Last month, I announced my participation in the 10th Annual Actuarial Speculative Fiction Contest.
You can see my entry along with the others at this link here. Then after you've read the stories, you can vote by clicking on the "Vote for your favorite story" link. The voting ends on March 15, so read fast so you can vote. The chances of me winning that honor are slim, but I'm hoping for winning one of the judged prizes.
If you only have time to read a few stories before voting ... or if you just want to read a few without voting, I'm supplying this guide to the stories. These synopses can help you decide which ones you'd like to read.
I'll get my story out of the way, first. As usual, I'm a terrible judge as to how great my work is. The common phenomenon is that I know in my head what I wanted to accomplish, and when I read my story, that's what I see instead of what I actually did accomplish. As such, I never vote for my own story and I leave it out of the rankings that are to follow.
Actuarial Year - John Johnson, an actuary, awakes from a coma and realizes that the world is starting to go his way. Is everyone becoming an actuary? Or is John still in a coma?
The following four are my favorites of the stories that remain. Each of these follow an individual person's struggles or experiences, and also incorporates actuarial science to a satisfactory degree. I predict that these stories would be enjoyable for actuaries and non-actuaries. I will vote for one of these four.
Calibration (Steve Mathys) - In the not so distant future, probabilities rule everyone's lives. Every night, probabilities are calculated on several yes/no events. Then the morning of the next day, randomly generated numbers determine the actual outcomes. Stuart lives a happy life until one day the answer to a certain question ruins his day -- big time.
Ever-Changing (Kevin Jones) - in a time when the world government establishes an annual budget and decides how resources are allocated, Henry (an actuary) is given a business opportunity that's hard to refuse. Yet, he struggles -- is it best for his family?
Peanut Butter Cookies (Nate Worrell) - A robot is watching over Grannie and taking care of her, but is the robot as good as a human? Plus, the insurance company is getting a little squirrely about the care.
Tolva (Jerry Levy) - Tim Tolva, an actuary, uses his skills to help design babies through manipulating genetic code.
The following five stories are a close second. And you may like one of these better than my top four. They each follow an individual's journey, and should be enjoyable to the non-actuary as well as the actuary reader.
Activities of Daily Living (Carol Marler) - This is a study of a new type of assisted living, from several different viewpoints.
Discrepancies (Laura E. Kieft) - All Celine wants to do is find Kyle (an actuary), but soon will find out that Kyle has stumbled on a discrepancy that is making lots of people rich. However, guess who's in charge of the show...
The Fountain of Youth (Ben Marshall) - There's a new drug in
town, and it's called Time Warp. Rumors are that it can extend one's
life expectancy, so naturally, insurance companies are very concerned,
and may do whatever it takes to make sure Time Warp never sees the light
of day. While Sam learns of this drug, his wife contracts a terminal
illness, and Sam does everything he can to save her life. NOTE: This
well-written and enjoyable story would be in my top four, but it sits
at my estimate of at least 8000 words, which is well beyond the 6000
word maximum of the contest.
Sources and Characteristics of Mortality Tables (James A. Keeney) - Al Payano, actuary is tasked to produce a mortality curve, yet there's a big spike in the data. Why did it show so many 30-years old dying at the same time? At the same time, he's receiving major pressure from his boss to produce results. Al tries to get down to the bottom of the data issues, but starts to wish he hadn't.
The Trial (Rodge) - Dr. Lopez is diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. In an attempt to save his life, he agrees to be cryogenically frozen until a cure can be found. 19 years later, he's cured and revived. However, the life insurance company is upset that they paid out a death benefit only to find out that he's alive again.
The remaining stories are also interesting reads, but rather than following an individual's journey, they are really stories expanding on theories and hypothetical situations. Actuaries will probably find these interesting more than non-actuaries. Oh ... except for "Roxanne, Interrupted" which has nothing to do with actuarialism at all, but still well-written and worth reading.
My guess is that the judged technical awards will come out of this group.
The Actuaries of Boulder Ridge (Chris Fievoli) - shunned by society, actuaries who survive now live in a compound in the boonies of Montana. They do their work in secret, even though standard insurance had collapsed. The government is in a bad way, but one day the actuaries' biggest fears are realized: the government has found them.
An Actuarial Opinion (Mark Birdsall) - a group of actuaries has predicted the collapse of the US economy. Can actuaries save the day?
