Graphic Novel review: Jim Henson’s TALE OF SAND

Creator and puppeteer Jim Henson may be best known for creating The Muppets and Fraggle Rock among the films The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, but he also was responsible for producing (with Jerry Juhl) an unproduced screenplay by the name of Tale of Sand.  Archaia publishing, The Jim Hension Company and Ramon K. Perez have taken Henson and Juhl’s “lost screenplay” and adapted it as a graphic novel.   

The original screenplay was written (and re-written) between 1967 and 1974 and just never became a film because the two were too busy with the production and success of Sesame Street and The Muppet Show.  Tale of Sand is unlike anything most people have seen from Henson and Juhl as it is a fantasy about a man Mac who is thrust into a world filled with luxury, excess, and – sand.  At the height of Mac’s enjoyment of the party atmosphere of an unnamed town in the middle of nowhere  Mac is forced by the Benevolent Sheriff to compete in a race for his own life as he is chased across the desert by the mysterious character simply known as Patch (who as you could guess has a patch over one of his eyes).  This would seem like a typical chase story but through the minds of Henson and Juhl Mac meets every type of character under the sand from desert terrorists to misplaced football players to soldiers and a tank to lions and the equally mysterious female character simply called The Blond.

If all this sounds kind of weird it’s because it is as Mac is stuck in a waking dream as the landscape will change from a vast desert one minute to a jazz bar the next.  There is no sense of time or space as Mac seems to come across them all all the while being pursued by Patch and various other factions.  There is very little dialogue spoken as the majority of the story is a visual wonderland and indeed owes a great deal to Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.  For those wanting a clear cut explanation of everything that is going on, this is definitely the wrong book for them as this story is all about stepping feet first into the unknown and just enjoying the ride.

There is little wonder why this story never went produced as Henson and Juhl could have never made this film with the technology of then unless it was animated but it would be very interesting to see what could be done with the material in this day and age but it would be hard for any studio to produce an almost all visual film with lots of fantasy action.  This being said, I loved the fact that The Jim Henson Company finally let this story see the light of day as fans of Henson’s fans fail to realize just how creative he truly was.

Archaia’s book is beautifully handled and designed and despite the fact that it is an extremely fast read there is a book mark included.  There are also several of Perez’ sketches of the characters included as well as a Foreword by Karen Falk (Archives Director and historian for The Jim Henson Company) and an Afterword by Henson’s daughter Lisa (who is Chief Executive Officer of The Jim Henson Company) so you know great care was taken with presenting the material in the best possible way.

Graphic Novel Review: THE WALKING DEAD: SURVIVOR’S GUIDE

The popularity of Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead comic and television show just keeps growing and growing and it’s no surprise that at 100 issues (and still growing) the comic book series as had many characters come and go and it is with this new graphic novel The Walking Dead: Survivor’s Guide that Kirkman and company set the record straight with every character that has appeared in the ongoing series thus far.  Like most “Who’s Who” tomes there is nothing here that readers will not have seen before except the fact that these types of books are usually reserved for super-hero and major comic book publishers and not a book with normal people and zombies.

Along for the ride contributing to this book are Tim Daniel (who helped with book design and assisting Kirkman on the writing of the book), Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn (on art duties), and Sina Grace (who edits).  All these peoples’ talents are tested as you may think this type of book is easy to put together but is in fact some of the hardest to do.  Fans know these characters inside and out and fact checking every little bit of info is a must because one mistake will turn away your reader. 

A lot of the entries present each character and a brief look at their history and how they have affected or been affected by events in the story.  Kirkman is smart to list everyone’s first appearance (and final appearance) as well as how they may have died or where they are in the current storyline.  Major characters are given more pages in the book but all characters are given at least one page (and there are a lot of characters as the series have no problem killing off its cast of characters).  For me, the book reminded me of characters who have long since passed but still may have an effect on characters still alive.

If there is anything missing from the book it is a table of contents and/or an appendix that lists the characters but this is a small gripe on my part.  The only other fault is that the characters are only (for the most part) listed by the first names but then again Kirkman rarely ever reveals last names of his characters but I think that characters whose name have been revealed should also be revealed here (the only way a reader will know the character’s last name is by reading the entry for the character itself which is where Kirkman sometimes lists it).

This is a must have for the fans of the series who want to know every facet of the series.

Book Review: “Cult Films” by Will Dodson

I read a lot of books on the horror genre of which many of them can be considered “cult classics” by many fans.  This is one of the reasons why I picked up author Will Dodson’s book “Cult Films” but I new going in that this book would be one that delved into films of all genres considered “cult films.”   At only 72 pages the book is lean and I knew going in that Dodson’s book would not go into any great length on the genre but I have to say that my interest was piqued when I saw the 6 large post cards featuring the posters of some famous cult films (which included Vincent Price in House on Haunted Hill, Eraserhead, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Plan 9 From Outer Space, Super Fly, and Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!).

