Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 39
March 24, 2024
The Tunnel of Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes,
Just finished watching "The Tunnel of Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes," released by Sentai.
The Urashima Tunnel, which exists outside the boundaries that constrain our reality. Unbound by such restrictions, it can achieve the otherwise impossible, journey wherever a mind can conceive, and bring the one thing that they most desire.
Yet there is a price that you pay for entering the Urashima Tunnel, hours, days, years pass by as you seek what is lost.
The Urashima Tunnel was long considered a myth until Kaoru discovers by accident that it actually exists and it gives him a chance to rescue his baby sister who died five years ago. Yet to do so, he would have to be willing to give up his life in the present and move forward into the future, leaving his chance for love and happiness behind.
Highly Recommended.
Ten Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Tunnel-Summer-...
The Urashima Tunnel, which exists outside the boundaries that constrain our reality. Unbound by such restrictions, it can achieve the otherwise impossible, journey wherever a mind can conceive, and bring the one thing that they most desire.
Yet there is a price that you pay for entering the Urashima Tunnel, hours, days, years pass by as you seek what is lost.
The Urashima Tunnel was long considered a myth until Kaoru discovers by accident that it actually exists and it gives him a chance to rescue his baby sister who died five years ago. Yet to do so, he would have to be willing to give up his life in the present and move forward into the future, leaving his chance for love and happiness behind.
Highly Recommended.
Ten Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Tunnel-Summer-...
The Flight of Dragons
Just finished watching "The Flight of Dragons" by Rankin/Bass and released by Warner Brothers.
"The Flight of Dragons" is the rather curious adaptation by film makers Arthur Rankin JR and Jules Bass of two books - "The Flight of Dragons" by Peter Dickinson and "The Dragon and The George" by Gordon R. Dickson.
Rankin and Bass are best known for their stop motion puppet animation holiday specials and they went on to produce several animated and live action movies that appeared on television here in the states and in movie theaters overseas.
The animation in "The Flight of Dragons" is a rather curious mix of bland and simple, almost like the a recycled Hanna-Barbera background scene to something almost on the same level of quality from a Studio Ghibli movie.
I do remember watching this movie when it first aired on television back in 1982.
With magic fading from the world, the Green Wizard Carolinus summons his brothers-in-magic to the Castle of Antiquity to discuss his idea to create a hidden sanctuary for magic to protect it from mankind's growing acceptance of science. Only standing in their way is the Red Wizard Ommadon, who represents evil and who wants to destroy the world.
To succeed, Carolinus and his brother wizards must wrest the Red Crown from Ommadon under the rules of magic and they must send others on a quest since Antiquity forbids the magic brothers from warring against each other.
Carolinus summons Antiquity who informs the Green Wizard that a writer from the future, Peter Dickinson,must be brought from the future and lead the quest to overthrow Ommadon.
Merging a non-fiction book about dragons, with a fantasy novel may have not been the best idea and the uneven animation and story can be distracting.
Recommended for it's uniqueness in the history of animated films and science fiction and fantasy.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Dragons...
"The Flight of Dragons" is the rather curious adaptation by film makers Arthur Rankin JR and Jules Bass of two books - "The Flight of Dragons" by Peter Dickinson and "The Dragon and The George" by Gordon R. Dickson.
Rankin and Bass are best known for their stop motion puppet animation holiday specials and they went on to produce several animated and live action movies that appeared on television here in the states and in movie theaters overseas.
The animation in "The Flight of Dragons" is a rather curious mix of bland and simple, almost like the a recycled Hanna-Barbera background scene to something almost on the same level of quality from a Studio Ghibli movie.
I do remember watching this movie when it first aired on television back in 1982.
With magic fading from the world, the Green Wizard Carolinus summons his brothers-in-magic to the Castle of Antiquity to discuss his idea to create a hidden sanctuary for magic to protect it from mankind's growing acceptance of science. Only standing in their way is the Red Wizard Ommadon, who represents evil and who wants to destroy the world.
