Hatrack River Writers Workshop: I'm procrastinating, anyone want to help?

This is topic I'm procrastinating, anyone want to help? in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :

I'm sitting a work working on my Goats Gruff re-write. I've finally gotten to it his week (yay!). I'm a bit stuck and need to cool it for a bit. I feel like talking a bit but can't think of anyone to call.
I'm staying at work 'cause I'm going to see Alien vs Predator tonight but it doesn't start for another hour and a half. Ack! Need to focus. Should continue working my story instead of boring everyone else. Oh well, I have a computer, I can do both

Posted by TruHero (Member # 1766) on :

Aahhh... My favorite pastime -- Milking the clock! Enjoy AVP, and I expect a full report, without spoilers of course. I am going this week, with a couple of friends. My wife doesn't want to see it. I will remember that when the next sappy chick-flick comes along.

Posted by Keeley (Member # 2088) on :

The previews I've seen for AVP just don't pull me in. Now, "The Village" is another story. I love Shyalaman's work. Especially "Unbreakable".

Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :

The theatre is a block away from my office so I just stayed after work. It wouldn't take long to go home, but I really wanted to work on Gruff. I loved all the Alien and Predator movies (except Alien Resurrection, not dark enough, too many survivors if you ask me). I haven't read any of the comics (Alien vs Predator) but over the years I've been filled in on some of the links between the two story concepts. I can't wait to see it.

[edit to include comic series name.]

[This message has been edited by Robyn_Hood (edited August 17, 2004).]

Posted by Keeley (Member # 2088) on :

I didn't know links were being developed between the two. I thought it was a "Godzilla v. King Kong" sort of plot.

If you have the time, what are the links?

Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :

The way I understand it, the Predators, in search for the ultimate prey, created the Alien for the express purpose of hunting it. Note in Predator 2, the Predator actually has an Alien skull in its collection. The Alien was so effective, it was also used as a weapon. Eggs could be dumped on a rival world, completely destroying it. At the beginning of Alien, the ship carrying the eggs is yet another alien race who purchased them as a weapon from the predators. On their way to make the drop, one of the eggs hatches and destroys the crew. The ship crash lands on the planet that begins the whole Alien series.

I could have a lot of this wrong, but it is my understanding on some of it.

Posted by Keeley (Member # 2088) on :

That's interesting.

Maybe I'll see AVP after all. I'd like a review as well, please. And thank you in advance.

I'm afraid that's all the assistance I can give for now. But every little bit helps right?

Posted by Hildy9595 (Member # 1489) on :

Wow, interesting background on AVP I never knew. I remember the Alien skull, but thought it was just an in-joke kind of thing.

As for The Village, I won't spoil anything except to say that I figured out the "twist" after the first five minutes and except for some intriguing character development and good acting, it's on the dull side. I would rank it one small step up from Signs but below Unbreakable and well down from The Sixth Sense.

Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :

I'm not a huge fan of M. Night. I liked The Sixth Sense but I wasn't crazy about it. Unbreakable was o.k., I didn't find that insightful. For all his knowledge of comic books, Jackson's character didn't think about the "fatal flaw" element of most heros?! Give me a break. A friend of mine watched Signs and didn't have anything good to say about it so I never did watch it. I don't know, I might think about The Village but probably not until it comes out on video.

Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :

Whoo-hoo! I just wrote two more paragraphs! <sigh> I still need to get through two "goats"!

Posted by Pyre Dynasty (Member # 1947) on :

I liked Aliens, it's the only one I've seen.
I think you should watch Signs Forget what people told you. I think people didn't like it because it wasn't what they were expecting.

(BTW, OSC said that The Village is a Ripoff. Read his reveiw.)

Posted by ambongan (Member # 2122) on :

I'll procrastinate with you, but later.

Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :

I might track down Signs.

The first time I saw Men in Black, I hated it. I had only heard about it, but hadn't seen any comercials (no TV at the time). I expected some great creature feature/space adventure flick. Now I actually like. Interesting how expectations can ruin things.

I'm actually trying not to get too excited about AVP. I'm a little worried it won't be able to measure up. I'll just try to keep my expectations low so it has a better chance

Ahhh, why do today what doesn't have to be done until... damn! I only have an hour left!

