Sci Fi Channel's "Tin Man"

ChaosTitan · Dec 3, 2007

Anyone watch this last night? It's a 3-part miniseries that reimagines the Wizard of Oz into an entirely new story.

So far, reviews are mixed, and I think that's to be expected of something that disassembles a classic story. However, I adore it. They've taken a well known tale and turned it on its head. The visual effects and designs are amazing. I'm already a fan of Emily Deschanel from "Bones," and now I just love her sister Zooey (this version's Dorothy Gale). She's got just the right mix of wide-eyed wonder and atta-girl bravado.

Not to mention yummy, yummy Neal McDonough ("Boomtown," "Band of Brothers") as the titled Tin Man, Alan Cumming (X-Men 2) as the scarecrow remix named Glitch, and the terrifically loony Richard Dreyfus (do I really need to list his credits?) as the wizardly Mystic Man.

So now onto SPOILERS for last night's segment:

I love that DG's parents were really robots, nuturing units. It plays on the idea that Dorothy Gale was raised by her aunt and uncle, rather than her real parents. Pretty cool.

DG's heritage wasn't a terrible surprise. I knew she was the daughter of Lavender Eyes, I just wasn't banking on Azkedellia being her sister. Fun twist there. It feels like this is playing on the rivalry between the Wicked Witch and Glinda, this antagonism between Azkie and DG. I'm curious to see where they go with it.

I can't wait for tonight!

Sheryl Nantus · Dec 3, 2007

it's interesting... certainly a nice change from some of the drek on the screen!

I'm looking forward to tonight's ep...

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 3, 2007

I forgot it was on until the last 10 minutes of it and saw that they were going to replay it, so I watched about 5 minutes of the last ten minutes, couldn't figure out what was going on, didn't see anything familiar with the books, and changed the channel.

ChaosTitan · Dec 3, 2007

That's what you get for watching the middle first.

Joe270 · Dec 3, 2007

I enjoyed it. I really like the originality of it, and the humorous plays on the original.

The only complaint I have is the lead character actress. She's just awful. The only expression she seems to have is one of clueless wide-eyed vac-head.

Even under attack, it's the same blank-eyed non-reaction.

I would think she would express some dismay, disorientation, or fear arriving in a strange land. Perhaps some fear, outrage, or anger at her and her friends' treatment. Etc., etc., etc.

This could have been off-the-charts great with a better actess in the lead.

All the other actors are superb so far.

Thump · Dec 3, 2007

I'm thinking of watching it. I've read reviews that said the story was bad and the characters uninteresting but the special effects were great. I'll probably still watch but I'm not expecting anything great.

If you want something that really turns OZ on its head, read "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" or watch the Broadway musical "Wicked" they made out of it

By the way, IMO, they came up with this mini-series to ride the success of the musical. It doesn't help me like it any better. And what's with changing Glinda's name? What does that achieve?

ChaosTitan · Dec 3, 2007

Thump said:
And what's with changing Glinda's name? What does that achieve?

To be fair, they changed everyone's name. And gave some of the nameless ones names (like the Scarecrow).

jennifer75 · Dec 3, 2007

Is that Claire from 90210 in the Tin Man?????

DeleyanLee · Dec 3, 2007

Joe270 said:
The only complaint I have is the lead character actress. She's just awful. The only expression she seems to have is one of clueless wide-eyed vac-head.

Even under attack, it's the same blank-eyed non-reaction.

I'm afraid I have to agree with this assessment, however I don't find it so horrible that I hate the story for it.

Personally, I think their spin is interesting and I'm watching it more on an intellectual level than on pure enjoyment. As an author, I'm interested, as a viewer, I wouldn't've given them past the first 15 minutes. (They're tromping very close to a personal minefield for me [technology when there should be magic--no, I don't see them as interchangeable], so unless they can really sell me in later segments on why the world is how it is, the show will stay--over there for me as a viewer. But since this is the SciFi Channel, I don't hold out much hope for that.)

DL Hegel · Dec 3, 2007

wasn't too impressed with the show.

Joe270 · Dec 3, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe270
The only complaint I have is the lead character actress. She's just awful. The only expression she seems to have is one of clueless wide-eyed vac-head.

Even under attack, it's the same blank-eyed non-reaction.

I'm afraid I have to agree with this assessment, however I don't find it so horrible that I hate the story for it.

Personally, I think their spin is interesting and I'm watching it more on an intellectual level than on pure enjoyment. As an author, I'm interested, as a viewer, I wouldn't've given them past the first 15 minutes. (They're tromping very close to a personal minefield for me [technology when there should be magic--no, I don't see them as interchangeable], so unless they can really sell me in later segments on why the world is how it is, the show will stay--over there for me as a viewer. But since this is the SciFi Channel, I don't hold out much hope for that.)

I'm wondering if she might be an android herself. I don't see how that's gonna play into the story, though.

I have thought it was quite funny in places. I like the closeness of the original characters with the new, like the 'heartless' tin man. Nice play.

I hope it continues to deliver.

MattW · Dec 4, 2007

I saw the first 20 minutes last night - taped the first episode for later viewing.

