What happens on the fourth day?

Fourth-day Universe is no longer just a blog, and it is no longer solely authored by myself.

Over the last year, Fourth-day Universe has grown from a place to post the occasional writing tip or update on my literary efforts to a receptacle for reviews of movies, conventions, and other sci-fi/fantasy "events". It's become a full website, in fact, that you can visit at FourthdayUniverse.com.

Why sci-fi, particularly? Isn't that just for "freaks and geeks"? As I've posted before, science-fiction is an extremely versatile genre. The avenues of exploration, whether personal, interpersonal, societal, or otherwise, that fiction writers strive to create are greatly expanded when the boundaries of "reality" are crossed. We're given the opportunity to examine a whole host of issues in new and exciting ways. That's why Fourth-day Universe will continue to highlight the fantastical, whether in romance, mystery, horror, adventure, drama, comedy, or whatever other theme may be used.

We'll have plenty of reviews for you to read. Movies such as M. Night Shyamalan's "Devil" and Daniel Stamm's "The Last Exorcism" have already been reviewed on the site, as has this year's Dragon*Con in Atlanta, the largest sci-fi convention in North America. In the coming months, we'll have interviews with such prolific sci-fi authors as Michael Stackpole, Gail Z. Martin, and Jennifer St. Giles. And when the site's Bookstore opens for business, you'll even be able to read original works of fiction written by Fourth-day contributors, such as myself.

Fourth-day will also branch out into other areas of the online community. We already have a Twitter account, updates of which can be read on this blog, or you can simply Follow us on Twitter @4thdayU. We have a YouTube account as well, where we will post short video reviews of some select book, TV, and movie titles. We'll host forum discussions from our site for fans of sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal fiction, alternate realities, and graphic lit. And, while you wait to check out original fiction and other products by Fourth-day's collection of authors, artists, actors, and other contributors, you can check out our Zazzle store for all kinds of merchandise.

So head over to our new site, and see if you can find the answer to the question "what happens on the fourth day?"



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Scott Pilgrim gets a life (like some movie reviewers should).

You know, I thought it was bad when graphic novels (aka comic books, to those who still don't think you can tell a good "grown-up" story in pictures) had to struggle with getting respect from the "critics". I mean, "Watchmen" came out in the mid-80s, and it made Time Magazine's list of the one hundred greatest novels ever. If you need more proof that the genre is perfectly capable of producing good literature, then you've probably never actually read any comic more sophisticated than "Garfield".

That brings us to the Scott Pilgrim series. The first volume was released six years ago, and the last (volume six) just came out last month. Yes, the movie finished shooting before the series had issued its final chapter. They accomplished this by having Bryan Lee O'Malley, the series creator, working closely with the director, Edgar Wright ("Shaun of the Dead", "Hot Fuzz"), on the whole project; which is something every director should do when adapting someone else's work (again, reference "Watchmen"). Though the comic series and the movie both feature plenty of eye (and ear) candy for the video game/comic book/battling rock bands crowd, its base appeal is something far more profound than I think most movie reviewers even noticed.

I thank Linda Holmes of NPR for compiling a list of pretentious reviewers who not only miss the point entirely, but do a pretty good job of underestimating (and insulting) the fans in the process. One actually complained that the movie made the audience laugh too much. *rolls eyes* (You can read the list here.)

Anyway, what those reviewers all seem to miss is something that I missed when watching a highly-editted version of "The Breakfast Club" as a kid: that the movie is about the characters themselves. Where they are and what they're doing is (almost) incidental. First, of course, there's Scott Pilgrim, a dorky, depressed, delusional bass player in a band. When the movie begins, we learn that Scott, age 22, is dating a high schooler, Knives, age 17 ("and she's Chinese"). Scott's not trying to take advantage of her or anything ("We haven't even held hands"); he just likes hanging out with her, playing arcade games, and letting her listen while his band practices. It's a pretty nice arrangement (except for the fact that Knives is falling in love with Scott).

