Controversy on the Ulysses, as Rob confesses a sneaking admiration for David Fincher’s bleak take on the Alien franchise. Can Clive talk him back to his senses, or does our noble astrogator have a point?
One thing’s for sure: this time, it’s personal.
I tend not to talk about The Day Job on X&HT. I’m always aware of the potential downfalls of letting things slip about the paid gig, particularly if things aren’t going so well. But for once, I’ve had a couple of bits of good news, so I figured I should share them with you.
(Also, of course, yr. humble author is aware that the blog has been of late little more than a shop front for The A To Z Of SFF. Will work on trying to retweak the balance, honest guv).
First up, there’s been news of a rediscovered piece of cinematic history, as a 1928 short, “Sleigh Bells”, featuring Oswald the Rabbit has been unearthed by the BFI. What’s the big deal? Well, Oswald is the precursor to a certain famous cartoon mouse. You know the one. Red shorts. Ears that point the same way no matter which way his head’s pointing.
The 4K scans on this bit of 16mm print that some sharp-eyed researcher dug up from the vaults was carried out by yours truly. To give you an idea of the sort of resolution I was working at, 4K is normally the preserve of the biggest of big-budget blockbusters. It’s a slow process, which has to take place at a glacial six frames per second. However, the end result is good enough to be projected in cinemas–which is exactly what’s happening this Christmas. It will be screened on 12th December as part of a programme of Disney shorts at the BFI Southbank. It’s something of a big deal, and I’m pleased and proud to have been involved in the project.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34711495
Meanwhile, documentarian Chris Barnett interviewed me as part of his MA for a short film he’s making on the subject of colour. We chatted in the bowels of Bristol University’s Film Department, amongst old clip bins and Steenbeck film editing flatbeds. I don’t often sit on the other side of the camera, and wasn’t convinced that I was doing that well. Chris, however, seemed happy enough, to the point where he restarted the cameras after the end of the shoot to catch some more of my stream-of-consciousness ramblings.
Here, see what you think.
There’s more of the interviews that Chris shot for his project on his site, The Dark Art Of Light. I recommend it if you want more insight into the strange world in which I make a living. Oh, and kudos to him for getting a distinction in his MA. I’m sure it was down to me…
Finally, I was floored to find out that my interview was featured as the opening link on this week’s Tao Of Color newsletter, which goes out to the colourist community every week. Humbled, flattered, and frankly a little scared now.
There, enough bragging for one week, don’t you think?
The Grandmaster of Science Fiction. Not just prolific but absurdly talented, Brian Aldiss is a Great British Author in every sense of the word. Rob and Clive celebrate the man and his work: not just as writer, but editor, artist and advocate for SF in all its forms.
If his work is good enough for Kubrick and Spielberg, it’s good enough for us!
Here’s a look at the film version of his deeply odd conjoined-twin punk opera, Brothers Of The Head. A strange and very English piece of work.
Time travel, skeleton warriors, heroic fantasy tropes upended and shaken till the lint drops out of their pockets… of course the film also known as Evil Dead 3 fits into our bailiwick!
Join Rob, Clive and CycloMedia as they tease out what makes Army Of Darkness such a great movie for Halloween. Because when you’re travelling the universe at trans-luminal speeds, it’s always October 31st somewhere…
Outer space is all well and good, but all the cool kids know that inner space is where it’s at. Rob and Clive take a look at the Ken Russell adaptation of Paddy Cheyefsky’s Altered States, and come to the conclusion that the greatest discovery of all is the ability to love…
Here’s a taste of the wild visual invention at play in Altered States. In this scene, Professor Eddie Jessop takes native hallucinatory agents in a field trip to South America. The resulting trip is… unsettling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_y9eRzk_Oc
Who doesn’t love a giant monster movie? Rob and Clive certainly do. Factor in a storming script from the mighty John Sayles, sturdy direction from Lewis Teague and a 36 foot long alligator called Ramon, and you know you’re in for a treat.
This one’s got bite.
Lookee! The whole thing’s on the galactic hyperTube!
Cult classic? Unwatchable mess? Both? After a week struggling through an asteroid storm, there’s no rest for Rob and Clive. CycloMedia throws them straight back into the fray, demanding an overview of a film that doesn’t so much polarise opinion as tear it into little bits and throw them off a cliff.
Strap in, team-mates. We’re firing up the oscillation overthruster on this one.
The story that broke Michael Crichton is a taut, sharp and intelligent bit of science-fiction. Unless you watch the badly-misjudged TV mini-series. Settle down and enjoy Clive’s epic rant on the AMAAAAZING climax that will have you looking at thumbs in a whole new way…
A stone classic from Rob, Clive and CycloMedia. With two different versions to choose from, what will our hapless crew make of the proto-feminist classic, Attack Of The 50 Ft Woman?
Those of you with a giantess fetish, front and centre, please…
A look at the directorial debut of Joe Cornish (sort of Ant-Man co-writer): the alien-siege hoodie-centric action-comedy Attack The Block.
This is one on which Rob and Clive have to disagree. But can they come to a conclusion that will satisfy CycloMedia?
EXCUSES AND HALF TRUTHS 