Well, this review did have me sweating a bit, metaphorically speaking. Given that this story is only a couple of pages long and barely a glimpse of the Matrix universe, I wondered if I had […]
Author: Tales from the Neon Beach
Member of the brain trust and trying to make my life better, one lesson at a time.
The World, the Flesh and the Devil, 1959. My Journey into Science-Fiction Part:29.
The World, the Flesh and the Devil is the most eye-catching film title I have found in my journey. I find it appealing and inviting, creating drama before you even lay your eyes on the […]
The Defenders, Philip K. Dick, 1953.
I often wonder what it felt like to read these early science-fiction pulp magazines in the 1950s. Imagine getting home after a busy day at work, preparing a whisky sour and lighting a camel cigarette. […]
Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex. Episode 10, A Perfect Day for a Jungle Cruise.
Well, it’s been a while since I last visited the stand-alone complex, but it’s good to be back. However, I recently revisited the live-action film from 2017. The movie was interesting, considering I am becoming […]
The Quiet Earth,1985. My Journey into Science-Fiction Part:28.
Geoff Murphy is a director I knew nothing about until I watched and reviewed Freejack in Part 27 of my Journey into Science-Fiction. After success in New Zealand, Murphy went on to Hollywood to direct […]
Hellraiser, 1987 and the Hellbound Heart, Clive Barker, 1986.
I have a suspicious feeling that I am not the only person who has gone back in time to revisit some of Clive Barkers’ earlier work. After watching Hellraiser 2022, I could not help but […]
Ghost in the Shell, 2017. I’m only happy when it rains.
I have been thinking about the Ghost in the Shell live-action film recently. Even though I am only about ten episodes into the Stand Alone Complex, I am beginning to understand the characters and themes […]
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind, 1985.
Perfume by Patrick Süskind is a book that only came to my attention because of Nirvana’s late singer/songwriter Kurt Cobain. However, it was never a book that I felt an immediate attraction toward. Instead, it […]
Freejack, 1992. My Journey into Science-Fiction Part:27.
Hello, and welcome back to my journey into science-fiction part:27. Freejack, 1992 is a science-fiction cyberpunk action film directed by Geoff Murphy. That sounds pretty good. However, I have watched it before and remember nothing […]
Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex. Episode 9, The Man Who Dwells in the Shadows of the Net.
090205. It’s great to be back in the world of the Standalone Complex. I feel like this project is taking its time, and reviewing one episode at a time amongst other projects is not an […]
The Crystal Crypt, 1954. Philip K. Dick.
Do you ever find yourself missing a moment in time that you didn’t experience? The Crystal Crypt made me nostalgic for times past. However, I will save those thoughts for my conclusion. The Crystal Crypt […]
Event Horizon, 1997. Magnum Opus or Monstrosity?
Introduction. I guess the title of this review is a little overdramatic, but I wasn’t aware that this film was so divisive among film fans. Okay, I do know that Red Letter Media had a […]
The Animatrix, Kid’s Story. I’m falling Through The Air.
Who am I? Something I need to ask myself. I enjoy watching the things I write about, and the review almost plays out in front of my mind when I am watching it. Still, getting […]
The Dream Master. Roger Zelazny, 1966.
The Dream Master is a science-fiction novel by Roger Zelazny, 1966, originally published as a novella titled He Who Shapes that won a Hugo Award in the same year. In 1981, the writer wrote an […]
Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex. Episode 8, The Fortunate Ones – Missing Hearts
010205. Hello and welcome back to my first review of the Stand Alone Complex. I haven’t watched this series before, but I’m now beginning to learn more about these characters. I’ve watched this episode a […]
Battlefield Earth, 2000. My Journey into Science-Fiction Part:26.
Hello and welcome back to My Journey into Science-Fiction Part:26. Battlefield Earth is a film directed by Roger Christian, who previously worked as a set decorator and production designer on my previous review, Alien 1979. […]
Bits and Pieces Of Information. The Matrix Comics, 20th Anniversary Edition.
