Nostalgia

Stephen King’s IT – Chapter 2 Review

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We’re back with more of the creepy clown Pennywise and the Losers Club kids who are now all grown up.  IT chapter 2 feels a bit disconnected to me with issues bringing the story to a solid close at certain points, but still has that creepy make you jump factor. Overall it has solid performances from the actors, but by no means out does it’s 2017 hit of chapter one.

With the constant flashbacks throughout the film, it gives a very broken feeling to the overall story and doesn’t have a smooth transition like chapter one.  The first half of IT chapter two rushes a bit as it introduces all the adults of the Losers Club.  Yes, all the kids are now adults, and they have come back to kill Pennywise once and for all!

rev-1-it2-12373r-high-res-jpeg_618304_20190906105210After you get introduced to all the adults of the Losers Club, the speed of the overall story slow down a ton and you get a flashback of the young Losers Club in a clubhouse scene that wasn’t part of the first film.  The young actors may only play smaller supporting roles in chapter two, but just like the first film, they did an absolutely amazing job!  Even though chapter two focuses on the adult Losers Club, the characters to me just didn’t have the same impact that the kids did in the previous film.

All of the adult Losers Club, however, did have a natural chemistry on screen together that didn’t feel manufactured from a script.  They all had a genuine affection for one another, just like they had all been friends for most of their lives.  Each of the adults has their own unique fears they are still facing having survived the onslaught of horror from the first film.  I just wish the story would have been pulled together in a more seamless way instead of so sporadic as it jumps around way too much between the flashbacks, and I think drops a lot of the meat of the story.

A lot of the film does focus on the adults splitting up on a mission to go find items from their childhood that they need to take on Pennywise.  This is where we begin to see a lot of flashbacks from their childhood, which bring new scenes from that summer they met Pennywise in the first film.  IT chapter two has a long runtime of almost three hours and it can feel like a three-hour film at times as well.

maxresdefault (1)IT chapter two had a ton more CGI than the first film did which was disappointing as it didn’t feel as nostalgic as the first film did.  The CGI wasn’t the best either and really pulled away from the enjoyment of such an epic horror classic. On the plus side, the film had some truly amazing scary moments that made up for some of the sporadic plots.

Overall I really enjoyed the film but was also disappointed as I was wanting more of that feeling we got with IT chapter one.  Even with the great performances from all the adult and teen actors, the overall story and use of flashbacks, and the fact they just never seemed to really find a good footing to land the plane took too much away to give this story it’s epic finale it deserved.

Stephen King’s IT – Chapter 1 Review

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it.jpgOne of the most iconic horror characters in history has got to be Stephen King’s IT and the first time I ever saw it I was 10 when the TV mini-series aired.  I remember having nightmares and hating clowns pretty much from that point on…..I don’t really have nightmares anymore, but I sure do hate clowns still!  Stephen King has always been a favorite of mine and the screen adaptation captures a disturbing quality in this latest version of IT

If you watched the 1990’s version of IT, then you probably loved Tim Curry as his performance of the demonic clown was absolutely amazing, but honestly doesn’t hold a candle to this new adaptation, which brings a new level of visual screen horror to the popular demonic clown.  They’ve done a fantastic job of playing the nostalgic card for those who had seen the older IT, and playing into the new generation with those childhood memories and the perspective they bring to the film.

it-kids.jpegSpeaking of those childhood memories, let’s talk about the story of the Losers Club, those seven kids who got locked into a summer nightmare back in 1989.  Filled with disappearance after disappearance of young people throughout the small town of Derry, Maine these seven kids have a whole host of fears they have to tackle and face, along with that clown named Pennywise, now played by Bill Skarsgard who brings a whole new personification of scary to this story!

One of the best things the director did for part one of the remake of IT was building the foundation of the story with the Losers Club. Each one of the kids has a unique family life, traumatic experiences they’ve had to deal with, friendships and the young cast did an amazing job of building their characters! There was a fine line of exploring the problems each of the kids faced and how they had to overcome those situations and fears. Each one of the kid actors brought a memorable moment to each of their characters, and honestly built a well-rounded movie that didn’t have a monster clown in it.

wp4630763.jpgIT spends a significant amount of its lengthy running time on each of The Losers’ Club’s personal experiences with Pennywise in sequences that are both gruesome and horror inducing.  One downfall to the film is the repetition of how each kid begins to face their specific “Phobia” and how they resolve it.  The typical horror movie, oh look something scary down that hallway moment, where someone wonders off alone to go check it out.  Pennywise being a monster clown, of course, takes advantage of each of those perfectly timed moments where someone wonders off alone to invoke fear and torment each of the kids.  But even if you notice the pattern, each set piece is different enough to be scary and brings each character a well deserved moment of terror in the film.

What makes IT, or at least this first half of IT (since the film adapts only the first half of Stephen King’s novel, which we will be writing the review on IT chapter two in just a few days as well.  The director does a beautiful job of telling Stephen King’s story and bringing the words from his book to life on screen.