Defending Your Life (Gregory A. Dreher) - James Johnson, personal actuary, uses his skills by helping people prepare for retirement. But since the degradation of social programs and longer life spans cause retirement ages to be pushed into the 75 range, desperate couples find creative ways to get more money ... through innovative game shows.
Dreamliner (Rizwan Majeed Khan) - An actuary in the future makes a living in the secondary market insurance business. One day he meets Michelle, an aspiring actuary, and taken by her, the narrator hires her and trains her to be his apprentice.
The Martian Paper Flea (Marilyn Dunstan) - Earth's magnetic field is dying and attempts are made to colonize Mars. Peter Gabriel, an actuary, joins the colony and helps to assess morbidity and mortality. As they come to learn that life once existed on Mars, they become exposed to a very interesting virus spread by the martian paper flea.
One Forecast of the Future (Scott McInturff) - Radha and Simon have just graduated with actuarial degrees, and they discuss their plans for the future. NOTE: This story is very well-written, and I enjoyed it as an actuary, but not as a story reader since there really isn't any plot. After introducing the characters, it turns into a long Ayn-Rand-like info dump. I would love to read an action-thriller or some other story with a plot by this author. Also, the word count is either right at 6000 or a little higher.
Roxanne, Interrupted (Walt Herrington) - this story is about Roxanne running from a pack of cyberdogs ... or is it. The story is interrupted by some entity. NOTE: This well written clever piece would possibly be in my top four, except it makes no mention of actuaries or the profession. It's still an enjoyable read.
The Subprime Directive (Sean Behre) - an intergalactic committee has an interesting discussion concerning the death of the human race on Earth. This is a clever analogy of our recent subprime market crash with a funny twist.
I hope you enjoy reading these stories ... and if you feel so inclined, vote for your favorite one.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Zero Hour - A Familiar Story
After watching the pilot episode of Zero Hour, I feel like I've just watched an hour of National Treasure made for TV. That could be good or bad. In fact, I'll go as far to say that if you liked National Treasure, you'll love Zero Hour.
As for me, I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it. There was enough to keep it interesting, and I'm curious to see what the Nazis tried to do, and why it would be the end of the world. It could be some fun Twilight-y Zone sci-fi semi-religious stuff. Now, that would be awesome.
But just like in the Nicholas Cage thriller, the characters are nothing more than pawns moving on a board. In other words, the story is all action and very little character development. Maybe we'll get some of the latter later.
One part I found ironic was when Victor (the bad guy) kept referring to all those movies where this stuff happens, but this is real life. I wonder if the writers were trying to be funny, because if they really thought "all those other stories are fake so this one must be real" would work, they were wrong. It didn't work. Instead it seemed like a funny joke. Just like in all those "other movies and shows," this show has all the fun cliches.
I'll keep watching, because it is fun to watch. But this will be near the bottom of my list until I get some other fun shows out of the way.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Last Resort - RIP
Last Resort was not one of favorite shows, but it was interesting enough to hold my attention for its 13 episodes. It had some really good moments, but at the same time it had a couple of pretty boring parts.
My biggest complaint remains the same as when I reviewed the pilot episode. Throughout the whole series, it felt like the writers tried to cram in so much into so little time. The result was a lot of exposition without feeling. In other words, I saw all the action happening, but I never really felt anything for any of the characters. Even up to the end when the captain went down with the ship ... nothing.
Yet I still always wanted to see what happened next. I'm at least glad that they tried to wrap up the show. They did what I like to call a "Pushing Daisies" conclusion. That's when you know your show is going to be cancelled and you're told that you can tweak your last episode, so you reshoot the last 5-10 minutes to quickly wrap things up. The result was very disappointing for Pushing Daisies and it was equally disappointing for Last Resort.
The first 50 minutes of the finale felt like a normal season finale. Even though the ship was run aground, there was that feeling that something would happen and they'd get that thing back into the water (like as was done in earlier episodes). Then after that last commercial break, we saw the missile blow it to smithereens. Kablaam! We saw that one chick shoot the president. We saw the XO reunited with his sweetie. So, all the major loose ends are tied up, but there are so many other questions left unresolved ... like why did the US attack Pakistan again?
Great -- now the more I think about it, the more I get confused as I look over the last couple of months trying to figure out what I just watched. Oh well. At least it was fun, and I won't miss it very much.
