Review: American Ultra

 American Ultra

Budget $28 million  Box Office 14.4 million  So as you can see it was a box office failure.

Run Time
96 minutes

Here is a very short list  of cast members

Jesse Eisenberg as Mike Howell
Kristen Stewart as Phoebe Larson
John Leguizamo as Rose
Bill Pullman as Raymond Krueger

I just got a chance to view the film American Ultra.  I was under the impression that it was some kind of stoner movie and my movie guy Mark thought it was a spy thriller.  While there are these as element in the film, it is instead a Sci-Fi through and through.  That however is far from a saving grace,

Mike and Phoebe are stoners.  Mike works in a convenience store and even though Mike has major phobias, all seems well, until that is a woman shows up at the store and starts spouting gibberish at

Mike.  From there it gets weirder and weirder.  Think of Chuck on acid. 

I would like to call it a  fun romp as Chuck was but it isn't.  American Ultra is at times violent, bloody and a goodly helping of gore.

All play well into the plot but like I said, there are goodly amounts of all mentioned which can be off-putting.   I would rate the film a 7.   You however might rate it higher, but I think 7 is fair. 

For more information go to the  Wikipedia link HERE

Review: Robocop (2014)

Robocop  starring:

    Joel Kinnaman as Alex Murphy

    Gary Oldman as Dr. Dennett Norton,
    Michael Keaton as Raymond Sellars, 

    Samuel L. Jackson as Patrick "Pat" Novak, host of The Novak Element 

If you have seen the original Robocop movie starring Peter Weller then you know the basic premise of this robocop.   Of course there are minor differences in say how Murphy is injured and used in the robocop program.  Also some interesting differences on how Murphy reacts to the suit.   Even the environment is a subtle (well maybe not to subtle) changes.  

Murphy is played much more human.   Even the "body" armor is less threatening, (except maybe for one short interlude)  Even the "corporate bad guys" seem much more rounded than in previous incarnations.  The one character that stands out as two dimensional was the great character actor Samuel L. Jackson.  His Pat Novack television   commenter is almost humorous in it vile spewing right wing(if you could truly call it that) commenter is fairly obviously a compilation of  several radio and television  personalities.  

It is also obvious what a budget 10 times as much as the original and almost 3 decades of film making magic can do to even a less complex theme as Robocop.  The CGI is stunningly good in its execution and integration, to the point that you wonder at times is Kinnaman wearing an appliance or is it cgi.   I have a feeling that most of the "suit" effects are cgi.....

There are moment that the movie tries to pluck at your heart strings, honestly they fail miserably.  I don't think it is for lack of trying, because the original Robocop, for all intents, tried the same thing with the same results.  It fails because of a really simple idiom - You can't have your cake and eat it too.  Both camps worked very hard to get us to invest in Murphy as a "robot" and wrest it away with some ill conceived and awkwardly executed "human moments"  just didn't work for me.

But the action scenes.... Because Murphy is a bit retro, in that there are already humaniform  robot officers who already patrol the streets of other countries and it is the training sessions and later breaking up drug and arms dealers that is more than enough for the action junkies.  (though if we are going to be honest, these were generic as well. ) 

Overall I think the 2014 version rises to the challenge of the original 1987 version.   If you have seen that version and liked it....you will be ecstatic with this offering, even if you hadn't seen the original, if you like running gun battles, high speed motorcycle chases and iconic one - liners, then this film is tailor-made for you. 

To be honest, I would rate Robocop a 7.  Nothing really new here and throwing 10 times the budget at this product didn't really net 10 times the movie.  The star power wasted on this film is what disturbed me.   Oldman, Jackson and Keaton are very recognizable names and more than likely drew a hefty paycheck.  To then under utilize (I guess, except Jackson) them is difficult to understand.  Keaton of course is miss-cast, Oldman would have been a better choice (though the researcher was a much more interesting character....so....hell, I don't know what I am talking about)

And so,  If I were reviewing for the big screen, I could not in good conscience tell you to blow the best part of a $20,  but as a $5 or less rental...yeah, break out the popcorn and turn on the surround sound.   

