TOP GUN MAVERICK AMAZES WITH VISUAL EFFECTS FIRST

🎥🎞️Movie Review🎞️🎥 - TOP GUN - MAVERICK - Paramount+ - Directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, and Glen Powell. This movie has some stunning visuals and the fighter plane scenes are realistic, breathtaking, and at times, a little beyond belief. The directors and writers to this film pulled some dramatic cinematography to show the realism behind being a fighter pilot and having to fight G-forces while pulling wild maneuvers in the air. It was said that many of the areal scenes were shot with the actors actually flying real planes and that Cruise demanded that everyone take part in flying a real plane to build their knowledge of fighter pilot communications pilot skills, and officer etiquette.

THE PLOT - The film takes place many years after the first film. Maverick is now a test pilot who endangers his job and is pushed right back to Top Gun to train pilots for a dangerous mission. He has to face his own ghosts, as his back seat best friends son, played by Teller, who just happens to be listed in the teams top list of pilots selected for the potentially one-way mission at hand. The training is dangerous, but there's always time for a little fun and some verbal hazing between the pilots about "who is the best." Of course, the mission doesn't go exactly as planned and Maverick has to fight his way back to safety.

THE GOOD - Cruise looks a little more refined and a lot more mature in the role as a Navy Fighter pilot and Captain. He's a little slower, a little more wiser, but he's filled with deep regret and has begun to doubt his abilities to lead; which are good qualities in building his character's new personae. Powell plays a brilliant role as Hangman, and they the writers should have really spent a little more time building up his cocky character. The writers bring back everything that you once knew from the first movie; the motorcycle, the partying, the quick one-liners between pilots. The general feel to the movie is that this is going to be a fun adventure and you'd better hang on for this ride.

THE BAD - What's missing in this movie is the real fun of being in the Navy. Everything in the screenplay is transparent, from the new girl Maverick falls for to the air-to-air dog fight. The writers should have spent more time on Teller's character [Rooster] and give him a better back story; save the fact that he's Goose's son. They could have really punched the fans in the gut if the original mother of the first film, played by Meg Ryan, stepped in and begged Maverick to pull her son from the mission. Ryan's character could have also closed the book on Maverick's last squeeze, stating that he will always be a "player" and he should have just settled down with "Charlie" of the first film. Instead, Teller's scenes as Rooster were limited and we had to rely on Cruises interpretation of Maverick's pain to help us understand what was going through his mind, when he wasn't wrapped up with the new love of his life.

POST MORTEM - This is a good action movie and there are some fun and funny moments in it. I'm not 100% sure if the writers had any real idea about how the Navy truly works, but for what they showed; a bunch of fighters in a hanger bay or parked out in a field, there's no real feel of danger about being on a fighter jet. The slow motion football game on the beach will never match the two on two volleyball game from the first film, but I guess eye-candy for females falls where ever it may these days.  But BRAVO to Cruise, this was another good, top action film to watch!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️[4 of 5 Stars]

GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE IS ONE OF THE BEST, FUN, MUCH NEEDED SEQUELS!

🎥🎞️Movie Review🎞️🎥 - GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE - STARS - Directed by Jason Reitman and stars a young talented actress, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Paul Rudd, and Callie Coon. This is one of the best sequel films that is fun and action packed for the entire family. There is some excellent cinematography and the film is edited with one of the best eyes in movie production, Nathan Orloff. The humor by the teen cast is extraordinary and well delivered at the right times in this zany and extremely well produced film. I could watch this film several times and not get tired of watching it or laughing throughout it's run.

The Good - I cannot overstate the importance of a good script and story arc to push to the viewers who are big fans of the first Ghostbuster film, released in 1984. The visual effects are both CGI and practical effects, which work seamlessly throughout the run of the film. Even though some of the sequences in the action scenes are a little "out of this world" impossible, the film delivers them in a fun away, giving the actors plenty of opportunity to develop their characters and present the best performance on film. The locations for each scene in this film was chosen for sharp effect and used to their fullest potential; something I haven't seen in films in a long time. There are many nostalgic film items from the first two films in the franchise to bring up some great memories and they are delivered perfectly throughout the story. Actor and director Harold Ramis [who played Scientist Doctor Egon Spengler] died in 2014 and is brought back through CGI, and for a brief moment, the entire original cast of the first Ghostbusters film are reunited in this new film. The teen cast is brilliant and the performances of the supporting cast are just as brilliant and believable. The teen characters may be too smart for their own good in the film, but they are brilliantly developed, and of course, are a culture soup of kids who "represent" the large spectrum of today's requirement in Hollywood filmmaking.

