R.K. King's Blog: Words and Worlds....Worlds and Words, page 2
April 29, 2018
The Great Lovecraft Mythos Movie Campaign - Part 1: THE HAUNTED PALACE
I made a decision to tackle the bulk of films out there adapted from HP Lovecraft’s work. Why, you ask? 1, because Lovecraft is one of my favourite authors. He created a far-reaching fictional universe that started an entirely new genre of horror. Many only know of Cthulhu, and many don’t even know that part. I’d like to shed a little light in that darkness. And 2, think of it as my tantrum or protest of sorts that Mountains of Madness has still never been made into a major movie. Bring on the Elder Things, dammit!
My first entry is a 1963 horror flick, The Haunted Palace, starring Vincent Price, Debra Paget and Lon Chaney Jr (yes, that Lon Chaney Jr, The Wolfman himself)
The interesting thing here is that The Haunted Palace actually refers to a piece of work by Edgar Allan Poe, not Lovecraft. Producer Roger Corman had done a few Poe adaptations prior to this, and wanted to move on to Lovecraft. But the studio wanted to retain the Poe connection so they used the title, while the actual plot of the film is in fact an adaptation of The Case of Charles Dexter Ward by Lovecraft..
Vincent Price does his admirable Vincent Price-type of work here, playing the protagonist Ward, a man who’s body is being taken over by his sorcerous ancestor via an old painting in a castle he inherits, but it just doesn’t ring as true as in the written work. In the book, Ward was a teenager, or at least a young man. When he gradually gets taken over by his ancestor, it has a more body-horror element to it, not to mention the horror his parents must endure through the process. Having Price play the character, who is basically the same age as his ancestor and therefor not as much of a change occurs, just isn’t as impactful.
Also, Lon Chaney Jr is downright wasted in this film….
Production design is great through. The recreation of the old castle and town, on what is obviously the studio lots, is quite endearing.
All in all, not one of the stronger Lovecraft adaptations out there.
Rating: C+
My first entry is a 1963 horror flick, The Haunted Palace, starring Vincent Price, Debra Paget and Lon Chaney Jr (yes, that Lon Chaney Jr, The Wolfman himself)
The interesting thing here is that The Haunted Palace actually refers to a piece of work by Edgar Allan Poe, not Lovecraft. Producer Roger Corman had done a few Poe adaptations prior to this, and wanted to move on to Lovecraft. But the studio wanted to retain the Poe connection so they used the title, while the actual plot of the film is in fact an adaptation of The Case of Charles Dexter Ward by Lovecraft..
Vincent Price does his admirable Vincent Price-type of work here, playing the protagonist Ward, a man who’s body is being taken over by his sorcerous ancestor via an old painting in a castle he inherits, but it just doesn’t ring as true as in the written work. In the book, Ward was a teenager, or at least a young man. When he gradually gets taken over by his ancestor, it has a more body-horror element to it, not to mention the horror his parents must endure through the process. Having Price play the character, who is basically the same age as his ancestor and therefor not as much of a change occurs, just isn’t as impactful.
Also, Lon Chaney Jr is downright wasted in this film….
Production design is great through. The recreation of the old castle and town, on what is obviously the studio lots, is quite endearing.
All in all, not one of the stronger Lovecraft adaptations out there.
Rating: C+
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR - Movie Review
10 Years….
I recall, ten years ago, seeing the first Iron Man film in the theatre. There had been comic book movies before, of course, and plenty of them Marvel. But this was the first of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or MCU), of which we had little idea how far reaching would become. Those of us who stayed until the end of the credits for that secret ending with Samuel L Jackson declaring the Avengers Initiative were shook, and I mean shook. It was actually happening. And happen it did.
A couple dozen or so films later, we come to the culmination of a decade’s work; Infinity War, the first bookend to what some are calling the first ‘chapter’ of the MCU.
All these movies have been about, or at least mentioned, the Infinity Stones. Big ‘ol Thanos is the baddie trying to collect said Stones so he can wipe out half of all life in the universe. Why? Watch it to find out.
I’m doing my best here not to go into spoiler territory, so I will say this; I found myself appreciating Thanos as a villain much more than I thought I would. He’s not quite as fleshed out as Loki or Magneto for example, but he is far superior to most of the other villains Marvel has utilized over the years (I’ve always felt that the villains were the one main weakness of Marvel’s way of doing things). Thanos is a deeply philosophical villain, and an actual threat. He just appears on the scene and you feel the doom that surrounds him.
There are stakes abound in this film, of which a lot of the previous entries often lacked as well. Alot of characters meet their makers in this, but keep in mind there is a caveat to this. Gone are the days when we were genuinely surprised at what would come next. That original secret ending at the end of the first Iron Man I was talking about earlier? That was an actual surprise. But nowadays we know the next few movies coming down the pipeline, and knowing this, it definitely takes away from some of the final moments of this film, knowing that some of these characters are in fact going to be just fine. I can’t blame the film itself for that though, it’s a byproduct of the industry now.
This movie basically makes up half of the original comic event it’s adapted from. Seems the second half will be Avengers 4 (as yet untitled), and due to knowing the final fates of some of the characters, although most will guess where it will lead too, the how remains a mystery. A mystery I look forward to seeing carried out.
There’s a fine line to be walked when characters, used in their own films by different directors, are then all brought into one crossover event and handled by different creators. It can leave the film unbalanced and characters who act differently that one would expect. Thankfully though, in this case, the film straddles that line without going over.
If you like the MCU, you will likely love Infinity War. And if you like Thor, then you’ll doubly dig this one as it’s very much Thor’s journey, of which I thought was the most strongly handled elements of it all.
But yes, plenty of twists and turns, heroism and heartbreak, and a villain that outshines most when it comes to the MCU overall. One of the strongest entries yet!
Rating: a solid A
I recall, ten years ago, seeing the first Iron Man film in the theatre. There had been comic book movies before, of course, and plenty of them Marvel. But this was the first of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or MCU), of which we had little idea how far reaching would become. Those of us who stayed until the end of the credits for that secret ending with Samuel L Jackson declaring the Avengers Initiative were shook, and I mean shook. It was actually happening. And happen it did.
A couple dozen or so films later, we come to the culmination of a decade’s work; Infinity War, the first bookend to what some are calling the first ‘chapter’ of the MCU.
All these movies have been about, or at least mentioned, the Infinity Stones. Big ‘ol Thanos is the baddie trying to collect said Stones so he can wipe out half of all life in the universe. Why? Watch it to find out.
I’m doing my best here not to go into spoiler territory, so I will say this; I found myself appreciating Thanos as a villain much more than I thought I would. He’s not quite as fleshed out as Loki or Magneto for example, but he is far superior to most of the other villains Marvel has utilized over the years (I’ve always felt that the villains were the one main weakness of Marvel’s way of doing things). Thanos is a deeply philosophical villain, and an actual threat. He just appears on the scene and you feel the doom that surrounds him.
There are stakes abound in this film, of which a lot of the previous entries often lacked as well. Alot of characters meet their makers in this, but keep in mind there is a caveat to this. Gone are the days when we were genuinely surprised at what would come next. That original secret ending at the end of the first Iron Man I was talking about earlier? That was an actual surprise. But nowadays we know the next few movies coming down the pipeline, and knowing this, it definitely takes away from some of the final moments of this film, knowing that some of these characters are in fact going to be just fine. I can’t blame the film itself for that though, it’s a byproduct of the industry now.
