Monday, January 6, 2014
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Helix Syfy Original Television Series Premiere Review
Helix is the new Syfy original television series and one of it's most anticipated yet. Executive Produced by Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica), Stephen Maeda (LOST) who is also showrunner, and Lynda Obst (Contact), this 13 episode drama series stars Billy Campbell (The Killing) and Hiroyuki Sanada (The Wolverine), Kyra Zagorsky (Supernatural), and Neil Napier (Riddick) as a part of larger ensemble sci-fi mystery thriller set in a high tech research facility in the Arctic known as Arctic Biosystems.
When an elite team of scientists from the Center for Disease Control arrives at Arctic Biosystems they soon discover from some that their presence is not wanted. The uninflected scientists that run the facility claim to have it all under control and they are willing to show force if need be because this station exists in an area so inhospitable that it is not governed under any one nations' laws and no joint nation regulation whatsoever. The station is literally it's own near autonomous sovereign country with a staff of hundreds all in danger from secrets both the CDC scientists and the TV series viewer will gradually discover over the course of the series. Soon after the team discovers the virus is just the tip of the iceberg, it evolves and the chilling secrets behind it begin to unravel.
While I have read Ronald D. Moore's original screenplay draft for the Universal Studios prequel to The Thing directed by John Carpenter and released in 1982, the draft I read did not differ all that much from the final theatrically released film, but after watching Helix I wonder to myself what would the prequel have been like if Ron Moore was in charge because one can't help but be reminded of The Thing because of the arctic setting and the connection between Moore and the prequel. Helix will also call to mind a few other franchises and films I might as well make clear now so we can move beyond it. The sentient black oil from The X-Files and even the secret arctic base in The X-Files: Fight The Future all came to mind along with the weaponized version of the mutating black goo, which causes life forms it comes into contact to turn into aggressive and viscous creatures as seen in Prometheus and finally The Andromeda Strain as directed by Robert Wise with it's tense feeling and claustrophobic sets also being perhaps a source of inspiration for Helix.
Yet beyond that I could not tell you what the origins of Helix is, whether or not it is extraterrestrial, sentient, or anything outside from the obvious, if this thing existed you would not want to be anywhere near it and if one could, it might be better to just mini nuke it out that research facility all together,
The acting from the cast ranges from believable to acceptable given what is there for the cast to work with. One wonders if this is a limited series or a recurring season because if it is not a limited series then one runs into the problem Twin Peaks suffered from, which was a soap opera built around a murder mystery will only hold it's audience so long until the network forces a revelation before the audience gives up on it if they feel their chain is being yanked too hard.
I screened the first three episodes and enjoyed the creepy vibe that at times reminded me of a Stephen King novel, but a lot on the longevity of this series will depend upon what the writers have in mind to astound us and whether or not they can keep creating enough false trails so that when a nugget of truth is finally revealed, we will be hungry for more.
As it is Helix shows a promising start. Helix will debut with limited commercial interruption on Friday, January 10, 2014, at 10PM (ET/PT) with two back to back episodes and then follow in that regular timeslot thereafter for each episode unless something in scheduling is changed. Always check with you cable, satellite, or fiber optic video service to confirm.
(C) Copyright 2014 By Mark Rivera.
All Rights Reserved.
A Short Excerpt From The Final Arbiter.
"Your experiences are occurring from the most primal-reptilian area of the brain. All your decisions are based and decided by your emotional attitude toward them... All non-linear information flows through your brain and is processed by cortical and limbic development. The limbic system is old and connected to everything. Your limbic brain is the final arbiter in how you interpret your world."
(C) By Mark Rivera.
All Rights Reserved.
Friday, January 3, 2014
SYFY’S NEW LINEUP OF SEXY SUPERNATURAL DRAMAS HEATS UP MONDAYS BEGINNING JANUARY 13 FROM 8-11PM SERIES DEBUT OF BITTEN SEASON 4 PREMIERES OF BEING HUMAN AND LOST GIRL
Syfy’s New Monday Primetime Line-up
LOST GIRL (SEASON 4 PREMIERE)
This season on Lost Girl, fate casts a wide shadow over the Fae world. With Bo’s (Anna Silk) return, the lines between Dark and Light Fae are blurred, causing her to embark on a journey of discovery. Bo and company will ultimately realize that, regardless of the challenges and enemies they face, they’re stronger when they confront them together. George Takei (Star Trek) and Ali Liebert (Bomb Girls) are among the new season’s guest stars.
