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Reviews
The Killing: Missing (2011)
Pointless
"The Killing" always has been a poor substitute for "Forbrydelsen", but this episode was where it finally did what it's been threatening to do from the start and tipped off the edge and plunged into the abyss of obscurity.
There was no advancement of the plot, there was no added depth to the characters. If the broadcaster forgot to broadcast it you wouldn't know it was missing. In short, it gave the impression that the producers were contracted to deliver 13 episodes but only had enough plot for 12. Never mind not returning for series 2, I really don't see the function in returning for the end of series 1. All hail the Danes, at least they knew what they were doing.
Just Terrible.
Star Trek: Voyager: Ex Post Facto (1995)
Deja Vu-oyager
This episode borrows heavily from Next Generation's "A Matter of Perspective". Yes they fiddle around at the edges a little bit, but really we've seen it all before.
Replace Paris with Riker, Memory engrams with Holodeck Simulation, and Tuvok with Geordi (who directed this episode) and you're just about there.
That said it's a moderately diverting little tale even if whodunnit is pretty obvious from the start.
Although to be fair one or two of the early episodes of Next Generation owed a similar debt to the original series, so I suppose the writers should be allowed a little latitude to get into their stride. Fortunately there were much better things to come (especially after they got rid of the Kazon and their incompetent hairdressers).
1/10 for originality, but 5/10 for entertainment value.
Avatar (2009)
3D grows up at last
In the early 80's it was my misfortune to see several dreadful 3D movies which used every contrivance they could think of to either chuck things at the audience or thrust things a foot from their faces at approximately 90 second intervals. The effect of this was paradoxical in that the 3D nature of the film pushed the audience out of the movie rather than drawing them in because the movie was all about the 3D rather than the narrative. The first of those movies left me with a headache so severe that I had to lie in a dark room for 2 days to get rid of it. Just awful. I said then that the 3D format could never be successful until the director effectively forgot about the third dimension and paid more attention to the plot.
Fast forward 20 years. In between making mind-buggeringly expensive movies James Cameron has been at the forefront of developing 3D technology for IMAX amongst others and has clearly learned a thing or two for Avatar is the movie which at last has the third dimension as its servant rather than its master. It is used to great effect to immerse the viewer in the forests of Pandora rather than to shove them in your face. The imagery is beautiful and rather reminiscent of Roger Dean progressive rock album covers come to life, the aliens are believably rendered (with the possible exception of their flawless dentistry). Mouths move like mouths rather than performing slightly artificial morphs between one expression and another. The beautifully realised world is a truly absorbing experience. It's also not headache inducing.
Less 3 dimensional, however, are the people and the plot. There's not a lot new here. Nasty company blows away tree hugging aliens to get hold of their Unobtainium (oh please!). It's all very pink and blue: the clichéd goodies are supergood and the even more clichéd baddies are superbad. Think Emerald Forest meets Aliens and you're just about there. Company man Parker Selfridge was pretty much Carter Burke from Aliens all over again (so much so that I had to convince myself on a couple of occasions that he wasn't being played by Paul Reiser), the ever marvellous Sigourney could well have been channelling Ellen Ripley, the one-man fighting machines were a bad-ass revision from the good old "get away from her you bitch" days and just for good measure there's a Gorman-alike too. Despite all this, however, Avatar does manage to pack a couple of bang-on emotional punches.
In summary, Avatar is not the best film ever, or even this year, but it's an overwhelming spectacle with a bit of heart and highly recommended to anyone who can just switch off and go along for the ride. (Just don't sit too close to the screen if you see it in 3D)
Star Trek: The Empath (1968)
A Unique Blend of the Sicky and the Cheap
What lets this episode down the most? Is it the script written by 5 year olds? The ultra-cheap (£2.45 at the most) production design? The rubbish, overblown performances where every line, between the words, cried "oh, Gawd, I can't believe I'm contractually obliged to do this"? The completely uninvolving story line? The lack of budget for most of the regular cast? Nope. None of those. A bit of careful direction could have gotten away with any of them. It's the hideous, sickening, mawkish score which only serves to highlight every one of this episodes weaknesses and none of its strengths (few though they are).
I'm seriously in need of stemetol pills watching this. Vile! Vile! Vile!
Doctor Who (2005)
torcHWOod
"Torchwood" will be referenced throughout the series. Also in the 12th episode of series 1 the Anne Droid asked "The great cobalt pyramid is built on the remains of which famous old Earth institute?". The correct answer being "Torchwood".
This is laying the groundwork for a spin off series, Torchwood, which will be set inside the institute which we now know to be founded by Queen Victoria, located in Cardiff and staffed by none other than Captain Jack. The rumour is that it will be aimed at a higher age range than Doctor Who and will be a Doctor meets Mulder and Scully type affair. Sounds promising.
***mild spoiler follows*** Back to Doctor Who, though. It's great to see that the standard of the first series is being kept up in Series 2. David Tennant is proving a worthy successor to the miserable northern git Christopher Ecclestone. A lighter touch, but can kick ass when required, even when armed with just a satsuma. Also lovely to see Elisabeth Sladen reprising her role as Sarah Jane Smith after 30 years along with not-so-furry doggy companion K9. This was a beautiful example of how the naughties' incarnation of Doctor Who is far more thoughtful and reflective than the old while still retaining the original spirit of adventure and fun. There's an emotional depth here which the previous incarnations moved mountains to avoid. Great stuff. Major kudos to all concerned with bringing this to the screen.