I’m a sci-fi geek and I’m ok…. April 28, 2008

So, Empire online’s recent blog entry is ‘How you know you’ve become a Sci-Fi geek’. Already knowing the outcome I am proud to announce my score of around 40 (the scoring system was a little bit loose…) which labels me as ‘in too deep’. I think this was clear as I was able to:

• admit to using the term ’shiny’ more than once
• understand the terms ‘BSG’ ‘DS9′ and ‘Seven of Nine’.
• finish lyrics to the Buffy musical (oh the shame…)
• admit to owning merchandise of certain sci-fi shows.

And many more things that simply hammer in the fact that I have been sci-fi’d.

To be fair, I had no choice. Both my parents are Trekkies. Want proof? Come and see the files of Star Trek magazines (in protective plastic cases) on our book case (though no touching, obv) and see the autograph of Tuvok the Vulcan which they qued 2 hours outside a comic store for. So you see, it was pretty much a certainty that I would waste my days in front of the TV following the adventures of various alien creatures and armies.

I am I sci-fi geek. And in honour of this confession I am going to mention some of my top fave shows of all time.

Farscape

Sci-fi meets the muppets? Seriously? Jim Henson’s studio was responsible for a large majority of the characters of this show, which revolved around John Crichton, an astronaut who bounced off the earth’s atmosphere and found himself in space (as you do…). Anywho, this show was piled with dry wit and stunning monsters. Not to mention the chemistry between John and Aeryn. It was visually stunning and didn’t take itself too seriously either.

The scariest one was when the evil man (who seemed to wear a thong over his face…) started taking John’s brain apart and just left him on the table… urgh. Still makes me shudder.

Andromeda

From the guy that created Star Trek came a more offbeat and quirky show. Dylan Hunt (after whom our dog is named – are you getting a good picture of my family?) is commander of the Andromeda Ascendent which served under the commonwealth. However, upon realizing they have been suspended in a black hole for 300 years, things are a little different…

This show really did rock. Kevin Sorbo (a.k.a Hercules) was an awesome sci-fi hero and his crew were pure entertainment. For the men, you had Andromeda, the projected personality of the ship (who conveniently wore tight clothing and was stunning) and then there was everyman Seamus, gladiator-wannabe Tyr and finally creator of sexual tension Beka. Loved it.

Firefly

Please watch this show. If you never watch anything else, watch this. Don’t watch the movie – it’s nowhere near as good. Joss Whedon, having packed up Buffy, thought ‘Hey, what now?’. The product of that thought was a sci-fi/western/gun-slinging/witty show that got treated like crap by the TV network. As a result, this is now one of the best selling TV show DVDs of all time.

Captain Mal Reynolds takes on two new passengers on his smuggling ship – a Shepherd (priest) and Simon, a Dr. Little does he know that the doctor comes with a 2-for-1 deal: his sister. Simon freed River from the labs of the Alliance, and now they’re on their tail.

This show is awesome. I can’t praise it enough. The script is sharp (as expected from Whedon) and the cast have a blast performing it. The story lines are strong and mix between episode length situations to series spanning stories, with a pretty good finish.

Please please please watch it.

Buffy

Do I really need to go into detail? This show accompanied my teenage years and I loved it. Went a bit wobbly towards the end, but surely the Series’ with Angel were the best going?

A Town Called Eureka

No one knows this show. If you do, please tell me. I’d love to chat to someone about it. Basically, a sheriff ends up working in a town where the American government sends all it’s genius’. What follows is crazy gadget chaos and many mysteries. Still have to see Season 2, but the first one was awesome (and came in groovy recyclable DVD case…)

Stargate

In my opinion, the most superior of all on this list. I am in love with Daniel Jackson (geek chic) and I have yet to watch an episode I haven’t enjoyed. Favourite? Possibly when Jack gets turned into a 15 year old. The young guy pulls off the scariest Richard Dean Anderson impression ever and made it 60 minutes of pure hilarity.

Finally, two things. Heroes is not on this list, because although I enjoyed it, it’s not good enough to be on this list. Secondly, I have not yet watched Battlestar Galacticar. I’m sure if I had it would be on this list.

How to look good naked? Apparently selling out has something to do with it…. April 13, 2008

Channel 4 is all about self esteem – it seems. Shows are now filling up time slots that, in some way, are to help us feel better about ourselves: be that on the inside or the outside.

How To Look Good Naked is (or has been) a brilliant show – mainly resting on the shoulders of Gok Wan. He not only steals the show but appears to be as genuine as you would hope. Unlike with Trinny and Susanna, the girls aren’t pulled apart about their dress sense, nor subjected to multiple-mirror torture.

However…

The new series started this week and I sat down with my chocolate and drink to enjoy. What I found however, was that a show which promised so much about self esteem had turned to the dark side.

Dramatics aside, my feel-good show appears to have sold itself to the pressure of fashion, beauty products and having the word ‘naked’ in the title. There must be no more than 2 minutes in the show without a pair of breasts appearing. The testing of products on the market has returned, only this time they include products ‘from our friends at (insert famous brand) who have given us a taste of their new product ….’. Shocking.

These are all very small things, but overall an hours programme has become only 20 minutes maximum of it’s original purpose – to make one woman feel good about herself. There is less focus on the way she feels about her body and a lot more time given to the shopping for the perfect outfit. Apparently looking good naked requires a few hundred pounds spent in Oxford Street.

Shame on you Channel 4!

27 Dresses – yes, another movie review April 2, 2008

I love Orange Wednesdays. It costs me more to park my car than it does to go to the cinema. Awesomeness.

So, I have just returned from my first rom-com of the year: 27 Dresses. The basic premise is a woman, who has been bridesmaid 27 times, finds herself planning the wedding between her sister and the man she is in love with. (Hello – have these people seen The Wedding Planner? How many times can that scenario be written about??? Does it really happen that often?) Cue awkwardness, emotional turmoil and lots of envy. Add in the gorgeous James Marsden as some sort of stalker man/wedding columnist and you have a RomCom.

Now, I laughed a lot.

However, I saw the ending coming after 10 minutes and I have a few issues with the general story. Firstly, the lead character, Jane, is a complete cow! My goodness, she is.  She has major stalking/possessive issues regarding her boss, and she treats James Marsden (he’s so pretty!) like poo. Poor man. And yet, for some reason, he still follows her around loads – oh and they have sex in his car. Nice. Obviously the way to a man’s heart is to kick him around, dismiss his past relationship issues and pine over your sister’s fiance. Secondly, how does she afford to sort out all these weddings as a PA?? And, an amazing NY apartment? Finally, she does something that is absolutely atrocious towards the end to some people, which is dismissed pretty quickly and James Marsden congratulates her?!?! Why? How?

Anywho, that’s my rant over. This film does contain perhaps one of the best movie sing-along scenes ever (I laughed hard) and the song is now blaring out of my computer on repeat.

Overall, I’m glad I only paid half price for the ticket. I’m not sure it was worth more than £3. It’s hard to love a movie when you hate the lead character.