This movie basically makes up half of the original comic event it’s adapted from. Seems the second half will be Avengers 4 (as yet untitled), and due to knowing the final fates of some of the characters, although most will guess where it will lead too, the how remains a mystery. A mystery I look forward to seeing carried out.
There’s a fine line to be walked when characters, used in their own films by different directors, are then all brought into one crossover event and handled by different creators. It can leave the film unbalanced and characters who act differently that one would expect. Thankfully though, in this case, the film straddles that line without going over.
If you like the MCU, you will likely love Infinity War. And if you like Thor, then you’ll doubly dig this one as it’s very much Thor’s journey, of which I thought was the most strongly handled elements of it all.
But yes, plenty of twists and turns, heroism and heartbreak, and a villain that outshines most when it comes to the MCU overall. One of the strongest entries yet!
Rating: a solid A
April 1, 2018
READY PLAYER ONE - Movie Review
I emerged from the premier night of Ready Player One with a big grin on my face. Here’s why;
Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the 2011 novel by Ernest Cline, is a visual feast in the vein of Avatar. Much like Avatar, the Imax 3D visuals I saw did an amazing job of taking me to another world. And also much like Avatar, I left the movie wishing I could remain in that film’s world; in this case, the OASIS.
It’s 2045 and the world lives and breathes on its use of the virtual reality game/lifestyle of The Oasis. James Halliday, the creator of The Oasis, is often revered as a messiah-like figure for his creation and what he brought to the world. And then, sadly, he dies. But not before announcing the existence of an ‘easter egg’ hidden within The Oasis, and the player who discovers it will gain full ownership/control of the program as well as the vast wealth that comes from it. This spurs on the world to search for the easter egg, which makes Ready Player One like a cross between Willy Wonka and The Matrix.
As far as the book is concerned, I loved it. Yes, I fall right into the sweet spot of nostalgia that the story relies on, 80s pop culture. Everything from Back To The Future and Ghostbusters to Alf, Tab, and Thundercats are mentioned. It’s obvious where Cline’s love lies. But I also really appreciated the main theme of the story, relating to the pitfalls of online anonymity and whether an avatar of someone is accurate enough to discern a real relationship.
Unfortunately, some of that message is lost in the film. Not all of it, as Art3mis explains to protagonist Parzival that he is only in love with the version of her she chooses for the world to see, but a lot is indeed missing. The biggest one being that of Wade’s best friend Aech. I won’t reveal it here, but let’s just say the big reveal wasn’t until the very end of the book and was therefore much more meaningful. The film just sort of threw it in, which is a shame. There is also the concept of corporate greed, that although certainly highlighted for the movie, they never really delved into just how evil the company IOI really is. In the movie they are a problem. In the book they are an evil totalitarian regime.
There are a lot of changes from the book, but some of them are actually for the better. An entire sequence involving The Shining is used in place of a tour of never-ending copies of Halliday’s childhood home, and I’d say The Shining version is much better. I wonder if Stephen King has seen it?
And holy moly, the references in this movie. I look forward to seeing it again on bluray just to pause and see things and characters that made their way in, even if just for a moment. The licensing and clearance levels on the movie must have been huge! Going back to some of the changes in the movie, I imagine a couple of the more predominant ones, say like the Iron Giant, were due to licensing issues. That’s okay though, because overall, in the film they worked.
It’s a really fun romp that misses a couple of the more though-provoking themes from the book, so if you’re wanting that little bit of extra meat definitely check out the novel. But otherwise, while not perfect, it’s one of the more fun movie-going experiences I’ve had in a while.
Rating: B+
Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the 2011 novel by Ernest Cline, is a visual feast in the vein of Avatar. Much like Avatar, the Imax 3D visuals I saw did an amazing job of taking me to another world. And also much like Avatar, I left the movie wishing I could remain in that film’s world; in this case, the OASIS.
It’s 2045 and the world lives and breathes on its use of the virtual reality game/lifestyle of The Oasis. James Halliday, the creator of The Oasis, is often revered as a messiah-like figure for his creation and what he brought to the world. And then, sadly, he dies. But not before announcing the existence of an ‘easter egg’ hidden within The Oasis, and the player who discovers it will gain full ownership/control of the program as well as the vast wealth that comes from it. This spurs on the world to search for the easter egg, which makes Ready Player One like a cross between Willy Wonka and The Matrix.
As far as the book is concerned, I loved it. Yes, I fall right into the sweet spot of nostalgia that the story relies on, 80s pop culture. Everything from Back To The Future and Ghostbusters to Alf, Tab, and Thundercats are mentioned. It’s obvious where Cline’s love lies. But I also really appreciated the main theme of the story, relating to the pitfalls of online anonymity and whether an avatar of someone is accurate enough to discern a real relationship.
Unfortunately, some of that message is lost in the film. Not all of it, as Art3mis explains to protagonist Parzival that he is only in love with the version of her she chooses for the world to see, but a lot is indeed missing. The biggest one being that of Wade’s best friend Aech. I won’t reveal it here, but let’s just say the big reveal wasn’t until the very end of the book and was therefore much more meaningful. The film just sort of threw it in, which is a shame. There is also the concept of corporate greed, that although certainly highlighted for the movie, they never really delved into just how evil the company IOI really is. In the movie they are a problem. In the book they are an evil totalitarian regime.
There are a lot of changes from the book, but some of them are actually for the better. An entire sequence involving The Shining is used in place of a tour of never-ending copies of Halliday’s childhood home, and I’d say The Shining version is much better. I wonder if Stephen King has seen it?
And holy moly, the references in this movie. I look forward to seeing it again on bluray just to pause and see things and characters that made their way in, even if just for a moment. The licensing and clearance levels on the movie must have been huge! Going back to some of the changes in the movie, I imagine a couple of the more predominant ones, say like the Iron Giant, were due to licensing issues. That’s okay though, because overall, in the film they worked.
It’s a really fun romp that misses a couple of the more though-provoking themes from the book, so if you’re wanting that little bit of extra meat definitely check out the novel. But otherwise, while not perfect, it’s one of the more fun movie-going experiences I’ve had in a while.
Rating: B+
March 27, 2018
Mansions of Madness (Part 4)
In a new instalment of Mansions Of Madness, we find a ‘who-dunnit’ type of story that needs solving.
Part 4: Vengeful Impulses
An acquaintance named Thomas Carvey requests the pleasure of your company at a dinner party. Among his other invitees is the man or woman Carvey believes to be plotting his demise. Using the party as a cover, find out who is planning Carvey’s murder and why.
Difficulty: 2 out of 5
I played Carson Sinclair, the butler. He hails from the base set of the game and hadn’t been used yet. Accompanying Sinclair were Bob Jenkins, the salesman; Dexter Drake, the magician; Monterey Jack, the archaeologist; and yet another go-around for Preston Fairmont, the millionaire. But then again, with such an exclusive dinner party who can blame him for returning so soon?
