Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

On Reptiles and Disappointments

Posted: July 16, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Please attend to my tale of woe.

In 1992, it first came to my attention that a big-budget American version of Godzilla was in the works. This, after the abortive efforts to get the project off the ground in the 80s. I am a Godzilla fan of long-standing (I still have the Aurora glow-in-the-dark model kit that I bought when I was eight or nine), and the news of this film was exciting beyond words. I held my breath, awaiting further developments anxiously.

Needless to say, I turned blue, but finally the film became a reality in 1998. After six years of build-up, I was going to let nothing spoil what I was convinced would be an experience that would make the Second Coming seem a mere Full House rerun by comparison. Hell, I was getting my PhD that summer, but THIS was the Big Event. I closed my eyes during every trailer. I didn’t read a single review. I managed to avoid even finding out what the monster looked like.

You all know where this is going, don’t you? (more…)

Gyro Park

Posted: June 20, 2012 in Uncategorized
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[This is a (very) short horror story I wrote some years ago. I’m posting it now for International Short Story Day.]

Imagine the city. And now a small park: a block in area, green space, trees on the perimeter, hockey rink, playground. Monkey bars, swings, slide. Carousel. Got it? Good. Now listen. There was a grad student. Owen Astor. He was auditing an evening class. When he walked home, it was natural for him to use Gyro Park as a shortcut. But he walked home at night, and the neighbourhood was a bit sketchy, and he wasn’t a big guy. So he always gave the park a quick scan before actually setting foot in it. Sensible. Smart.

Usually there was no problem. Plenty of events at the rink, with people around. But then October came, and everything died. (more…)

Notes Toward a Consideration of Prometheus

Posted: June 11, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Alien is my favourite movie.

I don’t know if I could tell you my favourite novel, song, video game or play. But I have no trouble pointing to one movie and saying, “There. That one. That’s my favourite.” As I suspect is the case with most people who have a definite fave, how and when I saw the film play a significant role in shaping its importance for me. My father took me to see it on my 13th birthday. Once the face-hugger popped out of the egg, and especially once Kane had that bout of indigestion, I was curled into foetal position for the rest of the picture. It was an experience of terror that I have treasured ever since. My love for the film has never abated. Over thirty years on, I appreciate the film’s accomplishments in a new, but no less fond, light. Earlier this spring, for example, as I was teaching a course on remakes and sequels, Aliens was one of the films we looked at. And much as I love Cameron’s film, too, I was struck by how some of its special effects are showing their age, while those in Alien remain almost seamless. (more…)

Summer of Whedon

Posted: May 8, 2012 in Uncategorized
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So. Cabin in the Woods and The Avengers. The last two movies I’ve seen (and I know I’m not alone in this), both of them bearing the Joss Whedon imprimatur (producer and co-writer of one, co-writer and director of the other). Even if there wasn’t anything else to look forward to this summer, even if there weren’t the looming shadows of Prometheus and The Dark Knight Rises, this would already be a pretty strong season. A few thoughts on them both below. These are not reviews. I’m assuming you’ve seen both movies, so there are spoilers ahead. If you haven’t seen them, then stop reading this and hit the theatres.

No, I’m serious. Go away. (more…)

Dances with Knives

Posted: April 8, 2012 in Uncategorized
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The buzz has been building since that insane trailer hit the Internet, and The Raid: Redemption (why, oh why was that completely unnecessary subtitle added?) has finally landed on our local screens. So my wife and I sallied out to catch it this weekend, because nothing says “Easter” like excessive violence (just ask Mel Gibson).

Our premise, then, is a raid by the Indonesian equivalent of SWAT into a gang-controlled highrise so seedy and grim that even the zombies have clearly given it a pass, wanting nothing to do with a neighbourhood that bad, thank you very much. Within minutes, everything goes pear-shaped, and an orgy of killings by gun, blade, fist and foot ensues. (more…)

Inaugural Trumpet Blast

Posted: March 31, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Well, that sounds grand, doesn’t it?

My hunch is that this Interweb thingie is going to hang around. I’m prescient that way, always anticipating the next whim of the zeitgeist. In keeping with this unerring ability to keep two steps ahead of the wind (yes, I paid actual money to see The Happening), I hereby launch this here blog whatchamawhosit. Your life is now complete. (more…)

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