This is the first time I have revisited this project after watching The Matrix Resurrections at the cinema. First of all, I understand that some people didn’t enjoy the film, and that’s fine. To be […]
Galaxy Quest,1999. Strange New World.
Regrets, a headache and the smell of sea air reminds me of Galaxy Quest. I was actually sat in a bar in Greece, nursing a hangover from the previous day’s events. I was in my […]
Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury, 1953. Twisted Firestarter.
Hello there, and thanks for visiting. I have always enjoyed science-fiction, but when I started this site, I wanted to try and understand its history and learn more about it. So, this year I plan […]
Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex. Episode 7, Idolator.
191204. Hello and welcome back to my review of the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. As I expected, this episode is pretty light compared to the previous Laughing Man episodes. However, it was […]
The Animatrix. The Second Renaissance Part 1 and 2.
The Matrix Resurrections is days away, so I thought it was time to go back and watch two Animatrix episodes that gave this story some real depth. Morpheus tells Neo that he does not know […]
Alien, 1979. My Journey into Science-Fiction Part:25.
Hello and welcome back to My Journey into Science-Fiction Part:25. Alien, 1979 is a science-fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Dan O’Bannon. In Part:24, I visited Nineteen Eighty-Four and if you […]
Second Variety. Philip K. Dick, 1953.
Earth is almost destroyed by a nuclear war, but the United Nations and Soviet Union still fight amongst the dust. Victory is in sight, and as Russia begins to deliver its triumphant blow, the opposition […]
The Matrix, 1999. It’s All Coming Back To Me Now.
The Matrix was written and directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski and had a budget of $63 million, which is minimal compared to the $465.3 million it made at the box office. The film won […]
Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex. Episode 6, The Copycat will Dance-MEME.
121204. Hello all, and welcome back to my review of the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. I have to say, watching these episodes one at a time is helping me appreciate the story […]
Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex. Episode 5, The Inviting Bird will Chant-Decoy.
051204. Hello all, and welcome back to my review of the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Episode 5 is different from the previous episodes, but I did find out some cool things while […]
The Piper in the Woods. Philip K. Dick, 1953.
“Is it wrong to want to be a plant and enjoy this freedom?” I’m a simple man, and I enjoy the simple things in life, our relationship with nature been one of those things. Funny, […]
1984, My Journey into Science-Fiction Part:24.
Hello and welcome back to My Journey into Science-Fiction Part:24 1984, is a British dystopian science-fiction film written and directed by Michael Radford, based upon George Orwell’s 1949 novel of the same name. In Part:23 […]
V (TV Miniseries) 1983 -Episode One.
Well, this is where the fun begins. I must admit my memories of watching V is a little vague, and learning that V TV Mini Series and V: The Final Battle was broadcast over five nights […]
War of the Worlds, 2005. Thunderbolts and Lightning.
Hello fellow Earthlings, I hope you are well. It looks like I have found another project to work my way through. I recently watched The War of the Worlds, 1953 and was a little surprised […]
Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex. Episode 4. The Visual Device will Laugh – INTERCEPTER
281104. Hello, and welcome back to my review of the Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex. I feel like I am starting to move into a deeper storyline with this series now. Maybe […]
“How now, Brown Cow?” Flow My Tears, the Policman Said. Philip K. Dick, 1974.
Imagine having the World at your feet. Thirty million fans repeatedly tune into your television show every week and a music career that spans decades. Fame, wealth and power in a country that is broken, […]
Starchaser: The Legend of Orin, 1985. My Journey into Science-Fiction Part:23. Dig harder or Die.
Hello and welcome back to My Journey into Science-Fiction Part: 23. Starchaser: The Legend of Orin is a film that I have watched before, in another life. Not literally, but something felt familiar as I […]
Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex. Episode 3, Android and I.
