From: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org (chakram-refugees-digest) To: chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Subject: chakram-refugees-digest V6 #60 Reply-To: chakram-refugees@smoe.org Sender: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk chakram-refugees-digest Sunday, March 12 2006 Volume 06 : Number 060 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [chakram-refugees] Downloaded Part 1 [IfeRae@aol.com] Re: [chakram-refugees] Downloaded Part 2 [IfeRae@aol.com] [chakram-refugees] early rj ? ["Ernie" ] [chakram-refugees] OT: The new Xena ["Xena Torres" Spoilers Whoa whoa whoa SPOIIIIIIILERS > M > I > L > D > O > N > T > R > E > A > D > T > H > I > S > > > > They'll say, "Scully was the cabbage > head in this scene, explaining the science background." (At which point > their > nit-pickers would reply, "Yeah, but what she said was really stupid. And > wrong. > And did you notice that the ambulance guy had the incorrect emblem on his > uniform for his rank?" Man. And we think OUR nit-pickers are anal. . .>> KT! That's no way to talk about our beloved cr! Oh wait. It is! But respectfully -- did I say lovingly? -- so. (Poor guy doesn't get SciFi. Throw in some pseudo-scientific stuff every now and then so he can 'splain how it should *really* work.) > > Anyway, I found out from the flashbacks that Six is religious. That wasn't > apparent in "Final Cut".>> Bwahahahaha! All the talk about "god," I never thought of her as "religious." We'll see what you think of D'anna's religiousness. > > One of my favorite flashbacks was when Sharon and Starbuck discuss Sharon > being > a cylon hybrid. Starbuck is amazed that "Cylons reincarnate." Sharon is > right > chipper about the advantages of that system. This ends with a very pregnant > phrase, "Death becomes a learning experience." Wow. >> LOL! Yes, I rather liked that as well. > It's not just messy to be born again, it's also painful and terrifying. > Six's > heartbroken cry, "I died. I died" is utterly poignant. And guess who's there > to > ease her back into consciousness with great tenderness and loving support, > whispering a comforting, "You're back with us". Yup, it's Ms. D'Anna Biers. > Sporting a great new hair cut. And inspiring ponderous and importunate music > to > play on the soundtrack when we finally get to see just who it is who is > petting > Six's hair so tenderly. >> > > > Didn't you just LOVE it when you see who's doing the stroking? What's funny is, I seemed to notice in "Final Cut" that Lucy had longer fingernails. In this ep, seems she's back to the Xena nubs. > Other hybrids, including another Six are also at the rebirth. The other Six > > seems to show curiosity, possibly empathy, perhaps even an almost > fear-filled > memory bonding as she stares fixedly down at the newly reborn Six. > Definitely a > shared awareness of what she's going through and probably how it feels to > her > to do so.>> Not so sure about that part. I'm not sure any of the cylons (but maybe reborn "Sharon") truly understand. > D'Anna asks Six if it would bother her if Dr. Baltar were dead. This Gaius > warns this Six, "If they know how you feel about me, it would be a problem." > So > Six's reply to D'Anna consists of recovering her fumble of showing concern > for > Baltar by parroting the party line and excluding the whole truth. She merely > > says, "It would be unfortunate if he died. He was so helpful." >> And D'Anna give Six a very approving look. I also loved how D'anna' s the AlphaLon in this ep, with the others definitely trying to please or fool her. What's great is that Lucy projects an intimidation factor that isn't physical (as with Xena), but an air of confidence and authority mixed in with her mentor/coach/therapist "comforting" and "friendliness." There's just enough concerned curiosity and barely expressed criticism that you know she's more interested in proper programming than in empathy. > > Diana tells Six she is a hero-that their plans succeeded beyond their most > optimistic projections, "Thanks to you", said very lovingly, with great > pride > and with great flattery. >> Unwittingly leading them to an epiphany at the end of the ep -- their unique, individual importance, power and perspective. > Once again, D'Anna is the primary rebirthing coach. (This must be the Biers > > Method of Birthing Babies we're seeing.) And just how come D'Anna gets to be > > the main contact for the hybrids as they're reborn? >> Yes, I'm definitely hoping this gets explained next season. Seeing as how they wove D'anna into this backwards, it might open up a whole new aspect of how the pecking order gets achieved. Hmmm, has a pecking order been shown before? (I too am a newbie at this.) > > D'Anna is a little more tough with Sharon. She suggests that she breathe, > ride > through the pain, that she'll be alright. (Which is very like the advice > birthing couches give, actually-though the advice is to the mother giving > birth, not to the newborn baby.) >> From another review I read, this may also be because Sharon lingered a bit from a gunshot wound, as opposed to being instantly obliterated like Six. > > D'Anna says, "You're going to be okay. Trust me." Then, "You're in God's > hands." D'Anna as, if not god, a god substitute or at least an important > acolyte who knows a lot about god and what s/he wants and how s/he operates. > >> Heh heh. Like I said, I can't wait (though I will) to see your comments about that at the end. > reassurances, saying, "And we love you." This horrifies and possibly > terrifies > tub Sharon-she begins to scream, "NOOOOOOOO!" and appears to slip inside > herself-she stops struggling so much physically and her legs rise up in a > beginning of a possibly fetal position. She appears to deeply regret being > reborn-it seems to be a truly terrible event for her. She definitely doesn't > > seem happy or very accepting of going around again.