In this week's episode of Angry Puppy, Marc and Lee talk about breaking movie news (keywords: Jake Gyllenhaal!), George Takei's Secret Talent, Jack and Ianto's Weevil-hunting clinch, some new X-Men books, and much, much more.
I really think Kylie Minogue's role on Doctor Who was her best since she played the Green Fairy in that movie with pre-botox Nicole Kidman. Did you notice that Astrid is an anagram of the Tardis? Always look for anagrams when your dealing with this level of screen writing (read: Russell Davies). I think Astrid, er, Kylie should get her own show. Maybe she could be a doctor too, only in the Old West. And she could be tricked into raising three rambunctious orphans, one of whom will come out as gay but not until the show is canceled and his personal life has already been scrutinized in all the tabloids. Anyway, I didn't want Astrid to be vaporized, or whatever happened to her. Doctor Who is just too sad. I vote that she's gets to join the Torchwood team in Season 3. And I also vote that she gets to keep the maid's outfit, if she can wrestle it away from Ianto!
I know you're kidding, but that sounds like something I'd watch. Just needs a few robots.
I didn't notice that about Astrid/Tardis, but should have (Torchwood/Doctor Who, after all). On someone's Bebo page, it says, "Astrid is an anagram of Tardis, while Perth means “part” in Welsh, where the show is filmed – so her name translates as “part Tardis”."
I don't know about that second part. It was Astrid "Peth", not "Perth", but maybe that's a typo. Any Welsh speakers around?
I think it's just a typo. RTD has denied this one though, and she doesn't really have any link to the Tardis. I think it's more likely that it's just Astrid from aster -- Latin for star, given what happens to her.
When Stargate first came out I saw it in a theatre and had the same reaction....loved it to bits. Since then, the technology of film making has gotten so sophisticated and our tastes have evolved so much, it's to our own downfall. Who can forget the pee-your-pants excitment of the final scene in the first ever Star Wars movie? (only us of a certain age) And the delight the next morning walking onto a city bus and the bus driver has a "May the Force Be With You" button on his shirt. It was like belonging to a secret club.
Now we just crave more and more perfection in the cg stuff, etc. Remember watching the amazing art of "Spirited Away"? How each strand of hair blew gently in the wind. Now, it seems very ordinary. I guess evolution is the natural order of things, it just seems a shame to lose that appreciation of the "firsts".
Fav Pink Floyd: One of These Days. Makes me want to do tequila shooters and dance in a cage...
I say we take the warning labels off everything and let nature take it's course.
In this particular case (Stargate), it was more the writing and dialogue than the technology that didn't live up to my memories.
For some reason, I remember it not being so simplistic, but I suppose my head filled in the blanks that weren't in the script. The underlying idea is really inventive, so kudos to whoever came up with that.
Secret Club Movies: Do people get that Star Wars feeling from any movies these days? Maybe LOTR?
It's not a movie, but I think I definitely got a sense of the secret club thing at the Buffy Sing-A-Long. I wish they were still doing those.
Spirited Away: No! I'm vowing now to never watch it again, then. I loved it, but I've only seen it once.
Wait, are you guys talking about "The Spirits Within" rather than "Spirited Away"? The former was the CG film, the latter anime... (I enjoyed "The Spirits Within" well enough, though by the time the ending rolled around I had NO idea what was going on!)
I'm like a superhero, with no powers or motivation...
...was anime. What I meant to say was that all of the different forms of art including computer graphics, computer animation, special effects, etc., all of it has progressed to a level of sophistication we couldn't imagine only 20 years ago. (my mind goes faster than my typing skills)
I say we take the warning labels off everything and let nature take it's course.
Why would it be so odd that EastEnders should follow Doctor Who? Is it so improbable that somebody could enjoy both a sci-fi program AND a soap opera? In the 1980s, I eagerly devoured both Star Trek: The Next Generation AND Falcon Crest with equal abandon.
Speaking of which, THIS is the greatest TV opening of all time:
I haven't read it (makes note...), but the last I heard about it was Kenneth Johnson's quote at deadbolt.com:
"… since I own the motion picture rights to V, we’re in the process to do a remake of the original mini-series first as a theatrical feature, which I’m so jazzed about because it will give me an opportunity to really realize it and execute it in a way that was impossible to do back then. Then that will lead to the obvious sequel, because it is a franchise, and then we’ll get into The Second Generation and I’m hoping we’ll be able to do two movies, because there’s certainly enough material in the novel to warrant two separate sequels. That’s my goal at this point and that’s what we’re in the process of doing. I just literally came from a meeting, 15-20 minutes ago with a fellow in Beverly Hills who really says that we’re gonna do it"
Are you guys old enough to remember the original 3 part mini-series? It was far superior to the tv series that they created from it. I remember going up to the dump (what is now recycling station- in those days it was still a pit-) and on one of the signs someone had spray painted the dark red "V" so it looked exactly like the one on TV. That was secret club-ish.
Another series that got wrecked was War of the Worlds. The original series starred Richard Chaves as Lt. Cl. Paul Ironside, a native American army guy that laughed when the aliens exploded. Then, they killed him off after the first season, and changed the name to WotW- The Second Invasion. They changed the whole concept from it being set in present day and very realistically scary (well, we thought so back then) to a post-apocalyptic future. I lost interest pretty much after that. I hate it when they write a "new and improved version" and there-by ruin them.
I say we take the warning labels off everything and let nature take it's course.
That sounds very interesting. I recently got the DVDs and thought about what they could do today with that story since it holds up so well, the miniseries at least. Looking forward to it.
I don't know how you guys feel about this but I saw the Doctor Who Christmas Special a couple of days after it aired because I downloaded it on a torrent. I've also managed to see the first two episodes of the season as well as the Torchwood season finale that way. It helps with the British shows.
You might be interested to know that the opening sequence to "Dexter" picked up last year's Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Sequence. Isn't it nice to know that the people who create these openings have a chance to get recognized and then subsequently overshadowed by Kathy Griffin?
I think I used up all my torrent credits on "test" software back in the day. Now I am really a nerd (in the bad way), because the only file I've shared recently is Ubuntu Linux. ;)
Kathy Griffin: Was this the time she dissed Jesus or the time she cursed out the Trading Spaces people? Or was that the same event?
I love your choices, especially Dexter which I hadn't gotten around to seeing untill I saw the opening on your site. I think Twilight Zone should have made the list though, I think it deserves at least number 7 on the list - especially the original, the remake tries too hard. I remember the first time my dad showed me an episode the opening scared the crap out of me and it still kind of does. It has the perfect mix of corny effects with, what I consider to be, really frightwning dialogue *in a very corny voice*
We start out with very big lists and whittle them down. In the horror anthology genre for this particular list, we eventually chose among The Twilight Zone, Monsters, Tales from the Crypt and Freddy's Nightmares.
The Twilight Zone is obviously more of a classic, but for some reason, I have always had a visceral reaction to the opening sequence of Tales from the Darkside, right around the part where the birch trees invert. Marc had always had the same feeling, so it was the winner. Incidentally, I get the same Darkside feeling when I see Balok in the credits of the original Star Trek. That guy's creepy - not in the episode - just in the credits.
Does anyone else remember Monsters? It's probably like Stargate in that I shouldn't try to find old episodes. I remember them being ridiculous, but fun, and I still hum that theme song from time to time.
Yes - totally agree with what Lee said. Love the Twilight Zone opening, but I do get this great reaction to Tales From The Darkside even though I never understood why. It's fascinating to me that such a cheesy visual open like that still manages to work; I guess that speaks volumes for what's going on in the audio portion. Love both the creepy music and the narration!
HOW could you make a list of the top ten sci-fi openings, and NOT mention the best, the opening to the greatest sci-fi kids show ever made, the 70's british series THE TOMORROW PEOPLE?
Now only does it include that THAMES promo (which always made me think Benny Hill was coming on), but the haunting theme music and that creepy opening hand make it a classic!
The font, the music. Wow. :) Thanks for the link! I don't think this was available where I grew up, so I've never seen an episode. Netflix has it, though, so I'll sample some.
Your profile picture makes me hear the song Human Behaviour, by the way. But he's marching a little too slow for it. ;)
You forgot to mention that out actor Russell Tovey also guest stars in "Voyage of the Damned". Earlier this year, Tovey starred in "Being Human", a pilot about a vampire and a werewolf who are roommates.
Being Human is being made into a series as far as I know. The reaction to the pilot was huge. Not surprising though. It is one of the best pilots I've seen in a long time. The three main characters are lovable in different ways and the show itself maintains a good balance of darkness and humour. When it's funny, it's really funny, but when it's dark, it's really scary. They tread the line brilliantly. Russell Tovey's performance is a standout.
I found this in the comments of the IMDB page for "Being Human". It was posted back in February.
Here is the reply I got from the BBC
Thank you for your e-mail regarding the BBC Three programme ' Being
Human'.
