What Would Buffy Do?

Good grief this has been a busy summer. Trips, rehab, more trips, MOVING . . . which by the way, is the worst thing in the entire world. I am not looking forward to doing it again in 14-ish months when my lease is up. 

But I digress. With all that's been going on this summer, I've neglected my writing, my working out (not great during this bathing-suit heavy time of year) and of course, my blog. Which I will attempt to rectify in the oncoming weeks. 

However, the one thing I haven't neglected is my classic sci-fi TV show watching. My roommates and I have taken a walk down memory lane and started watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer from the beginning. And let me say, it's as wonderful now as it was when my mom insisted I watch it in the 6th grade. 

As my roommates and I hunker down on our couches every few days to blow through a couple episodes, we often find ourselves amused by the moronic high school teens who walk down dark alleys by themselves late at night, only to be attacked by blood-sucking vampires and subsequently rescued by Buffy. 

Which of course makes me think of my idol and Buffy creator Joss Whedon, who began  the series after being disgusted by the "little blonde girl who goes into a dark alley and gets killed in every horror movie. The idea of Buffy was to subvert that idea, that image, and create someone who was a hero where she had always been a victim."

Buffy was certainly a a hero to me. Someone for me to look up to as a young girl . . . and as a fully grown one sixteen years later. And she taught me many important life lessons that I carry with me. Including: 

1. Never face an apocalypse alone. Always bring your two best friends along as backup. 

2. When in doubt, ask a librarian. They know everything. 

3. Never fight the undead without really great shoes. 

4. Caring about others is a strength - not a weakness.  

5. Choose Halloween costumes wisely. Very wisely. 

6. Friends don't let friends turn evil. 

7. And most importantly, you don't have to be a muscular, cape wearing superhero to fight evil or save the day. You can be the petite blond who usually dies in horror movies. Or a nerdy redhead. Or the class clown. Or the stuck-up cheerleader. Or the once-evil-turned-good undead. Or the tweed-wearing librarian. Anyone with the courage to stand up to the darkness can be a hero. 

So thank you Buffy for imparting your wisdom to an impressionable young girl. And when in doubt, always ask . . . What Would Buffy Do? 

The All Time Greatest Love Stories

The other day I was talking with some family friends about love stories. Which ones were the best, which should never have been written or filmed, etc. And I must admit, I was somewhat shocked by some of their answers, especially the answers that fell under the title “Greatest love story of ALL time”. I try not to criticize other people’s taste in books and films – I love movies like Lake Placid so I’ve got little room to judge – but there are some things that I simply cannot abide.

The Notebook? Seriously? This is the “greatest love story ever told”? You MUST be joking. Yes, many of my female friends (and a few male ones) actually claim to like The Notebook (why, I cannot say), but please for the love of god, never say that it’s the greatest love story ever told. Or really any other Nicholas Sparks book or movie for that matter.

And anything with a love triangle gets immediately crossed off the list as well. If you’re struggling with feelings for more than one person, it does NOT deserve the title of “greatest love story”.

Now, a few people mentioned Pride and Prejudice and The Princess Bride. This I can get behind. These are wonderful tales of love (and some of my favorite literary works). I would also accept tragic love classics like Casablanca, Romeo and Juliet or Gone with the Wind (book or movie). And I thought someone’s suggestion of Beauty and the Beast was pretty inspired – I enjoy a love story where the falling in love part happens before the make-over. If you fall for someone after they’ve been beautified, the validity of your feelings gets called into question [cough, My Fair Lady, Cinderella, etc., cough, cough.]

Still, I have to say that if we’re talking ALL TIME GREATEST love stories, the kind that demands all caps, only two come to mind.

Buff and Angel

Before Twilight and True Blood there was Buffy the Vampire Slayer – the greatest vampire love story ever written. What has become a clichéd, teen angst-ridden theme seems somehow more beautiful and unique in the hands of Joss Whedon. A vampire cursed with a soul, tortured by the brutality of his past, in love with a slayer, the one person destined to kill him. Two lovers never able to be together without risking the very soul that differentiates him from other demons and allows him to feel love. It’s both tragic and beautiful. Of course my opinion could be colored by my Whedonian obsession and childhood nostalgia (Buffy was my middle school hero), but to this day I still believe Buffy and Angel’s story is one of the greatest love story of all time.  

The Terminator

Spoilers. In 2029, Kyle Reese was given a photograph of Sarah Connor by her son, John. He fell in love with Sarah, staring at her photo, and traveled back in time to protect her, unknowingly conceiving a child in the one night they had together. A child that would later become the leader of the resistance . . . John Connor. It’s a heartbreakingly beautiful love story – one that follows the paradoxical rules of time travel. And one that rips my heart right out each time I watch it. Now that is the mark of a great love story. 

