Review: The Man in the High Castle (Frank Spotnitz)

PODCAST:

S3E9M – The Man in the High Castle (movie)*

SHOW NOTES:

On this week’s super serious episode of “No Deodorant in Outer Space” one of the hosts forgot we were talking about a movie/TV series, and another proclaimed his distaste for movies and television. In other words, it was arguably the best episode ever.

With no guests, spouse, or beer, the three hosts discussed the adaptation of “The Man in the High Castle.” Wilk instantly regretted, upon writing this, that he did not make any jokes about a “Little Man in the Boat”. None of the hosts were in love with the series, but two of them (Ryan and Wilk) concluded that it was very well done and likely had a target audience.

Wilk felt that Amazon was the key to it being made, a network not dependent on sponsors or large ratings, to stay afloat. Ryan spoke to the abstract themes from the novel making their way into the TV series, and said that this factor made the show a success. He seemed to focus on the strength of the literary translation being transposed as the most compelling point. Rick thought it was more or less boring and too long—but admitted he had to watch the TV series (ten hours) in a rather limited time.

All agreed that it was dense material, and the overall consensus was that it was pretty good, but might appeal to some people way more than others. Rick gave it one star, Wilk three stars, and Ryan, in “classic dick” style, gave it four and a half stars.

So, until next time, cover your pores in oil-based paint, because there is no Deodorant in Outer Space!

-Wilk

WRITTEN FILM REVIEWS:

Amazon Series: “The Man in the High Castle (2015) – Season One” by Frank Spotnitz (creator) (Alexa Davalos)

Ryan: 4 1/2 Stars “…Faithful liberties make this series another perfect adaptation in the Philip K. Dick cannon…”

Wilk: 3 Stars “…A horrifying reality where Indiana Jones is probably a dick…”

Rick: 1 Star “…it was a f**king waste of time…”

 

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FUN FACTOIDS:

On the show the website Schmoop was mentioned regarding a breakdown of point of view characters. The website can be found here: http://www.shmoop.com/man-in-the-high-castle/.

Here are some links to podcast interviews with the show’s creator Frank Spotnitz:

• Podcast Interview of Director about the show on KCRW’s The Treatment: http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/shows/the-treatment/frank-spotnitz-amazons-the-man-in-the-high-castle.
• Nerdist Writer’s Panel podcast interview: http://nerdist.com/nerdist-writers-panel-231-frank-spotnitz/.

* DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the views and opinions of the hosts and guests of NDIOS are completely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of the other hosts and guests or that of NDIOS.

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Review: The Lair of the White Worm (Ken Russell)

PODCAST:

S3E5M – The Lair of the White Worm (movie)*

SHOW NOTES:

The Lair of the White Worm film far exceeded the book. It was also a farcical incoherent mess of a film that was fantastic. Of course two out of the three co-hosts did not understand this and ruined not only their own experience, but those of anyone listening to the podcast (and possible people in the near vicinity that could absorb their negative energy).

Like all great films from the 20^th century this starts with a man named Angus finding a skull. This of course leads to human sacrifice, an artificial phallus, an orgy, nudity, murder, the opening of hell, and a giant white worm who may or may not have a lair.

The movie is provocative and high camp at the same time. It is best enjoyed while on a sinking boat or LSD, but not at the same time. The Director was renowned for pushing the envelope in documentary and feature film genres, with most of his notable work taking place in the 1970s. He is known as Ken Russell to some, Uncle Kenny to others.

 

While this film itself is not an arthouse darling it is unapologetically bold and entertaining. Also, lots of nudity. If anything, this is an excuse to watch other Ken Russell movies, including one of this writer’s favorites, “Tommy.”

 

Until next time, cover yourself in Vaseline, because there is no deodorant (and scant lubricant) in outer space!

 

-Wilk

WRITTEN FILM REVIEWS:

Film: “The Lair of the White Worm (1988)” by Ken Russell (Amanda Donohoe)

Ryan: 3 Stars “…I sort of expected more, given the things I learned about Ken Russell…”

Wilk: 4 Stars “…it’s not art, it’s just a fun, exploitative, over-the-top movie…”

Rick: 1 1/2 Stars “…I just wish [Ken Russell] would make [sic] more of a satirical view on the upper classes as Stoker did…”

 

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FUN FACTOIDS:

 

On the show we mentioned that director Ken Russell is also well known for being the director of the film version of The Who’s famous rock opera “Tommy.” This led to a follow up film collaboration with Roger Daltrey (the singer from The Who) about the classical composer Franz Liszt in a documentary titled “Lisztomania.”

* DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the views and opinions of the hosts and guests of NDIOS are completely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of the other hosts and guests or that of NDIOS.

Review: “The Lair of the White Worm” – Bram Stoker

PODCAST:

S3E5B – Lair of the White Worm (book)*

SHOW NOTES:

Well, this show was fantastic. The book was weird but we managed to dig it up pretty well.

-Rick

WRITTEN BOOK REVIEWS:

Ryan: 2 1/2 Stars “…A meandering gothic tale of wormish fiends, overshadowed by a giant kite and frequent supper respites…”

Wilk: 0 Stars “…This is a very bad book and was not meant to be published. It has a worm. The worm is white….Read Dracula instead….”

Rick: 3 Stars “…This book lies in the historical cesspool of courtship to inherited entitlement and propagates paranoid racist incitement that has continued to flush over humankind through the centuries…”

 

(Click the links to read full written reviews on Goodreads.com)

FUN FACTOIDS:

Much of Bram Stoker’s life was dedicated to the support of famed Shakespearean, Henry Irving. Stoker was absolutely devoted to the actor and his exciting and vibrant career kept him extremely busy and even allowed him to travel the world, mix it up with present day celebrities and even meet political dignitaries. After Irving’s death, the author even wrote a two-volume biography on him.

The “Lair of the White Worm” was originally released in 1911 (one year before the author’s death and probably written while suffering an illness). In 1925 an abridged version came out that eliminated nearly a 100 pages. The unabridged version is available for free on Google Books as scanned in by the University of Chicago with original color illustrations by Pamela Colman Smith. You can find this version here: https://books.google.com/books?id=oX1KAQAAMAAJ&pg=PR8&lpg=PR8&dq=lair+of+white+worm+28+chapters+vs+40&source=bl&ots=5TAJSN1tCD&sig=Lr-e1gBCbwEP_vTI0H7wQUMYkIM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiWvLj2jLXMAhUEsIMKHZB0A0wQ6AEIJDAD#v=onepage&q=lair%20of%20white%20worm%2028%20chapters%20vs%2040&f=false.
On the show, Ryan, mentioned that the continuous creepy flying of the enormous kite in the book by one of the antagonist. He may have been reminded of a certain Simpson’s episode:

At some point messages are sent up to this kite via kite runners. Here’s a link to an article with an illustration about “kite messengers” by Dan Beard: http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/spring/kites/messengers.htm.

Lastly, we mentioned Led Zepplin’s song “Hot Dog” off the album “In through the Out Door.”

 

* DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the views and opinions of the hosts and guests of NDIOS are completely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of the other hosts and guests or that of NDIOS.

Preview Episode (The Lair of the White Worm)

PODCAST:

S3E5P – Preview Episode (The Lair of the White Worm)*

SUBJECT MATTER:

Book: “The Lair of the White Worm (1911)” by Bram Stoker

“An ancient evil walks among them.

When Adam Salton arrives at his grand-uncle’s Derbyshire estate he quickly senses that a macabre and malevolent force is at work. In his attempts to uncover the grisly mystery he encounters the chilling Lady Arabella and the obsessive Edgar Caswall, each harbouring their own dark and dreadful desires.

To his horror, Adam discovers that something hideous is living in the grounds of nearby Castra Regis, something that feeds on the flesh of humans. And so begins a terrifying quest to destroy the evil lurking in their midst …” (from Amazon.com)

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Film: “The Lair of the White Worm (1988)” by Ken Russell (Amanda Donohoe)

“In a remote corner of England’s Peak District, a mysterious skull is unearthed. But even weirder is that Lady Sylvia steals the skull for use in worshipping — very erotically — her pagan god, The White Worm, who hungers for the taste of virginal flesh.” (from Amazon.com)

* DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the views and opinions of the hosts and guests of NDIOS are completely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of the other hosts and guests or that of NDIOS.