Thursday 30 April 2009

Soundtrack Review: Splinter by Elia Cmiral


"Elia Cmiral's punchy score for Splinter easily punctuates the action that is seen on screen"

There are spoilers contained within the tracklisting. Although if you haven't seen this movie yet, why? Go see it!



1. Main Title 2:09
2. Sinister Gas Station 2:21
3. Attendant Kills Lacey 1:06
4. Dennis’ Sacrifice 1:55
5. Road Kill 3:11
6. Infected 1:09
7. Driving To The Forest 1:47
8. Attendant Attacks Again 1:36
9. Hook The Radio 1:58
10. It’s Not Lacey Anymore 1:49
11. Seth And Polly 1:20
12. Run To Cover 1:59
13. Dennis Goes Outside 2:56
14. Looking For The Hand 1:55
15. The Cops Are Here 2:35
16. Seth Walks To The Car 3:44
17. Inside The Freezer 3:39

Born in Czechoslovakia, Elia Cmiral quickly established himself as one of Europe’s leading young composers after graduating from the prestigious Prague Music Conservatory. He wrote scores for several European films and three ballets before coming to the United States to attend USC’s famous Film Scoring Program. Known for his work in thrillers such as APARTMENT ZERO and RONIN, Cmiral has begun to earn praise for his evocative and highly original scores in the horror genre, such as STIGMATA, BONES, THEY, WRONG TURN and, most recently, THE DEATHS OF IAN STONE, TOOTH & NAIL and PULSE 2: AFTERLIFE.

Thanks to BuysoundTrax for the bio, where the physical CD should still be available. (I ordered the music from iTunes. Sadly wouldn't sycnh with my Creative ZEN.)

A score can make or break a movie and I don't care if you hire a big name composer or not, if the composer doesn't get the movie it shows. Elia Cmiral perfectly captures the mood and atmosphere of the visuals that the director presents to us. Elia Cmiral's punchy score for Splinter easily punctuates the action that is seen on screen. It helps evoke the creepiness and distaste of the creature at the heart of the film.

The tracks mainly consist of brooding, built-up sequences that erupt in a crescendo of instruments when the creature appears. Thankfully, there are quiet moments and Cmiral shows, particularly through track 4, that he can promote compassion in the viewer aswell as fear and loathing. The score is nightmarish and, for some, may not be the ideal music for listening to in a darkened room. (although I say "do it" it'll be fun). Strings always work in a horro movie and Track 6 shows a superb example of this.

My favourite track is Track 5. For the most part is fairly ambient until 2minutes 20 seconds where a beat kicks in. Track 4 is also very good because I'm a sucker for that kind of tune.

Recommended 8/10

Further sites of interest;
http://www.eliacmiral.com/
http://splinter.tumblr.com/
http://www.tobywilkins.com/

Tuesday 28 April 2009

TV Spots - Terminator Salvation


Excited yet?

You will be. You should be. Check out the new TV spots for incredible, finished, SFX. It's mind blowing stuff even for this jaded guy who thought he couldn't be wowed.

Thanks to The MovieBox.Net

Wednesday 22 April 2009

Tuesday 21 April 2009

Flash-Bang short hiatus


Mike from Flash-Bang is taking a short break, so there will be less updates than normal, however I will be keeping the momentum up here for those few days.

Coming Soon;

A Splinter soundtrack review
Ultravox Live review
Various musings

Wolverine TV Spots

New Character TV spots have been released on the following page;

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808665084/video/13062857

If you've read the rantings of an ignorant "reviewer" in a misused position of film authority, forget it and just watch the trailers and enjoy :O)

Monday 20 April 2009

DVD Review: DragonHunter


See what Mike thought of this movie: Flash-Bang

DVD Review: The Grudge 3

My review of Toby Wilkin's The Grudge 3 is over at Flash-Bang. Click the link, after;


What follows is the uncut beginning of the review. I edited it out as I felt it was too long and too self-indulgent for the Flash-Bang review page;

During the late eighties, I managed to anticipate the interest in Manga movies over here in the UK, after watching a dodgy Japanese copy of Akira on VHS; no subtitles, didn't need them. Well, I suppose I did really, but I got the general gist and recognised the superb quality.