To succeed, Carolinus and his brother wizards must wrest the Red Crown from Ommadon under the rules of magic and they must send others on a quest since Antiquity forbids the magic brothers from warring against each other.
Carolinus summons Antiquity who informs the Green Wizard that a writer from the future, Peter Dickinson,must be brought from the future and lead the quest to overthrow Ommadon.
Merging a non-fiction book about dragons, with a fantasy novel may have not been the best idea and the uneven animation and story can be distracting.
Recommended for it's uniqueness in the history of animated films and science fiction and fantasy.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Dragons...
March 23, 2024
Hopalong Cassidy - Murder On The Trail
Just finished listening to "Hopalong Cassidy - Murder On The Trail" released by Radio Spirits.
Hopalong Cassidy is a fictional cowboy hero hero created in 1904 by the author Clarence E. Mulford, who wrote a series of short stories and novels based on the character. Mulford portrayed the character as rude, dangerous, and rough-talking. He was shot in the leg during a gun fight which caused him to walk with a little "hop", hence the nickname.
From the 1930s to the 1950s, the character became indelibly associated with actor William Boyd, who portrayed Cassidy first in a series of sixty-six films from 1935 to 1948, then in children-oriented radio and TV series, both of which lasted until 1952. Boyd's portrayal of Cassidy had little in common with the literary character, being instead a clean-cut, sarsaparilla-drinking hero who never shot first. The plots of the film, radio and TV series were generally not taken from Mulford's writings.
At the peak of the character's popularity in the early 1950s, he spawned enormous amounts of merchandise, as well as a comic strip, additional novels by Louis L'Amour (writing as Tex Burns), and even a short-lived amusement park, "Hoppyland", in Venice, Los Angeles.
Boyd also took a chance and bought all the rights to Hopalong Cassidy from Mulford and I think became the first actor to purchase rights to a fictional character he portrayed and became super successful as a result, though it did cast-type him for life, but Boyd did't mind because he loved the character he brought to life from the written page.
Hopalong Cassidy broke the traditional role of the hero cowboy because he wore black.
My favorite episodes in this collection are: "The Phantom Bandito," "The Frightened Town," "The Rainmaker of Eagle Nest Mountain,"
"A Jailer Named Satan," and "The Sundown Kid" - which is a different outing for Hopalong because he is without his usual sidekick California Carlson.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://store.radiospirits.com/hopalo...
Hopalong Cassidy is a fictional cowboy hero hero created in 1904 by the author Clarence E. Mulford, who wrote a series of short stories and novels based on the character. Mulford portrayed the character as rude, dangerous, and rough-talking. He was shot in the leg during a gun fight which caused him to walk with a little "hop", hence the nickname.
From the 1930s to the 1950s, the character became indelibly associated with actor William Boyd, who portrayed Cassidy first in a series of sixty-six films from 1935 to 1948, then in children-oriented radio and TV series, both of which lasted until 1952. Boyd's portrayal of Cassidy had little in common with the literary character, being instead a clean-cut, sarsaparilla-drinking hero who never shot first. The plots of the film, radio and TV series were generally not taken from Mulford's writings.
At the peak of the character's popularity in the early 1950s, he spawned enormous amounts of merchandise, as well as a comic strip, additional novels by Louis L'Amour (writing as Tex Burns), and even a short-lived amusement park, "Hoppyland", in Venice, Los Angeles.
Boyd also took a chance and bought all the rights to Hopalong Cassidy from Mulford and I think became the first actor to purchase rights to a fictional character he portrayed and became super successful as a result, though it did cast-type him for life, but Boyd did't mind because he loved the character he brought to life from the written page.
Hopalong Cassidy broke the traditional role of the hero cowboy because he wore black.
