TV Shows
Review by Dario
May 15, 2009
Lost
Season 5 finale,
Produced by: ABC Studios, Bad Robot Productions and Grass Skirt Productions,
Creators: JJ Abrams, Damon Lindelof, Jeffrey Lieber
I've been reluctant to write about LOST for a while now. Being one of my favorite shows running, the series has a depth in both character development and mythology. Now as we complete season 5 and approach the final season, LOST is resolving unanswered questions and ramping up the excitement for next year. So lets talk season 5.
LOST has proven true to their word, the creators and writers have focused on propelling the story-line towards its conclusion in such a way that its difficult now for casual viewers to climb on board. Having spent the majority of season five bringing the survivors of Oceanic 815 back together on the island albeit in two different time lines. Yes, i said time lines. Following two story lines, one in the islands past 1977 during the occupation of the DHARMA Initiative as they build key structures such as the SWAN station and existing sites like the Orchard and Flame Stations. FIve of our cast, Hugo, Miles, Faraday, Juliet and Sawyer found themselves stranded in 1977 once Locke found a way to stop the island from skipping across time but ultimately results in his death. While in 2008, Locke (freshly risen from the dead due to island mojo magic), Ben, Sun and Lapadis attempt to find out how to reunite the groups. At least thats what we lead to believe until last nights finale.
Titled "The Incident" the season finale is a full two hours of action, starting with Sawyer and company hijacking the submarine so they may get back to the island, while Jack and the remaining security force at the DHARMA compound have a shoot out resulting in Sayid being shot in the chest and gravely wounded. Characters that had been separated for the last few episodes gather together under the leadership of Jack (the Believer) in an attempt to change history by using a H Bomb to dissipate the energy at the SWAN Station and therefore result in their plane never crashing on the island. The show only pauses a few moments to flash to the present as Locke and the Others march with Ben and Sun to see Jacob. Unknowingly to everyone else, Locke has persuaded Ben to kill Jacob when they arrive. The other big reveal, we finally get to see Jacob, and not half way or at the end of the episode but right in the opening scene, Jacob, garbed in a white shirt and busy at a loom weaving what I can only surmise is the tapestry of destiny (yea, the imagery is a little heavy handed) pauses for lunch and to check on an approaching pirate ship meets with another unnamed person garbed in black. The two have a short discussion on the approaching ship, the man in black casually tells Jacob he will kill him once he finds a loophole and saunters back off into the jungle. Finally we have what appears to be a true villain on the island and I'm sure will be the main baddie for next season. As I said, this is a full two hours of awesomeness that ends in a cliffhanger that will cause the show to be talked about all summer.
Now, does LOST live up to all the hype on how it's being handled and where its going? I think so. The upcoming final season already looks like it's going to be a non stop ride and is something to look forward to.
Review by Dario
March 15, 2009
Iron Man Armored Adventures
The newest animated version of Iron Man has finally hit the screens Friday Nights on Nicktoons. Re-envisioning the story of Iron Man, the series focuses on the teenage adventures of Tony Stark as he deals with school and battling to reclaim Stark Industries (his fathers company) from the evil of Obadiah Stane with his teenage friends Jim Rhodes and Pepper Pots. The first two episodes tells the origin of Iron Man, how the 16 year old Tony Stark acquires his heart condition and how his father was killed by Obadiah for not weaponizing his inventions for sale to the government along with setting up the long term Mandarin plot.
The creators of the show decided to use the same sort of computer animation that was used in one of the last Spiderman animated series and while the style is suited for some computer games nowadays, the best example being the Zelda game for the GameCube, its not very good for a TV show. The style is too simple for such a high tech focused show and after a while really started to grain on me. Also, retelling the story of Iron Man as a teenager is obviously to bring in the younger audiences since they couldn't possibly focus on the other big issues Tony Stark has like alcoholism and womanizing. I will say however that some is pretty good for what it is, we have the standard stop the runaway train spot and Iron Man vs Giant Robots which were fine for action sequences for the show, and we are just beginning to see in the first two part episode what type of high school issues Tony will have but I'm thinking that either the creators will just cope out and copy Spiderman story lines or just ignore it for the most part as Tony is so far above anyone in his school I'm surprised they even allow him to be in the same class level as the other kids. Its worth the initial look but I'm betting the show won't last more then a season or two at best, at least until next year when the new movie is released and they can ride the success of that for a while.
Check it out at the link below:
http://nicktoonsnetwork.nick.com/shows/iron-man-armored-adventures/
Review by Dario
May 1, 2009
G.I. Joe Resolute
Writer: Warren Ellis
Aired: Cartoon Network Adult Swim
Time; about an hour
I had no idea this was even in the works. A new G.I. Joe animated movie written by non other then Warren Ellis and aimed at older audiences. Once I found out I went right out and found a copy to watch and I'm telling you, this is the BEST G.I. Joe i've seen since i watched the first animated mini series back in the 80's.
Focusing on the core early characters, we see right away that the lasers and parachutes are gone and in is a level of violence expected with a team using guns and knifes. Granted, the blood is just about non existent in this but don't worry, its not needed to convey the real action and excitement of this treasure.
To summarize the story, Cobra Commander, tired of being seen as a cowardly leader goes all out and tries it all at once. It begins with the deaths, and lots of them on both sides. You'll see all your favorites from both teams in the fight of their lives as the Joes try to stop Cobra from destroying more then one major city. (whoops, did i let something slip there..)
