V competition winners and series review

April 14, 2010 By

Thanks to everyone who took part in the competition to win a SciFi goody bag and signed V poster. The answer to the question is that the aliens in V are called The Visitors. The winners have been randomly selected from the correct answers and their names are:

  • Ross Drummond
  • Cathy Chambers
  • Natalie Henderson

Well done guys!

The series
V premiered last night on the SciFi channel (now SyFy) with a double-bill. I’ve mentioned before that I missed out on the original series, but how does this one look?

Series starts can be a bit slow sometimes, carefully setting up and introducing the major characters and plot elements. The pilot episodes of V manage to keep the audience interested while introducing lots of points that will, no doubt, end up being important as the series progresses.

There are certainly plenty of questions that we’ll want answered as we go along. What are the Vs here for? Do we know who’s human and who’s not? There’s a great quote in the V press release, “Only one race will survive but will it be us or them?” I wonder…

V is a visual treat, especially in high definition. The ships look lovely, although I think I can see when a green-screen has been used to add in a background. It doesn’t ruin the shot or anything, but it’s just a little noticeable. Morena Baccarin (Inara Serra in Firefly) plays the role of Anna, the V leader, really well – friendly in a sort of creepy, otherworldly way.

It’s early days for V, but I can already see this being one of the series’ I don’t want to miss out on. I can tell I’m going to enjoy a series when I get disappointed that there’s a week between episodes… and I am :)

V airs on SyFy (formerly SCI FI) every Tuesday at 10pm.

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Gadget Show Live: The Review

April 13, 2010 By

The Gadget Show, every monday on Five, gives gadget geeks a weekly roundup of what’s hot in the technology world. It’s one of my favourite television shows, and last week I went to their live event at Birmingham’s NEC with my wife and friends. The Gadget Show Live ran for four consecutive days, and we went on the first public day – Thursday 8th April. So, how was it?

Prepare to queue – or not?
We had been warned on The Gadget Show Live website to expect very long queues first thing but, being British, we relished the thought of a good queue and went in time for opening at 9.30 anyway. It brings back patriotic memories of standing in line for rations, you see. We got there at about 9:20 and there must have been a couple of hundred people ahead of us. The doors opened ten minutes later, though, and we were straight in. So, bonus points straight away: the queue wasn’t as bad as we had been led to expect!

Once we were inside we were immediately struck with the scale of the show – three exhibition halls were given over to stands from a variety of companies, while a fourth hall housed the Super Theatre where live performances took place. We’ll get to those later, but the exhibition halls deserve some proper consideration first.

Something for everyone
There was a great mix of companies at the show, and something for pretty much anyone with an interest in tech and gadgets. 3D televisions? Check. Want to see 3D technology in a computer monitor? Yep, got that. Radio-controlled toys, electric bikes, cameras, puzzles, even vacuum cleaners. If you wanted to test the RC flying toys there was an area you could do that, and if you wanted to try out the bikes there was a test track for that too. All in all it was a very good setup where you could talk to the exhibitors, get a good look around, and try out some of the toys.

The only downside was that it was very busy – hard to move at times. The best periods were first thing and last thing, but I guess with a show this popular you just have to expect that it’s going to be crowded for much of the day.

Jason Bradbury on Jetpack

Jason Bradbury competes against Suzi Perry in a "jetpack" race.

Live performances
The Super Theatre show, which is a separate ticket to the general admission, lasted for an hour and featured all four regular presenters from the television series. There wasn’t much in the way of in-depth information, so if you go next year don’t expect a live version of the TV show. There was, however, plenty of cool tech on display including the impressive Titan robot/suit. There was a brilliant moment when Suzi Perry got stuck on a “jet pack” strung to the ceiling that added some unexpected comedy to the proceedings!

Come 5pm we headed home – seven and a half hours after arriving, having seen loads of gadgets, technology and toys and enjoying a fun live show. My feet were certainly aware of how long we’d been there, but the time just flew past. If you’re into gadgets and tech, I’d definitely recommend this as a brilliant day out. You do need to be aware that it will be very busy and, perhaps, not great for taking small children to, but I thought it was fantastic. Keep an eye on The Gadget Show Live website for details of next year’s event.

