Tin Man (Miniseries)

DG is a waitress from a small town in Kansas. She lives with her parents. She tries hard, but she has trouble fitting in. She listens to her parents fantastic stories about another land. A freak storm blows up a tornado and events lead to DG and her mom and dad being separated in a strange land called the ‘Outer Zone’ or the OZ. DG recognizes the land from her father’s stories. DG must find her parents during her search she finds she has much more to do.

I overlooked this Syfy Miniseries when it came out because I thought it would be just another Wizard of OZ remake trying to upstage the original. What I have found is that this is its own movie. The story line is roughly based on the original Wizard of OZ but is very different and quite fun. It might not be the greatest movie for very small children but many of us big children really liked it.

Available On: Tv.com, Amazon, Netflix

Cast: Zooey Deschanel, Alan Cumming, Neal McDonough, Raoul Trujillo, Kathleen Robertson, Richard Dreyfuss

Caprica

Caprica is about two families on the planet Caprica the Greystones and the Adamas. Both families are among those devastated by a terrorist attack. Each family responds to the attack in their own way. The attack is found to be the work of a small group advocating the worship of one God over the worship of many Gods which is the norm on Caprica.

With major advances in virtual reality Daniel Graystone decides to attempt to build an VR avatar of his daughter and offers the same to Joseph Adama but the one God group has different ideas for the VR technology. Greystone’s company is working on battle robots for the Caprican government and in an attempt to bring his daughter into the real world he attempts to install the avatar of his daughter into his prototype.  Here ends the spoilers!

Caprica is a 2010 spin-off prequel of the Battlestar Galactica series. It is set about 50 years before the Battlestar Galactica timeline. The show has a very complicated storyline but it holds together well. Effects are good enough but not amazing. There is some decent action but a lot of dialogue getting to it but a complicated storyline requires a lot of plot and character development. Caprica did and does offer the science fiction fan a few new ideas and that is rare. This is a really good show.

Cast includes: Eric Stoltz, Esai Morales, Paula Malcomson, Alessandra Torresani, Magda Apanowicz, Sasha Roiz, Brian Markinson, Polly Walker

Available on: Google Play, Amazon, Netflix

Z Nation (Series 1)

A zombie virus has ravaged the world. One test subject has survived being infected and it is suspected his blood might hold the antibodies necessary to create a vaccine. A small heroic group must try to get the test subject from New York to the last lab operating that may be able to create the vaccine. The problem is the lab they need to get him to is in California and there is a lot of hostel territory between New York and California.

If you want zombies and the violence, blood and gore that are part of the proper zombie package Z Nation will be fun for you there is very little one can complain about in the effects department. I found the show fun but the acting is OK but not great (DJ Qualls is the exception, he did a great job!), and the story and lore are extremely predictable. It is more fantasy than The Walking Dead with some really silly Chucky-like and Sharknado-like scenes. There is even a little Cheech and Chong type moment. All in all despite a few groaners the show is reasonable fun.

Cast includes: Kellita Smith, DJ Qualls, Michael Welch, Keith Allan, Anastasia Baranova, Russell Hodgkinson, Pisay Pao, Nat Zang, Tom Everett Scott, Harold Perrineau

Available on: Netflix, Hulu

Destination Truth

Destination Truth is a series about Josh Gates and his team heading out all over the world to try to document a paranormal or cyrptozoological report. They used night vision, thermal imaging, EMF Meters, audio amplification devices etc. Usually each episode contains two targets. Once done with an investigation they return to their base and review the evidence collected sometimes with the help of experts from outside the team. The team members changed several times over the 5 seasons but the people were always did a really good job in the show.

Destination Truth ran from June 6. 2007 and the last season began July 10, 2012 and it was great fun. Not so much for finding their latest cryptid, monster, or paranormal target but for the cultures and locations they visited. Josh Gates and crew always interacted with the people and participated in their culture and listened to and appreciated their beliefs. I enjoy Destination Truth and watch the episodes over and over. Wonderful entertainment!

Team Members Included: Josh Gates, Erin Ryder, Kyle Wheeler, David D’Angelo, Katy Murakami, Adam Butler, Tristant Icaza, Richie Fung, Drew Adams, Allie Boettger, Hank Braxtan, Casey Brumels, Ron Carlson, Gabriel “Gabe” Copeland, Jael de Pardo, Rey Delgado, Vlad Garcia, Bicha Gholam, Lindsay Gillette, Tony Gonzales, Shawn A. Goodwin, Naomi Grossman, Araceli Haldeman, Sharra Jenkins, Chris Lore, Mike Morrell, Bobby Pura, Dan Ramirez, Nick Scown, Star Seifert, Ian Shorr, Erica “Shush” Shusha, Vanessa Joy Smith, Michael “Ponch” St. Hilaire, Evan B. Stone, Jarrod Tomassi, Jed Udall, Rich Velazquez, Rex Williams, Eric Wing, Ali Zubik

Guests who appeared on the show: Jason Hawes – TAPS investigator,Grant Wilson – TAPS investigator, Steve Gonsalves – TAPS investigator. Dave Tango – TAPS investigator, Jael de Pardo – investigator, Robb Demarest – GHI investigator, Dustin Pari – TAPS/GHI investigator, Barry Fitzgerald – GHI investigator, Kris Williams – TAPS/GHI investigator, Allison Scagliotti – actress Warehouse 13

Available on: Amazon, Google Play, VUDU, Netflix

Helix

A CDC response team is called to investigate a reported viral outbreak at a huge arctic scientific research facility located far enough north to be outside the laws of any country. Upon arriving it is discovered that the virus has been modified at the facility. The CDC team, along with the facilities staff, immediately begin working together on the cure research.  Many of the people who are sick are made to spread the virus as though they are possesed. Soon it becomes clear that there are interested parties beyond the facility. Secret relationships come to light and evil deeds are exposed.