Thank you, Gerry. RIP Gerry Anderson

A sad day indeed for fans of 60's and 70's space television, as pioneering filmmaker and TV producer Gerry Anderson has passed away at the age of 83. Anderson was a cult hero, having created a series of children's action programs in 1960's Britain that became global sensations. Joe 90, Captain Scartlet, Stingray, Fireball XL5 and of course, Thunderbirds. Rather than feature human actors, Anderson used marionettes in "Supermarionation," an elaborate series of miniature sets and vehicles with colossal special effects. His main designer, Derek Meddings, would go on to work in the James Bond and Superman film franchises, among others. 

In the Seventies, Anderson made the leap to working with actors, transferring his astonishing special effects to a bigger adult canvas, with shows such as Space: 1999 and your humble correspondent's favorite show as a boy, UFO. 

I essentially grew up on these shows and they had an enormous influence on me. To this day I have a lot of Anderson pieces in my toy collection - here are a few...

One of the hallmarks of any Anderson show was the dazzlingly designed vehicles (that and enormous explosions). Here are a few from Space: 1999 and UFO...

Unless you grew up with a British connection, you might never have seen or heard of Gerry Anderson. Much  of America only discovered him with the release of Team America - World Police, which poked fun at the save the world heroics of fearless puppets. 

Gerry, you had a wonderful imagination. If not for your creations, I might never have met one of my dearest friends, through our mutual fan mania. Your shows shaped a generation - and more - across the globe. Thanks for all the FABulous inventions and for firing up a lot of young dreamers. 

I can think of no better way to close, than with this - volume, please...

"There is more in you of good than you know..." The Hobbit

As I closed the gate behind me, settling into The Shire, I was prepared to be disappointed.

There have been all sorts of rumblings about the many failings of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Too often these days, the bigger a film’s expectations, the more critical arrows are drawn back, just waiting to be let fly.

What an incredible relief to discover that The Hobbit is a wonderful, sure-footed adventure – and if you have a fondness for Peter Jackson’s previous landmark Lord of the Rings trilogy, you should absolutely love it. The Hobbit is a very different book in tone from Rings – on the surface, it’s a children’s fable – a cracking yarn. Yet J.R.R. Tolkien also included the seeds of what would lead to a darker adventure that threatens all of Middle Earth – as anyone who’s seen Rings already knows, it’s where Bilbo Baggins comes to find The One Ring. Peter Jackson has endeavored to serve two masters with The Hobbit – on the one hand, the film is much more outlandish in places than anything in the previous trilogy. On the other, he’s daring to expand this lighter yarn into another trilogy, by spending more time showing us how the evil we saw in Rings came to power. It’s a risky prospect.

As Martin Freeman’s Bilbo finds his peaceful domicile under siege by an unexpected hoard of Dwarves, we’re right back in the beloved Shire of the previous films. The arrival sequence is a long one, but I remained fascinated throughout. If you know these chapters, you’ll find they were nicely serviced here and I found the Dwarves to be a delight. We witness an epic prologue of how the Dwarves lost their ancestral home to the mother of all dragons, the woeful Smaug. Richard Armitage takes center stage as a much more smoldering heartthrob Dwarf then I think Tolkien ever dared imagine – but as Thorin, he takes on the central heroic role that makes him cousin to Viggo Mortensen’s Aragorn. As leader, Thorin has the task of reclaiming Israel for his people – with a truly nightmarish foe from his past determined to stop him. All I can say is, “Toy company, where is my Azog the Defiler action figure?!?”

Many of the Goblins and design elements of The Hobbit have the look of Guillermo del Toro’s influence – it does appear his involvement during the initial design phase is showing through. The Goblins and beasts on display are fantastic.

The cast is uniformly outstanding, particularly Freeman. Bilbo’s scenes with Gollum have been widely reported, but don’t think that’s the only showstopper in the film. There’s plenty to admire here, especially for Gandalf fans. Scenes with Elrond, Galadriel and the great Christopher Lee are fascinating.

The Hobbit may be a bit longer than it needs to be. I did not see the film in its controversial 48 frames-per-second format, but in RealD 3D. I found the 3D pointless, and as I experienced with Avatar, I found myself eager to fire this up on Blu-ray, as I suspect it’s going to look much sharper with more eye-popping detail in hi-def 2D blu. Some of the bigger action sequences get a bit cartoonish and drag a bit, veering close to Pirates of the Caribbean territory at times. The Goblin cavern is full of endless Rube Goldberg rope ladders and rocky chasms where characters tumble hundreds of feet down only to land with an “oomph” and scarcely a bruise. These are scenes where the film truly feels more like a kid’s movie – no offense meant. The action is just much less realistic in these scenes. There are other moments where the sweeping helicopter panoramas and subterranean goings-on feel like Rings redux. The Goblin chase feels very much like Moria, for example.

