MovieChat Forums > Sanctuary (2008) Discussion > Good idea, piss poor execution

Good idea, piss poor execution

posted 10 years ago by praetorian-titus
19 replies | jump to latest

I started watching this series. I figured, it could be good. Then I saw the acting, the CGI, heard the script. It was painful to watch.

I could not get past the butchering of English language by Amanda Tapping. I mean, I like her as an actress, I loved her in SG1. However, here she disappoints.

( Ashley Magnus ) - Emilie Ullerup - Her character is poorly written. A mix between Indiana Jones, and WTF / Teen age spoiled little brat.

If they would lose the bad English accent, and simply write a better script, this show could have been saved.

I can understand, that the budged was not really high. However, even with low budged one can make a great show with good writing, and directing, and well written charachters :).

Now, I know I will be criticized by people that like this show, with cliches and I will be accused of trolling.

The only comments I will consider valid, if they will be argumented properly :).

To conclude, if one likes this show for pure entertainment. So be it, I for one am looking more in a show than just superficial mass production poorly made.

[–] tbonesays 10 years ago

What?

[–] bab7410 8 years ago

yeah.. seriously, wtf?

I can agree about the accent, but Amanda IS actually English, she moved to Canada at age three.

[–] yemidowu-1 10 years ago

Your criticisms totally suffered from lack intelligence!
This was a show that was given high marks by TV lovers everywhere.
The stupidest thing was you started criticizing another person's accent! You must be one of those ignorant folks who think their accent is the best, that is if you actually know the meaning of the word "accent". My guess is you don't! Go back to school.

[–] chris-wulfers 9 years ago

He's not saying a british accent is bad. He's saying Amanda Tapping's british accent is bad. And it is(at least in the first 3 episodes that I've watched). It's a total *beep* cliche, I can barely watch the show.

[–] tbonesays 9 years ago

Funny thing about that. I didn't know it was Amanda Tapping, or guessed Helen wasn't British, until I had seen a few episodes.

[–] berry-john22 10 years ago

I agree with the OP.

I am glad some people liked the show as it was, but I tried to like it but didn't make it past the second episode, and here were the issues..

Amanda Tapping's Accent, Even though she was born in England, the accent she has on the show is really fake and forced sounding, constantly pulling me out of the show.

Amanda Tapping having dark hair, it doesn't suit her like being a blonde did.
When I watched this initially I was sorely missing her old roll and this new one was too different it worked against me wanting to watch this.

The creatures, they should have not just gone in with a ton of really bizarre creatures, the suspension of dis belief only goes so far, and this stretches my belief too far and too fast will too few (or no) supporting real world things to make this reasonable.

The Sanctuary is overblown, too large to be secretive. Too gothic.
Too much poor CGI in making it and it's unlikely looking denizens.

What does work, well I saw the first and second episode and I am going to finally try and make it beyond that, but in the 2nd episode I do like the daughter.

I kinda liked the John character as a tragic villain.

No one else really stood out far enough, though the Big Foot guy is not doing it for me on any level, I'd have rather had Harry from Harry and the Henderson's.

If you look at most of the superhero movies, these have been given plausibility by showing us the origin and as many plausible steps to help build the bridge to the extraordinary eventuality, and it works.

Also ultimately aesthetically on every level this world didn't work for me.

[–] gtrgrl89 10 years ago

Her accent was really rough on the beginning of the show, especially in the webisodes. That being said, I've heard worse accents in my life. I think they changed some fundamentals of the show partway through, so it's kinda muddy. The Sanctuary network sounds like it's all secretive in the beginning of the show, but it's not long before characters start talking about it like it's known to people outside the monster world.

Personally, I loved the show, but I understand that not everyone is going to like it.

[–] tbonesays 10 years ago

It needed more credible bad guys. They had a great formula to put them into.

[–] nifabs 9 years ago

Glad to know that you are "a connoisseur of"

Language

Acting

Script Writing

Directing.

Truly Refreshing!!!

Be Good to see your work at some point.

[–] Strazdamonas 8 years ago

One can be a food critic without being a chef.

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Applied Science? All science is applied. Eventually.

[–] KatharineFanatic 9 years ago

I actually loved the show and enjoyed most of the episodes, but it was flawed and did come across as cheap due to the bad special effects.

They had a brilliant conceptual idea and a decent cast, but in my opinion they sidelined the truly interesting characters (Watson, Druitt, Magnus, and Tesla) in favor of the younger cast, none of whom were as interesting to me as their elders. I LIVED for the Tesla episodes, which were few and far between. They showcased truly clever writing whenever he was around.

On several occasions the writers missed out on potentially HUGE and POWERFUL plot arcs -- like devoting a half season or more to taking down the Cabal. Instead, it all happens off-screen so that we can return to the monster of the week episodes. Someone like Joss Whedon would have milked that emotional arc for all it was worth and given us something truly powerful.

I still enjoy watching episodes, but it's true that they are not stellar.

[–] gtrgrl89 9 years ago

I second everything you said. This show had tons of potential, and I really enjoyed it.

[–] tbonesays 9 years ago

Agree. your comment about the older characters perfectly demonstrates why the show tanked after a bright start.

I'd add they changed the tone from an earnest struggle vs the black hats into nerd humor and fan boy references.

[–] robble-1 9 years ago

I think you nailed it, KatherineFanatic! I completely agree.

The missing Cabal arc was a perfect example of the need to show and not just tell. After the first season introduced the show, I think they should have dropped the monster-of-the-week episodes and developed those story arcs.

I was also unsatisfied with the development of the underground world and the clash of that world and ours.

Also, I really hate the way Druitt's character was handled. It's like they got bored with him or couldn't figure out what to do with him. Really???!!

I'm cool, you're cool, we're cool, thank you, good night!-My Science Project

[–] KatharineFanatic 9 years ago

Yes, they should have.

I always assumed that format was catering to the SyFy Channel -- but SyFy also did Battlestar Galactica and that was nothing if not a long-term plot-heavy arc.

Fleshing out the grown ups and giving them precedence, doing flashbacks to their former lives and interactions in Victorian London ... these things would have been amazing. They needed to delve into Helen's various emotional affairs with these men and show them interacting all together, because their collective dynamic -- such a mix of terrific personalities -- was terrific.

Druitt was ... a bit flat for me, because he had so much potential and then they never went anywhere with him. They never resolved whether Helen still loved him or not, they never delved into his mind, they just let him play second fiddle for the most part. I mean, good grief -- her boyfriend, and the father of her child, is JACK THE RIPPER?? USE IT!

I felt like when the show tried to be epic is when it faltered the worst, and once they added in more younger characters and changed the theme music, and started delving into the teen stuff is when it lost its footing. I wanted Helen to be the lead -- not Will. He, and his moralizing, and his superior attitude, and the gall he had at bossing her around all annoyed me.

That being said, I miss it. I ought to watch it again. It was fun.

[–] Strazdamonas 8 years ago

I think the main reason why they never went with the Cabal ark was budgetary. They had so much funding problems they had to superimpose actors on the sets they already filmed before IN THE SAME EPISODE (and also the editor couldnt even get the lighting fixed so it looked awful). If some bad no-name youtubers can do better greenscreen sets than this show had i really dont think they could afford building multiple secret laboratories of cabal to film at.

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Applied Science? All science is applied. Eventually.

[–] tbonesays 8 years ago

I thought that was kinda their badge. Sanctuary was the most green screen digital show made at the time.

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