The tone is much darker, and the character dynamic is much more like a soap opera than a group of professionals working together. Seriously, if you were selecting an elite group of people to work together on a world in the far reaches of the galaxy wouldn’t you pick some people that wouldn’t be at each others throats constantly?

The presentation is also quite different. The sets are much darker, and worn looking. Apparently the SGU people are stuck on what is possibly the most advanced piece of technology to ever be on the show, and it looks to be the least advanced. Sadly, it looks like something straight out of Battlestar Galactica.

Camera work is just dreadful. One of the things I have always liked about Stargate is the wide open camera shots. I always felt like I knew where everyone was, and what was going on. Sadly, so far in SGU they have opted for very tight shots. This only adds to the soap opera feel of the show, and makes me feel like I am missing out what is going on off camera.

These changes, among other less obvious ones are why people are beginning to polarize around the show. Right now, people seem to be falling into three camps: hate it, love it, don’t know what to make of it.

The people who have been following the show for years, and loved it the way it was are leaning towards the hate it camp. Too many things have changed in such a way that the show does not even feel like Stargate. It is something else that has elements from Stargate in it.

The love it crowd seem to be the people that were BSG fans. I loath that wretched re-imagining, so it is fairly obvious why my opinion would clash with theirs. I also think some of these people are those that came onto the show towards its end, and didn’t really care for it. Most of the changes have made it filmed in a more contemporary way at the show’s detriment.

A vast majority of the people are still in the don’t know what to make of it group. I think these are people that have been watching the show for a while, but are only casual fans. They recognize that there are differences in the new show, but they are waiting to see how it all settles together before they make a decision on it.

I intend to keep waiting the show, and will watch the whole first season to see if it improves. Hopefully I will warm up to it, because there are not a lot of options for science fiction right now.

Tonight was the series premiere of the new Stargate series, Stargate Universe (SGU). I watched the premiere twice, back to back. And, I have to say that I have mixed feelings on it.

Similar to the way that Stargate Atlantis (SGA) started, it is a little darker in tone than Stargate usually is. And, the whole lost in space motif is not particularly appealing to me. SGA had a similar start, and I never really liked the show until they re-established contact with Earth. I think this is particularly important in the Stargate series, as the basis for the story has always been grounded in modern day Earth. Other series have made the same mistake.

Star Trek Voyager is easily the worst of the Star Trek series. I really hope the same fate is not the case of SGU.

The first season of heroes was terrific, but the show has gone down hill since. The second season was utterly nonsensical. The show was clearly a one trick pony, and the powers they gave the main characters didn’t make sense in an on going world. In the second season the writers solution was to give Peter amnesia, and banish Hiro into the past. To make matters worse, the story wasn’t very compelling.

The third season was a mess. The first half, aka volume three was very rushed, and sloppily handled taking down over powered characters. Both Peter and Hiro lost their powers, and Peter got a pathetic power in replacement. In the fourth volume (the second half of season three) featured another rushed story that was a tired story that has been done to death in all media (government persecution of a minority group). In this volume Hiro kind of gets his powers back, but not really, or rather they don’t work correctly. Lovely.

The fourth seasons, aka volume five hasn’t covered enough territory to determine whether or not the storyline will be good, since the villains remain largely cloaked in mystery, and their motives are yet unknown.

What do you think? Are you still watching the show?

This film has been getting trashed by critics, but I think that criticism is a little harsh. Anyone who has been a long time gamer should enjoy the film. It makes many gaming references (not to specific characters, but the types of things that happen in games), and had a pretty good commentary on the state of gaming, as asks the question how far is too far?

While this isn’t a great film, it’s a decent one, so I recommend that people see it with a notice that most probably won’t like it. I’m giving it s a 2 on my undecim punctum scale.

“Major subplot is prematurely ended prior to the finale (thus, the finale will have pretty much nothing to do with the 22 hours we’ve already experienced). Jack beats the piss out of subdued Tony. Jack fails to kill Tony. Kim is waiting at the airport. Kim gets captured by a cougar and her husband. Jack is forced into the cliche hero’s dilemma.”

The episode actually ends with Jack facing the decision to either save his daughter by freeing Tony and slaying his pet project, Renee. Or, make sure Tony gets what he desires and let terrorists slaughter his daughter. Sadly, I think the only safe character is Renee which is just too bad. Tony will probably die, but it is unlikely to be done by Jack’s hand, again unfortunately. Kim is immortal as has been repeatedly demonstrated throughout the series so I don’t think that she will end up getting waxed.

