Sci-Fi Cinema Obscura: The Quiet Earth

Shhh, don’t make a sound because this week we’ll be tiptoeing our way around The Quiet Earth (1985). The Basics A scientist finds himself all alone in a big city after everyone in has been wiped out. He spends his time looking for other survivors all the while suspecting government shenanigans...

September 3rd, 2009 | Read More

Primer (2004) Movie Review

“Primer” is a raw, low-budget take on that staple of filmed sci-fi, the time travel tale. But unlike movies that take you through time on a DeLorean, or on a comfy chair with attached roulette wheel, or simply through the power of wishing really hard, the time machine in “Primer” is built (partly)...

August 30th, 2009 | Read More

Sci-Fi Cinema Obscura: O-Bi, O-Ba (The End of Civilization)

For those of you who don’t like subtitles, bugger off. For the rest of you that enjoy enriching your entertainment choices with dashes of culture, read on. This week we take a look at one of Poland’s best sci-fi exports from director Piotr Szulkin entitled O-Bi, O-Ba, The End of Civilization...

August 26th, 2009 | Read More

Sci-Fi Cinema Obscura: Wizards

You may have heard of Ralph Bakshi and by extension this movie, but most people haven’t. At least most people don’t remember it, but I do. I remember everything…and so let’s remember Wizards (1977) together shall we? The Basics Picture a post apocalyptic scenario involving mutants,...

August 19th, 2009 | Read More

DVD Review: Stargate Atlantis – Fans Choice (Blu-Ray)

In 1994, a movie called “Stargate” changed the face of science fiction. Fifteen years and six-hundred television/home video spin-offs later, Fox Home Entertainment has brought forth “Stargate: Atlantis – Fans Choice” to Blu-ray in a very barebones release. The disc contains “Rising,”...

August 18th, 2009 | Read More

District 9 (2009) Movie Review

By rights, “District 9″ should probably have bypassed theaters and gone directly to On Demand cable tv and dvd. It features a cast of relative unknowns, an untested director, and a modest $30 million dollar budget. And so “District 9″ failed to be the hyper publicized escapism...

August 14th, 2009 | Read More

Sci-Fi Cinema Obscura: Brainstorm

Welcome to the second edition of Cinema Obscura. Today we will be taking a look at an oldie but goodie called Brainstorm (1983), starring Christopher Walken. The Basics A group of scientists develop a device they dub ‘The Hat’ which is a headset that transmits the brain’s activity...

August 12th, 2009 | Read More

A Scanner Darkly (2006) Movie Review

Of all the movie adaptations of the works of legendary sci-fi author Philip K. Dick (“Blade Runner”, “Total Recall”, “Minority Report”, to name a few), “A Scanner Darkly”, based on his 1977 novel, is by far the most faithful to the source material. But don’t rush out to rent it just...

August 10th, 2009 | Read More

Sci-Fi Cinema Obscura: 2009 Lost Memories

Sci-Fi Cinema Obscura will be your weekly guide to science fiction goodness that you likely have not heard of. This week we take a look at a film from Korea called 2009 Lost Memories (2002). The Basics Far into the future in the year 2009, Korea has become part of the Japanese empire due to an event...

August 4th, 2009 | Read More

TV Review: New V Pilot (Comic-Con ‘09)

They’re heeeeeere. Er, again. Yep, they’re back — those scaly, duplicitous aliens with promises of a better future, hope, and of course, friendship. As the old saying goes, when it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Especially when they just appear in mile-wide spaceships above...

July 25th, 2009 | Read More

Green Lantern: First Flight (2009) Movie Review

It hasn’t been easy finding a decent D.C. Comics live-action movie without the words “Bat” or “Knight” in the title nowadays. Luckily for fans of the veteran publishing house, the company has found other ways to bring their famous characters to life – direct-to-DVD animation....

July 19th, 2009 | Read More

Moon (2009) Movie Review #2

I just had the considerable pleasure of watching “Moon” starring the ridiculously good Sam Rockwell and the amazing up and coming director Duncan Jones. I notice that “Moon” was produced in part by Trudie Styler who also produced Guy Ritchie’s first film. She has an eye...

July 18th, 2009 | Read More

TV Review: Warehouse 13 Pilot

I must admit, I’ve been anxiously awaiting Warehouse 13 from the SyFy Channel. (Yes, the name change is now official. Let’s just get used to it, shall we?) Not because I think the show is going to break the mold, but because, well, it seems like ages since we’ve had a sci-fi show on TV, and Summer...

July 8th, 2009 | Read More

Doctor Who Christmas Special 2008: The Next Doctor Movie Review

It’s been a crazy few months for fans of “Doctor Who”; first the hyper popular David Tennant gracefully exits only to be replaced in a rapid fashion by relative unknown Matt Smith. Meanwhile, viewers have only 5 new episodes spread over a year before the 10th Doctor gets his regenerative...

June 25th, 2009 | Read More

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) Movie Review #2

It’s been two years since the robots that were more than meets the eye made their live action debut. Despite the 720 day lapse, there’s no creaking in the joints of the Autobots or Decepticons; rust is amazingly absent from both the Transformers and the film series. What we’re given...

June 24th, 2009 | Read More

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) Movie Review

Here’s something about “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” that you may have already guessed from the trailers: when you give Michael Bay $200 million dollars and tell him to go make a movie, Bay makes a movie that costs $200 million, and every cent of it can be seen on the big screen. As such,...

June 24th, 2009 | Read More

TV Review: The BCC’s Merlin – Episodes 1-3

The BBC has been on something of a roll recently with their re-imagined takes on old British tales. First there was a darker, younger, and grungier Robin Hood, and now the King Arthurian legend Merlin gets a makeover with a younger cast and more modern sensibilities. As with Robin Hood, Merlin has been...

June 22nd, 2009 | Read More

Moon (2009) Movie Review

“Moon” explores one of the possible reasons that mankind might colonize the moon in the not-too-distant future. In the film, nuclear fusion has become a reality, providing limitless cheap and clean energy to the entire world. And the most readily available source of Helium-3, the fuel needed...

June 8th, 2009 | Read More

Race to Witch Mountain (2009) Movie Review

Ever since “Star Wars” tried to reboot the franchise back in 1999, it seems every studio has embarked on a frantic sprint to update any viable properties that may be lanquishing in their film vaults. Forget developing any new ideas. Let’s drag a dusty old one out, brush off the cobwebs...

May 24th, 2009 | Read More

Bullet Points: Terminator: Salvation Movie Review

Nix has already reviewed this beast so we’ll go with his judgement as the definitive review. In honor of the franchise, I will do a high speed review in bullet points. Sam Worthington is a dude to watch. Avatar is going to be sweet Sci-Fi butter with this guy in it. Man has some depth. Why was...

May 23rd, 2009 | Read More