• Canister X Movie Review #109: Jurassic Park III (2001)

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    Jurassic Park III (2001)

    Jurassic Park III
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    Jurassic Park III (2001)
    Written by Peter Buchman, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor
    Directed by Joe Johnston
    Runtime 92 min.
    3 out of 5

    When Erik Kirby goes missing on Isla Sorna (InGen’s Site B), his parents, Paul and Amanda, hire Dr. Alan Grant under the pretense of a “tour” in order to find him.

    The plane crashes and Alan finds himself back in the same situation he’s been trying so hard to forget: being trapped in Jurassic Park.

    Sam Neill as Alan Grant is one of my favorite performances ever. There’s such an air of seriousness and intensity that Sam brings to the role every time. He can be funny, sure, but his character presentation commands a respect from his fellow actors that you don’t see that often in film.

    William H. Macy, another favorite of mine, plays Paul Kirby, the bumbling yet-trying-to-be-cool dad. Terrific. He was serious, clumsy, just fantastic. Every film Macy’s in has never let me down and this movie delivers a wonderful Macy performance. There’s something about the pacing of his line delivery that gets to me, too. It’s a guy who’s insecure but tries his best to put a confident spin on things no matter what.

    The dinosaurs, as always, look real. They’re huge, they’re scary, they’re loud. The only problem with these Jurassic sequels is the dinosaurs aren’t new and terrifying anymore. They were in the first movie, not so much now. However, there are a few dino attacks in Jurassic Park 3 that weren’t in the others, making the viewing of this film worthwhile.

    Michael Jeter (The Green Mile), Laura Dern (Jurassic Park), John Diehl (Pearl Harbor) and Téa Leoni (A League of Their Own) also star.

    Go here for more movie reviews.


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  • Canister X Movie Review #108: Sailor Moon R (2000)

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    Sailor Moon R (2000)

    Sailor Moon R: The Movie
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    Sailor Moon R (2000)
    Runtime 60 min.
    3 out of 5

    When Darien’s/Tuxedo Mask’s lost friend, Fiore, resurfaces, trouble abounds and it’s up to the Sailor Scouts to come to the rescue.

    To make matters worse, Fiore kidnaps Darien. He is also responsible for the massive meteor/flower-planet that’s on a collision course for Earth.

    Testing the bonds of friendship and reaching deep inside to find their inner strengths, the Sailor Scouts must come together to thwart the threat before it’s too late.

    The story’s straight forward, basically a bad guy coming to get his friend back but causes trouble because he’s under the influence of an evil flower so Sailor Moon and the gang need to stop him. But the simplicity works for the film.

    This was a fun anime—light, cute, even, um, flowery. It’s loaded with sparkles and glitters and shiny objects, very “happy” compared to most anime this reviewer’s seen.

    There’s an air of wonder to this film, most notably when the Sailor Scouts activate their powers and Sailor Moon calls out, “Mooon Crystaaalll Poweeeerrr!”

    This is an anime to watch if you’re looking for something with razzle-dazzle, cute humor and a whole lot of girl power.

    Check out more movie reviews here.


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  • Canister X Movie Review #107: Black Cat (Vol. 2) – The Catastrophe (2007)

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    Black Cat (Vol. 2) – The Catastrophe (2007)

    Black Cat Vol. 2
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    Black Cat Vol. 2: The Catastrophe (2007)
    Run time 100 min.
    5 out of 5

    # 05: The Departing Cat

    Black Cat leaves Chronos. Creed approaches him with an interesting opportunity. Sephira shows up to make sure Black Cat’s departure is permanent.

    # 06: The Cat Under Fire

    Sven and Eve’s hiding place is discovered. Saya goes to meet Black Cat at a carnival only to run into Creed instead. Black Cat’s life changes forever.

    # 07: The Wounded Cat

    Our Cat is laid up in Sven’s hideout, healing. Eve offers Black Cat a very special gift. Business isn’t finished with Chronos, who has just sent No. 7 to kill Eve.

    # 08: The Sweeping Cat

    Black Cat, Sven and Eve go after the bounty on Igor Planter, but before they do, they run into an old friend.

    This volume packs a wallop in the emotional department, especially in the episode, “The Cat Under Fire.” All time seemed to stop during one of its scenes. This is the DVD where things change in the series, both in character and in flow and becomes even more so in line with Kentaro Yabuki’s manga.

    The humor, mostly coming from Sven, is laugh-out-loud funny. Each character also has their moment under the spotlight to give their witty observation of the situation or an outlandish complaint to make you chuckle.

    The “manga moments” return in this DVD, moments where the characters go from being drawn standard anime style to very cartoony to emphasize an emotion then back to normal again.

    Groundwork for further storytelling was also laid in this volume while a couple other threads were wrapped up.

    I can’t wait to see what happens next.


