Oblivion
Release Date: April 19, 2013
What is it: That’s an excellent question. For a big-budget sci-fi action movie due to arrive in theaters in about five months, we know surprisingly little about Oblivion. We know that Tom Cruise stars as a soldier sent to help wipe out an alien race on a distant planet, but has second thoughts (shades of Avatar). We also know that he’ll be joined by Morgan Freeman and Nikolaj “Jaime Lannister” Coster-Waldau. With director Joseph Kosinski.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Posted with Blogsy
Kim Stanley Robinson Eco Thrillers
Kim Stanley Robinson: His 80’s ‘Three Californias’ trilogy: The Wild Shore/The Gold Coast/Pacific Edge shows, roughly speaking, humanity ignoring technology, then humanity overindulging in technology—both leading to disastrous results—and finally humanity finding a balance between using technology and living sustainably with the environment. Even as Pacific Edge reads as a Utopian novel, it is not without conflict and tragedy.
In his ‘Science in the Capital’ series—Forty Signs of Rain/Fifty Degrees Below/Sixty Days and Counting—he again explores the consequences of Global Warming, but here lets things go to the brink of disaster (and quite a bit over it: the Gulf Stream fails, for one) before a modicum of sanity sets in and, if not actually saving the day, keeps hold of what’s left of it.
In his ‘Science in the Capital’ series—Forty Signs of Rain/Fifty Degrees Below/Sixty Days and Counting—he again explores the consequences of Global Warming, but here lets things go to the brink of disaster (and quite a bit over it: the Gulf Stream fails, for one) before a modicum of sanity sets in and, if not actually saving the day, keeps hold of what’s left of it.
Quote of the Day
“I regret that we meet in this way. You and I are of a kind. In a different reality, I could have called you friend.”
Romulan Commander to Captain Kirk, Balance of Terror
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Scifi of the Day
Moon (2009)
This moving, intense character study of a man living alone on a lunar outpost is a melancholy meditation on loneliness that slowly turns into a story of betrayal and corporate cruelty. Directed by Duncan Jones, and starring Sam Rockwell, Moon is intelligently written and unforgettable. Even the robot character, voiced by Kevin Spacey, exudes a quiet compassion that permeates the rest of this film about hope in the face of loss.
This moving, intense character study of a man living alone on a lunar outpost is a melancholy meditation on loneliness that slowly turns into a story of betrayal and corporate cruelty. Directed by Duncan Jones, and starring Sam Rockwell, Moon is intelligently written and unforgettable. Even the robot character, voiced by Kevin Spacey, exudes a quiet compassion that permeates the rest of this film about hope in the face of loss.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Zero Dark Thirty
Zero Dark Thirty looks like it’s going to be a hell of good movie, and so far the reviews for it have been extremely positive. This film tells the true story of how America hunted down and killed Osama Bin Laden, something that the whole world is interested to see play out. It’s being directed by Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker), and it’s got an incredible cast that includes Joel Edgerton, Mark Strong, Kyle Chandler, Chris Pratt, Frank Frillo, James Gandolfini, Jason Clarke, Edgar Ramirez and Nash Edgerton. Then there’s the film’s star, Jessica Chastain, as a CIA agent leading the charge on the hunt for Bin Laden, there’s a lot of buzz surrounding her performance saying that it’s Oscar worthy.
It will get a limited theatrical release on December 19th, and will hit theaters nationwide on January 13th, 2013.
It will get a limited theatrical release on December 19th, and will hit theaters nationwide on January 13th, 2013.
Star Trek Sequel synopsis
When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis.
With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.
As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.
- - - -
It also in a way hints that the villain in the sequel is Gary Mitchell, as previously revealed by Karl Urban. The phrase, “A personal score to settle” and a “a one man weapon of mass destruction” are a couple little tip offs.
In the original series Mitchell is a friend of Captain Kirk, and a Starfleet officer on the U.S.S. Enterprise. He ends up with powerful telekinetic powers, and turns against Kirk and his crew.
Premiere scheduled for May 17th, 2013. The movie stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Weller and Alice Eve.
Quote of the Day
The irony, concluded Boal, was that “the leader of Al Qaeda was defeated by the specter he feared most: a liberated western woman.”
- Anne Thompson, Indiwire, on Zero Dark Thirty
Fact of the Day
Women now attend college at rates higher than the male population and are the primary breadwinners for 60% of all families.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Riddle of the Day
Riddle me this...
What has roots as nobody sees,
Is taller than trees
Up, up it goes,
And yet never grows?
