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Friday, February 23, 2007 |
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Brainwaves 4 - Podcast
This week in Brainwaves Episode #4, Sci-Fi Brain's intrepid podcasters discuss the surprising announcement of a new Wing Commander game. Also, a new feature is introduced: the movie of the week. This week's movie is "Unbreakable".
And of course, you'll get the usual TV roundup with extensive coverage of Lost, BSG and Heroes, as well as this week's biggest sci-fi headline news.
You can find a link to this week's podcast (as well as the past ones) at the link provided: BRAINWAVES
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Friday, February 23, 2007 |
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Lost (3.9) "Stranger in a Strange Land" Review
By: jiggyj
Jack has never, ever, never had a bad flashback episode. If there is a flashback featuring Jack, you can expect it to be a great episode and I dare you to prove me otherwise. Oh, wait, you said check this episode out if I want to be proven wrong? Yeah, can't deny you that one. I'll just come out and say it – this episode was pure crap.
I'm usually completely in love with an episode of Lost (like last week) or else only usually one or two minor gripes bug me. However, the purely craptastic episodes of Lost are usually far and farther between, with the only one of recent memory I can remember is the one with Charlie in the diaper. Looking back, I can't think of a single redeeming thing about this episode.
The big story of this episode was Jack trying to save Juliet who was being put on trial for the murder of the guy who was going to kill Kate and Sawyer the other week. We got an interesting new character this week in the way of Isabel, the sheriff of the island, but do we really need a new character? I'd much rather see the one eyed guy from the camera feed than someone new. I have nothing against introducing new characters, but make it seem like a natural extension of the story progression, not because you want to throw a new character in. The good news is that Juliet wasn't killed, but she was branded. Why? Is this The Scarlet Letter we are watching? And who the hell cares she got branded? Does it serve any purpose whatsoever?
And then we learn what Jack's tattoo really means. Alright, I'll give you that, cool to find out. But what did the flashback have to do with anything? The best flashbacks always parallel the action and story going on at the island, but this had no relevance at all. I guess I could say at least Achara (Bai Ling) was hot in the episode, but that isn't exactly a rousing endorsement.
And what was up with showing the flight attendant Cindy and the kids and then only have them say something like, "We're watching." No duh you're watching, you're staring right at him. But he asked you a direct and pointed question. By now you know I love Lost and don't complain when they fail to give answers, but there is a line that divides not giving answers and purposely doing something frustrating. So we don't know what the Smoke Monster really is – it isn't like we can exactly ask it so that question doesn't bother me. But when you are staring right at someone, ask them a question, and the only thing they can give you is another question then you've officially stepped over the line and pissed me (and probably many other viewers) off.
And Kate and Sawyer get back to the island, let Karl loose, and that is that.
I'm a huge Lost fan and have been very vocal in not caring that they haven't delivered answers quickly, but there is a line that the show crossed this episode with that one bit of line from Cindy that does nothing but infuriate me. And what was up with the misleading episode preview for this week – three things will be revealed. What the hell was revealed? We get the true meaning behind Jack's tattoo…AND???????
You know what, I'm doing wasting time on this episode. It sucked. 4 out of 10!
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Friday, February 23, 2007 |
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Heroes 115: Unexpected - Review
By: zotquix
Heroes is taking form, and not a moment too soon. The final stretch of episodes leading in to the end of the season is upon us. We're beginning to see sides taken, understand some of the mechanics of how things work and have some of our questions answered. Most importantly, developments were intriguing. Yes some of the progress is a bit, uh, cliche. Two heroes driven to conflict over the woman they love. Another "good guy" driven to theft and then joining the team of the dubiously motivated. A villain passing himself off as someone else, talking to a main character about himself. All of these elements are a bit...commonplace. Understandably, trying to make characters 'ambiguous' without making them out and out despotic can be difficult, but taken on their own, I would find these events disappointing to watch unfold. However, combining them together makes for a better realized universe in which things are happening.
Actually some of this works simply because of the execution. Sylar's moment with Mohinder, where they discuss the elder Suresh is absolutely fantastic. I wish I could've heard Sylar's thoughts when Mohinder says, "Justice never really could be done." The whole scene compelled me and Sylar's charisma seems to increase with his power, even while we know the sinister person that he really is.
This weeks open delayed the "Previously on Heroes" bit so we could meet a new character, Hana Gittelman aka 'Wireless', who has been featured in the online graphic novels. Excellent entrance, and I love the character. To the uninitiated (I was behind in my graphic novel reading when I originally viewed the episode so she actually was a surprise to me) she seemed mysterious, sexy, and obviously a little dangerous. Even without knowing much about her, I liked the new heroine.
To be precise, we were introduced to two heroines this week. The mechanic seemed like she could have been great to watch, and it was unfortunate that she really was only there to be slain, even after all her talking about how tough to kill she would be. I did enjoy how they represented her ability once Sylar had acquired. Artistic, watchable (listenable), smart.
So we have one group of characters (Sprague, Parkman, and the woman who can hear the net) coalescing. And they are even interacting with other major characters. I do have to wonder whether Matt Parkman would really point a gun at anyone's mother, but I will withhold judgement until that scene actually unfolds. I must say that I hope Claire goes with them. Even if they are an ambiguously motivated group (ug, I am so sick of contrived ambiquity), this could be fun to watch. I'm willing to suffer through more second rate effects (Sprague withering flowers=good, Sprague withering grass=bad) if there is some more action. I'd like to see Ted actually melt a wall...