After watching a terrible dubbed version of John Woo's The Killer I managed to forecast an interest in the genre of "Heroic Bloodshed" movies here in the UK.

With "J-horror" I was much slower on the uptake! Although I was a big fan of the Oxide's The Eye, much of the obvious Far Eastern horrors passed me by initially. The Ring being one. I caught The Ring when it was shown on Channel 4. It was introduced by Mark Kermode; you might have heard of this fella. He helpfully warned us viewers that "The part when Sadako climbs out of the television set will scare the shit out of you".

Great! I thought. I want to be scared! So I sat waiting for this scene. I waited and waited until I discovered, with anger, that it was the punchline ending! Bastard! Why the fook Kermode had to be clever and introduce a movie by giving away the ending, I'll probably never know but it smacked of arrogance at the time.

Anyway, Ju-On 1 and 2 were genuinely creepy. Same kind of take as The Ring; the scary aspect is a woman that has jet black hair and kills. I watched the US continuation, thinking "So what?". I watched The Grudge 2 to ensure that I could review Toby Wilkin's Grudge 3 and know what events led to the story. So here we are...

The Grudge 3

Sunday 19 April 2009

Movie Preview: The House of the Devil


If you like 80s style horrors, then this might be for you. Head over to Twitch for the trailer;

The House of The Devil

Movie Preview: Autumn

I like the look of this, and it stars our very own Dexter Fletcher;

Autumn

Interview: Toby Wilkins

Check out this illuminating interview: What Would Toto Watch Interview with Toby Wilkins

DVD Review: Kung Fu Flid


When I saw that Mike had uploaded this review, it was a definitive "WTF" moment! Anyway, if you like Kung Fu and something a little bit different, then check it out at:

Flash-Bang

Friday 17 April 2009

DVD Review: North Face

Check out Mike's review of this true story over at Flash-Bang

Event Alert! Full Line-up for the London Terracotta Film Festival, Announced!


The Terracotta Film Festival takes place at the Prince Charles Cinema, London, 21st -24th May. The Line-up is as follows:

Opening film - Eye for an Eye (Korean Heist movie), followed by:

ME...MYSELF - amnesiac transvestite falls for a woman

KEEPING WATCH -split personality love story

THE DETECTIVE - oxide pang

GHOST IN THE SHELL 2.0

DREAM - Kim Ki-duk

AFTER SCHOOL - japanese comedy caper

LEGENDARY ASSASSIN - return to good old fashioned hong kong action

ZOMBI KAMPUNG PISANG - malaysian zom-com

GOD MAN DOG - taiwanese arthouse

MUAY THAI CHAIYA - kick boxing action!

HIGH KICK GIRL! - karate kid esque action

The closing film will be Johnny To's Sparrow.

Clicking the link will take you to the festival's daily motion page, where they are endeavouring to provide trailers for each movie.

EVENT LINK

DVD Review: Caprica

Check out my review of the new Region One DVD of the Battlestar Galactica prequel spin-off;

Review

Thursday 16 April 2009

Wolverine: He says "Drink Milk!"


My power to regenerate might be top secret, but my ability to re-energize is simple. Milk has protein to help build muscle and a unique mix of nutrients to help you refuel. So, eat right, train hard and drink lowfat milk. That’s just common mutant sense.

Good advice!

Thanks to xmenfilms.net

Star Trek Score by Michael Giacchino - Early Thoughts

I had my reservations about the new score for Star Trek. What elevated a film like Insurrection was the beautiful score by Jerry Goldsmith. I've always felt that the score is an important component of the movie making process and I wasn't convinced that Giacchino was quite up to the task. Don't get me wrong, his scores for Alias, Fringe and the Medal of Honor games have all been superb, but Goldsmith is a very hard act to follow and unfairly I know I would have compared.

I needn't have worried. As the soundclips at the Colosseum link prove; i think this guy's nalied it. Phew!

Check out the clips

Wednesday 15 April 2009

TRAILER: Lars von Trier's Antichrist


This looks interesting! The final scene of the trailer is probably, lightly, NSFW:

Lars von Trier's Antichrist - Official Trailer from Zentropa on Vimeo.

