Thursday, March 31, 2011

Top Five Sci Fi films

Once again, Charles Gramlich has inspired a post (though this time he flat out suggested it). The subject of his own post was top movies of all time, and then broken down into sub-categories. He focused on Sci Fi, which I love, so I will also.

However, in thinking about this, I have come to the conclusion that I need to set a couple of rules for myself. Mainly because I am a Moviephile, and any list of “favorites” or “Top #” will invariably be longer than intended, and will certainly be missing entries that didn’t pop into my mind until later.

Rule #1 – Trilogies and Series count as one entry. When you see my list, this will make more sense. Suffice it to say, when a movie spawns sequels that are inter-related with the original, it’s often (but not always) hard for me to separate them and judge them as individual movies. I prefer to judge the whole story presented.

Rule #2 – This list represents what I think as of right now, and is subject to change on a whim. More than likely, there will be other entries that will make me slap my forehead for forgetting later.

Ok, so here’s my list:

5. Pitch Black/Chronicles of Riddick – Though only slightly interrelated, these two movies relate a story about some really interesting characters. Riddick is one of the coolest characters out there. And Pitch Black was a sci fi/horror film that I consider on par with Alien. Then they took those same characters and progressed them into a whole new film style, expanding on the universe. I love these films. And I am stoked to know that they are planning a third film.

4. Firefly/Serenity – Like many of my favorite films and TV shows, this property is highly character-driven. I think there is a little of everyone in at least one of the characters. Wash’s fate was definitely one of the most shocking moments in non-horror film history for me. This is also one of those “genre benders.” It really was a space-western (the first aired episode was about a train robbery, if I recall).

3. 2010 (The year we make contact) – Though the prophetic title and premise didn’t quite pan out, this movie still stands as a very gritty, realistic sci-fi film. Aside from having the ever-cool Roy Scheider in the starring role, the film introduced scientific principles and scenarios that make you wonder what the future holds for us. And, let’s face it, HAL is about as creepy-cool as you can get. I still get geeked out when I see a reference to him in another movie. This is one of those instances where I thought the sequel was better than the original film. 2001 was great, but the last half hour of it seemed drag on, and was a bit too “trippy” for my tastes.

2. Star Trek (II, III, IV & VI) – I remember developing a love of all things Star Trek when I was about 13 years old. Just prior to III coming out, I met one of my all-time best friends, who was a huge Trekkie (a term I personally carry with pride). We would sit and discuss the movies, the show and the technology of Star Trek. When taken together, II, III and IV tell a complete story arc, that includes some of the best dialogue in ST history…

Kirk: (Giving the Vulcan hand greeting) How many fingers am I holding up?

McCoy: That’s not very damn funny.

…as well as having my all-time favorite Klingon character, Commander Kruge (Christopher Lloyd). Star Trek VI, I felt, was a fine capstone on the whole TOS era, and though I like Generations well enough, I’d have been happy with ending it on that note.

And of course…KHAAAANNN!!!!!

1. Star Wars (Eps. IV, V & VI) – The original trilogy. This is one instance where, had Lucas stopped with the very first film, it would have been wonderful. And the other two (even with any shortcomings) really only added to the overall awesomeness that is Star Wars. I saw it twice in the theatre when it first came out (I was 6 when the original was released) and I was immediately in love. My personal favorite of the three has always been The Empire Strikes Back, and it alternated with Conan the Barbarian as the “Movie most likely to be playing in the background” in my room at any given time. I’m not a huge fan of the prequel trilogy, though I do like certain parts of all three (and I know I am in the minority when I say that I didn’t find Jar Jar all that annoying, beyond the amount he was supposed to be). And, on any given day, I prefer the Originals.

At various points in my life I have carried the monikers of Conan-Fanboy, Trekkie (or Trekker), Comic Book Geek, and Dragonlancer. But my first sci-fi/fantasy love will always exist “A long, long time ago…in a galaxy far away.”

Honorable mentions:

Demolition Man (had to get a Sly reference in here somewhere)

Total Recall

Aliens

The Road Warrior

The Matrix

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Productive day!

