Alight in the last week of 2009 the BBC broadcast its remake of a classic novel adaptation, and with that phrase fear was born. It was a remake of Day of the Triffids, a harmless little story with a strong environmental message about how disrespecting nature will be mankind's downfall. Let's face facts; it wasn't good, putting it nicely. It was, in fact, bloody awful. At the time it was corny, now it's just plain ludicrous.
Here's a review I posed on SFX.co.uk in response to their blog article:-
It threw every kind of disaster there was into the mix, mass panic, chaos, the planet blinded, plane crashes, selfish people, murder and then included, as an after thought, the Triffids. As impressive as multiple Armageddon is it made no sense. It was like watching a badly made 70's disaster movie, that had gotten mistakenly edited with three others and given modern effects on a budget of three pound fifty, a mars bar and some lint found down the back of the BBC couch.
Now I admit I never had a chance to watch the original adaptation, and I'm too busy with Lensman at the moment to open the book but I'm sure at least one of these elements could have been dropped. Giving more time to the Triffids and maybe the characters. Giving us something to care about, or indeed accept. That was another problem.
I can suspend my disbelief that there is a poisonous, man eating, plant that can shoot a stinger out that kills and drags the victim to the root core. Now I can also buy into the idea that electricity stuns it. My problem comes when it can "walk", hunt and even communicate with other plants and then saying it was all thanks to genetic engineering. Nope, sorry, not accepting that.
Then, as if just to make us not care in slightest about the "sighted people", every group of them can't give a crap about the MAN EATING PLANTS and are far too busy acting like total prats!
I shouldn't have been surprised. I mean we had evidence everyone in this world were idiots in the first two minutes. First we have the Greenpeace activist who knows that Triffids are alive but somehow doesn't know that they are going to eat him! How about the solar flare or whatever, did no one stop and think? No seriously, how the flying hell did no one worry about it. First of all it would knock our satellite communication network into a cocked hat. Second I don't care how much better for the environment triffoil was. There are great gaping holes and weak points in the Ozone layer that a solar flair would cut through like a knife through hot butter and we'd get roasted.
Finally as if that wasn't enough a Solar emission on this scale could only mean one thing, that our sun was becoming unstable.
Nothing to worry about? The freaking SUN is going to collapse, turning this world into an ice ball and people were having a party?
I've gone on for too long but the Triffids remake was, I'm sorry to say, a disappointment.
Monday, 4 January 2010
Friday, 1 January 2010
The tenth Doctor's final hour (and twelve minutes)
Doctor Who, The End of Time. Let's be honest I was going to review it. I'm also going to take this chance to review one of the more controversial Dr Who head writers, Russell T. Davis
Alright then, onwards and upwards. Reviewing RTD's stories is difficult because on some levels it works and on others they... don't. As an action adventure story it's brilliant; laser fights, drama, spaceships, the whole universe in danger. It all coming down to a personal sacrifice only a true hero can make.
However on the other hand, just like every epic there is a great big fat reset button hovering there. This time, with twice the number of enemies we have twice the number of buttons. Still, while irritating, at least the Reset only solves the problem and leaves the emotional resonance, but there are other problems. When all the Doctor has to do is find the button (IE Christmas Invasion) it's not that difficult. That means that, especially in two part episodes, the second half is mostly padding.
The whole spaceship missile sequence, Donna, the last half hour, all that with the "Mysterious woman" All of it padding simply stuck on to make the whole thing more EPIC. That is my first problem with this Grand Final, too much padding and practically everything else comes from that.
My next problem was sort of fixed, but only if, like me, you know Who lore backwards. Evil Time Lords. Why? seriously. Before the Time Lords were adversaries not villains. It made them opponents, but philosophically. Making almost the whole race go power mad misses the whole point of the Time Lords. They are beyond good and evil, beyond power. An important foot note to the phase "power corrupts" is that "those who seek power do not deserve it". Time Lords don't seek power because they don't need to. They have all the power they need with practically total mastery over time itself. As such making the Time Lords evil simply because they had power and knowledge is a massive failure to understand just who and what they are.
