The Eyes Have It

This week I have begun watching the third season of the HBO western drama Deadwood. Like the previous two seasons, this show continues to be immensely entertaining thanks to the compelling characters, gorgeous cinematography and excellent scripting (often sprinkled with prolific and creative swearing); last night however, I was treated to a scene that as you know is near and dear to me...yet another eye gouging.

An addition to the cast this year was former USC football star and veteran stuntman Allan Graf (looking quite dapper above). He plays Captain Turner, the bodyguard to George Hearst, and quickly becomes and adversary to Dan Dority. If you have not seen the show and have no idea what I am talking about, please do yourself a favor and start renting it today.

Without going into too much detail, since I don't want to spoil it for those of you who actually would like to follow the show, let's just say that this particular Cap'n finds himself in a brutal fight which leads to permanent tunnel vision for one of those involved. While not the best looking of eye effects that I have come across, the actor does a great job selling the discomfort of this climatic blinding. If you are interested in watching it, please click here.

I also happened to catch an extended promotional trailer for the '70s film The Gore Gore Girls directed by the Godfather of Gore, H.G. Lewis which had one of the more drawn out eye scenes I know of. I don't know if that is floating around, but the promotional clip is tasteless enough that I'll let you readers hunt it down for yourselves.

I also have been lent a film by a friend who appreciates my ocular obsession. The film titled Dead Meat was floated my way with the promise of two eyeball scenes...so I guess there is more to come. Until then...

Same to same,

Capt. Hendry

Still Good After All These Years

As a follow up to a previous entry, I have now watched enough episodes of the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon from the early 1980's to give a fair assessment of how well it holds up. Let me just say that I still love it. The first episode had me a little nervous, I didn't really like the pacing or the some of the animation choices, but this must have just been a bad episode.

The majority of the series is a pleasure, with decent animation (that sometimes does something really neat), a myriad of scary creatures, and a hell of a lot more Star Wars references than I remember. There are episodes that make mention to wookies and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and some of the plot points were directly stolen from the sci-fi trilogy that had just wrapped up the year before, but this only adds to the enjoyment. My favorite by far is the moment where Dugeonmaster (see above) sadly alludes to the fact that it was his own failings as a teacher that led to Venger's turning to evil. They don't even have to elaborate on this idea...they know that it is enough of a nudge, nudge, wink, wink to their audience.

Really, the only fear that was realized is that the unicorn (Uni) has not grown more appealing with age. Her incessant bleating still grates a bit on my nerves and she often is more hindrance than help...'cept in that episode with the dragon that shoots fire and ice alternatively. Thank the maker she was there with that wreath of dragon's bane.

Same to same,

Capt. Hendry