Review: Superman

Starring

Henry Cavill - as Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman:

Amy Adams as Lois Lane

Michael Shannon  as  Dru-Zod / General Zod:

Diane Lane as Martha Kent:

Kevin Costner as  Jonathan Kent:

Laurence Fishburne as Perry White

Antje Traue as Faora-Uls

Ayelet Zurer as Lara Lor-Van

Christopher Meloni as Colonel Nathan Hardy

Russell Crowe - as Jor-El

rt 143 minutes

I had heard of the controversy surrounding this film, but honestly could not really see that as a real point.  Yes the film and the costume is dark, but considering the mood of the movie....it clearly is an argument made by people who didn't watch the complete film.  I NEVER bought into Matha Kent sewing cloth that was bullet and knife proof...think about it.  Also the change up in how he learns flight...now that makes much more sense!  The differences between the the old Krypton and the new is a bit unsettling but it makes so much more sense when you think about it. 

This version follows the Superman creation myth pretty close.  Baby in rocket, planet go boom, Jonathan and Martha, then mix in Smallville (the tv show) short of the stuff that is just plain ridiculous. 

Then mix in a couple of the first Superman movies, not going to say which or what, cause it gives away some of the film, but again it works in a strange kind of way   But the net effect is that Kryptonians,  Superman and pretty much all concerned are more believable if maybe the situation may not. 

The movie gets an 8.5 in my book.  seamless CGI work and enough back history to fascinate fans and casual viewer alike.  

The 2 disk dvd and the extras on the blu-ray are a special behind the scenes fan's dream, as for extras worth of a 9.  17.5 overall  . which gives the movie 8.75....well worth a watch and addition to you collection!

Review: Star Trek - Into Darkness

Directed by J.J. Abrams

Staring

Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk   

Zachary Quinto as Commander Spock
Zoe Saldana as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura

Karl Urban as Lieutenant Commander Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy
Simon Pegg as Lieutenant Commander Montgomery "Scotty" Scott

John Cho as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu

Anton Yelchin as Ensign Pavel Chekov

Benedict Cumberbatch as Khan
Bruce Greenwood as Admiral Christopher Pike

Peter Weller as Fleet Admiral Alexander Marcus    

Alice Eve as Lieutenant Dr. Carol Marcus

Leonard Nimoy as Spock Prime

and cameo by  Christopher Doohan (son of James Doohan) as Transport officer   

So it comes to pass that someone had the bright idea to make a Star Trek movie for Star Trek fans. Ok, I know, they almost all were in some fashion or another and to be honest this outing takes from a lot of the previous films but throughout it all is the feeling that you have been here before in some alter ego, and it is all strangely familiar as well as bright and shiny new (even with Abrams incessant lens flares). 

There is often the feeling that any moment now, the plot will drop into a classic StarTrek series with all the associated nods and winks.  But that is what makes it so entertaining.  Can I say right now though that I never for one instance bought into Benedict Cumberbatch as Khan ?  Nope, nope nope no nope never.   If you are going to do Kahn, look at how Ricardo did him, BOTH TIMES!!!   The man oozed barely controlled rage and exuded extreme confidence.  Did Cumberbatch come within a row of a** holes? Be honest....Kahn is not played sophisticated but with distane ......  ok, only bitch, really!  This is truly a film for fans, the nods and winks, the double backs, the switches and the one really big switch that I thought was really balls out. (nope, no spoiler)  

So if you have seen all of TOST and even though you hated some, seen all the  movies, if you have not seen this one yet....find a blu-ray and enjoy  ADD this one to your Star Trek collection of movies or hope that someone takes the hint and adds it to your Christmas list.  

Now I saw the movie at a small group viewing so I can not speak to the extras but the movie is a 9.5 and only to bitch about the incessant flares.  It is worth it, rent it, buy it....whatever, it is that good a Star Trek venue....

