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Movie Review: Man of Steel

Henry Tran — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:22:05 -0700

NOTE: While there are only mild spoilers in this review, anyone intending to step into the film with little or no pre-knowledge might want to wait to read!

Now that I have trained myself to look at films with a more critical eye, it's hard to keep from nitpicking movies to death. Adding to that is the baggage this film carries from being the big salute to 75 years of comic book mythology and there are huge expectations coming into Man of Steel. The film has a lot to live up to because the main character is such an iconic figure, and so that could easily be mishandled by all who was involved with its development and production.

The story is plenty familiar to fans, so much so that I debated whether to discuss it at length or briefly in this review, and that leaves only the execution to pull off. Needless to say, I was impressed coming out of the film. I tried finding flaws but ended up with very little. Every aspect was executed with precision and purpose. I think the film will be able to ignite an excitement surrounding a Superman film that has been missing for almost thirty years now.

The film starts on Krypton, and surprisingly stays there for a good amount of time to immerse the audience in the alien origins of Superman. The planet is already doomed to its own destruction and in the middle of that, there is a civil war going on between the forces led by General Zod (Michael Shannon) and scientist Jor-El (Russell Crowe). This is a good place to plant the film for a little while, as it firmly establishes that Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman (Henry Cavill) is not of this world.

This is a theme that continues throughout the film. It's one that may not make Superman a relatable character, but that's not really the point. Superman is an alien sent to Earth with no idea of what his destiny is supposed to be. He has to figure out, by himself, what place he can make in his adopted world. His superhuman attributes may not be relatable to us, but his demons and doubts are quintessentially human. This is key, as the film demonstrates in its non-linear storytelling from the first hour. It's essentially a war of conflicting philosophies: His birth parents see the potential for greatness in him; Kal-El is to be the guiding light for humanity. While his adoptive parents, mostly Pa Jonathan (Kevin Costner), teach him to hide his superhuman abilities for fear of reprisal or that it won't be socially acceptable.

Suffice it to say, Clark doesn't have the best time growing up, nor being a nomad, drifter, and outcast as a young adult. The plot progression of the film is quite smooth in this manner. It's presented as a jumble of inter-connected subplots with little confusion. Part of that is due to Clark Kent's origin story being so familiar in its 75-year history.

Where the film really takes off (no pun intended) is when Clark discovers an alien spacecraft from Krypton buried in a polar ice cap. We meet intrepid reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams) at this point, and a little twist on the Superman mythology is inserted rather well. Lois immediately knows Superman's identity, and traces it back to the Kent farm in Smallville, Kansas. The Lois Lane here has more agency than prior depictions of the character. She's smart and definitely isn't the damsel in distress. She and Superman work in concert together many times and the fact that she knows who he really is means that the romantic element is under-played, at times existing as an afterthought.

At the same time, General Zod escapes imprisonment from the Phantom Zone and arrives on Earth to tell Kal-El to surrender to him or the people of Earth will suffer the consequences. Zod is a much more interesting villain than I initially give him credit for because his motives are much more complex than what is stated. He doesn't oppose Superman so much as bring him into the fold. He gives Kal-El a choice: Defend this adopted world, or join with his own race, which is looking to begin again after being devastated. He does this by force, and has his chief minion Faora-Ul (Antje Traue) often clear the path so that he can do what he wants while on Earth.

Faora-Ul is a terrifying, menacing presence whenever she's onscreen. When the film's action kicks up a notch, she's usually right in the middle of all the fighting. She, along with Lois, are the strongest, most developed female characters in a male-dominated film that marginalizes women (the mother characters of Lara and Martha Kent in particular). In that way, Faora-Ul is much like the Joker from The Dark Knight: You can't take your eyes off her at any time.

Sadly, that isn't true for some of the other bit players like Perry White (Laurence Fishburne), Dr. Emil Hamilton (Richard Schiff), or General Swanwick (Harry Lennix). The Superman universe is so large that the filmmakers can only do what they are able to in the 140 minutes they've been alloted to tell their version of this story.

There is a lot of meat to chew on with Man of Steel. It has a lot of brawn, much of it very kinetic and resulting in wanton destruction of many buildings in Metropolis and Smallville. There's weight behind the action, though. It's almost a requirement for comic book films these days. This film doesn't equal the standard that The Dark Knight started five years ago, but it gives its best shot. The execution went very well, in my opinion. What I really loved was the film's whole-hearted embrace of Superman's alien origins. Prior films about the Man of Steel only focused on his Earth-bound story. Stripped of all the usual tropes like the stumbling and bumbling Clark Kent reporter aspect, or that he has to be in a serious romantic relationship with Lois, there is freedom to go in other directions with the story. It gives the Superman saga a science fiction kind of feel to it, which is rather new.

The film explores humanity's reluctance to cope with the unknown, which is something of a timeless theme. Superman doesn't want to be the savior of humanity, but he is willing to answer the call if the need becomes so great that no one else can do so. In the end, he chooses his adopted homeworld over his native homeworld.

Where the story goes from here, only time will tell. Maybe this is all a little too familiar, packaged in a way that makes it look new, but I'm all for that. This is a great start to the newest version of Superman. I look forward to seeing more of it, both as a fan and a critic.

Flaco's Summer Movie Preview - Part 2

Flaco Jones — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 22:57:13 -0700

Welcome back to our preview of all the big summer movies. For some reason June is a month where the potential blockbusters don???t always hit it big. There is no long holiday weekend like in May and July and there is still competition from the strong May releases. It will be interesting to see if this year can buck that trend.

So here is Part 2, covering North American releases for June. This time I???m including trailers for all the films, so I won???t be touching on the plots in my analysis.

June 7

The Purge

Getting pushed back a week into the month of June is probably a good thing for The Purge, since the week it was originally scheduled for was much more competitive. Still, a horror movie in June is a tough sell. At least it???s setting up for a Halloween video release, which could provide a second chance to be a hit.

The Internship

Yes, it???s ???The Google Movie??? from the guys that starred in The Wedding Crashers. This June is certainly shaping up to be comedy heavy, and I???m a big fan of comedy done right, but this doesn???t look like a movie to me, just a long Google commercial.

Much Ado About Nothing

I???ve only previewed major studio releases so far, so why is this black & white, limited release movie on the list? Whedon, that???s why. It seems the true king of the nerds decided to take a very small bit of his Avengers paycheck and blow it on adapting Shakespeare for the modern era but this time with many of the Joss Whedon All-Star Actors in tow. I don???t know what he really brings to the project, since it appears that he???s keeping the Shakespearian dialogue intact, but the idea is a fun combination of different levels of geekiness.

June 12

This is the End

Comedy June continues with this odd addition that features a ton of comic actors, many of whom first gained recognition years ago in Judd Apatow???s cult TV shows Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared. They are all playing fictionalized versions of themselves and it???s based on a short film star/co-director/co-writer Seth Rogen made six years ago. I used to be a bigger fan of these guys and their movies, but the quality has dropped off lately. I???ll still give it a try, but this has the potential to be very hit or miss.

June 14

Man of Steel

Warner Brothers is really hoping this Superman reboot is the one that does the trick and that non-Batman based DC movies can actually take off like the Marvel films did. I like director Zack Snyder a lot, Sucker Punch aside, and I think he???s the perfect filmmaker for the job. If he can truly bring Superman into the modern age, something Superman Returns director Bryan Singer seemed to be actively opposed to, then I think this movie is going to be a huge hit. I can???t wait to see it.

June 21

Monsters University

Pixar???s track record has been a bit tarnished the past few years. Brave wasn???t bad, but it seemed more Disney at heart than Pixar and lets not even get into Cars 2. So here???s another sequel, although technically it???s a prequel, and I???m sure it will make money since Pixar movies always do. However, if it continues the downward trend away from quality storytelling for ALL AGES that Pixar used to be famous for, then they might just become yet another kiddie animation house like every other studio has under their belt.

World War Z

Fans of the book have made it clear after watching the trailers, that this film isn???t faithful at all to Max Brooks??? popular novel. So now the question is, will it hold up as its own zombie movie? It will be interesting to see if turning against the fans of the book hurts the box office or if focusing on Brad Pitt???s character saving the world (and his family) from zombies is what the mainstream movie going audience prefers.

June 28

White House Down

Disaster movie veteran Roland Emmerich is blowing up the White House again, but it is unfortunately not a sequel to Independence Day. No, this is just a generic action vehicle for stars Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx. This movie is also coming out just a few months after the similarly plotted Olympus Has Fallen, so it has to do a lot of things right to become a big hit.

The Heat

This final entry into the June Summer Comedy Festival 2013 actually looks pretty funny. The film brings two elements from the surprise summer hit Bridesmaids back: director Paul Feig (another veteran of Freaks and Geeks) and Oscar nominee Melissa McCarthy, and teams them with Oscar winner Sandra Bullock in a sendup of buddy cop movies. Not exactly Hot Fuzz for the ladies, but the trailer did make me laugh a few times more than I am willing to admit.

Come back for Part 3 in July where there won???t be as much comedy but there will be more ridiculous Johnny Depp outfits, more claws (and less singing) from Hugh Jackman, and of course GIANT ROBOTS FIGHTING GIANT MONSTERS. Can you tell I???m excited about a certain movie next month?

That does it for June. Now it???s your turn to rank your interest in each movie below. If I left off some cool indie release you want to mention, bring it up in the comments section and we can discuss it there.

E3 2013 Interactive Coverage at the Voice of Geeks Network

Bobby Blackwolf — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 18:22:58 -0700

We don't want to be the FIRST place you go to find the latest E3 news and scoops...We want to be the SECOND.

Have you ever read a preview at a large gaming site about a game you're excited about, and you have a question that wasn't answered? Have the quick overviews left you wanting to know more specific details, but were missed because the reporter had to move to another appointment?

Have you ever wished you could ask those questions yourself?

Now you can - at E3.VOGNetwork.com!

We'll admit it - we don't have the capability to be the all-encompassing news source that provides up-to-the-minute coverage of a large trade show like E3, so we won't try to do that. What we CAN do is be the FOLLOWUP to those other sites doing the all-encompassing coverage. Bobby Blackwolf will be on the E3 show floor and will be connected to VOG and will be at your command to ask whatever followup question or clarification you may have.

We can't guarantee answers - sometimes there will be no comment, sometimes we might not be able to find someone who knows the answer...But, we'll try.

THE CATCH: We're your second source for the news, not the first. This means that it's up to you to do some initial research. We're on the show floor with limited connectivity, you're sitting at home on your computer. You'll have to determine which booth the game you're asking about is in (use Google!), find that booth on our site, and ask your question attached to that booth. If your question is good or great, you'll get Points and Loot here at VOG! (If it sucks, you get nothing.)

You don't have to log into the site to read the updates, but you DO have to be a Registered Participant to be able to interact with the other users as well as Bobby Blackwolf on the show floor! The ability to interact will begin following the Sony Press Conference on Monday evening and will continue until an hour before the close of the show floor on Thursday.

Start your E3 experience at E3.VOGNetwork.com now!

Game Review: Dust: An Elysian Tail

Mike Ibarra — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 17:16:35 -0700

Starting from being a simple indie title, it caught the attention of Microsoft back in 2009???s Dream.Play.Build challenge and stayed in development for over 3 years. That was until it's release as one of Xbox???s Summer of Arcade titles, the showcase for major indie titles throughout each year. And now it has made its way to Steam for people to enjoy on the PC. Designed and programmed by only one person, this game looks promising. But is it truly worth the hype or will it bite the dust?

What is this game about?

Basically you are this soldier who has lost his memory about who he is and what is his purpose in life. You start out the game fighting against a bunch of enemies in a mini-tutorial showing you what buttons to use. After that, you are in the forest alone until you are woken up by a magical mystical sword called Ahrah and also its guardian, a little foxbat called Fidget. And so your journey to find out who you are starts, also you will find out the truth about your past.

Yeah, the premise can sound funny or weird but as the game progresses, the story gets more and more interesting. Even if it is as clich??d and predictable as it can get, it truly sucks you in and gets you wondering what happens next. In summary, the storytelling is really good.

The voice actors in this game are really great too; even Fidget (this game???s ???Navi???) is really adorable and likeable. Some of the interactions between the characters are really great and it is pretty entertaining to hear, whether they are serious conversations or just funny remarks about something.

How do you play this?

Dust is a 2D Hack and Slash/Beat???em Up platformer, so it is really easy to pick up and play. Of course you can play this game in two ways, smash the buttons and kill all the enemies to advance to the next area or do combos along with Ahrah???s Tornado ability and Fidget???s magical powers (there???s even a piece of conversation where both your companions tell you this); the game pretty much encourages you to do the latter since they help you to take on enemies a little more easily, there are even achievements for high number of consecutive hits. But you also have to be careful and not overuse the Tornado ability since it can hurt you back if you do.

