Writing About Something

Journalism So Called

2010-02-22T08:49:00.001-05:00

Read this first:

http://www.cwa.org/cbsnews-response.htm

Now even if CWA did pay off the father, and this was a legitment story, CBS should have covered both sides. Then, when it turns out that the CWA would have no reason to pay a parent, it seems absurd in the extreme that CBS wouldn't run a five minute retraction. They should devote an hour show to the good that CWA is doing around the world.

This makes me wonder why the 'major' news networks continue to loose ratings.
The only good thing about this, is very few people actually saw the story.
Even fewer will see the next one.

Transformers 2 or The Fallen Falls Down

2009-06-24T09:04:00.003-04:00

I wanted this movie to be good.

I loved the first one. I bought a ticket to the sequel to see giant robots beat the snot out of each other. In that one respect the movie delivers, and delivers well. I found out though, as the movie drug on, that I wanted more than just action. It is there that Revenge fails, and fails miserably.

One contrivance after another leads us along a poorly constructed excuse for a 'plot'. This plot's only purpose it seems is to generate another action shot. I know giant robots that can transform into vehicles are not believable, but at least give me something to suspend my disbelief from. Other movies lately have down this quite well: Star Trek, both of the Nolen Batman movies, Spiderman 1&2, and a few others.

Visually this movie is stunning. As with the first Transformers, the robots were so ‘lifelike’ that there was never a moment that looked wrong. Seeing Optimus take on three decepticons at once with blade-arms was amazing. The movie could have ended there, and may have even saved itself.

There were other nitpicks that really ended up bugging me. Like, when Optimus transforms early in the film it takes about twenty or thirty seconds, but ever after, transformations take so little time as to seem instantaneous. Why do the transformers have such horrible lines? Why do they speak with horrible accents?

In the end, this movie succumbed to the sequel stumble that has tripped up so many other potentially great franchises. I couldn’t help but think of Pirates 2 or Matrix Reloaded almost the entire time the movie was playing.

Warbreaker

2009-06-10T08:17:00.002-04:00

Brandon Sanderson's newest, Warbreaker, is out this week. Anyone interested in seeing how Sanderson handles the fantasy genre before the next Wheel of Time book should check it out. This is a great read and, I think, Sanderson’s best so far. You can actually read it for free. Check out his release article here.

Having read most of his work now, I’m intrigued to see how he approaches WoT. Sanderson has stated, on more than one occasion, that he does not want to imitate Jordan. But he also acknowledged that his prose needed to be more descriptive for the series. And while his books, especially the Final Empire series, have a good size cast of characters, their nothing compared to the manifold denizens of Randland.

Wheel of Time Book 12

2009-05-16T22:29:00.003-04:00

For anyone who hadn't heard, WoT is now extending into 14 books. Sanderson couldn't wrap it all up in one volume (I never thought it would happen anyway.) That's not what this post is about though. Take a journey over to Dragonmount and check out the 'art work' for book twelve.

They've said that they (team Jordan) wanted to stick with DK Sweet for all the US covers. I would think that would earn a little more effort from the artist for the loyalty. But alas, we got another steaming pile for a cover. Randland has run into a lot of artwork problems over the years. Anyone remember, the Guide to the Wheel of Time? There may have been a decent picture in there, but I haven't found it yet.

Really, who picks this stuff out?

I did hear that they plan on re-releasing the books upon completion of the series with new artwork for all of them. For now I may pay shipping and get the British version.

This Looks Different

2009-05-13T20:45:00.006-04:00

Am I lost?

No

Where am I?

Phil's new blog.

Where's that?

Here.

Oh. It's brown.

Yes, it sure is. Do you like it?

Not really, but at least it's something new.

..

For real, you changed color already?

Don't blame me, the post would only come up half the time. I had to do something.

Likely story. I'm going to bed.

..