kingsx25213
Lifetime Total
1+
IMDb Member
18 years
Reviews
Masters of Horror (2005)
Should be called "Masters of Horrible"
I was very excited when this series premiered in 2005. The premise was very simple and appealing: each episode would be a one-hour mini movie directed by a famous, noteworthy horror director. Then, when I finally watched them it was a bit of a letdown. Some good episodes emerged from that first season, but all in all it was a mixed bag. I attributed it to the learning curve, and figured that season 2 would be a whole lot better.
Boy, was I in for a shock. At least season one had a few good stories here and there. Season 2 (with the exception of "The Black Cat" starring the excellent Jeffrey Combs) was a complete and total loss to me. The episode "Sounds Like" may very well be the worst thing I have watched on TV in the last 10 years, and most of the other episodes aren't much better. I really hope that season 3 turns this around next year, but I'm not holding my breath.
Boy, was I in for a shock. At least season one had a few good stories here and there. Season 2 (with the exception of "The Black Cat" starring the excellent Jeffrey Combs) was a complete and total loss to me. The episode "Sounds Like" may very well be the worst thing I have watched on TV in the last 10 years, and most of the other episodes aren't much better. I really hope that season 3 turns this around next year, but I'm not holding my breath.
Serenity (2005)
An excellent mix of action, humor and drama
Firefly fans will not be disappointed by Joss Whedon's first venture to the big screen, and newcomers will likely fall in love with it as well if given a chance. When Fox pulled the plug on Firefly three years ago I figured that was the last we'd ever see of Serenity and her crew. But persistence from the fans and Joss Whedon himself has resulted in one of the most entertaining movies of 2005. In a year when movie quality has been largely put on the back burner, Serenity delivers the goods. It isn't a film that will change the world, but it is everything it promises to be: a rip-roaring sci fi actioner with plenty of excitement, drama, comedy and, for Firefly fans, a sense of closure. Joss pulled off an amazing feat when making this movie by coming up with a story that is accessible to everyone, not just Firefly fans. You really don't have to have any prior knowledge of the series to enjoy this movie. And enjoy it you will, if you decide to go see it. Every newbee I have spoken to had a great time with this film, and most walked away with a desire to see the old Firefly episodes as well. For fans and non-fans alike, this is definitely worth a look.
Stargate SG-1 (1997)
Am I watching the same show?
No , I'm not about to slag off on Stargate SG-1, but I still have to wonder if I'm watching the same show as my friends and co-workers. I've listened to them rave about this series for quite some time now, and since it is virtually impossible to turn to the Sci Fi Channel without seeing an episode running, I decided to watch and see what all the fuss was about.
Mind you, it is not a bad series and has many redeemable qualities. It has gorgeous production values and a credible cast to its credit. I just feel that it is a tad...overrated. It is an action/adventure show pure and simple, but doesn't aspire to be anything more. To me, there is nothing to set it apart from most of the other science fiction out there. It just doesn't grab me. I certainly can't see how it has gained such a rabid following, or why Sci Fi Channel has chosen to devote 90% of its airwave time to broadcasting this show. They show it so much (past episodes and new ones alike) that it should be renamed The Stargate Channel. On the other hand, SG-1 is light years ahead of the drek that is Stargate Atlantis, so it deserves some praise.
My own current list of Science Fiction faves (past and present) are as follows:
1. FIREFLY - Fox's late, lamented Space Western from the mind of Joss Whedon gives the sci fi genre a kick in the teeth. Its premise is simple: In the future the galaxy has fallen under control of the Alliance following a galactic civil war. In the core systems, civilization is high tech, with towering futuristic cities, flying cars, the works. Out on the frontier worlds, life is hard and primitive. Settlers came to these terraformed worlds with little more than the shirts on their backs. They live in cabins. They ride horses. Basically, it's the old west hundreds of years in the future, yet Joss makes it work. Currently airing on Sci Fi on Friday nights before - you guessed it - Stargate SG-1.
2. DOCTOR WHO (2005) - Anyone who ever trashed the original BBC series for being hokey and cheap looking need to watch this series and give the concept a serious re-evaluation. Russell T Davies and crew have done a marvelous job in updating this series for a 21st century audience. With eye-popping visual effects, a great cast, and ambitious scripts, this is Doctor Who for the modern age. Also, the series starts off fresh, so it is not required to have watched any of the original series in order to enjoy it. Currently it is not airing in the US (although the rest of the civilized world have bought it), so download it from the internet or whatever else you have to do to watch it. It's that good.
3. FARSCAPE - The show grew a bit weak toward the end but still remains a favorite. Ambitious and visually dazzling, this show turned the space opera concept on its ear by having the human be the alien among the crew, who do not always get along (unlike Star Trek). The show still has a rabid following, one that Sci Fi Channel is wanting to cash in on by putting Ben Browder and Claudia Black on SG-1.
