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Coming Soon on the small screen...

Dominion (SyFY) June 19

Dominion is an epic supernatural drama set in the near future. Specifically, 25 years after "The Extinction War," when an army of lower angels, assembled by the archangel Gabriel, waged war against mankind. The archangel Michael, turning against his own kind, chose to side with humanity. Rising out of the ashes of this long battle are newly fortified cities which protect human survivors. At the center of the series is the city of Vega, a glistening empire that has formed from the ruins of what was once Las Vegas.

Extant  (CBS) July 9

An astronaut (Berry) returns home from a year long solo mission in space. She tries to reconnect with her husband and son in their everyday life. Her experiences in space and home lead to events that ultimately will change the course of human history.

The Strain (FX)  July 30

A thriller that tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, the head of the Center for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. He and his team are called upon to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. As the strain spreads, Eph, his team, and an assembly of everyday New Yorkers, wage war for the fate of humanity itself.

Outlander (Starz) Aug 9

Follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate relationship is ignited that tears Claire's heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

Constantine (NBC) Oct 24

A man struggling with his faith is haunted by the sins of his past but is suddenly thrust into the role of defending humanity from the gathering forces of darkness.

Scorpion (CBS) 2014

An eccentric genius forms an international network of super-geniuses to act as the last line of defense against the complicated threats of the modern world.

Madam Secretary (CBS) 2014

Téa Leoni

A look at the personal and professional life of a Secretary of State as she tries to balance her work and family life.

Ascension (SyFy) November 2014

In 1963, the U.S. government launched a covert space mission sending hundreds of men, women and children on a century-long voyage aboard the starship Ascension to populate a new world. Nearly 50 years into the journey, as they approach the point of no return, a mysterious murder of a young woman causes the ship's population to question the true nature of their mission.

Manhattan (WGN) 2014

Set against the backdrop of the greatest clandestine race against time in the history of science with the mission to build the world's first atomic bomb in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Flawed scientists and their families attempt to co-exist in a world where secrets and lies infiltrate every aspect of their lives.

Hieroglyph (Fox) 2014

John Rhys-Davies

A notorious thief is plucked out of the prison to serve a Pharaoh obsessed with maintaining power.

Forever (ABC) 2014

Ioan Gruffudd

A 200-year-old man works in the New York City Morgue trying to find a key to unlock the curse of his immortality.

The Whisperers 2014

A race against time to defeat an unseen alien enemy out to destroy the world using the Earth's most precious resource, children.

The Messengers (The CW) 2014

A mysterious object crashes on earth and a group of unconnected strangers die from an energy pulse it emits, but then re-awaken to find out that they have been deemed responsible for preventing the impending Apocalypse.

2014 looking through the flux capacitor lens

Outlander

new TV Series 2014

Follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate relationship is ignited that tears Claire's heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

From Starz (Spartacus) and with Ron D. Moore (Star Trek, Battlestar) as executive producer this has real potential. Besides, with time travel and men in kilts (not to mention the title) this has a real Highlander feel.

http://www.starz.com/originals/outlander

Helix

New TV Series on Syfy January 10

The series follows a team of scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who travel to a research facility in the Arctic to investigate a potential outbreak of disease. While there, they find themselves stuck in a life-or-death situation that could decide the fate of the future of mankind.

executive producer Ronald D. Moore

Edge of Tomorrow

A soldier fighting in a war with aliens finds himself caught in repeating his last day of the battle.

Time loops, alien invasion, powered armor. Could be a SF classic of epic proportions or plummet from the edge of it's own grandiosity.

Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton

Transcendence 

Johnny Depp as a mad scientist pushing for humanities singularity moment (the birth of AI). The directorial debut from award-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister (Inception, Dark Knight). Add in Paul Bettany and Morgan Freeman.

Could have the gravitas of a black hole or disappear inside it's own event horizon.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Survivors of the simian plague trigger an all-out war between humanity and Caesar's growing forces.

