Christopher Lee, RIP

Another great loss, but another artist whose work will make him immortal, though hopefully not in a fangy, bitey sort of a way.
 

RIP Nash the Slash and HR Giger

Very sad to hear of the deaths of two of my heroes, Nash the Slash and HR Giger. Nash the Slash (the on-stage persona of Jeff Plewman) created gothic electronic soundscapes with a combination of acoustic, electric and electronic instruments which no-one else has quite matched. 'In a Glass Eye' was probably my favourite. I saw him live in Oxford in 1979, and again in London a few years ago. I'm glad I caught him before his disenchantment with the music business prompted his retirement in 2012. 

HR Giger, best-known for his designs for Alien, ploughed a similarly gothic furrow, and books of his work are I think essential artefacts for any lover of the macabre and imaginative.

He's been endlessly imitated, but again, never matched. I recently saw the documentary about Alejandro Jodorowsky's Dune, which features Giger speaking about some of his most significant work.

RIP both.

Star Trek, the new movie reviewed

Spoiler Alert! If you don't want to know about the plot of the new Star Trek movie, don't read on! I saw it last night courtesy of Xbox360 Movie Club.

I have to admit it's an enjoyable movie; big budget, action-packed, decently performed and with enough nods to geekdom to keep both old fans and new happy.

But it lacks depth, and there are some bum notes - Simon Pegg neither looks, sounds or acts like Scott, and there are some huge plot holes - what are the odds of two people stranded independently on an ice planet finding each other? And could someone decide whether Vulcan has a moon or not? But what annoyed me most is that the time-travel plot completely tears up Classic Trek continuity. So now there's no planet Vulcan - does that mean no Amok Time, no Voyage Home...?

Anyway, it was better than Insurrection, and Nemesis, and Enterprise, so I won't grumble too much. Perhaps the next one will present fewer difficulties. And I'll still collect the Burger King toys.

Who watches the Watchmen?

I went to see Watchmen at BAFTA last night, courtesy of Xbox Live Movies. It's stunning - epic in scale, uncompromising in vision, unbelieveably faithful to the original comic. I'm amazed it got made, and not at all sure whether it will be a hit or not - it's certainly the best superhero film ever, and one of the best sci-fi films ever, but will it cross over from comic fandom to the mass market? Obviously I'm looking forward to seeing it on DVD, and in the inevitable Special Edition, Very Special Edition, and Extraordinarily Special Edition...

Star Fleet on DVD

If you remember Star Fleet, the early '80s manga-style marionette series which was a bit like Thunderbirds on acid, you'll be thrilled to hear that it's coming out on DVD for the first time. It's due out on February 9th 2009 from Fabulous Films, in a great-looking box set with all 24 episodes, loads of extras, postcards and a comic book, all for £39.99. Can't wait.