Rise of the Planet of the Apes

I have been a fan of the Apes movies since a child and was so glad to see this 2011 film made. It was originally titled "Rise of the Apes", glad they made that change. This film is a reincarnation of the original "Planet of the Apes" film series, primarily based off the fourth film "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes" which was released in 1972. It is not a direct remake in any way, though there are many references to the original films through out the movie. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is intended to act as the foundation for a new series of films, with it's own origin story line.

The film was released in the United States, Canada, and India on August 5, 2011 and will be released on Blue-ray and DVD on December 13, 2011. Just in time to give it to that Scifi fan you love for Christmas. The film received positive reviews and became a box office success bringing in over $480 million, off of a $93 million budget. Money well spent in my opinion. The effects are clean and realistic, all most too much so. The story itself is well written with plenty of action and a good dose of heart. Casting was perfect with James Franco as the lead human Will Rodman, the man that starts it all trying to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease, of which his father Charles (John Lithgow) is suffering from. Applause to Lithgow for a superb performance in a very difficult role. I also have to give a hand to Tyler Labine for his role as chimp handler Robert Franklin, he does the role almost too well. And lets not forget Caesar's favorite primatologist Caroline Aranha, portrayed by Freida Pinto, whom brought the character to life in vivid color, and most likely increased admissions into the zoos all over the United States.

I'm not going to give any spoilers, everything ties together far too well, and I don't want to ruin the film for those that have not yet seen it. So on that note, if you are one of the unlucky and have not seen "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"... I say run, don't walk, or even jog out to the store of your choice on December 13, 2011 and buy your copy. You can rent it if you want, but you will most likely end up purchasing it anyway, so why waste the extra cash.

I am going to end this post by saying that Rupert Wyatt did a wonderful job directing the film, and Andrew Lesnie hit the nail on the head when it came to the cinematography. I also want to give Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver big pats on the backs for their writing expertise. I for one (and I know many others) am going to be waiting on pins and needles for the next installment of the new and improved Planet of the Apes franchise. So with out any doubt I have to give "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" a solid and well deserved 5 stars.

Doctor Who News Oct. 16 2011

Although the 2011 Spike Scream Awards will not be broadcast until October 18th at 9/8c PM on Spike TV, I have learn that Matt Smith has won the Best Science Fiction Actor award. Not an easy task with competition like Daniel Craig (Cowboys & Aliens), Chris Evans (Captain America: The First Avenger), Harrison Ford (Cowboys & Aliens), and Jake Gyllenhaal (Source Code).

Doctor Who lost the Best TV Show to Game of Thrones, and Karen Gillan lost out to Milla Jehovah (Resident Evil: Afterlife) for Best Science Fiction Actress.

In further Doctor Who related news… I have to admit that I am behind once again. The final series of The Sarah Jane Adventures (series 5) started on October 3rd. The six episodes making up the fifth series were all filmed before the sad death of much-loved actress Elisabeth Sladen earlier this year. The series stars Elisabeth Sladen, Tommy Knight, Daniel Anthony, Anjli Mohindra, and Sinead Michael. I will do my best to get caught up on the series, and get some reviews up.

Now for the best news… Filming of the Doctor Who Christmas special is nearing its end, and if my sources are correct, will be airing in 69 days. Matt Smith will be joined by Claire Skinner, Bill Bailey, Arabella Weir, and Alexander Armstrong in what is being called an emotional festive special, packed full of Christmas thrills and chills.

The special is set during World War II… Madge Arwell and her two children are evacuated to an old house in Dorset, where the caretaker is a mysterious young man in a bow tie, and a big blue parcel is waiting for them under the tree. They are about to enter a magical new world, and learn that a Time Lord never forgets his depts.

I for one am counting down the days already…

Torchwood Miracle Day Episode 10

What... What... What? I'll tell you what... best Torchwood ever, that's what.