I was pleased to read how much you enjoyed this programme; we are
always delighted to receive such positive feedback from our viewers and it
is always a boost to programme makers to read appreciations from the
public, for the work they have put into programmes.
I can inform you that this was a one off programme and there are no
current plans to make it into a series. However, please be assured that
we have registered your interest in seeing more of this programme on our
audience log. This is the internal report of audience feedback which
we compile daily for all programme makers and commissioning executives
within the BBC, and also their senior management. It ensures that your
points, and all other comments we receive, are circulated and considered
across the BBC.
While 'Being Human' was only a one off programme, it is one of six new
dramas for BBC Three the next of which is ' Dis/Connected'. This will
be broadcast on 25th February at 9pm. IF you would like more
information about these programmes you may find the following link of interest:
So I downloaded Everclear's new album tonight (The Vegas Years); it's a very eclectic cover album, and the 12th track on the album turns out to be Land Of The Lost!
Anyway, your Top 10 Openings list from the vlog came to mind, and I had to wonder how you could have overlooked this one?
I completely forgot about that.
I'm wondering, though, are banjos really that prominent in the Land of the Lost, or are they trying to say something about Appalachia? ;)
Oh, man---Land of the Lost! What a jaw-droppingly bad, horrendously ridiculous show. But oh so much fun to watch as a kid (and as an adult, it does have camp value...). I was in the fourth grade, I think, when this was on and viewed it faithfully. I had a classmate who had a crush on Holly, but somehow even at that age I found myself being drawn to Will... Hmmmm.... (I believe the actor who played Will is in fact gay; odd coincidence...)
I'm like a superhero, with no powers or motivation...
Maid for Television
afhickman
"It takes a village (to make Village People)"
I really think Kylie Minogue's role on Doctor Who was her best since she played the Green Fairy in that movie with pre-botox Nicole Kidman. Did you notice that Astrid is an anagram of the Tardis? Always look for anagrams when your dealing with this level of screen writing (read: Russell Davies). I think Astrid, er, Kylie should get her own show. Maybe she could be a doctor too, only in the Old West. And she could be tricked into raising three rambunctious orphans, one of whom will come out as gay but not until the show is canceled and his personal life has already been scrutinized in all the tabloids. Anyway, I didn't want Astrid to be vaporized, or whatever happened to her. Doctor Who is just too sad. I vote that she's gets to join the Torchwood team in Season 3. And I also vote that she gets to keep the maid's outfit, if she can wrestle it away from Ianto!
Wild West Tabloids
I know you're kidding, but that sounds like something I'd watch. Just needs a few robots.
I didn't notice that about Astrid/Tardis, but should have (Torchwood/Doctor Who, after all). On someone's Bebo page, it says, "Astrid is an anagram of Tardis, while Perth means “part” in Welsh, where the show is filmed – so her name translates as “part Tardis”."
I don't know about that second part. It was Astrid "Peth", not "Perth", but maybe that's a typo. Any Welsh speakers around?
I think it's just a typo.
Stargate movie's lost appeal...
When Stargate first came out I saw it in a theatre and had the same reaction....loved it to bits. Since then, the technology of film making has gotten so sophisticated and our tastes have evolved so much, it's to our own downfall. Who can forget the pee-your-pants excitment of the final scene in the first ever Star Wars movie? (only us of a certain age) And the delight the next morning walking onto a city bus and the bus driver has a "May the Force Be With You" button on his shirt. It was like belonging to a secret club.
Now we just crave more and more perfection in the cg stuff, etc. Remember watching the amazing art of "Spirited Away"? How each strand of hair blew gently in the wind. Now, it seems very ordinary. I guess evolution is the natural order of things, it just seems a shame to lose that appreciation of the "firsts".
Fav Pink Floyd: One of These Days. Makes me want to do tequila shooters and dance in a cage...
I say we take the warning labels off everything and let nature take it's course.
Things That Don't Hold Up
In this particular case (Stargate), it was more the writing and dialogue than the technology that didn't live up to my memories.
For some reason, I remember it not being so simplistic, but I suppose my head filled in the blanks that weren't in the script. The underlying idea is really inventive, so kudos to whoever came up with that.
Secret Club Movies: Do people get that Star Wars feeling from any movies these days? Maybe LOTR?
It's not a movie, but I think I definitely got a sense of the secret club thing at the Buffy Sing-A-Long. I wish they were still doing those.
