The Black Hole (1979)

 The Black Hole (1979)

This is a weird and strange sci-fi/horror movie that scared me as a kid. I watched it again to see if a Disney movie could be a horror film. It’s not as terrifying to me now, but waaaaay creepy. If you’re trying to make your own Star Wars, best not to feature scary music, part human-part robot people, or Maximilian Schell in crazed maniac-mode. Also, best not to have one of the creepiest robots of all time (I’m looking at you Maximilian) next to one of the cutest (Vincent is freaking adorable!). 

Robert Forster and his crew (including Yvette Mimieux, Ernest Borgnine, Anthony Perkins and Joseph Bottoms) get pulled off track by a black hole. When they try to scan the area, they come across Schell’s ship that just seems to be hanging around outside of it. Turns out it’s a lost American probe ship that’s been missing for 20 years and also had Yvette’s father as crew member. Against Forster’s instincts, they go take a look.

It’s not long before the crew is introduced to Schell’s creepy robot army of sentinels and black robed worker bees. They also meet his giant, evil robot servant (master?), Maximilan, that controls all the robots. Schell’s goal is to travel through the black hole and discover what’s inside of it. Unfortunately, it’s made him insane. Forster just wants to repair his ship and get the heck out of there. Too bad Schell’s not quite ready to let non-believers go so easily. 

Soon we get extended laser gun fights as Forster and crew try to escape. Perkins (actually playing a normal smart doctor) wants to stay and work with Schell - that is until he realizes that the black-robed worker robots are the former crew members that weren’t hip to Schell’s plan to take over the universe. When he tries to get out, Maximilian kills him. 

Eventually, Forster and crew escape (after Borgnine turns coward and tries to escape without the others, resulting in their ship being destroyed), leaving Schell to go through the black hole alone. Too bad a really weird asteroid shower (why are the asteroids glowing red? Why isn’t everyone killed immediately when the hull is breached?) destroys what’s left of the ship. 

Forster and crew and also pulled into the black hole, but after a truly trippy adventure, they manage to get through alright. Meanwhile, Schell manages to meld with Maximilian and become a real humanoid/robot as they seem to be left to rule Hell (?) in the middle of the black hole. 

This is such a weird, strange movie, that really is not intended for kids. The cute robot, Vincent (voiced by Roddy McDowall) does help save things. I’m sure he’s based on R2D2 from Star Wars, but he’s great in his own right. Plus, Mimieux can mentally chat with him! He makes a friend in a similar robot, named Bob (voiced by Slim Pickens) that was badly mistreated by Maximilian and the other robots. When Bob sacrifices himself to save the others, it just made me want to cry. 

After watching this movie years after being traumatized as a kid, it’s really not as scary as I thought. It’s still hella creepy and strange. Apparently, Disney tried to license some toys, but I imagine that didn’t go very far at all. Great to see Robert Forster playing a heroic captain (such a great actor and he will be missed) and Roddy McDowall saves the day as the voice of Vincent. I almost wish we could get spin-off Vincent adventures. Are you listening, Disney +?! 

Matthew Goode and Vanessa Kirby were so electrifying as Tony Armstrong-Jones and Princess Margaret in The Crown (2016-). 

Just a quick hello.

First time post. Just a quick wave to the universe. I’m a big fan of classic films, classic rock, classic TV, Doctor Who, all things British. Am a huge reader - mysteries are my true love - but add a romance and I’m lost. My current obsession is A Discovery of Witches by Deb Harkness - it has it all - suspense, mystery, fantasy, romance. I’ve read all the books and binged the first season of the show so many times. 

Anyway, I’m still new to this universe, but hopefully I can post my thoughts and dreams without fear. I’d like to watch them fly to the stars and see how how they can soar. 

A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night and The Book of Life. All by Deborah Harkness. 

Episode 2 of the TV show A Discovery of Witches (starring Matthew Goode and Teresa Palmer) airs on AMC and BBCAmerica tonight so I thought I’d write down why I love this show and this series of books so much! 

I first read the books last summer. I was in a really dark place. I was stuck in a dead in job with a company that is now going out of business. I was broke with few friends. I had no future prospects either. I was having VERY dark thoughts - like what would be the point of living when there was no future for me?  Then I saw the SkyOne trailer for this new show that would air shortly in England. I was hooked. I started reading the books and soon bought copies for myself. There was suddenly nothing else in the world for me but this wonderful and rich All Souls Universe. 

A Discovery of Witches centers on  Diana Bishop, a college professor who discovers an ancient magical book in the library. She’s a witch who’s ignored her powers. She’ll need them when a vampire scientist, Matthew Clairmont finds her soon after she discovers the book. Their frosty relationship turns to friendship and then to love. They’ll need each other as other creatures (vampires, daemons, witches) go after Diana’s power and the ancient book, Ashmal 782. 

