'Bioshock,' which became one of last year's biggest console games, is making the expected move to the big screen with Gore Verbinski on board to direct, according to Variety || The last two seasons of 'Lost' will now be 17 hours each instead of 16 hours to make p for time lost because of the Writers Guild of America strike, says The Hollywood Reporter || Common, a rap artist, has decided to take a turn to acting and has been granted a role on 'Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins,' according to Variety || For the first time, SciFi Channel will rerun episodes of the 1987-94 series 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' joining 'Charmed' and 'Mork & Mindy' on the cable outlet, Variety reports || 'Star Trek: The Experience' may be running out of steam. Cedar Fair, which owns the Las Vegas attraction, says there are no plans to renew its contract with CBS Corp., which could close the event next year, TrekToday reports || 'Bioshock,' which became one of last year's biggest console games, is making the expected move to the big screen with Gore Verbinski on board to direct, according to Variety || The last two seasons of 'Lost' will now be 17 hours each instead of 16 hours to make p for time lost because of the Writers Guild of America strike, says The Hollywood Reporter || Common, a rap artist, has decided to take a turn to acting and has been granted a role on 'Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins,' according to Variety || For the first time, SciFi Channel will rerun episodes of the 1987-94 series 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' joining 'Charmed' and 'Mork & Mindy' on the cable outlet, Variety reports || 'Star Trek: The Experience' may be running out of steam. Cedar Fair, which owns the Las Vegas attraction, says there are no plans to renew its contract with CBS Corp., which could close the event next year, TrekToday reports ||

Shootout at Last Hammer

REVIEW: Definitely the first good 'Andromeda' episode of the season

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By MICHAEL HINMAN
Source: SyFy Portal
Nov-05-2001

When "Andromeda's" latest episode, "Last Call At the Broken Hammer" first began with the Eureka Maru coming through the atmosphere of the planet they were hoping to find an exiled leader, I almost turned the show off. Not because I thought it was dumb that they didn't do a surface scan of the planet before attempting to land (the whole, "Oh look, there's nothing there"), but we learned that the Andromeda Ascendant is in the garage.

Ok, I'm sorry. I have such a hard time thinking the galaxy is in such disarray if Harper can go water surfing, Beka can take vacations, Rev Bem spends a very, very long time at this religious convention and there are garages to drop off your Commonwealth starship whenever you need a tuneup.

But I'm glad I stuck around, because this was actually the first good episode of the season, and it actually hinted at the positive things this series could do if those behind the scenes really tried.

It's science fiction meets westerns, something that is quite reminiscent of old "Star Trek" episodes ... and the writers brought this one to life quite well, despite the limited budget of the series.

Plot twists were great, and actually fooled me (a rarity from an "Andromeda" episode), and I actually cared about most everyone trying to protect the great leader of the alliance so that she can help Dylan Hunt (Kevin Sorbo) re-establish the Commonwealth.

But one more thing about having the ship in the garage before I move on ... it seems that in almost every episode, some alien race wants to steal or destroy the Andromeda Ascendant. It seems kind of funny that he would just leave his ship and go off and have "fun." I know if I had the kind of luck he did, I sure as hell wouldn't.

One of the things I've like the best actually occurs in the rather long opening teaser. When Cory's friend demands a landing fee for the Eureka Maru, and then pulls a weapon, hearing the collective sound of pistols powering up made me think immediately to some old western where a group walks into a bar only to find out that everyone has their sidearms aimed at them, fully cocked. I really liked it, and I'm not even a fan of westerns!

There was a bit of a flaw in either the directing or editing of this scene, however. When Hunt asks what the landing fee is, he reacts to the "For you? Too much" way too quickly, literally before the words are out of the man's mouth. Takes away from the natural fluidity of dialog, doesn't it?

And where the hell is the rest of the cast? Not only do we lose Rev Bem (Brent Stait) for the third episode in a row, we've also lost Seamus Harper (Gordon Michael Woolvett) and Rommie (Lexa Doig).

Now, I know there are contract considerations with the supporting cast, but couldn't we spread the absences out through the course of the season rather than dump everyone at whim and for so long, we wonder if they are really even a part of the series any more?

The acting has approved for this episode, but not because of Sorbo or anyone else (most especially Lisa Ryder, who still hasn't learned how to play her role as Beka Valentine). The supporting cast was amazing in this episode, even Woolvett's wife, Michele Morand, who really was pregnant with the couple's son, Rogan, who was born July 31. She played the pregnant Jadis who killed who she thought was Ortiz.

I also enjoyed the work of Enuka Okuma (Saphia Wei) and Rachel Hayward (Cory) who just outshone everyone in this episode. It was great to see some fresh acting, and not the status quo we get from Sorbo and his bunch (minus Lexa Doig, who actually is quite enjoyable).

And the writing was good at times ... especially when Dylan Hunt wants to talk with Cory, but Saphia decides to stay. When asked what about her, Cory answers, "I'm her doctor, she's my bartender. We don't have secrets." Also, Tyr's line after the big ugly alien was shot at by everyone in the bar: "As he is now, he'd be an interesting conversation piece."

But then there were other incidents that just made me roll my eyes, like when a bad ugly alien calls Trance (Laura Bertram) an overgrown grape. For aliens, they seem to know a lot about Earth, which has been a dead planet for quite some time.

Another thing that got to me is the forced drama that is trying to be created in these episodes by using slow motion. When Trance loses her tail, she runs very slow to protect Saphia. Come on ... if you want to create good drama, write good drama ... there's no reason to make this type of contrivance.

And how about them aliens? After we got those cheesy looking Pyrians that Sorbo was all excited about last summer, viewers realized that the real aliens that we should've looked forward to were the Kalderans. They looked great, and I really enjoyed them!! I hope we get to see them again in the future.

The ending was quite good, without the boring preachiness that plagued previous episodes. But come on ... with all the bombing around the site, you're going to tell me that the Kalderans leave the Eureka Maru without a scratch? Whatever.

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What's your thoughts on the episode? Tell us here!

Michael Hinman is the news editor and co-owner of SyFy Portal. He lives in Tampa, Fla.

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