Jack, Gwen, Oswald, Rex, and Ester zeroed in on the 'Blessing'. The CIA headquarters gets blown up, and Jack's blood can reverse the blessing, but it has to be introduced into the blessing from both sides at the same time. No problem if Jack's blood that Rex and Ester had been caring around wouldn't have been blown up too. But Rex and Ester are the clever little duo, they transfused Jack's blood into Rex. Of course Ester gets shot in hopes they will not stop the blessing to keep her alive, but Gwen makes a rather moving speech, and Jack and Rex sacrifice themselves to bring mortality back to Earth. Guess what? They both live, and Oswald plays the hero and blows himself up along with one of the heads of the three families. Rex takes out another before collapsing. Unfortunately Gwen's father dies, and so does Ester. Yes, just as Gwen so elegantly said: "Death has come back."

After Ester's funeral the team talk about if they are going to keep Torchwood together, but before the question is answered Rex receives a text revealing the identity of the mole. When he tries to stop her, she shoots Rex in the chest, and then is shot down herself. Jack and Gwen comfort Rex as he dies in their arms, but just as Jack says that he is gone, Rex takes in a deep breath (much like Jack). Yep, that's right. Looks like Jack isn't the only immortal on Earth any more. The show ends with Rex say to Jack: "What did you do to me?"

Well Torchwood fans looks like we might have another season yet.

Queens of Scream

Scream Queen is a term that was specifically referring to an attractive young damsel in distress in horror films, but it is more than that now. Since Fay Wray was crowned the first "scream queen" after her role in the classic film "King Kong", things have changed. That change started with Jamie Lee Curtis in John Carpenter's "Halloween". The modern day "scream queen" has to not only be attractive, but sexy, seductive, romantic, seemingly attainable to the average guy, and a strong actress. She has to be able to portray emotion both audibly and physically, nor does she have to be the damsel in distress. The modern "scream queen" can be tough - even defeating the villain herself. Another change is that the film does not have to be "Horror" anymore, it can be science fiction, or any type of thriller, and lets not forget about television either. A "scream queen" doesn't have to make her home on the big screen, but can be right in your living room every week.

Some of the more notable "scream queens" today are: Sheri Moon Zombie, Jaime Alexander, Andrea Bogart, Crystal Lowe, Mercedes McNab, Tiffany Shepis, and Cerina Vincent. The reining Queen of Scream according to the NY Daily News is none other than Danielle Harris.

But lets not forget those lovely ladies from TV, like Nina Dobrev, Sarah Wayne Callies, Emily Rose, and Anna Paquin.

The Land That Time Forgot 2009

Okay so here is another one that I missed. Based off of Edgar Rice Burrough's 1918 novel of the same name, and a remake of the 1975 film.

The film takes place in the present, with two couples out on the Caribbean in a charter boat, passing through a bizarre storm. When they emerge on the other side the sun is shining, everyone is sleeping, and there is an unknown island off their bow. Once going ashore it doesn't take long for the small group to realize that it's no normal island, and danger is in the much too clean air.

The effects are not the greatest, it's no Jurassic Park, But what can you expect with only a $600,000 budget. However, the film has it's charm, and the Dinos don't look that bad either. The story is clean, and the acting is stellar, with wonderful performances by C. Thomas Howell, Timothy Bottoms, Darren Dalton, and Lindsey McKeon. The movie may not be one that you want to watch over and over, but it is worth the rental fee to watch once.

I give The Land that Time Forgot 3 1/2 stars... with a larger budget and better dino effects this film would easily be a 4 or 41/2 pushing toward a 5.

Doctor Who Companions: Amy Pond

It's a difficult task deciding which companion to do next, so I thought why not the latest, Amy Pond, the first companion to have a child or be married if I'm not mistaken. But then again Amy is nothing like any companion that came before her. First lets recap her beginning...

The TARDIS was spiraling out of control when it crashed into the backyard of seven-year-old Amelia Jessica Pond. The Doctor, still in the midst of his eleventh regeneration, bonds with the little girl over dinner, finding his new favorite meal... Fish sticks and custard. But little Amelia has a problem, an unusual crack in her bedroom wall. The Doctor must attend to the TARDIS which is going to blow, and promises to return in five minutes. Of course in true Doctor style he's late, by twelve years. Little Amelia is now Amy, a nineteen-year-old Kissagram-girl. Amy, dressed as a sexy police-woman, and the Doctor save the town, but the TARDIS was still unstable, forcing the Doctor to leave her once again and not returning until another two years later. This time he wastes no time asking her to go with him. Amy accepts, but must be back by morning. Unknown to the Doctor she is to be wed the following day.

