Hey there. These are my considered thoughts for the New Year's episode of Doctor Who, Resolution and some comments on the entire series. The emotional arc featuring the resolution between father and son was satisfying in an unexpectedly welcome way. I almost wish there was more to it than Graeme's clever and sensitive chats. In … Continue reading Doctor Who: End Times
Myth
Promethean Avengers
"To survive, you must tell stories." - The Island of the Day Before How can I attempt to ruin examine a 10-year-old film franchise? By adding a pinch of psychology, a dose of myth making, and then admixing a teaspoon of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. More importantly, by using the works of Umberto Eco to prove my … Continue reading Promethean Avengers
Writing the dark side
In a writing group a member explained she had been criticised by a teacher for creative writing which featured a bleak theme. She was told no one reads dark stories. This is clearly wrong. I think her teacher meant "I don't read bleak stories." Of course our group came up with examples that contradicted her … Continue reading Writing the dark side
Review: Lincoln + myth making
I've had a fascination with myth and myth making and recently watching Lincoln (2012) directed by Steven Spielberg, got me thinking about it again. If the United States has succeeded at one thing, it has succeeded in the mythologisation of its history, even to the point where those myths are exported to the rest of … Continue reading Review: Lincoln + myth making
Going into battle for The Battle of the Five Armies
I understand the flaws film critics see in The Battle of the Five Armies and I don't care. Warning: Spoilers. Look, I've got the cred, studied film theory, read John Berger's Ways of Seeing and stuff by Laura Mulvey. I understand the story mechanics of well constructed film. And I can comfortably forget everything I ever learned … Continue reading Going into battle for The Battle of the Five Armies
Writing the Heroes of Sunny Hollow
So Sleepy Hollow is the west coast's Sunnydale. There is a female lead. So far so yay. Also it is a familiar supernatural tale of how a well read university educated British dude is the Watcher and he how is constantly shocked by the bizarre goings on of young modern Americans, while looking after two Slayers. … Continue reading Writing the Heroes of Sunny Hollow
Dr Who: Book Ends
Steven Moffat. So very, very clever. He made Dr Who into a fairy story or, if you like, a myth, but not about the ever-continuing adventures of a mad man with a box, no. It’s a parable about writing, which is a metaphor about life and memory. At the end of this latest series or … Continue reading Dr Who: Book Ends
Devolution of Promethean Proportions
I’ve had a very Promethean weekend. I saw Prometheus and also an encore screening of the NT Live Production of Frankenstein: A Modern Prometheus starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Frankenstein and Johnny Lee Miller as the Creature. Firstly, the film: I badly wanted to love it. And there are bits I did. Michael Fassbender as a … Continue reading Devolution of Promethean Proportions
Springes to Catch Woodcocks: first ideas about Cabin in the Woods
So I saw Cabin in the Woods. I was duly horrified. Not as horrified as the woman who kept screaming in the row behind me, but I left the cinema with mouth agape, slightly deaf from the screaming, but also thinking THAT is how you do it. Appalled. You know how Revenge feels like a … Continue reading Springes to Catch Woodcocks: first ideas about Cabin in the Woods
Dr Who: it’s all in the name
So now a couple of hints from Matt Smith, plus a few recent headlines means Mr Smith is leaving Dr Who. We'll see. I took a while to warm to Smith's interpretation, he was a bit too...slapstick for me. The Doctor is an alien, sure, but he doesn't need added layers of weird. He is not … Continue reading Dr Who: it’s all in the name
Writing Bec 