This week I recruited a certain special someone to help cover this particular post. Bo’s been a fan of the Universal Monster films since childhood, so when Universal announced a “Dark Universe” series of monster films, we…weren’t that thrilled.
We first discuss what kind of character would have been a far more fitting choice for introducing an audience to this “new” universe.
Next, we go into the film/book industry’s obsession with investing in a story series instead of standalone stories. It gets us going on a comparison between the beginnings of the 2017 film vs. the 1932 version with Boris Karloff.
I then jump to the ending, and Bo patiently works me through my agony of an Egyptian god being defeated solely by Tom Cruise being Tom Cruise. “The Power of Cruise Compels You!”
So, as writers, what can we learn from this film? Bo reflects on this cautionary tale of a cinematic debacle.
Aaaand my recorder gave out. 🙂 Bo and I manage a little sum-up before it dies again.
Do not make the same errors in your story-world as these Dark Universe creators: don’t let the Power of Cruise compel you to think of the universe’s marketability instead of simply telling a good story.
Thank you all for listening this Halloween weekend. Think I should have Bo come back again?
Thanks. I know what not to watch and have saved me from losing loads of hours I wouldn’t get back.
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For Bo’s sake, I will recommend the Boris Karloff film from 1932. It’s only a little over an hour and quite well done. 🙂
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I rather like your style Ms Lee. The discussion method works a treat.
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Thank you! I’m thinking that, if he’s willing, Bo and I do something like this every so often. Of course, I’ve already thought of a heading: “Time for the Occasional BJ at the Cinema.” Yes, it’s lewd, yet I can’t stop giggling. Suppose I could squeeze an ampersand in there, but then it’s not as much fun…
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A jolly good idea. A different take on subject matter keeps the project alive…a thing I should learn to do methinks.
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Thank you! It also opens up a wealth of new topics, though he’s a bit skeptical on what I’m brainstorming for A Christmas Carol…
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Dickens? He lived in these parts by the way.
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But of course, though if we discuss it, it would be the various cinematic versions. I know of…five? Six? I’m sure there’s more.
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Even though he is one of our own, Dickens never did it for me. To wallow in hopelessness is one thing. To earn a decent living out of it perhaps not a thing a true socialist…I consider myself one…can readily accept.
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True. Bo’s read more Dickens than I, and enjoyed him more than I. A Christmas Carol, though was a staple of my childhood, and it continues to be a Christmas favorite in my family. But it hit me when…I don’t know when, but Bo and I were talking about the Scrooge character, and how the nuances brought to that character make or break the power of his redemption. That, I’d love to talk about. 🙂
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The trio concept and structure of the Christmas Carol I can find no fault with…quite the opposite. The sentiment; the life-lesson in charity I have no problem with. It’s Dicken’s writing style and the misery of most of his stories that simply ‘don’t’ work for me. Who am I to criticize the great man, yet…as with my adoration of the works of Leonard Cohen…for ‘misery’ I prefer an underlying darkness that is proud to show it’s face and not, as with Dickens, a darkness that is happy to hide away in the shadows. Does that make sense? It’s early, my brain might not be in gear yet.
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Actually, it does. The two other books I read of Dickens didn’t jive with me, either, as do other writers of massive tomes who just seem to…meander, in terms of story or character, if that makes sense…
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I forgot to add that at school they made us read Dickens. One thing a teacher should never do is force an author’s work down a kids throat. Possibly that fact put me off him for life!
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Amen to that! That same thing happened to me, only with Nathaniel Hawthorne. Can’t stand lookin’ at any of his stuff now.
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They would give us T H Lawrence. We would hide behind the bike shed reading Ian Flemings ‘rude’ bits. Much more fun.
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Ha! You and Bo both. 😉
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Perhaps if said teacher told us lads the book was rubbisg we might have been a little more interested.
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Yes, I’m finding the direct approach to backfire on me time and again, especially in giving Blondie books I enjoyed as a child. “This is an awesome story!” Her reason for refusal: “Animals don’t talk, so that can’t happen.” Child, I love you, but GAH!
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Tell her it was a book you loathed as a child. It would be worth the experiment.
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Ha! I shall. 😉
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Oh yes, have Bo come back again.
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I’ll tell him! 🙂
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Personally? Come back Boris Karloff. All is forgiven.
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I know, right?
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Yeah. I know too. Personally also of the opinion the Cruiser should pack it in.
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Considering he’s making Top Gun 2? Yeah, it’s time.