“I came across time for you Sarah. I love you. I always have.” Beautiful. 

And those are the two love stories I consider the greatest of all times. Some might question why tragic love stories are often the greatest, but that's a question for another day . . . 

R is for Rebel Leader

Rebel leaders are one of the most interesting character trope in film and literature. Sometimes as military leaders and sometimes as symbols, they inspire rebellion against the corrupt and malignant organizations that impose their rule, inspiring the oppressed to rise up against those that oppress them. Here are a few of my favorite examples of rebel leaders . . . or to be more exact, here are some of my all time favorite characters. 

R is for Rebel Leader 

Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly) – Once a Brown Coat sergeant in the Unification War Against the Alliance, Mal Reynolds turned away from the life of a soldier after they lost the war. He contends himself with taking odd jobs here and there, content to stay off the radar and simply drift through space. However, when the Alliance kills off those he cares about in order to get to him and the Tam siblings he gives shelter, Mal digs deep for that rebel, Brown-Coat attitude and fights back. In other words, he aims to misbehave. 

John Connor (The Terminator franchise) – He was raised from infancy to become a leader, taught weaponry and self-defense by his mother Sarah. He pushes and drives the resistance, organizing what's left of humanity to fight against Skynet and the machines that seeks to wipe humanity out forever. 

Harry Potter (The Harry Potter series) – In the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter is encouraged by Ron and Hermione to create a secret group, named Dumbledore's Army. The DA is basically the youth division of the Order of the Phoenix, created to oppose the Ministry's interference at Hogwarts via. deplorable Professor Dolores Umbridge. The DA further rises up to fight against Voldemort himself in the Battle of Hogwarts. 

Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo and Admiral Ackbar (Star Wars) – The Rebel Alliance, created in opposition to Palpatine's Galactic Empire, is an allegiance of insurrectionist factions working to restore the Old Republic. With leaders like Luke, Han, Leia and Ackbar, they take on Palpatine, Darth Vadar and the Empire's fleet and bring the Imperialist regime to an end. 

Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games series) – Katniss Everdeen never intended to get mixed up in a rebellion against the Capitol. She wanted nothing more than to live a quiet life with her younger sister and best friend Gale, hunting and traipsing around the woods. However,  when she inadvertently starts and uprising and learns the lengths to which the Capitol will go to bring it to its knees – including the torture of the boy who once saved her life – she agrees to become the Mockingjay, a symbol for the resistance.  

V (V for Vendetta) – V was once inmate at Larkhill Resettlement Camp, a concentration camp set up by Britain's white supremacist government. After he frees himself via a homemade incendiary device, he takes on the persona of V in order to become an anarchist and vigilante, seeking to bring down the fascist dictatorship that rules England. He wears the face of Guy Fawkes and transforms himself into a symbol – an idea– because as a man he can be "killed and forgotten, but four hundred years later an idea can still change the world". 

And there you have it, my Top 5 (or 6 in this case) favorite Rebel Leaders. What are some of your favorites?

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This post is part of the Blogging A through Z Challenge 2013. My theme (in case you didn't already guess) is character types and tropes. Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you’d like to check in on the other participants, simply click here.

O is for Outlaw

A popular feature in American news coverage during the 1930's and old Western films, the outlaw has become a celebrated – and deeply romanticized – subject in both film and literature. Wanted for crimes and a fugitive from justice, outlaws can be viewed as both criminal and hero, flouting a corrupt government or oppressive society by committing unlawful deeds. 

O is for Outlaw 

Robin Hood (Too many books and movies to name) – The most famous outlaw of them all, Robin Hood is a British folk hero that's fascinated the world for centuries. He robbed from the rich and gave to the poor, lived in the forest with his true love and band of Merry Men, and flouted an corrupt system and wicked king. He is one of the most enduring characters and epic outlaws to ever grace film and literature. 

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow (Bonnie and Clyde) – The couple that that captured the interest (and wealth) of America during the Public Enemy Era, Bonnie and Clyde robbed countless banks, gas stations and stores in their three year run together. With his dark and dangerous attitude and her sassy style, not to mention the appeal of a love story between two outlaws on the lamb, Bonnie and Clyde has remained a fascinating subject for nearly eighty years. They demonstrate the age-old adage, those who rob together, stay together. At least until shot and killed by the law. 

Butch Cassidy (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) – A classic American outlaw from the Wild West, Butch Cassidy was a train and bank robber and leader of the Wild Bunch Gang. Made famous by the 1969 film chronicling his exploits and retreat to Bolivia, Butch and his partner, The Sundance Kid, are film icons, bravely charging into a swarm of armed Bolivian guards,  meeting their probable death with sarcasm and blazing guns. 