Personally, for me, IT captured the look of simpler times from when I was a kid with those constant visual references to 1980s nostalgia, like theater marquees showing double-features Batman and Lethal Weapon 2, or arcade machines of the Street Fighter 1. It’s no coincidence that this new version plays ‘80s nostalgia with the same feel that Stephen King had for the ‘50s in his original telling of IT.  Emotions are more powerful when you’re a child because you’re experiencing them for the first time and IT pulls that scare tactic of beautifully and forces the audience to re-experience that childhood fear.

IT may not be the best Stephen King movie but it sure is one of my favorites!  This movie was all about re-experiencing that childhood horror, with an in your face psychological hit to stir up emotions and connect us to the story.  Nightmares are exactly what films like this envoke and we haven’t seen all of IT yet as we still have part two to review.  Things like IT are an intense roller coaster filled with emotions, jump scares, and a connection to the characters, including the creepy killer clown Pennywise.

The Dragonlance Chronicles – A Nostalgic Review

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I’ve been feeling a little nostalgic lately, and for whatever reason, the Dragonlance novels have been standing out over the last few weeks.  So, what better way to scratch that itch then dig out your old book collection from when you were a kid and re-read said novels.  Yes, I still have books from when I was a kid tucked away in boxes in the attic…..mainly because we’ve run out of space in all our bookshelves in the house.

If you haven’t read the Dragonlance novels and want a great high fantasy novel to get lost in then I personally would recommend these.

Dragonlance Novels:

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History Behind The Books

The Dragonlance novels were based on a series of Dungeons & Dragons game modules. The books came about because the designers wanted novels to tell the story of the worlds they were creating.  After Tracy Hickman came to TSR it was announced that development was to happen on his series of dragons based role-playing adventures.  Hickman’s storyline was chosen for the Dragonlance books due to the twelve-part storyline.  Margaret Weis came into the picture as she was assigned to edit Hickmans “Project Overlord,” as it was initially called, a novel intended to be coordinated with a trilogy of Dungeon & Dragons modules.  The newly formed team plotted the novel and hired an author who didn’t work out.  By this time, Weis and Hickman were so into the project they felt they had to write it and the rest is history.

Breakdown of the Novels

9bb39109e3a6149a1f1e27e4fadc4bcfThe Dragonlance Chronicles were one of the first novel series I read that introduced my love for the world of fantasy.  The first novel series that I fell in love with of course was JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings.  The Dragonlance Chronicles holds a high place on my list though mainly because I was one of those role-playing geeks of the 80’s. 

Let’s take a look at the first book, Dragons of Autumn Twilight which has a strong character base but the first book does feel over the top at times.  What really stood out to me about the first book were the “Major” characters in the story, and there are a few that were very distinct.  Unfortunately, the story has some downsides and one major part is the characters seem lost, as does the navigation of the overall plot. But, as an introductory novel, it sets events in motion without giving anything away which is impressive to do no matter the genre.  The second and third novels develop completely different, which felt more organic and that the writers were given much more freedom with the plot.

Here’s what I like about the original Dragonlance Chronicles and what brought me back to read them once again:

  1. The novels continue to throw extremely creative scenarios and locations at you. Which keep the interest up while reading, as you gotta know what is coming up next.
  2. The authors did a fantastic job of balancing the character development, action, drama, and overall plot.
  3. The world of Krynn itself as the authors did an amazing job adding a level of mystery to the world which kept you wondering what’s next.
  4. The overall pace of the book is done quite well in story development, especially as you get into books 2 & 3.
  5. Ultimately the book is called Dragonlance…..so what better than the Dragon War and the evil queen that returns.

To me, these books are such a good mix of the Sword & Sorcery and the High Fantasy genres of the ’80s which I fell in love with at a young age so it’s hard not to like them.  How about you all, what are your thoughts on the Dragonlance Chronicles?  Have you read them?  Let me know in the comments below.

All Things Geekery Podcast S3E12 – Shaping A Cinematic Universe (Podcasting for Blaugust)

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In this episode: We are going to discuss the top genres of the cinematic universe that have shaped our lives from childhood through adulthood.  We will start off discussing the wonders and magic of the Sword and Sorcery genre. Moving into the folklores and myths we will talk about the Fantasy genre. Finally. We will wrap up the episode by discussing lasers, space travel, and aliens as part of the Sci-Fi genre. 

