Archive for the 'Science Fiction' Category
SciFi Sunday: WALL-E, Stargate Atlantis and Burn Notice
July 13, 2008 | Science Fiction, TV/Film
WALL-E: One of the best films we’ve seen this year. Is it better than Incredibles and Toy Story, the two animated features most often compared to it? I think so. Not because the story is better, although it is, or because the animation technology and the blend of CGI and live action is so brilliant, although it is.
It’s a story with meaning. A story that our children, our planet, our politicians need to hear. Because it’s time we all start thinking about our impact on this planet.
Recycle. Drive a hybrid. Telecommute when you can. Support your employees who want to work from home to the extent you can. Plant a garden. Just take a walk. Smell a flower.
Don’t follow orders blindly. Exercise.
Plus, the tale itself is so compelling, it needs few words, which is wonderful for children who sometimes find it difficult to follow dialogue. If you haven’t seen it yet, go!
Stargate Atlantis: The new season debuted Friday night. While it wasn’t a bad episode, I still miss Torri Higginson as Elizabeth Weir. I bought the DVD of Season 4 for Douglas because he missed a few of the eps due to the late hour. Basically, he starts watching and falls asleep half way through.
I reviewed the list of eps and realized that there were very few that I wanted to watch again. On the other hand, I can watch Rising, The Storm/Eye and The Return arc, among others, over and over again. What does that say….
Among other things, it says that I most definitely noticed the missing person in John Sheppard’s litany of people he should have saved. While it was great to see Rainbow Sun Francks for a nanosecond, we all know who was really missing from that scene, attempts by TPTB to “ship” John and Teyla notwithstanding.
The John-Teyla chemistry just ain’t there guys. It would be like kissing your brother. Give it up.But there isn’t that much on TV worth watching so as long as they don’t keep shoving Sheyla down our throats, I’ll tough it out.
[SPOILER]
Total ick moment: when Woolsey tells Sam Carter that he is replacing her as Atlantis leader. While I generally love Robert Picardo and look forward to the tension between his character and Sheppard, I thought this was so poorly done as to almost rival the replacement of Torri Higginson by Amanda Tapping. Even though I know the decision was at least in part Tapping’s. Unlike the dismissal of Higginson, at least from what I read.
It seems pretty clear – TPTB at Stargate Atlantis don’t understand their female audience. If they did, they wouldn’t continue to chop their powerful women off at the knees.
Speaking of chopping people off at the knees, let’s take a brief diversion into superspy, versus scifi. Burn Notice has quickly become one of my favorite shows. If you haven’t seen it, you are missing one of the funniest, sharpest shows on television. It stars Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell and Sharon Gless. The best part — the leads are all late thirties plus. So nice to see grown-ups headlining a network television show.
And not just as parents or presidents. These guys are hot. Even Sam, played by B-movie stalwart Bruce Campbell. Why do women keep giving Sam stuff? Ain’t for his sartorial style, that’s for sure.
Technorati Tags: Burn Notice, Stargate Atlantis, WALL-E
SciFi Sunday: Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog
June 29, 2008 | Science Fiction, TV/Film
Well, there’s not much on television and I’ve seen the summer films for which I didn’t want to wait for DVD, so I was thrilled to learn of the upcoming “air” dates of Joss Whedon’s Internet musical netcast Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (via ProgGrrl on Twitter.)
To get the full effect, you have to read Whedon’s announcement, done as a comment on the blog Whedonesque, but here’s the shorthand version. There are three parts, each about 10 minutes long; part one will go up Tuesday July 15th, part two the 17th and part three the 19th. Free, with dreams of future monetization and world domination.
The musical was written by Whedon, his brothers Zack and Jed, and Jed’s fiancée Maurissa Tancharoen during the WGA strike, and stars Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day. According to the official Facebook page, it’s
“The story of a low-rent super-villain, the hero who keeps beating him up, and the cute girl from the laundromat he’s too shy to talk to. “
You can find a lot more information about the show on fansite doctorhorrible.net.