A grieving couple retreat to ’Eden’, their isolated cabin in the woods, where they hope to repair their
broken hearts and troubled marriage. But nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse…

The Leaked Wolverine Workprint - will it help the movie?

With the recent news of X-Men Origins: Wolverine being leaked on the Internet and the fact that "at least" 100,000 have already downloaded the film, many have speculated that the leak would hurt the film. But according to Entertainment Weekly, the leak could HELP the film.

Entertainment Weekly says that according to customer research statistics, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is rated #1 in two different groups (young men and men aged 31 and over) in terms of people wanting to see the movie. The two demographics are key for a large opening weekend, and seems to indicate a strong desire to see the film. Some are even saying that the leak was good "free publicity" for the movie.

Well, I hope that's the case! As a Wolverine fan I want it to do well so another is made. Also, Hugh Jackman is a very nice guy and I want it to succeed for him, too. You just have to follow him on Twitter for evidence on what he's like; Yes, the real one (for the cynics sitting at the back).

Tuesday 14 April 2009

TR2N - first pics and knee jerk reactions

Movie Blog's TR2N article



I laughed when i read this and comments below. Some people don't know much about movie making if they think that the suit pictured is how it'll look onscreen. ;o)

Wrapped Up In Time


There never seems to be enough time. I'm trying to maintain this site more regularly than before to keep alignment with my work on the Flash-Bang review website. I'm still not sure who actually visits here and reads it. Whilst it doesn't matter a great deal, it'd be interesting to find out. Predominantly, I keep this site as a practice for reviewing technique but Flash-Bang Mike has been happy with my contributions so none has overflowed here.


So...this is why I erratically post television episode reviews here, to keep my hand in reviewing and improve my technique.


I see some of my friends make full use of Twitter and it's associated social add-ons and know that's not for me. Despite boredom setting in with my real world Chelmsford social life, I couldn't spend much more time online than I already do. I use Twitter to post a few bits, as you can see. I also use Facebook as a way of keeping in touch with friends. Anything more than that just seems wrong.


More often than not I get disappointed by behaviour. Take this weekend for instance. Despite my lack of interest I went to support my local pub's quiz night. There had been many comments of "I'll be there" but few who bothered to turn up. Why do people say they're going to do something and not do it. Are they afraid of telling the truth? Two couples turned up and wouldn't participate because their mates hadn't turned up. Bizarre!


So, there were 4 teams. The opening question was "What is the name of Data's cat in Star Trek the Next Generation?" Needless to say that I was ridiculed for knowing the correct answer. We got to a local knowledge round which was full of questions that only a local historian could answer. I spent most of that round seeing what a bar mat looks like inside out whilst picking at my nails with a pen lid. I have every sympathy will those who take the trouble in compiling quiz questions but that was taking the piss. It seemed clear that the group of people that would have been able to answer those questions never turned up. I'm talking about that those who visit lodges. Say no more. The irony lol!


By 11pm, I'd drunk a fair bit and spent time listening to the tracks that I'd put on the juke box; a selection of music that was varied but didn't include the nursery rhyme rap crap that had assaulted my sensitive music taste when I arrived at 7.30. I'd hope that "Slim Shady" had given up on recording but maybe the money ran out.


We raised £67 for charity by attending the quiz so I was grateful for that. Normally, these quiz nights were very busy.


So, what have I got to look forward to? Well, there's the Ultravox gig at the end of the month, with a Manic Street Preachers gig towards the end of May. There is, of course, a couple of small movies coming out soon ;o)

Re: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles season 2 episode 22 review


"Born To Run"
Previously, Sarah had been captured by the police, John and Cameron were on the run, assuming that they were being hunted with no other allies left alive. John Henry and Catherine Weaver were increasingly interested in the Connors, presumably because they want to stop Skynet and that is possibly what John Henry becomes.

John Henry has moved up from playing Bionicle to the more detailed RPG; Dungeons and Dragons. It’s a game that he appears to have got the hang of, with constant cries of “20!” after throwing a dice.