On PC, you have the option of using 3 set of controls: Keyboard, Keyboard and Mouse and Controller. The keyboard controls are your standard for PC gaming. You use WASD for movement on your left hand, while you have the rest of the movements on the right side of the keyboard. And the space bar for jumping by using your thumbs. It feels natural but a little bit clunky. The Keyboard and Mouse combo on the other hand feels better for those without a wired controller; you use the keyboard for movement while you use the mouse buttons to unleash your attacks. Props to development team for thinking of this. But of course, this game is better played with a controller in mind since this was originally an XBLA title. You can also customize your controls however you like. So if you don???t like the default setting, you can change it to what suits you the most.

This game also has RPG elements. You gain experience for each enemy you defeat and level up and gain more stats for Dust or Fidget. It is not as expansive as other game, it is pretty basic stuff. You gain other abilities and more stats as you find items and the Ability Orbs. You can also craft items to make Dust stronger.

Also, there is a lot to explore and lots to do in the world of Falana. One of the main points of Dust is that it is ???Metroidvania??? style of game and there is lots of secret loot scattered throughout each region in the game. You do not have to explore everything, you can pretty much beat the main story and be fine, but again it is encouraged by the game itself to complete all the areas and find every little secret and treasure in them. There are also special areas where you must beat them in a certain time and get more points and compete to have the highest score in the leaderboard.

As for the difficulty in the game, you have four sets of difficulty, starting from Easy (a.k.a. Bobby Blackwolf mode) to Hardcore. Easy and Normal are suitable for people who are new to the genre and do not want to hassle with enemies that much, but Hard and Hardcore are really difficult. You???ll find yourself repeating the same areas over and over, especially if you are still not strong enough, because the enemies spawn a lot more and actually deal more damage than in the easier difficulties. It can get frustrating but challenging as well. You will have to strategize you attacks and use the combos and abilities wisely.

What other things can you expect from this game?

The graphics are amazing! It is one of the best looking indie games out there. The character designs may turn some people off because of the ???Furry??? design, but even then those look really great. Every single detail of this game looks so good; it will keep you in awe throughout all of it. The music is also really great, it really captures every moment in the game so well. From action packed songs to really calmed and soothing ones.

The PC/Steam version is pretty much a straight forward port of the XBLA version. It does offer your traditional graphical settings and customization and nothing is lost in comparison. In fact, the PC version offers you 1080p resolution, while the XBLA version runs on 720p. Unfortunately, there is nothing more for those who already bought the game on their 360, other than prettier graphics.

What is the final verdict?

Dust: An Elysian Tail is probably one of the best indie tiles ever released. Developer Humble Hearts and designer/programmer Dean Dodril truly made this game into something really worth purchasing.

There are really just a few things that bother me in this game and they are minor flaws that do not interfere with the game play. The combat system, while repetitive, is fun and the exploration and side-quests in the game will keep you entertained for quite a while.

Dust is a must have for every Xbox 360 owner or Steam user out there. So go ahead and give it a least a try, you will find yourself liking the game right from the start and never want to let the controller go.

Price: 1200 MSP on Xbox 360; 14.99usd on Steam
Acquisition Method: Purchased

Book Review: Fringe: The Zodiac Paradox by Christa Faust

John Keegan — Thu, 30 May 2013 06:56:50 -0700

When I first heard that the end of Fringe was going to be followed by a trilogy of prequel novels, I was quite excited. While the series itself delved into a lot of the history behind the events depicted in the complicated mythology of the Bishops and Olivia Dunham, there were still plenty of stories to tell. Prequels felt like the right way to go, if only because peeling back the layers of character histories felt more promising than a conventional ???case of the week???.

My first impression of this novel is that it???s not what I was expecting. From the perspective of a prequel, it definitely delivers on that promise. This is the story of Walter Bishop and William Bell???s first experience with alternate dimensions, and how they were set on the path of the cortexiphan trials in Jacksonville. Beyond that, the story is a bit far afield.

To be fair, there???s no reason why it should have been any different. It???s been well established that Walter and ???Belly??? were heavily into psychotropic drug research, and had no issue whatsoever conducting that research personally. The story logically takes place in the late 1960s and early 1970s, so the notion that Walter and Belly would be deep within the drug-fueled counter-culture is also in keeping with the established character beats.

What???s jarring is the intersection of those elements and the crossover of another universe???s Zodiac Killer. It???s fairly clear that the Fringe Prime universe is not the same as ours, so the details don???t have to line up completely, but it feels like the author couldn???t figure out how to make psychedelic research into human psychic abilities interesting without injecting a serial killer into the mix. As a result, it takes some time for the reader to reconcile all of the pieces of the puzzle as something that should fit into the Fringe mythos.

That said, the Zodiac elements, especially the connection that is made between him and ???the boys???, adds an undeniable tension to the plot, and thus a reason for the experimentation to continue without appropriate caution. When Nina Sharp is brought into the story, things take a new angle as she and Belly forge an unusual bond.

Yet there are still some nagging inconsistencies that bothered me. Walter???s character arc is a huge part of the series; it???s well established that during the years before it all fell apart, Walter was often amoral in his scientific approach. That was fostered by Bell???s own semi-sociopathic tendencies, but in this novel, Walter is the constant voice of caution and reason, overridden by Bell and Nina as they clinically use whatever resources are at their disposal to stop the Zodiac Killer. One might be tempted to say that Peter???s eventual death changed him, but the cortexiphan trials on children in Jacksonville started before that.

A large part of the story depends on the notion that Walter and Belly discovered a precursor to cortexiphan, which based on a psychic resonance between individuals, could allow them to open a portal to another universe. All well and good, since it was established that Olivia Dunham???s ability to do the same thing was initially fostered by her relationship to Peter Bishop. But therein lies the problem: that ability to cross universes was supposed to be something special about Olivia! Why, then, is it possible for so many gateways to form in this novel? (Granted, one could argue stability of the portals as a distinction, but it???s still a bit of an inconsistency.)

It???s hard to say if this is the fault of the author or not; apparently she worked directly with some of the show???s writers to get details that were never shown or directly explored on-screen. Since she is also writing the other two books in this prequel trilogy, it???s possible that some of the questions (especially those involving Olivia???s abilities) might be covered in the next volume. Based on what I???ve seen so far, I???m willing to wait and see; I doubt Olivia???s story will be tied to something quite so overtly designed to draw in casual interest.

As a final note, I was personally disappointed in how short and ???shallow??? the book was. For all that it delved into plenty of different areas (and even had time for Walter to hang out with Violet Sedan Chair), it didn???t have the depth that I was anticipating. Media tie-in novels aren???t particularly famous for their density, but there are plenty of examples of tie-in novels that approach their topics with weight and immerse the reader in the worlds created. This novel didn???t quite do that, and as a result, it reads like a relatively mediocre Fringe episode.

Released: May 2013
Price: $6.39 (Kindle version)
Acquisition method: Amazon.com

Top Ten Cult Comedies

Flaco Jones — Wed, 29 May 2013 07:16:44 -0700

Here on VOG there is a definite focus on the sci-fi and fantasy genres in film. And why shouldn't there be? It's the geek bread and butter after all. But I wanted to shift the spotlight a bit, and focus on what I believe to be the most difficult genre to pull off and have universal appeal: the comedy. What???s great about comedies though is they can take place in any setting, be it a fantasy world, outer space, or even a convenience store.

For this list, I'm going to specifically focus on cult comedies. A few of these films were box office hits, many found life on home video, but they all attracted a cult following of die-hard fans and most, if not all of them, can be seen as midnight movies somewhere in the country. I also wanted to focus on intentional comedies. Unintentional comedies could form a list all their own with Showgirls and The Room fighting for the top slot.

I had to whittle the list down to my ten favorites and you the VOG readers will have a chance to rank them as well. I avoided repeating filmmakers' other movies, but you can definitely add your voice in the comments below as to why I should have picked one cult comedy over another from the same filmmaker.

#10 Spaceballs

A man ahead of his time, Mel Brooks took on the Star Wars franchise in 1987 with his trademark parody treatment. He made fun of the ridiculously huge ships (and helmets), the mystical force-like powers of "The Schwartz" and guys who hang out with giant hairy sidekicks while rescuing princesses. The movie was not received well by critics, probably for its silly sophomoric humor but compare it to most parody films that come out these days, and I think those critics would all gladly re-watch Spaceballs instead.

#9 This Is Spinal Tap

The mockumentary that started it all back in 1984. Not only does this movie have a cult following all its own, but it also spawned more films featuring the same actors, such as Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show, but without director Rob Reiner returning. I feel like this movie also went a long way to inspire many of the documentary style TV shows that have been big hits with that style such as The Office (UK & US) and Modern Family. Nothing beats that tiny Stonehenge though.

#8 Wet Hot American Summer

This 2001 satire comedy directed by The State???s David Wain and starring a slew of future comedy all-stars barely screened at theaters, a massive failure both commercially and critically. However as the years went by, the cult status of the film grew, culminating in tenth anniversary celebrations and midnight screenings across the country. All this new buzz coupled with the rise to stardom of the many people involved and there may be a sequel in the works. I have a feeling it won???t compare to the original.

#7 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Debuting in 2010, it's one of the latest entries into the cult canon. Despite being a box office flop, it has garnered a large cult following. Just go to any convention and you will see multiple versions of Scott and Ramona running around. Sure it didn't get the good reviews and box office success (in relation to the budget) of director Edgar Wright's other films Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz, but I think its unique vision of a world where video game rules are a reality vaults it slightly above those great parody films.

#6 Office Space

The mother of all workplace comedies from animator turned live action film director Mike Judge is another of those quotable classics. And like many films on the list, it too found its audience on home video after its poor theatrical release in 1999. I actually like Judge's Idiocracy a little more, but Office Space is just a better put together film, and I'm pretty sure it has many more followers so it gets the spot on this list.

#5 Army of Darkness

While I don't think it's the best movie in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead Trilogy, it's the only one that???s a comedy by design. Most of the horror is pushed aside for gags, and it still works. Since he???s not constrained to a tiny cabin in the woods, Bruce Campbell's Ash gets more to do, and thus more to work with, in this 1992 movie that truly cemented his status as a cult icon.

#4 Clerks

Clerks is gritty and dirty but, most appropriately, funny. It's quotable as long as you don't mind being a potty mouth and it launched the career of Kevin Smith and was at the forefront of a boom of 90's independent filmmaking when it was released in 1994. I may have watched this movie once a month during my high school years. Does it still hold up? Maybe not as well as it should have, but I still remember it for what it was: a groundbreaking film about nothing really. Just guys hanging out and talking, yet it???s still one of the funniest films I???ve ever seen.

#3 Clue

You wouldn???t think that adapting a board game to film would work, and if big screen adaptations continue to end up like the recent Battleship film then you???re probably correct. But in 1985 this Jonathan Lynn film debuted with a script by John Landis and featured a stellar comic cast lead by Tim Curry. I think going the comedy route really helped give this film a longevity it wouldn???t have had as a more straightforward adaptation. Plus the addition of all the ending scenes to the home video release helped elevate the film beyond its so-so box office performance.

#2 Monty Python and the Holy Grail

In 1975 the popular British comedy group released their first feature film consisting of entirely new material. While it still is technically a series of sketches, the Holy Grail plotline ties everything together in a very cohesive way as it transitions from one sketch to the next. The other Python films were good, but in my opinion this one was the best, from all the classic quotable dialogue to even the animation by director Terry Gilliam.

#1 The Big Lebowski

I know this is probably a controversial pick, but I have watched this 1998 Coen Brothers movie more than any other, and I still laugh every time. And as a cult film it really has spawned a huge following. There is Lebowski Fest, a travelling festival dedicated to all things Lebowski, Big Lebowski parties at bowling allies and even special 4/20 screenings in theaters across the country every year. All this from a film that followed up one of the Coen???s biggest critical and commercial successes in Fargo. I feel like instead of caving to the pressure to follow up a classic like that with something similar, they instead decided to just have fun and make the movie they wanted to make, creating an entirely different type of classic in the process.

Those are my picks, now it???s your turn. Rank these ten movies in the order you think they should have been ranked. If I left out something notable, let me know in the comments and I???ll explain why I left it off the list or simply hang my head in shame if I truly forgot.

Card Game Corner: Game Overview - Android Netrunner

Degenerate Johnny — Sun, 26 May 2013 14:36:29 -0700

It was my sixth turn, and my mind was going a thousand miles an hour. My opponent was playing as NBN (a corporation) and I was playing as Gabriel Santiago (a criminal runner). During the last turn, my opponent placed two advancement tokens on an installed card (which was faced down) in one of his remote servers. Each advancement token costed my opponent an action. He decided to use his third and final action for the turn by placing a fifth piece of ICE (server protection, also faced down) on that server. Throughout the game, I managed to steal three agendas from my opponent, which gave me a total of six agenda points. However, my opponent managed to score five agenda points by advancing and scoring his agendas. All I needed to win the game was one more agenda point while my opponent needed two. I found myself staring at the advanced card as well as the newly installed piece of ICE. My programs can easily break through his two walls, and two code gates on that server (that???s how I managed to steal the last agenda). However, I had no programs to break through a sentry, and I was afraid that was exactly what my opponent installed as his fifth piece of ICE. Since my opponent was guarding his hand and deck with sentries, I could not make runs on them. Therefore, this server was my only option for a run. With the extra protection and two advancement tokens, it had to be an agenda. I could not allow him to score it (gaining a probable two agenda points), and possibly win the game.