Try to get it soon, you won't be disappointed with this one. And, if your like me and not expecting much at all from the live action film this at least will most definitely satisfy you.
Review by Dario
January 30, 2009
TV Review
Wolverine and the X-MEN
Well the newest X-MEN cartoon finally aired on Nicktoons here in the states and at this time is three episodes in. The first story arc “Hindsight” is just about done and has done a great job in telling the story of mutants and their fight against anti mutant oppression.
As the story starts, Wolverine is about to leave Xavier’s school for gifted youngsters but just as he is saying his goodbyes, a mysterious explosion hits and destroys the school. Flash-forward a few years, Wolverine is on his own and on the run from the Mutant Registration Department.
Over the course of the first two episodes we see Wolverine bringing together the X-MEN to fight the solders of the Mutant Registration Act and the Terrorists of the Brotherhood consisting of Blob, The Toad, Avalange, Domino, Quicksilver and Rogue.
Previews of the upcoming episodes look really entertaining and I’m looking forward to watching them, try to check it out if you can.
You can enjoy full episodes at “www.areyouamutant.com”
Review by Dario
January 25, 2009
TV Update:
Doctor Who: The Planet of the Dead
News is out that the upcoming Easter Special will star Michelle Ryan playing the role of Lady Christina de Souza alongside David Tennant. Michelle Ryan stared in East Enders, The BBC Mini Series Jekyll and the American Series remake of The Bionic Woman.
Review by Dario
January 9, 2009
Eleventh Doctor announced
BBC announced January 3rd that Matt Smith will be the eleventh Doctor as of 2010. Ever since David Tennent announced he would be stepping down from the role back in October of last year the hunt was on for a suitable replacement. With rumors ranging from Catherine Zeta Jones to David Walliams, the new creative team finally made the big announcement. Headed by Steven Moffat conducted top secret interviews and finally decided on Matt Smith. Matt Smith can be seen in Party Animals and The Ruby in the Smoke.
Review by Dario
January 9, 2009
Doctor Who Christmas Special: The Next Doctor
Merry Christmas Whovians! Time to enjoy our yearly Doctor Who Christmas Specials that we've come to all know and love. This year we see the Doctor landing in Victorian London on Christmas Eve being swept up in the moment, and just in time to hear
a cry for the Doctors help, only not for our Doctor, but the Next Doctor.
Turns out this Doctor (played by David Morrissey) has been hot on the trail of a Cyberman plot alongside his stalwart companion Rosita and the Doctor (played by David Tennant) arrived just in time to assist as a Cybershade attacks. Morrissey's Doctor claims to have had a difficult regeneration that has left him with large gaps in his memory. Once Tennant's Doctor realizes this he decides to keep his identity quiet and take on the role of the Companion and help the Doctor in his investigations.
With the shows duel Doctors, and duel plots I found that the Cyberman story thread was the weaker of the two. While I really think the Cybermen are a great enemy and should be used more, if only to give the Daleks a much needed rest, the emotions and mystery of the two Doctors really out shined the "hide behind the sofa" monsters. Once again we see little glimpses into the Doctors past and how he really feels he will always be alone, but its times like this Christmas Special that show him things in a different light and helps make that happy Christmas ending we all expect.
Review by Dario
November 12, 2008
Doctor Who News
The Next Doctor Christmas Special Preview
On November 14th BBC-Children in Need 2008 will have an exclusive preview of the forthcoming Doctor Who Christmas Special. This two-minute clip entitled The Next Doctor will show the Doctor played by David Tennant in Victorian England alongside another “Doctor” played by David Morrissey. Rumor has it that the story takes place in the alternate universe occupied by the Cybermen, not the normal universe. It’s only a few months away until he Christmas Special airs and I can’t wait!
David Tennant has also announced that 2009 will be the last season he will be playing The Doctor. David Tennant took the role of The Doctor in 2005 after Christopher Eccleston helped revive the series. In 2009 there will be a series of 3 Doctor Who Specials written by Russell T Davis in place of a full season and will return in 2010 with a new actor playing the Doctor for a full season.
Review by Dario.
June 12, 2008
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a scifi series from BBC that focuses on the adventures of The Last Time Lord and his travels through Time and Space in his T.A.R.D.I.S (Time And Relative Dimensions In Space), which I may add is shaped like an English police telephone box. Originally intended as children’s history show when it premiered in 1963 the show quickly took on a life of its own and became the preverbal “hide behind the sofa” monster show for children to watch and be entertained by running until 1986 and spawning 7 incarnations of the Doctor through out the original run of the show. I’ve been a whovian since the early 80’s, tuning in the adventures of Doctor Who being played by Tom Baker was one of my favorite things to do on a Saturday night. Making sure the rabbit ears where tuned and the channel was coming in with maybe only one or two wavy lines as the Doctor and his companions in the TARDIS fought off the evil Manicheans of villains like the Cybermen, Master and the Daleks.
Thank Gawd BBC decided to revive this wonderful show with the help of Russell T. Davis. Since 2005 we’ve had the chance to enjoy the Doctors adventures once again with season 4 just wrapping up on the SciFi channel here in the US. The producers did a great job reintroducing the character with such a rich history through the eyes of a new companion Rose Tyler, using this format in the first season we were taken on the same wild ride Rose was as we learned more and more of the Doctor. If you haven’t given this show a chance yet I highly suggest it, you won’t be disappointed.
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