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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.
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….
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
“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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