Luckily this is solved by one word. "Rassilon". Filling in the gaps the Time Lords called on some of the greatest figures in their history to help lead them during the time war (hence the Masters resurrection mentioned in "Last of the Time Lords"). Rassilon, founder of Time Lord society, would be a logical choice to lead them through the war. Rassilon, however, was not quite the hero he was reported to be. He was ruthless with his enemies, heartless, cruel, even when it wasn't necessary. It's entirely possible that this dictator, who murdered his rivals and friends with equal abandon, twisted that which he created. If Dalton's character was indeed Rassilon you can ignore this problem. Only IF he was supposed to be Rassilon. The end credits list him as Lord President
Speaking of why did we need to name check President Obama in the first part. If Davis had just used the double and given him a name like Brian Rhamer I think the idea of a black President would have been close enough to get the point across without the viewer rolling his eyes at the obvious fake.
Davis also has a habit of including pointless humour, like the restraint chair down the stairs. He claims (in an interview immediately after the show) it was because of his need to interject humour into his last story. This is about as jarring as panning down during Grand Moff Tarkin's speech about destroying Alderran and seeing that Peter Cushing is wearing slippers. We want drama, acting and story. Not cheap jokes to plump up the story.
Problem five, Donna was sorely under used. I made a few predictions when Waters of Mars broadcast about how Donna would be an important part. She wasn't, just padding. I don't want to say it but if she had more to do, been more involved in the resurrection of the Master it would have had a lot more impact. She could have been searching for just what had happened during the months she forgot, leading her to the homeless resurrected Master who recognised what happened and used her as a weapon against the Doctor. It would have helped the actions have consequences theme that RTD has kept running through the show.
Out right ripping off other Sci-Fi shows is not called paying homage. Wilf in a laser gun turret is lifted straight from Star Wars, which belongs to a different branch of science fiction. Doctor Who is intelligent Sci-Fi, using brains and wits over brute force. It's not an action series, or a soppy soap opera, but a horror based drama. out right stealing from other shows (that see Doctor Who as an influence) is a bad idea. Not least taking from Stargate, a show so steeped in it's own mythology that it's tying itself in knots.
Ascension, as described in Stargate, is transcending the physical form and becoming pure energy. It's supposed to be the end goal of Evolution. Existing as pure thought, without needing a body to sustain it. Now this idea, while it's become popular in the last few years, has been there since Darwin and before. As ghost stories, heaven, life after death. Because it's not a new idea someone has thought about why Time Lords don't, or can't. The reason given, mostly in fan circles at least, that Time Lords haven't Ascended is that they, as a people, are far more intertwined with time and space than we are. They need their physical bodies and because of that can't ascend. Admittedly this is once again totally fan based, but it makes sense. Unlike Rassilon's plan which, to be honest, was totally crazy.
The "Mysterious Woman" was one hell of a wasted opportunity. Even if it was a late addition to the script something more could have been made of her. Making it a Time Lady who voted against Rassilon was pointless. It should have been either the Visionary (the mad old bat who scribbled on paper), which would have made the most sense, or the White Guardian. A representation of balance in the universe that foresaw the damage that unlocking the Time War would do, but as it has to work though a medium chose Wilf to prod the Doctor in the right direction.
Finally, in the end as he's saying goodbye, there is one thing missing. A single shot in between each scene of the Doctor's hand, white knuckled and shaking on a rail in the TARDIS. Clawing himself up, forcing himself to keep going just that moment more. To close every door behind him, to say those goodbyes, no matter the pain. Just something to show it was killing him by degrees not all in one at the end.
The End of Time is great though. It is fun, an action adventure with character moments that wrench your heart out. Stunning set pieces and ideas that really need to be explored somehow. I would love to know more about the Time War. Every crumb of information (or the banquet we get here) has imagery that has my mind spinning. The acting here blows anything else out of the water, the resonance with the audience is beautiful.
Crimmins puts on a performance that should win him some sort of award, I don't care if I have to go out there and make it myself, he should get some sort of recognition.
