All posts by Eric Robert Nolan

Eric Robert Nolan graduated from Mary Washington College in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He spent several years a news reporter and editorial writer for the Culpeper Star Exponent in Culpeper, Virginia. His work has also appeared on the front pages of numerous newspapers in Virginia, including The Free Lance – Star and The Daily Progress. Eric entered the field of philanthropy in 1996, as a grant writer for nonprofit healthcare organizations. Eric’s poetry has been featured by Dead Beats Literary Blog, Dagda Publishing, The International War Veterans’ Poetry Archive, and elsewhere. His poetry will also be published by Illumen Magazine in its Spring 2014 issue.

A few quick words on “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter” (2017)

If you can look past the silliness, there is some fun to be had with “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter” (2017).  Critics everywhere are skewering it, but I think it’s a fun throwaway monster movie.  I’d give it a 7 out of 10, while cautioning you that I’m biased because the franchise has always been a fond, guilty pleasure of mine.

The monsters are cool enough, and Milla Jovovich alone sustained my interest with her screen presence.  (No, she isn’t the greatest actress ever, but she’s a strong, suitably intense leading lady for an action film.)

I was also surprised at how this movie attempted to bring closure to the entire series.  The story structure for the “Resident Evil” films strayed into the barely comprehensible several sequels ago, but this final installment did its best to bring the convoluted mythology full circle.  Surprisingly enough, it worked … I myself might have tweaked the final few minutes, but it was satisfying finale.

 

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Throwback Thursday: “ENCORE”

What sort of uber-nerd can actually remember a reading textbook from grade-school?

This kind, Ladies and Gentlemen.  This kind.

 

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Publication notice: “Shine Now, Fiercely, Forever” featured at The Bees Are Dead!

I am truly honored today to see my colleagues over at The Bees Are Dead feature a new short story of mine.  Its title is “Shine Now, Fiercely, Forever,” and it might be the darkest thing I’ve ever written.  It portrays a married couple constructing the world’s first functioning time machine — and then discovering what are possibly the worst possible consequences of such a device malfunctioning.

Thanks so much to Philippe Atherton-Blenkiron for allowing me to share via The Bees Are Dead, his online magazine for dystopian prose and poetry!  I am grateful indeed for the opportunity he’s afforded me.

“Shine Now, Fiercely, Forever” can be found right here:

http://www.thebeesaredead.com/prose/shine-now-fiercely-forever-eric-robert-nolan/

Cover to “Grendel” #5, Arnold and Jacob Pander, 1986

Part five of the “Devil’s Legacy” storyline originally printed by Comico.

 

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Babbling brook.

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A very short review of “The Girl With All the Gifts” (2016)

“The Girl With All the Gifts” (2016) is a thoughtful, story-focused variation of the zombie horror genre, its basis on an acclaimed science fiction novel should be no surprise to anyone who sees it.  It boasts a terrific action set piece, a great performance by Glenn Close, and some nice episodes of tension throughout.

I might be a bit slow, but I must confess that I had a little bit of a hard time following which characters are the monsters, which are sometimes-monsters, and which characters are sometimes-monsters and also feral, as well as the some of the logic connected with how they can detect humans.  The pacing was also a bit off … the first 20 minutes were quite slow, and I started to think that the entire story would take place within several interior locations.  There is a major battle that should please horror fans, but it occurs quite early on.  Somehow, the pacing for the entire film simply felt … off.  Finally, this movie suffers somewhat from a slightly irritating musical score that sometimes felt like cheesy 1980’s synth-pop.

This is still quite a serviceable entry into the genre, though.  I’d give it an 8 out of 10, and I’d recommend it.

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Cover to “President Luthor, Secret Files and Origins,” by Tony Harris and Ray Snyder, 2001

DC Comics.

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Detail of butterfly monster in Hieronymus Bosch’s “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” circa 1500

Right panel, oil on panel.

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Detail from Hieronymus Bosch’s “The Garden of Earthly Delights,”circa 1450-1516

Right panel, detail of musical instruments.

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“Monsters,” by anonymous artist, circa 1465 and 1516

Influenced by Hieronymus Bosch.