Dream On Monkey Mountain by Derek Walcott

I just finished reading Dream On Monkey Mountain And Other Plays by Derek Walcott.  I think this might be my favorite thing I've read out of all of the things I've read thus far for this blog.  The language is very abstract, native, and hard to understand.  However, you are able, at least some of the time, to get the basic meaning of each story, and there is a lyricism to the language that is inescapable.  I have been taught in the past that the language itself that Walcott uses for these plays is racist, but I disagree, and I think that the language is actually quite suitable for the characters involved.  Great, colorful cover to the edition of the book that I have, and great stories too.  Recommended!

The Dark Knight III: The Master Race

DKIII is a great comic.  Although it's not as good as the first Dark Knight, it's better than DKII and features phenomenal artwork.  I liked the epic scope of the battles, the surprisingly positive characterization of Superman, and how Superman interacted with Batman.  Batman is very well depicted, grizzled as usual, but also smart, a fighter, a warrior and a detective.  The story is kind of all over the map, but it's still a great ride, with some very memorable moments.  Recommended!

Next up: Dream On Monkey Mountain by Derek Walcott

The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon

Finished The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon this morning.  Although considered a modern work, it has many aspects of it (chiefly its fractured narrative) which make it seem postmodern.  The story begins with the reading of a will and leads to a conspiracy, but honestly it's all very hard to follow.  At the same time, I did really enjoy the wordplay and the rhythm of the words.  Even if you don't feel like untangling its deep meaning, I would still recommend it.

I'm still reading DKIII.  After that, it's Dream On Monkey Mountain by Derek Walcott.

The Chomsky Reader by Noam Chomsky

It's interesting that I was assigned both some Zizek readings and The Chomsky Reader by Noam Chomsky while I was a graduate student at the University of Tennessee, considering the feud that exists between the two writers.  Chomsky basically accuses Zizek of being an incoherent and illegitimate scholar, and vice versa.  After reading both authors, I'm prepared to say that neither one is particularly coherent.  I understood the occasional sentence of The Chomsky Reader, but ultimately could not make it through the book.  Aside from a general hatred of American foreign policy, not much is conveyed, so I can't really recommend the book.

Next up: The Dark Knight III: The Master Race by Frank Miller

Blade Runner 2049

I finally saw Blade Runner 2049 last night.  It's a shame that this movie did not perform better at the box office, and although it is fantastic, I'm also not sure it's quite on par with the original or worthy of some of the praise it has gotten from critics (Rotten Tomatoes actually put it high on a sci fi top 100, which probably isn't right).  The plot is basically incomprehensible, something about a cloned child, but the visuals could not be more arresting, and Ryan Gosling is absolutely brilliant as a younger, quirkier Blade Runner.  I also really enjoyed Harrison Ford's cameo.  There are some moments in here that absolutely just make your heart stop.  Recommended!

The Sellout by Paul Beatty

I just finished reading The Sellout by Paul Beatty, recipient of the Man Booker Prize.  It was an interesting book, with many standout passages, descriptions, and situations that vividly depict the (sometimes comedic) horror of racial disparity.  I like how the characters' behavior is both shocking and likeable, and how relatable each character is.  The writing style of the book, I admit, I sometimes struggled with.  In some ways, I feel that Beatty struggles with a writing style that is slightly too essayish and fractured.  If we want to use general terms like postmodern or deconstruction, they would apply here.  At times, I wished the book had been written with more description and less narration.  Still, it is well worth reading, with a great premise and great characters.

Next up: The Chomsky Reader

Revisiting the Christopher Nolan Batman Trilogy (Greatest Thing Ever?)

Folks, I just finished rewatching the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy.  I must say I enjoyed it even more this time than the first time that I saw the films.  They may be even stronger than Nolan's Memento, and they may be the best Batman films we have yet.  My favorite is The Dark Knight Rises, but they're all pretty superb.  When Batman Begins first came out, I was a little disappointed that it wasn't more like Batman: Year One (in fact, parts seemed pretty slapstick), but now I'm ready to accept it as a solid introduction to a great series (and we do have the animated Batman: Year One, to satisfy that part of me).  For The Dark Knight, we have Heath Ledger's Joker, definitely a phenomenal cinematic achievement.  And lets not forget Aaron Eckhart's Two-Face, also pretty great.  That film is powerful, and in some ways the hardest hitting of the three.  The third is my favorite, and it plays kind of like Batman meets Star Wars, only with Bane thrown in there too.  I even like the ambiguous ending.  These films are definitely classics, nothing wrong with them at all, really.  They will stand the test of time.

Christmas Eve at the Galleria Chapter One

Writing for Christmas Eve at the Galleria is now underway.  As I promised, here is the first chapter.  To follow the rest of the story, you will have to buy the book, which I hope you do!:

Heavy snow was falling in Birmingham, Alabama as James Rearden got into his car one Christmas Eve, a Saturday, pulled out of his driveway, and made his way onto the overpass and onto Interstate 20.  He was a college student, actually a senior, and just about to finish up the final leg of his English Major (Creative Writing) program.  This year, he was on his way to see his family, over an hour away, in the small, quaint town of Pell City.  When he wasn’t attending college full-time, he was working as a Paralegal at his father’s law firm, Rearden, Jones, and Smith, a job he found dull yet financially rewarding.  Heck, he was barely even a Paralegal, and whenever he went out on a date, he was always encouraged if not pressured to pursue law.  But James liked to live moment to moment, as the contents of his car would attest.  Paperwork, Christmas gifts, and CDs (mostly CDs) littered the interior of his 2010 Prius.  Lately, he was going through an R.E.M. phase, and the band’s first four albums, Murmur, Reckoning, Fables of the Reconstruction, and Lifes Rich Pageant, were scattered across the floor of the passenger’s side of his car.  Right now, “Harborcoat” was playing on his car’s speaker system, reminding James that these first four albums really were the band’s best.

