Battle of Los Angeles (2011) Movie Review

Author Archives

Battle of Los Angeles (2011) Movie Review

Joseph Savitski March 16, 2011

It’s an intractable law of the cosmos; being that for every massively hyped blockbuster, some low rent studio will crank out a hideous product in hopes of riding the coattails of a hit to some success. So it’s probably of little surprise somebody would insert an “of” in “Battle:Los Angeles”, trying to convince viewers their film’s as good as the theatrical film. It’s not. It doesn’t make things any better that “Battle of Los Angeles” came from Asylum Studios, a place fast becoming the Merchant Ivory producers of movies so bad they would’ve made Ed Wood Jr quit filmmaking and consider a career in used cars. Probably the biggest rub is how much this film was done on the cheap; cheap as in they probably had probably had production assistants panhandling to get cash to finish the film. Shot on the Asylum Studios lot in L.A. on a $300,000 budget, it’s safe to say this “Battle” was lost a long… Continue Reading »

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1977) Movie Image

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1977) Movie Review

Joseph Savitski March 14, 2011

Thanks to Rialto and Classic Media, fans everywhere know of the classic monster movie that was previously elusive before the early 1990s. Oddly, Italian producer Luigi Cozzi’s cut remains consigned to obscurity. On second thought, maybe that isn’t so strange…. Before the flirtation in the mid 80s with colorizing black and white films, Italian film maker Cozzi decided to take a crack at making Godzilla a bit more bright and cheery. Using an early colorization process called Spectrorama 70, a process where colored gel is applied to existing black and white footage. The result isn’t exactly pretty, as a bizarre glow permeates every frame of the film. New music was composed for the film by Magnetic System; a rave kind of music the likes of which has never been seen in a Godzilla film before or thankfully ever again. Akira Ifukube’s work is heavily re-edited, along with sound effects, to allow for more wailing screams and raging winds. None of… Continue Reading »

Doctor Who: A Christmas Special Promo Image

TV Review: Doctor Who – A Christmas Carol

Joseph Savitski March 14, 2011

It’s been announced that new episodes of the fave Time Lord will be hitting screens April 23rd, an eternity for fans who’ve been facing withdrawal symptoms that rival those endured by heroin addicts. At least they have the latest Christmas special to ease their suffering, released in BBC logic shortly after Valentine’s Day. It’s not a perfect offering, but it is an entertaining spectacle to while away an hour or so. On their honeymoon, Amy and Rory find the passenger ship they’re on experiencing a slight problem. Namely, it’s about to crash and kill everyone aboard. The only chance for survival is to land on the planet beneath them; it’s a world controlled by the cruel and heartless Kazran Sardick who doesn’t have the remotest interest in handing out humanitarian aid. But The Doctor takes a page from Dickens, deciding to give Sardick a “Christmas Carol” of his own, in hopes of persuading him to save the doomed ship. But… Continue Reading »

TV Review: Doctor Who: Music of the Spheres

Joseph Savitski October 24, 2010

It’ll be at least three more months until fans get a new episode of “Doctor Who”, but they’ll be relieved to know there’s still some hidden nuggets that’ll help tide them over until the annual Christmas episode. “Music of the Spheres” is just one of those, an entertaining eight minute short created for the 2008 “Doctor Who Prom” held at the Royal Albert Hall. One of the least seen performances by David Tennant as the 10th Doctor, it’s certainly one fans will enjoy. We find The Doctor sprawled out on the floor of the TARDIS, quill in hand and busy writing on sheets of music. He’s busy composing a symphony based on the gravitational patterns of the universe, a veritable “music of the spheres”. Unfortunately, he’s been so busy he’s left the shielding down, and a Graske teleports in. A diminutive and pesky alien, it claims to have come to warn him about a wormhole that has opened into the… Continue Reading »

Star Wars Millennium Falcon 3D Owner's Guide 2

Book Review: Star Wars — Millennium Falcon 3D Owner’s Guide

Joseph Savitski October 22, 2010

Remember how cool it was to be a “Star Wars” fan in the late 90′s, that gloriously heady period between 1997 and 1999? Between the special editions raking in cash hand over fist in theaters and the flood of anticipation over the new film, fans who had over a decade of famine suddenly had more than they ever dreamed of. That all vanished like the morning dew at first light when “Episode 1″ unspooled, and fandom spent the remainder of the summer taking anti-depressant and making frequent calls to the local suicide hot line. There really hasn’t been any product that captured the quicksilver sparkle of that period, but the “Millennium Falcon 3D Owner’s Manual” comes pretty close. Granted, it’s a coffee table book with no actual plot or characters to speak of. But it’s an elaborately done piece of work, creatively constructed with everything you’ll ever need to know about everyone’s favorite Corellian starship. The writing by Ryder Williams… Continue Reading »

