Swords, Specters, & Stuff
Welcome to My World
I started this blog in January 2012 for one simple reason: I love to write. I named it “Swords, Specters, & Stuff” because I especially love to write about writing, about books and movies in my favorite genres, about authors that mean a great deal to me. But there’s more to it than that, which is why I included “Stuff” in the title. It is “Stuff” that gives me carte blanche to write about anything, which is why you’ll see stories about special trips to Cooperstown, Sedona, and other places; about getting older; about baseball; about the otherworldly way in which I met my soul mate; about the loss of good friends, and so much more. Enjoy! And feel free to leave a comment.
The Last Dinosaur (Movie)?
The recently released JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION is the third film in the JURASSIC WORLD trilogy, and the sixth film in the Jurassic DinoVerse, which began with JURASSIC PARK in 1993. Being the lowest-rated film of the franchise, will it be the final one? Maybe…or maybe not.
“Dinosaurs Eat Man…Woman Inherits The Earth”
Paleobotanist Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) uttered that awesome comeback line in JURASSIC PARK (1993). I’ll give you the full context shortly. There are a lot of great lines in what I consider the best of all the films in the Jurassic DinoVerse (my word). Here are a few more.
Myths And Legends: “America’s Most Haunted Hotel”
What? The MOST haunted? That is what the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas perceives itself to be. And whether we believe it or not, there is an extensive history of paranormal activity at this venerable building.
Cannot Hit Curveball? Jobu Maybe Help…
The 1989 baseball film, MAJOR LEAGUE, is one of the most outrageous comedies ever to hit the silver screen. The characters and their lines are still quoted to this day, thirty-three years later. But one such character, who had no lines in the movie and was not even alive, may be more popular than any of them. I’m talking about Jobu, the cigar-smoking, rum-drinking voodoo demi-god.
Cruising Through The MonsterVerse: Part Two
The Legendary MonsterVerse almost ran out of steam with the lack of success of its third entry. Fortunately, the fourth film in the series bailed it out. So does that mean the franchise will continue? Read on.
Cruising Through The MonsterVerse: Part One
The MonsterVerse, produced by Legendary Entertainment, didn’t actually start out to be a franchise, but rather a vehicle for an American reboot of Godzilla. It was only after Legendary acquired the rights to King Kong and visualized the two famous monsters appearing in a film together down the road that the MonsterVerse was born.
FROZEN HELL: The Novel That Formed The Basis For THE THING
A magazine called Astounding Science Fiction was highly influential in bringing the sci-fi genre into the mainstream decades past. One of its editors, John W. Campbell, also wrote for the magazine, and in 1938 he published a novella titled, “Who Goes There?” The popular story, a hybrid combination of science fiction and horror, would later be adapted to the big screen in 1951 as THE THING.
Curious Possessions V
With over two centuries in the rearview mirror—okay, seven-plus decades—I’ve had plenty of time to collect a whole lot of neat stuff. Here is a look at some more “Curious Possessions” floating around my domicile.
Part Two: Which Kong Is King?
No secret, I already answered that question last week. Yes, KONG: SKULL ISLAND is my favorite, though I absolutely love the classic 1933 version and Peter Jackson’s awesome 2005 remake.
Part One: Which Kong Is King?
Yes, this is going to be one of those IMHO posts, and you may or may not agree with which King Kong film is my favorite. No problem, we all know what we like. I might also add that I’m only talking about the three American-made films actually titled KING KONG, as well as the 2017 version, KONG: SKULL ISLAND.
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