Comments on: Reality Checking http://theoodcast.com/2010/07/reality-checking/ This post is ending. But the blog never ends. Fri, 18 May 2012 16:05:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Trisha http://theoodcast.com/2010/07/reality-checking/comment-page-1/#comment-6798 Trisha Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:08:51 +0000 http://theoodcast.com/?p=430#comment-6798 The voice of rationialty! Good to hear from you. The voice of rationialty! Good to hear from you.

]]> By: Apps http://theoodcast.com/2010/07/reality-checking/comment-page-1/#comment-515 Apps Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:43:18 +0000 http://theoodcast.com/?p=430#comment-515 One of the reasons I hate living in America is that I'm so dissconnected with the culture behind my favorite show. It's the only reason I watch TV. Although I do love the USA station. Anyway enough of my rambling. I completely agree about Superman, he's too powerful, the only thing that makes the character better is the show smallville. Personally I like Spiderman the best for superheros. One of the reasons I hate living in America is that I’m so dissconnected with the culture behind my favorite show. It’s the only reason I watch TV. Although I do love the USA station. Anyway enough of my rambling. I completely agree about Superman, he’s too powerful, the only thing that makes the character better is the show smallville. Personally I like Spiderman the best for superheros.

]]> By: Rory Pond http://theoodcast.com/2010/07/reality-checking/comment-page-1/#comment-402 Rory Pond Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:40:53 +0000 http://theoodcast.com/?p=430#comment-402 I read Neverwhere years before I ever knew there'd been a TV show of it. The book is brilliant, very atmospheric, and incredibly scary in places, but then it relies on the reader's imagination for the set design and casting. When I finally saw the show, I was completely underwhelmed. As is so often the case, expectation can undermine perception. Also read most of Gaiman's comic work, including Sandman. The artists change with the story arcs, so don't judge by the first chapter. Sam Kieth was, IMO, one of the least talented artists to work on the comic, and he's who they led with. Wait until you see Charles Vess' stuff before you decide to go no further. I read Neverwhere years before I ever knew there’d been a TV show of it. The book is brilliant, very atmospheric, and incredibly scary in places, but then it relies on the reader’s imagination for the set design and casting. When I finally saw the show, I was completely underwhelmed. As is so often the case, expectation can undermine perception.

Also read most of Gaiman’s comic work, including Sandman. The artists change with the story arcs, so don’t judge by the first chapter. Sam Kieth was, IMO, one of the least talented artists to work on the comic, and he’s who they led with. Wait until you see Charles Vess’ stuff before you decide to go no further.

]]> By: Draculasaurus http://theoodcast.com/2010/07/reality-checking/comment-page-1/#comment-395 Draculasaurus Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:11:44 +0000 http://theoodcast.com/?p=430#comment-395 So I watched the rest of Neverwhere. I really enjoyed it. Once it goes full tilt fantasy/melodrama it really finds it's footing. Thanks for the tip, I'm glad I went back and finished it. Star Trek, yeah. There's a ton of it and a lot of it sucks. The key to enjoying Star Trek is finding it's rhythm. If you sit down with the original series and do a little marathon you get a feel for it's pacing and texture, It has a really cool leisurely, adult, optimism that's hard to resist once you're in the groove. So I watched the rest of Neverwhere.
I really enjoyed it.
Once it goes full tilt fantasy/melodrama it really finds it’s footing.
Thanks for the tip, I’m glad I went back and finished it.
Star Trek, yeah. There’s a ton of it and a lot of it sucks.
The key to enjoying Star Trek is finding it’s rhythm. If you sit down with the original series and do a little marathon you get a feel for it’s pacing and texture, It has a really cool leisurely, adult, optimism that’s hard to resist once you’re in the groove.

]]> By: grants for women http://theoodcast.com/2010/07/reality-checking/comment-page-1/#comment-392 grants for women Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:46:49 +0000 http://theoodcast.com/?p=430#comment-392 nice post. thanks. nice post. thanks.