I did have a few other problems with this episode: 1) I love Marvel, but could do without seeing Stan "The Man". He serves no purpose, and his egomania is so unchecked that his visage actually begins to detract from the things he appears in. 2) If I cared more about Simone, Peter and Isaac fighting would have much more meaning. Even so, I hope she's really dead. I like the move, and it leaves characters that I actually do care about. That stuff withstanding Unexpected took the story along at the faster pace that has been lacking in previous weeks.
I give this episode of Heroes a 9 out of 10. New characters introduced, other characters killed. Good stuff all around!
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Friday, February 23, 2007 |
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Sci-Fi Brain News -- February 23, 2007
Scorsese Keeping Busy 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret'
rottentomatoes.com is reporting that it looks like the beloved Martin Scorsese is back in high-demand these days. According to Variety, the filmmaker is in talks to bring recent kid's novel "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" to the big screen.
The story focuses on a small boy who lives inside a Paris train station in the 1930s. Apparently a robot is involved somehow. But if it's a brand-new book and it caught the eye of Scorsese ... it must be a pretty good book.
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Interview: Billy Bob and Virginia on 'The Astronaut Farmer'
iesb.net is reporting that a few days ago Billy Bob Thornton and Virginia Madsen sat down with a few members of the press to talk in lengths about their newest family drama, The Astronaut Farmer.
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'Transformers' As Real As Possible
scifi.com is reporting that Ian Bryce, one of the producers of Michael Bay's upcoming Transformers movie, told SCI FI Wire that the director shot as much of the SF action live as possible. "I think that as much practical photography as you can get is the best," Bryce said in an interview on the film's Los Angeles set last August. "I think the audience is so sophisticated these days that they can tell what's [computer-generated], what's animatronic, what's not real. So we certainly like to capture as much original photography as we can, and then enhance it with the CG shots."
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'Avatar' Stakes Out 2009 Date
scifi.com is reporting that Avatar, James Cameron's upcoming SF epic movie, is eyeing a Memorial Day 2009 release date, the ComingSoon.net Web site reported.
Avatar is the futuristic story of a wounded ex-marine who is unwillingly sent to settle and exploit a faraway planet. He gets caught up in a battle for survival by the planet's inhabitants.
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SCI-FI BRAIN INDEX
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Thursday, February 22, 2007 |
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Anime Review: RahXephom Ep.23
By: samwiseb
Twenty-Third Movement: “From Here to Eternity (Where the Sweet Bird Song)â€
Commander Jin Kunugi returns to TERRA where a warm welcome awaits him. Meanwhile, Mu cities continue to multiply over Earthspace, and sightings of Mu apparitions are reported from across the globe. The worlds of human and Mu are overlapping.
Mu henchman Kuki Masayoshi delivers a “thank you†to TERRA for freeing the Mu from their “prison of timeâ€, along with an ultimatum to disarm and surrender RX. The largest D-1 to date appears over Chukyo, demolishes the city, then proceeds toward Nirai-Kanai Island to wipe out TERRA. Unfortunately RX is still sealed up inside its egg and cannot be transported nor activated. Kunugi pays a final visit to his daughter’s grave, thanks Watari for the opportunity to work with TERRA, and entrusts his pet bird to Sou. Nirai Kanai is evacuated, its residents packed like refugees into every ship available including the Lilia Litvyak. Ixtli/Mishima is seen among the refugees.
Inside Hiranipra Fortress, Mother Maya and her goons have apparently become full time Mulians, decorated in their robes and Mulian tattoos. Mamoru criticizes Kuki for his arrogance, and still seems resentful of his job to “protect†Ollin. Maya refers to Quon as her “elder sisterâ€. On Lilia Litvyak, Elvy advises Ayato not to take Haruka for granted.
Ayato comes across Ixtli at the Barber Shop where he and Quon first met in ep 4, and she teleports him to the Small Shrine of Time, apparently the passageway through which the “original†Ollin were sent into our world. She cannot understand why Ayato resists her; is hers not the image of the person he most desired? She warns that if the world is “tuned†without him it will return to a sea of mud (her words).
Kuki’s Dolem lays waste to Nirai Kanai, while Kunugi (who stayed behind) retaliates with all the TERRA weapons at his disposal. Massive exchange of firepower here, kids. Kuki appears via hologram to taunt the commander, denying responsibility for Kunugi having given in to the order that sacrificed his daughter during the Mu war (see episode 10… and yes Kuki, we get it, you’re evil). Kunugi arms the Jupiter System, which incinerates TERRA HQ and himself along with it. A new Absolute Barrier expands around Nirai Kanai, trapping Kuki and his Dolem inside. Sou and the Lilia Litvyak crew mournfully salute the commander. Elsewhere in the world, Jin Kunugi’s ex-wife senses that something is wrong.
Ayato finally accepts Ixtli, appreciating the fact that she’s protected him whenever he and RX got into trouble (you think?). Because now he too has somebody he wants to protect (his words). Back on the Litvyak, a jealous Itsuki promises Haruka that Ayato will return to her. To Be Continued.
Another character finally gets what was coming to him this week. My only complaint is that Kuki’s theatrics seem a little over the top, as though the writing staff realized they needed to remind us who he is (you think?) and why they we’re supposed to hate him. It’s still unclear whether Kuki had already been assimilated/co-opted by the Mu at the time he and Kunugi last crossed paths (my guess is probably not; though it doesn’t mean he hasn’t always been an arrogant bastard).
Meanwhile the loss of Nirai Kanai, which has served as our primary setting since episode 5, effectively pushes the series into unfamiliar territory. I’d say we’re approaching the grand finale.