The Gadget Show Live, with premium SuperTheatre seats cost £21.40 per person. If you were there why not let us know what you thought in the comments? What was your favourite bit? What could be better? Go on… tell us!

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V is coming: Cast Interviews

April 12, 2010 By

Well, what a week that was. I’ve been away on holiday with some friends, the major part of which was going to The Gadget Show Live in Birmingham. It was a fantastic day, and there will be a review coming up later in the week. I’m back now, though, so I’ll be interacting a bit more than I have been for the last few days!

Anyway, this week sees the launch of the re-imagined series of V on the SciFi channel (have you entered the competition yet?) and we’ve got a bit more promo material to show you – this time interviews with the cast.

V Interview 2010 from laura norton on Vimeo.

The new series of V starts with a double-bill on Tuesday 13th April, 10pm on SciFi. Catch the trailer here.

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Competition: Win a Sci-Fi goody bag and signed V poster

April 8, 2010 By

This contest is now closed – thanks for visiting. Find out who won.

Win a Sci Fi Goody Bag with V! – coming to Sci Fi on Tuesday 13th April, 10pm
Geek-Speak have teamed up with the Sci Fi channel to offer three lucky readers the chance to win a Sci Fi channel goody bag, featuring an A4 sized V poster signed by Morena Baccarin, SCI FI drawstring bag, SCI FI Handwarmer, SCI FI Magnets, SCI FI 1GB USB key!

V is coming to the Sci Fi channel on Tuesday 13th April, with episode 1 and 2 being shown back-to-back from 10pm.

V is the smash-hit US drama series about the mysterious Visitors who come to Earth with a message of hope and peace. In their hour of need the human race find their saviour in the V’s, but are the Visitors all that they claim to be? Sceptical humans begin to develop an agenda of their own – resistance.

V stars Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost) as FBI agent Erica Evans, Morris Chestnut as Ryan Nichols, Joel Gretsch as Father Jack, with Morena Baccarin (Firefly) as Anna, the beautiful V leader, and Scott Wolf (Party of Five) as Chad Decker.

For more info on the V series and to see preview clips visit: http://www.scifi.co.uk/V_on_SCIFI

This competition is now closed.

The competition closes at 22:00 (BST) on Tuesday 13th April. Winners will be selected at random from the correct answers using Random.org. By entering you agree that your name and postal address can be passed to Holler PR, SCI FI’s agents, to allow them to send you your prize. I will contact winners by e-mail to obtain postal addresses from them and pass them on to Holler.

Watch the trailer for V below:

V trailer 2010 from laura norton on Vimeo.

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The (New) Doctor Is In

April 5, 2010 By

Warning: This post contains spoilers.

Way back in January of last year, the BBC announced that the newest incarnation of the iconic sci-fi character The Doctor would also be the youngest. Matt Smith would be the youngest actor ever to play the ancient Time Lord.

Well, UK viewers were finally able to get a proper glimpse of Matt in action on Easter Saturday with the transmission of the new Doctor Who episode, The Eleventh Hour. So how did it go?

Ooh, new title sequence. I didn’t expect that for some reason – the visuals and theme tune have both been updated. The visuals are fantastic – not so sure about the theme tune but it’s not terrible. It’ll probably grow on me. Anyway, onward to the episode itself.

Regeneration stories are always a bit wierd. The audience is getting used to a new Doctor, and a new Doctor is getting used to the role. I thought Matt played the traditional confusion really well and it was an interesting angle to have his Doctor not really “arriving” until near the end of the episode. He was still recognisable, but kept making mistakes including blowing up his sonic screwdriver.

It will be good to see how Matt settles in as the series continues, and I’m keen to find out what his “normal” personality will be like. If we’re to believe his own words, it’ll be one of “a madman with a box”!

