Ok that is seriously weird.
61 2016-01-06 15:00:07
Re: Sliding Timers..... Props and Apps/Phone Interfaces etc. (7 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
62 2016-01-06 14:58:14
Re: REBOOTING Sliders for the Twenty-First Century (26 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Ireactions, I would like to give you a statement that is both a profound compliment and a simultaneous criticism all at the same time ... you write like Moffat!
You definitely come up with some rather grand and clever concepts, ones that are easily enjoyable and ultimately memorable, however, it does feel like you tend to forget (or like you mentioned, directly ignore in favour of emotional sense) those stray story strands at the other end of the scale, and don't necessarily follow each development thread all the way through to their natural progressions or conclusions. There's nothing wrong with hyperbole or tv-style editing in measured doses - but just don't forget that a well constructed story and solid rules are just as important as the emotional side of character development and fan service.
You've certainly got a talent though, and this is just from the outlines you've spinned - I haven't even had a chance to actually read your work yet. I freelance as a proofreader and trust me, you're definitely headed in the right direction. Just don't forget those dangly threads.
I could really see this concept working as a kickstarter movie or even an audio drama with the original cast.
63 2016-01-05 14:35:04
Re: Sliders Fan Films/Vids Index and Recommendations. (15 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Will have to give that one a watch.
64 2016-01-05 14:33:21
Re: REBOOTING Sliders for the Twenty-First Century (26 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Oh wow. I completely misread the 'altered timeline where sliding's discovery is delayed to the present' the '2015 and 1999 Quinns' and put down the not remembering Wade's kiss and the rant at Arturo as something that happened because of their doubles passing through. I thought that you were proposing a concept about the group's doubles, but if we're talking about this reboot being the actual originals with just their minds wiped ... then I am really confused here!
Apart from what pilight mentions, there's a whole host of questions that are immediately thrown up, ones that old fans will demand to know from the onset of this reboot. How in the world is Quinn alive and well? What happened when Rembrandt stepped through the final slide? How did they all get their memories wiped? How was sliding purged from the multiverse? Where's Colin? How is the Professor and Wade with the group? What happened to the Maggs? Where are the other Sliders? Etc... Etc...
Having their memories wiped doesn't negate the need for these questions to be answered.
If these are the originals, you'll eventually (sooner rather than later due to fans) will have to provide answers. If they aren't, then what's the point of the journals? I don't think you could make it completely subtle that we're not supposed to know ... because these are the original actors here. And just like I mentioned about the other concept and sweeping 5 seasons under the carpet - this does the exact same thing. I just ... I honestly just don't get it. It feels very confusing.
The only thing I see it serving a purpose for is to allow the original actors one more slide ... but the audience (both old and new fans) aren't going to get that feeling because these aren't the originals. Time has passed. People have changed. It's going to be weird to see them try to recapture their younger selves or get people to shift to a new older dynamic - especially if we're ignoring 5 seasons worth of continuity and development.
I just ... I just don't get it. Honestly, you're really going to have to explain this one again to me in simpler terms, as now that I think about it, it's even more confusing than most season 6's I've read.
65 2016-01-04 03:43:59
Re: Sliders Fan Films/Vids Index and Recommendations. (15 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2jrvtV_FWs
A nice tribute / fan music video to Remmy.
66 2016-01-04 03:42:06
Re: REBOOTING Sliders for the Twenty-First Century (26 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
I've yet to see anyone offer a tidier, cleaner, better approach -- which tells you how clever TF and Matt are. :-)
To be fair, a 'tidier, cleaner, better' approach would be a day-zero reboot with a fresh cast and no tangled ties to the past...
