Total Recall 2070
The 1990 film Total Recall may not seem like the type of film to spawn a TV series, but that hasn't stopped Showtime from having a go with Total Recall 2070. However, the similarities between the film and the pilot episode seem to end at the name.

The story centres around Citizens Protection Bureau agent Hume (Michael Easton) who discovers his partner murdered by androids. Hume suspects the killing is linked to the illegal use of experimental technology developed by Rekall. The technology in question is an implant that gives androids human-like memories and self-awareness. However, the implants cannot be replaced if they are deleted, which makes the androids who use them terrified of losing them.

Hume's investigations lead him to a couple whose 12 year-old son has been abducted. The couple's memories of the child, who had psychic abilities, have nearly been erased completely. Together with his new partner Farve (Karl Pruner), Hume heads off to Mars in search of the boy and vengeance for his dead partner. But they are pursued by Richard Collector (Nick Mancuso), Rekall's head of security, who is determined to protect corporate security, whatever the cost.

You may be thinking that I've got the title of this episode wrong, and that it should be Blade Runner 2070, as there is definitely more to do with Blade Runner than Total Recall. The show's producers also seem to have gone to Blade Runner for their visual inspiration too, as the action takes place in a grim, dark metropolis where there is a clash of technology from east and west, and overpopulation is a problem. It even turns out that Farve is indeed an android himself.

The episode's only saving grace is a high production quality, with good quality digital effects and also generally good acting. So if the script writers manage to come up with some decent stories then the show could turn out okay. But judging by the pilot episode this is one worth forgetting about.

Wing Commander
The Wing Commander series of games are well known for their strong emphasis on plot and cutscenes, so it comes as little surprise to see it as the first of many new films based on computer games. The alien enemy from the game, the Kilrathi, have discovered the coordinates to Earth after capturing a human base. And in a surprisingly original storyline the Kilrathi begin their quest to destroy the Earth. The aliens will arrive at Earth two hours too soon for the human fleet to stop them unless the space carrier Tiger Claw and its Rapier fighter craft can delay them for long enough.

The Thin Grey Line

With FMV sequences fast becoming a mandatory part of all computer games, and graphics getting more and more photorealistic all the time, the gap between video games and movies is decreasing rapidly. And all of a sudden there is a mad rush of video games leaping onto the big screen. Here are the ones we've heard of: Command & Conquer Doom Duke Nukem Parasite Eve Resident Evil Tomb Raider Wing Commander

The film is getting quite bad reviews in the US, saying there are hugely unbelievable moments, Mathew Lillard plays his character ridiculously over-cocky, and run-of-the-mill visual effects make for unspectacular battle sequences. But the other two main actors, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Saffron Burrows, do well enough and the storyline is no less believable than that of many other Hollywood action films. Some people think the battles are tense enough, and that the film is good, solid fun, with some stylish production work. Whether the fans of the game will flock to see the big screen version of the game we'll have to wait and see, but it doesn't appear to be one that everyone will like.

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