Actuarial Speculative Fiction - 2013
Every other year, the Society of Actuaries hosts an Actuarial Speculative Fiction Contest. The rules: the author has to be an actuary (including anyone who has taken one exam). The story has to involve actuaries or feature some actuarial concept.
By now, you may be asking, "What's an actuary?" My favorite answer to this question is: "A mathematician who predicts the future by examining patterns in the past." That usually gets an oooh.
For me, this contest is the intersection between my day job and my aspiration as a writer. By entering this contest, I can write stories geared toward other geeks just like me. And I also get to read what my fellow geeks come up with. Some of the stories can be quite good.
This is my fourth time entering. My first three entries tried: #1) Funny, #2) Parody, #3) Action flick. This time I went with a tiny bit of humor mixed with actuarial fantasy and exploring what happens when you turn someone's world around. Will this be the time I win a prize?
You can see all eighteen entries by clicking here. I invite you to read, and check out this crazy world of actuarial fiction. Then if any story strikes your fancy, vote for your favorite story (instructions at the link).
In a couple of weeks, I'll present my own overview of the eighteen stories and pick my three favorites.
Happy actuarial reading!
By now, you may be asking, "What's an actuary?" My favorite answer to this question is: "A mathematician who predicts the future by examining patterns in the past." That usually gets an oooh.
For me, this contest is the intersection between my day job and my aspiration as a writer. By entering this contest, I can write stories geared toward other geeks just like me. And I also get to read what my fellow geeks come up with. Some of the stories can be quite good.
This is my fourth time entering. My first three entries tried: #1) Funny, #2) Parody, #3) Action flick. This time I went with a tiny bit of humor mixed with actuarial fantasy and exploring what happens when you turn someone's world around. Will this be the time I win a prize?
You can see all eighteen entries by clicking here. I invite you to read, and check out this crazy world of actuarial fiction. Then if any story strikes your fancy, vote for your favorite story (instructions at the link).
In a couple of weeks, I'll present my own overview of the eighteen stories and pick my three favorites.
Happy actuarial reading!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
200,000 Views on YouTube
As a composer/pianist/etc., I've been posting music videos on Youtube, and a couple of days ago, I hit 200,000 views.
Woot!
To celebrate, and at the same time, to introduce my writing friends to my world of music, here are six representative videos.
#1) My most popular video now has 58,000 views. Someone asked me to arrange and play Chopin's funeral march on the organ, and at the time there weren't any such videos on Youtube. I had no idea how popular this video would become (especially in Europe). Listen to about 2 minutes of this, and then move down to my next video...
#2) Storm Etude is my own composition, a 7-minute experiment in orchestration. I put together some virtual instruments to play it, and perhaps one day I'll get to hear it live. Watch through the whole thing to get the full effect.
#3) For my sci-fi friends, here's what you get when you merge a popular tune with a Chopin prelude. I first noticed that the two melodies where very similar and even in the same key, so I thought ... why not?
#4) Perhaps you like my writing voice, but what about my real voice? Here's me singing some Handel. The accompanist informed me at the time of recording that I needed to alter the return of the "A" theme the second time around, so I made stuff up on the spot.
#5) Here's a taste of some minimalist piano music. I'm a huge fan of Glass, Adams, etc.
#6) And last but not least ... here is the video that started it all. It's not particularly good, but it was my first, and I think it's pretty funny with all its mistakes and mishaps. (At the beginning, I say "Pucker" with a "P." I swear!)
Woot!
To celebrate, and at the same time, to introduce my writing friends to my world of music, here are six representative videos.
#1) My most popular video now has 58,000 views. Someone asked me to arrange and play Chopin's funeral march on the organ, and at the time there weren't any such videos on Youtube. I had no idea how popular this video would become (especially in Europe). Listen to about 2 minutes of this, and then move down to my next video...
#2) Storm Etude is my own composition, a 7-minute experiment in orchestration. I put together some virtual instruments to play it, and perhaps one day I'll get to hear it live. Watch through the whole thing to get the full effect.
#3) For my sci-fi friends, here's what you get when you merge a popular tune with a Chopin prelude. I first noticed that the two melodies where very similar and even in the same key, so I thought ... why not?
#4) Perhaps you like my writing voice, but what about my real voice? Here's me singing some Handel. The accompanist informed me at the time of recording that I needed to alter the return of the "A" theme the second time around, so I made stuff up on the spot.
#5) Here's a taste of some minimalist piano music. I'm a huge fan of Glass, Adams, etc.
