Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 99
March 4, 2023
March 4, 2023: Concluding the Stargate: SG-1 season 6 concept art and episodic insights!
Paradise Lost
Robert Cooper’s long-standing distaste for arugula is finally revealed. The mysterious plant Jack and Maybourne eat in order to survive apparently tastes horrible – not unlike arugula. Not only that but, at episode’s end, we realize it’s the cause of the frightening hallucinations that almost get them killed. Rob’s aversion to spicy leaf plants isn’t restricted to arugula alone. Back in the day, we used do our annual trips to Vegas to celebrate our respective birthdays that all used to fall in the same month (Rob, Chris Judge, John G. Lenic, and myself). I remember going to The Cheesecake Factory with him once and, when our two orders of corn tamales arrived, having him look down at the heavily cilantro-topped tamale he’d received and lamenting: “Hey, why do I get to have all the cilantro?” as if to imply I’d been left out because my tamale was relatively cilantro-less. A clever bit of reverse psychology.
Metamorphosis…
And the award for Most Awkward Seduction scene in an episode of Stargate goes to… Whenever I see the Nirrti’s Bedchamber scene, I vacillate between squirming and laughing out loud. “Mrs. Nirrti, you’re trying to seduce me!”. Poor, simple, innocent Jonas.
Another thing I recall about this episode was the gratuitously gory shot of the mutant exploding on the hospital gurney that ended up being cut.
Disclosure…
No concept art 
When Paul and I learned SG-1 would be doing a clip show in its sixth season, we lobbied hard and eventually won the opportunity to write it!
Juuuust kidding. When we were first handed the assignment, we were less than enthusiastic. But, as we started writing, it became, if not exactly fun, then certainly interesting. It’s Stargate 101 as the series deals with an issue that would plague it for years to come: How the hell can the government possibly keep the existence of the Stargate program a secret? Sure, there were past incidents that required some fast-talking (“Exploding spaceships? No, no, no. Those were Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Er, yes, in November.”), but the apparent crash of a spaceship into the Pacific Ocean was going to be tough to cover up. And so, rather than even try, we come clean. Of course it stood to reason that our allies would be annoyed at being kept in the dark for so long, so Rob Cooper suggested an appearance by Thor, the ever-affable Asgard, to smooth things over (and put the conniving Kinsey in his place). I love the sequence where Kinsey raises his finger to interrupt only to have Thor trump him by raising his finger (shut up) and continuing.
Forsaken…
Tiny nitpick but, in the opening scene, O’Neill peers through Carter’s telescope and remarks on the fact that he can’t see anything. She points out that, no, he wouldn’t because it’s daytime. Amusing and all if not for the fact that the show had already established Jack as a guy who likes to check out the stars at night through the telescope in his backyard. Was Jack being purposely dense? Perhaps. In fact, as the series went on, O’Neill became increasingly “intellectually relaxed”. After some six years of playing the role, I guess Rick wanted to have a little more fun with the character. And that was fine with us, the writers, since it allowed us to do something we always enjoyed doing – bring the funny. Less so some of the fans who began to derisively refer to the new and improved(?) O’Neill as Dumb Jack.
The Changeling…
Actor Chris Judge tries his hand at writing with surprising spectacular results. I say surprising because, while I had no doubt it would be a solid script, I was mighty impressed by how good it turned out (this despite the fact that he neglected to include act breaks in his first draft – “I leave that sht up to you, mthrfcker.”). From what I remember, Chris really enjoyed the process and was quite proud of the final product.
Memento…
What was this episode about again?
Prophecy…
This episode turned out to be one of my biggest disappointments of the season. I thought the script was solid but the entire episode rested on the final twist, the moment in which O’Neill hears the horn and calls out to Pierce. It’s meant to be the episode’s big, defining moment but it’s so casually underplayed that it loses any dramatic impact.
