Brave New Jersey (2016)

As I said yesterday,  it was a lazy weekend.  Although,  I did get some stuff done around the shop,  making it somewhat productive. I also took a break between binging The Hardy Boys Nancy Drew Mysteries and starting Kolchak: The Night Stalker to watch a few movies. Last night, being in the mood for some comedy,I decided on 2016s Brave New Jersey.

Plot: A comedy about a small New Jersey town on the night of Orson Welles' legendary 1938 "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast, which led millions of listeners to believe the U.S. was being invaded by Martians

The real story of the war of the Worlds incident in 1938 is one thati am sure everyone has heard of. I still wonder how I would have reacted had I experienced it live. This one is a great comedic take on what it may have been like in a small Jersey town when it happened. The storyline is lighthearted and fun, but it is also a touch uneven with some strange changes in characterizations sprinkled throughout. The overall look, performances, and production elements make this one easy to watch, but the scripted changes in the characters' and movies' tone does detract from the completed film. This one won't be fore everyone, but it is an interesting take on what might have transpired that fateful night in an isolated community.

2036 Origin Unknown (2018)

I know, I know, I haven’t been around the blog as much as I had intended, but that is all for a good reason. A few months ago, I got contracted to start a series of stories for an Instagram based app called texties.lol and I have been hard at work bringing my Man of Cloth character and the world of Summit View to life. So far, it has been an extreme success and I signed on for a second installment. I have also been busy working on my pop culture and vintage toy store, something that I hope will take off and allow me more freedom in the future. With that, you will be seeing some changes to The Ringmaster’s Realm, as it will serve as the headquarters for both my movie reviews as well as store announcements with cool finds and item listings, so stay tuned. Well, enough on that, the next movie for review is the 2018 science fiction entry 2036 Origin Unknown.

Plot/ After a failed mission to Mars, A.I./ARTI is now used for the 2036 mission with a few human supervisors. A monolith of unknown origin is found there. It will have a big effect on Earth.

Being a fan of the genre, I really wanted to love this one. Unfortunately, I could not truly get into it as much as I thought I would. The story and plot really don’t add anything to the genre that we haven’t seen before. In fact, much of the movie sets up to be far more confusing than it should have been. The pacing is slow, there is no real action, too many things are left open to interpretation and are never explained in detail. I did like the use of AI and found it interesting that this is another example of how filmmakers turn the keys to everything over to a machine. Personally, I must agree that it will end badly when that happens. There is also a solid baseline of tension layered throughout, even if the entire storyline is predictable and lacking depth. In the end, this is far from a perfect movie, but there is at least some unanswered questions that make you think. While I would not completely recommend it to everyone, it does make a good backdrop if you are trying to get some work done.

Life (2017)

After surviving the crazy storm that hit town last night and spending some time at the mall with the Re-Create fundraising event for the Phoenix Art Center, it was time to relax. Now that I am back awake, it is time to catch up on the next flick from last night, 2017s sci-fi entry Life.

Plot/ A team of scientists aboard the International Space Station discover a rapidly evolving life form, that caused extinction on Mars, and now threatens the crew and all life on Earth.

This is a hard movie for me to review, not because of the subject matter or anything like that, it is because I swear I watched the same film previously only this time there were some minor differences. I know that might sound a bit crazy since it was just released in March 2017, but I felt like I knew every point spot on, except for the ending, which was similar in visuals, but different with where the characters (and creature) end up. Who knows, maybe I saw it in some parallel dimension. I did like a lot about the movie, with some of the great cinematography, awesome special effects, and an interesting storyline that was actually rather believable considering the subject matter. Even the atmosphere was dark and claustrophobic enough to make me want to see more. Yes, the characters were a touch flat, the tension level was lacking, and the performances were uneven with what was taking place inside the story. In the end, I did like this one, although it did feel predictable and at times, somewhat forced. It may not be for everyone, but it can be a fun flick to watch if you aren’t looking for the next Alien film.

Red Planet Mars (1952)

After watching Slugs last night, I decided that I wanted to watch some type of classic sci-fi tale. After some searching, I settled on the 1952 entry Red Planet Mars.

Plot/ An American scientist is able to contact and communicate with Mars with shattering political, economic, and spiritual repercussions.