I decided to take a chance and draw a card as my first action. I was hoping to draw a sentry breaker program so I could make a run on any server. However, I did not draw a sentry breaker; I drew something better. What I drew was a card called Inside Job, which allowed me to make a run and bypass the first piece of ICE. This meant I could disregard my opponent???s mystery piece of ICE, and break through his other pieces of ICE to access the advanced card. I used my second action to play Inside Job, and make the run. I had enough credits to boost up the strength of my programs and break through my opponent???s four pieces of ICE. This allowed me to finally access his advanced card. My opponent smirked and flipped the card over. It was not an agenda; it was an asset called Project Junebug. He proceeded to spend one credit to activate the asset???s ability, which caused the card to do two net damage to me for each advancement token on it. This meant I had to discard four cards from my hand. Unfortunately, I only had three cards in my hand. Because the damage exceeded my hand size, I ???flatlined??? and lost the game. My opponent and I shook hands in a show of respect for a good game. ???Well played, I was convinced that was an agenda,??? I said to my opponent. My opponent responded, ???That was the idea.??? He flipped the fifth piece of ICE over to reveal that it was a wall that could have easily been broken. In retrospect, I would have reconsidered my run if I encountered that wall to begin with. The strategy of having a fifth piece ICE I can break through would mean that my opponent had an ambush waiting for me. This is only one of thousands of scenarios you can encounter when playing Android Netrunner. It???s a game about strategy, risk taking, and deception.

Netrunner???s History

For those who don???t remember or were not part of the card game scene at the time, Netrunner was originally a??collectible??card game (CCG) that was developed by Richard Garfield (the creator of Magic: The Gathering). The game was eventually published by Wizards of the Coast during the mid-90???s. It was based on a role-playing game called Cyberpunk 2020, which was the second edition of the original ???Cyberpunk??? or Cyberpunk 2013 (wait does that mean we are living in a cyberpunk age right now?). It was a game that involved each player to take on the role of either as a runner (hacker) or a mega-corporation in an epic battle for supremacy. Although Netrunner was a moderate success, it didn???t achieve the same amount of players as Richard???s more popular creation did. I can tell you personally that one of the reasons was because of its over-complicated rule system. Back in those days, it took two weeks??? worth of devoted study for veteran players like me to get a full understanding of the rules. Unfortunately, not many were willing to devote that amount of time for a card game. Therefore, the amount of new players began to shrink, and it was only a matter of time before this game would face its end. By 2000, Wizards of the Coast ceased production of the game, and official tournaments also ceased. Netrunner was officially dead??? or was it?

Even after being discontinued, Netrunner retained a strong cult following of players who shared the same passion for the game. Stores still ran unofficial tournaments for devoted players, and programmers were setting up sites and software for players to enjoy the game online. After seeing that there was still a viable market for the game throughout this entire time, Fantasy Flight decided to pick up Netrunner and revitalize it. By inputting some minor adjustments, Fantasy Flight re-released Netrunner as a living card game (LCG) called Android Netrunner. It was premiered at GenCon 2012, and has yet to slow down. It has achieved a great deal of popularity throughout the card gaming community, but it isn???t as widely known as Magic yet.

What is it?

Android Netrunner is an LCG version of the original Netrunner CCG that takes place in the setting of Android. You are probably saying to yourself, ???Wait, what? First it was a CCG, now it???s an LCG? What???s the difference? Also you mentioned that Netrunner was based on the Cyberpunk RPG. What???s this Android???? OK, I understand your confusion. No worries, I???ll explain.

LCG vs. CCG

I???ll give you a brief overview of the differences between customizable card games, and living card games. A CCG is a game that contains starter decks of predetermined cards with rules to start you off in the game. Eventually, you???ll want to play more competitively, so you???re going to have to get better cards for you deck. This is accomplished through purchasing booster packs (pack of random cards), trading with other players/stores, and purchasing single cards from card game retailers. The problem with CCGs is that you don???t have all the available cards at your disposal for each set. The game is comprised of ultra-rare, rare, uncommon, and common cards. The rarer the card is, the more expensive it will be to obtain it. For this reason, many have called CCGs ???rich player??? games. Honestly, I don???t agree with that term, but I can understand the barrier of entry for those who are a little strapped for cash. CCGs may be expensive to some, but it offers balance to players with the help of a vast library of cards in each new set.

An LCG is a game that gives you all the game???s cards at your disposal with a purchase of one core set. However, the game becomes competitive with expansion packs that are usually released on a monthly basis. Unlike the randomization of booster packs from CCGs, everyone will be getting the same cards with the purchase of an expansion pack. This allows more players to compete effectively according to their play style without the fear of emptying their wallets for specific cards. Unfortunately, this means that not many (if any) retailers will have specific LCG cards available for sale (no profit if something that has no rarity). Most likely players will need to purchase a second, third, or even a fourth core set (depending on the game) if they wish to have multiples of certain cards in an effort to play competitively to their play styles. This may cause the game to be semi-pricey, but not as bank breaking as CCGs. Also the purchase of more core sets will give players more multiples of cards than they know what to do with (which could be a bad thing for unprepared players). Fortunately, expansion packs offer enough multiples of each card so that everyone can stay competitive with the purchase of just one pack. This is why it???s called a ???living card game???; it creates a living atmosphere for players to develop new strategies that become unique as more packs are released.??

What is Android?

Android is the setting for many of Fantasy Flight???s cyberpunk board games and novels. It takes place in a not-so-distant future where Earth has colonized the Moon and Mars. Mega-corporations have more power than governments, and cyber-hackers are running wild. Heck, there???s even a space elevator. Wait a second, is this Eureka 7 (it???s an anime)? It seems that Fantasy Flight wanted to integrate the Netrunner franchise with one of its newer and already established properties, rather than sticking with a role-playing game from the early 90s. Honestly, this new setting is not so different than that of the original game. As a matter of fact, it seems to be a little more involved (just my humble opinion).
??

Plot

The plot behind Android Netrunner is that four mega-corporations are at war with three factions of hackers in a race to collect critical data. Each corporation monopolizes a particular industry. ??One such company is called Haas Bioroid. This organization is the world leader in A.I. and cybernetic technologies (they aim to replace normal humans). However, HB has a rival company known as Jinteki. This organization specializes in biotechnology and cloning (they want to replace original humans?). Of course we cannot forget the media, and there is no bigger media presence than NBN. This organization controls the net with state-of-the-art monitoring programs and satellite tracking systems (in other words: Big Brother). Finally the fourth company is the Weyland Consortium, ???Building Better Worlds??? (sorry, I couldn???t resist). This shadowy organization is responsible for the space elevator that they call ???Jack???s Beanstalk??? to increase trading and commercial progression at an exponential rate (basically they want to rule the economic world).

As was said before, the mega-corporations are banding together to combat three runner factions. Each faction has its own agenda and specialized methods to hack into corporate servers to steal data. One faction is built up on hate for not only the corporations, but society in general. These hackers don???t care who pays the price. They just want to do as much damage as possible through the use of viruses and corrupt programs. Why? Because they can. These hackers are known as the Anarchs (some people just want to watch the world burn). Another faction of hackers is only in it for the money and personal gain. They???re basically the lone wolves who don???t care about anybody but themselves. Through the use of backdoor hacks and cyber-warfare, the Criminals are ready for anything that can turn a profit (makes sense). Finally the third faction of hackers is actually less aggressive than the other two. However, don???t let that fool you. These hackers are probably to be feared the most. They mod programs and consoles beyond their limits, and they build their rigs so that no security system can ever hope to stop them. These are the Shapers, and the art of hacking is their passion (think of Angelina Jolie???s character in the movie, Hackers). ?? ?? ??

How do we play?

I???ll give you a brief description of the rules; the rulebook goes into great detail on how the game is played. Fantasy Flight made some minor changes to the game to make it easier for new players to play. Firstly, you pick two identities (one runner, one corporation). Then you build one deck for each identity (each competitive match requires you to play as the runner for one game and corporate for the other game). The game begins with the corporation starting first. Each side is given a set number of ???clicks??? (3 for the corp., 4 for the runner), which are spent in order to take certain actions throughout his/her turn. These actions range from drawing cards, gain money, installing cards, making runs, and advancing cards (actions vary between sides). Once one player uses all of his/her clicks, that player???s turn is over (the clicks will be replenished at the start of that player???s next turn). Each competitor goes back and forth until a winner is determined.??

How do we win?

Each side can win a game if one of two outcomes occurs.

The Runners wins:

??? If he/she manages to score 7 agenda points by making successful runs and stealing agendas from corporate servers (deck, hand, discard pile, and remote servers).
??? If the corporation has to draw one or more cards from his/her draw deck that???s depleted.

The Corporation wins:

??? If it manages to score 7 agenda points by advancing and eventually scoring agendas from its remote servers.
??? If the runner ???flatlines??? (damage is done to the runner that exceeds his/her current hand size).

Tips

Corporations:

??? Diversify your ICE: Pieces of ICE are the guardians that stand between the runner and the contents of your servers. Therefore, various pieces of ICE can catch runners off guard, and stall their actions.
??? Utilize decoy tactics: Never underestimate the power of bluffing. By making runners think that you???re protecting something valuable, you can set up those runners for traps (useful tactic in game-winning situations).
??? Enhance your economy: The more money (credits) you have at your disposal, the more options you have on the table.
??? Slow your opponent: Tagging an opponent will make him/her rethink his/her tactics, and fear certain cards that may or may not be in your deck. Either way you have the advantage.

Runners:

??? Run, Run, Run: Make runs frequently, and methodically. Forcing opponents to raise defenses, and spend money will place him/her on the defensive.
??? Prepare for the unexpected: Does he/she have a Scorched Earth? Should I take the tag or not? Prepare yourself, and make sure that your next run is not your last.
??? Conserve your credits: Big runs require big money. Make sure you have enough and more to break down your opponent???s defenses.
??? Undermine your opponent: Use cards that can make your opponent???s assets (Assets and ICE) become liabilities. This will cause them to second-guess their actions.

Last Impressions

After playing several games of Android Netrunner, I have realized that there isn???t much of a difference between the original game and this one. The gameplay is just about the same, and Fantasy Flight has done a pretty decent job recapturing the original feeling of the game. This is both good and bad. It???s good that the game has maintained the nature of the original. However, the rules are still incredibly complicated. Even though I was already familiar with the original rules of the game, I still needed to refresh on the complexity of the game. This means that new players will have a steep learning curve if they wish to participate. Fortunately, Fantasy Flight does a nice job of explaining the rules so players can jump into the game (much better than the original rulebook).

?? ??Throughout my experience, I noticed that not a single deck was alike. Each deck I played against offered a variety of challenges and surprises. This means that players can customize their decks to whatever way that makes them comfortable. However, competitive play requires players to purchase more than one core set. Even I had to purchase two core sets in order to construct a competitive deck. This can prove to be a little bit pricey to players. Therefore, I would suggest players to observe the game being played before they make a decision to purchase a core set. One must consider the entertainment value of the game before he/she decides to commit. Before getting into the game, I would suggest watching the tutorial video below. It will give a quick overview of the rules, and what you can expect to encounter when playing the game. Good luck to you all.

We???ll see you around the corner!

2013 Network Upfronts: John's Final Picks

John Keegan — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:00:41 -0700

Now that all of the upfronts have concluded, and the initial fall schedules have been revealed (there are always last minute changes), I'm ready to make my picks for what I intend to be watching when the fall season begins. Here's my night-by-night breakdown!

MONDAY

8-8:30PM

How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
It may be long in the tooth, but it's still one of my favorite sitcoms currently on the air. How could I miss the final season with Barney?

9-10PM

Sleepy Hollow (FOX)
This show sounds too crazy to miss, and if it turns out even half as well as the producers hope, it ought to be worth the time. Besides, I've liked more of Abrams' slew of genre shows than I've disliked.

ALSO:

This is also currently the night that Syfy loves to run a lot of their original dramas and licensed Canadian content, so much of the season, I will likely DVR the network shows and focus on Syfy's lineup.

TUESDAY

8-9PM

Agents of SHIELD (ABC)

This could end up a disappointment, but I sincerely doubt it. This could be the most anticipated show of the season across the board, but it's definitely at the top of my list!

The Originals (CW)

It's likely to be DVR fare, when up against the rest of the Tuesday night lineup, but I am intrigued enough to see if this spinoff can improve as quickly as The Vampire Diaries did.

9-10PM

Supernatural (CW)

I've been a fan of this show from the very start, and I am completely on board with whatever Jeremy Carver and the rest of the writing staff wants to bring us in the ninth season. I don't think there's a genre show that has been able to make it this far without series-killing compromises.

9:30-10PM

The New Girl (FOX)

This is a staple of our DVR already, and will continue to be. The only way this show could be more awesome is if Jennifer Lawrence joined the cast as Jess' cousin or something...

10-11PM

Person of Interest (CBS)

The show keeps getting better and better, it seems, and I am happy as can be that Sarah Shahi is joining the cast as a regular! Tuesday is now the biggest genre night of the week, and the best thing is, each show in each hour has its own unique flavor.

