tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:24:47 +0000http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)Blogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-6751782568276693253Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:27:00 +00002012-02-09T11:24:47.906-08:00Is this not the silliest name ever?In this, the 13th installment in the Bond series, Roger Moore returned for his penultimate outing as 007. He actually wanted to get out after For Your Eyes Only, but fate intervened. Sean Connery was back as Bond that same year - 1983 - in the non-Eon Productions film Never Say Never Again, which was essentially a remake of Thunderball. The reason there was a http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2012/02/bondage-pt-13-octopussy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-6416253337885581582Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:59:00 +00002012-01-27T13:56:29.537-08:00I don't remember what year it was - possibly 1982 or very early 1983 - my family got our first VCR. Among the very first VHS tapes my dad rented was this Bond film (even though he's a Sean Connery man through and through). It was the first Bond movie I ever saw (that I remember, anyway), and, possibly because of that feeling of nostalgia, For Your Eyes Only remains my favorite of all the Roger http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2012/01/bondage-pt-12-for-your-eyes-only.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-3788066985013951654Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:09:00 +00002012-01-17T16:25:04.005-08:00I hate to make such a strong statement, but I, like a lot of other folks, think this is the worst James Bond movie. That being said, it's certainly an entertaining piece of grade B entertainment, especially if you're in the mood for something light you don't have to pay all that much attention to. Moonraker may not be the best but it does have its moments. Let's get right down to business, and http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2012/01/bondage-pt-11-moonraker.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-1458294063432370766Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:28:00 +00002011-12-29T13:57:48.565-08:00This movie is widely considered to be the best of the Roger Moore Bond films. I disagree - but it's a close second to my favorite Roger Moore outing (which I'll save for later...hint, it's not Moonraker!). It does feature one of the least-pathetic Bond girls, and the Best Henchman of All Time.In keeping with my goal of making these shorter so I'll actually finish (a goal I stated, but did not endhttp://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/12/bondage-pt-10-spy-who-loved-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-3018692294848479282Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:09:00 +00002011-12-23T13:36:08.669-08:00Roger Moore is back for his second run at the Bond role in this, widely considered to be among the worst of the Bond films. While I don't disagree, this movie is something of a dichotomy: one of the least-inspiring Bond movies with one of the most inspiring Bond villains.Since I'm way behind on writing these (I'm already up into the Daniel Craig films), I'm going to go with a "less is more" http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/12/bondage-pt-9-man-with-golden-gun.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-9166741278163260403Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:04:00 +00002011-12-08T16:45:06.787-08:00With Live and Let Die, Roger Moore finally took the screen as Bond. He'd been considered before - even on the first go-round (he's older than Connery) but his commitment to the television show The Saint and, later, The Persuaders, kept him from claiming the 007 crown. But in Live and Let Die, he got it, and he'd hold onto it longer than any other actor to play Bond.Moore fared a little better http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/12/bondge-pt-8-live-and-let-die.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-8296922046883425611Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:55:00 +00002011-11-22T11:57:25.757-08:00This is the final Eon Productions Bond movie to star Sean Connery, although he'd later come back for the non-series Never Say Never Again in the Eighties. After George Lazenby turned down a seven-picture contract during On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the producers searched for another replacement Bond and considered John Gavin, Michael Gambon (who would later play Dumbledore in the Harry Potterhttp://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/11/bondage-pt-7-diamonds-are-forever.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-1871334893888083365Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:27:00 +00002011-11-17T13:50:18.800-08:00This one is definitely the odd man out in the Bond film series. Connery, having become sick of playing 007, hung up his Walther PPK and producers began casting about for a replacement. They tried Timothy Dalton, who would later portray Bond, but at the time he was 22 years old and felt he was too young for the role. Producers also talked to many established actors of the day, including John http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/11/bondage-pt-6-on-her-majestys-secret.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-6350906308783071083Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:38:00 +00002011-11-10T13:54:38.051-08:00We're approaching the end of the Connery era, but not quite yet. This next installment, You Only Live Twice, was the first Bond movie to basically abandon the books. While the others at least kept elements of the plot from the novels they were based on, You Only Live Twice only used some of the same names and locations and took a totally new take on the story.First of all, a correction from the http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/11/bondage-pt-5-you-only-live-twice.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-1354257928048823918Mon, 07 Nov 2011 22:16:00 +00002011-11-10T12:38:15.006-08:00It had been a long time since I'd seen this one, so it held my attention a little better than the others so far. Let's just jump right in, shall we? But first, a fun fact: Johnny Cash submitted a version of the theme song that was not used. That would have been weird, huh? Well, see and hear for yourself!Synopsis: Bond travels to the Bahamas to deal with a plot by S.P.E.C.T.R.E. No. 2 Emilio http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/11/bonage-pt-4-thunderball.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-4953281886443439141Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:44:00 +00002011-11-03T14:30:29.230-07:00This one, the third in the series, is where they finally hit the nail on the head. It was more successful than the previous two Bond films combined, and had twice the budget. It made its money back in two weeks, and Goldfinger is considered by many to be the quintessential Bond film, at least of the Connery era. It is the first to feature the title song over the opening credits, and is the first http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/11/bondage-pt-3-goldfinger.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-6851157232593441881Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:19:00 +00002011-11-02T14:58:49.777-07:00This is the second Bond movie, and it begins some traditions that will last for decades. My first impression watching this one again recently has been its utter lack of subtlety. One of the first shots in the credits is the number "007" projected onto the shaking boobs of a dancing girl, an image that says a lot about the James Bond mythos.In this one, Bond is (knowingly) lured by S.P.E.C.T.R.E. http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/11/bondage-pt-2-from-russia-with-love.