Why the ‘Hunger Games’ was too calorie-lite

Mike Grist and how to fix it 13 Comments

I found the Hunger Games movie to be kind of disappointing. While I was watching it my mind wandered. I wondered how much time was left, and when we would get to the good stuff, only to realize the ‘good stuff’ had already happened. So why was this? Why did the movie fail to really engage me, while the book had me gripped? I think it’s largely down to two reason. ** SPOILERS ** Both halves of the movie are off, in different ways. In the first half we see Katniss’ world of District 12, which should set the life …

Why ‘Prometheus’ failed to deliver fire

Mike Grist and how to fix it 5 Comments

Prometheus was the titan who brought fire to humanity, kick-starting our ascent to civilization, for which he was punished with an endless fate of stomach-bursting (thanks to a liver-hungry eagle). There are clear parallels to Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, a story of genetic ‘fire’ disseminated on Earth by a god-like super-tech alien, who dies a hideous death for the privilege (with some delightful stomach-bursting to come later). Prometheus the movie is massively ambitious, with stunning atmosphere, effects, and scope, though it does not really deliver on its premise. There are serious problems with editing and structure, as Scott seeks to stitch …

I need your vote!

Mike Grist Writing 3 Comments

My story ‘Bone Diamond‘ about blood-lust and greed in alt. ancient Egypt is in the running to be published in an anthology! It was published last year in the pro-zine Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and now they’re doing a vote to see which stories from 2011 will go into the anthology. I’d love it to be my story, so I’d love for you to go vote! Though of course it’s really only honest if you did read the story and do think its worthy. It’s very easy to vote- just go to this site- http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/2012/07/30/reader-poll-for-best-of-bcs-year-three-anthology/ And type this (copy-paste)- Michael John …