Nov 182012
  November 18, 2012

Since so many others are pointing it out, I thought I’d make it clear to all my followers that I will not be directing the next Star Wars film. Don’t be disappointed. I’m sure they will find someone.

Nov 072012
  November 7, 2012

After being blown away by season one of Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23, the first two eps of season two have sucked away some of my enthusiasm. Instead of edgy, mouth-hanging-open-wrongness, they gave us wacky sitcom situations. Still fun, but no magic. Perhaps things will get back on track…  Perhaps.

Nov 062012
  November 6, 2012

Castle continues to be an uneven series, but good enough to keep me watching. But this week it rises up with loads of geeky goodness with at least three references to Fillion’s Firefly time, not to mention numerous Star Wars, Star Trek, etc etc. references.  The tone is light and fun, as it should be.  One of the best eps of the series.

Nov 052012
  November 5, 2012

How did I miss this show? The new film Vamps brought Krysten Ritter to my attention which, as good bread crumbs, lead me to the TV show Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23, which I’ve spent the day catching up on. Hours of wrongness goodness (my new trademarked phrase).  Plenty of mouth-hanging-open moments.  Surprised that ABC is broadcasting this, and pleased.

Oct 302012
  October 30, 2012

So, Disney now owns (or will own when it all goes through) Darth and Luke and the whole gang. Which means…what? Essentially, Star Wars (the films — I don’t care about poor cartoons and toys) was dead in Lucas’s hands. Considering the direction he’d taken it, the grave seems to have been the best place for it. Now we are going to get a new Star Wars movie in 2015, and another every 2 to 3 years after. Is that good? Certainly we didn’t need another from Lucas, but Disney has a long record of mangling things too. Disney can also put out a fine film. So, all we know now is that something is going to happen. Kathleen Kennedy will be in charge of the new Disney division, but that doesn’t mean she will produce or direct (it rather means she won’t). So, till we fine out who will get those titles for the 2015 Star Wars film, we wait.

Oct 272012
  October 27, 2012

No joy of Cloud Atlas yet as Eugie felt more in interest in screening something at home (with chocolate potato chips). I did, however, get a flu shot, so that was fun.

Oct 272012
  October 27, 2012

The Munster’s re-boot, Mockingbird Lane is surprisingly, shockingly good. OK, make that: It is shocking that it is good. For those who remember the origional fondly though the fog of years, a quick reminder: It sucked big time.  This new take reduces the embaressment and the campyness, and has some great moments and clever dialog.  Lily’s entrance is beautiful. Grandpa and Eddie are worthwhile characters and Marilyn is given great lines (murdered hobos finding a home…).  The Herman character is a bit weak, but this was just a pilot.

This is the best new TV show of the last few years, so naturally NBC didn’t pick it up (they didn’t like Brian Fuller’s more-interesting-than-real world).  Too bad.  Perhaps another network with more vision will pick it up while that is still an option.

Oct 262012
  October 26, 2012

Why did no one offer me pre-screening passes to Cloud Atlas? I’ve gotten plenty for films I had much less interest in, but nothing for Cloud Atlas. I’m sure that there is a plot here somewhere.

Oct 172012
  October 17, 2012

FosteronFilm.com is undergoing a pretty substantial facelift. Mainly done by my beautiful wife, the site has a new look…that isn’t quite done yet. And I chose this time to change my scale, from a 4 point (+toxic) rating system to a 5 point (+toxic) system. That’s not nearly done. So, please come by and look at any reviews of interest just like always, but wear a hard hat.

Oct 062012
  October 6, 2012

prometheus

Spoilers Ahead!

Prometheus is one of the most interesting films of the past ten years, as well as one of the best made. So much goodness (Oooh, sooo much goodness…drool; I’ll save that for another time), but then…there’s the problems. Such huge apparent problems. These problems turn many against the movie, but are they actually problems?

I’ll rationalize away the science slips (So Vickers doesn’t know what a light year is; I bet many corporate execs don’t. And excitement and an unknown speech impediment turned fatal 3% carbon monoxide into not so fatal 3% carbon dioxide.) I’m just going to let those go, and dig into the issue that everyone complains about: characters. Prometheus is filled with the stupidest group of non-human-acting humans since the last Adam Sandler movie. Competent people do not act like this when they have any kind of control over themselves. They do not make these kinds of decisions. They do not have ideas this colossally dim. It is hard to feel anything for these people because they are ridiculous.

But is that actually a mistake? These people’s actions may be deeply stupid, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fitting. In fact, looking at what we are given with regard to back-stories, if any of these folks could do their jobs well, that would be a problem. We are used to films with people who are, to some extent, competent and in control of themselves. And there is a tendency to believe what a character says. But just because that’s how people tend to be in other films doesn’t mean that’s how they are here, and we are given substantial reason to believe they are both incompetent and out of control. And no one in Prometheus is reliable to fill in the audience on the truth. Much of the joy I get from the film is in how unreliable these characters are.

So what are the hints (or straight giveaways) that explain why these folks do what they do? Are they really acting “normally”? Well, no to that last question, but under certain circumstances, people don’t behave in ways we take as normal.

A good place to start is by realizing Prometheus isn’t the film you may think it is. It isn’t about science; it is about religion. Not a single main character is motivated by scientific discovery and only one (Shaw) even attempts to act scientifically and religion trumps it even for her. Three characters are motivated by religion, one is motivated by anger, two by money, and the final one by a desire to be something more. No one gives a damn about proper technique. Most have already decided their answers (and fall apart when they are wrong). If the behavior of those in the film bother you, consider if it is really the costuming that you can’t get past. If these characters were all dressed in monk’s robes instead of spacesuits, would their behavior still be off? Because that’s what they are all wearing, you just can’t see them.

As for the rest, let the geeking begin! Let’s fix Prometheus in four steps. (I will mention things from the deleted scenes, but not because they add something that wasn’t in the theatrical release–simply that sometimes they clarify what’s there.)

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Jul 262012
  July 26, 2012

All Geeks: Come On Down

In the last few days the Internet has been flooded with comments related to an ugly article written by one Joe Peacock in which he claims the power to designate who is, and who is not, a geek, and, as being a member of geek culture is a precious thing, he’s not allowing in attractive women cosplayers.

It is a bizarre thesis, and disturbing, and I admit having the urge to psychoanalyze him. What makes him so angry with hot, spandex-clad females? But that leads us into ad hominem territory, so best to leave Mr. Peacock’s mental state in untouched shadows. I’ll stick to his disquieting statements.

For those lucky enough to have missed it, Peacock, writing on CNN (which should know better) states that there are women appearing at geek events who he objects to in the way I might object to a group of neo-Nazis appearing in my living room.

What I’m talking about is the girls who have no interest or history in gaming

I get sick of wannabes who couldn’t make it as car show eye candy slapping on a Batman shirt and strutting around comic book conventions instead.

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