No more Heroes?

I HAVE to admit the current series of Heroes - or Hiro's as it should be called (thank you egrommet) - has me confused.

Given the wave of criticism and hatred flowing across the blogosphere about series two from America, I feared the worst.

Not enough action, too slow, not enough Sylar, yada yada yada ....

When the series started on BBC2, I was watching it through my fingers, wondering just what type of mess would present itself.

But .... I think it is really good.

I don't know what people were expecting, but from the start, it has been intriguing and interesting.

Instead of opting for more of the same, the producers and writers have thrown the main characters into completely different set ups, a brave move that I think has worked.

Now, in true multi-layered style, Peter's memory loss, Hiro's time travelling, the revenge killings, Parkman's father and HRG's quest to bring down the company have led to the main story arc - the mysterious virus.

The new characters have all added further shades of grey to this conflicted word, especially Adam / Takezo Kensei, the indestructible man who doesn't age, and the always excellent Stephen Tobolowsky as Bob, the company's main man.

All in all I think it easily matches its predecessor, with its admittedly more thoughtful and measured approach giving me a sense that something wicked this way comes but I'm not sure what.

For internet fanboys, I'm sure they wanted a superhero battle in every episode, but series one didn't work like that so why should this? After all, given the tortuous labyrinth of Lost, Heroes is a wide eyed adrenaline rush of a thrill ride!

As far as I am concerned, Heroes can keep on keeping on.

Don't Blink

AS I write this, I find I am so excited I can barely hold a thought in my head.

Steven Moffat has been confirmed as the new Doctor Who showrunner!

Never has the phrase 'don't blink' - created by Moffat for the masterful episode Blink - been more true. I advise anyone not to take their eyes off the screen for a moment under his tenure - it will be awesome.

Russell T Davies deserves our thanks and admiration for re-energising Doctor Who in the way he has, with verve, skill and daring. Under his guidance, Doctor Who has set new standards in story-telling, characterisation and entertainment.

It is common knowledge that he has re-written episodes penned by every other writer to ensure they fit into the Who mythology or the ongoing story arc.

Every other writer except one - Moffat - whose genius creations need no polishing, just a gasp of admiration.

He has turned simple phrases like 'Are you my mummy?' or noises like the ticking of a clock into nerve-shredding moments of horror.

Who can forget Sally Sparrow and friend realising they weren't looking at the angel, only for it to lunge towards them?

And his Children in Need special with the timey-wimey stuff was inspired.

Imagine a whole series fuelled by that sort of creative elan.

Personally I can't wait until his two parter - beginning with the Shadows In The Library - is broadcast this series, and then 2009 will seem like an age until 2010 comes around and his vision is realised.

The world of Who is in the best hands, and we should all be grateful.

May The Force Be With You

'THIS is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster; an elegant weapon for a more civilized age.'

So said Obi Wan Kenobi, and every boy growing up in the 1970s thought 'I've got to get me one of those!'

Now I have.

Yes, I look like an idiot, but an idiot with his own lightsaber!

I picked up mine from Firebox online, but they're available all over now.

Mine ended up sitting on a shelf for most of the time, but every now and again, when the mood takes me, it's saber time! (At least until my wife tells me to stop)

Iron Man at last

IT was worth the wait - those five words sum up everything you need to know about Iron Man.

From start to finish - and I mean the finish, stay until the end of the credits - this was perfection in film making by Jon Favreau - easily one of the best super hero films ever.

Robert Downey jnr was note perfect as Tony Stark, perfectly matched against the avuncular charm of Jeff Bridges as the baddie.

The suit itself looked fantastic too, with all the technology feeling believable.

That brings me on to my sci-fi stuff - while I was watching the credits, I noticed the film has a science / futurist advisor, John Underkoffler.

He has history at this sort of thing, having worked on films such as Minority Report and Hulk (the Ang Lee one) , giving the benefit of his advice.

"The science and technology advisor role is a new, new thing in the film industry. Most people, myself included, are surprised to find out how broad the job is," he said.

On Minority Report, Underkoffler, who received his Ph.D. in media arts and sciences in 1999 from MIT, was involved in mapping out "future history" during script revisions--trying to determine how political and social forces will shape technological innovation. He also acted as a resource to the film's visual artists as they created props, sets and costumes. And best of all, he was on the set during filming to provide on-the-spot technical advice and coach actors in the finer points of futuristic living.

Pretty cool stuff - and it gives sci-fi films an edge of (future) realism to help ground the film and make it more believable.

For instance, in Iron Man, the 3-D work station and robot assistants bore the hand of Underkoffler - expect to see them in a few years' time.

Another thing we can expect in a few years' time is a Captain America film, and if you watch Iron Man very closely, you may see something special.

Did you see it? There, underneath Tony Stark's right arm, is Captain America's shield!! It seems to be under construction, but it is still super cooler than cool. Thanks to the good folks at First Showing.net for pointing this out.

Bring on Cap and the Avengers!

Woof woof!

THE blog had a moment in the sunshine today when I appeared on City Talk, a radio station in Liverpool.

I had been asked to appear on a show called I Hate Sci Fi, where I would be swimming against the tide somewhat by saying why it was great. I'll be putting my bit up on here soon.

The presenter, Duncan Barkes, certainly gave me both barrels after being tipped off by Will - my former workmate and his producer - that I could hold my own - cheers mate!

