This film from 2000, featuring a group of astronauts traveling to Mars to find out what happened to their experimental terraforming project, really features a Luddite message. If you place your faith in technology, you will be royally screwed. This runs concurrent with the film's vague philosophical/religious discussions that there may be bigger things at work than the plans of mice and men, so to speak.
The philosophical character, Chantilas, doesn't make it pass the first thirty minutes of the film, and another wonderful Terence Stamp cameo bites the dust. The rest of the cast include Val Kilmer, Carrie Ann Moss (fresh off "The Matrix"), Tom Sizemore (in his least sleazy role yet), Simon Baker (pretending to be unattractive and awkward), and Benjamin Bratt.
Most of the rest of film's dialogue revolves around the hypothetical discussion of this proposed terraforming of Mars and what went wrong. The film tries its hardest to stay in the realm of the plausible, and even had NASA advisers onboard the project, until their relationship became strained when NASA objected to one of the astronauts becoming a murderer.
When the surviving characters aren't talking about terraforming, they're usually troubleshooting by Macgyvering up something from whatever they have around them. Need to establish a contact with the orbiting shuttle? How about taking apart an old probe lying around since 1997 and making a handheld, solar-powered radio? Cool!
Maybe that's what I like about this movie: that can-do, do-or-die, human inventiveness that never gives up.
Or maybe it was Val Kilmer giving Mars the finger...
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Progress Report (For Those Who Care)
While tweaking "Only Human" (working title?) the other day, I checked the file, and it was created on May 31, 2010. Not so long ago, perhaps, but it doesn't feel like I've been working on it as long as that. There's chapter 10 to be done, and whether or not I decide on splitting it up or ending the story on one huge chapter. But the end is soon.
Before I go too far, "Only Human" is the sequel to "The Forbidden Temple of Khyber Gorah," much in the same way that "Khyber Gorah" is a sequel to "Rick Daring and the Brilliant 5." That is, to say, in a loose sense of the word. When finished, the story, like the others, will be more of a novella, and I haven't decided to couple it with its sequel or to just release it separately. I have entertained the idea of serializing it on my blog, but I'm not sure it's a good use of my time, to be honest.
I just finished re-reading the first four chapters, and I am cautiously proud of them. My friend Jason had given me some good feedback on the first 20 pages or so, and with them, the story is gelling a little better. My unhappiness with Chapter 3 is all but abated, but I keep feeling like something's missing from Chapter 5.
Come what may, I enjoyed spending time in the world of a fragile girl with insecurities and vulnerabilities. Strangely more interesting than the worlds outside our own...
Before I go too far, "Only Human" is the sequel to "The Forbidden Temple of Khyber Gorah," much in the same way that "Khyber Gorah" is a sequel to "Rick Daring and the Brilliant 5." That is, to say, in a loose sense of the word. When finished, the story, like the others, will be more of a novella, and I haven't decided to couple it with its sequel or to just release it separately. I have entertained the idea of serializing it on my blog, but I'm not sure it's a good use of my time, to be honest.
I just finished re-reading the first four chapters, and I am cautiously proud of them. My friend Jason had given me some good feedback on the first 20 pages or so, and with them, the story is gelling a little better. My unhappiness with Chapter 3 is all but abated, but I keep feeling like something's missing from Chapter 5.
Come what may, I enjoyed spending time in the world of a fragile girl with insecurities and vulnerabilities. Strangely more interesting than the worlds outside our own...
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Sunday Movie: Robinson Crusoe on Mars
Paul Mantee stars as Commander Draper, the aforementioned Robinson Crusoe of the title. He is forced to find a way to live on Mars after ejecting from a Mars Explorer vessel. His only companion (for the first half of the movie) is a monkey who is obviously the brains of the group, because she finds the native water and food for Draper to live on.
I'm impressed with this film, and not just because of Criterion's sharp DVD transfer. The movie has this wonderful blend of practicality and imagination. "Crusoe" does find water, oxygen, and food, but in relatively realistic or at least semi-plausible ways. One of the more interesting aspects that the film brings up is that, even finding such necessities, Draper is unhappy, because he still lacks companionship, and the isolation weighs on him so much that he hallucinates his dead partner.