So, today I probably wrote almost 3,000 words. As any writer knows, that's quite a bit (most pro writers I have heard of aim for about 1,100-1,500 a day). Granted my writing was spread across two different projects. But the production was there.

The first was the pulp-esque blog stories of Thomas Magni, Galactic Man of Adventure! I polished up the first entry a bit, wrote about half of the second entry, and set up the blog site. I want to add some graphical elements to the blog before I go public with it, though. So, stay tuned. My aim will be to do one story/vignette each week once I get it started. My wife has read what I have so far, and she likes it a lot. I'm kind of excited about this one!

The second project was for the anthology I am part of. I had originally settled on one particular story idea. But during some discussion on the Anthology's Facebook page, an off-handed, tongue-in-cheek comment sparked an idea that just grabbed me by the mental short hairs, and would not let go. In a fit of writing, I cranked out over 1,600 words on that one, in between work tasks. And the only reason I had to stop was because I had some end of the day stuff before going home. I am hoping to get back to it tonight, after Connor goes to bed. I had intended to write both stories, and submit them both for the editor to choose from. But the more I think about it, the more I like the idea behind this second one. The first story was intended as a segue way into a novel. I may leave it at that, and turn it into the first chapters sometime later.

The interesting thing about both of the projects I worked on today is that they are written in first person. I generally don't like first person perspective. Certain authors are good at it, and I usually don't mind reading it. But I have never enjoyed writing it before. Perhaps my creativity is growing and stretching. Perhaps it's because my revamp of my Orc RPG is in first person. Perhaps it's because I am currently reading Edgar Rice Burroughs' At the Earth's Core, which is in first person. Whatever the reason, I am enjoying this new development.

So, yes, I had a productive day. And hopefully, it's not over yet.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Intrerested?

I often try to fill writing voids (periods when I can't concentrate on one of my "more important" projects) by starting something on the side. These are generally silly little projects, maybe fleshing out an idea that has been niggling in my mind, or an exercise in characterization and voice.

My most recent endeavor in this area is a serial of pulp-inspired, tongue-in-cheek shorts and vignettes about a character who started out as a super hero in City of Heroes, but has taken on several lives of his own. The current version is sort of a cross between Doc Savage and Malcolm Reynolds, set in the future.

So, the question is, would anyone I know read this? The plan is to start a new blog, wherein the stories will be related via the character’s personal Captain’s log. Below is the first entry that I wrote yesterday. I’m rather enjoying this character, personally…

Standard Day 337, Year 2136 (Earth Reckoning)
Star Freighter Solitude
Captain Thomas Magni’s Personal Log

I begin this log in the 42nd year of my life, at the behest of my companion Sing Liu Jones, who insists that my life is extraordinary enough to warrant recording for posterity. It occurs to me that logic dictates I start at the beginning, and move forward in a chronological manner. However, so much has happened in my life, that I am inclined to relate the tales as the mood strikes. Even so, I shall begin with my origins, in an effort to form a foundation of knowledge for my readers.

It should also be noted that I shall endeavor to create of my memoirs a certain amount of entertainment value. To such an end, several descriptions may be highly detailed, and possibly embellished. As a student of classic literature, I am well aware that such embellishments are often necessary in making what would normally be a mundane record of events more palatable to consume, as it were, and therefore compel the reader to continue on.

Additionally, if anyone would like to illustrate said stories, I'd be open to entertaining ideas. Otherwise, I may do a few drawings myself, just for kicks.

Friday, March 18, 2011

One of those days

9:55 am
On days when I don’t have a lot on my plate professionally, I like to write. This is one of those days.

Unfortunately, some days nothing comes to mind, and I either stare at a project I can’t get myself motivated to work on, or I stare at a blank page. This is one of those days.

Maybe it’s the lack of sleep. Or the lack of exercise. Or the lack of sex…nah, it’s definitely not that.

Whatever the cause, my creative juices are running a bit dry right now. I think I will take a walk around the capitol square to clear my head. Be right back.

10:15 am
Ok, I’m back. It’s a bit chilly out there. Not nearly as warm as it was yesterday. Brrr.

Anyways, my head is a little clearer, but I am no closer to feeling motivated to write anything creative. So, I guess this blog will have to suffice for now.