Book Review: I Am Number Four

Joseph Savitski August 22, 2010

The truly great “teen” novels transcend age limits. “Harry Potter” is probably the best example of a book written for young adults with true imagination that attracts readers of all ages like moths to a flame. “I Am Number Four” won’t have to worry about burning insects falling about around it, because it never threatens to be anything more than a novel to be appreciated entirely by a teenage audience. The novel is a decent read, but it becomes forgettable just as quickly. When their home planet of Lorien was invaded by the evil Mogadarians, intent on raping the planet of all its natural resources, nine special infants were sent to Earth for safe refuge. Human in appearance, the infants were to wait until their superpowers developed so they could then return to Lorien to restore the planet. But the raiders have pursued them to Earth for a final mop up mission. A special charm placed upon the nine chosen… Continue Reading »

Solomon Kane (2009) Movie Review

Joseph Savitski July 21, 2010

Conan wasn’t the only literary bad ass created by Robert Howard; the author was also responsible for the lesser known Puritan hero Solomon Kane. Although possessing a staunch morality, Kane was every bit as fierce as the famed barbarian. It’s a shame “Solomon Kane” sits on the shelf with no US release date, it’s an adaptation that would make Howard grin from ear to ear–wherever he is in the afterlife. When the film opens, Kane is not yet a scourge of evil–quite the opposite in fact. A merciless privateer, he finds himself confronted by the Devil’s Reaper seeking his soul as part of a “deal”. It turns out the deal the Reaper refers to is Solomon’s life of murder and pillage, God has forsaken him and now the Devil wants his due. Fighting off the Reaper and narrowly escaping, Kane dramatically changes. Joining a monastery, he gives all his ill-gotten wealth to the church and renounces violence. But the quiet… Continue Reading »

Doctor Who 5.11 The Pandorica Opens Recap

Joseph Savitski July 18, 2010

The end is here for this season of “Doctor Who”, with all the dire prophecies coming home to roost. So it’s put up or shut up time for Steven Moffat, time to make an episode that lives up to everything that’s been building up since “The Eleventh Hour”. And boy does Moffat ever put up, giving us a breathless and wild show that’s as clever as it is jaw dropping. Russell T. Davies, ya got schooled. We open with Vincent van Gogh, who has created a painting that’s driven him to raving madness, a painting his companions cannot even remotely fathom. Cut to a World War II bunker, where the painting is brought to the attention of Winston Churchill. He contacts River Song, who breaks out of her prison cell and contacts The Doctor in a manner even he can’t ignore. The TARDIS arrives in ancient England, where time travelers encounter a battalion of Roman soldiers and River masquerading as… Continue Reading »

Doctor Who 5.10 Vincent and the Doctor Recap

Joseph Savitski June 28, 2010

We last left The Doctor in a pretty dark place. Rory had just died a senseless death near one of the cracks in the universe, and the cascading time energy erased him from existence. Even worse when The Doctor retrieved a piece of debris from inside the rift–only to discover an exploded piece of his TARDIS. So after those shocking events, it’s nice to have the show settle down and offer us some human drama before leaping back into cataclysmic events. Touring an exhibit of the works of Vincent van Gogh, The Doctor notices something amiss in a painting of a church. There’s the face of an evil alien in one of the windows, and if anyone knows evil aliens it’s The Doctor. So it’s back to the TARDIS and back to the time of van Gogh, to sent this extraterrestrial beastie back whence it came. They encounter possibly the greatest painter who ever lived, although he’s as popular in… Continue Reading »

Doctor Who: Shada (1992) Movie Review

Joseph Savitski June 20, 2010

“Shada” has always had a dear place in the hearts of “Doctor Who” fans, especially the old timers who still think eight foot long scarves are still haute couture fashion. The episode in question was written by Douglas Adams himself, years before he gained fame by writing his infamous guide on how to see the galaxy and sold a zillion copies in the process . “Shada” was also infamous for never being completed, a BBC production strike left the episode about 30% finished; while never broadcast it was released on an out of print VHS in 1992 with Tom Baker’s narration filling in the gaping plot holes. But leave it to the good folks at Big Finish to complete Adam’s lost work, utilizing the under appreciated Eighth Doctor and some low tech animation to complete the tale. It can be easily accessed on the BBC website, where it has resided since 2003 in some obscurity. A shame really, since it’s… Continue Reading »