BUT having just said that, I do like the concepts mentioned above, as it handles the obvious aging of the original cast, which is in itself an inherent problem. It is, by far, the best outline I've heard to almost reset the entire show with the original cast. However, I can't help but feel some nagging niggles concerning it though. For better or worse, I feel that wiping out 5 seasons as 'their doubles adventures' is ... kinda dangerous. It reminds me of that information I read somewhere about how one episode was going to feature doubles of our Sliders, but the audience won't realise this until the end of the episode. It sets up a feeling of unease that, at any time, the audience might not even know who they are really watching. The audience is automatically on the backfoot and feel like personal investment in these characters are skewed, because at any times, it could be doubles or character-switch outs.
It's not really a logically thing, it's a feeling, but feelings are what gives births to massive fandoms and reactions, and this one could be quite dangerous to implement. Again, I'm not sweeping these concepts under the carpet, because as I mentioned earlier, it is the best damn structure I've heard to reboot the show with the originals ... but it does come with a cost.
Personally, I think it's a cracking idea that fans could play with, but if we're then taking the step up to discussing commercial aspects of a modern day reboot, then the actor's ages and ties (no matter how subtle or hidden) to the old show is baggage that would hold any network back. It would need to be a complete reboot with a fresh group of actors as our fab foursome from day one. I would love to see more modern storytelling tools of a more tightly woven character development arcs for each of the characters over the course of their journey, and for that friendship angle to not immediately be there from the start - but to slowly grow.
67 2016-01-03 13:45:16
Re: Reviving Sliders in the Twenty-First Century (103 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Audio dramas or missing story adventures featuring the old cast could definitely work as a sort of 'multiverse' or 'other slides' story concept. Heck, there's nothing stopping us fans from producing those now and 'reviving' the show in that way.
But if we're talking about reviving Sliders for modern day TV and audiences - then it would need to be a fresh reboot.
68 2015-12-23 03:48:23
Re: Sliders Fan Films/Vids Index and Recommendations. (15 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChXdX-i4ESs
I thought this was pretty neat.
69 2015-12-23 03:23:25
Re: Reviving Sliders in the Twenty-First Century (103 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Gotta agree with pretty much everything ireactions has mentioned, especially the echos of my own thoughts about what makes Sliders so great. I have no issues with most of these - just as long as it is contained within the realms of fanfiction. For a reboot, I want that essence of Sliders back please.
70 2015-12-22 14:53:08
Re: Star Wars: Movies and Shows on Disney+ and More (321 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Freaking loved it. Yes, it was a major retread, yes it played heavily on nostalgia, and no, it didn't push many boundaries, but the magic was there, the characters were engaging and hilarious, and my heart sang again, unlike with the prequels. I couldn't have asked for anything more of the first installment in the future of this franchise.
71 2015-12-22 14:44:50
Re: Reviving Sliders in the Twenty-First Century (103 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
@Chaser: The issue I have with this is that, ignoring for a moment my attempts to try and perceive Quinn within a mentoring role, and ignoring him trying to take a back seat within the show, you are denying the audience that incredible character dynamic which really endeared me to Sliders. And we've seen what happens when you take out even one of those from the equations. For me personally, it's Quinn-Wade-Arturo-Remmy or bust.
@pilight: It's not really a semi-continuation if the new gang all have the same names (and personalities) as the old ones, only with just a gender swapped Quinn and Wade. That's just a reboot with the oldies featuring in a quick voiced cameo. I have no issue itself though with another group of sliders giving our initial group the inspiration or urge to develop the technology to slide.
And on the subject, did I miss something? What's with the sudden influx of Quinn 2.0 must be a girl in a reboot? (Not that I'm against that, I'm just curious where it's come from).
72 2015-12-21 17:53:41
Re: THE BUILDING (née PARALLELS) (24 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
I've waited a while to pin down my thoughts (and see if anyone else was going to chime in). I think, ultimately, it comes down to poor worldbuilding. Suspension of disbelief can be stretched, twisted, and warped any which way within a construct that has been created - but rules need to be set firmly in place before this can happen. I personally don't feel like Parallels succeeds in successfully presenting anything.