But these are fairly minor carps. At the end of the day you come away feeling something. The lesson Bilbo learns by the end of this first film is a very human one, and as the affection between the characters grows and we feel darkness beginning to threaten this world, we find ourselves caring very much. I felt like I’d sat down at a very sumptuous feast, and the film leaves you more than ready for the next chapter. If you’re a Tolkien fan, and you love Rings, you’re apt to find The Hobbit is a very welcome gift.

The Bay - we have been warned...

Of all the horror movies I've seen, The Bay, from director Barry Levinson, is the one I'm most hoping doesn't come true - unfortunately it's also way too easy to believe that the harrowing events depicted around Chesapeake Bay in this film actually could.

Whatever you do, don't dismiss The Bay as another "found footage" horror film, and lump it together with Apollo 18 or Paranormal Activity XX. While Levinson makes use of various "recovered" video sources, The Bay feels more like a documentary - an impossibly disturbing, throat-grabbing, make-it-stop documentary. It's been called an "eco-horror" film, due to the environmental underpinnings behind the horrific events depicted onscreen. DNA from Jaws and The Birds has been spliced together with that of Forks Over Knives. Given that the threat in The Bay is actually something real, with just the tiniest and all too believable sci-fi nudge, it's one of the most unsettling films I've seen in a while. If you've become jaded by bad horror and need a mainline jolt of the real McCoy, don't let yourself miss The Bay - but fair warning: you won't be able to get the toothpaste of anxiety back in the tube once it's been squeezed out.

Huge kudos to Barry Levinson, who's made a stunning career departure here with the vigor of a filmmaker a third his age. It's almost hard to fathom that this is the same director who shot Diner, The Natural and Rain Man. He's done some intense work before (TV's Homicide and Sleepers), but nothing like this. It's like he had a lifelong dream to run amok with a low budget and just scare the holy hell out of people. Levinson is a Maryland man through and through, and one can't help but feel that his disgust over what's happened to his beloved Chesapeake Bay is what got him so fired up to make this movie.

The Bay is available at home OnDemand - same day as theaters - and it's very, very much worth seeking out. It delivers the goods like crazy and no fan of the genre should miss it. But I'd label it with a strong warning - The Bay is one of the most disturbing films you'll see this year. Don't drink the water.

Old dog, new tricks...Skyfall

When you turn 50, are you done? Are you a quaint relic in the eyes of a younger world? Not on your life, Mr. Bond. With a smashing sense of purpose and invigorated storytelling, Skyfall gives us what is truly one of the best Bond pictures in ages, in all likelihood one of the top 5.

Director Sam Mendes is an inspired choice as director – combining his strength at working with actors (American Beauty) with his ability to juggle heart with gritty dynamics (Road to Perdition), Mendes also brings the enthusiasm and fastidious attention to detail of the lifelong fan – the combination works beautifully and he gives us one of the all-time best Bond films – as does Daniel Craig. Not only do we get a decent story that’s satisfying for adults, but we actually get to learn more about who Bond is – where he came from and how he came to be the man he is. It’s fascinating and incredibly satisfying.

Some impressive standouts include Naomie Harris (28 Days Later), sensational as a realistic and engaging MI6 agent – she’s a great accompaniment to a particularly bruised and payback-hungry Bond. Bond films practically invented the “opening action sequence” and Skyfall has you gripping the seats and in the thick of it like you won’t believe. Way to get our attention, gentlemen! It’s a great delight to discover that Adele delivers a theme-song that ranks among the very best. It’s modern, but does a fine job of echoing the character of all-time favorites from the Shirley Bassey era. It’s easily the best theme since Live and Let Die.

The way Skyfall evokes moments and grace-notes of the best vintage bond films while tipping the hat to them in a fresh new way reminds me of the similar savvy craftsmanship in Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Like Rise, when the credits end, you’re ready for the next film to begin now!

Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes are splendid here and used to maximum effect – and Javier Bardem gives us a villain who’s a bit more twisted than the usual Bond adversary. He’s charming, perverse and maniacal and goes after the role full-tilt. Scenes on an abandoned island are particularly chilling. When Mendes strikes a more modern pose, there are moments in Skyfall that have the same intensity and fierce involvement as the best episodes of Luther – except we’re on a much bigger stage.

The stakes are more personal and haunting for Bond than we’ve ever been treated to before – Skyfall brings it all together in a deft and fitting salute to five decades of Britain’s most tenacious protector. It’s an incredibly satisfying meal that will leave you ravenous for the next course. Very highly recommended.

GALACTICA ALERT! New series THIS FRIDAY!

Okay, nuggets! Grab your helmets!!! The long rumored prequel Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome makes its debut this Friday courtesy of entertainment company Machinima's YouTube channel, Machinima Prime. Blood and Chrome is a prequel movie featuring a young William Adama during the first Cylon War and will be presented as 10 7-12-minute episodes beginning on Friday, November 9th - subsequent episodes airing over the next month.

Early next year, the two-hour version will broadcast on SyFy with a subsequent unrated release on home video. Quite the release strategy. Blood and Chrome will make extensive use of virtual set CGI technology, aiming for a more spectacular, epic canvas. Many BSG and Caprica vets including David Eick are involved. Check out the trailer and don't miss this sudden and most welcome return to the 12 Colonies!

