Laser Rangers 2013 November Meeting

Laser Rangers Assemble!

Date: November 2, 2013
Time: 4:50pm
Location: David Sooby’s home theater with 51-inch Samsung HDTV, a 5.1 Surround Sound Dolby Digital sound system, a full set of audiophile-grade speakers, and upgraded seating for about 15 people without crowding.
Captain Laser: Ken Keller and David Bridges
Food: Thanksgiving! Bring a side dish or dessert!
Costume: Formal Dress

To learn more, please visit our Facebook Event Page.
This will be our only feature of the night. Please arrive early! Dinner and annual planning discussion to follow.


Marvel's The Avengers
(2012, 142 minuntes) Directed by: Joss Whedon. 

Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Stellan Skarsgård, & Samuel L. Jackson.

Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. assembles a team of superhumans to save the planet from Loki and his army.

Before joining our ranks please watch this video trailer!







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After the feature, we will have our Thanksgiving dinner complete with a turkey and all the sides. Then we will plan next year's line up. If you want to get involved and make a difference, please join us!
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Next month: Will be movies released this year and voted on at the meeting! Don't Miss it!

 
The home of the Laser Rangers is located about four miles north of the Kansas Speedway, NW of the intersection of I-70 and I-435 on the Kansas side of the Greater Kansas City area.

IMAGE CREDITS: The information for all of these shows come from the invaluable IMDB. The movie posters come from Wikipedia or the movie's respected distributors. The Thanksgiving picture comes from http://www.umass.edu. The Horn of Plenty picture comes from www.ericnielson.com.

The movie screen frame image used for the Laser Rangers contact information is courtesy of Psychology Today Online. Many thanks to these websites!

Jon Moss Reviews "Ender's Game"

Ender’s Game

Novel

Author: Orson Scott Card

Reviewer: Jon Moss

Reviewer’s rating: 4 stars out of 5

I like everything about this book, except perhaps the ending. And I can't even say that I particularly disliked the ending; it just made my soul ache with remorse and regret - for Ender, for humanity, for the buggers.

The novel was fast paced and easy to identify with Ender.  The ending just left me feeling extremely sad for all the characters in this story. I shouldn't be shocked, though, as all conflict could be avoided with open and honest communication. The level of sacrifice evidence in Ender's story illustrates the pointlessness of our endeavors when communication is not possible.

Editor’s Note: If you haven’t read this book in a while—or if you’ve never read it—now might be a good time!  The movie based on this novel is set to debut in theaters nationwide on November 1, 2013.

IMAGE CREDIT: Barnes & Noble website.

Tevan Keltner Reviews "Insidious Chapter 2"

Insidious: Chapter 2 

Review by Tevan Keltner

Directed by James Wan (Writer)

Screenplay by Leigh Whannel

106 Minutes – Horror, Thriller

** out of ***** Stars

Hot off his immense success with his horror blockbuster “The Conjuring” director James Wan is at it again. Only this time, the first film did not warrant a sequel nor did it require an explanation of its twist ending, which is over analyzed and dragged out until the material is literally beaten to a bloody pulp, and buried. If you believe James Wan wanted to make this film, you are sorely mistaken. Even writer and actor Leigh Whannel was not in any way motivated, except by money, to write a gripping script.

Now is it entirely bad? No not at all. There are still elements of the film such as atmosphere and timing that deliver great scares and the actors are doing their best with a wooden script. They even find a way to bring back Lin Shayne from the first film. It is also a shame that Patrick Wilson gives a chilling performance in a script so boggled and pointless that it only serves to demean his performance. James Wan did a good job attempting to treat the material with as much respect as possible. Unfortunately, this movie did not need to be made. The first story was enough and beating a dead horse is supposed to be “Saw” territory.

 There is a story here and it is thought out. Leigh Whannel’s can definitely tell a tale. And it does live up to the Chapter 2 title. It’s a direct sequel and this movie literally starts the day after the first film ended. The Lambert family has moved into Josh’s mother’s (played again by Barbara Hershey) house, hoping to escape the horror of their last encounter with a series of paranormal entities. Hearing Barbara Hershey say: “Whatever was haunting my family isn’t done with us yet,” makes us groan. Another painful reminder of a sequel that should not be. This would actually have been a better Television series.

Is “Insidious: Chapter 2” recommended viewing? Even to “Insidious fans?” Probably not. While this film has characters and elements from the first film, it is overall a complete mess. While the actors do their best with a pitiful script - it just doesn’t satisfy. Spend that all so important discretionary income, instead, on another viewing of “The Conjuring” which should still be in theaters. One wonders, once again, if another paycheck is ever a reason to subject the world of film to this kind of mediocrity?

IMAGE CREDIT: IMP Awards website

KaCSFFS Halloween Party-10/19/13

The Monsters' Tea

Aaron Hollingsworth, in freaky-face!

Date: Saturday, October 19th
    Setup: 5:30 (help appreciated!)
    Party: 7-9:00
    Business Meeting: After the party
Place: The Writers Place (It’s haunted, you know!*)-3607 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111
Theme: The Monsters’ Tea
Everyone is welcome!

