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Reviews
Defying Gravity (2009)
Do not let anyone fool you : this show is bad
Well at first I enjoyed it, now I see all the comments praising it : people say : "we don't care about realism" because it is a SF show. Note that in literature, mimesis is fundamental for science-fiction: SF needs realism otherwise it's either horror or marvelous (Todorov). All in all, the actors are well-chosen but their acting is fine but the plot isn't moving. Even LOST did better with action in their first season. I enjoyed one commentary saying, (A) we don't care about realism and (B) the issue about the Hispanic: if you reject realism, how can you praise it to defend the Hispanic girl when it comes to explain her presence on board. This show is bad, anyone with experience in science-fiction realizes it ! Read BOOKS for God's sake, at least they're far more imaginative ! I'm reading Anderson's Planet of no Return, about astronauts on a similar mission and it's far more interesting : here there is ONE alien and in ONE episode the only thing you learn is : one of the women cannot see it ! WAOUH! First they rip the theme of the fractal from Threshold (2005), second they can't even cope with their red-line (the so-called mission). This series is good if you watch the pilot but then it becomes naive and cheesy with the scenes at the bar almost always used as comic relief but in fact you watch people at the minimum of their intellectual potential and recurrent slapstick... To put it otherwise, the more scenes in the bar there are the more boring it gets and the characters look stupid for astronauts who studied many years, as well as loathsome because the only thing they like to talk about is SEX: nothing EVER happens except in ONE episode called ''And Eve Ate'' but it took the idea from Threshold and modified it at the BSG 2003 sauce. And if someone does not agree with that, please go on forums and ask for better shows so you can take my words : this show is NOT worth a shot if you want SF... This is a soap pseudo- comedic drama where nothing EVER happens... Try Poul Anderson or Martin Caïdin for once, and come back talk to me before getting angry in front of your screen if you didn't like this review. Peace up.
Earth: Final Conflict (1997)
Like every one else, eventually dissatisfied.
If something is important in TV shows, it would probably be its first season, because it is supposed to establish all the bases of the upcoming series - apparently written and completed beforehand... at first sight - while keeping coherence to the show. That's exactly what EFC did not respect by implementing new elements which simply broke the illusion and made it clear, for any sort of audience, that the show was simply getting low-minded, as another reviewer put it, and I do agree in the cases of T'Than (Seasons 3-4) and Zo'or (Seasons 2-4), the characters were simply overplayed, making them sound illogical by moments.
Everything that there is to say is said in the other reviews, read them, I found them really accurate and properly written. In season one, you had a good red line, it had all the elements to promise a good show : Taelons were fascinating, ill-wiled or benevolent,you really asked yourself the question. There were aspects of a big conspiracy theory which - though not really revolutionary nowadays, was pleasant to follow and then decipher. Then, there was season 2, WTF is happening you think, okay, a Kimera impregnates a woman who gives birth to Liam Kincaid, the only guy on earth who can grow up in five minutes, watch in hands. The guy - physically supposed to be more attractive than Kevin Kilner, that is the reason why they put him away, you see; has superpowers you cannot imagine and he eventually lost them. Well at least, the staff realized that these superpowers were simply under-used if that term exists in English.
Yes, one of the factual mistake is the rotation of characters, let us put it that way. Some characters are simply thrown out like rubbish and you are never to see them again (or you have to wait.) Some examples to illustrate that : William Boone (buddy, we took four years to realize that you had to be on the show, shame it was Season 5), Lily Marquette (literally thrown out into space then she reappears, her characterization is seemingly accomplished in Season 4 but you realize that the whole thing sounds impossible, the character was virtually rearranged so as to make her quickly disappear, in other words, sounds hypocritical), Jonathan Doors (clearly misused in Season 2/3, except at the very end of Season 2 when he is nominated to the presidential election, shame he lost because that was promising) then there is Augur whose character was at first promptly repudiated from the show but they managed to do something quite interesting because he too was misused - something which never occurred with William Boone). There is definitely a problem with the characters. As it was said, Renee Palmer does not have the profile to fulfill our expectations as the leading character in Season 5, she is too plain and she was only correct as a secondary character (Season 4-5) because she is not very interesting : she knows too much people, she is always ready to help, you almost never see her pushed to her limits because she seemingly has none, the only moment when I was surprised about her is when they say she is infertile and effectively, it makes the show move on. Moreover, as regards for sweet Julia Street, she is completely A) boring B) useless and you never see her on screen, the only moment she is interesting happens once and that's all but THAT too remains undeveloped.
