Too Busy to Blog - Here's a Squeeze Documentary

Been working through some major projects, as well as writing and editing....so yes, again, I've left this blog a bit dry.

Will definitely have to do another blogaround, but until then....here's a BBC documentary.

Review: CHASED BY DINOSAURS

Photo Credit: © BBC

(Special thanks to BBC Home Entertainment for providing a complimentary DVD for review).

I'll be honest - I was really impressed by a series of documentaries that the BBC had released years ago focusing on prehistoric life. Walking With Dinosaurs, Walking With Monsters and Walking With Prehistoic Beasts mixed animatronics puppetry and CGI to recreate prehistoric life. So when the opportunity came to view Chased By Dinosaurs - a real-life naturist "interacting" with prehistoric life - I took it. Unfortunately, the series itself is a mixed bag.

It's not that the episodes themselves are bad....but there's a bit of a misnomer. Only two of the episodes feature naturalist (insert name here) interacting with dinosaurs, solving the mystery of a giant-clawed dinosaur and hunting down another. The disc also includes a Walking With Dinosaurs "special" featuring the life of an Allosaurus. All of the episodes work - the mix of CGI and animatronics work seamlessly to provide a view of nature outside of our immediate experience. But....to be honest, I wish there were more episodes with Nigel Marvin - there's real enthusiasm, even if the dinosaurs themselves are (to him) imaginary that really sell the episodes.

Photo Credit: © BBC

Another problematic issue - and this is more of a production matter - is that the episodes are only half a hour in length. Granted, budget constraints and attention spans may have warranted such a harsh cut in timing, but the episodes tend to build narrative steam and then end rather abruptly. It's an engaging view, but there's a lingering feeling that Chased By Dinosaurs would have been served better if each episode were longer.

I admit that I'm a sucker for a good documentary, and enjoyed Chased by Dinosaurs a lot....but now I wish to watch the Walking With... Trilogy once more. It's a much stronger view, and Chased is best viewed as a follow up, rather than on its own.

Regaining My Blogging Mojo

Admittedly, for a good chunk of April and May, this blog was relatively inactive: I can - and will - blame writer's block.

That, and some situational matters, some existential (dealing with Dax's passing in the midst of job seeking) and some practical (having to revise some honest-to-gosh-hopefully-publicated-in-books fiction). So for awhile, I've felt honestly drained. But life has me bouncing back (as well as a pretender to the throne), and so I've been revisiting and regaining my writing mojo....

...not just in the sense of this blog, but all around. Here's a quick little summary:

• For the Chicago Nerd Social Club (I'm on their board), I've done write-ups on Doctor Who DVDs (thanks, BBC Home Entertainment) and Superman-related documentaries; 
• For my monthly column on Comic Related, you can catch my review of the recent BBC America hit Orphan Black, and speaking of which;
• Please like Zone 4 on Facebook, if only because you can avoid hearing a particular co-host chewing the scenery very loudly (and yes, I'm going to burn for that comment); 
• You can get a preview of my activities next week via Chicago Now; and
• I discuss reviving the Net Tuesday/Net2Chi/Netsquared group in a post with a familiar theme for current readers.

And I've also started a new endeavor, which I'll probably write about....early next week.

I'm back.

Please feel free to distribute this post via social media because not only could I use the traffic....but more importantly, the motivation to write.

Alternative History: Looking at BBC Home Video's THE WILD WEST

(Special thanks to BBC Home Entertainment for providing a complimentary DVD for review. My opinions are my own)

(Courtesy BBC Home Entertainment)

Sometimes, you find an all-too-brief documentary series that you wish had been produced further - not only does it provide great insight, but it also enjoyable to watch.

The Wild West, a joint BBC/Discovery Channel co-production from 2011, is such a show. The DVD is very bare-bones, but the content - three episodes focusing on figures from American history - is fascinating.

The series focuses one episode apiece on three major Wild West figures - George Armstrong Custer, Billy the Kid, and Wyatt Earp. Part dramatization and part exploration, these three episodes reveal some of the truth behind the myth...and which is extremely fascinating. From the The Wild West provides some exceptional examples of how history can be explored without relying solely on either auctions or a purely "docudrama" approach.

(Courtesy BBC Home Entertainment)

factors that cost Custer Little Big Horn to rumors of Billy the Kid's "pardon" to the trial of Wyatt Earp,

And for those concerned about scenes being "dramatized", these are more to provide a context than to proclaim true historical accuracy....although for the segment on the shootout at the OK Corrall, actual trial transcripts were used).

It may not be a high profile release, but The Wild West is a pretty solid watch, and quite honestly, fans of Westerns and history will really enjoy this. It is available via a

(Courtesy BBC Home Entertainment)

variety of outlets, including BBC America's Online Store. It may only be three one-hour episodes, but this is definitely a "hidden treasure" for anyone interested in watching some great Westerns, looking at American history....or just some casual viewing which is both educational and enjoyable)

Very highly recommended.

5 Reasons My Chicago Pals Should Watch HUSTLE on Sunday Nights

hustle on bbc
Originally uploaded by *Webber* TAIWAN

Dear Chicago Friends,

OK, you're sadly disappointed in the Bears' loss to Green Bay football wise...but here's a piece of advice:

Turn on Channel 11 Sunday evenings and watch Hustle.

But you're probably wondering why you should do so? Why should you spend Sunday nights watching a British show you never heard of, and which is leading to reruns of Season 4 of Doctor Who? Well, I have five reasons why you should:

1. Each episode is a finely crafted orb of joy: Yes, this series had me read a book about confidence men and culture some time ago; but each episode is a well-told tale of someone who is rich and powerful...and is deservedly brought down. There's no pretense of this crew being noble unlike some other shows (*cough* Leverage *cough)...and the plots follow a 40 minutes of complications/10 minutes of getting out of it, but Tony Jordan (who created the show) and his writing team provide one hour of pure, unabashed entertainment and enjoyment. We need more stuff like that.
2. The Gleinister Family Tradition of Cool: His brother portrayed the ultimate bad-ass, DCI Gene Hunt. Robert Gleinister plays "fixer" Ash Morgan. If all he did was serve as glorified background, the show would fall flat; he gives the character a nice veneer of awesome. But than again, so does the rest of the cast, including....
3. That's Vaughn...Doctor Robert Vaughn: He was one of the Magnificent Seven in the 50s, The Man From Uncle in the 1960s, and your favorite villainous character in the 1970's (I won't mention Superman III). He is also a published author with a doctorate in communications. However, as "roper" Albert Stroller, Vaughn channels the kind of charm, wit, sense of humor, and grace that leads William Shatner to weep into his pillow late, late at night. (Shatner wishes he was this cool)
4. The Rest of the Cast Sparkles as Well: The rest of the cast - Adrian Lester, Jamie Murray, and Marc Warren (aka "the Love and Monsters guy") - provide some serious acting chops, taking on a variety of smaller roles as part of each con. They also make some great eye candy for any gender or gender combination.
5. This is a Television Show that Knows It's A Television Show...and Respects Your Intelligence - Yes, the characters break the fourth wall at times. Physics acts slightly differently in the show, with events slowing down for our team to observe them. But this is all done without one slight ounce of camp. In short, you could easily watch each episode repeatedly and be surprised. This is a well crafted show that's been on for awhile (seven years, if I understand correctly), and yet seems fresh and exciting.

So if you're in Chicago, tune into WTTW Digital Channel 11.1 Sunday nights at 10 pm. If you're not, several seasons are available on DVD - why not give it a view?

You'll thank me later, perhaps with either a drink on my birthday, or a date with your drop-dead gorgeous single female friend. Or even both.