The Sarah Connor Chronicles: Dungeons & Dragons - VIDEO
(S01E06) This episode was a definitive step up for the series. I have one or two minor quibbles about it, but this episode has been the highlight so far.
The viewer is presented with the story of Derek Reese, who is Kyle Reese’s brother and John Connor’s uncle. This is done in the style of “future-flashes” in which we see Derek’s story post-Judgment Day and learn a lot of new information that answers some questions and creates a few more. I also got a little nerdy thrill out of myriad of references to the first Terminator movie (more on that shortly).
I should have recognized the set used for the Resistance shelter. Was the “Hang In There Baby” lion picture in the first movie? If so, I don’t recall it. I did like how they retouched the Linda Hamilton photo to put in Lena Headey’s image instead. It’s like one those time changes from the movie Back To The Future in which you see time changing around the travelers.
This actor change did not stop with Sarah Connor. Kyle Reese also changed actors for the future-flashes. No doubt Michael Biehn was similarly unaffordable. Thankfully, they didn’t show future-John (except for a segment at the end in a shadow that is obviously Thomas Dekker who plays John at 16). I think showing another actor as future-John would not have been good for continuity, which is shaky enough as it is.
For those who didn’t notice, there were a LOT of references to the first Terminator movie. The used several lines directly from that movie, including the last line “There’s a storm coming”. The future-flashes happen around the future-flashes of that movie. I do admit I miss the mountain of human skulls that were shown in the first movie, but there were probably budgetary concerns.
We now know what Derek Reese was doing when the Terminator attack from the first movie was going on. He was kidnapped (alongside future Andy Goode, who looks very similar to his young self) and used for some nefarious Skynet purpose which I could not discern. What was Skynet doing to those humans anyway? My guess is creating casts for Terminator bodies.
Notice that the Terminator keeping the resistance fighters hostage was one of the old style ones with the rubber face that Kyle referred to in the first movie. He described the type as “easy to spot”. I’m glad the producers of the show are doing their homework in that regard.
And somehow in the middle of all this is Sarah’s ex, Charlie. Charlie learns (almost) the whole story of Sarah and John. It would be a good send-off to the character but somehow I think he’s going to turn up again. Probably dead.
I did notice that the girl suicide at John’s school wasn’t mentioned in the episode, thankfully. I’m sure we’ll go back to it, but most of this episode dealt with the future-flashes and Charlie. Agent Ellison wasn’t around either.
Then, of course, there is the issue of Andy Goode. We now know that Derek Reese killed him, yet in doing so we now have another chronological paradox. If Andy was killed in the present, he could not exist in the future. So what’s the deal?
And the final coup-de-grace of the episode: what’s up with Cameron? They all but set up her own turn to evil in the future-flash when one of the captured Terminators revert back to shooting people and Cameron responds after defeating it, “Sometimes they go bad. We don’t know why.” In the next scene, she’s pocketing the CPU of the fallen Terminator. Is Cameron a double-agent of Skynet?
I liked the juxtaposition in the story of Cameron hacking up the Terminator from last episode while John is nursing Uncle Derek back to health. My favorite Cameron quote from the episode: “He’s not a guy. He’s a scary robot.”
So we’re left wondering what event will turn Cameron down the road of Connor-killing machine. My guess is that she’ll have sex with John and in a perfect moment of happiness will lose her soul. But I could be wrong.
A very good episode. I hope they’ll make more like this before its inevitable cancellation.
Kristen Bell stars in Mnemovore Demo Reel
Mnemovore creator Hans Rodionoff had a treat for fans attending the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival in Portland this weekend, as he unveiled 10 minutes of footage from a proposed big screen adaptation of his six-issue comic book series. But it wasn’t a low budget effort, the short reel featured Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars, Heroes) in the lead role. Rodionoff will be directing the film based on his own screenplay. Rodionoff also confirmed that Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) is officially on board as Executive Producer. Apparently Rodionoff filmed the demo reel at the behest of del Toro in order to demonstrate his abilities as a film director. Rodionoff made his filmmaking debut with the no-budget Troma horror comedy Sucker.
