This Blog is under construction.
The 3 posts below are from a blog I started, but abandoned. The site I was
using simply didn't fit the format I wanted. I have high hopes for this one one,
and a much clearer plan for the future.
If you've just stumbled upon this page, check back soon. At the moment it's
mid April, 2012, and I'm about to move. I plan on starting the actual blog
around mid July 2012, once I'm settled into the new home.
I'll cover a wide variety of subjects mostly stemming from Science Fiction,
toys, and my own art.
Toys, collectibles, art, sci-fi, and the business there of.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
And it took 60 years to become a comedy. I recently watched a 1997 DVD of the 1953 science-fiction movie "Project Moonbase" based on a Robert Heinlein story. Yes the same Robert Heinlein that brought us such classics as "Tunnel in the Sky," "The Door into Summer," and "Stranger in a Strange Land." As far as I can tell "Project Moonbase" was written to be a movie, and was never published, at least not in any form I can find record of. I suppose it could be based on one of his early works under a different name?
I have no doubt that this movie was very serious fare at the time. After all we didn't know a whole lot about the dangers of space travel in 1953. They certainly fell short in a few areas . . . most notably in shorts. They actually wore shorts, T-shirts, and a beanie as their flight suit. I think the idea was lower weight meant lower cost. Still, shorts seem a little to casual for space travel don't you think? I always thought of it more as black tie affair myself.
Another strange addition to their wardrobe was the side arm. In the story America was the only country in space at this point. So with no enemies to fight, why did they need to carry a .45? Let's not even bother to address the results of explosive decompression. To make it seem even more out of place, you know the old idea in writing, "never introduce a gun if you don't intend to use it?" Well . . . they never used them. I guess the wardrobe department just assumed every branch of the military would carry a side arm no matter what the setting.
But enough about their fashion choices, let's get into the plot. The movie seemed to start with 1 plot, completely abandon it, and finish up with something totally unrelated. That's pretty hard to do in only 63 minutes. We start out with the machinations of an unnamed evil force in business suits. Though unidentified, this was the 1950's, so like every other movie of the era, they were Commies. The idea was that America had the upper hand by not only being the first in space, but also being the first to establish a space station. Apparently we skipped all the small steps with satellites, and just jumped straight into the deep end with a full blown manned space station. This space station gave the US a jumping off point to further establish the first moonbase. Hmmm . . . You know I bet that's where they get the title from?
Anyway, the bad guys are under orders to take out that station by any means necessary, thereby preventing the establishment of a base on the moon. Problem is that they have no space program of their own to work with. So naturally that means they have to get an agent aboard that station, and they can only do that with a double. The how isn't important, but they succeed in getting a double aboard the next rocket to the station. Though never mentioned, it is a suicide mission. You can't exactly blow up a space station and expect a rescue.
So we now have our crew. It's very progressive for 1953. A woman is in command. Her name is Colonel Briteis, Pronounced "Bright Eyes" . . . are you there with me? As if the name wasn't enough, they further undermine her position by making it clear that as a woman, she's lighter than an average man, and therefore cheaper to send into space. Next we have Major Moore. He was passed over for promotion by Briteis, again, because of her weight. Glad the Military doesn't actually use that as a criteria for promotion. Needless to say, there is some resentment on Moore's part, the 2 butt heads quite a bit. Last but not least . . . no forget that, he is least, we have "Doctor Werner" our evil impostor. Their mission is to orbit the moon, and photograph the dark side to seek out a probable location for a moonbase. They are under strict orders not to land, because they don't have the fuel necessary to take off again. The doubles mission is to take over the ship, and crash it into the space station when they return.
Major Moore quickly figures out that Werner is a fake, and a very brief fight ensues. As a result the rockets are fired wasting precious fuel. Now they can't possibly make the return trip to the station. Briteis makes the snap decision to land on the moon. Now they have a problem, they are on the dark side of the Moon with no hope of rescue or even communication. They are only 10 miles from the light side of the Moon. Their space suits have just enough oxygen for a round trip of that distance. But it takes 2 to set up the communications equipment. They can't leave the saboteur alone on the ship, so Moore asks Werner to help him with the communications equipment. After all, he's literally in the same boat, and it's his only chance of rescue as well. Totally forgetting that he's on a suicide mission as it is, he agree's to help because "if he wasn't forced into it, he wouldn't have done it in the first place." Doesn't work out for him though, because he dies by falling off a rock while setting up the communications equipment.