            The heat was on in James car, thawing out his windshield while the wipers cleared away the snowflakes.  Christmas lights and decorations were visible from the highway, as well as the occasional Christmas tree visible through a shop window.  Now that his time at school was at an end, at least for now, he could finally relax a bit and begin to soak in the spirit of the season.  It was a good thing too, since traffic on the highway was beginning to become pretty thick.  The cars in front of James were moving slowly, and after about fifteen minutes, they were at a standstill.  There was yelling, as two cars, a blue truck and a white minivan, nearly hit each other.

            “Oh, great,” said James.  “Let’s see what’s on the radio.”

            “Harborcoat” was about done playing, and after it was finished, James switched the dial to Magic 96.5.  Sure, it wasn’t the hippest thing to be listening to, but in a town like Birmingham, which didn’t offer a lot of variety and often detoured into conservative talk radio, it certainly was the best thing.  Old-fashioned, maybe, but also poppy enough to listen to and with the occasional contemporary band thrown into the mix.  Right now, though, James was looking for the latest weather forecast to explain his current situation.  “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” was wrapping up just now.

            “C’mon,” he grumbled.  “Where is the news?”

            After the song had finished, a voice came on loud and clear.  The forecast was not good.  Heavy snow and ice all through the night, making this the whitest Christmas in quite some time.  James reached for his iPhone 5 (he still hadn’t upgraded) and texted his mother.  She and his dad were divorced, and he had done Christmas with Charles and his new wife, Jessie, a few days before.  The text was short and sweet.

            “Hey, Mom.  It’s James.  The snow and ice are coming down pretty hard, so I’m afraid I’ll have to stay somewhere else for the night.  I will let you know when I can make it into town.  I love you, Mom!  Bye!”

            James had two younger brothers, Matt and Nathan, who were twenty and fifteen, respectively.  James was twenty three.  They were both already at the house, which means that James being snowed in would be an inconvenience for the family.  But it would be all right.  The occasional wild, out-of-nowhere winter storm in Birmingham had happened before.  He remembers once, when he was in middle school, it snowed so hard on his March 15^th birthday that his Mom and Dad had to crash at a hotel and then make a late-night run to Wal-Mart to get new presents for him.  He remembers that year that he got a pretty groovy plastic black ninja.

            James took exit 125 off the interstate and into Hoover, AL.  And he really meant to find a hotel or motel at that point, only they all seemed to be full for the night.  The Christmas music was back on Magic 96.5, and as Andy Williams’ “The First Noelle” came on, the music seemed to be leading him in another direction, toward the Patton Creek shopping center, and then to the Galleria.  So sure did he feel about going there, that lights could have been guiding his path out of the highway and down through the street.  Illuminated snowflakes hung from the streetlights to his left and right, also guiding his way.  He pulled into the first, enormous parking lot of the mall, right in front of the J.C. Penny’s.  The large white letters of J.C. Penny’s logo hung with much gravity, with more Christmas lights beneath them, and beneath the lights were large, mysterious glass doors, blackness beyond them.  James got out of his car and slammed the door shut, then trudged through the deep, packed snow toward the glass doors.  They seemed strange, yet welcoming.

            “It’s either this or sleep in my car,” he thought to himself.  “Surely, there are some beds, or something, in that mall.  If only we can get it open.”

            Now it might have been the weather, or the rush of the music from his car, or the effect of passing through so many dazzling Christmas lights, but one could say that James started to see things from that point onward.  Suddenly, one of those glass doors sprung open, and out stepped a woman with black hair, a flannel coat, and green corduroy pants.  Whether she was real, a ghost, or a spirit, we will never know.  She slammed the door shut behind her, then surveyed the parking lot with a weary but bemused look in her eyes. 

            “Hi, I’m Carol,” she said.

            “James.”

            “I’ve been holed up here for the past day or so, barely making it on coffee, fast food, and popcorn.  It’ll be nice to have some company.  Do you want to go inside and get something to eat?”

            James looked at Carol.  She was kind of tough and odd looking, but also very pretty.  She looked older by about two or three years, with her hair a wavy texture and a sharp bump on her chin.  Her skin was pale, like she had been inside the Galleria for a year instead of a day.  “Who was she?” he wondered.  “How did she get in?  Was she another student from school?”  He had a lot of questions, and though he did want to follow her, he began to suspect that she wasn’t real.  The way she looked and dressed, she seemed more like a spirit-guide than an actual person.

            He paused, then asked her all of these questions in a nervous rush.

            “Are you coming or not?,” she responded.  “I’ll answer your questions when we’re inside.”

            She extended her hand.

            “How old are you?” she asked.

            “Twenty-two,” he responded.

            “Twenty-four,” she replied.  “I’ve got the edge.”

            James took her hand, and together, they walked through those blackened glass doors and into the J.C. Penny.  James was immediately immersed in memories from when he visited this store as a child, coming there after reading comic books in the book store to shop with his mother.  Clothing was at the front of the store, items like heavy coats, sweaters, and boots, while at the back were kitchen items, electronics, bedding, and such.  White Christmas lights dangled from the ceiling, and an inflatable Santa Claus weaved strangely across the floor.  Yes, a strange, crackling energy was in the air that night.  Although the store was deserted, employees still moved back and forth across the floor and also attended the jewelry counters.  One asked James, “Can I help you find anything?”  He wore a bow tie, glasses, green and red-striped suspenders, and had tightly combed brown hair.