Thomas Carvey was quick to make it clear what the night would hold; that he believed one of the other guests present in his mansion was out to kill him. The suspects each had their reasons, and it was up to us to figure out the culprit. After some interviews, the power was cut and poor Carvey was indeed murdered. But the question of his killer remained, and when the power returned, the investigation continued. It was clear multiple people had been out to acquire some of Carvey’s artifacts, but the identity of the killer remained unknown. The investigators decided to take a chance and accuse one of the suspects, but this was a wrong accusation, and the ghost of Carvey appeared to show his displeasure. Next came a battle for our lives against an unholy and vengeful spirit. But the night was to be won for the side of good, and Dexter Drake, the magic-wielding magician, dealt the final blow with a powerful spell that destroyed the ghost for good. The identity of Carvey’s killer remained unknown…
This ‘successful’ mission resulted in all the investigators surviving, returning Preston Fairmont to the survivors’ pool, and adding Monterey Jack, Dexter Drake, Bob Jenkins and Carson Sinclair.
Until next time…
Part 4: Vengeful Impulses
An acquaintance named Thomas Carvey requests the pleasure of your company at a dinner party. Among his other invitees is the man or woman Carvey believes to be plotting his demise. Using the party as a cover, find out who is planning Carvey’s murder and why.
Difficulty: 2 out of 5
I played Carson Sinclair, the butler. He hails from the base set of the game and hadn’t been used yet. Accompanying Sinclair were Bob Jenkins, the salesman; Dexter Drake, the magician; Monterey Jack, the archaeologist; and yet another go-around for Preston Fairmont, the millionaire. But then again, with such an exclusive dinner party who can blame him for returning so soon?
Thomas Carvey was quick to make it clear what the night would hold; that he believed one of the other guests present in his mansion was out to kill him. The suspects each had their reasons, and it was up to us to figure out the culprit. After some interviews, the power was cut and poor Carvey was indeed murdered. But the question of his killer remained, and when the power returned, the investigation continued. It was clear multiple people had been out to acquire some of Carvey’s artifacts, but the identity of the killer remained unknown. The investigators decided to take a chance and accuse one of the suspects, but this was a wrong accusation, and the ghost of Carvey appeared to show his displeasure. Next came a battle for our lives against an unholy and vengeful spirit. But the night was to be won for the side of good, and Dexter Drake, the magic-wielding magician, dealt the final blow with a powerful spell that destroyed the ghost for good. The identity of Carvey’s killer remained unknown…
This ‘successful’ mission resulted in all the investigators surviving, returning Preston Fairmont to the survivors’ pool, and adding Monterey Jack, Dexter Drake, Bob Jenkins and Carson Sinclair.
Until next time…
March 4, 2018
BLACK PANTHER - Movie Review
Release: 2018
Director: Ryan Coogler
Writers: Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole, based on characters by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o
Probable spoilers!!!
Rating: A-
Director: Ryan Coogler
Writers: Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole, based on characters by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o
Probable spoilers!!!
The latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Panther is an interesting case. Although it works as more of a standalone film, therefore not exactly 'contributing' to the Marvel storyline, it still contributes in other ways, most notably that of amazing world building and respect towards the character(s) mythos.
Marvel has done a great job proving that while 'Superhero Movies' is a genre, individual films are more than capable of representing a vast array of genres on their own. Captain America: Winter Soldier is a great spy thriller. Ant-Man is a great comedy-heist film. Spider-Man: Homecoming is a John Hughes-esque, Breakfast Club/Ferris Bueller/etc style coming of age story.
Black Panther pulls off the same tactic; Afrofuturism is a term that encompasses the combination of African culture/philosophy/politics/etc with fictional concepts such as magic/science fiction/fantasy. In short, it is a genre unto itself, and Black Panther is a prime example of such. It's blended incredibly well, and I would say the aesthetically powerful look and feel of Wakandan culture and locations in the movie are the driving force behind it. This is where my first 'negative' comes in though; while the Wakandan world building and design are spectacular, and most of the performances and character portrayals are great (more on that in a bit), I found the plot itself to be a little lacklustre. Beat-for-beat, the plot of Black Panther is almost the same as that of the first Thor movie. You could probably play them side by side and see mirror moments throughout. Having said that though, I feel there are vast improvements on those same moments in BP.
For example, people seem to fawn over Loki. Loki is a great villain for sure. He's entertaining. But he's also become somewhat predictable (not great for a God of Mischief...). I'm almost 100% sure what his plot line will be in Infinity War, just from knowing how the character is written and the logical path his arc will lead (if they pull a fast one and go another way though, I'll be really impressed). On the flip-side of that, Killmonger, a very similar villain to Loki in terms of setup ('illegitimate' claim to the throne, despises his kingly relative, pushing for recognition to his oppressed people, etc) is much more fascinating. Keep in mind, I said fascinating, not sympathetic.
There's lot's of chatter online about Killmonger being the most understandable Marvel villain to date, taking that title from Vulture of Spider-Man: Homecoming, I have to disagree. Sure, he's sympathetic like Vulture was. They were both dealt bad cards. Vulture lost everything to corporate greed and cutting out the blue-collar workers, while Killmonger was denied his heritage from childhood. They both came to resent the powers that wronged them. However, there is a big difference. Killmonger is a mass murderer. It's right in his story. He became a black ops operative simply to kill. He enjoys killing. He killed Klaue (Marvel's habit of once again killing off engaging villains too early and squandering their potential). He killed Zuri just 'cuz. He even killed his girlfriend or whatever she was when Klaue had a gun to her. To me, that takes away the sympathy card and turned him into a full-on villain. At the end of Spider-Man: Homecoming, a felt sorry for Vulture's fate. Not so for Killmonger, he had it coming. I wouldn't call that a negative though, it's just what the story arc was.
Although Marvel has an excellent track record of making incredibly entertaining movies, and are yet to create a film that can really be considered a flop (Thor 2 might be the one that comes the closest, and even then it was nowhere near a bomb), there has also for quite some time been a recurring underlying tone that created a schism between the feeling of the movies, something Black Panther for once has managed to avoid: Bathos.
Bathos originates from plays in Ancient Greece, among other places. It's a term that describes moments in a story which undermine, or run contrary, to the overall tone. The most common form of this is a joke or humorous take during an otherwise serious scene. Marvel has been doing this for a while. It works sometimes, but I would say that, more often than not, it's actually to the story's detriment.
A great example of this is right at the beginning of Thor: Ragnarok. Thor is falling through that great abyss, chained and bound, and confronts Surtur, probably the most devastating and powerful being in Norse mythology. The movie then spends a good minute or two on a humorous bit where Thor tries pleading with Surtur but gets interrupted every time, as, still bound in chains, his hanging form turns away from the fire demon again and again. Their otherwise serious conversation becomes a joke.
Another example would be in Doctor Strange, when he finally, in one encompassing moment, casts off his old life and its burdens and embraces his new fate as the Sorcerer Supreme by donning the iconic cape, dramatic music rising, only to be halted when the cape, with a life of its own, flicks grime from his cheek and he has to tell it to stop. Drama again interrupted by joke.
Or let's step away from Marvel for a second. In Star Wars: The Last Jedi, at the beginning of the film we witness an interaction between Poe Dameron and General Hux. Despite being in the middle of an epic space battle, it is played as a 'can you hear me now?' joke, and turns Hux, who should be an intimidating figure reminiscent of Tarkin from the original trilogy, into a bumbling idiot for the rest of the plot.
I'm not saying Bathos moments aren't funny. They usually are. Rocket and Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy have plenty that work. They're funny, but they're also disingenuous. Marvel has been relying on these disingenuous takes for some time, and it's created too much of a 'safe space' for the characters to exist, where no major heroes die, the villains lose, and everything works out fine.
