Being pressed for time working on my Downsizing, and panting for stepping back into Warhammer. It's been awhile since I managed a media related piece.
Well, I went to catch an afternoon show of the remake of Total Recall. Two days after it opened, and the theatre was damn near empty. That was odd, even for an afternoon. But it meant a quiet and peaceful experience with no interruptions, cell phones or any other annoying occurrences.
I will say right off the top, that the movie was decent. But not great, could have been better. I will lay the blame right on the script. I found the movie had a lot of just head scratching logic associated with the technology of the world in which they set the movie. It all moved along nicely enough, and I liked the casting. They had the bucks for all the effects and stunts. But the world that they laid the story out in just broke suspension of disbelief for me.
I mean, if you had the tech to build a skyscraper sized building that travels in a tunnel through the center of the earth from Great Britain to Australia in no time at all really, Android Police Officers and 90% of the planet is uninhabitable wouldn't you just build a colony on Mars instead?? It would be easier. Or the Moon even. Since for the purpose of the story you needed two locations.
Rekall itself just seemed to be an afterthought, it seemed to be more central in the original. More part of the plot. Here it just seemed to be minor stop along the way to tip off the plot. Which really was it's purpose, but it just didn't seemed to have enough weight. And seemed like an underground operation, rather than the recreational vacation company I felt it was in the original.
The best part for me was the throw back to the 1990 one in customs. You'll know when you see it.
I'm going to have try and see the 1990 version again soon, it's been a long time since I've seen it. But I fully expect it to be the better of the two.
3 out of 5 stars
Showing posts with label SciFi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SciFi. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Terra Nova
The new TV series that started last week with a two hour series premiere. Spielbergs next stab at the Jurassic Park franchise shall we say without going back to the movie series that is slowly being run into the ground, arguably since the original. Being that JP2 didn't have a lot of redeeming qualities to it.
Anyway, now we seem to be 140 odd years into the future, and the surface of the earth is becoming unlivable due to what seems to be pollution and overpopulation. Now, a time machine has been invented based around some kind of temporal rift, and they now choose groups that will go back to 85 million years in the past to start a new colony of man. I kind of had a flashback to the original Battlestar Galactica as I wrote that. But anyway, at this point the whole thing doesn't sound very interesting to me.
We discover throughout the two hours that there is a split between the colonists that have been going back. We have what we could call, the loyalists and the Sixers. The Sixers have split off to form their own group, and seem to be operating at this point as raiders and bandits. And have some spies in the camp of the loyalists.
Few other points we discover is that the son of the camp commander is missing in the wild, and that there is a waterfall 'Zone' that is off limits that has some strange writing, that may or may not have anything to do with this missing son. I should mention, that smartly one of the characters points out that they aren't really in the past, but apparently some alternate dimension of Earth. Or else anything they do could alter the future. And by the end of the two hours we find out that this may not be true..
Now that is the most interesting aspect of the whole thing for me. They think they are in an alternate Earths past.. But if they really aren't, than I look forward to seeing the repercussions in the future. With them not being able to get resupplied, or more people. Or even what may be sent back that they don't expect because of the changes. Because other than that I don't find this show to be all that interesting, but for the new Dino of the week. And I should mention it's established that once you go back you cannot return to the future. It's a one way trip.
Not, it's only been two episodes, shown together as a movie type thing. And I'm willing to give it a season to see how it goes. But, if this thing is really as expensive as I've read (Most expensive TV Pilot ever made) than will anyone else?? In this day and age where shows get canned after a few episodes if the ratings are low.. But then the cost may work for them in this case. With so much invested the suits may not want to pull the plug if they can wring a buck out of it.
In the end I will throw out a prediction, they should have used the basic premise of moving a colony back in time to the Dino Era as a reboot of the movies. And went from there. I don't see this as much of a TV show, but Stargate or Sanctuary with Dinosaurs in place of the Go'Auld or Monsters every week and some different trappings. But I guess most shows are like that, you just change the backgrounds and rename the monsters.
Oh, and props to the offhand remarks about getting used the past atmosphere being so high in oxygen. They could have been referring to their present being so bad. But I know I saw this is a documentary somewhere. That the Oxygen levels were so high then that it would have been a problem for Humans adapted to our present. And one reason why we don't have such large creatures or giant Insects anymore.