One day, Scott meets the girl of his dreams (literally). Her name's Ramona Flowers ("She's got battle scars"). Miracle of miracles, she seems to like him, too. Unfortunately, before they can live happily ever after, Scott needs to defeat Ramona's seven evil exes. It won't be easy; especially since Superman (Brandon Routh) and the Human Torch (Chris Evans) are playing two of her exes. Also, how will Knives react to Scott's leaving her? (Spoiler alert: not well.) Scott's band, of course, tries to be supportive, but they have their own lives (and the future of the band itself, of course) to consider. And then there's Scott's gay roommate Wallace Wells (played by the scene-stealing Kieran Culkin) who offers Scott sometimes-sage advice in between his own ... pursuits.






Okay, so it's not exactly "The Breakfast Club" with video game effects (although the fact that everyone Scott beats turns into coins is pretty awesome by itself). But neither is it "Mortal Kombat" with more laughs. The difficulty in adapting the graphic novel series is the same with adapting anything: knowing what to cut, what to add, and what to change. There are some backstory elements to both Scott's and Ramona's lives that can't be included because of time constraints, and others that seem out of place because, well, they are. At just under two hours, there's neither time nor room for the movie to take the sometimes leisurely pace the graphic novels take, and so the storylines dealing with the characters and their personal conflicts can feel a little rushed or canned at times.

That doesn't make it any less enjoyable, though; or any less insightful. The video game elements are a perfect metaphor for Scott's struggle; and it's a familiar struggle, one for both love and self-respect. Even Ramona has to decide how she wants her life to unfold, and whether, after accumulating seven "evil" exes, she's even capable of having a good relationship. It's a parable; maybe not the kind of which Shakespeare or Chaucer wrote, but it's still profound. I'd encourage anyone to both watch the movie and read the books (not necessarily in that order).

(Read the original review here.)

Old vs. New: The Last Airbender Movie

"Avatar: The Last Airbender" is one of Nickelodeon's finest accomplishments. It is the story of a young boy chosen by destiny to wield the four ancient elements of Fire, Earth, Water, and Air to bring peace to the four nations built upon those elements. Afraid of his destiny and the sacrifices he would need to make to fulfill it, Aang, already a master of the Air element (or Airbender) runs away from the monastery that is his home. He accidentally binds himself unconscious for a hundred years, which allows the Firebending Nation to destroy the other Airbenders and begin to conquer the Waterbending and Earthbending Tribes.

When Aang is revived by a young Waterbender named Katara and her older brother Sokka, he sees what his absence has done to the world. He resolves finally to fulfill his destiny and balance the elements once more. To do this, he must complete his training and master the three remaining disciplines. Katara and Sokka join him in his quest, and along the way they help to free other tribes and villages from the Fire Nation's oppression.




It's an epic fantasy in every sense, and when the movie adaptation was announced (especially with award-winning director M. Night Shyamalan at the helm), it caused no small amount of excitement among fans of the series. However, when the movie was released, it caused no small amount of disappointment. Critical and fan reviews alike have been unsparing in criticism, and I cannot disagree. Aside from stunning visuals and spectacular fight scenes, the film doesn't have much to offer viewers.

You can't take six half-hour TV episodes, put them back to back, and call it a movie. Unfortunately, that seems to be what Mr. Shyamalan has done. When adapting a TV show into a movie, you often are forced to package a ridiculous amount of exposition into the screenplay, depending on how long the show has been running. If the show is still on the air, then you are further forced to keep the movie in the same vein as the show without interrupting the continuity. If it's been cancelled, then your film is generally the capstone, the sequel or "final episode" that everyone really wanted to see.

That's not what you get with "The Last Airbender". It is, in short, a recap of the "most important" moments from the first season of the show. There was no great or noticeable deviation from the storyline, and nothing exciting or new was added. The film was merely a live-action version of the cartoon series. It was a wasted effort, in my opinion. By picking and choosing what information and scenes from the cartoon to adapt into the film, much of the richness of plot and character development was left behind. At just under ninety minutes, even actors like Dev Patel ("Slumdog Millionaires") and Jackson Rathbone (the Twilight saga) don't have much time to bring their respective characters of Prince Zuko and Sokka to life in the way their cartoon counterparts were able to. Newcomers Noah Ringer and Nicola Peltz gave good performances, but even they did not have the life or likeability that cartoon Aang and Katara had.

It wasn't a bad movie; not as bad as most think, at least. I'd recommend it for anyone who hasn't seen the TV series (though I'd recommend they choose the TV series instead); but for anyone who has seen Nickelodeon's "Airbender", you'll get nothing from this adaptation, and you even may find that you've lost something in the process. In my opinion, this will be the last Airbender movie.