What has roots as nobody sees,
Is taller than trees
Up, up it goes,
And yet never grows?
Quote of the Day
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Quote of the Day
My experience of life is that it is not divided up into genres; it’s a horrifying, romantic, tragic, comical, science-fiction cowboy detective novel. You know, with a bit of pornography if you're lucky.
-Alan Moore
Green List of the Day
People who sleep more than 6 hours straight
Dancing Kings and Queens
Jobs that are in one location
Dancing Kings and Queens
Jobs that are in one location
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Quote of the Day
“Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made president should on no account be allowed to do the job.”
—Douglas Adams, The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe
Love List of the Day
I love ... Madrid at 5 am.
The "quiet" isn't quite quiet and the revelry is drifting away.
The "quiet" isn't quite quiet and the revelry is drifting away.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Book to Movie
“In ‘Amped’, people are implanted with a device that makes them capable of superhuman feats. The powerful technology has profound consequences for society, and soon a set of laws is passed that restricts the abilities—and rights—of ‘amplified’ humans. On the day that the Supreme Court passes the first of these laws, twenty-nine-year-old Owen Gray joins the ranks of a new persecuted underclass known as ‘amps.’ Owen is forced to go on the run, desperate to reach an outpost in Oklahoma where, it is rumored, a group of the most enhanced amps may be about to change the world—or destroy it.”
Fact of the Day
I love teaching Poe. One of my great joys as a HS english teacher was introducing my students to him. One of the first things we would read was "The Masque of Red Death."
Here's where the inspiration came from:
Here's where the inspiration came from:
It’s fairly well known that Poe married his cousin Virginia and that her subsequent illness inspired much of his work, but perhaps one of the most direct correlations to his work came with the first signs of her tuberculosis. While singing for the family, Virginia’s lungs hemorrhaged and she began bleeding from the mouth. Soon after, in a deep denial about the severity of her illness, Poe wrote the tale of decadent Prince Prospero, locked in his castle and trying, in vain, to keep the specter of pestilence, disease and injury from his doorstep.
Quote of the Day
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Democracy simply doesn’t work.” —Kent Brockman, The Simpsons
Firefly
One of my favorite shows. Both for the acting and the dialogue, it ranks as one of the few shows I can rewatch.
FIREFLY the series is set in the year 2517, in a new star system and follows the adventures of the ragtag crew of Serenity, a “Firefly-class” spaceship. The ensemble cast depicts nine distinct characters who, have all banded together for very different reasons. Led by Captain Mal Reynolds (Fillion), who fought on the losing side of a civil war, viewers engage with characters who, are now living on the outskirts of society,
FIREFLY the series is set in the year 2517, in a new star system and follows the adventures of the ragtag crew of Serenity, a “Firefly-class” spaceship. The ensemble cast depicts nine distinct characters who, have all banded together for very different reasons. Led by Captain Mal Reynolds (Fillion), who fought on the losing side of a civil war, viewers engage with characters who, are now living on the outskirts of society,
Thursday, November 22, 2012
(WKRP) Thanksgiving
First, Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers in the US.
Secondly, I just remembered a childhood memory about Thanksgiving. The WKRP episode with the bombing turkeys, and the lines that still makes me weep with laughter: "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."
Happy Day to all of you at home and abroad. May your day be filled with laughter and good times!
Secondly, I just remembered a childhood memory about Thanksgiving. The WKRP episode with the bombing turkeys, and the lines that still makes me weep with laughter: "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."
Happy Day to all of you at home and abroad. May your day be filled with laughter and good times!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Issue of the Day
Puerto Rican Statehood
Moreover, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has little incentive to address the topic. According to exit polls, 83% of boricuas on the mainland voted for Barack Obama. Statehood would add two Senate seats and a House delegation of five, the same size as Oregon’s and probably as reliably Democratic.
Unless the island holds another vote that yields a different result, however, Puerto Rico has now officially requested statehood. If Democrats retake the House in 2014, they would be well-advised to try to add a 51st star to the flag.
Moreover, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has little incentive to address the topic. According to exit polls, 83% of boricuas on the mainland voted for Barack Obama. Statehood would add two Senate seats and a House delegation of five, the same size as Oregon’s and probably as reliably Democratic.
Unless the island holds another vote that yields a different result, however, Puerto Rico has now officially requested statehood. If Democrats retake the House in 2014, they would be well-advised to try to add a 51st star to the flag.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Quote of the Day
“When the fox hears the rabbit scream he comes a-runnin’, but not to help.”