As a fan, I’m looking forward to watching the show, and will happily purchase merchandise and DVDs and stuff to help Whedon fulfill his nefarious dreams of glory. Plus, Nathan Fillion being all super-heroey. What’s not to like? 
Teaser from Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog on Vimeo.
But that’s not the only reason I am so excited about this production. For the past few months, I’ve been working on some panels for a conference about the impact of the Writers Strike. One panel covers how the writers used social media during the strike to inform the public, encourage and reward fan support and keep union members motivated. For example sites like United Hollywood and initiatives like Pencils for Media Moguls.
The other panel dives deeper into the impact of websites and videos written (and often performed) by the writers and distributed through YouTube, United Hollywood and other Internet sites. Why did they work so well, and how has user generated content changed the entertainment landscape? I’m still waiting for a few pieces to fall into place, which is why I haven’t written much about the panels here or on Marketing Roadmaps. As soon as I can tell you more, I will.
Back to my excitement. Dr. Horrible is a perfect example of how the Writers Strike and its aftermath are changing the entertainment industry. Clearly Whedon has a (more than) slight advantage when bringing his Internet production to market. He is already well-known, with a huge fanbase. His talent attracts top-calibre performers who themselves have significant fanbases.
However, he is using the exact same social media tools available to any aspiring writer, director or performer to promote the show: Vimeo (a video sharing site), Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, websites and blogs. The show episodes will be netcast for a limited time, and then available for purchase (download and DVD).
That’s the world-changing part of this: anybody can do the same. And if they are any good, they just might be able to achieve success without the involvement of the major studios. You know, like the one that screwed over Firefly.
Shiny.
Technorati Tags: Joss Whedon, Writers Strike, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, social media
SciFi Sunday: Books for Kids
June 22, 2008 | Books, Fantasy, Science Fiction
We didn’t watch Dr. Who this week. We were watching The Golden Compass on Comcast On Demand. The recording was screwing up the movie so we canceled it and I forgot to set it to record the later reshowing. It will probably be repeated before next week’s episode so we’ll catch it then. I hope David Tennant doesn’t irritate me too much.
Speaking of The Golden Compass. We enjoyed it, though if you’ve read the books, you know the ending of the film is a bit of a cop-out. Far more sunny than the book.
Summer vacation is beginning, so I thought I’d give a few sci fi reading recommendations for kids.
I just finished a new one, a gift to my son from his grandmother: Dragon Rider
Some favorites, for ages 8-12 :
A Wrinkle in Time
The Phantom Tollbooth
The Chronicles of Narnia Boxed Set
A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 1)
Dragonsong (Harper Hall Trilogy), Dragonsinger (Harper Hall Trilogy, Volume 2), Dragondrums (Harper Hall Trilogy)
Douglas also recommends the Dragon Slayers Academy books very highly although I admit, I have NOT read them. Dragon Slayer’s Academy Boxed Set # 1- 5
Ages 12 and up
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien [J.R.R. Tolkien Boxed Set (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)]
Dragonriders of Pern
Foundation et al, by Isaac Asimov [The Foundation Trilogy]
Kurt Vonnegut. Start with Cat’s Cradle
Harry Potter 1-7, JK Rowling [Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-6)]
The Belgariad and The Malloreon by David Eddings [The Belgariad, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit and The Malloreon, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda
Ages 14-16 and up
The Once & Future King
His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass)
American Gods: A Novel
SciFi Sunday: Battlestar Galactica… WOW!
June 15, 2008 | Science Fiction, TV/Film
Warning: No attempt to remain spoiler free ahead. If you haven’t watched “Revelations,” the putative Battlestar midseason four finale, but really the 08 season finale, since the show won’t be back until sometime in early 09, don’t read any further.
It was an excellent episode, wrapping up a number of story threads and leaving no one character in specific jeopardy, which is nice given how long we have to wait for the final episodes, while leaving everyone in the fleet — Cylon and human alike — in absolute limbo. Where to now that Earth is no longer an option?