I usually find that most media can be deconstructed into a single core concept, the most engaging of which are the concepts which can resonate with me on a core fundamental (usually emotional) level, regardless of the actual construct of the story that can spiral out from this. For example Sliders - four friends just trying to find their way home - is such a concept. Being lost sliding from one alternate dimension to another is a really cool tool used to facilitate this, just like with Quantum Leap and time travel, but that core concept of 'finding home' is the resonating factor here.
But this is right where my issues with Parallels begins.
We start with a familiar concept, but by the end of the very pilot, the worldbuilding involved around this has utterly distorted it, much like Season 4 of Sliders did. It is no longer about being lost, since they can now control their destination. It is no longer about finding home, since that was just the Earth they were born on and their parents are actually from the Core world. We could argue that it is still about the journey and that sense of adventure whilst trying to track down a family member, but do you not see the issue here? Within a single pilot the core concept has been allowed to take such a sudden, and ultimately jarring, turn, several times over.
You could argue why is this wrong? Why can't a core concept shift and change over time? Well we could easily argue until the cows come home about all the problems and perils of changing a show's core concept halfway through its run, but within its own pilot? Ultimately, the real question is, has the pilot built a strong enough foundation of its world building to either facilitate or ignore such a change?
My personal answer is a resounding no.
We hear of this Core world, with incredible technology beyond what we can imagine, which can punch a hole through to every known dimension in order to place a mysterious building within each world, serving as the gateway for our travellers. Yet, a hacker from a nuked Earth hacked into this building that has such advanced technology (with another world's advanced technology that he wasn't even knowledgeable with) in less than 36 hours? A number which, as I've mentioned before, so far has absolutely no meaning whatsoever and is immediately rendered obsolete by the end of the pilot.
We are told of trauma of this young man's life as he fled the family home after the tragic death of his mum due to a fault of his own, leading him to a life of fights before he found an outlet as a boxer. Yet, he doesn't bat an eye, doesn't show any emotion or impact at all when his deadbeat Dad tells him that she is alive? That the years of guilt, years of anger and sorrow that he or his sister felt, was meaningless? ... Nothing? No emotional at all? This fiery tempered boxing youth?
We see a world more advanced than ours with advanced tech, flashing billboards, and bio-prints which are used as everything from opening doors to paying for goods and services. Yet, we are to believe that a high ranking lawyer's laptop is encrypted with a simple password?
We see a world that has been nuked (by their Dad, or a double, who knows as it wasn't explained) and become a wasteland. Yet, some guy has not only replicated a suitcase nuke, but he has created his own gun that can adapt to ANY ammunition that he can scavenge?
What available worldbuilding or characterisation leads us to believe any of this? Do you not see my problem here?
So, if the worldbuilding is so fragile to start off with, I would argue that shifting its concept (or revealing its true concept from here on out) was a huge mistake. I don't get it. I don't buy into it. I'm not emotionally involved in the story, or the concept, or the characters, or the world building. So what else is there left for me?
73 2015-12-19 13:02:13
Re: New Parallel Universe Show on TV in the U.K. called "Tripped". (9 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
I managed to catch a repeat last night on E4 that featured a Rock Star Double.... Sort of.
Not sure if that was episode 2 or 3 but it did seem fun despite my irritation at missing the prior episode/episodes.
Check out All4.com if your TV provider doesn't have that catchup service built in. It's how I watched episodes 1 and 2 back-to-back.
74 2015-12-19 06:24:59
Re: New Parallel Universe Show on TV in the U.K. called "Tripped". (9 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Well that was a fun romp! Gateways, devices, doubles, a killer tracking you down through the multiverse... That was a heck of lot more rewarding than Parallels, that's for sure. Will definitely keep watching.
75 2015-12-18 04:45:15
Re: Reviving Sliders in the Twenty-First Century (103 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
They should just do a fresh reboot - keeping that fantastic character chemistry at it's core and giving us some well developed alternate dimensions - but keep the old continuity as an 'other worlds / alternate' thing and have some Doctor Who style audio dramas with the old cast.