ALSO:

USA Network likes to run a lot of its shows on Tuesday nights, with Covert Affairs topping our list these days.

WEDNESDAY

8-9PM

Arrow (CW)

Definitely one of the best new shows of the past season, I'm looking forward to where the writers can take things when the series resumes in the fall!

9-10PM

The Tomorrow People (CW)

I have no idea if this is going to be a show worth watching, but with Supernatural now on Tuesdays, it's worth taking a look. And as I said in my CW upfront rundown, the Mark Pellegrino factor cannot be overstated.

ALSO:

I've pretty much given up on it, but for those who still care, Revolution will be on NBC in the 8-9PM timeslot.

THURSDAY

8-9PM

The Vampire Diaries (CW)

The fourth season finale did everything that I wanted it to do, and with the enormous number of supporting players now reducing thanks to The Originals, the show will hopefully find a renewed sense of focus.

ALSO:

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (ABC) could prove to be interesting, though its parent show has been wildly inconsistent. And this is the other night that USA Network tends to run original programming, so that's always a potential addition later in the evening.

FRIDAY

9-10PM

Grimm (NBC)

This show has improved each season, and I am excited to see how things evolve in the third season.

ALSO:

Syfy sometimes runs original programs in the 10-11PM timeslot (notably: Haven), and this is one of the better nights for cable networks like Starz. But anyone else remember when Friday nights were perfect for genre fans?

SATURDAY

The major networks have all but abandoned Saturday night, but cable networks haven't; BBC America likes to run British imports (think Doctor Who) and its emerging slate of originals (notably Orphan Black) on the night. I fully intend to keep an eye on their programming when the fall comes around!

SUNDAY

8-9PM

Once Upon a Time (ABC)

It's not nearly as good as it should be, but it has just enough going for it to keep me tuning in. How long that will continue to be the case is entirely up to the writers.

ALSO:

The Amazing Race (CBS) is the only reality show in the fall that I have any interest in seeing. But the real action is on the cable networks: HBO, Showtime, AMC, and plenty of others run their most popular shows on Sunday nights, usually from 9PM onward. And with a lot of genre programming on Mondays and Tuesdays in the fall, it will become necessary to watch things live-ish on Sundays just to keep up!

*********

Those are my picks for the fall season...quite a bit more than I was expecting! What are your picks? Anything you think should be on our list? Let us know in the comments!

2013 Network Upfronts: CW

John Keegan — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:33:40 -0700

Despite its reputation for focusing on teen drama, however deserved that might be, The CW has also been a remarkably loyal friend to genre fans. ??This upcoming season is heavily stacked with genre shows, and while some of them are not quite my cup of tea, there is a nice variety. ??The fall promises to have a mixture of returning favorites and new blood.

MONDAY

8-9PM Hart of Dixie (Returning)
I know next to nothing about this show, but I think it???s interesting how CW seems to devote Monday nights to the young adult romance set, pretty consistently. ??It???s not bad in terms of counter-programming against reality TV and Syfy???s Monday night block, and at least they get the non-genre material out of the way!

9-10PM Beauty and the Beast (Returning)
I was a bit surprised when this show was renewed, because it had been on the proverbial bubble for so long. ??I???ve heard that it???s not bad, as remakes go, but the cast does nothing at all for me, and there are more interesting possibilities on Monday nights.

TUESDAY

8-9PM The Originals (NEW)
The oft-mentioned spinoff for The Vampire Diaries, I question the logic of having this run on a different night, especially against one of the most potent genre premieres in recent memory. ??Not only that, but the backdoor pilot that ran recently was less than awe-inspiring. ??Even if the writing improves dramatically, I get the feeling CW is going to have to be very patient with this one.

9-10PM Supernatural (Returning)
I???m actually rather annoyed that they broke up the potent Arrow/Supernatural block on Wednesday nights, because there???s a lot more genre material on Tuesdays in the fall than Wednesdays at this point. ??Then again, Supernatural is a steady performer for CW, and it is neatly sandwiched between Agents of SHIELD and Person of Interest. ??It should do fine.

WEDNESDAY

8-9PM Arrow (Returning)
Arrow was the lead-in for the night this past season, so its solid ratings are unlikely to take a hit. ??If anything, CW is probably hoping that it can give a good lead-in for the new show that follows. ??But I still think they missed an opportunity to maintain consistency in their scheduling.

9-10PM The Tomorrow People (NEW)
I???m very curious to see if this slice of nostalgia is going to survive an attempt at a remake. ??The original ran for a while in the UK, but it was cheesy even back then, and certainly hasn???t aged well. ??Will the creators go for the cheese factor with a nod and a wink, or will they go the way of the Battlestar Galactica reboot and darken things up? ??And it has Mark Pellegrino, so it could be worth a look.

THURSDAY

8-9PM The Vampire Diaries (Returning)
Another steady show for CW, despite some creative stumbling in the past couple seasons, this is gaining even more ground as the show to start Thursdays off for genre fans. ??If you???re not already hooked, go back to the beginning and catch up. ??This is not Twilight.

9-10PM Reign (NEW)
I???m not sure why this is paired with The Vampire Diaries, given that it is a period romp focusing on Mary, Queen of Scots as a young woman, cavorting through France with her four lusty ladies-in-waiting. ??I imagine lots of corsets, accents, and skin, but after the racy cable offerings of The Tudors and The Borgias, this is likely to feel tame by comparison.

FRIDAY

8-9PM The Carrie Diaries (Returning)
Congrats, The Carrie Diaries. ??Your reward for barely squeaking through a renewal is exile to Friday night. ??Don???t get comfortable in the new digs.

9-10PM America???s Next Top Model (Returning)
This show is still around? ??I???m sure there???s an audience looking forward to this, but I get the feeling CW is more or less conceding Friday nights at this point.

MID-SEASON/EXTRAS

Nikita (Unscheduled)
The show that continues to fight cancelation to the death, Nikita will conclude with a six-episode run at some point in the next season. ??I would be upset, but I???m still stuck in the middle of the second season, so there???s plenty more Lyndsey Fonseca left on my plate!

Star-Crossed (Unscheduled)
Essentially Alien Nation meets Roswell, it???s a story about a bond between a young human girl and the alien boy who she helped rescue a decade earlier when a spacecraft crashed on Earth. ??Now they are at the same high school, where the aliens??? presence is extremely controversial and public. ??Could be interesting if done right, but it sounds very familiar now that Defiance is on the air.

The 100 (Unscheduled)
Now this looks interesting. ??A century after Earth is ravaged by nuclear war, the descendants of those who survived in the space stations around Earth want to see if the planet is inhabitable and if humans can repopulate. ??What better way than to send 100 young delinquents to the surface? ??It could go very wrong, but the cast is promising, and this could get very dark, very quickly.

Famous in 12 (Unscheduled)
A reality show in which an ???ordinary??? family attempts to become famous in 12 weeks, in partnership with TMZ. ??Yeah, I???ll definitely be skipping this one.

WHAT WE DON???T SEE

90210 came to an end this past season, and so the attempt to revive the FOX megahits of the late 80s has come to a thankful close. ??Cult also failed to live up to its title, which is no surprise.

The real shock is the absence of The Selection, a project that had a lot of buzz during the pilot season. ??Effectively a riff on The Hunger Games, this show could have capitalized on the release of Catching Fire in the fall. ??Apparently scripting woes kept this one from ever coming together, though it???s likely that there were many other issues, given how often pilot scripts strive for mediocrity.

THE BOTTOM LINE

By my count, of the ten shows premiering in the fall, six of them are genre-related. ??On top of that, all of the scripted mid-season shows have a genre element to them, so it???s closer to nine out of fourteen. ??Even if some of those shows are questionable in terms of predicted quality, that???s an amazing percentage. ??It also means that genre fans will continue to see The CW as the most reliable major network when it comes to the fall season.

2013 Network Upfronts: CBS

John Keegan — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:06:50 -0700

In many ways, CBS is the least exciting network during upfronts week. Why? Because CBS is pretty much sticking to what has worked incredible well for them, and just shuffling the deck with new comedies to attempt a few in-roads here and there. Even so, there are a couple surprises, so it???s not as if the schedule isn???t changing at all!

MONDAY

8-8:30PM How I Met Your Mother (Returning)
This is the final season for the legen-waitforit-dary sitcom, and for some, the end couldn???t come soon enough. I???ve mentioned before that comedies have a half-life, and How I Met Your Mother is definitely on the downhill slope to the close. At least the writers know that it will be the last season, and can stage things accordingly.

8:30-9PM We Are Men (NEW)
Single men in an apartment complex discuss and debate the foibles of their love lives. Not exactly ground-breaking.

9-9:30PM 2 Broke Girls (Returning)
I???ve given this show a chance now and then, if only because I generally find the two leads mildly attractive. It???s too bad that the writing is so terrible.

9:30-10PM Mom (NEW)
The latest Chuck Lorre comedy has an amazing cast list, but I???m not sure that it???s going to be enough to get me past a somewhat tired premise.

10-11PM Hostages (NEW)
A ???high-octane??? thriller from Jerry Bruckheimer starring Toni Colette, and the only new drama premiering in the fall. It???s supposedly all about a conspiracy theory, which makes me wonder just how long the audience is going to be patient with all the unbelievable twists and turns. This is a serialized limited series, however, so that might mean better, tighter plotting.

TUESDAY

8-9PM NCIS (Returning)
This would be one of those reliable mainstays for CBS. It???s shocking how strong this show remains in the ratings. I was an early fan, but over the many seasons, I became tired of the apparent lack of character development. But clearly a lot of people are still invested in the show.

9-10PM NCIS: Los Angeles (Returning)
Not surprisingly, the NCIS spinoff is also getting fine numbers, and thus the Tuesday night block isn???t going anywhere. But there is a surprising change in the wind???

10-11PM Person of Interest (Returning)
Person of Interest gets ridiculously good and very stable ratings, so while it may be like putting all the good eggs in one basket, CBS is set to crush the competition on Tuesdays. (Agents of SHIELD notwithstanding.) This is one of my favorite network shows right now, with an excellent cast and solid writing and production values, and the fact that it is clearly a genre show doesn???t seem to be holding it back. Those still looking for the next Abrams hit may have overlooked this gem.

WEDNESDAY

8-9PM Survivor (Returning)
It???s hardly fresh, and the rating have dropped over the years, but one of the first reality hits of the century continues to churn along as a reliable part of CBS??? portfolio. For me, it reaffirms my hope that CW continues with its Arrow/Supernatural block.

9-10PM Criminal Minds (Returning)
I dislike this show quite a bit, because its early years went for shock value over substance, blending excessive gore with outright misogyny to lure in viewers. I have no idea if those trends have continued, but the promos make it seem that way.

10-11PM CSI (Returning)
Another of the CBS staples. The spinoffs may have come and gone, but the original never seems to die, even if just about everyone finally acknowledges that the ???science??? is complete nonsense. My understanding is that the writers finally started to add some character development to the mix, but what little I???ve seen of CSI gave me little reason to come back.

THURSDAY

8-8:30PM Big Bang Theory (Returning)
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with this show, and the whole ???comedy half-life??? thing certainly also applies here. I have no idea how much longer they can keep going with this show, and it bothers me when they have supposed uber-geeks outwardly admit that they are lame or otherwise deserving of ridicule.

8:30-9PM ???The Millers??? (NEW)
I???m not even going to try to figure out how to explain the premise without referring to a million other sitcoms over the years, but suffice to say, it???s a Will Arnett vehicle. If you enjoy his brand of humor, you might like this.

9-9:30PM The Crazy Ones (NEW)
Robin Williams. Sarah Michelle Gellar. David E. Kelley. This could either be a work of brilliance or the most epic train wreck in recent sitcom history.

9:30-10PM Two and a Half Men (Returning)
Is this the final season? Can it finally be the final season?

10-11PM Elementary (Returning)
If Person of Interest is the big winner of the scheduling shuffle, capping off an already powerful night with a solid lead-in, Elementary got the short end of the deal. After all that nurturing and creative improvement this season, why in the world would they shove this at the end of an attempted comedy block?

FRIDAY

8-9PM Undercover Boss (Returning)
The dearth of Friday night material means that I occasionally tune in to this show. I still can???t decide if it???s the most blatant pro-CEO propaganda campaign ever conceived, or a genuine but misguided attempt at crossing the worker/executive divide. What I do wonder is how the co-workers of those who benefit feel when they learn what they might have gained, had they been lucky enough. (I suspect, based on how reality TV works, that the employees are hand-picked beforehand, even if they are unaware of it.)

9-10PM Hawaii-Five-O (Returning)
Ouch. I know the ratings haven???t been nearly as good as in previous seasons, but did they really earn the Friday Night Death Slot?

10-11PM Blue Bloods (Returning)
I assume that this show survives because older viewers that no longer go out on Friday nights tune in for Tom Selleck and the ???old school??? nature of the show. What little I???ve seen in passing has never drawn me in.