>> I believe this is because this Sharon thought she was human at first. She realizes she survives, but back in her cylon world -- definitely cylon. Wonder if she hoped she'd earned a human afterlife? Heh. - -- Ife ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2006 03:53:27 EST From: IfeRae@aol.com Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Downloaded Part 2 In a message dated 3/9/2006 11:04:55 AM Pacific Standard Time, fsktl@aurora.uaf.edu writes: > SPOILERS > > 9 > 9 > c > y > l > o > n > s > o > f > B > e > i > r > s > i > n > t > h > e > t > u > b > > > > Fade up on a planet seen from space. "Present Day. Cylon occupied Caprica." > > We are in a plaza/park on Caprica. I think it's a D'Anna walking away from > the > camera.> And in the backgroud as well. Lucy just can't seem to shed her lookalikes. > >Suddenly D'Anna is there leaning over the > back of the bench, her face between them, unknowingly interrupting Six's > conversation with Gaius. >> I cracked up everytime she blithely popped in with "Hi, whatcha talkin' about?" Very fitting that D'anna's reporter, as she approaches everybody that way. > > In one of those excellent bits of dialogue this show excels in, D'Anna says > in > unwitting total rebuttal to Gaius' attitude, "It's going to be lovely, isn't > > it? A place to relax. Collect your thoughts." As D'Anna talks, the camera > pulls > back and we see twisted metal and broken concrete, validation of Gaius' > comment > on it being a battleground.>> Now, that's one thing that kills me about these humlons. The whole "relax," "collect your thoughts," get rid of guilt, etc. How on earth would D'anna know what "guilt" is? Just the idea of worrying about what they went through? It's so weird having especially her talk about all that in her sunny way, being absolutely clueless about the true emotions involved. Bizarre. > > D'Anna's chipper and smiling as she talks about what a great thing it is > that > Six has a new body now. Then she suddenly sobers and asks, "How you doing?" > Six > tells her she's a little stiff and looks away as she talks about feeling > awkward in her new body. D'Anna's stares at her with a look that seems just > a > bit assessing, focusing tightly on her as she sizes her up-kind of like a > drill > sergeant looking at a recruit whom she suspects may be either not quite up > to > snuff or else trying to be a goldbrick. But then she smiles at Six and says > she > used to be a klutz too, used to trip a lot.>. Did that remind you of Lucy talking about herself as "unco"? > So the antagonism, the fight over and also within the heart and soul of > Six, > has a very nice visual set up here. Six's polarity and the pulls on her that > > each absolutely opposite view of her actions for her "country's mission" > create > within her, now have literal faces that are also literally "in her face". > > This reminded me so strongly of the triangle of Xena, Ares and Gabrielle. > Ares > and Gabrielle were the two sides of Xena's soul made flesh and there was the > > same fight over which part was really her or at least which part she should > fully embrace.>> Ah good analogy. I like the twist where Ares is female in this scenario and Gabrielle is male. Now that you mention it, D'anna does have a similar Olympian quality -- smugly certain of her superiority to mortals, not getting mortals' messy emotions about each other or their lack of loyalty to superior beings. > Gaius just listens as D'Anna give Six advice. She's like a counselor or a > mother confessor, suggesting that Six take this opportunity of having a > brand > new body to cleanse her soul. That any anxieties or remorse or guilt that > Six > might be feeling, she can "Just let it wash away." >> That's another thing. Do cylongs really believe they have souls? Has there been any talk on the show about what a soul is? Is their rebirth their form of afterlife? As long as they have memories to download, they're considered alive? Oooo, maybe that's why the "boxing" thing is so awful. It'd be like their form of purgatory. Maybe like their "soul" in suspension? > Think about acting-would there be only one, maybe two hybrids who > had the talent to act? And if so, there'd be only two people then playing > all > parts. I imagine they'll get variety through having children, if they ever > manage to pull that off without those pesky humans butting in and stealing > the > child away.