(Read the original review here.)

Two words to describe "Inception"

Christopher Nolan, the visionary director behind "Batman Begins", "The Dark Knight", and "Memento", has finally brought to life his project of more than twenty years. Featuring a cast of some of the world's greatest stars, both young and old, and having been filmed in locations in six different countries, "Inception", in the words of the L.A. Times, "blends the best of traditional and modern filmmaking".

Leonardo DiCaprio headlines as Cobb, a con man who specializes in stealing people's secrets from within their very minds. Joseph Gordon-Levitt ("3rd Rock from the Sun") gives a remarkable performance as his partner in crime. Tom Hardy ("Star Trek: Nemesis"), Dileep Rao ("Avatar"), and Ellen Page ("Juno") round out a team of highly talented "intrusion experts". They are hired by Ken Watanabe ("The Last Samurai") to do the impossible: rather than steal an idea from their target's (Cillian Murphy, "28 Days Later ...") mind, they are to plant an idea through a process called "inception".

There are many words to describe this movie. "Crime drama", "sci-fi thriller", "international intrigue", and "mind-bending masterpiece" all would certainly be on the list. Nolan keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last second, barely giving you time to breathe as you try to peel the layers and decide what is real and what is illusion. There are many questions to answer as you follow the characters ever deeper into the world of dreams. The greatest questions, however, surround Cobb himself and his motives.

Cobb is not your typical thief taking on "one last job". While his partner believes Cobb is just hoping to complete the job so he can see his children again, Page's character begins to suspect that he is seeking something more. She soon learns that Cobb is haunted by the memory of his dead wife, played by Marion Cotillard ("Public Enemies"), who does far more than simply distract him from his duties. After all, in the world of the subconscious, even the smallest distraction can take you in directions you never expected to go.

Like the layers of the dream worlds the team constructs for their marks, this movie is crafted to convey one story; one single point that comes delivered wrapped in marvelous visual effects, pulse-pounding action sequences, intelligent dialogue, and even a fair amount of humor. That single point, the two words I would use to describe this movie, is "love story". The great mystery of "Inception" is the story of Cobb and his family, his wife and children, what he has done to them, and how far he will go to recover them. While most reviewers may focus on the spectacular special effects or the unique storytelling elements, I believe the central theme of "Inception" is the unraveling of Cobb's character. Everything else is a vehicle for this storyline.

As a writer, I think this is one of the finest examples of good storytelling I've seen. As a moviegoer, I can't think of a better way to spend my money. I would recommend "Inception" to anyone, be they seeking an action movie, an art film, a mystery thriller, or a science-fiction wonder ride. For me, it is all those things and more; but at its heart, it is a poignant love story.

(Read the original review here.)

Hollywood Hates Westerns. Or, Why Clint Eastwood Should Have Been Cast as Jonah Hex ... 30 Years Ago

Jonah Hex, to most people, is an obscure character from DC Comics; and it looks like his debut feature film is destined for even greater obscurity.

While no one expected him to be as famous as some of his counterparts in the DC Universe, such as Batman, Superman, or Wonder Woman, there can be little doubt as to the devotion of the following he has earned for himself. The original Hex was a simple bounty hunter in the Old West, with a horribly scarred face and a ruthlessness that would shock even the Dark Knight. He would have made a great classic-styled Western movie hero; except that Hollywood doesn't seem all that interested in making classic Westerns anymore. Instead of facing cattle rustlers and train robbers, Hex's nemesis is Quentin Turnbull, a "terrorista" bent on stealing an 1800's era weapon of mass destruction. Hex is recruited by the U.S. government to act as Jack Bauer, basically; which at least helps preserve his basic character.

Most comic book heroes are one of two kinds: the straightforward good versus evil type, or the morally ambiguous thought-provoking types. Hex is a third kind. He's one of the first anti-heroes in comic literature, and one of the few to survive as such over the decades. Bounty hunters in general aren't seen as being that heroic. "They'll do the right thing, if the price is right" is the attitude with which they're regarded.

