I'm getting more and more intrigued by this whole "V" remake. Check out this preview:
A giant Morena Baccarin in the sky? How many "Firefly" fanboys have had that dream, I wonder?
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Odds and Ends: TV renewals galore, the Martha Stewart of Star Trek interiors, 19th-century robots and Tracy Jordan
+ The verdicts came in on a whole bunch of nerd-favorite TV shows this week and, well, there's good news and there's bad news. But mostly, good news! Going against fate and all things holy, "Dollhouse" actually got renewed for a full second season. Of course, it'll still be trapped on Friday nights but goodness, who among us really thought FOX would renew a Whedon show in our lifetimes? Now I know how people felt when we went to the Moon for the first time. In other good news, "Castle" got renewed as well, prompting Nathan Fillion to tweet, "I can't remember the last time I had a second season of ANYTHING. I don't know if I remember what to do. Step one: go to Canada. Relax." Step Two? "See Star Trek a second time." In other news, "Bones" got renewed for two seasons and "The Big Bang Theory" will return next year as well -- not a shock there! And now for the bad news, "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" got canceled. I didn't really watch the show, but the absence of robots from the TV screen is a loss any way you look at it.
+ This man in Leicestershire, England has turned his flat into a dead-on replica of the "Star Trek: Next Generation" Enterprise. The newscaster sounds shocked that it cost him four thousand pounds -- given the detail, I'm astonished it cost that little.
+ io9 has an interesting item about William Douglas O'Connor, friend of Walt Whitman and apparently the author of the first "robot revolution" story. Called "The Brazen Android," it revolves around the creation of an omniscient brass head. The story, which was started in 1857, is available in its entirety as an audio book here.
+ And finally, to brighten your day, a list of everything Tracey Jordan has said this season on "30 Rock." My personal favorite? “I watched Boston Legal 9 times before I realized it wasn’t a new Star Trek.” Hee.
+ This man in Leicestershire, England has turned his flat into a dead-on replica of the "Star Trek: Next Generation" Enterprise. The newscaster sounds shocked that it cost him four thousand pounds -- given the detail, I'm astonished it cost that little.
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+ io9 has an interesting item about William Douglas O'Connor, friend of Walt Whitman and apparently the author of the first "robot revolution" story. Called "The Brazen Android," it revolves around the creation of an omniscient brass head. The story, which was started in 1857, is available in its entirety as an audio book here.
+ And finally, to brighten your day, a list of everything Tracey Jordan has said this season on "30 Rock." My personal favorite? “I watched Boston Legal 9 times before I realized it wasn’t a new Star Trek.” Hee.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Friday Odds and Ends: Tennant, NPH, V and Lost
+ America will get to savor a bit more David Tennant after "Doctor Who" ends. My imaginary Scottish boyfriend will be hosting PBS' "Masterpiece Contemporary" when the show returns this October. Seriously, click the link for a dreamy Tennant photo. It'll make your Friday even better.
+ Speaking of dreamy slim men, Neil Patrick Harris will be hosting this year's Tony Awards. Is it wrong to pray that he breaks into a few numbers from Dr. Horrible while he's got the spotlight? C'mon, it'll be better than the "Shrek the Musical" interlude.
+ I wasn't at all interested when I heard that "V" was getting new life as an upcoming TV pilot, but now that I've learned more about the cast, I'm feeling positively giddy. So far, the cast includes two "Firefly" alumni: Alan Tudyk (Wash) and Morena Baccarin (Inara). Elizabeth Mitchell, Juliet from "Lost," will bring her magnetic personality to the show. (See what I did there? Yes, I'm sorry.) Also starring Laura Vandervoot from "Smallville," a show I had no idea was still on the air. (Oops.) Someone hand me a rat, I'm feelin' peckish with glee!
+ So, "Lost." I love a show that I can't understand until I read about seven different analyses of what I just saw. I'm excited for next season, though, and can't wait to see what kind of reset they have in store for us. Also, let me just declare my love of Michael Emerson's Ben one more time. Honestly, I perk up every time he's on screen. He and Locke are my new One True Pair. Anyway, if you're still fuzzy on what exactly happened on Wednesday night, check out Jeff Jensen's terrific recap (also known as a graduate thesis) of the season finale. It'll offer up a lot of "ohhh, so that's what that meant."
+ Speaking of dreamy slim men, Neil Patrick Harris will be hosting this year's Tony Awards. Is it wrong to pray that he breaks into a few numbers from Dr. Horrible while he's got the spotlight? C'mon, it'll be better than the "Shrek the Musical" interlude.
