Tag: review

Review: PKD’s Unfinished Sequel to TMITHC

Posted on April 2, 2022July 29, 2023 by grasshopper in High Castle

I finally had a chance to read the two mysterious chapters of a scrubbed sequel to PKD’s The Man in the High Castle. I finished them a few ~~days~~ weeks ago, but their mark has yet to fade from the recesses of my mind. While I understand why he never finished it, I wish there was more.

The chapters were accompanied by an essay and a fictional blurb about Hawthorn Abendsen.

Naziism and The High Castle (1964) is an eye opener into the mind of PKD. He asks pointed questions about human nature and discusses Nationalism—no one is immune from falling into it. The essay reminds me of a quote ages ago when Season 2 of High Castle had just aired:

I think we have is to humanize Nazis. If you indulge the fantasy that they were not human, then nothing is learned. This is human beings that did this. It is only humans that are capable of inhumanity.
Rufus Sewell on portraying his character, John Smith (2016).

Reading it (and the subsequent chapters) made certain aspects of the show much more clear to me. I wish I could properly put into words how it has effected me, but I can’t seem to figure it out.

The chapters are well worth a read to anyone who is interested and is a fan of TMITHC.

Mild Spoilers Ahead!

Unlike the novel, which focuses on the Pacific States and Neutral Zone, the chapters follow Hermann Göring and Rudolph Wegener (Rudy!).

Göring’s chapter introduces us to the Die Nebenwelt. He is skeptical of it, disinclined to believe anything—anything can be forged, right? It was interesting to follow it from his perspective, as vile as it may be. He’s not the obsessed psychopath Himmler was in the show; they (and he) took a more cautious approach to everything.

Rudy’s chapter involves him being taken to Heydrich who sort of strong-arms him to get close to Die Nebenwelt and spy for him (I have no doubt in my mind that the scene where Heydrich sends him to assassinate Hitler came from this chapter).

As I said before, I wish there were more!

5/5 Stars

SGS: 6 Must Watch Sci-Fi Shows

Posted on May 23, 2021 by grasshopper in Geeky Sunday

It’s time for another fun filled Seriously Geeky Sunday! I know I’ve been sporadic lately–you can blame Pandemic Brain for that one. I’m ever so slowly getting myself back up to pre-covid creativity levels. I painted a mural in my bathroom last weekend, and let me just say that it was a much needed reprieve from everything.

Seriously Geeky Sundays: Science Fiction

And now for today’s theme, which is near and dear to my heart: Science Fiction. I’ve been into the genre for as long as I can remember. I’ll be focusing on six shows that I don’t normally spotlight on here, including my current obsession.

Let’s dive in!

23rd – Six on a Sunday: Science Fiction

Starting new this year one week a month will just have a theme and no questions. It’s in the spirit of memes that are no longer active and to give us all a relaxing week once a month. The theme can be answered anyway you wish and there is no right or wrong answer. If the subject was ‘science fiction movies’ you could discuss your favourites or the upcoming movies you’re looking forward to. As long as there are six of them you’re good!

The Expanse – MCRN

First up is my current obsession, The Expanse: more specifically Mars and the MCRN. If you haven’t watched this show yet, you are missing out. It throws you right into the action as you follow Holden and crew throughout their adventures. I remember I became obsessed with the MCRN (Martian Congressional Republic Navy) the first time one of their ships appeared (The Donnager).

I love their authoritative, militaristic society (what can I say; I like that sort of thing in fiction). I cannot wait to see more of the splinter group headed by Sauveterre in Season 6 (Before I get ahead of myself, I just want to note that I haven’t read the books yet). I I know that there is an epic MCRN villain named Duarte, whom I’m looking forward to seeing.

The Mandalorian

I loved this show. Everything about it captivated me, the music, costumes, the characters, and the simplicity of it. I kept calling it “The Witcher in space” because it follows a similar adventure/quest of the week format. That format is refreshing in today’s era of many complicated plot lines involving dozens of characters, some of whom forgotten and never resolved.

Altered Carbon

It only ran two seasons, but it’s one of those little known shows on Netflix that is uniquely different. It had its own niche cyberpunk charm. I highly recommend it!