Ned Kelly (Ned Kelly) – Considered by many Australians to be a heroic figure fighting British rule in the Australian outback, Ned Kelly was born in Victoria to an Irish convict. After several scrapes with the law for cattle and horse stealing, Ned, his brother Dan, and several friends went on the run, eventually forming the Kelly Gang. Robbing banks and defying British authority, Ned and his gang are revolutionary symbols against an unwelcome outside authority. 

Simon and River Tam (Firefly) – When Simon Tam learns that his younger sister River is being abused and experimented on by members of the Alliance, he leaves his well-respected place at the Medial Academy and cushy, elite life to rescue her. Together they go on the run, hiding from Alliance agents who continue to hunt them aboard the firefly vessel, Serenity. 

And there you have it, my Top 5 favorite Outlaws. What are some of your favorites? 

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This post is part of the Blogging A through Z Challenge 2013. My theme (in case you didn't already guess) is character types and tropes. Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you’d like to check in on the other participants, simply click here.

E is for Evil Overlord

Intricate plots for world domination. Secret lairs. Minions. Evil Overlords are the mother of all villains. And often comedic gold. There's nothing I love better than watching an Overlord at work. Especially when they make the classic mistakes documented in Peter's Evil Overlord List and inevitable foil their own schemes. 

*** Note to readers: If you've never heard of the aforementioned list, check it out here. Immediately.

E is for Evil Overlord 

Dr. Horrible (Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog) – He sings, he wants to take over the world in order to enact social change, he creates weapons of mass destruc - well, they try. And his life's ambition is to make it into the Evil League of Evil. Dr. Horrible is the brilliant creation of Joss Whedon, brought to life on a three-part webisode during the 2007 Writer's Strike. He's endearing and love-sick, and like those of us participating in this challenge, he's a blogger. I hope and pray for the day Dr. Horrible finally gets a sequel. 

Dr. Evil (Austin Powers series) – A somewhat less altruistic Overlord than the previous "doctor" (which reminds me, I'd like to see some documentation on these supposed doctorates), Dr. Evil is the antagonist of International Man of Mystery, Austin Powers. He even went as far as to create a "Mini-Me", a villainous clone exactly one-eighth his size. And yet between his devotion to laser-wearing sharks and count-downs, Dr. Evil is incapable of actually carrying off a scheme. It's bumbling overlords like him that gave birth to the highly entertaining Evil Overlord List. 

Buddy Pine aka. Syndrome (The Incredibles) – Though he was once famous superhero Mr. Incredible's #1 fan, Buddy Pine's anger at being rebuffed as a sidekick and subsequent bitterness morphed him from an idealistic kid into Mr. Incredible's nemesis, Syndrome. Wholly bent on exacting his revenge, Syndrome uses his talents to create a myriad of gadgets and sinister inventions with the sole purpose of making his childhood hero pay. 

Brain (Pinky and the Brain) – Ah, Brain. Who can forget the lab mouse with grand schemes. "What are we going to do tonight, Brain?" "The same thing we do every night Pinky . . . try and take over the world." Again and again he comes up with plots for world domination, and again and again they backfire. But this determined rodent never gives up, marking him as a true evil overlord. With the moronic Pinky by his side, this megalomaniac mouse will spend the rest of his life attempting to rule the world. 

Palpatine aka. The Emperor aka. Darth Sidious (Star Wars) – Though he's more specifically a Sith Lord, the in-sidious, power-hungry emperor of my childhood definitely makes my list of evil overlords. He uses deception and betrayal to gain political mobility, climbing from Senator to Chancellor, and eventually abolishing the Imperial Senate and naming himself Emperor. A cunning politician and tyrannical ruler, Darth Sidious is so evil he is, for all intensive purposes, inhuman.

And there you have it, my Top 5 favorite Evil Overlords. What are some of your favorites? 

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This post is part of the Blogging A through Z Challenge 2013. My theme (in case you didn't already guess) is character types and tropes. Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you’d like to check in on the other participants, simply click here.

D is for Demon Hunter

I have to admit I've been waiting for the letter "D" ever since I came up with my A through Z theme a month ago. Why? Because I simply love demon hunters. Protectors from evil. Warriors fighting against the forces of darkness. They symbolically battle the monsters that plagues our nightmares, allowing little children – and fully grown writers with overactive imaginations – to sleep peacefully after the lights go out . . .

D is for Demon Hunters

Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) – The hero of my adolescence, Buffy Summers is a five-foot two, blond bad-ass. Created by Joss Whedon as the antithesis of "the little blonde girl who goes into a dark alley and gets killed in every horror film", Buffy steps up as the Chosen One, protecting the world from demons and vampires alike. With the help of her "Scooby gang" and vampire-boyfriend that is. 