So Say We All!

Happy Halloween, Friends!

Best costume ever! Happy Halloween!!!

20,000 Nemos Under the Sea, David Fincher...!

One of the many projects director David Fincher has been considering is a remake of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - and this week it came a lot closer to becoming his next film. Disney has a 3-month hold on Fincher (wonder what that cost?) to see if he can assemble a project that makes them confident enough to fund and green-light the film. Fincher’s first public salvo is the idea of frequent collaborator Brad Pitt as harpooner Ned Land, with an older A-list actor playing anti-hero Captain Nemo. Now 20,000 Leagues is my favorite film of all time. It had a colossal influence on me growing up, being the first live action drama I ever saw in a theater - no, not during its original release - I'm not THAT old... I’d normally be quick to pooh-pooh this kind of remake, but with Fincher involved, I can’t help but feel excited and curious. So if you were able to get Pitt to play the Kirk Douglas role…my immediate question was, who do you cast as James Mason?! 

That’s my question for today. You need someone capable of being imperious and brilliant – a visionary inventor whose belief in the future has been twisted by personal tragedy, having been warped into a cold-blooded vigilante, a haunted man full of grief and anger. He needs to be older, but capable of some action - of grabbing a harpoon and charging onto the deck to face the mother of all nightmares, face-to-face. I’ve reviewed my list of suspects, and here they are - along with my doubts and caveats - forgive me, gentlemen:

WAVE 1:

Anthony Hopkins - (possibly too old now, a somewhat tarnished rep)

Daniel Day-Lewis - (too highbrow for the role, though he’d be brilliant)

Jeremy Irons - (too old now? Possibly seems too detached)

Ian McKellen - (possibly too old now…?)

Geoffrey Rush - (intriguing choice, but maybe not dark enough)

Michael Fassbender - (might be too young)

No, not quite there - which lead me to...

WAVE 2: - (in increasing order of preference)

Bryan Cranston - (so has the acting chops – can we disassociate him from WW?)

Liam Neeson - (he’s the Taken persona now – too much an Irish Harrison Ford?)

Daniel Craig (can he convey the inventor – the visionary? Too action-oriented? He was great as Blomkvist for Fincher)

Hugh Jackman (phenomenal at anger and intelligence – but too heroic?)

Christian Bale (can do seemingly anything. A great choice to play the haunted genius)

…which finally led me to my #1 choice, with just the right balance of hope and anger...

Kenneth Branagh

I can see Branagh very clearly – older, bearded, tortured, judgmental – easy to believe as the once-starry-eyed inventor, full of hope for the future – turned cold avenger after the loss of his family, raging at fate and humanity.

And please - no Wild Wild West cracks. This is Wallander we're talking about here! He's aged, he's seasoned and he brings heft and humanity that would simply be letter perfect for Nemo. So, Mr. Fincher, if you're listening, one die-hard fan's plea to seal the deal and give Ned Land a worthy adversary.

What do you think, readers? I would love to hear!

"This time travel...fries your brain like a egg..."

If you need a dose of real, intelligent science fiction to get you through the cold autumn nights, look no further than  Looper, starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Directed by Rian Johnson (Brick, The Brothers Bloom), Looper is one of the best sci-fi films in ages. Given the time travel nature of the plot, there's very little I can reveal here, short of the common knowledge setup that Gordon-Levitt plays a younger version of Willis in a fantastic performance. There are loads of surprises in Looper that I wouldn't dream of spoiling, but trust me - this one's a keeper and evokes films as diverse as Blade Runner, District 9 and Twelve Monkeys, among others. The notion of time travel inevitably seems to call up matters of the heart and the flickering embers of hope - those themes are just the beginning here. Looper gives us a vision of the future that unfortunately isn't hard to imagine - told convincingly with small, vivid details. The men behind the future are as old as crime - and love - itself. Don't miss this one.

Fight the Dead - Fear the Living...

Sharpen your blades and grab the spare ammo, The Walking Dead are back!!!

Sunday night sees the 3^rd season premiere of the most successful ratings juggernaut in AMC history.

To avoid any possible ambiguity, be served notice that I consider The Walking Dead to be one of the best shows anywhere on TV these days. If you’ve missed this series due to its extreme horror, you’ve been missing some amazing series television. The direction and cast is as good as you’re going to find anywhere – feature film quality. The writing is thoughtful and the world they’ve created is realistic and disturbing. Most importantly, the show never forgets to put character front-and-center. Some folks complained that the action in season 2 wasn’t sufficient, that too much time was spent on Herschel’s farm. That there was too much “talking.” Sorry about your whole short attention span problem – maybe drama isn’t for you – you missed some phenomenal acting and directing. It was a fantastic – and frankly, action-packed season that pulled no punches.