For fans of “cult” films that have even a basic understanding of what a cult film is will not get much out of this book as very little is spent on delving into the history of the films and their influence on the underground and misunderstood genre.  Most of the book is spent defining what a “cult” film is (and is not) as defined by Dodson himself.  I don’t always agree with his definition but he does a good job supporting his views with some of the most famous films that are generally agreed to be cult films.  Because his book is so thin and so little time is spent on each film genre and the cult films within everything seems rushed and mashed together, so, for there is little in this book that will inform and entice fans.

What the book does do well is open the genre up to those not familiar with what a “cult” film and define what films should be included as such.  For someone just wanting a brief definition of the genre this book does a good job and Dodson adds enough photos and material to give a good image of the genre as a whole.  At a price tag of $14.99 I’m not sure how many people who don’t already know something about the genre will be interested in this book but I guess that’s why the post cards were added.

I do wish that an appendix listing the major films had been included or even a few more over views and reviews of the major films (the book is sporadic with its random reviews of particular films) but at least I have the post cards and I guess that’s saying something.

Book Review: “The Rough Guide to Sci-Fi Movies” by John Scalzi

If you are a fan of sci-fi (or at least someone who likes it even a little) than John Scalzi’s book “The Rough Guide to Sci-Fi Movies” is a massive collection of info dedicated to the history and current state of the genre through film from all across the globe.  I’ve seen a lot of sci-fi films but this book educated me on the genre and informed me of tons of films I either had never seen or heard of.  The “Rough Guides” book series (which also includes books on the horror, comedy, and gangster film genres) are books that provide readers with not only an overview of the genre and its start but also lists hundreds of films in the genre from all over the world and provide hundreds of pictures and posters and media for many of the films discussed.

Scalzi’s book starts with a chapter entitled “The Origins: Science Fiction Literature” before delving into sci-fi films in their infancy (i.e. Le voyage dans la lune -1902) to films of the modern age (i.e. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – 2004) and everything in between.  The book is not just a discussion on films but icons of the genre from director George Lucas and James Cameron to animator and writer Osamu Tezuka (creator of Astro Boy, among many others) and composer John Williams (Star Wars and E.T.).  This book manages to cram a lot of info into its lean 325 pages

One of my favorite parts of the book comes towards the end when Scalzi spends many pages delving into the contributions of sci-fi from other countries all over the world which informed me of films I wasn’t familiar with.  There is also a major section which includes sc-fi’s contribution to other mediums such as television, video games, magazines and websites.

The book is very easy to navigate as it is broken into easy to find chapters and there is even an expansive index for those just looking to know about a particular film.  This is a book that every sci-fi fan should include in their library as it will always be an invaluable resource.

Novel Review: RESIDENT EVIL: GENESIS by Keith R.A. DeCandido

I don’t really care for reading novel adaptations of screenplays and films because 9 times out of 10 they will be a carbon copy of the original film with very little extra thrown in.  It is my opinion that these types of books are meant for those who have not seen the film first (for all others who have seen the film then reading the book is all but useless).  Very few novelizations of films/screenplays have been anything other than a carbon copy of the film but this is not entirely true of Keith R.A. DeCandido’s adaptation of the first Resident Evil film.  His novel Resident Evil: Genesis takes a lot of detours from the film.   

The novelization does indeed follow the film (so if you’ve seen the film you already know what’s going to happen and I don’t have to relay those events down here) but it is the first third of the novel that differs tremendously from the film.  DeCandido takes all the minor characters introduced at the beginning of the film (who all die in the original outbreak before Alice and company descend back into the Hive) and gives them an entire chapter with which to give the reader insight on how they got into The Hive and why.  This goes a long way in not only introducing us to these “minor” characters but more importantly they give us an insight on the inner workings of Umbrella Corporation and how it goes about recruiting its employees.  These early chapters also explain how Alice got mixed up in the terrorists trying to bring the Umbrella Corp. down.  In these early chapters are a lot of character bits so that when the zombie mayhem does happen you don’t feel as those you are just waiting for nameless people to die (which is how the film sometimes comes off).

The book does go into the predictable territory expected of these types of books once events jump into and parallel those of the film but there are several times where DeCandido takes the time to give the reader background on the relationships between the Umbrella soldiers (most notably Rain) and these moments are a welcomed diversion from the zombie mayhem.

The book is not without its flaws which is mostly the fact that it has to retread the events in the film but DeCandido adds enough of his own spark to make the book worthwhile for the fans of the franchise.  Another added bonus is that DeCandido also writes the novelization to the sequel Resident Evil: Apocalypse so both books meld into one experience.