The Bad - There is a lot of "Stranger Things" trademarks that are used in the film. Some are too noticeable to be transparent, but it works in the film's large array of ghost hunting antics that fill the story of the film. Sometimes too much, is too much; and I feel that even though some of the original characters from the first film were presented in the film, they should have had a bigger part throughout the film, instead in the final act. There should have been some presentation about their whereabouts and how they were all still in contact. There are rumors that Bill Murry was a hold-out up to the very last minute of filming, but there has been no release of information concerning why.

Post Mortem - This is a fun, action packed film! I honestly recommend for every and any Ghostbuster fan to watch it and just watch it for the entertainment value. I can guarantee that everyone will laugh and enjoy the film from beginning to end. Everyone from the first film gets to make a full minute appearance somewhere during the run of this feature, but they don't overplay the performances of the young cast. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️[4 of 5 Stars]

"BLACK ADAM" IS WHERE "THE ROCK" NEEDS TO BE...BUT ISN'T

🎥🎞️Movie Review🎞️🎥 - BLACK ADAM - Amazon Prime - Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, this movie is the spectacular visualization of the anti-hero, BLACK ADAM. There is a ton of CGI, but there is also a great performance from Johnson that I wasn't truly expecting. A lot of The Rock's little one-liners squeezed through the character of Black Adam that sewed into the script perfectly, when the time arose. This film had so much potential, that Johnson took a large part in funding the film as Executive Producer.

The Good - The film wasted no time getting into the middle of it all, but throwing the viewer into the middle of a throw-down with a bunch of guns and super abilities, which brought the initial pacing of the movie with some extreme [and gratifying] action sequences that are pretty standard for today's Hollywood super-hero movie. This is also a large array of new Muslim-Arabic actors that fill the screen, as this movie takes place in the middle east. Where most of their performances were pretty believable and filled with a lot of emotion and tension, one of the new actors, Bohdi Sabongui had a few issues delivering emotion, but his delivery as the side-kick, delivering a humorous and bungling dialog - pretty much the standard in today's Hollywood genre - was spot on. The big surprise was the addition of Pierce Brosnan and Aldis Hodge, who play the parts of Dr. Fate and Hawkman [respectfully], well for their part in the DC Universe. There's also a ton of good humor throughout the film, breaking the tension as required, but the story arc and historical back flashes were diligenty, artfully presented with direct and proper respect to the comicbook canon of Black Adam's backstory.

The Bad - As with most of today's Hollywood movie formats, this movie becomes so heavy with special effects CGI that the film beings to fall apart during the last third of the films run. Just when you think the movie is just about over, there's a turn in the plot and the villain is transformed into a super-villain with superior CGI abilities that just look too animated and computer generated to be believed. In my opinion, the abilities of the proven DC heroes of Dr. Fate and Hawkman seem to limited to take care of the real problem at hand; leaving the resurrected muscle of Black Adam to come to the rescue. A severe plot-hole ensues when at the end of the film, the team real leader, Amanda Waller [played by Viola Davis] back in the U.S., raises a hint that all she has to do is raise a hint and Superman [played by Henry Cavill] can appear at a moments notice; which he does at the end of the film to face a world-wide threat. So, that makes you wonder why Hawkman didn't just make a call to Waller for BIGGER assistance in dealing with the main villain in the film.

Post Mortem - With the exception of the final third of the film's heavy CGI presence, I think that the film was well thought out and presented with a strong screenplay and a sharp performance by Johnson. It's obvious that Hollywood is trying to push the envelope that there are other less known superheroes that are not of the "Caucasian persuasion" and are equally as powerful. Leaving some to speculate a possible faction of Middle East super beings who can stand up to the heroes of the Justice League and more. By now, the news has reached the surface that any chance for an extension to this film was prematurely cut off, after Johnson was recently fired by the "powers that be" from the franchise before any real chance to produce sequels was even attempted. I think that the Black Adam was a good start to relaunch Johnson's serious attempt to revamp his career as a serious action star; too bad that others "in the circle" didn't think so.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 [3.5 of 5 Stars]

TARANTINO'S "RESERVOIR DOGS" WAS NOTHING BUT HYPE…

🎥🎞️Movie Review🎞️🎥 - RESERVOIR DOGS - [R] - Released in 1992, this as Quentin Tarantino's debut film which stars Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Steve Busemi, Michael Madsen, and others. This [then] Independent Film ran for 99 minutes and had a budget of $1.2 to $3 Million; grossing $2.9 Million in the box office. The plot of the movie concerns a diamond heist gone bad. A few of the actors in this film [like Buscemi and Madsen] were complete nobodies when the film premiered, but are now some of the top named talent in Hollywood.

