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Saturday, 28 September 2019

Rambo: Last Blood – 5 Older Films That Need A Sequel

Originally published on Set The Tape

Rambo: Last Blood sees Sylvester Stallone reprising one of his most iconic roles: that of the Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. This isn’t the first time that he’s brought an older character back, however, having previously returned to the screen as Rocky Balboa in the Creed movies. With these returns proving popular with fans we’ve taken a look to see if there are any other older films that could get a sequel decades later.

Commando (1985)

Commando is easily one of Arnie’s best movies. It’s fun, full of action, and hugely re-watchable. Here Arnold plays a retired special forces soldier, John Matrix, who has to come out of retirement to rescue his kidnapped daughter from a former South American dictator. The action that follows is one of the best revenge stories around.

More than 30 years later, could this work again? Yes. It definitely could. Have Arnold play Matrix once again, this time having to come out of retirement to help his daughter rescue her own child. You could even have Alyssa Milano reprise her role as his daughter Jenny. There are a whole wealth of areas that this film could explore, you could have the bad guys be somehow connected to Matrix’s past, or just completely unconnected. Plus, if it goes well you could even go for a John Rambo vs John Matrix crossover too.

Waterworld (1995)

Okay, I know this is considered one of the biggest movie failures of all time, but I think that there’s a lot in this universe that can still be tapped. Add into that the fact that the film has taken on an almost cult status with people (largely in thanks to how it is that bad that it’s kind of fun) and there could be a decent sized audience.

With global warming being such a big issue now a film that focuses a little on the devastating affects of climate change might be a good thing. Instead of being as kooky and weird as the original, a sequel could take on a more serious tone, looking at how humanity has been struggling to survive. Thanks to how small a focus the original film had the narrative could easily shift to focus on completely new characters and places if they can’t get Kevin Costner to return.

Demolition Man (1993)

Another Stallone film that would be great to see come back. In the original Demolition Man Stallone played a cop out of time in a future that doesn’t need a grizzled action hero. Why not return to this peaceful and idyllic future to see how John Spartan got on once he’d beaten his arch foe. Does he get used to this new world, or is he still a fish out of water?

With the first film having already set up the idea that dangerous criminals have been cryogenically frozen, it would be easy to bring some new threats into this future. Stallone could be eager to come out of retirement in order to fight this threat. This threat could be similar to the first film, a criminal or group of criminals that come out of prison without having been subject to the subliminal rehab, or it could be past criminals whose rehab starts to degrade, bringing out their former criminal tendencies. It could also be fun to see the return of other actors in the franchise such as Sandra Bullock, and Billy Cobbs.

Flash Gordon (1980)

Everyone loves a bit of Flash Gordon, whether it’s the cheesy action, the brightly coloured sets, or the kick arse soundtrack, there’s something about Flash Gordon that’s a little bit special. The fact that the film has been celebrated on multiple different anniversaries and given special re-releases means that there’s a huge audience for it, even close to 40 years later.

There have been attempts to reboot Flash Gordon more than once, with none of them really gaining the recognition or love that the 1980 version did. So instead of trying to revamp the film, just make a sequel instead. Let’s have Flash, still played by Sam Jones, being called back to Mongo to help stop a returned Ming. With so many of the cast still around you could have Max von Sydow reprise the role, or have Ming return in a younger, newer body. Timothy Dalton and Brian Blessed could return too. Instead of trying to make a more ‘realistic’ updated Flash Gordon, return to the world of the old one, embrace the over the top 80’s aesthetic and be cheesy as hell.

Lethal Weapon (1987)

It’s been a long time since the last Lethal Weapon film came out – more than 20 years – so I’d be interested in seeing how Riggs, Murtaugh, and the rest of the gang, are doing. Did Murtaugh finally get to retire? Part of the fun of the Lethal Weapon films is the family bond that built between the two lead characters over the years. Having gone from unwilling partners to friends, and eventually like brothers, their relationship was one of the highlights. How would that friendship continue on? Would Riggs have retired too, or is he having to work with a new partner? Does Riggs have to deal with new issues now that his son is a young man? All of these things would be loads of fun to see regardless of whatever the big bad they’d have to go up against would be.

