New TV Season, New Reviews

Once the end of May came around and two of my favourite shows had ended, Lost and 24; two shows that I had reviewed for the past two years, I needed a break.  Nearly four months have gone and the new TV season is creeping upon us.  I didn’t think I could get excited about the blog again but there are two shows this year that have reignited my urge to write.

Those two shows are Fringe and Smallville.  I will review every episode from Fringe’s third season and every episode from Smallville’s tenth and final season.  Fringe became essential viewing for me last season and will be my Lost replacement.  Lost was a must watch show every week and I will not be missing an episode of Fringe either.  It’s a show that sure will have me coming up with many theories like I did with my Lost reviews.

We will be saying goodbye to Smallville next year after ten years.  I watched it when it first aired and spending ten years watching a TV show is an impressive thing.  The show has had its ups and downs but for the most part, it’s always been entertaining.  I’m sure the final season will be something special, hopefully a great send-off to a remarkable achievement in television.

I will also try to bring more content than just my reviews.  I await in anticipation every week for a new episode of Sons of Anarchy, so I might write-up my thoughts on the show in the next few weeks.  I await all your visits and as always, I love to read your comments.  See you soon.

Fringe reviews will appear every Friday.*

Smallville reviews will apear every Saturday.*

*(long as my life doesn’t get in the way.)

Heroes are no more.

NBC has done the thing most of us thought they would do and have axed Heroes after four seasons of the show.  They kept the show’s future up in the air for a while but they’ve decided not to renew it for a fifth season.  Heroes was a huge phenomenon during its first season.  So many people were caught up in its frenzy, myself included.  I liked the show for the most part during that debut season but I didn’t gush over it like others did.  I saw weakness in the storytelling since the start, the season one finale of the show confirmed to everyone else what I had realised.  You had the first season building up to this one moment, the Heroes taking on Sylar but it was a major letdown when it happened.  This would become a pattern throughout the next three seasons.  A story is built up but results in a lacklustre conclusion.

Season two was effected by the writer’s strike and had only 11 episodes.  The second season was dire and it’s not because of the writers strike.  You can do a lot with 11 episodes but somehow they drew out their storylines and it became tedious.  Viewers left the show and by the end of the fourth season, only about 4 million were watching, compared to the 14 million during the first season.

If Heroes will be remembered for anything it’s that a show that promised so much, had loads of potential became a show with insane character motivations and convoluted drawn out plots.  Heroes will be an example for years to come that sometimes if you have a hit show on your hands, it can easily be ruined.

UPDATE! I’m Back.

If I still have any regular viewers to the site then I apologise for being absent for the past month or so.  Real life got in the way, my passion for doing this slipped away a little bit and the main reason for that was down to what I was reviewing.

I was doing weekly reviews of Flashforward which was a major factor in my passion slipping away from me.  I became sick of reviewing the show because well me being frank, the show started to suck.  It basically become a bad American soap opera but with a sci-fi twist.  The characters are bland and the plot was moving along at a snail’s pace.  Plus with the show going on hiatus until March, it’s the right call to say that you will be seeing no more Flashforward reviews in the future.  Plus once March rolls round, I will be too busy reviewing Lost and 24.

Last year I reviewed both Lost and 24 and I’ll be doing the same again.  It could possibly be 24′s last season and as we all know it certainly is Lost’s last.  I will bring lots of Lost content during the new year to say goodbye to one of the most intriguing and groundbreaking television shows in history.  It will certainly be sad to see the show go but I can’t wait to see how it’s all resolved.

I promise you that you can expect a lot more content in the new year.  Actually new content will start now, lots of best lists of 09 to come.

Predators Has A Director

The Robert Rodriguez produced Predator remake/reboot/sequel has it’s director in the form of Nimród Antal (Vacancy, Kontroll).  I’ve never seen any of his work so can’t comment if his directorial skills will be up to handling the film.  Over at Aint It Cool had an interview with Rodriguez and it seems that no one should write the film off just yet.  Here are some key points that I found interesting from that interview:-

• FOX apparently wants to make it a very “non studio” movie.  So they’ve given it to Rodriguez’s company Troublemaker Studios.
• Robert Rodriguez won’t be a typical producer, he will have major involvement in the project.
• The film will be set on the Predator’s homeworld.
• They don’t want to rely on CG.
• Someone at FOX hopes that this film will erase our memories of the awful AVP films.  If you can do that FOX then you will have peformed a miracle.