Now, I've been producing Indie movies and short films for a little over 20 years, reviewing and critiquing major films for a long time, and I have to admit that I never got off my ass to watch this film. I'm not sure why, but there was this hesitation I've always had with films [of any production value] that are often [in my opinion] over-hyped, and generally accepted as pop culture films. I have seen many Tarantino films before and I do have several favorites, but this film is the least liked of the films he's produced and directed. As a matter of fact, this is the worst film I've seen in a long, long time.

There are some big names in this film, which I am sure account for the big budget given to the production, and given the fact that the movie primarily takes place in a warehouse with very little left to offer, it's obvious that Tarantino had a solid connection with investors and brought this cash cow to life with the big names in the films title credits. Seriously, I've seen some bad indie films living in the Houston area for over the last 15 years, and the largest majority of Houston's indie film crap were far better produced  than this piece of shit film.

This just goes to prove that in the real Independent film business, it all depends on who you know and what type of hype you get to have people watch your film. Tarantino must have had a solid promotional team to push this shit sludge out to the public and make it seem like the best thing since scented toilet paper. There is nothing remarkable in this film; there's a ton of over acting, useless arguments, tons of profanity, and story arcs that lead nowhere. The camera work is stagnant and there's really that stands out except one character [played by Tim Roth] that bleeds from a stomach wound throughout the entire film, that show's any real substantiated element to the film that makes you wonder how that character could have lived that long.

There's a continuous argument between the main characters concerning a botched diamond heist, but you never see it. As a matter of fact, Tarantino plays a short cameo in the film and you never see how he gets killed, save the fact that one character says, "Oh, he was shot and killed too." Oh boy, and movies like this were the prime drive to hope that indie film directors CAN eventually break into the Hollywood circuit?

This movie was nothing but DOG SHIT! 

💫[.5 out of 5 Stars]

THE QUANTUM STORM .357 E-MAGAZINE ISSUE 15 IS RELEASED!

 

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STAR WARS “TALES OF THE JEDI” ANIMATED SERIES PROVES AGAIN THAT THE "CLONE WARS" IS NOT JUST FOR KIDS

🎥🎞Series Review🎞🎥 – STAR WARS “TALES OF THE JEDI” [2022] – Disney + - [PG] – I raised my sons with the belief of the constant fight between good and evil. The best instrument to showcase as an example of this battle was their introduction into the Star Wars Universe. As the years passed, I watched their excitement grow with each new addition to the episodic movies. And even today, they watch the same movie and series with excitement and awe. it seems that over the years, Disney has done it's best to present 'back stories" to the Star Wars Universe. The newest release of the animated Star Wars Universe is definitely a refreshing star studded production with plotlines and stories that fill in all of the important gaps to one of the most complex and action packed franchises within the George Lucas Star Wars [SW] franchise. This newest extension to the Star Wars [SW] Universe, Tales of the Jedi was superbly produced, written in the darkest nature to present the mysterious world of the Jedi order and why certain characters chose a different path from that of Luke Skywalker.

What stands out first is the breathtaking change in the computer graphics used in both the main characters and the details with the clothing, hair, and star ship designs that are the bread and butter of the entire series. We’ve watched the show grow over the years, adapting to newer technologies and graphic artist to help build the production to a higher plateau in each new addition which was released and presented to the fans that are always salivating to see more. With the previous seasons of the SW Clone Wars, I was hoping that not too much would change, and it didn’t…it got better!

The directing and storyboarding to the new release were nothing short of brilliant! Different directors guided the production teams to present some of the best storytelling to the episodes. There are some breathtaking scenes filled with drama and suspense, plus the addition of having the Sith “tell their tale” was also a most refreshing way to build the dramatic momentum. There wasn’t too much of soft details to slow the story down, only the facts; and the facts to the stories gives each episode something more to crave. The writing teams thought this stuff out and they certainly didn’t focus on fluff to drag you along.

