Bright (Urban Fantasy)

Bright is an urban fantasy magical crime drama where a human cop

teams up with an orc cop to take down the bad guys in Los Angeles.

I found the initial pitch very intriguing, as I’m a big fan of both urban

fantasy and WIll Smith. It’s a movie produced by netflix. I had heard

previously it had mixed reviews, as it aimed to cover social commentary,

as well as high fantasy and intense cop drama. The set up seemed solid

enough, I liked the daughter and the orc character right off the bat. As the

movie progressed into more action I started to really dislike a lot of the

themes presented. Police brutality is a huge problem right now, and not

addressing it in a film that dealt with race and prejudice especially felt really

off. There was an enormous amount of violence against minorities which was

really hard to watch. A lot of the dialogue is really unnecessary, like the lines

about how orcs were always defense in football for being "built differently."

That connection was so unnecessary, the idea that some races were

biologically built differently.

The cinematography was cool, the costumes, special effects, and makeup

were all great. It was a fun world and overall, with dragons and fairies, and I

thought the concepts and characters were really solid, and if the execution

and story were a bit tighter, it would have been a really great and successful

film.

Hitchhiker's Guide = 42/42

The year was 2005, when was a young and dorky 10 year old first

experiencing 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" on the big screen.

All I knew prior was that my father loved the book, which I've read

in more recent years. Now, 13 years later, I'm finally listening to the

original radio show, from 1978. I was interested to find that it was

based of a Lewis Carrell poem, "The Hunting of the Snark" which is

every bit as fanciful as his other work

Douglas Adams creates such a fun, silly world. It's certainty

quintessential sci-fi, but not the dark and morbid deep space

drama's we've seen previously. The writing is simple enough

for a kid to understand, but the concepts and world building are

engaging enough for an older audience as well. The writing is so

clever, so non-traditional.  

There's hilarious writing, such as:

“On the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more

intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much—the

wheel, New York, wars and so on—whilst all the dolphins had ever

done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely,

the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent

than man—for precisely the same reasons.”

Combined with the more serious:

“He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes

wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it.”  

The mixture between the two is really lovely and engaging.

I never got past the first of five parts, but I'll defiantly put the rest of them

on my list.

Also watched the first episode of the television program, which kept that

fun retro vibe. Watching all of the vintage special effects for space travel

was a really fun throwback. The early CG work was adorable, and though

aspects were certainly dated, the strong story and humor held up.

Also including some character designs of a more modern imagining that I

liked, with the dream cast of Jeff Goldblum, Sophia Taylor Ali, and Donald

Glover. What a dream team!

How to Talk to the Moon at Parties

This week, I read a couple of things. I read 'The Distance of the Moon,' by Italo
Calvino, in addition to 'How to Talk to Girls at Parties' by Neil Gaiman, because
I saw the movie trailer and got very excited. This semester has really shaped
a love of Neil Gaiman's writing as one of my primary influences, especially as
I'm finding my footing as a wannabe writer. Written in 2006, my one minor
criticism is that Stella is a bit of the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope. I'm also worried
it'll be a little too much 'manic pixie dream girl.' Other then that the world was
very fun, like 70's Skins but with more sci-fi, which was a very appealing concept
to me. The Itty-Bitty hints of non-humanism were just enough to make Stella a
believable alien, but not enough to make it un-realistic or kitchey. The character
descriptions were still very endearing, I loved the line:

"He looked from her back to me, and he smiled his white smile: roguish, lovable,

a little bit Artful Dodger, a little bit wide- boy Prince Charming."

I found Stella much more interesting then any of the other characters, but that could
also just be my personal taste in characters. I could read her talk about outer-space
and her travels forever. Since the text is fairly short, I'm very curious to see how it will
be expanded into a full length feature film. I also loved the section where she's compared
to a poem. Including some illustrations from a comic that was made on the text,

illustrations by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon.