[This message has been edited by Robyn_Hood (edited August 17, 2004).]

Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :

Well I got some more writing done and I'm about to leave for the movie.

Tell you about it tomorrow

Posted by wetwilly (Member # 1818) on :

I think people didn't like "Signs" because it was a retarded movie.

Posted by punahougirl84 (Member # 1731) on :

There are three AVP books that I know of - my husband whipped through them, and usually he is a slow reader. The story he described actually sounded good.

I've avoided the movies (and books) because I know they will give me nightmares!!! But I'll make sure Jon gets a chance to go...

Posted by Jules (Member # 1658) on :

I read one of the AvP books a few years back. It was interesting how they'd built an entire culture out of the intricacies of behaviour of the alien characters in action movies with not-particularly-well-thought-out plots. I'm not so sure we'll see much of that come through in this adaptation though...

Posted by cvgurau (Member # 1345) on :

I saw AVP yesterday. In fact, AVP was the second of four movies I saw yesterday, so you might want to take what I say with a grain of salt.

The movie was okay. Not great, but okay. Some parts of the movie were completely predictable (like people dying? I saw that one coming a mile away), but the special effects were awesome, and I've learned to respect special effects. It takes time and effort, and I'm willing to forgive any plot inefficiencies if the special effects make up for them. There was also some camp, but the fight sequences between the two species of alien were decent, and I know that it's no easy task.

Basically, I'd see it again, but I wouldn't pay for it. (Now ask me about the Bourne Supremacy, I, Robot, and Collateral. )

CVG

Posted by Jules (Member # 1658) on :

OK, what about Bourne Supremacy, I, Robot and Collateral?

(I haven't even heard of collateral... but then I hadn't heard about AvP until yesterday!)

I find what I've heard so far about AvP interesting. It was directed by the same guy who did Event Horizon, and the comments are very similar: a lot of people think it's dreadful (one comment I heard was "in the theater, everyone can hear you snore"), a few people like it. FWIW, I liked Event Horizon. Whether that means I'll like AvP is yet to be determined.

Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :

Well AVP rocked! If you are a fan of Alien, Aliens and both Predators, you'll probably enjoy it too. I went to see it with a friend who hadn't seen any of the Alien or Predator movies (poor deprived/depraved child

) and he enjoyed it. I ended up filling him in on some of the stuff from the other movies, but I really didn't need to.

AVP does a good job of being a creature feature. I had the deaths figured out by the time they got to Antarctica but if you've watched Alien, Aliens, Predator, Predator 2, or even Deep Blue Sea, you will probably have an idea who needs to die before the end of the movie. I suppose I liked AVP because of this. Just as I disliked Alien Resurrection for having too many survivors, I loved AVP for doing it right.

This is not a deep film, but it isn't meant to be. The special effects were pretty good; I loved what they ended up doing with the Predators. They did a Matrix-type thing when showing the Alien hatchlings, not sure I cared for that, but that's just a style preference (any movie using the freeze-rotate shot seems silly to me because it is sort of a signature shot for the Matrix trilogy. Like I said, that's my preference). Another thing about the F/X, this is a 14A-rated movie and not R-rated. Although I didn't notice this before buying my ticket, I realized it before the end of the movie. Yes this is a violent, scarey movie. It did have me jumping a few times, but never to the point where I couldn't watch. It was dark and a bit gooey but I wouldn't describe it as particularly gorey. It's been a while since I watch any of the other Alien or Predator movies, but this didn't feel quite as graphic as the earlier movies.

In the movie we are introduced to Weyland Industries which is the precursor for "The Company" in the Alien franchise (something I didn't really thinkn about until this morning). But I like the tie in.

One major non-sequitor for me was the following: the movie is set near Antarctica, in October, yet it seems to be plunged in perpetual night. "What's wrong with that?" you may ask. We'll, you don't have to be Survivor to know that the seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphere. Our summer is their winter and vice-versa. So while Alaska is starting to experience shorter days in October, the Antarctic is only two months away from perpetual daylight. With so much going into the film, this bugged me. But I'll get over it.