Ash Williams (Evil Dead series) – A sawed-off shotgun in one hand and a chainsaw strapped to the other, Ash is the formidable opponent of the evil dead and their Army of Darkness. He won't hesitate to kill his girlfriend or cut off his own possessed hand with a saw in the name of Deadite destruction. Now that 's dedication. 

John Constantine (Hellblazer comics and Constantine) – A character that could have easily made the Antiheroes list, Constantine is a chain-smoking sorcerer and occult detective. Unlike most demon hunters – who are quite happy to slash and burn – Constantine generally dislikes guns and weapons. With an army of magical tricks, cunning wit and mystical knowledge, Constantine mostly takes on his demon foe with brains rather than brawn. 

The Winchester Family (Supernatural) – A father and sons demon-hunting family, the Winchesters are definitely high on my list supernatural slayers. With their preference for classic rock, fast cars and lethal firearms, they are a force to be reckoned with. For demons that is. 

Solomon Kane ("Weird Tales" short stories, Solomon Kane comics and film) – A 17th century Puritan, Solomon Kane travels the world with the sole purpose of fighting evil. Carrying a rapier, pistols, a dirk and the mythical Staff of Solomon, Kane is more than equipped to take on vampires, ghosts and other demonic forces of evil. 

Here are a few honorable mentions, each for a specific demon category . . .

> Vampires – Blade (Blade comics and films)

> Zombies – Alice, the Redfields and Jill Valentine (Resident Evil movies and games) 

> Werewolves – Selene (Underworld series) 

And there you have it, my Top 5 favorite Demon Hunters. What are some of your favorites? 

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This post is part of the Blogging A through Z Challenge 2013. My theme (in case you didn't already guess) is character types and tropes. Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you’d like to check in on the other participants, simply click here.

C is for Con Man

Confidence men – I just can't help but love them. And why not? They make their living on their charms. They can convince us to hand over the contents of our wallets, and do so with a smile. Hell, by the time they're done, we think it was our idea to open those wallets in the first place. And while, yes, real life grifters are a serious problem I hope never to encounter, their fictional counter-parts are often too charismatic to dislike. For example . . . 

 C is for Con Man 

Neal Caffrey (White Collar) – A former con artist, Neal Caffrey is a connoisseur of the finer things. He projects an air of elegance and sophistication, demonstrating knowledge in a wide array of fields, from wine to art, food to fashion. And of course, white collar crimes. Fortunately for the FBI, this former con artist now uses his prodigious skills to help catch other criminals. 

YoSafBridge (Firefly) – One of the greatest characters Joss Whedon ever wrote, Saffron . . . I mean, Bridget . . . or was it Yolanda? Anyway, this little con artist shed names like a snake sheds skin. And she's just as deadly. She manipulates, seduces, and generally cons men into doing her bidding. And when she turned her talents onto Mal Reynolds and his crew, she nearly caused them to fry in a galactic space net. Definitely not shiny. 

Frank Abagnale (Catch Me if You Can) – Based on a very real life counterpart, young Frank of Catch Me if You Can was a born con artist. A chameleon, he's able to seamlessly slip from one role to another – everything from pilot to physician – without causing suspicion. Furthermore, he forged checks worth several millions of dollars before he was caught, making Frank Abagnale, both real and fictional, one of the greatest grifters of all time. 

Jake Vig (Confidence) – Several years ago I went to see the movie Confidence with my family, and the character of Jake Vig stuck with me. He likened grifting schemes to a chess game where you play every possible move in your head. The person who can see ahead the furthest is the one that wins the game, or in this case, the con. Jake reminds us that it's not enough to rely on a winning personality to pull off a hustle. First and foremost, you have to be able to out-think the other side. 

Danny Ocean and Rusty Ryan (Ocean's Eleven,Twelve and Thirteen) – George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Enough said. But to expand further, Rusty and Danny are the Holy Grail of con men. Not to mention extremely well connected in the criminal world, with a virtual Rolodex of every "Boesky" and "greaseman" out there. Captivating and suave, good looking and charismatic, they are the very image of cool. It's not hard to imagine caving under the joint force of their charms. 

 And there you have it, my Top 5 favorite Con Men. What are some of your favorites?

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This post is part of the Blogging A through Z Challenge 2013. My theme (in case you didn't already guess) is character types and tropes. Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you’d like to check in on the other participants, simply click here.

Top Ten Movie Countdown Blogfest

It's time for a blog fest - the first one of the year for me, and good preparation for the forthcoming Bogging A to Z Challenge beginning this April! Hosted by legendary Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh, today's blogging festival is all about one of my favorite things . . . movies. For this challenge we're supposed to list our top ten favorite movies, something I've found incredibly difficult as I love approximately twenty billion of them. But if you're interested in joining, check the it out.

