On Suspension of Disbelief

2012-09-14, 8:35 pm
Categories: Stream of Consciousness, TV

I just watched the Darkness Falls episode of X-Files.

Here's the thing.

Aliens? Yeah, okay, I can work with that.

Scary Martian faces that possess people? Well, okay, I guess.

But bioluminescent bugs that can't stand light? That doesn't make a lick of goddamn sense!

And that's before we get into some of the finer details, like how when the gas is low and they don't think the generator will make it through the night, nobody even mentions trying to light a fire.

One line would be all it would take. Maybe say the ground's wet -- it looks wet enough in the last act of the show, even though it's sunny out when they're having the generator conversation.

Or just say that a little bit of light isn't enough to keep the bugs away. That could tie together with the climax, where the dude gets eaten by them despite being right in the headlights, and then Mulder, Scully, and Ranger Guest Star all get swarmed and nobody tries to open a car door to make a light come on.

This shit would be easy to handwave, but I as the guy in the audience shouldn't have to do it myself!

Doctor Who: The Curse of Fenric

2012-09-13, 9:06 pm
Categories: TV

Continuing from Ghost Light; originally posted on Brontoforumus 2008-04-06.

Curse of Fenric makes a fine followup to Ghost Light. It's got vampires, Ragnarok, game theory, cryptography, World War II, sea monsters, time paradoxes, causality loops, and ancient exiled evil.

Most interesting is the "Battle not with monsters lest you become one" theme. I can't recall an American children's show ever uttering the word "Dresden"; hell, I'm hard-pressed even to think of one that actually showed a swastika. Acknowledging that the Allies were far from innocent in the war is powerful stuff for -- what was the expression Sharkey used? -- goofball foreign children's television.

The plot twists are obvious, the characters are simplistic, and all in all it's a lot easier to follow than Ghost Light. But simplicity aside, the characterization is excellent, particularly from the Doctor and Ace during the climax.

All in all, a great mix of elements, well-written and well-acted. I think I'm going to have to agree with the fanboys: it's a pity the show was cancelled just when it was starting to turn around.

Available on Netflix and Amazon Prime; well worth watching.

Rehearsal

2012-09-12, 9:22 pm
Categories: Music

Bits of Fifty-Fifty and Montana, and a few other snippets besides. Sydney, 1973.

Great Opening Titles: Gravity Falls

2012-09-12, 8:18 pm
Categories: Announcements, Cartoons, TV

I saw this cartoon getting rave reviews as the latest in the trend of Adventure Time and My Little Pony -- a cartoon for kids with surreal humor that appeals to adults.

It had me at hello.

Hello.

Seriously, it's great. It's funny, it gives an immediate sense of the characters, the atmosphere, and the wacky world. The theme song conveys a sense of mystery and weirdness.

Also: there's a picture of Bat-Boy.

I knew this show was going to be great before the opening titles were over. And that's exactly what opening titles are for.

BTW I've added a little update to the bottom of Monday's Bissette/Ditko post. Bissette's posted a followup which includes some feedback from Craig Yoe, and there's some great insight in the comments besides.

Call Any Vegetable

2012-09-11, 10:01 pm
Categories: Music

Uploader sonsoloidee says it's from Montreux, '71; commenter npspec34 says it sounds like the UCLA concert in '72. I assume much the same band and arrangements at those two shows.

That Time Again

2012-09-11, 8:47 pm
Categories: Politics, Stream of Consciousness

I guess they call this Patriot Day now?

I wrote about it when it happened. The first 9/11. Well, not the first 9/11, but the one we commemorate every year 'round this time.

I don't really need to reread it. I lived those moments enough times on the date, and the days, weeks, months that followed. And I'm not even a New Yorker -- didn't even know anybody who was affected.

I think I'm a patriot. Here's some patriotic shit I'd like to see our government do in honor of 9/11. In no particular order -- I do call this a Stream of Consciousness, after all.

  • End the war in Afghanistan.
  • Bring our troops home.
  • Actually care for our troops once they're home.
    • That means acknowledging the suicide epidemic.
    • And all the TBI's.
    • And all that other shit we're not helping people with.
    • Seriously. Veterans should not be begging on the street or killing themselves.
  • While we're at it, how about caring for the 9/11 first responders?
    • That includes covering the ones who got cancer from inhaling the fucking towers.
    • "No proven link" my ass. Fuck you. I don't care if they coincidentally got cancer from chain-smoking; they're fucking 9/11 first responders. Pay for their goddamn healthcare. Raise Mitt Romney's taxes if you have to.
    • And if any of them are illegal immigrants, give them citizenship. Don't you go telling me there is a single damn 9/11 first responder who is not American enough to be a citizen.
  • Close Guantánamo Bay.
    • Give the inmates the same chance at a trial that Charles Manson got.
    • Throw the guilty ones in a stateside prison.
    • Let the innocent ones go. They're innocent.
  • Dismantle the TSA and replace it with something that is not a goddamn joke.

This is America. We can do this.

Fuck, we can at least do some of it, can't we?