The top tier best of the series was the last episode that solely focuses on the fate of Ahsoka Tano. Within the SW Clone War universe, she’s become a fan favorite and this series ties her in with events that lead up to SW IV - A New Hope. The new graphic details help Ahsoka share her frustrations with having to show emotion during critical times in each episode. In a way, she is still trying to find out about herself, but is reluctantly force to chose the life of a “Jedi in hiding” as she is still being hunted down by the darker forces of the Dark Side of the Force. Her actions in this series only goes to prove that the spirit of fighting for good are rooted deep in her blood and she will never turn her back to what is right. She is a great character, and she demands a strong spotlight, which Disney has done again perfectly.

I highly recommend that EVERY SW fan watches this series and even does a little back tracking on older seasons of the Clone War series to see how the new insights to training and abilities, help prepare certain characters in handling some tough situations.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ [5 of 5 Stars]

SMALLER PRODUCTION TEAMS PROVE EFFECTIVE ON INDIE FILM SETS

So, you’re part of an indie film production team and you’ve found a group of actors to help bring a script to life or you have an idea for a commercial that you'd like to put together. There’s absolutely no reason so sit around and pretend you need an investor to hand you over a budget to get started. Most good script ideas lose their momentum when the team is waiting to find an investor to help them acquire a top of the line video camera. Don't be like so many director wanna-be's who lost their chance because they stuck with the idea that "an investor" has to be involved with the project to "get it done" the right way.  You honestly won’t need a fancy camera, lighting equipment, or other odds and ends to get your film production started; just get your team together and start prepping scene locations and schedules!

Keeping your production team small will allow you to move from one take to another with very little restrictions and/or people getting in the way. You’ll also learn that by keeping things small, that production days, which can often run eight to thirteen hours on a professional set, will be cut down to two to four hours. You’ll learn right away that veteran actors will love the sound of that and that junior actors will become blinded with the idea that all film productions are easy to work on with short production days. None the less, remember that this is an indie film and there is little to no chance of actually being “picked up” or getting the “right connections” to get your film previewed on Netflix or Amazon Prime; this is your first film production,  don’t lose yourself over the attention and desires from some of your dramatic production team members.

Today’s indie film circuits have produced some marvelous productions with the use of cell phone cameras, iPads and smaller hand held devices that can now shoot in 4K/1080p and DPI [Dots per inch] of 1920X1080; which transfers brilliantly onto the big screen. Though you might have to do some ADR [Automated Dialogue Replacement] to complete the film with superb production finesse, the film will be made and you will be one of the many local indie filmmakers in your community that has accomplished the production of a film without the necessity to feel like you need a professional production to get it done. Of course, many of the more established filmmakers and directors in the indie film circuit, this is just old news. But it’s no secret, and it’s okay to start thinking out of the box when you desire to get something done and seen locally on the big screen.

In my tenure as director and producer of so many film projects, I dared to think outside of the box and go back to my indie roots and finish off a scene that was troublesome for the production[s] I was working on. Creating “film magic” is the best part of any film project you will be working on, and don’t let some no-talent ass-clown try to tell you that you need more camera angles and that they can see through the scene you’re trying to accomplish with a cell phone or some other smaller video camera.

If you’re working on your very first production, be sure to think things through and do a lot of practice shots with the equipment you intend to use. Find some of the best well lit scene locations to defray the need for lighting equipment, and do your best to keep the cast informed that ADR might be required during post-editing to complete the film project. Never try to “wing” anything and always claim to the be the professional on-set when your finally ready to roll the cameras. There are some directors who have put time in school to learn the system of putting a film together, but if you’re putting this film up just for fun and the experience; which can certainly be a big step in the right direction, stay the course and do your best not to stray from the intended plan to get the film done.

Always remember that being part of an indie production allows you to cut corners and keep a small production team behind the camera. Always shoot your scenes tight and yes, let the actors over-act when they want to. Actors must also have the chance to spread their wings and learn how to work best in front of the camera. Don’t lose sight of the ultimate goal and stick to the script, you’ll do fine!

D. R. Quintana
Editor in Chief, Quantum Storm .357

 

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"MOONFALL" IS SCIFI, DRAMATIC FUN!