Jonah Hex, especially the Hex of the movie, fits that mold. While he may have acted bravely during the Civil War, refusing orders from Turnbull (his commanding officer at the time) to slaughter innocent lives, his descent from heroism is complete by the time the Union Army enlists him to find and stop his former commander. It is only the prospect of revenge against the man who killed his family, burned his face, and left him for dead that entices the murderous Hex to assist the Army in stopping Turnbull's plot to destroy America on the very night of its centennial.

Attempts are made to humanize Hex. Flashbacks to his days as a family man, his rescue by the Indians which led to his supernatural abilities (not present in the original comics), and even his friendship with Turnbull's son are meant to show the audience the man he was. In the end, though, we're left with the man he is.

Megan Fox gives a decent performance as Lilah, the frontierswoman who attempts to draw Hex away from the life he's built for himself. Her character, though, is clumsily patched on to the Hex universe (she's also absent from the comics), and her scenes feel accordingly out of step with the rest of the movie. Her character could easily have been written out of the film.

Some have wondered what the problem was with writing a straightforward Western-style script for Jonah Hex's first introduction to the big screen. As I mentioned before, the answer is most likely in Hollywood's attitude towards Westerns. "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" is the only one in the last decade that comes to mind, and I'm certain they only made that movie because of the success of the novel. Jonah Hex, on the other hand, is a "superhero" story, even if it is about one that didn't have superpowers. Westerns used to be gritty, with leading men like Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, and even Yul Brynner. That would have been the perfect era for a Jonah Hex movie, without a single mention of superpowers, terrorists, or weapons of mass destruction.

(Read the original review here.)

Old vs. New: "Clash of the Titans"

***Warning: May Contain Spoilers***

Remakes, you could say, comprise a large portion of the movies Hollywood produces year after year. Add in sequels and adaptations of books, TV shows, comics, games, and of course classical mythology, and you might think Hollywood had no imagination anymore. Not so fast, there.

This latest offering, for example, has been and is being met with skepticism from fans of the original masterpiece by legendary producer and special effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen. From the 50s all the way to early 80s, Harryhausen was responsible for the creature effects of such epic films as "Jason and the Argonauts", "The 3 Worlds of Gulliver", several "Sinbad" movies, and of course, the 1981 version of "Clash of the Titans". The comment I've heard/read most often is they expect the new movie to be all special effects and no real plot. That's funny to me; and not funny "ha ha". In my own humble opinion, the same criticism could very well apply to the original movie.

That's not to suggest the first "Clash" lacked a plot, mind you. In the style of classic Greek myths, it featured a hero, the classic Greek hero Perseus, the mortal son of the King of the Gods, Zeus. Perseus embarks on a quest to save the princess Andromeda and her home city from a fearsome sea monster. Along his way, he faces gigantic scorpions, a trio of hideous witches, a rejected beast of a man named Calibos, and the cursed creature Medusa. It's an interesting enough plot, and one that the new movie emulates to a degree; but the pacing of the original movie and the unfolding of the plot were both rather ... haphazard.

Perseus' presence in the city is the doing of the sea goddess Thetis, who is jealous of the fact that Zeus' son is blessed with everything her son, Calibos, is not; including, apparently, the love of the princess. Thetis transports Perseus to the city, apparently on a whim, where he learns of Calibos' efforts to ruin Andromeda's happiness and the city's future. When he intervenes and frees Andromeda of the deformed man's influence, and when Andromeda's mother Cassiopeia suggests that her daughter is more beautiful than any goddess, Thetis places a curse on the city which can only be lifted if Andromeda is sacrificed to the dreaded Kraken.

There's nothing wrong with a hero traveling from here to there, rescuing cities, slaying monsters, and marrying princesses; in fact, it's kind of the entire job description. On the other hand, it's not very imaginative. Harry Hamlin, who plays Perseus in the 1981 version, goes from scene to scene with all the intensity of a teenager on a scavenger hunt. Sam Worthington, on the other hand, adds something Hamlin's Perseus was lacking: motivation. Worthington's Perseus didn't arrive in Andromeda's city by chance; his adopted family were caught in the crossfire of a rebellion between Men and Gods, and only his own divine heritage kept him from dying with them. His quest is fueled by a desire to avenge their deaths on the God Hades, who stole their lives and (in this version) called for Andromeda's sacrifice.

