The Quatermass All-Purpose Media Review Thread

[Quatermass]

REVIEW: Transformers Prime: Episode 10: Deus ex Machina, Episode 11: Speed Metal, and Episode 12: Predatory by Nicole Dubuc, Dean Stefan, and Marsha Griffin

TYPE: TV series

DETAILS: TFP10-12, 3X20 minute episodes

So, here I am, back with the next lot of episodes of Transformers Prime. But how well would these episodes fare? Let’s find out…

A dig in Greece leads the Autobots to try and track down an ancient Cybertronian artifact, one that the Decepticons can use as a weapon. A chance encounter with a bully leads Jack into the seedy world of illegal street races, and an encounter with vain Decepticon Knock Out. And in a remote forest, Arcee will be forced to confront one of her greatest fears in the universe…

The first two episodes are enjoyable enough, but still somewhat average and a little disappointing. However, Predatory certainly helps make up for them. This intense thriller of an episode has both an action-filled plot, and some character development for Arcee, as well as introducing Airachnid, promising much for future episodes.

One of the surprise stars from the first two episodes is Daran Norris as the suave and vain Decepticon Knock Out, who mixes both menace and humorous narcissism, making him one of the more interesting Decepticons. However, particular praise should go to Josh Keaton and Sumalee Montano as Jack and Arcee respectively, especially in Predatory, where Arcee’s issues are brought to the forefront, and handled surprisingly well. And of course, Gina Torres as the cruel rogue Decepticon Airachnid makes a refreshing change from the role I knew her best, as Zoe Washburne from Firefly and its movie sequel Serenity.

Production values-wise, these episodes are pretty good, even if the CGI still looks a touch cheap. While Deus ex Machina could have been better, there’s plenty of racing action setpieces in Speed Metal. Predatory, meanwhile, is superlative, the visuals striking and helping the tense atmosphere of Airachnid hunting Jack and Arcee.

Overall, this was a decent enough set of episodes, with Predatory standing head and shoulders above the other two. Here’s hoping the rest of the series kicks things up a notch…

****

 

[Quatermass]

REVIEW: Arcane Season 1: Episode 1: Welcome to the Playground, Episode 2: Some Mysteries Are Better Left Unsolved, and Episode 3: The Base Violence Necessary for Change by Christian Linke, Alex Yee, Nick Luddington, and Ash Brannon, from the game League of Legends.

TYPE: TV series

DETAILS: ALOL1.1-1.3, 3X40 minute episodes

League of Legends is one of the most famous online games, and recently, an animated prequel to much of the franchise was released on Netflix. Arcane gained great acclaim for its dark and complex story showing the backgrounds of many fan-favourite characters. But how well would it pass muster for someone with no background or interest with the game it spawned from?

Piltover and Zaun, twin cities with an uneasy peace hanging over them. Piltover’s shining progress and riches come at the cost of poisoning Zaun and all but enslaving its inhabitants. A group of orphans, sisters Violet and Powder, as well as their friends Mylo and Claggor, undertake a heist in Piltover. The consequences of their actions will shake not only Zaun, but even the Council of Piltover, as young inventor Jayce’s experiments into magic are exposed, and the children’s guardian, Vander, is plotted against by the sinister Silco. What happens next will tear the sisters apart…

A great mark of any adaptation is to ensure newcomers to the franchise don’t feel at sea, and Arcane manages to do that with aplomb and elan. The first three episodes are but the start of the season, and yet almost everything is pitch-perfect, with Powder and Vi’s relationship being a particular highlight. In some ways, the story is even poetic in how it handles some moments, with Silco’s dialogue about drowning at the start of the third episode being a particular highlight. It is a rare work of dark fantasy that nonetheless knows when to use darkness, not all the time, but rather, to punctuate.

The series is extremely well cast, with Hailee Steinfeld as Vi and Mia Sinclair Jennes as a young Powder being the particular highlights. But the cast is pretty stellar regardless, with JB Blanc as Vander and Jason Spisak as Silco giving charm and complexity to these friends-turned rivals. On the Piltover side of things, post-Harry Potter Katie Leung is good as Caitlyn, as is Kevin Alejandro as Jayce and Harry Lloyd as Victor.