Full Circle…
h, another series finale. Executive Producer Robert Cooper wraps up SG-1 in fine style – except that, as we learned late in season 6, this season would not be the show’s last. After six seasons, SG-1 was still going strong, much to the delight of our new broadcaster, SciFi, who were more than happy to pick up the series for one more year. Which, of course, we assumed would be its last…
The post March 4, 2023: Concluding the Stargate: SG-1 season 6 concept art and episodic insights! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
March 3, 2023
March 3, 2023: Shock! Ambivalence! Chicken feet!
Yesterday, I completed my blog entry, clicked “publish”, checked the post, and was greeted with this…
I checked the connection, then switched browsers, updated my plug-ins…an hour later, my blog was still down. And I was feeling…ambivalent. On the one hand, I was found the prospect of losing the chronicled details of the last 15+ years deeply disappointing; but on the other hand, there was a sense of relief. 15+ years of daily blogging can get a little taxing after a while. It was a feeling akin to hearing there was a chance twitter could go down permanently. On the one hand, I would lose a crucial industry and information lifeline. On the other, I would free up A LOT of free time.
Anyway, the blog was restore and twitter never went away after all. So here we are again!
Today’s Yes/No…
Korean-style Chicken Feet? Yes/No pic.twitter.com/T2c1HJpn6g
— Joseph Mallozzi
(@BaronDestructo) March 3, 2023
Spoiler alert: They were delicious. But very labor intensive. After the prep and blanching, I brought them to a boil and then simmered them for an hour with sauteed onions, garlic, pepper, salt, chilis, bay leaves, anise, and sake, then chilled them overnight before tossing them in kochujang, mirin, soy sauce, garlic powder, Korean spices, and sugar and finishing them under the broiler for about ten minutes.
A lot of work.
Next time, I may just stick to chicken butts.
The post March 3, 2023: Shock! Ambivalence! Chicken feet! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
March 2, 2023
March 2, 2022: The Horror Marathon continues with five more bullet reviews! And a horrifying ice cream flavor!
Shutter Island (2010)
In 1954, a U.S. Marshal investigates the disappearance of a murderer who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane.
My thoughts: What starts off as a riveting mystery devolves into a flabby and meandering second act which ultimately culminates in a preposterous twist that takes twenty minutes to fully explain. The big screen equivalent of “It was all a dream”.
3/5
Project Wolf Hunting (2022)
Follows dangerous criminals on a cargo ship who are transported from the Philippines to South Korea, as they unleash a sinister force after an escape attempt leads to a riot.
My thoughts: The violence is ridiculously over the top and while the premise is great, and the movie does have its moments, it’s hard to muster up much compassion for any of its depthless characters.
3/5
Gerald’s Game (2017)
A couple tries to spice up their marriage in a remote lake house. After the husband dies unexpectedly, the wife is left handcuffed to their bed frame and must fight to survive and break free.
My thoughts: An outstanding performance by Gugino and the movie goes where you expected it to given the circumstances, but the late twist did not land for me.
3/5
Re/Member (2022)
Six high schoolers stuck in a murderous time loop must find the scattered remains of an unknown victim to break the curse and finally see another day.
My thoughts: The kids quickly adopt a jovial, irreverent attitude in the face of a supernatural serial killer, pretty much snuffing out any suspense. Ghosts and time loops do not mix.
2.5/5
Beast (2022)
A father and his two teenage daughters find themselves hunted by a massive rogue lion intent on proving that the Savanna has but one apex predator.
My thoughts: It’s an interesting premise, but with few surprises – and a Lion Ex Machina ending I didn’t love.
3/5
My horror film bullet reviews not archived here:
https://letterboxd.com/BaronDestructo/films/reviews/
Speaking of horror…
Today’s Yes/No…
Cricket Ice Cream? Yes/No
German ice cream parlor offers cricket-flavored scoops https://t.co/mp1HHkYfIo via @SFGate
— Joseph Mallozzi
The post March 2, 2022: The Horror Marathon continues with five more bullet reviews! And a horrifying ice cream flavor! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
March 1, 2023
March 1, 2023: Amazing Covers!
