Author: Lynn

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Movies

Quick Sci-fi Movie Review: Edge of Tomorrow (aka Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow)

Edge of Tomorrow MovieI almost missed this one, even though I’ve wanted to watch it since it came out in theaters. The problem was that I thought Edge of Tomorrow was the name of the movie. I still wonder if someone changed the name as some point for some reason, because I really don’t remember the whole “Live. Die. Repeat.” being part of the title when I first saw the trailers for this film. (Ah. A quick hop to Wikipedia explains this as some kind of re-branding attempt. The movie was in fact titled Edge of Tomorrow but some retailers have it listed as Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow, and that’s exactly what Amazon has done.)

First off, let me say that I LOVED this movie. I’m a bit of a fangirl for time travel. I like it in movies, books, and television shows. Quantum Leap was one of my first fandoms and I loved the time travel aspects of that show more than anything. My favorite episodes in Stargate and Star Trek franchises tend to be the time travel episodes—and God how I love time loops. Groundhog Day is still one of my favorite movies of all time.

So, yeah, this movie was perfect for me.

Also, I don’t like what I know of Tom Cruise—I kind of think he’s an ass, although I admit to that being a complete and total gut reaction to every interview I’ve seen him do, but for some reason, I can’t deny that he’s one of the best actors around. I can totally forget that I don’t like him just because he’s so damn good at his job as an actor. I loved Oblivion and Jack Reacher. Cruise is just an all around great actor.

Edge of Tomorrow is a straight up sci-fi thriller, full of great visuals and great acting, and I haven’t watched a sci-fi movie with a better ending in years.

If you haven’t heard of this one, take a look. Edge of Tomorrow is a great movie.

Categories
Books Movies Reviews Science Fiction

Quick Sci-fi Movie Review: The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner Movie Poster

I saw The Maze Runner movie yesterday and the movie was better than I expected for the first in a planned series (I hear the sequel is already being planned/filmed). Although there’s the requisite non-ending that leaves us hanging a bit, the movie actually felt pretty complete—certainly more complete than a few spoilers on the web had led me to believe it would be.

The Maze Runner movie appears to be part of the dystopian sci-fi genre, although without listing out spoilers to explain why I think that, I can’t really say definitely that it’s anything more than a science fiction film.

The Maze Runner Movie
Teen Wolf isn’t the only place where Dylan O’Brien shines as a performer.

I left the theater satisfied that I’d watched a full movie and not just a piece of one. That said, I’m thinking I’m going to read The Maze Runner books because I really don’t want to wait a year and more just to find out what’s really going on. Some people say the movie had significant changes from the book; some say the changes were minor to the overall plot. I guess I’ll find out for myself.

The acting was good, the maze was clever, and the movie moved really fast, especially considering I expected it to drag in places like so many other movies based on YA books. I was surprised that the nearly two hours went by super quick.

Dylan O’Brien is a great actor. Of course, I’ve known that for a while, because I’m a huge fan of his role on Teen Wolf. But this movie really just emphasized that he has skill.

Several of the other actors stood out, but I’m not certain of their names so I’ll just use their character names: Alby, Minho, Gally. Newt was kind of bland, but the actor playing the role seemed competent—I’d watch him in something else.

Anyway, this is just my quick review of the movie, and if you’ve been on the fence about watching, like I was, go ahead. The cliffhanger is nothing to be scared of and the rest of the movie is great!

Categories
Television

Teen Wolf: Young Derek Will Be Missed

Spoilers. Although if you’re reading this, you were probably looking for them.

Young Derek = Adorable

I saved up the first three episodes of the new season of Teen Wolf so I wouldn’t have that horrible cliffhanger hangover later, and I’m so glad I did. After the plot twist at the end of the first episode “The Dark Moon,” I would have been so disappointed to have to wait for the next, “117.” By “Muted,” I already missed young Derek.

It would have been so fun to see that plot twist hang around for a few more episodes, although I admit, when it first happened, I wanted the real Derek back ASAP. But, wow, that one grew on me in like thirty seconds flat.

Using the same actor from last season’s “Visionary” was a great choice and it was cool to see him a bit more grown up looking. He’s adorable and he’s a good actor. And although I’m too old to be thinking that kid’s a hottie, my much younger daughter isn’t. :D The fact that he looks so much like Derek gave both those episodes some really awesome realism.

Teen Wolf’s second episode of season 4, “117” had some excellent moments. I love that the writers have brought some of the humor of the first season back so strongly this season. I’ve missed that. I loved season 3, don’t get me wrong, but the levity of a little humor does add something special to the show, making the episodes much more re-watchable.