The Shrine of Time is, of course, the place where Ayato and Quon got lost in episode 9. In that ep, it was mentioned that two sisters had been “spirited forth†through the shrine some thirty-eight years before. Could these be the “original†Ollin whom Ixtli now refers to? Maya would seem about the right age, given the number of years that she raised Ayato in time-differentiated Tokyo. And Quon recently commented that Maya had “grown passed the capability of becoming an instrumentalistâ€. But now Quon we know is still very much qualified as instrumentalist material, a fact that places her at the same biological age as Ayato. So how could she be Maya’s older sister? As always, stay tuned.
This episode gets an 8.5 out 10. A solid episode, with plenty of action and emotion, as well as some powerful music and visuals, but just a bit excessive with the overacted villainy of a supporting character whom we’re still just as happy to see meet his end.
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Thursday, February 22, 2007 |
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Sci-Fi Brain News -- February 22, 2007
It's a 'Battlestar Galactica' Scoopapalooza!
tvguide.com is reporting that by now, you've heard the fraktacular news that Sci Fi has ordered a fourth season of Battlestar Galactica. Well, what you may not have heard is that producers have already lined up a big-name guest star for said fourth season that's so freakin' fraktabulus that Toasters everywhere are already Strudeling on themselves in anticipation. The high-profile casting is one of several scoopy tidbits that executive producer David Eick spilled to me in this exclusive interview.
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'The Astronaut Farmer' Review
moviehole.net now has up a review of The Astronaut Farmer.
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'Day the Earth Stood Still' Remake Confirmed - 2008
rottentomatoes.com is reporting that Box Office Mojo recently updated a release date listing for 2008 for a Fox produced "The Day the Earth Stood Still" remake, and FirstShowing.net acquired confirmation from Fox that it is set to happen and will be released on May 9th, 2008, one week after Iron Man.
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Murphy Talks 'Transformers'
scifi.com is reporting that Don Murphy, one of the producers of Michael Bay's upcoming Transformers movie, told SCI FI Wire that the film will deal with several elements of the comic, TV and toy franchise, but not any single storyline. "There's so many things that make it Transformers, but there's no ... one classic story, like [Spider-Man's] death of Gwen Stacy or something like that," Murphy said in an interview on the film's Los Angeles set last August. "I think it proved a little bit tricky. What the real balance was that ... if you just wanted robots smashing robots, then that's [computer animation] or that's 2-D [animation]. And what we were always trying to do was a live-action movie. ... So you kind of have a nice balance now between the robots and the human interactions. And the first movie, as I'm sure you already know, is about the arrival of the Autobots and the Decepticons to Earth."
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SCI-FI BRAIN INDEX
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Wednesday, February 21, 2007 |
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Sci-Fi Brain News -- February 21, 2007
New Photos of the 'Transformers' Cars
superherohype.com is reporting that ComingSoon.net reports that Bumblebee, Autobot Jazz, Autobot Ratchet and Ironhide were introduced by General Motors Corp. as it hosted its sixth annual "ten" pre-Oscar fashion event at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood.
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A Day on the 'Transformers' Set
latinoreview.com now has up some interviews and a set visit they did while on the set of the Transformers movie.
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Video Interviews: Coleman, Oka and Ventimiglia
iesb.net is reporting that the IESB caught up with our favorite Heroes on the red carpet last night at the GM event held on the Paramount lot.
In attendance were HRG better known as Jack Coleman, Masi Oka and Milo Ventimiglia. With the last episode of Heroes ending with a major cliffhanger, actually all the episodes end with a major cliffhanger, we spoke to the guys about what to expect next.
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'Heroes' H.R.G. Gets Backstory
scifi.com is reporting that Jack Coleman, who stars as the mysterious Horn-Rimmed Glasses—aka Mr. Bennet—on the hit NBC series Heroes, told SCI FI Wire that the internal implosion of his family will continue in the next episode, "Company Man," airing Feb. 26. "I think the toll is starting to wear on H.R.G., and he can no longer just roll with it and gloss it over," Coleman said in a conference call with journalists last week.
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Wilson Fell For 'The Last Mimzy'
scifi.com is reporting that Rainn Wilson, who co-stars in the upcoming SF film The Last Mimzy, told SCI FI Wire he was attracted to the project in part because the story simply touched him. Based on the Lewis Padgett short story Mimsy Were the Borogoves, The Last Mimzy spins the story of a young brother and sister (Chris O'Neil and Rhiannon Lynn Wryn) who develop amazing mental and physical powers soon after finding a strange box loaded with alien artifacts—including a talking rabbit doll named Mimzy—that they initially mistake for toys.
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SCI-FI BRAIN INDEX
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Tuesday, February 20, 2007 |
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The Dresden Files (1.04) “Rules of Engagement†– Review
By: jesuiscanadien
Nikki Slovak walks into Harry Dresden’s life, and with her comes a whole swack of trouble. She’s looking for a man who supposedly made off with her aunt’s money, in a rather nefarious plot, but Harry only finds a very dead end waiting for him. The chap he scried is found dead from fire and brimstone, and now Morgan, the High Council’s Warden, is on Harry’s case about the suspicious death. That’s not all, because poor Harry is in the doghouse big time, as Lt. Murphy shows up to rain on his already soggy parade. Murphy finds out that Nikki Slovak is really Caryn Harris; and Harry decides to tag along for the ride so he can get to the bottom of why Caryn lied and what’s really going on.