Lost Girl also stars Ksenia Solo as Kenzi, Bo's human sidekick and street-smart confidante; Kris Holden-Ried as Dyson, the shape shifting homicide detective and noble warrior of the Light Fae; Zoie Palmer as Lauren, the brilliant human doctor who competes with Dyson for Bo’s affection; Rick Howland as Trick, Bo’s grandfather and the ancient and mysterious Blood King, and K.C. Collins as Hale, Dyson’s partner and a Light Fae siren born of noble blood. Paul Amos returns as the ever devious Dark Fae Mesmer, Vex, and Emmanuelle Vaugier reprises her role as the evil Dark Fae leader, The Morrigan.
Lost Girl was developed by Prodigy Pictures, in association with Shaw Media and Showcase. Executive Producers are Jay Firestone and Emily Andras. Vanessa Piazza and Wendy Grean are producers.Lost Girl is produced with the participation of the Canadian Media Fund created by the Government of Canada and the Canadian cable industry, and with the assistance of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit Program.
BEING HUMAN (SEASON 4 PREMIERE)
Season 4 of Being Human picks up four months from last season’s shocking finale and, for Aidan, Sally, Josh and Nora, the past is about to come back to haunt them!
Aidan (Sam Witwer) and Nora (Kristen Hager) struggle to save Josh (Sam Huntington), who is trapped in his wolf form. At the same time, an unbelievable visitor collides with Aidan, forcing him to make impossible choices between the people he loves the most. Meanwhile, Sally (Meaghan Rath), having been dragged down into her death spot by witch Donna (guest star Amy Aquino), finds herself trapped and at the mercy of her foe, but Sally’s newly imbued magical powers could change everything.
Executive Producers are Michael Prupas, Anna Fricke (Men in Trees, Everwood), who is also writer and showrunner, Stefan Pleszczynski, and Rob Pursey & Toby Whithouse. Irene Litinsky is series producer.
BITTEN (SERIES PREMIERE)
Based on #1 New York Times best-selling author Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld novels, the 13-episode Bittenis a steamy and tense supernatural thriller starring Laura Vandervoort (Smallville, V) as Elena Michaels, the lone female werewolf in existence.
Desperate to escape both a world she never wanted to be part of and the man who turned her into a werewolf, Elena (Vandervoort) has abandoned her Pack and taken refuge in a new city. There, she works as a photographer and hides her werewolf existence from her new boyfriend. When bodies start turning up in her Pack’s backyard, Elena finds herself back at Stonehaven, the werewolves’ ancestral domain. Torn between two worlds and two loves, she quickly realizes that – when push comes to shove – she’ll stop at nothing to defend her Pack.
Bitten also stars Greg Bryk (A History of Violence) as werewolf Pack “Alpha” Jeremy Danvers, Greyston Holt (Alcatraz) as Elena’s werewolf ex-boyfriend Clayton Danvers, and Paul Greene (The Client List) as Elena’s current beau, Philip McAdams.
Genre Online Supports The Arts
While Genre Online cannot post for every filmmaker, the site will do what it can. I was asked to pass this one by a reader and that is exactly what I am doing. Thank you.
"MARK, I am producing a low budget Christian film: POWER PERFECTED IN WEAKNESS. I am asking for any donation you can afford. 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 dollars etc.,.NOTE a lot of small donations do add up and matter. Also, please share this link with your friends and family. http://igg.me/p/610696/x/4982755
GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP. PLEASE PRAY FOR US."
Please cut and paste the link into your browsers if the link does not apply automatically and read more about the project and if you can donate, follow their instructions.
Please note GenreOnline.net has no official connection to the production of this project. We are only facilitating a request to appeal to others. Any questions should be asked directly to the filmmakers. GenreOnline.net accepts no legal responsibility as to any facet of the production at all. We are just passing along information. Invest at your own risk. Thank you.
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Mark Rivera
Writer/Reviewer/Editor/Webmaster
GenreOnline.net
Http://wwwmgenreonline.net
Another Master's Birthday!
From a Master of Science Fiction to a Master of Fantasy Fiction, Happy Birthday JRR Tolkien!
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