Now Playing: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Would Beat ‘The Avengers’ in a Dance-Off

On August 6, 2014August 6, 2014 By chrisbarsantiIn Film - New, Graphic NovelsLeave a comment

Which of these Guardians of the Galaxy has an awesome mix-tape on their Walkman? (Marvel / Walt Disney Studios)

It’s big, it’s everywhere, it’s somehow much better than your average Marvel output—even Joss Whedon’s The Avengers. Guardians of the Galaxy is playing now throughout the known universe; check it out.

My article “Guardians of the Galaxy out-Whedons The Avengers” is at Short Ends & Leader:

There’s a lot to appreciate—and maybe even love—about Guardians of the Galaxy. The oozing and eager-to-please sprawl of Gen-X references, from Mom’s ‘70s pop music mixtape to hero Peter Quill (Chris Pratt, surfer-dude sly) romancing the green-skinned assassin babe Gamora (Zoe Saldana) by referencing the “legend” of Footloose. Banter threaded slyly through the action instead of airdropped in by executive committee looking for humor beats. A talking raccoon skilled in jail-breaks and bomb-making. David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream”. A genocidal villain thwarted by a dance-off. The two-hour running time, practically unheard-of brevity for modern blockbusters. Howard the Duck…

You can see the trailer here:

Reader’s Corner: Great Otherworldly Librarians

On August 3, 2014July 30, 2014 By chrisbarsantiIn BooksLeave a comment

(Courtesy DC Comics) — Batgirl, when she’s not shelving (courtesy DC Comics)

Readers of genre fiction—particularly science fiction and fantasy—have a special place in their hearts for bookstores, libraries, and other (preferably dark and quiet) repositories of the written word. While librarians would seem to most like a prickly breed, they tend to show up in works of the fantastic as heroes, or at least very valuable allies.

Thanks to the smart folks at Tor, here’s a look at some of the more awesome fantasy/sci-fi librarians, ranging from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to the Sandman comics.

It’s a solid list, all in all (even if it does miss out on the omnisciently Jeeves-ian Librarian from Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash), though they do pale in comparison to Barbara Gordon, the occasional librarian otherwise known as Batgirl.

Department of Weekend Reading: August 1, 2014

On August 1, 2014July 30, 2014 By chrisbarsantiIn Omnium GatherumLeave a comment

Impeachment? Bring it on.
“Never have I met any candidate quite as frightening or fact-averse” as this lady.
The modern era’s “seamless wall of white rage.”
Go paleo with bacteria baths and an all-sausage buffet.
“It was not a significant bullet. I am not afraid”: The (mostly imagined) journals of Werner Herzog.
Welcome to the suck: Brett Ratner to produce adaptation of The Goldfinch.
Print and read: Quarter Pounder beats the Third Pounder, and other examples of who Americans are just lousy at math.
Bonus print and read: Bill McKibben on climate change’s tipping point; now it cannot be stopped.

Chris Barsanti

Month: August 2014

Now Playing: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Would Beat ‘The Avengers’ in a Dance-Off

Reader’s Corner: Great Otherworldly Librarians

Department of Weekend Reading: August 1, 2014