SUNDAY

8-9PM The Amazing Race (Returning)
Easily the best reality show on the major networks, from my perspective, because even when it slides into typical team conflict, it???s all balanced out with amazing visuals from around the world, tongue-in-cheek commentary on the cluelessness of many Americans when it comes to geography, and inventive challenges.

9-10PM The Good Wife (Returning)
Yet another powerhouse in the CBS stable, this is a genuinely good show (most of the time, anyway). I???m not at all surprised to see Sunday night???s lineup exactly where we left it.

10-11PM The Mentalist (Returning)
I have no idea what the ratings are like for this show, but I???m impressed that it survived the move to late Sunday, especially when it???s a time of night when a lot of folks are checking their DVRs for all the cable shows that just ended or just started.

MID-SEASON/EXTRAS

???Intelligence??? (Mondays)
Hitting the air after Hostages is done its run, this is a Josh Holloway vehicle about a spy with a microprocessor chip in his brain, allowing him access to the Internet and networked resources at all times. I don???t know about anyone else, but I really want to know how he continues to operate with all those cat pictures and free porn running around his head???

???Reckless??? (Unscheduled)
Billed as a ???sultry legal drama???, a hot Yankee lawyer teams up with an experienced Old South attorney in Charleston. I can???t imagine how this will end well.

???Friends with Better Lives??? (Unscheduled)
A rom-com with a fairly interesting cast, including a few genre veterans of yesteryear, exploring the differences between married, divorced, engaged, and single folk. Sounds rather familiar.

WHAT WE DON???T SEE

Mike and Molly was apparently renewed, but isn???t on the schedule; it???s simply listed as ???mid-season???, which makes me think that it???s on deck, pending the potential flame-out of one of the new comedies. After all, there???s always that one show, every season, that either never makes it to air or runs one episode before offending the entire universe or gaining record low ratings.

Some were wondering if Rules of Engagement would continue to survive, regardless of how terrible its ratings had become, given that CBS still ran new episodes, even on Saturday nights! The reason for bringing this up is that it has given CBS a strategy for failing comedies; they actually have reserved Saturday nights for ???showcasing??? comedies, which can serve a number of purposes: encores, pre-emption rescheduling, or burnoffs.

THE BOTTOM LINE

CBS didn???t shake things up too much, but what they did do could have two very different outcomes for their former Thursday night genre block. Person of Interest will likely continue to dominate, and might even gain viewers sticking around from the NCIS block. Elementary, on the other hand, has a lot to overcome, as it loses its ultra-popular lead-in and has to depend on a questionable comedy block. Otherwise, beyond a couple of high-concept limited series, CBS is staying their tried and true course.

2013 Network Upfronts: ABC

John Keegan — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:23:50 -0700

It???s no secret that ABC has been trying to find a way to regain the prominence that came with Lost, and has met with limited success. ??This might be the season when they have another such hit on their hands. ??Everyone knows that they have picked up Agents of SHIELD, the television tie-in to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, by virtue of their connection to Disney. ??And of course, Once Upon a Time is a thinly-veiled riff on familiar Disney archetypes. ??But is that all they have in their favor in the 2013-2014 season?

MONDAY

8-10PM ???Dancing with the Stars??? (Returning)
Almost as if they are colluding with NBC to make Monday a huge reality block, ABC has put Dancing with the Stars at the top of the order for a while now. ??If nothing else, it makes jumping over to Syfy???s Monday night programming a lot more attractive, and opens ??the door to FOX as well.

10-11PM ???Castle??? (Returning)
Another staple of the ABC Monday night lineup, Castle continues to roll, which makes fans of Nathan Fillion happy, if nothing else! ??I???m not a regular viewer of the show, as it???s not my cup of narrative tea, but it does have its devoted fans.

TUESDAY

8-9PM ???Agents of SHIELD??? (NEW)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is killing box office records left and right. ??If this show doesn???t have a massive initial viewership, I???ll be floored. ??And with Joss Whedon and his hand-picked producers in charge, this could hit the ground running and never look back. ??Easily at the very top of my most-anticipated for the fall!

9-9:30PM ???The Goldbergs??? (NEW)
Of course, the problem for ABC is that there???s little else on the schedule to put as a logical follow-up. ??This is a comedy set in the 80s, brought to us by Adam Sandler???s production company. ??If it can tap into the same quirky level of humor that Whedon is likely to bring to Agents of SHIELD, then this might be a wise combo. ??But I have my doubts.

9:30-10PM ???Trophy Wife??? (NEW)
Despite the familiar sitcom trappings, I actually find this intriguing, if only because of the cast. ??Bradley Whitford normally hits it right out of the park. ??I might give it a chance at some point, but in first run, it will have stiff competition from The New Girl.

10-11PM ???Lucky 7??? (NEW)
And here we are with the high-concept series. ??A group of 7 people in an office lottery pool hit it big, and the series will follow their stories in the aftermath. ??I have a hard time generating any interest in this, even with Spielberg as a producer. ??A lot of the shows he???s backed in recent years have been underwhelming, to say the least.

WEDNESDAY

8-8:30PM ???The Middle??? (Returning)
I know next to nothing about the full ABC sitcom lineup, so I can???t speak to this show at all. ??But I???m sure fans are pleased to know that it is returning.

8:30-9PM ???Back in the Game??? (NEW)
A sitcom about a former softball talent that gets roped into coaching a local team while living with her famous dad. ??Not my thing, and even more so when the cast includes one of my least favorite cast members from the British version of Being Human. ??Next!

9-9:30PM ???Modern Family??? (Returning)
Even the best comedies have a certain half-life, and I???m beginning to think that Modern Family is rapidly approaching its own point of irreparable decline. ??For now, though, I???m still enjoying it quite a bit.

9:30-10PM ???Super Fun Night??? (NEW)
No, it???s not an American version of a Japanese game show, so that???s one strike right there. ??I know some people love Rebel Wilson, but even though I liked her enough in Pitch Perfect, I have no desire to watch a sitcom built around her.

10-11PM ???Nashville??? (Returning)
I don???t care if Hayden Panettiere looks super-hot in those promos and ads. ??Two things stand against this show for me, right from the start. ??One, it???s a soap opera, and doesn???t pretend to be otherwise, and two, it???s soaked in country music. ??Let???s just say the second one far outweighs everything else, and leave it at that!

THURSDAY

8-9PM ???Once Upon a Time in Wonderland??? (NEW)
I find this a bit confusing. ??My understanding was that Once Upon a Time???s split season would mean that this spinoff would air in its place during the hiatus period, thus creating a roughly continuous Sunday night presence for the franchise. ??That???s apparently not the case, which suggests that the original short-season intent for this series has taken on a longer view. ??With the quality of writing for Once Upon a Time taking a lot of hits this past season, with an erosion of ratings over the same period, I question if doubling down on the franchise is the wisest move.

9-10PM ???Grey???s Anatomy??? (Returning)
The spinoff may have ended, but the original remains strong on the schedule. ??This one is getting the split-season treatment, like so many shows on the networks these days, which has also become an odd vote of confidence on the part of the networks. ??For better or worse, that???s how programming is done these days.

10-11PM ???Scandal??? (Returning)
Much like Grey???s Anatomy, I know practically nothing about this show, and I???m perfectly happy to live with that ignorance. ??But the show does have its fans, so I???m happy that they get more of what they enjoy. ??I suspect I???ll be paying attention to CBS and CW on this night, anyway!

FRIDAY

8-8:30PM ???Last Man Standing??? (Returning)
It???s not a good sign when I see the title of a returning show and assume it???s new, because I???ve literally never heard of it. ??It???s apparently a Tim Allen sitcom, which probably explains my ignorance.

8:30-9PM ???The Neighbors??? (Returning)
The same applies to this sitcom, which is apparently the one about a secret community of space aliens hiding in New Jersey. ??As if those of us in New Jersey would even recognize the difference.

9-10PM ???Shark Tank??? (Returning)
Some kind of business-based reality show. ??It???s probably obvious that I don???t pay any attention to ABC on Friday nights, and haven???t for quite some time???

10-11PM ???20/20??? (Returning)
I will admit, though, to tuning in to this occasionally, whenever they are featuring something I find intriguing. ??Granted, it???s not very often at all, but at least I???ve heard of 20/20!

SUNDAY

8-9PM ???Once Upon a Time??? (Returning)
This show is just barely keeping its head above the water, from a narrative point of view, to justify interest in where the story might be going. ??I still don???t understand the notion of a full-fledged spinoff (a limited series sounded like a reasonable alternative), and I???m wary that all the potential of the second season finale will be squandered shortly after the third season starts. ??But there???s just enough here to bring me back, especially since the cable networks don???t really bring out the big guns until the next hour!

9-10PM ???Revenge??? (Returning)
This show is ridiculously popular among its fans, but I???ve never really been able to get into it. ??But as I just mentioned above, this is when the cable networks typically run their best material, so I wouldn???t be tuning in to ABC, anyway.

10-11PM ???Betrayal??? (NEW)
Seeing this title, I thought perhaps this was a spinoff of Revenge, but apparently not. ??It sounds a lot more like a standard soap opera, perhaps designed to use Revenge as a lead-in, just as scheduled. ??It has some interesting names on the cast, but not enough to overcome my apathy towards the subject matter.

MID-SEASON/EXTRAS

???Killer Women??? (Unscheduled)
A period drama about Texas Rangers starring Tricia Helfer and with a ton of other familiar genre names attached. ??On the one hand, I???m not much for this sort of show. ??On the other hand, that is one intriguing cast list!

???Mind Games??? (Unscheduled)
Christian Slater wants to have a hit high-concept series more than anything, it seems, because I swear he gives it a go each and every year. ??This one is about solving crimes involving psychological manipulation. ??This one is from Kyle Killen, too, and his shows tend to be critically acclaimed but ratings-challenged.

???Resurrection??? (Unscheduled)
This one is a strange egg. ??A boy wakes up in a field, and appears to be the resurrected son of a couple, who lost that son decades earlier. ??And apparently he???s not the only one who is supposed to return. ??Not quite a zombie thriller, this could go in a lot of really terrible directions.

???Mixology??? (Unscheduled)
A sitcom about assorted singles who frequent a high-end Manhattan bar. ??Hard to imagine this didn???t get an instant pickup.

???The Quest??? (Unscheduled)
OK, fellow geeks, get ready to hear this one. ??Imagine if The Amazing Race took place in a mocked-up version of some generic MMO; that???s essentially what this show is. ??And it???s not running on Syfy, as one would logically expect. ??I have no idea how this is going to work without the general public mocking every little thing about it, since it???s basically Competitive LARPing. ??I may have to check this out, just to be ready for the inevitable snark.

???Suburgatory??? (Unscheduled)
Fans will be happy to know that the show has survived, but it doesn???t show up in a timeslot yet, so it???s anyone???s guess where it will end up. ??It has some good cast members and Jane Levy is gorgeous, so I don???t mind.

???The Taste??? (Unscheduled)
This is apparently a returning reality cooking competition show, which news to me.

WHAT WE DON???T SEE

I know a few people who liked Happy Endings, but it was canceled, which isn???t much of a shock, when the ratings are taken into account. ??Most of the other canceled shows were non-starters, with the writing on the wall fairly early into their runs.

THE BOTTOM LINE

ABC has a potential instant-hit on their hands with Agents of SHIELD, and it???s clear that they intend to capitalize on Once Upon a Time for as long as possible, while the ratings are still better than a lot of other network offerings. ??But a lot of their other shows are mostly appealing to their specific audiences, and comedies tend to be very hit or miss. ??All that said, ABC may have the most diverse schedule out there.

2013 Network Upfronts: FOX

John Keegan — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:33:27 -0700

FOX has attempted to regain the favor of genre fans after the Firefly debacle, even to the point of renewing Dollhouse for its second season not so long ago, openly declaring that it was out of fear of fan backlash. They did right by Fringe, letting it live long after the ratings became an issue, yet FOX remains the favorite target of angry genre fans, largely because of how many genre shows have come and gone over the past decade. Where do they stand coming into the next season?

MONDAY

8-9PM ???Bones??? (Returning)

This series is getting a bit long in the tooth, even for devoted fans, but it???s also a reliable staple for FOX to use as a lead-in for new shows.

9-10PM ???Sleepy Hollow??? (NEW)

Ichabod Crane is brought into the future, where the Headless Horsemen is on a rampage, apparently heralding the apocalypse. The only hope for humanity is Crane???s ability to solve a mystery going back to the American Revolution. This one is by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, the writers that have brought some big films with questionable plot mechanics to the big screen over the past several years, so who knows what to expect from this?

TUESDAY

8-8:30PM ???Dads??? (NEW)

A comedy brought to us by Seth McFarlane and starring Seth Green and Giovanni Ribisi, I almost think the premise doesn???t actually matter. Those are enough reasons to give it a look. I would rather it led right into The New Girl, though, since I get the feeling it???s on a similar wavelength.

8:30-9PM ???Brooklyn Nine-Nine??? (NEW)

Those looking for an Andre Braugher fix after the unkind fate of Last Resort might want to see if this fares better. A wacky comedy about the hijinks of everyone working a police station; sounds a bit like Cops meets The Office.