🎥🎞Movie Review🎞🎥- MOONFALL - PG - HBO+ - In the swirling drain of recent Hollywood trash films and unpolished series that are steaming and leaving many fans confused with bad story telling and unforgivable plot twists, MOONFALL is an incredible fantasy SCIFI film that was smartly written, which also presents a real life finesse to the struggles of having to learn that NASA has been hiding secrets from the American public. The plot is dubious, as a trio of NASA astronauts who make first contact with an alien entity during a routine orbital mission, that plots a course for the moon and quickly forces the moon's orbit to decay, potentially slamming the moon into the earths atmosphere and perpetrating potential world-wide destruction. Of course, earth is not prepared and the entire success of a dire mission to the moon lands on a three man team that have only one chance to fix the failing trajectory of the moon.

The film stars Halle Barry, Patrick Wilson, and John Bradley. The screenplay is by Roland Emmerich, Harald Kloser, and Spenser Cohen. Directed by Roland Emmerich. The movie didn't do so well in the box office, but on HBO+, the film has flourished and has received positive reviews where it counts. I was impressed with the visual effects, the acting, and the choice of music for the film. Bradley, who is widely known for his role as Samwell Tarly in the Game of Thrones, performs a stunning and humorous part of the "non-scientist" and conspiracy theorist, who has figured out the entire plot for the moon crashing into the earth at an increased rate, before any this real time information landed into NASA's lap.

The strength of the film comes from the performances of Barry, who always does a colossal job of transforming herself into the required role to give solid character development and bring some believable emotion to required scenes. Wilson plays his part well, and even though his has an exclusive skill of seemingly not being too excited for his part in any film, delivers a strong performance and provides the right temperament for a professional astronaut who is stripped from his job and future successes by NASA, in an attempt to keep the truth of aliens existing so close to earth.

The one weakness in the film is the story sub-plot, where the families of Barry and Wilson are left back on earth to struggle during the planetary holocaust that is crashing all around them. Obviously written in as filler, these parts in the film were cast with a bunch of nobodies that are let by veteran actor, Michael Pena. This story arc extension seems to drag, even though there are large explosions, action sequences that seem to go no where, and completely destroys any momentum made by the main arc being presented on the moon, the alien entity that is hell bent on killing all organic matter, and a separate alien technology that can restore the moons orbit and save the earth.

In my opinion, I found it really hard to bash this movie as it was clearly produced to entertain and not be taken so seriously as a historically correct film. But with better promotional advertising, a stronger trailer, and the editing out of the "family survival" story arc, this film could have done a whole lot better at the theater and might have flourished with an all time high in streaming on HBO+.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 [3.5 of 5 Stars]

“SHE HULK” IS A REFRESHING AND FUNNY SUPERHERO SITCOM

🎥🎞Series Review🎞🎥 - SHE HULK - Disney+ - PG - I am a strong supporter of  female led shows and I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive about watching this new series because of all of the bad review it was receiving from Marvel fans and movie critics. This series is complete satire and truly fun to watch. Starring Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters, the cousin of Doctor Bruce Banner who was accidentally contaminated with Banner's blood after a car accident, a vibrant and successful lawyer who turns to specializing in cases involving super humans, but can also transform into a more subdued version of a female green Hulk, this show has a plethora of potential to help the Marvel Cinematic Universe [MCU] guide new superheros into their group without having to produce full feature films.

 

But I'm getting ahead of myself. First of all, the series is a stand alone type of show, look at it as a sitcom format, where the leading character doesn't hide the fact of who she is and how she humorously handles new situations that arise. The visual effects are stunning and I'm surprised that the Hulk effect looks so natural when the character has to interact with real, non-CGI humans. She Hulk has no identity to hide and everyone knows what she can do at a moments notice. What I like best about the character's development is that she is "only human" and sometimes forgets that she his able to transform into the She Hulk when the need arises. She has simple vulnerabilities, but is a woman with genuine feelings and desires. Many people may not like that she has those weaknesses, but I think that's what makes the series writing and creativity to bring it to life brilliant. Created by Jessica Gao and directed by Kat Coiro, the production team for this series is woman heavy, which is also an alarming realization that most supporters of the MCU criticize against the show. "What do women know about putting a super hero show together," right?

 

This new series has plenty to offer with a ton of talented actors to support the show and present some interesting plots and story lines to keep you coming back to see the newer episodes of the show. Some of the big names that have made their cameos are Mark Ruffalo, Tim Roth, Steve Coulter, and others. There are also cross-over episodes with other series; Daredevil being the most popular one in the latest episodes. But everything in this series is done and presented smartly, even when the lead character breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the camera. The writers hold no secrets and they use She Hulk sparingly enough to entice you to want to see more of her. I think Maslany has done an inedible job portraying both sides of her character and just wanting to have a normal life and not depend on being the She Hulk all the time just to be successful.

