Man... how the time flies. Here's the latest Trash Can Gold Mine, wherein yours truly discusses one of his favorite childhood movies and my new favorite toy.
Yes, I purchased two Kubrick's on eBay: Old Bob and Maximilian from Disney's The Black Hole. Those old timers in the crowd might remember the movie. It's one of my favorites because of the amazing music, the creepy "haunted spaceship" vibe, and the robots of course.
Showing posts with label the black hole. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the black hole. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
WIP Wednesday: The Black Hole of Suck
That's where I'm at right now.
My ideas suck. My writing sucks. The weather, while sunny, is cold as a well-digger's ass (or as my brother used to say: "a witches *** in an iron bra"--couldn't bring myself to type that three letter word for some reason).
My kids have been sick. I've been sick. My wife has been sick.
I've had a deluge of short-listed "no thanks" rejections this week. Ouch. Ouch! OUCH, already!
One would think I could channel this suck into a good story, right? My brain it seems, has decided to switch into "stop writing" mode. I had a number of delicious ideas for the pending novel last weekend...then *poof*
Okay, enough whining. This is the plan: write chapter one of The New BookTM; share the first part of "The Hustle" on Friday (A rather pulpy story which was orphaned when From the Asylum went belly-up.I don't have the desire to seek a new home for it...my loss = your gain).
I can do this.
Thanks for listening.
My ideas suck. My writing sucks. The weather, while sunny, is cold as a well-digger's ass (or as my brother used to say: "a witches *** in an iron bra"--couldn't bring myself to type that three letter word for some reason).
My kids have been sick. I've been sick. My wife has been sick.
I've had a deluge of short-listed "no thanks" rejections this week. Ouch. Ouch! OUCH, already!
One would think I could channel this suck into a good story, right? My brain it seems, has decided to switch into "stop writing" mode. I had a number of delicious ideas for the pending novel last weekend...then *poof*
Okay, enough whining. This is the plan: write chapter one of The New BookTM; share the first part of "The Hustle" on Friday (A rather pulpy story which was orphaned when From the Asylum went belly-up.I don't have the desire to seek a new home for it...my loss = your gain).
I can do this.
Thanks for listening.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Atmosphere for the Win!
I'm a sucker for good atmosphere in fiction and film. My love for Disney's clunky sci-fi snoozer, The Black Hole is predicated primarily on the power of the movie's atmosphere.
God knows the "science" is stoopid, not to mention the dime-store dialogue.
But wow. There is a moment when our heroes (a small band of American explorers on board the Palamino, a chubby hypodermic needle of a spacecraft) escape the pull of the black hole (right) only to cruise by the supposedly derelict hull of the Cygnus (a cathedral in space...spooky as hell). The Cygnus is dark, dead. Little V.I.N.C.E.N.T. (a robot) is clinging to the outside of the ship, the Palamino's searchlights rove over the grey hulk of the larger ship...chills. Really.
God knows the "science" is stoopid, not to mention the dime-store dialogue.
But wow. There is a moment when our heroes (a small band of American explorers on board the Palamino, a chubby hypodermic needle of a spacecraft) escape the pull of the black hole (right) only to cruise by the supposedly derelict hull of the Cygnus (a cathedral in space...spooky as hell). The Cygnus is dark, dead. Little V.I.N.C.E.N.T. (a robot) is clinging to the outside of the ship, the Palamino's searchlights rove over the grey hulk of the larger ship...chills. Really.
Embedding is disabled, but here is the link to the scene via YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ts-v6AHr38 (the creeps start at around 3:45 as the Palamino makes another pass on the Cygnus)
I'm that big of a sucker for atmosphere.
So much so, that when I write, sometimes I find myself lost in the atmosphere. The story...meh. Who needs a story when you have atmosphere?
I love old Hammer films for the same reason. And Roger Corman? Don't get me started. No one used the cheesy plastic skull with cobwebs and rubber spiders as well as Corman.
Am I destined to be lost to a world of pulp movies with spooky vibes? The thing is, in a book, atmosphere can be magnificent. I've just picked up this year's Stoker winner for best first novel, The Gentling Box by Lisa Mannetti. Wow. Atmosphere so thick I almost have to chisel my way out.
In a word: heaven. If you like your heaven in a dark, scary place.
I'm that big of a sucker for atmosphere.
So much so, that when I write, sometimes I find myself lost in the atmosphere. The story...meh. Who needs a story when you have atmosphere?
I love old Hammer films for the same reason. And Roger Corman? Don't get me started. No one used the cheesy plastic skull with cobwebs and rubber spiders as well as Corman.
Am I destined to be lost to a world of pulp movies with spooky vibes? The thing is, in a book, atmosphere can be magnificent. I've just picked up this year's Stoker winner for best first novel, The Gentling Box by Lisa Mannetti. Wow. Atmosphere so thick I almost have to chisel my way out.
In a word: heaven. If you like your heaven in a dark, scary place.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Favorite Movie Deaths: The Black Hole
Call me a cheese-monger, but one of my favorite films is The Black Hole. Yeah, it's a Disney movie (shudders). Yeah, some of the robots are goofy looking (V.I.N.C.E.N.T. anyone?). But it also has a kick-ass soundtrack (in my opinion, John Barry's finest work) and Maximilian, the big, red monster-robot.
Yeah. Maximillian is my favorite robot in all of film.
On to the death...
Once Dr. Alex Durant (Anthony Perkins) discovers the truth about Cygnus's crew (um, robo-zombies), and Maximilian turns on him with those spinning blades (think: garbage disposal), well that makes a nice on screen death. No blood needed. Max shreds Dr. Reinhardt's (his creator) notes in the process for a nice, symbolic and forshadowing moment as well. Later in the film, Max leaves Reinhardt for dead.
The Black Hole is dated. The script is stiff. The robots deliver the best acting. But despite these shortfalls, the movie is creepy, very creepy--a nice blend of gothic "haunted house" sensibilities and twisted technology.
And the look on Perkins's face as Dr. Durant's guts are rearranged by Maximilian...priceless.
Other favorite movie deaths?
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