Interestingly, there are no protesters out today (I live in Madison, WI). The Republicans are in DC collecting their payments for selling the state out to corporate interests, so I suppose there’s no reason to shout at empty offices. Still, after the last few weeks, it seems odd for the capitol square to be so empty.

The various projects I am working on are coming along. The story for the anthology has its first scene done. Had to edit it a little, as I had forgotten to introduce a major character. But, it reads nice, and I think it’s a pretty good start.

Worked a little on Life of Rage as well. It’s interesting because I sometimes have a hard time with making it sound like an orc is speaking to the reader. I keep wanting to use more sophisticated language. And while I am not presenting orcs as dullards who speak broken English, they aren’t all that articulate either. So, there’s a balance that needs to be struck. Using simpler variations of words, and inserting certain colloquial words like “ain’t” and “wanna” helps a lot. I’m also staying away from “accent” words like “yer” for your. But, the superior attitude my narrator has towards “squishys” (humans) is fun to play with. I want the reader to certainly feel condescended to, and borderline insulted. I think the hard part is explaining the actual rules as an orc. Once I get into writing the world background, and about orcs themselves, the voice may come a bit easier.

Today is officially the last day of school for this term. I have a project due tonight that is about 75% done. It shouldn’t take me long to finish it up. And then I am off for at least one term. If I decide to go back to Capella, I will have to change my major. The Counseling Studies program is kind of useless. Even if I get a Masters in that, it doesn’t actually qualify me to do anything professional. There are further licensing requirements that I would have to pursue. So, if I stick with Psychology, I will have to go into a clinical study program, which entails many hours of…well, clinical study. Basically a second job that pays nothing. I’m not sure I have the time or resources for that. I am looking at other options. My feeling right now is that I have a pretty stable job, all things considered. I don’t actually need any more education to further my career. So, maybe I should focus my educational efforts on something I have always wanted to study. I’m looking into programs for an MFA in Creative Writing. One such program has classes that run the gamut of the entire publishing industry. I think that would be very cool.

Wow. Over 600 words. That’s not bad for a blog that literally started about nothing. Maybe now the writing muscles are warm and I can do something more substantial…

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Orc RPG Revamping

After some feedback from Greg Christopher, and some long thought, I have decided to take Being Green in a whole different direction. First of all, I am changing the name. The working title I am using right now is Life of Rage.

I'm also going to use a different game mechanic. I'm not sure how it will work, but for now I am using a variation of the Storyteller System from White Wolf (Vampire, Werewolf, etc...), but using d6's instead of d10's. This isn't set in stone, but it's what I am putting in there for the time being.

Many of the same concepts in Being Green will also be present in Life of Rage, such as the Battle Circle, Bragging and Glory. In fact, it will more or less be the same game, but with different rules and a different flavor. And to that end...

The main change will be in the flavor text. Rather than the passive, third-person voice that is normally used in RPGs, I will be using a 1st person narrator. And that Narrator will be an orc. So, reading the rulebook will be like having an orc sitting with you, explaining everything about the game. I hear tell there are a couple of games that do this. I find the idea very cool, personally. It will also serve as a way to develop the cadence and speech patterns of orcs for a couple of fiction projects I am working on.

Here is the opening of the game, as it stands now. I like this, and even though it may get edited a bit down the road, I think it will pretty much stay in tact:

So, you wanna be an orc, huh? Bah! You squishy humans couldn’t hack it.

Heh. “Hack it.” That’s funny.

Alright, fine. You wanna see what life is like for us? Play this game. Me and my boys wrote this game for squishys just like you. It ain’t all that realistic, but you’ll get an idea of what we’re all about.

What? Of course we wrote it. We ain’t as dumb as you lot like to make us out to be in your “high fantasy” stories. We have culture and tradition. And we can read and write, too.

Anyways, here are some rules for you to learn. You can handle that, right squishy? I mean, I’ll be here to hold your hand, but you gotta be willing to let go of your human weakness and just embrace the glory of being an orc. And when I say “glory” I mean it. That’s very important to us. But, I’ll get into that later. For now, let’s start at the beginning.

