Reviewing Movies

This morning I watched the first episode of Doctor Who I’ve ever seen compliments of CBC who are offering two episodes for streaming:

http://www.cbc.ca/doctorwho/episodes.html

I wish the BBC had produced the recent version of Douglas Adams’ Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy I dozed through—on second thought having the writer of a book attempt to adapt it for the big screen may not be such a good idea either. As Sci Fi genres go these two subjects have a lot in common but I was sorely disappointed in the treatment given Douglas Adams’ engaging storyline and entirely impressed with Doctor Who. Oh, I’ve heard about it over the years and am aware that the series has had a cult following over the years that has followed it through numerous iterations, leading actors, and variations. For the latest:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/

The concept of a nerdy scientist using a British Bobby’s Police Call Box, (the Tardis), as a time travel device; not to mention the size of it once he goes inside takes a minor adjustment—not that it’s any stranger than The Time Traveler’s machine in the story by H G Wells. Interesting that our time traveler is portrayed as a nerd while the shady Captain Jack is dashingly handsome. Also of note that the Tardis is listed as one of the characters. Guess I’ll have to wait until there is less online congestion and watch the second episode. Don’t know as I’ll brave the rigors of broadcast TV to watch the series but given that the price were right I might buy up past seasons.

What can I say? It was on sale. Watching TV in Black and White on a High Definition Flat Screen is an anachronism to say the least. That the interactive menus were done in colour only serves to emphasize the point. When this series was shot CGI and Blue Screen technology wasn’t even dreamed of and the special effects here are almost laughable. I realize that sets had to be of a size to accommodate the cameras and lighting equipment of the time but the cavernous size of some of the decks that were supposedly inside a submarine built to descend to one mile depths stretches belief beyond the breaking point. What stands out most glaringly though, in a Sci Fi Series, is the technology that was considered cutting edge 40 years ago. Today it rates as antique. Placing all that glass, or any glass for that matter, in the outer hull of a submarine, and in particular in its bow, defies all the laws of physics.

Take two handsome studs; add a souped up Chevy Impala; and a strong helping of X-Files or Twilight Zone—depending upon the decade in which you grew up—and you get Supernatural. Both 6’1” Jensen Ackles who plays Dean and 6’4” Jared Padalecki who plays Sam are twenty-something actors with a background in TV and in particular Smallville. Although both have an imposing presence on the small screen and have obviously been chosen for their sex appeal in this series they get to keep their clothes on. Of the two I must say that I prefer Jared as Jensen seems to project an arrogance and self-absorption I find unbecoming. The series has them tooling around the country investigating paranormal phenomena and urban legends. They finance their trek with fake credit cards, gambling, and pool winnings and abet their research by impersonating whatever officials whose credentials may get them access to off-limits sites.