76 2015-12-18 02:55:09
Re: New Parallel Universe Show on TV in the U.K. called "Tripped". (9 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Gonna give this a watch over the weekend.
77 2015-12-18 02:52:59
Re: Sliding Timers..... Props and Apps/Phone Interfaces etc. (7 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
I've seen a phone app for the timer. For Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta … &hl=en
That was pretty neat! Thanks.
78 2015-12-10 14:49:51
Re: Lego Sliders (25 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Oh, without a doubt, that was definitely the jumping the shark moment. Yet again, a clear case of a show taking its fundamental core and injecting something into it that just clearly doesn't fit. It wouldn't surprise you to hear of executive meddling / pressure underneath it as well.
79 2015-12-10 03:49:12
Re: Lego Sliders (25 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
I've never played any of the Lego computer games, but that would be a nice way to do something.
An audio drama would be really cool, or voice-acting plus some very simple comic animation like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO9KDelKdxc
Though extremely basic, it could work quite well for Sliders project, and would allow for some neat background pieces and world building.
80 2015-12-09 18:15:17
Re: Sliders Fan Films/Vids Index and Recommendations. (15 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
How can you be 9-10 posts deep on this thread and not mention Nonchalant Sliders?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhdGCwr … 2E0FCB6E0F
THE GREATEST SLIDERS
Black guy dies first.
In all seriousness, I applaud the effort and time that was placed into piecing Nonchalant Sliders together on a limited budget. I loved the use of the props, the actor who played Arturo stood out for me in the way he attempted to portray the mannerisms and articulation of the characters, doubles were filmed and handled exceptionally well, and the sliding effect was so cute I wanted to hug it! Loved it.
My main criticism stems from the fact that I have just watched the entire thing back-to-back and it's apparent that the overall running time could have been reduced - by a heck of a lot. If you remove the entire dream sequence, Quinn tinkering in the basement (which took up almost 3 - 4 parts), and trimmed some of the dialogue, then immediately both the flow and feel of the project drastically improves.
And it's hard not to nitpick this part, but I personally would have chosen a different story route for Rembrandt. If the actor wasn't available for anything other than his introduction, then it could have been written that he didn't end up in the vortex in this version, rather than the strange 'he's stuck somewhere' then, 'taken prisoner' angles. Though I adored the effort that the guys tried to put into that death scene, it felt a little hollow since they didn't even meet the guy, let alone know him!
But anyway, a nice job. They did good.
81 2015-12-09 04:29:18
Re: Sliders Fan Films/Vids Index and Recommendations. (15 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
French fan trailer and part 1 of their fan film (with subtitles) - which seems like a reconstruction of the concept / pilot. But instead of alternate earths, the group jump into alternate movies and TV shows.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bIB1-8BL9c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb9PK79YOqI
The first adventure ... the Incredible Hulk
82 2015-12-09 04:23:24
Re: Sliders Fan Films/Vids Index and Recommendations. (15 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Neat idea. It would be great to have everything in one place - easy to find and watchable.
Fan trailer of Sliders if JJ Abrams was involved...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ly2S_Ppnms
What if you found a portal into a paralel universe. What if you could slide into a thousand different worlds? And what if you couldn't find your way home? A film directed by J J Abrams, produced by christopher Noaln. Based on the 90's TV show of the same name. Hayden Christensen stars as Quinn Malory.. a genius who gets lost after creating a portal into parralel dimensions.
This is a fictional 'fan' trailer.... this is purely to show what 'could be' and to show that this film needs to be made... its a great original idea with so many great prospects... come on universal.... get your butts in gear. It is a purely non profit exercise and is in no way intended to be for financial gain.
83 2015-12-09 03:46:48
Re: Lego Sliders (25 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
That's a shame it never materialised. Guess it's back to trawling through the fiction archives.
84 2015-12-08 14:39:03
Re: Lego Sliders (25 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
I've long been a proponent of an audio drama as the most feasible method for a fan project (outside of script/fanfic related projects).