With the arrival of season 3, we’re finally getting to some of the most infamous parts of the story from the comics – the group’s attempt to set up living quarters in a derelict prison, the introduction of fan favorite character Michonne, and The Governor – the less said about him, the better. As fans of the comic know, the show has frequently taken some very different turns from events and plot points from what we might have remembered reading. It does sound like the depiction of The Governor may be one of those cases –  

but I'm going in with a very open mind. Given what they’ve managed to achieve on this show so far, the showrunners have earned the benefit of the doubt here and I can’t wait to see what they came up with.

The Walking Dead belongs on the same shelf with Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy and Homeland. If you haven’t watched it yet, seasons 1 & 2 are out on disc and you should really check them out – season 3 promises to bring lots of new faces into the arena and looks to be the series most exciting season yet!

Prometheus has landed - for some of us...

At long last, Ridley Scott’s Prometheus is out on blu-ray – I harbor few illusions that this release is going to convert any naysayers, but given the content of these discs, attention must be paid. Without a doubt, Prometheus was the most divisive film within the science fiction community in ages. Many fans dumped all over the picture, railing against supposed inconsistencies and unanswered questions. I had no problems with the film at all and consider it to be visionary and successful – a triumph. Many feel otherwise. To those who did take issue with the film, there are a lot of answers waiting for you. Not only is there a commentary from director Ridley Scott, but there’s also an additional writer’s commentary from Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof, in addition to some fascinating alternate takes and deleted scenes. It’s worth pointing out that Fox offered to let Ridley run wild with a Director’s Cut and release a different version of the film like he did with Kingdom of Heaven – Scott declined, firmly stating that the film he released was his preferred cut. If you spend any time listening to the commentaries and viewing these scenes, you’re likely to find a lot of clarification within.


If you’re a fan of the film and plan on purchasing it, here's the skinny and the important information you need to know: there are TWO blu-ray editions of the film - there's a 2-disc blu-ray that has some extras, but more importantly there is a 4-disc collector's edition that has an entire extra disc of bonus features - THAT IS ONLY AVAILABLE WITH THE BLU-RAY 3D PACKAGING OF THE FILM. THAT is definitely the edition you want.

That's right – you have to get the BD-3D version - so you're getting a superfluous disc, as it comes with these 4 discs total:

1. Blu-ray 3-D feature film

2. Blu-ray feature film

3. Blu-ray Bonus features - 7 hours of extras including a 3 &1/2 hour documentary, alternate beginning/ending, Weyland archive, etc.

4. DVD feature film

Don’t be confused - you are getting it in Blu-ray (disc 2), but you're also getting it in 3-D on a separate disc. They did something similar with The Avengers release, but nothing this pointed – presumably part of the marketing strategy to get more consumer adoption for BD-3D. I can't ever recall a release like this, so it may be a trend for the future – but for films like this, we may have to start reading the fine print very carefully.

The real jewel of this presentation is the nearly 4-hour production documentary, The Furious Gods. I haven’t seen a more fascinating behind-the-scenes documentary since – oh, Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings material on the Extended Editions – that intrigue you sufficiently? I’ve only seen about 1/3 of the massive disc 3 documentary so far, but it’s blown me away. To have this level of access throughout the production – including every aspect of the design and genesis of preproduction – is just amazing. I’m not exaggerating when I say that this is simply one of the most immersive and revealing production accounts I’ve ever seen. It’s fascinating to see that given the long hours involved, Ridley and production designer Arthur Max created an environment where it was not unusual to uncork a few bottles of wine to get everyone’s wheels spinning. From the initial screenwriting through an absolutely fascinating journey of every stage of the film’s design evolution, this documentary is just an amazing achievement and should be seen by any serious filmmaking fan, regardless of your thoughts on the film. The supplements were produced by acclaimed documentarian Charles de Lauzirika who worked on the massive Blade Runner blu-ray documentary Dangerous Days, and I think he’s outdone himself here.

After revisiting the film and sampling these bonus features, I’m more excited than ever at the prospect of Ridley Scott’s rumored return to make another film in the Blade Runner universe – a heady idea to contemplate! If you were scared away from Prometheus during its theatrical release, do yourself a favor and explore this absolutely fantastic blu-ray release.

Fringe Frayed...

What have you done to our beloved Fringe?! I've been a fan for four long, delighted years, watching this show find its voice, experiment, build the characters - supporting it through thick and thin with the hope that despite poor ratings, the gods would see fit to give Fringe a 5th and final season so they could wrap things up and have a proper send-off. Now I'm not so sure.

The Fringe I've been in love with is missing in action.


Like some leftover episode of Heroes, suddenly we've jumped into the future - where The Observers are completely the opposite of who we've always believed them to be. Not neutral altruistic Swedes - but hateful Nazis who've now turned into The Invaders, occupying our planet like an episode of V.

Since the invasion, everyone's conveniently been trapped in amber - you know, like during a writer's strike? Meanwhile, Olivia and Peter's daughter has grown up into a somewhat expressionless, high-cheekboned knock-off of her mom, a completely pointless character who is cut from the same unconvincing "tough blonde" cloth as Sarah Jones on Alcatraz. So far, actress Georgina Haig brings nothing to the table, save her Germanic cheekbones and the occasional pouty frown. She's taking time away from Olivia and giving us nothing in return. "Etta" is not someone I've become invested with over the course of the show like I have Astrid and Peter - or Lincoln Lee, for that matter? Who cares about this tranquilized blonde, fer cryin' out loud?