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Monday, 23 September 2019

Thornhill by Pam Smy - Book Review

'As she unpacks in her new bedroom, Ella is irresistibly drawn to the big old house that she can see out of her window. Surrounded by overgrown gardens, barbed wire fences and 'keep out' signs, it looks derelict. But that night, a light goes on in one of the windows. And the next day she sees a girl in the grounds. Ella is hooked. The house has a story to tell. She is sure of it. Enter Thornhill, Institute for Children, and discover the dark secrets that lie within.But once inside, will you ever leave?'

Thornhill isn't a standard book. It doesn't just follow a single narrative, and it isn't limited to a singular medium either. The book tells two interconnected stories, one is about an orphan girl named Mary who is living in the Thornhill children's home in the 1980's, whose story is told in the form of diary entries; the other is about Ella, a girl who moves into a house behind the remains of Thornhill thirty years later, whose story is told entirely with artwork. Together, these stories make one interesting and haunting narrative tale.

Mary is a girl that's been at Thornhill for a number of years, and is struggling to make friends. She suffers from selective mutism, a complex anxiety disorder. As such, she finds it difficult to talk to any of the other girls in the home, and struggles to communicate well with the staff. Her only real escape from the difficulties she faces when around other people is shutting herself away in her attic room and crafting intricate puppet dolls. Unfortunately, Mary's life is thrown into further chaos when one of her tormentors returns to Thronhill after failing to fit in at her foster home. As Thornhill begins to shut down and the girls are found other places to move to Mary and her bully become more and more isolated with each other, which causes the situation to escalate to dangerous levels.

Ella is a teenage girl who has recently moved into one of the houses behind Thornhill, more than 30 years after Mary's story. As there is no dialogue during these sections the reader is left to piece together her story from the small pieces of information given, but it appears that Ella recently lost her mother, and moved with her father to the new home. Her father is having to work increasingly long hours, which results in Ella alone for long periods. When Ella sees a mysterious girl around the rundown Thornhill she tries to find out more about her, discovering more and more clues as to her identity, and her story.

It's pretty obvious from early on in the book that the mysterious girl that Ella is seeing is Mary, and that there must be something unusual going on here. Despite the obvious answer being that Ella is seeing Mary's ghost Pam Smy manages to create a few interesting curves throughout Mary's story that I began to doubt this conclusion. I started to think that perhaps the girl Ella was seeing wasn't actually Mary, but possibly Mary's bully. Thanks to Mary becoming more and more isolated in her narrative, and building towards a breaking point I began to think perhaps the story would have a twist, and that the bully would turn out to be called Mary too (her name is never given to us), and the reader was being intentionally mislead.

Alas, this is not the case, and it is indeed Mary who is some kind of spirit, but as this was one of the very first things that I thought when reading the book I'm not considering that to really be a spoiler. There are a few twists and turns in the narrative that I'm not going to talk about as then it would spoil the story, but the one thing I will say was that the last few pages actually gave me a little chill; thanks in large part to the artwork.

The art in Thornhill is perhaps one of it's most interesting features, and helps to really make the book stand out. Presented in black and white, these pages help to build upon the gloomy and depressing atmosphere that Mary's narrative creates. The artwork, whilst very beautiful, feels oppressive. It's also amazing just how much Pam Smy is able to convey in these wordless pages, just by the small details that she puts into the background and the way she chooses to depict events. It's not surprising to learn in the back of the book that she's a Senior Lecturer in Illustration, and has a number of qualifications in the subject. She doesn't use illustration to add to the written narrative, but to tell its own story. I've seen a few comics try the same trick, of presenting wordless narratives, and whilst some of these worked most of them didn't feel like anything that was particularly stand out or deserving of high praise. Thornhill, on the other-hand, shows how this technique can really be used to its full.

Thornhill is a hefty book, at more than 500 pages. The hardback copy I read also lent to the book feeling like a weighty, almost intimidating read, especially for the younger reader. However, Mary's diary entries aren't hugely long, and a good percentage of the book is given over to illustrations, meaning that it's not really a long book to read. I managed it in one sitting. But whilst I read it quickly I found myself thinking about it long afterwards. There's something about it that stuck with me way longer than it should have. It told an interesting story, with characters that felt a lot more real and grounded than most young fiction. The artwork elevated the book and made it stand out as something special. Whether you're the intended audience or not, the book is so well crafted that I'm sure that it will grip you and draw you in as well as it did me.