Black Panther, on the other hand, changes things. Yes, there's some funny moments (the wig during the casino fight comes to mind, not to mention a lot of Shuri's antics), but most of them, if not all, actually mange to exist without halting the otherwise powerful narrative, which thus far most Marvel movies have failed at. Its moments are more organic, without employing the use of Bathos as a crutch. It also doesn't exist in a 'safe space' like other Marvel films, because when the plot leads to the existence of Wakanda being revealed to the world, that irrevocably changes the status quo. The world will not be the same from that point. I would say Black Panther rises high above all other Marvel movies in that regard, and, like Logan last year, is a huge breath of fresh air for this genre.
Rating: A-
February 25, 2018
Mansions of Madness (Parts 1-3)
These days my weekdays generally look like this; 8 hr day job, followed by a couple hrs writing at home, then dinner and, if lucky, squeeze in an episode of whatever TV show I'm watching (currently Black Mirror) before bed. Then the weekend, where I generally write/study/market/etc most of the day as well. However, it's the weekend evenings where I can treat myself as a reward for a good week's work. I either go to a movie if there's something I wanna see, watch a movie at home with friends, or once a month or so I gather with those same friends and play a board game I have come to enjoy immensely: Mansions Of Madness.
(DISCALIMER - I am not being sponsored or acknowledged in any way by Fantasy Flight Games. I just really really like the game!)
MoM is an exploration and mystery-solving game set during the roaring 20s which heavily draws on elements of HP Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. Ancient monsters, arcane rituals and fanatical cults populate the titular mansions and surrounding towns where you, the player, take on the role of a character investigator. Based on your character's motivations, you are there to solve the mystery, defeat the forces of evil, and save the world. The game is in its second edition, where a free companion app for your tablet or phone acts as a guide or game master as you progress through the story-driven campaigns. The narratives vary per story, but generally taking at least 2 hrs to even 5 or 6 hrs depending on play style.
You do not need to be a Lovecraft or Cthulhu expert to enjoy the game. Two of the people I play with know next to nothing about Lovecraft's work and still have a blast with their characters and story-driven fates that await them.
Part 1: Cycle Of Eternity
After a rash of disappearances, your investigation brings you to the Vanderbilt mansion during a meeting of a particular astronomical society. Can you unravel the mystery before the Cycle Of Eternity turns once more?
Difficulty: 2 out of 5
Our first foray into the game, I played William Yorick, the gravedigger. Accompanying him were Agatha Crane, the parapsychologist; Preston Fairmont, the millionaire; and Wendy Adams, the urchin.
Without delivering any spoilers, I will say the intrepid group of explorers faced off against some good old cult shenanigans, and faced a world-ending final battle where only Preston and William survived. Mortal wounds and insanity claimed the lives of both Agatha Crane and poor little Wendy Adams. RIP. William Yorick and Preston Fairmont began the survivors' pool.
Part 2: Rising Tide
Difficulty: 3 out of 5
A terrible ritual is soon to be performed in Innsmouth. A mysterious letter provides six suspects, but both the true culprits and the nature of the ritual are unknown. The tide is rising in Innsmouth; you must uncover the town's dangerous secrets before it is too late.
I played 'Ashcan' Pete, the drifter. He also automatically includes his faithful dog companion, Duke. Also; Jenny Barnes, the dilettante; Joe Diamond, the private eye; and Gloria Goldberg, the author.
After a lengthly investigation, the characters had scoured the majority of the town of Innsmouth. They'd discovered an invasion of monstrous beings, and the town itself was against them. At the climax of the story, fancy-schmansy Jenny Barnes escaped on an intact fishing boat, abandoning Gloria, Joe, 'Ashcan' Pete and even poor little Duke the dog who were then overrun by the town's murderous mobs. RIP. Jenny Barnes joined the survivors' pool.
Part 3: Cult Of Sentinel Hill
Difficulty: 3 out of 5
While investigating the strange disasters plaguing Dunwich, some of the locals turn against you. What the violent cult plans to do up on Sentinel Hill is a mystery to you, but stopping them seems to be the only way to escape.
This was a more straightforward dungeon-crawl type of story. It involved the emergence of a monstrous being and the characters' desperate attempts to defeat it. One caveat here; we played this one completely wrong. Rules regarding spreading fire, types of impassable borders etc led to our complete deaths. We made the decision that it was just the character's bad dreams, a premonition, and tried again with the same said characters.
I played Darrell Simmons, the photographer. There was also; Carolyn Fern, the psychologist; Rita Young, the athlete; and a surprise return of two previous survivors, Preston Fairmont and Jenny Barnes. We assume Jenny did not speak of her betrayal that led to the deaths of the others at Innsmouth...
Being as more straightforward as it was, the investigators were all able to survive, despite both Preston and Jenny going insane. Perhaps they returned to the world of the occult and darkness too soon, eh?
As it stands, the dark world of Mansions/Arkham has claimed the lives of Agatha Crane, Wendy Adams, 'Ashcan' Pete/Duke, Joe Diamond and Gloria Goldberg. May the dark gods have mercy on them.
Until next time...
(DISCALIMER - I am not being sponsored or acknowledged in any way by Fantasy Flight Games. I just really really like the game!)
MoM is an exploration and mystery-solving game set during the roaring 20s which heavily draws on elements of HP Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. Ancient monsters, arcane rituals and fanatical cults populate the titular mansions and surrounding towns where you, the player, take on the role of a character investigator. Based on your character's motivations, you are there to solve the mystery, defeat the forces of evil, and save the world. The game is in its second edition, where a free companion app for your tablet or phone acts as a guide or game master as you progress through the story-driven campaigns. The narratives vary per story, but generally taking at least 2 hrs to even 5 or 6 hrs depending on play style.
You do not need to be a Lovecraft or Cthulhu expert to enjoy the game. Two of the people I play with know next to nothing about Lovecraft's work and still have a blast with their characters and story-driven fates that await them.
Part 1: Cycle Of Eternity
After a rash of disappearances, your investigation brings you to the Vanderbilt mansion during a meeting of a particular astronomical society. Can you unravel the mystery before the Cycle Of Eternity turns once more?
Difficulty: 2 out of 5
Our first foray into the game, I played William Yorick, the gravedigger. Accompanying him were Agatha Crane, the parapsychologist; Preston Fairmont, the millionaire; and Wendy Adams, the urchin.
Without delivering any spoilers, I will say the intrepid group of explorers faced off against some good old cult shenanigans, and faced a world-ending final battle where only Preston and William survived. Mortal wounds and insanity claimed the lives of both Agatha Crane and poor little Wendy Adams. RIP. William Yorick and Preston Fairmont began the survivors' pool.
Part 2: Rising Tide
Difficulty: 3 out of 5
A terrible ritual is soon to be performed in Innsmouth. A mysterious letter provides six suspects, but both the true culprits and the nature of the ritual are unknown. The tide is rising in Innsmouth; you must uncover the town's dangerous secrets before it is too late.
I played 'Ashcan' Pete, the drifter. He also automatically includes his faithful dog companion, Duke. Also; Jenny Barnes, the dilettante; Joe Diamond, the private eye; and Gloria Goldberg, the author.