An audio drama would be awesome, or even a very simple motion comic with audio.
85 2015-12-08 03:22:14
Re: Personal Status Updates! (747 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
And that's yet another reason why I prefer the 90s version. Everything was experimental and no one had been able to realistically capture one of the TP before, or even confirm the full range and scope of their abilities.
86 2015-12-08 03:16:44
Re: Favourite Unaired Pilots and why you like them. (6 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Never watched the unaired 90s TP pilot. I thought the aired episode was quite awesome, but will have to give this a watch...
87 2015-12-08 03:15:28
Re: Lego Sliders (25 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Definitely agree that money is definitely not the driving force for a fan conceived project, but it does factor into a heck of a lot of decisions, alongside the product's final outcome and perception. But as long as the drive, passion and commitment is there, anything you piece together as a fan and put out is awesome.
As to Photo Manips for Background Scenery/Skylines.... Check this out!
http://www.cgsociety.org/cgsarchive/new … _large.jpg
You could totally imagine this as a Picture in an office on Sliders Soviet America or as a background for a News Presenter on TV reporting from Commie New York while the Sliders are watching it in San Francisco in an Electronic Store Window or in a Bar inbetween Sports.
Stuff like this is very doable and builds a more believable and wider World beyond the Local Environs featured on Camera.
I really love World Building and really missed the actual AH background elements of Season 1 & 2 that were more prominent and thought provoking..... Even when they were a little flimsy and weak in S1 & 2 they were fun enough to forgive that where as in S3 that became a rare thing.
That is really cool! And agree again about the backdrop inclusion to the earlier seasons that I loved as well.
88 2015-12-07 16:50:21
Re: Personal Status Updates! (747 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
OMG, you haven't seen the rest of Sliders? I do see some real gems and value in bits and pieces of the latter seasons, but 1 & 2 was where it was at for me personally before I felt that the main concept of the show just got eternally skewed.
Definitely agree that elements could be taken from both the 70 and 90s version in a new reboot. I haven't searched for TP fiction but that's sad to hear that there aren't that many. It's as annoying as the current conversation we're having about a lack of Sliders fan endeavours outside of fan fiction.
And lol! I didn't even get to the power jammers! Oh don't get me started on that (but you quite eloquently put up all the issues with that technology).
89 2015-12-07 16:41:23
Re: Lego Sliders (25 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Wish I had the:
skills
time
patience
money
To do something like that, lol.
But even doing something like a simple fan series (which had no SFX elements) was a massive undertaking. Something like SLIDERS would be beyond me. I seriously feel compelled to do some kind of fan made thing though.
90 2015-12-07 04:44:01
Re: Personal Status Updates! (747 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
The Tomorrow People
I absolutely adored the 90s incarnation of The Tomorrow People. Back in the day, I was just devouring any form of media that contained the concept of the next stage of human evolution - which is right around the time that I started seriously getting into X-Men - and is obviously why I (albeit initially) lapped up Heroes. Teleportation, Telekinesis and Telepathy; I just loved the idea of these kids discovering these powers and trying to protect the world, regardless of how cheesy it was - but it was a children's show and it was a product of its time. And gosh, forget Peter Petrelli, Adam is cool as hell, lol.
I later began researching the show and discovered that it was based off of the original 70s incarnation. Though I have watched several serials, I could not take to it for various reasons - the main one being that it was designed specifically to be a competitor to Doctor Who. But that was what put me off of it. There was too much technology and space travel and all kinds of shenanigans, whereas the 90s version (don't get me wrong here - we've got alien pods, an egyptian deity, and a megalomaniac cereal mogul on the loose) but it felt more broadly grounded and I felt an attachment to the situation and the characters.
My dislike of the latest incarnation is well documented so I'll try and keep it brief. It made everything that I loved about The Tomorrow People and made it extremely bland and dull.