At this point the whole terrorist plot to stop America's progress into space is done. Never mentioned again.
Now we can focus one real issues; the intersection between the practicalities of space travel, and 1950's sensibilities. The two are not exactly compatible.
Though not exactly pleased with the results, their superiors decide that their ship's landing site is as good a place as any to start a moonbase. So the ship is re-designated as Moonbase 1. Their rescue is next on the list of priorities, but there's no real plan in place for such an operation. The crew is told that they will have to ration their food and oxygen to 10 days . . . Wait? Wasn't this only going to be a 1 or 2 day mission at most? And weight was a big deal. Shouldn't they each have a sack lunch and a cookie for later? Even at just 1 meal a day, why would they have had enough on board for 10 days? Moot point I guess. Soon enough they are able to get a regular supply of cargo pod's, but it's still going to be at least a couple of weeks before they can properly be rescued.
That's where the real problem comes up, and we finally get to the point of the movie. Their commanding officer back on earth has a private conversation with Major Moore. Or at least as private a conversation as they can have on a 2 room space ship. This is where things take a real 1950's turn. Remember what the bedroom looked like in every 1950's TV show? Even as a happily married couple Ricky and Lucy NEVER shared a bed. They always had their own single beds with a nightstand between them . . . Always! So how would the American public react to a young man and woman being cooped up all alone on a space ship for several weeks. Oh that just won't do. That won't do at all. Those two have to be married. They simply HAVE to be.
So it's decided, Major Moore [who of course really likes the Colonel anyway, despite all his posturing] should ask Briteis to marry him. She over hears the conversation of course. When the Major can't work up the nerve to do it himself, she takes matters into her own hands, and has her own private conversation with the general. We don't get to find out exactly what was said, or even who asked who, but the 2 are married by way of video screen shortly thereafter.
As something of a honeymoon gift, they are given new official orders, and addressed directly by the President of the United States, who, shockingly is a woman. Again, very progressive for 1953. Though I should mention, not that it makes much difference, the movie is set in the far flung future of 1970. They are congratulated, and officially separated from the command of the space station. Major Moore is placed in command of the new and future moonbase with a promotion to, get this . . . Brigadier General. Nothing like an accidental Moon landing, and a sham marriage to skip over a few rungs of that corporate ladder.
As I said above, this was probably a very serious subject in 1953. I'm sure the very idea of an unmarried man and woman in a space ship together for anything more than a few days was pure scandal. But 60 years later, it's down right comical. I had a seriously good laugh at this film.
I have no doubt that this movie was very serious fare at the time. After all we didn't know a whole lot about the dangers of space travel in 1953. They certainly fell short in a few areas . . . most notably in shorts. They actually wore shorts, T-shirts, and a beanie as their flight suit. I think the idea was lower weight meant lower cost. Still, shorts seem a little to casual for space travel don't you think? I always thought of it more as black tie affair myself.
Another strange addition to their wardrobe was the side arm. In the story America was the only country in space at this point. So with no enemies to fight, why did they need to carry a .45? Let's not even bother to address the results of explosive decompression. To make it seem even more out of place, you know the old idea in writing, "never introduce a gun if you don't intend to use it?" Well . . . they never used them. I guess the wardrobe department just assumed every branch of the military would carry a side arm no matter what the setting.
But enough about their fashion choices, let's get into the plot. The movie seemed to start with 1 plot, completely abandon it, and finish up with something totally unrelated. That's pretty hard to do in only 63 minutes. We start out with the machinations of an unnamed evil force in business suits. Though unidentified, this was the 1950's, so like every other movie of the era, they were Commies. The idea was that America had the upper hand by not only being the first in space, but also being the first to establish a space station. Apparently we skipped all the small steps with satellites, and just jumped straight into the deep end with a full blown manned space station. This space station gave the US a jumping off point to further establish the first moonbase. Hmmm . . . You know I bet that's where they get the title from?