            “Is this place haunted?” James asked.

            “Kind of,” said Carol.  “C’mon.  Keep moving.”

            And with that, they were off, weaving past the multicolored winter coats and toaster ovens, past the rows of diamond rings and diamond necklaces, past the rows of dress shoes, belts, and dress suits, past another inflatable Santa, until they were finally and at long last inside of the Galleria proper.  Lounge chairs and a railing stood before them, and the glass ceiling above them revealed a black and snow-streaked sky.

            “Wow,” said James.  “I haven’t been here in forever.”

mother!

After all the press and all of the trailers, I finally saw Darren Arronofsky's mother!.  I'm a big fan of Arronofsky's, as tough as his films are, and I particularly liked his The Black Swan, so I had to check this out.  However, I didn't like this nearly as much as The Black Swan, and in fact am not sure I can even recommend it.  This is a hard, endurance test type of movie, about as hard of a film as I've ever seen.  The premise of the film is that a husband and wife live in a secluded house in the middle of the woods.  The husband is trying to write, and the wife wants to have a baby.  As the film progresses, these two ambitions come into conflict.  The husband allows two guests into their home, which leads to more conflict, and then to an all out assault on the house by pretty much every force imaginable.  Harry Knowles over at AICN claims that this next part of the film, extreme as it is, shouldn't even be interpreted as true.  I, however, rather do think it's true, and I refuse to accept or embrace the film because of the severity of what we see there, which I won't repeat.  I will say that Jennifer Lawrence is exceptional in the film, while the rest of the film seems rather exploitative and beneath her (basically the opposite of what Brian Tellerico writes in his review).  You might want to listen to domestic audiences and avoid this one.

Letting Go by Philip Roth

I just got finished reading Letting Go by Philip Roth, which was recommended to me during lecture by my old college professor, Marshall Boswell (incidentally, Boswell has written two terrific books, Trouble With Girls and Alternative Atlanta, which you should check out).  This novel is very complex, very dense at over 600 pages, with at times very strange language.  Still, what a fascinating book.  I particularly liked the final sentence, which perfectly embodies Gabe's plight.  Not an easy book to read (I wonder if The Counterlife is more accessible), but worth checking out.

Next up: The Sellout by Paul Beatty

Se7en

Just finished watching this David Fincher classic tonight!  What a great film!  Arguably his most memorable, and his best (though I might prefer Girl With the Dragon Tattoo).  Features terrific performances by Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kevin Spacey.  Morgan Freeman, in particular, is incredible, capturing Detective Sommerset's cynicism and world-weariness to a t.  Very nice plot, with many memorable lines of dialogue, with terrific cinematography and set design.  Gruesome, but unforgettable.  Another 90s classic.

More Batman Adventures, continued

Batman: Black and White Volumes 3-4

These were all great.  I particularly liked the comic with Batman's son, and the science fiction Batman comic.

Batman: The Black Mirror

This is a very grim and gritty, and extremely disturbing, Batman story.  It features Commissioner Gordon's son as the villain, an utter psychopath who is obsessed with teasing he received as a child.  The story offers a very creative take on teasing, with the supposed victim ultimately becoming the abuser.  Just a tough, tough story.  I'll probably have to take a break from reviewing Batman comics after that one.  But I would still recommend it.

Alien: Covenant Unofficial Animated Series Episode 2

Recently, they came out with episode 2 of the unofficial Alien: Covenant animated series.  I'm not sure I understand what's going on exactly, since I don't follow the forums, but it's very scary and also very well animated.  Check it out:

http://www.alien-covenant.com/news/episode-2-the-alien-covenant-unofficial-animated-series-now-online

To be honest, the more time goes by, the more I'm not sure the whole Alien franchise is on the right track after Prometheus.  Believe me, I loved Prometheus, but I didn't buy the Alien: Covenant DVD, and going entirely from memory, I'm not sure that it's as good or as profound.  Their decision to focus on David instead of Shaw seems like a misstep to me, which might make the films less interesting as a result.  I might check out the next one, though, just to see where it takes us.  I've heard different rumors as far as whether there will even be a next one, but I will let you know additional information, as well as my take on it, as it becomes available.  Stay tuned!

Fight Club

Continuing my reexploration of director David Fincher's films, recently I rewatched his film Fight Club.  It isn't his best film, I don't think, and depending on when you catch me I wouldn't always even call it a *good* film, but as of right now, I think it's a very good film indeed.  It came out in 1999, a true watershed year for film, and though Magnolia is my personal favorite film for that year, it was also a truly memorable contribution for 1999.  It has a lot of the flair and raw energy of such films as GoodFellas and Wild at Heart, just a pure adrenaline rush with a crazy camera.  I love the twist ending, and the acting, and as always with Fincher, the pure LOOK of the film.  It's a true classic of the 1990s, and like Raging Bull, I find myself rewatching it every so often.  Recommended!