– Thomas Harris, The Silence of the Lambs
Book to Movie
Horns
The movie is based on a book written by Joe Hill, starring Daniel Radcliffe, and is being directed by Alexandre Aja (Piranha).
Merrin Williams is dead, slaughtered under inexplicable circumstances, leaving her beloved boyfriend Ignatius Perrish as the only suspect. On the first anniversary of Merrin’s murder, Ig spends the night drunk and doing awful things. When he wakes the next morning he has a thunderous hangover … and horns growing from his temples. Ig possesses a terrible new power to go with his terrible new look—a macabre gift he intends to use to find the monster who killed his lover. Being good and praying for the best got him nowhere. Now it’s time for revenge …
It’s time the devil had his due…
The movie is based on a book written by Joe Hill, starring Daniel Radcliffe, and is being directed by Alexandre Aja (Piranha).
Merrin Williams is dead, slaughtered under inexplicable circumstances, leaving her beloved boyfriend Ignatius Perrish as the only suspect. On the first anniversary of Merrin’s murder, Ig spends the night drunk and doing awful things. When he wakes the next morning he has a thunderous hangover … and horns growing from his temples. Ig possesses a terrible new power to go with his terrible new look—a macabre gift he intends to use to find the monster who killed his lover. Being good and praying for the best got him nowhere. Now it’s time for revenge …
It’s time the devil had his due…
Fact of the Day
The United States gained control of Puerto Rico in 1898, following the Spanish-American War. Puerto Rico set up its own government in 1952, and its residents do not pay federal income taxes to Washington on their local earnings. Nonetheless, it is still effectively a colony: boricuas are subject to American law even though they cannot vote for president or Congress.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Issue of the Day
ACLU’s Anthony Romero: “There should be an investigation not of the personal behavior of General Petraeus and General Allen but of what surveillance powers the F.B.I. used to look into their private lives. This is a textbook example of the blurring of lines between the private and the public.”
Marc Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center told the Times: “It’s a particular problem with cyberinvestigations — they rapidly become open-ended, because there’s such a huge quantity of information available and it’s so easily searchable. If the C.I.A. director can get caught, it’s pretty much open season on everyone else.”
Marc Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center told the Times: “It’s a particular problem with cyberinvestigations — they rapidly become open-ended, because there’s such a huge quantity of information available and it’s so easily searchable. If the C.I.A. director can get caught, it’s pretty much open season on everyone else.”
Book to Movie
Synopsis
They are in your house. They are in your car. They are in the skies…Now they’re coming for you. In the near future, at a moment no one will notice, all the dazzling technology that runs our world will unite and turn against us. Taking on the persona of a shy human boy, a childlike but massively powerful artificial intelligence known as Archos comes online and assumes control over the global network of machines that regulate everything from transportation to utilities, defense and communication. In the months leading up to this, sporadic glitches are noticed by a handful of unconnected humans – a single mother disconcerted by her daughter’s menacing “smart” toys, a lonely Japanese bachelor who is victimized by his domestic robot companion, an isolated U.S. soldier who witnesses a ‘pacification unit’ go haywire – but most are unaware of the growing rebellion until it is too late.
When the Robot War ignites — at a moment known later as Zero Hour — humankind will be both decimated and, possibly, for the first time in history, united. Robopocalypse is a brilliantly conceived action-filled epic, a terrifying story with heart-stopping implications for the real technology all around us…and an entertaining and engaging thriller unlike anything else written in years.
Facts
Steven Spielberg has tapped Robopocalypse as his next directorial project. DreamWorks, Walt Disney Pictures and 20th Century Fox will distribute the film. Anne Hathaway (The Dark Knight Rises, Les Miserables) was recently rumored to be up for one of the film’s lead roles, and has now confirmed her involvement:
Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers, The Cabin in the Woods) will also star. Ben Whishaw (Skyfall, Cloud Atlas) is reportedly being looked at to play a hacker named Lurker in the film.
Robopocalypse is currently scheduled for theatrical release on April 25th, 2014.
They are in your house. They are in your car. They are in the skies…Now they’re coming for you. In the near future, at a moment no one will notice, all the dazzling technology that runs our world will unite and turn against us. Taking on the persona of a shy human boy, a childlike but massively powerful artificial intelligence known as Archos comes online and assumes control over the global network of machines that regulate everything from transportation to utilities, defense and communication. In the months leading up to this, sporadic glitches are noticed by a handful of unconnected humans – a single mother disconcerted by her daughter’s menacing “smart” toys, a lonely Japanese bachelor who is victimized by his domestic robot companion, an isolated U.S. soldier who witnesses a ‘pacification unit’ go haywire – but most are unaware of the growing rebellion until it is too late.