Anyway, the bad guys are under orders to take out that station by any means necessary, thereby preventing the establishment of a base on the moon. Problem is that they have no space program of their own to work with. So naturally that means they have to get an agent aboard that station, and they can only do that with a double. The how isn't important, but they succeed in getting a double aboard the next rocket to the station. Though never mentioned, it is a suicide mission. You can't exactly blow up a space station and expect a rescue.
So we now have our crew. It's very progressive for 1953. A woman is in command. Her name is Colonel Briteis, Pronounced "Bright Eyes" . . . are you there with me? As if the name wasn't enough, they further undermine her position by making it clear that as a woman, she's lighter than an average man, and therefore cheaper to send into space. Next we have Major Moore. He was passed over for promotion by Briteis, again, because of her weight. Glad the Military doesn't actually use that as a criteria for promotion. Needless to say, there is some resentment on Moore's part, the 2 butt heads quite a bit. Last but not least . . . no forget that, he is least, we have "Doctor Werner" our evil impostor. Their mission is to orbit the moon, and photograph the dark side to seek out a probable location for a moonbase. They are under strict orders not to land, because they don't have the fuel necessary to take off again. The doubles mission is to take over the ship, and crash it into the space station when they return.
Major Moore quickly figures out that Werner is a fake, and a very brief fight ensues. As a result the rockets are fired wasting precious fuel. Now they can't possibly make the return trip to the station. Briteis makes the snap decision to land on the moon. Now they have a problem, they are on the dark side of the Moon with no hope of rescue or even communication. They are only 10 miles from the light side of the Moon. Their space suits have just enough oxygen for a round trip of that distance. But it takes 2 to set up the communications equipment. They can't leave the saboteur alone on the ship, so Moore asks Werner to help him with the communications equipment. After all, he's literally in the same boat, and it's his only chance of rescue as well. Totally forgetting that he's on a suicide mission as it is, he agree's to help because "if he wasn't forced into it, he wouldn't have done it in the first place." Doesn't work out for him though, because he dies by falling off a rock while setting up the communications equipment.
At this point the whole terrorist plot to stop America's progress into space is done. Never mentioned again.
Now we can focus one real issues; the intersection between the practicalities of space travel, and 1950's sensibilities. The two are not exactly compatible.
Though not exactly pleased with the results, their superiors decide that their ship's landing site is as good a place as any to start a moonbase. So the ship is re-designated as Moonbase 1. Their rescue is next on the list of priorities, but there's no real plan in place for such an operation. The crew is told that they will have to ration their food and oxygen to 10 days . . . Wait? Wasn't this only going to be a 1 or 2 day mission at most? And weight was a big deal. Shouldn't they each have a sack lunch and a cookie for later? Even at just 1 meal a day, why would they have had enough on board for 10 days? Moot point I guess. Soon enough they are able to get a regular supply of cargo pod's, but it's still going to be at least a couple of weeks before they can properly be rescued.
That's where the real problem comes up, and we finally get to the point of the movie. Their commanding officer back on earth has a private conversation with Major Moore. Or at least as private a conversation as they can have on a 2 room space ship. This is where things take a real 1950's turn. Remember what the bedroom looked like in every 1950's TV show? Even as a happily married couple Ricky and Lucy NEVER shared a bed. They always had their own single beds with a nightstand between them . . . Always! So how would the American public react to a young man and woman being cooped up all alone on a space ship for several weeks. Oh that just won't do. That won't do at all. Those two have to be married. They simply HAVE to be.
So it's decided, Major Moore [who of course really likes the Colonel anyway, despite all his posturing] should ask Briteis to marry him. She over hears the conversation of course. When the Major can't work up the nerve to do it himself, she takes matters into her own hands, and has her own private conversation with the general. We don't get to find out exactly what was said, or even who asked who, but the 2 are married by way of video screen shortly thereafter.