I miss Fringe. I miss it being set in our time and being a bizarre reflection of the weird corners of our reality. I miss Massive Dynamic and Broyles and Nina and Gene! I hope this is only brief detour into the first half of this final season and things right themselves for the finish - but I hate having The Observers be evil and I'm more than done with Henrietta and amber. You had a great thing here, people - please don't let this be another J.J. show that couldn't find the dismount (cough-cough - Lost).

The Fringe I've seen these last two weeks has been held together by the spark of Walter's (John Noble) personality - no surprise there - as both Peter and Olivia seem more passive and less colorful than they have before. Running around as a half-baked collection of "resistance fighters" trying to solve the puzzle of how to topple an evil (yawn) regime, it feels more like Hogan's Heroes than another trip down the rabbit hole.

Happy Global James Bond Day!

It's Global James Bond Day, so I've been doing my bit by exploring the behemoth that is Bond 50 (thank you, Wifey!), every Bond film ever, from 50 years ago today with Dr. No, all the way through Quantum of Solace! Not that I've been able to watch them all, but I had to spin You Only Live Twice, and have been spending some time checking in with Sean, George, Roger, Pierce and Daniel.

Great to be just a few short weeks away from Skyfall, which looks to be a fantastic return to form.

Fantastic to see Bond getting his due after a few lean years! What a treat!

Hobbit movie figures on doorstep!

Yes, it's beginning - thanks to Toys R Us pre-orders, the first figures from The Hobbit movie are beginning to arrive! There are two series, 3.75" and 6" - I've decided to focus on the 3.75" figures, as there appears to be more variety, they're a little easier on the wallet and they take up less space in an already overflowing display room... feast your eyes...

The first set is our pal Legolas (again, Orlando Bloom) and Tauriel - a new character, described as a Sylvan Elf of Mirkwood, "as deadly as she is beautiful." Tauriel is played by Lost's Evangeline Lilly. 

The sculpts are nice, though Legolas seems to have the mystical ability to avoid coming into clear focus.

Quivers attach to the characters' backs by pegs, arrows are together in a solid bunch - bows are without string - details presumably available in the larger 6" versions. 

There are nice bits of detailing, the carved markings on their daggers, armor and quivers...

They are a bit taller than the Hasbro Star Wars and Marvel Universe counterparts. Figures have decent posability, with movable wrists, feet, elbows and knees.

Here's a look at new Legolas beside his Lord of the Rings Toy Biz ancestor - about half as tall.

These are bound to be a hard find in stores once the film's December release date arrives - so unless you've got gas (and time) to burn, grab these off of TRU while you can! 

UFO - Trailer from Japan!!!

Most excellent trailer from Blu-ray of UFO, with many wonderful vehicles and excitement!

BLU-FO!!!

Can it be?!? Amazon.co/jp has the Japanese blu-ray of Gerry Anderson's UFO up with a 12/5 release date - and thus endeth my abilities to translate for you further.

Hopefully our pals at A&E are working on a U.S. release, as this looks pretty fantastic.

It's no secret that UFO is one of my all-time most beloved series, to the annoyance of many around me.

Will we ever see a "rebooted" movie based on this series? Sounds like they've been struggling. More importantly, should we? Or should we just leave this gem well enough alone!

"Positive Track!"

MUST-SEE: The Cabin in the Woods

My fervent hope is that you know next to nothing about this movie. Good - the less said the better. Ideally, you'll take me on faith that you need to see The Cabin in the Woods, and that it does have kinship with the countless films we all remember where "Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin, where they get more than they bargained for."

To that I would just add, "That ain't all..."

Co-written by Avengers/Firefly luminary Joss Whedon (with director Drew Goddard), The Cabin in the Woods knows its predecessors very well and is deliriously entertaining. Shot back in 2009, Cabin stars Chris Hemsworth, before his Thor popularity. The film's release endured a lengthy delay due financial difficulties at MGM.

Just out on home video and perfectly primed for indoor viewing on cold autumn nights, Cabin should find a great life on disc and inspire plenty of repeat viewings. Want to have some fun again with the horror genre and not feel like you need to take a shower afterwards? Ready for a brainy and refreshing take on an old subject? Then run, don't walk. Don't read the back of the box, don't ask friends, don't look it up on the net - just watch this move - and report back.

Vamps and Cable plague New York - resistance is futile!

Fantasy titan Guillermo del Toro is coming to Television! The FX Network has cut a deal to adapt del Toro's novel The Strain about a vampire virus that infects New York and the CDC doctor who leads the investigation. The Strain (co-written with Chuck Hogan) has two sequels, The Fall and The Night Eternal, as well as an ongoing comic book adaptation.

The Strain will be overseen by Lost vet Carlton Cuse, with del Toro directing the pilot.