Review: Oz: The Great and Powerful

Directed by     Sam Raimi

Starring   

James Franco - Oscar Oz Diggs
Mila Kunis -Theodora - Wicked Witch of the West
Rachel Weisz - Evanora - Wicked Witch of the East
Michelle Williams - Glinda - Good Witch of the South
Zach Braff - Voice of Finley
Joey King - Voice of China Girl
Bill Cobbs - Master Tinker
Tony - Knuck
Bruce Campbell - Winkie guard

Oz: TGandP takes place some twenty or thirty years before the time of Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ. This movie is very much a "where did the main characters come from?" feel.  Several  are not in evidence while a few make very short appearances.

The story deals mainly with "OZ" escaping one perdicament only to find himself embroiled in those of OZ.

Many a homage is paid towards the MGM WofOZ that would be ill of me to mention them in case you haven't see this film / dvd yet.  But you do get a feel for what brought about the creation of many of the main characters.  

The film starts with con man and small time carnival magician  escaping from an enraged boy friend only to be transported to the Land of Oz.  There he is befriended by good which Theodora and learns the dire conditions that the Emerald City is in with the murder of the king by the wicked.   Theodora believing that Oscar is  the Wizard as told of in prophecy,   escorts him to the Emerald City.  

Oscar  is told that to become King he must destroy the wicked witch.  He sets out and along the way accrues   a motley crew consisting of a china doll and a winged monkey.

There are a few change ups and reversals and things are often not what they seem. 

The story is a wee bit thin.  If you grew up on the MGM musical, you will find the "prequel" nature of this film interesting, from the standpoint of, where did all these people come from....If you read the book series you could be aggravated at the liberties taken and if you have done neither, there is a great possibility that you will become lost in the convolutions.         

I would give the movie a 7.5.  Disney has a habit of rewriting history to suit their needs and the final product often only vaguely    resembles the original work.  I don't  think they were so openly aggressive in this case, but in typical Disney fashion, lots of splash and color and little substance.  Plus sadly many of their earlier works far outshine this one.

As for extras?  slight but interesting.  Walt's desire to do something with the Oz products that he had reserved really is an interesting look into the past.  What he wanted and what got made are a very interesting.  I would go as far as an 8 on this merit alone.   15.5 total on the film    and a 7.75 overall is something I think hits the mark pretty well. 

It is worth the rent, maybe not so much the purchase...but I am on the fence there.

Review: Ghost Machine

Right away, the title gives you a hint as to what is wrong with this movie.  Is it a ghost?  Is it a machine? Ahhh, I don't know and I suspect neither did the producer or the director.  The actors may have, but you can't prove it by me.  

So what is Ghost Machine?  First blush it seems to be a movie that couldn't figure out what to call itself so they just ripped off the first movie that even came close to the same plot, but believe me, not anywhere close enough.   But Ghost Machine is supposed to be a British SF movie about a group of hacker ( oh yeah, got to have hackers) no...they are online game players (oh even better) but wait...what game? Because now they are VR and they have absconded with a top secret military  hardware that runs a super secret VR SIM that I think they devised but now are hacking into?!!!  Oh and so they HAVE to steal it and set it up in a mental hospital / prison where medical experiments went on..  either way it's haunted...ummm but only in the machine....but can kill people in the real world.....  And you want to know what is worse?  The person who wrote the wiki article had less to say about this film that what I have written so far!  Did the director have the good graces to spread these tidbits through-out the film?  Nope, I got this in the first half hour and promptly shut the movie off.  

The only extra that this dvd needed was a way to destroy the disk and let out the evil spirits!

I am not even going to bother with more about this film.  I rented it, my loss, don't let it be yours.

Put the movie back on the discount rack and back away slow.  If renting...remove it from your cue before its' to late!

Oh, you want a rating?  without finishing the film is fair, but I feared for my sanity, but what I saw would hardly rate a 4....take heed.  This film blows.

Review:Rise of the Guardians

Chris Pine as Jackson Overland Frost or Jack Frost

Alec Baldwin as Nicholas St. North (Santa Claus), 

Hugh Jackman as E. Aster Bunnymund (Easter Bunny)

Isla Fisher as Toothiana or Tooth for short (Tooth Fairy)

Jude Law as Pitch Black (The Boogeyman)

Where are you likely to find a possibly demented Russian Cossack, A giant Ninja Rabbit and a human humming bird all in one place?  In a Dreamworks animated feature, that's where. 