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Some folks don’t know how to quit when they’re ahead and he is well behind. I never understood his popularity. I quite liked him in War of the Worlds. But I guess on reflection, what I really liked was the idea of the part he played–Mr Ordinary Dad with the two difficult kids, it’s his turn to have, the very weekend the Martians invade. I have never looked at a Cruiser movie and thought wow you can see why the guy is an A Lister. And really the still trying to cut it as the action hero trap, so many of these aging A Listers fall into, is toe bunching. Look at all the franchises he’s got sown up that way. Reacher. Mission Impossible.
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Exactly! The one film I liked him in was Collateral, because I think it’s the only film where he’s ever played a baddie, and a totally unlikeable one at that.
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I saw that one and yes he was good in that,. he put aside the chees and the macho and delivered x
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Hi Bo! It was great to hear you share your film-tastic opinions on this!
I will say, the movie DOES sound riff-worthy…maybe you two should take that task on 🙂
I’m trying to remember my dates- was the Karloff film a ‘talkie’ or silent?
Top Gun 2…sigh. Think all of the old fellas will going in for another volleyball scene? I’m not sure it’ll quite have the same effect these days…
Too bad it couldn’t have been as good as the Peanuts movie, (we bought it on your recommendation, you know) which we watched again last night 🙂
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Oh I know! I love the Peanuts Movie. And one thing I was going to say in the talk with Bo but forgot was that a kid’s film had a better approach to surprise reveals than this film. The Batman Lego movie’s trailers, books, etc. have NOTHING of Sauron, King Kong, and all the other crazy Phantom Zone villains. You only experience that reveal when you see the film. Now I know Bo says that’s probably licensing fees, but still–it makes for a hilarious reveal in the film.
How do the makers of a kid’s movie get this, and not the “Dark Universe” people?
PS–it’s a talkie. 🙂
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I still haven’t seen Batman, but we could use some laughs (I wonder if it’s still in Redbox…hmmm…)
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Oh it’s brilliant. You and Todd will love it, and I think the kids will, too. It’s a fav here!:)
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I laughed so much when I read this – “my agony of an Egyptian god being defeated solely by Tom Cruise being Tom Cruise. “The Power of Cruise Compels You!”” Thank you for confirming what my gut was telling me; you’re awesome. Thanks to Bo, too.
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Aw, thanks! This makes my Monday in so many ways. 🙂
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Oh my word, I loved watching Karloff’s films when I was ickle little. The mention of Karloff is a true blast from the past for me and now you have me looking at some trailers for his films- fabulous!!! Also, not one of his but, just had a look at the trailer for ‘The Fly’ with Vincent Price, Tell me, what have modern films got on these gems? Modern films are all about making the pretty boy or girl look prettier and stories are treated as an afterthought. A gross generalisation, I know, but I hope you know what I mean. Cruise can ‘cruise on.’
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Hey, you are NOT far off with your generalization. I’ve been seeing that more and more. Well here, let’s take a kid-ish movie franchise that failed: Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The book series starred kids, and few of them were “lookers” by society’s standards. Movie versions? Everyone’s hot. Even the cyclops gets to be hot. Oh, and teen-aged instead of ELEVEN, AAAAAND let’s not have a real antagonist in the first film. Nah, we don’t need The Titans. Let’s make this about kids mad at their god-parents who don’t pay enough attention! Because social commentary’s where it’s at! (throws books in the air, holds head in hands)
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Hehe! “Even the cyclops gets to be hot” – Love it! In my minds eye, capturing the true spirit of the cyclops look….I wish I could just un-see that. Don’t get me started on the downgrade/demotion of the Titans…They say we live in an age of Trivia,(sigh). x
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We certainly do. Although I will admit, I’m almost tempted to watch The Giver. I loved that book as a kid. When I saw the trailer, saw teenagers and angst and love-stuff, I groaned and left it well enough alone. But sometime, forget when, I read/heard somewhere that Jeff Bridges spent TWENTY YEARS trying to get permission from Lois Lowry to make that film. Holy cow! So there is this part of me that wonders if that scale of passion and determination could maybe mean that the teen-ness didn’t downgrade the story as much as the trailer led me to believe.
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In the UK it was always the Hammer Horror movies with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Still love them, the atmosphere they built with zero budget was just astonishing.
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Yes! Bo’s a huge fan of those.
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If you look hard enough you can find PG rated Hammer a Horror movies. Son loves watching the Hound of the Baskervilles with lee and Cushion, on Halloween night I let him watch a couple of the safer Hammer films as well.
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Oh yes! I think Bo was going to try some Holmes with Blondie this year. That’s a great one.
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