Portents of doom are already manifesting in New York as exemplified by the public battle waged by Sir Patrick Stewart in his futile battle to get cable installed in his new Park Slope Brooklyn digs. Jean Luc took to Twitter to vent his frustration: "All I wanted to do was set up a new account (with Time Warner Cable) but 36 hrs later I've lost the will to live." Once his angst went viral, Time Warner attempted to help. "If that question had been asked at any time in the last 36 hours it would have been of value. But now...," was Stewart's "make it not" reply. So Sir Stew opted for Dish. "You're gonna miss out on The Walking Dead, Picard!"

SONS!

Sons of Anarchy came roaring back for a 5th season this week and if the first episode is any indication, we're in for one hell of a ride! No spoilers here, but it looks as if Kim Coates' Tig is going to have a major role this season, which is great news. A fascinating new take on Gemma and the appearance of two new characters in Charming, a brief intro to the great Chuck Zito and a the appearance of Jimmy Smits serve notice that there's plenty of fresh blood in the water. As the season begins, Clay is ironically looking more like Piney, tethered to an ever-present Oxygen tank. A great first episode with lots of change in the air and no shortage of havoc. Bring it on!

Hi-def Next Gen - Blu-ray at its best!-

What's so great about Blu-ray? In a word, preservation - and there may be no more dramatic an example of how the format can act to enable the rescue and rediscovery of a television series than the work CBS has done with Star Trek: The Next Generation on Blu-ray.

Many believed we'd never see a hi-def presentation of this series, as the show was shot on film and transferred to analog videotape for editing episodes and effects. To present these episodes in HD would require a total rebuilding of each episode, reassembling archival camera negatives and analog audio tape. It was a daunting task to consider and to do it properly would cost a fortune. But inspired by their great success with the Original Series, incredibly CBS had the vision and presence of mind to actually declare, "Make it so." They have done an astonishing job.

Next Gen looks absolutely amazing in Hi-def, and if you don't count some of the hair styles, it looks like it was shot yesterday. Even fans who love the series passionately tend to be quick to dismiss the first season. After all, everyone was still finding their way, and many sofa cushion pundits steadfastly insist that the show wasn't worth watching until they approached The Best of Both Worlds era in 1990. What may surprise you is not just how amazingly vivid and sharp these reconstructed episodes appear, but how compelling and engaging these early stories are. Without a doubt, these episodes deserve a second look and a lot more respect and this first season Blu-ray release allows you to rediscover the origins of Next Gen in the best possible way.

Next Gen premiered all the way back in 1987 - an era of Ronald Reagan, Ishtar, The Cosby Show and Dirty Dancing - and in the here and now  with numerous franchise spin-offs, we tend to take it for granted. But back in '87, the idea of "rebooting" another version of a landmark, classic television series was met with tremendous skepticism - and accusations of downright heresy. On top of which, Next Gen wasn't even backed by a network. It was one of the first shows to ever exhibit via a syndicated launch. All of which is revisited in a simply superb three-part documentary, Stardate Revisited: The Origin of Star Trek: The Next Generation. This documentary is a landmark behind-the-scenes love letter to the show - I don't think I've ever seen any of this material before. Everybody who had a hand in the inception of the series is interviewed, the entire cast has reassembled to very candidly discuss the show's birth and there's an avalanche of eye-popping production art and archival footage. I won't go into too many details, but here's just a glimpse of some of the jaw-dropping you will experience - "Lando-Geordi's" original Jheri-Curl makeup test...

Trust me - that's just the tip of the iceberg. This documentary takes you through all the origins of the show and it's absolutely fascinating. There's also a terrific behind-the-scenes look at the massive effort to remaster the show for HD that's humbling in its painstaking complexity. All the original material from the previous DVD release has been included as well. 

If you're a fan of the series, please don't dismiss these early episodes as you're missing out on the cornerstones of some of the most important and lasting elements of Next Gen mythology - here's a few you may have forgotten:

Encounter at Farpoint - The series pilot, imperfect, to be sure, but fascinating. We meet all the crew as well as John de Lancie's recurring pseudo-antagonist, Q. The pilot looks better than it ever has, thanks to a complete face-lift of the special effects. 

The Naked Now - A sequel to the original series The Naked Time, crewmembers are exposed to something that unleashes their inhibitions. Tasha Yar explores the fact that Data is "fully functional..."

Haven - Our introduction to Lwaxana Troi, portayed by Majel Barret-Roddenberry. The Counselor's mother cuts quite a swath trying to enable her daughter's prearranged marriage.

The Big Goodbye - The first real use of the holodeck and the idea is first raised of created "characters" yearning for a life beyond the confines of their simulation. 

Datalore - A classic, in which we learn about Data's origins and learn even more about his psychotic brother, Lore. Terrific writing and pacing and a knockout pair of performances by Brent Spiner.

Heart of Glory - The first all-Klingon episode and the beginnings of Worf's journey to reconcile his past and sense of self. Terrific introduction to the Klingon warrior culture.

Conspiracy - A knockout with a plot that would have made a sensational feature film. Alien entities taking over key Starfleet personnel. Easily the goriest of all Next Gen episodes and a lot of fun.

