A New Era of Classic Science-Fiction Films

AuthorAppleton on April 27, 2015

From asking around I gather that many people have not yet watched Christopher Nolan’s addition to the science-fiction genre. In spite of its seamless special effects, powerful acting, and engaging characters, Interstellar reminded me of 2001: A Space Odyssey in more ways than one.

Interstellar takes its time with the plot. It does not drag but it is certainly slow enough to turn off those who are hoping for another action adventure. This is not to say that it doesn’t have its share of action, yet the action forms the backdrop. This movie focuses on the characters and the meshing of the present and the future of humanity.

2001: A Space Odyssey, if you have not watched it, is one of the original sci-fi classics. Great acting and ground-breaking special effects. But as far as a piece of entertainment goes, this was a dreadfully slow story. It made the long scenes in the original Star Trek movie seem fast-paced by comparison. The best portion of the plot takes place when a robot decides to murder the ship’s crew. The strangest part is when the main character enters some otherworldly state and ages even to his death… then to be seen orbiting Earth, in space, in a bubble, returned to his infant form!

In my personal opinion contemporary science fiction films have in large part lost their unique “art” of demonstrating the patient and studious nature of scientific exploration. Too often the action rules out. One scene jumps into the next, leading to one big explosion or something similar. I appreciated that Interstellar did not fall into this trap. It catered to the sci-fi enthusiasts with great visuals, brain-twisting theoretical science, and left enough mystery to feed speculation.

Interstellar represents a small set of films that I will add to my classic science fiction films, which have to be innovative and thought-provoking. Prior to this film the only movie I could place in this group was The Europa Report, a lesser-known albeit worthy addition that follows the first expedition to Jupiter’s moon through only the eyes of the ship’s cameras.

I love space opera sci-fi, like Star Wars and the recent Ender’s Game. But throw something at me that makes me think and blends in some fun theoretical science… that is the heart of the cake. After the frosting I still want to dig into a good cake and find that its layers are just as pleasantly surprising.

Question: What do you think of theoretical science as the basis for compelling sci-fi films?

Writing is (an author’s meditation)

AuthorAppleton on April 20, 2015

Writing is an expression of greatest concern, a reaching for the deepest meaning, a searching of our souls. Writing is.

Writing is

The expression of our passions, dreams, hopes.
The realization of loss and the longing to return the past.
An examination of our hearts and souls.
A way to connect with our Creator.

Is anything such a pure expression?
In writing we say what we fear to say,
Live the life we fear to live,
Reach out to those we long to love.

Is anything as deep a conviction?
Through writing we speak what our mouths cannot,
Walk where we cannot go,
Reach a world we never meet.

Is anything such a full passion?
By writing we connect with strangers,
We lay bare our souls to scrutiny,
We love without reservation.

Writing is a full expression
Of the life we want to live,
The people we want to meet,
The legacy we wish to leave.

This, writing is.

Question: What is writing for you?

Please take my first-ever Reader Survey!

AuthorAppleton on April 13, 2015

One of my chief concerns as a writer is to make sure I do not become disconnected with you, the readers of my blog, my articles, and my books.

To help me better understand how I can improve this site I’d like to invite you to take my first ever Reader Survey.

I am very excited about this because it will give me the opportunity to focus my efforts on the material that best meets your needs. I want to produce the best articles, the most relevant posts, and the most memorable books . . .. In other words I want my content to be valuable and useful to you.

Please take a moment to fill out the survey. It would be immensely helpful to me. Thanks!

Create your own user feedback survey

Cinderella: a true heroine

AuthorAppleton on April 6, 2015

My wife made the suggestion that she take our 3-year-old daughter to see Disney’s remake of Cinderella. Inevitably it ended up being a family trip. The local theatre in town has a Tuesday all-day special price that we’ve taken advantage of before. Coming into this film having already loved Maleficent, I was curious if Disney could succeed in turning another classic cartoon into a worthy live-action film.

Cinderella’s character is honorable in this story and, I think, extremely likeable as well. The supporting cast of actors and actresses filled their roles almost seamlessly. The one exception, I felt, was the fairy godmother. Same actress as the Queen of Hearts in Disney’s live-action Alice in Wonderland. Her personality was so strong that it jerked me out of the fairytale, albeit for only a few moments. Even then I can barely complain as she did play her part well.

So, did Disney succeed in reviving the old classic? I think they did. The overarching theme of love and forgiveness at all costs is a noble part of this story.

Disney seemed to steer away from incorporating non-traditional-family-values into the film. The only point I found a bit “preachy” was how Cinderella convinced the hunter to let the stag get away. All of the big film studios seem bent on convincing us that the life of man is of equal value to that of the beasts and creatures of this world. It is not.

God made the beasts for man, and sacrificed beasts for man. Yes, we need to value the lives of the creatures in this world. Life is a precious gift that is too often taken lightly. Perhaps this is Cinderella’s intent. Perhaps merely a reminder that we are so absorbed in ourselves that we devalue the creation around us.

Cinderella takes us to the heart of God’s love (though God is not mentioned in this story) by offering us a noble heroine who rises above the scum around her to be a truly good person. I think the greatest message behind this movie is that a great hero or heroine rises above their circumstances to do the right thing… no matter what the cost. We need more fiction exemplifying these values.

Question: What was your impression of Cinderella?