There was much to like about this episode. Katee Sackhoff was excellent, as always. I loved her reaction when she learned Sam was a Cylon, and I always enjoy every scene she has with Jamie Bamber — and there have been not nearly enough this season. I know some Lee and Kara shippers are disappointed that there wasn’t more interaction between the two, feeling that there was more of a friend vibe than a romantic relationship. My opinion: at least 11 hours, maybe 12 of show to go, depending on whether the finale next year gets the reported extra hour. That’s plenty of time to resolve that storyline. And if you don’t like what Ron Moore and team dish out, there’s always fanfic.
Michael Hogan as Saul Tigh was superb. There is no doubt that this man, Cylon notwithstanding, is totally committed to the fleet and the humans in it. He knows exactly what he is doing when he confesses to Adama; without his revelation, there is no resolution.
Lucy Lawless. Flawless as Deanna. And Mary McDonnell delivered her usual stellar performance, as did the supporting cast.
The core of the episode, though, was the Adamas, two characters we’d not seen nearly enough in the season. If this was why we had to wait so long for significant Edward James Olmos and Jamie Bamber screen time, I’ll consider the wait worthwhile. Adama’s reaction to Tigh’s revelation was heart-wrenching, but the scene where Lee was taking care of his devastated parent was a turning point. As Roslin says later, he saw what had to be done and did it. Even though Adama Sr. retakes his place as Admiral and Roslin returns as president at the end of the ep, it’s clear that a torch has been passed from the older generation to the younger. Adama Sr. and Roslin, even Tigh, are observers. The actors — the ones who move the story forward — are Lee, Kara and Deanna, and to a lesser extent Tory, Sam and Tyrol.
The ending. I can’t say I was surprised. There have been enough hints that when the fleet found Earth it wouldn’t be what they expected.
I’m looking forward to seeing where they take us next. Wish it were sooner than next year, but so it goes. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the return of Stargate Atlantis next month (still without the Elizabeth Weir character, oh well) and Bones next fall, look forward to the Stargate SG1 film this summer and anticipate the new Whedon series Dollhouse. That’s about as much TV as I can handle at one time anyway
Technorati Tags: Battlestar Galactica
SciFi Sunday: R2D2 at the Natick Mall
June 8, 2008 | Douglas, Science Fiction, TV/Film
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away…
Actually, yesterday in a mall not far from our house…
Douglas and a legion of 5 to 12 year old Jedi Warriors (and their parents) helped a LEGO Master Builder build a giant R2D2 from LEGO bricks. They were about half-way through construction when we got there Saturday afternoon. They are expected to finish Sunday afternoon, and the completed model will be on display at the Natick Mall LEGO store for about a month.
The kids don’t actually add pieces directly to the model. They build subassemblies, which the Master Builder and his assistants attach to the model. The small size model (picture below) is built mostly from white, gray, brown and blue 2×4 bricks.
The kids use smaller bricks to create a large equivalent of the 2×4 brick which the Master Builder uses to assemble the giant model.
For their efforts, they get a certificate and a $5 coupon off a $35.00 purchase. If they are a member of the LEGO Brickmaster club, they also got a postcard in the mail that entitled them to a free Star Wars LEGO keyring with a $25.00 purchase. Needless to say, we used all the coupons plus a LEGO giftcard we had from Christmas toward the purchase of two new kits.
It’s definitely a fun thing to do if your kid likes LEGOs.
Technorati Tags: LEGO, Star Wars, R2D2
SciFi Sunday: Indy, Sarah Jane and Sine Qua Non
June 1, 2008 | Science Fiction, TV/Film
We saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull last week. Was it as good as Raiders of the Lost Ark? No, but I don’t think the previous two sequels were either. The first film was an immediate classic; as a result, its sequels have a lot to measure up to. That they don’t — that they aren’t as good — shouldn’t surprise anyone. It’s pretty much SOP with most classic films.
Crystal Skull is still a good, fun summer film. Sure you have to suspend your disbelief pretty far at some of the situations the characters survive, but it’s great to see Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones again, even if he’s moving a bit slower. Aren’t we all? Shia LaBeouf was fine as new sidekick Mutt Williams. The best though, was the return of Karen Allen as Marian Ravenwood. It’s quite easy to believe that her character is the only woman who could capture Indiana Jones’ attention for more than a moment.