Tennent leaves the TARDIS as he came to it, a glorious chorus of madness and energy. Out acting everyone else out there with style. He really is one of the best Doctors. Thanks to him I can ignore the faults I see with RTD's writing. I can be amazed, entertained, enthralled, amused, saddened, gut-punched and even still cry inside.
Goodbye David, I'll miss you and so will a lot of people. Matt Smith, you have a big pair of shoes to fill, but I think you can do it. With Steven Moffet, the best writer of the new era, behind you I'm sure you'll win a place in the Doctor hall of fame soon. Just remember David's there already.
Alright then, onwards and upwards. Reviewing RTD's stories is difficult because on some levels it works and on others they... don't. As an action adventure story it's brilliant; laser fights, drama, spaceships, the whole universe in danger. It all coming down to a personal sacrifice only a true hero can make.
However on the other hand, just like every epic there is a great big fat reset button hovering there. This time, with twice the number of enemies we have twice the number of buttons. Still, while irritating, at least the Reset only solves the problem and leaves the emotional resonance, but there are other problems. When all the Doctor has to do is find the button (IE Christmas Invasion) it's not that difficult. That means that, especially in two part episodes, the second half is mostly padding.
The whole spaceship missile sequence, Donna, the last half hour, all that with the "Mysterious woman" All of it padding simply stuck on to make the whole thing more EPIC. That is my first problem with this Grand Final, too much padding and practically everything else comes from that.
My next problem was sort of fixed, but only if, like me, you know Who lore backwards. Evil Time Lords. Why? seriously. Before the Time Lords were adversaries not villains. It made them opponents, but philosophically. Making almost the whole race go power mad misses the whole point of the Time Lords. They are beyond good and evil, beyond power. An important foot note to the phase "power corrupts" is that "those who seek power do not deserve it". Time Lords don't seek power because they don't need to. They have all the power they need with practically total mastery over time itself. As such making the Time Lords evil simply because they had power and knowledge is a massive failure to understand just who and what they are.
Luckily this is solved by one word. "Rassilon". Filling in the gaps the Time Lords called on some of the greatest figures in their history to help lead them during the time war (hence the Masters resurrection mentioned in "Last of the Time Lords"). Rassilon, founder of Time Lord society, would be a logical choice to lead them through the war. Rassilon, however, was not quite the hero he was reported to be. He was ruthless with his enemies, heartless, cruel, even when it wasn't necessary. It's entirely possible that this dictator, who murdered his rivals and friends with equal abandon, twisted that which he created. If Dalton's character was indeed Rassilon you can ignore this problem. Only IF he was supposed to be Rassilon. The end credits list him as Lord President
Speaking of why did we need to name check President Obama in the first part. If Davis had just used the double and given him a name like Brian Rhamer I think the idea of a black President would have been close enough to get the point across without the viewer rolling his eyes at the obvious fake.
Davis also has a habit of including pointless humour, like the restraint chair down the stairs. He claims (in an interview immediately after the show) it was because of his need to interject humour into his last story. This is about as jarring as panning down during Grand Moff Tarkin's speech about destroying Alderran and seeing that Peter Cushing is wearing slippers. We want drama, acting and story. Not cheap jokes to plump up the story.
Problem five, Donna was sorely under used. I made a few predictions when Waters of Mars broadcast about how Donna would be an important part. She wasn't, just padding. I don't want to say it but if she had more to do, been more involved in the resurrection of the Master it would have had a lot more impact. She could have been searching for just what had happened during the months she forgot, leading her to the homeless resurrected Master who recognised what happened and used her as a weapon against the Doctor. It would have helped the actions have consequences theme that RTD has kept running through the show.
Out right ripping off other Sci-Fi shows is not called paying homage. Wilf in a laser gun turret is lifted straight from Star Wars, which belongs to a different branch of science fiction. Doctor Who is intelligent Sci-Fi, using brains and wits over brute force. It's not an action series, or a soppy soap opera, but a horror based drama. out right stealing from other shows (that see Doctor Who as an influence) is a bad idea. Not least taking from Stargate, a show so steeped in it's own mythology that it's tying itself in knots.
