September 2011 – Page 2 – Blue Ink Alchemy

Month: September 2011 (page 2 of 5)

IT CAME FROM NETFLIX! The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

[audio:http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/uploads/buckaroo_banzai.mp3]

We call them Renaissance men, polymaths or omnidisciplinarians. The last two are more friendly for people of all genders who dabble with success in multiple fields of interest, but one of the first was Leonard da Vinci. Benjamin Franklin is another, but neither he nor da Vinci ever developed supersonic cars, practiced neurosurgery or battled evil space aliens. That we know of. For confirmed antics of that sort, we must turn to a lesser-known but quite impressive polymath by the name of Buckaroo Banzai. In 1984 a docu-drama following an adventure of his was released, sub-titled Across the 8th Dimension. Sure, it may seem like a mash-up sci-fi adventure parody, but I’m sure it’s just as much based on a true story as most things Hollywood slaps that label on these days.

Dr Banzai began his adult life as a neurosurgeon, but a brilliant career in medicine felt too boring to him, so he took up super-science and crime-fighting as well as a rock career. His latest invention, the Jet Car, is supplemented by a tiny device of secret origin called the Oscillation Overthruster, which means the car not only achieves supersonic speeds but also drives through solid matter. The Overthruster was first tested in 1938, an incident that not only failed but lead to the possession of one of its inventors by the evil overlord of an alien race called the Red Lectroids. Thirsty for conquest but ill-equipped, the Red Lectroids were defeated by their peace-loving cousins the Black Lectroids and banished to the 8th dimension, which Buckaroo just drove through. Instead of citing him for speeding, the Red Lectroids try to get their paws on the Overthruster to free the bulk of their forces, which puts them in direct opposition of Buckaroo Banzai and his Hong Kong Cavaliers. Let’s just hope they save the world in time for their gig in Atlantic City.

If you think this premise sounds a bit silly on paper, you’re not far from the truth. In addition to the special effects and music that place this chronologically smack in the middle of “the big 80s,” the do-nothing-wrong Buckaroo may seem a bit stale for some, even verging into author or audience projection. Most of the special effects budget appears to have been spent on the Jet Car and the facial appliances for the various Lectroids, as the miniature work for the spacecraft we see is laughable even by the standards of Star Wars before Lucas started messing around with it. The movie certainly isn’t going to be blowing your mind with clever narrative construction or even that many interesting characters.

What a guy.

Then again, neither did Flash Gordon or Total Recall. Buckaroo’s story has got its tongue firmly wedged in its cheek, and the smiles that pass between the Hong Kong Cavaliers are pretty infectious. Like any good parody, the movie is in on its jokes and knows it shouldn’t be taken too seriously. It’s one of those times where the MST3K mantra comes in handy. Unlike some other parodies, though, Buckaroo Banzai doesn’t go so far as to address or even acknowledge the fourth wall. The film is, for better or for worse, mostly concerned about doing its own thing.

In fact, that’s one of the biggest selling points for this admittedly silly and campy flick: it’s original. It’s indicative of a time where filmmakers, actors and special effects houses were keenly interested in trying something new and different. In this case, the goal was to create a character that harkened back to the pulp adventures of two-fisted yet erudite men of action like Doc Savage while including elements of super-science of the nuclear age. While Buckaroo’s polymath portfolio does verge on the ridiculous at times, the way in which he’s presented seems more along the lines of Ace Rimmer from Red Dwarf than any straighfoward Mary Sue type. You may scoff at his ability to pull hitherto unknown devices and parachutes out of his ass, but you can’t help but like the guy. He can’t spend too much time thinking about how great he is, dammit, there’s a world to save!

“VAT DO YOO MEEN ZEY DUN LIKE ZE MOVEE?”

In the end, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension is harmless, campy and very unique fun. I can’t say every modern viewer is going to tolerate some of its dated effects and conventions, as it was created before ironic artistic expression was as huge as it is, but it’s certainly not looking to be taken seriously as art or make a lasting impression on genre fiction. There are quite a few mainstay actors from the fringes of the cinema present, from Peter Weller’s aw-shucks Banzai to John Lithgow’s extremely insane evil overlord, from Clancy Brown’s warm and friendly cowboy to Christopher Lloyd’s acerbic nefarious crony. It won’t be the best science fiction, action/adventure or comedic spoof you’ve ever seen, but I can pretty much gurantee that when you watch Buckaroo Banzai, you’ll agree that you’ve never seen anything quite like it. And in a world of derivative spin-off cash-ins and adaptations ranging from reasonably faithful to face-palmingly atrocious, that’s absolutely nothing to sneeze at. Give it a try, and remember… no matter where you go, there you are.

“Sir, I’m going to have to write you a ticket for breaking both the sound and dimensional barriers…
…and for not making the Jet Car out of something more aerodynamic.”

Book Review: The Hunger Games

September 22, 2011 / BlueInkAlchemist / 1 Comment

On our final trip to the local Borders book store, my wife and I picked up a few things, such as Earth: The Book, which is every bit as hilarious as you can imagine, and the first collection of the Path of the Planeswalker mini-comics based on Magic: the Gathering. On something of a whim, I also picked up the first novel in a trilogy penned by Susanne Collins called The Hunger Games. As I’m aiming one of my novels squarely for the upper end of the young adult audience, I figured it would be good for me to know what I’m up against.

Finishing this book has convinced me I need to step up my game.

“May the odds be ever in your favor.”