But the show tries to be saved. That is something you realize when you see how they try to make it interesting. The first change to occur is the new open titles which take a more flashy form, gaudy or dowdy you choose, I find it casual and almost burlesque ("A man ... who is more than human'' - note that if you do not know the show, you'll find it weird to see that Liam is fundamentally human, as we said, his powers are misused.) I think this show can be watched from the beginning to ... the end of season 4. If, like me, you like William Boone, then you can make up your own red line because you will need to force yourself into watching the whole series, some episodes are craps, some are really goods (a couple in season 2, same in season 3, season 4 is a little more interesting that the last two we mentioned.) The best inevitably remains Season 1 and I'm glad to realize that Season 1 will always be there, no matter what they did to the show. Don't get into the plot too much or you will be astonished by the quantity of inconsistencies that there are in this series. However the ideas are there, some are really worthy to reflect upon - if contradicting elements had not been established in previous episodes -. This show needs to be watched for its first season only, and a half-dozen of other episodes throughout the following seasons. If you hesitate, do it, the first episodes are vintage.
Skins (2011)
So poor...
This morning, I've been watching both versions to the Skins franchise. I started with the US version of season 1 and kept on with the original fifth series and as you have guessed, I disliked the US version. Now, let me tell you why.
When I learned about an American version for Skins, I first wondered : why would they do that when they speak the same language ? Now, if we consider public reaction for such a poor thing, I think that I have the answer.
The audience complained about drugs and taboo subjects being exposed. Well, isn't this the essence of Skins ? Being a subtle pain in the back of society ? The first time we see characters abusing drugs, they are in the toilets as if to say : remember that it is illegal - while in the meantime, marijuana is legalizing all along the states but it would have been a provocative shame to show such a fact, you know, ''drugs is bad'' period... while in the original series the characters smoke pot on the school garden, though it is forbidden as well, but at least, there was originality in this, a clear call for renewal, for people to ask questions about drugs : is that so hazardous ? What is the real problems with drugs ? Well, if we compare it with alcohol, it is far less dangerous but NOOOOOOO, Americans must see that it is illegal, that it is a problems touching youngsters and that it is actually a problem, is not that a little too much, how do you call that, Manichean ? Archetypical ? This is ridiculous because the characters are therefore archetypal and the way they abuse drugs shows us that they make it out of provocation, in the original series, this is another story. The real cause for drug abuse was being unveiled : it results from poor education, bad housing, it is not a provocation AT ALL. In the US version, pupils are wrong and the school is right. In the original series, this is the contrary.
Another element which is ridiculous is the feminization of the character of Maxxie. Why did they do that ? Well, it shows us clearly that Americans prefer to see lesbian women as in SGU rather than homosexual men. They are so afraid to demonize the white male with homosexuality - while there is nothing devilish in homosexuality - that they change the gender of one of the most favorite character of the fans in the original series. If they had kept Maxxie, it would have been a scandal nationwide... but homosexual women, no problem, women are not that scandalous as men... that's why they can't be shown on screen, you know, if you want it to be a success. Barry Glassner was not mistaken when he talked of the public fear of the demonization of the white male in Culture of Fear essay...
What I learned from British cinema is that British people have guts. I wonder what is behind this poor series that is Skins US. I liked the music but I don't like how the characters were playing. Just remember that Skins is not American but British, Skins is a series with guts, a series which dares, its Americanization means the death of its symbolism : it is as simple as that. You have the right not to agree with me, you know that's life but you shall consider my ideas as well.
Earth: Final Conflict: Defector (1999)
At least, something is happening !
When I started watching season 2, I had difficulties getting on the train. At first, I hardly accepted that the life of William Boone had been literally suppressed at the very last second of the previous season with no reason but to cast someone else that is going to be more charismatic, handsome at moments and with great magical powers - what the ? Then came up the Juridians and the Atavus, nice creations which arrivals had been a little precipitated - which inevitably initiated the low pace of most episodes to the second series. I was so upset that I took time to watch each episodes and sometimes - at least for a few episodes; I took pains to watch the whole thing.
But with season 2 drawing to a close - "Defectors" being the 19th episode out of 22; I told myself, let's give another try only on the basis that I really enjoyed watching season 1 as far as I was impressed by the result even if nowadays, it may seem a little obsolete. In this episode, for instance, when the Taelon drone vessel explodes, there was a clear lack of visual effects (and coherence) but really, as far as I'm concerned, it didn't mattered, because for my first time in season 2, I have really been excited by the plot of this episode. I first believed that the story was going to be about Liam and Lili chasing for a Taelon in the forest, I did expect to see an Atavus hunting for Da'an. I don't know why but I liked the concept that for one time, you see a Taelon trying to side with the human resistance - fortunately, the resistance leader has been absent for a couple of episodes, I don't even know if he is still the leader by the way, I guessed it is Liam now, isn't it ?
