Science Fiction

Robot & Frank

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Robot & Frank
  • IMDB: link

robot-and-frank-posterRobot & Frank isn’t the kind of film that will surprise you. The story about a grump old ex-jewel thief with early onset Alzheimer’s who learns valuable lessons about life, friendship, and family is fairly predictable, and more than a little schmaltzy.

Frank Langella stars as Frank, a thief who spent the better part of his offspring’s childhood in prison creating a resentful son (James Marsden) and a loving absentee daughter (Liv Tyler). Unable to give his father the daily care he needs in the New York wilderness outside the small town, his son comes up with a solution – a personal robot.

Although initially resistant to the idea, Frank begins to soften to the robot (voiced by Peter Sarsgaard) when Frank sees the potential to use his criminal past and the robot’s skills to resume his life of crime. As you might expect from a film like this, Frank begins to see the robot as more of a friend than a tool and the robot proves to be far more human than Frank, or the audience, is initially led to believe.

…

Robot & FrankRead More »

Robot & Frank Read More »

Doctor Who – Asylum of the Daleks

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Doctor Who – Asylum of the Daleks
  • tv.com: link

“Don’t be fair to the Daleks when they’re firing me at a planet!”

doctor-who-asylum-of-the-daleks

When the Daleks need assistance they turn to their greatest enemy, “the predator of the Daleks,” and separately kidnap The Doctor (Matt Smith), Amy (Karen Gillan), and Rory (Arthur Darvill), whisking off the threesome to the Asylum – a planetary prison even the Daleks are too afraid to enter because it contains the most unstable and terrifying Daleks ever created. And somewhere, admist all that insanity, is a single ship, with a single human crew member who has managed to survive and cause no end of trouble to the Daleks for the better part of a year. Ladies and gentlemen, Doctor Who introduces you to its newest companion – Clara Oswin (Jenna-Louise Coleman).

…

Doctor Who – Asylum of the DaleksRead More »

Doctor Who – Asylum of the Daleks Read More »

Futurama – 31st Century Fox

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Futurama – 31st Century Fox
  • tv.com: link

futurama-31st-century-fox

Despite his recent interest in fox hunting Bender (John Di Maggio) becomes incensed after he discovers the hunters (led by guest-star Patrick Stewart) are actually hunting a robotic fox for sport. When his attempts to end robot cruelty and help Leela (Katey Sagal) protest the hunt fail, Bender decides to step in and rescue the fox. But Bender’s plan backfires when he finds himself the subject of the latest hunt.

…

Futurama – 31st Century FoxRead More »

Futurama – 31st Century Fox Read More »

Totally Redundant

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Total Recall (2012)
  • IMDB: link

total-recall-2012-posterA little more than 20 years after Arnold Schwarzenegger and director Paul Verhoeven worked together to give us a theatrical adaptation of Philip K. Dick‘s short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” Sony Pictures decided to tap Underworld director Len Wiseman for a remake. For fans who remember the original Total Recall, this dumbed-down remake will feel unnecessary and bereft of even a hint of intelligence in front, or behind, the camera.

Gone are the dreams of Mars and mutant rebellion. In their place screenwriters Kurt Wimmer and Mark Bomback give us a dystopian future where the Earth has become largely uninhabitable with the exception of parts of Britain and Australia. Australia, now referred to simply as “The Colony” is the condensed living quarters of all the worlds’ working stiffs including assembly line worker Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell). One of the only bright spots in the film is the imaginative set design that works in futuristic and ancient Asian styles into the creation of The Colony.

…

Totally RedundantRead More »

Totally Redundant Read More »