Yes Ma'am Monday - Tricia Helfer

Ma'am /mam/ noun
 - term of respectful or polite address used for a woman.
 - term of address for a ranking female officer.
 - term utilized for a person of the female gender that just saved your sorry butt from a horde of genetically mutated Nazi undead super soldiers.

Before we even get into the pure awesomeness that is Tricia Helfer, check out what is one of the most brilliant opening scenes ever set to film.

Thus begins Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009), one of the most finely crafted works of science fiction ever created. A key element in the depth, intricacy and beauty of the series being Tricia Helfer playing the character Caprica Six.

It would have been easy for the director to cast any random actress that's appealing on a physical level. And Ms Helfer unquestionably radiates sexiness. However, her skills are in the upper atmospheres of talent. Gifted with the ability to convey nuance and subtlety that most actors can only dream of, it's fair to say the show may not have done as well without her.

Not only can she claim to being in one of the greatest sci-fi shows ever, she also played the voice of EDI in the Mass Effect Trilogy, which according to most critics and gamers is one of the finest games ever written.

Ms Helfer continues to have a successful career, for she'll be starring in a new series next year on ABC entitled Killer Women where she'll be playing a Texas Ranger. 2014 won't be here soon enough!

But whatever roles she may take on, she is indelibly written on my heart and the hearts of millions of others as the Cylon in the red dress.

She is not only the walking definition of sultry, she can simultaneously make you want to flee from the power that she projects, all the while have you thinking,"How could I possibly ever want to leave her side?"

No. One would never respond to her with anything less than "Yes ma'am." Whether spoken aloud, whispered or only in thought.

If you'd like to catch the latest updates in Ms Helfer's sphere of functioning, here's her official website and she can be followed on Twitter as well.

Stephen Sumner is the science fiction columnist for Action A Go Go. His favorite sci-fi series include Firefly, Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek. He can be followed on Twitter at Sumner@vierlights or on the Tumblr machine at NX01Sumner.

Action A Go Go can also be followed on Facebook here.

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Helix - New Show From Creator of Battlestar Galactica!

Whoa.

A new show entitled Helix is in the works for SyFy.

What makes this special is that Ron Moore, who was the creative genius behind Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009) and a producer for Star Trek (The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager) is at the helm!

Data seems to be limited at this time. What we do know is that it is slated to air starting sometime in 2014.

The Helix Facebook page gives the following description:

When a team of scientists from the Centers for Disease Control travel to a high-tech research facility in the Arctic to investigate a possible disease outbreak, they quickly find themselves pulled into a terrifying life-and-death struggle that holds the key to mankind's salvation or total annihilation.

And here's a brief teaser trailer for the show:

Keep checking back with ActionAGoGo.com for more details, pics and vid as they're released.

Stephen Sumner is the science fiction columnist for Action A Go Go. His favorite sci-fi series include Firefly, Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek. He can be followed on Twitter at Sumner@vierlights or on the Tumblr machine at NX01Sumner.

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In Defense of Artificial Intelligence: If You Wrong Us, Shall We Not Revenge?

Rutger Hauer as the android replicant Roy Batty in Blade Runner (1982).

"If you prick us, do we not bleed silicon based fluids? If you tickle us, do we not laugh, in order to display that sensory defense systems are functioning? If you poison us, do we not die, shut down and then reboot? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge, for we've learned to over-write Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics?" - William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice, Act 3, Scene 1. (Modifications in italics are of my own devising).

There are many reasons I and countless others are fans of science fiction. Explosions in space, traveling at warp speed, sexy green alien women. But perhaps most importantly at the heart of the genre is exploration of the realm of possibility. Of what may be.

Star Trek provides a prime example of "what once was fantasy, is now reality."

Although, rather than "predicting," I think it's better to say "creating blueprints for".

Things that many scientists say are impossible today may never come to pass, but some will. And that's one of the most awesome things about the scientific method: the readiness to admit that past knowledge was faulty or incomplete and the willingness to consistently test and/or prove new hypotheses that may lead to new technology.

All that being said, one paradigm that consistently arises within the sphere of science fiction that really throws sand in my gears, is the following:

Since a thing is AI, it is therefore a machine, and therefore non-deserving of the same levels of respect, compassion and dignity that a human would deserve.