Spirited Away: No! I'm vowing now to never watch it again, then. I loved it, but I've only seen it once.
What movie?
Wait, are you guys talking about "The Spirits Within" rather than "Spirited Away"? The former was the CG film, the latter anime... (I enjoyed "The Spirits Within" well enough, though by the time the ending rolled around I had NO idea what was going on!)
I'm like a superhero, with no powers or motivation...
Yes, Spirited Away....
...was anime. What I meant to say was that all of the different forms of art including computer graphics, computer animation, special effects, etc., all of it has progressed to a level of sophistication we couldn't imagine only 20 years ago. (my mind goes faster than my typing skills)
I say we take the warning labels off everything and let nature take it's course.
Sorry, you guys just really pissed me off.
Why would it be so odd that EastEnders should follow Doctor Who? Is it so improbable that somebody could enjoy both a sci-fi program AND a soap opera? In the 1980s, I eagerly devoured both Star Trek: The Next Generation AND Falcon Crest with equal abandon.
Speaking of which, THIS is the greatest TV opening of all time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbAJaSjD5KU
Check out my blog: http://radicalsexy.blogspot.com/
Sci Fi and Soaps
I don't think it's improbable to like sci fi and soaps. I used to watch Melrose Place, myself.
I never saw Falcon Crest, but I am partial to this V / Dallas mashup I found a while back.
Now that you mention it
Is V: The Next Generation going to happen? Heard its been pushed back to 2009, but I think they have been doing that since 2007. Do you guys know?
Havent read the book, do you know if its any good? Enough to sustain a miniseries?
V: The Second Generation
I haven't read it (makes note...), but the last I heard about it was Kenneth Johnson's quote at deadbolt.com:
"… since I own the motion picture rights to V, we’re in the process to do a remake of the original mini-series first as a theatrical feature, which I’m so jazzed about because it will give me an opportunity to really realize it and execute it in a way that was impossible to do back then. Then that will lead to the obvious sequel, because it is a franchise, and then we’ll get into The Second Generation and I’m hoping we’ll be able to do two movies, because there’s certainly enough material in the novel to warrant two separate sequels. That’s my goal at this point and that’s what we’re in the process of doing. I just literally came from a meeting, 15-20 minutes ago with a fellow in Beverly Hills who really says that we’re gonna do it"
Speaking of "V"
Are you guys old enough to remember the original 3 part mini-series? It was far superior to the tv series that they created from it. I remember going up to the dump (what is now recycling station- in those days it was still a pit-) and on one of the signs someone had spray painted the dark red "V" so it looked exactly like the one on TV. That was secret club-ish.
Another series that got wrecked was War of the Worlds. The original series starred Richard Chaves as Lt. Cl. Paul Ironside, a native American army guy that laughed when the aliens exploded. Then, they killed him off after the first season, and changed the name to WotW- The Second Invasion. They changed the whole concept from it being set in present day and very realistically scary (well, we thought so back then) to a post-apocalyptic future. I lost interest pretty much after that. I hate it when they write a "new and improved version" and there-by ruin them.
I say we take the warning labels off everything and let nature take it's course.
Of course I do
V is one of the staples of sci-fi, at least for me. This is one of those things that holds up well after 24 years.
You are right, the series was mess compared to the original miniseries, but really fun to watch again. I cant believe how campy it was.
Oh well, you can get all 3 on DVD now (Original, Final Battle and The Series).
And after watching the hillarious V/Dallas mash up, I found that you can watch both miniseries on youtube.
Thanks Lee
That sounds very interesting. I recently got the DVDs and thought about what they could do today with that story since it holds up so well, the miniseries at least. Looking forward to it.
BTW, that mash up was very funny.
Doctor Who
I don't know how you guys feel about this but I saw the Doctor Who Christmas Special a couple of days after it aired because I downloaded it on a torrent. I've also managed to see the first two episodes of the season as well as the Torchwood season finale that way. It helps with the British shows.
You might be interested to know that the opening sequence to "Dexter" picked up last year's Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Sequence. Isn't it nice to know that the people who create these openings have a chance to get recognized and then subsequently overshadowed by Kathy Griffin?
Torrents and Which Kathy Griffin Disturbance?
I think I used up all my torrent credits on "test" software back in the day. Now I am really a nerd (in the bad way), because the only file I've shared recently is Ubuntu Linux. ;)
Kathy Griffin: Was this the time she dissed Jesus or the time she cursed out the Trading Spaces people? Or was that the same event?
about the top 10
Tales from the Darkside vs. Twilight Zone
Oh, we struggled with this one.