The story revolves around the major holidays and the "Guardians" who protect the institutions against those who would see the holidays disbanded and no longer practiced.

Into this mix comes Jackson Overland Frost or Jack Frost one of many magical entities that have powers that are associated with holidays or times of the year.  Jack of course brings the cold and frost which seems to be all that he knows about his former life.  He knows that he is immortal,  but nothing about his former life. All he knows is that the guardians have all but ignored him over the centuries.   The Guardians find out that the ancient boogy man "Pitch Black" is planning to destroy children's faith in the Guardians with nightmares.  He convinces Jack that the Guardians do not care about him at all.  With Jack's help the Guardians are weakened as children stop believing in them.

Through another misadventure Jack begins to regain his memory and with the aid of the only child left who believes in the Guardians, beats Pitch Black.

As you can see, the plot is fairly simplistic but has enough twists to set itself somewhat apart from the totally derivative children's fare.  The computer 3d animation is more than adequate giving the viewer a visual treat in motion and color.

Extras on disk are slim.  One inclusion that bares notice is Paperman.  From the wikipedia:

• Paperman is a 2012 black-and-white 3D hand-drawn/computer animated romantic comedy short film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios
• The short won both an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 85th Academy Awards and the Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject at the 40th Annie Awards 

Here is the wiki on Paperman  HERE

BMU #365 now Online!

Another hour that just flies by.

I play the conclusion of David Scholes Trath: The Final intervention, just to make sure that I get in them in this week.

Next from the blog and Kallimus:  Trouble with the ISS coolant again, Ray Harryhousen has passed away at 92, Neil DeGrasse-Tyson has a web site that promotes his radio program Startalk  and YouTube videos, there is a link on the wrfrbeameup.blogspot.com BMU blog.  A company has developed a bulletin board that sends two messages, one to adults and one to children in a call to help reduce child abuse.  Check out the blog for more information. 

Earth Sky articles are next, the Milky-way, asteroids, temporary moons and Earth's shadow are on tap. 

I review the live action version of Death Note. 

And finally, chapter 3 of No Great Magic by Fritz Leiber a novelette from the sixties.  

That is it!  I hop you enjoy this week's offering of Beam Me Up.

Review: Death Note the Movie

Death Note is a live-action Japanese film released in 2006. The  movie is based on the Death Note manga and the later anime series.  

The film primarily center on a university student, Light Yagami, who finds a supernatural notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it.

Light begins a campaign to rid the world of evil with the help of the notebook but soon blurs the boundaries of real evil and perceived evil.  

If you have watched the anime you know that the series goes much further than this.  In truth, Death Note is two part series.  Part 2 was released shortly after the first and deals mainly with the actress Misa.

When watching this movie, I really did not think that the director could pull off the same look and feel as the original anime series that I had watched earlier.  I was however surprised as just how accurate they managed to get.  Yes Ryuk, the Shinigami who was the original owner of the Death Note book was CGI but really masterfully done!  Plus the interaction between the live and cgi characters was seamless.  

If you liked the original DeathNote anime then you should enjoy the live action as well.  In the original anime I really had trouble liking some of the anime characters.  I can't even go so far as calling some Anti-heroes.  The sets are good and really to be honest, it is the best try I have seen so far. 

With that in mind, the movie deserves an 8 and the extras which good are one of the most frustrating ways to navigate!  Good extras...hard to get to! 6  for a total of 14 and an average of 7 which is low for the movie, but more than generous for the extras. 

Thanks to our movie guy Mark for the find.