After a lengthly investigation, the characters had scoured the majority of the town of Innsmouth. They'd discovered an invasion of monstrous beings, and the town itself was against them. At the climax of the story, fancy-schmansy Jenny Barnes escaped on an intact fishing boat, abandoning Gloria, Joe, 'Ashcan' Pete and even poor little Duke the dog who were then overrun by the town's murderous mobs. RIP. Jenny Barnes joined the survivors' pool.
Part 3: Cult Of Sentinel Hill
Difficulty: 3 out of 5
While investigating the strange disasters plaguing Dunwich, some of the locals turn against you. What the violent cult plans to do up on Sentinel Hill is a mystery to you, but stopping them seems to be the only way to escape.
This was a more straightforward dungeon-crawl type of story. It involved the emergence of a monstrous being and the characters' desperate attempts to defeat it. One caveat here; we played this one completely wrong. Rules regarding spreading fire, types of impassable borders etc led to our complete deaths. We made the decision that it was just the character's bad dreams, a premonition, and tried again with the same said characters.
I played Darrell Simmons, the photographer. There was also; Carolyn Fern, the psychologist; Rita Young, the athlete; and a surprise return of two previous survivors, Preston Fairmont and Jenny Barnes. We assume Jenny did not speak of her betrayal that led to the deaths of the others at Innsmouth...
Being as more straightforward as it was, the investigators were all able to survive, despite both Preston and Jenny going insane. Perhaps they returned to the world of the occult and darkness too soon, eh?
As it stands, the dark world of Mansions/Arkham has claimed the lives of Agatha Crane, Wendy Adams, 'Ashcan' Pete/Duke, Joe Diamond and Gloria Goldberg. May the dark gods have mercy on them.
Until next time...
February 1, 2018
Winter Views
Ah, Winter. The crisp, cold season that many folks completely despise. Not all, though. I for one quite enjoy winter, but I also live in a temperate climate so there's that. But the best part of winter is, of course, the more excuses to settle in and enjoy a good story. Whether that be from a good book, a show you follow, or something new at the multiplex or home video, winter allows more people to enjoy that entertainment they crave.
Here's what I experienced through this winter:
Books
Along Came A Spider by James Patterson
Goodreads review: http://bit.ly/2FEzvcP
H.P. Lovecraft: The Complete Omnibus Collection: Vol I 1917-1926
(Audiobook) Goodreads review: http://bit.ly/2DV5hWs
The Dark Half by Stephen King
Goodreads review: http://bit.ly/2GEiyQP
Movies
Thor: Ragnarok
A blast of energetic storytelling mixed with something of a 'coming of age' arc for Thor himself. It was a fun adventure to go on, and I loved the stylistic choices with production design and soundtrack etc. However, 3 issues are apparent; 1: The humour. Jokes are fine, and often funny. But use too many and it loses its importance. This happened fairly quickly in this film, and I rolled my eyes at a few of the attempted humorous moments. 2: Sort of a continuation of #1, but the Hulk was incredibly misused. For a character with such a rich history of tragedy, it's kind of lame to see him becoming more and more of a cartoon character. Show us more of the raw, tragic, character-driven Bruce Banner vs Hulk that's just begging to be told. And 3: Hela was underused here. Cate Blanchette dows a swell job in the role, but it never really amounts to anything. Hela could arguably be one of the harshest foes for the Marvel heroes to face, but she needs to be utilized more.
Rating: A-
Murder On The Orient Express
A great character-work film, most of the cast really shines. But Kenneth Branagh is of course the real star here, and he does an awesome job in the title role. The movie, although great looking, does get bogged down in some overly 'cooky' parts, but overall it's a fun who-dunnit.
Rating: B
Justice League
Warner Bros has had a bad track record with it's DC Comics movies. Other than Wonder Woman, they have all seemed to sink. Justice League, at least, doesn't quite sink like some of the others, but i'd say it just barely treads the water. Structurally, it's weak. The world mourns the loss of a Superman that, according to Batman v Superman, actually despised. Makes no sense. Perhaps if Batman v Superman had been better, it would have trickled into a better Justice League too? I dunno. Aquaman and Flash are kind of ridiculous in each of their own ways. Surprisingly, Cyborg had the most character development, though he's an eyesore to watch with all that jarring cgi. The completely forgettable villain doesn't help either. Batman and Wonder Woman are cool though.
Rating: B-
The Disaster Artist
Hilarious and heart warming. If you've never seen Tommy Wiseau in the Room you can still get lots of enjoyment from this 'making-of-The-Room' retelling comedy, but having known of The Room beforehand I'd say I enjoyed it that much more. You can tell they didn't set out to make fun of the guy and his failed attempt, but to show that, despite his oddness and unorthodox way of doing things, he was creative and took a chance. Really great.
Rating: A-
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
So much has been said online already. I'll try and keep my opinion brief, but know that it is a negative one. Yes, I fall into the category of lifelong Star Wars fan who felt let down, and here's why; I can forgive the lamer new characters like Deejay or Haldo. I can forgive the completely pointless side mission to Canto Bight that served zero purpose. (personally I'd just have had Rose BE the hacker and make it more snappy that way). I can even forgive the Leia Poppins moment for being exactly what it was, a poorly-executed moment. Star Wars isn't perfect, remember the Ewoks? But I can't get past two very damning things. 1: the entire reason Kylo Ren became the antagonist he is was stupid. It betrayed everything Luke stood for as a character, especially when you take into account what he was willing to sacrifice to redeem his father Darth Vader, a KNOWN genocidal space Hitler. Choosing what he did regarding Kylo Ren, even for enough of a moment to stand there and ignite his lightsaber, is wrong. Plus not mentioning anything to Leia and Han? Nope. And 2: Star Wars has always been about heroism. Good vs Evil and the struggle to overcome darkness for the brighter light. But now, unless they are Rey, characters are outright punished for being heroic. Luke, Finn, Poe and more, all had moments of literal 'punishment' for trying to be the heroes. If you think heroism is outdated or unnecessary, then Star Wars isn't for you. Or at least that was the case when it stood for something. Okay, rant over. If you really enjoyed this movie then awesome, all the power to ya. It's just that, for me, as a die-hard fan, nothing of it rang true to the spirit of Star Wars. Except the new Tie Silencers. Those look great.
Rating: C
The Greatest Showman
The biggest issue going for this film is it's stretching of a budget it clearly didn't have for a movie of this size. That aside though, it's a fun musical with fantastic production design. It has a great message, and superb showmanship through Hugh Jackman. I enjoyed the soundtrack quite a bit. I'm not the biggest musical fan, but I am definitely tired of musicals that come off as really pretentious and all-important. This one steers clear of that to present a clear, uplifting message that anyone can enjoy.
Rating: B
The Shape Of Water
Guillermo Del Toro is one of my favourite filmmakers out there. He's such a compelling visual storyteller and I find myself really enjoying most of his work. This is no different. Very enjoyable, while also sad at times. Also some surprisingly graphic moments. All in all though one of Del Toro's best and one of my favourite films of the year.
Rating: A
TV
American Horror Story S7
When I heard the new season of AHS involved the crazy creepy clown epidemic from last year, I was stoked. It didn't really pan out the way I'd though though, but that's more to do with my own expectations. This season was unnerving, but also often resorted to easy shock factor that didn't actually serve the plot. Not a huge fan of the end either. Great concept though.