Ben Affleck's Batman

Recently, I've been following rumors that the new, upcoming Batman film by Matt Reeves will not be part of the DCEU and will not star Ben Affleck.  Reports following these rumors have so far confirmed that these rumors are not true.  All I have to say is, thank goodness!  I think of every live action interpretation of Batman that I've seen, with the possible exception of Michael Keaton, Ben Affleck's is my favorite.  "He should play the shark!," as Kevin Smith would say.  This drive to belittle Ben Affleck, Zack Snyder, Batman V Superman, and to want to replace Affleck's Batman with a younger Batman seems bizarre and a little confusing to me.  Could it be that these people want a more Aryan Batman?  That would, I think, not be in keeping with the spirit of the character, who many creators have depicted as Jewish (all right, fine, in Batman V Superman he appears to be Christian).  Note to studio execs who may be reading this: don't listen to every internet troll you come across.  They seem to be a mix of kids messing around on their parents computers, folks who haven't actually seen the movie in question, and bots who aren't even human.  But Batman V Superman is a great film, and they should keep the Batman in question in The Batman and in all other live action Batman films for as long as possible.  Thank you.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

When I recently moved out of my apartment, one of the few of my possessions that I didn't pack up were my collection of David Fincher films.  Recently, I've been watching them, and one that I just got finished watching was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.  This is not a perfect film.  I remember not really liking it the first time I watched it.  In fact, the only two things I really remember about it were the party in the bedroom scene and Ebert's negative review of the film.  However, after rewatching it, it really is a great film.  It may stand as David Fincher's most "normal" film, just a very well-rounded and well-developed affair, which makes it a spectacle to behold indeed.  Even if it is uneven, and somewhat superficial, it's a great film, sort of one of those emotional, satisfying, "Oscar" worthy and Oscar caliber films you might think of.  The performances are great, as is the cinematography.  It has a classic feel to it, even if it isn't quite a classic.  Certainly worth seeing, even if only as part of a David Fincher retrospective.

More Batman Adventures

Good to see you all.  Here are two more Batman comics.

Batman: The Long Halloween

This is an epic, classic-at-every-level Batman story with many twists and turns.  There are many suspects as to who the Holiday killer could be, and the ultimate solution to the puzzle will actually shock you.  Batman is very classically drawn here, with many great illustrations by Tim Sale.  The organized crime world of Gotham is here in full force, with many references to The Godfather, and all of the crazies from Arkham Asylum are here, too.  I can't think of a more old school, classic Batman story that's more satisfying.  Perfect for a rainy day.

Batman: Black and White Volume One and Two

This comic series, a collection of black and white comics from different creators, might evoke the strongest personal memories for me.  Very powerful, emotional, and intimate stuff here.  There's sort of a noir undercurrent with these stories, yet they are all so very different.  Each one, in its own way, is brilliant.  In particular, I really like the Neil Gaiman story and the story about the murdered cat.  Just a completely new spin on Batman.

To be continued. . .

Top 10

Just for fun!  Now with Mulholland Drive, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Unforgiven!  I'm sorry, but it was simply criminal not to have these on there!

1. Raging Bull
2. The Films of David Fincher
3. Prometheus
4. Mulholland Drive
5. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
6. Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice/Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
7. The French Connection/French Connection II
8. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
9. 2001: A Space Odyssey
10. Unforgiven

That should be everything, don't think I left anything out.

The Mummy

Oh, I forgot to mention that I saw The Mummy this weekend.  The critics are wrong on this one.  What a great film!  Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe, and company provide lots of laughs and lots of scares.  Great makeup, great effects, and a great female mummy.  Looks and feels just as great as the trailers and the add campaign.  Really has a rich, old-fashioned, classic feel to it.  They don't make 'em like this any more.  Check it out!

Top 6-10

Here are five more films that I consider to be among my favorites.  Many of these, thus far, have had a dark, kind of "noir" feel.

6.  Zodiac

This is another great David Fincher film.  His second best is either this or Gone Girl.  Like Girl With a Dragon Tattoo, it at times takes place in a very old-fashioned environment, while also dealing with technology.

7.  The French Connection

Although Unforgiven is a fine film, I think this is really my personal favorite Gene Hackman film.  Popeye Doyle is one of cinema's all time great characters, and his decent into a seedy underworld here is one of my all-time favorite movies.

8.  French Connection II

This time Popeye's in France.  Also a lot of fun, with great direction by John Frankenheimer.

9.  Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

I'm so glad to have worked John Hughes Christmas and Thanksgiving films into this top ten.  I actually don't own this one, but I need to get it.  So many memorable moments with this film.

10.  Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

This is another great Batman film, which I originally saw in theaters.  I recently rediscovered it on Netflix.  Lots of great themes concerning the nature of relationships, isolation, and of course revenge.  Just a perfect film from start to finish.

Have a great fourth!

Frank Miller's Batman

My Hoopla reading continues, as I sit down to read three of the Batman adventures written by Frank Miller in Hoopla.  Miller might be my very favorite Batman creator, and these three comics are all absolutely brilliant.

Batman: Year One

Maybe my favorite Batman story ever.  Shows both Batman and James Gordon's first year of fighting crime in Gotham, as well as their efforts to confront a corrupt police force.  Incredibly well drawn, with a style that really shows you the grit of inner city Gotham.  Also has some great dialogue and narration.  A truly noir take on Batman.

The Dark Knight Returns

From a formal perspective, this may be the best Batman story out there.  It's certainly the most influential, having had an impact on the Michael Keaton, Christian Bale, and Ben Affleck Batmans in equal measure.  This tale of a futuristic Batman who has gone insane, and his insane war on crime in Gotham, is sheer, operatic fun.  His fights against the Joker and Superman are unforgettable, and the depiction of the media here predicts a lot of the off-the-wall media personalities we see today.