Murphy and Harry get to Caryn’s place, only to find the door unlocked, and the suspense begins. While Murphy does a room check to see if everything’s copasetic, Harry is accosted by some supernatural guy demanding to know where the chain is. Before the guy can beat it out of Harry, Murphy shoots through the lock of the door to the bedroom she was locked up in, and said guy leaps out of the window to escape. Caryn picks that moment to show up and is taken downtown by Murphy to answer some questions. When Caryn keeps mum about recent events, Harry asks if he can help get some info out of her. Murphy lets him, without figuring out that as a wizard, he is a danger to electronics, and he is able to question Caryn in peace without eavesdroppers. He doesn’t get much, but he finds out that Caryn will be protected in police custody, when Murphy admits her fate. He also gets news that Caryn’s boyfriend, “Matthew Jacobs†left his prints all over her apartment.
Using this info, Harry goes and uses his mojo to ID “Mr. Crispyâ€, and sees that it’s not Jacobs, but is someone else entirely. His DB is a dead hell spawn. Morgan shows up and Harry gives him the scoop. Morgan admits that that particular hellion belongs to a bad dude, Sirota, and takes him on a meet and greet. Sirota wants Harry to find the chain, Jacob’s chain of sin, and give it back to him in exchange for Caryn’s life. Harry isn’t so sure about making deals with the devil.
Meanwhile, Caryn is being transported to her new abode in jail, and she’s busted out by her boyfriend. When Harry finds out from Murphy, he warns Murphy not to corner Jacobs, but he can’t tell her why. Bob is, of course, chagrined by this turn of events, but Harry has other ideas. He thinks that Caryn is an innocent party in all of this, and he’s determined to save her. He scrys her location, but finds an occultic spell placed on the floor. Caryn and Matthew walk in, and Matthew tells Harry to get out. During the course of the conversation, Harry gets clues as to what Matthew and Caryn are really up to, but doesn’t figure it out until after he’s been knocked out.
When Harry gets back to his little abode, he and Bob discuss the evening’s events; and Harry looks on a map and sees where the hellion on Sirtoa’s business may’ve hidden Matthew’s chain. He goes to St. Margaret’s of the Rose to see if Jacob’s chain is there. Sure enough it is, and when Harry retrieve’s it, he gets a lesson on the miracle of love. When Harry gets home, he and Bob argue over his actions (as Harry was going to give the chain back to Sirota), and Bob tells Harry that the symbols that he saw at Matthew’s place was a spell to return a hellion back to a mortal man. Harry admits that he didn’t give back the chain. Harry then calls Matthew with the chain, and Matthew admits that he loves Caryn and wants to become mortal again to be with her. Harry tells Jacobs that he has to let her go; but Matthew and Caryn have truly fallen in love, and Caryn has forgiven Matthew for all his misdeeds. Harry realizes that he has to do something to help these star-crossed lovers.
Harry convinces Morgan that Matthew and Caryn need to be helped out, and Morgan reluctantly agrees. It is arranged to complete the ceremony, and Matthew gets his soul and mortality back. When Morgan shows up with Sirota, Sirota scorches Matthew, who is now human, in front of Morgan. Morgan tells Sirota that the High Council will not be pleased with his obvious display of disobedience, but Sirota just tells Morgan to bill him, before he saunters out. Once they know that Sirota has left, Bob reappears as Matthew, letting the viewer know that they had just bamboozled the bad guy, and Matthew and Caryn go off to live happily ever after, in deep cover, of course. Harry then goes to tell Murphy to just let sleeping dogs lie, and gives her cocoa and pie for her trouble, before he leaves to gloat in a job well-done.
This was an interesting episode, just for the fact that we meet the inscrutable Morgan and are introduced to the idea of the High Council. Even though someone who has read the books would be completely familiar with these characters and concepts, for a newbie to the universe, it wasn’t a bad introduction. Morgan is a riveting guy. He can’t be seen by the uninitiated, but is physical enough to be able to open doors. Pretty nifty, if you ask me.
The concept of hellions or hell spawn, while they do have a long history in western beliefs, were given a particular identity by the writers as being human-looking, but with a mission to debauch and convert others to their evil way of life. I found it engaging to see how their powers manifested in this universe, and the writers’ concept that love could break through the darkness of true evil was a different take as well. The writers made it seem that hellions were roped into this lifestyle and yearned for release, but only true love and forgiveness could provide them with the impetus to finally escape their servitude.
While Murphy was sidelined by Harry’s inability to talk openly about the situation; seeing her have to work within the confines of her job, and not be able to pull Harry out like some trick pony was fun. So many times I see on television, shows that pull out the supernatural source and use them like a fortune-teller at a Halloween party, and having Murphy unable to get ready information was a refreshing change of pace.
The only issue I have with this episode was that Sirota didn’t seem evil enough. He just seemed like some butthead you worked with in your office that you wish could be fired but had seniority. I’d like to see more evil, along the lines of Sylar on “Heroesâ€, than the patsy I witnessed here. Evil should nauseate, not amuse.
This show is improving with each new episode, and I have to give it an 8.0 out of a possible 10.0. Here’s looking forward to more developments in Harry’s universe, and hopefully it will get even better.
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Tuesday, February 20, 2007 |
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Roswell (2.19) “Baby, It’s You†– Review
By: jesuiscanadien
The day after Max and Tess did the deed at the observatory, we see Max wake up in the arms of his new lover. Max brings Tess back to the Valenti household, and as Kyle sneaks a peek at the lovebirds kissing goodnight, Sheriff Valenti busts up the couple in an awkward moment. Once Tess is back in her room, she is feeling her stomach, and realizes that she’s pregnant. A definite “Enquiring minds want to know†moment.
