Ray Harryhausen passed away last week. This has been noted by people more qualified than I to discuss the master of stop-motion magic—Rick Baker, Adam Savage, Todd Masters, George Lucas, Peter Jackson, and more. The superhuman talent and perseverance evident in a Harryhausen effects sequence can easily be seen in countless visual effects artists since he first brought his creations to frame-by-frame life on the big screen. That makes sense. So how can I really say anything of worth when I say that I was also profoundly influenced by the artistry of Ray Harryhausen? With modesty, and a story about Clash of the Titans. Continue reading…
See All Categories
- Comics (120)
- First (7)
- Guest Star (45)
- Movies (34)
- Notes (2112)
- Romance (76)
- Science-Fiction (116)
- Screen (58)
- Videogames (71)
Recent Features
Ray Harryhausen and Me: A Life of High Adventure and Escapism
Things That Change You Forever
I have a ghost story of my own. At least, I have a ghost-cat story.
My final year as an undergraduate was spent in relative splendor. My friends and I lucked into tenancy in the house of a professor on sabbatical. Twelve foot ceilings! Built in bookshelves! Three cats! Real, grown-up furniture! Wait… let’s get back to the cats. The professorial family had three cats and a dog, though the dog was sent to a friend with a farm (later, they told us later that we clinched the lease when they told us that cat care was part of the deal and our response was, “Aw, we don’t get the dog?”).
So. Three housemates, three cats. One morning around the (solid oak!) table, we were chatting about the cats’ sleeping habits. Two of the cats routinely slept in my room, the third with one of the others. Feeling a little left out, the third roommate said, “That’s okay, because Ghost Cat slept on my bed last night.” Continue reading…
Secret Agent, Detective, Genius, Jerk: Modernizing Sherlock Holmes
A man with dark wavy hair wakes up in an iron-framed bed in the middle of a windowless room. He leaps out from under the white sheets and stares intently at a corner of the white ceiling. Suddenly, gracefully, he spins to defeat an invisible opponent in four swift motions, finally falling to his knees in front of an empty chair, hands outstretched.
There’s something about the way Benedict Cumberbatch plays the lead role in the BBC series Sherlock that seems like it could be Holmes’ fantasy version of how a brilliant detective behaves. Continue reading…
My New Weapon of Choice
In April, the Guttersnipes like to mix it up a little. This month, Comics Editor Carol Borden writes about romance.
“You hit him with a frying pan,” he said to her. “How come you didn’t grab a knife?”
“The frying pan was closer.” Her eyes slid away. “It’s not like I had time to pick a weapon. It’s not like the frying pan is my weapon of choice.” –Agnes And The Hitman (27)
Growing up in a town where Elvis was sighted post mortem, I despised and mocked The King. Now, I have held wakes in his honor. I used to only like punk. Then I used to say I liked everything but country. Now I don’t even bother arguing that I’m listening to “Americana,” not country. It is a truth universally acknowledged that something I once despised I will come to appreciate and, often, love. So when both Chris and alex recommended Jennifer Crusie, the author of many romance novels, and in particular her collaboration with Bob Mayer, Agnes And The Hitman, I knew I needed to read it. Continue reading…
Looking Back On The Snowy Day
It’s the 50th anniversary of Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day. All Things Considered looks back on the classic picturebook about a boy named Peter encountering snow and interviews Deborah Pope, the executive director of the Ezra Keats’ Foundation about the implications of quietly introducing a non-stereotypical African-American child in a children’s book.
Interview with George Takei
George Takei is interviewed on NPR’s Here and Now. Takei discusses his experiences growing up in an internment camp during World War II.
Suda51′s Sdatcher
Based on the Konami game, Snatcher, Suda51′s radio drama, Sdatcher, is about a man tasked with destroying robots who have infiltrated human society. Sure, it’s very Blade Runner, but it’s fun and translated into English by Marc Laidlaw. (via Tim at The Hand Eye Society)
“The Lottery”
On the anniversary of Shirley Jackson’s birthday, here are a piece on The Haunting of Hill House at DarkEcho and a 1951 radio play of her “The Lottery” on NBC Short Story.
Hear Mysteries of the Inner Sanctum!
The Internet Archive has a collection of the old time radio show, Inner Sanctum Mysteries, sure to spookify any All Hallow’s Eve.
Interview with Maurice Sendak
Listen to Fresh Air‘s interview with Maurice Sendak about his secret stash of work, death, this time that is for him and him alone and his favorite lines in his new book, Bumble-ardy
Thrilling Adventure and Supernatural Suspense Hour!
Thrilling Adventure and Supernatural Suspense Hour is the podcast that brings you, the audience, the thrills and suspense you deserve! Live on stage or delivered wirelessly to you in the comfort and safety of your home. The Thrilling Adventure and Supernatural Suspense Hour is brought to you by Patriot Brand Cigarettes, “They’re good for your [...]