"The Distance of the Moon" was also enjoyable. I tend to love text written about the
moon, but this was definatley different then what I'm used to. Climbing up to the moon
with a latter reminded me of that pixar short that came out a few years ago, 'La Luna.'
It was very surreal, and left a very 'melancholy achey' feeling. It was whymsical and
magical, so (shocker,) I was all in. I also really enjoyed this animated short that I found
based on it, including here.

Aye and Gomorrah

Aye and Gomorrah was a short piece, but full of interesting concepts and original worldbuilding. The way the world was set up explored gender and identity in a way I haven't seen before in science fiction. All of the themes surrounding sexuality were very clear, though I don’t know how I feel about the idea of being ‘genderless’ or androgynous creatures being the subject of so much sexualization. 

As a concept I feel a little uneasy about it. A product of it’s time I suppose, hopefully it made positive contributions to the diverse world of science fiction.
I was also interested to learn that the author was both black and bisexual. That explained his interest in many of these themes and subjects, I’m glad I got the chance to read some of his work and might look into it further.

You Can't Take the Sky from Me!

When I was in high school I got so much enjoyment out of this show and found the characters so loveable, when I saw it was on the list I knew I had to re-visit it. I only watched a couple of episodes but I do believe they hold up. There isn't a huge budget, the special effects aren't the highest end, (in fact, looking at them with what I know now about animation is surreal,) but the show's best quality, in my opinion, is the interesting story and the fantastic crew of characters, and their development. Aside from Jane, who I don't care for.

Being totally honest, I really don't like westerns. Space westerns even, walk a very thin line. Firefly feels like something unique though.
One modern show that I've considered in the same vein is Sci-fi's 'Defiance,' which is mostly set on earth, but has more western vibes, and plenty of fun and original sci-fi elements.

Although, I do have to say that I completely disagree with the article about Joss Whedon. His definition of "strong women characters" are almost always over-sexualized. During Buffy/Firefly era, his work and characters were alright considering. His recent work, however, is full of flaws and by now should have no excuse. His version of the Wonder Woman script was horrible, incredibly sexist and I'm forever relieved he that version didn't move forward, as well as his version of Batgirl.
Especially significant, is his ex-wife's open letter revealing his emotional manipulation and cheating. I definitely wouldn't consider him or his writing at the peak of feminism.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2017/08/21/joss-whedons-ex-wife-kai-cole-accuses-feminist-buffy-writer/

https://www.themarysue.com/reconsidering-the-feminism-of-joss-whedon/

The Ocean at the End of the Lane!

For this week's selection, I read the short novel The Ocean at the End of the Lane. While I enjoyed it, I don't think I would list it as my favorite of Neil Gaiman's work. I know in interviews he's stated that if he had to pick one of his books to be known by he would pick this one, and it's certainly well written, crafted, and interesting. It probably comes down to my own personal tastes in literature, where I tend to like stronger fantasy content. I've read Stardust, Coraline, and American Gods, so Anasi Boys is definitely on the list next and I'm definitely looking forward to.
It felt very similar to Coraline, in terms of the demographic and even protagonist. It was a little softer and more subdued than the wacky other-world, and more realistic in some ways. There were some nice quotes about growing up and adulthood which I enjoyed-

“Grown-ups don't look like grown-ups on the inside either. Outside, they're big and thoughtless and they always know what they're doing. Inside, they look just like they always have. Like they did when they were your age. Truth is, there aren't any grown-ups. Not one, in the whole wide world.” 

also...

“Nobody looks like what they really are on the inside. You don’t. I don’t. People are much more complicated than that. It’s true of everybody.” 

-and I certainly don't regret reading it. It's one of the stronger modern fairytales I've read, and had every element of something I should have loved. It romanticised reading, highlighting the little lovely details of leaving windows open at night to get a cool breeze, and relishing childhood. Thematically, it's spot on. Definitely spooky, though a children's book, it dealt with mature themes and content. I enjoyed the mention of Sarasota in the thanks at the end, when he mentioned his good friend Stephen King. 