Meanwhile, Liz has gone over to Maria’s to tell her about her discovery regarding Alex’s trip to Sweden. Maria wonders who Leanna really is, and Liz tells her that she wants to find out, but she needs help on this one.
The next morning, Isabel is in the kitchen when Max walks in, raining on her parade. As Max tries to open up to her, she provides an unhappy ear. Isabel is completely sarcastic to Max’s confession of his sexual relations with Tess. She tells him that she couldn’t care less about his feelings because he doesn’t care about hers, and walks out.
Later that morning at school, some awkwardness ensues, as Tess tries to tell Max about the pregnancy, but they get interrupted by Michael. Kyle, Isabel, and Michael all stand to one side, watching the couple intently, so Tess tells Max that she’ll talk to him that night.
Isabel goes and sits by the memorial for Alex by the athletic field, musing about things, when Kyle comes up and gives her a talk to pull her out of her moping mood. He tells her to have some fun with her powers. They indulge in one of Kyle’s fantasies, but then move on to torturing Max, because Isabel is still very angry with him.
As the mayhem gets revved up, Maria is on the prowl to find out the source of Alex’s emails regarding his trip. She enlists the help of one of the computer geeks at school to assist her.
Tess tells Max about her pregnancy. Max doesn’t look thrilled, but then what red-blooded male is thrilled about unexpected pregnancy? Liz comes over to speak to Tess about mind-control, but Max interrupts her conversation. Max then gets belligerent with Liz, but instead of kneeing him where it counts, she gets defensive and asks to leave. I would’ve kicked him.
Maria comes over to Liz’s to tell her that Alex’s emails from Sweden actually came from Las Cruces. The emails came from the University of New Mexico in Las Cruces. They decide to go there to uncover what went on with Alex. The next day, as they are leaving, Michael confronts Maria, and gets her to tell him where they’re going, with the proviso that he won’t tell Max. He tells Maria that at the first sign of trouble, to call him so he can protect her.
Later at school, Max and Michael are getting their yearbooks, and see the obvious prank Isabel and Kyle have pulled on Max. Max tells Michael that he has a lot on his plate, and on the basketball court admits that he and Tess have had sex, and now Tess is expecting. Michael is obviously upset, but Max feels hamstrung as he thinks he can’t tell the queen (to his king) what to do.
Over in Las Cruces, Maria and Liz are looking for clues as to why Alex was there. A guy, who knew Alex as “Rayâ€, tells the girls that Alex never left his room, but once he saw him come out of a building where the super computer is stored. He tells Maria that Alex was pretty creepy in how he didn’t even acknowledge the guy when they were only five feet apart at four in the morning one night.
Max and Tess are in the pod chamber in the desert, and Max is trying to explain that he’ll support any decision Tess makes about the baby. Tess tells him that she’s keeping it, and Max is understandably freaked out. Just before an argument can get started, Tess has some difficulty and Max sees the baby’s hand protruding from her stomach. He places his hand over it and finds out that they’re having a baby boy.
Back in Las Cruces, Maria and Liz stumble upon a Nelly Furtado concert, and while they are listening to a song, Liz spots “Leannaâ€, and Maria and Liz runs after the girl to find out what’s going on. Before they can catch up to her, she disappears and Michael comes up to them wanting to know what’s up.
The next day, at school, Kyle pulls the fire alarm, and as everyone else exits the classroom, Isabel uses her powers to keep Max glued to the floor. Max looks over at Isabel, who is watching him with cold eyes, and some meaningful looks pass between them.
In Las Cruces, Liz has enlisted the help of one of the computer science Profs in finding out what Alex was up to regarding the super computer. He tells Liz that the super computer is used mostly for decrypting things, and after some digging, he finds that Alex was working on decrypting the alien code. Maria and Michael drop in before the Prof finds the work, and Michael tells Liz that she needs to go home, as it’s getting too dangerous. They’ve found out that “Leanna†is really Jennifer Coleman, and she’s a student on campus. Once they find out that Alex emailed her the docs that he had decrypted, they go over to her dorm room to talk to her, but she’s left to go home for a few days. Michael, Maria, and Liz finagle their way into the room and find what they’re looking for. A rental notice for a place just outside Las Cruces.
Back in Roswell, Tess is having difficulty with the pregnancy, and Max figures out that the baby is in trouble because it cannot deal with the atmosphere that is on Earth. Max tries to help Tess as much as he can, but is hamstrung as to what he should do. He can’t read the book and without it, they can’t get back home.
Meanwhile, Maria, Liz, and Michael have found the house that was rented to Jennifer, and an alien defensive device was found, which Michael used his powers to get outside the house. After it blows up, Liz sits down at the computer left behind and prints off the email that Alex sent. It is a translation of the book, and they take it back to Roswell with them.
Before Michael can bring Max the translation, Max is found by Isabel in the backyard, having a breakdown over what his life has become. They go and talk, and Isabel produces a waltz down memory lane, as she apologizes for being awful to him. Michael then rides up to them on his bike and gives Max the transcript. Max reads it and tells Isabel that it’s instructions on how they can go home.
Liz and Maria have almost nailed who killed Alex, as they work on finding out what Alex was really up to during the time he was supposedly in Sweden. I remember when I first saw this episode, I wasn’t sure who killed Alex, but I was really peeved that Max let his hormones do the talking and the walking with the whole sleeping with Tess scenario. I still think Max was a fool to get involved with Tess, as she is so obviously a conniving witch.