Just so you know, when I refer to an “orc” while telling you how to play this game, I am referring to squishys like you who are pretending to be orcs. Real orcs don’t play this game. We live it!

Now, here’s the rules.


Well, what do you all think?

Monday, March 14, 2011

Police Action

My wife and I are huge movie buffs. I love action movies a bit more than she does, but she is usually willing to sit through just about anything I want to watch. Anyways, when we have the time (which, unfortunately, is not too often these days), we like to have a Movie Theme Day. That's where we pick a common theme, and watch 3-4 movies that fall under that.

So, I thought I would occasionally share some of my choices for certain themes. Today's theme is what I call "Police Action." Basically action-adventure movies where the protagonist is a cop. Here is my top five (in no particular order):

1. Cobra - Almost any list of mine would be incomplete without a Stallone entry (though he's never done a fantasy film). I love this movie. The character is so over the top and bad ass. And the villain is effing scary! The cast is great (including the pre-psychotic, one-time Mrs. Stallone, Brigitte Nielsen), and the action is top notch. Even the music is anthem-worthy. I have the soundtrack on LP somewhere, and I downloaded "Voice of America's Sons" by John Cafferty for my iPod (it plays over the end credits). This movie was meant to be the first of several, but that never came to fruition. That's too bad. Of all of Sly's one-shot characters, Marion Cobretti is probably the one I would most liked to have seen more of.

2. Lethal Weapon - The ultimate Buddy Cop action film. This one started it all, I think. Say what you will about Mel's off-screen antics, he has always consistently given great performances, and is an iconic action star. And Danny Glover…well, he’s Danny Glover! What the hell else could you want? I even enjoyed Gary Busey’s villainous turn. The dynamics of the relationship between Riggs and Murtaugh are amazing. They’re about as close to “real” people as you can find in Action World. The best part about this film is that there are three sequels. Each one strong in their own way, and each showing some real character development.

3. Dirty Harry – Clint Eastwood is legendary. He is an icon. He is the standard that all Hollywood tough guys aspire to. And in the first installment of this series, he shines brilliantly. And that fabulous gun! A Smith & Wesson Model 29 (I own an AirSoft version) will blow your head clean off. Inspector Harry Callahan of the SFPD is not one to be trifled with. This movie represents the justice we all (sometimes secretly) want for the real-world psychos out there. The action and dialogue even stand up today (though costuming and set pieces definitely date it). And with four sequels, there is enough Harry to keep you entertained for a long time.

4. Raw Deal – Though technically not a “cop” movie (he’s a an Ex-FBI agent brought out of forced retirement to exact revenge on the mob), it still qualifies in my book. One of The Oak’s best acting jobs in an action film, this one has everything. Car chases, gun fights, fisticuffs, hot chicks. You name it, this movie delivers. Even a couple of plot twists and surprises. Over all, this movie is a roller coaster of action-packed fun. Definitely one for the archives.

5. Die Hard – Former lounge singer and TV private eye, Bruce Willis turned out a surprise performance as everyman of action, John McClane. This movie delivered a unique combination of action, suspense, and comedy gold, to create one of the most endearing cop heroes in film history. And Alan Rickman is just BRILLIANT as Hans. But then again, when is Alan not brilliant, really? Of the Planet Hollywood Trio, Bruce is definitely the best actor. And there are some really great scenes of him showing off his chops in that regard.

One thing you will notice is that the majority of my favorites are from the 80’s. That’s partially due to my upbringing, and my obsession with what I consider the greatest decade in history. But it’s also indicative of how I view Hollywood. Action movies today are all about slick special effects, with little to no substance. And cop movies are a dying breed (being only slightly more widespread than the Western, sadly). The 80’s were the heyday of the action film, and of cop films in particular. I hope this is a trend that comes back around. I would love to see more movies like these being made. With real men, rather than the Hollywood pretty boys who all look like they just stepped off the cover of Men’s Health Magazine.

Honorable Mentions:
Demolition Man
Red Heat
Action Jackson
Tango & Cash

Also see this interesting article.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Concentrate on what you can control

I sat down to start this blog fighting the temptation to comment on the political upheaval here in Madison, WI. I avoid political discussion wherever possible, at least on a deep level. However, on Facebook, this whole fiasco has cost me a couple of friendships. Mainly because some people don’t understand that just because you CAN say something doesn’t mean you SHOULD say it.