The storyline is farfetched, which is fine and expected, and a bit rushed at the end, which is unfortunate. Without revealing any spoilers, I think many kids will have trouble understanding what happens at the end, especially if they are not familiar with other Spielberg films.
My summer film recommendation remains if you are only going to see one film in the theater, see Iron Man. Wait for this one on DVD. If you are a big Indiana Jones fan or can attend the film with one, preferably a child, by all means go. You’ll have some nice summer movie fun.
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Sarah Jane Adventures wrapped up its first season on SciFi on Friday. We like this show very much. It is a sci fi show for kids with some intelligence, and I mean that in both possible interpretations — the show is smart, and so are the kids. It doesn’t dumb down but at the same time it is very accessible and quite entertaining. I’ve always like star Elisabeth Sladen, and they’ve surrounded her with a nice cast, juvenile and adult. Looking forward to more of these in the future.
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Battlestar Galactica Sine Qua Non. Finally the return of the Adamas. We’d seen so little of either character this season that I would have been happy with a scene or two. Instead, the two main story arcs focused on them. Plus, we got the HUGE bonus of Mark Sheppard as Romo Lampkin. Sheppard had scenes with both Eward James Olmos and Jamie Bamber plus a solo scene that was excellent. There also was a tasty side order of Tigh and Six, and the awesome fist fight.
I enjoy the chemistry of the four main actors, Olmos, McDonnell, Sackoff and Bamber; part of what makes the show so good is that no matter how you mix up those four, you generally get something interesting on screen. Some of the best Bamber scenes though are the ones with Mark Sheppard. This week’s episode was no different. I especially liked the parallel between their meeting last season, when Lee was looking for a new direction, and their first scene in Sine Qua Non, when it was Romo who was clearly adrift.
But the best thing? The return of Jake:
(image from Battlestar Wiki)
A nice love letter to longtime fans who’ve wondered for more than a year what happened to this resistance hero.
Technorati Tags: Indiana Jones, Battlestar Galactica, Mark Sheppard, Sarah Jane Adventures, Elisabeth Sladen
SciFi Sunday: Pre-empted for holiday weekend
May 25, 2008 | Science Fiction, Vermont
SciFi Sunday is pretty much pre-empted for the holiday weekend. We are up at our house in Vermont this weekend and have been doing a little site seeing. Douglas and I went to Billings Farm’s Sheepshearing Days yesterday and today all three of us went to Fort Ticonderoga.
I also attempted to get some pictures of the space station as it moved over us just past 9pm Eastern. The squiggles? That’s me moving the camera before the shutter closed. Yeah, I know, they suck. Oh well.
Next week, new episodes of Sarah Jane and Battlestar, plus we are planning to see Indy 4 on Tuesday night so there will be lots to talk about.
Request for help: I am putting together a panel on Social Media and the Writers Strike for a conference this fall. If you know anyone in either the WGA or the fan community who was actively engaged in creating videos for online distribution during the strike, please give me a shout. I’ve got some good panelists lined up, but I’d like one or two more.
Technorati Tags: Billings Farm, Fort Ticonderoga, space station
SciFi Sunday: Step into the Dollhouse, Sarah Jane and What the Frak?
May 18, 2008 | Science Fiction, TV
Late last week, the first trailers for the new Joss Whedon show, The Dollhouse, hit the ‘net (hat tip Twitter pal ProgGrrl). The premise is a sci fi fan’s dream — agents able to take on any persona, do the job and then revert back to a memory-less state. Except maybe not. Maybe they don’t forget everything. How does that change the equation?
I am really looking forward to this show. Of course, there’s the Joss factor. He’s never done a show that I haven’t loved. And given the cast here, I don’t expect The Dollhouse to be any different. For starters we’ve got Eliza Dushku, Tahmoh Penikett and Amy Acker, and you have to know that even the actors we don’t (yet) know will be super.