#6) And last but not least ... here is the video that started it all. It's not particularly good, but it was my first, and I think it's pretty funny with all its mistakes and mishaps. (At the beginning, I say "Pucker" with a "P." I swear!)
Thursday, February 7, 2013
2013 TV Winter Preview
Now at the midseason point, I'll be trying out these three new TV shows.
Continuum on SyFy (Mondays @ 8PM): 4 episodes in already, this show promises to be my favorite of the three. It starts in the year 2077 when terrorists are about to be executed. However, just before the trigger is pulled, the terrorists launch a device that sends them back into time. A cop named Kiera is caught in this time vortex, and she goes with the terrorists back to 2012.
Most of the story happens in our present (funny how it always seems to work out like that), but there are plenty of special effects to keep it interesting. Each of the characters is richly portrayed. Kiera wants to go back to her husband and child in the future, but at the same time, she feels duty-bound to stop the terrorists from whatever they're trying to do.
Also, the terrorists may not be completely bad. Their desire is to overthrow the evil corporations that run the government (in 2077), though unfortunately they have to kill innocent people along the way.
Another one of those not-quite-so-black-and-white sci-fi shows, this is really good science fiction--the stuff you usually only read in books.
And the timeline continuum? So far, it appears that the laws are "correct" in that there are no paradoxes or alternative timelines. Though it remains to be seen if the writers will stick to these rules. I can't wait to see the remaining 6 episodes of this first season.
If you want to watch from the beginning, there does not appear to be any way to stream for free. But SyFy will run a marathon on Feb. 24 showing the first 6 episodes. That would be your best bet to catch up.
The Following on FOX (Mondays @ 9 PM): 3 episodes in ... The first episode was shockingly good, and also very disturbing. Kevin Bacon plays Ryan Hardy, an ex-FBI agent who is called in to go after a serial killer who just escaped from prison. However, the serial killer has a grand plan. He's recruited several followers who will do his bidding, much like a cult. And this cult really wants to make Ryan Hardy suffer.
The whole premise could be interesting, but I have a couple of concerns. The first being that the second episode was kind of boring, and it felt a lot like 24 -- especially the parts that show what's going on with the bad guys. The second concern is the whole idea of relying on shocking scenes -- how gross can we make this? Or what does the audience least expect here?
The third episode seemed to bring back the interest, and we'll see where this show goes. Will it tell an awesome well-planned-out story? Or will it just be another 24 with annoying plot twists and silly camera shots?
Zero Hour on ABC (starting Feb. 14): This show looks interesting ... a blend of action, sci-fi, and maybe a little religion-y stuff. Plus, it has that ER guy. I wonder if there will be one clock to rule them all!
Returning shows on my list:
The Neighbors (this show has picked up immensely--some episodes are very funny)
The Office (hit or miss, but some episodes are hilarious--will Michael come back for the finale?)
Person of Interest (still going strong)
Once Upon a Time (interesting, but feels like they're stretching--Mulan? Really?)
The Simpsons (though, I'm getting fed up with the DVR and FOX's inability to show the show at its actually scheduled time and not start 2 minutes early and end 2 minutes late)
Touch (returning Feb 8--the coincidences are getting on my nerves, but I'll keep trying)
The Walking Dead (returning Feb 10--can you hear me girly scream?)
Psych (returning Feb 27--does Dad live or die? Not sure, but the formula's changed, and I like the old formula better)
Grimm (returning Mar 8--I'm really enjoying where they're going, well ... except for I really don't want to see the almost-wife making it with the boss man)
Revolution (returning Mar 25--it has its moments)
Doctor Who (returning end of March--I'm looking forward to see how they explain the new companion, though I'm still reeling from the stupid way of losing Amy and Rory)
Continuum on SyFy (Mondays @ 8PM): 4 episodes in already, this show promises to be my favorite of the three. It starts in the year 2077 when terrorists are about to be executed. However, just before the trigger is pulled, the terrorists launch a device that sends them back into time. A cop named Kiera is caught in this time vortex, and she goes with the terrorists back to 2012.
Most of the story happens in our present (funny how it always seems to work out like that), but there are plenty of special effects to keep it interesting. Each of the characters is richly portrayed. Kiera wants to go back to her husband and child in the future, but at the same time, she feels duty-bound to stop the terrorists from whatever they're trying to do.
Also, the terrorists may not be completely bad. Their desire is to overthrow the evil corporations that run the government (in 2077), though unfortunately they have to kill innocent people along the way.