Anyway, now we seem to be 140 odd years into the future, and the surface of the earth is becoming unlivable due to what seems to be pollution and overpopulation. Now, a time machine has been invented based around some kind of temporal rift, and they now choose groups that will go back to 85 million years in the past to start a new colony of man. I kind of had a flashback to the original Battlestar Galactica as I wrote that. But anyway, at this point the whole thing doesn't sound very interesting to me.
We discover throughout the two hours that there is a split between the colonists that have been going back. We have what we could call, the loyalists and the Sixers. The Sixers have split off to form their own group, and seem to be operating at this point as raiders and bandits. And have some spies in the camp of the loyalists.
Few other points we discover is that the son of the camp commander is missing in the wild, and that there is a waterfall 'Zone' that is off limits that has some strange writing, that may or may not have anything to do with this missing son. I should mention, that smartly one of the characters points out that they aren't really in the past, but apparently some alternate dimension of Earth. Or else anything they do could alter the future. And by the end of the two hours we find out that this may not be true..
Now that is the most interesting aspect of the whole thing for me. They think they are in an alternate Earths past.. But if they really aren't, than I look forward to seeing the repercussions in the future. With them not being able to get resupplied, or more people. Or even what may be sent back that they don't expect because of the changes. Because other than that I don't find this show to be all that interesting, but for the new Dino of the week. And I should mention it's established that once you go back you cannot return to the future. It's a one way trip.
Not, it's only been two episodes, shown together as a movie type thing. And I'm willing to give it a season to see how it goes. But, if this thing is really as expensive as I've read (Most expensive TV Pilot ever made) than will anyone else?? In this day and age where shows get canned after a few episodes if the ratings are low.. But then the cost may work for them in this case. With so much invested the suits may not want to pull the plug if they can wring a buck out of it.
In the end I will throw out a prediction, they should have used the basic premise of moving a colony back in time to the Dino Era as a reboot of the movies. And went from there. I don't see this as much of a TV show, but Stargate or Sanctuary with Dinosaurs in place of the Go'Auld or Monsters every week and some different trappings. But I guess most shows are like that, you just change the backgrounds and rename the monsters.
Oh, and props to the offhand remarks about getting used the past atmosphere being so high in oxygen. They could have been referring to their present being so bad. But I know I saw this is a documentary somewhere. That the Oxygen levels were so high then that it would have been a problem for Humans adapted to our present. And one reason why we don't have such large creatures or giant Insects anymore.
Monday, June 27, 2011
PRIMEVAL
A science fiction BBC series about a group of scientists who setup a top secret organization with the government to investigate rips in space / time that lead to the past and allow dinosaurs and creatures into the present.
Over the course of the series currently 5 series they discover that they actually lead not only to the past but the future as well. And that they are causing ripples and a possibly catastrophic outcomes in the far future.
The show evolves throughout the course of the series, with some characters who die, and others who are changed because of the events that transpire. New people come, they get more help. And the CGI for creature effects get better and better.
The first time I caught the show, I watched a few episodes and found it interesting. But, didn't watch much else until recently. The show does take some time to get going. And I find I like the less 'polished' for lack of a better word of the BBC productions. I'm not sure I would want to see a spit and polished Hollywood production of this show.
The show does remind me of Stargate, but the show comes to them though the rifts, rather than the other way around. And they time travel.. Which adds a new dimension of trouble, as they try not to cause ripples that could affect the present or the future. It does suffer from time to time of creature of the week (Which seemed to be coined when Buffy first came out) but they don't tend to trot out all the famous dinos every week.
Great show
3.5 stars out of 5
Over the course of the series currently 5 series they discover that they actually lead not only to the past but the future as well. And that they are causing ripples and a possibly catastrophic outcomes in the far future.
The show evolves throughout the course of the series, with some characters who die, and others who are changed because of the events that transpire. New people come, they get more help. And the CGI for creature effects get better and better.
The first time I caught the show, I watched a few episodes and found it interesting. But, didn't watch much else until recently. The show does take some time to get going. And I find I like the less 'polished' for lack of a better word of the BBC productions. I'm not sure I would want to see a spit and polished Hollywood production of this show.
The show does remind me of Stargate, but the show comes to them though the rifts, rather than the other way around. And they time travel.. Which adds a new dimension of trouble, as they try not to cause ripples that could affect the present or the future. It does suffer from time to time of creature of the week (Which seemed to be coined when Buffy first came out) but they don't tend to trot out all the famous dinos every week.