4. THE INVISIBLE MAN - I could easily turn this into a Sci-Fi channel bashfest. They canceled Farscape, and before that they pulled the plug on this overlooked gem of a show. Tapping into the governmental conspiracy genre that was popularized by The X-Files, this show was fast, funny and a joy to watch each week. Sadly missed.
5. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (2005) - The one thing that Sci Fi has gotten right in a long time. Dark, somber, depressing. All the things you'd expect from a doomsday scenario about the genocide of the human race. Yet it is compelling, serious drama that you can't take your eyes off of. And getting Edward James Olmos to play Commander Adama is the casting coup of the century. Seriously.
6. STAR TREK DEEP SPACE NINE - A sadly overlooked portion of the mighty Star Trek franchise, this show is the best installment since the original series. It offers a more realistic view of the Trek universe than the bland Voyager or the ridiculous Enterprise could ever hope to achieve. A fairly weak show in its first couple of seasons, it took off like a rocket when the conflict with the Dominion was introduced and Worf was added to the cast. More was done with this character in a single season of DS9 than in all 7 years of Next Generation, which is why I consider Worf to be a DS9 character, not a TNG one. Proof that a good Star Trek show can be made when Rick Berman doesn't have his hand in it. Kudos to Ira Steven Behr.
Mind you, it is not a bad series and has many redeemable qualities. It has gorgeous production values and a credible cast to its credit. I just feel that it is a tad...overrated. It is an action/adventure show pure and simple, but doesn't aspire to be anything more. To me, there is nothing to set it apart from most of the other science fiction out there. It just doesn't grab me. I certainly can't see how it has gained such a rabid following, or why Sci Fi Channel has chosen to devote 90% of its airwave time to broadcasting this show. They show it so much (past episodes and new ones alike) that it should be renamed The Stargate Channel. On the other hand, SG-1 is light years ahead of the drek that is Stargate Atlantis, so it deserves some praise.
My own current list of Science Fiction faves (past and present) are as follows:
1. FIREFLY - Fox's late, lamented Space Western from the mind of Joss Whedon gives the sci fi genre a kick in the teeth. Its premise is simple: In the future the galaxy has fallen under control of the Alliance following a galactic civil war. In the core systems, civilization is high tech, with towering futuristic cities, flying cars, the works. Out on the frontier worlds, life is hard and primitive. Settlers came to these terraformed worlds with little more than the shirts on their backs. They live in cabins. They ride horses. Basically, it's the old west hundreds of years in the future, yet Joss makes it work. Currently airing on Sci Fi on Friday nights before - you guessed it - Stargate SG-1.
2. DOCTOR WHO (2005) - Anyone who ever trashed the original BBC series for being hokey and cheap looking need to watch this series and give the concept a serious re-evaluation. Russell T Davies and crew have done a marvelous job in updating this series for a 21st century audience. With eye-popping visual effects, a great cast, and ambitious scripts, this is Doctor Who for the modern age. Also, the series starts off fresh, so it is not required to have watched any of the original series in order to enjoy it. Currently it is not airing in the US (although the rest of the civilized world have bought it), so download it from the internet or whatever else you have to do to watch it. It's that good.
3. FARSCAPE - The show grew a bit weak toward the end but still remains a favorite. Ambitious and visually dazzling, this show turned the space opera concept on its ear by having the human be the alien among the crew, who do not always get along (unlike Star Trek). The show still has a rabid following, one that Sci Fi Channel is wanting to cash in on by putting Ben Browder and Claudia Black on SG-1.
4. THE INVISIBLE MAN - I could easily turn this into a Sci-Fi channel bashfest. They canceled Farscape, and before that they pulled the plug on this overlooked gem of a show. Tapping into the governmental conspiracy genre that was popularized by The X-Files, this show was fast, funny and a joy to watch each week. Sadly missed.
5. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (2005) - The one thing that Sci Fi has gotten right in a long time. Dark, somber, depressing. All the things you'd expect from a doomsday scenario about the genocide of the human race. Yet it is compelling, serious drama that you can't take your eyes off of. And getting Edward James Olmos to play Commander Adama is the casting coup of the century. Seriously.
6. STAR TREK DEEP SPACE NINE - A sadly overlooked portion of the mighty Star Trek franchise, this show is the best installment since the original series. It offers a more realistic view of the Trek universe than the bland Voyager or the ridiculous Enterprise could ever hope to achieve. A fairly weak show in its first couple of seasons, it took off like a rocket when the conflict with the Dominion was introduced and Worf was added to the cast. More was done with this character in a single season of DS9 than in all 7 years of Next Generation, which is why I consider Worf to be a DS9 character, not a TNG one. Proof that a good Star Trek show can be made when Rick Berman doesn't have his hand in it. Kudos to Ira Steven Behr.