As a writer, there's nothing I can stand less than when a character does something, anything, without a "good reason". Worthington's Perseus had good reason to hate the gods, or at least be suspicious of them. His love of his adopted family and grief over their deaths at the hands of a god led him to reject any connection to the gods, even his father Zeus. Played in the 2010 version by screen great Liam Neeson, Zeus is sympathetic to the plight of humanity. However, his anger at the rebellion, which culminated in a group of soldiers tumbling a colossal statue of him into the sea, led him to allow his brother Hades to remind mankind "of the order of things". Nevertheless, he does try to help his son on his quest. There are overtones of an almost Christian relationship between Zeus, Perseus, and humanity at large in this remake.

A few of the more obvious differences between the original and the remake include Perseus' companions in his quest. Originally, most of the soldiers who accompanied him had neither names nor much character development. Now, Perseus follows the soldiers, rather than leading them. They all have names, backgrounds, and their own personal feelings about a "demi-god" joining them in their efforts to save their home.

Another character who is "between" Men and Gods is the immortal Io, played by lovely British actress Gemma Arterton. Cursed to stay young while those she loves grow old and die, her extended lifetime of acquired wisdom and knowledge makes her an invaluable guide for Perseus. She fills two roles from the original movie: the wise mentor, originally filled by Ammon, played by film legend Burgess Meredith; and the love interest, originally filled by Princess Andromeda herself.

I must say, that second revision came as somewhat of a relief to me. Perseus had hardly any time (or reason) to become as heavily invested in Andromeda as he did in the first movie. Certainly, when you save someone's life, it's expected that a bond will form between you; but for Hamlin's Perseus, it was apparently love at first sight. I'm romantic enough to let that slide (usually), but Worthington's onscreen romance with Arterton was much more believable, in both my mind and my heart.

Now, let's tackle the "purist" objections. It's usually my position that, in the case of sequels at least, you should adhere to the source material as closely as possible. Remakes, however, are supposed to stray where it is reasonable to do so. Did Perseus and Io have a relationship in the previous movie, or even in the original Greek myths? No. On the other hand, Perseus didn't ride Pegasus, the winged horse, in the original Greek myth, as he did in both movies; he wore winged shoes given to him by the gods. The thrilling line "Release the Kraken!", delivered by Zeus in both movies, was never uttered by classical Zeus, simply because the Kraken wasn't a creature from Greek myth. Was Hades ever an actual villain, as he is so often portrayed in film? No; he was simply the God of the Underworld, a position he was never "tricked" into accepting.

It's called artistic license. If remakes were supposed to be "faithful", then we wouldn't need them, would we? We'd just watch the original again, which I did before watching this one. With all due respect to Ray Harryhausen, I prefer the remade "Clash of the Titans". Director Louis Leterrier did a fine job diagnosing what worked from the original film and what didn't, cutting scenes here and amending them there. What he ultimately produced may fit the label of a "rock 'n roll epic", but it also fits the label of a "classic epic", one with a believable hero, courageous companions, and pulse-pounding adventure. More than just an action flick, it is a portrait of one man's journey to discover his true heritage.

(Read the original review here.)

Six Impossible Things I Can Believe About 'Alice in Wonderland'

Tim Burton has said he never felt an emotional connection to any of the previous movie or television incarnations of 'Alice in Wonderland' and always thought it was a series of some girl wondering around from one crazy character to another. Well, as someone who's read both "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and the sequel "Through the Looking-Glass (and what Alice found there)", I can tell you that is exactly how Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) originally intended the Alice stories to be. There was no narrative, no framework in his mind as he invented these stories for Alice Liddell and her sisters; it was merely a series of adventurous meetings. "Looking-Glass" followed a more logical progression, but they're still children's tales.

Burton wanted more structure, though. I don't actually blame him. He created a very good movie, after all. Apart from the visual effects, which were stunning in some cases, he also had an excellent cast to bring his movie to life: newcomer Mia Wasikowska as the grown-up but still childlike Alice; Johnny Depp, as mad as any hatter could be; the lovely Anne Hathaway as the White Queen; Helena Bonham Carter as the threatening but vaguely sympathetic Red Queen; and the inestimable Stephen Fry as the Cheshire Cat. With this ensemble, Burton was able to present an adventure story that I believe Lewis Carroll might actually enjoy. And it isn't as if any previous incarnation was or could have been entirely faithful to the source material.