Review: Looper

Directed by Rian Johnson

Starring

Bruce Willis - Old Joe

Xu Qing - Old Joe's Wife

Joseph Gordon-Levitt - Joe Simmons

Emily Blunt - Sara Rollins

Paul Dano - Seth Richards

Frank Brennan - Old Seth

Noah Segan - Kid Blue

Piper Perabo - Suzie

Jeff Daniels - Abe

Looper is set in the near future.  It starts with a voice over saying that time travel hadn't been invented yet but would be in 30 years.  It would immediately be made illegal so the only ones to use it is organized crime.  

Loopers are hired by a shadowy crime syndicate.  Their job is to kill agents sent back in time by their employers in the future.  

Simmons' world starts to break down when the agent sent back from the future is himself from the future. The older version of Joe avoids being shot and sets off to kill the younger version of the syndicate boss in the future.  

Time travel movies with similar plots are very uncommon mainly because of the juggling you have to do with time lines and characters.  Most that try fail miserably.  But Looper seems to keep all the "balls" in the air and do it reasonably.  Levitt fumbles around at time, but Willis is bankable.  His character is singularly driven in Looper and Willis comes through as believable though it is difficult to re-council him as the older version of Joe Simmons.  There are scenes intercut that show old Joe being ruthless, plus we see young Joe doing the same.  So there is plenty of character drift for sure.  Also the tech is a bit hard to envision from present day.  Plus the take over of Society in the short period described is pure fantasy in my mind.  But that is nit picking.  The bleakness and hopelessness is certainly well portrayed.  

So as a movie and a science fiction movie I think, it is worth checking out.  The rental DVD / blue ray then is certainly worth checking out.  However the rental has no extras so if you are like me, this is something that I feel is important so I feel like something is missing...But the movie itself is worth checking out.  Willis and Levitt are competent.  

Review: The Amazing Spiderman

Directed by Marc Webb

Starring 

Andrew Garfield -Peter Parker / Spider Man

Rhys Ifans - Dr. Curt Connors/Lizard

Denis Leary - George Stacy

Martin Sheen - Uncle Ben

Sally Field - Aunt May

It would seem to me that there are very few reasons to remake a movie. 

The original was made quite a while ago is a good jumping off point....

This could be a version of the first one, the movie was made in a period where technology was cruder. The movie can now be remade with newer tech to improve the look in many areas of the film. King Kong might make a good example here. Harryhausen's armateurs and stop motion were at their height when the first movie was first made. Modern tech however vastly improved the movement of the ape with CGI and animatronics. Good or bad, these technologies will draw a newer and larger audience. 

Looking at a newer audience base of viewers. 

The original was made long enough ago that the majority may never have seen it on the big screen and with some older movies simply not working well on newer screens. ( that is weak but has happened)

And ultimately the director and crew feel that they have something substantive to add to the movie or canon if the movie is a series or some such. 

So how does this argument apply to The Amazing Spider Man? One begins to wonder. As far as substantive, do they think adding material that isn’t even in the canon? Parker’s earlier life that as far as I can remember is not part of the Spider Man history and in truth they leave out more than they add in. As far as looking for newer audience....well you would almost think that this means people that may not have seen or are not familiar with the earlier works. I really find this one to be a bit of a stretch. The first Spider man movie (of the present set mind you. I am not aware of anything but animated and a short lived tv Spider man from as far back as 1967) was made in 2002 which in my mind really cuts down on the “new” viewers. 

So with The Amazing Spider Man we have a product that technology wise has little in the way of improved special effects. A movie where the majority of viewers can compare both movies from the same, point of view, as an audience viewer.

Overall I consider the movie was made too soon...but that is my opinion, Technically there is nothing new and I felt they played a bit fast and loose with the history.  Finally their choice for Peter Parker missed the mark completely, never once could I suspend belief enough to think that it was him under the mask even though the director thought he was the quintessential Spider Man.  

With nothing in the way of special features on the rental disk, the movie has to stand on it's own - I would give it an 8 just because it is as good as anything out there, but as far as a SM movie, it left a lot on the table. 