A few that caught my eye this week…
Hallow’s Eve #1 – cover art by Alex Ross
I Am Iron Man #1 – cover art by Adebotun, Akande
Spider-Man: Unforgiven #1 – cover art by Nic Klein
Barbarella: The Center Cannot Hold #1 – cover art by Celina
Unbreakable Red Sonja #4 – cover art by Giuseppe Matteoni
Unbreakable Red Sonja #4 – cover art by Lucio Parrillo
Action Comics #1052 – cover art by Steve Beach
Batman: Gotham Knights – Gilded City #5 – cover art by Abel
Harley Quinn #27 – cover art by Alex Garner
The Human Target #12 – cover art by Greg Smallwood
The Riddler: Year One #3 – cover art by Ben Oliver
King Spawn #20 – cover art by Mark Spears
Red Zone #1 – cover art by Mike Deodato Jr.
So, which were YOUR favorites?
The post March 1, 2023: Amazing Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
February 28, 2023
February 26, 2023: Unusual Deaths!
Sophocles…
The #UnusualDeaths of Sophocles
Alongside Aeschylus (brained by a falling tortoise) and Euripides (devoured by hounds), Sophocles was one of the three great ancient Greek tragedians. His cause of death is uncertain, but three apocryphal versions survive to this day. 1/ pic.twitter.com/FxIKmLCEzr
— Joseph Mallozzi
Food-related…
#UnusualDeaths – Food-related
In 1153, Eustace IV, Count of Bologne died after choking on a plate of eels. 2/ pic.twitter.com/MWeApg9DkL
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths – Food-related
In 1784, French philosopher Denis Diderot was reaching for an after-dinner apricot when his wife admonished him for eating too much. He told her she was overreacting, ate the apricot, and dropped subsequently dropped dead. 4/ pic.twitter.com/C73VqT0whR
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths – Food-related
Bandō Mitsugorō VIII, one of Japan's most revered Kabuki actors, consumed four servings of fugu liver in 1975, claiming he could withstand its toxic effects. Turns out, he could not. 6/END pic.twitter.com/l1Q5JR2Dtz
— Joseph Mallozzi
Today’s Yes/No…
Sakura and Matcha Donut? Yes/No
Starbucks Sakura and Matcha donut is a perfect Japanese springtime sweet【Taste test】 https://t.co/lPhY2UG6OI via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
The post February 26, 2023: Unusual Deaths! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
February 27, 2023
February 27, 2023: Pugs, projects, and pistachio pastry!
We’re considering adopting.
Of course it should go without saying – no, not a human. I mean, we all saw the movie The Orphan and know how that ends up. We’re considering adding another pug to the household – a rescue. We figure it would liven Suji up and maybe motivate her to get out of bed (to bite her new sister’s furry butt). Also, Akemi has been smitten –
Her name is Cricket (which Akemi finds hard to pronounce so she’s lobbying for a name change) and she certainly does have a unique look. Apparently, she’s blind and weighs a mere 7 lbs. The only issue is she’s in L.A. In a perfect world, Akemi and I would both fly over to meet her, then fly her back home – but given Suji’s present high-maintenance state, we can’t really leave her. With anyone. So I guess either I make the trip alone – or if anyone in the L.A. area is making the trip to Toronto, let me know! In the meantime, we’re looking into it…
Finally tried out Wonton Hut just around the block (and up three blocks, then around the block and one more block over) from our place. I went brisket and thin noodle soup with a generous dollop of chili-garlic sauce while Akemi opted for the classic shrimp & pork wonton soup. Both bowls were great and the service was terrific.
Then, on the way home, we stopped off at Nord Lyon for the new addition to their pastry lineup – an insanely delicious pistachio and chocolate confection. So light, I could have eaten three – and would have had Akemi not been there to keep me from doing so.
Shout-out to their equally fantastic Tres Leches.
Okay, things moving along on the project front. Re-re-re-re-re-revised the pilot for that kpop/sci-fi mash-up and now looking to write up the overview for the android murder mystery. Sent off a revised game plan for a comic book pitch, restructuring the story for a 6 issue arc, and awaiting word on artist approval for a horror comic. Zoom discussion today on that globetrotting action-adventure series. Looks like I’ll be fleshing out the overview and giving the pilot another re-read. Had a zoom chat about that small town mystery series earlier this week, and another chat with my old partner in misery, and one of my favorite German, Alexander Ruemelin about a project we’ll hopefully be working on together. I have a slew of material to review for that video game. And tomorrow I have lunch with a science fiction author about a possible adaptation of one of his novels. As always, it seems like a lot on my plate, but the truth is it’s all a bunch of promising busy work until something gets green lit.