The Dark Knight Strikes Again

Some people don't care for this sequel to The Dark Knight Returns, but I think it's every bit as good.  It really ups the ante in showing the insanity of this futuristic world (particularly the media), and while it may be more comicbooky, I really enjoyed its looseness and unpredictability.  Lots of very funny and very moving moments here.  A very worthy follow-up to its predecessor.

Top five (final draft)

Okay, okay, after some reconsideration, I've decided There Will Be Blood is just too dark to be on a top five.  A great film, but just too dark (especially that ending).  Here is my revised, and hopefully final, top five.  For brevity's sake, we'll skip the notes this time: 1.) Raging Bull 2.) Girl With the Dragon Tattoo 3.) Prometheus 4.) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 5.) Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice.  Have a nice night!

Top five (revised)

Hello, all.  This weekend I got a chance to finally rewatch There Will Be Blood, and it was great!  So good, I think it's actually not high up enough on my top five.  So, I've made some rearrangements.  See what you think: 1.) Raging Bull - see comments on previous top five.  2.) Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011) - I've been going through a David Fincher phase lately, and I think this one is the cream of the crop.  I regretted not having any Fincher on my previous top five, and now I'm correcting that.  This one says so much about our modern, technological world, and at the same time takes place in some very old- fashioned places that are just fascinating.  Some great themes concerning feminism are in here, too.  One of my very favorite movies.  3.)  There Will Be Blood - In addition to the comments made on my previous top five, I'll say that this one has a lot to say about the limits of capitalism and the dangers of living in a wrecked economy.  Daniel Day-Lewis is a powerhouse!  4.) Prometheus - Okay, I decided to put it on here.  The inspiration for Elizabeth Shaw: Security Officer and the movie I've seen more times than any other.  A great parable about the nature of religion (and true faith).  5.) Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice - Rewatched this over Memorial Day weekend.  Sure it borrows heavily (lots of dialogue) from The Dark Knight Returns, but it's the most fun I've ever had at the movies.  A real treat for us Bat fanatics.  Until next time!                                                                                                                      

Three Batman Adventures

Here are three more Batman comic book stories that I've read recently on Hoopla.  I'm telling you, at this rate I might have to get a subscription.

The Batman Adventures Vol. 1

This comic very vividly recreates the look and feel of that old cartoon by Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and company.  The gang's all here, The Joker, Clayface, The Riddler, and others, and they have some very inventive and dirty schemes cooked up to thwart the Batman.  My favorite issue is the one where Bruce Wayne is framed for murder, which resembles a classic Dick Tracy story in its creativity.  All are masterfully crafted and go beyond what a typical Batman story usually does.  Check them out!

The All New Batman: The Brave and the Bold: Small Miracles

This comic is based on a later cartoon series featuring the Batman, Batman: The Brave and the Bold.  I was actually reading these stories as possible Christmas gifts, and was looking at ones that were more fun and audience friendly.  This is a great comic book that's noteworthy for it's many interesting and oddball characters.  The stories where Batman competes with The Flash, and where Batmite falls in love with Batgirl, are both classics.  The standout is the Small Miracles story, though, where a superhero named Ragman, Batman, and a Rabbi question the role of God in such a crime-ridden world.  They come to a very profound conclusion.  Really enjoyed this one!

Batman Adventures: Mad Love

This might be the best Batman story, or just any story, that I've read in a while (it won an Eisner award).  It tells Harley Quinn's origin story, explains why she loves the Joker, and then involves Batman in a new, thrilling adventure.  I liked this story for its insights into the nature of love, and how often misguided love can lead us down a wrong path.  There is some great dialogue, and some great plot twists.  If you're just getting into Batman on Hoopla, you might want to start with this one!

Reading List for Upcoming Books

Hello, all.  I know I've been focusing a lot on reviewing comic books and films lately, but that doesn't mean I haven't also been working on reading actual books, too.  Right now I'm currently reading Letting Go by Philip Roth, which is a phenomenal piece of work so far.  I'm also giving it to my family for Christmas this year.  After I'm done with it, I'm thinking of focusing on the following list of books, in chronological order.

1. The Sellout by Paul Beatty
2. The Noam Chomsky Reader by Noam Chomsky
3. The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon
4. The Plague of Fantasies by Slavoj Zizek (I might not be able to review this one. . .  his books are so hard to read!)
5. Dream On Monkey Mountain by Derek Walcott
6. The Rabbit Angstrom Novels by John Updike
7. The King James Bible

I'm thinking these will keep me occupied for the foreseeable future.  Stay tuned, and I will definitely let you know what I think about at least some of these!

Batman '66 Meets John Steed & Emma Peel and Batman by Brian K. Vaughn

I sure am enjoying the heck out of my Hoopla account!  Here are my reactions to two more Batman comics I read on there recently.

Batman '66 Meets John Steed & Emma Peel

This graphic novel is just as much fun as the recurring series.  Aside from this story, I'm actually not familiar with the Avengers, but this comic really makes the characters of John Steed & Emma Peel come to life.  The ending is surprisingly gripping and sort of reminded me of Ridley Scott.  And the British Batmobile is awesome!  Recommended!

Batman by Brian K. Vaughn

Although I saw the movie Ex Machina, until I read this Batman story I was unfamiliar with Brian K. Vaughn's comic book work.  But boy is he great.  This collection features the Batman story where he plays Matches Malone, a story where he fights the Mad Hatter, a story where Wonder Woman fights Clayface, and a few pages introducing a character called The Skeleton who can assume other villains' identities.  The story that really stuck with me was the one about Matches Malone.  It's really a perfect, archetypal Batman story, one that's not overdone or gimmicky in any way, that deals with my of the familiar themes concerning Batman's identity.  Many twists and turns throughout this book, and lots of great character moments!  Extremely well written.  Also recommended!