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-2283033632183577117Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:59:00 +00002011-11-03T14:34:35.577-07:00Through various top-secret means I have obtained the complete collection of James Bond movies, and I plan to watch them all, in order, over the next few months. As I do, I'll share my thoughts here. First up, obviously, is Dr. No.This is the first Bond movie. It doesn't have a pop song theme, as all the others do. This one uses the classic spy/surf guitar theme as its opener, as well as some http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/10/bondage-part-1-dr-no.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-2995088200691606010Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:40:00 +00002011-10-27T12:30:33.605-07:00I've been reconnecting with my love for comic books recently. I used to read them all the time in the Eighties...mostly Iron Man, X-Men, and (for some reason) West Coast Avengers. I also read the Watchmen and the Dark Knight Returns back then, which were big influences on me.A month or so ago I started getting back into comics - not collecting individual issues, but reading trade paperback http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/10/catching-up-with-comics.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-1642969811605496678Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:35:00 +00002011-10-19T12:42:17.789-07:00This video is worth watching, although it's about 40 minutes long and it's something you'll want to settle in for. Author Neal Stephenson discusses science fiction at a seminar at Gresham College, touching on everything from the Death of the Western to Lucy Lawless. Pretty interesting observations. He's one of my favorite writers but I think this would be interesting to anyone.http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/10/we-are-all-geeks-now.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-8519428718468128614Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:11:00 +00002011-10-11T13:26:52.911-07:00"There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving - and that is your own self." - Aldous Huxleyhttp://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/10/wise-words.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-1377551198430545725Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:58:00 +00002011-10-07T11:07:27.134-07:00At the urging of my friend Colin, I finally watched this motion comic. It's a six-episode adaptation of the first part of nerd-god Joss Whedon's take on the X-Men (he wrote 24 issues of the comic, I think, and the first storyline, "Gifted" is adapted here).I used to read the X-Men back in the 1980s and this reminds me very much of those days (Whedon probably used to read them back then, too). Thehttp://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/10/motion-comics.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-4523684781936769572Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:52:00 +00002011-10-06T10:34:57.201-07:00I decided to put up some free advertising to support two things I really like.The first is Radio Rivendell, a 24/7 streaming internet radio station that plays "fantasy music" - that is, soundtracks from fantasy/historical movies and video games. I listen to it all the time these days. It's perfect background music for working, I think. Gives a nice heroic backdrop to the mundane stuff I have to http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/10/free-advertising.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-6971764223501339521Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:57:00 +00002011-10-05T09:01:12.594-07:00These are some photos I took for work recently. Not only do I like them, they save me from having to think of anything else to post this week. Enjoy.http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/10/random-pictures.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-2138074465443221184Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:22:00 +00002011-09-27T14:23:08.386-07:00We have a federal auditor coming to work today - a random check, they say - and my bosses are annoyed by the intrusion. They decided to come on the one day we have a ton of things to do, they're rude, they're bossy, and totally inflexible. Personally, I think one of our major daily competitors is well-connected and that's how this happened. Anyway, my boss asked me to play some annoying music http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/09/uncle-sam-ronnie-james-dio.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-7568221463493518048Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:40:00 +00002011-09-23T07:43:44.978-07:00...so there's a giant satellite falling to Earth today. Watch out. Read about it here. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be a good enough reason to go home early from work. :)Do you ever stop to think about how much junk is floating around up there? To an alien visitor, we must seem like the interstellar equivalent of a trailer with old appliances and cars on blocks in the lawn.Makes you proudhttp://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/09/duck-and-cover.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-4950304458722714001Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:17:00 +00002011-09-22T11:33:31.721-07:00I heard on NPR this morning that R.E.M. broke up. For years, I've been saying "one of these days I'm going to go through that band's catalog." Now seems like the right time.I never would have called myself a fan of R.E.M. back in the day, because I was too interested in slab-guitar work, first in hair metal and later in the alt-rock explosion of the early Nineties. But R.E.M. songs, when I heard http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/09/one-of-these-days-is-here-on-rem.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-3485940686976139386Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:01:00 +00002011-09-20T12:20:34.836-07:00When I told my buddy Scott I'd been listening to a lot of Jethro Tull (so sue me, hipsters), he suggested an album by King Crimson. I obtained that band's discography and haven't listened to anything else in about two weeks.King Crimson is a band I had definitely heard of - but unlike many other bands of their ilk (that is, art-rock bands that had their heyday in the 1970s), they don't have any http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/09/in-court-of-crimson-king.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-8907943195695712172Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:50:00 +00002011-09-16T14:54:57.278-07:00Probably because I play a lot of Warhammer, I find myself in an inordinately high number of discussions about the Holy Roman Empire (which, as history teachers are fond of saying, was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire...it was in fact what Germany was called for much of post-ancient recorded history).In Warhammer, "The Empire" is a clear pastiche of the Holy Roman Empire, and has, I think, http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/09/holy-roman-empire-batman.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465895188935615258.post-4560550381678966320Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:03:00 +00002011-09-08T13:28:02.612-07:00In doing some research on Michael Moorcock for this article, I stumbled across a piece on Something Awful about the original version of the Deities & Demigods book for first edition AD&D. And I don't mean "original" as in "first edition," I mean "original" as in "they got sued and stopped making this version."The book aimed to provide game masters with ready-made pantheons of gods and goddesses, http://seann-mcanally.blogspot.com/2011/09/in-doing-some-research-on-michael.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seann McAnally)0