If you’re looking for a fun, not-so frightening movie to watch this Halloween after the trick-or-treaters have packed it in, I suggest Phantom of the Paradise, released 50 years ago this fall. A 1970’s take on the classic …Opera tale, the movie is about a failed songwriter who swears vengeance Continue reading a halloween treat: “phantom” at 50
Now that the first season of Marvel’s What If…? has concluded, it’s a good time to look back on the four Marvel Cinematic Universe series that have appeared on Disney+ thus far, and critique them. As a hardcore Marvel fanboy since I was a kid, I was stoked for the Continue reading “what if…” we rate the disney+ mcu shows?
It’s Halloween, so let’s talk monsters, a staple of horror films and fiction. As a kid, I spent many a Saturday morning in front of the TV, slurping down cereal and watching such cerebral fare as Rodan, The Creature From the Black Lagoon, and Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster (the Continue reading know your monsters! 15 terrors, and what they mean
Lately, I’ve done a few talks for high school students who are writers, or are interested in becoming one. In addition to disabusing them of the idea that becoming an author is a fast and easy ticket to fame and fortune, I’ve shared with them a lot of tips and Continue reading doing “5 to 10” for writing (part 2)
Previously, I had talked about what makes monsters scary; as well as how despite appearances to the contrary, monsters really only come in two types. Now I’d like to share with you some monsters that scared me when I was younger, and why they still do, even though I’m a Continue reading making monsters meaningful, part 3
The latest in a series about influences from my earlier days In the previous installment of this series, I discussed a number of sci-fi movies from the 1970’s that have influenced and continue to influence my writing. The greatest film of that era, the one that profoundly altered the course Continue reading when the world was young: star wars
The latest in a series about influences from my childhood. Thor: The Dark World opens today, and you can be sure that our family will rush to go see it. We saw the first Thor movie and, of course, The Avengers, and we’re all big fans. Many years ago, as Continue reading when the world was young: walt simonson and “thor”
Stephen King’s books are like KISS records: loud, not very smart, but occasionally fun. Also, the best ones were done 35 years ago. So no, I did not watch the premiere of Under the Dome last night, nor do I intend to catch any of the episodes that follow. Once upon a Continue reading not going “under the dome”
The latest in a series about influences from my earlier days As I’ve probably mentioned elsewhere, as a child I was into science fiction, thanks to Star Wars and Star Trek. As a teenager, I immersed myself in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1st Edition, of course!) and largely abandoned sci-fi Continue reading when the world was young: elric