9-9:30PM ???The New Girl??? (Returning)

One of the most reliable comedies on the air right now (at least from my perspective), The New Girl has evolved into a solid show that depends less and less on Zooey D???s adorkable personality.

9:30-10PM ???The Mindy Project??? (Returning)

This has been something of a breakout for FOX this season, so it???s no surprise it is returning. What is a bit shocking is that FOX might have slowly but surely built a solid comedy block for Tuesday nights, enough to challenge the competition on what is becoming a bit of a reality-show wasteland.

WEDNESDAY

8-10PM ???The X-Factor??? (Returning)

Speaking of reality-show wastelands, FOX continues its policy of juggling The X-Factor and American Idol to ensure that one of them dominates Wednesday nights. Genre fans will hopefully continue to have Arrow and Supernatural to give them a necessary alternative.

THURSDAY

8-9PM ???The X-Factor: Results Show??? (Returning)

There???s a reason why this is a popular timeslot for trying out new shows on other networks.

9-10PM ???Glee??? (Returning)

Glee is hardly the phenomenon that it used to be, yet it still has enough buzz to justify keeping it on the schedule. FOX is implementing a split-season format (not unlike what cable shows do more and more often), which should mean that mind-numbing story arcs will end more quickly. Those of us forced to experience this show should only hope.

FRIDAY

8-9PM ???Junior Masterchef??? (NEW)

I don???t even know where to start. Then again, the idea of Gordon Ramsey launching into an expletive-filled rant at kids and teenagers is oddly entertaining.

9-10PM ???Sleepy Hollow: Encores??? (NEW)

Yes, you read that right. They officially have this timeslot open for reruns. That might tell you what a complete disaster Touch was this season; FOX has more confidence in reruns that what that show would have delivered. (And if I were running a mid-season show on the network, I???d feel even less confident!)

SUNDAY

8-8:30PM ???The Simpsons??? (Returning)

FOX continues to flog the dead horse, or rather, the ground where the remains of the horse used to be, now that it???s long since turned to dust.

8:30-9PM ???Bob???s Burgers??? (Returning)

I???ll be honest and admit that I have no idea what this show is about, because there are far too many genre offerings on Sunday nights for me to pay attention to the FOX animation block.

9-9:30PM ???Family Guy??? (Returning)

Still churning since its unlikely resurrection, Family Guy doesn???t quite have the buzz it used to, but I suppose the fans keep tuning in enough to keep it on the air.

9:30-10PM ???American Dad??? (Returning)

I???m always surprised to see this show still on the schedule. I never had the sense that it gained enough of a following to remain viable.

MID-SEASON/EXTRAS

???Almost Human??? (Mondays)

From JJ Abrams and starring Karl Urban and Michael Ealy, this is essentially a riff on the classic Isaac Asimov Robot novels, with a troubled human detective partnered with a robot. Anyone with memories of those novels will understand how this could definitely work, and a lot of ex-Fringe folks are involved, so that lends weight to the production. Still, there???s a reason why some genre fans are wary; this could easily devolve into silliness.

???The Following??? (Mondays)

This brutal Kevin Bacon vehicle got enough of a cult following to stay on the air, which should make its fans happy.

???American Idol??? (Wednesdays/Thursdays)

Yes, it???s still on. No, I have no idea why.

???Rake??? (Thursdays)

Greg Kinnear stars in this remake of a hit Australian show, playing a character named Keegan. For some reason, I???m wondering if this is somehow ???Critical Myth: The TV Series???. Whatever the case, this has a surprisingly solid cast and is run by the creator of the original, so it could be worth a look. Even if I would understandably find it confusing.

???Raising Hope??? (Fridays)

This comedy has been tapped for mid-season to help lead-in to another new comedy. I still find it odd that they aren???t doing this in the fall.

???Enlisted??? (Fridays)

A comedy about three brothers on an army base in Florida. I suspect our reaction to this will be wondering how Keith David fell so low.

???Murder Police??? (Unscheduled)

This is an animated comedy series, which perhaps makes the title less bizarre. The premise is fairly obvious: a crazy homicide department.

???Surviving Jack??? (Unscheduled)

Based on a book called ???I Suck At Girls???. Set in the 90???s, it???s about a family dealing with teenage issues. Finally, a fresh idea for a comedy!

???Us and Them??? (Unscheduled)

A show about young lovers who have to deal with the weirdness of those around them. A fairly interesting cast, but the premise doesn???t sound overly promising, as it is a remake of the British show Gavin and Stacey, which will cause gritting of teeth long before it airs.

???Wayward Pines??? (Unscheduled)

This ought to get an interesting reception. Essentially, this is Twin Peaks as presented by M. Night Shyamalan. An agent comes to a town where people can come in, but never seem to be able to leave or communicate with the outside world. It???s being billed as an ???event series???.

???24: Live Another Day??? (Unscheduled)

The massive shock that was such a big win for FOX that it received its own press release and media event. Instead of a film, 24 gets to come back as a 12-episode mini-series, in which each episode encompasses two hours of the usual 24-hour time period. The return of Jack Bauer in what ought to be a tighter narrative format is an exciting prospect; the news that Howard Gordon will be overseeing the writing, not so much. But it does promise to provide a ???ninth season??? for 24, which hopefully will give the saga a more fulfilling ending, since it???s now clear that a film is unlikely to ever happen. (Though, to be fair, if this is the success they believe it will be, it???s likely the first of many such 24 mini-series.)

WHAT WE DON???T SEE

FOX is already projecting out into the summer of 2014. 24 will kick off sometime in May, and Wayward Pines will follow it, bridging into the 2014-2015 season. During that time, another show called Gang Related will also air, which makes it very clear that FOX is looking to use these shows to revive the notion of year-round programming viability.

What it also means is that we don???t see all the pieces that may be in the FOX portfolio. A few shows were canceled, obviously, but some shows may not even be announced until later in the year.

THE BOTTOM LINE

FOX is still offering quite a few genre shows with potential, and the return of 24 is definitely interesting. It???s even more interesting that they are deferring it until after the traditional season. Sleepy Hollow and Almost Human look interesting enough to sample, unless one is not a fan of Abrams and his stable of writers/producers.

2013 Network Upfronts: NBC

John Keegan — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:38:06 -0700

Of all the major networks, NBC has seen the most turmoil in recent years. In fact, NBC has become the butt of many a joke, given how they have struggled in the ratings. Most of the major networks would have to admit that basic cable networks are producing hits that challenge their prominence, but when shows on The CW get better ratings than some NBC shows that they consider vital to their future success, it???s telling.

As a result, every season is important for NBC, because they just don???t have much room to maneuver or gamble. That???s the context for looking at what NBC has announced for the 2013 fall season and beyond:

MONDAY

8-10PM ???The Voice??? (Returning)

This has been a staple of Monday nights for NBC in recent seasons, and there was no reason to think that would change. NBC sees this as their version of American Idol, a show that can provide a strong lead-in for shows with potential to gain an audience.

10-11PM ???The Blacklist??? (NEW)

The Blacklist, based on its premise, appears to be a high-concept thriller in the vein of Homeland, but handled on the network level: a former criminal works with a rookie FBI agent to investigate those on his ???blacklist???, teaching her to ???think like a criminal??? along a way. Not my personal cup of tea, but it stars James Spader, so his fans will likely be interested.

TUESDAY

8-9PM ???The Biggest Loser??? (Returning)

Another reality staple for NBC, this is definitely not something on my watch list.

9-10PM ???The Voice??? (Returning)

Same comments as for the Monday night version; but I do note that this is another season where NBC has two-hour reality blocks to start of the week.

10-11PM ???Chicago Fire??? (Returning)

It???s pretty clear that Chicago Fire has been moved to this slot in the hopes of nurturing it towards a bigger audience. But I???m a bit disappointed that Grimm isn???t going to be getting the benefit of this timeslot next season.

WEDNESDAY

8-9PM ???Revolution??? (returning)

There are two surprising things about this decision. First, that the show is even coming back; the much-anticipated Abrams/Kripke collaboration has been one of the deepest genre disappointments in quite some time. But the bigger issue is that it puts a weak genre contender up against some stiff competition, if CW keeps its current Arrow/Supernatural block intact. This might take it out of competition with Syfy???s Monday night block, but I doubt many genre fans are going to choose Revolution over Arrow!

9-10PM ???Law and Order: SVU??? (Returning)

The Law and Order franchise is something of a dying breed, and its decline is one of the reasons why NBC is scrambling. This is the kind of scheduling that drives the armchair quarterbacks insane. Is the audience for this show anything like the one for Revolution?

10-11PM ???Ironside??? (NEW)

Ironside is at least a logical follow-up to a legal procedural. This remake of a classic police procedural stars Blair Underwood as the wheelchair-bound detective. A quick glance at the production staff doesn???t reveal any huge standout names, so I imagine this is pitched more to the seasoned viewers who have fond memories of the reruns of the original series. It rounds out what is a rather strange Wednesday night for NBC.

THURSDAY

8-8:30PM ???Parks and Recreation??? (Returning)

This comedy has plenty of fans, and while I???m not big on sitcoms, this seems like the kind of show I might eventually mainline. It???s also a bit of a lone familiar face for NBC on the night.

8:30-9PM ???Welcome to the Family??? (NEW)

A comedy about Caucasian and Latino families that must learn to live together when their high-school graduate children are expecting a baby. I???m sure that NBC is chasing after the kind of balance that Modern Family often achieves in terms of broad-based culture-clash humor, but this has the potential to be a semi-racist disaster.

9-9:30PM ???Sean Saves the World??? (NEW)

Remember this guy from Will and Grace? Well, he has his own show now. He plays a single gay dad trying to juggle parenting a teenager with increased job responsibilities. I suppose it???s nice that this comedy block is embracing diversity, but I have a bad feeling about this one, too.

9:30-10PM ???The Michael J. Fox Show??? (NEW)

I wonder if this is NCB trying to keep Fox from guesting so often on The Good Wife! The premise for this is just bizarre. Fox plays a news anchor named Mike who left the business when diagnosed with Parkinson???s, but now he???s been brought back by an old producer friend, and they have to deal with the wacky hilarity that ensues. All rather meta, to say the least, and I???m not sure if this sounds promising or vaguely disturbing.

10-11PM ???Parenthood??? (Returning)

For all the new shows hitting the air on this night, it seems like NBC is sticking to a family-centric theme. I???m sure there???s a comfortable audience for all of this material, but genre fans are going to be paying attention to other channels on this night.

FRIDAY

8-9PM ???Dateline NBC??? (Returning)

Because no network would be the same without a ???news magazine??? on Friday night.

9-10PM ???Grimm??? (Returning)

Grimm has found its place in the genre world, especially since it stopped running against Supernatural and more people got to see how it has become the spiritual successor to Angel. NBC played more than a few games with the show???s scheduling this past season, and yet the ratings remained steady. I imagine the idea is that Grimm can maintain at least some ratings presence on Friday and serve as a reliable lead-in.

10-11PM ???Dracula??? (NEW)

It???s easy to see that NBC is trying to build a Friday night genre block, especially since CW moved theirs last season and Syfy has all but abandoned Friday night at this point. Tapping talents from The Tudors and Merlin is a nice touch, so it???s all going to come down to execution.

SUNDAY

8-11PM ???Sunday Night Football??? (Returning)

About as reliable a Sunday night staple as any network can wish for, this is a no-brainer. Football fans will tune in, everyone else will be looking at their favorite Sunday night cable shows, and deciding what (if anything) on the networks could fill in any gaps.

MID-SEASON/EXTRAS

???The Family Guide??? (Tuesdays)

Apparently a comedy about divorce, with voiceover narration by Jason Bateman. Bateman is also a producer. Take that for what you will.

???About a Boy??? (Tuesdays)

The television adaptation of the recent film, this is a Jason Katims-produced show with a lot of those involved with the film helping out. If you liked the film, you might like the show, I suppose.

???Crossbones??? (Fridays)

When Dracula finishes up on Friday nights (either by ratings or design), another high-concept series will take its place. Crossbones is a show about Blackbeard, as played by John Malkovich. This could either be inspired or a complete disaster.

???American Dream Builders??? (Sundays)

Because we all needed another version of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition?

???Believe??? (Sundays)

This is a strange show about a young girl with massive paranormal abilities, driven by Alfonso Cuaron and JJ Abrams. I???m a fan of both, and I???m not even sure what to think of this one. It could be what Touch wanted to be, or it could be another Alcatraz or Revolution. Needless to say, I???ll be checking it out, based on the talent behind the production.

???Crisis??? (Sundays)

A thriller in which the children of prominent politicians, business folk, and other powerful elites are kidnapped and held ransom, and what these people will do to see their children safety returned. It has an interesting cast (notably Gillian Anderson), but beyond that, it???s hard to know if this high-concept show is going to gain any ground.

???Undatable??? (Unscheduled)

A comedy about a slacker who takes it upon himself to teach his new roommate???s friends about his rules of dating. Call it a derivative male-led version of The New Girl, and you might be close.

