samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Jan 7, 2012, 5:27 am
Head on over to my “official” site for an progress update on my novel. Short summary: I’m making 219 pages of revisions in preparation for the final stretch of writing.
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Oct 3, 2011, 5:56 pm
In order to provide an overview of The Andira Chronicles, I decided to do a simple “trailer” that provides a poetic backdrop for current and future tales … Visit the official Andira Chronicles website by clicking HERE.
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Sep 21, 2011, 8:03 pm
  As part of my ongoing efforts to focus on more creative endeavors, I’ve launched samuelwalters.info — a site specifically to promote my writing and photography. Dauntlessmedia.net will still be a place for updates and reviews, however I wanted a more streamlined, promotional online presence....
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Jul 12, 2011, 10:21 pm
  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 is an epic, emotional, though somewhat flawed cinematic finale to J.K. Rowling’s literary saga. It literally picks up where Part 1 left off and continues the narrative plunge into darkness and chaos before the inevitable resolution. If there’s a o...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Jul 4, 2011, 8:43 pm
Greetings, programs! As has long been hinted, my writing has finally drifted away from reviews and towards more creative endeavors. And a recent first-meeting with a literary agent has only served to sharpen my efforts. To that end, I’ve finally finished the short story “Creepers and Dust” (w...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Feb 14, 2011, 7:27 pm
Since its initial launch, my photography gallery has been updated to include a few of my more recent photos. A sample of the updates are presented below:
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Jan 23, 2011, 8:37 am
I am pleased to announce that I’ve set up an official website to sell my photos at dauntlessmedia.zenfolio.com. Please feel free to visit and browse the photos and, if you see anything you like, place an order. Zenfolio has a great variety of products available, from prints to mousepads to bookm...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Jan 16, 2011, 8:30 pm
Lay down Your sweet and weary head Night is falling You’ve come to journey’s end Sleep now And dream of the ones who came before They are calling From across the distant shore Why do you weep? What are these tears upon your face? Soon you will see All of your fears will pass away Saf...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Jan 8, 2011, 11:33 am
“The swiftest path to destruction is through vengeance.” “Nightsisters” covers so much ground that it’s not too difficult to forget that it is, after all, merely a half-hour installment of The Clone Wars series. Indeed, it feels more like a cinematic overture of it’s bigger cousin, the...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Dec 31, 2010, 10:17 pm
I recently took a morning flight from Albany to Ogdensburg, New York and snapped these photos of the snow-swept and fog-bound Adirondacks from about 5,000 feet up. These are the highlights. Click HERE for the rest of the photos.
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Dec 25, 2010, 3:35 pm
Oceans is the second installment (here in the United States) from the Disneynature series to take a close, cinematic look at life on earth. Whereas the first installment, Earth, was essentially a “remix” of footage from BBC’s Planet Earth television series, Oceans heads across the English Cha...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Dec 24, 2010, 3:19 pm
In 1981, Disney released Dragonslayer, a grim, dark, gritty fantasy film that was intended to be a showcase of state-of-the-art special effects. What tends to get lost, however, is the story itself which is yet another variation of the hero-quest in which an apprentice magician finds his destiny. ...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Dec 17, 2010, 2:21 pm
Greetings, programs! Beyond the glitz and style of Tron: Legacy is a story which is about finding one’s purpose and inner peace among the chaos of the world — whichever world you inhabit. I suppose it’s not surprising that some people will be so dazzled by the light show that they might dist...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Dec 12, 2010, 2:18 pm
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is an enjoyable, often swashbuckling movie. It’s not exactly an exceptional film — I doubt that it’ll ever be considered a cinematic “classic” — but for what it’s worth, this is one adventure that effectively captures the youthf...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Dec 6, 2010, 8:49 pm
“Entrada” is classic Fringe. It’s got plenty of suspense and wacky science that are centered on significant and often profound character choices. On these levels, it’s a grand drama, more of a commentary on humanity than it is on technobabble or plot twists. But the episode does have plot...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Dec 5, 2010, 4:28 pm
“Pursuit of Peace” is one of the most sophisticated, mature and adult installments of The Clone Wars to date. It features a complex look at the social consequences of war, for everyone from the citizens to the politicians to those charged with fighting on the battle front. Perhaps the only asp...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Dec 2, 2010, 12:35 pm
Transformers: Prime suffers its first setback with “Darkness Rising, Part 3,” an episode which is disjointed and suffers from an overload of extroverted personalities. There are some enjoyable moments tucked into the mix, however, the end result is a subpar installment. The episode opens stron...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Dec 1, 2010, 1:47 pm
