Monthly Archives: July 2008

The Happening (2008)

Yesterday, I said to myself, hey, let’s go see a movie! And then I looked up times, but the dollar movie I want to see (even though I found a second dollar theater, and right across the highway, not far away like that other one (where “far” in this case equals about 1/3 of my daily commute. Help.)) was only showing in the evening, and I already had evening plans. So then I poked around at what was out in general, and settled on The Happening. And then I saw it, which just goes to show you the value of a plan.

The movie itself was an odd mix of satisfying and cheeseball. I went in knowing nothing beyond what I’d seen in a couple of previews, which as it happens is sufficiently little to make the thing work; I have to assume that without the mysteriousness pulling you in, the satisfaction would have been nowhere to be found. The premise is straightforward: one day in Central Park, people start acting mentally and physically confused, and then they start dying. And those scenes which open the movie? Creepy as all get out, I tell you. Next thing, a teacher and his wife and some friends are headed out of town because of their concern over the TV-reported terrorist attacks that have just occurred, and the film turns into about one-third mysterious deadly event and two-thirds marital drama. Or maybe fifty-fifty? I was never annoyed that the scary mystery part had vanished, and the drama part was pretty decently done.

Unfortunately, this was billed as M. Night Shyamalan’s first R-rated movie. I call this unfortunate because, aside from a ridiculous chase scene about which I cannot divulge more that would otherwise assist me in mocking its ridiculousness, the biggest problem the flick had was its focus on gore. It just wasn’t the right kind of movie, in mood, to be concerned with over-the-top death scenes; and there were a few. It’s like M. was just trying too hard, to no good effect. Well, the acting was a little iffy, too, which is odd, because I’ve seen both leads do far better jobs elsewhere. All in all, though, it was a decent, scary movie. It was not the best movie I saw yesterday, which is kind of funny when you consider I had only planned to see the one. But anyway, just don’t go in expecting Shyamalan’s previous brilliance, and you should be fine.

The Walking Dead: Made to Suffer

If you’re wondering why I’m so out of my standard rotation on graphic novels, one reason is that the Marvel stuff reads very quickly and another is that the Stick book was borrowed. But you were probably talking about the actual rotation, not all this side stuff, right? Right, you pay attention to that as closely as I do, so of course you were! Well, the answer to that is that the newest Walking Dead volume has been delayed for months. (And the next one will be delayed even further, as Wikipedia Pete informs me there are only two out of the standard six that have even been published as single issues, thusfar.)

But the important part is, the aptly named Made to Suffer finally did publish, and then I got it and read it. Yay! For values of yay that mostly relate ironically to the title, because, damn, that was a brutal book. The two civilizations we’ve seen in the series have been on a collision course for about half of its length, and this book marks the payoff. The zombies have a front row seat to a mini-armageddon in which nobody is safe, not least because said zombies forgot to bring their popcorn, if you know what I mean. (And I think you do.)

Made to Suffer may also mark the first time I’ve seriously considered the forthcoming zombiepocalypse as an extinction-level event. But if people act like this (and if there’s one thing I can say Kirkman seems to have access to in spades, it’s the human psyche), we’re all doomed, no matter how well prepared we may feel. I guess the moral of the story is “Don’t be a dick,” which would be more comforting if people who are dicks were so easily able to recognize that about themselves while also trying to stave off the end of the world.

The Order of the Stick: Start of Darkness

OOTS99_7in72dpi_RGBdsFirst of all: if you now or have ever played Dungeons and Dragons, why aren’t you reading the Order of the Stick? It’s a long running webcomic that combines humor based on the role-playing game, actual humor, and a globe-spanning epic quest to save or destroy the world, depending upon what character viewpoint any given comic is following. And the art, you will be retrospectively unsurprised to learn, is based around stick figures. So now you know, and you should read it!