Review: Hunger Games

Directed by     Gary Ross

Starring     
Jennifer Lawrence
Josh Hutcherson
Liam Hemsworth
Woody Harrelson
Elizabeth Banks
Lenny Kravitz
Stanley Tucci
Donald Sutherland

From the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins

Games is a post apocalyptic very reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery.   So much so in fact that if you are familiar with the story at all, you may find it distracting you from the movie as a whole.  But in fact, I can think of several classics that can be used as a comparison.  Say for instance, Brave New World, Many of the scenes are the “country rube” reacting to the “huge” city.  You can even see some of “The Demolition Man” mixed in.  So yes, my very first comment about the film is that it is derivative.   It is like Survivor gone mental.

But, back to the movie.  It is called Hunger Games because it seems (but poorly explained)  that the Districts that participated in an uprising were and are still being controlled by “starvation” or hunger if you would.  To reinforce the hunger stranglehold, each district must pay tribute of two children who must fight the other districts to the death.  

Alliances are made, unlikely loves grow and in the end a heavily telegraphed ending.  

Based on what I have read, there are already plans in the work for a 2 and 3 and by the performance in the box office, they should do ok.  

But in all honesty, if you are a Science Fiction fan, this movie will fall flat for you right from the premise.  It is supposed to be hundreds of years in the future, which is not borne up in the tech or even society...Far less adventurous films have done far far better at portraying a future society, like the fifth element or Priest.  

Hunger Games did not leave me hungry for more.  Poorly executed and ill conceived plus the extras on the rental are non-existent!  A 7 at best.  If you have unlimited rentals or streams, watch it on a big screen, otherwise give it a pass.

Review: Battleship? I really did make myself forget!

Hey, have I talked about this piece of trash of a movie called Battleship? My friend Mark lent it to me, and it seems the review totally left my conscious mind! That should tell ya somethin.

 Well anyway...if someone remembers it, I will take it down, but it is the strangest thing...

Lets talk about the movie Battleship for a moment...

Directed by Peter Berg

Starring

Taylor Kitsch as Lieutenant Alex Hopper

Alexander Skarsgård as Commander Stone Hopper (Alex's older brother)

Rihanna as Gunner's Mate Second Class Cora Raikes

Brooklyn Decker as Samantha "Sam" Shane

Liam Neeson as Admiral Terrance Shane (father of Samantha Shane)

I would have to say that if I were a movie producer and wanted to be taken seriously by my industry, the last thing I would proudly extol was the fact that the multimillion dollar offering that I am making is based on a board type of game suitable for young children!

Somebody forgot to tell the folks that put together “Battleship”. Not even the good sense to come up with another name. Oh and I say put together deliberately. It is clear that the Battleship people were looking to cash in on the block buster movie of the summer, Transformers. There are scenes taken directly out the Transformers movie. What should be even more embarrassing is the clear references to Battleship! They go so far as to techno babble it up and call it part of the fire control system, ahhh, but no, it's the same game! So you can see why it is so hard to take this movie seriously.

That being the case, the “plot” of the movie is that Earth has been invaded by creatures that seem to be a cross between a porcupine and a hairless Mexican Chihuahua. Three advance ships try to land on Earth, but one hits a very large communications satellite and is destroyed. The remaining ships, for the balance of the movie, wreck havoc on the United States fleet in Hawaii. It would appear that the aliens are trying to contact the remaining fleet of ships using the large dishes on the island.

Some of this movie is so improbable that it is impossible to suspend belief. But then some reviewers have said that this is the worst movie ever is going a bit far for I have seen many that have been far far worse! That being said, I am confident in saying that this film is not aimed at an adult crowd, but towards those that like to experience lots of things blowing up and gratuitous violence.

That and the fact that it is eerily like the first and second Transformers movies to the point that you can confuse the two! So much so that I would say that if you have seen the first or second Transformers movie, don't bother with this one, but if you missed those films, this one will not be so bad.

The extras are pretty good. I really shows how much these people went through to get this film made.

You can't fault them for an honest try all but the original idea which is truly a faulty idea.

I would rate the movie a seven because of execution and the extras are an 8, lots of good stuff in there but it lacks some of the features that I have come to expect in extra, like a good running commentary.