Okay, so over the weeks I had leading up to this blogfest I spent a lot of time making lists of my favorite movies and trying to narrow it down to just ten. And I found that it absolutely could not be done. I could make a list of my top five absolute favorites, or my top fifteen favorites, but not my top ten. I simply could not weed five of them out. Soooo, I decided that instead of a "top ten", I'd do blog about my top ten movies leading down to my TOP FIVE ALL TIME FAVORITE FILMS.

So here we go . . .

10. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Yes, technically these are three different movies, but since I've already cheated once today, I figured I might as well break all the rules and think of trilogies as one larger, three-part film. Plus, they're too amazing to pick just one. 

9. Zombieland - My all time favorite zombie flick, it makes me laugh, it makes me cry, it makes me hope to god that if the zombie apocalypse happens, no one mistakes Bill Murray for one of the walking dead. 

8. Star Wars (the original trilogy) - See #10. 

7. The Italian Job - I love a good heist film, and this one in particular has always been a favorite. I love the characters, I love the byplay between Lyle (aka. the Napster) and Handsome Rob, and I looove the cars. Who wouldn't want to have a high speed car chase in a Mini Cooper?

6. Stranger Than Fiction - I love how unusual this movie is. As a writer, I love the idea that the characters I create could in fact be walking around somewhere, their lives narrated by my words. And the scene in which Dustin Hoffman gives Will Ferrell's character the test to identify what type of story he's in is one of the wittiest scenes ever written. 

5. The Harry Potter Series - Like the Lord of the Rings, these movies are some of the best adaptations from novel to screen I've ever seen (apart from Goblet of Fire, which I felt didn't live up to its full potential). 

4. Ocean's Eleven - Another heist film, this is perhaps one of the best ensemble casts ever put together. And one of the most hilarious scripts written to date. 

3. Serenity - Joss Whedon. Enough said. 

2. Penelope - This movie can only be described as a modern day fairy tale. It's one of those stories that reminds us of childhood and child-like belief in magic. It's a love story, a transformation story, and a journey of self-discovery, but managed to be unitedly original. 

1. Blade Runner - A sci-fi masterpiece, Blade Runner is one of those movies I remember watching with my parents as a kid that stayed with me through adulthood. Of the many different versions that exist today, I prefer the the Director's Cut above all others. 

And now that I've completed my Top Ten Movie Countdown, it's time for my TOP FIVE ALL TIME FAVORITE FILMS: 

The Terminator -

Though many would say that Terminator 2: Judgement Day is better, I've always believed that the first Terminator film was the best one. It's not only stunningly terrifying with amazing action sequences, but is also arguably the most beautiful love story ever written. 

The Fifth Element -
#1 it has Bruce Willis.
#2 it has has an amazing female bad-ass in Milla Jovovich.
#3 it has a terrific story full of action, adventure and romance.
#4 it has a blue opera singer.
And #5 it has Christ Tucker in his funniest role ever. Bzzzzz.

The Princess Bride -

This is one of those movies that defined childhood in the 80's. Everyone who's ever seen The Princess Bride loves it, whether its because they love Inigo Montoya, think "inconceivable" is a terrific word, like to rhyme "mean it" with "peanut", enjoy a lisping priest, laugh hysterically at Miracle Max and is bickering wife, or think Wesley and Buttercup are this generations' (much less tragic) Romeo and Juliet. 

Aliens -

Yet another movie with a female bad-ass at it's helm, watching Ellen Ripley go to town and massacre a hoard of aliens which protecting a spunky little girl named Newt may be one of the defining moments of my childhood. 

Die Hard -

The is without a doubt the best action film ever made. And the reason Bruce Willis is my hero. I'd argue that it's a Christmas Classic - and I certainly watch it every year for the Yuletide holiday. 

Halloween Bloghop and Road Trip Wednesday

As I looked around at some of my favorite blogs today I couldn't help but notice the plethora of Halloween posts . . . which reminded me that I had been remiss in my own Halloween related posts this October. So I thought I’d rectify this problem by participating (last minute) in TWO bloghops.

The first is YA Highway’s Road Trip Wednesday. It’s been a while since I've participated, but when I saw the topic for this week’s post, I couldn't resist: What's your favorite scary book or movie?

I must admit that I’m somewhat of a wimp when it comes to scary movies; I’m the one hiding under a blanket when the creepy parts happen. However, I do have fond memories of watching The Poltergeist with my parents when I was in 8^th grade. We watched it around Halloween time and it terrified me to no end. To this day I’m a little nervous around old-fashioned TVs and I can’t shake the fear that I’ll be suck into one.

Despite my anxiety when it comes to horror films, I’m a big fan of the classics thrillers – specifically Alfred Hitchcock’s. Movies like The Birds and Psycho keep me on the edge of my seat, eyes glued on the screen the entire time. He’s a real master of suspense and I love his creepy classics.