Great show
3.5 stars out of 5
Friday, May 20, 2011
Flash Forward The Novel
Just finished reading the book for Flash Forward. I haven't seen any of the tv show. But after reading the book, I would think that it should have worked. Or maybe even better as a mini series. Six or twelve parts.
With the way things tend to get twisted around when made into movies or TV or even games. Maybe the show strayed quite far from the book. I don't know. Maybe I will rent it if it ever comes out, or lands on Netflix or in reruns sometime. And see how close or different it actually was.
3 out of 5 stars
With the way things tend to get twisted around when made into movies or TV or even games. Maybe the show strayed quite far from the book. I don't know. Maybe I will rent it if it ever comes out, or lands on Netflix or in reruns sometime. And see how close or different it actually was.
3 out of 5 stars
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Stargate.. Finished?
Well, it would seem that the franchise is officially over. That's too bad.
Airlock Alpha is reporting that there seems to be little hope. Plans have fallen through for the movies. And with MGM apparently still out of the picture with their own problems, it seems this is it.
With the networks cancelling soaps now, it seems like TV is becoming a wasteland of reality TV nonsense. Not just genre shows are getting the axe these days.
Although good SciFi is becoming all but impossible to find on the dial.. At least Fringe got a Season Four. Lets hope for the best, because it likely won't get a season five. It and Supernatural are about the only shows of their ilk I make sure I catch every week.
Airlock Alpha is reporting that there seems to be little hope. Plans have fallen through for the movies. And with MGM apparently still out of the picture with their own problems, it seems this is it.
With the networks cancelling soaps now, it seems like TV is becoming a wasteland of reality TV nonsense. Not just genre shows are getting the axe these days.
Although good SciFi is becoming all but impossible to find on the dial.. At least Fringe got a Season Four. Lets hope for the best, because it likely won't get a season five. It and Supernatural are about the only shows of their ilk I make sure I catch every week.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
The Adjustment Bureau
Right off the top I can say that the movie was more than enjoyable. But, it wasn't anything extra special, or Shakespearean in scope.
But it did entertain me for a couple hours to see how Damon and Blunt were going to get together, and why they were being kept apart.
Once I saw the end credits, and found out that it was based on a Dick story, and Eric Kripke was involved. I would have known before I went in that it would at least be a good movie. I presume of course, that there isn't more than one Kripke working in Hollywood.
The Adjustment Bureau wasn't hard to figure out, for awhile I thought that it was going to turn out to be some government agency like The Men in Black. But, I can say that I was glad that it wasn't. And I was more than satisfied with what they turned out to be.
I was just left with one odd question, knowing who they were. Why did they need what appeared to be technology to do their adjustments. When they could manipulate objects with the flick of the wrist??
3.5 out of 5 stars
But it did entertain me for a couple hours to see how Damon and Blunt were going to get together, and why they were being kept apart.
Once I saw the end credits, and found out that it was based on a Dick story, and Eric Kripke was involved. I would have known before I went in that it would at least be a good movie. I presume of course, that there isn't more than one Kripke working in Hollywood.
The Adjustment Bureau wasn't hard to figure out, for awhile I thought that it was going to turn out to be some government agency like The Men in Black. But, I can say that I was glad that it wasn't. And I was more than satisfied with what they turned out to be.
I was just left with one odd question, knowing who they were. Why did they need what appeared to be technology to do their adjustments. When they could manipulate objects with the flick of the wrist??
3.5 out of 5 stars
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Stargate Universe
The last episodes of SGU are somewhat depressing to watch, having known that the series has already been cancelled.
But, this weeks past episode was a very good one. The end of the arc that was in progress with the Aliens that the ship had encountered at the end of the mid season break.
I found it to be a very entertaining time travel episode, that works well within the SG Mythos with using the gate too close to a star, and having Rush come back from the future with a warning about that endeavor.
The series has been a great, gritty, hard SciFi breath of fresh air compared to the original two shows. Who were mostly TV Action / Adventure with a stab of comedy thrown in. Which was great, I have all the DVDs. But, Universe was also a wonderful show, and taken in a new direction. With a good cast of characters. With no cut and dry good and bad guys.
I just wish they would have had the knowledge so they could have wrapped the series, because apparently from what I have read they didn't know until after the season had finished. And the idea of possibly a TV movie is being tossed about. Of which I won't hold my breath, seeing as we still haven't gotten the rumored third SG movie, SG Atlantis movie either..