Sarah is being questioned by an Agent Auldridge, played by Joshua Malin whom viewers might have recognised from The West Wing. He appears to have a more open-minded view of things as the evidence he presents end up convincing him that Connor is telling some truths.
Strategically asking for a Priest (the authorities are not permitted to keep surveillance on a conversation between Priest and prisoner) Sarah uses Father Armando Bonilla to send a message to John. This priest presided over the church that Sarah took refuge in, in the first season. This is one of a few references to earlier episodes including the character of Chola who passes the message on to John, complete with passports. Sarah has told John to run.
One of two nods to the original Terminator movie finds the machine from the previous episode going to a gun store looking to get hold of silencers. The shop keeper survives this encounter (unlike Dick Smith’s character from the movie) to direct the Terminator to another supplier.
Off camera, probably by using John Henry’s use of CCTV, Ellison finds John and Cameron. Weaver has given him a message for Cameron; “Will you join us?” This backed up my theory that Weaver is the T-1000 from the submarine episode sent back to provide a counter to Skynet, through John Henry. From Cameron’s reaction, we know that she understands this message, it’s implications and what she has to do next.

The Terminator, now with Silencers, attacks the building in which John Henry resides only to be met by Weaver, who uses the familiar T-1000 blades to dispatch the cyborg and retrieve it’s chip. Unfortunately, the chip is designed to oxidise once removed from his secure housing.
Once more we are treated to evidence that John Henry’s A.I. mind is evolving as he anticipates conversations and finishes the sentences of both Weaver and Ellison. Weaver wants to meet John, finally.

In a scene that seems wrong and perhaps panders to fanboy wishes, Cameron strips to allow John to reassure himself that she isn’t leaking radiation that could contribute to his mother getting cancer. Cameron has let it slip (again) that Sarah had thought she was stricken and had lost weight. Cameron clearly has developed some problems over the course of the season and we only get a slight idea how bad during the next scene. Another nod to the first movie is Cameron storming the police precinct where Sarah is being held. With an obvious nod to the second movie, Cameron strategically ensures that she doesn’t directly fire at the defending guards. Through all this, Cameron is receiving battle damage lessening her use as an infiltration unit.

Both females receive a helping hand from John Henry, who infiltrates the security system and opens all the doors to the cells. The release of prisoners aid in the escape of Sarah and Cameron. The latter has received the trademark Terminator gun fight damage with her left eye camera exposed from gun blasts, rendering her no longer fit to undertake body guard duties for John.
John and Sarah go to visit Weaver, as requested, but send Cameron below ground to destroy John-Henry. They don’t realise that John Henry is working for the good guys. Cameron, though, does. No-one realises that Weaver is metal, not even Ellison who you’d think would have noticed the cold stare. I’m probably nit-picking as T2 established that the T-1000 has rudimentary social skills – “He’s a good looking boy”.

So, the much expected exposition occurs, as Weaver explains to the Connors (and much of the audience from what I gather) that Weaver is here to help. I breathed a sigh of relief to know that the potential destruction of John-Henry is averted; just as a flying HK fires missiles at their floor level! I was not expecting this! In one of the series most unique effects but still based upon T2 visuals, the T1000 expands to form a shield protecting the humans.

In an instant, the Connor’s world is turned inside out and roundabout. A fish tank bursts from the attack and the pet eel merges with Weaver, similar to the eel in the episode “Last Voyage of the Jimmy Carter”.

John Henry has disappeared with Cameron’s chip. Any doubt as to the true nature of Weaver’s intentions should now be swept away. Except…

A time clock is running. And John recognises the Turk computer that has three LEDs – the dots that Sarah had become obsessed with. The time clock is counting down to something. A blue hue on the machinery gave me a clue and this was realised as John and Weaver disappear in a blue circle of light. Ellison declines the offer to join them, and goes to pick up Savannah from school. Sarah steps out of the bubble, shouting something along the lines of “I’ll stop it”

The time bubble reappears with a naked John and Weaver within, in the ruins of a post-apocalyptic era building. The Weaver T-1000 disappears, leaving John to discover a handy set of clothes of his size nearby. A group of freedom fighters emerge including Derek Reese and John proves that he is “not metal”. No-one, including Kyle seem to know the name of John Connor. Allison from Palmdale is also there, throwing John a bit. We get the feeling that John has time jumped over Judgement Day so has not had time to properly assert himself as humanity’s leader. So begins the questions…

