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Falling Skies Series on TNT
The thing I heard about Starship Troopers was that it was all done with heavy European irony, much of which went over my head at least. The director Paul Verhoeven is Dutch, and was supposedly making a movie about WWII -- from the German point of view. So, Earthlings are the Germans, and the attack on Buenos Aires = the burning of the Reichstag (which Hitler ordered to drum up support for the Nazi war preparations--he blamed the Communists), and the the alien "invaders" are actually responding to Terran aggression. The periodic PSAs ("Would you like to know more?") are supposedly based on Nazi propaganda films of the era. Dunno if any of this is true but if so, it makes the movie somewhat more interesting (and also helps explain why the "South American" characters in the movie are all bland Aryan types). The only moment where something jarred me enough to notice it was at the end, when the friend of the main chatacter (I forget his name) who went into the intelligence service shows up to interrogate the alien prisoner--He is wearing a Gestapo uniform, pretty much; the gray coat with wide lapels, black peaked cap and so on. So there may be something to this theory after all.
As I recall, Heinlein's book was pretty much straight military-fetish jingoism, and the filmmaker seemed intent on subverting this.
Now, if someone could make The Forever War--that would be a movie and a half!
Sorry, we've gotten away from Falling Skies. I didn't catch it this week--did anyone else?
Battle LA wasn't as bad as people said. It was a tale more about marines and war, not so much about other stuff. I wouldn't call it must see, but I did enjoy it - despite its atrocious dialogue and cliche characters.
Yes, I am still watching Falling Skies. It is starting to develop some interesting twists.
I watched it, but after the last episode I won't watch it anymore. To the bad acting now comes this cheesy religious crap ... I just can't stand it anymore and doubt there will be a second season
Oooh, cheesy religious crap is generally a red flag. Is this some ort of savior trope, a la a young child (male no doubt) who will be called upon to lead the flock out of Egypt--excuse me, I mean Massachusetts?Seriously--it can be a bummer when writers reach to religion to provide a veneer of seriousness to an otherwise banal storyline... (Not saying that's the case here, as I missed the last ep. Just sayin' it's possible.)
No, It's just that we see a little more of Lourdes now that Karen is (temporarily?) out of the picture. Lourdes has been uber-religious and a little ball of sunshine from day 1, she just doesn't get a lot of face time til last episode. I didn't think it was exceptionally cheesy, I think the attempt was to add a sense of development to these characters. They are not religious, but they care enough about one another to tolerate a young teen clinging to her beliefs. But maybe that is just how I took it.
Am I really the only one kinda enjoying this? Or did the others just leave the thread for all the bashing?
Nope, still here, still on the fence about it. Admittedly, I'm liking it a little more with each episode.
Heidi wrote: "They are not religious, but they care enough about one another to tolerate a young teen clinging to her beliefs. "Very astute observation.
This last episode gave me more of what I was looking for in an SF series, especially with the tube radio manual frequency scanning and static. By the late 70s (early teens for me), I had an amateur radio license (General Class) so old school electronics give me goosebumps. :)
I thought that was pretty cool too! And the kid choosing to put his harness back on? I have some things I want to figure out! I am sad enough that Outcasts has been cancelled, I really don't want this one to get cancelled too.
Heidi made an excellent point. I don't think it's overly religious, Lourdes seems to be the only one who truly believes and she's not pushing it on anyone. Everyone else has either lost their faith or had none to begin with. What I'm finding interesting is the kid they unharnessed and how he wanted the harness back. The correlation to addiction; the body can be detoxed relatively quick but it's the psychological part that lasts. The tie the kid has to the skitter even after harness removal. And what this means in terms of what to do with harnessed kids now? Continue to kidnap them back and remove the harness anyway and hope for the best or would it be a kindness to kill them? Quite the dilemma for the parents.
Heidi wrote: I am sad enough that Outcasts has been cancelled, I really don't want this one to get cancelled too. I find it helpful to enjoy a scifi show while it's on and not think about whether or not it'll last. The chances of any scifi show staying past it's first season are pretty slim. The way shows get cancelled so quickly these days is a deterrent to even starting them, and scifi shows have it harder than other genres. Enjoy it while it lasts, there's not much else we can do.
For good or for worse, it's already been renewed for a second season.
I am excited!! I've had a VERY long week chasing an average of 30 kids each day (volunteered for a camp program!) and I am ready for some adult time this weekend! Outcasts tonight, Falling Skies and True Blood tomorrow!!! WOOOHOOO!!!!!
Tad wrote: For good or for worse, it's already been renewed for a second season.I just read on another TV thread that Falling Skies has an average of 6 million viewers weekly. That's impressive, especially for a cable channel. No wonder they renewed.