But, this weeks past episode was a very good one. The end of the arc that was in progress with the Aliens that the ship had encountered at the end of the mid season break.
I found it to be a very entertaining time travel episode, that works well within the SG Mythos with using the gate too close to a star, and having Rush come back from the future with a warning about that endeavor.
The series has been a great, gritty, hard SciFi breath of fresh air compared to the original two shows. Who were mostly TV Action / Adventure with a stab of comedy thrown in. Which was great, I have all the DVDs. But, Universe was also a wonderful show, and taken in a new direction. With a good cast of characters. With no cut and dry good and bad guys.
I just wish they would have had the knowledge so they could have wrapped the series, because apparently from what I have read they didn't know until after the season had finished. And the idea of possibly a TV movie is being tossed about. Of which I won't hold my breath, seeing as we still haven't gotten the rumored third SG movie, SG Atlantis movie either..
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Battle : Los Angeles
I've seen that some reviews have given this movie an abysmal 0.5 stars.. I'm left wondering exactly what it was that the reviewers expected when they went to see a movie of this type. Same things happen when all the big summer blockbusters and action movies come out. You know, the ones that you never see at the Oscars. And when you do, they never win any of the big respected awards (Inception)
Anyway, I feel that this movie would have worked a lot better if it had of been made into a 10 part HBO mini series produced by Spielberg and Hanks and having one of the largest budgets ever.. Because this was essentially a war movie. But instead of WW2 it was modern era with Bio Mechanical aliens that not much is known about.
Now, I had some problems with some logic of the movie. But, I can chalk most of that up to the fact that it is a movie. And too much realism would and should mean that the humans would lose. And lose badly.. For one, why is that humans are able to get the drop, or sneak on said Aliens. The ones who traveled thousands of light years to another world With starships and bio technology.. But they don't seem to have thermal imaging, better sensors or what have you.. I know, their aliens maybe they don't see things the same way. But, it breaks my suspension of disbelief nonetheless.
And one other is easily explained within the plot, they didn't know what they were up against. Because, as I was watching this I felt like the aliens that were overseas were probably going to have a hell of a lot harder time with places where RPGs and what not are a lot more common. But, as I said the squad the movie was based on didn't know what they were up against. And were not carrying what they would have preferred to use I would imagine. Given so, I would think they would take more grenades, grenade launchers, and stuff of that nature. Which by the end of the movie they had adjusted some and were doing much better.
I liked the idea that the aliens were wiping out the resistance by tracking and destroying wireless radio communications. That seemed to be smart, if the enemy can't coordinate and communicate it's really going to hamper them.
And having the invaders being some kind of Bio - technological force was interesting. I did find it annoying that you never really get to see them. Even in the heavy fighting scenes it's like quick shots and shaky footage. Almost like they didn't want you too see them, because the CGI wasn't finished or something.
They don't waste much time getting started at the beginning. And for my taste I would have preffered to see more at a higher level. What happened to all the A-10s and heavier weapons. We only see a couple tanks, and lots of Helos and infantry but not much else. The aliens have some kind of mobile weapon on legs that walks around. Which seemed odd, right out of WW2 or something. Didn't seem fitting to a species that has interstellar travel to have a weapon that leaves their operators so exposed.
And yes, at one point thay say they came for the water. Because it's liquid here. (Water being one of the most abundant substances in the universe).. They can once again travel the stars, but come who knows how far because with all this technology and resources they can't melt their own ice into water.. Granted they did say something about the composition of out water.. yeah.. At least the water doesn't melt them like it did in Signs. All the people had to do in that movie was spit at the aliens and blow holes in them.. And it was said that were using water as fuel, so maybe they invaded for another reason. And the decision had more to do with an abundant source of fuel they could use to gain it.
But this is a lot of over thinking.. The movie was a good War movie to me. A movie, not a film. I expect different things from Films than Movies. And they are like two different kinds of visual mediums. I just wish we had more information about the invasion at large. And if there are no sequels than we never find out the aftermath. But at least no one was hacking into an Alien mainframe computer with an Apple Macbook computer.. /groan
3.5 stars out of 5
Anyway, I feel that this movie would have worked a lot better if it had of been made into a 10 part HBO mini series produced by Spielberg and Hanks and having one of the largest budgets ever.. Because this was essentially a war movie. But instead of WW2 it was modern era with Bio Mechanical aliens that not much is known about.