Amy Pond is played by Karen Gillan, a twenty three-year-old actress/model originally from Inverness, Scotland. Here's a little trivia for you, Karen's cousin, Caitlin Blackwood portrayed the young Amy Pond, and Amy Pond was not the first character Karen Gillan portrayed on Doctor Who. She first appeared on the show the 2008 episode titled "The Fires of Pompeii" as the Soothsayer.

I wouldn't say that Amy (Karen Gillan) is my personal favorite companion, but she is definitely in the top five, and has to be one of the most complex companions ever.

Torchwood: Miracle Day, Episode 9

Episode 9 opens with Gwen busting into a pharmacy by driving a car through the front window. Why? Meds for her category 1 father that they have hidden away behind a fake wall in their basement. After the police arrive, looking for her father, finding nothing, the story takes an unusual turn. A delivery man arrives at Gwen's home. But it's no ordinary delivery, or delivery man, and here's one I didn't see coming at all. The delivery man is none other that Oswald Danes.

After Gwen beats the crap out of him with a pot for touching her daughter, he tells them he wants to trade information. What he said is enough for Gwen to call Jack, and soon he arrives. Of course as they work things out the police burst in the door once again, only this time they find her father, and take him away to the overflow camp.

After piecing the information from Oswald and the news reels of the stories that he mentioned, all fixed by Jillie, they believe that the Blessing is somewhere in Shanghai, China. But a little more info comes through, and they are forced to look at Buenos Aires, Argentina as well. But it is Gwen's husband, Reece, That puts two and two together. That they are not looking at one point, but two points that are one, Antipodes. It had been staring them in the face the entire time in the Phicorp logo. So the team splits up... Jack, Gwen, and yes Oswald head for China, while Ester and Rex meet in Buenos Aires. As the team heads out Gillie arives in China and is led to her destiny or fate which ever it may be. For the "Blessing" can kill as well as enlighten.

Jack isn't in Shanghai long before his gunshot starts bleeding again. A single drop of blood falls to the floor, unseen by Jack or Gwen, but it's actions draw Oswald's attention quickly. The blood, Jack's blood moves across the floor as if being pulled from a fixed point... The "Blessing" is calling to Jack, or at least his blood.

Doctor Who: Night Terrors

Wondering what happened on episode 9? Well here it goes...

The Doctor makes a house call. Yep a house call, or should I say an apartment call. He receives a cry for help from a young boy on Earth, and with out hesitation put the TARDIS on course. The Boy, poor little George has monsters in his bedroom cupboard. Or is it George that's the monster? As the Doctor tries to figure things out, Rory and Amy take a wild elevator ride to the other side of reality, where after running for their lives Amy is turned into a living doll made of wood. Soon the doctor realizes what he has been missing, and we learn that George isn't a monster, nor is he a little boy, well not a human boy anyway. George is a lost, terrified, and lonely alien child, wanting nothing more than to be loved. When his unknowingly adopted father shows the boy that he loves him, and always will, the alternate world he had created out of fear dissolves, restoring everyone within it to their proper state.

Not one of the best episodes I have seen, and a let down after "Lets Kill Hitler", but at least the moral is clear... Love conquers all, even in the Doctor's universe.

New Look For One Man's Reviews

Well I did it, changed the blog up a little. Gave it more color and character, and hopefully more pleasing for my viewers. But I'll let you be the judge... Comment to let me know what you think of the new design, good or bad, just be honest.

Terra Nova

Steven Spielberg brings his talent to the little screen again, with this epic family adventure.


Terra Nova follows an ordinary family on a not so ordinary journey - back in time to prehistoric Earth. They are a small part of a experiment to save the human race, in 2149. The world is dying, overcrowded, overdeveloped, with the majority of plant and animal life extinct. When scientist stumble across a fracture in time, the bold notion was born to resettle humanity in the past.

The Cast: Shelly Conn, Christine Adams, Stephen Lang, Landon Liboiron, Allison Miller, Jason O'Mara, and Naomi Scott.

