Michael G. Munz

Pooh and Piglet at Tanagra – a tweet that exploded

August 21, 2016 By Michael G. Munz 1 Comment

It’s really weird how the Internet works sometimes. I’ve got a fairly strong Twitter presence (@TheWriteMunz). Twitter is great for me, since I tend to spout weird little things regardless of whether or not I’m on the Internet. Before I had Twitter, I’d just say these things to an empty apartment, text them out of the blue to confused friends, or just share them with random strangers on the bus. Some things I tweet expecting to get a great response, only to receive silence. Some little throw-away comments get far more attention than I thought. You really can’t tell.

Since I tweet for humor, often with fantasy/sci-fi angles (gotta keep up with the “branding” to fit in with my books, don’tcha know), I sometimes seize on a particular concept I like and then run ~~it into the ground~~ with it. Slogans for Soylent Green that tout its people content. Additional Asimov Laws of Robotics. #LittleKnownSciFiFacts (with “facts” used loosely). [Read more…]

Bad Sci-Fi Theater: Cowboys vs. Dinosaurs (2015)

July 17, 2016 By Michael G. Munz Leave a Comment

Whoever wins, the viewer loses.

Bad Sci-Fi Theater!

It’s time again for Bad Sci-Fi Theater here on Geek Notes, where I watch terrible movies so you don’t have to! …Or so you can know about them and watch them, too, assuming you’re into that. (I can’t throw stones, after all.)

This one had been haunting me on Netflix for a while, showing up in my suggested movies, daring me to click on it. Hey, when you’re entertained by horrible schlock as much as I am, Netflix takes notice and throws…oh, just so much more at you. So a couple of weeks ago I finally gave in and cracked the e-seal on what would surely be a rousing sci-fi adventure!

…Right? [Read more…]

Bad Sci-Fi Theater: Stung (2015)

June 18, 2016 By Michael G. Munz Leave a Comment

I’d like to introduce a new recurring feature here on Geek Notes: The feature with the descriptive yet banal name…

Bad Sci-Fi Theater!

Might be a good time to blink.

See, so-bad-it’s-good sci-fi is something of a guilty pleasure of mine. I’m not sure if I should blame adolescent viewings of Mystery Science Theater 3000, more recent times of getting together with bunches of people to watch things like The Beast of Yucca Flats, or just a general weirdness on my part. Perhaps all three. The point is, if you love to watch (and make fun of) bad sci-fi, these entries might be for you.

And hey, if you follow me on Twitter (@TheWriteMunz), you might even catch me doing it live with the hashtag #BSFT, and can even join in. Most of what I watch will likely be on Netflix streaming, and sometimes I’ll be joining up with other geeks to watch simultaneously. [Read more…]

My Worst Movie Theater Experience

June 5, 2016 By Michael G. Munz Leave a Comment

When the movie theater experience works, it works really well. Who doesn’t like sitting in the middle of a darkened theater in front of a massive spectacle of storytelling and visual awe, sharing the group experience with mostly total strangers amid incredible sound and the scent of popcorn? (Okay, I’m sure there are those who don’t enjoy that, but it’s meant as a rhetorical question. No need to name names.)

Yet we’ve all had the opposite experience, too. That guy wearing the British Royal Guard hat who sits down in front of you just as the movie starts. The little kid behind you who won’t stop kicking your seat. The horde of gremlins who break into the theater on Christmas Eve, carve up the screen, and keep checking their cell phones. [Read more…]

So, I Bought a Lightsaber…

February 2, 2016 By Michael G. Munz Leave a Comment

That’s right, I’ve made what’s arguably my geekiest purchase ever: I now own a lightsaber. Or, at least, a reasonably convincing facsimile of one. I’m sorry to say that it will not actually slice through walls, speeder bikes, or tauntauns. On the other hand, given how often I accidentally cut myself with mundane items, that’s probably for the best. Still, this sucker could probably break a bone or two if swung hard enough, so it may still be ideal for home defense. [Read more…]