Graphic Novel review: THE DARK CRYSTAL: CREATION MYTHS BOOK 1

In the original film The Dark Crystal Jim Henson was responsible for one of the most inspiring and inventive fantasy films thus far created.  Along for the ride was Brian Froud who provided conceptual designs for the film (along with that of Henson’s Labyrinth).  Froud is also responsible for the resurrection of the mythos of The Dark Crystal in this three book epic series from Archaia Publishing called The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths.

In this first book we are introduced into the world of Thra by our storyteller who tells us how their world came into being and how Aughia was created and how she is connected to Thra and the universe and all its inhabitants.  This series “Creation Myths” strives to dig deep into the origins of the inhabitants of Thra through the myths and songs that have been passed down from one generation to the next.

Froud has come up with the concept and character designs for the new series but he has intrusted the story to Brian Holquin and illustrations are by Alex Sheikman and Lizzy John (and is lettered by Deron Bennett).  They’ve created an excellent addition to the Dark Crystal universe that fits perfectly into the Henson world.  This is a great jumping on point for those who have not seen the original film nor have any connection to any other stories or comics thus far created.

Like Froud’s book The World of the Dark Crystal, this series strives to illustrate a world and imagination like none other.  When you step into the world of Dark Crystal you are stepping into a fantasy adventure that will keep you entertained from beginning to end and I can’t wait to see what they come up with in the next book.

Graphic Novel Review: THE CRYPTICS

I’ve read many of writer Steve Niles’ stories and graphic novels (and comics) the most famous and influential being the original 30 Days of Night, which ushered in a new age of horror comics that flourish to this day.  Niles’ The Cryptics graphic novel is no 30 Days of Night and for die-hard fans of his material this oddity will barely even register (especially among many of his other works).

The Cryptics is the misadventures of the offspring of some of Hollywood’s classic monster films.  Present and accounted for are the sons of Dracula, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Wolf Man, Dr. Jeckel & Mr. Hyde and even Van Helsing’s son shows up.  This is an anthology of short stories and comic strips (many average only a few pages long) and detail the misadventures of all the characters who call themselves friends.

The stories are meant to be funny but the comedy is inconsistent.  There are some truly outrageous episodes such as “Gone Fishing” and “Mirror Mirror” (where the son of Dracula realizes he doesn’t cast a reflection) but my favorite is “To Heck and Back” (where the Wolf Man’s son is accidentally sent to hell before his time).  The stories work better when confined to only one to three pages as they read like a Sunday comic strip but the longer stories are a mixed bag.

The one element of the graphic novel as a whole that does work is the fact that Niles succeeds in presenting all the characters as three dimensional characters (something he doesn’t always succeed with in his longer works).  Over the course of both the smaller and longer pieces you get a sense that these characters are experiencing life and childhood just like you or I would have.  Herein, lies Niles’ true success with the series.  He is able to channel the classic monsters that we all grew up with and remember (or at least I do) and meld them with our childhood memories (or how we think we remember them) but to more unusual and comedic results.  They get to have misadventures while fishing, meeting Reapers, playing guns in the yard, having pop quiz at school, having a nightmare and many other adventures that go with growing up.

Niles has worked with many artists over the years but on this series he brings along Benjamin Roman (who also writes a few of the stories as well).  His illustrations perfectly contribute to the off-beat nature of the characters and the series as a whole.  Roman also contributes colors for several of the stories as well.

The Cryptics may be a mixed bag of goodies but there is no denying that Niles can write the funny books just as well as he does the horror and guts books and it reminds audiences and readers that he is a true connoisseur of the classics and can make them relevant to this day and age.

TOP 66 ZOMBIE FILMS OF ALL TIME (Part 4)

PART 4: No.# 50-41

One of the biggest reasons I wanted to conduct my own list of Top 66 Zombie films is the fact that the article in SFX Magazine Special Zombies kept putting films that they didn’t even like at the bottom of the list.  This is a huge travesty as there have been hundreds of zombie films produced and not one zombie film on that UK magazine’s list they should have been ashamed of.  On my list I am not ashamed of any of them.  I’ve seen a whole lot of bad zombie films (ZOMBIE LAKE and FLESH EATER come immediately to mind) but despite the questionable quality of some of the films on my list (and I’m sure you dear zombie lovers won’t agree with all my choices nor their placement on my list) they are all entertaining and films that I would gladly include in my video collection.

In this part of the series I’m going to go into some of the films I deem some of the most entertaining in the bunch.  The one thing to remember about zombie films is that the majority of them are made to simply be entertaining (although there are a few that surpass this expectation) and if it isn’t entertaining then it isn’t any good (hence why PLAGA ZOMBIE and THE DEAD HATE THE LIVING are definitely on this list).  Enjoy them as much as I have.