But you probably already are, and like me, you probably never got around to buying the prequel graphic novels that are only available in published book form. Luckily for me, I know people who did, and I performed a borrowing of opportunity while at a fireworks show a couple of days ago. Start of Darkness is a quick (if not light) read chronicling the rise of the douchebag lich and the sympathetic but ultimately flawed goblins who follow him in his quest to destroy some gates that will in turn destroy the world. You know how these evil mastermind plans go. The point is, though, the stories here are just as funny, though a bit grimmer than the online version. It is about bad guys, and all. And the stories are definitely as affecting as the online version. (Did I mention that between the humor and the D&Dness of it all, there’s a genuine story here, with emotional highs and lows? My hand to God.)

Plus, secret bonus for long-time readers: Rich finally turns a spotlight on the scary monster that’s always hiding in the dark!

Grave Peril

Back in May, I decided it was time to get back to the Dresden Files. So I grabbed the third book off my shelf, stuffed it in my luggage, and flew off to Michigan with it. At least, I assume that’s what happened, because I remember the intention to do so, but somewhere in the course of that weekend, the book disappeared into a mystical vortex or fell through a hole in reality, or something. You know how you’ll walk around life, and occasionally when you open a door you’re certain that instead of leading to wherever it’s supposed to lead, it will instead be a portal to someplace else entirely? That is what happened to my book, is what I’m saying.

Luckily, it only took a little over a month to find a replacement copy. So now I’ve read Grave Peril, and dude, this series is really maintaining its awesomeness. Only now, there’s added depth. We learn a little more about Harry Dresden’s possibly-dark past (but only a little), while he tries to figure out who or what is riling up all the Chicago-area ghosts; plus, he’s got to sort out his relationship issues with tabloid journalist Susan Rodriguez and represent the White Council (wizards who are also good guys, and all organized, and maybe a little to strict about the good guy thing for the realities of Butcher’s magical world) at the promotion party of local vampiric queenpin Bianca, with whom he has a tenuous relationship at best. (But still not the Anita Blake kind. Yay!)

All of those ingredients rate pretty well for some tasty plot soup, although I could wish that… well, there’s no way to clarify without massive spoilers; but one aspect of the mystery was heavy-handed, yet I’m not sure how it could have been handled differently without writing an entirely different book, so I’ll let it go. The mystery really is the least part of these, what with the continued greatness of Harry’s narrative voice. And now there are signs that the books are tying together into a slightly less episodic format, which also fills me with glee. At least, until I get to a book with a cliffhangerish ending and don’t have the sequel published and sitting on my shelf, waiting for me. But that day is a ways off, so for now: glee.

Lucifer: Children and Monsters

The second volume of the Gaiman-inspired, Carey-created Lucifer series picks up almost immediately from volume one. Lucifer has been given his requested gateway into the void, and now he simply has to work out what to do with it while simultaneously fending off the varied forces (including everything from ancient beings beyond time and space to the assembled might of the Heavenly Host) who wish to steal it from him, and optimally kill him in the bargain. As before, though, what makes Children and Monsters shine, for the most part, is Lucifer himself. He’s perhaps not evil, but unquestionably self-involved beyond all human measure. He never breaks his word, he practically never lies, and he mostly offers people what they want, freely. And yet, nearly everyone who deals with him comes out far the poorer and looking at least a little bit like the bad guy, to boot. That takes some pretty meaningful talent.

Unfortunately, I fear that I’m not making sense. Anyway, the story stuff continues to feel deeper than I’m going to fully comprehend on the first pass, but it certainly already tied together some things from the first book. Plus, it introduced a long-term (I presume) adversary and solidified a long-term ally, both of whom I look forward to seeing more of. Even if wanting to see the adversarial one is mostly based on a comeuppance thing. (Which is funny; I mean, the guy is a dick, but I feel obscurely bad about primarily disliking someone because he’s being a dick to, y’know, the Devil. Well-written character, is what I’m still trying to say.)