Synopsis From Netflix:

More than 300 years in the future, society has been transformed by new technology, leading to human bodies being interchangeable and death no longer being permanent. Takeshi Kovacs is the only surviving soldier of a group of elite interstellar warriors who were defeated in an uprising against the new world order. His mind was imprisoned for centuries until impossibly wealthy businessman Laurens Bancroft offers him the chance to live again. Kovacs will have to do something for Bancroft, though, if he wants to be resurrected. Bancroft’s request of Kovacs is to solve a murder — Bancroft’s. “Altered Carbon” is based on Richard K. Morgan’s cyberpunk noir novel of the same name.

Dark

If you enjoyed The Man in the High Castle and the multiverse within, you’ll enjoy Dark. It weaves in an out of time through alternate realities involving the same small town. A mysterious cave is at the center of it all. Two opposing forces are at work–I won’t drop spoilers because this is a show where everything has a purpose and story.

The Orville

I remember rolling my eyes at the first trailer when it came out ages ago. I thought it would be just another stupid comedy and shove a bunch dumb jokes down our throats with every single awful trope that ever existed–Oh, how wrong I was! I am so thankful I gave it a chance. It’s one of my favorite sci-fi shows in recent years. If you love the 90s era of Star Trek (The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager), you’ll love The Orville .

The comedy is PERFECT! It’s on point and fits into the story (which is rare in television).

The Orville — Please let there be a Season 3!

Falcon and The Winter Soldier

Out of the three Disney+ shows we watched (WandaVision, The Mandalorian, and Falcon and the Winter Soldier), this one was my favorite. It was the show I cared least about going into Disney+, but ended up being my favorite. It falls under the genre of military sci-fi, which is probably one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much.

It was wonderful to see an actual hero with a kind heart being the lead for once instead of a snarky anti-hero who does horrible things, yet constantly gets free passes.

What they did with Walker was fantastic. I fully expected them to drop the ball and turn him into a one-dimensional prick. He was a troubled soul, but deep down a good person. He cared deeply for Lamar, and was such an interesting character to follow. I’ll stop there in the name of spoilers.

Falcon and The Winter Soldier — I’ve already pre-ordered the action figure

TMITHC’s Finale is an Gripping Tale of Human Nature

Posted on November 30, 2019January 5, 2020 by grasshopper in High Castle

“Truth, she thought. As terrible as death. But harder to find.”

― Philip K. Dick, The Man in the High Castle

Season 4 far exceeded my expectations, and by exceeded, I mean jumped onto a rocket and left me behind in the dust to gawk at the beautiful complexity of it. The cast and crew weren’t kidding when they said it is the best season yet.

I got a shout-out during the Facebook live stream when they discussed S4. ❤ You can watch the full video here.

If you haven’t finished the finale, go no further. There are spoilers ahead.

The season exposed humanity at its best and worst. We saw the very best in Childan, the Crown Princess, and Admiral Inokuchi. Despite the odds, they gave everything for the greater good. Childan threw away the rare antiques and treasures that were integral to his greedy character to be with his wife and ensure her safety. The Crown Princess saw the need to give the Pacific States back, and. Inokuchi was willing to die for her.

Characters like Chief Inspector Kido and Helen were forced to face their life decisions face on. The way it all unfolded for them had me at the edge of my seat. Everything was beautifully executed and woven into the story–I enjoyed watching those two unravel into despair and suffer the repercussions of their actions and then to try to do the right thing. It was so wonderfully written in that it didn’t feel like the audience was being beaten over the head with it.

Smith was humanity at its worst. Talking about him and how his story came to a close will be a post of its own. Alt-Smith explained it best when he told Juliana why he didn’t pursue a career in the military–he saw how easily power corrupted him. I was worried that they’d give him a cliche redemption RAWR ‘MURICA arc, and am beyond happy that they didn’t.

His thirst for power and the twisted being he had allowed himself to become was his undoing.

The BCR

I was skeptical that they added an entirely new set of characters, but it turned out that I was worried over nothing. The addition of the BCR helped make this season the best. The BCR characters were fully fleshed out, each with his or her own opinions and underlying (deep) reasons for the things they do. The story wouldn’t have been the same without them. Bell and her crew were a great addition to the TMITHC universe!