I liked it, but it had a distinct feel of a recipe for "kewl SF." 1 part Matrix, 1 part Star Wars, 1 part Dune, layer over original story and film.

That being said, for SciFi channel, this was an astounding improvement over the norm.

DeleyanLee · Dec 4, 2007

MattW said:
That being said, for SciFi channel, this was an astounding improvement over the norm.

I've noticed that SciFi tends to do really well with their mini-series and, usually, with their original series. It's their original movies that are positively laughable. Wonder why that is?

popmuze · Dec 4, 2007

ChaosTitan said:
Now I just love her sister Zooey (this version's Dorothy Gale). She's got just the right mix of wide-eyed wonder and atta-girl bravado.

Zooey D is my current favorite actress. I usually try to see anything she's in. I'll have to tape these episodes. There's an obscure film with her, Ed Harris and (of all people) Will Ferrell in a serious role called Winter Passing that's floating around my cable system. I've only seen a few minutes here and there. But that's another candidate for my TVR.

Did I mention, I love my TVR.

Sheryl Nantus · Dec 4, 2007

still watching... and for those wondering about the actress's body language - watch "Bones" sometimes with her big sister, Emily. It's about the same.

loved the kicker at the end of last night's part 2, however! AHA!

DeleyanLee · Dec 4, 2007

Sheryl Nantus said:
loved the kicker at the end of last night's part 2, however! AHA!

There was a kicker at the end of Part 2? You mean you didn't see that coming 3 hours prior?

Or are you talking about DG's involvement in it? That honestly didn't surprise me much--guilt is such a lovely motivator for heroes, after all.

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 4, 2007

I watched a goodly portion of Part 1 until my wife said, "What are you watching? Oh, is it that Tin Man?" and I changed the channel to something else.

But I did find it a somewhat interesting take on Wizard of Oz, but it also made me wonder, "What the hell is wrong with the original? Is creativity so pisspoor these days that people can't think up their own stories any more? Do they have to blatantly rip off other's work and bastardize it?"

Calla Lily · Dec 4, 2007

It's not a "real" Sci-Fi channel movie unless the heroine at some point dons a gray tank top and kicks the villain's butt with a machine gun/machete/her black belt skills.

I watched parts of part 1. I was annoyed. Although I loved the scarecrow guy and his backstory, I've disliked the guy playing the Tin Man in everything I've seen him in. This hasn't changed my opinion. Zooey D's character=meh. And her sorceress sister looks exactly like the human collaborator in a horrible old movie called "Robot Holocaust." Costume, attitude, lines, and everything. I found no compelling reason to keep watching.

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 4, 2007

The wicked witch (at least I assume that is what the dark haired woman is supposed to be) reminds me of the evil woman in (GAH! brain fart! that show with the kids in the colorful costumes who do all the corny kung fu moves while fighting monsters and robots! Gah!)....*light bulb glows dimly*... Power Rangers!

And that's not a compliment.

Aramis · Dec 4, 2007

Thump said:
I'm thinking of watching it. I've read reviews that said the story was bad and the characters uninteresting but the special effects were great. I'll probably still watch but I'm not expecting anything great.

If you want something that really turns OZ on its head, read "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" or watch the Broadway musical "Wicked" they made out of it

By the way, IMO, they came up with this mini-series to ride the success of the musical. It doesn't help me like it any better. And what's with changing Glinda's name? What does that achieve?

Yes, Wicked rocked!!! (And I don't remember Glinda being in Tin Man at all, even with another name.)

Anyway, I love how they gave the characters backgrounds instead of just doing a remake of the original WoO.

dragonjax · Dec 4, 2007

I really tried to get into TIN MAN. But just after DG & Co did the big bungee jump sans bungee cords, I turned it off. Just didn't work for me.

Christine N. · Dec 5, 2007

I DVR'd all three segments, but haven't watched yet.

ChaosTitan · Dec 5, 2007

For anyone else who watched the entire thing....

...were you sitting there wondering if they forgot the show the last reel????

That's how they ended it? :rant:

DeleyanLee · Dec 5, 2007

ChaosTitan said:
For anyone else who watched the entire thing....

...were you sitting there wondering if they forgot the show the last reel????

That's how they ended it?

Nope, I know they showed the last reel. I want to know what happened to the one between the "twist" and the last one they showed. Too much was missing in that section.

I hate the "Oh! We're almost out of time because we've dicked around doing other stuff! Have to end it now!" endings.

ChaosTitan · Dec 5, 2007

DeleyanLee said:
I hate the "Oh! We're almost out of time because we've dicked around doing other stuff! Have to end it now!" endings.

Ditto. I still have questions, dang it!

Will Glitch get his brain sewn back in?
Will they go back for Zero or let him rot?
Will the people of the OZ just forgive Az for being such a witch-possessed bitch?
Will Jeb get over his angsty teenage rebel phase and grow up (what happened to the rebels, anyway?)?

I suppose they also left things open because there are rumblings of a potential series (after the writer's strike, duh). But still!

Sci Fi Channel's "Tin Man"

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