Here is what I imagine could have happened as Stephen King was planning to write Joyland: Okay. I like amusement parks. I should think of a certain ride that is likely to terrify lots of people. I know – the ferris wheel. I’m seeing a struggle on that ride, and it stalls. Two people are…
As the story goes, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were in the planning stages forRaiders of the Lost Ark, but they were still struggling with one key element – who the hell was going to play Indiana Jones? The best they had at the moment was Tom Selleck. To distract themselves, they went to a late-night…
I recently received a rather unexpected comment on something I had written, and I think I did a good job of responding politely. Like most writers, I greatly look forward to comments, either positive or negative. Naturally, we like the positive nods because it means, usually, we did something well. I pause with usually…
First, I’m not thrilled with the live-action remake of animated classics trend, most notably Disney classics. I’m warning you now that Cinderella comes out next March with Helena Bonham Carter as the fairy godmother. Second, I’m also not thrilled with changing the story for marketing sake. In the case of Maleficent, Disney went for a better reaction, especially…
Don’t get me wrong – I like death, but death has limits and needs reasons. Without motive and a ground work, death is no more interesting than a flat tire or a carnival that closes early because the rains arrived. As goes for death, the same goes for the paranormal, demonic, and unexplained things that…
There are bad movies that try to be good, such as Showgirls and Plan 9 from Outer Space. And there are good movies that pose as bad, like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. And there are movies so bad that you actually have a good time watching them because the badness is so much fun.…
“Every good writer has been told – Show, don’t tell. And every bad writer needs to be told again.” – a guy named Eddie There are a million people looking for writing advice and another million ready to provide it. However, just because someone offers something doesn’t mean that the something is worth taking. Just…
There are many “wrongs” in Philomena. You can debate them politically or rank them in degrees of more or less “wrong,” but only two thing matter. First, none of the wrongs can be undone. Second, when one learns of a “wrong” that has been done, what do you do next? Do you learn? Do you…
In my continuing series called “Back in the Day,” we visit a teen classic. Please pay a visit to The Cinematic Katzenjammer to read all about the real “biggest loser.” Say Anything (1989) Written and directed by Cameron Crowe Starring John Cusack and Ione Skye “…an honest reveal of what happens when losers take a…
Once a year the Oxford English Dictionary releases a list of new words and/or phrases they (whoever “they” might be) have deemed acceptable enough to officially add to their fabulous book. Usually this is due to each word or phrase being used so often that the keepers of language choose to give in and accept…
brainsnorts inc. 