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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 264757" data-attributes="member: 23">Bionic Ever After? <img src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/44/8a/ed/448aed70e0e8bd56cd0da5547724008b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="width: 685px" /> Following on from the previous two reunion films, it’s more than fair to say that I had very low expectations for this film. Actually - and appropriately - I found it to be the best and most watchable film of the three. Easily. The main reason for this is because it’s clear this was written to be a coda to the Jaime/Steve story, rather than a hopeful pilot for a potential new reboot. This means there’s no question of the original bionics being sidelined by new young bionic characters running round in psychedelic blurs. There are no long-lost relatives. No dramatic origin stories. No lasers from the eyes. Gone, too, is the aggressive and overpowering Eighties synth score. It’s a relief. Jaime’s initially perceived bionic rejection felt like a well-worn path, and I wasn’t sure about it to begin with. But actually, the revelation that Jaime - and eventually Steve - were maliciously affected with a computer virus that threatens their bionics is an engaging one. Yes, the cuckoo in the nest twist can be seen coming from a great distance. But that adds a little extra layer of interest when watching the interactions. Rudy’s as reliable as ever. Martin E. Brooks looks markedly frailer here than he did in the earlier films (and, curiously, more frail than he looked in the more recent interviews), but it works well for the character who has to be tracked down and essentially brought out of retirement to solve the bionic breakdown. There are some nice moments for him in his uncertainty about the cause and his doubts as to his efficacy. He openly admits he hasn’t tried this before and can’t guarantee success, which all adds to the high stakes, since he’s the bionic Mr Fixit. There’s one moment where he sadly comments that this is his life’s work but he doesn’t know how to resolve it and he looks so lost it’s touching. Of course, he does get to the root of the trouble and fix it. And he even throws in a few nifty upgrades for Jaime, including night vision and some kind of visual zoom and fix (since Jaime doesn’t have bionic eyes, I assume it’s a newer technology as used on the more recent bionic subjects). Meanwhile, Oscar is reassuringly solid. Gone is the angry railing from Bionic Showdown. He’s back to being equal parts authoritarian and avuncular. Once again, it’s a lovely performance from Richard Anderson.The inevitable wedding felt satisfying and hard-earned. The little dash of quirk with them being too busy kissing to respond to the celebrant was just right. And a tad Knotsy. On reflection, it would have been nice had Michael been in attendance. And it’s also sad that Helen and Jim didn’t see this (especially since Martha Scott and Ford Rainey were both still alive, with Ford regularly acting at this point). But in the moment the wedding felt fine. It was a lovely touch that Oscar was best man and Rudy gave Jaime away. When used, bionics were very effective (Jaime breaking down the door and a good chunk of surrounding wall, standing there concealed by a cloud of dust was a great, dramatic visual. And her taking down a speeding van using a manhole cover was fun as well). It occurs to me there were actually very few bionics in the film, and it was all the better for it. It brought things full circle, ending as it began. With a very human story. </blockquote>

Verification: What month follows July?