All in all. The visual effects are not really impressive indeed, but the plot for once saved the thing. However, some visual effects are really nice (perhaps I have something for purple and blue.) The reproduction of the Taelon is very calming, peaceful and we see Da'an merging with Mother Nature, which is a notion that I find poetic and enigmatic - and I like the 'enigmatic'. I noticed that Sandoval was quite absent from the episode but that did not disturbed me. Moreover I find actors playing Taelons really convincing, it besides encouraged me to keep on watching EFC and perhaps I will watch season 2 all over again to check whether my distaste for the most part of the episodes is simply my fault or can be justified. I shall also mention the music for the title opens with a rapid-cadenced tune, like in medias res.)
The story for once aroused my curiosity and excitement when it revealed Da'an's position in the plan of destroying the people of Earth. The renegade Taelon is therefore more interesting for he seems to oppose to that, for a living Taelon, that is some news. In the last scene, I even acknowledged that I had some doubts about Da'an real position, was the renegade wrong or not ? This caught me too. This episodes is also worth seeing for its very last scene : we see a transformation of the Taelon world as it was before and after it was attacked by the Juridians. Although the visual effect is no genius, especially for a 2010 audience, it was not that disturbing actually. Moreover, at the end of the previous episode, Liam and the resistance were talking about the Taelon territory, in a far far away galaxy, and the end of this one, Liam and his fellow resistant soldiers want to travel to this "far far away galaxy". I only hope that it is going to happen because this episode really got me, back on the tracks. I'm eager to see the following episodes...
X2 (2003)
Very nice sequel !
First of all, my first good surprise was to discover that X2 was longer than its predecessor (2 hours long !). Basically, I enjoyed watching this movie, really. The music is excellent (for example in the early scenes of the movie, when Nightcrawler attempts at killing the president) and varied all along the movie. Added to this, we are presented with a bunch of new characters (new or more present than in the first film) : I particularly liked the character of Iceman, for many reasons, and that of Pyro, we see how he eventually ceases to be "a good guy" and rejoins Magneto. Another very good point is that the line between good and evil is (slightly) tarnished by moments, for instance, when the X-men side with Magneto in order to fight against ... a new "evil" ! This is to be found when Magneto and Pyro discuss for the first time in the plot, when they are aboard the plane.
To get back to the characters, I would praise in another review that the character of Mystique, which I really appreciated to see one more time on screen, I think that she actually adds something to the screenplay and the general atmosphere of the movie. Like I said, the intervention of a dozen of new characters on screen(really!) is a big plus for the franchise even though it seems logical to include them as many already were in the comics. Another good point was that Kelly Hu was so astonishing for the part of Lady Deathstrike that I had the impression to watch something like Terminator III, which of course does not disturb me. The FXs are tolerable, like always, for example when Magneto manages to escape his plastic prison (I really liked the idea that Laurio had too much iron in his blood.)
As far as the plot is concerned, I would say that it is far more ''complex'' : it is easy to understand but the audience clearly sees that the screenplay has been worked upon very carefully and seriously. Some scenes I found long but far from boring. I don't believe in the death of ''who-you-know'' (let us avoid spoilers :D), this character is too important for it to die like this... we'll see. To put it in a nutshell, if you have not seen X2 and wish to see it, do it, but watch X-Men 1 first : the evolution (of the franchise, not of mankind !) is obvious and positive, let's hope that the suite to the franchise is better.
X-Men (2000)
Nice and entertaining !
I remember when this movie came out in France, some ten years ago, my brother was truly a fan of those X-Men and he would regularly talk with me about them, especially ''Wolverine''. Ten years later, I decided solemnly to watch the movie and guess what, I liked it. Though the plot is very simple, the action is far more better, as well as the dialogs, so that you cannot be bored all the film long - which is only 90 min. long ! Besides the FXs are not aging; of course, you can easily pinpoint them in the course of the movie but really, that is no pain in the ... The question that I asked after I saw this movie was : who on earth is Wolverine ? I used to read the comics, but I was surely too young to understand. For what I remember, the characters are pretty close to the comics - except the disguise; I particularly liked the Mystique character who is, to my mind, very well-done knowing that she probably was the most difficult superhuman to release, I mean, physically (you can see the make-up in several shots.) The only criticism that I may add to this review is that the end is too prompt while I hoped to learn what had happened to Mystique, Sabretooth... and Toad; that is probably the reason why I am going to watch the sequel tonight. If you have not seen the movie yet and it turns out that you hesitate to watch it (or buy it for Christmas?), do it, you will be entertained for sure! And if you become a fan, that is up to you; but know that you are not alone ;)
Alien (1979)
So close to perfection
To be honest, I do not know why I did not put 10 out of 10 for this title; knowing that perfection is like a myth, it is not supposed to exist. Still, "Alien" is one of the most famous movie that was ever made; this even applies today, in the twenty-first century, while, as we know, it belongs to the twentieth century. Indeed, with all these references in TV series, comics, shows, movies, music etc., it is impossible that you miss that one, especially when you like science-fiction (more than horror - you clearly see that the Alien is a puppet (it was not gonna be a real one dude!), and this, surely thanks to advantage of hindsight, curtails the overall ''horror'' aspect of the movie; to my mind, only a few elements in this movie are scary actually.)
