DAVINCI'S DEMONS

 So last night I started watching DaVinci's Demons, a British-American series which presents a highly fantastical representation of Leonardo Davinci's early adult life as an artist, inventor, idealist and intellect and Florence under the Medici's. The series is conceived and written by David S. Goyer.

Described as a historical fantasy, the series explores the untold story of DaVinci "inventing" the future at the age of 25, at a time in history when “thought and faith are controlled...as one man fights to set knowledge free.” The young DaVinci struggles with his inner darkness “tortured by a gift of superhuman genius. He is a heretic intent on exposing the lies of religion. An insurgent seeking to subvert an elitist society. A bastard son who yearns for legitimacy with his father.”

I was not expecting much with this show so I was pleasantly surprised at how good it is. It strikes the right balance of history and fantasy. DaVinci is presented as a sort of Florentine Sherlock, his unique vision and insights highlighted by moments of slow-motion and animated DaVinci drawings.

In fact, if you're waiting impatiently for the new season of SHERLOCK in October (and, let's face it, who isn't?) then this just might be the series to tide you over. Visually it is very lush with beautiful scenery and costumes and, as this is Starz, there are enough expletives, boobs, bums and dicks on display to satisfy the GAME OF THRONES/SPARTACUS crowd. There is also enough action, sword fights, spurting blood, clever chases and explosions to satisfy attention deficit viewers.

Tom Riley does his best Benedict Cumberbatch/Johnny Lee Miller as Leonardo. He is difficult, a womanizer, a drunkard as well as a man of frenetic action and tortured genius. The rest of the cast is good and mostly British. DEEP SPACE NINE fans will recognize Julian Bashir -- Alexander Siddig as Al-Rahim and SHERLOCK aficionados will recognize Irene Adler -- Lara Pulver as Clarice Orsini.

I'm only two episodes in but I'm enjoying it enormously and I would recommend it based on the opening two. There are only eight episodes in the first season but it has been renewed for a second. It's certainly worth a look.

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio

ELEMENTARY (NOT SHERLOCK)

So after some consideration I am really not impressed with ELEMENTARY, mainly because it doesn't "feel" like a Sherlock Holmes story the way that the BBC's SHERLOCK does. In many way, despite it being updated to modern times, SHERLOCK feels more authentic than, say, Guy Ritchie's big screen adaptation with Robert Downey Jr as Holmes. Even that version felt more authentic than ELEMENTARY does.

ELEMENTARY is just another US mystery/procedural. Nothing special about it. If this is Sherlock Holmes, then there really needs to be something special about him and there really isn't. Recovering addict? Meh. Seen it. The potential for sexual tension between the two leads? Obvious and old hat.

The mystery itself was a cheat. Conan Doyle's Holmes mysteries give you all the clues. If you're clever you could figure it out. The first episode cheated. The one vital clue was kept hidden until nearly the end.

Also Holmes' deductive capabilities seemed to range from elementary (pardon the pun) to supernatural. He overlooked the one vital clue that solved the mystery, but Watson spotted it. One observation that could have been deducible he admitted that he learned it from Google. Conversely his deductions about how the baseball game will turn out... sorry, bullshit unless you're psychic.

ELEMENTARY has a very high bar set for it by the BBC. I know it's only the first one out of the gate, but I'm afraid this US version doesn't come close, nor does it seem to even be trying hard enough.


I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio

NOT SHERLOCK

Didn't hate it as much as I thought I would. not overly impressed. Don't care much for Lucy Liu (never did. This hasn't changed my mind).

More later. It's ice cream time.

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio

THIS IS HOW IT STARTS

I'm not a big fan of reality TV (The two terms are complete oxymorons in my opinion). That is why it is so odd that I have found an interest in THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF VANCOUVER.


My wife and daughter were watching episodes on the computer this weekend and I started watching along with them. What drew me in? Sure I used to live in Vancouver but honestly the Vancouver I lived in was not the same Vancouver in this show. The locations are the same but they are different worlds. So what was it?


I was curious enough to watch one but why did I have to get on board for the rest (there have been four episodes so far)? I couldn't tell you.


All I know is that I am fascinated by these women and their drama and the city in which they live and play, which is so much the same and yet so different from the city in which I used to live.


I guess this is my guilty pleasure.




*On a personal, health-type note: It was just a bad flu. I have been on broad spectrum antibiotics all week and the pills are as big as jelly beans. I have recovered fully except for some vestigial weakness. I managed to go out to dinner Friday and go for two walks this weekend and I am back to work this fine Monday morning.




I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio

AMERICAN HORROR STORY

This looks intriguing, even if it is made by the producers of Glee. It looks very twisted. I think this may be one to watch out for.

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio

PRIMEVAL GOES CANADIAN

Canadian fans of the British show Primeval will be happy to learn that the show will be getting a spin-off set in and produced in Canada. The thirteen episode series will be broadcast on SPACE, Canada's specialty sci-fi fantasy channel.

We're excited to announce today that SPACE has ordered a new original drama series known as Primeval: New World!
The series will run 13 one hour long episodes and will build on the UK Primeval mythology, taking place in the same universe that we've come to know and love.  The story will centre on a new Canadian team of animal experts taking on whatever past or future creatures come through the anomalies that are now appearing around the world.
The creative team behind New World boasts an all Canadian team of writers, and takes place in Vancouver, continuing the SPACE tradition of creating top quality original Canadian genre programming!
If you just can't wait for more dinosaur action, don't worry. Primeval season 4 will get an encore broadcast (but this time, in HD) starting Thursday September 22 and Primeval season 5 will pick up where 4 starting on November 10th!

Yay, Space!

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio

STAR TREK AT 45

So Thursday was the 45th anniversary of the debut of Star Trek. The first episode aired June 8th, 1966 on NBC. I was one year old and eight months at the time. So, seeing as how I am older than Star Trek, in honour of its birthday I will put it in a headlocks and give it a noogie until it cries uncle.

Seriously, I love Star Trek and I have for as long as I can remember. I feel I should take this opportunity too say a few words about something that has been with me all of my life.

I know this is going to sound like some kind of confessional at an AA meeting or something:

Hello. My name is Mike and I am a Trekkie.

I've been watching Star Trek for as long as I can remember. I got hooked because of the animated series, believe it or not (TAS as a gateway drug to TOS?). I watched the original STar Trek through faded and badly spliced film versions through the video versions, the restored and remastered versions with the new CGI effects.

I stood in line for all the movies, and was excited for all of them, especially the last one. I watched all the Star Trek series from The Next Generation all the way through to Enterprise (which I didn't really like until its final season when it got unceremoniously cancelled),

When I was a kid I collected all the James Blish novelizations, I read many of the Star Trek novels from Pcoket books, I collected the Star Trek blueprints, arts books, the "making of" books, calendars and photonovels. I have even watched many of the Star Trek fan films which range from excellent to gadawful. I have watched all of James Cawley's Star Trek Phase 2 videos that have been released so far and I am still looking forward to more. This is how much of a Star Trek junkie I am.

Star Trek has now gone back to the beginning (sort of) with JJ Abram's STAR TREK. I am hoping the sequels will at leas live up to if not surpass that film.

Star Trek and I have grown up together. We kind of are like brothers. Sometimes my brother is really cool and amazing and sometimes he's dorky and cheeseball and sometimes he is just plain bad. None of that matters. Just like a brother, I love Star Trek no matter what. I probably always will. I am never happier or more content then when I am watching Star Trek.

Through thick and thin, through smash hits and through complete duds, I am a trekkie and likely will be one until the day I die.

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio