Ghosts from Charge Shot!!!’s Past: Tattoos on the Heart

Charge Shot!!! has been around for two and a half years now - amazing, we know! - and in that time we've amassed a lot of posts. Much of our writing is in an editorial vein, simply because we don't have the time or resources to report on every news item that flies across the Interwebs. Therefore, we feel that our output has a better shelf-life than you might expect from some run-of-the-mill news blog.

This feature, Ghosts From Charge Shot!!!'s Past, aims to bring some of this stuff - both good and embarrassing - to the eyeballs of our newer readers, while taking long-time constituents on a trip down memory lane. Enjoy!

Summer is upon us. For some that means vacation, afternoons in the sun, and hot hot heat. For others that means working, cranking the air conditioner, and catching as many blockbuster movies as possible.

A Better Life is not a blockbuster movie. But Entertainment Weekly did go so far as to call it “2011’s first awards movie”. This film from About A Boy director Chris Weitz charts the relationship between a struggling Mexican gardener and his Americanized son in Los Angeles. A Better Life marks Weitz’s return to “serious” film after a vacation in blockbuster land with The Golden Compass and Twilight: New Moon, and reviews indicate that it should receive some recognition in awards season if anyone can remember it six months later.

But this Ghosts post isn’t about A Better Life. It’s about the book Tattoos from the Heart, which Chris reviewed last year. The author, Rev. Gregory Boyle, founded Homeboy Industries, a gang-member rehabilitation program in Los Angeles. Boyle, along with Homeboy Industries, helped Weitz select shooting locations and capture an authentic L.A. gang atmosphere.

Tattoos, like the program it chronicles, is meant to be inspirational. Chris had this to say about that:

“You can probably guess by now what sort of book this is. You wouldn't be wrong. Each chapter is organized by some sort of inspirational theme, as Boyle stitches together anecdotes and stories of the people he's encountered and helped (or tried to help). Many of the stories end in tears and hugs; others end in tears and funerals. Boyle peppers these anecdotes with Bible quotes and references to Scripture.

But even though Tattoos on the Heart clearly has a religious agenda, I found for the most part that the stories speak for themselves.”

I never thought we’d ever review a book like Tattoos on the Heart, but I’m glad we did. It’s a window into a specific, challenging life that few would enter if they had the choice – not that different from Chris Weitz’s A Better Life. 

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Insidious: A Scary-o-typical Horror Flick

Some horror movies try to surprise you. Not just that they make use of frighteningly surprising images, what with the demons and the things jumping out of closets and the scary LADIES! But a clever horror movie will play with the conventions, take you somewhere unexpected, and generally catch you off guard. Other horror movies will play into the most well-traveled conventions, but draw agonizing attention to just that fact in an effort to appear witty and "meta".

There is a third class of horror movies not characterized by convoluted plot devices, tricky twists and turns, or painful self-reference - they just present you with good, clean, old-fashioned horror situations, and challenge you not to be scared by them. I find these types of movies to be the most effective if done right. Such was the case with Insidious.

The movie is not overly clever or subtle or thought-provoking. It doesn't ask the big questions or make you question everything you thought you knew about horror movies. What it does do is make you jump out of your seat and prevents you from sleeping for nights on end.

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Ghosts of Charge Shot!!! Past: Arcade Fire’s “The Suburbs”

Arcade Fire surprised a whole host of Gaga and Eminem (perhaps even Bieber) fans last night by taking the Grammy for Best Album of the Year.

Their obscurity relative to Top 40 heavy hitters is well-known, and bewildered reactions to the coup are being expertly documented on a “Who Is Arcade Fire?” Tumblr. This all despite being the biggest indie act going right now. They even appeared on Saturday Night Live last November – though I suppose that’s just as much a reflection of the current state of America’s favorite weekly sketch show run by a Canadian.

So just in case you’re one of those people who wondering why music fans won’t shut up about a burning Chuck E. Cheese, here’s Chris’s review of their Grammy-winning album The Suburbs.

For Arcade Fire neophytes, Chris puts The Suburbs in context, charting the evolution of the band from their previous albums Funeral and Neon Bible:

“The Suburbs, due out next week, avoids the anthemic emotional affirmations of Funeral while also side-stepping the overwrought political sentimentalities of Neon Bible. It's a mess of contradictions - uplifting and despairing, a cry for present action and a nostalgic look at bygone times, a touch of childlike wonder mixed with mature cynicism.”

Enjoy!

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Ghosts from Charge Shot!!!’s Past: The Social Network

Charge Shot!!! has been around for two years now - amazing, we know! - and in that time we've amassed a lot of posts. Much of our writing is in an editorial vein, simply because we don't have the time or resources to report on every news item that flies across the Interwebs. Therefore, we feel that our output has a better shelf-life than you might expect from some run-of-the-mill news blog.

This feature, Ghosts From Charge Shot!!!'s Past, aims to bring some of this stuff - both good and embarrassing - to the eyeballs of our newer readers, while taking long-time constituents on a trip down memory lane.

Let’s assume you care about the Golden Globes. Assuming that, let’s assume you believe them to be an accurate predictor of Oscar success. Assuming that, let’s also assume that you care about the Oscars.

This past Sunday, The Social Network took home the Golden Globe for Best Picture – Drama, as well as awards for directing, screenwriting, and original soundtrack. Despite some heinous CGI cold breath, it’s an excellent film that dropped at a time that also makes it feel important.

Wondering whether the hype is deserved? Check out Jordan’s review from a few months back:

“The question The Social Network raises is whether Facebook has irrevocably changed how we deal with such events and, indeed, our collective human experience. Specifically, has Facebook's founder remade the world in his own image? Mark Zuckerberg's villainy, at least as interpreted by Eisenberg, stems from his autistic inability to deal with those around him. The jury's still out on whether that makes him a sociopath or just a good business man.”

Enjoy!

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Ghosts from Charge Shot!!! Past: The Room

Charge Shot!!! has been around for two years now - amazing, we know! - and in that time we've amassed a lot of posts. Much of our writing is in an editorial vein, simply because we don't have the time or resources to report on every news item that flies across the Interwebs. Therefore, we feel that our output has a better shelf-life than you might expect from some run-of-the-mill news blog.

This feature, Ghosts From Charge Shot!!!'s Past, aims to bring some of this stuff - both good and embarrassing - to the eyeballs of our newer readers, while taking long-time constituents on a trip down memory lane.

I was talking to someone the other day about why I dislike certain movies.  Advocates of movies I don’t like will often say something along the lines of “Well, don’t expect it to be something it isn’t.”  Essentially, don’t go to an action movie and expect a mind-blowing script or Academy-caliber performances.

They’ll also say, “But didn’t you enjoy Snakes on a Plane?  Didn’t I see you having a great time during D-War?”  And I’ll nod in agreement.  Those are terrible movies, but they’re so bad they kind of loop around the spectrum into a different kind of good.  That, or there’s some sort of Uncanny Valley of Mediocrity.

As we approach awards season, it’s worth reminding ourselves that not every movie is an Oscar-winner, and that’s okay.

The Room is one of those movies.  Last year Boivin, our intrepid explorer of all things terrible in cinema, saw Tommy Wiseau’s “masterpiece” at a midnight showing.  Thankfully, he lived to tell the tale:

“The Room is the stuff of trash cinema legend, the sort of story that a Tim Burton-esque auteur of the future will surely make a movie out of someday. It's the brainchild of bizarre wrtier/director/producer/leading man/probably at least four other credits Tommy Wiseau and its so bad it kind of sort of really hurts (but it's a good hurt). Ostensibly a melodrama about a successful yuppie being two-timed by his fiancée (excuse me, "future wife") the Room has taken on a life of its own as the internet generation's Rocky Horror. However, unlike Rocky which was conceived as an over-the-top camp midnight movie spectacular, the Room has all the earnestness of a high school short story contest.”

Boivin may well inspire you to watch The Room yourself.  If you do, just remember: this was a warning, not a recommendation.  Enjoy!

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Ghosts From the Past: The 2010 Oscars

Charge Shot!!! has been around for two years now - amazing, we know! - and in that time we've amassed a lot of posts. Much of our writing is in an editorial vein, simply because we don't have the time or resources to report on every news item that flies across the Interwebs. Therefore, we feel that our output has a better shelf-life than you might expect from some run-of-the-mill news blog.

This feature, Ghosts From Charge Shot!!!'s Past, aims to bring some of this stuff - both good and embarrassing - to the eyeballs of our newer readers, while taking long-time constituents on a trip down memory lane.

We’re but four days into 2011 and the film world is abuzz with Oscar, well…buzz.  Arguments are only just beginning about who is going to wear what when they win what for which movie.

