Webisode #6 is another example of BSG’s inability to create legitimate drama. Instead, it resorts to filler flashbacks, graphic blood, and contrived romance. Cheap tricks. Cheap webisode.
Topics: Sci-Fi, Web Reviews
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“Casino Royale” is an evolution in the James Bond franchise. That isn’t to say that the film completely jettisons the typical Bond formula of spies, beautiful women and plenty of action. And it’s not to say that this is a flawless film. But it certainly seems as though the ingredients were mixed together with an eye for a more intelligent, mature narrative than your typical Bond fare. Indeed, it is the exploration of Bond’s complex psychological makeup that is as much a focus as is the twisting plotline. The end result is a film that has plenty of flashy action for traditional Bond viewers and just enough depth to the characters to allow viewers to delve deeper into the story – if they choose to do so.
Topics: Film Review, Mystery, Spy
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Webisode #5 is yet another inconsisten installment. There’s a little bit of value to be mined from the flashback as well as the current collaboration between Gaeta and the Eight. But the rest … well, the rest is just boorish and dour.
Topics: Sci-Fi, Web Reviews
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Far out, man.
“The Way To Eden” is the way to madness – if you try and take the episode seriously, that is. I mean, there is at least some attempt at a message and a purpose. But the episode is simply all over the place in its attempts to convey any meaning or significance. And the sheer ridiculousness of the characters, and caricatures, is, simply, embarrassing. It’s a shame because the notions of a utopian society, free from the corrupting influence of high technology, is certainly worth exploring. Too bad this episode is presented as poorly as it is.
Topics: Sci-Fi, TV Reviews
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Webisode #4 stumbles out of the gate thanks to a needless recap of the previous episode. Not only that, the whole “suspicion” story angle was sabotaged (pun intended) by some very poor writing (detailed in the Webisode #3 review). Of slightly more value is the flashback which provides some more detail on the history between Gaeta and the surviving Eight.
Topics: Sci-Fi, Web Reviews
Filed under: Battlestar Galactica | Comments Off
“Daredevils of the Desert” features a surprisingly coherent story across the entire chapter. Again, the narrative is relatively light on any deeper meaning, commentary or purpose. But unlike the worst episodes in the series, at least this one features a relatively plausible storyline, conveyed with a more mature presentation. And, too, the setting provides a sense of wonder and mystery that lends itself to Indy’s spy mission – as pedestrian as it might be.
Topics: Adventure, Historical, TV Reviews
Filed under: Young Indy | No Comments »
Perhaps my own quest wasn’t nearly so arduous as that of Frodo, Sam and their Fellowship. But nonetheless, I have finally completed the Lord of the Rings Ultimate Soundtrack. This soundtrack represents a mix of all 10 CDs of the Complete Recordings from The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King. In total, there are 18 tracks, focused primarily on a single musical theme, comprising of over 170 separate cues.
Topics: Film Music, Ultimate Soundtracks
Filed under: The Lord of the Rings, Ultimate Soundtracks | 2 Comments »
Well, this was a long time coming, but I will be taking a week-long break from posting and writing reviews. The holiday season is just an excuse to take this little vacation from the site. Not that I’m going to be busy spreading the ol’ Holiday Cheer (beyond the oh-so-festive banner you see above you). I’ll be taking the time to continue working on a few side projects including (hopefully) the completion of my Lord of the Rings Ultimate Soundtrack. With ten tracks already completed, hopefully the time away from reviews will allow me to finish it.
And when the vacation is over? With nearly three dozen reviews still waiting to be published, 2009 will see the completion of all episodes and movies for the Star Trek Original Series, as well as the completion of my explorations of the BBC’s The Blue Planet and Planet Earth documentaries. Lost and the conclusion to Battlestar Galactica (and BSG’s webisodes) loom in January, as does the return of series such as Fringe and Clone Wars. As for delving into past shows, I’ve already begun reviews for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and the web series titled Afterworld. They will debut before the end of January.
See you in a week!
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It’s clear that Webisode #3 is trying to eventful and suspenseful and mysterious. But really, it ends up being quite lame thanks to typical BSG melodrama and stupidity.
Topics: Sci-Fi, Web Reviews
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“Name of the Game” is a story about rivalry and about testing oneself. It’s also very boring. Annoying. And downright excruciating to watch. The fact is, despite the ramped up off-island sequences, there’s no cohesive overall storyline that worth exploring. And the episode’s narrative just cannot compensate for the poorly contrived series.
Filed under: Crusoe | No Comments »
“Requiem For Methuselah” stumbles at the very moment it should have been a marginal success. The result is an episode that just barely avoids being both a failure and an embarrassment. Truth be told, the episode skirts along the edge of disaster right from the start. It throws all manner of bizarre notions at the screen. But at the very moment when it makes its revelations – and finally gets to the point of the story – it becomes so ludicrously preposterous that one simply has no choice but to cringe and shake one’s head in bewilderment.
Topics: Sci-Fi, TV Reviews
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“Espionage Escapades” is a terrible installment of the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. It is meant to be a farce. It ends up being a failure. The slapstick antics are about as ridiculous and unimaginative as possible. And it all plays out in the most juvenile and ridiculous manner possible. Indeed, this is easily the most unwatchable chapter of the series thus far. There is, quite simply, nothing to redeem it from its failures and the results are utterly excruciating for the audience.
Topics: Adventure, Historical, TV Reviews
Filed under: Young Indy | 7 Comments »
“The Lights of Zetar” is yet another in a string of barely competent, unremarkable episodes. It’s as if the production were so focused on avoiding an embarrassment that very little was done to take chances and reach for something much grander – let alone realize such an achievement. The result is plain to be seen in an episode such as this one which, by all counts, is constructed well enough but ends up being a bit like watching paint dry.
Topics: Sci-Fi, TV Reviews
Filed under: Star Trek | Comments Off
Battlestar Galactica’s The Face of the Enemy: Webisode #2 picks up immediately where its predecessor left off. Again, there’s quite a bit of narrative exposition here, from what happened to the Raptor to how it got there. Along the way, there are just a couple of hints and teasers of storylines yet to come.
Topics: Sci-Fi, Web Reviews
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“Adventures in the Secret Service” essentially abandons any deeper explorations of morality and character and instead opts for straightforward cloak-and-dagger mysteries. Indeed, the first half of the chapter is so by-the-numbers that it barely registers as anything other than mild amusement. The second half of the episode fares much better in terms of enthusiasm and entertainment. And, too, it attempts to create a small subtext about friendship and loyalty. But its narrative is clumsily presented. Overall, this is a middling installment of the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.
Topics: Adventure, Historical, TV Reviews
Filed under: Young Indy | No Comments »
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