I know that vanlandw is hoping to see Kim KO’d, but I highly doubt that will happen. Does anyone else have any thoughts on the matter prior to the finale?

Regardless of what happens, I half expect for 24 to become dead to me after the finale.

Oh well, I suppose that it isn’t really that surprising. Ever since 24 changed format to the 4 hour premiere, they have done a lot of action and view little setup, followed by a lot of setup and very little action.

The series finale of Stargate SG-1 aired today. It was kind of a disappointing wrap up for the series. For many seasons, the creators did not know if they would be renewed, so each season ended on a bang, as they did not know if there would be another. So, the finales were always very good.

Now, in the 10th season, when the show has picked up steam, and is booking along nicely, out of no where SciFi cancels the series. Ironically this happened during a season they did not believe would be the end, so the finale is somewhat…lack luster.

There were no over top action sequence, not finality. However, it was a good episode, and I believe it may have been somewhat inspired by on of the fan favorites.

Regardless, it is a sad day for television, as one of the best series is put to rest.

Fortunately, it isn’t the end of the world. The real “final episode” will be released as a direct to DVD movie some time later this year. So, I’m looking forward to that. And, the considerably weaker, Stargate Atlantis series will continue on indefinitely, so I won’t be completely forced to live without Stargate.

Additionally, there is a third series in the world tentatively titled “Stargate Universe.” This series would be a more independent story in the Stargate Universe, rather than the spin off that Atlantis turned into. However, at this time, the series has not been officially picked up by any network.

R.I.P. Television

This post is primarily to get other people’s thoughts, rather than simply espousing my own.

As we he into 8 PM, we are more than halfway through was is drably shaping up to be the sixth season of 24. At this point, I am less than impressed overall. This is mainly due to the fact that this season has failed to illicit any kind of emotional reaction for me. It has all pretty much just been “blah.”

Certainly, there were things that I did not like, such as Graham being Jack’s brother, and Jack’s dad being bad. I mean seriously, what is that all about, and how does it make the show better given the context of what Jack Bauer is.

Quite typically, it is commonly thought that season 3 was the worst (granted in Jason’s backwards engineer thinking, 3 was the best, but I cannot even address that right now ), but the sixth season seems to be shaping up to take that stop over.

Here are a few tidbits as to why season 3 is better than season 6 so far

1. I hated the first half
2. The prison riot scene was classic 24.
3. No major Bauer bitch screwing everything up
4. The termination of Nina
5. Jack being Jack

Here are a few tidbits as to why season 6 is worse than season 3

1. Not enough Jack
2. Doesn’t “feel” like 24
3. Conspiracies
4. Another Palmer bites the dust
5. Silver Spoons

Here are the things that are nice about season 6

1. Perhaps the best camera shots of any of the seasons
2. Pump shotgun

Here are the things I am thankful for in season 6

1. No Audrey (yet)
2. A hot new CTU girl
3. Curtis dying for NOTHING

Alright, this season has turn my list upside down, shoving off two that I had picked earlier to be replaced. Anyway, here it is:

5. Season 4 (37) – Nicole

Nicole was a pretty hot chick, but that is not why this kill matters. The reason that this kill is so epic as to make the top five is because Jack shot the bitch through drywall without hesitation. It has always annoyed me that people in TV and movies are always to use walls, couches, and such as bulletproof cover. Or, at least they treat it that way. I was elated when Jack did not partake in a peekaboo match, instead just blowing the bitch away.

4. Season 6 (1) – Vampiric Delight

So, this kill was supposed to be a poor corel soldier getting obliterated by a flare, but this kill takes the cake. If anyone ever questions the brutal drive to survive of Jack Bauer, they should watch this clip at least twice. He not only ripped out another man’s jugular, but he bit so hard that the man instantly went into shock before fighting back at all.

3. Season 6 (2) – Black Tony

My original intention was to put Chapelle here, but the Curtis execution tops it, maybe not by a landslide, but enough. The entire sequence was amazing, and surreal. The music was epic, as was Jack’s reaction. Really, nothing about it was not awesome.

2. Season 1 (7) – Ira Gaines

Technically speaking, this should probably be my number one. This kill is basically perfect. Granted the finally shot is nothing special, just business as usual. But, the build up to the killing blow is what makes it great. In fact the sequence is so long that it was originally cut into two segments.

1. Season 4 (42) – Paul Raines

This kill is number one if for no other reason than to piss people off. Paul Raines was a noob, his actions made no sense. He was tortured by Jack, and then he took a bullet for Jack, and Jack repaid him by withholding medical treatment.