In fact, I figure I’ll be re-watching “117” sooner rather than later. If you haven’t caught it yet, do as I did, and buy it on Amazon. Or watch it on MTV’s website when it’s available (link).

Categories
Television

Under the Dome Is Back! New Episodes Airing Now

I was excited to see Under the Dome return to television. I’ve been looking forward to seeing where the story goes in the second season.

Under the Dome - Instant VideoOn June 30th the first episode of season 2 aired. If you want to catch up you can see all the episodes on Amazon. If you’re a member of Prime, you can watch them for free. If not, Amazon has all the episodes of the season that have aired available to purchase.

Barbie’s fate lies in Big Jim’s hands, and the Dome presents a new threat when it becomes magnetized. Meanwhile, Julia seeks out the help of a stranger to save the life of a mysterious girl who may hold clues to origin of the Dome. The premiere episode was written by bestselling author and executive producer Stephen King, and who also makes a cameo appearance.

 

Categories
Television

Juliette: It’s time to go

Juliette - Grimm - Blonde AmbitionJuliette Silverton is Nick Burkhardt’s girlfriend/almost fiancée on Grimm. Whoever wrote her part in “Blonde Ambition” certainly doesn’t like her.

As someone who’s quite fond of Juliette most of the time, I was unbelievably disappointed to see her act so irrational, immature, and unlikeable in the Grimm season three finale.

(1) A crazy hexenbeist pretended to be Juliette and slept with Nick. What does Juliette do? She gets mad at Nick.

(2) In reaction to the news that the crazy hexenbeist has in effect raped Nick, Juliette decides that’s the time to tell him she just doesn’t know if she can handle him being a Grimm.

(3) Captain Renard called Juliette and in a very reasonable tone asked to discuss issues that were very pertinent to both their lives, but because she’d talked to the crazy hexenbeist first, she goes off on him and hangs up on him. Because, you know, the crazy hexenbeist told Juliette Sean was crazy. Even though crazy hexenbeist girl (Adelind) is crazy.

Frankly, at the moment, I just hope Juliette leaves Nick, and Portland, and doesn’t look back, because right now, I don’t like her.

Categories
Fantasy Movies

The Odd Thomas Movie

So I watched Odd Thomas yesterday and really enjoyed it! I’m a fan of the book, and I was happily surprised at how well the movie adhered to the story and how fun the movie was. The director, Stephen Sommers, directed The Mummy, another favorite of mine. Sommers did a great job, and I loved “the mummy” cameo outside the tire store.

Odd Thomas - Movie Poster

If you enjoy movies with paranormal and urban fantasy elements, Odd Thomas might be a fit, and you certainly don’t have to be a fan of the books to enjoy the movie.

Categories
Science Fiction Television

Defiance season one is on Amazon Prime Instant Video

I had avoided watching Defiance, because I’d seen some photos prior to the airing of the show, and frankly, I wasn’t impressed. I also didn’t know if the show would make it past a first season, and over the last few years, I’ve gotten extremely leery of Syfy and their ability to stand behind a promising series. So, long story short, I chose to wait and see.

Defiance

Then I forgot about the show.

Yeah.

Last weekend, however, I saw it pop up on Amazon Prime Instant Video and was like, wow, totally missed that one. I watched the Pilot and then more than half the season, and although it’s not the best thing ever, there are definitely aspects of the series that I enjoy and certain themes I’d like to see explored in the rest of the first season and in season 2 when it comes (season 2 of Defiance premieres June 19, 2014).

The most underdeveloped part of the series, in my opinion?

Christie and Alak. Their interspecies relationship has a ton of  conflict and while the show touches on that story every so often in the first season, it hasn’t really broken out. (I’m not quite finished with the season, so if there’s something I’m missing here, I’ll update later.)

The most overdeveloped parts of the series, in my opinion?

Kenya. This is really the most glaring, uninteresting part of the show. I can’t even really think of how this could have played out better, although I’m sure someone could have figured it out. I’d accept this a lot better if the prostitute angle had played some kind of integral role so far, but it hasn’t. It’s mostly been set dressing, and bland at that.

Irisa’s badassery. She kind of annoys me. I mean, horrible childhood = bitch with issues. I want to like her and I think I could if she softened up a bit. She could give some of her bitchery to Amanda. That’s one I’d like to see toughen up. I find her mommy vibe as annoying as I find Irisa’s bitchiness.