Happy reading!

Alien: Covenant review

Well, folks, last night I saw Alien: Covenant, Ridley Scott's long-awaited sequel to his 2012 film, Prometheus, for the first time.  I know, I know, I've built this one up an insane amount, so it couldn't possibly live up to expectations.  As it turned out, though, I really liked it.  It's an artful, and very different, continuation of that film.

On another website, I wrote that the film is sort of like what would happen if all the people who didn't like Prometheus got together and made another film with the same characters.  And so it is!  What the creative talent does with the characters from Prometheus is very unexpected, very different than what I would have done, and in a way oddly fitting.  It also provides a set-up for a descent into a very hellish interpretation of the classic Alien film.  The characters here, and the monsters they face, come off as iconic, and they are put into some very inventive, violent situations.  Katherine Waterson, in particular, might be the greatest heir to the Alien lead heroine mantle than anyone except for Sigourney Weaver.  Also, the visuals are to die for.

There are already some very good reviews of this film on Ain't It Cool News and Roger Ebert.com.  I won't launch into a full-on plot description, but instead will urge you to see the film ASAP.  You won't be disappointed!

A quick top five

Although I often get asked by random people if I have a top five, for many years I've had more of a top three (Raging Bull, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Unforgiven), with the last two being rotating.  Well, today on my drive to work, I finally figured out what I think the last two should be.  Granted, these are most *best* movies than necessarily my favorites (favorites are harder to pin down), but I still really like them.  They are No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood, those two classics from 2007.  What a great year for movies, and what a seminal year in my life, that was.  As I went through library school and started to define my life as a librarian, those two films, each with very deep social implications, served as touchstones for me.  So, the list is:

1. Raging Bull
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey
3. Unforgiven
4. No Country For Old Men
5. There Will Be Blood

Raging Bull, I think deep down, will always be my favorite movie.  Never will there be a better movie about human isolation and suffering.  With 2001, the same goes for it being a statement about isolation, and it also has great themes about human nature (and great visuals).  Unforgiven is sort of the ultimate postmodern film, a deconstruction of the typical movie western that compares that film to gritty, prejudicial reality, and it sports two great performances from Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman.  No Country For Old Men is, I would say, the world of film's best statement about the nature of evil, with a plot that really sucks you in.  And as for There Will Be Blood, go back and check out the crying scene in the middle of the film (where Daniel Plainview is camping out).  Very, very powerful stuff.  I think that about says it all, one moment of breakdown for an otherwise bitter and soulless man. 

So, though Prometheus holds a special place in my heart, these will be the top five that I give people for the foreseeable future.  Until next time!

Two Great Takes on Batman: Batman '66 Vol. 1 and Batman: Year 100

Recently, I've read two interpretations of the Batman character that I enjoyed very much: Batman '66 Vol. 1 and Batman: Year 100.  Batman '66 is a series inspired by the old Adam West TV show, and it might be the most fun I've ever had reading a comic book.  It's very fast and funny, and it features a lot of details from the old show that I'd forgotten, like the Aunt who never can figure out that Bruce Wayne is Batman, or the Batdance.  Very lighthearted, enjoyable stuff.

Batman: Year 100, as you might be able to tell from the title, is sort of the opposite take, featuring Batman in the futuristic world of 2039 fighting against the brutal and conspiratorial Gotham police force.  With only a handful of friends on his side, including Commissioner Gordon's grandson, Batman must do everything he can to clear his name (he's been framed for murder) and also protect his identity.  There are fascinating implications here about the value of such things in our current and future world.  Berlin Batman is also included with this graphic novel (both are by Paul Pope), which imagines if Batman had existed in Nazi Germany (and was Jewish).  Yet another great story.  Check these out!

Hoopla

Before I get into the reviews of the two Batman comics I've been reading, I wanted to briefly mention a new database I've been using called Hoopla.  It's a great resource where one can access ebooks, movies, music, television shows, and yes, even comic books. Lately, I've been using it mostly to access comic books, and I hope you find it and enjoy it just as much as I do.  It should be available through the main library of your local public library system.

Alien: Covenant The Unofficial Animated Series - Episode 1 - LV-223

I remember about a year ago when I pitched the idea of essentially an Alien series to 21st Century Fox and they basically couldn't do it.  Now it looks like some like-minded individuals have had a similar idea with this new Alien: Covenant The Unofficial Animated Series.  The series will run at the first of the month for this and the succeeding four months, and will expand on and illustrate theories about Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, specifically, that have been put forth on the Alien: Covenant website's forums.  Personally, I think this is a great idea, as it allows someone who doesn't have the time to read the forums, like me, access to these theories.  I look forward to watching this series and to maybe referencing some of these theories in my own Alien work.  Here is episode 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZesg-dTnJY&t=28s

It basically states that the Deacon (the creature that emerges from the dead Engineer at the end of Prometheus) will go up into the head statue inside the Engineer ship and turn into the Xenomorph creature that we all know and love (or dread).  This sets the stage for Alien: Covenant, where we see a creature like that attacking the ship of the main characters.  I think its an interesting theory, and man is this episode scary!  I'm almost afraid to think what the other ones will be like.  Once again, this is a great idea that I'm looking forward to watching.

