the_zero_g Reviews

Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles (2006)

Shadow Chronicles barely misses the mark -- SPOILERS

[7/10 · 7 February 2007]

I have been a Robotech fan from the very first moment I ever saw it back in 1985 or so after school on a rainy Tuesday. The serialized, multi-generational story of humanity fighting against several massive alien invasions of Earth was almost unprecedented in American TV animation and signaled a growing sophistication for U.S. kid's animation.

Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles takes place during the Battle of Reflex Point (at the end of the 3rd chapter of Robotech called NEW GENERATION -- specifically the series finale episode titled "Symphony of Light").

This film is supposed to represent the beginning of a possible/rumored new Robotech series that may see production within a year or two. As a film that serves as an extended pilot for a new series, Shadow Chronicles succeeds well, but as a stand-alone movie that is supposed to wrap up the various dangling plot threads from the old Robotech series and the novels, it fails miserably.

The film was advertised as a kind of final story that will wrap up the many, many loose ends from the original story like:

a) What happened to Admiral Hunter's fleet (SDF-3)? b) What happened to the characters from SOUTHERN CROSS who supposedly went to join the REF when Zor Prime blew up the Masters' ship? c) Where did the Invid Regess go when she left Earth? d) What was Scott Bernard going to do after leaving his friends behind on Earth after the Battle of Reflex Point?

None of this was really addressed. Shadow Chronicles is one of those rare projects that will only speak to the original fan base, but the producers still tried to catch new fans and get them interested in the series after the fact.

That is why I feel this movie ultimately fails. It tries to be too many things for too many people.

I enjoyed the animation, the writing was solid, and the action was furious and fun. Just like the original show.

But Shadow Chronicles spends too much time on repetitive fights, long explanations of obvious events, and doesn't fully explore what old school Robotech fans wanted to see: A RESOLUTION TO THE ORIGINAL CLIFFHANGER!

This film ends with another cliffhanger of sorts. And that will only frustrate older fans looking for closure.

Eragon (2006)

ERAGON wasn't bad at all... silly... but not horrible

[6/10 · 30 December 2006]

ERAGON was not this totally disgusting movie that you should avoid. It is a very massive rip-off of LOTR and Star Wars (but everyone already knows that); yet it does have a certain level of charm, and the last quarter of the film is quite exciting.

There are several problems with ERAGON, and most of them have nothing at all to do with the action or screenplay. If anything, it feels that at least 45 mins of the movie is missing. The story moves ahead far too quickly and doesn't explain anything deeply enough.

ERAGON could have used better editing and much stronger character development. Too many people are rushed in and out of the story without really explaining who they are and why they are important. I had a feeling that the best parts of the movie were most likely cut out for time restrictions (often kiddie type films are shaved down to be as short as possible to fit in as many showings in one day as possible for theatres and the studios).

Many movies are killed this way. ERAGON was definitely harmed by having so much of the story cut out -- and as someone who read the first book and seen the movie, they cut out way too much and there is much that should have definitely been in there.

In any case, this is a good flick for TEENAGERS who enjoy heroic fantasy.

A Different World (1987–1993)

Started bad... became brilliant...

[30 August 2003]

I must admit that A DIFFERENT WORLD started relatively bland and humourless, mainly because the producers were trying to make a predominantly black college experience acceptable to a "mainstream" audience.

After the first year when Lisa Bonet left and Debbie Allen came along and took over the producing duties, A DIFFERENT WORLD changed to become a lot more timely and much more relevant for the time -- especially dealing with subjects like sexism, rape, South Africa, drug abuse, and all of the other issues faced on college campuses. In later seasons, when the original cast grew up, did we see a lot of long term character development and the show has never been properly credited for being what it was: the first and only show ever to deal with black people in college. A DIFFERENT WORLD isn't always uproaringly funny, but watching it in repeats as an adult, I can see what the show was going for, it was literally a slice of life show, not really fulfilling the sit-com requirement of a joke a minute. You had characters who dealt with being young adults and made bad decisions and then sometimes dealt with the consequences. It was a good show that requires frequent viewings. Those who remember a classic episode where Dean Cain plays a racist will know how good of an actor he can be.

Insatiable (1980)

Absolutely awesome... best XXX film EVER!

[17 August 2003]

This was the first porno I ever saw, and to this day, I am STILL in love with MC!

I need to know if anyone out there knows where i can find the SOUNDTRACK of this film? Insatiable has an awesome soundtrack, is there a place where I can find it?

Head of the Class (1986–1991)

Good, clean, thoughtful fun...

[17 April 2003]

This was one of those wacky 80's premises where sitcoms focused on very light, but heartwarming, subjects like acceptance and social analysis without being overly preachy. Head of the Class wasn't brilliant, but it was groundbreaking in that it thoroughly humanized the nerds on campus instead of making them seem fringe or loony. Kids today could learn alot about striving to attain academic excellence while also exploring the creative, non-logical, side of their personalities. The first few years with Howard Hessemann were much much better than the final year or so with Connolly who was too much like a drunk Australlian doing bad Robin Williams' impressions. I definitely recommend the show for those between the ages of 8-17, seriously good lessons for those in middle or high school.

I give it a 7.5 out of 10.