I’m going to keep a key eye on this project and hopefully more news comes out in the next few months.  I just pray that this film will be good.  If it matches the quality of Predator 2, I will be happy.

New Look, New Reviews

It’s summer time which means there’s bugger all on television right now.  It’s actually for once hot here in the UK and well I’d rather sit with a giant fan and watch good TV than be outside sweating myself away.

Now we’re in July, there’s only a couple of months before the new TV season starts.  Though we still have some good TV shows on at the moment.  I will continue with my Weeds review (sorry for the delay on episode 4) plus Entourage returns in less than two weeks so expect my thoughts of every episode of the new season.  When the 2009-2010 season starts, I will only be reviewing two shows.  I will be reviewing Nip/Tuck and every episode of new ABC show Flashforward which many predict could become the next Lost.  The premise is interesting and it looks to have potential.

I know recently I’ve lacked to bring content on Geeky Talk but I have been recovering from a broken elbow.  Though now I’m mostly healed and will be providing as much new content as I can.

Get to da choppa – New Predator in development

It seems the long awaited new Predator film has been confirmed to be in development and will be helmed by Sin City/From Dusk Till Dawn director Robert Rodriguez.  Below is a quote from Rodriguez during a news conference at Troublemarker Studios,

“I’m going to be able to shoot my upcoming Machete here, a sci-fi action film called Nervewrackers, a re-boot of the Predator series called Predators, and a couple of smaller movies called Sin City 2 and The Jetsons.”

You can read the rest of the article from slashfilm, here.

Rodriguez is calling this a reboot, hopefully wanting to kick start the series again.  Though I hope it will be more of a sequel, hopefully recognising the previous two films.  I have faith in Rodriguez to take care of the franchise.  A franchise this important needs to be in the hands of capable and experienced people and Rodriguez fits the bill.

Oscars 09 – The Winners and My Thoughts

I didn’t stay up late to watch the Oscars as well I’m never that big into awards ceremonies and I didn’t want to till past four in the morning.  Here is the list of all the winners and my quick thoughts on some of the winners.

Best Motion Picture of the Year – Slumdog Millionare

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Sean Penn for Milk

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Kate Winslett for The Reader

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role – Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Achievement in Directing – Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionare

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen – Milk, Dustin Lance Black

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published – Slumdog Millionare, Simon Beaufoy

Best Achievement in Cinematography - Slumdog Millionare, Anthony Dod Mantle

Best Achievement in Editing – Slumdog Millionare, Chris Dickens

Best Achievement in Art Direction -The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Donald Graham Burt, Victor J. Zolfo

Best Achievement in Costume Design – The Duchess, Michael O’Conner

Best Achievement in Makeup – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Greg Cannom

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score -
Slumdog Millionare, A.R. Rahman

Best Achievement in Sound – Slumdog Millionare, Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty

Best Achievement in Sound Editing – The Dark Knight, Richard King

Best Achievement in Visual Effects - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year – WALL-E

Best Foreign Language - Film of the Year, Okuribito

Best Documentary, Features – Man on Wire

Best Documentary, Short Subjects – Smile Pinki

Best Short Film, Animated – Maison en petits cubes, La

Best Short Film, Live Action – Spielzeugland

So there you have it all the winners and for the most part, easily predictable outcomes.  Though sadly I had planned to watch most of the films nominated but real life got it in the way or certain of those films were not running at my local cinema so it was difficult to see any of the films nominated.  I have seen Slumdog and it was a wonderful film but sadly didn’t see any of the others nominated, hopefully I’ll see the others in due time.

It was a shame Rourke didn’t get the best actor award because his performance was incredible, though I haven’t seen Milk yet so I can’t go on a rant.  Heath Ledger got the Oscar which was inevetable but glad it happened, some might say his win is because he died, he would have won the Oscar if he was still with us today.  Danny Boyle got best director, showing the Americans that us Brits are taking over the world of cinema.  The final note is Man on Wire getting best documentary which is awesome.  I’ve only recently seen the film and it was a masterpiece in recreation.  So there you have all the winners, I hope you agree on the outcomes of most.