Ascension, as described in Stargate, is transcending the physical form and becoming pure energy. It's supposed to be the end goal of Evolution. Existing as pure thought, without needing a body to sustain it. Now this idea, while it's become popular in the last few years, has been there since Darwin and before. As ghost stories, heaven, life after death. Because it's not a new idea someone has thought about why Time Lords don't, or can't. The reason given, mostly in fan circles at least, that Time Lords haven't Ascended is that they, as a people, are far more intertwined with time and space than we are. They need their physical bodies and because of that can't ascend. Admittedly this is once again totally fan based, but it makes sense. Unlike Rassilon's plan which, to be honest, was totally crazy.
The "Mysterious Woman" was one hell of a wasted opportunity. Even if it was a late addition to the script something more could have been made of her. Making it a Time Lady who voted against Rassilon was pointless. It should have been either the Visionary (the mad old bat who scribbled on paper), which would have made the most sense, or the White Guardian. A representation of balance in the universe that foresaw the damage that unlocking the Time War would do, but as it has to work though a medium chose Wilf to prod the Doctor in the right direction.
Finally, in the end as he's saying goodbye, there is one thing missing. A single shot in between each scene of the Doctor's hand, white knuckled and shaking on a rail in the TARDIS. Clawing himself up, forcing himself to keep going just that moment more. To close every door behind him, to say those goodbyes, no matter the pain. Just something to show it was killing him by degrees not all in one at the end.
The End of Time is great though. It is fun, an action adventure with character moments that wrench your heart out. Stunning set pieces and ideas that really need to be explored somehow. I would love to know more about the Time War. Every crumb of information (or the banquet we get here) has imagery that has my mind spinning. The acting here blows anything else out of the water, the resonance with the audience is beautiful.
Crimmins puts on a performance that should win him some sort of award, I don't care if I have to go out there and make it myself, he should get some sort of recognition.
Tennent leaves the TARDIS as he came to it, a glorious chorus of madness and energy. Out acting everyone else out there with style. He really is one of the best Doctors. Thanks to him I can ignore the faults I see with RTD's writing. I can be amazed, entertained, enthralled, amused, saddened, gut-punched and even still cry inside.
Goodbye David, I'll miss you and so will a lot of people. Matt Smith, you have a big pair of shoes to fill, but I think you can do it. With Steven Moffet, the best writer of the new era, behind you I'm sure you'll win a place in the Doctor hall of fame soon. Just remember David's there already.
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Being Human
In this day and age Vampires, Werewolves and Ghosts are popular. We've got True Blood and the Vampire Diaries on TV, Twilight and a whole slew of cuddly Vampire films. All of which just seem to exist to annoy Buffy Fans and those of us that have read Bram Stokers Dracula.
Anyway in the middle of all this BBC Three came out with a story about three flat mates caught in the middle of events they weren't in anyway prepared for. Of course the three are a Ghost, a Werewolf and a Vampire. The Ghost is brand spanking new, as such she has a very limited knowledge about what she can do. The Vampire, disgusted after years of brutal death from his own hands, is trying to give up his blood sucking ways. Finally the Werewolf just wants a normal life again. All together they are just trying to be human again.
It sounds like a simple story but it's not. There is a hell of a lot of things going on behind it all. A planned Vampire Armageddon, a smug murderer, the meaning of death. That's just what comes to mind, and I'm not giving away any of the hints for the second year or spoilers.
Here's a trailer for the second year.
And the best of the three prequels
As shows go this is one of the better ones. It's a short, complex, character driven drama with a rich background to draw on. It has a scope and depth few others have. It deals with wider issues on an adult basis. It's not a teenage romance or a badly acted supernatural soap opera. With some shows fantasy elements like vampires are tacked on. You can remove them and, after a few tweaks, the show wouldn't really have any difference.
A good example is True Blood, which uses hatred for vampires as a thinly disguised metaphor for racism. Making the romance between the two leads another metaphor. Take the Vampire element out and you could just do it as a straight drama. You could even swap them for aliens and there wouldn't be much difference. Being Human explores vampires, werewolves and the supernatural. It just wouldn't work otherwise.
So in the new year we have eight new episodes. If you're in the UK tune in, if your not just wait your turn!
