Review: Sanctuary - Scifi Channel

[Aceman]

The Scifi Channel has been generous enough to provide me (Aceman) with an advanced copy or screener of their upcoming show entitled "Sanctuary". Starring Amanda Tapping (known for her role as Colonel Samantha Carter on Stargate SG-1) who plays Dr. Helen Magnus a brilliant scientist who holds the secrets of a clandestine population - a group of strange and sometimes terrifying beings that live in hiding among humans.

I will do my best to avoid spoiling the premiere of the show for everyone, so if your looking for spoilers here, keep looking. I'm going to stick to my overall impressions of the show with regard to the acting, SFX which are extensively used in this show, and they "stay" factor is the show going to last.

The Acting:
I'm not too familiar with the acting of the other stars of the show, but I'm very familiar with Amanda Tappings’ work. Her acting in Sanctuary is very good and in keeping with what you'd expect. I'm not sure comfortable with her accent in this show, but I think that's more of me just getting used too it, then her ability to pull the accent off, which is British by the way. Her co-stars all seem quite capable, but there are a few lines that I was cringing at. As with most premieres the show has to mature, so I'm hopeful we'll see the script writing improve. Again, it wasn't horrible, it just seemed odd a few times. Robin Dunne, who plays Dr. Will Zimmerman and is a spitting image of Harry Potter was rather enjoyable to watch. The remaining cast I liked, except for the villain who I really didn't care for too much.

The Special Effects:
The screener I received had a lot of temp SFX in place and even a few areas where there weren't even any SFX, just the big green screen studio behind the actors. But where there were SFX I found it done rather well. I don't want to fully judge the show based on temp visuals that were in the screener. But where the visuals were in place, they were good. The Sanctuary is almost 90% vis, at least from what I could tell. In areas were vis would have been more work, like a storeroom with hundreds of props, they opted for an actual set, it wasn't till they walked out into the hallways that you were back in the virtual set.

A lot of the creatures in the show just weren't there. In the Sanctuary there are several "rooms" where creatures reside, both by choice and some not by choice. A few creatures were puppets or actors made up like creatures. That area of the show has a little growth potential.

The Stay Factor:
Sanctuary has the potential to be a great show. From the screener it's a competent show, which isn't bad. I've gotten screeners for previous shows and felt that some of those shows were dead in the water. Turned out I was right they aren't around any more.

I look forward to the scripts maturing and learning more about each character. While the SFXs are good, they can also distract the viewer. I found myself actually searching for them in just about every shot. Some of them, not labeled "temp SFX", were a little obvious. But I'm sure that as the show matures through the season, so will the SFX.

So I liked the show, but didn't love it. I'm a big fan of Amanda Tapping and I'm stoked to be able to meet her on Saturday. I'm sure I'll post ALOT more about the show and my experience at the Digital Press Tour. I think Scifi could have a great show on their hands. Whether or not it will replace my current favorite "Eureka" remains to be seen.

[DaveWh]

Well, it struck me as an adaptation of Torchwood. Only Amanda's quasi-British accent is unnecessary and bad enough to be distracting.

Will keep watching...

[RonPada]

After watching the show, I can agree the writing needs to mature some and the actors need to gel into working with each other, but the show has potential. I too will continue to watch to see how it grows. I like Amanda Tapping's accent. After hearing her speak in the American accent for so long, it will take some time getting used to her speaking in a British accent. It is different than what we are used to. Although when I see the blonde, I think it is Amanda.

[bagera4000]

Amanda -British accent is her real vocie she been throwing an US one for years on Stargate

Amanda Tapping

Date of Birth
28 August 1965, Rochford, Essex, England, UK

Height
5' 9" (1.75 m)

Mini Biography

Amanda Tapping was born in Rochford, Essex in England o*n August 28, 1965. She spent a short time in South Benfleet, Essex, and was relocated to Ontario, Canada, at the age of 3. She attended North Toronto High School where she was awarded the Dramatic Arts Award and Environmental Science Award. Her parents always wanted her to go into the science field, but her first love was acting. Amanda studied drama at the University of Windsor School of Dramatic Arts in Windsor, Ontario. After graduation, she spent four more years studying theater and appearing in several stage productions. She has appeared in many movies and television shows such as Booty Call (1997), Life or Something Like It (2002), Rent-a-Kid (1995) (TV), "The Outer Limits" (1995) and "The X Files" (1993), however, her real success that seemed to launch her career came in 1997 with the start of the TV series "Stargate SG-1" (1997) where she plays Colonel Samantha Carter.

She has three brothers, one of which is her twin. She has a dog named Abbie. On September 23, 1994 she married Alan Kovacs.
IMDb Mini Biography By: dragonfly

Spouse
Allan Kovacs (23 September 1994 - present) 1 child

Trivia

Co-Founded the Canadian comedy group "Random Acts"

Raised in Toronto, Ontario.

Graduated from the University of Windsor's school of dramatic art.

Her brother Steven, who suffered from very severe epileptic attacks, died in December 2006.

Of the other four original "Stargate SG-1" (1997) regulars, she is the only one who did not meet and/or work with Richard Dean Anderson before the series began.

Appeared in episodes entitled "Avatar" of two different TV series': "The X Files: Avatar (#3.21)" (1996) and "Stargate SG-1: Avatar (#8.6)" (2004).

Daughter, Olivia B. Kovacs, was born on 22nd March 2005; she weighed in at 9 pounds 4 ounces.

Her brothers' names are Richard, Steven and Christopher, where Christopher is her fraternal twin. Two of her co-stars on "Stargate SG-1" (1997) are also named Richard and Christopher.

Is a spokesperson for UNICEF.

Before her role on "Stargate SG-1" (1997), she appeared in many commercials including ones for Choclairs (chocolate bar), Folger's "Singles" and Advil.

Along with Gary Jones, she is one of only two actors to appear in all ten seasons of "Stargate SG-1" (1997) and all five seasons of "Stargate: Atlantis" (2004).

Personal Quotes

"All I can say is thank God 'Buffy''s off the air, I was starting to feel like Susan Lucci (on winning her first Saturn Award).

Where Are They Now

(March 2005) Daughter, Olivia born

(May 2007) Starring in a Web-based series called "Sanctuary" (2007) coming to the Sci-Fi Channel in fall of 2008.