Another one of those not-quite-so-black-and-white sci-fi shows, this is really good science fiction--the stuff you usually only read in books.
And the timeline continuum? So far, it appears that the laws are "correct" in that there are no paradoxes or alternative timelines. Though it remains to be seen if the writers will stick to these rules. I can't wait to see the remaining 6 episodes of this first season.
If you want to watch from the beginning, there does not appear to be any way to stream for free. But SyFy will run a marathon on Feb. 24 showing the first 6 episodes. That would be your best bet to catch up.
The Following on FOX (Mondays @ 9 PM): 3 episodes in ... The first episode was shockingly good, and also very disturbing. Kevin Bacon plays Ryan Hardy, an ex-FBI agent who is called in to go after a serial killer who just escaped from prison. However, the serial killer has a grand plan. He's recruited several followers who will do his bidding, much like a cult. And this cult really wants to make Ryan Hardy suffer.
The whole premise could be interesting, but I have a couple of concerns. The first being that the second episode was kind of boring, and it felt a lot like 24 -- especially the parts that show what's going on with the bad guys. The second concern is the whole idea of relying on shocking scenes -- how gross can we make this? Or what does the audience least expect here?
The third episode seemed to bring back the interest, and we'll see where this show goes. Will it tell an awesome well-planned-out story? Or will it just be another 24 with annoying plot twists and silly camera shots?
Zero Hour on ABC (starting Feb. 14): This show looks interesting ... a blend of action, sci-fi, and maybe a little religion-y stuff. Plus, it has that ER guy. I wonder if there will be one clock to rule them all!
Returning shows on my list:
The Neighbors (this show has picked up immensely--some episodes are very funny)
The Office (hit or miss, but some episodes are hilarious--will Michael come back for the finale?)
Person of Interest (still going strong)
Once Upon a Time (interesting, but feels like they're stretching--Mulan? Really?)
The Simpsons (though, I'm getting fed up with the DVR and FOX's inability to show the show at its actually scheduled time and not start 2 minutes early and end 2 minutes late)
Touch (returning Feb 8--the coincidences are getting on my nerves, but I'll keep trying)
The Walking Dead (returning Feb 10--can you hear me girly scream?)
Psych (returning Feb 27--does Dad live or die? Not sure, but the formula's changed, and I like the old formula better)
Grimm (returning Mar 8--I'm really enjoying where they're going, well ... except for I really don't want to see the almost-wife making it with the boss man)
Revolution (returning Mar 25--it has its moments)
Doctor Who (returning end of March--I'm looking forward to see how they explain the new companion, though I'm still reeling from the stupid way of losing Amy and Rory)
Monday, February 4, 2013
Warm Bodies
Warm Bodies has got to be the most optimistic zombie movie I've ever seen. In most other movies, zombies don't think. They don't have feelings. There is no cure except for a shot in the head.
But as you can see from this first minute clip, these zombies are different. They seem to hold on to some semblance of their former lives. R is the main character. He has a best friend zombie. He has a routine. He's searching for more purpose to his undead life.
He meets this girl. She stirs feelings in him. He decides to protect her instead of eating her. His heart beats a couple of beats ... and by now you should get the picture. This is your typical zombie meets girl film.
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It's funny. The style is hilarious. I like the part where R is eating this dude and he stops to think, "Nice watch." The whole movie is a simple plot, low-key, relaxing, zombie chick flick.
Is this film worth spending $7 to watch in the theater? That depends. If you and your wife happen to both like zombies, this could be a fun date night movie, though I wouldn't recommend eating spaghetti before or after the show. Other than the date night scenario, you may prefer to wait till this hits DVDs/streaming. This movie can be enjoyed just as much at home than in the theater. Plus you won't have to worry about anyone spoiling the movie for you in the meantime, as with the simple plot, you probably already know how it's going to end.
Well ... there were some parts I didn't see coming.
Also, I would guess that hardcore zombie fans may not appreciate this deviation from the norm. Even I said, "Zombies can't do that" in the first five minutes. But if you do go and watch, make sure to relax and enjoy the show. It has its moments.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Awesome Book: Ready Player One
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is a book written specifically for me ... or at least it feels that way. My wife asked, "So you're really reading a novel about ... playing video games?" And I answered, "Yeah. Isn't it awesome?"
