was this from the original "Zone" from the '60s, the '80s remake, or the most recent remake hosted by Forest Whitaker?
-------------- Original message -------------- From: "James Landrith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Pleasance is playing an older teacher being forced into retirement. He takes is hard and falls into a suicidal depression, believing his life's work has left no lasting imprint on the world. While sitting in his classroom one last time, pondering suicide, he is visited by ghosts of former students, many who perished in WWII and Korea. They remind him that his impact is not something he can point to on a shelf like a masterpiece of literature or a work of art, but can be seen clearly in the life choices of the men he helped mold as boys. He happily accepts his retirement, secure in the knowledge that he has not wasted his life. From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 10:24 PM To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [scifinoir2] 'Jericho' too cynical for the times? Well said. I remember that "Jeremiah" scene with Kurdy. What an underappreciated show. Both Malcolm Jamal-Warner and Luke Perry were good in it. They had a maturity, gravitas, and presence that really stood out, especially in that genre. Jamal-Warner especially impressed me with the deep wisdom of his character, as you just pointed out. I think that reflects a bit of Warner himself, an actor who's got more talent than he's been able to exploit in recent years. Same for Perry. Just you mentioning that show made me a bit sad, as I hated when it was cancelled. Refresh me on the plot of the "Zone" you mentioned with Donald Pleasance... -------------- Original message -------------- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:james%40jameslandrith.com> I loved Jericho and feel that it may have been too much for the "government can do no wrong" / reality TV crowd that has put that moron in the White House twice to stomach. Too many people still think that science fiction, apocalyptic stories and related genres are all about the technology and special effects. I always prefer my sci-fi smart, topical and character related. My wife always rolls her eyes when she sees me watching the Twilight Zone - especially the episode "The Changing of the Guard" with Donald Pleasance which always makes me tear up a bit. What she doesn't get - except in a few cases - is why I watch. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Changing_of_the_Guard_(The_Twilight_Zone) Same with the episode "City of Roses" on Jeremiah. One of the most memorable moments in that far too short series was a quick piece of dialogue between Kurdy and Jeremiah laying in their bunks at Thunder Mountain if I recall correctly. In a heated discussion, Jeremiah is pissed that Kurdy stopped him from offing the Neo-Nazi slimeballs they encountered at the beginning of the episode. Kurdy reminds Jeremiah that he is always ready to do what is necessary and has done his share of justified killing in the past, but adds that he stopped him from executing the bastards because he didn't "one more body on that pile that don't have to be there." Kurdy's stated willingness to kill when pushed to that end vs. his desire not lose his humanity in the process, even when most people could have justified it to themselves, was key to this scene. It told me more about Kurdy and sold the character to me so completely in those few, short minutes than a whole series full of laser gunfights and Ferengi bars could ever do. In the end, it's the story, the struggle, the inner turmoil, flawed characters and emotion that keeps me watching. While I like the tech and find it interesting and often fascinating, I'm not watching to see laser guns and spaceships. I want my viewpoints challenged, my horizons broadened and my hope in humanity's future restored. And I could use a little more of the latter these days. __________________________________________________________ James Landrith [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:james%40jameslandrith.com> cell: 703-593-2065 * fax: 760-875-8547 AIM: jlnales * ICQ: 148600159 MSN and Yahoo! Messenger: jlandrith http://www.linkedin.com/in/jlandrith http://www.jameslandrith.com http://www.multiracial.com http://www.multiracial.com/abolitionist/ __________________________________________________________ > thanks, but love to hear your opinions too. we don't hear from you often > enough as it is! > > -------------- Original message -------------- > From: "James Landrith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:james%40jameslandrith.com> > > Co-sign. > > From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com <mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com <mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com> ] On > Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> > Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 10:34 AM > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com <mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com> > Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] 'Jericho' too cynical for the times? > > interesting question, that touches on something I've been thinking about > recently: when is scifi or speculative fiction too topical, "real", or > downbeat? I asked because my younger brother last night was telling me > that > one reason he didn't like the new Battlestar Galactica was because it was > based too much on current issues: terrorism, religious fundamentalism, > etc. > I've heard others say the same thing, including a guy who quit watching > because he felt he was getting hit over the head with a thinly-veiled > satire > of our times. "I just want good outer space action without all the > socio-political stuff" he grumped. > > I've heard many others say the same, that they want their > scifi/speculative > fiction to be escapist fare. They seem to want action, explosions, great > fX, > BEMs, gunfire, spaceships, scantily clad women, etc., but please: no > depression reality intruding on their fantasy! > > I tend to favor the stuff that's topical, 'cause done right it can be > enjoyed years later, even when the subject matter may not be front and > center in society at that time. One of the reasons I loved B5 and DS9 was > *because* they dealt with real life issues of racism, religion, and > politics. And in that same vein, I liked it when "Jericho" viewed our > modern > world through a lens of (perhaps cynical) reality. > For me, the best stuff--even scifi and spec fiction--tells the "truth", or > "a" truth. So no, not too cynical for me. > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
