"I gotta pay for this bridge?!"

“Torchwood”
Channel: Starz
Day/Time: Friday 10pm

Let me preface this review by saying I have never seen any of the previous seasons of “Torchwood.” I was so lucky as to have been shown an advanced screening of the first episode. Now I know the first episode aired on 7/8, and the second episode is set to air tonight, but I still feel like I can weigh in on this. For those of you who know nothing about this show I can tell you that it started on the BBC and this is technically the 4th season. One of the main characters, Capt. Jack Harkness, came from the BBC series, “Doctor Who.” Something you should know about him, he’s immortal. Don’t ask me why, because I don’t know and from what I understand the show hasn’t explained it either.

The end of last season pretty much killed off all of the characters except for a few. They are back in season four with a whole host of amazing actors joining the fun that is Torchwood. What is Torchwood you ask? It’s a group that goes around fighting alien related mysteries and whatnot. It is “X-Files”-esque. But this season Torchwood has disbanded considering just about everyone is dead. The word Torchwood starts showing up all over the internet though and then all of a sudden it disappears from every database in the world. Something else happens, but I can’t say what it is. That would just ruin it for everyone who still hasn’t seen the first episode. And it’s kind of a big deal that I’m sure will carry on throughout the season so I won’t give it away.

I feel sorry for another of the returning characters, Gwen Cooper. She has been trying to lay low and live out in the country in Wales with her husband and baby. Any knock at the door or ring of the phone sends her into a tizzy. Gwen is one tough cookie though. The new characters work very well with each other and they seem to fit with the old characters. You have Mekhi Phifer and Alexa Havins as CIA agents. There is one hilarious scene between the two where Phifer really shines. I was cracking up the entire time. You also have Bill Pullman as a convicted child killer who survives his own execution and is let out of jail on a technicality. You have to see it to believe it.

There is a lot going on in the first episode and from the looks of the preview for the season there is a lot going to happen. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to give something away. I know on other sites they already gave away the big thing that happens in the first episode, but I’m not that type of girl. One thing I can leave you with is that I don’t think you will be disappointed. If you are a die-hard “Torchwood” fan I think you can still find this enjoyable and not be let down. There is a good amount of action and mystery and humor to keep everyone entertained. So check it out tonight. Get caught up with the first episode over on www.starz.com and look for the show.

I give this episode four out of five frames. I'm optimistic about the season.


Here is a piece put together by Starz discussing this season. Enjoy.


Until next time kids, this has been Hava.

Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon

Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Rated: PG-13
Genre: Action, Sci Fi, Adventure
Director: Michael Bay
Running Time: 155 minutes

Hesitantly I went to go see the third (and apparently last) installment of the Transformer franchise this past weekend, and in 3D to add that punch. My feelings were due to the second atrocity that Michael Bay titled: Revenge of the Fallen. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh - there were a few "cool" factors in the second film, amidst the Revenge of the Fallen's: ridiculous sex-driven close-ups, racist, offensive and unnecessary characters (whose likely purpose was for comic relief), a completely wrecked Shanghai with a ridiculous government excuse for a cover up, etc.. Nonetheless, giving the next adventure a shot, I would!

At this point, the autobots continue to work with the United States government as self-protection against human threats (still a part of NEST), while keeping an open ear to news of anything Decepticon. A Ukrainian government representative asks that the USA checkout something odd at an infamous location, Chernobyl. Lennox's team arrives only to be attacked by Shockwave after discovering what Optimus Prime tells us is a fuel cell from a ship that left Cybertron decades ago. Optimus is furious that the government hadn't told him about this discovery. The source of the discovery is revealed: the true intent of the United States' desire to be the first to set foot on the moon was to discover what had crashed there, (camouflaged from the American people) and they had brought back some souvenirs. I'll not get into the whole story/summary as it is already written for you! You can either read it on Wikepedia or on IMDB, or simply go see the movie ;) I'm simply going to note a few of the arresting features, and that which may help you determine whether or not to go check this out.

Known to most folks who have seen the first couple movies, Megan Fox, supposedly due to creative differences (and her not knowing when to keep her mouth shut, even if Michael Bay is horrible to work with), does not return. Sam Witickey (Shia LeBeouf) is dating Carly Spencer (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley), a ridiculously pretty girl he met while at the White House awhile back.

The ocular experience was quite pleasant. At a running time of 155 minutes (2.5 hours), I thought I'd get to the point where I would be anxiously waiting for the credits but time flew by. One of the more noticeable (and pleasant) features were the transformations themselves. They were much clearer than the last installment (all I remember from Revenge of the Fallen were clashings of metal on metal that apparently conveyed the metamorphoses of vehicle to walking machine and vice versa). I could make out more of what was going on and as a result, was much more visually stimulating. The transformations were amazing - the computer graphics team who worked on this movie did an impressive job. One item of difficulty with respect to the transformers themselves, is the lack of pigment to any of the Decepticons. With all the layered and twisted metal this army is made up of, it was difficult to differentiate between which bots were which. A knowledged individual informed me that in the original story, the Decepticons too had color, not just the Autobots. While I realize that the design for each are likely unique (the team rendering each Decepticon I'm sure can provide a list of differences), in all the metal, fighting, twisting, transforming, war... I couldn't tell which Decepticon was getting its butt kicked!

The storyline was straight forward, yet with a few historical twists and plots (the coverup/truth about man landing on the moon, appearances by JFK & Richard Nixon) and the visit to Chernobyl. We also get a deep conflict; Sentinel Prime, the original leader of the Autobots, gets revived by Optimus however he does not share the same commitment to the sanctity of all life. This exchange between Optimus's honorable desire for the good of all, vs. Sentinal's intent to utilize Earth's resources as their new home, while "employing" humans as their servants, is memorable. To imagine that one you've admired your entire existence and whom you've not seen for many years, is not who you knew him to be, and possibly to the demise of all you've come to care for.

There was, of course, plenty of fan-service; naturally Sam Witwickey's gal worked at a job in which minidresses was welcomed & apparently proper attire. She didn't fail to impress while amidst the battle scenes, could still run in stilettos and not have a scratch or smudge of dirt on her at the cessation of the movie.

While I'm sure you've heard about this scene (whether you've yet to see the movie yet or not), I would be crazy not to mention the incredible car chase involving Sam & Bumblebee in which Bumblebee transforms with Sam in the car, he gets catapulted through the air, Bumblebee catches him and transforms back into the car with Sam in the driver's seat. I must say - kudos Bumblebee; I'd like to also be your friend. If you can look out for someone in such a way that you can disassemble and reassemble yourself while not accidentally taking off a foot or finger all while racing down a highway - I trust you completely. Tremendous action scene.

We had comic relief via two miniature autobots; a bit obnoxious but much, much, MUCH better than the ones featured last time. No illiterate, gold-teeth wearing, ghetto-type bots for us this time around, thank goodness.

There's much more to share but I believe that it is time to bid adieu and conclude that I think it was worth the time & money. The 3D experience was fun. :)

I give this three out of five frames.



A trailer (for your eyes only!):



Head on over to the forum or shoot me an email at pictureonawall@gmail.com with all opinions!

Danae signing off!

Source: wikepedia,com, imdb.com, traileraddict.com