Showing posts with label falling skies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label falling skies. Show all posts

July 30, 2011

A FALLING SKIES Behind-the-Scenes (Kind Of)

As I've stated before, I have signed up to help spread the word about Falling Skies, which is a show about the aftermath of an alien invasion which is shown Sunday nights on TNT (and where you can learn more - and catch up on episodes - by clicking here).

Although the season's almost over, I have to say that this is definitely one of the best series worth watching....and as a special treat for the comics aficionados amongst you, a little behind-the-scenes info about the Falling Skies webcomic:

falling skies, steven spielberg, tnt, noah wyle, tnt, skitters, moon bloodgood, scifi shows, sci-fi shows, sci fi shows, aliens
falling skies, steven spielberg, tnt, noah wyle, tnt, skitters, moon bloodgood, scifi shows, sci-fi shows, sci fi shows, aliensfalling skies, steven spielberg, tnt, noah wyle, tnt, skitters, moon bloodgood, scifi shows, sci-fi shows, sci fi shows, aliens

And now, the obligatory explanation (and keep your eyes on this space for a possible giveaway):

FALLING SKIES opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. In the six months since the initial invasion, the few survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers work to protect the people in their care while also engaging in an insurgency campaign against the occupying alien force.

At the center of the series is Tom Mason (Noah Wyle), a Boston history professor whose family has been torn apart. His wife was killed in the initial attack, and one of his three sons has been captured. Determined to get his son back and to ensure the safety of his other two sons, Tom must put his extensive knowledge of military history to the test as one of the leaders of the resistance movement known as the 2nd Mass, because of their location in Boston, Mass. They are constantly trying to gain intelligence about the aliens in order to one day outsmart and overtake them and hopefully rebuild their lives.

Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation) co-stars as Anne Glass, a pediatrician who works with the surviving children to help them cope with the traumatic upheaval in their lives. Will Patton (Armageddon, TNT's Into the West) plays a fierce leader of the resistance, Weaver. The series also stars Drew Roy (Secretariat) as Hal, Tom's oldest son and a growing fighter in the resistance movement; Maxim Knight (Brothers & Sisters) as Matt, Tom's youngest son; Connor Jessup (The Saddle Club) as Ben, Tom's son who was captured by aliens; and Seychelle Gabriel (Weeds) as Lourdes, an orphaned teenager who helps Anne in the group's makeshift medical clinic. Colin Cunningham (Living in Your Car) is John Pope, the leader of an outlaw motorcycle gang and Sarah Carter (Shark) is Margaret, a wary survivor of Pope's gang.

FALLING SKIES focuses on the resilience of the survivors and their determination to maintain their humanity when all else has been destroyed. It is a tale of endurance, commitment and courage in which everyday people are called upon to become heroes. They may be outmatched, outnumbered and outgunned, but nothing can beat the human spirit. Most of all, the series is about the ties that bind people together in the most difficult of circumstances.

The aliens in the series are mighty, mysterious and merciless. They are highly intelligent and use military-like tactics, which makes them an overwhelming force against the 2nd Mass. There are two types of aliens that the human survivors have named Skitters and Mechs. Combining live action and special visual effects, the Skitters have spider-like bodies and incredible strength and agility. The deadly, robotic Mechs stand upright and can shoot bullets from their arms. The aliens control captured children, like Tom's son Ben, through bio-mechanical harnesses but have yet to reveal their ultimate plan for them.

FALLING SKIES is executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, along with DreamWorks Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank, Graham Yost (Justified, The Pacific) and screenwriter Robert Rodat. Rodat, who earned an Oscar® nomination for his screenplay for Saving Private Ryan, wrote the pilot from an idea he co-conceived with Spielberg. Mark Verheiden (Heroes, Battlestar Galactica) and Greg Beeman (Heroes, Smallville) are co-executive producers. The pilot was directed by Carl Franklin (One False Move, Out of Time).

Learn more and join The Resistance at http://turnerinfluencernetwork.com/ct.php?sid=15falling skies, steven spielberg, tnt, noah wyle, tnt, skitters, moon bloodgood, scifi shows, sci-fi shows, sci fi shows, aliensfalling skies, steven spielberg, tnt, noah wyle, tnt, skitters, moon bloodgood, scifi shows, sci-fi shows, sci fi shows, aliensfalling skies, steven spielberg, tnt, noah wyle, tnt, skitters, moon bloodgood, scifi shows, sci-fi shows, sci fi shows, aliens

July 3, 2011

Life After Wartime: A Review of FALLING SKIES

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(In the interest of full disclosure - I was contacted awhile ago to help promote this TNT series via advertisements and banners. However, review copies of episodes were not provided.)

One of the more interesting subtexts of a lot of popular culture has been living in the midst of disaster - how people pull together (or not) during times of crisis, and the impact it may have on the "next generation." From The Road to Lost to The Living Dead, there's been an increased focus on how people deal with the unexpected (which is why zombies have now become the nerd cliche du jour - it's the ultimate way to conceive that things-are-really-messed-up).

Like the recently canceled The Event, TNT's Falling Skies deals with the aftermath of an alien invasion as humanity attempts to rebuild and a teacher (Noah Wyle) attempts to locate his lost son. Given its premise and the fact that it is being produced by Steven Spielberg, it would be tempting to dismiss it as sentimental, or as a bargain basement version of Super 8. (Note - I have not seen Super 8, and am a little reluctant to given my aversion to Cloverfield). However, Falling Skies  - after three episodes - is turning into a surprisingly gripping family drama. In short, it's a pretty good science fiction family drama that you won't be ashamed to show others...or admit that you like.

Part of the reason the show works is that it gives us enough of the familiar cliches of the genre, and then plays with them slightly. After the invasion of aliens (who resemble xenomorphs, Predators, and spider Daleks), humanity (at least, in America) has assembled into a series of military/civilian collectives working to rebuild society. Although the usual tensions are there, characters do not fall into the usual "war bad/peace good" cliches, and there's a more realistic edge to the writing - and acting. If you're expecting Mad Men quality drama....look elsewhere. But there is a solidness to the writing and acting that makes it a pretty good view, despite it taking a little bit to start.

You may be tempted to wait until the DVD set comes out....please don't. This is pretty good "popcorn television", and quite frankly, Falling Skies is a hidden gem in the summer season.

Watch it. Now.

June 11, 2011

Coming June 19th - Falling Skies

Since I was asked - and volunteered - to help spread the word about Steven Spielberg's new series Falling Skies, here's a trailer for you to enjoy.

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