As for the production values…well, what can I say? Fortiche managed to create a work of art that impresses, and that’s no exaggeration. The style of CGI makes the series look like a living painting rather than just a cartoon, while the cinematography can rival many animated films. It’s clear that a lot of effort was put into not only making the action look excellent, but the emotional scenes as well.

Overall, Arcane is one of those rare series that wows from the get-go and manages to attain perfection, or something like it, from the start. Time will tell if it maintains that…

*****

 

[Quatermass]

REVIEW: Transformers Prime: Episode 13: Sick Mind, and Episode 14: Out of His Head by Steven Melching and Nicole Dubuc

TYPE: TV series

DETAILS: TFP13-14, 2X20 minute episodes

So, here I am with a two-part episode of Transformers Prime. But how well would this do? Let’s find out…

While investigating a crashed Autobot spaceship in the desert, Optimus Prime is infected with Cybonic Plague, a bioweapon developed by Megatron himself. Desperate for a cure, Bumblebee and Arcee infiltrate the Decepticons’ warship, the Nemesis, and upon finding Megatron’s comatose body, undertakes a risky procedure to find the cure. But an even worse problem arises, when Bumblebee is infested with an enemy within: Megatron’s own mind…

These two episodes form part of a single story. True, it’s not a particularly brilliant one, and I thought some moments were questionable, and Starscream’s plot in the second episode seemed like an unfortunate throwback to the G1 cartoon. Yet there’s some great tense moments, especially with Megatron gradually increasing his hold on Bumblebee, and Starscream finally getting some comeuppance for his treachery.

The main stars of these particular episodes are the Transformers veterans of Peter Cullen and Frank Welker. Cullen’s Optimus Prime is as great as always, and Welker as Megatron oozes unbridled malevolence, but also surprising flashes of complexity in showing some small respect to Bumblebee. We also get to hear Jeffrey Combs as Ratchet gaining more humanity, and Steve Blum and Daran Norris playing off each other as Starscream and Knock Out.

As usual, the CGI is somewhat basic, but utilised well. The cinematography at times is on a par with movies, and helps enhance the look of the show. Plus, there’s some pretty nightmarish moments that are done spookily well, especially the ending of the first episode.

Overall, these two episodes of Transformers Prime stay the course. A good mixture of an adventure romp with surprisingly dark themes ensure I will stay with the series for some time to come…

****

 

[Quatermass]

REVIEW: Arcane Season 1: Episode 4: Happy Progress Day!, Episode 5: Everybody Wants to Be My Enemy, and Episode 6: When These Walls Came Tumbling Down by David Dunn, Amanda Overton and Alex Yee, from the game League of Legends.

TYPE: TV series

DETAILS: ALOL1.4-1.6, 3X40 minute episodes

The first triptych of episodes from Arcane were utterly brilliant, living up to the hype of this rare video game adaptation that gained rave reviews. But how would the next lot of episodes fare? Let’s find out…

Seven years have passed since the fateful day that sisters Vi and Powder were torn apart. Powder, now known as ‘Jinx’, is not only the adopted daughter of ruthless crime boss Silco, but one of his top enforcers, even if her spiral into psychosis has caused concern for many in both Silco’s corner and Piltover. Jayce and Viktor’s Hextech leads Piltover into prosperity, rousing concern and interest in various corners, only for Jinx to steal some of their research. Enforcer Caitlyn Kiramman, chafing at the boundaries her corrupt superior and her family force on her, begins delving further into the truth, leading her to discover Vi, falsely imprisoned in Stillwater Prison. But even if the sisters reunite, will they stay together? Or will Vi’s well-meant actions and Jinx’s madness force them apart once more?

Once more, I have to say, the writers are very much on the ball. Every plot element and thread slots together perfectly, or at least close enough. The emotional highs and lows, the character development, the dialogue, all could have failed miserably, and yet, it not only works, but works superlatively.

Key to the success is the characters. Hailee Steinfeld does great as a grown-up Vi, playing off Katie Leung as Caitlyn well. Jason Spisak as Silco injects some needed humanity into an otherwise brutal villain. But perhaps the big star of the show is Ella Purnell as Jinx, whose psychosis is handled surprisingly well, balancing her more violent and insane tendencies with a goofy but damaged girl who yearns for affection.

And then there’s the production values. As mentioned before, the series looks like an animated painting evoked through CGI. Everything, from spectacular explosions to simple changes of expression are done well to tell the story. And the music only enhances that.