I’m getting sick of seeing good series go way before their time; Firefly, Angel, Studio 60 to name but a few. I do hope that this isn’t the last Sarah Connor story that we see. Despite my frustration with seemingly unimportant focuses on Riley and Sarah’s mental condition there have been some great moments in Season 2, not least of all during the last three shows. If I have any advice to give Fox it’s let the production carry on, but maybe at only 12 shows a season. This might ensure a consistent approach and a generous amount of loyal viewers. Resources like Hulu should also be taken into account when calculating viewing figures

If Born to Run is the last Terminator episode so be it; it’s gone out on a high! I look forward to the Season 2 DVD which may answer a few questions borne from Born to Run.

Wednesday 8 April 2009

When Piracy Screws Up a Major Release

I nicked this article from Yahoo and I'm not surprised Hugh Jackman's pissed off. He's put a lot of work into this character since winning the part back in X-men. He comes across as a very likeable person and I am disappointed more for him than the studio. Fox really need to ramp up their game when it comes to properties such as this. Jackman's attitude to the X-Men franchise is gold dust for a studio and if they aren't going to respect the character and the fans; SELL THE RIGHTS TO MARVEL! If what I've read of the story is true, Fox have royally screwed up not only the Wolverine mythos but the Deadpool one too.

I'll be there on April 29th to find out.



Anyway, the story;



Jackman heartbroken at leaked 'Wolverine'


Martin Anderson


The actor expresses his dismay at the fiasco in Sydney: "It's like a Ferrari without a paint job."
Published on Apr 8, 2009
Hugh Jackman has spoken out at his terrible disappointment regarding the leak of Wolverine at a special showing of 20 minutes of the film in Sydney, an exciting event whose thunder has been completely stolen by the widespread diffusion of an unfinished work-print of the much-anticipated X-Men prequel.
Though Jackman believes the movie will still find a huge audience, he admitted to being very upset by the leak. "It's a serious crime and there's no doubt it's very disappointing - I was heartbroken by it. Obviously people are seeing an unfinished film. It's like a Ferrari without a paint job."
Wolverine deals with the origin of ubdoubtedly the most popular X-Men character, controversially revealing that the character's claws are an organic part of his mutation, rather than an adjunct added during the William Stryker adamantium conversion.
The workprint leaked out of the production lacks dozens of completed special effects shots and features temp scoring and unfinished sound effects and mixing.
Jackman is in Syndney as part of a world tour to promote the movie.

DVD Review: Shuttle

Check out Mike's review of this effective horror/thriller at Flash-Bang

DVD Review: The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)

My review is up at Flash-Bang

Did I like it? No, but Keanu is not the reason, honest ;o)

DVD Review: Body of Lies


My Review of Ridley Scott's thriller is up on Flash-Bang
A solid action-thriller, more cerebral than most but not as clever as it might think it is.

DVD Review: Dark Floors

Check out my official Region 2 DVD Review over at Flash-Bang

A surprisingly entertaining thriller despite the horrible R2 DVD cover art

A London Signing: Ernest Borgnine at The Cinema Store



In-Store Signing with the legend Ernest Borgnine - Friday 24th April 2009 2.00p.m.
the Cinema Store, Unit 4b, Orion House, Upper Saint Martin's Lane, London
Tel: 0207 379 7838


He will be signing ERNEST BORGNINE: MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY
I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire, I Just Want to Keep My Nuts Warm!
Hardback at £17.99

For the first time, the Academy Award winning actor reveals all about his star-studded life
Ernest Borgnine is one of the most recognised and respected actors in Hollywood. From his childhood as the son of Italian immigrants, to a fantastically varied career that is still thriving at the age of 91, he tells of the trials on his road to fame, friendships with other Hollywood stars, and the glamorous leading ladies he loved.
From tough guys to sensitive roles, he has squared off against formidable actresses such as Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, and tells stories about many of cinema’s greatest icons, including Steve McQueen, Spencer Tracy, James Stewart, Kirk Douglas, Montgomery Clift, Gary Cooper, Janet Leigh, Raquel Welch, Gene Hackman, Rock Hudson and Burt Lancaster.
Packed with secrets and revealing stories, this is a fascinating memoir of a star who has endeared himself to legions of fans everywhere.