+ I wasn't at all interested when I heard that "V" was getting new life as an upcoming TV pilot, but now that I've learned more about the cast, I'm feeling positively giddy. So far, the cast includes two "Firefly" alumni: Alan Tudyk (Wash) and Morena Baccarin (Inara). Elizabeth Mitchell, Juliet from "Lost," will bring her magnetic personality to the show. (See what I did there? Yes, I'm sorry.) Also starring Laura Vandervoot from "Smallville," a show I had no idea was still on the air. (Oops.) Someone hand me a rat, I'm feelin' peckish with glee!
+ So, "Lost." I love a show that I can't understand until I read about seven different analyses of what I just saw. I'm excited for next season, though, and can't wait to see what kind of reset they have in store for us. Also, let me just declare my love of Michael Emerson's Ben one more time. Honestly, I perk up every time he's on screen. He and Locke are my new One True Pair. Anyway, if you're still fuzzy on what exactly happened on Wednesday night, check out Jeff Jensen's terrific recap (also known as a graduate thesis) of the season finale. It'll offer up a lot of "ohhh, so that's what that meant."
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
In Which I Talk About "Terminator Salvation" and Am Forced to Turn in My Nerd Membership Card
I have a confession to make: I'm not at all interested in the impending arrival of "Terminator Salvation" next week. Like not even remotely. I'm afraid something in my nerd core may be broken because I really can't understand my lack of enthusiasm. For one thing, I love robots. For another, I love angry, menacing, scary robots. And for another, I love cylons human-shaped robots who don't know they're robots. But I just can't get my geek antennae humming for this one.
I'm a huge fan of the first two "Terminator" movies, especially the second one with a liquid-y Robert Patrick and special effects that blew my young, impressionable mind at the time. Both of Cameron's early epics were groundbreaking and original, and maybe that's why this new version doesn't stir my coffee. (How many euphemisms will I come up with for a lack of enthusiasm? I don't know. Let's count along and see!) It just looks like your average ordinary apocalyptic dark grainy "Children of Men"/"28 Days Later" flick. With just a hint of "Transformers" thrown in for good measure.
Also, my burro refuses to go up the mountain for this film because I will never forgive McG for the "Charlie's Angels" movies. I know it's shallow and petty of me, but he never sent me an apology letter and my eyes still bleed a little bit when I think of those movies, so I've kept hold of my inner rage. (Okay, on the plus side, he's given us some good "Supernatural" and "Chuck" episodes but that's TV and because I'm feeling stubborn, it doesn't count.)
I think, too, that my giraffe won't bite because I'm not terribly fond of Christian Bale. Why? Well -- and again, I'm totally breaking the geek code of honor here -- I don't like him in the "Batman" movies. He's just got that monotone thing going and the Jack Bauer angry whisper and he makes me sleepy just looking at him. That's not to say I think he's a bad actor -- I'm looking forward to seeing him in "Public Enemy" opposite Johnny Depp, actually -- but I don't believe he's a good action hero actor. Also, dude, he's so angry. All I'm going to be thinking about while watching him battle robots is how he probably beats his caddy. (That was not a euphemism for anything.)
Anyway, I'm sure I'll end up watching "Terminator Salvation" and enjoying it but I'm going to be dragging my beagle all the way through the lobby, not feeling happy about it at all. I would, however, think it's awesome if the robots sang and did magic tricks. Someone needs to make that movie right now, please.
Are you looking forward to the new "Terminator?"
I'm a huge fan of the first two "Terminator" movies, especially the second one with a liquid-y Robert Patrick and special effects that blew my young, impressionable mind at the time. Both of Cameron's early epics were groundbreaking and original, and maybe that's why this new version doesn't stir my coffee. (How many euphemisms will I come up with for a lack of enthusiasm? I don't know. Let's count along and see!) It just looks like your average ordinary apocalyptic dark grainy "Children of Men"/"28 Days Later" flick. With just a hint of "Transformers" thrown in for good measure.
Also, my burro refuses to go up the mountain for this film because I will never forgive McG for the "Charlie's Angels" movies. I know it's shallow and petty of me, but he never sent me an apology letter and my eyes still bleed a little bit when I think of those movies, so I've kept hold of my inner rage. (Okay, on the plus side, he's given us some good "Supernatural" and "Chuck" episodes but that's TV and because I'm feeling stubborn, it doesn't count.)
I think, too, that my giraffe won't bite because I'm not terribly fond of Christian Bale. Why? Well -- and again, I'm totally breaking the geek code of honor here -- I don't like him in the "Batman" movies. He's just got that monotone thing going and the Jack Bauer angry whisper and he makes me sleepy just looking at him. That's not to say I think he's a bad actor -- I'm looking forward to seeing him in "Public Enemy" opposite Johnny Depp, actually -- but I don't believe he's a good action hero actor. Also, dude, he's so angry. All I'm going to be thinking about while watching him battle robots is how he probably beats his caddy. (That was not a euphemism for anything.)
