stats each round); Jury-Rig 1x/day, 4d6 temporary HP to a watercraft

(I drew a lot of this from the Pilot class from White Star...) 

And finally...I suppose Fantastic Voyage is close enough to "military science fiction" to make this a reasonable post to tack on a wish for a happy Memorial Day to my fellow Yanks.  (I hope everyone has a happy day, of course...just calling out Americans since we're enjoying a holiday today...)  I also hope you'll take a moment to reflect on its meaning.  There are a lot of folks who sacrificed everything to help give us this world where I can spend time writing silly stuff on the interwebs.  Our country is in a weird spot, where one side of the political spectrum has attempted to stake a claim to patriotism, to the point that aspects of it have started to seem especially toxic to many who oppose them.  I'd like to think that something like Memorial Day is a great time for us all to find common ground in appreciation for those who truly have helped to maintain our freedom by giving their lives.

This Day in Anthro History: Song of the South's 1980 re-release

This is the first in what I'd like to become a series of posts touching on some of the landmarks in the history of animals that walk and talk like humans.  We'll see how it goes.

On October 10, 1980, Disney re-released the movie Song of the South to theaters.  This is the film that transformed the anthro legends known as Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Bear, and Br'er Fox from folktale figures of the American South to cartoon characters able to hold their own alongside the likes of Mickey and Donald in kids' stuffed animal collections.

If you want, you can buy this cel over here...!

It was also, as far as I can recall and piece together, the first movie I ever saw in a theater.  As a kid born in the late '70s in a pretty small south Georgia town...well, this makes sense.  And while I first saw it during the fourth of five re-releases, there probably aren't a ton of Americans much younger than me who have ever seen the film in any sort of legitimate capacity, as Disney hasn't shown it in an official manner in the United States in decades...for, while the film is known for its excellent mixing of live action and animated footage and for the iconic song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," it's also pretty well known for being too racist for Disney to embrace.

Well...embrace fully, that is.  Honestly, Song of the South is sort of a case study in how we Americans have no effing clue how we're supposed to approach our complicated racial history.  Which is how we have stuff like this movie serving as the inspiration for a popular attraction at both of Disney's big American parks, yet we can't watch the whole thing outside of bootlegs and pieced-together segments on YouTube.

It's been a while since I've seen the whole thing, so I won't attempt to give my own critique of the film's message other than to say that, yes, it's problematic.  This article from ScreenCrush has a pretty good discussion of it.  A summary:  It could have been worse, considering that it was first released way back in 1946, but if you encounter someone who says there isn't a problem with it, they should probably think a little more.

Those anthropomorphic animals sure are fun, though.

Here's a TV trailer for the 1980 re-release (one that certainly gives an idea of the controversy that could result from a full movie of this stuff):

EDIT:  Oh!  I should note that over at Song of the South.net - a website that certainly seems like its creators would know their stuff when it comes to the film - lists October 8 as the date of the 1980 re-release.  However, Wikipedia (yeah, I know) goes with the 10th, and it WAS a Friday, so I'm gonna call it close enough...

Well, I finally saw Rogue One...

...and holy crap, is it awesome.  Some spoiler-free thoughts:

I thought The Force Awakens was pretty darned good.  Like a lot of other fans (and I'll note that my SW fandom is strong, but limited...), I left TFA with a general feeling of, "Man, that's what I've been waiting for to continue the Star Wars saga..."  After seeing Rogue One, The Force Awakens seems like it might have stuck to "the formula" a little too much.  TFA's characters were great, and I know it needed certain elements to truly continue the Skywalker saga, but after seeing what Rogue One did to stretch that Star Wars formula (while still feeling very much like a piece of the legend), I'm kind of thinking, "Maybe that's what I've actually been waiting for to continue the Star Wars saga..."

And I get that it doesn't really continue the saga.  It expands it, I guess.

Man, even the relatively weak parts of the film (I do have a few small...nitpicks, I guess) really aren't that bad.  Early on, I was afraid I was in for two hours of 45-second vignettes that would stitch together to tell us what happened.  The last time I had that feeling was early in Batman v. Superman, and that didn't turn out so well.  The storytelling really came together, though, and I think it might actually be the most emotionally powerful of any of the Star Wars films.  I totally get what folks mean when they say it's basically a war movie set in the SW galaxy.  It is, and it's a really good one.