NPR Interviews George R. R. Martin
Callers ask fiction and fantasy author, George R. R. Martin questions on NPR’s “On Point.” “I never saw distinctions between these two genres. They all seemed to me to be flavors, if you will, of imaginative fiction, romantic fiction The great romantic tradition as opposed to realistic tradition in literature. My father called it all [...]
Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons
Pornokitsch traces Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Person from his first appearance in 1906, through a radio and tv series to a comic book adaptation from Moonstone.
Old Time Radio Horror
“Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula” isn’t old time radio, but its old timey and fun to listen to before Halloween. The Internet Archive’s Old Time Radio collection has more, including Orson Welles and the Mercury Theater on the Air’s “War of the Worlds” broadcast.
One Genre Icon Interviews Another
Ian Fleming interviews Raymond Chandler. Yes, Ian “James Bond” Fleming and Raymond “Philip Marlow” Chandler.
NYAFF 2010
The New York Asian Film Festival is coming up and actors Sammo Hung and Simon Yam will be in attending their films Kung Fu Chefs, Bodyguards and Assassins, Echoes of the Rainbow and Eastern Condors. But even if you can’t make it, it’s worth checking out the films and trailers for the Hong Kong/China and [...]
Picking It Apart
Another reason to love This American Life. Joss Whedon performs part of the commentary track for Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog. (via Film School Rejects)
Two Geeks Enter, One Geek Leaves
John Hodgman and Patton Oswalt face off in an epic geek-off for WFMU. Bester’ed, Bova’ed– two geeks enter, one geek leaves.
Ghostly Voices from the Past
Old Time Radio has a collection of old horror shows just in time for Halloween. You can find the Mercury Theater of the Air’s “War of the Worlds” and “Dracula,” a collection of Australian Frankenstein shows and some Dark Fantasy, too. Aren’t you glad they aren’t “spooktacular” or “fangtastic?”
Smart Bitches, Trashy Radio
Smart Bitches Candy Tan and Sarah Wendell talk man-titty vs. man-boobs, Romance masculinity and their favorite bad euphemisms, but don’t too much into the heroine’s “magic hoo-hoo” with Australian comedian and radio host, Alan Brough. Hilarity ensues! (We can’t recommend the Smart Bitches, Trashy Novels site enough, whether you read romance or not).
Super Wizard Stardust and Fantomah, On the Air!
Just can’t get enough of disturbing Golden Age comics auteur Fletcher Hanks? Stardust the Super Wizard and Fantomah go on the air on WFMU. Or at least Paul Karasik discusses Hanks, which is a much better situation.
“Able Baker perfect. No injuries or other difficulties.”
The title alone makes this story about the first primates in space worthwhile: “After 50 Years, Space Monkeys Not Forgotten.”
Saving the Fox
The CBC interviews former Gutter Movie Editor Robin Bougie about Vancouver’s famous and endangered grindhouse palace, The Fox. (He wrote an article about the Fox and the Venus–read it here).
Just Under 9 Minutes of Wong Fei-Hung
Wong Fei-Hung’s been on my mind lately. Luckily, Kung Fu Cinema has a nice video (scroll down) of Wong Fei-Hung in the movies from Kwan Tak-Hing to Gordon Liu, Jet Li as well as Jackie Chan and actress Angie Tsang Tze-Man’s portrayals of young Wong Fei-Hung. There’s also a detailed companion article tracing the historical [...]
« go back — keep looking »Of Note Elsewhere
“It’s easier to tell the same stories everyone else does. There’s no particular shame in it.
It’s just that it’s lazy, which is just about the worst possible thing a spec fic writer can be.
Oh, and it’s not true.”
Kameron Hurley writes about lazy writing, cannibal llamas, female soldiers, and women here. (Thanks, James!)
Patton Oswalt’s multi-franchise super-movie described in his Star Wars filibuster from Parks and Recreation, animated.
Corrigan Vaughan writes an open letter to “Fans of Geek Things“: “I appreciate that you think I have a nice rack and that some of you even find my friends and I to be pretty. That’s very kind. I’m not, however, super in love with the fact that having a rack at all seems to preclude me from being considered a ‘real’ fan.”
The Hollywood Reporter interviews director Takashi Miike about his new film, Shield of Straw: ” In Japan now, films are very safe. When I was young and went to old cinemas, they had a distinctive feel, an adult smell about them. As you got in your seat and the lights went down, there was a feeling of excitement: What if the film is scarier than I thought it’s going to be? You’re taken into that world. Nowadays, you can sit in the theater and know it’s going to be safe. That’s good for business, but not for filmmaking.”
The Book!
Spilling into Twitter
My TweetsObsessive?
Weekly Notifications
Search the Gutter
What We’re Talking About
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
action
adaptation
animation
art
Canada
capitalism
China
comedy
comics
fandom
fantasy
feminism
film history
games
geekery
gender
history
horror
interviews
Japan
martial arts
monsters
movies
music
RIP
romance
science fiction
space
superheroes
the ladies
trailers
tv
UK
USA
video
writing