‘TERRA NOVA’ REVIEW: Initial thoughts on the season premiere
Here’s Hollywood Soapbox’s initial thoughts on the two-part season premiere of FOX’s Terra Nova.
• The special effects of the “future” world are kind of cheesy and uber-CGI-ified.
• I now believe that Blade Runner is the most influential sci-fi movie of all time. Every cinematic landscape of what our society will become looks ripped off from the seminal Ridley Scott film. Why don’t we just superimpose Deckard in one of these shots?
• I love the action of Terra Nova and the early undertones of film noir. This is all very Orwellian, what with big government, child kidnappings, imprisoned rebels. Too bad we’re going to spend most of our time with the dinosaurs.
• This being a Steven Spielberg project, there is a definite focus on the family. Because of this, the show is a bit sanitized. The violence is never too violent. The kisses are never too lustful. The drama is always bearable. That will bring in a wide audience, but it places limitations on the show as well. How great would it be to develop a sci-fi series on HBO?
• Multi-ethnic families seem to be the rule for future societies, and thank goodness for that. It’s nice to see that we’re all getting along (somewhat) in the future. Apparently, we know how to pick our loved ones with no discrimination, but we are still at war and plagued by disease.
• The technology of the “future” is not far-fetched in Terra Nova. I could definitely see this being where the world is headed in some 120 years.
• The acting is decent, although I’m not getting a clear “family feel” from this group of people.
• There still needs to be a lot of explanation and subtext, especially in terms of that ridiculous “time stream” conversation. Also, I’d like to learn a little more about the whole transport machine. Right now it just looks like pilgrims jump into a stormy bubble. I’d also prefer these developments to come organically, rather than having a character stop the action and describe the intricacies of the series (the premiere fell victim to this several times).
• The “past” world is neat, although the first glimpse of the dinosaurs pales in comparison to Jurassic Park (sorry, I had to go there). With swelling music and long-necked lizards eating branches off a tree, it’s hard not to think of Spielberg’s adaptation of the Michael Crichton novel.
• Stephen Lang is god.
• This show feels very much like Falling Skies, Spielberg’s other recent sci-fi series. The main character is a father looking out for his family. His love interest is employed in the medical field. A ragtag group of people try to do their best Bear-Grylls impersonation and survive from a deadly threat. There was a sluggish-looking thing on a kid’s back in Terra Nova’s pilot, which reminded me of the harnesses on Falling Skies. The teenagers quickly couple up and see romance in each other’s eyes. A grizzled community elder is in charge of the military operations.
I swear if I see spider-like aliens on Terra Nova, I’m crying foul.
Oh, it should be noted, I prefer Falling Skies.
• The dinosaurs are pretty cool; however, the camera should keep them at a mysterious distance. Up close, they look like a video game.
• The second half of Terra Nova’s premiere is much better than the first. The action is intense, and the questions of the series begin to align (what are those designs on the rock? who exactly are the 6’s? what’s going on?)
• As long as this show stays unique, rather than turn into a retread of Lost, Falling Skies or Jurassic Park, I’ll keep watching. The acting is strong. The writing is mostly well handled. The visuals leave much to be desired, but on the whole, the pilot works to a degree. It trips up, but doesn’t fall flat on its face.
• If this was a test, I’d give the show a “B-” for effort, a “C+” for execution and an “A-” for potential.
What do you think? Leave your comments below. And be sure to check out Terra Nova’s second episode on Monday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. on FOX.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Oh dear, oh dear.
Dumb dinosaurs, dumber teens and cliché, after Spielberg family film cliché.
Ludicrous, teens in bikinis, fruinut moonshine, manicured jungle, nice family beach huts, Gap clothed youth. Gas guzzling, gun grunts provide a new start for humanity already at war with itself.
So much money so little thought.
Send Torchwood in to clear up this sorry mess.
I liked it. ***CONTAINS SPOILERS****
Lets not be silly, the wheel has not been re-invented, but that doesn’t make this bad. The science is pretty good with the separate timelines (fork in the River for any Dr Kaku fans out there). The moon is larger in the sky because its 85 million years ago (85m times 1.5inches per year divided by 12 divided by 5280 ft/mile equals 2012 miles closer to earth compared to our moon today). I would also like if they explained the time fracture a little more but doing it naturally in the show. Anyone else notice what looked like 2 large CERN type Hadron colliders that had something to do with portal, thought that was pretty cool.
The show has bits from other shows like Fallen Skies (not a huge fan), Jurassic Park (duh, dinosaurs, at least they are not in cages), Lost (with a big plus in this show so far is that for every 4 questions asked between 2-3 have been at least attempted to be answered even if they are not quite understood at this moment, plus characters will actually ask questions, plus Lost was like for every 4 questions they would answer 1 and ask 4 more), and Earth 2 for its new world to save humanity thing.
The CGI, well if you expect a pilot show to invest as much money as they did for the Summer blockbusters Avatar and Jurassic Park, then I suggest you not watch pilots. First seasons are tough enough, so hopefully if this gets picked up the budget will increase. But seriously, the dinosaurs are fine, they should film a little further away or really up close that they can use models. But it is fine for me at least, becuase they dino’s are part of the show, they are not the show. They are the menace in the shadows, not 100% the storyline but they can interupt the storyline anytime. If they just put a little money into the lighting the CGI would improve greatly and that is probably on the wishlist once it gets picked up.
The colony, well despite “bikinis, moonshine and beach huts” (like that ruins it because in the future nobody owns a bathing suit, nobody drinks and nobody lives in doors, seriously David Lee poster above, get a grip, they can travel back in time, is it too much to assume they can bring materials with them?). I like how the kids are kids, they find ways to have fun (like they all do), they have swimsuits(big deal), and they make alcohol (because if you have the know how then why not). The characaters are good, you don’t know anyone really except the commander (who was also the commander in Avatar and to me he is a perfect fit). The acting was good, nothing really forced.
