Future Movie Reviews

"Back and Back and Back to the Future" is, as the title suggests, a time travel tale in which Crichton becomes unstuck in time. The fun here is decoding when Crichton has flashed forward and when he is back in the present, and, of course, his attempts to convince the others that he is telling the truth and not gone insane. This is the best episode of the series so far, not only because there it is well thought out but also because there are some key moments regarding character interaction and revelation.

"Thank God It's Friday..Again" is too reminiscent of the "Star Trek" episode where Spock gets pollinated and is happy for a while to really be a standout episode. However, there is a standout performance by a guest star as the leader of the shiny happy people. Once again, the best parts of the episode have to do with the character interaction, particularly between Aeryn (Claudia Black) and Rygel (Jonathan Hardy) as well as Zhaan (Virginia Hey) and D'Argo (Anthony Simcoe).

One of the things that is most commendable about "Farscape" is that these DVDs are extremely fan friendly. All of the episodes (so far) offer commentary tracks by a rotating pair of cast and crewmembers. This time around it is actor Browder and director Rowan Woods on "Back and Back and Back to the Future" and actor Simcoe and series creator Rockne S. O'Bannon on "Thank God It's Friday...Again." Having the tag team commentary works well and the talk is usually about the series and the characters overall as well as the individual characters.

There is also a video profile of a "Farscape" character on each disc and this time around it is the turn of Virginia Hey and Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan, the most fascinating alien of the current media generation. Then there is the fact that there is deleted footage that was not broadcast in North America, which is meaningless to me because I do not know what it was I did not see the first time around when I did not see it in the first place.

"Back and Back and Back to the Future" pierces the gruff exterior of D'Argo as a mysterious femme fatale named Natala ensnares the warrior's heart. Unfortunately, Crichton starts having visions of himself with Natala which become progressively more disasterous. Not only do we start to see more of D'Argo's vulnerablility, but we're also treated to a well-designed, time-travelling head trip.

"Thank God It's Friday, Again" has D'Argo on an alien world, but after just three days the gang finds he has traded his soldier's weapons for a famer's tools. Though he seems blissfully content with his new life, things start to spiral out of control with Zhaan slipping into the same blind happiness as D'Argo, an apparent attempt on Rygel's life, Crichton's abduction by a rebel force, and the slow realization that this paradise is intimately linked to one of the galaxy's greatest threats. This is one of Farscape's best episodes, not only for it's wonderful visual appeal, but also for the way it expands our understanding of the characters. A wistful D'Argo confides in Zhaan that this experience echoes some of his long-held dreams. Aeryn reaches beyond her Peacekeeper-imposed blinders as she and Pilot must work together, not in military maneuvers, but in the more cerebral world of science as she struggles to find out what has happened to Rygel. And to top it all of, we have Angie Milliken's beautifully disturbing portrayal as the planet's ruler, Volmay. (Plus the infamous "She gives me a woody" line.)

Each episode offers a commentary: The first, featuring Ben Browder and director Rowan Woods, draws attention to the directorial choices made such as camera angles and set design. The second features Anthony Simcoe and series creator Rockne O'Bannon and gives a glimpse into the Australian influences on Farscape. The character profile features Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan, which seems odd as these two episodes spend a lot of time on D'Argo, but you won't catch me complaining. The Delvian has always been a favorite of mine and it was interesting to hear Virginia Hey's take on the character she embodies. (And embodies is the word: during the interview she completely forgot she was wearing prosthetics at the time!) Zhaan's still gallery has some beautiful shots, though the posing in a few seem overly dramatic. The conceptual drawings are fascinating, though it would have been nice to have some captions. It took a while to realize that some of the aliens depicted were actually Tavleks featured in "Throne for a Loss" from the _previous_ disc.

As O'Bannon explains, each of the characters starts off as a standard sci-fi stereotype. The beauty of Farscape is that it then leaves those cliches behind, delving into these wonderfully realized characters.

In these two episodes from the first season, we find D'Argo, a creature from a warrior race with tendrils sprouting from both the top of his head and his chin, as our focal point.
In the first piece, "Back and Back and Back to the Future," the crew of Moya decide to rescue a couple of aliens from their ship that seems to be disintegrating. One of those on board, a female, seems to have some strange allure over both Crichton and D'Argo, putting D'Argo at odds with the human and jealous of what the other members of the crew think. Added to this is the fact that Crichton starts to have flashes of the future, and it seems that this future contains elements that don't seem to lead anywhere but demise.

To me, this episode was a worthwhile one that had some hidden portions within the plot and that played with the mind of the ever-maddening human as he tries to cope with the oddities of space. Its also interesting to see how he thinks he can change things like so many others would only to see that lead to an even worse fate over and over again, making him wonder if he's simply going mad, if things can be changed if he's not, and why he had to end up with such an unwelcome gift in the first place.