Also included, is an interesting makeup look I came across for the novel's villain, some interesting visuals, and an interview from the New York Times that I enjoyed.

https://www.demikaycreations.com

Cathy Dillon

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/30/books/review/neil-gaimans-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane.html

The Tale of Spiritual Education

This week I read selections from "The Magicians," a book that has been recommended to me a few times previously. It has a clear influence from Harry Potter, everyone who's referenced it has pitched it like "Harry Potter, but older with more partying." I also picked up on a lot of influences from "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" which I enjoyed. I did like the world, the urban fantasy setting is a fun one. I have a hard time liking the main character Quintin. His character was pretty depressing and kind of a jerk, and though I understand he had pretty bad depression, the writing didn't do a fantastic job of redeeming himself for his actions or how he treats people. How he treats Alice is especially terrible, I find it almost impossible to relate to a character who cheats. It also really annoyed me that her death was used to motivate Quintin. I found many of the side characters much more interesting, and I liked the concept of the world a whole bunch. Comparing it to Harry Potter, who also goes through an angsty phase mid-series but bounces back, I'd have to continue the series to find if it gets any better.  I liked the way that magic was explained, at the school. It seemed more detailed and scientific than in some other forms of media and made sense for a more mature setting. 

Nick Luzada

roland chambers

Also, a note on "The City of Lost Children" we watched in class. I absolutely love Jean Pierre Jeunet's films, so  I've seen this one a couple of times. All of his work is fantastic, and has a really specific look to his cinematography. I think his world is fantastic, all of the characters are super fun and original. 

"If Terry Gilliam, David Lynch, Tod Browning, Jules Verne and the Brothers Grimm locked themselves away for a couple of years, drank tequila shots until their minds started to bleed and then did copious quantities of LSD, they’d probably make something almost as weird as ‘The City of Lost Children’" x

The Hero's Journey

Keeping with the theme of "Hero's Journey," this week I read Neil Gaiman's "Stardust." A story about a young romantic to find a fallen star. I know the recommended reading was "The Hobbit," which I've tried to read multiple times before. I gave it another go this time, but I've always had trouble with the LOTR series. In terms of the books, I've found them a tad intimidating, partly because there's so much material with an enormous fan base, and partly because it is pretty male-centric. I enjoy the writing, the descriptions, and the world-building, and I've seen the movie a couple of times which I enjoy, but I have a hard time latching on to the story. I'll get through it someday, but until then, Stardust!

I'm a fan of the movie, (which I also watched part of recently,) but reading the text gave me an entirely new appreciation for the world and characters. The visual descriptions completely blew me away, as was expected. There were so many fantastic moments, character's emotions, themes, descriptions, that were never captured in the film. It felt like falling love with the characters and story all over again. (Of course, the bulk of this was read on Valentine's day.) It's ultimately romantic, possibly one of my favorite love stories. It takes the idea of a fantasy fairytale and turns in into something entirely original. A fallen star? Broke her leg on the way down! Characters at a standstill? Add a Unicorn! The ethereal love interest? Curses like a sailor. Neil Gaiman takes all of our expectations and twists them around, turning them on their ear. All of the characters were so much more developed, from Dustin and Una's backstory, to Victoria and the Captain.

The King's Sons are even more insufferable, Victoria is even more Snobbish, and the Witches are even more macabre. The literal star and heart of the story of course, Yvaine, is what makes this story one of my favorites. It's such an interesting concept to me, and I'm sure many other readers.

"Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?" Pointless, really..."Do the stars gaze back?"

Tristen is all heart, 100%. Seeing him develop from the head-over-heels Victoria obsessed lovesick puppy to a fully formed headstrong and free-thinking hero was delightful, and I couldn't help but feel a bit proud. And Yvaine is spunky and fearless, with fantastic wordplay and a spitfire wit.