Click to Listen: S312 – Shaping A Cinematic Universe

Show Notes

Sword and Sorcery Genre

  • Definition: Sword and sorcery is a subgenre of fantasy characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent adventures. An element of romance is often present, as is an element of magic and the supernatural
  • Top 3 Films
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      • Krull
        • Is a fantasy swashbuckler which follows a journey of Prince Colwyn and his group of outlaws on the planet Krull to save future queen Princess Lyssa from the Beast and his constantly teleporting Black Fortress.
      • The Dragonslayer
        • Is a medieval fantasy set in a fictional kingdom that follows a young wizard who experiences danger and opposition as he attempts to defeat a dragon 
      • Conan the Barbarian / Conan the Destroyer
        • Is based on stories by Robert E. Howard, a writer of the 1930s, about the adventures of Conan in the fictional world of Hyboria
    • Victus
      • Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
        • The film has the same title as the video game and is primarily based on it. Elements from Warrior Within and The Two Thrones, the two other titles from the Sands of Time trilogy of the Prince of Persia video game franchise, are also incorporated. 
      • Clash of the Titans
        • Perseus – Son of Zeus
      • Warcraft
        • (The film portrays the initial encounters between the humans and the orcs and takes place in a variety of locations established in the video game series) Draenor, the homeworld of the orcs, is being torn apart by a mysterious force known as fel magic. Gul’dan, a powerful orc warlock, unites the orc clans and forms the Horde, and creates a portal to the world of Azeroth. 

 

  • Top Honorable Mentions
    • The Beastmaster 
      • the film is about a child who is stolen from his mother’s womb by a witch. The child grows into Dar, who has the ability to communicate telepathically with animals. Dar grows up in a village, where he learns to do battle, but the village is destroyed by a race of beast-like warriors under the control of the sorcerer Maax. Dar vows revenge and travels with new friends to stop Maax from causing any more problems.
    • The Sword & The Sorcerer 
      • Is a film about a mercenary with a three-bladed sword who rediscovers his royal heritage when he is recruited to help a princess foil the designs of a brutal tyrant, and a powerful sorcerer, in conquering the land
    • The Deathstalker
      • Was the first in a series of four films about the Deathstalker character and his adventures

Fantasy Genre

  • Definition: Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction set in a fictional universe, often inspired by real-world myth and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became literature and drama. From the twentieth century, it has expanded further into various media, including film, television, graphic novels, manga, and video games. Fantasy is distinguished from the genres of science fiction and horror by the absence of scientific or macabre themes, though these genres overlap. In popular culture, the fantasy genre predominantly features settings of a medieval nature. In its broadest sense, however, fantasy consists of works by many writers, artists, filmmakers, and musicians from ancient myths and legends to many recent and popular works.
  • Top 3 Films
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      • The Princess Bride
        • Is a fantasy adventure comedy film, adapted by William Goldman from his 1973 novel The Princess Bride, it tells the story of a farmhand named Westley, accompanied by companions befriended along the way, who must rescue his true love Princess Buttercup from the odious Prince Humperdinck. The film essentially preserves the novel’s narrative style by presenting the story as a book being read by a grandfather to his sick grandson
      • Ladyhawke
        • A medieval fantasy about a young thief who unwillingly gets involved with a warrior and his lady that are hunted by the Bishop of Aquila. As he comes to know about the couple’s past and secret, he finds himself determined to help them overcome the Bishop’s oppressions, both in arms and in the form of a demonic curse.
      • Excalibur
        • Is an epic historical fantasy starring that retells the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
    • Victus
      • MCU
      • Lord of the Rings
        • Set in the fictional world of Middle-Earth, the films follow the Hobbit Frodo Baggins as he and the Fellowship embark on a quest to destroy the One Ring, to ensure the destruction of its maker, the Dark Lord Sauron.
      • Harry Potter
        • The film’s chronicle the lives of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends, all of whom are students at Hogwarts. The main story arc tells Harry’s struggle against Lord Voldemort
  • Top Honorable Mentions
    • Time Bandits
      • Is the first of a “Trilogy of Imagination”, followed by Brazil, and ending with The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.  All are about the “craziness of our awkwardly ordered society and the desire to escape it through whatever means possible.  All three films focus on these struggles and attempts to escape them through imagination: Time Bandits through the eyes of a child, Brazil through the eyes of a man in his thirties, and Munchausen through the eyes of an elderly man.
    • The Secret of NIMH
      • The film is an adaptation of Robert C. O’Brien’s children’s novel Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. The film follows the life of a widowed field mouse, Mrs. Frisby, who seeks the aid of a group of former lab rats and mice in rescuing her home from destruction by a farmer’s plow. 

Sci-Fi Genre

  • Definition: It typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, time travel, parallel universes, fictional worlds, space exploration, and extraterrestrial life. It often explores the potential consequences of scientific innovations. 
  • Top 3 Films
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      • Predator
        • Follows a leader of an elite military rescue team on a mission to save hostages in a guerrilla-held territory in Central America.  The team is stalked by a technologically advanced alien
      • Aliens
        • The film follows Weaver’s character Ellen Ripley as she returns to the moon where her crew encountered the hostile Alien creature, this time accompanied by a unit of space marines. 
      • Star Wars
        • Star Wars was released in theaters in the United States on May 25, 1977. It earned $461 million in the U.S. and $314 million overseas, totaling $775 million. In 1989, it became one of the first films to be selected as part of the U.S. Library of Congress’s National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Today, it is regarded as one of the most important films in the history of motion pictures. 
    • Victus
      • 1 – Star Wars
      • 2 – Star Trek
      • 3 – Avatar
  • Top Honorable Mentions
    • Back to the Future
    • Robocop
    • Star Trek

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