As a creature feature, sci-fi, action flick, AVP is a must see. Definitely worth the price of admission on cheap Tuesday (Actually it's worth the full price even just to see it on the big screen.) I'll probably try to go again when it hits the cheap theatre.
---------
I won't spoil the very end of the movie, but let me say, even I was surprised.

Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :

COLLATERAL is Tom Cruise's latest movie, and I think he plays a "bad guy" (haven't seen it).

Posted by cvgurau (Member # 1345) on :

I have, and he does, and you should.

Jules--I was really just kind of...uh, bragging that I'd seen four movies.

But if you really want a review...

Posted by Jules (Member # 1658) on :

Actually, I am kind of interested in what people thought of I, Robot. Bourne Supremacy is on my "definitely watch" list already, but I've heard both good & bad things about I, Robot.

I used to regularly watch 5. The student-run cinema at my university would arrange one night a year where they showed 5 of them. The challenge was not to be discovered snoring at the end of the last one. Although it was invariably an action film, which helped.

Posted by HSO (Member # 2056) on :

I saw I, Robot a week ago. It's a good movie and an interesting take on Asimov's world. The effects are marvelous (if anyone is into that sort of thing-- who am I kidding, we are!) and the story is solid. Will Smith does a good job; he's utterly believable in the role he plays (and I believe he's becoming one of America's finest actors -- if someone just gave him a role where he could be something that utilizes his talents, he'd be recognized as such.)

The big theme of this movie, like Asimov's stories cover in much detail, are the Three Laws... and they beat it to death, actually. It's the central plot, the basis for the entire script. Fair enough. It works, but it comes off a little heavy-handed.

Two troubles that people might have is that the first half of the movie is mostly character development and the second half is mostly action. The other is the time frame this takes place in. Sadly, I doubt we'd have robots and tech like this in the year 2035 -- I could be wrong, but we'd need a second technological revolution to take place. [Is there one on the horizon?]

Nonetheless, it's all well done; certainly worth the price of admission in my opinion. If your skeptical, then wait for the DVD release.

Posted by Jules (Member # 1658) on :

It has been suggested that once AI is developed, it will lead to a sudden leap in technology. Ray Kurzweil, one of the most respected writers on the subject of the development of AI, estimates that this will occur some time around 2020. Although I don't buy all of his theories, I'm not going to dispute that this idea is not too unrealistic.

Posted by HSO (Member # 2056) on :

If that's the same Kurzweil I think it is, then I love the synthesizers (music) his company makes.

To be honest, I don't know where will be. If we were to believe the people of the fifties, we'd all be flying in our own personal vehicles by now. And if the pundits of VR in the nineties were correct, we should've had economically viable virtual reality gear already.

But we don't. Are we stagnating? Are these things just around the corner? Don't know.

Posted by Jules (Member # 1658) on :

So hard to tell. Obviously flying cars didn't happen due to logistical problems. They'd be expensive, more dangerous than ordinary cars and they don't solve any realistic problems. That said, I suspect that if there _had_ been a demand, we'd have had them by now.

As for economically viable VR... have you seen Doom3? At least some aspects of that are happening. Total immersion hasn't happened, but that's because people don't really need that. It's easy enough to suspend the disbelief that we are actually in the image we see in front of us, especially when it starts reacting to our own actions...

Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :

Didn't Nintendo or Sega come out with something about five years ago that was supposed to be the first step toward VR for video games? The commercials were really bad (some cave man or post-apocolyptic guy being chased through a wasteland by the new technology. It finally gets him and attaches to him kind of like how the alien hatchlings suck onto your face.)

Which reminds of something else from AVP, the gestation period for the Aliens seemed shorter than normal. It could be the way it was shown, but the process, which normally takes several hours, seemed to take 30 minutes tops. (Sorry to keep bringing up AVP, but I really liked it )

Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :

I thought that just the implantation took most of a day, and gestation took a couple of days at least.

Posted by Jules (Member # 1658) on :

It seemed to vary a bit. I think your timings are right for what was shown in Alien. In Aliens the implantation happened almost immediately, but the gestation still took a long time (hard to tell how long, I don't think there was enough information). I don't think there were any implantations in Alien3, although I'm not certain... it wasn't the most memorable in the series. I think Alien Resurrection was back to the original sort of timescale.

