© by Gerald So | 4:30 AM
The original Quantum Leap is one of my favorite shows. I like that the reboot that premiered Monday doesn't try to recreate Sam and Al's chemistry, that the original is its foundation. In addition to a tight schedule—Production started in March for a September 19 premiere date—there've been changes of showrunner and episode order. Its timeslot doesn't seem a vote of confidence, but I hope it beats the odds.
Friday, September 23, 2022
Monday, July 25, 2022
Second Thoughts about First Blood
© by Gerald So | 4:30 PM
The Fifth Profession by David Morrell was the first novel I read after deciding to write commercial fiction in 1993. It was an adventure about the deep bond between a ex-Navy SEAL and a present-day samurai who work as bodyguards. The book cover touted Morrell as the author of First Blood, which factored heavily in my choice of the book as a template.
At the time I only knew First Blood as the 1972 novel that introduced Rambo, that spawned the hit movie franchise with Sylvester Stallone. I would come to learn, to my endless intrigue, Morrell killed off Rambo in the novel. Yesterday I watched the movie on 4K disc for the first time and afterward I read the novel, even more morally ambiguous—and richer for it—than I'd heard.
In the movie, Brian Dennehy's Sheriff Teasle pegs Rambo for a vagrant and drives him to the town limits. Rambo walks back two or three times. The novel gives Rambo a prior record of trouble with the law. Rambo mouths off to Teasle more. both pushing each other, not so much Teasle pushing Rambo. The novel offers both characters' conflicted thoughts. Rambo doesn't want to hurt anyone at first. He knows he must control himself, but he's fed up with prejudice toward his generation. Teasle wants to keep the status quo. He's afraid that showing leniency would change the town's makeup and lessen the people's respect for the law, for him.
Speaking of generation, many characters in the novel call Rambo a kid. I imagined him half Teasle's age, not the eleven years between Stallone and Dennehy. The novel also establishes the character Orval, who owns the dogs used to track Rambo, as a father figure to Teasle. Teasle resents Orval the way Rambo resents Teasle, but the analogy never occurs to Teasle. The novel paints neither Rambo nor Teasle as heroic. They are two unyielding characters headed for their appointments in Samarra.
The Fifth Profession by David Morrell was the first novel I read after deciding to write commercial fiction in 1993. It was an adventure about the deep bond between a ex-Navy SEAL and a present-day samurai who work as bodyguards. The book cover touted Morrell as the author of First Blood, which factored heavily in my choice of the book as a template.
At the time I only knew First Blood as the 1972 novel that introduced Rambo, that spawned the hit movie franchise with Sylvester Stallone. I would come to learn, to my endless intrigue, Morrell killed off Rambo in the novel. Yesterday I watched the movie on 4K disc for the first time and afterward I read the novel, even more morally ambiguous—and richer for it—than I'd heard.
In the movie, Brian Dennehy's Sheriff Teasle pegs Rambo for a vagrant and drives him to the town limits. Rambo walks back two or three times. The novel gives Rambo a prior record of trouble with the law. Rambo mouths off to Teasle more. both pushing each other, not so much Teasle pushing Rambo. The novel offers both characters' conflicted thoughts. Rambo doesn't want to hurt anyone at first. He knows he must control himself, but he's fed up with prejudice toward his generation. Teasle wants to keep the status quo. He's afraid that showing leniency would change the town's makeup and lessen the people's respect for the law, for him.
Speaking of generation, many characters in the novel call Rambo a kid. I imagined him half Teasle's age, not the eleven years between Stallone and Dennehy. The novel also establishes the character Orval, who owns the dogs used to track Rambo, as a father figure to Teasle. Teasle resents Orval the way Rambo resents Teasle, but the analogy never occurs to Teasle. The novel paints neither Rambo nor Teasle as heroic. They are two unyielding characters headed for their appointments in Samarra.
Sunday, June 26, 2022
Home Improvements
© by Gerald So | 7:30 AM
Using an April-June credit card bonus, I bought several home-related items including toilet fill valves, DVD storage cases to make the most of limited shelf space, a North American Numatic Henry canister vacuum cleaner, and a Panasonic 4K Blu-ray player tagging in for my teenaged PlayStation 3 and pairing with my five-year-old TCL 4K HDR Smart TV.
My first 4K UHD Blu-ray was Rogue One, seemingly a dud copy that skipped in my player. I hope to have better luck with the replacement. I also bought the Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon movie Some Like It Hot from Kino Lorber and The Graduate from The Criterion Collection. Next I'm eyeing Kino Lorber's Out of Sight, The Criterion Collection's Shaft and Devil in a Blue Dress, and Top Gun Maverick.
Using an April-June credit card bonus, I bought several home-related items including toilet fill valves, DVD storage cases to make the most of limited shelf space, a North American Numatic Henry canister vacuum cleaner, and a Panasonic 4K Blu-ray player tagging in for my teenaged PlayStation 3 and pairing with my five-year-old TCL 4K HDR Smart TV.
My first 4K UHD Blu-ray was Rogue One, seemingly a dud copy that skipped in my player. I hope to have better luck with the replacement. I also bought the Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon movie Some Like It Hot from Kino Lorber and The Graduate from The Criterion Collection. Next I'm eyeing Kino Lorber's Out of Sight, The Criterion Collection's Shaft and Devil in a Blue Dress, and Top Gun Maverick.
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