???Chicago PD??? (Unscheduled)

A Dick Wolf crime drama that is exactly what it sounds like it would be. It???s interesting that this isn???t even on the announced schedule, which might say more about Dick Wolf???s pull (or lack thereof) than the quality of the concept.

???The Night Shift??? (Unscheduled)

A medical drama that is only really notable for a cast filled with several genre veterans from the past decade, many of which haven???t been heard from in a while.

WHAT WE DON???T SEE

It was renewed, so where is Community on the schedule? It???s not even mentioned in the official press release! And while there is still supposedly no firm decision at the time of writing, fans of Hannibal have to be dishearted by the lack of mention of that show. Those who were worried that it would be the Awake of this season may be all too correct.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Genre fans might look to NBC on Friday nights, where the reliable Grimm holds court, but otherwise, it is slim pickings. The mid-season schedule has a lot more genre material to offer, but even in this era in which the fall season is less and less important, I???m not sure what to think about shows like Believe or Crossbones. With Revolution doing very little creatively to give genre fans a reason to keep tuning in, NBC will likely continue to be a rare destination.

Game Review: Metro: Last Light (PC)

LOKI — Mon, 13 May 2013 09:46:48 -0700

I have to be honest, before being allowed to review Metro: Last Light, I had really no clue what the series was about. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised and disappointed that I discovered this series earlier. Metro: Last Light picks up directly after the events of Metro 2033, although fans of the book series might be interested to know that the story deviates almost completely from Metro 2034. Once again you play as Artyom, who has been tasked to track down a "Dark One" survivor, the last of his kind. But during his pursuit he is hunted by all sorts of horrors including man and mutants.

Taking in the Sights

While playing through the game, one thing that kept standing out to me was the great detail 4A Games went to bring the world of the Metro alive. Each of the stations of the Metro have a distinct look and life to them, from the artisans of the Theater, to the waterways of Venice. In between those stations are some seriously creepy, and dark tunnels. Not only will you contend with enemy soldiers, but mutants, and visions of the dead. Even with all of this detail the game ran smoothly on my aging gaming laptop. Granted, I wasn't able to crank the graphic settings up beyond LOW, but it still looked fantastic and the frame-rate was pretty solid throughout the game. The only hiccup that I had experienced was during the final battle which caused my frame rate to drop quite a bit. Although, I suspect that is more to do with my older laptop, and less with the game, but it's worth mentioning.

How Does It Play?

The game follows up sensory candy with solid gameplay. The AI never feels dumb and will try to seek you out and flank you. While you can charge into combat guns ablaze, the level design encourages stealth. You can shut off or break light sources to sneak by or perform stealth kills or knock outs. You'll find a variety of weapons for sale from vendors at the stations or on the corpses of your enemies, although I stuck with almost the same 3 guns the entire playthrough. I never really felt the need to purchase or pick up different weapons since the weapons I chose fit my play style. Even though they can be fitted with different modifications, I do wish there was more interesting designs for the weapons.

Keep 'em Coming Back For More

The playthrough through the story took me about 9 and 1/2 hours, and I earned about a 1/3rd of the achievements in the process. But Metro: Last Light does offer up some great challenges including Ranger Mode, which increases the difficulty without cheapening the gameplay with bullet sponge enemies, and removes the rest of the already limited hud. The only downside is unlike the original Metro 2033, this mode is not included by default with the game and instead is being offered as part of the Limited Edition launch version or a separate $5 DLC purchase. That is a little disappointing. Beyond that there is an pacifism achievement, Shadow Ranger, which challenges you to complete the game without killing any humans, which sounds incredibly difficult.

The Verdict

Overall, I enjoyed my stay in the Metro. The game reminds me a lot of another FPS series with a great story that I'm quite fond of, Bioshock. Metro: Last Light shares a lot of the positives from that series, including the compelling story and characters, detailed locales, and fun and challenging gameplay. I can easily recommend this game despite some somewhat minor gripes.

Price: $59.99 PS3 & XBOX 360, $49.99 PC (STEAM)
Version Reviewed: PC
Acquisition Method: Promo code provided by publisher

Movie Review: Star Trek Into Darkness

Bronzethumb — Sun, 12 May 2013 14:07:40 -0700

Being the youngest captain in Federation history has not stopped James Kirk from taking risks, making mistakes and suffering the consequences. But soon a bigger problem rears its head in the form of John Harrison, a rogue agent who single-handedly cripples Starfleet and threatens the safety of the whole Federation. Kirk, determined to take revenge, volunteers to take the Enterprise crew into deep space and bring Harrison to justice, but their mission puts them in the crosshairs of enemies both hidden and known, and threatens to expose some of the Federation's darkest secrets.

As the name implies, "Star Trek Into Darkness" is a darker film than its predecessor, and draws upon some of the darker chapters of "Star Trek" canon to build its stories and character arcs. There are still a lot of the fun adventure elements that made the previous film so watchable, a lot of the same humour and action, but Abrams and company had added a deep vein of seriousness to what unfolds in this film. It's not just the characters who have to face more serious threats and issues; it's impossible to watch the scenes of Harrison's carnage and not be reminded of recent events.

The plot is a marked improvement from the simple, guess-everything-from-the-trailer storyline of the previous film. There's some complexity and surprises in how events unfold, all of which is grounded in the characters and feeds back into the film's dark tone. But that complexity forces the opening act of the film to feel very rushed as a lot of exposition gets crammed into a short space of time. On top of that, the final act of the plot relies on spectacle rather than an intelligent resolution of events. While the imagery is scary and disturbing in its realism, it's also shallow and borders on the deus ex machina.

The new characters to this incarnation of the Abrams-verse are excellent, to a one. Alice Eve's Dr. Marcus defies expectations and never devolves into a shallow love interest; she's important to the story and earns her place as part of the Enterprise crew. Her father, Admiral Marcus, has a much bigger and more interesting role than trailers would have you believe. But it's Benedict Cumberbatch who steals the show, so cold and menacing in every scene. All the speculation about who the villain would be seems pointless, because Harrison as played by Cumberbatch is threatening and interesting enough in his own right.

The returning players are all strong, but like the previous film, it seems like much of the crew are sidelined, which is inevitable in a two hour film. Everyone gets their hero moments and their funny lines, but it's still the Kirk and Spock show, and Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto are still great in their roles. The script gives them a lot of dramatic material to play around with, and both actors rise to the occasion: Kirk and Spock have depth and they grow throughout the film, anchoring the story with their respective journeys.

Sadly, for as much as "Star Trek Into Darkness" succeeds as a film in its own right and a sequel to the 2009 instalment, many of the more serious "Star Trek" fans will take umbrage with Abrams' reinterpretation of Trek elements. The plot takes a surprising number of cues from "Deep Space Nine", adding to the titular darkness of the story, while the themes and character arcs recall "The Wrath of Khan". Even the more casual fans will be put off by how one or two classic moments are recreated, because that recognition jars with the emotion of the scenes.

"Star Trek Into Darkness" has weaknesses in how certain elements of the story are constructed or executed, and the Trekkies and Trekkers will have issues with the liberties Abrams takes with established "Star Trek" canon, but this is a film with excitement, surprises and moments of genuine emotion. Characters new and old are compelling, but what works best is how there's a real sense of theme and meaning to the film. It might be shallow at times, but it's genuine; the characters and the audience are journeying into real darkness, and hoping the utopian optimism of Gene Rodenberry's creation is enough to guide them out again.

Book Review: Supernatural: Carved in Flesh

John Keegan — Sat, 11 May 2013 10:31:18 -0700

???Reported sightings of a hellish hound and the discovery of newly dead desiccated corpses bring Sam and Dean Winchester to Brennan, Ohio. But when they catch the monster canine it turns out to be "Frankenmutt"; a reanimated patchwork of pieces from separate dogs. Soon the brothers are on a trail that leads from mad scientists and biotechnology to a centuries-old alchemists, walking corpses, and an ancient and malevolent power.???

Recent Supernatural novels have managed to set a strong standard, both in terms of keeping the characterization of the Brothers Winchester fairly close to the original television incarnations and supplying a solid, if sometimes overly ambitious, trigger for the main plot. Considering that this is the last novel currently on the schedule, one would hope that the trend would continue.

Unfortunately, this is the first Supernatural novel in quite some time to let me down in key areas. It started off well enough, with Sam and Dean both in the right state of mind, given when the novel is supposed to take place (in the latter portion of the seventh season). Sam has just had the ???wall??? in his head break down, threatening madness as he remembers the torture he suffered in Hell, while Dean is still drinking away his sorrows over Bobby???s untimely demise.

Sam and Dean both act in accordance with those weaknesses throughout the course of the novel, and beyond that, they align well with their typical personalities on the show. The problem is the dialogue. The author tries too hard to force the reader to accept that these are, in fact, the Winchesters, so every line of dialogue is based off the more extreme examples of how the characters talk. Or rather, I should say, how Dean talks, as Sam occasionally says things only Dean would typically say. (If I never see or hear the word ???gank??? again, it might be too soon.)

Part of the problem might have been my lack of enthusiasm for the central mystery. Everything pointed to some kind of bizarre riff on Frankenstein, and sure enough, that???s precisely what it is. That???s not a spoiler, but considering just how long it takes for the author to ???reveal??? it, it???s understandable why one might be tempted to label it as such. And it???s not just reanimation; it???s a mixture of magic and some kind of medical breakthrough called NuFlesh.

It starts off ridiculous, and degrades from there. By the time someone???s entire body is melting away, any sense of consistency or compatibility with the television series seems nearly impossible. While it???s nice that Sam???s mental state becomes important later in the story, it doesn???t do much to save a climax that doesn???t quite deliver.

If there is one aspect of the book that does work, it is the thematically relevant flashback story regarding Trish, set during the days when Sam and Dean were kids and John Winchester left them in the care of a fellow Hunter. Both boys are just old enough to know Trish is sexy, and Dean in particular lets that override his instincts. The story unfolds slowly but surely, until the inevitable end, which teaches the brothers a lesson or two.

Tim Waggoner is apparently an author with a background in writing horror, so I???m not sure why he went with a corny, almost pulp direction for the main portion of the novel, rather than the more fitting darkness and creep factor of the flashbacks. The tone keeps the reader from taking the story seriously. Sometimes that can work, but in this case, the mixture clashed and left the final product disappointing as a result.

Released: Apr 2013
Price: $6.39 (Kindle version)
Acquisition method: Amazon.com

Movie Review: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Flaco Jones — Sat, 11 May 2013 01:22:20 -0700

Can the first third of a story be entertaining and epic enough to stand alone as its own movie? That???s the question the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, recently released on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download, asks of its viewers. When Peter Jackson took the huge risk of adapting the Lord of the Rings novels into three epic films, there were questions then if moviegoers could stick with it for the long haul. At least each movie was about one book. With this adaptation of The Hobbit, a book only one quarter the size of the entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Jackson needed to be able to stretch out the book without making it feel stretched out. I had my doubts, which is why I skipped seeing this prequel in the theater, but now I believe it can be done.

Storytelling

That???s not to say he does it perfectly. Perhaps the biggest flaw of the movie is it???s pacing, or its lack of a filter. Everything is there, and more. Whereas adapting the Lord of the Rings required cutting scenes from the novels to fit the movies, Jackson???s task here is to not only show basically everything in the Hobbit, but to lengthen scenes and add unused portions from the later trilogy and the appendices.

In this way, it feels very much like the extended cut versions of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. So right up front, if you were a fan of those and getting to see as much of the story as possible, then you should have little issue with this new undertaking. I haven???t read The Hobbit since I was a child, but watching this film, it all came back to me. Jackson is also slowly weaving in bits and pieces of plot introducing the main conflicts of the Trilogy, including the big bad guy Sauron, referred to as The Necromancer here. That really does give me hope that this trilogy can work where other prequels have failed and really tie everything together while still telling Bilbo???s story at the same time

Presentation

The multiple Academy Award winning team that brought the Lord of the Rings Trilogy to life returns for The Hobbit Trilogy as well, and it is clear that they have brought the same skill that made those movies such a joy to watch. Everything from the cinematography to the music is at the high level we???ve come to expect. Because of that consistency, it can only help the viewing experience when this is all over and the prequels do not feel out of place when compared to the originals.
The biggest new addition to the team is co-writer Guillermo del Toro. He was originally slated to direct, back when the plan was just to split the book into two films. His departure led to Jackson stepping in, and as much as I like del Toro and his movies, I think this was for the better. Jackson is firing on all cylinders again in Tolkien???s universe, after trying his hand at movies like King Kong and The Lovely Bones. He has that perfect blend of filmmaking technique and special effects know-how that a fantasy film needs to look right. From the dwarven miners deep in the Lonely Mountain, to the orc-mounted warg chases across sprawling hillsides, everything looks spectacular. I particularly enjoy the way Jackson???s camera follows the characters during the frenetic chase sequences. They remain locked in the center, the camera fluidly tracking along with them, despite all the chaos around them. It???s very much like a video game, but I mean that in the best way possible. You can take in all the action but it???s very easy for your eyes to drift back to the characters and not lose track of them or get confused.