As you begin planning your Oscar party – buying chocolate Oscar statuettes in bulk and organizing your awards pools – it’s worth looking back at last year’s celebration of the silver screen.  Boivin recapped the event, kicking off with a lament for Star Trek:

“Everyone remembers last year's Oscars party when that one guy wouldn't stop complaining that The Dark Knight wasn't nominated for Best Picture, well this year he was probably complaining about Star Trek. When the ten movie format was announced last year, everyone was sure that J.J. Abrams' space opera was a lock for a nomination. Even before the usual round of Oscar bait was released, everyone was sure that Trek was going to be given a spot in the the ten as a nod to and representative of all the fine blockbusters released in 2009. Unfortunately, this was the year (or perhaps was going to be the year) of Avatar, and the big budget science fiction slot was filled by the highest grossing movie of all time. In a doubly confusing slap in the face of Trekkies worldwide, the just fine but without-a-chance District 9 was nominated for Best Picture as well (and was given an introduction by Chris Pine!).”

Ironically enough, Star Trek ended up winning an Oscar (for makeup, why not!).  Enjoy!

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Ghosts From the Past: Archer and H. Jon Benjamin

Charge Shot!!! has been around for two years now - amazing, we know! - and in that time we've amassed a lot of posts. Much of our writing is in an editorial vein, simply because we don't have the time or resources to report on every news item that flies across the Interwebs. Therefore, we feel that our output has a better shelf-life than you might expect from some run-of-the-mill news blog.

This feature, Ghosts From Charge Shot!!!'s Past, aims to bring some of this stuff - both good and embarrassing - to the eyeballs of our newer readers, while taking long-time constituents on a trip down memory lane. Enjoy!

Archer comes back next month! If you don’t know what that is, let this post that Craig wrote in January inform you.

The show, though stocked with a largely entertaining supporting cast, hinges on your enjoyment of Benjamin as Archer.  He deftly alternates between the two modes that made Coach McGuirk so enjoyable: relaxed, derisive conversation and surprised, disingenuous shouting.  He has no problem underselling a barbed insult, particularly when it’s a recurring joke.  But he’s also fully capable of neanderthal-like bellowing.  This excellent Home Movies clip is a perfect example of Benjamin alternating between the two.

Enjoy!

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Ghosts From the Past: “Indie” is a Useless Term

Charge Shot!!! has been around for two years now - amazing, we know! - and in that time we've amassed a lot of posts. Much of our writing is in an editorial vein, simply because we don't have the time or resources to report on every news item that flies across the Interwebs. Therefore, we feel that our output has a better shelf-life than you might expect from some run-of-the-mill news blog.

This feature, Ghosts From Charge Shot!!!'s Past, aims to bring some of this stuff - both good and embarrassing - to the eyeballs of our newer readers, while taking long-time constituents on a trip down memory lane. Enjoy!

This week, we take a look back at one of Jordan’s pieces from the beginning of the year. It talks about the word “indie,” specifically its degeneration into a completely useless descriptor.

Even "indie rock," the most well-known subset of indie music, isn't particularly exclusive. Indie rock, like many genres, has referred to different things at different times. In the '80s, the term "indie rock" referred to punk-influenced distorted pop of Husker Du, the Pixies, and the Dinosaur Jr. The sound of those bands led neatly into the alternative rock of the 1990's, which could be considered the more popular spinoff of alternative rock (at least for a time).

But at some point, indie rock came to refer to lo-fi (Neutral Milk Hotel, Elliot Smith) and jangle pop (the Smiths, early R.E.M.), as well.

Already, then, there's a split in what constitutes the "sound" of indie rock. Is it the abrasive proto-Nirvana of Husker Du and the Pixies? Or the under-produced pop music of Elliot Smith, most clearly influenced by the Byrds, the Beatles, and the Beach Boys? Or maybe just music that doesn'tsound like mainstream pop music (whatever that may be)?

Enjoy!

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Ghosts From the Past: The Resurgence of Classic Science Fiction

Charge Shot!!! has been around for two years now - amazing, we know! - and in that time we've amassed a lot of posts. Much of our writing is in an editorial vein, simply because we don't have the time or resources to report on every news item that flies across the Interwebs. Therefore, we feel that our output has a better shelf-life than you might expect from some run-of-the-mill news blog.

This feature, Ghosts From Charge Shot!!!'s Past, aims to bring some of this stuff - both good and embarrassing - to the eyeballs of our newer readers, while taking long-time constituents on a trip down memory lane. Enjoy!

Today’s piece, written by Chris shortly after our rebirth as a New Millennium Culture Blog, examines books and films from the past and present that strive to put the “science” in science fiction, stuff that entertains with big ideas and concepts rather than spaceships blowing each other up.

Science fiction as we know it today grew out of the literature of the 1950s. In response to the post-war technology boom and suburbanization of American, classic sci-fi writers such as Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Ray Bradbury wrote loads of short stories and paperback novels that addressed the modern condition through a futuristic lens. Most of these works will never be mistaken for great literature. Characters were interchangeable, plot was nearly non-existent, and the prose was adequate at best. But, despite these handicaps, these works excelled in the concepts they introduced. Rather than reading these stories for an exciting narrative or an interesting character, these works are worth reading for their ideas.