Today’s Yes/No…
Barbecue Rib-flavor Ramen? Yes/No
Yes, please! Barbecue rib-flavor ramen coming to Cup Noodle, and out stomachs, very soon https://t.co/VXPzfwHfbv via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
The post February 27, 2023: Pugs, projects, and pistachio pastry! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
February 26, 2023
February 26, 2023: Suji Sunday!
Quality time with her Brazilian pal, Panko.
Couch exercises.
Slow day at the kissing booth.
Winter stroll…
She’s been unusually needy of late…
Akemi now featuring Suji on medium.com:
The post February 26, 2023: Suji Sunday! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
February 25, 2023
February 25, 2023: More Stargate SG-1 Season 6 concept art and episodic insights!
The Other Guys
This was the script that earned Damian Kindler a spot on the writing staff and it was one of my favorites. The episode was tons of fun and ur guest stars, John Billingsley and Patrick McKenna, were terrific.
One memory I have connected to this episode doesn’t have anything to do with this episode at all. While prepping The Other Guys, a couple of guys from the VFX department came by the office. One was wearing the greatest Stargate t-shirt I’ve ever seen. It had a finger pointing off to the right and, below it, the text: “I’M WITH SHOL’VA”.
Early in the episode, O’Neill asks Teal’c who he likes for the cup. Teal’c responds: “I believe the Canucks of Vancouver are superior warriors.” During the Vancouver Canucks playoff run of that year, that clip was played several times on the jumbotron.
Allegiance
Hmmm. This one’s a bit of a blur but for two things: 1. The Rambo-esque sequence of O’Neill’s 360 degree machinegun turn that, believe it or not, was at least three times as long in the director’s cut, and 2.The hokey ending: “This single blade did what we could not. It has brought us together.” Ouch.
Cure
The thing that drove me nuts about this episode was the big Egeria reveal near episode’s end that comes about as a result of Jonas FINALLY and conveniently coming across the text in the underground chamber. Whenever I watched that scene in dailies, all I could think was: “Man, if you could’ve just started with that particular section instead of saving it for later, things would’ve gone a whole lot easier
Prometheus
Richard Dean Anderson was an Executive Producer on the show and liked to read and provide notes on all of the scripts. I remember getting a script back from him once and Paul being delighted by how much Rick obviously liked it. “Look at all the check marks!”he pointed out. “Check marks are bad,”Rob informed him. Oh.
Well, let’s just say this script got A LOT of check marks. Rick greatly objected to the basic premise – that a group could actually steal an Earth ship. As a result and to spare his character any potential blame, the script was rewritten so that O’Neill wasn’t anywhere near the Prometheus when it was taken. So passionate was his opinion that, in the scene in which he dresses someone down for allowing the ship to get grabbed, I swore he was actually channeling himself.
Unnatural Selection
Although I liked the replicators when they were first introduced, I felt a little of them went a long way – which was why I loved their evolution into human form. Same villain but new, improved, and far more dangerous. What made this very good episode great was O’Neill’s double-cross of the all-too-trusting Fifth. Was he right to do it? Sure, an argue could be made for the fact that his actions do contain the replicator threat. Of course, the double-cross comes back to bite us in the ass down the line when Fifth escapes the time dilation bubble. So, would we have been better served taking him with us. Again, hard to say. And that’s one of the things I loved about SG-1. Sometimes, amid the high adventure and humor, there were situations that offered no easy answers.
Sight Unseen
Boy, did I NOT like this episode, this despite actor Jodi Racicot’s brilliant turn as the beleaguered Vernon Sharpe. My note at the script stage was: So what?. I mean, okay, people started glimpsing interdimensional creatures that caused them to “Freak out, man!” but, when it came down to it, those alien centipedes really weren’t much of a threat.
