How crucial is continuity in franchise storytelling? (Commentary)
I’m curious to hear from my readers on this one: How important is it to you that a franchise has continuity between each of its installments? I ask this because two of my favorite sagas are “Star Wars,” in which every story fits on a coherent timeline, and “Terminator,” which has launched three distinct timelines since 2001
Entertainment I discovered after getting a tip from someone: A top 15 list (Commentary)
Part of the purpose of this blog is to let you know about cool stuff in the entertainment world. The blog’s main purpose, of course, is it gives me something to do. But also, it’s nice to think that I might encourage someone to look into a good TV show or movie or band or
Another attempt to defend the ‘Star Wars’ prequels: Midi-chlorians as an explanation of religious faith (Movie commentary)
“Star Wars” fans didn’t like midi-chlorians — microscopic cells within one’s body that heighten Force sensitivity — when they were introduced in “The Phantom Menace.” But I’d argue that George Lucas was making a subtle commentary on religion, especially when I think about how prequel-era stories have portrayed the Jedi as a religious sect fallen on hard
For the love of libraries, in all their musty, dusty glory (Book commentary)
In fourth grade, my homeroom teacher conducted a game where every student had a fictional $1,000 to bid on fictional items. Apparently she was preparing us for our futures as eBay bidders. (As I think back on it, this was one of the rare examples of public school teaching me something useful.)
Road tripping with ‘Harry Potter’ (Book commentary)
When I’m facing down a 10-hour drive, I like to devise strategies of how to make the trip go faster. New Camera Obscura album? Check. Guide to all the Twins radio affiliates so I can pull in the game as long as possible? Check. (I could actually still hear the Yankton, S.D., station in northern
Have Excedrin handy: This post is about ‘Terminator’ continuity (Movie and TV commentary)
What happened to Derek Reese and Cameron? And why does Kate Connor look so young? The “Terminator” timeline(s) is (are) complex enough without these unanswered questions from “Terminator Salvation,” which opens today.