Anyways, in light of that, I have decided to talk about some things that I actually can control.

I got some great news the other day. I was invited to write a story for an anthology! I’m not sure how much I can discuss it, so I will leave it at that. Suffice it to say, I am ecstatic about this opportunity. And nervous. I’ve never had a single piece of fiction published before, so I have that normal fear of “What if I suck?” But, I understand that most, if not all, writers go through this. And not just in the beginning of their careers. In the end, all I can do is write the best story I can, rely on my editor to help me polish it up, and hope that readers enjoy it. The deadline is probably going to be about 12-14 months. I’ve already started the story.

In other fiction news, I’ve decided to enter my Orc Love Story into a fiction contest. Never done that before, so this could be a new experience. Assuming it doesn’t just get turned right down. Either way, I am also exploring other markets for the few other stories I have complete. I figure I need to start getting those rejections out of the way, so I can start getting acceptances.

Being Green (my Orc RPG) has been put on hiatus for the time being, as I am waiting for some much needed outside feedback. I liked where it was going personally, but I need some outside feedback on whether it was actually going anywhere or not, and if I was missing some stops along the way. I’ve only given it out to a couple of people so far, but if anyone else would like to review a copy, let me know. I’d be happy to send you a copy.

I’ve also been asked by a friend for advice and ideas about producing an MMO for mobile devices. Apparently there are already a few of these, so it’s doable. My experience is really only with desktop games, so I’m not 100% sure how much help I can be. But I will give it my best, and hope it’s a success for them.

Speaking of MMOs, I am game-free right now. Well, aside from Warhammer Online, which is free-to-play. But, I have very little invested in that, and really only play it for about 15 minutes before I get bored and turn it off. This is a good thing, as it will allow more time for writing.

And finally, I am changing my school goals. The psychology classes are interesting, but I am struggling with them. I’m also not so sure that I want to follow that path to a career. And my thought is, if I question it, I probably shouldn’t do it. It’s a huge commitment (both in time and money), so I don’t want to finish and then regret doing it. I already kind of feel that way about my Bachelor’s degree. But that one was more about getting the actual degree than it was about what the degree was in. So, I will be dropping my grad school for a few months. I am considering some other options, but I’m not sure yet. We’ll see how that all goes. In the meantime, it reduces my stressors even more. And I really need that right now, I think.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Writing and Communication as a skill

As most of you may know, I am in graduate school. I am attending an online college (Capella University) for a Masters in Counseling Studies (though that may soon change to a different program). The format for classes is Discussion Boards and critical thinking writing assignments. So, there is a lot of writing involved. This is fine with me, because I consider myself a writer.

However, I never cease to be amazed at the level of borderline illiteracy among my fellow students. These are adults, most in their 30’s and 40’s, with at least a Bachelor’s degree, and often years of experience working in professional settings. Yet the number of grammar, syntax and even spelling errors is staggering. With technology being what it is, simply composing your discussion post in MS Word before copying and pasting it to the board would cure half of these problems (I’m doing that for this very blog post). But it often makes me wonder if the problem runs deeper.

Education is under fire in this country from many sides. Here in Wisconsin, our Corporatist Governor (I consider him neither Conservative nor Republican) is slashing nearly a Billion dollars from education with his newest Biennial Budget. And with the Senate in his greedy little pockets, it will most likely pass. The idiot is a college dropout (it took me 14 years to finish my BS, but I DID IT!). Clearly he places less value on education than many people.

So, when education is underfunded, what do we end up with? Adults who can’t string together a coherent paragraph in a somewhat intelligent manner. And these people are in a Masters program in college! I makes me physically ill to read some of these posts.

I have long held the belief that reading is the single most important skill a person can have. All other skills are derived from the ability to read. And this includes writing. By reading more, one learns by example a greater vocabulary, proper sentence structure, proper use of syntax, grammar and punctuation, and how to communicate an idea in a clear manner. I wish people would read more.

Or at least read what they are writing before they hit the “submit” button.