As for scary books, I’m going old-school Stephen King with this one. Probably the scariest book I’ve ever read it the 1977 classic The Shining. I watched the movie when I was in middle school and then decided, since I guess I just hadn’t quite terrified myself enough, that I’d read the book. And boy was I ever not able to sleep for a month. And this may sound crazy, but the book’s warning about room 217 terrified me so much that I have since made a solemn oath to never stay in room 217 (or 237 – thanks to the movie) at any hotel. Ever.

Some call me a wuss – I prefer to think of myself as appropriately wary of the supernatural . . .

The second bloghop is the aptly named Halloween Bloghop hosted by the amazing Jeremy Bates. If, like me, you’re only just stumbling upon this, check out the details here.

As I mentioned the other day, I’m a fan of the monster genre – therefore I have a quite extensive list of favorite monster books and movies to choose from. However, if I’m only able to pick one of each, then I think I have to go with Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Technically I’m cheating a bit with Buffy, since I’m actually referring to both the movie and the TV show created by Joss Whedon, but I figure it’s a day for tricks (and treats), so it’s okay. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was my absolute favorite show in middle school, and remains at the top of my list to this day. I love that she fights all manner of monsters and demons as well as vampires, and that she saves the world time and time again with the help of her “Scooby Gang”.

As for Frankenstein, I was greatly affected by it when I first read it in 9^th grade. Shelley’s masterpiece manages to be both darkly terrifying and somehow poignant at the same time. I can’t help but feel pity for Frankenstein’s monster, even as he commits atrocious acts of violence. I truly believe that it’s one of the best novels ever written.

Last but certainly not least, Halloween costumes! Though I usually do my own thing in terms of costumes, but this year my friends and I decided that we’d all go as superheroes together. I, of course, lobbied that we all go as Marvel characters, but we wound up with an unfortunate mixture of DC heroes as well. Still, we looked pretty awesome in our costumes and had a great time fighting crime . . . uh, celebrating the holiday at the Natural Science Museum’s epic party. It's always fun at the museum since people there are pertty serious when it comes to Halloween. The guest list reached nearly 4,000, all of whom were trying to top each other's costumes, so you can imagine how amazing some of them were. Definitely a night to remember. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!

All Hail Joss Whedon And The Avengers

Have you ever been in one of those situations where you've been waiting for a movie to come out for a long time . . . a movie you've followed from the moment the studio announced it was in pre-production, watching daily for sneak peeks, and reviews, director interviews, anything related to it . . . waiting for months on end for it to finally, FINALLY make its way into theaters. And then it does, and it SUCKS. Do you know that feeling?

Yeah, this was not one of those times.

I have to admit, as I arrived at the theater last weekend to see Marvel’s The Avengers, I was somewhat terrified. I’d been waiting to see this movie for years. I’d watched avidly as Marvel Cinematic Universe broke away from Marvel Studios to independently pursue a line of films leading up to The Avengers. It’s first release, Iron Man in 2008, far surpassed my expectations (which were somewhat low following the four preceding Marvel films, X-Men: The Last Stand, Ghost Rider, Spider-Man 3, and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer).

But this new Universe of films signified a fresh start Marvel superheroes. Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, even a revision of The Incredible Hulk (which, thankfully, made up for the utterly terrible Eric Banna version) – one after the other, they were all amazing, and shared an intertextuality that promised a planned future endgame.

For two years following Iron Man’s release I waited and watched, internet stalked and speculated with my friends. Only to find out in April 2010 that my idol – Joss Whedon himself – was going to write and direct The Avengers feature film. Joss-friggin-Whedon.

Which makes sense of course. The man is no stranger to heroes and villains – Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog is chalk full of them. Not to mention Buffy, a superheroine if there ever was one. And of course, Firefly. Captain Mal Reynolds and his crew are, in their own words, “big damn heroes”. And the coup de gras, Whedon’s own experience writing for Marvel. He wrote several issues of The Astonishing X-Men, one of the most recognizable and beloved superhero teams. He was clearly the ideal choice for this project, already several years in the making.

So after yet another two years of agonizing anticipation, it was with trepidation that I took my seat and waited for the movie to begin. I went into The Avengers with the highest of expectations, trying to prepare myself for the likely possibility that it wouldn’t be able to hold up to four years of anticipation. And I came out with my mind BLOWN.

It was AMAZING. Beyond amazing. It was phenomenal.