Rating: B
The Punisher S1
A great setup for future Frank Castle stories. But that's what it mostly was, a set up. The action scenes were intense and great, but then they would be broken up by some meandering plots that, while meaningful, don't really fit with Punisher as a character. His camaraderie with Micro was fantastic though. And although there were certainly intense moments befitting of Punisher, I couldn't help notice nothing holding quite up to his appearance in S2 of Daredevil against Wilson Fisk or the Hand. Still, a great commentary on war, its veterans, and their place in the world once the fighting is supposed to be done.
Rating: A
And that, dear readers, was my winter in a nutshell. I also got the audiobook for Eye Of The Storm released, and continue to plug away on my next book. 'Til then!
RK King
Here's what I experienced through this winter:
Books
Along Came A Spider by James Patterson
Goodreads review: http://bit.ly/2FEzvcP
H.P. Lovecraft: The Complete Omnibus Collection: Vol I 1917-1926
(Audiobook) Goodreads review: http://bit.ly/2DV5hWs
The Dark Half by Stephen King
Goodreads review: http://bit.ly/2GEiyQP
Movies
Thor: Ragnarok
A blast of energetic storytelling mixed with something of a 'coming of age' arc for Thor himself. It was a fun adventure to go on, and I loved the stylistic choices with production design and soundtrack etc. However, 3 issues are apparent; 1: The humour. Jokes are fine, and often funny. But use too many and it loses its importance. This happened fairly quickly in this film, and I rolled my eyes at a few of the attempted humorous moments. 2: Sort of a continuation of #1, but the Hulk was incredibly misused. For a character with such a rich history of tragedy, it's kind of lame to see him becoming more and more of a cartoon character. Show us more of the raw, tragic, character-driven Bruce Banner vs Hulk that's just begging to be told. And 3: Hela was underused here. Cate Blanchette dows a swell job in the role, but it never really amounts to anything. Hela could arguably be one of the harshest foes for the Marvel heroes to face, but she needs to be utilized more.
Rating: A-
Murder On The Orient Express
A great character-work film, most of the cast really shines. But Kenneth Branagh is of course the real star here, and he does an awesome job in the title role. The movie, although great looking, does get bogged down in some overly 'cooky' parts, but overall it's a fun who-dunnit.
Rating: B
Justice League
Warner Bros has had a bad track record with it's DC Comics movies. Other than Wonder Woman, they have all seemed to sink. Justice League, at least, doesn't quite sink like some of the others, but i'd say it just barely treads the water. Structurally, it's weak. The world mourns the loss of a Superman that, according to Batman v Superman, actually despised. Makes no sense. Perhaps if Batman v Superman had been better, it would have trickled into a better Justice League too? I dunno. Aquaman and Flash are kind of ridiculous in each of their own ways. Surprisingly, Cyborg had the most character development, though he's an eyesore to watch with all that jarring cgi. The completely forgettable villain doesn't help either. Batman and Wonder Woman are cool though.
Rating: B-
The Disaster Artist
Hilarious and heart warming. If you've never seen Tommy Wiseau in the Room you can still get lots of enjoyment from this 'making-of-The-Room' retelling comedy, but having known of The Room beforehand I'd say I enjoyed it that much more. You can tell they didn't set out to make fun of the guy and his failed attempt, but to show that, despite his oddness and unorthodox way of doing things, he was creative and took a chance. Really great.
Rating: A-
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
So much has been said online already. I'll try and keep my opinion brief, but know that it is a negative one. Yes, I fall into the category of lifelong Star Wars fan who felt let down, and here's why; I can forgive the lamer new characters like Deejay or Haldo. I can forgive the completely pointless side mission to Canto Bight that served zero purpose. (personally I'd just have had Rose BE the hacker and make it more snappy that way). I can even forgive the Leia Poppins moment for being exactly what it was, a poorly-executed moment. Star Wars isn't perfect, remember the Ewoks? But I can't get past two very damning things. 1: the entire reason Kylo Ren became the antagonist he is was stupid. It betrayed everything Luke stood for as a character, especially when you take into account what he was willing to sacrifice to redeem his father Darth Vader, a KNOWN genocidal space Hitler. Choosing what he did regarding Kylo Ren, even for enough of a moment to stand there and ignite his lightsaber, is wrong. Plus not mentioning anything to Leia and Han? Nope. And 2: Star Wars has always been about heroism. Good vs Evil and the struggle to overcome darkness for the brighter light. But now, unless they are Rey, characters are outright punished for being heroic. Luke, Finn, Poe and more, all had moments of literal 'punishment' for trying to be the heroes. If you think heroism is outdated or unnecessary, then Star Wars isn't for you. Or at least that was the case when it stood for something. Okay, rant over. If you really enjoyed this movie then awesome, all the power to ya. It's just that, for me, as a die-hard fan, nothing of it rang true to the spirit of Star Wars. Except the new Tie Silencers. Those look great.
Rating: C
The Greatest Showman
The biggest issue going for this film is it's stretching of a budget it clearly didn't have for a movie of this size. That aside though, it's a fun musical with fantastic production design. It has a great message, and superb showmanship through Hugh Jackman. I enjoyed the soundtrack quite a bit. I'm not the biggest musical fan, but I am definitely tired of musicals that come off as really pretentious and all-important. This one steers clear of that to present a clear, uplifting message that anyone can enjoy.
Rating: B
The Shape Of Water
Guillermo Del Toro is one of my favourite filmmakers out there. He's such a compelling visual storyteller and I find myself really enjoying most of his work. This is no different. Very enjoyable, while also sad at times. Also some surprisingly graphic moments. All in all though one of Del Toro's best and one of my favourite films of the year.
Rating: A
TV
American Horror Story S7
When I heard the new season of AHS involved the crazy creepy clown epidemic from last year, I was stoked. It didn't really pan out the way I'd though though, but that's more to do with my own expectations. This season was unnerving, but also often resorted to easy shock factor that didn't actually serve the plot. Not a huge fan of the end either. Great concept though.
Rating: B
The Punisher S1
A great setup for future Frank Castle stories. But that's what it mostly was, a set up. The action scenes were intense and great, but then they would be broken up by some meandering plots that, while meaningful, don't really fit with Punisher as a character. His camaraderie with Micro was fantastic though. And although there were certainly intense moments befitting of Punisher, I couldn't help notice nothing holding quite up to his appearance in S2 of Daredevil against Wilson Fisk or the Hand. Still, a great commentary on war, its veterans, and their place in the world once the fighting is supposed to be done.
Rating: A
And that, dear readers, was my winter in a nutshell. I also got the audiobook for Eye Of The Storm released, and continue to plug away on my next book. 'Til then!
RK King
November 2, 2017
Fall Views
As Fall makes itself known, as leaves turn to crisp colours before their plummet, as the air begins to drop its temperature, we are reminded that next comes winter.
But before we are greeted by that frigid state, first let's see what was enjoyed in the world of stories through the autumn season, shall we?
Books:
The Tommyknockers by Stephen King
Goodreads review: http://bit.ly/2lJBGq9
Movies:
IT (2017)
Hooboy, what a difference between the Dark Tower and this! If Dark Tower was the sinkhole, IT is the new foundation set to support SK's adaptations moving forward.