The Crossing

During this week's Alien day, a new video was released that served as a prologue to May's upcoming Alien: Covenant.  That video is called The Crossing, and features at least part of what happens to Elizabeth Shaw and David after the events of Prometheus.  First, here is the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeMVrnYNwus

I actually like the approach and style of the video very much.  Shaw is very weathered and aged, which makes sense given her intergalactic journey, and David is shown getting close to her without things getting romantic.  This makes sense given Prometheus' themes of jealousy concerning the two.  I also like the ending of the video, which shows David going into George W. Bush (or maybe Ted Cruz) mode and bombing the planet from Alien: Covenant with accelerant.  I guess that explains how the planet comes to be so deformed, and ready for the horrific events of that film.  So, it really whets the appetite for that film, but it also raises the question if these characters will be featured in Covenant any further and at what length.  Certainly its been shown in bits and pieces in some of the trailers, including one that appears to show Shaw being tortured, but I'm still not sure how that's going to work exactly.  Still, I'm anticipating Alien: Covenant quite a bit, and this video only increases that feeling.

Silence

Finally, after many years of waiting and hearsay, I was able to see Martin Scorsese's Silence on Netflix.  It's unfortunate, because this legendary passion project from the renowned director wasn't given a proper release (and lost over $20 million dollars as a result) and consequently didn't come to my home state of Alabama.  I only recently got to see it.  It was worth the wait, but at the same time, quite an ordeal to watch.  It's really the Scorsese film to end all Scorsese films.  The relationship of the Jesuit missionaries to the Japanese villagers, and to their Buddhist overlords, is given very careful attention, and it's never entirely clear, so careful is Scorsese's balanced directorial hand, whose side the director is on.  If not for some public statements made by Scorsese, I'm not sure I would be entirely sure that Scorsese is, in fact, against the Jesuit intervention.  We as viewers inhabit Andrew Garfield's character's perspective pretty completely, and we feel and empathize with his pain during the more trying parts of the film.  For a film goer, the film is a challenge, but it also is absorbing, gorgeously shot, and well-worth seeing.  Check it out.

The Pocket Book of Mindfulness

If you haven't noticed already, lately I've been embarking on a program where I read about 20-50 pages of some book a week, usually on the weekend.  In that vein, lately I finished a book that my brother gave me for Christmas: The Pocket Book of Mindfulness.  If you're in to meditating or mindfulness in general, books on mindfulness can be a great stepping stone toward self-identity.  There are many great quotes in this specific book (it's essentially a book of quotations), but here is my favorite:

"When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us."

-Alexander Graham Bell

One part of the Pocket Book series.  Recommended!

Kong: Skull Island

After a hard week, I managed to catch Kong: Skull Island at the Summit recently.  After some rather heavy films in theaters (ahem, Logan) this film is just plain fun.  Although it might appear otherwise, this film is in no way connected to the 2005 King Kong but is instead a reboot and reworking of the franchise.  Like the Marvel and DC Universes, it seeks to link to the Godzilla and hopefully other monster movie universes to create a universe unto itself.  It also sports a great cast, with John Goodman, John C. Reilly, and especially Samuel L. Jackson turning in fine performances.  The film starts out with man on monster and then moves on to monster on monster action, all to chilling effect.  I can't wait to see what else this universe of monsters have in store for us, and now I have to catch the Godzilla and King Kong films that precede it.  If you want a fun time at the movies, then you should definitely check it out!

The Lego Movie

This weekend I caught The Lego Movie (which debuted three years earlier than Lego Batman) on Netflix.  It's really quite a different, and much deeper, movie than Lego Batman, and I'm really glad that I saw it.  I'm not sure if one is better than the other, but they are definitely different.  The premise of the film is monomythic in a Joseph Campbell sense, recalling films such as Star Wars and The Matrix.  Construction worker and average joe, Emmett, discovers he is the chosen one and the sole inhabitant of Lego Land capable of conquering the evil Lord Business.  With the help of Lego Batman (a great character here) and other highly entertaining and endearing lego creations, he sets about doing that.  This film is one of those family movies that is an instant classic, with many memorable moments.  Also. . .

***************SPOILER************************

the twist ending is gripping, suspenseful, and gives the film a totally extra layer of meaning.  Will Ferrell is used to great effect, to say the least, and the whole use of humans in this Lego universe gets us to question the nature of our own reality along with the lego reality we're watching.  As we watch, we truly do not know what will happen next.  It made me very strongly recall this New Yorker article about the recent mix up at the Oscars:  http://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/did-the-oscars-just-prove-that-we-are-living-in-a-computer-simulation .  If you see this film, as you should, you will know what I'm talking about.  Definitely one to ponder!

Lego Batman and Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

I saw Lego Batman when it first came out and, man, I had a great time.  This, to me, is what a comic book movie should be.  Just a fun ride from beginning to end.  Great dialogue, nice music, and a pretty weighty consideration of the relationship between good and evil all accompany the film.  If you haven't seen it yet, please do.  You won't be disappointed.  Next on my agenda is to see the Lego Movie itself.

I was also able to see Batman: Mask of the Phantasm on Netflix.  I actually saw it for the first time with my mom when it debuted in 1993.  It didn't really wow me then, but man, was I wrong!  Folks, this might be the best movie ever made.  I think the Batman from Batman: The Animated Series is the best version we've gotten, and this is one heck of a story.  I love Bruce's relationship with Andrea, and how that ties in to the mystery of the Batman.  And the whole underworld of Gotham (complete with the Joker) is expertly crafted.  Such a great film!  I'm glad I thought to see it twice.  Check it out, if you can!