After the surprise that was Caesar's first outing I'm really looking forward to seeing if they can keep the momentum going.

Robocop

Yes it's a remake and yes it could be horrid but I'm strangely excited by everything I've read from the director. Respect of the originals actual genre (satire) and intent were high on his agenda.

 "Dead or alive your coming with me"

Godzilla 

We know the story, we know the horror... of the last Hollywood version. But given the epic-ness that was Pacific Rim and the trailers to date. Colour me excited.

Ender's Game - A Hero's Epitaph

As good as the book? Not even close but then again the book is an absolute ten out of ten classic. That the movie stays so close to, and does so well to replicate the book is it's strength... and weakness.

Fans of the book will be happy that despite much truncation (especially Battle School) the heart of the first two thirds of the story stays faithful to the ideals of the text. In a word, "leadership". And even none readers will enjoy the journey of a young boy from "boot camp" to "Napoleon".

It's the back third and it's dense morality dilemma hidden behind all the action and CGI that is the true pivot of the story. And this dictates the end of the film (and not a setup for a sequel as so many reviewers seem to think). And this too can be summed up by a single word but one I must leave out... spoilers.

And this ending will probably loose two thirds of non-book readers in truth. The video-mind-game-link-in is there but given the condensed nature of movie time-lines feels a little under explained and very deux machina. And the hero, to periah, to hero epitaph is there but so quick and perfunctory as to be lost in translation. Faithful to the book yes but not well executed (and to be fair, I'm not sure if there is any way to do this well on film).

Over all a brilliant adaption, and an almost brilliant film. True to the spirit and intent of the novel and despite leaving non-readers a little confused with the end, entertaining for all.

And by the by, I selected the words "hero epitaph" with care as the books sequel is called Speaker For The Dead. And that should give non-book-readers some idea of the ending Orson Scott Card was aiming for with Ender's Game.

8 /10

2013 the year of the BRAAAM!

I love a good list and years end always brings out plenty of "best of" collections. So here is my contribution to the yearly navel gazing. My best of choices in music, movies, books and TV shows. Let the lists begin...

2013 in MUSIC

1   Love Lust Faith + Dreams - 30 Seconds to Mars
2   Loud Like Love - Placebo
3   Burials - AFI
4   13 - Black Sabbath
5   Lightning Bolt - Pearl Jam

Thirty Seconds to Mars keep delivering great music and even better music videos. And their live concert from Malaysia in 2011 was my go to concert for 2013. Usually after listening to Love Lust Faith + Dreams. Definitely my favorite album of 2013.

Placebo knocked it out of the park with Loud Like Love (with the title track being my highest iTunes playcount). And the music video to "To Many Friends" has to be seen to appreciate it's.... uniqueness (as does the lyrics). For mind the best Placebo album ever.

My computer thinks I'm gay

What's the difference anyway

When all the people do all day

Is stare into a phone

AFI's followup to Decemberunderground was very average and I thought that would be if for these guys but Burials comes out swinging. Happily sits along side the black rabbits cover and though no track will probably ever beat Love Like Winter and Miss Murder. 17 Crimes, I Hope You Suffer, and No Resurrection can feel no shame being listed alongside them.

Pearl Jam and Sabbath both proved you can keep making epic music despite the many years since their birth. Not just nostalgia trips for resurrection tours, both albums are fine pieces of work from sublime performers and rank amongst their best works.

Honorable Mentions to March Fires from Birds of Tokyo and the debut album Silence Yourself from the Savages. March Fires got a flogging for a few weeks there and hence went a little "James Blunt" for me afterwards. And the Savages debut is just too new in my collection to really judge it's worth (though I suspect it will have serious legs).

Best music video would have to go to AFI 17 Crimes. Not only is it a fracking brilliant song but the film clip captures that "forever young" vibe to perfection.

If you had a day would you give me a moment?

Would you allow our play to leave no bone unbroken?