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  • Canister X Movie Review #106: The Number 23 (2007)

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    The Number 23 (2007)

    The Number 23
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    The Number 23 (2007)
    Written by Fernley Phillips
    Directed by Joel Schumacher
    Runtime  101 min.
    3 out of 5

    They say it is just a number. They say it doesn’t mean anything, but for Walter Sparrow, the number 23 quickly becomes his whole world and he begins seeing it in everything he sets his eyes on.

    At first things appear to be mere coincidence—the numerical value of his name (23), his birthday (2/3), but as time goes on, the number seems to take on a life of its own and leads him down a pathway to darkness and psychosis.

    Jim Carrey stars as Walter Sparrow in this Joel Schumacher-directed flick and once again Carrey proves he’s more than just a goofball actor. Carrey plays the serious role well. He blew me away in Man on the Moon. I loved him in Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind. If anything, I prefer him in his more dramatic roles than playing the funny man.

    Virginia Madsen did an excellent job portraying Sparrow’s wife. The unconditional love she had for her husband was in every scene even when things got crazy.

    My first reaction as to how it all wrapped up left me wanting more, then, after thinking about it prior to writing this review, the way it all came together in the end worked perfectly.

    This is a movie for those who enjoy intrigue, the hidden threads of Reality and how exploring those threads leads a person down the dangerous and dark path of obsession and skewed perception of the world around them.

    Numerology, which plays a part in the Reality you and I live in, is dangerous and this movie shows why. Though this was a work of fiction, the dangers of getting into numerology are real. It has the potential to control you. Be careful.

    The only reason for the lower rating was because, despite its detailed plot, I still felt I was only getting part of the story and not a deep submergence into Sparrow’s psyche.

    More movie reviews available here.


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  • The Canister X Transmission: Year One

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    The Canister X Transmission: Year One

    Canister X Transmission: Year One

    Begin transmission . . .

    Running weekly from May 2014 to May 2015, The Canister X Transmission was sent via email to readers worldwide.

    Serving as a source of inspiration for writers and artists everywhere, its impact was made known by the replies sent to A.P. Fuchs’s inbox week-to-week.

    The newsletter covered four main topics:

    The Creative Thought of the Week, in which Fuchs added his two cents on the ups and downs of being a writer, staying motivated, advice and encouragement, and other topics that were part and parcel of making up stories for a living.

    Work Updates, in which readers were informed of works-in-progress and where what stood on the publishing schedule.

    Fanboy News, in which was relayed something of interest from the world of pop culture.

    Marketing/Publishing Tip of the Week, in which ideas and strategies were conveyed to further one’s reach with their books and comics, and were also advised of some of the traps to avoid.

    Exclusive to this collection is a special Issue Zero newsletter unavailable anywhere else.

    Welcome to The Canister X Transmission: Year One

    Available as a paperback at:

    Amazon.com
    Amazon.ca
    Amazon.co.uk
    Barnes and Noble

    Available as an eBook at:

    Amazon Kindle
    Drivethru Fiction
    Smashwords

    For the next book in the series, Year Two, please visit here.


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  • Canister X Movie Review #105: Aeon Flux (2005)

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    Aeon Flux

    Aeon Flux
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    Aeon Flux (2005)
    Written by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi
    Directed by Karyn Kusama
    Runtime 93 min.
    4 out of 5

    In the early twenty-first century, a deadly virus wiped out 99% of the Earth’s population. Now, four hundred years later, all of humanity lives in a walled-in city named Bregna and are led and monitored by a group of scientists. But not all are happy with this arrangement and a rebel group called Monicans have risen to oppose those in charge.

    And Aeon is one of them.

    At first glance, the main story of this movie is like many others that have come before it: a small band of rebels going up against an oppressive government. But this movie isn’t that simple and the aforementioned plot is just what gets us from Point A to B. There are other factors that play into the story, complicated ones, taking what could have just been a B-sci-fi movie all the way to A-level.

    Charlize Theron stars as Aeon, the Monicans’s cold, stick-to-business top assassin. The intensity she brings to the role drags you in and makes you want to discover what makes her tick. Yet she also has a warm side, but one hidden and numbed by years of training and running top secret errands for her team. Theron put on a wonderful show in the lead.

    The supporting cast, though they all did a good job and their characters were believable, were just that: a supporting cast. No one’s performance really stood out except maybe Sophie Okonedo as Sithandra (the girl with the hands for feet). She was just plain cold (in that good way).

    The special effects are astonishing. There is not a single element in this film that is “everyday.” Everything was built for it, whether physically or via CGI. The action is astounding, part Matrix and part Underworld.

    Action and sci-fi fans should really get into this movie.

    More movie reviews.


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  • Canister X Movie Review #104: MegaMan: NT Warrior (Vol. 2) – Log On! (2004)

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    MegaMan: NT Warrior (Vol. 2) – Log On! (2004)

    MegaMan: NT Warrior Vol. 2 - Log On!
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    MegaMan NT Warrior, Vol. 2: Log On! (2004)
    Runtime 88 min.
    5 out of 5

    Lan and his friends are back, this time getting ready for a huge NetNavi tournament. Of course, all kinds of things happen along the way as they prepare—MagicMan and NumberMan, just to name two—but it’s all good. MegaMan and his fellow cyber warriors are there to save the day! However, WWW has entered their own Navis into the tournament and it’ll be bad news for all if they win.