Doctor Who: Scream of the Shalka (2003) Mini-Series Review

Joseph Savitski June 7, 2010

After the failure of the FOX telefilm, and subsequent attempts to make a big budget “Doctor Who” movie, the BBC regained the rights and tried a new tact. The series would return, in the form of an animated special set for release in November 2003. Using some of Britain’s best talents, “Scream of the Shalka” becomes a somewhat successful attempt to revive the dormant franchise-as well as introduce a 9th Doctor whose reign would soon be cut short. The TARDIS arrives in the English village of Lannet, where a rather annoyed Doctor exits. He’s apparently been taken there against his wishes, but soon learns the purpose behind the TARDIS countermanding his travel plans. An alien race known as the Shalka have hidden themselves in the town, preparing to use it as a launching point to invade Earth. Made of living plasma with an outer skin that appears to be volcanic rock, and communicating by a hideous scream that can be… Continue Reading »

FlashForward 1.22/Series Finale Recap

Joseph Savitski May 27, 2010

It’s a bizarre irony that “Lost” and the show touted to replace it ended in the same week. So what began with a bang for “Flash Forward” months ago, concludes tonight with dramatic whimper, doubtlessly forgotten by the viewers who abandon it months ago. All in all rather a shame, since the denouement is a fairly entertaining but confusing and uneven finale. It’s been six months past, and Flash Forward Day is here–the night everyone will learn what they glimpsed was immovable fate or simply one path their life may follow. Some find their vision, for good or ill, to become reality; others discover that life has veered from what was presented to them. But this night is for anything but celebration — another global blackout is imminent and there’s barely time for the FBI to prevent another disaster, if it’s not already too late. Before the show debuted last September, the creative staff mentioned having a five year plan… Continue Reading »

Doctor Who 5.06 The Vampires of Venice Recap

Joseph Savitski May 25, 2010

With vampires now all the rage again, it’s no surprise that the series would venture into “Twilight” territory, thus allowing The Doctor to face off against some good old fashion Nosferatu. This isn’t the first time he’s met a batch seeking forcible blood donations; it’s been done before in the original show, as well as spin off novels and comics. But never as engagingly done, as well as presenting The Doctor with a moral dilemma with no obvious resolution. Now that The Doctor realizes Amy is in fact about to get married, he spirits her back to her time to pick up her fiancee Rory (first seen in “The Eleventh Hour”). Bursting out of the cake at Rory’s bachelor party, he offers a marriage gift unlike one anyone can provide. He offers to transport them anywhere in history for a “date”, just the two of them to do and see whatever they like. The floating city of Venice is the… Continue Reading »

Lost Season 6/Series Finale Recap

Joseph Savitski May 25, 2010

The way the network was carrying on about “Lost” closing up shop, you’d expect flags to be flying at half mast Monday morning. So with much drama, pomp and circumstance, “Lost” ended its reign as the IT show on ABC with a nicely done two and a half hour finale. It might not answer all the questions and appeal to all fans, but “Lost” ends on a note of hope with plenty of heart and soul — not to mention the mystery and fanaticism its been famous for. The apocalyptic battle for the island has begun, with the evil entity inhabiting the form of John Locke hell bent on extinguishing the light that exists at the mystical heart of the Island. Standing in his way is the the protector newly ordained by the former guardian Jacob, Jack. But things get worse when the Island begins falling apart, and Jack must restore order with the aid of Hurley, Desmond, and Ben… Continue Reading »

Doctor Who 5.04 The Time of Angels Recap

Joseph Savitski May 10, 2010

For the past two weeks, there’s been an impostor masquerading as BBC’s hottest show. Sure Matt Smith was there, doing his quirky, brilliant best as the 11th Doctor with his trusty TARDIS and sonic screwdriver. So was Karen Gillan, playing the dreamily beautiful companion Amelia Pond, spunky as she is gorgeous. But alas, the episodes were dreary and flat, lacking any suspense or even a hint of spark. That all changes with episode four, as Steven Moffat brings in the big guns–and they make a helluva bang. “The Time of Angels” reintroduce us to Dr. River Song, a future version of the character seen in “Silence of the Library”. She sends a message in the future, alerting The Doctor to meet her near the planet Alfava Metraxis. A ship named the Byzantium has crashed into the planet’s labyrinth structure dubbed “The Maze of the Dead”. When The Doctor and Amy arrive, they find Dr. Song has a platoon of militaristic… Continue Reading »

SciFiCool.com

Author Archives