The party-planners in our group have outdone themselves this year.  The Monsters' Tea of 2013 has a wide range of fun things planned--no matter what your Halloween favorite-thing-to-do may be!

Many thanks to Susan Satterfield, Susan Ives, Becky Rickart, Sherri Dean, Diana Bailey, and Jimmy Hollaman, for their efforts!

Pumpkin/Gourd Decorating

Go for cute, scary, or elaborate!

We’ll have a pumpkin/gourd decorating contest with the winners to be determined by vote of the attendees. Categories:
Scariest
Cutest or Funniest
Most Ornate
Please note: if you make a traditional jack-o-lantern, no candle flames can be allowed in the Writers Place – use a flashlight or something similar, instead!

Food (of course!)
We’ll a food contest, too, with the winner determined by vote. Bring your
scariest
funniest
tastiest
dish, and a card or note describing what the dish is supposed to be (just in case we can’t tell!)
The organizers are providing punch. Otherwise, bring your beverages or coolers.

Costumes (the best part?)
Costumes are encouraged. We mean –really-- encouraged.

These are BritishFest kids, but KAXFEN can get it right, too!

If you don’t wear your own costume, a special committee comprised of Susan Satterfield, Susan Ives, Becky Rickart, Sherri Dean and Diana Bailey may, uh, decorate you with costume materials they’re bringing. Awards will be presented to:

the scariest costume,
the funniest/cutest costume,
the best science fiction costume,
the best fantasy costume,
the most ornate costume,
the best kid’s costume.


Dance Events

It won't be complete without you!

Becky Rickart and Susan Satterfield will host a Halloween “limbo” event. Warm up your backs beforehand.
And we’re told there will be dancing – can you do “the Monster Mash? – hosted by Susan Satterfield. More prizes!

Halloween Quiz
Has, unfortunately, been cancelled. (Sorry for the disappoints all.)

(And some KaCSFFS Business)
And finally, the SCARIEST thing of ALL!!! Treasurer Cindy Norton will be collecting late dues from members and/or new dues from the ravenous hordes of new members sure to descend upon this fabulous … I mean … horrible event!

(Badges will be on site and ready-to-make! Come and get yours hot off the press!) 

There will be a short business meeting after the party.  Hang around afterwards, to help clean up.

IMAGE CREDITS: Many thanks to Robin W. Bailey, for the bizarre pic of our own Aaron Hollingsworth, Kristin, of the Homespun with Love blog, for the photo of the decorated gourd, Moose Mendolia for the parenting-advice photo from the BritishFest Facebook page, and Zazzle for the illustration of the dancing monsters.

*For more information on the haunting of the Writer's Place in Kansas City,  please check out Ghost in the Mirror: Real Cases of Spirit Encounters. (Excerpt from Google Books)  

KC Horror Book Club October 2013 Meeting

Ghost Road Blues

By Jonathan Maberry

Details:
Date and Time: October 13, 2013 (Sunday) from noon to 1:30.
Location: The Green Room Burgers and Beer
Address: 4010 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite D, Kansas City, MO.
Event Notes:We will be discussing the Stoker Award winning novel Ghost Road Blues by Jonathan Maberry. Everyone is welcome even if you have not read the book.-Earline B. (KC Horror Club President)

In Ghost Road Blues Crow and his friend Terry have begun having nightmares, with Terry having ones that show him either committing atrocities or watching his city burn. Meanwhile Crow has been planning to propose to his girlfriend Val, only for her and her family to be brutally attacked by Karl Ruger. The event leaves Val's father dead, her sister-in-law mentally scarred, and both herself and Crow heavily wounded.

At the same time, the local newsboy Mike Sweeney has his own problems. His step-father Vic Wingate is physically and emotionally abusing him under the influence of Ubel Griswold and another town local wants Mike dead, believing that the voice in his head is God telling him that Mike is the antichrist.-Wikipedia Blurb


Check the Facebook Event Page for more information.

Please contact Earline Beebe for more information on the Facebook event page. Synopsis from Wikipedia.com
Image from: amazon.com. Owned by Pinnacle Books.

Laser Rangers 2013 October Meeting

Atom Age Monsters: Bill Ostrander Memorial Laser Rangers Session

Date: October 12, 2013
Time: 4:50pm
Location: David Sooby’s home theater with 51-inch Samsung HDTV, a 5.1 Surround Sound Dolby Digital sound system, a full set of audiophile-grade speakers, and upgraded seating for about 15 people without crowding.
Captain Laser: Open to those who miss Bill and wish to contribute.
Food: Japanese and Soutwestern/Tex-Mex
Costume: Kaiju or Civil Defense Worker.

To learn more, please visit our Facebook Event Page.
Further appreciations of Bill are included below.

Due to the special nature of this production, there will most likely be a few shorts before each feature.

Them!
(1954, 94 minuntes) Directed by: Gordon Douglas. Starring: James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, Joan Weldon, James Arness.

The earliest atomic tests in New Mexico cause common ants to mutate into giant man-eating monsters that threaten civilization.

Be Thrilled, Horrified, Excited, and Mystified by this trailer!










