yooniverse

I just watched this movie without any expectations, thinking that it was some mediocre direct-to-video or Syfy channel movie. I don't even remember it hitting the theaters. I didn't even bother to check IMDb. I just wanted a little fix of sci-fi for the night.

Much to my surprise, this was an excellent movie! A good mix of suspense, horror, and action, with a story that flows without letting up--and none of that Hollywood stupidity that injects a useless eye candy bimbo or inappropriate comic relief--you get your relief when the movie ends. There's no sense of a "manufactured" crisis, or nonsensical villain with some inexplicably diabolical ideology, or some brain hurting buildup only to arrive at a deus ex machina resolution.

There are borrowed themes from other sci-fi horror movies certainly, but just as you think that you know where it's going with it, it does something refreshing--well worth watching, if you missed it, like I did.

Yet another show about a socially maladjusted genius who saves the day. Okay, I get the fact that it takes time for a show to develop, but what horrendous script and acting. The plot was so contrived, I hoped the whole time that there would be something redeeming to build on. The show's premise unnecessarily includes a team of useless "geniuses" plus one useless non-genius, whose reason for being included in the team is blatantly obvious. It's the action-version of the "Big Bang Theory" without the humor or team chemistry (nor physics and math, for that matter--pun intended). If there was one shred of originality in this show, I'd like to know what it is. This show is < / pointless >.

...die, die again!

That's sort of the premise. He's died a lot, so he knows a lot about death--clever premise for why he's a medical examiner now.

I see some similarities to the canceled show "New Amsterdam": immortality, working to solve crimes, and especially the setting in New York--the rich history of NYC certainly makes sense as the stage for an immortality premise. But whereas "New Amsterdam" seemed more somber in that it tried to explore the emotional pains of immortality, "Forever" seems to incorporate a lighter approach that makes a show like "Castle" such a success. Acting and chemistry among the cast appear to be very good and unforced (somewhat rare right from the pilot episode), and in the first couple of shows so far, the story has begun introducing some promising elements. I think a fantasy premise like this always risks "jumping the shark" in fear of losing the novelty too quickly and hence the viewership, but I hope they will resist the urge-- especially the most tempting but fatal thing to do on a show about immortality--rushing to answer the "how" and "why" he became immortal. Being judicious about peeling away this mystery will help it last longer. In fact, I'd be okay if they saved that for the very last show, or not reveal it at all. After all, he's lived for 200 years without being able to answer it--he doesn't have to somehow magically figure it out now in the show's time-line--that would be jumping the shark. Please don't spoil it!