Plus, Isabel is not getting a fair shake, but instead is being manipulated into feeling badly for Max, when she should be using the situation to get the heck outta Dodge. Max is at a weak point, and she could use that to her favour, if she plays it right. Sure, it’s cynical and maybe a bit evil, but Max needs a kick in the head. Simply because he’s being such an obvious ass; and as well, because he’s allowing a woman, albeit a sultry conniving one, to manipulate his decision making. He’s got me so peeved over his idiocy; I’d like to see him hanged in the village square for the crime of being a supreme moron.
I liked this episode as it gets us that much closer to the unveiling of the prime suspect. I’m pretty curious to find out who used Alex so heinously, and I have a strong suspicion, heck I remember, who the bad guy is. I want this to wrap up, as I can’t remember how they ended up figuring it all out, but I remember how it concluded. Think along the lines of “if these are your friends, I’d hate to see who your enemies are†scenarios.
The fact that no parent ever wonders why their kids are skipping school, or crossing county lines, is still bewildering to me. I realize that teenagers get around, but most parents wonder where the heck their children are at night, right? If you don’t, I’d expect Child Welfare to show up on your doorstep. Roswell blurs the lines of parental responsibility to epic proportions, and as much as I try to get over it, it still bugs the bejeezus out of me.
I am looking forward to a timely conclusion to this mystery, and hopefully a satisfactory ending regarding the untimely pregnancy of Tess. She bugs me to the nth degree. Overall, this episode rates 8.0 out of 10.0.
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Tuesday, February 20, 2007 |
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Sci-Fi Brain News -- February 20, 2007
Exclusive: Ioan Gruffudd on 'Fantastic Four 2'
superherohype.com is reporting that ComingSoon.net has posted an exclusive new interview with Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer star Ioan Gruffudd (AKA Mr. Fantastic), in which he talks about the superhero sequel.
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The 33rd Annual Saturn Award Nominations
Head on over to the Saturn Awards website to see who all was nominated and for what.
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'Lost' Move Hurts Ratings
darkhorizons.com is reporting that a later time slot and fan frustration over ABC's "Lost" is seeing the hit show undergoing the inevitable erosion that comes with serials that drag out the action too long.
Wednesday's 10pm episode pulled in 12.8 million viewers, down two million viewers from last week's return from a three-month hiatus, and a new series low for the show.
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Fireworks Due For 'Heroes' H.R.G.
scifi.com is reporting that Jack Coleman, who stars as the mysterious Mr. Bennet (aka Horn-Rimmed Glasses) on the hit NBC series Heroes, told SCI FI Wire that fans can look forward to more emotional fireworks between his character and Bennet's perceptive and distrustful daughter, the invincible cheerleader Claire (Hayden Panettiere). "Any allegiance on this show is subject to change," Coleman teased in a conference call with journalists on Feb. 16. "Certainly, the relationship between H.R.G. and Claire has been very strained lately. In episode 17 ('Company Man,' airing Feb. 26), there is a crisis situation that brings it to a head and possibly a temporary resolution. But I suspect the relationship between Claire and H.R.G. is one of the core values, so to speak, of this show. As twisted as the relationship is, they've said so many lies to each other, but ultimately I think they do really love each other, and there is a tremendous bond there. It's one of the bedrocks they build story on, so I can't imagine they will be at each other's throats and trying to kill each other. I think it's much more of a domestic issue rather than a superhero issue."
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SCI-FI BRAIN INDEX
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Friday, February 16, 2007 |
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Battlestar Galactica 3.14 "The Woman King" - Review
By: ashercross
Boy, what a disappointment. We skip a week graciously, thinking, according to the previews, that we'll finally get to Baltar's trial, an event that will almost surely be entertaining. Unfortunately, the discussion about Baltar lasts for an entire scene, as we're subjected to another, unrelated, episodic story revolving around Helo. I've always been a mild fan of the character, but his role at the forefront here, while it fits with his bleeding heart personality, was incredibly boring in a dull medical procedural that didn't work even on its own terms.
On the bright side, we have Bruce Davison, of "X-Men" and "Willard" fame, as well as "The Triangle," the Sci Fi Channel miniseries of a couple of years ago, guesting on this episode, which must have been a coup for them. He does well with the one-dimensional role he's given, of a half-heartedly villainous doctor; however, the story in and of itself doesn't make sense, or even fit with the nature of the show.
How did this plague suddenly break out on a group of spaceships? Why haven't we heard of this other doctor when we've been led to believe that Doc Cottle is the one remaining doctor left in the fleet? If he was committing all of these atrocities, why didn't anyone else catch on, and why did Sagittarons accept his help after what he supposedly did on New Caprica? There are so many questions to ask about this character and this situation, all of which go seemingly unanswered. I simply found myself doubting whether or not I even cared about the main plot.
The scenes that didn't have anything to do with the hokey plague or Sag-Kevorkian were the most interesting; the discussion aboard Colonial One with Zarek and Roslin regarding Baltar's trial left us wanting to actually see it, and it was good to see Head Baltar again, advising Caprica Six the same way she advises him in his head. (Hopefully we'll get an answer to that one someday.)
Unfortunately, they drowned in a sea of "he knows something bad's happening, but he is doubted," which has been played out so many times in sci-fi – to be truthful, it reminded me of those first-season Next Generation episodes where Wesley knew that the new visitor is a space monster, but no one on the crew believes him, and he turns out to be right. Yeah, those were boring too.
