Month: October 2012

Quick Movie Review – Dredd

October 16, 2012 — Leave a comment

Some movies purely exist to showcase 3D technology and Dredd was clearly one of them. Set in the future, a population explosion and the unrest that comes with it pushes the justice system to its limits. Since law enforcement can only respond to 6% of all reported incidences, the result is a Justice League which ordains its officers to represent a jury and a judge at the scene of each crime. In cases in which guilt is determined, the officers can sentence and execute as well on the spot. In Peach Trees, a housing complex that accommodates 75,000 people, a drug lord named MaMa is running the show from the 200th floor. When Judge Dredd and his rookie enter the complex and threaten MaMa’s tiny empire, she seals the doors of the complex and orders her foot soldiers to kill the judges. Instead of putting effort into the storyline and characters, Dredd focused on the explosions, violence and objects moving through the air. All of those effects were wasted since I saw the movie without 3D and expect a little meat with my potatoes.

4 out 9

Guest blogger from Seattle

Note: I really wanted to see Dredd in the theaters and was surprised to discover that it was pulled so soon.  With all of the hype, I thought it would do really well – Scifimaven

Quick Movie Review – Looper

October 8, 2012 — Leave a comment

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, I didn’t see that coming and what a treat.  As a semi jade movie-goer, I can usually guess what direction a plot is headed.  In Looper, I never knew what to expect next.  The year is 2044 and Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) works as an assassin for the mob. When gangsters want to eliminate someone, the victim is transported back 30 years and a killer is waiting there to take care of business. Time travel has been outlawed and for reasons that I never really understood, it was easier to send targets back in time to meet his or her demise. Old Joe (Bruce Willis) is sent back in time to be killed by his younger self for reasons that I won’t explain.  When Old Joe arrives on the scene the movie picks up and a thrilling ride begins.  Emily Blunt shows up about half way through the film as Sara as the movie takes an interesting yet exciting turn.  The wonderful Paul Dano and Tracie Thoms have small roles in the movie and I wish that both could have been utilized in a larger fashion.  The youngest actor stole the movie any, the adorable Pierce Gagnon will capture your heart as Cid.

I have to admit that in the beginning, I found the prosthetic chin used on JGL to be quite distracting.  Even though the acting was top notch, I felt pulled out of the movie if I focused too much on JGL.  I think the movie would have been better off served if the creators had trusted the audience to just accept that Gordon-Levitt and Willis were the same characters at different stages in their lives without the elaborate makeup.

With its tiny flaws, this is still a must see movie.

 

Top 10 Women of Sci Fi – part 6

October 1, 2012 — Leave a comment

With the presidential elections weeks away, it’s time to write about my favorite President: Laura Roslin.

When we first met Laura Roslin in the rebooted Battlestar Galactica, she is the Secretary of Education on board for the decommissioning of the Galactica. After the Cylon attack, she is left as the senior member of the administration and takes command as president. Over the course of four seasons we really see a growth in Roslin and her style of leadership. In the beginning, she believes by following the rule of law and maintaining order humanity will be able to survive. Overtime, she keeps her ideals but becomes more ruthless from air locking enemies o kidnapping babies. All for the greater good.

Roslin embodies the characteristics that I admire in leaders: strength, confidence, compassion and resilience. Qualities that you will see again and again in the women that I have highlighted in my top 10 list.

Women Talk Sci Fi has a thought provoking conversation on BattleStar Galactica. One comment that stood out for me is that why did the colonies need a president since there were so few of them left. The conversation was short but it is a fascinating concept nonetheless. Check it out here: Podcast 10