And that’s the thing. The female characters on the show, with the exception of Stahma, all seem to be a tad too cliche for me. The men? Not bad at all, well rounded and interesting. The women? Not so much.

All that said, though, I’m enjoying the show, and I’m willing to overlook the trite and cliché for the good stuff.

Categories
Science Fiction Television

The 100 hasn’t been cancelled

The 100The 100 is about “100 young exiles from a dying space station [that] are sent to the planet Earth 97 years after a nuclear apocalypse to see if it’s habitable.”

The premise intrigues me, and since the show hasn’t been cancelled, I think I’ll give it a try. I love post-apocalyptic settings and this sounds like it’s going to have that in abundance (a supposition based on having read some of the descriptions for episodes beyond the Pilot).

I feel kind of lost sometimes about what to post here, because I don’t like writing reviews of single episodes of a show, because I’m just not sure how helpful those kinds of reviews are. I do enjoy writing (and reading) commentary, just not the kind that spans an entire showing of an episode, so maybe I’ll do more of that.

Anyway! I’m just happy to have found another sci-fi show to try that hasn’t been cancelled already.

Categories
Science Fiction Television

Orphan Black

I sat down to watch Orphan Black last week, and before I was done, I’d watched the entire first season on Amazon’s Prime Video. The series is sharp and entertaining, and the actress playing the lead, Tatiana Maslany, is excellent. I don’t know that I’ve seen so much range in one person before. Maybe, but I certainly can’t remember off the top of my head.

Here’s the summary of the first episode. If I say much more, I’ll spoil the show.

Sarah, a streetwise hustler on the run, witnesses the suicide of a stranger who looks just like her. Sarah assumes her identity, hoping that cleaning out the dead woman’s bank account will solve all of her problems. Instead, after taking on the new identity, Sarah quickly finds herself caught in the middle of a deadly conspiracy and must race to find answers.

—From Natural Selection (Episode 1, Orphan Black)

If you haven’t heard of this one, check it out. I couldn’t stop watching once I’d started.

Categories
Television

Teen Wolf’s Season Ender Still Has Me Puzzled

Teen Wolf

If you haven’t watched the season finale of Teen Wolf: WARNING, there are spoilers ahead.

I’m puzzled. Not about the show, although that last scene raised my eyebrows as I had a half-second flash of What? Was it all a dream? before my brain caught up and I realized that probably wasn’t what was happening at all.

No, I’m puzzled about how I feel about it all. I don’t know. I kind of expected something better. The little bardo thing felt kind of, uh, lame? I don’t know. I wasn’t thrilled with it, I guess. I had seriously hoped Scott was going to show he had some more hidden cleverness tucked away in his brain somewhere. I adore poor Scott but it’s pretty clear he isn’t much more than a bleeding heart without his friends. Maybe I just need to watch it again—but I don’t feel like it. Not right now anyway.

So, some thoughts

Danny knowing about werewolves. Cute. Maybe too cute.

Scott’s dad sticking around, possibly. I’m good with that.

Isaac not returning (picked that up from an interview, not from the season ending episode). Eh, ambivalent. I can see why the character might choose to stay away, so I’m sure it will work fine for the show. But I’m going to seriously miss Isaac. He brought a lot of humor to the show!

Derek … getting shot?! No!!! Typically, the end of season cliffhangers haven’t been that big and this one is going to torture me all spring, until the show returns in late June. Argh!

On the other hand, I can see Kate’s return as something quite interesting, although without Allison there, I’m not sure it’ll be more than Ooh, goody, a strong villainess!

And if Derek dies, well, I’m gonna bail. That sounds mean, but there are a few characters on this show that if they died, I don’t think I’d care how it was handled, I’d quit watching. Of course, the show runners can do what they want, so I’m not saying this for any other reason than that it just wouldn’t be the same for me and I admit, I tend to lose faith in shows quickly when too many changes happen too quickly.

My list of no-go characters on Teen Wolf

  • Scott McCall (of course!)
  • Stiles Stilinski
  • Sheriff Stilinski
  • Melissa McCall
  • Derek Hale (gotta have at least one born werewolf and he’s my pick)

I’ll miss many others if they depart, but I’d live, and I’d keep watching. (I lived through Jackson’s departure, and I’m accepting of Allison’s death, and those were huge, as far as I’m concerned.) :D

Get rid of any of those people above, and I’d have to think long and hard before I’d be even possibly interested in keeping up with the show.

Any thoughts?