Terra Nova launches Monday, September 26, 2011 at 8/7c on FOX

Doctor Who Companions: Sarah Jane Smith

The Doctor almost always shares his adventures with a companion(s), but never with more than three. Since 1963 more that 35 actors have been featured in these roles. So to start off the 'Doctor Who Companion' blog series I though who better than probably the most popular and beloved companion of all - Sarah Jane Smith.

Elisabeth Sladen portrayed Sarah Jane from 1973-1976, as the companion to Jon Pertwee (Doctor #3), and Tom Baker (Doctor #4). She returned in 1983 to stand at Peter Davison's side (Doctor #5) in the story "The Five Doctors", and then again in the 30th anniversary show "Dimensions in Time" in 1993. But that wasn't the end of Sarah Jane. Sladen reprised her role again in 2006, 2008, and 2010 starring with the 10th Doctor, David Tennant. In 2007 the BBC launched a spin-off series staring Elisabeth Sladen, 'The Sarah Jane Adventures. The show ran through 2011. Sadly Elisabeth Sladen past away on April 19, 2011. The final six episodes had already been finished, and aired as a tribute to Elisabeth.

Doctor Who Season 6 Recap

Doctor Who season 6 started out by taking us to the Utah desert in the good ol' USA. Amy, Rory, and River Song each receive a mysterious invitation from the Doctor. Why? As we quickly found out, to witness his death. The Doctor is zapped and killed before he can regenerate by someone or something in an old NASA spacesuit. The Doctor had also sent an invite to himself, a younger self that is. Oh yeah... and Amy is pregnant. After the younger Doctor arrives the four travel back to 1969 to stop an alien uprising with the help of a former FBI agent, Canton Delaware III. The fight begins against an enemy that no one can remember. The spaceman reappears, and when the helmet visor opens, we learn that it is a little girl inside. Amy shoots before the Doctor can stop her, using Canton's gun.

Episode 2 picks up with the Doctor locked away in the perfect prison (well it will be when finished) while Amy, Rory, and River Song are being hunted by the FBI and Canton Delaware III. One by one each of them is taken down and brought back to the Doctor, except River, whom jumps from atop a building. In the end the aliens are defeated by a hidden message broadcast through the media feed from the first moon walk, and the little girl is released from the spacesuit. Episode 2 ends in a New York City alleyway, 6 months later. A homeless man sees a little girl stumbling through the alley, clearly sick and dying. The little girl tells the man that she can fix that. She raises her arms out to her sides, concentrates, and starts to regenerate.

Oh and one other thing that we should remember... River kisses the Doctor, supposedly for the first and last time.

Episode 3 takes us off to the Atlantic Ocean aboard a 17th century pirate ship. A mysterious sea creature (a Siren) is stalking the crew. Once the black spot appears on a persons skin, they are doomed. Of course Rory gets the spot, it's always poor Rory. It is soon realized that beautiful yet deadly siren is actually a medical hologram from a future spaceship, and trying to save lives not destroy them. The remaining pirate crew take control of the space vessel, stuck there to stay alive, and head out for adventures that they can not comprehend.

In episode 4 a distress signal from... wait for it... a TimeLord, takes the Doctor to a junkyard planet in a bubble universe. It's a trap of course. When the inhabitants steal the soul of the TARDIS, yes the TARDIS is alive, and implant it inside their daughter, the Doctor has to work fast. However the TARDIS is much too powerful for a living body, and ends up back inside the police box, but not before expressing its true feelings for the Doctor.

Episode 5 takes us off to the world of dopplegangers. "Gangers" are used as manual labor, doing the jobs people don't want to do, or can't do. A solar tsunami frees the gangers, which not only gives them the peoples physical form, but their memories, emotions, and desires too. Soon the gangers rebel, wanting nothing more than to live their lives. As the episode reaches its end the Doctor's ganger steps from the shadows. The story finishes off in episode 6, as the humans fight the gangers for survival. The story finishes off with the Doctor's ganger sacrificing itself to save everyone. The surviving gangers are dropped off to make the company understand what's been happening to the gangers, and to stop it. As they watch, Amy clutches her stomach in pain. Once back inside the TARDIS the Doctor explains that Amy is going into labor. The Doctor, after a confusing explanation, addresses Amy, saying that they'll come for her, and rescue her no matter what it takes. When Amy says that she's already there, the Doctor says that she isn't, and hasn't been for a long time. He activates his sonic screwdriver and Amy melts into a pool of liquid flesh. Amy then wakes up on an operating table. A woman wearing an eyepatch opens a slot in the wall, and tells Amy it's time for her to give birth. She tells her to push, and Amy screams in pain and terror.