Many may balk at the dated ideas of how Mars is depicted, but being filmed at Death Valley does not hurt this film. In fact, one of the only problems I have with the effects is that the studio sets cannot match the breathtaking look of the location shots. The special effects were all done using "old fashioned" techniques such as matte paintings and model work. I think the effects are just as impressive as that other science fiction movie that will turn up thirteen years later. (That would be 1977 for those of you who need a hint.)
In the second half of the movie, Draper meets "Friday," an escaped slave from a group of unknown aliens who come to Mars every so often with their chain gangs to mine Mars's ore. When they first meet, Draper is the Big Shot American, insisting on Friday learning English immediately, and it looks like Friday is doing the work for Draper, i.e. Friday's his servant. This all changes when Friday saves Draper's life. Their relationship becomes more mutual, and both men are willing to learn each other's languages and culture.
This film reminds me of another semi-realistic film of astronauts trying to survive on Mars: "Red Planet." Both films were flops in the box office, (correct me if I'm wrong) but both appeal to the little kid in me who always wanted to explore other planets and jump headfirst into the unknown.
I'm impressed with this film, and not just because of Criterion's sharp DVD transfer. The movie has this wonderful blend of practicality and imagination. "Crusoe" does find water, oxygen, and food, but in relatively realistic or at least semi-plausible ways. One of the more interesting aspects that the film brings up is that, even finding such necessities, Draper is unhappy, because he still lacks companionship, and the isolation weighs on him so much that he hallucinates his dead partner.
Many may balk at the dated ideas of how Mars is depicted, but being filmed at Death Valley does not hurt this film. In fact, one of the only problems I have with the effects is that the studio sets cannot match the breathtaking look of the location shots. The special effects were all done using "old fashioned" techniques such as matte paintings and model work. I think the effects are just as impressive as that other science fiction movie that will turn up thirteen years later. (That would be 1977 for those of you who need a hint.)
In the second half of the movie, Draper meets "Friday," an escaped slave from a group of unknown aliens who come to Mars every so often with their chain gangs to mine Mars's ore. When they first meet, Draper is the Big Shot American, insisting on Friday learning English immediately, and it looks like Friday is doing the work for Draper, i.e. Friday's his servant. This all changes when Friday saves Draper's life. Their relationship becomes more mutual, and both men are willing to learn each other's languages and culture.
This film reminds me of another semi-realistic film of astronauts trying to survive on Mars: "Red Planet." Both films were flops in the box office, (correct me if I'm wrong) but both appeal to the little kid in me who always wanted to explore other planets and jump headfirst into the unknown.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Aloha, Brother
Film Score Monthly released a CD version of 1968 soundtrack to the TV series, Hawaii Five-O. This being a calculated risk what with the new version on CBS and everything. I must admit that this soundtrack is pretty impressive despite its brevity. (Then again, 30 minutes is 3/4ths the capacity of a record. Ask your parents what a record is.) It features music from the series composed by Morton Stevens, including its legendary theme song.
If you'll allow me to digress, I remember a time when television shows all had cool, catchy themes songs, and in the Top 10 would be the theme to Hawaii Five-O. Other soundtracks for television shows of the sixties (my experience limited to Mission: Impossible and Mannix) feature music written by the composer (In both cases Lalo Schifrin) exclusively for the album. This meant that the soundtrack for the show did not include any music used in the show except for the main theme.
The Hawaii Five-O soundtrack has a nice balance of suspense/tense music with the trippy/jazzy style of the sixties. And there's plenty of use of the theme throughout the soundtrack. It opens with an extended version of the theme, and ends on a truncated version which is (or sounds a lot like) the version used as opening/closing of the show. "The Chase" is a highlight, a mix of bombastic horns and a soft touch of the main theme. (It also contains the stinger used when the show segways into commercial breaks.) Fans of Morton's work will also like to hear "Call to Danger" for it is the unused theme for a pilot (nameed "Call To Danger") that was never made.
With a great booklet with insightful liner notes, it's hard to see what's not to like. (You were probably thinking this was going to end with "Book 'em, Danno," huh?)