He is famous for starring in Bad Day At Black Rock; The Vikings; The Flight of the Phoenix; The Dirty Dozen; The Wild Bunch; The Black Hole; Escape From New York, and one of my favourites; the TV show Airwolf.

https://www.thecinemastore.co.uk/

Tuesday 7 April 2009

Review: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles 2.21




Like episode 2.20 before it, 2.21 - Adam Raised a Cain is full of brilliance; somewhat lacking in many of Season 2's episodes previously.
Like Battlestar Galactica, this series shows how life can be extinguished in a brief moment with no warning.
2.21 opens with a series of graves marked only by the year the victim died. Both Derek and Sarah are looking at the graves of those lost in 1984. Somewhere amoung them is the grave of Kyle Reese. Derek explains his disapointment at Sarah's treatment of him citing that the grave of his brother should be enough for her to have trusted him. she explains that the only person that really matters is John.
John arrives to show the pair a mobile phone retrieved from a corpse at the lighthouse. It contains a picture of Savannah Weaver who John recognises.
The subject of the photo is getting into trouble at school for communicating with John Henry who the teaching staff assume to be a paedophile.
John Henry is pondering death after his power down and talks with Ellison on the nature of heaven and whay it might have a "hardware" problem. He feels that his "brother" might be trying to kill him. John Henry continues to chat to Savannah via a Bluetooth ear piece as Savannah is drawing in the front room of the apartment. JH sees the "water man" approach as the nanny opens the door and receives an accurate shot to the brain.
John Henry guides Savannah away from the danger as the Terminator scours the building looking for her. Hearing the A.I. showing genuine concern outside of it's normal programming is quite chilling and caused me to think once again as to what JH is. Is he skynet in embryonic form? Or is he a counter Skynet created by Catherine Weaver; a T-1000 sent down the line by John Connor for this very project.
As Savannah appears helpless, after going out of Bluetooth range and seemingly into the cross hairs of the Terminator's weaponry, John turns up to rescue her. In an instant, shockingly, Derek takes a bullet to the head. This happened so fast I assumed he'd been hit in the shoulder but a close up shows the bullet hole in his forehead; totally unexpected with no signpost whatsoever!
Savannah is reported missing. JH consciously neglects to tell Ms Weaver that he has CCTV footage of Sarah Connor and company but instead quizzes Ellison about it, asking him why he lied. he wants to know why Ellison kept the secret of Sarah Connor's existence.
Whilst Savannah is kept safe with John, she tells him of her friendship with John Henry. Cold realisation issues across John's face as he realises what JH could be.
Ellison arranges for Sarah to hand back Savannah in exchange for meeting up. Sarah is double-crossed and arrested. John and Cameron get away.
At the end, Derek is buried in the same area as Kyle.
Great entertainment, with the same amount of nihilism that normally makes up a Battlestar Galactica. It's a pity it's taken this long to get so good.