A Solid 5 Stars

As I said at the beginning of this review, S4 far exceeded my expectations. I was honestly afraid that S4 would derail into yet-another-RAWR ‘MURICA-freedom-saves-the-day ending that I’ve seen so many other shows and movies fall into. You have no idea how glad I am that it did not.

Just finished S4: E8. I feel the need to expand my vocabulary, because nothing I say will bring the intriguing story that is unfolding in this episode justice. I am honestly at a loss for words because everything about this season has far exceeded my expectations! #HighCastle

— Ms. Luna (@MishiWan) November 22, 2019

TMITHC finale was bittersweet perfection that exposed humanity at its rawest form. I give it a solid 5 stars and a 11/10!

Stay tuned for future posts where I dive into Smith’s character and talk about the little details like their spoof of The Twilight Zone!

Coming to a Multiverse Near You: TMITHC Season 3 Review!

Posted on October 24, 2018 by grasshopper

There is so much I wanted to say, but I couldn’t fit every little detail, scene, and character interaction that amazed me into a single review. I may go back and do a Little Details I Noticed post in the future.

The Man in the High Castle (TMITHC) Season 3 is different from the first two, and while there were rumors of it having a positive outlook, I felt that it is the darkest and most depressing season of the show so far—this isn’t a criticism. If you haven’t watched it yet, strap in for the ride and grab a box of tissues while you’re at it.

You will need them.

Before I tread into spoiler territory, I just want to say that the acting, the visuals, and the costumes blew me away. Everyone involved with the show did such an exceptional job! Kenneth Tigar (Himmler), Rufus Sewell (Smith), and Chelah Horsdal (Helen Smith) deserve Emmys for their performances (well, everyone involved in the making of the TMITHC does!).

And now for some spoilers!

I’ve broken down the review by my favorite characters this season.

Admiral Inokuchi
My favorite new addition to the show! I mean, it doesn’t hurt that he has a fleet of badass ships with him. I loved his peaceful pragmatic approach to everything, “We need to win them over.” Finally a high ranking official in the Pacific States that gets it (other than Tagomi, of course!). I want to see more of him in Season 4.

Tagomi
He continues to be a beacon of hope and goodness while possessing a calm, peaceful demeanor. Himmler greatly underestimated him, and the scene where he defends himself against his would-be assassin was perfection, right down to the solemn expression on his face. He did not want to do it, but it was the last resort because it was him or the assassin.

I loved the meeting between Tagomi and Smith. It was so well written and acted on all fronts. I’m glad the two characters got to see each other face to face. They are so very different. I’ve always wanted to see an interaction between the two.

Kido
One does not mess with Chief Inspector Kido.

I enjoyed watching him go to the Neutral Zone posing as a member of the Yakuza and having to tolerate other people to blend in.

Clerk: Information isn’t free.
Kido: *Slams his head against the desk*

Well, he tried. 😉

I didn’t expect him to actually catch up with Frank, so when *it* happened, I was shocked. I found it interesting how he drove out to the site of a WWII Japanese Internment camp and how he changed into his uniform to give him a ceremonious execution. I’m still trying to figure out if it was a sign of respect, or if Kido felt an immense amount of guilt because the bomb happened under his watch and, therefore, he was honor bound to execute the culprit.

Ed, Robert, Frank & Jack
I absolutely adored these four. I loved every second they were on screen. It was so nice to see Frank showing remorse for his actions in Season 2.

As for Ed, I am happy they gave him a boyfriend (Jack). It’s been established that he is gay since Season 1, and I always wondered if they’d ever put him in a relationship. I felt that this relationship fit perfectly into the story because Ed is a character we’ve cared about since Season 1, and Jack seamlessly flowed into the storyline and helped progress the plot. He is a likeable character that you can’t help but root for. I loved the dynamic between him, Ed, and Robert. I look forward to seeing more of them in Season 4.

The trio unfurling Frank’s banner in San Francisco was such a beautiful way to protest without causing anyone harm, and I wish they were the leaders of the resistance because it was just so pure, honest, and good. It was my favorite scene of theirs.

Before I move on, I loved the reunion between Frank, Ed, and Juliana.