Mnemovore is a “horror” comic that ran monthly from April 2005 under DC’s Vertigo imprint. The plot focused on Kaley, an amnesiac former professional snow boarder who makes a terrifying discovery. Her snowboarding accident sets her up in the unique position to battle a centuries-old Lovecraftian entity that feeds on the memories of mankind. She must fight to protect the loved ones she no longer remembers. It’s a story about memory, identity, and a secret horror.
According to Comics2film, the footage showed Kaley (played by Kristen Bell) in an exchange between with “her therapist (played by ‘Terminator’ star Michael Biehn) and leads up to her first horrific encounter with the psyche-eating monster.” The footage is said to have been “well received by the fans.”
It is not clear if Bell or Biehn would be available for the eventual feature film production, although, I’m sure they didn’t participate in this test purely as a favor. But who knows with schedules, especially considering that the movie has yet to find funding. I hope that the footage somehow leaks online for everyone to see. It sounds like an interesting enough idea, with a good potential cast, and some great creative forces behind it. I’ll have to pick this series up next trip to the comic book store.
Terminator 4 Concept Art Revealed, McG Speaks
McG has posted the first update on the official website for Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, featuring our first look at concept art for post-judgment day Los Angeles. Click on the image below to enlarge. I think even the naysayers have to admit, it looks f’n cool.
But to play devil’s advocate: a lot of concept art for even bad movies looks cool. It’s also important to note that this is the first time McG has attempted to reach out to the fans to reassure them that his vision is not to ruin Terminator 4:
“Like you guys, I’ve been a long-time fan of the series and I understand your passion for the Terminator movies — and it’s my full intention to deliver a film that lives up to the previous three installments. I’ve spent time with James Cameron, spoken to Arnold Schwarzenegger, gone over the story with Jonah Nolan, and enlisted Stan Winston,” wrote McG. “Everything we’re shooting is designed to be tactile and real, you’ll be seeing a whole set of inspired designs you’ve never seen before, and best of all you’ll finally get to see some of the post-judgment day future that was only hinted at in the previous movies.”
McG also talks about the casting:
“John Connor will be pushed to the brink. And for me, Christian Bale embodies Connor’s strength and tenacity perfectly. And after visiting Sam Worthington on the set of Avatar, I know he’s perfect for his role,” writes the director. “As you know, Anton Yelchin is playing Kyle Reese, and his prep has been unbelievable. The guy’s been watching all three Terminators incessantly and he’s definitely going to capture the essence of the character Michael Biehn created in Cameron’s first film.”
The music video/commercial turned feature director says that he has already seen the first sequence they shot at Griffith Observatory cut together and claims “Anton and Sam are excellent.”
Discuss: C’mon guys, should we give McG a chance?
Terminator Salvation Concept Art!
Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins director McG has kicked-off a production blog on the official website with a reassuring message, along with some cool concept art showing post-judgment day Los Angeles. Click to get a closer look!
We’ve officially started principal photography on Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins. Like you guys, I’ve been a long-time fan of the series and I understand your passion for the Terminator movies — and it’s my full intention to deliver a film that lives up to the previous three installments. I’ve spent time with James Cameron, spoken to Arnold Schwarzenegger, gone over the story with Jonah Nolan, and enlisted Stan Winston.
Everything we’re shooting is designed to be tactile and real, you’ll be seeing a whole set of inspired designs you’ve never seen before, and best of all you’ll finally get to see some of the post-judgment day future that was only hinted at in the previous movies.
John Connor will be pushed to the brink. And for me, Christian Bale embodies Connor’s strength and tenacity perfectly. And after visiting Sam Worthington on the set of Avatar, I know he’s perfect for his role.
As you know, Anton Yelchin is playing Kyle Reese, and his prep has been unbelievable. The guy’s been watching all three Terminators incessantly and he’s definitely going to capture the essence of the character Michael Biehn created in Cameron’s first film.
We started principal photography with a sequence at Griffith Observatory. I’ve already seen a cut of it — Anton and Sam are excellent. I’ll have more on that soon, and can’t wait to share some of what we’re doing with you all. Stay tuned for more.
McG