Armageddon
Type: Movie
Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Disaster
Country: US

Introduction
An asteroid big enough to wipe out the human race is headed straight for Earth and there are only three days left to stop it. The best plan the experts can come up with is to plant a nuclear bomb inside the asteroid to blow it into two parts that will fly past the planet on either side. To do this they need the world's most powerful drill and its inventor, the boss of an oil rig company, to ensure the plan works on the surface of the asteroid. The inventor of the drill (Bruce Willis) will only do this, though, if the crew he takes with him are made up of the oil rig workers he knows and trusts.

What's good about it?

• It knows what it is and doesn't take itself too seriously, so if you just enjoy it as a fun action film you'll get plenty of entertainment from it.
• The action is well directed and there are some extremely tense moments.
• It is well cast.
• The effects are really good.
• There are great little one-liners all over the place.

What's bad about it?

• It is completely ludicrous. But who cares?
• As with all films high on spectacle it was probably best seen in the cinema. Unless you've got a huge TV with surround sound and sub woofer, in which case you can add this to the good points.

Conclusion
A very entertaining and thrilling action adventure, which has great effects and exactly the right people cast. Definitely one worth watching.

Lost in Space
Type: Movie
Genre: Science Fiction
Country: US

Introduction
In this film remake of the TV series the Robinson family leave Earth behind to construct the second of two giant gates in space to allow fast travel between the two for ships in the future. Joining the family on their voyage is the pilot of the ship (Matt Le Blanc) and Doctor Smith (Gary Oldman). The latter of which becomes trapped on the ship after sabotaging the mission by programming the onboard robot to destroy the ship. This leads to much time travel antics and adventure, and more plot twists than you can shake a stick at.

What's good about it?

• The story is well written and developed (but see below).
• All the stars give great performances.
• It's jam packed full of spectacular effects.
• The sets and costumes are really good.

What's bad about it?

• The plot is over-complicated. Too many elements from the TV series have been packed in for the story to flow as it should.

Conclusion
If the writers hadn't tried to fit so many plot elements into the film then there wouldn't be the need for such jarring plot twists and it would have been much easier to follow. Other than this, though, Lost in Space is a really good film, which is well acted and has great effects.

Babylon 5: River of Souls
Type: Telemovie
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera
Country: US

Introduction
In the third telemovie based on the Babylon 5 TV series, archaeologist Dr. Bryson (Ian McShane) discovers a hidden Soul Hunter tomb containing the captured souls of hundreds of the universe's most talented people. When the planet is attacked he manages to escape with the Soul Hunters' most precious orb, which contains the souls of an entire extinct race. When he brings the orb to the Babylon 5 space station to make a deal with Garibaldi, the new owner of Edgar Industries, he makes contact with the souls inside the orb and a terrible secret begins to become apparent. It isn't long before one of the Soul Hunters (Martin Sheen) turns up on the station demanding the orb be returned.

What's good about it?

• The main story is well written and the script examines the concepts involved from all angles.
• Captain Lochley, Garibaldi and Security Chief Zack Allen work really well leading this story.
• The main actors do a good job, with stand out performances by McShane and Sheen.
• Most of the interior effects are good, including the Soul Hunter's tomb and the souls aboard the station.

What's bad about it?

• Most of the exterior effects (there aren't that many in this movie) are disappointing, including the poor quality Soul Hunter ships and the extinct aliens' planet (which looks like it was knocked together in an hour, quite frankly).
• There are some badly handled attempts at humour, which really should have been done much better.

Conclusion
River of Souls has been well directed and acted, and the script isn't that bad, but the poor attempts at humour drag it down. It also isn't a film you'll watch over and over, as In the Beginning was, because it takes its time to examine the ethics involved, in taking people's souls at the moment of death, from all perspectives. So, generally good, but let down on a few points.

Red Dwarf VIII
Type: TV series
Genre: Science Fiction, Comedy
Country: UK

Introduction
Nanobots have rebuilt the entire Red Dwarf space ship, complete with its original crew, but the dwarfers have been banged up in jail by the Captain. So we now have Lister, Kryten, Cat, Kochanski and Rimmer, as well as the original Holly, played by Norman Lovett. They spend the first few episodes trying to escape from jail aboard the ship, but fail quite miserably, so they begin to settle down a bit later on and get sent on high risk missions as the Canaries. Along the way they get into more trouble with such things as truth and sexual appeal drugs, a time wand and, of course, the scutters.

What's good about it?

• Rimmer is back and so is Norman Lovett.
• There's the whole of Red Dwarf and its crew to play with in the stories, which helps to add a lot of variety.
• Most of the episodes are very funny, and some are very, very funny indeed.
• It was filmed in front of a live studio audience, so the actors give more of a feedback aided performance, which is good.
• The production quality is much improved.
• And so are the CGI effects, which are actually quite good now.

What's bad about it?

• There are some parts that aren't as funny as you'd like them to be.

Conclusion
Many people were very worried about the new series, and didn't think it would manage to work, but they have been proven wrong. This is a very good series, which has had a lot of work and effort put into it, and it shows. The jokes are much better, the production quality and effects are much better and the stories are great. Red Dwarf is definitely back on top form. Let's hope there are eight more series as good as this.

If you have any science fiction, fantasy or horror that you'd like us to review please send details to amithyst_mag@yahoo.com.