This is making me fear for another slump similar to the one this show experience the middle-late phase of last season – one-shot episodes of uninteresting stories, day-in-the-fleet type things (which only work if played for comedy, I promise) which simply put us to sleep. The next episode, which is apparently a flashback episode to Adama and his wife, doesn't make me optimistic for the future of this show. The only justification I can make is that they make these crap episodes so they can save the story and the budget for the big plot episodes, the premieres and finales. Well, BSG did just fine with a 13 ep first season; maybe they should just go back to that and concentrate on the stories we care about.
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Friday, February 16, 2007 |
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Lost (3.8) "Flashes Before Your Eyes" – Review
By: jiggyj
So what do you get when you take Desmond – one of the quickly fan favorite rising Lost characters – and give him an important flashback that isn't a flashback like we've ever seen before, and add in a shocking twist at the end to catch us by surprise? Do I even really need to say this was a great episode of Lost?
After saving Claire from drowning on the beach, Hurley and Charlie are determined to how he knew to save her from the lightning and how to save Claire on the beach. By getting him drunk, they think they can get the answers from him. After attacking Charlie for him calling him a coward, we learn what appears to have happened.
It seems that after he turned the hatch key in last season's finale, he went back in time to relive life before he was on the island and was still living with Penny. Things seem to be working well for Desmond, but he is haunted by thoughts of the island, seeing Charlie playing the guitar on the street, etc. Eventually Desmond meets up with an old woman who tells him that you cant change destiny and what happens has to happen, meaning he can't change the present so he ends up not being on the island. All of this chat ultimately led Desmond to waking up on the island and finally revealing in the end to Charlie what he has learned, which is that you can't save someone who is meant to die because it will still come looking for them. And it wasn't Claire he was saving both of these times, but rather Charlie.
It was a really interesting episode that was almost solely confined to this flashback that he was living. However, was it really a flashback? Did Desmond have his path crossing that of Charlie on the street, or was it rather an early indicator that Charlie was the one he was constantly thinking of saying. Was the old woman really an old woman who had the sight like Desmond and knew what he had to do, or was it his subconscious talking to him? It will perhaps be one of the most debated episodes in some time, as people pry and reach to find what the truth is. If he "did" travel into the past, how exactly does his flashback time traveling looking work? He missed the soccer game by a day, he saved Charlie from the lightning the first time by a good two hours, but yet here the event was actually happening then. It seems whatever is happening to Desmond is quite random and he can't control it at all.
The reason the episode worked so well is because of the love on display between Desmond and Penny. It was sad to see this man so obviously in love with this woman, and yet knowing that he'd have to break her heart because he had to go back to the island. Another moment that was rough was watching Penny's dad acting like they were going to drink to his asking for his hand in marriage, only to tell him he wasn't and never will be good enough for this daughter. As a viewer, it probably pissed you off as much as me, and you just wanted Desmond to jump him.
I love the fact that our thoughts about Claire getting killed off weren't true, but rather Charlie is the one destined. Charlie was once interesting, but he hasn't really been that of recent, with such sorry flashback episodes as the one where he was in the diaper for the ad. Knowing that Charlie is destined to die has instantly made him interesting again, as we will be watching to see how Charlie adapts to the news, wondering if he believes him, and if so what will he do, for instance, to spend as much time with Claire as he can. It will be nice to see where it goes from here.
While watching it, I thought I had an idea, which I guess is still possible if Desmond did indeed travel through time after the detonation or if he can do it again if so. Many wondered how Penny knew to look for Desmond on an island with an electronic signal anomaly. I thought it would happen this episode, but could it not be possible that Desmond told her to look for the detonation anomaly by traveling into the past later into the season. Another thing interesting is that, unless I'm mistaken, I'm almost 90 – 95% sure that the picture on Penny's dresser we see in the second season finale is the same one Desmond and them took this episode and he has on the island. Did the photographer give them two? I can't remember seeing it, or did he take it with him when coming back to the island, always had it, or does he get it from her later. Will be interesting to see.
9.3 out of 10
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Friday, February 16, 2007 |
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Sci-Fi Brain News -- February 16, 2007
'Hulk' Smash Canada?
superherohype.com is reporting that according to Hollywood North Report, Marvel Studios has been scouting locations to set up shop in either Toronto or Vancouver. The budget is said to be in the $125 million range. The first film carried a budget of $137 million and earned $245 million worldwide.
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Michael Bay Talks 'Transformers'
rottentomatoes.com is reporting that with his "Transformers" movie about to move into a worldwide full-court press push, director Michael Bay sat down with MTV's Josh Horowitz to discuss his "robots in disguise" epic.
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'Grindhouse' Trailer
yahoo.com now has up the newest trailer for Grindhouse
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Nichols Is One Of 'Them'
scifi.com is reporting that Rachel Nichols (Alias) has been cast in Fox's SF drama pilot Them, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Them, from CBS Paramount Television and director Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines), revolves around an extraterrestrial sleeper cell.
Nichols will play an all-American beauty who works for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. Her series credits include ABC's spy series and Fox's The Inside.
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SCI-FI BRAIN INDEX
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Thursday, February 15, 2007 |
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Brainwaves #3 - Podcast
You wanted the best, you got the best, the hottest podcast in the world - Brainwaves!
This week on Brainwaves you can catch our guys talking about the latest sci-fi news, sci-fi television shows, and much more
You can download the podcast or listen to it streaming here: BRAINWAVES - PODCAST
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Thursday, February 15, 2007 |
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Heroes 115: Run! - Review
By: zotquix
So I'm going to try to get a little caught up with this weeks entry, doing a double shot of, uh, reviewage. Yeah. I said reviewage.
