WISE WORDS:

FAREWELL, TERENCE STAMP

You were (and will remain) one of my all-time favorite performers. 

It all started with The Collector, in the way you stunned me with your amazing portrayal of the anguished Freddie Clegg, with so much more greatness still for me to discover and follow, including your inimitable turn at General Zod in Superman: The Movie and Superman II, where you created one of the most villainous villains that ever was or will be. 

You were also stupendous as Billy Budd and as William Harcourt in Alien Nation, as well as nothing short of bloody brilliant in Spirits of the Dead, Elektra, The Mind of Mr. Soames, Last Night in Soho, Far From the Maddening Crowd, Jules Verne's Mystery on Monster Island, The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, A Season in Hell, Viking Destiny, Murder Mystery, The Hit, Teorema, Star Wars, Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, Legal Eagles, The Divine Nymph, My Boss's Daughter, Poor Cow, Term of Trial, The Thief of Bagdad 1978, Modesty Blaise, Bowfinger, The Haunted Mansion 2003, The Real McCoy, Revelation, Red Planet, Link, The Company of Wolves, Dead Fish, Get Smart 2008, Genuine Risk, The Adjustment Bureau, Bitter Harvest, Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie, Song for Marion, Young Guns, Valkyrie, Beltenebros (Prince of Shadows), Big Eyes, The Sicilian, Kiss the Sky, Wanted, Yes Man, Wall Street and of course, there's your spotlighted creme de la creme, the bittersweet but fulfilling The Limey. You were also an effective, initial host for The Hunger, a wonderful voice for Julian Sand's Jor-El on Smallville and a superb lead in Chessgame, as the distinguished, counter-intelligence agent, David Audley. 

Today, the present, acting world slips a significant notch downward with your departure. You truly stood out from the pack (and supported its members whenever you could), Mr. Stamp, and because of this, you left an inspiring impression, with a spread of superb work that can't help but influence movie lovers, whether established or ordained. 

HAPPY TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE DAY 2025 (8/18)

 

DARK FICTION: H.R. GIGER CURATION ON SALE

 

Hello, friends! This is an amiable reminder that Eighth Tower Publications' newest, Dark Fiction volume, Bio-Mechanik: Stories inspired by H.R. Giger's art, is available for purchase in either hardback or paperback, for one's offbeat, reading pleasure. 

My story, "Flesh to Steel," is included in the volume, but there are also other tales contained to get one's dystopic blood curdling, written by Chris McCauley (also the curation's editor), Edwin J. Buja, Nora Peevy, Paolo L. Bandera, RDJ Armstrong, Scott J. Couturier and Simon Bleaken, accompanied by a free, A.I. reading, available to those who purchase the text through Amazon. 

CEO Raffaele Pezzella's timing on the release couldn't have been better, considering that FX's Alien: Earth is in full swing. If one likes the show (and the Alien franchise in general), then this Giger tribute should more than fill the bio-mechanik void. 

Order the book and audio accompaniment at 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FFTRCLNM?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

PHOENIXVILLE, PA PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET: SUMMER MELEE (8/31), ROOT DOWN BREWING CO.

FARE THEE WELL, RESIDENT ALIEN

I find SyFy's cancellation of Resident Alien a heedless verdict, but then perhaps it's just as well, allowing it to end on a bang instead of a whimper. 

On the other hand, that doesn't mean that the finale was explosive by any means. I had assumed Season 4 would have been more cosmic driven (with lots of garish, outer-space effects), but as it turned out, it was more grounded than anything else. In other words, it was sentimental. 

That tradition can be found in other embraced finales, with M*A*S*H and Little House on the Prairie being the big, stand-outs, but then there are those famous, polarizing goodbyes, such as The Prisoner and The Sopranos. Resident Alien falls somewhere between the extremes: solid enough to prod the senses, but not too radical to spark impassioned debate. 

At any rate, there were many fine novelties to enjoy within Patience, Colorado's continued, Northern Exposure context this season, the Mantid problem being a strong highlight, and the goofy, baby-abducting Greys were always pushing the ambivalent laughs, but that 1970s, time-travel bit with Harry and D'arcy was cool, too, even if brief. (I mean, the concept could have carried an entire season.) 

Even so, I suppose it was the season's emotional strand that resonated most, in particular when Max's parents learn the truth about Harry, or when Harry's dad becomes impossibly judgmental (not to mention murderous), and yet Harry's rejection of and reconciliation with Heather, his feathery lady, were the season's best aspects. Through such, our Earth-preserving extraterrestrial showed that, despite all the "bullshit" he had to endure (and man, did wee Bridget ever layer it on), he still could muster a human heart, and a heart, no less, that harbored all the foibles that any human would have. Kudos to the pliable Alan Tudyk for making it work, in what goes down as his signature role. 

It would be neat if SyFy (or some source) produced occasional, Resident Alien movies, building a sequel string, much like Fox did decades ago for Alien Nation. (Resident Alien's mastermind, Chris Sheridan, has even suggested the prospect.) Then again, I guess that sort of reasonable continuation isn't in the bag these stodgy days. Still, what exists of Resident Alien is mighty special. Like My Favorite Martian and Mork & Mindy, it'll be remembered, discovered and re-discovered for years to come by those who appreciate quirky, fish-out-of-water sojourns, and believe me, those of that ilk are many, indeed.

FOR THE FUN OF IT: