When you hear a title like Battle in Space: The Armada Attacks! certain expectations are set up. You expect, oh, I don’t know, perhaps a battle in space? Maybe an armada attacking? Perchance some cardboard characters delivering over-blown dialog and enacting some insane plot?

You certainly wouldn’t expect what you get in Battle in Space: The Armada Attacks!.

[three_fourth] Though promoted and sold as a fun, cheesy sci-fi action flick, Battle in Space is actually a low-budget “indie” anthology of dark, serious science-fiction short features.

The first concerns a cynical, down-at-his-heels ex-cop turned private eye, who searches for a kidnapped child and redeems himself in battle with alien invaders; the second, “The Hermes,” involves two psychic warriors infiltrating an enemy base and stealing a powerful crystal; “The Agamemnon” details a manned mission to Mars, and one man’s descent into madness; “The Persis” is a battle of wills between a cyborg soldier and his fully-organic co-pilot, one of whom has been brainwashed – but which?; and “The Caronte” is a young woman’s race against time and enemy aliens as she seeks to justify her kid brother’s faith in her.

While each vignette is well-written and fairly well-acted, audiences are strongly cautioned: this film is NOT the fun action-packed space opera its publicity and trailers imply. Caveat emptor.

Released on January 12, 2021, this film was written and directed by Andrew Jaksch, Lukas Kendall, Sanjay F. Sharma, and Luis Tinoco, with additional writing by Josh Guttman and additional direction by Toby Rawal and Scott Robson. It stars Doug Jones (Hellboy, The Shape of Water, Pan’s Labyrinth), Eric Palladino (Watchmen mini-series, Arrow, 666 Park Avenue), and Douglas Tait (Annabelle Comes Home, Hellboy [2019], Star Trek: Picard).

Battle in Space: The Armada Attacks is available for purchase or download on YouTube.

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For the Actual Film: 2 out of 4 (Average)

For the Film as Advertised: 0 out of 4 (Bomb!)

Length: 43 mins, 43 seconds

The post Movie Review: “Battle in Space: The Armada Attacks” (2020) appeared first on C-Squared.

What would you do if you found a portal to myriad alternate realities? Would you plunder those other-worlds for money, ideas, a piece of ass? Parallel follows a group of friends as they navigate the numerous opportunities presented by having such a portal in their attic…and the consequences of their actions.

[three_fourth] Noel, Devin, Josh, and Leena are a group of 20-somethings who have created their own app development company. But when their latest creation is pulled out from under them by an acquaintance, they start to fall apart. In anger, one of them throws something at the wall in the laundry room. Through the whole in the wall, they see a secret stairway and tear down the rest of the wall to explore. The stairway leads to the attic, and in the attic is a stand-up mirror bolted to the floor. Soon they discover that the mirror serves as a portal to a “multiverse” and that time moves more quickly there than here.

At first, they use the time differential to out-fox their acquaintance and win back the contract. But they don’t stop there, and soon discover that importing knowledge from the other side in order to better their lives brings increasingly dangerous consequences.

Parallel will be available in select theaters and on demand December 11, 2020.

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2 Planets out of 4 — Average

Kathleen Quinlan, who appears in the opening scenes of the film, appeared in Apollo 13 (1995), Stargate Universe (2011), and The Hills Have Eyes (2006).

Georgia King (Leena) appeared in Merlin (2010), Sinbad (2012), and Space Ark (2015).

Martin Wallström (Noel) appeared in Mr. Robot (2019) as Tyrell Wellick.

Mark O’Brien (Josh) played Jerry Hoffler in the Warehouse 13 episode “Don’t Hate the Player” (2011).

Aml Ameen (Devin) appeared inn The Maze Runner (2014) and Sense8 (2015).

The post Movie Review: “Parallel” (2020) appeared first on C-Squared.

Anthony Mackie and Justin Benson play paramedics responding to bizarre deaths and injuries and all are related to a new designer drug Synchronic. But this drug doesn’t give you an ordinary high, as Mackie’s character soon finds out.

[three_fourth] In theaters and drive-ins October 23, this film was directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, written by Benson, and stars Anthony Mackie and Benson, with Jamie Dornan, Katie Aselton, and Ally Ioannides.

In addition to this movie, clips in this video include:

• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Marvel Studies

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Carma received a pre-release screener for this upcoming film.

If you haven’t seen the film yet, be aware that there are major spoilers in this episode. Carma and Christopher share the plot outlines and some of the plot points that may spoil the suspense of the film. That said, much of that is also spoiled in the trailer.

Synchronic builds slowly, showing you the results of the new designer drug, but leaving you not quite sure what you’re actually seeing. Time within the film is not chronological with several flashbacks. It opens with a couple taking Synchronic together. The boyfriend leaves to get ice, as he enters the elevator, the drug takes effect and he finds himself falling in a vast desert. His girlfriend, who remains in the bed, is transported to a bayou where a strange woman looks upon her and a snake winds its way toward her leg. It just gets weirder from there.

Carma was fascinated by the time-travel aspects of the film and Christopher enjoyed the suspense. Both were impressed with Anthony Mackie’s action chops as displayed in this film.

Parental Advisory: The film includes foul language and there are a few graphic scenes of injuries. That said, this film does a good job of not showing actual gory violence. Much of the violence is implied, which is enough.

Be sure to watch for the blooper!

3 Planets out of 4 — Good

The post Movie Review: “Synchronic” (2020) appeared first on C-Squared.

Christopher and Carma attended WorldCon 76 in San Jose, Calif. It was Christopher’s first and Carma’s second WorldCon (World Science Fiction Convention). Here are their reactions.

Registration opened on Wednesday, Aug. 15, at 2pm.
Events began on Thursday, Aug. 16, at 9 am.
Opening Ceremony began Thursday, 5 pm.

We arrived at the convention at the tail end of the Opening Ceremony.

There were numerous panels, events, and activities each hour. Here is what we went to:

8 pm, Retro Hugos Party
This event awarded the 1943 Hugos for work released in 1942.

10 am, “If This, Then What?” Panel on alternate histories

11 am, Tour of the convention

1 pm, “Un-Pulping the Pulp Heroes”, Panel on the Pulps

3 pm, Birds of a Feather meeting with fellow Christians

5 pm,”The Bob Wilkins Creature Feature Show”

12 pm, “25 Years of Babylon 5” – Carma
12 pm, “The ‘Perry Rhodan’ Phenomenon: 57 Years of Ongoing SF Adventures”

4 pm, “Special Preview: Space Command” – Stay tuned for our commentary on potential future TV Show in a future episode of C-Squared

Then we toured the art show, checked out the various exhibits of past Hugos, costumes, and photographic portraits of well-known SF writers and artists.

10 am, “Christian Worship Service” – a tag-team Catholic mass and Methodist service

11:30 am, Watched a demo of Archivos, a cool online app that lets you map all sorts of elements of a story

Then off to the dealers’ room for some shopping

2 pm, – “Spy-Fi: Science Fiction Thrillers”

Back to the dealers’ room!

10 am, More shopping in the Dealer’s room

12 pm, “Chesley Bonestell: A Brush with the Future” – a viewing of this documentary about the first space artist. Stay tuned for our review in a future episode of C-Squared

The post Event Overview: WorldCon 76, San Jose, Calif. appeared first on C-Squared.

An overview and appreciation of season one of the now-forgotten supernatural anthology TV program.

[three_fourth] Originally aired on ABC from 1959-1961, this program was created and produced by Merwin Gerard and Collier Young, written by Larry Magnus, and directed and hosted by John Newland, “our guide to the world of the unknown.”

One Step Beyond Season 1 is available on Amazon Prime Video. You can also find episodes on YouTube.

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4 Planets out of 4 — Fantastic!

The post TV Review: “One Step Beyond” Season 1 (1959-1960) appeared first on C-Squared.

Ant-Man and his partner, the Wasp, return and face multiple antagonists – including rogue FBI agents, mobsters, and a supervillain called the Ghost – as they try to rescue Henry Pym’s wife, the original Wasp, from a mysterious void.

[three_fourth] Released in summer 2018, this film was directed by Peyton Reed, written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, and stars Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly, with Michelle Pfeiffer, Laurence Fishburne, and Michael Douglas.

In addition to this movie and its predecessor, clips in this video include:

• Captain America: Civil War 2016 Marvel Studios
• Avengers: Infinity War 2018 Marvel Studios
• Batman and Robin 1997 Universal Studios

Ant-Man and The Wasp is available on Amazon Prime Video.

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3 Planets out of 4 — Good

The post Movie Review: “Ant-Man and The Wasp” (2018) appeared first on C-Squared.

When an eccentric billionaire promises to make superheroes legal again, Elastigirl goes back into action…leaving Mr. Incredible to care for the house and kids.

[three_fourth] Released in summer 2018, this film was written and directed by Brad Bird and stars the voices of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, and Sarah Vowell.

Video clips in this video include:

• Incredibles 20014 Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures
• Incredibles 2 2018 Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures
• Oven Pride Commercial, 2009, UK
• Wonder Woman 2017 DC Comics, Warner Bros.
• The Avengers 2012 Marvel Studios
• Jonny Quest 1964–1965 Hanna-Barbera Productions
• The Outer Limits 1963-1965 Daystar Productions, United Artists Television

Watch the C-Squared Incredibles review.

Incredibles 2 is available on Amazon Prime Video.

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3 Planets out of 4 — Good

The post Movie Review: “Incredibles 2” (2018) appeared first on C-Squared.

Combining ‘60s James Bond homage, superheroic fantasy, and domestic drama, this Pixar film focuses on a family of undercover superheroes who is forced to come out of hiding to save their father – and the world.

[three_fourth] Released in 2004, this film was written and directed by Brad Bird, and stars the voices of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Brad Bird, who was Pixar’s first outside director, developed the film as an extension of the 1960s comic books and spy films from his boyhood, as well as his personal family life. He pitched the film to Pixar after the box office disappointment of his first feature, The Iron Giant (1999), and carried over much of its staff to develop The Incredibles. The animation team was tasked with animating an all-human cast, which required creating new technology to animate detailed human anatomy, clothing and realistic skin and hair.

It was the first entirely animated film to win the prestigious Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation and was Pixar’s 6th feature film.

The Incredibles is available on Amazon.

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4 Planets out of 4 — Fantastic!

The post Movie Review: “The Incredibles” (2004) appeared first on C-Squared.