Science Fiction Archives | Page 18 Of 121

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Reflections on Season One Before The Debut of Two

In Canada, Star Trek Strange New Worlds is now available on #homevideo and we can binge watch and offer some analysis on it!

Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season One 4K Sleeve — **Pick up Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Amazon USA**

Season Two Begins on June 15, 2023

Arriving just in time before the season two debut of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is the 4K release of season one! It got delayed in Canada, but for those wanting to get caught up before the broadcast of the next season on Paramount Prime, now’s the time!

In what I am preparing for is to remind myself of the continuing story arcs that matter, which also includes what’s happening with Mr. Spock and T’Pring. While that relationship is official, just what this science officer feels for Nurse Chapel has been something of an unusual thorn. I can’t wait to see where this love triangle goes in season two. While “Spock Amok” is a precursor to the penultimate “Amok Time,” just what his feelings are is uncertain. And there’s a lot to read into this update to Spock’s Journey (Ethen Peck). To borrow upon a popular song title, People are Strange, indeed.

However, the real standout is “The Elysian Kingdom.” It’s very familiar, where not only Star Trek’s “Metamorphosis” may have provided the inspiration for its genesis but also there’s Deep Space 9’s “Rumpelstiltskin,” where energy beings are wandering the galaxy and giving hope to those wanting their dreams fulfilled. Had there been a director’s commentary, I’m sure what’s said might suggest a connection and evolution of this cloud entity! What I offer are merely guesses, especially when concerning a series that likes to connect the dots more often than not. Continue reading “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Reflections on Season One Before The Debut of Two”

Transformers. When The Rise of the Beasts Must Help and More Than Meets the Unicron!

Just how much of a threat are The Rise of the Beasts, or should that be Maximals vs Unicron? #transformers #moviereview #hasbro

Transformers Rise of the Beasts Movie Poster Paramount Pictures

Ever since I saw Transformers The Movie back in 1986, my love for Unicron only grew! To learn that he’s the big threat in Rise of the Beasts only got me excited, and since I knew this ancient threat is tough to take down, some new warriors must be borne!

In the original, various Cybertronian factions worked together to sever this giant’s link to his robotic self. As a result, his spirit would always linger. His head looms over Cybertron as a reminder of how he simply lays sleeping. To bring some of that omnipresence in Rise of the Beasts is a highlight and Steven Caple Jr. certainly delivers what we both adored from the animated film!

However, to show just how nasty this intergalactic level threat truly is can be tough. Short of using artificial intelligence to bring Orson Welles’ voice back, Colman Domingo has big shoes to fill! What’s presented is very satisfactory. But to show why he matters to the Maximals, the new robot guardians of the peace, is part-way explained, even though it breaks the original canon.

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Listing All The Significant Events in the Transformers Timeline is Needed to Make Sense of the Big Picture

Here, we present a chart of everything you need to know in the Transformers timeline to know where this franchise is headed!

The order of which live-action Transformers movies to watch first is easy to figure out, but to understand where all the events fall into place in this Transformers timeline is haphazard. It requires rewatching the films again or looking at a good movie information page to review what’s significant. After catching the early access release of the latest film yesterday, I realised I had to make this chart in order to identify the master plan.

Transformers Rise of the Beasts Movie Poster

After Rise of the Beasts, the Optimus Prime we meet isn’t the same as the one from those early films. He’s a lot more rough at the edges, and to explain if he left Earth at some later point in time only to return again in Michael Bay’s film may well have long time viewers confused. That’s assuming this filmmaker’s movies are still important to the longer narrative. It’s possible that Hasbro and all the producers will have to decide to return to the present to address the story as it’s still left untold.

Even though Bumblebee is considered a soft reboot by ignoring the future by giving us tales set in the past, at some point the narrative has to return to the now to explain a huge plot hole.

Thus, we have the following points to consider from the Transformers timeline (spoiler alert):

17,000 B.C. (Transformers 2) – The First Cybertronians discover a method to harness the power of the Sun, and when one of them selects Earth’s solar system to burn out, he gets banished. His evil decision went against their prime directive.

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Fortunately, Unboxing The Transformers Limited Edition Steelbook 6-Movie Collection is a Cinch!

If you are new to the cinematic version of Transformers Robots in Disguise and want to watch it in 4k or bluray, then this The Transformers Limited Edition Steelbook 6-Movie Collection is for you!

Available to order on Amazon USA
Release Date: May 30, 2023

Thankfully, unlike some of Hasbro’s toys where some of the Cybertronians are not easy to figure out in regards to how they transform back and forth, unboxing the Transformers Limited Edition Steelbook 6-Movie Collection is much easier! I also own Transformers: The Covenant of Primus hardcover book (now out of print), and I’m sometimes scared to move the pieces of that around when I want to access that book in its original packaging; I keep it out than in. Fortunately in this release, pulling a title out to watch while still in this box is a cinch.

The box and discs are designed to sleeve nicely back and forth and it’s not likely to see wear and tear (unlike how the bots look) while proudly displayed. Although we didn’t open up the first disc of the set to reveal the fancy plated Autobot decal (pictured below) that comes with this set, everything a Michael Bay fan would want is redone in a beautiful box set of the first five movies and Bumblebee.

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Presenting The Top Three Shorts From The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival!

We offer our choices as the best short film winners from the 2023 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

39th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival The 39th annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival had lots of shorts and a bunch of movies to enjoy. It wasn’t too hard to decide on what to check out since, like other events worldwide, to restart properly following the global health scare is tough. To begin, I’ll look at my three most favourite shorts, and although two of them follow upon a similar theme, just where it goes is different:

Mom, If I Were a Vampire

Wen (Ting Chiu) doesn’t want to be a momma’s girl, and life at school is rough in other departments. But when she gets in with the right crowd, with Jo (Yu-Xuan Wang) as the “it” girl, the friendship forged is no different from what I recall from Vampire Princess Miyu, a classic anime I have fond memories of.

Although there’s no similar character dynamic since most of the manga and animated series involved the title role without a human companion, what’s presented here would make for a good jumping in point for a live-action adaptation! In this case, it’s to expand upon. The LGTBQ angle isn’t anything new, but how its handled is quite deft!

In what the two characters encounter are bullies and stalkers. Also, I think Wen wants to be turned. She has a lot of feelings to get out and to explore that requires a longer story. This piece made by Deborah Devyn Chuang is certainly worth seeking for the neo-noir colour aesthetics!

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Transformers Earthspark Needs More Starscream! A DVD Release Early Season Wrapup

Although the home video release doesn’t offer any extra featurettes regarding behind-the-scenes production, hopefully a complete Transformers Earthspark release will change that.

Transformers Earthspark Episodes 1-10 DVD Release — **Buy the Action Figures at the official Transformers Earthspark Amazon USA landing page.**

Available for purchase on Amazon USA

Keeping up with Transformers Earthspark can be tough. It can be found on Paramount Plus, the streaming service and Nickelodeon (USA) but when not everyone subscribes to either, tuning in from another country requires patience. I’ve lost track of when YTV would finally offer the remaining episodes; this station didn’t immediately offer them and recently, this network started cycling the first half all over again rather than offer new episodes (to which not even Nick has aired).

What I’ve learned after acquiring the home video release is that it is great at connecting to the G1 series. Those classic moments were reproduced in cel animation, and that’s enough for me to say I love the presentation! Also, this new series evolves the premise that’s defined this franchise for a long time. There are certain episodes which had me wanting to pause and rewind to search for Easter eggs, and the mid-season finale “Age of Evolution” sets up a world where newly formed allegiances are challenged.

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