The episode is fast-paced and it looks like Matt is going to bring a whole bundle of energy to the role. His new companion, Amy Pond played by Karen Gillan, is nicely distrustful and not as willing to simply go along with what she’s told as some past ones. There already seems to be a nice relationship between Amy and The Doctor, and I’m looking forward to seeing how that develops too.

I will admit to being a bit confused to start with, because I was visiting my sister and we had the telly on in the background. So I couldn’t hear it properly and thought when Amy appeared she was wearing an awfully short skirt for a policewoman (not that I’m complaining, really). All becomes clear if you watch it with the volume up though :)

As well as a new Doctor this series introduces a new TARDIS. The exterior looks much cleaner than the previous one, but it’s the console room that’s had the most noticeable change. The organic coral look is toned down in favour of a more angular and technological style. The set is on several different levels reminiscent of the console room from the Peter Cushing movies. I really like the new look apart from the blown glass Time Rotor – it just doesn’t look right to me. But the rest of the room, and the multiple exits that suggest more of the TARDIS might appear on screen all look great.

My favourite moment was a nod to long-standing fans that runs through the face of every Doctor from William Hartnell up to David Tennant, and then Matt proclaims, “Hello, I’m The Doctor”. Favourite one-liner was definitely, “You’re Scottish – fry something!”

The Eleventh Hour was a decent start to the new season. It was enjoyable, but not mindblowingly spectacular. Still, it’s the first episode for a new Doctor, companion, and executive producer, and there’s plenty more to come!

Oh, and finally, the trailer afterwards showed… wait for it… Spitfires. In space. Firing lasers at Dalek Motherships. That’s like every childhood dream rolled into one! Can’t wait for that one!

Did you see The Eleventh Hour? What did you think? Does it look like you’re going to like this new series of Doctor Who? Let us know in the comments.

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V – Coming to the UK soon

March 29, 2010 By

I remember walking down the street as a child with my dad. On the wall, someone had spray painted a large red V. I asked my dad what it meant, and he told me it was just a TV show. As far as I was concerned that was the end of the matter.

I now realise I missed a series that some consider to be a sci-fi classic! But here comes my chance to see, not the original, but a new version.

The reimagined series of V comes to the SCI FI channel on Tuesday 13th April with a 2 episode double bill.

V is all about mysterious Visitors who come to Earth with a message of hope and peace. In their hour of need the human race find their saviour in the V’s, but are the Visitors all that they claim to be? Sceptical humans begin to develop an agenda of their own – resistance.

V stars Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost) as FBI agent Erica Evans, Morris Chestnut as Ryan Nichols, Joel Gretsch as Father Jack, with Morena Baccarin (Firefly) as Anna, the beautiful V leader, and Scott Wolf (Party of Five) as Chad Decker.

It doesn’t tell you too much, but have a look at the teaser trailer below (double-click to start it playing):

What do you think? I never saw the original series, but if you did how do you think it will compare?

V premiers on SCI FI (UK), 10pm on Tuesday 13th April.

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New Doctor Who Series 5 Trailer Out

February 22, 2010 By

The new series of Doctor Who starts this Easter and, as a lifelong Who fan, I’ve been looking forward to seeing some new stories.

The BBC have released a new trailer for the series, featuring Matt Smith as the Doctor and Karen Gillan as Amy Pond. Have a look:

I really, really want to like the news series but this trailer just isn’t doing anything for me. I will, of course, reserve judgment until the series actually starts but, based on this, I’m not so sure I’ll like it. Still, we’ll see – I was pleasantly surprised by Mr Tennant! Here’s to seeing what the Beeb has in store at Easter :)

Oh, and finally, am I the only one that thinks it’s odd that this is called “Series 5″ when there’s been over forty years of Doctor Who? I know it’s not important, but I just think it’s strange!

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Supernatural series 5 starts tonight [UK - LIVING]

February 10, 2010 By

If you’ve been waiting for Supernatural season 5 to come along, or maybe even playing the Alternate Reality Game promoting the series, the wait is over. Supernatural returns to UK screens tonight, 9pm on LIVING with a double bill! Want to see what’s happening? Watch the trailer below (UK only, I’m afraid):

Remember, tonight, 9pm, LIVING – find out what happens there…

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Supernatural Season 5 coming soon (with an alternate-reality game, no less)

January 9, 2010 By

Note: The game mentioned in this article is available to UK users only.