So that gives us a movie rating overall of 15 and an average of 7.5 which I think is fair.  Borrow it if you must,  rent it if you have to, but buy it?  nope!

Review: Priest

Priest Directed by Scott Stewart Starring Paul Bettany, Karl Urban, Lily Collins, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q

 Mark comes through again with a movie that I never thought I would watch, matter of fact I don’t even remember this one. which is kind of a shame.


Priest is set in a future but I would guess a parallel universe. Their present would be sometime in our distant future. However they seemed to have fought a war with beings that they call vampires (but unlike any vampires in our universe) that regressed the world to something along the lines of our late 1800s but with a mixture of high tech but tech that has all but disintegrated.


The “church” is now the only protector against the outside world and their elite enforcers are a small group of warrior priests.


This world has no concept of human vampires no, their vampires are animals of the night that eat and drink human flesh and blood. They are supposed to be wiped out, but when one of the Priests discovers that this is not the case, he goes against the church to go out and fight them once again and the church sends out the rest of the priests to stop him.


The balance of the movie is the Priest finding the ultra baddy and that is a surprise and then there are invasions of hives, fights, trains...pretty formula stuff but it does work. Ultra-modern motorcycles and 18th century trains. Definitely an alternative reality or dimension.


Extra are not all that much to scream about. However there are some extended scenes, deleted scenes and some commentary. I can’t say the movie is a blockbuster but it’s not crap either. The world is well realized and they don’t seem to break all that many of the “law” they set up, so that makes the movie a 7.5 and extras are 8 for an overall of 15.5 for a 7.75 oh hell call it a 7.8 which is fair. Recommendation? If you haven’t anything else to watch, this will give you something to think about. Yeah, watch it...borrow it but I wouldn’t buy it, not even if I was into vampires.

Beam Me Up episode 303 now online

Strange and creepy are the cornerstones of this week’s Beam Me Up broadcast. I start off first with T. Fox Dunham’s spin on a well worn science fiction theme. I read his “Freedom Day” Where a long lost space traveler only to find humans enslaved by mechanical overlords. Upon freeing the oppressed human race our stalwart traveler garners a reward that was far beyond anything he could have imagined.

Next from Earth Sky - news on the VLA telescope soon to be fully operational in Chile called Alma and feathers caught in ancient tree sap helps demonstrate that early flightless dinosaurs and ancient birds both used feathers but for varying purposes.

From there I head over to the Beam Me Up blog to discover that dinosaurs themselves were plagued by fleas just as much as modern animals, but these were no ordinary fleas! Next I review the blu-ray Batman: year one which follows the genesis of the Batman mystique from the comic book history time line, Hubble has detected a gas cloud thought to be the precursor to a supernova that could happen at any moment, Some voice over actors find it difficult to drop their assumed personas once the project is finished. Watch Ben Shelton's web series The Daly Show - I have a link and the mentioned video - funny just can not describe it! The most distant object in the visible universe had been discovered. Light from the GRB has been traveling to us for 13.2 billion years, that makes it 96% of the age of the Universe itself. I find another Darwin hopeful....this brain trust is not to be believed! And finally from the blog comes one of the most disturbing ideas yet to improve on meat production. You will not believe your ears!

And finally part two of Nancy Fulda’s story Movement which is up for the Nebula this year in the short story department. Good Luck Nancy!

Review: Batman Year One

Batman Year One

Directed by
Sam Liu
Lauren Montgomery

Starring the voices of
Benjamin McKenzie as Bruce Wayne / Batman
Eliza Dushku as Selina Kyle / Catwoman
Bryan Cranston as Lieutenant James Gordon
Katee Sackhoff as Detective Sarah Essen
Alex Rocco as Carmine "The Roman" Falcone
Jon Polito as Gillian B. Loeb

based on Batman: Year One by Frank Miller. Batman Year One is an origin movie much like the tale Batman Begins. There are significant differences between the animated and live action films. Batman Begins is much more in line with the comic book history of Batman.