Now, I had some problems with some logic of the movie. But, I can chalk most of that up to the fact that it is a movie. And too much realism would and should mean that the humans would lose. And lose badly.. For one, why is that humans are able to get the drop, or sneak on said Aliens. The ones who traveled thousands of light years to another world With starships and bio technology.. But they don't seem to have thermal imaging, better sensors or what have you.. I know, their aliens maybe they don't see things the same way. But, it breaks my suspension of disbelief nonetheless.
And one other is easily explained within the plot, they didn't know what they were up against. Because, as I was watching this I felt like the aliens that were overseas were probably going to have a hell of a lot harder time with places where RPGs and what not are a lot more common. But, as I said the squad the movie was based on didn't know what they were up against. And were not carrying what they would have preferred to use I would imagine. Given so, I would think they would take more grenades, grenade launchers, and stuff of that nature. Which by the end of the movie they had adjusted some and were doing much better.
I liked the idea that the aliens were wiping out the resistance by tracking and destroying wireless radio communications. That seemed to be smart, if the enemy can't coordinate and communicate it's really going to hamper them.
And having the invaders being some kind of Bio - technological force was interesting. I did find it annoying that you never really get to see them. Even in the heavy fighting scenes it's like quick shots and shaky footage. Almost like they didn't want you too see them, because the CGI wasn't finished or something.
They don't waste much time getting started at the beginning. And for my taste I would have preffered to see more at a higher level. What happened to all the A-10s and heavier weapons. We only see a couple tanks, and lots of Helos and infantry but not much else. The aliens have some kind of mobile weapon on legs that walks around. Which seemed odd, right out of WW2 or something. Didn't seem fitting to a species that has interstellar travel to have a weapon that leaves their operators so exposed.
And yes, at one point thay say they came for the water. Because it's liquid here. (Water being one of the most abundant substances in the universe).. They can once again travel the stars, but come who knows how far because with all this technology and resources they can't melt their own ice into water.. Granted they did say something about the composition of out water.. yeah.. At least the water doesn't melt them like it did in Signs. All the people had to do in that movie was spit at the aliens and blow holes in them.. And it was said that were using water as fuel, so maybe they invaded for another reason. And the decision had more to do with an abundant source of fuel they could use to gain it.
But this is a lot of over thinking.. The movie was a good War movie to me. A movie, not a film. I expect different things from Films than Movies. And they are like two different kinds of visual mediums. I just wish we had more information about the invasion at large. And if there are no sequels than we never find out the aftermath. But at least no one was hacking into an Alien mainframe computer with an Apple Macbook computer.. /groan
3.5 stars out of 5
Monday, February 28, 2011
I am number four
Managed to get to see this one. I would have to say that it wasn't the most original thing I ever saw. And it has a rather strong resemblance to Percy Jackson. But then, the formula for both aren't original so maybe it's just that.
The problem I had, was just that there almost no plot laid out in the movie. We don't learn all that much about much of anything at all. There are enough seeds, that I am interested in seeing how it all plays out. Assuming that this one makes enough money (And all the books come out) to see sequels produced.
I liked the cast, the acting was good enough. And the best part of the cast was the dog. I very much enjoyed the dog. Especially at the end. And the beginning when he was a Chameleon Lizard.
Probably the best movie that had a large component in high school since Band Slam. Since we've been suffering through Twilight this last couple years.
The villains are all pretty bland, and rather pathetic actually compared the ones they hunt now that they are becoming of age. But, again we don't know anything. And not told much of anything. So it's hard to put into context. But by the time I left the theatre if these children of the gard are this powerful and getting stronger. And stronger together. How did these two bit villains ever destroy their planet?? We need more information and it better be forthcoming..
3 stars out of 5
The problem I had, was just that there almost no plot laid out in the movie. We don't learn all that much about much of anything at all. There are enough seeds, that I am interested in seeing how it all plays out. Assuming that this one makes enough money (And all the books come out) to see sequels produced.
I liked the cast, the acting was good enough. And the best part of the cast was the dog. I very much enjoyed the dog. Especially at the end. And the beginning when he was a Chameleon Lizard.
Probably the best movie that had a large component in high school since Band Slam. Since we've been suffering through Twilight this last couple years.
The villains are all pretty bland, and rather pathetic actually compared the ones they hunt now that they are becoming of age. But, again we don't know anything. And not told much of anything. So it's hard to put into context. But by the time I left the theatre if these children of the gard are this powerful and getting stronger. And stronger together. How did these two bit villains ever destroy their planet?? We need more information and it better be forthcoming..