Hello, and welcome back to my review of Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex. I will say episode three had me scratching my head at first, in a good way, and I’m already finding […]
War of the Worlds, 1953. My Journey into Science-Fiction Part: 22.
Welcome to My Journey into Science-Fiction Part 22. If you would like to learn more about my journey and how it started with Radar Men from the Moon and brings me here today, click on […]
Beyond the Door, 1954. Philip K. Dick.
Beyond the Door is a low fantasy short story by writer Philip K. Dick. It was first published in an issue of Fantastic Universe in January 1954. Larry Thomas begrudgingly buys his wife Doris a […]
Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex, Episode 2, Testation.
Hello and welcome back to my review of the Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex, one episode at a time. I was a little nervous starting this new project, only because I still feel […]
Sputnik 2020. Find Earth and Reep.
Sputnik is a film I knew very little about before watching it. Okay, I guess the title is a bit of a giveaway but I hadn’t watched any trailers or read any reviews. It was […]
Life after the Navigator, 2020.
I don’t know how, where or when I became aware of a documentary called Life After Flash. I do remember very vividly that I had an urge to watch it right away. It was a […]
Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex, Episode 1, Section 9.
It seems that after watching the original Ghost in the Shell, 1995 and the sequel Innocence, my interest in this franchise is very much alive. That said, I feel like I don’t know much about […]
Ready Player One, 2018. My Journey into Science-Fiction Part:21.
Welcome to Part: 21 of My Journey into Science-Fiction. If you would learn more about my journey and how it has taken me from Radar Men from the Moon to Ready Player One, click on […]
The Mandalorian Season one.
I can’t remember when I first heard that there could be a Star Wars television show, I’m guessing it was early to mid-nineties? Actually, after looking it up, it was 2010 and that show was […]
The Platform, 2019. Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia
I enjoy looking at science-fiction from the past. However, I think it’s important to keep an eye on what is happening in the present. I will start to look at some of the people who […]
Flight of the Navigator, 1986. My Journey into Science-Fiction Part:20.
Tales from the Neon Beach and Viking Film presents a New Start Entertainment Production. A Randal Kleiser directed film, Flight of the Navigator starring Joey Cramer Sarah Jessica Parker. Music by Alan Silvestri. Co-production by […]
Star Trek TNG Halloween Special, Schisms, 1994.
Captains Log: Stardate 46154.2. The Enterprise has entered the Amargos Diaspora, an usually dense globular cluster. We are faced with the daunting task of charting this vast region. Hello and welcome to my Star Trek Halloween Special. I prefer Halloween […]
Beyond Lies the Wub, Philip K. Dick.
“Beyond Lies the Wub” is a science-fiction short by writer Philip K. Dick. It was his first published genre story, originally appearing in Planet Stories in July 1952. It was first collected in The Preserving Machine in 1969, and was […]
Ed wood, 1994. My Journey into science-fiction part:19.
Tales from The Neon Beach and Touchstone Pictures presents Ed Wood, My Journey into science-fiction Part 19. A Burton/Di Novi production A Tim Burton Film. Starring Johnny Depp as Ed Wood Music by Howard Shore Film […]
Kill all Others, Electric Dreams.
Story. Good morning citizens. Productivity, prosperity, from sea to shing sea. Nexus can, yes us can. Mexuscan! Yes, us can! Philbert is a simple man who enjoys simple things, like having a shave in the bathroom […]
Star Trek, The Cage 1965.
Introduction to the Star Trek and Star Wars Timeline. Star Trek The Original Series, Episode 099 The Cage. Directed by Robert Butler Written by Gene Roddenberry Original Air Date. February 1965 (first screened to NBC) October 14th 1986 (VHS […]
Scanners, 1981. My Journey into Science-Fiction Part:18.
Hello and welcome back to my Journey into Science-Fiction Part:18. I was thinking of a way to watch science-fiction films that I have might have missed and take a closer look into the ones that […]
Mr. Spaceship, Philip K. Dick 1953. Where is my Mind?
