I don’t watch Heroes, though I have read quite a few positive things about it. Well, the recent revelations of the events of the season finale/”flash-forward” that is the subject of the final episodes of the season has quite a few people complaining that a major plot twist has quite a bit in common with Alan Moore’s epic Watchmen comic series from the early nineties. So much that accusations of teheft has been made. Well, I love Watchmen and from what I know about the plot twist I have to give the critics some due – they have a point.
Here’s an article that even proposes the similarities will sabotage the forthcoming Watchmen movie adaptation. Worth reading, especially the comments.
I vacilate when it comes to my favorite TV comedy. Some times I lean towards Get Smart, recently I have been putting The Office right on top. But usually, in the end, I go back to ‘ol faithful – The Odd Couple. It was fantastic, with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall having the best chemistry any actors have ever had doing television comedy. The first season (shot on a studio with no live audience, unlike the remaining seasons) was just released on DVD this week. I’m deep into the second disk, and, while this early version of the show had a few clinkers, it’s a solid collection of episodes. Thankfully it looks like the DVD releases will continue as the second set for season 2 is due in August, so I should (hopefully) be able to have a complete series set before all is said and done.
And, speaking of the Odd Couple, here’s a mashup trailer that Turner Classic Movies did for the original film, making it look like a psychological thriller:
When I was a kid I had a thin paperback called The Story of Star Wars. It was basically what is now known as a junior novelization but with lots and lots of pictures. At the time it was the only thing, besides the actual novel, that I had (I got the comics, and my first videodisc of the film, later – yes, RCA videodisc). I read the novel once, but I read The Story of Star Wars countless times, because, well, it had pictures, it was short, and I was a kid.
People don’t realize today that, at the time, having ANYTHING that brought back the memories of that first film was precious. The first two or three years, up till ’77, there wasn’t much – 12 or so action figures, four toy vehicles, poster magazines, the aforementioned books, some book-records, the soundtrack, a couple of posters – and that’s it. Today, you get a multimedia onslaught two months before the movie comes out (see Superman Returns, Spider-man 3, Pirates 3, etc.)
Well, I bring this up not just as a nostalgic recollection but to comment on two new books that have appeared on the scene, both purporting to tell the story of Star Wars.
The first is a huge $75 hardcover that is titled The Making of Star Wars. Moriarty wrote a very good (nah, gushing) review that has made me order the thing sight unseen. Basically, Drew/Moriarty gives me the distinct impression he thinks that this is the definitive making-of book, not just for Star Wars, but for any movie, period. I’m excited and looking forward to getting my copy, because, as an adult, this is the type of casual reading I enjoy.
The second is a fan-written work, available for free on said fan’s site, called The Secret History of Star Wars. The book could stand some editing, but the author has a tremendous amount of passion and most of his sources are well cited. Again, it’s free, and worth at least a browse.
I look at both sources as fascinating glimses into one of those rare occasions where everything worked, from the talent involved to the culture at the time. I read this history and I wonder if we will ever see any such phenomenon explode, almost out of nowhere, ever again. I doubt it.
OK, I’m talkin’ spoilers here so if you’re a fan and have not watched the season finale of Battlestar Galactica, walk away from the monitor now…
pause…
Ah, good. For all of you who are still lurking about, I have a theory. As you know, Romo Lampkin, Baltar’s defense attorney, was able to get a not-guilty verdict. What you may NOT know is that writer/producer Ron Moore planned on killing off Lampkin in the first episode he appeared in but decided against it for story reasons (primarily that he could not see Apollo “carrying” the trial by himself and getting to the result that they wanted, i.e. the not-guilty verdict).
But I had a potential epiphany.
What if Lampkin is more than he appears to be?
And no, I’m not saying he’s the fifth cylon (my bet on that one is Admiral Cain – I won’t go into why here, but trust me, if I’m right it would be FANTASTIC when we get to the pay-off). I’m saying he’s… more than that.
He’s Count Iblis.
Now about half of you are going, “who?” The other half are going “no-way!” and the last half are thinking “wow!” And yes, I know that’s three halfs, but I’m on a roll.
Count Iblis appeared on two episodes of the original series, effectively the character was the equivilent of our Devil, Lucifer, etc. and he tried to manipulate the characters into dark places through his lies and manipulation. He was balanced by The Lords of Light, nobel extraterrestrial beings who were – well, angels.
Ron Moore has already borrowed ideas from the original show if they struck his fancy (see Admiral Cain, Pegasus, etc.). I think he’s doing so again. I’m pretty certain the reason Starbuck is alive is, like in the original show, she was saved by The Lords of Light, who showed her the way to Earth (that wasn’t no Cylon Raider in the episode she “died”). And I’m beginning to believe that both they, and Lampkin, will play a huge part in the last half of the (presumed final) upcoming season of Galactica.
Remember, “this has happened before, and it will happen again.”
Time will prove me wrong, or not. At any rate, time is a major annoyance, as we won’t see any new episodes until 2008…
I took this quiz to see what Doctor I was most like and, well: Everyone who knows me is going “Well, DUH!” And no I’m not all “teeth and curls”… no more curls left, unfortunately….
I held off as long as I could but, like Michael Corleone, I thought I was out, but they PULLED me back IN! So, I have revisited and finally set up a semi-permanent myspace account. Click here for all the myspace goodness. And no, I don’t have any ginormous background image or annoying music playing. Sorry.
I'd like to thank the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement, without whose assistance this site would not be possible.
About Joe…
Joseph Dickerson is a User Experience Architect focused on improving the usability of on-line and mobile applications. With over a decade of experience in software design and user research, Dickerson has made it his mission to make technology easier for people to use.
@DVDGeeks Absolutely. I've stayed at Marriott so much for business I've reached Latinum status. The CEO called the other day to say "thanks" in reply to DVDGeeks10 hrs ago