3 stars out of 5
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Tron : Legacy
It's been so long that I no longer clearly remember what the original movie was like. But I can say that the sequel was basically a summer FX popcorn movie released at Xmas time. The is little to no substance to the movie. And a great deal that doesn't make a lot of sense.
We know why people had to eat and drink in the Matrix.. But it seems to make no sense why they would do so in the Grid. And the Portal that the movie seems to be centered on, that Clu doesn't want them to reach, or is so dangerous and heavily guarded to reach.. has a train that runs straight to it..
Anyway, enjoy it for what it is.. A Sci Fi version of 2012.. eat your popcorn and enjoy the ride. Just don't think a lot about it after you leave the theatre.
Rent it..
2 stars out of 5
We know why people had to eat and drink in the Matrix.. But it seems to make no sense why they would do so in the Grid. And the Portal that the movie seems to be centered on, that Clu doesn't want them to reach, or is so dangerous and heavily guarded to reach.. has a train that runs straight to it..
Anyway, enjoy it for what it is.. A Sci Fi version of 2012.. eat your popcorn and enjoy the ride. Just don't think a lot about it after you leave the theatre.
Rent it..
2 stars out of 5
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Fringe
Well, looks like Fox is giving the show the kiss of death. That's too bad. Moving to Friday nights, doesn't seem to have worked for any show since the X - Files what 18 years ago.. And when it moved to Sunday nights, everyone followed.
But, with PVRs and stuff now, I just don't see audiences following a show, and changing their schedules like it happened back then.
And to try and claim that pairing it up with Kitchen Nightmares or whatever Kitchen show and claiming moving to Friday night isn't a death knell is just foolish..
Here hoping they can wrap up major plots before it's over.
But, with PVRs and stuff now, I just don't see audiences following a show, and changing their schedules like it happened back then.
And to try and claim that pairing it up with Kitchen Nightmares or whatever Kitchen show and claiming moving to Friday night isn't a death knell is just foolish..
Here hoping they can wrap up major plots before it's over.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
BSG The Epic Series
First up, finally managed to finish watching Battlestar Galactica The Epic Series. I can now say that I have seen every episode. And I was a little surprised at where it ended. I vaguely remember that episode. And for them to be getting close to earth, for it just end there. Well, was disappointing. The set had a few eps of 1980 tacked onto the end, but I won't bother with them.
I will go out on a limb here, and say that I enjoyed the original a lot more than the new series. Even with all the campy and cheesiness of the dialogue at times. And the throwing around of galaxies and universes and stuff. The special effects and model work held up great. And I love the old cylons better than the new ones. And all the politcal, religious zealotry just didn't entertain me as much as a 30+ year old space opera action adventure show did.
Oh, and I probably did see them all as a kid, but I hardly remember that.
I will go out on a limb here, and say that I enjoyed the original a lot more than the new series. Even with all the campy and cheesiness of the dialogue at times. And the throwing around of galaxies and universes and stuff. The special effects and model work held up great. And I love the old cylons better than the new ones. And all the politcal, religious zealotry just didn't entertain me as much as a 30+ year old space opera action adventure show did.
Oh, and I probably did see them all as a kid, but I hardly remember that.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Reading Material
Eifelheim is a novel by Michael Flynn published in 2006. It's about a small village in the 1300s close to the Black Forest of Germany.
One day they notice thunder & lightening and strange occurrences in the forest. And it becomes known to the local Pastor and a few others that new visitors have arrived in the forest from another world.
The book covers the interactions of the aliens with the Medieval village over a period of I think, was less than a couple years. And how people of that time dealt with it.
The book is told from two perspectives. One mainly from the view of the local Pastor in 1348. And the other in the present from a Physics Professor and her boyfriend who studies population and settlements and what not ( lack of remembering what it's called). It begins with him trying to figure out why a village was abandoned in the late 1340s for no reason. When there appeared to be an abundant amount of local resources that people would not just leave behind, or resettle in a generation or two.
The book was slow to get started, but it builds and gets rolling along. The author did a great job on his homework, or else he is a history buff himself. The book did a great job imparting a small part of what life must have been like for the people in the 1340s. And dread of the coming plague at that time. And how they would struggle with the understanding of what had come to visit them. Although in my opinion, I don't know if as many people would accept the aliens as did in the novel. But then, if they didn't wouldn't be much of a novel so..