More on The Dollhouse at Entertainment Weekly. To stay updated, follow The Dollhouse on Twitter
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While we haven’t been able to get into David Tennant as Doctor Who, my whole family is enjoying The Sarah Jane Adventures. In fact, we were pissed last Friday when SciFi seemed to truncate the end of Sarah Jane in order to start Doctor Who. Some reviews: Metacritic Wired.
I know some folks thinks it is a bit “kiddy” but it is nice to have a smart scifi show that appeals to kids. Anime cartoons and Power Rangers just don’t count. Fridays at 8pm on SciFi Channel. Not on next week due to Memorial Day weekend, but back on the 3oth.
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Battlestar Galactica. I’m enjoying the show, although I still wish for more Edward James Olmos and Jamie Bamber this season. I haven’t had the urge to re-watch an episode since the second one, but the show is still gripping me. Especially last week.
What was good?
- The interactions between Roslin and Lee. Mark my words, they are setting it up that Lee is the only person everyone trusts.
- The Cylon Rebel Leader Six. Natalie is the name I’ve seen on the boards. Tricia Helfer is doing a superb job this season. [SPOILER ALERT] From the previews, it looks like she is NOT dead, which fits. To become human requires suffering…
- Not a big Gaeta fan, but the song was haunting.
What would I like to see?
- Some Lee and Kara interaction beyond a glance on Colonial One. I’m fine with setting up the story, but I want a payoff. As do many of the Lee/Kara fans who’ve stuck with the show through the Quadrangle Of Doom. Doesn’t have to be happily ever after, although that would be nice. A scene. That’s all we ask.
- The payoff on the set-up with Lee as a Quorum member. I’m convinced he’s the next president after Roslin. How are they going to get him there, and do they have to kill her off - I hope not.
Now for the what the frak. Alert viewers — not me, I just read the websites — have noticed some changes between the original version of the Last Supper Photo as published in Entertainment Weekly, and the one that currently appears on the SciFi Channel website.
Here’s the original:
And here’s the one currently on SciFi Channel:
The changes? The little pot that Laura Roslin appears to have lit in the first image is not in the second, although the lit match is. And Baltar is no longer holding the hand of the central Six figure. What does it all mean? I have no clue, but it seems clear that we will need to keep checking this picture for changes as the season progresses.
Also, it has always appeared that Natalie (rebel leader Six) was pointing at Helo and Athena. Makes sense now.
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SciFi this week. No Battlestar this Friday but we do have Bones tomorrow night. And Indiana Jones returns to movie theaters on Thursday, an event much looked forward to in our household. Hard to believe that this character first hit the screen when I was in college. Douglas and I were discussing that this afternoon. His comment: “So the movies are pretty old.”
Yes indeed my dear. They are. But it looks like Indy still has a bit of life left in him and so do I.
And with that my friends, I bid you good night.
Technorati Tags: The Dollhouse, Battlestar Galactica, Sarah Jane Adventures, science fiction
SciFi Sunday: Speed Racer hits a speed bump, Friday’s Battlestar & Dr. “Who Cares”
May 11, 2008 | Movies, Science Fiction, TV
Tricia Helfer as Six on Battlestar Galactica
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Speed Racer. AS previously mentioned, I took my son and three of his friends to see Speed Racer at Jordan Furniture’s IMAX Theater on Saturday. The film wasn’t as bad as I expected from the reviews, but still, I wanted to like it more than I did. The story itself isn’t bad, as long as you understand going in that you are essentially watching a comic strip, just with living actors instead of pixels. The biggest problem — the film is just too damn long. Clocking in at well over two hours, they could have easily cut 30 minutes and had a better film with more appeal.
Initial reports have it falling far below initial box office estimates, with Iron Man in its second week beating it at the box office by far.
Which doesn’t surprise me in the least. I took Douglas to Iron Man, which is about as long, last weekend and he was captivated throughout. As were my brother, mother and I. At Speed Racer though, about 30-40 minutes before the film ended, he started pestering me with “how many more minutes?” When an eight-year old kid can’t wait for a film aimed at eight-year old kids to end, you know there’s a problem.
Bottom line: See Iron Man in the theater, save Speed Racer for DVD. It’ll be there soon enough.