This one is an entertaining and interesting film that is definitely more of an intellectual drama than a pure sci-fi flick. Released during the early part of the Cold War, the sentiments of the day with the communist hysteria is evident throughout. Hell, this could have been one of the flicks that educated McCain and Feinstein on the Russian threat. The acting is solid, the cinematography excellent, and the storyline does have some twists that make it a fun watch. Yes, there are some strong religious overtones, there are no real action sequences or effects, and the flow is a touch choppy, but those are not deal breakers. In the end, this was a fun watch and a movie that does embrace the thoughts and attitudes of that era. Not for everyone, but a movie that should be seen.

Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957)

This has been another long weekend between traveling to softball and taking Jill for her time in Virginia. Although I have been busy, I did find some time to relax and watch a few flicks as I countdown to the next episode of Twin Peaks: The Return. My latest entry was Invasion of the Saucer Men from 1957.

Plot/ A teenage couple accidentally awakens an alien after inadvertently hitting it with their car.

I decided to go back into the 1950s creature features with this one and I am glad I did. While this one is not the best of that era, it is an interesting entry that fits perfectly into the genre. If you love 1950s schlock cinema, this one is something that you should check out. Yes, the storyline is cliché and predictable, the special effects are laughable at best, and the combination of comedy, horror, and sci-fi do work well together within the landscape of the film. It is a fun flick to watch and a movie that does have some entertainment value. In the end, this movie should be seen once. While some viewers will hate it, if you love C-grade cinema and classic schlock, give it a shot.

Another Look at Hollow Earth

The world is a crazy place, and just one look around will show that science and history are at a crossroad. Many of the scientific or historic items that were once embraced as fact are now slowly being proven to be myths. Water on Mars and the potential that life once existed on the famed red planet are just a couple of items that have made headline news in the past few years (NASA, n.d.). What about here on Earth, do similar hypothesis exist? Absolutely, and one such concept is the potential of life existing inside the planet, or something known as Hollow Earth theory.

For years, skeptics around the world have dismissed this theory as insanity or impossible. After all, geologists study the structural make-up of the planet and have for hundreds of years, and no definitive proof has been discovered to back up this theory.  However, the same thing could have been said about water on Mars until NASA made their announcement in September (Chang, 2015). This discovery definitely changed history, and in many ways, opened the door for more exploration of our own planet and the solar system in search of life.

Why does Hollow Earth sound familiar?

While many in society have probably heard of this theory inside some of the epic science fiction tales crafted by authors such as Jules Verne, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and even Edgar Allen Poe. What most people do not realize is that Hollow Earth theory has actually been debated and researched for generations (Storr, 2014). One look at ancient history will show that there are many accounts recorded on stone tablets from the earliest cultures depicting strange creatures that live inside the Earth. These accounts are not just discussed by historians, scholars such as Plato, Edmond Halley, and Leonard Euler all made suggestions on the possibility that the Earth could be hollow.

Even scientists in this modern era debate topics exactly like this one. Honestly, what do we really know about the planet or Solar System? Most of the facts that are written about in textbooks are theoretical at best, and when challenged, some seem to fall flat. In 2015 alone, multiple laboratories broke long accepted laws of physics with their experiments (Moskowitz, 2015). When you couple those discoveries in physics with the discovery of water on Mars, it should not be a surprise to see that many modern scientists have theorized on the hollow nature of the Earth (Walia, 2013). Of course, like most of the discoveries made by ancient astronaut theorists, the majority of discoveries made outside of government agencies remain far from the mainstream news cycle.

Who is Admiral Byrd and what is in his diary?

No discussion of Hollow Earth theory could be complete without talking about renowned explorer, Admiral Richard Byrd; the first person credited for flying over the North Pole in 1926  (PBS, n.d.). While this was a great achievement, it was what Byrd reportedly wrote about in his diary after one of his explorations, and at times talked about in mostly dismissed interviews that plant the seed that he discovered more than just poles on his many expeditions (UFOman, 2014). Could this be true? Could he have discovered something inside the Earth? According to many, including ancient astronaut theorists, the answer is yes.