My favorite episodes in this collection are: "The Phantom Bandito," "The Frightened Town," "The Rainmaker of Eagle Nest Mountain,"
"A Jailer Named Satan," and "The Sundown Kid" - which is a different outing for Hopalong because he is without his usual sidekick California Carlson.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://store.radiospirits.com/hopalo...
Hotel Transylvania - Transformania
Just finished watching "Hotel Transylvania - Transformania" released by Sony.
Drac put his plans to retire and hand the hotel over to Mavis and Johnny on hold when he has second thoughts about turning over his hotel to his daughter and her human husband, and as a result sets in motion a chain of events that causes Johnny to seek out van Helsing to see if there is a way to turn a human into a monster.
Johnny does get his wish to turn into a monster, but sets up a chain of events where Drac and his friends are turned into humans and they must go on a quest in South America to find the crystal that will allow them to undo the transformation.
Great fun in the Hotel Transylania series and it does set up the possibility for a new entry.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Hotel-Transylv...
Drac put his plans to retire and hand the hotel over to Mavis and Johnny on hold when he has second thoughts about turning over his hotel to his daughter and her human husband, and as a result sets in motion a chain of events that causes Johnny to seek out van Helsing to see if there is a way to turn a human into a monster.
Johnny does get his wish to turn into a monster, but sets up a chain of events where Drac and his friends are turned into humans and they must go on a quest in South America to find the crystal that will allow them to undo the transformation.
Great fun in the Hotel Transylania series and it does set up the possibility for a new entry.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Hotel-Transylv...
Rick and Morty - Season 7
Just finished watching "Rick and Morty - Season 7" released by Adult Swim/Cartoon Network.
Heads up - there will be some Spoiler Alerts.
When season seven of "Rick and Morty" hit the airwaves it was following on the heels on the firing of Mark Justin Roiland who co-created the show and was the original voice of Richard Daniel "Rick" Sanchez and his grandson Mortimer Chauncey "Morty" Smith because of domestic abuse charges against him that were eventually dropped due to insufficient evidence. There are new charges of a different nature now against Roiland and he is entitled to due process and having his day in court to determine his innocence or guilt. I will also note the he has denied the old and new charges.
Season 7 does see the return of Unity for one episode who tries to get in touch with Rick because she is concerned about his ongoing quest to kill the Rick who killed his wife. And we do see the resolution of the the evil Rick story line where Rick finally gets to kill the version of himself that killed his wife and daughter and see how that leaves him hollow. We also get perhaps a hint of the series finale where evil Morty acquires a deadly weapon that has the ability to wipe every version of somebody out of the Multiverse from evil Rick and hints that he will only use it as a threat to protect himself.
Once evil Rick is dispatched, Rick and Morty resume their regular style of adventures from earlier seasons and the season's 10-episode run ends with Morty realizing just exactly what he is to Rick.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Rick-Morty-Com...
Heads up - there will be some Spoiler Alerts.
When season seven of "Rick and Morty" hit the airwaves it was following on the heels on the firing of Mark Justin Roiland who co-created the show and was the original voice of Richard Daniel "Rick" Sanchez and his grandson Mortimer Chauncey "Morty" Smith because of domestic abuse charges against him that were eventually dropped due to insufficient evidence. There are new charges of a different nature now against Roiland and he is entitled to due process and having his day in court to determine his innocence or guilt. I will also note the he has denied the old and new charges.
Season 7 does see the return of Unity for one episode who tries to get in touch with Rick because she is concerned about his ongoing quest to kill the Rick who killed his wife. And we do see the resolution of the the evil Rick story line where Rick finally gets to kill the version of himself that killed his wife and daughter and see how that leaves him hollow. We also get perhaps a hint of the series finale where evil Morty acquires a deadly weapon that has the ability to wipe every version of somebody out of the Multiverse from evil Rick and hints that he will only use it as a threat to protect himself.