As something of a honeymoon gift, they are given new official orders, and addressed directly by the President of the United States, who, shockingly is a woman. Again, very progressive for 1953. Though I should mention, not that it makes much difference, the movie is set in the far flung future of 1970. They are congratulated, and officially separated from the command of the space station. Major Moore is placed in command of the new and future moonbase with a promotion to, get this . . . Brigadier General. Nothing like an accidental Moon landing, and a sham marriage to skip over a few rungs of that corporate ladder.
As I said above, this was probably a very serious subject in 1953. I'm sure the very idea of an unmarried man and woman in a space ship together for anything more than a few days was pure scandal. But 60 years later, it's down right comical. I had a seriously good laugh at this film.
A comparison of the book "I Am Legend," and it's first adaptation "The Last Man on Earth."
"I Am Legend has been presented in several forms over the years. The novel by Richard Matheson was published in 1954. Since then it's had 3 official movie adaptations: "The Last Man on Earth" staring Vincent Price, 1964; "The Omega Man" staring Charlton Heston in 1971; and finally Will Smith's 2007 "I Am Legend." When I first heard about the 2007 movie, I remembered that it was one of my father's favorite books. So I decided I'd have to read the book before I saw the movie. Then I decided, I'd have to see the other movies.
I have nothing against the 2007 movie on it's own merits. It's a decent enough movie in it's own right. Certainly better movies have been made, so have much worse movies. It is what it set out to be, a popcorn action movie, and there is nothing wrong with that. For the most part it sticks pretty close to the original source material. obviously something's had to change. You simply can't adapt a 1954 book, and set it in 2012 without addressing things like cell phones, and the Internet. So that sort of thing can be forgiven.
However, the 2007 version does fall short as an adaptation, because it completely-misses-the-point-of-the-book. The book, on the simplest level was about role reversal. Our "hero," Robert Neville is actually the monster in the end. He dies the same way Frankenstein would, at the end of pitchforks, and fire. Just as one man's rebel is another's revolutionary so to can the hero become the monster with a simple change of perspective. There is no happy ending for Neville. For better or worse society has changed around him. When being a zombie becomes the norm, those hanging on to their humanity become the outcast.
This is where "The Last Man on Earth" succeeds where the 2007 "I Am Legend" fails. It doesn't forget the point of the book. In fact despite being greatly abbreviated in some areas, it sticks fairly close to the novel. 86 minutes just can't cover everything in a 160 page book.
The 1964 adaptation only really deviated on 1 point as far as I can recall. In the book there were the living infected, and the resurrected dead infected. They were all more or less zombies / vampires, but the living were able to function better than the dead for obvious reasons. They were able to work cooperatively and form rudimentary communities. This slightly more organized living group send's one of their least infected girls to spy on Robert Neville [or Robert Morgan in the movie], gain his trust, then unlock his door from the inside so they can get him. They hate and fear him because he spends his days finding and killing their people.
That's basically how it played out in the movie. But instead of there being living and dead infected . . . well I guess I should qualify that. There were different levels of infection, they just didn't really qualify what made them different in the movie Though in a flashback Robert's wife had died and came back, but the origin of other zombies was never made as clear. It's mentioned, but never really clarified, it simply appears that there are more, and less infected zombies. The "less" infected were able to develop a pseudo-cure. They were still infected, but they were able to get by much easier. Sort of like chemotherapy. Your not being killed by the cancer anymore, but your not much better off either. The main point being that there was now a wider gap between the more infected, and the less infected.
As a result of the pseudo-cure, our hero was able to develop a real cure. So he cures the girl, but it's too late. The zombies are able to get in, and kill him before they find out he has a real cure. They still consider him a monster, but the fact that he had a cure provides a mirror for them, making them monsters again.
Other than that, it was very close to the book. It even had the sad part with the dog, another point the 2007 movie took great liberties with. But it wasn't nearly as sad as it was in the book. Honestly the chapter with the dog is one of the saddest things I've ever read. If you can't make it through Bambi, don't even consider reading the book. The whole chapter only took about 4 minutes in the movie. He see's the dog, it run's. He searches, and can't find it. The next day the dog comes back. He cleans it up, bandages it's wounds, and talks with it for a while. Then realizes it is infected. Cut to the next day and he's burying a blanket covered dog with a spike through it. In the book it was not clear if the dog was infected or not, but died as a result of it's injuries regardless. In other words, he didn't kill the dog himself. Yes it's sad that he's forced to kill the dog in the movie, but it's downright heart wrenching in the book when the dog dies despite his best efforts.