This episode took things up tempo, and I liked. I liked a lot. Yes, we are in February sweeps so, things may not last, but I'm game for enjoying it whilst they do. Really, this episode does such a good job of moving things in the right direction that it would be difficult to unravel that in coming weeks.
A question that is beginning to be more and more relevant is, 'Who is Mr. Linderman?' While having a cast member who has already had screen time turn out to be characters who have been talked about is a neat writing trick, that doesn't seem likely to happen here. We can pretty much rule out all of the male characters we are currently acquainted with on 'Heroes' as candidates for being Mr. Linderman as they either have interacted with him, or were otherwise engaged when the underworld boss was giving directions to his various minions. Furthermore, Peter Petrelli is a credible character and he seems to believe Linderman is a real person. While I wouldn't necessarily trust anything Nathan says or does, this awareness by Peter rules out a great many possibilities (such as Nathan himself being Linderman). I could see Nathan faking, well, everything (cell phone calls, orders given, etc.), but it seems unlikely that Peter wouldn't know about it.
Actually, Nathan redeemed himself a little. Despite his mother's council (yet another ambiguous character) he flew down to see Claire's birth mother. He came so very, very close to doing the right thing, that I almost started believing in him again. Also, Claire's reaction was so perfectly apt for who she is. Teetering on the edge of revealing herself, nearly drawing the attention of the man who is her birth father, but backing off at the last moment. So much can be accomplished by throwing a rock.
I think I may have wandered a bit though. What I was going to say is, part of what makes "Run!" great, is that the answer to the Linderman question must be imminent, unless Ando is rescued or waylaid before meeting the shadowy and powerful figure. Even though 'Hope' at first blush is kind of retread of a character (does this show need any more apparently ditzy blonds?), I liked Ando and Hiro's dialogue, with Ando quoting things Hiro has told him. And I liked Ando's heroics. It was a good adventure and comic all at the same time. And as someone great once said, "Dying is easy, Comedy is hard." This point is driven home every week after I watch Studio 60, a show that I want so badly to rise above merely average. But again I digress.
I liked Matt Parkman. I liked his story. It has action, it is exciting. We may be getting a little too much weekly thrown off a building (or in this case out of a window), but I like how he fell on the sign. Nice effects or stuntwork. The following may sound like a criticism, but when I say Matt's story this week is more comic bookish than his graphic novel perp chase, I mean it as a compliment. Writers, give us more of this with all the characters, please! Reflection and meditation can be profound in comic books, but usually it happens between or while the superheroes are battling insurmountable odds with their fantastic powers. Also, Niki/Jessica works perfectly as the ambiguously bad villain character. I have no regrets about seeing her as a conflicted killing machine. She doesn't need redemption, she just needs to overcome her darker half, which means that she can act two dimensional even while we know that there is more to her. Brilliantly written and flawlessly carried off by Ali Larter.
And while I'm giving props for acting, Ashley Crow is again incredible in her eeriness as Sandra Bennet. It is moving and distressing and actually makes us feel for Claire even more than we may have in previous episodes. It is a sign of true skill when your performance actually deepens the characters around you. And that's what this did. I worried for Mrs. Bennet. I nearly shed a tear for Claire.
I'm giving this week a 9. The more I think about Mrs. Bennet, the more I am reminded of the episode 'The Body' in Buffy The Vampire Slayer (a powerful, piece of television where Buffy's mother dies, the vision and execution were brilliant and the story incomparably tragic), and the episodes leading up to it. Heck, Mrs. Bennet even looks a little like Mrs. Summers. I'm not saying there is anything derivative here, rather great minds think alike. However, 'The Body' reminds me how high you can set the bar. Heroes may never get a 10 from me, as I suspect the sort of artistry that created 'The Body' wouldn't make it onto a big three network, but I'll be happy for more attempts like this.
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Next-Gen-Gamer
Feb 25 '07 1:22 am PST
Game of the Day - 2.25.07
NGG Says: I can't believe we have to wait (probably) until December 31st for this game! ...
PikaPal13X
Feb 24 '07 11:52 pm PST
10 Best: Girls of Gaming
Thought I'd forgotten about this, hadn't you? Tonight, we take a look at the 10 Best Girls...
Erik-IGN
Feb 24 '07 5:34 pm PST
A Message From Myself
To myself. It turns out there are more Erik Brudvigs out there than I thought. This one...
MassiveGameDude
Feb 24 '07 4:52 pm PST
Are you psychic?
The day Nintendo released the Everybody Votes Channel I downloaded it. Since that time, I have...
doglikepaul
Feb 24 '07 12:09 pm PST
Would you buy this???
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MeRob
Feb 24 '07 10:42 am PST
A painfully boring week ends with snow and a bad cold and a strange dream.
It has been over a full week that my back has been really hurting. I missed two days of work,...
Flash1103
Feb 24 '07 9:05 am PST
To all you guitarists out there...
I started up a new feature on IGN's Guitar Board call Rate a Guitarist. Now I know the title...
Matt-IGN
Feb 23 '07 8:48 pm PST
Something Wicked This Way Comes
It's the weekend and I have a bunch of stuff to do. Not real stuff, but various games to play...
BrianLo
Feb 23 '07 7:47 pm PST
Orcarina of Time, is it worth buying again?
With Zelda Orcarina of Time scheduled for the virtual console this coming Monday, February...
sng-ign
Feb 23 '07 4:04 pm PST
Blog Wars
For those of you who missed out on this week's hurrah on the blogs, it all started with...
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