But I think I gave as good as I got, for instance when I got Duncan to admit he'd never watched Blade Runner moments after slating it!

This led to me having a go at him for criticising something - in this case sci-fi - without knowing anything about it other than a few loosely held assumptions.

The central thrust of his argument was that sci-fi fans are losers and they believe this stuff really exists. (Memo to Duncan, we don't - the clue's in the title of the genre).

Still it was all good knockabout fun and if nothing else it got me thinking about just why I do love sci-fi.

I mean sure, as a kid, what's not to love about space ships, future babes, laser guns and the Force - it's super cool.

But as a grown up, I find I am drawn to the ideas behind the action, more so than the action itself. The best sci-fi - like Blade Runner, 2001, the new Battlestar Galactica or Firefly - makes you think about what it is to be human by acting as a mirror or prism to the human condition.

The eternal questions of who are we and what are we here for are thrown into sharp relief when we come up against something different - the alien, the new planet, the five-breasted slave girl from the planet sex.

It also allows us to look at and challenge the way we live today by following contemporary subjects like global warming, the use of genetics or the influence of technology to new and exciting conclusions in utopian or dystopian futures (or my particular favourite, utopian futures which are actually dystopian, like in Logan's Run or Serenity.)

For instance, in the 1960s, Star Trek featured men in strangely tailored velour suits acting (at times) badly, but it also commented on subjects including the Vietnam war and racial segregation.

You can't say that about an episode of Eastenders, and that's watched by 10million people. People are idiots.

Also, sci-fi is still a blast to watch, but now sitting alongside my son, Izaak. As I said to Duncan, that is real, and sci-fi - in this case Doctor Who, every Saturday - allows us to do that.

I love sci-fi for lot of reasons, but that final one is like the cherry on top of the cake.

Where are they?

WHEN I was a boy, I grew up under the assumption that by the time 2008 rolled around, we'd be living on the moon, eating our meals in pill form and using jet packs to get around.

Instead, things are pretty much the same now as they were then, but why? It's almost like scientists have been diverted by solving real life problems, instead of focusing on inventing things out of sci-fi films.

I mean, what the frak is that all about?

So to try and hurry them along, here's my list of sci-fi inventions which should be invented.

1. The Jet Pack

Simple and classic - from the early days of Buster Crabbe as Flash Gordon, the idea of a jet pack has been super cool. Strapping on your Anti-Grav 5000 in the back garden and taking off for work has been a dream of every man at least once in his life.

But, you say, the exhaust flames would burn your legs off within 20 feet of the ground and the amount of fuel it would need would mean it would have to be twice your size to get to the end of the path. And unlike a bike or car, a small malfunction could mean plummeting hundreds of feet to your death, instead of pulling to the side of the road and ringing the AA.

So what, says I! This is the closest thing on my list to being actually real. What are we paying the Brainiacs for if not to get over these small hiccups and deliver the Anti-Grav 5000. I want my Anti Grav 5000!!

2. Laser Guns

Again, don't these speak for themselves? Hasn't anyone seen Han Solo and thought that should be me? At the moment, most portable lasers would struggle to heat up a piece of bread.

Come on scientists - get your act together - it's time for anyone who wants to, to be able to fry an alien bounty hunter in a backworld cantina.

3. The Transporter

You'd never be late for anything again - just step into our transporter and reappear at your desk - or automated workpod as it should be (don't get me started on that one.)

OK, so breaking down the human body molecule by molecule is impossible and even if it were possible, it would need a stack of supercomputers from here to the moon.

But don't bring me problems based on actual insurmountable facts - bring me solutions!!

4. Robot slaves

The ultimate in every home - a robot to do all the shit stuff for you, especially if they look like Summer Glau and are always asking to discover human emotions.

Dishes need cleaning? Send in the robot.

Cleaning day? Let the robot do it.

Shopping? Well, you see where I'm going with this.

OK, so there is always a risk they may gain sentience, rise up and overthrow their human masters, who will by then have no idea how to fight back due to a life of being pampered by a robot.

However if I've learned one thing from watching and reading sci-fi - and I have - it is that the seemingly sinister corporations who build robots always have our best interests at heart and would build in some sort of easily defeated safety measure to ensure that wouldn't happen.

So there you are - I have laid down the challenge to the engineers and scientists of the world! Stop looking for cures to diseases or ways to beat global warming and get these ridiculously expensive and needless inventions up and running.

Just watch out for those robots.

Brassed (off) Man

TODAY I set out to take my stepson - Captain jnr - to the cinema to watch the sci-fi delights of Iron Man.

Imagine my surprise then when he announced rather grandly he'd rather go out with his friends than me.

What are teenagers coming to when the attractions of a trip to the cinema with a 36-year-old geek are so blithely cast aside? What is it about youngsters today when an afternoon gulping alcopops and sniffing glue in the park is somehow more entertaining than Jon Favreau's masterpiece?

It's almost as if he is ashamed to be seen in public with me. I mean, my Iron Man costume had been specially polished for the occasion - my codpiece was gleaming!!

The upshot of this rather pathetic rant is that I didn't go. (altogether now - aaah)

My friends were in work or out and Mrs Captain would rather sandpaper her retinas than watch Iron Man, or any film that doesn't star George Clooney tilting his head at the camera and squinting.

Damn it all.

So, that means I am looking for a posse to watch the man who is Iron - any takers?