Tag: ben
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REVIEW: Prometheus
My initial spoiler free thoughts after my first viewing of Prometheus: 1. Yes, I said “first viewing.” This is a movie that encourages multiple viewings. I do not know if I will go and see this in the theater again (maybe a dollar theater) but I do plan to watch it again. Possibly a couple…
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Episode 18 — “Once Upon a Grimm Time”
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSThe topic: fairy tales. They are everywhere right now, appearing on two of the major TV networks in prime time, in theaters, and, of course, in DVD collections and toy boxes around the world. So what is it about fairy tales that cause us to enjoy them and…
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Episode 15 — “Captain Kirk vs. Captain Picard — Round 1”
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSCaptain Kirk. Captain Picard. Two different eras of television. Two different eras of Star Trek. Two different command styles. Two different acting styles. Two different crews. Two different ships. Two different storylines. Two different hairlines. Two different waistlines. And for fans of science fiction, two different opinions. In…
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Fear #1 (COOL COMIC COVERS #4)
Cool Comic Covers is a weekly (almost) look back at some of the most interesting, intriguing, and engaging artwork in pop culture. This week: I don’t know why I love swamp monsters. It has something to do with the primal idea of the very earth or soil coming alive beneath you, perhaps. Or the idea of…
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“From Beyond the Unknown” #12 (COOL COMIC COVERS #3)
Cool Comic Covers is a weekly (almost) look back at some of the most interesting, intriguing, and engaging artwork in pop culture. This week: Cavemen on dinosaurs vs. fighter jets. Drawn by Joe Kubert! Does anything else need to be said? ~ Ben Previous Cool Comic Covers: #2 — “Action Comics” #419 #1 — “Weird Science-Fantasy” #27
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“Action Comics” #419 (COOL COMIC COVERS #2)
Cool Comic Covers is a weekly (almost) look back at some of the most interesting, intriguing, and engaging artwork in pop culture. This week: I’m not going to say too much about the covers that appear here. If I have some sort of historical tidbit to give, I may elaborate some. But often I’m just going…
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THOUGHT CLOUDS: Harlan Ellison’s Phoenix Without Ashes (Comic Review)
PHOENIX WITHOUT ASHES Harlan Ellison, writer; Alan Robinson, artist This review of a graphic novel starts with a review of a TV series from 1973, so bear with me. When I was but a lad, I went and saw Star Wars on the big screen and wanted more. On the small screen, in my very…
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“Weird Science-Fantasy” #27 (COOL COMIC COVERS #1)
Cool Comic Covers is a new series for the Strangers and Aliens blog. As listeners and readers know, Ben, Steve, and Dr. Jayce are all comic book fans. And comic book covers have some of the most interesting, intriguing, and engaging artwork in pop culture. This series will spotlight some of the comic book covers…
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2012 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Films — What Are YOU Looking Forward to?
Well, the studios have already dumped a couple big sci-fi/fantasy films on us, with movies like Chronicle (haven’t seen but want to), Ghost Rider (haven’t seen, probably will even though I have zero expectations to like it), John Carter (best box office flop of the decade), and Hunger Games (thoughts on the book and movie…
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SCI-FI/FANTASY FOR KIDS: The Secret World of Arrietty
My kids and I are huge fans of Studio Ghibli. I love almost everything that I have seen from them, and my kids adore My Neighbor Totoro and Ponyo. Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio. I would compare the studio to PIXAR, perhaps, and the primary force behind their output over the past decades…
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Episode 7 — “Sci-Fi Vs. Fantasy”
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSThe sci-fi guys are back. In this, the seventh episode of the podcast, they dive into the differences and similarities of the science fiction and fantasy as genres. Is it as simple as “swords” instead of “lasers”? What kinds of stories work better in one genre, rather than…
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If THIS Doesn’t Get You Excited about The Hobbit …
NOTHING will! Check out this image (from the LA Times): Obviously, all of us strangers and aliens are excited about this movie. Certain little things like this are just amping up the excitement. I’m wondering if we need to get some bad press about how awful this movie is to bring down our expectations! But…
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Star Wars Burgers
I’ve seen articles about this around the internet and I find it very, very interesting. And very, very disgusting. In anticipation of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace being re-released in theaters next month in 3D, a burger joint in France is making the experience even MORE interactive . . . but letting…