All things considered, especially the amount of time they had to tell the story, "Last Man on Earth" is a very good adaptation of the book "I Am Legend. Now I just need to track down a copy of "The Omega Man."
"I Am Legend has been presented in several forms over the years. The novel by Richard Matheson was published in 1954. Since then it's had 3 official movie adaptations: "The Last Man on Earth" staring Vincent Price, 1964; "The Omega Man" staring Charlton Heston in 1971; and finally Will Smith's 2007 "I Am Legend." When I first heard about the 2007 movie, I remembered that it was one of my father's favorite books. So I decided I'd have to read the book before I saw the movie. Then I decided, I'd have to see the other movies.
I have nothing against the 2007 movie on it's own merits. It's a decent enough movie in it's own right. Certainly better movies have been made, so have much worse movies. It is what it set out to be, a popcorn action movie, and there is nothing wrong with that. For the most part it sticks pretty close to the original source material. obviously something's had to change. You simply can't adapt a 1954 book, and set it in 2012 without addressing things like cell phones, and the Internet. So that sort of thing can be forgiven.
However, the 2007 version does fall short as an adaptation, because it completely-misses-the-point-of-the-book. The book, on the simplest level was about role reversal. Our "hero," Robert Neville is actually the monster in the end. He dies the same way Frankenstein would, at the end of pitchforks, and fire. Just as one man's rebel is another's revolutionary so to can the hero become the monster with a simple change of perspective. There is no happy ending for Neville. For better or worse society has changed around him. When being a zombie becomes the norm, those hanging on to their humanity become the outcast.
This is where "The Last Man on Earth" succeeds where the 2007 "I Am Legend" fails. It doesn't forget the point of the book. In fact despite being greatly abbreviated in some areas, it sticks fairly close to the novel. 86 minutes just can't cover everything in a 160 page book.
The 1964 adaptation only really deviated on 1 point as far as I can recall. In the book there were the living infected, and the resurrected dead infected. They were all more or less zombies / vampires, but the living were able to function better than the dead for obvious reasons. They were able to work cooperatively and form rudimentary communities. This slightly more organized living group send's one of their least infected girls to spy on Robert Neville [or Robert Morgan in the movie], gain his trust, then unlock his door from the inside so they can get him. They hate and fear him because he spends his days finding and killing their people.
That's basically how it played out in the movie. But instead of there being living and dead infected . . . well I guess I should qualify that. There were different levels of infection, they just didn't really qualify what made them different in the movie Though in a flashback Robert's wife had died and came back, but the origin of other zombies was never made as clear. It's mentioned, but never really clarified, it simply appears that there are more, and less infected zombies. The "less" infected were able to develop a pseudo-cure. They were still infected, but they were able to get by much easier. Sort of like chemotherapy. Your not being killed by the cancer anymore, but your not much better off either. The main point being that there was now a wider gap between the more infected, and the less infected.
As a result of the pseudo-cure, our hero was able to develop a real cure. So he cures the girl, but it's too late. The zombies are able to get in, and kill him before they find out he has a real cure. They still consider him a monster, but the fact that he had a cure provides a mirror for them, making them monsters again.
Other than that, it was very close to the book. It even had the sad part with the dog, another point the 2007 movie took great liberties with. But it wasn't nearly as sad as it was in the book. Honestly the chapter with the dog is one of the saddest things I've ever read. If you can't make it through Bambi, don't even consider reading the book. The whole chapter only took about 4 minutes in the movie. He see's the dog, it run's. He searches, and can't find it. The next day the dog comes back. He cleans it up, bandages it's wounds, and talks with it for a while. Then realizes it is infected. Cut to the next day and he's burying a blanket covered dog with a spike through it. In the book it was not clear if the dog was infected or not, but died as a result of it's injuries regardless. In other words, he didn't kill the dog himself. Yes it's sad that he's forced to kill the dog in the movie, but it's downright heart wrenching in the book when the dog dies despite his best efforts.
