Full Moon Dreaming:  Down the rabbithole we go

 

Alice's adventures in Wonderland began with a short hop through a hare's hole into a strange world peopled with Mad Hatters, grinning felines, and purloining knaves.  Some people say that it was just a dream, but I wonder…  And today I'm inviting you all to take a similar plunge with me into a different sort of rabbithole, one of my own design, but one I hope which will titillate, entertain, inform and perhaps amuse you.  My own little Wonderland, if  you will – where I hope you will join me in my monthly excursions, on nights when the moon is full – when the Selenic orb is in her full majesty once more.

 

Why the full moon?  Why not?  It's a time of upheaval, when the moon's pull upon the earth is the strongest.  And upon certain creatures of the night, who cannot resist her siren call to becomes wolves of another color.  Oh, you don't believe in werewolves?  Are you sure?  Can you really be sure of anything?

 

Allow me to introduce myself, as I am already a regular in this place.  Julie Lynn Hayes, assistant media editor, copy editor and reviewer.  Call me Julie.  What do I intend to do with this monthly column, other than to run off at the mouth?  That I will do, undoubtedly, for as a writer it is in my nature to "talk" a lot.  But hopefully my discourse will become a dialogue,  a conversation, and even a group discussion.  That is my fervent hope.  Speak when you wish, or not, as is your pleasure.  Comment or not.

 

What shall we speak about?  Of shoes and ships, and sealing wax… of cabbages and kings.  Rather appropriate, as the latest version of Alice in Wonderland opens next week.  And I have just reviewed the second volume of a manga based on the familiar Lewis Carroll tome.  And I love Alice in Wonderland, but perhaps that much is obvious.  Or, as the young ones, say, duhhhhh!    As for subject, sometimes I will select it, and sometimes you will.  I am always willing to listen, to hear what it is you  have to say.  But I must say this about that – this is not a democracy, it is an autocracy ultimately, and I must have the final say, so there will be topics that are not allowed – that is, those that are calculated to infringe upon the rights and happiness of others.  I respect that people have their own opinions, but I allow no hate-mongering to be spewed in these pages.  You can hate an individual for what you perceive that person to be, but not a group of people based on misperceptions of what you think they should be.  Having said that, though, having differences of opinion are natural, and feel free to tell me what you really think.

 

All right then, let me tell you a little bit about me, then I'll touch on my first subject, and call it a night, if you will, and leave the next bounce of the ball in your court, so to speak.  I'm 53 years young, I have 5 children and 2 cats, and my first book is going to be published in April.  Naturally I'm excited.   More about that later.   I am probably a major geek and a nerd – I love books and movies, and love writing reviews for ComicsOnline.  I also enjoy working at conventions with my daughter Sarah, also a reviewer on this staff.  I lean toward the left in my way of thinking – the far left – and consider myself to be a most liberal Democrat.

 

Alright, then, moving on…

 

Imagine this if you will.  A future in which people who are in need of replacement body organs can purchase them from a major medical corporation and live long productive lives –  but at a price! These parts don't come cheap!  Luckily, the company is glad to take payments.  Just be careful that you don't fall behind, or they'll send the repo man to come and take it back……

 

Wait, this has a familiar ring to it, though, as if I've heard this story before.  It is the plot line for the upcoming film starring Jude Law and Liev Scrieber – Repo Men.  Let me think, let me think, let me…. wait, I know – that is the plot for Repo! the Genetic Opera!  Sans music, and the new version involves artificial organs, but still, that's a whole lot of similarity, don't you think?  For those who aren't familiar with it, Repo! the Genetic Opera features a large corporation, expensive organs, and repo men that repossess them if  you fall behind on your payments – plus music!  This stars Anthony Stewart Head (Giles, from BTVS), Paul Sorvino (Law & Order), Alexa Vega (Spy Kids), and Sarah Brightman (Phantom of the Opera), among others.

 

I suspect the new version has a much bigger budget, since they can afford to pay the likes of Jude Law, Forrest Whitaker and Liev Schrieber, but bigger doesn't make better, and I predict that Repo! the Genetic Opera will be a cult classic long after people have forgotten all about Repo Men.  The soundtrack for the Opera is awesome, and I recommend everyone check it out, as well as the dvd.

 

Sure the new version looks slick.  Sure it has Jude Law, who isn't hard at all on the eyes.  But I don't think it has the staying power of the Opera, nor the lung power of Head and Brightman and Vega.  To be quite frank, Anthony Stewart Head has a sexy voice – check it out!  He plays the Repo Man, while Alexa Vega, late of Spy Kids, has grown up, and plays his daughter, who hasn't a clue as to what Daddy dearest does for a living, and Brightman is Blind Mag, the voice of Geneco, which is owned and run by Rotti (Paul Sorvino), who has three strange kids (look for Paris Hilton in a surprising role!)  My favorite character, though, has to be Terrance Zdunich's Graverobber (he also co-wrote it) – he is not only hot, but he sings too.  A great cast, great music, and a very quirky story.  And a drug called zitrate.  Nuff said.

 

As you can probably tell, I love movies, and actors  – I've been called a walking IMDB at times, cause I can be good at spitting out names and roles and titles at the drop of a hat.   It's all good.   I look forward to telling you about more my favorites and hearing about yours.  Ditto with books and music (although my children would argue that I'm not hip in the latter arena, and have old fogey tastes, but I disagree.  Somewhat.).

 

That's all for this time, catch you next month, when the moon is full once more, and we'll do some more Full Moon Dreaming.

 

Julie Lynn Hayes