I'm starting to care about the characters; that's a good sign. The last two episodes were really good.Knowing it's getting a second season makes it easier for me to get into. I'm reluctant to care about new scifi shows since cancellation is practically a given; I think I try to find reasons why I should dislike it.
Hey it's good to see this show getting a little love. I said a while ago on this thread that people were jumping on it too fast; give it a little time to develop. I think it's starting to get okay. Some of the characters are getting more interesting (the doctor who lost her son, the tattooed girl who had cancer, the military guy who's being a little less of a hard-ass). There's still too much violin in the background, but it's coming along... And the creepy moment when the Skitter went to sleep sitting on top the pile of kids? That gave me the creeps, and I don't usually get the creeps from watching TV!
I agree with a lot of these comments. I had been taking a wait-and-see attitude with this show but have to admit, I'm starting to find it pretty compelling. Now that Ben's been rescued, I'm kind of hoping we'll branch into other characters and stories too, Lost-style. Good news about season #2, too.
Brad wrote: And the creepy moment when the Skitter went to sleep sitting on top the pile of kidsThat was creepy and strange. The way the skitter was touching the kids, stroking their heads, as if he loved them. I want to know what's up with that. And it has me interested in the Skitters, not as an enemy but as real beings who may have genuine feelings. Definitely has my attention now.
Character development is important to me as a viewer. And now that we're getting to know the characters on a deeper level, I'm enjoying it much more.
So far, I'm in the 'not awful but not great' crowd. And, yes, I do love a good cheesy sci-fi now and then :) I'm hoping the series improves and lives up to its potential. I did enjoy the themes and deeper than usual personal story. Reminds me of some of the Stephen King for film adaptations I've seen.
Hey, it's been a while since anyone posted anything. I caught the episode last night (7/17) and thought it was pretty good. Again, a newish development, that human collaborators would become involved with the aliens, ramps up the interest level for me. But judging by the dearth of comments here, maybe I'm alone? Have people jumped ship? Is it too little, too late? Am I running out of cliches? Well, maybe.
No, I caught Sunday's episode. The last two have really peeked my interest. This latest development has shock value if nothing else. Post apocalyptic situations tend to bring out the worst in humanity (but also the best).
As a character mentioned during the first few minutes, 'It's the Wild West out there.' Partially correct. The Wild West was a frontier, with civilization behind it (to the east so to speak).
I missed the fifth episode because of recording conflict, so I have been avoiding you guys until I could find someone I could watch it from! But I am now all caught up again and am absolutely LOVING it!!! I was very excited to hear it is going to have a second season and will be sticking with it!
The latest twist was good, I hope to see more. So far the twists per episode ratio has been a bit low, and often telegraphed. Right after they took an alternate path in the woods, I said to my wife "I wonder if he's a skinjob". She'd been thinking that for awhile already, and then the twist was revealed.
I agree it was too obvious. Just the idea of taking the kids away struck me as wrong. If the kids were going, why were the civilian parents staying behind? Civvies aren't defending anything. Why are any of them staying behind, if they're going to meet up with the kids in a day or two anyway? To defend what? They have to know they can't stay in one place too long anyway.
Jackie wrote: "I agree it was too obvious. Just the idea of taking the kids away struck me as wrong. If the kids were going, why were the civilian parents staying behind? Civvies aren't defending anything. Wh..."Exactly!
I've given up ever being treated as an intelligent audience member by SF writers in Hollywood.
While I was dreading the whole Pied Piper thing, I'll keep watching, for now...I predict Noah Wylie's character is coming for his son soon!
NO! (gasp!) What a surprise that'd be! lol
Noah Wyle is pretty much carrying the show for me. he's got such a great, aw-shucks regular guy face.
I love Noah Wyle! (But I'm not in love.)
I actually like Weaver and the pediatrician 'better' than Noah's character. I know, completely, diametrically opposed characters. :)
I'm trying to like Falling Skies but last night's episode was a bit of a sleeper. I actually fast forwarded to the end to see if I was right. I was. Hopefully next week's part 2 is better.
It all seems rather familiar having seen and read The Tripods and the several versions of War of The Worlds. I'm getting tired of Earth based SF and want to see some action in outer space or on alien planets. It's so easy to do with digital production.
Kernos said: "I'm getting tired of Earth based SF and want to see some action in outer space or on alien planetsHear hear! I'm all for that. But a good Earth-based alien invasion story could be really good.
David wrote: "...Hear hear! I'm all for that. But a good Earth-based alien invasion story could be really good. "I have high hopes for the remake of The Tripods which could be great. I hope it's British.
Not much happening on this thread. Last week's ep was pretty weak & predictable IMO and I'm on the verge of not caring anymore. Also, the show runs opposite Food Network Star, so there's that. Anybody still hanging in there?