Everything from the poor acting, to the generic Jumper teleportation and telekinesis effects, to the soap opera 'whose bed is she going to sleep in now' love triangles, to the complete unlikability of the characters or what they were even striving for. And I hated how every TP was basically evil. Every single new one every week was evil. One of the things I loved about the 90s version was that everyone had their own unique spin on their powers. Adam was a fantastic teleporter because he has been doing it the longest. Megabyte could access computers. Ami had visions and once accessed some serious telekinetic ability when she was under control. But all the characters in TP, aside from the main who could stop time, had nothing that made them stand apart. And the whole chosen one / promised land story was just so boring.
I just didn't like it. I really wanted to because of my past love of the show, but like my issues with Parallels, they took the basic concept of the show but forgot to include the heart, the characterisations, basic plot development, and ultimately, believability and association. I felt no affinity for these characters, the story or their situation. None, at all. I do blame the CW for a lot of influence on what had the potential to be an awesome show. It could have turned out completely different on a different network, but that's the cards dealt I guess.
I attempted to piece together an audio drama reboot production of The Tomorrow People, but stopped when the CW reboot news came about. Now it's kinda killed a lot of my love for the show.
91 2015-12-07 04:09:17
Re: Lego Sliders (25 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
I know that the alternate dimension concept isn't an easy thing to pull off visually, but I'm shocked that there isn't more fan stuff outside of fiction. Gosh.
92 2015-12-06 15:46:31
Re: Lego Sliders (25 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
That's a shame.
Not to latch onto the topic, but are there are fan vids, movies or comics out there at all? (Something that isn't a flat out comedy).
93 2015-12-06 15:45:05
Re: Reviving Sliders in the Twenty-First Century (103 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
If SLIDERS ever came back as a new TV show, I'm sure there'd be some web comic tie-ins. An anthology series, SLIDERS OTHERWORLDS, could contain alternate visions of the Season 6 style stories. Maybe a SLIDERS-CLASSIC series could feature SLIDERS REBORN. But the new TV show itself? I cannot stress enough in the name of all that is holy that SLIDERS must be simple, accessible and welcoming in reaching out to a new audience -- or there is no point in making the series. It can't be SLIDERS for me or you. It has to be a SLIDERS that Laurie would enjoy. The audience is Laurie. There's billions of Lauries, there's only 15 to 20 of you and me.
This just bares repeating dozens of times over. SLIDERS could only work commercially now as a day-one reboot. Any form of continuation or spin-off is just impossible.
94 2015-12-02 14:35:13
Re: THE BUILDING (née PARALLELS) (24 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
But perhaps these elements are only acceptable if you're engaged with the characters and you most definitely weren't?
No, these elements weren't acceptable to me because they didn't make any sense within the worldbuilding that was being presented. You can't throw in this incredible technology to puncture a bridge between every single known dimension, and put a building in every single one that someone can then use to somehow travel through, slap a random arbitrary number countdown on it, have a bomb maker suddenly be able to hack into it - within what like half a day was it after finally going into the building? - throw the estranged sibling's Dad in it who supposedly used to travel along it - oh and he or an alternate bombed the hackers world by the way - have a mum that was dead but somehow now isn't - go find her! And oh, they are both actually from the Core worlds, and oh, that hacker now has created a bridge so you can choose your destination?!! ... It's just a string of random nonsense. Something more akin to the movie of the week Sliders phase of season 3. There was no solid basis or foundation for the show, except - anything can happen. And yes, that's 3 Pollys!
It's obvious you liked it, that's fine. But I just didn't like it. And this is coming from someone who is a massive science fiction fan.
95 2015-11-30 05:02:43
Re: THE BUILDING (née PARALLELS) (24 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
I ... I hated it. Sorry.
Though Parallels borrows heavily from Sliders, it digs out all the cool stuff ... but then seemingly forgets to add in all the rather important and relevant angles like, oh, character interactions, development, motives, science, history, story tension - you know, all the 'boring' stuff.
