by Jane | Jul 3, 2018 | Write Here Write Now
There’s a new version of Lost in Space on Netflix, following on the heels of the 1960’s television show and the 1998 movie. The TV show was the story of the Robinson family who went off course and landed on an unknown planet. Also in the cast was Major Don West and a stowaway, Dr. Zachary Smith. I had not planned to watch this iteration, but after seeing several comments on Facebook, both positive and negative, I decided to take a look.
The premise for the 2018 show is similar, a family on its way to a new colony, crash lands on a planet, but there are many differences. For one, several ships on their way to the colony also crash onto the planet, which adds complications to the early episodes. The special effects are, of course, much better than was possible in the 1960’s, the sets are fantastic, and the plots are more complex.
What I’d like to focus on the most, however, are the characters, all of whom are more well-rounded, some of which we see in extensive flashbacks. All the Robinson children are well-acted and multi-dimensional. Judy is a doctor, Penny is adventurous and willful, and Will is an intelligent 11-year old. He sometimes makes mistakes based on his big heart, but also tries to do the right thing, even if it puts him in danger.
John and Maureen, the parents, are not the happy couple of the 1960’s. Instead, they are divorced, due mainly to John’s putting his work above his family, but they have put their differences aside to take their family to a better life. John has had a life in the military, and Maureen is a strong modern woman, an engineer at the forefront of this story.
The other three major characters are Don West, Dr. Smith, and the robot. The robot is an amazing example of alien technology — it is roughly in human form, but with a face that seems to be full of stars. They are blue when it is calm, but turn red when in war mode. The robot is very dangerous but has bonded to Will because the boy found it in its ship’s wreckage and put it back together.
Don West, in this version, is sort of a Han Solo type, a smuggler who seems to be out for himself, but comes through when least expected. He is also the first person to meet the evil Dr. Smith among the wrecked vessels. She is a character that requires much more description. In this version, she has stolen the identity of the real Dr. Smith and taken his place to escape the mother ship Resolute when it is attacked. I won’t describe her interactions on the planet in order to avoid spoilers, but I’ll just say that she ends up living with the Robinsons, posing as a therapist.
Of all the characters, I like Dr. Smith the least. For most of the first season, she just comes across as creepy. We see some bad things she did in flashbacks, but mostly she sits around with an unconvincing sneer on her face, subtly manipulating people. I think what bothered me most was that she had no real goal except self-preservation at all costs and no real feelings for other people, in other words a true sociopath. I just wanted to see more from her early on.
There’s a lot to like about this series, but due to the Dr. Smith creep factor, I, an unapologetic binger, could only watch one show at a time. It gets better around episode 7, things heat up in the plot, and Smith finally decides to act. The season finale set up the next season for some great adventures for the Robinsons. I haven’t decided yet if I will watch, but I will say that a couple of days after finishing the series, I found myself missing it. So I may give season 2 a shot.
by Jane | May 23, 2018 | Write Here Write Now
The Conjuring is a 2013 James Wan film about a family terrorized by a group of spirits. It’s set at a secluded farmhouse in 1970 and based on a true story. The Perron family of six has just moved in when they start to experience paranormal events. First, it’s little things, like all the clocks stopping at 3:07 am or objects being moved around. Then there are actual sightings. When one of the daughters is attacked, the mother seeks help from paranormal specialists. Soon, these professionals learn that this is not a normal haunting and that they have now put their own family in danger.
The Conjuring ranks as one of the scariest movies I have ever seen, certainly in recent years. The only one to come close for me is The Changeling. I was on edge from the first sighting until the end. If you like scary movies, definitely put this one on your list. It was good enough to spawn two sequels, which I hope to see soon. But for now, watch The Conjuring and be prepared to tremble.
by Jane | May 16, 2018 | Write Here Write Now
Prometheus is a 2012 movie directed by Ridley Scott. After archeologists discover what may be a clue to our alien forebears, an expedition is launched to a faraway moon. Once released from stasis, there is an immediate distrust between the crew and the scientists, and everyone seems to be keeping secrets from one another, even the android David, who was in charge while all were asleep. Once they land, things get worse. They find evidence of a humanoid existence, including several dead bodies. They also discover a mysterious liquid which has disastrous effects on them.