All things considered, especially the amount of time they had to tell the story, "Last Man on Earth" is a very good adaptation of the book "I Am Legend. Now I just need to track down a copy of "The Omega Man."
It Begins
Thu, 14th October, 2010
. . And so I shall blog. This might be deleted before our "grand opening" but I have to start somewhere, so I'll start here. At this stage our site is just barely under construction. I know what I need it to do in the end, but really have no clue how to get it there. Web sites just are not in my skill set. Once it is there we still have the problem of driving traffic to the site. How exactly do we get the word out about "Captain Cosmos Collectibles." There seems to be this myth that merely having a web-site will bring you success. Well I can certainly attest to the falsehood of that idea. No a web-site alone will not bring success. Nor will advertising, or the right product, or the ever so helpful location, location, location. All those things help, but don't do much good without the others.
The Internet almost negates the need for location. Now our store is right there in your home, or on the train, in your office, or even in your car. Though I beg you, please don't shop with us while your driving, that's not a good idea. We have what at one time would have been a fantastic location. We're downtown. Before the urban landscape changed with mall's, and Big Box stores, and bypasses, downtown was were the action was. There are photo's of regular days for downtown Winchester spanning decades, everyone of them shows a crowd of thousands. Every parking spot full, every shop teaming with customers, the sidewalks overflowing with life. Those days are gone. At least they are gone in small town America. Larger cities might not feel the same impact, Lexington, Kentucky, our closest, and largest neighbor has a thriving downtown. Perhaps not as thriving as it was in the 1950's, but business is good there. Here in downtown Winchester, Kentucky, just a half hours drive from downtown Lexington, things are more of a struggle. Businesses here worry about being open next month. Businesses here have to choose between the phone bill, or new stock.
Why?
Why has the traditional downtown been so thoroughly forgotten? Downtown's offer things that the Big Box stores just can't. First on that list is the personal touch. Most downtown businesses are family owned, and operated. They will get to know you over time. They will get to know what you need. Can the same be said at the Big Box where the check out girl rings up 2000 faces in a shift? Just yesterday I was talking with the owner of another business just down the street. Downtown Winchester recently did a promotion involving international flags, so a lot of businesses were suddenly in need of a flag pole. Well she got her's right across the street at the downtown hardware store, Bridges and Lane. Did it cost a little more than the Big Box stores? Yes, but the Big Box store's would never have installed it for free, or taken the time to make sure it worked for her. That's the sort of thing you get downtown.
The Internet almost negates the need for location. Now our store is right there in your home, or on the train, in your office, or even in your car. Though I beg you, please don't shop with us while your driving, that's not a good idea. We have what at one time would have been a fantastic location. We're downtown. Before the urban landscape changed with mall's, and Big Box stores, and bypasses, downtown was were the action was. There are photo's of regular days for downtown Winchester spanning decades, everyone of them shows a crowd of thousands. Every parking spot full, every shop teaming with customers, the sidewalks overflowing with life. Those days are gone. At least they are gone in small town America. Larger cities might not feel the same impact, Lexington, Kentucky, our closest, and largest neighbor has a thriving downtown. Perhaps not as thriving as it was in the 1950's, but business is good there. Here in downtown Winchester, Kentucky, just a half hours drive from downtown Lexington, things are more of a struggle. Businesses here worry about being open next month. Businesses here have to choose between the phone bill, or new stock.
Why?
Why has the traditional downtown been so thoroughly forgotten? Downtown's offer things that the Big Box stores just can't. First on that list is the personal touch. Most downtown businesses are family owned, and operated. They will get to know you over time. They will get to know what you need. Can the same be said at the Big Box where the check out girl rings up 2000 faces in a shift? Just yesterday I was talking with the owner of another business just down the street. Downtown Winchester recently did a promotion involving international flags, so a lot of businesses were suddenly in need of a flag pole. Well she got her's right across the street at the downtown hardware store, Bridges and Lane. Did it cost a little more than the Big Box stores? Yes, but the Big Box store's would never have installed it for free, or taken the time to make sure it worked for her. That's the sort of thing you get downtown.
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