It's like they amalgamated all 5 seasons of Sliders into this backdoor pilot. Unfortunately, they picked all the flashy and no substance parts...
WARNING! RAMBLE AHEAD!
So, we have a mysterious TARDIS like building that has punched through all known dimensions, and so, appears in every single alternate reality - which serves as the 'vehicle' for our dimension hoppers. Let's just ignore the improbability and the unbelievably massive scale of this for now. We also have an arbitrary countdown of 36 hours (why 36 hours? Don't know. Just something pulled out of someone's ass) before the building 'moves on' to the next world. (Well, not the actual building, but the people inside it when the countdown ends. Just ... just don't ask...) A number made even more confusing because we know from some throwaway lines that people have come in - and out - of the building every now and again, even though supposedly the building doesn't actually return to a world it has already been to.
The main - and severely bland - characters suddenly turn out to have parentage from the 'core' world - the people who created the technology. (Another pull from Sliders) and the mysterious Dad runs off in the end to continue his fight with some mysterious dudes and abandons his kids (again) to search for their Mum who - apparently - isn't really dead as they all believed. (And his Son had to face the trauma of for all these years).
Confused a little? Yeah.
We are only treated to 2 new dimensions, but like I mentioned before about leaving out all the important stuff from Sliders, we aren't really given any real background, history or discovery about these worlds - which is the most important thing you need in an alternate-dimension show. Just some throwaway pieces is all we really get. No real development or knowledge is explored.
No show is complete without a villain, and on post-apoc Earth we have a guy who has been 'watching' the building for some time now as the main character's Dad nuked their world. (Another WTF. Don't ask). He gets pulled along for the ride into High-Tech world and creates an interface which hacks into the building, which now allows the characters - if I have to call them that - to now choose their next destination. It's ok though, he built a miniature nuke on his own world, so he is quite intelligent to hack into the technology of people who can puncture a whole into every single known reality.
Ahem.
The only saving grace of the whole thing is Polly, our sassy dimension hopper who provides the outcasts with some knowledge about travelling between dimensions since she has done it for some time now. Though I spotted something weird early on, we find out in the end that she has 3 of her duplicates (i.e alternate selves gathered from other realities) hidden in the building, and they each take turns to go out with the others into a new reality.
Why? Well, we will never know because this backdoor pilot hasn't been picked up as of yet.
And let's hope it never will.
Sorry. This is what I fear the most about a Sliders reboot. Where's the substance? Where's the heart? Where's the actual science and history? Where's the characters to care about being suddenly sent adrift into the multiverse? Honestly, it was like a bad fanfic. I really don't want this from a reboot if it ever happened.
96 2015-11-30 04:57:22
Re: Reviving Sliders in the Twenty-First Century (103 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
I have to agree that it always irked me that the group never brought at least one backpack with some serious supplies, since they never knew what they could be sliding into. You can't be prepared for every world, but some basics just in case would have been nice. Clothing I didn't mind too much, but yeah, the suits and such should have gone, lol.
97 2015-11-30 04:54:17
Re: New Parallel Universe Show on TV in the U.K. called "Tripped". (9 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Lol. That looks like it should be some light fun. Will give it a watch.
98 2015-10-28 02:57:04
Re: How Did You Get Into Sliders? (15 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
I happened to catch the premiere when it aired on BBC Two ... and was instantly hooked. Since then, Sliders held a special place in my heart - and still does.
99 2015-10-28 02:48:27
Re: Reviving Sliders in the Twenty-First Century (103 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Well, you can see one fan's version of "Slide Effects" here.
Ah, will definitely have to give that a look, but want to get around to Sliders Reborn first.
I think the NEXT GENERATION approach is something you only get to do if the previous generation was a success, which SLIDERS simply wasn't. Also, I think it is a little selfish to inflict a NEXT GENERATION approach onto a modern day audience. We got to see Quinn discover sliding. Step into the vortex for the first time. Experience a parallel reality for the first time. Knowing that he was a pioneer.
