Northeastern Connecticut's Neighbors Paper

New Best in Show
by Paul Wishinsky

Move over Battlestar Galactica. There’s a new top science fiction show on the air and its name is Torchwood. Currently airing on BBC America, Torchwood tells of a secret department of the British government charged with protecting the realm from all threats both alien and other dimensional. They pursue and battle fantastic creatures while puzzling out the functionality of whatever technology they leave behind. As their leader so often advises them, “Everything changes in the 21st century and we have to ready for it.”

Although it is a spin-off of the long running Doctor Who series, Torchwood is much grimmer and less fanciful. The leader of the team, Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), was first seen in an episode of Doctor Who. A man of mysterious origin, Harkness is a demanding commander who can be as caring or as deadly as the situation warrants. So far, the stories have focused on the other members, giving them background and an emotional center. All we know of Jack is that he may have been around during World War II, he is often amused by human perceptions and taboos, and he cannot die.

The newest member of the team is Gwen Cooper (Eva Myles), a police officer who tracks them down to their headquarters after witnessing a bizarre occurrence involving the squad. (Remember this if you ever serve in a top secret, quasi-military unit. Be careful how you order your pizza.) She eventually joins the special unit and is now dealing with things she never dreamed existed and struggling with how it all affects her previously normal life.

There is also Owen Harper (Burn Gorman) who is the group’s scientist and medic and Toshiko Sato (Naoko Mori) who is their techno-wizard. Completing the group is Ianto Jones (Gareth David Lloyd) who serves as their supply officer and makes sure everything runs smoothly. All three characters are normally very guarded about their private lives, but that becomes difficult when work sometimes follows you home.

While the stories have dealt with alien beings, mythical fairies and a town of very human monsters, they have all been more than simple thrill rides with scares. Each has been dramatically powerful and emotionally solid as they deal not only with how the team handles these fantastical threats, but also how they live with what they know but cannot talk about with anyone outside of Torchwood. This has already resulted in an unexpected affair between two of them.

Darker and sexier than any other show of its kind, Torchwood still has many discoveries to make and dangers to thwart. And there is still the mystery of Captain Jack Harkness.

Torchwood airs on BBC America on Saturday nights with an encore episode at eight followed by a new show at nine. They have also been doing mini-marathons on Saturday afternoon, as well. If your cable or dish system doesn’t carry this channel, don’t despair. The first season will be released on DVD early in 2008.

Classic Comics on DVD

Two of the most important comic books storylines of all time are the death of Superman and the introduction of Galactus and the Silver Surfer in the Fantastic Four. The latter was released last summer as a blockbuster movie and the former is the latest DC Universe Animated Original Movie. Both are now available on DVD.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer failed to impress both critics and movie-goers during its theatrical run. All of the stars from the first film reprise their roles with pretty much the same results. They look good in their costumes and that’s about it. Despite the subplot of the impending marriage of Reed Richards and Sue Storm, there is less emotional connection with these four than there was in the other movie. It’s obvious that this was intended as a family film, but the two could at least look like they are in love.

While the argument could be made that the comics created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were melodramatic at best, at least their version made the Surfer’s rediscovery of his humanity believable. Here, partly because the Surfer has very little dialogue, it all turns on a brief conversation with Sue Storm and Jessica Alba is not the most convincing of actresses.

The Silver Surfer does look great and the Human Torch effects are even better than the last time, but Reed’s stretching doesn’t look as good and the Thing really doesn’t get to do much at all. Johnny’s ability to switch powers with his teammates is so out of left field, the closed captioning has to read, “Lame plot device needed for climax.”

While there were problems with the first movie, at least at the end they acted like they were the team the Fantastic Four is supposed to be. That feeling is missing from this film and it’s doubtful that this quartet will be back for a third picture anytime soon.

The Death of Superman was the biggest comic book event of the nineties. For many years before the release of Superman Returns, it was expected to be the plot of the Man of Steel’s movie comeback. This was not to be, but now we have Superman: Doomsday, an animated feature co-written and co-directed by Bruce Timm. Despite Timm’s involvement and the fact that it is a fairly faithful adaptation, it just doesn’t work.

It’s very difficult to make a screen death have any impact when the audience knows for certain that he’s not going to stay dead. While the lengthy battle with Doomsday is brutal and even bloody, the finish is poorly staged. The only effective visual is Superman’s tattered cape fluttering in the wind, a nice homage to the comic book cover.

Using a totally different cast of voice actors than what viewers have become accustomed to was a risky move, but the only misfire is Adam Baldwin who surprisingly makes a very lackluster Superman. James Marsters (Spike from Buffy and Angel) is very good as Lex Luthor and Anne Heche gets the best scenes as Lois Lane. When she goes to Smallville to see Clark’s mother, it is truly a heartbreaking moment.

Another mistake is the absence of other heroes. Having no one show up to help in the battle with Doomsday is understandable, but not to have at least Batman and Wonder Woman appear at the funeral makes no sense. They should at least have been seen somewhere.

Whenever a best-selling book is made into a movie, the common criticism is “the book was better.” For these two classic stories, the comic books were also better.

First Fatality

The winner of The First Show Canceled for 2007 is CBS’ Viva Laughlin, a poorly done adaptation of a British hit that combined sin, mystery and singing. Even Hugh Jackman’s involvement could not keep this one on the air for more than two airings. Technically, Fox was first when they pulled the plug on Nashville, a reality series about people trying to become the next county/western sensation, but reality shows don’t count.

That’s all for now. The movie is about to start.