The Hunger Games opens with a bleak picture of our future. After some North American catastrophe that is merely hinted at, we are introduced to the nation of Panem, a glimmering but austere Capitol surrounded by twelve specialized and somewhat downtrodden Districts. Our heroine, Katniss Everdeen, hails from the coal mining District 12, where she and her friend Gale must hunt in the forests (illegally) for food and supplies their families wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise. At sixteen, Katniss has spent most of her adolescence signed up for the Hunger Games, where two children conscripted from each District fight to the death for the honor of bringing home wealth, food and prestige. When Katniss’ little sister’s name is drawn for this years Games, Katniss volunteers in her stead. What happens next goes far beyond the needs of Katniss’ family and opens up a greater world of danger, intrigue, romance and adventure.

Suzanne Collins clearly has a plan that extends beyond this book. As the first part of a trilogy, The Hunger Games must set up the characters, locations, events and themes to service the entire overall story. However, at no point does the book feel dry or overly expository. The perspective of Katniss both allows for the introduction of the necessary elements mentioned and keeps us firmly in the narrative of the story at hand. It’s a fantastic example of characterization and plotting woven together to create a coherent first act that manages to stand alone.

Speaking of characters, Collins also does a wonderful job fleshing out the people of Panem. Katniss as a heroine is at once strong and vulnerable, intelligent and naive. She feels, talks and reacts like a real person, with palpable confusion in some moments and grim resolution in others. Her fellow tribute from District 12, Peeta, shows a great deal of complexity as well, along with some of the adults involved and the tributes from other Districts. The entire enterprise from start to finish has all of the hallmarks of careful construction, not only creating this new world of a potential future but also giving readers a reason to care about it.

The sensationalism and spin doctoring of Panem surrounding the Hunger Games and the undercurrent of oppression and misery feels close to home. There are eerie similarities between the ways in which the Capitol interacts with its Districts and the rhetoric and attitude of certain elements in today’s world in general and the United States in particular. Between this similarity and the presentation of Katniss, Collins draws the reader in and refuses to let go, compelling each page to turn as the action unfolds. When the book is over, the readers is satisfied with the conclusion but left wanting more, which is exactly how any book should end, but especially when more are planned to come after it.

The Hunger Games is a wonderful book, deeply involving and a delight to read. And yet it’s only the first part of a greater narrative exercise. Subsequent books are poised to deliver more great characterization, a deeper exploration of the world of Panem, and more sleepless nights for the reader as they (that is, we) eagerly turn page after page. Good luck putting this one down.

If this is what the kids are reading these days, the work of aspiring novelists like myself has clearly been cut out for us.

There was a POST here. It’s gone now.

September 21, 2011 / BlueInkAlchemist / 0 Comments

Well, this is embarrassing.

In the midst of finishing The Hunger Games and getting ready for today’s interview, I forgot to write up a post for my usual noon release slot. Oops.

So! Review of Hunger Games tomorrow, and The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension for IT CAME FROM NETFLIX! on Friday.

Be there.

One Gamer’s Etiquette

September 20, 2011 / BlueInkAlchemist / 1 Comment

Not pictured: polite conversation.

I probably play more games than I should. It’s my dominant hobby, and I’ve had more than my fair share of good and bad experiences with it. There are times when I recall days when I was much worse than I am now, unable to think things through properly and, worse, ungracious with fellow players. I don’t shy away from competition and I feel an experience is better when shared, but it took some time to learn how to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat.

Quite a few gamers need to learn those lessons.

A team experience is a good one to have when it comes to games. Even if it’s a free-for-all environment, the shared nature of the game hightens the enjoyment for everyone involved. It’s why I enjoy Thursday nights up at Cyborg One so much: nobody’s there to prove they have the best deck, just that they have a cool one, and there’s so much more snarking, politicking and good-natured ribbing than around a draft or standard tournament table. Monobattles in StarCraft 2 are similar. Each player produces one type of unit, just one, and try to work their choices together into some form of strategy. Whether it works or not, it’s all in good fun and everybody has a fun time with it.

I feel more team experiences online should be like that.

However, some players take their games very seriously. More often than not I log into a Team Fortress 2 server and choose a class the team needs or where I feel I can help the most, only to be told how badly I suck and how I shouldn’t bother playing. Now, I understand that trash talk on the Internet has about as much bite to it as a septuagenarian with a bowl of oatmeal, but this usually comes from the team I happen to be on. It’s disheartening to say the least.

Maybe I’m being overly sensitive about it, but in my opinion it’s better to offer a tip than to condescend. “Try not to lose your healing target” is a more helpful comment than “You suck so hard at being a Medic you made your mom cry when I banged her last night.” It could be I’m simply logging into the wrong servers, and should be more discriminatory. It could also be that I shouldn’t pay attention to the ramblings of youngsters who do nothing but play these games.

However, I’ve had experiences like last night where I will leave a bad experience in one game behind to find a much better one in a different co-op game. After taking some stick in TF2 for not being an absolute baller at every class when outnumbered, I logged into Killing Floor and found a server where I could practice being a Field Medic on a vanilla map. It was night and day. You know you’re doing something right when not only does a player say what a great time they’re having and how well the team is working together, they specifically call out that the biggest baddies should be kept away from you because you’re keeping everybody alive.

I open every StarCraft 2 ladder match with “gl hf” – Good luck, have fun. Most of the time I’m echoed or get some form of positive response. But occasionally, I’ll get a reply that would be classified as “bm” – bad manners – in the form of derision, dismissal or homophobic epithets. I find myself wondering why such antics are deemed necessary. It’s probably funny to some, and my aversion to it can probably be construed as being overly sensitive, taking the game too seriously or something along those lines.

But that’s the way I feel about it. Good manners are not that difficult. And when you put them into practice, you make the gaming experience better for everybody involved. Unless the other player is utterly committed to calling every opponent they meet a talentless fag.