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Friday’s episode of Battlestar Galactica, Faith. One of the better episodes this year to-date. Still not enough Adama and zero Lee, but the two main stories, one featuring Roslin dealing with her cancer and the other Kara and her crew dealing with the Cylons, were far more gripping than the previous two eps, which felt more like story exposition than action.
As the title suggests, the episode dealt with Faith. In one arc, Roslin comes face to face with a terminally ill patient whose faith has been restored by Baltar’s preachings. How will Roslin reconcile this with her feelings about Baltar? The other arc was devoted to the prickly rapprochement of Kara’s crew and the rebel Cylons.
It was refreshing to see Starbuck, Helo and Athena acting as a team again, for whatever reason, but the best part of the episode, and one of the highlights of the season to date, is Tricia Helfer. She absolutely rocks, the way she can imbue each and every Six with a different personality. Certainly, the hairstyle and wardrobe changes help, a device not offered as extensively to the other Cylons, but it goes beyond that. She has developed into a superb actress who can hold her own with some of the best on this show, and I look forward to watching her every week. Especially when she portrays the Six leading the Cylon rebels.
Bottom line: A-. Full episode streaming on SciFi.com.
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I’m sorry, friends, but as far as I am concerned, it isn’t Doctor Who. It’s Doctor Who Cares? I watched Friday while waiting for Battlestar, and the best part of the episode was the intimation that this version of the Doctor wasn’t long for this, or any other, world. Beccause literally that’s all I can remember about the episode two days later, and I have a pretty good memory. I am sure David Tennant is a wonderful actor, but he’s not my idea of Doctor Who. I adored Tom Baker in the 80s, and thought Christopher Eccleston was brilliant as Doctor Number 9. I still get goosebumps thinking of the episode The Doctor Dances. While I don’t want to rush him through his remaining incarnations, I long for a Doctor I can love. Especially since the future of Torchwood seems a bit unclear.
Technorati Tags: Speed Racer, Iron Man, Battlestar Galactica, Tricia Helfer, Doctor Who, science fiction
SciFi Sunday: Iron Man
May 4, 2008 | Movies, Science Fiction
Warning: This post may contain spoilers.
I am Iron Man.
Today we saw Iron Man. And I am going to go out on a limb and say this is the best sci fi film I have seen since Blade Runner. Not that others — ET, Close Encounters, Serenity, iRobot among others — haven’t been good.
But this film rocked. And not just because of the Black Sabbath tune. In fact, it may get a place on my top ten films of all time.
What’s so great? The story. And Robert Downey Jr’s performance. When he’s on the screen, he owns it. I know action films don’t tend to get nominated for Academy Awards, but this performance deserves it.
The supporting cast. Terrence Howard and Jeff Bridges are excellent. Gwyneth Paltrow, who can be annoying and whiny, is excellent.
The special effects. Awesome but they don’t eclipse the performances, and that’s what makes a great film. Versus a video game masquerading as one.
Bottom line. Run don’t walk to your nearest theater for this one. And stay ’til the bitter end, all the way through the extensive credits. You’ll be glad you did.
Sequel? Please.
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I have an SG-1 action figure of the Prior hanging around from my last contest. So, here’s your chance to win a present to give your geek nephew or niece for his or her birthday or some other holiday. Tell me your top ten movies of all time in the comments on this post. Giveaway period: now through May 31st. Winner announced June 1st.
Here are mine, in no particular order.
- Blade Runner
- Serenity
- Princess Bride
- Usual Suspects
- ET
- Iron Man
- Wag the Dog
- Rocky Horror Picture Show
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
- Notorious
I’d also like to recognize 1930s and 40s comedies in general. Among the best: The Thin Man, It Happened One Night, Bringing Up Baby, Arsenic and Old Lace and The Philadelphia Story.
Same general terms as previous giveaways: Adults, US including Alaska & Hawaii, Void where prohibited. One prize winner, picked using a random number generator, gets the SG-1 Prior action figure. Entry period ends May 31st at midnight Eastern Daylight Time. Winner announced June 1st.
Technorati Tags: Iron Man, science fiction