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Sunday, 22 September 2019

Beloved Star Trek Actor Aron Eisenberg Passes Away

Aron Eisenberg, an actor best known for his role as Nog on Star Trek Deep Space Nine has passed away suddenly at age 50.

It was announced via the social media page for his podcast, 7th Rule, that he had been rushed into hospital. A few hours later his wife, Marissa Longo, announced that he had passed away on her Facebook page.

'It is with extreme regret and sadness to announce that my love and best friend, Aron Eisenberg, passed away earlier today. He was an intelligent, humble, funny, emphatic soul. He sought to live his life with integrity and truth. He was so driven to put the best he had into whatever work was put before him. He lived his life with such vigor and passion. He was like a breath of fresh air, because I knew I would always hear the truth from him. Even if I didn't want to hear it and even if the truth was inconvenient. He made me (and still makes me) want to be the best human I can possibly be, because he always strove to be the best human he could be. His resilience and willingness to learn was and is an inspiration. We didn't officially announce that we had eloped on December 28th, 2018. We were hoping to have a big shindig in celebration of our nuptials, but had to wait to save up the money.
While, our marriage, on paper, was a short one. Our hearts had been married for far longer. I will be forever thankful for the time we had to love each other. Five years felt like a lifetime, in the best possible ways. There will never be another light like Aron's. The beauty that he was and the legacy he leaves behind is beyond words. I love him dearly and will miss him eternally. At the moment I'm not sure how to do life without him... He is and always will be My California.'

Aron was rushed into hospital on September 21st in critical condition due to kidney failure, and passed away soon after. He had suffered with kidney difficulties throughout his life, and was only born with one. He received a kidney transplant at the age of 17, but these difficulties limited his growth to 5 feet. In August 2015 he was once again diagnosed with kidney failure. Thankfully, he was only on the waiting list for a transplant for just four months as a friend of his, Beth Bernstein, offered him one of her kidneys.

'She is just so incredibly selfless to give to me like this,' he told StarTrek.com following his recovery, 'that words cannot express my gratitude to her.'

Aron will be best remembered for his role as Nog, a young Ferengi that lived on Deep Space 9. Originally introduced as as the son of recurring character Rom, and nephew of regular character Quark, he was originally treated as a comic relief character; as many Ferengi were. Due to his chemistry with Cirroc Lofton, who played Jake Sisko, he was asked back multiple times.

Nog eventually went on to become a Starfleet officer, the first Ferengi to do so. During the course of the Dominion War story line he was shown battling on the front-lines, and lost a leg in combat. This led to a story line that dealt with him having to live with PTSD following his injury, one of the few Star Trek episodes that explored the emotional damage that combat can have upon veterans.

'It's Only A Paper Moon', the episode in which he had to deal with his loss is regularly featured in lists of the best ever Star Trek episodes, and Aron received praise from a number of real life veterans for his portrayal in the episode.

"Compared to you, I'm hollow as a snare drum." #StarTrek #AronEisenberg pic.twitter.com/Cuy2IR8JOP
— TrekCore.com 🖖 (@TrekCore) September 22, 2019

Members of the Star Trek community, and Arons friends and colleagues have begun to express their sadness online at his passing.

I remember watching Star Trek Deep Space Nine when it first aired, and falling in love with the character of Nog even then. Nog went from a throwaway character to having one of the best story arcs of any Star Trek character. He was a thief and a liar, but ended up becoming a loyal, brave, and kind man. He took what the writers and fans thought a Ferengi was and threw it on its head, showing that it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from, you can strive to become something greater than what you are. Aron brought so much strength and compassion to the role that no one else could have played it half as well.

I recently introduced my wife to the series, and she, like me, has gone on to fall in love with his character. We woke up to the news of Aron's passing this morning and the two of us cried at the news. Star Trek has lost one of its brightest stars, and the world has lost a kind and loving actor and human being.