PS
I have to say if there is one thing that annoys me its the stupidity of the BBC. The first series has been released on DVD, but they didn't include the fantastic pilot episode. I want my pilot episode, George's speech about his feelings as a werewolf near the full moon is epic.
Anyway in the middle of all this BBC Three came out with a story about three flat mates caught in the middle of events they weren't in anyway prepared for. Of course the three are a Ghost, a Werewolf and a Vampire. The Ghost is brand spanking new, as such she has a very limited knowledge about what she can do. The Vampire, disgusted after years of brutal death from his own hands, is trying to give up his blood sucking ways. Finally the Werewolf just wants a normal life again. All together they are just trying to be human again.
It sounds like a simple story but it's not. There is a hell of a lot of things going on behind it all. A planned Vampire Armageddon, a smug murderer, the meaning of death. That's just what comes to mind, and I'm not giving away any of the hints for the second year or spoilers.
Here's a trailer for the second year.
And the best of the three prequels
As shows go this is one of the better ones. It's a short, complex, character driven drama with a rich background to draw on. It has a scope and depth few others have. It deals with wider issues on an adult basis. It's not a teenage romance or a badly acted supernatural soap opera. With some shows fantasy elements like vampires are tacked on. You can remove them and, after a few tweaks, the show wouldn't really have any difference.
A good example is True Blood, which uses hatred for vampires as a thinly disguised metaphor for racism. Making the romance between the two leads another metaphor. Take the Vampire element out and you could just do it as a straight drama. You could even swap them for aliens and there wouldn't be much difference. Being Human explores vampires, werewolves and the supernatural. It just wouldn't work otherwise.
So in the new year we have eight new episodes. If you're in the UK tune in, if your not just wait your turn!
PS
I have to say if there is one thing that annoys me its the stupidity of the BBC. The first series has been released on DVD, but they didn't include the fantastic pilot episode. I want my pilot episode, George's speech about his feelings as a werewolf near the full moon is epic.
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Rodimus Prime
The Matrix last time was only a part of a massive poser for a Fan fic I'm working on. Here's another part, a simple portrait of Rodimus Prime. Nothing more to say.
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
The Matrix of Leadership
Here's another piece of digital art from me. It's been a while since I've posted any of this. I just like the way the crystal centre has come out
Monday, 23 November 2009
Doctor Who update
Alright four things regards to Doctor who this last week or so so let's look at them.
Waters of Mars
Waters of Mars was fantastic, the Doctors continuous insistence that he can't do anything while bowie base one (heh) is destroyed by the Waters of Mars. It really dealt with the repercussions of time travel and responsibilities of those with that technology. It's just a shame everyone made the wrong choice. Yet again the humans involved are too narrow minded to see the big picture and end up fearing the Doctor. It's interesting to see, but in the end you just want to reach into the TV and slap some sense into the fools.
I'm reminded of the episode Family of Blood, at the end the nurse makes two points. They are very thoughtful, but if you think about it the answers, while heartless, make sense. The first point she raises is that the Doctor chose to hide rather than face the Family. We, the viewer, knows that it was out of kindness and compassion for his enemies. Not fear. She then asks if the Doctor hadn't chosen to land there would the people have died.
These are two themes from the Tenth Doctor. Even through his kindness people die. He truly is a harbinger of death and when he choses to fight back there is nothing he will not do. The second theme is this fear that people have of him, even though he is doing the right thing for everyone. It makes this version a tragic hero, even more so with his time coming to an end.
He loses everyone and everything because he does what is best for them, no matter the cost. That's why they fear him, they fear his sense of self sacrifice.
I think I will really miss this take on him.
Speaking of The End of Time
The two part end to Tennent's time as the Doctor promises to be a real storm. There is nothing he won't do, this time on his own has really effected him recently. Without someone to hold him back this Champion of Time is on the warpath. Okay here is my predictions for the story so spoilers:-
1:- Donna is going to be a lot more important than we first thought. I don't think she's going to just be a cameo.
2:- The Master. We know he is back, but I think it was Donna that picked up the ring! After all she was trying to catch up with the Doctor. Look at that hand again.
