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patrick_maderia
Reviews
Stargate Universe: Air: Part 3 (2009)
Still laying groundwork...
While not moving the show forward in any real way, this episode serves to firm up the characters a bit more and give us a taste of the planet-hopping to come. The only issues with this are the lead roles are still very one-dimensional, and the planet was an empty desert and uninteresting as they come.
I'm still cautiously optimistic for this show; no, it's not the campy-adventure series that was SG1, and nor is it the deep melodrama like BSG, and as such many decry the lack of..."oomph" in this Stargate outing. But I can foresee some great things from this show (I just hope that SGU doesn't pull a Voyager and wait 4 seasons before really maturing).
On the bright side, the writer's are stealing a page from "Lost"s book and providing some flashbacks as well as a vehicle to keep the characters in touch with people back home, thereby opening doors for deeper story-arcs that transcend several galaxies (at least physically...sorta). And Ely is definitely making a good impression. I would just rather enjoy the entire ensemble than one character...again, giving it time.
BloodRayne (2005)
I want those hours of my life back, Uwe.
I try to have an open mind when it comes to movies. Hell, I'm a college student; I've seen many crappy student films/plays in my time. But let me tell one and all, this film is nothing but the product of a college student getting a large budget.
The special effects are really that, "special," much like Johnny Knoxville in "The Ringer." Mediocre make-up with absurd gore covers the movie end to end. I mean, "Kill Bill" probably had as much blood and violence as any scene in "Bloodrayne," but it looked decent, fit within the framework of the movie, and didn't have on-screen foul-ups like compressors blowing air instead of blood. And the sword fights sucked, by every cast member and in every scene. I can tell (having practiced professional stage combat, armed and un-armed) that these actors weren't properly trained, and the director probably choreographed all the sub-par fight sequences. Boring, lack-luster, and about as exciting the acting.
Of which there is none. SPOILER WARNING: When Sebastian dies at the end, he doesn't convince anyone. "Wait, no, it's my time." And he falls asleep. At least he's chill about it.
Kristina Loken is beautiful as ever, and the gratuitous sex scene does stand out (mainly because it's one of the few interesting moments in the entire film). Ben Kingsley...why did you agree to do this film? You were good in "House of Sand and Fog." What happened? If you want to expand your horizons and truly see the most-expensive student-film ever made, watch "Bloodrayne." If not, you are the proud owner of two hours of life un-touched by Uwe Boll.