So, read it! Even if you’ve seen it before, it deserves another look.

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Ghosts from Charge Shot!!!’s Past: Do Games Know How To End?

Charge Shot!!! has been around for two years now - amazing, we know! - and in that time we've amassed a lot of posts. Much of our writing is in an editorial vein, simply because we don't have the time or resources to report on every news item that flies across the Interwebs. Therefore, we feel that our output has a better shelf-life than you might expect from some run-of-the-mill news blog.

This feature, Ghosts From Charge Shot!!!'s Past, aims to bring some of this stuff - both good and embarrassing - to the eyeballs of our newer readers, while taking long-time constituents on a trip down memory lane. Enjoy!

This week’s post dates back to our gaming-only days, when the blog was more like a dank pit than a Web site. Even though we cast a wider net now than once we did, we still occasionally made some good points back in those days.

Case in point, take this post by Craig, which muses on game endings. How many times have you played a game to completion only to have it end in an underwhelming boss fight?

Part of the problem may be the terminology we attach to finishing a game.  More general terms aside, books are read and movies are seen.  Games are “beaten.”  This comes, of course, from gaming’s preteen years, when most titles were primarily challenges of skill.  Some, designed to ravenously consume your quarters, didn’t even allow you to complete the game – limited hardware prompted games to commit seppuku lest they carry on indefinitely.  The challenge-based design aesthetic still pervades an industry characterized by Achievements, High Scores, and Time Trials. 

On your to-do list for today: set your clock back an hour, and read this post.

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Ghosts From Charge Shot!!!’s Past: Thomas Pynchon’s Inherent Vice

Charge Shot!!! has been around for a little under two years now - amazing, we know! - and in that time we've amassed a lot of posts. Much of our writing is in an editorial vein, simply because we don't have the time or resources to report on every news item that flies across the Interwebs. Therefore, we feel that our output has a better shelf-life than you might expect from some run-of-the-mill news blog.

This new feature, Ghosts From Charge Shot!!!'s Past, will run every Saturday and aims to bring some of this stuff - both good and embarrassing - to the eyeballs of our newer readers, while taking long-time constituents on a trip down memory lane. Enjoy!

Summer’s end is upon us, but it’s not quite over yet – you’ve got until the fall equinox to hit the beach, cookout some piles of meat, and wait for network TV shows to come back from hiatus.

While you wait, why not curl up with a good book? At almost exactly this time last year Chris wrote his very first piece for us, a review of Thomas Pynchon’s Inherent Vice. Among other things, he called it “an immensely enjoyable beach read.” An excerpt:

“Pynchon has always been a doubled-edged sword for literary critics; on one hand, he's the man who writes books so complex that they need wikis in order to make sense of the plot. On the other hand, he's the man who fills his books with enough popular culture references to make the writers of Teen Beat blush, a man who refuses traditional interviews but has no qualms about appearing on The Simpsons. Literary critics have spent most of their time focusing on the former Pynchon while effectively ignoring the latter. In a way, this is unfair; Pynchon is as much a cultural critic as he is a beacon of postmodernism. And Inherent Vice is his first work to focus solely on popular culture while for once ignoring the complex structures and metanarratives that normally worm their way into his books.”

Check out the review, and see if it makes you want to check out the book. You’ve only got so many warm days left!

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Ghosts From Charge Shot!!!'s Past: Thirteen Ways to Kill a Zebra

Charge Shot!!! has been around for a little under two years now - amazing, we know! - and in that time we've amassed a lot of posts. Much of our writing is in an editorial vein, simply because we don't have the time or resources to report on every news item that flies across the Interwebs. Therefore, we feel that our output has a better shelf-life than you might expect from some run-of-the-mill news blog.


This new feature, Ghosts From Charge Shot!!!'s Past, will run every Saturday and aims to bring some of this stuff - both good and embarrassing - to the eyeballs of our newer readers, while taking long-time constituents on a trip down memory lane. Enjoy!


We normally write in prose here, out of necessity - it's pretty hard to do op-ed in haiku (though we've been known to try). This week's ghost-post, from our very first week of blogging, shows what it might have been like if we had attempted the poetry tack more consistently: thirteen short free-form poems by our own Rob Kunzig, each one a mini-ode to a zebra gunned down in Far Cry 2. A sample:

Nine:
Dart gun!
No worries:
You’re just asleep.
That is, until the lions find you.

Short but sweet, and fun whether or not you've ever heard of the game in question. Read the full post here. Continue...