“He stared up at the stars: and it seemed to him then that they were dancers, stately and graceful, performing a dance almost infinite in its complexity. He imagined he could see the very faces of the stars; pale, they were, and smiling gently, as if they had spent so much time above the world, watching the scrambling and the joy and the pain of the people below them, that they could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” 

All of the themes of freedom, deception, and love were engaging and expertly done, and the character's connections woven throughout the novel gave me such a satisfying sense of "oh! that makes sense!" and "haha! so that's why it happened!" like solving a puzzle, or a Rubix cube. The interaction with the tree nymph was completely lost in the film, and I found that moment really lovely. Also, one change from book to the movie that I really preferred in the book was Victoria not initially telling Tristen about her engagement, and then Tristen's wish for her to marry Robert anyway. I think it showed a great deal of character development and growth, and also his growing attachment to Yvaine. Her development too, in the end finding more softness and warmth, even for the witches, was well written and well.

I'd also like to bump Chris Riddell's illustrations of the characters because they're fantastic. Picturing these characters in the story gave everything made everything feel so fresh and new. I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone who likes well-written fantasy stories, stars, and poetic/imaginative worldbuilding.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3pCwPrlFPpPXgHK2QCJKrYQ/chris-riddells-stardust-sketches

Witches!

For this week's selection, I read bits from Terry Pratchett's "Equal Rites," and an added bit of  "The Witches" by Roald Dahl, since it seemed topical. 
Terry Pratchett is an author who has been recommended to me for an incredibly long time. He writes for a genre I'm very fond of, though my only other experience with his work is "Going Postal." His writing is incredibly witty, full of fun wordplay and humor, and sprinkled with wisdom and prose.
I found the concept incredibly interesting and progressive, classic fantasy novels put a lot of weight on being 'the x'th son of an x'th son' so making the protagonist a surprise daughter was a creative twist. Granny Weatherwax especially, felt like an incredibly well-formed character, being clever, sarcastic, non-traditional character. She still had flaws, but they all made sense given the word she existed in, and from what I understand, she goes on for a few more novels, and hopefully progresses.
I did think that the bit in the end about witches needing a head and wizards needing a heart was a bit dated, though given the novel was written in the 80's and otherwise very good, I allowed it some slack.

“Granny sighed. "You have learned something," she said, and thought it safe to insert a touch of sternness into her voice. "They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.” 

Now, "The Witches."
I love Roald Dahl's work, and this story is no exception. It's a fun, quirky read that makes you think. Almost a "Fractured Fairytale," we follow the narrator's journey of discovering witches, what it means to be a witch, the powers they possess. His writing challenges us to consider what a witch looks like, and even the importance of appearances, when you truly care for someone. Though the plot was silly, sometimes non-sensical, mouse-maker filled, the story manages to find incredibly sweet and thoughtful moments. 

“It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like, so long as somebody loves you.”

It's moments like that that set apart Roald Dahl's work in a category of his own, for we can laugh and enjoy the wit of the narrative, while still end on a warm and thoughtful note. The relationship between the narrator and his Grandmama, especially when he is a mouse, goes straight to the heart. Completely and utterly bittersweet.

Romantic, Whimsical Horror!