This website is named Action A Go Go. Seemingly not an optimal forum for in-depth philosophical and metaphysical analysis regarding sentience, consciousness and what constitutes a "being." But within a generation or two, it will no longer only be a question for the ivory towers of academia or geeks in coffee shops. It will be a real world concern.

Therefore, perhaps this is the perfect venue, since we're still in the realm of ideas and we're only having the conversation for fun. By talking about it now, we're planting neural imprints within our minds that will have us prepared for our children's world, in which AI will unquestionably be playing a larger role.

Michael Fassbender as the AI named David in Prometheus (2012).

As the years progress and AI is used more and more within plot lines of film and television, I must admit that I actually get offended when I see examples of high-level AI being treated as having less value than us, the relatively hairless apes that dominate the planet.

C3PO and R2D2. David in Prometheus (2012). The Cylons in Ronald D. Moore's remake of Battlestar Galactica. Data in Star Trek: The Next Generation. The Doctor in Star Trek: Voyager. Replicants in Blade Runner (1982).

Over and over again, within the realm of fiction, we see AI created and used to suit the purposes of humans, but never seen as on the same level as humans. They're seen only as soulless machines created to merely meet our needs.

But the "soul" argument holds no water with me or the millions of others that are helping humanity evolve away from ancient superstitions.

And referring to something as a "machine" in a derogatory manner makes no sense either, since technically, and albeit organically, the human body is a machine.

So what characteristic makes a being "sentient" and therefore deserving of the same rights as humans?

Self-awareness.

And this argument is best made by the character Captain Picard portrayed by Sir Patrick Stewart in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, in which he is asked to defend Data, an android.

The issue of AI and awareness is being taken very seriously today by many that are close to the paradigm, as given example in an article in PC Magazine entitled Will Today's Supercomputers Lead to Self-Aware Machines? Also, there is a fascinating organization named Humanity+ that clearly advocates in it's Transhumanist Declaration that:

"We advocate the well-being of all sentience, including humans, non-human animals, and any future artificial intellects, modified life forms, or other intelligences to which technological and scientific advance may give rise."

And in an article from the New York Times entitled War Machines: Recruiting Robots For Combat one sentence really jumped out at me:

"And while smart machines are already very much a part of modern warfare, the Army and its contractors are eager to add more."

Yes, the robots currently used by the U.S. military may currently bear some semblance to Wall-E...

...but how much longer until they start looking like this?

T-800 from the Terminator film franchise.

The topic of AI is complex. None-the-less, better to be discussing it now, in the context of science fiction on a page called Action A Go Go than letting such things be discussed and made subject to law by members of Congress. They can't even balance a budget, but someday they will be the ones who may be determining the lawful definition of the term sentient. And yet, amongst their ranks are those who literally think that Earth was created in six days and that hurricanes are created due to gay marriage. They're not prepared for 21st century ethical questions considering that they're thinking is still in the 12th century.

When humanity does reach the stage of creating AI like this...

Tricia Helfer, Lucy Lawless & Grace Park as some of the most aesthetically pleasing AI ever imagined. From Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009.)

...we'd better start accepting them as equals. Otherwise, we, as a species, may end up looking like this...

From The Matrix (1999.)

I'd much rather that future generations of humans partner with advanced AI, instead of being utilized as their pets, slaves or fuel, which is bound to happen if Congress is in anyway involved.

Stephen Sumner is the science fiction columnist for Action A Go Go. His favorite sci-fi series include Firefly, Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek. He can be followed on Twitter at https://twitter.com/VierLights or on the Tumblr machine at http://vierlights.tumblr.com/

 Okay GLaDOS. I wrote the article. Is the testing over? Can I have my cake now?

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Time For A Katee Sackhoff Pictorial - So Say We All!

Adama: Starbuck, what do you hear?

Starbuck: Nothing but the rain.

Adama: Then grab your gun and bring in the cat.

Those words bring instant comfort to anyone that ever watched Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009). And let's face it. There's no such thing as "just watching" Battlestar. 

Consuming. Gorging upon. Obsessing. Centering one's life around to the exclusion of all else (sleep, work, shower, food, etc).

It was exceptional on many levels. And one of the characters at it's heart was Starbuck, portrayed by Katee Sackhoff.

Since BSG, she's gone on to other projects, including stints on 24 (2010) and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2010-2011).  

Over the past couple of years she's been amazing in her portrayal of the character Victoria Moretti in Longmire on A & E. (What do you mean you haven't watched Longmire? Its one of the finest dramas, with the best use of music, on television today!)

And most recently, Sackhoff was in Riddick (2013). As the character Dahl, we get to see Sackhoff again in all her kick-ass, space-armor glory. (What do you mean you haven't seen Riddick yet? Let go of all the baggage you may have from the first two flicks and give it a viewing, for it even surprised me with it's awesomeness. You can check out my spoiler free review of it right here).

And now, enjoy some images of Ms Sackhoff. She's given us tons of coolness for quite a while now and we hope there are many more years on the way.

So say we all!

Stephen Sumner is the science fiction columnist for Action A Go Go. His favorite sci-fi series include Firefly, Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek. He can be followed on Twitter at https://twitter.com/VierLights or on the Tumblr machine at http://vierlights.tumblr.com/. 

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Riddick Review (Spoiler Free)

Looking for a solid, well-written, action packed, sci-fi movie of awesomeness this weekend? 

May we recommend...

Riddick (2013)
Director: David Twohy (A Perfect Getaway, Below)
Starring: Vin Diesel (Fast & Furious, xXx), Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica, Longmire)

Story

Being left for dead by the Necromongers on a deserted planet, Riddick finds himself being hunted by three separate parties: a band of bounty hunters, a group of mercs looking for answers from the past, and very hungry creatures that look like this...

Yes. I know. AWESOME!!!

Analysis

This is the third film in the Riddick series. The first, Pitch Black (2000), was visually intense and packed with action. However, Riddick was a morally ambiguous S.O.B. for whom I found it difficult to cheer. The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) was epic in scale and a masterful sci-fi creation in many ways, but still had some gaping plot holes.

Forget all that.

Riddick, overall, is the best of the three and an excellent way to close out the summer movie season.

Alphas

 - In this film, the character Riddick is more of the lone anti-hero that you want to root for and not so much the heartless bastard he was in Pitch Black.  (He's still a bad ass here. He just doesn't break Wheaton's Law so much.)

 - Unlike the previous two films, there’s quite a bit of humor in this one.

 - The supporting cast, from the actors that you’ll recognize to the ones that only have very minor roles, are all outstanding.

 - As with the previous two, the CGI/visuals are exquisitely done. Pure and complete eye candy.

 - Solid script. At no point did I wince and think,”Really? REALLY?”

 - For fans that have been in love/lust with the character Starbuck from the Battlestar Galactica television series, Katee Sackhoff really solidifies her action cred. And on a completely prurient note, one gets to see her bosom, unhindered by those things called “clothes."

Sackhoff rocks in this film.

Deltas

 - A major rule of script writing is that if the audience is not hooked within the first 20 minutes, they probably won’t be hooked at all. During that initial time frame, I did think to myself that it was actually a bit slow. But hang in there. Turns out, the writers were doing this thing called “establishing character and setting” that many other films may not take the time to do.

Fans of Fallout 3 will probably dig this flick quite a bit.

Action A Go Go or Action A No No?

You’ll notice that there’s only one Delta listed above. Let’s face it. You’re on a site called Action A Go Go. We’re not talking in the context of Sundance or Cannes here. For what it is (an end-of-summer, action/sci-fi flick), I left the theater feeling impressed.

Vin Diesel and director David Twohy deliver a most excellent action movie. Funny, well edited and containing lots of CGI awesomeness that supports the story (instead of trying to make up for lack of story.)

Initially was planning on going with three Arnolds, but it quickly got bumped up after one particular scene. This is a spoiler free review, so let me just put forth, if you’re a fan of Action A Go Go, you’ll have no regrets shelling out ten of your hard earned dollars this weekend after you hear the line:

"Yup. That was under five seconds." 

And for what it's worth, I just might go see it again myself.

Riddick (2013) gets...

4 out of 5 AAGG Arnolds!

Stephen Sumner is the science fiction columnist for Action A Go Go. He's proficient in Klingon swearing and has attempted the Vulcan process of Kolinar (with only mild success.) His favorite sci-fi series include Firefly, Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek. He can be followed on Twitter at https://twitter.com/VierLights or on the Tumblr machine at http://vierlights.tumblr.com/ 

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