In the next episode, "Thank God Its Friday - Again," D'Argo finds himself possessed by something called Hyper Rage, making him aggressive toward any male he sees as a challenge to him, and Crichton finds himself hiding for three days until, at last, D'Argo decides to leave Moya and head for the planet Sykar. When the crew decides to go in search of him, they find him at peace within himself and the society he's found there, happy with the lifestyle of hard work and partying that this allows. Other problems soon begin to manifest as Rygel's bodily fluids become explosive for some reason and Zhaan seems to be overcome by whatever is influencing D'Argo.

This is also an episode I found rather enjoyable because a few things happen here that explain the ways that some societies fuel other ones, and the way that oppression can be elation depending on how its presented. It also places Crichton in some precarious situations when it comes to staying alive, and shows the duality of some of the crew and the bonds that begin to form between some of them; even the ex-Peacekeeper and the Pilot that once despised all their kind.

For anyone that hasn't looked into Farscape yet, I would suggest going back to the Premiere DVD, watching it, and allowing yourself be hooked by the storyline and the characters being developed therein. The dialogue is of the greatest of qualities and only gets better as the show progresses, the individuals that are chasing and the people fleeing are all interesting and the events of today create the rippling effects of tomorrow, plus there is a point to everything taking place. The creative team that developed it should be commended and recommended highly, at least in this viewer's book.

Overall, the story is good, the mystery in it is wonderful, and the action and comedy elements are well done. It's worth watching!

Universal's "Back to the Future" 4-Disc box set will satisfy fans who have awaited this release. Each film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains a fine video transfer with bright colors but there are some minor flaws in its presentation. The 5.1 digital sound is surprisingly clear but a DTS audio track should have been included. This 4-Disc box set features over 10 hours of supplements including audio commentaries, deleted scenes, outtakes, music videos and Making the Trilogy featurettes. With its many supplements, the "Back to the Future" Trilogy earns a solid "B+".

Personally, my favorite of the three films is Part III, and I'm really glad that they didn't leave the ending too open. The whole trilogy feels complete, and even though Zemeckis and Gale didn't originally plan to make a sequel to Back to the Future, it was great of them to create the last two movies in a way that they would seem like they were intentionally tied to the first film from the beginning. It's also a good thing that the quality of the sequels aren't so bad that they're unwatchable, like so many other movie sequels.

Universal's "Back to the Future" 4-Disc box set will satisfy fans who have awaited this release. Each film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains a fine video transfer with bright colors but there are some minor flaws in its presentation. The 5.1 digital sound is surprisingly clear but a DTS audio track should have been included. This 4-Disc box set features over 10 hours of supplements including audio commentaries, deleted scenes, outtakes, music videos and Making the Trilogy featurettes. With its many supplements, the "Back to the Future" Trilogy earns a solid "B+".

Personally, my favorite of the three films is Part III, and I'm really glad that they didn't leave the ending too open. The whole trilogy feels complete, and even though Zemeckis and Gale didn't originally plan to make a sequel to Back to the Future, it was great of them to create the last two movies in a way that they would seem like they were intentionally tied to the first film from the beginning. It's also a good thing that the quality of the sequels aren't so bad that they're unwatchable, like so many other movie sequels.

Enigma.
The unexplained question.
The visuals presented in the DVD do not tell complete stories.
They are surreal and dreamlike. Some mixed with strange situations.

In "Sadeness" a writer dreams of the eternal conflict of devotion and wanting as we see the ruins of old
cathedral pass before a beautiful woman.

"Mea Culpa" in it's undying words of self acusation "Take me,
I'm yours, I'm guilty...". A woman in armored gloves wafts in through images of artifacts repeating in breathy sighs "I'm guilty..."

"Rivers of Belief" a beautiful montage of outdoor visions of a
warrior king weilding a sword to this unusual and beautiful remix which features a sample of Bach's "Toccata and Fugue".

"Beyond the Invisible" takes a girl from her normal homelife to a most strange world of daydreams that seem to devour her.

"TNT for the Brain" is by far the most strange. A man with eyes closed with eyes opened watches himself in situations with women who only tempt him with their sensuality and beguile. A woman sings as drops fall reflecting her face make an arresting image.

"Gravity of Love" revolves around a person wrapped in white unable to escape this debauched masquerade party. Themes of paralyisis and debauchery play through. Like watching a Francis Bacon painting!

I could go on but find out for yourself in this well thought out package. You can choose to hear narration about the videos in the discography section of the disc.

Enjoy Enigma.