Once evil Rick is dispatched, Rick and Morty resume their regular style of adventures from earlier seasons and the season's 10-episode run ends with Morty realizing just exactly what he is to Rick.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Rick-Morty-Com...
Planetside
Just finished reading "Planetside" by Michael Mammy, released by Harper Voyager.
Sometimes you just have to be willing to take a chance on a new author, so when I received a recommendation from Amazon for "Planetside," I decided to give it a chance because - and this may surprise some readers of my reviews - that I actually have read and enjoy some types of military science fiction. I do think that Mom and Dad would have enjoyed reading "Planetside" with it's authentic military feel and mystery elements.
When the son of a powerful politician goes missing on the front lines at Cappa Three, General Serata calls Colonel Carl Butler to investigate. Butler protests; he’s semi-retired, done years in cryo already, and besides, he’s got ugly history with that planet. But Serata is a good friend, and he makes an offer Butler can’t refuse. He accepts it against his better judgment figuring that at most, it will be five months out, a week to investigate and file a report, five months back, and he can finally retire.
But things aren’t as cut and dried as the general implied. Butler smells trouble from the moment he arrives at Cappa base. Lies and blatant obstruction by base personnel tell him something is very wrong. What’s worse, his digging stirs up a hornet’s nest. And when people start dying around him, both on base and planet side, Colonel Butler knows there’s far more to this mystery than anyone let on.
A tense and thrilling science-fiction military suspense novel.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Planetside-Mic...
Sometimes you just have to be willing to take a chance on a new author, so when I received a recommendation from Amazon for "Planetside," I decided to give it a chance because - and this may surprise some readers of my reviews - that I actually have read and enjoy some types of military science fiction. I do think that Mom and Dad would have enjoyed reading "Planetside" with it's authentic military feel and mystery elements.
When the son of a powerful politician goes missing on the front lines at Cappa Three, General Serata calls Colonel Carl Butler to investigate. Butler protests; he’s semi-retired, done years in cryo already, and besides, he’s got ugly history with that planet. But Serata is a good friend, and he makes an offer Butler can’t refuse. He accepts it against his better judgment figuring that at most, it will be five months out, a week to investigate and file a report, five months back, and he can finally retire.
But things aren’t as cut and dried as the general implied. Butler smells trouble from the moment he arrives at Cappa base. Lies and blatant obstruction by base personnel tell him something is very wrong. What’s worse, his digging stirs up a hornet’s nest. And when people start dying around him, both on base and planet side, Colonel Butler knows there’s far more to this mystery than anyone let on.
A tense and thrilling science-fiction military suspense novel.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Planetside-Mic...
The Voyage of Sorcerer II - The Expedition That Unlocked The Secrets Of The Ocean's Microbiome
Just finished reading "The Voyage of Sorcerer II - The Expedition That Unlocked The Secrets Of The Ocean's Microbiome" by J. Craig Venter and David Ewing Duncan, published by The Belknap Press of Harvard Press.
Okay, let's address the 800-pound elephant in the room - the fact that this book has been released by an educational institution, in this case Harvard University, that is anti-Semitic and has a disturbing history of promoting anti-Semitism and Jew-hatred.
To the best of my knowledge, neither J. Craig Venter and David Ewing Duncan have espoused anti-Semitic views and/or Jew hatred. If this turns out not to be the case, I will still keep this book in my library because this book isn't anti-Semitic.
Venter is best known for his work on decoding the human genome - a BIG science project - and the approach he and his company took in decoding the human genome. So after that success he decided to turn his attention to the ocean depths and explore the microscopic life within it and was immediately met with suspicion and controversy on a grand international level.
The ocean's microbiome is a resource that is claimed by every nation that has access to the sea from its land borders and Venter and his team has to spend hundreds of man-hours to get permission for various governments who were afraid that Venter and his team were bio-harvesting pirates who were looking to make profits of their discoveries of new micro-organisms. And a good majority of the scientific community seemed horrified at the thought that Venter was a millionaire whose's scientific around the world expedition was being conducted from of all things - horrors - his personal yacht and not a "proper" research vessel. Curiously there was also a private European lawyer who impeded on leg of the expedition by insisting the he negotiate an agreement on behalf of a country he did not live in or really represent in any official capacity.