My thoughts are with his family and friends, and all of his fans during this difficult time. Rest in peace Aron. You'll always be Captain Nog in our hearts.

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Friday, 20 September 2019

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King - Book Review

'On highways across America, a tribe of people called The True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless - mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and tween Abra Stone learns, The True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the 'steam' that children with the 'shining' produce when they are slowly tortured to death.

'Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father's legacy of despair, alcoholism and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him and a job at a nursing home where his remnant 'shining' power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes 'Doctor Sleep.'

'Then Dan meets the evanescent Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest shining ever seen, that reignites Dan's own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra's soul and survival.'

The Shining was the first Stephen King book that I read, and probably one of the first film adaptation of his work that I saw (I'm not including the time I saw IT when I was way too young and ran out of the room the first time Pennywise killed a kid). I found the tale of the magic boy at the mercy of evil spirits to be both terrifying and gripping, and read through the book really fast. As such, I was hugely excited when it was announced that a sequel story was coming out. I began reading Doctor Sleep when it first came out, but never finished it thanks to life issues interrupting.

It wasn't until I went to see IT Chapter Two in the cinema last week that I even remembered the book existed, reminded thanks to an awesome trailer for the film adaptation. Having found the trailer to be really good, and knowing that I'd probably see it I thought that it was well past time that I gave the book another try. This time I found the book drew me in, and I read through it in a couple of days.

Doctor Sleep is something of a bold sequel, casting aside a lot of what made-up the original and doing its own thing. This isn't a story about ghosts, or of Danny Torrance being a victim. Instead, it focuses on the nature of the powers that Danny had in the first book, and showed readers that not only were there others that had these abilities, but they could do things that even Danny couldn't.

The book is spread out over a number of years, close to two decades, and shows the affect that the events of The Shining had on Danny. We discover that not only did the events leave him somewhat traumatised, understandably, but that the ghosts of the Overlook Hotel continued to haunt him even after the destruction of the hotel itself. Despite learning how to deal with these spirits Danny falls into a spiral of depression thanks to his abilities, and uses spirits of another kind to block out his visions.

Danny becoming an alcoholic was something of a shock to me, but it made some degree of sense. Not only did it help him to deal with his powers and to stop his nightmares, but it connected him more with his father Jack, who was an alcoholic too. Thankfully, over the course of the early stages of the book Danny hits his rock bottom and comes across people that are willing to help him, and we get to see him put his life back together, eventually becoming an upstanding member of the community and beloved citizen.

This alone would have made for an interesting narrative, as I enjoyed seeing how Danny dealt with the horrors of the Overlook and how he put his life back together, but King had other plans in mind, and introduces a whole new mythology. We learn that Danny is far from the only person with abilities, and learn that not only are there people all over the US with varying degrees of the shining, but a group that are preying upon them.

This group, the True Knot, are people that have the shining, but have transformed themselves into things that are no longer human. Using their abilities, they locate and kidnap children with the shine, before torturing and killing them in order to harvest their life essence. This essence, or steam as they call it, keeps them young and allows them to live for centuries. When Danny is contacted by a little girl with a powerful shine, Abra, he gets drawn into a fight to save her from the True Knot and defeat the killers.

The True Knot make for an interesting group of adversaries for the heroes of the book, and leads to a number of confrontations. The book is good at building them up, and by the time Danny and his friends come up against them you're aware of how formidable they are. Whilst some early wins show that they're not unbeatable, there's still a huge amount of tension for the final conflict on the site of the old Overlook Hotel.

The fact that the book doesn't just use The Shining to establish its universe, but revisits it really helps Doctor Sleep. The book easily stands on its own, but the inclusion of these elements helps it to feel like a bigger world. I know that it already is, as many Stephen King books exist in the same universe, and The Shining has already been established in the same universe as Misery and IT, but getting to go back to the Overlook, and seeing some of those same ghosts again adds a whole lot more.

Doctor Sleep left me pleasantly surprised, and I think it might be one of the Stephen King books that I enjoyed the most. Hopefully the new adaptation will be able to capture a lot of this magic and will also prove to be a good sequel.

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