While I absolutely love the Tim Currey miniseries version, I can't help but label this new film as more 'accurate'. Pennywise in the book wasn't super slapstick like Currey's take. This iteration, played wonderfully by Bill Skarsgard, seems much more predator-like, which is really what the creature known as Pennywise really is. All the kids were great too, but the standouts to me were those who portrayed Beverley and Stan. And yes, it's only (SPOILERS) part 1 of 2, but this first instalment had me definitely looking forward to part 2.
Rating: A-
Little Evil
Saw this on Netflix, and enjoyed it in the moment. It's not a film that stuck with me however, as I've seen other older (and better) movies that have approached this same idea. I'm a fan of Adam Scott, but would rather watch, say, Krampus, over this any time. A little forgettable too unfortunately.
Rating: B
Kingsmen: The Golden Circle
The first Kingsmen was a surprise hit for me. I wan't expecting much, and was instead blindsided by a really witty and entertaining take on the spy genre.
Golden Circle, although fun as well, just didn't hold up the same way the first one did. I couldn't take the main villain seriously, their plans and plot devices were a little lacking, and some of the humour surrounding them didn't impress me. At least not as much as the first.
The cast themselves did a great job though, and sold me on the expanding world. I just wish the plot had been a little better.
Rating: B+
The Monster Project
Found footage movies are almost always the same. But it's that rare one that manages to break that mold that stays with me, and Monster Project managed to do that.
I loved the premise, the attempt to interview people who believe they are monsters in order to make them appear crazy, only for it to of course turn out they really are monsters. The crew managed to pull off some really great moments as well, considering the VERY low budget they had. Compared to other films of its type, I was really impressed.
Rating: B+
Gerald's Game
Also on Netflix, this film continues the Stephen King train into rising quality zones. This entire movie hinged on the performance of Carla Gugino, and she delivered. One of the best performances I've seen this year. The woman deserves an award, somewhere.
My only one gripe was what seemed like a toning down of the 'supernatural' aspects, compared to the book. They were't shown as much really, but it wasn't enough to strongly take away from the experience.
Rating: A
Blade Runner 2049
I've read that this movie didn't fair well in theatres, that people didn't flock to see it. That's too bad, because although it's certainly not a perfect film, it is one of the few out there that does an amazing job of drawing you into its world. The production design alone had better win an oscar.
The story somewhat evolves from the first film, and approaches existential questions of humanity in ways that are both impressive and haunting.
The plot could have expanded slightly, but maybe there were/are plans for another?
Very impressed.
Rating: A
1922
And, rounding out the trifecta of great SK adaptations comes 1922, based on a novella. It's what you would call a 'slow burn' story, but it's a burn you certainly feel. A cautionary tale about a man driven by obsession and greed, it was difficult to root for the protagonist. But that's a good thing. It added to the dread, and keeps you wondering how it all pans out. A bit of an out-there performance from Thomas Jane, but one that was well committed and keeps you unsettled throughout.
Rating: A-
Shows:
The Mist S1
And of course, it seams for every one or two great SK adaptations out there, there's a clunker just waiting around the corner. This show is one of those clunkers.
All but one of the characters are all idiots or unlikable in annoying ways, and then even the one good one completely trashes that at the end of the finale, to seem like a badass? To teach a lesson? Either way, it was a complete betrayal of his character, despite the circumstances.
Too many characters jump to idiotic conclusions. This of course tend to get them killed, but it's really just lazy.
I'd be surprised if there is another season. I won't be watching it.
Rating: D+
Stranger Things S2
I loved the first season. The nostalgia. The D&D. The Nerd Power. The Demogorgon. Eleven. All of it.
The second season carries on from the first, and unfortunately lost me a little. This is just a personal reason, but at the end of the first season it seamed like a wide-open window to start dealing with multiple dimensions. Altogether different stories that all have the same connection of being attached to small town Hawkins, IN. Sort of in the way the TV show Fringe approached it a few years back.
But by simply continuing the same story, with the same alternate reality, and the same creatures, it deflated it just a little for me.
Also, there is one episode in the season, where Eleven heads to the big city and meets cookie-cutter 80s caricatures, which doesn't even add to the story in any real way, that I really felt simply bored. There were a few wasted moments in there where they really could have highlighted her potential more.
Speaking of highlights, the standouts this season though were Dustin, Steve, and newcomer Max. Looking forward to more of them.
Rating: B
There we go, stories I enjoyed prior to the coming winter months. I imagine one or two of those go against the grain, but hey, there 'ya have it.
But before we are greeted by that frigid state, first let's see what was enjoyed in the world of stories through the autumn season, shall we?
Books:
The Tommyknockers by Stephen King
Goodreads review: http://bit.ly/2lJBGq9
Movies:
IT (2017)
Hooboy, what a difference between the Dark Tower and this! If Dark Tower was the sinkhole, IT is the new foundation set to support SK's adaptations moving forward.
While I absolutely love the Tim Currey miniseries version, I can't help but label this new film as more 'accurate'. Pennywise in the book wasn't super slapstick like Currey's take. This iteration, played wonderfully by Bill Skarsgard, seems much more predator-like, which is really what the creature known as Pennywise really is. All the kids were great too, but the standouts to me were those who portrayed Beverley and Stan. And yes, it's only (SPOILERS) part 1 of 2, but this first instalment had me definitely looking forward to part 2.
Rating: A-
Little Evil
Saw this on Netflix, and enjoyed it in the moment. It's not a film that stuck with me however, as I've seen other older (and better) movies that have approached this same idea. I'm a fan of Adam Scott, but would rather watch, say, Krampus, over this any time. A little forgettable too unfortunately.
Rating: B
Kingsmen: The Golden Circle
The first Kingsmen was a surprise hit for me. I wan't expecting much, and was instead blindsided by a really witty and entertaining take on the spy genre.
Golden Circle, although fun as well, just didn't hold up the same way the first one did. I couldn't take the main villain seriously, their plans and plot devices were a little lacking, and some of the humour surrounding them didn't impress me. At least not as much as the first.
The cast themselves did a great job though, and sold me on the expanding world. I just wish the plot had been a little better.
Rating: B+
The Monster Project
Found footage movies are almost always the same. But it's that rare one that manages to break that mold that stays with me, and Monster Project managed to do that.
I loved the premise, the attempt to interview people who believe they are monsters in order to make them appear crazy, only for it to of course turn out they really are monsters. The crew managed to pull off some really great moments as well, considering the VERY low budget they had. Compared to other films of its type, I was really impressed.
Rating: B+
Gerald's Game
Also on Netflix, this film continues the Stephen King train into rising quality zones. This entire movie hinged on the performance of Carla Gugino, and she delivered. One of the best performances I've seen this year. The woman deserves an award, somewhere.
My only one gripe was what seemed like a toning down of the 'supernatural' aspects, compared to the book. They were't shown as much really, but it wasn't enough to strongly take away from the experience.
Rating: A
Blade Runner 2049
I've read that this movie didn't fair well in theatres, that people didn't flock to see it. That's too bad, because although it's certainly not a perfect film, it is one of the few out there that does an amazing job of drawing you into its world. The production design alone had better win an oscar.
The story somewhat evolves from the first film, and approaches existential questions of humanity in ways that are both impressive and haunting.
The plot could have expanded slightly, but maybe there were/are plans for another?
Very impressed.