Episode 7, the mid season finally. The Doctor declares war on those that have kidnapped Amy. He assembles an army of allies to recover her. River realizes that the Doctor's darkest hour has come, and she must reveal her greatest secret. Eyepatch lady, Madame Kovarian takes the baby from Amy, places it in a pod, and Amy tells her child that her father, the Last Centurian, will find them. At that same time the Cybermen detect an intruder on their ship. The intruder turns out to be Rory. He tells the Cyberleader that he has a message from the Doctor, and a question of his own to ask. He knows that the Cybermen scan the entire system. Rory demands the location of his wife and daughter. When the Cyberleader ask what the Doctor's message is, Rory stands by the viewing port. Outside the entire 12th fleet of the Cybermen is destroyed. He then asks if the Cyberleader would like him to repeat the question. Soon the Battle of Demons Run begins. At the battles end, Kovarian has run off with Melody, Amy and Rory's daughter, and River Song finally arrives. When she is confronted by the Doctor for being late, she tells him that she couldn't have stopped what happen, and that it's the Doctor's fault. Finally having enough of River's banter, the Doctor demands to know who she is. River puts her hands on the baby cot and tells him to read the symbols. The Doctor looks at her, surprised, and introduces himself to her as if meeting for the first time. The Doctor asks River to get everyone home then leaves in the TARDIS before Amy and Rory can enter. After a brief confrontation with Amy, River tells them that everything is fine, and that the TARDIS translation matrix can sometimes take awhile. She tells Amy to concentrate, but not on the cot's symbols, but on the prayer leaf Lorna had stitched for the baby. River explains that in the language of the Gamma Forest People, there is no word for "Pond". The only water in the forest is a river. As the couple concentrates, the words "Pond Melody" translates for them into "River Song". River informs them that she is Melody - their daughter.

Make sure to catch episode 8 "Let's Kill Hitler" this Saturday.

Doctor Who Episode 8 Prequel

This 1:46 clip comes straight from BBC America... Second half of season starts on the 27th, so get your Doctor fix now...

Doctor Who: A Blast From the Past

This post is more for the younger viewers of Doctor Who, and the ones that are new fans. So let me start by saying, Doctor Who did not start in 2005. The first episode appeared on the BBC on November 23, 1963, with William Hartnell as the Doctor. The series ran until 1989 with Sylvester Mc Coy controlling the TARDIS. There was a TV movie in 1996 when Paul Mc Gann took the reigns as the eighth Doctor.

The show took on new life as it was resurrected in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston taking over the role as Doctor number nine. A year later David Tennant became Doctor number ten, handing off the TARDIS key to Matt Smith in 2010.

The eleven Doctors:

William Hartnell (#1, 1963-1966), Patrick Troughton (#2, 1966-1969), Jon Pertwee (#3, 1970-1974), Tom Baker (#4, 1974-1981), Peter Davison (#5, 1981-1984), Colin Baker (#6, 1984-1986), Sylvester Mc Coy (#7, 1987-1989, 1996), Paul Mc Gann (#8, 1996), Christopher Eccleston (#9, 2005), David Tennant (#10, 2005-2010), and Matt Smith (#11, 2010-present)

Doctor Who is considered the longest running television science fiction show in the world. It is even in the guiness book of world records. Doctor Who has a total of 777 episodes to date, and it looks to have many more to come.

The TARDIS (an acronym for Time And Relative Dimensions In Space), and as we all know is larger on the inside than the outside. The Doctor's blue Police Box is far more than just a time machine, but a timeless, ageless character in the series, and is as recognized by fans as well as the Doctor himself. Incarnations of the Doctor may come and go, but the TARDIS is the one constant through the entire series.

