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The author of Skulls in the Stars is a professor of physics, specializing in optical science, at UNC Charlotte. The blog covers topics in physics and optics, the history of science, classic pulp fantasy and horror fiction, and the surprising intersections between these areas. -
Category Archives: Entertainment
Subtle, unsettling horror: Picnic at Hanging Rock (updated)
I’m constantly amazed at how many really good films exist, even in a relatively narrow genre like horror, that I’m completely unaware of. A few months ago I stumbled across a description of Peter Weir’s 1975 film Picnic at Hanging … Continue reading
Some of my favorite swordfights in film
One of the things I love to do is make lists. Often I’m doing this in my mind when I’m driving around town. Today, I got thinking about the best swordfights in movies: the sort of clashes of metal that … Continue reading
Happy birthday to another horror giant
Several weeks ago was Roddy McDowell’s birthday; today is the birthday of another great actor of horror films. Happy birthday to Jodelle Ferland! If you haven’t heard of her, I’m not surprised; she’s only 13 years old today.
Why I love iTunes
I’ve been waiting for well over a year for Season 3 of Avatar: The Last Airbender to appear on Nickelodeon. The season premiere date was shrouded in mystery until practically only a week before it actually appeared. Of course, I … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment, Fantasy fiction
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The link between horror and comedy and the best horror/comedy films
Those who read and watch enough in the horror genre know that there’s an odd, difficult to quantify, connection between the genres of comedy and horror. This connection is what attracted me to horror in the first place several decades … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment, Horror
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Heroes returns! and driving shows into the ground
Rejoice, one and all, for Heroes returns on Monday with its season premiere. Truth be told, I’m only in the process now, on my trip to San Jose, of watching the DVDs of season one. Although many, many people whose … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment
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Ukraine Travelogue, part 3: This one blew my mind (updated)
So I was sitting in my Kiev hotel, watching local television, and I came across the following television show: This is undoubtedly a Ukrainian/Russian television show. Does it look familiar at all?
Posted in Entertainment, Travel
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I know your secret, Belasco!!!
I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that today is the late Roddy McDowell’s birthday. This wonderful actor played his best role, in my mind, as a cowardly actor/vampire slayer in Fright Night. Most people will probably remember … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment
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Exciting film projects which may never get made…
Here’s an interesting tidbit for Robert E. Howard fans: an animated film version of the Conan story Red Nails is in production. I stumbled across the web site for it a few weeks ago, and it looks like it is … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment, Fantasy fiction, Robert E. Howard
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Films too good to describe
All the talk about the movie Hot Fuzz in my earlier post got me thinking about another curious category of movie. First, let me say a few words about Hot Fuzz: it’s an action film parody/homage by the same people … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment
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