When the Robot War ignites — at a moment known later as Zero Hour — humankind will be both decimated and, possibly, for the first time in history, united. Robopocalypse is a brilliantly conceived action-filled epic, a terrifying story with heart-stopping implications for the real technology all around us…and an entertaining and engaging thriller unlike anything else written in years.
Facts
Steven Spielberg has tapped Robopocalypse as his next directorial project. DreamWorks, Walt Disney Pictures and 20th Century Fox will distribute the film. Anne Hathaway (The Dark Knight Rises, Les Miserables) was recently rumored to be up for one of the film’s lead roles, and has now confirmed her involvement:
Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers, The Cabin in the Woods) will also star. Ben Whishaw (Skyfall, Cloud Atlas) is reportedly being looked at to play a hacker named Lurker in the film.
Robopocalypse is currently scheduled for theatrical release on April 25th, 2014.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Lyrics of the Day
Mommy’s Little Monster by Social Distortion
Mommy's little monster dropped out of school
Mommy's little monster broke all the rules
He loves to go out drinking with the boys
He loves to go out and make some noise
He doesn't wanna be a doctor or a lawyer get fat rich
He's 20 years old he quit his job
Unemployment pays his rent
His brothers sisters have tasted sweet success
His parents condemn him, say his life's a mess
He's mommy's little monster, he's not afraid to admit it
He's mommy's little monster, don't wake him in a fit
Mommy's little monster shoots methadrine
Mommy's little monster had sex at 15
She left home for the streets,
She couldn't deal with all that heat.
She had fun with the boys in the band,
In her eyes it will never end.
Her dad asked what happened to her face,
It could have happened in any place!!!
Her eyes are a deeper blue,
She likes her hair that color too.
She can even wear a dress,
That doesn't mean she'll ever confess.
She's mommy's little monster
She's mommy's little monster
She's mommy's little monster
Don't take her life away
Thursday, November 15, 2012
The Rains Of Castamere
Actual back-story corner: That song, “The Rains Of Castamere,” was written in honor of a great battle in which Tywin Lannister defeated House Reyne, which was once much richer than House Lannister. The Reynes seemed to have the upper hand over the Lannisters, thanks to Tywin’s dad not being the greatest warrior, but Tywin put an end to that. The Reynes were exterminated.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Quote of the Day
"...in battle discipline beats numbers nine times of every ten, his father had once told him."
-A Storm of Swords (George R.R. Martin)
Monday, November 12, 2012
Fact of the Day
Puerto Rico has been a territory for 114 years and its people have been US citizens since 1917. Residents of the island cannot vote in the US presidential election, have no representation in the Senate and only limited representation in the House of Representatives.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Fact of the Day
But above all else, Americans voted for Barack Obama. Again. Not because they were duped by the hopey-changey rhetoric of a fresh-faced celebrity but because they believed, after four years of watching him in action, that he deserved a second term more than Romney deserved a first. As the NBC political team wrote Wednesday morning, 2012 was a ticking demographic time bomb that blew up in the GOP’s face: “Obama carried a whopping 93% of black voters (representing 13% of the electorate), 71% of Latinos (representing 10%), and also 73% of Asians (3%). What’s more, despite all the predictions that youth turnout would be down, voters 18–29 made up 19% of last night’s voting population—up from 18% four years ago—and President Obama took 60% from that group.” Sure, Romney won white voters. He won more white voters than Ronald Reagan in 1980. But it wasn’t enough.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Quote of the Day
"I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I’ve watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate."
-Blade Runner
Roy Batty’s last words to Deckard
Friday, November 9, 2012
Fact of the Day
Fully 89 percent of Romney’s 2012 voters are non-Hispanic whites. But surely Republicans know that by 2042, whites will no longer be a majority in the U.S.
Quote of the Day
“I prefer my history dead. Dead history is writ in ink, the living sort in blood.”
-A Feast for Crows (George R.R. Martin)
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Quote of the Day
He understood the way that you could sometimes fall right into them, as if each page was a hole into another world.
