Change Your Image
rey_de_tds_viv0
Reviews
Stargate Universe (2009)
It has potential, but so does a grenade...
I have always been a stargate sg-1 fan. I followed this series from day one, eagerly awaiting that 8pm showing time on sky one every Wednesday. So I have a slightly biased opinion going into this review. I did not watch much Atlantis as I found this too...'star trek' and less applicable to our current society. After reading an interview about their intentions of SGU I decided to give it a go.
Its a pretty slow series, starting off fairly fast paced until they are within the main plot device (the ship) at this point a lot of the scientific action ceases and it is mostly about character development (and this occurs halfway through the first episode). They have found a few clever methods of exploring characters intentions and character types without affecting the plot too much but this is somewhat poor..There is very little going on. The action components of the show (ie jumping out of ftl to gather resources) seem rushed and secondary to the people on the ship. I appreciate that this does imprint the significance of limited time during these periods but without the sciency fun that SG1 had its all very bothering. They gather resources, there's a problem, they overcome it and get back. But the actual use of the resource isn't ever really gone into in that much depth. To the extent of showing them actually using the ships resources (other than just showing them refilling a cannister). I mean they refill the water refinery but none of the tech is shown. No massive containers to show the vastness of the ship. Its all just the same few corridors and the same cut to the outside of the -impressive in hd- ship. They usually come back at the end of the episode saying "we fixed it" and looking somber over some kind of loss.
I wish they had never brought the communication stones, they've ruined it for me. Its like a show about someone stranded on a desert island but oh wait there's a telephone right there that works. It would be a bit drab and just destroy the involvement and the exploration of ideas of isolation, and diverts thoughts straight back to home and the life you currently lead.
Whats more is were currently a fair way into the season and I couldn't tell you what's really happened that is significant to them actually getting home (and not just surviving). They are holding out on bringing in the chair of knowledge into use, and I can see why they would do this, but predictably its going to be used in panic in a "do something or we explode" moment. Which will make it much less interesting really, and will force them to again jump over the hook of the story (the actual exploring of a device with near infinite wisdom of the universe). I know that if they used the chair too early on they would not explore certain moral/ethical issues and would then have to cover up plot holes later on in potentially good episodes, but it does feel like you are a child being told you can only have 1 sweet on hallow ween.
I will continue to watch this series, and hope that they do get resigned for at least a few seasons (It may just be a slow start to the show to set a benchmark for the casual watchers). Watch it if you generally like sci fi or drama shows. But I really don't see how they are trying to draw in the casual crowd to an already well-established scifi community. Scifi is now about sleek and smooth, what people want now is a realistic looking and feeling event. People want realism they can get lost in. SGU is trying for this but just turns into a shiny shell with a hollow core.
I see potential, but only because I'm a cup half full kind of guy.
Make Mine Music (1946)
A lovely journey through a myriad of emotions.
Make mine music is a compilation of a few short videos to music. If you liked the syncronisation of music to video that you saw in films like fantasia, you will adore this film.
In 1940 the animation industry was booming, due to the increased skill in the market and better tools available. This was the time the classic Disney figures were being born. But it was also the time of experimentation, we finally had the ability to display the wonderful stories that music tells to us.
It takes you on a journey through different genres and emotions, and gives you a small window into the 40s. In my opinion it is far better than many films that are out today in regards to emotional involvement (strangely). I don't always want to wait hours into a film to get involved with a character who is frankly just another john smith. By giving you a selection of shorts, Disney has avoided the problem of making your involvement with a film focused on a specific character and situation. As such the ideas represented can spur thoughts and ideas in many different directions.
Well worth watching.
The Worst Horror Movie Ever Made (2005)
Plays on the fact its low budget!
I liked this film for what it was trying to be and what it was. Not what a horror movie should be. If you have friends and enjoy watching b-side horrors, or even just mocking normal films, Then you should appreciate this film. It has a very home-made feel to it for obvious reasons! and although some would accredit this to the poor quality of the film its what makes it what it is. This film was made by a group of friends, for groups of friends. Its not made for movie connoisseurs or critics. Its meant to be lighthearted and playful. In my eyes this is a very low budget prequel to the grindhouse compilation: In the sense that it both mocks and holds upon high the nature of the b-movie (A little less of the latter in this film haha).
My summary is just watch it. If not for the subtleties in the acting which clearly portray its casual nature, then for the fact that its very name is "the worst horror movie ever made". If you are focused and watching it and find after half the film you haven't chuckled even once then don't bother with it! It's clearly not for you.