>> Would they have a purpose for acting? They want to forget the human drama or thinking to much about what it means. Also, I don't get the feeling they care about variety, except maybe to better intermingle with the humans. I am curious about them wanting to create a human/cylon baby. Have they identified some things humans are better at? Ooo, maybe the ability to reproduce with minimal budget and materials? > > This had to be a very complicated effect to stitch together. But how fun for > > the actors to be just hanging around, trying to look natural in each > manifestation, while not looking like they're just playing someone trying to > > look natural in a handful of different poses. Complex, creative, and kewl. >> > No wonder Lucy got snared. Right up her alley. And she doesn't have to be the responsible one. Just enjoy the quirkiness from everyone else. > D'Anna tells > her that she's a hero now. That everyone calls her "Caprica Six. Like you're > > the only Six on the planet!" (Laugh! I love how Lucy says this in a tone > that > says how odd it would be to be the only Six in the world. What a GREAT line > at > showing how weird their "natural" is. In our world, we're all the only > whomevers. >> What a great role -- journalist, observer of human and cylon behavior. Interestingly, it may be that only D'anna can recognize certain developments from both human and cylon perspectives. Would Six or Sharon have thought about their specialness later on, if D'anna hadn't made her observation? Would she have known what a "hero" was, if she hadn't done that film on the BSG crew? Ironic, that she's the one to unwittingly introduce such a key aspect of humanity's altruism -- the ability of one person to make a difference and thus save others. > But I did wonder how they could tell each other apart-how can THAT Six be > "known" as the hero one? >> Yeah, me too. It's obvious D'anna's differentiating Caprica Six from her lookalikes. Perhaps, D'anna figures that the distinction will go away, once Six has been sufficiently reintegrated into cylon society? > > D'Anna does a kind of "I'm here to bury Caesar not to praise him" Mark > Antony > bit, speaking admiringly of Six's abominable behavior. "And what you did was > > incredibly difficult. To seduce a man so emotionally and physically so he > grants you access to all the most closely guarded secrets of his people-I > mean, > that mission could be profoundly disturbing." >. Yes, that was quite a comment. If a human had said that, I might've wondered if there was underlying envy. There's a touch of "wish I could've experienced that" in D'anna's delivery, but only in a scientific way. And I think you're dead on in the Caesar comment, as D'anna also wounders what kind of a "true" cylon could pull that off. You know, the more I think about it, the more I believe they were gonna deep six Six (heh) in the box, once they debriefed her sufficiently. > > Gaius appears. "Disturbing? She mean sleeping with me or killing billions of > > people? Because I rather thought you enjoyed sleeping with me." (Nice facial > > reactions from Six as he says this.) And this statement by him hits the > bull's > eye of Six's dilemma-that she's a hero because she caused so many people to > die. And her conscience is telling her she might be a monster because she > caused so many people to die.>> Reminds me of all the times somebody like Palemon praised Xena for her body count. > > D'Anna replies, "See, nobody here can possibly understand what you've been > through." And continues quickly, swinging right into her mission, "Which > is why we need your help. There's another cylon who's been having trouble > reintegrating after a download." D'Anna continues with a touch of I'm not > sure what-uncertainty? Or perhaps a "We were afraid this might happen and > it has" slightly embarrassed admission in her voice, "Another hero. . . > actually. An Eight. Still insists on calling herself 'Sharon'." Lucy puts > a lot of intensity in D'Anna as she asks Six for help. >> I wondered about D'anna's sincerity here. If maybe her suspicions led her to simulate the same kind of concern with Six that Six later on uses to get next to Sharon. D'anna did have quite a bit of exposure to humans during her documentary gig. I keep thinking of D'anna's expressions as they go to Sharon's aparment. It starts out as a sunny smile and then morphs into this frighteningly cold look. > D'Anna calls her "Caprica", underlining her unusual specialness as she > continues trying to convince her. "Caprica, you don't understand. She really > > needs YOUR help. If we don't turn her around soon, there's talk of boxing > her." >> See, this is why I think D'anna already knows how far out Six and Sharon have gone. She recognizes that they're not only being called special but may also feel special -- different from everyone else. I just don't think D'anna understood why/how they might come to use that specialness against their cylon programming. - -- Ife ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2006 11:24:37 -0800 From: "Ernie" Subject: [chakram-refugees] early rj ? I'm in the process of working my way through season one of "Remington Steele," and in the opening credits of the episode "A Good Night's Steele" I saw that it was written by Lee Zlotoff and R. J. Stewart. Could that be *our* R. J.? Ernie http://www.academyofbards.org/authors/ernie_whiting.html "The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made." Groucho Marx ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2006 20:38:52 -0500 From: "Xena Torres" Subject: [chakram-refugees] OT: The new Xena AWAKENINGS: THE NEW XENA The bitch is just getting started.  