Yes, last week's second half of Sanctuary episode reduced down to your basic drama - little to know advancement with respect to the aliens. And now there are only two episodes left. So the 'announcement' earlier in the summer that Falling Skies had been renewed for a second means next to nothing since the first 'season' consisted of only ten episodes (which is less than half of a 'real' scripted series).
My family's still watching, but we've not been too eager to get to the recording. Sometimes it's Thursday before we bother.Haven, on the other hand, is pretty much guaranteed to be viewed by Saturday evening.
Falling Skies seems to have fallen into a rut. Each new character or discovery is predictably used as an opportunity for various leads to emote heavily. With two episodes to go I'll finish watching the season, but I'm not feeling any momentum towards the next one.
My thoughts and opinions on the entire series, in rather general terms (to avoid spoilers as much as I could): http://bit.ly/qRHNYdAfter watching the first half of the 'finale' last night, I knew I was destined to go to bed frustrated and angry. I was not disappointed in that respect.
I watched the two season finale episodes last night (thanks to my DVR) and was really disappointed. The rest of the series was okay, not great, but the ending was...weak. (I'd be more specific, but I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't suffered through it yet.)
Kevin wrote: but the ending was...weak.Exactly.
I don't know how they expect anyone to get excited for a second season.
:P Well, I enjoyed it! I am looking forward to the next season. Sorry you guys didn't get into it. That is why there are thousands of t.v. channels and yet "nothing" on I suppose!That is also why there are sub genres getting started in literature. People's interests are so broad and yet refined. I could see Old-school sci-fi fans getting bored with this easy. Complaining that it has already been done. I have to be honest, I was expecting the mechs to be human and am extremely curious about this skitter/ human development. What is it octopus dna or something?!?!?
As trite as the scene between Dr. Glass and the professor was, I totally wanted it.
The conflicting emotions between Ben and Rick are compelling and what happens to them matters to me.
Despite the fact that Pope is... well, kind of predictable; we keep getting hints that he isn't just the bad a** criminal.
And, lets be honest, as predictable as it is, the show has a GREAT music director!
Now, you can hate it all you want, but apparently it is pretty popular! It got picked up for a second season, when Outcasts got dropped. I liked Outcasts too and have not seen any bad words in any of the forums about it, but clearly there was only a small following!
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I don't hate it but I don't love it either. It's mediocre. I'm a huge scifi-fantasy fan. Outcasts was far superior, it's a shame that was cancelled.
I liked outcasts, but it started out kinda slow. It took me longer to get hooked! But I agree overall, it is probably a better show. Still, Falling Skies has its good points and clearly appeals to a lot of people with all the hype. My mom compared it to Lost. Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing!
Outcasts was slow at first. At the time, I was also watching Bedlam and thought that was the better show. Then it switched, Outcasts picked up the pace and had a far better story while Bedlam floundered.
I had mixed feelings about Falling Skies season 1. It had so much potential, but I felt like not much happened. It was very dialog heavy, but nothing was really being said. There was a lot of ordering people around to their duties, and moving people back and forth.The season finale was sort of weak, but at least I felt like something started to move. We'll probably check out the first episode or two of the next season, and if the show falls back into old habits we'll be throwing in the towel.
Stacia *prepares for her duel with Heidi wrote: "I had mixed feelings about Falling Skies season 1. It had so much potential, but I felt like not much happened. It was very dialog heavy, but nothing was really being said. There was a lot of order..."Why are we dueling? I think there was a lot happening in the first couple of episodes and the reason my husband didn't like it was because it started with stock characters and jumped into action in a world that made no sense to him. He preferred Outcasts, because they spent the first several episodes doing more character development and not really getting into the story behind people colonizing a new planet!
I didn't much care for Outcasts at first for the very opposite reason! I understand why Falling Skies started with stock characters and then threw in personal stories to show that they were not as stock as people might have thought.
I will give you that the overall plot has moved a bit slowly, especially after such a quick jump into it. But the dialogue (introducing the characters personality more and developing side plots) was not wasted, in my opinion.
But opinions are like dog hairs, most of us have a 1,000 of them running around and they are all different!!
Heidi wrote: "Why are we dueling? ..."Haha. Different Heidi, but if you're up for one, I can fit you in.
overall, not a lot happened, but it was still entertaining
The comic book thing is definitely after my "time" (I'm so old I was on the D.I.R.T. project), but a few of them adapt to the screen quite well (and some are horrible).
Independence Day was, IMHO, one of the better SF movies. Got it on DVD and drag it out every now and then to watch again. Will Smith was great.
Starship Trooper was a huge disappointment after reading the book. Some things just don't get done well by Hollywierd.