An intriguing look at how established scientific thought can be shaken up by a revolutionary new idea that is prove to be correct and what happens when you upset the apple cart.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Voyage-Sorcere...
Okay, let's address the 800-pound elephant in the room - the fact that this book has been released by an educational institution, in this case Harvard University, that is anti-Semitic and has a disturbing history of promoting anti-Semitism and Jew-hatred.
To the best of my knowledge, neither J. Craig Venter and David Ewing Duncan have espoused anti-Semitic views and/or Jew hatred. If this turns out not to be the case, I will still keep this book in my library because this book isn't anti-Semitic.
Venter is best known for his work on decoding the human genome - a BIG science project - and the approach he and his company took in decoding the human genome. So after that success he decided to turn his attention to the ocean depths and explore the microscopic life within it and was immediately met with suspicion and controversy on a grand international level.
The ocean's microbiome is a resource that is claimed by every nation that has access to the sea from its land borders and Venter and his team has to spend hundreds of man-hours to get permission for various governments who were afraid that Venter and his team were bio-harvesting pirates who were looking to make profits of their discoveries of new micro-organisms. And a good majority of the scientific community seemed horrified at the thought that Venter was a millionaire whose's scientific around the world expedition was being conducted from of all things - horrors - his personal yacht and not a "proper" research vessel. Curiously there was also a private European lawyer who impeded on leg of the expedition by insisting the he negotiate an agreement on behalf of a country he did not live in or really represent in any official capacity.
An intriguing look at how established scientific thought can be shaken up by a revolutionary new idea that is prove to be correct and what happens when you upset the apple cart.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Voyage-Sorcere...
Doorway To The Stars
Just finished reading "Doorway To The Stars" by Jack McDevitt, released by Subterranean Press.
Jack McDevitt is another one of my favorite authors that I discovered when I stumbled upon his first novel in what would become his "Academy" series, "The Engines of God," in the science fiction section of the Barnes and Noble near where I live.
"Doorway To The Stars" is a short novel that perhaps wraps up story that McDevitt first introduced in his novel "Infinity Beach."
After the stargate that had been discovered on Sioux land and disabled, "Doorway To The Stars" sees the stargate being reactivated once the parts that had been removed to disable it have been recovered.
There are a bit of elements from Arthur C. Clarke's "Childhood's End" with the revelation of who built the stargate and why they built it.
"Doorway To The Stars" is a short novel and does perhaps wrap up McDevitt's "Infinity Beach" series, though I would like to see a longer novel concluding this series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Doorway-Stars-...
Jack McDevitt is another one of my favorite authors that I discovered when I stumbled upon his first novel in what would become his "Academy" series, "The Engines of God," in the science fiction section of the Barnes and Noble near where I live.
"Doorway To The Stars" is a short novel that perhaps wraps up story that McDevitt first introduced in his novel "Infinity Beach."
After the stargate that had been discovered on Sioux land and disabled, "Doorway To The Stars" sees the stargate being reactivated once the parts that had been removed to disable it have been recovered.
There are a bit of elements from Arthur C. Clarke's "Childhood's End" with the revelation of who built the stargate and why they built it.
"Doorway To The Stars" is a short novel and does perhaps wrap up McDevitt's "Infinity Beach" series, though I would like to see a longer novel concluding this series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Doorway-Stars-...
The Last Of Its Kind - The Search For The Great Auk And The Discovery of Extinction
Just finished reading "The Last Of Its Kind - The Search For The Great Auk And The Discovery of Extinction" by Gisli Palsson, published by Princeton University Press.