If you're reading this and are on the fence about seeing it in theaters, I definitely recommend checking it out.  If you're on the fence about springing for 3D, I recommend that too.  It's quite a beautiful movie.

Now...to find a Star Wars RPG campaign to play in.  Or maybe run.  Seems like a great time to finally take White Star for a spin...or pull out the old West End Games version for another run.

From Wikipedia...

Dream Deceivers

I don't know how far I'll ever go with this blog into full review territory, but I do want to occasionally point out stuff that I think is worth checking out, which is the case with the documentary Dream Deceivers.

DVD cover from Amazon.

I happened upon this movie while looking for something to watch during lunch yesterday.  I ended up watching the whole thing (it's a bit under an hour) and liked it so much that I watched it again with Laura during dinner.  Here's the summary from IMDB:

Two young men shoot themselves in a churchyard. Ray Belknap dies; James Vance - severely disfigured - survives. Their parents take heavy-metal icons Judas Priest to court, claiming the band "mesmerized" their sons. The unprecedented trial is the framework for this one-of-a-kind, Emmy-nominated documentary.

At its most basic, Dream Deceivers is an interesting look at the anti-metal hysteria that gripped an era (and still finds various forms to this day).  At its best, though (which is most of the film), it's a moving story that spreads its sympathies around to all parties involved.  It's also paced extremely well.  There are no terribly shocking scenes (although one could argue that (1) the post-suicide video footage is a bit hard to watch, and (2) the first sight of James Vance's disfigurement may surprise you).  By the end, though, there's an almost palpable sense of the delusion holding back the sadness of the young men's families.

Dream Deceivers is currently on Hulu Plus and free through Amazon Prime (not sure about Netflix).  I'd love to hear your thoughts if you check it out (or have already seen it).

I'll write it here for all the world to read: The Green Lantern movie was not that bad!

With Suicide Squad's release...and some less-than-stellar views from critics...it seems that people's thoughts are naturally turning to the history of DC's hits and (perhaps more often) misses on the big screen.  (Quick note:  I haven't seen Suicide Squad yet, and while I'm disheartened by the critical reception, I'm encouraged by the number of people who are stepping up in their own corners of the internet to say, No, it's not that bad...and it might actually be pretty good!)

Over at Rotten Tomatoes on Tuesday, they posted a gallery of DC's superhero movies, ranked best to worst according to the famous Tomatometer.  Now, there are some clear issues with the methodology.  Glancing at the list reveals that some of the obvious entries are about where they should be...such as The Dark Knight and the first two Christopher Reeve Superman films leading the charge, and Catwoman falling near the end.  I'm not sure that Supergirl should be last...but the biggest problem is probably with Tim Burton's 1989 Batman.  How in the world is it #10?  This may not seem so bad when you consider that most of the films above it could be argued as better works...but, it's rather laughably wedged in between Superman Returns and Watchmen.

Superman Returns beat Batman.

Okay...yes...these things are what they are, and there are going to be some differences from one list to another.  One thing that I don't see much variance in, though, concerns this movie:

Why is it that I hardly ever see GL at least given a little bit of credit for being a fun movie?  Please note that, in that Rotten Tomatoes list, it falls a full two spots below The Return of the Swamp Thing.

Now, I know I'm a little biased, as the Lanterns are some of my absolute favorite characters in comics.  Is it a great movie?  No, mysterious question-asker, it's not great, and Guardians of the Galaxy did eventually come along and show us what a fun, superheroic, space-based movie with a wisecracking leading man could amount to.

However, the makers of Green Lantern seemed to know what kind of a property they were dealing with, and they made a movie to match.  Green Lantern is a story about a guy who becomes a space cop when he gets a magic ring from a dying magenta alien.  It has no choice but to wear its Silver Age pedigree on its sleeve, and it has a little fun with it.  There's the joke about the domino mask not really concealing his identity from Carol...the time he makes the Hot Wheels track...heck, the climax of the movie has Hal just making a huge green fist and punching the crap out of the bad guy.  Why aren't more viewers acknowledging that there's something a little bit awesome about that?