Review: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles 2.20


One show that has frustrated me to no end, on it's second season run is Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Many episodes have been disjointed, seemingly with no ultimate purpose, bogged down by trite characterisation and a lack of ideas. Occasionally, a decent episode would come along like "Goodbye to all that" and "Alpine Fields".Then, we have the last few episodes that show just how good the writing talents on this show can be. It all seems to be coming together, finally, as the show ramps up toward it's conclusion.The real stars of this season have been the lead, Thomas Dekker and the score artist, Bear McCreary. Both have risen to the challenge of providing a memorable, if not final few episodes. Dekker, because if you've seen interviews ,is as camp as Christmas yet he sells us the fact that he's growing up to be a bad ass leader. McCreary because he can write tear-inducing music to enhance the emotion of scenes (see also BSG for this irritating ability )When death occurs in this series, like BSG, it's not pretty nor is it always signposted. Like in life, it happens and sometimes you have to move forwards very quickly to survive. This shown to gret effect in the last two episodes.For those watching it, you might have an inkling of what I'm referring to. I'm actually looking forward to the season finale to see if I'm right about the real nature of "John Henry". I never thought that would be the case a few months ago.
So, episode 1.20 - To The Lighthouse
Whilst there has been no confirmation as to Cameron's operational status, clearly Sarah Connor has divided the group into those she can trust and those who's loyalties have come into question. Derek Reese seems to be oblivious to the fact that he has put the whole group in danger during his relationship with Jesse. John is still quietly dealing with Riley's death. Although he worked out her future origins, she still represented a "normal" life that he would never be able to attain. So her death was also the death of his fantasy.
The group leave the house and it is arranged that they meet up in the desert; another nod to T2. For different reasons, both groups don't make it. Sarah takes John to a lighthouse safehouse, a safehouse that Charlie Dixon resides at. Naturally, he isn't pleased to see Sarah as his wife was killed during their last encounter and both John and Sarah seem to bring death to someone. Here we learn that Sarah intends to leave John with Charlie. She has found a lump in her breast and assumes it's the big C as Cameron had coldly informed her that she dies in the previous timeline before they jumped ahead.
The show flits to John Henry who is still having fun playing with toys, until Savannah Weaver attempts to muddy his Bionicle universe by introducing rubber ducks to the sceanario. John Henry goes into spasms and we learn that an outside force was trying to get into John Henry's systems and Savannah was just there at the wrong time. John Henry is switched off, something that deeply disturbs the A.I. as it interprets the time as an "eternity" therefore a death. It says that he has a "brother" that has tried to infiltrate his systems.
The episode builds nicely and once again doesn't signpost what is to come. Cameron and Derek continue to the appointed meet not before Cameron lets it slip that Derek was to be a father had Jesse not got the bends, in the future. Cyborgs, of course, tend to bring these things up for the hell of it. Disabling their vehicle, a group of men kidnap Derek with Cameron in pursuit. She is almost taken out by an elecronic trap in the form of water and a live cable.
Meanwhile, at the hospital the unexpected happens; we learn that the lump hides a transmitter! It was placed there during Sarah's previous kidnap. Sensing that this transmitter could be feeding enemies data there and then, Sarah uses a defib machine to knock out the device. It's too late and the bad guys have got to the lighthouse. Charlie has rigged the place with explosives and got John away on a boat. Sarah arrives to find Charlie floating on the water, mortal bullet wounds the reward for saving her son. Once again, someone has died for John.
Grim stuff, but rewarding for sticking through some of the rough patches of Season 2.
It must be said that Lena Headey's performances have also been superb. Whilst not always a likeable character, she displays an underplayed pain and anguish that can resonate at times when John seemingly misunderstands her motives.
Garret Dillahunt is also very good as the A.I. construct John Henry. It's a difficult role for an adult to play but he does it very well.

Business As Usual


Whilst it might have seen like I was away again, I have been busy. I've been away to a Marillion Weekend, in Holland; caught up on my television viewing habits and writing reviews for Flash-Bang. Catch my reviews for Manhunt, The Unborn, and Splinter over there;




My reviews for Body of Lies, and The Day The Earth Stood Still are coming up, along with a review of the Horror movie Dark Floors.
My reviews for The Unborn, and The Day After Tomorrow aren't particularly positive. I've always said that I'd prefer not to review a movie if I didn't like it rather than being overly negative. However, I do look for the positives in both movies. (There's a little there, honest!).
I have to stess that during my review of Splinter, I complained about the use of shaky cam style direction. Unfortunately, I forgot to balance it out with the fact that it didn't overtly detract from my enjoyment. I recommend the movie to any horror film fans out there. I hope to see more of it's quality produced.
So, since I last posted an X-Men Origins: Wolverine working print was leaked on to the WWW. Was it Fox? Or a disgruntled Fox employee (or ex-employee)? Of course, I never watched it but I have read that the characterisation is poor and the finale is illogical. I'll see at the end of this month. I'd love a press pass to see this movie before, but that won't happen.
Coming Soon:
Reasons to love the end of Season 2 of The Sarah Connor Chronicles. No, really!