 

Disney should push for another season to get more stability and trust in the show and to also bring in more comic book characters who have been left out of the MCU and bring them into the forefront. Sadly though, the rumors  starting to surface through the web is that the series will be cancelled. In my opinion, Disney should dump the dreaded Boba Fett series and keep She Hulk alive for another two seasons.

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ [4 of 5 Stars]

NEW "QUANTUM LEAP" SERIES DERAILS BEFORE LEAVING STATION

🎥🎞Series Review🎞🎥- QUANTUM LEAP - Peacock/NBC - PG - Premise: 30 years since Dr. Samuel Becket stepped into the Quantum Leap [QL] accelerator and vanished, now a new scientist, Dr. Ben Song [played by Raymond Lee], assembles a new team and restarts the old time traveling government program in hopes to better understand the mysteries behind the old technology and the man who created it. Yeah, it sounds like a good idea for a series re-boot, but without honestly understanding the original series and the details the old fanbase have regarding canon, this new series is anything BUT faithful to the technical know-how of the show and the new writers [Steven Lilien & Bryan Wynbrandt] have no skill in leaping ahead of the original shows dynamic presentation, especially with delivering only a five episode first season.

I could tear this new series apart with it's intended and lazy failure to explain the obvious in the technical department, but I gave this show a chance. I understand that being specific will only make this review seem more "personally charged" to attempt a hostile "shut is down before you destroy the best part of the original series" mentality to the show. You should take my word for it, no special effects team or heavy handed cast lineup is going to save this pile of vomit that's been tossed to the large fanbase. Everything woke in today's society is tossed at you from the start; including a cross-cultural alternative lifestyle cast, to presenting interracial relationships, to altering actual history patterns to better suit today's presentism that does hold a huge factor in at least three episodes.

*Presentism - Judging everyone in the past by the standards of the present. 

What's good in the series. Well, just like the new Star Trek extensions on the rival Paramount network, the special effects were upgraded. The woke community gets to see some cool flashy effects and holographic displays which have been overly used over the course of recent time. The camera work and lighting are up to speed and there are some action sequences that were never used in the original series that sets this show apart from the old. So yes, there is more action and with the holographic section of the show presenting the back end of what's happening while Dr. Song is in another time and place, it's good to see what the team is doing behind the scenes.

What's bad about the series. It's a long list, but the acting stands out above the rest. There's the feel of the actors not being given a good opportunity to settle in to their roles. Of course, in today's wokism mentality, there has to be a romantic link somewhere which is rushed and IMO damages the flow of the fifth episode. The writers brought in characters from the original series to help people understand that Becket's time in the Quantum Leap wasn't a wasted effort. You hear a lot of "If it wasn't for Dr. Becket, I would never be here" or some variation of it. But worst of all, and for all of the research team trying to figure out how the technology works, Dr. Song launches himself into the machine without warning anyone on a secret mission??...Time traveling isn't a sea cruise adventure, it's a dangerous place to visit and should be widely respected at all costs. 

This new re-boot also fails to mention some elements of the QL techology, like where is the essence of the person that Dr. Song replaces when he leaps? In the old series, the essence of the person replaced remains in the holo-chamber; where he/she can be interrogated for information for Ziggy to use in her calculations to figure out what Sam had to do to leap out.

Is the show fun? No. Is the show capable of leaping beyond the fantastic adventure of the original show? No. Has this new show hinted on saving Sam and getting him home? Of course; but not in the way that one might suspect. With the loss of Dean Stockwell earlier this year, any chance for a cool reunion of the old cast died with him. The new holo-assistant, played by Caitlin Bassett, is just another action packet female character with controlled vigor and emotion, who was also added as the love interest. She's got a long way to go to be anywhere near as clever as Stockwell was in delivering her part in the show. Her character does divulge some information that she was supposed to be the actual leaper within the new team; something that would have been a little more acceptable for the new show in my opinion. 

In closing, the show is okay. It's not a spectacular group performance that I would have expected from a reboot of such a splendid series. It was approved for a second season...well, after the harrowing historical nonsense presented in the last episode of the season, I'm surprised that this show was given another nod with the same writing team. 

⭐️⭐️[2 of 5 Stars]