Catch more from the Film Theorists on YouTube
Chapter by Chapter features me reading one chapter (or possibly multiple chapter for this one) of the selected book at the time and reviewing it as if I were reviewing an episode of a TV show or an issue of a comic. There will be spoilers if you haven’t read to the point I have, and if you’ve read further I ask that you don’t spoil anything further into the book. Think of it as read-along book club.
And we’ve reached one of those multiple chapter ones…which is probably going to end up a mistake on my part. While chapter 17 is only two pages long, chapter 18 is SIXTEEN PAGES! That’s a lot for this book. Had I known this I would have included 17 with last week’s chapter, that featured the upcoming return of our hero…unless they find some way to keep Paul from the action. That will make me sad. If you’re going to do that, just leave him on vacation with his family. This book would have the cleanest proverbial cutting room floor ever if it were a movie.
Both of these chapters are taking place in Washington, DC, so I just figured they belonged together. Again, chapter spacing in these books is weird. I only have one more novel in this series and one from later in the NetForce series, so we’ll see if this every changes should the site be updating that long.
So if both chapters are in DC, are both chapters taking place in Op-Center? I’m assuming at least one is. I won’t mark the locations because you already know where they are, just the times that start the chapter. At least we have chapter numbers this book. That makes it easier on me to keep track for review purposes.
Tell others about the Spotlight:
There’s going to be a lot of logo destroying in this crossover event, aren’t there?
Solitaire #2
Malibu Comics/Ultraverse (December, 1993)
“Moon Madness”
(I hope they coordinated on these titles. There are only so many puns you can make about the moon and people going crazy.)
WRITER: Gerald Jones
PENCILER: Jeff Johnson
INKER: Barbara Kaalberg
COLORING: Keith Conroy (designer) and Foodhammer!
LETTERER: Tim Eldred
EDITOR: Hank Kalanz
Tell others about the Spotlight:
Considering how often they get a movie, you’d think it would be movie alchemy.
For the record, I chose the bland colors on purpose.
Over at The Clutter Reports this week I took on a new chart, a project priority chart. It also helped me learn some tricks with my spreadsheet program I can use later on. I need to learn how to do cool stuff in my software more. Will this help me get organized in my creative projects? If I can stop getting tests, which won’t be this week. Of course it’s the same week as our monthly bulk shopping trip AND getting Christmas decorations up. *sigh*
So, remember how I originally planned to do a final Saturday Night Showcase when DC Heroes United was done? (Refresher article.) Well, episode two dropped on Friday and they actually include the videos of the paths not taken. Obviously they don’t affect the running narrative post-voting, and I still don’t want to be disappointed my vote didn’t make it so I’m still not playing the connected game. However, it felt like fun to explore how those unchosen paths would have impacted things and how the choices that won might affect what will come. So we’ll start that this week while continuing the Chapter By Chapter review of Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: Mirror Image and (I think) the penultimate installment of Star Trek: Pitch & Guide.
Plus this is going to be a distracting week (and I’m getting tired of so many of those), so I’m hoping to at least get those and the comic reviews going. We’ll see how it goes. Have a great week, everyone!
Tell others about the Spotlight:
One of the more childish pushbacks by modern Hollywood creators is that you can’t really critique them because you don’t create anything yourself, because only the opinion of their entertainment peers matters to them. “You can’t possibly know what goes into making the things we do so you can’t properly judge my works.” This is bullcrap. I don’t need to be an artist to know I don’t like the art, and don’t have to be a writer to know I don’t enjoy the story. Before I became either of those things I was a fan, and fans know what they like and don’t like, and vote accordingly with their time and wallets.
So what happens when a critic actually makes something? Will their opinion matter now or will there be a new way to ignore any negative critique? Will Jordan can now claim to find out. He’s written a novel series featuring CIA secret operative Ryan Drake, and he’s also made and co-wrote a pilot, or a “proof of concept” as he calls it, for a TV series (or possibly streaming series) starring the character he created, titled Rogue Elements.
He’s also known online as The Critical Drinker, scourge of the current Hollywood culture. I’ve used a few of his videos for the Daily Video or occasional filler, so let’s see what happens when he puts his words into action.
In this crowdfunded pilot, Drake and his team have to extract a captured informant who has information that could stop the Russians taking back control of parts of Eastern Europe, the former USSR. However, it’s also personal as the Russian agent who took him also tortured and killed one of his friends…and he’s not the only one out for revenge. For readers of the books, and I have not had the opportunity, the short film takes place between the second and third books in Jordan’s “Ryan Drake” series. Perhaps you can also tell me why Drake doesn’t sound American and what the deal is with the blond lady. (No spoilers in the intro.) This has all the violence and language of an R rated movie, so heads up on that. If you’re okay with that, enjoy.
Tell others about the Spotlight:
Here’s one that’s been sitting in my archives waiting to be used. In an article from Aleteia, contributor Theresa Barber makes a good case for reading to your newborn to help connect with your child and start a love of reading. I don’t know if my mom read to me that early, but she is one of the reasons I love reading today.
Plus a picture of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, Himself a great storyteller, is a good way to kick off our push into the Christmas season.
BW Media Spotlight 
BW’s Daily Video> The Dark Magic Of Spellbound
Catch more from Disparu on YouTube
Tell others about the Spotlight:
Posted by ShadowWing Tronix on December 2, 2024 in Animation Spotlight, Movie Spotlight, Streaming Spotlight and tagged animated movie, animation review, commentary, kids movies, movie review, Netflix, Spellbound.
Leave a comment