Site of the Week -- May 15, 2000
While Mystery Science Theater 3000 may be trapped in reruns, its spirit continues on at Dueling Dialogue, a site dedicated to mocking some truly awful movies.
The premise is similar to MST3K: each week a picture from a science fiction (or related genre) movie is shown on the site. A sample caption is given, and then the fun begins. Visitors post their own lines, and the winning entry--along with a few honorable mentions--is chosen.
The results can be hilarious. In issue #110, "Napoleon Solo" from the 1965 film The Spy with My Face stands naked with a gun in one hand behind two frosted glass shower doors. One caption reads: "Don't ask me where I keep this. Just don't ask."
The wisecracks range from the inspired to the stupid to the gross, but most will elicit a good chuckle. It's a worth a visit for anyone who enjoys heckling cheesy films.
-- Kenneth Newquist
Site of the Week -- May 8, 2000
he WB's Roswell is one of the more thoughtful entries in the slew of Buffy the Vampire Slayer-inspired teen-angst-meets-the-supernatural TV dramas. Despite uneven ratings, the show has garnered a devoted fan base and a number of good unofficial Web sites, one of the best of which is Roswell: Crashdown.
The site features extensive episode synopses and reviews accompanied by photos, slide shows, spoilers and even transcripts. There are also biographies and large image galleries for the eight leading actors. Fan input is included with amateur drawings, fan fiction, polls, a very busy message board and a Java chat room. The links list is long and includes sites focusing on the real-life Roswell controversy as well as the show and cast. The site is kept up to date with plot twists and behind-the-scenes information. In fact, many of the nuggets and updates betray a sense of urgency born of industry speculation about the show's imminent demise.
Roswell: Crashdown is a great resource for fans and makes a case for the show to newcomers. That's good news for an unusual and distinctive underdog like Roswell.
-- Mark Wilson
Site of the Week -- May 1, 2000
aptain Jean-Luc Picard sends the Enterprise hurling toward interstellar destinations with a motion of his hand and one word: "Engage."
If only it were that easy.
Warp Drive When? explains just how mind-bogglingly difficult it is to travel between the stars, and how humanity might--just might--be able to do it. Written by Marc Millis, the leader of NASA's Breakthrough Propulsion Physics program, the site uses an easy, conversational tone to review the challenges and misconceptions surrounding interstellar travel.
The subjects covered are right out of modern science fiction: wormhole travel, warp drives, negative energy drives and more, but there's none of the technobabble that accompanies the average episode of Star Trek.
Instead Millis goes out of his way to make his subject understandable and to be as honest as possible in assessing current and future star-flight technologies. His news is not all that good--the barriers to interstellar travel are immense, and the technology to overcome them may be beyond humanity's reach. But it's not all bad either. Science's limited understanding means that there could be many methods of interstellar travel just waiting to be discovered.
-- Kenneth Newquist