Rating: A
1922
And, rounding out the trifecta of great SK adaptations comes 1922, based on a novella. It's what you would call a 'slow burn' story, but it's a burn you certainly feel. A cautionary tale about a man driven by obsession and greed, it was difficult to root for the protagonist. But that's a good thing. It added to the dread, and keeps you wondering how it all pans out. A bit of an out-there performance from Thomas Jane, but one that was well committed and keeps you unsettled throughout.
Rating: A-
Shows:
The Mist S1
And of course, it seams for every one or two great SK adaptations out there, there's a clunker just waiting around the corner. This show is one of those clunkers.
All but one of the characters are all idiots or unlikable in annoying ways, and then even the one good one completely trashes that at the end of the finale, to seem like a badass? To teach a lesson? Either way, it was a complete betrayal of his character, despite the circumstances.
Too many characters jump to idiotic conclusions. This of course tend to get them killed, but it's really just lazy.
I'd be surprised if there is another season. I won't be watching it.
Rating: D+
Stranger Things S2
I loved the first season. The nostalgia. The D&D. The Nerd Power. The Demogorgon. Eleven. All of it.
The second season carries on from the first, and unfortunately lost me a little. This is just a personal reason, but at the end of the first season it seamed like a wide-open window to start dealing with multiple dimensions. Altogether different stories that all have the same connection of being attached to small town Hawkins, IN. Sort of in the way the TV show Fringe approached it a few years back.
But by simply continuing the same story, with the same alternate reality, and the same creatures, it deflated it just a little for me.
Also, there is one episode in the season, where Eleven heads to the big city and meets cookie-cutter 80s caricatures, which doesn't even add to the story in any real way, that I really felt simply bored. There were a few wasted moments in there where they really could have highlighted her potential more.
Speaking of highlights, the standouts this season though were Dustin, Steve, and newcomer Max. Looking forward to more of them.
Rating: B
There we go, stories I enjoyed prior to the coming winter months. I imagine one or two of those go against the grain, but hey, there 'ya have it.
October 24, 2017
Writing The Next Book
As I continue writing the new book, and in the spirit of upcoming Halloween, I thought I'd share a little something about it.
1: This book is not the sequel to Eye Of The Storm. This book is the beginning of a new series, a dark fantasy series in fact. My goal is to have two separate series, so this one and the Storm Cycle, going at the same time, alternating between the instalments as they progress. If one series fully ends before the other, don't worry. I've got plenty more stories to begin right after :)
2: As I said, this new book is the beginning of a dark fantasy, and also heavily western influenced. I'm on the fence as whether to label it as a weird western, but I suppose that in the end that is really what it is. So, Weird Western or Dark Fantasy, or both. Take your pick :)
3: Part of the writing world includes having some presence in social media. There are of course my Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @real_rkking plus my Goodreads page https://www.goodreads.com/rkking and my Amazon author page https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01N1YG6XB
But I've recently been inspired to take on Pinterest, to serve as an inspiration board for my books. As a little treat, I thought I'd share with you a handful of examples that inspire the world of the next book. Just check my website blog, where you'll see this same type of blog post only with the added imagery :) (oh, and all copyright of these images is to their respective artists. This is just for inspiration board purposes)
http://www.ryankennethking.com
And there you have it, just a taste of this coming dark fantasy western world. More info, including a title reveal, down the road...
1: This book is not the sequel to Eye Of The Storm. This book is the beginning of a new series, a dark fantasy series in fact. My goal is to have two separate series, so this one and the Storm Cycle, going at the same time, alternating between the instalments as they progress. If one series fully ends before the other, don't worry. I've got plenty more stories to begin right after :)
2: As I said, this new book is the beginning of a dark fantasy, and also heavily western influenced. I'm on the fence as whether to label it as a weird western, but I suppose that in the end that is really what it is. So, Weird Western or Dark Fantasy, or both. Take your pick :)
3: Part of the writing world includes having some presence in social media. There are of course my Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @real_rkking plus my Goodreads page https://www.goodreads.com/rkking and my Amazon author page https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01N1YG6XB
But I've recently been inspired to take on Pinterest, to serve as an inspiration board for my books. As a little treat, I thought I'd share with you a handful of examples that inspire the world of the next book. Just check my website blog, where you'll see this same type of blog post only with the added imagery :) (oh, and all copyright of these images is to their respective artists. This is just for inspiration board purposes)
http://www.ryankennethking.com
And there you have it, just a taste of this coming dark fantasy western world. More info, including a title reveal, down the road...
October 9, 2017
Being Thankful
As Canadian Thanksgiving has made its arrival (to my American peeps, just consider this written a few weeks from now!), I find myself pondering the meaning behind it. There has been a lot of "heat" pressed on it over the years, and it seems to have really culminated more recently. More and more people choose to boycott the concept of the holiday, citing that it's a day that celebrates the near extinction of a society of people. I get that. It happened. It is indeed a part of history. When discussing the founding of the country, there is no denying it was a major part of it all.
But at the same time, I do see world events unfolding before us, right here and now. These are some volatile times we are living in, from the political climate to natural disasters to economic uncertainty, it's hard to say for sure where things are going to land. These are factors that are occurring now. Right now. It impacts us all in this very moment, and for me, personally, it has brought me to pause and see the forest through the trees, as it were.
I am thankful.
I'm thankful I can walk the streets and feel relatively safe. I'm thankful the area I live doesn't seem to be the target of politically-motivated attacks of terror and/or wanton acts of chaotic destruction. I'm thankful to have access to decent food and clean water. I'm thankful I have the freedom to pursue my goals in life. I'm thankful to have a day job that provides vacation enough, that after saving a lot, I just took a MONTH off to continue work on the next book. I'm thankful to have a loving and caring wife who supports my dreams.
These aren't bragging rights by any means, but it is a list that highlights how, in many parts of the world, things like this are not even possible anymore, if they ever were.
And yes, no one's life is perfect. There's always that next goal, or that wishing for something you don't have. It's inherently human to have those views. But take that moment, where instead of focusing on what you don't have or have maybe lost, turn that focus toward what you do have or have succeeded in.
Politics aside, I think that's the real (and more positive) meaning behind the holiday.
And so, today I am thankful. How about you?
Just my 2 cents...
TTYL
RK
But at the same time, I do see world events unfolding before us, right here and now. These are some volatile times we are living in, from the political climate to natural disasters to economic uncertainty, it's hard to say for sure where things are going to land. These are factors that are occurring now. Right now. It impacts us all in this very moment, and for me, personally, it has brought me to pause and see the forest through the trees, as it were.
I am thankful.
I'm thankful I can walk the streets and feel relatively safe. I'm thankful the area I live doesn't seem to be the target of politically-motivated attacks of terror and/or wanton acts of chaotic destruction. I'm thankful to have access to decent food and clean water. I'm thankful I have the freedom to pursue my goals in life. I'm thankful to have a day job that provides vacation enough, that after saving a lot, I just took a MONTH off to continue work on the next book. I'm thankful to have a loving and caring wife who supports my dreams.
These aren't bragging rights by any means, but it is a list that highlights how, in many parts of the world, things like this are not even possible anymore, if they ever were.
And yes, no one's life is perfect. There's always that next goal, or that wishing for something you don't have. It's inherently human to have those views. But take that moment, where instead of focusing on what you don't have or have maybe lost, turn that focus toward what you do have or have succeeded in.
Politics aside, I think that's the real (and more positive) meaning behind the holiday.
And so, today I am thankful. How about you?
Just my 2 cents...
TTYL
RK
