Check out Zombiepalooza Today!

My guest blog on Shaun of the Dead is posted at Amanda Hocking's Zombiepalooza site today! 

Go check it out, and some of the other great work already posted.  Thanks!

Book Review: Guardian of the Mountain (David Dalglish)

It's been a little while since my last book review, mostly because I read at a snail's pace when I don't have a vacation in the offing.  But we're back with an indie author that I think everyone should give a try.  A quick note on grading:  I've shifted to a 5 star rating system, since that translates better to other review venues I find myself frequenting.  Also, I think I'm going to abandon any pretense of posting one of these every week on Wednesday...so these will go up as I get them written.

So, without further adieu...
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Greed is a powerful motivator.  More powerful than fear, even...

This is the first book by David Dalglish that I've read, but I can assure you it will not be the last.  At only around 30 pages, Guardian of the Mountain is really more of a novella (or maybe novelette?  Pick your descriptor), but it's the perfect size to give the reader a taste of Dezrel, the fantasy world of Dalglish's "Half-Orc" novel series.  This story functions as sort of a prequel of sorts, filling in back story for at least one character in that series.

"Community" Recap, Episode 2.4

It's been a while since I've recapped a Community, but I think we can jump right back in.  Actually, I had planned on writing up something for last week's, but after watching it, I was so disappointed I couldn't bring myself to do it.  That whole thing with Pierce's dead mother and the examination of mortality--deepish, maybe, but not funny.  It was actually a good reminder of just how young the show still is, really, and in some ways still finding its rhythm.  But after a very solid season premiere and then a very good second episode (Pop-and-Locktoberfest!  Word, ja?), it was disheartening.

And now, Community goes and does something like this week's episode...and totally redeems itself. 

Movies to See This Fall (According to Me)

Ah, fall.  A time of reflection--the evening of the year.  When colorful memories of summer vacations and backyard barbecues begin to fade and drift away like the leaves.  If one listens carefully, one can hear the whisper of winter in the air, and, ever so faintly, the shrug and sigh of a nation of Notre Dame fans accepting the inevitable once again.  The cycle is timeless, and ongoing.  Much like the Saw franchise, which will give birth to yet another shrieking catastrophe in theatres this year (this time in 3D!), fulfilling its own fall tradition of unthinking mediocrity.

But autumn is far from being a barren wasteland for movie fans, of both the effete, art house variety or the Joe Popcorn Bucket looking for middle-brow laughs and expensive melodrama.  Fall is the time for studios to roll out their last-minute Oscar contenders, so their big name ACK-tohrs and period dramas will be fresh in the Academy voters' memories.  In the more mainstream make-a-buck realm of movies, the fall season is the time to release those movies that would not have nabbed enough box office against major summer blockbusters to cover modest but not insubstantial budgets.  And then of course are the latest incarnation of old-concept horror movies released in time for Halloween, which mostly have become vehicles for torture porn gore and as an excuse to pay attention to new starlets in their pre-Lindsey days.

Following is a list of the movies I plan on making an effort to see this fall.  Some are already in a multiplex near you, some won't be out until closer to Christmas. 

Even the Credits for "The Walking Dead" Look Awesome

Well, fan-made credits, anyway.  Danial Kanemoto's 51-second sequence here is by far the coolest piece of marketing for the show I've seen yet.  The animation is borrowed from the original comic book series on which the show is based, backed by the Eels' "Fresh Blood."  I hope, hope, hope AMC picks this up (or some variant) for the regular credits. 


THE WALKING DEAD "Opening Titles" from Daniel Kanemoto on Vimeo.

And I realize I've mentioned this show perhaps a disproportionate number of times, so sue me.  But it would be an excellent opportunity for a sponsorship...are you listening AMC?  Just think, literally DOZENS of people could see promotional material for all your fine quality programming...

"The Walking Dead" premieres October 31st on AMC.

Check Out "Zombiepalooza" This October!

Hi everyone, sorry I haven't posted anything fresh since Wednesday...paying work sometimes gets in the way of this fly-by-night operation.  And, well, I don't really have anything new right now, either, if you want the truth.  But I can offer you a nice alternative. 

Amanda Hocking is an independent novelist who writes predominantly paranormal fiction (if you're unfamiliar with the genre, think Twilight, I guess, only Amanda's writing is actually good).  She writes a blog called My Blood Approves, and she's declared the entire month of October to be Zombiepalooza--in her words, "a celebration to recognize the societal contributions of zombies."  Every day this month, she'll feature a guest blog post, short story, or free stuff giveaway devoted to the shuffling undead.  And, if I may say so, I'll be writing a guest column on the 26th.  I don't want to give too much away, but readers will then have clear access to my deepest thoughts on the cultural value of that greatest of masterpieces, Shaun of the Dead...and I say "greatest of" with no hint of irony.

So while you're waiting on me to finish with the day job nonsense and get back to posting random mutterings on the internet, check out Zombiepalooza, and get ready for Halloween!

-Jon