50. SUGAR HILL (1974)

I lucked out with this film as I just recently saw this film within the last six months and despite the fact that it may be dated it is now a personal favorite of mine.  It’s one of the better “old school” voodoo zombie movies available out there which has a strong female lead that drives the film.  The other big selling point to the film is that it has an almost all African American cast (it is a Blaxploitation film by the way) and it makes no compromises.  It’s one of those films that needs to be seen to be believed.

49. THE DEAD HATE THE LIVING (2000)

A guilty pleasure of mine.  I don’t know if the film is any good but it’s one of my favorite zombie films to just through into the DVD player any day at any time.  It never gets old.  It’s a love song to horror and zombie films and any self respecting fan will pick up on all the homage in the film to other popular horror films.

48. RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE (2010)

This is my second favorite in the RESIDENT EVIL film franchise as it takes a lot from video games to create one of the most satisfying of horror film sequels.  It’s also one of the few 3-D released films that I loved watching in 3-D as the extra added dimension added to my enjoyment of the film.  Great action and suburb make up and visual SFX makes this an excellent addition to the popular franchise.

47. I, ZOMBIE (1999)

Probably the most depressing zombie film ever made as it shows how a man slowly becoming one with his zombie nature after being bitten by an undead ghoul.  Most people think this a boring excuse for a zombie film but I always thought that it explored territory in the zombie genre that just hadn’t been tackled before.  It got into the dark mind of zombie and just continued to decay from there.  Not a film for everyone and certainly not a film for those who simply want to be entertained.

46. DANCE OF THE DEAD (2008)

Filmed in Georgia at locations where I have myself filmed similar indie films this holds a special place on the list because I know many of the actors in the film.  The story also takes a few liberties with the zombie mythos while telling a coming of age story about teenagers who get stuck in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.  It both horrifying and heartwarming while also manages to mix both the comedy and horror in a satisfying way.

45. ZOMBIE HONEYMOON (2004)

The Honeymoon is over for the just married couple in the film when the groom is bitten by a zombie and the bride must figure out a way to cope with her husband’s new appetite for the flesh.  A low budget gem in terms of story and direction as it is a very minimalist film but survivals because of the actors and how authentic they make their characters in such an unusually circumstance.

44. DEAD SPACE: DOWNFALL (2008)

More animated zombies in this of the first DEAD SPACE films.  This is an unrelenting horror masterpiece that is a prequel to the popular video game.  No flesh is spared in this over the top zombie massacre that will have zombie fans wondering why this film didn’t get a theatrical release (I would have loved to have seen this on the big screen).

NIGHT OF THE CREEPS (1986)

If you’re wondering why this film is sandwiched in here it is because when I made the original list I somehow forgot to number this film and didn’t realize it until it was too late but I decided to keep it where it would originally fall on the list.

This is probably one of my favorite horror films from my childhood.  I’ve probably seen this film a hundred times and it never gets old.  This is a flawless film that mixes sci-fi with horror and a big dose of humor.  And it helps that Tom Atkins is along for the ride. I’ve never met a person who didn’t love this film.

43. PLAGA ZOMBIE: MUTANT ZONE (2001)

The most fun you’ll ever have watching a home-grown Mexican zombie film (if you watch both films at the same time its twice as much fun).  This is another one of those it’s so bad its good films.  Despite the questionable logic (which you can forgive because it’s an indie film) this is one of those films that you play in front of a group of your friends (with similar interests in film) while getting drunk and having a good time because that’s what you’ll have from beginning to end with this film.

42. DEAD & BREAKFAST (2004)

The only zombie musical worth watching.  Great cast and over the top violence makes this an excellent time waster.  The musical numbers just put this film on the top.  There is no better fun to be had than in this film.  If you never thought that a zombie film could also be a musical than look no further than here.

41. CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD (1980)

If you’ve never seen a Lucio Fulci film than this would be a good one to start off with.  Fulci’s zombie’s are like anyone else’s from those in his film ZOMBI to those in HOUSE BY THE CEMETARY to those in THE BEYOND.  He has created a type of zombie film that is all his own that has not been easily emulated by others.  His films are gory and uncompromising and not for the faint of heart…which is why I love them so much.  Those with a love of Italian zombie mayhem will love this film and despite the holes in logic (as is the case with most Italian horror films of this decade) it is highly enjoyable from beginning to end.

Zombie films have become a regular diet in the film industry.  After years of being the bastard step child to the vampire and werewolf genres, the zombie film has been the most consistent and successful genre in the past decade and there doesn’t seem to be any signs of wear as this year will see the release of RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION and WORLD WAR Z, to name a few.