Michael G. Munz

The official website of Seattle sci-fi/fantasy author and geek Michael G. Munz

Hyper-Review: Guardians of the Galaxy

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I’m going to make this review quick, and with one (marked & minor) exception, spoiler-free:

I saw Star Wars when I was 7 or 8, when it was re-released in theaters. I no longer remember at all my first viewing, or what it was like. 2/3rds of the way through Guardians of the Galaxy, I realized, “This is what watching Star Wars for the first time must have been like.” Amazing visuals, fantastic characters, a huge sense of fun in a big sci-fi/fantasy package. While I felt some of the character-bonding wasn’t quite earned, that’s a minor flaw, and easily forgiven.

MINOR SPOILER SECTION!!!

I wonder how much Vin Diesel got paid to say five words. Good gig, that. 😀

Guardians of the Galaxy

Long story short: Just frigging go see it.

Top 5 List: Star Trek Exclamations

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Top5Once more it’s time for another geek-related Top 5 List! In honor of the Star Trek Las Vegas Convention (STLV) going on as I type this (which I am not attending but certain friend-types of mine are–one of whom is at some point painting another of whom green at some point), today’s list is going to be…

Top Five Star Trek Exclamations

Shouting these lines of Trek dialogue are guaranteed to result in cheers from those in the know, and strange, confused, and possibly frightened looks from those who aren’t. You may also get some envious stares as those who wish they were bold enough to shout them look on and wonder why they don’t have your guts. Maybe you’ll even meet your future wife/husband this way when they see you share a common love of Trek. You never know. So, as usual, in no particular order… [Read more…]

Movie Review: Lucy

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I can honestly say it’s even better than The Beast of Yucca Flats.

[Warning: spoilers for people who haven’t seen the trailers.] Through the magic of a Meetup group and the folks at SciFiCommons.com, I had the chance to take a break from all the craziness of the Zeus Is Dead launch and see an advance screening of Luc Besson’s new sci-fi flick Lucy. I’m still trying to figure out just how to talk about this film, to which I was really looking forward, based on the trailers. I suppose I’ll start with the short version:

“Wow, really?“

[Read more…]

Top 5 List: Enigmatic Beings

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Ooh, isn't that all fancy? Well? Isn't it?

It’s time for another in my admittedly intermittent series of geek-related Top 5 lists! Yes, I know it’s been a while. I’ve had this particular Top 5 topic in mind since I posted the previous list, but given the nature of the topic itself, it’s taken me longer than usual to get a handle on it. What’s that topic, you say? (Go ahead. Say it…) I’m glad you asked!

Top Five Enigmatic Beings

And here’s the usual disclaimer: I’m bad at ranking things in specific order, I’m indecisive, etc. Or am I simply…enigmatic? (Oooh! Way to be on-topic, me!) Naah, I’m just unable to commit. So, in no particular order… [Read more…]

Presenting Chapter One of Zeus Is Dead!

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Presenting Chapter One of Zeus Is Dead: A Monstrously Inconvenient Adventure!

~  ~  ~

zues_cv_sm

Grab it now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and elsewhere!

“The question of who killed Zeus is unimportant. Trouble neither us nor yourselves further with this. It is only for you to know that the gods of Olympus have returned.”

“’Cept I’d also add that it was me. Next question?”
                      —Hera and Ares (live press conference, June 18, 2009)

“Though none of them ever went into details publicly, it seems clear that the Olympian gods’ return was sparked by whatever happened to Zeus.”
                      —excerpt from The Gods Are Back and How It Affects Your 401(k)

Zeus watched his child stumble through a rain-drenched wilderness, the victim of a mudslide that had lamed an ankle and snatched a pack containing food, water, and a spectacularly nifty smartphone. The child winced with every step back to the trail, but did not stop. The king of the gods swelled with pride at his offspring’s courage even as his immortal heart broke: no aid could he ever give.

Long ago, it would have been simple for him to help. He could have stopped the rain, ordered Artemis to lead the child to safety, or even dispatched a full squadron of rescue helicopters. (Okay, so helicopters weren’t an option 3,000 years ago—save once, and that was a very special case—but he had used the other options a dozen times over.) Now, he could not risk even dropping a granola bar into the child’s pocket as encouragement. [Read more…]

Top 5 List: Potentially Awesome Crossovers

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Ooh, isn't that all fancy? Well? Isn't it?

Ooh, isn’t that all fancy?
Well? Isn’t it?

And the Earth has once again completed the number of rotations (divided by the amount of coffee I’ve had, multiplied by the Coefficient of Arbitrary Timing) required to bring you another geek-related Top 5 List! This time, there’s even an official-ish fancy logo over there on the right. Go ahead. Gaze upon it! …Okay, now come back over here.

Another difference this week: this one’s a little more visual than the others. Why? Basically I got an idea that made me grin, I pulled up Photoshop, and I couldn’t quite stop myself. (I’m far from a Photoshop expert, but I know enough to have fun. Click to embiggen most of them!) That’s right, today I present to you:

Top Five Potentially Awesome Crossovers

Obviously, these are only hypothetical. If any of these ever occurred in any official fashion, pigs are flying through a frozen-over hell. So without further ado, and in no particular order, we begin with… [Read more…]