I try not to be a DC fanboy/conspiracy theorist, but I do wonder a bit if falling into the Marvel Cinematic Universe could have given GL a little push toward acceptance.  I don't really see it falling short compared to say, Thor, which came out the same year and similarly celebrates some Silver Age themes.  I like Thor, but I don't see how it falls on the side of the line marked good, while GL will be forever relegated to the side marked crap.

Perhaps the worst result of the GL response is the fact that, had it been more of a hit, we might see a very different DC Extended Universe taking shape.  Green Lantern looks like it was DC's one shot at making serious-but-fun superhero flick in the general style of the MCU.  When it didn't work as planned, they took the opposite route, which includes stuff like putting Zack Snyder in charge of the Justice League.  The DCEU is now trying to "recover" when it never really got started, and the spirit hinted at in GL is only put to good use on the small screen with The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow.

We're not even getting a Lantern in the first Justice League flick, apparently.  That 2011 film really did a number on GL's place in the DC Universe.

A Monstrous Matter: Plan 9 cemetery to be recognized

Thanks to Armand Vaquer over at Monster Island News for pointing out that the cemetery featured in Plan 9 from Outer Space is set to be honored with a plaque in a ceremony tomorrow.  You may recall that Plan 9 came in at #3 in the Top 5 Alien Invasion Movies That I'd Like to Game.  (I'm kidding, I know you don't recall that.  Point is, I'm a fan, so it's cool to see it get recognized!)

Top 5 Alien Invasion Movies That I'd Like to Game

I'm not sure if it's the upcoming Independence Day: Resurgence, or the impending alienation drama of Batman v Superman, but I've got invasion on the brain right now.  I've often wanted to play out an alien invasion scenario in game form - RPG, miniatures, boardgame, or whatever - but have never committed the time (and, in some cases, money) to make it happen.

When I do take the plunge, here are the movies I'll be looking to for inspiration:

Honorable Mention:  Transformers

I know there are plenty of big robot games out there, and at some point, I should indulge.  This one's just an honorable mention because I don't necessarily want to play it as an alien invasion...I just want Optimus Prime and Megatron to face off on my table.

What I really love about the idea of a Transformers game is that the toys traditionally come with their own tech specs...which are just asking for a gaming treatment.  I know some efforts have already been made to make the specs gameable; someday I'd like to take a shot at a d20/OSR interpretation.

#5:  Mars Attacks!

My intro to this franchise came with Tim Burton's excellent 1996 movie, and it needs to be included on a list like this because it defines so much of what makes me want to play out an alien invasion.  I'd put it higher except that I haven't yet put my money (and time) where my mouth is and actually played the miniatures game from Mantic Games, which looks absolutely amazing!

#4:  Superman II

I've certainly played superhero games, but never one focused on a comic book-styled alien invasion.  I'm a sucker for Kryptonian lore, so I'd probably want to go that route (and I'm pretty sure there were some nice Man of Steel HeroClix figures available), but I'd also like to expand it a bit, maybe in the style of DC's late 80s crossover, Invasion!

#3:  Plan 9 from Outer Space

I'm not sure what a game version of Ed Wood's classic would even look like, but it's just too wacky to pass up.  I think the movie is public domain anyway, so a fan-made supplement would be very feasible!  Apparently, this was remade last year, but I haven't seen the new version to comment...

#2:  The X-Files: Fight the Future

...or whatever you prefer to call the 1998 film.  The X-Files have pretty much defined a genre for a generation of science fiction fans and gamers.  Even on Wizards of the Coast's own website, I think I remember seeing a reference to playing d20 Modern in "an X-Files style campaign."

While there is no official RPG, there are a number of options for gaming in this style, including the similar predecessor Delta Green.  If I get to run a modern conspiracy game at some point, the X-Files alien mythos angle will be difficult to resist.

#1:  Killer Klowns from Outer Space

Now, this is one of my absolute favorite movies to throw on in the background of my day.  Heck, it might be one of my absolute favorite movies overall!  I keep imagining a miniatures scenario based on it and have come to a pretty solid conclusion...it would be perfect.

There seem to be plenty of creepy clown minis out there.  Paint 'em up with a bunch of pretty colors, throw in some normal townsfolk, pick a ruleset that can handle some wacky Killer Klown effects.

Yup.  Perfect.  (Oh yeah, and there's a sequel coming...!)