I feel like if we restart SLIDERS with sliding having been around for 20 years, we are denying our fellow audience members the chance to experience the joy and wonder of discovery that we got to feel in 1995. Admittedly, the Pilot undermines this almost immediately with Smarter Quinn having discovered sliding before our Quinn, so this is *entirely* a personal opinion that you can easily dismiss.
This is exactly my problem with Heroes Reborn. The audience have been denied all that and more, and the past actually hurts the current series.
I like the idea of a well-animated movie. Maybe because I'm an animator by hobby using Windows default programs, but an animation reintroduction sounds like fun from my standpoint. Age is no issue with animated characters--- you'd just have to get the actors to do their voices. I'm just not sure what sort of a story such a thing would take on. If I were a better animator (and could progress beyond toony-looking versions of the Sliders in my artwork) I might attempt a few animations myself. But I am hardly proficient at animating humans.
My only 'concern' with an animated movie is the temptation to do completely out there stories - ala season 3 - because of the near limitless budget that animation would provide for the adventures. If it could be kept grounded, then yeah, it could be awesome. In any case a fan animated version could be cool. Has anyone attempted anything like that before? With stuff like Anime Studio Debut, some simple animated videos could be done, and could suit a Sliders story if you could find someone to do the main character artwork.
100 2015-10-27 02:45:10
Re: Reviving Sliders in the Twenty-First Century (103 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Generally, I think that when a show premieres, the actors have about 10 years where they still look to be relatively the same age as when they started. Tracy Torme conceived a story, "Slide Effects," to undo the David Peckinpah era in a single episode and get back to basics with Quinn, Wade, Rembrandt and Arturo. The story rewinds time to the Pilot, then reveals the scenario (and all the episodes from "The Exodus" onward) to be a Kromagg simulation. This story, however, depends on the actors still looking to be close to their 1995 ages. You could sort of get away with a 31-year-old Jerry pretending to be 20 again -- lengthen the hair, watch the angles -- and then, when Quinn wakes up, you could have the lines and age in his face come off as the texture of reality versus the softened look of the simulation.
"Slide Effects" was a viable one-episode solution to getting SLIDERS back on track until about 2005. It's a shame the show wasn't brought back before that point for at least a short six episode run. That was the simplest, most effective, most immediate way of creating a bridge from Seasons 3 - 5 back to the simplicity of the original concept.
After 2005, the options became more complicated.
Oh wow. That would have been a massive 'f - you' and had the potential to get the show back on track. A shame, though I kinda feel like the damage had been done. I wonder if it could have taken off?
101 2015-10-26 05:06:07
Re: THE BUILDING (née PARALLELS) (24 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
I had just spotted this movie on Netflix. Definitely going to give it a watch and review!
102 2015-10-26 05:04:51
Re: Reviving Sliders in the Twenty-First Century (103 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
It definitely looks like I will be in the minority here, but as much as I love the original cast (and, make no mistake, I LOVE the original cast), any continuation would just end up being far too convoluted and explanation heavy, ultimately alienating any potential new target audience which it would need to survive. Looking at the attempt of Heroes Reborn it has just shown that it is clearly being dragged down by the past (as well as some pretty poor writing) when instead, it could have been a more proper soft reboot - allowing both the new characters and the story to breathe without the weight of 4 seasons crushing down on it.
If the show were to revive (and even more importantly, survive once it has been revived) I feel like it would need to be a hard reboot, starting completely afresh with new actors playing the original characters. If they can get that chemistry right, then everything else will fall into place. It's not impossible to do so again, not matter how much I love the originals.
103 2015-10-21 01:23:25
Re: Personal Status Updates! (747 replies, posted in Sliders Bboard)
Wow. Just wanted to write a quick message to say that I kinda choked up a little when I happened to stumble across this place. Sliders means a lot to me, and it is really heart warming to see so many fans still keeping the show alive through discussions, articles and new content. I last stumbled here years ago, and it is awesome to see it still around. You guys rock.