The screenplay is simply astonishing, the action is yet quite slow, fortunately, and the visual is aging, but the overall effect is that it brings suspense rather than impatience. Sigourney Weaver, who embodies the young Ripley, is very convincing in the way she acts and reacts, and, unlike nowadays' movies, you cannot tell from the beginning who is going to survive and who is not. Even when you have seen AVP first (I was born in 1991 so that it was impossible for me to see Alien when it came out!), you have the impression to watch a different franchise that you are pleased to discover again and again. No, this movie is far from being boring, this movie is in fact a vintage and I hope that it will remain so, at least until the end of the world (2012 ? oops, that's another story...)
Believe me or not, when watching this film, I understood what the "seventh art" really was. There is little horror in this title, and do not come to the idea that Alien the first has something to do with the 2007 AVPR, in simple words, I see no relation between the two. If you do not know any of the Alien franchise yet, jump the shark and go buy the complete collection, it is cheap and you are sure to spend couples of hours watching one of the best movie ever made. Of course, you will have to forgive the lack of FXs... Obviously, the story is so good and the plot so immersive that you will not take heed of such a lack. Try it!
2012 (2009)
The Day after the War of the Worlds
First time I heard about this movie, I was told that I should rather not try to see that movie and let it go of R. Emmerich who was no longer the genius who had created Stargate back in 1994 but the wealthy director who directed a string of low-rated post-apocalyptic movies in a row in the 2000s. 2012 is a good movie if you only watch the FXs but some characters constantly find themselves in impossible situations and they always manage to make it out ! (they survive earthquakes, volcanoes, tidal waves, etc.); now the question is : how can you buy this ? This no longer has to do with science-fiction, this is watching without reasoning : you are going to see people die in various ways and a few survive (you already know whom as early as the movie starts.)
Added to this, actors actually overplay by moments and the scenario is probably not too developed to be existent as well as credible - unless the characters are perpetual lucky strikers. Yet, if I had to find one aspect of that movie which would be a positive one, let us mention that there are a few comic scenes which effectively made me laugh like hell(even scenes which are not supposed to be comic ones, which suggests that the film turns burlesque by moments.) They had the money, they say, I'm sorry to inform you that, graphically and technically, the film is beautiful and well-done but it does not save the whole thing, mind you! ''2012'' is like all these cliché-striken movies in the 2000s, the staff only forgot to write the script, I mean, THE formidable and innovative script, the one that makes you dream/fear/impatient and ... reflect.
In fact, I had the impression all along the movie to watch something between The Day after Tomorrow (dystopia due to nature rebelling) and War of the Worlds (2005 overplayed version with the father, divorced from the mother, with two kids - a boy, and a girl; who are simply useless as far as the story is concerned) and this is probably the reason why I disliked it so much. The title is good if you omit the Mayan prophecy that usually goes along with the year 2012. But, do not prepare for the prophecy to be explained if you have not seen the movie yet ! This production reveals a terrible ''scenario vacuum''; even the presence of Danny Glover (Predator 2, which I liked much more than ... that) would not make me change my mind, unfortunately. But I laughed. So, what d'you say ?
Earth: Final Conflict: Dimensions (1998)
OK, let's start Season 2 !
Well, you already know that Season 2 has started since a few episodes. Now, with the depart of Kevin Kilner (William Boone) from the former cast, this episode nearly confirms that something in the series, has changed, with a small shift from Sci-Fi to Fantasy. We don't know how it is possible but Augur and Liam find themselves in another dimension where people they know sit as characters with new faces, like Lili Marquette turning to the bad "guy" and Ronald Sandoval the chief of the resistance. Yet, the explanation provided by Da'an for this alternate reality is in some ways interesting but not exciting. Even with further details, it is obvious that this parallel dimension is incoherent. But with the introduction of the cute character of Liam Kincaid, you have the biggest "deus ex machina" you ever saw in EFC - and not the first in Season 2. What do we learn at the end of the title ? That Liam and Augur have the possibility, we don't know how, to leave a parallel reality while the Taelons themselves are sure that traveling to alternate realities is impossible : Humans, that one found so weak and ignorant as early as season one, thus making the charm of the series ! - have become a predator to the Taelons, threatening their so-called intelligence, when the line between good and evil becomes more and more distinct while it was so blur before ! I'm not saying this episode is bad, but only average good as compared to the exciting, thrilling and fascinating season one we were offered in 1997.