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November 28, 2005

A Review of Walk the Line

by Fantastic Bastard

I went to see ,a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358273/">Walk the Line over the Holiday weekend. You need to go check it out. It's a damn good movie. It's about 2.5 hrs long but doesn't seem like it at all. It tells the story of Johnny and June very well. You really get a good idea of how shit went. I've read a lot about him and it was true to what I've read. There was also a lot that only the people around them knew about until now. Lots of stuff that was never written about. The real behind the scenes kinda stuff and I guess it al came from Cash, himself. The movie shows the evolution of the individuals very well also. I actually think that is the thing I liked the most about the movie. And the fact that Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon did all the singing is awesome. They both did a very good job. They both have the cadences of their respective characters down. He doesn't sound just like Johnny but he sings just like him, and the same for Reese, respective to June. You know I'm an avid fan and you know how critical I can be but I highly recommend it.

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November 20, 2005

A Quick Review of the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Film

by Joshua Minton

This is, by far, the best of the movies so far. This was my favorite of the novels so far so I had the highest expectations which were all sated.

There were several scenes which were tense and downright scary. From the fourth book on, the story becomes quite dark and the movie definitely earned the PG-13 rating. Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort was slam-dunk.

I would highly recommend the movie.

That being said, I do have one bone to pick and this won't mean anything to those of you that aren't fans. But in the book, it is Voldemort who casts the Avada Kedavra curse on Cedric Diggory and in the movie it is Wormtail who casts it, but Harry still tells Dumbledore that Voldemort killed Diggory. This is important because of the whole parents out of the wand deal.

So, its a small thing that doesn't really take away from the movie but it still sticks in the craw.
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November 4, 2005

Saying Goodbye to Michael Pillar, One of the Best Television Writers and Producers Ever!

by Joshua Minton

I was shocked and saddened to find out about Michael Pillar's death.

Pillar's work on Star Trek: The Next Generation and then later on The Dead Zone inspired me to write for television. One of the best things about Pillar's shows is that he encouraged amateur writers to submit their screenplays and many actually became working scripts, some of which were used to create actual television shows. I have always respected the man for opening up opportunities to writers outside of the unions and he should be recognized as a trendsetter for this.

Pilar's grand sense of story telling on a long-term serialized story-arc bases was amongst the best in the industry and we have lost a true American artist. His son Shawn will now have to take up the mantle and fill the enormous shoes his father has left behind.

My condolences and sadness at this enormous loss to the Pillar family. In the words of Junior Soprano, "What a fuggin' blow!"

I would appreciate any comments or memories of Mr. Pillar and his work.

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November 3, 2005

Your Six Feet Under Words of Wisdom for Today...

by Joshua Minton

Nathaniel: You can do anything you lucky bastard; you're alive!

(beat)

Nathaniel: What's a little pain compared to that?

David: It can't be that simple.

Nathaniel: What if it is?
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November 1, 2005

Why Star Wars is Still Not a Complete Mythology and Which Questions Need Answers to Complete It

by Joshua Minton

Here are the results of six fantastic movies:
  • Anakin was seduced by the Dark Side of the Force because he was lured into thinking he could develop a power that could keep his friends alive.

  • Yoda and the Jedi Knights were blinded by their own arrogance and allegiance to a political system that had long ago strayed from its democratic foundations.

  • Qui Gon Jinn, Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda develop the very ability for immortality that Anakin sold his soul to achieve, only to lose the very thing he sought so desperately to protect.

    • They use this ability to manifest themselves through the living Force to guide and train young Luke to confront (and convince) Darth Vader that there is still humanity inside him and, through his pity for his son's suffering, Anakin Skywalker returns and fulfills the prophecy by destroying the Emperor which results in his own death and the destruction of the Sith which brings balance to The Force.

    Great story, but it’s still not done.

    The total mythology of Star Wars is still a work in progress. Contrary to popular opinion among Star Wars fanatics that the story to come should continue forward from Return of the Jedi; rather the story that must be told in order for the saga to be complete is way farther back than just a long time ago in a galaxy far away.

    George Lucas has sprinkled new mysteries into Episodes I, II, and III that must be answered in order for the circle of the story to be mythologically complete. This can only mean more prequels…and more money and artistic opportunity to tell great and important stories that make our world a better place.


    The Widening Mythological Scope of the Star Wars Trilogies

    The original trilogy was a Hero’s Journey in the Campbellian sense where you have a frustrated young hero who hears the call to adventure, discovers a wise mentor who guides him in his training, and who ultimately confronts the source of evil, defeats it, and restores order to the world around them.

