The Wasteland Reviewer

Outside the Wasteland: July 2024

There is more to life than movies, right? That is an obvious question (or is it…) but I find it important to focus on other interests in my life as well. Outside the Wasteland is my new avenue to express my thoughts on things outside the world, the realm of film as there are other things I like to spend my time doing. Hopefully this monthly diversion might inspire you to check out other great experiences outside of a movie theater. 

The Acolyte (TV Series)

Doesn’t it feel great to see Disney taking Star Wars in a new direction? The Star Wars series has certainly been bogged down in the Skywalker Saga, but The Acolyte takes things well before the birth of Anakin Skywalker. This was a time at the height of Jedi power and influence. The Sith were long thought to be extinct. But when a group of four Jedi find a coven of Force sensitive witches who hold twin sisters with great potential, many lives are changed forever. Honestly, this is one of the most compelling and interesting narratives brought to life in Star Wars in a long time. The first few episodes are a bit clunky in terms of storytelling but once the film gets into its first initial flashback episode, things fire into a new gear. This show features some of the best lightsaber battles in all live action Star Wars. The themes and rhythms of the story are perfect as this series deconstructs what we expect out of the Jedi. The cast is filled with impressive performances with Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, and Dafne Keen as the real standouts for sure. The dual performance of Stenberg is quite impressive with so many layers two her characters of Osha and Mae. Their origins and the new possibilities related to the Force broadens the Star Wars cannon in new and enriching ways. The teases for a second season are some of the most exciting teases in Star Wars in recent memory. There are so many great moments pair with strong filmmaking allows The Acolyte to rise above much Disney Star Wars.

The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson (Book)

Are you ready to get scared by a book? Literature is a tough medium to deliver on horror and takes some impressive skills to deliver without the visual advantage of filmmaking. But there are some legendary horror novels (many of which from Stephen King) but Jay Anson has quite the terrifying experience prepared for you with The Amityville Horror. This horror tale is based on true events that garnered much attention in the 70s when this chilling story occurred on Long Island. The Warrens (of The Conjuring fame) were some of the real-life investigators who came in to look at this horrific experience of the Lutz family. Things could only go wrong when they moved into a home where the patriarch of a family murdered his whole family. White people just won’t learn, will there? The way this book is structured as a nonfiction, true crime approach is quite fascinating and opens the door for so many new creative ways of storytelling. The way Anson crafts the scares and builds the tension with his voice is quite impressive. There are so many moments that will have this story creeping up underneath your skin and leave you on edge from chapter to chapter. Anson can leverage plenty of chilling moments that capture the horror spirit of this story. This effectiveness blurs the line for the reader to not fully understand if this story is supposed to be fictional or not. In just 28 days of living in this house, the Lutz family experienced so much and crafted a story with plenty of scares to enjoy (or get freaked out about). There is a reason why this is THE haunted house story and has been adapted into multiple films over the decades. Next up…The Exorcist!

The Cine-Files 383: Pumping Iron (Podcast)

How much do I love The Cine-Files? This is certainly not the first time I am recommending an episode of their podcast. Steve Morris and John Rocha are a perfect pair in terms of approach to craft deep and meaningful discourse when it comes to film. This episode tackles the famous (or infamous) documentary Pumping Iron from Arnold Schwarzenegger. This episode was the perfect follow-up to the discussion that Morris and Rocha had about the careers, rivalry, and legacies of Stallone and Schwarzenegger. What is most fascinating is just how in control of the narrative that Schwarzenegger is. Morris and Rocha discuss the approach that Arnold has had for his whole career as he carefully curated his persona, his filmography, and his legacy. Pumping Iron was such a significant jumping off point for all of that. The competition between Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno is tense and filled to the brim with drama. But as Morris and Rocha discuss, you gain a much better perspective on how much a documentary can be crafted and curated to present exactly what the filmmaker wants instead of the truth. This discussion digs deep into all of the behind-the-scenes choices of Schwarzenegger and how he was able to manufacture such a drama-filled and intense documentary feature. Probably the most meaningful and impactful element of this podcast episode was the rich perspective that Morris brings to documentaries in general as he himself is a documentarian and director. I can promise you that you will think about documentaries in a whole new way after this intriguing discussion. There is a passion and connection in the way Morris and Rocha deliver this analysis that makes this one of their most unique and memorable episodes in recent memory.