Smoke and Mirrors
No concept art
See if you can spot Peter Kelamis (SGU’s Adam Brody) in one of his first guest spots on the franchise. Yep, that young little guy who gets clotheslined by Teal’c. That’s him! This episode also marked the return of one of my favorite characters you love to hate: Senator Kinsey played by the brilliant Ronny Cox. It was always a pleasure to have him on the show.
The hotel at the beginning of the episode where Kinsey gets shot is actually located right across from The Bridge Studios where the show’s production offices are located. Apparently, back in SG-1’s early days, a new writer joined the staff and was offered accommodations in town. Instead, the writer elected to move into The Accent Inn! I mean, sure, it was convenient in that all you had to do was walk across the street to get to work but there is nothing of interest in the neighborhood outside of the ABC Country Restaurant. Sorry. Strike that. Nothing of interest in the neighborhood.
The post February 25, 2023: More Stargate SG-1 Season 6 concept art and episodic insights! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
February 24, 2023
February 24, 2023: The Horror Marathon continues with five more horror film bullet reviews!
Hellhole (2022)
In 1987 Poland, a police officer investigating mysterious disappearances infiltrates a remote monastery and discovers a dark truth about its clergy.
My thoughts: Bleak and atmospheric. The plot twists won’t surprise diehard horror fans, but the ending is a devilish delight.
3.5/5
The Offering (2022)
A family struggling with loss find themselves at the mercy of an ancient demon trying to destroy them from the inside.
My thoughts: A familiar supernatural premise with some good, though not wholly inspired original scares. More interesting for its exploration of folklore and family dynamics than its actual horror elements.
3.5/5
Vengeance (2022)
A writer from New York City attempts to solve the murder of a girl he hooked up with and travels down south to investigate the circumstances of her death and discover what happened to her.
My thoughts: Rotten Tomatoes lists it as a horror, but it isn’t. It also lists this as a thriller which, I suppose it is – but barely. Occasionally amusing, with an interesting message at its core, but the mystery element is D.O.A. And the ending is terrible.
2.5/5
World War Z (2013)
Former United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop a zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatens to destroy humanity itself.
My thoughts: Some exceptional set pieces, yet the story logic is a little hazy at times and the third act a bit of a letdown. But the biggest knock against this movie is that it’s nowhere near as good as the book.
3.5/5
My Bloody Valentine (1981)
A decades-old folk tale surrounding a deranged murderer killing those who celebrate Valentine’s Day turns out to be true to legend when a group defies the killer’s order and people start turning up dead.
My thoughts: Classic 80’s horror schlock where the local “youngsters” look like they’re in their 30’s and anyone alone in a scene talks to themselves in order to advance the plot. The pervading holiness culminates in an unsurprising surprise twist ending.
2.5/5
Today’s Yes/No…
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Dumplings? Yes/Nohttps://t.co/qcwjFgVsEc
— Joseph Mallozzi
The post February 24, 2023: The Horror Marathon continues with five more horror film bullet reviews! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
February 23, 2023
February 23, 2023: Recurring Dreams!
My Top 10 Recurring Dreams:
10) I’m falling.
9) I am suddenly reminded of a really cool car (or two) I bought in the past and somehow have since misplaced.
8) I’m crawling through the narrow crawlspaces of some old building.
7) I am back in high school, heading into an exam I suddenly realize I’ve failed to study for.
6) I’m in Tokyo.
5) I’m in a weirdly familiar Bizarro version of my hometown.
4) One of the dogs has gotten loose and I am scrambling to locate them.
3) I’m informed that because of a test I didn’t take back in high school, I never graduated and, as a result, all of my life’s accomplishments have been rendered null and void.
2) I am reunited with one of my past dogs after discovering they never really passed away and have been alive all along.
1) I’m in Vegas.
And you? What are some of your personal recurring dream scenarios?
The post February 23, 2023: Recurring Dreams! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
Joseph Mallozzi's Blog
- Joseph Mallozzi's profile
- 39 followers