A human brain-controlled spacecraft would mean mechanical perfection. This was accomplished, and something unforeseen: a strange entity called—Mr. Spaceship Origins. Mr. Spaceship was first published in 1953 for Imagination, Stories of Science and Fantasy and […]
Tron, The Special One, 1982.
Hello and welcome to the Grid. First of all, I recently purchased Disney+ and would like to mention a show that brought me to today’s franchise. If you love films like me, I would recommend […]
Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams: Episode 9, Safe and Sound.
Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams: Episode 9, Safe and Sound.
The Blob, 1988. My Journey into Science-Fiction Part:17.
Hello and welcome back to my Journey into Science-Fiction Part:17. I was thinking of a way to watch science-fiction films that I have might have missed in the past and take a deep dive into […]
Flea, A Memoir. Love in a Bad Place.
Hello, and sorry to those that might have missed my absence the last couple of weeks, but as you know the world has gone into directions none of us has really dealt with before. I […]
Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams: Episode 8, Autofac – Deliver us from Evil.
Air Date: 5th March 2018 Director: Peter Horton Writers: Travis Beachman, Philip K. Dick Story. Emily Juno Temple is travelling to work and all seems good in the world as she admires an AUTOFAC billboard […]
They Live, 1988. Sunshine on a Rainy Day.
They Live Director: John Carpenter Producer: Larry Franco Release date: November 4th 1988 Budget: $3 million Box Office: $13 million It’s been pretty damp and grey in my part of the world for a while […]
The Jim Henson Biography 2013. It’s only forever not long at all.
It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights, it’s time to look at The Jim Henson Biography on the Neon Beach tonight. https://youtu.be/hEinCgoA48E Written by Brian Jay Jones and narrated by […]
Dreamscape, 1984. My Journey into Science-Fiction Part:16.
Hello and welcome back to my Journey into Science-Fiction Part:16. I was thinking of a way to watch science-fiction films that I have never watched before, plus an opportunity to learn more about ones I […]
Gordon’s Alive, Life After Flash.
Hello, Remember me? I know it’s been awhile but life has taken over the last few months and the longer I left it, the more I struggled to actually find the motivation to sit down […]
Enemy Mine, 1985. My Journey into Science-Fiction Part 15.
Hello and welcome back to my Journey into Science-Fiction Part:15. I was thinking of a way to watch science-fiction films that I have never watched before, plus an opportunity to learn more about the ones […]
A Clockwork Orange, 1971.
Thank you for visiting my site dear brothers, as I viddy the films of Stanley Kubrick one at a time. Today’s film, A Clockwork Orange was adapted, produced and directed by Kubrick in 1971 and was based […]
The Fly, 1986. My Journey into Science-Fiction Part 14.
Hello and welcome to my Journey into Science-Fiction Part 14. I was thinking of a way to watch Sci-Fi films that I might have overlooked and learn about ones I have watched previously. It’s quite […]
Ghost in the Shell 2, Innocence, 2004.
Last year I decided to watch and review Ghost in the Shell for the first time and I really enjoyed it, but one of the criticisms I received is that I didn’t research the film enough! I fully take that on […]
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, 1964.
When I first decided to watch, review and discuss the Stanley Kubrick films, it seemed so simple when I first decided to take up this challenge. It’s was pretty enjoyable to talk about The Shining […]
Philip K Dick’s Electric Dreams: Episode 7, A Father Thing.
Production and Design. Something great happened when I first started watching this new episode of Electric Dreams, it was the first time I felt that I had finally got everything I expected from this series. […]
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, 1984: My Journey into Science-Fiction Part 13. It’ll take your Brain into another Dimension.
My Journey into #Science-Fiction Part:13
Star Trek Deep Space Nine Review. My Favourite Episode From Each Season.
It’s hard for me to recognise that Star Trek Deep Space Nine is over 26 years old. I first watched this series on BBC2 in the 90s when they had the rights to air it, […]
Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams: Episode 6, Human Is.