]]> By: Chris Alpha http://theoodcast.com/2010/07/reality-checking/comment-page-1/#comment-381 Chris Alpha Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:33:27 +0000 http://theoodcast.com/?p=430#comment-381 Absolutely – it’s all about finding your way “in” to their work. There’s a tendency for enthusiastic people to go on and on about why they like something (check out the idiot saying this on the blog of the podcast about his favourite TV show...) and using those as a reason for others to love it. For me, that usually creates a whole host of reasons to dislike it... so I leave it a while then have a go at something that looks like it’ll be my cup of tea rather than listening to everyone’s advice. Hopefully, by then, I’ll have forgotten what made me want to dislike it. Only, on occasion, getting my own perspective on something hasn’t really helped me appreciate it any more. Star Trek is a good example – still not really sure why my friends raved about that constantly. I knew I was supposed to hang around with the geeks, but I had no idea what these guys were talking about. For me, Hyperdrive shows what the reality for the UK in space will be like – while being brilliantly funny. Superman too (he’s the most ridiculous superhero. Clearly. At least the others are a bit more modest and only have one or two special powers... but everything? In one guy? Frankly, I don’t believe a word of it. Plus, his weakness is a rock...) Firmly being on the Batman side of that argument, I would say that though, wouldn't I? :) Absolutely – it’s all about finding your way “in” to their work. There’s a tendency for enthusiastic people to go on and on about why they like something (check out the idiot saying this on the blog of the podcast about his favourite TV show…) and using those as a reason for others to love it. For me, that usually creates a whole host of reasons to dislike it… so I leave it a while then have a go at something that looks like it’ll be my cup of tea rather than listening to everyone’s advice. Hopefully, by then, I’ll have forgotten what made me want to dislike it.

Only, on occasion, getting my own perspective on something hasn’t really helped me appreciate it any more. Star Trek is a good example – still not really sure why my friends raved about that constantly. I knew I was supposed to hang around with the geeks, but I had no idea what these guys were talking about. For me, Hyperdrive shows what the reality for the UK in space will be like – while being brilliantly funny.

Superman too (he’s the most ridiculous superhero. Clearly. At least the others are a bit more modest and only have one or two special powers… but everything? In one guy? Frankly, I don’t believe a word of it. Plus, his weakness is a rock…)

Firmly being on the Batman side of that argument, I would say that though, wouldn’t I? :)

]]> By: Draculasaurus http://theoodcast.com/2010/07/reality-checking/comment-page-1/#comment-380 Draculasaurus Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:03:47 +0000 http://theoodcast.com/?p=430#comment-380 cool, thanks. I'll check out the rest of Neverwhere. I always hated Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and against my better judgment, I watched Firefly, which turned out to be a top to bottom absolute masterpiece! So I guess sometimes a writer doesn't click with you and sometimes they do. I think Joss Whedon and I, are interested in a lot of the same things and have had a similar cultural experience. That worked against him in Buffy, It all seemed dry and boring, With borrowed elements I'd seen a thousand times before. -but then in Firefly it seemed like a brilliant recombination of elements that had added impact because of the familiarity. I think maybe Gaiman is a similar case, I like the elements- so he'll probably click with me eventually. D cool, thanks.
I’ll check out the rest of Neverwhere.
I always hated Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and against my better judgment, I watched Firefly, which turned out to be a top to bottom absolute masterpiece!
So I guess sometimes a writer doesn’t click with you and sometimes they do.
I think Joss Whedon and I, are interested in a lot of the same things and have had a similar cultural experience. That worked against him in Buffy, It all seemed dry and boring, With borrowed elements I’d seen a thousand times before.
-but then in Firefly it seemed like a brilliant recombination of elements that had added impact because of the familiarity.
I think maybe Gaiman is a similar case, I like the elements- so he’ll probably click with me eventually.
D

]]> By: Chris Alpha http://theoodcast.com/2010/07/reality-checking/comment-page-1/#comment-378 Chris Alpha Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:29:40 +0000 http://theoodcast.com/?p=430#comment-378 I haven’t read any of Gaiman’s comic books. That might be a shocking thing to admit, but it is true... I know him only really as a novelist. Chris Sigma can give a better idea of whether Sandman is worth it... I have a lot of affection for Neverwhere, but that’s acknowledging its flaws... It started with a conversation between Neil and Lenny Henry, and the idea has always seemed a little bit stretched to work in a TV series with a modest budget, and all the technical problems with the filming. For me, the novelisation that Gaiman wrote afterwards better serves the idea. His sort of big hits in terms of novels are “American Gods” and “Anansi Boys” – and both well worth the praise and awards they won. But I would suggest looking to some more recent stuff to see why we should be excited. The short story collection “Smoke and Mirrors” is where I started and where I got hooked, and I’m reading “The Graveyard Book” at the moment, which is great, so I’d recommend that – it’s funny, clever and dark (despite being technically a kid’s book) – which seems to add up nicely for a Who episode... PS – Roger, I did see Sherlock on Monday night, and loved it. I will almost certainly write about that on here soon, amongst other things... I haven’t read any of Gaiman’s comic books. That might be a shocking thing to admit, but it is true… I know him only really as a novelist. Chris Sigma can give a better idea of whether Sandman is worth it…

