The Web Planet

This is a serial that really pushed the limits of what Doctor Who was capable of accomplishing, despite its meagre budgets and limited technical resources. Yes, you can spot the seams rather easily, but you can also tell that the cast and crew of the show were giving it their all. Time, unfortunately, has not been kind to The Web Planet, it's generally regarded rather poorly when compared to other serials from Doctor Who's early years. The Doctor and his companions don't really drive the plot of The Web Planet, they're mostly supporting characters in a larger, unfolding story. But at six parts, the serial ends up dragging on too long. Also, most of the alien creatures encountered by the Doctor and his friends speak in halted speech patterns, making their scenes feel endless. And while some of the effects are impressive, some merely distort the recorded images making everything hazy and out of focus.

Rating: We've been dragged off our course. The question is, is it some natural phenomena, or is it intelligent, deliberate, or for a purpose? Hmm%

(Image from bbc.co.uk)

Them!

Speaking of bugs, Them! is a movie about ants who got all giant due to atomic bombs. According to Wikipedia, the source I tell all my students to use, it is regarded as one of the best science fiction movies of the 50s. According to me, the only source I ever use, it is regarded as a boring piece of dookie. The ant effects are pretty good, but too much of the movie is this scientist with one of those old-timey "smart person" accents claiming that they're witnessing biblical prophecy. Thanks, doc! Hope you got that opinion peer reviewed.

RATING: 44%

These Ants In My Office

Argh, I think they're dropping down from the ceiling. WHAT COULD THEY POSSIBLY WANT FROM ME?

RATING: 8%

A Month of Boring Things - Day Seventeen: Junebugs

Holy shit, look out! Oh, wait, that's not a flying palmetto bug, it's just a junebug. Forget about it.

RATING: 39%

Cockroaches

Growing up in the old country, I thought cockroaches were a mythical sort of animal Americans liked to complain about in movies. Then I moved to Florida, and GOD DAMN! This is a kind of insect that is huge and disgusting, and also they can fly for some reason, which is totally bogus. If you are scared of them like me even though you weigh ten thousand times as much as one, then when you see one on the wall or ceiling it will sense that fear and try to fly right at your face. Once I walked to the grocery store to buy some cereal and when I looked at my shoulder there was a giant roach sitting there and I died on the spot. Sorry to have to break it to everybody like this years later, but I just didn't have the heart to tell you then. In conclusion I hate roaches more than terrorists, communists, and racists combined.

RATING: 0%

Mosquitos

One of these little shits just bit me about a dozen times before I squashed his ass. Now I itch all over. Therefore, mosquito's are terrible. Also, they carry West Nile Virus, which is also terrible. At least I got rid of one of them. Bastard.

Rating: 0%

Electricity Ants

Ok, they're not really called electricity ants, but these "crazy rasberry ants" that have recently invaded Houston are attracted by electricity and can seriously fuck up your computer. So that blows. I don't think I have them in my apartment, but I'm totally scared every time I see an ant now that it will eat my files. I mean, I guess I would have been annoyed before that they might be eating my peanut butter, but now my computer? And silverfish can eat my comics? And roaches can eat my dignity? Man, bugs have me totally beat.

RATING: 23%


(They eat fire ants.)