R. E. M. (a retrospective)

After this past Christmas, I had enough ready cash available to finally purchase the latter R.E.M. albums that I  never got around to buying.  Until recently, I had always trusted the conventional wisdom that their later stuff (everything from Document on) was basically bad and not worth listening to.  Their first four albums (Murmur, Reckoning, Fables of the Reconstruction, and Lifes Rich Pageant) are brilliant and, for me, never lose their appeal.  I can literally listen to them over and over, and they have a timelessness and at the same time an old-fashioned quality that always rings true.  Another fine album of theirs is Dead Letter Office, a compilation album consisting of B sides and covers.  Though Fables of the Reconstruction is probably my favorite, I have probably listened to Dead Letter Office the most of any of them and in fact am listening to it right now. 

After this Christmas, I was finally able to gain some perspective on their more recent albums.  First, I must say that I've never liked Document and never will.  I even gave it another chance, but for me, it just doesn't come together as an album and features an unfortunate mix of really bad and really good songs.  Their other albums from that era don't bother me as much and, in fact, there are some that I really like.  I've actually owned Automatic for the People for a while now (I bought it based on a recommendation), and it's a terrific album that many consider their best.  Very melancholy, and unforgettable.  Definitely in that same weight class is Out of Time, which has the popularity, if not the reviews, to back it up.  Losing My Religion, Country Feedback, and many other songs on that album sound great and can be played again and again.  I kind of associate Automatic for the People and Out of Time as the best of this later period, even if they don't quite touch the diffuse sounds of the earlier period.  Other stand out albums for me from this later period are Green and Collapse into Now.  Green has some great, poppy as well as dark songs on it, and Collapse into Now is just a great, fitting end to the band, also with some great, catchy songs on it.  To be honest, the other albums aren't as memorable to me as the ones I've mentioned, but their later period definitely has some great moments and shouldn't be underrated.

Up for next Christmas: Led Zeppelin box set.  Stay tuned.

Alien by Alan Dean Foster

This weekend I was finally able to finish Alien by the great science fiction writer Alan Dean Foster.  I usually don't read movie novelizations (which Foster is known for), but when I heard that he was going to come back and adapt (and also write some original material for) Alien: Covenant, I decided to give his Alien Omnibus (which collects his novelizations of Alien, Aliens, and Alien 3) a try.  Though I haven't made it to the other two, I must say that Alien does a great job of recapturing the suspense and sense of dread of the film version.  The characters are really given a sense of depth, just like they have in the movie. . .  Ripley in particular is very well written and has some great scenes and dialogue.  When the crew is trying to get the Alien-infected Kane onto the ship and Ripley won't permit it, it really makes you stop and ponder who is right and wrong.  Which is more important, the many or the individual?  The technical details of how the ship works are also very well done.  All in all, a captivating read.  I look forward to the next two and to seeking out other books by Foster.

Two Films by David Fincher

Over the past few weeks, I've been watching two (fairly) recent films by David Fincher on Netflix.  The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and Gone Girl are both great, stark films that cause us to reexamine the nature of human relationships.  I particularly admire the lead actresses in both films, who both possess a fierce strength that's unforgettable.  And the way the films are shot is beautiful as well, with careful attention paid to what is old and what has character.  Some of the settings and architecture in Fincher are places you will never forget (see also Zodiac).  I hope his next film is as memorable as these were.  And I need to check out House of Cards now.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

I admit I'm new to the whole Resident Evil franchise, but when this somehow got a positive review from both Slate.com and RogerEbert.com, I just had to check it out.  When it comes to Paul W.S. Anderson, let me just say that I recently rewatched Alien Vs. Predator.  I didn't really love it the first time I saw it (my expectations were pretty high), but after a second viewing, and when taken in the context of the other, great Alien films, I found it to be a very creative and enjoyable film.  The lead actress is great, and they really do a great job of milking that conflict for all that it's worth.  Oh, if only AVP: Requiem had been better (though maybe I also need to rewatch that one).

This Resident Evil film, I must say, equals if not surpasses the first Alien Vs. Predator.  It doesn't have much of a plot, sure, and it (brilliantly) contains very little dialogue, but that's all part of the appeal.  The world it presents us with is so apocalyptic (and quite violent) that the whole affair seems like an extension of current events.  I don't think I've ever seen zombies this scary, or heroes this tough.  And there are great little touches throughout (like the Red Queen, or the super-evil, corporate bad guys) that raise the whole thing a few notches above the typical action movie.  Check it out.  Me, I'll definitely have to check out the other four on Netflix now.

Re: How Do I Have Better Conversations?

I read a fascinating Slate.com article recently about how to improve the quality of one's conversations.  The content of the article was taken from Quora and basically argued that, in order to have better conversations, one must be steeped in factually knowledge as well as a deep thinker.  The writer encouraged the person asking the question, among other things, to spend time reading reference books and to really analyze works of art.  Here is the article: http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2017/01/24/how_do_i_have_better_conversations.html .
I thought that the article was fascinating, but at the same time, I wanted to disagree with it.  Does some really need to memorize countless facts in order to be a good conversationalist?  Can't one be a creative conversationalist as well as a factual conversationalist?  I assume the writer gives the advice based on experience, but at the same time, I wanted to question it.  As just one example, I am currently reading Alan Dean Foster's Alien.  Would a conversation about that book really be less valuable than a conversation about Robert Balay's Guide to Reference.  I leave it to you to be the judge, but I thought that it was an interesting issue, anyhow.  And it may impact my reading habits in the future!