Let's love like seventeen

2013 in MOVIES

1  Rush
2  Gravity
3  Oblivion
4  Pacific Rim
5  World War Z

Rush was just that, an epic rush of music, action, pretty girls and fast cars. Easily the most fun at the cinema this is year. Endlessly re-watchable, a new Top Gun for a new decade. Gravity was a wonderful once off experience. Visually breathtaking on the big screen but probably not a repeat view event. Oblivion was the surprise gift for the year. A great yet simple script and gorgeous cinematography made for a rewarding movie experience. One I've already repeated four times.

BRAAAM! What can you say about Pacific Rim other than it delivered what it promised in spades. Massive mother fracking mechas known as Jaegers fighting monstrously huge beasts called Kaiju to the best sound track of the year. Seriously, the title track composed by Ramin Djawadi (who also wrote the Game of Thrones theme) is the stand out theme for many a year. And the guitar work of Tom Morello combined with that BRAAAM sound effect. EPIC!

Lastly, World War Z. Given the well reported script re-writes and multiple re-shoots this should have been a disaster. That it was very watchable and even entertaining was a pleasant surprise. Swarming human zombie pyramids even added something to the zombie genre lexicon.

2013 in BOOKS

1   The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (2013)
2   Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding (2009)
3   Black Lung Captain by Chris Wooding
4   House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds (2010)
5   Doc by Mary Doria Russell (2011)
6   Blood Eye by Giles Kristian (2009)
7   Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey (2012)
8   World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks (2006)
9   Christian Nation by Frederic C. Rich (2013)
10 Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes (2009)

I got through 50 books in 2013 the majority being a pretty decent read (and thank you goodreads website for collecting such excellent stats). I cannot articulate enough though, how magical Neil Gaiman's Ocean at the End of the Lane was. A book for all readers of any genre taste. Truely magical, and a worthy winner of goodreads people's choice award.

2013 in TV

1 Orphan Black S1
2 Vikings S1
3 Breaking Bad S5
4 Person of Interest S3
5 Game of Thrones S3

Games of Thrones stayed solid with season 3 (though the creation of Reek dragged a little). Emilia Clarke was again the standout in a excellent cast. Person of Interest continues to grow in quality. For a show I rated a "B" at best in it's debut season, it just keeps growing in strength. And the cast is superb, and you look forward to spending time with them each week (much like LOST).

Breaking Bad finished brilliantly (and given how many show finales totally tanked it, thank god). A truly great show destined to go down as a high point in a "golden age" of TV. Heisenberg will most likely never be forgotten.

The real highlight of 2013 though was the debut of two new shows. And by the gods how good were they. Tatiana Maslany deserved every award everywhere for the greatest acting ever in the history of the craft (she actually got ten awards just not an Emmy, for shame). That so many of my favorite characters ever on TV are all played by the same actress. And that they all interact, converse, fight, plot and try to kill each other... makes your head hurt. Who could ever forget the madness of Helena, the sass of Sarah, the smoking hotness of Cosima and the mad, soccer mum and best clone ever, Alison. CLONE CLUB RULES!

And not only did Vikings rock as hard as Thrones but it delivered the greatest show title in the history of TV. And Ragnar Lodbrok's half smile and genuine joy at the death and mayhem of the viking world... will linger long.

seasons - the endless summer in my mind

two feet standing on a principle 

two hands longing for each other's warmth 

cold smoke seeping out of colder throats

darkness falling, leaves nowhere to go.

music mix and photoshop artwork

01  Still - Daughter
02  My Recurring Dream - Cold Mailman
03  Endless Summer - The Jezabels
04  Higher Than The Sun - Keane
05  Another Story - The Head And The Heart
06  Tomorrow - Daughter
07  I Lost Myself - Sivu
08  Palest Winter Light - PacoVolume
09  Forever - FMLYBND
10  A World Alone - Lorde
11  Death's Song - City and Colour
12  Sleeping By Myself - Pearl Jam
13  Lovers' Revolution - Iron & Wine
14  Wishful - Stars
15  Away We Go - Prince of Spain
16  Come And Be Alone With Me - The Jungle Giants

Playlist