    With the second trilogy, the scope became wider to apply the negative heroic effect to Darth Vader who then becomes the tragic anti-hero. The anti-hero can only become successful through a violent overthrow in a situation brought about because of their own human weaknesses.

    I propose that a third trilogy or series of animation productions be made to widen the scope of the trilogies even further to encompass the entire cycle of the rise and fall of civilizations which still yields individual human connection with the divine despite being exposed to absolute evil and absolute good (sometimes wrapped up in one human mind which has given itself over absolutely to a limited system of thought and worship).


    Unanswered Questions

    The second and latest trilogy answered many questions from the first trilogy but also posed questions which must be answered in any third trilogy or animated series.

    1. Where did the prophecy of the one who would bring balance to The Force come from?
      • In order to answer this question, we must go back to the beginning of the myth of Star Wars and establish the foundational setting (which is thousands of years before the second trilogy takes place)

    2. How was the Republic founded?
      • What were the characters of the people who lived in the times of the creation of the Republic?

      • What were their desires and how did they change during these times?

      • Did the movement for individual freedom all start on one planet? If so, why that planet and not another?

    3. Who were the magnificent people who crafted lightsabers, the ultimate weapon of self defense, and took them up in defense of the liberty of their fellow citizens?
      • We must know how the Jedi order was established and shaped and how the Sith became their mortal enemies.

      • What were the circumstances under which the newly formed Republic chose the Jedi as protectors of the peace?

    4. What were heck were the Midichlorians and how did knowledge of their presence happen?

    5. There are tons of other avenues, nooks, and crannies to explore in the mythology with some true gems to uncover...

    The Force Wars

    The Force itself is ultimately the main character throughout the established episodes and by showing the birth of the knowledge of The Force, this true main character of the Star Wars universe will become clear and finally sew the mythological universe together in a golden thread that runs throughout all the past and future creations in the Star Wars universe.

    Because of recent public statements that George Lucas has made regarding the end of Star Wars with Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, I propose the new trilogy be titled The Force Wars. This trilogy should be something completely different than Star Wars—more intimate, more personal, but something which is still a part of that universe and holds up and supports Lucas’s Campbellian mythological standards. This would be an amazing opportunity for even higher levels of excellence in both ideas and products coming from Lucasfilm, Ltd.


    The Benefits of Retro Analysis by Future Generations of Star Wars Fans

    There is such a clear devotion by Star Wars fans to the concept of The Force as a spiritual guide that a trilogy based on further explaining the concept and origin of The Force and its integration into society will entice both the new audiences picked up with Episodes I, II, and III, as well as reclaiming those stubborn old fans who refused to embrace the first three episodes and the recent changes made to the original trilogy.

    The Force Wars would capture and captivate the minds of yet another generation of children. This would be a peculiar situation, however, because it would be the first time in human mythological history that the end of a story (complete in itself) was told before the middle (which further edifies the first trilogy but yet is still complete in itself) and the beginning trilogy (complete in itself) would further edify and completely wrap up the foundation of the first two trilogies. Both the first and last generations will consider themselves first to experience the total myth and this interlaced schism would be perhaps the most extraordinary social artistic phenomenon in the recorded history of mankind.

    If The Force Wars were ever to be made, the myth of Star Wars would truly begin with the next generation but at the same time would reach back two generations to the mid 70s to touch the hearts and minds of billions of human beings in a pan-generational wave of mythological inspiration.

    I cannot express to you how important I feel it is to the future of our species that this story be completed


    The Creative Services of Darth Minton

    Over a period of two weeks last year, I sat down and dove into the complete mythology of Star Wars in an attempt to see if there was any room to creatively take the story even further. It was during this brainstorming session that I came up with all these points that needed to be answered in order for Star Wars to be a completed mythology.

    But questions weren’t the only thing that came out of that process. I audaciously took it upon myself to come up with some interesting answers that could fuel another three movies or a long-term serial animation project.

    I ended up with a twelve-page synopsis and a couple dozen pages of outline and character bios. I even put It together into a nice presentational package that could be sent off to the masters of Lucasflim, Ltd.

    But getting in front of these masters is like being Frank Pentangeli waiting to see Michael Corleone in his Sierra compound. So, if anyone knows an awesome literary agent, one who can handle novels, non-fiction books, articles, film scripts, and television scripts; please e-mail me, send my name and blog link to them or, better yet, if anyone from Lucasfilm is scouring the Blogosphere (as rumor has it that they are) looking for raw and fresh talent, hit me up me and let's palaver.

    Thanks in advance for any help you can give me, Internet, and may The Force be with you.

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