Anyway, I'm sure I'll end up watching "Terminator Salvation" and enjoying it but I'm going to be dragging my beagle all the way through the lobby, not feeling happy about it at all. I would, however, think it's awesome if the robots sang and did magic tricks. Someone needs to make that movie right now, please.
Are you looking forward to the new "Terminator?"
Monday, May 11, 2009
I love you, "Star Trek" movie!
I got a chance to see this in Toronto this weekend amidst very polite Canadians, which meant that for the first time in years, I was able to watch a movie without a teenager talking on her cell phone next to me. Yay, Canada! I heart you, maple-leaf style! (I don't know what that means.)
So what can I say about "Star Trek" except that I loved it, I loved it and then I loved it so much more that I made it uncomfortable and it tried to leave the room. All of my hopes for this movie were not only met, they were exceeded. The tone was just right -- it was fun and action-packed but it maintained that certain moral center that's always been a trademark of the "Star Trek" concept.
The characterizations were dead-on. Chris Pine did a great job of making Kirk the reckless but brave and good-hearted prick we all know he would have been as a young man. I loved the fact that even though Kirk was smart, there still was no doubt that Spock was smarter and that's what made them such a good pair right from the start. And speaking of Spock, Zachary Quinto was terrific as the young half-human, half-Vulcan...which takes a lot for me to admit because I can't stand Zachary Quinto on "Heroes." My two favorites, though, had to be Karl Urban who channeled DeForrest Kelley's Leonard McCoy beautifully, updating him without a hint of parody, and Simon Pegg as Montgomery Scott, who cracked me up every second he was on screen. Perfect -- the whole cast was exceptional.
(Spoiler ahead in this paragraph.) The movie truly was a perfect summer film with just the right mix of action, adventure and yes, humor. Lots and lots of humor, which kept things bouncing around nicely. The serious bits were done equally well. Eric Bana, tragically hidden under pounds of latex and tattoos, made for a fine villain who didn't get many scenes to himself but still made an excellent foil for our heroes. And the bits with the older Spock -- well, I'm woman enough to admit that I got choked up toward the end with his conversation with his younger self. (Plus, you gotta love his line about his usual farewell being "oddly self-serving right now." Paradox humor!)
Plain and simple, I really, really enjoyed this movie and am looking forward to seeing it again. Thanks, J.J. Abrams and crew, for making this Next Generation fan actually get misty-eyed over the original series. I never thought it could be done, but this flick pulled it off gloriously. Now bring on the sequel!
Tell me what you guys thought of it...
So what can I say about "Star Trek" except that I loved it, I loved it and then I loved it so much more that I made it uncomfortable and it tried to leave the room. All of my hopes for this movie were not only met, they were exceeded. The tone was just right -- it was fun and action-packed but it maintained that certain moral center that's always been a trademark of the "Star Trek" concept.
The characterizations were dead-on. Chris Pine did a great job of making Kirk the reckless but brave and good-hearted prick we all know he would have been as a young man. I loved the fact that even though Kirk was smart, there still was no doubt that Spock was smarter and that's what made them such a good pair right from the start. And speaking of Spock, Zachary Quinto was terrific as the young half-human, half-Vulcan...which takes a lot for me to admit because I can't stand Zachary Quinto on "Heroes." My two favorites, though, had to be Karl Urban who channeled DeForrest Kelley's Leonard McCoy beautifully, updating him without a hint of parody, and Simon Pegg as Montgomery Scott, who cracked me up every second he was on screen. Perfect -- the whole cast was exceptional.
(Spoiler ahead in this paragraph.) The movie truly was a perfect summer film with just the right mix of action, adventure and yes, humor. Lots and lots of humor, which kept things bouncing around nicely. The serious bits were done equally well. Eric Bana, tragically hidden under pounds of latex and tattoos, made for a fine villain who didn't get many scenes to himself but still made an excellent foil for our heroes. And the bits with the older Spock -- well, I'm woman enough to admit that I got choked up toward the end with his conversation with his younger self. (Plus, you gotta love his line about his usual farewell being "oddly self-serving right now." Paradox humor!)
Plain and simple, I really, really enjoyed this movie and am looking forward to seeing it again. Thanks, J.J. Abrams and crew, for making this Next Generation fan actually get misty-eyed over the original series. I never thought it could be done, but this flick pulled it off gloriously. Now bring on the sequel!
Tell me what you guys thought of it...
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