The Neutral Zone - Space travelers are thawed out after nearly 400 years of hibernation along with trouble near the Romulan Neutral Zone make for a rousing 1st season finale. 

That's just a sampling, but hopefully shows there's a lot going on in the first season. Without a doubt, imperfections abound - Deanna Troi is a pretty annoying character at first - there is an awful lot of "feeling" going on. A good drinking game might be "Wesley's Sweaters," where participants have to drink each time Wesley Crusher shows up in one of his horrific Cosby Show-plundered saggy creations. Shudder. It's true - in many ways the cast and creators of Next Gen were finding their way in this freshman year. When you watch the documentary, you'll quickly see why they had such a bumpy road getting started. There were many conflicting creative voices and just as many others wanting to see them fail.

Just know that if you have any fondness for Next Gen, these Blu-ray sets are a gift from the gods and will have you appreciating this terrific series in a whole new light. Season 2 should be available by the end of the year, and if this first taste is any indication, we're in for a remarkable rediscovery of this show in the next few years, as CBS continues their resurrection of this beloved era of Star Trek history. Very highly recommended. 

Tony Scott...1944-2012

Shockingly, director Tony Scott ended his life yesterday by jumping from a Los Angeles bridge. The younger brother of Ridley Scott, the 68-year-old filmmaker climbed a fence on the Vincent Thomas bridge that spans L.A. harbor and "without hesitation," jumped to his death, according to authorities. A suicide note was found afterwards.

Scott had an amazingly successful career as a high octane director of action films - from 1983's The Hunger to 2010's Unstoppable, Scott was the more action-focused of the two brothers, but his films delivered strong box office results and always kept the audience entertained. Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop II, The Last Boy Scout, True Romance, Crimson Tide,  Enemy of the State, Spy Game and Man on Fire number among Scott's many films.

This is a hard one to take. Scott left behind a wife and twin boys. My thoughts go out to his family.

7 stories tall, bigger than a football field: The Army's Super Blimp!

"Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle" or LEMV for short. Meet the Army's new souped-up 21st Century blimp, able to fly continuously for three weeks and provide all the surveillance you need. LEMV tested Tuesday from a base in Lakehurst, New Jersey, eerily, the site of the Hindenburg disaster. Built by Northrop Grumman, LEMV uses helium and its airfoil shape to stay afloat. The test flight employed 2 pilots though LEMV may be unmanned in the future.

Found at my local Target...!

Custom King: Trevor Grove

Guaranteed I will always feel humble about my figure customizing efforts - because check out the work of Trevor Grove...

Trevor is a sculptor working for Sideshow Collectibles and sculpted these Walter Whites as a labor of love. Check out more of Trevor's astonishing Breaking Bad work on his Deviant Art page.

The Hero we need, the Hero we deserve - Dark Knight Rises

First things first – there’s no easy way to talk about The Dark Knight Rises. Looking at volume 3 of Christopher Nolan’s epic Bat saga purely as a movie became nigh impossible after a single twisted individual decided to annihilate the lives of an audience of innocents last week. Deciding to go to the theater to see the film feels weirdly uncomfortable. I felt very self-conscious sitting there waiting for the movie to start. There are a lot of creepy overlaps between fiction and reality in this movie – I’m going to attempt to be somewhat discreet, but I will also say that HERE THERE BE SPOILERS – at least potential ones. So if you have NOT seen the movie yet, my frank advice is to READ NO FURTHER…

I don’t think I can recall a time when the events of real life have so affected how it feels to just go to the movies. Movie-going is an outing of escapism – sitting in the theater, you can’t help but identify with the kindred souls who just wanted to see a Batman movie, never imagining what madness lay in store for them. Rather than the normal giddy anticipation, there’s a feeling of anxiety and guilt. Is it acceptable to be enjoying this when so many suffered and died doing the same thing? It’s not rational, but it’s also very hard to dismiss, particularly when the antagonist of Dark Knight Rises is a particularly brutal psychopath fond of inflicting violence on public gatherings.

The movie opens with a colossal wallop involving mid-flight airplanes that’s just astonishing. It’s like the mother of all opening sequences in a Bond movie. The kinetics and scope of this scene will have your jaw gaping off its hinges. It’s here that we meet Bane, personified by the enigmatic Tom Hardy. Bane is a monster – a brute of huge proportions, he evokes The Humungus of Road Warrior fame – an embodiment of chaos and terror. Like Robert Shaw in From Russia with Love, we quickly feel that this a nemesis who could do serious damage our hero won’t walk away from. Masks and the pain that causes us to wear them are a prominent theme in Dark Knight Rises and Bane is a palpable literalization of that theme. Any issues with Bane’s voice are minimal – I found him very easy to understand, with a Germanic accent that sounds like Auric Goldfinger’s sadistic brother. If Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane from Game of Thrones lived in modern times, he’d be a lot like Bane.