3:- The Ood. We know, from an exclusive clip during Children in Need, that they are developing too fast. Building vast cities in a very short time. Something is propelling them. Some unseen influence that is sensitive to time and I think it's friendly. Or at least close to. This is a long shot but I think the Matrix (a repository of knowledge of the Auto... sorry Time Lords since the beginning of time) survived the destruction of Gallifray and found it's way to the Ood. It might even have created them as it's own custodians. It's even possible that the whole race was, from the beginning, a Chameleon Arch construct to hide the Time Lords while their planet blew up.
4:- Back to The Master. This is different to point two so I separated it. This is about the moment he flickers in and out of reality in the trailer. Some people say that it's like a dalek gun, but it's not. My opinion is that the Master doesn't exist yet, but in fine Bill and Ted style he will exist, just as so as he gets around to it. In plain English he recreates himself with a paradox, by going back in time but if he doesn't recreate himself he won't exist. It's a paradox on this scale that is going to destroy two thirds of the universe and decimate time. Hence the plot of the two part-er.
Those are my four predictions for The End of Time. So by Christmas we'll know if I was close, no where near, or somewhere in between. At least they're out there
Alright third part. Sarah Jane Adventures series three
An uneven series that neither advanced the story from last season or degraded. It felt exactly the same with good stories and unremarkable ones. The season end was, while remarkably predictable and bland, but after the Doctors appearance everything would be. Still everyone involved put in a solid performance and did a fantastic job.
The highlight was undoubtedly the arrival of the Doctor. Coming across in his story like a whirlwind, but he felt oddly hampered. As if he had one hand tied behind his back. This was to give the SJA crew a chance to shine, but still you feel that if the solution was that simple the Doctor had the perfect opportunity not five minuets earlier .
The champion of this series was Clyde. Displaying a vast library of talents under his court jester personality, from artistic skills that won a national award to master chef style cooking. Daniel Anthony (the actor) shows he's got a fantastic range and has the ability, just like Tommy Knight (Luke), to make a living out of his performance. I would have preferred Rani to have had more to do, perhaps been the closet painter instead of Clyde. Growing from the simple Maria replacement she was last season, unfortunately that was not to be.
The worst part was undoubtedly the Mona Lisa's Revenge. Clyde's artistic talent (while I like the development) came out of nowhere at the beginning of the episode and you get the feeling it will never come up again. I'm struggling to think of a way to describe just how completely off the mark they got Mona Lisa. Imagine it like comparing the American Godzilla to the Japanese Classic version. As a matter of fact it didn't need to be the most famous painting in the world, without changing the script in the slightest you could have done it about any painting.
Just the drive my knife in a little deeper, for a show so buried in Doctor who mythology it missed the previous adventure involving the Mona Lisa. Namely that the only copy that survives has "This is a fake" written underneath the paint in felt tip (see City of Death).
So all in all SJA has it's flaws, but is still an enjoyable and entertaining show.
Fourth and final article to address. Dreamland
We're only half way though this animated episode but it really is looking good. A couple of years ago they did an animated episode called the Infinite Quest, it was a good addition to the series and took the story away from earth for a change. This is in the same vain and just like that shouldn't be dismissed just because it's animated.
Dreamland is set in 1950's America and makes use of all the Saucer men, grey aliens, MIB's and assorted other nonsense from that time. As you might expect it does the job with a flair and style. Tennent pushes his voice acting to almost unexplored levels of ham, mostly because the animation is so stiff. None of the fluid movements and subtle (or not) actions he's usually able to bring to the role.
Like Waters of Mars Anything I do say would be full of spoilers and while I'll do that out of spite with something I detest Dreamland is far too good. Even with flaws it's fun, clever, and well engineered.
Well that's it. More updates as they come!
Waters of Mars
Waters of Mars was fantastic, the Doctors continuous insistence that he can't do anything while bowie base one (heh) is destroyed by the Waters of Mars. It really dealt with the repercussions of time travel and responsibilities of those with that technology. It's just a shame everyone made the wrong choice. Yet again the humans involved are too narrow minded to see the big picture and end up fearing the Doctor. It's interesting to see, but in the end you just want to reach into the TV and slap some sense into the fools.