The plot is very simple and easy to follow. James Halliday was a gaming genius, multi-billionaire, and creator of the multiplayer online virtual reality world called OASIS. The book opens with James' death. In his will, he announces that he has hidden an Easter Egg somewhere inside of OASIS. The first person to find the Egg will inherit his entire fortune.
What follows is a mad race to find the three keys that would open the gates to find the Egg. Think It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World meets TRON.
The book also has thousands of 1980s references, which is understandable, considering that was the era during which computer gaming first became big. So, not only did I enjoy the game, but I enjoyed reliving parts of my own past. And I even felt proud for being a geek.
Because of the simple prose and simple plot, the book is a very fast, enjoyable read. My only complaint is that it had to come to an end. Though, there are a few hints near the end of a sequel. Ernest is currently working on a different story called Armada. Perhaps it will occur inside of OASIS, but we'll see when that book comes out.
As I read Ready Player One, I kept an eye out for a possible Easter Egg by Ernest himself. My not-so-diligent search came up empty, but I learned after the fact, that he did indeed put in an Easter Egg. Those who found it were led to a website where they were tasked to find three gates, and the person who finished first won a Delorean complete with a flux capacitor. Dude!
I wouldn't recommend this book for younger children, as there are f-bombs (no more than 10) and a few brief adult situations mentioned, though I'm not sure why they were included. Other than that, today's kids would love this book.
If you're an older geeky "kid" like me who loves video games, then this book is required reading. Pick it up today and enjoy the read.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Fringe: It's Finally Over
Fringe has its good moments. It lasted 100 episodes, just enough to survive well in syndication, ensuring its immortality like Lost and Star Trek. Now that the last episode has been shown, I'll share my memories. Be forewarned ... SPOILERS.
Season 1
It started off strong with a grotesque death scene on a plane. That first episode lasted 2 hours, introducing us to the main characters. I was surprised by how far the producers went to show really horrible events. The one man's translucent skin was both intriguing and nightmarish at the same time. Then I was surprised to learn that the genius insane man in the asylum was going to be the one to save the day. I was hooked. For that first season, I watched as the team was formed, and as they secretly investigated the weird of the week. We also got a glimpse of the Observers. Who were they? Aliens? Supposedly, they appeared in every episode, like an easter egg. But I must admit I only saw one of them hidden once. It was cool when that happened.
Season 2
In another strong season, we came to learn that there was a parallel universe tied to our own. Yes, there could be an infinite number of these parallel universes, but this one was close to ours for some reason (much like in Star Trek, we have all those annoying "Mirror" episodes without any explanation why it's always that universe and not one of the other infinite ones). We also learned that Walter caused the Fringe events to occur when he tried to save his "parallel" son. When Walter had crossed over to the other side, it fractured the something between our two universes, which would later cause all these Fringe events and shatter both universes -- eventually.
This season ended in the series' best cliffhanger. When Walter and Olivia went to the other universe, Walter came back, but with the wrong Olivia. Awesome! That last episode ended with our Olivia imprisoned on the other side with "Walternate" gloating over her.
Season 3
This season was more about the parallel universes than it was the "strange of the week." In one way, this was good, because it gave the whole series a better sense of direction. But it was also a divergence from the old formula. The Observers served to help the right thing happen. Walter's son, Peter, had to be sacrificed. Both universes built this mysterious machine. Walternate tried to use the machine to destroy our universe so that his could survive alone. But then we learned that the true purpose of the machine was to heal both universes. The season ended in a great climax, with Peter stepping into the machine and disappearing, and then nobody remembering who Peter was.
Season 4
Then, I'm not so sure what happened. It was almost as if the writers of Fringe thought that they were going to be cancelled at the end of Season 3 ... it got pretty close. I say this, because this whole season felt like, "Gee ... we're still kicking. Dang ... we gotta think up something. I know ..."
The writers went with an alternate timeline where both Peters died as a child. The "other" Peter had died in the lake after Walter tried to rescue him. But the Peter that we knew just wanted to come back from Oblivion. Olivia/Walter somehow brought back this mysterious man, and Peter first tried to convince them who he was, and then he tried to return to his own timeline. But Olivia, still tripping from cortixiphan, somehow remembered the first timeline, transmuted into her original self (who never really existed in that timeline) and everyone was mostly happy.
Though William Bell was made out to be criminally insane, as he tried to use Olivia's powers to destroy their universes and create a new one where he could be God.
