The first season is a remake of the Danish -Swedish thriller The Bridge. It was remade in the US, also called the Bridge and was between the US and Mexico. The Tunnel riffs off of British and Franco mutual distrust and grudging respect. Stephan Dillane as DCI Karl Roebuck is terrific, brilliant and flawed, selfish and driven to justice. Clemence Posey is equally wonderful as a French detective with what may be Asperger's but at the very least some social interaction issues. The rest of cast is terrific, each in their own element. And the stories are complex and convoluted, in a good way. I liked the second season more than the first and I'm working my way through the third. Definitely worth watching.
Reviews
5 Reviews
Eleventh Hour
(2008–2009)
Worth keeping around
29 April 2009
First, it's true that this is a US version of a Brit TV series. But since Brit TV usually has only 4-8 episodes per season as compared to the 13-20 in the US, the stories have to supplemented to stretch out the season. And the characters have to grow more, also. It works for some shows and not for others.
But this show mostly makes it. Sewell comes across as smart but not smarmy, complex but accessible. Shelton is pretty, bright and brave. This doesn't feel like a show where they are going to fall for each other and jump into bed (or over the shark, for that matter). Adding Omar Benson Miller has added another foil and gives some teeth to the kick-ass FBI. He's got the enthusiasm and really plays well with the two leads.
As for the stories, it's partly X-Files with some CSI tossed in. It's a bit lighter than both but genuinely has some sense of impending doom. Some stories work better than others but this show seems to have found a pretty good balance in the last several episodes.
It's worth watching a couple of episodes. I think it could get better with a little more time to develop. I hope it gets a second season because it could develop into a really neat show with more than a cult following. It gets a 7 for now but there is room for an upwards adjustment.
But this show mostly makes it. Sewell comes across as smart but not smarmy, complex but accessible. Shelton is pretty, bright and brave. This doesn't feel like a show where they are going to fall for each other and jump into bed (or over the shark, for that matter). Adding Omar Benson Miller has added another foil and gives some teeth to the kick-ass FBI. He's got the enthusiasm and really plays well with the two leads.
As for the stories, it's partly X-Files with some CSI tossed in. It's a bit lighter than both but genuinely has some sense of impending doom. Some stories work better than others but this show seems to have found a pretty good balance in the last several episodes.
It's worth watching a couple of episodes. I think it could get better with a little more time to develop. I hope it gets a second season because it could develop into a really neat show with more than a cult following. It gets a 7 for now but there is room for an upwards adjustment.
Ultraviolet
(2006)
Thin plot, thin outfits, terrific fight scenes, kind of fun
5 March 2006
It's definitely faint praise to say it's not as bad as everyone is saying but that's where I have to start.
The plot is very thin, centering on a virus that changed some humans and a possible cure or kill-all. Let's just say that hangs together about as well as any action flick, which we know is not going to be that great.
The future looks like a cleaned up Blade Runner, very slick and clean. Technology looks and work wonderfully. You can collapse weapons into another dimension and carry as many as you want. Very cool.
The best thing going here is the amazing fight choreography, not just the acrobatics but the creativity and depths. Guns, punches, swords, closed space, open space, floor and ceiling, light or dark, it's all here. Jovovich isn't breaking new ground here but she does this character well. The supporting case is fine, offering menace or help as necessary.
Not for everyone but actually kind of fun. I liked it better than I thought I would. For comparison, I thought Underworld: Evolution was much better, probably an 8.
The plot is very thin, centering on a virus that changed some humans and a possible cure or kill-all. Let's just say that hangs together about as well as any action flick, which we know is not going to be that great.
The future looks like a cleaned up Blade Runner, very slick and clean. Technology looks and work wonderfully. You can collapse weapons into another dimension and carry as many as you want. Very cool.
The best thing going here is the amazing fight choreography, not just the acrobatics but the creativity and depths. Guns, punches, swords, closed space, open space, floor and ceiling, light or dark, it's all here. Jovovich isn't breaking new ground here but she does this character well. The supporting case is fine, offering menace or help as necessary.
Not for everyone but actually kind of fun. I liked it better than I thought I would. For comparison, I thought Underworld: Evolution was much better, probably an 8.
Serenity
(2005)
Great story and action. Just a terrific movie.
30 September 2005
Like most of America, I didn't watch Firefly when it first came out. Fox canceled it before I got a chance to get hooked. My bad. But I would have only been more angry when Fox pulled the plug so it's a mixed bag.
This movie follows the action in the episodes that were made (and are available on DVD) and fills in some backstory via flashbacks and dialog. Whedon has done a great job with the story and everything that happens has a purpose and is right in line with the story.
If your not a Firefly fan, then this might seem like just another science fiction movie that hit the big screen in early autumn. But you'd be selling it short; this is a great story with lots of action. The dialogue snaps, there's humor and pathos. The good guys do incredible stuff and make mistakes, in short, they're human. The bad guys are amazingly evil and make no apologies for being so. This is just a well done movie and great story.
If you are a Firefly fan then you'll either have already seen it or you're on your way. For me, it was just great to see these characters again. I really like this movie. I'll see it again on the big screen and I'll buy the DVD when it comes out. It's definitely worth your time.
This movie follows the action in the episodes that were made (and are available on DVD) and fills in some backstory via flashbacks and dialog. Whedon has done a great job with the story and everything that happens has a purpose and is right in line with the story.
If your not a Firefly fan, then this might seem like just another science fiction movie that hit the big screen in early autumn. But you'd be selling it short; this is a great story with lots of action. The dialogue snaps, there's humor and pathos. The good guys do incredible stuff and make mistakes, in short, they're human. The bad guys are amazingly evil and make no apologies for being so. This is just a well done movie and great story.
If you are a Firefly fan then you'll either have already seen it or you're on your way. For me, it was just great to see these characters again. I really like this movie. I'll see it again on the big screen and I'll buy the DVD when it comes out. It's definitely worth your time.
Odyssey 5
(2002–2004)
Great show, wish we got more of it.
6 January 2003
Showtime really hit a homerun with this show. It's smart, sexy and does insightful, thought provoking sci-fi that favorably compares with the first couple of X-Files season. There are supposed to be 20 episodes but only 14 have seen air time (to 1/03) and is appears that a second season won't be done. A real pity because this one is a gem. With this one going away, and Farscape no longer around, there is a shortage of intelligent science fiction on television. Watch what you can of this and just dream about what it could have been.
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