I loved the beginning of this film as it captured the exploratory feel that I think science fiction should have. Once on the moon, it developed into a touch of horror, but not so much that it had me covering my mouth and running from the room. It has suspense, sex, intrigue, and just a little bit of gore. If you haven’t heard anything about this film, the ending may be a surprise, and I won’t reveal it. If you do know what happens, know that the final scene is delivered in a very realistic and satisfying way. I would recommend this film.
by Jane | Apr 3, 2018 | Write Here Write Now
Anne Rice’s Servant of the Bones is the tale of Azriel, a young man who is turned into a spirit during the Jewish exile in Babylon. Azriel’s spirit is attached to his gilded bones and can be called up by whoever owns then and says the right words. But Azriel is not easily controlled. Called up in the late 20th century, he becomes involved with a cult leader and his family; however, this spirit has his own ideas of right and wrong and follows his heart.
In the vein of Interview with the Vampire, Azriel tells his story to a neutral party, a professor alone in a cabin in the woods. The early pages read somewhat like a late 19th/early 20th century tale and grabbed me from the start. After a short introduction by the narrator, Azriel appears at the cabin door, helps the professor through an illness, and proceeds to tell his story, starting with his days in Babylon.
This was a very enjoyable tale, in which the reader feels for Azriel. Though it becomes evident early on that he is a killer, he has an overwhelming moral sense which leads us to root for him all the way.
Read Servant of the Bones and take a trip through history to an incredible conclusion.
by Jane | Mar 10, 2018 | Write Here Write Now
Dark is a Netflix TV series produced in Germany. From the very beginning, there is crisis. In the first episode, there is a suicide and a missing child. Shortly thereafter, another child goes missing. A dead boy show up who is not either of those two. The community is frightened. Police officer Ulrich, who is very involved in the search, lost his brother thirty-three years earlier. Is there a connection? If you’re a fan of Supernatural, you might guess it’s some sort of monster who surfaces every thirty-three years. The real answer is even more disturbing. Two strange men and a cave system with a secret round out the mystery.
This series is very intriguing and engaging. There are a lot of characters, with a lot of intricate relationships, which makes the show more interesting, but it’s difficult to keep them all straight. This difficulty increases when some of the action moves to the past and you meet them again as younger versions of themselves. Still, there are clues given, and it adds to the fun to learn what past issues have led to the problems of the current day.
I enjoyed this show very much. After only ten episodes, I am ready for ten more. I hope everyone will give Dark a chance.
by Jane | Jan 6, 2018 | Write Here Write Now
Netherspace by Andrew Lane and Nigel Foster is good science fiction. It reminds me of the classic sci fi books I read as a child, sci fi from the 50’s and 60’s, from which I gained a love of the genre. Lane and Foster introduce us to a world where first contact has been made with several alien species, but strangely, there is no real communication. The aliens just come to trade, pointing to what they want and leaving an item of technology, including technology to travel between the stars. But the items they trade for is a total mystery — it could be a broken bicycle wheel or a human being.
In Netherspace, we become acquainted with Kara, an ex-army sniper, and Marc, an artist who has traded with aliens in the past. These two are recruited to travel to an alien planet to resolve a hostage situation. They’re given all the information they need through a machine which puts the information into their heads, but what they don’t expect in treachery on board the ship.
I loved this book! No only does it remind me of sci fi of old, it brings its own take on what first contact could really be like. The technology is wonderful, the characters are well-developed both individually and in their relationships with each other. The aliens are also quite fun. And in classic sci fi tradition, there is a big reveal at the end that is well worth the wait. Pick up Netherspace. You’ll thank me.