We start out with very big lists and whittle them down. In the horror anthology genre for this particular list, we eventually chose among The Twilight Zone, Monsters, Tales from the Crypt and Freddy's Nightmares.
The Twilight Zone is obviously more of a classic, but for some reason, I have always had a visceral reaction to the opening sequence of Tales from the Darkside, right around the part where the birch trees invert. Marc had always had the same feeling, so it was the winner. Incidentally, I get the same Darkside feeling when I see Balok in the credits of the original Star Trek. That guy's creepy - not in the episode - just in the credits.
Does anyone else remember Monsters? It's probably like Stargate in that I shouldn't try to find old episodes. I remember them being ridiculous, but fun, and I still hum that theme song from time to time.
Scary black trees make me happy
GUYS, GUYS, GUYS.....
HOW could you make a list of the top ten sci-fi openings, and NOT mention the best, the opening to the greatest sci-fi kids show ever made, the 70's british series THE TOMORROW PEOPLE?
Now only does it include that THAMES promo (which always made me think Benny Hill was coming on), but the haunting theme music and that creepy opening hand make it a classic!
GO HERE AND SEE
The Tomorrow People - Acid Flashback
The font, the music. Wow. :) Thanks for the link! I don't think this was available where I grew up, so I've never seen an episode. Netflix has it, though, so I'll sample some.
Your profile picture makes me hear the song Human Behaviour, by the way. But he's marching a little too slow for it. ;)
alright
Russell Tovey in Doctor Who
You forgot to mention that out actor Russell Tovey also guest stars in "Voyage of the Damned". Earlier this year, Tovey starred in "Being Human", a pilot about a vampire and a werewolf who are roommates.
Russell Tovey, or I Want My BBC
Thanks, RJ! I'll be sure to keep my eyes open for him in the future.
It looks like he's in a lot of BBC stuff, though, so we may not get too many chances over here. I need a direct BBC linkup.
Being Human was only on BBC3 as far as I know, but I'd like to see it. Was it picked up as a series?
Being Human is being made
Being Human is being made into a series as far as I know. The reaction to the pilot was huge. Not surprising though. It is one of the best pilots I've seen in a long time. The three main characters are lovable in different ways and the show itself maintains a good balance of darkness and humour. When it's funny, it's really funny, but when it's dark, it's really scary. They tread the line brilliantly. Russell Tovey's performance is a standout.
Was there a recent announcement about "Being Human"?
I found this in the comments of the IMDB page for "Being Human". It was posted back in February.
Here is the reply I got from the BBC
Thank you for your e-mail regarding the BBC Three programme ' Being
Human'.
I was pleased to read how much you enjoyed this programme; we are
always delighted to receive such positive feedback from our viewers and it
is always a boost to programme makers to read appreciations from the
public, for the work they have put into programmes.
I can inform you that this was a one off programme and there are no
current plans to make it into a series. However, please be assured that
we have registered your interest in seeing more of this programme on our
audience log. This is the internal report of audience feedback which
we compile daily for all programme makers and commissioning executives
within the BBC, and also their senior management. It ensures that your
points, and all other comments we receive, are circulated and considered
across the BBC.
While 'Being Human' was only a one off programme, it is one of six new
dramas for BBC Three the next of which is ' Dis/Connected'. This will
be broadcast on 25th February at 9pm. IF you would like more
information about these programmes you may find the following link of interest:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/11_november/06/human.shtml
I hope that you will continue to watch BBC productions and may I thank
you, once again, for taking the time to contact us.
Regards
Andrew Milligan
BBC Information
How could this not have made your Top 10 Openings?
So I downloaded Everclear's new album tonight (The Vegas Years); it's a very eclectic cover album, and the 12th track on the album turns out to be Land Of The Lost!
Anyway, your Top 10 Openings list from the vlog came to mind, and I had to wonder how you could have overlooked this one?
Brilliant! Next List!
Ed Wood territory
Oh, man---Land of the Lost! What a jaw-droppingly bad, horrendously ridiculous show. But oh so much fun to watch as a kid (and as an adult, it does have camp value...). I was in the fourth grade, I think, when this was on and viewed it faithfully. I had a classmate who had a crush on Holly, but somehow even at that age I found myself being drawn to Will... Hmmmm.... (I believe the actor who played Will is in fact gay; odd coincidence...)
I'm like a superhero, with no powers or motivation...
Land of the lost
Danger Will Marshall, Danger Will Marshall. . .