First of all, let me praise the acting. This film had some huge names attached to it, but you just never know how all their acting styles, not to mention the diverse characters they portray, will mesh on screen. But with talent like this, I needn't have worried. These actors made a rag-tag team of superheroes come together in a very realistic way. They  managed to cover the whole spectrum of human emotion, from lost and out-of-time (Chris Evans), to sarcastic (Robert Downey, Jr.). Having been a big fan of Edward Norton's performance in The Incredible Hulk, I was adamantly opposed to recasting Bruce Banner for The Avengers, but I have to admit that Mark Ruffalo did a great job stepping into this titular role. And as the newcomer to the Marvel team, Jeremy Renner was spectacular as Hawkeye. So spectacular that I forgot his lack of superpowers at times (hint, hint: please make a Hawkeye solo film). Scarlet Johansson killed it as Black Widow (she's sort of my new idol), and Samuel L. Jackson – the key holding the entire team together – was, in his usual fashion, awesome. Though I personally felt that Robert Downey, Jr. stole the movie, he certainly didn't run away with it. The entire team pulled off one collectively incredible performance. 

While I cannot say enough about the acting talent, Joss Whedon's incredible script could have made the world's worst actor seem brilliant. With an undertaking this massive, it would be easy to get lost in the battle and sacrifice characterization for action. But Whedon manages to put the internal struggles all six heroes first, turning the movie into a human interest piece as well as an explosive action film. As is the Whedon way, he also finds the perfect balance between gravity and humor, something which we've seen time and time again in his work. There were sad moments of self loathing and doubt, broken up by hilarious one-liners that had me literally rolling with laughter. And amazingly, he manages to subvert some of the standard action film clichés with a witty charm I can only describe as Whedon-esque. I won’t spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen the movie already, but for those of you who have, I’m referring of course, to the Hulk’s reaction to Loki’s attempt at a long, “I’m a god” speech. Hysterical.

At the end of the day, it was just a spectacular movie. And I cannot wait for the follow-ups. I know they're already getting started on Iron Man 3 (the first of Marvel's post-Avengers films), as well as Captain America 2 and Thor 2. I'd love to see Hawkeye and Black Widow in their own feature films (or even in one toegether), but I have my doubts as to whether that will ever come to fruition. But I'm already looking ahead to Avengers 2!

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE.

F is for The Fifth Element and Firefly: Favorites of Sci-Fi

When I was trying to come up with my topic for the letter “F”, I started thinking about my sci-fi favorites. And then I realized that not one, but TWO of my very favorite of favorites start with the letter “F”. Fortuitous, right?

Of course, I've already discussed them in past blog posts, so I thought instead I’d play a little show-and-tell with some of the best scenes highlighting why this movie and film are so amazing rather than repeat myself as I gush about how amazing Joss Whedon is. Or how much I love Nathan Fillion as Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds. Or my belief that Bruce Willis is the best action star in the known universe. Or how Zoe and Leeloo are Damsels OF Distress (see previous post here). Or . . .

The Fifth Element: 

New York cab driver Korben Dallas didn't mean to be a hero, but he just picked up the kind of fare that only comes along every five thousand years: A perfect beauty, a perfect being, a perfect weapon. Now, together, they must save the world.

My thoughts:

This was one of the first sci-fi movies I saw in the theaters (unfortunately many of my other favorites like The Terminator and Aliens left the big screen before I was old enough to see them). I remember being mesmerized by the futuristic scenes, laughing like a lunatic at every Chris Tucker scene, and falling a little bit in love with Bruce Willis as Korben Dallas. This movie has it all - love stories, awesome action sequences, crazy side characters, a terrifying villain, and even a blue opera singer. Check it out!

"Diva's Opera" clip

"Sending in someone to negotiate" clip

"Count to ten" clip

Joss Whedon's Firefly: 

A brilliant space-western set five hundred years in the future, the crew if the Firefly-class spaceship Serenity will take any job, legal or illegal, to keep fuel in the tanks and food on the table. Things get complicated after they take on a passenger wanted by the new totalitarian regime and find themselves on the run, desperate to steer clear of Alliance ships and the flesh-eating Reavers who live on the fringes of space.  

My thoughts:

Though just about everything pertaining to this show is brilliant, I have to say it was the chemistry between the cast that really made this show really special. Well, that and Whedon's hysterical dialogue (see clips below). This show was a brilliant combination between old world and new, hilarity and tragedy. A definite must see.  

Wash - "I shall call it This Land" clip

Zoe and Mal: "Big Darn Heroes" clip

Mal: "Mark of a great man" clip

Zoe and Mal: "First Rule of Battle" clip

Simon and Mal: "Kill me in my sleep" clip

So there you have it, two of my all-time favorite sci-fi movies/shows. I hope these clips give those of you who have never seen The Fifth Element and Firefly a better understanding why I hold them in such high regard. And for those of you who are already fans . . . well, I hope you enjoyed the show. There were a bunch of other clips I wanted to add, but unfortunately this post was already too long. 
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This post is part of the Blogging A through Z Challenge 2012. My theme is (in case you didn’t already guess) science fiction. Stay tuned for the rest of the alphabet, and if you’d like to check in on the rest of the participants, simply click here. 