Throughout the series (a fourth book, Time’s Convert came out last fall), Diana and Matthew go through life and death to find the book. They travel back in time even to the 1590′s in search of it. There’s a council of creatures that may try to kill our heroes if they catch them. We meet Diana’s witchy aunts and learn how her parents really died. We meet Matthew’s sometimes scary vampire family - including hunky Gallowglass - and delve into Matthew’s very dark past. We also have a plenty of villains, including evil witches and evil vampires (like the monster Benjamin - who just happens to be Matthew’s son and has some pretty sick motivations that we learn about in The Book of Life). 

Not only did the supernatural elements attract me to this series, but the romance was a big draw. I’m a sucker for an epic romance and these poor lambs go through A LOT. There’s mystery, suspense, horror, thrills and so much more. Many folks have compared it to Twilight or Harry Potter. I think it’s more like Charmed. That show also had a forbidden romance (a couple actually), an ancient book (Book of Shadows!), all kinds of creatures (demons, whitelighters, witches) and a shady governing body that tries to keep humans from noticing creatures (the Elders). 

My favorite character in the books is Matthew. He’s a 1500 year old vampire with layers and layers and layers. He’s such a complicated person. Not only does he have blood rage, which can causes him to go mad at times, his conscience is killer. When they first meet, Diana finds him exasperating. He’s moody and sometimes too controlling. He’s got secrets that have secrets and Diana only finds them out a little at at time. Yet, he is also loving and loyal and kind to his friends and family. He is the perfect support for Diana.

Now, Diana may have a powerful vampire by her side but she eventually learns that she doesn’t need him to protect her. She has so much power on her own. Early on, she’s kidnapped by an evil witch and while Matthew does come to save her, Diana is the one who uses her powers to save herself. There were times when I wanted Matthew to come in and save the day (call me an old-fashioned romantic, alright!) but it’s better when Diana can discover the power within herself and save herself. Matthew may not like how Diana’s power can attract evil baddies, but he also knows she can protect herself. He won’t stop her from saving the day (and that she does in the end of Book of Life), but he’ll be there to support her when she needs it. He may not like that she can be put in danger, but he knows he can’t stop her either- no matter how hard he tries.

Finally, another thing I loved about this series is that Diana is a college professor. Matthew is a scientist. They’re after a lost book, not an Infinity stone or ring or anything like that. They first meet in a library. She’s got an actual career! He’s not just brooding in the shadows either. I’ve always loved learning - the best part of college was listening to lectures. I just loved talking and hearing about all this stuff I was learning. I wanted to know more. I would have loved to have become a professor and spend years researching history. I would have loved to have become a librarian even. I made too many wrong choices over the years out of fear for me to feel like that those paths are now closed (maybe not - I like to be optimistic).

Anyway, I just like the books and now the TV show. It sparked a Matthew Goode obsession that I may never get over! I’ve binged the series on SundanceNow, I don’t know how many times. I’ve re-read the books dozens of times. I may not be 100% happy, but I’m not quite in that dark, unhappy place I was last summer. I have to thank Deborah Harkness and the wonderful world she created for us. She’s inspired me to try my hand at writing again - another way to find a way out of the darkness. 

The Crown (2016-)

Season three picks up with a new cast as it covers from the mid-60′s to the mid-70′s. I”ve heard said this season is more filler until we get to season four which will feature Margaret Thatcher and Charles and Diana. 

Stand outs for me are Erin Doherty as Princess Anne and Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles. Growing up Windsor could not have been easy at all. Charles had enough baggage and then to fall in love with someone his family didn’t approve of - oh, my. Anyway, O’Connor does a great job as the awkward, troubled Prince of Wales - complete with awkward, slouching posture.

Olivia Colman and Tobias Menzies portray a kind of more mellow Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. It’s hard not compare them to Claire Foy and Matt Smith from the first two seasons. I think Tobias does a better job playing Prince Phillip - the Apollo episode is one of the best episodes of the season. Olivia does well as the Queen, but is maybe not as flashy as Foy. 

Helena Bonham Carter and Ben Daniels replace Vanessa Kirby and Matthew Goode as Princess Margaret and her husband, Lord Snowdon. I’m a bit biased, but I missed seeing Matthew Goode as Tony - especially since we only saw him for a handful of episodes in season 2. Both do great jobs though as Margaret and Snowdon. It was quite the dramatic relationship. 

Can’t wait to see what happens in season four!

He’s just lovely. 

Matthew Goode in Downton Abbey (2010-2015).