The purist in me wanted to hate the movie before it was even completed; but, when in Wonderland, you must be willing to let go of everything you know and embrace what you see. And so, as Alice herself did, I'll list the six impossible things I can believe.

***Warning: May Contain Spoilers***

The first is Alice herself. She's no longer a little girl, but a grown woman who needs to decide what direction to follow in life. The adventures of her childhood, she's now convinced, were simply dreams. Now, when the White Rabbit leads her down to Wonderland, it is no chance encounter. The narrative woven by Tim Burton is one of a chosen protector, a champion whose intervention will free the inhabitants of Wonderland from the dominion of a tyrant. That champion, of course, is Alice.

The tyrant is the Red Queen, who years ago usurped the crown from her sister, the White Queen. This is the second impossible thing. The character of the Red Queen is blended with that of the Queen of Hearts, as she often is. Originally, though, the Queen of Hearts was always the ruler of Wonderland, lording (or ladying?) over the other Suits (Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades). The Red and White Queens lived in Looking-Glass Land, and despite their chess battle, they were actually quite friendly with each other. That was the first thing that bothered me about this new movie when I learned about it. However, if you're going to have an epic battle, which this movie does, then you can either face the Queen of Hearts against the other Suits (which may or may not have been a good idea) or you can do what Tim Burton did. One thing you cannot do is have an 'Alice' movie without the Queen yelling "OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!"

The Jabberwock is number three (and yes, it's Jabberwock, not Jabberwocky). The fearsome dragon of Looking-Glass Land never quite made an appearance in the book, or most of the movies. However, it does make an appearance in this movie, as the Red Queen's resident beastie. It doesn't just inhabit the Tulgey Wood anymore, and it isn't just a foe for young knights who want to prove their mettle. Now, it is the creature that Alice must slay if she is to end the Red Queen's reign of terror.

Some very unlikely characters help Alice in her quest. The Cheshire Cat, originally so enigmatic as to be entirely unhelpful, now is almost eager to put his very life on the line for Alice, the White Queen, and even the Hatter himself. Still an enigma, and still charmingly puzzling, he is another indispensable character, wonderfully played by British character actor Stephen Fry.

If the Cheshire Cat is one example of an unlikely character coming to the rescue, then the Hatter is an even better one. Still mad, and still drinking tea with his friends the March Hare and Dormouse when Alice finds him, the Hatter is perhaps the one resident of Wonderland who has been most affected by the Red Queen's rule. His desire to see the "bloody bighead" fall prompts him to risk his life for Alice time and again, even though he is only one of a few in Wonderland who actually believes she is the intended champion. "I'd know you anywhere," he declares, helping her escape capture at the hands of Stayne, the infamous Knave of Hearts, played by Crispin Glover.

The sixth impossible thing is how much I actually liked this movie. Despite the changes made, the end product is quite a good story. Several characters from the books and previous movies didn't quite make the cut, of course. The Walrus and the Carpenter, the Duchess and the Cook, the Griffin and the Mock Turtle, and the Lion and the Unicorn all were left off the guest list. One character I would have really liked to see would have been the White Knight from Looking-Glass Land, who was Alice's escort for part of her journey and would have been more believable in the role filled by the Mad Hatter. I also would've liked the angle I proposed earlier, with the Red Queen appearing completely as the Queen of Hearts and facing Suits rather than the White Army in the end. It would have made more sense to me.

But this is Wonderland; a world of adventure, not logic; of madness, not sanity; of childlike wonder, not cynical criticism. Some say this movie lacked heart; I say the heart is where this movie's strength truly rested. I came close to walking into the movie with my mind made-up, having already decided what it had done "wrong" and how it "should" be. In that sense, I was a little like Alice, falling into a world she had visited before, facing a host of changes, firmly convinced that she would wake up at any moment to what she "knew" was right. I decided not to be that way; not to lose, in the words of the Hatter, my "muchness".

So, if you want to be like Alice, constantly trying to make sense of the madness in this movie, then that's up to you; but I recommend, instead of falling into the rabbithole, you jump in with both feet.

- Stephen Monteith

(read the original review here on Facebook)