Pages

Falling Skies – Is It Worth An Hour Of Your Life Each Week?

Posted: July 11, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: TV Series | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Falling Skies, is the latest sci-fi drama to hit out television screens. New, and as an exclusive to channel FX, Falling Skies, is set after a huge alien invasion on Earth, leaving many dead, and massive global destruction. As much as it sounds just like any other typical alien invasion programme, don’t shy away just yet. There seems to be a little more to this than your generic alien invasion gun-fest.

Although I have only seen the first episode so far, it seems pretty promising. Created by Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan, The Patriot), along with a lending hand from Steven Spielberg as executive producer, the first episode sees a group of survivors, left amidst the destruction caused by the invaders. Instantly, the programme jumps into the main aspect of the programme, rather than providing an uninteresting introduction.

One thing I like about this programme, is that they actually show the invaders in some detail, rather than at little glimpses, like many other programmes/movies. The special effects are pretty impressive too, especially considering that it’s on FX. There also seems to be a good emotional aspect to the programme too, adding enjoyment and emphasis on the sub-plots which will most likely run through the episodes. At some points, however, some of the dialogue scenes did seem to get somewhat boring. However, they were in pretty short bursts, and did appear reasonably relevant, and so were manageable – and I feel the dialogue scenes will become more interesting and integral throughout the series, as they did towards the end of the episode, hopefully leading the programme to a very interesting outcome. The action scenes are also tense and enjoyable, and not just some crappy generic crap scene like you get in many TV series.

Although in many aspects it does seem quite similar to any other alien invasion programme, I’m going to give this one a chance. The characters seem to have a lot to them, and I think this will be explored further in the later episodes, giving an interesting sub-plot to the main storyline. And it may just be me, but there seems to be a bit of a ‘Terminator Salvation’-type feel to it; although I’m not necessarily complaining about this – it just seems quite familiar.

It may not necessarily seem like the best programme to have hit our television screens, but I think it will be worth the watch (it has already been scheduled to return for a second season). Falling Skies, stars Noah Wyle (ER, Donnie Darko) and Moon Bloodgood, who, ironically, stars in Terminator Salvation. Skies is on channel FX Uk, every Tuesday at 9pm. Give it a watch and decide whether it will be worth sticking to or not.

I’ll be posting a couple more updates on the programme as it progresses, so keep your eyes peeled if you’re interested!

By Manpreet Singh

Related articles

1998: Saving Private Ryan

Posted: July 9, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Monumental Movies | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment
Saving Private Ryan

Image via Wikipedia

Saving Private Ryan, easily one of the most well-crafted war movies of all time, is set after the Normandy landings in 1944. During the bloody battle on the shore, two brothers are killed. Shortly after, news arrives that a third brother has been killed in action in New Guinea. However, one brother still remains, who is behind enemy lines. It’s up to Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) and his men to save Private James Ryan (Matt Damon), sparing Ryan’s mother from the torture of having to mourn the death of all four of her sons.

Right from the start, this movie is just a classic, with the opening 10-15 minutes showing the battle on the shores of Normandy, displaying the brutality and cold-blooded murder associated with war to an impressively realistic degree. Miller leads his men forward, to secure the beachhead, whilst all around him soldiers are being slaughtered and killed in a split-second. Even right from the start, whilst they’re on the boats heading towards the shores, the great acting shows realistic reactions and emotions that occur in soldiers before running straight into battle.

Miller, along with his team, head straight into the enemy territory, risking their lives to save Private Ryan. All the way through, they face death at every corner, persevering even through the toughest of times. The movie ends with Miller and co. finding Private Ryan, although it seems he is right in the middle of heavy enemy territory. After an epic and tense battle scene, the movie ends with Miller laying on the floor, talking to Private Ryan, telling him to “Earn this. Earn it.”. The movie then skips forward more than 50 years, showing Ryan reading a speech at a graveyard, standing next to the grave of Captain Miller.

From start to end, this movie is outstanding. Filled with action, suspense, and highly emotional dramatical scenes, this movie is sheer brilliance throughout. And, although very sad at parts, which would make any person feel like crying, this movie really is a feel-good one, with the themes of perseverance and determination to reach your goals being emphasised. With the genius directing skills of Steven Spielberg behind this movie, all of these factors plus more, that make the movie, are only greatly amplified.

This movie really does represent war movies at their finest. A masterpiece of cinematic display, that will always be a classic.

By Manpreet Singh

Related articles