I have a lot of affection for Neverwhere, but that’s acknowledging its flaws… It started with a conversation between Neil and Lenny Henry, and the idea has always seemed a little bit stretched to work in a TV series with a modest budget, and all the technical problems with the filming. For me, the novelisation that Gaiman wrote afterwards better serves the idea.

His sort of big hits in terms of novels are “American Gods” and “Anansi Boys” – and both well worth the praise and awards they won. But I would suggest looking to some more recent stuff to see why we should be excited. The short story collection “Smoke and Mirrors” is where I started and where I got hooked, and I’m reading “The Graveyard Book” at the moment, which is great, so I’d recommend that – it’s funny, clever and dark (despite being technically a kid’s book) – which seems to add up nicely for a Who episode…

PS – Roger, I did see Sherlock on Monday night, and loved it. I will almost certainly write about that on here soon, amongst other things…

]]> By: Draculasaurus http://theoodcast.com/2010/07/reality-checking/comment-page-1/#comment-377 Draculasaurus Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:00:19 +0000 http://theoodcast.com/?p=430#comment-377 I want to be excited about Neil Gaiman writing for Who. I know tons of smart people with great tastes in literature are just in love with the guy. I've just never been all that impressed with him. I read the first couple of issues of Sandman, it was OK, but kept thinking "why is this a comic book?" It may be a great story, but visually it was just some people standing around with their mouths open. That's what novels are good for, I can't stand comics where people just talk. Coraline was good, but pretty standard fantasy stuff, same deal with Stardust. Just the other day I checked out Neverwhere, That's the guy all those people wanted to play the Doctor!?! Neverwhere was pretty disappointing. I only saw the first episode, but..it just didn't seem to have much to offer. I don't dislike Gaiman particularly, I just don't see what all the fuss is about. What has he done that's really good that I should check out? Should I continue on with Neverwhere? does it get better? I want to be excited about Neil Gaiman writing for Who.
I know tons of smart people with great tastes in literature are just in love with the guy.
I’ve just never been all that impressed with him.
I read the first couple of issues of Sandman, it was OK, but kept thinking “why is this a comic book?” It may be a great story, but visually it was just some people standing around with their mouths open. That’s what novels are good for, I can’t stand comics where people just talk.
Coraline was good, but pretty standard fantasy stuff, same deal with Stardust.
Just the other day I checked out Neverwhere,
That’s the guy all those people wanted to play the Doctor!?!
Neverwhere was pretty disappointing. I only saw the first episode, but..it just didn’t seem to have much to offer.
I don’t dislike Gaiman particularly, I just don’t see what all the fuss is about.
What has he done that’s really good that I should check out? Should I continue on with Neverwhere? does it get better?

]]> By: Roger http://theoodcast.com/2010/07/reality-checking/comment-page-1/#comment-361 Roger Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:13:57 +0000 http://theoodcast.com/?p=430#comment-361 Chris Sygma still has two of the scripts I wrote (many moons ago) if you would care to puruse them. I have since then written the script for a musical (which was debuted by my writing partner's theatre group in Australia earlier this year). If you're ever interested in kicking any ideas about, please bear me in mind - I have for some time been trying to come up with ideas for a SciFi SitCom for radio. Best wishes Chris Sygma still has two of the scripts I wrote (many moons ago) if you would care to puruse them. I have since then written the script for a musical (which was debuted by my writing partner’s theatre group in Australia earlier this year). If you’re ever interested in kicking any ideas about, please bear me in mind – I have for some time been trying to come up with ideas for a SciFi SitCom for radio.
Best wishes

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