Who did what is still unknown about The Mysteries, Bill Watterson’s collaboration with John Kascht, scheduled for publication on October 10. What media did they work in? Were these images produced digitally?
Category: Sci-Fi
My Favorite Martian
After watching Invaders from Mars recently, I looked for my post from November, 2017 about “IT’s ALIVE!”, an exhibit of horror movie posters and artifacts at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA.
The blog post was nowhere to be found because, I realized, I’d never written it. Recalling what was going on five years ago, it’s an understandable oversight. Having retired (at a relatively young age) earlier that year, I was traveling to Phoenix every month to fulfill my power of attorney duties on behalf of my father.
I wasn’t able to attend “IT’s ALIVE!” until shortly before the show closed. That was just a couple of weeks after my father’s death and, upon returning home, being diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer. So, more than five years after the fact, here’s a link with more about a fun exhibit that I enjoyed very much, especially under the circumstances.
https://www.wbur.org/news/2017/08/11/its-alive-metallica-guitarist-pem
These photos aren’t very good quality, having been taken with my old LG flip-phone. A highlight of “IT’S ALIVE!” was this original Martian Mutant costume from Invaders of Mars.
The pole conveniently hides the mutant’s infamous zipper, while revealing its butt crack.
I was particularly impressed to see original paintings by Frank Frazetta. As with the Mona Lisa, they’re smaller than you’d expect.
WATCH THE SKIES!
Another mysterious object has been shot down, this time over Canadian airspace! Meanwhile, the second targeted object in the past week has been located in frozen water, along the northern coast of Alaska!
William Cameraman Menzies
Had a blast at my buddy Bismo’s place, sharing beers and watching the restored Invaders From Mars in 4K UHD. Before directing that 1953 Sci-Fi classic, William Cameron Menzies designed and directed Things to Come in 1936.
Written for the screen by H.G. Wells, with some of the worst dialogue this side of Ayn Rand, Things to Come is a Sci-Fi classic for its impressive design and visual effects. Some of what Menzies envisioned for the future became reality, such as widescreen, flat-panel HDTV.
Invitation to Invasion
Mars invaded Earth twice in 1953. In War of the Worlds the Martians blasted us into submission. In Invaders from Mars their plan was to subvert us from within. These are two of my very favorite movies.
I have Invaders From Mars on a LaserDisc from Image, restored to the best possible quality at the time. They later released a 50th Anniversary DVD edition of the title.
A new restoration has been completed and Invaders from Mars is now available in 2K HD and 4K UHD. I have invited those wily Martians to invade my house by ordering a Blu-ray copy.
The Movie That Changed Its Title
Director Joe Dante recommends Bill “Karloff” Pratt in The Man Who Lived Again… or is it The Man Who Changed His Mind?
By whichever title it’s known, here’s the movie. Boris at his best!