One-Season Wonders

The other night I was watching one of my all-time favorite TV shows – Joss Whedon’s Firefly – and wished that it had lasted longer than one season. Of course, after the public outcry following its cancellation, Whedon wrote and directed the companion film Serenity, but even it left so many questions unanswered.

This got me thinking about all the shows I’ve loved that were cancelled too quickly and left us with unfinished plots. Over the years, I’ve fallen in love with many, MANY shows that lasted no more than a year, some even taken off-air before the season completed. And so I’ve compiled a list of . . .

My Favorite One-Season Wonders:

Firefly (2002)– 

A brilliant space-western set in the distant future set five hundred years in the future, the crew of the Firefly-class spaceship Serenity will take any job, legal or illegal, to keep fuel in the tanks and food on the table. Things get complicated after they take on a passenger wanted by the new totalitarian Alliance regime and find themselves on the run, desperate to steer clear of Alliance ships and the flesh-eating Reavers who live on the fringes of space.

EZ Streets (1996) – 

Set in an unnamed, broken-down city somewhere near the Canadian border, this moody, film-noiresque tale follows undercover cop Cameron Quinn, who is accused of corruption after his partner is gunned down and $10,000 turns up missing, as he goes up against the gangs and crime-bosses running the streets. It’s dark and gritty, with a brilliant soundtrack, and though it’s not hard to see why its gloomy plot beaten down characters didn’t appeal to the average viewer, EZ Streets is one of the most brilliant shows I’ve ever seen.

Pasadena (2001) – 

This dark tale follows the youngest daughter of the most powerful family in the upscale Southern California enclave of Pasadena after she witnesses a stranger's apparent suicide and begins and investigation into her family's long-buried secrets. Cover-ups, familial greed and murder, this show revealed the darkest side of one of America’s oldest and wealthiest families.

Moonlight (2007) – 

Moonlight tells the tale of a fifty-year-old vampire turned private investigator who falls for a beautiful young reporter who’s mysteriously connected to his past. Together they solve crimes and do everything they can to keep his secret from coming to light. Considering the popularity of vampires these days I’m surprised this series didn’t last longer, but it’s gothic-esque characters and sinister plots made for great television.

Point Pleasant (2005) – 

A series of supernatural events begin in the small coastal town of Point Pleasant, New Jersey after the arrival of a mysterious teenage girl whom apparently has ability to make people and events act on her behalf. While this show erred a little on the side of teen-drama, it made up for it with a dark and demonic story-line that kept me hooked. This is one of the few shows I’m glad ended with only one season . . . not because it wasn’t interesting, but because the ambiguous ended adds to the ominous nature of the story.

Freaks and Geeks (1999) – 

This show revolves around two unique groups of teenagers – the freaks and the geeks – as they deal with life in high school during the 80's. Freaks and Geeks is a corky show that is highly praised for its less idealized and more accurate look the life of high school students who chose a more . . . alternative lifestyle. Though this show only lasted a season, its popularity continues to grow (belatedly) and holds cult-classic status.  

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006) – 

One of Aaron Sorkin’s lesser-known shows, this series takes place behind the scenes of a live sketch comedy show (similar to SNL) on the fictional television network NBS, and follows the shows’ two best-friend executive producers. I loved the show’s self-deprecating humor and the chemistry between the two main characters (as well as the rest of the show’s cast).

Mercy (2009) – 

A medical drama set in New Jersey, Mercy centers around the life of nurse Veronica Callahan after she returns from Iraq and deals with PTSD, a love triangle, and a single-minded devotion to her patients. Though it could be confused with other medical shows (like Grey’s Anatomy, which I always found a little melodramatic), somehow the characters made it different and unique.

The Black Donnellys (2007) – 

Doom hangs over the heads of the Donnelly brothers, four troubled young Irish-Americans caught between the Irish and Italian mobs in New York’s Hells Kitchen.  Its stark feel always reminded me a great deal of EZ Streets . . . probably because, as I found out recently, they were both written and created by Paul Haggis (best known for Crash and Casino Royale).

Justice (2006) – 

A little known legal drama, Justice revolves around a powerful Los Angeles law firm handles high-profile, media-circus cases. I think what I always liked best about this show was that at the end of every episode they reveal the events leading up to the each trial and whether the client was really innocent or guilty.  

Life (2007) – 

An off-beat police-drama, Life revolves around a falsely accused (and newly acquitted) former cop as he returns to the police force after serving twelve years in prison, with a tough new partner and a determination to find out who set him up. This is the only show on this list that made it to a second season. However, it was too good not to mention, and like the others, deserved to last longer. It’s like no other show I’ve ever seen.

Warning: Many of these shows were AMAZING, but never reached completion. Watch at your own discretion.