With “Apotheosis,” Caprica comes to a stunning, eventful resolution — a conclusion that was as impressive as anyone could have hoped for. The final act of the episode is thrilling and suspenseful. And its coda, titled “The Shape of Things To Come,” works brilliantly as a five-minute mini...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 30, 2010, 10:34 am
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is an improvement over the original Narnia film.  Indeed, Prince Caspian features a more mature storyline and actors who avoid most (if not all) of the juvenile acting issues that plagued the first film.  Additionally, this film has a stronger, more poignan...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 28, 2010, 3:39 pm
Just what is it with Disney’s The Black Hole that makes it such a conversation piece for science fiction fans? Those that have seen it tend to fall into one of two camps: Those that applaud its dark imagery, macabre story and meaningful conclusion; or Those that deride its wooden, often campy cha...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 27, 2010, 4:09 pm
And the plot thickens. “Darkness Rising, Part 2” is something of an upgrade for the new Transformers: Prime series. Not only do we get an evolution of the plot, but the personalities of the characters become much more clearly defined. And that’s a good thing. The stronger personalities pro...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 27, 2010, 4:09 pm
Transformers: Prime opens with the suitably titled “Darkness Rising, Part 1” — an episode which introduces the story world and takes a few risks along the way. This new CGI-based cartoon series is full of promise, if the writing takes the characters and the story seriously enough to provide a...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 26, 2010, 4:53 pm
“We Can’t Win” might as well be a tagline for the entire V season. No matter how hard it tries, no matter how many interesting and compelling elements it incorporates into a story, the episodes remain the epitome of average. This installment is a perfect example. The UN Secretary General is...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 25, 2010, 2:54 pm
The sixth installment of BBC’s Life series takes viewers into the mysterious and oftentimes creepy world of “Insects.” What the episode does well is to get close up to these oft feared and over-looked creatures to demonstrate just how diverse and specialized insects have become as they litera...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 24, 2010, 4:08 pm
“Here Be Dragons” is, arguably, the most eventful episode of Caprica thus far. Several very important plot and character developments occur over the course of the episode, leading to a heart-stopping conclusion. It’s important to acknowledge the positive aspects of the episode because, like ...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 21, 2010, 7:51 am
It’s not perfect, but “Heroes On Both Sides” is easily the best installment of The Clone Wars this season. It features a complex, multifaceted exploration of the Clone Wars. In many ways, this episode reminds me of how Deep Space Nine would explore an issue, giving voices to many different p...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 20, 2010, 2:01 pm
Bleak. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 is a dark, oppressive, ominous film that marches relentlessly into despair and danger. And that’s to the credit of both the story and the filmmaker. In many ways, this film feels like the beginning of the end, like the deepest, darkest moments...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 19, 2010, 9:30 am
In its final fifteen minutes, Fringe’s “The Abducted” is thrilling, suspenseful and dramatic. The rest of the episode, however, is meandering, uneven, and less than spectacular. In many ways, this feels like a step backwards to a time when Fringe was all about the minutiae of its mystery-of-...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 18, 2010, 6:53 am
“The Heavens Will Rise” is inconsistent. It features one of Caprica’s best payoffs. But it’s poorly paced thanks to scenes which sap much of the episode’s momentum. Whenever the plot moves forward, the gains are offset by characters or circumstances that do little more than stagnate. I...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 17, 2010, 1:25 pm
With “John May,” V tries to establish an explicit emotional and moral context for its narrative — namely the human emotion of love can be a double-edged sword. The premise, therefore, is an interesting and engaging one. The execution, however, is clumsy and obvious, resulting in an installme...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 16, 2010, 8:30 pm
“It pays to go with the union card everytime.” – Ziggy “Storm Warnings” is an expansive, intensive episode which does an exceptional job at pushing the narrative forward. If there’s a common thread to the events in the episode, it has to do with internal rivalries and animosities. Eac...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 15, 2010, 7:03 pm
I loved the mixture of vaudeville and old-time carnival that helped frame Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, an adaptation of the young adult novels of the same name Viewers won’t ever confuse it with exceptional drama or serious storytelling, but it is an enjoyable and, at times, affect...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 14, 2010, 11:00 pm
“Always in motion, the Clone Wars time line is.” The Clone Wars has taken a fascinating, non-linear approach to episodic storytelling. While its not uncommon for the series to tell a story across two or three consecutive episodes, it’s just as likely that an episode will be either a prequel ...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 13, 2010, 8:24 am