But half an hour certainly seems to be some kind of record. Perhaps these are an experimental batch, genetically modified to breed faster?

Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :

There were two implantations in Alien3, the dog and Ripley herself (although we only see the one for the dog, Ripley was being bred to be the queen so the gestation took even longer than normal). I don't recall any implantations in Aliens but I could be wrong.

From Alien, it appeared that the hatchlings stay on the face for several hours (about 6 or so) and that the Alien gestates within 24 hours.

The only Aliens in AVP are from a fresh batch of eggs; that may, or may not have something to do with why they are able to gestate so quickly. Basically, the Queen lays the eggs and immediately they are introduced to the unwitting hosts.

Posted by wetwilly (Member # 1818) on :

AVP SPOILER! ALERT! AVP SPOILER! ALERT! AVP SPOILER! AVP SPOILER! ALERT! AVP SPOILER! ALERT! AVP SPOILER! AVP SPOILER! ALERT! AVP SPOILER! ALERT! AVP SPOILER! AVP SPOILER! ALERT! AVP SPOILER! ALERT! AVP SPOILER!

Settle an argument for me please, those of you who have seen the movie. In AvP (In case you haven't figured that part out yet) when the predator is about to kill the human boss guy with the breathing problems, what exactly happened? The predator looked inside the human dude, and then threw him down and walked away. My buddy says Predator saw that the guy was sick, so it wasn't worth killing him. I say Predator saw that there was no alien egg in the guy, so it wasn't worth killing him because the predators didn't care about humans; they just wanted to kill aliens. Please tell me I'm right and he's wrong.

SPOILER OVER.

Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :

AVP SPOILER ALERT RESPONSE AVP SPOILER ALERT RESPONSE AVP SPOILER ALERT RESPONSE AVP SPOILER ALERT RESPONSE AVP SPOILER ALERT RESPONSE AVP SPOILER ALERT RESPONSE

I actually was trying to figure it out because I thought he saw something in there. Unfortunately WetWilly, in any case, I believe you are mistaken. Consider Predator and Predator 2, Predators will hunt humans. Their whole thing is about finding the ultimate prey. That is why they created the Alien. Think specifically about the end of Predator 2. Danny Glover manages to kill the Predator and prevent it from detonating its bomb. When the other Predators retrieve the body, Glover is rewarded because he has proven he is the superior hunter.

In AVP the Predators have already attacked and killed some of the humans. Why? Not because they were infected with Alien larva, but because they were armed.

Weyland is very sick and on the edge of death. There is no honour in killing a helpless victim. It goes against the hunter code of the Predators. They want a challenge, the thrill of the hunt. They aren't simply interested in killing everything in their path (unlike the Aliens who were bred for that express purpose).

That is also why Lex is able to win him over. While she is armed, she open prey. Once she submits and hands over the weapon, she is out of danger but still not accepted as an equal. Until she shows that she is an able hunter (kills the one Alien) the Predator isn't even interested in having her tag along. This is also part of the reason why he marks her as a hunter before he dies.

[edited to flesh out comments ]

[This message has been edited by Robyn_Hood (edited August 20, 2004).]

Posted by Keeley (Member # 2088) on :

Robyn_Hood, thanks for the review. I read some of the local reviews and I'm still not sure if I'm going to see it. If I do, it'll be due to your review since the locals didn't like it.

RE: The Village, that stinks! I was really looking forward to it, too.

However, I'm now going to read the book it was based on.

Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :

I think the key to really enjoying AVP is not to have very high expectations. It is what it is. And what it is, is a creature-feature action flick. Nothing deep. Just adrenaline pumping visuals. It has enough of a storyline to keep it going, but it isn't going to win an Oscar for the screenwriting. The acting isn't even that bad.

In the scheme of things I would rank it above Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection, about the same as the Predator movies and only slightly below Alien and Aliens.

Posted by Keeley (Member # 2088) on :

quote:
In the scheme of things I would rank it above Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection, about the same as the Predator movies and only slightly below Alien and Aliens.

That isn't too bad. I really liked Predator.