I don’t normally post on the weekends, but I wanted to get this one out quick!

Season 5 of US TV show “Supernatural” is coming to the UK in February on LIVING.   To spread the news about the new series, LIVING is launching a cross-format alternate reality game (ARG), which will offer one viewer the chance to appear in Supernatural!

Season four ended as Lucifer was freed from hell and season five follows Sam and Dean Winchester as they face their toughest battle yet; the apocalypse.

The ARG is based around collecting hidden symbols – ‘Enochian Sigils’ – which players must locate, photograph and send via MMS to a UK shortcode. Sigils have been hidden online and at real world locations throughout the UK and clues to their locations will be delivered by Castiel (Misha Collins) in specially filmed sequences on the Fight the Apocalypse website. Once located, Sigils are photographed on any mobile device and using Image recognition technology – which recognises any image taken on a mobile phone camera – are uploaded to the player’s profile.

There are two ways of succeeding in the game: locating and photographing Sigils, and building an online army of support. Players can invite friends to join their army via email and through Facebook. All the core functions of the game will be available on the website and on your mobile phone, so you can keep up to date on what’s happening while you’re out and about.

Followers of the Fight the Apocalypse Twitter feed will be given tips and additional mini challenges to win extra prizes, so if you plan to play it’s well worth following that account.

The first clue to start the hunt will be released on the 20th January. Fans can pre-register for the game now at www.luciferiscoming.com.

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Bring back the Time Lords! [Doctor Who]

January 4, 2010 By

Warning: This post contains spoilers concerning the Doctor Who Christmas and New Year specials – if you haven’t seen them and don’t want to know anything about them, STOP READING!

Christmas Day usually brings an extra treat here in the UK (aside from the usual presents, I mean). For a few years now there’s been a Doctor Who Christmas special to look forward to, but this year we also got a New Year’s Day one.

The Christmas Day one was pretty strange, with my dad and I sitting there wondering what on earth was going on. Part two, on New Year’s Day, was much better and introduced us to the new Doctor, played by Matt Smith. Something else really excited me about the story, though, the return of Gallifrey and the Time Lords!

If you’re wondering what on earth I’m talking about here’s the summary: The Time Lords are a race of people from the planet Gallifrey. They harnessed the power of a black hole (the Eye of Harmony) and used the energy from that to develop time travel technology. The Doctor is a Time Lord, dotting around the universe in a stolen TARDIS. The Time Lords are no more, however, after a devastating war that left them sealed within a time bubble… only the Doctor and the Master survived.

The Time Lords make a return in this Christmas and New Year’s specials, but the Doctor is horrified by the thought. While Doctor Who fans might remember them as benevolent overseers of time, avoiding interference in the affairs of other species and trying to track down renegade members of their species (the Doctor included) they’ve changed into warmongering people, determined to destroy everything that has ever existed simply to win their war. So… they don’t get to stay around very long.

I had really hoped they’d come back though, because they were among the only people the Doctor couldn’t just wow with his tricks: they knew most of them.

Psychic paper? “Yeh, you probably just nicked that from stores.” TARDIS bigger on the inside than outside? “They’re all like that – we designed them that way, and don’t think of running off ‘cos we’ve changed your TARDIS’ locks.”

Ok, so I’m being a bit silly, but I loved the idea of the Doctor being on the run, a hero to many but a renegade to his own people. I loved there being someone genuinely more powerful than the Doctor, and I loved the idea that another Time Lord could come along in any story and we’d discover a bit more about the race’s background. But it looks like that’s all behind us now.

I have to say, the new series’ of Doctor Who have been fantastic… I’ve just never really liked the “last Time Lord” thing and thought this year’s specials were a great chance to bring them back. It’s a shame that didn’t happen.

Am I the only one to think that? What did you think of the episodes, if you saw them? And what of the Time Lords? Have your say in the comments!

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