The Black Widow

aka Natasha Romanov, as played by Scarlett Johannsson in Iron Man 2. Looking good!!!

Comic-con!!!!!!

If anyone gets any news or pics from this event, the mecca for us geeks, please let me know. To begin with hows about some cool new pics from Iron Man 2!:

Doctor Who News: Preview

From the oficial website, The Eleventh Doctor and Amy Pond!!!

Film News

He's been linked to every comic book movie property under the sun over the years but today it was officially confirmed that Ryan Reynolds (Blade Trinity, X Men Origins: Wolverine, Van Wilder) will be playing D.C's costumed, ring-wielding, intergalactic hero the Green Lantern (presumably Hal Jordan). Great choice methinks. It's fair to say the movie, directed by Martin Campbell (Goldeneye), has me pretty excited, not least due to the inevitable clash of heavy outer space sci-fi with comic book hero action.

Torchwood: Children of Earth - Final Thoughts

SPOILER WARNING: I will be discussing events which occurred so it may not make sense until you've seen the episode and if it does it may blow something you would have preferred to experience first hand, which I recommend. Proceed at your own risk.

So, that was an epic long story. Fortunately it held up brilliantly, there was a danger of collapsing under its own weight and on days 2 and 3 it looked that way but the show as a whole more than pulled off this format change, in style actually. If the show does carry on it might be wise to attempt more of these as it was the best work that it has done in all 3 seasons.
The one thing I'm unsure about is the incredibly horrific parts and bleak darkness, from the aliens use of kids to Frobishers terrible last acts or Jacks murdering his own grandson, describing back the events really doesn't do justice to how horrifying they come across, but the thing is they make damned good drama and do make you feel something so perhaps they were actually too effective!?.
Regarding Jacks decision at the end I was truly upset by it, I think for the reason that this man is irredeemable now as the Dr Who sidekick, travelling hero who simply uses more violent methods and a gun, it is impossible to imagine the Doctor doing something like this in one of his stories for example so its a shame the writers did it to Jack. A nice compromise might have been to have Stephen inherit his grandfather's "Lazarus qualities", an idea which normally I would complain about but was longing for here. As I said before love how it was left though with Jack essentially becoming the Doctor just after the Time War, traumatised and running away.
A lot of people have asked me if this was the last episode and I have to say whilst I really hope not I do think its probably the case, it makes an absolutely cracking final moment for the show and it does seem like Russell T is drawing a line in the sand under these projects now.
Direction, acting etc were all superb and the plot much better than I'd expected with some real horror elements done brilliantly and the best, most menacing villains yet seen in both the 456 and their government "accomplices". A sterling work all round, if you didn't see it I truly do advise picking up the DVD on Mon. In the meantime I'd be really interested to know everyone else's thoughts on the series, please feel free to comment below, I'll probably even respond. Thanks for sticking with it all week and stay tuned for more reviews.

"Haven't travelled far enough yet, got a lot of dirt to shake off my shoes."

:-) ("No don't do that I hate smileys")

Marvel Man Mike

TV Review: Torchwood

Children of Earth, Day 5

SPOILER WARNING: I will be discussing events which occurred so it may not make sense until you've seen the episode and if it does it may blow something you would have preferred to experience first hand, which I recommend. Proceed at your own risk.

Oh My Gosh. Complex, thought provoking, heart breaking, and gut wrenching. A great conclusion to an excellent mini series.

The Good:
- I want to discuss Jacks final decision in the overview tomorrow, suffice to say it was damned affecting and, like it or not, bloody good drama!
- Frobisher and his family's final fate was absolutely bleak (as a lot of this finale was) but totally captivating, at parts the show was too intense, I genuinely found it hard to watch, I'm not sure I could ever view this scene again, horror excellence with no monsters in sight.
- Euros Lyn deserves an award, look at little touches like Lois' eye shot through the cell or the close up of the contact lenses new wearer. Excellence.
- Is this the end of the whole show as a project? Certainly seemed that way, if so a fitting send off, with nice references to past members who have been lost right up to the pilot.
- Jack's new life is an absolutely blinding ending, I don't know if we'll see him again, or should, but I know he does have to wander the cosmos now, there was no other way to validate that character.
- Every conclusion was well executed, plotted and played.
- If sci-fi got BAFTA's this deserves one.

The Not So Good
- If I'm nitpicking the method of defeating the aliens was a bit rushed and convenient but that was unavoidable and was more about the personal cost anyhow.
- As I say, not sure about the darkness and that last choice, have to have some time to let it settle in. When I do the stars rating may have to be reevaluated, its on the cusp.

Apologies for the delay on my promise but I will post a series overview tomorrow when I can devote the time I'd like to it, and it deserves. Until then I leave you with my favourite explanatory, moving quote and the final scores. Phew! It seems like a long week...

"There's one thing I wish I had asked Jack back in the day. I wanted to ask him about this Doctor of his, who swoops in from nowhere and saves the world. Except sometimes he doesn't. I wanted to ask him why? Now I don't need to ask, now I know the answer, sometimes the Doctor must look at this planet and turn away in shame."

Day 5: **** 4/5

Whole show: ***** 5/5

Doctor Who News: Preview

The official BBC website for Doctor Who over at www.bbc.co.uk/doctor who has its first previews of the next special up now. The hour long episode entitled "The Waters of Mars" will air, as they say, "later in the year", but don't be surprised if it's near halloween as it looks like they too are going down the sci-fi horror route...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/s0_07/