I'm reminded of the episode Family of Blood, at the end the nurse makes two points. They are very thoughtful, but if you think about it the answers, while heartless, make sense. The first point she raises is that the Doctor chose to hide rather than face the Family. We, the viewer, knows that it was out of kindness and compassion for his enemies. Not fear. She then asks if the Doctor hadn't chosen to land there would the people have died.
These are two themes from the Tenth Doctor. Even through his kindness people die. He truly is a harbinger of death and when he choses to fight back there is nothing he will not do. The second theme is this fear that people have of him, even though he is doing the right thing for everyone. It makes this version a tragic hero, even more so with his time coming to an end.
He loses everyone and everything because he does what is best for them, no matter the cost. That's why they fear him, they fear his sense of self sacrifice.
I think I will really miss this take on him.
Speaking of The End of Time
The two part end to Tennent's time as the Doctor promises to be a real storm. There is nothing he won't do, this time on his own has really effected him recently. Without someone to hold him back this Champion of Time is on the warpath. Okay here is my predictions for the story so spoilers:-
1:- Donna is going to be a lot more important than we first thought. I don't think she's going to just be a cameo.
2:- The Master. We know he is back, but I think it was Donna that picked up the ring! After all she was trying to catch up with the Doctor. Look at that hand again.
3:- The Ood. We know, from an exclusive clip during Children in Need, that they are developing too fast. Building vast cities in a very short time. Something is propelling them. Some unseen influence that is sensitive to time and I think it's friendly. Or at least close to. This is a long shot but I think the Matrix (a repository of knowledge of the Auto... sorry Time Lords since the beginning of time) survived the destruction of Gallifray and found it's way to the Ood. It might even have created them as it's own custodians. It's even possible that the whole race was, from the beginning, a Chameleon Arch construct to hide the Time Lords while their planet blew up.
4:- Back to The Master. This is different to point two so I separated it. This is about the moment he flickers in and out of reality in the trailer. Some people say that it's like a dalek gun, but it's not. My opinion is that the Master doesn't exist yet, but in fine Bill and Ted style he will exist, just as so as he gets around to it. In plain English he recreates himself with a paradox, by going back in time but if he doesn't recreate himself he won't exist. It's a paradox on this scale that is going to destroy two thirds of the universe and decimate time. Hence the plot of the two part-er.
Those are my four predictions for The End of Time. So by Christmas we'll know if I was close, no where near, or somewhere in between. At least they're out there
Alright third part. Sarah Jane Adventures series three
An uneven series that neither advanced the story from last season or degraded. It felt exactly the same with good stories and unremarkable ones. The season end was, while remarkably predictable and bland, but after the Doctors appearance everything would be. Still everyone involved put in a solid performance and did a fantastic job.
The highlight was undoubtedly the arrival of the Doctor. Coming across in his story like a whirlwind, but he felt oddly hampered. As if he had one hand tied behind his back. This was to give the SJA crew a chance to shine, but still you feel that if the solution was that simple the Doctor had the perfect opportunity not five minuets earlier .
The champion of this series was Clyde. Displaying a vast library of talents under his court jester personality, from artistic skills that won a national award to master chef style cooking. Daniel Anthony (the actor) shows he's got a fantastic range and has the ability, just like Tommy Knight (Luke), to make a living out of his performance. I would have preferred Rani to have had more to do, perhaps been the closet painter instead of Clyde. Growing from the simple Maria replacement she was last season, unfortunately that was not to be.
The worst part was undoubtedly the Mona Lisa's Revenge. Clyde's artistic talent (while I like the development) came out of nowhere at the beginning of the episode and you get the feeling it will never come up again. I'm struggling to think of a way to describe just how completely off the mark they got Mona Lisa. Imagine it like comparing the American Godzilla to the Japanese Classic version. As a matter of fact it didn't need to be the most famous painting in the world, without changing the script in the slightest you could have done it about any painting.
Just the drive my knife in a little deeper, for a show so buried in Doctor who mythology it missed the previous adventure involving the Mona Lisa. Namely that the only copy that survives has "This is a fake" written underneath the paint in felt tip (see City of Death).