Production and Design. I found it really hard to enjoy this episode when I first started to watch it and then I realised that was the setting the story wanted to make, you think I […]
Robocop, 1987: My Journey into Science-Fiction Part 12, Well give the Man a Hand!
Hello and welcome to part 12 of my journey into science-fiction. The last film I looked at was The Man Who Fell to Earth and today’s film Robocop has to be somehow linked to the previous […]
Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams: Episode 5, Real Life.
Production and Design. Real life, what can I say? First of all, I’m extremely happy that we now have an American episode in this series. For some reason, my brain always imagines that America is […]
Captain Marvel, 2019: A Step Back in Time and a Huge Leap into the Future. A Non-Spoiler Review.
The first time I wrote about a Marvel movie, was after watching Thor Ragnarok. I was pretty late to the party on that one, as it was only after the release to home video that […]
Full Metal Jacket, 1987: Born to Kill!
Hello and welcome back to my look at the work of Stanley Kubrick. Previously I have looked at Spartacus and The Shining, if you would like to check those out, then click on the link […]
The Man Who Fell to Earth, 1976: My Journey into Science-Fiction Part 11, Water, Water Everywhere.
Hello and welcome to part 11 of my Journey into Science-Fiction. Last time I looked at Twelve Monkeys 1995. But what links The Man Who Fell to Earth 1976 with Terry Gilliam’s dystopian film? If you would like […]
Philip K Dick’s Electric Dreams: Episode 4, Crazy Diamond.
Production and Design. Crazy Diamond, what a beautiful looking episode you are. Talking of Crazy Diamonds, most visuals in this Philip K Dick tale could easily grace any Pink Floyd album and the introduction of […]
Spartacus, 1960. Stanley Kubrick.
It’s taken me longer than expected to really start looking at Stanley Kubrick’s films. Alas, the journey has now begun. I’m already learning so much about the director, some people class as the greatest ever, […]
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Gauntlet.
I have recently just finished watched Mystery Science Theater 3000’s latest offering, The Gauntlet and it was superb. MST3K is now celebrating 30 years of existence and for me, this latest series has been something completely special. To […]
Twelve Monkeys, 1995: My Journey into Science-Fiction Part 10, Baby it’s Cold and Uninhabitable Outside.
Hello and welcome to Part 10 of my Journey into Science Fiction. The Beatles Yellow Submarine and Twelve Monkeys, what exactly links these two films together? Well, have a read of that post below to find out! […]
Brave New World: Aldous Huxley 1932
This novel has always held a strange fascination for me. I have had this book in my collection for quite some time and do like to revisit it once in a while. The title alone brings up so […]
Philip K Dick’s, Electric Dreams: Episode 3, The Commuter.
THE COMMUTER. DIRECTED BY TOM HARPER. WRITTEN BY PHILIP K DICK (BASED ON THE SHORT STORIES BY) STARRING TIMOTHY SPALL AS ED JACOBSON. AIR DATE 12TH JANUARY 2018 Production and design. The Commuter is so vastly different from […]
Yellow Submarine: My Journey into Science-Fiction Part 9. Sailing the Seas of Time.
Yellow Submarine: My Journey into science-fiction part 9. Release date: 17 July 1968 (United Kingdom) Director: George Dunning Released: January 1969 Story by: John Lennon, Lee Minoff Before I get started, yes, I know this is more fantasy […]
The Shining: Gold and Evil and Sunshine.
The Shining 1980. Release date: 7 November 1980 (United Kingdom) Director: Stanley Kubrick Film series: The Shining Story by: Stephen King Screenplay: Stanley Kubrick, Diane Johnson There is something very beautiful about the opening scene of The Shining. Once you watch […]
Philip K Dick’s, Electric Dreams: Episode 2, Impossible Planet.