    This volume picks up where the previous volume left off and now that all the character introductions are out of the way (see Vol. 1), you get to just sit back and watch them interact.

    The chemistry between Lan, Yai and Dex is great. They all have their own attributes and rhythms that make them unique so they’re not two-dimensional like other cartoon characters out there.

    MegaMan has proven to be a great hero—strong and quick-thinking. The villains harken back to the video game, each villain having a special power that MegaMan and the gang need to overcome.

    This fan is looking forward to checking out Vol. 3.

    Please see the review for Vol. 1 here.


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  • Canister X Movie Review #103: MegaMan: NT Warrior (Vol. 1) – Jack In! (2004)

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    MegaMan: NT Warrior (Vol. 1) – Jack In! (2004)

    MegaMan: NT Warrior Vol. 1 - Jack In!
    Click Here to Order from Amazon.com

    Megaman: NT Warrior (Vol. 1) – Jack In! (2004)
    Runtime 88 min.
    5 out of 5

    The world is hooked up to the Net. Everyone uses it constantly, especially Lan Hikari and his friends. Using handheld computers called PETs, they jack in to the Net and have huge cyber battles with their NetNavis. Lan’s NetNavi is MegaMan. And when Lan receives special new software from his always-traveling father, the upgraded MegaMan reaches a whole new level of efficiency and power.

    This first volume of the anime series details MegaMan’s origin and follows Lan and his friend along on several adventures.

    This isn’t an exact translation of the video game or, from what I’ve heard, the manga (though my copies of the first three volumes are en route to me as I write this). But it is similar in that MegaMan is always fighting another “something-man,” the villain in the handheld PET simultaneously wreaking havoc in the real world.

    The major characters—Lan, Dex and Yai—are witty and fun. The action is fast, exciting and speed-lined, making each episode an enjoyable viewing experience.

    Very recommended.

    Please see the review for Vol. 2 here.


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  • Canister X Movie Review #102: The Passion of the Christ (2004)

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    The Passion of the Christ (2004)

    The Passion of the Christ
    Click Here to Order from Amazon.com

    The Passion of the Christ (2004)
    Written by Benedict Fitzgerald and Mel Gibson
    Directed by Mel Gibson
    Runtime 127 min.
    5 out of 5

    The Man would make history. His life, death and resurrection would rock the world and challenge every man, woman and child for generations to come. His existence had been foretold since the beginning of Time. He would save the world from their sins. He would turn aside the wrath of Almighty God from all those who believed in His name and lived for Him.

    His name is Jesus Christ. Today, He’s alive.

    But the world killed Him when He came because it did not know Him.

    Mel Gibson’s controversial film about the final 12 hours of the life of Jesus of Nazareth has been met with one of two responses: extreme love or extreme hate. I have yet to meet anyone who was 50/50 about the film.

    This reviewer loved the film. I make it an annual event to watch it as a personal reminder of what Jesus Christ did for me nearly 2000 years ago.

    Jim Caviezel’s portrayal of Jesus of Nazareth is one filled with love, serenity and, yes, passion. You can see the love of Jesus for all people in his eyes when he speaks. You can see the hurt when he is treated unjustly. If Jim Caviezel did so awesome a job portraying Jesus, one can only imagine the Lord’s expression when the events in this film actually happened a couple millennia ago.

    Based on the Gospels and Roman and Jewish history, Mel Gibson has crafted a well-executed account on what Jesus Christ went through on our behalf.

    Many complain the film is nothing but sheer gore. Yes, it is bloody, but if you look into Roman history and discovered what Roman scourging and crucifixion entailed, you’d find Gibson’s film is bang on. He also made the right choice to display what happened how it happened instead of just putting a few scratch marks on Jesus and a robe splashed with red paint like other films have done. By seeing Jesus murdered as He was, the audience feels the impact of that day long ago. It forces them to pause and reflect.

    This film serves as a reminder for believers in Jesus and serves, hopefully, as a touching account of the ultimate sacrifice from the ultimate Love to those who don’t believe.

    It would take a terribly cold heart to not be moved by this film.

    Very recommended.

    Related: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers


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  • Switching to Broadcast Mode

    Posted on by A.P. Fuchs

    For the next week, I’ll be off all social media outlets as I’ve got some deadlines to attend to. At most, I’ll be using my social media channels as a means to broadcast various bits from this blog or other book-related items. In terms of direct communication with me, please use my email or, if you’re in my inner circle, the studio phone number.

    If you do try and contact me via social media, please note these will go unanswered. If I stumble across the communication upon my return to the channels next week, I’ll get back to you. If not, please hang up and try again.

    Part of being a writer. There are times to disconnect and get some work done.

    Have a good week.


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