Perhaps one of the bitterest of ironies behind the Victorian scientific expedition of British ornithologists John Wolley and Alfred Newton in the 1860s is that one of the mail goals of their expedition was to kill up to eight Great Auks and collect eggs with the intent of selling some of their specimens to collectors all in the name of "science." Keep in mind that this was before it became accepted and acknowledged by the scientific community that extinction is real and can be caused by humans and natural activity like volcanic eruptions, both of which helped to kill off the Great Auk.
Palsson explores the history and events behind the Great Auk expedition by Wolley and Newton, which they funded themselves, and how their discovery changed the scientific thinking of their time. He also explores the possibility of de-extinction, but curiously doesn't mention how it could bring the Great Auk back, but he correctly notes that environmental conditions of the present may not favor bringing a species back.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Its-Kind-...
Perhaps one of the bitterest of ironies behind the Victorian scientific expedition of British ornithologists John Wolley and Alfred Newton in the 1860s is that one of the mail goals of their expedition was to kill up to eight Great Auks and collect eggs with the intent of selling some of their specimens to collectors all in the name of "science." Keep in mind that this was before it became accepted and acknowledged by the scientific community that extinction is real and can be caused by humans and natural activity like volcanic eruptions, both of which helped to kill off the Great Auk.
Palsson explores the history and events behind the Great Auk expedition by Wolley and Newton, which they funded themselves, and how their discovery changed the scientific thinking of their time. He also explores the possibility of de-extinction, but curiously doesn't mention how it could bring the Great Auk back, but he correctly notes that environmental conditions of the present may not favor bringing a species back.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Its-Kind-...
The Atlas Maneuver
Just finished reading "The Atlas Maneuver" by Steve Berry, released by Grand Central.
I discovered Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series a little over two decades ago at the Barnes and Noble near where I live - "The Templar Legacy" - on a new arrivals table up near the front of the bookstore.
Conspiracy theories and the plausible rewriting of history that compels the action behind each of Cotton Malone's adventures, and "The Atlas Maneuver" continues the trend by combining the mystery behind Japan's missing World War Two gold and Bit Coin.
Now I firmly believe that Bit Coin is nothing more than a Ponzi Scheme and I don't view it a legitimate form of currency any more than I do of "Freedom Dollars" - remember those that you had to buy with regular money and then try to find a place that would accept "Freedom Dollars." The creators of "Freedom Dollars" got into big trouble with the Federal government and "Freedom Dollars" operated on the same principal as Bit Coin.
Berry gives a plausible origin for the legendary creator of bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoyo and makes that character someone from Malone's past. Casseiopia Vitt, his girlfriend, also plays a vital role in this adventure which sees someone working behind the scenes to change the world's financial markets and gain power to control the world.
There is also a side story on the possibility of a new person who will probably play an important role in the next Malone outing.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Maneuver...
I discovered Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series a little over two decades ago at the Barnes and Noble near where I live - "The Templar Legacy" - on a new arrivals table up near the front of the bookstore.
Conspiracy theories and the plausible rewriting of history that compels the action behind each of Cotton Malone's adventures, and "The Atlas Maneuver" continues the trend by combining the mystery behind Japan's missing World War Two gold and Bit Coin.
Now I firmly believe that Bit Coin is nothing more than a Ponzi Scheme and I don't view it a legitimate form of currency any more than I do of "Freedom Dollars" - remember those that you had to buy with regular money and then try to find a place that would accept "Freedom Dollars." The creators of "Freedom Dollars" got into big trouble with the Federal government and "Freedom Dollars" operated on the same principal as Bit Coin.
Berry gives a plausible origin for the legendary creator of bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoyo and makes that character someone from Malone's past. Casseiopia Vitt, his girlfriend, also plays a vital role in this adventure which sees someone working behind the scenes to change the world's financial markets and gain power to control the world.
There is also a side story on the possibility of a new person who will probably play an important role in the next Malone outing.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Maneuver...