The ghost of Harvey Dent looms large over Gotham as things begin – Gary Oldman has always been fantastic as Commissioner Gordon in these films, but he’s flat-out fantastic here, mired in moral compromise and guilt - when things get dicey, Gordon is not one to hesitate when it comes to taking action. He finds a kindred spirit in Joseph Gordon Levitt’s patrolman John Blake. Levitt’s tremendous here, with a substantial role and makes the most of it. Gordon sees his younger self in Blake – so does someone else. Michael Caine is wonderful as Alfred – though he’s more reproachful and sanctimonious here than in the prior films.

I confess I was a little nervous over the choice of Anne Hathaway as cat burglar Selina Kyle. Sigh of relief, Hathaway is fantastic, playing it real - no camp, actually coming off with many of the film’s best lines. She’s a breath of fresh air in some pretty dark proceedings. This Selina Kyle is from the Han Solo school, putting self-interest above any involvement with a higher purpose.

Comic fans will note a lot of influence from the Knightfall and No Man’s Land arcs of the Batman history. Bane turns Gotham into a war zone, and Nolan creates a truly epic struggle in the ruins, heavily influenced by 9/11 and the Occupy movement by way of Escape from New York. As fantastical and outrageous as the proceedings become, it all still feels real, thanks to heroic work by Wally Pfister (Inception, The Dark Knight) and a stunning effects team.

But the core strength of this film is Christian Bale, who's never been better here. We get a bit more of Bruce Wayne than his alter ego in Dark Knight Rises - a recluse who's retired from both crime-fighting and involvement in life itself. When his personal life is invaded by Selina Kyle and his personal Gotham invaded by Bane, Bruce must decide if he's going to get back on the horse and face his demons - to see if he can weigh trying to save something against the risk of losing it forever. Bale makes Bruce Wayne a person of real feeling here - his shock at Alfred's admonishments, his anger over Bane and his need to inspire others to action, coil together to paint a rich image of a man striving to make one last significant difference in the world.

This is the second time Christopher Nolan has faced horrific real life tragedy in the course of making these films - it's also a riveting example of Nolan and Bale rising to the occasion and delivering a rich, potent and pain-fueled finale to what's been the most satisfying and adult superhero epic to date. There is likely to be much debate over elements of the ending - but from where I'm sitting I found it a beautiful fit to what's come before in Nolan's first two films - and true to the spirit of everything that Batman has always stood for.

While the here-and-now may be lacking a grim avenger to save us from the madmen of this world, maybe that's why we seek out the dark cathedral of the movies - because at least there, the guilty can be punished, heroes can inspire others to do the right thing and there's a chance that someone will emerge from the shadows to save us, just when we need it the most. 

Customizing Admiral Cain - action figure transplant surgery

Okay, this will be my biggest, nerdiest confession ever, but you can't hide from who you are - I have customized my first action figure.

Being a huge Battlestar Galactica fan - and let's face it - toy enthusiast, I was an avid collector of Diamond Select's terrific 7" series of figures. The show was nearing its end, yet there were still several key characters that DS had yet to get around to producing - Laura Roslin, Gaius Baltar and Admiral Helena Cain.

Cain was a must - as portrayed by Michelle Forbes, Cain instantly became one of BSG's greatest characters - an I'm-right-even-though-I'm-crazy officer from the Ronald Tracy school, Cain was a standout - hers would be the coolest of figures - until Diamond Select canceled the toy line. Not only would key characters like President Roslin and Gaius Baltar be left unmade, they were robbing us of Cain! Thus, the seeds of my toy-crafting obsession were sown.

Unproduced: Admiral Adama, Laura Roslin amd President Apollo

Unproduced Admiral Cain, Gaius Baltar and Adama

So - I began to think about what preexisting figure might resemble Cain. I looked at the prototype and I looked at Michelle Forbes in character. I'm just an amateur and not ready to start messing with Sculpy or other molding ingredients - I was looking to be a cannibal...

Then it occurred to me - Diamond Select had produced a figure of the main character from the Battlestar movie, Razor, Kendra Shaw...

Basically, the same female body type in a Pegasus officer's uniform. Hmmm....

Then I stumbled across some shots of the new Twilight figures from NECA - namely a character named Alice...

Now I'm not much of a Twilight fan, but the combination of dark-haired patrician brooding and barely suppressed madness behind those eyes got me thinking...if I could just somehow switch heads...

Which is exactly what I did. I picked up both figures for a song on eBay, then learned about the venerable "boil and pop" method of removing a figure's head or limbs - submerge the head in some very warm, not quite boiling water for a couple of minutes to soften the plastic, then carefully twist the head ball-joint from the neck - thankfully NECA and Diamond Select used nearly identical ball joints...

DO NOT do this when your wife is home...and behold: the finished product...

"Regulations give me broad authority in this matter."

"Well, I see that you got it to eat. That's progress I suppose."

"You just sat there, listening to us, pretending to be our friend, didn't you?" 

What do you guys think? I may have found my calling! Next up, we'll take a stab at customizing Baltar and Laura Roslin - then by my count, there are at least 7 characters from Firefly they never made...