Inside his diary, there are claims of a great society full of strange and mysterious beings. In fact, it goes as far as saying that he saw many different creatures and vast technologies that we could only dream of ("Admiral Byrd Diary | Admiral Byrds diary," n.d.). With all of the unexplained ancient cultural achievements, would it be too much to consider that they received help from some type of advanced civilization? This type of thought cannot be easily dismissed when one looks at the ancient societies and their appreciation and reverence of the underworld.

Hitler, Hollow Earth, and the Mayan Calendar.

Hollow Earth theory may still seem like a stretch of the imagination, which would be a valid conclusion since no published map has an entrance outlined in bold. Yet, maps do exist that do show that these openings do exist. Many people have heard the stories about Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party searching for mystical artifacts and occult items during World War 2. However, it was a quest for Hollow Earth that led the German soldiers and scientists to Antarctica during the war and actually creating a map of their discovery (Indigo Society, 2014). Incredibly, this map matches another, more famous, ancient artifact that most people across the globe have at least heard of.

If you compare the German map with the Mayan Calendar, you will see that they almost align perfectly ("Mayan long count," n.d.). Both have multiple openings to the underworld, with the primary openings sitting at the North and South Pole positions, as well as smaller openings that relate to locations such as Brazil, Mammoth Caves, Dero Caves, and the volcanoes in Italy, which are rumored to be openings into this underground region. While this may seem like a theoretical observation, the reality is that some of it would explain the cultural practices, historical artifacts, and God worship in the Mayan civilization (Guillermoprieto, 2013). This visual relationship should also be enough to lend more credibility to those who subscribe to ancient astronaut theory, as many of the historical sights discussed by these researchers sit in and around many of the ancient cultures that demonstrated a still unexplained technological output.

Why not go to the entrances of Hollow Earth to solve the mystery?

With a theory that many believe is crazy, one would think that there would be an easy way to prove the answer. Unfortunately, many obstacles stand in the way of researchers, especially when they attempt to take on some of the more logical questions of this theory. Exploring the major openings, specifically the large alleged entrances at the North and South Poles would be the most obvious. However, that is virtually impossible, with governmental controls and treaties in place to prevent civilian exploration of these areas (United Nations, n.d.). In fact, that United Nations Treaty is one of the only continent-based agreements that have been ratified by every major super-power.

The question that should come to mind is why? Why is it so hard to explore these major entrances and why is it virtually impossible for civilians to explore these regions? Those are great questions, with a simple theoretic answer. With almost every cave system on the continents connected in some way, it would be almost impossible to navigate them with any accuracy, and few if any maps exist to assist in that type of venture. Under the guise of the United Nations, governments prevent civilian exploration and limit access to the potential resources and technologies that have been rumored to exist in Hollow Earth.

More than that, unveiling the truth that a technologically advanced world survives in the depths of our planet could cause catastrophic ripples within major parts of society. Everything from history, to science, and religion could fall into the crosshairs of questioning, and a majority of what was taught throughout the centuries would have to be discounted. Not only would this cause turmoil in these areas, it could also potentially cause mass hysteria across the globe in a world that already has a lack of trust with the governments of the world.

Is it true; is the Earth Hollow?

With such diverse data existing inside the historical and scientific realms of study, it is hard to discount Hollow Earth theory as impossible or insanity. While there is not a ton of concrete evidence floating around for the world to digest on the topic, there is enough to make people wonder. Coupled with the way that it is constantly being proven that what society is being told is not necessarily the truth, and the way governments and organizations suppress knowledge and documents, the idea that the Earth is hollow definitely appears a valid theory, and a potential discovery that could change the world forever.

References

Admiral Byrd Diary | Admiral Byrds diary. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.admiralbyrddiary.com/AdmiralByrdDiary/index.php

Chang, K. (2015, September 28). Mars shows signs of having flowing water, possible niches for life, NASA says. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/science/space/mars-life-liquid-water.html?_r=0

Guillermoprieto, A. (2013, August). Secrets of the Maya Otherworld. Retrieved from http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/08/sacred-cenotes/guillermoprieto-text

Indigo Society. (2014, April 15). Inner Earth?(South/North Pole). Retrieved from http://indigosociety.com/the-living-earth/inner-earth-south-north-pole-t78754.html

Mayan long count. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://mayan-calendar.com/ancient_longcount.html