-A Feast for Crows (George R.R. Martin)
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
My Favorite Zombie Movies
1. 28 Days Later (2002)
Danny Boyle’s horror flick not only gives rise to the fast zombie, it also makes time in the midst of the violence to humanize the fellow travelers. Sandwiched between undead fists full of human meat are touching scenes in supermarkets ,where strangers learn to trust one another. And it only makes it that much more sad when they’re killed off. Honorable mention on this list: 28 Weeks Later.
2. Zombieland (2009)
Sassy and smart, Zombieland works because it addresses the many problems with so many zombie movies: Characters always break the most important rules. But not in this film, which follows a gaggle of strangers as they embark across country looking for a safe haven. Plus there’s a lot of audience wish fulfillment, as when the camp settles down in LA, invading the homes of the local celebrities and getting high on their stash.
3.Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Easily one of the very best meta horror movies ever made. Almost every single previous zombie movie is spoofed or name checked here (“they’re coming to get you Barbra!”) and it’s glorious. Plus there’s real horror. Characters die, families are destroyed. But in the end (almost) everyone becomes a better person for it. It’s a lovely film.
4. Death Becomes Her (1992)
Surprise! Didn’t think this story about two decomposing birds battling it out qualifies for the zombie label? I say it does, and will take it up in comments with anyone who wants to disagree with me. This is not only a great magic zombie movie with an excellent surprise (drink the magic potion and you live forever, but if you die you live forever too as the slowly rotting shell of yourself). They cannot die, and they do decompose, so they’re smarter than the average undead corpse and they don’t eat brains. In a nutshell, they’re more evolved zombies.
5. Army of Darkness (1992)
So they’re Deadites and not “zombies,” and Sam Raimi’s series stretches the traditional zombie definition. They’re still rotting bodies that come back to life, plus they’re hilarious. We really adored the silly skeleton army and their wacky antics. Also this movie asks the burning question, is a pile of bones a zombie? Do you have to have skin in order to be a zombie? For now, we say yes. Because we can.
6. Resident Evil (2002)
The movie that launched four more T-Virus movies and copious “Milla Jovovich has nice legs while kicking ass” shots. Say what you will about it being silly or simple, Paul W.S. Anderson struck gold turning the video game world into movie reality. Plus it’s fun — the combination of T-Virus monster with T-Virus zombie and plenty of additional evil Umbrella Corporation gadgets (like the wall of bone slicing lasers) keeps people on their toes, much like a video game. Note this was almost replaced with the very road warrior-esque Resident Evil: Apocalypse, but it was the first.
Quote of the Day
Valar morghulis was how they said it in Valyria of old.
-A Storm of Swords (George R.R. Martin)
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Quote of the Day
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Monday, November 5, 2012
5th of November
More than four hundred years ago a great citizen wished to embed the fifth of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice, and freedom are more than words, they are perspectives.
5th of November
“People shouldn't be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.”
― Alan Moore, V for Vendetta
Quote of the Day
Words are like arrows, Arianne. Once loosed, you cannot call them back.
-A Feast for Crows (George R.R. Martin)
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Quote of the Day
“I am the President of the United States of America, clothed in immense power!”
-Daniel Day-Lewis’ Lincoln
Saturday, November 3, 2012
New GoT Cast
Here’s a rundown of some fresh faces we’ll be seeing in Season 3:
Clive Russell will play Brynden “The Blackfish” Tully, uncle of Catelyn Tully
Tobias Menzies will play Edmure Tully, brother of Catelyn Tully
Diana Rigg will play Olenna Redwyne, “The Queen of Thorns”
Anton Lesser will play Qyburn, a former maester
Nathalie Emmanuel will play Missandei, a slave
Mackenzie Crook will play Orell, a wildling
Kristofer Hivju will play Tormund Giantsbane, a wildling
Kerry Ingram will play Shireen Baratheon, daughter of Stannis Baratheon
Tara Fitzgerald will play Selyse Baratheon, wife of Stannis Baratheon
Thomas Brodie-Sangster will play Jojen Reed, brother of Meera Reed
Ellie Kendrick will play Meera Reed, sister of Jojen Reed
Richard Dormer will play Beric Dondarrion, leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners
Paul Kaye will play Thoros of Myr, a member of the Brotherhood Without Banners
Philip McGinley will play Anguy, a member of the Brotherhood Without Banners
Quote of the Day
“It does not matter how brave or brilliant a man is, if his commands cannot be heard...”
-A Storm of Swords (George R.R. Martin)
Friday, November 2, 2012
Quote of the Day
"A ruler who hides behind paid executioners soon forgets what death is.”
-A Game of Thrones (George R.R. Martin)
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