Read it, great book.
One day they notice thunder & lightening and strange occurrences in the forest. And it becomes known to the local Pastor and a few others that new visitors have arrived in the forest from another world.
The book covers the interactions of the aliens with the Medieval village over a period of I think, was less than a couple years. And how people of that time dealt with it.
The book is told from two perspectives. One mainly from the view of the local Pastor in 1348. And the other in the present from a Physics Professor and her boyfriend who studies population and settlements and what not ( lack of remembering what it's called). It begins with him trying to figure out why a village was abandoned in the late 1340s for no reason. When there appeared to be an abundant amount of local resources that people would not just leave behind, or resettle in a generation or two.
The book was slow to get started, but it builds and gets rolling along. The author did a great job on his homework, or else he is a history buff himself. The book did a great job imparting a small part of what life must have been like for the people in the 1340s. And dread of the coming plague at that time. And how they would struggle with the understanding of what had come to visit them. Although in my opinion, I don't know if as many people would accept the aliens as did in the novel. But then, if they didn't wouldn't be much of a novel so..
Read it, great book.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Dr Who??
After all these years, I may have finally seen a few episodes of the show that I actually liked. I liked the previuous Dr.. David Tennant but the show that he was a part of seemed to be just as bad as all the other episodes I managed to catch over the years.
Now, I like BBC stuff. And as far as I'm concerned Red Dwarf is the best thing to ever come from across the pond. No, I didn't much care for the Beatles and as much as a travesty as it was when I was kid I really didn't like Monty Python.
But the new younger Doctor so far has been pretty good. And from what I've been reading, it must be because of the darker tone that the show has taken. I've been watching Torchwood, not a bad show. The last miniseries was the best. But the new Dr Who seems to be even darker than Torchwood.
Now granted, I've only seen about 3 episodes so far. But the Angels episode was a good hour. I'll look forward to watching the rest of the season when I manage to catch it.
But I will always be crossing my fingers for more Red Dwarf !!!
Now, I like BBC stuff. And as far as I'm concerned Red Dwarf is the best thing to ever come from across the pond. No, I didn't much care for the Beatles and as much as a travesty as it was when I was kid I really didn't like Monty Python.
But the new younger Doctor so far has been pretty good. And from what I've been reading, it must be because of the darker tone that the show has taken. I've been watching Torchwood, not a bad show. The last miniseries was the best. But the new Dr Who seems to be even darker than Torchwood.
Now granted, I've only seen about 3 episodes so far. But the Angels episode was a good hour. I'll look forward to watching the rest of the season when I manage to catch it.
But I will always be crossing my fingers for more Red Dwarf !!!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Stargate: Universe
I really hope that the mess at MGM doesn't cause this show to get shelved or even cancelled. Kind of like what's been going on with the new James Bond movie.
This weeks episode was great, and I'm looking forward to the last few new episodes pretty much more than anything else on TV.
I find it to be a nice breath of fresh air, and a real gamble that they took. Breaking from SG1 and Atlantis and making a more character driven show, with the Sci fi being more of a backseat. With the originals being so Action Adventure with the comedy tossed in. This one is a real departure.
Pretty much in the mold of the new Battlestar Galactica, which although I liked it. I like SG:U much better.
Heres hoping for 6 more seasons at least..
This weeks episode was great, and I'm looking forward to the last few new episodes pretty much more than anything else on TV.
I find it to be a nice breath of fresh air, and a real gamble that they took. Breaking from SG1 and Atlantis and making a more character driven show, with the Sci fi being more of a backseat. With the originals being so Action Adventure with the comedy tossed in. This one is a real departure.
Pretty much in the mold of the new Battlestar Galactica, which although I liked it. I like SG:U much better.
Heres hoping for 6 more seasons at least..
Friday, April 30, 2010
Weekend
Stargate: Universe is coming up tonight, I think it's a new ep. I didn't check the PVR schedule today.
And A Nightmare on Elm Street is coming out, with Jackie Earl Haley. Looking forward to getting to that. Rated 18A so should cut down on a lot of the rabble from getting in to ruin the movie. Wonder if Dokken is on the soundtrack..
And A Nightmare on Elm Street is coming out, with Jackie Earl Haley. Looking forward to getting to that. Rated 18A so should cut down on a lot of the rabble from getting in to ruin the movie. Wonder if Dokken is on the soundtrack..
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