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Tag Archives | Science Fiction

Bionic Idiocy

By on November 7, 2007 4

Live-blogging tonight’s episode ….

So the Bionic Woman is a Rules Girl? How totally lame. Bring back Sarah Corvus!

At least we’re seeing some pretty stock footage of Paris.

Addendum:

Well, things just took an upturn – Leoben walked in!

Addendum 2:

Not enough Leoben! Too much boring subplot with Jaime’s kid sister!

Addendum 3:

Good, more Leoben. (Though when he hit whatsisface it looked wretchedly fake.)

Addendum 4:

Hey, whatsisface references actual obscure comic book and superhero! Geek point!

Addendum 5:

It was cool to see Leoben, but he didn’t get to do anything especially distinctive. (Ditto for appearances in previous episodes by Tyrol and Lampkin.) And there weren’t enough scenes of Paris. And they can’t seem to decide whether this spy outfit is dark/creepy/edgy or kinder/gentler/touchy/feely.

Bionic Woman is the show I watch because I can’t watch Galactica ….

Making New Friends

By on November 7, 2007 1

Good news for Joss Whedon fans: he’s finally coming back to television, with a show titled Dollhouse, about

a young woman who is literally everybody’s fantasy. She is one of a group of men and women who can be imprinted with personality packages, including memories, skills, language – even muscle memory – for different assignments. The assignments can be romantic, adventurous, outlandish, uplifting, sexual and/or very illegal. When not imprinted with a personality package, Echo and the others are basically mind-wiped, living like children in a futuristic dorm/lab dubbed the Dollhouse, with no memory of their assignments – or of much else. The show revolves around the childlike Echo’s burgeoning self-awareness ….

(More info here. Conical hat tip to William Gillis.)

Hmm, this plot sounds a lot like the “Lila” story in the first issue of Jack Kirby’s OMAC: One Man Army Corps:

OMAC #1

Now that’s a disturbing image.

Lila was a robot – one of a series – who was sold purportedly as a sex toy but who was actually programmed to assassinate the buyer. She seemed to be developing the beginnings of an independent personality when OMAC, who had been romantically interested in her, found out she was a robot, freaked out, and destroyed her along with all the other robots. At least that’s how I remember it – haven’t read that comic in years.

Again, Dangerous Visions

By on November 4, 2007 1

1. This is supposed to be another new trailer for The Golden Compass. I don’t know whether this is the same one I linked to recently or something even newer (I’m at home with a slow connection and won’t be able to check it till tomorrow), but it should at least be bigger than that version.

The Golden Compass 2. Peter Hitchens has called Phillip Pullman (author of the His Dark Materials series on which the upcoming film trilogy is based) “the most dangerous author in Britain” and charges him with having “set out to destroy Narnia” – which shows, I guess, that a tendency toward fatuously abusive, hysterical paranoia is a trait that runs in families. Both brothers seem to have a taste for issuing simplistic fatwas – just against different targets. (Plus, you’d never guess from Hitchens’ account that the novels’ chief anti-religious character, the leader of the rebellion against God, is … well, I don’t want to give too much away, but the character in question is not the shining paragon of liberal humanism that Hitchens’ distorted review would lead one to expect Pullman to offer us.)

In fact Pullman’s trilogy has as much for Christians to enjoy as C. S. Lewis’ Narnia series has for atheists to enjoy. Hitchens’ ranting is the equivalent of Christians waxing hysterical because Aquinas praised the pagan Aristotle, or atheists waxing hysterical because Rand praised the Christian Aquinas. Admittedly Pullman’s own comments on Lewis have been intemperate and unfair also. Come on, guys; if you look for value only in those with whom you agree, you’ll subsist on a pretty meager diet.

3. The director of The Golden Compass has announced a slight change from the book; to spare the SPOILER-averse I’ll discuss it in the comments section.

That 70s Show

By on October 28, 2007 2

The latest BSG: Razor flashback offers a double shot of 1970s nostalgia: not only is it our first glimpse of old-style Cylons in action, but it recreates the opening scene of Moonraker (the first James Bond movie I ever saw).

Grendel’s Mom Has Got It Going On

By on October 26, 2007 2

I’ve finished reading the comic book adaptation of the new Neil Gaiman film version of Beowulf, so I can give a summary for those who want one.

a different Beowulf comic bookLet me first refresh your memory concerning the original story. The monster Grendel and his mum live in a lake near Heorot, castle of King Hrothgar. (No father is in evidence; our conservative friends would probably invoke this fact to explain Grendel’s troubled career.) Enraged by the sound of revelry (evidently Grendel is a Menckenite Puritan), Grendel periodically visits the castle to smash puny humans. No warrior is able to withstand him until Beowulf shows up to save the day. Beowulf lies in wait for the monster and defeats him.

But the castle’s troubles are not over. Next, Grendel’s fearsome mother attacks the castle to avenge her son’s death. Beowulf tracks her back to her watery lair and dispatches her as well.

Then Beowulf returns home and the story fast-forwards. Now he is an aging king who has to deal with a new menace: a fiery dragon, accidentally wakened by a treasure-thief, is ravaging the countryside. Beowulf manages to slay the dragon but, less robust than in his youth, dies in the process. He receives a cool Viking funeral and the saga ends.

So how close does the new movie stick to this plot? For the SPOILER-averse, I’ve buried the answer in the comments section.

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