So all in all SJA has it's flaws, but is still an enjoyable and entertaining show.
Fourth and final article to address. Dreamland
We're only half way though this animated episode but it really is looking good. A couple of years ago they did an animated episode called the Infinite Quest, it was a good addition to the series and took the story away from earth for a change. This is in the same vain and just like that shouldn't be dismissed just because it's animated.
Dreamland is set in 1950's America and makes use of all the Saucer men, grey aliens, MIB's and assorted other nonsense from that time. As you might expect it does the job with a flair and style. Tennent pushes his voice acting to almost unexplored levels of ham, mostly because the animation is so stiff. None of the fluid movements and subtle (or not) actions he's usually able to bring to the role.
Like Waters of Mars Anything I do say would be full of spoilers and while I'll do that out of spite with something I detest Dreamland is far too good. Even with flaws it's fun, clever, and well engineered.
Well that's it. More updates as they come!
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Global Frequency
Alright, we all know how TV shows get produced. The Writer / Creator goes to a studio and gets them to commission a pilot episode. The studio watches the pilot and then decide to give them a season or not. Fairly simple. Problem is more often than not there are fantastic pilots that aren't given a chance.
It's ironic that studio executives (in the US) are usually the most conservative, unimaginative and unadventurous people in the world. They love formulas and often throw fantastic ideas away because they don't understand it. If they were more willing to take a risk, as say BBC Three has over here, we'd get some interesting and ground breaking shows. For example Being Human (which is now getting a US remake, shudder) and Torchwood.
In all fairness it's not all their fault, fantastic shows like Firefly, Dollhouse, Sarah Conner Chronicles, Farscape et all were given a chance. It was the American viewing public that didn't give them a chance and made them non-profitable. I'm not going to go into the whole chicken and egg mess of viewers and studio, asking who killed what and why. each show has it's own reasons for failing and that's not the point here.
What's this got to do with anything? What is the point anyway? Well back in 2004 Global Frequency, a TV show based on a Warren Ellis Comic Book, was given a pilot. It was never broadcast, and until it was leaked on the Internet no one knew what a loss this was. Now I can't say I've seen the pilot, if anyone knows a URL please add it to the comments, but I have seen a few clips on You Tube. It looks great.
Well the good news is that the CW, the channel responsible for Smallville, has re-commissioned a new pilot. Well it's in the air at the moment. By that I mean it can still be cancelled and shelved again, could be forgotten altogether or just unsuccessful, like the Aquaman pilot. Not ON the air, as in broadcast.
With any luck a new series will be made and it will live up to the quote "The Greatest Show Never Made"
It's ironic that studio executives (in the US) are usually the most conservative, unimaginative and unadventurous people in the world. They love formulas and often throw fantastic ideas away because they don't understand it. If they were more willing to take a risk, as say BBC Three has over here, we'd get some interesting and ground breaking shows. For example Being Human (which is now getting a US remake, shudder) and Torchwood.
In all fairness it's not all their fault, fantastic shows like Firefly, Dollhouse, Sarah Conner Chronicles, Farscape et all were given a chance. It was the American viewing public that didn't give them a chance and made them non-profitable. I'm not going to go into the whole chicken and egg mess of viewers and studio, asking who killed what and why. each show has it's own reasons for failing and that's not the point here.
What's this got to do with anything? What is the point anyway? Well back in 2004 Global Frequency, a TV show based on a Warren Ellis Comic Book, was given a pilot. It was never broadcast, and until it was leaked on the Internet no one knew what a loss this was. Now I can't say I've seen the pilot, if anyone knows a URL please add it to the comments, but I have seen a few clips on You Tube. It looks great.
Well the good news is that the CW, the channel responsible for Smallville, has re-commissioned a new pilot. Well it's in the air at the moment. By that I mean it can still be cancelled and shelved again, could be forgotten altogether or just unsuccessful, like the Aquaman pilot. Not ON the air, as in broadcast.
With any luck a new series will be made and it will live up to the quote "The Greatest Show Never Made"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)