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Spielberg's Taken
A few people submitted asking for an open discussion for Spielberg's Taken miniseries that premiered last night on SciFi
last night. I watched it, and I gotta say I dug it, and set Tivo up to snag the rest of it. I wish that they were spacing it out a bit more (in terms of scheduling, not in terms of leaving the Earth's atmosphere ;) What do folks think?
The whole series is a total of 10 - 2 hour events. Now with all respects, how much more space would someone need.
The series revolves around three families spaced out over 50 years of history. From strange lights over Nazi Germany, to modern day. As far as the first airing, it appears as though each family will receive 3 - 2 hours episodes, then a 2 hour finalie where everyone is brought together.
Myself, I was rather appauled by the use of Steven Speilberg so prominently. Each of these episodes was directed by a different director, then Speilberg looked it over and tried to alter it ever so slightly IN THE POST PRODUCTION!. By tagging on a big league name, the further drew people in. That mixed with constant TV commercial marketing.
My ignorance is a perfect shield against your logic.
Lessee... they can take any shape. They can convert to energy and just vanish. They are telpathic. They can learn English really, really fast. I mean, what's next? Flying bicycles?
Sure, I guess that these things could be part of the same super technology that allows them to get here in the first place, but I'd think its a lot easier to move faster than light than to establish communications with a totally alien species, much less assume their biology and all that jazz.
Bottom line - too much fantasy is being injected into this science fiction.
And I have yet to hear a remotely reasonable explanation as to why an alien species would expend the enormous amounts of energy it would take to get to the one of the obscure spokes of the galaxy (way away from the interesting concentrated center) and spend even two seconds watching us. Denibian slime worms would more interesting.
I wouldn't expect a ton of originality from Spielberg, his claim to fame is the lowest common denominator
Actually, I'm pretty sure his "claim to fame" is making Schindler's List, which is widely and rightfully regarded as one of the best motion pictures of the 20th century.
I write in my journal
I have been boycotting the Sci-Fi channel since they dumped Farscape. If Taken gets good reviews, I will just get it on DVD when it comes out.
Support bacteria! It's the only culture most people seem to get.
I wouldn't expect a ton of originality from Spielberg, his claim to fame is the lowest common denominator
If you mean "regular people," you're right, he makes movies lots of regular people like to watch. However, he has done his share of weighty matter...
Schindler's List
Saving Private Ryan
Amistad
The Color Purple
Band of Brothers
AI (even though I didn't like it)
Empire of the Sun
E.T. (both weighty AND appeals to the masses)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
"Lowest common denominator," indeed.
"And like that
1. I hate the logo. The 'A' in taken consists of a human figure with arms and legs out ascending through the sky, illuminated by a burst of backlighting. The lighting is more prominent than the figure, so it looks like the title reads 'TOKEN'.
2. I liked this series better the first time... when it was called "Amazing Stories".
(oh yeah, and 3. ???, 4. Profit.)
I mean really. "Field of dreams" is sci fi? "Cape Fear"? "The flintstones"? Give me a fucking break.