Pez Awakenings For nearly five years there has been a void in the female action hero genre ever since Xena concluded its run in 2001. Many imitators have come since then, but both on the big and small screens, but no series, no movie, has come close to what made Xena so great. Most later comers gave us a great leading, ass-kicking woman, with great action and, sometimes, even a good story. Yet Xena had a uniqueness that has still remained untapped  a story that follows two warrior women in their personal journeys, their action adventures as well as exploring the friendship between them. In 2001 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider first hit theatres, launching the popular game (which had already been made into a comic series by Top Cow Comics) to the live action world, but, though full of action and starring the talented Angelia Jolie, the movie never lived up to the character that Top Cow had already re-envisioned. Top Cow had another strong female lead comic adapted to the screen when Yancy Butler was cast as Sara Pezzini in the short lived Witchblade series that first aired in fall 2001. Though the series created a more tormented and darker Pez for an interesting and twist filled first season, the series pulled a Dallas and wiped out the first season and movie tie in by having Pez go back in time for the second season, which was its last. These half attempts to bring the comics to life, led to inspiring Trish Ellis to ponder, What if they made a movie with Lara Croft and Sara Pezzini? Top Cow had seen the brilliance of obvious pairing and both women were common visitors in each others series. Two strong women, each with their own unique talents, joining together to fight the onslaught of paranormal villainy. The two were an obvious action pairing, but even better, the two made for a close knit friendship. As seen in the Endgame crossover story in Tomb Raider 25, Witchblade 60 and Evo 1, Croft and Pez were more than passing acquaintances. Crofts sacrifice and the near despair Pez sank into in the following Tomb Raider comics after the death of her friend (who would be resurrected in later issues) showed a bond that was just begging for an on screen meet up. Ellis made the mistake, or rather, the wonderful action that benefits all of us, of asking her question to her friend H.R. Roach Crystal, a producer. Shortly thereafter, Ellis was writing the script for the independent Witchblade/Tomb Raider crossover film Awakenings, and Crystal began the process of making it come to life. With Crystal based in Seattle, Washington, the cast and crew of Awakenings feeds on local talent, in particular, the two stunning leading ladies Danielle Reiereson and Alyssa Tomoff and Croft and Pez. Reiereson and Tomoff resurrect the brilliance of Xena: Warrior Princess by finding the characters and their relationship that is at the heart of the story that makes the foundations needed to tell the action packed adventure. Still in pre-production with filming scheduled to being in April, Reiereson and Tomoff, who have worked together on numerous other projects, are able to draw on their real life friendship (like Lucy Lawless and Renee OConnor) to create the instant on screen bond in a movie that doesnt start with an origin story (a complete unheard of for a comic book feature). Like Xena and Gabrielle, the relationship of Croft and Pez is the leading appeal of Awakenings. This winning pairing, coupled with Ellis dramatic, action packed and hilarious script, and the talents of producer/director Crystal makes Awakenings a must see feature for any Xena or action heroine fan. For more information about Awakenings, please visit the movies official site at: http://www.roachsrealm.com/awakenings If you'd like to be a part of making this feature come to life, "Awakenings" is now accepting donations. Whether it's a $5 or a $100 donation, all donations are welcome and helpful! And not only will you be left with the fuzzy feeling of knowing you helped make a difference, for those who donate over $20, well be sending you some cool gifts as a thank you. You might even find your name in the credits! Remember...there is no such thing as a small donation!!! Every last cent counts and is gratefully appreciated. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PASS THIS ONTO OTHER LISTS. Thanks! Julie XT Ruffell Script Editor of AWAKENINGS and voice of the Witchblade AWAKENINGS OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.roachsrealm.com/awakenings XENA TORRES SITE: http://www.bitchofrome.com "The bitch is just getting started." - Pez AWAKENINGS ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2006 21:27:34 EST From: KLOSSNER9@aol.com Subject: [chakram-refugees] Topny Todd in Minotaur Sci_Fi Channel right now is showing Minotaur, with Tony Todd (Cecrops; Gladius and Gilgamesh on Hercules). It will be repeated at midnight (Central time). Boeotian ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ End of chakram-refugees-digest V6 #60 *************************************