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Between features, we will have our traditional potluck dinner. Please join us this month and share you fondest memories of our dear friend Bill Ostrander.
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Main Programming

Gojira
(1954, 95 minutes) Directed by: Ishirō Honda. Starring: Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura.

American nuclear weapons testing results in the creation of a seemingly unstoppable, dinosaur-like beast.

Behold the genesis of a legend among legends by getting a sneak peak here!


This film will be presented in it's original Japanese language with English subtitles.






Remembrances of Bill

"Bill O. was always full of energy and excitement. He was one of us, he shared our passions and our camaraderie, he always made folks feel welcome and a part of the scene.

Bill also had a great love of lousy movies as well as the good ones and it was great fun as a fellow MSTie to read of his Alternative Laser Rangers nights where he pitted bad movies against the group, who had no choice but to riff for their lives.

Today the sky is dark and rumbling, the rains flow like tears for Bill's passing, and remind us all of how quickly any one of us could be gone in a flash. To also remind us how important it is to continue to get together even if it's only in spirit.

I know Bill and Vince are putting something special together for us down the road.

Til we meet again Bill, adieu."

- Mike M.

"I first met Bill years ago thanks to Vince while visiting his always cozy basement film screening and collection room for one of Vince's many 16mm film screenings.

Our final conversation, one of hundreds we've had over many years, was just a few days before he was struck down. For me, Bill must always remain in my mind's eye as I last time saw him, how I last remember him at the April Laser Rangers gathering: Talking about future film programs we could put together for the group and the one we were going to co-host together on the very day he was struck down ("The Day the Earth Stood Still" [1951] and "Forbidden Planet" [1956]). I do wish he could have had that one last day, that one last film program most of all, but it was not meant to be."

--Ken

Bill Ostrander III

Bill Ostrander was born on June 25, 1958 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As an infant, he returned with his family to Kansas City, Missouri, where he remained for the rest of his life. Bill passed away peacefully on Thursday,, May 30, 2013 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Kansas City at the age of 54 with his family by his side. Bill (or Will as he was called by his family) attended Redemptorist and Hale Cook grade schools and was a graduate of Southwest High School.

He then attended mechanics school. However, his talent was in fine detail work which he turned into an over 30 year career at Root Dental Lab, making one of a kind dentures and crowns to order. After leaving Root in 2009, Bill was a school bus driver for Durham Bus Services in Blue Valley, Kansas. He was a former parishioner at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Redemptorist) Catholic Church, St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church and St. Thomas More Catholic Church.

Bill was very active in a variety of local organizations such as the Classic Thunderbird Club of Kansas City, Laser Rangers and Great Plains International Plastic Modelers Society. He was a founding member of Starbase Kansas City. It was not unusual for him to go to a car cruise on a Saturday morning with friends, talk models at the local model store in the afternoon, and to attend a science fiction film festival the same evening. Bill was also an avid country music fan. He shared his interests with friends all over the country from Oregon to Memphis.

Bill was very kind and generous to all his friends and family, giving freely of his time to help out those who needed a ride to an event, or to obtain that special collectible item that only he could locate. He also assisted in helping his brother who had been hospitalized. He will truly be missed.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William and Alma (Sally) Ostrander, and his brother Jim Ostrander and by his best friend, cousin Vince Koehler. He is survived by his sister Judy Behee, her husband Bill, and their children, Kathy Kozak, Lisa Ragland, Bill Behee, John Behee and Brian Behee and their spouses and children; sister Mary Jane Minney and her husband John (California) and their children Anne Smoke and Patrick Minney and their spouses and children; brother Michael Ostrander of Kansas City; his uncle and aunt Hugh and Mary Ostrander and their children Bud Ostrander, Tim Ostrander, Mimi Puffett and Kathy Parker and their spouses and children; and aunts Ruth Penniston and Molly Evanoff and their children. Bill is also survived by the extended family of his late cousin Vince Koehler, including Marie Anne Koehler, and her children, Gerry, Mary Kay, Paul, Vince Jr. and John and their spouses and children.

Bill was always included in Koehler family events and parties and enjoyed being part of their lives. Friends and family are invited to attend a funeral Mass to be held in Bill's honor at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1800 SW State Route 150 in Lee's Summit, Missouri, followed by a luncheon reception at the church hall. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to Ronald McDonald House or your favorite charity on his behalf.

Published in Kansas City Star on June 9, 2013

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?n=bill-ostrander&pid=165211951

You will be missed Bill, and still are.[-ed.]

Next month: Avengers Assemble! Marvel's The Avengers
Our annual planning session will follow our main feature. Don't Miss it!

 

 
The home of the Laser Rangers is located about four miles north of the Kansas Speedway, NW of the intersection of I-70 and I-435 on the Kansas side of the Greater Kansas City area.

IMAGE CREDITS: The information for all of these shows come from the invaluable IMDB. The movie posters come from Wikipedia or the movie's respected distributors. The pictures of Bill Ostrander were posted by his family and friends on the Laser Ranger's Facebook Group Page.

The movie screen frame image used for the Laser Rangers contact information is courtesy of Psychology Today Online. Many thanks to these websites!