If you'll allow me to digress, I remember a time when television shows all had cool, catchy themes songs, and in the Top 10 would be the theme to Hawaii Five-O. Other soundtracks for television shows of the sixties (my experience limited to Mission: Impossible and Mannix) feature music written by the composer (In both cases Lalo Schifrin) exclusively for the album. This meant that the soundtrack for the show did not include any music used in the show except for the main theme.
The Hawaii Five-O soundtrack has a nice balance of suspense/tense music with the trippy/jazzy style of the sixties. And there's plenty of use of the theme throughout the soundtrack. It opens with an extended version of the theme, and ends on a truncated version which is (or sounds a lot like) the version used as opening/closing of the show. "The Chase" is a highlight, a mix of bombastic horns and a soft touch of the main theme. (It also contains the stinger used when the show segways into commercial breaks.) Fans of Morton's work will also like to hear "Call to Danger" for it is the unused theme for a pilot (nameed "Call To Danger") that was never made.
With a great booklet with insightful liner notes, it's hard to see what's not to like. (You were probably thinking this was going to end with "Book 'em, Danno," huh?)
Monday, October 04, 2010
Sunday Movie: Superman/Batman: Apocalypse
Kevin Conroy and Tim Daly reprised their roles as Batman and Superman in another adaptationr of Jeph Loeb's Superman/Batman series. This story picks up where the last story left off, where in the remains of the large astroid from Krypton, (that was destroyed by a large robot composite of Batman and Superman piloted by the Dark Night) Batman finds another survivor from Krypton, Superman's apparent cousin, who eventually becomes Supergirl. (Surprised?)
The story is focused on Kara's (Supergirl's) discovery of identity and adapting to life on planet Earth... Oh, who am I kidding? It's really about everyone kidnapping and brainwashing the poor Kryptonian. First of all, Wonder Woman and her amazons ambush and kidnap her. (When did Superman and Wonder Woman stop speaking to each other?) Then, on Paradise Island, Darkseid attacks with an army of Doomsday creatures (only for the army to be literally fried with Super Heat Vision) and Kara again being kidnapped and then brainwashed.
Good news, the story is more coherent than the first one, "Public Enemies," which was just bizarre. Though everyone seems out of character. Superman is very aggressive and angry. Batman is super-pessimissic. Did I mention that Wonder Woman ambushed and attacked Superman in his secret identity no less? Darkseid is one-dimensional, and Kara isn't given enough time to develop when she's being constantly being attacked or kidnapped. But hey, it was based on a comic book.
Also, if you're wondering why the movie is called Apocalypse when there is no said threat, then ask the execs at Warner Bros. Apparently, the earlier release of the Wonder Woman DVD movie had poor sales, so the WB wanted, in no way, to advertise that this movie was about another female lead, Supergirl, and the creators fought to even have her on the cover. Personally, if they had told me that Big Barda was in it, I would have bought it sooner.
The story is focused on Kara's (Supergirl's) discovery of identity and adapting to life on planet Earth... Oh, who am I kidding? It's really about everyone kidnapping and brainwashing the poor Kryptonian. First of all, Wonder Woman and her amazons ambush and kidnap her. (When did Superman and Wonder Woman stop speaking to each other?) Then, on Paradise Island, Darkseid attacks with an army of Doomsday creatures (only for the army to be literally fried with Super Heat Vision) and Kara again being kidnapped and then brainwashed.
Good news, the story is more coherent than the first one, "Public Enemies," which was just bizarre. Though everyone seems out of character. Superman is very aggressive and angry. Batman is super-pessimissic. Did I mention that Wonder Woman ambushed and attacked Superman in his secret identity no less? Darkseid is one-dimensional, and Kara isn't given enough time to develop when she's being constantly being attacked or kidnapped. But hey, it was based on a comic book.
Also, if you're wondering why the movie is called Apocalypse when there is no said threat, then ask the execs at Warner Bros. Apparently, the earlier release of the Wonder Woman DVD movie had poor sales, so the WB wanted, in no way, to advertise that this movie was about another female lead, Supergirl, and the creators fought to even have her on the cover. Personally, if they had told me that Big Barda was in it, I would have bought it sooner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)