Performances

There are a few actors from the original trilogy that return here, the main one being Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey. Much like the other returning aspects of the production, his is seamless as well. It???s tough to imagine anyone else taking on this role as he never plays the wizard as this omnipotent leader, but as one of the group, with flaws all his own.

Joining the cast as the younger Bilbo Baggins is Martin Freeman. Freeman does a great job of portraying the titular hobbit as someone who may not have asked for this adventure, but as the adventure goes on he becomes more and more useful to the group. He comes into a group of 13 dwarves and one wizard. The dwarves reluctantly accept him because Gandalf insists they need him, but are bothered by his rookie mistakes. Still, his quick wit comes in handy on more than one occasion and the ultimate goal of this first film, if one is looking for a story arc much more akin to a single movie, does seem to be creating an adventurer out of this homebody.

And then there are those 13 dwarves. Obviously it???s hard to keep them all straight, but the actors do a good job of giving them all different personalities, especially the notable ones we need to remember. Richard Armitage does a great job as the dwarven leader Thorin. It would be easy to get lost in the costumes and the fantasy dialogue, but the cast sells everything and takes itself seriously. The movie as a whole is more lighthearted though. There are many more whimsical and fun moments than in the original trilogy, and the other dwarves in the cast, outside of Thorin who has the more dramatic arc, have quirky personalities and generally a fun time being dwarves when everything isn???t trying to kill them. And, yes, there is singing.

My Take

The final returning cast member that turned in another amazing performance was Andy Serkis as Gollum. It was during a scene towards the end where Bilbo must engage with Gollum in a battle of riddles that this movie most proved to me that it deserved the epic multi-film treatment. In a single movie adaptation, this may have been the halfway point, but it felt right at home here towards the end. It really stuck with me, and along with the climatic orc battle felt like a satisfying ending to one movie, not just one part. Of course there is a great tease at the end, which brings me to my final criticism: that December can???t come soon enough.This movie surprised me. I read a lot of complaints about the fact that they had taken this small book and stretched it to the same length as the trilogy of books. However, I got the same level of enjoyment as I did watching the Lord of the Rings. I believe when it???s all said and done, these six movies will hold up as one grand epic. At least they proved it to me this time out. We still have a couple of years before I find out if I???ll end up eating my words.

Movie Review: Iron Man 3

John Keegan — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:13:05 -0700

Iron Man 3 wisely stays within the margins. It doesn't try to go bigger than Iron Man 2, with more men in larger suits battling with Tony Stark. So many superhero films make that mistake, and when it happens, it gets tiring to watch onscreen. This film goes darker and more introspective than many of the other Marvel superhero films that have been produced thus far.

The film can't top The Avengers, but since each film has different goals, it brings a uniqueness to this new, possibly final chapter to the story of Iron Man. More than anything, the story is about the literal and figurative deconstruction of Tony Stark and his separation from the Iron Man suit. Is he able to function? Can the world survive with or without the symbol that Iron Man represents? These are great, worthy questions to ask about these kinds of films. This is a solid start to the apparent "Phase Two" shift of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

This film keeps the focus entirely on Tony Stark. He still has that outsized ego in place, but it gets brought down a notch as the film progresses. He suffers from trauma related to the events in New York from The Avengers. In a way, this could be the film's primary problem. It addresses the PTSD-like symptoms that Tony suffers throughout, but it never comes close to figuring out what Tony needs to resolve or, for that matter, how to resolve it.

The trauma humanizes Stark, forces him to look at his flaws and mistakes, yet it doesn't really change who he is. He needs the suit as a stopgap measure to combat it, then decides to face it head-on, and determines that he would best function without the usual accoutrements that come with being Iron Man. It's a much better exploration of the character and his relationships with others than the previous standalone Iron Man film. It just lacks full resolution, especially since the PTSD is focused on so early in the proceedings. The trauma leads to Stark's downfall, then his rise back from the ashes. It is an arc not dissimilar to the one Bruce Wayne goes through in The Dark Knight Rises.

There are parts of this that do work. The Mandarin's aim is to bring Tony down to size, and he achieves that. When Tony issues a direct challenge to the Mandarin, he attacks without hesitation. As a result, he suffers, and the film goes about changing expectations. Pepper gets to don the Iron Man suit, which is a nice change of pace. The Mandarin's attack is also a sly commentary on the current state of the media and their focus around the glorification of terrorists. The Mandarin brings back memories of Osama bin Laden with his beard and attacks on the US military clouded under the name of the Ten Rings. All of which are unsettling to say the least.

His attacks have the feel of a false flag operation carried out by the government, which speak to the mindset for some Americans in the wake of any catastrophic event. A cleverly-disguised plot twist clearly demonstrates how criminals and other entities are all just part of a constantly-fed media machine. This isn't really new, but a nice little shakeup in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

It doesn't address the absence of the Avengers or S.H.I.E.L.D., though Iron Man 3 hardly has to do so. If anything, Tony could have used some help from his super-powered friends. Getting inspiration from a friendship with a kid wasn't the best thing to do. Plus, that aspect dragged the pacing through the middle of the film. It's another way to humanize Stark, bring him down to the level of us ordinary folk, yet somehow feels unnecessary.

That is true of the supporting characters around Tony Stark. The film is centered so much around him that the supporting characters aren't supporting so much as marginalized. After Pepper dons the Iron Man suit, she disappears for a good stretch of the film along with Rebecca Hall's Maya Hansen character. Instead, Shane Black elects to pair Stark with James Rhodes, and a lot of that involves variations of the Iron Man suit.

Black is a first-timer to comic book films, but that's hard to tell here. The movie is long and has pacing issues, but makes up for it with some nifty action pieces. Most notable would be the destruction of Stark's Malibu pad, a fight in the Mandarin's headquaters, a rescue on Air Force One (my personal favorite of the action set pieces because it got me invested in the outcome), and a battle on a ship that serves as the climax of the film. The Mandarin is a scary villain (Ben Kingsley has great gravitas), Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) has the air of oily businessman/rival tech hound, and all manner of super-powered henchmen provide a big threat. I have to admit though, that the henchmen reminded me of one of the characters in X-Men: First Class.

The action is staged well enough. The final battle is a little unclear in terms of who is where, but it has a couple of real cheer-worthy moments. That sums up Iron Man 3: elegant in its design, with a different take on the character arc of Tony Stark, but ultimately lacking the briskness and fun of The Avengers or the first Iron Man. The aim is smaller, and in that way, the film is a rousing success, even with some nitpicky flaws present.

I Love That Song: Trafico by Alex Powrs

Mike Ibarra — Sun, 05 May 2013 10:50:52 -0700

I Love That Song ??? ??Que chido!
Tr??fico (Traffic) by Alex Powrs

It???s a good thing you don???t need to understand Spanish to enjoy this.

Chiptune is a genre that, throughout recent years, has been growing and developing a lot. When most people think of it, they mostly recall to Nintendo style music with the bleeps and blops (and other onomatopoeia). But I think it is more than that; it is a great blend of styles since the songs can be simple or complex, it can be a hard rocking tune but it can also be a sweet calm melody. Songs that you can emote with, feel passionate about, and enjoy without any sort of visual or action on the part of the listener; like any regular song should be. The ???Chido-Chip??? compilation achieves that.

???Chido??? is Mexican slang for ???Cool???, and I do think that it describes the album quite well, it IS cool. The first time I listened to it I was amazed at how awesome each song was in their own way. While it focuses on a somewhat electronic feel, every song has its own distinct style to it. Songs like Dubtrip (and no, it is not Dubstep!) that has a quick and progressive rhythm, or Skyward that has a trance vibe to it. Or more traditional songs like Viajeros del Espacio (Space Travelers) or Solaris that sound like if they were taken straight up from video games from the 8-bit era. There???s also the rock song Vinilo Bill (Vinyl Bill) which uses actual instruments and vocals (in Spanish).

Of course, this is a compilation and each song was made by a different person or band, so that is why each song feels different. But even then it is like everyone involved in this compilation album worked together to bring us such fantastic songs and none of them feel like out of place or it should not belong in the album. But this is ???I Love That Song??? so among the whole compilation my favorite would be the song Tr??fico (Traffic) by Alex Powrs.

It was a tough choice though, the whole album is filled with so many great songs but Tr??fico is probably the one that sticks out the most for me. I like energetic songs like it so it is probably my personal bias talking right here, but anyways. Tr??fico starts out with hard and quick beats, and then it builds up to even more hard beats. I either start banging my head or start stomping the floor because it truly captures you with its hypnotic rhythm. That is for the first half of the song, after that it starts slowing down while still keeping up some of it pace from the beginning of the song, until it eventually ends. I would say that it truly lives up to its name.

My only complaint with this song is that it is kind of short, but it is still worth the ride. And if I should talk about a really close second to being my favorite track of the album, it should be Dubtrip. It has the same catchy feeling that Tr??fico has, but while the latter has the energy, the former has a weird yet catchy feel. I may talk it in a future article.

But like I said, this compilation album is amazing and you should check out all of it on their Bandcamp site, http://chipotle.bandcamp.com/. The album has a ???Pay what you want??? model, so you can basically download it for free if you want, but I suggest giving them at least a dollar or two (if not more), if like me want to support the artists for making such great music.

You can also visit 56KBPS Records website, http://www.56kbpsrecords.org/, where you can check out each individual artist and other compilation albums there as well.

Well, that is all for now on ILTS. Opinions, like always, are welcome and of course suggestions for future articles. You can either leave a message in the comments section below or head out to the requests thread too.

Until next time, sigan siendo chidos!

Book Review: Star Trek: Typhon Pact: Brinkmanship by Uma McCormack

John Keegan — Fri, 03 May 2013 07:46:12 -0700

???The Venette Convention has always remained independent, but it is about to become the flashpoint for a tense military standoff between the two power blocs now dominating interstellar space: the United Federation of Planets and the recently formed Typhon Pact. The Venetan government turns to the Typhon Pact???s Tzenkethi Coalition for protection in the new order, and has agreed to allow three of their supply bases for Tzenkethi use. But these bases, if militarized, would put Tzenkethi weapons unacceptably close to Federation, Cardassian, and Ferengi space.

While Captain Ezri Dax and the crew of the U.S.S. Aventine are sent to investigate exactly what is happening at one of the Venette bases, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the U.S.S. Enterprise are assigned to a diplomatic mission sent to the Venette homeworld in order to broker a mutually acceptable resolution. But the Cardassian delegates don???t seem particularly keen on using diplomacy to resolve the situation, which soon spirals out of control toward all-out war. . . .???

One of the cornerstones of the original Star Trek series was its underlying commentary on Cold War politics and attitudes. When the Cold War ended and the world seemed to be taking a different direction, Star Trek as a whole evolved into new directions as well. But with political tensions rising once again in all-too-familiar patterns, the Star Trek novels have followed suit, bringing back those old Cold War staples in a new arrangement.

The preceding Typhon Pact novels set up the formation of the Khitomer Accords, the alliance that emerged between the Federation and its remaining allies in the wake of the departure of the Andorians. It???s essentially NATO and the Warsaw Pact all over again, and that historical touchstone allows the authors to skim over some of the foundational elements that might otherwise drag.

The tone of the novel is similar to many of the Cold War thrillers that come to mind, but it deftly mixes a tense diplomatic situation with a story about a deep cover agent in Tzenkethi territory. It???s surprising to say, but the nuances of the situation with the Venette Convention and the diplomatic standoff are more gripping than much of what made it to screen in the heyday of The Next Generation. This would have been one hell of a solid two-parter script, to say the least!

The standoff covers all of the best story beats: questionable intelligence, cultural barriers, countless hidden agendas, and on top of it all, an operative with serious psychological issues. That alone would be more than enough to carry the novel, because it???s clear from the very start that a stray comment or unguarded action is all that it might take to take the tension between the Khitomer and Typhon powers into open conflict. The stakes are never far from the reader???s mind.

For a good part of the novel, the deep cover agent???s plot thread seems to be extraneous, and if it hadn???t been for the author???s talent at using this opportunity to flesh out the Tzenkethi society and culture, it might have felt like page-padding. As events spiral out of control at the negotiation table, however, the potential for the agent???s story to have a major impact on the outcome. A clever twist towards the end actually brings the two sides of the story together in an unexpected but logical way.

Buried within the story is an exploration of how a deep cover agent can become seduced by the culture that they are hidden within, and how that can cause unforeseen complications. Given the overly draconian social structure of the Tzenkethi, it might seem impossible to imagine anyone wanting to submit to proscribed roles and genetically engineered stunted awareness. But the agent in question is Cardassian, and as longtime Trek fans are aware, Cardassian society emphasizes the will of the state above all else. In other words, the character???s temptations and decisions are grounded in the depth of Trek lore, which makes all the difference.

With the film franchise about to drop a much-anticipated sequel in the ???alternate??? Trek universe, the novelists have been given a surprising amount of freedom to carve out their own vision of where the ???original??? timeline would progress. It???s a compelling counterpoint to the current state of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, which might be rendered meaningless by the new Disney regime. Peaceful coexistence between old and new is working extremely well for Star Trek right now, and novels like this prove the point.

Released: Sept 2012
Price: $6.83 (Kindle version)
Acquisition method: Amazon.com