“Love comes in all shapes and sizes.” Uproarious. “Hunt For Ziro,” the latest installment of The Clone Wars is pure fun, pure adventure, pure entertainment. Oh sure, it’s not the deepest, most meaningful installment of television the world has ever seen. But for an episode which wants,...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 12, 2010, 6:06 am
“6955 kHz” is a tremendously entertaining and important installment of Fringe. Sometimes the importance and enjoyment of an episode cannot be measured by plot, pacing, or character. Sometimes the revelations are fun enough or important enough or riveting enough to make the entire episode worth...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 11, 2010, 5:54 pm
Focusing heavily on the Brothers Adama, “The Dirteaters” is perhaps the most character-centric episode of Caprica to date. In that respect, there’s some value to the story. But it’s heavily flawed. Once again, Caprica resorts to extreme violence as a means to an end and, once again, the o...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 10, 2010, 7:31 pm
Some recent photographs. Click on them for larger sizes, or click the link below to see more. Landscapes & Trees Gallery
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 10, 2010, 12:18 pm
“Birds” take flight in the next installment of BBC’s Life series. Not surprisingly, the major focus of the episode is the way in which feathers have been adapted by birds to suit their particular needs. Once again, the visuals are utterly breathtaking and the use of high-speed, high-definiti...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 9, 2010, 7:36 am
“The Great Game” brings the short, but eventful first season of Sherlock to a thrilling, if somewhat ambiguous conclusion. From start to finish, this installment is riveting and suspenseful, while providing a deeper exploration of the motivations and eccentricities of its central figure: Mr. Sh...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 8, 2010, 10:35 am
No wonder SyFy pulled this installmet of Caprica from its timeslot. “Blowback” is the kind nonsensical approach to storytelling that has literally sabotaged what could otherwise have been an interesting and compelling series. Once again, instead of focusing on the primary conflict of Caprica �...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 7, 2010, 12:43 pm
Clash of the Titans (1981) is a good example of how a film can still be considered a classic long after its visuals have become severely dated: craft a tangible, affecting story in which audiences care about the characters and become engrossed in the story. Do those things, and your visuals can loo...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 6, 2010, 8:08 am
“A failure in planning is a plan for failure.” I’m of two minds about “Evil Plans,” the latest episode from The Clone Wars. On the one hand, parts of it were quite entertaining, the animation was exceptional, and there were some very dark and ominous moments. But the episode also felt a...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 2, 2010, 8:13 am
The second installment of Sherlock, titled “The Blind Banker,” isn’t quite as extraordinary as its predecessor. But it’s still filled with plenty of intrigue, suspense and humor. The camaraderie between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson — when shown — continues to the a strong point....
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 1, 2010, 9:54 pm
“Strange Bedfellows,” the second episode of Posthuman is something like a revelation compared to its predecessor. It’s a superbly produced and crafted installment, featuring fantastic cinematography and a compelling conversation which reveals new layers of story and character. It is, perhaps...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Nov 1, 2010, 9:54 pm
Posthuman is a new web series that is a fascinating hybrid of science fiction and film-noir styles. The first episode, titled “Strain Theory,” is tasked with establishing the show’s signature black-and-white aesthetic, introducing its main character, and establishing a mystery — essentially...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Oct 31, 2010, 2:35 pm
How does an early-twentieth century mystery novel hold up over a hundred years later? Surprisingly well. It helps, of course, if that story was written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and features the legendary characters of Dr. John Watson and Mr. Sherlock Holmes. The novel, The Hound of the Baskervil...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Oct 30, 2010, 8:21 pm
The score for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a diverse, emotional and enjoyable musical experience. Nicholas Hooper, who also scored Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, has created a soundtrack that is just as dark and whimsical as the film itself. It is easily the most diverse an...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Oct 29, 2010, 10:45 am
BBC Earth’s Life heads under the waves with the aptly titled episode, “Fish.” The focus is on some of the more exotic adaptations and behaviors of fish as they try to procreate and survive in an environment that is as hostile as it is beautiful. The result is, as usual, an informative and e...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Oct 27, 2010, 8:28 pm
With dwindling ratings and a floundering story, Caprica has been canceled by SyFy. This development comes as no real surprise, though the decision to pull the final five episodes of Caprica from their Tuesday night slot and air them some time in 2011 was unexpected. At the same time, SyFy has orde...
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samuel w. posted an article on DauntlessMedia.net - Oct 27, 2010, 11:20 am
Caprica’s story becomes even more diluted with “False Labor,” an episode which adds more plot lines and characters, without resolving previous conflicts or even exploring already established ideas, concepts or characters. If there’s one thing the series needs more than anything else, it’s...
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