I will cover the Doctor's companions in a later Blog - so join up and keep checking back. If there is something that you would like to see, please let me know. And remember, I want to see your comments, so don't be shy.

Bio Dead

"12 million fatalities in the zone. Those were the lucky ones." That's the tag line for 'Bio Dead', and it fits the film perfectly. If you ask me the only real fatality is the movie itself. 'Bio Dead' tries to be a ghostly, psychological thriller with a zombie feel. One can only wish an old fashion flesh eater would pop out and devour the cast, no one would notice anyway, and at least there would be some action.

Over 4,000 square miles of contaminated area called "The Zone", which as become an open grave for 12 million citizens. When a hazmat team is sent to check out a mysterious building with lights, deep within "The Zone" they find that they are not alone... Or are they? The team begins to experience hallucinations, and are stalked by a vicious predator through the maze-like structure.

The concept is a good one, but the film fails to deliver. By the end (if you last that long) it leaves you a bit lost, and confused about what really happened inside the walls.

Only 1 star from me.

Count Down...

That's right Doctor Who fans... only 5 more days until the Doctor returns. So tell me, who is your favorite Doctor?

Paul the Movie

This 2011 British-American hybrid science fiction comedy film, kicks butt. It is now out on DVD and Blue-ray, and well with the purchase price. "Paul" is one of those DVDs you will watch over and over again. Written by and starring the British comedy team of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, this is a laugh fest of a flick. The story is about to British scifi geeks, Graeme Willy (Simon Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Nick Frost), that come to America to the San Diego Comic-Con International, and travel across the US in a rented RV, checking out all the notorious alien hot-spots. One night after hitting the road they are running for their lives from what they think are two red-neck bullies. As the car finally over takes them, they realize that it's not the bullies and start to relax. Just as they do the car looses control and starts rolling right in front of them. When they stop to check on the driver, head lamps strapped on, they find Paul (voice of Seth Rogen). Or should I say he finds them. When Paul joins them on the trip the real adventure begins, and so do the laughs.

This is comedy at it's best, with wonderful CGI effects, and great acting talent. Also starring: Kristen Wiig as Ruth Buggs, a one eyed, bible thumping shut in that helps run a RV park with her Father. Jason Bateman as Special Agent Lorenzo Zoil, and Sigourney Weaver.

However I do not recommend the film for younger children, do to some language, and sexually suggestive dialog.

Pegg and Frost have described the film as a love letter to Steven Spielberg, who's voice makes a guest appearance in the film talking to Paul about a certain alien movie.

Both Nick Frost and Simon Pegg have stated they would like to return for another film. Pegg also has said if there were to be a sequel, it would be called "Pauls".

The film had a $40 million budget, and grossed over $94 million at the box office. It also won Best Comedy at the National Movie Awards.

If I were to give this DVD a rating, it would be no less than 5 stars. So that is all I am going to say about the film, you will have to rent or buy it for the rest. But be warned, I do not recommend eating popcorn during "Paul"...

It's Coming Soon....

The count down to the return of Doctor Who has started... 10 more days and the second half of the 2011 season begins...

Torchwood says farewell to Dr. Juarez

Dr. Vera Juarez goes down in flames, literally. Dr. Juarez played by the lovely and talented Arlene Tur, meets her untimely demise while investigating the goings on inside one of the overflow camps. Vera, Rex, and Esther all go in to find out what the module is, and what it is for. Vera pushes the leader of the camp to far, and finds her self inside the module with a bullet in her leg and hand. Of course Rex is the one that finds her just as the door locks and the burners come on. Mekhi Phifer plays the part to perfection as he watches his doctor and lover, burn alive. I have to admit that I am sad to see her go, but at least she went out in true Torchwood style. Rest in peace Dr. Vera Juarez, you shall be missed.

9021ahoh...

That's right Jason Priestly has joined the cast of Syfy's Haven. Priestly plays the role of Chris, who has now become the most loved man in Haven, since his father's death in episode 4 of season 2. Most people would love the idea that every person that laid eyes on them would fawn over them, but not Chris. He hates people. Well all but one, Audrey. But who can blame him, after all she is pretty, sweet, compassionate, and completely immune to his gift (or curse). Will their love bloom, or wither? Only the next episode will tell.