Smith
The home he’s built for himself and his family is collapsing around him. The sins of his past and present are catching up with him. Thomas’s death shattered his world. The perfect, warm family life he’s enjoyed for so long is now a mere shadow. Everyone he cares about is either dead or gone. He’s lost Wagner, Thomas, Erich, Joe, and Helen whisked the girls away from him.

His storyline was the darkest and most depressing of all. Watching Helen fall apart during the first half of the season was heartbreaking. When she left and told him that she was running from him, I wanted to cry (Chelah Horsdal deserves an Emmy for that performance).

As the season progressed, he grew more stoic and distant, and she embraced her emotions—her heart led her to do what she thought was best. The contrast between the two was chilling and a so beautifully sorrowful.

One thing is for certain, Smith is reaping what he’s been sewing for the past 15 years. I don’t want redemption for him. I want him to get what he deserves. Remember the memory dream sequence involving the little girl in Cincinnati.

Let us not forget that.

With that being said, he is my favorite character, and Rufus Sewell is an extremely talented actor who portrays the character so perfectly!

Here’s to looking forward to what Season 4 has in store for us, and hopefully we won’t have to wait 2 years. 😉

DunKirk: Best Movie of 2017

Posted on August 3, 2017 by grasshopper

I feel spoiled by these amazing films and shows coming out in recent years. We’ve got Mad Max: Fury Road, The Man in the High Castle, and now Dunkirk.

Honestly, I feel like it is MY time (as far as movies and shows go). I feel as though these works were written just for me! Well, I know they weren’t, but it feels that way!

I was lucky enough to see Dunkirk in an IMAX theatre, and let me tell you this: I was blown away. If there is an IMAX theatre near you, I recommend seeing it there. It’s worth the extra cost. The massive screen and sound system throw you into the film; if there is a match made in heaven, it is Dunkirk and IMAX.

We all know how the Battle of Dunkirk ends, but there are little nuances in the film that warrant a Spoilers Alert. Scroll past the image to read my review!

The movie follows three different sets of characters/places, The Mole, The Sea, and The Air. They take place at different times, but by the end of the movie, everything weaves itself together like a beautiful tapestry.

The background score was one of the best I’ve heard. It played right into the film, your emotions, and radiated a sense of urgency the entire time. It fit the stories like a leather glove (okay, so that was cliché, but it was the glove or sit here for ten minutes thinking of another metaphor).

While all three sets were wonderfully done, for brevity’s sake, I’m going to focus on The Mole.

You are thrown into The Mole with a young British private whose primary goal is to survive. The adventure starts immediately! He comes across another private (Gibson). The pair become unspoken battle buddies and do everything they can to survive while, somehow, doing the right thing the entire time.

The beauty of this is that no dialogue passes between them, for it is not needed (but there is a reason which I’ll touch on in a moment). Like the other soldiers, they want to survive. They aren’t cliché superheroes with raging biceps and capes; they are ordinary young men stranded under enemy fire. As a veteran, I found their scenes to be spot on.

The survival adventure begins to reach its crescendo when the pair join a group of soldiers and climb into a ship that had drifted to the beach. The soldiers hope that the tide will come in and carry it out to sea.

The ship is dangerously near enemy lines. The enemy does not see the group of British soldiers take refuge in the ship and start using it for target practice.

Tension rises.

The tide starts coming in.

Someone is shot trying to plug the holes.

He screams.

The enemy now knows that there are men aboard, so they begin firing on the ship with purpose. Tempers inside begin to flare, and it is then one of the soldiers notices that Gibson has never uttered an actual word.

The scene that follows sums up the perfection and beauty of the film. Gibson is not British. He is a French soldier trying to survive and escape just like the rest of them. When he realized only the British had a way off, he posed as one.

You don’t care about what he did. You want him and the others to survive and get back home.

Dunkirk is a masterpiece that ranks either first or second in my all-time favorite movies (I can’t decide if I like it better than Mad Max: Fury Road or not). It is a must see.

I give Dunkirk 5/5 stars.

Tag: review

Review: PKD’s Unfinished Sequel to TMITHC

Mild Spoilers Ahead!

5/5 Stars