IMPOSSIBLE PLANET. DIRECTED BY David Farr. WRITTEN BY PHILIP K DICK (based on the short stories by) STARRING Geraldine Chaplin as IRMA, Benedict Wong as ANDREWS and Jack Reynor as NORTON. AIR DATE 24TH JANUARY 2018. PRODUCTION AND DESIGN. As I move into the […]
Children of Men: My Journey into Science-Fiction Part 8.
My Journey into science-fiction, Part 8 takes me from A Scanner Darkly to the 2006 film Children of Men. If you are curious to find out what connects these two films then please click the […]
Iconic Films: Rambo First Blood Part 1.
After watching and reviewing Das Boot a few weeks ago it got me thinking about iconic films from the past. Das Boot is an iconic film which I am glad I finally got round to […]
Philip K Dick’s, Electric Dreams: Episode 1, The Hood Maker.
When I started my blog, the whole reason was to improve my knowledge of science-fiction, learn how to write both creatively and correctly and it really was the best idea I have ever had. One […]
A Scanner Darkly: My Journey into science-fiction part 7. A Descent into Madness!
I had watched A Scanner Darkly before revisiting the film for this blog, well at least I think I did! This is one of the reasons I decided to start a blog in the first place […]
Iconic Films: Das Boot 1981.
Okay, I have decided that I will be going in a new direction with some of my reviews in the future. If anyone that has read my blog over the last six months will know […]
The Day the Earth Stood Still: My Journey into Science Fiction Part 6.
There is something wonderful to me about black and white science-fiction films and The Day the Earth Stood Still is no exception. Released by 20th Century Fox, written by Edmund H North, directed by Robert Wise […]
Flash Gordon, Revisited 1980.
So, I was looking for a new podcast to listen to and decided to give Flash Gordon Minute a try. To be honest, I really can’t remember the last time I had watched this film but after revisiting it, I realised it must be over […]
A Wonderful film that shouldn’t be Solo! Non Spolier Review.
Well, what an eventful couple of months we have had when it comes to so-called blockbuster movies! We had Infinity War which was epic and Deadpool 2 what was really quite funny and action-packed. Apparently, though a […]
Star Trek First Contact 1996. My journey into Science-Fiction Part 5.
My Journey into Science-Fiction Part 5
The Orville: Season One, Now and Next!
When Star Trek Discovery first aired last September, around that same time Seth MacFarlane released his own Star Trek inspired TV show called The Orville. Looking back, it seems so long ago now personally. Anyway, it’s no mistake that I’m only watching this […]
Ghost in the Shell 1995.
A while ago I reviewed Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters Part 1. I really enjoyed that and it made me want to follow my anime journey a little bit more, and where better to start […]
Avengers Infinity Wars and the Quest for World Domination.
A few months back I reviewed Thor Ragnarok. I was really impressed with that movie, enough to think that Marvel after nine years had actually made a fan out of me. Yeah, I had watched all […]
Legend 1985. My Journey into Science Fiction Part 4.
Well, here I am, part four of my journey into science fiction. In case you haven’t read this before then I will explain it a little more. I am just reviewing films that have all got a connection somehow. The reason […]
Would you like to know more? Starship Troopers 1997.
There is nothing better than watching a film you know very little about and it turns out to be really enjoyable, that happened to me in 1997 when I watched Starship Troopers. What is also just as […]
Blade Runner. My Journey into Science Fiction Part 3.
VIEW. My journey into science-fiction now takes me from The Rocketeer to Blade Runner. The premise is simple, all the next review has to do is somehow be linked to what came before it. Even though […]
Predestination: Time is on my side.
If anybody read my last my review of Soylent Green you would have known about my look into the world of Incredibly strange films. I basically find a cult film that seems to be loved by fans and […]
Return to Labyrinth Vol:1
Return to Labyrinth is an original English language manga based on the Jim Henson fantasy film Labyrinth. Jake T Forbes is credited as the creator, and Chris Lie is the illustrator. The covers for all […]
Who’s more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him? 