Ba’al: the storm god

One of the best things on television is the made-for-TV “original” movies that the Sci-Fi channel shows a few times a month. They typically feature really low budget special effects, a completely overblown plot, C-List actors earning a paycheck and an ability to film in the cheapest locations and pass them off as someplace else (”Yes, I know this place may LOOK like the Northwest, just outside of Vancouver, but I swear we’re in Iran.”)

I don’t really mind any of that, I just like watching them.

The above animated gif is from last Saturday’s “Ba’al: The Storm God,” wherein Ba’al is so badass, he blows up Big Ben. And, it’s my first attempt at actually making an animated gif. I thought the scene was so powerful, it deserved it.

Basically, in Ba’al, a bunch of archeologists frantically run around the globe (in a small propeller plane) to locate four amulets, which when united at a Ba’al statue, bring Ba’al to life. Every time they find an amulet, a storm happens. When they find all four amulets, all the storms will converge and Ba’al will manifest. Why are they doing this? One of the archeologists is a crazy old man who thinks Ba’al will cure his cancer, the others try to stop him. That’s as good as it gets.

Another notable, but non-animated, aspects of Ba’al:

Jeremy London is the star. I actually thought he was in Dazed and Confused, but it turns out that was his twin brother Jason playing the part of stoner “Pink” Floyd.

Anyway, now he’s very bloated. And also seems stoned.

Ba’al in statue form. Bonus points for faux museum signage:

Ba’al from space:

Space Ba’als? Hmm… I really do think someone could make a slapstick comedy out of this.

This is the scariest that Ba’al gets:

No where near as scary as Taco Bell’s new Volcano Taco:

Sci Fi hottie Lexa Doig gets paid, which is good because she’s awesome:

Crazy old archeologist gets stabbed by Ba’al as he’s bringing him to life. Ouch. Never trust Ba’al.

I am really, really looking forward to watching this week’s movie, Riddle of the Sphinx, which aired last night.