Two fer...

Last night I had the time, and the cinema scheduled things nicely, that I could see two movies back to back.

Perfect Creature is definitely a New Zealand film, as the accents clearly give away. Or rather, a Nuovo Zelandia movie. In the alternative reality vampires have become the church, 'cos nothing says religion like god-given blood drinkers. At around 90 mins it doesn't outstay it's welcome, but it doesn't really have anything exciting to say about the genre either. Aside from the "Brotherhood" (as the vampires are called) aspect, this could have been any vampire tale you care to mention. Still, nice to see the NZ contingent producing solid efforts.

Stardust is another of those "movies adapted from the book", and I definitely prefer the book, but the movies did have some very nice visuals in it, and the final battle is something better seen than read (at least, according to how they interpreted that part of the story). Although over two hours, they pass pleasantly enough (despite certain discomfort from drinking too much), but it does suffer from "spot the guest cameo" (oh the laughter that Ricky Gervais earned... but why did he get fourth billing?).

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"You should see..."

There are a few people out there that think I should go see Jaws. I have a simple policy when it comes to recommendations: okay then, you arrange it.

If you consider the movie to be really good, then you would probably have a copy. So you could lend it to me.

And if you don't have a copy, I do have to wonder if it really is all that good, but it's possible that it might be something that makes a great first viewing but not a second as the big twist is now known. Then another option would be to rent it... only, if you think it's so good, then you pay for the rental and I'll watch it.

Either way, either put up or shut up. Don't rave about it then say "go off and spend your time on it". I have other things to do, so don't see why I should go out of my way to make an effort if you can't make one either.

This may seem like a rather brusque proposal, but if it's really that good...

(Conversely, I have one or two lending copies of Firefly ready to go at a moment's notice...)

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The Brigadier and Davros, together at last!

Okay, so really Nicholas Courtney and Terry Molloy together at last, as The Scarifyers! Inspector Lionheart and Professor Dunning are MI13, a branch that deals with some of the more strange happenings in Britian.

Produced by Cosmic Hobo, so far there is:
The Nazad Conspiracy: Invisible winged demons and sinister clowns are just some of the problems they must face in their first adventure. (Trailer available.)
The Devil of Denge Marsh: A scientific project and an evil from the dawn of time, just the thing for the Scarifyers. (Trailers available.) [Ever so slightly influenced by a certain Cthulhu' Call...]
For King and Country: (Not yet available)

These are available on CD, or as mp3 files from Lovecraftiana (which is currently down), but if you want to check it out there are two freebies available.

The Yule Lads: A Christmas Treat as the Scarifyers are on the trail of the twelve Icelandic trolls.
The Curse of the Cult of Thoth: Part of Yog Radio #26, a reading leads to trouble for the Professor and his host (played by Gabriel Woolf).

A lot of fun, and I love the theme music. Well worth checking out!

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I was scared!

Last night I took part in the first inaugural Fright Night, which was a "con" where 20 people (two were female, seems to be about the expected ratio) took place in two rounds of RPG games, three hours each.

I was supposed to play in Cabin Fever, but for various reasons I ended up in Cold Front (which might bear some similarity to The Thing). I played Dr. Martin Kim, inventor of the Infinity Generator, a new generator they were trying out in the base. When things got crazy, he holed himself up in his generator room. (And so I didn't get too involved in the plot, although I was in character.) My death: trying to overload the generator, but instead getting an iceman's arm through my chest from behind, pushing out my heart, freezing and then smashing it. Ouch!

Second game was Truckstop, using the Dark Conspiracy system which is being rejigged for release. I played Specialist Kelly Avery, a medic in unit 8 at area 51. Our unit headed for a truckstop...where I died! Sliced to death. Fortunately, we "reset" and I was alive again... facing zombies! (Got died by being blowed up!) And then... and then it got weird.

Lots of fun all round. Here's hoping there's another one next year, but first there's Kapcon...

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SJA: Warriors of Kudlak

Hey, you know how all the kids watch that show that shows other kids having tons of fun playing laser tag? No? Oh, well, er...

This is the most kiddy story so far, with lots of kids running around playing laser tag. At least, that's the first episode. The second episode is kids running around the set of that ship that was in 42. The "story" gets rather taxing when you've Paul Kasey in yet another mask talking to a video of himself trying to be all noble and stuff, and no-one really cares. He's an alien. SJA is all about "aliens are bad and must be defeated". Death to them all.

But that is a nice prosthetic he's wearing. Very good detailing on the mouth piece and the eyes are just unsynchronized enough to be disturbing. Pity about the red dressing gown. And the mask must have used up all their budget, which would explain the return of the leathermen from Smith and Jones.

But once again its the enthusiastic acting that saves the show. Unfortunately. By now, the show shouldn't need saving, but the plots just aren't working. Even Chook Sibtain does a great performance as Mr Grantham, even if the character doesn't deserve it. Even the laser tag sequences are saved by the actors going for it, and that takes effort.

Come on guys, pull it together! You need to get the stories to match the rest of the production quality. Next week does look intriguing with the Hellraiser cube and the return of the attack of the Graske! Here's hoping...

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Now a major film?

It's odd what gets turns into films. Stanley Kubrick turned The Shining into a film after starting to read it, with the exciting "driving to an interview" opening. I finally got around to reading another book that was also turned into a blockbuster, highly raved motion picture. Allow me to quote the back cover quote:

Pick up [this book] before midnight, read the first five pages, and I guarantee you'll be putting it down, breathless and stunned - the final climax is even better than the beginning - as dawn is breaking the next day.

Not even slightly. I had trouble getting through the first five pages! Admittedly I was only reading this in dribs and drabs (so much for deathless reading), but it still took me weeks to get through. Frankly, take the first fifty pages and the last fifty pages, and throw away the rest of the book. It's just boring, a complete sideplot that doesn't revolve around the "exciting" premise of the book. I do have to wonder how they did the movie (which I haven't seen).

What's the book? Jaws, by Peter Benchley. Yep, the famous "dah-duh" soundtrack and all (not available in the paperback version). Very much a disappointment, I must say.

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Oh no, it isn't!

Okay, I read the newspaper online, and while away haven't been reading (can't be bothered with internet cafe and the like). So I finally get around to looking at the DomPost site, and what do I see?

Stone with picture of the Virgin Mary on it!

What? WHAT???

No it doesn't! Not even slightly! Yes, as they say in the article, no-one knows what she looks like, but the most commonly accepted images look nothing like this! I might be able to get a hat and outfit in the style of the 1920s, but that's about it.

One word explains all of this, has come up before, and will come up again: pareidolia

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