Moskowitz, C. (2015, September 9). 2 accelerators find particles that may break known laws of physics. Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/2-accelerators-find-particles-that-may-break-known-laws-of-physics1/

NASA. (n.d.). Mars, water & life. Retrieved from https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msp98/why.html

NASA. (n.d.). Earth Rise. Retrieved from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=86453&picture=earth-rise

PBS. (n.d.). The American experience | alone on the ice | people & events | Richard E. Byrd. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/ice/peopleevents/pandeAMEX86.html

Storr, W. (2014, July 13). Hollow Earth Conspiracy theories: the hole truth. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10961412/Hollow-Earth-conspiracy-theories-the-hole-truth.html

UFOman. (2014, April 19). Admiral Richard E Byrd - Hollow Earth video interview [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzWHqooAJtM

United Nations. (n.d.). Disarmament Treaties Database: Antarctic Treaty. Retrieved from http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/t/antarctic

Walia, A. (2013, August 26). Mind blowing research suggests that Earth could actually be hollow. Retrieved from http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/08/26/mind-blowing-research-suggests-that-earth-could-actually-be-hollow/

Contamination (1980)

Sometimes, I need to take a trip down memory lane to my youth and the big box VHS flicks that made the 1980s one of the best decades for no-budget horror cinema. One such movie is my next review; the 1980 horror/sci-fi entry Contamination (AKA Alien Contamination).

Plot/ A former astronaut helps a government agent and a police detective track the source of mysterious alien pod spores, filled with lethal flesh-dissolving acid, to a South American coffee plantation controlled by alien pod clones.

There is really nothing better than horror from the 1980s and the gore that often accomplished in before the political correct censorship establishment took control. While this is not the best of the era, it is a movie that offers a unique combination of gore and schlock that makes it a fun watch. Couple those elements with an entertaining storyline (albeit somewhat predictable), some solid performances, and enough classic Italian cheese to make it watchable. Yes, some of the gore effects are overused and a little dated today, and some of the movie would seem cliché with many scenes mirroring other films from the era, but that was common back in the days of big box VHS. In the end, if you love European horror from the 1980s, you have to check out this version; it is worth watching. Be warned though, this schlockfest is not for everyone.

The Martian (2015)

After doing some writing last night to honor the great Edgar Allan Poe on his birthday, I had planned to venture into the world of David Lynch to celebrate his birthday. Unfortunately, my daughter Jillian wanted to instead watch The Martian. While I gave it, I should have stayed true to my plan, it would have been more entertaining.

Plot/ During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit, and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.

This was a movie that my daughter was excited about, and unfortunately, it left us both somewhat dissatisfied. From Ridley Scott, we both knew going in that the scenery and cinematography would be amazing, and it was. However, that is about the extent of what was worth watching. There was almost zero atmosphere, the characterizations felt flat and uninspired, and the storyline could have definitely been cut back to keep this in the two hour range. Honestly, there was nothing new or redeeming about this flick at all, and it took up too much time. In the end, the Sci-Fi entry misses the mark and could have been ignored all together. If you love Matt Damon, maybe you should watch it, but in you aren’t stay away; this is categorically NOT a Ridley Scott classic.

Martian Land (2015)

When I read online last night that NASA would have some new information on Mars today, I was excited. While I understand that it would not be the alien disclosure many of us know they are hiding, it is interesting to watch these press conferences and how they dance around the subject. With that in mind, I decided that I wanted to watch something to get me focused, eventually settling on 2015s Martian Land.

Plot/ In the distant future, a large portion of humanity lives on Mars, in cities that resemble those once found on Earth. The cities are protected from the inhospitable Martian atmosphere by dome-like force fields. When a massive sandstorm breaks through the dome and destroys Mars New York, those in Mars Los Angeles must figure out how to stop the storm before it wipes them out next.

The first time I saw this one at Family Video I honestly thought it was animated from the case, and in retrospect, may have been more excited if it was. Coming from low budget stronghold The Asylum, this movie has many issues and acts more as a propaganda piece for the global warming/climate change trumpeters than an actual Sci-Fi entry. The scripting is uneven, the performances match, and as usual the over-the-top CGI effects do nothing but make it more laughable. Truly, this one would have likely been better as a cartoon. In the end, there is nothing I can say about this one to spin it in a positive light, as it is one of the more disappointing movies I have seen lately coming from The Asylum. Stay Away!

