Category: film

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Battlestar Galactica: The Plan comes together… or falls apart…

Yesterday marked the release of the direct-to-DVD Battlestar Galactica: The Plan, directed by Edward James Olmos. Remember when the Cylons had a plan? Now you can see the events of BSG (especially seasons one and two), from the Cylon point of view. Here’s what the reviewers are saying:

  • Wired says not to put too much hope in this mediocre coda, which would more aptly be titled A Tale of Two Cavils.
  • Geeks of Doom loves the inner struggles among the Cylons, but feels that the flow is a bit off. However, they totally agree with Olmos’ proclamation that after seeing “The Plan”, you’ll want to re-watch BSG again to see how it all fits in. They also have a giveaway contest for “The Plan” DVDs.
  • Ellen Gray at philly.com likes when the Cylons try to be human… but wishes there was more of that.
  • Alan Sepinwall of the NJ Star-Ledger likes Dean Stockwell’s and Grace Park’s performances, but overall says, “As one small bit of bonus material tied to a classic series, it’s fun, but it doesn’t really stand on its own.”
  • FilmThreat calls it “a mess” that ends up with epic fail, but also closure for Boxy.
  • The Salt Lake Tribune gives it a brief C+, saying that diehard fans will enjoy it, and that’s about it.

Hyping “The Plan”, PopStar gets a few questions with Dean Stockwell about playing against himself and his views on a Quantum Leap reunion. UGO has a contest where you can win dinner with Admiral Adama, Edward James Olmos.

Overall, most reviews feel like “The Plan” is more like a series of deleted scenes than a coherent story.

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan is released today on DVD and Blu-Ray. Several reviewers note that it is unrated and contains sex and nudity, which will most likely be cut for the Syfy broadcast of it next year.

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Movie news: Liam Neeson gods out for Titans remake

At least it's not a neon halo?Zeus was truly a man before his time. Did you see the picture of Liam Neeson all Zeused up for the Clash of the Titans remake in Entertainment Weekly, a few weeks back? (It’s all very Excalibur.) There are a couple more pictures (though no Neeson) over at Empire, where genre up-and-comer Sam Worthington takes the name of Harryhausen in vain. Tisk tisk: Doesn’t anyone teach these kids film history anymore?

The biggest Trek of all. J.J. Abram’s Star Trek has beat its predecessors at the box office, TrekMovie found. Not too shabby for a near-dead franchise.

Aww hell, why not. Bryan Singer is up for a return to the X-Men. If only he’d thought that way before inflicting that tedious Superman flick upon us all.

Something new and exciting! Roland Emmerich on why there wasn’t an Independence Day sequel. Because really, how many chances does one get to painstakingly destroy major monuments and… Oh.

Okay then. Jon Favreau will not be directing The Avengers and Beyonce is not going to play Wonder Woman.

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Trek Talk – It’s the story, stupid

Well, you knew you couldn’t interview JJ Abrams and Leonard Nimoy about Fringe and not start talking about Star Trek.

Leonard Nimoy talks about what makes good science fiction and what’s wrong with these sci-fi kids today.  (Spock Prime.  Hee.)

Speaking of story,  JJ says that they’re starting to tackle the next script.  They want to have fun going through old storylines, but not make it too inaccessible to those who haven’t been watching it the entire forty years.

They talk about Fringe, too….

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Movie news: Yes, this post contains Sweet Valley High

It could be worse. It could be My Little Pony.Just deal with it, boys. I thought April Fools had come early when I heard that Diablo Cody is adapting the Sweet Valley High series for the big screen. (It is indeed for real. There goes one of my jokes for next year.) Of course, the reaction has been mixed. And we can take solace in the fact that Cody is keeping the series in its proper time period – the 80’s. In any case, it’s only Sweet Valley High, and they’ve never exactly been classic anything.

  • Mark Hamill is not in Zombieland. Because really, once one has spoofed their most famous role in the form of a character called the Cocknocker, everything else in that vein is just kind of downhill.
  • Stephanie Meyer’s other property. Her science fiction novel, The Host, will be adapted by Gattaca’s Andrew Niccol.
  • Remakes rearing their ugly heads. Highlander and He-Man not as dead as we thought. DAMN IT. But at least we can be grateful for one thing:
  • My eyes! My eyes! io9 unearthed some a test shot of Nicolas Cage from the late 90’s Superman movie that never got made, and it’s every bit as awful as you might expect.
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Movie news: Sequels, reboots, steampunk, Michael Bay and other things you’re probably sick of

Pretend I photoshopped something POTCy into this.Pirates 4 to go steampunk? Disney gave Johnny Depp a (anti?) hero’s welcome at D23 last week and announced the film’s name – On Stranger Tides – but the most interesting thing I’ve heard in connection with the movie is a rumor that the villian may be cribbing from Captain Nemo. On the one hand that could be kind of cool. On the other hand… It’s Pirates of the Caribbean 4. Not sick of steampunk yet? If there’s any truth to this, you will be.

  • Just like old times. J.J. Abrams and Roberto Orci hint that the next Star Trek movie will deal with “modern-day issues.”
  • It’s never too soon for a reboot! Or a prequel. Yes, X-Men: First Class may be next on the Marvel X-Movie slate. Of course, the Fantastic Four are actually getting a reboot, nevermind that they just made two movies. Nobody runs your iconic properties into the ground like Hollywood!
  • Twilight. New Moon actually has enough of a plot for it to be given away entirely in the trailer? Kristen Stewart actually attempts to act? Dakota Fanning is in it! Wow, my standards are low for this one…
  • Randomly. Nostalgia Chick takes on Armageddon.