Most top film lists, such as AFI's list of 100 Greatest Movies, are heavily skewed to older movies such as Citizen Kane and It's a Wonderful Life, whiMost top film lists, such as AFI's list of 100 Greatest Movies, are heavily skewed to older movies such as Citizen Kane and It's a Wonderful Life, which kills my interest in them. As a self-styled modern film buff, I was thrilled to see this "bucket list" focusing solely on the last fifteen years, especially since it was written by a reviewer whose videos I greatly enjoy.
While our tastes don't completely line up -- I can't stand Signs for example -- I understand and appreciate basically every entry on the list, and I've seen thirty-six of the fifty films on it. There is definitely some bias to the list, with true comedies being nearly absent from the list, along with a certain non-flashy subset of dramas such as Milk and Spotlight. The list favors style and innovation over other aspects of film making, but I am willing to accept that slant considering the quality of the films present on the list and the care he took in explaining each choice, which shows how much he truly loves film.
I'm listing the fourteen films I haven't seen from the list below (in chronological order, just like the novel's list) to remind myself which of the films on the "bucket list" I still need to watch: American Psycho, Cache, Zodiac, There Will Be Blood, Trick 'r Treat, (500) Days of Summer, Snowpiercer, Prisoners, Enemy, Under the Skin, The Babadook, Birdman, Whiplash, When Marnie Was There....more
An interesting point-of-view on the gun control controversy, as Stephen King once authored a book, Rage, that inspired multiple high-school shooting iAn interesting point-of-view on the gun control controversy, as Stephen King once authored a book, Rage, that inspired multiple high-school shooting incidents. King also happens to lean left, but owns three handguns himself, so his perspective pulls from both sides, although he is clearly in favor of Obama's reform proposals. He is also hyper-aware of the counter-arguments and grandstanding taking place all over, and often instead of, this debate.
At the very least, this essay will hopefully create some genuine dialogue -- and not just rhetoric -- about one of the more important issues currently facing this country and its citizens.
The essay is available for 99c as a Kindle Single here, with proceeds going to victims of gun violence. As an aside, it says very specifically that King's proceeds are going to charity, making me wonder if Amazon's are not. I hope that is not the case; having Amazon profit from this in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy would really be shameless....more
To date, I have only read the first two essays -- the first on the author's experiences playing youth tennis in rural Illinois, and the second on the To date, I have only read the first two essays -- the first on the author's experiences playing youth tennis in rural Illinois, and the second on the culture of television watching in America. In reading them, I was immediately struck by the author's brilliance. But brilliance and accessibility do not go hand-in-hand in this essay collection, as the essays were slow, difficult reads. I will echo my review of Maps and Legends by saying that "my only issue... is that his writing is occasionally obtuse, using unnecessarily complex language where simpler terms will do."...more
Chabon waxes poetic on many topics, including -- but not limited to -- the short story, the edges of maps as places of wonder and exploration, SherlocChabon waxes poetic on many topics, including -- but not limited to -- the short story, the edges of maps as places of wonder and exploration, Sherlock Holmes, Loki, the His Dark Materials trilogy, comic books, American Flagg!, Volume 1, The Road, and ghost stories. The main theme of most of the essays revolves around the concept of the "borderland" between genre fiction and literary fiction, a topic which Lev Grossman recently touched upon here.
My only issue with Chabon is that his writing is occasionally obtuse, using unnecessarily complex language where simpler terms will do. For example, was the word colophon really necessary in the following sentence?
Instead travel proceeds on foot, by boat, or by that colophon of alternate-world fiction ... the grand zeppelin liner.
I received a copy of this to review for Extrapolation. Below is an excerpt of my review, which was published in Issue 54.1:
The Philosophy of Joss Whedon, which was published before the releases of The Avengers and The Cabin in the Woods, features thirteen essays that focus mostly on Whedon's post-Buffy television period, as the introduction notes "there already exist various scholarly books about Buffy." The issue of saturation does not stop the contributing authors from focusing on the 'Verse that comprises Firefly and Serenity -- which is also a well covered scholarly topic in speculative fiction -- in more than half of the essays. Despite the heavy-handed focus of Firefly, there are essays highlighting each of his works, from 'Dollhouse and Consensual Slavery,' to "'Look What Free Will Has Gotten You' / Isolation, Individuality, and Choice in Angel," and even nods to Pixar's Toy Story, the screenplay for which Whedon co-wrote...
The introduction to The Philosophy of Joss Whedon claims it is for "Scoobies, Champions, Browncoats, and Echo-inspired former Dolls only," and while this is true, this volume is also only for serious scholars of those topics, as it is not, for the most part, written in a way to include a wider audience. Further, even scholarly readers should watch -- or, more likely, rewatch -- Joss Whedon's canon before reading it, as the essays, at many points, deconstruct the Whedonverse to a near-atomic level.
I got daily snippets of this book emailed to me from DailyLit. It was a double-edged sword -- I loved that I was able to read them in the time it takeI got daily snippets of this book emailed to me from DailyLit. It was a double-edged sword -- I loved that I was able to read them in the time it takes to read an email, but hated how they only scratched the surface of some really interesting topics. Of course, the topics were also hit and miss....more
The highlight of this collection of essays, for me, was Blues for America. One of my favorite Vonnegut quotes is found there: "I am of course notoriouThe highlight of this collection of essays, for me, was Blues for America. One of my favorite Vonnegut quotes is found there: "I am of course notoriously hooked on cigarettes. I keep hoping the things will kill me. A fire at one end and a fool at the other."...more
I really enjoyed this series of essays by Chuck Klosterman. I read it right after reading Denis Leary's "Why We Suck", and I found it funnier and moreI really enjoyed this series of essays by Chuck Klosterman. I read it right after reading Denis Leary's "Why We Suck", and I found it funnier and more insightful. Maybe its just what I'm comparing it against...
Unfortunately, the first essay is the best, so it sets high expectations that it can't live up to throughout. In between each essay is also a short interlude, the one with the 23 theoretical questions is quite interesting, and definitely a good conversation starter....more
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