For this week's Horror selection, I read "What the Moon Brings" by H.P. Lovecraft, and some of his other work. I loved how lyrical and surreal the prose was in the Moon piece especially. I usually don't like horror, but his writing felt a lot like poetry, almost like Edgar Alan Poe's work. It was creepy, but it wasn't gory or bloody which is what usually trips me up.
"And as I ran along the shore, crushing sleeping flowers with heedless feet and maddened ever by the fear of unknown things and the lure of the dead faces, I saw that the garden had no end under that moon; for where by day the walls were, there stretched now only new vistas of trees and paths, flowers and shrubs, stone idols and pagodas, and bendings of the yellow-litten stream past grassy banks and under grotesque bridges of marble." The picture he paints sounds like a dream, or a creepy vaguely romantic nightmare. The ending was less so, which where the "horror" element came in I suppose. I looked at a couple of his other works, but this one was definitely my favorite. I did like the line in " The Unnamable," referring to the trees as "patriarchal." Not entirely sure what that means, but its a funny concept.
I also watched "Delicatessen" by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. I'm a massive fan of his other work, I'd probably site him in my top 3 directors (along with Guillermo del Toro and Wes Anderson.) Whimsical horror, (which is how I'd describe this creepy cannibalistic hotel flick) is something I can get kinda behind. Post-Apocalyptic France sounds like one of the most fun settings for a film, if I had to survive the apocalypse anywhere I'd probably pick someplace similar. I'd cross my fingers for less flesh-eating, though. I grew really attached to the main characters, despite the comically dark setting, they were both very sweet and likable. They also weren't "traditional Hollywood couple" which was refreshing, they both had so much more character, appeal, and likeability. It was also kind of "Horror Romance," which is what pulled me in more.



Five Stars!

Glyceride and The Enigma of Amigara

The two comics that were recommended to me were were Glyceride,
by Jinji Ito, and The Enigma of amigara Fault, by the same. I’m a bit
of a wimp when it comes to horror, (Ironic I know, considering the
class’s title.) So these two specifically were supposed to be for the
faint of heart. The first one I read, about the creepy human-shaped-holes
in the mountain, was absolutely erie. Even though there were no blood and/or
guts, it was terrifying on a psychological. The manic obsession these
people had surrounding the holes, and the mystery of never knowing
exactly what happens, was a terrifying combo. The second story I read,
about the grease house, was a different kind of creepy. I cringed multiple
times, from the descriptions of the disgusting grime, heat and sweat. All
of the depictions of the acne were downright horrifying. In terms of story
I didn’t totally understand it, I wasn’t sure if it was going for shock value
or just thrill but there wasn’t a lot of explanation in the narrative.

Only Lovers Left Alive // Interview With a Vampire

I found this movie absolutely refreshing, compared to a lot of the popular vampire media I'm used to seeing. Only Lovers Left Alive was highly romantic, poetic, and sweet, everything I could ask for from a modern vampire flick. The cast was killer, as was the cinematography and soundtrack. Seeing what bits and pieces Adam and eve both took from the past, records, old television, vintage fashion etc. was interesting. How well they were able to successfully blend into modern settings seemed to be an enormous theme, one that they eventually were weak to. "Can these wise but fragile outsiders continue to survive as the modern world collapses around them?" is the phrase used in the screenplay. I liked how much science and thought was put into the narrative, i.e. finding blood that was pure and disease free.
The literature selection I read was "The Vampire Lestat," by Anne Rice, which is interesting because it the time it was published, (1985) it was probably also considered vampires in a modern lense. That seems to be the 'hook' that vampire media is going with today, how vampires interact with a modern, millennial setting. As mentioned, Claudia's character was one of the more interesting vampire concepts I've heard of. A girl, frozen in time but still faced with adult feelings, emotions, and urges is something I would probably be pretty protective of, if it came from anyone other then Anne Rice. I'm also a little cautious of the choice to make Lestat and Louis romanticly involved, as the trope of monsters being gay/queer runs the risk of demonization.

Frankenstein!

Victor Frankenstein felt very classical and dramatic to me. His language was very flourishy and vivid. I'm surprised that female characters played more subdued and minor roles in the story since the author was female herself. It was very classical and very wordy, a bit hard for me to wrap my head around at times. Choosing to start and end the novel with letters gave it an element of classic realism, like we were experiencing the events similar to the characters.
In terms of 'Gothicness,' it had a very classical feeling. Old ships, brains and corpses, passionate and emotional doctors and scientists, and flighty females. There's death, decay and madness, quintessential horror if you ask me.