Though there were some good episodes in this season, I was mostly disappointed and felt cheated, as the writers saw fit to start some new story instead of continuing the one from the first three seasons.
Season 5
And the last season only existed to bring the series to syndication. It was a big disappointment. The Observers, who had been mostly benevolent guardians of our world, were made to be super time-traveling villains. And the whole Fringe team was transported 20 years into the future to fight this battle. There were a couple of good episodes, but the whole plot sucked (see the trailer above).
How can you fight superior time travelers? You can't! If you try to thwart them (assuming you really can change the timeline), they can just go back in time to erase your butt. They win. How many times did the Observers appear at the right time to stop some parts of the plan? But then at other times, they didn't even think to do the no-brainer tricks they could do? For example, when Olivia and company were on the train, why didn't the Observers do their transport thing to appear inside the train and take them away?
The way to fight the Observers was interesting, but really a big letdown. Show the boy to the 2167 clan and hope they make themselves smart while holding on to their emotions? Really? That was ... big anticlimax! Plus, it turns out at the very end that they scrapped the entire pieces of the plan when that one piece was unobtainable and realized they could instead use the Observers' time/transport system.
And that whole thing about Walter and the boy being a paradox causing Walter to disappear after 2015? IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE! It's as dumb as the reasons for why Doctor Who can no longer see Amy and Rory in the current season. And it's not a case of "I'm not smart enough to understand all the complex timey-wimey intricacies of time travel." Rather, it's a case of "there is no logical basis for that stupid idea." Really, there isn't.
And because of this silly "paradox" created only to set up some ultimate sacrifice, I found it difficult to get into the emotional ending. I found September's death to be more touching. And ... well, I guess there was that one moment when Walter stood at the gate saying goodbye to his son. And then it ended with Peter receiving a white tulip ... something that might have been an emotional closure to the whole show ... Walter's finally forgiven himself. But too bad it would only leave Peter in confusion for the rest of his life. "Where did my father go?"
But anyways, congrats to a show that kept my interest for five years. I'll remember enjoying the first three seasons and sticking with them through the last two. Thanks for the memories!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Les Miserables - 2012
There are few movies like Les Miserables (2012) that know how to find your heart and smash it against the wall. For me, the most effective movie in this department is Grave of the Fireflies, but Les Mis gets pretty close.
My experience with the musical has been exposure to the songs without knowing all the context. That is, I've performed almost all of the ensemble pieces, and have used Bring Him Home for an audition piece once or twice.
But this is my first time actually watching the full musical, and the context gives so much more meaning to the songs. It's almost as if Victor Hugo learned how to capture the essence of pain and suffering and present it in an awesome, complex story.
At first it was hard to get used to everyone singing their lines, even in between songs. It's difficult to look natural while singing, and this is a big challenge in bringing any musical to the big screen. Though I must admit, this is the best job I've seen. After getting used to the style, I often forgot I was watching a musical.
If you don't know the story yet, here's how it starts. Jean Valjean has just finished serving 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. When he gets out, most everyone reviles him, outcasts him, and refuses to give him work. He thinks he's nothing. Then a priest takes him and and teaches him that he has a soul and that he really is worth something, and he can still do something good in life. So, Valjean skips parole and tries to restart his life.
Unfortunately, this attracts the attention of the Inspector Javert, who spends the whole movie tracking down Valjean.
Along the way, we see some really sad states ... mainly views of the poor and how they cope with starvation and cold. Valjean does what he can to help while at the same time trying to avoid Javert.
This film also seems to try and help us remember what we're supposed to be doing in life. One thing that struck me, is that it's all too easy to think, "Wow. That's how they used to live back then?" But there are people living here in the US today ... just like that. The film helped me to feel more human.
As for the music, I was most impressed with Jackman's singing. I would have never guessed he would have been capable of pulling it off. Hathaway also was superb as Fantine. Russell Crowe did well with the technique, but his "perfection" got a little distracting. Sometimes it seemed like he was really saying, "Watch me sing these notes with perfect pitch and perfect rhythm. This is a triplet. Wasn't that awesome? And boy, can I belt!" I've noticed that the better singers will intentionally play with the rhythms so as to better imitate real speech patterns and sound more natural.
I highly recommend this well executed movie. Keep the young kids at home. Also, if you're male, I would make sure that none of your male coworkers watch it at the same time as you. Or if you do, be ready with this line: "Stupid allergies."
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