It was a good premier, you know the characters, you are introduced to a new older world, you see the issues of humanity despite any technology are still there. You have conflict, family dynamic, a plot, and imagination. Enjoy it for what it is which is a pretty good show, good characters, good storyline, nice scenery and a prehistoric earth (ala separate timeline, can’t help to be happy that got a few things right with time travel).
Wishlist, flashback to when commander arrived as the first pilgrim, but arrived 118 days prior to his team (although the team was sent at the same time). I guess at first they didn’t have the science 100% on the portal.
Soapbox, the missing family feel is due to dad spending 2 years in prison abandoning his family. It got better in the latter part of the show, I was quite happy that basically as he walked back into their life going through the portal it was a little awkward.
Yes, I agree that some of the non-family feel is due to the father not being there for two years … but I also wasn’t feeling anything from the mother. She seemed as aloof as possible — I think my comment came more from the actors not settling into their roles just yet.
It’ll come, I’m sure.
Are you a fan of FALLING SKIES?
You are probably right although from the preview for episode 2 (or 3 depending on if they consider last night 1 or 2 episodes), I think the 2 years dad missed, had Mom doing something besides missing her husband.
Not really a Fallen Skies fan. I tried, I liked it for a while, I just posted review on it. I know i said not to harp on things with this show, but the child abduction thing in Fallen Skies just kind of turned me off. I also had my 2nd child, got into Walking Dead, so I might not have given Fallen Skies the full attention it needed.
I am a huge Walking Dead fan. I love family dynamic in shows, I love flawed characters with good intent, I love heartbreaking loss in shows and the dramatic character moments during those points. I am only frightened that since Frank left WD, will it still feel the same way? I mean you have to love that most of it was shot in Atlanta during the day yet everything about it felt like it was void of any humanity. The fear in the characters, the pain in some of their faces, I just put that show kind of on top. Fallen Skies just kind of feels a little flat, but like I said I kind of didn’t devote anytime to it, but maybe that in itself says something.
Keep calling it Fallen Skies for some reason.
I was hoping all the stupid kids would get eaten. But it looks like Slashers only like to “nibble” on dumb teenagers, darn.
Why were they using the Barb from a slasher to awkwardly cut fruit? Couldn’t they use… A knife?
I kind of see that as a possible down side to any show being on a channel like FOX, ABC, etc, they have to make it a little family, and less edgy/real. I think thats why the shows on the cable networks are better these days, they can get away with more. Kind of wish this show was on a cable channel.
My guess is they didn’t have a knife, plus they wanted to introduce a dino without showing you the dino at first. Plus if it is a sharp object capable of slicing through something, isn’t that by definition a knife? On top of that if they are stopped by security they are not found walking around with a knife. My guess is security is a little on edge of the 6’s, so it is probably best not to be walking around with a weapon.
@ tbone – Errrr… They went OTG, remember? They could had taken a bazoka thru that hole in the fence LOL.
All they have to defend the fence is wood poles topped off with a few wooden pointy spikes?
Trading Iron ore for Prisoners…
A. Iron ore must be in abundance and it wouldn’t it make sense to build a camp near a valuable natural resource?
B. They have sent hi-tech materials through the portal before, why not send iron/iron substitutes?
LOVE the bullet-proof dinosaurs AWESOME.
Holes, holes, holes.
Was just pointing out why they might not want to carry a knife in the compound thats all, otherwise they have the slasher tail which does the same thing. If you had a choice of using a butter knife, steak knife or a piece of dinosaur tail, you telling me you would use a regular knife?
The iron ore, well perhaps they have a use for it we don’t know about yet. They did make camp near a valuable resource probably more important then ore, water and fertile land. Also we know the earth is basically completely used up in the future perhaps there is very little raw ore to go around. I mean it was one little crateful, and had that much importance. So there should be more to it then that. Maybe they need it for ammo casings, it seems the future doesn’t quite know what is going there so perhaps the less you ask for from the future, the better off you are. Who knows
I try not to get stuck on little plot holes, otherwise I wouldn’t watch any show, they all have them. I think I was just happiest watching this show knowing that characters ask questions and often get some form of an answer, unlike my last favorite turned despised show.
I think this show can go into a multitude of directions and some might be really good but it seems many are getting stuck on these little holes. Hopefully since they got this mini movie out of the way, they can do more plot developed episodes.
It seems most people are pissed off at the teenage kids, when it just comes down to “how do we get some action in, they live in a compound can’t leave easily, well you know kids…” Meanwhile we kind of got a good piece of the show from the kids, life is not perfect, people die even parents, there is this forbidden zone with some crazy math on rocks and danger of more then one kind is lurking everywhere.
Bullet proof dino’s needs to be fixed, I will whole heartedly agree with that. Some of dinosaurs I can it not being a big deal, plated dinos, huge brachios, even the allosaurus (but it should like be affected by them at the least). For the others a single bullet probably not a big deal unless in the right spot, but unloading a clip from 5 feet away should tear through one.
I think it being prime time Fox has something to do with that, keeping it PC and not too gorey.
Horrible show. Trite, cliche, nothing changes in 100 years…kids are still self-centered bratty teens who can’t be counted on for anything useful. so many things wrong, just an awful show about really stupid people. Except for the sixers who have figured out that the leader is an idiot with his own agenda. Just a huge waste of time, and I won’t be tuning in until the last episode, which will come sooner rather than later, and will have the geek daughter and missing son figuring out all that geometry on the rocks is another time portal. Sigh. predictable, boring, lame.