Overall, these episodes of Arcane maintained the high standard from the first act. Here’s hoping the finale is as good…

*****

 

[Quatermass]

REVIEW: House of the Dragon: Episode 5: We Light the Way and Episode 6: The Princess and the Queen by Charmaine DeGraté and Sara Hess, from the works of George RR Martin

TYPE: TV series

DETAILS: HOTD1.5-6, 2X65 minute episodes

So, here I am, once more, watching House of the Dragon. These two episodes mark a very pivotal moment in the series. But how would they fare?

Otto Hightower has been deposed as Hand of the King, thanks in part to his daughter Alicent’s actions. Yet Alicent will soon learn of Rhaenyra’s deception from the lips of Ser Criston Cole, and become hardened by it. Rhaenyra’s marriage to Laenor Velaryon is complicated by his orientation, but they come to an understanding. Unfortunately, this spells trouble, and years after a disastrous wedding, Rhaenyra and Alicent are bitter enemies, with Viserys too blind to see not only the brewing tensions, but Rhaenyra’s own children are illegitimate…

The series is still excellent, and there’s a wonderful ramping up of tensions between Rhaenyra and Alicent, with their friendship on the rocks. Yet these episodes feel a bit like a transitory period, not helped by them straddling a timeskip. And maybe I am becoming jaded about the franchise, but it feels like this is less about the wonder in fantasy, and more about the political powerplays and backbiting, with a side of transgressive themes thrown in just ‘cause.

Still, the characters are what make the show. Aside from Milly Alcock and Emily Carey playing the younger versions of Rhaenyra and Alicent, we have Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke making welcome debuts as the older versions of said characters. Both D’Arcy and Cooke show the remnants of their former friendship, as well as what has changed into bitter rivalry. Matt Smith, as usual, is great as Daemon, showing both his monstrous side and his gentler side, while Fabien Frankel comes to the fore as Criston, showing his slide into embittered cruelty.

As usual, the production values are excellent. They’re not without fault: a scene of Daemon and Laena flying dragons over the sea has a rather shoddy use of CGI to try (and fail) to put a reflection in, for an example. Yet overall, this show maintains a fairly high standard throughout.

Overall, these episodes of House of the Dragon were quite enjoyable. However, they were not stellar, and I find myself tiring of this particular brand of dark fantasy…


****

 

[Quatermass]

REVIEW: Wicked: Part One by Winnie Holzmann and Dana Foz, from the musical by Stephen Schwartz and the book by Gregory Maguire.

TYPE: Movie

DETAILS: 160 mins

Once, many years ago, I read the novel Wicked by Gregory Maguire. I never got around to watching the famous stage musical adapted from it, but with the movie adaptation, I had a chance. But how would this adaptation fare?

The land of Oz celebrates the demise of the Wicked Witch of the West. However, a few knew that the Wicked Witch of the West was once a solemn, reclusive young woman called Elphaba Thropp, shunned because of her unnatural green skin since her birth. This, then, is her story, how she started down the road to infamy, and how it proves that nobody is born wicked…

I have to admit, musicals as a genre are not normally my thing, with some parts being cringy, and I feel the pacing of the film draws things out considerably beyond what they should be. Yet the tone of the film (and presumably the musical) manages to strike a balance between the very dark themes of the Wicked novel, and the more light-hearted tone of the original Wizard of Oz story and film. And there’s no denying that the plot, such as there is, works perfectly, and the ending of the film is a good cutoff point for the rest of the story.

Ariana Grande is fine enough as Galinda, later Glinda, and Peter Dinklage is underutilised as Dillamond. But the best casting of all, I feel, was Michelle Yeoh as the malevolent Madam Morrible (managing to balance a sinister nature with a believable façade of kindness), Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard (giving him a surprising moral complexity), and, last but certainly not least, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. Erivo had the unenviable task in following in the footsteps of the likes of Indina Menzel and Margaret Hamilton, but succeeds wonderfully, giving Elphaba the human dimension she needed.

Production values are sky-high, even if I feel the colour palette, due in no small part to the 1930s film, is more than a little garish, and at times overwhelming. Yet Oz does feel like a real place, and the effects certainly work well enough. And the climactic scenes, combined with the Defying Gravity musical number, are pretty damn excellent.

Overall, this was a great film, albeit a somewhat garish and overly long one. Here’s hoping the second part maintains that quality…

****½