The main bullet points are the same. Bruce’s parents are killed while he witnessed it. He spends a protracted time away from home and returns with a conviction to end crime in Gotham City. A few of supporting characters we have come to expect, Gordon, Dent and Catwoman is onscreen for a couple of scenes.

The bulk of the movie is watching Wayne/Batman and Gordon flesh out into the characters we have come to expect. I really enjoyed the inside look at Gordon’s early days on the Gotham police force, dealing with a police force rife with corruption. Bruce also finds himself deeply involved.

The animation is good, but like the dark storyline, many of the scenes are dark as the plot line.

No expense was spared on the extra either. There is a Catwoman short, a couple of Batman the Series episodes and a commentary track which has the director and voice coordinator plus a couple others from the staff talking about the movie of course but their parts as well an in depth history of the franchise.

Overall I found the movie and extras well worth the wait. I would give the movie an 8 and the extras a 9 for an 8.5 which may be a bit conservatives.

Review: I Am Number Four

The movie I am Number four is  based on a novel of the same name by author Pittacus Lore which is the pseudonym of writing team James Frey and Jobie Hughes.  Published by HarperCollins on August 3, 2010, the novel spent 7 weeks at #1on the YA slot of The New York Times Best Seller list.

The move stars

Alex Pettyfer            John Smith  #4
Timothy Olyphant    Henri
Teresa Palmer         Number Six
Dianna Agron           Sarah Hart
Callan McAuliffe       Sam Goode
Kevin Duran             The Mogadorians, Commander
Jake Abel                 Mark James

The Wikipedia article does a good job of fleshing out the movie plot.  My take on the film is that it is a pretty standard Terminator (without the cyborg) with a healthy dose of Escape to Witch Mountain thrown in for good measure.  

Number 4 and his guardian are the last few surviving members of a race, called Loriens, that has been decimated by the militaristic Mogadorians.  

The Mogadorians are relentless and so “John” and his guardian are never able to stay in one spot for long.  But number Four after constant running has decided to make a stand in Paradise Ohio.  In the fight that ensues, the beagle who was once a lizard proves not to be beagle either, John is joined by the mysterious number 6 and general mayhem is the rule.  

The end is not quite the happy ending that the director has been telegraphing  for most of the movie but considering that there seems to be a wide open ended plot-line, the ending makes a great deal of sense.  

Director Caruso overseen by Michael Bay manage to bring what for all intents and purposes was a book for young teens and give it main stream appeal.  

The plot is of course very derivative but the acting is far from campy  - mix in really competent special effects and  seamless green screen and you have yourself a very watchable film.

On the Blu-ray side of things, there ARE some extra content available!  No director comments, but we are treated to deleted scenes and bloopers.  Not great, but not bad either.  

I would give the movie a 7 just for being predictable and the extra content the same 7 for some content but lacking in what many of us have come to view as essential content, overall a 7 for the film.

Beam Me Up episode 295 now online

This week on episode 295 of Beam Me Up I start with Alexander Perls song Data Base just to get the blood pumping.  Then just to start a slow boil I rant a moment about an old Apollo 13 note book containing some of the calculations Jim Lovell used to bring his battered craft home.   Next a short from Earth Sky asking do meteors make noise when they enter the atmosphere, even Xnewsman says that yes they do and he has experienced it!  Fascinating!

Our first story is a strange tale of time travel and murder called the Lightening Gun by Antoinette Rydyr.  

From here we progress to the Beam Me Up Blog for a review of the blu-ray / dvd  of Captain America the First Avenger,  certainly not a terrible movie.  Next I see that ST:TNG is going to get an HD remastering that is truly stunning!  Look for the upgraded video later in 2012.    Did you hear that scientists have succeeded in hiding an object in both space AND time?  Could moons of gas giant planets that are in the habitable zone possibly harbor life?  There are several really big problems on sending people to the stars, I speak on what I think are the top 3 most important and difficult to overcome problems.  Finally what kind of gift do you get the Star Wars Fan just about Everything?  I think I may have found, if not the best choice, the most ….well....I will let you be the judge!

And finally for the last story of the night Transmutation from Harris Tobias