Total Recall (1990)

Yesterday was a long day, as I had to pull a late night at the institute. Yes, it was only a few hours, but that time seemed to drain the life out of me and when I got home, I did not feel like doing anything. Tonight, I decided to get back on track by reviewing another one of the retro flicks I have watched over the past few days, 1990s Total Recall.

Plot/ When a man goes for virtual vacation memories of the planet Mars, an unexpected and harrowing series of events forces him to go to the planet for real, or does he?

This was a movie that I recently searched out for many reasons. Based on the Phillip K. Dick short story We Can Remember It For You Wholesale, I decided to venture into this one again to see some of the areas I may have missed when it came out. While what I found was a touch dated, it was definitely worth watching again. The storyline is fantastic, the action scenes were solid, sets interesting, and the performances were actually better than I remember. Sure, some of the effects see out of date and the dialog is all over, but that was somewhat expected from what I had remembered. In the end, this was an entertaining trip into a strange and layered storyline. If you have not watched the original, give it a shot, it is worth it.

Mission to Mars (2000)

After spending some time with some low budget entries, it was time to venture into something a touch more serious. Having spent a lot of time recently diving into Ancient Aliens, it was only fitting that I would find something with a similar theme. After some thought, I decided to watch Mission to Mars from 2000.

Plot/ When the first manned mission to Mars meets with a catastrophic and mysterious disaster, a rescue mission is launched to investigate the tragedy and bring back any survivors.

Mission to Mars is definitely a film that has aged well. In fact, watching it again for the first time since it came out made me appreciate it more than I originally did. The performances are solid; the underlying narrative is amazing, the characters believable, and the overall feel of this movie is tremendous. Yes, there are some cliché moments that drag viewers toward Kubrick’s 2001, but this does in no way ruin the movie. On top of that, the ending may be one of the best in a Sci-Fi film and honestly hits upon a topic that make ancient alien theorists smile. In the end, this flick may be more drama than modern science fiction, but it is an entertaining journey that all should see. If you have not seen it, check it out!

The Last Days on Mars (2013)

What a few days. After working late, softball practice and an open house, it was nice to sit back and enjoy some relaxing movie time. Of course, it was finding the right film that makes it a more interesting evening. What did I decide if on? After some thought, it was the Sci-Fi / horror flick, The Last Days on Mars. 

Plot/ group of astronaut explorers succumb one by one to a mysterious and terrifying force while collecting specimens on Mars. 

When one connected horror and Sci-Fi the is always the potential for things to become unhinged. While this one never became unhinged, it definitely felt forced, something that led to some pacing issues. Somewhat a throwback to the beginning of the genre, the storyline is interesting. On top of that, the acting was solid and the imagery worked well, but that did not push this into a memorable category. The paving was a bit slow, the plot holes large and there was really no foreboding atmosphere like one would expect. It honestly felt like the horror elements were forced onto this picture and it drug it down. In the end, this eone was nothing special. Sure, it had a few moments and a couple of surprises, but it is nothing we have not all seen before. Be warned!

  

The Angry Red Planet (1959)

While tonight, I am sitting through The Hunger Games, as I have tickets to take the daughters to the opening of Catching Fire tomorrow, yesterday was a different animal. I am still not sure how I feel about this Agenda 21 propaganda I am watching now, but that does not matter. Last night, I continued my recent trip into classic era Sci-Fi, and I decided on the 1959 gem The Angry Red Planet.

Plot/ The first spaceship to Mars, presumed lost, is found in space and brought back to Earth by remote control. Once safely on Earth, the scientists learn of the terrible dangers awaiting anyone venturing into the diverse Martian ecosystem.

This is another one of those great campy Sci-Fi gems of the 1950s and 1660s. Made with a low budget (with effects to back that up), this flick is a fun and entertaining look at the Martian landscape. While it is a decent entry from that time, there are some of the typical B-Movie flaws one should expect for that era. The acting is so-so, the characters are flat, and the effects are definitely special… Yet, this is one of the more entertaining films I have watched from that time. In the end, if you enjoy classic Sci-Fi cheese-fests, you should definitely check this one out.